#the stark family dynamic is remarkably healthy

[madsnowstorm]

take me home for christmas | j. seresin | part one

please come home for christmas - charles brown

summary : jake wants to take you home to texas for christmas to meet his family.

warnings — series, 18+, fem!reader, established relationship, some angst, family dynamics (both healthy and not), mentions of therapy, no religious aspect to the holiday, dogs named after famous texans

notes — i've been on a soft boy!jake kick lately and was totally inspired by holiday traditions.

series masterlist

Jake Seresin did not beg. Most of that was due to him almost always getting his way. Sometimes it was due to his southern charm, other times it was because he did not accept no as an answer. He would fight and argue and flirt his way to his desired outcome…but he did not beg. That is why he caught you off guard around the end of November. You were both cleaning the dishes after hosting Friendsgiving for all your friends that couldn’t make it back home for the holiday. You’d just handed him the last dish to dry when he cleared his throat. You tipped your head in curiosity.

“Would you consider going home with me for Christmas?” You froze. Jake had a huge family made up of his parents, four siblings and their partners, and a whole horde of nieces and nephews. You’d heard plenty of stories about all of their Seresin family traditions for the holidays. Jake would always get a certain nostalgic gleam in his bright green eyes whenever he talked about them. It stood in stark contrast to how you spent holidays growing up. 

You bounced back and forth between your parents and it almost always ended up with them trying to outdo one another. Snide remarks and rude questions about how the other parent was doing were the only holiday traditions you had. Once college came around you were thankful for choosing a school, and subsequently a career, on the other side of the country. It made avoiding holidays easier. In fact, you didn’t really start to enjoy holidays until you began dating Jake. 

The two of you actually met at a New Year’s Eve party and even that night he taught you to appreciate the bubbles of champagne and the sentiment of Auld Lang Syne and the fun surprise of a midnight kiss. On Valentine’s Day you didn’t go an hour without some sort of sickly sweet, yet adorable, token of affection. Your birthday was full of flowers and doting. The Fourth of July informed you about the importance of a perfect char from the grill and the best American beer. Even Friendsgiving, which you took part in for the first time earlier that evening, was full of warmth and spices and gratitude like you’d never experienced. (As well as the National Dog Show which you never watched before, but were thoroughly invested in by the end) But Christmas with family? It created a sense of dread deep in your stomach.

“Darlin’?” That’s when you noticed he was standing there, dishcloth thrown over his shoulder, eyes shadowed with concern. You looked down at your hands which were shoved under the soapy water. You quickly pulled them out of the, making sure to pull the stopper so the suds could drain. Jake handed you the dishcloth from his shoulder. You wiped your hands with the damp towel. “Did you hear me?” His tone was not accusatory, but kind.

“Yes.” You took a breath and then let out a slow exhale. At this point, you could tell he knew something was up, but was patiently letting you work through your thoughts and emotions. “I…Just let me finish cleaning this up.” At this point your need for control was taking over. Even though time and therapy stood between you and the pains and aches of your childhood, sometimes all it took was one word or moment to bring old feelings back. Cleaning was one of things you knew you could easily control. The routine of it helped center your mind. Jake knew this and instead of fighting you to help you finish he just nodded.

“Alright sweetheart. I’m going to take Nelson out for a quick walk and then lock up for the night. I won’t be gone long.” Nelson was his Irish Setter that had been named after Willie Nelson. As you got the cleaning caddy out from its spot underneath the kitchen sink you could hear him talking to Nelson about not barking his head off if he saw the neighbors cat.

You got to work on cleaning the kitchen. The first thing on your mental checklist was to wipe down the kitchen sink, making the stainless steel shine. Once the sink was done you moved onto the countertops. The brightness of the lemon scented multi purpose cleanser almost brought you back to the warm feelings you were having before thinking back on your childhood. After the countertops you made sure the stovetop was spotless. The last things you did were sweeping and running the Swiffer over the floor. You wanted to get the mop and its bucket out, but it was already getting late when you started. The back and forth motions gave you something to match your breathing to, which aided in calming you down as you thought about your boyfriend’s question.

Jake knew how you felt about holidays. Why would he ask you to go home with him? Except, you knew why he asked. He was so good at pushing you out of your comfort zone, while also offering you a safe place to land. It made trying new experiences easier. There were so many things in your life you’d convinced yourself you didn’t enjoy because of your parents. Your therapist brought this to your attention before you met Jake, but having him with you made you brave. Perhaps this time was no different.

You tucked the caddy back where it belonged once you were finished, washed your hands, and then took a moment to survey your work. It was gleaming, almost sparkling, and no one would even know there were twelve people packed in the house earlier that night. You smiled thinking over all of Jake’s Navy buddies and their partners scattered all around the house, turning off the light as memories filled your head. You’d been hesitant about that too, but you’d not had a better Thanksgiving.

“All done, sweetheart?” Jake asked as you walked into the living room. He was sitting on the couch, laptop balanced on his lap, Nelson napping at his feet. You weren’t sure when they’d gotten back from their walk. Time got away from you while in the kitchen. He looked so comfortable and so at ease with the world. You envied that.

“Mhmm.”  You nodded and sat on the other side of the couch. He closed his laptop, placed it on the coffee table, and opened his arms. You crawled into them and Jake pulled you closer, placing you on his lap. The room filled with your giggles and his low chuckles. “I think I’m ready to talk about it.”

“Alright. Let’s talk then.” Jake moved his fingers over your face, pushing your hair back. You didn’t think he was doing it on purpose, but it stoked a fire in you. Your boyfriend, who was so arrogant and brash, could be so sweet with you. “What do you think about coming to Texas with me for Christmas?” You took a moment, eyes roaming over his face, before answering.

“The thought of it makes me nervous.” Instead of interrupting you as you’d expected, he patiently waited for you to continue. “You know about how things were for me growing up.” Jake nodded, running his hands up and down your back. If he kept it up, you would soon be putty in his hands. “The idea of spending a holiday with your family makes those childhood feelings resurface.”

“Babe, I understand what you are saying and why those emotions are coming back to the surface, but I know in the deepest part of my heart that this would be a Christmas different from any you’ve experienced.” The sincerity in his voice wanted to make you melt.

“But what if your family doesn’t like me?” You’d yet to meet the Seresin clan. Plans had been made for Jake’s parents  to come and visit the previous summer, but due to an unexpected detachment for Jake, those plans were put on hold. You knew your question sounded so juvenile, but it was one of your biggest insecurities.

“They already love you.” It took all your will power to not roll your eyes at that.

“They don’t know me!” You didn’t count the occasional awkward conversations on speaker phone in Jake’s kitchen as you worked on dinner as knowing someone.

“I love you therefore they have no choice but to love you too.” His belief about it was sweet, but in your opinion completely unrealistic.

“That’s not how that works, J.” You countered with a laugh. 

“Please, love? I want you to know them and them to know you. I love you and I know they will too. You’ve told me about how things were for you growing up and how toxic the holiday’s could be. Let me, let us, show you that things can be different.”  He kissed your cheek, followed by your nose, and lastly your lips. Jake Seresin never begged, but he was begging now. You knew that meant he thought this trip was important.

“Okay, Jake. Take me home for Christmas.” Jake kissed you again, this kiss lasting longer than the previous. You moved your hands from his shoulders to the nape of his neck. Slowly, your fingers moved up into his hair, scraping your nails lightly against his scalp. He groaned, moving his lips from yours, over your jaw and down your neck. “You know where else you can take me?”

“Where is that, darlin’?” His accent was thicker than it was moments again.

“To bed.” He didn’t waste a moment, picking you up and yelling out to his Google home to turn off the living room light, all in the same breath. You both laughed as he tried to carefully make it to the stairs.

“Don’t let me fall!” You squealed as he started to climb them. 

“I would never.” The playful tone in his voice was gone. Instead he was now serious. The look in his eyes took your breath away. You’d never met a man like this; a man who could cause your heart to both go crazy and to stop without warning. Despite his constant need to be an arrogant asshole most of the time, you knew that mostly an act. The real Jake was the one who was currently holding you. The one who loved you and wanted to take you home to meet the family. The one that made being brave worth it. 

Maybe Christmas wouldn’t be so bad this year.

[freenewsreport]

How Did Jacoby Jones Die: A Life Cut Short, A Legacy That Endures

Jacoby Rashi'd Jones (July 11, 1984 – July 14, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). How did Jacoby Jones die? On July 14, 2024, the world of sports mourned the unexpected loss of Jacoby Jones, a renowned NFL wide receiver celebrated for his outstanding performances, particularly during Super Bowl XLVII. At just 40 years old, Jones passed away due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease, leaving fans, teammates, and the entire football community in shock. His sudden passing has sparked conversations about the silent risks of high blood pressure, even for those who lead active lifestyles.

Jacoby Jones' Storied Career and Super Bowl XLVII

Jacoby Jones' career was filled with remarkable achievements, but it was his performance in Super Bowl XLVII that etched his name into NFL history. Jones set a record for the longest kickoff return, a stunning 108-yard run that remains unmatched in the Super Bowl. His ability to make such awe-inspiring plays not only thrilled fans but also cemented his legacy as one of the most dynamic players in the game.

Throughout his career, Jones played with teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, earning a reputation as a reliable and versatile wide receiver. His athleticism and commitment to excellence made him a favorite among teammates and coaches alike. Yet, beyond his on-field accomplishments, Jones was known for his infectious smile and warm personality, traits that endeared him to those around him.

The Cause of Death: Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease

The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed that Jacoby Jones’ death was caused by hypertensive cardiovascular disease, a condition associated with prolonged high blood pressure. This condition can lead to a thickening of the heart muscles, restricted blood flow, and eventually heart failure. It is a stark reminder that even elite athletes are not immune to the dangers of high blood pressure.

Understanding Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease

Hypertensive cardiovascular disease is a result of consistently elevated blood pressure levels, which place undue stress on the heart and arteries. Over time, this can lead to serious complications such as:

Heart Failure: The heart becomes too weak to pump blood efficiently.

Coronary Artery Disease: Reduced blood flow to the heart muscles, increasing the risk of heart attacks.

Stroke: High blood pressure can weaken blood vessels in the brain, leading to hemorrhages or blockages.

Despite leading an active and seemingly healthy life, Jones’ death highlights the importance of regular health checkups and blood pressure monitoring, even for athletes.

Athlete Health: The Hidden Risks of High Blood Pressure

While athletes are often viewed as paragons of physical fitness, they are not invulnerable to conditions like high blood pressure. Factors such as stress, diet, and even genetics play significant roles in determining one’s cardiovascular health. Dr. John Higgins, a renowned sports cardiologist, emphasized that while athletes tend to have lower instances of hypertension, they are not exempt from its dangers.

Jones’ passing serves as a sobering reminder that even individuals who prioritize fitness must remain vigilant about their health. Regular screenings and proactive healthcare measures are essential to catch potential issues before they become life-threatening.

Risk Factors for Hypertension in Athletes

Genetics: A family history of high blood pressure increases one’s risk.

Diet: High salt intake, processed foods, and inadequate hydration can contribute to elevated blood pressure.

Stress: The pressures of professional sports can heighten stress levels, exacerbating the risk of hypertension.

Lifestyle Choices: Smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of adequate sleep are additional risk factors.

Legacy of Jacoby Jones: Beyond the Gridiron

The outpouring of grief following Jacoby Jones’ death was immense, with tributes from teammates, fans, and coaches flooding social media. Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh spoke fondly of Jones, recalling his contagious smile and positive attitude. J.J. Watt, another NFL great, described Jones as one of the most joyful teammates he had ever played with.

Jones’ impact extended beyond his accomplishments on the field. He was known for his charitable work and dedication to his community, often using his platform to give back to those less fortunate. His sudden death underscores the fleeting nature of life and the importance of leaving a lasting positive impact.

A Lasting Memory in the NFL Community

In April 2024, Jacoby Jones had taken on the role of head coach and offensive coordinator for the Beaumont Renegades, a new indoor football team set to begin competition in 2025. His move into coaching signified his desire to continue contributing to the game he loved, mentoring young athletes and sharing his wealth of knowledge.

Ray Lewis, another Ravens legend, perhaps summed up the collective feeling best when he said, “They can’t get the memories and the effort you put in, both on and off the field.” Jones will be remembered not only for his dazzling plays but also for the joy and camaraderie he brought to those around him.

Conclusion: A Life Cut Short, A Legacy That Endures

Jacoby Jones’ untimely death has sent shockwaves throughout the NFL and beyond. His passing is a reminder of the importance of maintaining cardiovascular health, even for those at the pinnacle of physical fitness. While the sports world mourns his loss, the legacy of Jacoby Jones will live on through his record-setting performances, his contributions to the game, and the countless lives he touched with his kindness and generosity.

As we reflect on How did Jacoby Jones die, it is clear that his impact transcends the game of football. His legacy will continue to inspire, both on and off the field.

[rainhalydia]

Hi! I recently read your post about Theon and Robb and I really enjoyed it. Thank you! I wanted to ask your opinion on the relationship between Robb and Sansa. How do you think she would feel(think) about him, when(if) she finds out about this whole exchange situation, Jamie Lannister, the will, etc?

Hi! Glad to know my nonsense was enjoyable! :D

Sorry if I don’t give you an answer as long and rambling as for the Theon-Robb question, but the relationship between Robb and Sansa doesn’t hold nearly as much ambiguity to me.

They both love each other dearly and they both see Robb as Sansa’s protector. They’re both sad when he fails in that job.

To elaborate a bit more, my impression is that not only Sansa, but all of Robb’s siblings see him as this third parental figure as the story goes on, not because Robb acts as a parent to them (though he does a bit for Bran and especially for Rickon), but because he’s meant to inherit Winterfell and all the obligations it brings as Lord Stark, including caring for his siblings, be it by giving them keeps, arranging or approving their marriages, etc. He is the one with the authority. They all accept as the natural order of things that Robb will be in charge once Ned passes. And given the way Ned’s death happens, no one is prepared for that, least of all Robb, and no one has spent much time thinking about it.

So once her father is gone - before that even, when Robb first starts moving south with an army - Sansa knows Robb is her best chance of escape. Mind, the information she actually gets is all distorted and edited, and she often suffers for his military victories, but this is what she thinks when she hears about it even after getting punished for it:

Robb will kill you all, she thought, exulting. "It's . . . terrible, my lord. My brother is a vile traitor."

And just a little while before that:

Joffrey gave a petulant shrug. "Your brother defeated my uncle Jaime. My mother says it was treachery and deceit. She wept when she heard. Women are all weak, even her, though she pretends she isn't. She says we need to stay in King's Landing in case my other uncles attack, but I don't care. After my name day feast, I'm going to raise a host and kill your brother myself. That's what I'll give you, Lady Sansa. Your brother's head."

A kind of madness took over her then, and she heard herself say, "Maybe my brother will give me your head."

Notice that this is after Joff has made her stare at her father’s head, so this giving her heads thing is already a sore spot for her, and she’s so angry at him that she lets herself voice her real wishes for a moment there regardless of consequences. Sansa can’t ever show her true feelings while in KL, or she can do so safely only rarely, but she’s team Stark, and team Robb, from the start. She has faith in her brother to the end.

(Which makes it all the more sad, imo, that Robb doubts her at first when he gets her letter, but this is not about Robb.)

For all that Sansa lays her faith on Robb as the person with the authority and means to free her, it’s Cat that is more willing to bend society’s mores and rules for Sansa and Arya, going so far as to accept Tyrion’s word with no real backing and freeing Jaime. Once Robb becomes king, he’s much more tied down by what is expected of him to maneuver freely to get his sisters back. And there’s also the fact that he doesn’t trust the Lannisters, isn’t willing to negociate further with them, and wants to avenge his father.

Towards the end, he has given up on getting his sisters back entiretly. He thinks Arya is dead and Sansa will be killed once the Lannisters get a heir from her. I don’t remember exactly, but I believe Sansa is 13 or 14 when they marry her to Tyrion. Now, we as readers know the lengths Tyrion goes to in order NOT to hurt Sansa, but from the Stark pov, he may have send an assassin to murder comatose Bran, he sent false envoys to free Jaime and he’s fully aligned with his family’s interests. Getting a child or more out of Sansa and killing her, if she doesn’t die from childbirth anyway (GRRM loves to kill women this way, but in this case it’s actually plausible, okay, Sansa is very far from finishing her body’s development), is exactly what Tywin would do if he had the chance! Robb is wrong in his conclusion here, but only because Tyrion has the guts to challenge his father.

On her side, if Sansa doesn’t get all the information coming from the field, she also has more info than Cat and Robb about some things. She knows she is the only hostage the Lannisters have, and therefore unlikely to be exchanged. Once her brother and mother die, she knows people want her for her claim. This is what she thinks following her wedding:

They have made me a Lannister, Sansa thought bitterly.

Sansa is notable for twisting the truth in her povs when they’re too ugly to deal with, but she doesn’t shy away from this. It was the Lannisters that made her a Lannister, it was the Lannisters who uprooted her and took her Stark identity from her, at least on the outside. They killed her father, they killed her mother and brother, they made her a prisoner. She doesn’t blame Robb for failing to come to her rescue, or for failing to exchange her for another hostage. She puts the blame where it belongs.

With her blaming the Lannisters and loving her older brother, and later with her living as a bastard and understanding Jon’s situation more and thinking fondly of him, I don’t think she’d ever blame Robb for not exchanging her for Jaime or for naming Jon as his heir. With the matter of the will, Sansa also lacks the entitlement as heir. This is what she thinks:

he heir to Winterfell, she would think as she lay abed at night. It's your claim they mean to wed. Sansa had grown up with three brothers. She never thought to have a claim, but with Bran and Rickon dead . . . It doesn't matter, there's still Robb, he's a man grown now, and soon he'll wed and have a son. Anyway, Willas Tyrell will have Highgarden, what would he want with Winterfell?

She nevers considers Winterfell as her birthright. Compare it with the way Arianne plots to make sure Quentyn doesn’t get her place or Asha is in open competition with Theon, however much she loves him. Winterfell is a place of safety for Sansa, not her due. Even later on, when Petyr is planning to use her claim to make her an attractive bride, or when she thinks she’s not a beggar because she has Winterfell, she’s thinking of it as her home where she was safe and loved, not so much her political position as Lady Stark.

So I think that, even if she learns the whole truth or mangled rumors about how her mother freed Jaime for love, etc, and that Cat wanted to exchange him for her and Arya and Robb didn’t want to do it, or if Jon is declared king, she won’t hate any of them. She will know they tried to do all they could and that unfortunately they failed, and she’ll do all she can to honor their love and legacy.

[thesimperiuscurse]

08.04

It’s The Kingston Legacy’s sixth anniversary, so here’s a throwback post to celebrate! Last month I forced myself to reread the entire legacy, and while I stopped, clicked off the tab, and emitted a soundless scream of pure cringe numerous times (I wish I was kidding)—the past generations are actually not as terrible as I remember. I think enough time has passed for me to detach myself from the childish storytelling and look back in nostalgia. 

Thank you to my fellow Wordpress writers who have come along the journey, some for many years now, through every high and low. It’s astounding how much has changed in the legacy from when I was 15, and 21. Follow me down the (very) long memory lane, as I reminiscence about each story and my perspective on them now ❤

Generation 1 — Fern (2015)

To my shock, I found myself genuinely enjoying Fern’s story. I think this was because the first generation was purely me commentating on gameplay, and not trying to write a story (that’s when the cringe began). I was inspired by one of the original stories, Alice and Kev, to make a homeless sim and document her struggle for a better life: Fern, a snobby aspiring writer. Reading this, a huge wave of nostalgia hit me, and it reminded me of how wonderful Sims 3 gameplay is. Although I’m long past it now, there’s real heart and life in the design. I think it speaks about the rich personalities and quirks that I could write a whole life story off it. It was super fun making Fern camp out at Old Pier Beach, stealing from townie picnics and roasting apples on the fire, finding little ways to scrounge money, giving her a makeover in the salon, watching the townie dramas unfold around her. Although she faced homelessness two times and a shitty first husband (yeah, fuck off, Xander), Fern grew into a strong and independent yet sweet and gentle character, in love with the ocean like her great-granddaughter comes to be.  

I never actually addressed this, but she (and her love Christopher) passed away in the story between the end of Gen 3 and start of Gen 4. It just felt weird to make it a big deal because they never died in game—still ‘alive’ and well, scattered across different backup saves and the bin.  

Generation 2 — Briar (2015)

Briar’s story was strange, because it was half gameplay and half story, which meant that there were things that just did not... make... sense. She was quite an ‘unreliable’ character to follow because of her Insane trait. The plot revolved around her as a fresh detective, investigating supernatural phenomena in Sunset Valley. Her character arc was almost the opposite to her mother’s: a naive, optimistic, silly girl hardening through trauma into a cold and ruthless police chief. Ash’s death was the one moment I felt true sadness in this legacy, because he did really die. Imagine me actually getting emotional over my characters, lmao. Wild. 

Also, Max is OP. To this day he is one of the best male characters in my legacy, a healthy and supportive best friend (to husband) in stark contrast to the following generation. 

Fallen Angels — Cherry (2016-2019)

Yes. It’s this generation. Square the fuck up, Cherry. I will fight her any day. Old readers will know of my pure hatred for this story. It’s been about two years since it thankfully ended. My verdict now?

It’s not quite as horrifically shitty, Gabriel and Lilith being a lot nicer than I remembered (Gabriel’s only a bit of a dick at the start), but it still has glaring problems, such as the pacing and clumsy handling of sensitive topics. The story would have been far nicer if it focused less on Cherry and Luc’s relationship and their respective issues, more on the found family and her relationship with Gabriel (which was rushed due to me despising the story by that point). During the first chapters, I was cringing spectacularly at the combination of Luc’s initial jackass behaviour and Cherry’s whining. Toxic as FUCK. I had to skip 3.8 and 3.9 entirely. These two (because of my own shameful mistake) tainted the generation in my eyes, and even though all of the characters grew from their toxicity, I can’t really see past that guilt to the better parts of the story. 

Jade has been telling me for years that this story isn’t all bad, and upon forcing myself to reread, I can see what you mean. I’m sorry LOL. Something that pleasantly surprised me was the writing quality (just the prose, not the actual story mechanics... lmfao), and Raphael, who made me smile every time he appeared. Every single careless, sarcastic line of his was a banger. The pictures are something else I like, too. Many of them stand up to the best ones in En Pointe—the fiery, gritty, industrial tones of Bridgeport just hits different. The world was rich and immersive, which is missing at the moment in En Pointe because of me being too lazy to build a proper Los Angeles world, but Act III is set in Boroughsburg so I’m excited to get back into the city scenes. 17 year old me wasn’t mature enough to tackle dark themes, but at least the visuals for them were nice, I guess. The atmosphere of the story I really enjoy. It’s just the toxic characters and way-too-angsty moments that ruin the whole thing for me. 

En Pointe — Evangeline (2019-)

And here we are now! The early chapters are kinda painful to read because 1) Mako looked so ugly and 2) the dialogue was so clumsy and generic. I sighed in relief when Chapter 5 came around, because it was then both of those aspects really began to improve. Eva’s voice was simple, with her punchy remarks, much less romantic and descriptive than Cherry, so it was interesting to see her voice becoming more complex and layered as I more understood her character. Also, me visibly struggling with the natural lighting and only getting a handle on it 7 chapters later has me shaking my head. 

I’m already beginning to identify issues with the story, mostly with character arcs and pacing. It’s a strange combination of fast pacing (spanning half a year in 8 chapters) and Eva becoming surprisingly comfortable with Mako’s touch due to their unusual pas de deux circumstances. It’s curious how real life time actually played into the pacing of the story—because of the slow publishing schedule, less time has passed in the story as real life, so it’s almost as if the time jumps were made up by real life time, making the jumps feel not too strange. Reading consecutively, however, Evako’s relationship growth doesn’t feel slow burn... a little underdeveloped, in a way, despite their lengthy conversations. I think that’s because of Mako being such a reserved and mysterious character, and that I’ve unconsciously come to rely on Tumblr to give more depth to the characters/relationships. Luckily, pretty much everyone who comments on the story also follows me here, so this dual-platform storytelling is okay, I suppose. I want to post more of #Mishako since there just isn’t enough time to explore their bromance in the story!

At the moment I’m not happy with the story, but it’s fine. I’m learning. There’s more than half the story to go, which means plenty of time to reflect upon the issues and improve. I’m really looking forward to Eva and Mako’s character arcs in Act III. At the moment their relationship is based on their natural chemistry and respect for each other, and since they are yet to face trials their bond isn’t super deep, but Evako are still my favourite couple in the legacy thus far, and feel much more real than any character I’ve written before. It’s been very interesting for my aro ass (and being way more logical than emotional) to figure out a dynamic that is actually compelling to me, because most of the time when I look at romance I’m just like 😐🤨 I’m liking it so far but we shall see how everything unfolds, because I have barely any idea what’s going to happen beyond Act II, lmfao. 

That’s it for my incredibly long throwback! I hope it was at least nice for the OG readers, and interesting for anyone else who managed to battle through this essay, haha. This family has been an integral part of me growing up, as a person and writer and artist (what I’ve developed in visuals I apply to architecture), learning a great deal of awareness about real life through story research, which is pretty cool now that I think about it. I’m aiming to finish En Pointe by the end of 2022. I’m excited for what unexpected changes are to come!

[ibloggingkits-blog]

New Post has been published on Blogging kits

New Post has been published on https://bloggingkits.org/acrush-the-boyband-of-women-winning-hearts-in-china/

Acrush: the boyband of women winning hearts in China

China’s today’s boyband have all the standard trappings: 5 appealing singers, upbeat song and a devoted fan base of young women. But in one crucial detail, they may be extraordinary. This boy band is made up entirely of girls.

China remains a conservative use in terms of gender roles, with enterprise and the government management closely male-dominated and sexist attitudes widespread. Process commercials frequently specify a preferred gender, and five feminist activists have been detained in 2015 for making plans activities to raise the attention of sexual harassment to mark International women’s Day.

However, Wang Tianhai, the Simon Cowell-rescue figure behind the scenes whose organization formed the band, says he has no purpose of pushing a political message. triumphing Hearts and Minds Those of us who are in community advertising and marketing realize how hard it’s miles to recruit human beings in our commercial enterprise. There are many reasons for that because the net is a giant field and network advertising and marketing is a dynamic industry. One of the reasons its miles difficult to recruit human beings is due to the fact there is a lot of competition in community advertising and marketing, mainly the fitness and well-being enterprise. Simply for example, according to the Direct Selling Association, there are forty new companies each month that enter the marketplace, maximum of them imparting the identical products and services as with current corporations, with mild version. With that level of opposition, you can actually see the big undertaking and barriers that marketers and enterprise owners face in recruiting human beings in their business.

As a depend on truth, opposition is not the most effective impediment that business owners face in recruiting people in their business. There’s also a totally high stage of negativity among the general public almost about Multilevel marketing or multi degree advertising. Some of that stage of negativity is warranted, because there are loads of terrible apples out there, a variety of awful programs and terrible corporations who are questionable, to say the least. the majority has been bombarded with quite a few unscrupulous offers from horrific companies and awful programs promising everything beneath the solar. There are lots and tons of programs accessible that human beings get into, a few have misplaced hundreds of greenbacks entering into these distinct schemes, matrixes, money gifting programs and others. There also are some appropriate companies within the industry. As an instance, There are numerous agencies inside the health and wellness discipline with many natural products that offer a stark alternative to the drug industry; which with the aid of my maximum account simplest delivers products with facet consequences, which does no longer assist the patient in any respect. So how does one move about recruiting human beings right into a health enterprise, with the high degree of negativity that surrounds community advertising?

One of the solutions which might be often talked about is branding, the want for the internet entrepreneurs to logo themselves, that’s to differentiate himself or herself from the various many companies and the numerous vendors available. Branding is a completely effective strategy but recruiting human beings right into an enterprise calls for only a little bit extra. This is why I got here up with a strategy which I call “triumphing hearts and minds” “prevailing hearts and minds” is a method which offers people accurate data on the various ways someone can learn to live a healthy life. “triumphing hearts and minds” is a method of elevating health focus approximately the numerous fitness sicknesses which include Diabetes, Heart Ailment, excessive Blood stress, automobile-immune Ailment and others which are plaguing the us. Coronary heart Disease, For example, is One of the main causes of loss of life inside the US and around the sector. it is quick and rapid and takes its victims by surprise, and frequently does not provide medical doctors and surgeons adequate time to address and connect the trouble.

people need to keep in mind that there are consequences to the choices that they make with respect to food. human beings need to increase wholesome ingesting conduct and that they need to live far from acidic food, excessive cholesterol, and high-calorie meals and adopt a low carb, low calorie, and coffee LDL cholesterol food regimen. good health isn’t always by means of twist of fate. Being conscientious approximate fitness, and keeping healthful consuming conduct will save you plenty of deaths and loads of illnesses. “prevailing hearts and minds” embody a dedication to educating people approximately health, and showing them a commercial enterprise in which they are able to keep proper health and make cash on the equal time. That is a system for success.

Win Hearts and Minds At the same time as Dictators Mind Wash Their Hundreds With Country Owned Media We positive hear quite a few oldsters communicate about “prevailing the hearts and minds” of the competition rather than combating, and in my opinion, when it comes right down it, that method without a doubt hasn’t worked all that nicely, now has it. Nonetheless, for the reason that concept is so fascinating to such a lot of decent People, do you watched that if we adjust our techniques and use a little higher PR, that we are probably capable of virtually pull it off?

Maybe we ought to decide on a President that would attraction to humans all over the international, and pay him to mention absolutely best things and make remarkable speeches complete of wish and trade, hm? properly, it looks as if that isn’t running and we certain went to a lousy lot of trouble to “win Those hearts and minds,” and Nevertheless, all the academic liberal-socialists say we want to try more difficult?

sincerely, like what deliver them money? We already are doing that too seemingly, and that is not running both. nicely, Maybe we need to do even extra, would that painting you observed? Dubious so as to show up with Arab news media, and the Chinese very own their media, and Chavez took over all of Venezuela, and that media Television and so on rarely stops on the borders. On every occasion we do whatever, the controlled media of those countries keeps to serve their will; regularly, against us, However someday fairly tolerant.

now not lengthy ago, an acquaintance of mine, speaking of Latin The united states and US Members of the family stated; “If we can win the minds and hearts of the peoples of these countries, wherein would those banana republic leaders be?”

We pay attention plenty about “triumphing the hearts and minds of the humans” But that is hardly ever an clean one, it takes generations. it’s far occurring but, albeit slowly, ever so gradual. Meanwhile, each time we surrender greater of America to do it. So, who’s prevailing, it seems we’re losing all the way round. whilst will human beings awaken and spot this truth? Please take into account all this.