#viola insurance

[heritage-instrument-insurance]

Why is the Viola a Popular Musical Instrument?

The viola is the oldest of the present day’s main stringed instruments, per-existing the cello, violin, and string bass. Viola, analogous to the violin, is a stringed musical instrument having lower and deeper sounds and therefore, is the alto voice of the violin family. It is to be noted that the viola is a very delicate but exquisite instrument therefore its safety must be ensured with viola insurance.

Originating in northern Italy between the years 1530 and 1550, the viola initially was viola da braccio which translates to the viola played in the arms. It mainly emerged after the instrument Soprano gained popularity in the mid-1500s.

Why is Viola so lovable?

Violas are in between violins and cellos in both size and tune. It has the alto voice between the violin being tuned to a perfect fifth above and the cello having a tuned octave below. Thus, it is the ideal instrument for those with not so high a range as violins.

Violas are rather unique in the sense very few people start by playing the viola.

Music of viola, violin, and cello can be played by a violist leading to more efficiency in music theory. The viola maintains the same string notes as the cello, but an octave higher, so music that is written for the cello can be easily arranged for the alto clef without any changes in key. Learning different clefs is also beneficial for a musician.

Playing viola leads to proficiency in different genres of music as violists can perform a wide variety of instruments’ music.

Playing the harmony is rather effortless than playing the melody, making the viola a perfect choice for beginners.

How Viola Differ from Violin?

Viola and violins, though similar in appearance, have significant differences that make them stand apart.

Size

The viola is slightly larger than the violin. Although the size of the viola is set, it usually ranges from 38cm to 43cm. A full-size violin has a 35.5cm long body. The bow of the violins is, however, somewhat longer than that of the viola.

Strings

Though both violins and violas are four-stringed instruments, the notes of each string differ. The viola string order from lowest to highest is C, G, D, A. Violin strings, on the other hand, go from G, D, A to E.

The viola has thicker strings and is tuned to be one-fifth lower than the violin leading to a lower range.

Sound

Violins are the highest-pitched instruments in the string family seconded by violas. A viola produces a deeper, mellow, and slower sound than violin because of its thicker strings.

Clef

One of the main contrasts between the violin and the viola is the clef that each instrument uses. Music for the viola is written in an alto clef, which uses the C clef. The viola is the only instrument to use the alto clef whereas the violin uses the treble clef.

Bow frog

The viola bows are a bit heavier, with curved frogs (end of the bow) than violin bows which are generally straight-edged. The viola bow also has a wider band of horsehair.

Techniques

The techniques used in playing viola and violin are different due to their sizes and tunes. The fingering is quite different as the viola has heavier strings which require more intense weight application to vibrate them.  However, both of them have the same manner of holding.

Use

The sound of violins is carried above another instrument hence, they are used to play the melody lines. They can also be used to harmonize whereas violas are mostly used to fill in harmonies.  Violas are more popular in folk music and violins in jazz music.

How to keep your Viola safe?

Violas are delicate musical instruments requiring care and maintenance. Restringing every 3 to 6 months, distancing polish and fingers from bow hair, and using humidifiers to avoid cracks to keep it safe are some ways to ensure the longevity of a viola. However, having viola insurance is the key to its long-time safety.

Conclusion

Viola can be thought of as an instrument that has seen the journey of evolution rather than being instantaneously invented. Due to the intrinsic property of the timbre, the viola has a melancholic and richer tone than the violin. Viola belongs to an extremely sophisticated and exquisite range of instruments; thus, it is recommended that professionals get their viola insured to ensure the safety of their viola. It has an undeniable contribution to the world of music though it was initially highly overlooked.

[shiraishi--kanade]

Subjectively rating everyone's instrument match ups from this official art for Sekai Symphony 2024

Without individual pictures because I'm on mobile.

Leo/need:

Ichika (electric guitar): sigh... Girl why are you like this. Unfathomable. I'll let it slide because it's Ichika. Rating: electic guitar/10.

Saki (violin): Saki does not give me violin vibes at all but I'm sure she'll kill it if she actually wanted to learn. 5/10

Honami (oboe): I'm deeply offended Honami isn't in the percussion section. 2/10

Shiho (trombone): the most non-brass player brass player known to world. I don't see how it fits her. 1/10

Overall rating: they don't get you like I do girls I'm so sorry

More More Jump:

Minori (trumpet): absolutely incredible. Yes she's a trumpet girlie. I can totally see that. 10/10

Haruka (flute): yes. Oh my god yes. She is so flute-coded she can rival only Mafuyu. 10/10

Airi (viola): very mean. Let her in the violin section. That said I can already see at least three interesting story lines connected to that. Carry on. 10/10

Shizuku (harp): need I say more? 10/10

Overall rating: they would carry the entire orchestra on their backs, 10/10

Vivid Bad Squad:

Kohane (saxophone): the mental image is hilarious and I can totally see Kohane falling in love with the sax but she gets points taken away from her because saxophone is so not a protagonist instrument. 8/10

An (double bass): ...well someone needed to be a bass player but An is not that someone. She's not even tall enough. Free her. 3/10 because at least she looks like she's having fun.

Touya (trombone): hehe funky slide go brrr. Yeah I can see that. 8/10

Akito (violin): I've told you he has violin vibes. I told you so. Absolutely perfect pick. I think Akito would be a good concertmaster as well. 10/10

Overall rating: decent picks but An was done dirty and should have been a cellist. 7/10

Wonderlands x Showtime:

Tsukasa (cymbals): my condolences to all the percussion section but also yeah that makes sense. 10/10

Nene (cello): itty bitty cellist her instrument is almost as tall as she is. I definitely see the image though. 10/10

Emu (tambourine): she will insure her part will he heard. That said I think she'd do better at the marimba or other percussion instruments. At least it's not a triangle? 7/10

Rui (viola): I did not consider that option before and now I'm considering it. I'm considering it so hard. Incredible. 9/10

Overall rating: they're thriving. 9/10

Nightcord at 25 am:

Kanade (viola): yes. Yes. I can see that. Go forth my child. Make the viola gang proud. 10/10

Mafuyu (flute): that's a flute player if I've ever seen one. 10/10

Ena (violin): oh her having the same instrument as Akito would destroy both of them and me in the process. I could write a novel about it. 10/10

Mizuki (trumpet): they're just having fun and being silly. 10/10

Overall rating: truly Sega's favourite child. 10/10

No VS rating because they have different enough personalities between units that I have no idea how to rate them! Sorry!

[dystopianam]

Modern Veronaville Roleplay: THE PLOT

I really don't know how to start this post, but @gingersimmerr and I besides the historical (1300+ circa) R&J based roleplay (TS2 storyline version with VV sims), also have a modern AU roleplay set in 2023 and...I feel like talking about it because yes.

I start by saying that it is very stereotyped and clichéd, it's a clear modern version of R&J, very similar to the storyline of the game but with a few more twists and with a little Life Is Strange vibes. (P.S: geologically speaking, many elements are invented, we are both Italian so we don't have enough accurate information about America)

AND, is full of headcanons, so not every character is 100% accurate to its original version. With that said, let's get started.

THE PLOT

Somewhere in America, there is a big town called Veronaville. The town has a style that is a mix between modern white villas and Mediterranean style villas. It's like a little Italy, but very few real Italians live there. Most people choose to live there just for the vibes.

Two young businessmen in theyr 20s have nearly control of the entire city, having bought practically everything in there. The two are so powerful that even the mayor of the city itself seems to have much less authority than the influence of them both.

They are Consort Thebe, a British man, and Patrizio Monty, an Italian man.

You just have to imagine them like the Landgraabs and the Prescott (of LIS).

Consort Thebe is from a royal family, Patrizio Monty is from a noble family instead.

Business is booming, the two are best friends and therefore celebrate every victory together... but something suddenly changes everything. An x reason causes a strong fight between the two.

The two of them split up, the city is literally divided between the Monty's and the Thebe's. For years, the two of them never meet again.

Many, many years later, the two meet by pure chance when both decide they want to buy the same business.

They are both married now. Patrizio married Isabella Pantalone, Consort married Contessa Capp, renouncing his surname (Thebe) for his wife's matriarchal family.

Now, they are elders and have "children" too (adult children!)

Patrizio have three children: Claudio, Antonio and Bianca.

Consort have four children: Goneril, Regan, Kent and Cordelia.

Both are waiting to become grandparents for the first time. Their daughters-in-law and daughters are expecting their first children.

Olivia, Claudio's wife, is pregnant with Mercutio.

Hero, Antonio's wife, is pregnant with Viola.

Cordelia is pregnant with Tybalt.

Tybalt is born. Mercutio is born, Viola, Romeo, Miranda, Juliette and Hermia are born.

This group of children plays together for many years, while their grandparents are still friends.

But a tragedy suddenly strikes the Capp family: Patrizio Monty, out of a hidden grudge, sets fire to a business building which he and Consort had purchased jointly. His excuse was that he wanted to collect a very big insurance, but unaware that the building was not empty, that day, Cordelia Capp, Consort's youngest daughter, lost her life in the flames.

The Capps are rightly in mourning. The Montys are reported to the police by the Capps and taken to court for arson and the murder of Cordelia Capp, but having no evidence, Patrizio is freed from all charges.

The two families split up. Now they despise each other to death. The children are separated.

It's been about 10 years. The children have now grown up and with them the resentment and feud between the two families.

The Capps attend a private school financed by themselves: the Stratford Academy, the Montys attend public school, but Patrizio wants a better education for his grandchildren and so, reluctantly (because the school is financed by the Capps) he is forced to enroll them to the only prestigious institute in the area.

It's a September evening. Patrizio and Isabella invited their entire family to have dinner together and celebrate their grandchildren's entry into private school. But there's a problem: everyone arrives... except Viola.

Hours pass. But it's getting terribly late, Viola doesn't even answer her cell phone. Mercutio and Romeo go to look for her, but only find her cell phone fallen in the alley that she would have taken to her grandparents' house. This means that Viola was coming but...something happened in the meantime.

Everyone at home is terrified. Patrizio doesn't want to call the police because that would draw too much attention to his family. Hero is tired of listening to her father-in-law's stupid reasons and so she calls the police.

After a couple of investigations, following some testimonies, the police are certain: Viola was kidnapped by someone.

Do you want to know the characters infos in another post...?

[desceros]

i genuinely applaud you for ur work desceros. i havent felt this much from a fic since like. forever. thank you for feeding the donnie rake

despite the emotional damages you have caused me (that insurance refuses to cover) i'm so excited to see how donnie and leo will make this up to violist-chan, if ever. like???? my god. these bitches fucked up but if i know a hopeless romantic it is that these bitches can't stand a story that doesn't have the heart somewhat repaired by the end!!!

i wonder if dr delicate touch is ever gonna have a cameo once he learns what his brothers have done to the one girl who had done nothing but give to them . hmmm . i wonder what raph knows.

psssttt let ur wrists rest please! ! i heard from this totally reliable source that writing some symphony fluff can instantly heal them !!!!!! (in all seriousness pls take care of yourself you absolute masochist of a writer)

and now you see why this damn fic has to be SO LONG. i mean. good god it's gonna take some leg work to get this all fixed up. (<- is staring at a mountain wondering how on earth i'm going to shovel it)

i can promise that viola-chan is going to have lots of time with mikey pretty soon. i don't think he's going to take very well to the shenanigans that have been going on in his home >:T

[nando161mando]

Oklahoma Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit of last Tulsa Race Massacre survivors seeking reparations

The suit was an attempt to force the city of Tulsa and others to make recompense for the destruction of the once-thriving Black district by a white mob. In 1921 — on May 31 and June 1 — the white mob, including some people hastily deputized by authorities, looted and burned the district, which was referred to as Black Wall Street.

As many as 300 Black Tulsans were killed, and thousands of survivors were forced for a time into internment camps overseen by the National Guard. Burned bricks and a fragment of a church basement are about all that survive today of the more than 30-block historically Black district.

The two survivors of the attack, Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, who are both now over 100 years old, sued in 2020 with the hope of seeing what their attorney called “justice in their lifetime.” A third plaintiff, Hughes Van Ellis, died last year at age 102.

...

The city and insurance companies never compensated victims for their losses, and the massacre ultimately resulted in racial and economic disparities that still exist today, the lawsuit argued. It sought a detailed accounting of the property and wealth lost or stolen in the massacre, the construction of a hospital in north Tulsa and the creation of a victims compensation fund, among other things.

[thechanelmuse]

Hughes "Uncle Redd" Van Ellis (1921-2023) ❤️🕊

Mr. Hughes was a WWll combat veteran and one of the last three survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, in which jealous European-American mobs went into the thriving, economic, 35-block area of the Greenwood district created by Black Americans (survivors and descendants of American chattel slavery) in Tulsa, Oklahoma known as “Black Wall Street,” and looted, burned & bombed it to the ground and murdered Black Americans through government sanction.

Justice for the Tulsa Race Massacre survivors has been intentionally slow-moving for over a century now to insure injustice is given to those who survived it. Even to the point where people try to bury the history or give a revisionist lie of it being a race riot. But just as reparations for US chattel slavery (perpetual ownership passed on through birth as someone's property and form of capital through labor and body), the debt is still owed from the US government.

The stolen generational wealth from forced labor, the stolen wealth from the Freedmen's bank ($93 million today) amongst other things, the stolen land to this day, and the continued remnants of slavery (including, Jim Crow, ethnocide and genocide) that are government sanctioned in our homeland our ancestors built from scratch. The debt will always be owed until it's paid. A debt doesn't die.

Reparations are currently happening at a slow pace across a number of states and municipality levels as of now, but at the same time we have to fight against Pan-African and obstructionist Democrats to ensure it's lineage-based for Black Americans only, direct cash payments to remove any hiccups, and protective policies our ancestors should've always had and we should've inherited.

When you don't have protective policies on the books for the largest ethnic group who descends from America and strip/impede on their potential accumulation of wealth and assets to pass down to their families, what do their descendants inherit?👂🏽

Some survivors and the descendants of Black Wall Street tried to rebuild their district, but when you're stripped of your wealth and "urban renewal" starts intruding I-244 called "Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Expressway" 😒 into your land, you can imagine the results. Mr. Hughes inherited displacement and poverty, passed down poverty to his family, and died in poverty. Mama Viola Fletcher, 109 (who is the sister of Mr. Hughes pictured above) and Mama Lessie Benningfield Randle, 108, are the last two survivors and still in the fight. They, too, live in poverty.

The passing of Mr. Hughes and our Black American ancestors will never go in vain as we continue to stand 10 toes down for them and us and see it through.

Rest easy, Uncle Redd (Jan. 11, 1921 - Oct. 9, 2023) ❤️🕊

This was his testimony before Congress in 2021:

[musicinsurancecompany]

Types of String Musical Instruments

String instruments have knitted their musical magic throughout human history. It travels from cultures and generations. From the ancient lyres of Mesopotamia to the sophisticated violins of the Baroque era, these instruments have been integral to the evolution of music.

This blog will take you through the rich canvas of string. It will also remind you about how crucial it is to buy a dedicated string instrument insurance plan to protect your gear, irrespective of its type or family. Let's read on!

Meet the Members of the String Family

Plucked String Instruments: As the name suggests, the plucked string instruments make a sound when you pluck or strum their strings. Some of the best examples include the guitar, banjo, harp, and sitar.

Guitar: It is a versatile instrument that has a long neck and comes with typically six strings, although variations do exist. It is central to diverse musical genres, including rock, jazz, blues, and classical.

Banjo: With its roots of origin in Africa and adopted in the Americas, the banjo features a circular body and four to six strings. It is a prominent part of folk, bluegrass, and country music.

Harp: Characterized by its vertical frame and strings, it is one of the oldest string instruments. You would hear it in classical, folk, and Celtic music traditions.

Sitar: It is a plucked string instrument from India. It has a gourd-shaped body and movable frets. It plays a vital role in Indian classical music, with its intricate melodies and rhythmic patterns.

No matter which type of plucked string you play or own, make sure to secure it with the right insurance policy dedicated to musical instruments.

Bowed string instruments

Bowed string instruments produce sound when you vibrate their strings with a bow. The instruments that fall under this category are:

Violin: With its four strings and high-pitched sound, the violin is a cornerstone of classical orchestras. It also features prominently in various genres, including folk, jazz, and popular music.

Viola: Slightly bigger than the violin and tuned lower, the viola adds depth and richness to ensemble performances. It plays an essential role in classical chamber music and orchestras.

Cello: Also known as the violoncello, the cello has a deep, resonant tone. It is integral to orchestral arrangements, chamber music, and solo performances.

Double Bass: It is the largest and lowest-pitched instrument in the string family. It makes the base of the sound of bands. It is indispensable in classical, jazz, and contemporary music genres.

Fretted String Instruments

Fretted string instruments feature frets. The latter are metal strips implanted along the neck to mark specific musical intervals. Examples include the following:

Bass Guitar: Similar in appearance to the guitar but with a longer neck and fewer strings, the bass guitar produces lower frequencies and serves as the rhythmic backbone in many musical ensembles.

Ukulele: A small, four-stringed instrument with roots in Hawaii, the ukulele exudes a cheerful, bright sound. It is popular in folk, pop, and Hawaiian music styles.

Zither Family

Zithers are string instruments featuring a flat body with strings stretched across it. They are played by plucking or strumming the strings.

Autoharp: Equipped with buttons or keys that dampen specific strings, the autoharp enables players to create chords effortlessly. You can see them being used in folk and country music.

Appalachian Dulcimer: Originating from the Appalachian region of the United States, the dulcimer has a long, narrow body and fretted fingerboard. Musicians cherish it for its sweet, melodic tones.

Now that you are well aware of the broadness of string instruments, probably, you have also understood how delicate these pieces of art are. Isn’t it? So, if you own a string or are planning to buy one, do not give a second thought to buying a standalone string instrument insurance plan. This may seem just another piece of formal document to you in the first place. However, its benefits go beyond the same. It protects your gear from many unforeseen events that may make you fall into financial doldrums.

[theretirementstory]

Bonjour tout le monde it’s 5c at the moment brrr! Hopefully it will warm up by this afternoon.

Do you ever get to Sunday and wonder where the week has gone and more importantly what you have done with the week? This is one of the reasons why I do this blog, it’s because I often think I have done nothing but when I look back I realise that you may have done a great deal.

I was happy to receive my “convocation” for my appointment with the oncologist, it is for Friday 23rd. Although I am pleased to have the appointment it coincides with my knitting group which is a little sad. I have my taxi booked and fingers crossed I am not there for hours and hours.

Yet another little “hitch” with regard to water and this time it wasn’t just hot water it was a lack of any water! Anyway I asked the plumber to call and it was found that the tap was full of limescale. We got it all sorted, a new tap and waste for the bathroom and I am a happy bunny again.

It’s coming around to the renewal of my house insurance, which is currently held with a company in Poitou-Charentes. I have been very happy with the insurer I chose in town for my other policies so I have asked them to give me a quote. It was promptly done and so I should soon be insured in a “one stop shop” in town.

My American friend rang me from the states, where she is currently having treatment. She asked if I could go to her home and photograph her garden. Imagine my surprise when there were two men at her home (one a workman) they said come in and look at the rear garden too. Then the workman took me round the ground floor asking me to take photos of the work he is doing in the kitchen. What a pleasant surprise that was not only for me but also for my friend.

Yesterday, a friend in the UK messaged to tell me that her grandson had put in an appearance early that morning. He was not full term, actually only 26 weeks, so here is hoping that his mum and him get through these days and weeks. Quite a surprise and a worry I would imagine too.

Let’s have a look at my choice of songs for this week. They go quite a way back, the first song taken from an album which my sister had long before we even had our first Dansette record player. It’s music I remember hearing, even though my age hadn’t attained double figures, I still love the tracks today as much as at that time. So taken from the album “Aftermath” by the Rolling Stones released in 1966 is the track “Under My Thumb”.

The second song is from 1971, the first single for this band. The band featured the super talented Roy Wood, along with Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan who had been part of the group “The Move”. The song was so totally different to anything else at that time it was “10538 Overture”. Both groups have had some amazing songs and it can be hard to choose a favourite but these songs have always had a place in my heart.

I sometimes feel I am a little boring about my garden, ok so it’s not everyone’s idea of a beautiful place but believe me I do the best I can do to have some colour out there. Two years ago I planted up a planter and I loved that so much. I decided to change the compost, remove any dead plants and replant any others. I had bought a pack which turned out to be 10 primulas not 8 as I first thought. They had been in the supermarket too long, were dry as a bone and a lot of them looked dead! However, looks can be deceptive and a quick “snip” to remove brown and broken leaves found that they were pot bound and in need of a very big drink. I rejuvenated the planter and put the remaining primulas into the “potager” hoping to help them improve. I want to lay cardboard in the rear garden and “re-home” the primulas and the violas that self seeded last year. This morning I was so upset as I saw that “something”, possibly a cat, had dug up three of the primulas in order to use the potager as a toilet. It has also been using the high planter as a toilet, last year I grew beetroot, lettuce, radish and spring onions in that planter. It’s very disappointing and I even felt “what is the point” in growing stuff if some animal is going to keep messing in the earth. However, it does give me a lot of pleasure seeing my plants growing so should I fight back?

I really must send another email to my friends in Bristol. I haven’t heard from them since the beginning of the year and it’s not like them to be in touch.

Monique is still not well and will be seeing the oncologist on Monday 26th. It’s a couple of weeks since I have seen Anie too, time flies!

“The Photographer” had a weeks holiday from work last week as it was his daughters “half term” from school. On Monday he took his two children (aged 5.5 and 2.5 years) on the train to London. He stayed with his Aunt and Uncle and had planned visits with the children to the zoo and the Natural History Museum. The children had a wonderful time, so did “The Photographer” but he was exhausted by the time he got home on Thursday. The children returned to their Mum on Friday and we excited about going, obviously they had a lot to tell her. Yesterday, he was at Scarborough AFC taking photos of their game.

“The Trainee Solicitor” and “Ex-Graduate” have finished work now for a well earned week of rest and relaxation. They are heading to the Yorkshire Dales for some good country air, a little walking and perhaps a lot of reading!

Sorry just had a little break, it was time for tea and cornflakes 😉.

Yes the cat has been back and turned the earth in the potager, so I have put more pepper down, plus today, I will put stakes into the earth and let’s see it try to “squat” there!

I tell myself every morning that I will have a walk and do I? Not everyday and actually the days I do go out for that walk are getting fewer and fewer. I had a good walk one day and was spurred on for more of the same but after a shorter walk the following day it has tailed off again! I really must “programme” myself to a walk.

So now I am going to send a message or two to friends, read my book for a short time. Do the normal household jobs, bed making, washing up etc. Start the “walking programme” and generally find something to tell you about next week 😂.

Bon dimanche!

[chordsykat]

📚✏

Allllrighty then and thank you for the clarification!

📚 What grammar mistakes do you always make?

Oh hunny, what grammar mistakes haven't I made (this week)? The usual:

It's/Its, You're/Your, Alot, Viola!

Affect vs. effect, insure vs. ensure, not putting the period after vs

Capitalizing Too Many Things (especially I's in comic bubbles, oof)

And lately I realize what a heavy-ass reliance I have on autocorrect for speeling and grammmmar in general. Its atroshious.

✏️ What is your fave fic from another writer?

God, so many. Of yours, In Perpetuity is absolutely stunning in all ways. I also love In Bloom/To Thrive, and The Pariahs when I want to feel warm and squishy. Also, I might be biased but The Key was very nice, as well. ;3

Prompt list is here!

[beardedmrbean]

Pre-election polls suggested that Swiss voters had three main concerns: Rising fees for the obligatory, free market-based health insurance system; climate change, which has eroded Switzerland’s many glaciers; and worries about migrants and immigration.

The final tally late Sunday showed the people's party, known as SVP by its German-language acronym, gained nine seats compared to the last vote in 2019, and climbed to 62 seats overall in parliament's 200-member lower house. The Socialists, in second, added two seats to reach 41 in that chamber, known as the National Council. 

It marked the latest sign of a rightward turn in Europe, after victories or electoral gains by conservative parties in places like Greece, Sweden and Italy over the last year, even if voters in Poland rejected their national conservative government last week.

A new political alliance calling itself The Center, born of the 2021 fusion of the center-right Christian Democrat and Bourgeois Democrat parties, made its parliamentary election debut and took third place – with 29 seats, eclipsing the free-market Liberal party, which lost a seat and now will have 27. 

Environmentally minded factions were the biggest losers: The Greens shed five seats and will now have 23, while the more centrist Liberal-Greens lost six, and now will have 10.

Political analyst Pascal Sciarini of the University of Geneva said Monday that the result was largely a “swing of the pendulum” and that support for the Greens was diluted in part because many voters felt they had already taken a big step toward protecting the environment by overwhelmingly approving a climate bill in June that will curb Switzerland's greenhouse gas emissions.

“At first glance, it’s a bit surprising because the climate crisis is even more present than it was four years ago – when climate worries were the dominant issue among the population,” he said.

He suggested that the bounce back for the SVP was a sign that rising insurance premiums and concerns about growing migration into Switzerland captured many voters’ minds this time.

“It’s perhaps that there was a sort of competition among concerns – and that made the job harder for the Greens to make climate concerns the dominant theme in the media,” Sciarini said.

Overall, the vote isn’t likely to have significant impact on Swiss foreign policy, he said. The country’s executive branch operates like a permanent government of national unity, where no single faction has total sway – what’s known among the Swiss as their “magic formula” of democracy to ensure balance and moderation, and ensure that personalities don’t dominate politics. 

Even with their electoral victory, the SVP only holds just over 30% of seats in the lower house. The composition of the legislature, which is elected every four years, ultimately shapes the composition of the executive branch, which is called the Federal Council and includes President Alain Berset, who plans to leave government at the end of the year.

But the legislative vote result won’t significantly alter the composition of the Federal Council, where the SVP already has two seats – as do the Socialists, the free-market Liberals, while the Center has one.

The Center party, by outscoring the Liberals, may make a bid to swipe one of their two seats, and the Socialists will have to choose a successor for Berset; Those are the only likely changes to the Federal Council.

The Swiss president is essentially “first among equals” in the seven-member council, where each of the members hold portfolios as government ministers and take turns each year holding the top job – which is essentially a ceremonial one to represent Switzerland abroad. Berset will be succeeded next year by centrist Viola Amherd.

In Switzerland, voters also participate directly in government decision making. Voters regularly go to the polls – usually four times a year – to vote on any number of policy decisions. Those referendum results require parliament to respond.

More broadly, Switzerland has found itself straddling two core elements to its psyche: Western democratic principles like those in the European Union – which Switzerland has refused to join – and its much vaunted “neutrality” in world affairs.

A long-running and intractable standoff over more than 100 bilateral Swiss-EU agreements on issues like police cooperation, trade, tax and farm policy, has soured relations between Brussels and Bern – key trading partners.

The Swiss did line up with the EU in imposing sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. The Federal Council is considering whether to join the EU and the United States in labeling Hamas a terror organization. Switzerland has joined the United Nations in labeling al-Qaida and Islamic State group as terrorists.

Switzerland, with only about 8.5 million people, ranks 20th in world economic output, according to the International Monetary Fund, and it’s the global hub of wealth management: where the world’s rich park much of their money, to benefit from low taxes and a discreet environment.

[phdmama]

15 questions

thank you for the tag darling @sitp-recs!! Gosh I haven’t gotten myself together in ages to do one of these!!  Imma tag... let’s see: @phoebe-delia @julcheninred @kingsofeverything @allwaswell16 @mxlfoydraco  and YOU!!! (Like, for real!!)

are you named after anyone? my first name is original to me (in my family obvs), it’s a common name with an uncommon spelling and I have a very uncommon nickname! My middle name is my paternal grandmother’s, who I never knew but seems like she was pretty amazing.

when was the last time you cried? I haven’t had a full-out weep in a while but I get teary all the time. When I was talking to my husband this morning about the impact of my new meds and realizing how fucking compromised I’ve been, now that the fog is starting to lift. I got teary.   

do you have kids? well it’s in the name! Yes, I do. I have three human kids and two cats. 

do you use sarcasm a lot? I do some? I’m super SUPER concrete so it’s difficult for me, because It often just feels mean and I cannot handle that. It’s taken me 23 years with my husband to be able to bicker/banter in that way, because he’s the person I trust the absolute most in the world, and I know he would never be mean to me. My kids often will spell it out for me (IT’S A JOKE MOM).

what’s the first thing you notice about people? smile

what’s your eye colour? It says blue on my driver’s license but I do have some center heterochromia so I have a ring of yellow around my pupil.

scary movies or happy endings? oh I am way way WAAAAY too anxious to handle seriously scary movies. I cannot do horror. I do, however, deeply enjoy natural disaster films, especially involving asteroids or volcanos. I always want a happy ending though. I’m well-aware that reality doesn’t always give us that, so I like it from my entertainment.

any special talents? I’m pretty musical, I have a good ear and a decent enough voice. I play violin, viola, some piano and was doing guitar for a while but kind of lost momentum.

where were you born? Large city in the midwest of the US!

what are your hobbies? too many omg. Knitting, sewing, photography, reading, writing (obvs), taking classes (my husband has BANNED me from any more degrees goddamnit), music...

do you have any pets? two cats and three kids!

what sports do you play/have you played? I am... let’s call it, not really an organized sports kinda of pal. I studied martial arts for about 10 years, I’ve done a LOT of yoga, running, barre, recreational skiing. Oh wait, I swam on the swim team for a few years as a kid but that was approximately 8 billion years ago. I played soccer for literally one day, but my god. So much running. 

how tall are you? 5′ 4.5″ and I’m the fucking shortest one in my family

favourite subject at school: honestly I love to learn, and if the teacher is good, I’ll be into It. I took some philosophy classes in college that absolyutely blew my mind wide open and changed me as a person. I loved research design, psychopathology, my counseling classes in my MA and PhD. I fucking love statistics SO MUCH. Like, a lot. Linear algebra was super fun. In my MS program, I really enjoyed my research design classes, my quant class, my digital behavior data class, text as data is cool but the prof was not so good, and my causal inference class was incredible. I’m taking data ethics right now which is so fun except for how the entire class is, you know, wrong. So, I guess I just really love a lot of things.

dream job: realisitcally, a data ethicist in health care resarch. If I could get paid and health insurance to sit around and read and get spa treatments, well, I’d definitely do that. I’ve learned that I actually really do not want to be paid for the hobbies I do for enjoyment (crafting, photography, writing etc), as it completely saps the joy from it for me.

[heritage-instrument-insurance]

Importance of a Separate Insurance for Your Viola

The viola is one of the most popular members of the string family and has been holding a phenomenal position in modern orchestras as well. When you choose a viola over any other string instrument, you consider it the best and most compatible among all other musical equipment. And, there is no doubt, since it’s close to your heart, you would take extreme care so that you don’t have to lose your beloved gear due to uncertainties.

Daily cleaning is one of the essential requirements for string instruments to keep them away from dust, dirt, or rosin, as these are enemies of your beloved viola. However, daily care is not sufficient for your valuable gear. The reality is that unforeseen situations are beyond your control that can inflict damage to the instrument, and you cannot stop them from happening. The best part is that, like your expensive car or home, there is a separate policy designed only for your string instrument. For best protection, Viola Insurance is the only option that provides the most suitable coverage and safeguards it financially throughout life.

If your musical gear is under the homeowner’s insurance policy, it’s essential to remember that it has not been underwritten to provide full coverage to the musical equipment. Hence, having specified musical insurance is the best solution for the ultimate protection of your gear. 

Why Do Musicians prefer Dedicated Musical Insurance over Homeowner Insurance?

If you are satisfied with the homeowners' insurance presuming it provides sufficient coverage for your music gear, you must be in the wrong perception. It’s a fact that a household policy covers musical instruments along with other belongings, but it does not provide adequate coverage. First and foremost, you should safeguard your valuable gear with a policy designed only for your string instrument. There are many instances where homeowner insurance fails to cover the damage, and as a result, you end up with enormous losses.

Here are some incidents where you would not get any financial benefit if you have only homeowner insurance:

• If your equipment gets damaged at home, you can only claim the repair cost up to a specified limit. Homeowner insurance does not provide full coverage.

• Since you are a musician, you must travel a lot throughout the year. Unfortunately, if you lose your musical gear during transit, your existing homeowner insurance will not provide any coverage. The household policy is only effective if the damage occurs at your insured premises.

• If your equipment gets damaged by natural calamities like floods or earthquakes, your household policy will not cover the loss that standalone musical insurance does.

• What if your beloved string instrument gets stolen or broken during a music event? If you have opted for Viola Insurance, you will remain fully secure as it provides adequate coverage even at a gig or concert. On the contrary, homeowner insurance does not cover damage outside of the premises.

• If you are a professional musician, your priority is to secure your gear and remain financially protected so that you do not face any losses. In any music event, if a participant gets bodily injured and holds you for compensation, in such a situation, liability insurance safeguards you from financial hazards and legal complications. Homeowner insurance does not cover this kind of damage.

How Do You Identify the Best Insurance Company for Your Instrument?

Before finalizing the service provider for your valuable gear, do thorough research and collect all the necessary details about the top insurance companies that have a strong online presence and good reviews, as testimonial speaks a lot about any company.

Positive feedback from existing users will give you a distinct idea about the product and services. Also, before signing the application form, you should ensure the insurance company has enough knowledge about the instrument you want to get insured. In this context, the company that deals with musical instrument insurance is considered the most suitable one for your valuable gear.

Key Objectives

Undisputedly, insurance has a vital role in the music industry. Your string instrument is at risk without suitable coverage, and without any doubt, Viola Insurance is the best component that provides adequate coverage and secures your gear financially throughout life.

[todays-just-a-daydream]

lesson no. 1 in ticketmaster: just say no

looking at tickets for a local show to gauge the fees that ticketmaster might add on the oasis general sale tickets tomorrow.

this show i’m using as an example is a week from now. it probably will not sell out as it’s a new artist in a venue that’s outdoors and typically doesn’t sell out completely.

i click on general admissions for 2 tickets. they are listed at $35 each. so $70 face value and i’m curious what service fees will be added to $70.

but once i go check out, ticketmaster gives me an alert that the price of the ticket i selected has changed. say what?

my $35 per ticket price has changed to $49 each. but i looked at the venue map. i know what i clicked on. the $49 ones are in front of the section i want.

so i say no. i close out my checkout and go back to the venue page and click on the same tickets again.

then i go to checkout again. this time i get no message about any price change. the $35 price holds and it calculates the total with fees added. viola!

let’s be real, this is a scam. they tried to tell me the price had change to get me to buy a more expensive ticket. but the price hadn’t changed! obviously here, the difference is only $30. but you can see how much worse it would be if the ticket prices are double or even triple that price.

now obviously when you’ve been waiting in a queue for ages the last thing you want to do is close out. but in fact i saw multiple people name this as a method in the first uk round of tickets for getting the price they wanted. it did not impact your line in the queue. you can drop a ticket and add a ticket without a problem.

think of it as asking a grocery store clerk to help you get an item from the top shelf. you tell them what you want and they return with something different. what would you say? of course you’d say no i don’t want that one i want this one. same here.

lesson 2: service fees are killer.

the service fee comes out to less than $10 per ticket. that looks smaller and more acceptable cause the ticket is cheaper. but do some simple math. $8.90 out of $35? that’s 25% of the ticket price. so if the ticket is $350, is the ticketmaster service fee now $89 per ticket or $178 for 2 tickets ? cause that’s gonna bump a $200 ticket to $300 and a $300 ticket to $400.

keep this in mind when writing down your preferred price and ceiling price. if it goes beyond your ceiling price, don’t pay.

lesson 4: don’t forget to add insurance.

this is oasis. oasis in america. after a decade long feud. look they’ll most likely be fine. but let’s be real their track record is not so good. it’s a year out. no one really knows the real state of the gallaghers relationship. too many unknowns here. i’d never do it normally. but here, it qualifies. fork out for the insurance.

some links i found helpful:

reddit presale thread / metlife map with prices / metlife seat views / reddit ticket guide

have some tips for surviving ticketmaster? share them below.

see you on the queue at noon. (or you know in 30 minutes for the waiting room cause ticketmaster wants to eat my whole day.)

[kmp78]

“If I want EXCELLENT QUALITY CARE, then you better fucking believe it costs money. 💰”. Then I guess all that bragging about how wonderful and free Finnish health care is was just lying again, huh. 🤨. Funny how your stories change when you need them to.

Lol. 😂

Of course basic quality is good too! How else do you suppose Finns are alive and kicking?! 😂

But like IN ALL COUNTRIES, money talks here as well and if you want to pass by those 5000 lining up to snatch up the same dentist appointment you are, then guess what?

YOU WHIP OUT A CREDIT CARD AND VIOLA! 🤷🏼‍♀️

And btw even with money, we get shit cheaper than in many other countries!

I had to have a tooth fixed and it was 200€ (and I'll hopefully get smthg back from insurance).

In many other countries there might have been a 0 at the end of that price tag! 🤷🏼‍♀️

Finland 4 da win. ✌️🇫🇮

[sidewalkstamps]

C. L. Peck Contractor (Photo taken by me on May 11, 2022)

C. L. Peck Contractor was started by Clair L. Peck Sr. in 1915 or 1918 in Los Angeles, CA. He was born in Michigan City, Indiana on May 5, 1881, the son of a lumberman. He went to Purdue University and, while there, competed in track and basketball at the same time as finishing his four-year engineering degree in three years. The firm "became known for erecting office buildings, classical church structures, warehouses and corporate headquarters" (LA Times). The Los Angeles Business Journal said the firm "specialized in creating fireproof buildings." "He was considered an expert in reinforced concrete almost from the beginning of its use in construction and was noted for his craftsmanship" (NY Times). His full name is Clair Leverett Peck. He was born in 1881 and died in 1971. He was married to Viola Curtis Peck. The LA Times described him as "the contractor who literally built much of Southern California, from the Capitol Records Building to the Bonaventure Hotel... to the Crystal Cathedral and the Orange County Performing Arts Center." The company constructed more than 1,200 buildings in Los Angeles, including 40 buildings along Wilshire Boulevard. Some other buildings include: the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, "the Forum in Inglewood, high-rises in Century City and most of the chapels and other buildings at the Forest Lawn parks." According to The New York Times, "Saks Fifth Avenue had Mr. Peck build its first Los Angeles area store, in Beverly Hills, with no written contract." He died April 23, 1971 at the age of 89 at Good Samaritan Hospital and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.

Peck was the Peck of Leonardt & Peck! I think my Leonardt post might be the longest ever, but this one is pretty close! His bookkeeper was named Meda Green and she lived on Hartford Avenue (Westlake). Weirdly in the same 1927 city directory, Peck is president of C L inc at 354 S Spring (Downtown) and vice president of another General Contractors firm of unclear name (with A S Bent as president, whom I've written about before) at 257 S Spring room 430. Finally, in the same directory, Beverly Hills Realty Board is in the "C L Peck bldg" in Beverly Hills (???!).

He had two sons, who both worked in his company: Edwin and Clair Leverett Peck, Jnr., who was born on November 18, 1920. Jnr went to Los Angeles High School. He was married to Emily Lutz and then Margo Ryan (according to a contributor to Find A Grave, he had another wife named Linda Hussey and three step-children through her). He had three children from his first marriage to Emily Lutz of Brentwood (assuming the Los Angeles neighborhood): Clair L. "Peter" Peck III, Nancy Peck Birdwell, and Suzanne Peck. He also had a sister named Sally Peck Carson and seven grandchildren. He had an engineering degree from Stanford and served in the U.S. Navy in World War II before joining his father's company in 1945. He expanded the business's work "erecting major department stores for Nieman Marcus, Robinsons-May, Broadway and Bullock's, the Sherman Oaks Galleria, Fashion Island in Newport Beach and much of the original South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. He worked with some luminary architects as "John Portman on the Bonaventure Hotel, Philip Johnson on the Crystal Cathedral, Charles Luckman on the Forum, I.M. Pei on the Creative Artists Agency in Beverly Hills, and Bill Pereira on the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Building in Newport Beach."

The Byron Jackson plant in Santa Ana, CA was designed by John Kewell & Associates and constructed by C. L. Peck (see source below).

In this photo, Melba Rardin and L. A. Claypool survey the excavation for an addition to St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, CA in 1961. C. L. Peck was the contractor for the creation of "a new six-story-and-basement wing for the hospital" for $5.5M USD which was planned to add 256 patient beds and other facilities. Claypool was the "clerk of works" for Peck.

In 1976, Peck was "elected to the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and, as chairman of its building committee, oversaw construction of the bank's new building at 101 Market St." The firm also built the Hibernia Bank building in San Francisco. He also served on the boards of the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, Investment Company of America, Farmers Insurance, Northrop Corporation, Los Angeles Children's Hospital, and Metropolitan YMCA. Additionally, he had been president of San Francisco's Bohemian Club, Los Angeles's California Club, and the Los Angeles Country Club. "In 1985 he was the recipient of the Y.M.C.A. Dr. Martin Luther King Human Dignity Award."

As of 1981, C. L. Peck Construction Inc. was located at 626 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 925 in downtown Los Angeles, CA. They had a General Building Contractor license from the California Contractors State License Board from February 27, 1981 through February 28, 1997. Weirdly they were exempt from Workers Compensation Insurance? Victor Herbert Siegel was the Responsible Managing Officer, John Lee Willis was CEO/President until September 26, 1983, Paul John Matt was the Responsible Managing Employee from May 7, 1991 until July 15, 1991, Allen Marvin Katz was RMO/CEO/President until only November 16, 1983, Louis M Stafford was RMO/CEO/President from then until April 7, 1987, and William Alan Worthington was "Officer" until February 15, 1983.

In 1986, C. L. Peck Contractor (the 53rd-largest construction company in the USA in 1986 and one of five largest contractors in California by the time of his death) and Jones Bros. Construction Corp. agreed to merge. By then they had "dominated the heavy construction business in Southern California for more than half a century." Apparently the reasoning behind their merger was the increased competition from overseas and out-of-state companies. The plan was to become Peck/Jones and have their headquarters on Wilshire Blvd. in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. C. L. Peck, Jr. would be the chairman, with Jerve M. Jones the chief executive. According to the Los Angeles Times, "the Peck and Jones families will continue to be the sole stockholders of the merged concern, which is estimated to have annual revenue of about $400 million and a work force of about 500."

He died on December 14, 1998 at 78 years old at the UCLA Medical Center from a massive stroke. He is burried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.

According to Open Corporates, C. L. Peck Construction Inc.'s registered address was 122 S. Westgate Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90049 and there was a filing in 1999 of a Certificate of Dissolution. In January of 2021, Suzanne Peck was added as CEO and then, in July of 2022, there was a change of status from Dissolved to Terminated.

In 2005, Peck/Jones had "been forced into bankruptcy proceedings by its creditors" in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles "by one of its clients and two subcontractors who claim they are owed nearly $400,000." In another bankruptcy filing at the "U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Redlands Community Hospital and other companies said they were also owed significant amounts of money.

It's unclear if Jones Construction Management is the current name of that firm or if the Jones Brothers' descendant, Eric Jones, is just using their legacy for the company he founded in 2008. According to him, the Jones Brothers acquired C. L. Peck Contractors rather than it being a merger (www.jonescm.com).

"Building Contracts Recorded" Southwest Builder and Contractor, F. W. Dodge Company, 1919.

“C L Peck Construction Inc.” C L Peck Construction Inc · 626 Wilshire Blvd Suite 925, Los Angeles, CA 90017, OPENGOVUS, opengovus.com/california-contractor-license/399308. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.

“C. L. PECK CONSTRUCTION INC.” Opencorporates.Com, opencorporates.com/companies/us_ca/0999492. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.

“Clair L. Peck Sr., 89, West Coast Builder.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Apr. 1971, www.nytimes.com/1971/04/25/archives/clair-l-peck-sr-89-west-coast-builder.html.

“Clair Leverett Peck Jr. (1920-1998) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com/memorial/73675251/clair_leverett_peck. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

“Clair Leverett Peck Sr. (1881-1971) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com/memorial/73673866/clair-leverett-peck. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

Kelly, Howard D. “Byron Jackson plant, Santa Ana.” LAPL Tessa, 1956, https://tessa2.lapl.org. February 14, 2024. 

Los Angeles City Directory, 1921, Los Angeles Directory Co. accessed through Los Angeles Public Library.

Los Angeles Directory Co.'s Los Angeles City Directory 1927, Los Angeles Directory Company Publishers, accessed through the Los Angeles Public Library.

Melba Rardin and L. A. Claypool survey excavation for St. Joseph Hospital’s addition. 11 July 1961. Los Angeles.

"Obituary for Clair Leverett Peck Jr." The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, December 17, 1998. pg. 65.

Oliver, Myrna. “Clair L. Peck Jr.; Contractor Built Southland Landmarks.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 1998, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-16-mn-54665-story.html.

Shiver, Jube. “2 Big Builders of L.A. Landmarks Agree to Merge.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 1986, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-02-fi-3629-story.html.

Staff-Author. “Peck/Jones Headed to Bankruptcy Court under Chapter 7.” Los Angeles Business Journal, 2 Jan. 2005, labusinessjournal.com/news/peckjones-headed-to-bankruptcy-court-under/.

[oldmanbayou]

2023 Year End Survey

1. How did you ring in the new year for 2023? caught covid for the third time

2. Who did you kiss at midnight/your first kiss in 2023? Ames

3. What did you do in 2023 that you’d never done before?: drove a standard, lived alone, grew carrots

4. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? It looks like my new years resolution last year was to opt out of sibling birthdays, which yes, I absolutely succeeded at. Didn't shop for any of them, didn't worry or think about their birthdays coming up, I don't think I even bothered wishing them a happy birthday!

I can't imagine I'll be making any new years resolutions for 2024--I need a break from failure.

5. Did anyone close to you give birth?: God I hope not.

6. Did anyone close to you die?: My sister's cat Snickers was such a love.

7. What places did you visit?: Disneyland and Baltimore

8. What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?: joy

9. What dates from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?: January 13 - Nermal Day March 14 - The day the sky fell September 11 - Grimey left Day December 12 - Grimey return day

10. What was your biggest achievement of the year?: Making it to the end.

11. What was your biggest failure?: Taking out the trash while Grimey was away. Giving Nermal a better life. Keeping the chickens safe from each other. Keeping the truck alive. Get a passport. Not panicking on a work trip where I had to god forbid, travel alone. Not panicking in the middle of the bread aisle. Not panicking every time I leave the house. Not dissociating for 3 months. Not just living off of goldfish crackers and popcorn for 3 months. Among a million other things.

12. Did you suffer illness or injury?: crippling depression

13. What was the best thing you bought?: an awl

14. Whose events required celebration?: Grimey fulfilled his life dream of wrestling in Japan.

15. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?: It's hard to be furious at others when I've paid no attention whatsoever to the world outside my own head.

16. Where did most of your money go?: Besides the boring american adult stuff like property tax and health insurance premiums -- My immune system seems to behave like a 90-year-old, so my doctor ordered a bunch of lab tests to rule things out. Since everything came back negative, my insurance company disagreed that the tests were medically necessary. I am severely phobic of needles--I don't just take blood tests for funsies, you chumps.

17. What did you get really, really, really excited about?: Grimey coming home

18. What song will always remind you of 2023?: probably David Teie's Music for Cats

Compared to this time last year, are you: a) Happier or sadder?: sadder

b) Thinner or fatter?: thinner

c) Richer or poorer?: poorer

19. What do you wish you’d done more of?: die

20. What do you wish you’d done less of?: exist

21. Did you fall in love in 2023?: no

22. How many one-night stands?: No.

23. How many people did you kiss? No.

24. What was your favourite TV program?: I think I've only tried watching one thing this year -- the Haunting of Hill House. I can't follow anything anymore but it was helping me sleep for a while until the characters seem to have gotten trapped in some funeral home for what felt like an eternity. I had to give up.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?: It's hard to hate anyone when you're not really existing in the physical world.

26. What was the best book you read?: I haven't read a thing this year

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?: I haven't really had time or energy to discover

28. What did you want and get?: Three things in no particular order - #1 I've been tearing my house apart periodically for YEARS searching for a copy of an old family home movie of peak sentimental value that everyone has thought was lost for good, causing some pretty serious grief in the Viola family. I remembered my dad had digitized it before the video was lost, but I seemed to be the only one with this memory and I was starting to wonder if I made it up and was merely clinging to false hope. Well, my sister's husband/my brother-on-law has achieved sainthood. He recently stumbled on, buried in the wrong case in their basement, the digital copy my dad had made years ago. So I am NOT crazy - not this time - and the Viola family can feel whole once again! #2 - New Zelda game #3 - Grimey came home

29. What did you want and not get?: a frickin break

30. What was your favorite film of this year?: I haven't seen anything this year that really managed to captivate me but I'm going to vote for Asteroid City.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?: I turned 39. It feels like an era ago and I can't remember a thing about it. Grimey says we went to the Brimfield Antiques Faire.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?: If our fence hadn't collapsed in March. I feel I need to explain because I'm NOT upset about the fence collapsing in a storm--it was due to collapse and before it even collapsed, "fix sketchy looking fence when the ground thaws" was high on our house project list for the year. But it is the timing of the collapse and the domino effect it caused that set off neverending chaos that I am STILL battling.

Cleaning up the damage took my time and attention away from Nermal, and completely destroyed a critical period of acclimating him to the other cats and the rest of the house. Now I'm left with a choice of either imprisoning Nermal in the office, where he quickly goes feral and creates a toxic work environment where I get hissed at if I need to move and feel like I'm encroaching on his privacy every time I enter the room. He also gets depressed and grieves because of course he has to be besties with Huffy, and with Huffy also besties with Tews, I can't like, imprison Huffy too so Nermal is kept happy because then I'd have Tews who's grieving and Huffy who is annoying and scratching at the door all day. OR I can constantly supervise two cats who literally try to murder each other and get blood all over the floor if I dare turn my back on them for two seconds because god forbid I might want to pee or get something to eat or check to see what the chickens are alarming at. I've had better luck introducing cats by NOT introducing them than I have had with these two--y'know the anti-Jackson Galaxy, "just let them have at it" reckless baby boomer method. They'd have been better off if I just did that than if I had tried. THIS is Kitty Hell.

The collapsed fence cooped the chickens up while their spring hormones were out of wack and set off a Great Hen War. I had to watch Redd get her comb torn off under my watch and Mini-Redd get most of her beak torn off. I'm not going to lie -- I'm traumatized by it.

The garden had a rough start because the fence collapsing caused the hawk net over the chicken yard to collapsed and crush everything underneath. I had to rebuild everything at the beginning of spring and lost March and April. Many of my seedlings died from neglect because I didn't have time to care for them, and a lot of things I planned to plant I never actually got around to planting. Meanwhile, Grimey got signed to a year-long contract in Japan and with both of our heads in completely different places, I don't feel like either of us were really emotionally available to each other for most of the year. With so much nonstop chaos to deal with through the whole year, I also didn't have room in my head to emotionally prepare for being on my own.

I wasn't just dealing with the fence dominoes -- it's truly been one thing after another this year starting from the very beginning, but without the fence dominoes, I could have better coped with the other shit and ended the year feeling like it was a more average year of shit rather than like....a year completely engulfed in flames.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?: flannel

34. What kept you sane?: wandering around Hyrule naked

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?: Mr Trash Wheel and his family

36. What political issue stirred you the most?: I honestly don't even know what's happened this year outside of my own home. Is Biden still president?

37. Who do you miss?: Matthew Perry

38. Who was the best new person you met?: I have a new coworker, Wendy who is lovely.

39. Who were your closest friends in 2023? Ames

40. What are you doing to ring in 2024? taking this fine survey

41. Who do you plan on kissing to ring in 2024? Ames

42. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023: No