#you need 30 to get medium approval and most of the actions that give you approval only give +1

[gender-euphowrya]

pray for me my durge playthrough is going fucking horribly

[talesfromasnarkylisa]

Lacey: Chapter 7

August 4th, 2023

I asked my boss if I could have some extra time off since I had worked overtime. He approved. This was great, since I needed some time to bait Lacey into looking like a scammer.

My first plan was to get Lacey to give me some advice on reader engagement. It was a semi-common scam in article writing spaces to pretend to offer helping a target to increase their follower count. This could be via expensive fake courses with links containing malware, promises to improve their search engine optimization which go nowhere, and so forth. Sometimes, the scammer would ask for advice first - and then turn it around and request “mutual feedback” to lure their target into the rest of the scam. 

I was going to get Lacey to ask me for advice first. Her last few messages reeked of desperation for popularity, so it seemed unlikely she would be the one to first give it. I checked through the server member list for Music Refined. Lucky for me, Lacey was online. I sent this message in the introductions chat.

Archer J (08/04/23, 4:30 PM): The name’s Archer J. My birthday’s 08/16/02. He/him, heteromantic and ace. I mostly write about tech and music. 

DMs are always open, unless you’re blocked. Feel free to ask me anything.

I then replied to one of Lacey’s messages in the general chat.

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 4:28 PM): Anyone listen to Paramore’s recent stuff?

Archer J (08/04/23, 4:31 PM): I do, still slaps.

The next step was to wait.

…

It didn’t take long for Lacey to show up in my DMs. Two minutes, to be exact. I thought it would have taken a few more days, but it did not.

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 4:33 PM): Hi! 

Archer J (08/04/23, 4:34 PM): Hello there.

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 4:35 PM): Can I call you Archie?

Oh, she’s coming on strong, I thought to myself. This won’t look good on her to audiences. Especially since she’s a woman.

Archer J (08/04/23, 4:37 PM): I don’t mind.

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 4:39 PM): Ok then Archie

I’ve always admired your writing and your videos. You just have the smart guy factor that’s so damn charming. 

Archer J (08/04/23, 4:40 PM): Thank you.

I was starting to worry she’d never fall into my trap. Thankfully, she did.

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 4:42 PM): May I ask for some advice?

Archie J (08/04/23, 4:43 PM): Go ahead.

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 4:46 PM): I’m not very popular on Medium right now. Not really anywhere, but I’m gonna ask about Medium. I currently have like, 50 followers on my profile, even though some of my articles go viral. There’s definitely no consistent fanbase for me either. Do you know of any ways to get more people to follow me and be into my content consistently?

Time to spring my plan into action. I decided to suggest to her an old beginner publication I wrote a few articles for early on in my stint. Despite the publication’s popularity and the fact that the front page pieces were often commented on, my articles there didn’t take off at all. They received no claps, no replies, and few reads. It took me starting on Vocal and meeting Betty to actually gain more followers overall. This was perfect for Lacey.

Archer J (08/04/23, 4:51 PM): Why yes. There’s a publication called “Writer’s Delight” which is really popular. They have almost 100K followers. The articles published there also tend to get good engagement, with thousands of claps and dozens of comments. I published there. It took a few tries, but I got insane levels of viewership afterwards. It’s pretty easy to become a writer there, too. Just send them a properly spell checked piece and they’ll add you.

Lacey’s response surprised me.

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 4:54 PM): Ehhhh…I don’t know about that. I’ve written for a beginner’s publication before, and the most I got out of it was an editor reply. The admins were also kinda creepy.

Archer J (08/04/23, 4:56 PM): Which publication did you write for?

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 4:57 PM): Storytime.

Archer J (08/04/23, 5:00 PM): I see your problem. You chose a publication run by a bunch of rich people fixated on looking generous without actually giving their writers voices. Writer’s Delight is much more professional and diverse.

What a blatant lie I sent her, I thought to myself. Writer’s Delight has too many writers for all of them to make the front pages.

To compensate for my deception, I sent Lacey screenshots of my analytics before and after the time period when I published in Writer’s Delight. I conveniently ignored any other factors leading to my surge in fans.

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 5:04 PM): Oh, okay. I see what you’re getting at.

Archer J (08/04/23, 5:05 PM): So are you going to write for Writer’s Delight?

Lacey Hannah (08/04/23, 5:07 PM): I’ll think of it. 

Archer J (08/04/23, 5:08 PM): Great! 

Part 1 of my plan had just begun. Writer’s Delight wasn’t objectively better than Storytime ever was. Both had an undercurrent of toxic positivity and showed favoritism towards AI analysts (though not artists). The two main ways to get on the front pages were two strange extremes. Either write about thinly veiled spirituality and forgiveness or shady advancements in technology. The latter was more common in Writer’s Delight than in Storytime. 

Knowing Lacey, she’d never write either kind of article on her own terms. But if worse came to worst, her desire for more audience reach could result in her going down the rabbit hole of instant capitalistic startups. Back when I wrote for Writer’s Delight, some people helped promote the editors’ get-rich-quick schemes in exchange for having their article drafts queued faster. Perhaps Lacey would become one of them.

(Wattpad version: https://www.wattpad.com/1485931558-lacey-chapter-7)

[entertainment]

Entertainment Spotlight: Tenika Davis, Jupiter's Legacy

Actress, model, and Taekwondo champion Tenika Davis stars as Petra Small in Netflix’s first original comic book series, Jupiter’s Legacy. Tenika began her career as one of the finalists on the first season of Canada’s Next Top Model before signing with Ford Models. She played a lead role in the indie hit, Jumping the Broom, with other credits including Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Lost Girl, and Skins. Tenika lives in Ontario with her two cats, Maximillian and Symeon, and loves to travel, watch movies, read, study astrology, and paddle surf in her spare time.

How did you get into the mindset to play Petra Small? How do you stay in character?

Petra fights fiercely to protect the people she loves. That is something I was able to identify with. When I was growing up, all I wanted was to make my parents proud. I knew Fitz and Petra's family story all too well; as a child, my parents got divorced because of an extramarital affair. I remember thinking that their divorce was somehow my fault, and if I could do something to make them proud, it would bring my family back together. Petra is a classic overachiever. What drives her is the need for her father's love and approval. She wants a family and is able to find that dynamic through The Sampsons, who she considers family to her and Fitz.

Can you share a memory from the set of Jupiter’s Legacy that stands out to you?

During filming the big fight Supervillian fight scene, it was 3:30 am, and we had 30mins left after a 14 hour day, and only enough time for a few takes to get the shot. Everyone was feeling the pressure. I was the last person to go, and when they called action, I felt a fire erupt in me; I screamed and ran straight for the target throwing those punches as fast as I could. I broke through mental and physical limits that day and surprised myself with what I was capable of doing.

Your sun sign is Cancer. What's the truest meme you've ever seen about your sign?

They may forgive but never forget. Cancerians hold on to things forever.

What advice would you give to young Black talent looking to get their first break in the entertainment industry?

Everything is a process, and nothing great happens on your own. You will only be as great as your team and the people you surround yourself with. To make your dreams come true, it takes hard work, discipline, faith, and belief in yourself. These are the things that will keep you going in the face of adversity.

Without any spoilers, which of Petra Small’s scenes from Jupiter’s Legacy are you most excited for viewers to watch? Why?

There is a scene between Fitz and Petra at the Union of Justice. It's so touching because of the loving family dynamic. It's simple, a father seeing his daughter's struggle and saying exactly what she needs to hear to continue fighting. I think people will be affected by and see themselves in the beauty of that moment.

Which representation of the Black Experience helped shape you and your career?

Bishop TD Jakes was one of the first producers I worked with within my career. While filming Jumping the Broom, he gave the cast a few of his books. I didn't even know he was a pastor at the time. I read them all. I was so inspired by his story of how he built his church from scratch with no money. I knew that if he could do that, I could do the same thing with my career. He inspired me to never give up, keep pressing forward, and to this day is still one of my greatest mentors.

Can you give us a one-sentence modeling lesson or tip?

Think the thought, and your eyes will tell the story.

Do you know your moon and rising sign? Do those vibe with how you see yourself?

My moon sign is Aquarius; I enjoy spending time with myself, building my own future, and strive to become better with the power of my own will. I've always enjoyed setting my own standards and breaking through them. My rising sign is Pisces; there is a vulnerable child-like innocence and curiosity I've learned to love and appreciate about myself. It's true I can be and do most things I put my mind to. My mother actually named me 'Tenika' because she believed I would be a perfect 10.

What are you watching and/or listening to right now?

I'm a junkie for real-life success stories. Right now, I'm tuned into The Tony Robbins Podcast on Spotify. Not only is his story inspiring, but every person he has on the podcast has achieved excellence in their respective field. I've become obsessed with learning out how. Success leaves clues.

What’s next for you?

I want to learn every aspect of producing television & film and continue to learn how to use the medium to help create meaningful and impactful stories. As well as learn how to sword fight...

Thanks for taking the time, Tenika! Jupiter's Legacy is now streaming on Netflix. Photos courtesy of Netflix.

[nerdythebard]

#15: Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty

Umm... I, uh... t-this... ughhh...

You know what, let's just move on! (>///<)

Next Time: The true king of music comes in to bring the heat!

Now that we've got that embarrassing thing out of the way, let's... uh... see what we need to play as Aphrodite in D&D:

Soulmate Bond: While the concept itself is exploited to its core by fanfiction writers, here we need to focus our attention on our party members. We're the ultimate support. If we're close, they are better at doing... well... D&D things.

Sustainability: We might be offering our heart and soul to help our teammates, but we can't forget about ourselves. We won't be much help if we cannot survive.

The Power of Love Protects You: Aphrodite is a very good healer. Her Ultimate also grants temporary invulnerability to her soulmate. #LoveWins.

---

Despite being often viewed as "just a goddess of love", Aphrodite is an immensely powerful Elder Deity. Born directly from the Primordial being Ouranos, she is love and desire and passion; some of the most powerful forces that can drive a person to accomplish their goals... or to make them completely mad.

In D&D, however, we're going to make her a Protector Aasimar. We get +2 Charisma and +1 Wisdom, 60 feet of Darkvision, Celestial Resistance (which grants us resistance to radiant and necrotic damage), and we know how to speak Common and Celestial. Thanks to the Light Bearer feature, we know the Light cantrip, and because of Healing Hands, we can touch a creature and make them recover Hit Points equal to our overall level (once per long rest).

I think we can all agree that if Aphrodite was a character in D&D, she would be a total socialite. For that, let's modify the Noble background slightly, by swapping out History for Insight, keep the Persuasion proficiency, swap the proficiency with a gaming set into another language of our choice, and let's replace the Position of Privilege feature with a similar yet bit more useful Kept In Style from Sword Coast: Adventurer's Guide. This feature makes sure that whatever city we're in (it does say Waterdeep, but work with your DM on that one), our needs and desires are catered to and most expenses are sent to our family to deal with. Our name and family symbol might grand us (and our party members) discounts or straight-up free lodging and meals at a high-class festhall, and general approval from the middle class.

ABILITY SCORES

There is no doubt about it, Charisma is our top ability; we're the Goddess of Love and Desire, we need to flaunt it and charm people left and right. Wisdom is next, we may not look like it, but we're actually pretty resourceful and can read people quite well. Constitution is after that, all casters need Hit Points and yes, we're going to be a caster.

Dexterity is a little lower than I would like it to be (especially since SMITE Aphrodite doesn't use any armour), but we'll make it work later. Follow that up with Intelligence, we might seem like an occasional ditz and books are Athena's thing anyway. Finally, we'll dump Strength.

CLASS

Although there were several ways to make this build work (I was considering another Sorcerer multiclass), I've decided to use the recently-released stuff. We're going Cleric start-to-finish.

Clerics have a d8 for their Hit Dice, and they start with [8 + our Constitution modifier] initial Hit Points. They gain proficiency with light armour, medium armour, shields, and simple weapon. For Aphrodite, I would go with a quarterstaff (with a holy symbol attached to it) and studded leather armour. Clerics' saving throws are Wisdom and Charisma, and they get to pick two class skills (Medicine and Religion).

Level 1: Clerics start their D&D adventure by picking their subclass, their Divine Domain. There once was a leaked playtest material with the Love Domain subclass (which was later rebranded as Unity Domain), but with the release of Tasha's Cauldron of Everything it became the Peace Domain, and that's what we're using.

With the Implement of Peace feature, we gain proficiency in Performance. The Emboldening Bond feature lets us choose a number of creatures within 30 feet of us (including ourselves) equal to our proficiency bonus. For 10 minutes, all bonded creatures can roll a 1d4 and add the result to any attack roll, ability check, or saving throw they make... okay, so this is basically the Bless spell, but lasts longer and targets more creatures... Aphrodite, why are you so broken OP from the start?

Clerics also gain some Domain Spells, when they hit certain levels. Those spells do not count against the number of spells Clerics can prepare per day, and are always prepared:

Heroism imbues one creature we touch with bravery for 1 minute (concentration). For the duration, the creature is immune to being frightened and gains Temporary Hit Points equal to our casting ability modifier at the start of each of their turn. When the spell ends, all of the remaining THP are lost.

Sanctuary wards one creature within 30 feet of us against attacks for 1 minute. Any creature that attacks the spell's recipient must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, they must choose a different target or lose the attack (or spell). If the protected creature initiates an attack, a spell, or deals damage to anybody, the spell ends.

Besides those spells, we also get some from the Spellcasting feature. Clerics know cantrips, regular spells, and rituals. We start by picking three cantrips:

Guidance is a must-have for support players. It lasts for 1 minute (concentration), and it gives the creature we touch a 1d4 to add to their next ability check. The spell then ends.

Sacred Flame is probably the best source of radiant damage in the game. Target within 60 feet of us must make a Dexterity saving throw or suffer 1d8 radiant damage (damage increases as we level up).

Word of Radiance is a great way to handle swarms and multiple enemies. Each creature of our choice within 5 feet of us must make a Constitution saving throw or suffer 1d6 radiant damage (damage increases as we level up).

Clerics have access to their full spell list and prepare spells every day. The number of spells we can is [our Wisdom modifier + our Cleric level]. We are only restricted by the number and amount of spell slots. At the 1st level, we get two 1st-level spell slots:

Guiding Bolt creates a flash of light that targets one creature within 120 feet of us. On a successful hit, the target suffers 4d6 radiant damage, and the next attack roll made against it until the end of its next turn has an advantage.

Healing Word uses a bonus action to target one creature we can see within 60 feet of us and let them recover [1d4 + our spellcasting modifier] Hit Points. The healing increases by 1d4 for each spell slot higher than 1st-level.

Shield of Faith grants us (or a creature within 60 feet of us) a +2 AC bonus for 10 minutes (concentration).

Level 2: We gain one of the Cleric's signature skills - Channel Divinity. Once per short or long rest, we can become a conduit for the divine powers and perform one of the following effects:

Turn Undead: Each undead creature within 30 feet of us must make a Wisdom saving throw or be turned for 1 minute. A turned creature must spend its turn trying to move as far away as possible from us and cannot willingly move closer than 30 feet towards us.

Balm of Peace: CD effect granted to us by our Domain. As an action, we can move our full movement speed without provoking attacks of opportunity and when we move within 5 feet of any other creature while doing that, we can restore [2d6 + our Wisdom modifier] Hit Points to that creature.

We also get to learn one more spell: Protection from Evil and Good last for 10 minutes (concentration). Until the spell ends, one target we touch is protected against the following types of creatures: aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead. Creatures of those types have a disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. The target also can't be charmed, frightened, or possessed by them.

Level 3: We unlock 2nd-level spell slots here. Spiritual Weapon creates a manifestation of our deity's power (it can be a sceptre, a weapon, or even a comb or a giant lollipop). We can summon it as a bonus action within 60 feet and make melee attacks with it. On a successful hit, the target takes [1d8 + our spellcasting modifier] force damage.

Our Divine Domain also grants us two spells at this level:

Aid bolsters our allies' toughness and resolve. We choose up to three creatures within 30 feet of us. For the next 8 hours, each target's Hit Points and Hit Points Maximum increase by 5.

Warding Bond creates a connection between us and one creature within 60 feet of us for 1 hour. While the bonded target is within 60 feet of us, it gains a +1 to their AC and saving throws, and resistance to all damage. Unfortunately, if they take damage we suffer the same amount.

We also get a new racial feature: Radiant Soul. We can use our action to sprout a pair of luminous wings, which give us flying speed of 30 feet for 1 minute. Once per turn, we can also deal extra radiant damage (equal to our level) to an attack or a spell. This feature can be used once per long rest.

Level 4: Time for our first Ability Score Improvement. Let's raise our Wisdom and Constitution, to start rounding up those odd numbers.

Because we've increased our spellcasting ability, we can pick two spells here:

Hold Person forces a Constitution saving throw onto one (humanoid) target within 60 feet. On a failed save, the target is paralysed for 1 minute (concentration).

Calm Emotions does the opposite of what Aphrodite stands for, but it's nonetheless useful. The spell forces a Charisma saving throw onto all creatures within 20-foot-radius sphere (creatures can also choose to fail this throw). On a failed save, we get to select one of two effect: suppress the charmed or frightened status for 1 minute (concentration), or suppress a creature's hostile feelings for 1 minute (concentration).

We also learn a new cantrip: Spare the Dying helps a creature with 0 Hit Points to remain stable; the player doesn't have to make Death Saving Throws, but the character is still unconscious.

Level 5: Our Turn Undead gets an upgrade and becomes Destroy Undead. Starting at this level, when an undead of CR 1/2 or lower (skeletons, shadows, zombies, etc.) fails the saving throw against our Turn Undead, it gets destroyed instead.

We also unlock 3rd-level spell slots: Spirit Guardians create a flock of spectral protectors in a 15-foot radius centred on ourselves for 10 minutes (concentration). Creatures within the area have their speed halved and must make a Wisdom saving throw or take 3d8 damage (radiant if we're good or neutral, necrotic if we're evil; half damage on a successful save). We can select which creatures are unaffected by the spirits, and we can choose the form they appear as. For Aphrodite, I'd suggest doves since those are her sacred animals.

Our Divine Domain grants us two spells at this level:

Beacon of Hope lets us grant a number of creatures within 30 feet of us an advantage on Wisdom saving throws and Death Saving Throws for 1 minute (concentration). We also receive maximum healing from spells.

Sending allows us to put a telepathic message in the mind of a creature we've previously met (or seen, like in a photo). The message must be of 25 words or less, and the receiver is able to reply.

Level 6: Our Channel Divinity feature can now be used twice per short or long rest. We also gain a subclass feature: Protective Bond. The bonds we create help people protect each other. If a creature affected by our Emboldening Bond is about to take damage, any other bonded creature within 30 feet of them can use a reaction to teleport to their location and take all the damage instead.

For this level's spell, we'll go with Fast Friends. Using her divine beauty, Aphrodite can ensure people do her biddings without question.

Fast Friends lets us charm one humanoid within 30 feet of us that can hear and understand us. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become charmed for 1 hour (concentration). While charmed, the creature will carry out any task and provide any service we ask if we do so in a friendly manner. Any task that might harm the target or conflicts with their morals requires another Wisdom saving throw. When the spell ends, the target realizes they were under a spell.

Level 7: We don't get anything class-related, but we do unlock 4th-level spells:

Death Ward grants one creature we touch immunity to death for 8 hours. When the target's Hit Points get reduced to 0, they come back to life with 1 Hit Point instead and the spell ends. The spell also protects from instant-kill effects, such as Power Word: Kill.

We also get more spells from our Divine Domain:

Aura of Purity creates an energy surge spreading 30 feet from us. Until the spell ends (10 minutes, concentration), non-hostile creatures within the aura cannot succumb to diseases, have resistance to poison damage, and gain an advantage against the following conditions: blindness, deafness, charmed, frightened, paralysed, poisoned, and stunned.

Otiluke's Resilient Sphere is our another attempt at Aphrodite's Invulnerability ability. The spell creates a bubble of force that surrounds a target within 30 feet of us. For 1 minute (concentration), nothing – spells, physical objects, or energy – cannot pass through the bubble, and the target inside cannot be harmed by anything. They can use their action to move the bubble up to half of their speed, a'la giant hamster ball.

Level 8: A lot happens to Clerics here. First off, we get another ASI; let's boost our Charisma and Dexterity. Next, our Destroy Undead now works against the undead with a CR of 1 or lower (spectres, ghouls, boneless, husks, etc.). We also learn another 4th-level spell: Banishment sends a creature within 60 feet of us into another plane of existence, provided the target fails its Charisma saving throw. The spell lasts for 1 minute (concentration) and has two outcomes, depending on where the banished target is from:

If the banished target is native to the plane of existence we're banishing it from, it gets transported to a demiplane prison and reappears in the same spot when the spell ends.

If the banished target is not native to the plane of existence we're banishing it from, we must keep the spell active for 1 minute for the banishment to be permanent.

Finally, we get another Divine Domain feature: Potent Spellcasting allows us to add our Wisdom modifier to the damage dealt by our Cleric cantrips.

Level 9: Once again, we don't get any new class upgrades, but we do unlock 5th-level spells:

Holy Weapon enchants a weapon we touch with divine energy. Until the spell ends (1 hour, concentration), the weapon emits a bright light for 30 feet and a dim one for another 30. Attacks made with the now blessed weapon deal extra 2d6 radiant damage and if the weapon is not magical, it becomes so for the duration.

We also receive our final Divine Domain spells:

Greater Restoration is a high-level healing spell that cures serious ailments, such as curses, status effects (charmed, exhaustion, petrification), loss of Maximum Hit Points, etc.

Rary's Telepathic Bond links together the minds of up to eight willing creatures for 1 hour. Until the spell ends, the creatures can communicate telepathically freely, regardless of distance (although they must be on the same plane of existence).

Level 10: We learn our last cantrip: Mending repairs some minor breaks and tears in objects we touch, such as broken key or a severed rope. The spell can mend a damage of up to 1 foot.

We learn Divine Intervention from our Domain. We call our deity for direct help, and roll percentile dice. If the result is equal to our Cleric level (or lower), the plea is successful and we receive help from our god (DM's interpretation. It can be a vision, a direct manifestation, a spell or an item useful for the request we make, etc.). If we do not succeed, we can try again after taking a long rest. If we succeed, we can try again after 7 days.

We also learn another 5th-level spells: Mass Cure Wounds creates a wave of healing energy that affects up to six creatures in a 30-foot-radius sphere appearing at a point of our choice within 60 feet of us. Each target regains Hit Points equal do [3d8 + our spellcasting ability].

Level 11: Our Destroy Undead now affects the undead with the CR of 2 and lower (ghasts, poltergeists, will-o'-wisps, etc.).

We unlock 6th-level spells here. Word of Recall allows us to teleport us and up to five willing creatures within 5 feet of us to a pre-established sanctuary to our deity.

Level 12: Time for another ASI! This time, let's raise our Dexterity and Constitution.

Planar Ally allows us to summon an otherworldly helper directly from our deity's entourage. The creature can be a celestial, a fey, or a fiend loyal to us, although it is under no compulsion to carry out orders. It will also demand payment for its services.

Level 13: We unlock 7th-level spells at this level.

Temple of the Gods is the divine version of Mordenkeinen's Magnificent Mansion, but with less furnishings. We create a temple within 120 cubic feet space for 24 hours, and designate creatures who can freely enter it. Undesignated creatures may try to breach the temple, but have to succeed on a Charisma saving throw. If they manage to enter the temple, they are hindered by divine magic; each attack roll and saving throw carries a 1d4 penalty to their overall result. The spell cannot be cancelled by Dispel Magic or Antimagic Field.

Level 14: Our Destroy Undead feature now affects the undead with the CR of 3 and lower (wights, vampiric mists, mummies, etc.)

Since we've skipped Revivify, now is a good chance to have a resurrection-type spell. Resurrection brings back a target that's been dead for no more than a century (that isn't undead and didn't die of old age). The spell neutralizes poisons and diseases, closes wounds and regenerates missing body parts; it does not, however, remove curses. The resurrected character takes a -4 penalty to all of their attack rolls, skill checks, and saving throws; each long rest reduces the penalty by 1.

Level 15: We don't get anything here, just 8th-level spells:

Antimagic Field creates a zone (10-foot-radius sphere) in which no magic can exist for 1 hour (concentration). Summoned creatures disappear, magical items become mundane, spells cannot be cast. Magical effects (charmed and frightened conditions, etc.) except ones coming from artefacts and/or deities are suppressed.

Level 16: Time for an ASI! Let's put one point into Constitution and one into Dexterity.

Holy Aura radiates from our body up to 30 feet for 1 minute (concentration). Any creature within range that we choose is also sheds the same light in 5 feet radius of them and have advantage on all saving throws, and other creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against them until the spell ends. If by chance a fiend or an undead attacks us, it has to make a Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the spell ends.

Level 17: Our Destroy Undead reaches its peak potential and now affects the undead with the CR of 4 or lower (ghosts, banshees, flameskulls, etc.)

We also get our final Domain feature: Expansive Bond. The benefits of our previous Bonds now work for creatures within 60 feet of each other. Moreover, if a creature uses Protective Bond to take somebody else's damage, they have a resistance to that attack.

We finally unlock 9th-level spells. Mass Heal affects any number of creatures within 60 feet of us and restores up to 700 Hit Points, divided as we choose. The creatures are also healed of all diseases and blindness and deafness effects are removed.

Level 18: We can now use our Channel Divinity feature three times per rest.

We take a few step back with spells and take the 7th-level Divine Word. We choose any number of creatures within 30 feet of us and force a Charisma saving throw on them. On a failed save, the creatures suffer an effect based on their current number of Hit Points:

50 or fewer: deafened for 1 minute

40 or fewer: deafened and blinded for 10 minutes

30 or fewer: deafened, blinded, and stunned for 1 hour

20 or fewer: killed instantly

Regardless of their Hit Points, a celestial, a fiend, or a fey is additionally sent back to its native plane of existence and cannot return for 24 hours (unless via Wish spell).

Level 19: Time for our final ASI. Let's get that Dexterity up again and... I dunno, maybe Strength? Doesn't change much, but it's better than having an odd number for more important stats.

Now... in case the theme of this build hadn't been clear before

And the 9th-level healing spells are absolute monsters. Power Word: Heal restores all Hit Points of one creature we touch. It removes charmed, frightened, paralysed, and stunned conditions, and if the creature is knocked prone, it doesn't waste its movement to get up.

Level 20: Our capstone is Cleric 20, which grants us probably one of the strongest endgame abilities: Divine Intervention Improvement. From this point onwards, our Divine Intervention always succeeds. We don't need to roll for it, although the 7-days limit is still present.

For our final spell of the build, we get True Resurrection. We can bring back a creature that's been dead for no more than 200 years and hadn't died of old age. The spell restores all of their Hit Points, closes wounds, removes poisons and diseases, and even lifts curses. It can even make a new body for the willing soul, if the old one's gone.

---

And that is it. Aphrodite, the protective Goddess of Beauty. Let's see how well (or not) we've made her:

First off, and this should come as no surprise, we're a support character. We have a plethora of healing and protection options, and our charms could help us and our party members to avoid conflict. We have the AC of 15, 133 Hit Points on average, and a +3 to our initiative.

Unfortunately, this build has a few downsides: we're don't have many damage-dealing abilities, with the most prominent being our cantrips. Also, we're pretty useless against creatures immune to being charmed. Our Intelligence is also not great, so those saving throws could be trouble.

---

Anyway, another deity off the list. I hope you guys enjoy yourselves with these builds. I'll see you next time!

- Nerdy out!

[sharperthewriter]

The 16th Annual Kim Possible Fannies Awards - Nomination Process

Hey, everyone out there in the Kimmunity. We're now into the next part (the second part of three) of handing the Fannies Awards for authors and their stories either published in, or updated, within the 2020 cycle.

And that stage is nominating other fellow Kimmunity writers.

The Nomination Period is open from 6-28-21 to 8-2-21.

The rules of the Nomination Period are as follows:

1) You can't nominate yourself or your own stuff. You WILL be able to vote on something you did once we get to the voting process, but in order for you, a story, or a line you wrote to be nominated someone else has to do it.

The self-promotional and qualification thread lets you advertise yourself and your stuff so that people know you're eligible for something (such as Young Author) and to advertise your stuff so that someone might read something they'd never seen before and decide to nominate something or even vote for something. Also, if we let you nominate your own stuff, there wouldn't be a point to distinguishing between the self-promotion thread and nominating. People can continue to use that promotion thread to plug their own stuff through to July 14th and see if people go for it.

2) Again, in order to qualify, said story (or said chapter of an already-existing story from a previous year) must be uploaded between 1-1-20 thru 12-31-20 in order to qualify. It can be either in progress or completed. The complete list of all 2020 stories (and uploaded chapters of stories from a previous year in parenthesis) is attached here: https://www.fanfiction.net/topic/329/184000475/1/The-16th-KP-Fannies-Awards-Story-List-of-2020

3) People can nominate up to four things per category (with the exception of Best Story and Best Writer of 2020 in which people can nominate up to five). For example, you can nominate up to four stories to the Best Romance Story category but not more than that, and you can nominate up to four authors to the Best Comedy category but not more than that...and so on.

In the case of the Best Story and Best Writer, people can nominate up to five choices.

You don't HAVE to nominate four things (or five in the case of Best Story & Best Writer), we're just saying you can. Also, you don't need to nominate stuff for EVERY category if you don't want to. If you never read Dramas and have no idea what to nominate for it - don't bother.

4) Either me or any other member of the Council will try to post a message in this thread, after this message, that keeps a running list of all the nominated things in each category. I and the other members of the Council may not be able to keep it updated daily, though. Please trust that if you sent it it'll get tabulated in sometime during the next update to that message, and remember August 2nd is the last day to send in things. We'll both deal with the next step, voting, and explain how we're going to handle that later.

5) If you won in a category last year you're not eligible for it again this year (though you can win other things) just to give other people a chance to shine.

HOW TO NOMINATE

There are two approved methods:

A) E-mail kimmunityfannies@yahoo.com  copying and pasting this 'form' below into it and filling it out with your choices. I have also attached a link for the category descriptions along with the ineligible list of this year's ceremony right here: https://www.fanfiction.net/topic/329/184000473/1/#184000473

OR

B) If you have a FFnet account, send a PM to the KP Fannie Committee account. The link to the account is here:  https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2622561/KP-Fannie-Committee Then copy and paste the aforementioned form if you do not wish to go the email route.

Remember that you can leave some of them blank, and you're allowed to put four down for each category (five for Best Story and Best Writer), but we'd request that you provide the requested information about both. Nominations that aren't eligible (for example, they weren't in the 2020 cycle) will not be counted but we won't write you back about it just because that would be a lot of back and forth to deal with.

The Official Fannies Form

1) Best KP Style Name (include the story/series and author they're from):

2) Best Original Character (include the story/series and author they're from):

3) Best Minor Character (include the story/series and author they're from):

4) Best Villain (include the story/series and author they're from):

5) Best AU Story (include the author they're from):

6) Best Crossover/Fusion (include mention of what is getting crossed over or fused and who the author is):

7) Best Alternate/Other Canon Pairing (include the story/series it shows in and the author):

8) Best KiGo Story (include the author):

9) Best Drakgo Story (include the Author)

10) Best Kim/Ron Story (include the author):

11) Best Comedy Story (include the author):

12) Best Romance Story (include the author and it might be good to indicate who is focused on romantically to give context for voters later on):

13) Best Friendship Story (include the author and it might be good to indicate the people involved to give context for voters later on):

14) Best Action/Adventure Story (include the author):

15) Best Drama Story (include the author):

16) Most Unlikely/Unique Story (include the author)

17) Best One-Shot Overall (K-T) (include the author):

18) Best Short Story (K-T) (include the author):

19) Best Medium-Sized Story (K-T) (include the author):

20) Best Novel-Sized Story (K-T) (include the author):

21) Best Mature-Rated One Shot (include the author)

22) Best Mature-Rated Short Story (include the author)

23) Best Mature-Rated Medium-Sized Story (include the author)

24) Best Mature-Rated Novel (include the author)

25) Best Series Overall (include the author):

26) Best Young Author:

27) Best New Author:

28) Best Single Line (say what story it appears in and who the author is, and please provide some context on this line to help people understand why it's cool):

29) CPNeb Kimmunity Award (who, and try to say why just in case people aren't familiar with them: Remember that people from Deviantart, Fanfiction, Discord, Tumblr, Twitter, Skype, or any of the active KP forums are eligible for this award.):

30) Kimmunity Achievement Award (Who? Doesn't need to have necessarily published in 2020. Also, people from Deviantart, Discord, Tumblr, Twitter, Skype, Instagram, or any of the active KP forums are also eligible for the award):

31) Best Reviewer (and tell us why you like them, whether it's number of reviews, insightful reviews, funny reviews, or something else):

32) Best Story Overall of 2020 (say who the author is):

33) Best Writer of 2020:

[cryptonewsmanuelakanji]

Review Motherdog($MDOG) Project.

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Website :https://mother.dog

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Website : https://mother.dog/

Tokenomic MDOG

Name : Motherdog

Symbol : MDOG

Total Supply : 1000 Billion

Token Burn : 50%

In Circulation : 10%

Pre-sale : 30%

Marketing : 5%

Airdrop : 5%

SmartContract: https://bscscan.com/token/0xc62deecfc7b318f159db3e30d84f39e624d7d49e

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users will be able to deposit BNB into the Presales wallet 0x0029726a01C51fC09D6B93D8ad79b7e9BeD8C216

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BEP20 Wallet address: 0x00F321558065b1c9dca5e6EcbeECE9B01F73D6E1

[watchdogg]

A Guide: Raw Feeding for Dogs

Don’t have time to make BARF? Not sold on it? If you want to know what dry foods are best check this out.

What’s on the menu? BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). This recipe is based off of Dr. Ian Billinghurst’s own recipe provided in his book Give Your Dog a Bone. Great read, would recommend.

However, there are a couple ingredients he discusses which have been recently proven as poor dietry choices for dogs. For example, he speaks of the inclusion of milk and garlic which have been discovered, through scientific study, to make dogs quite ill. Therefore the recipe I have written below excludes any ingredients I have found research on that are detrimental to your dog’s health.

BARF is essentially everything you would find in a grain-free dry dog food, but fresh!

BARF = 50% green mix + 50% meat (30% mince + 20% offal)!

DAILY INTAKE = 60% BARF + 40% meaty bone

I DO NOT APPROVE of the Canine Ancestral Diet or Prey Model diet, which is 80% meat. I have a seperate blog post discussing why (click here to find out more)!

EVERYTHING YOU MAKE MUST BE BLENDED TOGETHER INTO A CONSOLIDATED MUSH! Your dog has to eat everything, you must not give it the choice to pick certain things out of their bowl, it all has to go in their tummy! This is how we get to deficiencies!

I will post a seperate description of my exact routine, and how I measure out everything my girl needs as an example so you have something to compare to.

DISCLAIMER: If your vet has told you that your pet MUST eat a prescription diet due to health condition/allergy, please listen to them. Every health issue has causes and triggers, there are many, and I cannot possibly cover all of them in this post. Does this mean there aren't raw options for dogs with health issues or allegeries? No. There certainly are. For example, if your dog is allergic to wheat they can go on a wheat-free dry food OR BARF. But I cannot be responsible for your failings in proper research. SO, this means that if you have a dog with congenital issues, like kidney problems, please research into what that means before going against a prescription dry or wet food diet.

Appropriate vegetables include:

- Silver beet

- Bok choy

- Celery

- Carrots

- Sugar beet

Appropriate fruits include:

- Apples

- Oranges

- Blueberries

- Pears

REMINDER: you absolutely MUST vitamise fruits and vegetables. Your dog does not have molars like that of a horse for example, they cannot grind fibre, they use their molars for snapping large food items into smaller chunks. Herbivores chew for a reason. Plant cells are surrounded by a cellulose, and most guts do not have the enzymes required to dissolve cell walls, hence chewing. DOGS ALSO CANNOT DIGEST CELLULOSE, and they do not have the mechanics required to break down plant matter into a digestible form. I learned the function of teeth during my studies into paleontology, where dental analysis is vital. (1)

SUPPLEMENTS: TO BE BLENDED INTO YOUR BARF MIX 

the listed supplements contain the vitamins and omegas your dog needs to thrive. These vitamins already naturally exist in the vegatables and meats listed. HOWEVER, if your dog is not eating some kind of fish every day for example, then they need to be digesting at least flaxseed oil to make up for this. This is just one example. It is important to fill in any possible gaps, and these supplements make sure there aren’t any ;)

If you are feeding your dog fish oil you MUST also feed vitamin E oil, the dog’s body will use up stores of Vitamin E to process fish oil which oxidises very easily! If you are using one of the below supplements, you do not need to use fish oil. If you are using a supplement like megaderm or Omega blend, follow the directions on the bottle! So, this means don’t go adding it when you are making BARF, add upon feeding it to your dog.

SUPPLEMENTS INCLUDE:

- Megaderm (CONTAINS: vitamin B7, B6, A, E, omega 6&3) dosage instructions on bottle (can be bought on PetCircle)

OR

- Vets All Natural Omega Blend (CONTAINS: flaxseed oil (omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids), shark liver oil (omega-3 and vitamin A), sunflower oil (omega-6) and wheat germ oil (omega-3)) (can be bought on PetCircle)

OR

- just straight flaxseed oil (human-grade is the same stuff) 2 or 3 desert spoons

OTHER SUPPLEMENTS:

- Kelp powder (2-3 tsp) (contains: 60 different minerals and vitamins and 21 amino acids)

- Green tripe (contains: probiotics, essential fatty acids and digestive enzymes)

- Sardines (great for coat health)

- Tongue (fatty, good for active dogs)

- Green lipped muscle (aimed towards joint health, good for large breeds)

- Liver (contains vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, copper, zinc, essential fatty acids) 2 tblsp per day is recommended amount for medium dogs (I buy a pack of chicken livers (500g) and chuck it into the barf mix. This works out to be 17g perday)

DO NOT OVER FEED FATTY ACID SUPPLEMENTATION, keep to the recommended dose! Large quantities can cause Seborrhea oleosa (bad dandruff). It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

It is really important you do not overdose on any supplement. For example, glucosamine is great for old joints but it is also rated a top poison for dogs because of its potential for overdosing. (2)

WHAT MEAT AND ORGANS ARE BEST?

MEAT SHOULD NOT BE COOKED when fed to dogs. This decreases protein digestability and destroys essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine. That being said, meat is NOT a complete food, it is deficient in a lot of vitamins dogs need! So veggies are still a must.

Mince is great, but if you can find mince with ground bone included that would be even better. If you are living in Melbourne, The Saltiest Dog (in Thornbury) is a great store to visit to purchase such a thing. Try to stay away from ‘pet meats’, like those sold in Woolworths or Coles. They contain harmful preservatives (3). The cleaner/more human grade the better. Research into local raw food stores around you and ask about the meat they get in/what if any preservatives are in their meat.

Kangaroo is an environmentally friendly choice! They do not rely on the production of grain to survive, and they are indigenous to the land (their feet don’t compact soil and turn it infertile). It is the most humane way of harvesting red meat if you think about their lives up until the point of death.

The leaner the meat the better! Kangaroo is very lean! Turkey is another great option, but if you are afraid of salmonella, stay away from poultry. Variability of protein is not as important as what parts of the body you are feeding your dog. They need muscle, bone, and offal (tongue, heart, liver, etc.)!

I generally go by: 30% mince+bone & 20% offal.

BONES:

NEVER FEED COOKED BONES! They will splinter and cause internal injury.

Is it dangerous to feed raw bones? NO!

It is imperitive in the BARF diet that your dog is getting some kind of whole bone to eat EVERY DAY. But don’t be silly about it, think about your dog’s size. If you have a mini poodle, you should be giving it chicken necks, not beef weight bearing bones. The bones you give should be soft enough so that they don’t chip your dog’s teeth. This also means NO weight bearing bones till the dog is over 6 months old.

I have talked to customers at Petbarn who just happen to have silly dogs who won’t chew bones at all, and instead swallow them whole. If this is the case, please stick to turkey/duck/chicken necks. These are harder to choke on beause the bones are so tiny. Once again, if you fear potential bacteria or worm risks, freeze your meat before feeding (this will kill a lot of what you are scared of). DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG FROZEN BONES, they will chip a tooth.

Bones act like fibre. They help everything move along in their intestines. They also contain vitamins and proteins they need. You can learn more about bone benefits in Dr. Ian Billinghurst’s book Give Your Dog a Bone.

I give my dogs a bone of some description every morning. Generally, it is a chicken carcass and once a week they get a roo rib or beef vertebrae (you can buy a bag of 'broth bones' from Woolworths which are great) to really get their teeth into.

It is really important that your dog is chewing on something every day. Whether it be a bone or a Kong/dental toy. It is imperitive for mental and dental health. The action of chewing for a dog is the equivelant of a human doing a sudoku or crossword.

HOW MUCH TO FEED:

This model is based off of the Raw&Fresh model which you can find on their website (https://rawandfresh.com.au/collections/treats), this also happens to be where I buy my bones from.

Essentially, you pick whether to feed 2-5% based on your dogs age and activity level. For example, senior dogs need to be eating more protein and fat because they lose muscle mass faster. A dog who has a high activity level needs more energy and a dog who is overweight should be fed less.

Generally, they should be getting 2-3%.

Whatever you decide on, this should be split into two meals. You'll find that two meals per day reduces their scavenging behaviour. I tend to feed the bone proportion in the morning and the patty mix at night.

The key to feeding your dog a raw diet is to WATCH. Watch your dog's weight. It is as simple as that. Watch how they put on weight, if they are becoming too skinny or overweight. Watch and adjust accordingly.

KEEP THIS FORUMLA IN MIND:

BARF = 50% green mix + 50% meat (30% mince + 20% offal)!

DAILY INTAKE = 60% BARF + 40% meaty bone

FEEDING LARGE BREEDS:

- BARF = time and money. Sometimes it can be unrealistic when you have a large breed.

- It can be a lot preparing a batch of food for a large breed, which can potentially be up to 2kg per day depending on how big the dog is. Ideally you would want to be making a batch that lasts the month, which we can individually pack and freeze. But with larger breeds that can get difficult when you are busy or you have a tiny freezer.

- Luckily their daily intake is not 100% BARF

- My GSD, Juni, requires 600g per day as a 30kg dog with a medium activity level. That means I'd need to make 18kg of BARF to last her a month. Yikes.

- I have found two ways around this:

- First of all, 600g is her daily intake, which means a bit of that (around 250g) can be meaty bone.

- I also cut some of her food with Ziwi Peak. This is an air-dried (NOT BAKED) dog food. Once the bone has been eaten, that leaves ~350g left to go.

- Her weight requires 350g of Ziwi Peak per day according to their feeding guide. Therefore, she gets 150g of Ziwi Peak and 150g of BARF

- I increase her BARF intake depending on the bone she gets

- The end result is I only have to make 4.6kg for the month if my life is turning out to be hectic and busy. Not to mention freezer space being an issue.

- When I find I have more time, this increases to 9kg and I don't need to feed Ziwi Peak at all.

1. You can learn more about dental function in mammals here:Smith, Kathleen, Wall, Christine. (2005). Ingestion in Mammals. In Encyclopedia of Life Sciences (Vol. 10, pp. 272-277). John Wiley Sons, Ltd. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Ingestion-in-Mammals-Wall-Smith/596099f8125d6ee16f40c858fe144613a225ae14

2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/42594946_Accidental_overdosage_of_ joint_supplements_in_dogs

Nobles IJ, Khan S. Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome secondary to joint supplement overdosage in a dog. Can Vet J. 2015;56(4):361-364. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4357907/

3. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/are-preservatives-in-pet-food-products-a-concern/

[axelxmartinez]

(Hi I love to plot, hit me up and let’s chat!)

Introduction @redridgeimp​

FULL NAME:  Axel Jose Diego Martinez

NICKNAMES(S):  Axe, Ax, Diablo

AGE:  33

DATE OF BIRTH:  October 30th, 1986

PLACE OF BIRTH:  Red Ridge, Nevada

CURRENT LOCATION:  Red Ridge, Nevada.

ETHNICITY:  Latino. Mexican primarily and his mother was partially Caucasian (European descent), as well as Mexican and Dominican.

GENDER:  Cis male.

PRONOUNS:  He/him/his.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION:  Bisexual.

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION:  quoiromantic

RELIGION:  Atheist.

OCCUPATION:  Owner of Roberto's and Bone breaker for Valencia.

EDUCATION LEVEL:  he dropped out of high school in the beginning of 11th grade. 

EXTRACURRICULAR:  Boxing, lifting weights, playing video games, occasionally reading

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS:  Owns his parents house, a medium sized single family home with 4 bedrooms, an unfinished basement, nothing to brag about on the south side of redridge

SPEAKING VOICE AND ACCENT:  Deep, smooth voice with a hint of a Spanish accent, especially when he's angry. Normally keeps a steady tone, unless he’s really upset about something.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, ETC.

FACECLAIM: Manny Montana 

HAIR COLOR AND STYLE:  black, shaved short

COMPLEXION:  Brown on the lighter side with neutral undertones

EYE COLOR:  Brown.

EYESIGHT: 20/30 the last time he checked, he probably could use corrective lenses for driving or reading something but he doesn’t bother with it.

HEIGHT:  6’1” or 185cm

WEIGHT:  169lbs or 77kg

BODY AND BUILD:  Muscular, lean, well-defined muscles. 

TATTOOS: tons, he gets them at random and the only theme to them is that they are black and white. The obvious ones most people see are the skull on his throat and the ones on his fingers and hands. (See his pinterest linked at the bottom for more ideas in this area)

PIERCINGS: none, he fights too much to have piercings.

CLOTHING STYLE:  jeans, hoodies, t-shirts, flannels, button down shirts, primarily black for everything. 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:  tattoos all over his body, small linear scar on his eyebrow where no hair grows, various scars all over his body - some covered with tattoos and some not. Also wears necklaces and rings, has a few random bracelets made by his nieces and nephews.

HEALTH.

MENTAL DISORDER(S):  ADD is all he’s been diagnosed with, though he likely has an anxiety disorder as well. 

PHYSICAL DISORDER(S):  none

ALLERGIES:  the pollen gets to him in the spring but he just ignores it

SLEEPING HABITS:  insomniac, he sleeps in small shifts between work and whatever he’s doing during the day. 

EATING HABITS:  Axel has a high metabolism so he eats a lot and often, he tends to pick things up while he’s moving around town and keeps protein bars and snacks in his car for in between meals

SOCIABILITY: extroverted introvert, he tends to be around people but doesn’t go out of his way to strike up conversation unless he feels it necessary, knows the person already, or is spoken to first. 

BODY TEMPERATURE:  neutral.

ADDICTIONS:  Nicotine, Caffeine, some would argue he drinks a little too much but he doesn’t think so.

DRUG USE:  Depends on the drug. He smokes marijuana frequently, but anything else is occasionally and he refuses to touch needles or anything made purely from chemicals (i.e. Meth). 

ALCOHOL USE:  Frequently, usually has a drink or two everyday. Sometimes more, sometimes less. He prefers brandy and tequila but also enjoys beer and will always accept a free drink regardless of what it is.

PERSONALITY.

POSITIVE TRAITS:  Hardworking, Efficient, Honest, Strong, Confident, Curious

NEGATIVE TRAITS:  Callous, Insensitive, Secretive, Possessive, Withdrawn, Stubborn

LIKES:  Fighting, good food, drinking, video games, smoking, sex, most things physical, some reading, fire

DISLIKES:  Schools, authority (mainly police), drama, airplanes, inactivity

FEARS: His only fear that he could ever pinpoint was his father.

HABITS: Plays with his fingers, touches his face, staring without talking, smoking, rain

ASTROLOGY:  Scorpio Sun, Sagittarius Rising, Libra Moon

PERSONALITY TYPE:  INTJ

MORAL ALIGNMENT:  Chaotic Neutral

HOGWARTS HOUSE:  Slytherin.

ELEMENT:  Fire

WEATHER: Overcast or Sunny

COLOR:  Black

MUSIC:  Rock, Metal, 90’s hip hop

MOVIE:  Documentaries or Action movies

SPORT:  Baseball and Soccer

BEVERAGE:  Brandy or Tequila

FOOD:  Waffles

ANIMAL: Snake

SEASON:  Summer

FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC.

MOTHER: Antonia Martinez (Rodriguez)  

FATHER:  Roberto Martinez, deceased

SIGNIFICANT OTHER:  none

SIBLING(S):  5 younger siblings, names and ages vague for future wc

CHILDREN:  TBD

PET(S): Ball Python named Slinky

PROMPT.

“ROUTINE”: violence tw, death tw

Ever since he was a teenager, Axel has worked at Roberto’s. At his father’s insistence to teach him some responsibility, as the owner, it was common for him to hire his children and other relatives because he didn’t trust anyone. When Roberto, his father, went to prison and was simultaneously killed while there, his business was given to his eldest son. Axel wasn’t very torn up about losing his father, it made his life significantly easier and allowed him to take over the role as head of the Martinez family. Something he’d been well prepared for and while he wasn’t the nicest guy, he wasn’t the psychopath Roberto was. At least, he didn’t think he was. 

With his father gone, his days started with the sun (if he even got to bed the night before). He opened the convenient store, put the money in the till for the starting shift and made sure everything was turned on and stocked from the night before. Once the first shift comes in, he usually heads to the back to double check that everything is locked up and set up for the next shift. After that is usually when he gets word of anything Valencia needs him to do that day. Even though he’s not a soldier anymore, he likes to keep busy so he picks up slack where he can. If not, he starts checking in on his younger siblings and making sure they are doing what they’re supposed to be doing and staying out of trouble. If he doesn’t have anything pressing to get done, he heads to the gym to do his usual workout and possibly some sparring to keep his endurance at peak along with his fighting technique. Afterwards, he hits up Ridge Roasters if he’s going to the North side of town and gets his coffee with a random pastry to go. Otherwise, he heads to Blue Hill Diner for a proper breakfast and chats with the staff there or scrolls through his phone. He heads back to the convenient store if they need him, otherwise he heads home for a nap or just to relax. Most days he can trust his shift supervisors or the manager to finish up the rest of the day at Roberto’s. Only on occasion does he have to cover a shift or go in to change the cash register for a shift. 

By five or six in the evening, Axel crosses the threshold of St. Peters and takes a spot at the bar. If he feels like dinner, he gets something to eat. Otherwise he has a few drinks to pass the time and watches the environment. If he’s lucky, he catches something that isn’t supposed to be happening in Redridge without approval and brings it to a higher up. Otherwise, he wastes some time before Rogue’s opens and he can go watch the fights for the night. By the time it’s his turn to get in the ring, he’s usually itching to start fighting. He’s not one to get excited about much, but once he gets sight of his ‘opponent’ a wide shark-like smile will spread across his face. Axel loves the work he gets to do with Valencia and if he could do more he would. Fighting and getting rid of people was something he specialized in, he was damn good at it, too. If he was lucky, he brought someone home with him at the end of the night. If not, he has another drink and heads back to his house to watch something on the television or, if he’s even luckier, gets a few hours of sleep before he has to wake up and repeat it all the next day. 

“REMINISCENCE”:  violence tw, alcohol tw, blood tw, death tw

“Not everyone gets to just blurt out how the feel about whoever or whatever on a fuckin’ whim, dude.” Axel spoke into his glass, the third brandy making his voice hoarse. Stuck in the reverie that his best friend had pulled from him. That afternoon they’d gotten the news that his father was found dead in the showers that morning. He was out celebrating. That man had never done anything for anyone, nothing good at least and definitely not any of his kids. Axel looked at the brown liquid in his glass and swirled it around. “Remember back in high school, that kid Jake who used to hang around sometimes?” He asked, eyes still on the glass. “We used to mess around or whatever. I was young and stupid.” He shook his head, knowing at twenty-five he wasn’t exactly old but he was a lot older than he was then. “Anyways, it had been a few months and I started talkin’ a big game like I was the boss of my house. My papi didn’t give a shit what I did or who I was with and all that. We stopped at Roberto’s after school to get some snacks or whatever. You know, same shit different day.” Axel paused and let out a slow sigh. The alcohol was getting to his head and loosening his tongue to reveal shit he’d never talked about with anyone. Most people knew his father was a prick that was quick to correct his children with his hands rather than his words, but Axel didn’t ever make it seem like it bothered him. He sure as hell didn’t let on that he harbored a great fear of the man. “We were at the counter paying, right in front of my dad and Jake tried to lean in for a kiss or somethin’ to say thank you or some shit. I just freaked out, I didn’t know what to do because that shit wasn’t goin’ to fly with Roberto Martinez. Not one of his kids. So, I pushed him away and beat his ass bloody right there for all the world to see.” He didn’t want his dad to do it and if he thought for a second that Axel was into guys he would probably shoot him on the spot. Definitely would have gotten rid of him in one way or the other. Even if he still liked girls, too. “My brother had to pull me off of him. I was so fuckin’ scared man, I just kept hittin’ him. He had to go to the hospital and his parents didn’t even press charges, they straight pulled him out of school. I never even saw him again.” Axel finished off his glass and exhaled the burn it left in his throat and chest. “Out of all the people I’ve beat in my lifetime, all the shit I’ve done, man. That’s the only one I regret. But you know the sad part?” He let out a bitter laugh. “If I could go back and do it over, I’d still beat his ass. What the fuck does that say about me?” Axel shut up after that, didn’t even really pay attention to what his friend had to say about any of it. He drowned himself in a bottle and had no idea how he got home at the end of the night. 

BACKGROUND. ( abuse tw, death tw, violence tw)

Born and raised in Redridge, oldest of six children. Some of his siblings still live in Redridge, others have left and spread around the country. He has a large extended family. They live all over the country, Mexico, and South America.

His father was a very strict man and ran his household with an iron fist. He believed his children should be seen and not heard. If one of them were to step out of line, show defiance, or generally make him angry in any way, he normally responded by correcting them physically instead of with words. He owned Roberto’s, which he started before Axel was born. Roberto was also a member of Valencia working up from street rat to lieutenant. He was arrested when Axel was twenty and died in prison when he was twenty-five.

Antonia, his mother, was a reserved woman. She was hard-working and loved her children. However, she listened to her husband and he was the head of the household. When Roberto went to prison, Axel took over the role of head of the household. His mother fell ill in his late twenties and currently lives in an assisted living facility in Redridge. Axel visits her regularly.

As for his siblings, he keeps up with all of them. One attends the community college and he is adamant that they keep up with their grades and continue their education. He keeps in almost daily touch with each and every one of them and adores his nieces and nephews. Whenever he can visit, he makes a point to but hates to fly so it is usually only once or twice a year at most for those who live outside of Nevada. 

School wasn’t Axel’s strong suit. He could never focus and everything just made him feel like he was stupid when he knew he wasn’t stupid. He just wasn’t book smart. So he dropped out right before eleventh grade and worked at Roberto’s. As soon as he was able to, he joined Valencia as a street rat and moved up the ranks to Bone-breaker once he had proven himself. However, he enjoys doing soldier work still so he will pick up any spare jobs if they are available.

As far as romance goes, Axel has never been with anyone long. He enjoys both women and men and their company, but he has a hard time letting anyone past his walls. The few times he has tried, he fucked it up in one way or another. So, he stays single and just holds casual relationships. 

He loves to fight and he is good at making people disappear, getting jobs done efficiently, and intimidation. Axel is very loyal to Valencia.

Currently, he is always on the move. He doesn’t like to be idle for long. So he is either doing work for Valencia or Roberto’s, moving around town, drinking at a bar, eating somewhere, fighting at Rogue’s, at the gym, watching fights, or sleeping in between any of those activities. 

WANTED CONNECTIONS.

Friends With Benefits/One-night Stands (unlimited): He likes physical activity and touch, he tries to pick people up often and especially after a fight. This could have been happening for a long time or just a night or be brand new. 

Best Friend (0/1): This person knows him better than anyone. They just get him and is likely the only person he’s ever opened up to. 

Close Friends (0/6): These people know him better than most, but he probably has only opened up about one or two things to them. He trusts these people and likes to be around them.

Employees: Anyone who wants to work at Roberto’s

Budding Romance (0/1): could be a fwb that progresses, someone who’s always been around but neither of them made the move to advance it past anything.

Enemies: Self explanatory, but they always butt heads in one way or another. Possibly have fought in the past, but definitely never have anything nice to say about one another.

Past relationships (0/4): People who tried to break through his walls and didn’t get through. Or they just didn’t work out for any multitude of reasons.

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kitmeowza/c-axel-martinez/

[my-whumpy-little-heart]

For Ray: 18. What kind of home would they want to live in? Where would they place this abode? 29. What is one of the most courageous things your character has ever done for a loved one? 30. When it comes to the arts (music, film, theater, etc), what does your character like? 49. What is something that your character has nightmares about? Are these frequent? Do they heavily affect your character’s mood?

Thank you for the questions, Cass! (love your blog name and profile pic btw) And ahh yess questions for Ray! I haven’t gotten the opportunity to write him as much as I’d like to yet, but I love my captain boi so muchh.

18) What kind of home would they want to live in? Where would they place this abode?

As far as Ray is currently concerned, The Thief’s Halyard is the only home he needs! He lives with all the people he has come to consider his family, constantly on the move to see or do something new and share the experience with them. Ray feels truly at home on the open seas.

However, if he were to live long enough to retire and settle down someday, he’d love to own a small seaside cottage. Ray could never live alone though, so he would plan to own this house with a friend who he could imagine spending the rest of his life with, or perhaps a future husband (Yes, despite this story’s setting being based around 1800s Europe, I have taken the liberty of legalizing gay marriage in my happy little fantasty universe so heck yee my boi can grow old with a male spouse if he wants to, dammit)

29) What is one of the most courageous things your character has ever done for a loved one?

Oh, this is a hard one. Ray is an extremely dedicated person, and this often comes out in the form of reckless bravery and taking uncalculated risks. Mabel functions as the majority of his impulse control, but he still often takes measures she doesn’t approve of, whether they work out in the long run or not.

That being said, I think one of the most courageous things Ray has ever done is happening right now as he pursues Percival, the climax of this action still yet to come. Percival and his crew are infamously dangerous for anyone to get involved with, and Ray knows this from past experience. Raids from the Golden Felucca’s crew can be–and have been–devastating, so to actually chase after them and plot revenge against Percival’s actions is exceedingly courageous. Almost foolishly so. But he will never ever give up on Benedict Floyd, and if there’s a chance he’s still alive, by God is Ray going to find him and do whatever it takes to get him safe. 

30. When it comes to the arts (music, film, theater, etc), what does your character like?

Ahh, Ray has such a soft spot for anything in the arts. He used to dream of becoming an artisan, and that love for craft still lingers with him. He’s become skilled at making art with whatever loose materials are on board the ship, whether it be wood he carves or burns designs into, ropes he practices knots on, or parchment and ink he especially loves to draw with (”Don’t waste our parchment, Ray!” Mabel chastises him sometimes, “You know how steep parchment prices have been as of late!”). 

As for performing arts, Ray never has much time to enjoy them but he has grown a certain fondness for the folk music musicians sing for tips in the market. He does have a specific fondness for Baroque period music, but they aren’t always in town long enough to catch an orchestral performance. He isn’t quite as keen on theater, but he respects the hard work that goes into a performance, and the novelty of a live storytelling medium. If movies did exist yet in this universe, Ray may not like them as much as something like theater. The charm there for him is having a story told live, so seeing it through a screen instead, where he knows there are edits going on behind the scenes to change what’s really going on may ruin the magic for him. He’s especially derogatory towards the use of CGI.

49. What is something that your character has nightmares about? Are these frequent? Do they heavily affect your character’s mood?

Oh, man. In any normal situation Ray is a naturally positive sort of person. He’s rarely plagued by night terrors, and is able to shake them off if he does have any. 

But right now? Ray has nightmares every night about Floyd. They fluctuate from dream to dream, but are all largely the same. He’s locked in a cage, and outside of it a great, towering serpent torments Floyd. It scares him, suffocates him with its tail, bites him with its fangs, and no matter what he does, Ray can do nothing. He can’t speak, or move, or even let him know he’s not alone. He wakes up in a cold sweat every morning, and the worst part is that the nightmare doesn’t end when he wakes. 

Ray knows that every day he’s pursuing the Golden Felucca, that’s another day Floyd has spent in Percival’s clutches because Floyd couldn’t have died, he’d never, there’s no proof that he’s even still alive but… if Ray gives up that hope, he gives up everything he stands for. Even if he’s being tormented horribly, it’s better than being dead. Right? Right?

[billehrman]

Stay Cool, Calm, and Collected

President Trump, as well as most leaders, have ordered a state of emergency in their country to limit the spread of the coronavirus.  Ironically, China and South Korea, where it all began, appear on paths to recovery which gives reason for optimism as we learn how best to contain the virus. While no one knows how long the contagion may last, the rapid responses by governments, businesses, and individuals have been phenomenal and should help mitigate the spread of the virus over the next few months.

Near-term economic impact to the U.S and elsewhere will be painful but it does not alter our long-term view of global growth. Even though we might even enter a technical recession, it is a one-off event which does not alter our long-term outlook.

We continue to believe that the worst of the coronavirus will be behind us by the end of the second quarter and growth will slowly resume and accelerate throughout the second half of 2020 into 2021.  However, many industries directly hurt by the coronavirus including retail, travel (airlines, hotels, cruises), restaurants, in-person education, all forms of entertainment  (gambling, theater, sports ) and many small to medium size businesses may take longer to fully recover than others due to concerns that may linger.

The winners will be companies that use the internet to transact businesses as more of us are at home spending more time on our computers and devices.  Also, we are favorably inclined to diversified companies with strong balance sheets, above average dividend yields and the financial resources to take advantage of this situation; companies with stable demand and strong financials such that their dividend yields are also far above the 30 year treasury yield and are safe and finally, many leading technology companies with promising long-term futures that have been unduly hit by program trading. Hopefully the SEC will finally reinsert the uptick rule which may impede 1000 point daily swings taking no prisoners.

We are confident that all governments and monetary authorities will do all in their powers to provide all the liquidity to the financial system needed to avoid any systematic risks; provide testing and healthcare benefits for all;  provide financial relief to companies and individuals directly and indirectly hurt by weakening demand, and implement stimulus plans to offset bolster growth.

This is a synchronous drop in demand due to coronavirus. This is not a financial crisis.

Here are a few of the actions already announced to provide liquidity to financial institutions, businesses and individuals:

·      The Fed injected $1.5 trillion into the system including accelerated Treasury purchases with more actions to be announced this week to provide added liquidity, push down mortgage rates below 3% to open a new round of refinancing, and let it be known that the Fed will do everything in its power to offset any negative financial effects of the coronavirus

·      The President declared a State of Emergency freeing $50 billion to combat the coronavirus, provide more flexibility to doctors and hospitals responding to the outbreak, waive interest on student loans, and purchase more crude for the stockpile. This is all in addition to $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus spending package approved earlier in the week with included delaying April tax payments 3 months adding $200 billion to individuals and small businesses for the short term.

·      The President and the House reached a deal to provide free coronavirus testing; as much as 14 days of paid sick leave; and as much as three months paid family and medical leave. It also provides more money for State Medicaid programs.

·      Germany will wield a ‘bazooka” to fight the coronavirus. The government will provide unlimited liquidity (more than $600 billion, permit companies to defer tax payments and go along with the ECB in raising debt limits for all countries. France, Italy, and all other European countries are unleashing billions to offset the negative effects on businesses and consumers caused by the coronavirus. Japan is prepared to do it too as well as countries in South American and Africa. Ironically, China is willing to help other countries in need of financial aid.

We are witnessing unprecedented actions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus within and amongst countries. Warmer weather should help, too.  

While we recognize that economic growth may come to a standstill for a brief period, we are more confident than ever that the spread of the coronavirus can be slowed in the months ahead due to these aggressive actions such that growth will resume in the second half of the year into 2021. Specific actions include borders being closed; cruises and international flights being cancelled; offices, stores and schools being closed with work taking place virtually; sports events/concerts/shows/venues all being cancelled; and restaurants being closed. On the other hand, testing is becoming more available by the day and medical companies are working 24/7 to find medicines to contain the virus and vaccines to protect against it.

Markets hate uncertainty.  It cannot be more uncertain more than now!  But we see governments, monetary authorities, businesses and individuals all moving in the right direction providing financial support on one hand while limiting the spread of the virus on the other hand. Pretty amazing! We did not expect to see moves occurring so quickly and virtually everywhere.

While we fully get that there is no near-term visibility, it is time to look over this valley as the virus will peak and economies will resume growth once again, albeit slowly, by the second half of 2020. Some industries will recover faster than others. While we expect those industries and companies most hurt by the virus to recover, it may take longer than you think. We fully expect governments to give these industries/companies financial lifelines to stem them over until demand returns but it will also be a financial burden for years to come. On the other hand, any industry and company that uses the internet to provide its business, products and services will be long term beneficiaries. For instance, Amazon will not only continue to increase market penetration, but also add products and services to its growing Prime customer base accelerating overall growth. There are many other companies that we own like Amazon. We like to invest in those industries/companies with the wind to their backs rather than in their faces. But again, program trading takes no prisoners providing opportunities for investor to add to positions at even better prices.

Our bottom line is that the overall market remains undervalued for investors with more than a six-month time frame. During such unsettled times, it is paramount to focus on a company’s balance sheet and financial strength to make sure that the company can not only weather the near-term storm caused by the coronavirus but come out stronger on the other side.

Our portfolios continue to hold an above average amount of cash as we turned defensive several weeks ago selling financials as we saw spreads narrowing, sold economically sensitive companies including global capital goods, industrials and commodities, sold entertainment companies, retailers and reduced special situations that had economic risk. On the other hand, we maintained our technology exposure tied to the internet and added healthcare.

While we fully expect the number of coronavirus cases to increase and more businesses to temporarily close over the foreseeable future, we will be monitoring closely to see how well the virus is being monitored and contained. We will also watch closely to see the actions of the Fed and government next week to provide added liquidity to the financial system and businesses/individuals most in need.

Uncertainty provides ripe opportunities for the investor. This is time to stay calm, cool, and collected.

The weekly Investment Committee webinar will be held Monday morning March 16th at 8:30 am EST. Type https://zoom.us/j/9179217852 into your browser or dial 1-408-638-0968 for listen only mode.

Remember to review all the facts; pause, reflect and consider mindset shifts; turn off your cable news network; look at your asset mix with risk controls; do independent research and…

Invest Accordingly!

Bill Ehrman

Paix et Prospérité LLC

[reverseswing]

FROM RAGS TO RECOGNITION : SWaCH LEADS THE TRANSFORMATION

Garbage. A word that’s more abhorred than adored for quite obvious reasons. While all of us, in one way or the other, contribute in creating garbage on a daily basis, we are averse of its presence around us – whether at home, neighbourhood or streets. We want to get rid of the filth every day so that we don’t have to bear the stench from the piled up waste.

While every city administration employs staff and officials who collect garbage on daily basis and take it to the landfills, the role and efforts of the rag pickers are always ignored and overlooked. They are perhaps one of the most marginalised sections of the society and therefore never talked about. Forget dignity, they find themselves being treated like ‘garbage’, even when they willingly dirty their hands by scouring through the filth that’s not even generated by them. If not for livelihood, would anyone spend a better part of his / her day, every day, amidst nightmarish working conditions?

A new era dawns in Pune (India)

Circa 1993. The waste pickers of Pune in Maharashtra, one of the largest states in India, scripted their exit out of the rubbish heaps and landfills to transform their lives forever. They unionized themselves to define legitimate workspace for themselves in municipal solid waste management that improved their working conditions. Thus was formed the Kagad Kach Patra Kashtkari Panchayat (KKPKP), a movement that spearheaded the battle of waste pickers, waste buyers and waste collectors to be recognised as workers.

What KKPKP said was very simple. Waste pickers need to be treated with dignity and given their due status in the society because they recovered materials for recycling, reduced municipal solid waste handling costs, generated employment downstream, and contributed to public health and environment. They occupy an important place in the waste management and recycling value chain and contribute substantially to the manufacturing economy.

Surprised!! Take a breather, rethink over what’s aforesaid, and you can’t help but agree that rag pickers indeed need to be taken much more seriously than they have been since time immemorial.

Well, this argument was well understood by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which in the year 2008, entered into an MOU with an offshoot of KKPKP christened Solid Waste Collection Handling - SWaCH.

SWaCH. A Higher Level of Self-Reliance.

A wholly worker-owned cooperative of waste pickers, waste buyers and waste collectors, SWaCH is conceived as an autonomous social enterprise. SWaCH Seva Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit, as it is formally known, provides front-end waste management services to Pune city with support from PMC.

Throwing light on the birth of SWaCH, Aparna Sasurla, Director of SWaCH says, “The organisation works on a well-defined model which was tested for two years (2005-2007) before being presented to PMC for support, approval and recognition. It was only after the success of this pilot project which established the workability and the potential of SWaCH beyond doubt, that PMC gave its nod to be integrated into the mainstream solid waste management system (SWM) of the city of Pune.”

Acceptance by PMC was like winning a long battle for SWaCH. In the crucial early years, the Corporation played a positive and enabling role in promoting SWaCH. It acknowledged that SWaCH model was indeed a cost-saving, sustainable and environmentally beneficial system which added value to the already existing but faltering solid waste management system of the Corporation. With passage of time, it became clear that the model of SWaCH had the required ability and the dynamism to bring about a fundamental change in the SWM system of Pune.

A Unique Model

SWaCH is an inclusive model that recognises the contribution of ‘invisible’ workers who play crucial role in keeping the Pune city clean. Different from the PMC model, SWaCH follows a green model of waste collection that is not heavily dependent on fossil fuel or electricity.

Talking about the significance of SWaCH in the SWM system of Pune City, Aparna says, “The importance of SWaCH is multidimensional and affects various people at different levels. To the residents, SWaCH is important because they get reliable service at reasonable cost and with accountability. To the waste pickers it is important because it gives their work a dignity while integrating them into the formal sector along with upgrading their livelihoods as well as standard of living.  To the municipality it is important because the waste is collected in a more systematic manner and segregated at such nominal cost.”

Women constitute over 78% of SWaCH membership. While this holds for most age groups, the presence of men is higher in the youngest age group and among the aging. Most SWaCH members used to work as waste pickers or itinerant waste buyers. Housekeeping and cleaning workers constitute another significant group.

The SWaCH model is very unique in itself. Two workers collect source-segregated waste from 200-300 households, offices, shops and other establishments using manual pushcarts or motorized vehicles if the terrain is difficult. The waste pickers have the right over recyclables and retain income from the sale of scrap. This ensures maximum recycling and retrieval. Waste pickers separate the waste into wet and dry. Wet, organic and non-recyclable waste is handed over to the PMC. In some cases it is composted on site. Dry waste is sorted into categories like plastic, paper, metal, glass, leather etc. and then further fine sorted. Whatever has the market is sold.

The earnings of SWaCH members are derived from user fees and sale of recyclables. SWaCH members have relatively more stable income than other waste pickers in India. Their working hours vary from four to six hours including collection and sorting. Most also enjoy weekly holiday too.

Trials and Tribulations

As with every innovative idea, SWaCH too faces challenges from various quarters. From being slammed for being too transparent a model to being criticised as something that unnecessarily creates a parallel system, SWaCH has to deal with multitude of problems while still performing at its best.

“Other challenges notwithstanding,, the model being a user-fee based one is often met with resistance from the residents,” says Aparna. “Usually, we charge Rs. 10 to 30 per household per month in non-slum areas and in slum areas we charge Rs. 15 per household per month. We insist on user fees because SWaCH waste collectors are not paid by PMC for door to door collection. The service therefore needs to be supported by user fees paid by citizens. The fees facilitate a direct accountable relationship between the service user and the service provider.”

SWaCH+

As the primary collection system got established and began running in auto-pilot mode, the management of SWaCH decided to foray into allied activities to add more value and dimensions to their core endeavour. Calling it SWaCH+, the organisation began to offer services such as collection of unwanted household goods, collection of e-waste, garden waste, housekeeping and trading in recyclables. Under SWaCH+ the members are trained to handle mechanical composters and do manual composting. Members also work in bio-methanation plants established by PMC on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis.

Innovations by SWaCH

Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. SWaCH too found it necessary to go in for innovation, both to sustain its operations and also create newer sustainable livelihood options for more waste pickers. The out-of-the-box thinking of SWaCH has not only helped the organisation to explore its hidden strengths but also upgrade its image in the eyes of its partners, stakeholders and everyone associated with the mission. A range of financial, social, environmental and other benefits for PMC, waste pickers, citizens, and Pune city as a whole are being achieved by the innovative steps taken by SWaCH.

V-Collect Programme

SWaCH collects old electronic, electrical items, furniture, bicycles, kitchen utensils, repair and re-use what can be, while dismantle and recycle the rest. By organizing V-Collect events, SWaCH channelizes most of these items towards recycling and re-use, away from dumps.

SWaCH collects old newspapers from households and use them to produce ST Dispo bags and carry bags. Members are trained in making ST Dispo bags with recycled paper, glue, and thread. As it looks distinct, it goes into a separate waste stream. The waste pickers are saved the indignity of handling soiled sanitary napkins directly. The bags are made available at local stores in different areas of Pune.

SWaCH collects clean, useable clothes, sort them out according to size, gender age and style and sell those at nominal prices to waste pickers and other urban poor. Torn fabrics are recycled into cloth products like bags, coasters and dusters.

Green School Programme  

SWaCH in association with Parisar and CEE, has launched the Green School Programme which aims to widen the horizon of the school going children. The programme entails enhancing the children’s perspective on environment, sustainability and related issues. It helps students and teachers to carry out action-based projects to leading to environment conservation. It guides the school in setting up and implement best practices of solid waste and e-waste management. Throught he medium of hands-on activities the GSP covers topics like water, waste, energy, biodiversity, heritage, culture, traffic and transportation.

 Nirmalya Project : Over the past 7 years, by diverting huge amounts of waste – both organic and biodegradable – from Pune’s rivers, SWaCH members has significantly reduced the pollution of rivers and dumping of nirmalaya on ghats. Last year itself, SWaCH diverted 177 tonnes of Nirmalaya. This has encouraged responsible citizens of Pune to be more eco-conscious. After receiving the Nirmalaya, SWaCH members segregate it into various categories such as fruit, flowers, clothes etc., send the flowers to composting units for conversion into natural manure, distribute good fruits for consumption and the rest for composting, take materials like paper, plastic and thermocol for recycling.

Composting : The PMC has made it mandatory for all societies formed after the year 2000 to compost organic waste. Towards this end, SWaCH helps to set up a composting system which takes care of the wet waste efficiently. For a small cost, a trained waste collector maintains and manages the compost every day. A supervisor also makes periodic visits to the composting site to ensure that all is well.

 E-Waste Disposal : SWaCH has been authorised by the PMC to collect and channel e-waste according to the rules laid down by the government. SWaCH ensures the collection and correct disposal of e-waste at authorised PMC centres. Last year, over 7 metric tonnes of e-waste was diverted from the grey market and sold in the open market by SWaCH.

Success of SWaCH

In its eight years of existence, SWaCH has touched lives and livelihoods of the workers in ways that have made them more self-reliant, economically more stable and created a platform that promises to secure the future of the next generation.

Compared to their incomes as free-roaming waste pickers, the earnings of SWaCH members have increased manifolds since the launch of the initiative. Depending on the locality from where the collection is done, their income range from Rs. 1,500 per month to Rs. 15,000 per month. This has brought in stability into their lives which was absent in the days prior to SWaCH. It has helped them make plans for family’s future, educate their children and also save for the rainy day. Such has been the faith of the worker members in SWaCH that their well-educated children too have joined the organisation to serve the noble cause.

In a community which traditionally had little access to education and decent work, it is a matter of pride to see their children become the face of SWaCH’s future. Moreover, by branching out into waste related activities many waste pickers are upgrading their work standard, and in effect creating upward mobility in an occupation which was once considered lowest of the low.

The SWaCH initiative has come to represent the biggest effort to integrate waste pickers in India. The hitherto ‘faceless and nuisance-causing people’ are now people who interact with fellow residents on an equal footing. Surekha Gaekwad is a high school graduate and team leader of eight waste pickers. She and her team has diversified into housekeeping and composting. Sharing her transformation story Surekha says, “Five years ago, I spent my day at garbage bins. I ended up dirty and stinking by evening. I was looked upon with apathy and disgust. But now I have earned people’s respect. Today, when I go to collect my money, the lady there asks me to sit on the sofa. If she is drinking tea, she will order another cup for me.”  

Mangal, another SWaCH member expresses her happiness in these words. “The residents in the area who used to frown at me, now call me by my name and greet me too. A resident gave me a second hand bicycle. I ride to work on the bicycle. Today I am literate and am the treasurer of a credit co-operative.” The twinkle in her eyes and the broad smile speak another thousand words which, though unheard, do not go unheeded.

Towards a Swach Future

Good work never goes unnoticed. In 2014 series of Satyamev Jayte, Bollywood super star Aamir Khan invited SWaCH to share their story and experiences, giving the organisation a national platform. It underlines that the efforts and the endeavours of SWaCh are slowly and steadily gaining recognition as more and more people become aware of SWaCH and its impact on the lives of over 3000 waste pickers who form the SWaCH Cooperative. The future of an organisation like SWaCH is indeed bright and with the support from the authorities, educated civilians and those good Samaritans, SWaCH will accomplish what it set out to achieve – taking waste pickers from rags to recognition.

[thewriting-corner]

Learning From Different Story Mediums

The more I learn about writing, the more I realize just how much I love storytelling as a whole. As much as books will forever be my first love, getting to watch a movie and pick it apart is almost a lot more fun than analysing a book. With that in mind, today I’ll be talking about things you can learn about writing while studying other storytelling mediums.

Dialogue in movies

Literature imitates real life, but this is NOT a perfect reflection, which is why movies, shows and books use cringey dialogue that would otherwise never be used in any other context. I feel like it’s more common to try and learn how to write dialogue from real life examples, but in books it’s unlikely you’ll find characters talking like real people. If they did, we would have 50 pages on one character just losing their train of thought and going off topic.

But because we can’t have either super cheesy, unrealistic dialogue OR realistic, unsustainable-in-fiction dialogue, we need a middle ground and movies do a great job at that. Since I write mostly contemporary and contemporary sci-fi, the films I that help me the most are ones like Jurassic World (🤢) or The Adam Project. They combine the “real” dialogue of the real world with the “scientific” aspect inside the story telling, and that helped me tons to improve my dialogue.

TV show pilots to write a first chapter

Okay I’ve read a lot of people say that using TV shows as a way to better your book writing is not good, but hear me out! Before Netflix and Disney+, shows would have to first film a pilot, release it and wait for the show to be approved. Because of this, the first episode of a show worked a lot like a first chapter in a book. They have to somehow introduce the Main Character(s), the antagonist and main conflict, plot and establish the character relationships that will be there for an entire season in only 20-30 minutes. They have to both give you a taste of the world while also leaving you wanting more, which is exactly what a first chapter does.

To me, the best example of the perfect pilot is CW’s The Flash. The writers manage to perfectly show us Barry’s backstory, his relationship with Joe and Iris, Barry’s personality, the worldbuilding AND a hint into Dr Wells’ mysterious past without messing up the pacing, giving us too much or too little information and introducing us to a world that would’ve not made much sense if not for the way the script balances all the important pieces to hook the viewer.

POVs in folklore’s love triangle

Hehe I feel like I’m gonna hit the Swifties here but reading an “article” about the Betty-James-Augustine love triangle really made it hit me how interesting the way their stories are portrayed is. The three songs (august, cardigan, betty) all share at least two events, all of them from different points of views. Of course, one can go into the lyrics and analyse that BUT to me, the clearest part of each character’s voice comes from the actual instruments.

Betty (James’ POV) is light and almost cheery in a way that tells us how lighthearted and “cool” James sees himself. It’s only because of the lyrics that we realize how he believes he truly loves Betty and how much he regrets cheating.

With Cardigan (Betty’s POV) the song rhythm is not only more mature, but it sounds tired. She loves James, but that speed-bump in their relationship kept her up and left her feeling used and broken and sad. We don’t even need to hear the lyrics to know how she feels.

Then finally in August (Augustine’s POV) is again, kind of airy and slightly happy again, but there’s also a hint of sadness thanks to the drums.

What I mean to say with all of this is not that I don’t have a life, but how a character’s voice in a book is not just defined by WHAT they say, but HOW. Their actions, mannerisms, and general atmosphere as important to their voice as the things they say.

Round characters in sitcoms

I briefly talked about this in one of my Community rants, but one of the great things about sitcoms is their characters. Because the plot doesn’t usually have a concrete end goal that the characters are striving towards, they rely on the consistency and realness of characters to keep the audience hooked. Coming back to The Flash, something very common in the later seasons is the characters’ usual morals or personality being completely disregarded in order to move the plot along. And the thing is, the plot never calls the shot in a story. The conflict is there, hanging out, but it depends on the characters to move it along and we can’t do that with flat characters. Really take a look at shows like Alexa & Katie. You’ll notice that no matter how much a character grows, there are still certain actions and mannerisms they go back to without it being “repetitive” or “stunted”.

Fight scenes in action shows/movies

This one might be the simplest of them all, but it’s still fun to do. Personally, I’ve never really witnessed a fight lol so writing fight scenes is a really big challenge. However, because I really enjoy action films one of my favorite things to do is pay special attention to the fight sequences. Like, what parts of the arm they use to hit someone or different props they may use as weapons. Honestly, half my knowledge of weapons and fighting comes from the show Arrow lol. Obviously it’s best to do actual research, but this is a fun way to learn as well.

[michaellerschmba]

What’s Ahead for Real Estate in 2019?

  As we begin another year, everyone wants to know: “Where is the housing market headed in 2019?”

 It’s not only buyers, sellers, and homeowners who are impacted. The real estate market plays an integral role in the overall U.S. economy.  Fortunately, key indicators point toward a stable housing market in 2019 with signs of modest growth. However, shifting conditions could impact you if you plan to buy, sell, or refinance this year.

  HOME VALUES WILL INCREASE

 The value of real estate will continue to rise. Freddie Mac predicts housing prices will increase by 4.3 percent in 2019.1  While the rapid price appreciation we witnessed earlier in the decade has slowed, the combination of a strong economy, low unemployment, and a lack of inventory in many market segments continues to push prices higher.

 "Ninety percent of markets are experiencing price gains while very few are experiencing consistent price declines," according to National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.2

 Yun predicts that the national median existing-home price will increase to around $266,800 in 2019 and $274,000 in 2020. "Home price appreciation will slow down—the days of easy price gains are coming to an end—but prices will continue to rise."

 What does it mean for you? If you’re in the market to buy a home, act fast. Prices will continue to go up, so you’ll pay more the longer you wait. If you’re a current homeowner, real estate has proven once again to be a solid investment over the long term. In fact, the equity level of American homeowners reached an all-time high in 2018, topping $6 trillion.3

  SALES LEVELS WILL STABILIZE

 In 2018, we saw a decline in sales, primarily driven by rising mortgage rates and a lack of affordable inventory. However, Yun isn’t alarmed. "2017 was the best year for home sales in ten years, and 2018 is only down 1.5 percent year to date. Statistically, it is a mild twinge in the data and a very mild adjustment compared to the long-term growth we've been experiencing over the past few years."2

  Yun and other economists expect home sales to remain relatively flat over the next couple of years. Freddie Mac forecasts homes sales will increase 1 percent to 6.08 million in 2019 and 2 percent to 6.20 million in 2020.1

 “The medium and long-term prospects for housing are good because demographics are going to continue to support demand,” explains Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist for LendingTree. “With a slower price appreciation, incomes have an opportunity to catch up. With slower sales, inventory has an opportunity to normalize. A slowdown in 2019 creates a healthier housing market going forward.”4

 What does it mean for you? If you’ve been scared off by reports of a market slowdown, it’s important to keep things in perspective. A cooldown can prevent a hot market from becoming overheated. A gradual and sustainable pace of growth is preferable for long-term economic stability.

  MORTGAGE RATES WILL RISE

 The Mortgage Bankers Association predicts the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates three times this year, resulting in a rise in mortgage rates.5 While no one can predict future mortgage rates with certainty, Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale estimates that the rate for a 30-year mortgage will reach 5.5 percent by the end of 2019, up from around 4.62 percent at the end of 2018.6

 While mortgage rates above 5 percent may seem high to today’s buyers, it’s not out of line with historical standards. According to Hale, “The average mortgage rate in the 1990s was 8.1 percent, and rates didn’t fall below 5 percent until 2009. So for buyers who can make the math work, buying a home is likely still an investment worth making.”7

 What does it mean for you? If you’re in the market to buy a house or refinance an existing mortgage, you may want to act quickly before mortgage rates rise. To qualify for the lowest rate available, take steps to improve your credit score, pay down existing debt, and save up for a larger down payment.

  AFFORDABILITY ISSUES WILL PERSIST

 Although the desire to own a home remains strong, the combination of higher home prices and rising mortgage rates will make it increasingly difficult for many first-time buyers to afford one.

   “Buyers who are able to stay in the market will find less competition as more buyers are priced out but feel an increased sense of urgency to close before it gets even more expensive,” according to Hale. “Although the number of homes for sale is increasing, which is an improvement for buyers, the majority of new inventory is focused in the mid-to-higher-end price tier, not entry-level.”6

 What does it mean for you? Unfortunately, market factors make it difficult for many first-time buyers to afford a home. However, as move-up buyers take advantage of new high-end inventory, we could see an increase in starter homes hitting the market.

  MILLENNIALS WILL MAKE UP LARGEST SEGMENT OF BUYERS

 “The housing market in 2019 will be characterized by continued rising mortgage rates and surging millennial demand,” according to Odeta Kushi, senior economist for First American. "Rising rates, by making housing less affordable, will likely deter certain potential homebuyers from the market. On the other hand, the largest cohort of millennials will be turning 29 next year, entering peak household formation and home-buying age, and contributing to the increase in first-time buyer demand.”4

 Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com, predicts the trend will continue. “Millennials are also likely to make up the largest share of home buyers for the next decade as their housing needs adjust over time.”6

 What does it mean for you? If you’re in the market for a starter home, prepare to compete for the best listings. And if you plan to sell a home in 2019, be sure to work with an agent who knows how to reach millennial buyers by utilizing the latest online marketing techniques.

  WE’RE HERE TO GUIDE YOU

 While national real estate numbers and predictions can provide a “big picture” outlook for the year, real estate is local. And as local market experts, we can guide you through the ins and outs of our market and the local issues that are likely to drive home values in your particular neighborhood.

 If you’re considering buying or selling a home in 2019, contact us now to schedule a free consultation. We’ll work with you to develop an action plan to meet your real estate goals this year.

   START PREPARING TODAY

 If you plan to BUY this year:

    Get pre-approved for a mortgage. If you plan to finance part of your home purchase, getting       pre-approved for a mortgage will give you a jump-start on the paperwork       and provide an advantage over other buyers in a competitive market. The       added bonus: you will find out how much you can afford to borrow and       budget accordingly.

  Create your wish list. How       many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? How far are you willing to       commute to work? What’s most important to you in a home? We can set up a       customized search that meets your criteria to help you find the perfect       home for you.

  Come to our office. The       buying process can be tricky. We’d love to guide you through it. We can       help you find a home that fits your needs and budget, all at no cost to       you. Give us a call to schedule an appointment today!

  If  you plan to SELL this year:

    Call us for a FREE Comparative Market Analysis. A CMA not only gives you the current market value of your home,       it will also show how your home compares to others in the area. This       will help us determine which repairs and upgrades may be required to get       top dollar for your property, and it will help us price your home       correctly once you’re ready to list.

  Prep your home for the market. Most buyers want a home they can move into right away, without       having to make extensive repairs and upgrades. We can help you determine       which ones are worth the time and expense to deliver maximum results.

  Start decluttering. Help       your buyers see themselves in your home by packing up personal items and       things you don’t use regularly and storing them in an attic or storage       locker. This will make your home appear larger, make it easier to stage       ... and get you one step closer to moving when the time comes!

    Call (916) 660-3002

mikelersch@hotmail.com

Sources:

1.     Freddie Mac Economic & Housing Research Forecast – http://www.freddiemac.com/research/pdf/201811-Forecast-04.pdf

2.     National Association of Realtors 2019 Forecast –   https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/2019-forecast-existing-home-sales-to-stabilize-and-price-growth-to-continue

3.     Bankrate 2018 Year in Review – https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/year-in-review-for-housing-market/’

4.     Forbes 2019 Real Estate Forecast – https://www.forbes.com/sites/alyyale/2018/12/06/2019-real-estate-forecast-what-home-buyers-sellers-and-investors-can-expect/#a98b80a70d9a

5.     Mortgage Bankers Association Forecast – https://www.mba.org/2018-press-releases/october/mba-forecast-purchase-originations-to-increase-to-12-trillion-in-2019

6.     Realtors.com 2019 National Housing Forecast – https://www.realtor.com/research/2019-national-housing-forecast/

7.     FOX Business – https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/where-mortgage-rates-are-headed-in-2019

[swotfis]

Yarloo

Yarloo is a new take on the lottery gambling system that is known to everyone around the world

Togel is a type of bet that combines the drawing of numbers randomly to get prizes. Some governments limit lotteries, while others support them to levels that designate them all as public or state lotteries. It's really expected to find some level of lottery rules by the government. The most notable rule is the prohibition of propositions to minors, and the sender must be approved to sell lottery tickets.

Yarloo is a new take on the lottery gambling system that is known to everyone around the world. We feel that the current state of the lottery is quite… lacking, to say the least. It's not fun, the risks are too high and your chances are dim. Very. Here's an excerpt from K5: “According to the US Lottery, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million and the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Combine the two and the odds of winning both jackpots for over a billion dollars go to 1 in 88 quadrillion. That's 88 followed by 15 zeros.

Yarloo is a global lottery ecosystem built on transparent and decentralized blockchain technology, in which the system will be distributed on a public network, making global lottery operations more efficient and transparent. By leveraging the Blockchain technology platform as well as the Binance Smart Chain Blockchain technology features, smart contracts enable various processes, such as collecting or distributing each lottery process, to be more efficient than the traditional centralized systems currently in use. Since a platform that ensures the safety of international lotteries is their top priority, their blockchain based lottery platform also offers daily lottery draws. which covers a wide geographical area and can be followed by anyone, wherever they are. The use of smart contracts, of course,

But with the current advancement of the crypto space, we at Yarloo feel that something can be done to revolutionize lottery systems around the world, and to make it more fun, give people a much higher chance of winning, create a much more flexible jackpot pool, and introduce sets. NFT card as the core function behind the ticket. Also the fun aspect of making the whole project theme revolve around pirates!

Yarloo Features Yarloo is an innovative and modern lottery platform for users all over the world. Here users can participate in solo and team lottery pools to be able to get a sizable jackpot. But it all depends on the luck of the user and Yarloo ensures that this lottery program runs fairly and honestly. But that's not all, there are several other features of Yarloo:

Wheel of Fortune:   This is the coolest feature of Yarloo where users can join lucky spinners to get rewards in the form of tokens, discounts, special cards, etc. Yarloo will give users the opportunity to be able to spin once a day for free, but for the next spin, users have to pay extra.

NFT Trading Center: A   platform that will make it easier for users to buy and sell cards with other users easily and securely.

Yarloo Wallet: A   digital wallet that makes it easy for users to store digital assets and exchange them directly from the wallet. Here users can also risk their tokens.

Arcade Games:   A series of games developed by Yarloo for users to make Yarloo even cooler.

DeFi Ecosystem:   Users can borrow tokens using collateral securely through the DeFi ecosystem provided by Yarloo.

How it works At Yarloo, you really need to check out a wide range of financially supportive activities, including, not limited to:

Single Lottery Jackpot

Team Lottery Jackpot

Fortune Spinner

NFT Trade Center

Yarloo Wallet (to check and exchange our tokens)

Game Arcade

DeFi Loan System

As can be seen, Yarloo offers various ways to handle our original lottery system, and to profit through different styles and approaches. Use our lucky spinner to check if you can collect other awesome cards that expand your possibilities. Is it correct to say that you are an inventor who has accumulated a large number of critical cards over time? The trading center is yours for the taking, and from a genuine perspective there is no risk at all as you are only selling your cards. If you are not as lucky as the cards and don't want to face high difficulty, then of course, stamping is your best method.

We are different What makes Yarloo unprecedented, however, is the means that it uses the NFT system, making it the standard engine behind entry tickets. Since you want to play, you have to go in by designing a certain game plan from the cards you have. Combining cards on a regular basis can give you unprecedented characteristics, depending on the uniqueness and type of card, and the similarity of features it has with various cards you can guarantee. Cards are your ticket to travel, and they're the only way you can go all out to win big bets.

To enter using cards, there is a partial fee that must be added to the pool to add to the great prizes, but at that point you will be allowed to deal 5 cards only from your set, following them for the best results. which will create the result you envision. If your strategy goes well, you might get a gold mine, and congratulations on everything.

RST Ecosystem The Pay Sharing Token, or RST for short, is Yarloo's reformist backbone, an important execution of its kind in what will someday look like the advancement of NFT and DeFi, RST is the means by which Yarloo can be armed as an adversary. underwrite the project, which can withstand any market valuation. How the capacity is is very basic, and can be reconfigured according to the tendencies of each association, but we will use Yarloo as a middle model of how RST will be used given that we are the main creator of this thought and its first integrator.

Card System Our card system is not too confusing. There will be 5 types of cards placed from the bottom up as follows: These 5 types of cards have very different limitations and characteristics. For example, the paltry cards only give 1 ticket for each card, given their low value, and the Bronze card gives 2 tickets for each card, besides that both have unusual characteristics and cannot be combined with other cards.

Of course, from Silver to Sapphire, cards provide more tickets and all have great characteristics. Silver cards give 5 tickets for each card, Gold gives 10, and Sapphire gives 50 speculation tickets. Card sets will always ship at Yarloo, even after delivery, as this will be a basic part of the process how it works. There will be 3 types of card sets, so that customers can understand what is in their respective stores:

Standard

Premium

eccentric

EKOSISTEM RST

Profit Sharing Token, or RST for short, is Yarloo's revolutionary backbone, the first implementation of its kind that will someday be recognized as NFT and DeFi technology, RST is how Yarloo can be armed as an anti-bear project, which can withstand any market sentiment. The way it works is pretty simple, and can be reconfigured based on individual company preferences, but we'll be using Yarloo as a core example of how RST will be used considering we were the original founders of this concept and its first integrator.

Seed Investors & IDOs:   30%

Holder:   25%

Repurchase:   20%

LP Provider:   15%

Wheel of Fortune/Rewards Pool:  10%

CARD SYSTEM

Our card system is not very complicated. There will be 5 types of cards, ranked from bottom to top as:

These 5 types of cards have very different functions and values. For example, a small card only gives 1 ticket per card, due to its low value, and a Bronze card gives 2 tickets per card, but both have no special attributes and cannot be paired with other cards.

On the other hand, from Silver to Sapphire, cards grant more tickets and all have special attributes. Silver cards give 5 tickets per card, Gold give 10, and Sapphire give 50 participation tickets.

Card sets will be released consistently at Yarloo, even after launch, as they will always be an important part of the way things work. There will be 3 types of card sets, so users can know what to expect from each:

Standard

Premium

eccentric

ROADMAP

Q3 2021:

Funding Round Conclusion

3-5 Sets of Launch Cards

Alpha Wallet

Pass Alpha

Q4 2021:

Wheel of Fortune Release

Lottery Platform Launch

Bridging $YARL to the new network

First CEX List

5-8 New Card Set

Fusion System Testing

Governance features for $YARL holders

Updated Light Paper

Q1 2022:

Wander around the Seven Oceans!

We will continue to update our roadmap depending on new introductions, games we announce, and more. For now, only information about this year's Q3 and Q4 is available.

Useful Links:

Website : https://yarloo.vercel.app/

Telegram :  https://t.me/yarloochat

Telegram Channel:   https://t.me/yarlannouncements

Twitter :  https://twitter.com/yarloo_rst

Medium :   https://medium.com/@yarloo

Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/yarloo

swordfishz

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=3357715

[thelagendjz4]

YARLOO

A New Spin On The Future Famous Gambling And Lottery System

A lottery is a kind of wagering that incorporates the drawing of numbers erratically for a prize. A couple of governments restrict lotteries, while others endorse it to the level of figuring everything out a public or state lottery. It is completely expected to find some degree of rule of lottery by governments. The most notable rule is prohibition of proposition to minors, and shippers ought to be approved to sell lottery tickets.

About

Yarloo is one more translation of the lottery wagering structure outstanding to everyone all through the planet. We felt that the current status of lottery is very olacking, undoubtedly. It’s terrible, the risks are too high and your conceivable outcomes are weak. Regardless, with the current progress of the crypto space, we at Yarloo felt like there was mething so much that ought to be feasible to change the lottery structure all through the planet, and to make it extensively more fun, permit people basically higher chances of winning, making considerably more versatile treasure trove pools, and introducing NFT card sets as the middle limit behind tickets. Similarly the incredible piece of making the entire subject of the endeavor pivot around privateers.

Through this methodology, we acknowledge that, while lottery permits people basically little chances of winning, cryptofying that structure, wrapping it with fun games and worthwhile parts for individuals who might rather not peril a great deal of would potentially change the condition of the entire lottery industry, and that is the undeniable end-game for us at Yarloo.

How it Works?

On Yarloo, you will really need to check out different fiscally supportive activities, including, anyway not limited to:

Solo Lottery Jackpots

Team Lottery Jackpots

Fortune Spinners

NFT Trading Center

Yarloo Wallet (for checking and exchanging our tokens)

Arcade Games

DeFi Lending and Borrowing System

As can be seen, Yarloo is offering a wide scope of ways to deal with check out our original lottery system, and to benefit through different styles and approaches. Use our fortune spinners to check whether you could assemble another exceptional card that extends your possibilities. Is it exact to say that you are a finder who has amassed a gigantic number of critical cards as time goes on? The trading center is yours for the taking, and there are from a genuine perspective no risks at all as you’re simply selling your cards. In the event that you’re not as fortunate with cards and don’t want to confront high difficulties, then most certainly, stamping is your best methodology.

Different Us

What makes Yarloo unprecedented, regardless, is the means by which it utilizes the NFT system, making it the standard engine behind the entry tickets. Accepting you need to partake, you ought to enter by orchestrating out a specific game plan of cards that you own. Joining cards can regularly net you unprecedented characteristics, dependent upon the exceptionalness and sort of the card, and the likeness features it could have with various cards that you may guarantee. Cards are your passage ticket, and it’s the solitary way you can endeavor your shot at winning the huge stake.

To enter using cards, there’s a part charge that ought to be put away into the pool to add to the incredible prize, anyway by then you will be permitted to disseminate 5 cards just from your set, going along with them to have the best result which would fabricate your conceivable outcomes. If your strategy ends up extraordinary, you may have gotten yourself a gold mine, and congratulations would be all together.

Product and Features

Yarloo will be overflowing with cool arrangements that will be unfathomably useful for everybody, and as we acquire progress later on, we’ll start including more, and analyze them with our neighborhood we can see what else ought to be conceivable in Yarloo.

RST : Yarloo is the world’s first assignment to execute a development known as “Pay Sharing Token”, which allows the neighborhood get 30% of Yarloo’s advantages to serve the organic framework whereupon it is manufactured.

NFT : We’re also the essential lottery project in crypto history to utilize NFT cards as your guideline segment ticket system in any pool! This infers instead of buying tickets, your tickets are tended to by the cards you’re using in your lottery pools.

DeFi : You’ll have the alternative to benefit fiscally from Yarloo as a result of its cross variety DeFi structure, fundamentally by allowing you to get 2% of a pool’s advantages on the off chance that you’re its creator, and by benefitting from our RST natural framework on the off chance that you’re holding enough $YARL.

RST Ecosystem

Pay Sharing Token, or RST for short, is the reformist spine of Yarloo the important execution of its sort in what will one day become comparatively as seen as NFT and DeFi headways, RST is the means by which Yarloo can be weaponized as a foe of bear project, one that could withstand any market assessment. How it capacities is truly fundamental, and it might be reconfigured subject to every association’s tendency, anyway we’ll use Yarloo as the middle model for how RST will be utilized given that we’re the principal creators of this thought and its first integrators.

Card System

Our card system isn’t really obfuscated. There will be 5 sorts of cards, situating from base to top as:

These 5 sorts of cards have stunningly different limits and characteristics. For example, paltry cards simply grant 1 ticket for each card, in light of their low worth, and Bronze cards give out 2 tickets for each card, aside from both of them have no uncommon characteristics and can’t be joined with another card.

Of course, starting from Silver to Sapphire, cards give out generously more tickets and all of them have exceptional characteristics. Silver cards give out 5 tickets for each card, Gold gives out 10, and Sapphire honors 50 speculation tickets.

Card sets will be dependably conveyed in Yarloo, even after dispatch, as it will reliably be a basic piece of the course of action of how everything capacities. There will be 3 sorts of card sets, so customers can understand what’s in store from each and every one of them:

- Standard

- Premium

- Eccentric

Tokenomics

Yarloo has a native token launched under the name YARL which will be integrated on the platform. The YARL token will be launched on the Binance Network with BEP-20 protocols and will be used primarily for transactions, rewards and staking. Later users can exchange YARL tokens on the exchange platform directly to other cryptos with ease. To be able to get YARL tokens, users can buy YARL tokens on supported websites or exchanges.

ROADMAP

Q3 2021:

Funding Rounds Conclusion

3-5 Card Sets Launch

Wallet Alpha

Marketplace Alpha

Q4 2021:

Wheel of Fortune Release

Lottery Platform Launch

Bridging $YARL to new networks

First CEX listing

5-8 New Card Sets

Fusion System Testing

Governance features for $YARL holders

Updated Lightpaper

Q1 2022:

Venturing around the Seven Seas!

We’ll continue updating our roadmap depending on new introductions, the games we announce, and so much more. For the time being, only information surrounding Q3 and Q4 of this year are available.

Learn More:

Website : https://yarloo.vercel.app/

Telegram : https://t.me/yarloochat

Telegram Channel : https://t.me/yarlannouncements

Twitter : https://twitter.com/yarloo_rst

Medium : https://medium.com/@yarloo

Reddit : https://www.reddit.com/r/yarloo

Author: Thelagend jz4

Bitcointalk Profile: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2577207

BSC Wallet Address: 0x61e238964a4676C2AC8D830714A95618B3De942B

[kettumbar]

MOTHER DOG

A Decentralized Meme Token with Decentralized Exchange and NFTs Marketplace

A NFT is an electronic asset that may be unique and can be bought and sold. They can't be exchanged light of the way that no two NFTs are something almost identical. A NFT would along these lines have the option to be seen as a position's prohibitive thing existing in modernized design.

Guaranteeing a NFT doesn't suggest that the asset can't be recreated or has no other copy. For example, there are different increases of the main Mona Lisa painting. In the automated world, the holder of a NFT has a case over the obligation regarding extraordinary asset. All the while, the owner of the work probably won't have all of the rights to it, similar to copyright.

As of now, having a NFT would simply mean having what whose belonging can be shown by an innate approval system that resembles that of advanced cash. In any case, while cryptographic cash, too, is a modernized asset like NFT, the past is fungible considering the way that a unit of crypto, for instance, Bitcoin can be exchanged with another unit of Bitcoin. Other than craftsmanships, NFTs can be made out of accounts, music, collectables, GIFs, PC game skins and even tweets.

About

Motherdog a Decentralized Meme token with Decentralized Exchange and NFTs Marketplace. Motherdog develop Binance Smart Chain. Binance Smart Chain is wonderful, with most endeavor, the greatest DeFi Users, the most affordable gas charge and the speediest trade speed. You will find potential on Motherdog, Including improvement store, Support, Activities, Connection, etc

Binance Smart Chain is seen as an equivalent blockchain, making a twofold chain structure via conveying programmability to Binance Chain. Binance and Binance Smart Chain have both procured the thought of architects, vendors, and monetary supporters. A piece of the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) wallets are: MetaMask. The Binance Smart Chain is an adroit agreement engaged blockchain network made completely aim on making a decentralized money related (DeFi) climate. The Binance Smart Chain works using a Proof-of-Authority understanding framework,

The decentralized thought of blockchain makes the groundbreaking thought of a representative economy where the neighborhood can be circulated to the genuine substance producers and organization customers who make regard. Picture coins, of course, fill no authentic need right now, and most of them were made as a way to deal with make a fast buck. A part of these coins have gained notoriety since they’re progressed by convincing VIPs, and retail monetary patrons have guided up their expenses by propelling them vivaciously on the web

Tokenomic MDOG

Name : Motherdog

Ticker : MDOG

Supply : 1000 Billion

Devour : half

In Circulation : 10%

Pre-bargain : 30%

Advancing : 5%

Airdrop : 5%

PRE-SALE

Supply : 1000 Billion

Pre-bargain : 300 Billion

Start : 2021–08–25

End : 2021–09–25

Time : 1 Month

Recognize Currencies : BNB

Trading scale 1 BNB : 1.000.000.000 MDOG

Max aggregate assembled : 3 BNB

We will finish the presale time when it shows up at the Hardcap and dispatch rapidly.

Motherdog Swap

Motherdog Swap is a DeFi show dependent on the Binance Smart Chain ,offer the best things to the neighborhood. It limits as a decentralized exchange (DEX) that accepts a mechanized market maker (AMM) model. Stamping and Farming, Sell and buy uncommon NFTs, get your own NFTs collection and altogether more.

Burning

In the domain of cryptocurency, burning-through an emblematic method to deliberately eliminate that token from courses , routinely by sending it to a cryptographic cash wallet to which no one methodologies. Devouring a ton of computerized cash tokens can fabricate the lack of that token .The demonstration of coin burning-through is ordinary in the crypto business and is exceptionally simple to do.

Numerous exercises use coin burning-through to shield their assets natural market extent. Decreasing the hard and fast volume of coins,theoretically,leads to their value increase,provided that current interest pointers are stayed aware of.Token burning-through is ussualy performed by the headway bunch behind a particular computerized cash asset. It will in general be done in a couple ways,most balance is unreservedly clear on the blockchain,but permission to its substance is out of reach to anyone. MDOG Token burn-through is half and will be done in three phases :

Stage 1 : 20%

Stage 2 : 10 %

Stage 3 : 20%

Motherdog wallet on android and ios

Motherdog convenient wallet for Binance Smart Chain/BEP20 and Ethereum/ERC20/ERC223 tokens. Give a totally security assessed system that works on it to store your, expected for iOS and Android, give the best insight and convenience.

ACCURATE INFORMATION:

Website : https://mother.dog/

Whitepaper : https://mother.dog/whitepaper

Twitter : https://twitter.com/motherdogBSC

Telegram : https://t.me/motherdogBSC

GitHub : https://github.com/Motherdog

Medium : https://motherdog.medium.com/

Author: ket tumbar

Bitcointalk Profile: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2202323

BEP-20 Address: 0xde4b8cb6dBbA80E80041bA69fa115c5Ec58fb6AE