Free templates for halloween pumpkin carvings
The world's largest collection of free pumpkin stencils
2018.10.01 17:40 drit76 The world's largest collection of free pumpkin stencils
A place to find and post Halloween jack-o-lantern pumpkin stencils, patterns & templates. Past stencil posts are sorted by category for easy browsing.
2008.09.19 17:02 Halloween
Subreddit dedicated to the holiday Hallowe'en
2012.05.19 01:37 anavrinman DIY Halloween
DIY Halloween projects and tutorials. A place to share discuss and learn about DIY haunting and builds.
2023.03.21 22:25 AutoModerator [Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course
![[Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/hSsifS_IXxK_ARMwoD0U_QAjPBbyO7w_RJlZ2h7jHwE.jpg "[Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course") | Get the course here: https://www.genkicourses.com/product/dan-koe-the-2-hour-writer-download/ submitted by AutoModerator to GenkiCourses_2023 [link] [comments] [Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course https://preview.redd.it/2t82bpl4iyoa1.png?width=562&format=png&auto=webp&s=f9642c0b30fa7a116e4a163135e632b7dd223790 THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE CREATIVE Learn The Recession Proof Skill For The Digital Economy (Without Spending 4 Years & $42,599 On A Degree) Implement Our 2 Hour Content Ecosystem To Learn High Impact Digital Writing, Boost Your Online Authority, & Systemize Content Creation For Rapid Growth THE WORLD IS SHIFTING Nobody Wants To Be A Commodity Are you irreplaceable?62% of labor jobs will be phased out in the next 10 years.This is including jobs that require a high-skill level.This isn’t anything new, we are seeing it happen right before our eyes.All signs have been pointing toward individual creative work for a while now.“If the work doesn’t require creativity, delegate it, automate it, or leave it.” — Naval But before I waste anymore of your time with my doomsday speculations, let’s see if you should continue reading.If you do not relate with one of the bullets below, you’re free to leave the page:
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2023.03.21 22:21 Hans_vonPoopenfarten [EVENT] Peasant Space Marines
January, 1509,
The brothers Belisario and Gherardo Appiano di Piombino were brought before the Praetor-un-Buerkaptein Reimer von Wiemerstedt and the Forty-eight Regents to report on the training of the peasant levies. He expected to be disappointed, as the men of Dithmarschen became soft drunkards after the victory of Hemmingstedt.
January-February: (32)
The brothers were expected to train war hedgehogs. This was not successful whatsoever. Hedgehogs have no military use except as projectiles. The horde of 218 hedgehogs scattered away into the swamps of Dithmarschen soon after being brought to the training fields. A meager 20 of them were captured, with the rest returning to ferality. Time will tell if this is inconsequential, or the first of many ecological disasters leading to Dithmarschen’s collapse.
March-April: (81)
As the ground and dikes began to thaw, the peasants were able to give a small-scale demonstration of their tactics at Hemmingstedt. Spearmen armed with brooms pushed Black Guardsmen armed with sticks down the small hill into puddles. Archers threw stones from above, and brave foot soldiers wielded wooden utensils against unarmed foes. The brothers gave only mild critiques to their strategies, knowing well that they were able to beat a superior host with the tactics. They insisted pikes would’ve been more useful against the enemy, as to keep greater distance between them than with just spears. They also promoted the usage of crossbows and bows for the peasants, given that only a few of them had skill with (or even access to) arquebuses.
May-June: (100)
The peasants were drilled in a reenactment of the Battle of Fornovo. Reimer von Wiemerstedt led the French squadron while Dodo Būt led the Venetian squadron. Artillery was mimicked by the peasants’ wives throwing stones at them from banks of the Miele. The Venetians sent their northern detachment across the river, and Dodo personally led the cavalry charge of a dozen ponies. Instead of sacking the French loot train, Dodo’s cavalry harassed the southern flank of the French artillery position. Upon the arrival of the Venetian footsoldiers, the French northern detachment was forced to route into the western woods, or be beaten with broomsticks and vaulting poles. As soon as the main Venetian host was set to cross the river, Dodo’s cavalry and smaller detachment continued westwards to sack the loot train. In his eyes, more hands made less work, even if this work was ripping old chicken feed out of barrels. A small troop of the main French host made its way northwestward to the loot train, signaling for the routed Frenchmen to return from the woods to charge the Venetians. They quickly surrounded Dodo’s party, and clobbered them with their various tools. The main Venetian detachment, soaked in river water, engaged the French host until they could clearly see Dodo being thrown off of his gallant steed, giving them a good enough reason to flee. Von Wiemerstedt ordered his Frenchmen to chase down the fleeing Venetians, and give them a proper beating for not playing the game correctly. The French were still victorious at the Battle of Fornovo, and each participant became much more familiar with the tactics and strategies used by the armies of greater kingdoms.
July-August: (71)
The brothers gave demonstrations of armored combat, something that the average Dithmarschen peasant could never dream of participating in. Those who were able to fit in their armor were allowed to fight in it, albeit with wooden sparring weapons. Some, like the Praetor-un-Buerkaptein, excelled at armored combat, even defeating both Appiano brothers! The majority, like Hans Hansen or Pier Pigfucker, could fight in the armor, but quickly grew tired. They were not as great as the professional mercenaries they defeated 7 years prior, but could complete whichever drills they were assigned.
September-October: (47)
The brothers spent the harvest season trying to educate the peasants on the battles of antiquity. The peasants didn’t care, they were too busy harvesting their crops! They had already lived through the Battle of Thermopylae, and didn’t care to learn about Issus, Canae, or Tours. The officers were interested in learning about the battles, but seemed not to absorb any of the information.
November-December: (86)
Over the winter months, the peasants practiced winter combat. They marched through thigh-high snow, fought on ice, and built snow forts that may have been able to protect against crossbow bolts. They slowly became masters of winter warfare, a skill they would need to know if they were to fight the Danes and Norwegians in their frozen hellscapes of homelands, a reality they feared may soon come true.
1508
During the second year of training, the brothers developed a table-top tactics game for the officers and regents to practice with in their free time. Small wooden figurines of soldiers, archers, cavaliers, and artillery were placed on a battlefield map, with terrain and buildings represented by certain markings or wooden carvings. Each figurine was a part of a greater unit, and each unit was assigned various rankings to better represent their fighting attributes, like offensive shock, routing speed, or rounds per minute (for ranged units). These units and their rankings were printed into long and byzantine rulebooks. Players would select their combination of units, often selecting exclusively units from just one kingdom or nation, and have them fight against other armies. Dice were rolled to represent the randomness of engagements, with the rankings from the rulebooks modifying the dice rolls either positively or negatively. This goofy mess of a game was named Warhammer, and quickly took Dithmarschen by storm. Taverns held designated tables and figurines for residents to play Warhammer, and literate farmers could earn extra coin by serving as referees and rulebook readers for the players. Praetor-un-Buerkaptein Reimer von Wiemerstedt and local brewer Kurt Nenne fostered a friendly rivalry over Warhammer, with Reimer often playing as the Muscovites and Nenne playing exclusively as the Florentines. Through Warhammer, most Dithmarschers became experienced in battlefield tactics and military strategy, albeit in a fictional and turn-based setting. They were able to critically think about their opponents strengths and weaknesses, and exploit their weaknesses. Dithmarschen became a nation of armchair generals.
Seeing that the levies of Dithmarschen were no longer soft drunkards, but strong, quick-witted soldiers, von Wiemerstedt and the Regents decided that the brothers of Piombino’s efforts were worthwhile and worthy of full payment. They received 2,500 florins, were thanked with a small feast in Heide, and sent on their way back home.
[M: Dithmarschen pays 2,500f (mil) to Piombino. Some has already been paid.]
submitted by Hans_vonPoopenfarten to empirepowers [link] [comments]
The brothers Belisario and Gherardo Appiano di Piombino were brought before the Praetor-un-Buerkaptein Reimer von Wiemerstedt and the Forty-eight Regents to report on the training of the peasant levies. He expected to be disappointed, as the men of Dithmarschen became soft drunkards after the victory of Hemmingstedt.
January-February: (32)
The brothers were expected to train war hedgehogs. This was not successful whatsoever. Hedgehogs have no military use except as projectiles. The horde of 218 hedgehogs scattered away into the swamps of Dithmarschen soon after being brought to the training fields. A meager 20 of them were captured, with the rest returning to ferality. Time will tell if this is inconsequential, or the first of many ecological disasters leading to Dithmarschen’s collapse.
March-April: (81)
As the ground and dikes began to thaw, the peasants were able to give a small-scale demonstration of their tactics at Hemmingstedt. Spearmen armed with brooms pushed Black Guardsmen armed with sticks down the small hill into puddles. Archers threw stones from above, and brave foot soldiers wielded wooden utensils against unarmed foes. The brothers gave only mild critiques to their strategies, knowing well that they were able to beat a superior host with the tactics. They insisted pikes would’ve been more useful against the enemy, as to keep greater distance between them than with just spears. They also promoted the usage of crossbows and bows for the peasants, given that only a few of them had skill with (or even access to) arquebuses.
May-June: (100)
The peasants were drilled in a reenactment of the Battle of Fornovo. Reimer von Wiemerstedt led the French squadron while Dodo Būt led the Venetian squadron. Artillery was mimicked by the peasants’ wives throwing stones at them from banks of the Miele. The Venetians sent their northern detachment across the river, and Dodo personally led the cavalry charge of a dozen ponies. Instead of sacking the French loot train, Dodo’s cavalry harassed the southern flank of the French artillery position. Upon the arrival of the Venetian footsoldiers, the French northern detachment was forced to route into the western woods, or be beaten with broomsticks and vaulting poles. As soon as the main Venetian host was set to cross the river, Dodo’s cavalry and smaller detachment continued westwards to sack the loot train. In his eyes, more hands made less work, even if this work was ripping old chicken feed out of barrels. A small troop of the main French host made its way northwestward to the loot train, signaling for the routed Frenchmen to return from the woods to charge the Venetians. They quickly surrounded Dodo’s party, and clobbered them with their various tools. The main Venetian detachment, soaked in river water, engaged the French host until they could clearly see Dodo being thrown off of his gallant steed, giving them a good enough reason to flee. Von Wiemerstedt ordered his Frenchmen to chase down the fleeing Venetians, and give them a proper beating for not playing the game correctly. The French were still victorious at the Battle of Fornovo, and each participant became much more familiar with the tactics and strategies used by the armies of greater kingdoms.
July-August: (71)
The brothers gave demonstrations of armored combat, something that the average Dithmarschen peasant could never dream of participating in. Those who were able to fit in their armor were allowed to fight in it, albeit with wooden sparring weapons. Some, like the Praetor-un-Buerkaptein, excelled at armored combat, even defeating both Appiano brothers! The majority, like Hans Hansen or Pier Pigfucker, could fight in the armor, but quickly grew tired. They were not as great as the professional mercenaries they defeated 7 years prior, but could complete whichever drills they were assigned.
September-October: (47)
The brothers spent the harvest season trying to educate the peasants on the battles of antiquity. The peasants didn’t care, they were too busy harvesting their crops! They had already lived through the Battle of Thermopylae, and didn’t care to learn about Issus, Canae, or Tours. The officers were interested in learning about the battles, but seemed not to absorb any of the information.
November-December: (86)
Over the winter months, the peasants practiced winter combat. They marched through thigh-high snow, fought on ice, and built snow forts that may have been able to protect against crossbow bolts. They slowly became masters of winter warfare, a skill they would need to know if they were to fight the Danes and Norwegians in their frozen hellscapes of homelands, a reality they feared may soon come true.
1508
During the second year of training, the brothers developed a table-top tactics game for the officers and regents to practice with in their free time. Small wooden figurines of soldiers, archers, cavaliers, and artillery were placed on a battlefield map, with terrain and buildings represented by certain markings or wooden carvings. Each figurine was a part of a greater unit, and each unit was assigned various rankings to better represent their fighting attributes, like offensive shock, routing speed, or rounds per minute (for ranged units). These units and their rankings were printed into long and byzantine rulebooks. Players would select their combination of units, often selecting exclusively units from just one kingdom or nation, and have them fight against other armies. Dice were rolled to represent the randomness of engagements, with the rankings from the rulebooks modifying the dice rolls either positively or negatively. This goofy mess of a game was named Warhammer, and quickly took Dithmarschen by storm. Taverns held designated tables and figurines for residents to play Warhammer, and literate farmers could earn extra coin by serving as referees and rulebook readers for the players. Praetor-un-Buerkaptein Reimer von Wiemerstedt and local brewer Kurt Nenne fostered a friendly rivalry over Warhammer, with Reimer often playing as the Muscovites and Nenne playing exclusively as the Florentines. Through Warhammer, most Dithmarschers became experienced in battlefield tactics and military strategy, albeit in a fictional and turn-based setting. They were able to critically think about their opponents strengths and weaknesses, and exploit their weaknesses. Dithmarschen became a nation of armchair generals.
Seeing that the levies of Dithmarschen were no longer soft drunkards, but strong, quick-witted soldiers, von Wiemerstedt and the Regents decided that the brothers of Piombino’s efforts were worthwhile and worthy of full payment. They received 2,500 florins, were thanked with a small feast in Heide, and sent on their way back home.
[M: Dithmarschen pays 2,500f (mil) to Piombino. Some has already been paid.]
2023.03.21 22:15 cruisingNW The Foundations of Humanity 9 (The Next Step) - an NoP fanfic
The Foundations of Humanity 9 (The Next Step) - an NoP fanfic
Thank you u/SpacePaladin15 for establishing the Nature of Predators Universe, and for allowing Fanfics to flourish! Thank you u/Inkanyamba for the inspiration for Professor Tarva, relevant post and comment linked with character name
First -- Previous -- Next
Memory transcription subject: Valek, Venlil-Human Partnership Program Participant
Date [standardized human time]: August 25th, 2136. Midday
"Ahem"
My eyes snapped open as I flung myself against the opposite wall. Somehow, that stars-cursed, silent human opened the door without either of us knowing. Paralyzed with fear, I could hear Maeve stutter through an explanation, "W-We, uh- I-It’s not-"
"Please come in." The man did not yell, but his voice rumbled through my snout and down the hall. With myself frozen in place, Maeve reached out to take my paw and guide me inside. "Have a seat, please." The man gestured to two seats in front of a wide desk.
The desk was a shared workspace; the human took his seat on the left, while a male Venlil remained seated on the right. "I'm Barry, and this is Borven," Borven flicked a welcome, "we are the liaisons for the exposure program. Do you know why we have called you here?"
Maeve spoke up while I was busy hyperventilating, "I can assume, sirs, but I would like to hear it from you, if you please," Maeve had assumed a… posture that I haven't seen from her before. She sat tall, while also making herself smaller; her eyes wide with unbreaking contact to the man at the desk. She must have been terrified.
Borven spoke up this time, "We noticed that you were one of the first pairs to leave the mess hall after news of the attack, before the incident involving ensign Baudelaire. We are wondering if you have any additional information you would like to share?"
Maeve and I sat in silence for a moment, both of us expecting a very different conversation. Finding my voice, I answered, "N-No sir. Maeve made the call to leave after the notice. I asked later, and she told me that such terrible news may cause a fight, so she brought us to safety."
"Is that right, Maeve?" Barry asked, letting his voice amplify his presence.
Maeve nodded nervously, then added, "We stopped in the hallway, and we saw a patrol going to the Mess, that's all we know."
"Do you have anyone to corroborate your account?" Barry enquired.
"No, sir. Valek and I tend to keep to ourselves, but I can give you the times we left and entered our room, and that would match with camera records." Maeve's posture relaxed. It seems this was a routine investigation of the commotion we heard as we left.
"I would appreciate that, Maeve," Barry spoke while Borven typed at their station, "you should be receiving a report template to your pad in a moment, please fill that out and submit it as soon as you can, including the times you mentioned. Besides that, you are excused; we apologize for taking your time."
"Thank you, sirs." Maeve got up to move, but I saw an opportunity,
"Maeve." I whispered, motioning for her to sit back down. Nervously, she followed, and I motioned for her to continue. "Valek and I would…" She looked to me for encouragement, so I tried a human smile, which she returned in kind, "We would like to continue the program."
The two men waited, Barry glancing between us, one eyebrow raised. Borven flicked his tail expectantly.
"Indefinitely." I added.
Barry tried to hide a smirk, but Borven was more surprised, "We could hardly keep you from continuing contact. What are you asking?"
Getting Maeve's attention, I held out my paw for hers, and she reciprocated. "I would like to host Maeve at my home on Venlil Prime, if she would join me."
Barry broke into a wide grin, behind which a mischievous cackle creaked through his teeth.
"Sun-scorched sonuva…" Borven mumbled and handed a pawful of colored steel rounds to Barry, which I later learned were poker chips.
"Don't worry Borven, you'll win one eventually." Barry jibed while adding the chips to a drawer, audibly clinking against his previous winnings. "Look, no one needs to talk about why you two want to move in together, it's none of our business. But there has been talk of a 3rd step: Integration." I perked up at that! So it is possible! "I'm going to give you the contact to the Lead Empathy Scientist on the station. They will have access to your test results and get the ball rolling." Barry finished, before handing a note to Maeve.
Borven interjected, "Valek? Are you sure you want to do this? Best case scenario, your request is approved, and now Maeve lives among strangers who fear her, on a world that exhausts her, unable to eat something her body demands. This is not an easy road! And that's totally ignoring the fact that we don't know what Maeve is capable of! You could be in real danger!"
That wasn't fair, they didn't know her! My ears back, I was about to tell them off, but Maeve squeezed my paw. She would speak for herself, "Strangers are friends yet to be made. As to the gravity, you're right there will be an adjustment period, but humans are exceptionally adaptable. As for food, I have greatly enjoyed Venlil cuisine while on the station, but if there are any nutrients I'm missing, humans have developed supplements for everything we need; technically a human could live on pills alone. I think this is worth trying, and I would be thrilled if I were the first, or the last; just as long as it happens."
My mane and scruff swelled with pride at her words; my ears swiveled to Borven, "I know exactly what Maeve is capable of. Yes, I'm sure."
Borven's body language was a combination of disappointment with a healthy dose of 'not my herd to lead' before he motioned that we were excused.
Once we were back in the corridor, we could finally breathe easy; catching each other's eye, we started giggling at the fear that brought us here, but I was glad to talk to someone about us staying together. Walking down the hall, I apologized for springing the idea of hosting on her, but Maeve was glad of my invitation, and was herself struggling to ask if I would welcome her. We both bloomed in our own way, thinking about life on the farm.
“While we are up here we should check on the lead scientist; the position is admin so it should be on this floor, too.” Maeve checked her pad and found the contact information.
Hello, my name is Maeve, Barry gave me your contact. I was wondering if we could talk about what he called the next step, Integration?
We decided to wander while we waited for a response, Maeve busying herself with the incident report. This section of the station was decidedly not of Venlil make. Hard lines and right angles made full use of every centimeter. Tough cloth ran the length of the corridor, only emphasizing the oppressive silence. Every few meters was another door, many but not all accompanied by placards. And the far distance curved to one side, hinting at the circular structure of the station. After several minutes, Maeve’s pad pinged a response.
Hello, Maeve! Barry told me about you two. We are looking for volunteers for a test program, so this is great news. I see you have already completed the Empathy test, with very good results. I would like to talk in more detail. Can you meet me in Suite 4182?
On our way.
At this point we had just passed 4082, so we were on the other half of the ring. Having finished her report, Maeve caught my eye, “I’ll race you there!” and she took off in a sprint. Finding my grip on the carpet, I bounded forward, quickly overtaking her, while we giggled at the game. I had passed 4118 before my legs started burning, and I heard pounding steps behind me. Maeve was quickly gaining on me, and I tried to push for more, but my well had run dry. My heart pounding and breath heavy, I slowed to a stop, and Maeve came to a slow trot beside me. A glowing smile from cheek to cheek.
"You look barely winded! How far can a human run??"
"Me personally? I've done a few 5k's, and had fun; that's, uh, 5 kilometers. But some humans specialize, and can run for hundreds, even low thousands of klicks, over several days."
"What!?" I exclaimed between labored breaths, "Why!?"
"That's actually a fun one! I'll tell you another time. C'mon, we can catch our breath before getting there."
With our slower pace, it took several more minutes before reaching the Lead Scientist's office, but we had thankfully caught our breath by then. Stepping inside, we were greeted by a diminutive bright white Venlil, the tip of her ears only reaching my chest, and equally small in all other respects. Her yellow eyes, bright as a sunbeam, shined through the dimly lit room.
"Hello!" She called excitedly, "I'm Professor Tarva ; no relation. You must be Valek," I flipped my ears in acknowledgement, "and Maeve!" Who returned a timid hello, "oh don't be scared! I know I'm a little more energetic than the average Venlil. Please forgive the lighting, I'm none too fond of brightness. So! What's this about Integration?"
Her office was smaller than Barry and Borven’s, but her size made it proportional, though the abundance of rolling stepstools and cushions was a notable difference. She offered us the only two chairs in front of her human-sized desk, which she nimbly climbed and occupied a cushion atop it.
Having spent no small amount of our recovery walk agonizing over how to best present our case, I spoke first. "We feel that our friendship sets a golden example for Human and Venlil relations, and I would like to host Maeve in my home on Venlil Prime."
Ears back, tail tuft wagging, Tarva didn't like that. "Ooo, a human in civilian lodging on VP? And you're from…" she shifted some papers to her side, "the Grove? Buncha farmers out there, they won't like it. Why do you think this is worth risking an incident?"
I spoke up quickly. I've had this conversation before, it was just like haggling our starberries; though I've never had to haggle for freedoms before. "Whatever risk exists, I believe it is less than the value gained by early scientific information of a Human and Venlil living together."
I had barely finished my sentence before Tarva had another flaw in my argument ready, "We already have Human and Venlil cohabitating on bases and in the Gubernatorial Complex. Why shouldn't we put you there?"
"You have humans living apart from Venlil. They don't see our culture, eat our food, talk to our people. Letting Maeve live in a real home in a real town will show us how Humans can integrate into Venlil society."
"And why would we need to integrate? Humans are weapons of war against the Arxur, nothing more, nothing less. Why would we need them on VP, especially once we win?"
I had never seen a Venlil like this before. She couldn't have predator disease, she doesn't have that… off feeling. But every moment of this -- this -- interrogation has been an attack!
But I refused to back down, this will work. "It's no secret that the Exposure program has been a glowing success. I personally know a dozen Venlil on Bleat that have every wish to continue contact. Humans will integrate with Venlil, which means we need to be prepared. Maeve and I can be the litmus test."
Tarva was clearly enjoying this, so she went for the throat, "Then why should we choose You? If the Program is such a success, we would be swimming in requests just like yours! Why should we choose You over the hypothetical Them?"
My breath caught in my throat. It hadn't occurred to me there would be so much demand for this, but she had a point. Based on what I've seen on Bleat and in the Forums, more than half of the Venlil that participated want to keep contact, and I'm sure we couldn't be the only ones to stay friends or more.
"Because," Maeve spoke up from beside me, barely a whimper, "you've already decided who your early subjects are. And Valek and I are on the short list."
Tarva squealed with undisguised glee, her tail thrashing behind her, "There she is! You've got a sharp one, Valek! How did you know?"
Maeve took a deep breath before answering, "Barry and Borven already knew about… us; they made a wager based on what we said. It sounded like they were betting who invited who, and Valek was the one who asked to host me. I'm betting you have a long list of Venlil wanting to serve with human soldiers, and a shorter list of Venlil going to earth. But those Venlil were invited by their Human partner. If there is a list of a Venlil inviting a Human to Venlil Prime, I think we are the only name." By now Maeve was leaning on the armrest of her chair, this exchange clearly exhausted her.
"The only name invited to a rural town. We actually have a healthy pawful that would live in the larger cities, with larger off-world populations, but you're the only ones in such a small town. There will be conditions, of course, and the locals will not be kind. Are you sure you wanna do this?"
I looked at Maeve. She was so tired, but she still looked at me with all the love her eyes could carry, and I could feel myself blooming under the weight of it. We nodded together, then answered "Yes." as one.
"Fantastic!" Tarva declared with the same unbridled enthusiasm she has held for this entire meeting. "You're on the next resupply back to VP. Shouldn't be more than a couple sleeps. Hope you enjoyed the station, cuz you're going home!"
‐‐‐
On our return back to the room, Maeve fell forward onto the bottom bunk with an exhausted sigh, all of her energy sucked out by the surprise interrogation. Believing she needed comfort, I sat next to her on the bed and, remembering she mentioned back pain being common among humans, brushed my paw between her shoulders. My remembrance was rewarded by a contented hum I could feel reverberating through her ribcage.
Maeve rolled over beneath my hand, taking it in hers. She held my paw close to herself, pressing the pads and moving the fingers. I winced when she encouraged a claw from its sheath, at which she quickly loosened her grip. After seeing I did not pull away, she pulled my paw to her face and pressed her lips against the offending claw. The predatory action caused my ears to flutter, whether from fear or not I couldn't tell.
She played with my hand idly, before asking, "How do Venlil… show affection?"
After thinking for a moment, I answered, "Our tails do most of the talking, but where no words exist, they tend to find each other. We also enjoy grooming each other," taking her hand in my paw, I ran the tip of my tongue over the top of her hand, "And many times nuzzling," placing that same hand to my snout, and continued, "is seen as very intimate."
Her free hand brought my other paw up to her face, and she rested her cheek against it. She gently brushed my snout, before following my jaw and drifting down my neck, winding her fingers through my wool, then stroking the skin hot with passion beneath. "Humans," she croaked, as if not ready to speak. Clearing her throat, she began again, "Humans like to use parts of our bodies that are sensitive, like our hands, but also our lips, and…" She took my paw in hers and I felt a soft wetness on my center pad, sending another shiver through me, "We tend to bathe ourselves in the sensation of our lover; touch, sight, scent, and even taste. And… I'm worried that most of it will be frightening to you."
I moved to lie with her, supporting myself on my elbow. Taking her hand in my paw, I spoke gently, "Maeve… you constantly surprise me, in the most wonderful ways, and I am always excited to be surprised by you. But I won't fear you. You've taught me that what we are, is what we choose; not what we feel. And even if I feel the need to run, I will choose to come back to you. Every time."
Maeve reached out to me, and I to her, and we entangled ourselves in each other. I could feel my bloom deepening as she pressed her lips to my velvet, and I could see her color rising as my paw traced her side.
"And what do your senses tell you, Maeve?"
Licking her lips, she whispered, "I can see you're enjoying this as much as I am. I can feel your softness, and warmth. I can hear your heart along with mine. I can smell your excitement, as thick as stew. And taste…" she inhaled sharply, pressing her forehead against my crown, as her hands moved to my waist, "I'm excited to find out."
First -- Previous -- Next
submitted by cruisingNW to HFY [link] [comments]
Thank you u/SpacePaladin15 for establishing the Nature of Predators Universe, and for allowing Fanfics to flourish! Thank you u/Inkanyamba for the inspiration for Professor Tarva, relevant post and comment linked with character name
First -- Previous -- Next
Memory transcription subject: Valek, Venlil-Human Partnership Program Participant
Date [standardized human time]: August 25th, 2136. Midday
"Ahem"
My eyes snapped open as I flung myself against the opposite wall. Somehow, that stars-cursed, silent human opened the door without either of us knowing. Paralyzed with fear, I could hear Maeve stutter through an explanation, "W-We, uh- I-It’s not-"
"Please come in." The man did not yell, but his voice rumbled through my snout and down the hall. With myself frozen in place, Maeve reached out to take my paw and guide me inside. "Have a seat, please." The man gestured to two seats in front of a wide desk.
The desk was a shared workspace; the human took his seat on the left, while a male Venlil remained seated on the right. "I'm Barry, and this is Borven," Borven flicked a welcome, "we are the liaisons for the exposure program. Do you know why we have called you here?"
Maeve spoke up while I was busy hyperventilating, "I can assume, sirs, but I would like to hear it from you, if you please," Maeve had assumed a… posture that I haven't seen from her before. She sat tall, while also making herself smaller; her eyes wide with unbreaking contact to the man at the desk. She must have been terrified.
Borven spoke up this time, "We noticed that you were one of the first pairs to leave the mess hall after news of the attack, before the incident involving ensign Baudelaire. We are wondering if you have any additional information you would like to share?"
Maeve and I sat in silence for a moment, both of us expecting a very different conversation. Finding my voice, I answered, "N-No sir. Maeve made the call to leave after the notice. I asked later, and she told me that such terrible news may cause a fight, so she brought us to safety."
"Is that right, Maeve?" Barry asked, letting his voice amplify his presence.
Maeve nodded nervously, then added, "We stopped in the hallway, and we saw a patrol going to the Mess, that's all we know."
"Do you have anyone to corroborate your account?" Barry enquired.
"No, sir. Valek and I tend to keep to ourselves, but I can give you the times we left and entered our room, and that would match with camera records." Maeve's posture relaxed. It seems this was a routine investigation of the commotion we heard as we left.
"I would appreciate that, Maeve," Barry spoke while Borven typed at their station, "you should be receiving a report template to your pad in a moment, please fill that out and submit it as soon as you can, including the times you mentioned. Besides that, you are excused; we apologize for taking your time."
"Thank you, sirs." Maeve got up to move, but I saw an opportunity,
"Maeve." I whispered, motioning for her to sit back down. Nervously, she followed, and I motioned for her to continue. "Valek and I would…" She looked to me for encouragement, so I tried a human smile, which she returned in kind, "We would like to continue the program."
The two men waited, Barry glancing between us, one eyebrow raised. Borven flicked his tail expectantly.
"Indefinitely." I added.
Barry tried to hide a smirk, but Borven was more surprised, "We could hardly keep you from continuing contact. What are you asking?"
Getting Maeve's attention, I held out my paw for hers, and she reciprocated. "I would like to host Maeve at my home on Venlil Prime, if she would join me."
Barry broke into a wide grin, behind which a mischievous cackle creaked through his teeth.
"Sun-scorched sonuva…" Borven mumbled and handed a pawful of colored steel rounds to Barry, which I later learned were poker chips.
"Don't worry Borven, you'll win one eventually." Barry jibed while adding the chips to a drawer, audibly clinking against his previous winnings. "Look, no one needs to talk about why you two want to move in together, it's none of our business. But there has been talk of a 3rd step: Integration." I perked up at that! So it is possible! "I'm going to give you the contact to the Lead Empathy Scientist on the station. They will have access to your test results and get the ball rolling." Barry finished, before handing a note to Maeve.
Borven interjected, "Valek? Are you sure you want to do this? Best case scenario, your request is approved, and now Maeve lives among strangers who fear her, on a world that exhausts her, unable to eat something her body demands. This is not an easy road! And that's totally ignoring the fact that we don't know what Maeve is capable of! You could be in real danger!"
That wasn't fair, they didn't know her! My ears back, I was about to tell them off, but Maeve squeezed my paw. She would speak for herself, "Strangers are friends yet to be made. As to the gravity, you're right there will be an adjustment period, but humans are exceptionally adaptable. As for food, I have greatly enjoyed Venlil cuisine while on the station, but if there are any nutrients I'm missing, humans have developed supplements for everything we need; technically a human could live on pills alone. I think this is worth trying, and I would be thrilled if I were the first, or the last; just as long as it happens."
My mane and scruff swelled with pride at her words; my ears swiveled to Borven, "I know exactly what Maeve is capable of. Yes, I'm sure."
Borven's body language was a combination of disappointment with a healthy dose of 'not my herd to lead' before he motioned that we were excused.
Once we were back in the corridor, we could finally breathe easy; catching each other's eye, we started giggling at the fear that brought us here, but I was glad to talk to someone about us staying together. Walking down the hall, I apologized for springing the idea of hosting on her, but Maeve was glad of my invitation, and was herself struggling to ask if I would welcome her. We both bloomed in our own way, thinking about life on the farm.
“While we are up here we should check on the lead scientist; the position is admin so it should be on this floor, too.” Maeve checked her pad and found the contact information.
Hello, my name is Maeve, Barry gave me your contact. I was wondering if we could talk about what he called the next step, Integration?
We decided to wander while we waited for a response, Maeve busying herself with the incident report. This section of the station was decidedly not of Venlil make. Hard lines and right angles made full use of every centimeter. Tough cloth ran the length of the corridor, only emphasizing the oppressive silence. Every few meters was another door, many but not all accompanied by placards. And the far distance curved to one side, hinting at the circular structure of the station. After several minutes, Maeve’s pad pinged a response.
Hello, Maeve! Barry told me about you two. We are looking for volunteers for a test program, so this is great news. I see you have already completed the Empathy test, with very good results. I would like to talk in more detail. Can you meet me in Suite 4182?
On our way.
At this point we had just passed 4082, so we were on the other half of the ring. Having finished her report, Maeve caught my eye, “I’ll race you there!” and she took off in a sprint. Finding my grip on the carpet, I bounded forward, quickly overtaking her, while we giggled at the game. I had passed 4118 before my legs started burning, and I heard pounding steps behind me. Maeve was quickly gaining on me, and I tried to push for more, but my well had run dry. My heart pounding and breath heavy, I slowed to a stop, and Maeve came to a slow trot beside me. A glowing smile from cheek to cheek.
"You look barely winded! How far can a human run??"
"Me personally? I've done a few 5k's, and had fun; that's, uh, 5 kilometers. But some humans specialize, and can run for hundreds, even low thousands of klicks, over several days."
"What!?" I exclaimed between labored breaths, "Why!?"
"That's actually a fun one! I'll tell you another time. C'mon, we can catch our breath before getting there."
With our slower pace, it took several more minutes before reaching the Lead Scientist's office, but we had thankfully caught our breath by then. Stepping inside, we were greeted by a diminutive bright white Venlil, the tip of her ears only reaching my chest, and equally small in all other respects. Her yellow eyes, bright as a sunbeam, shined through the dimly lit room.
"Hello!" She called excitedly, "I'm Professor Tarva ; no relation. You must be Valek," I flipped my ears in acknowledgement, "and Maeve!" Who returned a timid hello, "oh don't be scared! I know I'm a little more energetic than the average Venlil. Please forgive the lighting, I'm none too fond of brightness. So! What's this about Integration?"
Her office was smaller than Barry and Borven’s, but her size made it proportional, though the abundance of rolling stepstools and cushions was a notable difference. She offered us the only two chairs in front of her human-sized desk, which she nimbly climbed and occupied a cushion atop it.
Having spent no small amount of our recovery walk agonizing over how to best present our case, I spoke first. "We feel that our friendship sets a golden example for Human and Venlil relations, and I would like to host Maeve in my home on Venlil Prime."
Ears back, tail tuft wagging, Tarva didn't like that. "Ooo, a human in civilian lodging on VP? And you're from…" she shifted some papers to her side, "the Grove? Buncha farmers out there, they won't like it. Why do you think this is worth risking an incident?"
I spoke up quickly. I've had this conversation before, it was just like haggling our starberries; though I've never had to haggle for freedoms before. "Whatever risk exists, I believe it is less than the value gained by early scientific information of a Human and Venlil living together."
I had barely finished my sentence before Tarva had another flaw in my argument ready, "We already have Human and Venlil cohabitating on bases and in the Gubernatorial Complex. Why shouldn't we put you there?"
"You have humans living apart from Venlil. They don't see our culture, eat our food, talk to our people. Letting Maeve live in a real home in a real town will show us how Humans can integrate into Venlil society."
"And why would we need to integrate? Humans are weapons of war against the Arxur, nothing more, nothing less. Why would we need them on VP, especially once we win?"
I had never seen a Venlil like this before. She couldn't have predator disease, she doesn't have that… off feeling. But every moment of this -- this -- interrogation has been an attack!
But I refused to back down, this will work. "It's no secret that the Exposure program has been a glowing success. I personally know a dozen Venlil on Bleat that have every wish to continue contact. Humans will integrate with Venlil, which means we need to be prepared. Maeve and I can be the litmus test."
Tarva was clearly enjoying this, so she went for the throat, "Then why should we choose You? If the Program is such a success, we would be swimming in requests just like yours! Why should we choose You over the hypothetical Them?"
My breath caught in my throat. It hadn't occurred to me there would be so much demand for this, but she had a point. Based on what I've seen on Bleat and in the Forums, more than half of the Venlil that participated want to keep contact, and I'm sure we couldn't be the only ones to stay friends or more.
"Because," Maeve spoke up from beside me, barely a whimper, "you've already decided who your early subjects are. And Valek and I are on the short list."
Tarva squealed with undisguised glee, her tail thrashing behind her, "There she is! You've got a sharp one, Valek! How did you know?"
Maeve took a deep breath before answering, "Barry and Borven already knew about… us; they made a wager based on what we said. It sounded like they were betting who invited who, and Valek was the one who asked to host me. I'm betting you have a long list of Venlil wanting to serve with human soldiers, and a shorter list of Venlil going to earth. But those Venlil were invited by their Human partner. If there is a list of a Venlil inviting a Human to Venlil Prime, I think we are the only name." By now Maeve was leaning on the armrest of her chair, this exchange clearly exhausted her.
"The only name invited to a rural town. We actually have a healthy pawful that would live in the larger cities, with larger off-world populations, but you're the only ones in such a small town. There will be conditions, of course, and the locals will not be kind. Are you sure you wanna do this?"
I looked at Maeve. She was so tired, but she still looked at me with all the love her eyes could carry, and I could feel myself blooming under the weight of it. We nodded together, then answered "Yes." as one.
"Fantastic!" Tarva declared with the same unbridled enthusiasm she has held for this entire meeting. "You're on the next resupply back to VP. Shouldn't be more than a couple sleeps. Hope you enjoyed the station, cuz you're going home!"
‐‐‐
On our return back to the room, Maeve fell forward onto the bottom bunk with an exhausted sigh, all of her energy sucked out by the surprise interrogation. Believing she needed comfort, I sat next to her on the bed and, remembering she mentioned back pain being common among humans, brushed my paw between her shoulders. My remembrance was rewarded by a contented hum I could feel reverberating through her ribcage.
Maeve rolled over beneath my hand, taking it in hers. She held my paw close to herself, pressing the pads and moving the fingers. I winced when she encouraged a claw from its sheath, at which she quickly loosened her grip. After seeing I did not pull away, she pulled my paw to her face and pressed her lips against the offending claw. The predatory action caused my ears to flutter, whether from fear or not I couldn't tell.
She played with my hand idly, before asking, "How do Venlil… show affection?"
After thinking for a moment, I answered, "Our tails do most of the talking, but where no words exist, they tend to find each other. We also enjoy grooming each other," taking her hand in my paw, I ran the tip of my tongue over the top of her hand, "And many times nuzzling," placing that same hand to my snout, and continued, "is seen as very intimate."
Her free hand brought my other paw up to her face, and she rested her cheek against it. She gently brushed my snout, before following my jaw and drifting down my neck, winding her fingers through my wool, then stroking the skin hot with passion beneath. "Humans," she croaked, as if not ready to speak. Clearing her throat, she began again, "Humans like to use parts of our bodies that are sensitive, like our hands, but also our lips, and…" She took my paw in hers and I felt a soft wetness on my center pad, sending another shiver through me, "We tend to bathe ourselves in the sensation of our lover; touch, sight, scent, and even taste. And… I'm worried that most of it will be frightening to you."
I moved to lie with her, supporting myself on my elbow. Taking her hand in my paw, I spoke gently, "Maeve… you constantly surprise me, in the most wonderful ways, and I am always excited to be surprised by you. But I won't fear you. You've taught me that what we are, is what we choose; not what we feel. And even if I feel the need to run, I will choose to come back to you. Every time."
Maeve reached out to me, and I to her, and we entangled ourselves in each other. I could feel my bloom deepening as she pressed her lips to my velvet, and I could see her color rising as my paw traced her side.
"And what do your senses tell you, Maeve?"
Licking her lips, she whispered, "I can see you're enjoying this as much as I am. I can feel your softness, and warmth. I can hear your heart along with mine. I can smell your excitement, as thick as stew. And taste…" she inhaled sharply, pressing her forehead against my crown, as her hands moved to my waist, "I'm excited to find out."
First -- Previous -- Next
2023.03.21 21:53 m80mike Don't Feed The Pumpkins
A rule breaking truck driver takes a forbidden detour.
Don't Feed the Pumpkins
I'm typing this as a record of what has happened to me. If someone should find me out here, where ever here is, this is what happened and who is responsible. Also, out of the dozens of vehicles bogged down in this field, mine is the Blue Jay 2013 Freight Liner. If I should die and it is recoverable, it should go to my son, John Grainger in Antioch, Illinois.
I left Litchfield Illinois around 2pm on Halloween with a last-minute load of pumpkins destined for the Antioch Walmart. Despite the fact I was once that told Illinois is the #1 pumpkin producer in the country the itself state appears to be in the midst of a shortage. I was due in about 8pm, but I was trying get in by 6pm and after unloading, I was going to visit my wife Carly and my son for Halloween. It was going to be the first Halloween in my son's life that I was going to be there for trick o treating. My wife was making a big deal out of it and John was 10 now, so, she said he would be “scarred with disappointment” if I didn't show now. So, I probably should have gotten better sleep the night before and sue me, I was gear jamming and popping go-pills like popcorn. Don't look down on me, don't be fooled, this is just the nature of the trucking industry. Everyone does it and I'm not afraid to tell it like it is.
Just after Normal on 39 I hit a wall of traffic. I could hear on the CB that there is a hazmat incident up ahead and they require special teams to clear it off. I, like the other truckers, get to gabbing on the radio, looking for shortcuts. To my surprise, after scrutinizing this route several times before, I was informed about a “gutshot” shortcut just ahead that could get in me into my destination at least an hour earlier, even with the fact I had sat in the backup for at least 45 minutes at this point. A second comrade in gears piped in and stated that the shortcut was closed. The first driver contradicted him and stated, he had used it two weeks ago, it was wide open country land you could go 70 the whole way, and the only town along the way had burned down in an industrial accident 30 years ago. The second trucker chimed in again. He said it was closed for tonight and only tonight and not to use it. I disregarded the second trucker, exited the interstate and followed the directions of the first trucker.
Well, Carly, you always said it would be this way. You always said, I needed to learn how to follow directions to not cut so many damn corners all the time. You always told me didn't put in the work, and the funny thing is, for the first time, on this drive, get there, I did. Sure, I cut all the corners, but I wanted to to put in the work. But you're right, I never put a second of effort in, and if this is how it ends, I suppose you're right, I never will. But I guess, one way or another, you're getting what you've wanted, what you text me, what you don't tell me about, and what I didn't care about. I was coming home for him and damn it, I know it won't hold up in court but I want my boy to get the damn truck!
Anyway, I found the road, 2 lanes clear to the sky, surrounded by corn and then pumpkin fields forever. My straight shot, I pushed 80 the whole way flying on cracked asphalt, diesel, and go-pills. Ahead, there were barricades and I applied the brakes and barely stopped in time. I got out and saw they were chained up with a padlock to concrete posts in the ground. In theory, I could blast through them but I would sustain serious damage. The ground was a bit wet so I didn't think I could cross the ditch and field and not get stuck either. The barricades were not official in the least. They had a sign on them made out of it mailbox stick-on letters which said: “Do Not Feed The Pumpkins”. As far as I could see from my cab and binoculars, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the damn road. I said hell and I knew it would take hours to reverse course and get back in time – in time to even unload much less make it in time to go trick o treating.
And I said it wasn't worth it. I didn't bother to call. I'd just show up now. Because it wasn't my fault. So I started back, turning around with great difficulty. I traveled back 2 miles and saw small signs for a rest area. I must have missed it the first time, too deep into the zone I suppose now. I needed to pee and probably eat a bit before starting a roundabout way back, so I stopped. It was a little old 2 story joint with a small dinner on the 1st level and looked like 4 or 5 small motel rooms on top and oddly an outhouse for a restroom. I want to emphasize the outhouse because that is how you'll find and catch this guy, the guy who did this to me. It was Bill Shaw of Shaw's Shack, who did this to me. It had a sign with the building, it too was made of stick-on letters and vaguely resembled a huge ransom note. It read “Yes! We are open! We are the only rest area for 67 miles and 1 of 2 “tombstones” for the late great town of Pumpkin Grove Illinois – the former pumpkin capital of Illinois. Ask Your host, Bill Shaw about the Pumpkin-beef-bean stew!
The parking lot had three vehicles in it, not including my own, a silver Prius, a grand cheeroke with wood panels, and an older model chevy pick up truck. I went inside. The dinner was small, set in a rustic décor with old license plates nailed to the walls. The cafe had eight counter seats and two smaller tables near the two windows. There were two witnesses to what happened that night, to what Bill Shaw did – at least partial witnesses. There was the older man with stringy white hair and octagonal glasses – unfortunately, I didn't get his name. There was that irritating millennial – All I remember is the metal crap in her ears and lip. Hell, if I die and John starts ever pulling that crap, I'll come back and haunt the crap out of both of you. Anyway, now, I wish I could remember their names or something else about them to put here. I didn't care about either one of them enough to remember.
I guess that goes for Shaw too. He was a bit taller as sometimes I couldn't see his face while sitting at the counter because of the low lights in the ceiling blocking his face. He had gray hair. Hell. That's it. Anyway, the old man said he was part of a historical society, said he spent the better part of his past two years tracking down anyone or anything about Pumpkin Grove. The college student – of course – it was college student said she was from the school newspaper, looking for a spooky story. When she asked me where I was from, I didn't respond.
Shaw came from the kitchen with two big bowls of the famous Pumpkin-beef-bean stew for first two. He seemed taken back by my presence for a bit before saying “howdy” and trying to get real friendly with me. He asked what media I was from. I told him I wasn't from no media and I was trying to get through the barricade up ahead. Neither of the other two seemed to know about the barricade. Shaw said he didn't know anything about it either. I was suspicious of him then because of the lettering on the signs. But I didn't push it. I wanted to eat and he said my choice was the stew or stew. So the stew seemed fine. He said he wished he had more time to chat with me but he promised to tell the story of Pumpkin Grove to the two others but I was welcome to listen and ask questions. I didn't say it but I couldn't care less, I was going no where fast and I needed to eat.
He started off by saying he and his wife are among a handful of survivors of the fire that consumed the town of Pumpkin Grove some 30 years ago on Halloween night. Then his story descended into a cross between a rambling fading nightmare and a ghost story. He said, without hesitation, fear of consequence or remorse that he was accessory to a murder in his childhood. Specifically, some 40 years ago, again on Halloween, he was friends with a small group of young men including one named Donnie, who was a little slow and had a slightly misshaped head. He was picked on a lot by the Gerst Brothers, notorious town bullies and teenage thugs of a bad seed thanks to their neglectful alcoholic single father. Long story short, he said, the Gerst Brothers lured Donnie, himself and another 2 boys out to a pumpkin field where they gave back Donnie's missing dog. Apparently they kidnapped the dog and wrapped every inch of it in duct tape a few days ago. They watched us try to peel and pull the duct tape off while the weakened, hungry, and thirsty dog whimpered away its last in the field. Unbeknownst to any of us, Donnie had a pocket knife and he lost it as the Gerst Brothers cackled around him and the dead dog. He leaped up as they laughed and sliced the vein on their necks. One of the Brothers died quickly while Donnie and the two others fought the other to death. Shaw said he just stood there, covered in arterial blood splatters, watching Donnie and the others finish off the Gersts.
Much of the town was shockingly grateful to hear the Gerst Brothers were dead and everyone was all too happy to sweep it under the rug rather than have 4 of their sons incarcerated for decades when they were needed to help with the town's bread and butter – the Pumpkins. So, they buried the Gerst Brothers in that field and grew pumpkins on their corpses and no one really talked about it. The town paid off their father, who was too inebriated most of the time to care and he gleefully drank himself to death on the payoff only about a year later.
I didn't have much of a reaction to the story. The historian on the other hand, was hesitant to stay and keep writing and he made a brief protest concerning whether or not the story was true and whether or not he could legally listen to it. Shaw said it was both true and legal. After all, there was nothing left of the town and the remains were long gone and he himself, would not bare witness to himself. The college student's dumb metal encrusted mouth was agape in a mix of horror and disbelief.
I was waiting, patiently, might I add, for my stew. Shaw promised it would be up soon. He continued the story, stating that the fields produced abnormally well afterwards and 10 years later he was visiting his parents with his girlfriend for the annual Pumpkin fest. It was just that the pumpkins weren't just more numerous and larger, or more resistant to the rains and the fungus, they were alive and nothing could keep them tame or from spreading wider and wider. And everyone thought this was great at first, the profits were never higher but then weird things began to happen. Equipment went missing and two farm hands were crushed by a wagon full of pumpkins tipping over onto them in what was at first called a freak accident. Shaw recounted how he took his girlfriend through one of the patches and the vines seem to wind and grapple her legs, of course, Shaw's folks passed it off as her not being used to the mud but Shaw said he knew better.
Shaw continued to describe that over the days that led up to Halloween, the Jack O Lanterns on people's porches and elsewhere began to do some unusual things. Things like seemingly move by themselves from dusk to dawn, changing the carvings of their faces slightly, or appearing to “jump” off a table onto the porch without damage or apparent cause. On the morning of Halloween, Shaw said that he found his black cat, Lucky, incinerated in front of a jack o lantern as if it had breathed fire on to it from its mouth though they had long ago blown out the candle inside.
After the cat burning, the elderly man from the historical society tossed his spoon in his bowl. Shaw asked if something was wrong. The elderly man got up to leave and he said it tasted like bitter cold bull and his story was bull and thanked him for nothing. After checking the remaining contents of his bowl of stew, Shaw chased him out of the door, to his car, asking him what direction he planned to go home. When he peeled out of the parking lot he was headed southwest. Shaw came back in and threw up his hands.
I tell nothing but the truth, he said, most people can't handle it. Part of me wanted to go, but I was cozy there, it was warm and the story, while bull to me at the time, was entertaining enough. The SJW sitting down the way looked exhausted, barely keeping her eyes open as Shaw finished out the story. In short he said, Donnie approached him at dusk on Halloween while he and his family sat on the porch eagerly awaiting trick o treaters. Donnie said the Gerst Brothers are alive in the pumpkins and that they planned to burn the whole town down tonight. Donnie said, he had to tell Shaw because Shaw wasn't supposed to die, he was supposed to watch.
I rudely stopped him and demanded more stew. I was still hungry and the stew was somehow unsatisfying. When he returned, he finished the story, stating the town was suddenly engulfed in flames and their house in particular with Donnie on the porch, flash burned to the ground like napalm from an exploding pumpkin. He escaped with his family and his future wife in the pick up truck sitting outside now.
The college student said she felt like she needed to lay down, that she didn't think she could make back to the campus to the north. Shaw attended to getting her one of the rooms upstairs. I stayed down stairs and went to the back for more stew. I rubbed my eyes intensely and felt as if I too should stay for the night. But in the tug of war between fatigue and dexrine, the dexrine was slowly coming out ahead.
Next to the stew was a cutting board and a knife and on it was some bluish whitish powder which I found peculiar. On floor was a bottle of medication. It was Insomnex – a sleeping pill I use when I'm coming off of dexrine. The stew was dosed.
I ran to my truck and pulled out my dexrine and my revolver. As I climbed out of the driver's side, I could see Shaw running out of the dinner with a huge kitchen knife. I ducked under the trailer and back out on his side and pointed the gun at him.
What the hell I asked as I slowly advanced on him with my snub nose pointed at his head. He dropped the knife. He said, I just wanted to puncture your tires, I had to do something to stop you. I know you want to go north and I know you might be crazy enough and your truck tough enough to smash the barricades but I can't let you. I can't let anyone else go through, he said hysterically. I asked the dumb question about whether or not he set the barricades and just as I previously suspected, he did.
I'm supposed to watch, Shaw cried. No one can get through tonight, no can be allowed to. I told him to shut up as he rambled on about how he and his wife took it upon themselves to ward off travelers on Halloween Night. Its a cursed road tonight, he said, we're cursed to stay here and this is the best we can do to stop it from spreading. Its been calling us for 30 years, he went on, we tried to walk away but it kept on spreading, the pumpkins, he said gritting his teeth in anguish.
Maybe it was the dexrine and the insomnex working together, hell maybe it was the stew by itself but I just started to laugh as I guided Shaw back into the dinner and proceeded to duct tape him down to the dinner chair to make sure he could not cause anymore harm to anyone else until the police arrived. I had some cash on me, I wasn't a criminal, I wasn't going to make it seem like I tied him up and dinned and dashed, I was in the right, I was doing the lawful thing. So I left him exact change, no tip for the food. In the process of making change for myself, I found the padlock key in the cash drawer, I was certain of it at the time as I waved it in front of Shaw and he gasped and thrashed behind the duct tape the hardest.
I got into my truck and gunned it north towards the barricades, which, as I suspected was easily opened with the key I confiscated from Shaw. I got on my CB and started making emergency calls to the State Police, I gave them my name, the location of the diner, and Shaw's name. I was in the middle of nowhere so it didn't surprise me when I got static and no acknowledgment. I had no bars on my cell phone either but that is typical of central Illinois.
I was going along about 70. The sun was almost down but I hadn't seen the moon yet. I turned on the radio and found a classic rock station. The song was Born on the Bayou from CCR. The opening riff perked me up and reassured me that I had done everything all well and all good. If things held, there was a chance, I could get my freight unloaded and see John tonight. I was eagerly tapping the steering wheel waiting to bust into “When I was just a little boy...” But just as the lyrics should have entered, the radio station seemed to have accidentally reset the song, it just started over.
The sun faded away entirely and yet no moon came up. The sky was so dark but I didn't remember seeing any clouds or expecting any for that matter. The song continued restarting itself, the same opening again and again. I flipped through the other stations and all of them had it playing. Eventually, the digital clock on my dash began to spin wildly like the LCD numbers on the tuner while in scan mode. The truck buffeted and shook side to side despite my headlights showing no cause for it.
To my shock, ahead, in the distance was single traffic light. It was went from green, to yellow, and red, as any other traffic light but there were no lights or towns on this road. I slowed to 40, then 35 then to 30 as I entered an unnamed densely populated area with small buildings, stores, and houses and one traffic light. I came to a stop at the light and I looked around, locked my doors and tried to glimpse where I was. Where ever I was, I felt, I felt like I shouldn't be there. There were dim orange lights in some of the rooms of the houses at the edge of the intersection.
I looked up at one of the windows and I saw a figure with large head in the window. I couldn't believe my eyes at least not until the figure turned to face outward. It was a jack o lantern, a classic one with a black glow where the eyes, nose, and mouth sat. It was held up right by a thin vine structure that seemed to grow and stretch as it stuck its head out of the window and let out a barely audible shrill whistle and stared directly at me.
I gunned it. I blew the red light as the town seemed to collapse into nothing by dark green swelling pumpkin vine and a sea of glowing jack o lanterns in my side view mirrors. I hit the radio off because all I could hear on it was that whistle filtering through. I drove and the mass of jack o lanterns grew in the mirrors. I glimpsed the left and right windows and the plains were glowing black with more pumpkins rolling and creeping towards the road.
The road began to warp and bend as I started to red line my truck. The buffeting side to side became difficult to control as the engine groaned. I couldn't explain how the road began to shift nor how the moon, blood orange began to circle around me from horizon to horizon. Aside from the moon, I thought I was making progress as I couldn't see the vines nor the hundreds of blacklight pumpkins swirling after me.
The moon slowed and dipped down and I started climbing a hill. As I crested, the moon filled the entire windshield and more. It spun and then settled on a black light pumpkin face and bore down on the cab.
I don't know what happened next but I woke up in my cab. The was engine smoking. All I could see was mud and putrid rotten pumpkins as far as I could see. My Blue Jay was sunk up to the cab down in mud, vines and rot. It wasn't going anywhere in it without some serious assistance. To my right and left I saw dozens of other vehicles, most of them at least ten years old, also up their doors in mud and rot. Swarms of flies were visible all around in the boiling midday sun. I'm not really sure how long it has been or what time it really was because the clock on my phone is broken and simply reads as 99:99. I don't know what day it is. I have no cell signal and no radio.
Carly, I need to be honest with you. I cheated on you. Maybe a dozen times. I did it before I thought, before I knew you were doing it to me. I can't live by the rules of trucking, or marriage or anything. It is the road and you command it and that is the only rule. But now, I'm worried I've broken my last rule. I have no food and no water. There is no road here. There is only rule of a blazing sun with jack o lantern face that never sets. I fear that in time, unless I find help or help finds me, I will be feeding the pumpkins.
Theo Plesha
submitted by m80mike to ChillingApp [link] [comments]
A rule breaking truck driver takes a forbidden detour.
Don't Feed the Pumpkins
I'm typing this as a record of what has happened to me. If someone should find me out here, where ever here is, this is what happened and who is responsible. Also, out of the dozens of vehicles bogged down in this field, mine is the Blue Jay 2013 Freight Liner. If I should die and it is recoverable, it should go to my son, John Grainger in Antioch, Illinois.
I left Litchfield Illinois around 2pm on Halloween with a last-minute load of pumpkins destined for the Antioch Walmart. Despite the fact I was once that told Illinois is the #1 pumpkin producer in the country the itself state appears to be in the midst of a shortage. I was due in about 8pm, but I was trying get in by 6pm and after unloading, I was going to visit my wife Carly and my son for Halloween. It was going to be the first Halloween in my son's life that I was going to be there for trick o treating. My wife was making a big deal out of it and John was 10 now, so, she said he would be “scarred with disappointment” if I didn't show now. So, I probably should have gotten better sleep the night before and sue me, I was gear jamming and popping go-pills like popcorn. Don't look down on me, don't be fooled, this is just the nature of the trucking industry. Everyone does it and I'm not afraid to tell it like it is.
Just after Normal on 39 I hit a wall of traffic. I could hear on the CB that there is a hazmat incident up ahead and they require special teams to clear it off. I, like the other truckers, get to gabbing on the radio, looking for shortcuts. To my surprise, after scrutinizing this route several times before, I was informed about a “gutshot” shortcut just ahead that could get in me into my destination at least an hour earlier, even with the fact I had sat in the backup for at least 45 minutes at this point. A second comrade in gears piped in and stated that the shortcut was closed. The first driver contradicted him and stated, he had used it two weeks ago, it was wide open country land you could go 70 the whole way, and the only town along the way had burned down in an industrial accident 30 years ago. The second trucker chimed in again. He said it was closed for tonight and only tonight and not to use it. I disregarded the second trucker, exited the interstate and followed the directions of the first trucker.
Well, Carly, you always said it would be this way. You always said, I needed to learn how to follow directions to not cut so many damn corners all the time. You always told me didn't put in the work, and the funny thing is, for the first time, on this drive, get there, I did. Sure, I cut all the corners, but I wanted to to put in the work. But you're right, I never put a second of effort in, and if this is how it ends, I suppose you're right, I never will. But I guess, one way or another, you're getting what you've wanted, what you text me, what you don't tell me about, and what I didn't care about. I was coming home for him and damn it, I know it won't hold up in court but I want my boy to get the damn truck!
Anyway, I found the road, 2 lanes clear to the sky, surrounded by corn and then pumpkin fields forever. My straight shot, I pushed 80 the whole way flying on cracked asphalt, diesel, and go-pills. Ahead, there were barricades and I applied the brakes and barely stopped in time. I got out and saw they were chained up with a padlock to concrete posts in the ground. In theory, I could blast through them but I would sustain serious damage. The ground was a bit wet so I didn't think I could cross the ditch and field and not get stuck either. The barricades were not official in the least. They had a sign on them made out of it mailbox stick-on letters which said: “Do Not Feed The Pumpkins”. As far as I could see from my cab and binoculars, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the damn road. I said hell and I knew it would take hours to reverse course and get back in time – in time to even unload much less make it in time to go trick o treating.
And I said it wasn't worth it. I didn't bother to call. I'd just show up now. Because it wasn't my fault. So I started back, turning around with great difficulty. I traveled back 2 miles and saw small signs for a rest area. I must have missed it the first time, too deep into the zone I suppose now. I needed to pee and probably eat a bit before starting a roundabout way back, so I stopped. It was a little old 2 story joint with a small dinner on the 1st level and looked like 4 or 5 small motel rooms on top and oddly an outhouse for a restroom. I want to emphasize the outhouse because that is how you'll find and catch this guy, the guy who did this to me. It was Bill Shaw of Shaw's Shack, who did this to me. It had a sign with the building, it too was made of stick-on letters and vaguely resembled a huge ransom note. It read “Yes! We are open! We are the only rest area for 67 miles and 1 of 2 “tombstones” for the late great town of Pumpkin Grove Illinois – the former pumpkin capital of Illinois. Ask Your host, Bill Shaw about the Pumpkin-beef-bean stew!
The parking lot had three vehicles in it, not including my own, a silver Prius, a grand cheeroke with wood panels, and an older model chevy pick up truck. I went inside. The dinner was small, set in a rustic décor with old license plates nailed to the walls. The cafe had eight counter seats and two smaller tables near the two windows. There were two witnesses to what happened that night, to what Bill Shaw did – at least partial witnesses. There was the older man with stringy white hair and octagonal glasses – unfortunately, I didn't get his name. There was that irritating millennial – All I remember is the metal crap in her ears and lip. Hell, if I die and John starts ever pulling that crap, I'll come back and haunt the crap out of both of you. Anyway, now, I wish I could remember their names or something else about them to put here. I didn't care about either one of them enough to remember.
I guess that goes for Shaw too. He was a bit taller as sometimes I couldn't see his face while sitting at the counter because of the low lights in the ceiling blocking his face. He had gray hair. Hell. That's it. Anyway, the old man said he was part of a historical society, said he spent the better part of his past two years tracking down anyone or anything about Pumpkin Grove. The college student – of course – it was college student said she was from the school newspaper, looking for a spooky story. When she asked me where I was from, I didn't respond.
Shaw came from the kitchen with two big bowls of the famous Pumpkin-beef-bean stew for first two. He seemed taken back by my presence for a bit before saying “howdy” and trying to get real friendly with me. He asked what media I was from. I told him I wasn't from no media and I was trying to get through the barricade up ahead. Neither of the other two seemed to know about the barricade. Shaw said he didn't know anything about it either. I was suspicious of him then because of the lettering on the signs. But I didn't push it. I wanted to eat and he said my choice was the stew or stew. So the stew seemed fine. He said he wished he had more time to chat with me but he promised to tell the story of Pumpkin Grove to the two others but I was welcome to listen and ask questions. I didn't say it but I couldn't care less, I was going no where fast and I needed to eat.
He started off by saying he and his wife are among a handful of survivors of the fire that consumed the town of Pumpkin Grove some 30 years ago on Halloween night. Then his story descended into a cross between a rambling fading nightmare and a ghost story. He said, without hesitation, fear of consequence or remorse that he was accessory to a murder in his childhood. Specifically, some 40 years ago, again on Halloween, he was friends with a small group of young men including one named Donnie, who was a little slow and had a slightly misshaped head. He was picked on a lot by the Gerst Brothers, notorious town bullies and teenage thugs of a bad seed thanks to their neglectful alcoholic single father. Long story short, he said, the Gerst Brothers lured Donnie, himself and another 2 boys out to a pumpkin field where they gave back Donnie's missing dog. Apparently they kidnapped the dog and wrapped every inch of it in duct tape a few days ago. They watched us try to peel and pull the duct tape off while the weakened, hungry, and thirsty dog whimpered away its last in the field. Unbeknownst to any of us, Donnie had a pocket knife and he lost it as the Gerst Brothers cackled around him and the dead dog. He leaped up as they laughed and sliced the vein on their necks. One of the Brothers died quickly while Donnie and the two others fought the other to death. Shaw said he just stood there, covered in arterial blood splatters, watching Donnie and the others finish off the Gersts.
Much of the town was shockingly grateful to hear the Gerst Brothers were dead and everyone was all too happy to sweep it under the rug rather than have 4 of their sons incarcerated for decades when they were needed to help with the town's bread and butter – the Pumpkins. So, they buried the Gerst Brothers in that field and grew pumpkins on their corpses and no one really talked about it. The town paid off their father, who was too inebriated most of the time to care and he gleefully drank himself to death on the payoff only about a year later.
I didn't have much of a reaction to the story. The historian on the other hand, was hesitant to stay and keep writing and he made a brief protest concerning whether or not the story was true and whether or not he could legally listen to it. Shaw said it was both true and legal. After all, there was nothing left of the town and the remains were long gone and he himself, would not bare witness to himself. The college student's dumb metal encrusted mouth was agape in a mix of horror and disbelief.
I was waiting, patiently, might I add, for my stew. Shaw promised it would be up soon. He continued the story, stating that the fields produced abnormally well afterwards and 10 years later he was visiting his parents with his girlfriend for the annual Pumpkin fest. It was just that the pumpkins weren't just more numerous and larger, or more resistant to the rains and the fungus, they were alive and nothing could keep them tame or from spreading wider and wider. And everyone thought this was great at first, the profits were never higher but then weird things began to happen. Equipment went missing and two farm hands were crushed by a wagon full of pumpkins tipping over onto them in what was at first called a freak accident. Shaw recounted how he took his girlfriend through one of the patches and the vines seem to wind and grapple her legs, of course, Shaw's folks passed it off as her not being used to the mud but Shaw said he knew better.
Shaw continued to describe that over the days that led up to Halloween, the Jack O Lanterns on people's porches and elsewhere began to do some unusual things. Things like seemingly move by themselves from dusk to dawn, changing the carvings of their faces slightly, or appearing to “jump” off a table onto the porch without damage or apparent cause. On the morning of Halloween, Shaw said that he found his black cat, Lucky, incinerated in front of a jack o lantern as if it had breathed fire on to it from its mouth though they had long ago blown out the candle inside.
After the cat burning, the elderly man from the historical society tossed his spoon in his bowl. Shaw asked if something was wrong. The elderly man got up to leave and he said it tasted like bitter cold bull and his story was bull and thanked him for nothing. After checking the remaining contents of his bowl of stew, Shaw chased him out of the door, to his car, asking him what direction he planned to go home. When he peeled out of the parking lot he was headed southwest. Shaw came back in and threw up his hands.
I tell nothing but the truth, he said, most people can't handle it. Part of me wanted to go, but I was cozy there, it was warm and the story, while bull to me at the time, was entertaining enough. The SJW sitting down the way looked exhausted, barely keeping her eyes open as Shaw finished out the story. In short he said, Donnie approached him at dusk on Halloween while he and his family sat on the porch eagerly awaiting trick o treaters. Donnie said the Gerst Brothers are alive in the pumpkins and that they planned to burn the whole town down tonight. Donnie said, he had to tell Shaw because Shaw wasn't supposed to die, he was supposed to watch.
I rudely stopped him and demanded more stew. I was still hungry and the stew was somehow unsatisfying. When he returned, he finished the story, stating the town was suddenly engulfed in flames and their house in particular with Donnie on the porch, flash burned to the ground like napalm from an exploding pumpkin. He escaped with his family and his future wife in the pick up truck sitting outside now.
The college student said she felt like she needed to lay down, that she didn't think she could make back to the campus to the north. Shaw attended to getting her one of the rooms upstairs. I stayed down stairs and went to the back for more stew. I rubbed my eyes intensely and felt as if I too should stay for the night. But in the tug of war between fatigue and dexrine, the dexrine was slowly coming out ahead.
Next to the stew was a cutting board and a knife and on it was some bluish whitish powder which I found peculiar. On floor was a bottle of medication. It was Insomnex – a sleeping pill I use when I'm coming off of dexrine. The stew was dosed.
I ran to my truck and pulled out my dexrine and my revolver. As I climbed out of the driver's side, I could see Shaw running out of the dinner with a huge kitchen knife. I ducked under the trailer and back out on his side and pointed the gun at him.
What the hell I asked as I slowly advanced on him with my snub nose pointed at his head. He dropped the knife. He said, I just wanted to puncture your tires, I had to do something to stop you. I know you want to go north and I know you might be crazy enough and your truck tough enough to smash the barricades but I can't let you. I can't let anyone else go through, he said hysterically. I asked the dumb question about whether or not he set the barricades and just as I previously suspected, he did.
I'm supposed to watch, Shaw cried. No one can get through tonight, no can be allowed to. I told him to shut up as he rambled on about how he and his wife took it upon themselves to ward off travelers on Halloween Night. Its a cursed road tonight, he said, we're cursed to stay here and this is the best we can do to stop it from spreading. Its been calling us for 30 years, he went on, we tried to walk away but it kept on spreading, the pumpkins, he said gritting his teeth in anguish.
Maybe it was the dexrine and the insomnex working together, hell maybe it was the stew by itself but I just started to laugh as I guided Shaw back into the dinner and proceeded to duct tape him down to the dinner chair to make sure he could not cause anymore harm to anyone else until the police arrived. I had some cash on me, I wasn't a criminal, I wasn't going to make it seem like I tied him up and dinned and dashed, I was in the right, I was doing the lawful thing. So I left him exact change, no tip for the food. In the process of making change for myself, I found the padlock key in the cash drawer, I was certain of it at the time as I waved it in front of Shaw and he gasped and thrashed behind the duct tape the hardest.
I got into my truck and gunned it north towards the barricades, which, as I suspected was easily opened with the key I confiscated from Shaw. I got on my CB and started making emergency calls to the State Police, I gave them my name, the location of the diner, and Shaw's name. I was in the middle of nowhere so it didn't surprise me when I got static and no acknowledgment. I had no bars on my cell phone either but that is typical of central Illinois.
I was going along about 70. The sun was almost down but I hadn't seen the moon yet. I turned on the radio and found a classic rock station. The song was Born on the Bayou from CCR. The opening riff perked me up and reassured me that I had done everything all well and all good. If things held, there was a chance, I could get my freight unloaded and see John tonight. I was eagerly tapping the steering wheel waiting to bust into “When I was just a little boy...” But just as the lyrics should have entered, the radio station seemed to have accidentally reset the song, it just started over.
The sun faded away entirely and yet no moon came up. The sky was so dark but I didn't remember seeing any clouds or expecting any for that matter. The song continued restarting itself, the same opening again and again. I flipped through the other stations and all of them had it playing. Eventually, the digital clock on my dash began to spin wildly like the LCD numbers on the tuner while in scan mode. The truck buffeted and shook side to side despite my headlights showing no cause for it.
To my shock, ahead, in the distance was single traffic light. It was went from green, to yellow, and red, as any other traffic light but there were no lights or towns on this road. I slowed to 40, then 35 then to 30 as I entered an unnamed densely populated area with small buildings, stores, and houses and one traffic light. I came to a stop at the light and I looked around, locked my doors and tried to glimpse where I was. Where ever I was, I felt, I felt like I shouldn't be there. There were dim orange lights in some of the rooms of the houses at the edge of the intersection.
I looked up at one of the windows and I saw a figure with large head in the window. I couldn't believe my eyes at least not until the figure turned to face outward. It was a jack o lantern, a classic one with a black glow where the eyes, nose, and mouth sat. It was held up right by a thin vine structure that seemed to grow and stretch as it stuck its head out of the window and let out a barely audible shrill whistle and stared directly at me.
I gunned it. I blew the red light as the town seemed to collapse into nothing by dark green swelling pumpkin vine and a sea of glowing jack o lanterns in my side view mirrors. I hit the radio off because all I could hear on it was that whistle filtering through. I drove and the mass of jack o lanterns grew in the mirrors. I glimpsed the left and right windows and the plains were glowing black with more pumpkins rolling and creeping towards the road.
The road began to warp and bend as I started to red line my truck. The buffeting side to side became difficult to control as the engine groaned. I couldn't explain how the road began to shift nor how the moon, blood orange began to circle around me from horizon to horizon. Aside from the moon, I thought I was making progress as I couldn't see the vines nor the hundreds of blacklight pumpkins swirling after me.
The moon slowed and dipped down and I started climbing a hill. As I crested, the moon filled the entire windshield and more. It spun and then settled on a black light pumpkin face and bore down on the cab.
I don't know what happened next but I woke up in my cab. The was engine smoking. All I could see was mud and putrid rotten pumpkins as far as I could see. My Blue Jay was sunk up to the cab down in mud, vines and rot. It wasn't going anywhere in it without some serious assistance. To my right and left I saw dozens of other vehicles, most of them at least ten years old, also up their doors in mud and rot. Swarms of flies were visible all around in the boiling midday sun. I'm not really sure how long it has been or what time it really was because the clock on my phone is broken and simply reads as 99:99. I don't know what day it is. I have no cell signal and no radio.
Carly, I need to be honest with you. I cheated on you. Maybe a dozen times. I did it before I thought, before I knew you were doing it to me. I can't live by the rules of trucking, or marriage or anything. It is the road and you command it and that is the only rule. But now, I'm worried I've broken my last rule. I have no food and no water. There is no road here. There is only rule of a blazing sun with jack o lantern face that never sets. I fear that in time, unless I find help or help finds me, I will be feeding the pumpkins.
Theo Plesha
2023.03.21 21:52 LifeDesignHQ Free Notion Template
Hey all, I just published my first free template, Notion Meal Plan and Macro Tracker. Grab it for free today! https://lifedesignhq.gumroad.com/l/notionmealplanandmacrotracker
submitted by LifeDesignHQ to NotionSoApp [link] [comments]
2023.03.21 21:51 LifeDesignHQ Hey all, I just published my first free template, Notion Meal Plan and Macro Tracker. Grab it for free today!
 | submitted by LifeDesignHQ to notionlayouts [link] [comments] |
2023.03.21 21:50 LifeDesignHQ Hey all, I just published my first free template, Notion Meal Plan and Macro Tracker. Grab it for free today!
| | submitted by LifeDesignHQ to NotionPromote [link] [comments] |
2023.03.21 21:42 Beneficial-Radish348 React based free template for landing page
I need a react based free template for landing page of my Non Profit Organization, if there are some leads do share guys.
[https://thefront.maccarianagency.com/coworking](https://thefront.maccarianagency.com/coworking)
I have shared a link of paid website we want to build somewhat like this.
submitted by Beneficial-Radish348 to reactjs [link] [comments]
[https://thefront.maccarianagency.com/coworking](https://thefront.maccarianagency.com/coworking)
I have shared a link of paid website we want to build somewhat like this.
2023.03.21 21:39 galmenz balancing single enemy fights beyond elite
My players just finished the Beginner's Box, and they had a blast (yay!), but i had some trouble balancing some specific encounters.
for some more context, i had 6 players and they all were of appropriate level through the dungeon (lvl 1 for most of it, lvl 2 for Zolgran and the dragon). i did not have much trouble balancing the encounters for them by applying the elite template to the enemies to meet the encounter budget for the most of it, but i had a really hard time for doing the cinder rat and the dragon.
i wanted to avoid adding more enemies, or switching them for something else (specially the dragon), so i just applied the Elite and ran with it, chalking it up as making them a bit easier. they had some minor trouble with the rat but they got rid of the dragon in one round, and considering i gave them ooc warning on how difficult it would be it felt rather underwhelming. i pondered if i could apply a "super Elite" to the dragon (+15hp, +3 to things instead of +2 or something of the likes) but knowing how lvl difference is a big deal i avoided it
i will be running abomination vaults with trouble in otari as some sidequests (btw feel free to give me some ideas and tips for the AP), and i fear the future bosses will feel like this too. so, is there any balancing tools beyond elite that i can apply to keep the bosses the same and as a single enemy battle?
for a bit of context, on the dragon fight the champion critted for 28 damage in one hit, and the rest was just them hitting and dwindling down its hp. while the crit obviosly played a huge role taking care of almost half hp, the other half went away really fast comparatively hence why i was surprised
thanks for any help in advance!
submitted by galmenz to Pathfinder2e [link] [comments]
for some more context, i had 6 players and they all were of appropriate level through the dungeon (lvl 1 for most of it, lvl 2 for Zolgran and the dragon). i did not have much trouble balancing the encounters for them by applying the elite template to the enemies to meet the encounter budget for the most of it, but i had a really hard time for doing the cinder rat and the dragon.
i wanted to avoid adding more enemies, or switching them for something else (specially the dragon), so i just applied the Elite and ran with it, chalking it up as making them a bit easier. they had some minor trouble with the rat but they got rid of the dragon in one round, and considering i gave them ooc warning on how difficult it would be it felt rather underwhelming. i pondered if i could apply a "super Elite" to the dragon (+15hp, +3 to things instead of +2 or something of the likes) but knowing how lvl difference is a big deal i avoided it
i will be running abomination vaults with trouble in otari as some sidequests (btw feel free to give me some ideas and tips for the AP), and i fear the future bosses will feel like this too. so, is there any balancing tools beyond elite that i can apply to keep the bosses the same and as a single enemy battle?
for a bit of context, on the dragon fight the champion critted for 28 damage in one hit, and the rest was just them hitting and dwindling down its hp. while the crit obviosly played a huge role taking care of almost half hp, the other half went away really fast comparatively hence why i was surprised
thanks for any help in advance!
2023.03.21 21:25 AutoModerator [Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course
| | Get the course here: https://www.genkicourses.com/product/dan-koe-the-2-hour-writer-download/ submitted by AutoModerator to GenkiCourses_2023 [link] [comments] [Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course https://preview.redd.it/2t82bpl4iyoa1.png?width=562&format=png&auto=webp&s=f9642c0b30fa7a116e4a163135e632b7dd223790 THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE CREATIVE Learn The Recession Proof Skill For The Digital Economy (Without Spending 4 Years & $42,599 On A Degree) Implement Our 2 Hour Content Ecosystem To Learn High Impact Digital Writing, Boost Your Online Authority, & Systemize Content Creation For Rapid Growth THE WORLD IS SHIFTING Nobody Wants To Be A Commodity Are you irreplaceable?62% of labor jobs will be phased out in the next 10 years.This is including jobs that require a high-skill level.This isn’t anything new, we are seeing it happen right before our eyes.All signs have been pointing toward individual creative work for a while now.“If the work doesn’t require creativity, delegate it, automate it, or leave it.” — Naval But before I waste anymore of your time with my doomsday speculations, let’s see if you should continue reading.If you do not relate with one of the bullets below, you’re free to leave the page:
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2023.03.21 21:11 chinadigital_agency Remote Business in China: Overview on Chinese Cross-Border Platforms
 | Since the beginning of the 20th century international trade has been a major driver of China's GDP growth. The liberalization of trade associated with free trade zones is now supported by the development of cross border ecommerce and online retailers business. There are some famous examples of Western online retail sites such as Amazon. China, however, is now a leading country in the field of online shopping development. submitted by chinadigital_agency to u/chinadigital_agency [link] [comments] Today we have prepared a detailed article for you with an overview of the TOP 9 popular and working cross-border ecommerce online marketplaces in China for remote business. In this article, you will learn why cross-border ecommerce is one of the most convenient ways for global brands from other countries to do business in the world's second largest economy using the potential of today's largest ecommerce market. Author: Alexander Sabantsev, China Digital Marketing Agency https://preview.redd.it/wcvrcwo2f5pa1.png?width=861&format=png&auto=webp&s=696bf2aa1ffad51d19558471ea2c748b5d775d8b The benefits of working with Chinese customers through cross border e-commerce are a driver for any Chinese company to increase revenue, as leading e-commerce platforms and online shopping help to improve the connection between Chinese sellers and Chinese shoppers. Chinese shoppers are mostly online shoppers, as the average Chinese spends more than 5 hours a day on mobile services. Modern Chinese consumers consider online retail as the most convenient way to easily select goods from both Chinese businesses and international sellers, who in turn are interested in online sales as a way to reduce costs and benefit from the flash sales effect. Nowadays, the cross-border Chinese ecommerce system allows foreign companies to conduct business activities through a global supply chain and enter China's complex market without having to establish a Chinese legal entity, open an account in a Chinese bank, and create a very expensive operational infrastructure such as opening an office, a warehouse, hiring employees, etc. In order to attract as many foreign brands as possible, most of China's major marketplaces, interested in increasing the number of third party sellers, have launched cross-border trading sections on their platforms in recent years. Tmall GlobalFounded in 2014, Tmall Global is a leading cross border China online marketplace and one of the fastest growing ecommerce platforms with a large market share among other online marketplaces in China which are engaged in international trade. This China marketplace is a special online platform for trading imported goods of the flagship Chinese online marketplace – Tmall owned by Alibaba Group. 800 million people are active Tmall users, and one in eight of them shop on Tmall Global. About 30% of the more than 100 million audience belong to Generation Z, the most active group of Chinese consumers on China market.On the other hand, Tmall Global sells 35 000 international brands from over 90 countries through its online marketplace market. For 80% of them, Jack Ma's online marketplace has become the first sales channel in the Chinese market with one of the highest transaction volumes. Such popularity of this China marketplace is explained by the fact that Tmall has never had a clear specialization in the sale of goods related to a very narrow product niche. As a result, Tmall Global generally attracts a wide variety of shoppers with a wide variety of needs. However, unlike Taobao mall which operates on the consumer-to-consumer model, Tmall is not an online marketplace for small businesses. Entry requirements are high for both domestic companies and international merchants. Chinese online marketplaces Tmall and Tmall Global are more attractive for global brands specializing in manufacturing high quality products, the probability of buying counterfeit products on one of the largest chain store in China is minimal. We should note that manufacturers of beauty and health products and light-weight snacks with medium and high margins should pay special attention to this platform. Home page (left), product card (center) and Tmall Global online store page (right) KaolaKaola is another leading Chinese marketplace and is one of the largest online marketplaces engaged in cross-border ecommerce. The Kaola platform attracts over 30 million users with a 25% market share of all cross-border Chinese marketplaces trade transactions in China. The name of the Chinese marketplace (consonant with the word "koala") suggests that it was originally focused exclusively on Australian brands. But a little later, the scope of the Chinese online marketplace expanded to include the sale of imported goods from all over the world.However, unlike Tmall and some other Chinese marketplaces, Kaola is positioned as a slightly more "prestigious" China online marketplace for the Chinese middle class whose representatives often go to the platform for shopping. The loyalty of this demanding group of consumers is ensured by a strict system of product selection and quality control. The online marketplace has even developed its own system that helps shoppers track the customs history of goods using QR codes. Thanks to this, users have no doubts about the authenticity of the goods sold. As a result, the brand's presence on Kaola increases its appeal in China. The main product categories on the Chinese marketplace are infant formula and other children's products, snacks, health foods, cosmetics, apparel, accessories and home appliances. Home page (left), product card (center) and online store page (right) J.D. WorldwideJD Worldwide, the import section of another popular third party marketplace JD.com, is seen as an alternative to the top online marketplaces such as Tmall Global for exporters looking to generate revenue from cross-border trade.JD has become a famous China marketplace for having the most developed system of its own warehouses and delivery of goods. The company is also trying to maintain its brand by working with foreign merchants. JD Worldwide has partnered with global (DHL) and regional (Australia Post and Yamato) logistics leaders. In addition, the Chinese online marketplace has 32 warehouses for cross-border trade. In January 2022, JD announced a partnership with western e-commerce giant Shopify. This allowed Shopify sellers to enter the Chinese market through JD with little to no effort. As with Tmall, almost every conceivable category of B2C products is sold on the JD platform. However, manufacturers of goods for automobiles, home appliances and electronics should pay special attention to JD Worldwide. The majority of Chinese consumers look for such goods on JD, expecting the high quality approach and effective after sales services. Today, it is difficult to consider JD as one of the pure play marketplaces because its scope is quite broad. JD Worldwide home page (left), promotional offers section (center) and product card (right) Duoduo InternationalThe Pinduoduo marketplace (PDD) became a major Chinese ecommerce sensation in the second half of the 2010s due to two reasons. First, unlike other popular Chinese online marketplaces, Pinduoduo is a group shopping system that allows users to buy together at very deep discounts. The second is its focus on consumers from China's affluent hinterland. But it has also become a source of vulnerability in the e-commerce platform's business model. Although Pinduoduo's active users are on par with the market leader Tmall, the total sales of goods on the site are significantly lower than those on Alibaba's marketplace and some other Chinese online marketplaces.In order to somehow solve this problem, Pinduoduo launched its own cross-border section - Duoduo International in 2019. As a newcomer in this business, PDD started to attract foreign brands with favorable conditions for entering the Chinese marketplace. Unlike other marketplaces, the owners of online stores on Duoduo International do not have to pay an annual service fee, and the registration deposit and order commission are noticeably lower than those of competitors. However, cross-border from PDD has a significant drawback – the marketplace does not have its own warehouses and logistics solutions, so sellers have to deal with these issues themselves. Pinduoduo is actively developing the trade of foreign cosmetics and perfumes. Taking into account the main audience of the site, we can recommend Duoduo International to manufacturers of conspicuous consumption products. Pinduoduo home page (left), product card (center) and online store page (right) Douyin Cross BorderDouyin, the Chinese twin brother of TikTok, has become a symbol of the convergence of social media and online retail in China. Douyin has many of the elements needed to succeed in e-commerce. On the one hand, it has the most engaging content formats – short videos watched by 900 million Chinese on various platforms, and live broadcasts, which became one of the main profit-making tools in Chinese online commerce in the 2010s. On the other hand, there are more than 600 million active users and an army of influencers who have earned the trust of their subscribers.Therefore, in 2018, Douyin entered the e-commerce market, initially by actively collaborating with Alibaba marketplaces. Two years later, Douyin broke off its partnership with Tmall and built its own infrastructure to provide full-cycle in-app trading. And in 2021, it began to attract foreign brands for cross-border trade. On the whole, cross-border trading on Douyin is still in the early stages of development, which allows even small-brand product sellers to carve out a significant niche on the platform. However, when choosing which products to display and how to promote them, it is very important to remember that Douyin is the territory of wealthy Gen Z consumers. Video (left), product search (center) and online store page (right) on Douyin Kuaishou Cross BorderKuaishou, with its 400 million viewers, is often metaphorically called "TikTok for the Chinese village". The majority of its users are young residents of provincial cities who prefer to watch short videos about people similar to themselves, rather than about the daily lives of rich KOLs.Although Kuaishou is still playing catch-up with Douyin, the social network began to engage in e-commerce much earlier than its main competitor. As a result, about 20% of the company's revenue now comes from e-commerce (while Douyin still relies mainly on advertising revenue). But at the same time, like Douyin, Kuaishou only announced the start of its cross-border business last year. Therefore, this part of Kuaishou's business is still in its infancy, which may be even more beneficial for exporters - the platform will offer more favorable cooperation terms and additional services at this stage. However, it is not so easy to get on Kuaishou now - the site only accepts manufacturers of cosmetics, food, watches and luxury goods, and then only by invitation from Kuaishou itself. Video (left), online store page (center) and product card (right) on Kuaishou VIP InternationalVIP.com is one of the oldest Chinese marketplaces, as well as the world's largest flash-sale marketplace (the main method of sales on it is discount offers that are valid for no more than 24 hours). The products that are sold on this Chinese marketplace are mainly related to the fashion industry – clothes, shoes, cosmetics, etc.While VIP.com is no match for the largest marketplaces in China's overall e-commerce market, its cross-border division, VIP International, is among the market leaders, accounting for approximately 10% of China's cross-border B2C commerce. Buying popular brands at low prices is what its users come to the platform for. Therefore, unless you are a world famous brand, VIP.com is unlikely to be your first sales channel in China. VIP.com main page (left), product card (center) and online store page (right) Little Red Book Cross-BorderIf Douyin and Kuaishou are Chinese versions of TikTok, then Little Red Book (or simply RED) can be loosely described as the local Instagram. On this platform, ordinary users and influencers talk about their lifestyles and write reviews on the products they use (mostly these are clothes, cosmetics, skin care products). Other users can purchase the products shown in the photos with just a few clicks. This can be done both in stores within the application and by clicking on links to third-party marketplaces (for example, Tmall). In this way, a business account on Little Red Book can serve two functions at once – an independent sales channel and a tool for promoting products on other platforms.It is worth noting that RED has a very unusual demographic profile – about 90% of the platform's 100 million audience are women. Little Red Book home page (left), shopping section (center), and product card (right) Suning GlobalSuning was originally known in China as a large offline retailer of various electronics. Later, it began to expand both in terms of the breadth of the range of goods in various categories, and in terms of its presence on the Chinese Internet. One step in Suning's e-commerce push was to attract cross-border brands from overseas.However, Suning is not only waiting for brands of foreign electronic equipment to enter its marketplace. The company writes on its website that it primarily would like to see foreign manufacturers of baby food, cosmetics, shoes, bags and food products on its platform. In addition, while other major e-commerce platforms prefer to deal with brands that have not yet entered the Chinese market, Suning explicitly states that brands that are already listed on Tmall or JD are more likely to open an online store. To date, Suning is the least significant of the major players, with its marketplace accounting for approximately 1.5% of the total cross-border market in China. Home page (left), product card (center) and online store page (right) ConclusionsToday, more than 1400 categories of various products can be exported to China through cross-border channels (a complete list of these categories can be found at the link – a document in Chinese). Today cross-border ecommerce gives numerous opportunities to purchase inventory directly, buy consumer products from foreign brands, etc.You can open your own cross-border online store on a dozen Chinese platforms and become a successful online retailer. Some of them are traditional marketplaces, while others are social networks with e-commerce features. But despite the differences, their requirements for exporters are similar: ● Entity registered outside of China ● Foreign registered trademark ● Statement from a foreign bank account ● Copy of passport of company's representative ● Payment of a refundable deposit (from $1.5 thousand on Pinduoduo to $10-47 thousand dollars on Tmall, depending on the category) ● Payment of an annual service fee (from $1 thousand for JD to $4.7-9.4 thousand for Tmall) ● Platform commission on orders (from 0.6% on Pinduoduo to 2-10% on Kaola) Trading through cross-border makes it much easier to do business in China. The absence of the need to open a legal entity and a bank account in China helps reduce the risks of entering an unfamiliar market. Thus, small brands have the opportunity to test the demand for their products in China or prove to investors that they are promising without large initial investments. China is closer than you think. |
2023.03.21 20:55 oncegrey Dog food advice?
I have a 18-month-old poodle/Maltese mix and she's a pretty fussy eater. I've started feeding her pooch & mutt recently as it seems to have a high-quality meat content and is affordable. The only catch is that its grain-free, however, she gets grain from her wet food (lily's kitchen) which is mixed into her dinner, so only her breakfast is the grain-free kibble.
Is this okay to do as her diet is not totally grain free? She also has some iams mixed in with it currently during the transition, should I keep mixing iams in with it so that she has all her dietary needs met?
For more context, she also gets pumpkin powder and salmon oil with her meals as well as joint supplements from YouMove
submitted by oncegrey to dogs [link] [comments]
Is this okay to do as her diet is not totally grain free? She also has some iams mixed in with it currently during the transition, should I keep mixing iams in with it so that she has all her dietary needs met?
For more context, she also gets pumpkin powder and salmon oil with her meals as well as joint supplements from YouMove
2023.03.21 20:47 Pristine-Simple689 TTC Chapter 11 (Mawangdui 55)
Previous -------------------------------- Next chapter soon(tm)
I am no authority in Chinese, translation, or Taoism. I have no cultural or religious Taoist background. English is not my first language. Chinese text might be wrong, I don't know how to read or write Chinese. Translation might be inaccurate, comments might be mistaken. The comment section is usually great and provides useful insights. Sources linked in comment section, sort by oldest.
Feel free to share your favorite translations in the comments so we can all compare and learn together, also feel free to ask anything or correct any mistakes. You are free to copy, change, improve, expand, and/or share this text with whoever. No recognition or mention of OP is required. Enjoy!
comment:
[ 當 please share a better word for this character. best I can think of is "match/contain"]
十 ten;
輻 spokes of a wheel; meaning: 车 vehicle, sound: 畐 vessel full of wine.
共 occupy together; two hands holding an object together.
轂 hub; hub of a wheel; 士 scholar, soldier 军 army; Meaning: 车 vehicle wheel.
當 when/match/comply; meaning: 田 field, sound: 尚 esteem.
Note: I don't know why "thirty" or "three of ten".
"Thirty spokes of a wheel[,]
are joined together to the hub[,]
matched in the empty (space) [,]
This makes the cart useful [.] "
"Thirty wooden spokes make a wheel,
holes are carved on the hub to fix the spokes in place,
it is because of this emptiness,
the cart can be useful."
埴 clay; mix water with clay/soil with clay; meaning: 土 earth Sound: 直 straight eye
器 receptacle; unknown: four mouths around a dog;
"Modeling the borders of clay to make a bowl [,]
contains his empty [,]
This makes the bowl useful [.]"
Pretty self-explanatory:
"clay is modeled into a bowl,
the limit of clay is the beginning of the space inside,
it is because of the emptiness inside that a bowl has its use."
戶 doofamily/household; Pictograph of a door, similar to the left half of 門.
牖 window/that leads light; Meaning: 片 slice 户 door 甫 begin
室 room; meaning: 宀 roof sound: 至 arrow hitting its target.
"Chiseling doors and windows to let light pass through to build a room[,]
it is this empty space in the walls[,]
which makes the room useful[.]"
While a room is useful by itself.
Without a door, you can't get inside,
without a window, you can't see.
It is making holes in the walls,
that it is useful to me.
having a cart is favorable because you can move supplies fast using the cart
have receptacle is favorable because you can eat (or beg) using the bowl
having a room is useful because you can use it to store supplies.
How could you use the cart if the spokes weren't fixed to a hole that was made emptying the hub?
How could you use your bowl if it wasn't because it is empty?
How could get inside the room if it wasn't for the space of the door and the space inside its walls?
Therefore,
"emptiness contains usefulness."
"Modeling the borders of clay to make a bowl,
the limits of the clay contain the empty space,
This is making the bowl useful."
"To empty" the bowl "to do" and "to use" the bowl,
this is where emptying gets its usefulness.
submitted by Pristine-Simple689 to taoism [link] [comments]
I am no authority in Chinese, translation, or Taoism. I have no cultural or religious Taoist background. English is not my first language. Chinese text might be wrong, I don't know how to read or write Chinese. Translation might be inaccurate, comments might be mistaken. The comment section is usually great and provides useful insights. Sources linked in comment section, sort by oldest.
Feel free to share your favorite translations in the comments so we can all compare and learn together, also feel free to ask anything or correct any mistakes. You are free to copy, change, improve, expand, and/or share this text with whoever. No recognition or mention of OP is required. Enjoy!
Chapter 11:
三 十 輻 ，
Thirty spokes of a wheel [,]
共 一 轂 ，
occupy together one hub [,]
當 其 無 ，
match in his empty [,]
有 車 之 用 。
having cart's use/employ [.]
埏 埴 以 為 器 ，
The limits of clay for doing a receptacle [,]
當 其 無 ，
create his empty [,]
有 器 之 用 。
Have receptacle’s use [.]
鑿 戶 牖 以 為 室 ，
Chisel doors and windows to let light pass through for doing a room [,]
當 其 無 ，
Match his empty [,]
有 室 之 用 。
have room’s use[.]
故 有 之 以 為 利 ，
Therefore “to have” contains sharpness (favorable) [,]
無 之 以 為 用 。
“To empty” contains usefulness [.]
comment:
[ 當 please share a better word for this character. best I can think of is "match/contain"]
Thirty spokes of a wheel [,]三 three;
occupy together one hub [,]
match in his empty [,]
having cart's use/employ [.]
十 ten;
輻 spokes of a wheel; meaning: 车 vehicle, sound: 畐 vessel full of wine.
共 occupy together; two hands holding an object together.
轂 hub; hub of a wheel; 士 scholar, soldier 军 army; Meaning: 车 vehicle wheel.
當 when/match/comply; meaning: 田 field, sound: 尚 esteem.
Note: I don't know why "thirty" or "three of ten".
"Thirty spokes of a wheel[,]
are joined together to the hub[,]
matched in the empty (space) [,]
This makes the cart useful [.] "
"Thirty wooden spokes make a wheel,
holes are carved on the hub to fix the spokes in place,
it is because of this emptiness,
the cart can be useful."
Limits of clay for doing a receptacle [,]埏 a limit; An earthen 土 roadblock 延
create his empty [,]
Have receptacle’s use [.]
埴 clay; mix water with clay/soil with clay; meaning: 土 earth Sound: 直 straight eye
器 receptacle; unknown: four mouths around a dog;
"Modeling the borders of clay to make a bowl [,]
contains his empty [,]
This makes the bowl useful [.]"
Pretty self-explanatory:
"clay is modeled into a bowl,
the limit of clay is the beginning of the space inside,
it is because of the emptiness inside that a bowl has its use."
Chisel doors and windows to let light pass through for doing a room [,]鑿 to chisel; Depicts using a chisel 丵, which is a metal 金 tool 殳, to fashion a mortar 臼.
Match his empty [,]
have room’s use[.]
戶 doofamily/household; Pictograph of a door, similar to the left half of 門.
牖 window/that leads light; Meaning: 片 slice 户 door 甫 begin
室 room; meaning: 宀 roof sound: 至 arrow hitting its target.
"Chiseling doors and windows to let light pass through to build a room[,]
it is this empty space in the walls[,]
which makes the room useful[.]"
While a room is useful by itself.
Without a door, you can't get inside,
without a window, you can't see.
It is making holes in the walls,
that it is useful to me.
Therefore “to have” contains sharpness (favorable) [,]"Therefore, to have contains what is favorable [,]
having a cart is favorable because you can move supplies fast using the cart
have receptacle is favorable because you can eat (or beg) using the bowl
having a room is useful because you can use it to store supplies.
“To empty” contains usefulness [.]"Emptiness contains usefulness [.]"
How could you use the cart if the spokes weren't fixed to a hole that was made emptying the hub?
How could you use your bowl if it wasn't because it is empty?
How could get inside the room if it wasn't for the space of the door and the space inside its walls?
Therefore,
"emptiness contains usefulness."
"Modeling the borders of clay to make a bowl,
the limits of the clay contain the empty space,
This is making the bowl useful."
"To empty" the bowl "to do" and "to use" the bowl,
this is where emptying gets its usefulness.
2023.03.21 20:25 AutoModerator [Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course
| | Get the course here: https://www.genkicourses.com/product/dan-koe-the-2-hour-writer-download/ submitted by AutoModerator to GenkiCourses_2023 [link] [comments] [Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course https://preview.redd.it/2t82bpl4iyoa1.png?width=562&format=png&auto=webp&s=f9642c0b30fa7a116e4a163135e632b7dd223790 THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE CREATIVE Learn The Recession Proof Skill For The Digital Economy (Without Spending 4 Years & $42,599 On A Degree) Implement Our 2 Hour Content Ecosystem To Learn High Impact Digital Writing, Boost Your Online Authority, & Systemize Content Creation For Rapid Growth THE WORLD IS SHIFTING Nobody Wants To Be A Commodity Are you irreplaceable?62% of labor jobs will be phased out in the next 10 years.This is including jobs that require a high-skill level.This isn’t anything new, we are seeing it happen right before our eyes.All signs have been pointing toward individual creative work for a while now.“If the work doesn’t require creativity, delegate it, automate it, or leave it.” — Naval But before I waste anymore of your time with my doomsday speculations, let’s see if you should continue reading.If you do not relate with one of the bullets below, you’re free to leave the page:
|
2023.03.21 20:22 digiphyit Hi! I’m the co-founder of Digiphy. Our QR codes and Storylines activate marketing assets and packaging to connect brands and customers.
Hi Reddit!
I’m Sarah Ellenbogen, a co-founder of Digiphy.
Our goal is to help everyone access helpful information from the products and brands you use daily. Such as where your products come from, how they’re made, new recipe ideas, care instructions, and much more.
As a Mom, I’m juggling thousands of things at once, and time is one thing I can’t spare. When I’m at the grocery store, I can’t stop to Google and verify a product’s claims. If I need to start dinner, I don’t have time to scour the internet for a recipe my kids will actually eat. Digiphy delivers relevant information the moment you need it to help you get some of that time back.
So let’s dig in! Digiphy’s QR and Storyline pages connect you to helpful, engaging, and actionable information directly to the product in your hand or on the shelf in front of you.
Have you ever wondered where your products come from or want to know if they’re greenwashed? You’re not alone. Sadly, 68% of products today are greenwashed, and consumer trust is low. I know. I’m a person that is constantly checking with the Environmental Working Group (EWG)or searching on Google to find reviews from a source I can trust. I do this before making purchases for my family, and it’s exhausting and super time-consuming.
I created Digiphy to simplify my life and YOURS. I wanted to make it easy for all of us to get a little more time back in our day. Scan a QR code on a product and quickly access reviews you can trust from a source you can verify. Now I can find recipes, an offer, and how-to videos in seconds—no more endless, wasted time.Digiphy has simplified my life and countless others. Let me show you a few other ways consumers benefit from our tool.
Let’s say you’re shopping and find a shirt you love, but the store is out of your size. Frustrating right?! You could go to the store’s website or app and try searching for it online, but with Digiphy, there’s a QR code on the tag that connects you right to where you can buy it without the extra hassle.
Or maybe, you’re looking for a new protein powder for your pre-workout routine. You want it to be ethically sourced and whey-free. Brands can’t always fit all that information on the packaging, but a quick QR scan takes you to a Digiphy Storyline page that answers all your questions.
Here’s how Digiphy makes this possible:
Generate QR codes fast. In minutes you can make several QR codes.
No code Storyline page-building. Our flexible and customizable tools reduce development costs so anyone can build Digiphy Storylines quickly and easily.
Customizable templates. If you need a starting point, we’ve put together a library of templates to help.
Connect third-party tools. Integrate with a CRM for email marketing to segment customer emails directly. Attach your Meta Pixel of Google tag for remarketing. We can pull .xls data and present it in a user-friendly format to show where the product came from, its origin story, and more.
Track analytics. See how your QR codes and Storyline pages are performing with built-in analytics. We even incorporate third-party analytics to give you a complete picture.
So, what’s the cost? The catch?
We offer several pricing options depending on your needs. We even have a free tier for you to get started with one QR code and Storyline.
Wondering how to get started?
Come join us over at digiphy
There, you'll find instructions for getting started and a link to our blog and website.
We'd also love your help and insights on how we can improve.
If you just want to jump in without joining the sub, you can find it here:
Feel free to comment with any questions and connect with me. I’d love to hear from you.
submitted by digiphyit to Digiphy [link] [comments]
I’m Sarah Ellenbogen, a co-founder of Digiphy.
Our goal is to help everyone access helpful information from the products and brands you use daily. Such as where your products come from, how they’re made, new recipe ideas, care instructions, and much more.
As a Mom, I’m juggling thousands of things at once, and time is one thing I can’t spare. When I’m at the grocery store, I can’t stop to Google and verify a product’s claims. If I need to start dinner, I don’t have time to scour the internet for a recipe my kids will actually eat. Digiphy delivers relevant information the moment you need it to help you get some of that time back.
So let’s dig in! Digiphy’s QR and Storyline pages connect you to helpful, engaging, and actionable information directly to the product in your hand or on the shelf in front of you.
Have you ever wondered where your products come from or want to know if they’re greenwashed? You’re not alone. Sadly, 68% of products today are greenwashed, and consumer trust is low. I know. I’m a person that is constantly checking with the Environmental Working Group (EWG)or searching on Google to find reviews from a source I can trust. I do this before making purchases for my family, and it’s exhausting and super time-consuming.
I created Digiphy to simplify my life and YOURS. I wanted to make it easy for all of us to get a little more time back in our day. Scan a QR code on a product and quickly access reviews you can trust from a source you can verify. Now I can find recipes, an offer, and how-to videos in seconds—no more endless, wasted time.Digiphy has simplified my life and countless others. Let me show you a few other ways consumers benefit from our tool.
Let’s say you’re shopping and find a shirt you love, but the store is out of your size. Frustrating right?! You could go to the store’s website or app and try searching for it online, but with Digiphy, there’s a QR code on the tag that connects you right to where you can buy it without the extra hassle.
Or maybe, you’re looking for a new protein powder for your pre-workout routine. You want it to be ethically sourced and whey-free. Brands can’t always fit all that information on the packaging, but a quick QR scan takes you to a Digiphy Storyline page that answers all your questions.
Here’s how Digiphy makes this possible:
Generate QR codes fast. In minutes you can make several QR codes.
No code Storyline page-building. Our flexible and customizable tools reduce development costs so anyone can build Digiphy Storylines quickly and easily.
Customizable templates. If you need a starting point, we’ve put together a library of templates to help.
Connect third-party tools. Integrate with a CRM for email marketing to segment customer emails directly. Attach your Meta Pixel of Google tag for remarketing. We can pull .xls data and present it in a user-friendly format to show where the product came from, its origin story, and more.
Track analytics. See how your QR codes and Storyline pages are performing with built-in analytics. We even incorporate third-party analytics to give you a complete picture.
So, what’s the cost? The catch?
We offer several pricing options depending on your needs. We even have a free tier for you to get started with one QR code and Storyline.
Wondering how to get started?
Come join us over at digiphy
There, you'll find instructions for getting started and a link to our blog and website.
We'd also love your help and insights on how we can improve.
If you just want to jump in without joining the sub, you can find it here:
Feel free to comment with any questions and connect with me. I’d love to hear from you.
2023.03.21 20:16 Economy_Bluebird_967 Hamster impacted cheeks
 | So my hamster stuffs his cheek pouches to the point where they are the size of golf balls and then they get impacted and the food rots in his cheeks. I take him to a vet nearby who empties it for me free of charge but he just restuffs them within a few days. submitted by Economy_Bluebird_967 to hamsters [link] [comments] There has also been some weight loss and he's been lethargic so I have an appointment with an exotic vet. In the meantime I have been giving him an organic baby food which is basically a puree of pumpkin and veggies mixed with water to try and push fluids and that has perked him up Does anybody have any thoughts or ideas on why this could be happening? |
2023.03.21 19:59 missingmountains7 I am 33 Years old, just started a new job, and have $31,606 in Credit Card Debt
This was incredibly hard for me to write and admit., I'm sure I have forgotten important information and have errors.
DEEP IN DEBT DIARY TEMPLATE
Title: I am 33 years old, making $80,000 salary ( just started new job ) plus $21,300. Spouse ( 39 )makes $40 per hour plus $14,200, and we have $77,313 debt not including our mortgage.
SECTION ONE: Background
Job: Project Analyst ( new job ) & GIS Analyst
Industry: Finance
Location - MCOL, rural Texas
Context - I have worked for my MIL since 2015 with no benefits. My husband has worked for her since 2013 with no benefits. We were led to believe we would take over the business and have a really good secure income. Instead, we have made less than others in our same careers or near the same, but with no benefits, no paid holidays etc. We attempted to get the plan of action for us to take over starting in 2017, but were met with aggression and personality issues each time. It’s been a long mentally exhausting 5+ years. I have finally broken away.
SECTION TWO: Current Debt and Assets
Credit card debt: Total Credit Card Debt $31,606.30. Breakdown: Card 1 ($10,799.30 out of $14,500) Card 2 ( $17,002.84 out of $18,000 ) Card 3 ( $0 out $0 ) Card 4 ( $3,805 out of $5,000)
Personal loans: $0
Medical debt: $0 paid down from $18,000
Student loan debt (for what degree). $12,534.18 Bachelors in Engineering Technology. Already paid off over $15,000. His grandparents and parents paid for his undergrad; he saved up ( before we met ) and paid for his master's.
Remaining mortgage balance if you’re a homeowner. $298,000 remaining. Originally 318,000 at 4.84%. Yearly Dividends are around $3,500-$3,800.
Auto loans: Truck $19,781.71 u/2.25%, small SUV $13,390.64 @ 2.25%
Any other type of debt and how you accumulated it (e.g., payday loans, title loans). N/a
Retirement balance (and how you got there). Around $5000-$6,000 for both of us. This was from putting some into accounts we opened a few years ago.
Equity $502,000
Our first house was purchased for $82,000 in December 2010 with low interest. We sold it 2016 for $115,000 to buy our land.
To buy our land, we put some of the equity towards credit card debt and the rest towards purchasing the land for $150,000 at a 15 yr fixed rate of around 5% interest rate. We “rebuilt” our house starting Nov 2019 with a refinance and construction loan in one. We didn’t put any down, it was 90% loan to value. The house we built made the value ( once complete ) more than the loan. Currently, the estimated appraisal is around $800,000 leaving $498,000 in equity. We didn’t purchase and build in a typical way. We bought the 45 acres for 150k 4% or so15 year loan 3 years before refinancing with a construction loan. We did put down $15,000 to purchase the land originally.
Savings account balance: $200
Checking account balance: averages $4000-$5000 to cover all bills etc.
Any other assets that are applicable to you.
SECTION THREE: Income
Main Job Monthly Take Home aka Net Pay I just started my new job so I don’t know what the health insurance etc will look like. My salary is $80,000. My insurance is 80% covered. My husband makes $40/hour with no benefits besides two weeks of paid vacation.
Side Gig Monthly Take Home
We have owned a business for 10 years. It is a contract that has been $30,000 per year until this year; it is now $35,500. This is very part-time, part of the year. We have always worked on this in our free time, until 2021 when I did work it as my main job for that year and a half. We have had our real estate licenses since 2016; we didn’t make any money until 2019. It ranged from $15,000-$30,000, was in 2021. He is quitting real estate and I recently also quit.
Any Other Monthly Income Here
N/A
SECTION FOUR: Monthly Expenses
Mortgage $1676
Home insurance Annually $3,000
Property Taxes Annually $3,300
Private Health Insurance $580
Additional Retirement contribution N/A
Savings contribution N/A
Investment contribution N/A
Private School $350 plus $100 for aftercare
Trash Pickup $89/quarter
Husbands Life Insurance $51 monthly
My Life Insurance Annually $180
Debt payments We put extra money towards debt and get out of credit card debt most years, then go back into it. We paid the minimum from when I quit working full time for MIL until now.
Donations (please estimate monthly) I donate a lot; I’ve been on a minimalist journey for years and donate nearly everything. I used to also donate to St Jude's $25 a month.
Electricity averages $200-$275.
Water Averages $45-50
Sewage on a septic system
Internet $71 it will go up to $97 soon.
Cellphone $240 per quarter Mint
Subscriptions Apple TV $6.99, Apple Care $10.81, Discovery+ $6, Hulu Disney Bundle $5.39, Amazon $8 ( sister is taking over ), Netflix another sister usually pays for this,
Pet expenses Approximately $50
Car payment / insurance small SUV $317, truck $526. Yearly auto-ins. $1,000 for the truck, $600 suv
Parking/toll/gas/other transportation costs. $500-$700 we live out of town. It’s a 45-mile drive one way to go to a decent grocery store or to buy most things. Our town only has a tiny walmart ( limited options and bad produce ) and a very expensive small grocery store. He does get paid mileage but also has to have a 4x4 truck for work; although he doesn't work in the woods most days.
Regular therapy/other routine healthcare or wellness treatments. No insurance to cover it, but grandfathered in at $75 when I go. I/we used to go once or twice a month for years on and off. Our daughter did see a therapist last summer. She was $125 every two weeks for a couple of months.
Beauty/grooming not enough, honest. I may get a haircut twice a year and he gets his cut maybe once every few months. This will become more scheduled.
Paid hobbies nodda
Food/Drink Average $800 a month on groceries but during the worst times for us, $2000. I want to get this lower; we don’t buy meat so I feel like we need to do better planning.
Fun / Entertainment $0
Random House/Property stuff Averages $200 a month +
Clothes $0. Our daughter has a uniform for school; I tend to buy when on clearance. I’ve rarely bought anything since quitting MIL.
Any other expense that's relevant to you.
SECTION FIVE: [Write your Deep in Debt Diary here]
Please provide a detailed history of your debt accumulation and payments, including your pay at the time, any strategies you used to target your debt, and anecdotes about your experience. Example:
2010-2014 Worked as a draftsman while getting my associates in drafting. I was honest with them from the beginning about going back for a bachelor's. The most I made was $15/ hour with benefits only in the last year of employment. We started our contract work in 2013 at $25,000 per year.
2014 went back to college for a bachelor's degree and got my first real credit card. I don’t recall my balance when I started working on it but I would say it was over 3k. I also learned he had over 5k in cc debt when we started talking about combining our finances and working on debt. He was making $33 per hour with no benefits. Our contract was $25,000 per year which was broken up into equal payments over the year.
2016 - 2019 We combined out income and I took over finances completely with no help. I agreed to join the family business after finishing my degree in May 2016 and also got my real estate license ( boss MIL was also a broker). Worked full time from May until end of November when our child was born. I made $15-$25 in that time. We paid $800 per month for private insurance and had a traumatic delivery that came to another $18,000 after insurance coverage. I was scared of being one alone with my child; I had postpartum but didn’t tell anyone nor fully wanted to admit it to myself. Our daughter wasn’t easy going even as a baby, she had to be on my body at all times to be happy. She still gets bored easily. We spent a lot of money on stuff to entertain her at home; she never liked anything, not even a swing. We hired a nanny to be at our office with us full time from age 1 month to 3. We paid her $10 per hour in cash. Our daughter started pre-k at a private school at 3. $350 a month. Debt varied as always. I was at the office 40-45 hours but my boss used me to do real estate stuff she didn’t want to do which cut my hours to 30-32 per week hourly; I was never compensated for all of the real estate admin and website building. We both had our real estate licenses but never made anything until 2019-2022. It took up 8+ hours or so of my weekly hours then a lot of our weekends. In 2016, our contract work increased to $30,000 and payments changed to larger payments during our busy time of the year. I feel like that was when we started relying on that income to bail us out of debt.
Nov 2019-April 2020. Refinanced our land and did a construction loan to rebuild our house. Our daughter was out of school and at home with me working which was very hard. Our house was finished April 2020 two weeks before everything started shutting down further it seems. Debt was maybe around 10k because we forgot to plan for the carport that still doesn’t have a slab. It’s just dirt.
2020-2021 We told our boss MIL we were leaving the business. We were tired of the stress and chaos with her and low wages with no benefits. We were given raises ( $33 and $40 per hour ) to keep us there. I told her several months later in a formal notice I was quitting. I was guilt tripped and manipulated to stay; she stated we would make the changes necessary and I would start taking over her job. Of course nothing at all changed. I was a wreck and quit without notice 6 months later after trying again 2 months before because I was a serious mess. This hurt us financially because I wasn’t taking care of our finances and was too upset. I did take over our business contract work so we didn’t have to work on that during our free time. My husband was also a mess on and off, so we kept an emergency fund to support him quitting and finding a job. He told her twice he was quitting but could never follow through. We used up our emergency fund because we weren’t paying attention. Somehow spending 2k a month on groceries for several months. I hate that I have no clue how it happened and how much food waste we had.
2021-2023 I didn’t work for MIL from May 2021-October 2021 when I went back but only 10 hours per week. I went back because we needed the income. I typically worked 12 hours a week until leaving recently. We decided to move to Michigan; I feel like i sacrificed a lot staying in Texas ( I never wanted to ) and putting up with everything working for his mother and all the chaos and control that came with that. We will be moving end of May beginning on June. He still works for her and doesn’t have a set plan.
Reflection
I feel like our lives have been a wreck the last 3-6 years and I refuse to fall back into it. I feel like not having benefits has hurt us more than we ever imagined it would. Just this year so far we’ve paid $2400 for his emergency root canal and crown. $400 for a consultation and CT scan for my nose for sinus issues. $3500 for a new fence for our dogs. It seems to never end.
I was upset with myself for awhile; I am trying hard to focus on the future. We need to learn to plan and save for large expenses. I am highly considering separating our finances and splitting everything proportionally. He has yet to actually help me with managing our finances although I have mentioned and asked numerous times. He is also supposed to be evaluated for ADHD. He does try and he’s a great partner besides his mom problems and not helping with finances. He thinks just not spending money is enough for our finances. Our therapist thinks us getting away ( even if it is only part of the year ) will change my husband and his dynamic with his mother. I hope he will fall in love with where we are moving, and agree to stay there permanently and sell our home/property in Texas.
The above template was modified, with permission, from MoneyDiariesACTIVE.
submitted by missingmountains7 to ModestMoneyDiaries [link] [comments]
DEEP IN DEBT DIARY TEMPLATE
Title: I am 33 years old, making $80,000 salary ( just started new job ) plus $21,300. Spouse ( 39 )makes $40 per hour plus $14,200, and we have $77,313 debt not including our mortgage.
SECTION ONE: Background
Job: Project Analyst ( new job ) & GIS Analyst
Industry: Finance
Location - MCOL, rural Texas
Context - I have worked for my MIL since 2015 with no benefits. My husband has worked for her since 2013 with no benefits. We were led to believe we would take over the business and have a really good secure income. Instead, we have made less than others in our same careers or near the same, but with no benefits, no paid holidays etc. We attempted to get the plan of action for us to take over starting in 2017, but were met with aggression and personality issues each time. It’s been a long mentally exhausting 5+ years. I have finally broken away.
SECTION TWO: Current Debt and Assets
Credit card debt: Total Credit Card Debt $31,606.30. Breakdown: Card 1 ($10,799.30 out of $14,500) Card 2 ( $17,002.84 out of $18,000 ) Card 3 ( $0 out $0 ) Card 4 ( $3,805 out of $5,000)
Personal loans: $0
Medical debt: $0 paid down from $18,000
Student loan debt (for what degree). $12,534.18 Bachelors in Engineering Technology. Already paid off over $15,000. His grandparents and parents paid for his undergrad; he saved up ( before we met ) and paid for his master's.
Remaining mortgage balance if you’re a homeowner. $298,000 remaining. Originally 318,000 at 4.84%. Yearly Dividends are around $3,500-$3,800.
Auto loans: Truck $19,781.71 u/2.25%, small SUV $13,390.64 @ 2.25%
Any other type of debt and how you accumulated it (e.g., payday loans, title loans). N/a
Retirement balance (and how you got there). Around $5000-$6,000 for both of us. This was from putting some into accounts we opened a few years ago.
Equity $502,000
Our first house was purchased for $82,000 in December 2010 with low interest. We sold it 2016 for $115,000 to buy our land.
To buy our land, we put some of the equity towards credit card debt and the rest towards purchasing the land for $150,000 at a 15 yr fixed rate of around 5% interest rate. We “rebuilt” our house starting Nov 2019 with a refinance and construction loan in one. We didn’t put any down, it was 90% loan to value. The house we built made the value ( once complete ) more than the loan. Currently, the estimated appraisal is around $800,000 leaving $498,000 in equity. We didn’t purchase and build in a typical way. We bought the 45 acres for 150k 4% or so15 year loan 3 years before refinancing with a construction loan. We did put down $15,000 to purchase the land originally.
Savings account balance: $200
Checking account balance: averages $4000-$5000 to cover all bills etc.
Any other assets that are applicable to you.
SECTION THREE: Income
Main Job Monthly Take Home aka Net Pay I just started my new job so I don’t know what the health insurance etc will look like. My salary is $80,000. My insurance is 80% covered. My husband makes $40/hour with no benefits besides two weeks of paid vacation.
Side Gig Monthly Take Home
We have owned a business for 10 years. It is a contract that has been $30,000 per year until this year; it is now $35,500. This is very part-time, part of the year. We have always worked on this in our free time, until 2021 when I did work it as my main job for that year and a half. We have had our real estate licenses since 2016; we didn’t make any money until 2019. It ranged from $15,000-$30,000, was in 2021. He is quitting real estate and I recently also quit.
Any Other Monthly Income Here
N/A
SECTION FOUR: Monthly Expenses
Mortgage $1676
Home insurance Annually $3,000
Property Taxes Annually $3,300
Private Health Insurance $580
Additional Retirement contribution N/A
Savings contribution N/A
Investment contribution N/A
Private School $350 plus $100 for aftercare
Trash Pickup $89/quarter
Husbands Life Insurance $51 monthly
My Life Insurance Annually $180
Debt payments We put extra money towards debt and get out of credit card debt most years, then go back into it. We paid the minimum from when I quit working full time for MIL until now.
Donations (please estimate monthly) I donate a lot; I’ve been on a minimalist journey for years and donate nearly everything. I used to also donate to St Jude's $25 a month.
Electricity averages $200-$275.
Water Averages $45-50
Sewage on a septic system
Internet $71 it will go up to $97 soon.
Cellphone $240 per quarter Mint
Subscriptions Apple TV $6.99, Apple Care $10.81, Discovery+ $6, Hulu Disney Bundle $5.39, Amazon $8 ( sister is taking over ), Netflix another sister usually pays for this,
Pet expenses Approximately $50
Car payment / insurance small SUV $317, truck $526. Yearly auto-ins. $1,000 for the truck, $600 suv
Parking/toll/gas/other transportation costs. $500-$700 we live out of town. It’s a 45-mile drive one way to go to a decent grocery store or to buy most things. Our town only has a tiny walmart ( limited options and bad produce ) and a very expensive small grocery store. He does get paid mileage but also has to have a 4x4 truck for work; although he doesn't work in the woods most days.
Regular therapy/other routine healthcare or wellness treatments. No insurance to cover it, but grandfathered in at $75 when I go. I/we used to go once or twice a month for years on and off. Our daughter did see a therapist last summer. She was $125 every two weeks for a couple of months.
Beauty/grooming not enough, honest. I may get a haircut twice a year and he gets his cut maybe once every few months. This will become more scheduled.
Paid hobbies nodda
Food/Drink Average $800 a month on groceries but during the worst times for us, $2000. I want to get this lower; we don’t buy meat so I feel like we need to do better planning.
Fun / Entertainment $0
Random House/Property stuff Averages $200 a month +
Clothes $0. Our daughter has a uniform for school; I tend to buy when on clearance. I’ve rarely bought anything since quitting MIL.
Any other expense that's relevant to you.
SECTION FIVE: [Write your Deep in Debt Diary here]
Please provide a detailed history of your debt accumulation and payments, including your pay at the time, any strategies you used to target your debt, and anecdotes about your experience. Example:
2010-2014 Worked as a draftsman while getting my associates in drafting. I was honest with them from the beginning about going back for a bachelor's. The most I made was $15/ hour with benefits only in the last year of employment. We started our contract work in 2013 at $25,000 per year.
2014 went back to college for a bachelor's degree and got my first real credit card. I don’t recall my balance when I started working on it but I would say it was over 3k. I also learned he had over 5k in cc debt when we started talking about combining our finances and working on debt. He was making $33 per hour with no benefits. Our contract was $25,000 per year which was broken up into equal payments over the year.
2016 - 2019 We combined out income and I took over finances completely with no help. I agreed to join the family business after finishing my degree in May 2016 and also got my real estate license ( boss MIL was also a broker). Worked full time from May until end of November when our child was born. I made $15-$25 in that time. We paid $800 per month for private insurance and had a traumatic delivery that came to another $18,000 after insurance coverage. I was scared of being one alone with my child; I had postpartum but didn’t tell anyone nor fully wanted to admit it to myself. Our daughter wasn’t easy going even as a baby, she had to be on my body at all times to be happy. She still gets bored easily. We spent a lot of money on stuff to entertain her at home; she never liked anything, not even a swing. We hired a nanny to be at our office with us full time from age 1 month to 3. We paid her $10 per hour in cash. Our daughter started pre-k at a private school at 3. $350 a month. Debt varied as always. I was at the office 40-45 hours but my boss used me to do real estate stuff she didn’t want to do which cut my hours to 30-32 per week hourly; I was never compensated for all of the real estate admin and website building. We both had our real estate licenses but never made anything until 2019-2022. It took up 8+ hours or so of my weekly hours then a lot of our weekends. In 2016, our contract work increased to $30,000 and payments changed to larger payments during our busy time of the year. I feel like that was when we started relying on that income to bail us out of debt.
Nov 2019-April 2020. Refinanced our land and did a construction loan to rebuild our house. Our daughter was out of school and at home with me working which was very hard. Our house was finished April 2020 two weeks before everything started shutting down further it seems. Debt was maybe around 10k because we forgot to plan for the carport that still doesn’t have a slab. It’s just dirt.
2020-2021 We told our boss MIL we were leaving the business. We were tired of the stress and chaos with her and low wages with no benefits. We were given raises ( $33 and $40 per hour ) to keep us there. I told her several months later in a formal notice I was quitting. I was guilt tripped and manipulated to stay; she stated we would make the changes necessary and I would start taking over her job. Of course nothing at all changed. I was a wreck and quit without notice 6 months later after trying again 2 months before because I was a serious mess. This hurt us financially because I wasn’t taking care of our finances and was too upset. I did take over our business contract work so we didn’t have to work on that during our free time. My husband was also a mess on and off, so we kept an emergency fund to support him quitting and finding a job. He told her twice he was quitting but could never follow through. We used up our emergency fund because we weren’t paying attention. Somehow spending 2k a month on groceries for several months. I hate that I have no clue how it happened and how much food waste we had.
2021-2023 I didn’t work for MIL from May 2021-October 2021 when I went back but only 10 hours per week. I went back because we needed the income. I typically worked 12 hours a week until leaving recently. We decided to move to Michigan; I feel like i sacrificed a lot staying in Texas ( I never wanted to ) and putting up with everything working for his mother and all the chaos and control that came with that. We will be moving end of May beginning on June. He still works for her and doesn’t have a set plan.
Reflection
I feel like our lives have been a wreck the last 3-6 years and I refuse to fall back into it. I feel like not having benefits has hurt us more than we ever imagined it would. Just this year so far we’ve paid $2400 for his emergency root canal and crown. $400 for a consultation and CT scan for my nose for sinus issues. $3500 for a new fence for our dogs. It seems to never end.
I was upset with myself for awhile; I am trying hard to focus on the future. We need to learn to plan and save for large expenses. I am highly considering separating our finances and splitting everything proportionally. He has yet to actually help me with managing our finances although I have mentioned and asked numerous times. He is also supposed to be evaluated for ADHD. He does try and he’s a great partner besides his mom problems and not helping with finances. He thinks just not spending money is enough for our finances. Our therapist thinks us getting away ( even if it is only part of the year ) will change my husband and his dynamic with his mother. I hope he will fall in love with where we are moving, and agree to stay there permanently and sell our home/property in Texas.
The above template was modified, with permission, from MoneyDiariesACTIVE.
2023.03.21 19:49 Glopuss Supermarket (Coles & Woolworths) specials March 22 - 28 (incomplete)
A selection of items “on special” this week in Coles and Woolworths that may be of interest to keto followers. Many are processed so not really suitable for “clean keto”. Victorian data, some may not be available interstate. Consider house brands may be cheaper than ‘specials’
Alcohol (except no carb beer) excluded. Drink prices exclude recycling deposits. Fruit & Veg probably vary by state, so excluded.
If you are doing an online order, I suggest you also look at the stores' ONLINE ONLY specials as I don't always include all of these, many are multibuys.
Coles ‘locked prices’ might now be considered specials but same every week til April so not included as specials
Woolworths is “printed catalog only” as their web pages have not been updated by 6am. I may try again later in the day.
submitted by Glopuss to ketoaustralia [link] [comments]
Alcohol (except no carb beer) excluded. Drink prices exclude recycling deposits. Fruit & Veg probably vary by state, so excluded.
If you are doing an online order, I suggest you also look at the stores' ONLINE ONLY specials as I don't always include all of these, many are multibuys.
Coles ‘locked prices’ might now be considered specials but same every week til April so not included as specials
COLES
Coles web pages are a mess, prices showing as a special in the List function are not showing as specials when you drill down into details. So some of these prices cannot be trusted. To make matters worse, they have now taken down the old pages.- Beer - NEW Hahn Ultra Low Carb Bottles 6x330mL $18 has less than 1g of carbs per bottle and only 87 calories
- Berries, frozen - Coles frozen berries 500g 2 for $11
- Bread/Wraps - Simson's Pantry Low Carb High Protein 5 pack 225g , & Keto minis, 156g 2 for $9, Simson's Pantry Low Carb Keto 5 pack 200g 2 for $10
- Cheese - South Cape Flavoured Cream Cheese 200g $5.10
- Cheese - Cheer Cheese Slices 750g $14
- Cheese - King Island Cape Wickham Double Brie or Camembert 200g $8.90
- Cheese - Always cheddar cheese block or slices on special
- Confectionery - Eclipse Mints 40g $2.80
- Dips - Always something on special - all brands have high and low carbs
- Dips - Black Swan 2 for $7, Black Swan classic 2 for $6.50,
- Drinks - Monster Energy 4x500mL2 for $17
- Drinks - Kirks zero 1.25L $1.40, 10 cans $6.95
- Drinks - Red Bull Energy 8x250mL$13.20
- Drinks - Coca-Cola, Fanta or Sprite 12x300mLbottles $9.10
- Drinks - Frantelle Spring Water 24x600mL$6.40 half price
- Drinks - Lo Bros Kombucha 330mL $2.50
- Drinks - Pepsi max Diet Sunkist or Solo 1.25 Litre $1.25
- Drinks, no sweetener - Schweppes Infused Sparkling Water 10x375mL $8
- Drinks - Nexba Kombucha 4x330mL 4 pack $6
- Fish - Coles Fresh Tasmanian Salmon Portions Skin Off $32kg
- Fish - John West 90g tuna or 95g salmon $1.45. Wild Tides 95g tuna $1.10
- Fish - Birds Eye SteamFresh Fish 380g $7 some with sauce
- Fish - Sirena tuna 425g $6.50, 185g $3.60
- Fish - John West Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon 210g, or 105g red $5.50
- Fish - Ling Oscar sardines 105g $2.50
- Ice cream - Twisted Licks 4 pack $7
- Ice cream - Denada sticks 3 pack or Lil Nadas $8.50 ONLINE ONLY
- Mayonnaise - Kewpie Mayonnaise 300g $4.30 don’t buy ½ version, Hellmans real 400g $5.50, Best Foods 405g $4.50
- Meat - Lamb loin chops $23kg
- Meat - Gravy beef $17kg
- Meat - Pork forequarter cutlets $12.50kg
- Meat - Whole uncooked chicken $4.50kg, Wings $7kg, Free Range whole $9kg
- Meat - Coles Made Easy Bacon Wrapped Chicken Parcels with Pumpkin Spinach & Fetta Stuffing 600g $11
- Meat - Lamb Rack Roast $30kg
- Meat - Don kabana $3.30 ea
- Meat - Moira Mac's Classic Mini Chicken Kababs 90g $3
- Meat - Spam Canned Ham 340g $3.75
- Meat - Primo gluten free kransky 250g $4.50
- Milk, almond - Vitasoy UHT $1.65, Sanitarium So good fridge $3.30, UHT $2
- Oil, EV olive - Cobram Estate Aust 750ml $10.80, Red Island Aust 500ml $6
- Peanut butter - Mayvers 375g $4.60, Sanitarium $3.50
- Protein bars/cookies - QUEST PB cups $3.15
- Protein powder - Musashi High Protein Powder 900g flavoured $52
- Sauce, pasta - Cucina Matese Passata 700g $2.40 check for sugar
- Stock - Campbells Real 1l $3
- Sweetener - Truvia (Erythritol, Steviol Glycosides, Chicory root fibre) Caster, Brown, Icing 280-360g $6
- Syrup -Queen sugar free maple 355ml $3.50
- Yoghurt, flavoured - Chobani No Sugar Added Greek or Natural light 150g $2
- Yoghurt, flavoured - Yoplait Zero 6x160g $4.80 sweetener
- Yoghurt, flavoured - Danone YoPro Perform 20g protein 175g $2.50
- Yoghurt, flavoured - Danone Activia Probiotics 4x125g $3.50
- Yoghurt, plain - Tamar Valley Greek 1kg $6
WOOLWORTHS
Woolies has a range of health products @ 30% off, I have put some under the Protein heading for convenience.Woolworths is “printed catalog only” as their web pages have not been updated by 6am. I may try again later in the day.
- Cheese - Always cheddar cheese block or slices on special
- Cheese - King Island Brie or Camembert 175-200g $8.90
- Cheese - Woolworths Brie or Camembert 125g $3
- Confectionery - Noshu Bars 42g $2.45 see also Snacks, sweet for multipacks
- Dips - Always something on special - all brands have high and low carbs
- Drinks - Gatorade zero or G active 600ml $2.30
- Drinks - Coca-Cola No Sugar 30 x 375ml $24.95
- Drinks - Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta Soft Drink Can Varieties or Mount Franklin Lightly Sparkling 10 x 375ml $8.75
- Drinks - Monster No sugar energy 4 x 500ml $8.30
- Drinks - Remedy Kombucha 4 x 250ml or 1.25 Litre $6
- Fish - Sirena tuna 95g $2.30
- Fish - Thawed Cooked WA Rock Lobster $23 not all stores
- Fish - Woolworths Frozen Barramundi 1 kg $18kg
- Mayonnaise - Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise Squeeze 400-432g $5.50
- Meat - Australian Easy Carve Lamb Leg Roast $17kg
- Meat - Australian Pork Belly Roast $16kg
- Meat - Chicken drumsticks $4kg
- Meat - D’Orsogna Deli Fresh Sliced Meats 80-100g $2.80
- Meat - Plumrose canned meats half price
- Meat - Pork shoulder boneless roast $8kg
- Meat - Primo Short Cut Bacon 750g $11
- Meat - Woolworths COOK Pork Shoulder with BBQ Sauce 560g $12.50 ditch half the sauce
- Nuts - Australian Natural Walnuts 500g $9
- Oil, EV olive - Bertolli 750ml $9
- Pancake mix - Noshu Sugar Free Pancake Mix 240g $4,45 higher carbs
- Protein - Bsc Body Science Clean Greens Superfoods Tropical 150g $25
- Protein bars - QUEST PB cups $3.36, Bounce Load Up High Protein Bar 60g $3.50 (higher carbs), Keep It Cleaner Collagen Bar 40g $2.45 (check ingredients)
- Protein drinks - BSc Pre-Workout Coffee 150g $17.50
- Protein drinks - Cellucor C4 Sport supplement Powder 285g $33.60 looks like electrolytes ?
- Protein powder - DOSE & Co. Pure Collagen Powder 200g $28
- Protein powder, plant - Kapowder Plant Based Protein Strength 220g $15.40 - This brand has a large range of vegan, no sugar powders.all 30% off
- Protein powder, plant - Prana On Plant Protein Shake Vanilla Flavor
- Protein water - Bodiez Protein Water Powder Pouch 290g $24.50, BSc Body Science Protein Collagen Water 350g $24.50
- Snacks, sweet - Noshu Low Carb Indulgence or Nut Bars 150-160g 5 Pk $6.20 muesli aise, Aussie Bodies 5 pack $7 see also Noshu single bars under Confectionery heading
- Stock - Maggie Beer 500ml $4
- Yoghurt, flavoured - Chobani FiT 15g Protein Yogurt Pot or Pouch 140-170g $1.25 half price
- Yoghurt, plain - Chobani Greek whole milk 907g $5.50
2023.03.21 19:45 _Triple_ [STORE] 900+ KNIVES/GLOVES/SKINS, 50.000$+ INVENTORY. M9 Fade, M4 Poseidon, Kara Gamma, BFK Freehand, BFK Bright Water, Spec Gloves Kimono, Nomad Fade, M9 Doppler, Skeleton, BFK B.Steel, AWP Fade, Stiletto Fade, S.Gloves Slingshot, BFK Ultra, Kara Damas, Bayo Lore, Bayo Gamma, Flip Fade & A Lot More
Everything in my inventory is up for trade. The most valuable items are listed here, the rest you can find in My Inventory
Feel free to Add Me or even better send a Trade Offer. Open for any suggestions: upgrades, downgrades / knives, gloves, skins / stickers, patterns, floats.
All Buyouts are listed in cash value.
KNIVES
★ Butterfly Knife Freehand FN #1, B/O: $1867
★ Butterfly Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $1098
★ Butterfly Knife Blue Steel BS, B/O: $907
★ Butterfly Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $789
★ Butterfly Knife Stained FT, B/O: $695
⎯★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW #1, B/O: $888
★ Bayonet Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $727
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $608
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $521
★ Bayonet Rust Coat BS, B/O: $253
★ Bayonet Night FT, B/O: $251
★ StatTrak™ Bayonet Lore MW, B/O: $751
⎯★ Karambit Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $1343
★ Karambit Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $774
★ Karambit Rust Coat BS, B/O: $537
★ Karambit Boreal Forest FT, B/O: $488
⎯★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1523
★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1523
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $1008
★ M9 Bayonet Blue Steel FT, B/O: $534
★ M9 Bayonet Rust Coat BS, B/O: $449
⎯★ Flip Knife Fade FN, B/O: $703
★ Flip Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) MW, B/O: $509
★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $406
★ Flip Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $228
★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $332
⎯★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $292
★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $264
★ Falchion Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $258
★ Falchion Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $133
⎯★ Stiletto Knife Fade FN, B/O: $822
★ Stiletto Knife Slaughter FN, B/O: $569
★ Stiletto Knife Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $530
★ Stiletto Knife Crimson Web FT, B/O: $396
★ StatTrak™ Stiletto Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $172
⎯★ Gut Knife Doppler (Sapphire) MW #1, B/O: $830
★ Gut Knife Fade FN, B/O: $204
★ Gut Knife Tiger Tooth FN, B/O: $138
★ Gut Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $104
★ Gut Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $92
★ Gut Knife Urban Masked FT, B/O: $82
★ StatTrak™ Gut Knife Rust Coat BS, B/O: $93
⎯★ Shadow Daggers Fade FN, B/O: $258
★ Shadow Daggers Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $165
★ Shadow Daggers Blue Steel FT, B/O: $82
★ Shadow Daggers Bright Water FT, B/O: $82
★ Shadow Daggers Blue Steel WW, B/O: $80
★ Shadow Daggers Rust Coat BS, B/O: $74
★ StatTrak™ Shadow Daggers Marble Fade FN, B/O: $186
⎯★ Classic Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $311
★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Stained BS, B/O: $163
⎯★ Talon Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $605
★ Talon Knife Scorched MW, B/O: $290
⎯★ Ursus Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $405
★ Ursus Knife Night Stripe MW, B/O: $162
⎯★ Paracord Knife Stained WW, B/O: $125
★ Paracord Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97
★ Paracord Knife Safari Mesh FT, B/O: $96
⎯★ Navaja Knife Safari Mesh FT, B/O: $71
★ Navaja Knife Scorched WW, B/O: $71
⎯★ Nomad Knife Fade FN, B/O: $1015
★ Skeleton Knife, B/O: $909
★ Bowie Knife Boreal Forest MW, B/O: $106
★ Survival Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97
GLOVES
★ Driver Gloves Crimson Weave FT, B/O: $335
★ Driver Gloves King Snake BS, B/O: $270
★ Driver Gloves Lunar Weave WW, B/O: $113
★ Driver Gloves Overtake WW, B/O: $88
★ Driver Gloves Overtake BS, B/O: $67
⎯★ Moto Gloves Transport MW, B/O: $171
★ Moto Gloves Polygon BS, B/O: $137
★ Moto Gloves Transport WW, B/O: $71
★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $62
⎯★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono WW, B/O: $1027
★ Specialist Gloves Tiger Strike FT, B/O: $654
★ Specialist Gloves Mogul FT, B/O: $295
★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander FT, B/O: $277
★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Web FT, B/O: $275
⎯★ Sport Gloves Slingshot FT, B/O: $796
★ Sport Gloves Amphibious BS #2, B/O: $699
★ Sport Gloves Omega FT, B/O: $656
⎯★ Broken Fang Gloves Unhinged BS, B/O: $60
WEAPONS
AK-47 Case Hardened BS, B/O: $130
AK-47 Bloodsport MW, B/O: $79
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Bloodsport FT, B/O: $70
AK-47 Neon Rider MW, B/O: $60
⎯AWP Fade FN, B/O: $864
AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $84
AWP Containment Breach FT, B/O: $69
AWP Containment Breach FT, B/O: $69
AWP Wildfire FT, B/O: $59
AWP Chromatic Aberration FN, B/O: $59
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $65
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $65
⎯Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $565
Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $565
Desert Eagle Printstream FN, B/O: $155
Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $58
⎯M4A1-S Icarus Fell FN, B/O: $414
M4A1-S Printstream MW, B/O: $204
M4A1-S Printstream MW, B/O: $204
⎯M4A4 Poseidon FN, B/O: $1402
M4A4 The Emperor FN, B/O: $152
M4A4 Asiimov WW, B/O: $97
⎯USP-S Kill Confirmed MW, B/O: $65
USP-S Printstream FT, B/O: $69
StatTrak™ USP-S Kill Confirmed FT, B/O: $123
StatTrak™ USP-S Neo-Noir FN, B/O: $106
⎯AUG Flame Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $218
P2000 Ocean Foam FN, B/O: $139
Souvenir SSG 08 Death Strike MW, B/O: $81
CZ75-Auto Emerald Quartz MW, B/O: $61
Trade Offer Link - Steam Profile Link - My Inventory
Some items on the list may no longer be available or are still locked, visit My Inventory for more details.
Send a Trade Offer for fastest response. I consider all offers.
Add me for discuss if there is a serious offer that needs to be discussed.
2023.03.21 19:36 funeraltemplate GREY AND BURGUNDY ELEGANT HALF-PAGE FUNERAL PROGRAM TEMPLATE
2023.03.21 19:25 AutoModerator [Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course
| | Get the course here: https://www.genkicourses.com/product/dan-koe-the-2-hour-writer-download/ submitted by AutoModerator to GenkiCourses_2023 [link] [comments] [Download] Dan Koe – The 2 Hour Writer Instant Delivery, Full Course https://preview.redd.it/2t82bpl4iyoa1.png?width=562&format=png&auto=webp&s=f9642c0b30fa7a116e4a163135e632b7dd223790 THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE CREATIVE Learn The Recession Proof Skill For The Digital Economy (Without Spending 4 Years & $42,599 On A Degree) Implement Our 2 Hour Content Ecosystem To Learn High Impact Digital Writing, Boost Your Online Authority, & Systemize Content Creation For Rapid Growth THE WORLD IS SHIFTING Nobody Wants To Be A Commodity Are you irreplaceable?62% of labor jobs will be phased out in the next 10 years.This is including jobs that require a high-skill level.This isn’t anything new, we are seeing it happen right before our eyes.All signs have been pointing toward individual creative work for a while now.“If the work doesn’t require creativity, delegate it, automate it, or leave it.” — Naval But before I waste anymore of your time with my doomsday speculations, let’s see if you should continue reading.If you do not relate with one of the bullets below, you’re free to leave the page:
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2023.03.21 19:00 Noah-n_Cares so.... u come around here often?
Hi, I made this sub in one afternoon as a joke... and now id like it to go somewhere. if u see a meme or something like that involving an image of Scott without glasses on, I'd love it if u simply commented glassesfreescott in the comments, someone is bound to click it and here they will be, cross-posting is also encouraged. If ur going to post an image on the scottthewoz sub, feel free to post it here as well, there are many templates available for download on the subreddit already, so feel free to get creative and go ham on it.
All in all, I just thank you for visiting this stupid sub if nothing else, and a huge thanks to everyone who joined.
thangs a bajillion.
-Noah G. Ramos
submitted by Noah-n_Cares to glassesfreescott [link] [comments]
All in all, I just thank you for visiting this stupid sub if nothing else, and a huge thanks to everyone who joined.
thangs a bajillion.
-Noah G. Ramos