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moorishflower · 9 months

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A Fridge Full of Jam

Having a bad memory day today and so I wrote it out w/Dream

Sorry fav blorbo you get to experience the Horrors

He is walking back home from the park when he gets the text from Hob.

Cottage pie for din love

Could u pick up 1 large onion + sum garlic on way home? ta

Dream looks at the message. There is a corner market between where he currently stands, stock still on the kerb, and the New Inn, where Hob currently is. He could, quite reasonably, stop there and purchase the items that Hob has requested of him.

Another message comes through as he is contemplating.

Sum tomato paste too pls

I love you!

He finds himself smiling at this last text. Hob has had many, many years to perfect shorthand of all varieties, but he has never once shortened 'I love you.' It is always the full declamatory sentence, complete with full stop or exclamation. There is something heart-rendingly lovely about it.

Dream stops at the corner market on his way back. Hob has furnished him with an identity of his own, now that he is human, complete with debit card, and money to make purchases, and a driver's license that he still hesitates to make use of.

(He once knew how to operate a car in theory, but that, along with billions of years' worth of other knowledge, is one of the things lost to him now that he is human.)

The market is not busy this time of day. Summer has come upon London, blanketing the great city in a smog of humidity and incipient rain. It is the sort of weather to drive most people indoors, where they might at least seek the relief of a fan, but Dream is not bothered. He is cold, almost always, and it is during weather such as this that he is allowed the luxury of short sleeves. During weather like this, he takes long walks in solitude, and goes to the park to feed the birds, and sometimes there are other travelers to accompany him, but more often than not he is alone.

He prefers that, some days. The crush of humanity is not nearly so pressing now that he no longer contains all of its dreams and nightmares within his own head, but it is sometimes, still, overwhelming.

Dream checks his phone. One large onion, garlic, and tomato paste. Is there anything else that they need while he is here? Strawberry jam, perhaps. He eats it on his toast each morning, so they are bound to be almost out. There is a specific garlic-parmesan salad dressing that Hob likes, and which this market happens to carry. He picks up a bottle and puts it in his basket, along with a jar of jam. Do they have crisps at home? He thinks they do, but is it the sort that he likes, or is it the sort that Hob likes? Hob prefers sharp flavours. Tomato. Salt and cider vinegar. Dream enjoys simple fare. He picks up a bag of Walkers 'roast chicken' crisps and studies it, then drops it into the bag.

He moves down the aisle.

The clouds have broken by the time he leaves the market, though not for the better. Rain patters in the gutters, dampens his hair and sticks it to his skull as Dream hurries home, a shopping bag in each hand. The New Inn is not far, but it is far enough that he is wet through when he ascends the steps to its front door, stamping his feet to knock loose any mud or debris that might cling to his boots.

"Welcome to the–oh, hullo, Dream," the hostess says. She is a petite, smart young woman named Anne. Once, he would have known her greatest fantasies. Now Dream knows that she attends university at King's, and that she had Hob for one of her professors last term, and that she is somewhere in her early twenties...and that is all. "Out doing a bit of shopping?"

"Hob is making cottage pie," he tells her. She smiles. Hob's employees – they are not technically his employees, but they all refer to themselves as such – observe his relationship with the Inn's proprietor as though they are a much-beloved television show. It is strange, to be the subject of a story in which his own opinion is entirely unwanted.

"Enjoy," Anne says, and Dream nods at her, and ascends the stairs to the second floor, which Hob has claimed as his own. The front door is unlocked, and so Dream lets himself in.

"That you, love?" he hears, floating from the kitchen. Dream follows the sound of it, stopping in the doorway. Hob is there, standing over the stovetop, a pot of water boiling and the pale, oblong shapes of several peeled potatoes bobbing about within. When he looks up, he smiles. "'Course it is, you never answer right away."

"I will endeavor to do so in future," Dream says. He sets the bags on the table and begins to unpack them, laying the items he purchased in a neat row so that he may put them away with utmost expedience. Hob temporarily disengages from the stovetop to look over his shoulder.

"Jam?" he asks, reaching around Dream's hip in order pick up the jar. "We've already got jam."

Dream peers at it. He uses it so often. Every day. He tries to think of how much had been in the jar when he had taken it out of the fridge that morning, but draws a blank. "But...I eat it every day," he says. His voice, even to his own ears, has the unpleasant texture of a whine. Plaintive. Hob takes him by the hand and leads him to the fridge.

"See?" he says, and there, in the fridge door, is not only one, but two jars of strawberry jam. One is not even opened. "Remember? You bought more a week ago."

He does not remember. It had happened a week ago. Dream stares at the jars. His hands feel very loose; he is suddenly glad that it is Hob who is holding the new (the third) jar, because he thinks if it were him he would have dropped it by now.

"I...forgot," he says. In that moment, in the aisle, it had seemed impossible that they should have enough. He uses it every day. It had not even crossed his mind that he might have already bought some earlier.

"Hey," Hob says. "Come here. It's all right, yeah? We'll find a recipe to use jam. It's fine." He puts the jar down on the counter, and Dream finds himself being drawn into a hug. The kitchen is steam-warm, and Hob smells like raw potatoes and fresh herbs. Dream presses his nose to the curve of Hob's neck and blinks back useless tears.

"I forgot," he says again. Hob runs a soothing palm up and down his spine.

"You know," Hob says, "I read something the NHS published a bit ago...about how depression affects memory? Basically, how prolonged periods of, ah, stress and anxiety can stunt how your brain makes new short term memories?"

Dream tries to tug away, but finds himself held fast. Hob's hand splays flat against the small of his back.

"It's all right," he says. "It is. You were...I mean, my memories of after Robyn died are like Swiss cheese. And you had all that great big Endlessness to rely on before, but now...it makes sense, is all I'm saying. And it's all right."

Dream makes a sound – he is not wholly certain it is a dignified sound, nor good-tempered – and this time does not try to pull away, but buries his face into Hob's clavicle.

"How do you stand it?" he asks. He means the wild swing of moods. He means the instability. He means the being human of it all. But there is no easy answer to any of these questions. The shortest, of course, is 'you just do.'

"Lists help," Hob says. "Alarms. Things like that. And sometimes you just roll with the punches." He sways to the side, hooking his fingers around the jar of strawberry jam and making room for it in the fridge door. "Sometimes you've got three jars of jam."

(Later, when they are eating their cottage pie sans tomato paste, because Dream had remembered he liked roast chicken crisps but not the final thing that Hob had asked of him, he will try to reflect on the wisdom of this. Love, he will think, is an unlocked front door, a sentence with a full stop, and a fridge full of jam.)

#dreamling #dream of the endless #hob gadling #dream/hob #dream of the endless/hob gadling #the sandman #retired dream of the endless #my fic

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jaylleoo14 · 7 months

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TW// Dark/Yandere themes - tread carefully

So i had a little thought, something my brain just magically thought of because I was thinking of my favorite Tako man :( (hes so cute I wanna just kiss his cheeks!) and then from then on it just kept building! (I had a soda, the sugar is giving me a sugar rush) I need him to be sitting next to me on the couch right now as he tells me about what stocks to invest in as I listen and drink some tea and the TV is running in the background ARGHHHHHHHH TT

You're a quiet person, someone who doesn't usually put themselves out there and tends to keep a low profile. Not that you are shy, but you feel that it isn't necessary to be all that extroverted, at least not here in Twisted Wonderland where it is filled with many flawed people and magicians. So its only natural you have a small tight group of friends, people who you can easily let loose around and be your true self without having to hold anything back. To say in simple terms, yes you are an introvert, but you know how to prioritize your time and values. You work at a coffee house located in a pretty high standing area where you're bound to see many office workers and other overworked individuals in many different industries. You make good small talk, well known to the people who come by often and seen as a industrious coworker who keeps to themselves.

Azul Ashengrotto, the founder of Mostro Lounge who now has branches of other cafes and running businesses. Someone of power and someone not to be on bad terms with. In the light he's seen as a smooth talking and successful business man, a multi millionaire enchanter. In the shadows however, is a crafty con man who swipes up deals in his own favor and dwelling under shady businesses where far too many unimportant people go missing.

Only people who are desperate enough to seek out help even in the deepest of trenches would find themselves eventually in front of Azuls feet, begging and groveling under him. The most unfortunate type of people, the people who are at their lowest parts in their life, and the people who have nothing anymore, a lot of different types of miserable people and situations come racking up and knocking on his door. And of course, as the benevolent and kind hearted man he is how could he just not help them when they are so desperately asking for his help?

Perhaps to pay off their debts, the money they need to pay off their 3 months worth of rent, money to get rid of their ex's, money to get back at their bosses, all in how they need and use money to a variety of usages is to simply sell your organs, your limbs, or perhaps information worth his care. After all, he is a very versatile man ^^

He makes sure no one, especially the public eye, knows this side of him. Of how he runs a blood market, always making sure to stay anonymous yet still making a name for himself in those bloodied and dark waters. "Vanessa" is the name that he goes by, and "the granter" as many know him by. These people would think that this "Vanessa" is a cunning, beautiful, and frail women - making it all the more easier for people to come out of their shells and try their luck. It usually is easier to approach women after all.

Hook, Line, and Sinker.

On a not-so-fateful day you managed to get yourself in quite the predicament. As your old classmate, the Azul Ashengrotto is now here right before your eyes with his coat soiled and drenched with spilt coffee and your hands now shaking and eyes wide open as your heart sinks.

"Aaah? Looks like Shrimpy made a mess."

"It appears so Floyd, and Azuls exorbitant coat seems to have a new design fufu"

A quick apology is pulled out of you and you feel yourself getting cold. Though it was an accident! You didn't intent for this to happen at all! You are a great worker, a diligent one at that. So how could have this happened? Its not like Floyd purposely bumped into you after Jade not so meticulously called you over to position you into that exact spot where it'd guarantee right now's situation.

"Oh dear, whatever shall I do? This coat has nearly cost me a fortune!"

You could scoff at Azul's dramatic words due to him being a very wealthy and well off man - if it weren't for the amount of power he held as well and the status he carries alongside the heavy atmosphere.

For a long while now, Azul has had his eyes on you. Too long in fact. Ever since you two had graduated from Night Raven College he hasn't been able to decipher you not at the slightest. You were always so tight lipped about yourself, keeping your ground low. One could even say it bests Jamil's play of being secretive of ones self. In his words, "you were like a random and unimportant nobody who always made their unexpected appearances when something absurd happen." Yet you were always able to worm into everyones favor, burying yourself in the deepest of crevices of the organ in which pumps blood for its body. How could you have possibly pulled such a thing and yet little to none is reveled about you? At least to him, you dont show your true self. The you that you show to your little group of friends who are also very cautious and wary of what information is being shared about you. The new you that you started to recently show towards Riddle as he starts to slowly reciprocate the feelings you are starting to grow, the seeds of roses slowly coming to bloom as they are starting to get nurtured.

You've always caught his interest the moment he realized how little he knew of you. The moment he realized how you can slip out of his hold with his suckering-like grip. For only a short moment before he underwent a tremendous growth of power, he and you crossed paths when he had lost the interest and sight of you when everyone had departed to do their own things after graduation. It was only then that he remembered his interest in you.

And it was due to that encounter that his interest in you had resurfaced, even more so when he was able to figure out who you still kept in touch with.

So before he could let those pre-matured roses bloom, he's going to do whatever it takes to fish you into his arms. That being making you indebted to him, and now that he has plenty of connections and influence its all the more easier. And while he's at it he might as well take up a more difficult task of getting rid of Riddle, in which its off with his head. In fact, if he thinks about it, it may pay high as well if he were to put it in the market.

"A-ah, Azul. Long time no see. I'm sorry but I don't have enough money to compensate." You know how Azul is. You know how he works, how else have you been managing to stay low and out of his grasp during your high school days?

"Oh of course. I doubt anyone working at a coffee house is going to be able to make enough to pay this off."

He's been watching for awhile, keeping tabs on you, and finally now you'll be his. He's planned this, running different simulations in his head on how he can subtly slip into your life to make it all natural.

Looking up at you, a pleasant and dashing smile on his handsome face as he fixes his glasses, his soiled up coat now hanging over his forearm, you can only conclude and predict that this isnt going to go well.

"Perhaps we can arrange something for you then. The amount of money and sheer work being put into these pieces of clothing only for it to be soiled is something I find hard to over look."

Of course, Azul isn't going to let this go. You're now in his grip, the feeling of his tentacles slowly slithering around your limbs as you wait for him to say his signature words.

"Lets make a deal (y/n), one that I ensure would be nothing but merit for both parties."

There it was. And with the pressuring and piercing eyes of Jade and Floyd on both sides of you, you give a response to which makes Azul delighted.

And so it begins, the process of fishing you out and bagging you up. You're now in the grips of a powerful man, and as he begins to undergo his plan in making you his, "Vanessa" is going to undergo another plan to successfully weed out those pesky garden of roses settling in your heart.

He wants to know the true you. That new side of you that you were showing to Riddle. Dissecting every part of you limb by limb till he's able to see the deepest parts of you. Opening up every dark secret you hold and hide. Your soft and warm body against his as he envelopes you whole. He wants you, the only and true you. And he'll do whatever it takes to ensure that.

Truly, what a predicament you are in. A very very unfortunate one that is.

AHHHHHHHHHHH OMGOMGOMG STOP BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY LIKE SPLURGING AND JUICING OUT SO MUCH IDEAS FROM THIS LITTLE BRAINROT AHHHH. Perhaps I may tweak some of the things here, or maybe make Azul some kinda serial killer in disguise or something! But for now he is an organ trafficker under cover. And not only that, he is totally whipped for you so that may be a great thing for you Reader! :D

#twst #twisted wonderland #azul ashengrotto #jade leech #jade leech twst #twst floyd #floyd leech twst #floyd twisted wonderland #twst azul #azul ashengrotto x reader #yandere twst #yandere twisted wonderland #yandere azul ashengrotto #yandere azul x reader #twst x reader #riddle rosehearts #omg i was rambling again TT #sugar seems to really affect me a lot #i hope you guys dont mind my rambles ^^;

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miss-celestia13 · 8 months

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Mastermind

Jake x MC Silly Fluffy One Shot

Words: 4.3k

Inspired by old memes! I've added one to the end.

Jake has planned their trip to IKEA down to the last second. He forgot to account for MC and her ability to turn a simple shopping trip into a day-long adventure. He's a mastermind, but he might have met his match.

Thank you so much to the lovely @julesisreading for all her help and insights with IKEA and the things that could happen to Jake there 🤭 I have only been once or twice myself and needed some help with it. Anything that is wrong, call it artistic liberty and I have no budget to stick to when writing, so I can do what I want🤣❤️

Jake

He was armed to the teeth. Nothing could surprise him or knock him off track. The map was crystal in his mind, and he was confident every challenge, problem, and panic attack had been accounted for and neutralized before they could infringe upon his ability to complete this mission. It was one he took seriously and would accept nothing but success. They’d eaten a decent breakfast, and he packed bottles of water and snacks in case she got hungry. All avenues had been considered. He knew every entrance and exit and mapped out multiple escape routes for every turn and pitfall they might fall into. He was ready. He was prepared. Or so he thought. He’d forgotten to account for the human elements, and a sinking sensation in his stomach already warned him all might not be well.

Jake eyed the mammoth building with a gimlet eye and smothered his groan as they approached the entrance. They were about to face the most arduous struggle many couples grapple with… a trip to IKEA. The challenge? Walk in, get what they need, and walk back out without breaking up. He was confident he could hold his own and not give in to the pressures being faced with so many options could place on a person. A strange notion swept over him as the automatic doors parted to allow them inside. Should he be laying a trail of breadcrumbs to ensure they found their way out? He was almost intimidated by the size of the place and doubted his own ability to remember everything he’d planned. The woman beside him insisted on pushing the cart so he could grab things she pointed at, and there was a distinct frenetic energy around her small form that made her bounce as she walked.

The list he created the night before was on his phone, and he knew exactly where everything was to the last inch. Reassured by the website that all was in stock, he warned her on the way there that they would not be distracted by anything shiny and they would avoid the food hall. He couldn’t remember if she actually agreed to his terms or if she made him forget them by using her feminine ways to distract him. If she had, he knew he enjoyed every moment of it and wouldn’t hold it against her. She laughed at his intense research, but he was determined to make it out alive and mostly intact. He felt more like he was gearing up for a fight than furniture shopping, and her delighted squeal as they approached the pile of reusable blue and yellow bags only solidified that feeling. She was grabbing one after another and smiling as she turned to him.

“Do you think four will suffice?”

He opened his mouth to affirm, but she shook her head and muttered, “No, better get a few more just in case. I think… yep! Seven will do!”

“We don’t need that much...” He said as she bounced back to his side and tossed the bags in the cart.

“We might see something we didn’t know we needed, Jake!” She laughed, eyes alight with mischief as they ambled into the market hall.

A subtle but noticeable scent hung in the air: sawdust, maybe something with cinnamon, and a bunch of other things he didn’t have a name for hit him as they walked in, and it was pleasant, but he did not trust it. He knew it was only there to lure one in, get them lost, and keep them trapped inside this horror store forever. His credit card burned a hole in his pocket as she approached a row of finger-smeared computers and began pointlessly searching for all they needed. He stifled a chuckle as the first two she tried would not work, and she growled at the screen, huffed, and glared at him when his worked on the first try. His touch screen was faulty, though, and when it failed to show him where he could find the coffee table she so desperately wanted, he sighed through his nose and prayed this wasn’t a sign of things to come.

“Come on, Hackerman, we’ll just have to do it the old-fashioned way!” She chirped, guiding the cart away and over to a display of kitchen utensils.

“I have everything we need marked down. We just have to go there, and...we don’t need a lemon juicer.” He arched a brow as she demonstrated how to use it and winked at him.

“You never know! It’s only -”

“Yeah, it’s only $2.49. That’s how they get you.” He said, and she scoffed but put it down after remembering she didn’t like lemons.

There were too many shiny, cheap, and silly things to grab her attention. Like a magpie, anything that glittered under the fluorescent lights caught her eye. She flitted from shelf to shelf like some demented fairy while he watched on and felt his hope of getting out before dark dwindle and drain away to nothing. They successfully found both the nightstands and dresser, but as he failed to find the shelves she specified, his frown deepened, and he pulled out his phone to double-check the website. It said they had it, but he stood before the empty space where his shelves should be and wanted to beat his head off a wall. Rechecking the site, he didn’t notice her approaching and jumped a foot in the air as her bright voice cut through the angry murmurs in his head.

“We can just choose another set. It’s fine. The ones down there look alright.”

“If it isn’t in stock, the website shouldn’t say it is! It should be here, where it’s stupid tag is. Or what’s the point in it?” He grumbled, glaring at the empty space one last time before following her as she skipped to another set that fit their budget.

She grinned as she pointed at it and posed like a hostess on an old game show.

“See, it’ll do. Crisis averted. I bet if you checked the website it would be out of stock! Help me get it in the cart!” She demanded with a cheeky grin. He couldn’t help but return it as he did as she asked.

The other shoppers reminded him of those old zombie movies. Glazed eyes and faces frozen in thinly veiled discontent as they blindly tossed mass-produced artwork and lampshades into their carts. Somehow, the millionth print of a black squiggle was something many felt completed the décor of their homes. He didn’t understand it and was glad when his overexcited partner completely bypassed that section to drag him to another display, making him want to dig in his heels to avoid it. His eyes could barely keep track she moved so fast, just a blur of hair and freckles jumping from aisle to aisle. Bedding, shower curtains, and decorative pillows somehow made it into their cart, and he could sense his finely tuned plans falling apart like wet paper under his hands. This was his Great War. He’d brought a knife to a gunfight and lost the battle before they’d arrived.

He kept his mouth shut until she let out a thrilled noise and made a beeline for the mirrors.

“The stuff we need is over there. It says there's only one in stock. We need to hurry.” He tried as she waved a hand at him and examined the many mirrors.

He could see himself glowering as she paced along the aisle, a finger tapping her chin. And practically heard the cogs turning in her head as she pondered how to convince him they needed another mirror to give the illusion of space.

“I think another won’t go amiss, that one!” She clapped her hands and gestured toward one that would require another cart.

“We can order it online once we know we have space for it.” He smiled, and hoped it looked genuine.

“Have you seen the delivery charge?! It’s more than the mirror. I’ll grab another cart while you get the things on your list. I know you can find me anyway.” She teased, making him bark a shocked laugh, but he couldn’t deny it.

“Fine, but we’ll meet back here in an hour, deal?” He held out his pinky as she sidled closer and looked up at him through a fan of dark lashes.

She hooked her pinky around his and shook, “Deal. Now, off you go! Let me have my fun.” She sang and left him blinking after her. Gods, he loved her.

He knew it was futile, but he clung to his plan and moved away to track down what they needed. The store wifi kept dipping out as he walked deeper into the maze of shelves and displays, getting turned around and making the same journey twice to find his way out. It didn’t feel like a win whenever he found something they needed. It felt like a payment that cost him blood and tears. His nerves were frayed, and his skin felt too tight as he tried and failed to double-check their stock. Again, it said everything was available, but as he came across yet another empty shelf, he wanted to throw his phone away in frustration. He had half a mind to update the stock counts online himself after this shit show, and he just might make that his new mission if he couldn’t get what they needed.

“There are three in stock. Where? Why... where the hell are they?” He was whispering as he crouched to check underneath, and seeing nothing, he straightened and looked around for an employee.

It took a few more minutes before he tracked down a worker bearing the store’s famous coloring and swallowed his anxiety to question him.

“Hi, sorry to bother you, your website says these are in stock, but there are none. Do you have any?”

The man sighed heavily, glanced at Jake’s phone, and shook his head, “I don’t think so. If none are on the shelves, you’ll have to try online or at another store.”

Jake bit down on his disgruntled groan and asked the question he knew all retail workers despised, but he had to be sure. He couldn’t give up yet.

“Could you maybe check in the back? I hate to ask, but my girlfriend-”

The man’s face morphed into an expression of supreme understanding, “Ahh, sure, man. I’ll do it. Wait here.”

Jake clung to his fading hopes as the minutes ticked away and other shoppers moved around his still form. It couldn’t have been longer than five minutes, but it felt like an eternity to Jake before the employee strode for him empty-handed.

“Sorry, man. We haven’t got any in. We’ll get more soon and can email you once it’s here?” He offered, but Jake shook his head.

“No, we’ll pick something else. Thank you, though.”

That sinking sensation spiraled lower in his gut as he eyed the available units and chose the one most similar to what she wanted. Soon, the hour was up, and he returned to the agreed meeting spot. She wasn’t there. Of course, she wasn’t. His phone signal was better there, and the wifi worked, so he pulled up his tracker and waited for it to find her. She was on the opposite side of the gigantic building and was moving farther away as he cursed and hurried to chase her down. Half-dazed shoppers jumped out of his way as he vaulted down aisles, and the cart almost went sideways as he took every corner at a run. The rattling of the boxes and items against their metal chariot drowned out the beat of his heart as he rounded another corner and saw her. Her arms were full of assorted office supplies and décor, which she dumped in her overflowing cart that also contained a multitude of items they didn’t have on his list.

She spied him and grinned, waving him over, and he approached with an almost nervous air as she explained her thoughts.

“You have an office to fill, and I think these will work perfectly. I also saw some little work lamps, but I thought you’d like to choose that. Ooh! We should have lunch! Meatballs! I’m starving, and we haven’t eaten since this morning.”

He didn’t know where to start with that, and he knew no matter what he said, it wouldn’t sink in while she was surrounded by the sights and smells of everything she wanted.

“I have some snacks with me; we can eat those and just get everything done so we can leave.”

“But... meatballs, Jake! And cake, I can’t pronounce the cake’s name, but you have to try it! Do you want a tiny lamp? Or an even tinier fake cactus? They’re quite cute.”

“We can make meatballs at home...”

Her hands were on her hips as she pinned him with an unimpressed stare, “It’s. Not. The. Same.”

Sighing, his lips twitched with the urge to laugh at her adorable face, but he tamped it down as he replied, “We’re already behind schedule, and you wanted to get some of this built before everyone comes over tomorrow.”

She didn't respond but nodded as she turned and walked over to her cart. He was not distracted by the many pens, notepads, and stationery holders. No, he wasn’t. And he certainly didn’t toss a few packs in with his half of their shopping when she wasn’t looking. He wasn’t as sly as he thought, and her arched brow when she saw him covering the pens with a pillow told him she missed nothing when it came to him. As the checkout came into view, his chest loosened, and victory hovered at the edges of his mind as they were quickly rung up and charged a small fortune. He felt safe to internally celebrate making it out alive as they headed for the exit. But she uttered some words that delayed it instantly.

“I need the bathroom! I’ll meet you at the car.”

“I can wait for you here?” He offered.

“No, it’s fine. I know where you parked.”

Seeing no way to argue, and he was blocking the exit, he nodded and took control of her cart along with his. It was risky business navigating the busy parking lot, and he was sweating by the time he reached his. He opened the large trunk and methodically began to pack everything inside, using the backseats for everything that didn’t fit in the trunk. Silently, Jake swore he would never again darken the Swedish megastore’s doorstep. It would be a cold day in hell before he subjected himself to that place again. He was returning the empty carts to the store when his phone buzzed. He waited until his hands were free to check it and didn’t know whether to bemoan her tenacity or delight in it.

MC: I’ve got your meatballs and kladdkaka! Come get them before I finish mine and eat yours.

His traitorous stomach rumbled as he read, and the smile flirting with the corners of his mouth soon overtook his face. He couldn’t complain; they finished shopping and had nowhere else to be. She was only playing by his rules and twisting them to get him out of his rigidness. And he was hungry... pocketing his phone with an exasperated curse, Jake once more entered the hell of IKEA and set off to find the insistent woman who held his heart of glass in her steady hands. The food hall teemed with frazzled shoppers, overexcited kids, and elderly folks who eyed the mayhem with narrowed eyes. He scanned the bustling tables for a familiar head of hair and spotted her off in the back corner, dancing as she ate. As he rounded the table, he saw his own plate waiting for him and plopped into the hard chair across from her as she forked up the last piece of her cake and stuffed it in her mouth. He found it oddly endearing that she always ate her dessert first in places like this.

“You found me! That’s your reward.” She chuckled and pointed at the food on his side after she cleared her mouth with a sip of cold water.

“Mmhmm.” Was all he said as he tucked into his fast-cooling meal and caught her staring at his slice of cake.

He didn’t get the hype, but the meatballs were edible, and the mashed potatoes were silky smooth with no hidden horrible lumps, so he was happy to munch away. She did the same and kept dancing with every mouthful she took, though her eyes would stick to his dessert every now and again. They chatted between bites, and he wondered if she realized just how deep a hold she had on him, how far he’d go to see her smile like she was then. He didn’t think so and thought it was part of her charm. She could make a trip to the DMV an adventure, and he admired her warm, romantic view of the world despite his learned knowledge that it was often cold, hurtful, and dark. Her ability to make him feel the same way was a form of magic he’d never heard anyone discuss, but he thought it should be treasured more than the big things. The mundane made up the majority of their daily lives. It was a special kind of magic and person that could make even the dull seem extraordinary.

The freckles on her nose scrunched up as she caught him watching her, and he ducked his head to hide his grin as a blush sparked in her cheeks. He was content to observe her squirm and pretend she didn’t want to ask him for his slice. Pulling it towards him after he finished the bland meatballs, he used his fork to cut off a small piece. She was barely breathing and leaning closer, eyes locked on his hands. He popped it in his mouth, ignoring the rush of saliva as the flavor exploded on his tongue to push the rest of it over to her. Her eyes lit up, a coy smile on her pretty mouth as she tried to be considerate despite the feral nature of her love of all things sweet.

“Are you sure? We can split it?” She said even as she shoveled it into her mouth, and he couldn’t help but laugh at her when she looked confused at her now empty plate.

“I think it’s too late for that,” he joked before going on, “Do you want more? We can get more.”

She considered it, and he was getting ready to do it when she shook her head and said, “No, if we buy more, I’ll eat it all before we get home and feel sick all night. We should go before I forget that!”

He knew it was true and let her lead the way to the car, her swinging gaze catching on every table until they were on the way downstairs and approaching the double doors to freedom. They were soon back in the car, stomachs full and warmed through as he pulled out of his spot and followed the traffic to the main road. The journey home was short, filled with her singing along to whatever radio station she found and asking him questions he thought she might already know the answers to but just wanted to hear his voice. Still rusty from years of disuse, his answers sometimes meandered off the correct path, but she hung on his every word like he was revealing the secrets of the universe. And it never stopped. No matter where they were, if he spoke, she focused intently on him until he was done. It was oddly heartwarming and touching. He hoped he made her feel the same way whenever she was telling one of her stories that had a thousand offshoots and side quests. Their home soon came into view, and the last vestiges of stress fluttered away as he parked on their driveway.

The truth was, they didn’t need anything they bought today. But her only condition for him moving in was that they make it feel like his place, too, and it must look like he lived there. She wanted him to put his mark on their home so he knew he could always find safety there. He’d been happy to move in and use her things, used to having nothing, and everything he did have could fit inside a backpack. Material goods didn’t really matter to him, but it wasn’t the furniture she cared about. She wanted him to feel like he counted, and he needed to have a hand in how their home came together. His mind buzzed as they swiftly unloaded the car and carried everything inside. It didn’t take too long before they were seated on the couch with mugs of hot coffee as they studied the many boxes they’d have to assemble.

As soon as he’d downed the last of his drink, she slapped her hands to her thighs and declared, “I’ll build the coffee table if you can handle your desk! Then we’ll just build them one by one.”

Jake agreed, and they got down on the carpet to begin. She tore at the packaging, practically gnawing on it like a squirrel to get the tape off as he found a packing knife and unsealed it neatly. Her brute force approach worked well for building the furniture. He was still setting all his pieces out in order of use before he picked up the first piece of wood he had to join with another while she was battering in the last leg of the table. Music played quietly as they worked, and she lit some scented candles when night drew in, turning on the lights once it was too dark to see. His frustration mounted as the last piece refused to slide in, making a queer rattling noise when he tried to force it. She was halfway through a nightstand when she noticed and came over to see if she could help.

“You know, when it doesn’t fit right, I just… make it fit.”

Jake snorted, “I’ve tried that. It doesn’t want to catch the slider.”

“Want me to hit it?” She asked with a wicked grin.

“No, I think that’ll make it worse.”

“Okay, let me know! I have some rage I’d like to get out.” She said as she crawled back to her side.

He couldn’t help the silly chuckle that slipped free of his clenched teeth as the drawer finally gave into his pressuring shove, and his frustration bled away as it smoothly rolled open again at his urging.

“What rage do you have?” He wondered aloud as she slammed her fist down on the top of the nightstand to test its strength. She was more akin to a hissing kitten when mad. It was difficult to imagine her acting truly angry.

“Stupid things. Marge next door telling me not to feed the birds. Janet at work, who keeps forgetting what days I work, and the man in Starbucks who always misspells my name!”

He was grateful her grievances were so frivolous and hoped they always remained so. She should never know how it felt to be completely alone and lost in the world. Whatever life handed him, even the good parts were often accompanied by soul-destroying despair. Even now, he was the happiest he’d ever been, free of his self-made chains and financially secure. He was still waiting for the other shoe to drop and often was paranoid that it hadn’t. He’d do everything in his power to ensure she never knew such darkness. If she ever lost that glint in her eye and the rose-colored glasses that made her world seem so gentle and lovely, he would never forgive himself. All he wanted was peace and happiness for her and for him. He knew life came with dips and often destruction, but he would feel complete if he could make this house their private little oasis from the world. The place they could retreat to and rebuild from the rubble whenever life’s hammer fist crushed them.

Long into the night, they playfully bickered and talked as they put together their new joint life and saved the rest for another day when their eyes turned gritty, and their yawns lasted longer than their conversation. Her soft hands were the sweetest medication as she ruffled his hair and suggested they got ready for bed. Side by side in the bathroom, they brushed their teeth and washed their faces, changing out of their clothes and putting on something lighter to sleep in. He knew his way around the house blind, and they didn’t turn on any lights as they entered their bedroom and crawled into bed. He curled around her body, his arm wrapping around her waist as she snuggled closer and hummed contentedly. Her soft breathing deepened, and he assumed she’d fallen asleep until her fatigue-roughened voice broke the silence.

“IKEA wasn’t so bad, was it?”

He huffed a laugh, kissing the crown of her head before answering, “It wasn’t too terrible. But will you promise me something?”

There was a smile in her voice as she said, “Sure, anything for you.”

“Next time, we order online, and I’ll make you an entire chocolate cake you can eat by yourself.”

There was a pause, a giggle, and finally, “Okay. Deal. I promise. I’ll even let you have a small sliver of cake.”

“Deal.” He said and closed his eyes on the long day, certain in knowing he had many more good days ahead of him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading! And if you reblog or comment, thank you for that too. It was a daft idea I had that wouldn’t leave me alone to write other things🤭 I hope you enjoyed it!

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theambitiouswoman · 1 year

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Hello! Do you have tips, advices or any helpful resources on financial independence for beginners? Thankyou in advance!

Of course 💞

Generally, to gain financial independence you need to start by setting a goal. After you set a goal you need to write down your actual scenario as it currently standards. Then you brain map different strategies and actions you can take.

This is probably the easiest time to establish financial independence. It doesn’t matter if you’re 15 or 55, because of all of the tools available to us on the internet.

As a base:

Set a financial goal: Start by setting a specific financial goal that you want to achieve, such as paying off debt, saving for a down payment on a home, or building an emergency fund. Having a clear goal in mind will help you stay focused and motivated.

Create a budget: A budget is a crucial tool for achieving financial independence. Start by tracking your expenses and income, and then create a budget that allocates your income towards your financial goals and expenses. Consider using a budgeting app or spreadsheet to make this process easier.

Mint is budgeting app I use, it helps you track your expenses, set financial goals, and stay on top of your finances.

Reduce expenses: Look for ways to reduce your expenses, such as cutting back on unnecessary subscriptions or finding ways to save on utilities and groceries. This will free up more money to put towards your financial goals. Just like time, people don’t realize how much money they waste. Every bit counts and adds up. Make sure you’re investing your money on things that are absolutely needed- and not simply wasting money you can be using to make more money.

Invest for the future: investing your money in a retirement account or other long-term investment vehicle. Accounts that pay dividends. This can help you build wealth and achieve financial independence over time. This requires some capital and you should have some money saved before you consider starting.

Some authors I recommend would be:

1. Dave Ramsey: The Total Money Makeover

2. Robert Kiyosaki: Rich Dad Poor Dad. His YouTube channel is a gold mine. https://m.youtube.com/@TheRichDadChannel

3. JL Collins: The Simple Path to Wealth

4. Ramit Sethi: I Will Teach You to Be Rich

In order to achieve financial independence, it’s Important to build passive income streams. Passive income requires a smaller budget than what people may believe. If any, in some scenarios.

Passive income can be for example:

Dividend Stocks

Affiliate marketing

Selling digital products

Royalties

Real estate investing

Side hustles can also be passive income steam, and/or have the ability to replace your current main income stream.

I can give you a ton of side hustle ideas. Hundreds. That you can do using your computer. If you give me niches that interest you, I can list recommendations.

The most important aspect however, is mindset. Having a positive mindset when it comes to money and wealth. Your mindset will either drive you to take actions or hold you back. Your thoughts and beliefs about money can have a profound impact on your financial success. Learn how to develop a mindset of abundance and to think creatively about how they can increase their income and build wealth.

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phoenixyfriend · 2 years

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Ko-Fi Prompt from 200002:

As an engineering person who has to interact with business/accounting people more often, what are the basics you need to know/understand? Especially for projects. Sometimes I feel like they are talking in a different language.

I found this a little vague, but here we go:

One of the processes a business student is taught is generally how to do large-scale project scheduling. What they see as a necessary deadline often works on different principles entirely than what the production teams (whether engineering, manufacturing, animating, or what have you) are looking at. If you find yourself regularly talking at cross purposes, ask what's in the schedule that's got this set. Accounting or management are much more likely to have knowledge of something you may not have known to take into account, like customs paperwork or legal fees that can only be submitted after a certain point in the project.

Credit and Debit are not what you think they are. They are accounting terms that track the money that comes into the company, money that goes out, and debts incurred. I wouldn't recommend trying to learn more details than that, because it's honestly a headache.

Accounts Receivable tracks money that comes in. Accounts Payable tracks money that goes out.

Accrued Expenses: an expense that has been incurred but not yet paid (basically: invoices you owe)

Depreciation: the loss of value that comes with time and use (think of how your car or laptop loses value when it's not the newest, unused thing in the market)

Revenue: the money that comes in as a direct result of goods sold

Profit: the money left after removing all expenses (supplies, rent, wages, etc.) If a product is sold for five dollars (revenue), and the expense per unit is four dollars, the profit is one dollar.

Margin: the profit in relation to revenue, expressed as a percentage. If the revenue is five dollars, and the profit is one dollar, then the margin is 20%.

Simple interest: increase in debt is based entirely on the original loan amount (the principal of the loan) Compound interest: increase in a loan changes based on the debt quantity at the start of a given period (quarterly, monthly, etc)

Dividends: On a regular basis, investors (people who own stock) are paid a certain amount of money as compensation for owning stock, having paid money to the company to invest at some prior point. This one of the three reasons people buy stock. The others are capital gain, which is the earnings gained when selling stocks after a rise in value, and gaining voting shares to influence the direction of the company (this is what people refer to when talking about controlling interest).

Overhead: Expenses of the business that are not direct, per unit elements of the production. Raw materials and factory worker wages are not overhead. Pretty much everything else is. This includes: company rent, debt repayment, accounting software costs, payroll costs, utilities, equipment maintenance, corporate taxes, certificate fees, advertising costs, and the wages of people who are not directly involved in manufacturing (e.g. R&D, payroll, HR, sales department, and so on).

#ko fi prompts #ko-fi prompts #economics #business #basic terms #phoenix posts #ko fi #ko-fi #economics prompts

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kemetic-dreams · 8 days

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In the stock market, a short squeeze is a rapid increase in the price of a stock owing primarily to an excess of short selling of a stock rather than underlying fundamentals. A short squeeze occurs when demand has increased relative to supply because short sellers have to buy stock to cover their short positions.

What's a Short Squeeze and Why Does It Happen?

Key Points

A stock that rallies hyperbolically when there are no obvious current events driving the response, could be experiencing a short squeeze.

A short squeeze can potentially be worth trading, but only if you exercise great care.

The aim of short selling is to generate profit from a stock that declines in value. (Short selling involves borrowing a security whose price you think is going to fall from your brokerage and selling it on the open market. Your plan is to then buy the same stock back later—hopefully for a lower price than you initially sold it for—and pocket the difference after repaying the initial loan.) While there are potential benefits to going short, there are also plenty of risks. One big risk is when a bullish catalyst (earnings, news, technical event, etc.) pushes the stock price higher, prompting short sellers to "head for the exits" all at once. As the shorts scramble to buy back and cover their losses, upward momentum can build on itself, causing the stock to move sharply higher. This is known as a short squeeze.

Understanding the short squeeze

What makes a short squeeze so dangerous? Think of it this way: When you buy a stock, the worst thing it can do is drop to zero. But the upside is unlimited. If a stock has a growth narrative and there are enough believers, the share price can go well beyond what looks reasonable by traditional fundamental metrics.

Classic signs of a short squeeze can include:

A security has a significant amount of short sellers (short interest) who believe the stock price is going to fall, and then instead the stock price sharply rises, forcing many of these leveraged short sellers to quickly exit their positions, buying back the stock in the face of potentially increasing losses.

A dynamic narrative that tries to justify the detachment of share prices from a company's intrinsic value

A case for massive growth as well as for financial stress

Traders with deep pockets aligned on both sides of the trade, often using options and other leveraged instruments

With GameStop (GME) in 2021 and Tesla (TSLA) in 2020, there were many classic signs of a short squeeze. Traders with short positions were covering because they had to, either because they had sustained large losses or shares were no longer available to be borrowed. In 2022, short sellers targeted troubled companies such as Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY) and Carvana (CVNA). In early 2023, the most heavily shorted companies included Coinbase Global (COIN), a cryptocurrency firm, and Occidental Petroleum (OXY).

When a stock suddenly experiences a dramatic climb, with or without good news, it's important to ask yourself, "Who would buy shares up here?" The answer? Someone who doesn't have enough money to hold on any longer, or someone whose pain threshold has finally been crossed.

Proceed with caution

If you're a long-term investor who happens to own a stock that's getting squeezed, it's probably not a good time to trade. Instead of acting on emotions, remember what got you to where you are in your investing journey—and where you'd like to be. If buying a stock that's in squeeze territory doesn't fall within your long-term objectives, you might want to step aside and not trade. If you do decide to venture in, make sure you have no illusions and no misconceptions of the dangers. Understand that when you’re dealing with a stock that’s being squeezed, you're taking a big risk.

Identifying a short squeeze can be relatively simple—after the fact. The trick is to identify the conditions that could lead to a squeeze ahead of time, and then determine how you might want to play it (or not).

Shorting a stock is a complicated business. Because you can't sell something you don't own, shorting requires the seller to "borrow" the stock (and pay interest to the stock lender), then sell it. Locating the shares can sometimes be difficult for your clearing firm because of high demand or a small number of outstanding shares.

Measuring a short squeeze can involve a metric called the short interest ratio, a.k.a. "days to cover." It indicates, in days, how long it would take to cover or buy back all the shorted shares. Basically, you divide the number of shares sold short by the average daily trading volume. The more days to cover, the more pronounced the effect can be.

Another measure is "short interest as a percentage of float," which reflects the number of short-sold shares in proportion to the total number of shares available for trading in the public markets. Most stocks have a small amount of short interest, usually in the single digits. The higher that percentage, the greater the bearish sentiment may be around that stock. If the short % of the float reaches 10% or higher, that could be a warning sign.

Consider the fundamentals

If you're buying a stock that seems to be in the throes of a short squeeze, especially at high levels, it helps to understand other potential reasons why the stock might be moving.

Consider checking the fundamentals. Is there anything that would make you want to own the stock? Are you tempted to buy it because everyone else is? It's important to always do your homework, and remember it's never wise to go all in. A stock that's in a short squeeze may still have a long way to climb, and if you don't think the fundamentals support higher prices, then perhaps you should look elsewhere.

In the case of TSLA in 2020, there were some positive fundamentals underlying the short squeeze, including the company's more consistent profitability and hopes of it being included in the S&P 500 Index (SPX). The stock saw its share price run up to new highs, then decline nearly 60%.

But then TSLA rallied again and split its shares, and its addition to the SPX became a reality, illustrating that a short squeeze doesn't always have to end badly. Other stocks that were caught up in short squeezes haven't always fared so well, in part because they didn't have the fundamental support.

Playing the squeeze on the long side?

If you want to trade a stock during what might be a short squeeze—that is, buying a stock with a higher short interest in order to potentially play the upside of a squeeze—here are some things to consider:

Trading such a stock may be okay as long as you understand the risk and how to control it. Whether you make small or large trades, you have to control and limit the risk. Decide how much money you would be comfortable losing in any trade ahead of time.

Don't underestimate how high the stock can go and how long it can take. When a stock gets caught up in a short squeeze, analysts generally expect it to correct eventually, but no one knows to what price and when; if it happens at all.

If the stock still has very weak fundamentals, yet is moving significantly higher without any real, structural changes in the corporation, then be extremely careful buying on this type of upward momentum. The markets may run out of new buyers willing to pay higher and higher prices and the stock may in the end fall quickly.

The bottom line

A short squeeze is a high-risk situation and it may cause havoc in the market, but most don't last forever. Most eventually subside.

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vergilsama922 · 1 year

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A Surprising Duo appears!!!!

Well. Admittedly I wasn't too sure about announcing these two. However me and @pyropsychiccollector have been in the workshop the past two days and I'm ready to share with you a new duo. Well technically trio since the two mentioned have an older brother :P

Danganronpa did a collaboration with Oshiro project. Basically Azur lane except replace ship girls with building girls. In this case the two you see above are Hope's Peak Academy (White and Black) and Despair Peak Academy (Black and red). Ergo HPA before the tragedy and during it.

HOWEVER.

Me and @pyropsychiccollector decided to retool these characters into well....

Direct Kamakura Descendants.

So let me properly introduce these two. And yes @pyropsychiccollector made these perfect backstories. I promise the next release of characters I'll handle it since I feel he already does so much work when he doesn't have to XDDDD

Hikari Kamukura - Ultimate Accountant, Musician, Environmental Scientist, Astronomist, Oceanographist, Multilinguist and Martial Artist

One of the three children of the current Kamukura main family. The Kamukura’s have a long, distinguished history that goes back even beyond the last century. This is because with each generation of their lineage, each member of the main family is supposed to add to the family’s wealth, prosperity, and reputation of magnificence. … Yet this is not as simple as it seems. Because each child is expected to train and be adept in multiple fields of study and industry; if the children cannot meet expectations by the time they reach 15 years of age – mastery in AT LEAST five major areas – they are shuffled off to the branch families in the sticks, where they must live a paltry existence and die in obscurity.

Saiko, the oldest sibling, has mastered a total of ten major areas by the age of 15 because of his ruthless ambition. His younger sisters, however… Well. They found a workaround for the hardships they faced early on in life. … Because here’s the thing. Kamukura’s… do not fail. They… do not settle for mediocrity. They… DO NOT back out of something part way through. If they struggle in science, they are to find ways to cheat the system so that they uphold the Kamukura level of excellence. Same for math, history, language studies, electives… Once they start down a path, there is NO backing out. They have access to the best tutors. Are allowed to attend government meetings and briefings; they have access to the meetings between leaders of the world (the TRUE leaders, by the way; not the figureheads that most commoners know about).

Anything that will aid these children in becoming true Kamukura heirs and truly test their abilities. Hikari and Yuutsu found their workaround for early hurdles because they are twins. They can stand in for each other and no one will know the difference until it is far too late. If Hikari started down the path of archaeology, and Yuutsu “gets it” more than she does, boom. If Yuutsu started dabbling in new age music, and Hikari is better at the creation and development of music, boom. Easy fixes.

But what, exactly, is Hikari specializing in? For one, she’s the number cruncher. Not only does she understand math even just after a few glances, her management of money is legendary. She knows how to manipulate the stock market in her favor, knows how to maximize profit in companies. Give Hikari a loan, and she will make it grow tenfold, paying back everything, interest and all, in one payment. But that’s not all. While they both went into music, Hikari is the performer of the twins. Concerts, public performances in general, just give her a few weeks to practice an instrument, and she’ll successfully put on a stellar show. Because of this frequent showboating, she’s great with large crowds. Her specialties lie in the instruments, however, and not so much her singing voice.

In terms of the sciences, Hikari has delved into the studies of deep sea, space, and environmental sciences. Her public motto is: There’s no use furthering yourself if there’s no world under your feet… so let’s protect this little blue dot. This has, of course, earned her widespread support and adoration for her humane attitude… though, honestly, Hikari has made under-the-table deals that are not so altruistic or helpful to the environment… However, these deals have expanded the Kamukura coffers, so the family turns a blind eye to anything Hikari arranges off the books.

Hikari is also multilingual – at her young age, she’s comfortable with eight of the most common languages in the world – Japanese, English, Spanish, Chinese, French, etc. And she’s begun to look into more obscure languages, because another of her mottos is… “Communication is key.” The more people from around the world she can communicate with, the more deals she can make for the Kamukura family to prosper.

Finally, her fifth major area is that she is skilled in physical combat – mainly self-defense, but she has dabbled in karate, and other refined fighting styles that most common thugs won’t even want to touch. She took up this area for her own and Yuutsu’s protection, because the Kamukura family has made far too many enemies over the years… And it pays to be prepared for physical conflicts. … Not to mention, sometimes people need “motivation” to agree to something, and nothing quite motivates like a little physical punishment~ Mongrels may call it brutality. Hikari calls it efficiency. (人◕ω◕)

Yuutsu Kamukura - Ultimate Leader, Singer, Producer, Speaker, Programmer, Chemist, Nurse, Lawyer, and Engineer

But what, exactly, is Yuutsu specializing in? For one, Yuutsu is the “leader” of the twins. She first started leading classroom discussions, sports teams, and then eventually Student Councils. … And then she outgrew that “lowly leadership” phase. She became the stand-in CEO for a few companies that incurred large debts to the Kamukura’s; she turned their companies around so that they wouldn’t go bankrupt and die out completely. Yuutsu is VERY good at motivating workers, managers, whoever… to do their very best, or she WILL replace them. She’s also the more confrontational one between the twins; rival companies beware, Yuutsu Kamukura does not lose. Period.

If Hikari is the performer, the crowd pleaser, then Yuutsu is the singer. She also deals in the recording of music – both online and hard copies – and dabbles in electronic music. But Yuutsu is also the one that goes on TV and does the talkshows and makes press conference statements. Yuutsu is so adept at working computers, she’s the technological one of the twins. In the sciences, she’s well-versed in chemistry and medical sciences. … More specifically, Yuutsu is familiar with various human conditions, how they die, how they extend life… She was assigned to oversee a few hospitals that had questionable reputations; and she turned them around by replacing the staff that knew what they were doing, or weren’t outright crooks posing as doctors… With the Kamukura family resources, she then proceeded to give them access to better equipment to treat patients, and overall made healthcare more affordable in these districts (albeit, this part was largely handled by Hikari… but shhh).

Yuutsu developed a fascination with law… mainly because she was part of the upper echelon, and thus she possessed the power to shape and bend the laws as she saw fit. Naturally, criminals should be brought to justice~… However! If the crooks are guilty of embezzling money from their companies, and are open to donating that money to a “worthy cause”, for example… Or if they’re murderers that are open to new employment (of COURSE not the Kamukura’s~… That’s just crazy~!)… Well. There’s nothing illegal about jailbreaks or falsified executions. Nope. Yuutsu knows the laws backwards and forwards, so Yuutsu knows best~… Right~?

Finally, Yuutsu is also well-versed in… trap-making. Her skill with technology is excellent enough that she can hack into security systems, know shortcuts around things that aren’t hack-able, tricks to open various doors (even ironclad safes)… But it’s because she knows how to get around stuff that she knows the best way to protect what’s valuable to her… and (to an extent) Hikari. Beware of stepping into Yuutsu’s property; if you weren’t invited, you’ll be sorryyy~… And if you were invited, well… Be careful anyways. Sometimes, Yuutsu likes to mess with you. Especially if you’re behind on debts to the Kamukura’s. (❋•‿•❋) These are the Hope- *coughs* The Kamukura Sisters. (❋•‿•❋)(❋•‿•❋)(❋•‿•❋)

Now yes. Some of you may have noticed there are overlapping talents. ;;;;;;;;;(❋•‿•❋) Yes....well given who their family is, of course, they are allowed to attend and are indeed stepping on the toes of uhhh....similar talent people. ;;;;;;;;;;;(人◕ω◕) They will be put into Class 78-B. Replacing Shuji and Takumi who will be put into the reserve course. (人◕ω◕) This doesn't affect canon of the hope universe since those two were placeholders, to begin with.

Ahem but anyways without further ado, welcome these very uhhh....interesting duo. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;(人◕ω◕) (God knows they'll need it)

#danganronpa #makoto naegi #danganronpa au #hope universe #oc #oc danganronpa #hope's peak academy #kamukura twins #oshiro project #danganronpa collab #oc tag #twins #gijinka

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spanishskulduggery · 1 year

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Most Essential Vocabulary #4

This time I’m focusing on the vocabulary that’s probably the most confusing in terms of grammatical gender: words with confusing gender, words from Greek, words that are feminine that take masculine articles etc etc etc

This could be its own post on grammar but I’m including it in essential vocabulary because these are things that a lot of people either don’t fully explain or that aren’t touched upon in great detail. But just know that this post includes some grammar info in addition to simple vocabulary lists

I decided to do it this way because these are words and concepts you’re going to need to know, and especially if you don’t have a teacher or are doing self-study, this is something you’ll come across and be VERY confused by

Basic Vocabulary / Vocabulario básico

el género = gender / genre [of media]

la gramática = grammar

la sintaxis = syntax

la concordancia

el sustantivo = noun el nombre = noun / name el pronombre = pronoun

el subjeto = subject

el objeto = object

el adjetivo = adjective

la concordancia = “gender agreement” [meaning that adjectives should “agree” with the nouns; lit. “concordance” or “agreement”]

Some Confusing Nouns / Unos sustantivos confusos

el día = day

la mano = hand

el barco = large ship, “ship”

la barca = small boat, “boat”

el bolso = purse, handbag el bolsillo = pocket

la bolsa = plastic bag, shopping bag

la bolsa / La Bolsa = stock market / The Stock Market

el rayo = lightning bolt / ray

la raya = line, stripe

el síntoma = symptom

el modelo = model [noun] el modelo, la modelo = model [profession]

el testigo = witness / something or someone that witnesses an event, “testimony” el testigo, la testigo = a witness / witness, someone providing testimony [legal]

la víctima = victim [always feminine]

el caballero = knight / gentleman / “men”, “gentleman” [as opposed to damas which is “women”; where sometimes gendered things like clothes or bathrooms are used with hombres “men” or caballeros “gentlemen”... and women with mujeres or damas] damas y caballeros = ladies and gentlemen la caballero = lady knight

el sofá = sofa, couch

el pijama = pajamas, pyjama [often used in singular while English says “pajamas/PJs”]

el karma = karma

Words like el sofá, el pijama, and el karma are called “loanwords” [los préstamos lingüísticos, lit. “language/linguistic loans”] - where el sofá and el pijama come from the Arabic/Sanskrit and the Islamic world, while el karma is a Hindu/Buddhist term

Most loanwords come into Spanish as masculine - el clóset [instead of el armario], el kiosk/el quiosco “kiosk”, el yoga “yoga”, el quipu “quipu” [from Quechua, an Inca string with knots for counting] el origami, el vodka, el samovar, el feng shui, or el básket [instead of el baloncesto for “basketball”]. There are some that come as feminine like la katana from Japanese, but it’s a rarer case

In general, most of the time a loanword will be masculine. Feminine loanwords do exist, but it’s often more professions that change forms. The most common is el chef or la chef from French as “chef”.

See also: el/la gurú “guru”, el/la samurái “samurai”, or el chamán, la chamana “shaman”. Many loanwords that are professions can exist in masculine or feminine and most don’t change forms but some do - like el sultán and la sultana, or el vikingo and la vikinga.

In my experience it tends to be more related to how long the word has been present in Spanish / Pan-Hispanic consciousness, and how easily it is to adapt to traditional Spanish linguistic conventions [like “Viking” goes to vikingo and so since it ends in -o, you could end it in vikinga]

Also note that there are some expressions in Spanish that are from Latin and considered loanwords in some cases, though they’re more established in Spanish - etcétera, or viceversa, versus, or something like a posteriori “after the fact / in hindsight” are common examples but may have other translations or versions... like de facto may be de hecho [in fact/in deed]. Others are more specifically legalese just like English.

And pay special attention to loanwords that come from English - anglicismos or “anglicisms” - as they may be more regionally used in some countries than others. Spain for example tends to frown more on English being adapted into Spanish. A common example is computer technology terms; el internet is sometimes referred to as la red “net” or “network”, and while some countries may say online, others may say en línea “on line”

One example that people use a lot for this preference towards keeping Spanish Spanish is el feedback for “feedback”, which in some countries may be seen as la retroalimentación which is literally “backwards feeding”

Gender Matters / El género importa

el radio = radius la radio = radio [from la radiotelegrafía; feminine la radio often refers to the actual device]

el frente = front la frente = forehead

el capital = money, capital / “start-up money”, resources la capital = capital (city) el capitolio = capital building, ruling government building capital = capital, crucial, significant [adj]

el cometa = comet la cometa = kite [probably from the trailing tail on a kite]

el cura = priest [often Catholic in my experience; synonymous to el sacerdote] la cura = cure la curita = (small) bandage, “band-aid”, plaster [UK]

el orden = order (of events), sequence / order (not chaos) la orden = order (command), military command

el coma = coma, comatose la coma = comma [the , symbol]

el cólera = cholera la cólera = rage, wrath, ire

el mar = sea [common] la mar = sea [deeper water, poetic, or significant] / “sea”, a large number of alta mar = high seas, open waters

el azúcar / la azúcar = sugar [both are correct; sometimes you’ll see either gender, so don’t be surprised if you normally see el azúcar “sugar” in one setting, but la azúcar morena “brown sugar” in a different setting”]

el sartén / la sartén = frying pan [depending on region it will be masculine or feminine]

el arte = art las bellas artes = fine arts las artes marciales = martial arts

With el arte it usually refers to “art” like a piece of art, or painting/drawing/sculpting and other forms of art.

The word las artes only really takes on feminine in plural form and it tends to mean “specific ways of doing something” as a kind of group or umbrella term.

Words from Greek / Palabras que provienen del idioma griego

el idioma = language, idiom

el clima = weather / clime, climate

el planeta = planet

el síntoma = symptom

el cisma = schism, rift

el tema = subject, theme

el poema = poem

el teorema = theorem

el drama = drama / drama, theater [subject]

el problema = problem

el lema = motto, slogan

el trauma = trauma, hurt

el enigma = puzzle, riddle, enigma

el estigma = stigma

el sistema = system

el esquema = schematic, diagram

el magma = magma

el dilema = dilemma, problem

el aroma = aroma, smell, fragrance

el carisma = charisma

el diafragma = diaphragm

el cromosoma = chromosome

el fantasma = ghost, phantom

And as a general rule anything [at least 99% of anything] ending in -grama in Spanish is masculine:

el diagrama = diagram, chart

el anagrama = anagram

el telegrama = telegram

el holograma = hologram

el crucigrama = crossword puzzle

You should also know that the vast majority of words ending in -ista are unisex

el artista, la artista = artist

el dentista, la dentista = dentist

el electricista, la electricista = electrician

el especialista, la especialista = specialist

el futbolista, la futbolista = football player / soccer player

el ajedrecista, la ajedrecista = chess player

el budista, la budista = Buddhist budista = Buddhist

el idealista, la idealista = an idealist idealista = idealistic

el activista, la activista = activist

deportista = sporty, “a jock”

optimista = optimistic

pesimista = pessimistic

perfeccionista = perfectionist

egoísta = selfish

realista = realistic

renacentista = Renaissance [adj]

modernista = modernist posmodernista, postmodernista = postmodern, postmodernist

derechista = right-wing, conservative

izquierdista = left-wing, “leftist”

racista = racist

fascista = fascist

socialista = socialist

comunista = communist

Additionally...

la tesis = thesis

la sinopsis = synopsis

el análisis = analysis [in plural it’s los análisis which can throw people off]

la hipótesis = hypothesis [in plural it’s usually las hipótesis]

la diéresis = umlaut, dieresis [the symbol with two dots on top like ü]

Another very specific word to be aware of is el atleta or la atleta “athlete”, which is from Greek and unisex, though it ends in A

Feminine Words with Masculine Articles / Palabras femeninos con artículos masculinos

This is a larger grammar topic that isn’t always properly explained.

There are certain words in Spanish that begin with A- or HA- that are technically feminine but take masculine articles in singular [el or un], but will take feminine articles in plural [las and unas]

This is a unique rule that is compared to the difference between “a” and “an” in English

The gist of it is that if that for this to occur, a noun must

be feminine

begin with A- or HA-

have its stressed syllable be the first one; i.e. the A- or HA- is the stressed syllable

For example: el agua “water”... is technically feminine (#1), it begins with A (#2), and it is pronounced agua (#3). Another one is el hambre “hunger”, technically feminine (#1), begins with HA (#2), and it is pronounced hambre

All of this is done to preserve the A sound [which is why it’s compared to “a” and “an”]. If you were to say “la agua” it would come out as “lagua” due to the two A sounds melding together in Spanish syllables. In other Romance Languages, this problem also exists and may be fixed with apostrophes [’] or other symbols to make sure a word is fully pronounced and understandable

el agua = water

el hambre = hunger, famine

el alma = soul

el arpa = harp

el arma = weapon

el águila = eagle

el ascua = ember

el hada = fairy

el ave = bird las aves = birds, fowl [umbrella term, as opposed to el pájaro an individual “bird”]

el aula = classroom

el ala = wing

el álgebra = algebra

el ancla = anchor el áncora = anchor

el hacha = axe, hatchet / big candle, torch [depends on context]

el asma = asthma

el alba = dawn

el área = area, zone

el asta = antler

el hampa = gang, criminal group

el ama = female owner, “mistress” [not in the romantic sense which is amante; the ama female form of “master/owner” which is el amo], lady of the house el ama de llaves = housekeeper [lit. “owner/keeper of the keys”; in older contexts this is the seniormost maid or the one in charge of managing the female maids; today ama de llaves is often “housekeeper” or “cleaning woman”] el ama de casa = housewife

Note: There’s also el ampa which is also written el AMPA [la asociación de madres y padres de alumnos] which is basically the Spanish equivalent of the PTA [Parent Teacher Association]... literally el ampa means “the association for mothers and fathers of students”

Note 2: There’s a Spanish drama called Las señoras del (h)AMPA which is a pun on el ampa and el hampa; being a group of women in the PTA who get involved in criminal activity - the pun works since H is silent and in this case “optional”

Despite the masculine article, the word itself is feminine and takes feminine adjectives:

el águila calva = bald eagle

el ave acuática = waterfowl las aves acuáticas = waterfowl [pl]

el hada madrina = fairy godmother

el álgebra avanzada = advanced algebra

agua pasada no mueve molino = “let bygones be bygones”, “water under the bridge” [lit. “passed water doesn’t move the mill”]

This also applies to the continents: Asia and África are technically feminine but if you ever used an article with them it would be el and take feminine adjectives

For more of the grammar information related to this please see: THIS POST

Indeterminate Feminine / El femenino de indeterminación

These are commonly adverbial phrases, but many of them use feminine or feminine plural - there’s no specific subject or noun [thus the “indeterminate” or “that which is not determined”], but many times these things that aren’t specified may take on feminine adjectival forms

a la ligera = “lightly”, “not seriously” tomar algo a la ligera = to take something lightly

a medias = “halfway”, “by half measures”, “half-assed”

a diestra y siniestra = “all over the place” [lit. “to the right and left”; diestro/a is the word for “right-hand/right-handed”, and siniestro/a is the older word for “left-hand/left-handed” which is now zurdo/a given the moral implications of��“sinister”; so literally it means “to the right-hand and to the left-hand”; in some cases this expression is in masculine form but I’ve seen it most commonly in feminine]

a secas = “by itself”, “with nothing else included” / “ungarnished” (food context) [lit. “dryly”]

a tientas = by fumbling, by touch, “fumbling around”

a ciegas = blindly / blindfolded

a oscuras = in the dark, in darkness, without light [synonymous with en la oscuridad]

a solas = one-on-one, alone, privately

a escondidas = in secret, “behind someone’s back”

a sabiendas = knowingly, “knowing full well”, “consciously”

a gatas = on all fours

(despedirse) a la francesa = “to leave without saying goodbye” [lit. “to say goodbye the French way”]

a las claras = “perfectly clear”, “crystal clear”

de oídas = hearsay [lit. “from hearing” or “from what was heard”]

por las buenas = “the easy way”

por las malas = “the hard way”

Also in culinary things, you’ll see a la used a lot... like the dish pulpo a la gallega meaning “Galician-style octopus”, or albóndigas a la madrileña “Madrid-style meatballs” or huevos a la mexicana “Mexican-style eggs”

This is pretty common in most Romance Languages in my experience

#Spanish #language learning #langblr #languages #spanish vocabulary #language #vocabulario #reference #ref #so much vocab

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talabib · 1 year

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Mastering the Art of Investing: Practical Strategies for Insightful Decision-Making

Key Point:

Making smart and insightful investment decisions is an attainable goal with the right strategies in place. By recognizing your limitations, managing emotions, seeking professional guidance, and aligning your investments with personal objectives, you can cultivate a robust and successful investment portfolio that stands the test of time.

Sound investment decisions are the bedrock of financial success. However, navigating the complex world of investing can be challenging, even for the most seasoned investors. This post explores practical strategies for making smart and insightful investment decisions, empowering you to grow your wealth with confidence and finesse.

Recognize the Limits of your Abilities

In both life and investing, it is crucial to acknowledge the boundaries of our expertise. Overestimating our abilities can lead to ill-advised decisions and, ultimately, financial losses. By cultivating humility and seeking external guidance when necessary, we can minimize risks and make more informed investment choices.

Manage Emotional Influence on Decision-Making

Emotions can significantly impact our ability to make rational decisions. To circumvent the sway of emotions, adopt a disciplined approach to investing, relying on data-driven analysis and long-term strategies rather than succumbing to impulsive reactions.

Leverage the Expertise of an Advisor

Engaging a professional financial advisor is a prudent investment decision. Their wealth of knowledge and experience can help you navigate market complexities and identify opportunities tailored to your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon.

Maintain Composure Amidst Market Volatility

Periods of market turbulence can incite panic among investors. However, it is essential to remain level-headed and maintain a long-term perspective during such times. Avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term fluctuations and focus on your overarching financial objectives.

Assess Company Management Actions Over Rhetoric

When evaluating potential investments, examine the actions of a company's management rather than relying solely on their statements. This approach ensures a more accurate understanding of the organization's performance, financial health, and growth prospects.

Prioritize Value Over Glamour in Investment Selection

The most expensive investment options are not always the wisest choices. Focus on identifying value rather than being swayed by glamorous or high-priced options. This strategy promotes long-term financial growth and mitigates the risk of overpaying for underperforming assets.

Exercise Caution with Novel and Exotic Investments

While unique and exotic investment opportunities may appear enticing, approach them with caution. Ensure thorough research and due diligence before committing to such investments, as they may carry higher risks and potential pitfalls.

Align Investments with Personal Goals

Invest according to your individual objectives rather than adhering to generic rules or mimicking the choices of others. Personalized investment strategies are more likely to yield favorable results, as they account for your unique financial circumstances, risk appetite, and long-term aspirations.

Action plan: Learn a few simple rules and ignore the rest of the advice you receive.

It’s easy to become completely overwhelmed by the volume of advice available about investing. However, you don’t need to become an expert on the stock market in order to become a good investor.

Just like an amateur poker player can go far if he simply learns to fold his worst hands and bet on his best ones, a novice investor can become very competent just by following a few simple rules. For example, he should learn not to overreact to dips in the market and make sure to purchase value stocks instead of glamour stocks.

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kubato-87 · 11 months

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Four Investments That Are Very Profitable Right Now in 2023

The most profitable investments in 2023 are a matter of opinion, but some of the top contenders include:

1. High yield savings accounts offer much higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts. This makes them a good choice for investors who want to get a higher return on their money, but also want to keep their money safe and accessible.

2. Short-term certificates of deposit (CDs) offer similar interest rates to high-yield savings accounts, but they come with the added benefit of locking in your interest rate for a set period of time. It can be a good choice for investors looking to protect their money from market volatility.

3. Series I bonds, government bonds that offer variable interest rates linked to inflation. This makes it a good choice for investors looking to protect their money from the effects of inflation.

3. Short-term corporate bond funds invest in corporate bonds with maturities of less than one year. These funds offer higher yields than traditional bonds, but also carry more risk.

4. Dividend stock funds invest in stocks that pay dividends to their shareholders. Dividends are a way for companies to share their profits with their shareholders, and they can provide a steady stream of income for investors.

It is important to note that all investments carry a certain level of risk. Investors should carefully consider their investment objectives and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.

I Started Doing From Now On

Simple Investing Hub

#investment #investors #breaking news: investing #investing #simple plan #simple life #june #juni 2023 #stock tips #savings

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taylortruther · 7 months

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Correct me if I've understood this wrong but the thing about Taylor being a billionaire is that (if it's true) it's not as simple as 'she has made x billion dollars in cash' right? It's what her overall worth is estimated to be, and mainly the worth of her catalogue - which I think we can all agree she should own? So I kind of see it like the brand of Taylor Swift tm has super high stock right now. Her worth has come from building that brand, and while merch and albums sales are for sure a part of that, they alone are not raking in billions of dollars of cash for her personally (and album variants are a complete pindrop in that ocean). It is not all net profit lining her own pockets, as a portion feeds back into associated costs for the brand e.g. staffing, venue costs for tour. At this point she's kind of like a small country with its own self-sustaining economy, lol. She can't just undo being a billionaire either - it would not be possible to give away money fast enough. Unless her popularity suddenly takes a gargantuan plummet, she could empty all her bank accounts of actual cash but her net worth in market terms would still be replenishing. All this being said, I don't see Taylor individually as the problem, but the system she is in. And she does willingly partake in it, like with all her trademarks and stuff lol, but she is not the architect of it. No one person is and we can't stop it by focusing on any individual's money. I get tired of the eat the rich rhetoric online because of this. People get too caught up in naming names and not systems.

this is an excellent summary of today's discussion! and it can be helpful to talk about taylor (or whoever) in order to clarify your own thoughts or opinions, i think it can also be educational. but the most important thing is to consider what you want the outcome to be (beyond taylor lol) and what actions we can take as individuals to get there.

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rabbitcruiser · 23 days

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National Salad Day

Hey there, salad enthusiasts! Get ready to celebrate National Salad Day, a day dedicated to our leafy green friends and their fellow vegetable companions. Get your forks ready and prepare to dive into some delicious, healthy, and colorful creations. This national day is all about celebrating the wonders of salads and encouraging everyone to incorporate more greens into their diets. So, let's explore the history and delights of National Salad Day!

When is Salad Day?

It's national salad day on the 1st May.

The Birth of National Salad Day

While salads have been around for centuries, National Salad Day is a relatively new addition to the calendar. It started gaining popularity in recent years as people became more conscious of their health and nutrition. The origins of this day are closely tied to the rise of social media and food blogging. Influencers and health-conscious individuals shared their love for salads online, inspiring a wave of salad enthusiasts.

On May 1st, 2015, the internet exploded with mentions of National Salad Day. It became an annual celebration, bringing people together to appreciate the wonders of fresh veggies and creative combinations. From tangy dressings to crunchy toppings, it's a day to experiment and create salads that satisfy both your taste buds and your nutrition goals.

Salads Around the World

Salads come in countless varieties, each reflecting the unique culinary traditions of different cultures. Let's take a whirlwind tour around the world to explore some famous salads:

Greek Salad: A refreshing mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, and olives.

Caesar Salad: A classic made with romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy dressing.

Cobb Salad: A hearty salad with a bed of lettuce topped with avocado, bacon, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, and blue cheese. It's a meal in itself!

Caprese Salad: A simple and elegant combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, drizzled with olive oil.

Tabbouleh: A Middle Eastern salad made with parsley, bulgur wheat, tomatoes, and a lemony dressing.

How to Celebrate National Salad Day

Now that you know the history and some famous salad recipes, it's time to celebrate National Salad Day in style. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Organize a salad potluck with friends and family. Each person can bring a unique salad creation to share.

Try out a new salad recipe you've never made before. Challenge yourself to experiment with different ingredients and flavors.

Visit a local farmer's market and stock up on fresh produce for your salads. Supporting local farmers is always a good idea!

Share your favorite salad recipe on social media using the hashtag #NationalSaladDay. Spread the salad love!

Did You Know?

Did you know that the largest salad ever made weighed a whopping 20,100 pounds? It was created in Romania in 2012 and included a mix of lettuce, cabbage, carrots, peppers, and onions. That's one gigantic and healthy serving!

History behind the term 'Salad'

500 BC

The Birth of Salads

Salads have been enjoyed for centuries. The ancient Greeks and Romans were known to eat mixed greens with dressing as a way to cleanse their digestive systems. They believed that the combination of raw vegetables and herbs had medicinal properties.

17th Century

Salad as a Symbol of Wealth

In the 17th century, salads became associated with wealth and nobility. It was considered a luxury to have fresh greens and exotic ingredients on one's table. Salads were often served as a grand gesture to impress guests.

1763

The Word 'Salad' Enters English

The word 'salad' entered the English language in 1763, derived from the French word 'salade.' The French had a significant influence on culinary customs during that period, and the term quickly gained popularity in the English-speaking world.

19th Century

Salads Evolve with New Ingredients

During the 19th century, salads started to incorporate a wider variety of ingredients. Fruits, nuts, and mayonnaise-based dressings became popular additions. Salads also became more decorative, with intricate garnishes and arrangements.

20th Century

The Rise of Salad Bars

In the mid-20th century, salad bars gained popularity in restaurants and cafeterias. Salad bars offered a wide selection of fresh ingredients, giving people the freedom to customize their salads. This concept revolutionized the way salads were served.

21st Century

Salads for Health and Green Living

In the 21st century, salads have become synonymous with healthy eating and green living. As more people seek nutritious options and environmental sustainability, salads have become a popular choice. From kale salads to quinoa salads, there are endless variations to suit different tastes and dietary preferences.

Source

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reflections-in-a-critical-eye · 7 months

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Completely agreed. Having no writing credits doesn't mean you have to throw your artistry out of the window. Taemin is a good example. Even if a song was not written by you, you can still make it your song. Taemin mastered that. Jungkook is just singing the songs but they're clearly not his. That's the difference. I know his album will be successful, Scooter will make sure of it. But I wonder if Jungkook will one day stop and think if the success was really worth all that. Jungkook became exactly what he wanted to be. Justin Bieber 2.0. There's nothing special about him or the songs anymore. Don't get me wrong, it's his choice and he should do what he wants to do. But I personally cannot support any of that. Scooter made Jungkook a puppet and Jungkook let him. Are you ready for the 236363 versions of Standing Next To You?

Careful anon, don't use the word puppet cause stans will come after you, lol.

No, but on a more serious note, I wouldn't call him that because it implies he had no power of making decisions, which I doubt. He signed off on this, he agreed, he liked the idea and that's it. Who am I to know what power of convicing Bang Si-Hyuk has over him or Scooter? But it's not even necessary for me to go down that road in order to talk about this.

Looking at the 2 singles already released, how the next ones sound like and the overall project, I think Jungkook could have just released an album full of covers and be done with it. A live session of his karaoke nights. What would be the difference when it comes to his contribution and input? The songs are basic. You have to be deep into stan mentality to not see that but it will at least look succesful cause of the marketing strategy.

Also, about that. Each time something new is happening, like other artists fanpages all of a sudden supporting the future album, CDs getting stocked, the 28348448 remix getting dropped and so much more, I get asks in my inbox. And I get that, but what I don't understand is why some of you are still surprised. You shouldn't. Everything is in line with the partnership of Hybe and Hybe America collaborating on the JK project and trying to see if they can skyrocket a Korean idol into the actual American mainstream. In order to do that, they use various methods. That's it. It's as simple as that. I don't know if they see it as an experiment or something long term. Hard to think it's the latter cause the guy is getting shipped to do his military service soon so where is the continuous presence in the American music landscape? It all sounds so ridiculous.

#m thoughts

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hallmark-movie-fanatics · 8 months

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See first photos of 42 new Hallmark Christmas movies (Entertainment Weekly) - Hallmark Channel Part 1

Checkin' it Twice Premieres: Oct. 20, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Kim Matula, Kevin McGarry Contains: Ice sports, new neighbors Official description: "A journeyman hockey player (McGarry) falls for a real estate agent (Matula) in a career crisis when he's traded to her hometown and moves into the cottage in her hockey loving family's backyard."

Where Are You, Christmas? Premieres: Oct. 21, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Lyndsy Fonseca, Michael Rady, Jim O'Heir, Julie Warner Contains: A sprinkle of holiday magic, unexpected consequences, Garry Jerry Lenny Larry Terry Gergich Official description: "Addy (Fonseca) wishes for a year without Christmas and she wakes up in a world of black and white. She must work together with the town mechanic (Rady) to restore Christmas."

Under the Christmas Sky Premieres: Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Jessica Parker Kennedy, Ryan Paevey Contains: A life-altering accident, an out-of-this-world romance Official description: "Kat (Kennedy) is an esteemed astrophysicist, who is scheduled for her first trip into space next year until an accident grounds her. While on leave, coming to terms with the reality that her dream of being an astronaut is over, she volunteers at the local planetarium. There, she is paired up with by-the-book David (Paevey) to work on an exhibit opening right before Christmas. Will the stars align to bring these two together at the holidays?"

Christmas By Design Premieres: Oct. 27, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Rebecca Dalton, Jonathan Keltz Contains: Christmas couture, learning what matters most Official description: "A fashion designer (Dalton) gets accepted into a Christmas challenge to create a new holiday-themed collection and not only finds the inspiration for her next line but decides to redesign her approach to what's most important in life."

Mystic Christmas Premieres: Oct. 28, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Jessy Schram, Chandler Massey, Patti Murin, William R. Moses Contains: Mystic Pizza-adjacent, fish friends, Mystic, Conn. Official description: "Juniper (Schram) travels to Mystic, Connecticut during the holidays to work at the rehabilitation center and aquarium. She reconnects with Sawyer (Massey), the owner of the pizza shop."

Joyeux Noel Premieres: Oct. 29, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Jaicy Elliot, Brant Daugherty Contains: France, a mysterious artist, an editor and reporter on the case Official description: "When a romantic painting of a Christmas market captures the imagination of copy editor Lea (Elliot), she is sent to France with pragmatic reporter Mark (Daugherty) to uncover the mystery behind the artist."

Flipping for Christmas Premieres: Nov. 3, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Ashley Newbrough, Marcus Rosner Contains: Real estate agents, a supposedly simple house renovation Official description: "It's almost Christmas when busy realtor Abigail (Newbrough) agrees to help her sister with the 'simple flip' of a recently inherited home. Unfortunately, co-beneficiary Bo (Rosner) has other plans in mind."

Never Been Chris'd Premieres: Nov. 4, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Janel Parrish, Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes, Tyler Hynes Contains: Reunited BFFs, a reignited high school love triangle Official description: "Home for the holidays, BFFs Naomi (Parrish) and Liz (Lamothe-Kipnes) reconnect with high school crush Chris Silver (Hynes). A complex love triangle forms, forcing them to take stock of their lives and find the value of friendship."

The Santa Summit Premieres: Nov. 5, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Hunter King, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Amy Groening, Stephanie Sy Contains: A Santa convention, chasing down a lost Claus Official description: "Jordin (King), Ava (Groening) and Stella (Sy) are three best friends who head out for a night on the town to take part in the annual Santa Summit, an event where revelers don Santa suits and visit local spots on the circuit to eat, drink and be merry in true holiday fashion… and set out to find a secret Santa (Hollingsworth) Jordin connected with at the start of the night's festivities."

Everything Christmas Premieres: Nov. 10, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Katherine Barrell, Cindy Busby, Corey Sevier, Matt Wells Contains: Holiday road trip, unforeseen circumstances Official description: "Lori Jo's (Busby) love for Christmas takes her on a road trip to Yuletide Springs with her roommate Tori (Barrell), where Christmas is celebrated year-round, to participate in a longstanding town tradition to honor her late grandmother. Along the way, the friends meet Carl (Sevier) and Jason (Wells), and the foursome make stops during their journey to enjoy more small-town Christmas attractions. But when a series of events puts a damper on their plans, a little Christmas magic may put this trip back on the right path."

Christmas Island Premieres: Nov. 11, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Rachel Skarsten, Andrew Walker Contains: Inclement weather, a career on the line Official description: "When a snowstorm diverts Kate's (Skarsten) first private flight en route to Switzerland to Christmas Island, she must team up with an air traffic controller (Walker) to secure her dream job as the family's pilot."

A Heidelberg Holiday Premieres: Nov. 12, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Ginna Claire Mason, Frédéric Brossier Contains: Germany, a holiday market, getting in touch with one's roots Official description: "Heidi Heidelberg (Mason) receives the dream opportunity to sell her beautiful, handmade glass ornaments at the prestigious Heidelberg Christmas Market in Germany. While there, she meets Lukas (Brossier), a local artisan who helps her reconnect with her lost heritage."

Navigating Christmas Premieres: Nov. 17, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Chelsea Hobbs, Stephen Huszar Contains: A divorcée, ringing in the holidays on a remote island, a hot lighthouse operator Official description: "Recently divorced Melanie (Hobbs) and her son Jason visit a remote island for Christmas, only to find themselves running a real working lighthouse where she connects with the curt but cute owner (Huszar)."

A Merry Scottish Christmas Premieres: Nov. 18, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Lacey Chabert, Scott Wolf Contains: A Party of Five reunion, a brother-and-sister duo, Scotland, hidden secrets Official description: "When estranged siblings, Lindsay (Chabert) and Brad (Wolf) Morgan travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother Jo, a big family secret is revealed."

Holiday Hotline Premieres: Nov. 19, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Emily Tennant, Niall Matter Contains: London, love at first phone call, a secret connection Official description: "After leaving London, Abby (Tennant) connects with an anonymous caller while working at a cooking hotline. The caller is single dad 'John' (Matter) who Abby unknowingly has become smitten with in real life."

Catch Me If You Claus Premieres: Nov. 23, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Italia Ricci, Luke Macfarlane Contains: An ambitious news anchor, a home intruder purporting to be Santa's son, a high-stakes Christmas caper Official description: "Avery Quinn (Ricci) is an aspiring news anchor who's finally getting her big break on her station's Christmas morning newscast. But that's put in jeopardy when she captures an intruder in her home wearing a red suit claiming to be Chris (Macfarlane), Santa's son, who is on his first mission. A night of adventure ensues as they find themselves being pursued by the police as well as some shady characters. Along the way, they connect over living in the shadow of their parents and inspire each other to go after their dreams."

Letters to Santa Premieres: Nov. 24, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Katie Leclerc, Rafael de la Fuente Contains: A wish-granting pen, children of divorce Official description: "When young siblings receive a magic pen from Santa that appears to be granting wishes, they request a Christmas gift they want more than anything – for their separated parents (Leclerc, de la Fuente) to reunite."

Holiday Road Premieres: Nov. 24, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Warren Christie, Sara Canning Contains: Inspired by real events, canceled flights, unexpected allies, holiday road trip Official description: "When bad weather leaves each of them stranded at the airport for the holidays, a tech entrepreneur (Christie), a travel writer (Canning), a devoted mother (Enid-Raye Adams) and her son (Kiefer O'Reilly), a stubborn senior (Trevor Lerner), an enigmatic woman with a hint of mystery (Brittany Willacy), a couple traveling from Beijing (Sharon Crandall, Ryan Mah) and a social media influencer (Princess Davis) all agree to rent a shared van to embark on a road trip to Denver. When their unexpected journey brings them into uncharted territory, they navigate a series of misadventures together and form a deeper bond that just might change the trajectories of each of their lives. Inspired by true events."

Christmas in Notting Hill Premieres: Nov. 25, 6 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Sarah Ramos, William Moseley Contains: Haddie Braverman and Peter Pevensie, London, a famous footballer, an American on holiday Official description: "Famous soccer star, Graham Savoy (Moseley), has always been too busy for love, but when he comes home to Notting Hill for Christmas, he changes his mind after meeting Georgia (Ramos) – a visiting American and the one person who has no idea who he is."

Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up Premieres: Nov. 25, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Melissa Peterman, Ellen Travolta, Seth Morris, Jennifer Aspen Contains: A sequel, new neighbors, lots and lots of holiday decorations Official description: "As the holidays approach, Emily (Chabert) and Jared (Brown) are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together again, this time as a couple. Emily, now embracing Evergreen Lane's uniquely festive spirit, is ready to work with Jared, Ned (Tobolowsky), Mary Louise (Travolta) and Pamela (Peterman) to make this year's Christmas celebrations the best yet – even if being the HOA president's girlfriend doesn't stop those dreaded decorating citations. When a house on the block goes up for sale, it causes quite a stir with residents. When the soon-to-be neighbors turn out to be holiday royalty (Morris, Aspen), it looks like this year's competition is about to heat up. As the welcoming committee prepares for the new arrivals, only one thing is certain – this Christmas, Evergreen Lane is going to sleigh!"

Our Christmas Mural Premieres: Nov. 26, 6 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Alex Paxton-Beesley, Dan Jeannotte Contains: Home for the holidays, single mother, a holiday art contest Official description: "Olivia (Paxton-Beesley) is a single mom who returns home for Christmas. Her mom secretly enters her into a mural contest; she wins but partners with teacher Will (Jeannotte) to create a Christmas masterpiece."

A Biltmore Christmas Premieres: Nov. 26, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Bethany Joy Lenz, Kristoffer Polaha, Jonathan Frakes, Robert Picardo Contains: Star Trek and One Tree Hill stars, the Biltmore Estate, a screenwriter penning a classic holiday film reboot, time travel, a 1940s film star, a time paradox Official description: "Lucy Hardgrove (Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she's hired to pen the script for a remake of the beloved, holiday movie classic, His Merry Wife!, which was filmed in 1947 at the beautiful, historic Biltmore House. When the head of the studio isn't satisfied with the ending Lucy wrote because it deviates from the original's feel-good conclusion, he sends Lucy to Biltmore Estate for research and inspiration. While there, she unwittingly discovers the ability to travel to the 1947 set of His Merry Wife! through the help of an hourglass. While on set, she and Jack Huston (Polaha), one of the film's stars, spend time together and become close. But her sudden appearance has set off a chain of events that put the production in jeopardy. Before she can return to the present, Lucy must make things right or threaten to alter the future forever."

My Norwegian Holiday Premieres: Dec. 1, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Rhiannon Fish, David Elsendoorn Contains: Christmas in Norway, a mysterious connection, troll history Official description: "JJ (Fish), grieving the loss of her grandmother and seeking dissertation inspiration, stumbles upon an unexpected holiday destiny. Meeting Henrik (Elsendoorn), a Norwegian from Bergen, their connection deepens when he discovers she has a troll figurine from his hometown. To explore the troll's history and her grandmother's ties, JJ agrees to join Henrik on a journey to Norway. In Bergen, they're drawn into Henrik's family Christmas and wedding traditions, with his sister's wedding the day before Christmas Eve. JJ embarks on a holiday adventure, uncovering the troll's origins and finding her own path to healing, love and family."

A Not So Royal Christmas Premieres: Dec. 2, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Brooke D'Orsay, Will Kemp Contains: A journalist tracking down a story, a hidden identity, missing royalty Official description: "Tabloid journalist Charlotte (D'Orsay) attempts to land an interview with a reclusive Count. In response, the royal family has a groundskeeper (Kemp) pose as the Count since the real one fled years ago."

Christmas With a Kiss (working title) Premieres: Dec. 3, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Mishael Morgan, Ronnie Rowe Jr., and Jaime M. Callica Contains: Home for the holidays, a family-run Christmas carnival Official description: "A Mahogany presentation. A woman (Morgan) returns home to help with her family's Christmas Carnival and romance ignites. A photojournalist (Rowe) curates a surprise reunion."

Magic in Mistletoe Premieres: Dec. 8, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Lyndie Greenwood, Paul Campbell Contains: A curmudgeonly author who sparks backlash online, his well-meaning publicist, and a Christmas festival Official description: "Harrington (Campbell) is the author of a popular book series but commercial success has left him a bitter recluse. As he returns to his hometown for an annual Christmas festival celebrating his books, he's joined by April (Greenwood), a publicist for the major publishing house he works with. April is there for damage control after Harrington's recent comments on social media have ruffled some feathers. But as she gets to know him better, hope springs that April can unlock Harrington's guarded heart and help him rediscover the spirit of the holiday."

Christmas on Cherry Lane Premieres: Dec. 9, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Catherine Bell, Jonathan Bennett, John Brotherton, Erin Cahill, James Denton, Vincent Rodriguez III Contains: Aaron Samuels, a neighborhood coming together for the holidays Official description: "A young couple preparing to welcome their first child (Brotherton, Cahill); an empty-nester (Bell) and her fiancé (Denton) ready to start a new chapter; and a couple (Bennett, Rodgriquez III) who unexpectedly have the chance to expand their family on Christmas Eve celebrate the holiday as they navigate these turning points in their lives."

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