Adderall makes you smoke more cigarettes
Play Poorly, My Friends!
2013.01.24 03:18 Play Poorly, My Friends!
Posts should be card combos from Magic the Gathering that are extremely difficult to pull off, easily disrupted, ineffective, and possibly detrimental to one's own survival. Win more combos, Lose more combos, and do nothing combos are more than welcome.
2013.07.19 22:03 Medibee PolandballArt
PolandballArt is a subreddit for artistic pieces with country balls.
2016.07.08 01:23 MisterKimJongUn GoStoner Lifestyle
GoStoner a LIFESTYLE… Travel, Cuisine, Pop Culture, Music, Comedy…. A destination for all things Stoner where you can find everything from your next shirt, to the best weed friendly hotel in Colorado, or where you can find the incredibly awesome, “Girl Scout Cookie” strain in Seattle!
2024.05.14 17:33 DaveHervey Beverage market Cannabis legalization: soon grass instead of hops? May 8, 2024 in market report
Cannabis has now been – at least partially – legal in Germany for a good five weeks. Will there soon be THC drinks in this country? Will Germans then drink less alcohol? And where can the substances actually be consumed? While the answers to this will probably take a while to come, many, including those in the beverage industry, are looking with excitement to Canada, where marijuana has been legal since 2018.
The approval there quickly led to the introduction of a wealth of new mixed drinks. The beverage manufacturer Truss Beverages from the province of Ontario brought non-alcoholic drinks enriched with THC and CBD in a wide variety of, mostly fruity, flavors and different, precisely defined potencies onto the market under the brand names XMG, Little Victory, Mollo and Bedfellows. Truss is a joint venture between brewing company Molson Coors and cannabis company Hexo.
THC drinks soon in Germany too? It's no wonder that, given the opportunities offered by a completely new category, companies in this country are already positioning themselves to be among the pioneers if cannabis extracts are also approved as beverage additives here. For example, the Hamburg company “Good Drinks” is currently discussing whether THC in its drinks could be a useful brand addition, as co-owner Frank Maßen reports.
Good Drinks is currently on the market with vodka and energy drinks, for example. Well-known Hamburg restaurateurs such as Axel Strehlitz and John Schierhorn, both of whom have deep roots in the local club scene, are involved in the start-up. Maßen sees THC as a logical progression for a brand that has partying in its DNA, but “the idea of introducing a THC variant raises a lot of questions, especially in terms of brand image and acceptance,” said Maßen.
Discussions are currently underway internally about how to handle this potential expansion without damaging the essence of the brand, which is strongly linked to the club culture. There are intensive discussions with the licensors of the Hamburg Club Combine, which launched the brand together with Good Drinks to support the local club scene as a social business ( we reported ).
Some THC drinks already on the market in Canada Some THC drinks already on the market in Canada (Product photos: Truss Beverages) Breweries would certainly also be potential manufacturers. But the German Brewers Association considers it unlikely that many breweries could jump on the cannabis bandwagon. “Germany is and remains the country of beer drinkers. With 1,500 breweries and almost 8,000 brands, we have a beer variety that is unique in the world,” says Managing Director Holger Eichele. Beer is still the national drink, although consumption has been declining for years, as in many other European countries.
“Edibles” are still banned under EU law Apart from that, an introduction would not yet be legally possible, because drinks with THC or CBD fall under “edibles” in the EU; This refers to foods and drinks that contain cannabis. They are therefore affected by the Novel Food Regulation, explains the managing director of the Bavarian Cannabis Association, Wenzel Cerveny. This means that they can only be placed on the market once they have been tested as safe by the EU.
“This is something that a small manufacturer cannot do - this test would have to be initiated by a large company,” says Cerveny. He himself is currently working with the small brewery “Unertl” from Haag in Upper Bavaria on an alcohol-free beer with hemp extract. However, without THC or CBD, but with hemp as a special taste.
To provide a more detailed explanation, the EU states that there has been no evidence of any significant consumption of the individual substance CBD (cannabidiol) before May 15, 1997. It is therefore assessed as novel in the European Commission's Novel Food Catalog under the entry “Cannabinoids” and therefore requires its own approval. As long as this does not exist, such products are not marketable. The same applies to products containing THC.
Alcohol consumption in Canada fell after legalization It's not just new products that could affect the German beverage industry if they are allowed in the future. Using Canada as an example, it is clear to see that cannabis consumption has a direct influence on consumers' drinking behavior. A joint study by the University of Manitoba, Memorial University and the University of Toronto has shown that Canadians are drinking significantly less alcohol since they were legally allowed to consume cannabis.
For example, the study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence observed an average monthly decline in beer consumption of 136 hectoliters per 100,000 people after legalization. In this context, the authors speak of a “substitution effect”, in which consumers choose cannabis instead of beer as their intoxicant of choice.
Mixing with alcohol is not advisable Both together are considered by “connoisseurs” to be not very digestible. Even Truss Beverages advises against consuming its THC drinks mixed with alcohol on its website, citing recommendations from the Canadian Health Authority. Again and again, the product description in connection with the dosage is about ensuring a “controlled and predictable consumption experience”.
Clear warnings label drinks containing THC in Canada. Clear warnings label drinks containing THC in Canada. (Photo: Truss Beverages) A look at the 2022/23 financial year shows how strong cannabis legalization can have on the alcohol industry. Accordingly, Canada received more excise tax revenue from cannabis ($660 million) than from wine ($205 million) and beer ($450 million) combined.
It is still completely unclear whether the industry will have to adapt to similar shifts in this country. The German Brewers Association is rather relaxed: It is still far too early to speculate about possible effects, emphasizes DBB boss Eichele. “There are studies from abroad where markets have been examined in more detail. However, these studies cannot be transferred one-to-one to Germany; the starting points are far too different. We don’t expect any visible effects in this country.”
Where smoking is allowed, you can also smoke weed The question of how to deal with marijuana users in the catering industry is already very current; It is being hotly debated all over the country. While the use of the drug indoors is usually prohibited, there is scope for freedom in outdoor areas and, for example, beer gardens.
The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) says that initial feedback from the industry shows a tendency not to allow the consumption of marijuana. The legal situation varies from federal state to federal state, as Dehoga managing director and legal expert Jürgen Benad knows: “Where smoking is still permitted according to the legal regulations of the federal states, cannabis consumption is also generally permitted.”
But it is also clear: “Every restaurateur is allowed to prohibit guests from consuming cannabis – even in smoking bars – based on their house rules,” says Benad. This also applies to outdoor catering. Cannabis may not be consumed “in the immediate presence” of minors. What this specifically means in the catering industry will not be easy to define in individual cases.
Zero tolerance or laissez-faire? While the beer gardens in Munich, for example, will remain consumption-free until further notice due to Bavaria's zero-tolerance policy, people in Berlin are more open-minded. “Since the cannabis law was approved, the consumption of cannabis in the catering industry has been considered synonymous with the consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products,” says Tony Ettelt-Brundiers, managing director of “Zenner”, a cultural and gastronomic ensemble consisting of a vineyard, beer garden and organic ice cream parlor , concert hall, club space and event location in the capital.
“We are not questioning this law,” said Ettelt-Brundiers. “Regardless of what our guests smoke in the Zenner’s outdoor areas, we ask everyone to be considerate, especially if other guests could feel disturbed by someone else’s smoke, regardless of its origin.” This principle of mutuality Consideration has worked surprisingly well in Zenner for more than 200 years, which the aforementioned amendment to the law should not change, according to the managing director.
How much cannabis will ultimately change the beverage industry and social life surrounding beverages is still entirely unknown.
https://getraenke-news.de/cannabis-legalisierung-bald-gras-statt-hopfen/
NOTE: Some of the getraenke-news research goes back a few years and ownership of TRUSS is now 100% owned and operated by Tilray Brands that is also a multi year, In Country producer of German Medical Cannabis.
submitted by DaveHervey to TLRY [link] [comments]
The approval there quickly led to the introduction of a wealth of new mixed drinks. The beverage manufacturer Truss Beverages from the province of Ontario brought non-alcoholic drinks enriched with THC and CBD in a wide variety of, mostly fruity, flavors and different, precisely defined potencies onto the market under the brand names XMG, Little Victory, Mollo and Bedfellows. Truss is a joint venture between brewing company Molson Coors and cannabis company Hexo.
THC drinks soon in Germany too? It's no wonder that, given the opportunities offered by a completely new category, companies in this country are already positioning themselves to be among the pioneers if cannabis extracts are also approved as beverage additives here. For example, the Hamburg company “Good Drinks” is currently discussing whether THC in its drinks could be a useful brand addition, as co-owner Frank Maßen reports.
Good Drinks is currently on the market with vodka and energy drinks, for example. Well-known Hamburg restaurateurs such as Axel Strehlitz and John Schierhorn, both of whom have deep roots in the local club scene, are involved in the start-up. Maßen sees THC as a logical progression for a brand that has partying in its DNA, but “the idea of introducing a THC variant raises a lot of questions, especially in terms of brand image and acceptance,” said Maßen.
Discussions are currently underway internally about how to handle this potential expansion without damaging the essence of the brand, which is strongly linked to the club culture. There are intensive discussions with the licensors of the Hamburg Club Combine, which launched the brand together with Good Drinks to support the local club scene as a social business ( we reported ).
Some THC drinks already on the market in Canada Some THC drinks already on the market in Canada (Product photos: Truss Beverages) Breweries would certainly also be potential manufacturers. But the German Brewers Association considers it unlikely that many breweries could jump on the cannabis bandwagon. “Germany is and remains the country of beer drinkers. With 1,500 breweries and almost 8,000 brands, we have a beer variety that is unique in the world,” says Managing Director Holger Eichele. Beer is still the national drink, although consumption has been declining for years, as in many other European countries.
“Edibles” are still banned under EU law Apart from that, an introduction would not yet be legally possible, because drinks with THC or CBD fall under “edibles” in the EU; This refers to foods and drinks that contain cannabis. They are therefore affected by the Novel Food Regulation, explains the managing director of the Bavarian Cannabis Association, Wenzel Cerveny. This means that they can only be placed on the market once they have been tested as safe by the EU.
“This is something that a small manufacturer cannot do - this test would have to be initiated by a large company,” says Cerveny. He himself is currently working with the small brewery “Unertl” from Haag in Upper Bavaria on an alcohol-free beer with hemp extract. However, without THC or CBD, but with hemp as a special taste.
To provide a more detailed explanation, the EU states that there has been no evidence of any significant consumption of the individual substance CBD (cannabidiol) before May 15, 1997. It is therefore assessed as novel in the European Commission's Novel Food Catalog under the entry “Cannabinoids” and therefore requires its own approval. As long as this does not exist, such products are not marketable. The same applies to products containing THC.
Alcohol consumption in Canada fell after legalization It's not just new products that could affect the German beverage industry if they are allowed in the future. Using Canada as an example, it is clear to see that cannabis consumption has a direct influence on consumers' drinking behavior. A joint study by the University of Manitoba, Memorial University and the University of Toronto has shown that Canadians are drinking significantly less alcohol since they were legally allowed to consume cannabis.
For example, the study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence observed an average monthly decline in beer consumption of 136 hectoliters per 100,000 people after legalization. In this context, the authors speak of a “substitution effect”, in which consumers choose cannabis instead of beer as their intoxicant of choice.
Mixing with alcohol is not advisable Both together are considered by “connoisseurs” to be not very digestible. Even Truss Beverages advises against consuming its THC drinks mixed with alcohol on its website, citing recommendations from the Canadian Health Authority. Again and again, the product description in connection with the dosage is about ensuring a “controlled and predictable consumption experience”.
Clear warnings label drinks containing THC in Canada. Clear warnings label drinks containing THC in Canada. (Photo: Truss Beverages) A look at the 2022/23 financial year shows how strong cannabis legalization can have on the alcohol industry. Accordingly, Canada received more excise tax revenue from cannabis ($660 million) than from wine ($205 million) and beer ($450 million) combined.
It is still completely unclear whether the industry will have to adapt to similar shifts in this country. The German Brewers Association is rather relaxed: It is still far too early to speculate about possible effects, emphasizes DBB boss Eichele. “There are studies from abroad where markets have been examined in more detail. However, these studies cannot be transferred one-to-one to Germany; the starting points are far too different. We don’t expect any visible effects in this country.”
Where smoking is allowed, you can also smoke weed The question of how to deal with marijuana users in the catering industry is already very current; It is being hotly debated all over the country. While the use of the drug indoors is usually prohibited, there is scope for freedom in outdoor areas and, for example, beer gardens.
The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) says that initial feedback from the industry shows a tendency not to allow the consumption of marijuana. The legal situation varies from federal state to federal state, as Dehoga managing director and legal expert Jürgen Benad knows: “Where smoking is still permitted according to the legal regulations of the federal states, cannabis consumption is also generally permitted.”
But it is also clear: “Every restaurateur is allowed to prohibit guests from consuming cannabis – even in smoking bars – based on their house rules,” says Benad. This also applies to outdoor catering. Cannabis may not be consumed “in the immediate presence” of minors. What this specifically means in the catering industry will not be easy to define in individual cases.
Zero tolerance or laissez-faire? While the beer gardens in Munich, for example, will remain consumption-free until further notice due to Bavaria's zero-tolerance policy, people in Berlin are more open-minded. “Since the cannabis law was approved, the consumption of cannabis in the catering industry has been considered synonymous with the consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products,” says Tony Ettelt-Brundiers, managing director of “Zenner”, a cultural and gastronomic ensemble consisting of a vineyard, beer garden and organic ice cream parlor , concert hall, club space and event location in the capital.
“We are not questioning this law,” said Ettelt-Brundiers. “Regardless of what our guests smoke in the Zenner’s outdoor areas, we ask everyone to be considerate, especially if other guests could feel disturbed by someone else’s smoke, regardless of its origin.” This principle of mutuality Consideration has worked surprisingly well in Zenner for more than 200 years, which the aforementioned amendment to the law should not change, according to the managing director.
How much cannabis will ultimately change the beverage industry and social life surrounding beverages is still entirely unknown.
https://getraenke-news.de/cannabis-legalisierung-bald-gras-statt-hopfen/
NOTE: Some of the getraenke-news research goes back a few years and ownership of TRUSS is now 100% owned and operated by Tilray Brands that is also a multi year, In Country producer of German Medical Cannabis.
2024.05.14 17:24 altairths How hard is it to quit for relatively new smokers?
Hello everyone,
as most of the people on this subreddit, I want to quit smoking. I am writing this post because I want to be properly prepared.
I am 24 years old and I only started smoking regularly around one and a half years ago, although I have been a party smoker for around 5 years. I smoke around 5 cigarettes on regular days. When I drink, which usually happens on the weekends, it can easily go up to 20.
While I really enjoy smoking (obviously), I started to feel kind of stupid recently for doing it. Initially mostly because of social disapprovement (I moved to a new city and for some reason nobody here smokes). As a result I started to think a lot about the negative side of smoking and decided that quitting is the way. When I began smoking, I was sure that I don't want to die to lung cancer, so I knew I wanted to quit someday before it's too late. I decided that before my addiction grows too strong, this day is now.
Hard smokers who managed to stop often depict it as one of the hardest things that they achieved in their lives. The stories I read online make it sound horribly hard.
Now I have a couple of questions for the community:
submitted by altairths to stopsmoking [link] [comments]
as most of the people on this subreddit, I want to quit smoking. I am writing this post because I want to be properly prepared.
I am 24 years old and I only started smoking regularly around one and a half years ago, although I have been a party smoker for around 5 years. I smoke around 5 cigarettes on regular days. When I drink, which usually happens on the weekends, it can easily go up to 20.
While I really enjoy smoking (obviously), I started to feel kind of stupid recently for doing it. Initially mostly because of social disapprovement (I moved to a new city and for some reason nobody here smokes). As a result I started to think a lot about the negative side of smoking and decided that quitting is the way. When I began smoking, I was sure that I don't want to die to lung cancer, so I knew I wanted to quit someday before it's too late. I decided that before my addiction grows too strong, this day is now.
Hard smokers who managed to stop often depict it as one of the hardest things that they achieved in their lives. The stories I read online make it sound horribly hard.
Now I have a couple of questions for the community:
- Will it be as hard to quit for relatively new and soft smokers like me?
- Can anybody who had a comparable level of addiction share how they managed to stop?
- What are your tips for my journey?
2024.05.14 17:20 Silver_Drop6600 NHS ADHD diagnosis/Cannabis Catch-22
I’m in my 40s and have recently become aware that the reason I’m weird in all the specific ways that I am is almost certainly to do with having ADHD or something very similar.
It started when I listened to a podcast with Dr Russell Barkley and was like, “That’s me!” to just about everything he said. Then I did some online ADHD tests and answering the questions it pretty much felt the same as if there had just been a photo of me and the question, “Is this you?” Needless to say they all said I probably had it.
Until finding this out I’ve always felt weird and different and misunderstood and have had a lot of issues with depression, self-loathing and suicidal ideation. It always felt like people were telling me, “just be a different person!” And I wasn’t able to convince them that I couldn’t. To help make life a bit more bearable I smoke weed, and have done almost daily now for 25 years (also I drink too much and am on Fluoxetine for the depression, but don’t feel addicted to these as I am with weed).
I went to the doctor and asked if I could get assessed and they said that I couldn’t because I drink and smoke weed. I feel like I’m in a Catch-22 because I need the weed to deal with the adhd, and if I was being properly treated for that then maybe I’d be able to give up the weed, but I’m not allowed to get assessed for that until I’ve given up the weed which I can’t do until… and on and on.
They’ve referred me to a drugs and alcohol service and I will go along and try, but I honestly have zero belief I can do it. I really can’t picture a life where I don’t have my weed; the very idea of it gives me a feeling of terrifying emptiness.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? What can I do?
PS I can’t afford to get privately assessed.
submitted by Silver_Drop6600 to MentalHealthUK [link] [comments]
It started when I listened to a podcast with Dr Russell Barkley and was like, “That’s me!” to just about everything he said. Then I did some online ADHD tests and answering the questions it pretty much felt the same as if there had just been a photo of me and the question, “Is this you?” Needless to say they all said I probably had it.
Until finding this out I’ve always felt weird and different and misunderstood and have had a lot of issues with depression, self-loathing and suicidal ideation. It always felt like people were telling me, “just be a different person!” And I wasn’t able to convince them that I couldn’t. To help make life a bit more bearable I smoke weed, and have done almost daily now for 25 years (also I drink too much and am on Fluoxetine for the depression, but don’t feel addicted to these as I am with weed).
I went to the doctor and asked if I could get assessed and they said that I couldn’t because I drink and smoke weed. I feel like I’m in a Catch-22 because I need the weed to deal with the adhd, and if I was being properly treated for that then maybe I’d be able to give up the weed, but I’m not allowed to get assessed for that until I’ve given up the weed which I can’t do until… and on and on.
They’ve referred me to a drugs and alcohol service and I will go along and try, but I honestly have zero belief I can do it. I really can’t picture a life where I don’t have my weed; the very idea of it gives me a feeling of terrifying emptiness.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? What can I do?
PS I can’t afford to get privately assessed.
2024.05.14 17:19 Silver_Drop6600 NHS ADHD diagnosis/Cannabis Catch-22
I’m in my 40s and have recently become aware that the reason I’m weird in all the specific ways that I am is almost certainly to do with having ADHD or something very similar.
It started when I listened to a podcast with Dr Russell Barkley and was like, “That’s me!” to just about everything he said. Then I did some online ADHD tests and answering the questions it pretty much felt the same as if there had just been a photo of me and the question, “Is this you?” Needless to say they all said I probably had it.
Until finding this out I’ve always felt weird and different and misunderstood and have had a lot of issues with depression, self-loathing and suicidal ideation. It always felt like people were telling me, “just be a different person!” And I wasn’t able to convince them that I couldn’t. To help make life a bit more bearable I smoke weed, and have done almost daily now for 25 years (also I drink too much and am on Fluoxetine for the depression, but don’t feel addicted to these as I am with weed).
I went to the doctor and asked if I could get assessed and they said that I couldn’t because I drink and smoke weed. I feel like I’m in a Catch-22 because I need the weed to deal with the adhd, and if I was being properly treated for that then maybe I’d be able to give up the weed, but I’m not allowed to get assessed for that until I’ve given up the weed which I can’t do until… and on and on.
They’ve referred me to a drugs and alcohol service and I will go along and try, but I honestly have zero belief I can do it. I really can’t picture a life where I don’t have my weed; the very idea of it gives me a feeling of terrifying emptiness.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? What can I do?
PS I can’t afford to get privately assessed.
submitted by Silver_Drop6600 to nhs [link] [comments]
It started when I listened to a podcast with Dr Russell Barkley and was like, “That’s me!” to just about everything he said. Then I did some online ADHD tests and answering the questions it pretty much felt the same as if there had just been a photo of me and the question, “Is this you?” Needless to say they all said I probably had it.
Until finding this out I’ve always felt weird and different and misunderstood and have had a lot of issues with depression, self-loathing and suicidal ideation. It always felt like people were telling me, “just be a different person!” And I wasn’t able to convince them that I couldn’t. To help make life a bit more bearable I smoke weed, and have done almost daily now for 25 years (also I drink too much and am on Fluoxetine for the depression, but don’t feel addicted to these as I am with weed).
I went to the doctor and asked if I could get assessed and they said that I couldn’t because I drink and smoke weed. I feel like I’m in a Catch-22 because I need the weed to deal with the adhd, and if I was being properly treated for that then maybe I’d be able to give up the weed, but I’m not allowed to get assessed for that until I’ve given up the weed which I can’t do until… and on and on.
They’ve referred me to a drugs and alcohol service and I will go along and try, but I honestly have zero belief I can do it. I really can’t picture a life where I don’t have my weed; the very idea of it gives me a feeling of terrifying emptiness.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? What can I do?
PS I can’t afford to get privately assessed.
2024.05.14 17:18 MichaelPP3 Hustling Cargo (a Lucky Charm excerpt)
original setting by Michael McNeill
Myrla sat at one of the tables in the food court area of Nantrella Station. The Greylin’s crew had discovered several ships docked with family members on board and this had led to a rather impressively large impromptu family reunion with several dozen kwonese spacers gathered up in one space.
She was sitting slouched over the table, the only human in a sea of furry ratfolk, nursing her drink. It was a chocaf that one of the family from another ship had spiked with something s/he said was an intoxicant that she would enjoy. Myrla wasn’t sure if it was intoxicating, but it did add a pleasant richness to the drink and it warmed her in a way chocaf didn’t normally do.
She was reaching the end of her drink and was starting to wonder if she should try to find the kwonese who had spiked her drink to ask for a second round when she realized some of her crewmates nearby were talking about her. She hadn’t been listening, really, her mind just floating along in the comfortable feel of the “group-snuggle” as they called it, so she wasn’t sure what was going on.
After a few seconds of focusing on the conversation, she realized they were bragging about her. That was when one of them turned to her, dragging her into the conversation.
“Yah, see! This Myrla, she top stevedore, better than ya porter drone!” Nellin, one of the crew-family she had little interaction with other than when it was time to hustle cargo, had grabbed her by the sleeve and was tugging her into a small cluster of kwonese sitting around one of the tables. She only recognized one other face as being part of the Greylin crew. Nellin served as the ship’s load-master and chief stevedore, so she assumed the others in the group likely held similar positions on their own ships.
Myrla hoisted her cup in greeting, a lopsided smile on her face. Then she realized she did know another of the faces in the group – the cousin who had spiked her chocaf. Grinning, she pulled her arm free of Nellin’s grip and pointed to him then to her almost empty cup. “I’m going to need some more of that, cousin.”
This set off titters of laughter around the crew as the kwonese in question hauled out a silver flask from his vest pocket. “Powerful stuff, yah!” He made smacking sounds as he fixed her another chocaf from the table’s dispenser. “Makin’ it on the Yeongja, we do. Best you find.”
She drained her first cup and picked up the second. If it was an intoxicant, it was either incredibly weak or it was so smooth that it would hit her like a sledgehammer later. Either way, it was a delightful pairing with the bitterness of the chocaf. She took a sip of the fresh drink, smiling as the warmth seeped into her. The group shuffled around to make a spot for her to sit.
One of the others, a grizzled older kwonese, looked at her one eyebrow raised. “Nellin say you top stevedore. Say you outwork drone. Been load-master on Yeongja ten year and four more now on /San Matteo/. Not seeing that happen yet.”
She looked over Nellin and raised her cup in his direction. “[Samchun ]()[[MM1]](#_msocom_1) has never voiced displeasure with my work. If he wishes to say I work harder than a cargo drone, that is his choice.”
Her comment brought hoots of laughter from around the table. Out-bragging in a family was something of a sport with the kwonese and diplomatically saying they were boasting without calling them a liar was an integral part of the game, even better if you were doing so in support of them.
“Well-saying, [olinee]()[[MM2]](#_msocom_2) .” The grizzled cargo-chief crinkled his snout and raised his glass at her. “But now chincheog making me curious. Never seeing such a thing not being the same as impossible thing.” He paused to scratch his whiskers. “Not working much with your kind, true, so never seeing how much you can do.” Several of the group lightly slapped the tabletop and looked in her direction.
She glanced down at Nellin, seeing his whiskers twitching. His body language was just like it would be if they were playing cards and he were holding a winning hand, waiting on the pool to grow. Long seconds passed before the one she’d mentally dubbed “Mister Flask” leaned in.
“Let’s make it interesting.”
And there it was. Cred-chips started hitting the table and in moments, crew from all the ships were aware of the betting taking place. She sat, sipping her doctored chocaf, as the kwonese around her seemed to turn into a boiling pool of sleek fur and whiskers. Across the table, “Mister Flask” raised his cup to her … and winked.
She grinned back at him, returning the gesture. Now what was that all about?
One of the twins – probably Mikkeulon, from the scent – saw the exchange and leaned close to her. “Oh-ho! You catching Peulla’s eye, then! Good choice, but he wild.”
Myrla sputtered into her cup, but before she could say anything, the twin was gone. Then Nellin leaned in close. “You got this, girlee. Seen you move more easy. Just be going slow and easy and Greylin family got drinks for all station-time, ya.”
Myrla smiled to herself, shaking her head. The cargo-master may have said the Greylin’s crew would have all their drinks covered during their port-time, but given the kwonese need for these family get-togethers, “hajog-poog” they called them, every kwonese on the station would be regular visitors to the Greylin. The betting was just the method they used to pick which ship the party was held on.
It wasn’t long before the entire party had relocated to the docks where San Matteo was set to disgorge its cargo. The grizzled cargo-master, who Myrla now knew to be named Tostiklin, had one of the enormous cargo bays set up for the impromptu competition. She’d sent Orak off to the /Greylin/ to retrieve her backpack, leading to a humorous scene as the young kwonese came running into the docking area dragging the pack that was easily as large as he was. She stripped away the actual pack and her possessions that it held, leaving just the pack-frame. She tasked Orak with perching on the pack itself, to make sure it didn’t get lost in the excitement.
She walked over to the small cluster of cargo-masters and hefted her packframe. “I assume I’m allowed to use a cargo rack, since the drone has one?” She watched as several of them suppressed snickers and Tostiklin wrinkled his snout in amusement.
He waved absently. “Yahyey, of course! Wanting a fair run, we.” He motioned the cargo drone over, which stood almost twice as tall as its crewmates. The crowd settled down to a low murmur as the cargo master addressed the two. “This being the rules. Moving cargo for one minute, as much as you can, ya. No helping from others. No interfering with other stevedore. Move you stack from where it is to indicated position.” He pointed to a pair of chalked squares some thirty feet away from the initial stacks. “Is good?”
The drone’s head rotated from the kwonese to Myrla to the two stacks of cargo containers and back. “I to compete against this gentlebeing? Moving cargo like normal work?”
“Yes, Ledo.”
The drone dipped its head. “Understood but I do not understand why.”
Myrla leaned close to the drone. “They gambling on us. Who can shift more.”
The drone tipped its expressionless face first to one side then to the other while looking at her, a low whir of servos barely audible. Then it looked toward the group of kwonese for a moment. “Oh. Oh. Then … perhaps I should apologize now?”
Myrla grinned. “Apologize for what?”
“I am made to shift significant amounts of cargo. You do not appear to be. I shall apologize now for embarrassing you in front of your shipmates.”
Myrla laughed and patted the drone on its arm. “It’s all in fun, Ledo. I won’t be embarrassed.”
She could detect a faint note of smugness in the mechanical’s speech. “Very well. Then let us proceed.”
“Geebees, are clear on rules?” Myrla and Ledo both indicated their assent. “Then please stand by cargo.”
When they had taken their places, Tostiklin pulled a whistle from his pocket and blew on it. Myrla and Ledo began quickly assembling their loads. Remembering Nellin’s admonition, she carefully restricted her load, adding two containers more to hers than the drone loaded onto itself. It was enough weight to slow her down considerably, but she could still keep up with Ledo without straining.
Together, they dropped their cargo loads inside their assigned squares and Myrla fought the urge to race ahead of the drone, keeping pace with it instead. Twice more the cycle repeated itself, with Myrla carrying just enough extra to stay ahead in the count.
When the whistle blew a second time, the gathered cargo-masters counted the crates in each stack. Tostiklin’s face was a study in surprise as he counted Myrla’s stack again.
He looked at Nellin. “Your stevedore has clearly won. By a mere six crates, but she has won.” The kwonese erupted into cheers and groans, depending on the amount of credits they had won or lost. Tostiklin held up a hand and the crowd quieted down. “But you say she outwork drone. Win by six is much as keep up with drone.”
The crowd inhaled as a whole. /San Matteo/’s cargo chief was treading the fine line of being rude, almost accusing Nellin of lying. The older kwonese narrowed his eyes, looking for at Nellin, then Myrla, then at the crowd. “I like very much to be seeing her truly outwork drone. What is prize money?” One of the younger cargo-masters gave him the figure. “I say offering own creds to match that, double or nothing.”
The crowd went wild, the line of propriety saved. Myrla doubted Nellin had that sort of funds available, based on his change in body language. From behind her, she heard a female kwonese start chanting, “Match! Match!” She and Nellin turned to look, seeing Captain Wanniv shaking her fist in the air. In seconds, all the /Greylin/’s crew was chanting with her.
“Match! Match! Match!”
Nellin looked at her, his nervousness evident, even though things were going exactly like he’d told her they would. She winked at him and gave him a quick nod.
His bearing changed imperceptibly as he turned back to Tostiklin. “Yahyey, chincheog. You be seeing truth.”
Ban Baekui had sidled up beside her, patting her arm. “Time be taking off the governor, ya.”
She nodded absently, her gaze wandering around the room, watching as dozens of groupings indicated the level of betting taking place. “Got your bets made, chief?”
“Already making creds plenty. This to be sheer kwaja!”
She looked down at him, grinning. “The captain plays cards with Nellin, doesn’t she?”
Ban gave her a curious tilt of his head. “Frequently. Why you ask?”
Myrla nodded to herself, looking around again. “She backed him up at the perfect time. This gonna bring some notoriety to the Greylin. And that converts to …” She looked back at the ship’s lead mechanic, grinning broadly.
“Jobs. Bigger and better.” Ban nodded, grinning back. “Not playing cards with you, girlee. Best getting ready, then.”
Ban faded back into the crowd, leaving her with Nellin. “You good with this? Tossi want longer timeframe for this.”
Myrla dropped to one knee, making it so she had to look up slightly at the cargo master. “I need some advice, chief.” Nellin blinked in surprise at the abrupt change in the situation. When he signaled his assent, she continued. “There’s more going on than what I’m seeing. You just used a blood-kin name for him. The captain backed you up publicly under his challenge, so she’s now tied the two of you together, your win is now her win, and your loss her loss. Tostiklin almost called you a liar in front of everyone, but pulled it out by upping the bet.” She scanned the crowd, seeing several non-kwonese beginning to intermingle. “And that is interesting. More geebees are joining the party. And those aren’t spacers.” Her eyes narrowed. “Those are brokers – I recognize two of them.”
Nellin wrung his hands, a faint tang of nervousness coloring his odor. “Is … is complicated.”
“Not from my end, chief. Tostiklin wants to see how hard I can work, because he wants to learn more about my people and is willing to pay for the privilege. And he wants to see me lose to gloat…” She looked at Nellin as he started squirming again. “He doesn’t want me to lose.” She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Who is he related to by blood on the Greylin?”
“He brother to captain’s father…” Myrla’s eyes lit up in sudden understanding. “…and is brother to my mother’s mother.”
Myrla’s jaw dropped slightly as several puzzle pieces clicked into place. “He … he doesn’t want us to fail at all. He’s loaning the captain operating money as well as boosting the ship’s reputation.”
Nellin put his hands out to shush her. “Not be saying this!”
The good side of her mouth pulled up in a smile. “Don’t worry, not a word. Plus, by challenging you like this, you gain even more credibility with the family after I smoke that presumptuous cargo drone at his own game. You gain a reputation for understating how good something is.”
“See … is complicated.”
“Chief, go make your personal bets. This run is about to get interesting.”
The next ten minutes was a flurry of action as bets were made and new spectators arrived from stationside. At one point, Peulla drifted by, pressing another cup of that deliciously spiked chocaf into her hand with a wink. Soon, the cargo masters were huddled up again.
Tostiklin had found a voice amplifier somewhere, letting his voice be heard over the noises of the much-larger crowd. “We be setting round two. Nellin, loadmaster of the Greylin Bostlin, say he crewmate outwork cargo drone. We see earlier this geebee do that.” He indicated Myrla and she waved at the crowd, to delighted cheers from more than just her shipmates. “I say she barely beat cargo drone and I ask for a rematch. I offer double to see she truly outwork drone!” The crowd roared excitedly. “I ask to see geebee outwork drone and just minutes not enough. I ask for one whole hour!”
The crowd erupted into a frenzy and Myrla blinked in confusion. Nobody mentioned hauling cargo for an hour, she thought.
Captain Wanniv had slipped up beside her. “Just another day on the docks, ya?”
Turning to the captain with a smile, she said, “Using my own words against me as inspiration? I’m … well, I don’t guess I’m shocked. And yes, I’m good for it.”
“Is good. All this good.”
Myrla gave the captain a wink. “I love how they brought in some of the local cargo brokers and the Dockworker’s Guild to watch. San Matteo is a respected crew. To see them give the Greylin respect will carry weight later.”
The captain’s eyes crinkled. “I have no idea what you mean.”
Finally, the crowd calmed down again. Siezing the moment, Myrla stepped forward to address the Matteo’s cargo-master. “Samchun, it seems to me that all of our competition is being done handling cargo from the San Matteo. If we are unloading cargo, then am I working for you? And, if I am working, then as a member of the Stevedore and Dockworker’s Guild, I have to be paid or I lose my license. And I cannot bet on myself.”
The crowd fell to a dead silence as Tostiklin’s eyebrows rose slowly, first one then the other.
“FAIR!” Someone in the crowd shouted.
Tostiklin glanced in the direction of the speaker and turned back to Myrla, nodding slowly. “Wisdom speaks.” A grin slowly spread across his face. “I will pay you one hour with a bonus in proportional to how well you outwork the drone.”
Myrla nodded. “I accept these terms and your grace in offering them.” This brought a round of applause from the crowd.
“Again! This being the rules! Moving cargo for one hour, as much as you can, ya. No helping from others. No interfering with other stevedore. Move you stack from where it is to indicated platform.” He pointed to a pair of conveyor platforms some thirty feet away from the initial stacks. “Is good?”
Both workers gave their assent.
“Geebees, to your starting places!” Again, a blast from the whistle signaled the start of the competition. Both fell to their task and worked steadily, but Myrla thought it looked as though the drone knew it had already been beaten. For every stack of crates it moved, she moved twice as many. When it tried to match her volume, its speed dropped off significantly to the sound of overloaded drive motors.
They were well and thoroughly inside the cargo bay of the /San Matteo/ and the crowd was only able to keep up by watching on a series of holoscreens that had been set up for the purpose. True to Bae’s request, she “pulled the governors off,” falling into her work-trance, letting the crates guide her flow. The conveyor platforms advanced with them, never more than thirty feet away, making the job a bit less arduous. The cargo-master group was inside with them, as well, and Myrla shut them out by treating them like she did any other client who hung out to watch her work.
She was so deep into her work that the whistle caught her by surprise and Nellin had to physically intervene to get her attention.
“Is good, girlee. We done it. YOU done it.”
Myrla walked out of the cargo hold, blinking and shaking her head, trying to get refocused on where she was. Then she realized the entire hajog was chanting her name. Bae and Wanniv were waiting on her at the bay-door. Bae handed her a bottle of water and Wanniv grabbed Myrla’s free hand in both of hers. “You best lucky charm!” As the crowd caught sight of her, the chant broke into a wordless cheer that threatened to overwhelm her.
Finally, the cargo-masters made their counts and conferred together with a lot of nodding and one shaking their head incredulously. Tostiklin motioned her and the cargo drone forward to join them.
“Thinking it clear who wins.” He broke off with a grin as the crowd erupted into cheers again. He tried to continue twice before the cheering died down enough to let him be heard. “Seeing you never slowed down, girlee. Thinking maybe you having another gear or two.”
Smiling, Myrla shrugged as the crowd went wild again.
“And!” He held up a pouch for everyone to see. “And, here is your payment. One hour’s wage for a class five stevedore. And since you performed double what the drone performed, your wages are doubled.”
Again, the crowd roared and she fought to keep the surprise off her face. She was a class one stevedore and class five rates were significantly higher than she was used to getting. As she accepted the pouch from him, she leaned in to be heard above the crowd. “You are a wise and honorable gentlebeing, Samchun. May your words echo among many gajog.”
That got her an extra cheer from the cargo-chiefs and a pat on the cheek from a grinning Tostiklin. “You taking good-good care of the Greylin crew, then. So, let’s be drinking to this!”
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Myrla sat at one of the tables in the food court area of Nantrella Station. The Greylin’s crew had discovered several ships docked with family members on board and this had led to a rather impressively large impromptu family reunion with several dozen kwonese spacers gathered up in one space.
She was sitting slouched over the table, the only human in a sea of furry ratfolk, nursing her drink. It was a chocaf that one of the family from another ship had spiked with something s/he said was an intoxicant that she would enjoy. Myrla wasn’t sure if it was intoxicating, but it did add a pleasant richness to the drink and it warmed her in a way chocaf didn’t normally do.
She was reaching the end of her drink and was starting to wonder if she should try to find the kwonese who had spiked her drink to ask for a second round when she realized some of her crewmates nearby were talking about her. She hadn’t been listening, really, her mind just floating along in the comfortable feel of the “group-snuggle” as they called it, so she wasn’t sure what was going on.
After a few seconds of focusing on the conversation, she realized they were bragging about her. That was when one of them turned to her, dragging her into the conversation.
“Yah, see! This Myrla, she top stevedore, better than ya porter drone!” Nellin, one of the crew-family she had little interaction with other than when it was time to hustle cargo, had grabbed her by the sleeve and was tugging her into a small cluster of kwonese sitting around one of the tables. She only recognized one other face as being part of the Greylin crew. Nellin served as the ship’s load-master and chief stevedore, so she assumed the others in the group likely held similar positions on their own ships.
Myrla hoisted her cup in greeting, a lopsided smile on her face. Then she realized she did know another of the faces in the group – the cousin who had spiked her chocaf. Grinning, she pulled her arm free of Nellin’s grip and pointed to him then to her almost empty cup. “I’m going to need some more of that, cousin.”
This set off titters of laughter around the crew as the kwonese in question hauled out a silver flask from his vest pocket. “Powerful stuff, yah!” He made smacking sounds as he fixed her another chocaf from the table’s dispenser. “Makin’ it on the Yeongja, we do. Best you find.”
She drained her first cup and picked up the second. If it was an intoxicant, it was either incredibly weak or it was so smooth that it would hit her like a sledgehammer later. Either way, it was a delightful pairing with the bitterness of the chocaf. She took a sip of the fresh drink, smiling as the warmth seeped into her. The group shuffled around to make a spot for her to sit.
One of the others, a grizzled older kwonese, looked at her one eyebrow raised. “Nellin say you top stevedore. Say you outwork drone. Been load-master on Yeongja ten year and four more now on /San Matteo/. Not seeing that happen yet.”
She looked over Nellin and raised her cup in his direction. “[Samchun ]()[[MM1]](#_msocom_1) has never voiced displeasure with my work. If he wishes to say I work harder than a cargo drone, that is his choice.”
Her comment brought hoots of laughter from around the table. Out-bragging in a family was something of a sport with the kwonese and diplomatically saying they were boasting without calling them a liar was an integral part of the game, even better if you were doing so in support of them.
“Well-saying, [olinee]()[[MM2]](#_msocom_2) .” The grizzled cargo-chief crinkled his snout and raised his glass at her. “But now chincheog making me curious. Never seeing such a thing not being the same as impossible thing.” He paused to scratch his whiskers. “Not working much with your kind, true, so never seeing how much you can do.” Several of the group lightly slapped the tabletop and looked in her direction.
She glanced down at Nellin, seeing his whiskers twitching. His body language was just like it would be if they were playing cards and he were holding a winning hand, waiting on the pool to grow. Long seconds passed before the one she’d mentally dubbed “Mister Flask” leaned in.
“Let’s make it interesting.”
And there it was. Cred-chips started hitting the table and in moments, crew from all the ships were aware of the betting taking place. She sat, sipping her doctored chocaf, as the kwonese around her seemed to turn into a boiling pool of sleek fur and whiskers. Across the table, “Mister Flask” raised his cup to her … and winked.
She grinned back at him, returning the gesture. Now what was that all about?
One of the twins – probably Mikkeulon, from the scent – saw the exchange and leaned close to her. “Oh-ho! You catching Peulla’s eye, then! Good choice, but he wild.”
Myrla sputtered into her cup, but before she could say anything, the twin was gone. Then Nellin leaned in close. “You got this, girlee. Seen you move more easy. Just be going slow and easy and Greylin family got drinks for all station-time, ya.”
Myrla smiled to herself, shaking her head. The cargo-master may have said the Greylin’s crew would have all their drinks covered during their port-time, but given the kwonese need for these family get-togethers, “hajog-poog” they called them, every kwonese on the station would be regular visitors to the Greylin. The betting was just the method they used to pick which ship the party was held on.
It wasn’t long before the entire party had relocated to the docks where San Matteo was set to disgorge its cargo. The grizzled cargo-master, who Myrla now knew to be named Tostiklin, had one of the enormous cargo bays set up for the impromptu competition. She’d sent Orak off to the /Greylin/ to retrieve her backpack, leading to a humorous scene as the young kwonese came running into the docking area dragging the pack that was easily as large as he was. She stripped away the actual pack and her possessions that it held, leaving just the pack-frame. She tasked Orak with perching on the pack itself, to make sure it didn’t get lost in the excitement.
She walked over to the small cluster of cargo-masters and hefted her packframe. “I assume I’m allowed to use a cargo rack, since the drone has one?” She watched as several of them suppressed snickers and Tostiklin wrinkled his snout in amusement.
He waved absently. “Yahyey, of course! Wanting a fair run, we.” He motioned the cargo drone over, which stood almost twice as tall as its crewmates. The crowd settled down to a low murmur as the cargo master addressed the two. “This being the rules. Moving cargo for one minute, as much as you can, ya. No helping from others. No interfering with other stevedore. Move you stack from where it is to indicated position.” He pointed to a pair of chalked squares some thirty feet away from the initial stacks. “Is good?”
The drone’s head rotated from the kwonese to Myrla to the two stacks of cargo containers and back. “I to compete against this gentlebeing? Moving cargo like normal work?”
“Yes, Ledo.”
The drone dipped its head. “Understood but I do not understand why.”
Myrla leaned close to the drone. “They gambling on us. Who can shift more.”
The drone tipped its expressionless face first to one side then to the other while looking at her, a low whir of servos barely audible. Then it looked toward the group of kwonese for a moment. “Oh. Oh. Then … perhaps I should apologize now?”
Myrla grinned. “Apologize for what?”
“I am made to shift significant amounts of cargo. You do not appear to be. I shall apologize now for embarrassing you in front of your shipmates.”
Myrla laughed and patted the drone on its arm. “It’s all in fun, Ledo. I won’t be embarrassed.”
She could detect a faint note of smugness in the mechanical’s speech. “Very well. Then let us proceed.”
“Geebees, are clear on rules?” Myrla and Ledo both indicated their assent. “Then please stand by cargo.”
When they had taken their places, Tostiklin pulled a whistle from his pocket and blew on it. Myrla and Ledo began quickly assembling their loads. Remembering Nellin’s admonition, she carefully restricted her load, adding two containers more to hers than the drone loaded onto itself. It was enough weight to slow her down considerably, but she could still keep up with Ledo without straining.
Together, they dropped their cargo loads inside their assigned squares and Myrla fought the urge to race ahead of the drone, keeping pace with it instead. Twice more the cycle repeated itself, with Myrla carrying just enough extra to stay ahead in the count.
When the whistle blew a second time, the gathered cargo-masters counted the crates in each stack. Tostiklin’s face was a study in surprise as he counted Myrla’s stack again.
He looked at Nellin. “Your stevedore has clearly won. By a mere six crates, but she has won.” The kwonese erupted into cheers and groans, depending on the amount of credits they had won or lost. Tostiklin held up a hand and the crowd quieted down. “But you say she outwork drone. Win by six is much as keep up with drone.”
The crowd inhaled as a whole. /San Matteo/’s cargo chief was treading the fine line of being rude, almost accusing Nellin of lying. The older kwonese narrowed his eyes, looking for at Nellin, then Myrla, then at the crowd. “I like very much to be seeing her truly outwork drone. What is prize money?” One of the younger cargo-masters gave him the figure. “I say offering own creds to match that, double or nothing.”
The crowd went wild, the line of propriety saved. Myrla doubted Nellin had that sort of funds available, based on his change in body language. From behind her, she heard a female kwonese start chanting, “Match! Match!” She and Nellin turned to look, seeing Captain Wanniv shaking her fist in the air. In seconds, all the /Greylin/’s crew was chanting with her.
“Match! Match! Match!”
Nellin looked at her, his nervousness evident, even though things were going exactly like he’d told her they would. She winked at him and gave him a quick nod.
His bearing changed imperceptibly as he turned back to Tostiklin. “Yahyey, chincheog. You be seeing truth.”
Ban Baekui had sidled up beside her, patting her arm. “Time be taking off the governor, ya.”
She nodded absently, her gaze wandering around the room, watching as dozens of groupings indicated the level of betting taking place. “Got your bets made, chief?”
“Already making creds plenty. This to be sheer kwaja!”
She looked down at him, grinning. “The captain plays cards with Nellin, doesn’t she?”
Ban gave her a curious tilt of his head. “Frequently. Why you ask?”
Myrla nodded to herself, looking around again. “She backed him up at the perfect time. This gonna bring some notoriety to the Greylin. And that converts to …” She looked back at the ship’s lead mechanic, grinning broadly.
“Jobs. Bigger and better.” Ban nodded, grinning back. “Not playing cards with you, girlee. Best getting ready, then.”
Ban faded back into the crowd, leaving her with Nellin. “You good with this? Tossi want longer timeframe for this.”
Myrla dropped to one knee, making it so she had to look up slightly at the cargo master. “I need some advice, chief.” Nellin blinked in surprise at the abrupt change in the situation. When he signaled his assent, she continued. “There’s more going on than what I’m seeing. You just used a blood-kin name for him. The captain backed you up publicly under his challenge, so she’s now tied the two of you together, your win is now her win, and your loss her loss. Tostiklin almost called you a liar in front of everyone, but pulled it out by upping the bet.” She scanned the crowd, seeing several non-kwonese beginning to intermingle. “And that is interesting. More geebees are joining the party. And those aren’t spacers.” Her eyes narrowed. “Those are brokers – I recognize two of them.”
Nellin wrung his hands, a faint tang of nervousness coloring his odor. “Is … is complicated.”
“Not from my end, chief. Tostiklin wants to see how hard I can work, because he wants to learn more about my people and is willing to pay for the privilege. And he wants to see me lose to gloat…” She looked at Nellin as he started squirming again. “He doesn’t want me to lose.” She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Who is he related to by blood on the Greylin?”
“He brother to captain’s father…” Myrla’s eyes lit up in sudden understanding. “…and is brother to my mother’s mother.”
Myrla’s jaw dropped slightly as several puzzle pieces clicked into place. “He … he doesn’t want us to fail at all. He’s loaning the captain operating money as well as boosting the ship’s reputation.”
Nellin put his hands out to shush her. “Not be saying this!”
The good side of her mouth pulled up in a smile. “Don’t worry, not a word. Plus, by challenging you like this, you gain even more credibility with the family after I smoke that presumptuous cargo drone at his own game. You gain a reputation for understating how good something is.”
“See … is complicated.”
“Chief, go make your personal bets. This run is about to get interesting.”
The next ten minutes was a flurry of action as bets were made and new spectators arrived from stationside. At one point, Peulla drifted by, pressing another cup of that deliciously spiked chocaf into her hand with a wink. Soon, the cargo masters were huddled up again.
Tostiklin had found a voice amplifier somewhere, letting his voice be heard over the noises of the much-larger crowd. “We be setting round two. Nellin, loadmaster of the Greylin Bostlin, say he crewmate outwork cargo drone. We see earlier this geebee do that.” He indicated Myrla and she waved at the crowd, to delighted cheers from more than just her shipmates. “I say she barely beat cargo drone and I ask for a rematch. I offer double to see she truly outwork drone!” The crowd roared excitedly. “I ask to see geebee outwork drone and just minutes not enough. I ask for one whole hour!”
The crowd erupted into a frenzy and Myrla blinked in confusion. Nobody mentioned hauling cargo for an hour, she thought.
Captain Wanniv had slipped up beside her. “Just another day on the docks, ya?”
Turning to the captain with a smile, she said, “Using my own words against me as inspiration? I’m … well, I don’t guess I’m shocked. And yes, I’m good for it.”
“Is good. All this good.”
Myrla gave the captain a wink. “I love how they brought in some of the local cargo brokers and the Dockworker’s Guild to watch. San Matteo is a respected crew. To see them give the Greylin respect will carry weight later.”
The captain’s eyes crinkled. “I have no idea what you mean.”
Finally, the crowd calmed down again. Siezing the moment, Myrla stepped forward to address the Matteo’s cargo-master. “Samchun, it seems to me that all of our competition is being done handling cargo from the San Matteo. If we are unloading cargo, then am I working for you? And, if I am working, then as a member of the Stevedore and Dockworker’s Guild, I have to be paid or I lose my license. And I cannot bet on myself.”
The crowd fell to a dead silence as Tostiklin’s eyebrows rose slowly, first one then the other.
“FAIR!” Someone in the crowd shouted.
Tostiklin glanced in the direction of the speaker and turned back to Myrla, nodding slowly. “Wisdom speaks.” A grin slowly spread across his face. “I will pay you one hour with a bonus in proportional to how well you outwork the drone.”
Myrla nodded. “I accept these terms and your grace in offering them.” This brought a round of applause from the crowd.
“Again! This being the rules! Moving cargo for one hour, as much as you can, ya. No helping from others. No interfering with other stevedore. Move you stack from where it is to indicated platform.” He pointed to a pair of conveyor platforms some thirty feet away from the initial stacks. “Is good?”
Both workers gave their assent.
“Geebees, to your starting places!” Again, a blast from the whistle signaled the start of the competition. Both fell to their task and worked steadily, but Myrla thought it looked as though the drone knew it had already been beaten. For every stack of crates it moved, she moved twice as many. When it tried to match her volume, its speed dropped off significantly to the sound of overloaded drive motors.
They were well and thoroughly inside the cargo bay of the /San Matteo/ and the crowd was only able to keep up by watching on a series of holoscreens that had been set up for the purpose. True to Bae’s request, she “pulled the governors off,” falling into her work-trance, letting the crates guide her flow. The conveyor platforms advanced with them, never more than thirty feet away, making the job a bit less arduous. The cargo-master group was inside with them, as well, and Myrla shut them out by treating them like she did any other client who hung out to watch her work.
She was so deep into her work that the whistle caught her by surprise and Nellin had to physically intervene to get her attention.
“Is good, girlee. We done it. YOU done it.”
Myrla walked out of the cargo hold, blinking and shaking her head, trying to get refocused on where she was. Then she realized the entire hajog was chanting her name. Bae and Wanniv were waiting on her at the bay-door. Bae handed her a bottle of water and Wanniv grabbed Myrla’s free hand in both of hers. “You best lucky charm!” As the crowd caught sight of her, the chant broke into a wordless cheer that threatened to overwhelm her.
Finally, the cargo-masters made their counts and conferred together with a lot of nodding and one shaking their head incredulously. Tostiklin motioned her and the cargo drone forward to join them.
“Thinking it clear who wins.” He broke off with a grin as the crowd erupted into cheers again. He tried to continue twice before the cheering died down enough to let him be heard. “Seeing you never slowed down, girlee. Thinking maybe you having another gear or two.”
Smiling, Myrla shrugged as the crowd went wild again.
“And!” He held up a pouch for everyone to see. “And, here is your payment. One hour’s wage for a class five stevedore. And since you performed double what the drone performed, your wages are doubled.”
Again, the crowd roared and she fought to keep the surprise off her face. She was a class one stevedore and class five rates were significantly higher than she was used to getting. As she accepted the pouch from him, she leaned in to be heard above the crowd. “You are a wise and honorable gentlebeing, Samchun. May your words echo among many gajog.”
That got her an extra cheer from the cargo-chiefs and a pat on the cheek from a grinning Tostiklin. “You taking good-good care of the Greylin crew, then. So, let’s be drinking to this!”
2024.05.14 17:14 jellybones2 I’m in recovery, my fiance is active in his addiction.
I have about 450 days sober from alcohol. A huge reason that I quit drinking is because it was affecting my relationship, and making my partner really angry and frustrated (because I’d act different, or sloppy, or drink more than I said I would etc) My fiance is addicted to smoking weed. Of all the addictions, I admit, this is the least problematic one so I guess I’m thankful for that. But lately I have found it especially bothersome and triggering to me and I’m trying to get to the bottom of why. About a month ago he said he might need my help and support because he wanted to quit. I was surprised by how happy/excited/relieved I felt. I wasn’t aware how much it was bothering me. A month later he said he changed his mind, he wasn’t going to quit. I felt/feel quite disappointed, and sad for him because I recognize that to be addiction. Part of what bothers me, which seems stupid and whiney, is…why can he overindulge in his thing, with no consequence, but I can’t? It feels unfair. I feel that he prioritizes weed over us/me, which bothers me too. He was in school and unemployed for multiple years, and we really financially struggled. I worked over-time hours and sold personal belongings to be able to support us and afford groceries, and he was always stressed about money, but always somehow had enough to be able to smoke weed every single day. It also just feels sort of personally offensive that he feels the need to be high as soon as he gets home. Like he can’t stand to be sober around my son and I? I have told him it makes me uncomfortable and I’d prefer if he waits until I go to bed to smoke, but he won’t. I’ve told him I’m still trying to work out the reasons why it makes me feel triggered and weird, but it does, and he just kind of acts like I’m being ridiculous. I’m sorry for the long ramble I was just hoping someone had thoughts or a different perspective or advice so that I can deal with this. Or if you get the impression that I’m being controlling or on my high horse, I’ll take that, too. I’m just not sure what to do with these feelings. Thanks for reading :(
submitted by jellybones2 to stopdrinking [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 17:13 Dangerous-Dig1264 I (24f) have developed major feelings for DB and unsure how to proceed
Edit: clarifying because just realised title is misleading. I HAVE NO INTENTIONS ON PURSUING HIM.
Throwaway account just in case there’s a small chance there’s anything on my personal that could take away my anonymity. Before I start, I know this sounds like a troll post but unfortunately my feelings are very real. I (24f) have been a nanny for the past 4 years and also suffer from borderline personality disorder. I’m not trying to push the nanny husband stereotype, I really do hate it, and I also hate myself because of the way I feel.
I’ve been with the same family for almost the past 2 years for a 4yB and 6mG. MB is 39f and DB is 35m. I’ve worked with many families before and after starting for this family, and while it may not always of been perfect, they are for sure one of the best families I’ve worked with. I have a strong bond with the kids and I really do get along well and care about MB and DB. They always tell me how much they love and appreciate me as well.
From the first day I met everyone I have always been attracted to DB, just on a physical level. It wasn’t until a few months in that I started to develop a little bit of a crush on him. In the 2 years I’ve been working for them I’ve gone in and out of having him as one of my FP (bpd terms for “favorite person”). Whenever i gain a FP/obsession with someone (not exclusive to DB), they become all I think and care about. My mood is based off of how well our interactions go, how long it’s been since I’ve last seen/talked to them etc. Sometimes it’s not that intense and I’m usually able to leave all of these feelings at the door and after a few weeks or a month the obsession goes away. I fantasize about spending time with him, going on dates (and other things that wouldn’t be appropriate to specify here) etc. When I tell you he’s the only thing on my mind 24/7 I mean it. I never really went out much before but the past month I’ve been staying away locked in my room even more just thinking about how amazing being with him would be. Even when I’m out I’m always in my head thinking about him and frequently stalk his socials for new pictures of him. TMI but he’s the only thing I can get off to too, and I’ve been doing that like 5+ times a day, I literally can’t help it.
The past month it has been super intense, worse than it has been before. It’s bordering on the longest time I’ve had this obsession/crush and i am feeling incredibly depressed and almost suicidal. I can’t remember when exactly I started feeling this way again. I think part of it is that I’ve been working more hours so I’m seeing him interact with the kids more and witnessing firsthand him being a good dad. I didn’t have a good dad so seeing him be an amazing father to his kids makes me kinda jealous but I also think it’s hot. I look forward towards seeing him every day I go into work, I purposefully try to dress nicer and do my makeup which i rarely ever do just to see if he notices. I do my nails and got hair extensions recently and colored my hair so that he would notice me, yet he hasn’t said anything. My mind tries to convince me that he wants me too even though I know it’s not true. I work mornings and usually pick up one date night a week so they can go out, and I guess maybe that’s where I started realizing that this is becoming a problem. MB asked me to pick up this coming Friday night so he can take her out on a romantic date. I started spiraling after that, just out of pure jealousy. I put the kids down for their nap shortly after and spent 40 minutes in the bathroom bawling my eyes out and considering doing something stupid tonight.
There’s been other instances leading up to this, I guess I should’ve noticed to realize how bad this “crush” is getting. I see her getting ready before I leave wearing cute clothes, hair done, makeup done, and I get mad inside. I see them talking or hear them laughing and it bothers me. It’s never affected me at work until recently. I’m still in the bathroom hyperventilating as I’m typing this. I know I need to go to therapy and put in notice but I can’t afford to do either. I actually need to go on medication again. But even if I could afford to leave or if I had another family lined up, I wouldn’t want to leave. I love the kids so so much and I really do like MB and DB and hope to have good relationships with them for years after I leave, and they always tell me how much they love and appreciate me. These feelings will eventually go away, I know they aren’t forever even though they feel like it. But I can’t stand feeling this way any longer. I know I don’t love him but it really feels like I do. I want nothing more than to be with him and my heart hurts so bad knowing we won’t ever be together. I would do anything to have him in any capacity.
This makes me feel and sound like I’m a terrible person and nanny but I promise I’m not. I’ve never had any complaints, the kids love me and I know I’m great at my job. I love the kids like they’re my own family. When they wake up I’m gonna go back to being my normal happy caring self. It’s gonna hurt but I’ll fake it till I get off and I’ll smoke my feelings away when I get home and cry.
I’m leaving later this year to get a job in my field and the absolute longest I’ll be staying with them is another 4-6 months. Maybe even as little as 3. Anyways, sorry for the long post, I know it’s a mess but I did my best with the paragraphs. I don’t really know what I’m asking for here, just a place to vent because my feelings for him are so intense it’s painful. If anyone has any advice for how I could try handling this for the remainder of my time here or if anyone has any experience with gaining feelings for a DB or MB, I would appreciate it. Thanks for hearing me out
submitted by Dangerous-Dig1264 to Nanny [link] [comments]
Throwaway account just in case there’s a small chance there’s anything on my personal that could take away my anonymity. Before I start, I know this sounds like a troll post but unfortunately my feelings are very real. I (24f) have been a nanny for the past 4 years and also suffer from borderline personality disorder. I’m not trying to push the nanny husband stereotype, I really do hate it, and I also hate myself because of the way I feel.
I’ve been with the same family for almost the past 2 years for a 4yB and 6mG. MB is 39f and DB is 35m. I’ve worked with many families before and after starting for this family, and while it may not always of been perfect, they are for sure one of the best families I’ve worked with. I have a strong bond with the kids and I really do get along well and care about MB and DB. They always tell me how much they love and appreciate me as well.
From the first day I met everyone I have always been attracted to DB, just on a physical level. It wasn’t until a few months in that I started to develop a little bit of a crush on him. In the 2 years I’ve been working for them I’ve gone in and out of having him as one of my FP (bpd terms for “favorite person”). Whenever i gain a FP/obsession with someone (not exclusive to DB), they become all I think and care about. My mood is based off of how well our interactions go, how long it’s been since I’ve last seen/talked to them etc. Sometimes it’s not that intense and I’m usually able to leave all of these feelings at the door and after a few weeks or a month the obsession goes away. I fantasize about spending time with him, going on dates (and other things that wouldn’t be appropriate to specify here) etc. When I tell you he’s the only thing on my mind 24/7 I mean it. I never really went out much before but the past month I’ve been staying away locked in my room even more just thinking about how amazing being with him would be. Even when I’m out I’m always in my head thinking about him and frequently stalk his socials for new pictures of him. TMI but he’s the only thing I can get off to too, and I’ve been doing that like 5+ times a day, I literally can’t help it.
The past month it has been super intense, worse than it has been before. It’s bordering on the longest time I’ve had this obsession/crush and i am feeling incredibly depressed and almost suicidal. I can’t remember when exactly I started feeling this way again. I think part of it is that I’ve been working more hours so I’m seeing him interact with the kids more and witnessing firsthand him being a good dad. I didn’t have a good dad so seeing him be an amazing father to his kids makes me kinda jealous but I also think it’s hot. I look forward towards seeing him every day I go into work, I purposefully try to dress nicer and do my makeup which i rarely ever do just to see if he notices. I do my nails and got hair extensions recently and colored my hair so that he would notice me, yet he hasn’t said anything. My mind tries to convince me that he wants me too even though I know it’s not true. I work mornings and usually pick up one date night a week so they can go out, and I guess maybe that’s where I started realizing that this is becoming a problem. MB asked me to pick up this coming Friday night so he can take her out on a romantic date. I started spiraling after that, just out of pure jealousy. I put the kids down for their nap shortly after and spent 40 minutes in the bathroom bawling my eyes out and considering doing something stupid tonight.
There’s been other instances leading up to this, I guess I should’ve noticed to realize how bad this “crush” is getting. I see her getting ready before I leave wearing cute clothes, hair done, makeup done, and I get mad inside. I see them talking or hear them laughing and it bothers me. It’s never affected me at work until recently. I’m still in the bathroom hyperventilating as I’m typing this. I know I need to go to therapy and put in notice but I can’t afford to do either. I actually need to go on medication again. But even if I could afford to leave or if I had another family lined up, I wouldn’t want to leave. I love the kids so so much and I really do like MB and DB and hope to have good relationships with them for years after I leave, and they always tell me how much they love and appreciate me. These feelings will eventually go away, I know they aren’t forever even though they feel like it. But I can’t stand feeling this way any longer. I know I don’t love him but it really feels like I do. I want nothing more than to be with him and my heart hurts so bad knowing we won’t ever be together. I would do anything to have him in any capacity.
This makes me feel and sound like I’m a terrible person and nanny but I promise I’m not. I’ve never had any complaints, the kids love me and I know I’m great at my job. I love the kids like they’re my own family. When they wake up I’m gonna go back to being my normal happy caring self. It’s gonna hurt but I’ll fake it till I get off and I’ll smoke my feelings away when I get home and cry.
I’m leaving later this year to get a job in my field and the absolute longest I’ll be staying with them is another 4-6 months. Maybe even as little as 3. Anyways, sorry for the long post, I know it’s a mess but I did my best with the paragraphs. I don’t really know what I’m asking for here, just a place to vent because my feelings for him are so intense it’s painful. If anyone has any advice for how I could try handling this for the remainder of my time here or if anyone has any experience with gaining feelings for a DB or MB, I would appreciate it. Thanks for hearing me out
2024.05.14 17:08 Otherwise-Ad-2925 Pedestrian recording me smoke ?
I live in a 30 year old condo building in Toronto and I was smoking in my balcony (not a regular smoker) and I saw a lady outside of the complex boundaries just loitering there doing nothing. When I lit my cigarette, I saw her phone tilt towards me as if she was recording and when I asked her if she was recording me, she just walked away.
What do I make of this ? Can my condo building management come knocking at my door with this? I know I sound paranoid but I want to just prepare myself for what may come!
(Lease agreement and condo has no smoking rules like no smoking anywhere at all kind of rules)
Any inputs will help calm my anxiety down.
Thank you!
submitted by Otherwise-Ad-2925 to ontario [link] [comments]
What do I make of this ? Can my condo building management come knocking at my door with this? I know I sound paranoid but I want to just prepare myself for what may come!
(Lease agreement and condo has no smoking rules like no smoking anywhere at all kind of rules)
Any inputs will help calm my anxiety down.
Thank you!
2024.05.14 16:55 Key-Nefariousness-46 My (21F) boyfriend (22M) told me our relationship is doomed and I will regret it in a moment of vulnerability. How should I proceed?
I was really sick of how much my boyfriend had been smoking recently so I immaturely gave him an ultimatum and he chose me. While going through withdrawals he would say the most hurtful things that I never expected him to use against me. It got so bad that I wanted him to start smoking again just so this would end but he still stayed clean. We would patch it up but then again something would trigger it and he would react in a mean way and then admit that he's still not over the fact I coerced him into doing something by using myself as a bargaining chip.
Yesterday he wanted to show who he truly was to me so he opened his archived notes and there was a lot of stuff about his ex (they weren't dating but she kind of strung him along) and then something got triggered in him. He said it's me I'm the problem and this will happen again I'm very selfish and I only care about myself this relationship will definitely end and you'll regret being in this relationship(he meant I would regret having him as my partner not the breakup) but I won't, I was much more helpful in the beginning of our relationship and it has clearly gotten so much worse with time. He also said that he is a bad person and he will take revenge if he can. I asked him if he would do that to me he didn't exactly say no and I freaked tf out.
Then my laptop died and I was sort of in a state of shock. He started messaging me non stop telling me how anxious it makes me him feel when I disappear suddenly and to pick up the call. He said this is just his insecurities resurfacing over him not getting an intern. Then he said in two days we will have our 10 month anniversary and he'll make it all worth it. I didn't block him like I usually did after an argument because I'm actually scared of him. He begged me for a 5 minute call where he said I don't need to fear him ever doing something to damage my reputation and to just remember that he's not that kind of a person. I've been giving him neutral responses and I've asked him for space and we're only texting right now. When he asks to call I decline.
Now this is our relationship represented in the worst possible way but this is what has been happening over the last two weeks with him quitting cigarettes and all. I don't want to be in this headspace anymore. I have lost all energy to get out of bed. My mental state is completely fucked up. How do I handle this?
I can't give a TLDR. I don't know how to compress it.
submitted by Key-Nefariousness-46 to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
Yesterday he wanted to show who he truly was to me so he opened his archived notes and there was a lot of stuff about his ex (they weren't dating but she kind of strung him along) and then something got triggered in him. He said it's me I'm the problem and this will happen again I'm very selfish and I only care about myself this relationship will definitely end and you'll regret being in this relationship(he meant I would regret having him as my partner not the breakup) but I won't, I was much more helpful in the beginning of our relationship and it has clearly gotten so much worse with time. He also said that he is a bad person and he will take revenge if he can. I asked him if he would do that to me he didn't exactly say no and I freaked tf out.
Then my laptop died and I was sort of in a state of shock. He started messaging me non stop telling me how anxious it makes me him feel when I disappear suddenly and to pick up the call. He said this is just his insecurities resurfacing over him not getting an intern. Then he said in two days we will have our 10 month anniversary and he'll make it all worth it. I didn't block him like I usually did after an argument because I'm actually scared of him. He begged me for a 5 minute call where he said I don't need to fear him ever doing something to damage my reputation and to just remember that he's not that kind of a person. I've been giving him neutral responses and I've asked him for space and we're only texting right now. When he asks to call I decline.
Now this is our relationship represented in the worst possible way but this is what has been happening over the last two weeks with him quitting cigarettes and all. I don't want to be in this headspace anymore. I have lost all energy to get out of bed. My mental state is completely fucked up. How do I handle this?
I can't give a TLDR. I don't know how to compress it.
2024.05.14 16:48 Bluest-Of-Falcons Neighbor Karen petty leading to her eviction
TL;DR. Our duplex neighbor was a spiteful Karen. We got revenge on her until she got herself evicted.
I'd shared this story previously (Neighbor Karen Gets Evicted). But that one got really long really fast. I'll do my best to boil it down for you here.
When my then GF and I shared a duplex together, our unit neighbor was a middle aged cat lady that just hated existing, best we can figure. When we first met her she yelled at us for being on her side of the front yard, even though the sidewalk from the driveway went in front of her unit so we had to. Then she demanded we stop using our garage door opener because she didn't like the noise. Her unit was directly over the garages so there was no way around it. We attempted to compromise by offering to only use it during certain times of day, but she was having none of it. Just demanded that we never use it again. So no middle ground was reached. Instead she just ranted, yelled, threatened, and cussed (did I also mention my GF's 7yr old son was there too?) So to respond to that little outburst, I settled the GF down with a cigarette and a beer, her son with some ice cream, and Karen with some petty:
I went downstairs to the garage, and began working on both of my motorcycles one at a time. Loudly. Blaring the pipes as much as I could stand right under her floor. When I'd had my fun, and put the bikes away, I heard her on the phone with the landlord demanding that we be put out immediately. We were in good with the landlord so I wasn't worried. We did get a "alright don't do it again" call from him later.
But thus began a lengthy battle of petty enactments between us over the next year. Some too small to even mention, some getting the cops called. She liked to place a lot of noise complaint calls anonymously. She also took liberties with her lease that we delighted in narcing on her about. But I can honestly say we made her more miserable than she made us. We were enjoying making her life suck.
On Halloween, we took her son out for the usual round of ding-dong-give-me-candy in our little neighborhood. Every kid we met along the way, we informed: "Hey, you should go to 'karen's' unit. She's got the GOOD candy. But she's a little old and hard of hearing so you'll have to bang on the door real hard, and yell trick-or-treat really loudly. I know it was mean to all of those kids, but each of them were a worthy sacrifice upon the Altar of Petty.
The main even came when our unit sprung a leak from the kitchen, somewhere under the sink. We quickly shut off the main valve to the whole house while we waited for the LL to come and address. Meanwhile I typed up a note informing Karen about the water situation. She wasn't home yet. Turns out a small part was needed. LL would run to the store for it, and we'd be fine in 30-45min. Before that happened, the water started spraying again. I looked out the window and sure enough, Karen was out there with a wrench standing over the valve.
I quickly ran out to try and shut it off again, but Karen wouldn't move. she stood guarding the main with her wrench and I was sure if I tried anything she'd brain me with it. We attempted to explain, again (the note I left was wadded up on the ground by her door) that there was a leak and we needed to have the water off until our kitchen sink was repaired. She retorted with something about her needing the water anyway for her animals. They were more important. It became a shouting match between us and her until the LL returned.
By the time LL got back, the water was already pouring out the front door. Our carpets were soaked. LL broke us up and had us explain. But by that time the damage was done. I showed where I left a note, and where she was the one that turned the water back on, flooding our unit. Hearing this, LL refused to renew her lease and evicted her. He kept her deposit to pay for our damages. Once the reality of her situation sunk in, she relented and became just the sweetest old lady you've ever met. Kind and begging. Even to us, apologizing. I remember just flipping her off as we went back inside to start packing. We stayed in a decent hotel for a few days while we got new carpets. One day we came home and Karen was just gone. Moved on to shit on someone else's life. Gone but not forgotten, Karen. You will be remembered.
submitted by Bluest-Of-Falcons to CharlotteDobreYouTube [link] [comments]
I'd shared this story previously (Neighbor Karen Gets Evicted). But that one got really long really fast. I'll do my best to boil it down for you here.
When my then GF and I shared a duplex together, our unit neighbor was a middle aged cat lady that just hated existing, best we can figure. When we first met her she yelled at us for being on her side of the front yard, even though the sidewalk from the driveway went in front of her unit so we had to. Then she demanded we stop using our garage door opener because she didn't like the noise. Her unit was directly over the garages so there was no way around it. We attempted to compromise by offering to only use it during certain times of day, but she was having none of it. Just demanded that we never use it again. So no middle ground was reached. Instead she just ranted, yelled, threatened, and cussed (did I also mention my GF's 7yr old son was there too?) So to respond to that little outburst, I settled the GF down with a cigarette and a beer, her son with some ice cream, and Karen with some petty:
I went downstairs to the garage, and began working on both of my motorcycles one at a time. Loudly. Blaring the pipes as much as I could stand right under her floor. When I'd had my fun, and put the bikes away, I heard her on the phone with the landlord demanding that we be put out immediately. We were in good with the landlord so I wasn't worried. We did get a "alright don't do it again" call from him later.
But thus began a lengthy battle of petty enactments between us over the next year. Some too small to even mention, some getting the cops called. She liked to place a lot of noise complaint calls anonymously. She also took liberties with her lease that we delighted in narcing on her about. But I can honestly say we made her more miserable than she made us. We were enjoying making her life suck.
On Halloween, we took her son out for the usual round of ding-dong-give-me-candy in our little neighborhood. Every kid we met along the way, we informed: "Hey, you should go to 'karen's' unit. She's got the GOOD candy. But she's a little old and hard of hearing so you'll have to bang on the door real hard, and yell trick-or-treat really loudly. I know it was mean to all of those kids, but each of them were a worthy sacrifice upon the Altar of Petty.
The main even came when our unit sprung a leak from the kitchen, somewhere under the sink. We quickly shut off the main valve to the whole house while we waited for the LL to come and address. Meanwhile I typed up a note informing Karen about the water situation. She wasn't home yet. Turns out a small part was needed. LL would run to the store for it, and we'd be fine in 30-45min. Before that happened, the water started spraying again. I looked out the window and sure enough, Karen was out there with a wrench standing over the valve.
I quickly ran out to try and shut it off again, but Karen wouldn't move. she stood guarding the main with her wrench and I was sure if I tried anything she'd brain me with it. We attempted to explain, again (the note I left was wadded up on the ground by her door) that there was a leak and we needed to have the water off until our kitchen sink was repaired. She retorted with something about her needing the water anyway for her animals. They were more important. It became a shouting match between us and her until the LL returned.
By the time LL got back, the water was already pouring out the front door. Our carpets were soaked. LL broke us up and had us explain. But by that time the damage was done. I showed where I left a note, and where she was the one that turned the water back on, flooding our unit. Hearing this, LL refused to renew her lease and evicted her. He kept her deposit to pay for our damages. Once the reality of her situation sunk in, she relented and became just the sweetest old lady you've ever met. Kind and begging. Even to us, apologizing. I remember just flipping her off as we went back inside to start packing. We stayed in a decent hotel for a few days while we got new carpets. One day we came home and Karen was just gone. Moved on to shit on someone else's life. Gone but not forgotten, Karen. You will be remembered.
2024.05.14 16:48 Bigdogsz19 33 [M4F] #Allen #Texas - Seeking new connections of all varieties
Heya! These posts/introduction messages always feel awkward and forced for me 😅 so buckle up 🤪…
Let’s get what I’m looking for out of the way, as no sense in taking up more of your time if it’s obvious that we aren’t a fit.
What I’m seeking:
As of current, my primary interests align most with a FWB situation, but I am open to any form of connection that develops organically between us (including simple friendship). I’m relatively open with regard to availability, though in an ideal world you would be open to seeing each other 1-2+ times a week. I’m attracted to a wide range of personalities and body types, so it can be hard to relay my interests there and is usually best just to connect and see if we click or not. I guess in the end, I’m pretty flexible in my interest and desires.
It’s also important to note that I do not smoke or drink at all. I don’t judge if you do either, but I will say that being around cigarette smoke is likely to be a dealbreaker for me. As for weed, I hate the smell, so I just ask that you please avoid smoking it around me. Vapes are fine, just please don’t blow them in my direction as I personally don’t care to breath that in. Alcohol I have no problem being around in all capacities lol get plastered for all I care.
A bit about myself:
It’s always hard to gauge what to share to the world in “bios” like this..I’ll try to highlight some of my most prominent characteristics and details 🤷♂️.
Let’s start physical. I’m 6’7”, definitely a dad bod with a bit of a stomach, 33 years young, long brown curly-ish/wavy hair (admittedly facing some male pattern baldness at my forehead hairline, so doing what I can with what I’ve got while I can 🤷♂️), brown eyes, wear glasses (if that matters to you at all), maintain a beard at all times (take the hair where I can, right? 🤪🤷♂️), and wear a size 19 shoe (putting that out there as it’s always a shocker 😆). No, I never played basketball for any teams growing up, but did play pickup games often after high school. The weather is just fine “up here” 🤪. As for style, or lack thereof 😆, you’ll likely always see me in some form of graphic or plain T-shirt with likely some form of shorts (I love the cold and hate being hot) year round, though every now and then I’ll change it up with pants and/or pollos 🤷♂️. I want to be more stylish tbh, but I don’t have the eye for good style, I’m colorblind, and often don’t feel other styles would suit my looks 🤷♂️. Speaking of looks, standard bearded Caucasian nerd looking dude lol, though when people see me, they might be quick to assume I’m the standard white conservative Christian type, when in reality I’m far from such (curse the genetics and looks I was born into 😭).
Kink friendly, so any questions or curiosity around such please feel free to bring up and discuss with me further.
I think that’s a good start on physical attributes, let’s move on to the internal ish…
Gah this section is much tougher to fill out 😅. Look, I just love just about everybody, will generally give everybody the time of day and benefit of doubt, can strike up a convo with just about anyone (though sometimes I need the other person to engage the start of that convo 😅), and would do my best to help and protect anyone around. I just want the best for everyone, ya know? I’d say i lean more extroverted, but do battle a moderate amount of social anxiety that im sure you’ve picked up on by now..you’d likely think im more introverted with how often I stay home and how little I randomly reach out to friends/others. It’s not that I don’t love getting out and about and don’t care to talk to my friends, I just get so caught up in my day to day life that it just doesn’t cross my mind, OR I get social anxiety (especially if I haven’t spoken to someone in a long time, I always worry they think I don’t care about them and our friendship).
Beyond this, it’s hard to list my other qualities, so I’ll just move on to interests and maybe that’ll help highlight more?
My Interests:
Can’t help but feel kind of boring and basic when filling out this section 😅. I feel like it’s a lot of what most people list as their interests and that my list is small/limited/boring. Travel Culture/language Food Music (very large and eclectic taste in music) Gaming of any form (video, board, etc) Puzzles/challenges/sports (I love a good challenge, so huge kudos if you are competitive) Technology (always fascinating what we are making in this world) I’d like to learn to dance but right now I’m very self conscious about my terrible dancing (I feel awkward 😔)
Disinterests: Low hanging ceiling fans and light fixtures 🤪
Details regarding my current Poly configuration:
I’m happily married with one child. If I do take on any new partners I never expect you to take on any form of relationship or responsibility for the rest of my family beyond just maintaining a safe space through proxy. My wife and I practice kitchen table Poly, so we are completely open to everyone happily interacting together, but if you aren’t comfortable interacting with the rest of my family no problem! Ask if you have any further questions on how we Poly ethically, happy to answer any questions!
Anyways, I’ve made this long enough…if you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read my post to entirety! Even if we aren’t meant to connect, you and your time are greatly appreciated! Sending my warmest regards and a friendly virtual hug ❤️.
submitted by Bigdogsz19 to polyamoryR4R [link] [comments]
Let’s get what I’m looking for out of the way, as no sense in taking up more of your time if it’s obvious that we aren’t a fit.
What I’m seeking:
As of current, my primary interests align most with a FWB situation, but I am open to any form of connection that develops organically between us (including simple friendship). I’m relatively open with regard to availability, though in an ideal world you would be open to seeing each other 1-2+ times a week. I’m attracted to a wide range of personalities and body types, so it can be hard to relay my interests there and is usually best just to connect and see if we click or not. I guess in the end, I’m pretty flexible in my interest and desires.
It’s also important to note that I do not smoke or drink at all. I don’t judge if you do either, but I will say that being around cigarette smoke is likely to be a dealbreaker for me. As for weed, I hate the smell, so I just ask that you please avoid smoking it around me. Vapes are fine, just please don’t blow them in my direction as I personally don’t care to breath that in. Alcohol I have no problem being around in all capacities lol get plastered for all I care.
A bit about myself:
It’s always hard to gauge what to share to the world in “bios” like this..I’ll try to highlight some of my most prominent characteristics and details 🤷♂️.
Let’s start physical. I’m 6’7”, definitely a dad bod with a bit of a stomach, 33 years young, long brown curly-ish/wavy hair (admittedly facing some male pattern baldness at my forehead hairline, so doing what I can with what I’ve got while I can 🤷♂️), brown eyes, wear glasses (if that matters to you at all), maintain a beard at all times (take the hair where I can, right? 🤪🤷♂️), and wear a size 19 shoe (putting that out there as it’s always a shocker 😆). No, I never played basketball for any teams growing up, but did play pickup games often after high school. The weather is just fine “up here” 🤪. As for style, or lack thereof 😆, you’ll likely always see me in some form of graphic or plain T-shirt with likely some form of shorts (I love the cold and hate being hot) year round, though every now and then I’ll change it up with pants and/or pollos 🤷♂️. I want to be more stylish tbh, but I don’t have the eye for good style, I’m colorblind, and often don’t feel other styles would suit my looks 🤷♂️. Speaking of looks, standard bearded Caucasian nerd looking dude lol, though when people see me, they might be quick to assume I’m the standard white conservative Christian type, when in reality I’m far from such (curse the genetics and looks I was born into 😭).
Kink friendly, so any questions or curiosity around such please feel free to bring up and discuss with me further.
I think that’s a good start on physical attributes, let’s move on to the internal ish…
Gah this section is much tougher to fill out 😅. Look, I just love just about everybody, will generally give everybody the time of day and benefit of doubt, can strike up a convo with just about anyone (though sometimes I need the other person to engage the start of that convo 😅), and would do my best to help and protect anyone around. I just want the best for everyone, ya know? I’d say i lean more extroverted, but do battle a moderate amount of social anxiety that im sure you’ve picked up on by now..you’d likely think im more introverted with how often I stay home and how little I randomly reach out to friends/others. It’s not that I don’t love getting out and about and don’t care to talk to my friends, I just get so caught up in my day to day life that it just doesn’t cross my mind, OR I get social anxiety (especially if I haven’t spoken to someone in a long time, I always worry they think I don’t care about them and our friendship).
Beyond this, it’s hard to list my other qualities, so I’ll just move on to interests and maybe that’ll help highlight more?
My Interests:
Can’t help but feel kind of boring and basic when filling out this section 😅. I feel like it’s a lot of what most people list as their interests and that my list is small/limited/boring. Travel Culture/language Food Music (very large and eclectic taste in music) Gaming of any form (video, board, etc) Puzzles/challenges/sports (I love a good challenge, so huge kudos if you are competitive) Technology (always fascinating what we are making in this world) I’d like to learn to dance but right now I’m very self conscious about my terrible dancing (I feel awkward 😔)
Disinterests: Low hanging ceiling fans and light fixtures 🤪
Details regarding my current Poly configuration:
I’m happily married with one child. If I do take on any new partners I never expect you to take on any form of relationship or responsibility for the rest of my family beyond just maintaining a safe space through proxy. My wife and I practice kitchen table Poly, so we are completely open to everyone happily interacting together, but if you aren’t comfortable interacting with the rest of my family no problem! Ask if you have any further questions on how we Poly ethically, happy to answer any questions!
Anyways, I’ve made this long enough…if you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read my post to entirety! Even if we aren’t meant to connect, you and your time are greatly appreciated! Sending my warmest regards and a friendly virtual hug ❤️.
2024.05.14 16:38 ThenPoet9554 AITAH for hating my younger sister
Me (19M) and my younger sister (17F) both live at home with both our parents, along with my girlfriend, my older sister and my younger brother. My older sister and girlfriend both agree with me when it comes to disliking my sister.
It all kinda started when she got into highschool, she began hanging around the wrong people, just being a general delinquent, constant detentions, behavioural issues ect. That then turned into her an asshole, breaking peoples things like my neighbours wall, she once also through flour all over another neighbours garden for literally no reason, and then refused to apologise and denied it, going into supermarkets and breaking things giving the staff abuse just trying to make a living just general shit like that.
Anyways that was all years ago but as time has gone, she has just gotten worse and worse. She got kicked out of school and put into a kind of disciplinary school which she never tried in and failed all her exams getting no grades whatsoever. She then had to get a job, which she got fired from for constantly being late despite her shifts always starting in the afternoon. So now she does nothing while being at home. For example my dad works weekdays and my mum works Tuesdays Wednesdays, and on those days it’s only her at home and she doesn’t help around the house cleaning but instead leaves it for whoever comes home from work first which is me or my mum most of the time and it isn’t fair. So that’s one part of my hatred
The second part is her blatant ignorance and selfishness. She stays up on the phone with her shit friends till about 3-4am waking me and my dad up, playing music, singing just everything to be annoying. She purposely talks loud because she has to be the centre of attention. She goes live on multiple apps just to argue with people and act hard towards them which again is because she’s so attention hungry but then shows me and my family in those lives despite not wanting to be on camera to a bunch of strangers. That’s essentially the second part.
The third part is her horrible disgusting boyfriend Cameron (m19) this dude is no more than a dirty little rat who constantly cheats on my sister (and I’m serious when I say he cheated with a 14 year old when he was 18). Anyways she excuses everything he does, he once threatened my 11 year old brother, he’s threatened me also, and when I removed him from my house for threatening me I was the bad guy to her. She is so selfish that she’d let this low life wannabe druggie gangster threaten her 11 year old brother? But when one of my friends watched my sister get beaten up and her things smashed up, I cut ties with that friend for that. But no my sister can’t cut ties with someone who’s much worse.
The final part comes to her and other peoples property, I live in the UK so I’m legally allowed to drink, and I’m not a heavy drinker but have a stash of spirits for occasions which she constantly steals from, both her and her friend do. And when they drink they take my car key and drink and smoke in my car stinking it up with the smell of alcohol and smoke. And when telling my parents they say “she’s not doing any harm sat in your car” “it’s better her be there and not on the streets” and when I bring up the alcohol “you probably drank more than you thought” I never drink heavy enough to forget, and my older sister has the exact same issue with her alcohol being stolen.
That’s about everything
Am I the asshole?
submitted by ThenPoet9554 to AITAH [link] [comments]
It all kinda started when she got into highschool, she began hanging around the wrong people, just being a general delinquent, constant detentions, behavioural issues ect. That then turned into her an asshole, breaking peoples things like my neighbours wall, she once also through flour all over another neighbours garden for literally no reason, and then refused to apologise and denied it, going into supermarkets and breaking things giving the staff abuse just trying to make a living just general shit like that.
Anyways that was all years ago but as time has gone, she has just gotten worse and worse. She got kicked out of school and put into a kind of disciplinary school which she never tried in and failed all her exams getting no grades whatsoever. She then had to get a job, which she got fired from for constantly being late despite her shifts always starting in the afternoon. So now she does nothing while being at home. For example my dad works weekdays and my mum works Tuesdays Wednesdays, and on those days it’s only her at home and she doesn’t help around the house cleaning but instead leaves it for whoever comes home from work first which is me or my mum most of the time and it isn’t fair. So that’s one part of my hatred
The second part is her blatant ignorance and selfishness. She stays up on the phone with her shit friends till about 3-4am waking me and my dad up, playing music, singing just everything to be annoying. She purposely talks loud because she has to be the centre of attention. She goes live on multiple apps just to argue with people and act hard towards them which again is because she’s so attention hungry but then shows me and my family in those lives despite not wanting to be on camera to a bunch of strangers. That’s essentially the second part.
The third part is her horrible disgusting boyfriend Cameron (m19) this dude is no more than a dirty little rat who constantly cheats on my sister (and I’m serious when I say he cheated with a 14 year old when he was 18). Anyways she excuses everything he does, he once threatened my 11 year old brother, he’s threatened me also, and when I removed him from my house for threatening me I was the bad guy to her. She is so selfish that she’d let this low life wannabe druggie gangster threaten her 11 year old brother? But when one of my friends watched my sister get beaten up and her things smashed up, I cut ties with that friend for that. But no my sister can’t cut ties with someone who’s much worse.
The final part comes to her and other peoples property, I live in the UK so I’m legally allowed to drink, and I’m not a heavy drinker but have a stash of spirits for occasions which she constantly steals from, both her and her friend do. And when they drink they take my car key and drink and smoke in my car stinking it up with the smell of alcohol and smoke. And when telling my parents they say “she’s not doing any harm sat in your car” “it’s better her be there and not on the streets” and when I bring up the alcohol “you probably drank more than you thought” I never drink heavy enough to forget, and my older sister has the exact same issue with her alcohol being stolen.
That’s about everything
Am I the asshole?
2024.05.14 16:37 BradleySpadley Crazy Success Story…. Don’t try this at home kids….
So… I quit smoking via vaping 5 months ago. I tapered 25 mg.. by half… to an extremely small amount of nic (below 0.3mg)… then 0 mg. Did this over 2 months or so
I was SHOCKED how hard it was to go from .3mg to zero nic. So difficult that I felt like tapering was a waste of time.
Anyway…. Don’t try this at home kids…. BUT…
I had a slight urge and some 6 mg juice… Really just out of curiosity…. I decided to try it.. Again, I don’t suggest this…. But
I FELT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
So I hit it again… and again…. and again… Nothing. Not even a slight head rush. Chained it… nothing… Gotta admit I was hoping for the rush and was almost disappointed at the time. That was 2 days ago and not one craving since.
Double checked and definitely 6 mg.…. I smoked more than a pack a day for 10+ years up until 5 months ago. I was crazy addicted.
Seems I’ve beat this and that’s awesome… No plans to do that again but it makes no sense to me. Def not my norm. Ive quit before and failed,
Does nic juice dilute or expire after 5 months????? Not going to but do you think its because I’m d need more than 6mg or an actual cigarette at this point?!?!?
Curious if anyone has had a similar experience???
submitted by BradleySpadley to quittingsmoking [link] [comments]
I was SHOCKED how hard it was to go from .3mg to zero nic. So difficult that I felt like tapering was a waste of time.
Anyway…. Don’t try this at home kids…. BUT…
I had a slight urge and some 6 mg juice… Really just out of curiosity…. I decided to try it.. Again, I don’t suggest this…. But
I FELT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
So I hit it again… and again…. and again… Nothing. Not even a slight head rush. Chained it… nothing… Gotta admit I was hoping for the rush and was almost disappointed at the time. That was 2 days ago and not one craving since.
Double checked and definitely 6 mg.…. I smoked more than a pack a day for 10+ years up until 5 months ago. I was crazy addicted.
Seems I’ve beat this and that’s awesome… No plans to do that again but it makes no sense to me. Def not my norm. Ive quit before and failed,
Does nic juice dilute or expire after 5 months????? Not going to but do you think its because I’m d need more than 6mg or an actual cigarette at this point?!?!?
Curious if anyone has had a similar experience???
2024.05.14 16:33 RealExperience1 Yeezy Pods Ankle Sock Tutorial with Pictures
 | Yeezy Ankle Socks Pods Tutorial Custom Pods with Pictures submitted by RealExperience1 to yeezys [link] [comments] Step 1: Make sure your pods are fully pulled up and on how you like to wear them. Step 2: Chalk outline under your ankle all the way around Step 3: Cut above the chalk outline you created. Thicker chalk works best for this. I think mine was about half inch in diameter. I used medical scissors to cut mine out. The sharper the scissors the better Step 4: burn the fabric around where you cut. The material is pretty flame resistant so you don’t have to worry about your pods going up in smoke. Step 5: ENJOY! They still wear like normal but I feel like they are more comfortable like this. They don’t fall off or anything. |
2024.05.14 16:22 Original-Lettuce7021 caramel braise help needed!
There is a milk street recipe for caramel-braised chicken with ginger and lime that I've been making for years around 1x month. I've made some of my own modifications for flavor purposes and the end result each and every time is superb. BUT. the very first step with this dish is to make a caramel sauce.
I'm definitely on the more advanced side of a home cook and have a strong grasp/ understanding of food chemistry and culinary techniques, but beyond this dish I don't ever go near the heated sugacaramel/candy area.
I've used most often an enameled cast iron pan (le creuset) or just a standard lighter weight metal pan. I've had success and failures in both.
The caramel is made of coconut water and white sugar. (I use either goya or iberia coconut water and strain out the pulp)
I don't know if it is something related to heat, timing, ingredient properties, the pan I'm using... If anyone has any tips or insight into what I might be doing wrong or how I can more consistently end up with a liquid rather than a crystalized product it would be very much appreciated!!!!
submitted by Original-Lettuce7021 to AskCulinary [link] [comments]
I'm definitely on the more advanced side of a home cook and have a strong grasp/ understanding of food chemistry and culinary techniques, but beyond this dish I don't ever go near the heated sugacaramel/candy area.
I've used most often an enameled cast iron pan (le creuset) or just a standard lighter weight metal pan. I've had success and failures in both.
The caramel is made of coconut water and white sugar. (I use either goya or iberia coconut water and strain out the pulp)
- You combine 1 TBS coconut water + 1/4 cup of white sugar over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until mixture turns gold at the edges
- they say this takes ~3 minutes... I find it takes a bit longer
- Reduce to medium, continue to cook, swirling the pan without stirring until the caramel is mahogany in color and smokes lightly another 4-5 minutes
- at some point in this second stage of cooking is the turning point to crystals, or the desired outcome
I don't know if it is something related to heat, timing, ingredient properties, the pan I'm using... If anyone has any tips or insight into what I might be doing wrong or how I can more consistently end up with a liquid rather than a crystalized product it would be very much appreciated!!!!
2024.05.14 16:20 ThrowRA876502 AITA for teaching my stepkid smoking isn’t healthy?
My stepkid is 5. Me and my partner had the day with him on Saturday, right before Mother’s Day. My stepson is basically being raised by his maternal grandmother, the mother is in and out of the picture as she wishes, right now she’s living in her grandmas house after the last guy she tried living with threw her out and her mom doesn’t want her back, but the house is close enough that sometimes my stepson spends time with her. This week when we arrive he gets in the car eating strawberry cookies (it was lunch time, and I had prepared actual food as I always do when he will come over) so I knew lunch was already spoiled, and then he announces that his mom bought it for him when she took him to buy cigarettes, and that he loved strawberry as much as she loved smoking. Through the day he repeated that fact for others, and at one point when he was telling that to his cousin I couldn’t watch it anymore, I told him that smoking was really bad, that it’s not a nice thing to do and that it damages your health. And me and his cousin made him agree that cigarettes smell bad. My SO wasn’t close to me when this happened but I told him what I had done and he agreed with me. Cut to today and my stepsons grandma is messaging my SO and she’s very angry at me for breaking the news about smoking for him because now he’s getting upset whenever he sees his mom and grandpa smoking, and that he’s too little to know those things. Also just to note that I didn’t go overboard talking about cancer or death, no pictures of smoking damage whatsoever, I literally just said it wasn’t good for you and that it will make you sick, I think my explanation was age appropriate. So, AITA?
submitted by ThrowRA876502 to AmItheAsshole [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 16:17 BradleySpadley CRAZIEST success story… don’t try this at home..
So… I quit smoking via vaping 5 months ago. I tapered 25 mg.. by half… to an extremely small amount of nic (below 0.3mg)… then 0 mg. Did this over 2 months or so
I was SHOCKED how hard it was to go from .3mg to zero nic. So difficult that I felt like tapering was a waste of time.
Anyway…. Don’t try this at home kids…. BUT…
I had a slight urge and some 6 mg juice… Really just out of curiosity…. I decided to try it.. Again, I don’t suggest this…. But
I FELT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
So I hit it again… and again…. and again… Nothing. Not even a slight head rush. Chained it… nothing… Gotta admit I was hoping for the rush and was almost disappointed at the time. That was 2 days ago and not one craving since.
Double checked and definitely 6 mg.…. I smoked more than a pack a day for 10+ years up until 5 months ago. I was crazy addicted.
Seems I’ve beat this and that’s awesome… No plans to do that again but it makes no sense to me. Def not my norm. Ive quit before and failed,
Does nic juice dilute or expire after 5 months????? Not going to but think Id need more than 6mg or an actual cigarette at this point?!?!?
Curios if anyone has had a similar experience????
submitted by BradleySpadley to QuitVaping [link] [comments]
I was SHOCKED how hard it was to go from .3mg to zero nic. So difficult that I felt like tapering was a waste of time.
Anyway…. Don’t try this at home kids…. BUT…
I had a slight urge and some 6 mg juice… Really just out of curiosity…. I decided to try it.. Again, I don’t suggest this…. But
I FELT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
So I hit it again… and again…. and again… Nothing. Not even a slight head rush. Chained it… nothing… Gotta admit I was hoping for the rush and was almost disappointed at the time. That was 2 days ago and not one craving since.
Double checked and definitely 6 mg.…. I smoked more than a pack a day for 10+ years up until 5 months ago. I was crazy addicted.
Seems I’ve beat this and that’s awesome… No plans to do that again but it makes no sense to me. Def not my norm. Ive quit before and failed,
Does nic juice dilute or expire after 5 months????? Not going to but think Id need more than 6mg or an actual cigarette at this point?!?!?
Curios if anyone has had a similar experience????
2024.05.14 16:08 sappynerd Why I feel the Teleological argument is one of the more appealing theological arguments
Disclaimer: I am agnostic and do not consider myself a theist by any means. This is also my first post in this sub so if I am not making any sense please feel free to critique it.
Cellular Biology as potential proof of an intelligent designer?
This is a theory I came across recently and I will paste it in here.
My questions
Would you consider this argument to be valid?
What (if any) refutations would you have to this argument?
How do different religious traditions interpret and utilize the teleological argument?
What are some naturalistic explanations for the apparent design in the universe, and how do they compare to the teleological argument?
Most importantly and lastly, are there theological arguments that you find more appealing/sound than this?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-argument-for-god-that-has-been-presented-to-you?q=what%20is%20the%20best%20argument%20for%20god%20that%20has%20been%20prese
submitted by sappynerd to DebateReligion [link] [comments]
Cellular Biology as potential proof of an intelligent designer?
This is a theory I came across recently and I will paste it in here.
After reading a few college level books on molecular and cellular biology I was blown away by the parallels between computers and the mechanisms within the cell. My honest reaction was - How the f**k can anyone look at this science and not see a creator?It's somewhat paradoxical how regardless of faith, people have different interpretations and biases of what science proves/disproves in terms of there being a creator.
I’m a science guy, I respect science, I made a very good living in science but there is no way I could look at the facts about cellular biology (that everyone agrees with) and believe it happened by chance. Even when I specifically looked for evidence of how life first emerged (abiogenesis), I could not find it and so far, neither has science.
Yes, I know all about how molecules can bond spontaneously, but no way can I ever believe that the minimal amount of information (represented by the specific order in DNA) required for a self replicating organism with heritable traits could arise naturally. It is as unlikely as the operating system and hardware of this computer I’m typing on resulting from putting all the parts in a box and shaking it up. Time is not a magic bullet, it would not happen even in the 13.78 billion years available for it to happen.
The mathematical improbability of life arising on its own is as close to a smoking gun in the hand of God as you will ever find. The Big Bang runs a close second though. We can still see the smoke curling out of the barrel in the CBR.
And it’s NOT just the mathematical improbability. It is the obvious design inference we (should) draw from the scientific discoveries in cellular biology. An archeologist at a dig will uncover a circle of stones with traces of ash and infer that it was done purposely; how is it possible to NOT see the much more obvious design in the functional molecular machines we call ‘proteins' and the language encoded in the DNA that instructs the cell how to make them. Watch this animation of the protein 'Kinesin' and tell me you don’t see design.
My questions
Would you consider this argument to be valid?
What (if any) refutations would you have to this argument?
How do different religious traditions interpret and utilize the teleological argument?
What are some naturalistic explanations for the apparent design in the universe, and how do they compare to the teleological argument?
Most importantly and lastly, are there theological arguments that you find more appealing/sound than this?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-argument-for-god-that-has-been-presented-to-you?q=what%20is%20the%20best%20argument%20for%20god%20that%20has%20been%20prese
2024.05.14 16:06 Outrageous-Hunter-12 Loneliness
I (21f) am extremely lonely. I grew up in the same neighborhood, with the same group of childhood friends that were my lifeline. I grew up in a difficult house so my friends were my second family. Long story short, in high school, they all went behind my back and iced me out because I didn’t share the same beliefs on certain things and therefore, the ring leader of that friend group decided it was time to drop me.
Anyways, since then I have leaned on my sister (24f) and my parents, and my boyfriend (26m). They’re older and have their own adult jobs and I’m just living in their shadow. My sister lets me hang out with her friends, my boyfriend the same, but they’re not my friends and I feel like a loser. I started to just stay inside every day, use weed, and my chihuahua is now my only social interaction aside from my sister and bf and strangers in the grocery store. I am so grateful because I know that’s still more support than others have, but it’s not the same as having a close independent friend. I also feel like I am trapped in their life, I feel I have no identity other than their side character.
I was going to move to Colorado for a few months to do a service trip, but my anxiety + my bf telling me that long distance doesn’t work discouraged me and I stayed here. I want to travel so bad and live before I get married and settle down, but I would have to go alone because I have no friends. Part of me has considered so many times being an au-pair and traveling but for some reason my anxiety just makes it seem unreasonable.
I have found myself prioritizing my faith more because it has helped me a lot with mental health. I am trying to break bad habits of smoking to numb the pain, eating junk to surpress my feelings, drinking wine to make me feel like I’m having fun alone. I am in a stand still and I’m stuck.
But it’s so sad. I am so young, I had so many dreams for myself at this age. When I was a child I would pray for this time to come and now that I am here it is just dull and lonely. I am finishing college online, I should’ve graduated by now but I took a year off because I wanted to work and figure out what I want to study. Still don’t know so I am just majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
If anyone can offer advice, if you have been in this place too, I would so appreciate it. Thank you for taking the time to read this :)
submitted by Outrageous-Hunter-12 to Advice [link] [comments]
Anyways, since then I have leaned on my sister (24f) and my parents, and my boyfriend (26m). They’re older and have their own adult jobs and I’m just living in their shadow. My sister lets me hang out with her friends, my boyfriend the same, but they’re not my friends and I feel like a loser. I started to just stay inside every day, use weed, and my chihuahua is now my only social interaction aside from my sister and bf and strangers in the grocery store. I am so grateful because I know that’s still more support than others have, but it’s not the same as having a close independent friend. I also feel like I am trapped in their life, I feel I have no identity other than their side character.
I was going to move to Colorado for a few months to do a service trip, but my anxiety + my bf telling me that long distance doesn’t work discouraged me and I stayed here. I want to travel so bad and live before I get married and settle down, but I would have to go alone because I have no friends. Part of me has considered so many times being an au-pair and traveling but for some reason my anxiety just makes it seem unreasonable.
I have found myself prioritizing my faith more because it has helped me a lot with mental health. I am trying to break bad habits of smoking to numb the pain, eating junk to surpress my feelings, drinking wine to make me feel like I’m having fun alone. I am in a stand still and I’m stuck.
But it’s so sad. I am so young, I had so many dreams for myself at this age. When I was a child I would pray for this time to come and now that I am here it is just dull and lonely. I am finishing college online, I should’ve graduated by now but I took a year off because I wanted to work and figure out what I want to study. Still don’t know so I am just majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
If anyone can offer advice, if you have been in this place too, I would so appreciate it. Thank you for taking the time to read this :)
2024.05.14 15:57 freddiemercurial 45 [M4F] UK/Anywhere - I miss having that connection with someone special. There's nothing like it.
I’m after the relationship that goes the distance, the one that results in love and, when the time is right, the ‘m word’. I can’t think of anything I look forward to more than spending my life with the woman I love.
I love physical displays of affection, both public and otherwise. Gestures like holding, hugging, etc, are something I adore and would always welcome, especially because I love the excitement and warm feeling that come with being close to the one you love.
The person I am after is someone who is kind and caring, somebody that I can relaxed around. I don’t want the stress of being around someone who gets set off my the smallest thing. My sense of humour is varied, although it can best be described as something of a mix of Chandler Bing (RIP) and Edmund Blackadder.
When we’re together, my ideal night would involve spending our time at home, curled up on the sofa together and watching a film, or playing a game, although I’m not against the occasional day/night out if it’s just the two of us.I watch little in the way of current TV or films, and almost no sport. My main solo hobbies can be found on my friends post.
If we’re apart, as I presume we would be in the early days of our relationship, then, because I game a fair bit, I’d be open to you watching me play something, or vice versa if you game as well. We could also chat while we play our own individual games. We can also watch films, TV, etc, or whatever may bring us closer together.
I’m in the UK, so I would prefer to talk to someone who is also in the UK, as it would make things convenient for the both of us, and it would also make meeting up easier, and I would want to meet up if things progress well. However, I am open to talking to people who are overseas, as long as you’re moving to the UK in the near future, and that the move is, if not set in stone, then is at least guaranteed to happen or to be able to happen. Be aware that I am unable to travel overseas, although not for any nefarious reason.
I’m a vegetarian, though I don’t mind being around meat eaters as long as they’re respectful of how I feel. I don’t drink and, while I’m okay being with someone who does, it won’t work if you’re a person who drinks frequently. I’m non-religious and non-spiritual, and this will never change, and my views are generally what you’d call progressive and liberal. Disparate views are one thing, but if you use terms like ‘PC/PC culture’, ‘liberal’ or ‘woke’ as pejoratives, we will not get along. In addition, I do not smoke and will not be with a smoker.
I’m okay with either private messaging or Reddit chat, though I’d like to move off Reddit once we both feel comfortable doing so. Once we’ve moved to a different platform, exchanging pictures is then also something that would be done once we’re both comfortable, as would voice and video chat, especially because the best way to really get to know someone is through real-time communication.
Your opening message doesn’t have to be that long, just give me something to work with, something that can spark conversation. If you have any questions, queries, posers, then feel free to ask.
submitted by freddiemercurial to r4r [link] [comments]
I love physical displays of affection, both public and otherwise. Gestures like holding, hugging, etc, are something I adore and would always welcome, especially because I love the excitement and warm feeling that come with being close to the one you love.
The person I am after is someone who is kind and caring, somebody that I can relaxed around. I don’t want the stress of being around someone who gets set off my the smallest thing. My sense of humour is varied, although it can best be described as something of a mix of Chandler Bing (RIP) and Edmund Blackadder.
When we’re together, my ideal night would involve spending our time at home, curled up on the sofa together and watching a film, or playing a game, although I’m not against the occasional day/night out if it’s just the two of us.I watch little in the way of current TV or films, and almost no sport. My main solo hobbies can be found on my friends post.
If we’re apart, as I presume we would be in the early days of our relationship, then, because I game a fair bit, I’d be open to you watching me play something, or vice versa if you game as well. We could also chat while we play our own individual games. We can also watch films, TV, etc, or whatever may bring us closer together.
I’m in the UK, so I would prefer to talk to someone who is also in the UK, as it would make things convenient for the both of us, and it would also make meeting up easier, and I would want to meet up if things progress well. However, I am open to talking to people who are overseas, as long as you’re moving to the UK in the near future, and that the move is, if not set in stone, then is at least guaranteed to happen or to be able to happen. Be aware that I am unable to travel overseas, although not for any nefarious reason.
I’m a vegetarian, though I don’t mind being around meat eaters as long as they’re respectful of how I feel. I don’t drink and, while I’m okay being with someone who does, it won’t work if you’re a person who drinks frequently. I’m non-religious and non-spiritual, and this will never change, and my views are generally what you’d call progressive and liberal. Disparate views are one thing, but if you use terms like ‘PC/PC culture’, ‘liberal’ or ‘woke’ as pejoratives, we will not get along. In addition, I do not smoke and will not be with a smoker.
I’m okay with either private messaging or Reddit chat, though I’d like to move off Reddit once we both feel comfortable doing so. Once we’ve moved to a different platform, exchanging pictures is then also something that would be done once we’re both comfortable, as would voice and video chat, especially because the best way to really get to know someone is through real-time communication.
Your opening message doesn’t have to be that long, just give me something to work with, something that can spark conversation. If you have any questions, queries, posers, then feel free to ask.
2024.05.14 15:41 lambchopsuey "The 'five S's' of giving a good experience"
This analysis also comes from Cults and Nonconventional Religious Groups: A Collection of Outstanding Dissertations and Monographs, "Shakubuku: A Study of the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist Movement in America, 1960-1975", David A. Snow, 1993, pp. 175-177 - it's a section within the analysis here about how the SGI's "discussion meetings" were carefully planned and choreographed sales pitch performances aimed at convincing any "guests" to convert. I thought this part about the carefully structured "experiences" deserved its own post:
While these specific "five S's" aren't around any more, there are still guidelines for how to give an "experience":
submitted by lambchopsuey to sgiwhistleblowers [link] [comments]
In addition to the general supportive role, members are provided with instructions regarding the more specific role activity. That is, they are coached as to how to give explanations of what NSA [former name of SGI-USA] is all about, to lead songs, and to give testimonies. Regarding the latter, for example, members are reminded to respond to the emcee's request for experiences with great alacrity and enthusiasm by thrusting their hands in the air in a vigorous manner and yelling out "hi."Actually, it's "Hai!", which means "Yes/Okay/I'll do it" in Japanese.
And if called upon, they are reminded to attend to the five major points or the "five S's" of giving a good experience.That "coaching" is done before the live performance at the "discussion meeting", of course, not reminded within that performance context. That would break the illusion, as you can imagine.
The first point is Shakubuku. Remember, the guests have absolutely no understanding of this practice or any NSA terminology. Always talk to the guests and not to the members. The sole purpose of an experience is to make the guests curious enough to join ... Don't use Buddhist terms and names the guests won't understand...That's obviously a typo; it should be either "I wasn't satisfied with my life" or "I was dissatisfied with my life", as confirmed by part (b):
Point number two is story. Make sure an experience is just that - something which happened to you and which you either changed into a benefit or changed an aspect of your life-condition through chanting. Basically , an experience should be structured as
(a) I had a problem or I was satisfied [sic] with my life and
(b) then I chanted, solved the problem or changed that aspect of my life which I wasn't satisfied with...Clearly, this is all about crafting the most persuasive sales pitch, not about honestly and authentically communicating anything real.
Make sure that you stress that chanting was the ingredient which changed those aspects of your life. Otherwise, the guests won't be able to connect just how chanting and a person's problems relate.
The third point to keep in mind is simplicity. Make each point of the story simple and to the point. Don't clutter the issue with unnecessary details. Try to be as brief as possible.
The fourth point is that of a seeking mind. What this means is that the person giving an experience should try to find out what type of experience the leader wants to have conveyed to the guests that will most benefit them.
We're not saying that there is a "one" type of experience that is sought, but experiences have to be geared to the guests at the meeting. A middle-aged person is definitely going to have hard time relating to the change in values of a college student... The point is, make sure you are perceptive enough to give the type of experience which the guests at the meeting can relate to best.Keeping in mind that no one knows for certain WHO these "guests" will be - this sort of "adjustment" in the details has to be made on the fly, which demonstrates the inauthenticity of the "experience" performance. But the culties are supposed to make it appear "authentic":
The final point is one of the most important - sincerity ... Even if your experience isn't that spectacular or full of content, the guests can relate to a person' [sic] sincere way of giving the experience...The "5 S's" section is footnoted as coming from:
"The Five S's of Giving a Good Experience," World Tribune (September 11, 1974). Also, see the NSA Quarterly (Winter, 1975), p. 13; and the World Tribune (October 25, 1974).It was obviously a structured thing that was explicitly taught (indoctrinated).
These five pointers on how to construct and give a "good" experience are mentioned repeatedly in the movement's literature and by its leaders. Furthermore, members can learn how to construct testimonies in accordance with these instructions by simply watching and listening to other members, and especially core converts, when giving their respective experiences.You can probably surmise that after a while, these "experiences" will all start to show the same standardized structure; this will be accepted within the cult (because that's the goal), but the guests won't realize just how structured it is - and the focus on making it as manipulative as possible.
Indeed, rank-and-file members and new converts are often told to watch and listen to how so-and-so gives an experience.That's true - I remember that.
It should thus come as no surprise that the testimonies given at these meetings, or wherever, are usually structured in accordance with the above pointers or instructions. And when they are not, the violators are usually pulled aside after the meeting and provided with corrective suggestions. At the end of several meetings, for example, I overheard the district chief reprimanding and re-instructing members regarding the unsuitable testimonies they had given earlier in the evening. This sanctioning and corrective work occurs not only when unsatisfactory testimonies are given but whenever meeting or movement-related roles are performed in an unsatisfactory manner and whenever members visibly engage in conduct that is inappropriate from the standpoint of NSA. During the San Diego Convention weekend, for example, I observed on several occasions members who were being brought back into line for engaging in unbecoming conduct, such as smoking grass on the bus while en route to the convention. That members who conduct themselves and perform their roles in an unsuitable and unconvincing manner are frequently pulled aside and provided with corrective guidance thus suggests a third consideration pointing to the highly orchestrated and theatrical character of discussion meetings in particular and of NSA in general.Everyone must be "on" at all times; they must at all times display the SGI-defined image that SGI believes will impress the public and be most appealing to draw in potential new members.
While these specific "five S's" aren't around any more, there are still guidelines for how to give an "experience":
How do I write an experience for SGI budhist meeting?REHEARSE it, in other words. These "experiences" are NOT spontaneous!
State the difficulty you faced.
State how long you have been struggling with it, and how it affected you.
State what you did to resolve it, and how much you chanted.
State the resolution, and what that means to you.
Keep it to under 3.5 minutes.
Before you give your experience, read it to someone who cares about you, someone you know, and ask for an honest opinion on how your delivery is. from 7 years ago
2024.05.14 15:26 Fletcherrenn Smoking age raised to 21 but not vapes
Just want to preface this by saying I'm in support of this change but is it just me that thinks it's crazy that the age to buy cigarettes has been raised to 21 but the ages you can buy vapes at will remain at 18 ? While this doesn't come into effect straight away and won't effect people currently 18, it's going to be introduced soon. Most young people seem to be smoking vapes, not cigarettes or rollies. We banned menthol and other flavoured cigarettes as it made it appealing for young people to smoke but we are making no effort to ban flavoured vapes(which make it far easier for kids to smoke) or even to extend the ban to vapes. Why do vapes seem to be getting preferential treatment when a senior member in Ireland's healthcare system came out and said it's almost certain vapes have serious and long term effects on health.
submitted by Fletcherrenn to ireland [link] [comments]