Writing a recount picture series
/r/manga: manga, on reddit.
2008.08.09 22:35 /r/manga: manga, on reddit.
Everything and anything manga! (manhwa/manhua is okay too!) Discuss weekly chapters, find/recommend a new series to read, post a picture of your collection, lurk, etc!
2013.09.21 17:07 KPexEA Name that car
Post an original picture of a car for others to guess what it is. We welcome any and all submissions, whether they're OC or just taken from a Wikipedia page.
2019.10.25 04:00 ProtozoologicalHuff lexfridman
Discussion of science, technology, engineering, philosophy, history, politics, music, art, etc. Less focus on Lex and focus on ideas, whether related to Lex Fridman Podcast or not.
2024.05.17 13:08 digital_wiz How We Scaled a Hair Extension Brand using Facebook Ads and SEO to give $80,000 ROI in 6 Months (Detailed Breakdown)
Hello Redditors,
This is an incredible success story of how we helped a client achieve incredible results in just four months, generating an $80,000 return on investment (ROI) with a combination of SEO and Facebook Ads. We have completed many successful projects and there's a certain satisfaction in seeing our strategies translate to such tangible growth. I have tried to keep this post extremely detailed so that it can be beneficial for experienced marketers and newcomers alike.
The Client: Hair Extension E-commerce Brand
Revenue Split Between SEO and Fb ads: 3:2
Average Order Value: $350
Total Revenue(6 months): $140,000
Expenses(6 months): Product Cost + Delivery cost + Team + Agency Fees + Ads Cost+ Website Optimization + Packaging: $60000
Basic Company Background:
The brand was being run by a Mother-Daughter duo for the past 3 months. They had a shopify website with average structure and were struggling with facebook ads themselves. Although they made few physical sales due to friends and relatives but were unable to utilize the digital potential of their business as such. After trying facebook ads for some time they wanted a reliable digital marketing team to work with and they were recommended to us by one of our other customers who has a service based business. Initially we connected majorly for facebook ads but after the initial discussion when were doing research from our side, we found that there is huge potential in SEO for this niche so we suggested that we should prepare a proper website on wordpress and focus on both SEO and Ads parallelly as, although Ads will give an initial boost to the business but SEO will bring some stability and help in building a sustainable business.
Facebook Ads Campaign Structure:
It's important to note that after deep research we could find that a major share our hair extensions customers are females aged between 21-45 so we did not actively position our brand as solving problems of low hair volume, but instead we focused on how the products ads style, gives a much better look and you can try new hairstyles and hair colors daily. Also since almost all the demographics in this age group are working, we tested a professional look angle as well which gave us decent results. In ad creatives as well as on the website we made the daughter as the face of the product as we want to slowly grow her instagram as well which can add another organic and sustainable stream of revenue. She shoots before and after transition videos, general product application videos and other videos for ads according to the target audience and brand positioning strategy we discussed earlier. Instead of making long videos focused on product details a lot, we made short but captivating videos which can appeal to the young audience’s fashion sense.
Key Takeaways from FB Ads:
Mostly Meta Ads or Any other marketing tactic is just a traffic source but conversion will basically happen by how well you are able to communicate your product to the audience through your website. Its is necessary to have a smooth user journey, attractive offers, crisp information and right brand positioning on the website.
It is extremely important to make data driven decisions and track customer journeys meticulously. Always rely on your own tracking or google analytics to avoid the potential unreliability of Facebook Ads Manager.
Seo Strategy
If you don’t already know this, SEO is all about how effectively you can strategize your content and technical efforts keeping a bigger picture in mind. After our initial keyword research we could find that the average Kd of the important keywords was low when it comes to commercial keywords which were directly related to the business.
It's important to note that since the website was being built after our onboarding only so it was easy for us to structure the website according to the SEO strategy that we prepared.
At every stage we had meetings with the developer to ensure that there are no technical issues that will hinder the SEO growth and future and also we structured the website to be SEO friendly. We built separate pages for all the product categories and after through keyword research we added content to those pages so that the pages itself can rank for commercial keywords.
After the website was ready we audited it for technical issues(Like mobile friendliness, H1 tags, canonical tags, etc) we started focusing on the content. We wanted to establish our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions and hair care industry in general.
Since the website was completely new, initially we created blogs(2-3 times per week) around informational keywords with low KD purely for increasing our website authority and bringing the initial traffic on the website. We have seen that usually people start stressing about approaching big websites for guest postings since the first day itself but if your keyword research and content is solid, that is not required in the beginning. Initially we focused on profile creations, image submissions, pdf submissions, internal linking in the content, web 2.0 backlinks etc and this was more than enough for us to rank for low difficulty keywords and increase our DA to a decent level so that our category pages can rank for low difficulty keywords.
Here I would like to include a tip, many times people are worried that what if the backlink that they have created doesn't get indexed. In the initial phase we work really hard when it comes to what we call as maturing our backlinks as this is the major factor for ranking on low difficulty keywords. So basically what we do is, we make backlinks of our web 2.0 backlinks itself which helps the primary backlink in getting indexed which ultimately helps with our website DA.
Also many people have been asking us in our previous posts how we structure our blog since I talk a lot about content quality, see it's not as hard and it doesn't involve a lot of research at least in the initial phase when you just have to rank on low difficulty keywords. In this phase usually what we do is study the top 5 ranking blogs on the particular keyword and make sure that we include more content and more subheadings then them. Also we try to find opportunities to include tables or charts wherever possible, we include good quality images(original if possible) and at this stage internal linking is very very important so we focus on that as well. In later stages although the basic strategy for framing the blogs remains same, overall content strategy varies a lot from business to business and requires a lot of strategizing depending on the brand positioning goals.
So after we were able to rank for low difficulty informational keywords and our Website DA reached a decent level due to our backlinking efforts, we started writing content around the fashion advice and common problems which people face related to hair in general. But as discussed earlier, we wanted to keep our brand positioning fashion centric, so even while writing about common problems we applied a positive and solution centric approach. We strategically placed internal links to our product pages in the content and tested popups with offers as well. Apart from this, we started guest posting as well at this stage. For finding websites for guest posting we used SEMrush’s backlink gap analysis tool and created a segregated list of blogs that we can reach out to based on their content quality and DA. By this time the store started generating decent revenue from ads and SEO so the client was completely onboard with reaching out to blogs for guest posting. Guest posting and overall strategic SEO application started generating a good amount of traffic for us and in 3-4 months the revenue generated due to SEO surpassed our Ads revenue as well.
Advantages of Combining SEO and Paid Ads
While Facebook Ads played a crucial role in launching the brand and driving initial traffic, SEO has emerged as the primary driver of sustainable growth. This approach allowed us to:
Thankyou For Reading!
submitted by digital_wiz to SEO_cases [link] [comments]
This is an incredible success story of how we helped a client achieve incredible results in just four months, generating an $80,000 return on investment (ROI) with a combination of SEO and Facebook Ads. We have completed many successful projects and there's a certain satisfaction in seeing our strategies translate to such tangible growth. I have tried to keep this post extremely detailed so that it can be beneficial for experienced marketers and newcomers alike.
The Client: Hair Extension E-commerce Brand
Revenue Split Between SEO and Fb ads: 3:2
Average Order Value: $350
Total Revenue(6 months): $140,000
Expenses(6 months): Product Cost + Delivery cost + Team + Agency Fees + Ads Cost+ Website Optimization + Packaging: $60000
Basic Company Background:
The brand was being run by a Mother-Daughter duo for the past 3 months. They had a shopify website with average structure and were struggling with facebook ads themselves. Although they made few physical sales due to friends and relatives but were unable to utilize the digital potential of their business as such. After trying facebook ads for some time they wanted a reliable digital marketing team to work with and they were recommended to us by one of our other customers who has a service based business. Initially we connected majorly for facebook ads but after the initial discussion when were doing research from our side, we found that there is huge potential in SEO for this niche so we suggested that we should prepare a proper website on wordpress and focus on both SEO and Ads parallelly as, although Ads will give an initial boost to the business but SEO will bring some stability and help in building a sustainable business.
Facebook Ads Campaign Structure:
- Our campaign housed multiple ad sets targeting users who are interested in fashion products and we also targeted audiences of some big and costly fashion companies. We were mostly targeting females aged 25-45 with good income source to have optimal conversions in the beginning, with our Seo efforts we planned to target a slightly younger audience as well which is going steadily as of now.
- We ran occasional promotions like "Buy x get x free" to boost AOV.
- Due to the high AOV and especially the product niche sometimes it is necessary to build trust so we used retargeting to build trust and showcase benefits, not just push for immediate conversions. Ads focused on comparison(Before & Afters), Customer Reviews, Hassle free product application and natural look, stylish look.
It's important to note that after deep research we could find that a major share our hair extensions customers are females aged between 21-45 so we did not actively position our brand as solving problems of low hair volume, but instead we focused on how the products ads style, gives a much better look and you can try new hairstyles and hair colors daily. Also since almost all the demographics in this age group are working, we tested a professional look angle as well which gave us decent results. In ad creatives as well as on the website we made the daughter as the face of the product as we want to slowly grow her instagram as well which can add another organic and sustainable stream of revenue. She shoots before and after transition videos, general product application videos and other videos for ads according to the target audience and brand positioning strategy we discussed earlier. Instead of making long videos focused on product details a lot, we made short but captivating videos which can appeal to the young audience’s fashion sense.
Key Takeaways from FB Ads:
Mostly Meta Ads or Any other marketing tactic is just a traffic source but conversion will basically happen by how well you are able to communicate your product to the audience through your website. Its is necessary to have a smooth user journey, attractive offers, crisp information and right brand positioning on the website.
It is extremely important to make data driven decisions and track customer journeys meticulously. Always rely on your own tracking or google analytics to avoid the potential unreliability of Facebook Ads Manager.
Seo Strategy
If you don’t already know this, SEO is all about how effectively you can strategize your content and technical efforts keeping a bigger picture in mind. After our initial keyword research we could find that the average Kd of the important keywords was low when it comes to commercial keywords which were directly related to the business.
It's important to note that since the website was being built after our onboarding only so it was easy for us to structure the website according to the SEO strategy that we prepared.
At every stage we had meetings with the developer to ensure that there are no technical issues that will hinder the SEO growth and future and also we structured the website to be SEO friendly. We built separate pages for all the product categories and after through keyword research we added content to those pages so that the pages itself can rank for commercial keywords.
After the website was ready we audited it for technical issues(Like mobile friendliness, H1 tags, canonical tags, etc) we started focusing on the content. We wanted to establish our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions and hair care industry in general.
Since the website was completely new, initially we created blogs(2-3 times per week) around informational keywords with low KD purely for increasing our website authority and bringing the initial traffic on the website. We have seen that usually people start stressing about approaching big websites for guest postings since the first day itself but if your keyword research and content is solid, that is not required in the beginning. Initially we focused on profile creations, image submissions, pdf submissions, internal linking in the content, web 2.0 backlinks etc and this was more than enough for us to rank for low difficulty keywords and increase our DA to a decent level so that our category pages can rank for low difficulty keywords.
Here I would like to include a tip, many times people are worried that what if the backlink that they have created doesn't get indexed. In the initial phase we work really hard when it comes to what we call as maturing our backlinks as this is the major factor for ranking on low difficulty keywords. So basically what we do is, we make backlinks of our web 2.0 backlinks itself which helps the primary backlink in getting indexed which ultimately helps with our website DA.
Also many people have been asking us in our previous posts how we structure our blog since I talk a lot about content quality, see it's not as hard and it doesn't involve a lot of research at least in the initial phase when you just have to rank on low difficulty keywords. In this phase usually what we do is study the top 5 ranking blogs on the particular keyword and make sure that we include more content and more subheadings then them. Also we try to find opportunities to include tables or charts wherever possible, we include good quality images(original if possible) and at this stage internal linking is very very important so we focus on that as well. In later stages although the basic strategy for framing the blogs remains same, overall content strategy varies a lot from business to business and requires a lot of strategizing depending on the brand positioning goals.
So after we were able to rank for low difficulty informational keywords and our Website DA reached a decent level due to our backlinking efforts, we started writing content around the fashion advice and common problems which people face related to hair in general. But as discussed earlier, we wanted to keep our brand positioning fashion centric, so even while writing about common problems we applied a positive and solution centric approach. We strategically placed internal links to our product pages in the content and tested popups with offers as well. Apart from this, we started guest posting as well at this stage. For finding websites for guest posting we used SEMrush’s backlink gap analysis tool and created a segregated list of blogs that we can reach out to based on their content quality and DA. By this time the store started generating decent revenue from ads and SEO so the client was completely onboard with reaching out to blogs for guest posting. Guest posting and overall strategic SEO application started generating a good amount of traffic for us and in 3-4 months the revenue generated due to SEO surpassed our Ads revenue as well.
Advantages of Combining SEO and Paid Ads
While Facebook Ads played a crucial role in launching the brand and driving initial traffic, SEO has emerged as the primary driver of sustainable growth. This approach allowed us to:
- Reduce Reliance on Paid Advertising: As our SEO efforts matured, we were able to gradually decrease our Facebook ad spend, resulting in cost savings and improved return on investment.
- Build Brand Authority: Our SEO strategy has positioned our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions industry. This fosters brand recognition and trust, leading to organic customer acquisition.
- Scale Traffic and Revenue: Organic traffic growth has been exponential, leading to a significant and sustainable increase in website revenue generated through SEO.
Thankyou For Reading!
2024.05.17 13:06 digital_wiz How We Scaled a Hair Extension Brand using Facebook Ads and SEO to give $80,000 ROI in 6 Months (Detailed Breakdown)
Hello Redditors,
This is an incredible success story of how we helped a client achieve incredible results in just four months, generating an $80,000 return on investment (ROI) with a combination of SEO and Facebook Ads. We have completed many successful projects and there's a certain satisfaction in seeing our strategies translate to such tangible growth. I have tried to keep this post extremely detailed so that it can be beneficial for experienced marketers and newcomers alike.
The Client: Hair Extension E-commerce Brand
Revenue Split Between SEO and Fb ads: 3:2
Average Order Value: $350
Total Revenue(6 months): $140,000
Expenses(6 months): Product Cost + Delivery cost + Team + Agency Fees + Ads Cost+ Website Optimization + Packaging: $60000
Basic Company Background:
The brand was being run by a Mother-Daughter duo for the past 3 months. They had a shopify website with average structure and were struggling with facebook ads themselves. Although they made few physical sales due to friends and relatives but were unable to utilize the digital potential of their business as such. After trying facebook ads for some time they wanted a reliable digital marketing team to work with and they were recommended to us by one of our other customers who has a service based business. Initially we connected majorly for facebook ads but after the initial discussion when were doing research from our side, we found that there is huge potential in SEO for this niche so we suggested that we should prepare a proper website on wordpress and focus on both SEO and Ads parallelly as, although Ads will give an initial boost to the business but SEO will bring some stability and help in building a sustainable business.
Facebook Ads Campaign Structure:
It's important to note that after deep research we could find that a major share our hair extensions customers are females aged between 21-45 so we did not actively position our brand as solving problems of low hair volume, but instead we focused on how the products ads style, gives a much better look and you can try new hairstyles and hair colors daily. Also since almost all the demographics in this age group are working, we tested a professional look angle as well which gave us decent results. In ad creatives as well as on the website we made the daughter as the face of the product as we want to slowly grow her instagram as well which can add another organic and sustainable stream of revenue. She shoots before and after transition videos, general product application videos and other videos for ads according to the target audience and brand positioning strategy we discussed earlier. Instead of making long videos focused on product details a lot, we made short but captivating videos which can appeal to the young audience’s fashion sense.
Key Takeaways from FB Ads:
Mostly Meta Ads or Any other marketing tactic is just a traffic source but conversion will basically happen by how well you are able to communicate your product to the audience through your website. Its is necessary to have a smooth user journey, attractive offers, crisp information and right brand positioning on the website.
It is extremely important to make data driven decisions and track customer journeys meticulously. Always rely on your own tracking or google analytics to avoid the potential unreliability of Facebook Ads Manager.
Seo Strategy
If you don’t already know this, SEO is all about how effectively you can strategize your content and technical efforts keeping a bigger picture in mind. After our initial keyword research we could find that the average Kd of the important keywords was low when it comes to commercial keywords which were directly related to the business.
It's important to note that since the website was being built after our onboarding only so it was easy for us to structure the website according to the SEO strategy that we prepared.
At every stage we had meetings with the developer to ensure that there are no technical issues that will hinder the SEO growth and future and also we structured the website to be SEO friendly. We built separate pages for all the product categories and after through keyword research we added content to those pages so that the pages itself can rank for commercial keywords.
After the website was ready we audited it for technical issues(Like mobile friendliness, H1 tags, canonical tags, etc) we started focusing on the content. We wanted to establish our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions and hair care industry in general.
Since the website was completely new, initially we created blogs(2-3 times per week) around informational keywords with low KD purely for increasing our website authority and bringing the initial traffic on the website. We have seen that usually people start stressing about approaching big websites for guest postings since the first day itself but if your keyword research and content is solid, that is not required in the beginning. Initially we focused on profile creations, image submissions, pdf submissions, internal linking in the content, web 2.0 backlinks etc and this was more than enough for us to rank for low difficulty keywords and increase our DA to a decent level so that our category pages can rank for low difficulty keywords.
Here I would like to include a tip, many times people are worried that what if the backlink that they have created doesn't get indexed. In the initial phase we work really hard when it comes to what we call as maturing our backlinks as this is the major factor for ranking on low difficulty keywords. So basically what we do is, we make backlinks of our web 2.0 backlinks itself which helps the primary backlink in getting indexed which ultimately helps with our website DA.
Also many people have been asking us in our previous posts how we structure our blog since I talk a lot about content quality, see it's not as hard and it doesn't involve a lot of research at least in the initial phase when you just have to rank on low difficulty keywords. In this phase usually what we do is study the top 5 ranking blogs on the particular keyword and make sure that we include more content and more subheadings then them. Also we try to find opportunities to include tables or charts wherever possible, we include good quality images(original if possible) and at this stage internal linking is very very important so we focus on that as well. In later stages although the basic strategy for framing the blogs remains same, overall content strategy varies a lot from business to business and requires a lot of strategizing depending on the brand positioning goals.
So after we were able to rank for low difficulty informational keywords and our Website DA reached a decent level due to our backlinking efforts, we started writing content around the fashion advice and common problems which people face related to hair in general. But as discussed earlier, we wanted to keep our brand positioning fashion centric, so even while writing about common problems we applied a positive and solution centric approach. We strategically placed internal links to our product pages in the content and tested popups with offers as well. Apart from this, we started guest posting as well at this stage. For finding websites for guest posting we used SEMrush’s backlink gap analysis tool and created a segregated list of blogs that we can reach out to based on their content quality and DA. By this time the store started generating decent revenue from ads and SEO so the client was completely onboard with reaching out to blogs for guest posting. Guest posting and overall strategic SEO application started generating a good amount of traffic for us and in 3-4 months the revenue generated due to SEO surpassed our Ads revenue as well.
Advantages of Combining SEO and Paid Ads
While Facebook Ads played a crucial role in launching the brand and driving initial traffic, SEO has emerged as the primary driver of sustainable growth. This approach allowed us to:
Thankyou For Reading!
submitted by digital_wiz to MarketingHelp [link] [comments]
This is an incredible success story of how we helped a client achieve incredible results in just four months, generating an $80,000 return on investment (ROI) with a combination of SEO and Facebook Ads. We have completed many successful projects and there's a certain satisfaction in seeing our strategies translate to such tangible growth. I have tried to keep this post extremely detailed so that it can be beneficial for experienced marketers and newcomers alike.
The Client: Hair Extension E-commerce Brand
Revenue Split Between SEO and Fb ads: 3:2
Average Order Value: $350
Total Revenue(6 months): $140,000
Expenses(6 months): Product Cost + Delivery cost + Team + Agency Fees + Ads Cost+ Website Optimization + Packaging: $60000
Basic Company Background:
The brand was being run by a Mother-Daughter duo for the past 3 months. They had a shopify website with average structure and were struggling with facebook ads themselves. Although they made few physical sales due to friends and relatives but were unable to utilize the digital potential of their business as such. After trying facebook ads for some time they wanted a reliable digital marketing team to work with and they were recommended to us by one of our other customers who has a service based business. Initially we connected majorly for facebook ads but after the initial discussion when were doing research from our side, we found that there is huge potential in SEO for this niche so we suggested that we should prepare a proper website on wordpress and focus on both SEO and Ads parallelly as, although Ads will give an initial boost to the business but SEO will bring some stability and help in building a sustainable business.
Facebook Ads Campaign Structure:
- Our campaign housed multiple ad sets targeting users who are interested in fashion products and we also targeted audiences of some big and costly fashion companies. We were mostly targeting females aged 25-45 with good income source to have optimal conversions in the beginning, with our Seo efforts we planned to target a slightly younger audience as well which is going steadily as of now.
- We ran occasional promotions like "Buy x get x free" to boost AOV.
- Due to the high AOV and especially the product niche sometimes it is necessary to build trust so we used retargeting to build trust and showcase benefits, not just push for immediate conversions. Ads focused on comparison(Before & Afters), Customer Reviews, Hassle free product application and natural look, stylish look.
It's important to note that after deep research we could find that a major share our hair extensions customers are females aged between 21-45 so we did not actively position our brand as solving problems of low hair volume, but instead we focused on how the products ads style, gives a much better look and you can try new hairstyles and hair colors daily. Also since almost all the demographics in this age group are working, we tested a professional look angle as well which gave us decent results. In ad creatives as well as on the website we made the daughter as the face of the product as we want to slowly grow her instagram as well which can add another organic and sustainable stream of revenue. She shoots before and after transition videos, general product application videos and other videos for ads according to the target audience and brand positioning strategy we discussed earlier. Instead of making long videos focused on product details a lot, we made short but captivating videos which can appeal to the young audience’s fashion sense.
Key Takeaways from FB Ads:
Mostly Meta Ads or Any other marketing tactic is just a traffic source but conversion will basically happen by how well you are able to communicate your product to the audience through your website. Its is necessary to have a smooth user journey, attractive offers, crisp information and right brand positioning on the website.
It is extremely important to make data driven decisions and track customer journeys meticulously. Always rely on your own tracking or google analytics to avoid the potential unreliability of Facebook Ads Manager.
Seo Strategy
If you don’t already know this, SEO is all about how effectively you can strategize your content and technical efforts keeping a bigger picture in mind. After our initial keyword research we could find that the average Kd of the important keywords was low when it comes to commercial keywords which were directly related to the business.
It's important to note that since the website was being built after our onboarding only so it was easy for us to structure the website according to the SEO strategy that we prepared.
At every stage we had meetings with the developer to ensure that there are no technical issues that will hinder the SEO growth and future and also we structured the website to be SEO friendly. We built separate pages for all the product categories and after through keyword research we added content to those pages so that the pages itself can rank for commercial keywords.
After the website was ready we audited it for technical issues(Like mobile friendliness, H1 tags, canonical tags, etc) we started focusing on the content. We wanted to establish our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions and hair care industry in general.
Since the website was completely new, initially we created blogs(2-3 times per week) around informational keywords with low KD purely for increasing our website authority and bringing the initial traffic on the website. We have seen that usually people start stressing about approaching big websites for guest postings since the first day itself but if your keyword research and content is solid, that is not required in the beginning. Initially we focused on profile creations, image submissions, pdf submissions, internal linking in the content, web 2.0 backlinks etc and this was more than enough for us to rank for low difficulty keywords and increase our DA to a decent level so that our category pages can rank for low difficulty keywords.
Here I would like to include a tip, many times people are worried that what if the backlink that they have created doesn't get indexed. In the initial phase we work really hard when it comes to what we call as maturing our backlinks as this is the major factor for ranking on low difficulty keywords. So basically what we do is, we make backlinks of our web 2.0 backlinks itself which helps the primary backlink in getting indexed which ultimately helps with our website DA.
Also many people have been asking us in our previous posts how we structure our blog since I talk a lot about content quality, see it's not as hard and it doesn't involve a lot of research at least in the initial phase when you just have to rank on low difficulty keywords. In this phase usually what we do is study the top 5 ranking blogs on the particular keyword and make sure that we include more content and more subheadings then them. Also we try to find opportunities to include tables or charts wherever possible, we include good quality images(original if possible) and at this stage internal linking is very very important so we focus on that as well. In later stages although the basic strategy for framing the blogs remains same, overall content strategy varies a lot from business to business and requires a lot of strategizing depending on the brand positioning goals.
So after we were able to rank for low difficulty informational keywords and our Website DA reached a decent level due to our backlinking efforts, we started writing content around the fashion advice and common problems which people face related to hair in general. But as discussed earlier, we wanted to keep our brand positioning fashion centric, so even while writing about common problems we applied a positive and solution centric approach. We strategically placed internal links to our product pages in the content and tested popups with offers as well. Apart from this, we started guest posting as well at this stage. For finding websites for guest posting we used SEMrush’s backlink gap analysis tool and created a segregated list of blogs that we can reach out to based on their content quality and DA. By this time the store started generating decent revenue from ads and SEO so the client was completely onboard with reaching out to blogs for guest posting. Guest posting and overall strategic SEO application started generating a good amount of traffic for us and in 3-4 months the revenue generated due to SEO surpassed our Ads revenue as well.
Advantages of Combining SEO and Paid Ads
While Facebook Ads played a crucial role in launching the brand and driving initial traffic, SEO has emerged as the primary driver of sustainable growth. This approach allowed us to:
- Reduce Reliance on Paid Advertising: As our SEO efforts matured, we were able to gradually decrease our Facebook ad spend, resulting in cost savings and improved return on investment.
- Build Brand Authority: Our SEO strategy has positioned our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions industry. This fosters brand recognition and trust, leading to organic customer acquisition.
- Scale Traffic and Revenue: Organic traffic growth has been exponential, leading to a significant and sustainable increase in website revenue generated through SEO.
Thankyou For Reading!
2024.05.17 13:03 digital_wiz How We Scaled a Hair Extension Brand using Facebook Ads and SEO to give $80,000 ROI in 6 Months (Detailed Breakdown)
Hello Redditors,
This is an incredible success story of how we helped a client achieve incredible results in just four months, generating an $80,000 return on investment (ROI) with a combination of SEO and Facebook Ads. We have completed many successful projects and there's a certain satisfaction in seeing our strategies translate to such tangible growth. I have tried to keep this post extremely detailed so that it can be beneficial for experienced marketers and newcomers alike.
The Client: Hair Extension E-commerce Brand
Revenue Split Between SEO and Fb ads: 3:2
Average Order Value: $350
Total Revenue(6 months): $140,000
Expenses(6 months): Product Cost + Delivery cost + Team + Agency Fees + Ads Cost+ Website Optimization + Packaging: $60000
Basic Company Background:
The brand was being run by a Mother-Daughter duo for the past 3 months. They had a shopify website with average structure and were struggling with facebook ads themselves. Although they made few physical sales due to friends and relatives but were unable to utilize the digital potential of their business as such. After trying facebook ads for some time they wanted a reliable digital marketing team to work with and they were recommended to us by one of our other customers who has a service based business. Initially we connected majorly for facebook ads but after the initial discussion when were doing research from our side, we found that there is huge potential in SEO for this niche so we suggested that we should prepare a proper website on wordpress and focus on both SEO and Ads parallelly as, although Ads will give an initial boost to the business but SEO will bring some stability and help in building a sustainable business.
Facebook Ads Campaign Structure:
It's important to note that after deep research we could find that a major share our hair extensions customers are females aged between 21-45 so we did not actively position our brand as solving problems of low hair volume, but instead we focused on how the products ads style, gives a much better look and you can try new hairstyles and hair colors daily. Also since almost all the demographics in this age group are working, we tested a professional look angle as well which gave us decent results. In ad creatives as well as on the website we made the daughter as the face of the product as we want to slowly grow her instagram as well which can add another organic and sustainable stream of revenue. She shoots before and after transition videos, general product application videos and other videos for ads according to the target audience and brand positioning strategy we discussed earlier. Instead of making long videos focused on product details a lot, we made short but captivating videos which can appeal to the young audience’s fashion sense.
Key Takeaways from FB Ads:
Mostly Meta Ads or Any other marketing tactic is just a traffic source but conversion will basically happen by how well you are able to communicate your product to the audience through your website. Its is necessary to have a smooth user journey, attractive offers, crisp information and right brand positioning on the website.
It is extremely important to make data driven decisions and track customer journeys meticulously. Always rely on your own tracking or google analytics to avoid the potential unreliability of Facebook Ads Manager.
Seo Strategy
If you don’t already know this, SEO is all about how effectively you can strategize your content and technical efforts keeping a bigger picture in mind. After our initial keyword research we could find that the average Kd of the important keywords was low when it comes to commercial keywords which were directly related to the business.
It's important to note that since the website was being built after our onboarding only so it was easy for us to structure the website according to the SEO strategy that we prepared.
At every stage we had meetings with the developer to ensure that there are no technical issues that will hinder the SEO growth and future and also we structured the website to be SEO friendly. We built separate pages for all the product categories and after through keyword research we added content to those pages so that the pages itself can rank for commercial keywords.
After the website was ready we audited it for technical issues(Like mobile friendliness, H1 tags, canonical tags, etc) we started focusing on the content. We wanted to establish our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions and hair care industry in general.
Since the website was completely new, initially we created blogs(2-3 times per week) around informational keywords with low KD purely for increasing our website authority and bringing the initial traffic on the website. We have seen that usually people start stressing about approaching big websites for guest postings since the first day itself but if your keyword research and content is solid, that is not required in the beginning. Initially we focused on profile creations, image submissions, pdf submissions, internal linking in the content, web 2.0 backlinks etc and this was more than enough for us to rank for low difficulty keywords and increase our DA to a decent level so that our category pages can rank for low difficulty keywords.
Here I would like to include a tip, many times people are worried that what if the backlink that they have created doesn't get indexed. In the initial phase we work really hard when it comes to what we call as maturing our backlinks as this is the major factor for ranking on low difficulty keywords. So basically what we do is, we make backlinks of our web 2.0 backlinks itself which helps the primary backlink in getting indexed which ultimately helps with our website DA.
Also many people have been asking us in our previous posts how we structure our blog since I talk a lot about content quality, see it's not as hard and it doesn't involve a lot of research at least in the initial phase when you just have to rank on low difficulty keywords. In this phase usually what we do is study the top 5 ranking blogs on the particular keyword and make sure that we include more content and more subheadings then them. Also we try to find opportunities to include tables or charts wherever possible, we include good quality images(original if possible) and at this stage internal linking is very very important so we focus on that as well. In later stages although the basic strategy for framing the blogs remains same, overall content strategy varies a lot from business to business and requires a lot of strategizing depending on the brand positioning goals.
So after we were able to rank for low difficulty informational keywords and our Website DA reached a decent level due to our backlinking efforts, we started writing content around the fashion advice and common problems which people face related to hair in general. But as discussed earlier, we wanted to keep our brand positioning fashion centric, so even while writing about common problems we applied a positive and solution centric approach. We strategically placed internal links to our product pages in the content and tested popups with offers as well. Apart from this, we started guest posting as well at this stage. For finding websites for guest posting we used SEMrush’s backlink gap analysis tool and created a segregated list of blogs that we can reach out to based on their content quality and DA. By this time the store started generating decent revenue from ads and SEO so the client was completely onboard with reaching out to blogs for guest posting. Guest posting and overall strategic SEO application started generating a good amount of traffic for us and in 3-4 months the revenue generated due to SEO surpassed our Ads revenue as well.
Advantages of Combining SEO and Paid Ads
While Facebook Ads played a crucial role in launching the brand and driving initial traffic, SEO has emerged as the primary driver of sustainable growth. This approach allowed us to:
Thankyou For Reading!
submitted by digital_wiz to ecommerce [link] [comments]
This is an incredible success story of how we helped a client achieve incredible results in just four months, generating an $80,000 return on investment (ROI) with a combination of SEO and Facebook Ads. We have completed many successful projects and there's a certain satisfaction in seeing our strategies translate to such tangible growth. I have tried to keep this post extremely detailed so that it can be beneficial for experienced marketers and newcomers alike.
The Client: Hair Extension E-commerce Brand
Revenue Split Between SEO and Fb ads: 3:2
Average Order Value: $350
Total Revenue(6 months): $140,000
Expenses(6 months): Product Cost + Delivery cost + Team + Agency Fees + Ads Cost+ Website Optimization + Packaging: $60000
Basic Company Background:
The brand was being run by a Mother-Daughter duo for the past 3 months. They had a shopify website with average structure and were struggling with facebook ads themselves. Although they made few physical sales due to friends and relatives but were unable to utilize the digital potential of their business as such. After trying facebook ads for some time they wanted a reliable digital marketing team to work with and they were recommended to us by one of our other customers who has a service based business. Initially we connected majorly for facebook ads but after the initial discussion when were doing research from our side, we found that there is huge potential in SEO for this niche so we suggested that we should prepare a proper website on wordpress and focus on both SEO and Ads parallelly as, although Ads will give an initial boost to the business but SEO will bring some stability and help in building a sustainable business.
Facebook Ads Campaign Structure:
- Our campaign housed multiple ad sets targeting users who are interested in fashion products and we also targeted audiences of some big and costly fashion companies. We were mostly targeting females aged 25-45 with good income source to have optimal conversions in the beginning, with our Seo efforts we planned to target a slightly younger audience as well which is going steadily as of now.
- We ran occasional promotions like "Buy x get x free" to boost AOV.
- Due to the high AOV and especially the product niche sometimes it is necessary to build trust so we used retargeting to build trust and showcase benefits, not just push for immediate conversions. Ads focused on comparison(Before & Afters), Customer Reviews, Hassle free product application and natural look, stylish look.
It's important to note that after deep research we could find that a major share our hair extensions customers are females aged between 21-45 so we did not actively position our brand as solving problems of low hair volume, but instead we focused on how the products ads style, gives a much better look and you can try new hairstyles and hair colors daily. Also since almost all the demographics in this age group are working, we tested a professional look angle as well which gave us decent results. In ad creatives as well as on the website we made the daughter as the face of the product as we want to slowly grow her instagram as well which can add another organic and sustainable stream of revenue. She shoots before and after transition videos, general product application videos and other videos for ads according to the target audience and brand positioning strategy we discussed earlier. Instead of making long videos focused on product details a lot, we made short but captivating videos which can appeal to the young audience’s fashion sense.
Key Takeaways from FB Ads:
Mostly Meta Ads or Any other marketing tactic is just a traffic source but conversion will basically happen by how well you are able to communicate your product to the audience through your website. Its is necessary to have a smooth user journey, attractive offers, crisp information and right brand positioning on the website.
It is extremely important to make data driven decisions and track customer journeys meticulously. Always rely on your own tracking or google analytics to avoid the potential unreliability of Facebook Ads Manager.
Seo Strategy
If you don’t already know this, SEO is all about how effectively you can strategize your content and technical efforts keeping a bigger picture in mind. After our initial keyword research we could find that the average Kd of the important keywords was low when it comes to commercial keywords which were directly related to the business.
It's important to note that since the website was being built after our onboarding only so it was easy for us to structure the website according to the SEO strategy that we prepared.
At every stage we had meetings with the developer to ensure that there are no technical issues that will hinder the SEO growth and future and also we structured the website to be SEO friendly. We built separate pages for all the product categories and after through keyword research we added content to those pages so that the pages itself can rank for commercial keywords.
After the website was ready we audited it for technical issues(Like mobile friendliness, H1 tags, canonical tags, etc) we started focusing on the content. We wanted to establish our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions and hair care industry in general.
Since the website was completely new, initially we created blogs(2-3 times per week) around informational keywords with low KD purely for increasing our website authority and bringing the initial traffic on the website. We have seen that usually people start stressing about approaching big websites for guest postings since the first day itself but if your keyword research and content is solid, that is not required in the beginning. Initially we focused on profile creations, image submissions, pdf submissions, internal linking in the content, web 2.0 backlinks etc and this was more than enough for us to rank for low difficulty keywords and increase our DA to a decent level so that our category pages can rank for low difficulty keywords.
Here I would like to include a tip, many times people are worried that what if the backlink that they have created doesn't get indexed. In the initial phase we work really hard when it comes to what we call as maturing our backlinks as this is the major factor for ranking on low difficulty keywords. So basically what we do is, we make backlinks of our web 2.0 backlinks itself which helps the primary backlink in getting indexed which ultimately helps with our website DA.
Also many people have been asking us in our previous posts how we structure our blog since I talk a lot about content quality, see it's not as hard and it doesn't involve a lot of research at least in the initial phase when you just have to rank on low difficulty keywords. In this phase usually what we do is study the top 5 ranking blogs on the particular keyword and make sure that we include more content and more subheadings then them. Also we try to find opportunities to include tables or charts wherever possible, we include good quality images(original if possible) and at this stage internal linking is very very important so we focus on that as well. In later stages although the basic strategy for framing the blogs remains same, overall content strategy varies a lot from business to business and requires a lot of strategizing depending on the brand positioning goals.
So after we were able to rank for low difficulty informational keywords and our Website DA reached a decent level due to our backlinking efforts, we started writing content around the fashion advice and common problems which people face related to hair in general. But as discussed earlier, we wanted to keep our brand positioning fashion centric, so even while writing about common problems we applied a positive and solution centric approach. We strategically placed internal links to our product pages in the content and tested popups with offers as well. Apart from this, we started guest posting as well at this stage. For finding websites for guest posting we used SEMrush’s backlink gap analysis tool and created a segregated list of blogs that we can reach out to based on their content quality and DA. By this time the store started generating decent revenue from ads and SEO so the client was completely onboard with reaching out to blogs for guest posting. Guest posting and overall strategic SEO application started generating a good amount of traffic for us and in 3-4 months the revenue generated due to SEO surpassed our Ads revenue as well.
Advantages of Combining SEO and Paid Ads
While Facebook Ads played a crucial role in launching the brand and driving initial traffic, SEO has emerged as the primary driver of sustainable growth. This approach allowed us to:
- Reduce Reliance on Paid Advertising: As our SEO efforts matured, we were able to gradually decrease our Facebook ad spend, resulting in cost savings and improved return on investment.
- Build Brand Authority: Our SEO strategy has positioned our website as a trusted authority in the hair extensions industry. This fosters brand recognition and trust, leading to organic customer acquisition.
- Scale Traffic and Revenue: Organic traffic growth has been exponential, leading to a significant and sustainable increase in website revenue generated through SEO.
Thankyou For Reading!
2024.05.17 13:03 RomeroJohnathan Missed potential for a sequel
So you know how in the end of the movie, Connor wins the prize right? So What if there was a movie/tv series about Connor fixing the world?
if I was (re)writing highlander 2 (🤢) it would be just that, Connor uniting the world.
I just don’t understand why they basically redid the same plot of the original but worse. they had a great follow up potential sequel. But they threw it out of the window. Must have been paid pennies for this level of writing
submitted by RomeroJohnathan to highlander [link] [comments]
if I was (re)writing highlander 2 (🤢) it would be just that, Connor uniting the world.
I just don’t understand why they basically redid the same plot of the original but worse. they had a great follow up potential sequel. But they threw it out of the window. Must have been paid pennies for this level of writing
2024.05.17 12:43 Grand_Reanimation Chapter 1: Future for the Present
 | "Access... Gilded Feathers"... submitted by Grand_Reanimation to GoldenFeathers [link] [comments] In the dry deserts of the western border of India resides the Spiral City of Nixtom. In this district, one could find the most prestigious school in the entire country: High School Kolar. After being closed for over a year, HS Kolar finally opened its gates once again as the war had finally ended. With the start of a new Academic year, the winds brought a fresh batch of new students. One of them being… Abhi. "Big Ahh School." Said Abhi while he observed the vast establishment of Kolar. The enormous and illuminating marble-crafted work of art school building might even be mistaken for the Taj Mahal, well at least without its spherical dome on the top. The outdoor campus was as vibrant and green as grass could be; covering the main building from all four sides, with the beautiful shrubbery wonders of topiaries; acting as dividers between the grass panels and the main marble tile pathway leading towards the building's entrance. It would be an understatement to call this scenery beautiful. While walking towards the school, Abhi stopped and noticed a dog near a telephone pole on the street walk outside the school gate, he went there to pet it. While playing with the dog, Abhi noticed some mushrooms nearby and picked them up. After some time, Abhi looked around and held his gaze at some peculiar-looking people in black suits and black goggles for an extended time. Abhi then got up and walked inside the campus, these people in black suits were even seen inside the school. Abhi ignored them and walked through the main entrance. Ding! Tring! Tring! The first day of Abhi's High School life began as the school bell rang in the light of a new millennium. Abhi jogged towards the school building after he heard the bell. Upon getting inside he looked around, displaying wonder in his eyes. He stood in the middle of a giant hall, but the enormous hall wasn't the only wonderful thing, there was also the interior of the school building which was noticeably different from the exterior. The interior resembled modern architecture. Unlike the exterior, the inside walls were made of cement with white overpaint, whereas the outside was built from marble, and the railings, poles, and benches all around the place were made from exquisite-looking wood. The hall even had a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling and two curved staircases leading up to the second floor which was for the school's officials such as the principal. Even though the interior looked different from the exterior, it was still elegant and harmonized well with the school's marble exterior. One of the walls was covered with pictures of the school's special events, and achievements, and even celebrities from all over the world visiting and even studying in the school were visible. A particular wall though, just had a lot of writing on it, not only that but it was written on a brass plate. "Man, I gotta hurry up," Said Abhi in a rush. Many hallways were branching out from the main. Abhi seemed perplexed, perhaps he wasn't confident enough in his navigation skills to find his classroom. Yet suddenly, Abhi closed his eyes and softly mumbled something. After he opened his eyes, his expression had completely changed, he looked and acted far more confidently, he soon chose a way and started walking towards it. The hallways were long and the staircases were wide. After a few minutes of walking up to the third floor, Abhi finally reached his classroom '1C'. He went inside, the classroom was large, but not enormous compared to the rest of Kolar's Gigantic architecture. The classroom had not one, not two but three class boards. Two of them were at the front, one being a whiteboard, the second being a blackboard and the third was another whiteboard placed at the back of the classroom. Every student including Abhi entered the classroom and occupied the two-person benches at random. While walking in, he looked up and noticed a black cuboid-shaped box attached to the ceiling. He seemed curious about this object but chose to ignore it and took a seat in the front of the last column alongside a guy with peculiar-looking orange hair. The benches were made of wood, yet seemed quite comfy, and as with everything else in this school, the benches were large too, Abhi looked towards his left and found a window beside him. He looked around some more and then looked at himself as if he was comparing himself to his fellow students. When compared to the attire Abhi was wearing, the students of HS Kolar were of unique appearance. Once everyone was seated there was a moment of awkward silence in the room. In that instance, the guy who sat next to Abhi suddenly stood up and asserted: "Good morning everyone, my name is Veer. I'm delighted to be here amongst you all. From what I can tell we all are students from different places far and wide all across our nation. With the presence of such diversity, I'm sure we all want to get to know each other. So, I was thinking why don't we introduce ourselves to the class as a starting ceremony for our first day at school". Students gave Veer a peculiar look and in a few seconds another student from the back replied to Veer: "That's a good idea Veer but how about we wait till our Class Teacher comes in, so she can get to know us as well." Said a pretty girl with thin eyes and brownish-dark hair. "Good point Dep, let's wait for the teacher." Replied Veer. The rest of the students in the class nodded with approval. Creak! Bam! The classroom door smacked open. A Beautiful, fair, curvy, and well-dressed lady in a saree with long black hair; a pair of specs, and a giant smile on her face walked into the class and stood in front of the class cabinet. "Good Mornin' homies, welcome to class 'C' of 11th grade, I'm going to be your homeroom teacher for this year. You may call me Ms Oxlong''. The class greets back the teacher in unison. "Did she just call us homies?" Some of the students whispered among themselves. "From what I heard while walking in, you guys wanted to have an introduction session in my presence, right? I'd love that, but before we do it, I have to inform you guys about some important information first. To start, I'd like to give an insight into the schedule and schematics of our academic lives. And also, I have to present a special message to you guys". The Class nods following teacher Oxlong's words. "Hmm, I Wonder what the special message would be," said Abhi in a subtle tone. "Probably some boring informational video or the principal saying hello." Said Veer while looking at Abhi. "Ha ha, probably." Replied Abhi. "Get your notes ready and write down all the information necessary." Said Oxlong. The students followed the teacher's words and wrote down all the necessary information…. a few minutes of info dump later the teacher got close to her final announcement: "Finally, by this week's end, y'all have to give a Merit Test. This test won't be counted in your overall grade, but do not make the mistake of taking this lightly, as this test will determine your fate as a student of Kolar". The entire class stopped writing down the instructions. They looked up at the teacher and displayed an uncanny look on their faces with flared eyebrows, and wide-open mouths, all of them said at once: "What! A test in the first week?" "Now…now y'all don't need to worry; there isn't anything to worry about. This Merit Test is just to evaluate all of your individual and overall class limits which would provide data for our team to maximize the growth of all you pokie-bears." The teacher noticing this reaction reassured the students: Students, relieved to hear this, relaxed their eyebrows and faces to nod towards the teacher with approval. Wait but what in the hell is a pokie-bear? Some of the students thought, as they weren't familiar with the modern lingo. "Now as for the last announcement; we have a special informational video for y'all." "See! Told ya, it was gonna be just another boring informational video nothing new." Said Veer with a smug grind while looking at Abhi. "You called it for real." Said Abhi while softly chuckling. Tap! The teacher flicks on a switch placed next to the blackboard. The black cuboid box above started to zrrr Vibrate and illuminate green lights. Abhi was paying utmost attention to this, with his face looking like he just witnessed a dark angel descend down from heaven. Some of the students looked at this happening with intrigue: "Wow, I have seen projectors being used in special halls before but Kolar has them in every class?" Some were looking up with blank faces: "I didn't notice that projector before." The teacher held a remote in her hand and clicked a button. Immediately the cuboid box projected and displayed a computer interface. She then went to her desk and opened up a silvery device with "Soni" imprinted on its back; this device seemed to be connected to the black cuboid above. "Damn! They even got laptops in every class huh?" Said Veer referencing the device. "Isn't that like a… computer?" Said Abhi. "Well, a laptop is pretty much just a portable computer so you are half correct" Replied Veer. Abhi looked amazed after hearing this, he exuded curiosity, his eyes glistening with intrigue. He almost seemed like he had never even heard about such technology. Seeing this, Veer lets out a friendly smile towards Abhi's excited expression. The teacher then pulled down a white curtain from a large white cylinder placed on top of the main blackboard. This was used as a screen for the projector. "Alright before we start, I'd just like to inform y'all that this special informational video comes straight from the core of the education department in the Capital, and is a mandatory watch for everyone. This will only be played once among all classes simultaneously, so pay attention". CLICK! A video started playing on the white screen. A man maybe in his thirties pops up on the screen. He has long white hair, deep brown eyes, and a darker brown skin complexion. He greets the camera by saying "Namaste" while joining his hands. As soon as he appears on the screen every student, including Abhi, goes wide-eyed, being in disbelief, their jaw drops to the floor and their eyebrows hit the ceiling. The person in the video starts to speak: "Good morning students of Kolar. My name is Vishva Pratap Raghavan but you may know me as the… 'President of India' ". ...…. |
2024.05.17 12:39 Fruitfultadpole Interest in a slowly expanding micro setting?
I want to write and publish a zine for a city I'm currently creating for my personal games. I really like the idea of slowly building out the city, its factions,inhabitants, and locations, through a series of zines. Eventually compling it all into a single book. Kind of like one of my favorite products, Dolmenwood.
But I'm curious if this is a type of product others would be interested in?
submitted by Fruitfultadpole to shadowdark [link] [comments]
But I'm curious if this is a type of product others would be interested in?
2024.05.17 12:38 Fruitfultadpole Interest in slowly expanding micro settings?
I want to write and publish a zine for a city I'm currently creating for my personal games. I really like the idea of slowly building out the city, its factions,inhabitants, and locations, through a series of zines. Eventually compling it all into a single book. Kind of like one of my favorite products, Dolmenwood.
But I'm curious if this is a type of product others would be interested in?
submitted by Fruitfultadpole to osr [link] [comments]
But I'm curious if this is a type of product others would be interested in?
2024.05.17 12:35 kazooples Humira update, day 19, getting nervous
So it’s been 19 days since I started Humira, I had my second injection 6 days ago. With the first dose, I noticed a pretty significant change at the 11 day mark, then maybe two or three days before my second dose was due I felt bad again(I assumed it had just worn off), and even though it’s only been 6 days since my second dose, I’m worried it’s not going to work and it was a placebo effect the first time.
I think I’m just so scared it won’t work that it’s making me impatient, I know it can sometimes take months to work properly. I also am on antibiotics for a minor sinus infection, so it could definitely just be all of that making my pain worse. Fingers crossed, hopefully I’ll start to feel better again soon. It’s hard for humans to conceptualise too far into the future, so it’s only natural that I’m experiencing anxiety over this.
I almost didn’t make this update, but I realised if I only give updates when I’m feeling good, it wouldn’t show the whole picture, and I don’t want anyone experiencing the same anxiety to feel alone.
(Sorry if this was a bit hard to read, brain fog has been bad with the sinus infection and it makes it hard to write coherently)
submitted by kazooples to rheumatoid [link] [comments]
I think I’m just so scared it won’t work that it’s making me impatient, I know it can sometimes take months to work properly. I also am on antibiotics for a minor sinus infection, so it could definitely just be all of that making my pain worse. Fingers crossed, hopefully I’ll start to feel better again soon. It’s hard for humans to conceptualise too far into the future, so it’s only natural that I’m experiencing anxiety over this.
I almost didn’t make this update, but I realised if I only give updates when I’m feeling good, it wouldn’t show the whole picture, and I don’t want anyone experiencing the same anxiety to feel alone.
(Sorry if this was a bit hard to read, brain fog has been bad with the sinus infection and it makes it hard to write coherently)
2024.05.17 12:28 spethound I always feel like my shading and lighting takes away from the image. What do you guys think?
 | This is cropped version of a drawing in order to keep things as SFW as possible as per the rules of the subreddit. So, I hope there’s enough here for a critique. If you’re curious, the full image is posted on my page. (It’s nothing super graphic. I’m just playing it safe) submitted by spethound to learntodraw [link] [comments] For context, I posted a picture of a werewolf character a while back where I outlined an idea for an adult animated series revolving around mythology and folklore. This is a character from that universe. Her name is ‘Sally Skinwalker.’ She’s able to snatch bodies and stuff. Other criticism is also welcomed. |
2024.05.17 12:21 Eastern-Mycologist56 Youth thriller shows
I am writing a thriller show . The story is set on a beach .. and involves youngsters and beach police .. which shows should i watch for preparation.. baywatch series is a good match but i am looking for other thriller shows .. please suggest me
submitted by Eastern-Mycologist56 to writing [link] [comments]
2024.05.17 12:19 Jayhcee Has anyone watched Race Across the World? What do you make of Alfie and Owen?
If not, defo worth a watch this series imo! I like the dynamics of the pair. The below will mean nothing if you do not.
I haven't watched this weeks episode yet so I'm typing this before that so queue them havng a massive argument in that.
Alfie and Owen: their friendship is sweet. I relate to Alfie quite a bit despite a lot of people not liking him (quite impulsive, scattered-brained at times, based on the edit). I personally had to leave my friends in Thailand on a six week trip, as I could not deal with the group dynamic. I don't think Alfie could either. He needs an Owen. I said to my parents if I was to travel with someone else (solo-travel all the way, then if you meet someone compatible in a hostel, travel together!) that I'd need an Owen... that said, I prefer Alfie. You can tell there's a good person there.
I saw that he's training to be an Air Traffic Controller (Owen the pilot), which... I would not put him down for. but this is heavily edited, and good luck to him! I don't like saying someone is ADHD, but Alfie - based on the edits - has nearly all the signs of some form of neurodiversity.
Sometimes when you travel with people like I did - who you are super close to - it can be a nightmare. You need the right dynamic. Alfie defo has his strengths, but no way would he be compatible with someone similar to him or as impulsive etc. Owen is exactly what he needs, and it seems (I haven't watched this weeks episode) Alfie really helped him too in school. It's sweet.
I'm trying to picture Alfie with James in the series and that... would not work.
Alfie seems drawn to travelling quite a lot which I think, well, everyone is, but IMO going place to place, meeting people, seeing things, spending time with your partner (maybe not in a race) can defo get the dopamine going naturally.
Article from Alfie that inspired this post: https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/15/i-became-public-enemy-number-one-race-across-world-20836783/
submitted by Jayhcee to ADHDUK [link] [comments]
I haven't watched this weeks episode yet so I'm typing this before that so queue them havng a massive argument in that.
I saw that he's training to be an Air Traffic Controller (Owen the pilot), which... I would not put him down for. but this is heavily edited, and good luck to him! I don't like saying someone is ADHD, but Alfie - based on the edits - has nearly all the signs of some form of neurodiversity.
Sometimes when you travel with people like I did - who you are super close to - it can be a nightmare. You need the right dynamic. Alfie defo has his strengths, but no way would he be compatible with someone similar to him or as impulsive etc. Owen is exactly what he needs, and it seems (I haven't watched this weeks episode) Alfie really helped him too in school. It's sweet.
I'm trying to picture Alfie with James in the series and that... would not work.
Alfie seems drawn to travelling quite a lot which I think, well, everyone is, but IMO going place to place, meeting people, seeing things, spending time with your partner (maybe not in a race) can defo get the dopamine going naturally.
Article from Alfie that inspired this post: https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/15/i-became-public-enemy-number-one-race-across-world-20836783/
2024.05.17 12:17 Affectionate_Gene570 Digital Marketing Services that Are a Few Steps Ahead of Today’s Times
 | https://preview.redd.it/jhqnivmppy0d1.png?width=890&format=png&auto=webp&s=818086aa85f9d05ea82c4355164c58f68bde082b submitted by Affectionate_Gene570 to u/Affectionate_Gene570 [link] [comments] There are numerous benefits to using digital marketing, regardless of whether you work as a makeup artist, or own a salon, spa, or beauty parlor. You may make significant gains and succeed in the online world even in the face of the fiercest competition with the correct digital marketing services for a massage parlor. The beauty industry is expanding significantly. It’s more crucial now for your company to use internet marketing to stand out from the competition. Whether you are a well-known name in the beauty sector or a newcomer, you can expand your reach and present your brand to the appropriate audience. Digital marketing services help beauty salons efficiently drive conversions. With the help of the latest digital marketing services, you can also carry out in-depth competitive analysis. You can also use the same to help your brand flourish as a whole. Spas and salons must incorporate digital marketing as part of their branding strategy because the leisure and wellness sector is flourishing and permeating consumers’ daily lives. Let’s go right to the various digital marketing services for Spa and massage parlors that will assist your business to generate buzz among customers without further ado. Redefine your social media presence It is crucial for your massage parlor to have a social media presence. It enables visibility for a large customer base thanks to its more than a billion social users. Social media platforms provide a creative outlet and make it possible to curate interesting campaigns that will capture the interest of your target audience. For instance, you can use an image campaign emphasizing the interaction with clients in person to increase the engagement model. Spas and salons also benefit from being avid picture takers, and you may harness the strength of images to develop your brand’s web presence. One of the most popular channels for displaying campaigns to enhance the store’s visual appeal is Instagram. There are several marketing ideas for massage therapists to attract clients and boost revenue. Content marketing The king is content, and if you want to increase the visibility of your business online, it is extremely crucial. Let’s dissect this section. Content may take different forms like written words, images, or videos. What increases brand presence is the ability to use online saloon solutions and optimize information that is already associated with your brand. Spas and salons benefit from the freedom to experiment and be adaptable to their content. The actions available below can help to guarantee that your content marketing approach is optimized:
The majority of people in today’s world have email accounts that they routinely check, making email one of the most dependable forms of communication. Spas and salons can incorporate eye-catching Email marketing for massage parlors with lots of images to voice their brand identity and build a loyal clientele. The benefits of email marketing include:
Make your business easy to find online by developing a strong web presence. By positioning your website at the top of the search results, SEO for a massage parlor will help you outperform your local competition. Boost your search engine ranks, identify your potential clients, and expand your business with skilled SEO. PPC advertising Creating a paid AD campaign for a massage parlor is a fantastic approach to promoting your massage therapy business. Online PPC advertising is the fastest way to generate targeted leads for almost any form of local service or business. You can use Pay-as-you-go advertising to generate leads. Social Media Marketing Having a website is a fantastic place to start. However, social media marketing increases your visibility and credibility while allowing you to communicate with followers in real time. By promoting shares and follows, you may post information and receive a rapid response while growing your clientele. Businesses can use the tools on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to promote their brands and track interaction. Understand the leading social media platforms Understand the most popular platforms, their distinctive characteristics, and the tools they provide for businesses. It’s mainly because not all social media platforms are created equal. Facebook – With 1.86 billion members, Facebook is the most widely used social media site in the world. A specialized company page can also be created. Articles and other content can be posted to your wall, and analytics like views and likes can be checked. Twitter – This microblogging platform enables you to share brief messages and material. You may access its analytics dashboard, track mentions, and promote events and campaigns with hashtags. Instagram is a very visual social media site where users may upload and share pictures and videos as well. Additionally, it also helps you track likes, read comments, and advertise using both pictures and videos. Pinterest – You can sort, save, and share videos and photographs on Pinterest. Maintain consistency online By maintaining a consistent online presence, you may stay on the periphery of your clientele and stay relevant over time. You can even follow some straightforward guidelines to keep up an active internet presence. Allow online booking: It doesn’t get any easier to unlock online booking than this. You may increase the number of leads you convert and ensure that your spa or salon focuses on serving its clients by enabling the online booking feature. Organic social media marketing: Highlight the most recent spa improvement or new services that will make your clients feel like privileged insiders. It fosters loyalty. Put information on your website: Make an effort to be as informative as you can. Include information about your services and costs on your website. Potential clients may decide to utilize you in real-time and schedule an appointment immediately using the available online booking tool. Making things simpler for the customer is the main goal. The Takeaway Marketing ideas for massage therapists and relevant techniques for spas and salons are ongoing exercises. They will also assist to hone the brand’s image and make it more relevant and focused on the needs of the consumer. |
2024.05.17 12:13 venti-latte12 we’re just worried about long-term longevity of games
 | (the title of the post is satire of one of the memes on helldivers sub) submitted by venti-latte12 to Gamingcirclejerk [link] [comments] |
2024.05.17 12:08 buxrmp Join our urban homesteading community!
homesteaders.info is our newly launched blog aiming to provide helpful information avout homesteading for urban people. Below is one of the DIY homesteading posts in a series of DIY gyudes we are currently writing. You are welcome to visit, read and share thoughts.
submitted by buxrmp to selfpromotion [link] [comments]
2024.05.17 12:05 Acceptable_Egg5560 Of Giants and Journalists [51 Final]
Thank you for this universe!
And many thanks to for being a full co-writer on this project!
Kaeden and Vichee belongs to and I thank them so much for working with us! It was an honor!
Sven belongs to Bjorn the Copper Paladin from Discord. I hope to do more with them in the future, and have tons of fun!
And don’t you worry about that final in the title! We have some news at the end!
[First]- [Prev]- {Next Story!!}
{Is the reason that everything happened to Tarlim in the first place?}
{Only up to the ramps, mostly. Trying to impress upon people the importance of accessibility for those with extenuating circumstances. At least according to the records I have access to.}
{The average person knows as much about his friends as they do about Mike Collins.}
<...Who?>
{Exactly. 20th century human spaceman, was there for their first lunar landing. Didn’t get to put boots on the ground, and nobody remembers his name now.}
{Hell, I didn’t even know about him until I put in a search query of niche historical figures just to give you an example. Yeesh…}
(Program Selected.)
(Resume Selected Media? [Y])
(Playing…)
Archived Closed Circuit Security Video - Establishment: Exterminator’s Office - Dawn Creek Division - Subbasement - Date Recorded (ST): OCT 31, 2136 - Timeframe (ST): 11:42 - 11:45
The parking bay is silent. Vans are parked neatly in their spots which frame the hallway to the armory and fuel storage for the camera. A ding is heard and something moves in the hallway. Five fully suited Venlil and a Zurulian step out of an elevator and run towards a van. The sound of a door slamming open comes from the hall roughly 6 seconds later. A stream of Exterminators pour out into the hall from the stairwell.
Their voices are indecipherable as they speak over each other. A Sulian runs into the armory and reappears with a huge flamer tank on their back. Another Zurulian can be seen with an extinguisher tank, but a Venlil bleats at them and tosses it aside. They drag the quadrupedal alien quickly into the parking garage before physically throwing them into the back of a van.
From the back of the hallway, a fluid can be seen spreading across the ground. A trio of Venlil back out of a room while holding their flamers up. They are unlit, instead spewing fuel out of their nozzles. The trio twirl around in an overly animated manner as they walk down the hall to the parking garage. A van pulls out of its spot with windows down so the passengers could let out a cheer.
A black-suited Venlil runs up to the spraying trio while waving their arms to get them out into the garage. The microphone just barely manages to catch him saying, “We need to save some for the predators!” One of the other Venlil replies, “Yes sir, Mafchi!” A short flurry of curses is heard as the gathered exterminators pile into the three other visible vans. Two of the vans speed out of the garage, forcing some other Venlil exterminators to dive out of the way in the process.
The black-suited Mafchi picks up a fuel canister that had been dropped and twists off its cap. He slings it under his shoulder and pours a line of fuel. He marches straight to the final van and hops up into the open rear. The van backs itself up to turn out of the garage. The fuel canister clatters to the ground as it pulls away. Before it clears the view of the camera, the Black-suited Venlil is seen standing in its open back. He is holding what appears to be a flare gun.
The flare sails through the air shortly after the van leaves the frame and impacts the ground. It bounces and rolls until it touches the fuel and ignites it in an instant. A small wall of fire proceeds down the provided trail into the hallway, igniting more fuel as time passes. The hallway is quickly engulfed in vividly red fire. Thick black smoke begins to pour out into the garage as the fire inches closer to the primary fuel tank.
Movement can be seen in the hallway between the flickering flames. The silver form of a Venlil Exterminator is seen rushing out of the stairwell and fighting to head towards the fuel storage room. Before they reach, a white flash fills the screen. The feed goes dead, the error code consistent with electrical interruption.
(Specified Media Concluded.)
{Who was what? Mafchi?}
{Hmmm, there aren’t any tags embedded for them. The suits do a rather good job at making the officers anonymous. Let me see…oh.}
{The, uh… the employment records for that Office were…terminated.}
{It looks like…yes, here. Record wipe in 2497. Media with less than 1 bistandannual visit were removed to save space on the university’s central server. It’s…they’re gone, gone gone.}
{Maybe, but that’ll do us no good if we don’t know their name. And because of the chaos of that incident, nobody has been able to accurately reconstruct where every individual was in that office. We’d have to already know who they were to find them.}
<...I guess that’s another person I’ll have to remember then, huh?>
{...Guess so. Speaking of remembering, perhaps you should check out Tarlim’s view again? Seeing how we were just talking about him.}
<...Sure. At least people remember his name, right?>
(Command: [exitprogram])
(Are you sure? [Y])
…
{-Program Selected-}
{-Restart From Last Playback Point? Y/(N)-}
{-[USERID-11229KMD]: procViewHist -}
{-Retrieving Transcription Viewing History…-}
{-List Retrieved - Select Desired Subject: (Tarlim)-}
{-Restart From Last Playback Point? (Y)/N-}
{-Playing…-}
Memory Transcription Subject: Tarlim, the Venbig. Date [Standardized Human Time] October 31st, 2136
No matter how much Sven and Anso griped about it, having them leave and return with the trailer was a great idea. The humans who had gone with them the first time were, to my dismay, excited to try and ride in the back. I had at least been able to impress on those four that I couldn’t let anyone else ride like that, and that they were to help with rigging a trailer with some seats.
I had to admit; they did a good job!
Several couches sat bolted to the floor of the covered trailer and even had some ropes that could be hooked across the armrests as impromptu belts. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it would work as well as any bus or short train ride! Certainly superior to jumping in the bed of a truck.
I strode out into the parking road and swayed my ears to greet Anso. Sven had stayed behind here to meet with the humans and entertain the kids, a job which he was slightly less unenthusiastic about compared to last time. “Greetings, Anso! Have you made the necessary preparations for the humans to leave with you?”
The Yotul hopped out of the truck bed and bounced to me. “We have! I have to say those humans were great workers to have helped get this whipped up so quickly! I hope Sven has been behaving himself?”
I let my tail wag behind me remembering my last glimpse of him. He should really secure his sheath straps! “He has! Been entertaining the refugees while I made sure they all had their belongings ready to go. Come on inside, let’s go gather them.”
I guided him with a wave of my arm as we turned back to the door. To be truthful, I hadn’t expected Sven to win the humans over as quickly as he did. Needless to say, his primitive attire seemed to spark joy within them, a joy sorely needed amidst the sadness of recency.
As we entered the building I noticed something, or rather, the lack of something. When I had exited only a few [minutes] prior, the building had been full of life and noise. Now, it was almost dead quiet, save for the sounds of a holovision coming from the lobby. Rather heated sounds, at that.
“I didn’t think it was already main rest claw,” Anso mused as he, too, recognized the aggravated voices coming from the lobby. “And what are they watching in there? Sounds…angry.”
“Yeah…” I trailed off as I followed the noises. As I approached the lobby, the sound of what I assumed was a Gojid yelling. “You know nothing about my family. TALK, JUST FUCKING TALK, NOW!” My ears pinned back at the foul language at play, hoping that Sven and the children were somewhere else.
As I entered the room, I saw that I was only half right. The children were thankfully nowhere to be found, but Sven was obviously present, as was most of the facility staff. I was about to ask what was going on before another voice drew my attention to the holovision, the same as everyone else. The voice of none other than Chief Nikonus.
“There were three of us who laid out the groundwork for the Federation. When Kolshian explorers came in contact with the Farsul, more than a thousand years ago, the galaxy was young. We were the first in this sector to escape our gravity well. You know about the founding of this institution, but I reiterate it just in case.”
“The Krakotl were the third,” another voice piped up from behind the camera. I thought it might’ve been another Gojid, but the voice was far too breathy. Harchen, maybe? I wasn’t given a chance to consider it further as Nikonus continued. “Yes, they were a problem from the start; aggressive, disagreeable. We tried to identify the problem, and why they were so ill-equipped for spacefaring.”
“We learned they were scavengers, who would occasionally go for fish as well.”
His next line was rendered inaudible by the shocked gasps of both the refugees and residents in the room. I was no different, drawing in a sharp breath at the abrupt admission. I remembered that Arvi had said some aliens were revealed to have eaten meat in the past, but was this the way it was decided to be revealed? With such abject callousness?
Nikonus continued to speak, looking not just proud, but smug with his words. He went on about how the Federation had saved these aliens with their manipulations, but the entirety of his body language seemed to indicate he reveled in how devastating this information would be to the people he was speaking to. How they manipulated an entire culture, a RELIGION!
What if they did the same to ours?
That horrifying thought struck through my mind like a derailing train. I had relied upon the Tenets in some of my darkest moments. Found comfort in them when there was none elsewhere to be found. To have such a comfort revealed as a lie in its entirety, used only for some other group to control you…
The voice of Nikonus hit my ears again. “Oh Sovlin, I already told you. For the small minority of species who don’t find herbivory alone, we teach them the right way. Doesn’t the religion against predators sound familiar?”
The Kolshian was insufferably proud of those words. There was no doubt in my mind now; this was mocking. Mocking a Gojid for following The Protector. For being a predator. For being different, but expecting to still be treated as a person. The Gojid were predators, they couldn’t help it, and they were already being mocked for it.
What might happen to all the other species?
I shifted my focus away from the screen to the crowd, searching for one in particular. Vichee, a Krakotl already so different from everyone else, and now my concerns for them were multiplied with every word that fell from Nikonus’ mouth. Were they okay? They had come in here to see Sven, I had seen them. Where are-
I spotted Kaeden in the corner of the room. Next to him, slumped against the wall, was Vichee. The dual colored Krakotl’s eyes were glazed over as they stared at nothing. I strode over quickly, my instincts wanting to comfort them. Kaeden was simply standing there, it was confusing that he didn’t seem to be comforting Vichee at all. As I got closer, their head tilted up to me, regarding me with an unfocused eye.
“He was right.” They said quietly. My implant almost didn’t pick it up over the sounds of the lobby. “Kaeden had asked me soon after our first meeting if Krakotl had once been meat eaters. Said it was the shape of our beaks. ‘More suited to capturing small wriggling prey than filtering algae’. He told me. I nearly flew away right then… If I had, I would have been alone with this news.”I listened, kneeling down to be closer to their level. “You’re not alone, your herd is here. Right Kaeden?”
He looked over at me and nodded. “Vichee was there with me when Earth was attacked. I’m here for them now. Kaabra and Venik are… together, elsewhere at the moment. But they will be here too.”
I flicked my ears in understanding. “Then I hope they may help in hugging Vichee until their tears are dry.” I turned an eye to Vichee. “Please, I just want you to know that you are still you. What your body does has no effect on your personhood.”
Vichee still sat, their mind still likely whirling with the new information. They lifted their differently colored wings. “I’m well aware. This lesson I already learned. But thank you, I understand what you mean.” Kaeden nodded slowly and Vichee returned to their thoughts.
“There’s going to be trouble soon, Tarlim,” Kaeden stated gravely. “News like this? Nothing good will come of it. I can already tell this won’t go over well. Keep your eyes open.”
As if in response to his words, the sound of clanking metal hits my ears. They shoot up, pivoting to locate its source. There, dashing towards the door, was the armored figure of Sven. I didn’t know him enough to know how this broadcast would affect him, but running was never the best sign. I flicked my ears goodbye to my friends and rose, following after the metal man. In my periphery, I saw the television screen had shifted to show Rolem moving onto the stage. I would have to miss whatever it was he had to say, so ducked through the doors and continued to follow the sound of metal.
As I exited, I saw that I wasn’t the only one to see Sven’s actions. Anso was bounding behind him, shouting something I couldn’t hear. Sven didn’t seem to either as he kept running, but his gait wasn’t one of fear. He looked purposeful, sprinting in a straight line. A line pointed right towards-
Towards the observing Exterminator Van.
The metal Venlil didn’t even hesitate at the presence of the fence. He leapt up in a display of strength and agility, vaulting over the barrier and continuing his beeline into the van. It was like phased through the doors with how fast he moved. There were sounds of commotion that followed his entry, and soon two Exterminators fell out of the van. One Venlil…and one Krakotl. I wonder how Kalek is taking things.
I, too, cleared the fence with only a high step and reached the van, peering in to see Sven at the controls. “Sven! What are you doing?” I asked, the Krakotl officer shivering on the ground in my periphery.
“They got my girl!” He huffed, “She’s a Gojid, they got her, I can’t let them do anything worse to her!” He tried to activate the vehicle to no avail, but his words brought up something that I hadn’t thought much over. I remember hearing about temporary emplacements that were being set up. Paly had texted me about exterminators bringing people there. Her too. And that would mean-
-THOOOOOOOMMMMM-
The wind hit me like a truck and rocked the van I was standing next to. Sven even stopped trying to fiddle with the controls to see what had just happened. In the distance, near the center of town, an enormous black cloud rose into the air, the vestiges of fire still burning in the suspended embers. I couldn’t look away from it as my mind raced with horrible possibilities as my mind tripped over itself trying to concoct a plan of action.
I wasn’t given long to think before the radio in the van crackled to life, startling both Sven and myself. “Attention all True Exterminators! The truth has come out about the taint in our midst! For too long we have lived with its danger in our presence! If any of you still hold the safety of The Herd in your hearts, come join us so we may burn ALL the predator taint from this District! Rendezvous at Vulen’s apartment complex, we shall start our cleansing there!”
The name of one of my landlords sparked familiarity in my mind. They had been working to build a series of new apartments to add to his old, and if I remembered, had agreed to house the Gojid refugees. The Gojid! Paly was housed with them!!
In an instant, I reached into the van and grabbed Sven by the arm. He tried to pull away, but my grip was too strong. “Sven! They’re gonna kill the Gojid! They’re gonna burn Paly!”
He finally managed to shake himself free as my paws became jittery from stress. “I gotta save my girlfriend! She’s in a facility! I gotta save her!”
“But they’re gonna burn people here!” I protested, “we have to do something! We need- We need People who can fight them! Kaeden! I need to get Kaeden! We can save them!”
I pulled myself away from the van and spotted Anso nearby. He must have had to go through the gate, but this was good timing. I pointed a claw at him. “Do Not Let Him drive off before I get back!”
I didn’t give him, nor the Exterminators who had recovered from their shock, time to ask questions. Paly was in danger, as were who knew how many others. I faintly heard my data pad chime from within my shoulder bag, the signal my heart was beating too fast, but I couldn’t deal with it right now. I could get the heart rate under control during the drive. Right now I needed Kaeden, he knew how to fight! How to save people when others were trying to kill them!
My paws guided me and I was back in the cafeteria before I knew it. Some of the crowd had dissipated, but Kaeden and Vichee were still in the same corner I had left them in, but with their Venlil friends now joined. Without leaving time for protest, I grabbed Kaeden’s arm and pulled him away. I heard Vichee squawk behind me, but I was in too much of a hurry. I can’t let her get hurt. I Won’t.
Kaeden started to slap my arm as I dragged the soldier across the lobby. “Tarlim! What the fuck are you doing?? What’s going on?”
“No time, they’re going to burn everyone,” I breathlessly said as I burst the facility doors open to get him to the van.
“What? Who?” Kaeden questioned, still resisting my pull. I could hear a tinge of worry in his voice, and I knew he would understand. Anso looked back from his position as he heard my approach, and upon seeing me dragging Kaeden along, he grew visibly concerned.
“On the radio, something about True Exterminators,” I attempted to explain to him as we neared the gate doors. This time, I simply spread them apart with my free paw, metal screeching against itself as the gate was forced open. “They’re going to burn every cured species they can find, and That Means Paly. I Won’t Let Them.”
Kaeden had stopped struggling as I explained the bare essentials to him, and once we approached the van, he finally had enough sense to ask the right questions. “So what exactly is the plan to stop them? We’re strong, sure, I could probably take most of them. But just two of us against a wall of those flamers?”
“Not two,” I corrected, letting go of his arm and throwing open the back doors of the van. Still seated in the drivers side was Sven, who looked back once he heard me permit entrance into the back. “We have him too.”
“Wh- the LARPer??” Kaeden asked incredulously. I wasn’t familiar with the term he used, but his tone told us all we needed to know. Sven’s eyes narrowed at the perceived insult, but Kaeden continued. “Do either of you have any formal military training?? Rushing down there is only going to get you both killed along with the others! For fucks sake, slow down! We need a plan!”
“T-There won’t be t-time f-for one,” a voice peeped in from behind us. We all turned to face the source, and we found it was the Venlil Exterminator. They recoiled under the sudden gaze of our entire party, but they managed to continue. “I-I recognized the v-voice. It w-was one of the n-new recruits. They m-might as well be Y-Yulpa. If you w-want to stop them, it’s now or n-never.”
We all stared at them for a moment in disbelief that they’d willingly hand over that information to us. They were Exterminators, weren’t they? They should be allied with the voice on the radio! Kaeden, after considering the information, gave voice to my confusion. “And why are you telling us this? You’re an exterminator, shouldn’t you be trying to help them?”
“M-My husband is the Krakotl that was in the van with me!” They yelled back, stamping their footpaw on the ground in agitation. “I-I don’t care what his ancestors did a t-thousand years ago, I will not stand for those zealots burning who knows how many people! We’re not all the same, h-human!”
I was taken aback by their words. I had given up hope that there were any redeemable souls amongst the ranks of those silver-suited brahkasses, but living proof of the contrary stood before us. Their breathing was only matched by mine as my pad continued to chime in my pack. Maybe there’s hope after all.
Kaeden started frantically looking all around, his focused gaze falling on the facility, the exterminator in front of us, and the rising smoke in the distance. After a moment's hesitation, he growled to himself and shook his head. “Fine! Fucking- if you want to prove you’re different, you and your partner stand guard at the gate! They’ll probably try to send a division here, so keep on guard! And for the love of God, go ask for help if that happens!”
My tail wagged behind me as I interpreted what that meant. “So you’ll help us, Kaeden?”
He paused for a second, an agonizing second as he fully took in the situation in his mind. But ultimately, he nodded. “Let’s go, we can figure things out along the way.”
Seizing the moment, Anso quickly jumped into the van and pushed Sven out of the driver's seat, much to their visible frustration. Kaeden quickly hopped into the passenger seat, leaving me with the problem of finding a space that would fit me. I stepped over to the back of the van and threw the doors open.
The flamers and their fuel tanks were useless to us, easy to toss all three sets out onto the ground behind me. I made sure that the flamers were disabled first, of course. Just had to snap the pilot lighters and slice a hose with my claw. Even if these two said they weren’t like these “True Exterminators” I didn’t trust them one bit. I crawled inside the cramped vehicle and wiggled myself to close the doors behind me.
As I got myself settled, I watched as the Venlil Exterminator started to inspect the destroyed remains of their weapons. I squinted a glare at them and positioned myself so they couldn’t enter with me. “You two aren’t coming,” I hissed. “You know why you’re not. Try anything with the humans, and they will stop you.”
I slammed the doors shut as their expressions fell, just in time for Anso to get the van into gear. I curled myself up against the wall of the van, watching out the back window as we sped down the road. We were on our way now. On our way to save Paly and all the people gathered because their ancestors ate meat. My heart hammered in my chest, but I would need to control it for what we were about to do. I needed to focus. I needed to breathe. I needed to be calm.
Focus. Breathe. Calm
Focus.
Breathe.
Calm…
{-ALERT: Automatic Annotation Detected - Switching Transcription Subject-}
{-Loading…Playback Ready-}
{-Playing…-}
Memory Transcription Subject: Sol-Vah, Fleeing Predator. Date [Standardized Human Time] October 31st, 2136
My legs couldn’t carry me anymore. I had to keep going, but I didn’t have the strength. My pants became wheezes as my body struggled to keep up with the physical exertion of running almost halfway through town. I hadn’t even looked up before now, at least with eyes not blinded by tears. The pain of Mute’s rejection still stung in my soul, a pain so visceral it threatened to rip me apart worse than any Arxur. Protector, what did I do to deserve this? Is there even a Protector, or did the Federation just- just make that up?
I didn’t have time to think about that now, I needed to get to the office. From what little I caught of the broadcast, Nikonus had said they saved us before. I knew what it likely was, but…I was desperate. I just wanted to go back home and have him embrace me like he did before. The safety and love I had felt from him was still fresh in my mind, and if there was any chance I had to get it back?
I’ll happily take it.
As I approached the office, however, something seemed off. I could smell soot in the air, but not the kind of soot that came from our flamers. This was- was…dirtier smelling, as if the fuel had been impure. Upon looking up, however, I saw something that made my stomach drop. A huge plume of smoke, billowing up into the sky. It shadowed the sun itself with its immensity and hate. Did the Exterminators burn more drugs? Or…or…
I felt a renewed vigor as I started to run towards the plume, hoping against hope that I was wrong. As soon as I turned the corner, though, my worst fears were realized. Where the office once stood now sat a burning stack of glorified rubble, every single window in sight shattered and multiple holes in the outer walls. The building was split, it was as if a giant knife had come down and sloppily sliced off its front half to spill flaming debris everywhere.
I stood in front of the building I had once called my home, surrounded by screams and the awful sound of flames roaring. I knew now there was no hope of salvation, no way this could ever be undone. I would never be able to go back to the way things were, never feel the happiness I had for that brief time. I was doomed to this life, abandoned by my love, and forced to live as an abomination devoid of a home.
I suppose that’s all a predator like me deserves.
[First]- [Prev]- {Next Story!!}
You read it right: This is going to be the final chapter of "Of Giants and Journalists." With the conclusion of Sharnet and Vekna's adventure, we will now take the time to show how this announcement has affected our characters and the galaxy at large. We're excited to announce our new series, Nature of a Giant: Aftermath! This series will not be quite as in-depth temporally as Of Giants and Journalists was, mainly because not as much will be happening in as short of a time. Rest assured, though, there will still be plenty of action across the board! You just won't have to deal with over half the story only covering a week of time!
In that vein, we are also excited to announce we are working on another bonus series, one that was teased a long time ago, Venric Lawven: Legal Legend! It will be filling the gap for content while we work on the first few chapters of Aftermath to make sure the scenes are as quality as they deserve, but will have a reduced upload schedule to once a week to accommodate for writing two series at once. On behalf of both of myself and , we'd like to thank all of our readers for sticking with us on this journey. It's hard to believe this series has been going on for over a year in one form or another, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you all again for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you again with Legal Legends! And then...
The Aftermath!!
submitted by Acceptable_Egg5560 to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
And many thanks to for being a full co-writer on this project!
Kaeden and Vichee belongs to and I thank them so much for working with us! It was an honor!
Sven belongs to Bjorn the Copper Paladin from Discord. I hope to do more with them in the future, and have tons of fun!
And don’t you worry about that final in the title! We have some news at the end!
[First]- [Prev]- {Next Story!!}
{Is the reason that everything happened to Tarlim in the first place?}
{Only up to the ramps, mostly. Trying to impress upon people the importance of accessibility for those with extenuating circumstances. At least according to the records I have access to.}
{The average person knows as much about his friends as they do about Mike Collins.}
<...Who?>
{Exactly. 20th century human spaceman, was there for their first lunar landing. Didn’t get to put boots on the ground, and nobody remembers his name now.}
{Hell, I didn’t even know about him until I put in a search query of niche historical figures just to give you an example. Yeesh…}
(Program Selected.)
(Resume Selected Media? [Y])
(Playing…)
Archived Closed Circuit Security Video - Establishment: Exterminator’s Office - Dawn Creek Division - Subbasement - Date Recorded (ST): OCT 31, 2136 - Timeframe (ST): 11:42 - 11:45
The parking bay is silent. Vans are parked neatly in their spots which frame the hallway to the armory and fuel storage for the camera. A ding is heard and something moves in the hallway. Five fully suited Venlil and a Zurulian step out of an elevator and run towards a van. The sound of a door slamming open comes from the hall roughly 6 seconds later. A stream of Exterminators pour out into the hall from the stairwell.
Their voices are indecipherable as they speak over each other. A Sulian runs into the armory and reappears with a huge flamer tank on their back. Another Zurulian can be seen with an extinguisher tank, but a Venlil bleats at them and tosses it aside. They drag the quadrupedal alien quickly into the parking garage before physically throwing them into the back of a van.
From the back of the hallway, a fluid can be seen spreading across the ground. A trio of Venlil back out of a room while holding their flamers up. They are unlit, instead spewing fuel out of their nozzles. The trio twirl around in an overly animated manner as they walk down the hall to the parking garage. A van pulls out of its spot with windows down so the passengers could let out a cheer.
A black-suited Venlil runs up to the spraying trio while waving their arms to get them out into the garage. The microphone just barely manages to catch him saying, “We need to save some for the predators!” One of the other Venlil replies, “Yes sir, Mafchi!” A short flurry of curses is heard as the gathered exterminators pile into the three other visible vans. Two of the vans speed out of the garage, forcing some other Venlil exterminators to dive out of the way in the process.
The black-suited Mafchi picks up a fuel canister that had been dropped and twists off its cap. He slings it under his shoulder and pours a line of fuel. He marches straight to the final van and hops up into the open rear. The van backs itself up to turn out of the garage. The fuel canister clatters to the ground as it pulls away. Before it clears the view of the camera, the Black-suited Venlil is seen standing in its open back. He is holding what appears to be a flare gun.
The flare sails through the air shortly after the van leaves the frame and impacts the ground. It bounces and rolls until it touches the fuel and ignites it in an instant. A small wall of fire proceeds down the provided trail into the hallway, igniting more fuel as time passes. The hallway is quickly engulfed in vividly red fire. Thick black smoke begins to pour out into the garage as the fire inches closer to the primary fuel tank.
Movement can be seen in the hallway between the flickering flames. The silver form of a Venlil Exterminator is seen rushing out of the stairwell and fighting to head towards the fuel storage room. Before they reach, a white flash fills the screen. The feed goes dead, the error code consistent with electrical interruption.
(Specified Media Concluded.)
{Who was what? Mafchi?}
{Hmmm, there aren’t any tags embedded for them. The suits do a rather good job at making the officers anonymous. Let me see…oh.}
{The, uh… the employment records for that Office were…terminated.}
{It looks like…yes, here. Record wipe in 2497. Media with less than 1 bistandannual visit were removed to save space on the university’s central server. It’s…they’re gone, gone gone.}
{Maybe, but that’ll do us no good if we don’t know their name. And because of the chaos of that incident, nobody has been able to accurately reconstruct where every individual was in that office. We’d have to already know who they were to find them.}
<...I guess that’s another person I’ll have to remember then, huh?>
{...Guess so. Speaking of remembering, perhaps you should check out Tarlim’s view again? Seeing how we were just talking about him.}
<...Sure. At least people remember his name, right?>
(Command: [exitprogram])
(Are you sure? [Y])
…
{-Program Selected-}
{-Restart From Last Playback Point? Y/(N)-}
{-[USERID-11229KMD]: procViewHist -}
{-Retrieving Transcription Viewing History…-}
{-List Retrieved - Select Desired Subject: (Tarlim)-}
{-Restart From Last Playback Point? (Y)/N-}
{-Playing…-}
Memory Transcription Subject: Tarlim, the Venbig. Date [Standardized Human Time] October 31st, 2136
No matter how much Sven and Anso griped about it, having them leave and return with the trailer was a great idea. The humans who had gone with them the first time were, to my dismay, excited to try and ride in the back. I had at least been able to impress on those four that I couldn’t let anyone else ride like that, and that they were to help with rigging a trailer with some seats.
I had to admit; they did a good job!
Several couches sat bolted to the floor of the covered trailer and even had some ropes that could be hooked across the armrests as impromptu belts. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it would work as well as any bus or short train ride! Certainly superior to jumping in the bed of a truck.
I strode out into the parking road and swayed my ears to greet Anso. Sven had stayed behind here to meet with the humans and entertain the kids, a job which he was slightly less unenthusiastic about compared to last time. “Greetings, Anso! Have you made the necessary preparations for the humans to leave with you?”
The Yotul hopped out of the truck bed and bounced to me. “We have! I have to say those humans were great workers to have helped get this whipped up so quickly! I hope Sven has been behaving himself?”
I let my tail wag behind me remembering my last glimpse of him. He should really secure his sheath straps! “He has! Been entertaining the refugees while I made sure they all had their belongings ready to go. Come on inside, let’s go gather them.”
I guided him with a wave of my arm as we turned back to the door. To be truthful, I hadn’t expected Sven to win the humans over as quickly as he did. Needless to say, his primitive attire seemed to spark joy within them, a joy sorely needed amidst the sadness of recency.
As we entered the building I noticed something, or rather, the lack of something. When I had exited only a few [minutes] prior, the building had been full of life and noise. Now, it was almost dead quiet, save for the sounds of a holovision coming from the lobby. Rather heated sounds, at that.
“I didn’t think it was already main rest claw,” Anso mused as he, too, recognized the aggravated voices coming from the lobby. “And what are they watching in there? Sounds…angry.”
“Yeah…” I trailed off as I followed the noises. As I approached the lobby, the sound of what I assumed was a Gojid yelling. “You know nothing about my family. TALK, JUST FUCKING TALK, NOW!” My ears pinned back at the foul language at play, hoping that Sven and the children were somewhere else.
As I entered the room, I saw that I was only half right. The children were thankfully nowhere to be found, but Sven was obviously present, as was most of the facility staff. I was about to ask what was going on before another voice drew my attention to the holovision, the same as everyone else. The voice of none other than Chief Nikonus.
“There were three of us who laid out the groundwork for the Federation. When Kolshian explorers came in contact with the Farsul, more than a thousand years ago, the galaxy was young. We were the first in this sector to escape our gravity well. You know about the founding of this institution, but I reiterate it just in case.”
“The Krakotl were the third,” another voice piped up from behind the camera. I thought it might’ve been another Gojid, but the voice was far too breathy. Harchen, maybe? I wasn’t given a chance to consider it further as Nikonus continued. “Yes, they were a problem from the start; aggressive, disagreeable. We tried to identify the problem, and why they were so ill-equipped for spacefaring.”
“We learned they were scavengers, who would occasionally go for fish as well.”
His next line was rendered inaudible by the shocked gasps of both the refugees and residents in the room. I was no different, drawing in a sharp breath at the abrupt admission. I remembered that Arvi had said some aliens were revealed to have eaten meat in the past, but was this the way it was decided to be revealed? With such abject callousness?
Nikonus continued to speak, looking not just proud, but smug with his words. He went on about how the Federation had saved these aliens with their manipulations, but the entirety of his body language seemed to indicate he reveled in how devastating this information would be to the people he was speaking to. How they manipulated an entire culture, a RELIGION!
What if they did the same to ours?
That horrifying thought struck through my mind like a derailing train. I had relied upon the Tenets in some of my darkest moments. Found comfort in them when there was none elsewhere to be found. To have such a comfort revealed as a lie in its entirety, used only for some other group to control you…
The voice of Nikonus hit my ears again. “Oh Sovlin, I already told you. For the small minority of species who don’t find herbivory alone, we teach them the right way. Doesn’t the religion against predators sound familiar?”
The Kolshian was insufferably proud of those words. There was no doubt in my mind now; this was mocking. Mocking a Gojid for following The Protector. For being a predator. For being different, but expecting to still be treated as a person. The Gojid were predators, they couldn’t help it, and they were already being mocked for it.
What might happen to all the other species?
I shifted my focus away from the screen to the crowd, searching for one in particular. Vichee, a Krakotl already so different from everyone else, and now my concerns for them were multiplied with every word that fell from Nikonus’ mouth. Were they okay? They had come in here to see Sven, I had seen them. Where are-
I spotted Kaeden in the corner of the room. Next to him, slumped against the wall, was Vichee. The dual colored Krakotl’s eyes were glazed over as they stared at nothing. I strode over quickly, my instincts wanting to comfort them. Kaeden was simply standing there, it was confusing that he didn’t seem to be comforting Vichee at all. As I got closer, their head tilted up to me, regarding me with an unfocused eye.
“He was right.” They said quietly. My implant almost didn’t pick it up over the sounds of the lobby. “Kaeden had asked me soon after our first meeting if Krakotl had once been meat eaters. Said it was the shape of our beaks. ‘More suited to capturing small wriggling prey than filtering algae’. He told me. I nearly flew away right then… If I had, I would have been alone with this news.”I listened, kneeling down to be closer to their level. “You’re not alone, your herd is here. Right Kaeden?”
He looked over at me and nodded. “Vichee was there with me when Earth was attacked. I’m here for them now. Kaabra and Venik are… together, elsewhere at the moment. But they will be here too.”
I flicked my ears in understanding. “Then I hope they may help in hugging Vichee until their tears are dry.” I turned an eye to Vichee. “Please, I just want you to know that you are still you. What your body does has no effect on your personhood.”
Vichee still sat, their mind still likely whirling with the new information. They lifted their differently colored wings. “I’m well aware. This lesson I already learned. But thank you, I understand what you mean.” Kaeden nodded slowly and Vichee returned to their thoughts.
“There’s going to be trouble soon, Tarlim,” Kaeden stated gravely. “News like this? Nothing good will come of it. I can already tell this won’t go over well. Keep your eyes open.”
As if in response to his words, the sound of clanking metal hits my ears. They shoot up, pivoting to locate its source. There, dashing towards the door, was the armored figure of Sven. I didn’t know him enough to know how this broadcast would affect him, but running was never the best sign. I flicked my ears goodbye to my friends and rose, following after the metal man. In my periphery, I saw the television screen had shifted to show Rolem moving onto the stage. I would have to miss whatever it was he had to say, so ducked through the doors and continued to follow the sound of metal.
As I exited, I saw that I wasn’t the only one to see Sven’s actions. Anso was bounding behind him, shouting something I couldn’t hear. Sven didn’t seem to either as he kept running, but his gait wasn’t one of fear. He looked purposeful, sprinting in a straight line. A line pointed right towards-
Towards the observing Exterminator Van.
The metal Venlil didn’t even hesitate at the presence of the fence. He leapt up in a display of strength and agility, vaulting over the barrier and continuing his beeline into the van. It was like phased through the doors with how fast he moved. There were sounds of commotion that followed his entry, and soon two Exterminators fell out of the van. One Venlil…and one Krakotl. I wonder how Kalek is taking things.
I, too, cleared the fence with only a high step and reached the van, peering in to see Sven at the controls. “Sven! What are you doing?” I asked, the Krakotl officer shivering on the ground in my periphery.
“They got my girl!” He huffed, “She’s a Gojid, they got her, I can’t let them do anything worse to her!” He tried to activate the vehicle to no avail, but his words brought up something that I hadn’t thought much over. I remember hearing about temporary emplacements that were being set up. Paly had texted me about exterminators bringing people there. Her too. And that would mean-
-THOOOOOOOMMMMM-
The wind hit me like a truck and rocked the van I was standing next to. Sven even stopped trying to fiddle with the controls to see what had just happened. In the distance, near the center of town, an enormous black cloud rose into the air, the vestiges of fire still burning in the suspended embers. I couldn’t look away from it as my mind raced with horrible possibilities as my mind tripped over itself trying to concoct a plan of action.
I wasn’t given long to think before the radio in the van crackled to life, startling both Sven and myself. “Attention all True Exterminators! The truth has come out about the taint in our midst! For too long we have lived with its danger in our presence! If any of you still hold the safety of The Herd in your hearts, come join us so we may burn ALL the predator taint from this District! Rendezvous at Vulen’s apartment complex, we shall start our cleansing there!”
The name of one of my landlords sparked familiarity in my mind. They had been working to build a series of new apartments to add to his old, and if I remembered, had agreed to house the Gojid refugees. The Gojid! Paly was housed with them!!
In an instant, I reached into the van and grabbed Sven by the arm. He tried to pull away, but my grip was too strong. “Sven! They’re gonna kill the Gojid! They’re gonna burn Paly!”
He finally managed to shake himself free as my paws became jittery from stress. “I gotta save my girlfriend! She’s in a facility! I gotta save her!”
“But they’re gonna burn people here!” I protested, “we have to do something! We need- We need People who can fight them! Kaeden! I need to get Kaeden! We can save them!”
I pulled myself away from the van and spotted Anso nearby. He must have had to go through the gate, but this was good timing. I pointed a claw at him. “Do Not Let Him drive off before I get back!”
I didn’t give him, nor the Exterminators who had recovered from their shock, time to ask questions. Paly was in danger, as were who knew how many others. I faintly heard my data pad chime from within my shoulder bag, the signal my heart was beating too fast, but I couldn’t deal with it right now. I could get the heart rate under control during the drive. Right now I needed Kaeden, he knew how to fight! How to save people when others were trying to kill them!
My paws guided me and I was back in the cafeteria before I knew it. Some of the crowd had dissipated, but Kaeden and Vichee were still in the same corner I had left them in, but with their Venlil friends now joined. Without leaving time for protest, I grabbed Kaeden’s arm and pulled him away. I heard Vichee squawk behind me, but I was in too much of a hurry. I can’t let her get hurt. I Won’t.
Kaeden started to slap my arm as I dragged the soldier across the lobby. “Tarlim! What the fuck are you doing?? What’s going on?”
“No time, they’re going to burn everyone,” I breathlessly said as I burst the facility doors open to get him to the van.
“What? Who?” Kaeden questioned, still resisting my pull. I could hear a tinge of worry in his voice, and I knew he would understand. Anso looked back from his position as he heard my approach, and upon seeing me dragging Kaeden along, he grew visibly concerned.
“On the radio, something about True Exterminators,” I attempted to explain to him as we neared the gate doors. This time, I simply spread them apart with my free paw, metal screeching against itself as the gate was forced open. “They’re going to burn every cured species they can find, and That Means Paly. I Won’t Let Them.”
Kaeden had stopped struggling as I explained the bare essentials to him, and once we approached the van, he finally had enough sense to ask the right questions. “So what exactly is the plan to stop them? We’re strong, sure, I could probably take most of them. But just two of us against a wall of those flamers?”
“Not two,” I corrected, letting go of his arm and throwing open the back doors of the van. Still seated in the drivers side was Sven, who looked back once he heard me permit entrance into the back. “We have him too.”
“Wh- the LARPer??” Kaeden asked incredulously. I wasn’t familiar with the term he used, but his tone told us all we needed to know. Sven’s eyes narrowed at the perceived insult, but Kaeden continued. “Do either of you have any formal military training?? Rushing down there is only going to get you both killed along with the others! For fucks sake, slow down! We need a plan!”
“T-There won’t be t-time f-for one,” a voice peeped in from behind us. We all turned to face the source, and we found it was the Venlil Exterminator. They recoiled under the sudden gaze of our entire party, but they managed to continue. “I-I recognized the v-voice. It w-was one of the n-new recruits. They m-might as well be Y-Yulpa. If you w-want to stop them, it’s now or n-never.”
We all stared at them for a moment in disbelief that they’d willingly hand over that information to us. They were Exterminators, weren’t they? They should be allied with the voice on the radio! Kaeden, after considering the information, gave voice to my confusion. “And why are you telling us this? You’re an exterminator, shouldn’t you be trying to help them?”
“M-My husband is the Krakotl that was in the van with me!” They yelled back, stamping their footpaw on the ground in agitation. “I-I don’t care what his ancestors did a t-thousand years ago, I will not stand for those zealots burning who knows how many people! We’re not all the same, h-human!”
I was taken aback by their words. I had given up hope that there were any redeemable souls amongst the ranks of those silver-suited brahkasses, but living proof of the contrary stood before us. Their breathing was only matched by mine as my pad continued to chime in my pack. Maybe there’s hope after all.
Kaeden started frantically looking all around, his focused gaze falling on the facility, the exterminator in front of us, and the rising smoke in the distance. After a moment's hesitation, he growled to himself and shook his head. “Fine! Fucking- if you want to prove you’re different, you and your partner stand guard at the gate! They’ll probably try to send a division here, so keep on guard! And for the love of God, go ask for help if that happens!”
My tail wagged behind me as I interpreted what that meant. “So you’ll help us, Kaeden?”
He paused for a second, an agonizing second as he fully took in the situation in his mind. But ultimately, he nodded. “Let’s go, we can figure things out along the way.”
Seizing the moment, Anso quickly jumped into the van and pushed Sven out of the driver's seat, much to their visible frustration. Kaeden quickly hopped into the passenger seat, leaving me with the problem of finding a space that would fit me. I stepped over to the back of the van and threw the doors open.
The flamers and their fuel tanks were useless to us, easy to toss all three sets out onto the ground behind me. I made sure that the flamers were disabled first, of course. Just had to snap the pilot lighters and slice a hose with my claw. Even if these two said they weren’t like these “True Exterminators” I didn’t trust them one bit. I crawled inside the cramped vehicle and wiggled myself to close the doors behind me.
As I got myself settled, I watched as the Venlil Exterminator started to inspect the destroyed remains of their weapons. I squinted a glare at them and positioned myself so they couldn’t enter with me. “You two aren’t coming,” I hissed. “You know why you’re not. Try anything with the humans, and they will stop you.”
I slammed the doors shut as their expressions fell, just in time for Anso to get the van into gear. I curled myself up against the wall of the van, watching out the back window as we sped down the road. We were on our way now. On our way to save Paly and all the people gathered because their ancestors ate meat. My heart hammered in my chest, but I would need to control it for what we were about to do. I needed to focus. I needed to breathe. I needed to be calm.
Focus. Breathe. Calm
Focus.
Breathe.
Calm…
{-ALERT: Automatic Annotation Detected - Switching Transcription Subject-}
{-Loading…Playback Ready-}
{-Playing…-}
Memory Transcription Subject: Sol-Vah, Fleeing Predator. Date [Standardized Human Time] October 31st, 2136
My legs couldn’t carry me anymore. I had to keep going, but I didn’t have the strength. My pants became wheezes as my body struggled to keep up with the physical exertion of running almost halfway through town. I hadn’t even looked up before now, at least with eyes not blinded by tears. The pain of Mute’s rejection still stung in my soul, a pain so visceral it threatened to rip me apart worse than any Arxur. Protector, what did I do to deserve this? Is there even a Protector, or did the Federation just- just make that up?
I didn’t have time to think about that now, I needed to get to the office. From what little I caught of the broadcast, Nikonus had said they saved us before. I knew what it likely was, but…I was desperate. I just wanted to go back home and have him embrace me like he did before. The safety and love I had felt from him was still fresh in my mind, and if there was any chance I had to get it back?
I’ll happily take it.
As I approached the office, however, something seemed off. I could smell soot in the air, but not the kind of soot that came from our flamers. This was- was…dirtier smelling, as if the fuel had been impure. Upon looking up, however, I saw something that made my stomach drop. A huge plume of smoke, billowing up into the sky. It shadowed the sun itself with its immensity and hate. Did the Exterminators burn more drugs? Or…or…
I felt a renewed vigor as I started to run towards the plume, hoping against hope that I was wrong. As soon as I turned the corner, though, my worst fears were realized. Where the office once stood now sat a burning stack of glorified rubble, every single window in sight shattered and multiple holes in the outer walls. The building was split, it was as if a giant knife had come down and sloppily sliced off its front half to spill flaming debris everywhere.
I stood in front of the building I had once called my home, surrounded by screams and the awful sound of flames roaring. I knew now there was no hope of salvation, no way this could ever be undone. I would never be able to go back to the way things were, never feel the happiness I had for that brief time. I was doomed to this life, abandoned by my love, and forced to live as an abomination devoid of a home.
I suppose that’s all a predator like me deserves.
[First]- [Prev]- {Next Story!!}
You read it right: This is going to be the final chapter of "Of Giants and Journalists." With the conclusion of Sharnet and Vekna's adventure, we will now take the time to show how this announcement has affected our characters and the galaxy at large. We're excited to announce our new series, Nature of a Giant: Aftermath! This series will not be quite as in-depth temporally as Of Giants and Journalists was, mainly because not as much will be happening in as short of a time. Rest assured, though, there will still be plenty of action across the board! You just won't have to deal with over half the story only covering a week of time!
In that vein, we are also excited to announce we are working on another bonus series, one that was teased a long time ago, Venric Lawven: Legal Legend! It will be filling the gap for content while we work on the first few chapters of Aftermath to make sure the scenes are as quality as they deserve, but will have a reduced upload schedule to once a week to accommodate for writing two series at once. On behalf of both of myself and , we'd like to thank all of our readers for sticking with us on this journey. It's hard to believe this series has been going on for over a year in one form or another, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you all again for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you again with Legal Legends! And then...
The Aftermath!!
2024.05.17 12:03 aviation_hacker B&D Controll-A-Door MPC2 Roller Garage Door Opener - Flashing Reset Light/Not Moving Potential Repair
 | Hey folks, hope everyone is keeping well :) Hopefully this is the right place to put this, but if not please let me know and I'll try move it :) submitted by aviation_hacker to GarageDoorService [link] [comments] Just a random one I thought I'd write up to add to the internet archive in case anyone else still has one of these openers and has the same issues we had with ours. So as many openers do, recently our opener decided to not open, and would move about 2 inches before stopping and leaving us with a flashing reset light and refusing to go further. After getting the unit off and testing by hand and reproducing the fault even by hand (it didn't take much to stop the unit), I popped the cover off and had a look at the condition of the internals - everything looked pretty alright, though it had two Blue Ceramic Capacitors (562M, 500~) that were attached to either side of the motor. Thinking these could be the problem, I ordered some Capacitors, Soldered them in, and it's working again! I can't stop the motor by hand anymore when going up and it stops with the right amount of resistance going down (as it should), and all seems to be well. So in case anyone else has similar issues with their motor (namely this one in particular), then that may be something work trying if you have the skills/experience for it. Of course, naturally this is all at your own risk, and I am not liable for what you choose/don't choose to do. And it's a 240v appliance - don't touch it when it's even plugged in, let alone when it's running, and take all the insulation and self-protection steps necessary as well (discharging capacitors safely before working on them, even though these aren't high capacitance). Many can attest to not messing around with Electricity, that stuff is wildly dangerous if you're negligent with it. Some pictures below with captions etc, but hopefully this helps someone! :) The motor itself with the control panel, as you can see it's an old piece of kit. The back of the motor with this annoying one piece cover design, meaning you have to remove the motor completely to take the plastic cover off :L Here's a picture with the motor cover off, and you can see the two blue ceramic capacitors that I replaced. I did add a layer of heatshrink over the heatshrink showing here afterwards, but forgot to take a photo of the units with the old ceramic capacitors installed beforehand. The old Ceramic Capacitors - I pulled their metal wires out since it gave me more to play with whilst soldering/they weren't going to be useful anyway. New Ceramic Capacitors - same Capacitance, but smaller and a higher voltage rating as well (4x as high!) |
2024.05.17 11:56 Sweet-Count2557 11 Innovative Boston Playgrounds Where Kids Learn as They Play
 | 11 Innovative Boston Playgrounds Where Kids Learn as They Play Welcome to our exploration of eleven innovative Boston playgrounds where children can learn while they play.In this bustling city, there are a multitude of parks and playgrounds that offer much more than the traditional swings and slides. These thoughtfully designed spaces provide children with engaging and educational experiences, turning playtime into a valuable opportunity for growth.From wheelchair-accessible elements at Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park in Charlestown to the imaginative PlayCubes at Uncle Frank and Auntie Kay Chin Park in Chinatown, Boston's playgrounds are sure to captivate young minds.But that's just the beginning - join us as we uncover the other unique and stimulating playgrounds that await children in different neighborhoods across the city.Key TakeawaysBoston has a variety of innovative and inclusive playgrounds that offer unique features and attractions.Many of these playgrounds are designed with a specific theme, such as nature or the solar system, to engage children's imagination.In addition to traditional playground equipment like swings and slides, these playgrounds also offer interactive and brain-boosting elements like embankment slides, climbers, and balance-based toys.Some playgrounds are designed in memory of specific individuals or events, such as the Martin Richard Memorial Park in Seaport.Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park—CharlestownMayor Thomas M. Menino Park—Charlestown, the inclusive playground with wheelchair-accessible features, was designed in the wake of the Marathon bombings and offers a unique and engaging play experience for children of all abilities. Situated in the heart of Boston, this playground is a shining example of the city's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.One of the standout features of Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park—Charlestown is its embankment slides and climbers. These structures not only provide endless fun for children but also help develop their gross motor skills and coordination. As kids navigate the slides and climb the structures, they're simultaneously building strength and confidence in their abilities.Furthermore, this playground goes above and beyond by offering access to hospital bathrooms. This thoughtful addition ensures that all children, regardless of their medical needs, can enjoy their time at the park without any obstacles. It's a testament to the city's dedication to creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.The design of Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park—Charlestown isn't only functional but also visually appealing. The vibrant colors and playful shapes of the equipment spark imagination and creativity in children. It's a place where they can let their imaginations run wild and explore their own unique play experiences.Uncle Frank and Auntie Kay Chin Park—BostonLocated in the vibrant neighborhood of Chinatown, Uncle Frank and Auntie Kay Chin Park—Boston offers a playground experience that combines interactive play with a touch of cultural immersion. This Boston playground stands out among the best playgrounds in Boston for its unique features and attractions. Here's what makes Uncle Frank and Auntie Kay Chin Park—Boston a must-visit destination for families:The popular River Stream Fountain: Kids can cool off and have a blast in this interactive water feature. The fountain mimics a flowing river, allowing children to splash and play while learning about the importance of water.Focus on PlayCubes for interactive play: The playground is filled with PlayCubes, which are modular play structures that encourage creativity and exploration. Children can build, climb, and slide on these colorful cubes, stimulating their imagination and problem-solving skills.Cultural immersion in Chinatown: As you explore the playground, you'll notice the influence of Chinatown's rich heritage. From the ornamental gateways to the vibrant colors and patterns, Uncle Frank and Auntie Kay Chin Park—Boston offers a unique opportunity for children to learn about and appreciate different cultures.Located in Chinatown: This playground is conveniently situated in the heart of Chinatown, making it easily accessible for families in the area. After a fun-filled day at the playground, families can explore the neighborhood and enjoy the delicious food, vibrant markets, and cultural events that Chinatown has to offer.Uncle Frank and Auntie Kay Chin Park—Boston is more than just a playground. It's a place where children can learn, play, and immerse themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of Chinatown. So, gather your family and head to this innovative Boston playground for an unforgettable adventure.Jackson Square Park—Jamaica PlainNestled in the vibrant neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, Jackson Square Park offers a playground experience that combines thrilling play elements with a focus on balance and adventure. This innovative playground is designed to engage children's minds and bodies, allowing them to learn and grow while having a blast.One of the standout features of Jackson Square Park is its zip lines. Kids can soar through the air, feeling the rush of exhilaration as they zip from one end of the playground to the other. This activity not only builds strength and coordination but also teaches them about momentum and gravity.Another exciting element is the 16-foot-tall Wall-holla climbing structure. With its unique design and challenging climbing routes, children can test their physical limits and conquer their fears. It's a thrilling experience that encourages them to push themselves and discover their own capabilities.In addition to these thrilling play elements, Jackson Square Park also offers other amenities to keep kids entertained. There are basketball courts where they can practice their skills and compete with friends. Swings provide a classic play experience, allowing children to feel the freedom of soaring through the air.Jackson Square Park is a place where kids can explore, take risks, and learn valuable life lessons. It's a playground that encourages them to think creatively, problem-solve, and develop their physical and cognitive skills. With its focus on balance and adventure, this playground offers a unique and educational play experience for children of all ages.Martins Park—SeaportAfter exploring the thrilling play elements and educational opportunities at Jackson Square Park, let's now venture into Martins Park—Seaport, where children can embark on an imaginative and nature-inspired play experience. This inclusive playground, built in memory of Martin Richard, offers a unique and engaging environment for children of all abilities. Here are some key features of Martins Park—Seaport:Log Maze Climber: Children can navigate through a maze of logs, enhancing their problem-solving and spatial awareness skills.Realistic Climbing Rocks: Kids can challenge themselves by scaling these realistic climbing rocks, improving their strength and coordination.Giant Marooned Ship: This impressive feature allows children to unleash their imagination as they pretend to be pirates, sailing the high seas.Nature-Inspired Design: The park's design mimics the natural world, creating a sense of connection and wonder. Children can immerse themselves in an environment that encourages exploration and discovery.Martins Park—Seaport isn't just a place for play, but also a space for learning and growth. As children engage in the various play elements, they develop important cognitive and physical skills. The park fosters creativity, social interaction, and a love for nature. It provides a safe and inclusive environment where children can freely express themselves and learn through play.Paris Street Park—East BostonParis Street Park—East Boston offers an exciting and educational playground experience with its newly designed solar system theme. Located between a public pool and a community center, this park provides a perfect environment for children to learn and play. As we explore the park, we're greeted by vibrant colors and interactive elements that ignite our curiosity.One of the standout features of Paris Street Park is its basketball court, where kids can engage in friendly competition and improve their coordination skills. The court is adorned with illustrations of planets, stars, and constellations, creating a unique and immersive experience. As we shoot hoops, we can't help but feel like we're playing in outer space.In addition to the basketball court, there's also a painted maze that stimulates our problem-solving abilities. We navigate through the twists and turns, searching for hidden treasures and unlocking the secrets of the solar system. The maze encourages exploration and fosters a sense of adventure, allowing children to develop their spatial awareness and critical thinking skills.As we continue our journey through the park, we come across a series of educational panels that provide fascinating information about the planets. These panels not only spark our curiosity about the universe but also enhance our knowledge of science and astronomy. We learn about the different characteristics of each planet and gain a deeper appreciation for the vastness of space.Paris Street Park—East Boston truly offers a playground experience that combines fun and education. With its solar system theme, basketball court, painted maze, and educational panels, children are encouraged to learn and explore while enjoying the freedom to play. It's a place where imaginations soar and knowledge is gained, making it a must-visit destination for families in East Boston.Esplanade Playground—BostonAs we venture further into the world of Boston playgrounds, our next stop brings us to the captivating Esplanade Playground—Boston, where adventure awaits along the picturesque Charles River. This playground offers a unique experience that combines play and nature, providing children with the freedom to explore and learn in a beautiful setting.The central climbing structure, resembling a spider web, challenges children to test their physical abilities and conquer new heights.The scenic view of the Charles River creates a serene backdrop for play, allowing children to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of their surroundings.The spacious open areas invite children to run, jump, and engage in active play, promoting physical fitness and enhancing their gross motor skills.The variety of play equipment, including swings and slides, offers opportunities for children to engage in imaginative play and social interaction.At Esplanade Playground, children have the freedom to let their imaginations soar as they navigate the climbing structures, swing through the air, and slide down to the ground. They can challenge themselves physically, build strength and coordination, and develop confidence in their abilities. The playground's scenic location also provides a sense of peace and tranquility, allowing children to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and connect with nature.Esplanade Playground—Boston isn't just a place for fun and play; it's a space that encourages learning, exploration, and personal growth. With its unique features and stunning views, this playground offers children the freedom to discover, create, and thrive in a safe and engaging environment.Fallon Field—RoslindaleFallon Field—Roslindale is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Boston, offering a playground experience that is both thrilling and inviting for children of all ages. With its famous large slide and additional amenities like basketball courts and swings, Fallon Field provides endless opportunities for fun and exploration.To paint a clearer picture of what Fallon Field has to offer, let's take a look at the table below:FeaturesDescriptionBenefitsLarge SlideA thrilling rideBuilds courage and balanceBasketball CourtsOutdoor sports activitiesPromotes physical fitnessSwingsClassic playground funDevelops coordinationThe large slide at Fallon Field is a favorite among kids, providing them with an exhilarating ride that challenges their courage and helps them develop their balance skills. As they climb up the stairs and slide down, children experience a rush of excitement and a sense of achievement.In addition to the slide, Fallon Field also offers basketball courts. These outdoor sports areas allow children to engage in friendly competitions, improve their coordination, and enhance their physical fitness. Whether they're shooting hoops or playing a game with friends, the basketball courts provide a space for kids to enjoy active play and develop their athletic abilities.No playground is complete without swings, and Fallon Field has them too. Swinging back and forth on the swings not only brings joy to children but also helps them develop their coordination skills. As they pump their legs and control their movements, kids learn how to find their rhythm and balance while experiencing the freedom of soaring through the air.Fallon Field—Roslindale truly offers a playground experience that combines thrilling activities with the freedom to play and explore. From the large slide to the basketball courts and swings, children can engage in a variety of activities that promote physical fitness, coordination, and a sense of adventure. So head on over to Fallon Field and let the fun begin!Hunt Almont Playground—MattapanLocated in the vibrant neighborhood of Mattapan, Hunt Almont Playground offers an exciting and inclusive play space for children of all ages. This playground is a true gem, designed to foster creativity, imagination, and physical activity.Here are some reasons why Hunt Almont Playground stands out among the rest:Colorful web of nets and climbers: As soon as you step foot in Hunt Almont Playground, you'll be greeted by a mesmerizing sight—a vibrant web of nets and climbers that beckon you to explore and conquer. This unique feature allows children to challenge themselves, build strength, and develop their motor skills.Encourages open-ended play: At Hunt Almont Playground, there are no limits to what children can imagine and create. The open-ended play opportunities here allow kids to take on different roles, build forts, and invent their own games. It's a place where freedom and creativity go hand in hand.Splash pad for summer fun: When the temperatures rise, Hunt Almont Playground has got you covered. With its refreshing splash pad, children can cool off and have a blast splashing around. It's the perfect way to beat the heat while still engaging in active play.Inclusive design: Hunt Almont Playground is designed with inclusivity in mind. It offers wheelchair-accessible features, ensuring that all children can fully participate and enjoy the fun. It's a playground that celebrates diversity and embraces the joy of play for everyone.Hunt Almont Playground is more than just a place to play—it's a space where children can learn, grow, and make lasting memories. So, if you're looking for a playground that encourages freedom, creativity, and inclusivity, Hunt Almont Playground in Mattapan is the place to be. Let your imagination run wild and discover the endless possibilities that await you here.Sweeney Playground—South BostonAfter exploring the vibrant and inclusive Hunt Almont Playground in Mattapan, let's now shift our attention to the captivating Sweeney Playground in South Boston. This playground is known for its stunning ropes course, bright synthetic surface, and water features. It offers a variety of activities that engage children's minds and bodies, making it a perfect place for them to learn as they play.To give you a better idea of what Sweeney Playground has to offer, here is a table highlighting some of its key features:Sweeney Playground—South BostonStunning ropes courseEngages children's balanceBright synthetic surfaceProvides safe play areaWater featuresOffers refreshing funBasketball courtsPromotes physical activityfor older kidsThe ropes course at Sweeney Playground is truly a sight to behold. It challenges children to navigate through a series of ropes and obstacles, testing their balance and coordination. As they conquer each element of the course, they develop problem-solving skills and gain confidence in their abilities.The bright synthetic surface of the playground ensures a safe and comfortable play area for children. It provides a cushioned surface that reduces the risk of injuries from falls, allowing kids to freely explore and engage in active play.Water features are another highlight of Sweeney Playground. They offer a fun and refreshing way for children to cool off during the hot summer months. Whether it's running through a sprinkler or splashing in a water fountain, kids can enjoy the sensory experience while staying active.In addition to the ropes course and water features, Sweeney Playground also provides basketball courts for older kids. This promotes physical activity and encourages friendly competition, fostering teamwork and sportsmanship.Sweeney Playground in South Boston is a place where kids can learn, have fun, and grow. With its innovative and engaging features, it offers a unique play experience that sparks creativity, promotes physical development, and cultivates a love for learning. So, the next time you're in South Boston, be sure to visit Sweeney Playground for an unforgettable play adventure.Little Scobie Park—RoxburyLittle Scobie Park in Roxbury offers a vibrant and engaging play space for children of all ages. This park is divided into two areas, each designed specifically for different age groups. Whether you have a toddler or a teenager, there's something for everyone at Little Scobie Park.Skateboard Park: One of the highlights of Little Scobie Park is the skateboard park. Kids can bring their skateboards and practice their tricks on the ramps and rails. It's a great way to build confidence, improve coordination, and have fun with friends.Basketball Court: For those who prefer team sports, the basketball court at Little Scobie Park is the perfect place to shoot some hoops. Kids can practice their dribbling skills, work on their jump shots, and even organize friendly games with other children in the neighborhood.Plenty of Shade: Little Scobie Park offers plenty of shade, making it a great place to relax and unwind. Whether you're a parent watching your kids play or a teenager looking for a quiet spot to read, there are shaded areas where you can escape the sun and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.Community Gathering Space: Little Scobie Park serves as a community gathering space, bringing people together from all walks of life. It's a place where neighbors can meet, children can make new friends, and families can enjoy quality time together. The park fosters a sense of belonging and promotes social interaction, creating a strong and supportive community.Little Scobie Park in Roxbury is more than just a playground. It's a place where children can have fun, learn new skills, and connect with others. From the skateboard park to the basketball court, there are endless opportunities for exploration and growth. So grab your skateboard or basketball and head over to Little Scobie Park for an unforgettable play experience.Alexander W. Kemp Playground—CambridgeContinuing our exploration of Boston's brain-boosting playgrounds, let's now venture into the imaginative world of Alexander W. Kemp Playground in Cambridge. This playground offers a variety of activities for kids of various ages, ensuring that everyone can have a great time. With embankment slides, swings, and a crank-powered water feature, there's something for everyone to enjoy.To give you a better idea of what you can expect at Alexander W. Kemp Playground, here's a table that breaks down its key features:FeaturesAge RangeThemeEmbankment slidesAll agesWoodland adventureSwingsAll agesWoodland adventureCrank-powered water featureAll agesWoodland adventureAs you can see, this playground has a woodland adventure theme, with carved wood structures that add to the overall ambiance. Kids can let their imaginations run wild as they explore this enchanting setting. Whether they're sliding down the embankment slides, soaring through the air on the swings, or splashing around in the crank-powered water feature, there's no shortage of fun to be had.In addition to the exciting play equipment, Alexander W. Kemp Playground also provides a safe and welcoming environment for children to learn and grow. It encourages open-ended play, allowing kids to express their creativity and problem-solving skills. By engaging in play, they can develop important cognitive and physical abilities while having a blast.Frequently Asked QuestionsAre These Playgrounds Open to the Public?Yes, these playgrounds are open to the public. They provide a safe and inclusive space for children of all ages to play and learn.Each playground offers unique features and attractions, such as wheelchair-accessible equipment, interactive play structures, and themed designs.From the Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park in Charlestown to Chuckie Harris Park in Somerville, these innovative playgrounds aim to engage and educate children while fostering their imagination and physical development.Are There Any Admission Fees for These Playgrounds?There are no admission fees for these playgrounds. They're open to the public and provide a variety of brain-boosting fun for kids.From inclusive playgrounds with wheelchair-accessible features to playgrounds with interactive PlayCubes and zip lines, there's something for everyone.You can explore different playgrounds like Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park, Uncle Frank and Auntie Kay Chin Park, and Jackson Square Park, each offering unique features and attractions.Are There Any Age Restrictions for Using the Playground Equipment?There are no age restrictions for using the playground equipment at these innovative Boston playgrounds. Kids of all ages can enjoy the interactive play features and learn as they've fun.From inclusive playgrounds with wheelchair-accessible features to parks that offer activities for kids of various ages, there's something for everyone. So whether you're a toddler or a teenager, you can explore, climb, slide, and swing to your heart's content.Get ready for an adventure-filled playtime!Are There Any Safety Measures in Place at These Playgrounds?Yes, there are safety measures in place at these playgrounds. They prioritize the well-being of children and ensure a safe play environment.Safety features include wheelchair-accessible features, splash pads, and synthetic surfaces.Additionally, some playgrounds have inclusive designs, offering activities for kids of various ages. They also provide amenities like basketball courts and access to nearby bathrooms.These safety measures aim to create a fun and secure space where kids can learn and play without any worries.Are These Playgrounds Accessible for Individuals With Disabilities?Yes, these playgrounds are accessible for individuals with disabilities. They've been designed with inclusive features like wheelchair-accessible structures, ramps, and accessible bathrooms. This ensures that all children can enjoy and learn at the playgrounds.It's important to create an environment that promotes inclusivity and allows everyone to participate in play. These innovative playgrounds in Boston are a great example of how accessibility can be integrated into recreational spaces.ConclusionAs we wrap up our exploration of these innovative Boston playgrounds, we can't help but be amazed by the endless opportunities for learning and growth that they provide.From accessible features to imaginative play elements, each park offers a unique experience that sparks curiosity and fosters development in children.So, next time you're in Boston, be sure to visit these playgrounds and watch your kids learn, play, and thrive in this vibrant city. submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] |
2024.05.17 11:52 FuturoInfo Cutting-edge Ultrasonic Sludge Density Meter WESS Global
 | https://preview.redd.it/xwxbsqu8ly0d1.jpg?width=608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=79bea59269bc473deaa9fe279b2d48ffe6acc922 submitted by FuturoInfo to u/FuturoInfo [link] [comments] WESS GLOBAL's ultrasonic sludge density meter is used to determine the density or concentration of sludge in a wide range of industrial and environmental applications. WESS Global technology is largely concerned with measuring flow, level, and water quality in the environmental protection industry, using well-known ultrasonic, light, and microwave principles. They provide cutting-edge sludge measurement meters, such as the Ultrasonic Sludge Blanket Level Meter (ENV120) and the Ultrasonic Sludge Density Meter (ENV200 Series). Ultrasonic Sludge Density Meter (ENV200 Series) The ENV200 series is a type of ultrasonic instrument used to measure the density of suspended solids in liquids. It consists of sensors, a controller, and a junction box.
Click here to contact WESS GLOBAL. View more: Cutting-edge Ultrasonic Sludge Density Meter |
2024.05.17 11:46 Icy-One-5297 Akshay praises Rajkumar
 | submitted by Icy-One-5297 to BollyBlindsNGossip [link] [comments] |
2024.05.17 11:40 Delicious_Net_900 Dating a man in the army .
We where both 21 at the time..this guy I met 2011 via FB, we talked all day & night over the phone,text..& asked to finally meet in person after 2weeks of us talking over the phone.we lived not far from eachother 1 small town distance inbetween us. A simple ice cream date became us on the back of his pick up till 4am talking & laughing like we've all know eachother all our life's.we met up the following night he said he regretted not kissing me the first night,&& the kiss sent me over the moon! we hung out the next day & the next for the remainder of the month.wed cuddled, watched movies at my house or his & the kissing was intense!! We never had sex,even though we both really wanted too,he was so respectful & didn't want to have sex & him leave me since he had inlisted & his day to leave was approaching fast..
I had gotten to know his brother & mom very well in the month & a half we hung out,I drove him & his family to the airport. We maintained good communication when he could call me .he'd write to me daily & I'd write back...his mom would occasionally call me over if she needed my help. Eventually we drifted & we still kept contact,2years went by & he was now in Iran & or China or Germany.suddenly he had posted on IG a pic of him & a women he called his gf ,they where moving in together in Texas....my feelings where hurt,I had remained single waiting on him.took it as time for me to fall back.i liked his picture & congratulations where given,they did look good together..I unfriended his profile,his mother was as confused as I was when she called me to invite me to brunch,I asked if she knew & she denied knowing anything. I started dating 3months after & met my now 7 year old son's dad. I've been since for a few years now.hes found me on social media agin recently he now a drill Sargent.& Explained how nobody ever really made him feel what he felt with me & he would like for us to try,all the wonderful things you'd want to hear.im distant now & hesitant about him. He wants me to fly to south Carolina to see him,I booked a flight almost immediately, for a weekend && then I stopped & remembered how hurt I was before & canceled my trip..I explained to him that I couldn't do it... He has been so nice about it and patient and understanding.so now he booked a flight back to California this late June & wants to see me ..
Advice pls..
submitted by Delicious_Net_900 to dating [link] [comments]
I had gotten to know his brother & mom very well in the month & a half we hung out,I drove him & his family to the airport. We maintained good communication when he could call me .he'd write to me daily & I'd write back...his mom would occasionally call me over if she needed my help. Eventually we drifted & we still kept contact,2years went by & he was now in Iran & or China or Germany.suddenly he had posted on IG a pic of him & a women he called his gf ,they where moving in together in Texas....my feelings where hurt,I had remained single waiting on him.took it as time for me to fall back.i liked his picture & congratulations where given,they did look good together..I unfriended his profile,his mother was as confused as I was when she called me to invite me to brunch,I asked if she knew & she denied knowing anything. I started dating 3months after & met my now 7 year old son's dad. I've been since for a few years now.hes found me on social media agin recently he now a drill Sargent.& Explained how nobody ever really made him feel what he felt with me & he would like for us to try,all the wonderful things you'd want to hear.im distant now & hesitant about him. He wants me to fly to south Carolina to see him,I booked a flight almost immediately, for a weekend && then I stopped & remembered how hurt I was before & canceled my trip..I explained to him that I couldn't do it... He has been so nice about it and patient and understanding.so now he booked a flight back to California this late June & wants to see me ..
Advice pls..
2024.05.17 11:40 Hewholooksskyward Time, and Time Again - Chapter 3
First I Previous
Chapter 3
“... they’re called the Satura,” Vargas explained, while Mike ladled himself a second helping of the beef bourguignon. “It’s not what they call themselves,” he hastened to add, “it’s just the word ‘enemy’ in some ancient human tongue. At least, that’s what we’ve been told.”
“Told by who?” the sergeant asked.
“By those who reside further in the future,” Amélie informed him. “They have far more knowledge of the enemy than we do.”
He gave the Frenchwoman a confused look. “You must understand, Sergeant Delany, that time travel is extremely difficult,” Vargas continued. “It requires a great deal of energy, and much like your automobile, the farther you go, the more energy is required. Unlike your vehicle, however, it’s not a simple 1:1 ratio. Like the speed of light, it’s bound by the same parameters of the E=mc2 equation that Einstein first theorized.”
Mike just stared at him. Vargas sighed. “You do know who Einstein is, right?”
The paratrooper suddenly got defensive. “Of course I know who he is,” Delany sniffed. “German scientist. Something about atoms, I think?” he guessed.
The astronaut looked as if he were physically ill. “Patience, Anton,” Amélie counseled, patting his arm. “Remember how much I struggled with these concepts, at first.”
He nodded his head in agreement. “You’re right,” he grimaced. “My apologies, sergeant. It’s just that Einstein and his Theory of Relativity are famous in my time, and much of the population understands at least some of its ramifications. I occasionally forget that his work was heavily classified during your era, and for good reason.”
Mike’s brow furrowed. “What reason?” he asked.
The other two shared a look before Antonio picked up a small black device and pointed it at a nearby wall. “Do you recall me telling you that World War II… your war… ended a year after your death?” Mike nodded. “Well,” the astronaut continued, “... here’s how it happened.”
Delany’s eyes widened in shock as a massive explosion suddenly appeared on the wall, the detail of the display so realistic he almost hit the deck in response. A massive fireball rose over a ruined city, while a shockwave slammed into the nearby surroundings.
“Hiroshima, Japan,” Vargas said quietly. “August 6th, 1945. America had been working in secret for years to develop an atomic bomb, originally because Nazi scientists were working on the same thing. The thought of them getting hold of this technology first terrified people… with good reason, I might add… only Germany surrendered before a working prototype could be tested.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off the mushroom-shaped cloud. “Were the Japs working on a bomb too?” he asked them.
The astronaut winced at the ethnic slur, but let it pass. “No,” he answered, “that kind of technology was beyond their capabilities. The US used the bomb to force them to surrender, only the one they dropped on Hiroshima wasn’t enough.” He got a distant look in his eyes. “So they did it again, three days later, at Nagasaki. It too, was destroyed.” Blanking the wall screen, he turned back to face the soldier. “A month after that, the Japanese surrendered. Unconditionally. That’s what Einstein’s theory helped to create.”
Mike’s jaw set in a hard line. “Don’t count on me feeling sorry for them.”
Vargas held up his hand. “Two hours ago, you were fighting for your life. I don’t expect you to just suddenly forget all of that. But from my perspective, that war ended a century ago. Germany and Japan are now some of America’s staunchest allies.”
“In your time,” Amélie emphasized.
He took a moment to process all of that. “Well, I appreciate the history lesson. Good to know that we won the war. But what’s any of it got to do with these aliens we’re supposed to be fighting?”
“I was just getting to that,” Antonio replied. “The Theory of Relativity says, among other things, that the closer you get to the speed of light, like ninety percent on up, the energy required to accelerate increases exponentially. It’s why nothing can go faster than that, because it would require infinite energy. Which is impossible.”
Amélie leaned in, a wicked smile on her face. “Unless you cheat, as we do.”
“What she means is there are loopholes within the equations we can exploit,” Vargas clarified. “Moving an object in time, such as a human, requires energy. The further you travel, the more it costs, until eventually, you reach a point where you hit a wall. None of us can journey more than two or three centuries from our point of origin, because of the energy cost requirements. After that?” He shrugged. “You simply bounce off an invisible barrier.”
Mike thought about that for a minute. “Then how can you possibly know what’s happening in the far future?” he asked.
“Way stations,” the Frenchwoman supplied. “Picture a series of forts, strung along the frontier. While we cannot travel physically to the nearby garrisons, we can signal them. Information can be passed from one to another, up and down the line.”
“Much like the old Pony Express,” Vargas supplied. “It’s not a perfect system, unfortunately. Information can be lost, or garbled. But it’s what we have,” he shrugged.
“So… there’s a series of outposts stretching to the distant past and the far future? Sending signals back and forth, working together against a common enemy?” It was a lot to take in, but Mike felt like he was making sense of it.
“Well… you are half right,” Amélie admitted unhappily. “While there are many such way stations in our future, behind us?” She shook her head. “Que dalle. Nothing.”
Mike stared at her. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s the technology,” Antonio sighed. “It’s simply too complicated for someone born much earlier than the late twentieth century to grasp. Take me, for example,” he said, indicating himself. “I was a combat pilot in the Navy, before I became an astronaut, flying aircraft that would have easily defeated the entire Luftwaffe. I also hold advanced degrees in engineering and physics, but when I look at the schematics sent to us from up time?” He held up his hands in surrender. “I feel like a chimpanzee staring at a P-51.”
“Anton has tutored me for years, and there is still much I do not understand,” Amélie informed him.
“Even if we were talking about a certified genius, someone like Da Vinci, for example, for them to make sense of the information they’d need to recreate all of this?” He spread his arms wide, encompassing the structure surrounding them. “It would be like trying to decipher hieroglyphics. We’ve sent messages to the past, hoping that someone somehow managed the impossible, but we’ve never received a reply.” Vargas sighed in defeat. “Which means we are the last line of defense.”
“The three of us,” Mike said, deadpan. “What the hell are we supposed to do?”
“Our mission is threefold,” the astronaut explained. “First, to detect and counter any temporal incursions by the enemy. Second, to take the fight to the enemy, whenever and wherever possible. And finally, to retrieve those like us, individuals who have become untethered in time, and recruit them to the cause.”
Amélie reached out and took Mike’s hand. “The very future of all humanity is at stake,” she said softly, her dark eyes pleading with him. “You are a soldier, and we need you. Will you help us?”
He was silent for a long time. The others waited, having already made their case. Finally, he looked up at them both. “I can’t go back, can I?” he said quietly.
“No… you cannot,” the Frenchwoman agreed. “You no longer belong to that reality. We can make brief visits to accomplish our mission, but any more than a few days, the timeline will reject you, casting you into the void. Et pouf,” she pantomimed, spreading her fingers wide to suggest a magician making something vanish.
“But… wouldn’t you just return here?” he asked them.
“I’m afraid not,” Vargas disagreed. “Like I said, it requires the energy output of a Tachyon weapon to disconnect you from the timeline. We can create a temporary link that will keep you in place, like a climber’s safety harness. But it doesn’t last long, because the physics of our old timeline are already hard at work unraveling it. If you wait too long…” he shrugged.
“... you fall to your death,” Mike finished for him. The other man nodded somberly in agreement. He took a long draught of his wine, his mind spinning as he struggled to make sense of all he’d learned. In the end, he just shrugged.
“In that case, since I don’t have any choice… I volunteer,” he told them both, plastering on his best counterfeit smile as he held out the empty goblet.
“I could use a refill,” he said wryly.
First I Previous
submitted by Hewholooksskyward to HFY [link] [comments]
“... they’re called the Satura,” Vargas explained, while Mike ladled himself a second helping of the beef bourguignon. “It’s not what they call themselves,” he hastened to add, “it’s just the word ‘enemy’ in some ancient human tongue. At least, that’s what we’ve been told.”
“Told by who?” the sergeant asked.
“By those who reside further in the future,” Amélie informed him. “They have far more knowledge of the enemy than we do.”
He gave the Frenchwoman a confused look. “You must understand, Sergeant Delany, that time travel is extremely difficult,” Vargas continued. “It requires a great deal of energy, and much like your automobile, the farther you go, the more energy is required. Unlike your vehicle, however, it’s not a simple 1:1 ratio. Like the speed of light, it’s bound by the same parameters of the E=mc2 equation that Einstein first theorized.”
Mike just stared at him. Vargas sighed. “You do know who Einstein is, right?”
The paratrooper suddenly got defensive. “Of course I know who he is,” Delany sniffed. “German scientist. Something about atoms, I think?” he guessed.
The astronaut looked as if he were physically ill. “Patience, Anton,” Amélie counseled, patting his arm. “Remember how much I struggled with these concepts, at first.”
He nodded his head in agreement. “You’re right,” he grimaced. “My apologies, sergeant. It’s just that Einstein and his Theory of Relativity are famous in my time, and much of the population understands at least some of its ramifications. I occasionally forget that his work was heavily classified during your era, and for good reason.”
Mike’s brow furrowed. “What reason?” he asked.
The other two shared a look before Antonio picked up a small black device and pointed it at a nearby wall. “Do you recall me telling you that World War II… your war… ended a year after your death?” Mike nodded. “Well,” the astronaut continued, “... here’s how it happened.”
Delany’s eyes widened in shock as a massive explosion suddenly appeared on the wall, the detail of the display so realistic he almost hit the deck in response. A massive fireball rose over a ruined city, while a shockwave slammed into the nearby surroundings.
“Hiroshima, Japan,” Vargas said quietly. “August 6th, 1945. America had been working in secret for years to develop an atomic bomb, originally because Nazi scientists were working on the same thing. The thought of them getting hold of this technology first terrified people… with good reason, I might add… only Germany surrendered before a working prototype could be tested.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off the mushroom-shaped cloud. “Were the Japs working on a bomb too?” he asked them.
The astronaut winced at the ethnic slur, but let it pass. “No,” he answered, “that kind of technology was beyond their capabilities. The US used the bomb to force them to surrender, only the one they dropped on Hiroshima wasn’t enough.” He got a distant look in his eyes. “So they did it again, three days later, at Nagasaki. It too, was destroyed.” Blanking the wall screen, he turned back to face the soldier. “A month after that, the Japanese surrendered. Unconditionally. That’s what Einstein’s theory helped to create.”
Mike’s jaw set in a hard line. “Don’t count on me feeling sorry for them.”
Vargas held up his hand. “Two hours ago, you were fighting for your life. I don’t expect you to just suddenly forget all of that. But from my perspective, that war ended a century ago. Germany and Japan are now some of America’s staunchest allies.”
“In your time,” Amélie emphasized.
He took a moment to process all of that. “Well, I appreciate the history lesson. Good to know that we won the war. But what’s any of it got to do with these aliens we’re supposed to be fighting?”
“I was just getting to that,” Antonio replied. “The Theory of Relativity says, among other things, that the closer you get to the speed of light, like ninety percent on up, the energy required to accelerate increases exponentially. It’s why nothing can go faster than that, because it would require infinite energy. Which is impossible.”
Amélie leaned in, a wicked smile on her face. “Unless you cheat, as we do.”
“What she means is there are loopholes within the equations we can exploit,” Vargas clarified. “Moving an object in time, such as a human, requires energy. The further you travel, the more it costs, until eventually, you reach a point where you hit a wall. None of us can journey more than two or three centuries from our point of origin, because of the energy cost requirements. After that?” He shrugged. “You simply bounce off an invisible barrier.”
Mike thought about that for a minute. “Then how can you possibly know what’s happening in the far future?” he asked.
“Way stations,” the Frenchwoman supplied. “Picture a series of forts, strung along the frontier. While we cannot travel physically to the nearby garrisons, we can signal them. Information can be passed from one to another, up and down the line.”
“Much like the old Pony Express,” Vargas supplied. “It’s not a perfect system, unfortunately. Information can be lost, or garbled. But it’s what we have,” he shrugged.
“So… there’s a series of outposts stretching to the distant past and the far future? Sending signals back and forth, working together against a common enemy?” It was a lot to take in, but Mike felt like he was making sense of it.
“Well… you are half right,” Amélie admitted unhappily. “While there are many such way stations in our future, behind us?” She shook her head. “Que dalle. Nothing.”
Mike stared at her. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s the technology,” Antonio sighed. “It’s simply too complicated for someone born much earlier than the late twentieth century to grasp. Take me, for example,” he said, indicating himself. “I was a combat pilot in the Navy, before I became an astronaut, flying aircraft that would have easily defeated the entire Luftwaffe. I also hold advanced degrees in engineering and physics, but when I look at the schematics sent to us from up time?” He held up his hands in surrender. “I feel like a chimpanzee staring at a P-51.”
“Anton has tutored me for years, and there is still much I do not understand,” Amélie informed him.
“Even if we were talking about a certified genius, someone like Da Vinci, for example, for them to make sense of the information they’d need to recreate all of this?” He spread his arms wide, encompassing the structure surrounding them. “It would be like trying to decipher hieroglyphics. We’ve sent messages to the past, hoping that someone somehow managed the impossible, but we’ve never received a reply.” Vargas sighed in defeat. “Which means we are the last line of defense.”
“The three of us,” Mike said, deadpan. “What the hell are we supposed to do?”
“Our mission is threefold,” the astronaut explained. “First, to detect and counter any temporal incursions by the enemy. Second, to take the fight to the enemy, whenever and wherever possible. And finally, to retrieve those like us, individuals who have become untethered in time, and recruit them to the cause.”
Amélie reached out and took Mike’s hand. “The very future of all humanity is at stake,” she said softly, her dark eyes pleading with him. “You are a soldier, and we need you. Will you help us?”
He was silent for a long time. The others waited, having already made their case. Finally, he looked up at them both. “I can’t go back, can I?” he said quietly.
“No… you cannot,” the Frenchwoman agreed. “You no longer belong to that reality. We can make brief visits to accomplish our mission, but any more than a few days, the timeline will reject you, casting you into the void. Et pouf,” she pantomimed, spreading her fingers wide to suggest a magician making something vanish.
“But… wouldn’t you just return here?” he asked them.
“I’m afraid not,” Vargas disagreed. “Like I said, it requires the energy output of a Tachyon weapon to disconnect you from the timeline. We can create a temporary link that will keep you in place, like a climber’s safety harness. But it doesn’t last long, because the physics of our old timeline are already hard at work unraveling it. If you wait too long…” he shrugged.
“... you fall to your death,” Mike finished for him. The other man nodded somberly in agreement. He took a long draught of his wine, his mind spinning as he struggled to make sense of all he’d learned. In the end, he just shrugged.
“In that case, since I don’t have any choice… I volunteer,” he told them both, plastering on his best counterfeit smile as he held out the empty goblet.
“I could use a refill,” he said wryly.
2024.05.17 11:31 OverGarage3201 Weirdest 151 pack (God Pack)
 | Hi everyone, submitted by OverGarage3201 to PokemonTCG [link] [comments] I need some help understanding what happened. I bought a sealed ETB from the 151 series from a supposedly trustworthy German provider. While checking the packs, I found that one of them was cut, which has never happened to me before. It turned out to be a Godpack containing the Squirtle line. However, the first card, a basic Ponyta, was clearly damaged, while the following cards had no damage. Both Squirtle and Wartortle had small damaged lines, but Blastoise was undamaged. I’ve attached some pictures as proof. I’m torn between the joy of getting a Godpack and confusion about what just happened. Thanks for any insights! https://preview.redd.it/xqij5exfhy0d1.jpg?width=2684&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2a553e5e773f61c600303d74d89f2e0e793c411 https://preview.redd.it/4ba09gxfhy0d1.jpg?width=1576&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a946378343970a945b89f669007817f313c93b3 https://preview.redd.it/gp7waexfhy0d1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd6a0bcf0673973a67cc2bc88821448f5b3d83f1 https://preview.redd.it/55zgygxfhy0d1.jpg?width=1576&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=efa84ab1ec7b50b7fddf4bf614e26ffff32a63ad https://preview.redd.it/5r2umexfhy0d1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8d794991fd6222b5cab1dde9eb667499449318e3 |