The necropolis was gorgeous, for what it was. Its white outer walls hiding the darker Victorian Gothic interior. The tech that was hidden in the walls though was able to move bodies in their caskets from a designated place in the necropolis to the "viewing area" as the necropolians called it. This was where I waited for my, for lack of a better term, escort to take me to the mortuary. Since science has grown surprisingly fast our abilities for forensic sciences have also grown, and that's to whom I was headed. (S)He was an, unusual (wo)man to say the least. An expert in their field and about as learned as a doctor, if not multi-doctorate. If you ever asked them why they never pursued an actual doctorate, they would get angry and act all prissy while saying that going to school would've slowed them down and all they needed were the basic certificates for their work. The reality though, revealed to me during a drunken bout, they just never liked school and believed that it ultimately stunted a person's growth and ability to question the reality around them, that everything that you need to learn is already in books and in some form or another in digital content online. They were brilliant, if a little wacky. About five minutes after I had arrived and was sitting down in the viewing area, a little box rolled up to me making a couple of beeps to let me know to follow it and immediately started rolling towards the wall opposite of where it came from. When it looked like it was about to hit the wall, a hidden door opened up by the casket viewer, inside was a set of stairs leading down into the darkness. Stepping through the doorway I became acutely aware of sounds seemingly coming from all around me suddenly. It really is impressive, as though I just stepped from a tomb to a busy workshop, the sounds of gas escaping pistons, whirring, and clanking chains flooded my ears. I continued down the stairs following my helpful little box, which despite its size and shape would suggest was actually quite nimble on the stairs. It seemed to have wheels that would extend down to the next step as the edge rolled over it and once the back of the box was clear of the step it would drop back into its squat position, hiding its wheels as quickly as possible. It continued to do so the entire way. The box seemed to notice me watching it and made a kinda shrill whistle and its undercarriage light went from a comfortable yellow to a, is that... Peach? Is it blushing? My god I think it is! I let out a small chuckle and my little blushing box stopped dead in its tracks mid-step, its light suddenly going white, almost blinding me from behind and lighting up the hallway for a split second. Luckily both of my feet were solidly on a step so I didn't take a tumble or anything, but I couldn't help doing anything but laughing harder. 

After a second the little box crept up behind me and continued down, its status light continuing to show pinkish. I followed it slowly, the chuckle slowly dying in my throat as we reached Ceriths office. Well "office" was being nice. Morgue, mortuary, both of these fit just as well. Cerith was, for the most part, a recluse. We reached the door and the little robot continued through a little hole in the wall. I waited a second and knocked. "Enter!" Came the voice on the other side. I opened the door and stepped through. Along one wall set doors that normally housed the dead waiting to be processed. One out of dozens were open, its occupant missing from its silver slab. The middle of the room was brightly lit from a single overhead light. In the middle of the circle of light stood a figure, long Raven colored hair bound in a single braided ponytail, the rest of them bound in medical examination garb. They seemed to be engrossed in the corpse in front of them. The little robot rolled up next to Ceriths feet and made a little chiming noise. "Thank you Tabitha. That'll be all," said a voice that was neither male nor female from beneath the mask. Just sort of in the middle. "Tabitha? Never knew you to be sentimental," I said gently, the chuckle in my voice making itself clear. "I see you still find even the darkest things funny," Cerith quipped back. "My line of work Cer, you take the laughs where you get them. Look who's talking anyway, you're usually elbows deep inside someone 25/8. Even you have a seriously fucked up sense of humor." That got Cerith laughing, sounding like thunder and the whip crack of lightning at the same time. "You've got me there Julius," Cerith said after his laughter subsided. I think he suits him today. Which is both a good and bad sign. When Cerith is acting like a man, it usually means some grim news, but they are going to try to make it seem like not a big deal and laugh a lot. Plus they almost never call me Julius. Something was wrong. Very seriously wrong. As this realization hit me I got this odd tingle in the small of my back. Like someone had put several freezing needles under the skin and into my spine, something I'm familiar with from the anima-games from the cyber sphere. Halos: Divine Retribution If I remember right. Those Angels were sadistic bastards. I shuddered at both the memories from the game and the shockingly similar feeling I was experiencing. Dread, that feeling is dread my friend, the quiet part of my mind whispered to me. "Cer, what's wrong bud," I asked. He didn't say anything. For a long time. After a few minutes I was about to ask again, but then he spoke. And what came out will haunt me, quite possibly till the day I die. "This ones temporal lobes are gray matter. Nothing even close to being coherent. Just. Dead neurons. And he's not the first." Gone was the jovialness of the past ten minutes. This was Cerith the whisperer. In an almost dead tone they continued, "the others didn't fare nearly as well as this one. Most of the brain is intact here, which means that if they didn't deliver a massive shock or something similar to fully kill him he would have possibly lived as a vegetable with memory issues, but that's not what I'm looking for in this one here now. Now I'm trying to figure out what else the others had in common with him, and so far that's brought up all but naught. Well this one has a bit of liver damage. But that's about it. So Mr John was a drinker. Not much there." When Cerith is "whispering" the best thing to do is just let him be. But I couldn't help but prick my ears up at mentions of others with similar wounds, and the fact that this one had liver issues.... "Cer. You said... CERITH," I finally snapped out and caught his attention mid ramble. "Thank you. You said liver problems. But nothing similar to the others? No drugs? Alcohol? Not even a synth brain-pattern? You checked Everything?" "Well let's see, John here was a drinker that's for sure," Cerith said his hands never ceasing their work as he started to put 'John' back together seemingly satisfied that he found nothing else, " Mr Lombardo in chest 3 had cocaine mostly, and Mr Lei in chest 9 had opium. Although to tell you where it came from for both I'd have to do a molecular analysis and see what it compares to. Other than that, no. Absolutely nothing connecting any of them. As far as I can tell they are all unique cases completely separate from each other except for the damages to the brain. And I only found this by accident. During a routine scan I happened to look at the screen as it passed through the brain and noticed an odd density in his temporal lobes. Just slightly higher than normal. Hell to be honest with you it had the density of a fresh cutie, you know those little oranges?" I nodded, and he continued, "Right of course you do, who hasn't? Anyways it's just super dense compared to the surrounding tissues, and I take a sliver probe and drop it in like you do. And when I turn the damn thing on to look at the neurons the area all I see are dead cells packed on top of one another. Not natural decay death, but forced to die. Most of the cell walls were torn open like they had blown up from the INSIDE. That's when I called you." He finished up with 'John' putting the final few perfect stitches in place and sealing him up for good. Once he seemed happy with his work he called out to his seemingly empty morgue, "Grom I'm done! Can you put Mr John Doe here back in his room? Number 11 if you please." He turned away from the body on the table and removed the giant rubber gloves that went to his elbows. He walked into the dark calling out over his shoulder, "I'll be back in a sec I gotta scrub out, want a drink? I have beer, whiskey, vodka, I might have some Cognac somewhere, and bourbon. Your choice, just call out what you want and Tabitha will be there with it. Also have a seat! We have much to discuss." With that he disappeared from both sight and sound in the dark. It was a neat trick I have to admit, and it had something to do with how he had his morgue set up. Even the giant war machine that was Grom was absolutely quiet unless you managed to catch him through the gloom. I thought for the longest time the reason why I could never catch him sneaking around was from some sort of stealth program put into place, but when he goes up and down those stairs he's as loud as can be. So it was definitely not his program but the way the morgue was built. I'm confident in saying that because when I turned back to look at the table, or rather where it was, there was now a chair that looked like it had just grown out of the floor and the body was gone. Also the thought of something as big as a fridge just sneaking up on some poor combatants and snapping their necks as quietly as he walks in the morgue just gives me the heebies. As I sat in the chair a thought occurred to me. Considering how advanced the morgue seemed to be it would make sense that it had some sort of AI or integrated computer. "Computer?" I had been here a million times but I'd never had a chance to think about it nor try anything. But not even a second after I had said anything a response came. "Yes Detective Julius. My name is DANNA. Or Dynamically Actualized Neural Net AI. How can I be of service?" The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, slightly feminine and breathy, all service but no sex. Honestly I was just surprised that it worked. "DANNA, I was just wondering if I could take a look at the files that Cerith had mentioned? If it is as bad as they claim I think I might need to know anyway. Also if you can get those blood works done for me I'd appreciate it. Also something with whiskey or rum would be amazing." "Of course Detective. I will have Tabitha bring it shortly. And how would you like the information to be displayed? Desktop or dynamic?" That piqued my interest. "Dynamic please." No sooner than I had said a series of screens blinked into existence in front of me. It was some sort of Holographic display. I reached out and touched the display and was surprised that I got stopped by something. It was hard but surprisingly I found that I could push into the screen with my finger if I pushed hard enough. It kinda felt like... Oobleck. I also found that by pinching the corner I could pull the screens closer or further from me. I even found that I could grab individual pages of the reports off the screen and hold it. It felt like a thin sheet of plastic and responded like both a tablet and a singular document. If I switched pages the old one would appear back onto the screen and the next would pop onto it. This was about as slick a set up as I had ever seen and whistled my appreciation under my breath, I'm definitely going to have to ask Cerith about where they got DANNA from. "See something you like, big boy?" A very DEFINITELY female voice said in my ear from behind, soft and throaty, screaming come hither. I felt small dainty hands gently caress the tops of my shoulders before slipping down the front of my chest, pulling me back into the chair that I didn't realize I had been slouching in. "You know better than that, Jules. Your back is important and slouching will destroy the muscles and cause some to atrophy." The voice left no room for argument, and left me more than a little bit flushed. I closed my eyes and dropped my head back as far as it would go, the back of my head hitting something soft and warm, stretching my neck and back out. "Damnit Cer I thought you were scrubbing out, not completely changing." I hadn't realized it, but at least an hour had passed from when I started playing with the computer and working with the files if the clock on the computer was to be believed. "You looked like you were pretty into it so I decided not to disturb you. Plus you know how much fun it is for me to tease you like this. Especially after, well these..." One hand waved at the screens in front of me. The small hands' nails were painted the darkest black and almost made them blend into the void that existed outside of the screens. "I do Cer, and that's part of the problem, we both know that it's never going to happen. Least of all for you." She laughed a little, a clear beautiful sound and the body beneath my head bounced slightly telling me I was against her stomach. "Still I know you enjoy these little moments," she said, the pressure on the back of my head disappearing and was replaced by the voice right by my ear again as she whispered, "especially when we both know that's not at all true." At the last words she nibbled my ear gently. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her, in spite of my baser instinct rising to meet her VERY juicy insinuations. But for as long as I've known Cerith and as many times as we have both been VERY drunk, they have NEVER cashed in. I just assumed that it was a quirk of theirs. "Anyways," she said standing back up, "what are you thinking so far about the files? Spooky, right? Like I said, nothing that I can see connects them." Her hands gestured in front of me in an approximation of a shrug. She then clasped them together, wringing the knuckles and effectively trapping me in the chair and back against her abdomen. I scrubbed my eyes with my fingertips acutely aware of the growing headache that suddenly made itself known. "Your right from the medical side. I can't see everything you can, of course. I don't have near the knowledge that you have," which is true being that Cerith is at least 200 years old. I never asked directly, the old adage still holding about women and their age. Still though her answers to certain questions would lead one to believe her being her first adult car was a Bing Cherry 2201 Firebird GT with white walled hover trim and chrome accents. From pictures that I could find it looked like a slick piece. Looking back to the screens I couldn't help but feel that itch again. I couldn't explain it. That prickly feeling of ice needles again, this time in the back of my skull. As much as I'd hate to admit it. I think Cerith is right. I sighed heavily before saying "send me everything. I'll open a new case file and have the team start working on it first thing." She made a happy noise and bounced slightly, clearly satisfied with my decision to take it on. I reached out and to my left and a glass was placed gently into my hand by Tabitha. I hadn't even realized she had come over while I was working and was now ready for that drink. Room temperature rum and cola. The drink went down smoothly enough considering I drained the glass in one gulp, during which time I finally got a good eyeful of Ceriths current form. Or rather the underside of part of it. From what I could tell she was wearing a black T-shirt. That was it. I put the glass back down, it's job done without moving my head and said, "What a lovely view Cerith. I'm guessing you chose this to try to get a rise out of me?" I couldn't lie though it was affecting me, but I couldn't let her know that. Not when she's like this. Otherwise she'll continue to tease me till she leaves me with the absolute worst case of blue balls this side of the City. Her hands came up and cupped my chin almost lovingly, and her voice said "Of course Detective. Do you not approve? Or would you rather I change back to my medical examination form? Or something else?" Her words dripped with implied sex. I groaned, loudly, and said, "This is fine. Jesus Cer." Before we could continue our most scintillating of conversations there was a sudden PING! And DANNA said, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's a message for you Cerith. It says 'If you can get to the department Cerith, do so. We need you to explain your paperwork. And if Detective Julius is still with you have him come in too.' signed the Chief. Would you like to reply?" 'Shit, I forgot the morgue kills all signals,' I thought to myself as I stood up gently (regretfully) prying myself from Ceriths grasp with a, "duty calls. Need a lift?" I stretched gently, the scales in between my shoulders clicking appreciatively for the stretch, and turned around to notice she was indeed, just wearing a black T-shirt that hugged her voluptuous figure closely. The scales in my back clicked shut in surprise. Cerith let out a small cute chuckle, "I see after all this time I can still surprise you," she said blowing a kiss my way, reminding me of a little Gothic pixy. I rolled my eyes away from her and willed my scales to relax. I grabbed my jacket off the back of the chair, slinging it on and clicking the neck clasp shut under the cord that connected my scales to the unit in my head. I was awarded the cybernetics upon completing my training and getting all my licenses to have them. The force had allowed me to customize it, I had chosen top of the line. A dual unit with custom built AI. The individual scales were ceracoated titanium microprocessors all running in both series and parallel, and could move to expel heat or react. The main unit was the same except it was one solid unit that replaced a chunk of skull. Once that was done I zipped up the front of the leathers and ran the scales through the racer setting. They clicked and flattened against the outside of the jacket, securing it to my back. I shrugged making sure it was comfortable. "I'll take the fact that you're only in a t-shirt you'll be along shortly?" "Certainly detective." Her voice was filled with dismissive submission... And sadness? I looked back at her and noticed her makeup was gone. Or had she had any on in the first place? I gave myself a mental shake. There's no way. This was Cerith, veritable goddess of the necropolis. I put the last few minutes away for review later. Chief called. I have to go. On an instinct I thought long dead, I reached out and squeezed her hand. I felt a slight squeeze back. And then she let go with a, "Go on, be a good detective. I'll be along shortly." I left with Tabitha as my guide. Before Cerith disappeared into the darkness I thought I heard her whisper, "please don't leave." My scales raised in a saddened response. I couldn't be sure I heard her right though. If I heard her at all. I reached back and stroked them, knowing my ai probably heard her, and knowing it could feel me touch the scales. After a few seconds the scales settled down. 'I know buddy,' I thought to the AI. It couldn't respond like usual AI. The force thought that was too dangerous. What if it went rogue? What if it tried to kill the host and take over? The list went on and eventually they decided the basics were ok. When I got my unit one of the first things I did was jack it into a diagnostic to see what kind of hardware I was dealing with exactly because manufacturer specs from real use are sometimes different with AI if the bits and bobs are in place. When I did, all I got on the screen was 'Hello?'

While brushing your teeth is the most effective way to maintain oral hygiene, there are alternative methods you can use, especially in situations where brushing may not be possible. Here are some alternatives to consider:
Rinsing with Water: If you're unable to brush your teeth after eating or drinking, rinsing your mouth with water can help remove food particles and reduce the buildup of plaque and bacteria.
Chewing Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing sugar-free gum can stimulate saliva production, which helps neutralize acids in the mouth and wash away food particles. Look for gum that contains xylitol, a sugar substitute that can also help prevent cavities.
Using Mouthwash: Mouthwash can be a convenient alternative to brushing, as it helps kill bacteria and freshen your breath. Look for an antimicrobial mouthwash that contains fluoride to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities.
Flossing: Flossing is an essential part of oral hygiene that should complement brushing, but it can also be used as an alternative when brushing is not possible. Flossing helps remove food particles and plaque from between the teeth and along the gumline.
Chewing Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables: Crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery can help mechanically clean your teeth and stimulate saliva production. However, these should not be considered a substitute for brushing, but rather a supplementary method to promote oral health.
Oil Pulling: Oil pulling is an ancient oral hygiene practice that involves swishing oil (such as coconut oil) around in your mouth for several minutes. Some people believe that oil pulling can help remove toxins and bacteria from the mouth, although scientific evidence is limited.
Using Oral Care Products: There are various oral care products on the market, such as tooth wipes, oral sprays, and oral cleaning gels, that can be used as alternatives to traditional brushing. These products may help freshen breath and remove surface stains, but they should not replace brushing altogether.
While these alternatives can help maintain oral hygiene in a pinch, it's essential to remember that they are not replacements for regular brushing and flossing. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily are essential for preventing cavities, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
Learn more about alternatives to brushing your teeth here

As the title suggests, from seasoned home brewers to novices, what’s your general opinion on drip bags?
I can’t quite make up my mind on how I feel about them. Definitely are a convenience when you don’t have time but sometimes it just doesn’t do justice to the experience of drinking coffee.
Would love to know your favourites if any!

Hi, just looking for some advice on what to expect here. Or to hear experiences from people who had a similar situation.
I’m 30 years old and have zero record. I never once have even been pulled over, and never faulted for an accident. Last Friday I was stopped (Clermont county) for speeding around 2:40am, 78 in a 65. The officer immediately said he smelled marijuana and asked me to step out of the car. He never asked to search my car, or found any marijuana. Because I have back issues and see a chiropractor weekly for sciatica I refused to walk a straight line or stand on one leg. When the officer said he smelled alcohol I informed him I was on my way home from a hookup where I performed oral sex and used an antiseptic mouth rinse right before leaving. I was arrested and taken to the station where I refused a breathalyzer, stating I was worried of the effects of the mouthwash since he said he could smell it. By this point it had already been established I have a severe anxiety disorder for which I take medication daily and was on the verge of a panic attack. Honestly looking back I wish I had blown, but I was so anxious, especially never having had any sort of contact like this with police. I just sort of shut down. After the officer finished his paperwork he even gave me a ride home.
I have an arraignment in 3 days. I can not afford an attorney. I make about $30k a year, but after rent/bills I basically live hand to mouth. I don’t know if I make too much for a public defender. As of right now my license is suspended for a year because I refused to blow. What do I expect at the arraignment? Do I just go plead not guilty, and then the court will start the process of assigning an attorney? Any chance this could be dropped since there’s very little proof (aside from the officer saying there was an odor and my eyes were watery and bloodshot- at this point I had been awake nearly 20 hours)? What about privileges to drive to work? Is that something that can be discussed Friday, or do you have to wait a certain amount of time? Really any info is welcome. I have all the questions 😞

I (33F) feel like I’m so checked out of my relationship. I’ve been with this person (31M) for 6+ years and for about 3 of them he struggled with alcohol abuse. I was constantly trying to get him to get help and taking on so much stress from it. I was walking on egg shells around his addiction and spent many nights crying alone. Well he finally stopped drinking without any external support and has been doing well(ish) staying off the stuff but not well mentally. Now it seems like he’s having trouble creating a life outside of drinking. So he pretty much just sleeps all day. Like home from work at 3p and then sleeps until 6 or 7p. Then zones out on his phone until 12-1a and repeats the whole cycle every day. It’s been this for about 2 1/2 months.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked him to get help. And he is always in full agreement in the moment (usually crying or feeling bad) but then a few days go by, a week, etc and there is no change in his habits. I’ve even provided him a list of therapists in the area and he has done zero outreach.
Anyway, I’ve been having a shit couple of weeks and feeling bad about myself because I’m now not having my needs met in this relationship (sexual and emotional support) because he gets stressed if I bring up any sort of negativity or concerns and shuts down/closes me out.
I’ve loved him for so long but I can only do so much and it’s infuriating trying to help someone who doesn’t want to change. And he’s openly told me he knows he’s treating me badly lately/neglecting me but there’s nothing he can do about it eye roll

So this past weekend MIL came to our home even though we've been NC for a few months. She demanded to see "her" kids and tried to go get them from their room but they were napping. To clear up some things and answer some questions, when this happened we did call the cops but since it was a he said/she said deal, they couldn't do anything. She didn't physically harm us and there was no tangible proof that she had intent on taking the kids because she claimed she "asked permission". We did order cameras right after the crap with the cop and they will be delivered tomorrow.
So that leads us to today. We called the schools on Monday and told them no one can pick up the kids off the bus or at school other than DH or myself. We got a call today, basically double checking so we're unsure if that was because MIL tried something or if they were indeed double checking. I have seen her car parked up the street from the bus stop Monday and this morning. Called the cops each time however she's technically not doing anything wrong. I'm pretty sure I've seen her car outside in the afternoons as well. DH starts work tomorrow because he works a Wed-Sat schedule so I am nervous to be home alone because I feel like that might be what she's waiting for.
I know she reached out to my mother to try to talk to her but me and my mother don't get along so from what my sister said my mom just said "F#k you and you're stupid drama. Not my problem." and then hung up on her. SIL has reached out because she's still talks to her but said she really doesn't want to get into it.
I told DH that something must be up with her because again, seemingly out of no where she just flipped off the handle. I asked DH to reach out to an acquaintance, who used to be a close friend until she started sleeping with him (he's DH's age) but he said she's been down at the bar hanging out with people. I guess she's been drinking again. She blames me and how I took her kids from her? SIL was NC when I got together with DH but has since tried to mend fences. So I don't see how it's my problem.
Anyways that's what's currently happening. Not too climatic but disappointing. I'll update if anything else happens.

i (19f) have 2 older sisters amy (28f) and steph (26f) i was recently laid off from my job at the end of march and have been struggling with trying to find a new one and one who will work with my school availability i’m a full time college student ever since my sisters found out about me being laid off they’ve been trying to get me to watch my nieces and nephews amy has 2 kids and steph also has 2 amy works 3 days a week night shift and steph works days she’s usually home by 4 so during the day amy will ask me to watch the kids because she either has made appointments to get her body contouring done or she’s getting fat dissolving and when i say no because i either have an interview or i have classes she catches and attitude with me and usually i can handle it whatever and then steph will ask me to watch the kids from 4- 8 so she can unwind after she gets home because work tires her out she sits at as a desk all day answering emails i also say no because my last class ends at 6 and i commute so it takes about 45- 1 hour to drive back home and she too catches an attitude
so over the past few weeks steph and amy have been asking me to watch their kids because they either made plans and have no child care or they bought tickets to a baseball game or they’re going to music festivals etc and they ask me the day of so i told them they can’t ask me to watch them the day off because they know i have school and im not out until 6 they stated yelling at me stating that im unemployed and it’s my duty as an aunt to step up and watch them because i don’t know how tiresome motherhood can be and im not doing my duty as their sister to help them out with my nieces and nephews i let them go on their 30 minute tangent before stating its not my job to drop everything im doing to watch them last minute as much as i love them i am not their parent and its not my fault they buy tickets to things or make plans without figuring out childcare first that should be the first thing they worry about before making any type of commit to things because they’re acting like irresponsible mothers.
And that did not go over well the minute that came out of my mouth they started screaming at me and i mean screaming at me saying how dare i say that to them that once again i don’t know what it’s like to raise a child and how i can take a toll on them and sometimes they just need time to unwind and relax and i stated they can do that they act like their children don’t have active fathers in their lives their dads can watch them while you guys relax or whatever you guys wants to do and they said they should be able to depend on me for everything regarding their kids because im their aunt and that i should i drop everything im doing to care for them
I said once again it is not my job to drop everything im doing to babysit because you guys want to go to a restaurant and drink margaritas they chose to have kids so they have to care for them and not depend on other people to watch them whenever they want they ended up storming out of the house and calling my parents and our other siblings telling me that i said i don’t care about my nieces and nephews and that i called them horrible mothers and that i said they shouldn’t have had children so now my mom is saying im an asshole for not my helping sisters out and that i wouldn’t know what it’s like because im not a mom my dad brother and younger sister are on my side saying im not in the wrong so AITA?

Hi all, currently going through the BI with the USSS STAR 2024- I’ve gotten BQA 2 years ago after my security interview and now that I passed my security,Poly, Medical and home interview so worried that I’ll get BQA after all of that. The BQA still haunts me till this day so I’m just so worried that they can and do BQA at this end of process. If anyone has experience or info about this please share and let me know.
My background is clean no drugs,no alcohol, some travel abroad, duel citizenship but I mentioned that I’ll renounce it, 9 foreign contacts but they don’t have any government jobs and most of them under the age of 21 because they’re my cousins. My reference and employers have been contacted already and all say good things expect for 1 job. Is this going to be a problem? I want to reach out to the investigator to explain the discrepancy because he didn’t mention anything about the job that gave me a bad review but when I reached out to my FO to check on the status they mentioned that if HQ has questions they will reach out. Is that too late to explain the discrepancy to my investigator or since he didn’t contact me he doesn’t think it’s a deal breaker? Thank you so much!!

Hey everyone,
I've noticed some folks worrying about not brushing teeth with braces, so I wanted to help out with some simple tips. Taking care of your teeth when you have braces is super important to keep them healthy and avoid problems later on. Here's what you can do:

Know the Dangers

• Tooth Decay
• Gum Disease
• Bad Breath
• Staining
• White Spots
• Orthodontic Complications
• Overall Health Risks

Make a Routine

Brush and floss every day, twice a day. Use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste, and take your time to clean around your braces really well.

Take Your Time

It might take a bit longer to brush with braces, but don't rush it. Make sure you clean every tooth and around each brace carefully.

Get the Right Tools

• Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
• Orthodontic Toothbrush
• Interdental Brushes
• Floss Threader
• Orthodontic Floss
• Water Flosser
• Fluoride Toothpaste

Watch What You Eat

1. Hard Foods:
   • Hard candies
   • Nuts
   • Ice cubes
   • Popcorn kernels
   • Hard pretzels
   • Corn on the cob (unless cut off the cob)
2. Sticky or Chewy Foods:
   • Caramel
   • Taffy
   • Chewy candies
   • Gum
   • Sticky snacks like dried fruit or fruit roll-ups
3. Crunchy Foods:
   • Chips
   • Hard taco shells
   • Hard bread crusts
   • Crispy crackers
4. Sugary Foods and Beverages:
   • Soda
   • Sugary drinks
   • Candy
   • Sweetened snacks
   • Sugary desserts like cake or cookies
5. Tough Meats:
   • Tough cuts of meat that require a lot of chewing
   • Jerky
6. Chewy Breads and Bagels:
   • Bagels
   • Tough or chewy bread crusts
7. Foods that Require Biting with Front Teeth:
   • Apples (unless cut into small pieces)
   • Carrots (unless cooked or shredded)
   • Raw vegetables that require biting into with front teeth

See Your Dentist

Don't miss your regular dental check-ups. Your dentist can help keep an eye on your teeth and give you more tips for taking care of them with braces.

Know the Risks

Skipping brushing with braces can lead to tooth decay, gum problems, and even smelly breath.
Remember, keeping your teeth clean with braces is super important for a healthy smile. Follow these tips, and you'll keep your teeth in great shape during your braces adventure!
Feel free to share any tips or questions in the comments below! Let's help each other out. 😊🦷
To learn more about not brushing teeth with braces visit my website here

wow. it’s been over a year since i posted and i figured i would provide a little update for later me and anyone who cares. i had just enrolled in my dream school at what i thought was my dream career(teaching). that school turned out to be a nightmare that fucked me over financially and wouldn’t help me when help was requested. i had some of the worst professors who couldn’t give a fuck less about any of the students. i also just went through some of the worst experiences of my life. i was struggling heavily with alcoholism and nicotine addiction at the beginning of college and i wouldn’t stop. then i got roofied and SA’ed at a frat party and my friends had not a clue where i was at. that was my wake up call, waking up and realizing i probably could have died that night, i dropped out of college after my first semester and started doing the work on myself. unpacking and sitting with my childhood trauma is one of the hardest things i have ever done, and im still working on it. im doing a lot better now though. in going through my trauma, i realized i was pushed in a direction and followed. i never really wanted to be a teacher. i have always loved doing hair and makeup though. so, i am back in trade school for the next year to get my cosmetology license. hopefully i can move to new york and open my very own salon. if there’s anything to get from this (besides if you are a teenager don’t do what i did), it would be that anyone can turn their life around and make it what you want it to be. im so genuinely happy to finally break the cycle and do what actually makes me happy. now that i have experienced genuine happiness, i don’t ever want to look back. thank you so much if you have read this far!
TLDR: college was shit and im making something of myself now

I’ve seen many people posting about how they now have an aversion to alcohol, and I’ve read that there is research supporting Wegovey aiding in sobriety. I was wondering for those of you that have experienced this, was it a gradual thing, was it at a certain dose, or was it just immediately, off-the-bat? I just started 1mg a week ago after a few months on .5 and the thought of it seems to be much more repulsive this week than last week. I’d love to cut it out completely, but I still find myself wanting a drink or three on Friday nights. Thanks for any input!

I’m seeking what I think everyone else is seeking, a solid genuine connection. I’m easy going, I’m driven. And I’m also someone who can’t sit still. I’m high energy and very much always on the go. I give effort and I expect effort back. I’m looking for a solid connection that grows over time. I would love to meet someone who also double texts or doesn’t mind them and doesn’t hate on everything. Who knows this may not even last past this evening but it’s worth a go.
A few weird but fun facts about me if the above appeals.

• I love live music. At this point I’ve been to well over 200 concerts/shows/gigs and a couple festivals. My music taste is broad, I’m all over the board. I find I can relate to most in music tastes. If you also love music, I’d love to hear about the best concert you’ve been to!
  
• I love craft beer and good wine - but I’ll never turn down a Budweiser or a Rainier, I believe all alcohol has its time and place. My craft beer of choice are IPAs - any kind!
  
• I’m a creature of habit. I hit the gym most days of the week. I can lift heavy and I can keep up in my classes I take. But I by no means appear to be a gym rat. I’m a big girl with a bigger personality. (Hint hint I’m a lil Chubby).
  
• In high school I was voted most likely to stalk to a baseball player - I’ve yet to do it. But if that doesn’t say sports fan, what does. I keep up mainly with the MLB and NFL but would love to get into hockey. Let’s get pick on each others sport team choices?
  
• I’m a dive bar girl. If I hear Tom Petty and the bartender allows it, I’ll get on the bar and give you the worst concert of your life. I cannot stand the crowds of clubs but would gladly dance with you under a lit up beer sign, in a dimly lit bar. Poorly, but that’s not the point here.
  

Some things I don’t enjoy: video games and anime - 0 interest. Enjoy as you may, I don’t have any interest discussing these topics.
Here is a photo of me: https://imgur.com/a/zRHIu54 Im obviously on the chubby side. No where did I just say I think I’m ugly or lack confidence- I just said I’m chubby. I will however say that attraction goes both ways. I don’t have a type, but I do want to see a photo early on to know who I’m speaking with.
Chats my preferred method. I’ll move to other platforms IF/WHEN we’re comfortable. My age preference is ~27-44ish, I’m flexible.

I’m seeking what I think everyone else is seeking, a solid genuine connection. I’m easy going, I’m driven. And I’m also someone who can’t sit still. I’m high energy and very much always on the go. I give effort and I expect effort back. I’m looking for a solid connection that grows over time. I would love to meet someone who also double texts or doesn’t mind them and doesn’t hate on everything. Who knows this may not even last past this evening but it’s worth a go.
A few weird but fun facts about me if the above appeals.

• I love live music. At this point I’ve been to well over 200 concerts/shows/gigs and a couple festivals. My music taste is broad, I’m all over the board. I find I can relate to most in music tastes. If you also love music, I’d love to hear about the best concert you’ve been to!
  
• I love craft beer and good wine - but I’ll never turn down a Budweiser or a Rainier, I believe all alcohol has its time and place. My craft beer of choice are IPAs - any kind!
  
• I’m a creature of habit. I hit the gym most days of the week. I can lift heavy and I can keep up in my classes I take. But I by no means appear to be a gym rat. I’m a big girl with a bigger personality. (Hint hint I’m a lil Chubby).
  
• In high school I was voted most likely to stalk to a baseball player - I’ve yet to do it. But if that doesn’t say sports fan, what does. I keep up mainly with the MLB and NFL but would love to get into hockey. Let’s get pick on each others sport team choices?
  
• I’m a dive bar girl. If I hear Tom Petty and the bartender allows it, I’ll get on the bar and give you the worst concert of your life. I cannot stand the crowds of clubs but would gladly dance with you under a lit up beer sign, in a dimly lit bar. Poorly, but that’s not the point here.
  

Some things I don’t enjoy: video games and anime - 0 interest. Enjoy as you may, I don’t have any interest discussing these topics.
Here is a photo of me: https://imgur.com/a/zRHIu54 Im obviously on the chubby side. No where did I just say I think I’m ugly or lack confidence- I just said I’m chubby. I will however say that attraction goes both ways. I don’t have a type, but I do want to see a photo early on to know who I’m speaking with.
Chats my preferred method. I’ll move to other platforms IF/WHEN we’re comfortable. My age preference is ~30-44ish, I’m flexible.

Hey everyone. I wrote this a while ago and never did anything with it. Just seeing what other people think, and if it's worth continuing.
The black Monte Carlo sped north on Third, passing Pike Street and slowing down before hitting Pine Street. The sidewalks were littered with detritus, both the organic and inorganic varieties. It was hard to distinguish between the piles of trash and the drug addicts huddled under their blankets, sitting on the sidewalk, waiting for someone to give them money or someone to sell them drugs. The car slowed even more as they saw a prospective customer. It was a black car with blacked out windows. 22 inch low profile tires, mag rims. It passed Pine, drove another block and hung a right onto Stewart.
Astrid twisted the throttle of her bike to keep the car in sight. She’d been tailing it for half an hour, ever since it had stopped at Jenny’s house. Astrid knew exactly why it had been there, and she wasn’t happy about it at all. Jenny had spent a long time getting clean, getting off the street. Building a life that didn’t involve drugs or selling herself at the whim of some pimp. When Jenny had called Astrid in tears, it took everything she had not to run over there and be the comforting shoulder. But sometimes you needed to take a different tact, and Jenny had shoulders aplenty to cry on. The punks in the car had leaned on Jenny, trying to get her back in the business. They thought they could intimidate her into compliance. Nobody knew how the punks had gotten her info, but there they were, big as life and twice as ugly. Astrid had gotten a description of the punks and their car, and caught up to them as they made their way down Broadway on Capitol Hill, and then down University Street to downtown Seattle. There was enough light from streetlights and buildings that Astrid reached down and flicked a switch that turned her headlights off. It had cost a bit of money to have that installed. It made the matte-black bike almost invisible at night. Couple that with some very expensive exhaust that muted the bike into almost complete silence, and if you weren’t looking at her you wouldn’t notice that she was riding by. Which also made it a lot more dangerous to be riding at night, but what Astrid wanted to do required at least a little bit of surprise. That made it worth the risk.
The car turned right again on 5^th Avenue and made a circle to come back to Third. Astrid knew they wouldn’t get out of the car to do their deals. That made her job a bit more difficult, but still possible. She copied their turn and hung back a bit, letting them find their spot. The car slowed more and pulled over to the curb. A few of the vagrants got up and stumbled over to the passenger window, where transactions were made, some silent, some not so much. There was little fear of any cops doing anything. The Seattle PD had been neutered for some years, and now the drug dealers, addicts and various other flavor of criminals ruled the streets.
Astrid pulled her bike to the curb behind the Monte Carlo and turned it off. She doubted anyone could find the start button since she had it moved, but there was no need to tempt anyone with a running engine. She walked quietly up the driver’s side of the car. Her black leathers and black helment left her as a silhouette on shadow. The driver’s window was down, and the smell of marijuana smoke made her nose wrinkle. The people in the car were focused on the vagrant who was haggling for more of whatever they were selling, and she was able to walk up to the driver’s window without anyone even noticing she was there. As she walked she pulled her silenced Walther P22 from her jacket. People can laugh at the 22 Long Rifle all they want. Pea shooter. Not a real bullet. Get a real gun. Whatever. That little bullet came out humming, and at close range she didn’t need a bigger gun. It wasn’t going to bounce off a human skull when it was fired from six inches away, it was going in nice and deep.
The man in the driver’s seat managed to notice that someone was at his window about a second before Astrid pulled the trigger.
People who have only seen guns in movies tend to think that a silenced firearm just makes a little “pff” noise when it’s fired. That’s not the case. There’s still an explosion going on in your hand, and that explosion makes noise. Especially in a semi-automatic firearm, where the slide cycles back to eject the spent casing. Noise escapes. Noise escapes from the silencer as well, it’s just not as loud. Anyone who’s aware and alert would know that a gun had just been fired. With a super-sonic round, there’s also the “crack” of the bullet traveling through the air above the speed of sound, but when your target is six inches away from the muzzle that’s less of an issue.
The driver had not been aware, nor alert. He was now slumped in his seat, eyes opened wide in an astonished stare as his brain functions ceased thanks to a 40 grain bullet traveling at 1260 feet per second. The passenger, bags of drugs still in his hand, was now aware but not alert. Either he was too stoned to know what had just happened, or the years of drug use made his brain operate slower than it normally would. He stared as Astrid shifted her aim and pulled the trigger again.
Funny thing about silencers – they take some time to warm up. The hot gasses pushing the bullet down the barrel get into the baffles of the silencer and make the next shots even less noisy. There’s still noise, and again, if someone were aware and alert they would know that a gun had just been fired. The passenger slumped sideways in his seat as the bullet hit him dead center on the side of his head. The vagrant who had been hassling him for drugs gaped, looking over the roof of the car at Astrid. He blinked, trying to process what he had seen, and Astrid wondered if she would have to take him out as well. He looked down at the dead drug dealer, then reached into the car and grabbed as many little baggies as he could before hauling ass down the sidewalk.
Astrid walked back to her bike, stomach clenching. She grit her teeth against the urge to vomit as she threw her leg over the seat and fired the engine to life. She pulled away from the curb and drove two blocks before turning her headlights on. She turned right onto Cedar Street, then continued on to Fifth Avenue North, driving past the gleaming metal shell of the Experience Music Project. She made it to Mercer Street before she had to pull over and rip her helmet off, then proceeded to vomit into the grass next to the sidewalk. Nobody bothered to give her a second look. Some lady puking her guts out? Just another druggie in downtown Seattle. Nothing to see here. In the midst of her vomit session a tiny thought in the back of her head wondered if she could find a modular helmet so she wouldn’t have to take the entire helmet off when she puked. She would have giggled if she wasn’t throwing up.
Once she’d emptied the contents of her stomach on the grass she put her helmet back on and rolled through the stoplight, turning right onto Mercer and taking a zig-zag route back to her house. She altered her speed several times, slowing down and then speeding up and making sharp turns to see if she was being followed. There wasn’t a tail in sight and it was doubtful there would be. She desperately needed a drink to get the taste out of her mouth. Her stomach rolled again, and she gagged before managing to get her body under control. As she rode under the Highway 99 overpass, she could feel the tears rolling down her face. Again. The one action of her body that she could never seem to control. But she was working on it.

I got a boyfriend, and we had sex yesterday. It was incredible, not going to lie. We’re going to do it again next week. He was my first, and I want us to have a safe, healthy, and great experience moving forward. I was wondering if you guys had any tips on proper hygiene, foods, drinks, or anything else we need to make sex a safe and healthy experience.
Do you have any recommendations on things that make sex better or things we should avoid doing? Also, do you have any tips for what to do after sex? Anything that pops into your mind? I can also answer questions if that helps people.
Yesterday, we had sex, went to shower, laid down for a bit, and then walked to Wendy’s. Before sex, we showered and cleaned our areas. We also didn’t eat anything at all until after sex.
Last, do you have any tips on how to limit the noise? His brother came home, and we’re pretty sure he heard us.

Not of sobriety, yet.
Around this time last year, I found and joined this community. It’s crazy how fast a year went.
I haven’t been sober for a year, not even close actually, but this sub has always been a lifeline for me, every time i needed to start Day One again.
I recently spiraled pretty hard over Mother’s Day weekend and I finally feel done with alcohol. I’m truly just tired of it.
I know that not drinking is probably going to change quite a few of my relationships, but I’m trying not to let the idea of change work against me here. Every day i don’t drink is one step closer to the person i know i’m meant to be. Hopefully I can take you all on the ride.

My husband (M34) is an alcoholic. He goes through these cycles of being dry for a few months, then deciding to only drink on “special occasions” or “holidays”, which then escalates to a drink or two with dinner, to buying several six packs and getting drunk while being the sole caretaker of our toddler, to lying and insulting me and screaming when being confronted. This has happened 5-6 times now. Last time, I had a doctors appointment to go to so he took off of work to watch our son. In the span bb of 1.5 hrs he drank 4 tall ones and then drove to come get me with our child in the car. I know I shouldn’t have confronted him during but I was so damn angry that he put our son at risk I kept asking what he had to drink. He kept lying and arguing and insulting and finally I’d had enough and said we were leaving for a day or two. He then grabbed me by the neck. He didn’t choke me but later claimed it was because I wouldn’t listen to what he was trying to say. I left anyways and came back several days later after talking. He’s agreed to go fully dry forever. It’s been about 2.5 months since then. I have so much anxiety now. Around drinking. Around being around other people drinking. Sometimes I forget and then I’ll look at him in a loving way and suddenly I’ll remember the way his face looked and the words he said to me. I’d be lying if I said I fully trust him with our son. My 21st birthday is coming up and i can’t even have one drink. How can I trust him again? He won’t go to AA bc he works 60hrs a week and barely has time for us or himself. Idk. I just want my husband back.

Hi, just looking for some advice on what to expect here. Or to hear experiences from people who had a similar situation.
I’m 30 years old and have zero record. I never once have even been pulled over, and never faulted for an accident. Last Friday I was stopped (Clermont county) for speeding around 2:40am, 78 in a 65. The officer immediately said he smelled marijuana and asked me to step out of the car. He never asked to search my car, or found any marijuana. Because I have back issues and see a chiropractor weekly for sciatica I refused to walk a straight line or stand on one leg. When the officer said he smelled alcohol I informed him I was on my way home from a hookup where I performed oral sex and used an antiseptic mouth rinse right before leaving. I was arrested and taken to the station where I refused a breathalyzer, stating I was worried of the effects of the mouthwash since he said he could smell it. By this point it had already been established I have a severe anxiety disorder for which I take medication daily and was on the verge of a panic attack. Honestly looking back I wish I had blown, but I was so anxious, especially never having had any sort of contact like this with police. I just sort of shut down. After the officer finished his paperwork he even gave me a ride home.
I have an arraignment in 3 days. I can not afford an attorney. I make about $30k a year, but after rent/bills I basically live hand to mouth. I don’t know if I make too much for a public defender. As of right now my license is suspended for a year because I refused to blow. What do I expect at the arraignment? Do I just go plead not guilty, and then the court will start the process of assigning an attorney? Any chance this could be dropped since there’s very little proof (aside from the officer saying there was an odor and my eyes were watery and bloodshot- at this point I had been awake nearly 20 hours)? What about privileges to drive to work? Is that something that can be discussed Friday, or do you have to wait a certain amount of time? Really any info is welcome. I have all the questions 😞

Hi all,
I am hoping for advice on rainwater harvesting and water filtration system for a house, I have done some reading but just want to check I have all my bases covered.
Context: New house build, Bellingen NSW (1,500mm annual rainfall), tank water only, rural property, no trees above house location (at this stage), roof size: circa 300sqm
Proposed storage:

• 90,000L in-ground concrete tank, next to the house
• Pipes underground but hopefully the can still be a "dry system" so no standing water in the pipes if the tank is underground, can this work?
• Is that enough storage for a family of 4 that have all previously lived on an "endless" supply of town water?

Filtration proposal:

• Goal: whole of house water filtration from tank
• Leafeater: Example (I have no idea what the difference is between options on this website, but I assume this will work)
• First flush diverter: Example (Again, I don't know the differences here, or whether this will be sufficient) - I am also not sure how this works with a large roof and underground pipes flowing to the tank), do I need more than one?
• Filter: FSA Triple Whole House looks decent
• Gutter guard: Do I need one of these as well? Does it double up with the leaf eater and create additional maintenance burden? Should I install it anyway and it can double up as bushfire protection? I don't want to spend on unnecessary additions.
• Budget: not set, whatever it costs to have clean drinking water without wasteful spending

​
Thank you in advance, I really appreciate any feedback and guidance.

What’s up everyone! I responded to a comment about this a few days back, but thought it would be good as its own post. I attended GoFest NYC last year and here is an updated list of what to bring. Keep in mind I left my air bnb in the morning and didn’t come back until the end of the day.
In my backpack:
Portable Chargers! - Yes, bring multiple! Can’t stress that enough. This obviously depends how powerful yours is, but I would go through 1.5-2 per day last year. I personally recommend anything by Anker.
Snacks / Water - Personally I just kept some granola / energy bars in my bag. I’d frequently stop at 7/11 and CVS to stock up on drinks and such. I found it annoying to fill up the bag with tons of waters before I left as it’s just adding unnecessary weight to your back the whole day. - BEFORE YOU GO TO RANDALL’S ISLAND: load up on snacks. The food trucks there were expensive and the lines were long! Eat a big meal before heading over there.
Small Umbrella - If you own a small and light umbrella, it definitely came in handy as there isn’t a whole lot of shade in certain parts of the city.
Go + + - DO NOT use the auto catching feature if the device is new to you. I lost many shinies last year because of it. Just use it to spin stops to keep items stocked!
Clothing
GOOD SUPPORTIVE SHOES - Also cannot stress this enough. I walked over 150 KM’s last year and my feet were blistered top to bottom. Highly recommend getting a good running or walking shoe (New Balance makes good ones). I’d also look into pairs of anti blister socks.
Bucket Hat - Keeps the sun out of your eyes. Perfect for long days in the sun!
Sun Glasses / Sun Screen - self explanatory 😎
Hope this helps!