As the title suggests, I was listening to a famous Italian YouTuber in the car today who made this statement:
"I'm experimenting with this thing with my little son (around 10 years old), when he receives Christmas presents or presents for other holidays from various grandparents and aunts, to get him used to the basics of personal finance and make him understand savings and investment, I make him the proposal to make a bond with me."
"In other words, I tell him that if he deposits the money he receives from me for a certain period of time, I will give him monthly interest on the fact that I hold it."
In the end, he said that the first time he used this technique he lasted a month and then wanted his money back, he said "maybe he didn't trust the issuer's reliability."
The second time he said that he has been able to resist for a few months now.
Do you think this can be a good approach to teach the basics of personal finance, saving and knowing how to wait leads to a greater reward than wanting everything right away?
We are surrounded by parents who fill their children with things and never make them really want anything, lowering the expectation and desire to get something they really want and reducing the pursuit of 'goals'.
I still don't have a definite position on this, I think this type of approach is fine a little later on, not exactly when they are little.
However, I think it's good not to fill them up with a mountain of useless toys and things from an early age. Maybe buy nicer and better quality things but at less frequent intervals and make them really want something. (As was done with me, since I was little), too bad my parents weren't the best at saving and investing, but whatever.
What do you think?
Have you ever experimented with this type of approach with your children?
Or did your parents teach you things like this and with what method???
What do you think is a good age to start laying the foundations of personal finance?
I hope that this post can be a starting point for some interesting thoughts and reflections.
Ps. Anyway, I'm definitely of the position that we shouldn't talk about it too much (I don't really agree with the YouTuber's method), their priorities should be other than little ones they should think about being little without too many thoughts, teach good principles and let them express themselves at their best, as teenagers you can start to make them understand the basics of personal finance and prepare them for when they are older, surely setting a good example can pay off.

I do not need a ten dollar drink. Even though I really want one, I do not need to spend my money on a drink that is basically tasteless. I don't need to go out and buy a cheaper alternative either. Just go to the fridge and grab a Mountain Dew. They're almost the same as a health infused tea. (this is what I'm telling myself right now) (I really want a tea bomb but I'm trying to save money)

I’ve taken multiple antibiotics and Fluconazole/Diflucan buy my symptoms would come back in just a matter of a few days. When I first sought out treatment, I was unaware of how important it is to take probiotics and didn't know that we need Lactobacillus bacteria the vagina. However, once I learned the important of probiotics, I started with the Nature's Bounty probiotic tablets that have 100 million CFU. They help my gut health a bit but weren’t enough to combat the infections, also the only have one strain and for vaginal health we need multiple strains to obtain optimal health.
-Probiotics I recommend are: Renew Life Womens Probiotics, Double Wood Vaginal Probiotics (oral supplement and contains L. Crispatus).
Next helpful thing was the Candida diet which tells you to refrain from all forms of sugar including fruits and carbohydrates. Carbs were something I didn’t expect to be a contributor with an active yeast infection but the convert into sugar during digestion. Candida feeds on sugar I cut out white bread completely and minimized consuming flour-based foods and started to consume antifungal foods like garlic, onion, cinnamon, and coconut oil to name a few.
Lastly, I looked into treatments to combat the infections directly. Intravaginal prescribed medications were effective when I used them, but the infections came back a few days after use. Then I learned that I shouldn’t use medications that much because I can develop an antibiotic resistance which isn’t good. I then looked into alternative treatments and saw that many women found boric acid to be very effective. I have found boric acid to be effective and gives me a “fully cleaned out” feeling due to its antiseptic capabilities.
-Boric Acid suppositories I recommend: NewLife Naturals 60 Capsules, Double Wood 60 Capsules, My Frenemy Flora 40 Capsules (Also contains PROBIOTICS).
Lastly, I used a supplement called Monolaurin which a coconut derived antimicrobial and helps reduce pathogens in the body.
For anyone dealing with a stubborn infection or recurring infections please note that you should work on a treatment plan to follow for at least 3 months. You don’t have to do so but you want to make sure that you have successfully treated the issue and helped your body get back on track. I hope some of the things I mentioned help you guys the way they’ve helped me.

1. Corn - Almost all corn, specifically in the US and Canada is produced by Monsanto seed. This is a man-made corn, which has been genetically modified and/or is a hybrid corn. It’s been processed. This corn was specifically developed by Monsanto to be fed to cows for them to put on fat quickly and grow fast. The more corn you eat, the fatter you get. It’s not the original, as nature intended it to be food. It causes allergic reactions to all degrees. Avoid anything with the word corn in it “Corn syrup solids”, “high fructose corn syrup”, “cornflower”, “corn starch”, “cornflakes”, etc. Look at the ingredients, if it has the word corn then avoid it. Monsanto is an American agricultural biotechnology and agrochemical company that was founded in 1901 by John Francis Queeny in St. Louis, Missouri. The company's products include glyphosate herbicides, crop seeds, and vegetables. Monsanto is best known for its herbicide Roundup, which is based on glyphosate. The company also produces genetically modified seeds, such as those that can tolerate glyphosate, which kills weeds without affecting the crop. What happened to Monsanto? Ethical Consumer
2. Artificial Sweeteners - 2 main ones: Aspartame(nutrasweet) & Sucralose. Stay away from these two. These are found in diet sodas. These fall into a category called exito-toxins. They are chemically addictive. It’s the “new crack”. It affects the neuro-transmitter activity and the serotonin levels in your brain. This means these artificial sweeteners make you anxious, stressed, and depressed. They are in any diet product. If you see “no sugar”, it may be a marketing ploy - they want to convince you it has lower calories and some type of artificial sweetener. You find these. The actual foods or drinks taste horrible, but the aspartame and sucralose make it taste better. Fast food study
   
3. Pork - A pig will eat anything. Scientists now know that whatever the pig eats turns to meat on its bones. The meat you eat puts toxicity in your body.
   
4. Shellfish - More people get sick and/or die from eating “bad” shellfish than any other food group. Many people are also allergic to it more than any other food group. Shellfish isn't just a fish that comes in a shell like a scallop, mussel, lobster, clam, crab. It’s any fish in water that does not have scales and fins. Stay away from anything that comes out of the water with no scales and fins. Catfish has fins but no scales, stay away. Squid/Octopus stay away from. These non-scale/fin animals are called “filters”. They absorb whatever toxins that are in the water and they keep that in their flesh, which is eaten. This is also the law of kashra, the kosher laws - pork and shellfish fall into the kosher law category. It states that you can eat anything on the ground that has a split hoof and chews to cut. Which is why you don’t eat pork. Also, don’t eat anything that doesn’t have a split hoof and chews to cut like a bear(has a paw). States you should eat fish with fins and scales. The Kashrut Laws
   
5. Hydrogenated Oils (Trans fats) - Look on the label. It says hydrogenated oil. These scar your arteries and lead to heart attack. It messes with hormones and affects sleep. Makes you hungrier and fatter. Affects immune system.
   
6. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) - Buy foods that say no GMO’s. The majority of the ingredients have not been modified. With GMO, foods are modified.
   
7. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - Falls into the same category as artificial sweeteners, it is an exito-toxin. Messes with neuro-transmitter activity, makes you hungrier, makes you thirsty, makes the body store extra fluid in fat cells making you gain weight, bloady, and fat. It increases fat cells and makes them bigger. KFC, Taco Bell, etc all have this.
   
8. Wheat - If you live in Italy, this doesn't apply. Youdon’t want wheat that's come from Canada or USA because it's only been fermented for 48 hours. This is tough because how can you determine that? Duran-wheat means it's from Italy. This is trustworthy. If you can reduce the amount of wheat you consume, you’ll be better off because the majority of wheat hasn't been fermented for 48 hours. Its high gluten wheat, causes types of gas, bloating, allergic reactions, weight gain, etc. Make sure all your pasta comes from Italy (Organic product of Italy). If you make your own pasta, buy flour from italy. Same goes for bread in USA.
   
9. Soy - All over the world. Almost all soy now comes from Monsanto seed. It’s been genetically modified and causes all types of intestinal problems and reduces testosterone. Same with corn, soy is everywhere - “soybean oil”. Soy-bean oil is very cheap. Even if it’s organic,it can still be genetically modified.
   
10. Corn-fed beef & anything dairy that doesn't come from grass fed cows - Stay away from homogenized dairy. Cows eat grass. But in the industry, cows are fed Monsanto genetically altered corn to make them fat and get them to the supermarket quicker. Cows don't eat grain in real life, they eat grass. When a cat is fed corn and grain it will get fatter faster. In the commercial feed that's fed to cows, there is ground up dead cows, horses, other animals that were so diseased they couldn't be put into the food chain. But they'll feed it to a cow which is supposed to be a vegetarian only eating grass. This cow gets diseased as well. Those animals were injected with bovine growth hormones and massive amounts of antibiotics. When you eat beef, your testost. score goes down, you put your body in toxic shock, because of the growth hormone, which makes you fatter. These beefs don't have much CLA which is the acid in the beef that increases testosterone. Buy 100% organic grass fed beef and dairy. Buy raw cheese that comes from France or switzerland.
    

It’s going to be rocky today. Here is what I am doing (this is not financial advice):
Not check the charts or even this board every five seconds. My hands are diamonds but I am one anxious fuckin ape. My brain would freak out and make silly decisions if I’m glued to my screen waiting for these hedge fund dicks to manipulate the market. For my own sanity I choose to only check every couple hours.
Buy more of what I feel comfortable losing. When I do check, I won’t perceive drops as a bad thing. In fact, it’s good because this means I’m lowering my average cost. And when this thing fluctuates back up (which it will if we all hold out and dont give into scare tactics) I’ll have better returns.
Hold. Like most of you, I found out about this a bit late, so I bought in >$2 last week. Hence, I’m down overall. I only truly lossed if I sell at a loss. Why would I want to do that when I see the potential of this thing? I put in what I’m comfortable losing, so why not see this run through?
Stay within reality. A lot of over exaggeration, false promises, lack of real information on this board. Don’t get me wrong I love the hype and enthusiasm, it’s good fuel. However, lots a new folks on this run and those are likely the ones to get swayed the easiest (no offense, this was me a few years ago). Bottom line is trust your gut, and don’t believe everything you read, or feel pressured to do anything outside of your comfort zone.
Again, this isn’t financial advice. Just sharing something that might resonate with other folks. Ultimately we are stronger together, and if we hold out we are so much more likely squeeze this and say fuck you to the hedge fund fucks. Good luck today.

Education in Canada
Canada has long been a preferred destination for international students seeking a world-class education and a diverse, multicultural environment. With its stunning natural landscapes, welcoming communities, and high-quality educational institutions. Year after year, numerous global scholars opt for Canada as their study destination of choice. In this guide, we'll delve into the various aspects of students’ life in Canada, encompassing not only academics but also the vibrant lifestyle that accompanies it.
Quality Education
One of the primary reasons students flock to Canada is the exceptional quality of education offered by its universities and colleges. Canadian institutions are renowned for their academic excellence and rigorous standards. Whether you're pursuing a degree in engineering, business, or the arts, you'll find top-notch programs tailored to your interests.
Multicultural Environment
Canada's commitment to diversity is reflected in its educational institutions. Students from different cultural backgrounds and nationalities coexist harmoniously on campuses across the country. This multicultural environment not only enriches your academic experience but also broadens your horizons by exposing you to a wide range of perspectives.
Research Opportunities
Canada is a research powerhouse, and its universities are at the forefront of various fields. As a student, you'll have access to cutting-edge research opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities. Whether you're passionate about science, technology, or social sciences, Canada offers a platform for your academic growth.
Canadian Lifestyle
Safety and Security
Canada frequently ranks as one of the world's safest countries. This sense of security is particularly important for international students, as it allows you to focus on your studies and enjoy your time in Canada without unnecessary worries.
Natural Beauty
Canaa's beautiful landscapes are a constant source of wonder. From the Rocky Mountains in the west to the vibrant foliage of the east, the country offers a myriad of outdoor activities. Hiking, skiing, and exploring national parks become an integral part of your Canadian experience.
Cultural Diversity
Canada's cities are vibrant hubs of culture and entertainment. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and many other urban centers host a wide array of cultural festivals, events, and culinary experiences. You'll find international cuisine, art galleries, theaters, and live music venues to cater to your interests.
Work Opportunities
Co-op Programs
Canada boasts abundant employment opportunities for students. Canadian universities offer co-op programs that allow students to gain hands-on work experience related to their field of study. This not only enhances your resume but also helps cover your living expenses. These co-op programs are a valuable aspect of the Canadian student experience, blending academic learning with real-world application. By participating in these programs, students can lay the foundation for a successful future career while minimizing financial burdens.
Post-Graduation Work Permits
Canada offers generous post-graduation work permits to international students. These permits allow you to work in Canada for up to three years after completing your studies, providing a valuable transition into the Canadian workforce. This period not only facilitates a smooth transition into the Canadian job market but also serves as a significant step towards permanent residency.
Cost of Living
Affordable Education
In terms of educational expenses, Canada presents a competitive advantage. International tuition fees in Canada are competitive, and the cost of education is often more affordable than in many other English-speaking countries. Additionally, there are numerous scholarships in Canada for Indian Students and financial aid options available to help ease the financial burden. This affordability is one of the key reasons why Canada has emerged as a prime destination for international education, attracting students from around the world seeking quality education without excessive costs.
Living Costs
The cost of living varies depending on your location in Canada. Generally, smaller cities and towns have a lower cost of living compared to major metropolitan areas like Toronto and Vancouver. Proper budgeting and financial planning are essential for a comfortable student life in Canada.
Conclusion
In conclusion, studying in Canada offers a unique blend of academic excellence, cultural diversity, and a high quality of life. If you're considering pursuing your education in a welcoming, safe, and dynamic environment, Canada should be at the top of your list. Explore the adventure of studying in Canada and seize a world of opportunities that will shape your future.
Remember that assistance and guidance will be vital as you begin on this wonderful path. Eduland Immigration can help with this. We're with you every step of the way, from visa applications to settling into your new life. We will assist you in making your aspirations a reality by providing individual assistance and an in-depth understanding of Canadian immigration. Join the thousands of outstanding students who have made Eduland Immigration, the best Immigration Consultant in Chandigarh, their trusted partner in achieving academic achievement and a bright future in Canada.

I'm in a rural area where you could regularly buy land for 10-15k in 2015 and do minimal work to get it build ready.
Now everyone with a big enough side yard thinks they have a mountain of gold and want 60k for their lot that's in awful building condition.

As the title says, a friend of mine got asked to sleep with her Zonal manager to get promoted. The firm is Zee Learn. She has resigned from the job and is now currently unemployed. She is the only bread earner in her family and has to take care of her mother and younger brother. I'm posting this to ask what can be done in this scenario. I get the idea that this might really common at workplaces, but that doesn't make it right. There must be something that can be done to teach a lesson to cunts like them? It boils my blood to think that tomorrow my loved ones may also get traumatized like this. Everyone says POSH Act this and that, but money and connection buys them all. So what can be done? My friend has complained about it to the higher authorities, but it's not hard to picture that this won't do or change shit.
This is not the only time she has experienced something like this. The job she used to do earlier has also traumatized her like that. She was literally harrassed. Isn't there anything that can be done to change this? Or atleast punish those who think that any woman would sleep with them if they offer money?
Edit: Forgot to mention, she doesn't have a hand on her head, her and her family is all they have. I also suggested her to go to a lawyer but running back and forth to court with no guarantee of winning is not something she's ready to do.

Kadillac Kirk had been a good friend of mine for several years. I had met him through friends from The Spring Stage; and he never had anything to do with The Imp, which is why he didn’t appear in the Married Mary saga. Mary would have totally thrown herself at him, and Kirk would have definitely “thrown it in her.” He loved the ladies and often remarked that there was no such thing as an unappealing woman, nor was there anything sweeter than finding the pearl of passion in an outwardly plain dame. Fortunately for Kirk, he never met Mary. This was probably fortunate for Mary as well, seeing as Kirk was a confirmed bachelor and his rakish nature might have broken her fat heart.
Kirk was an older guy. Not MOE old, though. He was in his early forties, but he easily passed for a carefree dude in his 30s... not that he lied about his age. I only mention this trait to juxtapose Kirk’s genuine youthful air with Moe’s unconvincing youthful farce. Kirk dressed normally, avoided stupid jargon, and never busted out gimmicks like tarot cards or spells. He just existed, behaved affably, and people liked him for it.
He drove a classic 1962 Cadillac El Dorado convertible with red leather interior, and he lived in a charmingly quaint (and ridiculously expensive) neighborhood. How he made his fortune remained a mystery, but he never bloviated about his wealth. He just threw spectacular parties and people showed up. And, to my knowledge, he never tried to lure women into bed with his money (although I’m sure he got his fair share of boom-boom thanks to his digs and his wheels, even if the gold-diggers denied their monetary agendas).
Kirk was legitimately handsome. He was a drummer, he had a full head of black hair, he was clean-shaven, he worked out, and he knew all the hidden gems in Wellsprings. So why hadn’t I tried... or even desired to date him? I don’t know. I just didn’t feel drawn to him like that. He felt like a cool uncle and he had, thus far, never done anything to change my perception. Plus, the age difference weirded me out a little. Kirk didn’t look forty; but knowing that he had so much more life experience than I did created a power imbalance that would have creeped me out if we’d been dating. As buddies, I just felt supremely cool riding in his Cadillac, smoking Fantasia cigarettes, and hitting the speakeasies and jazz clubs I would have never known about if it weren’t for Kirk’s connections.
And he had been a good person to talk to about my romantic woes. He never lecherously suggested that I should date him, and he gave the type of tempered advice that only comes with lived experience. But he often lightly mocked me for my crush on Dennis and he did a hilarious impression of Smegal popping too soon over his “precious.” So when Mary “got me back” by doing whatever she did with to Dennis, I called Kadillac Kirk and told him the drinks were on me if he’d be my designated driver for the night.
Why hadn’t I called Whisky??? Well, A) Kirk was way more fun to hang out with, at least from my past experiences up to that point. And B) I needed to bitch about a boy, something I couldn’t do in good conscience in front of a guy I was dating. So I put on the sexiest plunging halter dress I owned, applied heavy eye makeup and spikey accessories, braved a pair of stilettos, and sashayed out to Kirk’s convertible. I felt like a badass rock star. I probably looked like a try-hard hooker.
Kirk: Daaaaay-um! Somebody really did do a number on you, huh? I know you said you were upset, but the gents are gonna be writing thank you notes to that fat girl and that butt-fucking hobbit.
Me: I just need to feel pretty and numb. And I trust you to keep me from making a fool of myself.
Kirk squeezed my shoulder. “I’ve got you. You do whatever you need to do to get rid of these demons.”
He sparked up a J and offered me the first puff. I gladly accepted. He took one puff of his own, but said that the rest was mine since he didn’t want to drive stoned. See? He was responsible! Weed wasn’t legal in California yet, so I got a little bit baked before I stashed the sativa in the glove box and wrapped a scarf around my hair like a starlet from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Kirk sped out of the parking lot and said he was taking me to a downtown hotel that was hosting a party that night in their lush lobby.
Kadillac Kirk pulled up to the main entrance, paid the valet, and then opened my door. I was wobbly from the weed. And I had stupidly decided to wear heels. You can get high or you can wear high (heels). You can’t have both. Not if you’ve repeatedly injured both ankles (as I have). I had to take Kirk’s arm to keep from keeling over. “Can people tell I’m stoned?” I whispered. Kirk replied, “Nobody’s paying any attention to anyone else’s intoxication. I promise you that much.” I nodded, steadied myself, and strutted alongside my very cool friend, feeling a little more confident.
A live jazz orchestra was playing Cole Porter as we entered the lobby. Everything sparkled. The music was even more intoxicating than the spliff had been. “Just One of Those Things” brought tears to my eyes since the lyrics hit every raw nerve regarding the Dennis debacle. But I smiled. It might sound mental, but being distraught over a trash fire of a one-sided romance was exhilarating. Immature, for sure. But also exhilarating. You see, that kind of sadness doesn’t hurt. Not really. It stings. It leaves little bruises, but it’s very safe to wallow in because you haven’t actually lost anything. Melancholia over that which you never had is as sweet as it is bitter; and that type of twisted splendor is rivaled only by Stendhal.
“Here's hoping we meet now and then. It was great fun, but it was just one of those things.” I sang along with the band, and a fat tear rolled down past my melancholic smile and onto my chin. Kirk brushed it aside. “Too close to home?” I wiped away the remnants of the tear’s journey from eye to chin and smiled a more genuine smile. “The perfect distance from home. Shall we get drinks? Remember, I’m buying.”
Kirk: No, no. This is your time to heal. And I’m here as your pal, not your chauffeur. What would the lady like?”
I pretended to barf. Kirk knew I hated it when he got overly formal and overly attentive. So he did it just to mess with me. “Shot of vodka,” I replied.
Kirk: How many?
I thought briefly. “FIVE.”
Kirk: Five to one, baby. One in five...
Me: No one here gets out alive.
Kirk: Are you able to hold yourself upright, or should you come with?
I took a seat on an ornate, damask-upholstered chaise lounge. “I’ll be okay. And I was kidding about the five shots.”
I sat there lost in the music for a while. I thought very little about Dennis. Even less about Mary. And not at all about Whisky (whom I had shagged less than a week ago). My mind danced through the ornate lighting in the hotel lobby, and I suddenly felt the need to join the hoity-toity guests on the dancefloor!
Kirk returned with four shots of vodka. Two for him, two for me. That was quite reasonable of him. He knew damn well that I couldn’t handle five shots, but he also knew that I was in a... state. One that called for more than a single shot. I raised a both miniature glasses to “No more ninnyhammers or hairy-footed lovers.” Kirk did his hilarious Smegal impression, we double-toasted, and downed the shots. The band launched into “Let’s Misbehave,” and I kicked off my stilettos and made a beeline for the dance floor.
“There’s something wild about you child that’s so contagious. Let’s be outrageous! Let’s misbehave.” Kadillac Kirk swept me up, twirled me around, and dipped me as we both sang along with the lyrics. I wasn’t swooning for him, but I was enthralled by the moment. The music, the dancing, the combination of booze and bud... so I kissed him as he pulled me back to my feet. And he kissed back. In a way that Dennis never had. In a way that Whisky’s beard wouldn’t permit. I didn’t feel the visceral sensations that I’d felt when Dennis had kissed me, but it felt nice to feel desired. And then I noticed that other guests were watching us and applauding. Now, that was a dopamine rush if ever there was one!
I gently broke away from the embrace, high-fived Kirk and returned to the chaise lounge to put my stupid shoes back on. He followed me and smashed his face back onto mine. I pulled away and laughed. “It was a moment,” I told him. “I appreciate the dance, and that kiss was the perfect finale. But it’s not happening again.”
Kirk: Not to worry, Valerie. I know you. I knew all along that we were performing, and I was more than happy to be your scene partner.
Me: And dance partner! Those were some excellent moves! I didn’t know you had ballroom training.
Kirk: You name it, I’ve mastered it. Another drink for the lady?
I pretended to barf again. “Not yet. I’m not sad right now. Do you mind if I just sit here and enjoy the music?”
Kirk: Ah. My kisses do have healing properties...
I flipped my hand up at him. “Knock that shit off, bro. I wanted to hang out with you because I trust you not to get weird. Even if I get weird, I know you have the maturity to balance me out.”
Kirk: Are you calling me old???
Me: No. I’m calling you rational, responsible, and respectful.
Kirk: Well, now. If you can articulate an alliterative statement that fluently, then you clearly aren’t drunk enough!
I dismissed this comment as a joke. And he did indeed knock off the flirtation. We had a perfectly pleasant time chatting and dancing (no more kissing, though). And then I noticed a girl I knew from Into the Woods entering the lobby. She’d played Florinda and I’d played Little Red. I called her name and waved enthusiastically. She waved back. And then her date entered. It was D.E.N.N.I.S. I sank into the chaise. Kirk caught on immediately. “The hobbit???” he asked. I nodded silently. “You wanna make out again?” he enthused. I shook my head. I had to go say hello to Flo. And I had an idea...
I crossed the lobby, smiled, squealed, and hugged her.
Florinda: Lil’ Red! It’s been forever! So glad to see you!!! This is my friend, Denny.
From the corner of my eye. I could see Dennis shifting uncomfortably. I refused to look directly at him, neglected to acknowledge Flo's introduction and continued to converse only with her. "So glad to see you, too! What have you been up to since we left the woods?"
Dennis: C’mon, Val...
Florinda (appearing oblivious to the iciness between me and Dennis): Oh, I had some drama after the show closed. I'll have to tell you about it some other time... Have you seen Prince Big Bad (Scumbanger) lately?
I laughed. “Last time I saw him, he was hitting on some nasty fat chick at The Imp.”
Flo and I both scoffed at the pervy pest. Into the Woods was where I’d initially met Scumbanger. He played The Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince. Again... typecasting. There’s a whole essay in my brain about my first encounter with the pest, during which he quoted the song that he sang to me in the show, “Hello, Little Girl.” But it gets into some pretty uncomfortable territory because he made me feel... excited. Well, excited and scared. Nothing of note happened during Into the Woods, but our odd interactions did kind of set the stage for some extremely regrettable events during that Cats cast party.
I excused myself, saying that I needed to get back to my friend. And then I leaned in and said in a hushed voice to Flo, “Watch your ass with that one. If he’s the Denny I’m thinking of...” I gave her a look that only another female would be able to read. Her eyebrows shot up and she nodded. Dennis continued to shift as though he were trying to hold in a massive dump. “BABE! Uh...”
Flo apparently answered to that moniker as well. “What is it, Denny? Don’t worry. That was just telepathic girl talk. You apparently have a reputation...”
Dennis: Different Denny. I assure you I’m a pious gentleman.
Me: Ah. My mistake. Well, then. You guys have a good time! They’re playing Cole Porter, and the band is delovely. Great to see you, Flo!
I hugged Flo again, gave Dennis a curt nod, ignored the scent of mandarins and mountain air, and returned to Kirk.
I collapsed on the chaise lounge, exhausted from holding back the rage. I had no right to be mad at Florinda. I hadn’t seen her in three years, so how was she supposed to know that I’d had a thing with Dennis? Hell, I couldn’t even be mad at Dennis because the last time he and I had spoken in any meaningful way, I’d told him that I was no longer entertaining my crush on him. So why was I surprised to see him dating??? And why had he never taken ME out on a date like this??? And why wasn’t I smitten with Kadillac Kirk who HAD taken me out on a date like this, was an objectively excellent kisser, and a bona fide BALLER? What was wrong with me???
Kirk suggested going down the street to a quaint little bar and then sobering up at a diner closer to my apartment. I numbly nodded and followed him in silence for a few blocks. He assured me that I had “turned several heads” on the way to the new location, but I neither cared nor believed him. This wasn't the type of numbness I'd been aiming for. Now I needed to get schnockered. “Five shots of vodka, please.” Yes, I was serious.
Kadillac Kirk, my reliable designated driver, ordered only a beer and watched in something across between astonishment, concern, and delight as I slammed all five shots in rapid succession. I half expected to immediately retch all over the bar. But I felt fine. I half expected to immediately lose consciousness and wake up in the hospital. But I remained coherent. How I’d managed to take in that much hard liquor and suffer no direct consequences, I’ll never know.
I think I wanted to suffer. I wanted to either feel nothing at all or to feel a sickness bad enough to distract me from the scorching sting that pulsed through my being when I realized that I had lost the abstract notion I’d been addicted to this entire time. Hope. It wasn’t Dennis himself I couldn’t quit. It was that drug called hope. The hope that maybe, just maybe Dennis would give our romance a fair chance. The hope that maybe, just maybe he would make peace with himself, get his mind out of his crotch, and enjoy some agenda-free togetherness. The hope that maybe, just maybe he would stop bloviating about his admittedly impressive accomplishments for five fucking minutes and ask about my life. I had my own reasonably impressive accomplishments, even if they paled in comparison to his. A proper suitor would have enjoyed hearing about them.
But seeing him out with another woman, a woman who had no reason to parade her Dennis escapades before me as some means of revenge, a woman he was clearly courting of his own volition... My hope had died. It died before I’d had time to wean myself off it. Now I had to mourn the loss of hope, which is a very tricky brand of grief to navigate. Vodka wasn’t the answer, but it was what I had to work with. So it would have to do.
After enough time had passed without vomiting or collapsing, I asked Kirk to bring his car around to the bar so that I didn’t have to walk two and a half blocks drunk and in heels. He nodded and dramatically leaned in for a kiss. I recoiled. “DUDE! I told you. The moment has passed.”
Kirk: I beg your pardon. I misread your eyes. Thought I saw a green light...
Me: It’s fine. I just want to go home while I’m still feeling okay.
Kirk: Of course. Your chariot will be here soon.
He skipped off to fetch his Cadillac and I noticed that the lights in the bar were beginning to dance a bit. This should have been concerning. But then I realized that I was giggling. Wait... What? Oh shit. Sure, I was drunk from those shots. But what I was feeling in that moment wasn’t drunkery. It was stonery. Kirk probably misread my face because my pupils were dilated. Not from desire, but from drug use.
Some of you might be thinking that I was a bad friend for not introducing Lucy, an old dude connoisseur, to Kirk. Well... I did. Several years before the events of this story. He adored her. She, on the other hand, thought he was immature. And she wasn’t wrong. Lucy was astute when it came to sussing out a person’s true nature. Far more astute than I. Her initial assessment that Kirk was immature is about to be vindicated. Stretch those cringe muscles! It’s almost time for pie...
I somehow managed to get to his car. I honestly don’t recall how I got there. Did one of the bartenders carry me? Did some kind patron allow me to lean on him? Had Kadillac Kirk carried me out? I’m not sure. But my memory ceases to be fuzzy about halfway to the 24-hour diner. It might have been the very same 24-hour diner where Mary pulled her... shenanigans. I’ll never know.
Kirk: Would you say that you’re more drunk or more stoned?
Me: STONED. Definitely stoned.
Kirk made some sort of grunty noise and reached for my thigh. I slapped his hand.
Kirk: Stoned but not amorous? That’s rare.
I started laughing rather unkindly. “You’re a fucking horndog! I thought you were my safe straight male friend, dammit.”
Kirk: I solemnly swear that your safety is my primary concern, my stoned beauty.
I pretended to throw up.
Kirk: So... You’re not horny. But are you hungry? The diner I’m heading to makes this Maple Walnut Pie with the most sumptuous... sensual cream and exquisite drizzling of...
Me: Ew! Stop trying to bang the pie. Bro. Are YOU stoned? (Then I remembered the question.) Yes, I’m hungry. But I don’t like nuts. I’ll have banana cream.
Kirk made that repulsive grunty noise again. “Uhhhhh... Mmmmmm. Cream. Yessssss. Yes, we’ll be there in just a minute.” He was squirming in the driver's seat.
Me: GROSS, DUDE! If you’re gonna be like that I’ll just order HASH brows. Get it? Hash??? (I giggled.) You can’t make that sound nasty.
Kirk: Forgive my jokes. I think my blood sugar’s a bit low.
As Kirk parked, I began to wonder how I might get away with walking shoeless into the diner. The stilettos had to get off my feet. At least while I was walking. And Kirk was kind enough to give me his socks and wear his loafers “island style” into the establishment. Okay, that was gallant of him. Maybe he was going to behave himself for the rest of the evening.
I wasn’t terribly talkative as we sat down, and he expressed a bit of concern for my emotional well-being. I wasn’t coherent enough to explain what was happening to my emotions and I wasn’t sure I trusted him with my deep, dark secrets at that point. So I shrugged like a sulky teenager, ran my hands over my messy, windblown hair, and mumbled that I was “just hungry.” And right on cue, a very kind, slightly older waitress with a sweet southern accent stopped by to take our order.
Kirk: Ah, yes. We’ll have two cups of black coffee. And we’ll share a slice of that delectable Maple Walnut Pie.
Waitress: Oh, honey. That pie is scrumptious! I take it you’ve been here before?
Kirk: I have. This will be her first time to taste the splendor.
I hated to be a killjoy, but I interrupted and said to the waitress, “Ma’am? I’m sure the Maple Walnut is excellent, but could I please get a slice of Banana Cream? And a big glass of ice water?
Waitress: Sure, hon! Banana Cream’s just as yummy! I’ll be right back with those coffees and that big water.
Kirk was sucking on the tip of his forefinger and shaking his head a bit. “You’re passing up so many sensational... sensual...”
I put my forehead on the table and growled. “You swore you’d stop being nasty!” I held this #headdesk pose for quite some time before I finally lifted my head... only to see that Kirk was still sucking his fingertip and staring at me like a wild animal. “Pleeeeeease be normal,” I whined. “It’s been a really weird night for me.”
Kirk: Indeed. Many surprises. You know... You’re like titanium. Your flame burns so fast and so bright, if a guy doesn’t get in there while the iron is hot, he’ll never get another chance. I was too slow.
What the...? I was pretty sure he was wrong about titanium burning quickly. I’m no chemistry wiz, but my dad and my oldest brother are both big-brains when it comes to physics and chemistry. So I picked up some things just listening to them talk. Accurate or inaccurate, Kirk was being creepy again. He’d never been creepy towards me before, although I’d seen him act like this with other women. Usually with staggering success. Why????? His money. It had to be his money. Kirk was a nice-looking man, but holy shit... No amount of good looks could save this creep show
And then, our sweet waitress sat down our coffees, my water, and the two slices of pie. After I gulped down a whole bunch of water, I grabbed a fork, prepared to quell my munchies... and then I froze. Kirk was quickly flicking his finger back and forth across the top of his pie. And moaning. He noticed my wide-eyed stare, smirked, sucked the tip of his thumb, picked up the plate with both hands, and began flicking his tongue across the tip of the triangular pie slice. And moaning some more. Well, there went my appetite.
Kirk took his middle finger and jabbed it into the crustless vertex of the pie slice, then he began pumping it in and out like a piston, and flicking his thumb across the increasingly demolished top layer of whipped cream. He gasped this time. People were starting to stare. His pointer finger joined his middle finger in the piston action, and he replaced his thumb with his tongue. Between flicks of the tongue, he groaned, “Oh yeah, baby... Let me taste you,” but it was kind of hard to understand him.
And I was either about to run to the back office, tell them that I was in danger and needed a police escort home... OR I was about to burst out laughing at the spectacle. Kirk continued... He removed his fingers and gregariously licked pie filling off of them. "Ohhhhh," he groaned, "I got you soooo sticky. So sweet. So moist." And then he started sucking his fingertips again, switching from middle to pointer, middle to pointer and emitting a delighted little, “Mmmmmm” with every suck.
Finally, he jabbed his fingers back into the utterly destroyed pie, lowered his face into the mess and lapped loudly and passionately, moaning, grunting, and mumbling “Come on, baby. Come on. Mmmmmm. Come on.” I could see the waitress and some dude in a suit heading over to the table, so I sank down in my seat, partially covered my face, but continued to watch the train wreck. At last, Kirk shuddered violently as he splatted his entire hand onto the plate and rubbed furiously. And then he locked eyes with me. He sucked the tip of his thumb one final time and said, “You...” There was a long pause during which Kirk lovingly stroked the mess he’d made. “You... are the pie.”
I don’t hang out with Kadillac Kirk anymore. But he’s still a bachelor, ladies!

Interested in your thoughts on this amazing Khalil Gibran poem. Do you find it depressing or somewhat inspiring…?

Hi everyone!
Im a Filipino in the UAE planning to spend a week in Kazakhstan on 30th May - 6th June
So far, this is my itinerary
Day 1 - Turkistan from Abu Dhabi via Wizz Air - Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi - Karavan Saray
*any other places I could add that's nearby? * authentic Turkistan food places? I don't mind if they're cheap or expensive as long as it's authentic
Day 2 - Otrar and/or Sauran in the morning - local bazaars - travel to Almaty via Train in the evening

• planning to go there via Yandex taxi. Would I be able to book a taxi from those places and going back? *I heard hitchhiking is a thing in Kazakhstan, any tips?
• I also need tips for the train journey, i've never done a trip that long.

Day 3 - 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park - Ascension Cathedral - Ihlas Museum - Green Market - Arbat

• good places to eat in those place? Which food?
• any other can't miss place around that area?
• any souvenirs or anything else I that's only found in KZ I could buy in that place?

Day 4 - Shymbulak Mountain Resort

• I'm going there alone, any tips? I'd also love to join groups, if there are.
• What should I expect there around 1st week of June, in terms of activities, weather, and volume of visitors?

Day 5 - I'm doing a Metro tour in the morning til afternoon! - Kok Tobe from sunset til evening
*any places you would recommend nearby Metro stations that I visit? So far I have Central Mosque near Raiymbek Batyr Metro, Kasteev Art Museum near Baikonur Metro, and Family Park near Saryarka Metro. Anything else?
Day 6 - Big Almaty Lake!

• Will also be going there alone, I'm hoping to tag along with other tourists as I think it'll be more fun to do it with a group
• I saw there are bike tours there, but I only want to rent the bike, I don't want a guided tour. Any options?

Day 7 - Almaty Central Park (very near the place I'll be staying) - nothing else planned

• any places that i should go to within the city?
• how about bars? I'm not looking to hook up or anything lol I'm about to be married soon, I just want some drinks, maybe make some friends, and enjoy rave music or live bands

Day 8 - Almaty to Abu Dhabi in the evening - Nothing planned in the morning

• Any last minute things to go to, or try?
• I'm looking to bring food over to Abu Dhabi for my family to try. What would you suggest the best?

As much as I really want to go to Charyn or Kolsai, I don't think I'll be able to, and I want a reason to return to next year in a different season.
Anyway, what do you guys think of my itinerary? Anything you think that I should add, remove, or change?
Will appreaciate all the help I could get! I look forward to enjoying Kazakhstan!

How likely would it be to get a ride from city to city from stickin out thy ol thumb?
I recently did this across the USA and man was it easy and a heap of fun. ( kinda stupid and sketchy too people always tell me 🙄😂) but hey im still alive!!
Im not able to hire a car or buy.
Im backpacking around the south island of nz starting in Queenstown hoping to go all over and climb as many of your beautiful mountains as possible. Would people actually stop and give me a lift even if its a 15min ride? Otherwise my alternative is walk from place to place or catch a bus if im super desperate.
Im trying to spend as little money as possible! Especially with these damn grocery price, HOLLLY
Id definitely be happy to tip as i see you are all getting ripped off on fuel 🤣😂😭 like seriously $3.25 for U95? (thats a rant for another day)
Im 22yo male from Australia 🇦🇺