Home heating oil prices cape cod

Break-In [part 2]

2023.05.30 05:14 Broken_Truck Break-In [part 2]

The Break-In (continued)
Not long ago. It has only been a short amount of time, but things feel different. Life feels like it has purpose and meaning. This is my first day at work after the incident that occurred not long ago. I have come to realize that my co-workers have been taking advantage of my decency to cover their shifts and work extra hours. My manager does not manage. He relies on us to do his job, while he sits back and collects a paycheck. I have yet to realize that I will no longer allow this to happen. This is how things begin to change.
One Week Later:
I have been wearing this necklace ever since the time I put it on. I cannot bring myself to remove the charm from my neck. The thought that I was still wearing it never even crossed my mind until the person that I relieve every day first mentioned it. It is almost as if it has a power over me. I do not know how that would be. It is only a necklace, right.
The day shift front desk agent, Ben, is supposed to assist the housekeepers with ensuring the lobby is clean and presentable. There is always an issue that comes up that prevents him from restocking the bathroom and taking out the trash. I have never had a problem with it before. So, why does it all the sudden bother me now? When I came into work and they let me know that these tasks still needed to be taken care of, I felt a sense of warmth come over my collar bone. The charm must have generated some heat somehow because what else would have caused that?
I snapped. I threatened to report him to the manager. I know, with our manager being useless, what would really happen to him. In the end, I would still be replacing the toilet paper and taking out the trash. So, I questioned why I even made it out to be an issue.
On my way home, I was drawn to the pawn store. I have seen this place a thousand times, but it has never even crossed my mind to enter until today. Before I even realized I was standing at the display case, holding, and admiring an old-fashioned blade. The blade was razor sharp. I learned this due to the drop of blood that I expended from running my thumb across the blade ever so slightly. Luckily for me, the salesman was not paying attention, and I placed my hand in my pocket after I set the knife down on the counter. I had my wallet drawn and credit card pulled out. I never even asked the price. The salesman was about to wrap it in a nice terry cloth bag, when I informed him that is not needed.
A few hours later, I was outside the hotel. I was not exactly sure what I was doing. I did not have to be at work for another 8 hours. Then I noticed Ben walking out the front double doors. Due to being almost in the center of our city, not many people drove. We either walked to and from places or relied on public transportation. It was just simpler that way. I followed my co-worker down the street and through an alley. I still had no idea what I was doing until he turned around. He noticed that I was behind him, but he must not have noticed who I was. He began to shout the most awful comments one could imagine. These are things that I would have never imagined coming out of his mouth from his demeanor at work. I now understood that it was all a fad.
A few seconds later I heard the crash of a bottle just inches away from my head. His footsteps became louder because he was walking right towards me. Moments later I could feel him screaming right into my face. That is when I looked up. This must have caught him off-guard because he instantly stopped saying anything. There was a look on his face. I knew this look because I had it the other day. I understood that my eyes now had the thirst for blood and there was nothing that would fulfill that other than giving it what it needed. I could sense his shoulder begin to roll back. I knew that he was about to swing his right arm with all his might towards my face to prevent anything from happening. I do not know what came over me. Instantly my feet began to move while simultaneously pulling the knife out of my pocket. My arm reached forward at the same time as his did. His fist was balled tightly where I could see the white and pink of his knuckles. His jaw immediately dropped, and pain must have exploded throughout his body because his fist contacted my knife right between the index and middle knuckles.
Ben instantly fell to his knees, grabbing his right hand with his left. Loud screams left through his mouth as I pulled the knife from the entrance point, blood dripping to the ground. I pulled my arm back again only to push back forward. All sounds ceased to exist except for the sounds of vehicles flowing through the streets. Ben now laid slumped over my hand as my knife was now lodged into his left retina.

submitted by Broken_Truck to u/Broken_Truck [link] [comments]

2023.05.30 04:42 ComputerByld Rentier Economies and Left-wing Ideological Prevalence

I'm sure there's a less clumsy way to title this and a less clumsy way to phrase the question, but I'm hoping to get your opinions without offending any of you who might consider themselves "left wing." With that said, my working assumption is that little to no one on a Georgist forum consider themselves "left wing" or "right wing," at least in the sense that I'm using them here.
And to clarify what I do mean: by left-wing I'm referring to the colloquial American left, especially the American far left. Antifa fits this colloquial category as one example. By right wing I also refer to the American colloquial meaning.
The question is: Why is it that in the places where we find the most rentier parasitism (urban areas) we inevitably find the largest blocs of hard leftists (per capita)?
It's noteworthy that the correlation is apparently linear: the larger the city, the greater the number (and often the more fervent) the left-wing that will be found there. Of course city size also correlates with total available rentier income.
The reverse is also true: generally speaking the more removed a place is from access to rentier income (i.e. rural or exurban areas) the more right-wing the people and fewer far leftists in proportion.
Voting heat maps bear this out in terms of Republican and Democrat vote-getting (with Republicans dominating areas with little rentier privilege and Democrats dominating rentseeking areas). I'd argue that Republican and Democrat platforms aren't perfect proxies for left-wing and right-wing worldviews (even in the American colloquial sense of left and right) but there is enough alignment for the data to be relevant.
And while it's true that there are rural rentseeking industries (oil extraction etc), these are almost always controlled by corporations with the rural worker a mere laborer who benefits relatively little from the economic rent collected. Such corporations are themselves generally headquartered in major cities and most of their rentier income flows to equity prices in any case.
In anticipation of the thesis that specialization is the cause: Military occupations can be highly specialized and yet the military remains strongly right-wing. I remain open to this argument but so far I find it very unconvincing and the hypothetical mechanism isn't at all clear.
One important point is that much of the rentier income that flows inside a city isn't going directly into the pockets of everyday left wing voters, it's going to oligarchs and corporations. However this only means that there are vast unearned pools of money in these areas available to seek political influence (political rentseeking) and thus are in search of levers of influence.
Propaganda, political optics, demonstrations and the like can all be manufactured or influenced with money, and cities are places with both the means and the population density where we would expect to find the attempt.
All that is to say that we should expect increased corruption where there is more unearned wealth, and not be surprised if we find exactly what a reasonable person would expect to find (if said reasonable person is a Georgist, but I repeat myself).
My working hypothesis is that the unearned income flowing in these cities creates a distortionary effect wherein the greater the unearned money-flows, the more removed (in aggregate) the people who come into contact with that money become from actual, real wealth creation (aka earned income).
And because real wealth creation is only possible with an objectively true cause-effect understanding of the world, people who are disconnected from cause and effect are able to hold basically any belief system, no matter how disconnected from reality, without it impacting their ability to earn income necessary for comfort. I realize that's not a charitable view to hold of the colloquial American far left, but as I said at the outset I'm working under the assumption that other Georgists don't identify as such anyways.
Another hypothesis (one that is perhaps more charitable) is that connection to the land tends to make people right wing, and disconnection from the land tends to make them left wing. However this hypothesis doesn't explain the mechanisms for why that would be, other than a return to the above rationale (connection to the land teaches true cause and effect). If you ascribe to this hypothesis please expound on a mechanism for why it would occur.
The extension of the above thought experiment is to ask: how distortionary is the effect on government if virtually every single federal agency (certainly the ones with power) are headquartered and operated from inside massive rentier fiefdoms such as Washington DC? Ditto for state agencies since they all reside inside state capitals. How distortionary might this be to our government?
Now it's your turn. Tell me why I'm full of it (or, God forbid, why I'm onto something). This board is brimming with intelligent people and I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter, even if you disagree with me in toto.

submitted by ComputerByld to georgism [link] [comments]

2023.05.30 04:37 Illustrious-Neat3502 How to Choose a Pet Food Bag?

1. The benefits of pet food packaging bags

Here are some advantages of pet food packaging bags:

Pet food bags are uniquely designed for packaging pet food.
Pet food bags are cost-effective and portable.
Pet food packaging bags are easy to use. Most pet food bags come with a resealable closure, which makes them very user-friendly.
Easy storage of pet food bags is also a huge benefit.
It is possible to extend the shelf life of pet food by packaging it in bags.
Bags for packaging pet food are available in a variety of sizes for small or large quantities of pet food.
Keeping pet food in bags is a convenient way to keep it fresh.
Most pet food bags are made from recycled materials.
Most of the pet food packaging bags come from biodegradable products, which makes them friendly to the environment.
The flexibility of the pet food bag makes it easy to transport.
Pet food packaging material with high barrier properties protects contents from harsh weather conditions.
Pet food packaging bags are available in various styles and styles.
Pet food packaging bag is an innovative way of pet food packaging.
After you’ve used up the contents of the bag, you can keep the pet food bag for another use at home.

2. The remarkable features of pet food bags

Some notable features of pet food bags include:

Easy to open and close closure
Pet food bags are usually stand-up pouches.
Pet food bags are produced from materials with high-barrier properties.
Clear label style and nutritional information
Pet food bags will often have a clear picture of your pet as part of the design. For example, a pet food bag containing dog food will have a picture of the dog printed on it.

3. Common pet food bag styles

Food packaging bags come in many styles, shapes and sizes, and pet food bags are no exception. Some common styles and designs of pet food bags include:

Stand-up pouches: These are the best choice for packaging small quantities of pet food. These pouches are the most economical style of pet food bags. The popularity of stand-up pouch designs among pet food bags has declined due to stringent government regulations. Stand-up bags are great spill-resistant bags that prevent products from spilling during shipping and display.
Four-seal bag: The pet food bag adopts a four-seal design, which is large. This style of a pet food bag is suitable for packaging large quantities of products. The four-seal bag style provides ample space for advertising and branding on the bag. Although the four-way bag cannot be displayed alone, it is still very conspicuous on the display shelf. This style is also economical.
Flat bottom pouch: This style is less economical than other pet food bag styles. The flat bottom pouch style for pet food packaging is suitable for both small and large batches of products. Space is left on the package for branding and nutritional information. The flat bottom of this bag allows it to stand tall when on display.
Bottom pockets: Bottom pockets are suitable for large quantities of products. When using this style, you should focus more on the bottom since that is the visible part of the presentation.
Pet food bag with spout: This bag has a spout with a lid for easy re-use and opening. This type of pet food bag comes in different shapes and is perfect for packing wet and dry pet food. Spout closure helps keep contents in and prevents spills.
Stand-up kraft paper pet food bag: This is a stand-up bag made of kraft paper, available in a variety of shapes. The kraft paper is compostable and the interior is lined for protection from environmental elements.

4. The best material for pet food bags

Most pet food bags have multiple layers and are made from various types of materials, such as PET and PE.Some pet food bags are also made from barrier laminates, coated papers, and power block materials. The material of the pet food bag determines the length of the product’s freshness. Using high-barrier materials for your pet food bags will ensure the longevity of the contents.

5. The difference between roll pet food packaging bags and pouch pet food packaging bags

While pouches are the most popular pet food packaging, there are other less popular options. An example of other pet food packaging is roll-to-roll pouches. Here are some of the differences between roll and pouch packaging for pet food:

There are different materials available for pouch packaging, but you have limited options for roll materials.
Pet food bags come in different styles, but not in rolls.
Your pet food stays fresher longer when it’s in a pet food bag.
Pet food packaging bags are high barriers to protect their contents from the adverse effects of the weather.
The materials used to make pet food bags are usually puncture resistant, so they offer more protection during shipping. Coil packaging is not as strong as bagged pet food packaging.
Using pouches for pet food packaging increases the durability of the packaging. Coil packaging for pet food is not as durable as bag packaging.
Bag pet food packaging is made from biodegradable materials that are easy to recycle. The same cannot be said for coil packaging materials.

https://preview.redd.it/rpd121x4rv2b1.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f6f4d040649b4f9251bea60a17e20c16c5bfec3

6. Sustainable pet food bag options

Sustainable packaging refers to the use of packaging materials that are environmentally friendly and do not contribute to the degradation of the planet. Many companies are adopting sustainable packaging methods as it helps reduce their overall carbon footprint. Most manufacturing companies use sustainable materials such as biodegradable materials to manufacture packaging products. Recyclable bags, compostable bags, and paper bags are all options for sustainable pet food bags.

Recyclable bags: This sustainable packaging option involves using materials with the same composition so they can be easily converted after use. For example, plastic components are used to make packaging bags, and the plastic is then recycled into another useful product.

In addition to using bags that can be recycled, sustainable packaging also involves reusable packaging.

Compostable bags: Another option for sustainable packaging is to use biodegradable materials, that is, they break down easily. Compostable bags help eliminate environmental clutter and help the ecosystem continue to function.
Paper bags: Using paper as a packaging bag simply means that the bag is recyclable. This is a great way to make sustainable packaging and save some members of the ecosystem, namely trees.

Besides being recyclable, paper bags are also compostable.

7. Recommended standards for pet food bags

Pet food bags, like other packaging bags, must meet certain standards in order to be distributed and sold.

Pet food bags must be FDA-approved and made of food-grade materials. Pet food bags should not contain harmful or toxic substances that could contaminate the product.
Water-based ink: You only need to use water-based ink on pet food bags. Water-based inks are environmentally friendly and contain no toxic chemicals. Using water-based ink also ensures that the pet food bags are easy to recycle.
Regardless of the number of pet food bags a customer orders, print quality should not be compromised. Printing on pet food bags should be legible regardless of the order quantity.
Every material used to make pet food bags must be recyclable and compostable. To ensure that all packaging products are environmentally friendly, pet food bags must meet this requirement.

https://preview.redd.it/npetf0l9rv2b1.jpg?width=696&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=95645a8bd056ea9f6faa2c7d85eb18ffd3eea065

8. The difference between stock and custom-printed pet food bags

As with other bags, you also have the option to customize your pet food bags or use stock bags. The differences between stock and custom-printed pet food bags include:

Stock bags are plain with no design options, but using custom-printed bags gives you design options. While stock pet food bags come in a variety of styles, there is no brand atom on them. The sides of the stock pet food bags are born with no writing of any kind on them.
When you customize your pet food bag, you can choose additional extras, unlike stock pet food bags.
Custom-printed pet food bags look more aesthetically pleasing than stock pet food bags. When you walk into a store, brightly colored bags are more likely to grab your attention than plain bags.
You can get creative with the shapes, sizes and styles of your custom-printed pet food bags. When you choose custom-printed pet food bags, you have complete control over how the bag looks. With stock pet food bags, there is no uniqueness or personal touch on the bag.
Custom-printed pet food bags do more to promote your brand than stock bags. Your packaging is your first chance to impress your customers, and stocking pet food isn’t very impressive.
Unlike custom-printed pet food bags, stock pet food bags do not incur any additional design or printing charges. One advantage of stock pet food bags over custom printed pet food bags is their cost-effectiveness. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to opt for stock pet food bags.
The delivery and production time of stock pet food bags are longer than that of custom-printed pet food bags. In-stock pet food bags are available on demand, but custom-printed pet food bags take more time to arrive.

9. Custom printing options for pet food bags

The custom printing options available for pet food bags are:

1) Gravure printing:

Also known as reverse printing because it involves printing on the inside of the outermost layer of the bag.

2) Digital printing:

This option involves using a digital printing press to produce high-quality prints. Digital printing is available for fewer order quantities.

3) Hot stamping:

This is a newer printing option that involves using a printing stencil to create a clean and simple design.

4) Flexographic printing:

Flexographic printing is suitable for printing on paper materials. It involves using a flex board.

10. Pet food bag air release system

Trapped air in pet food bags can cause the contents of the bag to break down and deteriorate. Due to trapped air inside, the product may become unstable and reduce shelf life. Pet food bag manufacturers have incorporated features to help remove trapped gas. The two most popular features for releasing trapped air are:

Vent valves: These valves allow the release of trapped air from the inside of the pet food bag while preventing oxygen from entering the interior. The removal of oxygen makes the pet food bags more flexible and easier to store. The degassing valve helps keep pet food fresher for longer.
Micro perforations: Some manufacturers strategically place microscopic holes in pet food bags to systematically release the trapped air.

11. Closure options available for pet food bags

Closure options available for pet food bags are:

Press-to-close zipper: This is a reclosable closure type where you need to press the two sides together to close.
Slider closure: This is another reclosable closure as well. You slide the slider from one end of the bag to the other to close or open it.
Hook-to-hook closure: To close this type of closure, you simply slide your hand over the bag while pressing down on the hook.
Heat seal closure: This is not a resealable closure and is for single-use product sizes.
Zipper closure

12. Why and when to choose disposable vs reusable/reusable Pet food bags？

When choosing the type of closure for a pet food bag, you need to consider the amount of product it will contain. You can use the disposable closure when the pet food pouch only holds one serving of pet food. If the pet food bag is more than one serving, you should choose reusable pet food bags. You can also convert pet food bags to other uses when you choose a reusable closure.

13. Additional features applied to customized pet food bags

When customizing your pet food bag, you can request extra features to be added to the bag. These additional features include:

Gussets: Some people choose gussets to give the pet food bag a different shape and make it look more unique.
Hanging hole: This function is mainly used for non-standing pet food bags. The hanging hole is used to hang the bag on the shelf for display.
Small gate
Perforation
Extended lips
Enlarging headers and footers: You have the option to increase the size of headers and footers on pet food bags.
Mixed net
Window
Handle
Curved edge

14. Key considerations for designing effective pet food bags

When choosing a pet food bag design, there are certain factors to consider. Some key factors you need to consider include:

Product quantity: The quantity of pet food you want to bag will determine the style, shape and size of the bag.
Bag size: The next thing you should consider is the size of the bag you need. After you decide how much product you want, you can decide what size bag will be appropriate.
Design and materials: Packaging design is the first thing your customers see, so make sure you pay attention to it. The material and branding of your packaging is your first opportunity to sell your product to consumers.
The target consumer: Pet food bags for dogs look different than bags for the cat or fish food. You need to consider this to design a specific pet pack for your target pet.
Budget: This is probably the most important factor you need to consider when designing your pet food bag. The amount of money you invest in a design project determines which design options are available to you.
Availability of your material of choice: You will need to check with your manufacturer to ensure that the material required for your design is available.

15. Choose the color for the PET food bag

When choosing a color for your pet food bag, you can choose from up to seven colors. It is usually best to use Pantone colors as Pantone will give you the exact shade you are looking for. When printing on packaging materials such as kraft paper, you can use a variety of colors. The more colorful your pet food bags, the more customers you will attract.

16. Surface treatment options for pet food bags

The finish of your pet food bag can have a huge impact on your brand appeal. The finish options are as follows:

Matte finish: This type of surface finish doesn’t look shiny or attractive from a distance. It makes your pet food bag look more mature and elegant. Prints on matte surfaces are easier to read in bright light. Pet food bags made of paper-based materials such as kraft paper have the best matte finish.
Glossy finish: Pet food bags with a glossy finish are more eye-catching and attractive due to their glossy properties. The smooth surface makes your pet food bags look better. Although it can be difficult to see the print on the glossy surface under bright lights, it is still a popular finish for pet food bags. Many manufacturers prefer a glossy finish because it imparts a noticeable shine to the packaging.
Metallic finish: A metallic finish is shiny like a gloss finish, but the gloss has a metallic tinge. Metal finishes are similar to glossy finishes, but a higher end. Finishing the surface of a pet food bag can improve the overall appearance of the bag. The surface treatment also makes the pet food bags more resistant to corrosion and other weather conditions.

17. Factors affecting the cost of pet food bags

Here are the factors that affect the price of pet food bags:

Materials used to make pet food bags: Some material options are more expensive than others. The more expensive the material you use for production, the more expensive the pet food bag, and vice versa.
Size of the bag: Larger pet food bags cost more than smaller pet food bags because more materials are involved in production.
Additional features: The number of additional features on a pet food bag can add to or subtract from the original cost.
Types of pet food bags: Stock pet food bags cost much less than custom-made pet food bags.
Design of pet food bags: The use of more advanced printing technology and expensive post-processing increases the cost of pet food bags.

We design and manufacture the best pet food bags that meet food safety standards.
View Poll

submitted by Illustrious-Neat3502 to Announcements244r [link] [comments]

2023.05.30 04:18 rizergt MassSave question… Does a 80% finished basement need to be heated/cooled to qualify for the whole home 10k rebate?

Looking to install mini splits in my home. I’ve had 4 contractors provide quotes and it’s a 50/50 answer.
Two said yes being I currently have heat in the basement (oil), I’d need to get get a mini split installed in the basement.
The other two said it’s not required , one saying if questioned during the final inspection, just say basement is used for storage.
Two calls to massSave and I can’t get a answer, waiting for calls back.

submitted by rizergt to massachusetts [link] [comments]

2023.05.30 01:30 Saint_O_Well Avila Energy: A Special Situation Investment with Potential for a 1450% Return CA: VIK, US OTC: PTRVF

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U7h3OsE_X4yJiSuyv_v9IBmN4CsLTZ-p6gcZLBxwPDw/edit?usp=sharing
Avila Energy: A Special Situation Investment with Potential for a 1450% Return
Penny Queen pick 05.29.2023
TL:DR Avila is a profitable oil and gas company in Canada with preferred, North American rights to the Ener-Twin consumer power plants. This clean technology is projected to generate gross sales of up to $25 million in 2024. Avila has entered into a business combination agreement to uplist to the Nasdaq through the $INAQ SPAC. I place the value of Avila around 30 cents US without the SPAC. Completion of the SPAC could put the share value at 85 cents US.
Because I see the company as being undervalued, and because Avila would also have to pay a penalty to break the agreement, I see this special situation as less risky at this price point. As a reminder, the PQTF peak gains on the prior three special situation stocks have been 146%, 889% and 1370%, but had major issues that if played incorrectly, could have cost people a lot of money. As always, prior performance is not indicative of future performance. I do have a position and intend to do more purchasing and will continue to re-evaluate. As always trading is risky, this is not advice and I am not a financial advisor.
I have done my best to represent the facts as I know them, if you find any errors, please let me know: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) I have also created a subreddit and will have a channel available in the Penny Queen Discord. XO, PQ
Avila Energy (CA: VIK, OTC: PTRVF), an established Canadian oil and gas producer, is on the verge of a potentially transformative merger that could bring immense rewards for its shareholders. The company has agreed to combine with Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) Insight Acquisition (NYSE: INAQ).
The proposed transaction, as detailed at the link below, will allow for Avila to up-list onto the Nasdaq, enhance its ongoing carbon-neutral business strategy, and further strengthen the capitalization of the company with an expected combined entity market cap of over $190 Million.
This article will discuss the specifics of the deal, Avila's potential to diversify its revenue stream, and how it presents a rare special situation investment opportunity that could potentially lead to a total return of 1450%.
A Breakdown of the Deal
The Avila and Insight Acquisition merger is a complex one, but is potentially extremely lucrative for existing Avila shareholders. Under the agreement, Insight will continue from the State of Delaware to the Province of Alberta and acquire Avila in an amalgamation pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement under Alberta law.
According to the agreement, the fully diluted common shares of Avila, currently numbering 150,540,414, will be exchanged for 12,580,000 common shares of Insight Acquisition. This exchange ratio translates to about 11.97 shares of Avila for each share of Insight Acquisition.
Avila shareholders will own the following interest in the post-closing combined company:
100% Redemption (Proceeds retained from trust of US$ 1,250,000) 67.2% by Avila's shareholders;
50% Redemption (Proceeds retained from trust of US$15,781,215) 62.4% by Avila's shareholders;
0% Redemption (Proceeds retained from trust of US$29,062,430) 57.9% by Avila's shareholders.
At present, Avila shares trade at USD $0.0588 (5.88 cents), while Insight Acquisition shares trade at USD $10.23. However, given the merger and based on the exchange ratio, the post-merger price for each Avila share is projected to rise to around $0.855. This implies a staggering potential increase of up to 1450% for Avila shareholders, and forms the basis of the arbitrage opportunity that Avila presents as a special situation investment.
Avila Energy and Its Future
Looking beyond the merger, Avila Energy presents an interesting opportunity as a stand-alone company
Avila's strategic growth plan is divided into three phases:

Upstream, where it plans to invest towards becoming a low-cost, carbon-neutral energy producer.
Downstream, diversifying its revenue stream through the development of direct-to-consumer sales, aiming to boost demand, margins, and profitability.
Providing customers with the option to convert to Avila’s developing hydrogen-fueled solutions, expected to be commercially available in 2027, as part of its Corporate Vision.

2nd quarter of 2023 the preparation and filing of the application for the Canadian Standards Association (“CSA”) and Underwriter Laboratories (“UL”) Certifications for the EnerTwin in North America, based on past applications for CSA approval of KIWA certified equipment. The Company has estimated that this process is anticipated to 10-12 months in duration. 1st half of 2023 the commencement of pre-sales and servicing of the EnerTwin that are conditional on the Company attaining CSA and UL approval. In the event that the CSA and UL approval is not attained, the sales would be refunded to customers.
The development of the Company’s manufacturing of the EnerTwin, including the assembly or 3rd part manufactured subassemblies and the final testing prior to shipping to the customer. The ramp up of this manufacturing facility is to be completed in parallel to the CSA approval, with the first 100 installations being demonstration installations to be replace by CSA approved equipment within targeted markets in North America utilizing the EnerTwin as KIWA Certified equipment.
Initial contracts are anticipated to be executed 3 months after receiving CSA Certification.

The Company’s Vertically Integrated Energy Business is based on the following assumptions:
a) Power, Heat, Cooling and Daily Transportation in one invoice;
b) Reduce Consumers Carbon footprint by 40% and save the consumer money;
c) Mitigates concern for brownouts and protection from increasing transmission fees;
d) Fixed Contract plus only an annual inflation adjustment; and
e) Capacity to transition to Hydrogen in the future.
The Company’s long-term goal is to allocate a portion of its natural gas production to its newly acquired customers as a source of fuel with the cost of energy being billed to the customer at a fixed price plus an annual inflation rate adjustment. The Company’s strategy is to include the delivery of fuel and the maintenance, under long-term contracts that offers price stability. The Company plans to continue to still sell their current suite of customers in addition to the newly acquired customers from the Vertically Integrated Business.
The Company assumes early market development will qualify for government subsidies both in Canada and the United States as an efficient upgrade and or substitute for current heating and cooling. For example, the Company anticipates that the EnerTwin will qualify under the existing Canadian Greener Homes Program which will offer rebates on eligible home retrofits.
Conclusion: A Rare Opportunity
Special situation investments like Avila's proposed SPAC up listing do not come often. They offer a chance for significant potential returns but are also complex and require a deep understanding of the specifics of the deal. For Avila shareholders, the potential upside of 1450% presents a remarkable opportunity. However, potential investors should conduct their own research and due diligence or consult with a financial advisor before making any decisions. With Avila's strong business foundation, ambitious future plans, and the exciting prospect of its up listing through the merger with Insight Acquisition, the future indeed looks bright.

submitted by Saint_O_Well to Baystreetbets [link] [comments]

2023.05.30 00:41 Saint_O_Well Avila Energy: A Special Situation Investment with Potential for a 1450% Return OTC: PTRVF Canada:VIK

Upstream, where it plans to invest towards becoming a low-cost, carbon-neutral energy producer.
Downstream, diversifying its revenue stream through the development of direct-to-consumer sales, aiming to boost demand, margins, and profitability.
Providing customers with the option to convert to Avila’s developing hydrogen-fueled solutions, expected to be commercially available in 2027, as part of its Corporate Vision.

2nd quarter of 2023 the preparation and filing of the application for the Canadian Standards Association (“CSA”) and Underwriter Laboratories (“UL”) Certifications for the EnerTwin in North America, based on past applications for CSA approval of KIWA certified equipment. The Company has estimated that this process is anticipated to 10-12 months in duration. 1st half of 2023 the commencement of pre-sales and servicing of the EnerTwin that are conditional on the Company attaining CSA and UL approval. In the event that the CSA and UL approval is not attained, the sales would be refunded to customers.
The development of the Company’s manufacturing of the EnerTwin, including the assembly or 3rd part manufactured subassemblies and the final testing prior to shipping to the customer. The ramp up of this manufacturing facility is to be completed in parallel to the CSA approval, with the first 100 installations being demonstration installations to be replace by CSA approved equipment within targeted markets in North America utilizing the EnerTwin as KIWA Certified equipment.
Initial contracts are anticipated to be executed 3 months after receiving CSA Certification.

submitted by Saint_O_Well to trakstocks [link] [comments]

2023.05.30 00:37 Saint_O_Well Avila Energy: A Special Situation Investment with Potential for a 1450% Return CA: VIK, OTC: PTRVF

Upstream, where it plans to invest towards becoming a low-cost, carbon-neutral energy producer.
Downstream, diversifying its revenue stream through the development of direct-to-consumer sales, aiming to boost demand, margins, and profitability.
Providing customers with the option to convert to Avila’s developing hydrogen-fueled solutions, expected to be commercially available in 2027, as part of its Corporate Vision.

The company has a diversified and growing portfolio of 100%-owned and operated wells, three oil and natural gas processing facilities, 150,000 acres of leased exploration rights, and over 300 kms of gathering and sales pipelines.
The P&L displays robust numbers with $3.08 M in net revenue, more than 50% margins, with the majority of the revenue attributable to clean burning natural gas.
Avila currently has a 2P valuation of CAD $30.7 Million and a 1P valuation of CAD $7.8 Million with a current market cap of CAD $8.9 Million. As of year-end 2022, the company also had CAD $6.5 Million of cash, CAD $2.067 Million of Debt, and a positive shareholder equity of CAD $53.17 Million. These third-party audited reserves, as presented below from Deloitte, are a vast value relative to the company’s current market cap.
Reserves Highlights
Avila Energy’s reserves on a Proven + Probable basis (2P) for the Company is 5,256,100 BOE valued at CAD$30.734 million based on a net present value discounted 10% before income taxes (NPV10% BT).
The CAD $30.734 million is an estimate of future cash flows and do not necessarily represent fair market value and is supported by a sustainable capital program of CAD $10.432 million for proved reserves and CAD $17.517 million for proved plus probable reserves.

https://preview.redd.it/k383bv2t2w2b1.jpg?width=1360&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=361a1468a012b437e5290b52e7b053ba455f9a2e
https://preview.redd.it/ywwglhwu2w2b1.jpg?width=1360&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc7b816e3dfa21a108732df3531a6ef0258734fa
Clean Energy Future
Moreover, beyond being a traditional oil company, Avila is set to launch its “Vertically Integrated Energy Business, through its partnership with MTT. Supported by over a decade of R&D, including Avila's equity investment in Micro Turbine Technology (MTT), this venture promises to leverage innovative cleantech. Avila is aiming to deliver its first direct-to-consumer energy sales in North America in 2023. It also is targeting net-zero tier 3 (scope 3) CO2 emission energy for consumers by 2027.
The EnerTwin is a small, environmentally friendly power plant that simultaneously produces heat and electricity using the smallest gas turbine in the world. It runs on natural gas, LPG, biomethane, and hydrogen mixes, and thereby facilitates the energy transition to a low-carbon future in buildings.
Avila Energy says it has purchased a license for the manufacturing and marketing of the EnerTwin in the North American market. Beginning in 2026, Avila plans to sell 50,000 EnerTwin systems in North America as part of an integrated offering that also includes the provision of energy to their end customers.
To achieve this goal, the company has laid out the following timeline:
1) 2nd quarter of 2023 the preparation and filing of the application for the Canadian Standards Association (“CSA”) and Underwriter Laboratories (“UL”) Certifications for the EnerTwin in North America, based on past applications for CSA approval of KIWA certified equipment. The Company has estimated that this process is anticipated to 10-12 months in duration. 1st half of 2023 the commencement of pre-sales and servicing of the EnerTwin that are conditional on the Company attaining CSA and UL approval. In the event that the CSA and UL approval is not attained, the sales would be refunded to customers.
2) The development of the Company’s manufacturing of the EnerTwin, including the assembly or 3rd part manufactured subassemblies and the final testing prior to shipping to the customer. The ramp up of this manufacturing facility is to be completed in parallel to the CSA approval, with the first 100 installations being demonstration installations to be replace by CSA approved equipment within targeted markets in North America utilizing the EnerTwin as KIWA Certified equipment.
3) Initial contracts are anticipated to be executed 3 months after receiving CSA Certification.
The Company’s Vertically Integrated Energy Business is based on the following assumptions:
a) Power, Heat, Cooling and Daily Transportation in one invoice;
b) Reduce Consumers Carbon footprint by 40% and save the consumer money;
c) Mitigates concern for brownouts and protection from increasing transmission fees;
d) Fixed Contract plus only an annual inflation adjustment; and
e) Capacity to transition to Hydrogen in the future.
The Company’s long-term goal is to allocate a portion of its natural gas production to its newly acquired customers as a source of fuel with the cost of energy being billed to the customer at a fixed price plus an annual inflation rate adjustment. The Company’s strategy is to include the delivery of fuel and the maintenance, under long-term contracts that offers price stability. The Company plans to continue to still sell their current suite of customers in addition to the newly acquired customers from the Vertically Integrated Business.
The Company assumes early market development will qualify for government subsidies both in Canada and the United States as an efficient upgrade and or substitute for current heating and cooling. For example, the Company anticipates that the EnerTwin will qualify under the existing Canadian Greener Homes Program which will offer rebates on eligible home retrofits.
Conclusion: A Rare Opportunity
Special situation investments like Avila's proposed SPAC up listing do not come often. They offer a chance for significant potential returns but are also complex and require a deep understanding of the specifics of the deal. For Avila shareholders, the potential upside of 1450% presents a remarkable opportunity. However, potential investors should conduct their own research and due diligence or consult with a financial advisor before making any decisions. With Avila's strong business foundation, ambitious future plans, and the exciting prospect of its up listing through the merger with Insight Acquisition, the future indeed looks bright.

submitted by Saint_O_Well to avila [link] [comments]

2023.05.30 00:11 WildWestCollectibles How to cook a delicious meal that you can have for breakfast lunch and dinner for only $1.44

Shakshuka! This recipe serves 4 with less than $6 worth of ingredients, healthy, and best of all it doesn’t taste like cardboard, it’s SO good and full of flavor! I have this multiple times a week and can’t get enough.
YouTube recipe to follow along
Ingredients (with Orange County, California prices from Costco and Walmart as of 5/29/2023)
Olive oil ($0.40)
1 yellow onion ($0.85)
1 green bell pepper ($0.72)
1 serrano pepper ($0.15)
Paprika (<$0.05)
Cumin (<$0.05)
Minced Garlic ($0.10)
1 - 28oz can of whole peeled tomatoes ($1.43)
(Optional) 1 can of chickpeas
Salt (<$0.05)
4 eggs ($0.66) [24 eggs at Costco for $3.99]
Black Pepper (<$0.05)
Cilantro ($0.50)
Feta cheese ($0.40)
Toasted bread ($0.36 can be any carb of your choice)
Total cost for 4 servings: $5.77 ($1.44 per serving! I have the receipts to prove it!)
Cooking instructions:
1) chop the onions, bell pepper, and hot pepper and sauté with paprika and cumin in olive oil for around 5 minutes in medium-high heat.
2) once sautéed, add some garlic and after about 2 minutes, add the whole can of tomatoes. You can crush them while they cook with a wooden spoon. Keep stirring and taste it to add salt and seasoning to taste.
3) Here is where you can add the chickpeas if you’d like. After around 10-15 minutes, check to see if you can move the sauce and see the bottom of the pan without it being too watery. Once the sauce has thickened, drop heat to low
4) create four pockets in the sauce where you will carefully crack the 4 eggs. Add salt and pepper on the eggs and cover with a lid for 5-7 minutes
5) once egg whites are cooked and yolk is still runny, add feta cheese, cilantro and it’s ready to eat! If it’s too spicy, you can drizzle a bit of honey.
I hope you guys like it! Please reach out if you have any questions.

submitted by WildWestCollectibles to povertyfinance [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 22:42 ChicoTallahassee Is the corporation I work for being raided by investors?

I work in an entertainment park/zoo/hotel in the maintenance division. Most people work here seasonal. The CEO of the company changed about 6 years ago and he replaced most of the management. Long term employees with leading roles were fired or degraded. New ones were put in place. Since that day most of the sales have been going down and public news has been negative. Guests complain about food prices being 3x to 5x times the usual rate and parking prices changing overnight while guests are sleeping. The CEO orders to turn down ventilation, heating and water flow to a minimum in order to keep costs at a bare minimum of what's needed.
The new employees can just drive to the stores around here and order whatever they need for the park. Nobody controls what's ordered or what's needed. This results in lots of surplus goods and multiple people ordering the same things. Leaving us with several of the same objects. This seems very uneconomical to me.
Management brags to each other about how they ordered a power washer for the park since they needed to clean their terraces at home. This is just a small example.
This weekend there was nearly no staff in the hotel and rooms were filled with guests. The kitchen wasn't performing as usual and had to serve cold food. Rooms weren't cleaned in between stays and maintenance wasn't performed. Management told all employees to stay home. Resulting in chaotic situations and lots of guest complaints over the weekend.
What's the purpose of all this? Is the corporation being raided?
PS: I hope this is the right sub to ask this. If it isn't I'll kindly remove my post and find a more suiting subreddit.

submitted by ChicoTallahassee to Advice [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 21:50 MeraboAt Headphone Tips: 5 Ways to Increase Sound Quality

Bluetooth Headphones
If you are an audiophile then you understand the importance of sound. Especially when it comes to entertainment like music, movies or games, you cannot compromise on the audio quality. Your favorite song should sound like it is supposed to sound and you should be able to immerse in your favorite movie or show! You do not want distorted sounds, full of lag or something that is way off when it comes to bass or treble.
And just like any other audiophile would also tell you - in order to enjoy your music to the fullest, you need to invest in the right headphones. While sound quality can be quite relative, you should be able to experience the calming and soothing effect of music.
While getting the right type of headphones is important, you also need to be aware of a few things you can do to make your earphones sound better. It doesn’t matter whether you have wired headphones or wireless ones, go through the following list of tips and tricks that will help you increase the sound quality of your earphones:
1. Switch to richer music streaming apps
How your music will sound also depends on the streaming app that you are using to listen to your songs or podcast. While apps like Spotify, Amazon Prime music, Airtel music or saavan are some of the most common online music platforms - your favorite song might sound different when you stream them from different apps. These apps definitely do offer a wide range of podcasts or music options to listen from but they don’t focus on quality of sound a lot.
There are some apps like Google Music, and Deezer, among others that let you stream/download high-quality music such as those with high bit-rate i.e 320kbps.
2. Check EQ settings
We all respond to music differently. For example - some people really enjoy bass while others prefer high treble. It is also evident from the fact that all of us have different taste in music. Some people enjoy jazz, while others enjoy rock. Some people will go for neutral tones while others enjoy balanced or high notes.
The thing that you need to understand here is that every earbud (regardless of it being of a wireless headphones or wired ones), has an EQ console that lets users either go for a factory-made or original setting or change it as per their liking. You can lay around the EQ consoles tweaking frequencies at various decibels to get the performance sound quality.
Again, the settings you set may be best per your liking and not for someone you want to share music with. But hey, that’s okay since it is you trying to get the best sound out of your buds and EQ settings lets you do that one thing that matters to you the most – get better sound quality on the buds.
3. Clean
This is one of the most basic etiquettes of using any device. You put your bluetooth headsets inside or on your ears for long hours. And then you throw them in your bags or pockets and reuse them just like that. This is not healthy. When you wear bluetooth earphones or earbuds, natural oils and earwax get accumulated on them.
Apart from looking gross, the wax and other debris obstruct the sound coming from the buds or earphones. It can be one of the reasons why you would feel a deterioration in sound quality. So clean your earbuds using a soft cloth every now and then.
4. Find a quiet space for you to enjoy music
This comes as a no-brainer. It doesn’t matter what the headphone price is, they will always sound better when there is less ambient noise to distract you. Of course, you cannot always choose to be in a quieter environment - imagine airports, bus stops, metro trains or even your office but you have this option at home. Especially if your earphones do not support noise cancellation, you need to choose a quieter environment. Otherwise you will keep on increasing the volume of your headset without any prominent difference.
Another way to tackle this is to invest in noise cancelling headphones only. They smartly omit out the unwanted noises and allow you to clearly hear and be heard.
5. Find the right ear tip
Finding the right ear tip that snuggly fits into your ear cavity is important for you to enjoy a great audio experience. Most in-ear bluetooth headsets come with multiple sizes of ear tips that you can change and find the perfect fit for yourself.
The idea is simple - better fit = better music. A well fitted ear tip will form a seal and allow less disturbance to reach your ears.
There are multiple other things that you can do to enhance the sound quality of your favorite bluetooth headphones but even if you follow the above mentioned ones religiously, you will be in a good place.

submitted by MeraboAt to u/MeraboAt [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 21:48 CowboyTyler M12 Hackzall Kit at Home Depot

Is this a good deal? Can anyone recommend for or against it? Would mostly be used for home workshop projects, maybe occasional work tasks. I’ve heard it has heating element issues occasionally, but I’ve also heard it’s pretty good so long as thickness is under an inch on the material being cut. Was looking at this and the fuel variant, but this seems like a pretty good price. HD rep at the store said to his knowledge they haven’t begun any Father’s Day Milwaukee tool sales.

submitted by CowboyTyler to MilwaukeeTool [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 21:40 bimbo_wannabe_ [I Accidentally Joined The Mafia In South Brooklyn] Chapter 6: On The Organizational Habits of Unrested Spirits and The Taste of Demon's Blood, Part 2.

[I Accidentally Joined The Mafia In South Brooklyn] Chapter 6: On The Organizational Habits of Unrested Spirits and The Taste of Demon's Blood, Part 2.

Previous Part: https://www.reddit.com/redditserials/comments/13ux5om/i_accidentally_joined_the_mafia_in_south_brooklyn/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
My nerve wavered a little.
"I don't really like the taste of blood, B."
"It doesn't taste like blood. Everybody tastes something different. Rossi says it tastes like old wine, Jimmy tastes caramel and leather, and me? To me it… tastes like gunpowder, and the way diesel smells."
I stared at the glass, then quickly tipped it into my mouth, took it down in two quick gulps, slid the mouth guard in place, at the same time sitting back against the sectional again as Becca snatched the glass from me.
It burned when it touched my tongue, and for a moment I tasted rose water and cinnamon, and in the next second, I was gone.
I've had a seizure once in my life, detoxing from heroin. The doctor said it was very rare, I was an unlucky fuck at best, but this? This was worse.
You ever seen a video of a tetanus convulsion? How the back bends, only their head and feet are touching the ground? Well, that's exactly what happened the moment the burning settled in my stomach. My entire body locked down, it felt like my muscles themselves would break my bones.
The pain overtook me and everything went black, but I soon realized I hadn't lost consciousness. No, I could see into the black. I was floating in it, naked. It was rolling like clouds of smoke, or a velvet curtain rippling in the breeze, and inside of the black, things were moving.
They were just as black, slimy, slithering things. Arms and legs and spider fingers and… wings, wings like bats, but no… not just black, iridescent. I saw within them blue, purple, red. They came from the darkness and spread over me like oil. Their touch was cold, but me? The burning spread all over my body. I felt like I was on fire.
I came back to the apartment a moment later, tried my best to tell my body to go with it while my muscles contracted and shook. It ended just as suddenly as it began.
I felt weak, when it was over. My body hurt. I felt like I had been in a car crash. But oddly enough, some parts of me didn't hurt anymore.
My limbs felt like lead as I removed the guard, but I found the strength to reach down and lift the leg of my pants. The old surgery scars on my knee were gone. The pain I had been living with for the last nineteen years was completely and suddenly absent.
My arms shook as I let go of my pants leg. I couldn't find the strength to lower it back to my ankle. I touched my nose as gingerly as I could with my hand jerking. It still hurt just as badly as it had before, but the ring finger on my left hand? It was bending again.
"Did it work?" I asked. Becca removed a few bits of ephemera from a mirrored tray on the coffee table, and raised it before my face.
My skin was no longer swollen and bruised, my nose still bloody but no longer dripping. Beneath my fingers, the bone felt whole again. It wasn't the only thing that had changed. The creases in my forehead, the crow's feet at the corner of my eyes, the smile and frown lines around my mouth, they were all gone. My skin was as smooth as though I was a teenager again.
My eyes were brighter, somehow. I had always gotten quite a lot of compliments on my green eyes, didn't think it was arrogant to recognize what others had told me, but they were different now, somehow paler yet deeper in color all at the same time. There was a new ring of yellow around the pupil that hadn't been there before. I felt with my tongue on the left side of my jaw.
The molar was back, like it had never been gone. It was different, though. Still a flat chewing surface but the edges were sharp, sharp enough that I sliced the tip of my tongue running it across the surface. I tasted blood for a moment before the cut was suddenly whole again.
I flexed my fingers experimentally, found the tremors were easing with every passing second and a flush was spreading across my body, both hot and cold all at once. Strength flooded my muscles, my mind was as clear as a bell, but despite all of that, I still felt a consuming weakness and exhaustion inside.
I'd gotten stuck for two shifts at the grocery store once, then had a call out on the stock crew and had stayed for four hours to help them. I had worked a total of twenty hours that day, and this… felt exactly like that, exhausted and as wired as a methhead on a three day bender all at the same time. Simultaneously bone-tired and hurting but feeling like I was bulletproof.
Becca was watching me with a sad grin.
"Hell of a ride, huh?"
I jerked my head in a nod, found I had to adjust the amount of force I put behind it because I was moving quicker than I had before.
"You know, I can see why Jimmy likes it… and Rocco doesn't."
"Rossi, well, how do I put this? He likes to stay in control, but he isn't a control freak. He barely even drinks… but Jimmy… he's less concerned about controlling himself and more concerned about controlling everyone else."
Becca stood then, removed some alcohol wipes and a tourniquet from the tackle box, turning on the blood warmer. She hooked the first of the bags to the IV line and sat again, opening the wipe but not removing it yet. She tied the tourniquet around her arm, or, tried to. She was struggling with it.
"You need some help with that?"
She looked at me for a moment before she nodded.
"Yeah, actually."
I took the tourniquet from her, moving before her and sitting on the coffee table.
"You know, as many years as I've been doing this, I still suck at it. Can't find a fucking vein for a goddamned hour at a time, blow them out everytime I turn around."
I made a sound of acknowledgment as I tied the tourniquet tight around her arm. I felt with my fingers, but wasn't having much luck. A slap with the back of my hand in the dip of her elbow didn't do much more to distend the veins. The back of her hand was equally lacking in usable veins.
"There's one thing about it, kid, you would have made a terrible junkie, you got shit for veins."
She made a sound of frustration and tried to pull her arm away from me.
"See, I told you."
"Uh-uh, hold on. You can launder money in your sleep, but me? I can find a vein with my eyes closed."
I felt farther up onto her forearm, then tried the back of it. I finally had luck, pressed the vein a few times to get it to stand up farther.
"See, you got a good one right there."
I wiped over it with the alcohol, grabbed the hypodermic and glanced up to her face. She had her eyes squeezed shut.
"On three."
She nodded, and I counted down, slid the needle in, then pressed the snap to leave only the cannula inside the vein, taped it down, then removed the tourniquet.
"All done."
I opened the tubing to allow the blood to start traveling down, and adjusted the flow regulator just a bit.
"Voila."
She stared at me for a long moment.
"You're really good at that. You ever considered going to school? You'd make a hell of a phlebotomist."
I snorted lightly.
"I can see all kind of doctors in my future just itching to hire a felon into their office."
"You could go work with Farid down at the free clinic. He runs the place, you know Muslims love doing charity work. They don't pay amazing, nonprofit and all, but he honestly don't give a shit who works there as long as you know what you're doing."
I hummed quietly. As I watched, the color drained from her face, going from white, straight to gray. She winced, and sat back against the couch stiffly.
"It hurts when it goes in the vein?" I asked the obvious.
She nodded.
"Burns like I shot up acid. Never gets any easier, but at least I don't get an in-game tutorial on a Grand Mal seizure, so… small blessings."
"You want a drink or something, B? A snack?"
She laughed weakly.
"Yeah. Give me a water and some oreos. They're in the cabinet over the stove."
I followed her directions and brought the bottle of water and a saucer of the cookies to her. She pulled one knee up, her bare foot balanced on the edge of the couch cushion and set the saucer on her other thigh.
"Can I ask you something, Tony?"
"Shoot, B."
She stayed silent for a long moment.
"You know, I don't want you to think I'm hitting on you but… would you… hold me?"
I laughed quietly and sat down beside her, looping my arm around her shoulders and tucking her in close to my side. I laid her head against my shoulder, tucked under my jaw, and looped my other arm around the front of her shoulders, smoothing my hand over her hair. She wiggled against me just a bit, getting comfortable.
"No worries at all, B. I mean, I guess you and me are literally famiglia now. And no offense, you're a good looking kid but… other than the fact you're too young for me, and you're my best friend's girl, you're not exactly my type."
She snorted.
"Let me guess, the gentleman prefers blondes and older women."
That gave me a bit of a chuckle.
"I gotta say, you got me pegged again, B."
I smoothed my hand over her hair, and began humming softly and rocking gently.
"No, Non Si Speri," she said, quietly. "That's funny, that's Ma's favorite song."
I laughed. Goddamned patterns…
"Mine, too, Miss Rebecca, mine, too."
She tried her best to relax against me, but I could feel every time she stiffened and winced.
Time to distract her again.
"So, uh, that night, Antoni came in late, and asked you out… start from there."
She adjusted her body against mine again.
"Yeah, uh… he asked me if I was seeing anyone, and I asked him why he wanted to know, and he told me he didn't want to step on anyone's toes… so I told him he should be worried about stepping on my toes, cause he was talking to the Boss of me. And he laughed, and asked me if I could ask the Boss about the girl who worked the register, if she would be interested in having dinner and seeing a movie. It kind of caught me off guard. I had been fantasizing about that exact thing happening but I was scared. I told him if he was just fucking with me I'd have to ban him from the store, permanently. But he said no, he was serious… so I told him that we'd go out that Saturday to see this horror movie that had just come out and he could pick where we ate, cause I'd eat most anything, just not to take me anywhere fancy, cause I only dress up for Mass and his ass wasn't better than God."
"You probably should have kept that bit to yourself, B. Bet you sealed the deal for him right then and there. He'd found his girl and she was already a Catholic, didn't even have to get her to convert."
"So we… went out the next night. I worked the morning shift so I could have the night off, and I had Antoni meet me on the platform so there'd be less chance of somebody seeing. All that day at work, I started to get more and more worried. The motherfucker was literally two feet taller than me, down to the inch, but I figured that put me at a good height to suckerpunch him in his balls if he stepped out of line. I ain't exactly a slouch when it comes to self defense but when I met him that night I took my steel telescoping baton with me, just in case. I didn't have to worry. He never laid a hand on me, not once, till I touched him that way first, even if it was as simple as holding my hand, or putting his arm around me.
"I mean, the man should be up for canonization… he had patience like a fucking Saint. That… that picture, on my phone, that was the first time I ever kissed him. Six weeks I made him wait. Six weeks and him taking me out every Saturday like clock work, but he never said a word, never made a pass, just waited for me."
I could hear tears feathering into her voice again.
"That day, I made him call off work so we could spend the day at Coney Island. Made him spend two hundred damned dollars on the fairway to win me this giant blue bear, and he lugged it around the rest of the day with this stupid grin on his face, carried it home on the fucking train. Six weeks, and me spending almost every night in his bed…"
"So you two slept together before you ever 'slept together'?"
I could feel her nod, more than see it.
"At first, I just wanted to give him a hard time… you know, see just how much patience he really had… but, I felt safe with him, Tony, sleeping beside him was the safest I'd ever felt in my life. I didn't want to give up that feeling. If I had known how it would all end up, I wouldn't have made either of us wait that long… but… that day, right before we left, we went on the Wonder Wheel and… the fucking engine blew. There was this loud ass boom and this big ass cloud of smoke. I thought it was a fucking bomb, to be honest. We were stuck up there at the top for four solid hours while they tried to fix the engine, and when they finally gave up and called the fire department, we had to wait for a ladder truck to get there. So after the first thirty minutes had passed, I asked him if he wanted to make out, and he grinned at me and said… Absolutely."
She sniffed back her tears, cleared her throat and I tucked her tiny body closer against my side.
"You know, he took that picture to send to his brother. He hadn't brought his phone, so he used mine. Said Igor had been riding his ass the whole time about how I was stringing him along for the past six weeks and he was stupid enough to let me. And after that, I got a little handsy, to be honest. It was like the old saying goes, there was some Roman Hands and Russian Fingers that day. I had to put his hands where I wanted them myself, but uh… he didn't need a lot of instruction after that point. The assholes in the booth behind us kept whooping and hollering, they knew exactly what was going on but… I didn't really give a fuck. I just wanted to get a nut and give him one, too, and we had hours to kill.
"We fooled around for a few more days after that, you know, exchanged some, uh, oral instruction, if you will, but… I-I was scared to death. I didn't want to admit I'd never been with a man before, so the night I decided to go all the way, I goaded Ciech into a drinking game. Drank his ass under the table, but… Antoni, that stupid fucker… he told me no. Said I was perfectly welcome to spend another night in his bed, but if I wanted more than that, then I had to come to him sober. I was so embarrassed I cussed him like a dog, in every language I knew and he just… sat there through the whole thing, never even looked up from his book, just… asked me if I was done acting like a spoiled child. So then, I started crying cause I was so angry. And then the stupid fucker told me, 'You shouldn't cry like that, it's embarassing."
I snorted.
"Yeah, he was a bitch about that, wasn't he? Little bit of toxic masculinity to spice things up, eh?"
"So then I was doubly pissed, and I didn't talk to him for three days."
She sighed.
"Most miserable three days of my life. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, it was like… every cell in my body was calling for him. I finally broke down, and begged him not to say no again… and he didn't. And, Jesus Christ, I wanted it every day after that, sometimes twice a day and… he never told me no again. It took a little while to get comfortable for the two of us, but eventually we started to share some of our proclivities with each other.
"Turned out he was a sadomasochist, just like me, so we uh, added some new activities in. We both got a kick out of the fact he could throw me around like a rag doll and fold me up like a pretzel, but, personally, I think he got a bigger kick out of the fact my little ass could actually hurt him if I really wanted to… and sometimes I wanted to. I'd have a bad day at work or school, and come home and take it out on him… and he loved every second of it."
She sighed again.
"But uh, that shit, it got us both in trouble. One night in early November, I had gotten a little rough with him. He had, you know, bruises and scratch marks and bite marks all over him. And the next day when he went to work, the heating system fucked up. It was running on high, no matter how low they put it… Antoni told me he was getting so hot his head was hurting. His Dad was up front on the counter and Toni was back there where none of the customers could see, so he thought he was safe and took his shirt off, but… his Dad came back to ask him something.
"You know, I guess from the outside looking in, it kind of looked like Antoni'd gotten a hold of somebody that didn't wanna be gotten a hold of, and apparently his Dad has very strongly held convictions when it comes to rape. So he uh… jerked Antoni's ass up, pinned him against the wall and asked him what in the hell he had done. And Antoni told me he was so damned scared that all he could think to say was, 'Don't worry, it was consensual.'"
I winced.
"Ohhh… that is…"
"Yeah, not good. So then he got his ass jumped for getting, uh, 'friendly' with somebody but not having brought me there to introduce me to the family… but, apparently he had already been planning on taking me over to Greenpoint, cause a couple of weeks before he had asked me for my measurements. Hell, I figured he wanted to buy me a catsuit to go along with the damned Dominatrix boots he bought me. He used to want me to stand on his chest, step on his hands..."
"The boot worship comment makes a lot more sense now," I muttered.
"What?"
"I said continue your story." I raised my voice back to speaking.
She sat in silence for another minute. I could practically hear her frowning, but in the end she didn't push it.
"Anyway… I'd told the stupid fucker not to buy me a dress, and what did he do? Bought me a dress to meet his family in. But when I saw it, I didn't even care. It was beautiful, all these colorful, gorgeous embroidered flowers all over the skirt. There was like this flower crown that went with it, with all these ribbons hanging down. The family dinner he was planning to take me to was an informal Polish Independence Day celebration, you know, not the whole neighborhood, just the people they knew. And the dress was traditional Polish clothing. I felt so goddamned out of place wearing that thing, everybody on the train kept staring, but he was wearing funny clothes too, and this stupid little hat, so it wasn't so bad. He made me wear the damned boots with the dress, though."
Laughter burst out of me.
"And you know, his Dad's eyes got kind of big when he first saw me."
"Probably trying to figure out how you'd torn his son's ass up so bad with as tiny as you are."
"But they were nice to me, his parents and his cousins. Everybody was nice to me. And it wasn't long after that, about a month, that he asked me to marry him. I guess he was nervous too, and he got drunk hisself, and then I told him no, cause I'm a spiteful bitch. Said he was perfectly welcome to have me in his bed another night but if he wanted more, he had to come to me sober… and then I asked him where the hell the ring was, and he said he wasn't going to buy a ring if I wasn't going to say yes, and I told him I wasn't going to say yes unless I had a ring. But apparently he had bought a ring, and given it to his mother to keep."
She held her left hand up to show me. It was a 3 carat Princess cut diamond with a ring of smaller diamonds around it.
"It's a brand of lab grown diamonds, Mivoleti." She said quietly.
"Mi vole ti, 'I want you,' in Italian. Odd that."
"Yeah," she answered. "And now I can't even wear it, nobody knew we were together but his family. Come to think of it, I got no idea how I'm gonna tell Pops I'm pregnant, but, I guess at least he can't threaten to kill Antoni for deflowering his daughter, seeing as he's already dead and all."
I shook my head, squeezed her tight and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"It's gonna be alright, Becca." I had no idea how it was going to be alright, but I had to say something. "Looks like it's time to switch bags."
We finished the transfusion some time after that. I removed the IV but didn't bother with the gauze or tape. The hole in Becca's arm sealed shut almost immediately after I pulled the cannula from the vein.
We slept. I don't remember falling asleep, but when I opened my eyes it was dark outside and the apartment was getting cold again. I tried not to wake Becca, but it was a pointless effort. She watched me bleary-eyed while I filled the heater with Kerosene again and relit it.
"What time is it?" I asked in a sleep-gravelled voice.
She turned her phone on and glanced at the screen.
"It's 8:05. You got about two hours till you go get Ma. Go get something to wear while I wash that suit, and take a quick hot shower so you don't freeze to death."

submitted by bimbo_wannabe_ to redditserials [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 21:36 Polifem The Bangkok show was a cathartic experience

EDIT: filler picture so Reddit doesn't show my FUCKING CRYING FACE AS A THUMBNAIL LOL
Oh well, here we go again.
You know something has rattled your soul to the core when you suddenly feel an urge to go make a bazillion character post on Reddit. I've been to more than a dozen BM shows at this point, but only once have I felt the urge to post something like this before. Today, my dear kitsune-tachi, is the second time.
The dust after Bangkok show has settled, I'm completely emotionally drained, and overcharged at the same time. This was hands down one of the very best BM concerts I've attended. To be completely honest this is easily top 3 right after LMG and Helsinki (ok this one's odd so I'll quickly explain: this was the show where I was center barrier in a tiniest of venues with a stage so low and so close to the barrier, it seemed that the band was playing just for me in my living room, and I didn't even notice the dead crowd until I heard other hardcore fans in the pit ranting about it right after the show). Actually, not even "right after", but "alongside". It felt so good.
The circumstances of me getting to the show are batshit insane so I'll definitely give you that context. I've been monitoring flight prices for Bangkok for 2-3 months before, and they have always fluctuated around 1k USD for a roundtrip from Moscow (where I live). So on may 25th, at 11:00 pm in the evening, just for the sake of it I decide to check how much would it cost to fly to Bangkok the very next day. And I see a roundtrip flight through Manama, Bahrain, departing from DME on the 26th at 16:10, at 550$. The lowest price I've seen in many months. I frantically check the availability of show tickets. They are all available including VIP!! Well... Then there was a night of booking various things and packing my shit, and then an absolutely insane morning at work where I had to sort everything out in 3 hours to ensure my unavailability until Tuesday morning wouldn't negatively impact the company in any way until I had to leave for the airport at like ~12 pm.
I'm so glad I followed that urge to JUST GO. I wouldn't have even beat myself over it if I didn't, but it's really funny to think that there is another Polifem in a parallel universe somewhere who decided to go to bed instead of checking ticket prices, having absolutely no clue that he could've got an insane charge of positive energy for many months to come... And could've been sitting after the show with a bunch of Thai fans with a beer in hand, speaking no common language but vibing in the exact same emotional register with them. AND I'M SO HAPPY I'M NOT HIM!
So, how was the show itself?
Well. Funny how some things are totally different in an actual live environment compared to recordings, both pro-shot, and fancams. For example, we meme about Distortion constantly (including myself), but there's nothing more fun than shouting Alissa's lines and Wowowow's during C&R on top of your lungs at a concert. You can meme all you want about "worst setlist" if it has Distortion in it, but it's actually this song that will get your voice completely fucked at a show. Or gimme chocolate. Yeah, it's old, and hardcore fans are sick and tired of it, however, have you tried to jump as high as you can during the chorus following the exact rhythm of a snare drum? Try that at home, you're gonna be surprised. You'll instinctively be doing it live, and it's hella fun. Also it's great that the full instrumental mute is back in RoR for the smaller shows. The fact that it wasn't there in the 2019-2020 US/EU tour was really disappointing, this has always been a moment of great unification between the fans and the band, good thing that they now do it not only in Japan.
The whole setlist was an absolute fire, which was the general consensus right after Jakarta show, so I kinda knew what I was getting when booking tickets (I STILL can't believe how fucking crazy is that. I actually watched the fancam of the entire Jakarta show at home having absolutely no idea I'll actually be at the very next show in 3 days in person LOL 😂), but some things I already mentioned above, and some things about to be mentioned, still surprised me. Here are some highlights:
1) I really loved that both the opening and ending songs were BMD and IDZ respectively, since they hold a very special place in my heart. I've always wanted to hear BMD live ever since that first barrage of sound on the Wembley blu-ray, which completely and irreversibly punched me into the fox hole, and it really did rattle my bones live like hell. IDZ is simply my favourite song by BM and having it close the show was something truly inspiring.
2) I also considered GREAT the lack of stupid lore at the end. Having girls themselves say goodbye felt a lot more human and the show itself felt a lot more complete. All they did is said a couple of kind words, thanked for coming, asked how was the show, bowed, and left after saying goodbye in thai. But the impact of that felt really different from the usual lore shenanigans, and it was a lot more fulfilling.
3) Fucking Anthony Barone, why are you so good? Honestly his drumming brings so much energy and brutal vibe to the show, you cannot even properly deal with it. There was a fill, I think in iine of all things, which made my mind completely shut down and go "WHHAAAAT?!" He's the GOAT and his style suits this band immensely.
4) New costumes fit the girls really nicely and look gorgeous live. Lighting had a great production as well which enhanced that feeling. I actually think that the high quality video will be able to convey the full awesomeness of their costumes, so when the BD of the Clear Night gets released, everyone will have a chance to properly look at them.
5) They considerably upped their game with the video footage. I thought to myself that the screen is finally helping the experience instead of tampering with the flow of the show. Kami did get lost again, but the ladies looked amazing with the footage behind them, especially in MAYA, IDZ (the thumbs up moment in front of the starry sky was really amazing), and PA PA YA with fire and shit.
6) Speaking of... Well, I cannot just say nothing about PA PA YA here, can I? It's the biggest elephant in the room in this show after all. One big, charismatic, rapping Thai elephant in a magnificent red coat with a towel in his hand. AND IT WAS HEAT!!! Well first of all, the amount of towels in the first few rows (I was center in the 3rd row) was as many as you could've hoped for. Second of all, F.Hero was unbelievably lively and charismatic. He drowned the entire hall with his energy! Girls were having the time of their lives as well, they seemed very relaxed, it was obvious they didn't really rehearse his feat and improvised on the go, and that actually made the whole thing really special. Honestly, I recommend you go watch some fancams of his cameo, you'll get it.
7) The high kick in BxMxC instead of the usual ponytail headbang by Su really deserves its own honorable mention. When she just brutally kicked the air almost higher than her own height, it was obvious that no, they didn't actually get tired on the long tour with Sabaton. You don't do shit like this when you're off your game.
8) There were a couple of technical hiccups during the encore, particularly with Su. They had her backtrack stand out too much during one moment in MK (not nearly on the level of Kagerou in Moscow, but it was still visible), and also forgot to switch her mic on in the opening notes of IDZ so the first "rururu"s weren't there at all, which is a shame, she always sings those so softly, you really feel the moment. But oh well, it's a live show, shit happens. The sound overall was REALLY good though in this venue, even though Su was drowned out at times. And I say it while I stood at the front, I imagine it was even better near the sound desk.
However, all this time I was tiptoeing around the biggest highlight of the show for me. The thing that actually made Bangkok a cathartic experience. FUCKING MONOCHROME HOLY SHIT. It's a godlike, transcendental experience. Su sings it with such a passion, the song itself has such a good structure, beautiful melody, gorgeous passionate choreography, it's one of the very best things this band has ever released. A true classic. And live... It's just on another plane of existence. Unity, tranquility, some kind of emotional rebirth, you feel it all. Here's my face right after it finished. I just cried the entire song starting from the first chorus. I've only ever had a cathartic experience of this magnitude once in my life: during the intro to IDZ at LMG-2. And this feeling and memory of hearing Monochrome live for the first time will also be locked firmly in my mind until I die. This is simply inevitable.
Honestly everything just CLICKED for this show. The spontaneity with which I went to the show; availability of VIP tickets which allowed me to be at the front; great venue with amazing sound; absolute FIRE of a setlist, the best in years; unique performance of PA PA YA!!; energy of the crowd (at least where I was); and the band itself which is no doubt on top of their game right now. But what made it click isn't really the combination of all these points, but rather the single and indivisible pile of positive energy they helped to shape inside my soul during this amazing weekend.
I'm now sitting in Bahrain on my layover before flying back home. I feel surprisingly calm and focused. I don't feel like I really need more, and I'm not sad everything is over so quickly. Not at all. I'm just fully charged and feel completely rested and at peace. I want to go back to work, work hard, be better version of myself. And then, hopefully in half a year, I'll see them again. Fingers crossed.
NOTHING I have experienced in this life has EVER affected me emotionally stronger than a BABYMETAL show. I don't know why. Everything inside me just turns upside down, I gasp for air, I want to live, breathe, and experience, sparing no expense whatsoever. We truly live in a greatest of timelines. One in which BABYMETAL, having started as, let's be honest here, a quirky experiment and somewhat of a joke (albeit a really smart one) just stubbornly refuses to fall into obscurity and oblivion, and continues to improve for TWELVE YEARS ALREADY, while having 3 out of 4 founding members still going strong (obviously I include Koba in this equation). And the addition of Momoko as a full member will do wonders for them, I'm absolutely sure of it.
I really wish for everyone to have something in their lives with the same level of emotional engagement as we do with BABYMETAL. The world might become a better place. Otherwise, why would you even wanna live?

submitted by Polifem to BABYMETAL [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 20:35 shelly12345678 Volunteering in Tamale

I spent the last 4 months volunteering in Tamale, and this is what I wish I knew before I went:

it's safe. Like, stuff happens, but if you yell, people will help you
a little Dagbani goes a long way
people are very open to questions about their city and culture
everyone will ask for your WhatsApp. "I don't give out my number" will usually be enough.
imported food is very expensive - Bring olive oil, nuts and seeds, cheese, milk powder...
clothes and labour are very cheap
there are no ear plugs or dental floss in the entire city, I swear
yes, dress conservatively... but bring other clothes for when you travel or are chilling at home
AC's aren't overly common, and they're expensive to run. Electricity is through the roof
electronics and home appliances are somehow the same price as North America and Europe
When you invite people somewhere, you'll be expected to pay
know the appropriate price for a yellow yellow (pragia) and pay it - if you ask, you'll probably get overcharged
if you find a good driver, keep them on speed dial - I recommend Clement at Clement's Yellow Yellow Tricycle Transportation +233 24 019 6469 https://maps.app.goo.gl/VybsASagZnhZ9Jr2A
Bolt is an option, but only runs til about 9

Let me know if you have any other questions :)

submitted by shelly12345678 to ghana [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 20:32 gaikravik Best Discounted Offer On COSMO COS-668AS750 30 in. Wall Mount Range Hood with 380 CFM, Curved Glass, Ducted Convertible Ductless (additional filters needed, not included), 3 Speeds, Permanent Filters in Stainless Steel

About this item:

Built with cutting-edge technology and with the utmost care, Cosmo brings you beautiful premium range hoods at an affordable price. Expect cooking and cleaning experiences that make life easier, brighten up your kitchen, and protect your health
EFFICIENT AIRFLOW: 380 CFM removes smells and odors with ease for a clean kitchen. Ducted range hood vents outside and away from your home. Converts to ductless range hood with Carbon Filter Kit Purchase Part # CFK1-TM (sold separately). Noise level as low as 50 dB on lowest fan speed with rigid ducting (sold separately) under optimal conditions; range hood comes with flexible ducting for convenient installation
SUPERIOR FILTRATION: Includes 2 matching dishwasher-safe, stainless steel ARC-FLOW Permanent Filters to trap cooking grease and oil. Save money on range hood filters every year
TOUCH CONTROL PANEL: Range hood equipped with high-tech LCD soft-touch control panel to manage multiple functions, including 3 fan speeds and LED lighting for added visibility
3-YEAR LIMITED PARTS: Our customer support team is based proudly in the USA. Range Hood Dimensions: 30 in. (W) x 18.5 in. (D) x Adjustable 21.5 in. - 39.2 in. (H). Electrical: 120V/60Hz, 3-prong plug. Duct Size: 6 in.

Buy Best Discounted Offer: https://amzn.to/3II5BXW

submitted by gaikravik to BestDiscountoffer [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 20:24 2mrwstaken False advertising

Why is 7 Virtues Rose Amber showing select items as $23.5 in red and full price when clicked? Not all of their products are on sale so this is confusing.

submitted by 2mrwstaken to Sephora [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 19:38 hnghjhgj Heat vs Celtics Game 7 Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Bam Shows Out Inside TD Garden

Somehow, someway, the Celtics have won three straight games to climb out of a 3-0 hole, forcing an all-or-nothing Game 7 inside TD Garden with a spot in the NBA Finals hanging in the balance. Find out where the best bet lies in our NBA betting picks below.

In some alternate NBA universe, the Miami Heat swept the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. In another, the Heat took the series in five games. And in another playoff multi-verse, Miami needed six games to drop pesky Boston.

That’s not the case in our wild and twisted universe, where we get a Game 7 between the Heat and Celtics on Monday night.

Boston has battled back from a 0-3 hole in the East finals, slapping NBA playoff odds in the face for what they had priced out as an 8% chance of completing the unprecedented comeback.

As of Monday morning, the Celtics are 7.5-point home favorites and boast a 75% shot at advancing to the NBA Finals, according to the moneyline odds.

I dive deeper into the Game 7 spread and OveUnder total and give my best NBA betting picks for Heat at Celtics on May 29. Be sure to also check out Rory Breasail's favorite Game 7 prop picks!

Heat vs Celtics Game 7 picks and predictions
The Miami Heat’s most consistent contributor during the NBA Playoffs was Bam Adebayo... until he wasn’t.

Adebayo, who had been an anchor for Miami’s postseason push on both ends of the floor, had his first truly bad game of the playoffs at the worst possible time.

The 6-foot-9 forward went 4-for-16 from the floor and finished with only 11 points in the 104-103 Game 6 loss at home, after shooting 54% and averaging 17.5 points per game during the tournament until that point.

Miami bettors are banking on a return to form from Bam, but NBA odds may be a little more reserved when it comes to his points prop for Game 7. Sportsbooks have Adebayo’s OveUnder at 16.5 points (Over -125).

Player models are much more optimistic and so much so that I can’t ignore an Over on Adebayo’s scoring tonight. All mainstream projections are calling for at least 17.7 points with a number north of 18 and some pegged at 19 points against the Boston Celtics. My number comes in at 18.31 points.

Even in his quieter offensive outings during the Eastern Conference Finals, Adebayo still shot well and got to the charity stripe. He’s averaging 15.3 points for the series and opened the East finals with efforts of 20 and 22 points, with shot totals of 13 and 17, respectively.

Bam was less active on offense through Games 3 and 4 as the Celtics defense showed him more respect, but his field goal attempts are back up the past two outings with totals of 15 and 16 shots in the past two contests.

"Keep shooting the shots that I'm shooting," a resilient Adebayo told the media after his Game 6 struggles. "I've got confidence in myself like no other. For me, it feels like a lid is on the rim, but I've got to figure out how to make that basketball go in."

An insane atmosphere inside TD Garden won’t shake the six-year pro, as he’s upped his output in enemy territory all season. Adebayo averages 20.7 points, going an average of 8-for-15 from the floor in road games. So far in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, he’s putting up 17.8 points on 54.4% success as a visitor.

Heat vs Celtics Game 7 same-game parlay

Bam bounces back from a bad Game 6 and comes up big against a slimmer point prop in this do-or-die showdown in Beantown. My number for Adebayo is more than 18 points while some models call for 19.

Going Under on Marcus Smart, who will be a defensive devil in Game 7 but will see his scoring dip. Projections call for 12.5 points which is short of 13.5 and some books are at 14.5 O/U, so shop if you can.

Finally, taking Al Horford to dish out at least three dimes. Most models have three or more from the Celtics forward with my number just short at 2.9 assists. He had only two assists in Game 6 but tallied five and four in the two games prior.

Bonus: if you want a kicker, Kyle Lowry Over 2.5 assists is a nice add-on. He’s projected for more than four dimes with some models posting a ceiling of five. However, this prop isn’t available for all SGP markets just yet.

Heat vs Celtics Game 7 spread and OveUnder analysis

You would think that after six games of head-to-head encounters, the Game 7 spread for the Eastern Conference Finals would be drum tight. However, we’ve seen plenty of movement from the opening odds to early Monday morning.

Following Boston’s 1-point victory in Game 6, the spread hit the board as big as Celtics -8.5 with the team coming back home with all the momentum. That line stayed put for about 30 minutes before early play on the Heat started chipping away.

The line dropped to Boston -8 by midnight Sunday morning and has since slipped to as low as Celtics -7 at most books as of Monday morning. Bettors watched Miami hang around for most of Game 6 despite its worst shooting night, and the Celtics barely held off a fourth-quarter rally on the road for a 104-103 win on a last-second offensive putback from Derrick White.

According to Covers Consensus, 72% of picks are siding with Miami on the road in Game 7. Action at BetMGM books has been even heavier on the Heat, with the sportsbook reporting 81% of bets and 82% of handle taking the points with the underdog Monday night.

Boston has been much better on the defensive end over the past three contests, tightening their vice on Miami’s top stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

The Heat’s complementing talents were shooting extremely well to start the series but have since cooled, and the Celtics have been able to focus energy on slowing down those two standouts. Butler and Adebayo were a collective 9-for-37 from the floor in Game 6, with the Heat making only 35% of their shots as a team.

That improvement on the defensive end has been a boon to Under bettors. After the opening three games of the East final went Over the closing totals of 212, 214, and 214.5 points, the past three games have stayed below numbers of 216, 214.5, and 209 points in Game 6.

The OveUnder total for Game 7 hit the board at a very low 203 points, making it just the fifth total of 205 points or less in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The previous four short totals (ranging from 205 to 201) have produced a 0-4 OveUnder record, all staying below the closing number.

The pace of the series has also changed dramatically from the opening three games to the last three, with Miami’s 3-0 lead being run at a rating of 97.17 while Boston’s trio of victories came in at 93.3 in terms of tempo.

Early play on the Heat-Celtics Game 7 OveUnder was on the Over and bumped the total up to 203.5 over the weekend, which has peaked to 204 at some shops as of Monday morning.

BetMGM sportsbooks are reporting 75% of bets and 60% of the handle taking the Over in Game 7. Covers Consensus is in line with those splits, as 81% of picks are banking on a higher-scoring finish to this exciting series finale.

Heat vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Heat are 8-4 SU and 9-3 ATS as underdogs this postseason and 21-16 ATS (57%) when getting the points overall on the entire season (regular, play-in, playoffs). Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Celtics.

Covers NBA betting tools
NBA odds
NBA picks
NBA player props
Best NBA betting sites
Today’s NBA matchups
Heat vs Celtics Game 7 game info
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date: Monday, May 29, 2023
Tip-off: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Heat vs Celtics Game 7 key injuries

Boston Celtics
Player Position Status
Malcolm Brogdon SG
Ques Mon - Forearm
Reported: Sun, May 28
Danilo Gallinari SF
Out for season - Knee
Reported: Thu, September 8

Miami Heat
Player Position Status
Victor Oladipo SG
Out for season - Knee
Reported: Sun, April 23
Tyler Herro SG
Early June - Hand
Reported: Fri, April 21
Gabe Vincent SG
Ques Mon - Ankle
Reported: Sun, May 28

submitted by hnghjhgj to nbaNews [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 19:37 livefast6221 [US-VA] [H] 70 Star Wars Sets 2006 - 2012 incl 10195 Dropship w/ AT-OT, 10188 UCS DS, 10215 UCS Obi-Wan’s Fighter, and many more! [W] PayPal

https://imgur.com/a/aPZ9d4b
This is the one you've been waiting for...
HUGE Lot of Lego Star Wars sets from 2006 - 2012 for sale. All sets are in excellent used condition, clean Legos, complete with stickers well-applied, and have been verified against BrickLink inventories, however due to the possibility of human error, they are being listed as 99% complete. All sets include Instructions which range in condition from fair to very good - feel free to request pics of specific booklets. Unless otherwise noted, all sets include all Minifigs. Most sets priced a bit below similarly conditioned sets currently available on BL in the US. Buyer pays S&H. Discounts available for multiple purchases.
10178 Motorized Walking AT-AT - $225.00 10188 UCS Death Star - $550.00 10195 Republic Dropship With AT-OT - $1,000.00 10198 Tantive IV - $215.00 10215 Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter - UCS - $245.00 10225 R2-D2 - UCS (Includes Box) - $165.00 6208 B-Wing w/ Command Center - $50.00 6211 Imperial Star Destroyer - $200.00 6212 X-Wing - $50.00 6212 X-Wing - $50.00 6212 X-Wing (Missing Leia) - $45.00 7658 Y-Wing - $45.00 7661 Jedi Starfighter w/ Hyperdrive Ring - $135.00 7666 Hoth Rebel Base - $120.00 7667 Imperial Dropship - $15.00 7668 Rebel Scout Speeder - $10.00 SOLD 7669 Anakin's Jedi Starfighter - $20.00 7670 Hailfire Droid and Spider Droid - $45.00 7671 AT-AP Walker - $50.00 7672 Rogue Shadow - $200.00 7673 Magna Guard Starfighter - $75.00 7674 V-19 Torrent - $145.00 7675 AT-TE (w/ P1 Rex) - $285.00 7676 Republic Attack Gunship (w/ P1 Cody) - $285.00 7679 Republic Fighter Tank - $115 .00 7680 The Twilight (Missing Rotta Minifig) - $235.00 7681 Separatist Spider Droid (Missing Commander Fox) - $55.00 7748 Corporate Alliance Tank Droid - $55.00 7749 Echo Base - $35.00 7751 Ahsoka's Starfighter vs. Vulture Droid (Missing R7-A7 Minifig) - $125.00 7752 Count Dooku's Solar Sailer - $140.00 7753 Pirate Tank - $75.00 7754 Home One - Mon Calamari Star Cruiser (Mising Lando's Cape) - $145.00 7778 Midi-Scale Millennium Falcon - $45.00 7869 Battle For Geonosis - $150.00 7914 Mandalorian Battle Pack - $15.00 SOLD 7915 Imperial V-Wing - $10.00 7929 The Battle of Naboo - $35.00 7931 T-6 Jedi Shuttle - $125.00 7957 Sith Nightspeeder - $45.00 8014 Clone Walker Battle Pack - $40.00 8015 Assassin Droid Battlepack - $5.00 8016 Hyena Droid Bomber - $25.00 8017 Darth Vader's Tie Fighter - $40.00 8018 AAT - $65.00 8019 Republic Attack Shuttle - $100.00 8036 Separatist Shuttle - $45.00 8037 Anakin's Y-Wing - $100.00 8038 The Battle of Endor - $150.00 8039 Venator - $285.00 SOLD 8083 Rebel Trooper Battle Pack - $10.00 SOLD 8084 Snowtrooper Battle Pack - $10.00 8085 Freeco Speeder - $15.00 8086 Droid Tri-Fighter - $40.00 8087 Tie Defender - $85.00 8088 ARC-170 - $150.00 8089 Hoth Wampa Cave (No Wampa) - $30.00 8091 Republic Swamp Speeder - $40.00 8092 Luke's Landspeeder - $10.00 8093 Plo Koon's Jedi Starfighter - $50.00 8095 General Grievous' Starfighter - $40.00 8096 Emperor Palpatine's Shuttle (Missing sw0282 Torso) - $50.00 8097 Slave I (3rd Edition) - $100.00 8098 Clone Turbo Tank - $225.00 8099 Midi-Scale Imperial Star Destroyer - $75.00 8129 AT-AT - $115.00 9491 Geonosian Cannon - $35.00 20019 Slave I - Polybag - $10.00 20021 Bounty Hunter Assault Gunship - Polybag - $5.00

submitted by livefast6221 to Legomarket [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 19:29 Oreolover1907 The best raves I've been to allow hydropacks.

I got into raving last year. Got an anti theft hydropack for Okee and loved it. I usually am stuck wearing jeans at shows to hold my wallet / keys / vape / phone. All of my outfits I bought to dance in either don't have pockets or they're like gym shorts and shit falls out.
Also I'm terrified to have my phone in loose fitting shorts. Twice now I've accidently dialed 911 emergency services just waking in my house and fucking thankfully heard it both times and said no emergency. I'm scared of that happening at a show and the cops showing up bc of me. Including coming home at 3am two weeks ago high on 2cb
Almost all of the venues I had gone to didn't allow hydropacks and I hate fanny packs. As a guy jumping up and down in one is uncomfortable. I also don't drink alcohol at all and fucking hate holding a cup of water in my hands or trying to fit one in my pants and dancing.
I got this future shawl cape thing I wear over top of the backpack when I'm dancing and not scared of being pick pocketed. I usually buy bottles of water to fill it up and support the place spending maybe $10 all night.
I've gotten compliments on my outfits lately which feels great bc I spent a ton of time trying to pick them out and go together. Really feel I can express myself and fully escape from reality for a few hours. Other positive thing is I could fit my pack of glowstick bracelets I got to share at Okee and forgot about in. Handing them to out to people and watching their smiles breaking them made my night
Tldr. I went to a local underground rave Saturday night and it was one of my favorite nights ever. Almost don't want to go to the big venues that attract popular artists bc they don't allow hydropacks. I could go to like 3 of these local events for the price of one big name show that ends by 3. I left at 5am and it was still going.
Almost saying that if they don't allow hydropacks it's not a rave but I don't like speaking in definates.

submitted by Oreolover1907 to aves [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 19:22 aaronfinch1982 Resideo Thermostats: Enhancing Home Comfort and Energy Efficiency_PartsHnC

Homeowners can remotely control the temperature of their homes with Resideo thermostats using their smartphones, tablets, or laptops. In order to maximize comfort while minimizing energy use, they are built to learn the heating and cooling preferences of homeowners and adjust accordingly. Resideo thermostats come in a variety of variants, each with unique features and functionalities. Some of the popular types include the Resideo T9 and T10 Pro Smart Thermostats, which come with remote sensors that allow homeowners to manage the temperature in different rooms of their houses separately.
Each Resideo thermostat model that PartsHnC sells has special characteristics and functionality. Because of our competitive prices and dependable customer service, you can count on us to provide you with the best products and support for your needs in home automation. We also offer same-day shipping, secure payment, the best quality, easy returns, and excellent customer service. PartsHnc offers the following Resideo thermostats:

T10 Pro at smarts tat W/Redl Sensor For Resideo -Part# THX321WFS2001W
Thermostat Beige For Resideo -Part# T498A1786
Lyric T6 Pro Z-Wave Thermostat For Resideo -Part# TH6320ZW2003
2Ht/2Cl Prog 24V T6 Stat For Resideo -Part# TH6220U2000

submitted by aaronfinch1982 to PartsHnC_USA [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 19:17 MarlynnOfMany Double Duty

It’s a rare day when I have to squint at the sight of a house, but this one was shiny. A giant ball woven out of the brightest metal wires I’d seen in a while, all gold and copper in complex patterns. It made my head hurt to look at. Probably imitation metals, because surely that would be impractical and expensive to use actual gold. But what did I know? Not my species.
I squinted as I walked up with the package, wondering if that was rude of me. My little human eyes probably always looked like I was squinting though, compared to the big bug eyes of the Mesmer who lived there.
And the one walking beside me. Zhee was nodding quietly to himself while he took in the sight, with his vibrant purple praying-mantis exoskeleton looking right at home. If I hadn’t known that one of his people lived here, somehow I feel like I would have guessed. It was flashy in the extreme.
And so was the walkway, a glittering stripe of vivid red that curved through a garden full of alien flowers that probably didn’t bite. I didn’t like the looks of the local butterfly analogues, though; they had stingers I could see from here. I was glad they were keeping their distance.
Zhee reached the door first — a solid slab of bronze with an inlaid galaxy of gemstones, naturally — and he found the doorbell while I ducked under another butterfly. The chime was a brief melody from an instrument I couldn’t identify. It sounded like a violin invented by people whose earliest music was made by rubbing their legs together.
The door pulled inward and slid to the side, showcasing the homeowner who must have been waiting right there for us. Up close, the side of the house had window space visible between the weave, ideal for peeking out but not being seen until you were ready for your close-up.
“Good greetings!” announced the Mesmer woman who towered over both of us, a spectacle of metallic rose-gold coloring. Surely that couldn’t be natural. I’d never seen a Mesmer yet with metal tones; this had to be like full-body nail polish. But I sure as heck wasn’t about to say a peep about it now. I’d ask Zhee later.
“Greetings,” Zhee returned, urging me forward. “Your package.”
I handed it over, wondering if I’d get to see how the thing opened. It was one of the plastic puzzle box dealies that had been a popular way to ship valuables lately. There was one button on top and no visible seams.
Even with that thought, I was surprised when she grabbed it with her pincher arms, kicked a side table into view with one leg, then set it down and tapped out a rhythm on the button. The box split open to dramatically reveal the custom stained-glass lamp that we’d delivered in perfect condition, thankyouverymuch.
“Exquisite,” she said, holding it up to let the light shine through all the aquas and teals. “Just what the blue room needs.” She looked at us. “I have one of each color, you know.”
Zhee nodded like that was normal and admirable. “Excellent.” He held out the electronic payment pad without being so gauche as to mention it out loud, and the customer chattered away about her house as she set down the lamp and paid.
“…The yellow room was the biggest hassle, of course, but I’m most pleased with the rainbow room. I have art, rare plants and a few select exotic animals in there. Those have been a different type of challenge, especially the new one.”
That caught my attention. As I was wondering how best to ask what kind of animals she kept, Zhee beat me to it.
“Animals, you say?” He gestured theatrically toward me. “Robin is an expert in animal care, if you need a consult.”
I turned my head to stare at him with my best what-did-you-just-volunteer-me-for expression, which he could certainly see, given those eyes’ range of vision. He didn’t react.
“I would appreciate a look, now that you mention it,” the large alien said. “My prize oil-slick tentacle has stopped eating, and has begun shaking in a strange way when I get near.”
Zhee immediately haggled for a consultation fee while I wracked my brain for any knowledge of this alien whatsit. I was going to have words with Zhee afterward.
But apparently I was going to look at this thing first. The customer agreed to the price, payable afterward, and led us both into the house. It was just as multicolored as expected. Like each room had been given to a different child to design, with the instructions to use as many expensive jewel tones as possible.
The rainbow room was actually a relief, surprisingly enough. There were darker accents to make the furniture and murals stand out. And the various terrariums were clear glass. I looked between feathers and shells and flowers for anything that could be described as a tentacle.
“It’s over here,” she said, leading me toward a glass case under a spotlight. “I haven’t had it very long, but it was eating before, and I just don’t know why. The medi-scanner says it’s not ill. Perhaps I need a new scanner. What do you think?”
Feeling like the spotlight was aimed directly at me, I stepped up for a look at the thing curled up in the corner. It was, as expected, iridescent like an oil slick. But those scales were familiar.
I moved around it to get a look at the head, then smiled and stood up straight. “That’s a sunbeam snake! My favorite kind!”
“Okay, but what’s wrong with it?” the alien woman asked. “When I give it food, it hisses at me and shudders!” She waggled a pincher arm in imitation.
“It’s trying to scare you away,” I said. “They shake their tails like rattlesnakes do, though they don’t have rattles or venom.”
“Well, I don’t know about all that,” she said with a huff. “Why is it doing that? I’ve been more than kind to it!”
“I’m afraid you’ve given it nowhere to hide,” I explained gently, spreading my hands at the tank with a black floor and only a small water dish in the center. Little blobs of meat littered the area. Images of plants had been painted into the corners, but that did less than nothing to help a burrowing animal. “This type of snake needs several inches of plant life or loose soil to dig into. For one this size, I’d say at least this deep.” I held my hands six inches apart.
“It digs?” the customer asked. “They didn’t tell me that!”
“It spends most of its time hidden,” I said. “Or at least, it’s meant to. This one is extremely stressed by being out in the open like this.”
I was a little worried how she’d take the news, given that this was her prize specimen with all the lights aimed to showcase its rainbow scales. But to her credit, she listened while I suggested framing a good photo of the snake outside the tank, then only watching it during mealtime. Any visiting friends could be told how exotic and special the animal was, and how lucky they would be to even catch a glimpse of it.
“Yes,” she said, clearly thinking. “Yes, I can work with that. I’ll arrange for the adjustments to the enclosure. You said this much ground cover?” She held her pincher arms apart.
“Right, at least that much,” I agreed. “Ideally you’ll also want to bury a few things for enrichment, like rocks and bark and sections of tubing, and have a couple of those on the surface for it to hide under when it comes up for food.”
We ended up going into a different room where she could take notes, which did more to put me at ease about the snake’s future care. I waved at it as I left, wishing it well. I’d always liked sunbeams. Good thing I remembered the specifics of their care needs.
“You’ll also want a bigger water dish, so it can slither through it,” I said. “And the tank should be both warm and very humid…”
The customer took lots of notes while Zhee alternated between standing there looking smug and casting an appraising eye at the room’s gaudy features. This was the purple room, and he blended right in.
Finally we’d covered all the important points. Zhee tactfully brought out the payment pad again, then we strolled back to the front door.
“I will recommend your service to all of my friends,” the customer said as she closed up the lamp case. “Quality parcel delivery, with bonus animal care! That is hard to beat.”
“My pleasure,” I said honestly.
Zhee thanked her as well, and we exited into the garden. Zhee was still looking smug as the door closed behind us. “I am very glad I spoke up.”
I shook my head with a rueful smile. “I’m glad it was an animal I’m actually familiar with, not some independently crawling tentacle.”
“Those do exist, you know.”
I let out a deep sigh. “Of course they do. Guess I’d better do some research in case she does tell all her friends.”
Zhee strode forward with pride. “It will be good business! Captain Sunlight will be pleased.”
“It’ll be interesting, that’s for sure.” I thought of the crewmates who had tentacles of their own. “Mur will probably think it’s funny.”
“Oh, he’ll think it’s terrifying. The mobile tentacles are from his planet; they’re a venomous parasite.”
“Of course they are. Remind me to bring gloves on our next delivery, just in case.”
~~~
The ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book. More to come!
Cross-posted to Tumblr and HumansAreSpaceOrcs.

submitted by MarlynnOfMany to HFY [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 19:17 MarlynnOfMany Double Duty

It’s a rare day when I have to squint at the sight of a house, but this one was shiny. A giant ball woven out of the brightest metal wires I’d seen in a while, all gold and copper in complex patterns. It made my head hurt to look at. Probably imitation metals, because surely that would be impractical and expensive to use actual gold. But what did I know? Not my species.
I squinted as I walked up with the package, wondering if that was rude of me. My little human eyes probably always looked like I was squinting though, compared to the big bug eyes of the Mesmer who lived there.
And the one walking beside me. Zhee was nodding quietly to himself while he took in the sight, with his vibrant purple praying-mantis exoskeleton looking right at home. If I hadn’t known that one of his people lived here, somehow I feel like I would have guessed. It was flashy in the extreme.
And so was the walkway, a glittering stripe of vivid red that curved through a garden full of alien flowers that probably didn’t bite. I didn’t like the looks of the local butterfly analogues, though; they had stingers I could see from here. I was glad they were keeping their distance.
Zhee reached the door first — a solid slab of bronze with an inlaid galaxy of gemstones, naturally — and he found the doorbell while I ducked under another butterfly. The chime was a brief melody from an instrument I couldn’t identify. It sounded like a violin invented by people whose earliest music was made by rubbing their legs together.
The door pulled inward and slid to the side, showcasing the homeowner who must have been waiting right there for us. Up close, the side of the house had window space visible between the weave, ideal for peeking out but not being seen until you were ready for your close-up.
“Good greetings!” announced the Mesmer woman who towered over both of us, a spectacle of metallic rose-gold coloring. Surely that couldn’t be natural. I’d never seen a Mesmer yet with metal tones; this had to be like full-body nail polish. But I sure as heck wasn’t about to say a peep about it now. I’d ask Zhee later.
“Greetings,” Zhee returned, urging me forward. “Your package.”
I handed it over, wondering if I’d get to see how the thing opened. It was one of the plastic puzzle box dealies that had been a popular way to ship valuables lately. There was one button on top and no visible seams.
Even with that thought, I was surprised when she grabbed it with her pincher arms, kicked a side table into view with one leg, then set it down and tapped out a rhythm on the button. The box split open to dramatically reveal the custom stained-glass lamp that we’d delivered in perfect condition, thankyouverymuch.
“Exquisite,” she said, holding it up to let the light shine through all the aquas and teals. “Just what the blue room needs.” She looked at us. “I have one of each color, you know.”
Zhee nodded like that was normal and admirable. “Excellent.” He held out the electronic payment pad without being so gauche as to mention it out loud, and the customer chattered away about her house as she set down the lamp and paid.
“…The yellow room was the biggest hassle, of course, but I’m most pleased with the rainbow room. I have art, rare plants and a few select exotic animals in there. Those have been a different type of challenge, especially the new one.”
That caught my attention. As I was wondering how best to ask what kind of animals she kept, Zhee beat me to it.
“Animals, you say?” He gestured theatrically toward me. “Robin is an expert in animal care, if you need a consult.”
I turned my head to stare at him with my best what-did-you-just-volunteer-me-for expression, which he could certainly see, given those eyes’ range of vision. He didn’t react.
“I would appreciate a look, now that you mention it,” the large alien said. “My prize oil-slick tentacle has stopped eating, and has begun shaking in a strange way when I get near.”
Zhee immediately haggled for a consultation fee while I wracked my brain for any knowledge of this alien whatsit. I was going to have words with Zhee afterward.
But apparently I was going to look at this thing first. The customer agreed to the price, payable afterward, and led us both into the house. It was just as multicolored as expected. Like each room had been given to a different child to design, with the instructions to use as many expensive jewel tones as possible.
The rainbow room was actually a relief, surprisingly enough. There were darker accents to make the furniture and murals stand out. And the various terrariums were clear glass. I looked between feathers and shells and flowers for anything that could be described as a tentacle.
“It’s over here,” she said, leading me toward a glass case under a spotlight. “I haven’t had it very long, but it was eating before, and I just don’t know why. The medi-scanner says it’s not ill. Perhaps I need a new scanner. What do you think?”
Feeling like the spotlight was aimed directly at me, I stepped up for a look at the thing curled up in the corner. It was, as expected, iridescent like an oil slick. But those scales were familiar.
I moved around it to get a look at the head, then smiled and stood up straight. “That’s a sunbeam snake! My favorite kind!”
“Okay, but what’s wrong with it?” the alien woman asked. “When I give it food, it hisses at me and shudders!” She waggled a pincher arm in imitation.
“It’s trying to scare you away,” I said. “They shake their tails like rattlesnakes do, though they don’t have rattles or venom.”
“Well, I don’t know about all that,” she said with a huff. “Why is it doing that? I’ve been more than kind to it!”
“I’m afraid you’ve given it nowhere to hide,” I explained gently, spreading my hands at the tank with a black floor and only a small water dish in the center. Little blobs of meat littered the area. Images of plants had been painted into the corners, but that did less than nothing to help a burrowing animal. “This type of snake needs several inches of plant life or loose soil to dig into. For one this size, I’d say at least this deep.” I held my hands six inches apart.
“It digs?” the customer asked. “They didn’t tell me that!”
“It spends most of its time hidden,” I said. “Or at least, it’s meant to. This one is extremely stressed by being out in the open like this.”
I was a little worried how she’d take the news, given that this was her prize specimen with all the lights aimed to showcase its rainbow scales. But to her credit, she listened while I suggested framing a good photo of the snake outside the tank, then only watching it during mealtime. Any visiting friends could be told how exotic and special the animal was, and how lucky they would be to even catch a glimpse of it.
“Yes,” she said, clearly thinking. “Yes, I can work with that. I’ll arrange for the adjustments to the enclosure. You said this much ground cover?” She held her pincher arms apart.
“Right, at least that much,” I agreed. “Ideally you’ll also want to bury a few things for enrichment, like rocks and bark and sections of tubing, and have a couple of those on the surface for it to hide under when it comes up for food.”
We ended up going into a different room where she could take notes, which did more to put me at ease about the snake’s future care. I waved at it as I left, wishing it well. I’d always liked sunbeams. Good thing I remembered the specifics of their care needs.
“You’ll also want a bigger water dish, so it can slither through it,” I said. “And the tank should be both warm and very humid…”
The customer took lots of notes while Zhee alternated between standing there looking smug and casting an appraising eye at the room’s gaudy features. This was the purple room, and he blended right in.
Finally we’d covered all the important points. Zhee tactfully brought out the payment pad again, then we strolled back to the front door.
“I will recommend your service to all of my friends,” the customer said as she closed up the lamp case. “Quality parcel delivery, with bonus animal care! That is hard to beat.”
“My pleasure,” I said honestly.
Zhee thanked her as well, and we exited into the garden. Zhee was still looking smug as the door closed behind us. “I am very glad I spoke up.”
I shook my head with a rueful smile. “I’m glad it was an animal I’m actually familiar with, not some independently crawling tentacle.”
“Those do exist, you know.”
I let out a deep sigh. “Of course they do. Guess I’d better do some research in case she does tell all her friends.”
Zhee strode forward with pride. “It will be good business! Captain Sunlight will be pleased.”
“It’ll be interesting, that’s for sure.” I thought of the crewmates who had tentacles of their own. “Mur will probably think it’s funny.”
“Oh, he’ll think it’s terrifying. The mobile tentacles are from his planet; they’re a venomous parasite.”
“Of course they are. Remind me to bring gloves on our next delivery, just in case.”
~~~
The ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book. More to come!
Cross-posted to Tumblr and HFY.

submitted by MarlynnOfMany to humansarespaceorcs [link] [comments]