#Upper Pass Beer Company

[kookslastbutton]

Too Late to Dream ༓ jjk (m) || ch. III

✑ Summary: You did it. You married your college professor. You even bought a house together. Against all odds, everything had fallen into place. But after two years of marriage, you begin feeling something was missing. You want a baby but your husband can’t say the same.

Pairing: economics professor!jungkook x fem!artist!reader

AU/Genre: angst, smut, fluff, marriage au, age gap, series

Rating: M, 18+

Word Count: 3,375

Warnings: 8-year age gap, big flashback of bromance between Tae and JK, slight drunkenness, family drama in-laws, imperfect relationship with parents, pent-up issues/desires, jk has daddy issues, mentions of therapy, kookie trying to be a good husband, needy kook 😶

Now Playing: Make It Right, Tryna Be, Infinity, It Will Rain, Heaven+

A/N: chapter 3 is here! I know its so short 😩 but I promise it sets up the next chapters really well! Also, I wanted to get into jk's background a little this time, his undergrad days, and Taehyung of course. It's a big leap but they're older now so...meh. Tysm for everyone's patience! 💞

<< ch. II ༓ ch. IV >> | series masterlist

There weren’t many people Jungkook envied in his life. He was 34 years old, had top-notch experience as an economist within the business and legal sphere, and taught at one of the finest universities in South Korea. He also earned his Ph.D by the time he hit 30, which was undoubtedly the cherry on top.

But if there was one person who could shake the ground from under his feet it would be Kim Taehyung.

The pair met during undergrad through mutual friends. Jungkook had been invited to an off-campus party his first year and Taehyung was an unexpected third party. The man was so put together that it was as if Michelangelo himself reached down and sculpted him from the clay.

16 years ago

“Hi,” a low, baritone voice rumbles. “I’m Taehyung.” He sticks his hand out, waiting for a shake. He’s a little timid but mostly stands upright with a few pieces of his caramel hair falling over his eyes.

Jungkook chuckles at Taehyung’s stark formality. “What’s up, man!” He slaps Taehyung’s hand casually. “Jeon Jungkook.”

Taehyung reeks of sophistication and has the most annoyingly gorgeous face. His boxy grin could charm the pants off anyone who was two feet from him. Hell, even Jungkook feels a little starstruck by him.

Though barely acquaintances, it doesn’t take long for Jungkook to realize they are on opposite ends of the same stick.

Taehyung comes from a wealthy upper-class family. They have four mansions plus a beach house. Every Christmas, he goes to Italy to visit his aunt and uncle. For his 18th birthday, Taehyung got a brand-new Corvette, red with black rims. Everyone wants to be him…everyone wants a piece of Kim Taehyung.

But underneath the surface of his flashy lifestyle is something oddly endearing. Jungkook can’t quite put his finger on it but as the night goes on, he enjoys the man’s company. Taehyung seems to latch onto him as well which shocks both of them to the core.

“Seriously hyung,” Jungkook slurrs. “I don’t know why you’re hanging around me this whole night when you could be getting off with one of the fifty girls who’ve come up to you. Are you playing it cool are you really a loner or something?”

Taehyung snatches the beer bottle from the younger’s hand. “That’s enough drinking for one night Jungkook. You’re about to pass out, I can tell.”

“I’ll decide when I’ve had enough.” Jungkook grabs the bottle back, taking a big slug before wiping his mouth off with his arm. “Something to know about me Taetae. I live by the work hard, play hard kinda philosophy.”

Taehyung cringes at the pet name but chalks it up to Jungkook being off his rocker. “That’s the type of philosophy that’s gotten my family to spend millions on useless crap. It’s fun for a while but it never lasts. I don’t recommend it Jungkook.”

Jungkook snorts. “So you are a loner huh? Because my parents have been stuck in the same loop for years. All work, no play. It’s caused them both to lose every hair on their head. Do you wanna lose your hair by the time you’re 45 Tae? I wouldn’t think so with those luscious locks of yours. Bet some chick would love to yank on them while–”

“I’m not a loner.” Taehyung interrupts, feeling a surge of embarrassment creep up his cheeks. He knows the looks people shot at him and while he didn’t entirely hate it, it always took more than it gave. All he wanted in those moments was to retreat into himself with his paints. Taehyung loved art and like many, found it therapeutic. “I’m not a loner,” he repeats. “I’m just not interested.”

“Sure you’re not buddy.” Jungkook gives a nod but remains largely unconvinced. “But you didn’t answer my question. Why you hanging around me? I’m not that cool ‘cause if I weren’t here, I’d be at the library right now with my nose in the books. Economics doesn’t slap all the time you know.”

Taehyung is silent for a moment before answering.

“I feel like a normal person with you," he starts. "Everyone looks at me like I’m some spoiled golden boy who they can get a free ticket of off if they talk sweet. And yeah, I’m aware of the advantages I’ve had…the struggles most people have that I don’t. But I’m still a real person that wants what most people do...purpose, belonging, someone that just gets them.”

Taehyung takes a breath before continuing.

"I really fucking love painting. It’s my heartbeat honest to god and I’m tired of being looked at as merely an object of someone’s unfulfilled wishes and desires. I like that I don’t need to worry about that with you. I think...we come from different backgrounds but we’re cut from the same cloth Jungkookie. Oh, are you-are you crying?”

“Fucking beautiful Taetae. You’re straight out of Vanity Fair you know that? I’m more of a Forbes magazine guy myself though.”

Taehyung throws Jungkook a puzzled look. Is he being condescending or is this just the booze talking?

“‘Cause I’m a small-town boy with great ambition, intelligence, and gall? We covered this earlier man, keep up!” Jungkook emphasizes his words, hands flying about.

“Right,” Taehyung joins in, recalling the conversation. “You’re father is an analyst for the city and your mom’s an accountant. They want you to get a job nearby after graduation but you don’t want to because–“

“Because it’s too small, boring, set in its traditional ways, and I for one am not fucking with it.” Jungkook sends Taehyung a lopsided grin. “You got a pretty good memory man. Maybe we can be friends after all.”

“I’m so glad,” Taehyung drawls, a slight trace of sarcasm. Jungkook doesn’t notice, however, too busy staring at the strobe lights dancing across the ceiling.

“Hey!” he suddenly pipes up, eyes wider than before. "What are you doing next Friday?”

“Uh, I don’t know. Why?”

“I got this boring family reunion to go to. Happens every year. I don’t wanna go but my parents force me to. You wanna come?”

Taehyung hesitates. “A family reunion? I know I said we’re cut from the same cloth, but we’re not…related Jungkook.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll ask my parents if I can bring a friend. They won’t give a shit as long as I’m there. Also, I heard from my brother that Ha-Yun’s gonna be there.”

“And Ha-Yun is…?”

“Some girl that my parents want to set me up with. Family friend’s daughter. I went to high school with her.”

“So you think that if I’m there I can be your right-hand man or something? Make you look good in front of your future wife?”

“Fuck no. I’m hoping she’ll go to you instead.” Jungkook laughs when he sees the color draining from Taehyung’s face. “It’s nothing against her bro. She isn’t weird or anything. I say this lightly but, I just don’t wanna go out with her and she’s not my type.”

“I’ll think about clearing my schedule for this but I’m not being your meat on a stick,” Taehyung seethes. “But since we’re on this topic, what is your type?”

“Mm, not sure.” Jungkook shrugs. “Someone who’s unexpecting I guess. Like you shouldn’t be together because it's outside of the usual. But you can’t help it. You gotta have this person or it’s over. What about you?”

“Easy,” Taehyung mutters. “I like artists.”

“Artists huh? Like you? Well, I guess I can understand.” Jungkook smirks before leaning his head back against the couch. “One day, I’ll find an artist for you Tae. I promise.”

Oh, the irony.

present

“Jungkook, stop! I need to get up.” You struggle in his arms, biting back a grin. Jungkook has you in a locked position. His hard chest presses close against your back and his leg hugs your body.

“Mm,” he groans. “It’s not time yet.”

“Yes, it is. Also, you’re nearly suffocating me.”You wiggle your body but to no avail. Your husband always tends to get needier as the school year approaches.

"I just don't want you out of my arms yet. Is that a crime now?"

No. No it's not, you sigh to yourself. By this time next week, you’ll be waking up to an empty bed. "Okay." You glance at the alarm clock. "Ten minutes and then I really need to get ready for work."

"Fifteen," Jungkook mumbles.

"Twelve."

"Thirteen."

"No. It's twelve or I'm going now." Jungkook gives a cute grunt and tightens his grip. He really doesn't want you to leave this morning.

"Fine," he says. "Twelve. But we're snuggling again tonight."

"Jungkook. Can't. Breathe." Being spooned by your husband is nice but this isn't spooning anymore. He's completely cacooning himself over you. As soon you feel him shift his weight off you, hand loosening from your waist, your ribs hum in relief.

After what seems like three minutes of complete silence you decide to bite the bullet and ask the question that's been on your mind for the last couple of days.

"Um Jungkook?"

"Yeah?"

"When we went to get ice cream the other night. There was something that happened...to you." You're uneasy bringing it up but you can't shake your concern. When Jungkook saw the little girl with her dad, he went into a bit of a trance. He didn't talk, didn't move, and was pretty numb to your presence all together.

"Oh god," Jungkook groans. "I was hoping you didn't notice but you're my wife so I guess it's fine."

Crap. Was this a sore subject for him? You twist your head over your shoulder, just enough for your ear to be near his lips. You're in high alert now. "Why weren't you hoping I noticed?"

"Isn't it obvious? It's embarrassing." Jungkook smacks his lips before continuing. "But do we really have to talk about it? Spilling ice cream on my shirt at 34 isn't something I really wanna relive through early morning conversations."

Oh he thinks....of course he thinks that's what you're refering to.

"I'm not talking about you being clumsy Jungkook. I'm talking about the little girl with the ribbons. When she was with her dad, you kinda went a little frozen."

Jungkook doesn't reply immediately so you prod him a little. "I just wanna know if everything was alright. I suppose with our current situation I get it if it hit you in a sort of way. Good or bad, whatever the feeling was, you can tell–"

"They seemed happy is all," he croaks, voice dropping an octave. "The kind of happy that makes someone's entire soul stop, I guess. Like they had something special that no one else could. Does that make sense?"

If you look down you think you'll see goosebumps. The words coming from your husband's mouth are, at most, mumbles but they aren't coming from a place of unease or hesitation. Instead they allude to something warm, wholesome, and new.

"Yeah of course, it makes perfect sense. I had a similar experience when I met Si-woo. The way his face light up when he saw his mom comforted me but I felt envious too. Is that wrong of me?"

"Not at all. I think it's a natural response when you see something you want but don't currently have. You know, there was one thing that popped in my thoughts while I watched that father and his daughter..."

"Hm?"

"I thought, maybe I'll be happy too. If we actually have a kid, we'll be happy together like them or something." Yawning, he continues. "I dunno, honey. Kinda sleepy still so if I fall asleep I love you and I hope work goes well. But we can keep talking if you want."

You untuck your hand from under your head and close it over your husband's arm; the one draped around your waist.

Hope. Real hope.

"Dammit why won't you open?!" Jungkook bangs the jar on the side of the kitchen counter. He's been trying to get it open for the last five minutes. With you at work, it's his turn to prepare dinner.

"Take a breath kid," Yoongi says from the other line of the phone.

Jungkook ignores him of course, continuing beat the shit out of the jar in his hand. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. You stupid jar!"

"Kid!" Yoongi tries again, this time grumbling. "Stop doing that and go get a butter knife or something to hit the side of the lid with. It'll pop right off and I won't sue you for making me go deaf."

"Hyung–"

"Oh I thought you didn't call anyone that anymore. Now that you're a real boy and all. With big boy things." Jungkook shakes his head, hearing the older man snort through the speaker.

"You been talking to Taehyung?" That big mouth, he's become as bad as Jimin. What happened to the more reserved Tae he met in undergrad. He likes him better than this new, cocky mf.

"He may have slipped out a thing or two. But I'm glad to see you're still scared shitless of me that you'll keep calling me hyung."

Jungkook slams the jar on the counter, having enough. "Why the fuck did you call hyung? Can't you tell I'm a little busy right now."

Yoongi chuckles. "Alright I'll stop picking on you. I need a favor. The wife and I want to go out just the two of this weekend. I know you got your professor duties starting but would you and __ be willing to look after our gremlins for a couple hours Saturday?"

"Uh–I'm gonna have to talk to __ about this but maybe?" You and him have babysat for Yoongi's twins a handful of times before. They get a little rowdy but it's been mostly fine. Jungkook's not sure if either of you have the energy or time this weekend though. "I thought you usually got a babysitter."

"Yeah, usually but they're unable to this weekend. I'm hoping this time the babysitter will be you and __. We won't be long but we'd really appreciate it if you guys could do this for us. Could you maybe let me know by Thursday if you can?" Yoongi waits for an answer.

"Yeah alright," Jungkook finally responds. "I'll talk to __ about it when she gets home. No promises though." Jungkook wipes the sweat from his brow. It was a little hot in the kitchen. "Listen Yoongi, I gotta get back to prepping dinner but thanks for that tip about opening the–"

"Jungkook! Hello?" A familiar but muffled voice hollers from the front door. "Are you home?" The door bell is pressed continually without rest.

"Uh my ears," Yoongi pipes. "Who the hell is at your door?"

Jungkook walks towards the front of the house, peaking out the window. What the fuck are those two doing here? "Damn it, I gotta go hyung. My parents have decided to pay an unexpected visit." Before Yoongi has time to reply, Jungkook ends the call.

fuckfuckfuckfuck, he repeats under his breath. Could they not have called beforehand? It's a friggen' ten hour drive. Did someone die or something? Why are they here?

"We can hear you Kookie," Jungkook's mother coos in a sing-songy tone. "No one died. We just wanted to see you and __."

Jungkook opens the front door, not even caring if his face shows he's pissed off. "Mother it'd be nicer if you, I don't know. Planned these things?!"

"I told you," Jungkook's father grippes. "I told you woman, didn't I? We should have called. You never listen to me!"

"Oh shut up you goat," Jungkook's mother pushes her way through the door and into the house. "My son loves me and he's happy to see me." She wraps her arms around Jungkook's waist and presses her cheek against his arm.

"Yeah," his father steps in the house. "He's just jumping with joy with that silly apron on. C'mon, he was obviously in the middle of something. Ugh I'm sorry son. Your mother is, well, you know how she is." He slips out of his shoes and shuffles to the kitchen. "Whatcha cooking anyway? Something good I bet."

Jungkook rubs his face in agitation. __ is not gonna like coming home to his parents running around the house.

"You're not mad at me are you?" His mother lifts her chin, big doe eyes just like his own. "We just missed you and we figured you'll be busy with teaching soon so...we just decided to drive down last night."

Trying to smile, Jungkook brings his arm around her. "No, no I'm not mad. I'm glad to see you and __ will be too."

"Jungkook, why the hell are your parents here?" You force yourself to keep a low voice. Your in-laws were steps away and they had the sharpest pair of ears you knew. You didn't want them to hear a single beat.

Your husband pulls at his hair, pacing small circles around the bedroom. "Trust me, I didn't invite them. They just showed up. I don't even know why they're here besides they just wanted to. I'm really sorry."

You yank your silk blouse over your head, tossing it in the hamper. "I love your parents but you're gonna need to tell them this can't be happening." You change into a basic t-shirt and jeans. "I know they're probably a little lonely with you and your brother so far away but I'd be a far better host with some pre-warnings."

"I know. Mom's just so-" Jungkook pauses, scratching his head. "Persistant...and dad will do whatever she wants."

"Look I get it. Saying no is hard when they just want to see us. But what if we had something going on tonight?"

"You're right, you're right," he sighs. "I'll try bringing it up to them."

"Anything else new happen while I was gone?" You mean it as a joke. You really do. Jungkook gives you a look that says yes though. Excellent.

"Well, uh...Yoongi hyung asked if we could babysit Saturday. Him and the Mrs want to go out but thier regular babysitter isn't available that night."

Groaning, your shoulders slope down. "Wha–uh at this rate why the hell not? I was just looking for more things to do."

"Honey," Jungkook makes his way over to you. "We don't have to if–"

"You guys still in there?!" Jungkook's mother intrudes, pounding on the door. "You better not be having coitus! Though grandchildren would be nice if that were to ever be in the cards."

"Coitus?" You mouth silently. Jungkook's parents were a little old fashioned sure but who the heck still says coitus?

"We'll be out in a second. Can you and dad set the table?" Jungkook responds, girmacing at his mothers word choice.

"Okay but wrap it up in there. I'm only here for two days. I wanna see my beautiful daughter in-law!"

You and Jungkook immediately exchange a slack-jawed expression. "What?" With the door thrown open, your husband's eyeborws furrow. "Mom you can't be serious."

"Oh don't look so worried!" The older woman lets out a restrained chuckle. "We're not gonna stay in the house with you or anything. We got a hotel. But ten hours is a long drive and I really wanted to see you. Your father and I don't hear from you often and you didn't come to the last family reunion. What do you expect us to do? Just not see our son?"

"Please don't say it like that Mom," Jungkook combs his fingers through his hair, teeth grinding together. "You know that __ and I are–"

"Always happy to see you!" You rush next to your husband who's startled by your sudden change in demeanor. "Jungkook's just been a little anxious about returning to the university. But we'd love to spend a couple to days with you and dad. Let's start with dinner!"

You usher everyone down the hall and towards the dining room. Jungkook's mother is filled to the brim with joy while your husband slightly, actually very, concerned.

A/N: Apologies for any editing errors! Also close to adding some spicy stuff but we gonna wait on that a little longer 😉 Lmk what you think and if you wanna join taglist comment or send an ask. Thanks!! 😙💗

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#bangtanbathhouse #jungkook smut #jungkook fluff #jungkook x reader #jungkook angst #bts smut #bts x reader #bts imagines #bts fanfic #bts au #fic:toolatetodream #kookslastbutton

[octuscle]

With Halloween coming up i thought id save some money and just change myself to suit the costume. Thinking of going as a viking berserker, some roided bundle of fur, musk, rage and insane amounts of alcohol. I don't know the app, think you can help me out with that? Im sure ill be able to repay you PLENTY in my new form

Wotan, I take you at your word! Let's make a Viking berserker out of you! At the beginning, the changes are still subtle. You sit in meetings and at your desk with your legs apart, as if someone were crouching between your legs and giving you a blowjob. Already in the lunch break you knead your boner quite unabashedly. Underpants? You don't wear them. But you treat yourself to a pork knuckle and a big beer. The beer foam hangs in your mustache after every sip.

You cut your beard yourself. If you cut your hair, you would do it yourself. After all, you are a man and not a mannequin.

After the lunch break, you need a new keyboard after a few minutes. The old one didn't stand up to your calloused paws for long. Fuck, you have it sitting at your desk. You're not made for working sitting down. You are not made for working indoors. And you're certainly not made to work in a suit. You free yourself from jacket, shirt and tie. Your pristine white microfiber undershirt has become a washed-out, olive-green cotton Henley shirt. Nice and tight. Emphasizes your muscular upper body. Just like your carpenter pants accentuate your tight ass.

The wardrobe stands. You pack up your tools, walk to the reception desk and sign off the handyman list. The young man behind the counter flirts fiercely with you. Flattering, after all, you are easily 15 or 20 years older than the youngster. You can flirt anyway. You stroke your mane. The braids, which prevent your hair from falling into your forehead, already reach almost to your shoulders. You roll a cigarette, smile at him and ask if he has a light. He blushes, says that he can take a break in five minutes and will then gladly accompany you to the smokers' corner.

You follow the young man across half the company premises. You pass at least four ashtrays. Until you reach a dark corner behind the warehouses. He gives you a light. You take his chin in your hand and blow the smoke into his face. Then you snot in his face. And then you stick your tongue deep down his throat.

The night of the Halloween party has come. You have worked until just now. But getting ready for the party takes only a few seconds. Change your pants, free your torso and put on your cape. That's been your costume for 20 years. And judging by the number of asses you've already fucked as a Viking berserker, the costume is very successful. Never change a winning team!

#male tf #muscle tf #reality change #chronivac #male transformation #muscle transformation #inked man #halloween tf

[mariacallous]

The Free State of Bavaria has always thought of itself as different, before Germany became one in 1871 and before it became one (again) in 1990. The stiff upper lip of the Protestant north is not for the Bavarians; instead, they indulge themselves proudly in folkloric dress, exuberant beer drinking, and a defiant traditionalism.

And yet, as Germany’s largest state (by area) goes to the polls on Oct. 8, it presents a political picture that is both distinctive from the rest of the country and also similar. Bavarians are wrestling with the rise of the radical right and fretting about the same issues that the rest of Europe is grappling with—migration, climate, economic malaise, and wider issues of identity.

Throw into the mix a recent controversy over the state’s deputy premier and the discovery of his musings about Nazi concentration camps when he was a teenager, and you have a combustible mix.

Scroll back a few decades. The Christian Social Union (CSU) was founded, along with the other three people’s parties, shortly after Germany’s surrender to the Allies. The CSU exists only in this one state, the junior partner to the bigger Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has run Germany for much of the postwar era. The Americans, who occupied and ran the southern sector of the country in the immediate Cold War years, accepted Bavarians’ desire for a more a more socially conservative party, but one they insisted would adhere strictly to the new democratic norms.

Since then, Bavarian politics has been dominated by the CSU, and much of that time by one man: Franz Josef Strauss. A major player across German politics, in 1956, Strauss declared: “No legitimate political party can be to the right of the CSU.” This had a double meaning: Germany cannot countenance extremism, and the CSU (and the CDU) must do whatever it takes to absorb those who might contemplate voting for the fringes.

Now, in Bavaria and all over Germany, this has been shattered. A number of groups to the right of the established parties (and one on the left) are threatening the consensus on which the Federal Republic was built. The danger is most acute in the former communist East Germany, where the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is running rampant. Elections scheduled in three of the eastern Länder (regions) in a year’s time could see the AfD emerge as the largest party there. This wider trend is likely to be amplified across the continent before that  during the June 2024 elections to the European Parliament, which are expected to see a surge in extremist parties.

The first elections in this cycle are in Bavaria (and also in the western region of Hessen). With a population of 13 million, Bavaria would rank as a not-insignificant European state. In terms of gross domestic product, it would have around the sixth- or seventh-strongest economy in the EU. It is a remarkable success story, a once rural and relatively poor region transformed by the postwar economic miracle and the headquarters to some of the world’s most important industrial and automotive companies.

And yet the mood is sour. When leading figures from Berlin visited Bavaria in recent weeks to campaign for their respective parties, they received a reception more hostile than the usual cut-and-thrust of electioneering. The Greens, meanwhile, have been portrayed some of their political opponents as the enemy within—not language that German politics is used to.

The Greens are struggling to recover their standing nationally after a row during the summer over a parliamentary bill to replace oil and gas heaters with models that run on at least 65 percent renewable energy. A watered-down version of the proposal was eventually passed, but the issue, which on one level might sound technical, has become totemic. “Why don’t you deal with migration rather than my boiler room?” is a frequent refrain of protesters.

Bavaria’s incumbent premier, Markus Söder, has used the dispute to put distance between the CSU and the three-party “traffic light” coalition of the Social Democrats, Greens, and the liberal Free Democrats.

The Greens’ unpopularity marks a big change from the last elections in 2018, when some commentators were talking of them as part of the next Bavarian government. (They currently are the senior party in the neighboring state, the equally prosperous Baden-Württemberg, which they run with the CDU.)

Last time around in Bavaria, the Greens recorded a respectable 18 percent of the vote. The CSU dropped to 37 percent, low by the party’s standards, and were required to form a coalition. Instead of opting for the Greens, Söder chose to partner with the Freie Wähler (FW), or Free Voters, a motley right-wing group that found its niche in Bavaria, nearby Saxony, and other parts of the former East Germany. In so doing, Söder was breaking Strauss’s long-held taboo: The FW are not quite AfD, which all the parties refuse to deal with, but it is AfD-lite.

Fast forward to now, and the situation has sharpened further. Latest opinion polls have the CSU dipping yet further to as low as 36 percent, a record low, with the FW forging ahead of the Greens into second place and the Social Democrats languishing behind.

There is still much to play for, and in the German voting system even a small variation between poll predictions and actual results can make a big difference in the final makeup of governing coalitions. Yet whatever the final outcome, this campaign will be remembered as synonymous with one politician, a man few people outside Bavaria had previously heard of, and the scandal that was—and wasn’t.

At the end of August, one of Germany’s biggest newspapers, the Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung, published a dramatic investigation entitled “The Auschwitz Pamphlet.” It alleged that a typewritten note found in a school satchel more than thirty years ago declared a competition to find “traitors to the fatherland,” with the winner receiving a shot in the neck or a “free flight through the chimneys of Auschwitz.”

The 17-year-old pupil said to have written the pamphlet was none other than Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria’s deputy premier and economy minister, and the leader of the FW.

Aiwanger tried initially to brush off the accusations, with his brother coming to his aid and saying that he had been the culprit. When that didn’t wash, Aiwanger himself admitted to it, while dismissing the incident as youthful indiscretion. Then, taking a leaf out of the playbook of former U.S. President Donald Trump, he played up the controversy, presenting himself as the target of an organized media campaign by the “liberal elite.”

He is by no means the first German politician to be found out with a dubious past. What is new in this affair is Aiwanger’s defiance, his refusal to show contrition, and the public’s response. Just as Trump’s ratings seem to rise every time he is indicted by the U.S. courts, Aiwanger and his party have only seen their popularity grow.

This posed an acute dilemma for Söder. For the CSU and CDU, this could not have come at a worse time. The CDU may be the highest performing party nationally, but given the problems facing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his coalition, it should be faring considerably better.

With thoughts starting to turn to the next general election, expected to be held in October 2025 at the latest, the CDU is beginning to wonder if it has the right person at the helm. Friedrich Merz, a longtime sharp operator, finally achieved his goal when he succeeded at taking the helm of the party following Angela Merkel’s retirement in 2021. He is respected rather than liked and has a tendency to shoot from the hip, but he will be hard to dislodge.

If the CDU does make a change and moves back more toward the center, it could opt for the younger and—at the national level—relatively untried Hendrick Wüst, the premier of Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia. The other big beast in the mix is Söder himself, who is not one to hold back if he sniffs a chance.

These forthcoming elections in Bavaria will be a midterm test for him, for his party, and for the resilience of the politics of the mainstream, which is facing one of its sternest tests since the advent of the Federal Republic.

[prvtocol]

@badtrigger : 025, an empty balcony while a party goes on inside. // either of mine (santiago), cbp verse | set the scene

It’s when witnessing one of the pair of wooden designer lounge chairs get picked up and slammed into the back room’s bulletproof glass wall (testing its strength among other projectiles) that Brianne needs to step away less she loses her nerve and breaks down in front of the unwanted guests. Her North Oak estate has been turned into a Heywood club for members of Los Piratas. Vaas gave her hardly any warning before they revved into her gated driveway in a swarm of black Harleys. Empty bottles of the cheap beer they brought are being pitched in her manicured shrubs. Partially-clothed men are swimming in her indoor-outdoor pool and tracking water throughout her home as they please. Her pantry is being raided of its food. Their street music blares obnoxiously loud that she expects a complaint from the neighbors any minute now. And a group of them is passing around illicit drugs in her green room. And then this, the game-like destruction of her furniture. 

A retreat is sought on the upper lounge balcony as if the outside air might allow her to breathe. One step out and the exhale of a sigh ends in a shudder of disbelief. How did this become her life? Eyes stare blankly at the dark floorboards unaware that the gang’s head enforcer stands at the side smoking a cigarette. Silent and (unlike her) acutely aware of the company — not that he shows it in that stolid expression he always wears. 

Sight turns; wide eyes transfixed on the bulwark of a man whose one side is lit by the running lights on the adjoining back wall. “Oh.” A blink snaps her out of it; somehow she remains unstartled. “I’m. I’m so sorry.” The compulsion to apologize gets the better of her before she’s shrinking back inside, fearing to bother him. “I’ll. I'll find somewhere else,” she whispers, long defeated with this gang business. It’s probably safer locked in her office anyway. Then a what if hits her. "Oh, you know what." She turns to face him, her hands wringing at her front as she tries to pull her mind together.

"Tiago, right?" Recalling the name Vaas provided her the last he was here. "If by chance, slim though it is, the NCPD or North Oak patrol stops by, I'll be in my office. First floor, north wing. If you could let me know and I'll make sure they go away. Um, not saying you have to let me know, of course, you don't but uh, if Vaas asks, I'd appreciate it." Her words are already falling over themselves when his dark eyes hold her concerned stare a second too long. He says nothing but she can’t help but feel her presence offends. "Right. I’ll leave you alone now."

#badtrigger #⚘ ˚◞ answers ◞ 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝑜𝒻𝒻𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝒶𝓊𝓉𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓉𝒾𝒸 𝓇𝑒𝓅𝓁𝓎. #⚘ ˚◞ verse˚ cyberpunk 2077 ◞ 𝒸𝑜𝓇𝓅 𝒽𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝑜𝓃-𝒹𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓇 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈. #⚘ ˚◞ 2075-2077 ◞ . #(( how long until she finds out his correct name? #but love filling in these little gaps with early interactions bt them 🥺 ))

[soulsuckrrs]

Basic Information

Full Name: Rutherford Marlow Gray Nickname: Ruth, Ruthie Age: 29-33 | actually 94 Date of Birth: May 15th Species: Witch Powers: energy manipulation, shield projection, telekinesis, pyro & hydrokinetic, medical/healing magic, defensive magics, potions, enhancing spells (to improve his physical  & magical abilities).  Hometown: Massachusetts  Current Location: States | Thread dependent Nationality: American Gender: Male Pronouns: He/Him/His Orientation: Biromantic & Bisexual Religion: polytheist  Occupation: works as security detail & a bodyguard for his family’s security company. Also “moves” people or items for the sketchy people his parents associate/work with. Living Arrangements: Ruth has an apartment that is one of many properties his family owns, his parents assigned it to him and it is in New Orleans but he stays wherever his jobs & clients take him.  Language(s) Spoken: English, Latin, Italian & French. Is learning German & Mandarin. 

Physical Appearance

Face Claim: Aaron Taylor-Johnson Hair Color: Brunette Eye Color: Blue. A glowing silvery-blue when using powers. Height: 6′0 Weight: 183 lbs Build: muscular, toned, athletic. Tattoos: tbd Piercings: ear lobes, stud piercing on right ear. Clothing Style: Whatever is in style, Ruth likes to maintain a nice look, perhaps a bit lazy for a professional setting but enough to pass in his line of work. Blacks, blues & whites, some red here & there. Usual Expression: a bit arrogant & certainly mischievous when he isn’t on a job, in that case it depends on the client or job & can range from expressionless professional to bored rich boy.

Health

Sleeping Habits: he usually crashes for a few hours, 2 to 6 hours a night if he can get it. Struggles with insomnia sometimes due to restlessness or nightmares. Eating Habits: he loves food & will eat whenever he gets the chance. If you really want the guy on your side, feed him & bring him snacks or treats all the time. Exercise Habits: Ruth loves working out, in the gym, running, lifting weights, & boxing or mixed martial arts. He prides himself on staying active, athletic, & agile.  Emotional Stability: he’s a bit brash about his feelings & emotions, has a hard time really keeping them to himself even if it puts the other person in an awkward or uncomfortable positions, he doesn’t always process his emotions before acting on them & they very much control him more-so than he controls them.  Sociability: Ruth doesn’t have a filter & very much will talk to anyone whether they want to talk with him or not. He prefers being around other people & being in social places, it’s easier to ignore the dark thoughts when he’s doing anything but being alone. Body Temperature: hot, he’s always hot & hates wearing clothes. Drug Use: he typically tries to stay away from the harder drugs but does enjoy participating in some, mostly uppers & weed, a big stoner. Alcohol Use: Ruth certainly enjoys his alcohol & a good binger, though he wouldn’t say that it is a problem nor keeps him from doing his job. Scent: cigarettes, smoke & french cologne.

Personality

Label: The Wildcard Positive Traits: loyal, determined, witty, sensual & open-minded. Negative Traits: reckless, stubborn, hot-headed, impulsive, & unfiltered. Fears: fucking up & being the cause of someone’s death or critical injury. Hobbies: boxing/mma, running/working out, drawing/sketching/painting, playing guitar & drums, playing video & arcade games, rolling skating, dancing/partying, making potions & studying magic (though he doesn’t let this be known as much). Habits: paces or fidgets a lot (has a hard time staying still). Talks mad shit.

Favorites

Weather: summer, hot, sunny. Color: blue. black. purple. Music: rock, metal, hip-hop. Movies: action, adventure, fantasy. Sport: basketball, parkour, boxing. Beverage: liquor, beer, coffee. Food: Indian, Mediterranean, Mexican. He just loves food. Give him all the food. Animal: giraffe. sloth. dog.

Family

Father: Henry Gray, alive. Mother: Karina Gray (Higgins), alive. Greta Gray (Matthews), step-mother, alive. Sibling(s): Ruth has 11 siblings & he is the 4th oldest of them, the second boy of his family. His two older sisters are Rae & Ariel & his older brother is Lewis. Children: none Pet(s): none Financial Status: his family is rather wealthy with decades of working in the field all members find themselves working & contributing to the familial wealth but on his own, Ruth doesn’t entirely worry about money unless there is an issue where he has to.

Extra

Zodiac Sign: Taurus MBTI: ENTP-T (the Debater) Enneagram: the Enthusiast Temperament: Choleric Moral Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Primary Vice: Lust Primary Virtue: Chastity Element: Earth Kinks: biting/scratching/marking, oral/cunninglingus, bondage, grinding, being handsy, hand jobs/fingering, public, passion/desperation, hair pulling/grabbing, multiple partners, breath play/choking, fingers in the mouth, anal/ass play, being pegged, pain play, wax play. Position: Switch, verse.

#file: stats #file: stats - Ruth

[ledenews]

Insider’s View: Construction of the Wheeling-Pitt Lofts

Henry Schmulbach was a leading beer brewer who became a banker in Wheeling, and eventually, the immigrant’s son established himself as one of the wealthiest individuals along the country’s East Coast. He constructed an impressive mansion on Roney’s Point, the first dwelling in the region with air conditioning, and he owned horses and fast cars and monogrammed everything prior to passing away in 1915 at the age of 70. But first, he built his building. It was 12 stories tall because it had to be the tallest, and it was constructed with marble because marble was the best. The ceilings were high, each door handle was carved with his initials, and the views from the top floor displayed his dominance of the local economy. Not long after his death, though, the Schmulbach Building was purchased and transformed into the headquarters for Wheeling Steel Corporation, a new company that would assist in the development of the mysterious West. Eventually, the steel company would merge with a Pittsburgh outfit, construct mills up and down the Ohio River between Benwood and Wheeling, and eventually expand even more in Ohio and Pennsylvania. That is, until foreign steel entered the American market. Schmulbach had several financial interests in the Wheeling area. The death of steel in the Upper Ohio Valley was slow, inevitable, and very painful for thousands of steelworkers and their families. There were workforce strikes, buyouts, bankruptcies, and liquidations until finally, one day in 2012, RG Steel filed for federal bankruptcy protections and told their Wheeling-based employees to go home. In some cases, those men and women were given the opportunity to return to their desks to collect personal belongings because, well, IT was done and so were they. “When we first came in, we saw family portraits on desks, walking shoes until desks, and lunches in old refrigerators,” explained Steve Coon, owner of Coon Restoration and Sealants from Lousiville, Ohio. “At first, our instincts led us to try to return some of the people’s stuff, but it was no use. It was too long ago. “It took us nearly two years to clear all of the debris that was left behind in this building,” he said. “Our 12 guys worked eight to 10 hours a day, too, but filing cabinet after filing cabinet, and desk after desk were emptied, and it took that long. That was a lot of years’ worth of business that was thrown through the trash chute, but no one wanted the stuff and it was time for the building to have a new life.” Coon is working to transform the former office building into a residential high-rise with more than 100 one- and two-bedroom left apartments. The project was announced four years ago, was initially scheduled to be completed by now, but is only now moving forward in phases thanks to changes in the American economy. Interest rates have doubled, supply lines are more limited, and several factors remain in limbo awaiting the country’s next election day in November 2024. But the Historic Wheeling-Pitt Lofts, Coon insisted, have been designed and engineered, and the construction crews soon will begin on the first phase on the top floors of the structure. The completion date for all 12 floors remains unknown, but he and the building’s owner, Dr. John Johnson from East Ohio Regional Hospital, are committed to restoring the historic building. Although this second-floor room is a mess, the building’s architecture allows the space’s residential potential to be seen. While most of the building’s interior has been stripped of electrical lines and plumbing, a few floors remain. When employees of Coon Restoration cleared moats of the floors of debris last year, they constructed and utilized a floor-by-floor trash chute. The electrical room inside the former Schmulbach Building is quite an impressive example of the power it took to operate the 12-story skyscraper. The building’s original boiler is still in place in the basement, but the structure was updated in the early 2000s. The work Coon Restoration is performing now involves the structure’s exterior brick. A close look reveals several areas where mortar has decayed. The portion of the basement at 1134 Market Street once was used as a bathhouse. The bathhouse area in the basement is marbled and the decor is very elegant in nature. Their former Schmulbach Building once was the tallest in the estate of West Virginia. It was constructed in 1905-6 and opened in 1907. Coon Restoration employed a 12-person crew to empty the building of all of the debris left behind by the last owner, RG Steel. Read the full article

[brookstonalmanac]

Beer Events 5.1

Events

Great Britain formed by a union of England & Scotland (1707)

Bavarian Beer Riots began, lasted until May 5 (1844)

Wine and Beer House Act passed to the number of taverns (England; 1869)

Adolph Coors purchased a partnership in a bottling company in Denver, Colorado (1872)

Michael Seibold & Adolph Hafenback bought the New Philadelphia Brewery (Ohio; 1876)

Anton Dreher’s beer first sold on draft (Austria; 1870)

John Gund Brewing Co. incorporated (1880)

Michael Kelley sold the Kelley Brewing Co. (Chicago; 1880)

Chicago and Milwaukee Brewers Association formally organized (1881)

John Bauee patented a Beer Bottling Machine (1888)

William Peter Brewing Co. incorporated (1890)

Bernard Michenfelder bought the Upper Sandusky Brewery (Ohio; 1898)

Shovelers Union of Buffalo went on strike, threatening grain availability (New York; 1899)

Manitowoc County Brewers Association founded (1901)

1st beer bottles for sale from First National Brewing (McKees Rock, Pennsylvania; 1906)

Frank Schneible patented an Apparatus for Dispensing Beer (1934)

Gottfried Piel died (1935)

New Summmit Brewing began brewing at their new facility (Minnesota; 1998)

August Schell Brewing opened their new brewhouse (Minnesota; 1999)

Melbourn Bros. Cherry Fruit Beer debuted (England; 2002) 

Coors released cans with the "Frost Brew Liner" (2006)

Edgar Davis patented a Table System beer cooler (2012)

Scott Simmonds and Michael Calvelage patented a Multi-Stream Draught Beer Dispensing System (2012)

William Apps patented a Plastic Beer Keg (2013)

Brewery Openings

Virginia City Brewery (Montana; 1864)

John Gund Brewing (Wisconsin; 1880)

Worcester Brewing (Massachusetts; 1899)

Zoller's Brewing (Iowa; 1935)

Santa Cruz Brewing (California; 1986)

Royal Beer Co. (Tonga; 1987)

Cherryland Brewing (Wisconsin; 1988)

Frankenmuth Brewery opened (Michigan; 1988)

Cambridge Brewing (Massachusetts; 1989)

Durango Brewing (Colorado; 1990)

Mill Bakery, Brewery & Eatery (Florida; 1990)

Roslyn Brewing (Washington; 1990)

Walnut Brewery (Colorado; 1990)

Celis Brewery (Texas; 1992)

Rohrbach Brewing (New York; 1992)

Holy Cow! Casino, Cafe & Brewery (Nevada; 1993)

Middlesex Brewing (Massachusetts; 1993)

Pikes Park Brewery (Colorado; 1993)

Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza Brewery (New Mexico; 1994)

Passageway Brewing (England; 1994)

Shipyard Brewery (Maine; 1994)

A1A Aleworks (Florida; 1995)

Cape Cod Brew House (Massachusetts; 1995)

Eldorado Canyon Brewing opened (Colorado; 1995)

F&M Breweries (Canada; 1995)

Fife Brewing (Scotland; 1995)

Great Baraboo Brewing (Michigan; 1995)

Joe's Mill Hill Saloon (New Jersey; 1995)

Lexington Brewing (Kentucky; 1995)

Maine Coast Brewing (Maine; 1995)

Newport Beach Brewing (California; 1995)

Paddy's Pub & Brewery (Canada; 1995)

Sheepscot Valley Brewing (Maine; 1995)

Star Garnet Brewing (Idaho; 1995)

Terrific Pacific Brewery & Grill (California; 1995)

TwoRows Restaurant & Brewery (Dallas, Texas; 1995)

Valley Forge Brewing (Pennsylvania; 1995)

Williamsville Brewery (Virginia; 1995)

Captains City Brewery (Washington; 1996)

Hamanako Brewing (Japan; 1996)

Narrow Gauge Brewing (Maine; 1996)

New Knoxville Brewing (Tennessee; 1996)

Slab City Brewing (Wisconsin; 1996)

Beer and Meal Maplip (Japan; 1997)

Deja Brew (Massachusetts; 1997)

Franconia Brewing (Pennsylvania; 1997)

Heartland Brewery (Missouri; 1997)

Main Street Brewery (California; 1997)

New Harvest Brewery (Missouri; 1997)

One-Eyed Jack Brewing (Illinois; 1997)

Raccoon River Brewing (Iowa; 1997)

Roanoke Railhouse Brewery & Restaurant / Railroad Brewing (Virginia; 1997)

Tröegs Brewing (Pennsylvania; 1997)

Uptown Brewpub (Rhode Island; 1997)

Grand Teton Brewing (Idaho; 1998)

Great Adirondack Brewing (New York; 1998)

Red Lodge Ales/H&H Brewing (Montana; 1998)

Sapporo Beer Nagoya Beer Gardem Koyden (Japan; 1998)

Edermunder Brauscheune (Germany; 2000)

Longwood Brewpub (Canada; 2000)

O'Fallon Brewery (Missouri; 2000)

Ojai Brewpub (California; 2000)

Pictish Brewing (England; 2000)

Upper Mississippi Brewing (Iowa; 2000)

Social Kitchen & Brewery (California; 2010)

#Events

[nwbeerguide]

Stone Brewing Company & Sanuk® collaborate to release a line of limited-edition capsule footwear.

Press Release

images courtesy Stone Brewing Company

GOLETA, Calif., Mar. 21, 2023 – Sanuk®, a division of Deckers Brands (NYSE: DECK), has teamed up with powerhouse San Diego-based craft brewery Stone Brewing for a limited-edition capsule collection. The fresh, earth conscious collaboration celebrates the Southern California ‘Live Buena’ lifestyle, where Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager and Sanuk sandals meet the Pacific sands.

 Fresh out of the tap, this Sanuk x Stone Brewing collection features a six pack of classic styles with custom artwork, vibrant Stone Buenaveza-inspired colors and tastefully co-branded moments. This premium lineup of men’s and women’s summer styles are made with natural materials like hemp, recycled plastic and rubber, along with bio-based materials like BLOOM™ foam.

Sanuk Sling ST x Stone women’s sandal is decked out in colorful, custom Stone Buenaveza graphics with waves, palms, cacti, gargoyles and lotus flowers printed on the iconic stretch knit sling upper strap crafted with UNIFI REPREVE® Our Ocean™ fibers sourced from bottles at high risk of entering the ocean, a high rebound footbed with killer arch support and a recycled sponge rubber outsole.

Sanuk Ashland ST x Stone is a water-friendly women’s flip flop featuring a tonal Sanuk x Stone Brewing printed footbed and a pop of color pink LYCRA® upper strap, with a high rebound footbed made with BLOOM™ x Soft Top Foam and a recycled sponge rubber outsole.

Sanuk You Got My Brew ST x Stone men’s and women’s Sidewalk Surfer® offers a classic transitional style for day to night comfort, including a 100% hemp upper, contoured leather lined footbed featuring BLOOM™ x Soft Top Foam with custom co-branded geometric graphics.

Sanuk Ziggy ST x Stone water-friendly men’s sandals will take you comfortably from the beach to the brewery and beyond, decked out with bold accents and a tonal Stone Buenaveza printed footbed. These sleek sandals feature a synthetic leather upper strap and a super supportive footbed made from BLOOM™ x Soft Top Foam.

Sanuk Bixby x Stone men's sandal features a new water-friendly design so you can slide right out of the water and into these with a fresh beer in hand. Now with an ultra-soft printed footbed on high rebound BLOOM™ x Soft Top Foam midsoles and an adjustable hook and loop closure for the perfect fit and radical comfort.

 “As two brands with synergistic missions and San Diego roots beginning in the 90s, teaming up with the good humans at Stone Brewing just made sense,” said Katie Pruitt, Brand Director at Sanuk. “This collection embodies the ethos of both Sanuk and Stone Brewing by delivering innovative, quality goods, with tasteful design details and superior comfort for that beach-day-mindset, no matter where you are.”

“When we released Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager, we couldn’t wait to bring its ‘Live Buena’ spirit to life beyond the beer itself,” explained Erin Smith, VP of Marketing at Stone Brewing. “Sanuk’s capsule collection embodies that laidback, active SoCal lifestyle and does so with an eco-conscious commitment that speaks to our shared brand values.”

The Sanuk x Stone Brewing capsule collection is now available online at Sanuk.com and in store at all Stone Brewing Tap Rooms and select premium retailers. Retail prices range from $40-65.

For more information about the Sanuk x Stone Brewing collection, visit Sanuk.com/StoneBrewing or follow along on Instagram @sanuk #smilepassiton.

…

ABOUT THE SANUK® BRAND 

Welcome to the world of Sanuk. We’re an unconventional footwear brand on a mission to be the outfitter for the journey to your happy place. In 1997, we were founded with one simple goal: to make people smile...and pass it on. In the world of Sanuk, smiles are always wider…every step of the way to your happy place. For more information, visit sanuk.com or follow @sanuk #smilepassiton.

ABOUT DECKERS BRANDS

Deckers Brands Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company’s portfolio of brands includes UGG®, Koolaburra®, HOKA®, Teva® and Sanuk®. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has 50 years of history building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com.

ABOUT STONE BREWING

Founded in 1996, Stone pioneered the West Coast Style IPA, helping to fuel the modern craft beer revolution and inspire generations of hop fanatics. Today Stone operates breweries in Escondido, CA and Richmond, VA plus seven tap room and bistro locations. Stone offers a wide range of craft beers including its most popular Stone IPA, Stone Delicious IPA and Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager. The company’s long list of environmental efforts includes a LEED Silver Certification, world-class water reclamation and creative uses of spent grain. Stone has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. To find Stone beers, visit find.stonebrewing.com. For more information on Stone Brewing visit stonebrewing.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3TDyMQe

#Craft Beer #Beer #News

[kimkiln-teacup]

An article takes you to know the story of Gaiwan

Let's invite Lin Daiyu, the protagonist of "A Dream of Red Mansions", to demonstrate the classical usage of Gaiwan. The 1987 edition of the Red Chamber was very finely shot. There was another scene before Yingchun drinking tea and using the lid to skim the floating tea, and this scene is Daiyu entering the Rongguo Mansion as a guest. This action was omitted and just used to put the lid against the rim of the bowl and drink tea. This is another etiquette of using a Gaiwan, and you can't skim the tea when you are away - it means that the host's tea is not good.

The advantage of Gaiwan is that it is not hot. The origin of this goes back to the Tang Dynasty. The eldest lady of Cui Ning's family think that the tea bowl was hot, so she glued the bowl to the saucer. This is the predecessor of Gaiwan, called Tuozhan or Tuozi. Cui Ning served as Jiedushi around 770, which should be the approximate time when Tuozhan appeared. Among the treasures buried in the underground palace of Famen Temple in 875, there is a glass holder, which is the earliest real object that can be verified by time.

Check out our collection of Vintage Teacup, we offer beautifully vintage china for your home.

The Yue Kiln and Xing Kiln in the Tang Dynasty, and the Jun Kiln and Ding Kiln in the Song Dynasty all have Tuozhan. Most of these Tuozhan are connected with tea cups and trays. People in the Song Dynasty liked to compare tea art, and used black-glazed bamboo hat-shaped cups to hold tea. At that time, the development of Tuozhan was stagnant, and the Gaiwan that was really suitable for making tea appeared is in the Ming Dynasty.

The Gaiwan at this time were deeper than those in the Tang and Song dynasties, which were suitable for storing tea leaves, but they had a lid but no bottom support. 

Probably in the late Ming or early Qing Dynasty, the Gaiwan was added to the tray and became a Gaiwan in the modern sense. The tray is used to prevent scalding, so it may not be so if you think about it. For example, if you pick up a cup of tea that is hot, it will definitely burn your mouth when you drink it. Why do you have to hold it? Will definitely let it cool for a while before drinking. Therefore, the core value of the tray is more of a sense of ritual.

The Gaiwan was born in noble family, and it was also a tool of the upper class in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Among the many tea utensils, the Gaiwan is the most difficult to use. You need to use two hands, and the movements are slow and calm. It looks elegant and luxurious, but in fact it is afraid that the bowl will fall from the support. The upper class likes to play these things that have technical thresholds, and ordinary people can't easily learn them. By the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Gaiwan had become the standard equipment of officials and eunuchs, and wealthy families followed.

Check out our collection of Vintage Teacup, we offer beautifully vintage china for your home.

Until the Republic of China, the Congress of Beijing gave birth to a new tea set. Hundreds of councilors sat together for a meeting, each with a Gaiwan in front of them. At this time, the weak point of the Gaiwan was exposed. The capacity was too small. Hundreds of people wanted to add water and change the leaves. Dozens of waiters rushed to the scene. The scene was chaotic, so the Congress passed a motion to make the tea bowl bigger.

This task was handed over to Jingdezhen. At that time, there was a Jiangxi Porcelain Company that found inspiration in an old warehouse. It was such a thing:

Isn't this a mug? Yes, Jingdezhen has been making mugs since the Ming Dynasty, but they are all shipped directly for export. Mugs were invented by the Egyptians in the Pyramid Age, mainly for drinking hot drinks, such as beer - yes, beer was hot at that time. Later, it spread to Europe, and the materials were wood, metal, etc., and the Ming Dynasty began to order porcelain from China.

Jiangxi Porcelain Company added a cover to the mug to keep it warm, named it the Prime Minister, and called it the Zhongshan Cup. Because the body of the cup is straight, also known as the Zhongshan tube, this is the first time the Chinese use a teacup with a handle.

In 1958, the State Council ordered teacups for office use. Liling Porcelain Factory improved the Zhongshan cup, and the bottom foot was made into an inward curve, which was called Jiefang Cup. Later, many styles of office cups were developed, all of which were based on Zhongshan cups and Jiefang cups. After the office cup became the mainstream, the Gaiwan transformed itself and began to function as a teapot. Now it is impossible to verify when this usage started, it is estimated that it was in Guangdong in the late Qing Dynasty. Compared with the teapot, the advantage of the Gaiwan is that it is easy to clean, especially the large-leaf tea dregs such as oolong, which are very troublesome to clean out from the pot. Another point is to cover the bowl to dissipate heat, so as not to suffocate the leaves.

Today's Gaiwan are basically used for tea, which is equally as good as the purple clay pot. Moreover, from one Gaiwan for each person to one shared by many people, the weak connection becomes a strong connection, and the joy of being alone is not as good as that of others. The ultimate vintage teacup subscription: https://kimkiln.com/

#article #blog post #lifestyle #history #culture #story #new writter

[necraftbrew]

Cloud Drop DIPA

Cloud Drop Double IPA (DIPA)

Cloud Drop Double IPA, what can I say? There are double IPAs, and then there is Cloud Drop DIPA by Upper Pass Beer Company. This delicious double India pale ale offers a robust and hoppy flavor profile without the overwhelming bitterness often in other double IPAs. The aroma is piney and citrusy, and the hazy golden color is inviting. The beer pours with a significant head and high carbonation level, which adds to the overall drinking experience. Cloud Drop DIPA - Upper Pass Beer Company One of the best things about this craft beer is its smoothness, despite the high alcohol content of 8%. With an alcohol content that high, you should pace or limit yourself. The hops profile for this beer is well balanced and offers a piney citrus flavor. The aftertaste is what you would expect from a DIPA, with robust hop flavor throughout. Despite that, it's an easy-to-drink, refreshing beer perfect for any beer lover. The mouthfeel is smooth and crisp, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the beer. The balance of hoppy and piney citrus flavor with the beer's smoothness is perfect bliss. The 60 IBU is also ideal for those who prefer a less bitter beer. I like to be around 60 IBUs, so that falls right within a range I'm happy with.

Cloud Drop DIPA and showing off a robust head. Conclusion Overall, Cloud Drop DIPA by Upper Pass Beer Company is a must-try for any beer lover looking for something new and unique from Vermont. It's a well-crafted beer that offers a great representation of a Double India Pale Ale. It's one delicious craft beer that I'll be looking to pick up again. Next time you're in Vermont, head on over to Upper Pass to Cloud Drop DIPA a try! Read the full article

#8.0%ABV #DIPA #HazyDIPA #UpperPassBeerCompany #Vermont

[positiverolli]

The accidental news explorer

I’ve spent ungodly sums of money climbing big mountains all over the world. But dig a layer deeper and the stories reveal differences, and different paths. Sure, the basic tenants tend to be the same – spend way less than you earn, invest the difference, don’t be a consumer sucka. Everyone who made it to FI or FIRE has a different story. If people see it’s way more than just MMM and a few others who have done this, the more they’ll understand that it’s achievable. A mix of anger, disbelief, pissy-ness, with a smattering of “I could never do that!” Every time a story of someone going FIRE gets picked up by a more mainstream media outlet you see it in the comments section. But the perception of the general population seems to be that we’re outliers or that we have trust funds. Not that the ones out there have any deficiencies, actually they’re awesome. You’ll have to tell me, but I think we do. But now I have the safety-net to try that. I never had the balls to forgo a regular job and start a business, too much risk. Full retirement is in my future, probably sooner than later but we’ll see how the story plays out. I’m fully FI with a good deal of extra buffer based on my current spending. Money Mustache and well, the rest is where I’m at now.Īs my happiness at my job continued to decline, and my realization that my outdoor hobbies are hard to pursue in an office, I started to look into going part-time at my job, which I did a little while back. I managed to make it to upper management at my job, the Director of a large office, Around that same time I discovered the Trinity Study through Mr. And again, the money just multiplies and you don’t have to do anything!! I kept on the straight and narrow path of building wealth, but never consciously had the intention of retiring early since I was too young to think about it. This too shall pass, I’ll never be able to time the bottom…. All my friends were switching their 401k money from stocks to cash, but I held out. Always.ĭuring the 2008 crash, I didn’t sell. I shunned new/expensive cars, and expensive rents/mortgages. As my salary kept going up, my lifestyle intentionally didn’t, or at least not as much. I always stashed those extra paychecks right into my mutual funds. I took a second job on the faculty of a large university as an adjunct instructor, even though I didn’t really ‘need’ the money. I switched from a dot com company to a Government job and worked my ass off, moving up quickly. Long Distance Bikepacking Trips Are A Favorite I figured everyone else was doing it too because why wouldn’t you!? It GROWS! Who doesn’t want more money? It takes no effort! I kept doing this, and never looked back. I opened accounts with Vanguard and a few other companies and plowed my savings into mutual funds. Then I stumbled across an issue of Money Magazine. After my first job I started wondering what to do with the excess money in my checking account since I wasn’t blowing it all on beer (but I was blowing lots of it, trust me). As a kid I didn’t go without, but my parents didn’t have much money and what they did have paid the bills with little left over. Growing up lower-middle class instilled some values in me that have served me well. I got my first credit card in college and to this day have never carried a balance once. The delayed gratification did not apply to beer. I also started cultivating a habit of delayed gratification, although that didn’t come until my college years. I would lay on the basement floor with my coin collection – not a historic collection at all, they were just plain old nickels and dimes – and line them up, categorized by the year on the front and count which years had the most coins. Multiple news sources to the browse headlines.From my early childhood, I liked to save things.Start your journey with the latest news headlines.Instapaper and Pocket integration - save articles for reading later.Once you've browsed the suggested articles taken from hundreds of news sources, tap the “related topics” button to discover connected topics, which in turn leads to more articles.Įach article leads to new things the more curious you are, the longer your journey will be. The Accidental News Explorer is a new type of news app that celebrates serendipity and chance encounters. “It’s a lot like surfing the way I used to, starting somewhere and ending up somewhere else relevant but much more interesting. ANE is one of those applications.” - waxpraxis (US App Store review) “The Accidental News Explorer for iPhone will completely change the way you get your news!” - a rare application that changes the way you view the world. *** Featured as new and noteworthy on the US App Store! ***

#The accidental news explorer

[hungryk9]

Beyond Meat sausages (grills super well and was great served with ripe avo chunks). Tofu tacos, pork belly tacos, and leftover steak tacos. Grilled hasselback potato.

Featuring Jalapa Jar fresh salsa & Upper Pass Beer Company’s citrus VT IPAs. Teamwork with Em.

#Upper Pass Beer Company #ipa #beer #Jalapa Jar #salsa #Beyond Meat #sausage #tacos #tofu #pork belly #steak #leftovers #homecooking #hasselback potatoes #grilled potatoes #potatoes #hauled

[chicagobeerpass]

Chicago Beer Pass: Up Down Darkside

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago.

This week on Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski & Nik White are drinking cans of Aleman as they dive into an event filled weekend. They talk about stouts at Revolution, Uppers & Downers and Darkside 6. You would think this was FoBAB with the amount of stout beer talk and drinking that happened this weekend. We both went to some great events and it was awesome to chat with so many cool beer peeps at them.

There are some fun events happening around the city as Cigar City drops into the market. Check out the calendar from your favorite beer bar because there is a good chance they have a tap takeover going on. Thanks for listening to Chicago Beer Pass!

Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (43.4 MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

#audio #audio podcast #Chicago #Chicago Beer Pass #Cigar City #Aleman #Brad Chmielewski #Nik White #uppers and downers #uppers & downers #DarkSide #Darkside6 #chicago beer company #Chicago Beer #Beer Review #craft beer #craftbeer

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Biden's Right to Repair will include electronics, too

The Biden administration teased a sweeping antimonopoly executive order last week, including a Right to Repair provision that was to be aimed at agricultural equipment — a direct assault on the corporate power of repair archnemesis John Deere.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/07/instrumentalism/#r2r

But it turns out that the executive order goes far beyond tractors and other agricultural equipment — it also applies to consumer electronics, including mobile phones, and this is a huge fucking deal.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3d5yb/bidens-right-to-repair-executive-order-covers-electronics-not-just-tractors

The Right to Repair fight reached US state legislatures in 2018, when dozens of R2R bills were introduced, and then killed, by an unholy alliance of Apple and other tech companies fighting alongside Big Ag and home electronics monopolists like Wahl.

But the R2R side had its own coalition — farmers, tinkerers, small repair shop owners, auto mechanics and more. If the Biden order had stopped with an agricultural right to repair, that would have weakened the R2R coalition.

Divide-and-rule has long been part of the anti-repair playbook. In 2018, farmers got suckered into backing a California R2R bill that applied to agricultural equipment, only to see the bill gutted, denying them the right to fix their tractors.

https://www.wired.com/story/john-deere-farmers-right-to-repair/

The reason Right to Repair has stayed on the agenda even after brutal legislative losses — the Apple-led coalition killed every single R2R bill in 2018 — has been its support coalition.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/02/euthanize-rentiers/#r2r

That’s why the early news that Biden was giving farmers their right to repair was bittersweet — breaking the coalition might snuff out the hope that we’d get right to repair for our phones, cars and appliances. It’s why the news that the EO covers electronics is so exciting.

It’s a hopeful moment, following other triumphs, like the automotive R2R 2020 ballot initiative that passed in Massachusetts with an overwhelming majority despite Big Car’s scare ads showed women literally being murdered by stalkers as a consequence.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/11/13/said-no-one-ever/#r2r

Right to Repair got a massive boost this week when Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak made a public endorsement of the movement and described its principles as fundamental to the technological breakthroughs that led to Apple’s founding.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57763037

Seen in that light, all of Apple’s paternalistic arguments about blocking independent repair in the name of defending its customers’ safety are exposed as having a different motivation — blocking the path Apple took for future innovators, so that it can cement its dominance.

And repair is just one element of the antimonopoly executive order, which is broad indeed, as Zephyr Teachout wrote for The Nation. All in all, there are 72 directives in the EO.

https://www.thenation.com/article/economy/biden-monopoly-executive-order/

They encompass “corporate monopolies in agriculture, defense, pharma, banking, and tech,” ban non-compete agreements, and direct the FTC to go to war against the meat-processing monopolies that have crushed farmers and ranchers.

And further: they direct the FCC to reinstate Net Neutrality, the CFPB to force banks to let us take our financial data with us when we switch to a rival, and open up the flow of cheaper drugs from Canada, where the government has stood up to Big Pharma.

Teachout points out that some of this is symbolic in that the agency heads don’t have to do what the president says, though in practice they tend to do so, and FTC chair/superhero Lina Khan has publicly announced her support for the agenda:

https://www.thenation.com/article/economy/biden-monopoly-executive-order/

Teachout calls this an historic moment. She’s right. The Biden admin is refusing to treat agricultural repair as somehow different from automotive, electronic or appliance repair. More importantly, it’s refusing to treat tech monopolies as separate from all monopolies.

This is crucial, because the same kind of diverse coalition that kept R2R alive is potentially a massive force for driving an antimonopoly agenda in general, because monopolies have destroys lives and value in sectors from athletic shoes to finance, eyeglasses to beer.

The potential coalition is massive, but it needs a name. It’s not enough to be antimonopoly. It has to stand for something.

As James Boyle has written, the term “ecology” changed the balance of power in environmental causes.

Prior to “ecology,” there was no obvious connection between the fight for owl survival and the fight against ozone depletion. It’s not obvious that my concern for charismatic nocturnal birds connects to your concern for the gaseous composition of the upper atmosphere.

“Ecology” turned 1,000 issues into a single movement with 1,000 constituencies all working in coalition. The antimonopoly movement is on the brink of a similar phase-change, but again, it needs to stand for something.

That something can’t be “competition.” Competition on its own is perfectly capable of being terrible. Think of ad-tech companies who say privacy measures are “anticompetitive.” We don’t want competition for the most efficient human rights abuses.

https://doctorow.medium.com/illegitimate-greatness-674353e7cdf9

A far better goal is “self-determination” — the right for individuals and communities to make up their own minds about how they work and live, based on democratic principles rather than corporate fiat.

https://locusmag.com/2021/07/cory-doctorow-tech-monopolies-and-the-insufficient-necessity-of-interoperability/

That would be a fine position indeed for the Democratic Party to stake out. As Teachout writes, “[Democrats once] stood for workers and the people who produced things, and against the middlemen who sought to steal value and control industry. They understood that anti-monopoly laws were partly about keeping prices down — but also about preserving equality and dignity, and making sure that everyone who contributed to the production of goods and services got a fair cut.”

#pluralistic