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fanaticsnail · 7 months

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Bar Shift: Part 1

First time writing for Sanji, which accidentally turned into a multi-part mini series. This is part 1!

Your eyelids fluttered open as the rays of the morning sun shone through the material of the curtain and directly onto your face. Any other day, waking with the dawn would cause you to groan, wipe your face with your fingertips and you would lunge straight into a tirade of self-hype to awaken your senses as you prepared for your shift as the front of house manager of the floating restaurant, Baratie.

However, today was unlike any of the others you had encountered over the past several months. Today, you had finally been rostered for a single day off. You smiled and raised your arms over your head, stretching them above you and arching your back with a low moan. You released the tension acquired in your shoulders and shrugged back into the mattress below you.

It was not like you hadn’t been rostered off, releasing you from your duties over the several months prior. You had just acquired the nasty habit of accepting shifts pushed onto you to cover other members of staff in their duties. From aiding with back of house duties: washing dishes, vegetable preparation, sauce reduction and preparing ‘family meal’ for the staff to enjoy after completing a successful shift; to aiding the head Chef Zeff with listing groceries, preparing payroll, timetable scheduling and product costing. This is how you rose so high in the ranks aboard the sailing restaurant as their front of house staff; never being one to decline a shift to cover others in their time of need.

You smiled to yourself, springing the sheets from your body and preparing to undertake a true day dedicated to only yourself. You had a whole list of items prepared in your mind: face masks, deep hair conditioning, pampering your body by doing some exercise in the gym and enjoying breakfast on the broad deck in the sunshine on the bar.

You started with your face, plucking unruly and unwanted hair from their desired location, applying a face and hair mask and began doing your stretches to limber your body up for a small run after your masks had dried, been rinsed and tidied.

As the conditioning treatments began to solidify atop your features, you placed a record in your music player and swung to the beat with a small giggle. You discarded your sleep attire and searched through your draws for something to exercise in and something to wear to breakfast after you had a shower.

You rinsed off the dried masks from your face and wrapped your masked hair into a tight bun out of your face and left your quarters adorning your work-out gear. You completed a slightly cardio intensive routine over the course of an hour, including some kick-boxing against a small bag hanging from the ceiling on the crew-quarters gym before heading to the showers.

Indulging in the warmth of a lengthy shower, you dried your now shiny soft hair and styled it in a way you hadn’t done in a while – wearing it out instead of in the tightly woven style you would adorn in your regular shifts aboard Baratie. You raked through the locks, pinched your cheeks a little to add some warmth to your un-made up features and left the showers wearing slightly dressy clothes.

You were relishing in every moment you had acquired in a well deserved day off, noticing the hands on the clock on the hallway indicated it was now around 7:45am as you made your way atop the deck. More often than not, you would pull double – if not triple shifts – to aid the creater, owner and head chef of Baratie; often starting at 5am to aid in pastries, work a full shift on the floor before covering for a chef in the kitchen or helping with the dishes from the rush before managing the bar for the night life. You would often end your shift just after midnight if the night was slow, but would stay later if required.

There had been two crew birthdays for the front of house staff, one chef du cuisine reigniting his affections with an old flame and asking you to cover for him in the kitchen, three injuries at the hands of apprentices and one chef finding themselves overcome with some form of sea-bearing respiratory illness he acquired on one of his days off that rendered him useless for a week. Each time, Patty or Carne would seek you out and sheepishly ask you to cover; knowing they could truly count on you. And each time, you would say yes.

As you took a seat, basking in the light of the morning rays; you rolled your neck and closed your eyes to release some tension in your neck as a shadow fell over your face – successfully blocking the warmth from falling onto your skin.

You opened your eyes and looked up to see the blonde chef, Sanji; a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips as he presented you with what looked to be some number of fruits above a jelly and custard tart with whipped cream on the side. You smiled at him and sat up slightly from your reclined position.

“For you, princess,” he said with a smirk twitching at the corner of his mouth. You rolled your eyes and accepted the dish from him and placed it on the side table to the right of the lounging chair you were sitting on.

“What is it, love?” you asked him, gesturing to the dish he had handed to you. He broadly smiled at you, appreciating the name you bestowed onto him. He removed the finished cigarette from the corner of his lips and placed it in the ashtray on the table beside a different recliner, further away from the dish.

“It’s a white chocolate ganache custard tart with a bitter blueberry reduction,” he began, crouching down at the table, fixing his gaze at the dish in front of you and gesturing to each part.

“I’ve topped it with a sweet lychee jelly with chiffonade mint leaves and finely diced cubed mango,” he pointed to the finely chopped pieces, “and I’ve hand-whipped a vanilla bean meringue buttercream just for you.”

You noticed a twinkle in his eyes as you looked the dish over, assessing its presentation. You narrowed your eyes at the tart base, noticing it was different than the usual pie crusts Sanji had worked with in the past.

“And the base?” you questioned him, arching your eyebrow up at him. He chuckled a little and leant forward.

“A flattened and rolled out layered Bischoff brioche,” he winked at you. You were not unaccustomed to Sanji’s flirting, as many of the chefs would playfully banter with one another during the shifts. Between Patty, Carne or the other line cooks; it was more loving insults or playful banter and encouragement. If there was a pretty lady sitting at the tables, a chef would alert the rest of the kitchen by calling out a dish to table number that didn’t exist, or more boldly, wolf-whistle under their breath.

With you, being one of the only women who would grace the back of house with your presence on the line, they would often include you in their jabs and try to point out any men they would deem worthy of your time. Sanji, however, would push to include you in a more flirtatious manner – often calling out the non-existent table number when you would walk to the pass on one of your front of house shifts, or referring to you with a rotating number of pet-names, his latest including “princess”.

“Thank you, love,” you smiled at him, broadly. You picked up a small fork and sliced the sharpened edge of the utensil into the tart and collecting a sample of each of the ingredients onto it.

“Did you make one for yourself too?” you asked before raising it to your lips. He was gazing at you with anticipation as you placed the ingredients into your mouth. Immediately, an explosion of flavours erupted over your tongue; bitterness from the reduction, richness from the ganache and meringue, fresh juices from the jelly and herbaceous botanicals from the mint leaves eclipsed over your senses; pulling an unwilling moan from between your lips. Sanji broadly smiled at your reaction, his eyes twinkling at the unwithheld compliment to him that he managed to bring forth.

You blushed heavily at the reaction your body made in response to consuming the first bite of his food and continued to chew, rolling the contents over your tongue.

“Bloody hell, Sanji!” you widened your eyes and covered your mouth with the hand you had the utensil in, still chewing the tart in your mouth. He chuckled and cradled his head in his enclosed fist, bashfully while he continued to watch you enjoy the dish he made.

“To answer your question, princess,” he smiled, “no I didn’t. I made that especially for you.”

You swallowed the first bite and rose your eyebrows in subtle shock. You again carved off a generous piece of the tart, ensuring you collected a taste of each of the many parts of the dessert. Sanji followed your movements with his eyes as you skilfully did so, only looking back to you in confusion as you presented the fork towards his lips.

“Well then,” you declared, offering the fork further over to his lips, “say ‘ah’.”

He smiled widely before leaning towards the silver utensil and wrapping his lips over the tip of the fork. His tongue collected the ingredients from the bottom of the fork, drawing your eyes to the silver balled piercing located on his pink frenulum momentarily. He maintained eye contact with you as he placed the contents into his mouth, causing an unintentional blush to rise from your chest, tips of your ears and over your cheeks.

He released the fork slowly from his lips, removing all pieces of indulgent tart from the end of the fork and he smiled at you with fondness.

“Thank you,” he nodded his head at the fork, “always wanted to share a meal with you. I didn’t think it would be quite as literal as this, princess.”

You rolled your eyes at his playful flirtation and began to collect more of the beautiful breakfast he had meticulously prepared for you.

“You should’ve made this one for Chef,” you commented, “he might even be so inclined to put this on the menu. I’d vouch for you, love.”

He laughed at your comment, reaching into his jacket pocket and placing an unlit cigarette between his fingers.

“Nope,” he said, bringing his lips to the filter end of the cigarette, “too much work went into that one. Wouldn’t want it wasted on uncultured pricks that believe the height of cuisine is a well-done tomahawk steak with mashed potatoes and boiled carrots.”

You laughed at his comment, watching him as he stood up and attempted to click his flint-less lighter to ignite a flame. He growled slightly in frustration, prompting you to reach for your own lighter in your bag. You rose to your feet and situated yourself in front of the tall blonde, reaching up your lighter and flicking the flint to ignite a small flame from the end. He smiled in thanks at you as you brought your hand cradling the flame up to his lips once more. He leant into your hands, igniting the tip of the cigarette and inhaling deeply before releasing the tobacco-riddled smoke from the corner of his mouth away from your face. You smiled at him and flicked off the flame from your lighter and made to place it back into your bag.

Unknown to you, Sanji’s eyes followed your every movement as he gazed at you with nothing but pure adoration. This little crush he seemed to have on you was subject to many of the unrelenting teasing from the kitchen staff, especially from Patty. He didn’t mind being the butt of the joke, especially as his only crime per say was his unrequited fantasy in pining for you.

Sure, he’d flirt with many women over the course of his shift – more often than not to secure a higher tip, or to simply mess with an overzealous man who needed his oversized head to be knocked down a few paces. It was only ever playful, nothing truly more. With you? He found to be fixated on you. The highlight of his shift was knowing you were with him on Baratie, pulling all of your strength, effort and unbridled determination in ensuring the smooth sailing of each night. He adored how much work you put into the place, especially as he owed his life to the head chef and having you aboard seemed to make everything flow so easily.

Silence fell between you as you cut into the meal Sanji prepared for you and continued to place it into your mouth. He continued to smoke, always turning to release the smoke away from you to not tarnish your dining experience in any way.

Loud footsteps broke you both out of your shared silence together as Patty almost skipped over to the place you were sitting, a broad smile adorning his finely groomed facial hair.

Immediately, alarm bells blared into you as this smile you came to know as the one he would only ever use when asking you to cover a shift.

“No,” you said, holding your hands out and defensively shaking them at him, “absolutely not.”

The smile continued to widen over Patty’s features as a clasped his hands together in a pleading fashion.

“Oh my darling, the most precious and radiant flower all of the ocean has to offer,” Patty began his tirade of flattery aimed at you, prompting Sanji to turn to stare at his form.

You shook your head and frowned at him, continuing to wave your arms in front of your face.

“Don’t even start-,” you began, being cut off by more flattery.

“The angel of the east blue,” Patty spoke over you, “more beautiful than the shooting stars littering the sky!”

You brought your thumb and middle finger to your brow before raking your fingertips through the loose strands of your hair. Sanji’s eyes narrowed slightly at the stream of compliments flowing from the blue-haired chef.

“What happened?” you uttered reluctantly at his flattery. Patty dropped his hands from their pleading position and released a sigh, reluctantly removing the smile from his face.

“Cole slipped a disc in his back while walking down the steps last night,” Patty uttered through gritted teeth. You sighed slightly and frowned at the comment.

“Are you certain it’s a slipped disc? Not the fact that his fiancé was finally cleared to dock yesterday?” you growled at Patty. He flinched a little at your accusation, before uttering.

“Actually, he did seem more limber this morning,” he confirmed with a downturned smile, arching his eyebrows. You groaned and lay back into your reclined position after placing the fork on the side table alongside you finished plate.

“If Cole wants me to do his bar shift for him, he should be the one here grovelling for coverage,” you declared with frustration. Patty nervously laughed at your comment, turning to look at Sanji who had a look of complete displeasure on his features.

“You know what?” you suddenly said, sitting up from your reclining position, “the only way I will accept the shift tonight is if the almighty head chef Zeff himself saunters over here and tilts my head up with his index finger and whispers it to me like he would a lover. If those absolute improbable circumstances are completed, I’ll work the bar tonight.”

You slumped back into your seat with a large smile, knowing there was no way Zeff would come to you and flirt his way into having you complete a bar shift for him. Sanji snickered slightly at the thought. Patty excused himself from your presence and sculked back into the halls to where you assume he would go and ask another rostered off member of staff to complete tonight’s shift.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you turn down a shift,” Sanji said, collecting another cigarette from his jacket pocket.

“It’s been five months since I’ve had a proper rostered off day,” you shrugged your shoulders and slumped back into your chair and enjoying the warm rays of the sun shining into your body, “and that was the only thing I could think of to get Patty off my case. I have so much respect for Zeff, and I would never mean to disrespect him in any way. I’m sure Patty has run off to find someone else, anyway.” Sanji smiled in response.

“May I?” Sanji asked, gesturing to your bag to retrieve your lighter.

“Go right ahead, love,” you said, closing your eyes and placing your hands behind your head.

Suddenly your peaceful morning was again interrupted with a loud thump and heavy wooden slap echoing along the polished wooden floor of the hallway where Patty had retreated into moments earlier. Several other bellowing drumbeats could also be heard reverberating behind the thump and slap, alerting both Sanji and yourself to a few bodies approaching.

You snapped your eyes open and stood immediately alert, focusing your sights on the approaching figure of your head chef.

“Alright, pumpkin,” the chef declared, charging over to the place you were standing alongside Sanji, “I’ll play along.”

Your eyes immediately widened at the figure closing the distance between you. Several other chefs, including Patty and Carne were trailing closely behind him almost brimming with excitement.

“Sorry Chef?” you apologised as more of an indication of mishearing him, shock riddling your face. He closed the distance between your bodies, bringing himself uncomfortably close to your own. He reached his hand forward and hooked his index finger beneath your chin, lifting your gaze to focus on his eyes.

“I need you,” he whispered into your face with a hint of close intimacy, holding firm to your chin and pulling all of your focus into his gaze. He paused before he released your chin from his firm grip, “to work the bar tonight.”

You felt a blush creep up over your shocked features as your head chef stepped away from you.

“Y-yes chef,” you managed to stutter out from between your clenched teeth, eyes still standing wide in shock. He smirked slightly and brushed his hands over his apron, stepping away from your close proximity. The snickers of your coworkers were reverberating throughout the area, causing more waves of embarrassment to course over your body.

“I meant no disrespect, chef,” you called after him, suddenly. Zeff chuckled in response.

“I know, sweetheart,” he said, “couldn’t resist a challenge though. Get a move on, your shift starts in under an hour.”

He began to retreat back to the kitchen office before calling back over his shoulder; “and Cole was working a double tonight.”

You hung your head and grit your teeth at the shock of the fact your boss actually responded to your non-serious challenge. Your shock was broken by the full belly-laugh from the blonde sous chef next to you, prompting you to snap your gaze over to his. His eyes were closed as he flung his head back and released more of his unhinged laughter.

“Your face,” he managed to gasp out through his unrelenting chuckles, “you should’ve seen your face.”

You growled slightly at the comments made by your coworker.

“Yeah, well I didn’t think my words all the way through, did I?” you spat at him in mock anger. He continued to laugh at you, wiping a small collection of tears spent at your expense.

“I didn’t think the old man had that amount of charm in him,” he said once hunching himself over and wiping his palms over his knees to collect himself.

“To be fair, neither did I,” you replied, “for a second there, I almost caught feelings for the man.”

Sanji chuckled again and straightened himself up.

“Gee if that all it takes to charm you, I should’ve given that a go first. Didn’t need to go through all the trouble of making you breakfast,” he playfully flirted with you, nudging your shoulder with his own. You offered him a warm smile in response.

“Alright, enough playing,” you said, nudging him back, “I’ve got to go get changed out of all this and make myself presentable.”

“You’re always more than beautiful, princess,” Sanji commented at you with a playful smile.

“Hah-hah,” you responded sarcastically, “seriously, love. I’ve got to go get into my bloody uniform now. Customers await.”

You reached your hand up and patted his cheek affectionately.

“Thank you again for breakfast,” you expressed your gratefulness to him, “it was beautiful. We should do this more often.”

He widened his eyes at you and leant slightly into your touch before you turned on your way, returning to your crew quarters. His gaze trailed over you, eyes filling slightly with a small amount of want. Although partially exhausted, he was so glad he gave up his night to preparing a dish especially for you – especially as you released such beautiful sounds acknowledging how much you appreciated it.

He was absolutely going to make something more flavourful for you to hopefully pull more of those melodic sounds from your lips. If he can’t have you moaning his name while coupling with you in a romantic embrace, he was going to extract those illicit sounds from you the only other way he knew how: cooking.

Part 2

#sanji x reader #one piece #sanji #one piece live action #black leg sanji #pining #cooking #creative writing #x reader #opla fic #zeff x reader #flirting #cigarette #smoking

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sodaonskateboards · 1 year

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your post ab sugarbaby! denji is just *chefs kiss* 🤌 i couldn’t stop thinking ab it!!

sugarbaby! denji who thought that his life couldn’t possible get any better until he became your sugar baby, you’re around his age and have always been so kind and welcoming to him ever since he started working at public safety<3

sugarbaby! denji who loves being able to spend his lunch breaks with you! he orders practically everything on the menu, even if he doesn’t know what it is because well…free food is free food! he truly believes you’re some sort of angel sent from above

sugarbaby! denji who goes absolutely wild when you let him use your black card to his heart’s content. he buys all sorts of manga, video games, and snacks (which never last more than a day…power def raids his snack drawer and then proceeds to blame it on aki)

sugarbaby! denji who wants to gift you things too because a lovely angel such as yourself deserves to be spoiled too!! he may not have much money but when he does he’ll buy you a bouquet of your favorite flowers with a cute heart-shaped box filled with yummy chocolates<3

Anon, we are holding hands and kissing, this is delicious <3

Sugarbaby! Denji who still wants to use your shampoo and your soap because he likes to smell like you and he just likes sharing with you!

He shared with Pochita all the time, always hand feeding him, so sharing one thing, eating off the same plate, wearing each others clothes, etc is like his only little love language. It makes him feel close to you.

Denji can be dumb, but I think he's good with numbers and money as he's able to calculate his debt and costs quickly, so he's actually good at keeping track of your money, it's just that large purchases don't feel very real to him because he could never imagine something as simple as buying a new console.

On the flip side, small purchases can make him anxious. He actually checks that he has enough for the littler purchases, but when he's done triple-checking, he gets all excited and will go wild!!

Watch out this man could probably eat cardboard fine but he will eat himself into tummy aches :[[

If you pay for Denji, you end up paying for Power (and Meowy) too, she will throw a bit of a tantrum if all three of you are together and you only get Denji and yourself something. She also tells you that it's unfair to not buy Meowy something on the way back, and that you need to get him a cat tower. She will bite and steal and claw and whine, but somehow you two don't mind.

Denji desperately needs more clothes and he finally gets to chose what to wear! Imagine him at a thrift store or simple warehouse looking at shirts and wondering what he likes and whats comfy, not what's cheapest. He dress in some god awful patterns and colours at first, but it's good for him to explore, so you encourage him

Denji probably has never even touched silk in his life, so when you want to get him some clothes with nice material, start small, otherwise he'll overwhelmed. Gift him a fancy shirt to start and he loses his mind over how soft it is, then work up and you can take him to a department store and a tailor, he looks so damn good in a black, silk dress shit with a low cut

GET THIS BOY BATH BOMBS!! My guy is happy just to bathe everyday, bubble bath, bath bombs and oils, romantic candles, flower petals, blow his mind!! Spoil him in every way!!

Speaking of, Denji also loves doing activities together!! Take him to a quiet onsen in the country for a weekend, where its calm and peaceful, lord knows he needs more of it. Denji usually doesn't mind being around a lot of people, but some venues, like a concert is a lot for him, but please also gift him experiences like theme parks, bath houses, fairs! He loves spending time with you!

When no one else is around, he'll talk to Pochita in his chest. It makes him feel a bit better about missing him. He'll talk about how you dote on him and show him yummy foods, that he's in his lover arms playing video games and so much more they didn't even dream of. Pochita loves you too for taking such good care of Denji

Most people in his life try to buy him or use him, so to be with you, kind-hearted lover you are, is a first for him. To have someone give with no expectations of giving back, purely to make him happy, its so foreign to our baby boy that he just might cry. The only relationship comparable is with Pochita, and while they do love each other unconditionally, it did start off with a deal.

Denji loves his gifts, but when he thinks of the best times with you, its because you two are together, trying out a new restaurant or cuddling in bed, or even giving him a cool rock you found, he loves it all. He always wants to be your lover-boy, money or not

#denji x reader #csm denji #csm x reader #chainsaw man x reader #hcs

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texasthoughtsaboutnothing · 4 months

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The Economics of Limbus: why the Gacha isn't really worth it and why that's kinda cool actually

Preface, if you are new this doesn't apply to you but is worth keeping in mind, please read the whole thing.

Summarizing some cool things about Limbus Company and it's internal economy:

In Limbus Company you get a minimum of 750 Lunacy a week (usually more like 1050 because of various apolunacy or maintenance compensation) which is our Gacha currency. This comes out to roughly 25 - 30 pulls a month (not counting events, story, random gifts), which is more than par for this monetization model. Banner Pity is at 200 pulls and it doesn't carry over between banners, which in a vacuum kinda sucks shit, but Limbus is unique in having the Dispensary, a system where you outright buy IDs (units) for grindable currency (shards/shard boxes) which is gained from the primary mode of play (Mirror Dungeons, also called MD).

This is where the battle pass comes in. The battle pass gives 1 shard box for every level over 120 and the premium battle pass triples that output. It's not even terribly hard to max it out to begin with; a dedicated player can have it done before the respective Chapter is fully released as weekly content gives 30 BP levels and a single MD run otherwise gives you 3. This should also tell you just how many shard boxes you can grind out.

The consequence of all the above is that it's really easy to get the IDs you want. In fact, Limbus Company is the kind of Gacha game where you can get most if not all units from dedication more so than luck. The only limiting factor to grinding is, of course, daily stamina.

Here's the funny thing.

You get 750 currency a week as mentioned, but it only costs 26 for your first daily full stamina refresh, with the cost doubling every time after. You can daily refresh twice a day and still be Lunacy positive for the week. More importantly, it is mathematically more valuable to turn Lunacy into Stamina for acquiring IDs.

Buying stamina isn't new for a Gacha game, nor is the idea of doing so being better for your account. There comes a point where upgrade materials are more helpful than new units; most games have a point where buying stamina over pulling is the norm. However, most games don't let you fucking buy every unit with stamina locked currency.

The math on this is a little complicated and varies with your stamina cap which adjusts with your account level, but if you turn Lunacy into stamina you can grind more Mirror Dungeons for more BP levels for more shard boxes in a way that's more efficient resource-wise for getting units. A single 10 pull for 1300 Lunacy is the equivalent to 300-ish shard boxes if you double refresh over 16 days (or 500-ish boxes if you single refresh over 50 days). That is a guaranteed 3 star ID as opposed to a 2% chance for the same price, hell its a better deal as shard boxes give 1-3 shards and it costs 400 shards for a 3 star, you get an average of 1.7 3 stars worth of shards.

If a given banner unit interests you its far better to just buy the unit outright than pull, which is ultimately not too hard to grind out even with normal stamina gain without even thinking about refreshing. The end result of this is that you can get some of the best units very quickly and the game becomes a collector and more about team building and fun interactions, which the game design is leaning into. You can enjoy most of the roster and diverse gameplay without needing to whale and I think that is one of the things that sets Limbus apart.

Pictured, my collection of some of the best IDs in the game as a BP only player who took a 3 month break

CAVEATS

THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO NEW PLAYERS. A new player should still pull as normal because you will get something new almost every 10 pull for your first, like, 200 pulls. In addition, you need to actually be able to grind MD successfully and quickly for this to be worth it. Focus on beating up to or beyond Canto V before even thinking about this, and even then I'd say its early.

The math for this is very different if you don't have the premium battle pass. Remember, you get 2/3 fewer shard boxes per BP level on just the free pass. While it is still worth considering, a free account will have a much longer grind to do for similar results, but you can still have fun and use good units even without this method. For the record, the Limbus Pass is extremally worthwhile a purchase if you want to play this to the fullest, $14 every 4 months is barely Dolphining and you get a whole host of other powerful benefits, including broken EGO and even guaranteed seasonal 3 star tickets.

You have to grind. A lot. This isn't so straightforward as just Lunacy to Stamina to Boxes to Units, to convert stamina to boxes involves doing Mirror Dungeon. Thankfully Mirror Dungeons are a fun and entertaining roguelike gamemode, but it will take 30 minutes to do 1 run, 20 if you are speedrunning it with the best units. A full days' stamina is about 4 runs' worth, and 2 refreshes is about the same, so ask yourself if you are willing to spend 2+ hours a day doing MD runs for the unit you want? Limbus actually let's you convert stamina into stamina modules that have no cap and are what's actually used for content, you can just log in, convert, then do runs on the weekend. It's a good model that respects your time.

And the last and by far biggest caveat...

Walpurgisnacht

That will be its own post.

This post also won't get into stuff like Upties or Thread but keep in mind the above statement about how stamina becoming more useful than pulls is typical of Gacha games and Limbus is no exception as far as needing a lot of ascension/upgrade materials. Not as much as others, but units still need raising and all the above logic can be used even when you have everything and now need to get them useable.

Conclusions are hard, play Limbus Company.

#limbus company #project moon #limbus #gacha #gacha games #video games

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todropscience · 6 months

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PLASTIC POLLUTION PREVENTION INSTEAD PLASTIC REMOVAL, RESEARCHERS SAY

A new international research highlights that plastic removal technologies have shown varied efficiency in the amount of waste material they are able to collect, in fact, plastic removal technologies used so far have have not been tested at all. Some have been shown to harm quantities of marine organisms, including fish, crustaceans and seaweeds, that far exceed the amount of plastic captured, meaning their overall impact on the ocean is potentially more harmful than helpful.

Plastics accumulates in all environments, from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans, whoever, plastic production is projected to triple by 2060, with plastic pollution increasing correspondingly under business-as-usual scenarios.

According to researchers, plastic removal technologies can temporarily mitigate plastic accumulation at local scales, but evidence-based criteria are needed in policies to ensure that they are feasible and that ecological benefits outweigh the costs. To reduce plastic pollution efficiently and economically, policy should prioritize regulating and reducing upstream production rather than downstream pollution cleanup.

There are innovations for the open ocean and the seabed that use combinations of towed nets, autonomous vessels and artificial intelligence, but researchers say that even if these technologies were to show signs of being truly effective, they would barely scratch the surface of the global problem. Cleanup practices could also lead to greenwashing through new schemes to offset the use of plastics through plastic collection.

Marine turtle trapped in a plastic fishing net, by Jordi Chias sourced from National Geographic.

Reference (Open Access): Bergmann et al. 2023. Moving from symptom management to upstream plastics prevention: The fallacy of plastic cleanup technology, One Earth.

#greenwashing #marine pollution #plastic pollution #marine science #oceans #marine biology #bioblr #scienceblr #sciblr

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macrolit · 6 months

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Forbes article: "How Struggling College Bookstores Found A Way To Beat Amazon"

Oct 20, 2023,06:30am EDT

A new sales model adopted by hundreds of universities limits students’ ability to shop around for textbooks.

By Lauren Debter, Forbes Staff

As fall semester dawned at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, senior Olivia McFall turned to Amazon to shop for books — not only because its prices were better for certain titles, but so she could get her course materials quickly. The campus bookstore could sometimes take a week or two. Unacceptable.

“Teachers will start assigning reading on the first day,” McFall, a 22-year-old fashion-merchandising major, told Forbes. “You get behind if you don’t have that textbook. If I buy it on [Amazon], it’s usually because I can get it faster than the bookstore.”

For decades, Amazon’s lower prices and speedier delivery have blown a crater in the college bookstore business. Given the option to shop around, students only buy about one-third of their course materials at the campus store.

Now the bookstores are fighting back. They say they’ve hit on a plan that would, almost magically, quash competition from online rivals like Amazon. T.C.U. is among the colleges considering a model that would automatically charge students for textbooks on their tuition bills, which can be covered by financial aid, and get them to students by the time classes begin. Books are typically discounted 30% or more, said the bookstores, who negotiate volume discounts. Students must return materials at the end of the semester.

Despite reservations from education advocates who worry it limits purchasing options for students, the plan, dubbed Inclusive Access, is spreading like kudzu. It rose out of a 2015 rule from the U.S. Department of Education that permitted universities to include the cost of textbooks with tuition, as long as prices were under competitive market rates and students could opt out.

Bookstores latched onto the idea during the pandemic. They were looking to boost sales at a time when they were hamstrung by closures, declining enrollment numbers and the seismic shift to digital textbooks — and still are.

In the 2022-23 academic year, Inclusive Access already captured the business of 44% of students, worth an estimated $1.4 billion annually, according to the National Association of College Stores.

Illinois-based Follett Corp., a privately held company (annual sales: $1.6 billion) that operates roughly one-third of college bookstores, said the number of its campuses that have adopted the Inclusive Access model has tripled to 450 since 2019. New Jersey-based Barnes & Noble Education (annual sales: $1.5 billion), which spun out of the bookseller chain in 2015 and also runs a third of campus bookstores, said it has over 150 schools signed up for Inclusive Access, up from just four in 2019. (The colleges themselves operate the other one-third of campus bookstores.)

Overnight, schools that switched to Inclusive Access brought guaranteed revenue to booksellers. Sell-through rates, which measure the percentage of course materials students purchase at the campus bookstore, skyrocketed from about 30% before Inclusive Access to north of 80 or 90%, according to Follett and Barnes & Noble Education. Few students opt out, the companies said, because they like the prices and convenience.

It’s a clever way to beat Amazon. Unable to compete, Follett and Barnes & Noble Education separated their customers from the open marketplace and bundled their products with something Amazon couldn’t sell — college tuition. The bookstore gets the customer without ever having to go up against the online behemoth, which is currently being sued by the Federal Trade Commission for its own alleged anti-competitive practices. (Amazon has said it disagrees with the allegations, and will contest the lawsuit.)

“It’s a significant volume increase because you’re capturing all of the course material market share in an institution,” Jonathan Shar, who oversees campus stores operated by Barnes & Noble Education, told Forbes. “Plus, it’s much more predictable.”

Amazon Prices

An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the impact Inclusive Access is having on its textbook sales. Amazon said it may offer discounts to schools that buy books in bulk, but it’s been winding down certain aspects of its textbook business. In April, it stopped renting physical textbooks to students and in 2020 it stopped buying textbooks back from students.

Last year, 37% of students purchased books from Amazon. That’s down from 46% in 2019, according to the National Association of College Stores.

Selling textbooks isn’t the business it used to be. A decade ago, students spent $4.8 billion a year on textbooks, according to research firm Words Rated. Today, it’s about $3.2 billion. During the 2022-23 school year, students spent an average of $285 on course materials, the lowest figure since the National Association of College Stores began tracking spending 16 years ago.

That’s partly the result of a rapid shift to lower-cost digital textbooks, with 55% of course materials now digital, up sharply from 15% prior to the pandemic, according to Emmanuel Kolady, Follett’s CEO. More textbooks are being made available online for free from sites like OpenStax, too. Nearly three-quarters of students say they were assigned at least one free course material in the latest academic year, according to the National Association of College Stores.

Company’s ‘Cornerstone’

Barnes & Noble Education, a publicly traded company that runs 800 campus bookstores, has described Inclusive Access to investors as a “cornerstone” of its plan to return to profitable growth, noting that course-material revenue rises more than 80% and gross profit nearly doubles after schools switch to the new model.

The company has lost a cumulative $600 million since 2018. Last year’s sales were 23% below pre-pandemic levels. This summer, it had to negotiate an extension on its loan payments because it couldn’t come up with enough cash. As part of the deal, it gave up two board seats and said it would explore selling the company. Its stock price has lost 90% of its value in the last two years, tumbling to less than $1 a share.

“It feels like this is their first, second and third priority,” said Ryan MacDonald, an analyst at Needham who covers Barnes & Noble Education, referring to Inclusive Access, which the company calls “First Day Complete.”

Benefits For Students

The booksellers claim the program saves students money. Follett said that students spend an average of 30% less than if they were to buy new books and are better equipped for classes as Inclusive Access gets them their materials before the semester begins.

At New York University, for instance, where Follett runs bookselling, students are automatically billed for books unless they opt out. Most are digital rentals. A textbook for an introductory biology class is priced at $36.75, which gives students access to a digital copy for the semester. That’s 20% less than if they went directly to the publisher’s website and rented it for the term. It’s 40% less than on Amazon, which only offers the option to buy the digital version, not rent it.

The math, however, is not always transparent. According to a report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, which analyzed 52 book-buying contracts, it’s “hard, if not impossible” to figure out how deep the discounts are because schools don’t make it clear what the discount is based on.

Savings can be less meaningful for students who would have otherwise bought used books or borrowed books, said Nicole Allen, director of open education at SPARC, a nonprofit that advocates for more course materials to be free. The one-quarter of students who intentionally skip buying certain books each semester, usually because they don’t think they need it, are also charged, she said. As more schools migrate to Inclusive Access, Allen questions whether discounts will disappear since publishers have a long history of raising prices.

“This is already a captive market because students are told what to buy,” Allen told Forbes. “Inclusive Access makes it an even more captive market by telling students how they’re going to buy it.”

Even without Inclusive Access, students can be limited in their comparison shopping. More and more professors are assigning books with single-use access codes, available for an additional fee, which students use to access quizzes, homework and other materials online. Promoted by publishers who benefit from the new revenue stream, they’re often sold exclusively by the campus bookstore and cannot be resold.

Follett’s president Ryan Petersen predicts that a newer variant of the model called Equitable Access, where students pay a flat fee for their materials regardless of the courses they’re taking, will be adopted by most schools in the next five years.

“We’re having this conversation with every campus we can,” Petersen told Forbes, “potentially even to campuses who are sick of hearing about it.”

#forbes #university #book store #book stores #college #amazon #text books #article

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sweaterkittensahoy · 1 year

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I want to use this very small, handmade crochet item from Forever21 to illustrate exactly how little they are paying artists:

These hair ties are $5 for the set. There's some somewhat tricksy stitchwork in those petals, and I think the center is embroidery, not crochet, so this hair tie took two skills.

I would guess each flower, depending on how fast you are, could take 30-60 minutes. Closer to 30, if you do make a lot of them. And I bet the goal is to make as many as you can in one sweatshop-hours workday so you'll paid by the quantity you can crank out. And I'm sure someone's triple-checking every last bit of your work to cut your pay down to the minimum.

As this is a set, I assume it's one of each color that's required to count as a batch. And you'll be paid some sort of even worse pittance for any unfinished batches you have left over.

For 5 bucks for three, Forever21 likely isn't paying more than a dollar a set. So, for, at best guess, 1.5 hours of work, someone's making a dollar. And that's if their work isn't being intentionally judged harshly to cut their pay further. Because I'm betting the wage on unfinished sets is maybe 20 cents a flower. On a very good day where the artist can make everything in sets and end an assumed 12-hour day with all sets complete, that's 8 sets. 8 dollars.

8 dollars for unstopped physical labor. So Forever21 can charge 5 bucks a card.

Now, if you can copy these and sell them yourself but don't know what to price them at, here's my pitch:

I have a standing rule that if it takes me more than 30 minutes to make, it's 10 bucks to sell. Because I think 20 bucks is a solid rate for my work on something like this. So, half of 20 is 10. I'm willing to eat the cost of materials as I can undoubtably make a whole bunch of little flowers off one skein of yarn. So, even if I choose a higher-priced yarn, the fact I can make 30 or 40 or 50 little flowers cuts down on the price of supplies.

Now, if I were selling online, I'd offer some sort of small discount for a group buy. 1 for $10. 2 for $18. 3 for $25. This can lead to people deciding to buy more rather than less, and while you do take a bit of a hit on the overall price, a larger sale is a larger sale.

If I were tabling somewhere, I'd be willing to use something like hair ties as an easy sale. I'd cut down my base price to, say $8 for 1. $15 for 2. $22 for 3. As someone who has tabled and been buying at a table, I cannot tell you how much people love a deal like that. Especially if you have a lot of colors to choose from. Not only that, but it's a sale that's much easier to make on day one (when people are trying to be careful with their spending) and on the final day (when people are nearly out of their spending money). You can get a lot of small sales that add up.

Obviously, Forever21 isn't going to price up like I just described. They are a fucking elder god of fast fashion and will not be changing their exploitation of artisans any time soon. But having an understanding of exactly how badly they treat workers and presenting a very average pricing from an artist who is trying to be fair to themself and their skill can be helpful for people who are trying to figure out how to put their money where their values are.

#fast fashion #forever21 #crochet #support artists #ethical shopping #sustainable fashion

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terrence-silver · 1 year

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How would Terry react to a Beloved that has the same love language as him? A Beloved that has the income to splash ridiculous amounts of money on gifts… A game of cat and mouse. Can they outdo one another? I think it would be very wholesome, Terry and Beloved happy and loving each other in their own way ❤️‍🔥

---

I think it is exceedingly rare for someone to be rich and generous enough to match Terry's propensity for richly generous behavior directed at select, important people, but when it does happen, I think he might be silently taken aback at first (hidden beneath layers and layers of nonchalance and charm), because it so seldom happens that anyone gives him anything, be they upper class, like himself, or not. People usually come to Terry Silver for favors, help, advice, loans, connections or because he invites them and has them coming to him for whatever he needs them for, having them gravitate him like so many satellites. They don't come to him bringing gifts just for its own sake, not unless they're out to suck up to the man who, materially speaking, already has pretty much everything by the tenfold, so his naturally calculative, business-oriented and even slightly dog-eat-dog outlook on life might have him questioning what his beloved's incentive and motive really is, giving him that Patek Phillipe watch or that 30. year old Macallan vintage bottle. The gift doesn't even need to be on the more pricy bracket. It can be anything, and that figurative exclamation mark still pops up in Terry's mind. Nothing is for free. An age old mantra he lives by. Surely, this all comes with some sort of price, no? Some sort of end goal? Agenda? Is he being buttered up and bought? Somehow manipulated? What's the angle here? Might be projection, because Terry himself is more likely than anyone else to try to coax people to his side with bribes, money, his fiscal weight and material possessions. So, there must be a price here, no? And no later than sooner will he find out what that price is. He is firm on that decision.

That is when his competitive nature kicks in.

It helps him cope and cover up how positively thrown he is at being presented with anything, and in not wanting it to show and expose what he perceives a weakness, uncertainty, doubt or to feel like he owes anyone anything that can be potentially be held over his head at a later date and used against him in the long run, he plays an elaborate game of upping the ante and making sure his tactical counter-gift (and his tactical counter-strike) is always more expensive than whatever beloved bought him previously. They got him a pair of diamond cufflinks, he'll get them even more expensive diamond embedded adornments that are double and even triple the cost, because why not? They rented out a VIP lounge to have dinner in and promptly the rest of the restaurant floor too, just for the two of them, Terry bought beloved a private island. He needs to win bigtime and be several steps ahead at least, no matter the cost, because his last line of defense hinges on winning. He needs to win exactly because he's been caught off guard by beloved lavishing him and sharing the same love language as him, and he cannot forgive himself for not counting on that and for never predicting that move, viewing everything through the dance of attack-defense and warfare lenses. Furthermore, Terry needs to win exactly because he enjoys them giving him things and he pathologically fears sinking into the sensation and compromising himself, losing control, and as such, he seeks to avoid that emotional trap by always seeking to outdo the bidder as much as he possibly can And he does. Each and every time.

It is safe to say the gift budget in this relationship alone could easily fund the economy of a smaller country. Or even a larger one.

Even safer to say that exclusive auction house bidding wars between Terry and beloved against each other serve as elaborate foreplay to be resumed elsewhere once the bid is done.

Just shades and shades of this manner of behavior:

youtube

#terry silver #kk3 #cobra kai #terry silver x reader #terry silver x beloved #money #wealth #materialism #love languages #gifts #presents #fluff

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twilightmalachite · 10 months

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Machina - Test World 3

Author: Kino Seitaro (with Akira)

Characters: Mika, Makoto, Sora

Translator: Mika Enstars

"Oh! By the way, Sora’s making one of the ES buildings inside SSVRS into a black company sim!"

Season: Winter

Location: Saison Avenue (SSVRS)

Makoto: First, let’s begin with an explanation of how to create items here in SSVRS.

In order to create an item, you need the tools to “craft” it.

What tools you need depend on the item you’re making, but you’ll need a kiln for handicrafts, and a sewing machine for attire.

It costs money to get tools, so I’ll give it to you as a gift this time around, Kagehira-kun, okay?

Sora: HaHa~, nice tutorial, Yuuki-sense~!

Mika: Ah, thank ya kindly!

Are ya sure, though? Even if it’s a game item, it still costs quite a lotta real money… VL$, right? I feel kind bad…

Makoto: Nah, don’t worry about it!

This Test World is just an experimental server. Once the test is over, all the in-game money will be reset.

Though, there seem to be some players who are eagerly aiming high for first-mover advantage or something.

But as things are now, it’s far more efficient to work part-time in real life, so I guess it’s sort of all for fun.

Moving on. You can’t make items with only the “kiln” and “sewing machine”, you need to gather materials first.

You need to have these consumable items available in order to make things, like for handicrafts you need things like ore and clay, and for attire you need things like cloth and thread, jewelry, etc…

Mika: Gotcha… That part ain’t different than the real world.

Makoto: Right!

Collecting materials would be considered more difficult here, though… If they’re too easy to collect, the value of the resource would drop.

That being said, I wouldn’t want you to spend the day searching for materials, so I’ll likewise give you materials this time around too!

Now, with the corresponding tool and materials available, all that is left is for the player to design and create…♪

By the way, given you have the right tools and materials, you can make virtually any handicraft and attire you want!

Something like that would be uncanny in real life, but here it’s a feature…♪

Mika: Thank ya, Mako-kun! I can make all sorts of things with this much now! ♪

Sora: HiHi~, Sora will lend his support, Mika-chan-san!

Sora would also like to add that items created in SSVRS can be expressed in a way unique to games, that wouldn’t be possible in the real world!

Mika: Expressed in a way unique to games…? Like, how so?

Sora: Showing would be faster than explaining in this case~! ♪ Hop, step, jump! ♪

Mika: Nnah, Sora just jumped on thin air!?

Sora: Yes! Sora did a triple jump!

The laws of physics can be ignored a little bit in ways like that, which means unusual handicrafts can be made~! ♪

Makoto: To put it more accurately, the game-side of things can’t calculate everything with absolute precision. It’s difficult for even a supercomputer to simulate the real world 1 to 1.

But personally, I think that makes it more fun, since that means no restrictions on ideas, y’know?

Mika: Yeah! I’m already excited thinkin’ that there’s works of art that can’t be created outside of this world…♪

Alrighty, I’m gonna try t’get my creative juices flowin’ in this world! Thank ya so much, both of ya! ♪

Sora: Nah, Sora and Yuuki-sense~ are simply having fun developing games~! ♪

If Mika-chan-san’s enjoying our game development, then Sora’s super happy too!

Makoto: Hehe, how about we go play together elsewhere so as to not get in the way of Kagehira-kun’s crafting, Harukawa-kun?

Sora: Yes! Sora still has the map from Yuuki-sense~’s previous visit to SSVR! How about going there?

Makoto: Ahaha… Could you cut me some slack with that one?

That was pretty traumatic… I guess you did warn me of that when I had first entered the Test World as part of a part-time job.

Sora: Hm~, but Sora thinks it’d be boring if the game’s purpose was only to mimic reality, though~?

Oh! By the way, Sora’s making one of the ES buildings inside SSVRS into a black company sim!

Would Yuuki-sense~ like to join Sora in enjoying irrational demands?

Makoto: Why would I want to do that!?

Mika: ……

(Ooh, the clay hardens so quickly. Bein’ able to make things without the constraints of time and money sure is an advantage of virtual space, huh…)

(If I end up usin’ a 3D printer, the output would have to be resin, right? Then, I wouldn’t be able to make the most out of this material, would I?)

(So there are pros and cons… Still, I think the good outweighs the bad.)

(You can see the results right away, and like Sora said, you can create data without regard to the laws of physics, so it’s pretty handy for brainstormin’ ideas.)

(Yup, makin’ stuff in this Test World ain’t bad at all!)

(Maybe I’ll be able t’break outta my slump and finish my next work before Oshi-san returns to Japan if I do this, even!)

(If I create as many artworks as I can think of and hold an exhibition within’ SSVRS… If I can do that, I bet Oshi-san would also be pleased! ♪)

(Aaalright, and my first piece is done! And I’ll get started workin’ on the second one shortly~!)

……♪

← prev | story directory | next →

#machina #event #translation #sora harukawa #makoto yuuki #mika kagehira

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nnglazing · 1 month

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Door Replacement: Enhancing Your Home's Security and Style

Are your doors looking a little worse for wear? Maybe they're drafty, outdated, or just not functioning as they should. Whatever the reason, replacing your doors can breathe new life into your home. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about door replacement. From enhancing security to boosting curb appeal, we've got you covered.

Importance of Door Replacement

Your doors are more than just entryways; they're the first impression visitors have of your home. Beyond aesthetics, doors play a crucial role in security and energy efficiency. By investing in door replacement, you can improve both the look and functionality of your home.

Signs That It's Time for Replacement

Difficulty Opening or Closing: If your doors are sticking or jamming, it could be a sign of structural issues that require replacement.

Visible Damage: Cracks, dents, or warping not only detract from your home's appearance but also compromise security and insulation.

Drafts or Energy Loss: Leaky seals and poor insulation around doors can lead to energy inefficiency and higher utility bills.

Choosing the Right Door Material

When selecting a new door, it's essential to consider durability, maintenance, and aesthetics. Common materials include wood, fiberglass, and steel. Each has its advantages and can significantly impact the overall look and feel of your home.

Understanding Door Styles

From classic to contemporary, there's a door style to suit every taste and architectural design. Whether you prefer traditional panel doors or sleek modern designs, understanding the various styles available can help you make the perfect choice for your home.

DIY vs. Professional Installation

While some homeowners may opt for a DIY approach to door replacement, professional installation offers several advantages. Experienced installers ensure proper fitment, sealant application, and hardware installation, minimizing the risk of issues down the road.

Enhancing Security with Modern Features

Today's doors come equipped with advanced security features, such as reinforced frames, multi-point locking systems, and impact-resistant glass. Investing in these upgrades can provide peace of mind knowing your home is protected against intruders.

Maximizing Energy Efficiency

Energy-efficient doors are designed to minimize heat transfer, keeping your home comfortable year-round while reducing energy consumption. Look for ENERGY STAR® certified doors with features like double or triple glazing and thermal breaks for optimal insulation.

Boosting Curb Appeal

Your front door is a focal point of your home's exterior, making it an essential element of curb appeal. Choose a door style and finish that complements your home's architecture and personal aesthetic to create a welcoming entrance that sets the tone for your entire property.

Maintaining Your New Doors

Proper maintenance is key to prolonging the lifespan of your new doors. Regular cleaning, lubricating hinges and hardware, and inspecting for signs of wear or damage can help prevent costly repairs and ensure your doors continue to function flawlessly for years to come.

Cost Considerations

The cost of door replacement can vary depending on factors such as material, style, size, and installation method. While it's tempting to opt for the lowest price, investing in quality doors and professional installation can yield long-term savings through improved energy efficiency and durability.

FAQs about Door Replacement

Q: How long does it take to replace a door?

A: The timeframe for door replacement can vary depending on factors such as complexity, material, and whether professional installation is involved.

Q: Do I need planning permission to replace my door?

A: In most cases, replacing a door within the existing frame does not require planning permission. However, if you're making significant alterations or live in a designated conservation area, it's best to check with your local authorities.

Q: Can I install a new door myself?

A: While DIY installation is possible for those with the necessary skills and tools, professional installation is recommended for optimal fitment and performance.

Q: What is the average lifespan of a door?

A: The lifespan of a door depends on factors such as material, usage, and maintenance. Quality doors can last upwards of 20 years or more with proper care.

Q: Are there any eco-friendly door options available?

A: Yes, many manufacturers offer eco-friendly door options made from sustainable materials and featuring energy-efficient designs to minimize environmental impact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, door replacement is a worthwhile investment that can enhance your home's security, energy efficiency, and curb appeal. By understanding the importance of quality doors, selecting the right materials and styles, and prioritizing professional installation and maintenance, you can enjoy a more comfortable, stylish, and secure living environment for years to come. Don't wait until your doors are beyond repair; upgrade today for a brighter tomorrow!

#door replacement

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pjisskullourful · 11 months

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Welcome back queen of queens 💘 I have missed you and your fabulous writing oh so much

Your 2 new stories have made my week so much more pleasant as it started out really stressful. Use me universe will always be so dear to my heart and will never fail to get me all rialed up 🫠 loved the cute little date with ethan and us seeing their relationship developing and ofc them being absolute horndogs 🥵

Upon your comeback I have also reread the entirety of Gay Enough one of my fave series OF ALL TIME and I am here to humbly ask you if you could maybe spoil some cute family moments you might have planned to hold me over until you bless us again with some damithan throuple fun 🫶🏼

thankssssss 💕💖🌸💓💖💕💗💖🌸💞💝💞💖🌸

wow arent you just the sweetest thing ever?! thankyou for such a sweet message❣️

im really happy to be back& im extra happy that i could help turn your week around

i dont really have anythings planned cos im just not working on gay enough material at the moment(got other projects im dedicating my time to, if triple shot can get to 100notes then i'd be willing to share a preview)

but um random headcanon i was thinking of cos i just binged the whole paranormal activity series: cosmo loves creepy things(duh)& gets into watching horror movies while hes still kinda young. it becomes a thing he& ethan bond over, they'll discuss theories about lore/motives the whole drive home after seeing a new movie at the cinema(cos you gotta see scary movies at the cinema, thts one of their rules)& they'll anticipate new movies coming out,etc

one time a new horror movie is about to come out, cosmo& ethan are planning when to see it... but then ethan gets really sick& cant possibly go. damiano steps up to take cosmo, but damiano HATES scary movies, he doesnt get the appeal at all, avoids them at all costs

so he spends most of the movie watching it through his fingers. he freaks at every jumpscare, spilling popcorn til cosmo is like 'im gonna hold it papa'. lots of muttering 'dont go in there, what are you, crazy'& groaning while cosmo is like 'oh cool, wow how scary would that be if it happened in real life', etc. then on the drive home, damiano is playing peppy pop music to change the mood. cosmo wants to discuss the scariest(therefore best) parts of the movie, damiano: 'idk the whole thing'. he doesnt wanna think about the freaky stuff, doesnt wanna get into theories with cosmo, is very on edge

furthermore, imagining the kids asking damiano questions about his tattoos. eg: 'papa what does that tattoo mean?' - 'it means i was bored'

also, all of the kids being expert swimmers, better than the other kids in their class cos of handson swimming lessons with the dads

also they never ever EVER have a gender reveal party during any of their pregnancies

hope that holds you over for a bit

#rainbow family headcanons

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eggplantbun · 1 year

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i finally got enough weekly boss materials to give alhaitham his last crown today so here are my thoughts on my current triple crown gang

ganyu

my first 5*, literally carried me through the game

i did not truly appreciate how much QOL she provides until i started an alt account without her... pain

i play her exclusively in melt teams because i don't have any of her freeze supports and i like seeing big numbers. yes i know that means i didn't need to level her skill or burst, no i don't regret it

objectively i think her character is somewhat boring but subjectively i love boring characters and she's boring in a way that is deeply relatable to me (i may or may not have teared up during her story quest don't look at me)

i love her

10/10 worth every crown

zhongli

favorite character in the game, strong contender for favorite character ever

me meeting him in game for the first time: "lol this old man (derogatory)" me 1 hour later: "lol this old man (affectionate)"

the only character i have cons for... i will c6 you someday king

currently built as an hp shieldbot because this game refuses to give me homa but eventually i will make him a burst nuke build and also a physical dps build because he deserves to have his normal attacks seen

i gave ganyu the honor of being my first triple crowned character because she deserved it but also because i know zhongli will be my first character to reach lvl 90 on account of never leaving my team

no i don't know how to dodge, what about it

10/10 worth every crown

cyno

he's so awkward i love him

probably my favorite character to play, there's just something so satisfying about executing your combos perfectly so that you can get more E's in addition to all your endseer procs (i have him on 4pc thundering fury). also his burst animations are cool af

i may or may not have triple crowned him out of spite for everyone who said he was mid/his normals are useless/he's worse than keqing/etc etc

"he's fine in abyss but you'll never get your burst back in overworld" listen. just use favonius lance

10/10 worth every crown

alhaitham

simultaneously the most relatable character in the game and also the most irritating... idk what that says about me and i don't want to know

every time he opens his mouth i'm like mmmmmmmygod you are so annoying (affectionate)

the only character i own who also has their signature weapon... it cost me 200 wishes that i had been saving for the homa+aqua weapon banner and now it looks like neither ganyu nor zhongli are getting 5* weapons anytime soon. at least he brought home a spear for cyno along the way

i prefarmed all his talent books before his release but he was stuck at talent lvls 10/10/9 for 4 weeks because the game refused to give me the right boss drops or any dream solvents... i swear this asshole did not want to be triple crowned

genuinely feel like he exists on my account solely to make my life difficult but sucks for him i am putting him to work until kaveh is released and then i will kick him out of my team for kaveh, idc if kaveh's not a dps

that said, his attack animations are gorgeous, his gameplay is fun and very satisfying, his dps is great and his face is beautiful

i hate him (affectionate)

...10/10 worth every crown

#genshin impact #ganyu #zhongli #cyno #alhaitham #my stuff

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dariocrowder-blog · 1 year

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Eco Friendly Solutions for Brand Packaging

With the new year getting started, we’re still dealing with a pollution crisis that’s on a global level.

But, with new eco friendly branding and packaging, you’ll be able to offer a new lease to help the planet, through the packaging that you have.

Plastic pollution is invading our planet, and most of it comes from the foods and drinks that are discarded after just one use. While it might be useful for a little bit of time, the problem is, if you continue to encourage this waste, it actually causes centuries for it to fully decompose. How do we solve this? through better packaging and solutions of course!

Biodegradable Food Packaging

One solution is biodegradable food packaging. This is the type of packaging that’s great for food packaging that’s sustainable, such as pizza boxes and tableware that’s biodegradable, or made with kraft boxes. It’s great for takeout, and it’s made from materials that are recycled, and it can offer biodegradable options, so that it keeps food fresh, and also saves the planet.

Eco-friendly Packaging for your Deliver Items

With the pandemic still being a thing, there are now skyrocketing amount of home deliveries. There are more staff being hired than ever before to handle the demand for packaging, and some retailers like amazon have since tripled their profits since the beginning of this.

With major changes in how people are able to shop, some eco friendly types of options such as mailers and boxes that self-seal are the call for brands that wnt packaging solutions that are sustainable. They’re crafted utilizing cardboard, and they come in different sizes, making it more simple than ever before in order to offer sustainable types of items that are there.

You can now offer different varieties of products that offer packaging to bigger shipments, and also are used to protect the earth and other animals and items too.

Shopping bags that are sustainable

For a lot of businesses that market to vendors on the street, or maybe sell foods, the products also need to be factored in when you’re looking at this.

For some, this is a mere afterthought, but some close attention does need to be put in how the goods get carried.

With the prices for bags that are plastic increasing, and people having to front the cost, there are now some businesses that are looking to provide biodegradable types of bags, which are great for saving the planet.

These types of bags are the best for ecofriendly types of solutions as they offer similar types of characteristics to the bags that are plastic, while also being totally biodegradable.

Biodegradable Void Fill and Paper Tape

There is also a new change in the type of ways that you seal the items that are there. paper tape is one of the new ones, and it’s become a sustainable, better way of handling this. it’s made through Kraft paper, and is similar to regular tape, while also being totally recyclable. It’s great for sealing your packages, so that customers are able to recycle everything, without having to worry about the tape that’s there.

Then there is void fill. While packaging peanuts are popular, they are not good for the planet. The same goes for bubble wrap, as it’s based on plastic. If you switch to these they offer a safety net for packages when they’re transported, and customers can repurpose these too, making this better for packaging that’s eco friendly, and better for the planet too! Try this type of packaging today, and see the difference it makes.

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quotesfrommyreading · 9 months

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The U.S. remains the world’s R&D factory, but when it comes to building, we are plainly going backwards. We’ve lost out on industrial opportunities by running Bush’s playbook so strictly. But there are other problems, too. Since the early 2000s, the U.S. has closed more nuclear-power plants than we’ve opened. Our ability to decarbonize the grid is held back by environmental regulations that ironically constrict the construction of solar- and wind-energy farms. It’s been roughly 50 years since Asia and Europe built their first high-speed rail systems, but the U.S. is almost comically incapable of pulling train construction into the 21st century. (A 2008 plan to build a high-speed rail line in California has seen estimated costs more than triple and deployment delayed by a decade, and it’s still uncertain if it can be completed as planned.)

“New ideas are getting harder to use,” the futurist and economist Eli Dourado told me. If the U.S. wanted to unleash geothermal power, we could simplify geothermal permitting. If we wanted to build the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors, we could deregulate advanced nuclear reactors. These measures would not require inventing anything new. But they would stimulate progress by making it easier to bring our best ideas into the light.

The United States once believed in partnerships among the government, private industry, and the people to advance material progress. The Lincoln administration helped build the railroads. The New Deal helped electrify rural America. Dwight Eisenhower signed the Price-Anderson Act, which guaranteed government funds and limited liability for nuclear-energy firms in case of serious accidents, facilitating the construction of nuclear-power plants. John F. Kennedy’s space ambitions made NASA a major consumer of early microchips, which helped reduce their price by a factor of 30 in a matter of years, accelerating the software revolution.

“And then, around 1980, we basically stopped building,” Jesse Jenkins, who researches energy policy at Princeton, told me. In the past 40 years, he said, the U.S. has applied several different brakes to our capacity to build what’s already been invented. Under Ronald Reagan, the legacy of successful public-private partnerships was ignored in favor of the simplistic diagnosis that the government was to blame for every major problem. In the ’70s, liberals encouraged the government to pass new environmental regulations to halt pollution and prevent builders from running roughshod over low-income neighborhoods. And then middle-class Americans used these new rules to slow down the construction of new housing, clean-energy projects—just about everything. These reactions were partly understandable; for example, air and water pollution in the ’70s were deadly crises. But “when you combine these big shifts, you basically stop building anything,” Jenkins said.

— Why the Age of American Progress Ended

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aeoki · 11 months

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Machina - Test World: Chapter 3

Location: Season Avenue (SSVRS) Characters: Mika, Sora & Makoto

TL Note:

Black corporations (ブラック企業) are dishonest companies in Japan that exploit their employees.

Makoto: Alright, then I’ll explain how to make things in “SSVRS” first.

You’ll need tools to “make” items.

Different items require different tools, but you’ll need a furnace if you want to “craft” things and if you want to make clothes and accessories, you’ll need a “sewing machine”.

Getting tools costs money so I’ll give you these as a gift this time, Kagehira-kun.

Sora: HaHa~ Nice tutorial, Yuuki-sensei~!

Mika: Ah, thanks.

But are you sure? These may be in-game items but things cost money… They cost “VL$”, right? I feel a bit bad takin’ ‘em.

Makoto: Yup, don’t worry about them.

This “Test World” is just a test server. Once the test is over, your money will be reset.

Well, some players want front-runner’s advantages, so they’re playing the game a lot, though.

You’ll definitely earn way more if you just worked part-time in real life at the moment – I guess it’s just one way of playing the game.

Alright. You can’t make anything with just a “furnace” and a “sewing machine”, so let’s collect some materials next.

If you want to craft something, you’ll need ore or clay, if you want to make clothes or accessories, you’ll need cloth, thread and jewels… You’ve gotta have those items with you before you make something.

Mika: I see. That’s the same as real life, then.

Makoto: Yeah.

But getting materials was a lot more work than I had expected. The easier it is to find a certain resource, the lower its value becomes.

But even so, it would be cruel to make you spend the entire day farming for materials, so I’ll gift you a few of them as an example.

If you have the right tools and materials, all that’s left is for the player to design something and then you’re all done…♪

By the way, as long as you have the proper tools and materials, you can craft and make any kind of clothes or accessories.

It’s a bit different from real life but that’s just how the world is set up…♪

Mika: Thanks, Mako-kun. I think I can make a lotta things with all these materials.

Sora: HiHi~ Sora will be cheering you on, Mika-chan-san!

Sora will also add one more thing, but you can make things in “SSVRS” that can’t exist in the real world too.

Mika: You can make things in “SSVRS” that can’t exist in the real world…? Whaddya mean?

Sora: Sora thinks it’ll be faster if you see it with your own eyes~♪ Hop, step, jump ♪

Mika: Ngh, Sora-kun is jumping in the air!?

Sora: Yes! That was a triple jump!

You can kinda ignore the laws of physics here, so you can make some interesting things~♪

Makoto: To be precise, the game isn’t very strict and doesn’t really take those things into its calculations. Creating a simulation of the real world is a difficult feat even for the world’s strongest supercomputer.

But in exchange, there’s no limit to your ideas so you can have fun that way, I guess?

Mika: Yeah! It makes me excited thinkin’ there can be things that only I can make in this world…♪

Alright. I’m gonna try and get some inspiration in this world. Thanks, you two ♪

Sora: No worries. Sora and Yuuki-sensei are just excited to see how the game turns out~♪

If that can make you happy, Mika-chan-san, then Sora would also be very happy!

Makoto: Hehe. I’d feel bad if I got in the way of your creative space, so let’s play somewhere else, Harukawa-kun.

Sora: Okay! There’s still the map you had when you first entered “SSVR”! Should we play there?

Makoto: Ahaha… Maybe not there.

That place is pretty traumatic for me… When I first received the job for the “Test World”, I was pretty cautious about everything at the very beginning.

Sora: Hmm~ Sora thinks it’s pretty boring if we play the game like we’re recreating our daily lives, though~?

Ah, come to think of it, a section of the ES building within “SSVRS” is running a black corporation[*] simulator.

Do you want to experience something absurd with Sora?

Makoto: Why!?

Mika: …………

(Ohh. The clay is hardenin’ right away. One of the good things about VR is that you can make somethin’ that isn’t limited to time and money.)

(Did they say if I put it through a 3D printer, it’ll come out as resin? Which means I can’t make somethin’ texturally unique.)

(I guess this has its advantages and disadvantages. But I guess there’s more advantages.)

(I can see it completed right away and just like Sora-kun said, I can ignore the laws of physics when I make it, so it should help me come up with some ideas.)

(Yeah. Makin’ things in this “Test World’ isn’t a bad idea.)

(With this, I can get over my slump and make somethin’ in time for Oshi-san’s return to Japan.)

(If I make whatever ideas come to mind and hold an exhibition inside “SSVRS”... I wonder if that’ll make Oshi-san happy ♪)

(Alrighty. That’s one done! Let’s start workin’ on the next~!)

………♪

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