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faucet-galaxy · 1 year

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DIY Project: Customize your toilet and make it perfect for all your family!

There are many different reasons why you may be considering upgrading your toilet. Perhaps you find that your current toilet isn’t comfortable? Maybe you want a better design from an aesthetics point of view?

No matter your reasons, it makes sense to customize your toilet so that it’s perfect for you and the rest of your family. In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at everything you need to know about this.

Why it is important to customize your own toilet

With so many different types of toilets available today, it does make sense to customize your toilet so you can ensure it’s perfect for the entire family.

Buying a toilet may seem pretty straightforward. However, there is a lot to consider, from your family’s comfort to your plumbing system. You need to ensure the toilet fits into your bathroom seamlessly so that it provides you with a convenient and efficient experience every day.

Of course, the age of your family members and any mobility issues will play a critical role when determining which toilet makes the most sense for you.

The differences between traditional and modern toilets

Today’s modern toilets come with a range of different features that set them apart from traditional toilets. To start with, they have a pressure-assisted flushing system, whereas conventional toilets purely rely on gravity. However, the benefits don’t end there. Today’s most contemporary toilets come with premium features that are designed to conserve water and provide the most hygienic experience possible.

This is critical when you consider that 45% of water used in an average American property happens in the bathroom, with toilets accounting for almost 27% of this. Therefore, it’s wise to look for toilets that have been designed to save water.

In renovated master bathrooms, home owners (20%) have been inclined to opt for a toilet with a bidet feature. This may come as a surprise, as bidets are very traditional. However, there are modern seats that incorporate a bidet feature in the toilet seat, which saves space. The most popular features after this include self-cleaning toilets (15%), seats with heating (13%), overflow protection (10%), and an in-built night-light (10%).

Points to consider before customizing your toilet

When putting together a toilet design plan, there are a number of points you need to consider:

Potential repair costs - Whenever you customize any item, you’re taking it away from the standard specification. Because of this, you need to consider what would happen if the toilet was to break. How easy would it be to get your toilet repaired? What sort of repair bill would you be looking at?

Necessary accessories - When purchasing a toilet, there are a number of accessories you’ll need to install it and ensure it functions correctly. For example, some toilets require the purchase of an external handle to flush the toilet. So, make a list of all of the accessories you’re going to need.

Suitability for the family - Next, think about what sort of toilet is going to be suitable for your family. If you have young children, for example, you’ll want a toilet that’s easy to flush.

Budget - As you may expect, toilets differ in price considerably depending on factors such as brand, efficiency, and features. This is why it makes sense to establish a budget before you begin the shopping process.

Aesthetics - Finally, you’ll want to make sure the toilet you choose fits in with the design of your bathroom. If you have a vintage-style bathroom, a modern toilet would look out of place, so you’ll need to consider this carefully.

Points to pay attention to

When considering different toilet customization ideas for your home, there are a few precautions to keep in mind:

Firstly, be mindful of using non-standard parts. They can be much more expensive and difficult to get your hands on. Plus, if the non-standard part is of poor quality and not in-keeping with the standard of the rest of the toilet, you may run into a few issues.

You’ll also want to make sure you stay away from toilet bowls with a noisy toilet flusher. Some toilet bowls can be very loud when flushing. This is something a lot of people don’t realize until the replacement has been fitted, so make sure you do your research and read feedback that’s been left by past customers.

Make sure your mindful of lids that are prone to slamming as well. You can purchase soft close lids, which are a lot kinder on the ears and ensure you don’t experience any cracks in your toilet.

Finally, don’t make the rookie error of buying a toilet bowl with an incorrect toilet seat height. Make sure the toilet seat is not only right for your bathroom and fittings but all of your family members too.

Customize your toilet to ensure it’s perfect for your family

So there you have it: some toilet renovation ideas and pointers to consider if you’re interested in a custom toilet for your bathroom. While a toilet may not be the most glamorous purchase in the world, it’s certainly a must-have in every home. And, when you consider the fact that your toilet is going to be used multiple times throughout the day, it’s only right that you consider this purchase carefully.

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toiletlifes · 1 year

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🚽🚽How To Install An American Standard Toilet? Step by Step Guideline!

We use the toilet daily and can’t picture life without it. Over time, your toilet seat will develop frequent problems and break, requiring a new toilet seat. Though there are various options, the American Standard toilet seat is the best.

American Standard has been in business for 140 years. They make toilets with innovative features to improve daily life and have the appropriate toilet for you with self-cleaning, water-saving, traditional, and modern designs. Their toilets are the greatest in performance, durability, and pricing.

When it’s time to change your toilet seat, you may believe it’s easy. But if you are not an expert, then this would be slightly difficult. In this article, How To Install An American Standard Toilet, we will share how easy it is to do it.

🚽🚽Read the full article at our website: https://toiletlife.com/how-to-install-an-american-standard-toilet/

#How To Install An American Standard Toilet? Step by Step Guideline!

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smarttoilets · 1 year

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Picking Smart Toilets With Bidets

Smart bathrooms with bidets are developed to enhance your everyday shower room regimen. Some include attributes such as warmed seats, adjustable water stress, as well as also temperature level settings. Various other designs use technology to clean, sanitize, and also disinfect the bowl. They also offer a convenient way to wash your feet after using the commode. Utilizing much less water can conserve you cash on your utility expense, while aiding the setting.

Choosing a clever bathroom with bidet is a large choice. You require to consider your lifestyle as well as budget plan before making your purchase. The ordinary individual invests concerning three hrs a week making use of a bathroom. Consequently, this purchase will pay for itself in the long run. Most wise smart toilets with bidets are touchless and feature motion-activated features, removing high-touch areas.

Some are detachable, permitting you to change setups from a distance. There are likewise models that are regulated with a remote. This makes managing your smart toilets simple. Lots of function a nightlight to assist keep you risk-free in the washroom. It may also have a dual-flush attribute. When picking a wise commode with bidet, consider how much room you have in the washroom.

As an example, if you have a tiny washroom, you may be far better off selecting a version that is designed to be hung on the wall surface. Likewise, you require to think of the degree of convenience you desire. If you don't have a great deal of time to extra, you might intend to choose a version that offers a hands-free automated open.

Those that pick a model that enables personalized water temperature levels, pressure, and also placements can save cash on their water as well as power bills. Numi is one brand that permits this modification. One design includes a cordless remote, while one more is a touchscreen. In addition to personalizing the flow toughness, you can likewise pick from eight color options. One more version, the SpaLet Advanced Clean 100 from American Standard, features a warmed seat, a soft blue nightlight, and a warmed air dryer. It also provides no-touch auto flushing and also an adjustable nozzle. A few other clever bathrooms with bidets include designs from Kohler.

These commodes are WaterSense accredited and include a self-cleaning wand, warm-air clothes dryer, and LED light. Dyconn's tankless toilet is an additional instance. The seat is covered in stain-resistant polish, while the tank is covered in antimicrobial products. Acquiring a clever bathroom with bidet is an amazing option. Nonetheless, it can be a little bit costly.

The price of the item can vary depending on the brand name. With some models, the cost can be as low as $400, while others can set you back as high as $1,900. While these costs aren't inexpensive, they are anticipated to decrease in the future. Regardless of your selection, a clever bathroom with bidet can give your bathroom a luxurious feel. It will additionally save you time and money. Plus, it's an enjoyable, modern accessory that can add value to your home. Choose a smart commode that matches the look of your washroom. You can learn more about this topic at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_toilet.

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softwater3452 · 2 years

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How A Water Softener Works

Self-cleaning sediment filter to protect your house's plumbing from sediment like filth and sand. Living in a home with a personal well has its benefits, like never having to worry water softeners a couple of water invoice. It also comes with the duty of guaranteeing the standard of your water is suitable in your residence.

In the wash, these minerals get trapped on the fibers in your garments, sheets, and towels and likewise trigger detergents to stay to fabrics. Iron in water will depart an orange-brown staining in each sinks and toilets. Iron can also trigger corrosion to plumbing pipes and tap fixtures. Having an irregular pH balance of your water will lead to blue-green staining around your sink drains.

The media within the softener, referred to as resin, is charged with sodium ions. When the hardness ions come in contact with the resin beads the hardness ions are collected and the sodium ions are launched, thus the term ion change. The typical cations found within the uncooked water are exchanged inside the resin bed for sodium or potassium, as proven in the illustration. Normally, when two-thirds of the resin bed is exhausted, the softener will permit hardness to slip via. When this happens, it's time to regenerate or recharge the resin bed utilizing a salt and water combination, generally known as brine.

Aside from precise testing, listed right here are some indicators that your home’s water is tough enough to require a water softening system. However, if your home has its personal nicely or you have considerations about water quality, you would possibly need to hire a water remedy specialist to carry out a extra in-depth take a look at. The CDC recommends limiting daily complete sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day, though the typical American consumes three,500 mg per day. When onerous water is heated in a plumbing system, carbon dioxide goes out of solution, and bicarbonates become carbonates, that are a lot less soluble. The carbonates bind to plumbing surfaces offering seed crystals for additional crystal growth, which build up as onerous scale. Distillation and reverse osmosis are probably the most broadly used two non-chemical strategies of water softening.

However, a bypass valve can save you time and money by stopping your water softener from using excess salt or vitality to melt the water used for watering the garden or washing the deck. Magnetic water softeners take up the least quantity of space, and you'll set up them with out cutting into your plumbing. Typically, these smaller softeners can be mounted instantly on the pipe and don't interfere along with your ground space. These softeners are the finest option to save tons of space in smaller properties, RVs, or flats. These fashions are also smaller than salt-based techniques, to allow them to simply be used for small- to large-size houses. However, these models could battle with very excessive ranges of hard water and households with higher than average water usage.

Other negatives include softeners' salt consumption and the aesthetics of softened water which typically has a "slick" feel that many individuals do not like. The excellent choice for 3 season cottage homeowners who want the luxurious of soppy water combined with low upfront and annual working water softeners prices. Weighing simply 20 lbs, our bathe softener is easy to install and doesn`t require electricity. The 785 combines Up Flow regeneration with precision brining to offer your prospects significant salt and water savings, yearly.

However, over time this insoluble material, in any other case often known as scale, can accumulate and coat pipes in addition to the insides of appliances such that water flow is restricted and performance declines. Thus repairs have to water softeners be made extra frequently and efforts to forestall clogging extra closely monitored . Quality water therapy merchandise, delivered to you on the home.

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snarksandkisses · 4 years

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What I think about COVID-19 this morning - Malia Jones, PhD, MPH

What I think about COVID-19 this morning

March 5, 2020

Maybe I'm the closest thing you personally know to an infectious disease epidemiologist. Maybe not--I'm not an expert on this virus by any stretch, but I have general knowledge and training from studying epidemics that is applicable, so here are my thoughts.

First and foremost: we are going to see a tremendous increase in the number of US cases of COVID-19 in the next week. This is not because of some new pattern in the spread of the disease, but rather due to a major change in the requirements to be tested. Until yesterday, if you had flulike illness but had not recently traveled to China, Italy, South Korea, or Iran, you could not be tested. This is just the way healthcare works, you get tested if you meet the case definition and the case definition included travel.

As of yesterday, you can be tested if you are sick and have a doctor's order to be tested. So expect things to feel a lot more panicky all of a sudden. We will see hundreds or thousands of new cases as a result of testing increases.

Second: is that panic legitimate? Sort of. This is not the zombie apocalypse. The death rate of 30 deaths per 1000 cases is probably a wild overestimate. (The denominator is almost certainly wrong because it is confirmed cases--and we only confirm cases when we test for them). That said, even at 3 per 1000 cases, this would be a big deal. A very big deal. By way of comparison, the death rate for influenza is between 1 and 2 in 1000 cases. So, yeah. Roughly 0x to 30x worse than a huge global flu pandemic? That's a problem.

Unlike flu, COVID-19 is not *particularly* dangerous for children, so that’s some happy news. It is dangerous for older adults and those with lung conditions, so we need to be extra careful to protect those populations from exposure.

Also, for millions of Americans, getting any serious illness requiring a hospitalization is a major problem because they can't pay for it. And our health care system is probably going to struggle to keep up with it all. And with China basically closed, our global economy is going to take a huge hit and we'll feel the shockwaves for years. Those are real concerns.

What can we do? Our focus should be on *slowing down the spread* of this disease so that we have time to get caught up. Here is my advice:

1. Wash. Your. Hands. Wash them so much.

The current best guess is that coronavirus is transmitted via close contact and surface contamination. A very small study came out yesterday suggesting that the virus causing COVID-19 is *mostly* transmitted via contact with contaminated surfaces.

I have started washing my hands each time I enter a new building and after being in shared spaces (classrooms especially), in addition to the standard practice of washing after using the bathroom and before eating. Soap and water. Hand sanitizer also kills this virus, as does rubbing alcohol (the main ingredient in hand sanitizer).

There is no need to be obsessive about this. Just wash your hands. A little bit more effort here goes a long way.

2. Don’t pick your nose. Or put your fingers in your mouth, on your lips, or in your eyes. Surface contact works like this: you touch something dirty. Maybe it's an elevator button. Virus sticks to your hands. Then you rub your eye. Then you touch your sandwich, and put the sandwich in your mouth. Now there is virus in your eyes and mouth. See?

You may be thinking, but I don’t pick my nose because I am an adult! An observational study found that people sitting at a desk working touched their eyes, nose, or lips between 3 and 50 times per hour. Perfectly normal grown-ups, not lowlifes like my friends.

2a. There was one note that came out suggesting that face masks actually promote surface contamination because you're always adjusting them--i.e., touching your face. I don’t know if that’s true. But face masks should not be worn by the public right now, unless you are the person who is sick and you're on your way to or actually at the doctor's office. The mask’s function is to prevent spit from flying out of your mouth and landing on things when you cough or sneeze. It flies out of your mouth and is caught in the mask instead. If you are the person who is sick and not on the way to the doctor, go home. Let the people who really need them have the masks. Like doctors.

[ETA on 3/6/2020 honestly people I am getting so much push back on the mask recommendation!! The world is running low on masks. If everyone wants a mask so they can feel ok about keeping their Daytona Beach Spring Break plans and then hospitals in India can't buy them anymore, shame on us.]

Coronavirus does not appear to be airborne in the sense that doesn't remain floating around freely in the air for a long time, like measles does. You are probably not going to breathe it in, unless someone is coughing in front of you. If someone is coughing in your face, feel free to tell them to get their ass home and move 6 feet away from them. (Yeah I know, if you have a toddler, you're screwed.)

3. Sanitize the objects you and lots of other people touch, especially people outside your family--like door handles, shared keyboards at schools (brrr), salad bar tongs, etc. Best guesses are that the virus can live on surfaces for 2-48 hours, maybe even longer, depending on the surface, temperature, and humidity.

Many common household cleaning products will kill this virus. However, white vinegar solution does not. You can make your own inexpensive antimicrobial spray by mixing 1 part household bleach to 99 parts cold tap water. Spray this on surfaces and leave for 10-30 minutes. Note: this is bleach. It will ruin your sofa.

4. "Social distancing." You're going to get so sick of this phrase. This means keeping people apart from one another (preferably 6 feet apart, and sanitizing shared objects). This public health strategy is our next line of defense, and its implementation is what will lead to flights and events cancelled, borders closed, and schools closed.

For now, you could limit face-to-face meetings, especially large ones. Zoom is an excellent videoconferencing option. If you spend time in shared spaces, see #1. Ask your child's school about their hygiene plan, if they haven't already told you what it is. If I were in charge of a school setting, I'd be hand sanitizing the s*** out of the kids' hands, including in and out of each space, and taking temperatures at the door. I am planning to email our school nurse right after this to ask if they need my volunteer help cleaning surfaces.

If you can telecommute, do that a little more. If you are someone's boss and they could do their job remotely, encourage them to do that.

Avoid large gatherings of people if at all possible, especially if they are in an area with cases OR places that lots of people travel to. If you attend group events and start to feel even a little bit sick within 2 to 14 days, you need to self isolate immediately. Like for a tiny tickle in your throat.

5. All your travel plans are about to get screwed up. If you are considering booking flights right now, get refundable tickets. ETA: most trip insurance will not cover cancellations due to a pandemic. Look for "cancel for any reason" trip insurance.

Considerations for risks related to that trip you’re planning: how bad would it be if you got stuck where you are going for 3 to 6 weeks? How bad would it be to be isolated at home for 2-3 weeks upon your return? Do you have direct contact with people who are over 70 and/or have lung conditions? If those seem really bad to you, rethink your trip, especially if it is to a location where there are confirmed cases.

6. If you are sick, stay home. Please! For the love of all that is holy. Stay at home. Your contributions to the world are really just not that important.

7. There is a good chance some communities will see school cancelled and asked to limit non-essential movement. If someone in your family gets sick your family will almost certainly be isolated for 2-3 weeks (asked to stay at home). You could start stocking up with essentials for that scenario, but don't run out and buy a years' worth of toilet paper. Again, not the apocalypse. 2 weeks' worth of essential items. Refill any prescriptions, check your supply of coffee, kitty litter, and jigsaw puzzles.

8. I do want to remind everyone that when public health works, the result is the least newsworthy thing ever: nothing happens. If this all fizzles out and you start feeling like ‘Wah, all that fuss for nothing??’ Then send a thank-you note to your local department of public health for a job well done. Fingers crossed for that outcome.

9. Look, I think there are some positives here. All this handwashing could stop flu season in its tracks! We have an opportunity to reduce our global carbon footprint by telecommuting more, flying less, and understanding where our stuff comes from. We can use this to think about the problems with our healthcare system. We can use this to reflect on our positions of privilege and implicit biases. We can start greeting each other using jazz hands. I'm genuinely excited about those opportunities.

There is a lot we don't yet know about this virus. It didn't even exist 90 days ago. So stay tuned, it is an evolving situation. The WHO website has a decent FAQ. Free to email or text with questions, and you can forward this to others if you think it's useful.

May the force be with you.

Malia Jones, PhD, MPH

[email protected]

I’m an Assistant Scientist in Health Geography at the Applied Population Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I study social contact of humans, and spatial patterns of infectious disease, among other things.

P.S. The number one question I am getting is, did you really write this? Yes. I wrote this.

I didn't write it for professional purposes, so I didn't put my work email on it. It was really just meant to be an email to my friends and family in advance of what I expect to be an escalation in the panic level. But it was apparently welcome information and went viral on FB. I've decided not to edit out the swears, even though I wrote this with a much smaller audience in mind.

Thanks for checking your facts! Go science!

#COVID-19 #coronavirus #wash your hands #Social distancing #don't panic #but maybe just a little panic

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heathered-beinn · 3 years

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BTS American Hustle Life Ep4

Ep 3 recap: BTS are in LA to learn about hip hop. During that episode they met their dance teacher, Jenny Kita. She set them a few challenges including a solo demonstration, a dance battle against professional dancers, and the task of choreographing a dance routine in small groups. J-Hope’s dance skills shone the brightest throughout which was both a surprise and a delight! Jin, despite being the least proficient dancer in the band, tried really hard and it paid off in the final challenge – he and J-Hope were deserving winners.

We also started to see the friendships between the band members more, which was quite lovely. I really hope this continues in the series.

On to Episode 4!

Holy cow, that dorm is an absolute pigsty. Ewwww! The amount of water bottles alone makes me want to cry.

Lol, I wonder how RM and Jimin ended up having to clean the dorm up?

They did a good job with it though and somehow managed to find some fun in between. The bathroom scene was hilarious!

Like last episode Jimin appears to have dropped some of his mask. Maybe I’m just seeing things but in this ep he just seems a little softer around the edges - more playful rather than loud and over-the-top. I think RM is good company for him. I’m not sure how to word it without accidentally making it look like I think the other lads treat him poorly (which I don’t believe they do!!) but I think RM is quite respectful to Jimin? As the leader RM’s attention will be pulled in many directions and when he can give spare undivided attention he probably spends it more on his elder bandmates as they are closer to his own age. However, I get the sense that when he does focus on Jimin he does it with the kind of patience and gentleness that the others are maybe not quite so liberal with? That’s not to say he won’t tease Jimin or joke around with him (he does) but so far it comes across as a little warmer than the others perhaps because he’s naturally gentler in nature? I’m probably talking out my **** here but that’s just what I’ve sensed.

One final thing: Jimin’s English is really improving!

So while Jimin and RM are cleaning the dorm, Suga, V, and Jungkook are on laundry duty. LMAO how is that fair? I was thinking that the “chores” were punishment for losing the challenge in Ep3 but Jimin and RM were so close to winning and yet seem to have been given the worst chore?

LOL, how can those three lads make laundry seem so complicated??

They really are big kids – I’m glad they can find ways to have fun though. But ewwwwwwwwww Jungkook, the 3/5/7/10 second rule is a myth, don’t eat things off the ground – particularly in a foreign country!!

Woah!!! they licked each other’s ice creams without hesitation!

To be honest I think it is more of a reflection on my own culture rather than theirs that this seemed so surprising to me. Generally sharing food without the ‘ew that’s got your spit on’ and other hang-ups – particularly between boys - ends around 8-10 years old here.

Jungkook sweetie, I really doubt you’ve put on much weight – are you sure you haven’t just grown another few inches? It certainly looks like you’ve grown. At this point you might end up towering over Suga and Jimin.

Ah so Jin and J-Hope are food shopping. So maybe these chores are not punishments for losing the challenge. I’d still like to know how Jimin and RM got the short straw to clean the dorm lol.

Oh good grief, BTS cooking – after their challenge in the first series I dread to think what poor concoction they’re going to come up with.

OK so J-Hope’s cheese sticks verdict… V = X, RM = XX, Jimin (so cute as he bounded over like an excited puppy) = too polite to use his new English word “disgusting”

Jin’s ham on toast concoction: LMAO at Jin blowing on the forkful before feeding Jimin. No comment on Jimin’s tongue action though…

It seemed to taste okay judging by Jimin’s reaction. RM does not agree lol. It was cute how Jin was feeding the rest of the toast to Jimin and Jungkook like a parent feeding infants.

After what I wrote earlier about RM it’s nice to see the other lads interacting with Jimin more. I wonder if some of the impatience that occasionally comes across is simply down to the editing?

So we move on to a new day and the whole group are heading to Long Beach by foot. Crikey, Jungkook looks like he’s grown another inch over night!! Why on earth is he wearing two layers in the LA heat???!!

It’s great to see that BTS are still ‘star struck’ by celebrities. I guess, back then, the band were not that well known – at least not like they are now. They certainly did not cross my radar – not like 1D did.

LMAO – V randomly saying he drooled when he saw Warren G. What?????!!!!

Warren G seems a great guy; very chill and calm with the band. *Again I’m going to say it but I love how BTS have the confidence to say another man looks handsome like they did when admiring the photo in the record store*

Yeah Warren G is a really decent guy.

There’s something fundamentally poetic in the way that Jimin said of Warren G, Snoop Dogg, Nate, (in a tone of amazement and disbelief) “They were just elementary kids but became legends”. I mean, BTS were once ‘elementary school’ kids and while, in that moment, Jimin did not know how big the band would get, the same sentiment applies to BTS.

So their new challenge is to write lyrics based on their own lives to Regulate.

Good boys; slapping on the sunscreen – thumbs up for skin care!

Oh good grief Jin, if the American dorm is slowly becoming like your Korean dorm then I shudder to think what state your Korean dorm is in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oooh so the band are opening up a little about their lives in order to make lyrics for their rap.

After a bit of travelling by bus and making friends with the locals, Jin and J-Hope settle down in a park to talk. We learn Jin started off acting and not singing? Now that’s interesting! Not all of BTS had joining a band or even BTS’ music style in mind from the beginning. Jin also has a brother and he was into hip hop so Jin had some knowledge of it before joining the band.

J-Hope’s turn and he admitted when he first joined the band everyone was a rapper and he was the only dancer which made him feel remote.

This, again, is really interesting to learn as this was the scenario I was pinning on Jimin – unless there were different BTS members back when J-Hope joined? I really don’t know how the band was formed so I hope at some point they talk about this. I liked how Jin admitted he was surprised to hear about J-Hope feelings. They should talk like that more often.

RM and Jimin travel to another part of town – near the school/college that some of the most famous rappers in the music industry attended. I really like the motto of the building “Enter to learn go forth to serve”. I’m not American so I don’t know it’s true connotations but to me it’s simple and strangely compelling. Like; ‘We don’t care who you are either come in and learn and repay by using it to serve the community - or travel forth on down the street and sign up for the army and serve that way. There’s a purpose for everyone.”

RM and Jimin talking <3

Jimin’s answer to what he found difficult when he joined the band is fascinating. While the translation felt a little off, it reads as he cares a lot about what others think of him and doesn’t want to let anyone down or let any of his (self-perceived) shortcomings hold others back. In order to achieve this he spent a lot of time trying to catch up or improve so that no one could easily spot his weaknesses. Ultimately, he wants to care less what others think of him so he can lose some of the pressure? I really think there is a lot more to this “want to care less about what others think” than the vague answer he gave (or was edited in). His starting phrase “I should live quietly for the sake of my team” was quite a loaded sentiment and didn’t quite follow what he said next – definitely some careful editing there.

RM’s sentiment echoes this. He talked about seeing a very over-weight man walking around LA topless and admired the man’s confidence to not care what other people thought. RM wants some of that confidence to stop constantly watching out for what others thought about him. This is the type of pressure many celebrities talk about a lot. In my opinion, any one remotely “famous” are seen as role models (rightly or wrongly) and society holds them to ridiculous standards. Make one mistake and that’s you cancelled like you are some item in a shop that can be returned for a refund. I personally think people have a very skewed idea about what makes a ‘role model’. For me, a role model shouldn’t be perfect but when they do make mistakes they should own up to it, apologise, and attempt to fix or make up for any hurt caused. We, as their fans, need to relearn how to accept an apology, forgive human errors, allow people to learn, and move on. Min rant over.

Moving on: Suga, V, and Jungkook are down near the beach front discussing their lyrics. The way V instantly thought of his Dad tells me he’s quite family orientated. It was touching the way he said he made him the person he was today.

Jungkook’s thoughts where based more on his internal thoughts of himself as a person and a musician. It was very honest of him to admit that back home he’d been pretty confident of his talent but once he joined (BigHit?) he quickly realised there was a lot of people with as much, if not more, talent than him and it knocked his confidence. I wish Suga had spoke more about his own thoughts rather than just write the lyrics.

Challenge Day:

To be fair, all three groups rose to the challenge and not only had some great lyrics but sounded polished and rehearsed. We only got snippets of the songs but from what we did hear I would struggle to pick a winner. I guess, for me, it would feel like picking one’s persons’ struggles over another’s. Hard to judge.

Lol at Suga oversharing about being in the toilet when he was writing *crying with laughter face*

Awww, Suga, V, and Jungkook won. They definitely tried harder with this challenge than the one in ep 3 so I felt it was deserved.

Final musings:

Another interesting episode. I think the band learned a lot more about hip hop this episode and Warren G was a real gent. We also learned more about each band member in terms of their thoughts and experiences when joining the band. We (I) also learned more about their personalities which hadn’t been so clear in previous eps and series. I think the editing can misconstrue some moments so I’m probably going to re-evaluate my musings on each band member from time to time – this is a good thing though!

Looking forward to ep 5!

#bts #American hustle life #heathered beinn musings #suga #jin #rapmonster #j-hope #jimin #v #jungkook

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ninjanonymous · 4 years

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I’m pissed off, and sad, and scared, and I have a lot to say right now. This all needs to be said, for my own sake if not for anyone else’s.

Very recently, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that employers under the Affordable Care Act are now allowed to roll back access to birth control for their employees, as long as their religion disagrees with it. This ruling was made in the name of religious tyranny, and NOT that of religious freedom. Christian-run businesses can now force their beliefs onto their employees by actively denying them the healthcare that they very much need.

Can you imagine the outrage there would be if SCOTUS decided that it was suddenly okay for a Muslim-run business to break FLSA standards during Ramadan? After all, if a Christian-run business shouldn’t be forced to pay for all ACA-protected aspects of an employee’s healthcare, why should a Muslim-run business have to sacrifice profits when eating lunch during Ramadan is against their religion?

“Oh, but there are federal protections to keep something like that from happening.” Are there? Are there really? The ACA gave employees FEDERALLY PROTECTED access to birth control through their employers, because an employer’s religious beliefs shouldn’t be used to control the freedoms or hurt the wellbeing of others. Now look where we are.

This court ruling essentially dictates that religion can make you exempt from federally-mandated rules for the sake of profit. It puts the employer’s beliefs above the beliefs and wellbeing of their employees. It puts any company’s self-proclaimed God over the law, and allows them to forgo worker protections because, according to them, it’s what Jesus would want.

And where do we draw the line? Should a company that’s run by a Jehovah’s Witness be allowed to deny coverage for a needed blood transfusion? Can a religious company claim that any illness is a righteous punishment from God, and the use of modern medicine to treat it would be sinful? What would that mean for something as devastatingly expensive as cancer treatment? What if the CEO doesn’t agree with vaccines? And really, why even stop at access to healthcare when there are any number of ways that a company could encroach on their worker’s rights in the name of God?

Too many people in this country are entirely dependent on their employers for their health insurance. Healthcare costs in America are the highest in the western world by far, and life-saving treatment is often prohibitively expensive without it. This SCOTUS decision may ultimately deny many Americans their constitutional right to life.

Employers pay private insurance companies to provide care for their employees. This is a blanket expense. They don’t get an itemized bill for the healthcare that they’re covering. They’re paying for general healthcare coverage to be provided by insurance company, and that’s it. The employers are not the insurance companies themselves. They are not the ones processing the claims and choosing which to deny and which to cover. Your medical record is private, protected information. Your employer does not have access to that information under HIPAA. If your employer isn’t allowed in the room with you during your doctor’s appointment, they absolutely shouldn’t be allowed to pick and choose what care you can and can’t receive.

These companies are literally just saying, “see that person right there? I don’t like that they’re on birth control, because I’M a Christian, and that’s against MY beliefs, so now THEY can’t have it.” A Christian forcing their beliefs onto someone else isn’t religious freedom, just like a Muslim forcing their beliefs onto a Christian wouldn’t be. This is religious tyranny the and Christian-backed persecution of women.

And for this specific ruling, it really is that arbitrary. This ruling is a poorly-disguised move to further strip away the rights of women in the name of Abrahamic theocracy. The idea that this decision would save money for these employers is completely asinine, considering good reproductive healthcare and access to birth control reduces long-term costs overall (I will be adding the stats and sources to back this up in a later post).

And here’s an important reminder for you all: reproductive healthcare is still basic healthcare. Taking care of one’s needs regarding their reproductive system benefits their overall health. And even if you disagree with me there, “birth control” is a pretty damn big misnomer. While it is commonly used to prevent unwanted pregnancies, there are a myriad of other reasons that a woman might need it for.

Birth control can control hormonal acne. My own mother was put on it for this reason back when she was a teenager.

It can be used to help regulate one’s mood. A dear friend of mine is on it for this reason. She suffers from severe depression, occasionally to the point of suicidal ideation. I am fucking terrified about what this court decision could mean for her.

It reduces one’s chances of getting uterine cancer. I have a family history of uterine cancer, and it can be hard to detect. They only found it in my grandmother by chance when they were performing an unrelated surgery.

It reduces your chances of forming ovarian cysts. Women with PCOS often suffer from these, and they can be quite painful. My mother had to have a football-sized ovarian cyst removed from her abdomen, and histology found that it contained pre-cancerous cells.

It can relieve symptoms of PMS and PMDD. Again, this is a form of hormonal mood regulation, as well as a means of controlling many of the unfortunate physical side effects of the menstrual cycle. PMS and PMDD are often topics of ridicule, but their symptoms can have a serious negative impact on one’s day-to-day life. I’ll add more information on this later, since there’s a lot to cover.

It can help regulate one’s menstrual cycle. For reasons I shouldn’t have to explain, knowing when blood and viscera is going to start pouring out of your crotch really helps with being prepared to deal with it. It also helps to avoid really embarrassing situations in public, or the need to clean bloodstains out of clothes and furniture. Irregular periods are a gruesome guessing game. I’ve been there. I don’t want to go back.

It can make your periods less painful. Periods happen when, once a month, the uterus sheds its inner lining. As in, the person having their period is bleeding internally, because one of their organs is shredding and expelling parts of itself from the inside. That shit hurts. Many women have reported vomiting or passing out from period pain. For me, the average period cramp can be compared to really bad gas or diarrhea pain. You know, the kind that has you breaking out into cold sweats on the toilet while you silently beg for mercy to any god that might be listening. Fun, right? I’d recon my pain level is about the average, too.

It can be used to manage menstrual migraines. Did you know some women get migraines in conjunction with their periods? Migraines are debilitating. Imagine having them chronically, getting them frequently around the same time every month, then being denied affordable access to the one medicine that was keeping it in check because your asshole boss says that Jesus wants you to suffer. Bonus points if you get fired because the migraines had a negative impact on your ability to work.

It can reduce your risk of anemia. Some women get really heavy periods. Like, crazy heavy, to the point where they bleed so much that it’s unhealthy. Technically speaking, I fall into this camp. I’d hemorrhage to the point of needing a transfusion if I went long enough without birth control. Gee, I sure hope the insurance-throttling company that I work for isn’t run by a Jehovah’s Witness.

Birth control is the only non-invasive way to control uterine fibroids, which often go hand-in-hand with endometriosis. These are non-cancerous growths within or around the uterus can cause uncontrolled bleeding, and may be quite painful in and of themselves. A ridiculously high number of women have this, myself included. Most women that have them have no or very few symptoms. I was not so lucky.

And that’s just a few of birth control’s many uses. And actually, let me talk about my fibroids some more for a second, just so you all have a better idea of what it means to live with this shit. TMI time. I take birth control. I’ve been taking it regularly for about five years now. I’ve never had sex before, and I don’t plan on it any time soon. This is the one and only reason I’m on the pill.

Five years ago, during my freshman year of college, I started bleeding out of the blue. Really, really badly. This “spotting” was sudden, and heavy, and unrelenting. I’d completely bleed through a super tampon in less than two hours, when one of those would last a good eight hours on my heaviest day during a normal period. I had to sleep with towels on the bed, and set an alarm to wake up early so I could take deal with the shed blood before it got too bad, and to give myself extra time for cleanup before classes. After going from horizontal to vertical for the first time in several hours, getting to the bathroom was a race against time and gravity.

I lived like this for a full month. Tampons and pads, for those of you that have had the privilege of never needing to buy them, can get really pricey. Doubly so for a broke college student, triply so when they need to be extra-large packs containing extra-large products, and quadruple-y so when that broke college student is still managing to bleed through those products at an absurd rate. And, it hurt. The pain was worse than usual; the camps were sharper, more persistent, and sometimes it felt like someone was jabbing a big needle into my abdomen and twisting it around. I was taking OTC painkillers constantly, and they barely made a dent in the pain.

The bleeding started just over a week after my last period had ended, so it was way too early for it to be my next cycle. I figured that maybe my cycle was syncing up to my roommate, or some other chick on my floor had some weird hormonal imbalance, and the outside interference from other people’s hormones was screwing with me enough to make my own body act weird. I figured I’d just have to wait out this one bad period, and everything would settle back down to normal. But, two weeks passed and absolutely nothing changed. The bleeding wasn’t slowing down, and I started to get worried that it wasn’t just an abnormal period. I waited a couple more days, then booked an appointment at the health center. It was more than a week until they could see me.

The consensus was fibroids. They couldn’t give me an official diagnosis without an ultrasound, but all signs pointed to that one conclusion. They said that the only way to make the bleeding stop was by taking birth control. I wasn’t happy about it, since my mom had me convinced that birth control would actually increase my risk of cancer (not true, as I later found out), but I agreed anyway. The nightmare was over a few days later.

So, off topic but still related, I had surgery on my foot a couple months ago. It had to be immobilized for a while, and I was put on blood thinners to prevent any clots from forming while I recovered. Birth control pills can actually increase the risk of blood clots, so I made the choice to hold off on taking those for a while, just as an added precaution. Sure enough, only five days later, the bleeding and the pain was back. Again, it had been only a week since my last period.

I still need to be on birth control. It is a medical necessity for me. My fibroids are still around, and I’ll still spot and cramp up if I miss a pill. I’ve recently been told by my doctor that a permanent fix, and my only other option for treatment, is a hysterectomy. I am 22 years old. Most surgeons would never dream about performing that procedure on me, even if it didn’t already come with its own health risks.

And hell, even if it is used just to prevent pregnancies, what gives someone else the right to deny a woman her bodily autonomy? Human beings are sexual creatures. They’re going to fuck, regardless of whatever laws or religious doctrines are involved. We are quite literally built to have sex, and it’s entirely healthy to do so. There are plenty of peer-reviewed studies that go into detail on the matter; just hop onto Google Scholar and see for yourself. And, maybe, preventing pregnancy is a need in and of itself. What if a woman has a condition that would make pregnancy extremely high-risk? Is she not justified in taking birth control to protect herself from grievous injury? If she’s married to a man, does that married couple not have a right to sleep together without fear of one of them literally dying for it? Even by Christian standards, it doesn’t seem right.

This decision that the Supreme Court has made is utterly shameful, and countless law-abiding American citizens will now be denied access to needed care that they otherwise couldn’t afford without insurance coverage. This is truly a loss for America and her people, and one that will cause suffering for decades to come.

#long post #text #my thoughts #scotus #politics #feminism #fuck republicans #fuck conservatives #and fuck the evangelical right #religion #christianity #america #2020 #sorry if i’m not the best writer #fuck #theocracy #angry #fibroids #birth control

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fullwolfroadwobbler · 1 year

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alfred-braginsky · 5 years

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#35

RusAme + “About the baby…it’s yours.” || AO3 LINK ||This fic was not supposed to be as serious as it turned out. I got a few requests for this prompt and this was under the angst prompts, so this is def angst. This is with my headcanon in mind that nations can have regular children. If they have them, they won’t be a personification or anything like that, they’ll be a regular mortal human. Even if they sleep with other nations and conceive with them the baby born from that will still be human not a nation.

Historical and pregnancy inaccuracies like skjdnsjd idk what tf I’m talking about. I’m getting both information stuff from google and Mad Men so lmao please excuse any inaccuracies.

Warnings: war, mentions of sexual content, brief mention of abortion, scene where someone throws up. Tense political climate and off screen death.

Feel free to send asks about this headcanon or fic if you have questions. Also Alfred is trans.

+++++

Mass celebrations happened at the end of World War II. The world was no longer on the brink of self-destruction but now transitioned into an age of mutually assured destruction. Whatever ally ship was held between the United States and Soviet Union had fizzled out once the Axis Powers had been defeated and divided.

Alfred and Ivan were content with the ally ship. It gave them the excuse to be in close quarters with one another without arousing any suspicion. Late nights ‘strategizing’ with constant lunches and dinners that often ran late. There was a war happening but to Alfred and Ivan it was merely background noise.

They would start arguing towards the end of an Allies meeting resulting in the meeting ending early and the rest of the nations leaving them all alone in the conference room to hash it out.

As soon as they heard the click of the door sound throughout the room Ivan relaxed the gloved hand that squeezed Alfred’s throat. Their eyes full of feigned annoyance and rage had softened into blissful admiration and need. Alfred was the first to press their lips together in a desperate and heated kiss.

Ivan lifts Alfred and hoists him onto the massive mahogany conference table, Alfred wraps his legs around Ivan’s waist pulling him closer. They’ll have to be careful this time, last time they broke the table and had to come up with some excuses and bruises to match. Alfred let out an amused huff of air from his nostrils at the memory.

This would be the last time they would see each other for a while. With the war over, and Germany divided, their responsibilities almost tripled with having to rebuild a war-torn Europe. They clung to each other, trying to memorize how the other felt. They couldn’t stay long after they finished, their bosses would wonder and the possibility of them finding them together like this, kept them from lingering.

Alfred left first, to his surprise finding Arthur and Francis having a small chat. Both of their eyes shifted over towards the disheveled looking American. Francis gave Alfred a quick wink, brushing Arthur on the shoulder and left the lobby.

Arthur’s eyes followed Alfred, noticing his hair had a few strands pointing in all different directions and the bruises on his throat that was just barely covered by his collar. There was calculating and judging looking in his emerald eyes with each step Alfred took.

“I would be careful if I were you.” He warned. The words were without malice but still reminded Alfred of when Arthur lightly chastised him for things when he was little.

“I’m not afraid of him, he’s all talk.”

Arthur’s expression didn’t change taking a casual sip of his tea.

“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.” Alfred didn’t indicate any change in his stance now that he know Arthur knew.

“See ya at the next meeting.”

[text break. Beware mobile readers]

A few weeks pass and Alfred is weighed down with the stress of the duties of what it took to rebuild after a massive war. It wasn’t his first massive war, but something had changed since the first one took place. He had changed and so had his nation.

Exhaustion and fatigue seeped down into his very core. He was always running off somewhere, always had a meeting to attend to. It was starting to get to him. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, until a sudden wave of nausea crept up on him in the middle of a meeting between those who occupied West Germany.

Alfred stood up abruptly and excused himself rushing off as he felt the bile rise in the back of his throat. He almost doesn’t make it to the bathroom and rushes in and empties the contents of his stomach into the toilet.

[text break. Beware mobile readers]

A line of drool strung down from his lips as he gasped for breath. The slow realization happened and hit him harder than that German tank did in ‘44. Shit.

This was the worst time for this. This wasn’t his first rodeo he knew exactly what was going on with his body. However, this was his first time with another nation. He didn’t know what to expect and would be stupid to ask anyone and let them know that he was vulnerable at a time where he was considered a world superpower.

Would this baby represent a state of his? How would that even work since it was half Ivan’s and therefore half of the Soviet Union.

In the middle of his thought process came a knock on the door. His head shot up and he stood up making his way over to the sink and quickly rinsing out his mouth. The knock came again.

“Alfred? Are you alright?” a familiar voice came from the other side of the thick door.

“Yeah.” although not sounding too sure.

His head couldn’t stop from spinning about this happening at the worst time, and with the worst person he could think of. Political tensions were high.

The Soviet Union and the United States were at the brink of war. How would they even go about having this child, let alone rising it? They were far too busy and supposed enemies. The baby would be damned from its birth if Alfred and Ivan had to decided to claim it. He couldn’t put it through that.

Ivan could never know, not that he ever sees him so he could never tell him. A hand instinctively moves over his abdomen. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what he could do.

He loves Ivan. They will never have a future together, but he longs for a life they could have together if things were different. In another life, this is something that could have been possible. But now, during this arms race, and fighting over West and East Germany, this was something that was never supposed to happen.

“Alfred, let me in.” the voice came again, and against his better judgement, Alfred did.

Arthur stood there, his face pinched with a soft worry, quickly let himself in and locking the door behind him the bathroom big enough for them to fit, but small in size so it wouldn’t be comfortable.

Alfred stood there with a serious look on his face, his typical goofy grin wiped clean off.

“What the hell was that? You can’t just walk out of a meeting like that in front of everyone who matters I can’t belie–”

“Arthur.” Alfred’s voice was firm and heavy, Arthur raised an eyebrow at the seriousness of the situation.

“I’m pregnant.”

Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise, yet still believed his words. Not even Alfred is stupid enough to joke about something like this. The silence didn’t last long.

“Does he know?”

“I just found out.” Alfred knew all the signs at this point, he didn’t need a doctor to tell him what he already knew. It was dangerous to let anyone know. The less people knew the better. Even telling Arthur was a gamble.

“What do you plan to do about it?” Arthur pulled out a cigarette and offered it to Alfred. Alfred shook his head and instead Arthur put it in his own lips and lit it. Smoke filled the room, and smell gave Alfred some comfort.

“I don’t know.” he shrugged.

“Whatever you decide, do it quick and be discreet.” Arthur took a drag and blew it out after a few seconds. "You’ve been away too long. Stiffen that upper lip and come back to the meeting.“ Arthur clapped Alfred on the shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze before exiting.

Alfred was left with more thoughts about what to do. If he should tell Ivan. What he should tell Ivan.

His hand runs over his semi flat abdomen.

Fuck.

—-

Months pass and it was starting to get harder to hide his growing stomach. He got a new bomber jacket a few sizes too big to keep it baggy and hide what was hiding underneath. Only Arthur knew, and the doctor he was paying very well to keep it under wraps.

He hadn’t seen Ivan since their meeting in the conference room. Today they would be meeting in West Germany about how the former country of Prussia was being treated. The Soviet Union would be in attendance as they were the subject of the meeting.

Alfred’s chest tightening and his mouth was dry at the thought of seeing Ivan. There’s no way he wouldn’t notice. Hell, he’s pretty sure every nation he’s encountered knew, but had the information squared away for a time in the future when they could use it.

From the moment Alfred laid eyes on Ivan blue uniform his heart stopped beating and let out a soft huff of air as he felt a kick from his inner walls.

The more time passed on, the less Alfred knew what to do about it. The recognition in Ivan’s face when their eyes met just made everything that much more real.

Alfred averted his gaze and swallowed the lump in his throat and took his seat next to his boss right across from Ivan. Prussia seated next to him looking defeated and Ludwig seated between Alfred and Arthur with a fake confidence.

Ivan trying to catch his eye the entire meeting, but Alfred couldn’t look at him just yet without feeling an immense amount of guilt. To tell him or not. The next time they were scheduled to see each other was in another few months, right around the expected due date. It would be risky.

The meeting ended and they all shook hands on the agreed upon regulations and standards. Really, it was all formality none of them planned on changing anything.

When Alfred and Ivan clasped hands there was a note left between Alfred’s fingers written in Ivan’s handwriting. Ivan gave him a small genuine smile. Alfred smiled back although more nervous than anything.

They left and Alfred excused himself. This goddamn thing made him want to pee every 5 seconds. He closed the door and locked it behind him and opened the note.

'Meet at the apartment’

Ah, yes, the apartment. The apartment they shared with one another in Manhattan. It was empty for most of the year but discreet so that they could meet without anyone knowing what they were up to. Even hotels were too risky these days.

Alfred mingled a bit more with the previous Allied powers and then headed out to meet Ivan at the apartment. His stomach was in knots, his hands shaky.

When he got there, he hoped Ivan wouldn’t already be there, but he was. The man was sitting on the couch with paperwork he had been given earlier, cross legged, hat and jacket removed for extra comfort.

Alfred felt like a stranger walking the lion’s den with a secret hidden from someone he cared for. Ivan smiled when he spotted him and got up to greet him as Alfred shut the door behind him. Alfred’s center of gravity was completely off since he entered the 2nd trimester, walking normally was a bit of a struggle for him and something he hoped no one else noticed.

Ivan slid his hands around Alfred’s hips and pulled him into a kiss. Alfred melted into it, it’s been so long, and he’s been so needy he practically moaned into Ivan’s lips.

He missed him so much. He missed being this close to him. His scent, how his body never seemed to feel warm, his scars that told a story of survival.

"You shouldn’t eat so late, podsolnuk. Although, I suppose there is more of you to hold.” he whispered against the crane of Alfred’s neck. Alfred shuddered at the breath against his throat. He wanted Ivan so badly.

The bubbling anxiety seeped through his entire body the more Ivan explored his body. Alfred moved his hands to Ivan’s and stopped them in their place. Ivan lilted his head in confusion.

“I can’t. I just stopped by.”

“What is wrong? You are not yourself. You are quiet.” Ivan’s voice laced with a soft concern, his fingers moving under Alfred’s chin to have the man look at him. He sees guilt and like he has something to say.

“Nah. Just tired. I really have to go.” Alfred slides out of Ivan’s hold, refuses to look back to see Ivan’s hand stretched out with a look of hurt so blatantly on his face.

He hates his cowardice. He’s supposed to be brave. The fucking hero, but he can’t even tell the man he loves something so important that pertains to him.

—

1948

Alfred had taken bullets to muscle and shrapnel that ripped into flesh. He’s had his organs ruptured, bones shattered, and limbs cut off. None of that compared to the pain that labor brought. He hadn’t told anyone. It had been a few days before he was scheduled to have another meeting with the previous Axis and Allied powers. It wasn’t ideal but at least it was before and not during the meeting.

He didn’t tell Ivan. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. It was too risky. It would make Ivan too vulnerable, an added weakness in a time where war could break out at any moment and could be used against him. It could be used against them both.

During the last stretch of his labor he could barely process anything from the pain and the drugs. A nice Twilight Sleep minus the sleep. Because of his body which was constantly healing and trying to push out any toxins or foreign substances the morphine and scopolamine didn’t do much for him. It blocked out about 45% of the pain but the rest of it. Well, he couldn’t even remember his own name. And he was alone. No support whatsoever. Just like always.

+++

Alfred was so exhausted from the 2 day labor he had passed out almost immediately after the baby was born. He woke up the sound of a soft lullaby in a language he could barely understand in this disorientated state.

'Spi, mladenets moy prekrasnyy, Bayushki-bayu–’

Alfred sat up at the song and familiar voice. He’s heard that velvety voice sing to him like that before, but he can’t quite translate the words in his head; it was too exhausting.

His eyes blinked open as he sat up his stomach deflated. It felt as if something was missing. It always felt like this afterwards. He was always alone, but not this time. Spotting a figure in the corner of the room with his legs crossed and a bundle in his arms as his face held a soft fondness, something he hadn’t seen before almost paternal.

“You’re awake.” he hadn’t noticed the singing had stopped.

“Wish I wasn’t.” The baby was still here. Alfred didn’t know whether to be furious or relieved.

“How are you feeling?”

“What are you doing here?” Alfred averted his gaze from the bundle in Ivan’s arms. He knew once he saw that baby it’ll be all over for him. It was him and Ivan in one human being. One mortal human being.

“You think so little of me. You don’t think I have known? I have been giving you space, but you did not think I would be here for you?” Ivan’s voice had some hurt in it, but nothing to indicate he was angry.

“I didn’t want to tell you. I wouldn’t even be involved if I didn’t have to be.” Alfred let out a forced chuckle.

“I understand. I just…. I wanted to see him before he was sent off.” Ivan’s voice carried a heavy sadness. It was understandable. They all wanted this for themselves.

“We’re not allowed any semblance of a normal life.”

“Da, I know…but we can pretend for just a moment.” For once, it’s Ivan who is the idealistic optimist. The one who clung to hope and believing in the goodness in humanity and the world instead of Alfred.

Ivan stood up and brought the babe to Alfred, Alfred took the bundle into his arms and brought it close to his chest.

“About the baby…it’s yours.”

Ivan cracked a smile as he wrapped an arm around Alfred.

“I would still be here even if he wasn’t.”

“He?”

“Yes. I call him Alexei.”

Alfred chuckled, “You can’t give him a Russian name right now. Plus, his new family will name him, give him a fresh start so he’s not tied down by us.”

Ivan nodded in agreement. “He will live a normal life. He will not be cursed.”

Alfred leaned against Ivan as he watched the baby in his arms sleep. He took in all his features. It would be the last time he would see him.

—-

1971

The Vietnam War was in full swing and Selective Service has decided to draft men who were born between 1944 and 1950. Alfred was just as busy as he was during the last war, and the war before that, and the war before that. It seemed there was always another war to fight, another country to save with democracy.

Ivan was still the enemy. The Soviet Union was the enemy. And Alfred and the United States were enemies to the Soviet Union. This war was messy and complicated. The last war alongside a reluctant Im Yong Soo was a disaster. Stalemate leaving the bitter and metallic taste of blood in his mouth from the soldiers they had thrown into it in the name of stopping communism. It was a pointless fight with too many lives lost to make any kind of statement.

So how was Vietnam any different? Alfred’s bones ached and his head constantly hurt. Meeting with Ivan has become more and more difficult over the years. He barely sees him. Things were becoming dangerous and it wasn’t worth it. History will settle someday. And they could be together. But not now.

They had sent him down to Vietnam and work along with the new soldiers that had arrived. Everything was wet and hot, constantly sweating as they lived among the dense trees and rivers. It was a beautiful country. Alfred hated to see the scars that war left behind.

He wished he was here under different circumstances. Sitting in the endless fields eating slices of mangos looking up at the vast sky the stars. He’d turn to his side and see a pair of gorgeous and familiar violet eyes.

Ivan.

His daydream was erased by the realities and carnage of war. The sound of muffled bullets that made it past the sunset and resounded throughout the thick jungle.

They were expecting a new company of fresh wide eye soldiers. Soldiers he was in charge of training and making sure they were ready to die for their country whether they were willing or not. Alfred waited in his tent until his Lieutenant popped his head in and informed him of their new boys.

The draft was not something he was fond of. Snatching up young men and sending them to fight without their consent was something that made Alfred sick. If someone wanted to die for war they could, but it shouldn’t be forced upon them, especially in a war like this. He was afraid of another stalemate, another war where both sides lost too much for anything worthwhile.

Alfred got up dog tags rattling with each step as he caught a glimpse the group of 80 soldiers lined up waiting for orders and orientation.

They look younger and younger with each war and the soft spot inside Alfred only breaks more with each baby face he sees.

The oldest seems 22, if that, and the younger ones are 18. Some of them look proud and ready. Most of them looked terrified. No doubt brought here against their will to fuel a cause that didn’t directly involve them.

There’s nothing special about this group. Just another group of boys he has to send off to die. Almost nothing special.

His blood ran cold when he spotted it. He saw a pair of familiar eyes. Violet eyes. He couldn’t breathe. The sandy blond hair that peaked through his army issued green hat.

“What’s your name, soldier?” he tried not to let his voice crack.

“Alex Brooks, sir!” the boy saluted, and stiffened. Brooks. He supposed that’s the family he ended up with.

Alfred wanted to throw up. Alex. The name was too similar to the name Ivan suggested almost 21 years ago.

‘I call him Alexei.’

Fuck, no. He would be this age right about now. Those eyes are unmistakably his father’s. Eyes he hasn’t seen in almost 2 years, but he could recognize them anywhere.

Alfred was silent for a moment and the soldiers looked at him expectantly.

“At ease, Brooks.”

Brooks put his arm down.

“The rest of you, go pack your shit up and get settled!” He shouted and got a resounding 'Yes, sir!’ from the group.

He had the sudden urge to write to Ivan. Alfred didn’t want to know where their child ended up when he gave him away, but Ivan was adamant about keeping tabs. He probably knew and might have pulled some strings to get him into Alfred’s company knowing that once Alfred realized who he was, he would keep him safe.

He couldn’t keep his eyes off the young boy. Seems like that even during this dark situation in history the young man is bouncing around and making quick friends with the soldiers in his company. That bright grin that lit up the entire camp, just like him. He could see the way that he moves and the way that he speaks and his mannerism. It was like seeing himself and Ivan in this whole other person.

But he was also his own person. He had lived a whole life Alfred couldn’t even dream of and it added a flair to his personality. He was a better person than him. A better person than Ivan. This young man could make something with his life after the war. He could live the life that he and Ivan could never hope to have.

This boy is his son. His and Ivan’s flesh and blood. The little bundle that Ivan sang to in his native tongue hoping to instill some semblance of his culture into him. He remembers how soft his head was and the new baby smell that would perpetually be ingrained into his brain.

And here he was. Twenty-one years later in an army green uniform a rifle that looked so out of place. He would have thought the family they sent him to live with would have prioritized education and he would have been in college and been able to avoid the draft. Or maybe there was a patriotism he inherited from him that made him volunteer. Whatever it was, he was here, ready to throw his life away for to spread democracy under the guise of freedom.

War was always the same. And now he’s got a little boy to look after. Damn Ivan. It wasn’t just his boy but the boys of thousands of families. And now he was responsible for their lives.

But he couldn’t afford to think about that now.

He had a war to win.

2019

The world had changed in way Ivan and Alfred never expected. Things between them were better, no secret meetings, no 10-minute fucks where all they wanted to do is stay and hold each other but couldn’t.

They had a house together. They couldn’t live together, their duties required them to live in their own respective countries, but they could spend time together there without fear.

Alfred would wake up in the morning and see Ivan’s sleeping face. They would kiss each other good morning and complain about morning breath. They’d have breakfast together and go on a walk for groceries or the park or wherever the day took them.

Once every six months they would have breakfast at a coffee shop. The shop used to be owned by an older gentleman, but he retired and now it was run by his granddaughter.

The man is there every day with a cup of tea and that day’s newspaper finishing the crossword and cutting out the cartoons.

Alfred and Ivan would grab a booth in the back and ordered some coffee with some of the best pie they’ve ever had. They would have idle chats but would always watch the old man in the corner of their eyes. The old man with kind violet eyes and white hair that was once blond with youth.

They would finish their coffee and pie and the man would bid them farewell. Alfred and Ivan were always prepared for the day when they would come to the shop and he would no longer be there. That was the burden of being nations. It was the curse of immortality. They walk back to their shared home together and dinner was oddly silent on the days they visited the coffee shop.

A few years later they would visit his grave every year on his birthday. They would leave him a bundle of sunflowers.

“I hope he was happy.” Alfred whispered as he leaned against Ivan. That’s all Alfred wanted for him. Vietnam came and went, he found a wife, had a few children and they had a few children. The typical circle of life continues and the man had lived a full life with people who loved and cared for him.

Ivan’s lips curved into a sad smile.

“Da, I think he was.”

#rusame #amerus #aph russia #aph america #aph #ficlet #feel free to send me more prompts #my shit #ask #thanks for the asks!!!

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The Ranch in Orlando, Florida

The Ranch, Orlando House, Florida Real Estate, American Luxury Architecture Interior, Images

The Ranch in Orlando

Aug 31, 2020

The Ranch in Florida

Architects: VSHD Design

Location: Orlando, Florida, USA

Tuscan Transformation: Dubai-based VSHD Design expands its international portfolio with the completion of their first U.S. residential project – The Ranch

VSHD Design, a Dubai-based interior architecture firm specializing in residential and commercial projects, is proud to unveil a luxurious residential design within the Four Seasons Orlando Resort in Florida. With 22,000 sq. ft. this project marks the first residential undertaking of the firm in the United States.

“From the onset, we realized that we were facing numerous challenges with this project,” notes Rania Hamed, interior architect and founder of VSHD Design. “In addition to strict regional building and environmental codes, there were requirements imposed by Four Seasons Resorts to ensure that the residence blended stylistically with its neighboring properties.”

A modern Tuscan approach In approaching the external Tuscan theme exhibited by homes within the exclusive development, the challenge was to maintain some existing structural elements, while delivering on the client’s vision of a modern home that would be luxurious, yet warm, comfortable, and ideal for entertaining guests. The client envisioned a sort of boutique-style hotel environment that would provide family and friends with privacy and luxurious amenities, even in the absence of its owners. To achieve that challenging balance, Hamed embarked on a mission to modernize the external Tuscan façade, while infusing contemporary luxury into the home’s interior to align with the client’s vision.

While Tuscan architecture in its purest form embraces natural, rustic elements, VSHD Design avoided abundant use of materials such as brick and wrought iron in lieu of a modern interpretation. Gray brick overhangs positioned above the external façade’s windows and passages pay homage to Tuscan influences. Black frames of expansive French windows, certified to hurricane standards, provide contemporary contrasts to the façade’s white walls, culminating in a modern Mediterranean style that adheres to the Four Seasons aesthetic requirements.

To complement the structural design, VSHD Design developed all of the home’s outdoor spaces, beginning with its swimming pool. European limestone tiles, stylistic planters, and luxurious sunbeds from the Italian design house, Gervasoni, provide the exterior spaces with an authentic Mediterranean look and feel.

Seamless transitions While the exterior exudes modern interpretations of mandated styles and standards, VSHD Design approached the interior of the house as somewhat of a blank canvas. Working with a timber structure, as opposed to concrete columns and beams, was a new experience, however, Hamed found inspiration in the challenge.

“I saw beauty in some of the original structural elements and I wanted to maintain as many of them as possible,” she explains. “I decided to leave some of the exposed beams intact, as opposed to hiding them behind a layer of gypsum.”

Exposed wooden beams reflecting the original structure’s integrity were maintained, with layers of dark stain and black metal trim added to provide a more industrial feel. Hamed also focused on ensuring seamless continuity between the home’s interior and exterior spaces. Upon entering the house, Carrara marble flooring carries the influences inward, where Tuscan-style arches define the separation of the home’s interior spaces, reinforced by clean, modern, and slightly protruding architraves. The architraves, composed of black matte stained oak, contrast with the interior’s white walls and light gray marble flooring, providing the home’s public areas with a very contemporary look and feel. In living spaces designed for more intimate experiences, Carrara marble flooring gives way to hardwood floors.

“Marble can have a bit of a cold feel to it, particularly when framed by white ceilings and walls,” explains Hamed. “We created a transition to hardwood floors to provide certain spaces, like the living room and the study, with a much warmer ambiance.”

Boutique-style accommodations The main floor houses the master bedroom, highlighted by a luxurious contemporary décor and direct access to the adjacent pool area and outdoor shower, designed as part of VSHD’s vision of an indoor/outdoor lifestyle. The master bedroom’s spa-inspired adjoining spaces include a freestanding bathtub as the centerpiece of a spacious bathroom that also features an individual toilet and shower cubicles. The bathtub is flanked by a wall of floor-to-ceiling French windows on one side and dual washbasins with custom-designed mirrors on the other. Completing the spa-like theme, a small spiral staircase leads to an upper-level gym area featuring a steam room and waterjet shower.

The spa-like feel and amenities extend to the home’s 6 upper-level guest suites, half of which offer private external access for guest stays while the owners are away. Each self-sufficient guest suite features a unique decorative style and is equipped with a mini kitchen, a small pantry, and a spa-inspired bathroom.

“The client’s brief focused on a concept where each room should have a completely different, yet thoroughly modern theme,” explains Hamed. “We incorporated Chinese, Spanish, and multiple other influences in order to provide each suite with its own distinct character and mood.”

The client’s vision of a boutique-style hotel extends to the home’s main dining room, inspired by Italian architect Ettore Sottsass. A ‘modern-retro’ black and white console from Italy contrasts against a wall panel of gold leaf wallpaper, bordered by marble. The panel’s adjacent walls are characterized by ribbed white paneling with a stained wood base, while a cloud lighting fixture from New York’s Apparatus Studio provides adds a celestial touch to the room.

Pièce de résistance In order to tie the interior spaces together, VSHD Design embarked on an ambitious plan to develop a new patio space at the center of the house to create stimulating visual links between multiple areas of the house. To separate the pool area from the patio, and to connect the master bedroom to the living spaces, the design team built an enclosed lanai with four expansive French windows on each side, which infuse the passage with natural light. The abundantly lit corridor is lined with wicker chairs, creating a fabulous reading room with the feel of an open space courtesy of pool views to the left, and patio views and greenery to the right. At the end of the passageway, a staircase to the left ascends to the second level of the home alongside floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the patio and offer views of the lanai and other external spaces.

“By blending traditional elements with a modern contemporary mix, we succeeded in achieving a contrast that works well,” notes Rania Hamed. “We didn’t want that contrast to be too soft, so the use of black and white, with Carrera marble flooring, provides the home with a strong modern-vintage look.”

The Ranch, Orlando, FL – Building Information

Architects: VSHD Design Location: Orlando, FL, USA Area: 2200 sqm Lead Designer: Rania M Hamed

About VSHD Design Founded in Dubai in 2007 by interior architect, Rania Hamed, VSHD Design is a multiple award-winning interior architecture firm renowned for the style, functionality, quality, and attention to detail of its projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, London, Amman, and Florida. The firm combines extraordinary talent and global experiences to create exceptional spaces that are as “cutting edge” or “timeless” as each client’s vision.

VSHD’s mission is to develop architectural and interior design experiences that are distinctive, compelling, and of superb quality. Infusing modesty and elegance into the transformation and repurposing of spaces, the firm has garnered international recognition for the beauty and subtle luxury of its projects.

Photographer: Koen Van Damme

The Ranch in Orlando images / information received 310820

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Website: Orlando

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