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ohtobeleah · 3 months

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Secret Sacrifices // Jake Seresin

Prologue: [BrainBox]

Summary: Managing the Hard Deck isn’t always easy, especially when a certain Naval Aviator is always just one step away.

Warnings: Illusion of family loss. Jake Seresin X F!reader. Witness Protection Reader. Situationship. 18+ Content.

Word Count: 1.6k

Author Note: I’m getting back into writing after a few weeks hiatus, any feedback, comments and concepts will be greatly appreciated.

Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist

The human brain can be seen in scientific communities as the most mysterious organ in the human body. The human mind can generate up to seventy thousand thoughts a day, which means there are around two thousand nine hundred thoughts created every hour.

“Mommy!”

The human brain can store around about two point five terabytes of information at any one time. That capacity of storage is equivalent to about three million hours of television reruns or one million high-quality photos. Take your pick.

“Come on—wake up! WAKE UP PATRICK!”

The human brain can generate an electric current of about twenty-three watts. That’s enough to light up a round bulb. And although the human brain only accounts for two percent of your total body weight, it consumes more than twenty percent of the human body's total energy.

“Please don’t leave me, not now—oh god please don’t leave me.”

The length of all blood vessels in the brain, if combined, would reach a maximum length of about one hundred and sixty thousand kilometres. That’s enough distance to wrap about the earth’s circumference four times over.

“Mommy I’m scared!”

Each nerve neuron in the human brain has up to ten thousand connections with other neurons, not only that, but there are upwards of one hundred billion neurons in the brain. Which means there are more than one thousand trillion neuron connections formed in the human brain.

“We just have to keep running baby.”

The amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for coordinating emotions, has an information processing speed of upwards of twenty ms. This speed is even faster than the speed at which humans can perceive something.

All of these facts lean towards the idea of the human brain being some sort of supercomputer that we have been given. Programmed into our very existence by evolutionary biology.

“No baby girl you stay with Mommy, it’s okay—don’t you close your eyes again okay?”

And yet? Despite all the wonders and capabilities that the human brain can accomplish—Your brain keeps you stuck in a time loop of unimaginable grief and despair.

“Brewer?” The world around you had seemingly stopped for a few moments. The regular Friday night hustle of the Hard Deck had all but dissipated into silence when the overwhelming haunting noises of your own personal hell had become too loud to drown out. “Hello? Earth to Brewer?”

“What?” You frowned as you shook yourself back into existence. What you found, or more accurately, who you found standing before you across the bar made your heart skip a panicked beat. “Jesus Seresin, you scared the hell out of me.” You sighed as you felt your heart beating rapidly inside your chest. The same heart that had loved and lost so much. The very heart that right now was plagued with the dilemma of falling for the sandy blonde who stood before you with eyes that could rival the Emerald City itself.

“How?” Jake questioned as a confused frown took over his face soon after the words left his mouth. “I’ve been standing here for like two minutes just watching you zone out like some space cadet.” The chuckle that escaped Jake's slightly parted mouth soothed your beating heart into a steady rhythm.

Oh. How long had you been zoned out for?

“What can I get ya?” You decided to let it go as you shot Jake a short but harmless smile. There was no need to ask or spend too much time focusing on how long you’d been stuck standing still cleaning the same spot on the bar over and over while your thoughts consumed you. Besides, you didn't really want to know how long Jake had been standing there looking at you like a moth drawn to a flame.

“The usual, times four thanks barkeep—“ Jake replied as he reached into his back pocket, finishing out his wallet. A simple brown leather moment that always made you feel like your past was trailing right behind you. “Plus a lemonade with lime for the underage Back Seater.” There it was, that signature Seresin smirk accompanied with that wink. Insufferable. Cocksure. Endearing.

“Four Budweisers and a lemonade coming right up.” You smiled once again as you threw your bar towel over your shoulder and got to work. Jake took the time to perch himself on one of the empty bar stools that littered the outskirt of the bar. Patrons buzzed around the Hard Deck like there wasn’t a care in the world to be had on a Friday night. “And lay off Bob, he gets your drunken ass home more often than not so you should be more thankful for his intolerance to alcoholic beverages.”

Jake beamed at your lighthearted remark, they came few and far between. Whenever he was graced with the pure nature of your smile or your dry sense of humour, Jake reveled in it. So much so the crush he harboured had become common knowledge to half of Miramar. Yourself included. He wasn't a shy man, far from it. Jake knew what he wanted and, usually, he got it.

But you? You had been playing hard to get and hard to crack ever since you showed up to the Hard Deck around six months prior. From the first moment Jake saw you he’d been caught hook, line, and sinker. Six months of chasing the same girl round in circles.

“What had you lost, Brewer? Daydreaming on the clock isn’t usually your thing?” Jake asked as he got comfortable, leaning forward on his elbow as he watched you grab four Budweisers from the cooler fridge beneath the bar. He didn't miss the look on your face, the one that would occasionally replace the mild-maned stare you'd give off to slightly agitating customers. It was a look Jake couldn't really read–one that he wasn't sure if he would ever get to the bottom of, but he let it go, didn't press.

“Just got caught up thinking about how I'm gonna spend my Sunday off.” Of all the lies you could’ve made up that seemed to be the most believable.

“What are we doing on Sunday, Brewer?” Jake teased as you placed the still-capped amber bottles on the bar before him. The smirk he wore said it all, he was waiting for you to bite. And bite you did.

“God, you've got tickets to your own show don't you, Seresin?” You shook your head with a laugh as you popped the caps on the beers you'd collected. “I– am planning a reset, just have a lot of housework to get done, laundry, meal prepping, self-care.” You teased the meaning behind self-care as you reached for the soda gun. “Which reminds me I need new batteries.”

Jake caught the look in your eyes as you filled the glass to the brim with ice with your free hand and let the liquid drain from the gun. “Kinky girl, you sure we aren't hanging out on Sunday?” The smile, that damn infection smile that could light up the darkest of rooms made your head spin. But you couldn't go there. Harmless flirting was one thing, but crossing that line could cost Jake everything.

He wasn't even aware of how close he was tempting death. How close he was standing to fire. How close he was standing to a woman who had lost everything in the name of being a good person.

Unlike Jake, you had already lost everything.

“In your dreams, Bagman.” You chuckled lightly, Jake's order was all but done. “Cash, Card or on Bradshaw's Tab?” The question remained unanswered for a few moments as Jake just sat there taking in the sight of the bartender who had him wrapped around her finger with ease. A spot he wouldn't mind staying forever if you'd let him. But for now? He knew he had to play the long game: Catch me if you can! you had forced him to play.

“You tempt me, but card it is.” Jake confirmed as he fished his card from his wallet. “Someone has to keep Rooster from going into financial ruin.” It only took a few seconds for you to place all of Jake's drinks, the four beers and one lemonade with lime, onto a carry tray. “I think Payback’s been piggybacking on his bar tab too.” Jake smirked as he gave you an all-knowing look. You had been caught red-handed, but it was all circumstantial evidence at best.

“Never took you as a softy.” Bradley Bradshaw still owed you an apology for his drunk and disorderly behaviour a few weeks ago. Behaviour that saw him hurling abuse your way when you cut him off. The guy was going through a breakup of sorts, of course you felt bad. But until he said he was sorry? His tab was racking up a pretty penny of top-shelf liquors and extra beer orders from the boys. “But fine, tap your card whenever you’re ready.”

“This place is starting to charge a premium price for cheap booze ever since they hired a new manager.” Jake let out a sigh laced in banter as he paid for his order, the tip he left never went unnoticed either. Jake was good like that, he always tipped with a smile and a few extra bucks to make his almost cheesy pickup lines and banter worth your while. “And there's a lot of things you don't know about me Brewer.” With one final wink and signature smile, he was off.

“Funny.” You mumbled to yourself as you watched Jake walk away back towards the same booth the boys all lingered around whenever they weren't hogging the pool table. The same booth you frequented the most. The same booth you gave a little more attention to–because Jake Seresin, despite all your might, had a hold on you that you couldn't seem to get out of.

“I guess I could say the same damn thing.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***

Tags: 🏷️ @a-reader-and-a-writer @xoxabs88xox @hiireadstuff @buckysteveloki-me @athenabarnes @els-marvelvsp @blindedbythelightt @tayl0rhuynh @na-ta-sh-aa @kmc1989 @sunlightmurdock @mamachasesmayhem @jaxfart @lauenderhaze @sugarcoated-lame @maisie-rebloging-blog @captainmoonknight @seitmai @shanimallina87

#secret sacrifices // jake seresin #jake hangman fic #jake seresin imagine #jake seresin x reader #jake hangman imagine #jake seresin fanfiction #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman seresin x reader #top gun fandom #top gun fanfic #top gun fanfiction

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packetpixie · 6 months

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pro tip for programmers - how to alias

hey, so you know that annoying thing that happens when you're coding, and you need to run/test the same program 100 times in a row, so you end up typing "python3 testScriptWithASuperLongName.py" into the terminal about 80,000 times?

well, there's a better way! it's called aliasing :D

in your bash shell (or zsh, or whatever shell you use, but bash is the default on VSCode and most people on tumblr use VSCode, so I'm using bash as the default to explain this concept) you can set an alias, essentially a shortcut command, that runs longer commands.

(yes you can just use the up arrow key to re-run the same command, but sometimes you're typing other things into the terminal too and you don't feel like hitting the up arrow key four times in a row, and also this is just a cool and useful tip to get comfortable with aliasing so shhhh)

so, in your terminal shell, just type this:

alias run="python3 testScriptWithASuperLongName.py"

now, you can run that entire super long command, just by typing the word "run" into your terminal. Here's a screenshot of an example on my computer to make it make more sense:

in this example, i just created a simple python file that contains one line of code: print("it works!")

then, as you can see, by setting the alias to run, i can now run that file, runningatestscript.py, simply with the command 'run'.

the best part is, this alias is temporary - it only lasts as long as your shell session is open. so once you close the terminal, the run alias is cleared and you can set it again next time to any file or task you're currently working on, to save yourself a lot of typing, typos, and time.

so if you want to, you can get in the habit of always setting a run alias in the VSCode terminal for whichever file you're working with as soon as you get everything open. that way, when you need to run the same file 50 million times, you have a super easy way of doing it! you can even set it to a single letter if you want to go for maximum speed, but i prefer to use whole short words, because they're easy for me to remember.

note: if you do want to set an alias to work for all sessions, you can simply add it to your ./bashrc file. this is a common way to automate repeatable tasks, and simply to set easier-to-remember commands for terminal commands that are really complicated/confusing/hard to remember.

for example, i saved the alias checkboot="[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo 'UEFI mode' || 'BIOS mode'" into my zshrc file (zsh equivalent of bashrc file). this way, no matter how many times i rebooted my machine, i would always be able to quickly check which boot mode was running by simply typing 'checkboot'.

yesterday i was updating my boot mode from BIOS to UEFI on my very old machine that is technically compatible with UEFI, but not configured for it by default. So it was extremely helpful and saved me the time and headache of having to remember and type that long-ass command a thousand times in between many different reboots and new shells.

if you have any tasks like that, or terminal commands that you know would be useful to you, but you can never remember them when you need them, i highly recommend getting comfortable with aliasing! it can be super useful to simply set custom aliases for all the commands you don't want to remember, so that you can automate things away and not have to worry about so much linux syntax all the time when you're tring to focus on programming.

i know this may seem like a simple tip to some, but i only learned about it recently and it's been extremely helpful to integrate into my workflow and customize my OS with! so i thought it might be worthwhile to some people if i share :) hope it helps!

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tobiasdrake · 4 months

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A hopeless confrontation with a hopeless demon.

Quarble, he's too fast. I've tried to dodge and weave and watch for openings but he nails me every time. No matter what I do, it's like he's right there, waiting for me to do it. I can't get away from him.

"Look, man. This is just a job. I'm not your therapist. Figure it out or don't."

You really don't have any ideas? You don't know anything or... have any suggestions I can use here?

How am I supposed to beat this guy, Quarble? Eleven times. He's gutted me eleven times. Yeah, okay, lesson learned about underestimating people, but I've been trying really hard. Was I wrong to think I could actually do this?

Maybe he was right. Maybe I'm at my limit. Maybe... this is where my journey ends.

"...push... through...."

Did you say something, Quarble?

"Yeah, I said 'If I don't get any Time Shards soon I'm bailing. Have fun getting dissected again.'

No, there was something... like a flicker....

"Hallucinations may be an occasional side effect of being gruesomely butchered, revived, and butchered again repeatedly in a short time period. I say 'may be' because most people give up and accept the sweet embrace of death well before it ever gets to this point."

"It's a mistake to rely on speed alone; It's too easy to push through. I figured that out early in our training. Zale learned it shortly after."

We go through.

I've been letting this job get in my head. Trying to be more cautious. Trying to be mindful. But the answer was right there in the fable. I need to stop running.

Luana spent her whole life sparring with a Blade Dancer. It's a style eerily similar to Brugaves's new demon style. To the point that it almost seems like a cruel joke for Aephorul to forge him this way.

Nobody knew better than her how to counter that style. And she wrote it down. You don't run away from a Blade Dancer. You go through.

If he's too fast for you, then he may just as easily be too fast for himself. All you have to do is stand your ground and let him strike himself upon your weapon.

I've been getting in my own head. Worrying about stupid things like safety and protecting myself. When I should have been asking the obvious question from the start.

What would Luana do?

Hey! Goat-licker. Imagine selling out the people who love you so you can be the Acolytes' gofer. I can't even be vindictive about it 'cause having to live like this is punishment enough.

Sure, you used to have respect, admiration, kids looking up to you with stars in their eyes, and a dedicated life-partner who'd do anything for you. But you're right, kissing the foot of a four-headed butt-chugger every morning is just as fucking good, isn't it?

You're a coward and a fool, Barma'thazel. You were barely any good as a Solstice Warrior. And now you're a bottom-feeding parasite living in a hellhole, clinging desperately to the one gift his master graced him with.

The goddess forgot about you long ago. She's over you. And I'm done running from you. Because I'm better than you.

It's called crippling overspecialization, ass-weevil. You'd think a general of an armed forces would be able to grasp a concept as basic as that. But I guess you're just too slow.

Hold up. Do you mean that in the figurative sense? Like, we are all pieces in a larger game that cares nothing for winners and losers, and so in the grand scheme of things we are all doo--

NOPE LITERAL SENSE VERY LITERAL SENSE GODDAMMIT

SHIT SHIT SHIT FUCK FUCK SHIT FUCK

WHY

WHY CAN'T I EVER JUST WIN SOMETHING

I LOOKED SO COOL BACK THERE

MY HAT WAS SET TO MAXIMUM AWESOME

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

YEEEEEEEEEES Holy shit, thank you prophesized Lifesaver. Wentworth, you are a sight for sore eyes.

...wait, what?

...

Errors have been made. You know, I thought you looked a little small to be the colossal dragon that Luana wrote about but I just figured she'd embellished.

In any case, THANK YOU DRAGON BESTIE WOO FUCKING HOO

Let's blow this shithole and go home!

*deep breath*

In your name.

#the messenger #drake plays the messenger

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olliethescribe · 1 year

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Ok but hear me out warren centric set in ottawa fic ykyk bc

I’m so cool /j

I wrote way too much for this. Heads up, it's on the angsty side and contains a death mention. I am a sucker for giving Warren Stone shitty parents. (This is also canon to Only Brooches - taking place three months before Breakfast). Enjoy!

It was supposed to be a weekend trip, straightforward in its depressed purpose as Warren had been called up north to engage in family matters. He was less than thrilled, keeping his mind on Ron and the boys, hoping that leaving them with the mini-van would be enough while he was away. It should be enough, fine even. Just two days and then he’d be back, basking in the warmth of their home, holding Ron tight and never letting go. Would’ve brought him up too had the magician’s passport not been expired. No, Warren had to brave it alone.

The last time he’d heard from his parents was during Christmas, taking a chance on an unknown number with a Vancouver area code, a rough cough breaking the silence on the other end as his mother asked him if he’d gotten the socks she and his father sent. They had no idea that he’d moved, or had gotten engaged and married, or was far smarter than the nineteen year boy he used to be when they called him after running away all those years ago. Warren spoke in short and curt reponses, cutting off tangents before they could branch. He knew the tactic, make small talk then, as he was distracted, ask for money. It only took forty-five seconds for him to end that call.

So when they called again just a week prior to this drive, asking him to join them at ‘home’? He should’ve hung up with record speed. But no, he had to listen, finger hovering over the end-call button when they told him his cousin passed, that he had been named in the will as a recipient.

The newscaster hit a bump as he grumbled to himself, eye twitching as he turned down the nearest exit. Couldn’t get a call for the funeral, nah. Had to be about the will. He paused his thinking for a moment as his fingernails dug into the steering wheel of his BMW. “I’m an idiot! Newsflash: it’s still about money!” Warren looked up at the signs arching over the road. Thirty kilometers to Ottawa. Better than the alternative. He foresook his GPS, trashing the idea of seeing his ‘family’. Ron was right, this felt off, it felt like a trap. Warren didn’t feel like getting caught in another one.

“Hey, babe,” he said, ringing Ron who answered instantly, “yeah, it’s not happening. I’m coming back tomorrow. No, I didn’t get there yet, managed to stop myself. Is everything good on your end?” Warren made another turn, driving down a long stretch of road before arriving at a roundabout. Ten kilometers away now. “What do you mean by ‘sad purple sheep man’? Oh, they weren’t kidding about the two dads thing, huh? Don’t ‘four dads’ me, I swear to… yeah, that checks out.” Five kilometers now, almost there. “And yes, I’ll bring back a case of coffee crisps. You’re welcome.” Warren smiled, eyes on the road. One kilometer to go. “Wish you were here, think you’d like where I’m stayin’. Next time. Love you too, Ronny.”

Warren pulled up to the outer limits of the city and stared in awe for a bit, the capital of his home country glimmering in gorgeous shades of pink and orange in the dying light of the winter afternoon. He’d have an hour or so maximum before the sun gave up its light for the day, looking for something he could feasibly do. Warren passed by the Rideau Canal, taking a brief glance at the boats below before Google spat out the brilliant idea to visit ByWard Market.

The newscaster would’ve picked a museum had he been with Ron, the two getting lost in all types of exhibits for hours. Another go-to for them were typically live performances, frequenting theatres owned by small creators as the two quietly whispered to each other about not understanding what was happening but enjoying themselves all the same.

Warren glanced across the street as he parked his car, an art gallery catching his attention painted in red tones, people streaming in, couples with their arms linked and laughing with each other as the gallery owner passed around glasses of sparkling wine. He felt his chest begin to dully ache, trying hard to ignore the feeling as he got out of the car and onto the sidewalk. He’d be home soon enough, would be back with Ron soon enough. Had to keep reminding himself.

As it turns out, ByWard Market was less of one market and more so a conglomeration of shops and establishments within four city blocks. The area hummed with soft jazz, people out and about, enjoying the evening chill. Shops were nothing short of crowded, and food stalls were only slightly less so. The newscaster decided to wait in line for a coffee, fucking up his order at the last second by requesting a green tea instead. He drank it anyway as he strolled, the hot leaf water reminding him of his husband.

Warren found himself bobbing in and out of shops, taking a keen interest in the fashion establishments that lined one block, walking away as soon as he saw the price tags. He couldn’t afford a decent suit in Ottawa, that was for certain. There were queer bars and loud resturants, speciality grocers and tattoo parlours. All lively, all inviting. The warmth that emanated from yet another gallery drew him in long enough as he warmed up, taking in the sights of a private collection of Georgia O’Keefe paintings as curated by the gallery’s owner. To view art of a desert so vast and lonely, well, it certain made him feel less so.

The newscaster eventually left, checking into a hotel a block over, running back to his car once he realized he’d left his luggage behind. His phone was ringing non-stop, no calls yet from Ron but plenty from the ones that claimed to have raised him. He turned the ringer off, dragging his suitcase into the elevator and ascending to the fifth floor.

His heart beat dully in his hollow chest, frowning as he stared out his window that overlooked the city. The guy at the front desk said it looked prettier in the daylight. Warren would have to take his word for it.

#no crime only brooches au #fanfic #fanfiction #rottmnt #rottmnt fanfic #warren stone #hypnopotamus #hypnowarren #hippoworm #tw death mention #a sad man alone in canada

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nickgerlich · 2 years

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Speed Matters

A couple of days ago I wrote about the latest in robotic food prep, but in the context of that blog, I also mentioned how Texas A&M University students were now receiving Amazon purchases by drone. And I thought, “Well, it’s about time.”

How much time? Nine years, to be exact. So much for speed. And it is such a monumental thing today that Amazon is making headlines as it rolls out their fleet of MK27-2 drones in both College Station Texas and Lockeford California.

And just for fun, I drilled back—waaaay back—in the archives of The Daily Blog to find what I wrote about it all on 3rd December 2013. People were laughing at Jeff Bezos for his seemingly preposterous idea. Rednecks were salivating at the prospects of shooting these things out of the air. Naysayers had dozens of reasons why they would never work.

Bezos was both right and wrong. They eventually did come to fruition, but he estimated it would only take three or four years to work out the kinks, paramount of which was gaining FAA approval. But now he’s cleared for takeoff.

Of course, there are still some limitations. Packages are limited to five pounds. And while maximum speed is a jaw-dropping 50mph, they only have a 12km range. That’s 7.2 miles in American, or basically a 3 1/2-mile radius from the warehouse. And that’s only on days without precipitation.

Only pre-screened items qualify for drone delivery, which means no breakables. Amazon beefs up the shipping materials anyway, because it is dropped from a height of 12 feet. Heat sensors will stop the delivery if the drone senses a dog waiting below. Or a redneck.

As if these new launches weren’t enough, Amazon has also announced the replacement of this model, a smaller, lighter unit that can also fly in the rain. The new MK30 will go into service in 2024, which is not all that far away.

Drones are the future of delivery, in spite of the fact that Amazon is also rolling out the first 1000 Rivian EV delivery vans it has purchased from the new startup. They plan to have 100,000 of them within a few years. While these new vans will be cheaper and cleaner to operate in the long run, drones offer last-mile advantages that push them over the top. They make it easier to deliver small purchases as fast as humanly possible, faster even than sending out a driver who must then deal with traffic, lights, and the lay of the roads. After all, vans can’t travel as the crow—or drone—flies.

It’s not just speed, though. If overall vehicular traffic can be reduced, the benefits will be significant. Congestion will be reduced, as will emissions. The environment can thank Bezos later.

Of course, it’s not just Amazon joining the drone party. Once Bezos announced his intentions, others took note and started making their own moves. Among at least 10 companies with plans to utilize drone technology, two notables are FedEx and UPS. The same benefits will accrue to them.

It’s not hard to imagine where this is all going. DoorDash and Uber Eats could just as easily use drones, especially if there aren’t liquids involved in the delivery. I could run outside to the fountain to wait for my lunch to be delivered. Plus, I won’t have to tip the drone.

Pharmacies could also benefit, along with the people relying on meds. Instead of having to venture out, or, once again, have a delivery driver, prescriptions could be whisked to their recipients. I doubt any of those parcels would come close to five pounds.

The low-level airspace is going to rapidly fill up in the years ahead. I hope that the drones to come have radar of some kind to keep there from being mid-air collisions. Given time, I’m sure this will all be figured out. It may be longer than sooner, though, just as Bezos found out.

But in the end, speed really does matter.

Dr “Mine Drone Business“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

#marketing #Amazon #drobe #retail #delivery

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toto365pro · 9 months

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The backup catcher's life game that destroyed "Korea's best pitcher" I wasn't afraid of a crash

"He's really one of the best pitchers in Korea. "I didn't even know I hit a pitch even after hitting a hit (laugh)."

Doosan Bears catcher Ahn Seung-han was registered in the first division entry ahead of the Jamsil SSG Landers match on the 25th. Existing backup catcher Park Yoo-yeon needed more than 10 days of rest due to knee pain during the blocking process while playing against the Gocheok Kiwoom Heroes on the 24th. Yang Eui-ji, the master of the home turf, has just returned from a side injury and can hit, but it was too much to defend. Ahn Seung-han even got a chance to start as soon as he was called by the first team.

All games are important, but this day could also be a burden on Ahn Seung-han. Doosan starter Kwak Bin was on the stage to challenge his first 10 wins, and the SSG starter was South Korean left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun. Ahn Seung-han had to perform both tasks well to support Kim Kwang-hyun in scoring at-bat while leading Kwak Bin's pitch well.

The result was a success. Ahn Seung-han led Kwak Bin's life pitching with 102 pitches, 4 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, and no runs in 8 innings. From the time I received Kwak Bin's ball from the bullpen before the game, I felt the strength of my fastball, and it was calculated that I could trust my fastball and enter aggressively. When Kwak Bin's other main weapon curve was mixed with a fastball with a maximum speed of 153km, SSG hitters could not hit the bat properly.

At-bat, he produced his first hit in his first showdown with Kim Kwang-hyun. Ahn Seung-han hit a heavy hit in the bottom of the third inning with a 1-0 lead. He targeted Kim Kwang-hyun's change-up in the ball count 1-1. When the next batter Cho Soo-haeng got on base with a grounder to shortstop, Ahn Seung-han was forced out at second base, but Kim Tae-geun hit a timely RBI in the ensuing one-out third base opportunity to make it 2-0. Kim Kwang-hyun lost five more points in the fourth inning alone and struggled with seven runs (six earned runs) in four innings due to the momentum of Doosan's batters.

Ahn Seung-han said, "I'm one of the best pitchers in Korea, and it's my first time (against Kim Kwang-hyun) at-bat." I didn't even know I played any pitch after I hit it. At first, I thought we should play just by looking at the course. When the batting coach went in, he also said, "Don't look at the pitcher and hit him," so I think that's a good result," he said with a proud smile.

He also led Kwak Bin's scoreless pitch with his sparing defense. Kwak Bin was also guarding the mound in the seventh inning with a 7-0 lead, and Ahn Seung-han and other fielders defended more intensively with Kwak Bin's shutout in mind. Kwak Bin was on the verge of losing his first run after two outs and allowed a hit by Kim Kang-min to steal second base. At that time, Han Yu-seom gave up a right-handed hit, and Kim Kang-min naturally sprinted to home. Right fielder Kim Tae-geun immediately threw the ball home, and Ahn Seung-han took off the catcher's mask and tagged Kim Kang-min right away. In the process, Kwak Bin, who collided with Kim Kang-min and fell backwards and backed up behind the home plate, was surprised and ran to Ahn Seung-han. Ahn Seung-han was not completely without the shock of the collision, but he returned to the dugout with joy of preventing a run.

Regarding the above situation, Kim Tae-geun said, "I was defending Hu Bin, but when I saw the electronic display, (Kwak) Bin was scoreless. Since it was possible to win a shutout, all I thought was that if a strong ball came, I would somehow catch the runner at home to protect Bin's scoreless run. He gave credit to Ahn Seung-han, saying, "A Bodhisattva made by (An) Seung-han, who caught the throw well, not me." Kwak Bin was able to secure the mound until the eighth inning and reach the 10th win thanks to Kim Tae-geun and Ahn Seung-han's cooperation in defense.

Kwak Bin said, "Seung-han wants aggressive pitching. I want to be aggressive too, so it fits well and is comfortable. I wanted to use the curve a lot, and I think Seung-han made me throw the curve because he knew that the ball power would live only when I threw the curve. Seung-han is a confident catcher. "If I get a hit, Seung-han will blame himself more than I will blame myself, which makes me think that I have to throw harder," he said, expressing his gratitude.

Ahn Seung-han produced a multi-hit at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning, contributing to the team's additional runs. Park Kye-beom's timely hit led to an 8-0 run and a one-out first and second base opportunity. Ahn Seung-han hit a right-handed hit to fill the runner with a leak. Kim In-tae, a pinch hitter in the next at-bat, hit a timely two-run double to the right field to run away 10-0, and Doosan won 10-1 to win four consecutive games.

Ahn Seung-han said, "As soon as I got called up today (25th), the team won the game I played, won consecutive games, and Bin also won 10 games, so it's really good." "I was lucky, but I had a hit and it was an unforgettable day," he recalled.

Along with Kwak Bin, he was selected as an award-winning player and got a chance to participate in a podium interview. This year, Ahn Seung-han played only 11 games in the first division as Yang Eui-ji joined the team and Jang Seung-hyun got a chance as a backup catcher. Ahn Seung-han's face, who had the opportunity to communicate with fans on the podium for the first time in 11 games this season, was filled with a happy smile.

Ahn Seung-han said, "I did it once last year and had a podium interview for the first time in a year this year. I'm so nervous. "I think it's harder than playing baseball," he replied with a big smile.

Ahn Seung-han is famous as a player who gives energy to his teammates by shouting fighting loudly on the bench. When Doosan won 11 consecutive games last month, first baseman Yang Seok-hwan even said, "80% of our consecutive wins are because of you."

Now, Ahn Seung-han wants to give more strength to his teammates on the ground. He said, "I was continuing to prepare hard. When accompanying the first team, he practiced diligently, and talked a lot about bats with the coaches and thoroughly prepared himself. "Now I don't just work hard with my voice, but I want to play better in the game," he said. 스포츠토토

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sellyourconstruction · 10 months

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Tips to Maintain Wheel Tractor Scraper

What are the Tips to Maintain Wheel Tractor Scraper? Wheel tractor-scrapers are extremely useful in the mining and aggregate industries because they can transport large amounts of material over long distances without the use of traditional loading tools.

All scrapers are built to last, but they contain a lot of moving parts and must be carefully maintained to ensure continuous performance and high production. Here are three suggestions for keeping a wheel tractor-scraper in good working order.

Selecting the best wheel tractor-scraper

To keep maintenance expenses low, it’s vital to have the correct machine for the job. Wheel tractor-scrapers come in a variety of designs, giving mine operators the option of increasing production while lowering costs by selecting the proper machine. Open bowl and elevating loading variants are available. The ideal scraper for the job is determined by the conditions on the construction site.

The point of multiple filter changes is defined by 500 hours. The engine oil and filter, as well as the fuel system filter, hydraulic oil filter, and transmission oil filter, should all be replaced at that interval.

When the grades are gentle and the underfoot conditions are ideal, a single-engine scraper can operate at maximum speed and at the lowest cost. The single-engine scraper loads faster and hauls to the fill with the help of a push tractor, while hauling the least amount of iron and consuming the least amount of gasoline. Although the push tractor provides the principal loading power, loading costs are still lower than those associated with truck loading systems.

Tandem-powered scrapers are the answer if the site has grades higher than 5% on the haul and 12% when returning empty. Twin-engine scrapers can scale up grades by up to 35% thanks to their increased horsepower-to-weight ratio. In addition, four-wheel drive scrapers can navigate underfoot terrain that would stop two-wheel-drive vehicles. The twin-engine scrapers’ capacity to work in bad underfoot conditions can result in additional workdays per year. Because tandem-powered scrapers have superior grade ability and more useful rim pull, they can minimize cycle times. Out of the cut and away from the fill, acceleration is faster. Despite the fact that greater ownership and running expenses offset the increased productivity, tandem-powered scrapers may still have the lowest cost per yard. Most wheel tractor-scraper models have daily service recommendations that call for lubricated components.

Observantly examining

The recommended maintenance procedures and the frequency with which each procedure must be conducted should be found in the operation and maintenance handbook for each individual model of wheel tractor-scraper. Because there are so many different scraper configurations — open bowl, elevating, auger, single engine, twin engine, push-pull — different maintenance items are required.

By performing a thorough pre-shift inspection of the machine, the operator can help prevent minor issues from becoming major ones. In addition to doing routine fluid level checks, the operator should pay close attention to the components that perform the most effort. On the bail, ejector, ejector rollers, and cutting edge, the operator should inspect for damage, fractured welds, and deformation. Damage to the hitch pins and brakes should also be checked, as should the tires for damage and adequate pressure.

Any debris that are obstructing airflow or wrapping around moving elements should be removed. Operators should, of course, promptly report any damage that jeopardizes the machine’s safety or health.

Preventative maintenance is important.

Most wheel tractor-scraper models have daily service recommendations that call for lubricated components. Scrapers with augers and elevating scrapers have a number of lubrication requirements that open-bowl machines do not. Maintenance operations can be carried out on a daily basis by properly educated and equipped operators or service experts. Similarly, the water separator in the fuel system and the water and sediment in the fuel tank should be drained every day.

The bowl lift cylinder bearings and the hitch should be lubricated every 50 service hours or once a week. Oil samples should be taken at 250 service hours for the engine, transmission, and hydraulic systems. Prompt oil analysis and reporting can assist detect a problem before it causes harm to components. A cooling system coolant sample should be taken and evaluated after 500 service hours.

The selection and maintenance of Ground Engaging Tools is an often overlooked part of scraper operation and maintenance (GET). There are a variety of choices for optimizing the machine for various material types and loading situations. Average, serrated, and abrasion-resistant materials are among the GET possibilities. Most are reversible, which means they’ll last longer and cost less to run.

Operations can acquire cut-rate, high-production results from their wheel-tractor scrapers by selecting appropriate equipment, paying close attention to detail during exams, and adhering to the preventive maintenance guiding concept

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kusogamesss · 11 months

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Lover Boy

This review is a sister piece to my review of 177. I recommend reading that first.

CW: Sexual assault. The four-letter ‘R-word’ is invoked repeatedly without censoring or obfuscation.

WHEN YOU CATCH A GIRL YOU MUST FIND RIGHT TIMING FOR MAXIMUM RESULT WHICH WILL BE SHOWN ON LOVE METER ACTION OF LOVE MAKING IS BY PUSH BUTTON. BEST TIMING WILL PRODUCE MOST ECSTATIC RESULTS ON FEMALE METER.

Lover Boy is functionally unremarkable, seemingly of as much import as Min Corp.’s Gumbo or Toaplan’s Pipi & Bibi’s. Unlike those games, however, Lover Boy is mired in obscurity, controversy, and a historiography that crumbles under scrutiny.

The gameplay is in line with other maze games of the early 1980s. The Lover Boy chases Lisa, Rosemarie, Linda, and Maria through a labyrinth while police officers and dogs track him. There are item pickups for points, and bottles of perfume which incense Lover Boy, boosting his speed dramatically. All the while, a rendition of the nursery rhyme しょうじょうじのたぬきばやし「 Shoujouji no Tanukibayashi」 plays merrily. Getting near the girls causes them to run away while yelling HELP, touching them starts your digital assault. Like 177, the player tries to get their victim’s pleasure meter to top out before Lover Boy climaxes. Though 177 used directional inputs, Lover Boy simply has you tapping the button at a steady rhythm. Filling the LADY LOVE to the heart at the top has the women elate Oh~. Climaxing before she can has her yelling NO! and escaping, Lover Boy needing to chase her down again.

Though less explicitly stated in Lover Boy as compared to 177, we see the same rape myth being perpetuated, that of rape becoming a consensual sexual act should the victim reach orgasm. Since Lover Boy is an arcade game, designed to munch the yen of the aroused, there is no good ending to speak of here. The cycle continues in perpetuity until Lover Boy is put behind bars for good. This might suggest an inevitability to the rapist being caught and punished accordingly in due time, but the lives system inadvertently paints a picture wherein a sexual criminal is released and allowed to repeat their crimes with minimal repercussion. Lest we forget the harrowing injustice presented in 177’s manual, “even if he was prosecuted then, he would not be charged with a crime.” Capture is thus an inconvenience, nothing more.

In trying to find out more about Lover Boy, I came to find out it was cause for debate in the Deutscher Bundestag a year after its release. On March 26, 1984, parliamentary spokespersons for Die Grünen (The Greens) Marieluise Beck, Petra Kelly, and Otto Schily brought to the attention of the federal government the installation of light-gun games and Lover Boy in an arcade in Soest. Both were cited as potential violations of Section 131 of the Strafgesetzbuch (Criminal Code), stating therein the illegality of representations which glorified violence. Increasingly realistic depictions of humans as targets for violence, both physical and sexual, necessitated a re-evaluation of existing legislation which made no such effort to criminalise imagery which ‘violated human dignity.’

Sixteen days later, the Federal Government answered the concerns of Die Grünen. The government had come to understand Lover Boy was installed in locations besides Soest, with the understanding that the PCB had been presented by an Italian importer in 1983 at Internationalen Fachmesse für Unterhaltungs- und Warenautomaten (The International Trade Fair for Amusement and Vending Machines) in Frankfurt. The specific board in Soest which drew initial concerns was sourced from a distributor in Dortmund. A March 1984 arcade game trade journal advertised Lover Boy as suitable for children, and thirty-two machines ended up being sold in North Rhine-Westphalia alone, and it came to be understood that Automaten-Selbstkontrolle (ASK) had been presented with incomplete information by which to rate its content; the content was egregious enough to exclude Lover Boy from any rating, leading to the existing machines being purchased and destroyed. A draft law was proposed to the Bundestag, stipulating that games of a violent sort must be prohibited from public areas frequented by children, and postulating that perhaps violent games should be banned wholesale in Germany.

A year later, in April 1985, Section 131 of the Strafgeseztbuch was amended to prohibit representations of violence, rather than just those which glorified it. Additionally, depictions of the ‘violation of human dignity’ were criminalised as well. The ASK became a permanent institution, officially regulating an industry that had, up to that point, been self-regulated.

The ban in Germany is easy to trace, but time and again, it is stated in other reviews and retrospectives that Lover Boy was banned globally outside of Japan with zero evidence offered to support that claim. Searches for “Lover Boy” and “Global Corporation Tokyo” in the United States Congressional Record, Historical Debates of the Parliament of Canada, British Cabinet Papers, CommonLii, Italian Senate record, New York Times, Globe & Mail, all turned up nothing. The German Wikipedia page also makes no mention of Lover Boy being banned anywhere outside of Germany.

Outside of the Bundestag record, some of the only other concrete information about Lover Boy is that it was brought to market by the same company that made 1983’s JoinEm, a non-erotic maze game, released under the name Global Corporation. The pinout and DIP switch documentation included with the Lover Boy PCB had Lover Boy handwritten on them. Weirding the situation further, a seeming bootleg of Lover Boy was released in Spain under the name Triki Triki, changing the developer name to DDT Enterprise, editing the copyright date to 1993. The trail ends there.

If I were to posit a guess, the majority of the inaccurate claims about Lover Boy stem from a single GameFAQs review by defunct user ‘TheSAMMIES’. They claim, erroneously, that Lover Boy:

Deals with aspects of rape beyond the penetrative act

Has been banned globally

Has better gameplay than 177

Is slang for a man who lures underage women into prostitution (the term is only used in that manner in Dutch)

Depicts only underage women

Displays female genitalia

Has only one maze

Is of dark comedic value

None of that is true whatsoever. Their spurious falsehoods are on display in their review of 177 as well, claiming falsely:

177 is the police code for rape (it is simply the section of the Japanese Criminal Code which criminalises rape)

RapeLay tackles rape more tactfully

177’s rape scenes show plant life and the night sky (they actually occur in a black void)

Has controls in its rape scenes for getting onto Kotoe, penetrating her, building up sexual stamina (you actually just gyrate, the graphics barely animating)

That 177 received a remake called 171 wherein Hideo is replaced by a squid monster, Kotoe by a maid (I have found no evidence of such a game existing)

Whether these ideas are being born purely from their mind, some misinterpretation of the realities of history, or whatever else, this individual seems to have irreparably tarnished the known history of Lover Boy, leading to prolonged repetition of the same incorrect claims. If there were any evidence to back up those ideas, wouldn’t they have shown themselves? Does it matter? Nobody cares about this game, nobody knows about it, can we fault the few who have documented it for their inaccuracies?

Yes, because it makes determining the truth all the harder. Yes, because it puts the onus of honestly on those who come after the fact. Yes, because just as these games are harmful in their depictions, speaking of them falsely is just as much of a disservice to history.

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lastfrontierh · 1 year

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Heli Skiing Alberta, British Columbia

Beyond the ridge, the elevation keeps rising to the playground of two of Fernie's snowcat operators. The magnificent peaks of the Lizard Range in the BC Rocky Mountains tower over 7,000 acres of privately owned bowls, valleys & gladed meadows, excellent for skiing/boarding. Choose from Island Lake Cat Skiing or Fernie Wilderness Adventures for outstanding cat ski excursions. Powder Guides goals to provide an unforgettable backcountry ski experience through personalized heli skiing and ski touring adventures all through the world. Tyax Lodge & Heliskiing utilizes greater than 830,000 acres of various ski terrain in the BC wilderness. North of Whistler, Tyax Lodge supplies an ideal location for Canadian heli-skiing, combining a remote, wilderness base with straightforward accessibility from Whistler and/or Vancouver.

Jennifer is a Gitxsan k’ubawilksihlkw (princess — Chief’s daughter) raised within the Skeena Mountains and has an enormous knowledge of the land, tradition, and folks. Married to founder Jevon, this duo manages the operations at Skeena Cat Skiing. Jennifer has a diploma in Adventure Tourism and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing diploma Heli skiing BC. When not working or adventuring together with her household she is investing in cultural revitalization programs inside her Nation.

To entry the best deals on heli-skiing, sign up for our publication to be the primary to learn about specials. Lake Louise is a great possibility for Alberta heli-skiing when you're on the lookout Heli skiing BC for one thing more difficult. The resort is situated within the heart of the Canadian Rockies and provides numerous terrain, including steep chutes and challenging tree runs.

Though there have been nearly a dozen of us dashing down the slope, I felt like I had the mountain to myself. The landscape was so spectacular that it was all I could do to tear myself away from the sight, cognizant that I also needed to keep a watch on the terrain in the occasion a rogue boulder determined to make a sudden appearance. Occasionally I would stop to catch my breath, and take the opportunity to thank my fortunate stars that I was attending to take pleasure in such an incredible expertise. Graham was the first to interrupt the silence, instructing us to grab our tools out of the bundle of skis, snowboards, poles and backpacks the second guide Scott had unloaded from the chopper. As we settled into our bindings, he defined that gliding through deep powder is a much completely different experience than navigating a groomed ski hill, and as such it was necessary to “keep the booty up!

The small visitor to guide ratio increases security and helps provide a better heli skiing expertise. Kingfisher has a maximum of twelve friends at one time and provides 3, four, and seven day packages. When heli skiing in the most distant areas of British Columbia, for extra security 2 guides accompany these Private heli ski visitors.

I even have fairly a little bit of backcountry experience and have heli-skied in numerous different locations. Stellar service and firstclass at each level all through the expertise. Accurately choose your skiing capacity and put yourself in the appropriate group. Thank you for creating unimaginable memories for my Dad and I.

Though that typically requires expertise with touring gear. Known because the ‘Champagne Powder Capital of Canada’ with more than 2,800 acres of skiable terrain, 121 runs, four alpine bowls, eighty five chutes and 1,260 m of vertical – the fourth highest in North America. The resort additionally presents 5 lifts including the high-speed, eight passenger Golden Eagle Express Gondola.

Refunds - Guests should cancel exterior of forty eight hours of the anticipated activity to receive a full refund. If there is a cancellation by Blackcomb Helicopters because of inclement climate, the guest will not be responsible for the helicopter rate, however may be accountable for an admin payment ($300). If inclement weather is anticipated, a visitor will be given the choice to cancel by 12pm on the day previous to their flight to keep away from any guide fees. If the guest chooses to proceed despite a weather warning, they may incur a payment for his or her guide, if the day does not proceed. If the day is ready to proceed, the rate will remain the same as initially marketed.

I heard the day by day ticket rate is $135 this 12 months and others are saying hotel prices have doubled since their final journey in 2016. If the money isn't a consideration for you, its a fantastic mountain, but as you've found out, its not the only mountain around and I think the skiing when you get there is nonetheless pretty superior. One thing Whistler does have going for it is easy access Heli skiing BC to a significant international airport. Most of the other resorts will involve a change to a smaller, regional flight and probably a road transfer as properly. However the inside snow is renowned for being dry and fluffy and there is normally lots of it. In distinction, cat skiing sometimes includes using in a snowcat as a lot as the highest of the hill.

#heliskiing

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physicaltherapyandaquatics · 1 year

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Top 5 Water Exercises To Ease Body Pains

Water exercises are wonderful. There’s water everywhere, exercising feels enjoyable, and you’re breaking from your usual (uncomfortable) fitness routine to improve your life inside and outside the pool. But not all water workouts are suitable for everyone. Therefore, here are a few basic pool exercises that you can do to ease your discomforts and heal much more quickly:

1. Water Walking

Do you think walking in the pool is easy? Try it, and you’ll see how it feels like a tug of war. But keep calm and start moving forward, backward, and sideways. Start in shallow water and gradually increase the depth of the pool and the speed of your exercise. Keep walking for about 5 minutes, and you can also add weights for increased intensity. Don’t slouch. Maintain normal walking posture, and you’ll be just fine.

2. Jumping In Place

This is a great exercise to battle your body pains, especially any discomfort with your knees, ankles, and back. It improves your core strength and improves cardiovascular fitness. So, stay in deeper waters and gradually increase the tempo to keep your joints well-cushioned. You can also run or jog in place while remaining stationary. Perform 1 to 3 sets with 8 to 10 repetitions for better results.

3. Hip Kickers

Stretch your legs on the front, backward, and sides, extending to the maximum range for 1 – 3 minutes each. This four-way hip stretch involves your core and eventually eases body pains. It might need great strength but you’ll get into the habit. Get to the side of the pool and remain in deeper water to increase the resistance of the water, exercising your hip muscles fully.

4. Pool Planks

This exercise involves using noodles, a pool equipment that allows you to do water planks effortlessly. So, hold onto it or any flotation device right in front of your arms, lean forward, submerge the noodle, and hold onto that position for 15 to 30 seconds. It engages your core to work your glutes, hips, toes, triceps, elbows, chest, and arms.

5. Aqua Aerobics

Hydrotherapy creates a low-gravity workout setting which helps reduce stress on your joints and muscles. Land workouts can hurt the body, but water aerobics is enjoyable and involves dancing, jumping, running, and circling in the water. Your session would also include warm-ups and cool-downs and a lot of flexibility exercises in between. Speak to a certified instructor, and they can create a custom routine for you.

About Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy in Nassau County utilizes warm or hot water to exercise individuals and help them with their physical ailments. The practice has been popular for centuries and can also melt away mental tensions. Gentle yet effective pool exercises performed at various water depths can treat problems like general back pain, stiffness, arthritis, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, breathing difficulties, and immobility. It aids recovery, boosts endurance, is safe, and reduces muscular soreness. Pool exercises also improve your balance, strength, and agility.

Seek Specialist Care

Before trying out any water exercises on your own, it is best to seek professional assistance. A hydrotherapy specialist can devise a customized plan for your goals. They can set up a precise schedule with the right combination of land and water-based exercises. Look up “water therapy in Nassau County,” and you shall be able to find the right services to help improve the quality of your life.

#water therapy in Nassau County #Hydrotherapy in Nassau County

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ethswap · 2 years

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Bitcoin: All It's Hyped Up to Be?

Had you spent $27 on Bitcoin when it was created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009 your investment would now be worth over $37,000,000.

Widely regarded as the greatest investment vehicle of all time, Bitcoin has seen a meteoric rise during 2017 going from $777 all the way to $17,000.

Creating millionaires out of opportunistic investors and leaving financial institutions open-mouthed, Bitcoin has answered its critics at every milestone this year and some believe this is just the beginning.

The launch of Bitcoin futures on December 10th, which for the first time will allow investors to enter the Bitcoin market through a major regulated US exchange, implies that we are just getting started.

What makes Bitcoin so valuable is that there is a finite amount in existence. There will only ever be a maximum of 21 million Bitcoins and unlike normal fiat currencies you can't just print more of them whenever you feel like. This is because Bitcoin runs on a proof of work protocol: in order to create it, you have to mine it using computer processing power to solve complex algorithms on the Bitcoin blockchain. Once this is achieved, you are rewarded with Bitcoin as payment for the "work" you have done. Unfortunately the reward you get for mining has decreased drastically almost every year since Bitcoin's inception, which means that for most people the only viable way to get Bitcoin is buying it on an exchange. At the current price levels is that a risk worth taking?

Many believe Bitcoin is simply a bubble. I spoke to cryptocurrency expert and long term investor Duke Randal who thinks the asset is overvalued, "I would compare this to many supply and demand bubbles over history such as Dutch Tulip Mania and the dot com bubble of the late 90s. Prices are purely speculation based, and when you look at Bitcoin's functionality as an actual currency it is almost embarrassing." For those who don't know, the dot com bubble was a period between 1997-2001 where many internet companies were founded and given outrageously optimistic valuations based purely on speculation that later plummeted 80-90% as the bubble began to collapse in the early 2000s. Some companies such as eBay and Amazon, recovered and now sit far above those valuations but for others it was the end of the line.

Bitcoin was originally created in order to take power away from our financial systems and put people in control of their own money, cutting out the middle man and enabling peer to peer transactions. However, it is now one of the slowest cryptocurrencies on the market, its transaction speed is four times slower than the fifth biggest cryptocurrency and its nearest competitor for payment solutions Litecoin. Untraceable privacy coin Monero makes transactions even quicker, boasting an average block time of just two minutes, a fifth of the time Bitcoin can do it in, and that's without anonymity. The world's second biggest cryptocurrency, Ethereum, already has a higher transaction volume than Bitcoin despite being valued at only $676 dollars per Ether compared to Bitcoin's $16,726 per Bitcoin. More here BTC to XMR

So why is Bitcoin's value so high? I asked Duke Randal the same question. "It all goes back to the same supply and demand economics, relatively there is not very much Bitcoin available and its recent surge in price has attracted a lot of media attention, this combined with the launch of Bitcoin futures which many see as the first sign Bitcoin is being accepted by the mass market, has resulted in a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon for financial gain. Like any asset, when there is a higher demand to buy than to sell, the price goes up. This is bad because these new investors are entering the market without understanding blockchain and the underlying principles of these currencies meaning they are likely to get burnt".

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viraldrita · 2 years

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Brown silk epil xpressive

#BROWN SILK EPIL XPRESSIVE SKIN#

#BROWN SILK EPIL XPRESSIVE FULL#

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The perfect solution to all-over hair removal, the Xpressive quickly takes away even the tiniest hair with a 40-tweezer system that has two speeds and a pivoting head for maximum thoroughness.

#BROWN SILK EPIL XPRESSIVE SKIN#

Older models used to pinch and pull, but the Xpressive features a massage system that stimulates the skin before hair removal and gently soothes after to reduce pain.Ī set of Olay Pre-Epilation wipes are included to soften the skin and make the process even gentler. The Braun company describes the cordless SE7781 as proven fast and painless hair removal.Įpilation removes hair at root level resulting in smooth skin that lasts for up to four weeks. It gives a nice effects to your skin and feels smoother.Ĭlick Here for info and reviews at Amazon. With this epilator you also get massage system, efficiency cap, shaver head, trimmer, soothing wipes and more. Maximum thoroughness by nice fitting the body shapes This rechargeable Braun SE7781 Silk-Epil Xpressive Epilator Body System features: This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and does not affect the price you pay. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product, we may earn affiliate commissions. We’re obliged by EU General Data Protection Regulation to let you know about this right we don’t actually intend to misuse your data.Braun SE7781 Silk-Epil Xpressive Epilator If you decide that you no longer want to use our store and would like to have your personal data removed from our database (or if you’d like to get all the personal data associated with your account that we have), please send an email to you believe that your personal data has been misused, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. It is essential for operating an online store.

#BROWN SILK EPIL XPRESSIVE PASSWORD#

Even if you do that, you’ll still receive account-related emails (such as order status notifications, password reset emails, and more). If you decide not to receive newsletters at all, you’ll have to unsubscribe from all the mailing lists. Please note that mailing lists are independent from each other. That way they’ll be able to remove your email address from the mailing list, should you request us to do so. Some members of our staff can view mailing lists with email addresses.

Send an email to may use a third-party email service (MailChimp and/or Mad Mimi) to send newsletters.

Use the “Unsubscribe” link in our newsletters that you receive.

Once your account is registered, just sign in and unsubscribe from newsletters in profile settings.

You can always have your email address removed from our mailing lists. While it is there, we know that we can contact you by email regarding that topic. When you sign up for a specific newsletter, we (Simtech) add your email address to a corresponding mailing list.

#BROWN SILK EPIL XPRESSIVE FULL#

With a 40-minute running time when fully charged – easily enough for a full epilation – they run for longer than most epilators on the market today.Īll Silk-épil Xpressive models have a sealed body, which means they can be fully washed and ready for the next use. The cordless models give you the freedom to epilate in comfort wherever and whenever desired. They offer skin stimulation so skin is better primed for epilation and helping to reduce any discomfort. This means it can better adapt to the contours of the body for closer, smoother, more comfortable and efficient epilation.įor further comfort, massaging rollers assist the hair removal process. Silk-épil Xpressive features a flexible head that can pivot by up to 15 degrees forward and back. No need to wait for hair to grow long enough for waxing, you can be smooth anytime. Skin stays beautifully smooth and stubble-free for up to 4 weeks. In fact, the Silk-épil Xpressive removes up to 7x times more short hairs (0.5mm) than waxing. The patented HairLift™ system lifts, loosens and gently removes hair from the root - even short or flat-lying hairs.

#Brown silk epil xpressive

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usdtmixedcurrency · 2 years

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Bitcoin: All It's Hyped Up to Be?

Had you spent $27 on Bitcoin when it was created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009 your investment would now be worth over $37,000,000.

Widely regarded as the greatest investment vehicle of all time, Bitcoin has seen a meteoric rise during 2017 going from $777 all the way to $17,000.

0 notes

skyfire85 · 3 years

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FLIGHTLINE: 190 - MIG-23 (NATO REPORTING NAME: FLOGGER)

-Soviet MiG-23s line up at their East German base in the early 1980s. | Photo: German Federal Archives

FLIGHTLINE: 190 - MIG-23 (NATO REPORTING NAME: FLOGGER)

Designed to replace the MiG-21, the Flogger is the most-produced swing-wing aircraft in the world, and remains in service more than 50 years later.

The MiG-21 proved to be a fast and agile aircraft, and was more than a match for US fighters during the Vietnam War, but Soviet planners were still unsatisfied with its short range, primitive radar and limited weapons load, and in the early 1960s the Mikoyan OKB was directed to develop a replacement. Among the requirements for this new interceptor were more range, more missiles, including beyond-visual-range (BVR) models, and a shortened take-off run. In response, MiG looked at two options: the 23-01, aka MiG-23PD (Podyomnye Dvigatyeli – "lift jet", NATO reporting name: Faithless), which was a tailed delta-wing design similar to the MiG-21 but with two dedicated lift jets built into the fuselage. These two Kolesov RD-36-35 engines also provided bleed air for a boundary-layer control system to improve low-speed handling. The 23-01 first flew on 3 April 1967, but proved to be unsuited for further testing; the aircraft had poor handling qualities, particularly during landings, and the lift jets were both dead weight 95% of the time and took up space needed for fuel and/or weapons. Despite being demonstrated at the 1968 Domodedovo Air Show, the MiG-23PD was abandoned.

-Schematic of the MiG-23PD. The grid even with the wing's leading edge marks the position of the lift jets. | Illustration: Airvectors

Developed in parallel to the 23-01, aircraft 23-11 (also designated Ye-231) incorporated variable-geometry wings developed at TsAGI with information gleaned from German researchers after the end of WW2. Powered by a Tumanskiy R-27-300 turbojet, 23-01's wings could be set to one of three preset sweep-angles 16°, 45° or 72°, depending on the aerodynamic need. The aircraft took its first flight on 10 June 1967, with the wing at maximum sweep for the entire flight. During a subsequent flight on 9 July, the pilot worked the wing through all three angles, finding the aircraft to be much more capable than the 23-01. Two static-test airframes and six more prototypes were completed for further testing, and in December 1967 the aircraft was approved for production as the MiG-23S. In 1968 the Ye-231 was also demonstrated at the Domodedovo Air Show, and was given the NATO reporting name Flogger.

-Schematic of the Ye-231/23-11. This aircraft differed greatly from the MiG-23PD. | Illustration: Airvectors

DESIGN AND VARIANTS

The MiG-23 is 16.7m long, and 4.82m tall. At full sweep, the wingspan is 7.779m, while at minimum sweep the span is 13.965m. Empty, the plane weighed just over 10,000kg, while at max TO it weighed 17,800kg. The variable sweep wings of the MiG-23 gave it a minimum takeoff roll of just 500m, and the plane could land in 750m with the aid of a braking chute. An afterburning turbojet developed 83.6kN of thrust dry, 127.49kN with AB (depending on the model), which pushed the Flogger to a maximum speed of 2,499kmh at altitude (Mach 2.35, depending on conditions) and 1,350kmh (Mach 1.1) at sea level. Clean (no armament or fuel tanks), the MiG-23 could climb at 230m/s, and reach a maximum altitude of 18,300m. Range varied with external loads, but clean the plane could fly 1,500km, while with a full load of missiles and three 800l drop tanks that could stretch to 2,550km. Despite being conceived as an interceptor, firing BVR missiles at distant target, the MiG-23 was also stressed for air combat maneuvering, with a G limit (on later models) of 8.5G.

-Orthograph of a late-model MiG-23MF. | Illustration: Kaboldy

The MiG-23 was built from mostly aluminum alloys, with a high mounted, variable sweep wing. The intake ramps, mounted just aft of the cockpit, were fitted with movable ramps to control airflow. The wings were fitted with four-section trailing-edge flaps; leading-edge flaps, and two-section spoilers. Roll control was accomplished with the spoilers and the "tailerons", the horizontal stabilizers being made not only all-moving, but designed to move independently of each other. The vertical stabilizer was fitted with a long fillet that stretched to nearly the wing's leading edge, and it was supplemented with a ventral fin that was hinged to fold to give ground clearance. The Flogger was designed for rough fields, and the steerable nose gear, equipped with twin tires, and the main gear were fitted with mud guards. In addition to the braking chute, four petal airbrakes were fitted around the exhaust, and the wing spoilers could also be used to slow the plane on landing.

-Cockpit of a MiG-23. | Photo: Akpch

The MiG-23's cockpit, painted in the Soviet's chosen turquoise blue (literally, it's called "Russian Cockpit Blue [or Green]) is more ergonomic than previous aircraft, but the Flogger pilot still faced a heavy workload. In particular, early models lacked a HUD, forcing the pilot to fly "head-down" to monitor the radar set and instruments. Later aircraft added a HUD, which incorporated data from the radar, though technological limitations meant it was a narrow sweep, and the MiG-23 was dependent on ground-control interception to find targets. Although the forward view was superior to the MiG-21, the view to the side and aft was still rather poor, in part due to the head support for the ejection seat, and a periscope was incorporated into the canopy; the periscope provided a clear view behind the pilot, but it had a limited field of view.

-A dummy in the pressure suit and KM-1 ejection seat used in the MiG-23. | Photo: Stefan Kühn

The Flogger pilot was seated on a KM-1 ejection seat, which was designed with high speed and altitude in mind, with leg stirrups, shoulder harness, and pelvic D-ring securing the pilot to the seat. If triggered, after the canopy was blown clear a small parachute (the size of a handkerchief) would be deployed from a telescoping rod to orient the seat and guide it above and behind the vertical stabilizer. Subsequently, the rod and 1st stage chute would separate , and a 2nd stage chute would deploy, stabilizing the seat and slowing it to allow the 3rd, largest stage chute to deploy. The KM-1 was not a zero-zero system, and would not work below 167kmh.

-Schematic of the various combinations of weapons carried by the Flogger. | Illustration: Airvectors

Armament of the MiG-23 included a 23mm GSh-23L autocannon with 260 rounds, and there were six hardpoints, 2 each on the fuselage, wing gloves and wings, which could carry 3,000kg of stores or auxiliary fuel tanks. Air-to-air missiles included the R-60 (NATO reporting name AA-8 Aphid) heat-seeker or the replacement R-73 (AA-11 Archer), as well as the R-23 (AA-7 Apex) which was produced in both SARH and IR models. Despite not being built as a strike aircraft, the MiG-23 could also carry Kh-23 Grom (AS-7 Kerry) air-to-surface missiles or 500kg bombs.

MIG-23S (NATO: FLOGGER-A)

After the Ye-231, MiG produced roughly 60 MiG-23S (Flogger-A), which was the first production variant. Despite this, the S was an interim version, as the Sapfir-23 radar was not yet available, and as a result the RP-22SM Sapfir from the MiG-21 was equipped instead. The MiG-23S also lacked the IRST, and was fitted with a somewhat anemic R-27F-300 turbojet with dry thrust of 67.62kN and under AB of 78.5kN. Maiden flight of the 23S was on 21 May 1969, and around a dozen were built for testing by the Ministry of Aircraft Industry and VVS (Soviet Air Force), which lasted until 1973. A number of issues were uncovered during this testing, including instability at high angles of attack (AOA), a dangerous spin-entry profile, and the development of stress cracks in the fuselage and wings surrounding the sweep mechanism. Despite these flaws, and several fatal accidents, the 23S entered service with the VVS for a short time before being replaced.

-Orthograph of the MiG-23S. | Illustration: Dr Dan Saranga

MIG-23 "EDITION 1971" (FLOGGER-A)

The following model was simply designated MiG-23, but was referred to as the "Edition 1971", and incorporated an early version of the Sapfir-23L (which lacked look-down/shoot-down capacity) a TP-23 IRST and an ASP-23D gunsight/HUD, which replaced an earlier radar scope. The engine was replaced by an uprated R-27F2-300 turbojet, which had the same "dry" power but had an improved afterburner that increased thrust to 98kN. This model also added another internal fuel tank of 470l capacity, moved the horizontal tails back 86cm for better handling, and replaced the wings shared with the 23-11 and 23S with the new "Edition 2" wings, which incorporated a leading edge dogtooth, increasing the area by 20%. This resulted in the sweep angled being altered from 16°, 45° and 72° to 18:40°, 47:40° and 74:40°, though for ease of use (and to save money) the cockpit controls and pilot manuals were unchanged. The Edition 2 wings did away with the leading edge flaps to make the wings easier to manufacture. These changes, made to improve the MiG-23, had the opposite effect in practice. The dogtooth in particular generated vortices which adversely affected stability, and the lack of leading edge devices increased the run on landing and takeoffs. Approximately 100 Edition 1971 MiG-23 were completed and were sent to front-line units, where they served until 1978 when they were remanded to training squadrons.

-Orthograph of the MiG-23 (Edition 1971). | Illustration Dr Dan Saranga

MIG-23M (FLOGGER-B)

The definitive first-generation model, the M model had its maiden flight in June 1972 and became the VVS' chief air-superiority fighter of the 70s, with 1,300 produced (at their peak, the Znamya Truda factory was turning out 40 airframes a month) from 1972 to 1978. The M model incorporated the Sapfir-23D radar, which gave the Flogger-B a true look-down/shoot-down ability, and which proved to be more reliable than the 23L fitted to previous models. Additionally, the SAU-23A 3-axis automatic flight control and Polyot-11-23 navigational system were added. The 23M introduced the "Edition 3" wing, which was redesigned to improve handling after the blunder with the Edition 2 wings. In addition to adding leading edge slats back, the Edition 3 wing also incorporated plumbed pylons, allowing the MiG-23M to carry three 800l drop tanks, one on each wing and one on the center point. The R-27 turbojet was replaced by an improved R-29-300 from Tumansky, bringing dry thrust up to 81.35kN and AB thrust to 122.5kN. Despite the redesign, production issues continued to result in stress cracks and failures of the sweep mechanisms, and as a result MiG-23 squadrons were limited to 5G maneuvers until QC changes and redesigns to strengthen the wing were introduced in 1977 resulted in a more reliable aircraft. Improved wings were retrofitted onto existing MiG-23M and Edition 1971 aircraft. The Flogger-B also introduced the Lasour-SMA automated datalink guidance system, which took information provided by GCI network and provided it to the pilot through indications on the HUD as well as audio cues. The datalink was jam resistant, and could guide a MiG-23 pilot from initial contact all the way to missile launch. In addition to the VVS, MiG-23s were also in use by PVO ("Homeland Air-Defense Organization", a stand-alone air defense force), though in smaller numbers.

-Orthograph of the MiG-23M. | Illustration: the-blueprints.com

MIG-23U AND UB (FLOGGER-C)

Two twin-seat trainer variants of the first generation Flogger were produced, with the 23U being based on the MiG-23S, only with a second cockpit behind the first, with the displaced equipment moved into a redesigned nose. Equipped with the S-21 weapons control system and Sapfir-21M, the U retained the 30mm cannon and could fire R-3S and R-13M missiles. Existing 23U were upgraded to MiG-23UB spec after that model's introduction. Structurally similar to the earlier trainer, the 23UB featured advanced avionics similar to those fitted on the 23M operational model, though the radar was later removed and replaced with ballast, limiting their use in live-fire training. Production of the 23UB began in 1970 and continued until 1978, with 760 aircraft deployed to the VVS and PVO, and 300 some-odd aircraft sold to export clients.

-Orthograph of the MiG-23UB. | Illustration Dr Dan Saranga

MIG-23ML AND MLA (FLOGGER-G)

Mikoyan worked in earnest to design out some of the flaws of the 1st generation MiG-23 models, resulting in the MiG-23ML, which first flew in 1975. A complete redesign of the fuselage made the ML lighter but stronger. Some of the weigh savings was accomplished by removing a fuel tank, and the dorsal fin fillet was trimmed as well. Aerodynamic improvements resulted in a reduction in drag, which also reduced fuel consumption. Reinforcements were added to the wings, fuselage and pivot mechanism, giving the ML and MLA a G rating of +8.5 at speeds below Mach .85 and +7.5G above that. Changes to the flying surfaces also allowed the AOA limiter to be set at 20-22° with the wings fully swept back, and 28-30° at minimum sweep. A new R-35F-300 engine increased thrust to 83.82kN (128.08kN with AB), and also increased time between overhauls to 450 hours (though use of afterburner was still limited to 10 hours or less). Avionics upgrades included a Sapfir-23ML radar and TP-23ML IRST, Polyot-21-23 navigation suite, Lasour-23SML datalink, SAU-23AM flight control system, and RV-5R Reper-M radar altimeter. The 23ML could fire both SARH and IR versions of the R-23 missile, and the new system allowed carriage of two UPK-23-250 23mm gun pods under the wings. Production of the ML ran from 1975 through 1983, and more than 1,100 were produced for the VVS as well as for export clients. The MLA, introduced in 1977, was structurally similar, but the avionics fit was upgraded with the new Sapfir-23MLA (N003) radar, which was more reliable than its predecessors, and had better range and more resistance to Western ECM. The new radar also incorporated a frequency spacing system, which allowed multiple MiG-23s to operate in the same airspace without their radars jamming each other. The MLA also added an ASP-17ML HUD/gunsight and the ability to fire the R-24R/T, an updated version of the R-23. An upgraded 26SHi IRST was also added, which could detect a fighter-sized target at 15km, or a bomber-sized one at 45km. In addition to versions for the Soviet Air Force, the MLA was manufactured in a similar fit for Warsaw Pact countries and in a downgraded variant for export to the Third World.

-Orthograph of the MiG-23ML. | Illustration Dr Dan Saranga

MIG-23P (FLOGGER-G)

By the late 1970s, the aircraft of the PVO were an assortment of aging Su-9/11s and MiG-19s, and the MiG-23P (perekvatchik ["interceptor"]) was developed as a specialized variant of the 23ML to take their place. As PVO concentrated on GCI control of their aircraft, the 23P was fitted with the improved Sapfir-23P (N006) radar and the ASP-23P gunsight/HUD (later upgraded to the ASP-23ML-P), which gave better look-down/shoot-down performance against low, fast targets like the USAF F-111. The SAU-23P autopilot tied into the Lasur-M datalink, which allowed GCI controllers to steer the MiG to the target, with the pilot only needed to manipulate the throttle and fire his missiles. Approximately 500 were produced, and the aircraft were flown by PVO (with upgrades) until 1998. During mock combat trials against the new Su-27s, the MiG-23P, flown by experienced pilots, proved to be to be the Flanker's equals in BVR combat. The follow-on MiG-23bis restored the IRST, which had been removed in the 23P model, and replaced the cumbersome radar scope with a new HUD.

-Orthograph of a MiG-23P. | Illustration: 1999.co.jp

MIG-23MLD (FLOGGER-K)

The last variant of the MiG-23, the MLD (D for dorabotannyi ["upgraded"]) was introduced in 1982 and incorporated numerous upgrades for the ML and MLA lines. Small strakes or "vortex generators" attached to the side of the nose pitot tube and a distinctive notch at the leading-edge root of each wing glove, both of which intended to create vortexes over the flight control surfaces of the aircraft and ensure controllability at high AOA, the drawback being that these measures imposed a drag penalty. A stronger wing pivot system was added, which introduced a new, fourth sweep setting of 33° for combat maneuvering, though it was tricky to use and was generally only employed by experienced pilots. The flight system was upgraded with an SOS-3-4 automated flight limiting system, borrowed from the MiG-29, which would prevent the aircraft from being pushed outside of its maneuvering envelope and so preventing departure from controlled flight. Two six-round KDS-23 chaff-flare dispensers were integrated into the centerline pylon. Most aircraft also had two BVP-50-60 upward-firing 60-round chaff-flare dispensers tacked onto the back of the rear fuselage. These large, boxy dispensers also added drag, but were needed for survivability. The avionics suite also saw the upgraded Sapfir-23MLA-11 AKA N008 radar with greater range, approximately 70km against a bomber-sized target. The new radar also had a lose-combat mode as well as a general enhancement of earlier features. Improvement of other avionics and aircraft systems, including the SAU-23-18 flight control system; a new Beryoza radar warning receiver (RWR), a new Klystron digital tactical radio, an automatic landing system, an improved nosewheel steering scheme and a crash-resistant flight recorder. The MLD upgrade would allow carriage of the same weapons as the MLA, and from 1984 the new R-73 (AA-11 Archer) IR missile was added. Some 500 upgrades were completed. New build MiG-23MLD were manufactured for export, but with downgraded radar and other avionics.

-Orthograph of the MiG-23MLD. | Illustration Dr Dan Saranga

MIG-23B ET AL (FLOGGER D, F, H)

Mikoyan started with the MiG-23 to create a new strike aircraft, based on the MiG-23S with a redesigned forward fuselage. The Sapfir radar was removed and a PrNK Sokol-23 ground attack sight system was placed into a new, flat-bottomed nose. The Sokol included an analogue computer, a laser rangefinder and a PBK-3 bomb sight, and the nav suite and autopilot were upgraded to permit more accurate bombing. Other changes included raising the pilot's seat as well as armoring the windscreen, adding an electronic warfare system to combat Western AAA, and incorporating an inert-gas system into the plane's fuel tanks to prevent fires. In place of the R-29 engine, a Lyulka AL-21 turbojet was fitted. First flight of the MiG-23B prototype, 32-34, was on 20 August 1970, followed by two more prototypes and 24 production models. Delivery of the AL-21 was allocated to the Su-17 and -24, so the MiG-23B was not exported. This was followed in 1973 by the MiG-23BN, which had the upgraded Edition 3 wings and R-29 of the contemporary fighter version, along with minor upgrades in avionics. A total of 624 were produced between 1973 and 1985, but the type was not widely used in the VVS, and was instead widely exported (in a downrated version). A more extensive, but effective, modification of the MiG-23 into a ground-attack aircraft resulted in the MiG-27 (Flogger D/J).

-Orthograph of the MiG-23BN. | Illustration: airwar.ru

OPERATIONAL HISTORY

The MiG-23 was introduced into regular service with the VVS on 4 January 1974, but the type still faced numerous issues before it was a true threat. Flogger pilots, limited by structural weaknesses, found themselves bested by MiG-21s in mock combat trials, and hemmed in by Soviet doctrine that utilized the MiG-23 in the same manner as the MiG-21: a point defense interceptor guided by GCI. It was not until the introduction of the MiG-23MLD that the Flogger began to be used to its full potential as both a BVR-armed interceptor and as a maneuvering air-superiority fighter. Still, "quantity has a quality all its own", and the large numbers of MiG-23s in service would have proved a major challenge had the Cold War turned hot in the late '70s or throughout the 1980s. Based on experiences over Vietnam and intelligence reports on Western fighter performance afterwards, Flogger pilots were confident that they could defeat USAF F-4 Phantoms, but the new F-16 Falcons were judged to be a fair match, and the F-15 Eagles were feared.

-A Soviet MiG-23M, armed with R-60 and R-23 missiles, in 1989. | Photo: US DOD

The Flogger's advanced design and ongoing QC issues resulted in an unusually high accident rate: 12.5 losses per 100,000 flight hours. In the hands of Warsaw Pact allies it was even higher, 24.3 losses per 100k hours in the Hungarian Air Force, 20.4 for East Germany, 18 for the Bulgarian Air Force and 11.3 for Poland.

A number of MiG-23s were used during the Afghan war, with Soviet Floggers facing off against Pakistani F-16s on occasion. Exact numbers are difficult to obtain from either side, but one MiG-23 limped back to its base after being hit by a pair of Sidewinder missiles, while Pakistan claims two Floggers were shot down. An F-16 was destroyed during a skirmish on 29 April 1987, but the details are murky. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan claim that the Falcon was shot down by a pair of MiG-23s, but the Soviets state that the plane was the victim of a friendly fire incident. MiG-23s also were pressed into strike roles prior to the introduction of the MiG-27, attacking Mujahidin forces with unguided rockets and bombs.

Both the VVS and PVO claimed kills against Iranian helicopters, with two CH-47s being shot down by a PVO MiG-23M on 21 June 1978, one by cannon and the other with a pair of R-60 missiles, and two VVS MiG-23MLDs operating in Afghanistan destroying a pair of AH-1J Cobras that had strayed into Afghan airspace with R-23 missiles.

The MiG-23 was used by the Soviet Air Force as their aggressor aircraft during wargames, with the Floggers being piloted by veterans of the Afghan war. MiG-23MLDs, adorned with shark-mouths and utilizing hit-and-run tactics could best even the new MiG-29s, especially when the latter were flown by rookie pilots. After the fall of communism in 1991, the Russian Air Force began to retire the MiG-23 and MiG-27 in favor of newer, twin engined aircraft like the MiG-29 and Su-27, with the PVO's MiG-23P being the last model retired in 1998.

-One of the Aggressor MiG-23s in the late 1980s. | Photo: VVS

During the 1973 war against Israel, two MiG-23MS and two MiG-23UB trainers were crated and shipped to Syria aboard An-12B transports, but reassembling the aircraft and getting them and their flight crews combat ready took time, and the war ended before they could see combat. A number of additional export variant Floggers were delivered to Syria in 1974, but the aircraft proved just as difficult to fly and maintain for the Syrians as it was for the Russians, and only 8 aircraft were operational at any given time. Several were lost in crashes during training, with their crews finding the aircraft simultaneously more complex and less effective than the MiG-21s they were to replace. In particular the radar on the export models was especially vulnerable to Israeli electronics countermeasures, removing the only real advantage the Floggers had. Despite this, on 19 April a Syrian pilot on a weapons test flight encountered a flight of IAF F-4E Kurnass ("Sledgehammer"), and attacked with missiles and cannon, shooting down two Israeli jets before being shot down by a Syrian SAM battery in a friendly fire incident. The victory of Captain al-Masry renewed Syrian interest in the aircraft, and an order of 24 MiG-23MS and a further 24 MiG-24BN strike aircraft was tendered in 1975, with deliveries beginning in 1978. Syrian Floggers continued to skirmish with IAF aircraft throughout the rest of the 70s and into the 1980s, with Syria claiming two A-4s in 1981 (The IAF deny these claims) and a BQM-34 Firebee drone on 6 June 1982. The Israelis claim to have shot down two MiG-23s in 1985, which the Syrians deny, and while numbers vary on Flogger losses, around a dozen MiG-23s were destroyed in accidents or air combat by 1985. During the Syrian Civil War, Floggers flown by al-Assad loyalists have bombed rebel forces, with a number of Floggers claimed to have been shot down by the Free Syrian Army and other groups. On 23 March 2014 a Syrian MiG-23 was shot down by a Turkish F-16 after the former was alleged to have violated Turkish airspace.

Iraq was another buyer of MiG-23s, acquiring both fighter and bomber variants. Again, verifiable numbers are difficult to come by, but Iraqi forces claimed a number of victories over Iranian F-4 and F-5 fighters, while Iranian F-14s claimed a high number of MiG-23 kills, with the majority being MiG-23BN bombers. Iranian sources claim at least 58 Flogger kills by F-14 and a further 20 by F-4s, but only 15 and 16 can be independently corroborated. Known Iraqi MiG-23 victories include 3 F-14s and one each of an F-4 and F-5. On 20 February 1986, an Iranian F27-600 carrying a delegation of military and government officials on a mission was shot down by an Iraqi MiG-23, killing all 49 crew and passengers. During the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 a number of MiG-23BN and Su-22 strike aircraft conducted bombing raids in support of Iraqi ground forces, with Kuwaiti MIM-23 Hawk SAMs claiming at least one Flogger kill. During Desert Storm two USAF EF-111 Ravens were damaged by missile fire from Iraqi Floggers, while the USAF claims 8 MiGs were shot down by F-15s. Approximately 12 MiG-23s fled Iraqi into Iran to escape Coalition forces. After the establishment of two No-Fly Zones to protect Kurdish and other minority groups in Iraqi at least one MiG-23 was shot down by a USAF F-16 with AIM-120 missiles, while another was shot at by a Navy F-14 using an AIM-54 missile which missed, and the MiG fled. During Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 the Floggers (along with the rest of the Iraqi Air Force) remained grounded, with Allied forces uncovering a number of derelict MiG-23s scattered around captured air bases while they advanced on Bagdad. Documents retrieved after OIF revealed that the Iraqi Air Force had a fleet of 127 MiG-23s, including 38 MiG-23BN strike fighters and 21 MiG-23U/UB trainers during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and document the destruction of 43 Floggers, from all causes, by the end of 1991. The American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 marked the end of MiG-23 operations by the country.

Between 1974 and 1976 Libya purchased 54 MiG-23MS and -23U, with a subsequent order adding 50 more MiG-23BN bombers. Many of these aircraft were immediately placed into storage, but at least 20 went into service, with one MS falling to an Egyptian MiG-21 during the 1977 Libyan-Egyptian War. During a subsequent border skirmish in 1979, two LARAF MiG-23s encountered a pair of EAF MiG-21s, which had been refitted to carry Western air-to-air missiles. One Libyan MiG was shot down by an AIM-9 Sidewinder, while the other escaped back into Libya. On 18 August 1981, during a US Navy Freedom of Navigation operation in the Gulf of Sidra (claimed by Libya as territorial waters), thirty-five pair of MiG-23s, -25s, Su-20s, -22s, and Mirage F1s were launched to menace the US carrier group. In response, the carrier launched seven pairs of F-14s and F-4s. One of the Foxbats may have fired a missile at the USN aircraft, but it did not track and the situation calmed. The following day, two Su-22s were launched on an apparent intercept course for a Navy S-3 Viking. Two F-14s were vectored onto the Libyan aircraft by a covering E-2 Hawkeye, and in the ensuing altercation both Su-22 were shot down. Almost eight years later, the USS Kennedy was transiting the Med on its way to Haifa for a port visit when two MiG-23s left from Al Bumbah airfield on 4 January 1989 on an intercept course. The Libyan aircraft ignored radio calls to turn back and maneuvered aggressively against the American aircraft, and as a result the RIO of the lead F-14 fired two AIM-7 Sparrows against the MiGs, but neither missile tracked. A third AIM-7 finally engaged and destroyed one of the MiGs, while the second was shot down by an AIM-9. During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, loyalist MiG-23s bombed rebel positions, while others captured by rebels attacked and sank two loyalist ships. Both sides continued to capture and restore surviving MiGs from storehouses, including one flown by the Libyan National Army which was assembled by attaching the wings from two different models of MiG-23 to the fuselage of a third. This hybrid, dubbed the "Frankenstein Flogger" was shot down by a soldier of the rival Government of National Accord on 7 December 2019.

-The "Frankenstein Flogger", ostensibly a MiG-23MLD. | Photo: Twitter

The MiG-23 has also been exported to Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, India and the Sudan, as well as several former Warsaw Pact and USSR states, though almost all retired the type during the late 1990s or early 2000s.

In 1977 the USAF established the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron to test fly captured Soviet aircraft to establish their capabilities, then to fly them in mock combat against other USAF, USN and USMC squadrons to give them experience against the MiG and Sukhois they'd face. Under Project CONSTANT PEG, a number of MiG-21s and MiG-23s were acquired from Egypt in exchange for F-4 Phantom IIs. The aircraft were disassembled and shipped to Edwards AFB, afterwards they were transferred to Groom Lake and reassembled before being test flown. In order to disguise their origins, the MiG-21s were designated YF-110s, while the MiG-23s were called YF-113s. Other model MiG-23s were acquired from the ex-East German air force after reunification. The 4477th was disestablished in 1988, but the fate of their aircraft is unknown. One of the MiG-23s was sent to the USAF Museum in Dayton, while several MiG-21s were dispatched to other museums across the country. Most of the others are rumored to have been dismantled and buried in the deserts surrounding Groom Lake.

SURVIVORS

Thanks to the large number (5,047) of Floggers produced, and their export to numerous client states, MiG-23s are on display around the world, including in museums of many former adversaries of the USSR. Additionally, almost a dozen MiG-23 have been purchased by civilians in the US and are registered with the FAA.

-A MiG-23 on display in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan. | Photo: Peretz Partensky

-A MiG-23MF, formerly of the Indian Air Force, on display in Gandhinagar. | Photo: Parmar uday

-The prototype MiG-23 on display at the Russian Air Force Museum in Monino, Russia. | Photo: AVIA BavARia

-MiG-23MLD formerly displayed outdoors at the USAF Museum. The aircraft has since been disassembled for restoration. | Photo: NMUSAF

#aircraft #Aviation #avgeek #airplane #mig #mikoyan and gurevich okb #mig 23 #mig23 #mig-23 #mig 23 flogger #ussr #soviet air force #vvs #Cold War #cold war history #coldwar #flogger #Russia

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bartistic · 3 years

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Bruce Goes To The Market!

knife tw, food cw, incredibly dumb self-indulgent concept cw, outsider (oc) pov

It is universally acknowledged that a cashier possessing free time, will be in want of an extra task to fill that free time. At least, that’s what James’ managers seemed to think. Privately, he agreed, as he found restocking the shelves to be a most agreeable pastime, one that could in fact suck up hours of his eight hour closing shift.

He was in the soda aisle, debating whether sparkling water belonged with seltzer or with the rest of the store brand items, when he noticed a broad-shouldered man in sunglasses and a Gotham University sweatshirt, inspecting the selection of diet tonic water and looking utterly flummoxed. Customer in need of assistance!

“Hi, how are you doing tonight? You need help finding anything?” Mentally, James winced at the preppy-ness of his ‘customer service robot voice’ as his favorite coworker Stephie liked to call it. Luckily, he’d thrown his voice out enough screaming to Queen karaoke the night before that his voice stayed in the normal octaves rather than shooting into the stratosphere. The man straightened up and looked down towards James, who suddenly felt very short in all of his 5’9” glory. (Well, 5’8 3/4” but who’s counting.)

“Yes, actually. I’m new to the store, could you direct me to where the soap is?” Oh god. Of all the things it had to be the one item James swore was never in the same aisle twice.

“Of course!” He lied through his teeth. “Here, right this way.” Turning, he set off towards the general direction of where the soap tended to lie, with a variation of four different aisles. Luckily, the first aisle was correct, and he watched, intrigued, as the customer gave a thorough inspection to at least 14 different bars of soap. “Anything else I can help you with?” He added, as the man finally selected a bar and placed it in his basket. The man looked sheepish.

“This is actually the first time I’ve been in a grocery store. I’m not usually the one doing the shopping. My—the person I live with gave me a list, but I honestly don’t know where or even what half of these things are.” He held out a grocery list, scrawled in an elegant cursive. It was double-sided. James checked the front of the store, where the other cashier was engrossed in his phone while trying not to appear engrossed in his phone. It was an hour and a half until they closed, and he was pretty sure there was only one other customer in the store at most.

“Sure! Alright, so our first step should probably be to hit the deli, seeing as they have the longest wait times.” After walking the man through ordering Roast Beef, Prosciutto, Pastrami, Swiss, Havarti, Gouda, and Picante Provolone (what) they moved on to the canned goods. “We should probably grab a cart, I don’t think that basket’s going to be able to hold all of this.” Turning into the canned goods aisle, James sighed.

“Caution: Hazard Detected! Precaución, ¡Peligro Detectado!” The store’s resident useless robot assistant was stuck in place, screaming at a small bit of an onion peel that had fallen to the floor.

“Batsy, I swear to god.” James went over and kicked the peel under one of the shelves, pressing the button on the robot to reboot it.

“...Batsy?” The customer sounded somewhere between bemused and amused. Perhaps just ‘mused.

“Yeah, it’s our obtuse robot that only sees what’s right in front of it and makes a big fuss over literally nothing. It can’t even clean anything up, and the few moments there actually is a spill it just skids through it and makes it worse. Technically corporate calls it Patsy, short for Patrick, because we’re Patrick’s, you know? But since this is Gotham, we call it Batsy. Short for... Batrick. I’m not the one who came up with the name, that honor goes to my coworker Stephie. She’s, uh, not working tonight.” James internally began banging his head against the shelves. Why. Was. He. Like. This. “So, do you know what brand of chickpeas your... roommate wanted?”

/ / /

Finally, after another 45 minutes of shopping, they were ready to check out. James noticed the shift had changed while he was away. “Alright, so I can actually take you at this register over here, ‘cuz I’m still logged in and all.” He gulped as the customer began to load up onto the belt. This was... a lot of food. He’d scanned around a quarter when he officially ran out of room, turning to bagging instead. “Let’s get you another cart, actually, so we can load into that without squishing what you haven’t unpacked yet.” He moved to go grab one, but the customer was faster, jogging back with another cart before he could even finish bagging all the protein shakes. There were, admittedly, a lot of protein shakes.

Scanning the meat-substitutes, James scanned his own mind for an avenue of conversation. “So, you mentioned that it’s your son who’s the vegetarian. How old is he?”

“He’s 13. It’s not religious or health-wise or anything, he just really loves animals. Our house is practically a zoo on a good day, and that’s not even counting all his siblings.”

“Oh, how many kids do you have?” It had to be a fair amount for it to be ‘all’ his siblings. The customer opened his mouth as if to answer, then shut it again. He seemed to be thinking. Did he... not know how many kids he had??

“Legally I have... fffffour? Five? Yeah... that sounds right.” James tried to hide the bewildered expression in his own face, but he must not have been doing it well. “That makes me sound like such a bad father. No, I promise, I love them all, I just have quite a few of their friends living with us as well, and I’ve known those kids long enough to feel like they’re my kids too. Not to mention the whole difference between the ones I’ve adopted, the one who was my ward who I then retroactively adopted, the one I’m fostering, and the one who is legally an emancipated minor. And... the one who. Is no longer with us.” James blinked. That was indeed complicated.

“You must have a lot of love in your heart,” he settled on, finally.

“I just h— Oh, #%*$.” The blueberry container had burst open, all over the floor. James internally groaned.

“Oh no! Sorry about that, that’s the third one tonight. The packaging is just... not great. Do you want me to go get you another one?”

“No, I can get it. Thanks though.” The customer gingerly stepped through the minefield as James power walked to go get the clean up supplies. Six feet away, Batsy was screaming at a blueberry.

“Eat your heart out, Mister Miyagi,” he aimed a light roundhouse kick at the button to reboot the robot. Batsy got two feet before it encountered another world-ending-threat, danger level blueberry. James sighed and went to go clear that area first.

/ / /

Finally, almost everything was scanned. James was scanning the bread and rolls as the customer fit all the bags into the two carts, like an expert game of tetris. There were a few hiccups where James had had to explain that you probably shouldn’t bag Raid with milk, or that it was a good idea to double bag heavy items, or that you should wait until the end to put the eggs in (and there were a lot of eggs. Gaston-levels of eggs. Probably to be expected with that many kids in the house. Hah. eggs-pected.) But by the end they were working like a well-oiled machine. James bagged the last item, hit the button to total it, and watched as the customer realized he forgot his deli items.

“I’m just gonna— gonna run and go get those real quick. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, sure. Can you fill out the charity question real quick though? Th...thanks.” The customer was gone before James could question him on the fact that he’d used the custom amount option to apparently donate $1k to Gotham General’s children’s ward. It was... probably a mistake, but he’d wait around to check. He turned as he heard the beginnings of a commotion behind him, from the one other customer in the store. This guy’s whole aesthetic just screamed gross, from the white-boy dreads to the Blue Lives Matter gaiter mask. It looked as if he was having trouble at self-checkout. James was about to head over to help when his coworker passed him. He turned back to keep an eye on the clock. 10 minutes until closing. Please come back with the deli items soon. He heard an aggressive murmuring that sent chills up his spine, a distinct feeling of Not Right Bad. He turned back to where his coworker was engaged with helping the other customer. His coworker who was... very pale. Frightened. The customer whose hand glinted silver with... oh #%*$, that’s a knife. Not Good Very Bad... oh hell no, you are not hurting my coworker on my watch.

“HEY #%$&FACE, EAT BEANS!” As the aggressive customer turned to meet the container of garbanzo beans that was currently hurtling towards his face at the maximum speed a theatre-kid-who-never-did-sports could throw, the world seemed to throw down. Faintly, James could hear rational thoughts pounding at the door to his mind, begging to be let in. Thoughts like ‘They’re definitely going to fire you for attacking a customer’ and ‘They’re definitely going to fire you for cursing in front of a customer’ and ‘They’re definitely going to fire you for damaging the merchandise’ and ‘You can’t even throw a ball to save your life, there’s no way that’s going to hit him.’ Praying to Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and all other things holy, James watched as the beans sailed through the air and struck their target true— albeit a little lower than planned.”

Grossface automatically brought his hands down to protect his nethers, apparently forgetting that their was a knife in his hands. He let out a second agonized howl as he stabbed himself in the balls. Blindly, James groped around for more ammunition. Holding out a zucchini as threateningly as he could, he watched as the would-be aggressor ran out of the store as fast as he could with both hands clasping his junk. “Are you okay?” He asked his coworker, feeling his voice echo through the suddenly very-quiet-sounding store. She nodded mutely. He nodded back, then turned back to his register and oH shit there’s His Customer, holding the deli items.

“Nice shot.” Okay, this time he definitely sounded amused.

“I... am so sorry about the beans, I can get you a refund on those or I can go get you some more or—”

“No need, they definitely went to a good cause.” The customer grinned and held out the deli items. Faintly, James began to wrestle with the bag to get to the barcodes. Finally, everything was scanned, for good.

“Alright, will that be everything?” The clock read two minutes until closing.

“Yes, that should be everything. Again, thank you for all your help.” James watched as even with the membership points taken off, the total soared to over $750.

“Alright, your total is... $754.33, here’s some coupons and a survey slip. If you fill that out you get entered for a drawing to win a $500 gift card. Which... I don’t know that you’d need, but. Why not.” The customer reached into his wallet and counted out 5 $100 bills. Then he pulled out a black card. He paid off the total with the card, then handed the bills to James.

“Here you go, I wasn’t sure how much you tip cashiers.” James opened and closed his mouth a few times, like a fish.

“People don’t normally... tip cashiers...” and especially not HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.

“Oh. Well, you were a good cashier. You deserve it. And here—” at this he pulled a crisp business card out of his wallet. “At Wayne Enterprises we could use quick-thinkers like you.” Pulling down his sunglasses, he gave a quick wink. James waved absentmindedly as BRUCE #%*$ING WAYNE walked out of the store. He looked down at the business card. Written upon it were the words: “Call here for an interview, mention Malone and they’ll know I sent you. Best of luck with the current job— BW”

James sat down. The clock was 10 minutes past closing before he remembered to look at it. There were a million thoughts running through his head. Oh my god I joked around to a billionaire. I cursed in front of a billionaire. I chucked a can of beans into a man’s nutsack in front of a billionaire.

But oddly enough, the only question that remained at the top of his mind was this:

This is because I have black hair and blue eyes, isn’t it.

#batfam #batman #bruce wayne #crack fic babey #my writing #written over the course of 2 hours following an 8 hour shift #shameless self-insert time

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