Apartments in ephrata wa

Thanks to everyone who chimed in to help me gauge time on my 1st pork butt smoke this weekend. It came out well, but I have some questions about how to improve.
THE COOK

1. Fully thawed, I trimmed off the hanging bits, and then cut quite a bit of fat off. The fat cap was nearly an inch thick, and I took most of it off (but kept it).
2. Rubbed the 10lb bone-in cut in mustard, then covered lavishly with Texas Sugar. Let it sweat for ~15 min while I prepped the smoker
3. Filled my hopper to the brim, set my water pan (with apple juice) and put it on at 225 at 10pm and went to bed
4. Woke up at 7a and the hopper was empty and there was an error message on the screen. Internal thermometers showed 165 and 157. Wasn't sure how to clear the error so I pulled the whole rack out, pulled the drip pan, and the firebox cover, made sure there wasn't anything weird in there, refilled the hopper (glad I bought a spare bag the night before) and waited. The error cleared so I put it all back together again, at which point the temps had fallen to ~155 and 145. Left it back on 225. Refilled the water pan.
5. At about 130p it was finally up to 175 and 170, so I pulled it and wrapped it. In the bottom of the pan, I put the fat I'd trimmed off, and on top of the meat I sprinkled with more Texas Sugar, spritzed with apple juice heavily, and added a few slabs of unsalted butter.
6. It took until ~4p to get up to 205, at which point I pulled it off and let it rest (on the counter in the pan, still covered) until ~5p when I shredded it.

THINGS I'D LIKE TO FIX/CHANGE

1. Obviously wake up earlier to check on it (I'd intended to get up at 5a, but, you know...
2. It was good, but I didn't really taste the Texas Sugar flavoring at all in the actual meat. Would scoring or injecting have added more actual flavor?
3. It came apart, but not nearly as easily as I see in the videos. What should I adjust in the future to have more of that fall-aparted-ness?
4. It wasn't as juicy as I think I was hoping for. I wanted to wrap to keep a lot of the juice. Did I kill my potential juicy-ness by trimming so much off the fat cap?

Also, holy crap a 10lb pork butt is *A LOT* of meat, lol.

My buff orpington Rosie Cotton was honking while breathing yesterday. It wasn't a wheeze, and there was no sound or rattling or fluid in her chest. She literally just honked like a goose while breathing. Still active, still hungry, still fiesty. No other symptoms other than some watery stool.
I separated her because research online led me to think this was either allergies or a respiratory infection. I brought her inside, and within 10 minutes of being inside the honking stopped. She got a direct dose of antibiotic, and the rest of the flock got antibiotic mixed into their water as a safety measure. No other chooks were showing any symptoms at all.
This morning, Rosie Cotton has no symptoms at all... she is, of course, grumpy to be in isolation. Is it okay to reintroduce her tonight? That would be 24 hours apart.
I'm terrified of it being respiratory... but I am hoping it was allergies cause it cleared up so fast. Allergies have been extremely high for weeks and we've been without rain. Even the dogs are struggling...
Thoughts??

You have been a good woman your whole life, but you also have carried a secret with you that fills you with silent shame and embarrassment, because your fantasy doesn't match your personality at all. There is something secretly submissive in you that yearns to be satisfied. You long for a dominant, sexy, man to take control of you and discipline you. You want to feel helpless...dominated...NOT in control. You want to have your panties forcibly taken down and be spanked like a naughty school girl. You want to be pushed down over the sofa, feel your skirt lifted, your moistened underwear pulled aside. You want a big, hard cock to invade your slippery wetness, stretching you wider than you thought possible and making you feel oh so delicious!. You are a normal person, constrained by society's conventions and frustrated by your inability to realize your innermost fantasies. You want to be spanked with your panties down and you want to be fucked hard! -- you are already getting wet right now just thinking about it.
I am a well educated, intelligent & professional man who is physically fit and accustomed to dealing with naughty women like you. I will lecture you and instruct you to pull your skirt up around your waist as I kneel before you and pull your panties down to your thighs. The delicious smell of your aroused pussy will rise to meet me. You will feel the cool air on your bush and revel in the delicious anticipation. Then I will instruct you to stand against the wall with your legs spread and your hands above your head while I slowly pace about behind you and your clit tingles with excitement. You will feel my eyes on your pussy and this thought will excite you even more. Then I will call you sternly and bend you over a chair so that your pussy is in full view - wet, exposed, vulnerable. Oh, the shame of it. I will stroke your clit gently and when you try to stop me I will slap your cheeks hard.
Then I will commence the spanking proper. Perhaps I will use my hand. If you resist too much I will use a slipper or my leather belt. It will sting, but not be intolerable, and every now and again you would feel my fingers probe your fragrant slippery slit, making you gasp with pleasure and ache for penetration. Maybe I will tell you to reach between your legs and spread your lips apart with your fingers as I kneel behind you and slide my tongue between your sopping aromatic folds. I will continue spanking your now very red ass and you will be torn between tears and screams of delight. When your punishment is over, I will instruct you to kneel in front of me and take my big cock deep into your mouth, making you almost gag as I hold your hair and fuck your face while you moan approvingly and look up at me, your eyes wild with desire. When I am convinced that you want my cock badly enough I will turn you around on your hands & knees and I will wait as you kneel in that position until you BEG me to fuck you, and then I will grab you firmly by your hips and RAM my hard cock into your wet & swollen pussy hard and fast; banging you the way you were meant to be banged, until we both collapse in a sweaty heap of sexual bliss.
I know you are wet after reading this so lets do something about it..

Built in 2021, ST Living @ Alexandria features 40 private suites in a brand new 4 story building.Loft Apartment in Hollywood

I am having a ton of fun playing tornado and I wanna share a very positive experience I have had in D4.
Tornado has almost zero synergistic aspects/uniques - Yes, I think that's a positive. Apart from the tornado seeking aspect, you are free to choose whatever offensive and defensive aspects you find.
Pulverize Druid builds itself. There are so many clear synergies here and most of the aspects are codex powers, too. So in your very early levelling you already get the BiS items and continue to just look for upgrades.
My experiece with tornado has been completely different. After the initial leveling phase, I teched into companions because I found a maxrolled aspect that gave me 16% dmg per companion. Combined with my gloves that give +1 companion that was a very nice synergy and power boost.
Then I got WT3 and as I approached levels 55-60, I noticed I needed to upgard my ~level 40 items to sacred, and ended up teching out of companions and playing Earthern Bulwark with 24% dmg when barrier is up and a weapon that gives 50% attack speed when core spells crit. Now I am crushing.
What I am basically trying to say is that at least for my personal build and character progression, D4 has done an amazing job at giving me meaningful varied options, that made my personal journey feel unique to myself. Of course there will be a perfect end-game setup for tornado (probably perma wolf with 100% dire-werwolf uptime) but for the leveling which is a significant part of D4, the experience is varied and depends on your drops - which is kinda awesome.

Splitting artichoke plants, also known as dividing, is a common practice to propagate and rejuvenate these delightful edible plants.
Here are 10 tips to guide you through the process:
Choose the Right Time: Spring or early fall is the ideal time to split artichoke plants when they are dormant or have finished producing for the season.
Prepare the Soil: Ensure the soil is well-draining and enriched with organic matter to provide a favorable environment for the divided artichoke plants.
Water the Plants: Give the artichoke plants a thorough watering a day or two before splitting to help ease the process and minimize stress on the plants.
Dig the Plant: Use a garden fork or shovel to carefully dig around the base of the artichoke plant, loosening the soil and exposing the root system.
Lift and Separate: Gently lift the artichoke plant from the ground, taking care to keep the root ball intact. Separate the plant into individual sections by pulling apart the crowns or offsets.
Trim Excess Foliage: Trim back the leaves of each divided artichoke plant to reduce water loss through transpiration and focus the plant's energy on root development.
Remove Dead or Damaged Parts: Inspect the root system and remove any dead or damaged roots to promote healthy growth.
Replant Immediately: Plant each divided artichoke section into prepared holes in the garden, making sure the crowns are level with the soil surface.
Space Appropriately: Provide sufficient spacing between the divided artichoke plants to allow for proper growth and air circulation.
Water and Mulch: After planting, water the divided artichoke plants thoroughly and apply a layer of organic mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weed growth.
Remember, splitting artichoke plants can be a bit challenging, so don't be discouraged if it takes a bit of practice.
With these tips in hand, you'll be on your way to successfully propagating and expanding your artichoke patch.
Happy splitting and enjoy the delicious rewards of your efforts!
https://gardenguide4all.com/how-do-you-split-artichoke-plants/

Am really a N00b when it comes to espresso. I started my journey not more than 6 months ago. Got myself Flair Neo just to see if I would like the ritual nature of things — have been drinking pour overs until recently. So far I just love the tools, gadgets and the ritualistic nature of it. (Apart from cleaning but I guess that’s because of the Flair, regardless I digress).
Now that’s out of the way my current setup includes French press, Aero press, Hario V60, Indian filter coffee strainer, Fellow Stagg EKG, Fellow Ode Gen 2 (Stock) before getting Flair Neo.
I really want to get a proper espresso machine but without a proper espresso grinder I guess it would be my weakest point. My research lead into Weber and just can’t shake of the impulsion to buy the EG-1.
I am a cry once buy once and buy it for life guy. So guys, is EG-1 truly worth it considering my current setup and my meek infant espresso situation?
Other relevant information: If I do invest into espresso machine I am looking for something similar to Decent or Meticulous— probably in the next 2-5 years timeline.
Drinking light roast 2 cups of coffee — usually an espresso and a latte OR latte and a pour over.

Captain Khan of the UNISG second task force leaned on a windowsill and sighed. In the building ahead, the large greyish white apartment block, their enemy laid low somewhere. The famed stalker Strelok, who had been assigned as Khan's bounty target by his employers. When UNISG, the original one led by Major Hernandez, was liquidated, to Khan's dismay they had uncovered very little actual information he needed. But Strelok? He had been an advisor for official Ukrainian state researchers, and if the stories were true, he knew more about it than anyone else. Capturing him would be a jackpot, and Khan desperately needed one. His unit was a mere shadow of its former self, the blasted Redeemed had killed so many of his men, even his second-in-command Clarke had died in those reed-covered swamps by the crimson-armoured bastards.
Not that Khan really cared. Only Clarke and Bauer had been long-time co-workers of his, pushing along the Belt and Road initiative in Central Asia and dealing with potential hiccups in a very subtle ways, or running heavy-handed security on the mines owned by their benefactors in Asia. But neither was someone he considered a friend, in this line of work such was rare, and Khan was here merely to make money. The rewards were astronomical, but trapped here in an empty city, their allies having abandoned them and no clear way out even if Strelok was caught, Khan was beginning to wonder if those rewards were worth all this.
His clients wanted to gather as much information of the Zone and possibly blackmail Ukrainian authorities into co-operation, but every passing day a successful mission seemed less likely. Still, Khan was not one to give in so easily, he would see the mission through out of sheer boneheaded determination. Growing up in the vast and harsh Mongol steppe had not made him a quitter, and he had earned the nickname Khan among his peers for a reason. Khan sighed as Sergeant Němec entered the room to inform him of the squad being ready. Nine men left alongside Khan. They would have to be enough, for he did not know if their mysterious allies would ever return. Taking his rifle, Khan followed his Czech sergeant downstairs to begin the mission of a lifetime.
Not far from the UNISG hideout, Redemption squad that had caused them so much harm was on the move. And while Khan was not aware of his survival, the greatest menace to UNISG so far marched on with them. Never in his, admittedly short life, had Dimka been anticipating a fight this much. All the feelings of being tricked, betrayed and used built up to a crescendo of wrath boiling inside him, and Dimka could feel himself bursting from seams. Finally, after all this hide and seek bullshit, Dimka would face Khan in battle and hopefully kill him, avenging his fallen comrades and perhaps allowing him to find some information that made him, Sevka and Maus free men once more. Yet now was not the time to get all giddy with excitement over it, getting to that point would require winning the battle rapidly drawing closer.
"Dimka, you alright? You look a bit, eh, anxious.", Sanyok asked, walking beside Dimka.
"Sorry, it's just... We are so close to getting some closure. It's been so long that I've held my breath, being sure I would never leave the Zone alive."
"Ah, makes sense. Reminds me of the battle against Sin at the Generators, so much at stake...", Sanyok reminisced.
"And I missed it because of some Sin fucker decided to smash my arm to pieces! Suka blyat!", Dimuha groaned.
"You did get to mastermind a jailbreak of a century afterwards. And shoot bandits, which is super fun.", Dima noted.
"Aye, giving Livid the good news was satisfying, but had I been there at War Lab, perhaps... Perhaps Micha would still be alive.", Dimuha sighed, and Dimka could feel a shift in the group's mood.
"No, you would not. None of us knew what would happen there, and we all knew Micha's fate could have been our own. Had you been in his stead, we would still be inside that spatial anomaly.", Boris explained, and Dimuha seemed to ponder on it for a second before hesitantly nodding.
"Past is not something to dwell on too much. Hindsight is a wonderful tool but also a trap of thoughts and hypotheticals.", Meeker chimed in, having marched in silence beforehand.
"Robot man is right. There's things I'd wish I had done differently, but ultimately there's little we can change. Sometimes the best we can do is take heed from those events.", Rogue remarked.
"Indeed. And make those responsible pay.", Boris muttered quietly.
They continued on in silence, the conversation having turned sour for many of the veterans of the northern campaign. Dimka took the chance a look around him more carefully now, given that this could be one his last days in the Zone. They were travelling down an overgrown road, building blocks reaching for the clouds around them. A couple vehicles had been abandoned by the roadwalks, including a bright yellow DU-47 paving machine. Weirdly enough, moss had began to grow on parts of it, even those seemingly completely metallic. The Zone's flora was a wonder in itself, and especially out here in the Pripyat it seemed to take bizarre forms. Dimka felt some sadness about leaving, this truly was the frontier he had always wanted to find. But he had duties elsewhere... Or at least, he thought he had. Perhaps they would turn him into a desk jockey after this epic of a failure, Dimka pondered.
The scenery changed to a small park. There was interesting, cacophonic statue standing on a yard of a tall and dilapidated building. It was made with the finest Soviet visual styles, meaning it was as blocky as a gopnik's Lada and almost as filled to the brim with depression and broken vodka bottles. Boris signaled for everyone to spread out, and Dimka joined Sevka and Meeker on the left flank. They moved quickly through the bushy area, passing by a couple blind dog corpses. The gunshot wounds on them indicated that either Strelok's entourage had finished them off or the uninvited guests had made their way here before Redemption. Thankfully the former turned out to be the case, as a man in Sunrise/exosuit hybrid waved his hand at them. Seeing Rogue and Stitch among the squad, the man breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank the Zone, we thought you were goners. Quickly, come inside, Strelok is on the second floor.", the man said.
"We're not that easy to kill. Ran into a few hiccups on the way, that's all.", Rogue replied.
"Like locking yourself into a metal closet.", Dima mocked.
"Alright Kamaz, let the others in but keep this one out. He is a threat to our sanity above all else.", Rogue ordered, and the stalker acting as welcoming committee scoffed.
After some back and forth insults and jokes, the entire group, Dima included, made it inside. Boris ordered Dimuha, Dimka and Dima with him to Strelok's hideout. On the way, Dimka noted that the legendary stalker seemed to only have two men with him, the Kamaz fellow at the door and Yakut, a man in a SEVA suit, guarding another entry into the building. Strelok was not a fan of security, or just confident in his abilities, then, Dimka wondered. On the second floor, Boris led them into a room where Strelok was sitting on an antique, ruined sofa. Dimka was quite surprised at seeing the legend himself, the man was nothing extraordinary by the looks. In fact, had Dimka ran into him in the Big Land, he would've probably taken the man for some lowlife, given his scrawny appearance.
"Boris! I am glad to see you again. I heard Rogue and Stitch got here alright, yet the international agent problem persists?", Strelok asked.
"Indeed. And on top of that, there is a Secret Service force looking for us and them here in the city. Led by Degtyarev of all people.", Boris answered, and Strelok's expressionless face contorted.
"I see. I'm fairly certain he isn't here only because of the interlopers. He's here to bring me back to the Institute.", Strelok sighed.
"Care to elaborate? What beef do you have?", Dima questioned.
"I deserted my post there. Too much oversight yet too little reaction to when I notified the higher ups of alarming development. The complacency of Ukrainian Ministry of the Zone of Alienation is incredible, I warned them years ago that the source of emissions could be utilized as a weapon and they repeatedly denied funding to an expedition to find it. So I took matters to my own hands. I am sure Alexander would have approved personally, but he also has to fulfill his duties. Now, it seems that those duties have brought him to capture me.", Strelok explained.
"If so, you can trust on us to keep your back. I respect the Colonel, but you and I are stalkers while he is a jarhead.", Boris said in a solemn tone, but Dimka did wonder that part of this declaration had to also be related to the two UNISG fugitives within the ranks of Redemption.
"I thank you, Boris, you are as steadfast ally as ever. I hope it does not come to violence, but if we must face him in battle, then so be it. But now, let us prepare for those... UNISG, was it?", Strelok said, and they quickly formed a plan based on Dimka's insight of Khan's character, Strelok's knowledge of the surrounding terrain and Dimuha's battle instinct.
Twenty minutes later orders were barked and battle stations mounted, but just as they were rushing towards the battlefield, an announcement on PDA network made all of the group's devices beep. Pulling out his PDA, Dimka looked at the message and a picture next to it. The SSU cross clearly visible on it, the message ordered Redemption and Strelok's group to stand down as the building was surrounded. Dimka shot a glance outside, seeing men in dark blue Berill and Skat suits mount up weapon's nests and sniping spots.
"Chyort, they got here faster than expected!", Boris shouted in anger and frustration.
"There's a launcher on them, get down!", came a shout from Yakut downstairs.
"This is your last chance. Surrender now and you will face no charges of treason.", Colonel Degtyarev's voice rang in the cold morning air.
"Do we resist? What do we do now?", Sanyok asked.
"Hold the line. Strelok, get the hell out of here, he wants you captured, but we may be able to bargain with him. Rogue, Stitch, Kamaz and Yakut, cover his ass.", Boris ordered.
"But the place is surrounded!", Kamaz protested.
"Not the tunnels below. I used them once before, and I checked this place before. There is an access hatch here. Stalkers, on me, we'll flee for now. Boris, I cannot thank you enough.", Strelok said, gratitude strong in his voice, and Boris only nodded.
"What now?", Dimka queried, looking anxiously at the outside.
"Now, we go out there and convince him that it's not worth his while to be fighting us.", Boris said, grinning, and Dimka gulped.
"That's in-...", he started, but the exoskeleton frame of Boris had already disappeared through the door.
Dimka watched Boris walk over the courtyard. The SSU agents pointed their guns at him, but lowered them once the familiar helmetless Skat-wearing man stepped between them. Degtyarev looked at Boris disapprovingly, as the hiss of his exoskeleton servos and powerpack faded between the husks of buildings. Boris raised his hand as nonchalantly as possible, stopping on his tracks a couple metres from the line of various special operative weapons.
"Good morning, Colonel.", Boris greeted.
"I presume you've come to surrender.", the secret service agent said, raising his eyebrow.
"Not really. You see, we were sitting here, on a picnic, and then you decided to pop in and ruin the fun. How very rude.", Boris replied in a mockinly paternalistic tone.
"Cut the crap, Boris. You disobeyed my orders, breaking the agreement we made in Zaton. And now you're actively helping a fugitive. I know you and Strelok have history, but me taking him back to the Institute is for the best of us all.", Degtyarev said, infuriated.
"I broke the agreement? Colonel, we agreed to be allies. Then you spat on that by telling me that my men were no longer welcome, after we had fought and bled for your cause. We have been nothing but loyal this entire time, yet we are discarded us the second we had done our task.", Boris retaliated.
"It was becoming harder and harder to keep it under wraps, especially when I had to bail your man out from Zhurov's custody. He lost a lot of good men in Cordon, I was in boiling hot water afterwards. But you are right, I should have been less blunt about it. And I apologize. But I also know you are stalling. As a sign of goodwill, hand over Strelok and your men can return to Meadow unharmed.", Degtyarev proclaimed.
"No deal. Strelok himself told us that he was merely shackled by the Institute, not allowed to combat threats to the Zone and Ukraine due to big shots withdrawing funding. Yet ever since coming to the Zone, he has led an effective raid against the resurgent Monolith, blocked Sin's grand plan and is now allowing us to finally cut down UNISG by voluntarily acting as bait.", Boris countered, adding the last point as a little white lie.
"That may be true, but I have my orders, orders which I have had to bend far too much already. I'm sorry, but it has to be this way.", Degtyarev sighed.
"Then it must. Cut me down then, for I will not abandon my allies. Unlike you.", Boris spat, and he could see even Degtyarev's facade of calm splinter slightly as he flinched at the insult.
Boris held his breath, knowing that death was staring at him from the rifle barrels of Degtyarev's men. The colonel hesitated, torn between duty to the government and personal feelings towards the inhabitants of the Zone. It was as if he was reconsidering the entire fabric of his being, and what he had actually been sent to the Zone to do. Boris would never learn what his decision had been, as the rightmost SSU agent was struck by a bullet cracking his helmet open. Two grenades landed on the feet of the group, and Boris lunged onward by instinct, kicking one of them further away. The blast from the other one tossed him to the side, his Absolver armour sheltering him and the special forces operators from worst of the blast. They were disoriented and stunned by the explosion, however, and gunfire rained on them. Two more SSU agents died, when Boris began pushing them towards the building, out of the fire.
"It's UNISG, they found us!", Boris shouted over the fire as the six survivors of the ambush darted across the yard towards the building.
Sniper fire struck the ground around them, and finally the foes showed themselves. Two UNISG troopers from Khan's squad, clad in looted Monolith Nosorog armour, jerked upwards from a nearby basement and began advancing. Their movements betrayed inexperience with exoskeletons, moving too quick and risking injuries to themselves or others around them, but the venerable armours would still protect them greatly. Dimuha led a charge out of the building block to buy some time for the retreating SSU, Sanyok and Sevka blasting at the UNISG stormtroopers while Dimka, Dima and Meeker kept the heads of the snipers down. The Nosorog battleplates took a beating, but given that their armour was thicker than a renegade with brain damage, they continued on unhampered. One flicked the launcher sight on his rifle and took aim, Dimka realizing a second too late what he was attempting to do.
"Grenade, spread out!", he screamed, but just that second he saw one of the SSU agent's Skat armour take a direct hit.
Dustcloud settled over the entire yard, and gunfire continued. Through it, Boris emerged to the half-circle formed by Dimuha's trio, dragging Degtyarev behind him. Another SSU agent limped out of the blast zone as well, holding a butchered but alive operator alift. Rest of the UNISG force had appeared, and they now pushed over the yard. Dimuha's armour took a hit, yet he soldiered on despite a broken rib and kept shooting at the advancing Nosorog pair. One of his shots lodged itself between the ceramic plates, keeping enough momentum to break through and strike the man's heart. Sergeant Němec breathed his last sigh and fell down.
"Fall back inside, we can't fight them in the open at this state!", Boris ordered as Degtyarev started to come back to his senses.
"We were fools, letting ourselves get ambushed like this.", the colonel muttered.
"Well you are special forces, alright.", Dimuha growled and shot his last burst as the machine gun ran dry.
They stumbled inside, where Meeker took the wounded SSU trooper further in for emergency treatment. Seeing the ex-Monolithian after such a long time, Degtyarev gave him a slight nod and Meeker smiled faintly. The others took positions on the windows, trying to remain in cover while the building was peppered by bullets. Dimka tried to spot Khan among the attackers, but the swarm of angry lead mosquitoes made it difficult. The lone Nosorog trooper lumbered on, struggling to control the suit. Boris told Dimka to focus on him with the Vykhlop, given that it had the best chance of punching through, while the others kept pressure on the other infiltrators zigzagging between cover towards the defences.
Dimka did as ordered, waiting for the agent to make a mistake. He was clever about using cover, only exposing himself for a brief second, but his inexperience with the large machine wrapped around him showed. When darting between a broken car and the corner of commieblock, his exoskeleton shot upwards with too much force. Shocked momentarily by the strength of the machine, this second of confusion gave Dimka enough time to center the scope. Aiming between the breastplate and Spartan helmet, Dimka squeezed the trigger and felt the kick of his rifle. Blood spurted from the wound, and the man slouched down like a powerless automaton. Yelling triumphantly, Dimka cycled the bolt of his rifle and took another target. With the armoured spearhead of UNISG broken, their attack slowed down, giving the initiative to Redemption.
"Target left, Dima and Sanyok, hose it down. Dimuha, Sevka and Degtyarev, on me, let's counter-attack!", Boris shouted.
"Since when are you ordering SSU officers around, stalker?", the lone surviving SSU trooper asked angrily.
"Since when my men did not run into an ambush and require the assistance of the men they were supposed to arrest.", Boris retorted and Degtyarev groaned.
"We wouldn't be in this situation if you had surrendered.", Degtyarev commented.
"Or if you had allowed us to ambush the UNISG.", Dima replied.
"Shut the hell up, all of you, and let's drive the fuckers back.", Dimuha ordered in turn, and this time everyone shot back into attention, realizing the folly of bickering in the middle of a battle.
Boris' Absolver ran through the dust and smoke, followed by Degtyarev, Sevka and Dimuha coming out of the building guns blazing. Dimka managed to squeeze a shot between car windows into the shoulder of a UNISG rifleman, killing him on the spot. The shoe was in the other foot now, with three heavily armoured stalkers bearing down on the internationals' force, Sevka giving fire support behind the spearhead. Three UN troopers keeled over after a sustained barrage of sniper and shotgun fire, all the while Boris and Dimuha suppressed the others with their machine guns. Degtyarev was not idle either, having used the suppression to flank around using the dense bushes. He was now at the same monument Dimka had admired earlier, and his Abakan racked up a tally of two more spies when he sprung the trap. These two had been hiding behind a rusting hulk of a ZAZ car, when two bursts from the odd rifle struck them down. That was when a pack of blind dogs and pseudodogs burst from the foliage, attacking Boris' group. They had to redirect their fire towards the mutants, with Dima and Sanyok opening up on the last hideout of the remnants of UNISG.
Now, the last two UNISG troopers were visibly panicking. Having expected to smash the defenders in a calculated ambush, they had missed the Redemption squad in the building and paid for it. They took off in a desperate last ditch attempt to escape. Dimka was watching them through his scope, angling for a shot yet failing to get a proper view of them through all the junk and flora dotting the field ahead. He was sure Khan wasn't dead yet, and seeing the battle draw to a close, the hotheaded part of him let loose. Anger gripping him, he left the Vykhlop on the windowsill, grabbed his handguns and stormed out with vengeance on his mind. Dima yelled after him but Dimka was already far ahead, racing across the asphalt to be the one to strike the final blow. Memories of the betrayal, his dead comrades, the framing of his allies as traitors and the attack on the checkpoint in Jupiter flooded to his mind and quickened his pace. Gripping the guns, he made it past Boris, Dimuha and Degtyarev who were still fighting the mutants.
"What the hell are you doing?", Boris shouted to him.
"Getting my payback.", Dimka replied quickly and continued.
He heard Boris shout something more, but more gunshots masked the order. Dimka continued, unwilling to let his most hated adversary escape. The two survivors were running ahead, towards the grocery store, when Dimka opened fire. He was using both guns simultaneously, so the fire was as accurate as that of a drunk bandit, but using the time old classic tactic of "throw enough shit at the wall and some of it will stick", he managed to cut down one of the UNISG troopers. Bullet hole in his back, the man fell down face first like a ragdoll. The last survivor made it inside, jumping over the makeshift barricade and forcing the wooden doors open.
Dimka was hot on the man's heels, and soon stepped inside as well. Turning on his night-vision in the dark corridor, he found the store to be a mess of doors and small rooms. A proper labyrinth. He continued down the corridor, guns trained on any possible ambush location. But the further he went, the more nerve-wracking the experience became. He saw no sign of his enemy, yet every shadow, every dark corner, seemed to hide him. Then, crossing one corridor, three shots rang out and Dimka felt sharp pain surge into his brain like a sledgehammer striking it from the inside. Dimka dropped to his knees, blood flowing down his leg. Khan stepped through the door, where three bullet holes had now appeared on the old wood.
"Torodov? You traitorous bastard, you're helping the enemy?", Khan said in an astonished tone.
"You would know traitors, you lapdog. The blood of my comrades is in your hands.", Dimka growled.
"So? You're soldiers, we're soldiers, our task is to kill one another by any means necessary. You got bested, and now the last of your company of idiots will die.", Khan replied calmly.
"Wrong.", someone else said, and a shotgun blast struck Khan in the centre of his torso, tossing him against the wall.
Sevka stepped out into the corridor and saw Khan attempt to reach for a sidearm despite his grievous wounds. Dimka, wounded and bleeding yet still sound of mind, fired him in the limb. Khan screamed in pain and let go of the pistol.
"It's your company that meets its end here.", Sevka said, and raised the shotgun.
"Perhaps... But... We are not the only ones after Strelok. You'll... see.", Khan replied, barely able to speak due to the agony of his wounds.
Dimka had had enough, and his revolver fired once more. The last of UNISG infiltrators died with a simple sigh and .45 ACP bullet in his skull. Major Hernandez's men, the original unit of Dimka and Sevka, had been avenged. Sevka stepped next to his friend, stuck a stimpack into his arm and bandaged his wound. Once colour began returning to the Bulgarian stalker's cheeks, Sevka sighed and reprimanded his comrade.
"I thought you learned from that scuffle with Skull that rushing off alone gets you killed."
"I'm a slow learner, alright?", Dimka argued, grinning.
"That much is clear. Now, let's check his pockets for our "get out of jail free" card.", Sevka proposed, and Dimka nodded.
They went through Khan's belongings, checking through the various pockets of his Mk. II suit. There was little to find there, but in his backbag, there was a document detailing some of the mission parametres set by Khan's employers. The liquidation of original UNISG was mentioned among them, and Dimka also pocketed the encrypted PDA of the traitor, hoping that Maus could decrypt it.
"That alone should help, but this here might be a jackpot. Alright, Mr. De Luca, seems like we're off the hook now.", Dimka commented, shaking the PDA.
"Let's hope so. But what do you think Khan meant when he said there are others looking for Strelok?", Sevka asked.
"Those men in black suits perhaps? I wouldn't worry, they ran with their tails between their legs when we stormed the hideout yesterday.", Dimka scoffed.
Sevka nodded hesitantly, looking at the dead captain laying on the floor. Yet Dimka's comment was quickly revealed to be dead wrong, when the sound of a helicopter engine echoed through out the city. Outside, Boris and Degtyarev raised their eyes towards the sky, and the black helicopter they had seen leave before now approached yet again.

I am the eldest daughter of six siblings. I have an older brother. When our dad passed when I was 15, my mother dumped myself and my four younger siblings at our grandmother's(dad side) house and left with my brother. She cut all contact with us. Since my grandmother is old, I had to give up on school and work multiple jobs to keep us all alive. My younger siblings were all smart and got scholarships, so I only needed to earn money for our daily expenses.
For years, we didn't hear anything from our brother or our mom. Fast forward to 10 years later, I managed to get a proper job despite having no degree, and have been promoted to a supervisor. I was making enough money to get us by without struggling. Out of nowhere, my mom reaches out on Facebook and she says she found me through common friends who were relatives. She says she's "coming home".
It turns out, she left us years ago because she knew she couldn't afford to support all of us and she made the difficult decision to choose to support our older brother because he was the man of the house. Unfortunately, my older brother got married straight out of college and told her he couldn't afford to support mom now that he has his own family.
Despite everything, I take her into my house where I live with my four other siblings. Our grandmother had passed by then. It got very toxic very quick because she expected that I would hand over the management of the household expenses to her now that she's back. (Meaning I give her my salary and let her manage it.) I refused and this resulted in her throwing a long-term tantrum of nitpicking everything in the house and telling me every day that I did a terrible job of raising my younger siblings.
There was constant fighting between her and us on a daily basis. Worse, she started taking our stuff and selling them. Including my sister's laptop which was just loaned to her by a nice professor. It came to the point that I would sleep in the office and my siblings would sleep in dorms or their friend's place just to not to have to come home.
After a few years of this, our older brother comes in and saves the day. He is pretty well off now. Our mom had been crying to him for years about how horribly she is treated in our home and he will now be taking her back. Yey!
Fast forward to now. My brother experienced being locked down with our mom and their relationship has been strained to say the least. His wife and daughters hate our mom and has put their foot down. They want her out. As for myself, I have also gotten married and have two children of my own. My brother wants me to take our mom back as it is my duty as the eldest daughter.
I refused. I will not expose my children to her toxicity. I told him I will pitch in so he can get her an apartment. He says it's unacceptable for our elderly mother to be living on her own or with a (caregiver). This has been long so, AITA?

During my teens and early 20s, I never really put much thought into how others saw me. Had a big social circle from school and things were good. As time has gone on, people move away, start families and the social circle is a lot smaller. I do my best to stay in touch with people and to make new friends but I have been finding that over the past 3 or 4 years, I get incredibly paranoid after social events that people may not have thought I was nice or end up talking about me negativity.
Some of my family have shown a lot of very mean and jealous streaks toward me and my girlfriend as we have a happy relationship and own a house together. I get so paranoid after social gatherings as I get so worried that I come across boastful or something when any topic about life comes up where I'm doing ok but in my head I have consciously spent the entire time trying to avoid saying anything positive.
The mean comments always come from people who aren't in the same position as us in life. My girlfriend gets a lot of negative comments from single people trying to pick apart our relationship and find flaws. People renting or living with parents often respond negatively when they ask me if I'm renting or living with parents and I say I own a home but it's the truth, how do I respond? Initially I would brush it off as bitterness but it seems so consistent now that I can't help but think I'm the problem. But I don't know how. Im afraid to even mention these things in conversation when it's the main discussion at a table. I know for sure I am very tight lipped about things and if something slips out, I obsess over it in my head for days that people might have disliked what I said. I often have 0 reason to believe they did , it feels like it is all in my head most of the time but a few bad experiences from people I cared about seem to paint my entire social life now.
Sometimes I may say something and think nothing of it at the time but the next day I get very anxious thinking "what if they thought I meant X when I meant Y" or something really silly when I know the response at the time as fine. I just get so paranoid now that people do not like me or if I do something stupid, they think bad of me for it.
I really dunno what to do. All I know is that after every social interaction I either get paranoid about something I said being taken the wrong way or if the night was perfect, I worry they thought badly of me afterwards for something I may have implied. I usually deal with this by speaking with the same people and if their tone over message is fine, I calm down immediately but it's hard as people have lives and can't be dealing with me acting so stupid. I know my intentions are good and I'm conscious of what I say and try to be nice but I still doubt how others see me constantly.
I see other people who never think they are the problem when they clearly are. I feel I'm at the point where I'm this person but no amount of inward reflection is allowing me to see what I am doing wrong.
Edit: I've often thought about volunteering as a way to help. If I'm helping clean up a river or care for animals etc, I'll know that there's no way anyone will see what I'm doing as a negative thing but that thought in itself is quite selfish and me helping others so that that I feel like a nice guy is a negative thing.

Live top floor flat in a building, I'm fortunate that I have a roof top terrace with a conservatory like structure on top of the building that gives access to the balcony.
The roof is managed as apart of the service charge.
Two two years ago, after the first month I moved in, I reported a leak that was happening from the roof around the conservatory structure and at a few places on the roof under the balancy - after 2 years or going back and forth, roofers have suggested a full reroof job to ensure suitable for warranty, and this will likely include having to rebuild the conservatory.
Freeholders have mentioned they have an opinion from their solicitor to suggest I will be responsible to pay for the new conservatory element.
After putting in £14k in service charges in that last year to fund reserve to pay for the new roof, an addition to me directly is hard to swallow and I want to ensure i've done all my due diligence to ensure if and what I'm actually reasonability for - any advice/suggestions?

Hey everyone! I am looking to relet my spot at the apartment building, HERE, for the 2023-2024 season. I was originally going to lease with HERE, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I can no longer do so. The room available is a 4x4 Terrace. There are 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, so you will have three other roommates, and the rent is $1,079/month. The apartment building has many amenities, and is located on Green Street, right outside of campus! Since the lease starts in August, you will not be put on a waitlist. Attached is a link to the HERE website to look at the specific floor plan. Please let me know if you are interested as soon as possible by emailing me your full name, phone number, and a reliable email address at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) so I can pass it off to HERE and they have your information. This will allow them to get you contracted quickly and easily!
https://www.herechampaign.com/
Thank you!
Claire

Looking to move into either the Sandy Springs or Vinings area and wanted to know if anyone has any knowledge/experience with the below apartment complexes. Reviews online tend to only tell you the bad… looking for a safe and clean complex with new appliances, hardwoods in the living areas, and just an overall good community to live in as a solo renter. Walkability to grocery, restaurants is an added bonus but not necessary.
Sandy Springs: 1) Wesley St James 2) The Eva 3) Park at Chastain 4) Cortland Glenridge
Vinings: 1) MAA Spring 2) Wildwood Ridge
Thanks in advance!

From time to time, we experience injuries that can cause significant pain in our shoulders, hindering our ability to perform daily tasks. Incorporating yoga poses into our routine can be highly beneficial for reducing shoulder pain. Whether you're recovering from a shoulder strain, dislocation, or any other shoulder-related issue, these poses can prove useful.
Including appropriate yoga poses can expedite the recovery process, strengthening the shoulder and enhancing its flexibility. By following a regular and dedicated yoga routine, the shoulder's original functionality can be restored.
Understanding the Anatomy of the Shoulder:
The shoulder is a complex part of the human body composed of muscles, bones, and joints. Identifying the specific source of pain can be challenging, so it's important to have a basic understanding of its anatomy.
The primary bones comprising the shoulder are the clavicle (collarbone), scapula (shoulder blades), and humerus (upper arm bone).
The key muscles in the shoulder include:

1. Anterior deltoid: Located in the front area of the upper arm, it provides arm flexibility and rotation.
2. Medial deltoid: Positioned on the outer area of the arm, it assists with overhead pressing and movement.
3. Posterior deltoid: Found on the back side of the upper arm, it aids in arm extension and lateral rotation.

The shoulder consists of several joints:

1. Glenohumeral joint: Facilitates arm movement.
2. Acromioclavicular joint: Provides stability.
3. Sternoclavicular joint: Assists in throwing and thrusting movements.
4. Scapulothoracic joint: Connects the shoulder to the chest wall.

Causes of Shoulder Pain:
Shoulder pain can arise from various factors and conditions. Here are some common causes:

1. Strains, tears, or inflammation in the rotator cuff.
2. Shoulder impingement.
3. Thickening and tightening of the shoulder joint capsule, leading to a frozen shoulder.
4. Joint stiffness.
5. Arthritis.
6. Bursitis.
7. Tendon inflammation.
8. Shoulder dislocation.
9. Fractured shoulder bones.
10. Muscle strain.
11. Imbalances due to poor posture.
12. Lupus, an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks itself.
13. Neck pain.

Accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause is crucial to determine the appropriate yoga poses for treatment.
Importance of Yoga Poses for Shoulder Injuries:
Yoga offers several poses specifically designed for shoulder injuries, offering the following benefits:

1. Accelerates the healing process.
2. Improves blood circulation to the shoulder, aiding in faster recovery.
3. Alleviates chronic shoulder pain.
4. Reduces inflammation in the shoulder.
5. Strengthens and increases the shoulder's flexibility.
6. Restores joint mobility and movement.
7. Enhances range of motion.
8. Promotes proper posture alignment to alleviate shoulder pain.
9. Reduces stress and relaxes the shoulder.
10. Enhances shoulder endurance.

Yoga Poses for Shoulder Injuries:
Numerous yoga poses focus on shoulder strengthening. However, when practicing yoga poses for shoulder injury recovery, it is essential to exercise caution and modify them to avoid putting excessive strain and pressure on the injured shoulder. Here are the recommended poses and their modifications:

1. Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute Pose)
2. Utkatasana (Chair Pose
3. Virabhadrasana 1 (Warrior 1 Pose
4. Anjanayasana (Crescent Lunge Pose)

In the original forms of these asanas, the arms are raised straight upwards shoulder-width apart. However, in the case of an injured shoulder, it is advisable to modify the pose by making a V shape with the arms, reducing stress on the injured shoulder.

1. Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2 Pose)

In the original form, the arms are kept straight and extended outwards with palms facing downwards. To modify this pose, bend the arms at the elbow and keep the palms facing upwards.

1. Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose) and
2. Utthita Parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle Pose)

In the original form of Utthita Trikonasana, one arm is extended straight upwards, while in Utthita Parsvakonasana, one arm extends outward. To modify these poses, rest the extended arm on the body to avoid placing stress on it.

1. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)

In the original form of this pose, the body is bent forward in a triangle shape, and the arms bear the body's weight. However, to prevent stress on the injured shoulder, reduce the distance between the arms and legs and place the hands on blocks.

1. Parsvottanasana (Pyramid Pose)

In the original form of this pose, the hands are kept behind the back. In the case of an injured shoulder, modify the pose by bending the elbows and placing the hands on the sides of the hips.
Yoga Poses to Avoid for Shoulder Pain:
In the case of shoulder pain or injury, the following yoga poses should be avoided as they exert significant pressure on the shoulder area:

1. Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)
2. Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose)
3. Sirsasana (Headstand)
4. Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand)
5. Bakasana (Crow Pose)
6. Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose)
7. Plank Pose

Precautions for Yoga Practice with Shoulder Injuries:
When practicing yoga with a shoulder injury, it is important to take the following precautions:

1. Maintain good technique.
2. Ensure proper body and arm alignment.
3. Avoid exerting excessive effort and practice with ease.
4. Seek guidance from a qualified yoga instructor.

Conclusion:
It is important to keep in mind that every individual’s healing process is different so one needs to have patience. Moreover, before starting with yoga poses for shoulder pain relief, one must take the guidance of a healthcare professional and an expert yoga trainer. The yoga trainer may advise you to go for poses as they are or in their modified form. Stop doing a pose or it modified version, if you are experiencing pain while doing it. The use of yoga should be to help yourself and not to aggravate your problem.

My father-in-law is in an assisted living community. That community has things likes options for independent living, assisted, and full-blown nursing home care.
The community requires an initial entrance fee from $190,000 to $450,000 depending on the size of the unit. It might be an apartment, or a cottage. There is a monthly fee for maintenance, food, etc., and that can range from $2500 to $6000+
He recently "moved" from the cottage to an apartment, so he is basically paying for two units right now. The community is in charge of selling these memberships to new tenants --so he doesn't control the sale. They are taking the monthly charge on the cottage out of the "profit" he made after 10 years of living in it.
I am wondering what happens after he dies. We will essentially "inherit" these memberships, and can't control the sale of them. One of the cottages on site took over a year to sell.
Since the community will still be collecting monthly fees, what kind of incentive do they have to sell these units? Can they sit empty for 10 years, and we would be on the hook for paying $5000+ a month for all that time? Any limits on this, or laws to protect consumers?