fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Was King James I Really Gay?
By: Jennifer R. Povey
Tags: LGBT, History, King Jame, Lgbt History

Photo by Mitya Ivanov on Unsplash

Ah yes, King James. That King James. The one who paid for a translation of the Bible. He was James VI of Scotland and James I of England, succeeding Elizabeth I after she died without an heir.

And supposedly, he was gay.

Which, of course, causes some issues for those who think that homosexuality is profound.

So, was he?

Let’s examine the evidence.

James I was Married

Which, of course, means nothing. But he also fathered no less than eight children, of whom three survived to adult. His wife was Anne, the daughter of the King of Denmark and Norway.

This was, of course, an arranged marriage. So, piece of evidence against James I being gay: He had a long-term relationship with a woman, albeit one not of his choosing, and was able to perform well enough to father children.

Of course, not all gay men experience vagina repulsion and he was under a lot of pressure to father a lot of children, given England’s experience with the Tudors.

James I Had Several Male Lovers

James I’s most famous “favorite,” which was a euphemism, was of course George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham.

Obviously, this is strong evidence in favor of him being gay. He also had at least two other male lovers. In one case, this appears to have been a pederasty-type relationship, with James as the boy…so there’s a question as to whether this should truly be counted.

His other boyfriend was Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset, and their relationship ended badly, with an entire saga that involved poisoning and blackmail. I’m tempted to write that one up.

Furthermore his relationship with Buckingham was pretty well known at the time, and criticized mostly because of the amount of money James gave his lover…to spend on clothes. Apparently, Buckingham was quite the clothes horse.

So, assuming his relationship with Queen Anne was forced and he only fathered those kids out of duty, the evidence strongly swings towards, yup, gay.

But wait!

Photo by Luke Braswell on Unsplash

James I Also Had a Mistress!

Her name was Anne Murray and she’s often left out of the history books because people like the idea that he was gay. I studied this period of history intensely in school, and she was never mentioned. He wrote love poems to her. She was the daughter of the Master of the King’s Household. (Her name may also have been Agnes, it’s not entirely clear).

She was, of course, married to somebody else.

Oh, and she might not have been the only one. He also appears to have had an affair with a woman named Euphemia or Eufamia Douglas, daughter of a Scottish Earl. That one’s less clear, though.

So, was James I gay?

Historians love to make a big thing about him being gay, especially with the clothes scandal.

And clearly, clearly a straight guy wouldn’t have…

…which is how Anne Murray gets erased from history.

Along with the likely truth about King James. Sorry, Bible scholars, and sorry gay men who would like to claim him:

The actual evidence says that King James I was likely, in modern terms:

Bisexual.
Trans people in the media industry
By: Natalia Álvarez García
Tags: Transexual, Trans, LGBT, Media, Series

The main problem is that trans people are a minority which is highly discriminated, specially in the cinema and television industry. Finding a job is more complicated when people look at you as if you were an alien, and the fact that someone who doesn’t suffer contempt wants to be in your skin without taking into account that, they are not only not helping you grow as an artist, but they could also help you pay your monthly rent, that’s outrageous.

What’s the relation with artistic quality? That argument is frecuently used to say that a famous actress will be better than a transexual woman. Obviously, there are different cases, but those people are formed, they have studied, and let’s not talk about talent. The obstacle that they face is the lack of experience due to the difficulty of finding job that I mentioned before, and that doesn’t make them worse, genuine stars are eclipsed by cisgender straight normative and white actors.

There are many clear examples, I’ll highlight ‘POSE’ because it doesn’t have an almost full trans cast (same as ‘Veneno’), but they also have black people who live an even bigger discrimination. ¿Are those actresses worse? Not at all, they make roles worthy enough to be in Hollywood, and thousands of viewers can agree with that. Who is better to play a trans role than someone who has lived it’s difficulties in first person? Actors and actresses like Paco León in ‘La casa de las flores’ Eddie Redmayne in ‘The danish girl’ or Belén Cuesta in ‘La casa de papel’ have been brutally criticised for accepting those roles and, as always, they have just posted an statement to get out of the drama without really committing to the cause and understanding the problem that they are supporting

Getting deeper in the issue, it isn’t just bad that trans people don’t get those roles, but they even get less roles when it comes to interpreting cis people, such as Jamie Clayton who in ‘Sense 8’ plays a women whose life doesn’t revolve around being trans, being that one of the few examples. We could discuss if, when we say that a cisgender person shouldn’t play a trans one… Why can it be the other way around? I think the answer to that question is pretty simple: trans women aren’t men with wigs, they are women. Same as men, but in television and cinema, it’s more common to see women. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t trans since they weren’t born with the gender identity that they identify themselves with, unlike cis people.

Although there is still a lot of controversy when a trans person (also anyone LGBT, black, chinese, indian of from any minority) gets into a cast, but there is also a big public that enormously appreciates it and who look forward to that being done naturally in order to keep evolving as a modern society and that hundres of people, specially children who don’t understand why they are ‘different’ get to see that they are absolutely normal. That’s why it is essential to have the maximum amount of representation that we can get in our media and stop distinguishing people.
BL series: Book Lovers — Sebuah Seni Untuk Bersikap Bodo Amat
By: Ferawati Hartanti Pratiwi
Tags: Series, Self Love, Test Engineer, Book Lover, The Subtle Art

mpermperpisang official Medium account..Visit my Youtube channe at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfyXY62OnFM8EM2sPZ4a12g
Humans — Netflix 1st Season Review
By: Emily Ryan
Tags: Review, Humans, Science Fiction, Netflix, Series

A totally non-objective promotion for my latest binge.

I’m a little late to the game, I’ll admit; this epic sci-fy series ended its three-season existence back in 2018.

However, I don’t lament that I missed my chance to play the cliff-hanger game; I’m built for the 9–5 workday binge, and I’ll never be capable of taking only one cookie out of the cookie-jar.

My personal home-comfort motto is Binge, Beer, Broke, not Live, Laugh, Love.

So I would be lying if I said I didn’t spend eight hours yesterday ravenously watching.

Boy, was it worth it.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced sci-fy drama filled with phenomenal actors and riot-inciting plot twists, you’ve found the right program.

All image rights belong to AMC — Humans

The series focuses on the existence of AI robots made in our image; and as with every human-cyborg drama, they’ve developed consciousness.

Bit of a shocker, I know.

But this series (so far) is less about the impending doom and destruction of mankind, and more about how technology, especially intelligent technology, impacts our lives and our abilities to live and function in the human world.

It’s vaguely reminiscent of the movie H.E.R in that regard, or even Black Mirror, if you’ve ever seen either.

Even if you’re not an empath like myself, the characters are well-developed, and continue to grow as the series progresses, leaving you with no choice but to get attached.

You’ll cry when they cry, and throw your Iphone earbuds across the room in a rage when inevitably, the greed of humanity gets in their way of being free.

For that is the question that this series inspires the audience to consider; if your machine grows to become a conscious, intelligent entity in its own right, then at what point does it stop being property and deserve human dignity?

I can say with assurance that this show has hooked me not only on a primal-entertainment level, but also intellectually.

Humans is available on Netflix currently.

Rating: 8/10.
Chessboard lessons from The Queen’s Gambit.
Tags: Life Lessons, Chess, The Queens Gambit, Netflix, Series

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Unsplash

Have you watched it? If not, stop here. *Spoiler alert*

I recently did, and despite my basic knowledge of chess, I enjoyed this series quite a lot. There are a few messages shared in this series that I like.

♛. Regardless of the circumstances that you have been born into, you can always change your reality later on.

♞. Time is a big factor in the success of the character. As the years pass by, the character evolves and learns new chess moves.

♝. “Everybody’s gotta learn, nobody’s born knowing” — Herper Lee. Yes, the character has a genius brain, and even she has to study and practice to get better and better.

♟. Even when the character is incredibly successful at playing chess. The personal life shown in the series is quite sad. (Without mentioning her addiction to drugs and alcohol), which is a reflection of most people’s lives, that like “Beth” we don’t have it all, all the time. We can be incredibly successful in our business and be terrible in our personal life.

♜. Determination is what allows the character to start and keep learning and progressing in the chess career.

♚. If you work hard, there are no impossible dreams.

♝. The character might be a genius but one with self-destructive behavior. Thanks to all the help from different people at different times, she can succeed.

♞. If you lose at first, you can still win at the end.
The Queen's Gambit
By: Felipe Xavier
Tags: Chess, The Queens Gambit, Miniseries, Netflix, Series

The Queen’s Gambit is a Netflix original 7-episode miniseries that tells the story of Beth Harmon, an orphan girl who learns to play chess from the janitor at the orphanage she was brought up and ends up becoming a genius chess player.

The series was inspired by a book of the same name, written in 1983 by Walter Tevis. He passed away in 1984. I have no idea if it is a good adaptation, I have never read the original story, but after seeing the series I was very interested in going after the book.

The adaptation was written and directed by Scott Frank, also known for another Netflix miniseries called Godless — which has been on my list for a long time — and also Minority Report (2002).

Anya Taylor-Joy has the lead role portraying the young Beth Harmon. You must know her for roles in The Witch, which I haven't seen, and she also did very well in the movie Split.

Who's the Queen?

The name “The Queen’s Gambit” is a reference to a chess move, which I will not dare to explain here to you.

Beth Harmon is a character who grows up between the 50s and 60s, and ends up having to deal with addictions, abandonment, drug abuse, alcoholism, sexism… It's an interesting build-up.

The series also shows tensions between the Soviet Union and the USA. During the height of the Cold War, which also happened in the world of sports. Even in real chess disputes during the 70s.

Some of the best things in the series for me are the art direction and cinematography. The color of the Cold War is something that I always enjoy in movies or series. It has so much mystery of a time I have not lived but heard so much about it.

What about chess?

To build the exciting games of chess and accurate plays, the production had the advice of two legends of the sport. Garry Kasparov and American coach Bruce Pandolfini, who guaranteed a reliable representation of everything we watched.

Photo by IMDB

Anya Taylor-Joy had to really learn how to play chess along with all actors who also received basic training, from how to move the pieces to start the clock naturally. You can definitely see all this preparation on the screen.

They were able to create exciting chess games with awesome editing and an amazing soundtrack. Speaking of the music, it's just incredible. I just can't stop listening to it.

One last thing

If you haven't given The Queen's Gambit a chance because it's about chess, think again. It's so much more than that. It's just good storytelling. I don't know about you but I am always up for that.
Part 6 — Blood: One Down
By: Keith R. Higgons
Tags: Very Short Story, Crime Fiction, Series, Crime

It was understood Tyler was quick, but no one knew just how lithe he was. In four silent steps, he was behind the Russian giant—the guy threatening Steph from the other side of the tree.

The distance crippled Mark. He couldn’t get over to Steph in time and definitely not without making a commotion.

All he could do was watch.

And hope.

Tyler hopped on the Russian’s back, covered the giant’s mouth, and slit his throat with nary a gurgle from the guy.

Tyler grabbed Steph, looked at Mark, and motioned for him to follow.

Who was this guy?
Vanessa’s Goodbye
By: Sakari Lacross
Tags: Flash Fiction, Tragedy, Short Fiction, Poetry, Series

Vanessa’s Goodbye

(Photo by Rhodi Lopez/Unsplash)

Lost in a blizzard

That only I could see

Vanessa was gone

Misplaced

From where she was supposed to be

Vanessa was cold

But not from the water

That filled her body

She was cold before that

She was cold

Even when the sun could reach her

Six feet slumber

She was finally

Unreachable to the sun

Her funeral was rough on me

But Worst on a mother

Who knew nothing of her daughter’s sorrows

Vanessa was a cold case

That detectives couldn’t solve

Friends attended

Frenemies attended

Everyone wanted to say

Goodbye

I wanted a second chance

I wanted Vanessa…to grab my hand
Vanessa’s Shadow
By: Sakari Lacross
Tags: Flash Fiction, Drama, Short Fiction, Short Read, Series

Vanessa’s Shadow

(Photo by Chuttersnap/Unsplash)

She had killed herself

Vanessa was gone

School was exhausting

Emotionally, I was dead as well

I caught up to Dexter

In between classes

I caught up to Dexter

In the hallway

Once her friend

Once, her Imaginary twin

Once someone

Who shadowed her

I lacked control

Tossing Dexter against a locker

His face was that of a confused one

My fist holding itself up, in the air

He swore they were friends

He swore he had nothing to do

With Vanessa's mental collapse

He swore that Vanessa carried problems

That the mind's muscle

Was too weak to lift

Go back to that tragedic moment in the first chapter…
‘Supernatural' — “Gimmie Shelter” Review and a Brief Pre-Review of the Series Finale
By: Nancy O. Greene
Tags: Streaming, Television, CW, Supernatural, Series

*Note: Supernatural has had its final episode, now available to stream on the CW. After 15 seasons, we say goodbye and thank you to the beloved show.

The devastating and beautiful concluding episodes of the series featured the demise of Billie (new “Death") and our series favorite good angel Castiel declaring his love and adoration of Dean in a tearful goodbye. And Chuck… Chuck finally got what was coming to him.

To avoid too many spoilers (though be warned, it still might be a little spoiler-y) for those who haven’t seen the conclusion yet, I will just say that I - and many others - cried like a baby. It was a bit surprising, really. I expected a few tears, but not like that. Once the tears started due to the scene that caused it, they practically did not stop for the entire rest of the episode and a bit after. I’m in a wonderful fan group for the show and, despite a few detractors, the feeling was nearly unanimously mutal.

One of the things I said there, is that I believe with this ending they wanted to gift us with hope. Here is what I wrote:

“I think they wanted to do what the show always tried to do, as well as the cast, etc. Give people hope. The show isn’t just about monsters. It’s about family and the bonds of life. It seems they wanted to end it not with some grand battle, but with the real world things we experience and the hope after, and carrying on after all is said and done.”

Because, while we do have to fight at times in this life, one thing we also need more of is hope. And a realization that it is not always about the fight, but the moments in between, and what comes after. That in the grand design, maybe the end isn’t always the end. That there’s more and better for us than the conclusion we were looking for or expecting in life.

All in all, it was a touching episode. Again, not giving too much away. (But nice nod to Kripke and Singer as the last episode fake FBI agent names!)*
BL series: Business Learning— Young way to go
By: Ferawati Hartanti Pratiwi
Tags: Learning, Business, Way To Go, Test Engineer, Series

The right people are worth everything

Humans are social creatures. Doing a business can’t be alone, even an individual seller need a partner to send a package. People can give more opportunities to others. Like an example when we’re hiring someone. It’s not about the chance, knowledge, or the deal. It is about the person. The right person we hired can give us everything. The wrong person can also goes wrong (like wasting everybody’s time maybe?). Learning how to choose the right person can prevent us from trouble later on.

You’re going to fail — and that’s okay

Remember what Thanos said? “I’m inevitable”. Fail is like Thanos. Come on! We’re just human so we have to fail to learn something new. Any business will fail at some point. That’s totally okay. Just take it and learn to improve it. People does fail and improve so do the business.

Time is your most valuable resource

Time is money. How fast we do something and how fast we finish it allows us to get more things like starting another project or even a short break to save our head from burn out.

Communication can prevent or fix almost any problem

That’s so true. A bad way to describe what we want can make be a misunderstand. But not so many know how to describe a thing. Like me when I thought something is clear, others may ask for more explanation or otherwise. Something simple like “thank you” or “sorry” is also can help our relationship with others be better.

Perfection is the enemy of progress

There is nothing perfect. We will always find a flaw. That’s why we don’t need a perfection at the beginning of each time we do something. By making changes in each progress will correct our mistakes in the previous progress. So ignore perfection in the early stages of building something.

All ideas must be rooted in practicality

What’s your best idea you were given to your company? Is it accepted? I’m sure it’s not yet accepted. Good idea is good with a good result. How do we make it good? Of course by running it well. Many aspects which can make it good but many aspects can also make it bad. So if the practice doesn’t go well with the plan then it’s not a good idea.

There is always more you can be doing to keep learning

Internet so far is good (except you opened up a bad one :D). How to keep learning? Reading, listening, observe carefully and share what you know is also a process to learn something new. Earlier we know something, earlier we know what’s our mistake. Also earlier we fix those what should be go well.
Forever Dream — (Chapter 4) The Dawn
Tags: Short Story, Fiction, Series, Forever Dream, Magical Realism

When I come to the next time, I find myself lying under the slides in school in the morning. That alone tells me everything I need to know about my reality and dreams. I dust myself as I stand up from under the slides and make my way down to the curb from where my home is but a ten minutes walk away. If I didn’t know any better, I would have attributed this to luck; I know it’s anything but luck, and that it has everything to do with what comes easy to me.

As I’m walking down the quiet streets on the small town whose name I never care to find out, I realize that dawn break is just around the corner. Just like Yumi’s house. So instead of walking back to my home where no one is waiting for me, I trek toward’s Yumi’s home instead. And sure enough, as soon as I turn the corner of the small street, I find Yumi cycling down the road to school.

“Oh! You’re up early!” She smiles pleasantly at me and pulls off her backpack to wear it in front, patting the rear seat for me to hop on.

I don’t hesitate.

“I don’t think that’s how time machines work, Yumi,” I say, rolling my eyes at another one of her crazy theories.

“Yeah, because you would know soooo much about time machines, huh?”

I don’t respond to her sarcasm. Today feels gloomier than most so I choose to wrap my arms around her belly and lean into her back. Her hair tied in half with a pink ribbon, tickle my right cheek that rests carelessly on her shoulder. She’s warm and seems to understand my need for silence.

And without me even telling her to, she takes the longer route that passes through the grass fields where the towns milk cows are kept. I bite my lips as we enter the grass fields, and press closer into her back. My eyes are trained at the hem of her sundress. Pink, ankle-length linen that gently nudges the grass blades as we cycle through.

It takes almost half an hour for us to get to school; Ami stands at the school gates waiting to allow us in. One look at Yuri’s dress’ hem, dirty from the mud and wet from the dew, makes her usual jokes go mute.

I follow the two quietly to class. My own skirt’s hem clean as ever.
Squeegee and Carlybob
By: Tree Langdon
Tags: Fiction, Robber Baron, Landlords, Tenants, Series

We were so relieved to be rid of the party tenants we didn’t mind the work to get the Dragon House cleaned up for the next ones. Having a month off was a welcome break, even though we had no rent to use to cover the mortgage.

It had been an eye-opening experience as well. Being a landlord looked easier on paper than it was in reality and we were learning a lot.

Realizing the initial tenant interview was our chance to eliminate some of our difficulties, we gave ourselves a pep talk before we looked at the next round of applicants.

Part of our problem was a tendency to second guess ourselves. We had established a set of qualifications but we had no idea how to choose between two equally qualified applicants.

We decided to try a ‘first past the post’ technique.

We decided to rent to the people who were FIRST QUALIFIED.

No emotions, no second-guessing.

We put an ad in the paper. One by one I went through our list, checked their references, and when a couple met the requirements — I rented it to them.

They were in their fifties, both grew up in the town but weren’t married. He was a retired logger with a steady disability cheque and she was planning to stay at home to take care of them both.

Although they didn’t seem like the ideal tenant, they turned out to be the best ones we had chosen so far. They paid on time — always cash —and they loved the house.

He was handy and could do minor repairs around the place. She was an avid gardener. Soon the dragon sculpture in the backyard was surrounded by beautiful flower beds. They never complained and they told us they wanted to live there forever.

They had nicknames, which was an old tradition in the town. His was Squeegee. Seriously. Hers was Carlybob. That should have been a clue to what was coming.

As time went on we discovered they had some unique habits.

They liked to go out early in the morning and do some truck hunting.

While drinking. And driving their truck. They would drive out into the country with a bottle of whiskey and shoot pheasants (or rabbits) hanging out of the truck window. Very early in the morning. Did I mention they were drinking? Charming.

They did have a few fights, which were spectacular.

The neighbor told us stories of her chasing him outside waving a frying pan in her hand. Sometimes she would leave him. Then we were left with a tenant who spent his time lying around on the couch, drinking and trashing the place. She would eventually return and things would go back to normal.

In the end, she left him for good. He didn’t want to stay without her so he gave his notice. That was ok, except for the junk they left behind….
Forever Dream — (Chapter 1) Aunt Nora’s Lullaby
Tags: Short Story, Fiction, Series, Forever Dream, Magical Realism

The drug bottles clatter as he walks into the room, a few syringes clinking mockingly under his feet as the smell of marijuana fills his lungs. The club sandwiches lying at the foot of the bed have their own version of Darwinism growing and the curtains behind the bed are closed as if hiding some dark secret. Hanshin holds back a gag reflex when he accidentally tramples over soiled sanitary pads lying carelessly on the apartment floor; their smell makes it all the more impossible to breathe.

And right in the middle of all that chaos is a girl grinning madly at the ceiling overhead. Lying on the dirty mattress with her arms sprawled above her head and her legs propped at an angle, the girl looks at something far away with a look of irrational fondness. Her feet quiver as she giggles at something and her pale skin gleams with injection marks and angry rashes.

Hanshin stops at the edge of the bed cursing under his breath as he compels his body to move. But he’s rooted to the stop.

Maybe I shouldn’t… he thinks, stepping back.

The girl, still oblivious to his presence, continues giggling and waving her hands as far as she can. Her hair gets in the way sometimes, but she doesn’t seem to notice the pain when she pulls too hard.

Hanshin almost leaves but shakes his head reminding himself of his mother’s last words. Get her to sign the documents while she’s in her wits, and all that money is all yours for the taking.

It would be a shame to give up all that money just because mortality got in the way, after all.

Gritting his teeth, he leans over the girl, holds her arm gingerly and swiftly pulls her up. Holding her at an arms-length, Hanshin waves his hand in front of her eyes but she doesn’t react. He slaps her a few times but nothing registers. And gritting his teeth to keep himself from throwing up, he pulls her into his arms and moves away from the bed.

As he walks out of the apartment, he pockets the red seal thrown on the night table and leaves the door open.
BL series: Bossy Leader — Counterattack
By: Ferawati Hartanti Pratiwi
Tags: Bossy, Self Improvement, Series, Test Engineer, Leadership

“I’m usually like this, just follow it” — my cunning thoughts regarding a superior to a subordinate *please note that this is not the real case (it’s just the devil side inside me). Continue from that thought, what is the different between a superior, boss, manager (whatever you called it) or a leader? And whether it affects by gender?

We can’t denied that all of the organizations has a structure. Divided by superiors and subordinates. The superiors is the brain of the team while subordinates are the executors. But is it only that? I mean, is it irreversible? Throughout my career history, I’ve been facing many times where it can be reversed at any time. It starts when we want to change things as an initiative or a small transformation.

I always think “I don’t need a special position to be able to do what I feel is good for the team” (of course without going through the limit considering that I can not give an approval to myself). And when I give such an attitude, many eyes tells me that I’m being bossy. The unique case happens when I see some man without a special position (just like me) does the same thing like I did. People welcomed what he had already said. “Interesting”, I said to myself.
Just got hooked on the new Netflix series -Pine Gap (Me thinks a Binge Watching Session is in order!)
Tags: Pine Gap, Review, Netflix, Series, Blog

I’ve only watched the first two episodes and I feel a Binge Watching Session coming on.

So far, “Pine Gap” has a plethora of subjects that I’ve had experience with or am still very interested in, such as:

What those “Intel” guys actually did while I was on the ground playing sneak and peak during hazardous duty ops.

What kind of corporate/unit atmosphere exists in a workplace where everyone is a potential threat — a tenuous situation, at best.

Suspected United States and Australian political shenanigans; either against unfriendly nations or each other!

The tech, oh the tech!

What does an “honest” Intel person do when their side strays from the path, National Security is at risk, AND he/she is sworn to serve the interests of his/her country (or risk total professional and personal life annihilation).

Pine Gap — Netflix TV Series in a Nutshell

Pine Gap is an international political thriller which is set around the Australian and American joint defence intelligence facility at Pine Gap, south-west of the town of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. The six-part series is written and created by Greg Haddrick and Felicity Packard with Mat King directing all six episodes. The series is produced by Screentime. Set in the intensely secretive world of intelligence and the enigmatic US/Australia joint defence facility in central Australia, the spy-thriller Pine Gap delves into the famously strong alliance between the two countries.

source

Here’s the trailer:” Pine Gap: Season 1 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix”

Got’a Go!

Episode #3 is about to begin…

By JaiChai

“Really Appreciate You Stopping By. Truly hope to see you again!”

About the Author -

Image Soure: Author

Believing that school was too boring, he dropped out of High School early; only to earn an AA, BS and MBA in less than 4 years much later in life — while working full-time as a Navy/Marine Corps Medic.

Image Soure: Author

and hazardous diving ops in deep, open ocean water.

After 24 years of active duty, he retired in Asia.

Since then, he’s been a full-time, single papa and actively pursuing his varied passions (Writing, Disruptive Technology, Computer Science and Cryptocurrency — plus more hobbies too boring or bizarre for most folk).

Image Soure: Author

He lives on an island paradise with his teenage daughter, longtime girlfriend and three dogs

Image Soure: Author

“My mind was a terrible thing to waste…” — JaiChai

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Her Diary Part Three. I never stood a chance…
By: Ashley Hruby
Tags: Sexuality, LGBTQ, Stories, Sex, Series

Her lips sporadically touch each inch of my body with moans of joy which somehow only turns me on more.

I reach down and finally feel her warm, wet, waiting pussy. It’s just begging to be tasted. I feel the hairs on her arms and neck stiffen as I lightly play with her lips and slide a single finger deep inside her, slowly.

I add another, and her moans grow with her arousal. I flip her over and start to feast on her body. Savoring each time my lips meet her skin till I get low enough that I can’t tease her without teasing myself.

I need her

I know everything I want to do. I will do anything she will allow. I’m at her mercy.

Her body moves with my tongue and my fingers as I explore her to the fullest. Finger after finger and suck after lick, she moves. Her hands grip my hair as she moves her hips so her pussy is all I can taste, and smell as I gorge myself.

She looks down and bites her lip and her body tenses up and I know she is close. So close that she doesn’t have a chance to warn me that it’s coming.

That she is coming…

Hard

For ME.

I moan against her pussy as she screams and grips my hair. I rub her clit fast and hard while she soaks the bed.

I study how her body tremors in the aftershock. Knowing I did that made me proud.

If this is only a dream, I hope no one ever wakes me.

She pushes me on my back and I watch as she positions herself so our pussies are together. I grip her hips as she moves her body, rubbing hers against mine. I reach up and grip her breasts. She has perfect hand sized tits that feel amazing in my hands.

Her body moves over me, causing new sensations in the best places.

I can feel my body tense up while she looks at me and by the way she bites her lip…she knows I'm close. She grinds harder against me and I explode.

My head falls back and I feel my eyes roll in back of my head while I come for her. Hard.

I look back up and she’s smiling like she is proud of herself and all I can do is smile and giggle. She leans down to kiss me and the second our lips touch, I want her forever.

“Would you like to go on a real date with me?” I move hair behind her ear.

“I thought you would never ask”

The thought that all this euphoria and excitement came from reading another woman's journal. The laughs, the memories, and the sex are all amazing.

I’ll never forget that journal. We still keep it. We write fantasies and stuff. We share it now. It’s our sex journal. It stays next to our toys in our room.
后翼棄兵 Memo
By: Frank A.K.A 複水
Tags: Series, Memo, 筆記, 影集

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BIRTHDAY WITH BLUE HAIR AND BEYOND
By: Whistling Woods
Tags: Universe, Personal, Life Experience, Promises, Series

Series : 1. When it all began

Photo by Ben Waardenburg on Unsplash

A year ago, when my mobile said, “ You got one new mail”…

I see the sender’s name and with trembling hands I open the mail. Those few seconds when everything fell quiet and my heart pounded so loud and the mail goes, “Further to your recent interview I am delighted to formally offer you an appointment as an Early Stage Researcher ………”. I wanted to scream, jump,cry in joy, and fly. All I did was to sit there stare at the screen and smile ear to ear. I’m in. After, four years of waiting, trying, applying and rejection. After, a gazillion times of , “I wish”. There I’m.. I’m finally in. And, all fell in place. Paving way for my journey from a south Asian country to Europe to pursue my PhD.

After three months of running, sorting, vacating, packing and booking, two days before flight I feel I’m forgetting something. I check my check lists and re-check the list of checklists. Every thing is done. What did I miss. Sipping tea and watching rain, in that moment of peace it occurs. My promise to the universe. A silly, random out of blue promise to the universe.

Before all this began, a few years and few rejections ago, I traveled back to my Alma mater and met an old friend who lived nearby. We spoke life, nostalgically reliving the past, fearing the future, swearing the present. After, two well spent days, I was packing to head home by flight next day. She was sitting next to me. Loudly and vividly planning her wedding. And, then suddenly out of nowhere I say, “If I get a PhD, I’m gonna color my hair blue when I join”. Surprised and smirking, she asked, “ Why would you say that ?.. Do you realize you just made a promise to the Universe”. I was surprised as much as she was, from what came out of my mouth. I nodded smiled and said, “I guess”.

A day before my travel, I push everything aside, hit the salon and color my hair blue. Because Life kept it’s promise to me and it is only right if I do so too. No matter what it is.
Rules for the Modern Gentleman IV.
By: Benji Kings
Tags: Life Lessons, Gentleman, Rules, Series, Life

Image of a Gentleman by Yogendra Singh on Unsplash.com

Don’t enter the pool by the stairs.

Can be taken one of two ways. Number one, tackle obstacles headfirst by jumping into the pool and start swimming and learn to enjoy it. It’s the same as life, you dive into the deep end and start swimming. Number two, if you start with the steps and don’t like the temperature of the pool you’re more likely to never get in. The same with things in real life. If you don’t give something the proper time and effort. Youll never knows what could’ve been if you carried on.

The person at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king or queen.

They are looking after your food first of all. But you have to take care of them when they are looking after your food. Whatever they need you to get for the meal, that’s what you get. They making sure the meal is good for you and you make sure they can do that.

Sit with the new person at lunch.

Whether you’re in a work, school or any other situation, make an effort with the new person. It will go a long way for them and make them feel way more comfortable. Have you ever been in a new situation and just having someone to talk to would make all the difference. So be that person. You can also potentially make a really good friend.
TSV SERIES: South Italy - A Mobile Photography Hotspot
By: The Smart View
Tags: Italy, Art, Magazine, Series, Photography

If you would need to describe your photography in one sentence, what would you say?

That truth is beauty, every story already exists in front of my eyes and is just waiting to be told.

Do you have a favorite place to shoot? To which place can you always return and be sure to come back home with some great pictures?

I have no preferences, because more than looking for my photos, they find me. Of course, life in the provinces gives me great satisfaction. But the fact remains that the most eloquent shots come from unpredictable places and circumstances. When I tell myself: “today I’m going out to take pictures” in the end I come home either with a cup of ice cream or with a bouquet of flowers. (However if I could, I would always go to Palermo).

Do remember a situation where you missed the decisive moment but you still remember the image you weren’t able capture?

Not one in particular, but all those moments when I have a person in front of me — I am always divided by the desire to take a photo and the fear of invading a private condition. When in doubt and in most cases, I give up and keep the phone in my pocket. Other times I have enough courage and go. In this sense, the smartphone helps me a lot, because unlike a camera it is more discreet and creates less inhibition both in me and in those who are photographed. But the risk of being mistaken for a “meddler” is around the corner, I am very careful, just the thought of annoying someone makes me feel bad.

You have a project called the “Unconventional South”. What is so unconventional for you about the South? Tell us a bit about your series.

“Unconventional South” is the result of a series of occasional, unexpected encounters, stolen gestures, sketches of unorganized life that strike me for their imperfection, spontaneity, power and fragility. It is a sort of sentimental map with areas of study. It is my eulogy to unconscious beauty: a photographic novel that underlines the things I love and exorcises those I hate, because as I said before, underneath I live a perennial magma of attractions and repulsions, of strong and contrasting moods. Photography helps me to catalog them.
GO-vatar series: Common code with Golang part 1
By: Ferawati Hartanti Pratiwi
Tags: Gopher, Code, Golang, Hello World, Series

Print

As usual newbie’s do, all starting from Hello World as a very common code we all know.

Open the URL above then click Run to see the result. fmt is to print the string. We can see the full syntax in https://golang.org/pkg/fmt/. Please note that Golang always start with package main & func main() .

Conditional Statement

If you see := symbol, that’s to define a short version of local variable. We don’t have to define the data type alphabet using := .

In Golang, there is no ternary operator but we can use this as an other option.

Looping

Please note that there is no while looping in Golang.

Looping without a break is bad, isn’t it?
Slaved: Last Chance Series - 2
By: A L Long
Tags: Short Story, Allong, Series, Romance Novels

💗 #SALE #99c 💗

✮ (¸.•´✶ (★•**•. ★ ¸.•

#SLAVED by A.L. Long

Book Two in the “The Last Chance Series”

#Romantic #Suspense

★ Amazon Link ★ Sale Ends 11/08/2020

https://amzn.to/2QxYh4U

Rescued from the only life she had ever known, Alannah Jackson learns what it means to be loved and not controlled. Finally, able to let go of her past, she begins a new life with the man who has shown her what love is. Faced with the truth, Alannah finds she can never escape her past or who she is. She will never love, only serve.

Roman’s love for Alannah is tested when he finds that she has been slaved by a man just as ruthless as Winston Nelson. Against his better judgment, he accepts Martin Holland’s offer to help retrain Alannah, and he begins to question the love they shared. After Martin Holland makes it clear of his intentions, Roman stops at nothing to get her back. There is no room for another man in her life.

The first book in the series….

⭐️BOUGHT⭐️

https://amzn.to/2uyWYs9

⭐️A.L. Long is an Award-Winning Author⭐️
These YouTube channels are a great source for inspiration, education, and entertainment
Tags: YouTube, Entertainment, Vlogs, Series, Recommendations

Cooking, baking & nutrition: I re-discovered my passion for cooking and baking about 1.5 years ago. However, I felt a bit uninspired when I started and found some great YouTube channels to get some inspiration and delicious recipes. Also, I constantly try to have a more mindful and balanced nutrition (tough challenge for me but this is a different topic).

Epicurious pic

Epicurious: One of the biggest cooking channels out there. I love their series “4 Levels” (episode length 15–20 min) where three cooks of different proficiency levels (amateur, hobby, professional) cook the same dish following their own recipe. Afterwards, a food scientist analyzes the recipes, and it fascinates me every time how a food scientist talks about food. Not that I understand everything completely (which I also do not think is the main goal of having the food scientist in the series), but it is still fascinating.

The series is highly educational as you learn new techniques and recipes while still being entertaining as well.

Goodful pic

Goodful: Tasty’s “healthy” channel with similar content to their main channel but focused on healthy nutrition and often vegan recipes. I like the main channel as well, but the recipes tend to be a bit too unhealthy for me sometimes and they had to cut back on some of their cool content due to COVID-19. That is why I included Goodful in this list as it provides some easy vegan recipes that serve as a great inspiration. Also, all recipes can be found in the Tasty app, which is a great plus.

Munchies pic

Munchies: I watch mainly one series on this channel: Street Food Icons. This series (episode length 6–10 min) takes a look at business owners of street food carts, food trucks, etc. You get a detailed insight of the stressful everyday work and get to know the owners as well — and believe me: the owners are the reason for the business’ success (my favorite: Mama Jo in New York).

Pick Up Limes pic

Pick Up Limes: This channel is run by lovely Sadia with a B.Sc. in dietetics and is focused around healthy, vegan nutrition but she also talks about minimalism and mindfulness. I like this channel both for Sadia herself and her great content. Her recipes, which can also be downloaded on her website, are amazing and motivated me to cook more vegan dishes (her lentil curry is amazing!). Also, she does some videos on nutrition in general and her video on sugar was a real eye opener to me (if you watch one video of hers, this should be it).
Prometheus Awakens
By: Gary Every
Tags: Greek Mythology, Prometheus, Zeus, Fantasy, Forgiveness

Prometheus Awakens

Image public domain, courtesy of The British Library, modified from original.

His eyes flutter and Prometheus awakens, staring deep into the fierce eyes of an eagle. The eagle screams and tilts back her head, raising her wings above her head before dropping her razor-sharp beak into the flesh of Prometheus’ belly. Prometheus screams. The beak rips his flesh, the skin tears, blood flows, and Prometheus’ wound reopens.

The eagle lifts a talon, and the clawed toes reach into the open wound, digging deep inside the human torso. The talons wriggle as they search, puncturing vital organs as Prometheus groans. The eagle searches and searches before grasping Prometheus’ liver whole. The eagle wraps both feet around the liver. Her wings flap as her body tries to rise. Connected by muscle, veins, and tendons the liver refuses to leave. The eagle flaps her wings harder, talons digging deep into the liver. Prometheus faints from the pain. The eagle flexes, her torso straightening ramrod straight, yanks back her wings hard, and launches into the sky. Prometheus’ liver leaves his body with a pop, flying away in the grasp of the eagle’s talons.

Prometheus awakens with a scream. He watches as the eagle circles into the sky before gliding back down to earth, perching atop the thickest branch of the nearest tree. With weeping eyes Prometheus watches the eagle eat his liver. Prometheus moans. He collapses, chains rattling as they sag. Prometheus hovers above the earth, suspended between two pillars. He makes eye contact with the eagle, both glaring fiercely. The eagle eats his liver. The razor-sharp hooked beak feeds, blood splattering the eagle’s white hood.

Every morning Prometheus awakens to the same scene, Zeus’ gift of imprisoned immortality. This fate is Prometheus’ punishment for stealing the secret of fire and presenting it to mankind. Angry Zeus had Prometheus chained between two pillars. Prometheus awakens every morning just before an angry eagle pecks out and eats his liver. It is incredibly painful, and it kills him slowly. Every single sunrise he dies again. Except Zeus has gifted the poor man with immortality. Every sunrise, Prometheus resurrects again, growing a new liver overnight. Every sunrise the eagle eats his liver again. Every day Prometheus bleeds to death, slowly and painfully. Every night Prometheus grows a new liver and is resurrected in the morning just in time to have his liver eaten. Every morning Prometheus awakens, staring at the fierce eyes of an eagle.

One morning Prometheus realizes that beyond the eagle’s fierce and hungry glare the colors of the sunrise hover in the air. Despite the pain he has not died, disappearing into dust. Despite the tortures he has not lied and betrayed his soul. He stares at all the beauty surrounding him, the promise of a new day, looks deep into the eagle’s eyes, and says, “I forgive you.”

Released from her assigned role, the eagle cries, piercing whistle echoing across the sky and flies away free.
(Poem) Those Sins Are Gone
By: T.R. Savage
Tags: God, Forgiveness, Sins

Why is your mind still set in yesterday’s failures

Did you not request that your Sins be Forgiven

Why do you request the same for the same today

Did God not have the Power to Forgive yesterday

Do not limit the Power of Mercy of God to Forgive

The Sins of our younger years, long washed away

Blood of The Lamb just as strong now as it was then

We either Believe in the Words of God, or we don’t

We cannot pick and choose which sins are or are not

Today is what matters as yesterdays sins, their goners