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เมื่อเราเดินขึ้นบันได เราก็อยากไปถึงบันไดขันสุดท้ายไวไว ผลสุดท้ายก็คือตกบันไดตกบันได บางครั้งการทำอะไรแบบรีบร้อน ไม่ได้เป็นไปทีละขันตอน ผลรับ อาจจะเกินกับที่คลาดเอาไว้

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What To Write In A Holiday Card

Just as we look forward to presents and parties this time of year, we can’t get enough of holiday cards! We love them all: from colorful cards sent by snail mail to animated emails to newsletters summing up what everyone in the family has been up to all year. Fun fact: the very first holiday card in 1843 depicted children toasting with wine—oops!

But when it comes to sending your own holiday cards this season, it can be confusing to know how to get them just right. The fear of accidentally offending someone or leaving someone off your list can be daunting.

That’s why we’ve put together these dos and don’ts to kickstart (or improve) your holiday writing tradition.

Do start early

You’ll want to leave yourself time to get (or make, if you’re ambitious) cards, write a message, and sign them. If your holiday card includes a picture of your adorable family in matching elf costumes, you’ll need even more time to get the costumes, take the photo, and have it printed. Keep that in mind!

If you’re planning on sending your holiday cards via the post, it’s recommended you mail them before December 17. So think about the time you have, and what you can reasonably accomplish, which leads us to …

Don’t be overly ambitious

Maybe you’re one of these people who, like Martha Stewart, can handcraft a card for each person on your 40-person list and still get them out on time. But most of us mere mortals are not Martha Stewart (sadly).

People are happy to get a holiday card because it shows you care about them and are thinking about them. Whether it’s store-bought or handmade, it’s the thought that counts.

Now that we’ve set reasonable expectations, let’s get into the details of writing those holiday cards.

Do write the recipient’s name

Even if it’s a store-bought card with a pre-printed message, you want to be sure to write the recipient’s name(s) at the top of the card. You can be formal or informal, depending on the context.

For a less formal card, you can use the formula of “Dear” plus first names: e.g., Dear Jack & Jill.

If you’re writing a more formal card, then you’ll want to use honorifics and last names: e.g., Dear Mr. & Dr. Falldownhill or Dear Ms. Dalloway.

Don’t guess the spelling

When you’re writing the recipient’s name, make sure you get it right. If it’s a name you’re unfamiliar with or one that has multiple spellings, double-check your address book or other references (social media works) to ensure that you haven’t left out a letter or put in one too many. It’s not a good look.

Do include a personal message

Even if your holiday card comes from a box or is an online widget, you should include a personal message to the recipient. This can be short and sweet, as simple as:

- Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season!
- The holidays come but once a year: enjoy!
- Thinking of you over the holidays.
- Hoping you have a joyous and peaceful holiday.
- Have a wonderful New Year!
- Let the spirit of the season inspire you.
- Warm wishes for the holiday and New Year.
- Hope this season is filled with joy and cheer!
- Sending you good luck into the New Year!

Stock phrases are a good starting point, but you can also include some personal details. For instance, you might consider adding:

- the important things that happened to you or your family this year, like marriages or births;
- a wish for the recipient’s health, especially if you know they’ve been under the weather this year;
- or a note about your desire to see them if they live far away.

All that said, unless you’re writing a holiday letter, your holiday card note shouldn’t be too long. Aim for no more than 150 words.

If you’re writing a holiday letter, keep it to a single page long (about 400 words). Nobody needs to know about every detail of your year, trust us.

Don’t assume everyone celebrates the same holidays

If you’re sending cards to people you know well, you probably know what holidays they celebrate, so feel free to write “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Hanukkah.” [Is it Tis the Season or ’Tis the Season? Find out!]

But if you’re sending cards to coworkers, family, or friends you know less well, don’t assume they celebrate the same holidays you do. That can cause unnecessary offense.

If you’re unsure, stick to the more generic happy holidays or season’s greetings. Make it easy on yourself. Or, as the Emily Post Institute suggests, you can also opt to send a more secular greeting for the new year.

Do be funny (if you want)

You can absolutely send formal holiday cards. In which case, we don’t recommend you include jokes.

But if you’re sending cards to friends and family, a little bit of levity can be nice. That said, avoid any jokes that could be offensive. For example, many people include humorous pictures of their family on their holiday cards. It’s a little cheesy, but also kind of wonderful.

Don’t be depressing

Unless you’re Eeyore, you should try to keep a positive, happy tone in your holiday card message.

Don’t write “This year has sucked” or “Everything is garbage.” If you feel that way, we get it—the holidays can be tough. But holiday cards are a place where the maxim If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all rules.

If you’re too bummed out to think of any good news to share, just write a generic message like the ones we suggested above.

Do have everyone in the family sign the card

After you’ve written your short, thoughtful note in your card, be sure to sign it. If it’s just you, that’s simple enough.

If you’re sending the card on behalf of your entire immediate family and are going the paper route, pass the card around the family to have them sign. If you’re sending an online card, just include everyone’s name in the signature line.

Don’t boast

Holiday cards and letters are an opportunity to reach out to the people you love and care about. It’s not an opportunity for you to boast about how wonderful you and your family are (although we are sure they are wonderful).

This isn’t a resumé, it’s a highlight reel. Instead of listing every good deed every family member has done all year, pick one or two of the most important things to mention in your message. Moves, weddings, graduations, and births are worth mentioning. Volunteer work at the local soup kitchen, while admirable, is not.

We wish you the best of luck with your holiday cards this season. Sometimes the cards are as hectic as the holidays … so grab a cup of eggnog and get writing!

Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

🇺🇳🇷🇺 เลขาธิการสหประชาชาติ กูเตอร์เรส โค้งคำนับอย่างนอบน้อม และจับมือกับปูตินที่เมืองคาซานของรัสเซียในการประชุมสุดยอด BRICS

🤣ผู้คนจำนวนมากเริ่มร้องไห้และกรีดร้องอย่างบ้าคลั่งเมื่อเห็นภาพนี้, ด้วยเหตุผลบางประการ🤣

โลกกำลังปรับทิศทางใหม่ …
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🇺🇳🇷🇺 UN Secretary General Guterres respectfully bows and shakes the hand of Putin in Russia’s Kazan at the BRICS summit.

A lot of people start crying and scream hysterically when they see this picture, for some reason.

The world is realigning …
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4:42 PM · Oct 24, 2024 · 88.5K Views
https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1849386041267904649

Test Up pictures

อะไรคือสิ่งแรกที่คุณนึกถึงเมื่อเห็นภาพนี้?
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What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see this picture?
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2:39 AM · Oct 23, 2024 · 356.6K Views
https://x.com/BRICSinfo/status/1848811443174691283

Words To Use Instead Of “Congratulations”

Congratulations!
Joyful times go hand in hand with congratulations. When addressing graduates, newlyweds, or anyone with good news, a hearty “Congratulations!” or a swift “Congrats!” is in order. Congratulants, “people who congratulate,” have been using the pluralized expression congratulations, which stems from the Latin gratus meaning “pleasing,” since the 1600s.

The singular noun meaning “the act of congratulating” has been around since the late 1500s.

Props!
When congratulations are in order, the term props might come up. This slang shortening of proper arose in the 1990s and refers to respect and esteem.

In addition to giving and receiving props as recognition, you can do someone a prop to help them out. In the 1995 film Clueless, Cher notices that Josh is dancing with Tai, despite the fact that he never dances, to make her feel included. Cher explains: “He’s doing her a prop so she won’t feel left out.”

Way to go!
If you admire someone’s grit and hustle, you can use this sporty method of congratulations. This active phrase has been traced back to the 1940s, when it was used in sports to congratulate a person or team on a great performance. In the 1960s, it began to be used more generally to refer to any kind of achievement.

If “Way to go!” doesn’t do it for you, some peppy alternatives include “Great job,” “Nice going,” “You rock,” and “You rule!”

Nailed it!
This handy phrase really hits the nail on the head when you want to give someone their due. Nailed it has been traced back to at least the 1970s and metaphorically refers to the act of successfully hitting a nail with a hammer.

In slang, we use a variety of other congratulatory phrases that also refer to forceful impacts or metaphorical violence such as “Killed it,” “Crushed it,” “Destroyed it,” and “Slayed it!”

social media cheers

Like, follow, and subscribe! Social media platforms all have different ways of congratulating somebody and letting them now how awesome their content is. These include:

Twitter: the heart or a retweet
Facebook: the thumbs-up on Facebook
Instagram: the like
YouTube: like, share, subscribe to a channel; hitting the bell icon
TikTok: like and follow
Snapchat: take a screenshot for later
Reddit: upvote; give Reddit Gold/Platinum; or a badge
Tumblr: reblog
Twitch: subscribe to a channel and/or give a donation

GG (Good Game)
Shorthand for “good game” in the world of esports, GG is used to congratulate a victorious opponent.

Additionally, it’s used to politely concede a match or admit defeat, most commonly in the realm of professional StarCraft. It’s all about the humble loss. Not everybody is a good sport, though, and the phrase GG EZ (“easy,” as in an easy win) is often used in a mean-spirited way to put down a defeated opponent.

Three cheers!
Three cheers is generally followed by “for” and the name of the person or thing being celebrated.

A person being cheers-ed might also respond to a toast of three cheers with the word … cheers, which, especially in the UK, can mean “thanks.” That’s a lot of cheers.

The term cheer entered English in the late 12th or early 13th century, and ultimately comes from the Greek word kárā meaning “head.”

Hip, hip, hooray!
For some Victorian flair, opt for the ever-cheery hip, hip, hooray (or hurrah). This expression of uncertain origin surfaced in the early 1800s, though the exclamation hip had been used since the mid-1700s. Hip repeated three times was used as a noun in the 1800s to refer to a collective cheer.

But, let’s not forget about hooray, a variant of hurrah. This exclamation dates from the late 1600s and is very similar to shouts in German, Danish, Swedish, and even Russian. Someone’s last hurrah is their “final moment or occasion of glory or achievement.”

Kudos!
Though it sounds colloquial, kudos finds its roots in the hallowed halls of academic institutions. At the turn of the 1800s, academics transliterated the Greek kydos, meaning “praise or renown.” By the 1920s, kudos had spread beyond the walls of universities and into the columns of newspapers.

Don’t be fooled by the S at the end of kudos; the word is, in fact, a singular noun. However, enough English speakers have erroneously interpreted it as plural for so long that already by the 1930s, the back formation singular kudo arose. Grammar sticklers avoid using kudo as a singular and kudos as a plural, though both forms can be found in popular usage.

Hats off!
The phrase hats off, while often said to graduates wearing the illustrious cap and gown, has nothing to do with the tradition of tossing hats in the air in celebration. This phrase, dating back to the 1600s, harks back to the custom of uncovering the head as a sign of respect.

Etiquette expert Emily Post advised gentlemen on the many situations in which they must remove hats to maintain politeness. In 1922 she wrote: “A gentleman takes off his hat and holds it in his hand when a lady enters the elevator.” He also lifts his hat whenever he asks a question or says “Excuse me.” You know, maybe we could all stand a little formality these days …

a round of applause
The act of clapping one’s hands together to show acclaim is actually much older than you might think. Scholars are unsure of the exact origin, but we have evidence that even the ancient Romans would show their appreciation by clapping their hands. In fact, the word plaudits (which means an expression of approval) comes from the Latin verb plaudere, meaning to clap one’s hands. The verb applause is also based on this Latin verb.

Today, the highest form of applause is the standing ovation, where every member of the audience rises to their feet and applauds. Any performer who manages to please an audience enough to cause them to stretch their legs a bit certainly deserves a big hand.

congratulatory emoji
Sometimes, it is better to use pictures rather than words to congratulate someone. In texting and on social media, many different emoji are used to give somebody a pat on the back after a job well done. The Clapping Hands emoji 👏 is used to refer to a round of applause and the Trophy emoji 🏆 references the shiny knickknacks we give to people who have accomplished something.

The Party Popper emoji 🎉, Confetti Ball emoji 🎊, Partying Face emoji 🥳, and Bottle with Popping Cork emoji 🍾 are also commonly used to congratulate someone. These party animals refer to the act of throwing a party in celebration of an achievement and the stuff you are likely to find at such a shindig.

Mazel tov!
This expression of congratulations and best wishes comes from the Hebrew term literally meaning “good luck.” Though many reserve the English good luck for before a big event, you can cheer mazel tov to wish someone good fortune or to say congratulations.

Mazel tov appeared in the 1600s spelled as missal tob but was rendered in English as mazel tov by the 1900s. Whatever transliteration you prefer, the term has been lovingly said ever since.

Felicitations!
If you want to stand out from the crowd of people offering their congratulations, try roaring felicitations. This less common expression of congratulations ultimately comes from the Latin felix, “happy.” English speakers have been using the singular form of this term (meaning “an act of congratulation”) since the early 1700s.

So, if you want to be original (or sound old-fashioned) in wishing your congratulations, reach for a felicitous felicitations!

congratulatory adjectives
You don’t have to think too hard when it comes to saying congratulations. Sometimes, a single adjective will do. All you need to do is shout “Fantastic!”, “Stupendous!”, “Amazing!”, “Incredible!”, or “Spectacular!” This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to celebratory adjectives, though. You can use our handy thesaurus to find many more impressive synonyms of these words that you can shout out when you want to signal how much someone has impressed you.

Keep going!
What’s more powerful than simply saying congratulations? Encouraging someone to keep pushing ahead and to accomplish more. You’re not only celebrating the accomplishment at hand, but also showing enthusiasm for their future. Keep going!

Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldOkG3kf2b4
บทสนทนาของหมูเด้งกับแม่
(คลิกอ่านเพิ่มเติม เพื่ออ่านบทสนทนาภาษาอังกฤษและไทย และคำศัพท์น่ารู้)
แบบทดสอบการฟังภาษาอังกฤษ จากบทสนทนาของหมูเด้งกับแม่
มีคำถาม 5 ข้อหลังฟังเสร็จ เพื่อทดสอบการฟังภาษาอังกฤษของคุณ

#moodeng #babyhippo #listeningstory

The conversations from the clip :

Moo Deng : Mommy, why do we live in this big place with so many people looking at us?
Moo Deng Mom : This is our home in the zoo, sweetie. The people come to see and learn about animals like us.
Moo Deng : Do you think they like watching us?
Moo Deng Mom : Yes, they do! They love seeing you play in the water and walk around.
Moo Deng : I like playing in the water! Can I splash around for them today?
Moo Deng Mom : Of course! The visitors always enjoy when you splash. Just be careful not to get too tired.
Moo Deng : Look, Mommy! I’m making big splashes! Are they watching me?
Moo Deng Mom : Yes, they’re all smiling and taking pictures. You’re doing a great job!
Moo Deng : I wish I could go out and play with them! Do you think they want to play with me?
Moo Deng Mom : I’m sure they do, but we have to stay in our enclosure for our safety.
Moo Deng : Oh, I guess it’s safer here. But it looks like so much fun out there!
Moo Deng Mom : You can have just as much fun in our pool and play area. Plus, we get to swim all day!
Moo Deng : That’s true! Swimming is my favorite thing to do.
Moo Deng Mom : And you’re getting really good at it. One day, you’ll be as strong a swimmer as I am.
Moo Deng : I can’t wait, Mommy! I love living here with you!

หมูเด้ง : แม่ครับ ทำไมเราถึงอาศัยอยู่ในที่ใหญ่ ๆ ที่มีคนมากมายมองมาที่เรา?
แม่หมูเด้ง : นี่คือบ้านของเราในสวนสัตว์จ๊ะ ลูก คนเหล่านั้นมาที่นี่เพื่อดูและเรียนรู้เกี่ยวกับสัตว์อย่างเรา
หมูเด้ง : คุณคิดว่าพวกเขาชอบดูเราหรือเปล่า?
แม่หมูเด้ง : ใช่ พวกเขาชอบ! พวกเขารักที่จะเห็นลูกเล่นน้ำและเดินไปมา
หมูเด้ง : ผมชอบเล่นน้ำ! วันนี้ผมสามารถกระโดดน้ำให้พวกเขาดูได้ไหมครับ?
แม่หมูเด้ง : แน่นอน! ผู้เยี่ยมชมมักจะสนุกเมื่อเห็นลูกกระโดดน้ำ แค่ระวังอย่าให้เหนื่อยเกินไปนะ
หมูเด้ง : ดูสิ แม่! ผมทำให้เกิดคลื่นใหญ่ได้! พวกเขากำลังดูผมอยู่ไหม?
แม่หมูเด้ง : ใช่ พวกเขาทั้งหมดกำลังยิ้มและถ่ายรูปอยู่ คุณทำได้ดีมาก!
หมูเด้ง : ผมอยากออกไปเล่นกับพวกเขาจัง! คุณคิดว่าพวกเขาอยากเล่นกับผมไหม?
แม่หมูเด้ง : ฉันมั่นใจว่าพวกเขาอยากเล่น แต่เราต้องอยู่ในกรงเพื่อความปลอดภัยของเรา
หมูเด้ง : โอ้ ผมคิดว่ามันปลอดภัยกว่าอยู่ที่นี่ แต่ดูเหมือนมันสนุกมากข้างนอก!
แม่หมูเด้ง : ลูกสามารถสนุกได้ไม่น้อยในสระและพื้นที่เล่นของเรา และเรายังสามารถว่ายน้ำตลอดทั้งวัน!
หมูเด้ง : จริงด้วย! ว่ายน้ำเป็นสิ่งที่ผมชอบที่สุด
แม่หมูเด้ง : และลูกก็ทำได้ดีมากขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ วันหนึ่งลูกจะเป็นนักว่ายน้ำที่แข็งแรงเหมือนแม่
หมูเด้ง : ผมรอไม่ไหวแล้ว แม่! ผมรักการใช้ชีวิตที่นี่กับแม่!

Vocabulary (คำศัพท์น่ารู้)

Home (โฮม) n. แปลว่า บ้าน
Zoo (ซู) n. แปลว่า สวนสัตว์
People (พี-เปิล) n. แปลว่า ผู้คน
Animals (แอน-นิ-มัลส์) n. แปลว่า สัตว์
Splash (สแพลช) v. แปลว่า สาดน้ำ, กระเด็นน้ำ
Visitors (วิซ-อิ-เทอร์ส) n. แปลว่า ผู้มาเยี่ยมชม
Enclosure (อิน-โคล-เจอร์) n. แปลว่า เขตที่อยู่อาศัย (ในสวนสัตว์)
Safety (เซฟ-ที) n. แปลว่า ความปลอดภัย
Fun (ฟัน) n. แปลว่า ความสนุกสนาน
Pool (พูล) n. แปลว่า สระน้ำ
Play area (เพลย์ เรียร์) n. แปลว่า พื้นที่เล่น
Swimming (สวิ-มมิง) n. แปลว่า การว่ายน้ำ
Strong (สทรอง) adj. แปลว่า แข็งแรง
Tired (ไท-เอิร์ด) adj. แปลว่า เหนื่อย
Favorite (เฟฟ-อริท) n. แปลว่า สิ่งที่ชื่นชอบ

เหมือนพญานาคไหม? #พญานาค #photos #picture #pakchom #loei

How To Create Atmosphere & Mood In Your Writing To Engage Your Readers

Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone…
—The Haunting of Hill House (1959), Shirley Jackson

After reading that opening, we bet you’re wondering what happens next. The best authors and writers always find a way to draw their readers in, get them invested in the work, and leave them desperate to read the next sentence, the next paragraph, the next page.

How do they do this?

Writers have many tools in their toolboxes to make their work compelling, but a huge part of what draws us into stories is atmosphere and mood. Authors like Shirley Jackson use language, descriptions, and other devices to pull readers into a different world. Through atmosphere and mood, authors establish a tone for their work, create ambience, and evoke emotions. Keep reading to learn how the pros establish atmosphere and mood in their work, and to get some tried and true strategies for creating this magic in your own writing.

What are atmosphere and mood?

Atmosphere is “the dominant mood or emotional tone of a work of art, as of a play or novel.” If you think of your story, essay or other writing as a room, what does your reader feel upon walking into that room? That’s an easy way to consider the overall atmosphere of your piece. While the importance of atmosphere is commonly associated with poetry and fiction, it is also vital to adding depth to personal essays and other types of nonfiction writing as well.

Mood is a part and parcel of atmosphere, but they aren’t necessarily the same thing or always in lock step. Mood describes “a state or quality of feeling at a particular time,” and the mood of a story, poem, or essay can shift depending on the events, characters, setting, or changing information.

Atmosphere and mood work together, but they aren’t always in agreement. A story may have a suffocating or foreboding atmosphere, but within that atmosphere, readers can still experience feelings of joy, wonder, sadness, or hope.

Examples of atmosphere and mood

Now that you understand the basics of what mood and atmosphere are, let’s look at a few examples to see how atmosphere and mood work in action.

1. “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore –
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door …

Why it works

In just a few lines, Poe creates an atmosphere of suspense for the reader. It’s late at night, there’s a strange knocking at the door, and it’s reasonable to suspect something mysterious or even dangerous is waiting on the other side. In this example, the atmosphere is created not only by the setting, but also by the language used. Words like dreary, weary, curious, and lore help to create an atmosphere that feels spooky and mystical. And the rhythm of the poetry also gives the lines an intriguing musicality. The end result is the reader wants to know who is knocking just as much as the main character does.

2. “Shipping Out” by David Foster Wallace

“I have now seen sucrose beaches and water a very bright blue. I have seen an all-red leisure suit with flared lapels. I have smelled suntan lotion spread over 2,100 pounds of hot flesh. I have been addressed as ‘Mon’ in three different nations. I have seen 500 upscale Americans dance Electric Slide. I have seen sunsets that looked computer-enhanced. I have (very briefly) joined a conga line.”

Why it works

In this non-fiction travelogue, David Foster Wallace is talking about his experiences on luxury cruises. He opens by placing the reader directly onto a cruise ship. In the span of a paragraph, the reader experiences awe, curiosity, amusement, disgust, wonder, and excitement. Yet Wallace uses formal language (“I have seen”) and repetition (there’s that anaphora for you) to ironic effect. This creates an interesting juxtaposition of the elements of a tall tale with a bit of anthropological distance. This example, in particular, shows how mood can function independently from the atmosphere, and how both can change abruptly with the use of language.

Why atmosphere and mood matter

Atmosphere and mood are important because crafting an engaging story or essay involves more than just retelling events or facts in order. In order to draw readers in and get them invested in your writing, your work needs dimension. Atmosphere and mood work together to create that by:

- Communicating important details that place the reader in a scene.
- Making characters feel more real.
- Reinforcing themes and tone.
- Communicating genre elements.
- Solidifying world-building, or the fictional universe in which a story or poem takes place.

And, perhaps most important, atmosphere and mood are both tools for getting readers invested in the plot or details of a piece of writing. Mood helps them identify with characters in fiction, and atmosphere helps them become immersed in the narrative or information. Both are essential to writing something people want to read.

Tips for establishing and creating atmosphere in your writing

When you sit down to write, here are some important things to consider to help you easily add mood and atmosphere to your piece.

Choose your words carefully.
Think about how you want readers to feel when they read your work. What language and descriptions can you include to evoke those emotions? While you’re in the process of examining your language, try your best to avoid clichés. “It was a dark and stormy night” has been used so many times that it won’t do much to draw your reader into a scene. In fact, cliché phrases can sometimes even pull the reader out of the work and distract them. That’s not what you want!

Deploy strong imagery.

“Show, don’t tell” is probably among the most repeated pieces of writing advice, but that’s because it works. If you just say a house looks old, that may not pull the reader into the house. Instead, talk about the mossy, rotting floorboards and the peeling wallpaper. Use imagery to build a world around the person reading.

Be detailed.

If you’re writing a story or poem, offer specific details about the setting and time period. Drop careful hints about what is coming to build tension and anticipation. If you’re working on an essay, make sure each detail is thorough and succinct. Most importantly, make sure any main component of your story or argument is thoroughly fleshed out to paint the clearest picture possible for the reader.

Incorporate literary devices.

Similes, metaphors, alliteration, hyperbole, and other literary devices can be especially helpful in developing atmosphere and mood. Of course, if you’re writing a more formal essay, you should use your judgment as to whether or not literary devices are a good fit for the piece, but a well-placed metaphor can go far in helping you make an important point.

Make use of your characters and dialogue.

Atmosphere and mood aren’t only created in descriptions of the setting. You can also use character descriptions, their words, and their actions to add to the mood or atmosphere you’re trying to create. For example, if you’re writing a horror story, you might describe your character’s shaky dialogue and uneven breathing. Perhaps they’re even pale with fright or have wide eyes. Readers can easily experience the atmosphere through characters.

Good spelling counts, too

Now that you know more about crafting mood and atmosphere in your writing, you’re ready to get started. But those aren’t the only elements of good writing to consider. Work on your next story, poem, or essay using Thesaurus.com’ Grammar Coach™. It will help you spot spelling errors and overused words and help you take your writing to the next level in real time.

Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Picture of Martyr Ebrahim Aqeel published by Hezbollah media.

ฉันไม่เข้าใจว่าเราทำอะไรอยู่ในยูเครน และฉันก็ไม่คิดว่าคุณจะเข้าใจเช่นกัน

Eric Weinstein
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I don’t understand what we are doing in Ukraine. And I don’t think you do either.
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11:16 PM · Sep 13, 2024 · 5.6M Views
https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1834627309275578789
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ฉันเข้าใจ

โดยพื้นฐานแล้วยูเครนเป็นฐานทัพใหญ่ของ CIA, ที่แอบอ้างว่าเป็นประเทศที่มีอำนาจอธิปไตย

CIA ย้ายเข้ามาในยูเครนหลังจากการล่มสลายของสหภาพโซเวียต, โดยมุ่งหวังที่จะใช้ประโยชน์จากประเทศที่ไร้กฎหมายและไม่มั่นคงแห่งนี้, โดยใช้ประเทศนี้เป็นตัวแทนในต่างประเทศ, นอกเหนือขอบเขตการกำกับดูแลของสหรัฐฯ

เริ่มต้นด้วยกฎหมาย Nunn-Lugar ในปี ๑๙๙๑, และดำเนินต่อไปในปี ๒๐๐๕, เมื่อวุฒิสมาชิกโอบามาและลูการ์เดินทางไปเยือนยูเครน, เพื่อตรวจสอบโรงงานชีวภาพ, โรงงานเคมี, และโรงงานนิวเคลียร์ของอดีตสหภาพโซเวียต (ตามภาพด้านล่าง), จากนั้นจึงเพิ่มยูเครนเข้าในหน่วยงานลดภัยคุกคามทางการป้องกัน, และเริ่มเปลี่ยนโรงงานโซเวียตเหล่านี้ให้กลายเป็น "โรงงานวิจัยเชิงป้องกัน", ซึ่งเปิดประตูให้ผู้รับเหมาของสหรัฐฯเข้ามาตั้งหลักปักฐานในยูเครน, และจัดตั้งปฏิบัติการฟอกเงินและกรรโชกทรัพย์, ภายใต้ข้ออ้างของ "ความช่วยเหลือจากต่างประเทศ"

จากนั้น CIA ก็ให้ทุนสนับสนุนกลุ่มนักรบนาซีในยูเครน ซึ่งนำไปสู่การปะทุของสงครามกลางเมืองในปี ๒๐๑๔ ในดอนบาส ท่ามกลางความโกลาหล, กระทรวงการต่างประเทศของสหรัฐฯ, ได้ใช้สถานการณ์นี้ผ่านวิกตอเรีย นูลแลนด์, เพื่อจัดตั้งหุ่นเชิดที่ภักดีต่อสหรัฐฯ, รวมถึงสายโทรศัพท์ที่รั่วไหลอย่างฉาวโฉ่ระหว่างเธอและเจฟฟรีย์ ไพแอตต์ ข้าราชการกระทรวงการต่างประเทศด้วยกัน, เกี่ยวกับการให้แน่ใจว่า “คนของพวกเขา” ยัตเซนุยก์, ได้รับการแต่งตั้งเป็นนายกรัฐมนตรี กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ, ร่วมกับ CIA, เข้าควบคุมยูเครนอย่างลับๆผ่านการปฏิวัติสีในปี ๒๐๑๔

ปูตินตระหนักถึงเรื่องนี้, เขารู้ว่าสหรัฐฯได้ทำให้ยูเครนไม่มั่นคงและได้เข้าควบคุม, และยอมรับว่าสหรัฐฯกำลังสร้างกองทัพตัวแทนบนชายแดนของเขา, โดยให้ทุน, ฝึกอบรม, และจัดหาอาวุธให้กับยูเครน และพยายามนำยูเครนเข้าสู่ NATO นี่คือเส้นแบ่งสำหรับปูติน, ดังที่เขาพูดมาหลายทศวรรษ รัสเซียได้ถูกรุกรานจากตะวันตกมาหลายครั้งแล้ว และจะไม่ยอมให้มีกองทัพประจำการที่เป็นศัตรูและขีปนาวุธพิสัยไกลบนชายแดนของพวกเขา เหมือนกับที่สหรัฐฯไม่ชอบเมื่อรัสเซียพยายามติดตั้งอาวุธนิวเคลียร์ในคิวบาในยุค ๖๐, รัสเซียก็ไม่ชอบที่สหรัฐฯพยายามนำกองทัพและอาวุธเข้ามาในยูเครน

โดยพื้นฐานแล้ว, ยูเครนเป็นดินแดนที่ไม่เป็นทางการของสหรัฐฯ และไม่เป็นสมาชิกนาโต, และกลุ่มดีพสเตตไม่ต้องการสูญเสียแหล่งรายได้และสินทรัพย์เชิงยุทธศาสตร์อย่างยูเครน, ดังนั้น พวกเขาจึงยังคงส่งเงินภาษีของเราหลายแสนล้านดอลลาร์เพื่อปกป้องชายแดนยูเครน พวกเขากำลังใช้ยูเครนเป็นแหล่งฟอกเงินเพื่อนำเงินหลายแสนล้านดอลลาร์ไปใช้กับเครื่องจักรสงคราม, และยังปกปิดอาชญากรรมร้ายแรงในยูเครนอีกด้วย, รวมถึงอาชญากรรมต่อมนุษยชาติในการพัฒนาอาวุธชีวภาพ, การค้ามนุษย์, การค้ายาเสพติด, และอื่นๆ สิ่งที่พวกเขาทำไม่ได้ในสหรัฐฯ, พวกเขาทำในยูเครน

หากประชาชนรู้ความจริงเกี่ยวกับที่มาของการมีส่วนร่วมของสหรัฐฯในยูเครน, พวกเขาจะไม่สนับสนุนการส่งเงินแม้แต่เพนนีเดียวไปยังยูเครน เรื่องเล่าที่ว่ารัสเซียโจมตียูเครนในปี ๒๐๒๒ "โดยไม่ได้รับการยั่วยุ", เป็นการโฆษณาชวนเชื่อสงครามเพื่อให้ดูเหมือนว่ายูเครนเป็นผู้ปกป้องที่ชอบธรรมเพื่อรวบรวมการสนับสนุนของคุณ, ในขณะที่ในความเป็นจริง, สหรัฐฯเป็นคนเริ่มความขัดแย้งนี้, พวกเขาคือผู้ที่นำสงครามมาที่หน้าประตูบ้านของปูติน, และสหรัฐฯเป็นผู้ทำให้สงครามดำเนินต่อไป โดยยังคงให้เงินทุนและเสบียงแก่ยูเครน

ปูตินไม่ต้องการพิชิตยุโรปทั้งหมด, เขาต้องการเพียงแค่ให้ NATO ออกไปจากชายแดนของเขา, และความยุติธรรมสำหรับการพัฒนาอาวุธทำลายล้างสูงของสหรัฐฯ ในยูเครน, โดยเฉพาะ, อาวุธชีวภาพที่จำเพาะต่อยีน

สงครามเย็นไม่เคยสิ้นสุดอย่างแท้จริง

Clandestine
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I do.

Ukraine is essentially a giant CIA base, posing as a sovereign nation.

The CIA moved into Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet Union, looking to take advantage of the lawless and destabilized country, using it as an offshore proxy, outside the scope of US oversight.

It began with the Nunn-Lugar Act in 1991, and then carried on into 2005, when then Senators Obama and Lugar visited Ukraine, to inspect the former Soviet bio, chemical, and nuclear facilities (pictured below), and then added Ukraine to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and began turning these former Soviet facilities into “defensive research facilities”, which opened the door for US contractors to establish their foothold in Ukraine, and set up their money laundering and racketeering operations, under the guise of “foreign aid”.

Then the CIA funded Nazi militant groups in Ukraine which led to the outbreak of civil war in 2014 in the Donbas. Amidst the chaos, the US State Department, via Victoria Nuland, leveraged the situation to install US-loyal puppets, including the infamous leaked phone call between her and fellow State Department bureaucrat Geoffrey Pyatt, about ensuring “their guy” Yatsenuik, was installed as Prime Minister. The State Department, in tandem with the CIA, covertly took control of Ukraine via Color Revolution in 2014.

Putin recognized this. He knew that the US had destabilized and taken control of Ukraine, and recognized that the US were building a proxy army on his border, by funding, training, and supplying Ukraine with weapons, and trying to bring them into NATO. This was a red line for Putin, as he has said for decades. Russia have been invaded from the West too many times before, and will not tolerate a hostile standing army and long-range missiles on their border. Just like the US didn’t like it when Russia tried to put nukes in Cuba in the 60’s, Russia doesn’t like the US trying to bring armies and weapons to Ukraine.

Essentially, Ukraine is an unofficial US territory and NATO member, and the Deep State do not want to lose out on their cash cow and strategic asset that is Ukraine, hence why they continue to send hundreds of billions of our tax dollars to protect Ukraine’s border. They are using Ukraine as a laundry mat to funnel in hundreds of billions for the war machine, and also covering up their extreme criminality in Ukraine, including crimes against humanity for bioweapon development, human trafficking, drug trafficking, etc. All the things they can’t get away with stateside, they do in Ukraine.

If the public knew the truth about the origins of US involvement in Ukraine, they would NEVER have supported sending a single penny to Ukraine. The narrative that Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022 “unprovoked”, is war propaganda to make it appear Ukraine are the righteous defenders in order to garner your support, when in reality, The US started this conflict, they are the ones who brought war to Putin’s doorstep, and the US are the ones perpetuating the war by continuing to fund and supply Ukraine.

Putin does not want to conquer all of Europe, he just wants NATO off of his border, and justice for US development of weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine, namely, gene-specific biological weapons.

The Cold War never truly ended.
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1:44 AM · Sep 14, 2024 · 3.3M Views
https://x.com/WarClandestine/status/1834664499976323116

Why Roman Numerals Are The Super Bowl’s Signature

Sure, the Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the world (World Cup fans, feel free to weigh in here), and an unofficial national holiday in the United States.

On February 13, 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams will face off at the California home field of the Rams, SoFi Stadium, in Super Bowl LVI (56). While sports fans are waiting to see if the Bengals will clinch their first Super Bowl title, the word (and number) lovers of us (you know, those of us watching the Superb Owl) are wondering about the Roman numerals themselves. Do you know how the Super Bowl got its name? Or why it uses Roman numerals?

How did the Super Bowl get its name?

In the 1960s, American pro football was divided into two leagues, the established NFL and the newly-formed AFL (American Football League). Eventually, the two would merge into one league comprised of two conferences, and shortly after the announcement of said merger, a new competitive event was announced pitting the best of both conferences against each other.

The first best-of-the-best game between the Packers and Chiefs in January 1967 ended up carrying the rather straightforward name of AFL-NFL Championship Game. Catchy? Not very. The subsequent three games used the equally bland World Championship Game.

So, when did the term Super Bowl finally come into the picture?

The standard mythology holds that Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt coined the term Super Bowl as a phonetic riff on his daughter’s toy Super Ball. But, numerous newspapers were commonly using the term Super Bowl as early as 1967—years before the first officially named Super Bowl game took place. Why let that get in the way of a good origin myth, right?

What does the bowl in Super Bowl mean?
Glad you asked. In the early 1900s, bowl began to be used to describe bowl-like stadiums. The first of these stadiums was built for Yale in 1914 and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was soon to follow. Soon enough, football games held in similarly designed stadiums were called bowl games.

What number Super Bowl is this year?

This year’s 2022 Super Bowl is number 56. That means it would be represented in Roman numerals as LVI. Do you know why?

Roman numerals are an ancient numeric system where numbers are represented by the symbols I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. I represents the number 1, V represents 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500, and M is 1,000. Different arrangements of these seven symbols represent different numbers.

To create numbers, you arrange the symbols in descending order from left to right. So the number 56 would be represented as 50 + 5 + 1 or LVI.

Why do the Super Bowl games have Roman numerals?

Lamar Hunt is also credited for introducing Roman numerals to keep track of the championship title bowls. Super Bowl V was the first such bowl to be numbered using this system. An excerpt from the NFL media guide explains further:

The Roman numerals were adopted to clarify any confusion that may occur because the NFL Championship Game—the Super Bowl—is played in the year following a chronologically recorded season. Numerals I through IV were added later for the first four Super Bowls.

Controversially, the only Super Bowl game to not use Roman numerals was Super Bowl 50. The Roman numeral for 50 is L, and, because NFL ad designers felt that the Super Bowl L title was too unattractive and unmarketable, they opted to use the number 50 instead.

Many football fans were very miffed by this. Chris Chase of USA Today summed up the “controversy” nicely: “Foregoing the use of Super Bowl L drew some early criticism that the league was dumbing things down for America, as if clinging to an archaic counting system that was obviously created without any foresight means we’re a nation of dunces. That’s nonsense. Roman numerals are like cursive: meaningless in the real world and not as pretty to look at as people think.”

That said: we’re now back to the Roman numeral system for the foreseeable future, so everything is in its right place. Go team!

Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

How many cats are there in total in the picture? #cat

Words To Use Instead Of “Interesting”

When it comes to overused words, it may be of interest to you that interesting is right up there at the top of the well-worn confab crop. It’s not an inherently bad word, and there are times when it will do just fine, but far too frequently it’s a lazy linguistic choice.

First evidence of the word dates back to 1705–15. Its stem comes from the much older word interest, which appeared around 1225–75 and derives from the Latin word interesse, meaning “to concern, literally, to be between.”

Over time, its implied meaning has become nebulous, though. The first definition of the word is “engaging or exciting and holding the attention or curiosity,” and, in some cases, it works as such. For example, I find this book incredibly interesting. But it can also be used as a verbal cloak to imply something less positive without outright saying it. For example, someone might say, “His choice of outfit was interesting … to say the least.”

In most cases, there’s a better word out there to complete your thought. Here are some to consider the next time you’re about to proclaim someone or something interesting.

riveting
If something truly piques your interest, then riveting revs things up more than interesting. It’s defined as “absolutely fascinating; enthralling.” Think about it—would you rather the audience describe the speech you just gave as riveting or interesting?

quirky
If by interesting, you mean “unusual or unexpected,” then quirky may be a better choice. Quirk means “a peculiarity of action, behavior, or personality; mannerism.” For example, you may describe the person you went out with on a blind date as quirky, which paints a much different picture than if you describe them as interesting.

provocative
Another word that packs a bit more punch is provocative, which is defined as “tending or serving to provoke; inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing.” Provoke stems from the Latin word pr?voc?re, meaning “to call forth, challenge, provoke.” It’s equivalent to the prefix pr?- plus voc?re, meaning “to call.”

enthralling
If someone recommends a movie saying it’s interesting, you may put it on your list. If they say it’s enthralling, however, you’re more likely to bump it to the top of said list. Defined as “holding the attention completely; fascinating; spellbinding,” the word stems from the verb enthrall, which dates back to 1570–80. It combines the prefix en- with the word thrall, which means “a person who is in bondage; slave.” As a verb, thrall is now archaic, but it meant “to put or hold in thralldom; enslave.”

alluring
It something piques your interest, you may say you find it alluring. Defined as “very attractive or tempting; enticing; seductive,” it says a whole lot more than interesting. It comes from the French word alurer, which is equivalent to a- plus lurer, meaning “to lure.”

bewitching
A sexy substitute for interesting may be bewitching, which means “enchanting; charming; fascinating.” It’s the adjective form of the verb bewitch, meaning “to affect by witchcraft or magic; cast a spell over,” which stems from the Middle English word biwicchen.

peculiar
Something may catch your interest because it’s peculiar. That something may also be described with synonyms such as strange, queer, and odd, all of which paint a more vivid image. It stems from the Latin word pec?li?ris, meaning “as one’s own.”

fascinating
Would you rather your kids described their homework as interesting or fascinating? Okay, if we’re being honest, most of us would be thrilled if they used either word to describe homework, but you get the point. Interestingly enough, the word fascinate comes from the Latin word fascin?re, which means “to bewitch, cast a spell on.” It’s a verbal derivative of fascinum, meaning “ evil spell, bewitchment.”

momentous
If what you really mean is that something is “of great or far-reaching importance or consequence,” then momentous may be your word. It conveys much more magnitude. An interesting event in history is one thing, but a momentous one is sure to be on the test.

bad
It’s not the fanciest word, but saying someone or something is bad does make it clearer what you mean, as do lousy, crummy, unpalatable and other words people mean when they say interesting. Wouldn’t you rather have someone let you know that the restaurant they ate at (where they got food poisoning) was bad instead of interesting? While first evidence of the word can be found around 1200–1250, no one is sure of its exact origin. There’s some thought that it may be akin to the Old English word bæddel, meaning “hermaphrodite” or bædling meaning “womanish man”—neither of which, as we know today, are bad.

As we said, you don’t need to eliminate interesting from your vocabulary altogether. To keep things more interesting—i.e., compelling/engaging/impressive—however, the next time you go to use it, take a second to consider if there may be a better choice.

It’s a small step that’s in your best—what else?—interest.

Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

ปล่อยตัว เจสสิก้า วองโซ ทันฑ์บนคดีกาแฟไซยาไนด์

ข่าวใหญ่ในอินโดนีเซียเวลานี้ คือ ผู้ต้องขังคดีฆาตกรรม เจสสิก้า วองโซ (Jessica Wongso) นักออกแบบกราฟิก ได้รับการปล่อยตัวก่อนกำหนดเมื่อวันที่ 18 สิงหาคม 2567 หลังกรมราชทัณฑ์อินโดนีเซียประเมินว่าเป็นผู้คุมขังที่มีความประพฤติดี จึงได้รับการผ่อนผันการลงโทษ โดยได้รับโทษรวม 58 เดือน 30 วัน หรือประมาณ 4 ปี 11 เดือน

เจสสิก้าได้รับการปล่อยตัวออกจากเรือนจำปอนดกบัมบู เมืองจาการ์ตาตะวันออก โดยมี อ็อตโต้ ฮาซิบวน (Otto Hasibuan) ทนายความเป็นผู้มารับ โดยได้ทักทายกับกองทัพสื่อมวลชน และกล่าวว่า ตนหิว อยากกินซูชิและเครื่องดื่มเย็นๆ

โฆษกกรมราชทัณฑ์ กระทรวงยุติธรรมของอินโดนีเซีย เดดดี้ เอ็ดวาร์ เอกา ซาปูตรา (Deddy Eduar Eka Saputra) ระบุว่า ระหว่างที่ถูกคุมขัง เจสสิก้าได้แสดงให้เห็นถึงพฤติกรรมที่ดีตามระบบคะแนนของผู้ต้องขัง จึงได้รับโทษทัณฑ์บน ถึงวันที่ 27 มีนาคม 2575 แต่ระหว่างนั้นจะต้องรายงานตัวต่อเจ้าหน้าที่ราชทัณฑ์เป็นประจำ

เจสสิก้าถูกดำเนินคดีในข้อหาฆาตกรรม หลังจากเพื่อนสนิท วายัน มิร์นา ซาลิอิน (Wayan Mirna Salihin) ดื่มกาแฟเวียดนามเย็น ระหว่างพบกับเพื่อนๆ ที่ร้านโอลิเวอร์คาเฟ่ ภายในศูนย์การค้าแกรนด์อินโดนีเซีย กรุงจาการ์ตา เมื่อวันที่ 6 มกราคม 2559 ก่อนที่มิร์นาจะมีอาการชักและหมดสติ เสียชีวิตระหว่างนำตัวส่งโรงพยาบาล

คดีนี้ตำรวจระบุว่า พบสารไซยาไนด์ในกาแฟที่มิร์นาดื่ม และเจสสิก้าตกเป็นผู้ต้องสงสัย กระทั่งถูกตำรวจควบคุมตัวเจสสิก้าเมื่อวันที่ 30 มิถุนายน 2559 ต่อมาวันที่ 21 มิถุนายน 2560 ศาลพิพากษาจำคุกเป็นเวลา 20 ปี และส่งตัวไปยังเรือนจำ แม้ฝ่ายของเจสสิก้าจะยื่นคำอุทธรณ์ แต่ศาลชั้นสูงได้ปฏิเสธคำอุทธรณ์ดังกล่าว

เรื่องดังกล่าวเป็นคดีฆาตกรรมที่โด่งดังในปี 2559 สื่อมวลชนรายงานข่าวคดีนี้อย่างต่อเนื่อง กระทั่งการพิพากษาคดีได้รับการถ่ายทอดสดทางโทรทัศน์ และมีผู้ชมนับล้านคน หนังสือพิมพ์จาการ์ตาโพสต์ รายงานว่า ตามคำฟ้อง ผู้พิพากษาสรุปว่าเจสสิกาฆ่ามิร์นาเพื่อแก้แค้น ที่ก่อนหน้านี้มิร์นาบอกให้เจสสิกาเลิกกับ แพทริก โอคอนเนอร์ อดีตแฟนหนุ่มชาวออสเตรเลียของเธอ

เรื่องราวระหว่างเจสสิก้าและมิร์นาถูกนำไปสร้างเป็นภาพยนตร์สารคดีเรื่อง Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso ผลิตโดย Beach House Pictures ออกอากาศผ่านเน็ตฟลิกซ์ ซึ่งออกอากาศเมื่อวันที่ 28 กันยายน 2566 ที่ผ่านมา เป็นที่วิพากษ์วิจารณ์ว่ามีเนื้อหาที่ยั่วยุและทำให้เกิดความวุ่นวาย เพราะวิพากษ์วิจารณ์กระบวนการยุติธรรมของอินโดนีเซีย

ขณะที่ทนายความอีกคนหนึ่งของเจสสิก้าอย่าง ฮิดายัต บอสตัม (Hidayat Bostam) กล่าวกับสำนักข่าวจาการ์ตาโกลบ (Jakarta Globe) ว่า ทีมทนายความยังคงดำเนินการพิจารณาทบทวนการตัดสินลงโทษเจสสิกาต่อไป โดยอ้างว่ามีหลักฐานใหม่ที่อาจพลิกคำตัดสินว่ามีความผิดได้ และจะยื่นคำร้องในสัปดาห์หน้า

#Newskit #JessicaWongso #IceColdMurder

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