#budget external drive

[compacflt]

Hi, big fan of your fics. I've just found your Tumblr and binged everything Icemav-related. When reading about Icemav's political beliefs, I've gotten curious. Does Bradley share the same political beliefs as Ice (and Mav)? Does being raised by them or them pulling his papers influence how he votes? Or there are other factors in the play (e.g. generations, social media)? How about Jake and the other Daggers? How does this young generation of the Navy perceive politics (elections, gender, etc.)? My apologies for bombarding you with questions. But as a non-American, American politics have always been something we must pay attention to. I've seen many interesting interpretations on Tumblr but it feels more or less wistful than realistic, but I might be wrong (again not an American) so I would love to see your perspective on this. Thank you.

a good politics roundup post before i leave this blog

icemav & their conservatism: here, here, here

ice’s NECESSARY conservatism as commander of the pacific fleet (i.e. officers who are most likely to get promoted to the highest ranks do NOT break the service line when it comes to domestic politics, so by necessity ice would’ve had to keep his mouth shut, he Cannot be both a four-star and a revolutionary, like he just can’t; and being a revolutionary is otherwise antithetical to his character anyway): here, here.

and the original “ice & mav politics post” which is being updated here: here

I’ve gone back and forth on everyones politics over the last year of me being involved with these characters, but let me just tell you where I’ve ended up headcanoning them politically, if ur interested

ice: reagan democrat. “educated moderate” who was more right-leaning pre-9/11. now just a regular ol liberal (did you SEE those gay little round glasses in tgm? no way this guy isn’t a straight-up lib) with absolutely no strong feelings about most domestic politics besides “fascism bad”. Has some foreign policy opinions that areeeee questionable at best, like all members of the military elite (hangman voice: DO NOT ASK ICEMAN ABOUT CHINA. WORST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE). foreign policy neoliberal favoring the dovish side of the spectrum. A force conservator (“let’s save our military assets [read: my boyfriend maverick 🥺] for when we really need them, not for any old conflict. the deterring specter of the American war machine should outweigh the risk of underperforming”). He’s in favor of marriage equality of course, but treats it like a privilege and not a right. would be sad/upset if it got repealed but wouldn’t necessarily fight for it. “well at least my marriage will always be legal in california so i just won’t leave, problem solved.” Normie median Biden voter.

mav: political wildcard tbh. original 1986 mav is DEFINITELY right-leaning (i think i’ve written elsewhere, “he fully believes bill clinton is an affront to god”). i get young republican vibes from him. Full on patriotic (but dispassionate) 1980s reaganite anti-commie neoconservative. but after the 2010s i am very confused tbh. Tom cruise’s political aura is an insanely confusing one. idk. No matter what, Mav has some Hot Takes that a.) can immediately be shot down by ice using Facts and Logic at any time and b.) are not strictly partisan. He’s registered democrat just to support marriage equality (his marriage is his top priority but he doesn’t care about Other gays’ marriages, only his own), doesn’t care about any of the party’s other lines. Votes however ice tells him to. I get real “kind clueless libertarian” vibes from 2022 maverick tbh. Especially with the “isolating himself in a hangar in the middle of the mojave desert.” that has a political connotation to it for sure. bro just does whatever he wants out there

also, ice & mav live in San Diego, which… while in blue/democrat leaning California…is famously a bastion of right-wingers & has a hitler particle level off the charts… (sorry its not my favorite place in the world). That’s why they’re both continually so disgusted by San Francisco (a metonym for effete liberal homosexuality). Theyre from San Diego, hatred of SF & liberal SF politics is kinda par for the course down there.

Bradley: as u will see in the extras i definitely hc Bradley as an activist, but because he’s… in the navy and also like in his 30s… It’s not college campus activism, it’s just “things all of us in the left wing can agree upon” activism. so, like, BLM or pride, etc. He’s an “in this house we believe” yard sign liberal. He is 38 years old. hes a solid millennial so not politically hip with the kids (me)

Bradley & ice/mav disagree on the VISIBILITY of politics. Ice & mav, who did live through the vietnam era draft/near-dissolution of American society in the 60s and 70s, are not in favor of possibly losing their job/honor they have fought and killed for, for the sake of a political statement. And they believe their relationship IS a political statement, whereas Bradley would rather encourage them to treat their relationship like, I don’t know, a relationship that has a right to exist independent of politics!

Jake and the other daggers: idk. i don’t really give a shit about the daggers sorry. They r blank slates 2 me. jake especially is canonically frat-boy sexist in a way that gives me the heebs, much like original 1986 maverick and ice. But the navy tends to be the most left-wing (or thought of as left wing in common thought) service of the military, if that helps. But it is also the most traditional service of the military, and by traditional I mean BRITISH!!!! 🇬🇧💂there’s so much pomp and circumstance and hoity-toitiness that comes from the navy’s origins in the Royal Navy. A lot of sticking to outdated tradition in the very fabric of the navy itself, while the navy’s enlisted demographics shift younger and more left-wing/“revolutionary…” some interesting conflicts there. Like that one sailor who got blasted by multiple congressmen on social media for (with permission!) reading a poem about their queer identity on the USS Gerald ford’s intercom a few months back, if I remember correctly. Hoo boy the Takes that day were wild. Younger Americans tend to be more liberal but YMMV with officers, who are by nature trying to uphold outdated traditions of the navy for the sake of keeping the navy a unified service

i am of course writing carole as a christian republican who has gay friends and a gay kid not by choice but by the Grace of God

#i realize some terminology in this post is so hyperamericanspecific that you may need to Google it #like the in this house we believe yard sign #it’s… like… i can’t even describe it. it’s a kind of well meaning liberal who can sometimes be a little cringe. #and Reagan democrats (which ice is) are a whole political subgroup in and of themselves #maybe not Reagan democrat but like conservadem? but no that’s different too #blue dog democrat? but not sure he’s that conservative #THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BECOME SUCH A BIG TENT POST TRUMP THERE ARE 50.000 TYPES OF DEMOCRAT YOU CAN BE #san francisco as a metonym for effete liberal homosexuality of course (it’s where im from 😎😎) #it’s a ten hour drive from SF to San diego like they might as well be different countries. san diego secede from the US when 🙏🏽 #pete maverick mitchell #tom iceman kazansky #top gun #icemav #top gun maverick #jake hangman seresin #bradley rooster bradshaw #normie median biden voter ice #the navy is liberalizing but veeeeery slowly #most of the conservative pressure ive seen towards the navy is external! policymakers & budget drafters etc #the navy is very liberal BUT that makes it a laughingstock among conservatives! #so a desire from higher-ups to push the Navy more conservative to be taken seriously…is kinda understandable #when being taken seriously means more ships more capability more money etc #instead of GOP culture-war-pilled pennypinchers going ‘hey why are we givin the gay service so much money’ #take this post with a grain of salt. i have never been old enough to vote in a federal election.

[drakonovisny]

i'm beginning to feel like i should settle for a more mediocre laptop 🥲

#paying over 3k will probably always gonna be way too much for my budget #4080 would be ideal but it's way too overpriced 😭 #honestly the performance difference between 4060 and 4070 is not that big for the price difference #are 32gb of ram are a bit excessive #16gb are more than enough #plus it's upgradable #1tb of memory should also enough #i can just get an external hard drive later #i like to dream big tho :')

[awakefor48hours]

Shows you should save physically immediately

Over the Garden Wall -- It's being pulled from HBO Max on August 31 and knowing HBO, there's a chance it'll be pulled sooner. *I have now made a Google Drive of all the episodes of OTGW. Please, please, please, PLEASE, save these on a physical device.

The Owl House -- Disney has tried to bury this show many times (giving it a weird release schedule, cutting the budget, etc) and has even cancelled the show. Also, Disney+ is going to nuke their catalogue soon and I doubt TOH will survive*I have now also saved all the episodes of TOH. Click here for the posts with all of the episodes

Amphibia -- I know less about the behind the scenes BS than TOH but Amphibia was screwed over by Disney mainly by poor promotion. Also since one of the protagonist is openly bisexual*, like TOH, I really can't imagine this would survive.*Amphibia has also been saved. Go here for the post with all the episodes.

Steven Universe -- Cartoon Network cancelled Steven Universe and gave it a weird release schedule, it has also just been pulled from HBO Max.

Gravity Falls -- Once again, Disney+ is going to nuke their catalogue at some point in the future and between Wendy being canonically bi, Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durland being in a relationship, and Alex Hirsch (being the amazing man that he is) constantly calling Disney out on their BS, I imagine that Disney would be more than willing to nuke Gravity Falls. *I’ve also saved Gravity Falls now go to the main post here to see all the episodes.

and most importantly

Every single show, book, game, fanfiction, movie, etc you've ever loved

We now know that at any moment's notice, streaming services can and will just nuke their catalogue without hesitation. If it's digital, it can be removed and there's a likely chance you'll never see it again.

So, please take some time to save anything you love on an external device. It could be a box set (it can be official or fan-made one), a USB, or anything.

If you have a physical copy of something, it's yours forever and no one can take that away from you.

*Edit because I’ve seen some confusion about this. Read this again, it’s “one of the protagonists” not “the protagonist.” Sasha is the one who’s bi, Anne’s sexuality hasn’t been confirmed.

Also in addition to this, people have reblogged this to say Steven Universe is still on HBO. Since I don’t have HBO, I’ve been going off of what people have been saying and I’ve seen it mentioned that HBO was taking off SU. You should still save it though.

*Edit 2 if any of the links here don’t work, check the original post as I might’ve changed/updated them. If that still doesn’t work, send me an ask or DM I’ll give them to you.

#toh #the owl house #gravity falls #steven universe #su #amphibia #over the garden wall #otgw #others you should probably save > #rwby #she ra #miraculous ladybug #the legend of korra #< any show with a queer cast #(and/or has been banned in another country) #you should save it immediately #top posts

[geonixinternational]

Key factors to consider before you build or buy your own PC

In recent years, technology has advanced significantly, particularly in the area of computers.

They are used by us for business, leisure, and global connectivity. Today, there are unlimited choices available when selecting a new PC since the typical individual now has access to more availability to choose what you want. So, when the time comes to purchase a new PC or computer hardware parts to build your own rig, carefully weigh all of your possibilities. The following are the most crucial things to remember:

Factors to consider before buying or building your own PC

1.   How do you want to build your PC?

With so many potential factors in a PC design, it is quite normal to become confused. Want to build your own computer to save money? Or do you aspire to excel at the greatest levels? The physical parts of the computer, such as the RAM, storage, etc., are unquestionably connected to each of these scenarios. The operating system and other peripherals, such as the keyboard, will have a far lower influence on how well your system performs than this, even though they are still crucial parts of the computer.

2.   CPU

The CPU is a crucial consideration when purchasing any PC. The machine's brain controls how quickly your computer will operate. The clock speed of a CPU, expressed in GHz, is the most crucial feature to consider. Your computer will run quicker if the clock speed is greater. The processor's core count is another important factor to consider. Nowadays, a dual-core CPU is the minimal need. However, an octa-core or quad-core processor will provide you with even faster performance.

3.   Motherboard

Your PC's physical form factor and size are dictated by the motherboard, but it also limits the various hardware components that may be installed in the machine. The motherboard, for instance, determines the processor's maximum power, the kind of RAM and the maximum number of installed modules, the modular storage design, as well as the storage interface. While additional suitable components should be considered when selecting a motherboard, you should first select your motherboard and then the rest of the computer hardware parts.

4.   Storage

Your storage disc permanently saves all of your data until you choose to delete it. It gets stored in either a solid state drive or a hard disc drive, which you can select while building your rig. Despite the fact that hard drives typically offer more storage, solid state drives have effectively rendered hard drives obsolete since they are faster and more energy-efficient.

Read and write speeds indicate how quickly data loads (reads) and transfers, which is why there is a speed difference between the two storage devices (writes). SSDs employ NAND flash technology, while hard drives use tiny mechanical parts. 

5.   Graphics card

Another crucial part of the computer is the graphics card. It helps your PC process all the graphics, which is crucial, especially if you watch movies, play games or use editing software on your device. You should take the amount of cores, clock speed, and bandwidth into account when selecting a graphics card.

The amount of cores affects how many tasks the card can do at once, therefore it is crucial. The quicker the card is, the greater the clock speed and bandwidth. Additionally, you need to confirm that the card works with the gaming monitor you intend to use.

6.   RAM

One of the quickest, simplest, and most cost-effective methods to boost your PC's performance is by adding RAM, which offers your system extra room to store temporary data. The ability to multitask between apps, have many tabs open while browsing the internet, type and compose an email, and even move your mouse pointer all depend on memory.

Because background activities and crucial services, such as system updates, can consume RAM, it is critical to have an ample amount of free memory. In general, you need more memory for the more activities you are engaged in.

Compatibility and the amount of RAM your system can accommodate are two factors to consider while choosing the optimum RAM for your device. In order to ensure compatibility, first determine the form factor of the module that your system employs. Next, determine the memory technology that your system is compatible with.

Second, depending on your system, there are a limited number of GB that it can accommodate. For instance, if you purchase 64 GB of RAM but your computer can only handle 16 GB, you are wasting 48 GB of memory as that cannot be used.

7.   Warranties

Finally, it is crucial to think about warranties and the return policies when selecting a PC.

The majority of computers have a guarantee of at least one year, while some businesses charge more for extended warranties. Do understand the warranty period and extended warranty possibilities with Geonix before making a purchase. 

The return policy of the business should also be known to you. While some businesses have fewer limits than others, some let you return the computer for a complete refund within a specific time frame. To ensure that you buy something you are delighted with, it is crucial to understand the policies.

 Conclusion

While there are many factors that can influence the types of computer hardware parts you buy, these are some of the most critical. Geonix is the most reputed computer hardware dealer in India. They have a vast catalogue of peripherals and other hardware to choose from so that you can customize your rig in the best way possible.

#laptop ram vs desktop ram #best large storage external hard drive #best budget ssd

[centrally-unplanned]

One of my decently hot takes is that public housing projects in western countries actually did fine - they became maligned because of a combination of the crime + social changes of the 1970's and the politics of urban blight, and the way public housing made poverty legible but, of course, unresolvable. Public housing had 'bad conditions' because poverty has bad conditions - they 'concentrated poverty' and had 'negative externalities' because poverty always concentrates itself and has negative externalities. But the fact that all those concentrated negative externalities were occurring on public, highly scrutinized government budget lines made the projects seem like failures. But they only were by the standards of expecting them to fix poverty, a thing they could never do. They did their actual job of alleviating poverty a good deal.

Not saying they didn't have issues of course, just that I think its within the "policy competence space" of many polities to do more direct public housing than they currently do - and particularly in the US's case, the replacement for public housing of things like rent control, "affordable housing quotas", etc, have all been worse than the government than just directly building apartments they rent for cheap.

All of this is to say, while its not my ideal solution, I don't think the idea of system just building shit-tons of public housing such that it drives down rent below market equilibriums as a form of social welfare is such a bad plan. A country that did would have its own problems but a ton of strengths too, I think you could learn from it.

It just isn't the Soviet Union! They did not do that! It does not, in any way, describe what the Soviet Union was capable of doing or prioritized doing. The Soviet Union was way too busy spending ~20% of its GDP on its military during peacetime as a poor country and flipping the finger to global supply chains and just being a bonkers economy generally to do that. It never, even at its peak in the Kruschev 60's boom, allocated more investment to housing stock than the western countries did. It was constitutionally incapable of doing so due to the inherent structure of its political economy.

Again there are some specific policy stuff you can learn from, that is totally fine to study. But it "solved" no problem in this space.

[tossawary]

One of my favorite Discworld books is actually one of the more obscure ones, "Moving Pictures", which is about the invention of films and the movie business in this fantasy world that has dwarves and trolls and wizards and so on. It has its rough patches like every early Discworld book, but Ginger's speech about people who were born in the wrong time or wrong place for their dreams really gets to me in a good way, and I love all of the references to classic films and commentary on fame and creativity. It also has classic characters like Gaspode the Talking Dog and C.M.O.T. Dibbler, and it introduces Detritus's romance with another troll named Ruby.

Perhaps most importantly to me is that this book introduces Ponder Stibbons, who is a wizard, and who goes on in later books to be one of the most important members of the Unseen University (he holds like twelve different positions), in that he's one of the few people who can competently manage a project and so ends up managing nearly everything. (Bear with me, it's been a while since I read any Discworld and my memory is a little rough.) In "Moving Pictures", Ponder is the classmate (roommate?) of a fellow named Victor Tugelbend, who is one of the main characters.

Victor begins the book as a career student, in that a wealthy relative left him a great deal of money exclusively for school; so as long as he STAYS in school, all of his living expenses are paid for. If Victor graduates, that's the end of the money. If Victor drops out, that's the end of the money. But if Victor manages to hit a specific mark range in the 80s every year, then he gets to stay on for another year and try again, and so Victor is perhaps the most dedicated and knowledgeable wizardry student in the university's history, because you have to know what the right answer is in order to intentionally get a certain number of the questions wrong, so that you can continue to coast along on your college fund.

Ponder's graduation is (accidentally) Victor's fault, because Victor runs away to get into the movie business. (I won't spoil what happens, but it's VERY funny.) Now, I like to imagine after the events of the book, after Ponder holds a faculty position in the university, Victor comes BACK to the university occasionally as a disgustingly well-paid external consultant, which drives Ponder UP THE FUCKING WALL. Like, people are so stingy all of the time but SOMEHOW the university budget has room to bring your offensively handsome dropout roommate back just to say, "Hmm, yes, that looks bad. Have you tried turning it off and on again?" I'd throw a fit, honestly. (As soon as Ponder has enough seniority, he probably puts his foot down to stop this if Victor isn't actually useful. Maybe he is, idk, but maybe not for THAT consulting fee.)

I also like to imagine that Victor Tugelbend and Theda "Ginger" Withel are still together, maybe even still acting (badly? mediocre-ly? decently?) together, in some dingy little theatre (Ginger is the director and runs their acting troupe like a tyrant) where the front seats are regularly filled with middle-aged folks who still sigh over the memories of moving pictures. (Moving pictures are now, presumably, VERY illegal in Ankh Morpork.) Victor and Ginger have only because even more attractive as they've gotten older, which is EVEN MORE OFFENSIVE to poor Ponder because his former movie star former roommate is married to another gorgeous former movie star?! I'd throw another fit.

Anyway, I think Ponder deserves to have an affair with a pair of aging former movie stars. I like to imagine this purely because I think it's funny. He seems kind of busy for marriage, so joining someone else's marriage part-time might be good for him. It probably makes most of the rest of the Unseen University faculty breathlessly envious and that really does it for him.

And I think that this affair would OF COURSE be covered by every newspaper and tabloid in the city, including The Times, and William de Worde and Sacharissa Cripslock don't fully understand why their entertainment reporter is so breathlessly excited about people who were famous over a decade ago? (Supermarket tabloids love to tell me about alleged affairs of people who were famous 20+ years ago.) The article on Victor Maraschino and Delores De Syn's failing marriage* is their bestselling newspaper in months and William puts his head down on his desk in despair. (He's fine. This happens on a weekly at least basis. He just needs a minute.)

*Victor and Ginger are very happy with this situation, actually. They're going to take Ponder to dinner to go on a double date with Ruby and Detritus soon. Victor and Ponder are going to get distracted arguing about some of the Inadvisably Applied Magic research projects, but that's fine, because Ginger wants to talk to Ruby about this one-troll-woman-show concept. (Detritus will proudly hand out tickets at the Watch station and accidentally intimidate all of his coworkers into accepting the invitation.)

#tossawary discworld #fic ideas #spoilers #long post

[wander-wren]

every once in a while i like to poke my head into "anti [x]" tags just to see what the other side thinks. recently i was looking through "anti ao3" and found a really funny post claiming that ao3 is not anticapitalist, but actually the Definition Of Capitalism, bc it relies on volunteer labor while supposedly having the money to pay a staff.

oh, honey.

but i am not going to make unsubstantiated claims on the internet, no, and this gives me an excuse to look at ao3's whole budget myself, which i've been meaning to do for a while. these numbers are taken from the 2022 budget post and budget spreadsheet.

ao3's total income for 2022, from the two donation drives, regular donations, donation matching programs, interest, and royalties was $1,012,543.42. less than $300 of that was from interest and royalties, so it's almost all donations. and that's a lot, right? surely an organization making a million dollars a year can afford to pay some staff, right?

well, let's look at expenses. first of all, they lose almost $37,000 to transaction fees right away. ao3 and fanlore (~$341k and ~$18k, respectively) take up the biggest chunks of the budget by far. that money pays for, to quote the 2022 budget post, "server expenses—both new purchases and ongoing colocation and maintenance—website performance monitoring tools, and various systems-related licenses."

in some years, otw also pays external contractors to perform audits for security issues, and for more servers to handle the growing userbase. servers are expensive as hell, guys. in 2022, new server costs alone were $203k.

each of their other programs only cost around $3,000 or less, and otw paid around $78k for fundraising and development. wait, how do you lose so much money on your fundraising?? from the 2022 budget post: "Our fundraising and development expenses consist of transaction fees charged by our third-party payment processors for each donation, thank-you gift purchases and shipping, and the tools used to host the OTW’s membership database and track communications with donors and potential donors."

then the otw paid an additional $74k in administration expenses, which covers "hosting for our website, trademarks, domains, insurance, tax filing, and annual financial statement audits, as well as communication, management, and accounting tools."

in case you weren't following all of that math, the total expenses for 2022 come out to $518,978.48. woah! that's a lot! but it's still only a little over half of their net revenue. weird. i wonder what they do with that extra $494k?

well, $400k of it goes to the reserves, which i'll get to in a second. the last $93k, near as i can tell, gets rolled over to the next year. i'll admit this part i'm a little unsure about, as it's not clear on the spreadsheet, but that's the only thing that makes sense.

the reserves, though are clear. the most recent post i could find on the otw site about it were in the board meeting minutes from april 2, 2022: "We’re holding about $1million in operating cash that is about twice the amount of our annual operating costs. There is another $1million in reserves due to highly successful fundraisers in the past. The current plan for the reserves is to hold the money for paid staff in the future. It’s been talked about before in the past and we’re still working out the details, but it’s a rather expensive undertaking that will result in large annual expenses in addition to the initial cost of implementation."

woah....they're PLANNING to have paid staff eventually! wild!

so let's assume, for easy numbers, that the otw currently has $1.5 million in reserves. before we even get to how to use that money, let's look at the issues with implementing paid staff:

deciding which positions are going to be paid, because it can't be all of them

deciding how much to pay them, bc minimum wage sure as hell isn't enough, and cost of living is different everywhere, and volunteers come from all over the world

hiring staff and implementing new systems/tools to handle things like payroll and accounting

making sure you continue to earn enough money both to pay all of the staff and have some in reserves for emergencies or leaner donation drives

probably even more stuff than that! i don't run a nonprofit, that's just what i can think of off the top of my head.

okay, okay, okay. for the sake of argument, let's assume there is a best-case scenario where the otw starts paying some staff tomorrow. how much should they be paid? i'm picking $15 an hour, since that's what we fought for the minimum wage to be. by now, it should be closer to $20 or $25, but i'm trying to give "ao3 is capitalism" the fairest shot it can get here, okay?

ideally, if someone is being paid to help run ao3, they shouldn't need a second job. every job should pay enough to live off of. and running a nonprofit is hard work that leads to a lot of burnout--two board members JUST resigned before their terms were up. what i'm saying is, i'm going to assume a paid otw staff is getting paid for 40 hours of work a week, minimum. that's $31,200.

at $400,000 per year, the otw can afford to pay 12 people. that's WITHOUT taking into account the new systems, tools, software, etc they would have to pay for, any kind of fees, etc, etc.

oh, and btw, if you're an american you're still making barely enough to survive in most places, AND you don't have universal healthcare, vision, or dental. want otw to give people insurance, too? the number of people they can pay goes down.

it's. not. possible.

a million dollars is a lot of money on the face of it, but once you realize how MUCH goes into running something like the otw, it goes away fast.

just for reference, wikipedia also has donation drives every year. wikipedia, as of 2021, has $86.8 million in cash reserves and $137.4 million in investments. sure, wikipedia and ao3 are very different entities, but that disparity is massive. and i should note that if you give $10 to wikipedia they don't give you voting rights, i'm just saying.

by the way, you may have noticed that i didn't mention legal costs at all here. isn't one of otw's big Things about how they do legal advocacy?

yes, it is. they have a whole page about that work. and i can't for the life of me find a source on otw's website (and i'm running out of time to write this post, i'll look harder later), but i am 90% sure i learned before that most, if not all, of otw's legal work/advice/etc is done pro bono. i've also seen an anti-ao3 person claim their legal budget is only $5k or so, but they didn't have a source. but keep in mind that if they don't have a legal budget, all the numbers above stay the same, and if they do, there is even less money available for paid staff.

you can criticize ao3 and the otw all you want! there are many valid reasons to criticize them, and i do not think they're perfect either. but if you're going to do so, you should at least make sure you can back up your claims, bc otherwise you just look silly.

#ao3 #otw #anti ao3 #bc i want them to see this #otw board #ao3 discourse #ao3 donations #wren wrambles #that post was so unserious i died #if it was more recent (its from mid-july) i wouldve replied directly maybe #but i didnt want to drag the body of a 6-note post into the light OR attack the op directly so #also! if i misunderstood something pls let me know im doing my best

[orange-coloredsky]

i cannot believe ive never posted this. probably because it looks like shit. anyways heres my pepe silva ass scrawlings about what i think this guy's mods are for.

translation of the nigh unreadable text under the cut

REAL AND CANON DIMA LORE PART ONE: What The Hell Are All Those Doo Dads

(i'll start from the head and go down)

HEAD

functionally blind. constant exposure to moisture from the fog pretty much turned a lot of him into mush and short circuits, including whatever optic nerves he had going on in there. so he mainly relies on sound and memory to get around. some of the shit sticking out of his head actually works like echolocation devices. pickinh up the sound around him and translating it into something that lets him know "oh, theres a fuckin table there. it does not always work. (fun fact: thats the reason why his memory game is based on abstractions and sound. while exploring nick/kellogg's brain we got visual input. dima doesnt have that)

all of the other tubes are basically just typical vacuum tubes. used to reroute voltage to make sure he doesnt overload himself with all the extra mods. make sure you dont stand too close to him during a thunderstorm

TORSO

basically an external disk drive. his main way of utilizing holotapes and shit. i like to draw a lil heart on it

looks like guts. gross. i cant figure out what this would do (i now believe its a liquid cooling system)

LEGS

so it turns out sitting in a damp ass cave on your ass in the dirt for 365 days doesnt do wonders for the skin. especially when that skin is just shitty rubber. basically his fuckin leg parts rotted away and just his metal skeleton remained, which is wrapped in his weird duct tape yoga pants. the metal frames are for extra support. because of this as well as his age he cant really stand for long periods of time (ignore the part where he stands in acadia forever after you get deeper into his questline) and when he INSISTS ON DOING SO he requires some form of mobility aid. usually in the form of faraday or chase walking alongside him

typical synth skeletal feet, but augmented to actually flex/extend like talons. he is weirdly skilled at picking things up with his feet.

BACK

basically his whole back is just Gone, minus the structures needed to hold up those ports because dima is very prone to overheating. was easier to just get rid of anything blocking the flow of air than to install a bunch of heat sinks. faraday's smart but hes on a budget.

these are the cerebral (spinal?) connections he uses to be plugged into his chair (not dissimilar to the placements of the connections in the institute mind wiping chair ☹️)

#fh #dima #amihth world #meta #long post

[no-where-new-hero]

Wrap up thoughts on Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 even though I'm fairly sure none of my followers will have a clue what I'm talking about:

The writing was better than in Season 1. Aside from the huge continuity plothole (what happens in the past bloody well should affect the future, otherwise what's the point), the depth of characters, individual lines, mixture of humor and tragedy, and juggling of many parts came off with more dexterity than I'd have thought. The characters have even more reality because of it and drive the plot onward.

Hongjoo and Mooyeong were amazing new characters and really helped to push through the theme of the season, which was that the way you care about other people is what makes you do the things you do, whether for good or bad. You lie because you want to protect the other person, you leave because you think that'll save them, you decide to perform sketchy magics because that might be enough to stitch back together the family you lost.

Rang. O Rang, my beloved. Kim Beom went for the throat in every scene with his haunted eyes and whispered lines. S1!Rang and S2!Rang felt like different characters somehow, or that they grew from different places. In S1, he was more complicated: more morally grey, more inwardly tortured, more selfish and shallow yet therefore more surprising when kind. He seemed to have more actual power, but less inner strength. In S2, he had a nobility that worked considering he no longer had to be the villain, but that also caught him in plot trappings of heroism: externally tormented, driven to protect and support others, less self-absorbed, less magical in order to seem less dangerous. It still felt consistent and a necessary shift to keep from being repetitive, but its a puzzle, considering that time travel continuity problem.

The folklore! The approach to the elemental magics felt much stronger and more authentic than in S1, where the big bad was a little too big and a little too bad to the point where his choices for villainy seemed meaningless. Here, each magical antagonist came with a different set of limits and strengths, which diversified the fight scenes and fleshed out the world.

Politics! We love a historical drama that actually uses the circumstances of history to animate the plot (looking at you again, The Edge of Love).

The cinematography and direction of the last few episodes blew me away. It was great throughout, but the director was just serving through that finale.

The pacing was excellent, despite the...whimsical decision for some cuts between scenes. Like there was some heavy emotional whiplash.

Makeup and wardrobe must have had the USA's military budget. The costumes and looks overall deserve their own tribute post.

Yeon is literally invincible in this season which therefore makes him the least interesting (hero problems again) BUT Lee Dongwook has a knack for comedic delivery, which really shone here in his quieter scenes.

Kim Yongji played a COMPLETELY different type of role yet pulled it off beautifully with her trademark presence.

I'm so hoping that the obviously dangling plot thread left means the writers are planning a third season.

If we don't get a third season, can Hwanghee, Yongji, and Beom just have their own show? Not even playing their characters from this; I'd be fine with any genre or format (slice of life as artsy 20-somethings would be perfect), but they're all just so good together, the chemistry is off the charts.

#tale of the nine tailed 1938 #tale of the nine tailed #totnt #totnt 1938 #kinema #blake's last braincell

[theageofsims]

I'm looking to upgrade my laptop because the SSD that came with it is running out of space (nothing big, somewhere in the 200s). It's a low budget dell gaming laptop so I told myself I'd worry about the space later... Well this is about 5 years later.

I honestly never go over 1gb for with mods/CC so that's not what's been taking up space -- but I'm sure the game and all the packs that I do own as well as Photoshop, a video editor, and a few other things are what's sucking up the space.

I'm working off of about 33gb give or take because I've got an external hard drive I dump my files on.

There's another spot in the laptop for another SSD or an HDD, so I've got my eyes on a Samsung 1t SSD. I'm tech savvy so I don't mind installing it, but I read that Sims can be played on an external SSD and wanted to know if that's true -- and if it's better than an internal one?

#blurb

[juni-ravenhall]

whats ur non mainstream film taste then? genuinly curious to hear. as someone whos ended up in some weird ass corners of the film world like Neil breen Zachary Oberzan 0 budget stuff i love hearing what kind of weird indie corners other people have gotten into :3

i will talk a lot below that prob wont be interesting anyway, but i have to say first that i mostly stopped watching movies and now i mostly watch things @yasminewestbank chooses (not all the time but mostly) bc shes a movie nerd, so she picks movies that are usually either genuinely good or at least watchable, and if it was just me alone id prob not be bothering to watch those anyway, bc even a great movie just doesnt give me that much. i suffer from pretty severe apathy :( so if u want someone who hypes up genuinely good movies rather than me who is like "this is genuinely good but im still apathetic and dont really care" then yasmin is better to talk to. (im also generally more of a nonfiction type when it comes to video content, i could hype up Tasting History on youtube most days of the week but i struggle to hype up any movie at all. oh, and animated shorts, there are always some interesting student films and stuff.) the rest ⬇

my taste is usually "its [symbolic or not] critical commentary on something i care about" (feminism and misogyny, classism, bigotry, racism, the queer experience, abuse, trauma, violence, human self development, etc etc) or "its portraying human experiences [internal and external] in an interesting or just realistic way", like. realistic but in a highly specific meaning of realistic. i dont care about realism as a concept itself in art (realistic visuals or realistic setting or realistic costume etc i rly do not care about), what i mean is just about capturing a real essence of human brains and experiences, not copypasting stereotypical ideas without meaning. i can also enjoy some more abstract like david lynch bc its expressing human feelings and experiences in an appealing way. im really big on symbolic stuff and will just keep talking about what different parts of the movie meant or represented after i watch something w yasmin.

(edit to add... i should prob note that many of the movies i mention have adult content and heavy topics depending on who you ask? but i assume ppl who read this would already know to check ratings and warnings)

on the criticising / teaching side of meaningful, it would be for example, Poor Things [2023].... on the realistic / documenting side, for example Burning [2018] or Naked [1993], and i liked ryuusuke hamaguchi's movies Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, and Drive My Car (tho that one has a really badly written scene in it by the end that i hated) for the characters too. i dont know if those are the best examples its more just off the top of my head. theres also mainstream movies that fit my criteria, so for that criticising / teaching side, there's for example Pleasantville [1998], and Pretty Woman, which yasmin told me ppl tend to hate, but if thats the case i think ppl really didnt understand what it was about (it showed so much about misogyny and class issues, coated in such a way that you could get average boomers to watch it as a "romantic" movie without being aware of the actual meaning of what youre going into, the same way pleasantville can be watched as a goofy gimmick movie without being aware of the meaning youre going into, tho pleasantville is heavyhanded by the end, and i guess pretty woman manages to still fly over ppls heads? but not too surprising considering all those mainstream things now will literally just explain every joke and every meaning.... its like all of media is mickey mouse clubhouse, you know?)

i more or less prefer to watch an animated short or a weird animation on youtube/social media than watching a good live action movie. some animated shorts i really liked recently are Au Revoir Jerome, GLOIRE AMERE 40000, and BOLAVLK/WEREAWOLF, and vewn stuff. and i like those Molly Moon game tiktoks, as an example of like, low production stuff…. i dont care at all how much money or time went into something, but bc im usually not actively seeking fiction video content on my own, its more about what falls into my lap by chance, or yasmin/someone shows me.

i thought of listing more movies but its kinda hard for me to remember them after a while (re: apathy). i remember i liked another one from the Poor Things guy called The Favourite but i barely remember what happens in it. I liked one called This Must Be The Place, and one called Annette. those are movies yasmin showed me or that she picked for us to try together.

oh, one movie i saw on my own that i liked a lot is And Then We Danced. it has some less good parts, but overall it for some reason really lives rent free in my head. it felt like i went and lived in georgia with the characters for an hour, idk, it was done in an immersive way that impressed me and i found appealing. another one i remember from years ago is Lille Soldat (little soldier) which i really enjoyed the main character in. that stuck with me. ive tried to find this movie to show to yasmin, but its been hard to find.

i used to watch lots of random movies (from different countries, different times in history, i had a phase where i watched a bunch of really old horror movies) but most of its been forgotten and then i just stopped watching movies whatsoever bc the mainstream ones are generally unwatchably bad and i didnt have motivation to go out of my way to find good movies anymore. its still hard even with good ones. like, The Square, and Triangle of Sadness, i watched with yasmin and it was fine, but i had already tried watching The Square alone and had to stop after a minute bc it just made me cringe and feel bored. but watching it together with her was fine and i did enjoy the meaning. so thats why i say i might not even be watching good movies if it was up to me alone....

if u werent interested in that ramble i hope u stopped reading before now for ur own good :D i have an opportunity to express myself in rambles -> i will express myself in rambles

#ask #answer #reply #anon #nonhorsgaem

[passiveagressiveukulele]

Oj tato Test Shoot

I am delighted to announce that in my short history of attending the BA Film at Edinburgh Napier, this was the most fulfilling and stress-less shoot I have ever had the pleasure to attend. Some of the suspicions came true, and some pleasantly surprised us - for instance, we were so efficient one day was all we needed to capture what we needed. As much as a day away from the dissertation was needed, wrapping up early meant scoring some brownie points in the library.

So let's run it down.

CONS:

Despite stripping down our kit list to its bare bones, Jenny and I were still struggling transporting it on the train to Glasgow. For safety reasons, we must keep the kit in its corresponding boxes, but even just for Jenny we needed two boxes and a massive boom pole which proved difficult and janky to carry. Most of the camera kit was already at Natalia's, but when we're going abroad this will add the weight and cost to our luggage, not to mention insurance so we will have to re-think how we take the kit over, if we can strip it down any more or if Natalia would be able to take some over when visiting her grandparents for Christmas.

As predicted, the 50mm slider was too short and too light for the camera. Even though we still manage to capture what we were going for with these shots, a more reliable piece of equipment will be needed for the actual shoot which again, adds to the weight and cost of the luggage we'll be transporting.

We really needed another pair of hands to hold bits and bobs, take notes, and just overall keep us in check. But this is nothing to worry about as Beth will be coming with us to Poland and she will be able to give a hand to speed up the process.

Even in just that one night, we generated quite a lot of footage and for the next shoot, I will have to come up with a rigorous system that will help me pick out the best takes and ensure they are all properly backed up. When importing footage into Avid one of the folders just couldn't be imported and after endless troubleshooting I concluded an error must have occurred when transferring the files from the card to the hard drive. Luckily I was able to salvage it as I still had original camera files on that SD card, but when we're in Poland for 2 weeks I will be formatting my SD cards on a daily basis and I can't keep the original files stored on internal memory. Therefore, every backup will have to be checked through DaVinci Resolve to ensure we're not losing any rushes.

We were initially planning on using Natalia's URSA Mini for the shoot, but when we saw the flimsy state of the slider we opted for my Canon C100 Mark 1. The monitor we booked out came with the cable for the URSA and wasn't compatible with my camera, so we had to use the camera's LCD. For both Natalia and my sake, we will need a monitor for the actual shoot, as the observational shooting will be long hours and I can't rely on a tiny image my camera is able to produce.

On that note, while my camera is the perfect size for the task the resolution might not quite cut it. As discussed with Paul, if we don't find a suitable slider to take with us to Poland the tracking might have to be done in post and for that we will need something much higher than 1080p. While I would much more prefer to do everything in-camera I am open to all options and I am aware that flexibility will be the key to our workflow. However, generating higher resolution footage will mean all the more external storage for all the rushes, which could significantly impact our budget.

PROS:

Now onto the good stuff - I think we worked exceptionally well as a team and everything was communicated clearly, concisely, and efficiently. This test shoot confirmed we are all on the same page and it gives me confidence going into an unknown territory with these wonderful gals.

All the pans, the tilts, tracking and static shots are conveying the mood we were hoping to capture. There is a sense that something is amiss and an unknown force is invading the lives of those who remain.

My dusty trusty Canon C100 was, as always, a pleasure to work with. The tripods we booked out were more than enough to carry its weight and I love the way it renders colour. I know exactly the kind of image I am going to get and how much work needs to be done in post to get it where I want it (but the palette is basically there already).

Prior to the shoot, I thought I might need some zoom lenses as I was toying with the idea of a dolly zoom at the back of my head. However, what I discovered was that, because of Micro four thirds sensor, the 35 and 24mm lenses were more than enough for the type of coverage I was going for. Since we are minimising the kit we're taking over, the restricted lens choice could contribute to having less bags.

Despite being a one woman team, I was able to keep good notes and back everything up between breaks. Since I would be the one to edit the footage, I was already able to make in camera decisions of what could work and what is a waste of time. I was able to cut some of the shots, but also introduce new, better options.

All is ready for the assembly - catch you in post!

[partywithponies]

Hi!! What do you use to digitise CDs and DVDs?? I’ve been looking for an external DVD player and there’s just… so many types… Suggestions, tips, thoughts?? 😅 Cheers!

Ah!! I use a pioneer external blu ray drive! It's very good! They're a little pricey for me at full price so I got mine in the boxing day sales, but I don't know your budget. 😅

And then you need some disc ripping software! As a rule I use Handbrake for DVDs and MakeMKV for blu-rays, but MakeMKV is a lot quicker so sometimes I use it for DVDs as well because I'm lazy. But they both work very well!

And as for CDs, your computer should come with the software to rip those built in.

Hope this helps!

[lily-orchard]

Hi Lily, I was wondering how you store your video files, I'm planing on recording/streaming games but I don't know what harddrives I should aim for and if I should just mount them into the computer or use a docking station. What types/sizes of hard drives do you recommend? and, when they start to fill up do you get another drive or do you start deleting old files? I'm on a budget so wanted to ask before I invest in a solution that might not be optimal or work properly.

Depends on how much you're storing and for how long. All my game recordings are stored on an 8TB external hard drive, and all the shows and films I use are stored on a 2TB NAS. They haven't filled up yet.

[nishakrishnan1996]

Embarking on a Journey in Digital Marketing: Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape

Starting a career in digital marketing is akin to setting sail on an exciting voyage, where each day unfolds with fresh challenges, opportunities, and discoveries. From crafting captivating content to deciphering intricate data insights, the life of a digital marketer is a dynamic blend of innovation and adaptation. This blog explores the fascinating facets of life in digital marketing, delving into the diverse experiences that make it such an enriching profession.

Continuous Learning and Innovation: Driving Progress in the Digital Realm

One of the most captivating aspects of being a digital marketer is the perpetual pursuit of learning and innovation. In an industry characterized by rapid advancements, staying ahead requires a commitment to ongoing growth and creativity. Whether mastering emerging tools or devising inventive strategies, digital marketers are constantly pushing boundaries and embracing new possibilities.

Unleashing Creativity: Crafting Compelling Narratives for Modern Audiences

Creativity is the lifeblood of effective digital marketing. Whether conceptualizing engaging campaigns or crafting compelling content, digital marketers have the opportunity to unleash their creativity on a daily basis. Each project presents a canvas for imaginative expression, allowing marketers to connect with audiences in meaningful ways and leave a lasting impression.

Analyzing Data and Insights: Empowering Informed Decision-Making

In the digital realm, data holds immense power. Digital marketers leverage analytics and insights to make informed decisions and optimize campaign performance. By diving deep into data sets and monitoring key metrics, marketers gain valuable insights into audience behavior, preferences, and trends, guiding their strategies and driving tangible results.

Embracing Diverse Strategies: Tailoring Approaches to Audience Needs

Digital marketing offers a diverse array of strategies and channels to explore. From SEO and social media to email marketing and beyond, marketers have a wealth of options at their disposal. The key lies in adapting strategies to align with audience preferences and behaviors, allowing marketers to create personalized experiences that resonate with their target demographic.

Collaboration and Networking: Building Connections for Success

Collaboration is at the heart of digital marketing success. Whether working with internal teams or external partners, effective collaboration is essential for driving impactful campaigns. Additionally, networking within the industry fosters knowledge sharing and opens doors to new opportunities, enriching the professional journey of digital marketers.

Resilience in the Face of Challenges: Overcoming Adversity with Tenacity

Like any profession, digital marketing presents its share of challenges. From algorithm changes to budget constraints, resilience is essential for navigating obstacles and achieving success. By approaching challenges with tenacity and creativity, digital marketers turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and innovation.

Making an Impact: Influencing Behavior in the Digital Sphere

At its core, digital marketing is about making a meaningful impact. Whether driving brand awareness or generating leads, marketers have the opportunity to influence audience behavior and drive desired outcomes. Seeing the tangible results of their efforts—from increased engagement to revenue growth—is incredibly rewarding and reinforces the importance of their work.

Conclusion: Embrace the Adventure of Digital Marketing

In conclusion, a career in digital marketing is a thrilling journey filled with excitement, creativity, and growth. From embracing innovation to fostering connections and making a tangible impact, every aspect of the digital marketer's journey contributes to their personal and professional development. So, if you're considering a career in digital marketing, embrace the adventure that awaits and prepare to navigate the ever-changing landscape of online marketing with enthusiasm and determination.

#tech #digital marketing #training #digital marketing course #digital marketing company #email marketing #online marketing #search engine optimization #seo #seo services

[prosperityhealthbh]

Crafting a Comprehensive Marketing Plan for Your Rehabilitation Center

In the healthcare industry, particularly within the realm of rehabilitation services, having a solid marketing plan is essential for reaching your target audience, attracting clients, and establishing your center as a trusted provider of care. A wellcrafted marketing plan not only helps in promoting your services but also in differentiating your center from competitors and ultimately driving growth and success. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the key components of creating an effective marketing plan tailored specifically for a rehabilitation center.

I. Introduction to Marketing for Rehabilitation Centers

Setting the Stage: Brief overview of the importance of marketing in the healthcare sector, particularly for rehabilitation centers.

Understanding the Audience: Highlighting the diverse demographic groups that may require rehabilitation services and the significance of targeting them effectively.

II. Market Analysis

 Assessing the Competitive Landscape: Conducting a thorough analysis of existing rehabilitation centers in your area, including their services, reputation, and target demographics.

 Identifying Opportunities and Challenges: Pinpointing gaps in the market where your center can excel and recognizing potential obstacles that may hinder your marketing efforts.

III. Defining Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

 Highlighting Your Center's Strengths: Identifying the unique features and strengths of your rehabilitation center, such as specialized programs, experienced staff, or stateoftheart facilities.

 Addressing Client Needs: Understanding the specific needs and preferences of your target audience and how your center can fulfill them better than competitors.

IV. Setting Marketing Objectives and Goals

 SMART Goals: Establishing specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound objectives for your marketing efforts, such as increasing client inquiries, improving brand awareness, or expanding services to new demographics.

 Benchmarking Progress: Creating metrics to track the success of your marketing initiatives and regularly evaluating performance against set goals.

V. Developing Strategies and Tactics

 Digital Marketing: Leveraging online channels such as social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and content marketing to increase visibility and attract potential clients.

 Traditional Marketing: Exploring traditional methods like print advertisements, direct mail campaigns, and community outreach events to reach local audiences effectively.

 Referral Programs: Establishing partnerships with healthcare professionals, community organizations, and previous clients to generate referrals and build credibility.

 Educational Content: Creating informative content such as blog posts, videos, and webinars to educate the public about rehabilitation services and position your center as an authority in the field.

VI. Implementation Plan

 Allocating Resources: Determining the budget, personnel, and tools required to execute your marketing plan effectively.

 Timeline and Milestones: Creating a detailed schedule outlining when each marketing initiative will be launched and setting milestones for tracking progress.

 Assigning Responsibilities: Delegating tasks to team members or external partners and ensuring clear communication and accountability throughout the implementation process.

VII. Monitoring and Evaluation

 Tracking Key Metrics: Monitoring the performance of your marketing activities using metrics such as website traffic, conversion rates, client inquiries, and customer feedback.

 Analyzing Results: Reviewing data regularly to identify trends, successes, and areas for improvement, and making adjustments to your marketing strategy accordingly.

 Continuous Improvement: Adopting a mindset of continuous learning and adaptation to stay ahead of the competition and meet the evolving needs of your target audience.

VIII. Conclusion

Crafting a comprehensive marketing plan for rehabilitation center is not just about promoting your services—it's about connecting with your audience, addressing their needs, and positioning your center as the top choice for rehabilitation care. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can develop a strategic marketing plan that not only attracts clients but also fosters longterm growth and success for your center.

#marketing #marketing plan #drug rehab