#it has configurations to their system and they will be tracking me (as expected)

[pagetbewbster]

So, I bought a brand new MacBook Pro for myself after getting this new, high paying job and guess what they just sent me in the mail before I start on Monday?

A new MacBook Pro + accessories. I have like $7000 worth of tech sitting in my living room rn and it feels weiiiird.

#it's not all bad because this computer for work I can't use for anything else #it has configurations to their system and they will be tracking me (as expected) #so I'm glad I bought the new computer but still!! this is so weird #my old one is still going but it's on its' last legs #so the new one is definitely needed #I just.. I went from having 1 old laptop and a 2008 desktop computer #to 2 brand new MacBook Pros in a week #what even is life

[eatmangoesnekkid]

The Everyday Practice of Abundance Consciousness

What was I thinking? Who was I trying to be? It’s unlike me at this stage of my life to think more than I am being.  I’m no longer interesting in trying to grind it out during the wee hours of the morning. I'm taking a break from the few tasks I have left on my books for 7-10 days. I have sacred things I do to protect my body from absorbing too many EMFs, and what's also true, is that when you are a deep feeler/ highly sensitive, you receive deeper wisdom than most (which is a divine and precious gift that helps people like me to serve in the world) but you also deeply receive waves of stressful energy far more easily than most ...even with the metrics of protection surrounding you.

There is no separation or difference. If you have the gift of heart, intuition, and deeper sight, you have to manage not living in the shadows of those gifts. We weren’t physiologically designed to sit behind these computers, staring into them for days/weeks at a time which is what I have been doing. When your awareness expands, you are no longer numb to what’s happening with your body which stops you from repeating the same patterns that will deepen your body’s pain and suffering overtime. When I’m on my computer or phone too many days in a row, I can actually feel the waves draining my vitality, re-configuring my cells, and shifting the quality of my life.

Our eyes---the windows to our soul-- need to peak at trees, dirt, and sunlight undistractedly. I’m grateful that I curated a life where I can turn off my phone and computer, put them away in the back of my closet for a few days, and dust off my record player and finally read “Of Water and the Spirit.”

How we sense “time” is always a reflection of the consciousness we are living in. And there are only two types of consciousness: Fear/Scarcity/Lack or Love/Abundance/Vitality. When we release ourselves from expectations, we curate more abundant space for joy, and become free...eventually. I started shifting my energy imprint away from the consciousness of fear/scarcity/lack and into abundance consciousness around 12-15 years ago (I lost track of the exact time) despite not having any evidence of abundance in my life as I was working 50 hours per week and in a toxic relationship. In the beginning of shifting between paradigms and consciousness, there can be a lot of grave tension, release, pain, resistance, loneliness, and disruption, until finally homeostasis settles (may takes months or years). Abundance consciousness also gets us back into our bodies in real ways and allows us to genuinely love ourselves as we are, beyond every materialistic system. If we can hold the candle lit towards abundance consciousness, then the universe has no choice but to organize life around us in such a way that matches our new imprint/emanation like an algorithm...eventually. It takes time though and patience. And we have to be soft and strong enough not to give up on it or the new version of ourselves.

The Ingenious Divine Feminine Medicine Path

Let’s climb in a little deeper and get more grounded into this teaching.  What I have to say now is NOT for everyone, only for those with spiritual resonance.  My work is all about educating on how to reclaim the highest transmutation frequencies and greatest integrity that will “heal” or restore our individual selves and bring more collective harmony on this planet.  When we are not living in abundance, flooded in resources as part of our divine natural birthright, there is a part of our unconscious mind (our shadow) that likes not living in the abundance and is in love with scarcity and lack because it feels familiar and safe. We don’t *consciously* love it, of course, but we do unconsciously LOVE the drama, karma, and lack of ease--all those internal chemicals, feels, and sensations. We have to learn to love what’s happening, not just in our light but in our darkest most hidden, sometimes filthiest or dank aspects. We love being broke, not have enough “time,” feeling not enough, feeling ugly, having people be jealous of us, attracting narcissistic people... because a part of us is narcissistic or at least attracted to being victimized, etc. A portal opens when we stop outsourcing our experiences (and the raw energy coiled within them that we need) onto someone else such as “oh, but he was a narcissistic so I...” or “my boss did this so I didn’t...”  or “they made me...” Being courageous and seeing how you love and find comfort in specific exhaustive frequencies year after year, whether it is karmic or a conditioned pattern, allows you to access the dark energy within these experiences, the benevolent creative energy or “yin/feminine energy” , that gives you greater access to your full potential, the raw energy beyond the stories. Accessing this raw energy releases the resistance and stuckness and brings more flow and momentum towards your soul’s true path. This is all sexual energy. This is how we begin to love and adore the truth of what the feminine really is.

Much of the work has to do with “sexual healing,” because this is usually where the energy is stuck or kinked up that is shrinking our life force also known as prana also known as potential. Sexual healing happens when you begin to have full access to your life force energy.  Coming into full integrity with your energy body will make you feel more alive, abundant, and connected to spirit. In order to attract the kind of relationship you long for, you have to be the kind of person you desire to meet. To be ready for the most amazing relationship, you have to go into dark “wombed” energy and clear out what is inhibiting full access to your life force energy.

Returning to the Original Template: A Keeper of Infinite Possibilities

Our souls are equipped for these times but we do have to be intentional in our unlearning to override the body’s signals so that we can come back to what we we born for and share the gifts we have been entrusted with. I intentionally created my life from the wisdom and medicine I gained through my decolonial sexual healing practices, like learning to connect to the divine through undulating my hips as prayer in wild, uncultivated, ‘off-the-beaten-path’ nature. Everyone needs sexual healing due to the limits and trauma that have been inflicted upon over many timelines, not from a place of victimization, but from the archetype of the alchemist so that we can retrieve back our freedom of time, energy, and resources.

No one escapes the impact of a sexually wounded society that shrouds us in limits around time, resources, and possibility. The messaging handed down to us by our parents, by religions, and by advertising, porn, celebrities, music, etc lives active in our root posterier chain- our backs, spine, hips, glutes, knees, pelvis, and bellies. As part of the female lineage, we naturally carry around so much of what’s happening in the collective within. All the cultural, inherited, and religious sexual shame and guilt make home out of our bodies. Most of us are not fully aware of the impact that these collective residences have on our health, relationships, capacity to receive money, and other forms of abundance like “time-freedom.”  We are supposed to care, go inside ourselves like mothers delivering our own babies, and birth real solutions that do not look like us constantly absorbing and never pulling the roots.

Because nowhere in the Western world are we taught that our sexual energy is sacred, regenerates our bodies, and is connected to every part of our lives and the earth. Or that our sexual energy isn’t just about sex. It is our flow of life force. It is our heartbeat. And it is absolutely necessary to have access to our sexual energy beyond the shame and wounding if we desire to truly live. Instead we respond to our sexual energy through hurts and trauma by shutting ourselves down in order to feel safe. And these unconscious ways stay with us and effect us in every way.  All the sneaking around, embarrassment, hiding, and performing around bodies and sex, commodifying our sex mainly for the male gaze, and shame around being a sexual being actually shuts down our potential in the external world, including freedom from Gregorian time and the ability to regenerate our bodies.. Amplifying your sexual energy grows your prana/life force which means that how to increase your prana has to become a part of your wellness practice. Purifying your sexual energy is a big part of it. Without this sexual healing, we have no roots or wings. No earth, no heaven. 

Life gets to be incredibly easy and truthful for us all. We do not have force or push through like machinery. I wish you a life of abundance, where you do not have to hustle and be in constant out-put mode, and can take as many breaks as needed to water yourself (your actual cells) so that you continue to pour from your overflow and have a healthy immune system and pain-free periods as a result. Female physiology is so tender and needs abundance: rest, nature, quiet, touch, belly laughs, and breaks, basic human needs that my heart won’t allow me to ignore or bypass. When you live aligned with the consciousness of abundance, it goes against your nature and principles to force, shallow breathe, or live desperately. Abundance consciousness gives us plethora of options to choose from which includes the ability to: 1. take our time and 2. take care of our cells.  The Melody of Love is so delicious though ...that my ego wanted to push right on through like it was the end of the month when I worked as a Tax Accountant Maniac, but my heart and body whispered for me to stop. I listened. I sincerely wish for lives where we can all listen to the soft whispers that never have to become screams in order to get our attention. One loveliness xx

[slightly-smarter-nat]

Hello. Sorry if this request is too late to do, today has just been a little hard for me because of 4th of July fireworks, being in the military and having some PTSD. Um, can I maybe request a Natasha x former military, now avenger reader (you can decide if female or GN. I’m female, but again, your choice) and maybe something with fireworks at the compound and usually reader is okay with fireworks but this one time, R feels uneasy and just has a PTSD episode, and Natasha consoles her S/O? So yeah. Again it’s okay if you’re busy and you don’t have time to do this but thank you anyways!

The Fourth Of July || Natasha Romanoff

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Warnings: PTSD episodes mentioned; mentions of war/combat; mentions of military weapons; mentions of anxiety and other PTSD symptoms; mentions of injury; mentions of hallucinations; mentions of alcohol. If I have missed any warnings, please let me know.

Word Count: 3,967 words.

A/N: Thank you so much for the request anon, I really appreciate you trusting me enough to write this fic. I apologise it’s late, I kind of fell behind on my writing, but I’m slowly getting back on track. Please note this is an au so some character’s behaviours may be different to what is expected.

Please do not repost (on here or any social media platform), copy, translate or take ownership of my work. Reblogs, likes and comments are always appreciated <3.

Masterlist

*AO stands for ‘Area of Operations’.*

GIF not mine

The Fourth Of July: Natasha Romanoff-

“Clint! How many of these ‘Willow’ fireworks do you want me to use?” Tony shouts from across the field, readying up the firework display in progress.

“I don’t know man, just use the whole lot. I bought plenty at the store.” Clint replies as he taps the side of his beer bottle, creating a little tune to keep himself entertained.

It’s the Fourth of July; not only a day of celebration of Independence for America, but a birthday celebration for the Captain himself- Steve Rogers.

Every year, the team has a small get together to celebrate both occasions- just close friends and family gathered around at the compound.

Whilst Bruce and Tony configure a plan in which each firework will be activated- using a clever device Tony produced that will release each firework in any desired order. The rest of the team are gathered around the picnic area of the compound’s grounds, sitting at a table and enjoying some drinks before the spectacular show.

“Mr Rogers, how old are you exactly? You know with the whole being frozen in ice situation and everything?” Peter Parker curiously asks, as he pours himself another glass of water.

“Dude, you can’t just ask people their age. You’ve got to introduce a guessing game first so everyone can get involved.” Sam says teasingly from the end of the table.

“Not happening, all the guesses will be that I’m ‘way older than Thor’, or someone will ask if my ‘first best friend was a dinosaur’.” Steve answers in protest; knowing that these answers have in fact come up in conversation before.

“Oh man, you’re becoming more boring with age.” Sam teases at the Captain, causing Steve to throw a piece of candy from the table in the Falcon’s direction.

Sam instantly catches it and shoves it into his mouth, causing Steve to shake his head, not the slightest bit surprised at his friend’s antics.

“Anyway, why do you ask Parker?” Steve redirects his attention to the young Avenger.

“Oh, it’s nothing really. I was just curious.” Peter starts to sink himself into his chair, suddenly shying away from the topic of discussion.

The team members present look between each other in confusion, causing Wanda to send a wave of magic through her system and read Peter’s thoughts.

“Ahh, it’s a question for his History homework.”

At Wanda’s words, Peter’s gaze shoots up in horror. Worried that the team will scold him for asking such a question in order to gain the answers in an easy way opposed to carrying out extensive research like the rest of his classmates.

“I-I’m sorry, I just need to ace this upcoming test. Mr Stark said if I fail a test this semester, he’ll confiscate my upgraded web shooters and make me use the old ones.” Peter says as his tone is laced with nervousness.

A few of the team members roll their eyes in unison, not believing the billionaire’s words for a second, “Please, that man doesn’t have a stern bone in his body when it comes to you. Besides, he doesn’t always set the best of examples.” Clint says as he points a finger in the direction of Tony Stark and Bruce Banner.

The team present turns their line of sight towards the two men, only to notice Tony stomping out a small fire that has somehow broken out in their testing area.

Natasha reaches forward to grab a small bowl filled with M&M’s, sporting the iconic combination of red, white and blue. As she takes a random handful, she subconsciously offers the bowl towards you, expecting you to take a handful as she inspects the array of colours that decorate her palm.

When Natasha fails to feel the pressure of your hand roaming the miniature treats, she takes a moment to look over at you. That’s when she notices your vacant expression.

“Y/n? Are you okay?” Natasha questions gently, being wary of what state you’re in.

To Natasha it seems that your mind is locked off into yourself, as you study a particular area of the table in front of you.

Natasha places the bowl back on the table, before leaning an inch closer to you.

She gently calls out your name once more; placing a hand on your shoulder.

To her surprise, this sudden contact sends an influential jolt through your system, causing you to move in your chair slightly before allowing your frantic eyes to meet Natasha’s concerned ones.

“Sweetheart, what’s going on?” Your girlfriend queries as calmly as she can, attempting to avoid you recoiling back into your vacant state.

You use the arm rests of your chair to push your body up somewhat, trying to straighten up your posture before addressing Natasha.

You clear your throat a bit before speaking, attempting to remove any sign of hesitation from your next words, “Yes, sorry. I just started daydreaming once Peter started talking about History.” There’s a small hint of jest in your tone, however Natasha can see right through it.

Natasha studies your face intently, she knows you’re lying. The question is, why are you lying to her? You’re not one to daydream during team conversations, you’re usually on the mark to engage where possible; especially now considering how close you have become to each team member since joining directly from the Military.

To answer the question in your own terms, you’re petrified of what’s to come. You can’t exactly explain what it is, but there’s this heaviness inside you, dragging you down into oblivion. Your mind is racing, though you can’t pinpoint what’s causing it. Your body is tense, causing each muscle to ache uncontrollably. Part of you wonders whether it’s the excitement of the day getting to you in a divergent way- you normally adore the Fourth of July.

You wish you could confide in Natasha about this, but you don’t want to worry her on a day like this. All you can do is plaster on a smile and hope that you can make it through the night without letting your feelings of anxiety consume you.

As Natasha’s concerned gaze continues, you make quick work of reassuring her, “Nat, honestly I’m fine. I’m just a little bit bored from waiting, that’s all.”

Natasha takes a moment to process your words before releasing a sigh, opting not to push you on the matter but ensuring to monitor you closely for any sign of uneasiness, “Okay detka, once we’re finished up here we can watch a movie. It’s your turn to pick.” Natasha chooses to move the conversation forward, whilst displaying her M&M filled hand in front of you.

You smile in appreciation, for both the dropping of the tense topic and the candy on offer. You pick up a red and blue M&M from the pile and instantly shove them into your mouth, “Thank you, my love.”

Natasha leans in to place a delicate kiss on your cheek. Though, before she can say anything further, Tony shouts over to the group.

“Let’s get this show on the road team! The display is ready to go!” Tony uses his hands to cup around his mouth, allowing his voice to travel further and clearer towards the team.

“Ahhh, finally. It is extremely boring being sat over here.” Thor says as he makes his way out of his chair.

Wanda scoffs in offence, “Thanks Thor.” She lets out sarcastically.

Thor displays a proud smile, completely missing the sarcastic nature of Wanda’s tone, “You are very welcome.”

“Right, let’s go see the marvellous creation of Banner and Stark.” Steve vocalises to the group, attempting to move them towards the makeshift viewing area for the firework display.

You attempt to push down the feeling of your heart rate rising, concentrating on the feeling of Natasha wrapping her hand around yours to guide you up from your seat.

Natasha smiles sweetly at you, “Are you ready?”

You choose not to speak, knowing a waver in your voice will give away your nerves, so instead you give Natasha a firm nod and a smirk.

Natasha pulls you into her embrace, wanting to keep you close on the way over to the fireworks. As she works one of her arms across your shoulders, you in turn wrap one of yours around her waist as the two of you begin to walk.

Every step closer fills you with an unknown dread.

——

“Okay, stand back everyone, let the professionals get to work.” Tony addresses the team as he configures data to input on his device connected to each firework.

“Yeah, when are the professionals getting here again?” Sam asks in a mocking way.

“Ha, ha you’re hilarious Wilson.”

As Tony and Sam start a teasing, yet friendly exchange, you focus on grounding your emotions.

Natasha is just to the side of you, talking to Wanda. You take a small step back to give yourself some space, not realising someone was standing right behind you.

“Oh, sorry I didn’t mean to get in your way.” Peter says immediately after you bump into him.

You move your hands around your clothing furiously, trying to seek comfort from the uncomfortable situation.

“No, it was my fault. Sorry Peter.” You can’t meet Peter’s gaze, causing you to study anywhere but his face.

You can sense he is about to ask you the same question that Natasha has repeated throughout the night, there’s only a certain amount of times that you can confirm that you are okay without it becoming suspicious in combination with your uneasiness.

You’re about to move forwards again, ready to ask Natasha if the two of you could leave the area; knowing something is seriously wrong.

However, before you can put your question forward, Tony starts an instant countdown from three. Rushing through the numbers too quickly for your liking.

The sound that follows causes your body to freeze, the whistling of one of the fireworks travelling up triggers something in you.

Your body fills with a wave of nausea that practically bursts alongside the sound of the firework exploding in the sky.

The bang puts your mind elsewhere, involuntarily.

That one firework has taken you from the Avengers’ compound field to the battlefield you once fought on in the Military.

As you look around all you can see are your fellow soldiers desperately crying out for help. You stand there helpless, looking around for any sign of an escape.

More explosions fill your ears, causing your eyes to flood with tears, you don’t want to be back here. You need to find a way out. You can feel as the scorching heat around you sends a sinister coating of sweat on your skin, making you uncomfortable to the maximum level.

The explosions are becoming more frequent now, each one sending a shock of dread through you. Your body cannot cope with this, the stress and environment sends your mind into overdrive, causing an unforgiving headache to form.

It all feels so real to you, from the dirt cascading down from the falling bombs to the pain surging through your body from loose shrapnel.

You want to take cover but your feet feel as though they’re bolted to the ground.

The smell of burning fills your senses, increasing your worries more. You try to convince yourself it’s a hallucination, though unfortunately your mind would rather convince you that this is all very real.

At this point, the sounds are blending together, a combination of gunfire and bomb explosions surround you, yet they feel closer with each addition of the next one going off.

A wave of dizziness takes over your body, causing everything around you to become disoriented and practically in slow motion. You begin to rub at your skin in desperation to feel anything other than the fear that’s striking you down.

With one final clutch to the roots of your hair, you close your eyes in an attempt to block out the menacing environment.

As the battle continues in your mind, those surrounding you at the compound start to notice your distress.

The team gaze up at the sky in absolute awe, loving the way the colours spread across the night sky.

Peter smiles in wonderment, focused on the impressive display in front of him. That is until he hears your pained whimpers.

He looks to his right to see you clutching at your hair and burying your face deep into your arms as a form of protection.

Your body is shaking violently, causing Peter to panic.

“Y/n, are you okay?!” With Peter’s heightened tone, Natasha’s head whips around to see your distressed state. Causing her heart to shatter, the thoughts that flood her mind are that of guilt. She will not forgive herself for allowing this to happen under her watch.

Just as Natasha is about to move towards you to comfort you, Peter beats her to it and places a gentle hand on your shoulder.

What they both failed to realise is that you’re now on high alert in anticipation of an attack.

As soon as you register the touch on your shoulder, you grab Peter’s hand and twist it around in an unforgiving way, causing a crack to sound along the bangs of the fireworks.

Peter yelps out in pain, catching the attention of the rest of the team.

Their horror filled eyes can’t comprehend the actions taking place.

You twist Peter’s arm behind his back and push it into him, before swiping at his legs and flooring him.

The team gasps in fright, not understanding why you’re attacking Peter.

“What is she doing?!” Tony shouts as he rushes over to you.

Natasha puts her arm out to stop him, “Don’t, she only attacked Peter because he touched her, there’s something wrong.”

Once Natasha releases those details, things start to click in Sam’s mind.

The combination of your actions and the fireworks has to mean you’re having a PTSD episode.

“Everyone stand back and give her space, she’s in combat mode.” Sam says urgently and he moves to the front and pushes everyone back.

The team look at him in confusion, “What do you mean, we need to stop her.” Tony lets out.

Steve’s face drops in realisation, “It’s the fireworks isn’t it, she thinks she’s on the field.”

Sam nods his head at Steve’s words.

The two of them slowly and carefully make their way towards you. Making sure not to make any sudden movements that you may mistake as a threat.

They crouch down to your level, knowing what they need to do to help ease you out of your episode.

“Y/L/N, the AO is clear, you’re safe.”Steve starts the process.

Your glare is focused on Peter, pushing hard on his body to keep him down. He releases whimpers of pain at your force, not being able to move from the position you’ve trapped him in.

“Hey, I’m a friendly alright, I was down range. It’s all clear, you don’t need to do this, Peter is a friend.” Sam continues, trying to gently get through to you.

The team can’t do anything but watch, hoping Sam and Steve find a way to help you.

“Tony, stop the fireworks, it will be making it worse.” Natasha says firmly, trying to avoid the tears from spilling from her eyes.

Tony snaps out of his trance, “Yeah, sorry, Bruce activate the lockdown protocol on the device.”

As Tony and Bruce begin to remove the trigger of your actions, you start to release your grip on Peter, slowly but surely coming out of your trance.

Steve waves Natasha closer, signalling for her to help. She instantly crouches down towards you, “Y/n, you’re safe, I’m right here, you’re at the compound. No one can hurt you detka.” Natasha speaks softly to you.

Natasha’s soothing voice is what manages to break you out of your own mind. You look around with tear filled eyes, not sure of what is going on.

When you look down and notice Peter underneath you, you instantly push away from him, placing your hand over your mouth in despair.

“I’m sorry, oh Peter I’m so sorry.” You sob out, clutching at your knees.

Sam and Steve rush over to Peter, attempting to help him up. Whereas Natasha moves closer to you, “Detka, I’m going to touch you now okay.”

Before Natasha has the chance you rush into her embrace, grabbing at her in agony.

You cry uncontrollably into Natasha, coming to the realisation of what you have done, and dealing with the aftermath of your episode.

Your breaths quicken to a wild pace, surging you into a panic attack. Natasha is quick to help you to avoid that from happening. She pulls you away from her so she can place both hands on each side of your face.

“Hey, look at me okay, copy my breathing. We’re going to take some deep breaths okay. Deep breath in, and out.” Natasha places her forehead against yours, attempting to give you the contact you need for grounding. You struggle to follow her breathing sequence, having your worries putting a strain on your regular breathing abilities.

Natasha patiently guides you through the breathing exercise, never once making you feel rushed or pressured, “You’re doing so well my love, I’m so proud of you.”

Once your breathing has regulated, Natasha places a kiss on the top of your head.

Suddenly a rogue firework is activated by mistake, sending a feeling of panic through everyone.

Wanda instantly encases it with her powers, avoiding the possibility of it going off and triggering you further.

“Natasha, I can’t hold it long.” Wanda says in a struggled way as the firework attempts to work its way through her scarlet red barrier.

“Can you move it away or something?” Natasha asks in a short manner, silently scolding herself for letting the stress influence her tone.

“I can try, but if it goes off-“

“Go, I’ll cover her ears if you hurry.” With that Wanda sends herself up towards the firework and moves it away from the site.

Natasha wraps her hands around your ears, protecting you from the sound of the firework going off. Luckily you barely hear it, with Wanda's and Natasha’s quick actions being carried out successfully.

Once Natasha removes her hands, she says to you, “I want to make sure you’re grounded, can we try something sweetheart?”

You nod instantly, trusting Natasha. Ignoring the sound of Wanda landing beside you, to put your focus on Natasha.

“Okay, can you name three things you can feel?” You look at Natasha’s face as you answer.

“Um, the grass, you and the breeze.” You answer quietly.

“Good job detka, now I’ll keep it easy. Can you name three things you can see?”

You pick up your gaze as you look around, “The trees, the compound and-“ That’s when you release the whole team has been watching you this entire time.

Embarrassment fills your system, causing you to pull away from Natasha. She stops you, “My love, it’s alright, we all want to make sure you’re safe.”

“Of course we do, we’re family.” Clint says as he crouches beside you and Natasha, trying to comfort you.

You look towards Peter to realise he’s being escorted inside by Tony and Sam.

Steve makes his way over to you, causing you to worry that he’s mad at you.

“He’s going to be okay, he’s more worried about you than anything. Tony sent me over here to make sure you’re okay too.” Steve says.

You bow your head, “I don’t even know what happened.”

“Y/n, this wasn’t your fault. It is most likely PTSD, and we will do everything in our power to help you through this okay. No one blames you for this.” Steve continues to reassure you.

“I ruined-“ You begin but Natasha places a finger on your lips.

“No, don’t do that to yourself. You haven’t ruined anything okay. You are not to blame. We all love you so much, okay, you’re safe.”

Tears invade your eyes, but this time they’re of gratitude.

“Let’s get you inside for a check up.” Bruce suggests, holding his hand out in support.

You slowly take it, allowing Natasha to help you up.

You all make your way to the compound, feeling safe with your team and family around you.

——-

After your check up, Natasha suggested you get some rest. Which leads you to the current situation of having your head resting on Natasha’s legs as the two of you lay on the living area couch.

“Here you are Lady y/l/n, this should help.” Thor offers you an iridescent formed drink, causing you to scan it in interest.

Natasha guides you up to scan the drink also, “Thor, what is it?”

“It’s a beverage we make in Asgard to help with nerves. I was hoping it would help.”

You smile in respect, “Thank you Thor, I’m sure it will help.”

Natasha pulls you in closer as she wraps an arm around you.

You take gentle sips of the drink, a combination of citrus and sweet dances around in your mouth.

“How is it my darling?” Natasha asks.

“Really good, do you want some?”

Natasha shakes her head, “No thank you my love.”

As you turn your gaze to the TV, the exhaustion of the events on the field start to catch up with you. Causing your eyes to briefly shut.

Natasha notices as your head drops, “Love, why don’t we go to bed?”

You inhale sharply through your nose, “Please can we stay up longer, I don’t want to sleep yet.”

Natasha agrees, knowing the remnants of the episode most likely continue to linger in your mind.

She chooses to take the drink out of your hand to avoid any spillages from occurring.

As she goes to lean back, Peter walks into the room, wearing a light form of bandaging on his injured hand.

Your eyes shoot wide open, “Peter! I’m so sor-“

Peter instantly interrupts you, “Please don’t apologise. I understand what happened, and I’m really okay, that heightened healing of mine had to come into use sometime. It will be healed really soon.” He says in a light manner.

“As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. We’re all here for you alright. I’ll do my best to make sure I understand your boundaries and how to help if it happens again.”

You slowly stand up to hug Peter.

“Thank you, Peter.” You say wholeheartedly.

“Anytime, now Mr Stark promised me that we could go through some late night training exercises to strengthen my hand further, so I’ll catch you guys later.”

You and Natasha bid him a goodbye as he jogs out of the room and towards Tony’s lab.

You snuggle back into Natasha, causing her to start running her fingers through your hair.

“I know you want to ask about it.” You decide to break the silence.

“Only with what you’re comfortable in telling me detka.” Natasha replies as she continues to stroke through your hair delicately.

“It just built up out of nowhere.” You say as you stare blankly at the TV, watching as the pixel forms move around.

“You’re not sure what triggered it?” Natasha asks.

“Not exactly, I have an idea of what it could have been.” You start to draw patterns on Natasha’s clothing, trying to occupy your mind from the difficult topic.

“We’ll figure it out together dove, you’re not alone in this okay.” Natasha says as she tilts your chin up to ensure she has your full attention.

You nod to confirm her words, “Thank you Natasha, I love you.”

Natasha smiles and places a kiss on the tip of your nose, “I love you too.”

Though today was extremely difficult, the support of your family and friends shows that you are safe and loved within this world.

#marvel #mcu #natasha romanoff #slightly smarter nat’s writing #fan fic #slightly smarter nat #marvel fan fic #black widow #natasha romanoff one shot #natasha romanoff fic #natasha romanoff fanfic #the avengers #natasha romanoff x you #marvel one shot #slightly smarter nat’s requests #anon request #natasha romanoff x reader #black widow imagine #tony stark #clint barton #thor #steve rogers #sam wilson #bruce banner #wanda maximoff #peter parker #black widow x reader #avengers fanfiction #black widow x you #natasha romanoff imagine

[evieveevee]

Forza Motorsport (PC) Review

Scratched Paint

Forza Motorsport is the game I have been looking forward to all year, particularly since I sold my PS5 to go all-in on PC. Positioned as a new starting point for Forza Motorsport as a franchise, it promises a next-gen visual experience, alongside more robust physics and multiplayer. But, does it deliver?

A Note from the Author

Hi! It’s really special to be able to review something like this, and to be one of only a few creatives based in Australia/New Zealand, not to mention one of even fewer transgender creatives, given the opportunity to do this. It’s an immense honor that I take very seriously, and I’m proud to be bringing this out for you today. If you’re interested in publishing this review on your website, please contact me directly. Enough talk though! Let’s go racing!

Lights Out and Away We Go

Let’s start with the out-of-box experience with Forza Motorsport, the first stuff that everyone’s gonna see. There’s a brief accessibility setup, including the usual settings like Subtitles, and new settings like the Blind Driving Assist and support for low vision features too. For customization minded dorks like yours truly, there’s a handy shortcut to the settings menus so you can dive deeper into things like the graphics settings on PC with a “worst case” benchmark involving a full field of 24 cars on a rainy circuit with complex lighting. Also in the settings, you’ll find comprehensive controls over the assists, including a few quick presets to base your own off. I turn off the racing line and most assists, leaving only ABS on while I shake some of the rust off. Folks who want to make sure they’re getting exactly the experience they want out of this will walk away satisfied.

However, it’s after the configuration that the trouble starts. The game loads into a practice session on Maple Valley — a returning Forza original track — in one of Forza Motorsport’s cover cars: the 2024 Corvette E-Ray. I hit the accelerator, hear the awesome engines roar to life, but then I noticed: my wheel configuration was not at all right.

In the review build I had access to, my wheel (the Logitech G29) was not properly detected, did not show appropriate inputs in the UI, and it was wildly misconfigured, requiring 10–15 minutes of messing around with the wheel settings before I hit something that approached proper handling and the sort of response I expect. Forza Motorsport also does not have support for shift indicator LEDs, continuing this trend from previous entries and the Horizon series, something which is frustrating and I would appreciate being fixed in a future update.

Check Engine Light

About now is when I began to take note of the visuals of the game. With the promise of next generation visuals in Forza Motorsport, and the additional power that the Xbox Series X is able to leverage, I was hoping that the visuals would feel like they’d taken that generational leap. In some regards, namely those related to gameplay like dynamic time of day and weather systems, the leap is absolutely there. Forza Motorsport has incredible lighting and the dynamics are incredibly solid.

However, on PC, it’s clear there are some problems.

Let’s start with one of the most obvious generational visual leaps: raytracing. If we want to showcase the generational leap in graphics, an RT implementation is the way to do it. However, it’s clear that the state of RT reflections on — at the very least — AMD RDNA3 cards like the 7900 XT is extremely poor. The RT is being done at an extremely low resolution, providing a blocky and terrible facsimile of the environment surrounding your vehicle. This issue visible on racing suits with reflective materials or on visors. RTAO seems mostly fine, but this issue is very strange, and I hope that Turn 10 and/or AMD are able to fix this issue soon and provide proper RT reflections.

It gets worse before it gets better sadly.

Building It Up

While the PC version’s apparent problems are abundant and annoying, the core of the game is extremely solid, and it’s very evident in the Career mode that Turn 10 has created: the Builder’s Cup.

The idea is relatively simple. You’ll pick from one of three cars, and you’ll carry that car through the entire series. A series is about 5 or 6 races, during which you’ll improve the car you choose, pushing it faster and faster as the rest of the field does the same to theirs. There are larger rewards up for grabs for completing a series, but each race offers plenty in the way of credits you can invest into other new cars. You’ll do at least three laps of practice before each race, with a goal time that will indicate you’re competitive against the field. You must complete practice and the race in the same session. If you exit the event after completing practice, progress is not saved and you will need to run the practice session again.

Here’s where it gets complicated. If you’re not familiar with racing games, or even if you are, I want to stress something right now: the words I am about to say are not a joke, a prank, or played as something silly in the game. They are deadly serious.

In order to build up your car, you need to level it up. You level up your car by driving well through the various sections of each track and gaining Car XP (CXP) for sections that are quick and hew close to the racing line, with bonuses for passing certain thresholds. Each section is rated on a scale from 1.0 to 10.0. I believe — but may be wrong — you also get CXP for completing events. Get enough CXP, you get a level, and each level gets you a certain number of Car Points (CP), which can be used between events to apply upgrades to that car. Your CP and CXP are only available on that specific car, meaning that even if you have multiple copies of one car, each one has its own balance of CP and CXP. Each available upgrade costs a certain amount of CP, but adding an upgrade is not a permanent choice. Instead, it’s a flexible balance that you can move around into various upgrades according to your needs. Additionally, upgrades are restricted to specific Car Levels, so you need to level up your car a specific amount to, say, unlock the ability to change your aero parts.

Look, I think this one’s gonna be controversial. In a way, this system does guide you through what’s worth upgrading and all, a great feature for people who are learning their way around the tunes. For expert players who already know what they need out of a tune or are able to pick out the weak points on a car, it’s going to mean grinding out Car XP so you can get the upgrades you need, all the while dealing with the poor tune. It means that I’m definitely turned off of cars that I can’t immediately jive with, even if I recognize their potential. I think the primary audience that cares about Forza Motorsport will be frustrated by this system, but folks trying this out through Game Pass and wanting a more casual experience out of things are likely to be happy with it.

Zooming Away

Let’s look at the on-track experience a little closer now.

It’s worth saying that circuit racing is its own beast, and if you’re coming from Forza Horizon or Need for Speed’s open world racing experiences, you’re in for a unique, tight sort of experience. Be prepared to learn the ropes of non-contact racing though; contact is strongly discouraged in Forza Motorsport (and in real life), with penalties applied for egregious contact, or contact which nets you an advantage. Corner cutting is the same; you need to stay with two wheels within track limits at all times. Thankfully, you can turn on visible track limits in either marker (intermittent triangles) or ribbon (unbroken line) styles.

The experience of driving in Forza Motorsport is great, as you might I expect. With an appropriate vehicle and tune, you’ll be cruising from corner to corner, earning Car XP, and enjoying the intensity of competitive racing. Having full race regulations on in single-player content is great practice, and the system feels like it deals with both the AI opponents and you in very fair ways. All of this combines to make Forza Motorsport feel great, in that indescribable sort of way that driving tends to be; you kinda… just have to experience it to understand, I feel. But, I need to emphasize that this applies only when the vehicle and tune you’re driving are set up properly. It’s a bummer to see that the stock tunes are still rough, when competing sims have much more robust and good feeling tunes out of the gate. Combine that with the upgrade system locking certain parts of that tune behind levels, and it’s a recipe for pain.

As you drive, the information displayed is pleasantly minimal, but still conveys just about everything you need to keep focused on your race. In the lower right, you have a speedometer and RPM indicators, as well as indications of fuel remaining, tire life and temps, and your acceleration and braking inputs. All of this is useful information, available to you at a glance, but also reminds me that shift indicator LEDs are still not supported in Forza Motorsport, and that makes me sad. Limited customization options, besides turning them on and off, is also kind of a bummer.

Besides that, in the upper right, you’ll have visibility of your segment scores and car XP, and in the top left, you have visibility of your current lap time. All of the UI can be toggled on and off to suit your needs. However, racing enthusiasts will also note there is no radar showing nearby cars, nor weather radar to allow you to plan around the new dynamic weather systems. Much of this sort of information, as well as control over TCS and Brake Balance, is available in Gran Turismo 7’s MFD, a feature I desperately wish was in Forza Motorsport, but if they can only choose one bit of UI to take from that, I hope they add a radar, because the current system of proximity arrows (which, perplexingly, are not on by default) is not adequate, and it can make dealing with traffic on tight courses unpredictable. I also hope that the input UI can be made a bit larger, and the information about tires can be made more reliable.

Tires, worth noting, seem like one of the weak points of Forza Motorsport. Tire data was unclear to read at first: tire temps are shown on the larger real-time view, but tire wear is only shown via the small meter to the side of it. Tire life predictions are *not accurate* and will rapidly go from 3 laps to 1 lap over the course of a single lap even with clean driving. It’s super unclear if some sort of accelerated wear is on, but if it is, that information is both not exposed to the player and creating incorrect predictions about tire life, both of which are frustrating.

Star of the Show

For all that though, we still need to talk about the multiplayer experience. Before launch, I had the opportunity to play with other reviewers as well as Turn10 employees in full multiplayer lobbies, and I was extremely happy with the experience!

As you do those races, you’ll notice that each race starts at a fixed time, and that there’s time for practice before each session. This is a great change! You’ll get the chance to size up your competition, get a feel for the track, and set a qualifying time for the final race. This change continues beyond the introductory series as well, and modes like Forza GT and the Touring Car modes will always be there. There’s also a slot for a rotating featured series, and open series’ as well, allowing to show off your project cars on the track. All of these use the same structure and it makes me extremely happy; it feels more like a fleshed out version of the Sport mode in GT Sport/7.

There’s also the ability to do custom multiplayer (and singleplayer) events, just as you’d expect. You can make lobbies as desired, and race away to your heart’s content! I did not test the multiplayer side of that during my review period though, sorry about that. My focus was on the featured multiplayer, as that’s where I’m going to spend most of my time, and expect that’s where most players will be as well.

Chequered Flag

So, wrapping up here, crossing the finish line. Forza Motorsport is a pretty damn good experience, and makes meaningful improvements over previous entries (and over competing sims such as Gran Turismo 7), but it also comes with its own unique set of regressions, particularly in the PC version. However, all of my complaints about this are primarily quality-of-life (with the exception of the state of the visuals on PC, and all the sorts of things that Turn 10 can fix up with some TLC.

Career and Multiplayer are the real standouts, providing a ton of depth for players to explore and a lot of options for how they want to race, and comprehensive new systems for both of them mean that the overall experience is going to be incredible for the primary audience of the game. Hardcore racing sim fans may find aspects of it disappointing, as I did, but hopefully their feedback will help them steer the future of this title into true greatness.

For now though, I can softly recommend Forza Motorsport for PC! I hope to see improvements to it in the future but what’s here is a great package that’s likely to please fans of all stripes.

My copy of Forza Motorsport was done using a copy of the game provided to me by Xbox Australia and New Zealand (Xbox ANZ) for the purposes of review. Xbox ANZ also provides me with a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to use as part of my streams and coverage.

#Forza Motorsport #Xbox #video games #gaming #racing

[ajcrwl]

coding adventures part++

it's been a little over a month since the last one. i'm almost done with building some basic stuff including comments!

last time comments were completely non-existent. i had already picked a text editor which i wanted to use, but it was so hard to understand how to configure it, so i switched to tinmyce.

i added it to the page and started figuring out what i wanted to do with the design:

i immediately somehow made the toolbar become a rainbow that changes colours, and decided to keep it that way 😂

took me a while to figure out how to implement character count, submit button and notify button all within the editor's toolbar. but honestly, tinymce is so good, their docs describe pretty much everything i needed, so it was only a matter of learning what it can offer and figuring out how i could use it.

what you see above was just a bunch of lorem ipsum coded directly into the page. so the next step was to write the whole post -> save -> display pipeline and show some actual comments.

why use lorem ipsum when you can adfadsfsdfsdadf ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

then i did the thing which i always wanted to add: my own emotes! btw, we use all of these plague doctors and others in my discord, and i keep drawing more and more of them.

and then i tried to use them along with a better emoji font, and uhh

oops xD yes, you can stretch an image, even an emote, but you can't unstretch it back and return it to its original proportions.

figured out how to ban people, because honestly, no comment form should be released in the wild without the ability to restrict annoying users, you know? x)

and another thing which i figured out: how to make emotes big if there's no text next to them. same as in discord. took me about half an hour ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

now i'm fixing bugs and adding some small unseen things here and there.

the next step will be uploading all of this to the live website and testing there.

and after that.. whooo boooy, do i have so many more features planned. just some of them off the top of my head:

display names. that bit in lighter text before "@ yourname". i want to let people set a different name.

upload your own avatar.

badges. currently only a moderator has a badge. i want to add badges for people who support me on Boosty too.

non-email notifications. i get only 1000 free emails from mailgun, and we could quickly run out if everyone subscribes to reply notifications. however, i learnt to keep my expectations low, so this may never happen due to low engagement (sadge). some non-email options via bots could be: discord, telegram.

ability to keep track of your own comments.

profile pages to look at other people's profiles?

linking tumblr/discord/etc/whatever. still need to think how i could use that. maybe link your tumblr, so that people could see your blog? or for alt login options.

btw, none of this will be ever released as a stand-alone piece of software. it's heavily linked to my current cms framework, so i can't be arsed to separate it, and also i have no idea what i'm doing 😎

-------------------------

here's the first post

ps. managed to fix a few bugs while writing this post :)

#codeitkarl #mine #coding #software development

[reviewsthatburn]

Ava breaks Shane out of prison at the very start, then, with a few different configurations of crew members, they pull off a series of heists to get supplies to their families and hopefully mess things up for the military exploiting their planet. Cyrus is a member of that military, newly graduated and ready to climb the hierarchy. When he runs into the outlaws it complicates his worldview and he starts to think his commander might not be dealing fairly with their planet.

I was just familiar enough with Bonnie and Clyde as an idea that I came into this prepared for major character death, and it's a good thing I was ready. This is the kind of story where all of the characters are fascinating but I didn't particularly think any of the main characters were unambiguously the good guys. My anchor amidst the ambiguous characterization is that someone gradually emerges as a definitive antagonist to the cluster of antiheroes.

Full Review at Link.

#BookReviews #Recommended #Review #Science Fiction #made of stars #jenna voris

[pannimanagementteam]

Sage Alerts And Workflow Enhancements What Your Erp System Wants

Focus on driving progress and maximizing profitability, rather than managing tedious tasks. Companies would begin out with a seed-to-sale software and use a easy accounting system similar to QuickBooks Pro to handle their bookkeeping. Otherwise, they would turn to a generic ERP choice which will struggle to remain compliant.

Whether you own a small shop or run a multi-branch FX operation, CurrencyXchanger can take your small business to the subsequent degree. Continuous Innovation – Our team has a proven track report of ERP innovation and supply. Gerry also informed me that Figgro is currently developing a Plant Cultivation and Management Platform for growers in the 38 legal weed markets.

The software is utilized in both indoor and outside services, and by cultivators as well as processors/extractors. Andrew and all his team really care in regards to the code quality, which is basically hard to search out in other outsourcing firms. Also, I really have been impressed with their ability sage x3 cannabis to communicate so effectively and manage teamwork. If you need compliance and security, efficiency and productivity, and need to be on the cutting edge of software technology, the ERP software provided by Viridian Science might be the aggressive advantage you’re seeking.

It is built in Sage X3 and configured by NexTec industry consultants to ship a whole cannabis enterprise solution. Over the previous 25 years, our ERP and enterprise course of consultants have helped organizations across North America streamline business operations and lower costs. CannaBusiness ERP by NexTec is the go-to answer for cannabis cultivators and processors looking sage x3 cannabis erp software for a software platform built to assist you grow. NexTec food and agriculture specialists have partnered with main cannabis trade specialists to develop cannabis ERP software that can manage your cannabis business as it ought to. Their solution not only tracks seed gross sales transactions but covers your whole cannabis transactions.

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Nor are they backed and supported by a $2 billion software company like Sage. Built on the Acumatica framework, MaxQ Cannabis takes full benefit of Acumatica options and capabilities. Within a unified accounting, manufacturing, distribution, and buyer management suite, MaxQ Cannabis supplies a number of time-saving and cost-saving features that streamline and simplify the cannabis manufacturing process. Your accounting software ought to help propel your development, not sluggish you down. With Sage Intacct’s cloud ERP, you'll have the sage x3 hemp ability to pull reports with ease, and search and filter reviews like income or revenue by product, customer, project, location, fund, or any number of crucial standards. Use cloud-based know-how to extend the scalability and safety of your business—all from an easy to make use of dashboard—and keep full compliance with in-built financial controls.

The most reliable retail platform on the market, with no interruptions on high-volume days like 4/20, and efficiency only an enterprise-grade software company with 20 years of tech expertise can provide. Built for multi-location manufacturers and franchises, Cova’s retail POS and Inventory Management platform can simplify and streamline your operations. Tracking knowledge from seed to sale gives you a deeper perception into yield and efficiency, in addition to different rising advantages similar to the effects of vitamins, water, temperature, and humidity on your vegetation. By accumulating your progress knowledge, you'll have the ability to analyze it to take care of consistency, effectivity, and real-time enhancements based on what analysts let you know. The introduction of cloud-based seed monitoring software developed by cultivators for cultivators is a step in the right course.

[rolliaa]

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay install#

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay serial#

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay pro#

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay software#

There are really only two required pieces for this project:Īdding the water can get tricky, but lucky for me the existing sprinkler system happens to run a water line right behind the waterfall of the pond. (In reality it's usually leaves and moss in the river that does it). Plus if I can make it do some sort of tracking of water loss, it could maybe warn me of excessive loss so I can go put a stop to that excessive loss. So it's definitely time to automate! Using the IOT2020, a sprinkler valve, and some clever sneaky wires here and there, I should be able to get this task under control. Or maybe it's those darn hummingbirds sipping incessantly!Īnd I'm not always too observant to notice the lowering water levels before the pump starts to show up out of the muck. Thanks Spruce! Check it out at it's due to the fish partying too much, racoons drinking it all, or thirsty plants, this is causing our fish to worry that one day they'll need to evolve to be desert creatures. This will save me a ton of money, AND ensure that the shrubs, flowers, and lawn get the right amount of water. This is 1000% percent smarter than my old Hunter controller, and even my somewhat newer Irrigation Caddy home automation sprinkler system, because with Spruce, it looks at the current moisture with the sensors, but/and also looks at historical data and weather forecasts. Why? Every morning, I see an email saying that either we had rain yesterday, we had an inch of rain over the last week, or that rain is expected today. In April/May, my system has not watered for the last four weeks. It really is the next generation in irrigation. I got a new irrigation controller from Spruce that includes moisture sensors that are put in the lawn. Note that this is TOTALLY different than my old irrigation caddy in that it uses moisture sensors and upcoming weather forcasts: Just posted this elsewhere on the board - a review for my new spruce system. Relating to the touchscreen interface I am currently using JPG drawings and can do live CCTV views of each of the 10 zones configured. It is not cloud dependent and mostly uses the weather station for ET calculations. I can remote control it via internal or external to my LAN interfaces. (I have one water meter attached for measuring irrigation and purchased but not installed a hard water switch for the irrigation lines).

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay pro#

It does today have external connections to my Davis Vantage Pro 2 via Cumulus, additional sensors via xAP, WeatherUnderground, et al and works fine. It is all inside of the original Rainbird box and has been running 24/7 with no glitches now for over 3 years. I upgraded my set up to running mcsSprinklers on a modded Seagate Dockstar running with two USB connected mini SSD drives. Here is a picture of the tabletop running the touchscreen interface where you could also run the software. My OpenPeak Jogglers / tabletop tablets would probably be better and faster with an integrated touchscreen.

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay install#

(easy m.2 sata drive configuration).Ī while back here did install Ubuntu on my Chumby's and it ran fine (a bit slow) but you could probably configure a Chumby as your irrigation controller. I personally like the new Intel micro PCs and this could work better than the RPi.

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay software#

I haven't touched the configuration of the software in many many years as it runs fine with no hand holding. I do not like to use wireless for my automation but you could configure an RPi3 and wirelessly connect to the software to make adjustments. I have now seen an mSATA GPIO card for the RPi's that would be OK to use. My only concern here is the use of an SD card for the OS and running software. Today you could get by with a RPi2 and a touchscreen for it on or inside of the rainbird box. I was playing a bit with the PogoPlug (had a few of these) and the Seagate dockstar debian devices. Over the last few years the author of mcsSprinklers and a number of users (I was one) tested a linux mono version of the application. Software wise used mcsSprinklers that existed as a stand alone or a plugin for Homeseer.

Opensprinkler pi pump start relay serial#

I used a long serial cable (catxx) to the other side of the house and in to the communications closet. Initially removed the Rainbird ESP controller (I had added wireless to it) and installed two serial controlled Rain8Nets. Here started with a Rainbird vendor Rainbird installation. I have since protected these two devices and they have worked fine. That said one lightning strike did trash my two Rain8Nets over the last 13 years. Here have never connected my irrigation to my OmniPro 2 panel for that reason.

#Opensprinkler pi pump start relay

[rentalsunsky]

Hypack output.dll

HYPACK, A Xylem Brand HYSWEEP HYSWEEP is an optional module that provides for the calibration, data collection and data processing of multibeam sonar data inside the HYPACK package.

It will be included in the next version of NaviEdit, released in the coming months, which will be made available for all users who have subscribed to our software maintenance and support programme. Phone () Technical Support: by the HYPACK® MANUAL TIDES or HARMONIC TIDES. me Hypack supports Teledyne-Reson Seabat 7160 A screenshot of Hypack 2017 Hardware window showing Seabat 7160 as one of the supported models among other Reson multibeam sonars. Geological Survey, 2015, Text files of the navigation logged by the U. HYPACK 2 Executab john CONF - Hardware broken Mobile : One bug found.

DG2 EDITOR: Add Hatch to Polygon Areas.

(NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world's most challenging water issues, has acquired HYPACK, Inc. There is also the TIN MODEL that creates stunning surface models, generates DXF contours and computes volume quantities with a variety of jobs. Whether you are new to hydrographic surveying or simply new to CEE HydroSystems, we place significant emphasis on making sure both hardware and software are getting the job done.

Merging Offset Lines: The LINE EDITOR provides options that automatically join the Watch a sample support video Our knowledgeable support team has put together videos that help you troubleshoot, understand and use your equipment, keeping you workflow running smoothly.

HYPACK solution and display features include: Data collection and processing: Single beam, multibeam, side scan sonar, etc. It additionally provides dredge positioning, engineering, design, technical support, programming, training, documentation and consulting services. NEW! rQPOD Remote Boat Surveying Package INTEGRATED WITH HYPACK® The HydroSurveyor is a system designed to collect bathymetric, water column velocity profile, and acoustic bottom tracking data as part of a hydrographic survey. Navigational and dredging support with digging efficiency and precise positioning. mtx files should already directly load in via the existing Hypack Matrix support. dll: The Hypack driver does not transmit configuration commands to the magnetometer. Whether you or someone you love has cancer, knowing what to expect can help you cope.

HYPACK founder Pat Sanders demonstrates the use of the Window Manager in HYPACK Survey.

Products summary GPS-Aided StrataBox Settings for Hypack: Stratabox Hypack Cfg: Configuration settings for StrataBox interface to Hypack: Firmware Update Instructions: StrataBox Firmware Update: Instructions on updating the sensor firmware: StrataBox DLL for Hypack: StrataBox DLL: StrataBox DLL file (please contact support before using) HYPACK ® Side Scan Sonar (SSS) Support: HYPACK® provides support of SSS systems in its basic package. The side-scan survey programme supports analog and digital side scans, including some of the latest dual frequency and high-resolution side scans. Manager of Support HYPACK Oct 1997 - Apr 2020 22 years 7 months. Founded in 1984, HYPACK, INC (formerly Coastal Oceanographics, Inc. Basic SrataBox – Hypack Instructions for configuring Stratabox to use with survey software and laptop PC 1 Install PCMCIA 4 port serial card. hypack support hypack 2017 download hypack training hypack manual hypack max hypack training 2018 U. Hypack is one of the most widely used hydrographic surveying packages in the world, with more than 4,000 users.

On HYPACK tech support, O’Brien said, “Anytime we have an issue, HYPACK tech support is just one phone call away.

This 10-chapter series will help familiarize you with the HYPACK interface and pre/post processing configurations. Hypack support hypack support I can move them around in a text editor, I was just wondering if there was a better way.

#Hypack output.dll

[friedasalter]

How We Showed One Vancouver MedSpa Finding an Incredible, Dependable Promoting Agency IS Conceivable.

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What's more, since her current site neglected to both mirror her expert administrations appropriately and appeal to her objective market, she wasn't getting any new business.

No big surprise she felt consumed by the interaction!

Dr. Thangavelu was looking for an improved arrangement, and that is the means by which we associated on Instagram. Together, we began dealing with a total rebrand and site overhaul for her in the fall of 2020.

The outcome? Dr. Thangavelu currently has an expertly convincing internet based presence that mirrors her administrations and extraordinary selling recommendation. Furthermore, maybe similarly as significant, she has a showcasing group she can depend on, opening up her energy to zero in on what she excels at.

"Susan and Daniel are astounding," says Dr. Thangavelu. "They transformed my site into precisely exact thing I needed, and everybody has been seeing it."

Continue to peruse to perceive how we acquired Dr. Thangavelu's trust - and why we've kept it.

The undertaking initially

There are not many circumstances where a business needs 'just' a site. Our task for Dr. Thangavelu was really a 9-month staged approach utilizing a few colleagues.

Starting with the marking system, we then moved to watchword research so we could inject Search engine optimization with the planning and working of the completely streamlined site.

When the site was sent off, we proceeded with Web optimization strategies to guarantee the website could be effectively tracked down by the center's ideal interest group. We likewise started an online entertainment and computerized promoting effort for a 6-month time frame.

Furthermore, obviously, the task likewise remembered my hands-for talking with Dr. Thangavelu to assist her with understanding her greater objectives and dreams.

We should separate a portion of the critical parts of this excursion.

A total brand and site overhaul

We start each client with an inside and out brand investigation to characterize their interesting selling recommendation (USP), interest group, organization vision, brand situating and that's just the beginning.

This investigation made it clear we wanted another logo for Deez Skin Reju. Dr. Thangavelu's current logo had a dated vibe, and it didn't mirror the facility's in vogue, top of the line stylish.

Working intimately with Dr. Thangavelu, the last logo configuration is one she cherishes and addresses her facility precisely.

A more easy to understand site

Regardless of everything that the plugs might say to you, it isn't not difficult to fabricate a site. Without legitimate preparation and technique before you begin fabricating, a site is similarly prone to confound expected clients as convert them.

Dr. Thangavelu's current site didn't situate her as the master in her field, nor did it help clients explore and figure out her administration choices.

That is the reason one of the most vital phases in this website architecture project was to construct an easy to use route framework.

This incorporated a Super menu that uncovers each of the different medicines the center offers, alongside connections to their individual pages. Furthermore, some portion of our endeavors included figuring out Dr. Thangavelu's numerous contributions and items, making another brilliant guide to upgrade client experience on the site.

An innovative new celebrity program

We highly esteem genuinely being an all in one resource with regards to your web based showcasing. Furthermore, as a computerized promoting and business specialist, I love working with clients to assist them with getting perfectly clear on the techniques they need set up to begin getting more cash.

It's especially remunerating to work major areas of strength for with, ladies like Dr. Thangavelu who are eager to take their business to a higher level (believe me: you'll be seeing parcels more from this lady later on, and I for one can hardly hang tight for it).

Through our conferences, we concluded a celebrity program would be an incredible impetus to offer Dr. Thangavelu's clients. Tasteful methodology are a critical venture, and she needed to make that speculation more straightforward by offering significant participation benefits.

In this way, we created 3 yearly participation levels, which we then, at that point, executed on a committed page on the new site.

On-going help

Recall how Dr. Thangavelu had been singed by a past web designer? Indeed, that was simply never going to occur with us!

Working with us, you're rarely abandoned. Your prosperity is our prosperity, and we cooperate with our clients to assist them with accomplishing their objectives.

Specifically, this implies we offer Dr. Thangavelu (and our clients as a whole) sensibly estimated site upkeep rates presented in 10-minute additions. This makes it both simple and efficient to have continuous site refreshes done.

For Deez Skin Rejù and Torment Center, this has implied Dr. Thangavelu has had the option to change her celebrity bundles, add new administrations and items, and update her 'About' us page to incorporate new staff, all by sending a straightforward email to us.

Continuous SEM, content and virtual entertainment showcasing

Obviously, our work doesn't end when the site is finished! To help Dr. Thangavelu's center stay serious, make deals, increment leads and connect with their crowd, we have now turned our concentration to concentrated SEM and virtual entertainment crusades.

SEM represents web search tool advertising, otherwise called paid search, generally utilizing Google Promotions.

By purchasing traffic that drives to the site, we can quick track the site's way to the highest point of the indexed lists, ideally expanding deals.

We've carried out paid advertisements on both Google, Facebook and Instagram for Dr. Thangavelu. While her site has just been live for a couple of months and the promotions are still somewhat new, we've been invigorated by the speedy positive outcomes.

Making compelling web based promoting advertisements requires:

Focusing on geographic regions

Making promotion crusades that address the ideal interest groups in those areas

Composing pertinent promotion duplicate that will tempt and force their ideal interest group to tap on the advertisement

Observing persistently for snaps, impressions and changes

We likewise compose a month to month watchword rich blog entry for the site, further amping up the Web optimization of the site.

Web optimization represents site improvement and is a non-paid web based promoting procedure that revolves around upgrading your site and content with words and expressions that individuals would type into a web index.

It assumes a major part while we're constructing a site, however great Search engine optimization likewise requires new, new satisfied consistently.

By utilizing watchword and contender research, we make month to month blog entries that position Dr. Thangavelu as the master in her field, and her center as the most ideal decision for tasteful medicines in the Vancouver, BC region.

What's more, we likewise utilize these blog entries to create convincing bulletins her crowd is adoring. Dr. Thangavelu's last pamphlet had a 32% open rate, and an incredible 26% snap rate (note the business normal active clicking factor is just 2%!).

Obviously, we have laid out Dr. Thangavelu as a voice to trust, and when she puts out new happy, individuals need to understand it!

What's more, obviously, online entertainment promoting is our meat and potatoes, very much like it's the bread-and-butter of such countless private ventures.

What's more, we have Dr. Thangavelu covered here, as well, with her own committed online entertainment tactician who keeps her Instagram and Facebook stages dynamic with lovely and drawing in posts.

The final product? A flourishing center, and another site and showcasing project we can be pleased with. Site traffic has multiplied since the send off, and every month we're come by endlessly improved results. Also, by all reports, the center is flourishing! (Need a treatment yourself? Pursue the center's bulletin and you'll get 15% off your most memorable treatment!)

"Susan knew precisely exact thing I needed for my image and she didn't frustrate," Dr. Thangavelu composes. "I am so happy I inspired them to re-try my site. After so many 'guarantees' by alleged 'specialists' previously, I can perceive you that Susan and Daniel are the specialists in this field."

What's more, we're so happy Dr. Thangavelu entrusted us with a venture so precious to her.

As may be obvious, except if you're a promoting/specialized/creator master, rebranding your business isn't a Do-It-Yourself project. There are such a large number of significant marking, programming and execution components in question. Regardless of what industry you're in, you ought to consider recruiting a full-administration proficient website architecture and computerized promoting organization. to save you time, energy and cash while benefitting from an expert web-based brand presence you can be glad for.

To your business achievement,

Susan

Susan Friesen, organizer behind the honor winning web improvement and computerized showcasing firm eVision Media, is an Internet Trained professional, Business and Promoting Specialist, and Online Entertainment Counselor. She works with business people who battle with having the absence of information, ability and backing expected to make their web-based business.

[wardmcintosh65]

An Review Of The Htc One X Google Android Mobile Phone

This free Android app lets you access Craiglist, the popular classifieds website, using your Android home phone. You can do pretty much anything- from browsing the ads to even posting a commercial complete with photos from your phone! Useful and convenient, Craigsphone is a must for people like myself who can't go hours without checking on the items available on CL! 365 Puzzle Club - A new number puzzle every day of the spring! 365 Puzzle Club has 3 modes of play: Calendar mode offers a good solid puzzle daily, Seasonal mode offers a gradual advancement of different puzzle types, or you can practice on quickplay approach. Play games such as Sukodu, Tempenki, and Kakuro. A rather popular type of the Android phone is the Samsung Beam i8520. As well as to its pico projector feature, it runs on Android technology for its operating system. The pico projector allows users of that phone to project all sorts of things in their phone onto a outlet. It makes bringing a portable projector an easy convenience. In addition, high definition tv smart the science and functionality inside - the mentioned Android computer and the Touch Wiz skin in Samsung. Psychonauts 2 Repack with an 8-megapixel camera, so that it even better than other handheld old cameras! Probably not what you'd expect made by this list of free Android lifestyle apps, My Days is an app used for women. It is able to predict your ovulation and fertility routines. If you're trying to get pregnant, this free Android app could help you. Some people are saying they are not fair to judge the newer Android based phones about the older ipod. That we should wait until the latest generation of iPhone capable be sent. But if you want to obtain phone right now, those are the only stats that you have to go by using. So this is how we must judge the phones as of right immediately. And as of right now, the specs through the Android phones are more effectively. Especially with the newest phones, the Droid and also the Nexus Body. These phones were made especially to look after the iPhone demand. They have made their screens bigger and attempt to compete an issue user interface as let me tell you. >> Quick to deploy. Tracking apps are very simple install. It just typing in the URL you can find at the vendor, and the tracking software is downloaded directly into the cellphone. Additional set up and configuration is required, but extremely minimal. In addition to Shop Savvy another great shopping application is by a company called Favorite Download. They developed a 100 % free Android application called My Coupons, which is tremendously used by the someone who savors the notion of saving money when they are going shopping. This free app makes it possible for you to get coupons for shopping or helps come across free meal deals in any given community. Cashiers can scan barcodes that appear on don't worry screen on your private phone an individual have choosing to print it from being a home computer and utilize it the way most coupons are chosen. For Psychonauts 2 plaza saving conscious consumer and eater this certainly among tips for sites free Android applications. This app was made by the My Tracks Team at Google. Being a Google app, we have certain expectations and this app definitely meets or exceeds all of! This Android app records your GPS movements and shows live statistics like speed, time, distance travelled and any more. It's like having an expensive portable GPS device with you at year 'round for Free! Psychonauts 2 Setup .

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[blubberquark]

Excel, Word, Access, Outlook

Previously on computer literacy: A Test For Computer Literacy

If you’re a computer programmer, you sometimes hear other programmers complain about Excel, because it mixes data and code, or about Word, because it mixes text and formatting, and nobody ever uses Word and Excel properly.

If you’re a computer programmer, you frequently hear UX experts praise the way Excel allows non-programmers to write whole applications without help from the IT department. Excel is a great tool for normal people and power users, I often hear.

I have never seen anybody who wasn’t already versed in a real programming language write a complex application in an Excel spreadsheet. I have never seen anybody who was not a programmer or trained in Excel fill in a spreadsheet and send it back correctly.

Computer programmers complain about the inaccessibility of Excel, the lack of discoverability, the mixing of code and data in documents that makes versioning applications a proper nightmare, the influence of the cell structure on code structure, and the destructive automatic casting of cell data into datatypes.

UX experts praise Excel for giving power to non-programmers, but I never met a non-programmer who used Excel “properly”, never mind developed an application in it. I met non-programmers who used SPSS, Mathematica, or Matlab properly a handful of times, but even these people are getting rarer and rarer in the age of Julia, NumPy, SymPy, Octave, and R. Myself, I have actually had to learn how to use Excel in school, in seventh grade. I suspect that half of the “basic computer usage” curriculum was the result of a lobbying campaign by Microsoft’s German branch, because we had to learn about certain features in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on Windows 95, and non-Microsoft applications were conspicuously absent.

Visual Basic and VBS seemed like a natural choice to give power to end users in the 90s. People who had already used a home computer during the 8-bit/16-bit era (or even an IBM-compatible PC) were familiar with BASIC because that was how end-users were originally supposed to interact with their computers. BASIC was for end users, and machine code/compiled languages were for “real programmers” - BASIC was documented in the manual that came with your home computer, machine code was documented in MOS data sheets. From today’s point of view, programming in BASIC is real programming. Calling Visual Basic or .Net scripting in Excel “not programming“ misrepresents what modern programmers do, and what GUI users have come to expect after the year 2000.

Excel is not very intuitive or beginner-friendly. The “basic computer usage” curriculum was scrapped shortly after I took it, so I had many opportunities to observe people who were two years younger than me try to use Excel by experimenting with the GUI alone.

The same goes fro Microsoft Word. A friend of mine insists that nobody ever uses Word properly, because Word can do ligatures and good typesetting now, as well as footnotes, chapters, outline note taking, and so on. You just need to configure it right. If people used Word properly, they wouldn’t need LaTeX or Markdown. That friend is already a programmer. All the people I know who use Word use WYSIWYG text styling, fonts, alignment, tables, that sort of thing. In order to use Word “properly“, you’d have to use footnotes, chapter marks, and style sheets. The most “power user” thing I have ever seen an end user do was when my father bought a CD in 1995 with 300 Word templates for all sorts of occasions - birthday party invitation, employee of the month certificate, marathon completion certificate, time table, cooking recipe, invoice, cover letter - to fill in and print out.

Unlike Excel, nobody even claims that non-programmer end users do great things in Word. Word is almost never the right program when you have email, calendars, wikis, to-do lists/Kanban/note taking, DTP, vector graphics, mind mapping/outline editors, programmer’s plain text editors, dedicated novelist/screenwriting software, and typesetting/document preparation systems like LaTeX. Nobody disputes that plain text, a wiki, or a virtual Kanban board is often preferable to a .doc or .docx file in a shared folder. Word is still ubiquitous, but so are browsers.

Word is not seen as a liberating tool that enables end-user computing, but as a program you need to have but rarely use, except when you write a letter you have to print out, or when you need to collaborate with people who insist on e-mailing documents back and forth.

I never met an end user who actually liked Outlook enough to use it for personal correspondence. It was always mandated by an institution or an employer, maintained by an IT department, and they either provided training or assumed you already had had training. Outlook has all these features, but neither IT departments nor end users seemed to like them. Outlook is top-down mandated legibility and uniformity.

Lastly, there is Microsoft Access. Sometimes people confused Excel and Access because both have tables, so at some point Microsoft caved in and made Excel understand SQL queries, but Excel is still not a database. Access is a database product, designed to compete with products like dBase, Cornerstone, and FileMaker. It has an integrated editor for the database schema and a GUI builder to create forms and reports. It is not a networked database, but it can be used to run SQL queries on a local database, and multiple users can open the same database file if it is on a shared SMB folder. It is not something you can pick up on one afternoon to code your company’s billing and invoicing system. You could probably use it to catalogue your Funko-Pop collection, or to keep track of the inventory, lending and book returns of a municipal library, as long as the database is only kept on one computer. As soon as you want to manage a mobile library or multiple branches, you would have to ditch Access for a real SQL RDBMS.

Microsoft Access was marketed as a tool for end-user computing, but nobody really believed it. To me, Access was SQL with training wheels in computer science class, before we graduated to MySQL and then later to Postgres and DB2. UX experts never tout Access as a big success story in end-user computing - yet they do so for Excel.

The narrative around Excel is quite different from the narrative around Yahoo Pipes, IFTTT, AppleScript, HyperCard, Processing, or LabView. The narrative goes like this: “Excel empowers users in big, bureaucratic organisations, and allows them to write limited applications to solve business problems, and share them with co-workers.”

Excel is not a good tool for finance, simulations, genetics, or psychology research, but it is most likely installed on every PC in your organisation already. You’re not allowed to share .exe files, but you are allowed to share spreadsheets. Excel is an exchange format for applications. Excel files are not centrally controlled, like Outlook servers or ERP systems, and they are not legible to management. Excel is ubiquitous. Excel is a ubiquitous runtime and development environment that allows end-users to create small applications to perform simple calculations for their jobs.

Excel is a tool for office workers to write applications to calculate things, but not without programming, but without involving the IT department. The IT department would like all forms to be running on some central platform, all data to be in the data warehouse/OLAP platform/ERP system - not because they want to make the data legible and accessible, but because they want to minimise the number of business-critical machines and points of failure, because important applications should either run on servers in a server rack, or be distributed to workstations by IT.

Management wants all knowledge to be formalised so the next guy can pick up where you left off when you quit. For this reason, wikis, slack, tickets and kanban boards are preferable to Word documents in shared folders. The IT department calls end-user computing “rogue servers“ or “shadow IT“. They want all IT to have version control, unit tests, backups, monitoring, and a handbook. Accounting/controlling thinks end-user computing is a compliance nightmare. They want all software to be documented, secured, and budgeted for. Upper management wants all IT to be run by the IT department, and all information integrated into their reporting solution that generates these colourful graphs. Middle management wants their people to get some work done.

Somebody somewhere in the C-suite is always viewing IT as a cost centre, trying to fire IT people and to scale down the server room. This looks great on paper, because the savings in servers, admins, and tech support are externalised to other departments in the form of increased paperwork, time wasted on help hotlines, and

Excel is dominating end-user computing because of social reasons and workplace politics. Excel is not dominating end-user computing because it is actually easy to pick up for end-users.

Excel is dominating end-user computing neither because it is actually easy to pick up for non-programmers nor easy to use for end-users.

This is rather obvious to all the people who teach human-computer interaction at universities, to the people who write books about usability, and the people who work in IT departments. Maybe it is not quite as obvious to people who use Excel. Excel is not easy to use. It’s not obvious when you read a book on human-computer interaction (HCI), industrial design, or user experience (UX). Excel is always used as the go-to example of end-user computing, an example of a tool that “empowers users”. If you read between the lines, you know that the experts know that Excel is not actually a good role model you should try to emulate.

Excel is often called a “no code“ tool to make “small applications“, but that is also not true. “No Code” tools usually require users to write code, but they use point-and-click, drag-and-drop, natural language programming, or connecting boxes by drawing lines to avoid the syntax of programming languages. Excel avoids complex syntax by breaking everything up into small cells. Excel avoids iteration or recursion by letting users copy-paste formulas into cells and filling formulas in adjacent cells automatically. Excel does not have a debugger, but shows you intermediate results by showing the numbers/values in the cells by default, and the code in the cells only if you click.

All this makes Excel more like GameMaker or ClickTeam Fusion than like Twine. Excel is a tool that doesn’t scare users away with text editors, but that’s not why people use it. It that were the reason, we would be writing business tools and productivity software in GameMaker.

The next time you read or hear about the amazing usability of Excel, take it with a grain of salt! It’s just barely usable enough.

#end-user computing #computer literacy

[baphomet-media]

Sword Art Offline - A CrossCode Review

Genre: Adventure Subgenre: Action RPG Developer: Radical Fish Games Publisher: Deck13 Platform(s): PC, Playstation, Switch, Xbox (Reviewed on Xbox Series X) Release Date: July 9th, 2020 Time Played: 60 hours

CrossCode was a game that I knew next to nothing about going in. I heard some faint praise for the title online, but I really had no idea what to expect. The game’s description bills it as a Zelda-like, but offers little else in the way of explanation. The vibrant pixel art environments convinced me to give it a shot. So is CrossCode a success, or is it just a glitch in the system?

Story

In the distant future, humanity has colonized the galaxy. On one remote moon, a company called Instatainment decides to create something unique. They create a one-of-a-kind MMO where the locations in the game are real physical places, and players can log in and explore them using avatars made of something called “instant matter,” a kind of extremely light and insubstantial matter that can be quickly and cheaply conjured up for all sorts of purposes, but cannot meaningfully interact with the physical environment. This MMO is called CrossWorlds, and has become very popular in the world of CrossCode. Despite the fact that the game features an in-universe MMO, CrossCode is in fact an offline, singleplayer game. The different meta layers can be somewhat difficult to explain at times, but I found it to be a novel and interesting setting.

You take control of Lea, a player of CrossWorlds who has seemingly lost her memory. While being aided by man-at-the-keyboard Sergey, she must infiltrate CrossWorlds from the outside and play the game to recover her memories. But all is not what it seems, as a strange flying blue avatar seems to be pursuing Lea.

Along the way, Lea will participate in the game of CrossWorlds alongside other avatars such as the feisty french Emilie (AKA Emilienator), the nerdy Toby (AKA C’tron), the braggadocious Apollo, and many more. Each character has a vibrant design and personality that make them stand out and feel loveable.

The game’s plot is quite intense at times and drips with intrigue, keeping you playing for hours on end. In one of my play sessions, I played the game for over 7 hours in a single sitting, which is a testament to how hooked I was. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout that keep you guessing, and many different layers to ponder over in between sessions. Unfortunately, I feel like the ending falls a touch flat, as it feels like the game just kind of stops and all the conflicts resolve at once, but it’s a small issue.

There is a bad ending to the game, obtainable by missing or failing a single optional story event, but if you’re paying attention and exploring you’ll have no trouble finding it. There is also a DLC epilogue episode that continues from the true ending, but unfortunately this epilogue is not yet available on console at the time of writing. It is currently slated for a ‘Summer 2021’ release, so perhaps I will be able to review it shortly.

I wish there was more I could say about the story because there’s a LOT going on, but unfortunately it would ruin the experience, so you’ll have to discover it for yourself. Suffice it to say that the story kept me intrigued and hungry for more up until the very end. The writing is often witty and funny, and I noticed various references to other series, such as Kingdom Hearts, Gurren Lagann, and Ace Attorney.

Gameplay

CrossCode at its core is a top-down action RPG. Lea has a number of different moves that can assist her in combat, such as melee attacks, ranged attacks, dodging, guarding, and special attacks. Additionally, once you complete the game’s dungeons, Lea will be able to switch into different elemental modes. Each mode has its own stats, special attacks, and affinities, and it pays to be vigilant about which elements are effective against which enemies. Plus, using elemental modes for too long builds up an overheat meter that, when filled, locks Lea out of elemental modes until it depletes. Due to all this complexity, it pays to think on your feet and be conscientious about how you approach fights.

On top of that, there are different consumables that offer timed buffs, different equipment effects which offer different buffs, as well as the Circuit, a skill tree with different trees for each element. Every time Lea levels up, she gains one Circuit Point for each elemental tree to spend on permanent buffs and unlocking special attacks. Some nodes on the circuits require multiple circuit points to unlock, so you’ll have to weigh which nodes to unlock when. All of this combined makes Lea highly configurable, but versatile enough to where you can completely change her build at any time outside of combat.

As you play the game, you will typically have allied characters fighting alongside Lea, which makes tough groups of enemies much more manageable. However, there are many areas which are “instanced” to where Lea must complete challenges alone. These are some of the game’s toughest challenges, and typically involve puzzle solving and/or combat. There are various dungeons around the Playground of CrossWorlds, the in-universe playable area, and most are quite extensive. These are the moments that the game somewhat feels Zelda-like, though really only in that you have to progress through dungeons with various puzzle and combat rooms in order to unlock a new element. Each dungeon adds new mechanics to master, and many dungeons bring back old mechanics from prior dungeons, requiring you to figure out how multiple mechanics work together. I found these sections a ton of fun, even if some of the puzzles were real head-scratchers.

Where would an RPG be without its sidequests? CrossWorlds, and by extension CrossCode, has plenty of sidequests for Lea to undergo to gain experience, money, and items. Most of the quests are your bog-standard fetch quests, but many have the player find new areas, face unique encounters, or even engage in minigames. Fortunately, a lot of the monotony of questing that you’d expect from any other game is mitigated by the fact that you can teleport back to any discovered landmark at any time for free.

As you explore the world, you’ll find yourself engaging in minor platforming. Essentially, areas of the game map are on different elevation tiers, and there are a ton of chests that are locked behind finding out how exactly to manage the elevation to reach a chest on a high ledge, often traveling on high elevation across multiple maps for a single chest. It can be a bit frustrating for people who constantly see chests that are seemingly out of their reach, but I found it fun to hunt them all down. Additionally, using a charged projectile to ricochet off walls and obstacles are quite common. One downside to the platforming is that it can sometimes be difficult to determine the heights of different stage elements at a glance, as the game doesn’t seem to have any sort of visual indication of the different elevations aside from just looking at the relative vertical distance between the floor and the next level. This often causes you to jump into walls or off cliffs during drawn-out platforming sections, which can be frustrating.

Overall, I don’t really agree that CrossCode is a Zelda-like. To me, it’s more like a 2d hack-n-slash without aerial combat. Still, that isn’t a negative, and I feel like CrossCode manages to create something that feels its own and not heavily derivative. I only wish the marketing had played more to its strengths instead of just bragging about how much the game was like Zelda and how many different genres they think they mashed together. I probably would have given the game a shot a lot sooner.

Presentation

The environments of CrossCode are gorgeous, with high detail pixel art that is hard to believe is based on a tileset. The character designs are bold and emotive, and really give you an idea of what each character is about at first sight. The game’s soundtrack is also a banger, with plenty of different tracks in many different instruments. It’s the kind of soundtrack I’d happily listen to outside of the game, and instantly becomes familiar to you.

Conclusion

Aside from a bit of platforming jank and a slightly underwhelming ending, CrossCode is a real gem of a game that anyone who likes RPGs should check out on their platform of choice, and especially if you have Game Pass. This is a game that deserves the same level of cult following as other indie gems such as Celeste and Stardew Valley. I look forward to the coming DLC, and whatever developer Radical Fish cooks up next (hopefully a sequel!)

Score: 9 / 10

#gaming #review #article #crosscode #Radical Fish Games #Deck13

[wafafs]

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our sense of place. Ohio has almost no native earthworms, said Dr. Both of these schools have successful football, soccer, and track programs that compete in the championships every year. Drive south from Missoula to mine a genuine Montana sapphire in historic Philipsburg. If the PSU is placed with its fan facing upwards, it will be drawing air from beneath the motherboard, effectively cooling the motherboard in the process.. “Your father tried to kill us all,” he reminded Sigorn. After hearing Merc's suits talk about the mission of the new E Class, my iPhone was confiscated, and I was ushered behind a dark curtain where I met a lightly camouflaged car. The three septas led her down the tower stairs, with Septa Unella going before her and Septa Moelle and zapatillas guess mujer corte inglesSepta Scolera at her heels, as if they were afraid that she might try to flee. When first she left home she had lived for a time with Alyosha in a very nice flat, small, but pretty and convenient, on the third storey of a house in Liteyny. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns argues that even that even though Europe must show more commitment to NATO joint security, the United States can off responsibilities to NATO. Yet when light came, the camp woke to snow and silence. “Your Grace,” he said, “I fear your eunuchs are ill suited for the tasks you set them.”. Theon wrenched his arm away from her. He did well in leading them to a 2 2 draw in England, arguably the high point of his six year tenure and, crucially, also a series in which he performed with the bat. And now the lords Bran glimpsed were tall and hard, stern men in fur and chain mail. Of course he sank, and his master was several hundred dollars poorer than a moment before. Yezzan’s other slaves had refused to go near the overseer once the cramps began, so it was left to Tyrion to keep him warm and bring him drinks. That is, he had begun it much earlier, during the previous year. Dany had taken to calling it Dragonstone, after the ancient citadel where she’d been born. These companies, that are so eager to take your money, have absolutely no official status among astronomers. It made no matter. The peculiar falsity of this whole book consists in making exceptional or impossible cases the representatives of the system. It has the same 4 speaker configuration, and I interested to see how much space is taken internally by the speaking housing, as Apple is more constrained on space in the smaller chassis when balancing the battery capacity against speaker size. “Did you truly expect me to believe you were about the queen’s business in that whorehouse? Defending her from half a world away? Or could it be that you were running, that your dragon queen sent

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you from her side? But why would she … oh, wait, you were spying on her.” Tyrion made a clucking sound.

[autumnblogs]

Day 4: You eat a weird bug and don’t even care.

Starting later than usual today because I’ve been absolutely swamped with work. Let’s get down to business to defeat the Huns.

https://homestuck.com/story/644

I’ve never really gotten why John falls asleep here. Seems an odd place to fall asleep, especially with the adrenaline rush that must have been. Maybe he’s passing out from exactly that? Alternatively, maybe Vriska is putting him to sleep.

 I also forgot that John Sleeps/Skaian Magicant is split between two flashes.

https://homestuck.com/story/651

Ah here we go. John has what are, if Jade is to be believed, lousy dreams. He dreams of his Dad, of clowns, of baked goods, of Fruit Gushers, of his own symbol, the weird knock-off slimer, and Harry Anderson, before finally Jade appears.

I am not a psychologist or therapist. I am not even anything more than an amateur literary critic. But let me give you my take on that. It’s clear that John is dreaming about all kinds of things that are giving him anxiety here, if Jade’s assessment about his dreams being lousy is true.

Harry Anderson is, as he’ll say later, kind of a weird mutual father figure for him and his Dad, and as a stage magician and comedian, he represents John’s aspirations.

John wants to grow up to be a great stage magician and comedian, and if there’s anything we’ve seen about the Heir of Breath so far, it’s how extremely self-critical he is of his abilities - he’s screwed up every disguise and magic trick he’s tried so far. 

The other things are pretty self-explanatory - he’s anxious about his relationship with his Dad, he’s anxious about his Dad’s identity, he’s anxious about his own identity - with the exception of the gushers. Are gushers just symbolizing Sburb for John? Does he have a premonition that the gushers are tainted by the hand of his archnemesis, Betty Crocker? Maybe that one’s just silly.

Maybe they’re all just silly!

https://homestuck.com/story/652

I promise I will have more to say about Jade’s conversations once she is actually introduced, but until then, she is too enigmatic for me to talk about :^)

I will say, if the fact that John is stressing out about everything in his life and just not vocalizing his anxiety, it’s probable that he thinks Jade is just as mysterious as his pals think she is, and is just not talking about it.

I think John, like Jake, is way more intelligent than he lets on, and probably just keeps a lot of things on a simmer, thinking about them without necessarily opening up about them. He talks a lot about surface level stuff for sure, but he seems a lot more hesitant to talk about emotions, theories, that sort of thing. It actually reminds me a lot of how Kim Kitsuragi from Disco Elysium, far from his highly imaginative partner the player character, writes his thoughts down in a notebook to keep track of his through processes, hunches, case details, etc, whereas the Detective organizes everything in an interactive Thought Cabinet that serves as one half of the game’s Inventory and Progression System.

For example, John’s ability to describe and his ability to theorize is on full display in the FAQs that he writes, but when he talks, he’s often just as disorganized as he is everywhere else. Maybe John needs to take up journalling.

Huh. I wonder if Kim is a Prospit Dreamer and the Detective is a Derse Dreamer? That would make a lot of sense. Once @bladekindeyewear finishes playing Disco Elysium (which he is playing at my behest), I’ll see if he’s interested in assigning Lunar Sway, Classes and Aspects to the two of them.

https://homestuck.com/story/665

Dave Owns. The Narrative switches between character perspectives often right before there’s a major climax so that lots of characters can all have climactic encounters in sync with one another.

Eye imagery is on full display here as Dave ascends to the highest point in the building. The Sun over Dave’s house is drawn differently from other abstractions of the Sun in Homestuck, and this particular drawing of the Sun will later be juxtaposed against Terezi’s eyes as Alternia’s Sun burns them out.

The Sun as the Symbol of Light is also juxtaposed with Rose’s eyes later when she uses her seer powers, strengthening the connection between the Sun and Eyes. Near the very beginning of the comic, Rose compares the Sun moving on from the east coast to the west as him casting his lurid gaze on younger parts of the world, or the country. I’m not recalling the exact phrasing at this time.

Lil Cal’s creepy eyes are also highlighted by the Camera here. Through the vehicle of Lil Cal, Lord English is watching and quietly giving approval to all of this.

I choose to interpret the camera’s focus in this flash as giving us a glimpse into what Dave is paying attention to. And boy does Dave notice all of these eyes on him. Between seeing the sun as a malevolent eye watching him, to Lil Cal’s glassy gaze, to the Cameras bro uses to surveil him 24/7, Dave feels like he’s constantly being watched, and I think it’s safe to say it gives him the creeps.

https://homestuck.com/story/673

WV’s self-estimation isn’t much better than John’s.

https://homestuck.com/story/678

I wonder if we can get some insight into the strange minds of the Carapacians in the way that before he’s even finished receiving the commands, WV acts on them. WV is even more impulsive than John.

https://homestuck.com/story/684

Oh yeah, WV’s self-worth is way worse than John’s.

https://homestuck.com/story/685

Luckily almost as soon as his thoughts come, they go. He doesn’t spend too much time brooding over his self-loathing and survivor’s guilt, so good for him.

https://homestuck.com/story/688

A whole bunch of things that are symbolically related to the cast!

While WV’s can town playtime functions as foreshadowing for us, it serves as a replay of the extremely recent past for him, at least in terms of events that we know about.

https://homestuck.com/story/694

The light on Serenity’s belly looks a bit like the Sun, and therefore, an eye.

https://homestuck.com/story/699

The Blue Trees of Can Town call forward to Terezi’s forest, but I don’t think this is probably more substantial than something fun Andrew decided to call back to when he was writing the trolls.

IDK. Maybe Blue Trees = Democracy = Justice?

But Terezi’s brand of justice has nothing to do with Democracy.

https://homestuck.com/story/709

Tab, like GameBro, is an artifact of a bygone age.

https://homestuck.com/story/711

It’s a lot easier to become a citizen of Can Town than it is to become a citizen of the United States!

https://homestuck.com/story/714

I wonder who input all those commands before WV got on board? Maybe whoever was in charge of building these contraptions in the first place - a Carapacian Lab Rat in the Veil.

Always felt like the unseen actors making Sburb run behind the scenes were one of the nicest touches, they lend an air of sinister mystery even beyond the Guardians.

https://homestuck.com/story/721

I am not good at chess.

Maybe sometime, I will have my friend who is good at Chess analyze this game, and see how he feels about it.

https://homestuck.com/story/735

WV’s Self Esteem is very, very bad.

https://homestuck.com/story/752

Our first introduction to the laws of time travel in Homestuck - the past is a place that materially exists, and in only one specific configuration that can be interacted with. You can only bring things forward from the past if nobody else got to them before you. You can’t go back and undo things that somebody else (or you) has already done according to the canonical configuration of events.

https://homestuck.com/story/757

This is ridiculously cool.

Homestuck’s huge climactic story events are arguably one of the things that makes it so special as a story. I can’t think of a story that does such a good job of building up tension in multiple storylines before having them all converge.

https://homestuck.com/story/760

:D

https://homestuck.com/story/765

I wonder what the exact mechanism is by which Jade is aware of the gaming abstractions and commands to the degree that she is? Is it just her Skaian dreams? This could be a one-off gag, but it could also be an indication of a degree of clairvoyance greater than that which I feel like the visions she has as the Prospitian Moon passes through Skaia.

https://homestuck.com/story/768

Jade loves to watch things grow.

It’s a Space Thing.

https://homestuck.com/story/777

According to BladeKindEyeWear’s Inversion Theory Jade’s complicated and carefully orchestrated time loops, which she uses to connect people with possibilities, is an example of her inverting under extreme stress, acting more like a Seer of Time, her opposite, than like a Witch of Space (in much the same way that Rose acts an awful lot like a Witch of Void for much of the comic’s first half!)

I expect a real Seer of Time wouldn’t need quite so many contrivances to keep track of everything going on in the past and future. Eventually, Jade stops using her colourful reminders, which is probably an indicator that she is no longer attempting to play outside of her lane.

https://homestuck.com/story/789

Pretty much all of Jade’s interests cast her immediately as someone with a pretty strong maternal instinct, something that she shares with other heroes of Space. Jade is a caretaker. 

Her playthings are dolls so she can roleplay the part of a Mom. She grows oodles of plants, and seems to have a knack for it. She likes animals, and though the only animal in her life takes care of her, she puts in some work to take care of him too.

Her interests definitely mark her as the more classically girly of the two between her and Rose, and like her brother is preoccupied with manhood and Dadliness, Jade seems to preoccupied with Momliness - which is odd, considering that she doesn’t have a maternal figure to aspire to! (Maybe the White Queen?)

https://homestuck.com/story/790

Jade is not of course, only girly. The same way that Dad’s culturally out-of-place baking hobby marks him as transgressively feminine to John’s dismay, Jade’s scientific and artillerist hobbies are transgressively masculine.

Although it’s tempting to say that Jade loves the sciences because Grandpa raised her to, or because she’s aping him after he died, she’s clearly born to it. I think about the question of nature and nurture a lot in Homestuck.

I think on the whole, it falls pretty far to the side of Nature. Characters who share a common ancestry also share common character traits more often than not, even in the absence of shared cultural touchstones, shared geography, shared timeline. The same character only has a limited number of possible choices that they could have made, as Aranea will later say.

On the other hand, some characters turn out very different in one life than they do in another. Dirk doesn’t turn out nearly the psychopath that Bro Strider is by the time that Homestuck Proper concludes.

https://homestuck.com/story/795

Squiddles are, as everyone knows by now, a manifestation of the Dark Gods of the Furthest Ring, but I think there’s more going on with them too - they have kind of a horny energy that I can’t quite place. I’m going to come back to that. Any case, they seem to be one of the symbols that Rose and Jade share in common, although Rose subverts the colorful and cute squiddles into icons more of the extradimensional beasties that they actually represent.

Maybe I think Squiddles are a symbol of horny for the same reason that snakes are lewd to Cherubs - there’s definitely something phallic about tentacles, and definitely something intimate about the idea of becoming someone’s tangle buddy. The very first time I read Rose’s handle, I thought it read Tentacle The Rapist, which I suspect is kinda the point, and some of Andrew’s other works have variously described the process of interacting with tentacles as being molested and so on and so on.

Rose and Jade actually share a huge number of symbols in common between the two of them, which I think is great, but also sad - Rose and Jade clearly actually have quite a lot in common, and the two of them don’t really interact very much.

https://homestuck.com/story/797

I’m going to eventually decode Jade’s fascination with animals too, but for now I want to remark that it’s not just the idea of looking like an animal that excites Jade - it’s the idea of being  like an animal that excites her. The exact same little poem is later reiterated by Serenity in WV’s nightmare, as he dreams of losing control of the power of the Ring of Orbs Fourfold and killing everyone he loves. What would be a nightmare for WV though is a fantasy for Jade. The idea of being out of control is thrilling for her.

Dave is also a furry.

https://homestuck.com/story/798

The trappings of a proper gentleman. Monocle. Pipe. Top Hat. Little White Gloves. A proper gentleman without these is a piss poor excuse for a proper gentleman indeed.

SYMBOLS.

https://homestuck.com/story/800

Another spot where Jade is able to interface directly with the audience, in some form or another.

https://homestuck.com/story/802

Jade may have fantasies of transforming into something more animalistic, but she’s not willing to indulge them.

https://homestuck.com/story/803

Jade completely rejects the symbols of witchcraft that Rose so readily embraces.

https://homestuck.com/story/804

Jade contemplates engaging in some Vriskaesque behavior. Is it just because Vriska is watching her? Maybe she’s picking up some Vriska-esque vibes through the feed as the Thief of Light practices her mind control. 

https://homestuck.com/story/808

I think it’s safe to say one of two things is going on here.

Jade is either literally cognizant of the audience and interacting with them, putting her on a layer of the story that is quite a lot closer to us than you would expect of someone as innocuous as Jade (maybe the immediate presence of the Fourth Wall upstairs could facilitate that relationship?)

Or Jade has an active imagination, is extremely lonely, and likes to interact with her imaginary audience as a way of projecting a friendly and hospitable demeanor onto the world around her in sort of the exact opposite way that Rose imagines the worst of everything and everyone?

Or, as it often is in Homestuck, it could be both motherfuckin’ things.

https://homestuck.com/story/829

Did I mention Dave is a furry? Dave is totally a furry.

If we read Squiddles as a symbol of intimate contact with living things, Jade’s computer having Squiddles front and center is appropriate - it’s her point of contact to all the people in her life.

Tune in on the morrow to watch Dave’s Bro beat the shit out of him.

Until then, this is Cam signing off, alive and not alone.

#homestuck #liveblogging #commentary #disco elysium #bladekindeyewear #inversion theory #squiddles

[tanadrin]

The Botanist

Rahal called on Yaru at midmorning, when the springtime Kayuban air was still fresh and sweet. The walk down to the Botanical Institute was unusually pleasant, and put her in mind of nothing so much as Opara in the autumn, and the exuberance--and folly--of her youth. The Institute's doorkeeper directed her to a shabby little building behind a row of small greenhouses that was unassuming enough that Rahal assumed she had the wrong door, even as she knocked. There was the sound of footsteps within, and then the door opened; a pair of spectacled eyes, peeking out from below a wild mass of graying, curly hair looked up at her.

"Yes?" the man said curtly.

"I'm looking for Yaru," Rahal said.

"Oh?" He seemed to want more than that.

"I'm from the Order," she said.

"Oh! The archivist!" The man stood aside and waved her in. "I'm Yaru. I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you until later. Come in, come in."

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Rahal said. The inside of the building was no more attractive than the outside. A stack of old boxes and a chair missing a leg took up most of the cramped vestibule. The windows were dusty and did not let in nearly enough light; a couple of cramped hallways led off to what looked like small offices, or large closets. Yaru himself was small, thin, and energetic, but it felt like Rahal that he, too, had been abandoned to this forgotten part of the Institute. But Sabir had been quite clear; she seemed to think Yaru's work was of the utmost importance.

"Not at all," Yaru said. "Only preparing tomorrow's lecture. They have me teaching students again. Ghastly business."

"You don't like teaching?"

"Oh, what's even the point? They're all blockheads. Waste of time, if you ask me. That door on the left there," Yaru said, pointing.

Yaru's office was in fact surprisingly well-kept, although not spacious, and full of the clear morning light. He had made an effort to dust, it seemed, and his stacks of books and papers were neatly organized, even as they seemed to occupy most of the available surfaces. His desk was only a small writing table in the corner; the only other chair was serving for the moment as an ersatz side table. He plucked up the books off it as he came in, and gestured for her to sit.

"Excuse the clutter," he said. "I don't get many visitors."

"Weren't you a student once?" Rahal asked.

"Oh, no," Yaru said, with a faint hint of disgust. "Well. Maybe yes, in a sense. But not like these ones. They're just here for an *education*. No love of learning at all."

Rahal was bemused. She genuinely could not tell whether his horror of the undergraduates was real, or just a very dry joke.

"Sabir said you'd joined the Institute a few years back?" Rahal said conversationally.

"Yes," Yaru said. "Well, I've been in this office since I came to Kayuba. A friend found it for me--it's nice and quiet and out of the way. But three years ago they were clearing out some old equipment and found me hiding back here, and told me I could only stay if I joined the Institute properly. And then last summer thy tracked me down and told me *all* faculty had to teach. Still, I've been managing to avoid it until recently. But I think I overreached by scheduling my last lecture for three in the morning in the rector's house."

Rahal smiled. "Did anyone turn up?"

"Goodness, I hope not. Tea?"

Yaru produced a small kettle from inside his desk and began hunting for a plug.

"Please."

"So what can I do for you, Walks-With-Dawn?"

"Rahal is fine," she said. Her name sounded ungainly to her in the southerners' tongue; she preferred to leave it untranslated. "Sabir sent me to you."

"And how is our mutual friend? I didn't see her when she was in Kayuba last. A pity"

"She's busy these days." Still trying to make up for my stupidity, she did not say. "Traveling a lot. Worried about the future. Though I suppose that describes most of the Order."

"But not you?"

Rahal bit down a dark thought. "No," she conceded. "Not me."

"You Archivists have always puzzled me," Yaru said. "More pessimistic a profession I have never seen. If the Holy Ones themselves showered gold upon the city and raised all our beloved grandmothers from the dead, you'd purse your lips and mutter."

"Someone's got to look to the future, I suppose."

"I always thought the future could take care of itself."

When the kettle finally boiled, Yaru poured two small cups of flower tea, the traditional Kayuban sign of hospitality. Rahal nestled her cup in her hand and enjoyed the warm, fragrant scent.

"So Sabir had some grim purpose in mind when she sent you to me, I suppose," Yaru said.

"Perhaps," Rahal conceded. "She said your work was important."

Yaru cocked his head. "Did she? She should tell the rectorate that! Very important, to be funded generously, and not to be disturbed for any reason! They might listen, coming from the Archive."

Rahal smiled. "I'll pass that along. She didn't offer me any details, though. What *are* you working on?"

Yaru scratched his head. "I never know how to talk about it to non-specialists. Well, not that anybody asks about it, besides my wife. Do you have a background in biology, Rahal?"

"I have the general Archivist's training in scientific matters," she said. "But my own specialty was always more... human systems."

"Economics?"

"More like, politics and diplomacy."

"Ah, the real black arts, if ever there was one," Yaru said with a nod. "No wonder that in darker days they called your kind the wielders of witchcraft."

Rahal laughed. "You understand us better than most."

"So what does the Archive generalist training cover? Cell biology? Ecology? Anatomy?"

Rahal leaned back in her chair and tried to remember her youth and the hours and hours of lectures she'd sat through. Natural philosophy, as they called it in the Archive, had not been her strongest subject. "Some of each," she said.

"Sabir tells me you learn all these things quite differently than we do in the outside world."

"That's true. You learn from principles. We learn texts."

"What do you mean?"

"For you, science is an inquiry into the world out there," she said, gesturing at the window. "For us, it is something that lives in books. And each book stands on its own."

This seemed to really puzzle Yaru.

"That seems like quite a strange approach to knowledge," he said.

"It depends on what you see as the ends of knowledge," Rahal replied.

"Understanding the world, improving human lives?"

"Well, yes, On that the Archive agrees. But... well, how do I explain this. You know the history of the Archive?"

"Vaguely, I suppose. It's old. Nearly as old as civilization."

"Older," Rahal said. "Maybe by a lot. And because it's old, and because its mission can only be fulfilled on the timescale of many lifetimes, every facet of its existence is oriented around long-term survival. That's a feature we don't talk about much for obvious reasons."

"It makes you sound like jealous, knowledge-hoarding, power-hungry tyrants. Which some say you are."

"And which we can be--if we have to. But mostly, we are preservers. We are advisors when we can be, but still librarians when we cannot be, and we are careful and slow, and we think everything to death, because too often we have seen the bitter consequences of recklessness--our own, or someone else's."

"But you're also only human."

"Yes," Rahal said. "These days, we're only human. The point is, we're not empiricists, although we do care about the work of empiricists. We preserve it, where we can, but this is the preservation of works. The masters teach Uranti's Six Mathematical Classics, not mathematics. We learn Furan's treatises on medicine, not medicine itself. The difference is drilled into us early in our education: the thing we learn is not the world outside, which is rapid and changing, but the world within the work we keep alive. It is for those to whom we make these texts available to judge their merits."

Yaru nodded. "I understand. You are only human, and no less a product of our fallen age than I am. And the Archive must preserve things it cannot possibly understand."

"Indeed," Rahal said. "We have preserved theological essays for centuries, thinking they were intended to communicate spiritual truths, only later to understand they were physics handbooks, and vice-versa. We preserve designs for machines that no civilization on Ogandraa can build, and maybe never could."

"Sabir herself told me she knew of a kind of mathematics that pertained only to an electric calculating machine that does not exist," Yaru said.

"Just so."

"So you would say your knowledge of biology is..."

"Scattershot."

"Very well. But you know the cell, and the genetic principle?"

Rahal nodded.

"We distinguish within the cell between the albuminous and non-albuminous materials; the latter are the secondary element of living tissue, while the former are considered primary. The albuminous materials are those that coagulate under heat, or condense within acid, and all are composed of the same ratio of elements: thirty one parts hydrogen, twenty parts carbon, six parts carbon, and five parts nitrogen, in large and diverse configurations. By hydrolysis, the albumins can be decomposed into their constituent parts, organic acids of the nitrogenic classification. By the careful separation of albumins, and by the measurement of their individual component acids, we can distinguish and name them, despite their common chemical formula."

"And this is what you work on?"

"It's the foundation of my work--the intersection of chemistry and botany. Before I came to Kayuba, I was primarily interested in separating and identifying the chemicals operative within plant cells. Albuminic and carbonic chain analysis was my specialty. Some of my work was directed at improving agriculture, while some of it was purely investigative."

"And now?"

"As you might expect, not every organism has the same albumins, or the same carbonics. The carbonic which forms the cell walls of plants, for instance--it's not found in animals at all, and it's totally indigestible by humans. We have already for a number of years used chemical distinctions, as well as physical ones, to distinguish the greater families of living organisms. Sessile, sunlight-capturing organisms, for instance, can be divided between the plants with a chemical environment similar to our own, the endoflora, and those with a chemical environment dissimilar to our own, the xenoflora. From the former come all food crops, and all plants which our livestock prefer. The latter are almost uniformly nutritionally useless."

"Native and non-native."

Yaru smiled. "Theology lies outside my competence, unfortunately."

"It's hardly a religious doctrine."

"I know in the north it is a view more universally held. We southerners tend to be a little more skeptical of folklore, I suppose. But I suppose it's no surprise the Archive tends to be conservative in these matters."

Rahal didn't press the point; it wasn't relevant to the conversation. She sometimes forgot that the descent from the stars was considered unverifiable mythology in the south, or downright superstition. She motioned for Yaru to continue."

"In any case, a similar division does exist within some, but not all, other domains of life. The funguses, for instance, are endochemical only. Land animals--motile, sensory--are endochemical and xenochemical, except in the sea, where they are mostly xenochemical. The disease-causing bacteria are uniformly endochemical, as are all viruses. I made a discovery a few years ago, which might be of some comfort to those of a more traditional turn of mind. You see, it had always been thought that one line of evidence against celestialism was that xenochemical and endochemical organisms still have certain albumins in common, albeit in small amounts."

"I've heard this," Rahal said.

"I discovered that this was not so."

Rahal raised an eyebrow. Yaru continued.

"If you take a sample of tissue from a human, a springgrass flower, or a mushroom, and separate its albumins and carbonic chain molecules, you *will* find small amounts of certain chemicals common across all three. More in the case of the two endochemical organisms, of course, many more, but even within the springgrass flower there is some similarity. Identicality, in fact--of the albumins found in humans and springgrass, the component acids exist in identical ratios."

"A common genetic inheritance? From an early split between the two domains of life."

"That's always been the anti-celestialist argument, of course," Yaru said. "But it's not true."

"What then?"

"A separate organism entirely. Actually, a whole group of them."

Rahal leaned forward in her chair, intrigued.

"They can be cultured separately, in small amounts: an intracellular symbiont that is chemically distinct from both of the other two major domains of life on Ogandraa. Microscopic only, and quite unlike either the endobiota or xenobiota. Indeed, based on some tantalizing clues, I predict this third domain may not form cellular structures at all. If humans are indeed not native to this world, these are probably the original inhabitants. And, I believe, they are the solution to a longstanding mystery in ecology. Do you know the remote signalling problem?"

"I think--something about wildfires?"

"That's the canonical example, yes. How does the springgrass know to hide its buds when the fire is hours away and upwind? But it goes deeper than that: if you isolate the springgrass bud entirely, seal it in its own jar with its own atmosphere and soil, insulate it from all outside heat, but burn a nearby patch of ground, it will still bury itself in the soil. There are similar phenomena elsewhere in nature, however. Raspflies will swarm if killed in large numbers, even up to half a mile away. The larvae of bloodfish begin to emerge in freshwater lakes when the mating frenzy happens at the river mouth, even if it's hundreds of miles away."

"Some kind of chemical signal?"

"The most current research on the subject indicates that such a signal would have to travel at about forty miles an hour, upstream. It's possible--but rather unlikely. My belief is rather that it is this acellular, symbiotic organism which plays a role in the remote signalling mechanisms that are omnipresent in nature. When supplied with the correct stimuli, it is capable of emitting energy, even visible light. Although as you might expect, the effect tends to be very weak. Yet it can propagate rapidly."

"How rapidly?"

"More than rapidly enough to let the bloodfish larvae know to emerge and make room for the next generation."

"That's fascinating. Genuinely. But I still don't understand why Sabir put us in touch. She seemed to think it was more than an ordinary scientific breakthrough that I should be aware of."

"Ah, well. I think I know," Yaru said. He shuffled some papers around on his desk, looking for a blank sheet, and picked up a pen. He scrawled a short mathematical equation on it.

"As I said, the effect is principally very weak in nature. A stronger effect, using purified chemicals or an electric current, can be obtained in the laboratory. An even stronger effect can be produced by the application of a specific modulated electromagnetic field, and the stronger the field--and the more accurate its modulation--the greater the release of energy, and the further its propagation. Two curious facts have emerged from my experiments.

"The first is this: these mysterious microorganisms contain an enormous quantity of chemical energy." He picked up the still-warm kettle and set it on his desk, between him and Rahal. "Our most vigorous organic explosives produce about enough energy that burning a few grains of them would raise the temperature of the water in this kettle by oh, let's say, a degree and a half. A small handful--enough to blow my office door off its hinges and make us both deaf for a few hours--would boil it."

"And these organisms are comparable?"

"No. They contain far *more* energy. I've attempted to exhaust small samples of all their energy available for signalling, and I can't do it. Based on the amount of energy they can output, they must be able of storing phenomenal amounts, far more than can be stored in an ordinary chemical bond. Enough that if the water in this kettle were frozen, and you could unlock the energy in an equivalent small weight of these microorganisms, you could vaporize the ice to steam--about eight hundred times the energy of a blasting explosive. At least."

"Goodness."

"This is the other curious fact." He slid the piece of paper over to Rahal, and tapped a variable circled in the middle. "Based on signal propagation experiments, an induced energy release by a very precisely modulated electromagnetic signal would release N units of energy from the activated sample, which would signal the release from nearby organisms reduced by a factor based on distance and the strength of the original activation signal. For any signal below a certain original activation efficiency--represented by this factor, k--the energy release falls off exponentially, and eventually disappears into the background noise of normal intercellular signalling. That behavior holds true up to a k of 1."

"And above that activation efficiency?"

"As you can see, k is part of an exponential term. In theory, at k the energy release propagates at full strength indefinitely. How far, I don't know. Maybe clear around the planet. Maybe you can make Ogandraa ring like a bell. *Above* k, the energy release increases, indefinitely, with each activation releasing more than the last."

"What are you saying?"

"That in the presence of the right electromagnetic signal, you could induce an energy release that would make our biggest bombs look like holy day sparklers. You could annihilate cities. Boil seas. Set the world aflame."

Rahal looked at the hastily-scrawled letter in the exponent position without saying anything. Then she folded up the piece of paper and slipped it into a pocket.

"There are practical difficulties, of course," Yaru said. "The richness of the sample matters. How much energy it actually contains--you *can* deplete the signalling mechanism, and it only replenishes very slowly. And the fact that the world is still here, and doesn't regularly blow itself up is indicative that if this phenomenon is possible, it's not at all trivial to unlock. It doesn't occur naturally."

"But such a signal wouldn't need to be natural."

"No. Just because it doesn't occur doesn't mean it *can't* occur."

"This is a weapon."

"Quite possibly. Quite possibly the most dangerous one ever conceived."

"Who knows about this?"

"Right now, very few people. But the possibility is latent in nature itself; and the remote signalling problem is being studied elsewhere. Even if I burned every scrap of my research and decided to become a house-painter, it would be a few years at best before someone working in Ptrar or Lareth stumbled across the same thing."

Rahal was feeling a little dizzy. She set her untouched tea down on the desk and folded her arms, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

"You called the Archive conservative earlier."

"Hm? Oh yes, I suppose I did. Celestialists and such. No offense."

"None taken. Do you know what the difference between being conservative and being Conservative is?" She used the Kayuban emphatic particle to make the distinction clear.

"I imagine you have one in mind."

"The Archive is cautious, deliberate, and wary of change. We're not empiricists, it's true, but we're not hostile to empirical methods. We've seen both the good and the bad that can result from such methods, and we work to increase the former at the expense of the latter. But in times of crisis, in times of upheaval and war, I worry less about the conservative approach and more about the Conservative one."

"Are you speaking politically? Scientifically? Artistically?"

"All, and none. This is something that cuts across political factionalism and scientific squabbles, and runs to deeper attitudes, attitudes that in my experience are only loosely connected to specific beliefs or aesthetic choices. I'm talking about the...." She struggled for the right Kayuban word. "We call it the-turn-inward-and-reject-the-legible-world-impulse in the Archive. The urge to fall back on the oldest and worst parts of human nature. The parts that are still frightened and soaked in blood.

"There are histories in the Archive which--well, they're not secret. We'd tell you if you asked. But we don't usually volunteer them, because they are dark and frightening and usually not very applicable to novel situations. In Kfaris, when it fell, a madness consumed the people for ninety-nine days, and in their madness the people claimed the motions of the stars ruled their fates, that the world outside the walls of the city was a deceit of the devil, and they devoured every written word in the city, even if it meant smashing stone plaques to pieces and choking down the dust. In Chopakim, when it was beset by a festering plague, every fourth son was flayed alive in the city's plaza, and their skins were given to frightened mothers to wrap their babies in--this, it was said, would spare their infants from disease. In Lalai, on the eve of war, a beggar said that God had made him king; and when the enemy came, he ordered the gates opened, and the army to lay down its spears, and every living soul was slaughtered as a result.

"I walked here this morning, rather than take the streetcar, because it was a fine spring day. Peaceful, fragrant, with a shining sun. Kfaris, Chopakim, Lalai--each of these cities was, perhaps on some day not too long before disaster, sun-painted and happy. Each, like Kayuba today, was once part of a civilization that looked to make the world legible to them: through ethics or empiricism or philosophy, or some combination of the three, and very often succeeded. Each was once possessed of honest ignorance and superstition, and slowly worked to shrug these things off, and rise above them--until one day they proclaimed they wished to partake of that struggle no more, that to behold the-world-as-it-is was too frightful, and they would prefer to inhabit only the world of their hearts. Each was ruined; and each suffered terribly in the aftermath."

"And what lesson do you draw in this particular scenario, where I have shown you a novel path to ruin?"

"No lesson in particular. But I am afraid, Yaru. I am afraid some spirit wiser than both of us, than any soul in Kayuba right now, showed each of those cities the truth; I am afraid that, in their very instance on ignorance they might have been right."

"Do you really believe that? That there can be justice in ignorance, happiness in letting our fears govern us?"

"Of course not. I wouldn't be an Archivist if I did. And although I'm not a priest, it's not rare in my vocation to have a certain kind of faith. But I do have my doubts sometime."

Yaru sighed.

"So do I, my friend. So do I."

#tanadrin's fiction #sogant raha