#like going from 100 subs to 400 is definitely something

[casual-eumetazoa]

I’m re-reading the 25k-ish words that I’ve written for FrankensteinWIP so far and man, it’s been so long since I actually enjoyed reading back my own text. It’s not the kind of literary prose I wish I could do, but it’s so distinctnly mine, and this book in general is such a self-indulgent project, it makes me happy just to work on it. 

On the other hand, I’m realizing more and more that I can’t juggle PhD school, youtube, and writing all at the same time. And logically I should prioritize youtube over writing because it has at least some sort of potential to become my full time job, but it hurts so much to post these videos that I spend months on and get like, a couple hundred views and 10 comments. So I would much rather focus on novels, but it makes me feel guilty. I feel like I haven’t had any sort of success with youtube yet because I don’t try hard enough, don’t post often enough, etc etc.

Doing the PhD is great because my workload is not insane, I get paid pretty well, and I love the people at my institute. I do have to manage my energy levels incredibly well and I end up burn out every few months anyway, but I make it work. Still, eventually I will graduate and will need to get a real job... and I don’t know if I can do it. Like, I don’t know if I will be able to hold a full-time post-doc position, especially a tenure track one. Especially if my chronic illnesses will keep detereorating. 

I’m hoping that after I graduate I will be able to scrape enough science writing and tutoring hours together to work part-time from home, and have time for youtube and writing. Doesn’t look very achievable now cause any freelance like this requires self-promo, and it seems like I really suck at it. But a boy can dream I guess.

#personal #random #not my best few weeks tbh #some good things are happening like #i had a whole bunch of scares about my legal stay here but it was granted a couple days ago #so a year from now i'll be able to apply for citizenship and then actually change my legal name as well #but yeah. constantly feeling like i have no energy to do the things i love #and screaming into the void with creative stuff #are both not very fun #im in a discord server with a whole bunch of video essayists #and literally everyone has more subs than me. out of like. 20-30 people #we were all shouted out in the same way by bigger youtubers - once - and it did kinda help #like going from 100 subs to 400 is definitely something #and that video got around 2k views now #but that's basically it #everyone else manages to network and put out more stuff and collaborate and shout each other out #i get some likes maybe. occcasionally a comment #no one has ever shared me on their community page. not even when they collab with me #and i feel like my videos dont do well in the algorithm cause people just dont click on videos that have less than 1k views #so im just kinda stuck. i can't like #outright beg to be shared or reblogged #i do what i can and it doesn't work #so i really just want to give up #cause after 2 years of pouring my heart an soul into every video they are still going nowhere #but im constantly tortured by the what if #cause every next video might be The One #it feels like querying all over again #anyway idk why im typing all this #not a good few weeks. especially the last few days...

[ruby-red-inky-blue]

a couple of years back i was pretty vocal about not getting when people complained about their art not getting "enough" notes. but i'm getting to recognise a sub-category of that frustration these days that, in fairness, was maybe what people were talking about all along? but i've also seen other posts mention how fandom spaces feel changed since the last few years, so maybe it's a new thing or at least a thing that hadn't reached my fandom corner until now.

i truly don't mind if my writing doesn't garner a lot of attention (although i say this from a place of priviledge where my writing has so far always garnered some attention, and often a lot more than i anticipated). but what is really starting to grate a little is the amount of attention vs. the amount of reaction. For example, before the latest update on my big multichapter fic, it sat at ~ 33,050 hits. since then the fic has been clicked 400 times. the kudos count went up by maybe three and there were three new bookmarks - this isn't super surprising because i don't expect to be reaching a lot of new people with an unfinished 100+k word fic in a dwindling fandom, and if they're return readers they can't leave new kudos. but five people have commented on the fic since the update. One percent of readers who have clicked on this fic have reacted. Did all these people see it on the recently updated feed, started to read it, didn't vibe with it and moved on? That honestly wouldn't bother me. But it's been steadily gaining attention for the last few weeks, long after it moved off the first page of the recently updated view for the fandom. so rather, I think it's mostly subscribed users (the fic has a little over 400 active subscriptions so that would make sense) or people actively checking back on the fic. in which case they must be at least somewhat invested in it.

and again, i'm not owed any feedback. i put my work out for free and people decide what to do with that. but fandom is a collaborative space, and it's been feeling like less that for a while. people seem less ready for conversation, and i think that's sad, and quite demoralising for creatives (at least for me personally). fandom work isn't meant as bingeable content that you consume and then leave. if you do that on netflix, that's fine, because you're paying the platform and they're at least supposed to recompense the creatives who made the show you just watched. fandom artists don't get that. we make things for the love of it, and because we wanted to share that love. it doesn't feel like sharing though when you put something out there and nothing comes back. it feels like standing in an empty warehouse telling my stories to nobody. and, again, i'm personally lucky enough that it's not like that all the time, but i get why people stop doing it. and i get that engaging with art as an audience member doesn't come easy to everyone, but fandom culture needs it. it's supposed to be an exchange. it's supposed to go both ways, and i think if you want to sustain the culture, you simply need to try and give something back, whatever that is.

because putting something you made out there and nobody looks at it is definitely not a great feeling, but having anonymous masses file by and look at your thing and then meet you with deafening silence feels... worse.

#again i cannot overstate how much this doesn't go for all my readers #and how lucky i am to still have anyone care about fics i started seven years ago i do get that #but yeah the engagement ratios have changed i think? #and it's on tumblr too and not just with art also just like. observations and meta posts and jokes and stuff #people like and reblog your thing but there's no comment no little smileys in the tags no silly ramblings just... #my new favourite pet peeve is seeing people asking for advice or asking a question and there's like fifty likes and not one reply or reblog #what are you supposed to do with that #yeah idk it's supposed to be collaborative right #and we can't all collaborate all the time but i feel like people used to interact with maybe 50 percent of the things they saw #and now it's like 10 #anyway #fandom #tbd

[bribeautyblog84]

🎁BEST BEAUTY SUBSCRIPTIONS🎁

📦Listing my top 2 fave ones, and some info about them. For anyone that's been wanting to sign up for a monthly beauty sub, but just aren't sure on which one to go with. I got you!

I have many different beauty subscription boxes. Varying in price and quality. You get what you pay for, and then some, when it comes to good sub boxes. Depending upon your tastes and budget, I can hopefully help you choose which one would work best for you. Rn I'm only doing my top 2.lol bc if I talked about them all, would take me all night.😂 I can talk about the others on a different post though.....❤💄🎁

First we have my first sub box that I tried. And fell in love with immediately! Boxycharm! They're $21 a month and you get 4-5 FULL SIZE name brand beauty items. The value of box is always around 100$ or more. It's fantastic! My only complaint is that I wish it was more customizable. They're working on that they said though. And did let us pick between the two items in our luxe box before, so that's a start. They have Boxyluxe now as well, that's quarterly. For 49.99$ a month. You get 9-11 items in that, with around a 300-400 $ value!!! It's wonderful! I upgraded to Luxe when they launched it. I've loved almost every thing I've gotten from them. And if I don't, I gift it. Just one item alone pays for the value of the box. I've built my beauty collection fast with them. They are active on social media and interactive with their subscribers, and give us sneak peaks...each month for upcoming items. There's some items all charmers receive, and some are variants. There's diff possible box variations every month. Sometimes just like 3 or so, lol other times it's like 10 possible box variations. They show the main 3 box items and then let other two be surprises. I always look forward to getting it each month. Lol and of course I check the spoilers bc I'm so inpatient.😂 Also can do reviews of your items and build up your charms to spend in charm shop for free items! And earn them by referring friends also. Overall this box is my fav! I absolutely would recommend this sub box! It's definitely a popular and very good one! When in doubt...go with Boxy!

*Pictured here 👆👆👆 is my Jan 2019 Boxycharm Box I received.*

🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁

Next we have Ipsy. I've been subbed to them as well for a while. They're a beauty sub for only $10 a month. And each month you get 5 Sample size/Deluxe sample sized items in a cute lil bag! They also have different themes for each month. With so many possible items to get! The variations are endless! You can choose to see what they have picked for you each month, on their own app, or let it be a surprise. Have where you can take their beauty quiz and give info about yourself on your beauty profile...such as your hair color, eye color, and skin color, etc. You can let them know if you're not happy with the items you've been receiving, by reviews, quizzes, and feedback on the app. Each month, they match you with the 5 items they think you would like, based on what preferences you choose when doing your quiz. (Can select which items you like and don't like on it.) They're customization isn't spot on, but it's pretty good. I've liked almost all my items so far. If not, I tell them in my reviews, and can also click the part on app to "improve glam bag preferences" as well. It helps to ensure you'll get more things you'd be interested in using. Able to pause your sub if you want, or if you like cant afford it that month or something. Can refer friends, and rack up points for items with them also. However most points items sell out so fast, and they don't offer that many choices to use the points towards. Recently they have an Ipsy Plus bag they have been rolling out, thats more like Boxy is, with full size items, but its not available for everyone just yet. Its by email invite, if youre wanting to upgrade. They have their own Ipsy shop too, where you can purchase different beauty items from them, outside of your monthly glam bag. And also purchase 'add ons' to your glam bag that are sent with your bag each month. (Add ons are 12$ a piece for full size and 3$ a piece for deluxe samples.) They're also, like Boxy, a mix of makeup, skincare, and haircare, etc. Any beauty oriented items. The value is good. Can't complain much for only $10 a month. Even if it's samples, they're still decent sized, and even get a couple full size items, in the bag normally! Like nail polish, makeup brushes, eye or lip liners, etc. I've liked almost all my picks so far, besides a couple. Overall, it's a good beauty sub. Esp for ones looking for a more affordable sub box.

*Pictured below is my Jan 2019 Ipsy Glam Bag. (With add ons included)*👇👇👇

Hope this helps anyone who was curious about these subscriptions! I'd recommend either of these, if you're looking to find some nice beauty items, or build your beauty collection fast!

#subscriptionbox #monthly subscription #beautysubscription #beautydiary #beautyproducts #beauty #ipsyglambag #boxycharm #boxyluxe #boxymail #ipsy #ipsyproducts #boxyproducts #bestsubscriptionboxes #skincare #makeup #makeupcollection #skincarecollection #haircare #nails #beautyblog #beautyblogger

[shareabookindia]

How to read more books? Or How I have read 100 books so far into the year!

It’s only August, and I have already read a record 100 books! Which is way more than I have ever read in one year. I have always been an avid reader and reading was never boring to me; I’d rather read than watch YouTube/Netflix- something that still stands. Unless, of course, it has a certain Peter Kavinsky in it ;) (I mean, that is one beautiful man! Have you seen the movie yet?)

So anyway, like I have been saying, this year has been a phenomenal reading year for me. And I can only hope that this streak continues. So without further ado, let me state a few points which I have personally used this year and they have helped me immensely in setting this record.

1.      Since you might feel that to read a novel, you need more time, I would definitely advise getting a planner. What it does, it helps you prioritize the things you need to do or have to do, and sheds light on the time you waste as well. I personally keep a bullet journal and that has helped me immensely in organizing my day to day activities and as such, I find myself with enough free time on my hands.

2.      Set monthly TBR goals! (TBR stands for To Be Read.) So I try to set a goal of 10 books each month- when I think that it’s a busy month, or else I set a minimum of 20 books per month. But you also have to keep in account, the size of the book- don’t be disheartened if you read, say perhaps, just 5 thick books. The size or the number of words/pages really matter as well. I read books with a minimum of 300 pages each mostly, so I can easily cross 15 every month unless I’ve got exams or such school activities. Setting a goal always helps!

a.       Now one thing that always works for me is to set higher goals that I think I can achieve. It’s something like the saying goes- aim for the moon and you’ll fall on the stars (?). Something like that I suppose. Now, this ideology really helps me- because I am a naturally competitive person with myself- I always am aiming to do better than what I have done previously. So if I set the goal at 20, and I only reach 15, that’s a pretty good number too! However, the catch-22 here is that this can also affect someone else in a completely opposite manner. So I definitely recommend you try this one out once and go on from there. This sub-point is so not for everyone.

3.      Set deadlines for each book. Setting deadlines just as goals, really help too. While I have specific deadlines for the books, I sometimes fly past them- I am a university student after all, and I have to give more importance to my course books, of course. Nonetheless, it really helps me to finish the books I want to. My deadlines vary as such-

a.       150-200 pages – maximum of 2 days.

b.      250-350 pages – maximum of 3 days.

c.       400-500+ pages – maximum of 5 days.

4.      Indulge in guilty-reads! Sometimes, when I can feel the ominous onset of a reading slump, I go back to my guilty-reads. Guilty reads can be described as those books that you really love- but would not call them something serious, rather something light and for mindless fun. For me, the guilty reads are all the vintage Mills and Boon books. (How many of you have also loved them?)  

5.      Going on the same vein, do read books that you actually love. Don’t force yourself to read something you hate (unless you have to, for school! ;)) If you keep on forcing yourself to read books you hate, your brain will condition you into hating the process of reading itself!

6.      The most important tip perhaps is to keep a book with you always- an eBook for when you go out but are not carrying anything except your wallet and phone perhaps, and an actual paperback copy for when you have a bag big enough to fit it in. Then, you can also read whenever you want. If you are a person who prefers to read a single book at a time, then make sure you also have an eBook of the same.

7.      For inspiration, take part in readathons- something I actively do in Instagram. On the same vein, follow a few bookstagram profiles that can help inspire you.

8.      Join book discussions. This will condition your mind into looking forward to these sessions, as a result of which, you will actually finish reading the book.

a.       Also, join book clubs!

9.      If you think you need help while reading, regarding the word meanings, keep an actual dictionary with you, rather than using your phone. This will ensure that you won’t stray and end up watching a YouTube video or two.

10.  Always have a set space for your reading/studying. This goes for both active and passive reading. Continuously indulging in this, will condition your mind to just read/study in that place. I have my desk where, I automatically start working, because that’s the place where I have always read and studied and the like.

A bonus tip- if you really find difficulty in reading while there is a lot of noise in the background, you might like having some white noise on. (This goes even when you are studying.) I use the Tide app or Rainy Mood website to block out any unnecessary noise!

#bookstagram #shareabookindia #booklove #bookhaul #tips #reading #university #planning #bujo #happynewyear #study

[miumiu-chan]

Miyase Go SSR Card Story この愛しさは夢か現か [Is This Love a Dream or a Reality?]: Lv. 50  灼きついて離れない (I Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

Masterlist

Subbed video: Lv.50 Story

Things like birthdays, once I was aware of them, there was a deep-rooted perception that it was something melancholic.

Yet, the muffin sandwich for breakfast that day had a small flag on it printed with “Happy Birthday”.…..

[MIYASE]: “……Did Soma-san prepare this?”

[KUJO]: “No, I just told Koda-san that it was Go’s birthday.”

“Koda-san” was the name of the housekeeper.

[MIYASE]: “Then, isn’t that the same as instructing “what would be considerate to do?"”

[KUJO]: “Koda-san is also a caring person.”

[KUJO]: “……You didn’t like it?”

[MIYASE]: “……I didn’t say that.”

[MIYASE]: “I honestly forgot, so it feels weird.”

[KUJO]: “……Fu”

[KUJO]: “Go, happy birthday.”

His hand left the tea cup and went under the desk,

And somewhat proudly, he took out a package about the size of a soccer ball.

[MIYASE]: “…..It can’t be, is it a present?”

[KUJO]: “It's a helmet. Like mine, I made a custom order.”

[MIYASE]: “……Well, I appreciate it, thanks.”

[KUJO]: “You will be able to get a license 400 days from now.”

[MIYASE]: “……Yeah.”

[MIYASE]: “It's boring always just sitting behind you, so I'm going to get a license too.”

[KUJO]: “…………”

[MIYASE]: “……What is it?”

[KUJO]: “……No”

[KUJO]: “I just thought I should have given you a motorcycle, not a helmet.”

[MIYASE]: “That’s way too soon……”

[MIYASE]: “And your money sense is strange.”

[KUJO]: “Is it?”

……It was a calm birthday for the first time in a while.

Where was the helmet I got from my brother now……?

My birthday party was lively and everyone was quite drunk except for Kaname-kun.

[KANAME]: “……There’s no way I’m doing that. Hide-and-seek or whatever.”

[KIRISHIMA]: “I’m gonna count to 100.”

[SHINDO]: “Don't leave the premises. That’s the only rule.”

[MIYASE]: “Fufu. How many years has it been since I played hide-and-seek?”

[REI]: “Um, I feel like this is a little unbalanced.…..”

[REI]: “It’s strange that there are 4 seekers, and Miyase-san and I are the only ones hiding, isn’t it?”

[KIRISHIMA]: “Don’t worry about the details.”

[KUJO]: “No matter where you hide, we’ll definitely find you.”

[MIYASE]: “……How very reliable.”

[MIYASE]: “Shall we go, Rei-san?”

I brought her to the garden that was built with great care.

We crouched down and hid behind the bushes of roses.

[REI]: “Wow……it’s beautiful.”

January 17th.

Tonight was the new moon.

The roses that glowed faintly in the dark night……were colored blue.

It was strange that I didn't remember growing blue roses.

[REI]: “-……Achoo!”

[MIYASE]: “Ah……I’m sorry. It’s cold, isn’t it?”

[MIYASE]: “I brought you outside without a jacket.”

[REI]: “Ahaha, it’s okay.”

[REI]: “There’s four seekers, so I'm sure they’ll find us soon.”

————I don’t want that.

I took it for granted.

I wanted to hide in this tranquility with her alone for just a little longer.

[MIYASE]: “……Rei-san.”

[REI]: “Wah……-“

I gently touched her shoulder, and held her to myself.

[REI]: “M-Miyase-san……?”

[MIYASE]: “If we do this, we will both become warm, right?”

I whispered with appeal, using the word “both” as a trick to rob her of refusing.

[REI]: “-……Th-That’s true. It is warm.”

[MIYASE]: “Fufu. I am also very warm.”

I smiled back, but I didn't feel her warmth.

That was when I knew that this was a dream, and at the same time——

I remembered that the meaning of blue roses was “impossible”.

[MIYASE]: “……-“

[REI]: “——Ah, did you wake up?”

[MIYASE]: “Rei-san……?”

My voice came out terribly anxious.

I didn't know if this was still in my dream or in reality.

[REI]: “I'm sorry for entering without permission.”

[REI]: “I came to call for you because breakfast was ready.”

[MIYASE]: “Breakfast……”

[MIYASE]: “…——Oh, that's right. You stayed over last night, didn’t you?”

I remembered.

Smiles on our faces, having a nice time.

[MIYASE]: “I apologize. To leave the breakfast preparations to a guest.”

[REI]: “Not at all. It was the duty of who lost at yesterday’s hide-and-seek."

That’s right. The punishment game decided by Shindo-san and Kirishima-san was “making breakfast”.

[MIYASE]: “Haha. It was fun, hide-and-seek.”

[MIYASE]: “Shindo-san was the seeker and he couldn't find Kirishima-san until the end.”

There weren't four seekers like in my dream, and there were no blue roses in the garden.

Sharing warmth with Rei-san as well——…

[MIYASE]: “…………”

[REI]: “Miyase-san……You seem a little sluggish, could it be you have a hangover?”

[MIYASE]: “Aa, no.”

[MIYASE]: “I just had a bad dream. I'm sorry.”

[REI]: “They say talking about your nightmares to others will make them not come true.”

[MIYASE]: “Rather than a nightmare……”

[MIYASE]: “……Sorry. It was actually a good dream.”

[MIYASE]: “So I'm a little sad to have woken up. Haha.”

[REI]: “What kind of dream was it?”

——It was an “impossible” dream that would never become a reality.

[MIYASE]: “Beautiful blue roses showed up.”

[REI]: “Blue roses……”

[MIYASE]: “Does Rei-san know it’s language of flowers?”

[REI]: “Aa……I believe it’s “a dream come true”, right?”

[MIYASE]: “Eh……”

[REI]: “I read it in a news article on the internet before.”

[REI]: “It seems that the original language of flowers was “impossible” because there is no blue pigment in roses.”

[REI]: “A few years ago, they succeeded in making a blue rose in their research, and so it became a “dream come true”.”

[MIYASE]: “…………”

[REI]: “Miyase-san?”

[MIYASE]: “Ah……I’m sorry.”

[MIYASE]: “”A dream come true” is correct.”

[REI]: “……?”

To Rei-san who curiously tilted her head, I smiled.

With feelings of gratitude and endless complexity.

The melancholy of my birthday, which had always been engraved in my heart.

Now, definitely thanks to Rei-san, that feeling was gently fading.

#stand my heroes #sutamai #miyase go #translations #card story

[6ix-dragons]

FTFI: 100 Years Quest; The THIRD Chapter!

(Be aware: spoilers for the latest chapter of 100 Years Quest, can be found below!)

“Huh, so they’re out at this place that’s close to the water, to find a Water God Dragon...hm.”

Me: (hums to the Inspector Gadget theme song)

“Hey, what are you doing, dressed in that kind of clothing?”

Me: Oh, me? Well, there’s something about the situation in this chapter that isn’t so right...so, I’m going to investigate it, myself!

“You...do realize this is a work of fiction, right?”

Me: Well, where’s the fun in dressing up as a detective, then?

Team Natsu finally sets out on their actual objectives...and things get quite more interesting, than what they initally are!

Now, before I get to this latest chapter itself, here’s a brief recap of what happened in the first two chapters: Team Natsu have set themselves out for the 100-Year Quest...which is exactly what it says on the tin—a quest that hasn’t been completed for 100 years. They’ve travelled to Giritina, where they meet up with the guild master of the oldest guild in the world, Magia Dragon. Said guild master, who can transform between dragon and human, gives them their objective: hunt down all five God Dragons in this continent. 

There’s also another story thread with three new members being introduced into the Fairy Tail guild...one of which, is a young girl who claims to be in love with Natsu—and, yet, she still falls under the suspicions of a couple certain characters, for something else. But, I’ll get to that one, too!

So, let’s get started on chapter #3, here. We find Natsu, and company, at the southern parts of Giltena, trekking across the Valeria Region. From there, they all come across (gasp)...walking, jellyfish-like creatures.

That’s not to say they aren’t dangerous, ‘though. I mean, sure, they may be cute, but they can also be a bit hazardous, if they’re handled without care—just ask Natsu and Lucy. Here’s hoping that no reprecussions can come from that!

Fortunately, Wendy comes to their aid, by blowing away those little gobbers into the air, with her Sky Dragon’s Roar! 

It is after that point, where we get a flashback to the last time we saw all of them, back at Magia Dragon. Erza tells Elefceria that Natsu was the one who defeated Acnologia...even ‘though it wasn’t just Natsu, who defeated him. ;)

Somehow, this surprises the guild master himself, upon realizing this revelation. Things...get a bit more sketchy with him, later on.

Anyway, the narration goes on to elaborate further about this quest. First, it clarifies, by stating that the five God Dragons had nothing to do with the Dragon King Festival that happened 400 years ago. Then, it claims that their existance was kept a secret among only a few members of the Magic Council. Finally, it concludes by explaining that the five dragons are reported to only make a move, when something significant occurs.

When I went through that part, there was something that definitely didn’t add up, right away. Why would there be a quest that involves going after dragons who had no involvement, whatsoever, in the Dragon King Festival...and so, only remained dormant for quite some time? There’s even more inconsistencies with this whole quest, too, based on the fact that Team Natsu weren’t the only ones from the guild, to go on this particular quest. 

Natsu himself wonders of Gildarts taking on Acnologia in the middle of that quest—despite said villainous dragon slayer having no relations with those God Dragons (as he was a participant in that historical event). Further to this, he mentions about the port city that he had to reach first—the same port city that all of Team Natsu are headed towards. It is only when Gray questions about why Gildarts decided to return back home. 

So, I mentioned that things did get more sketchy with Elefceria, too, right? Well, it has something do with the reward he proposed, upon the completion of this quest. In that same flashback, again...as he raises his arms up high, the guild master proclaims that he’ll grant one wish for everybody involved in completing the quest!

Sure, you can laugh at the absurdity of this ‘reward’—and more so, of what each of Team Natsu wants, with the one wish granted to them. However, this only adds to the wild inconsistencies of this guild master, and this quest itself. There is nowhere near that is mentioned in the original story, about Dragon Slayers/Dragon Slaying Magic having the ability to grant anything that one can desire. 

Okay. I’ve just went through first two chapters, again, and I’ve just found out one more thing that makes this whole quest veeery suspect. A single damning thing about this guild master. According to him, he mentions that he had taught Dragon Slayer Magic by himself. However, by my research into this, I can confirm 100% that it is total BS. Chapter 265 of the original manga showed that Dragon Slayer Magic can be learned by only two different  ways: being taught by an actual dragon; or, have a dragon lacrima implanted into their body. To say that he was self-taught in that kind of magic, is as ridiculous, as being self-taught in superb combat strategies (right, Mavis?)!

Sooo...either he’s lying up the ass, or he does have some sort of lacrima put into his body. We’ll know for sure, when this story does pick up. 

Speaking of the port city, Natsu and the gang finally reach Elmina, located south-west of their previous location. They’re there to seek out hints of the first God Dragon, Mercuphobia, who has been worshipped by the city’s inhabitants, in the past.

Meanwhile, back in Magnolia, we see two familiar figures...both who are in trench coats, and fedoras! Honestly, seeing Gajeel and Lily in those outifts really reminds me of this guy...and, this guy, as well!

They’re joined with Gajeel’s old friend in Juvia, who is alongside with his best girl. All of them are in town to investigate one of their newly-introduced guild members, Touka, with good reason. Like before, Touka somehow knew who Briar was—the member of Avatar who was caught a year ago, after she and the others were defeated by Natsu, and his friends. 

While Levy frowns at the idea of suspecting one of their own, Gajeel and Juvia set themselves off to find out the truth!

Look, I get that certain people don’t like the fact that this sub-plot is distracting from the main plot of the story. However, I’m personally okay with this...as long as it actually has something to do with the main plot, later on. I mean, it’s rather interesting to see other characters play a part in the sequel, other than Team Natsu themselves! Wouldn’t you agree with that?

Returning to Elmina, we see the aforementioned group roaming through the streets of this easy-going city, upon first glance. While they’re there, Natsu remarks that the walls of structures are dishevelled—in which Wendy notes that they may be in an old city. 

As they’re trying to find a place to stay around there, we see the final panels of this chapter: a pair of ominous-appearing figures looking down on the entire entourage, from high above. One of them is a lady who’s dressed like Juvia, but a bit more scantily. The other one, is a dude who has horns on his head (just like Seilah, from Tartarus), and facial markings resembling that of a certain Heavenly Body user! The chapter ends, with this fellow being addressed as “Water God-sama”. 

Alright, so who could these people be? Do they have something to do with Touka, and Briar? Maybe...maybe not. Is this guy related to Jellal, in any way? Again, maybe...maybe not. But, based on how this guy is addressed, by this girl observing next to him...I have an uncomfortable feeling that he may just as well be Mercuphobia himself!

This leads me to the Question of the Chapter: How will Team Natsu take on this Water God Dragon? 

We don’t know, for sure, how powerful this drake will be. Personally, I think Natsu and Wendy have more of a chance here, given the fact that they are dragon slayers themselves. Gray can also take on water-based entities, given his experience with one of them (wink wink)...but, he’s a Demon Slayer. The only other way, is if a certain celestial spirit mage ends up helping them to defeat this dragon. 

And, yes, we do get another hint of Aquarius potentially making a return in the sequel, as it was hinted by Lucy, when she thought about what her wish would be. I don’t know...what do you guys think? Leave your thoughts, by clicking on that speech bubble below.

Finally, aside from that, I actually do wonder if these God Dragons had something to do with God Serena himself, in the final arc of the original story. I mean, come to think of it, God Serena is—obviously—a God Dragon Slayer, who used Water Dragon Slaying magic once (albeit, in a lacrima)...prior to him being laid to waste via Acno. Maybe there’s something about it that would be revealed in the next few chapters to come, eh?

Now, what do I think about this chapter, overall? Well, as I mentioned it above, things just really got more interesting...in more than one way. There’s definitely something going on with this quest that makes it more suspicious than ever, and the sub-plot with Gajeel and Lily makes the feeling more the same. We’ll have to wait and see how it all pans out. 

Alright, so that is it, for this one. I want to thank those who have read this, from top to bottom. Click on the heart, if you like this post; hit that ‘Follow’ button for more of this content; reblog this to all of your friends, and...there’s gonna be quite a huge splash about to happen, between Team Natsu, and the Water God Dragon in Mercuphobia. The hope is, at the moment, our favourite mages will come out of this one well, but drenched. 

#fairy tail #fan impressions #ftfi #100 years quest #hiro mashima #team natsu #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #gray fullbuster #erza scarlet #wendy marvell #happy #carla #gajeel redfox #levy mcgarden #juvia lockser #pantherlily #Personal Takes #long post #nalu #gruvia #gajevy

[williamexchange]

How To Optimize Website Design Responsively To Get A Competitive Advantage

There was a time when people used to have little access to the Internet. However, the time has changed, and so the facilities are improved. Presently, people rely on the internet to remain up-to-date and take reviews from social media.

Therefore, when it comes to your presence in the cyber world, the website is the first things to be established and maintained professionally. However, you need to put effort to make your website layout and design optimized to ensure business advantage.

You must be thinking that how website appearance helps in boosting business? Let’s understand it first.

The Importance of Website Design

It might be hard for a few people to understand that what is the role of design in generating business when it comes to the website? The reason behind such a perception is the concept that functionality is all in all for business presence in the virtual world.

According to Forrester, conversion rate can be increased by 200 -400 per cent with a well-designed graphical user interface of the website. Not only this, companies can get $100 return by investing to augment user experience through their business website.

How to Optimize Website Design Responsively

No doubt, there are numerous factors which lead to ultimate success in the business world by getting an online presence. But, the most important is to get an optimized design for your website. Therefore, you must consider the essential elements of web designing to ensure business promotion.

Although digital footprint takes considerable time and money, investing in a growth-driven website has a substantial impact on profitability. To ensure effective utilization of investment, you must consider the following elements:

1. Web Appearance and Layout

It will not be wrong to state that the first impression is the last when you talk about the business website. Therefore, the first and foremost quality of the website is elegance and attraction. Your site must exhibit brand uniformity to promote business and improve the user experience.

The essential elements of website layout include the homepage, sidebars, navigation menu, pages and sections. Generally, a well-designed website homepage has a logo, a large homepage slider or animation, business headline, introductory overview, additional parts and footer at the end of every page. So, it should be comprehensive, clean, attractive and professional.

Nevertheless, the first appearance of the website on the client’s browser indicates that how much effort has been put on the part of web design. It is because homepage design is considered as the qualifier or disqualifier for the business generation and all credit goes to the designers and developers of the website.

Quick Tips to Optimize Web Homepage

It is imperative to understand that website homepage design is the billboard of your business.  Consider the following things to improve website responsiveness.

Your business website must have a logo, and it is suggested to place it to the left.

Hero shot is the large-sized slider or image used on the front page. It plays a role of the gatekeeper as people have to go through it and then move to the next section. Make it relevant and ask people to analyze it critically to improve the content.

Create a clear, comprehensive and self-explanatory headline of your business nature or operations and paste it on the homepage.

Add social proof to your website using the white pages, press releases, testimonials, awards, clients’ logos.

Improve your website visibility using the blog posts linked to the homepage. Add feature posts, business stories, and social corporate responsibility news.

Create footer with sections and add social icons, contact form, address maps, and posts’ comments.

Last but not least, your homepage must offer something to your visitors in terms of rewards. So, ask them to perform any activity (Call of action), and in return, they can get something for free or at a discount.

2. Graphics and Visual Elements

It goes without a doubt that the world is a box of crayons and the internet as a rainbow. It goes without doubt that brand color has a significant impact on the profit generation as it drives customers’ mood. So, be careful when you are selecting the primary and secondary color of your website.

Quick Tips to Improve Website Graphics

Make a comprehensive plan for the selection of the color which is aligned with your business nature

Create a balanced design with a blend of videos, images and other visual elements.

Observe coherence and consistency in your design in order to avoid diverse color schemes.

Don’t use extremely flashy visual elements because it can irritate or distract the customers.

Always give a proper caption to your image used on the website and embed your business keywords in Alt Text.

Try to use bright images as blur pictures and graphics works as an automatic turn-off for the visitors for the first time.

Last but not least, the use of graphics has a considerable impact on the loading time. According to the general estimation, people wait for a maximum of 20 seconds to wait for the website to get loaded before leaving. So, make sure that your total site size should not be more than 50KB.

3. Usability and Navigation

Navigation is an essential component of your website.  It plays the role of a map to all the linked pages and sections. Therefore, a clear and well-defined way of accessing information can be profoundly helpful in website conversions.

Many premium web design service providers in Dubai ensure that the design and usage of navigation provoke definite impression of the website. So, they perform rapid assessments and eye blink tests to improve the website navigation process for the users.

Although one-page website designs are getting popularity among the people, it is a common practice to add internal links and pages to the navigation bars or menu.

You have seen many examples of menu bars including the vertical menu. Navigation is actually a function of usability as it gives an entrance point to the visitors. Therefore, navigation should offer easy entry and smooth exit by making it a knowledgeable experience for the visitors.

Quick Tips to Improve Website Navigation

First of all, you have a clear understanding of how you are going to organize the information on the website. Don’t forget to do detailed paperwork before designing the site.

Remember that less is more because the overloaded menu can confuse or overwhelm the visitors.

Be description and label the menu items in a simple and understandable manner.

It is not suggested to use the Hamburger menu even it is famous. It’s because these menu styles are suitable for smart devices but not for computers and laptops.

Design the work of conventions comprehensively that event converting your website into some other language may not impact the understanding and navigation patterns.

You must divide your navigation bars into the main menu and sub menus to make it look appealing and understandable.

Final Thought

In this era of digitalization, many business organizations have already realized the importance of having a responsive web design. However, you must understand the fact that the optimized design of the site is just like a well-organized and purposefully written book. Such a book or website enables the users to access their desired information without any difficulty.

Nevertheless, it is not possible to have an optimized user experience without the help of professional  web designing company Vail, CO . It is owing to the reason that only a well-experienced and professionally sound service provider delivers growth-driven websites.

Never forget to get a comprehensive website properly optimized and responsive to create a long lasting user experience. An impression on which the potential customers can rely!

[teamwynn]

The Night Voice Retrospective, Conclusion

[Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 11.5 | Part 12]

No, but really. I am so tired.

Well, that’s it for my retrospective. According to Microsoft Word, that was 12K words total. That’s about 24 single-spaced pages. That’s… a lot. And I don’t know if that includes all those strings of question marks. But, after having a full year to stew on it, I’ve said my peace about the Noble Dead Saga’s conclusion. Clearly, it wasn’t favorable.

Which is not to say that I’m necessarily resentful of the series itself or the authors for how things turned out. I’ve caught some (most?) of the things the Hendees have publicly said about the publishing end of things with this book, and I’ve been following the series long enough to see where things clearly went askew, even if I don’t have the details on how. In a lot of ways, this series was set up to fail, anyway, or at least the conclusion was. Writing an epic fantasy in digestable, paperback-friendly chunks in a genre where 800-page-long books are considered acceptable--or at least tolerable--meant that they were trying to form a story that most other epic fantasy series could tell in half as many books. Wheel of Time was also 14 books long (not counting the prequel), but even the shortest book in that series was at least 100 pages longer than the longest Noble Dead book (which is The Dog in the Dark, for the record). When other series have sometimes twice as many pages per book to let their story play out, of course Noble Dead was going to fuck itself over eventually. Otherwise, it would have taken 28 books for it to tell a story of WoT’s complexity (I’m pretending that WoT didn’t waste 75% of each of its books on pointless, rambling descriptions for the sake of argument). That simply isn’t done. No publisher would ever let them drag on for 28 books. Only Xanth has ever pulled that kind of shit, and Xanth isn’t epic fantasy, it’s cornball fantasy. I guess you could argue that Mercedes Lackey has gotten away with letting her epic fantasies sprawl like this, but even then, it’s not a linear saga. Although Noble Dead was divided into sub-series, they’re still taken together to tell a single linear story, not several loosely-connected stories in the same universe. Anyway, my point is, it was an uphill battle for Noble Dead from the start, if there was ever honestly any hope in being able to tell a complete saga in 14 books only 400 pages at a time. And this is all after you consider that the saga took a huge risk with Series 2 splintering the story between two main teams. While that risk paid off massively for Series 2, it left Series 3 the difficult task of filling in the blanks and bringing everyone back together on top of bringing the saga to a close.

There were still some… obviously questionable choices made even with the above taken into consideration, which I think went along with a very definite unenthusiastic feeling of the book. But I can understand that, too. While I don’t know exactly what went down with the decision to end the saga at book 14, the information I do have from what the authors have said seems to suggest that a fair amount of frustration went into TNV. Whether it was because the publisher screwed them over in some way, they were tired of writing ND, or some other thing, I’m not sure, but the spirit of that frustration bled pretty visibly into the book itself. And as a writer, I can appreciate that writing a book that--for whatever reason--you don’t enjoy writing can lead to some glaring issues of craft. It’s very easy to focus on trying to force specific reader reactions over the story itself in times like that, and I think ultimately that was the core issue that TNV had. It was so dead-set on manipulating specific emotions in the reader that it came at the expense of any real storytelling (all the contrivances that allowed the 30 Years Under the Mountain scenario comes to mind as a glaring example, but it was really just across the board), and with several plotlines obviously getting written into corners even before TNV, it’s not really any surprise why this happened. If you can’t get the plot to make any sense, it’s tempting to take shortcuts by trying to force the feelings you wanted the story to evoke, because then at least something works out the way you wanted it to. But readers never really swallow that, because who likes having their emotions manipulated by superficial heartstring-pulling tropes slapped together without any real cohesion? If I wanted that, I would watch trailers for that dog reincarnation movie or UNICEF ads.

So, the whole ordeal was just disappointing. Even with the impossible task of wrapping up the series by the end of book 14, I think TNV could have done a lot better. Like, a lot better. It was never going to be perfect, of course, but after FaLS, I felt that my standards for the end were actually lowered pretty significantly, and yet. All that wasting time on superfluous plot seeds that never sprouted, all that recap, the dragging final battle, the ableism against Wynn, all those characters that the book clearly had no idea what to do with… I don’t know. It went beyond sloppy in parts, even beyond apathetic. It seemed almost spiteful at times.

But it’s what we got, and I guess there’s no changing that. Except with fanfic.

#The Night Voice spoilers (vague) #TNV Retrospective #also I've updated all the Retrospective posts to include links to all the other posts so you can now read them start to finish

[shrivedog]

FADING IN A MEMORY THAT ISN’T

  On a cold, rainy morning in March of 1986 my wife accompanied me to a cross country race in Westlake Village, California.  I was teaching at a small Lutheran High School in Simi Valley at the time and we were expecting our first, and only, child.  In fact, Amanda was born one week later.  Beth, trooper that she is, stood dutifully at the finish line area with an umbrella, keeping my warmup clothes dry.     The race director, Brian, was a Britt with a sharp wit.  The event had been named the Dick Durand 8K Trail Run.  Brian explained at starting time that the race had been so dubbed because "Mr. Durand is the most famous Dick in Westlake Village."  Humorous as Brian was, and low-key as the event seemed in name, there was little that was low-key about it for me.  Two high school runners showed up who had run 9:20 and 9:22 for two miles in a meet just a couple of days before.  I never ran close to that, even in college; although I was able to compete with faster runners at longer distances.     The course began with a run down a flat strip of grass through a park, crossed a creek-bed, then proceeded on a trail loop that consisted of a series of twists and turns climbing steeply toward a summit some 400 feet above where the starting line was.  Then came the downhill.  It was a constant, slamming descent back to the creek-bed, leading to a climb up the opposite bank, and turning down the grass strip for the final 600.  Only on this day the creek was flowing strong, and thigh deep.  The trails were sloppy and the steepest of them had sheets of watery mud rolling down them.  Brian could not use the traditional chalk or lime-dust to mark the way, so he'd dropped lines of toilet paper and tied bits of cloth to twigs and tree branches as an ingenious substitute.  The distance was eight kilometers; close to five miles; so running over the entire course before the race as a warm-up wasn't practical, especially in these conditions.  I figured it would be tough for the front-runner to pick his or her way along.  I also knew from experience that anyone could make a wrong turn.  The idea of just following others was not always a good strategy.  I had no inkling of who the front runner would be that day.    I wore my old Cal State Los Angeles uniform, which still fit, for psychological effect.  I still had sub-5 minute mile speed running solo on the track, and trained regularly.  At age 26, I was still in my prime years, although an arduous work schedule and the responsibilities of starting a family would keep me from being able to establish any new personal lifetime bests during what should have been my best years physically; especially at the longest distances.  This is a problem even the best American distance runners face regularly because of our socioeconomic cultural structure.   I was slowly finding out that solid performances in the Marathon, for example, were already beyond reach.  It was amazing, however, what I could do on about 35 miles per week of quality running.  On this particular day, I thought I'd place high in the field.   I don't remember whether Brian started the race with a starter pistol, a bull-horn buzzer, or a simple verbal command.  What I do recall is running with the chase pack; a group of about five of the roughly 100 participants, right from the start, after the two quick high school athletes.  Never one to shy away from tough conditions; something that worked to my psychological advantage; I attacked the creek crossing full bore and soon found myself running on the heels of the two leaders.    On the first hill, the pace seemed too easy.  It occurred to me that everyone was conserving in expectation of the nearly two miles of climbing we would do.  I made a move.  Immediately, I ran away from everyone.  Keeping the lead to the course summit was easy.  I felt good.  Running in the rough off to the sides of the trail actually helped me lengthen my lead because the footing was better.  There was less backsliding on the steeper areas.  Although I never felt any worse, I did lose some confidence on the downhill.  I ran hard from the beginning of the descent to put more space between myself and the still climbing runners behind me.  At the summit I had almost 75 yards of real estate on everybody else.  However, as I ran down the weaving route, I could hear the coach of the two youngsters shouting that I was fading and encouraging them to close the gap.  I didn't feel like I was running slow enough to lose ground, but knew that I wasn't a particularly good downhill runner.  I also knew that I was notoriously low on raw leg speed in a kicking race. That coach may have made a big mistake though.   With "Mr. Shouting-Coach" below, I ran harder, with greater concentration, and more determined now to win, knowing it was just us three that had a shot.  I decided that I would do everything I could to keep the lead, then risk kicking too early to compensate for the lack of leg speed I obviously had compared to the two tracksters.  Nearing the final mile of the race I heard their approaching footsteps for the first time and knew they were gaining.  All I could think was that if I could just reach the creek first I might be able to use the elements to beat them.   Like clockwork, I reached the creek with them on my heels.  Their coach had moved about halfway down the grass strip at this point and was licking his chops, expecting they would have me for lunch coming down the home stretch.  I bore through the creek, and didn't wait to reach the grass.  I launched a hard burst up the embankment, exited the creek and shifted gears once more.  In full flight I ran out of gas with about 150 yards remaining.  I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and tried to breathe.  I could not have been a pretty sight.   I noticed that their coach had stopped shouting, and figured he didn't want to alert me to the imminent kill as their prey.  I kept expecting them to blow by, but kept grinding.  I was shocked to find I had reached the finish line unopposed.  I had only run 32:48 (6:36 per mile).  The course and conditions accounted for the relatively slow time.    I had run 16:25 for 5 km. on the roads earlier that month with a similarly strong effort.  I had also run much faster per mile in several longer races, including a half-marathon and a 5 mile solo track trial (29:48).  The course was definitely a bear to run.   Beth told me that when I came into view the two kids were so far back that there was no way they were going to catch up.  Their coach congratulated me on my victory and said he had never seen anyone "devastate" his runners on that course like I had that day.  I told him it was just experience that saw me through.  I knew I wasn't a good downhill runner.  I also knew I had no kick.  He remarked that I "could have fooled" him.   I pointed out that it was an 8K cross country race with rough weather, not two miles on the track.  I also said that what he witnessed was not a kick, but a grinding effort to burn his kids out that just happened to succeed, because I too was completely spent well before the finish line.     The kids were really down.  I made it a point to tell them that if they had waited a little longer, and/or made one more surge I would not have been able to respond.  I also asked them if the reason they didn't go once more after closing the gap was purely a mental response.  We discussed the psychological aspects of responding to a strong move, not knowing whether that move would be indefinite; as it would not have been in this case.  Judging by the looks they gave each other, I think they felt better.  Had they been rivals I would have had to face in future races determining team championships, I would have left them to their own devices in overcoming the mental barriers they had stacked upon themselves that day.  I guess it was just the coach in me, derived from my own adolescent struggles.  They were great runners.  I was just a better than average ploder with a strong work-ethic.   Amanda was born in Simi Valley a week later.  I would eventually do a little coaching to get her ready for her first cross country season in junior high school.  She had come to me and said she wanted to try running.  From junior high, she ran five cross country seasons and three track seasons, through graduation from Elk Grove High School, California.  She graduated with a 3.92 G.P.A., earning a CAL Grant for her first year at Sacramento State, and earned a scholar-athlete scholarship her coach had established. Like her old man, she competed and finished the famous Mount San Antonio College Cross Country Invitational; three times, including one in which the final races were cancelled due to raging Southern California fires.  I had also coached a team that competed there, and, later,  an individual who won a race there.  Amanda is now nearly 34, and works as personnel manager at an assisted living facility in Beaverton, Oregon.   The Dick Durand 8K Trail Race would not be the last event I would win.  However, the wins would also become fewer and farther between.  Nevertheless, I am still running.

(After an eternity of inactivity I decided to post something today.  This comes from my daily journaling effort.  Today’s entry.  I write about whatever comes to mind just to keep the brain working in the creative realm.  Creativity does not always come naturally and sometimes shuts off like the proverbial tap on an empty beer keg.)  Shrivedog

[zerof150]

Onkyo TX-SR383 AV Receiver

Summary

Product Name: TX-SR383 7.2-Channel AV Receiver

Manufacturer: Onkyo

Review Date: March 30, 2018 00:00

MSRP: $399

First Impression: Pretty Cool

Specifications

Executive Overview

I was recently asked by a budget minded customer if I could recommend a Home Theater in a Box in the $400 range for his new home. Since I knew the home already had speakers built into the walls I highly recommended checking out some of the base model Onkyo receivers, and with money left over, for an inexpensive sub from Monoprice.  Had I known that Onkyo was releasing a discrete high current 7.2 channel receiver for $400, the decision might have been a little harder. The TX-SR383 from Onkyo provides a choice of native 7.2-channel soundtrack reproduction or a 5.2-channel surround-sound layout with powered audio distribution to a pair of stereo speakers in Zone 2.

On the video side, we liked the four HDMI inputs and one output supporting 4K/60p, HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), 4:4:4 color space, and BT.2020 color-standard video pass-through as well as HDCP 2.2.  The CEC-compliant HDMI output also has an ARC (Audio Return Channel) to enable amplification of TV broadcasts from ARC-ready displays.  In addition, HDMI pass-through is available when amplified sound is not required.

Backed by 155W/ch (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD, 1 channel driven) and supporting DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD movie soundtrack – with either Surround Back or Front Height speakers to enhance theater-realistic immersion -- the easy-to-use TX-SR383 is ideal for the latest 4K entertainment.

- Onkyo Press Release

Whoa! That’s a lot of information crammed into one press release blurb.  So, let’s break it down. First, we've noticed a recent trend with the latest AV Receiver releases.  Instead of publishing unclipped full bandwidth power with two-channels driven into 8 ohm loads per FTC mandate, many of the major AV receiver manufacturers are now touting power with only one-channel driven, at 1kHz, into a 6-ohm load and 10% distortion.  This type of testing scenario inflates the power rating up to almost 2X the former FTC way of rating power.  Only when you search for the fine print on the manufacturer's websites or spec sheets do you find the two-channel continuous ratings, which in this case is 80 watts/ch.

For more information on the manipulation of power ratings in Atmos AV receivers, watch our Youtube video on the subject.

The AV Receiver Power Ratings Game YouTube Discussion

The second part of the quote isn’t quite as noxious. You can setup a 7.1 system with height channels, but the use of the word “immersive” insinuates 3D sound support such as DTS:X or Dolby Atmos, of which this receiver has neither. Instead, the TX-SR383 supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD lossless surround codecs. In fact, we'd highly recommend installing a pair of surround back channels over height channels for this type of product if you're able.

The TX-SR383 does come with pretty good room calibration software with AccuEQ. AccuEQ Room Acoustic Calibration sets speaker parameters such as distance, output level, crossover, and EQs to present a cohesive audio image optimized for unique room sizes and speaker positions.

Music Streaming and Bluetooth Audio Support

The TX-SR383  also comes with Bluetooth Version 3.0 wireless technology that supports the AAC codec for high-quality audio transmission, while compliance with Qualcomm aptX audio enables high-quality music playback with compatible smartphones, tablets, and personal computers. Also, the Music Optimizer, developed by Onkyo, uses a DSP algorithm to restore lost bit information for objectively better sound when playing compressed audio files. You can touch a key on the remote to enable Music Optimizer listening mode on a variety of input sources, including Bluetooth audio, and MP3, WMA, and AAC files via a front-panel USB input. With a variety of network HDMI devices available to bring streaming audio and video to the family room, the TX-SR383 includes a rear 5V/1A USB outlet to power devices that require it. Users can add room-filling amplified sound to their favorite movies and TV programs on-demand via subscription services, and enjoy premium sound with music, podcasts, and online audio-video media streamed via smartphones or tablet apps.

Don't Overstate What You've Got

With 80 W/Ch (8 Ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Channels Driven, FTC) the TX-SR383 just misses the mark of the magic 100 W/ch or more most serious Audioholics want, but it does come with a slew of input options, 7.2 channels, and the latest in video passthrough technology for a mere $400. If you know you’re never going to install the height speakers for use in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X setups, and you have a small to mid-sized home theater room with a strict budget then this receiver is definitely worth a second look, even with the inflated power ratings.  Just don't go bragging to your audiophile friends you've got a 155 watt/ch Onkyo receiver for only $400. You really have about half that, or you can just tell them -3dB if it makes you feel better. At Audioholics, we are all about understating and overdelivering, not the other way around. We wish more receiver manufacturers would be of the same mindset so it gives us something to gush rather than complain about when we get these devices on our test bench.

[gryphon1911]

Background

This is a low priced, but extremely capable legacy lens.  I love shooting the Nikon Df and along with that, shooting legacy lenses or older AF glass.   I was looking for a reasonable wide to middle telephoto walk about lens.  Certainly you could go with something more modern, perhaps the Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 VR.   I already owned that lens and it is a fine performer.  However, there is something that I like a lot about the renderings of the pre AF-S glass. Join us on our stream of consciousness on this lens.

Handling/Size/Weight

Against something like the Nikon 24-85/3.5-4.5 VR, this is a bigger, heavier lens.   It is a solid metal construction.    Relatively, I do not find the lens heavy at all and I also shoot Micro 4/3 as well. The zoom ring on every version of this lens that I've used has always been smooth and responsive.  Budget modern zooms never really felt this good to me.  While I also like the image rendering, the handling is good.  You have plenty to hold on to and going from 28mm to 85mm is quick and easy. The one big downfall of this lens in the handling department is manual focus.  You have to actuate the switch on the camera body to go to manual focus as there is no full time override, like you'd get on the 24-85/3.5-4.5.    On top of that, the focus ring is very tiny and hard to find.  I basically don't use the manual focus feature of this lens unless I am using the macro mode. How's that for a segue!

This lens a has a dedicated macro mode, which is great if you do not want to also carry a dedicated macro lens with you.   The downside of the convenience?   You lose auto focus and macro focal length is 28mm.  You'll be putting the front element of the lens very close to the subject.  Not the best for insects or skittish subjects, but OK for static things.

Image Quality

This lens is capable of good image quality even wide wide open.  Aperture runs from f/3.5 at 28mm and then goes to f/4.5 at 85mm.   As with most older lenses, it performs better stopped down.  Noticeable improvement is seen at f/4 and f/5.6 respectively on the focal length range. It's IQ reminds me very much of the Nikon 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6D. Sharpness does suffer a touch at the longer end, but it is not something that is a deal breaker. It is basically good to go from wide to tele range.

Nikon Df 1/80, f/8, ISO 180 @ 72mm

Nikon Df 1/100, f/11, ISO 400 @ 28mm 

Now, lets be 100% honest with each other here.  Is this lens as sharp as a modern lens?  Technically no, but we can sometimes put too much of a premium on ultimate sharpness.   That is not always needed or desirable - and to be totally honest uber sharpness can be a bit of an overblown concept.

Nikon Df 1/60, f/3.8, ISO 900 @ 55mm 

Nikon Df 1/30, f/3.5, ISO 1600 @ 28mm

Focusing

The focus was always very accurate.  Speed is lacking compared to more modern designs.  However, it is fast enough to handle most things.  You may miss a shot or 2 if you have to wait for the lens to focus from close focus to infinity.  The screwed gears design of this lens is not up to the speedy standard of the current AF-S marked lenses. Since this lens requires a camera body with the AF screw in the body, you'll need a higher spec DSLR body if you do not want to use this lens as manual focus only.

Nikon Df 1/100, f/8, ISO 450 @ 85mm 

Nikon Df 1/100, f/8, ISO 140 @ 85mm

Nikon Df 1/100, f/8, ISO 100 @ 45mm 

Bottom Line

Most of the time, when you discuss what is considered legacy lenses, you'll get a lot of people that would not even give them the time of day.  Not sharp enough, not fast enough, too heavy...too clunky. I can understand how this lens would not be for everyone...but I challenge you to do this.   Give up going out to a fancy dinner one night a month.  Spend the sub $100 dollars on a lens like the 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 or even the 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6D.    Find out for yourself how these lenses perform.  I think you'll see that they have more going for them than against.  On top of that, you'll get to see that they are not the old clunky dinosaurs you've probably got envisioned in your head. If you are a pixel peeper and obsessed with the penultimate of image quality, then this is not for you.  However, if you are trying to find that bit of a different look then definitely give this lens a try. Here are some additional images for you to look through.

Nikon Df 1/500, f/4.5, ISO 400 @ 85mm

Nikon Df Macro Mode on tripod 1/30, f/3.5, ISO 250 @ 28mm 

Nikon Df 1/250, f/5.6, ISO100 @ 40mm 

Nikon Df 1/320, f/8, ISO 200 @ 35mm

Nikon Df 1/100, f/5.6, ISO 800 @ 85mm

Nikon Df 1/60, f/11, ISO 200 @ 28mm

Nikon Df 1/320, f/6.3, ISO 200 @ 50mm

Nikon Df 1/320, f/8, ISO 200 @ 85mm

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[jesusvasser]

Volkswagen, Porsche Dump Diesel for EVs, Mercedes Gets Smart

The Volkswagen Group looks to cut costs while it pivots

VW and Audi turned diesel into a dirty word by inventing and applying so-called defeat devices across the range. In the process, they thoroughly tainted their brand image and alienated loyal customers stuck with cars whose ratings had dropped from desirable to dead stock within a few months. But unlike Porsche, which absorbed tens of thousands of windfall oil burning engines for almost ten years before pulling the plug in late September, Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt still need the diesel-drinkers to meet their CO2 targets.

Even though the diesel has been re-engineered in a hurry and now fully complies with the stringent EU6 temporary emission norm, the gun-shy punters still fear city driving bans and crippling resale values. That’s understandable yet tragic, because clean diesels are no longer fake news. Instead, the very best of them harm the environment less than gasoline hybrids while retaining their torque and consumption advantage in full. In terms of noise and tailpipe odor, however, Rudolf D’s combustion principle obviously no longer complies with the core values of high-tech trend-setters like Porsche.

Oliver Blume and his predecessor Matthias Müller were among the first CEOs to jump on the BEV bandwagon and to compile a radical phase-out strategy for the gas engine. They kicked off the Mission E program to create Germany’s first Tesla fighter, they were at one point close to replacing the best-selling Macan with a zero-emission model, and they set out to boost Porsche’s BEV penetration to 50 percent of the mix by 2023.

Thanks to the development of the mass market all-electric Volkswagen ID, which will be priced similar to a mid-line Golf and due next year, Porsche had carte blanche to convert its entire model range to plug-in and electric power by 2028. And by entire model range, one must include both sports cars, namely the replacements of the mid-engine 718 and the tenth-generation 911. While even the most detailed ten-year plan is at best safe for the next four to five years, it is little short of sensational that Porsche has its mindset focused on a brand-new all-electric 911, which will be offered in addition to the conventional 992 replacement.

Mission E aka J1 aka Taycan will come to market next autumn, and it won’t differ dramatically in appeal and appearance from the show car. The same applies to the CUV derivative, aka Cross Turismo, which has been penciled in for late 2020. Although it didn’t clinic particularly well in the US due to its low stance, we still don´t expect the real thing to be a proper SUV. Proportions are key for every Porsche, so a higher roofline is less likely than some token badland add-ons. A two-door coupé with a soft-top sidekick based on J1 would be the fanciest trick in the book, but financial risk and the need to control the increasingly complex portfolio doesn’t leave much room for experiments early on in the e-age. The supplier community suggests that major mid-cycle improvements are due for Taycan only four years after the start of production. The prime goal is bound to take out cost and put in more power, range, and durability.

Instead of shifting the DNA from J1 straight to PPE (Premium Platform Electromobility), the platform co-developed with Audi, when Taycan expires at the end of 2026, Porsche is now allegedly determined to carry on with a heavily revised architecture codenamed, you guessed it, J2. If all goes according to plan, J2 will switch to solid state batteries which can do everything better than lithium ion cells—at a price.

There is no major change of body styles in the cards, but the aforementioned silent two-door GT always remains an option, even though Porsche should leave Audi and Bentley enough room for their J1 spin-offs. In terms of available powertrains, we still stand at a nominal 300/400/500 kW (402/536/670 hp) powered by a choice of LG Chem batteries rated at 80 and 95 kWh. All four wheels are driven via a two-speed transmission, the maximum torque one can play with from third upwards is 737 lb-ft, and as long as you don’t squeeze the energy cells out like a lemon (0-60 mph in 3.5 sec, 160 mph) the driving range should be in excess of 300 miles.

Even the self-described e-junkie Oliver Blume no longer intends to make the next Macan transfer from pump to plug over night. The plan is now to extend the life of the current model until 2024, which would almost certainly require a major facelift in 2021 or thereabout. Audi has already signaled that it will agree on a similar timing for the next Audi Q5, which the Macan III will again be twinned with.

The updated Macan, based on the familiar MLB matrix, and the all-new Macan BEV, derived from the brand-new PPE component set defined with Audi, are expected to come to market within six months of each other. Both offerings will likely overlap for about three years, if need be even longer. In case something goes terribly wrong in the future electric world, the new Macan could still ride on PPC, which is the combustion engine back-up of PPE.

An almost identical game plan applies to the full-size Cayenne, which is scheduled to undergo three iterations (including a coupé and two facelifts) before it finally retires in 2027. Ten years is a long life cycle for an SUV because you can only shed so much weight, and implementing improved aerodynamics that require sheet metal changes is even more difficult. That’s why the electric Cayenne—program E4, also part of the PPE family—must start as early as 2024 and extend the transition period to three or four years. No, there is no reward for guessing which pattern will be applied to the Panamera changeover. In an ideal world, Porsche would love to keep updating the current generation (G2) until it eventually bites the dust, but you probably cannot do this with an eleven-year old design—unless of course the unloved Sport Turismo gives way to the repeatedly hyped 929 coupé/cabrio which should consolidate demand. Right now though, a reskin (G3) in 2023 is more likely. Two years later, the all-electric Panamera G4 would be the fourth new Porsche never again to stop at a filling station—except for a coffee break.

What about the future sports cars in the making in the Weissach think tank, you ask? Same philosophy, but different timing, and for obvious reasons, different DNA. The 718 Cayman and Boxster launched in 2016 must soldier on until 2023 or 2024 without serious cosmetic operations, hybrid options, or AWD. The big bang follows in late 2022 when the battery-powered 983 is due to launch. This is a pure BEV, a total break with the past, sans alternative drivetrain option. Having said that, the outgoing combustion engine models—Boxster, Cayman, and Spyder—will be offered for at least twelve months alongside the high-tech newcomer. Apparently, the existing MMB platform can be upgraded to accommodate the totally different componentry. According to a senior engineer, there is thus no real need to proceed with the proposed all-new BEV matrix known as SPE, short for sports car platform electric. Dropping SPE would save approximately 25 percent of the cost-cutting target.

Although 983 is still in the final definition phase, we hear that there may be two coupé models, a Cayman replacement and a notably sportier high-performance derivative destined to slot in below the Carrera S/GTS. The second model would get bespoke coachwork inspired by the 918/919, and it would be priced in a similar bracket as the 911 turbo. While the Cayman E can reportedly be specced with one or two motors for a total of up to 536 hp, the Super E boasts three motors (two of them in the rear) for a peak output of 603 hp, sources say. The energy packs are said to deliver 100 and 125 kWh respectively. We expect a move to solid state accumulators from 2026 onwards, in combination with speed charging, ultra-quick battery regeneration, and Porsche-like repeat performance.

According to the Weissach grapevine, the first-ever all-electric 911 will debut in 2028 alongside the 992 replacement. Why wait so long? Because the plug-in hybrid is a convincing stopgap solution for many markets, because battery weight has to come down in sync with a more efficiency cell chemistry, and because even a planet-saving 911 must be an ultra-fast, hardcore piece of kit. Porsche is apparently convinced that it can deliver on all counts. After all, the latest master plan projects BEVs to exceed 85 percent of the sales total come 2028.

While the smart brand lives on borrowed time, a sub-A-class small-star Mercedes is taking shape

Smart is in the process of going 100 percent electric, but this doesn’t mean that the marque has a future. Quite the contrary: according to various sources, Renault is going to pull out once the ForFour/Twingo reaches the end of its cycle, Mercedes is not interested in keeping the Smart car brand going all by itself, and whether Geely may want to jump in and lift the business case to a more profitable new level remains to be seen. Right now, the internal plan is that smart will be wound up by 2026 at the earliest. The question remains whether Mercedes will pull out of the segment completely, or if the new CEO Ola Kallenius might be actively looking for options to keep the three-pointed star in the race against Mini and the Audi A1/Q1/City. The board needs to come to a conclusion by 2021 when it must sign off the next A-class generation due in 2025. If we read the smoke signals right, the current MFA2 architecture will be replaced by a fully scalable, all-new convergence layout which covers a much broader product spectrum that could also include a proper baby Benz.

At this point, strategists and product planners are evaluating at least four different options:

Version 2.0 of a fully electrified Smart brand funded with a strong partner like Geely, a concept inspired by the cooperation between Mini and Great Wall. Probability rating: 3/5. Why? Because it is difficult and expensive to ensure that the outcome, which would likely be produced in China, is a proper fit for the global market.

Add a decontented entry-level two- or three-door model to the current A-class portfolio. Probability rating: 1/5. Why? Too late, too expensive, too compromised. The no-frills A-Class coupé was stillborn for exactly these reasons.

Engineer the MFA3 component set so that it includes a proper baby Benz priced at least 15 percent below the least-expensive A-Class. Probability rating: 2/5. Why? MFA3 is unlikely to be sufficiently advanced, flexible enough, or affordable for the conversion to a predominantly electric future.

Go ahead with the innovative convergence matrix codenamed MX1, which could be stretched from whatever shape the small Mercedes will assume for the C-Class/GLC replacement. Probability rating: 5/5. Why? Because MX1 covers BEV, PHEV, and ICE with a bias on electric drive. In addition, it introduces a new level of modularity as well as extended economies of scale, with or without a partner.

Cooperation remains indeed an option—even though the tie-ups with Mitsubishi and Renault delivered mixed results. Last year, Mercedes and BMW discussed the pros and cons of teaming up with regard to MX1 and the bigger MX2 version, but to no avail. BMW ended the talks, thereby relegating the team from Stuttgart back to square one. Although the baby Benz has since dropped a notch or two on the agenda, electrification is a more urgent topic than ever, and so are new vehicle types tailor-made for metro mobility, commuter services, and innovative user models. The reinvented Mercedes née Smart is far from an approved program, but what is tentatively known as U-class (the U stands for urban & universal) has undergone various feasibility studies in combination with different design proposals. Under discussion are the following fully electric variations:

U-class City, a three-door hatch with five-door option, short and tall with extra-long (relative) wheelbase.

U-class Shuttle, an on-demand last-mile shared transportation device combined with up-market services such as exclusive use, autonomous driving where applicable, special delivery, and drop-off.

U-class Cargo, a compact panel van operating in a pool, shared by service providers with city access.

In frivolous moments, product planning even considered off-beat stuff like an emotional metro cruiser, a U-class Open Air, and a back-to-basics two-seater positioned between the unloved two-door A-class and the short-lived Smart coupé. In terms of content, the emphasis is split between the standardized e-componentry and bespoke abilities like the interface with Big Data, personalized services, and safety & convenience features. If the business case still looks good in 2021, the U-class may turn out to be one of the smartest cars Mercedes ever conceived.

The post Volkswagen, Porsche Dump Diesel for EVs, Mercedes Gets Smart appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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[eddiejpoplar]

Volkswagen, Porsche Dump Diesel for EVs, Mercedes Gets Smart

VW and Audi turned diesel into a dirty word by inventing and applying so-called defeat devices across the range. In the process, they thoroughly tainted their brand image and alienated loyal customers stuck with cars whose ratings had dropped from desirable to dead stock within a few months. But unlike Porsche, which absorbed tens of thousands of windfall oil burning engines for almost ten years before pulling the plug in late September, Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt still need the diesel-drinkers to meet their CO2 targets.

Even though the diesel has been re-engineered in a hurry and now fully complies with the stringent EU6 temporary emission norm, the gun-shy punters still fear city driving bans and crippling resale values. That’s understandable yet tragic, because clean diesels are no longer fake news. Instead, the very best of them harm the environment less than gasoline hybrids while retaining their torque and consumption advantage in full. In terms of noise and tailpipe odor, however, Rudolf D’s combustion principle obviously no longer complies with the core values of high-tech trend-setters like Porsche.

Oliver Blume and his predecessor Matthias Müller were among the first CEOs to jump on the BEV bandwagon and to compile a radical phase-out strategy for the gas engine. They kicked off the Mission E program to create Germany’s first Tesla fighter, they were at one point close to replacing the best-selling Macan with a zero-emission model, and they set out to boost Porsche’s BEV penetration to 50 percent of the mix by 2023.

Thanks to the development of the mass market all-electric Volkswagen ID, which will be priced similar to a mid-line Golf and due next year, Porsche had carte blanche to convert its entire model range to plug-in and electric power by 2028. And by entire model range, one must include both sports cars, namely the replacements of the mid-engine 718 and the tenth-generation 911. While even the most detailed ten-year plan is at best safe for the next four to five years, it is little short of sensational that Porsche has its mindset focused on a brand-new all-electric 911, which will be offered in addition to the conventional 992 replacement.

Mission E aka J1 aka Taycan will come to market next autumn, and it won’t differ dramatically in appeal and appearance from the show car. The same applies to the CUV derivative, aka Cross Turismo, which has been penciled in for late 2020. Although it didn’t clinic particularly well in the US due to its low stance, we still don´t expect the real thing to be a proper SUV. Proportions are key for every Porsche, so a higher roofline is less likely than some token badland add-ons. A two-door coupé with a soft-top sidekick based on J1 would be the fanciest trick in the book, but financial risk and the need to control the increasingly complex portfolio doesn’t leave much room for experiments early on in the e-age. The supplier community suggests that major mid-cycle improvements are due for Taycan only four years after the start of production. The prime goal is bound to take out cost and put in more power, range, and durability.

Instead of shifting the DNA from J1 straight to PPE (Premium Platform Electromobility), the platform co-developed with Audi, when Taycan expires at the end of 2026, Porsche is now allegedly determined to carry on with a heavily revised architecture codenamed, you guessed it, J2. If all goes according to plan, J2 will switch to solid state batteries which can do everything better than lithium ion cells—at a price.

There is no major change of body styles in the cards, but the aforementioned silent two-door GT always remains an option, even though Porsche should leave Audi and Bentley enough room for their J1 spin-offs. In terms of available powertrains, we still stand at a nominal 300/400/500 kW (402/536/670 hp) powered by a choice of LG Chem batteries rated at 80 and 95 kWh. All four wheels are driven via a two-speed transmission, the maximum torque one can play with from third upwards is 737 lb-ft, and as long as you don’t squeeze the energy cells out like a lemon (0-60 mph in 3.5 sec, 160 mph) the driving range should be in excess of 300 miles.

Even the self-described e-junkie Oliver Blume no longer intends to make the next Macan transfer from pump to plug over night. The plan is now to extend the life of the current model until 2024, which would almost certainly require a major facelift in 2021 or thereabout. Audi has already signaled that it will agree on a similar timing for the next Audi Q5, which the Macan III will again be twinned with.

The updated Macan, based on the familiar MLB matrix, and the all-new Macan BEV, derived from the brand-new PPE component set defined with Audi, are expected to come to market within six months of each other. Both offerings will likely overlap for about three years, if need be even longer. In case something goes terribly wrong in the future electric world, the new Macan could still ride on PPC, which is the combustion engine back-up of PPE.

An almost identical game plan applies to the full-size Cayenne, which is scheduled to undergo three iterations (including a coupé and two facelifts) before it finally retires in 2027. Ten years is a long life cycle for an SUV because you can only shed so much weight, and implementing improved aerodynamics that require sheet metal changes is even more difficult. That’s why the electric Cayenne—program E4, also part of the PPE family—must start as early as 2024 and extend the transition period to three or four years. No, there is no reward for guessing which pattern will be applied to the Panamera changeover. In an ideal world, Porsche would love to keep updating the current generation (G2) until it eventually bites the dust, but you probably cannot do this with an eleven-year old design—unless of course the unloved Sport Turismo gives way to the repeatedly hyped 929 coupé/cabrio which should consolidate demand. Right now though, a reskin (G3) in 2023 is more likely. Two years later, the all-electric Panamera G4 would be the fourth new Porsche never again to stop at a filling station—except for a coffee break.

What about the future sports cars in the making in the Weissach think tank, you ask? Same philosophy, but different timing, and for obvious reasons, different DNA. The 718 Cayman and Boxster launched in 2016 must soldier on until 2023 or 2024 without serious cosmetic operations, hybrid options, or AWD. The big bang follows in late 2022 when the battery-powered 983 is due to launch. This is a pure BEV, a total break with the past, sans alternative drivetrain option. Having said that, the outgoing combustion engine models—Boxster, Cayman, and Spyder—will be offered for at least twelve months alongside the high-tech newcomer. Apparently, the existing MMB platform can be upgraded to accommodate the totally different componentry. According to a senior engineer, there is thus no real need to proceed with the proposed all-new BEV matrix known as SPE, short for sports car platform electric. Dropping SPE would save approximately 25 percent of the cost-cutting target.

Although 983 is still in the final definition phase, we hear that there may be two coupé models, a Cayman replacement and a notably sportier high-performance derivative destined to slot in below the Carrera S/GTS. The second model would get bespoke coachwork inspired by the 918/919, and it would be priced in a similar bracket as the 911 turbo. While the Cayman E can reportedly be specced with one or two motors for a total of up to 536 hp, the Super E boasts three motors (two of them in the rear) for a peak output of 603 hp, sources say. The energy packs are said to deliver 100 and 125 kWh respectively. We expect a move to solid state accumulators from 2026 onwards, in combination with speed charging, ultra-quick battery regeneration, and Porsche-like repeat performance.

According to the Weissach grapevine, the first-ever all-electric 911 will debut in 2028 alongside the 992 replacement. Why wait so long? Because the plug-in hybrid is a convincing stopgap solution for many markets, because battery weight has to come down in sync with a more efficiency cell chemistry, and because even a planet-saving 911 must be an ultra-fast, hardcore piece of kit. Porsche is apparently convinced that it can deliver on all counts. After all, the latest master plan projects BEVs to exceed 85 percent of the sales total come 2028.

While the smart brand lives on borrowed time, a sub-A-class small-star Mercedes is taking shape

Smart is in the process of going 100 percent electric, but this doesn’t mean that the marque has a future. Quite the contrary: according to various sources, Renault is going to pull out once the ForFour/Twingo reaches the end of its cycle, Mercedes is not interested in keeping the Smart car brand going all by itself, and whether Geely may want to jump in and lift the business case to a more profitable new level remains to be seen. Right now, the internal plan is that smart will be wound up by 2026 at the earliest. The question remains whether Mercedes will pull out of the segment completely, or if the new CEO Ola Kallenius might be actively looking for options to keep the three-pointed star in the race against Mini and the Audi A1/Q1/City. The board needs to come to a conclusion by 2021 when it must sign off the next A-class generation due in 2025. If we read the smoke signals right, the current MFA2 architecture will be replaced by a fully scalable, all-new convergence layout which covers a much broader product spectrum that could also include a proper baby Benz.

At this point, strategists and product planners are evaluating at least four different options:

Version 2.0 of a fully electrified Smart brand funded with a strong partner like Geely, a concept inspired by the cooperation between Mini and Great Wall. Probability rating: 3/5. Why? Because it is difficult and expensive to ensure that the outcome, which would likely be produced in China, is a proper fit for the global market.

Add a decontented entry-level two- or three-door model to the current A-class portfolio. Probability rating: 1/5. Why? Too late, too expensive, too compromised. The no-frills A-Class coupé was stillborn for exactly these reasons.

Engineer the MFA3 component set so that it includes a proper baby Benz priced at least 15 percent below the least-expensive A-Class. Probability rating: 2/5. Why? MFA3 is unlikely to be sufficiently advanced, flexible enough, or affordable for the conversion to a predominantly electric future.

Go ahead with the innovative convergence matrix codenamed MX1, which could be stretched from whatever shape the small Mercedes will assume for the C-Class/GLC replacement. Probability rating: 5/5. Why? Because MX1 covers BEV, PHEV, and ICE with a bias on electric drive. In addition, it introduces a new level of modularity as well as extended economies of scale, with or without a partner.

Cooperation remains indeed an option—even though the tie-ups with Mitsubishi and Renault delivered mixed results. Last year, Mercedes and BMW discussed the pros and cons of teaming up with regard to MX1 and the bigger MX2 version, but to no avail. BMW ended the talks, thereby relegating the team from Stuttgart back to square one. Although the baby Benz has since dropped a notch or two on the agenda, electrification is a more urgent topic than ever, and so are new vehicle types tailor-made for metro mobility, commuter services, and innovative user models. The reinvented Mercedes née Smart is far from an approved program, but what is tentatively known as U-class (the U stands for urban & universal) has undergone various feasibility studies in combination with different design proposals. Under discussion are the following fully electric variations:

U-class City, a three-door hatch with five-door option, short and tall with extra-long (relative) wheelbase.

U-class Shuttle, an on-demand last-mile shared transportation device combined with up-market services such as exclusive use, autonomous driving where applicable, special delivery, and drop-off.

U-class Cargo, a compact panel van operating in a pool, shared by service providers with city access.

In frivolous moments, product planning even considered off-beat stuff like an emotional metro cruiser, a U-class Open Air, and a back-to-basics two-seater positioned between the unloved two-door A-class and the short-lived Smart coupé. In terms of content, the emphasis is split between the standardized e-componentry and bespoke abilities like the interface with Big Data, personalized services, and safety & convenience features. If the business case still looks good in 2021, the U-class may turn out to be one of the smartest cars Mercedes ever conceived.

The post Volkswagen, Porsche Dump Diesel for EVs, Mercedes Gets Smart appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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[endlessarchite]

My Top Four Tips For Scoring The Best Secondhand Finds

I take pride in some very strange things. Being able to cartwheel into a pool for example. Or knowing every single word to old commercial jingles and 90’s rap songs. Or the fact that John and I, two righties, somehow made two lefties, which clearly means they’re brilliant (not sure how I can even take credit for this phenomenon, but I do, as well as the fact that our kids are super tall, which is amazing to me as a 5’2″ lady).

But one thing I don’t really think about much is my secondhand furniture hunting mojo. I don’t think I have any magic luck or special searching skills. I would generally describe the key to my process as frequency. In other words: looking often. I regularly look at thrift stores and on Craigslist and on Facebook Marketplace. Most of the time I don’t find anything good at all, but every once in a while I find something awesome. Like this insanely beautiful inlay dresser that’s made by Restoration Hardware and sells for $1800 that I found on Craigslist for $400 (you can read the full story of that here).

So instead of demonstrating that I know every last word to the Left Eye rap in TLC’s Waterfalls, I figured I’d round up my best tips for secondhand shopping success, all of which have nothing to do with dumb luck, and everything to do with actionable things that you can implement to hopefully score some great finds of your own.

Lesson #1: Show Your Interest & Be Persistent

If I stop an analyze how that inlay dresser coup came to be, there’s just one simple thing that made it all happen: I was determined with a capital D. I saw this listing go up months before I bought it. And I loved it. But it was $600 and that was still over my beach house dresser budget – no matter how gorgeous and expensive the dresser originally was. So I waited. And the listing sat there. And it sat there.

Knowing she might be having trouble selling it, I decided to let the seller know that an interested party existed. Even though I wasn’t ready to shell out the $600, I wanted to make myself an option and discourage her from just deleting the listing out of frustration (I know as a seller I’ve definitely done that before). I emailed her saying “I am SO INTERESTED in your dresser but the top of my budget is $400. If that works for you, I’ll gladly come right over with $400 cash and grab it.” And she very kindly emailed me back and said “Thanks, I’m not planning to lower the price just yet but I’ll let you know if I do later.”

Now here’s where the whole determined thing really came into play. The listing sat there for a few more weeks (and I continued to watch it), but then one day it disappeared. And I noticed. And I gasped. It could’ve sold or just expired, but since I already had an email chain started, I decided to reach out to her one last time, just to say “hi, it’s me again! I noticed the listing is gone so I’m sure my dream dresser sold, but if it hasn’t and you’re interested in that $400 cash I can come right over! Just say the word!” And you know what? She said “You’ve got a deal.”

And that’s how this amazing dresser ended up at the beach house. It didn’t fall into my lap. It didn’t happen in a day or even a week – but over the course of months as I kept an eye on it. And if I hadn’t pinged her that first time I never could have followed up that second time because I wouldn’t have had her contact info – and I’m pretty sure this dresser wouldn’t be ours today. So let that be Lesson #1. Have patience and go out on a limb (maybe even multiple times) for something you love.

Lesson #2: Be Vigilant & Ready To Pounce

Ok, now let’s move on to the next one. I really really love this marble topped dresser that I bought on Facebook Marketplace from the sweetest local lady whose entire house was so amazing I wanted to buy everything in there. The entire top is a gorgeous slab of marble and the drawers have little key latches and it’s perfect for storing board games in the foyer of the beach house. I forget how much this was but I think it was around $100 which is an awesome deal since it would be hard to find a slab of marble as big as the one on top of this dresser for $100 alone.

Let’s talk about my hunting routine. I like to sit on the couch at the end of a long day and just scroll through Facebook Marketplace. It takes less than five minutes, and I’d say I do it maybe five times a week if I remember. And thanks to my habit of checking pretty frequently, I happened to see the listing for this dresser within an hour of it being posted. So I was first in line when I pinged her, I got cash FAST, and I got to her house within about an hour, meaning nobody could snatch it out from under me. So upon reflecting how I scored this dresser, it really comes down to being SO READY to make this thing mine (and not wavering, waffling, or taking too much time to get the cash and get to her house).

The thing is, you never know when something is going to be listed, and you certainly can’t be on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace every hour. But I realized that back before I checked Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist with any regularity that I was greatly lowering my chances of finding good stuff. Of course I couldn’t expect to pop on every few months and immediately find something I wanted! I had to up my frequency – even if it just means devoting five minutes a night to it a few times a week. This obviously gives me better chances of seeing more items, and catching them earlier.

Also, get cash and get thee to the person’s house fast! Sellers often observe a “first come, first served” rule and I can’t tell you how many times as a seller that the second or third person who contacted me actually got the item because the first person took too long to come pick it up & pay. So there you go. Lesson #2 is spend a little more time looking for something cool if you actually want to find something cool, and then descend like Cheetah with the cash. Fast, fast, fast.

Lesson #3: Recruit Spies

Ok, let’s move on to the rug in our bedroom. Whenever I see it my brain sings: “I’ve. Had. The rug of my li-i-ife. And I never felt this way before.” Yes it’s the song from Dirty Dancing with a rug worked into it, and yes, weirdly altering song lyrics is also something I take great pride in. The story of this guy is that I bought it locally from a consignment shop. YES! I know! It feels like an extremely lucky find. And it was… but it also clearly has a lesson attached when I look in the ol’ rearview mirror of life.

See, my friend actually texted me a picture of this rug along with some others that she had seen at a local consignment shop. So the first lesson is: befriend an army of people who will text you all the pretty things they find. Ha. Kidding. But really, if you have an interest or a need for something, it never hurts to let your design-loving friends know! They might see whatever it is you’re looking for (secondhand or beyond!) and be able to tell you where it is. Heck they might even text you a picture or send you a link.

The fact that my friend, who is a decorator, knew that I love these big colorful wool rugs definitely worked in my favor in this case (had I not been “linked” to this thing in her mind, she never would have texted it to me). And you can offer to keep an eye out for things for them in return – it really is a nice mutually beneficial thing to do with someone else who loves home stuff.

My accompanying tip for this rug victory harkens back to the second half of my last lesson, which is DO NOT HESITATE. The second she sent it I called the shop, asked the price, got the cash, and John and I rushed over there to smell it (always smell secondhand things guys – it’s a non-negotiable!) and it was in our car about 20 minutes later. There’s way more about this whole rug discovery and our bedroom’s evolution in this post, which also has a ton of sources for things.

Lesson #4: Be Nosy & Remember It Never Hurts To Ask

These chairs are a more recent score that I chatted about a little bit on the podcast (in this episode) and they hail from Facebook Marketplace. One thing I like about Facebook Marketplace over Craigslist (don’t get me wrong, I still like Sir Craig & His List) is that Facebook Marketplace learns what you click. So, much like Pinterest, it can curate a more customized experience every time you browse. Which is also why it’s super fast to check every time I drop in (less than 5 minutes).

Mine has learned that I click on furniture and home stuff, so it shows me all of that stuff first in my feed, even if a weird ceramic babydoll that stares into your soul was uploaded more recently. AND I SO APPRECIATE THAT.

But back to these chairs. I mentioned on that podcast that this listing was funny because it was actually for a large piece of driftwood, but I saw these chairs in the background – yes, BEHIND THE DRIFTWOOD. And I basically messaged her and said “about those chairs – are they for sale?!” And she said yes! The seller even had a large car and offered to drive them to my house since they’re HUGE and it would have been impossible to get both of them into our SUV at the same time.

So the lesson here is: anything in the picture is something you can ask about! The worst they can say is “no, my cute dog in the background is not for sale you psycho” and the best thing they can say is essentially what happened with these chairs, which was: “Sure! I’ll sell them AND DRIVE THEM TO YOUR HOUSE FOR YOU!”

Also, sub tip: whenever something is large we ask if they would accept an extra fee (like $20) to drive it over. It often saves us time/gas/money spent renting a larger vehicle, so it can be very worthwhile in many cases.

This chair story also has sort of an epilogue of sorts. When we posted photos of them in the show notes of that podcast where we mentioned them, a very kind and knowledgeable design enthusiast essentially said “OMG I THINK THOSE ARE RUSSELL WOODARD CHAIRS!” and thanks to the rabbit hole of google I learned he’s an amazing 50’s designer, sort of like Eames (we all know about his chairs! can’t Russell catch a break?!) and THEY SELL FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on places like 1st Dibs and Chairish. In fact, here’s a set of four currently listed for $3,750 (and here’s another one). HOW INSANE IS THAT?!?!

By comparison, we spent $140 for both chairs (which also included delivery!). So they might be the biggest secondhand score we’ve had yet. Honestly for me it’s way less about what something’s worth or who made it and a lot more about filling your house up with stuff you love. So my advice would just be to sniff around in secondhand spots (in person and online) often if you actually hope to find something amazing – and if you do it regularly enough I’m confident it’ll happen for you! Happy hunting!

P.S. Six years ago we wrote this post about 25 tips for buying on Craigslist, and a ton of them still apply – so check it out for even more ideas for scoring some pretty great stuff. Happy thrifting to one and all!

P.P.S. And if you saw something in the photos above from our beach house or our house here in Richmond that has you saying “where’s that from?” we have source lists for both of those: here’s the one full of beach house info, and here’s one for our Richmond house. 

The post My Top Four Tips For Scoring The Best Secondhand Finds appeared first on Young House Love.

My Top Four Tips For Scoring The Best Secondhand Finds published first on https://bakerskitchenslimited.tumblr.com/

[statusreview]

My Top Four Tips For Scoring The Best Secondhand Finds

I take pride in some very strange things. Being able to cartwheel into a pool for example. Or knowing every single word to old commercial jingles and 90’s rap songs. Or the fact that John and I, two righties, somehow made two lefties, which clearly means they’re brilliant (not sure how I can even take credit for this phenomenon, but I do, as well as the fact that our kids are super tall, which is amazing to me as a 5’2″ lady).

But one thing I don’t really think about much is my secondhand furniture hunting mojo. I don’t think I have any magic luck or special searching skills. I would generally describe the key to my process as frequency. In other words: looking often. I regularly look at thrift stores and on Craigslist and on Facebook Marketplace. Most of the time I don’t find anything good at all, but every once in a while I find something awesome. Like this insanely beautiful inlay dresser that’s made by Restoration Hardware and sells for $1800 that I found on Craigslist for $400 (you can read the full story of that here).

So instead of demonstrating that I know every last word to the Left Eye rap in TLC’s Waterfalls, I figured I’d round up my best tips for secondhand shopping success, all of which have nothing to do with dumb luck, and everything to do with actionable things that you can implement to hopefully score some great finds of your own.

Lesson #1: Show Your Interest & Be Persistent

If I stop an analyze how that inlay dresser coup came to be, there’s just one simple thing that made it all happen: I was determined with a capital D. I saw this listing go up months before I bought it. And I loved it. But it was $600 and that was still over my beach house dresser budget – no matter how gorgeous and expensive the dresser originally was. So I waited. And the listing sat there. And it sat there.

Knowing she might be having trouble selling it, I decided to let the seller know that an interested party existed. Even though I wasn’t ready to shell out the $600, I wanted to make myself an option and discourage her from just deleting the listing out of frustration (I know as a seller I’ve definitely done that before). I emailed her saying “I am SO INTERESTED in your dresser but the top of my budget is $400. If that works for you, I’ll gladly come right over with $400 cash and grab it.” And she very kindly emailed me back and said “Thanks, I’m not planning to lower the price just yet but I’ll let you know if I do later.”

Now here’s where the whole determined thing really came into play. The listing sat there for a few more weeks (and I continued to watch it), but then one day it disappeared. And I noticed. And I gasped. It could’ve sold or just expired, but since I already had an email chain started, I decided to reach out to her one last time, just to say “hi, it’s me again! I noticed the listing is gone so I’m sure my dream dresser sold, but if it hasn’t and you’re interested in that $400 cash I can come right over! Just say the word!” And you know what? She said “You’ve got a deal.”

And that’s how this amazing dresser ended up at the beach house. It didn’t fall into my lap. It didn’t happen in a day or even a week – but over the course of months as I kept an eye on it. And if I hadn’t pinged her that first time I never could have followed up that second time because I wouldn’t have had her contact info – and I’m pretty sure this dresser wouldn’t be ours today. So let that be Lesson #1. Have patience and go out on a limb (maybe even multiple times) for something you love.

Lesson #2: Be Vigilant & Ready To Pounce

Ok, now let’s move on to the next one. I really really love this marble topped dresser that I bought on Facebook Marketplace from the sweetest local lady whose entire house was so amazing I wanted to buy everything in there. The entire top is a gorgeous slab of marble and the drawers have little key latches and it’s perfect for storing board games in the foyer of the beach house. I forget how much this was but I think it was around $100 which is an awesome deal since it would be hard to find a slab of marble as big as the one on top of this dresser for $100 alone.

Let’s talk about my hunting routine. I like to sit on the couch at the end of a long day and just scroll through Facebook Marketplace. It takes less than five minutes, and I’d say I do it maybe five times a week if I remember. And thanks to my habit of checking pretty frequently, I happened to see the listing for this dresser within an hour of it being posted. So I was first in line when I pinged her, I got cash FAST, and I got to her house within about an hour, meaning nobody could snatch it out from under me. So upon reflecting how I scored this dresser, it really comes down to being SO READY to make this thing mine (and not wavering, waffling, or taking too much time to get the cash and get to her house).

The thing is, you never know when something is going to be listed, and you certainly can’t be on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace every hour. But I realized that back before I checked Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist with any regularity that I was greatly lowering my chances of finding good stuff. Of course I couldn’t expect to pop on every few months and immediately find something I wanted! I had to up my frequency – even if it just means devoting five minutes a night to it a few times a week. This obviously gives me better chances of seeing more items, and catching them earlier.

Also, get cash and get thee to the person’s house fast! Sellers often observe a “first come, first served” rule and I can’t tell you how many times as a seller that the second or third person who contacted me actually got the item because the first person took too long to come pick it up & pay. So there you go. Lesson #2 is spend a little more time looking for something cool if you actually want to find something cool, and then descend like Cheetah with the cash. Fast, fast, fast.

Lesson #3: Recruit Spies

Ok, let’s move on to the rug in our bedroom. Whenever I see it my brain sings: “I’ve. Had. The rug of my li-i-ife. And I never felt this way before.” Yes it’s the song from Dirty Dancing with a rug worked into it, and yes, weirdly altering song lyrics is also something I take great pride in. The story of this guy is that I bought it locally from a consignment shop. YES! I know! It feels like an extremely lucky find. And it was… but it also clearly has a lesson attached when I look in the ol’ rearview mirror of life.

See, my friend actually texted me a picture of this rug along with some others that she had seen at a local consignment shop. So the first lesson is: befriend an army of people who will text you all the pretty things they find. Ha. Kidding. But really, if you have an interest or a need for something, it never hurts to let your design-loving friends know! They might see whatever it is you’re looking for (secondhand or beyond!) and be able to tell you where it is. Heck they might even text you a picture or send you a link.

The fact that my friend, who is a decorator, knew that I love these big colorful wool rugs definitely worked in my favor in this case (had I not been “linked” to this thing in her mind, she never would have texted it to me). And you can offer to keep an eye out for things for them in return – it really is a nice mutually beneficial thing to do with someone else who loves home stuff.

My accompanying tip for this rug victory harkens back to the second half of my last lesson, which is DO NOT HESITATE. The second she sent it I called the shop, asked the price, got the cash, and John and I rushed over there to smell it (always smell secondhand things guys – it’s a non-negotiable!) and it was in our car about 20 minutes later. There’s way more about this whole rug discovery and our bedroom’s evolution in this post, which also has a ton of sources for things.

Lesson #4: Be Nosy & Remember It Never Hurts To Ask

These chairs are a more recent score that I chatted about a little bit on the podcast (in this episode) and they hail from Facebook Marketplace. One thing I like about Facebook Marketplace over Craigslist (don’t get me wrong, I still like Sir Craig & His List) is that Facebook Marketplace learns what you click. So, much like Pinterest, it can curate a more customized experience every time you browse. Which is also why it’s super fast to check every time I drop in (less than 5 minutes).

Mine has learned that I click on furniture and home stuff, so it shows me all of that stuff first in my feed, even if a weird ceramic babydoll that stares into your soul was uploaded more recently. AND I SO APPRECIATE THAT.

But back to these chairs. I mentioned on that podcast that this listing was funny because it was actually for a large piece of driftwood, but I saw these chairs in the background – yes, BEHIND THE DRIFTWOOD. And I basically messaged her and said “about those chairs – are they for sale?!” And she said yes! The seller even had a large car and offered to drive them to my house since they’re HUGE and it would have been impossible to get both of them into our SUV at the same time.

So the lesson here is: anything in the picture is something you can ask about! The worst they can say is “no, my cute dog in the background is not for sale you psycho” and the best thing they can say is essentially what happened with these chairs, which was: “Sure! I’ll sell them AND DRIVE THEM TO YOUR HOUSE FOR YOU!”

Also, sub tip: whenever something is large we ask if they would accept an extra fee (like $20) to drive it over. It often saves us time/gas/money spent renting a larger vehicle, so it can be very worthwhile in many cases.

This chair story also has sort of an epilogue of sorts. When we posted photos of them in the show notes of that podcast where we mentioned them, a very kind and knowledgeable design enthusiast essentially said “OMG I THINK THOSE ARE RUSSELL WOODARD CHAIRS!” and thanks to the rabbit hole of google I learned he’s an amazing 50’s designer, sort of like Eames (we all know about his chairs! can’t Russell catch a break?!) and THEY SELL FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on places like 1st Dibs and Chairish. In fact, here’s a set of four currently listed for $3,750 (and here’s another one). HOW INSANE IS THAT?!?!

By comparison, we spent $140 for both chairs (which also included delivery!). So they might be the biggest secondhand score we’ve had yet. Honestly for me it’s way less about what something’s worth or who made it and a lot more about filling your house up with stuff you love. So my advice would just be to sniff around in secondhand spots (in person and online) often if you actually hope to find something amazing – and if you do it regularly enough I’m confident it’ll happen for you! Happy hunting!

P.S. Six years ago we wrote this post about 25 tips for buying on Craigslist, and a ton of them still apply – so check it out for even more ideas for scoring some pretty great stuff. Happy thrifting to one and all!

P.P.S. And if you saw something in the photos above from our beach house or our house here in Richmond that has you saying “where’s that from?” we have source lists for both of those: here’s the one full of beach house info, and here’s one for our Richmond house. 

The post My Top Four Tips For Scoring The Best Secondhand Finds appeared first on Young House Love.

My Top Four Tips For Scoring The Best Secondhand Finds published first on https://ssmattress.tumblr.com/

[lukerhill]

My Top Four Tips For Scoring The Best Secondhand Finds

I take pride in some very strange things. Being able to cartwheel into a pool for example. Or knowing every single word to old commercial jingles and 90’s rap songs. Or the fact that John and I, two righties, somehow made two lefties, which clearly means they’re brilliant (not sure how I can even take credit for this phenomenon, but I do, as well as the fact that our kids are super tall, which is amazing to me as a 5’2″ lady).

But one thing I don’t really think about much is my secondhand furniture hunting mojo. I don’t think I have any magic luck or special searching skills. I would generally describe the key to my process as frequency. In other words: looking often. I regularly look at thrift stores and on Craigslist and on Facebook Marketplace. Most of the time I don’t find anything good at all, but every once in a while I find something awesome. Like this insanely beautiful inlay dresser that’s made by Restoration Hardware and sells for $1800 that I found on Craigslist for $400 (you can read the full story of that here).

So instead of demonstrating that I know every last word to the Left Eye rap in TLC’s Waterfalls, I figured I’d round up my best tips for secondhand shopping success, all of which have nothing to do with dumb luck, and everything to do with actionable things that you can implement to hopefully score some great finds of your own.

Lesson #1: Show Your Interest & Be Persistent

If I stop an analyze how that inlay dresser coup came to be, there’s just one simple thing that made it all happen: I was determined with a capital D. I saw this listing go up months before I bought it. And I loved it. But it was $600 and that was still over my beach house dresser budget – no matter how gorgeous and expensive the dresser originally was. So I waited. And the listing sat there. And it sat there.

Knowing she might be having trouble selling it, I decided to let the seller know that an interested party existed. Even though I wasn’t ready to shell out the $600, I wanted to make myself an option and discourage her from just deleting the listing out of frustration (I know as a seller I’ve definitely done that before). I emailed her saying “I am SO INTERESTED in your dresser but the top of my budget is $400. If that works for you, I’ll gladly come right over with $400 cash and grab it.” And she very kindly emailed me back and said “Thanks, I’m not planning to lower the price just yet but I’ll let you know if I do later.”

Now here’s where the whole determined thing really came into play. The listing sat there for a few more weeks (and I continued to watch it), but then one day it disappeared. And I noticed. And I gasped. It could’ve sold or just expired, but since I already had an email chain started, I decided to reach out to her one last time, just to say “hi, it’s me again! I noticed the listing is gone so I’m sure my dream dresser sold, but if it hasn’t and you’re interested in that $400 cash I can come right over! Just say the word!” And you know what? She said “You’ve got a deal.”

And that’s how this amazing dresser ended up at the beach house. It didn’t fall into my lap. It didn’t happen in a day or even a week – but over the course of months as I kept an eye on it. And if I hadn’t pinged her that first time I never could have followed up that second time because I wouldn’t have had her contact info – and I’m pretty sure this dresser wouldn’t be ours today. So let that be Lesson #1. Have patience and go out on a limb (maybe even multiple times) for something you love.

Lesson #2: Be Vigilant & Ready To Pounce

Ok, now let’s move on to the next one. I really really love this marble topped dresser that I bought on Facebook Marketplace from the sweetest local lady whose entire house was so amazing I wanted to buy everything in there. The entire top is a gorgeous slab of marble and the drawers have little key latches and it’s perfect for storing board games in the foyer of the beach house. I forget how much this was but I think it was around $100 which is an awesome deal since it would be hard to find a slab of marble as big as the one on top of this dresser for $100 alone.

Let’s talk about my hunting routine. I like to sit on the couch at the end of a long day and just scroll through Facebook Marketplace. It takes less than five minutes, and I’d say I do it maybe five times a week if I remember. And thanks to my habit of checking pretty frequently, I happened to see the listing for this dresser within an hour of it being posted. So I was first in line when I pinged her, I got cash FAST, and I got to her house within about an hour, meaning nobody could snatch it out from under me. So upon reflecting how I scored this dresser, it really comes down to being SO READY to make this thing mine (and not wavering, waffling, or taking too much time to get the cash and get to her house).

The thing is, you never know when something is going to be listed, and you certainly can’t be on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace every hour. But I realized that back before I checked Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist with any regularity that I was greatly lowering my chances of finding good stuff. Of course I couldn’t expect to pop on every few months and immediately find something I wanted! I had to up my frequency – even if it just means devoting five minutes a night to it a few times a week. This obviously gives me better chances of seeing more items, and catching them earlier.

Also, get cash and get thee to the person’s house fast! Sellers often observe a “first come, first served” rule and I can’t tell you how many times as a seller that the second or third person who contacted me actually got the item because the first person took too long to come pick it up & pay. So there you go. Lesson #2 is spend a little more time looking for something cool if you actually want to find something cool, and then descend like Cheetah with the cash. Fast, fast, fast.

Lesson #3: Recruit Spies

Ok, let’s move on to the rug in our bedroom. Whenever I see it my brain sings: “I’ve. Had. The rug of my li-i-ife. And I never felt this way before.” Yes it’s the song from Dirty Dancing with a rug worked into it, and yes, weirdly altering song lyrics is also something I take great pride in. The story of this guy is that I bought it locally from a consignment shop. YES! I know! It feels like an extremely lucky find. And it was… but it also clearly has a lesson attached when I look in the ol’ rearview mirror of life.

See, my friend actually texted me a picture of this rug along with some others that she had seen at a local consignment shop. So the first lesson is: befriend an army of people who will text you all the pretty things they find. Ha. Kidding. But really, if you have an interest or a need for something, it never hurts to let your design-loving friends know! They might see whatever it is you’re looking for (secondhand or beyond!) and be able to tell you where it is. Heck they might even text you a picture or send you a link.

The fact that my friend, who is a decorator, knew that I love these big colorful wool rugs definitely worked in my favor in this case (had I not been “linked” to this thing in her mind, she never would have texted it to me). And you can offer to keep an eye out for things for them in return – it really is a nice mutually beneficial thing to do with someone else who loves home stuff.

My accompanying tip for this rug victory harkens back to the second half of my last lesson, which is DO NOT HESITATE. The second she sent it I called the shop, asked the price, got the cash, and John and I rushed over there to smell it (always smell secondhand things guys – it’s a non-negotiable!) and it was in our car about 20 minutes later. There’s way more about this whole rug discovery and our bedroom’s evolution in this post, which also has a ton of sources for things.

Lesson #4: Be Nosy & Remember It Never Hurts To Ask

These chairs are a more recent score that I chatted about a little bit on the podcast (in this episode) and they hail from Facebook Marketplace. One thing I like about Facebook Marketplace over Craigslist (don’t get me wrong, I still like Sir Craig & His List) is that Facebook Marketplace learns what you click. So, much like Pinterest, it can curate a more customized experience every time you browse. Which is also why it’s super fast to check every time I drop in (less than 5 minutes).

Mine has learned that I click on furniture and home stuff, so it shows me all of that stuff first in my feed, even if a weird ceramic babydoll that stares into your soul was uploaded more recently. AND I SO APPRECIATE THAT.

But back to these chairs. I mentioned on that podcast that this listing was funny because it was actually for a large piece of driftwood, but I saw these chairs in the background – yes, BEHIND THE DRIFTWOOD. And I basically messaged her and said “about those chairs – are they for sale?!” And she said yes! The seller even had a large car and offered to drive them to my house since they’re HUGE and it would have been impossible to get both of them into our SUV at the same time.

So the lesson here is: anything in the picture is something you can ask about! The worst they can say is “no, my cute dog in the background is not for sale you psycho” and the best thing they can say is essentially what happened with these chairs, which was: “Sure! I’ll sell them AND DRIVE THEM TO YOUR HOUSE FOR YOU!”

Also, sub tip: whenever something is large we ask if they would accept an extra fee (like $20) to drive it over. It often saves us time/gas/money spent renting a larger vehicle, so it can be very worthwhile in many cases.

This chair story also has sort of an epilogue of sorts. When we posted photos of them in the show notes of that podcast where we mentioned them, a very kind and knowledgeable design enthusiast essentially said “OMG I THINK THOSE ARE RUSSELL WOODARD CHAIRS!” and thanks to the rabbit hole of google I learned he’s an amazing 50’s designer, sort of like Eames (we all know about his chairs! can’t Russell catch a break?!) and THEY SELL FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on places like 1st Dibs and Chairish. In fact, here’s a set of four currently listed for $3,750 (and here’s another one). HOW INSANE IS THAT?!?!

By comparison, we spent $140 for both chairs (which also included delivery!). So they might be the biggest secondhand score we’ve had yet. Honestly for me it’s way less about what something’s worth or who made it and a lot more about filling your house up with stuff you love. So my advice would just be to sniff around in secondhand spots (in person and online) often if you actually hope to find something amazing – and if you do it regularly enough I’m confident it’ll happen for you! Happy hunting!

P.S. Six years ago we wrote this post about 25 tips for buying on Craigslist, and a ton of them still apply – so check it out for even more ideas for scoring some pretty great stuff. Happy thrifting to one and all!

P.P.S. And if you saw something in the photos above from our beach house or our house here in Richmond that has you saying “where’s that from?” we have source lists for both of those: here’s the one full of beach house info, and here’s one for our Richmond house. 

The post My Top Four Tips For Scoring The Best Secondhand Finds appeared first on Young House Love.