#BLANK SPACE 1 BILLION

[dee-the-red-witch]

Past time for a new pinned post.

Hi. I'm Denice. Gothy punkish futchy lesbian. Mid 40's. Tattooist, artist, voice actress, writer, and leatherworker.

Here's some of what I do.

Right now I'm on hiatus for medical leave. Website and email will be down soon, and I'll be stuck in a bed recovering for a good month. Here's the gofundme with the details if you want to know more or chip in some support.

Where do I stand on things?

1. Terfs, racists, fash, transphobes, bigots, and conservatives are pathetic examples of humanity and can fuck right off.

2. Give the goddamn land back. Free Palestine. Open the fucking borders. Tax anyone with the hubris to collect billions into starvation. Redistribute the wealth.

E. SUPPORT SEX WORKERS AND SEX WORK. This shouldn't have to get embiggened, but given the cultural christian fuckery I see in my notes daily, it's happening.

4. I am not your responsible adult, your mom, or your fucking role model. Curate your own experience if you can't handle adult content.

J. We do horror here.

7. This space intentionally left blank.

Q. No more anon asks, voice requests currently closed.

[mortuarywriting]

Falling into Place

Ao3 Link - [First] - [Next Chapter ->]

All things considered this isn't what you were expecting to wake up to when you went to bed. One minute you're on your phone, trying to pass out, and the next? You're here. You've had some interesting greetings in your life, but dropping about six feet and having twelve guns leveled at your face? That takes the cake

Warnings:

Reader Insert, Plus-Size Reader, The Author Regrets Everything, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Isekai, canon divergence Look we're gonna dig into the implications of omegasverse changing bits and pieces of history as well as addressing whatever the FUCK is happening as CoD's history. Idk man Godzilla is canon and nobody bats an eye at that fact and you think I'm gonna be normal about that? No

You could be having a worse day, you think, as you stare at the interrogation table you're cuffed to. They could've shot you the second you fell the six feet from the sky into a random army base. That's a very real thing that could've happened.

But no, you just had a dozen guns pointed at you in one moment and a slew of questions you didn't have satisfying answers for.

No, you had no idea how you got there. You'd been in bed tooling around on your phone and then you were falling.

They asked who you worked for, and were not impressed by your mundane answer. You didn't work for some pmc or intelligence organization. You asked them to their faces if they thought you could pass a PT test if you tried. Not that they answered or appreciated your point, mind.

It was only after you gave them whatever identifying information you had that things got… spicy.

"I would love to tell you what this designation of yours is if you tell me what you mean. Is it like a classification of civilian versus enlisted? Is it physical? Is it your horoscope? I don't know what I don't know," you explain again for the Nth time. You didn't wanna play twenty questions but here you fuckin were, captive audience and all.

The man asking you questions had lost his charming good cop look. He was getting more and more annoyed on this one, "your designation," a demand, not a question and sure as shit not an answer.

"Again, would love to tell you! I don't know what you mean! Feels like some kinda Star Wars thing," you grumble the last bit to yourself but the man cocks his head.

His eyes narrow, "what are… Star Wars, you said?"

You blink owlishly, "beg pardon?"

"Star War. Clarify."

It's your turn for your brow to furrow, and furrow it does, "Star Wars? As in the multi-billion dollar franchise created by George Lucas and eventually sold to Disney," your tone is questioning, just shy of asking if the guy lived under a rock but his expression didn't let up and the last thing you needed was bad cop, so you continued, "the story of what happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away? The political space series of movies versus Star Trek's more scientific and discovery based longstanding TV show? Nine major movies and the Clone Wars before Disney sunk their talons in. Like yeah we got more shows and movies that expanded the universe but they also cut out decades of book contributions in their acquisition and that kinda sucked. But yeah, that Star Wars?"

"Nine movies," his tone is disbelieving, and now it's your turn for your eyebrows to raise, "can you name them?"

You nod, "well yeah. Do you want them in episode order or release?"

His brows furrow, "did they not release in order?"

"In a sense? Three trilogies, 4-5-6 back in the late 70s early 80s, then 1-2-3 in the late 90s early 00s, and 7-8-9 through the teens. So order, yes, just… not a cohesive one."

"Release, then," he leaned back and crossed his arms, a position you'd love to mimic if you weren't cuffed to the table for… an indeterminate period of time now, actually.

"A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi-"

"Woah now, empire? What's a jeddy?"

You give him a blank look, trying very hard to mask your disbelief as you look between him and the mirror behind him. You look at your reflection, take a deep breath, and- "sir would it be easier for you to maybe check the internet?"

He seemed to bristle, nose flaring and looking at you expectantly.

You just… kinda sat there. You tapped your fingers together on the desk and kept the eye contact he was intent on. It took a good minute and him getting progressively pissier before you simply ask, "would you like the other movies now?"

You didn't expect an explosion of movement from the man. He downright snarled and slammed his hands on the table as he burst to his feet, the sudden change sending his chair screeching back before falling with a clatter. You leaned as far back as your cuffed hands would allow, eyes wide and a panic rising.

Both of you turned to look at the door when it slammed open with a barked, "Williams!" 

The man who opened it reared back a bit, "Christ, layin' it on a bit thick," he groused, his tone sounding more like someone chastising a teenager for using too much Axe body spray. He smoothed his posture back into something casual as he fanned the air dismissively with a hand, "cap wants you to take a walk."

Your interrogator- Williams, apparently- stares at the man in the door, the two locking eyes before the one in the door straightens from his purposely relaxed posture. You watch the both of them, noting the shoulders tensing as the two just. Staring at each other? Eventually the guy who'd been grilling you looked away and stormed out, the man in the doorway letting him slip out easily enough before turning a charming look back to you.

He took a minute to fan the door a few times to get newer, blissfully cool air in before he entered the room, "sorry 'bout him. He really did a number in here," the new guy tsked before closing the door quietly behind himself.

Your brow furrowed even as you slowly relaxed a bit, had this Williams guy like… farted or something? A nice quirk of ventilation keeping you from smelling something abhorrent? Either way you simply shrug as he walks in and tips the chair back up, sitting and giving another reassuring smile, "how you doing, love?"

You opened and closed your mouth a few times before simply settling on, "I'm a bit… whelmed? This has been," you give as vague a rolling gesture as you can without your cuffs rattling too badly, "a lot? And I have no idea what just set him off either?"

It's the man before you's turn to quirk a brow, "no idea?"

"If I knew the answers to his questions I'd've given 'em by now. I don't, though, and then he just started staring? And hell I just thought it was some kinda macho 'I can stare the truth out of you,'" you pitched your voice lower and pushed your shoulders out for a second to mimic the douchebag behavior before settling, "so I kept eye contact because I'm so out of my depth I have no reason to lie at all and now…" you trail off, gesturing around the room, "all that."

The man nods slowly, "alright love, could you tell me about the last five years?"

Your brows furrow, "oh fuck, 2019 was five years ago wasn't it. God, time is an illusion. Anyway, you want what I was doing leading up to and through the pandemic?"

You think he might've startled for a second but he simply moved to scratch his chin, "mhmm. Just your thoughts on the last five years is all."

So… you ramble. Because he was nice and not prodding or asking weird questions. You talk to him about your job before the pandemic, how people thought covid was just a flu until the death tolls kept climbing, how tons of governments dropped the ball on a local or country-wide level and how that kicked back onto your life, and then the absolute crapshoot of the last election cycle, the shitty 'oh no this is the new normal everything is fine' behavior that has lead to surges and cycles of a fucking plague and so on. He simply nodded, gave some sympathetic hums and winces appropriately at your experiences.

"And did you go back and watch Star Wars through that? Or other things Disney owned?"

And, well, that was a weird way to phrase it but you shrugged, "the mouse is just shy of a monopoly and not one that anybody can take that down so… yeah, I guess? They kept putting shows out and expanding their Star Wars universe so that's been kinda neat to watch but not just them, no. Couple other games and stuff like that to keep me busy, too," you kinda handwave and shut up because panic rambling to MILITARY PERSONNEL is probably not your smartest move in hindsight. Especially when you don't know his name. A+, self.

You tap your fingers against the metal table as he looks at you, "and you said covid has a long term effect of ruining people's senses of smell and taste?"

You nod slowly, "yeah, dude? It's one of the biggest warning signs for most people? Like if everything starts tasting like it was made by a middle class white mom who keeps shoving random letters in her kids names you should swab? That kinda shit?"

What rock has this guy been living under? You were pretty sure the military were supposed to be way more familiar with this shit all things considered, but you've been wrong before.

It was his turn to give you a bit of a wide eyed look before he poorly covers a laugh, "alright, that's fair. I need to go talk with my captain," he hooks a thumb over his shoulder to the window, which didn't surprise you that there had been people back there. He offers a reassuring smile as he stands, humming idly as he pushes the chair back in. He pauses mid-step, "you mentioned that there were cards…?"

You find yourself nodding slowly, "yeah it was important and you couldn't fly or go to certain places if you didn't have one for a while. Should still have a picture of mine buried on my phone," you really didn't wanna get another first-round of covid shots, you REALLY didn't wanna repeat the 24 hours of suck for no reason.

"Cool, thanks," he flashes another charming grin before he slides out of the room.

You lean back in your chair, what an odd guy. Nice though.

-------

"Right," Gaz says as he opens the door to Price and Ghost, "either our mystery guest is off her nut or she's legitimately from somewhere and somewhen else."

Ghost and Price look at each other before turning back to Gaz, this… complicated matters.

Well, it's not like you hadn't given them information to identify yourself. They'd dig up who you were one way or another.

-------

You stare blankly as the nice man from before gives you a sympathetic look, "what do you mean I'm dead?"

Behind him is a guy you're not sure if he's just fuckoff huge or if he's just moderately huge and it's forced perspective.

You don't think it's forced perspective.

You are absolutely trying not to panic spiral.

You are absolutely doing a horrible job at that.

"Well," he opens the file before him and there's a news article, proudly proclaiming "Locals Die in Horrible Freak Accident" like that's not some form of you that was looking like some smear on the pavement, "there's this. Fingerprints match up. Can check for dental if you're really curious."

"Were there even any teeth left after that," you mumble as you take and read the offered article. Seven people were involved, the pictures used are mostly flattering. Hell, you almost don't mind what pic they used for an alternate you but… "that's certainly not the pic I would've wanted. Maybe this me had different tastes?"

You take the time to actually read through the article. It's not helping because for as much as you stare at the page you're not absorbing any information. Some form of detachment, if this was really you? You'd died. A different you but a you nonetheless. You died and you're reading how it happened. There was a lot to unpack in all this and you just needed to put the suitcase away for now. You'd much rather throw it away at this rate.

You were rapidly coming to the understanding that you and Toto were not in Kansas anymore, and there wasn't a convenient yellow brick road to get yourself back home. No easy way to get the hell out of Dodge either. Was it Dodge or the O.K. Corral that was in Kansas? No the O.K. Corral wasn't in Kansas- Dodge was though, that's right. 

This analogy was getting away from you and some part of you figured this was just your brain trying to protect yourself but… wait, wasn't this a metaphor? There wasn't 'like' or 'as' or goddammit not again.

You recognize some names here and there but largely everyone involved were perfect strangers. The article doesn't cover if it would've been slow or quick. You hope for the smear that it was quick. Smears like that don't happen slowly, right? Well, not unless it's like a dramatic slide down a window, but not usually across pavement like that.

Still not sure how you feel about all of it. Bit morbid being confronted with your mortality like that.

Certainly answered a lot of questions about your theoretical passing you never thought about. Like if the obituary for you in what you know to be your own home and world is just as… really kinda just mediocre as this. Have you really done nothing of note for an obituary? Damn.

You kept pouring over the article, each pass bringing new words into focus that help connect the picture a little bit, but… Something repeated in the article made you pause, "two alphas, four betas, and an omega?" 

There was no decent way to ask about that. Any questions invoked from here would border into dangerous territory better kept between yourself and a private browser history. You knew what you were about but there was no fucking way.

"Their designations," the nice man whose name you still hadn't caught explains, "mostly explaining their secondary gender."

You look at him owlishly. You pray to whatever God might be listening that you wake up shortly. Or that the earth below your feet opens up and swallows you. Whichever comes first, the mortification will snipe you otherwise.

"Please tell me this is an elaborate joke at my expense," you are very quiet as you are trying to get really cool with a lot of things really quickly.

"Negative," the big fucker in the back practically growled and you knew that voice would do things to you if you weren't half stepped out of your own body. 

You missed whatever his followup was but your brow furrowed when you checked the date on the article, "I've been dead for months? That…" you let the paper fall from your hands. Everything about this is wild at best and very overwhelming at worst. 

A lot of this qualified as worst.

You look up at the two, missing the odd look they shot at each other as you try to pull yourself back together, "so now what? You've got a not-a-smear of me that fell from the sky onto a secure military base, and where I'm from we didn't have," you paused to gesture between the paper and the two soldiers, "dynamics was it? That was just a fanfiction special."

"Fanfiction."

The way he said it was so carefully neutral you paused, "oh my god without Star Trek to popularize fanfiction and the fan community, how has fandom evolved? Is fanfiction a thing- well, yes, it does fanfics have been a thing since Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy and even before- well, the question is more if it's still popularized? Are there still the wattpad fics of- I am getting so off track. What exactly is the next step?"

You look from the nice man to the big fucker and back, neither saying anything but looking at you with careful blankness.

You felt like you were being weighed and measured in their eyes.

You hoped to anyone listening that you weren't found wanting at least. Not when you're in the shit situation it looks like you ever so increasingly fell into.

"Considering I'm. Not smear. And very much not from here? Are blanks a thing? Or is that what a beta is I'm," you trail off, brow furrowing, "fuzzy. On the whole thing. The flavor of understanding, dynamics, and population skew tended to be dependant on the author's level of horny."

The did get a bit of a snort from the pretty one before you, the one in the back tilting his head just so as the pretty one spurred you on, "okay please don't take this the wrong way, you have given me nothing to go on but A/B/O and-" a finger was raised in question to that, you quickly explaining, "the fanfic shorthand for the universe without being a mouthful. Anyway- I've seen population numbers being roughly the same across the board, I've seen alphas and omegas at roughly 1% of the population of society on either end, I've seen alphas at about 5% and omegas at 1%- those ones are usually the most horny I swear.

"And it's all over the board, no consistency- sometimes it's betas are infertile, sometimes they're the straightman to the comedy that's an alpha and omega trying to woo each other without being too horny to function. Sometimes it's a sliding scale where being beta just means you're more the more middle-ground regulated hormonally with alphas and omegas being the opposing ends of a spectrum. Can you please say something and give me a fucking break because my panic rambles are probably like. Some kinda prejudiced. I'm still not over the 'I'm supposed to be a smear on the ground we don't even have dental images of to confirm who it is anymore' nugget you dropped on me. I think I'm doing well for this"

You would rather not tell them that as soon as you're out of this box of a room you were gonna be curled up in a ball and unabashedly weeping. That was none of their business.

The pretty one gave you what you're sure was supposed to be a reassuring smile but the quiet stretched just a bit too long. You looked from one to the other before leaning forward, "is this supposed to be soothing in some way? Because it's just a bit of an extended awkward silence and that's uh-"

It was the big one in the back's turn to give an amused snort, the pretty one looking bashful, "right, sorry, we uh-"

You jerk a bit, "wait, was that supposed to be some scent thing," you really didn't wanna say pheromones and potentially dig yourself into a deeper, more awkward hole based on Horny Pseudoscience.

Pretty rubbed the back of his neck, "something like that. You really couldn't smell anything?"

You know the exact Face you're making. It's very much your 'I have told you this and I'm getting tired of having to repeat it' face. You can tell he clocks it but for the record, because to your mortification this has to be recorded, you simply give a succinct, "no, I haven't smelled anything. Not from you, not from him," you jerk your head towards the big fucker, "and not from douchebag from be- Williams! His name was Williams. Nothing. Really had no clue why you were fanning the door when you came in."

You sigh, rubbing the heels of your palms into your eyes, "okay. Assuming I'm not about to be put into past tense a second time. Do we have any idea what popped me out here?"

The sentences are stilted, you know you're getting more rattled the longer you're here but sue you alright it's been the worst six hours of your life here.

They just continue to look at you, pretty keeping a polite almost customer service look as big one just stares unceasingly.

"Right. Okay. Am I going to be reintegrated to society or is this," you gesture around the little room as much as you can, "looking like my home for the foreseeable future."

No change in what you can see of either's expression, and you just sag. Deep breath in, deep breath out, "cool. Alright. Well. I know nothing of how biology is altered here, I'm not sure how that has impacted changes throughout history, and frankly I don't know what your pop culture has done. I'm assuming math and written languages are largely the same but in all fairness I don't know what I don't know."

You just stare quietly at the table for a bit longer before looking back at the two of them, "is there anything else you need because I can feel the freakout creeping up and while I know there's no real privacy, uh…"

The pretty one looked back to the big one, at some point you're sure you'll get some sort of names but for now? Now you watch the big one nod, the pretty one give you a polite smile and some vaguely polite bullshit your brain is swiftly going too far out to hear.

You only hope that whoever is behind the mirror is polite enough to look away as you put your head down on the table and give yourself the opportunity to, just this once, cry. As a treat.

[Next Chapter -> ]

[mindblowingscience]

Astronomers using NASA's powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) just spotted tellurium, an element rarer than platinum is on Earth, in the aftermath of two dense stellar corpses about 1 billion light-years away. The findings could help researchers better understand the conditions in which precious chemical elements are created in the universe. "Just over 150 years since Dmitri Mendeleev wrote down the periodic table of elements, we are now finally in the position to start filling in those last blanks of understanding where everything was made, thanks to Webb," study lead author Andrew Levan of Radboud University in the Netherlands and lead author of the study said in a statement.

Continue Reading.

[sshbpodcast]

Character Spotlight: Seven of Nine

By Ames

While we definitely miss Kes, her replacement on Star Trek: Voyager definitely succeeds in filling her shoes and then some. Seven of Nine may have been introduced on the show as an obvious thirst trap to boost the show’s sex appeal, but she is so much more than that. The ex-Borg bombshell, with the acting chops of Jeri Ryan and some excellently written story arcs, grows into more than just the sum of her nanobots.

Get assimilated with your hosts from A Star to Steer Her By as we explore the many facets of Seven, whose journey to regain her humanity pairs so beautifully with the Voyager’s journey to make it back to the Alpha Quadrant. Scour through our astrometrics records below for our usual Best and Worst Moments lists and listen to our hivemind discussions over on this week’s podcast episode (jump to 1:32:36; featuring some bonus moments from guest star drone Carl!). Resistance is futile!

[Images © CBS/Paramount]

Best moments

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor abyss of space After Seven has [reluctantly] joins the crew, one of the first thing she does is start helping out in the astrometrics lab, and in “Message in a Bottle,” she discovers the relay network that our heroes use to send the EMH over to the Dauntless and pass communication to and from Starfleet. It’s an early glimmer of hope after years of tooling around in the Delta Quadrant.

All by myself. Don’t wanna be all by myself anymore. We get an absolute showcase in acting from Jeri Ryan in the stunning “One,” in which she’s left to guide the ship through some nebula or other while the rest of the organic crew members wait in stasis. Seven’s battles with her own demons of isolation, loneliness, and self doubt play out as hallucinations, but she keeps it together enough to save the whole crew from nebula gas!

A single Borg among billions of individuals When home seems to be in reach because of a starship Arturis brings them to in “Hope and Fear,” Seven initially determines that she doesn’t want to go on this roadtrip because of how daunting she finds returning to Earth. Watching her deal with those feelings until she comes out the other side feels like a win, even if Arturis’s scheme turns out to be too good to be true.

The robot has been neutralized. May I leave now? This is just one of those little moments from the show, but I like it enough to include it. In “Night,” when Tom is trying to pass the time during months of monotony, he’s playing some Captain Proton with an unimpressed Seven, who simply deactivates Satan’s Robot with one of her patented “I am Borg”s and it’s just so charming and funny that I’ve got to hand it to her.

Are you my mother? By the time we hit “Drone,” Seven’s able to help her sort-of son One learn the merits of individuality weighed against the dangers that the Borg exemplify, no matter how tempting they may seem. Her taking this new breed of Borg under her wing shows just how far Seven has come in the season since her introduction, and her heartbreak at losing him is real and lovely.

Part of me not unlike your replicator. Not unlike the Doctor. Like Kes before her, Seven develops a rapport with the EMH that is built on trust and their outsider perspectives (oh, and horniness because the Doc can be a bit of a cretin sometimes). Seven fights for his rights in “Latent Image” when she urges Janeway not to blank his malfunctioning memory again – something you couldn’t do to one of the solid crewmen.

You and I wouldn’t be able to play Kadis-kot anymore Another great friendship we see Seven develop is with Naomi Wildman. The young Ktarian starts out terrified of the ex-Borg drone, but by “Bliss,” the two are teaming up to take on the bioplasmic organism, as the only two people on the ship not affected by its hallucinatory effects. They bond over how they don’t have anyone waiting for them on Earth, but they have each other!

Time is the fire in which Braxton burns You know I’ve got to give some love to one of my favorite time-travel stories! Seven really gets to shine in “Relativity,” jumping through time to prevent some sabotage to the Voyager and brilliantly uncovering Braxton’s madcap plan. She knowingly puts herself in danger with repeated trips through time because she knows the importance of this mind-boggling mission.

No really, are you my mother? If you liked Seven’s friendship with Naomi, you’re gonna love her relationship with the dronelings we meet in “Collective.” We meet the Borg children adrift on their vessel and threatening anyone who comes by like puffed-up stray kittens, but Seven tries to save them from themselves and takes in the four survivors (and the Borg baby!), acting like their foster mother.

Definitely in contention for worst parents in Trek While the SSHB team tends to prefer Mezoti because she’s the best, Seven takes a particular liking to Icheb. Like a mother honey badger, she protects him when she smells the danger that his parents pose to him in “Child’s Play.” She figures out their scheme to sacrifice their child and saves Icheb from getting reassimilated, even if it would help his terribly flawed people.

They’re tryna build a prison for you and me to live in By season seven, Seven’s come so far in her character development that she fights for the rights of Iko, the death-row prisoner in “Repentance.” She determines that he can be rehabilitated and given the chance he deserves because he feels true remorse. If Seven got the chance to regain her humanity after everything she did as a Borg, shouldn’t this guy too?

Their isolation may limit their potential, but if that isolation ends, so will a unique way of life This one may not be a particularly good episode, but it’s always nice to watch Seven learn a life lesson. Though she doesn’t initially understand why she should prevent the Ventu culture from getting corrupted by the Ledosians in “Natural Law,” Seven befriends the primitive people and comes to understand the value of allowing them to develop on their own terms.

—

Worst moments

Scorpions are not to be trusted Speaking of things Seven does as a Borg, when we first meet her in “Scorpion,” Chakotay is reluctant to trust this scorpion in Borg’s clothing, who is certainly going to betray the agreement she made with Janeway. And whaddaya know, Seven immediately betrays the agreement she made with Janeway! Just like the scorpion in that parable that Chakotay totally lifted.

Nevertheless, I am willing to explore my humanity. Take off your clothes. Once Seven gets deborgified, it becomes clear that she’s first and foremost here for her sex appeal. And the show is going to remind you of that. A lot. No one is more aware of that at first than Harry Kim, especially in “Revulsion” when Seven just offers to sleep with him to lessen the tension, having no idea how inappropriate that is. How else are we to notice she’s hot???

Quoth the raven: We are Borg Like Data in “Brothers,” Seven feels compelled by some unnatural force to take over a ship and fly towards her homing beacon in “The Raven.” Unlike Data, she’s not just programmed by some Soong or other, but instead is hallucinating all over the place and would like to be reassimilated by the Collective. She even holds Tuvok hostage until she learns the corvid truth.

Jenny, I got your number: Species 847-2309 A big speed bump to Seven’s reintegration comes in “Prey” when the Hirogen are demanding the crew hand over an injured being from Species 8472. Janeway tries to teach her the value of compassion for a helpless creature, but Seven loses any trust that’s she has built up by deciding on her own to issue them a death sentence and beam them over to the Hirogen vessel to be murdered.

Sometimes your words just hypnotize me While we’ve already thoroughly put most of the blame for this one on the EMH’s shoulders, Seven isn’t entirely innocent when it comes to the episode “Retrospect.” She’s quick to believe his quack psychiatry and accuses Kovin of violating her just because the Doctor tells her to. If anyone was going to view the facts first, even under duress, it should have been Seven.

From Alpha to Omega The Borg strives for perfection, so Seven gets super into the Omega particle in “The Omega Directive” so much so that it becomes an infatuation. She stops considering reason and the danger of the situation that this highly unstable particle poses, which seems entirely unlike Seven most of the time. Like, it’s a cool particle, but don’t get everyone killed just to look at it, lady.

This is a starship, not a nature preserve After living among the crew for close to two seasons, you’d think Seven would have a slightly better handle on tact by the time we get to “Someone to Watch Over Me,” but apparently she’s just as inappropriate as ever just so the writers can make a joke. Frankly, watching her study Tom and B’Elanna’s mating habits makes me roll my eyes at the inanity.

We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own Oh, and we can’t forget all the assimilating that Seven did as a Borg, even if it’s hard to blame her as a person for it. But she sure does, so we’ll take that pass and run with it. We have a perfect example of it in the flashback story in “Survival Instinct” when she forces the little mini collective who’ve been showing signs of individuality to assimilate, ruining their very lives.

It’ll be like a simple night's sleep I can’t help but harp on this moment in “Dragon’s Teeth” when Seven opens up all the crypods and releases the Vaad’waur from stasis… for absolutely no reason. Scratch that: the reason was to move the plot forward. But really. Seven of all people should know better than to release swarms of randos without investigating the circumstances first. They could be assholes!

The caretaker array is turning the frogs gay! Okay, while I’d admit that this one might inadvertently (or maybe advertently?) be the funniest episode of Voyager, you’ve got to admit that Seven downloading all the logs into her Borg brain in “The Voyager Conspiracy” is hare-brained. Like when the Doc turns himself into Mr. Hyde in “Darkling,” Seven tampers with her mind and ends up turning into a conspiracy nutjob.

Fun will now commence On the flipside, some of the moments that are meant to be comedic fall flat in “Ashes to Ashes” when Seven teaches the dronelings a basic educational curriculum. She has no idea what she’s doing in providing the basic education of the kiddos… and it’s not her job! It’s clear the writers have only stuffed her in these circumstances for some chuckles, but I see through it!

We aren’t far from the boner of your people While I’ll be the first to stand up for the Chakotay-Seven relationship (rushed though it was), any time there’s weird romantic and/or sexual bullshit in the holodeck, I admit the red flags go up. So when Seven makes herself a holo-Chakotay in “Human Error,” that’s a no no. We’ve chewed out La Forge and Janeway for this before, and just wait until our surprise spotlight next week!

—

Turns out resistance wasn’t futile! We’ve just got one more bonus Voyager character spotlight before our Enterprise series wrap – and it’s a doozy! So make sure you’ve got this holoprogram running, follow the page for future spotlights and blogtivities, celebrate with us as we get through the rest of Enterprise on SoundCloud or wherever you podcast, chat with our hivemind over on Facebook and Twitter, and we are Borg!

[mahalkitabbg]

𝙸𝙽𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙳𝚄𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 ⭐(bc apparently that's important-😭)

Updated Every now-and-then:

Call me 'mahalkitabbg' (HAHA), ChefBaby_j, or 'Tyume' :)

I am introverted but if I get to know you...I will never stop rambling about random stuff...I swear.

(Woo....Random blank spot...)

I'm a multi-fandom person. I really like to read, write, and draw (that should be obvi-) and practice piano. I love doing math for some weird reason like I love Algebra... (MINOR SO NO SUSSY 👺) I am American but I'm half Filipino. (Like both parents are from The Filipinas, but I am born in America.)

I am a band kid... DON'T COME AFTER US WE WILL COME AFTER YOU. Music is genuinely really fun!!

My pronouns are any, and if you were to misgender me it's fine bc I kinda like being misgendered... is that weird?... 🤷

I'm aro/ace 🧡💛🤍🩵💙 (I think...)

Oh and I call my followers 'Donkeys' in like a fun way-

Dislikes-Hates:

I HAT3 🌽 (no, not the food-),

2. 'weird' adults (flirting with minors and h@rassing them, you get it.)

3. Discouraging people.

4. People who don't wear headphones and have their phone volume at the HIGHEST POSSIBLE PUT IT DOWN THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND YOU, LISTEN TO SIA WITH HEADPHONES!!!

Likes:

Painting

Writing-Art Form

Gardening

Ceramics-Clay-Pottery

Coding

Math + Science

Hiking

Listening to music. (ANY music)

Manok ko (My chickens-pets.)

And if you were the same race as me... you would UNDERSTAND WHAT MY USERNAME MEANS- 😭 (hint, hint... the end part is in an abbreviated English modern texting way of admiration while the rest is in another language...Just add the spaces)

I like listening to Tyler The Creator, Beabadoobee, Laufey, She & Him, Frank Sinatra, The Smiths, Alex G., TV Girl, The Cardigans, Mitski, Michael Jackson, Billie Eilish (and like 50 billion trillion somethin' more.) OH I like Ube. Like I LOVE UBE. I LIVE FOR UBE!!

Fandoms I'm in (Or ones I could talk about if I felt like it):

Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur

The Simpsons

Amphibia

The Legend of Zelda

Jollibee? (I'm just a jolly bee, 'kay? Let's all be jolly bees.)

The Owl House

The Ghost and Molly McGee

Win or Lose (OMGG I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH!!)

101 Dalmations Street

Elena of Avalor (ITS GOOD TRUST-)

My Neighbor Totoro

Peanuts (Snoopy.)

Dog Man (Don't laugh at me.)

South Park (trying to get into it more... so just saying haven't completely finished the series.)

Apple & Onion (TELL ME SOMEONE KNOWS THIS SHOW. PLEASE I AM ON MY KNEES BEGGING FOR SOMEONE TO KNOW THIS SHOW)

All of the Rick Riordan Books

Gordon Korman's Books

Asylum ( Madeleine Roux )

Studio Investigrave Games

The Amazing Digital Circus

The Amazing World of Gumball

Amanda The Adventurer

Big City Greens

Mouthwashing (The game not actual Mouthwashing-)

Argos & Mr. Plant

Ramshackle

Star VS The Forces of Evil

Bluey (Admit it, you like it, too.)

SML (Super Mario Logan)

Gravity Falls

The Holy Bible... (TRUE #1) Roman-Catholic/Christian and proud of it.

And about... 50 billion trillion more.

(up there is my persona/oc or whatever u call it. yuh. i don't actually look like that irl-)

DONT DARE MFING MIRROR THIS. I WAS HALF ASLEEP MAKING THE ART 'MKAY?

(I don't post on yt but that's there ig if ur interested...I might post one day. Idk.)

Yurt. that should be it. idk. what else might update.

If you wanna chat: .ajamanok. on discord :) (hit me up ;3)

Display name for Discord should be raisins are the best snack (that exactly)

[thevindicativevordan]

Comics this week ?

Dropped F4, it’s still great and it hurt to do it, but if I’m going to be trying the entire Absolute line I have to keep pruning. Definitely recommend any F4 fans keep reading that series, and if we get an Ultimate F4 series like I think we will I will definitely be picking that up.

Batman: Off-World #5 - Batman comparing fighting a Thanagarian in space to fighting in Gotham’s alleys is peak. Love Mahkne’s art but he undersold that punch, it needed more oomph than he drew it having. Series gives me high hopes for Absolute Superman as weird as this might sound, I think Aaron and Sandoval are going to deliver on the high octane violence that Superman rarely gets to participate in. When I read Off-World I see a blueprint for Absolute Superman moreso even than Aaron’s actual work on the mainline Superman in Action. Batman even has glowing fists and forearms! The Blacksun Twins are exactly the kind of bad guys I see Absolute Superman going up against. 13 billion people killed, Jesus Christ.

Zatanna: Bring Down The House #3 - Others might bemoan Constantine showing up but not me!

Avengers vs. Aliens #1 - For anyone who hasn’t been a fan of Hickman’s recent post-X work, this is prime Avengers/F4 tier Hickman. Anyone else notice that Hickman’s preference for Hulk seems to be a Hulk where Banner controls the body? 1610, 6160, New Avengers with Doc Green, and now this. Granted two of those were Hickman simply making do with the status quo, but he’s had two chances in AvA and 6160 to write Hulk with a blank slate, and both times he opted to eliminate any difference between Hulk and Banner. My guess is that simply lines up better with his preference for morally murky protagonists with more power than they can handle.

[this-daydream-is-dangerous-13]

Blondie? An incredible force. As a commenter said: “It’s just another Wednesday for her!”

The Swift Agenda 01 | Aug. 9–15, 2023

1. Taylor Swift ascends to unimaginable heights as she has now entered the Top 20 best-selling artists of all time (CSPC), shifting 164.5 million equivalent album units since the start of her legendary seventeen-year career, rising to the upper echelon among the all-time greats and leaving her 21st-century counterparts perpetually (with the nearest one having 120M):

— Taylor in the 161M–180M range

— 0 artists in the 141M–160M range

— 0 artists in the 121M–140M range

— 5 artists in the 101M–120M range

— 4 artists in the 81M–100M range

— 6 artists in the 60M–80M range

With the advent of streaming dominance, it’s easy to argue that modern artists have it “better” — but judging from the several tiers separating Taylor Swift, it’s evident that her success is an outlier vs. the rest of the industry, even among A-list and A+ list artists (i.e., the 15 remaining 21st-century acts in the all-time Top 100) who’ve long been compared with the pop titan.

2. Taylor Swift simultaneously charts 11 albums on Billboard 200, making her the only artist in the chart’s seven-decade history to do so 4x.

Much more impressively, she also charts FOUR albums inside the Top 10 of Billboard 200, making her the only artist to ever achieve this remarkable feat THRICE.

Billboard 200 weeks:

— Number 1: 63 (#1 woman, #3 overall)

— Top 10: 309 (#1 soloist, #2 overall)

— Top 200: 2456 (#1 woman, #3 overall)

3. Taylor Swift closes the first leg of her colossal “The Eras Tour” with universal acclaim, omnipresent impact, and industry-shaking commercial success. Official numbers are pending, but with the tour’s 53/146 dates (so far) alone, it’s estimated to break nearly every single record in existence.

4. During the last day of the record-shattering first leg of The Eras Tour, on her 6th consecutive show at the majestic SoFi Stadium, Taylor Swift announced the impending release of #1989TaylorsVersion.

With a STELLAR first-day US preorders nearing half a million, 1989 TV is essentially locked for a 1M+ debut on Billboard 200, challenging its legendary predecessor, “1989” (1.287M), or even the streaming-era juggernaut “Midnights” (1.578M).

5. Taylor Swift spends another week at #1 on Billboard Artist 100, extending her record to 76 weeks.

— Nearest male: 37

— Nearest female: 20

— Nearest group: 21

6. Taylor Swift is, once again, the #1 most-streamed artist of the day, week, month, quarter, and year on Spotify. She remains the #1 most-streamed female artist in history (54.9B) and currently outpaces/outstreams the two male artists leading the all-time rank with 60M–70M gaps on a daily basis.

Moreover, Taylor Swift occupies FIVE spots in the Top 10 most-streamed albums of the week (overall), making her the first artist in Spotify history to EVER achieve this. Each of them is gaining a whopping 10M+ streams every single day.

7. Taylor Swift now singlehandedly owns 25 spots (55.6%) in the Top 45 biggest streaming days (above 100M) in Spotify history, while the other 20/45 days (44.4%) are divided among seven male artists.

8. Midnights has officially reached 6 billion streams on Spotify, making Taylor Swift the only female artist with 3 albums surpassing the 6B mark.

9. Taylor Swift simultaneously charts songs from four DIFFERENT albums on Billboard Hot 100, making her the first solo artist to do so:

— Cruel Summer, #3

— Karma, #13

— Anti-Hero, #18

— Blank Space, #49

— I Can See You, #63

10. Cruel Summer becomes Taylor Swift’s record-extending 17th #1 song on Spotify US. Though based on projections, the highest it can get on the upcoming Billboard Hot 100 is #2, which would make her tie with Drake for the all-time record. It remains to be seen if it has a chance at #1 next week, so it’s advisable to withhold purchases and focus in streaming for now.

Meanwhile, Taylor has yet to acknowledge the SIX record-breaking Eras Tour shows at the SoFi Stadium, leaving people anticipating that SOMETHING is coming any minute now.

[wdcsuae]

Boost Online Sales: Why You Should Hire eCommerce Developers in UAE for Growth-Focused Solutions

In an ever-moving world of digital marketing, it's no longer optional to have an online presence; it is essential. In the UAE, businesses of all sizes are rapidly adopting eCommerce systems to sell products and services. However, it is important to know that not all e-commerce stores are equal.

Online retailing has become so competitive that simply having a website with basic features is no longer sufficient. Customized solutions to enhance customer satisfaction and experience are equally important. For companies that are serious about growth, having brand identity needs to be tackled in optimised tailored solutions which helps secure skilled ecommerce developers in UAE.

In this post, we will discuss the value of hiring eCommerce developers in UAE with focus on business-digital solutions, the unique advantages of the UAE region, and how they enhance your business.

The Reasons for and the Need to Shape the UAE’s eCommerce Market Strategically

Expansion of eCommerce Activities within the UAE

UAE stands to benefit from having one of the most rapidly expanding eCommerce markets in the Middle East. The country’s internet access, high consumer technology adoption, and a digitally innovative government creates ample opportunities for online businesses. Statista claims the UAE will exceed $10 billion in eCommerce revenue by 2025, with leading sectors being fashion, electronics, groceries, and digital services.

However, there is high competition in this space. Businesses cannot afford to depend on blank templates or slow websites. Custom solutions are a requirement given the mobile-first, intuitive, secure, and frictionless shopping experiences customers expect. This is true of retail and service industries alike. Expert developers are the difference makers.

The Strategic Edge: Why eCommerce Developers in UAE Are the Best to Hire

1. Localized Expertise Alongside Global Standards

The primary advantage of hiring eCommerce developers in UAE is their amalgamation of local experience and international development standards. Understanding regional shopping behaviors, which payment gateway users prefer, the need for local language support (Arabic/English), and local culture can be important.

For Instance, an eCommerce site focused on shoppers from the UAE will have to deal with VAT, cash-on-delivery payment methods, and languages. UAE-based developers understand these pain points and build features that both local and global users can trust.

2. Solutions Customized for Growth

Some might say that having generic platforms to start from is good, however, they fail to successfully grow with the business. eCommerce developers based in the UAE work with a growing business strategy whether it involves the launching of new products or managing significant traffic during events like White Friday sales or even including AI recommendation bots.

Custom development makes it possible to create the following infrastructure

Tailored user experiences

Agile backend architecture

Robust analytics and performance monitoring

Multiple third party API integrations ERPs, CRMs, and logistics

Automated inventory and order supervision

All of which guarantees optimal retention and revenue.

3. Conversion focused Performance Optimization

Websites that operate slowly are reliable deal breakers. Looking from the other side, every second page load consistently translates to a 7% reduction in conversions. eCommerce developers from the UAE ensure their client’s site is optimized for performance through lazy loading, efficient coding, CDNs, and mobile-first design.

They also conduct SEO from start to finish, enhancing visibility in local and global search engines by optimizing metadata, schema markups, and internally linking to pages.

4. Security-First Development

Cybersecurity is a must nowadays, especially with online stores that handle payments, customer data, and transactions every single day. Developers of UAE eCommerce sites understand GDPR, PCI DSS, and other local cybersecurity legislations thoroughly.

Their strategies generally incorporate:

End-to-end data scrambling

Impenetrable payment gateways

Two-step user verification

Routine weak spot checks

Data retention, erasure, and catastrophe recovery methods

In online commerce, trust is fundamental and trust relies on security.

5. Local Logistics & Payment Systems Integration

Commerce in the UAE capitalizes on speed and reliability. Customers demand deliveries the same or next day, order tracking in real-time and payment options like Apple Pay, Tabby, and cash on delivery.

When you hire eCommerce developers in UAE, you gain access to knowledge that enables easy routing through local logics services like Aramex, Fetchr, SMSA, and payment aggregators which guarantees smooth backend fusion and reduced barriers for both you and your clients.

6. Dependable Support and Maintenance

Business growth and development in eCommerce requires consistent support. For example, issues concerning technology glitches, plugins, hosting, and the rollout of other features all need an immediate response. Working with a local UAE team enables support during business hours, school holidays, and is able to match your pace of work.

The closeness coupled with the cultural fit enables better cooperation for a vibrant relationship and therefore a quicker turnaround for sustained results.

Why do developers from the UAE stand out?

Development has thrived because of the large number of qualification based immigrants which coupled with international bolstered educational institutions and supported technology development hubs make the region rich in talent. The expatriate population has further accelerated the growth. The best developers are shifting towards locations like Abu Dhabi and Dubai making them global talent hubs.

Strong Emerging Technology Government Support

Policies such as the Dubai Digital Strategy and UAE Vision 2031 focus on innovation with AI and digital commerce leading. Local developers have a competitive advantage in emerging tech and for your firm.

Bilingual Skills: English-Along Other Local Languages

For businesses operating within the region, bilingual websites are a necessity. A greater number of eCommerce solution developers enable a local brand experience that is beyond translation.When Should You Consider Bringing on eCommerce Developers in UAE?

It is recommended to hire a developer when:

You are planning to set up a new online store specifically for the UAE or wider MENA region.

Your existing platform is not performing well or is somewhat outdated. 

You intend to scale with added functionalities such as subscriptions, B2B modules, or marketplaces.

Integrating AI, analytics, or headless commerce is on your agenda.

Your current system poses speed, security, and user experience challenges.

Keep in mind: An eCommerce platform is not something you just build. You must engineer it with precision, scalability, and growth in mind.

Considering the hiring eCommerce developers in the UAE, does the expense justify the cost value outweighing the cost?

Yes. Investing in an ecommerce developer in UAE appears as spending at first, but in reality:

There is reduced downtime as well as fewer technical issues.

Customer retention and satisfaction rates will rise.

Enhancements in UX and platform performance results in higher conversion rates.

Long-term expenses cut through maintenance owing to clean scalable code.

Local regulations are better managed which lowers legal risks.

In other words, it proves a more reliable investment for growth.

How To Choose Your Ideal eCommerce Developers in UAE

Evaluate Portfolio With Testimonials From Clients– Target work that has been done previously and is relevant to the niche or industry.

Focus On Verbally Guaranteeable Timetables – Communication culture should be a priority whereby timelines are set and clients assured of constant updates.

Demand Scalability: Make sure to factor growth when planning and not just the present requirements.

Discuss Post-Launch Support– Make modifications and routine maintenance part of the deal.

Review Technology Stack: Verify they use flexible and secure platforms that are up to date like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, or custom frameworks.

How can WDCS Technology assist you?

WDCS Technology aims at developing customized and flexible high-performance eCommerce solutions for the UAE market. Our developers have local experience, as well as exposure to global development which allows us to create beautiful, high-performing platforms.

We help businesses with:

Building eCommerce platforms from scratch, tailored to enhance conversions

Updating outdated stores to modern platforms

Implementing AI and Automation for better productivity

Creating secure payment and logistics systems

Offering 24/7 technical support and ongoing maintenance of the platforms.

For those in need of enhanced sales and improved online visibility, we would strongly recommend partnering with growth-driven UAE-based eCommerce developers.

Conclusion

Like any other emerging opportunity, digital retailing in the UAE is evolving but does not come without some trouble. There is feedback from the field; a strategy must exist, and great care taken to achieve goals with proper execution and appropriate talent. Given the situation, it is not a wonder why so many businesses are now opting to outsource ecommerce developers in the UAE. They are provided with unmatched expertise and insights that are results-oriented.

While you contemplate on this, remember your target audience is already shopping online, and so are your competitors. The most pressing concern is: does your ecommerce platform have what it takes to lead the market?

WDCS Technology can improve your online store.

Learn more about our ecommerce development services in the UAE.

Be sure to contact us regardless of what stage you’re at - your business idea’s infancy, a full-blown launch, or somewhere in between. Our experts are more than ready, and most importantly, willing to work with you and make your visions a reality.

[almanoelscraft]

Handmade Greeting Cards with a Typographic Twist

Greeting cards are the pocket-sized canvases of the DIY world. They’re quick to make, easy to personalize, and ridiculously satisfying to hand out. And when you sprinkle in some clever typography? Chef’s kiss. Today we’ll explore how fonts, words, and layout can become the stars of your card-making game.

✨ Unique Fact of the Day:

Hallmark sells more than 6.5 billion greeting cards per year—but the most-shared cards on social media? Handmade ones with clever, bold typography. In other words: people still love a punny card with flair.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:

How to make bold typographic designs using stencils, stamps, or hand lettering.

How to incorporate puns and playful wording for next-level cuteness or snark.

Techniques for layering paper, using embossing tools, or adding dimension.

Font pairings and layout strategies that make words pop.

Whether it’s a birthday, a breakup (yes, even that), or a “just because,” today’s lesson ensures your message lands with style.

🧰 Supplies Checklist:

Blank cardstock or folded paper (A6 or A7 sizes are great)

Fine-liner pens or brush markers

Ruler and pencil

Letter stamps or alphabet stickers

Ink pads (in fun, non-sad colors)

Watercolors or colored pencils

Washi tape and/or ribbon

Embossing powder and heat gun (optional, for fancy folk)

Craft glue or double-sided tape

Scissors or craft knife

Optional: Printables of cute phrases or font templates

💌 Project 1: Minimalist Quote Card

Why:

Clean, minimal, elegant—this one’s for the font-nerds and less-is-more fans.

How:

Fold a white card in half.

Lightly pencil in your chosen quote (“You’re the serif to my sans” is a solid pick).

Use a fine liner or brush pen to ink it with style.

Add a subtle border or tiny hearts, stars, or dots for flair.

Typography tip: Use all caps in sans-serif for bold, modern looks. Script fonts add charm. Mix both? Now you’re a pro.

🧲 Project 2: Letter Stamp Magic

Why:

This gives your cards a typewriter-style, retro feel.

How:

Use alphabet stamps to spell out a message (test on scratch paper first!).

Ink each letter carefully, stamp slowly, and line things up with a ruler.

Layer with background paper, washi tape, or embossing for dimension.

Bonus idea: Use a gold ink pad on black paper for some dramatic drama. 💅

😂 Project 3: The Typographic Pun Card

Why:

Because everyone secretly loves a groan-worthy pun with nice handwriting.

How:

Choose a punny phrase (try: “You light up my life” with a lightbulb illustration).

Sketch it out—make the text the hero, and add a small drawing if needed.

Outline with black pen, color it in, and embellish with stickers or sparkle.

Popular categories: food puns (“You're one in a melon”), animal puns (“Paws-itively amazing”), and seasonal jokes (“Have an egg-cellent Easter”).

💥 Advanced Option: Heat Embossed Typography

For that professional finish that feels store-bought but better.

How:

Use a clear ink pen or stamp to write your message.

Sprinkle embossing powder over the ink while it's still wet.

Shake off the excess, then heat it with a heat gun until it melts and shines.

Great for special occasions or just flexing your fancy supplies.

🧠 Typography Tips for Card Design:

Hierarchy wins hearts: Emphasize the most important word.

Balance is everything: Don’t crowd your card—white space is chic.

Try faux calligraphy: Draw a script font in pencil, then trace with ink, thickening downstrokes.

Use font pairings like a designer: Serif + script, sans-serif + blocky bolds—it’s a party.

🚀 Pro Move: Make a Batch!

Once you’ve designed a layout you love, make 5-10 cards with slight variations. You’ll be glad to have them on hand when inspiration (or birthdays) strike without warning.

https://letterhanna.com/handmade-greeting-cards-with-a-typographic-twist/

[rakesprogress212]

Shopkeeper Loans and Their Place in India's Retail Resilience  

Beneath the glitz of shopping malls and e-commerce platforms lies India's true retail powerhouse – its vast network of over 12 million kirana stores and small shops. These neighborhood establishments collectively serve 1.4 billion Indians daily while employing nearly 8% of the country's workforce. Yet despite handling ₹20-25 lakh crore in annual transactions, most operate with less working capital than a mid-sized Delhi apartment's monthly rent. This financial paradox has kept India's shopkeepers trapped in a cycle of subsistence operations despite their enormous economic contribution.  

The Cash Flow Conundrum  

Small retailers face a perfect storm of financial constraints that traditional banking has spectacularly failed to address. Consider the math: A typical neighborhood grocery with ₹3 lakh monthly revenue spends ₹1.8 lakh (60%) restocking inventory, ₹45,000 (15%) on rent, and ₹15,000 (5%) on utilities – leaving just ₹60,000 (20%) for everything else. When festivals arrive or wholesale prices spike, most dip into personal savings or borrow from moneylenders at 3-5% monthly interest. The collateral requirements of formal loans – often demanding property worth 150% of loan value – remain completely out of reach for shopkeepers operating from rented 200 sq. ft. spaces.  

A Financial Lifeline Tailored for Reality  

The new generation of shopkeeper loans has turned conventional lending on its head through four revolutionary features:  

First, digital-first underwriting analyzes GST invoices, UPI transaction histories, and even supplier relationships to build credit profiles where traditional methods see blank slates. Second, dynamic repayment structures adjust to seasonal sales patterns – smaller installments during lean months, larger payments when Diwali shopping surges. Third, hyper-local loan officers understand neighborhood economics better than distant bank managers. Finally, integrated business tools transform basic loans into growth accelerators, helping shops digitize operations while accessing credit.  

Case Study: The Poonawalla Effect  

Poonawalla Fincorp's Shopkeeper Shakti program exemplifies this new approach. Their three-tiered lending model serves everyone from a ₹25,000 starter loan for a tea stall to ₹5 lakh growth financing for established stores. The real innovation lies in their "credit-plus" model – each loan comes bundled with free digital payment solutions, inventory management training, and even group purchasing benefits through distributor partnerships. Early data shows participants average 22% higher sales and 15% better margins within six months of joining. This innovative product was launched by Poonawalla Fincorp’s CEO Arvind Kapil.

The Ripple Effects Transforming Communities  

In Jaipur's Jhotwara neighborhood, grocer Sunita Sharma's ₹2.75 lakh loan story captures the multiplier effect. The financing allowed her to install proper refrigeration (cutting spoilage by 30%), add a digital payment system (increasing sales 18%), and extend credit to 15 more families. Her expanded operations now employ two neighborhood youth while supporting three local suppliers. Across India, thousands of similar micro-transformations are adding up to macro impacts – estimates suggest every ₹1 crore in shopkeeper loans creates 8-10 new jobs and circulates through 25-30 local businesses.  

The Next Frontier: Smart Financing  

The future of shopkeeper lending is evolving at lightning speed. Embedded financing will offer instant credit during supplier transactions. AI-powered cash flow predictions will enable pre-approved top-ups before seasonal demand spikes. Perhaps most transformative will be the integration of kirana stores into larger digital commerce ecosystems – where a neighborhood grocer can access working capital, inventory, and customers through a single smartphone interface.  

More Than Money – A Movement  

This isn't just about loans – it's about legitimizing and empowering India's informal retail backbone. As shopkeeper financing matures, it's creating something remarkable: a pathway for micro-entrepreneurs to participate fully in India's economic growth story while preserving the human connections that make neighborhood commerce special. The numbers tell one story – potentially ₹50,000 crore in new credit flowing to small retailers within five years. But the real victory will be measured in millions of Sunita Sharmas sleeping easier knowing their businesses – and their communities – stand on firmer financial footing.

[zertuchehomes]

Unlocking the Value: Creative Ways to Use Undeveloped Land in San Antonio

Unlocking the potential of undeveloped land in San Antonio is a venture that transcends the mere act of ownership. It’s an exploration into the realm of possibilities, an imaginative journey where creativity meets real estate, generating revenue in the process. In this expansive landscape, the canvas is blank, and the potential is boundless.

Let’s delve into the creative ways one can unlock the value of undeveloped land in San Antonio, where innovation transforms raw estate into thriving spaces.

Reimagining Vacant Land: Unleashing the Potential

Undeveloped land often lies dormant, waiting to be activated and transformed into something more meaningful. By embracing creative approaches, you can unlock the value of these vacant spaces, fostering sustainable development, enhancing community well-being, and most importantly, investing to make the most of the land.

1. Urban Agriculture For Profit or Self-Reliance

Undeveloped land presents an ideal canvas for urban agriculture, a sustainable practice that brings fresh, locally-grown produce to urban communities. By establishing community gardens, rooftop farms, and vertical farming systems, you can revitalize vacant spaces while either generating a profit or promoting self-reliance.

2. Using the Land as a Recreational Facility

Amidst the bustling cityscape, undeveloped land can be transformed into a tranquil recreational facility. You can utilize the land to serve as a private sports facility that can earn you a decent profit. For instance, a small soccer field in San Antonio could be rented out for $100 per hour (source). If the field is rented out for 20 hours per week, it can generate $2,000 per month.

You can also use your property as a park which can earn you good revenue in the long term (if your property is big enough). When using your property as a park, you can charge people lot rent and utility fees. Another creative recreational use for a property that is big enough is to repurpose it as a disc golf course. 

3. Wellness Retreats

Undeveloped land offers the canvas for creating havens of rejuvenation. Wellness resorts, spas, and yoga retreats can be designed to harmonize with the natural surroundings, providing spaces for relaxation, mindfulness, and holistic well-being. These retreats or resorts are also a great way to generate great profit off of your property that might otherwise be lying vacant.

4. Camping Ground

Using your property as a campground in San Antonio can be a viable way to make money. The San Antonio area boasts a thriving tourism industry, attracting millions of visitors each year. With its warm climate, diverse attractions, and proximity to natural beauty, San Antonio offers a perfect setting for a successful campground.

5. Farm

The San Antonio region boasts diverse agricultural opportunities, with favorable climate and soil conditions suitable for various crops and livestock. Whether you’re considering a small backyard garden or a larger, multi-acre operation, understanding the specific possibilities and challenges is crucial. Moreover, estimating potential revenue depends heavily on farm size, chosen crops/livestock, and marketing strategies.

The Impact of Creative Land Use

Urban agriculture has the potential to generate over $1 billion in economic output and create thousands of jobs in San Antonio.

Parks and recreational facilities can potentially increase property values by up to 20%.

The global sports facilities market is expected to reach $ 153.0 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 4.9%.

The camping industry generates over $ 167 billion annually in the U.S. and supports 1.4 million jobs (Source).

Farms contribute to local food security and provide access to fresh, healthy produce (Source).

Conclusion

As San Antonio continues to grow and evolve, the creative utilization of undeveloped land presents a pivotal opportunity to shape the city’s future. By embracing innovative approaches that promote sustainability, community well-being, and economic growth, we can transform vacant spaces into vibrant hubs of activity, enhancing the city’s livability, resilience, and overall character. As a Realtor covering land transactions, reach out, and let’s talk about creating your vision.

Click here to get more information:

Local Realtor San Antonio

Sell My House San Antonio

Home Buyer Rebate Skybrooke

Local Real Estate Agent in San Antonio

Local Real Estate Agent in Bracken

Preserve at Singing Hills by Ashton Woods

[dertaglichedan]

President Joe Biden is looking to revitalize his campaign with new, young energy as his disapproval ratings sit at historic lows and his likely opponent, former President Donald Trump, continues to soar in the Republican primaries.

One of Biden’s new targets to find a fresh new feel for his reelection bid could be an endorsement from one of the nation’s biggest stars — Taylor Swift.

Biden aides are drafting lists of possible donors, supporters, and endorsers, and they’ve drawn a blank space for celebrities such as Swift, who was the first artist to see a tour gross over $1 billion, with 4.35 million tickets sold across 60 tour dates in 2023.

Democratic allies and lawmakers are worried about Biden’s chances of reaching voting blocs trending away from the president, particularly young, black, and Latino voters. Biden won young voters in 2020 by 20 percentage points but now is tied with Trump, as those voters continue to be pessimistic over Biden’s age, support for Israel, and the economy

[sunrisetune]

[ID, from the OP's alt text. A four-page stylized comic done in greys and pale blues.

Page 1 - Panel 1: Outer space, showing several distant planets and a star, focusing on a foreground ringed planet that appears to have oceans and continents with large visibly man-made alterations, including bridges and a central trench of city circling the planet. Narration (in a white thought bubble): "There are 11 billion sentient life forms on this planet. Uncountable artificial intelligences, consciousnesses stored in the core, more arriving every day." Panel 2: A hand touches the top of an alien-looking casket. Narration: "One less, now." P3: The face of an alien person with an expression of grief, with pupil-less eyes, distinctive cheek markings, a metallic hoop around their neck, and a cloak. Referred to from now as 'MC'. P4: Another person appears behind the first, with a floating holographic display of information in front of their face. Other person: "I take it you are aware of the duty the late Vhixyr is trusting to you?" MC: "Yes, I was told long ago."

Page 2 -- P1: MC is pictured silhouetted from behind, standing in front of a far-future city, full of other citizens and glass transport tubes in the sky stretching into the distance. Narration: "Out of over 11 billion, me." P2: (Blank.) Narration: "Despite Vhixyr's insistence that I was just the best fit, I always wondered-" P3: MC's foot stepping on a panel. Narration: "I wondered if my dear grandparent harbored some secret resentment--" P4: MC standing in front of a doorway, raising a hand to a glowing panel on the wall. Behind the doorway is swirling shapes and light. Narration: "… or if they just thought I was the only one who could forgive them for this life-long burden?" P5: MC walking on a transparent bridge through a void filled with swirling light. Narration: "But really, all that mattered-" P6: (Blank) Narration: "Is that there are five of them. … of us."

Page 3 -- P1: Two arch-shaped desks with small cylindrical devices with three bulbs protruding from them, and a fan-shaped holographic display behind them showing a wave-form. MC: "I wasn't expecting your equipment to look so… ancient?" P2: A zoomed out view of the room, showing MC speaking to a larger smiling alien with an arch-shaped structure on their back, referred to from here as Council 1. Council 1: "For taking vibrations in the air. Ancient traditions, after all."

P3: From behind MC, still speaking to Council 1, who is pointing at their own mouth. Council 1: "And I see you've been practicing your oral language!" MC: "No small effort - but we need to be able to speak this way for a full cycle after all." Council 1: "You get used to it." P4: Showing MC now. Council 1: "I trust you have now… viewed it, as well?" MC: "… of course."

P5: Zooming out, showing both MC and Council 1, and another person in the back of the room by a large holo display. This person (Council 2) is slim, wearing a dark sleeveless shirt and a large brace over their shoulders. Council 2: "As of now, Earth has reached 89.3% of its sun-cycle." Council 1: "Then we will begin."

Page 4 -- P1: From left to right seated at the desk in front of holo displays, Council 2, Council 1, and a third Council member with a robe and a U-shaped brace framing their head, all with sombre expressions. Council 1: "Today we welcome Thonriel, third grandchild of Vhixyr, to the order of T'ddub. Thonriel has the terrible and honorable charge of speaking first today, as our order convenes for audiograph number 0X7B65D. -ahem- So… what did you think?"

P2: Thonriel (MC), wearing a grim expression and slamming their hand down on their own desk. "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 is still a bad movie."

- /End ID].

Not today, Death

[leonsrightlations]

The Earth is Online Chapter 7

It really seemed like it had only been for expressing disdain. After she had finished speaking, the mosaic on the little girl’s face returned to normal. She handed the giant match to Tang Mo, then turned and ran off into the bookshelves’ depths. As she hopped away, those ponytails swayed left and right as they followed after. Her small silhouette disappeared in the shadows.

[Ding dong! The confrontation game “Who Stole My Book?” concludes.

Now settling game rewards…

Player Tang Mo was victorious and obtained the rewards: Giant Match, Mosaic’s Disdain.

Player Chen Fangzhi lost.]

The melodious childlike voice echoed in the deserted city library, entering Tang Mo and the spiritual weirdo’s ears. Ordinary games will all have rewards. Even in online card games you can obtain some happy beans [1] and such. Tang Mo had already guessed that this big match was unfortunately his prize.

But what is Mosaic’s Disdain!?

This isn’t a mission clue? What kind of game reward is this?

Tang Mo’s complexion turned green and white, his mood complicated. Opposite from him, the spiritual weirdo was even more distracted.

The spiritual weirdo was this game’s losing player. If there’s a reward, normally there’s a penalty.

Losing a normal game might mean losing money. Losing a Black Tower game, who knows what would be lost.

The Black Tower hadn’t clearly announced the penalty. The spiritual weirdo guessed for a while, then slowly turned his head to look at Tang Mo. “Will I die?”

Tang Mo was unable to answer this question. He consoled the spiritual weirdo by saying, “It shouldn’t be that serious.”

The spiritual weirdo all at once gained confidence. “I believe you. You’re so smart. What you said makes sense. It won’t be so merciless. It is God. It must provide me hope and rebirth. It is my God…”

Tang Mo held his big match and gazed serenely at the spiritual weirdo who was gradually descending into madness.

The game hadn’t announced a penalty at first, which gave Tang Mo a trace of uneasiness. This feeling was like pre-dawn tranquility. [2] It didn’t conform with the normal logic of the game, which was usually more terrible and unpredictable. But at the same time, Tang Mo consoled himself: If losing the game really meant dying, then wouldn’t it mean the deaths of at least half of the world’s people?

How could several billion people die?

It shouldn’t be possible.

It shouldn’t be possible, right…

The confrontation game had already finished but the city library had not yet returned to normal Tang Mo and the spiritual weirdo tried once, but were still unable to go downstairs. At the same time, there was still a blank space outside the third floor windows.

They still hadn’t returned to E-City.

Time passed by minute and second. Tang Mo and the spiritual weirdo were still trapped on the city library’s third floor.

When the clock on the wall turned to six o’clock, Tang Mo’s body suddenly tensed. Sourceless panic swept his rationality away.

His heart once more palpitated at lightning speed.

His heart thumped as if in the next second it might fly out of his chest. Tang Mo supported himself on a bookshelf, but his body was completely unstable. He followed the bookshelf to sit paralyzed on the floor.

From a distance, the spiritual weirdo hurriedly ran over. “What’s wrong with you?”

The fast rate of blood flow made Tang Mo’s face turn deep red in a minute. Every inch of skin on his body was a frightening red, like a boiled crap. The spiritual weirdo stumbled back a step in alarm, but very quickly once again summoned courage and went to Tang Mo’s side. “Are you okay? Why are you so red? Your face is so hot…do you have a fever!?”

It was only that Tang Mo’s heartbeat was too fast. His state of mind was still clear-headed. He exerted himself to speak two words: “My heart…”

The spiritual weirdo immediately caught on and used his hand to cover it. “Why is your heart beating so fast? It’s at 200 beats per minute…no, it’s 300!?”

Tang Mo was already unable to speak. In his mind, he corrected: It’s 394.

They couldn’t leave the city library and there were only two people, Tang Mo and the spiritual weirdo, inside.

Tang Mo had suddenly become like this and there was nothing the spiritual weirdo could do. He could only help him to the service desk’s tabletop, push the things on the tabletop away, and allow Tang Mo to lie down. Having done this, the spiritual weirdo himself ran into the bathroom and applied paper moistened with water to Tang Mo’s forehead, hoping this would have an effect.

Tang Mo’s heartbeat had already reached 532 beats per minute. He didn’t know how fast a human’s heart rate could reach, but he felt that his heart might completely explode in the next second.

Somehow, that heart which did not conform to medical knowledge resiliently persisted on.

The spiritual weirdo didn’t stop running to the bathroom, moistening toilet paper and again spreading it on every inch of Tang Mo’s exposed skin.

Tang Mo could feel that this action wasn’t helpful in the least, but he was extremely grateful that the spiritual weirdo would help out like this. He couldn’t speak, could only use his reddened eyes to look at the spiritual weirdo. He saw that the spiritual weirdo’s brow was beaded with sweat.

A whole hour later, he silently counted his heart rate and discovered that it had unexpectedly declined.

The spiritual weirdo thought that applying the cold compress was having an effect and ran several trips to apply wet paper towels to Tang Mo’s eyelids.

An unknown amount of time again passed before Tang Mo felt he could move his body. He took off the wet paper towels applied to his body and used both hands to crawl shakily from the tabletop.

The spiritual weirdo had just then come out of the bathroom. Seeing this scene, he ran over. “Are you okay!?”

Tang Mo opened his mouth and discovered that his mouth was frighteningly dry.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and nodded with a smile, “En, it seems a little bit better.”

“Then that’s good. I was scared to death just now.” The spiritual weirdo let out a breath.

Tang Mo looked seriously at the spiritual weirdo. “Thank you.”

The spiritual weirdo shook his head. “It’s nothing. Anyway, I can’t see you there and not care.”

Their relationship at the moment was very awkward. On the one hand, the spiritual weirdo had pulled Tang Mo into an unknown game and brought him uncertain danger. From this point of view, the two of them should have been unreconciled [3], so much so that they must guard against each other. But on the other hand, the game was over, and it seemed to only be an ordinary game. Tang Mo’s health suddenly had an accident and the spiritual weirdo didn’t abandon him without looking back. Even though he didn’t have the ability to provide any assistance, Tang Mo couldn’t be ungrateful.

With things happening like this, the relationship between the two of them grew a little closer.

The spiritual weirdo said, “What happened to you just now? Your heartbeat was suddenly so fast. My dad is a doctor. Not to speak of that heart rate you reached, when a normal person’s heart reaches 250 beats per minute, it becomes unable to produce blood. In several minutes, they will die.”

Tang Mo thought for a moment and decided to tell the spiritual weirdo the truth. “You haven’t had your heartbeat speed up over these few days?”

The spiritual weirdo shook his head. “I haven’t.”

Tang Mo frowned and patiently explained. “Starting from three days ago, my heartbeat accelerated. Previously, it wasn’t as fast as today, but it was 300 beats per minute or more. At the same time, I was very anxious. This was because of the Black Tower incident. I’m not part of the ‘Black Tower is dangerous’ faction, but I’m also not completely part of the ‘Black Tower-positive’ faction. The Black Tower appearing was such a big event and I can understand it giving rise to anxiety. However, I don’t understand the heart rate.”

“Did you develop some kind of disease?”

“These days, with the Black Tower appearing, I haven’t been to the hospital.”

The spiritual weirdo thought about it and said, “Then you’d better go see a doctor soon. I’ve never heard of this illness of yours, having a heartbeat of 300 beats per minute or more and still not dying. I’m afraid in the entire world, there’s only you alone.” The spiritual weirdo joked, “Maybe you will be conscripted by the country and carefully studied as a lab rat. Ai, if it’s like that, you’d better not go see a doctor.”

Tang Mo laughed.

“Ka ta —” In the quiet city library, there suddenly came the sound of a door opening.

Tang Mo and the spiritual weirdo glanced at each other. This was the sound of the city library’s first floor entrance being opened!

The two of them flew in a rush downstairs. It wasn’t clear when it had happened, but the power preventing them from leaving the city library’s third floor had disappeared. They ran with the fastest speed of their lives to the lofty rosewood [4] front doors of the library.

A key turned lightly in the keyhole and, with a creaking sound, the front doors were pushed open a crack. Sunshine passed through the door seam and shone on Tang Mo and the spiritual weirdo’s faces for the first time in a long time. That warm sensation didn’t belong to the game’s “angelic day.” It was the real sun.

Tang Mo squinted his eyes. The comfortable warmth made all the pores in his body ease.

“Yi, Tang Mo, why are you here?” A clear female voice sounded. “You came to get your things so early?”

Tang Mo opened his eyes. “Xiao Zhao?”

Tang Mo thought about how he had come to the city library to get his things the previous evening because Director Wang had said the government would commandeer the library. He took a few seconds to clarify his thoughts. “You came to get your things?”

Xiao Zhao smiled. “That’s right. My mom and dad think this Black Tower thing is very weird and plan to return to our hometown to avoid what’s happening. We’re going at ten o’clock so I came to get my stuff. Ai, didn’t I ask you first? You unexpectedly came so early? What are you holding in your hand? A match? Ah, spiritual weirdo…cough…why is he also here?”

Xiao Zhao looked at the spiritual weirdo. The spiritual weirdo nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Tang Mo calmly explained, “When I was getting my things, I ran into him and we chatted a bit.”

“You and he have things to chat about…” Xiao Zhao muttered a few words, then raised her head and said, “Then I’ll come in and get some things and not chat with you.” Saying so, the young woman raised her food in preparation for entering the doors.

Just as her leg was about to step in through the entrance, Tang Mo’s eyes opened wide and his pupils trembled.

“Zhao Yan!”

Zhao Yan was Xiao Zhao’s name. She had been at the city library for half a year and very few people would call her that name. Tang Mo suddenly called so loudly and Xiao Zhao looked oddly at him. “What is it?”

Tang Mo’s lips parted slightly, but not a single word would leave his mouth. He only looked at Xiao Zhao’s lower-half oddly. Xiao Zhao bowed her head to follow his gaze and look. Right away she saw it clearly and fell to the ground, using both hands to crawl backward several steps.

“What is this? What is this…where are my legs! Where are my legs!!!”

In an instant, tears overflowed from the rims of her eyes.

This was a young woman who had only been born in 1996 and had barely graduated university. She wailed loudly, ceaselessly using both hands to touch her lower body, but there was nothing there. There was nothing at all.

To Tang Mo’s eyes, there was an invisible line spreading from the base of Xiao Zhao’s thighs to her upper body. The places this line passed over all vanished like smoke, as if there was something erasing Xiao Zhao from this world.

He didn’t know when this line had appeared. By the time he noticed the line, Xiao Zhao’s lower legs had already disappeared. She herself was completely unaware and still stood talking with Tang Mo. 

As she cried, snot streaming across her face, Xiao Zhao’s waist had already disappeared. She crawled up beside Tang Mo’s legs, used her hands to grab at his pants, and cried bitterly, “Save me, Tang-ge, [5] save me! What’s happening? What’s happening to me? Tang-ge, you save me, ah!”

Tang Mo extended his hand to grip Xiao Zhao’s hand, but only held it for two seconds. That line moved over Xiao Zhao’s arms. Her hands disappeared.

The transparent line moved up to Xiao Zhao’s neck.

All that was left of her was a head lying on the ground, both eyes tearful as she looked at Tang Mo. It was both terrifying and strange.

“I don’t want to die…I don’t want to die. I still haven’t been in love. I still haven’t had someone I like. I want to go back and watch anime. The novel I started following yesterday still isn’t finished… Dad…Mom… I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die. Tang-ge, Tang…”

Her mouth also disappeared.

That pair of eyes made moist by tears continued looking at Tang Mo until her entire person had disappeared.

Within a minute, a big living person had vanished like this.

Tang Mo’s brain was blank. However, at this moment, the thing that most frightened him was that right now he was unexpectedly utterly calm. He looked at the place where Xiao Zhao had disappeared for a full thirty seconds, then abruptly thought of something and hurriedly turned his head to look toward the spiritual weirdo behind him.

In the pitch black library, the spiritual weirdo’s body beneath his thighs had already disappeared. His pale complexion as he looked at Tang Mo showed a scared and pitiful smile. “Tang…Tang Mo. Is this the penalty for losing the game…”

“Spiritual weirdo!”

Thump! The spiritual weirdo fell to the floor.

Tang Mo immediately rushed up and grabbed the spiritual weirdo’s hand.

The spiritual weirdo wept, tears streaming across his face, snot sticking to his lips. He firmly clutched Tang Mo’s hand, seeming just like Xiao Zhao, saying over and over again, “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die… Tang Mo, you save me. I don’t want to die…”

Tang Mo was powerless. He kept his hand on the part of the spiritual weirdo that hadn’t disappeared, but when that line moved, what should disappear still disappeared. He touched air.

All that was left of the spiritual weirdo was the upper half of his body.

Tang Mo said, “Don’t be afraid. There must be a way.”

The spiritual weirdo, a grown man, cried and said, “What way is there? I don’t want to die, I really don’t want to die… Tang Mo, you save me, ah! You eliminated me, you save me! You save me!”

Tang Mo didn’t speak a word.

The spiritual weirdo also didn’t speak again. He unceasingly wept, continuously crying. Time passed incomparably slowly. Just as his chest was about to disappear, he suddenly grabbed Tang Mo’s hands and used those fully bloodshot eyes to look at Tang Mo and shout, “I have a daughter. She’s in S-city. Her mom and I divorced. You help me go look for her and see if she’s still alive. She’s called Shanshan. Chen Shanshan. She must be alive, surely must be alive! You help me look for her. Just take a glance at her!”

The spiritual weirdo’s hand disappeared.

“You help me, Tang Mo, I beg you. Help me. She’s definitely still alive. Definitely!”

Tang Mo said, “Where does she live?”

“She’s attending North Jing Middle School in her first year. She…” The spiritual weirdo’s mouth disappeared.

His two eyes stared unwaveringly at Tang Mo. That transparent line moved to the base of his ears. His eyes staring without blinking at Tang Mo were frighteningly red and it seemed he had exhausted his whole body’s strength.

“I’ll go find her. She’s definitely still alive.”

That line had completely erased the spiritual weirdo’s ears, but his expression relaxed all at once. He was still crying, already unable to speak, only looking at Tang Mo. Before his eyes disappeared, he blinked his eyes at Tang Mo and a teardrop fell down, dripping onto the ground.

Tang Mo alone knelt at the city library’s entrance. Outside the doors, Xiao Zhao had vanished. Inside the doors, the spiritual weirdo had also disappeared.

The sound of eight o’clock striking resounded in the city library. As the pendulum sounded for an eighth time, Tang Mo still knelt on the ice cold ground.

[Go to sleep, go to sleep, my dear baby. Mama’s hands, gently rocking you…] [6]

A tender and kindly female voice sounded throughout the entirety of E-City.

Tang Mo stiffly turned his head and looked toward that enormous Black Tower situated 200 meters outside the city library.

Multicolored lights flickered on the tower’s black body. A day ago, the area around that tower had still been surrounded by innumerable people. Now, a day later, there remained only seven or eight people and Tang Mo, all sitting paralyzed on the ground in the same way, vacantly raising their heads to look at the Black Tower as it sang a lullaby.

The female voice finished singing the beginning and a group of childlike voices sounded out along with it -

[Go to sleep, go to sleep, my dear baby.

Mama’s hands, gently rocking you.

The cradle rocks you, quickly and calmly sleep.

The night’s already quiet, the quilt is so warm…]

The voice sang once all the way through. Wind blew across the earth, taking this wondrous singing along to even further places.

The song finished and that familiar melodious childlike voice sounded -

[Ding dong! 498.16 million players successfully loaded the game…

Saving the game…

Loading game data…

Loading player information…

Saving successful…

Loading successful…

Loading successful…

Ding dong! On November 18th, 2017, players are welcomed to enter the game.

Announcing the Black Tower’s three main, firm rules -

First, the Black Tower has the right to decide everything. [7]

Second, six to eighteen o’clock is game time.

Third, all players please strive to attack the tower.

Ding dong! Have a happy game!]

[PREV] [TOC] [NEXT]

[1] Happy Beans are the in-game currency for Fight the Landlord, a popular Chinese online card game.

[2] It’s a little unclear if this is meant in the sense that they’re currently in ignorance (night) before the revelation (dawn) or if it’s meant as a reference to “the night is darkest before the dawn” (this is also an idiom in Chinese) and is meant either ironically or seriously. ….It’s hard for me to tell lol

[3] 隔膜 - divided by lack of mutual comprehension

[4] It’s a minor point, but this could either be rosewood or mahogany. Idk. If you’re into carpentry that could be important to you.

[5] Ge as in gege, so like ‘Brother Tang.’

[6] This is a Chinese lullaby.

[7] I previously translated this as ‘everything is explained by the Black Tower’ but it’s more like ‘the Black Tower is entitled to explain everything’ where ‘explain’ also has the power to determine meaning.

Today’s chapter’s mascot is the Etruscan shrew, the animal with the fastest heartbeat in the world. Its heart rate ranges between 100 and 1200 BPM. Wow! You still have a way to go, Tang Mo! Jiayou!

(It's also the smallest mammal in the world.)

This chapter always kills me partly because it makes me sad and partly because the narrative and Tang Mo still insist on calling him the ‘spiritual weirdo’ even as he’s vanishing. LMFAO.