#Best affordable tech gadgets

[lahtilbooks]

The 19 Best Black Friday Deals Under $50 to Shop Right Now

Black Friday 2024 is in full swing, bringing countless opportunities to snag high-quality products at unbeatable prices. If you’re hunting for deals that won’t break the bank, this curated list of the 19 best Black Friday deals under $50 is perfect for you. From tech gadgets to home essentials, these items are both affordable and worth every penny.

1. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max — $26.99

Elevate your streaming experience with this powerful device, offering 4K resolution and access to all major streaming platforms.

2. Echo Dot (5th Gen) — $22.99

Get a smart home assistant with crisp sound and Alexa integration for a fraction of the price.

3. Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker — $19.99

Never lose your keys or wallet again. The Tile Mate is the perfect companion for the forgetful.

4. Anker Portable Charger (PowerCore Slim 10,000mAh) — $39.99

Stay powered on the go with this slim yet high-capacity portable charger.

5. JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds — $15.99

Compact and affordable, these earbuds offer quality sound and a snug fit.

6. Hario V60 Pour Over Coffee Dripper — $14.99

Coffee enthusiasts will appreciate this affordable way to craft barista-level coffee at home.

7. Home Security Camera by Wyze — $29.99

Enhance your home security with this budget-friendly, high-resolution camera.

8. Yankee Candle Large Jar — $14.99

Fill your space with seasonal scents without breaking the bank.

9. Magnetic Phone Car Mount by iOttie — $17.95

A secure and convenient solution for hands-free driving.

10. Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle — $21.99

Keep drinks hot or cold for hours with this durable and sleek bottle.

11. LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port — $34.99

Light up your workspace while charging your devices simultaneously.

12. Portable Hand Warmers — $12.99

Perfect for chilly days, these rechargeable warmers fit in your pocket.

13. Target’s Cozy Throw Blanket — $10

Add warmth and style to your living room with this soft and affordable throw.

14. Best Buy���s KitchenAid Measuring Cups and Spoons Set — $15

An essential for home bakers, this set is sturdy and precise.

15. Walmart’s Roku Premiere — $29.99

Stream in HD and 4K for a fraction of the price with this popular device.

16. Kohl’s Electric Milk Frother — $19.99

Whip up café-style lattes at home with this handy frother.

17. Staples Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo — $24.99

Upgrade your workspace with this reliable and stylish combo.

18. Samsung 32GB MicroSD Card — $8.99

Expand your device’s storage without spending much.

19. Target’s Multi-Functional Tool Kit — $14.99

A compact and versatile tool set perfect for small home projects.

Tips for Shopping Black Friday Deals

Act Quickly: These deals are time-sensitive and may sell out fast.

Check Reviews: Ensure product quality by reading customer feedback.

Compare Prices: Confirm you’re getting the best deal by comparing prices across retailers.

Don’t miss out on these stellar finds. Whether you’re buying for yourself or shopping for gifts, these under-$50 deals prove that great quality doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

Sources:

NBC News

PCWorld

Mashable

[topelectronics-blog]

Tech Haven: Your One-Stop Destination for Cutting-Edge Electronics

Visit Our Store from Here

Welcome to top electronics, the ultimate online store for all your tech needs! We pride ourselves on offering the latest and greatest in electronics, from cutting-edge smartwatches and wireless earbuds to powerful laptops and smart home gadgets.

Our carefully curated selection ensures that you’ll always find the perfect product to suit your lifestyle, whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a busy professional or someone looking to stay connected and productive. At Tech Haven, we combine quality, affordability and innovation to offer you an unparalleled shopping experience.

Discover gadgets that make life easier, more entertaining and, without a doubt, smarter. Visit our store today and join a community that appreciates cutting-edge technology. Follow us on social media for updates, exclusive deals and the latest trends in electronics. Your tech journey starts here – explore top electronics now!

Visit Our Store from Here

[digitalgeardirect]

Your online curated source for the best in electronic accessories and more!

[justposting1]

Redmi A4 5G: The BEST Budget 5G Phone of 2024?!

Redmi A4 5G: The Perfect Smartphone for Your Next Upgrade If you’re looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with premium features, the Redmi A4 5G should be at the top of your list. This device combines cutting-edge technology with exceptional value, making it a perfect choice for those who want a seamless experience without breaking the bank. Let’s dive into why this phone stands out in its…

[labrone1475]

AKASO EK7000 4K Action Camera Review Best Budget Ultra HD Waterproof Camera

[techtoio]

The Complete Guide to Wearable Tech: Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers

Introduction

Wearables have changed the way we interact with digital space. Today, smartwatches and activity trackers have grown into indispensable assistants in matters of health management, communication, and productivity boost. And now, this all-in guide helps you to learn everything about new devices to make a competent choice regarding the one to use. Read to continue...

[seventeenlovesthree]

“My best friend is finally getting therapy and part of his healing process is becoming my employee”

@taikouvember Day 5 - Hope: Something you would like to see happening for them

Short Fic Summary: Koushirou struggles to get new employees for his start-up company and hiring processes go rather slowly, even with the support of a very engaged team. He absolutely isn't prepared to hear that their most recent New Hire for the marketing department is someone very familiar to him... (Because I always wanted to write a fic about their set-up as coworkers at Koushirou's company while using a ridiculously long and cheesy light novel title - and because we all know that this would be the best type of therapy for Taichi!)

Word Count: 3287

“Excuse me, Izumi-shachou?”

The door to Koushirou’s main office opened and the HR manager came in.

“Kawashima-san”, Koushirou greeted her, accompanied by Tentomon bowing down next to him. She immediately smiled at the ladybug, who had become some kind of mascot to the little start-up company.

“Hello, Tento-san. I just wanted to hand in the sheet of New Hires we acquired today.”

“Ah, thank you very much”, Tentomon took the folder with the CVs instead of his partner, who let out a sigh of relief. It had taken several weeks to get the hiring process going, the main team in office consisted mainly of acquaintances he had made thanks to the network he had been building together with his American friend since he was 16. Since his tech company wasn’t exactly known too well yet, competition in regards to personnel proved to be rather difficult – especially in non-technical fields.

“We only had three applicants this time, but Takano-san actually found someone he intends to add to the marketing team core, so that may be a good sign!”, Kawashima explained and seemed rather cheerful about the announcement. Just like Koushirou, Kawashima Shiho was still in her early twenties, but pretty dedicated to get all administration duties done – which Koushirou was more than thankful for. She had joined the company around six months after he had met at a technology fair and Koushirou, who had mainly focused on getting technical acquaintances on board, had been pretty lucky to have stumbled across her. Things had gotten better back then – especially after the name Izumi Koushirou had become more well-known after appearing in the media after the Eosmon incident a few months ago. Which was also when he had been contacted by Takano Hideki  – a marketing specialist in his mid-thirties, who had been more than fascinated by the intent of the company.

Providing gadgets for the growing network of humans partnering with “Digital Monsters” wasn’t exactly a market he had experienced before. And so, Koushirou had slowly but steadily gathered a little team of tech – and Digimon – enthusiasts. It wasn’t a lot, especially since he couldn’t even yet afford hiring too many people at once, but he had high hopes that things would improve.

“Three is more than we anticipated, so this is indeed a good sign”, Koushirou replied, “Thank you for attending the hiring meetings in my place, Kawashima-san.”

She shook her head in response.

“That is my job after all and you’ve been particularly busy with reporting the company project results to the finance team. Also, as company president, you don’t even have to be at all the hiring meetings for the other departments”, she added with a smile, which he returned wearily. They really would need the marketing team to make sure the company would gain more publicity – and thus, new potential clients and supporters if he wanted to maintain all of this. His American friend still provided financial support – for he didn’t plan on depending on that forever.

“And that’s also what this list is for! I met all three of the New Hires myself and I would assume they’ll be suitable additions to the company.”

“That is good to hear. I would still really like to meet them myself”, Koushirou admitted – he wasn’t exactly an office-shut-in and regularly tried to stay in touch with the different departments as good as he could. He also had veto rights in regards to hiring and felt like he had to at least look over the company structure to some degree. But by trying to micromanage everything, it did remind him a little of the times he had to look over Iori, Miyako, Ken and Daisuke during their school days…

“… You really should get to meet them, Koushirou-han.”

Both humans turned to Tentomon, as the Digimon urgently stared at one of the sheets after he had browsed curiously through the folder – at least Koushirou was, at this point, perfectly able to read his partner to be able to tell that something wasn’t right.

“Why, what do you mean, Tentomon?”

“Well… You may want to have a personal talk with one of them at least.”

Hearing that, he raised an eyebrow and took the folder out of Tentomon’s claws – only to immediately freeze once he saw the application picture…

Kawashima blinked in surprise and confusion. “Is something wrong?” Having her own curiosity piqued, she glanced at the sheet as well. “Oh, he was a very interesting applicant, we weren’t completely sure whether he would fit the role, but Takano-san seemed very intrigued by his attitude and presentation, so I trust that we made the right choice by hiring him.”

“… Do you know if he is still in house?”

“Oh, he probably is still talking to Takano-san in his office, I assume. Like I said, he was highly impressed by him.”

“E-excuse me, then…” With his lips pressed together, Koushirou bowed and, to Kawashima’s even greater surprise, almost stormed out of the office. Leaving his HR manager and his Digimon partner behind, with the former still being completely at a loss.

“I’ve… Never seen him that frantic before, does he know the applicant?”

“Oh, ya see…”, Tentomon chuckled, bashfully rubbing the back at his head after pointing at the man with the confident smile on the application picture, “He may actually know Yagami Taichi-han a little too well…”

~

“Shachou?!”

Takano didn’t react any less astonished as Kawashima had just a few minutes ago when Koushirou almost slammed the door to his office open – which wasn’t like anything their usually composed and cool company president had ever done before. Besides the main IT and tech work space and Koushirou’s main office, the floor mainly consisted of the HR, finance and PR/marketing offices. Paths were short and so it didn’t even take him two minutes to get here.

Their New Hire didn’t seem exactly surprised – instead, he looked like he had been haunted by a ghost once his eyes met Koushirou’s. A certain sense of “Damn, I didn’t think I’d meet you just yet” was in the air.

“Is something the matter, Izumi-shachou? You look rather distressed?”, Takano asked and Taichi became even more pale.

“I… Just talked to Kawashima-san and came here to greet our newest company member personally”, he smiled a forced smile – and Takano found himself laughing.

“See, I knew you would leave an impression early, Yagami-san.”

“Y-yeah… That’s one way to put it”, Taichi smiled in return, which led Koushirou to cough.

“Takano-san, would you mind if I talked to Yagami-san alone for a few minutes?” The way he pronounced his name – the family name of a person whose first name he had probably said a million times before – felt odd, foreign and just plain wrong, but his brain was running on autopilot right now anyway. What was happening here, why was it happening, was this a prank, was he dreaming?

“Absolutely not, I am sure you’ll be just as pleased with him as I was, just please call me back when you are done”, Takano said. Despite being more than ten years older than himself, he was oozing quite a relaxed and confident aura, still seemed very “in touch” with his younger colleagues… But Koushirou couldn’t tell how much he actually knew.

“Thank you very much…”

With that, Takano left his little office space and the two long-term friends behind, who remained quiet, still maintaining – somewhat uncomfortable – eye contact… Until the door was closed and the air seemed clear.

“Taichi-san, why on earth did you not tell me that you applied to my company?! When did you intend to tell me this, just – how did you even come up with this, what was going through your head?!”, it eventually bursted out of Koushirou in waves, so he couldn’t even keep his voice low anymore – didn’t even care anymore if the entire office heard him like that – and Taichi just apologetically raised his arms.

“I wanted it to be a surprise! I obviously knew you would learn about it sooner than later, but, knowing how freaking busy you were recently, I kinda thought it’d take at least until tomorrow!”, Taichi responded, but Koushirou still stared at him as if he had lost his mind. It was true that they had been barely in touch for a few weeks due to his finance report – but also because of something else.

“And what a surprise it was! Also, that doesn’t explain why you applied here, I mean… What happened to your job in the pachinko parlor?”

“I quit there. You said it yourself once, I was even more miserable every time I went there, and according to my therapist, it was just adding up to any mental issues, so… Yeah, I finally had the guts to quit.”

Taichi had finally started seeing a therapist. After losing Agumon, he had shut himself away for several days – up until Hikari, Koushirou and the others eventually couldn’t bear leaving him to his own devices to rot away in his flat anymore. It had taken quite a few attempts, speeches, crying and shouting to get through to him, reminding him that he didn’t have to deal with all of this by himself for him to finally break down. Years of self-isolation, years of pent up trauma, the feeling of loss, of his partner, of his sense of self… It had all come together, culminating in several painful realizations.

There hadn’t been an immediate solution. Instead, there had been a few fights and fallouts even, several weeks of searching and making use of Koushirou’s connections to find a therapist that was capable of taking over this case. Obviously, not a lot of “normal” humans were even in the position to relate to anything Yagami Taichi had gone through in his young life of only 23 years, but… It was worth a shot. And Koushirou had been glad that Taichi had accepted the opportunity despite having rebelled against the idea for a long time. Whichever path it may lead him towards, it could only have gotten better in his opinion.

However, he had not expected to suddenly see his best friend standing here in his office, dressed in suit and tie, not just as a visitor, but as an actual… Employee. His employee. And… As what even?

“I still don’t understand… What made you apply to become part of our marketing team? How does that relate to your studies?”

Now it was on Taichi to cough and, apparently, collecting himself.

“See… You know, I picked up writing my thesis again, right?”, Taichi explained calmly – which was an unusual sight, but it also calmed Koushirou down a little as well.

“You’re writing about the relationship between the real and the Digital World and how its relations may result in a symbiosis between the two…”

“Yeah. And once I’m done, I will have to present my thesis orally as well and, you know, I was talking to my therapist about that… He said I’m currently lacking experience to pull something like that off. Speaking in front of a crowd of people, being convincing…”

Hearing that, Koushirou felt a little sting in his chest. The Yagami Taichi he had known for the majority of his life used to be capable of pulling people along just by being himself, by letting his charisma show, his natural sense of leadership. To hear someone else assessing that he was currently not in a state of being his naturally contagious self anymore was… Daunting to say the least.

“And… Part of me knows that I want to make that symbiosis happen. Kinda, at least. So… I need to be able to sell that vision somehow. I have no idea how to do that yet, but… I want to learn how to do it.”

Seeing Taichi so vulnerable, so open to him… Hadn’t happened in a long time. Yes, he had seen him cry several times before, but he hadn’t been able to… Explain himself so surely and unsurely at the same time.

“Then I heard Hikari and Takeru talk about how you’ve been struggling to get people to work for your company and…”, Taichi hesitated, “Yeah, I saw the open positions listed on your screen the other day too.”

Koushirou frowned. Again, they hadn’t talked a lot in the past weeks, hadn’t even seen each other in person for a while, so… He really must have worked hard on his application there. It made the sting increase even more. Made him feel like the worst friend in the world.

“I had no idea…”

“Like I said, it was… Kinda meant to be a surprise, you know?” The grin on his face felt genuine, but Koushirou couldn’t shake the thought that he must have forced himself to keep quiet about it too.

“But… You could have asked me! I could have introduced you to Takano-san even sooner and-“

“No!” This time, Taichi actually seemed steadfast about his decision and, most importantly, more confident again to put his foot down. “That’s the point, I didn’t want to be hired based on, well, knowing the CEO. I don’t want handouts, Koushirou, that’s why I didn’t want to tell you. This was a crazy idea in the first place and I brought it up to my therapist, even if it felt stupid and out of place after everything, but… I wanna figure out what I really want to do now. And what I’m capable of, on my own.”

Admittedly, Koushirou had never been to therapy himself, so he wasn’t exactly aware of how it worked, but if Taichi was already able to put his vision into words like that after just a few months… It really must have left an impact, Koushirou thought to himself while listening patiently.

Of course, when the subject of therapy had been brought up by Hikari for the first time, Koushirou had done his research – like he always did whenever he was not familiar with something. Thus, he remembered that there was something along the lines of exposure therapy. So whatever Taichi and his therapist must have brewed up together, it did feel like Taichi intended to face his demons, all of his insecurities heads on, taking on a challenge like this.

A part of him had almost assumed that Taichi would end up distancing himself from him even further, from everything in order to avoid hurting even more. Who could have blamed him for wanting to get away from everything that could potentially remind him of the part of himself that he had lost?

But now, Taichi really seemed to have gathered enough courage to do the opposite instead.

“So… Takano-san doesn’t know that you know me?”, Koushirou asked softly, causing Taichi to scratch his chin.

“Eh, I would say he still somewhat looked through me”, he confessed, again with a grin – one that felt a lot more like him though. “I knew way too much about this place and I’m pretty sure he saw me around before, but… I tried not to bring it up. But he’s actually a great guy, so talking to him made it all feel less stupid after all.”

Despite of how furious Koushirou had been before about not having known about any of this, about being left out of the picture… It also felt like, by choosing this path in particular, here of all places, Taichi was intending to step closer towards him specifically as well. Even if he hadn’t let him in on how it looked inside of him for a long time, even if he had had shut him out just like everyone else… Now that the tables had turned, in just the blink of an eye, Koushirou couldn’t suppress a smile, even if he had wanted to.

“You mean getting into ‘marketing’, mh?”

“Yeah, wild, I know.”

Koushirou’s smile widened.

“I presume you’ll be responsible for texting and being a PR representative of the company – and less for designing then?”

This time, Taichi pulled a grimace – and Koushirou knew he had hit a nerve there. His political sciences studies would come in handy, that he was certain about – however, talking convincingly to politicians still required a significantly different skillset from selling their ideas to the general public, including clueless stakeholders and, especially, the media.

“I know that tone, Kou, and I don’t like it! Mind you, I was practicing technical stuff with Hikari, I know photoshop and such! I’m not a kid anymore and way past the point of bluescreening your computer! Trust me!”

“No, no, I believe you!”, Koushirou laughed out loud – furthermore, he could not help but notice just how much he had missed Taichi’s presence. Bickering like that, being like this together, felt like putting over a warm, comfortable blanket he had hidden away in a closet for a long, long time…

And in the end, it was true – not only did he believe Taichi, he had always believed in him as well. And deep down, Koushirou knew better than anyone else how capable Taichi could be when he was at a hundred percent.

“Good! But yeah, Takano-san will do the visual designing stuff, I’m here to provide the input.”

“Interesting.” So that was most likely what Kawashima had been referring to when she had talked about Taichi’s ‘performance and presentation’ coming off as intriguing, Koushirou mused internally. Somebody must have done their homework up front and Koushirou was convinced that Takano had dug up quite a bit. Probably must have been aware of their ‘relationship status’ as well. “So by input you mean… Processing your experiences and present them in a neat package?”

“Pretty much”, Taichi smiled a crooked smile. He really had come a long way, considering how casually he was already conveying this. Maybe this would really prove to be a key element in getting Taichi’s spirit, and eventually Agumon back? Koushirou had seen him make miracles happen if he set his mind to it, so maybe his therapist had been onto something there. “So, you’re not mad at me anymore?”

Taken off guard by that reply, Koushirou blinked at him.

“I… Wasn’t exactly mad in the first place”, he said truthfully, all glimpses of potential anger had completely vanished after all and Taichi’s gentle tone was something he had never really been able to stand a chance against anyway. Instead, there was a weird sense of… Wary giddiness now. “Just… I did not see any of this coming.”

“Well, but then I was already successful in a way.”

“You really were.”

“Heh… So be sure to see me around a lot more in the future, Izumi-shachou, Takano-san was talking very highly of you.”

Avoiding to tell him that they wouldn’t even be in the same team and thus, probably not getting in touch much, Koushirou couldn’t tell if he was ready for them to be actual coworkers yet. He couldn’t tell if there would be rumours and gossiping, whether there were other complications he hadn’t thought of yet. All he could do was trust in Takano’s judgement, Taichi’s persistence and his own ability to separate their newly founded professional bond from their private bond. Things would absolutely be different from now on, but – it was genuinely making him a bit more hopeful for the future. For the sake of his company – and for Taichi’s sake as well. Most importantly, setting all rationality aside and letting his emotions do the talking, he wanted to believe that this arrangement would eventually improve their friendship again rather than harming it.

“We’ll see about that, Yagami-san.”

Little did he know that it would end up being an entirely different experience from anything he could ever have imagined…

[thethirdromana]

Who would you think would fit as the team's "tech wiz" in a more recent setting? Seward, Mina, Van Helsing?

I think it's between Seward and Mina, but in different ways.

Van Helsing is the Giles here. He brings information (not all of it accurate!) and knows the right people to ask. The main technology he brings is a dubiously innovative use of communion wafers. I imagine the research he does still taking place in dusty university stacks, even in a modern setting.

Seward is the guy with all the modern gadgets. He's the one queuing outside the Apple store to be the first to get his hands on the new iPhone. He has the technology but he doesn't necessarily think that much about how best to use the technology (see: the lack of organisation in his used phonograph cylinders). He definitely has every type of smart home product set up, and what's recorded there forms part of the clues in hunting down Dracula.

Whereas Mina is the opposite. In a modern setting she's surely a broke university student, or very recent graduate. She doesn't have all the latest toys because she can't afford them. What she does have is the ability to make technology work for her, which in Dracula manifests as memorising railway timetables.

In the modern day she might be the programmer who always writes really concise and elegant code because her laptop is too old and creaky to run anything bloated. She's be the one who's like, "hey, Jack, I wonder if your doorbell recorded anything useful?" And in both the 1890s and the modern day, she's a really fast typist.

[princesskenny1998]

Ghostbusters | Trevor Spengler x f!confident!reader ~ Or both?, PT.1

Working in the Ghostbusters’ Engineering Corps was a dream come true for you. A blend of chaos and science, it was a playground for any tech-savvy prodigy with a love for engineering and the weird world of the paranormal. You spent your days building, fixing, and modifying equipment for the Ghostbusters—ghost traps, proton packs, Ecto-goggles, you name it. If they used it to hunt ghosts, you could build it, improve it, or, when things got intense, repair it on the fly.

Today, however, you were hip-deep in some particularly tricky proton pack mods when a voice broke your concentration.

"Uh, hey… Are you the engineer they told me to talk to?"

Looking up, you saw a tall, slightly gangly young man with tousled brown hair and eyes that looked both inquisitive and a bit shy. He wore the telltale Ghostbusters jumpsuit, the name “Spengler” stitched neatly on his chest. You’d heard about him—grandson of 'the mighty' Egon Spengler, and from what you’d gathered, something of a legend-in-the-making.

And, to be honest, he was adorable.

“Yeah, that’d be me.” You flashed him a confident smile, wiping your hands on your jumpsuit and stepping forward. “Name’s Y/N, Head of development and repairs. You must be Trevor.”

He seemed a bit taken aback by your forwardness, but he nodded, his hand reaching to rub the back of his neck, clearly a bit nervous. “Yeah, uh, Trevor Spengler. Nice to meet you.” He glanced around at your setup, the workbench littered with ghostly gadgets in various states of construction. “So… what are you working on?”

You glanced back at your workstation with a grin. “Just a little proton pack upgrade. The last one had a nasty feedback issue. Nearly fried me during testing. Which I can’t afford to have happen—again.” You watched him closely, enjoying the way his eyes lit up as he took in the equipment and the technical chatter. "I’m guessing you’re here to get yours tuned up?”

“Uh, yeah,” he admitted, chuckling a little awkwardly. “I think I nearly shorted mine out last week. Apparently, using it in the rain isn’t the best idea…”

You laughed, and Trevor’s face turned a faint shade of pink as you said, “Classic. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.” You tapped a spot next to your workbench and waved him over. “Let’s have a look, then.”

Trevor shuffled closer, setting the pack down for you to inspect. You started running your diagnostics, aware of his gaze fixed on you. The silence between you felt charged, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

“So, Trevor,” you said, grinning as you glanced up at him. “Ever seen someone dismantle a proton pack in under two minutes?”

He raised his eyebrows, a faint, impressed smile curving his lips. “No… is that even possible?”

“Stick around and you’ll see.” You winked, turning back to the proton pack and setting to work. You could feel Trevor’s eyes on you, watching as you moved with practiced ease, quickly unscrewing parts and inspecting the inner workings of the pack.

Trevor shifted his weight, clearly unsure of what to do with himself. “You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “I heard about you. They say you’re kind of a mad scientist. In the best way, of course,” he added quickly, his cheeks flushing again.

You laughed, leaning back slightly to catch his gaze. “I’ll take that as a compliment. ‘Mad’ is just another word for ‘brilliant,’ right?”

He grinned, a bit of his shyness melting away. “I think you might be right.”

The conversation continued as you worked, the two of you talking about the oddities and challenges of ghost-hunting technology. Trevor’s nerdy enthusiasm was infectious, and the way he awkwardly fumbled over his words at times only made him more charming. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d met someone who managed to be so endearing just by being himself.

As you finished up the repairs, you decided to push things a bit further. You turned to him, leaning in just close enough that he looked slightly nervous, his eyes widening slightly.

“So,” you said, your voice dropping to a more teasing tone. “You’re new around here. Got any plans to celebrate your first big catch?”

Trevor blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Oh, um, I… I hadn’t thought about it,” he stammered, his cheeks turning an even brighter shade of pink. “I mean, I’m not sure what people usually do around here for… you know, celebrating.”

You smiled, leaning back slightly but keeping your eyes on him. “Well, maybe you could let me show you around. There’s a lot to see in this city, you know.”

Trevor looked stunned for a moment, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. “Are you… are you serious?”

“Completely serious.” You handed him his now-repaired proton pack, a mischievous glint in your eye. “If you’re up for it, that is.”

He swallowed, clearly trying to play it cool but failing miserably. “Uh, yeah, I’d… I’d love that.”

You tilted your head, letting your smile grow just a little more flirtatious. “Great.” You grabbed a pen and scribbled your number on a scrap of paper, handing it to him. “Give me a call when you’re free. We can hang out. Or… hook up. Your choice.” You winked, adding, “Or both.”

Trevor stared at the paper in his hand, looking from it to you as if he couldn’t quite process what had just happened. “I… Wow. I mean, yeah. Definitely.” He finally managed a grin, and you couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction at the dazed, happy expression on his face.

“Cool,” you said casually, resisting the urge to laugh at his adorably flustered reaction. “Just don’t blow yourself up before giving me that call, alright?”

Trevor chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck again as he tucked the paper carefully into his pocket. “No promises.”

You gave him a playful salute. “That’s the spirit.”

As he left, you felt a thrill of excitement, knowing this wouldn’t be the last time you saw him.

[theshulergroup]

The holidays are magical, but they can also be chaotic!  Here are a few holiday home to-dos for your checklist: Manage holiday orders and deliveries, Keep the floors clear, Update your holiday music playlist, Set up decor, inside and out, Cook nostalgic holiday recipes, Get your home cozy and guest ready & Keep your home secure while you’re away. This may seem like a lot to do, but luckily, there’s a ton of affordable home tech to help! Check out our blog for recommendations on the best gadgets to simplify your holiday season.

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[discountkaro]

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[concerningwolves]

Heya! I have an rp related question regarding a HoH character of mine, if you don’t mind me asking that is, it’s a superhero rp and I’ve been looking for ways they would be accommodated whilst on missions.

I was initially thinking of them not wearing hearing aids for the missions (they wear them for daily life) since they’re going to be grappling from buildings along with fighting, it’s really just to prevent the hearing aids from being destroyed, instead they are accommodated through other gadgets to help prevent scenes like sneak attacks, although I’m not sure if this way holds questionable implications, which is why I’m putting it here.

I have a second idea for accommodating them, which is to have hearing aids implemented into their helmet, the helmet itself is meant to “high tech” esc, even if the hearing aids were to fall or get pulled out, the helmet would catch them, along with the additions of those various gadgets I mentioned, as they’re really big into robotics and mechanics, and can afford to make it, plus I have an idea as to how it’d work. My hesitation with the second one is because we have a scene planned out which would result in the helmet being taken off by someone else as it’s a captive situation which is where I get unsure.

I know scenes like this need to be treaded very carefully, you’ve answered an ask somewhat like this before but the example in the ask was different, though I know all of what you said there still applies here. I’m wondering, for this specific scenario, if I do go with the second one, would there be any additional advice for sensitively going about it?

Hearing/accessibility aids for superheroes

Oohh *rubs hands gleefully*. More deaf/disabled superheroes. Excellent :3

I am always excited about inventive hearing and accessibility aids in the SFF genre, so this ask makes my brain go BRRR. Thank you, anon!

TL;DR of my answer:

Hearing aids and alternatives in combat are fine (and encouraged!), especially when the deaf character has input in their design and implementation. The only real issues come in if the aids are foisted upon the character or if they entirely negate the disability / function like magical cures. It's also a good idea to consider realistic limitations and necessary upkeep.

Having an aid taken away is a thorny issue, which someone is probably going to be upset about either way. My opinion is that it's sometimes a fact that characters do horrible things to other characters as part of the story, which taking away a character's HA or other device(s) counts as. Still, it's important to be aware of the potential issues when writing these scenarios, and to always use nuance.

Full answer below the cut.

Hearing aids (and alternatives) in combat

What kind of HAs does your character use in everyday life? If they use any kind of open or behind-the-ear style where part of the HA will be out of the ear, then I understand why they would seek alternative aids in combat. There's a definite risk of damage/getting lost (at worst) or the hook or housing getting caught, resulting in the whole thing being displaced and reducing performance (at best). Other limitations with these styles include:

sweat and earwax buildup in the mould or ear tip

Water clogging the mould or ear tip

Condensation buildup in the tube that connects the ear tip/mould to the housing.

For that last point, I always had to use one of these bad boys to pump the condensation out after PE:

[Image description: a SoundLink air blower box, next to the air blower itself. The air blower is a lemon-shaped pump with a tiny little tip attached. /End ID]

(As an aside, no HA-using superhero would go far without the means to do impromptu maintenance on their aids. I always had a little hearing aid maintenance kit in my schoolbag (my HAs are open fit BTE models), which included one of those pumps, some wires and brushes for cleaning into the tube and ear mould, and a battery level tester.)

Inner ear HA styles, on the other hand, shouldn't pose those same issues, and are actually recommended for people who play sports, afaik. They fit close inside the ear without any external parts, and there are models available with sweat protection (and even some that are water resistant, I think). Note that not all styles of hearing aid are suitable for all types of deafness, so it's not necessarily as simple as switching styles for different situations, but it's still something to research.

If your character is into robotics and tech, and has the means, then it absolutely makes sense that they'd come up with aids for themself. The helmet being a backup that can catch the HAs is actually a super cool idea! And like I've said, I'm delighted by adaptive gadgets and inventive accessibility aids. It's always doubly cool when those aids are designed by – or with input from – the deaf/disabled characters themselves. I.e., when it's an informed, personal choice to use an aid, and not something that is gracious bestowed upon that character by someone who's there in an abled saviour capacity. So long as you avoid that particular pitfall, you're doing fine.

Finally, there's the blanket caveat of "Make sure the aids don't ~miraculously~ cure the disability so it's like your character Isn't Really Disabled", but it sounds like you're already well aware of that. So long as the aids assist with the disability instead of conveniently erasing it (i.e., allowing readers and writers to forget about it for palatability's sake, or to make telling the story easier), there isn't an issue in having characters use them.

Taking away the aid(s)

I apologise if this next bit is going to feel like a non-answer, but it's not an issue that I have an easy answer for. All I can do is tell you my personal opinion, as a moderately deaf person who choses to rarely use his HAs.

My answer boils down to: it's complicated, because the limitations and the risks are realistic, but it is tricky ground to walk because of prevalent ableist tropes about disabled people being liabilities. At a very basic level, it's kind of analogous to blindfolding a captive so they're disoriented by lack of a sense, which is a tried and true thing that villains do in stories when they take captives. So yes, exploiting any vulnerability or weak point* is shitty, but it's also just A Thing That Could Reasonably Happen.

*weak point meant in a completely neutral, context-dependent way, btw. I'm not saying that deafness or using hearing aids makes you weak; I'm saying that someone desperate/callous/evil (or some other flavour of Opposed to the Protagonist) would probably take any advantage they can get, depending on their morals.

If a villain does draw a line at taking away a character's accessibility aid, then it should be because it says something about the villain's character, motives and/or role in the narrative. Similarly, if they do take that aid away, it shouldn't just be because they're Evil™ and whumping on the deaf character is an easy way to show that.

There needs to be internal consistency of characterisation for all your characters, which includes both your deaf protagonist and your antagonist. And, no, it's not necessarily going to be comfortable for a deaf or disabled person to read, but if something awful is happening to the characters, then maybe that's the point. (And we as readers have the responsibility to realise that our discomfort isn't always the author's responsibility. Sometimes fiction is uncomfortable and we can just walk away from it!).

But also, yes, sensitivity is important. Be aware of harmful tropes and stereotypes, and steer clear of them, for example, having the deaf character become suddenly helpless/no longer being "useful" to the team. Having an aid taken away is scary and disorientating (and also a violation! Which it's entirely natural to be upset or angry about!), but deaf people have many coping mechanisms, gathered by necessity throughout our lives. Some, like lip-reading or reading body language, aren't always reliable, but they're still there as an option.

Finally, think outside of the deafness aspect and work with the whole character. Ask yourself what else could the captor could exploit or suppress? I.e., loyalty to their teammates that can be leveraged, a dark secret, important knowledge that they need and that the captor has, a fear of heights, useful powers or abilities, etc. It's easy to limit yourself to only the deaf aspects when you're over-focusing on accurate representation, which ends up defeating the object.

Thank you for your question, and best of luck with your writing! <3

[flikbog]

The Best Laptop for Revit 2025: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing the best laptop for Revit 2025 can feel like navigating a maze. With countless options on the market, it’s challenging to identify a device that can handle complex 3D modeling, large datasets, and high-resolution rendering without breaking a sweat. If you’re tired of lagging performance or your current setup struggles with Revit’s demanding tasks, you’ve come to the right place. This…

[flightsgoogle]

Travel Tech: Gadgets and Apps That Will Change the Way You Travel in 2024

Traveling in 2024 is set to be a tech-savvy adventure like never before. With cutting-edge gadgets and innovative apps, your journeys will be more seamless, enjoyable, and efficient. Here’s a look at some of the latest travel technologies that are transforming the way we explore the world.

Smart Luggage Smart luggage has evolved significantly, offering features like GPS tracking, built-in power banks, and biometric locks. Brands like Away and Samsonite are leading the charge with luggage that not only keeps your belongings safe but also charges your devices on the go.

Top Features: GPS Tracking: Never lose your luggage again with real-time location tracking. Biometric Locks: Secure your belongings with fingerprint recognition. Built-in Scales: Avoid overweight fees by weighing your luggage with integrated scales.

AI-Powered Travel Apps Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing travel planning. Apps like Cheap Flights for android and Cheap Flights pro for ios use AI to predict the best times to book flights and hotels, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.

Must-Have website: CheapFlights365: Predicts future flight and hotel prices with 95% accuracy. TripIt: Organizes your travel plans in one place, giving you a master itinerary. PackPoint: Helps you pack by creating a customized packing list based on your destination and travel plans.

Virtual Reality (VR) Tours Before you even leave home, VR can give you a taste of your destination. Apps like Google Earth VR and Expedia VR offer immersive virtual tours, helping you decide where to go and what to see.

VR Highlights: Google Earth VR: Explore any city or landmark in the world from your living room. Expedia VR: Experience hotel rooms and tourist attractions virtually before booking.

Portable Language Translators Language barriers are a thing of the past with portable translators like Pocketalk and Travis Touch Go. These devices offer real-time translation in dozens of languages, ensuring smooth communication wherever you are.

Translation Devices: Pocketalk: Translates 82 languages with two-way voice translation. Travis Touch Go: Supports over 100 languages and can be used offline.

Wearable Tech Wearable technology, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, is more travel-friendly than ever. Devices like the Apple Watch Ultra and Fitbit Charge 5 not only track your fitness but also provide navigation, weather updates, and even emergency assistance.

Wearable Benefits: Apple Watch Ultra: Offers GPS, cellular connectivity, and fall detection. Fitbit Charge 5: Tracks your health metrics and provides stress management tools.

E-SIM Cards E-SIM cards are making connectivity abroad easier and more affordable. With apps like Airalo and GigSky, you can purchase and activate data plans for your destination without needing a physical SIM card.

Connectivity Solutions: Airalo: Buy eSIMs for over 190 countries directly from your phone. GigSky: Offers global data plans without the need for a local SIM card.

Solar-Powered Chargers Eco-friendly and efficient, solar-powered chargers like Anker PowerPort Solar allow you to keep your devices charged using the power of the sun. Perfect for camping or traveling to remote areas.

Top Picks: Anker PowerPort Solar: Lightweight, foldable, and capable of charging two devices simultaneously. Goal Zero Nomad 7: Durable and compact, ideal for outdoor adventures. Conclusion The travel tech landscape in 2024 is brimming with innovations designed to make your trips smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. From smart luggage and AI-powered apps to VR tours and portable translators, these gadgets and tools are set to revolutionize your travel experience. So gear up, tech out, and get ready to explore the world like never before!

What travel tech are you most excited to try in 2024? Let us know in the comments!

[quickbuy997]

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Shop here!Here's an updated version incorporating Electric Avenue, Boss Man Apparel, Women's Club Apparel, and that items come from trending products on Amazon and Temu:

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[corporate-gifts-dubai]

Top advertising corporate gifts article in Dubai, UAE

There are several popular corporate gift items in Dubai, UAE, but one of the top advertising corporate gifts articles is the promotional pen. In Dubai's business culture, the exchange of gifts is common and considered a way to build and maintain business relationships. Promotional pens are a popular choice because they are practical, affordable, and can be customized with a company's logo or message.

Royal Top Trading has been the most trusted and best corporate gifts supplier in dubai since 2003. We have green gifts aka eco friendly gifts to save our planet. From custom-made car mobile holder to , customized t shirts there are endless options available in Royal top trading. Whatever be your industry, you will find the most trendy and unique corporate gifts in your need and budget. We provide the corporate gifts in all over UAE and, Abu Dhabi, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. We accept orders in both bulk or small quantities.Visit our website for more products or contact ;+971 50 588 4169 royalpro@eim.ae

Other popular corporate gift items in Dubai include:

Customized notebooks or journals

USB flash drives

Power banks

Coffee mugs or water bottles

Key chains or lanyards

Desk accessories such as paperweights or clocks

Tote bags or backpacks

Leather goods like wallets or cardholders

Tech gadgets like wireless earbuds or smartwatches.