#Budget 2017 Wishlist

[p1hypen]

y(ours) — P1HARMONY!maknae line

a continuation of what it’s like dating the younger one’s and their familiarity with your personal belongings. ft. non-idol!p1h maknae line x gn!reader

a/n: this is my attempt at easing back into writing, apologize if it’s super rough :(

intak

your vinyl record.

it was gifted to you on christmas about two years ago. you’ve always dwelled on wanting one of your own, but never had the balls to go out of your way to purchase one because they could get pretty pricey. a lot of your extensive research and effort you spent scouring the internet to find the perfect vinyl record you’d like pointed to signs of something completely out of your budget. well, not completely, but unrealistically obtainable with the numbers you’ve been receiving paycheck-to-paycheck from your job.

so, each time that the holidays were around the corner, and whenever your mother would ask for your christmas wishlist, you’d throw in several other items you’d like but never included the idea of wanting a vinyl record. that secret desire of yours was something you kept to yourself, something you never brought up in conversation, nor was it something you’d expect to receive unless it was coming out of your pockets.

lo and behold, on the morning of a wintery cold december 25, when you were gathered around the christmas tree with your siblings and parents to open your presents, there sat a box with a fragile sticker stuck to the wrapping.

to: y/n :)

from: mom and dad

since then your prized possession has followed you to college and your off-campus apartment whom you share with your three other close friends.

intak, especially, took a liking to your music player and never misses an opportunity to use it. whenever he visits your place (which is almost every day) he makes it his unrelenting mission to flip through your vinyls and place his pick of the day on to the turntable. his personal favorite is cigarettes after sex, a band you actually introduced him to.

while you don’t mind sharing things, especially with your partner, you’re pretty sure intak has used your vinyl record more often than you have. ultimately, you don’t mind. it’s rather endearing knowing that what’s yours also belongs to him.

shota

your nintendo switch.

“y/n can i play super smash bros?”

shota doesn’t even need to ask for your approval. in fact, he already knows your answer will always allude to a ‘yes,’ but he does it anyway despite the electronic device already in his possession.

“of course,” you would say.

naturally you grew up owning multiple generations of nintendo ds’s. when nintendo came out with a new updated version you’d go to the game store to trade it in for store credit just to get the latest release. this routine continued up until middle school when your gaming hobby no longer prevailed itself in your interests.

as months passed and 2017 eventually rolled by, the internet buzzed with life after nintendo’s announcement about the upcoming hybrid console came to light. rest assured that you were one of millions who preordered the device and waited impatiently for it’s hard launch date to release in store.

but again, school started to pick up and extra curricula’s were time consuming, that playing video games became less and lesser of an option for you to indulge in.

leave it to shota to pick up your slack. because if it’s not super smash bros that he’s try-harding at, it’s either the suika game, animal crossing (if he really feels like it), or pokemon. an odd rotation but who were you to judge.

“wHat!” he yelps from the couch. “how did he dodge that!”

you giggle at his typical gamer-behavior, closely reminded of yourself.

jongseob

your digicam.

the sony cyber-shot camera has been by your side since you were in the 5th grade.

it was a hand-me-down from your father’s box of electronic gadgets he owned back in the day; a lot of which were collecting dust in the garage for not being used in so long.

while tossing things away to relieve the clutter and deciding what to keep, you remember discovering the digicam at the bottom of the pile after laborious digging. your father briefly taught you how to turn it on and off, what button to press to take a picture, how to record a video, and the different settings you could play around with.

your digicam has followed you around the world to different countries for family trips, witnessed you graduate from high school, contained a lot of embarrassing photos of you and your friends, watched you grow since elementary to your first day of college, and captured numerous flicks featuring new faces.

when you started dating jongseob, your photo gallery has been nothing but candid pictures of you and him (mainly of you).

your boyfriend is constantly bringing it along with him to events or outings, because, in his defense, he just wants to create some memories for you both to look back on someday. sometimes he goes out of his way to point and direct you on how to pose.

once, over dinner, you asked jongseob if he’d rather upgrade to something better and not outdated, like a canon or even a proper film camera. however, he is not one to budge and refuses to give up the obsolete digicam he unintentionally took ownership of.

“it’s special,” he pouted. “and sentimental, too.”

you smiled, “i guess. i just can’t help but wonder if you prefer a greater upgrade.”

“trust me, this has everything i need. now show me that pretty smile of yours.”

[kathcake2013]

Fashion Wishlist March 2017: The bank budget buster edit

Fashion Wishlist March 2017: The bank budget buster edit

Shop the items on my fashion wishlist that would certainly break the bank (but they’re so worth it!) If I had a bottomless bank balance these babies would be on the top of my list. My fashion wishlist contains a bit of everything from cosy winter trench coats, to a cute Charlotte Olympia cat inspired handbag. Obviously I wouldn’t say many of these items were budget friendly, but that’s what we…

[foreign-studies]

Hi, babes! It’s Bea, from Exohypernova ♡

I’m so sorry i’m basically a month late posting this, but here is the 2018 minimal black planner. There’s over 200 printable pages in this pack, including calendars, monthly, weekly & daily planners, mood tracker, school organization and a lot more. I’ve divided the whole planner into collections so it’s easier to spot the printables you want. A good tip is to print this planner and put it in a A5 binder, so you can take off the pages you don’t want anymore and print out new ones. Okay so, no more rambling, this is the 2018 minimal black planner:

Basic

★ A4 pocket “ What did you do to save the world today”

★ Cover “ Start where you are”

★ Information page

Goals

★ Cover “Dream hard, work harder”

★ 2018 goals

+ 2018 priorities, what will be different, things i want to do, places i want to go, things i’ll get better at.

★ Themed Bucket List 

Option 1: single column

Option 2: double column

★ Life Goals ( page 1 and page 2 )

+ Health, knowledge, finance, skills, career, experiences, travel, soul

★ Quarterly review ( page 1 and page 2 )

♡ INSPIRED BY LISA JACOBS ON INSTAGRAM ♡

+ time or money well spent/ wasted, favorite memories, things to get better at, acomplishments so far, bad habits to break, biggest setback, things to be greatful for

★ Life Graph 

★ Routines 

+ morning, night, pamper & key

★ Vision Board (page 1 and page 2)

★  101 things to do in 1001 days ( pages 1, 2, 3, 4 )

Option 1 : check box and favorites stars

Option 2: check box

★ Quarterly Goals 

+personal, career, financial, other

Option 1: 2 categories per page, vertically

Option 2: 2 categories per page, horizontally

Option 3: all 4 categories.

★ 3 Year Plan 

Option 1: 3 steps to goal

Option 2: 5 steps to goal

Option 3: 10 steps to goal

★ 5 Year Plan

Option 1: 3 steps to goal

Option 2: 5 steps to goal

Option 3: 10 steps to goal

★ 10 Year Plan

Option 1: 3 steps to goal

Option 2: 5 steps to goal

Option 3: 10 steps to goal

★ 10 Year Plan

Option 1: 3 steps to goal

Option 2: 5 steps to goal

Option 3: 10 steps to goal

Calendar

★ Cover “The best is yet to come”

★ Cover “ Trust in Change”

★ 2018 Calendar ( page 1 and page 2)

★ 2017 & 2019 Calendar ( page 1 and page 2)

★ 6 Months Goals ( page 1 and page 2)

★ Monthly habit tracker  ( page 1 and page 2)

★ Yearly Mood tracker

(with emotions / without emotions )

★ Year at a glance (page 1 and page 2)

★  Monthly calendar 

+ color coding & notes

★   Monthly layout 

+ calendar, to do list, quote, birthdays & events, goals of the month, 30 day challenge, playlist, favorites of the month and gratitude log

★   Weekly goals ( page 1 and page 2 )

★   Weekly to dos

★   Weekly Planner

Option 1 : + calendar, weekly habit tracker ( 5 habits) 

Option 2:  + calendar, weekly habit tracker (5 habits), notes, more space for each day ( page 1 and 2)

★   Daily Planner 

+ date, priorities, to dos, food and water tracker, hourly schedule

Entertainment:

★   Cover “ Relax, refresh, recharge”

★   Books to read

with theme & without theme

★   Movies to Watch

★   Playlists

★   TV Show tracker

Finances:

★   Cover “Girls just wanna have fund$”

★   Monthly bill payment tracker

★   Fun Money budget

+ experiences, food, clothing/beauty/ misc.

★   Monthly budget trigger list

★   Monthly Budget (page 1 and page 2)

★   Monthly expenses

★   Monthly Income

Fitness and physical health:

★   Cover “ Make yourself a priority”

★   Fitness Journey Start 

+ measurements, goals, reasons to be fit

★   Annual medical Check up

★  Weight check in 

+ measurements comparison, goals achieved (mentally and physically) and how i’m feeling

★   Doctors and Meds log

★   Weekly exercise Log

★   Meal plan (page 1 and page 2)

+ breakfast, lunch and dinner & snack options

★  Medical appointments

★   Weight loss/ gain rewards

★   Weekly Weigh-in (page 1 and page 2 )

+ rewards, weight flunctuation graph

★   Weight loss/ gain challenge ( page 1 and page 2)

Study

★ Cover “ You get what you work for”

★   Classes Tracker

+ class, teacher, e-mail, room, semester, schedule, date, assignment, date due

★   Extra Credit tracker

Option 1: header with class details

Option 2: No header

★   Extracurricular activities 

★   Grade Tracker

+ Header with class info, date, assignment/ test, date due, color code, final grade, past grades

★   Library Books Tracker

★   Project Management

★   Weekly Schedule ( page 1 and page 2)

Travel

★   Cover “Seek what sets your soul on fire”

★   Daily Itinerary

★   Hotel Information

★   Packing List

★   Travel Brainstorm

★   Important Information

★   Weekly Itinerary (page 1 and page 2)

★   Useful phrases

Soul & Mental Health

★   Cover “too blessed to be stressed”

★   One Line a day journal ( pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)

★   Affirmations

★   Bad days list

★   Monthly a doodle a day

★   Dream Diary 

+ date, hours of sleep, how i feel, dream & interpratation

★   GYST day 

+ color coding

★   Happy Thoughts

★   Journaling prompts

★   Manifestation

+ what i want to attract, my vision, next steps, raise your vibration

★   mantras

★   Post Therapy Notes

★   Rant Boxes

★   Self Care Ideas list

★   Things I love about Myself list

★   Things that make me happy list

★   Trigger tracker

HOME

★   Cover “Let’s Stay Home”

★   Cleaning Schedule 

+ days of the week, everyday, every month, yearly

★   Cleaning trigger list

★   Grocery list

★   Grocery trigger list

★   Pet care (page 1 and page 2)

+ pet info, vet and emergency 24h vet info, food, treats, meds and exercise routines, vaccines, likes and dislikes and notes

Misc

★   cover “Find Joy In the Ordinary”

★   Mind dump page

★   Mind dump trigger list

★   shopping list

★   wishlist

★   borrowed and lent items tracker

★   notes

option 1: dotted, 20mm

option 2: dotted, 40mm

option 3: lined, big

option 4: lined, small

option 5: squared, big

option 6: squared, small

2018 IN REVIEW

★    Favorites of 2018 ( page 1 and page 2)

★   Lessons learned ( dotted, lined)

★   Life Graph review

+ life graph, what improve, what didn’t, why, favorite parts, how to improve next year

Wow okay, thats the whole planner. Sorry this post is so long, but I hope you guys like it. If you do use this and take photos please tag me #Exohypernova on tumblr and/or Instagram, cause i’d love to see it ♡

As always, i also have a completely editable version of every one of these pages right here, fonts included. If you want to download all of it, or want to see my previous printables, you can access my google drive folder here. 

P.S.: some people are having trouble downloading through google drive, if you for any reason can’t download, just log on google with a different account, and it should be okay.

P.P.S: For those who use my minimal black printables, i also have the 2018 monthly calendar here.

♡♡♡

[bltngames]

Five Things Sega Could Do To Save a Sonic Unleashed PC Port

Sega has a tendency to release PC ports of their games on Steam out of the blue. Valkyria Chronicles and Bayonetta were big surprises, only announced basically the same day they went up for sale. One PC port some Sonic fans have been requesting (including myself) is 2008’s Sonic Unleashed.

I'd argue that Sonic Unleashed is still, a decade later, the best example of the “boost” gameplay later popularized in Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, and most recently, Sonic Forces. Sonic’s levels in Unleashed are fast, challenging and frenetic in a way none of those other games ever really matched. The problem is what surrounds Sonic’s levels -- a good 75% of Unleashed’s gameplay is slow, tedious busy work, dominated by levels where you control the plodding “Werehog.” This was a long-running problem Sonic Team was struggling with back then; they seemed to be better at making 2-3 hour experiences in an industry that expected something closer to 8-10 hours. So, they compensated by padding out the clock.

That makes Unleashed the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was the last of their games to contain such a significant amount of padding, with later games embracing their shorter completion times (until Sonic Lost World, anyway). Because of what a slog Sonic Unleashed can be, only the most dedicated really dig in and uncover its bright spots, with most getting scared away by how often and how hard the game slams on the brakes.

Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka stated just as recently as last year (2017) that he was open to the idea of a PC port for Sonic Unleashed, so if someone were just so happening to be working on one, I humbly present you with a wishlist of features that I think may help elevate the game to the forgotten classic I believe it to be. Each change will be rated on how hard it would be to implement, and just for the sake of fun, I’ll throw in some left field requests at the bottom that I don’t necessarily think would be possible, but I’d like to see just the same.

1. Reduce Medal Requirements Significantly

Why? One of the biggest things people hate about Sonic Unleashed is the game's medal collection aspect. Stashed in the corners of many levels are sun and moon medals which unfortunately block your progression. As you play through the game, eventually you'll reach a level requiring a certain number of these medals, and if you don’t have enough, you can't progress any further without returning to previous levels and collecting more. More often than not, players don’t know they’re behind on their medal counts until it’s already too late. And as you near the end of the game, medal unlock numbers get to be excessive, wasting hours of playtime on busy work. So, just reduce that requirement. It barely provides any legitimate gameplay and is clearly only there to tack on extra hours to the clock. Nothing of value will be lost, but players will enjoy the game more, and completionists can still hunt out all of the medals for achievements and such. Complexity: Low. With what I know about game development, this would be as simple as changing a few variables in the code -- it’d take ten minutes, tops.

2. Increase EXP Earned for the Werehog

Why? I maintain that a fully powered up Werehog is actually kinda fun. Early-game Werehog sucks; you don't have enough health, and you don't have a lot of combat abilities to fight back with. You must spend HOURS grinding out experience points (EXP) and leveling up your stats before any of that starts to feel tolerable. What's annoying is the Werehog is balanced so that you'll finish the game long before you learn all of the combat abilities, even if you focus on JUST leveling up the one stat that teaches them to you. There are entire DLC levels built explicitly to help grind out tons of EXP quickly, so Sonic Team knew this was a problem. Just throw the player a bone and make defeated enemies drop slightly higher amounts of EXP so you can get to the good stuff faster. Complexity: Low. Along the same lines as changing medal requirements, changing the EXP values in the code could be done in the time it takes to heat up leftovers in the microwave. It would probably take longer to figure out how much to change them.

3. Consolidate all DLC in to one “World Tour�� pack

Why? Typically re-releases like this include all of the DLC as a free bonus, but Sega has bucked that trend with games like Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. Both games contained optional DLC to add in their bonus Gamecube-exclusive content for an extra $7 or so. Shrewd, I guess, but it probably also helped provide Sega with a financial incentive to make those ports at all. It was also easy to ignore if you didn't like the idea of paying an extra $7, because it was all optional side-content, separate from the main game. So, do the same with Sonic Unleashed: roll the five or so DLC packs in to a singular “World Tour” pack and charge $7-ish for it. I know it's dumb, but business is dumb, and it might give the porting team a little more leeway with their development budget. Complexity: Moderate. I don’t know how Sonic Unleashed supports DLC, but this probably wouldn’t be as easy as packing all the DLC together. It still wouldn’t be that difficult, though.

4. New NPC marker to denote story-critical characters

Why? A big complaint and misconception I've seen about Sonic Unleashed time and time again is that you HAVE to spend lots of time hunting down and talking to villager NPCs in towns. Though there are a few times the game forces you to talk to townspeople, you can ignore most of them and progress through the game just fine (I certainly did). The issue is that the Unleashed doesn’t really designate between characters you can talk to, characters that give out optional side quests, and critical story characters, so it’s easy to get stuck doing something that’s unnecessary. My answer is to simply do what many other games do: mark which NPCs are important. NPCs already have markers above their heads, so simply add a new type of marker so it’s obvious who you need to talk to for progression and who is giving out optional side quests. Complexity: Moderate. This would require generating new graphics assets to insert in to the game and editing the icon display systems as well as changing map values to support it. Not difficult, but it would still take a bit of effort.

5. Break Werehog levels up into smaller chunks

Why? The other main problem with the Werehog is just how disproportionately large his levels are. Again, I don’t actually think the Werehog is the worst thing in the world, but only when it's experienced in the right context. 20+ minute Werehog stages vs. 3-5 minute Sonic levels creates a significant imbalance, and combined with grinding out EXP, everything about the Werehog feels like too much effort for not enough reward. So, cut the Werehog levels short. In theory this isn’t hard -- just move the Goal Ring found at the end of a stage somewhere closer so the level ends sooner. Of course, this creates a huge list secondary problems with pacing and leaves a lot of unused real estate on the cutting room floor, so this would take some significant work to figure out. But it’d be a necessary evil for making this part of the game a lot more digestible. Complexity: High. Individual elements of this seem simple, but combined, this would take a lot of coordination to do properly. You’d be redesigning almost half the game.

Now, let’s talk about fringe features. Things that would require exorbitant amounts of work, or are just daydreams:

6. Recreate the game in Sonic Forces’ “Hedgehog Engine 2” Why? Regardless of how you feel about the game it powers, Hedgehog Engine 2 does seem to offer some moderate technological and rendering benefits over the original Hedgehog Engine that powers Sonic Unleashed. Those benefits could be carried over to a remake, but that could come at a cost: a remake would have to be careful to make Unleashed feel “right” otherwise the whole project would be in vain. Complexity: Extremely High. You’d have to update everything for the new engine, and change how the engine itself works to support features from Sonic Unleashed that aren’t in Sonic Forces. It’s basically like making an entirely new game.

7. Implement Sonic Colors’ “Marathon” Egg Shuttle Mode Why? The shuttle mode in Sonic Colors is basically the only way I play that game now. It runs through every level in the game, in order, with boss encounters, without having to go back to a map screen or watch cutscenes, turning it into an experience like the classic Genesis Sonic games. All Sonic games could use something like that, including Unleashed. Complexity: High. You’d have to write a lot of new code and make a new map and menu option for this to work.

8. Steam Workshop support Why? Sonic Generations modding support was hacked together from scraps and managed to generate some very impressive results. It’d be nice if we could get the official Hedgehog Engine tools in some form and have a way to publish levels without having to fumble around in the dark. Complexity: Extremely High. The old Hedgehog Engine tools require having a specific versions of the Havok Physics SDK installed, which costs multiple thousands of dollars. A workaround would have to be implemented.

9. Redesign the entire end game Why? Sonic Unleashed is not a game that finishes strong. From the moment you unlock the final level, the villain’s twisted theme park called “Eggmanland,” the game nosedives hard. Eggmanland is an obnoxiously long level, easily taking over an hour to clear (without any time to stop and rest). It also breaks many of the game’s rules, with a number of genuinely mean traps that only exist to mess you up and get you killed. Your reward for finishing Eggmanland is a gauntlet of at least three final bosses, each one more stupidly aggravating than the last. None of it is fun or exciting, just annoying. Every part of it needs to be reworked somehow. Complexity: Extremely High. Eggmanland needs to be shorter, bosses need to be more forgiving, controls in certain parts need to be improved… it’ll be a lot of work.

10. An option to revert every change on this list Why? Even if I think all of these changes are necessary to improving Sonic Unleashed, it's also important to preserve it in its original format. Besides, there will always be a group of people who prefer the old game over the new version, so, every time you implement a change, put in an option to revert to put it back the way it was. Simple. Complexity: Variable. It depends on what gets changed, really.

Some people may look at an article or a list like this and ask: why not just play the modded version of Sonic Generations that adds in the Sonic Unleashed levels? Why do we need to muck around with changing Sonic Unleashed for a PC port nobody supposedly needs? Because while The Unleashed Project (that Generations mod) is pretty cool, it’s not perfect. Generations doesn’t support everything required to translate those levels perfectly, and some of them definitely suffer for it. Not only that, but future updates to The Unleashed Project are indefinitely on hold, meaning the more questionable parts will never be fixed.

The only real solution is to port the full Sonic Unleashed game to PC, and why not smooth over some of its rough edges while they’re at it? Taxman and Stealth’s Sonic CD port in 2011 did this, improving the game’s control, collision detection, and framerate. Nintendo did this when they updated The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker for the Wii U -- they added items to speed up the slower parts of that game and make the overall experience more enjoyable. Precedent for fixing these kinds of games does exist, it’s just a matter of whether or not anyone at Sega has the initiative to make it happen, vis-à-vis a potential Sonic Unleashed PC port.

One can only hope.

[treetalent209]

Best Mac Apps For Travel

The Best Travel Apps for 2019

Best Free Apps For Mac

Best Mac App For Travel

Top 10 Mac Apps

Best Apps For New Macbook

Best Apps For Mac 2020

Best Free Apps For Mac

Airbnb

Jan 04, 2020  So, here’s our pick of the best offline GPS apps for your Android or iOS phone. OsmAnd Offline Travel Maps & Navigation. A product of collaboration between two open-source platforms – OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia – OsmAnd allows you to download seven map files for free for offline navigation. Depending on your usage and device memory.

Jan 03, 2020  The Best Calorie Counter Apps of 2020 Counting calories with a smartphone or tablet app is the smartest way to do it. Brad Stephenson. Freelance Contributor. Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency. Our editorial process.

Jan 06, 2020  The 100 Best Android Apps for 2020. Not all of the Google Play store's 2.9 million apps are worth downloading. Our picks of the best Android apps in 14 categories deserve a place on your phone.

Jan 19, 2017  The 50 Best New Travel Apps for 2017 The 50 Best New Travel Apps for 2017. So we’ve combed through dozens of the latest travel apps (and a.

Feb 09, 2019  One of the questions I regularly get asked by coworkers is about my favorite Mac apps. I’ve been using a Mac since 2004, and I’ve downloaded, purchased, and demoed hundreds of apps.

Explore your world by finding deals, booking flights, knowing when to pull off the road, and getting out of town with the best travel apps.

Oct 17, 2019  The best way to navigate is to use the app to search for ideas. As of October, TripIt users can now even download the app to their Mac desktop. You don’t want to land in a foreign city for the first time without these travel apps. XE Currency Converter.

We review products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions from buying links on this page. Terms of use.

How do you decide where to travel? Where do you research destinations? How do you find good deals on flights and accommodations? How do you find your way around a place once you arrive? The best travel apps answer all these questions.

From the time you start thinking about your next destination to the moment your feet hit the welcome mat back home, having the right Android and iPhone apps on hand can make the whole experience smoother and less stressful.

How Can Apps Make Your Trips Better?

Pack light, set a budget, make an itinerary, and make backup plans. What else is there to say about travel? Plenty. Some of the best travel apps inform you about your destination, with advice, insights, tips, and warnings for how to spend your time. Apps for driving and road trips let you know what to expect along your route, where to buy gas, and which exit to take to find a reliable ATM. Other apps keep your itinerary organized, alert you when you can get a deal on flights, or give you a way to explore your options for where to go next.

What's Not Here?

https://treetalent209.tumblr.com/post/657547245000982529/pool-maintenance-software-for-mac. We didn't see the need to include all the big-name search aggregator sites such as Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz, and Priceline, seeing as most people are already familiar with them. They help you search for and book (usually by prepaying) flights, hotels, car rentals, and sometimes packaged vacations and cruises. The same goes for hotel search aggregators, like Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Trivago. I've only included here the ones that serve a specific niche or those that are excellent but not well known.

Listed in alphabetical order, here are the best travel apps to keep on hand.

Airbnb

Airbnb started by connecting travelers with people who have rooms, apartments, homes, and other accommodations to rent. The site now offers much more for travelers, including tours, classes, workshops, and restaurant reservations. Whether you use Airbnb to find a place to sleep or for inspiration about what to do on your next trip, you're guaranteed to see big, beautiful photographs of it all.

AllTrails

AllTrails is a mobile app and website that helps you get outdoors. It has lists of trails for hiking and walking around the world with pictures, maps, and directions to trailheads. You can download trail maps offline if you sign up for the Pro version of the service for $29.99 per year. It's a great resource for quickly finding the best places to be outside when you're in an unfamiliar area.

Culture Trip

A friend of who's an avid traveler recently tipped me off to Culture Trip. It's a cross between a travel magazine and an SEO-driven website that runs articles with headlines that start The Top 10… or The Best Places to… The content is supposedly written by locals, and the real hook is that the Culture Trip app lets you save articles to Wishlists that you create. Make a Wishlist for each destination you want to visit or some theme that drives your travel (Snorkeling Spots, perhaps), and you can save Culture Trip articles there for your reference.

GasBuddy

On driving road trips, you'll be happy to have GasBuddy at hand. It helps you find gas by location and price either in real time on your phone or via its website, if you like to plan ahead. If you can save a couple of bucks by cruising a little farther down the road, GasBuddy will let you know. It's available in the US, Canada, and Australia.

Google Flights

Never turn down a second opinion. Despite all the excellent travel search sites available these days, Google Flights is one to add to your list. Use it when you need a quick check on airfare for round-trip, one-way, or multicity flights. It also lets you explore destinations based on price and dates.

Google Maps

My number one go-to travel app is Google Maps. I use it to explore destinations before I arrive and make a note of places that look interesting by adding a star or flagging them on the map. As my travel plans shape up, I use the map to put together a plan for the day by visiting places that are grouped together. You can also save your maps offline so that you won't get lost even if you don't have data on your phone.

Hopper

The mobile-only app Hopper tracks flight prices and gives you periodic updates on whether you should buy now or wait. What makes this travel app valuable is its level of detail. It doesn't just tell you to wait to buy your ticket, but gives you a date when the price will likely rise. You can book through Hopper, too, with a commission fee of a few dollars.

In areas like corporate finance, investment banking, and accounting, people are always looking for new ways to make different financial models that are easy to understand and very informative. A software used for financial modeling can be used for this purpose as it helps the users to make multi-dimensional models very easily and quickly. The most financial modeling software are very easy to. About Financial Modeling on a Mac. Financial modeling What is Financial Modeling Financial modeling is performed in Excel to forecast a company's financial performance. Overview of what is financial modeling, how & why to build a model. On a Mac is becoming more and more common, and while the PC is still recommended, it is possible to get by on an Apple device. What is financial modeling? When asked to define financial model, many people come up with long-winded descriptions using terms like forecast and cash flow and hypothetical outcomes. But the definition needs to be that complicated. A financial model is a tool (typically built in Excel) that displays possible solutions to a real-world financial problem. And financial modeling is the task of. Financial modeling software for mac.

Here's what you need to know. Voice memom app for mac. It was announced at that the beloved Voice Memos app would be making its way to Mac with the macOS Mojave update, and a few neat features are coming along with it.

Hotel Tonight

Best Mac App For Travel

Some people, myself included, panic at the notion of having to book a hotel room at the last minute. For travelers ready to fly by the seat of their pants, there's Hotel Tonight. This travel app specializing in selling off same-day hotel reservations, often at steep discounts. It has options to book in advance, too, but the best deals are same-day bookings.

iExit

Here's another travel app for driving trips. iExit tells you exactly what's near every highway exit, from gas stations to ATMs. If there's a particular restaurant chain or other service you love, you can mark it as a favorite and the app tells you if it's coming up on your route. You'll never kick yourself again for settling for a greasy spoon when better food was just around the bend.

LoungeBuddy

There's no need to be jealous of frequent travelers who have airport lounge access through their membership status or a high-flying credit card. With the LoungeBuddy app, you can find lounges in airports that let anyone in for a fee. LoungeBuddy tells you not only the fee, but also what you can expect inside, from the food and drink to whether there are showers. And if you happen to have lounge membership through other means, the app can often tell you that, too.

Rick Steves Audio Europe

Travel writer Rick Steves has an app for European travels with dozens of audio files. Some give you background information on a particular city or region while others are audio guides for navigating popular sites. I listened to some of his Rome content while viewing the Sistine Chapel and again when walking around the Roman Colosseum. If you're traveling to any of the top destinations in Europe, download this free app and consider listening to some of the segments while planning what to see and do.

Roadtrippers

Find interesting places to stop during a road trip using Roadtrippers. With this app and website, you can explore a map of the US and Canada (with some coverage for Mexico, too) that has unusual roadside attractions, museums, amusement parks, campsites, restaurants, and more. When you find a site you like, just add it to your trip, and Roadtrippers draws your route accordingly. A Roadtrippers Plus account for $29.99 per year or $6.99 per month lets you download maps offline and add unlimited stops along your route, whereas you only get five with a free account.

Roomer Travel

What should you do when you've prepaid for a hotel and your trip suddenly gets canceled? Download Roomer or go to roomertravel.com/sell. This app and website helps people sell prepaid reservations to others who can use them, usually at a lower cost. It can help you recoup money that might otherwise be lost to the travel gods. It can also save you money if you buy a reservation from someone who can't use it at a discounted rate.

TripAdvisor

Sometimes people have to go to unexpected places that they didn't choose, like for a wedding or a business trip. When I don't know anything about my destination, I turn to TripAdvisor. It's one of the most comprehensive online sources for travelers, with background information about different cities and regions, plus highlights of what to see and do. It has reviews of hotels, restaurants, and activities, written by members of the TripAdvisor community, as well as photos from their travels so you know what to expect before you arrive. TripAdvisor has relationships with various booking sites, too, which means once you finish researching hotels or restaurants, you can easily reserve them.

TripCase

TripCase is a free app that helps you organize your trip by making an itinerary for you. The itinerary can include flights, accommodations, rental cars, restaurant reservations, and more. To make an itinerary, you forward travel confirmation emails to TripCase, and the app does the rest. The next time you launch the app or log into the website, a complete chronological lineup of your trip is waiting for you. You can manually add details, too. The result is similar to what you get from TripIt (see below), but the method of collecting the information is different.

TripIt

Top 10 Mac Apps

TripIt is similar to TripCase in creating an organized itinerary for you, but TripIt builds your travel plans by sniffing out confirmation emails in your inbox and pulling out the most important information. If you don't want to give TripIt access to your email, you can use the app by forwarding emails to it instead or manually entering details, but that's not the point of the app. If you are disorganized and haphazard with your travel details, TripIt might do you a lot of good.

Uber

Uber operates around the world, and while the in-app options vary from place to place, the general concept is the same everywhere. There are a few reasons that ride-on-demand apps work so well for travelers. First, it eliminates the need to carry local currency. Second, you don't have to speak the same language as your driver to get to where you need to go. Third, there's no haggling. If you don't want to give Uber your business for one reason or another, do a little research on what other riding hailing apps operate in your destination.

Viator

When you travel to a destination that might require a little hand-holding, Viator is a great website and app to keep in mind. It specializes in tours and packages, from daily excursions to week-long adventures with transfers included. Note that the quantity and quality of the deals varies dramatically by destination.

VRBO

VRBO, which is HomeAway.com with new branding, helps you find vacation homes, apartment rentals, and other accommodations for your travels. Unlike Airbnb, where you can still find a room to let in someone's private home, VRBO focuses on private homes, including beach houses, ski cabins, private apartments, and villas. The next time you're traveling with a large group or planning a destination reunion, keep VRBO in mind.

Wanderu

Best Apps For New Macbook

Do you want to search for buses and trains with the same ease you search and compared flights? Wanderu is the app you need. This aggregator and comparison app includes methods of transportation that other sites skip, namely trains and buses. You can also use it for flights, car rentals, and hotels, but it got its start with buses and trains, and that's still what sets it apart from competitors. For journeys serviced by Amtrak, Megabus, BoltBus, and other ground services, use Wanderu for quick and reliable results.

Waze

Best Apps For Mac 2020

While Google Maps tells you about officially reported problems on the road and whether there's traffic, Waze knows the nitty-gritty details, like the location of police traps and potholes. This free community-driven app for traffic and road conditions is popular among taxi and car service drivers, although it's equally useful for everyday drivers. Beware that Waze demands your GPS information at all times, which takes a toll on your battery.

Zomato

If you live in the US, there's a good chance you've never heard of Zomato. In some countries, however, it's more popular than Yelp, and it covers the same ground as Yelp. Zomato is a crowd-sourced review site for restaurants. One reason it's better than Yelp is that its contributors regularly snap photos of menus and upload them to the restaurant review, so you get more than just flippant remarks and blurry pictures of french fries. In some regions, Zomato partners with local restaurant delivery services, so you can get take-out at your hotel or Airbnb.

More Travel Tips

The travel apps in this list will get you far, but there are additional ways to ensure a successful trip. For instance, a VPN app can help protect your network traffic on public Wi-Fi networks away from home. You may want to pack some specialty devices too; you never know what you'll want to capture or what gear you will need in the field. Be sure to read our guides below for more travel advice.

Financial software for mac small business. It's a plus when accounting software can also serve as an invoice generator.Recurring InvoicesWith this feature, you can schedule the system to automatically generate and send invoices for recurring charges, such as subscriptions. Some accounting software programs integrate with third-party payment processors; others require you to use their in-house processing services. Very few of the accounting applications we evaluated include recurring invoice functionality.Automatic Payment RemindersThis feature helps you remind customers about upcoming and past-due payments. You can choose how frequently invoices are sent – daily, weekly, monthly or annually – and indicate whether there's an end date to the billing.

7 Tips for Finding the Best Hotel Discounts

[phoenixhunter996]

Planner 5d Pricing

Designing rooms can be tricky, and it’s often hard to visualize what the end result will be but you don’t have to be a professional room designer to create. In fact, wouldn’t it be great if there was a room decorator app to see what your design ideas actually look like before you implement them? There is — and it’s free! The following list of the best free online virtual programs for planning and designing your home is all you need.

We found the programs below to be easy to use for room designing, even if you’ve never used a online room planner before. You can accomplish most of your room design tasks, such as crafting the perfect layout for your space and choosing the right décor.

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12 Best free home design apps

And 5D diamond painting kits can reduce stress, experience a sense of accomplishment, increase self-confidence, develop endurance, etc. DIY decor and gift ：5D Diamond paintingis can be preserved for many years,perfect to decorate your living room, bedroom, anywhere you want to match different decoration style. Download Planner 5D on the App Store or on Google Play. Use this outstanding room design app to upload your own floor plan or play around with preloaded room layouts. The Roomstyler 3D Home Planner allows you to insert walls, doors, and windows and select from a gallery of interior finishes. A planner is an organizing document that helps you arrange your goals, schedules, tasks, appointments, and the like. Planners help manage time and activities efficiently to get things done. It also helps identify present and future goals and lets a person determine which items need to be done first.

These are our favorite online room decorator tools and apps:

1. Planner 5D

Planner 5D bills itself as the most extensive free room design app on the market. Easily design rooms down to the smallest architectural details, including windows, stairs, and partitions. Don’t stop at interiors; this room designing app also lets you do landscaping and pools — all with stunning 3D graphics.

You can also get inspiration from their gallery. Explore new and trendy designs created by other virtual room designers.

Rating: 4.3 stars on both the App Store and the Google Play Store.

Download Planner 5D on the App Store or on Google Play.

2. Roomstyler

Use this outstanding room design app to upload your own floor plan or play around with preloaded room layouts. The Roomstyler 3D Home Planner allows you to insert walls, doors, and windows and select from a gallery of interior finishes.

Mozilla old version. The interface is relatively simple to use and allows you to view your plan and 3D image at the same time. You can move the camera around the plan to see different views and choose from more than 120,000 brand-name items to insert into your model, which includes anything from small kitchen appliances to garden tools.

If you love the decor you put into your rendered model, click the “Available for purchase” button to find out the price and purchasing options. You can use the software for free without joining. But if you join, you can upload your model to Facebook for your friends to see.

Rating: 2.0 stars on the App Store.

Download Roomstyler on the App Store.

3. Ikea Home Planner Tools

When you flip through the Ikea catalog, do you ever wish you could see how a certain bookshelf and desk would look in your space? You can Ikea now has a room designing software! With the free, easy-to-use Ikea home planner tool online, you can configure your floor plan, choose from the store’s gallery of furniture and decor, calculate the cost, and print out your wishlist for in-store browsing.

Room-specific tools include a virtual kitchen planner, a bedroom planner, a bathroom planner, and storage planning solutions.

Rating: N/A

Download the Ikea Home Planner Tools. Note they are not available on the App Store or on Google Play.

4. Design a Room

Stop taking home dozens of material samples to try out all the combinations in your space. Instead, try the Armstrong 3D room decorator app that allows you to see different color combinations of flooring, cabinetry, ceilings, walls, and countertops from the comfort of your home.

Design a Room allows you to choose a room in your home, pick a style (like contemporary, traditional, global fusion) and virtually play around with colors, textures, and finishes. You can even coordinate Sherwin Williams, PPG, and Benjamin Moore paint colors to go with your design.

One of the best things about this free tool is the ability to learn about the products before you buy them. For example, when designing a bathroom, you might see a note saying hardwood flooring isn’t recommended. This ensures that your room designs will be functional and stylish.

Rating: N/A

No download needed. Try the Armstrong Design a Room tool online.

5. Homestyler

Autodesk, the creator of AutoCAD, REVIT, and 3ds Studio Max, is well-known for its professional design programs. It also created the Homestyler room design app, which they sold to Easyhome in 2017.

This user-friendly program doesn’t require formal training like the other professional programs the company offers. Simple drag-and-drop functions allow you to create your own designs and dream up floor plans. Homestyler’s 3D floor planner and 3D room designer tools are perfect for an amateur virtual room designer.

The furnish and decorate tool allows you to choose cabinetry, appliances, furniture, and nearly every decor item you can think of. Then personalize your space with area rugs and finish items by several manufacturers. Once your design is complete, you can print it out.

Rating: 4.5 stars on the App Store and 3.9 stars on the Google Play Store.

Download Homestyler on the App Store or on Google Play.

6. The Home Renovator

Room decorator apps are all well and good, but The Home Renovator lets you plan for and budget the materials you’ll need for your renovation project. The Home Renovator lets you choose from insulation, drywall, paint, ceramic tile, ceiling tile, and deck projects. You can use the site’s free worksheets to measure your space, enter your measurements, and review your tool requirements. This room designing software will then get a report telling you how much material is required for your project, a budget price that can be used to negotiate with local dealers, and illustrated instructions that show cutting and placement of materials.

Rating: N/A

No download required. Use the tool online at The Home Renovator.

7. Sweet Home 3D

This 3D room design app is for those who want more customization options for their room layout. The online software is free, though login information is required. You can also download a more advanced version of Sweet Home 3D (at an extra price) that allows you to save, export, and manipulate your home plans. The interface has four sections:

The furniture catalog allows you to choose components by name, then drag and drop components directly into the floor plan.

The home furniture list displays the dimensions of each piece by name and size.

The home plan shows you in a 2D format where the walls, windows, doors, and furniture are placed (as viewed from above).

The home 3D view shows your plan in three dimensions so you can visualize the plan as you design.

To bring in your floor plan, import it into Sweet Home 3D, scale it, and trace over your plan to remove the guesswork. This program can be simple, but it has advanced features for those who want more from their 3D virtual planning experience.

Cost: Free to download or use online here. $13.99 on App Store.

Rating: 3.5 stars on the App Store.

Download Sweet Home 3D on the App Store. No version available for Google Play.

8. SmartDraw

Smartdraw is a suite of programs for visual graphics and presentations, including project charts, timelines, marketing charts, and flowcharts. Under the flowchart application is a feature to design floor plans and individual room plans. You can use SmartDraw to plan office spaces, apartments, individual rooms, and even building elevations.

SmartDraw works well for individuals and businesses that don’t want to spend a lot on design software. This room designing software has a free trial period and if you’re satisfied, you can purchase the full program. With an almost infinite selection of furniture, cars, building materials, and preloaded plans, SmartDraw offers a lot of bang for the buck.

Cost: Free to try. $9.95/mo. or $297 for a single license.

Rating: N/A

Download SmartDraw or try the online version on the SmartDraw website.

9. HomeByMe

HomeByMe is a web-based room design app. Start in 2D and build your room from the ground up, finishing with furniture and accessories. Once you’re ready, convert it to 3D, where the walls fall away and you can look inside the interior design plan you created.

Cost: Free to try. $14.99 for the full version.

Rating: N/A

HomeByMe is fully web-enabled.

Is Planner 5d Worth It

10. MagicPlan

MagicPlan is a room design app for iOS and Android that creates floor plans from user-scanned photos. This makes creating a room design a snap, with “No need to measure or draw.” It’s the perfect app for those new to designing floor plans. As you might expect, it isn’t as detailed in its creations as more advanced apps, but it’s useful for quickly creating interior layouts for a novice room designer.

Cost: Free (first two projects), then $9.99/mo.

Rating: 4.7 stars on the App Store and 4.4 stars on the Google Play Store

Download MagicPlan on the App Store or on Google Play.

11. Amikasa

Amikasa is a room design app that’s won a Webby award thanks to its aesthetically pleasing interface. Users also praise the ability to create their room layouts using real brand products.

Once you’ve finished your design, there’s a 3D walkthrough feature that allows you to take a virtual tour of your new space. Plus, you can share designs on social media to get feedback. The iOS version recently had a $0.99 price-tag added, and there’s no Android version available. There’s a beta Windows version that can be downloaded for free.

Cost: $0.99 for iOS version; free Windows version.

Rating: 2.9 stars on the App Store. No Android version.

Download Amikasa on the App Store or from the Amikasa website.

12. DecorMatters

If you want to gamify the process of room design, then DecorMatters is for you. This iOS app brings augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology to the process of room design. And users are loving it.

There are leaderboards, virtual coins, and levels, plus special rewards for participating in design challenges. Users can create new virtual rooms based on templates, or they can tweak their real-life room with augmented reality. Rooms can be posted online and you can browse through other’s creations to get inspiration. Eventually, the team says content creators can be compensated through profits received from product recommendations and copyright authorizations.

Rating: 4.7 stars on the App Store.

Download DecorMatters on the App Store. No Android version available.

Ratings and pricing as of Jan. 7, 2021.

The bottom line

There are plenty of free online 3D virtual programs and room design apps that will allow you to plan, design, draw and view your space. You too can be a room designer with these room designing apps and software. Choosing the right one depends on your skill level, objective, and how you want to present your final drawings.

Whether you want to play around or start building a home to your personal specifications, this list of top 10 best free online virtual programs and tools will help you get started.

Frequently asked questions

A:

That depends on what type of interior design you need to do, along with your knowledge and skill level in using these types of 3D software tools. Try several and see which one meets your needs the best.

A:

Use one of the room design apps above to plan your next design project, or to have a little fun with design inspiration. Interfaces vary based on the specific app but play around with whatever free solution you choose. You’ll be inspired to tackle your next project in no time!

Q:

Where can I find inspiration for interior design?

A:

Inspiration for interior design is all around you. Take note of your surroundings wherever you go, or pick up some design magazines and books. You can also play with the tools in our guide to get more inspiration.

Steven Walters contributed to this post.

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[mostlysignssomeportents]

#1yrago Trump wants to reinstate and expand civil asset forfeiture so cops can steal your stuff

Civil asset forfeiture is a perfectly foreseeable outcome of the overbroad War on Drugs: it allows the cops to seize your belongings and charge them -- not you! -- with being the proceeds of a crime. Then it's up to you to figure out how to prove that your cash, car, house, or other belongings are innocent, otherwise the cops get to keep your stuff and use it to fund their operations.

This is especially useful when it comes to amassing budgets to buy things that the cops don't want to ask for in public: that's why Chicago cops stole millions from mostly poor Chicagoans and blew it on surveillance gear (they did this in LA, too). It's hard to see how there'd be a surveillance gear industry without this legalized theft. The NYPD steals so much through forfeiture that it says just adding it up would break their computers (it's even worse in the Bronx).

It's an irresistible temptation. City attorneys invite the town cops to seminars on maximizing the haul of desirable goods, advising the police to keep a wishlist of cars and other material they'd like to steal, so they can be on the lookout for citizens in possession of same to seize from. It got so bad that the CBC issued advice for Canadian to help them avoid being robbed by American cops while on vacation.

The city and state authorities have used stolen funds to lobby against reforms in the forfeiture rules, but their behavior was so egregious that reform was inevitable. States including Montana, New Mexico, California and Nebraska reformed their forfeiture rules, then in 2015 Congress slashed the DoJ's budget, forcing the feds to end their complicity in forfeiture cases.

But Trump's official policy of putting a fox in every henhouse is about to hit forfeiture reform. He told a group of sheriffs that he will "look into" limits on forfeiture, because there is "no reason" for any such limits. He went on to offer to "destroy the career" of a Texas state senator who believed in limits on asset forfeiture.

https://boingboing.net/2017/02/09/trump-wants-to-reinstate-and-e.html

[koliasa]

Science Advocates' Wishlist for the Biden Administration

https://tinyurl.com/yxl2llgj Science Advocates' Wishlist for the Biden Administration - https://tinyurl.com/yxl2llgj When President Donald Trump’s administration released its first budget proposal in February 2017, it ...

[kriskubed]

Klaine Advent 2017 - Width

Set in canon, as the boys prepare to move back to New York

AO3

“That’s great news! I’m proud of you, son,” Burt said over dinner when he learned that Blaine had been accepted at NYU. Blaine beamed at the praise and at the endearment. He was proud of himself too, but hearing it from Burt warmed his heart in a special way. For so long he’d been convinced that this family was lost to him, and now he was married to Kurt, and Kurt’s family was officially his family too.

“So,” Burt continued, “you boys gonna head out to New York soon and find a new place to stay? January’ll be here before you know it.”

“We’ve already started looking online,” Blaine said. “We really should set up some appointments though. Maybe next week, Kurt?”

“Yeah, that should work. I’ll call Elliott and see if he’ll let us crash at his place for a couple of nights. Otherwise we can find a hotel.”

And so the following week they found themselves trailing a rental agent up to the third floor of an older building that was convenient to both NYU and NYADA. They’d seen a dozen apartments over the past two days. They knew enough to realize that they were unlikely to tick off all of their wishlist items and stay within their budget, but so far even the places that met all of their “must have” requirements on paper failed to live up to their expectations in person.

The apartment they walked into was tiny, but clean and bright. Light streamed in through a large window. A breakfast bar separated the narrow kitchen from the living/dining space. The bathroom was functional, if not particularly inviting. The first bedroom was hardly big enough to warrant the name, and the master bedroom wasn’t much bigger. They’d be able to fit their bed, nightstands, and not much more. But as Kurt walked into the room, a series of doors along one wall caught his eye. He opened them, revealing closets that ran the entire width of the room. Not only that, they were fitted with organizers - not the god awful wire contraptions that were hell on folded clothing, but honest to goodness solid shelves, drawers and hanging rods.

Blaine took one look at Kurt admiring those closets and knew that they were home.

[pollyssecretlibrary]

I have three posts coming up for the Christmas season and this is the first one. My Secret Santa of 2017 was Oly. The rules are simple, we have a small budget to buy (at least) one book and little details. I've known Oly since... forever and a day... although we've never met in person (2018 will be the year) and destiny made me her 'victim' again. She's so lovely and generous (see stories for the non bookish stuff). Happy Christmas Oly and everyone else!!!! . "I Coriander" was recommended to me by Laura and Magrat. This beautiful edition of Mme. Leprince de Beaumont's version of "Beauty and the Beast" was in my wishlist because I love that tale and I want to collect beautiful editions and retellings of it. Do you recommend any? . . Tengo tres publicaciones para estas Navidades y aquí está la primera. Mi mamá Noel invisible de 2017 es la niña @tdelibros (¡¡¡¡muchísimas gracias bruji!!!!). Las reglas son simples, tenemos un pequeño presupuesto para comprar (al menos) un libro y pequeños detalles. Conozco a Oly desde ... siempre... aunque nunca nos hemos visto en persona (2018 será el año) y el destino me convirtió en su "víctima" nuevamente. Ella es adorable y muy generosa (mirad mis stories para las cosas que no son libros). ¡Feliz Navidad Oly y todos los demás! . "I Coriander" me fue recomendado por @luathebookworm y @magratajostiernos . Esta hermosa edición de Mme. La versión de Leprince de Beaumont de "La Bella y la Bestia" estaba en mi lista de deseos porque me encanta esa historia y quiero coleccionar ediciones y retellings bonitos. ¿Me recomendáis alguna? . . . . . #Secretsanta #ChristmasPresents #Winterreads #Beautyandthebeast #ICoriander #Winter #currentlyreading #Fairytales #SallyGardner #LeprincedeBeaumont #books #bookstagram #literatura #libros #yoleoycomparto #yoleoyocomparto #bookworm #booklove #bookstagram #booklover #bibliophile #bookaholic #addictedtobooks #bookaddict #booknerd #IGreads #webtroverts (en Santander, Cantabria)

[hidden-witchcraft]

Witchy Wishlist 2017 (Louisiana, US)

Hi everyone, I’m Bri and I’ve been a witch for about 4 years now. Since I started college actually, and I’m currently in hiding if my blog name doesn’t give it away since I still live at home. While not active in the witchblr community, I’ve been around for a couple years just looking and this is my first year participating in the wishlist! 😊

1. Friends: currently I have one witch friend that I’ve been friends with before we came down this path. She also told me I was going to hell for being a witch before becoming one herself, so I’d like new friends. ☺

2. Cards/letters/writings: I like written stuff and cards are pretty. Sharing thoughts is fun and exciting.

3. Crystals: my collection is super small and I would love to help it grow.

4. Books/book recommendations: I have my own personal library at home, talking like 400 just on shelves in one room alone not counting everywhere else in my house. Witchy books for knowledge, books about witches, YA books are my favorite as well so if you have any you like feel free to share!

5. Candles: Like with books, candles are all over my house and I mean who doesn’t love candles?

6. Essential oils: I’m just getting started using these, and just got a book on aromatherapy so even just tips on what oils are best for what things would be great.

7. Tips: I’ll take tips on literally anything witchy related. Especially if it involves how to hide stuff and how to do it on a budget (broke college student).

8. Just general stories: If y'all are willing, I love hearing how people come to witchcraft, or how it’s helped, or shaped them. Everyone has a story, I’m all for listening.

9. Any other witchy odds or ends: Anything anyone wants to share, I’m up for.

If y'all have any questions or just wanna chat, always here! Hope everyone has a nice holiday season!

[sioga-blog]

Witchy wishlist 2017 (East Coast USA)

Hi ya ~ I was really unsure about posting since I feel really weird asking for things and because I'm new to the witchcraft tumblr side. I grew up learning to ask the trees for permission to climb them and my great grandmother was Irish and told me a lot of stories about fairies. I'm still learning what type of path I want to take but I seem to be leaning towards green, love, beauty and tea witchery.

Here I go. ♡ pen pals / friends. I'd love to have some witchy pen pals and friends. I tend to be shy and also have a bad case of social anxiety sometimes, so it can be kind of hard for me to make friends. ♡♡♡ good wishes and vibes for my mother. My mother and siblings are living with a friend but have to leave by new years. So my mom has been working nonstop, saving money and trying to get her own place. These last few years have been really hard on our family. My mother has lost her mom and her grandmother, two very important people in her life. We were also homeless due to my "father" just leaving us. So any blessings or wishes for my mother would be lovely. ♡ seeds / seedlings / plant cuttings. I have been wanting to start my own little indoor garden since I learn gardening can help with depression. So any little plant babies to get me started would be really helpful. I am somewhat new to gardening so any helpful tips would be nice too. ♡ trinkets, decorations, witchy things. I lost a lot of things when I went homeless. I use to be a big collector or things I found interesting or neat. Pressed or dried flowers, little jars, old keys...etc. I like simple things, anything homemade, cute, little animal figurines, and garlands! ♡ anything to help a beginner witch. Any tips, book recommendations, or old/used things you no longer use and wouldn't mind passing down. Jars, yarn, candles, candle holders, shells, crystals, herbs, dried flowers, witch kits, the like. Would be really helpful. I am denfintly on a budget and it's hard to get something because I need food instead. ♡ tarot tips. I have just started learning tarot. I download the Labrinthos Academy to help me out but anymore tips and tricks would be nice. Learning tarot is something I always wanted to do. ♡ a spell or charm for motivation and focus. I'm currently studying for my g.e.d. And its difficult to find motivation and focus. So any little charm or spell to just kick me into gear sometimes would be helpful. ♡ donations to your local homeless shelter. Anything can help, but I would also recommend pads/tampons. They are really hard to get when you are homeless and our homeless shelter was always running out of them. Also pet food. I don't know if all homeless shelters accept pet food. ♡ to pet your pets and give them a treat! I love animals. I'm sending all your pets good good sweet vibes. Tell them I think they are cute! ♡ animal crossing pocket camp Send me your friend code! Let's be friends. ♡ jewelry. Charmed to help with anxiety. If possible gold instead of sliver. ♡ poetry book recommendations. I love love poetry. Any good recommendations send them my way. ♡ for you to have a cup of tea/coffee/hot chocolate and feel the warmth. I hope you all have a wonderful winter. Thank you for reading this!!

[theblogoflav]

Lav goes to Tokyo (4&5/6): Shopping Sprees

I deserve a high-five for successfully sticking to my DIY itinerary for my sweet and short ‘bleisure’ in Tokyo, Japan. Excel-ing my comprehensive plan was worth it after all. Unfortunately, the ‘Budget’ column was irrelevant for I spent WAY OVER than the self-imposed shopping limit. Who can’t resist if you’ve been itching to go to Tokyo since you were a nursery?

 No regrets?

This photo was taken after spending a month worth of my salary on my first day in Tokyo.

*That’s my bed in the background. It’s evident I’m most excited to play with my new Totoro plushie and Sailormoon gachapons.*

Asakusa & Oshiage

 Tokyo Skytree

When I was drafting my itinerary last April, I found out that the Tokyo Skytree is holding an “Attack on Skytree” exhibit at the Floor 450. I decided to allot more Yen to buy the extra ticket and the special merchandise only available on the floor. I got my sister, the person who influenced me to watch the anime series, three gachapons (i.e. two key chains and one screen featuring the titan shifters), a gold medallion-style keychain, and a keychain featuring Eren biting his left hand. I bought myself the Attack on Skytree tote bag. LOOK AT LEVI. WHO CAN’T RESIST THAT FACE?! Like, really?! And lastly, I can’t skip the Tokyo Skytree gift shop. Of course, I want to buy many, but my budget won’t allow me to do so. In the end, I only got a gold 5th anniversary miniature of Tokyo Skytree and a magnet. There’s one more gift shop in the lobby and it is much bigger than the one in Floor 350. Don’t spend everything when you’re up there. I swear.

 Donguri Kyowakoku

I AM STILL MAD FOR NOT GETTING A TICKET TO THE STUDIO GHIBLI MUSEUM. I didn’t know they sold out fast. My hotel is just a few stations away from Mitaka. :(  Anyway, this store is easy to find since it is along the stairs heading to the Tokyo Skytree. I thought my Yen 4,000 budget would be enough. I went beyond that because the tax-exemption applies for purchases for Yen 5,000 and above. On my shopping list are a Totoro plushie and a wallet. However, I saw this adorable Pochi purse and picked it up immediately. I also got a set of two limited edition Totoro finger puppets. I can’t find affordable merchandise for my favorite Studio Ghibli films (i.e. Only Yesterday, Whisper of the Heart, Princess Mononoke, and Laputa: Castle in the Sky). I really want the Castle in the Sky tote bag but I already my Attack on Skytree tote bag. I dropped it or else I’ll end up suffering from the “Tote Life” 

(WHO WATCH WE BARE BEARS? RAISE YOUR HANDS!) As a result, I took home four more finger puppets -- Princess Mononoke, Sheeta, the Baron, and Louise.

  Pokemon Center Skytree Town

I went to the Pokemon Center for nostalgia purposes. My siblings and I used to fight over a Gameboy to take turns on playing Pokemon. I’m glad to see that one of our childhood favorites has remained popular decades later. This is definitely a haul dedicated to my siblings. I bought two Master Balls (each has a stamp and candies which according to my sister tastes like cough drops), Nanoblocks (Mewtwo and Gyarados), coin purses (Pikachu and a Pokeball), and a letter ‘R’ keychain (for my brother). I did not get a keychain for my sister because I already bought her an Attack on Titan keychain. I guess those are enough. A saleslady gave me a plastic postcard featuring the date I visited Pokemon Center. Hooray for a free souvenir!

  Nakamise Street

Ahhhhh, the famous Nakamise street. As I have said in my previous post, I was kind of disappointed. Price range is not cheap. I advise you guys to see the after-immigration duty-free shops instead.  I ended up with one magnet featuring the gate to the street. Don’t fret yet! Nakamise is great for sightseeing and food tripping. *drools*

    Akihabara

 Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan

FINALLY. I always wanted a LEGIT capsule toy since I was a kid. *the machines we have in the Philippines are not as enjoyable as those in Japan* You can find gachapon machines in train stations, convenient stores, etc. If you want a complete and satisfying gachapon experience, you’ve got to visit the Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan. I’m on the lookout for Sailor Moon gachapons. I got my sister some Star Wars gachapons (which I did not open). I’m not pretty sure if getting the same pretty toy THRICE is a good luck or the machine is just messing up with me. BTW, I GOT USAGI’S ENGAGEMENT RING. 

  Don Quijote

I decided to visit this branch of ‘’Donki” so I have one more reason to walk around Akihabara. Also, I get to catch some maids performing in the renowned maid cafés. I bought some matcha-flavored sweets for my officemates and relatives. And of course, I bought a bottle of Cure Natural Aqua Gel. I’m running out of my favorite peeling gel and it’s Php 300 (USD 6) cheaper than the Philippines. PLUS, Don Quijote is a tax-free shop! 

*Anecdote: There was a long line in the tax-free counter. I’m far from the line and there were Republic of China Passport Holders in front of me. A Donki staff asked if they can transfer to another counter because the line keeps on getting longer. No one wanted to transfer until the staff reached me. I agreed and they immediately grabbed my baskets at walked downstairs. It’s kind of cool because my feet were swelling big time after all the walking, and then now I have the counter and three Donki staff for myself only.* 

    Shibuya

 Bic Camera

CHEAP CASIO WRISTWATCHES. HOW CAN I SAY NO TO THESE?! I was walking around the famous Shibuya crossing a lot of times until the display of Casio watches caught my attention. Damn. I mean, DAAAYUM. I bought these for my siblings. My trip to Tokyo coincides with their birthdays. My shopping list prioritizes stuff I believe my siblings would like to receive. IF I ONLY HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THE GADGETS BEING SOLD FOR A CHEAPER PRICE VS. THE PHILIPPINES... ugh.

  Uniqlo

Initially, I’m not planning to visit Uniqlo because WE HAVE A LOT IN THE PHILIPPINES. However, I realized ‘souvenir shirts’ in Uniqlo are cheaper compared to the ones being sold at the airport and in Nakamise street. I went to their branch in Shibuya. I got one each for my family. Aside from the shirts, I also bought two ¾ pants and seamless underwear. I forgot to include in the photo the sunglasses I bought for my father. When converted to Philippine peso, I got everything for Php 5,000+ (USD 100*). Thank god for tax-exemption!

   Shinjuku

 Daiso

There’s a small Daiso near the hotel I stayed in. I got to buy some small souvenirs for my bosses. How adorable that small memo stands! AND CAN WE PLEASE APPRECIATE THOSE YEN 100 FANS. These are for my mom and some relatives. DEFINE BARGAIN. Further, I remember my mom requested me to buy some wedding cards, so I took advantage of the cheap stationary section of Daiso. It is truly cheaper to buy souvenirs here! Everything cost me only Yen 800+. I may not be able to see Harajuku and the big Daiso they have there. With a very limited budget, I’m pretty happy with my haul.

 24hr convenient store in Ichigaya

I saw from their window display that they carry some popular Japanese cosmetic brands. I’m not sure the name of the store but the shopping bag says “smile everyday!”. Although I’m not really fond of trying skin care products due to my extremely sensitive skin condition, I still decided to get a look. Good thing I did. I found these really cute nail polish bottles. I decided to pick some colors that have been on my wishlist for a long time. The color range may not be as vast as OPI’s or Sally Hansen’s. I’m in Tokyo, so why not try some local nail products!?

   Ginza

 Hakuhinkan Toy Park

I found some Tokyo 2020 official merchandise outside the Toy Park. I got a t-shirt for myself and a polo shirt for my dad. The merchandise does not come cheap. I did not buy a lot in the Toy Park because I already bought most of the character goods and toys I have on my shopping list. AND I’M ALREADY RUNNING OUT OF YEN WHEN I WENT TO GINZA. I saw some unique flavors of KitKat and bought some. Regretfully, I spent most of my time in Hakuhinkan window shopping. I’ll definitely visit this place on my future visits to Tokyo with a MUCH BIGGER BUDGET. *finger-crossed*

    Narita Airport

I can’t get enough snacks so I shopped for more in the Airport. Surprisingly, I was impressed how diverse the price range of products in the airport. You’ll find both overpriced and affordable goods so be vigilant! Haha! I should have saved more Yen for airport shopping.

  I’d been looking for a Shiseido eyelash curler since I arrived in Tokyo only to find one on my departure. AFTER ALL THE TROUBLE I DID. HAHAHAHA. Anyway, it is all worth it, because this retails at PHP 1,300 (USD 26)* in the Philippines. If I converted its Japan price to PH Peso, it only costs Php 450 (USD 9)*. 1,300 VERSUS 450. Since I’m low on cash at this time, I decided to make use of my JCB credit card and ticked off the last product I have on my shopping list.

  That’s it for my Tokyo, Japan haul!

  Until next time,

PS: I forgot to post this. Initially, I divided my shopping sprees into two separate posts. I decided to combine the two, post it today, and publish the last part of my Tokyo series tomorrow, 31 December 2017.

[assholeplowing]

How You Can Tell Larry Hogan’s Decision to Kill the Red Line Was Racially Discriminatory

Maryland’s Republican governor, Larry Hogan, enjoys a moderate image and one of the two highest approval rates of any governor. At 71 percent, he is tied with fellow moderate Republican Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. Like Baker, Hogan won in many liberal areas, cutting into Democratic margins in the DC suburbs, and he cultivates a fiscally prudent persona.

Last month, I covered Baker’s flawed transit agenda. And like Baker, Hogan’s transit decisions belie his reputation as an efficiency-focused technocrat.

When Hogan was elected in 2014, there were two major rail projects in the state about to begin construction: the Red Line, an east-west light rail subway in Baltimore serving predominantly black low-income neighborhoods on the West Side and East Side; and the Purple Line, a light rail line in the DC suburbs, serving both black middle-class Prince George’s County and white, wealthy Montgomery County, connecting suburban stations of the Washington Metro as a circumferential line.

The two projects had similar projected costs per rider. But Hogan canceled the Red Line on cost grounds, while continuing with the Purple Line.

The 14-mile Red Line was projected to open in 2022 and draw 54,000 weekday riders by 2030. The cost estimate at the time of cancellation was $2.9 billion, or $54,000 per daily rider. Two-thirds of the line’s length would be at-grade, with four miles of tunnel, explaining the seemingly low cost per mile of $200 million.

Unlike older rail lines in Baltimore, the Metro Subway and the Light Rail, the Red Line was supposed to focus on service within the city, barely extending into the suburbs. This orientation around the urban core boosts the Red Line’s ridership projections of nearly 4,000 per mile — better than the Subway’s 2,500 and the Light Rail’s 1,000.

The 16-mile Purple Line has a projected weekday ridership of 65,000. The cost is similar to that of the Red Line, but it is hard to give a comparable figure, since the contract of the public-private partnership leaves its costs opaque. But My understanding is that construction will cost around $3.3 billion, a figure that leads to a cost per rider close to that of the Red Line.

The racial discrimination implicit in canceling the Red Line but not the Purple Line prompted a Title VI civil rights lawsuit, and a federal investigation under the Obama administration. When pressed on the matter at a hearing, the state’s transportation secretary, Pete Rahn, engaged in obfuscation, as can be seen in this hearing (starting at the 48 minute mark).

Rahn questioned the cost estimates of the Red Line, saying that the $1 billion estimate for tunneling was a dubiously low figure by the standards of the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel replacement project, which he cited as $1.68 billion for 1.9 miles. In reality, the B&P project has far greater scope, which is why it got so expensive: The entire four-track project will cost up to $4 billion.

The B&P project is so expensive because the tunnels are sized to be used both by high-speed trains, leading to much wider tunnel diameter than for the Red Line, and by diesel-powered freight trains, leading to expensive ventilation that is not required for subway tunnels used exclusively by electric trains. Samuel Jordan, the president of the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition, noted these differences between the B&P replacement and the Red Line in pushing back against Rahn’s inflated cost estimates.

But a serious Title VI investigation seems unlikely at this point. Rahn himself mocked supporters of transit equity by saying that the federal government’s letter warning of a Title VI case came on January 19, a day before Trump’s inauguration, and that the Trump administration would not investigate Maryland for possible racial bias, but instead might investigate the U.S. DOT official who sent the warning letter for not going through proper channels.

There is a long history of transportation policy as a tool of the state government to isolate Baltimore’s majority-black population. In Places Journal, Alex MacGillis writes about the legacy of highway-fueled white flight in Baltimore, and the sheer resentment suburban residents feel toward transit serving the city (“loot train”).

Hogan’s war on Baltimore is not restricted to transportation. He canceled a mixed-use transit-oriented development project in the city, called State Center. He has balanced the state’s budget by cutting funds for Baltimore city schools, for which he was excoriated in Baltimore Sun editorials. Individual cuts are often defensible on grounds of efficiency, but when placed together, the pattern is incriminating.

With transportation, the pattern is not just that Hogan canceled the Red Line. It’s that he canceled the Red Line but not the Purple Line. He even listed the Purple Line as an infrastructure priority to be placed on Trump’s wishlist, even though it was already funded. What’s troubling is that these decisions seem to be strengthening Hogan’s political hand even in “blue” Maryland.

Hogan’s high approval rating suggests that his pattern of discrimination is not unpopular in middle-class white Maryland. Nor were his promises to redirect money to roads in the 2014 gubernatorial campaign unpopular in the Baltimore suburbs. Statewide, he won by 5 percentage points, but in Baltimore County, which comprises most of the Baltimore suburbs (Baltimore City is independent of the county), he won by 21 points.

Baltimore County rarely leans this far Republican: In the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections voters there sided with Obama and Clinton by 17 points (the state as a whole voted for both by 26 points).

So Hogan got a special boost in the county, relative to the state. His brand of anti-urban racism is popular in the suburbs founded by people who fled the city and its burgeoning black population in the postwar years.

by Alon Levy

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2017/04/21/how-you-can-tell-larry-hogans-decision-to-kill-the-red-line-was-racial-discrimination/

[queenofaceschaos]

My Witchy Wishlist 2017

ok so here is my wish list for 2017. I am going to try this I live in southern Idaho, pm me for an address if you need to

#1 here is my pagan amazon https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2AQ2JPNP6OIAF?&sort=default

#2 I love LOVE sweet coffee drinks so anything recipe wise just no vanilla or mint I am allergic

#3 Yule tradition ideas for families with grade school children.

#4 I am a kitchen and green witch so any cool spells or recipes especially if they can be gluten free on a budget would be awesome!!

#5 Yule/Christmas cards are always welcome.

#6 Hair pretties I love to be cute an girly and look like a princess.

#7 books especially family books on raising healthy pagan children.

#8  any pretty stones. I love the way stones look. especially wishing stones or hag stones I can make into necklaces.

#9 cute handmade things i don't get many from people anymore and i rarely have time to make them.

#10 candles either smelly flowery ones or nonsmelly if they are smelly though no vanilla or mint again i am allergic

#11 anything witchy and cute.

#12 anything for cats I have 6 of them currently in my house.......

#13 Love yourself. treat yourself to something special because you are and amazing and wonderful person!!!

[andamantourtravel]

A Glance Through The Wildlife Tourism In Andaman

A blissful destination with a cluster of tiny land fragments among the emerald green water and the richness of flora and fauna, the phrase perfectly blends with one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, Andaman. Either for a honeymoon or a family vacation, Andaman is an ideal destination for making remarkable moments in your life. But being a Zoologist, my travel ambition was to explore the opulence in the wildlife tourism of Andaman. While I was working on my research paper one of my colleagues suggested to me about the richness and the presence of unique and rare species of animals in Andaman. So, after all, research and planning I and my colleague Jeffrin were planned to visit Andaman and wish to embark on the wildlife abundance by ourselves. Usually, we travel to any destination by road and by ourselves and not depend on any agencies. But this time everything was planned in short notice so we approach some travel agencies for some budget-friendly backpacker tour packages. From which Andaman Tour Travel is the one which provides a tailor-made tour package which includes all our desires the way we wanted.

Finally, we reached our dream destination to explore the affluence of Andaman wildlife. My very first wish was to see the state animal of Andaman, the Dugong or Sea Cow. But to experience the beauty of such a miraculous creature a deep dive was mandatory. So we go to Little Andaman which is a tiny Island in Andaman popular for the deep dives to see the Dugongs. The reason why Dugongs are called as the Sea cow because of the diets they followed. Usually, the consume seagrasses, seaweed, and red algae. They are timid creature and their self-defense part is their back where all the fats are deposited. They showed their back to the predators to escape from the attacks. Female and male Dugongs are easily distinguishable by the presence of tusks in males when they are mature and sexually active. If you're visiting during the lekking periods, we can also witness the lekking process where the male partner defending his female partner from other Dugongs. After a successful gestation period of 13 to 15 months, the female dugongs give birth to a single calf at a time. But to the countless exploitation by humans for meat and oil now Dugongs are also counted in the list of extinction animals.  

Another rare and unique species of the bird through which Andaman is renowned for is Andaman Hawk-Owl. Andaman Hawk-Owl is also called as Andaman boobook, which is an endemic bird now listed in the nearly threatened category by IUCN in 2017. Andaman Hawk owl is different from the common owls family by its unique features. They are small in size and have a length of about 20 to 30 cm. They are peculiar by their ash gray head and nape and the gigantic yellow scary eyes. After searching for more than 3 hours that we came to witness this amazeballs creature. But the way it looks at us was fiery, by that time Jeffrin continuously clicks its captivating pictures but it seems that it is not enjoying our presence in her dynasty. And it has begun to hoot loudly to express her irate. We leave the place without disturbing her privacy. During summer seasons it believed to be found more occasionally in Andaman jungles, so it may the best time to explore here to experience its unique beauty. November to May is the best time to visit Andaman for exploring wildlife tourism and also due to the availability of tour packages at the best prices. While wandering through the jungle we came across another unique creature of Andaman, the Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque, which is also counted in the list of extinction animals. They are peculiar for their grey to brown covered fur body with a long tail.  The most interesting thing that I see among them is the female Macaque who carry their babies and jumping along through trees rapidly.

Male Macaque is quite larger from the female ones. And have large canine teeth than female Macaque. The main unique feature which distinguishes Macaque from monkeys is the cheek pouches which are used to store food temporarily. The guide has strictly told us to not give any food items to them because then it became aggressive when we stop giving them food. One of the dangerous species in Andaman is the South Andaman krait, a venomous snake found in the Andaman Islands. Being a coastal destination Andaman is popular for its spectacular beaches and less known for the rare species of colorful Andaman krait in the beaches. Since they are Hydrophiinae, they are extremely poisonous. They usually hunt in coral reefs and only get back to land for mating, sloughing, for laying eggs, and for digesting the prey. The yellow-lipped and the blue-lipped sea krait are the most common is found on Andaman. In the land usually, they spotted near to trees, especially in the mangrove forest. The guide told us about a study that was conducted a long time back to learn more about this nocturnal creature. And they have founded 805 yellow-lipped sea kraits and 39 blue-lipped sea kraits in Andaman during their survey. And also found out that they are mostly active during raining seasons.

The wildlife tourism in Andaman is ceaseless and ravishing. From the Narcondam hornbill to Water Monitor Lizard, Andaman offers a diverse and affluence in wildlife. Apart from animals, there are more than 2000 varieties of plants are available in Andaman and each of them has its unique features. The Island offers nine national parks and more than a hundred wildlife sanctuaries which offers a spectacular vision of wild and marine life in the Andaman islands. Mount Harriet National Park is one among them which offers a fascinating opportunity to witness the vibrant shades of butterflies. So include all these mesmerizing things to your wishlist to embark on some dashing moments in Andaman.