#I will replace this with a better quality photo when I can find one

[hny-updates]

Volume 6 Illustration Card

[the-summ0ning]

Sleep Token HC: being in a relationship with IV

NSFW elements, mainly fluff there might be a part two to everyone’s at this point. Or if you have any requests for HCs feel free to send me a request bc I had so many thoughts for this one and my adhd bird brain can’t keep up. Also I can proofread this 1947372 times and it still might not be as proofread as I thought lmao 🤭

The man that IV is… broody but so babygirl coded

Definitely let’s you wear his jacket, prefers you to actually

Especially since he doesn’t give overtly public displays of affection

It’s his silent claim as if everyone backstage didn’t already know who you were primarily there for. He even considers getting another one just for you to wear when you joined him on tour

Update: he gives it to you on your birthday, nearly identical to his in your size (oversized if you preferred your clothes that way). Maybe instead just wear the big read circle w the ‘iiii’ in it had your initials (solely just so he wouldn’t confuse the two articles)

Let’s you romp around in his mask before shows when the guys are putting their paint on (honestly I think all the guys would at one point or another w their S/o—ivy just gets a bigger kick out of it).

The mask would even find its way into your bedroom, his stage persona following and you ate that shit up

Being putty in his hands when he’d get rough with you when he wore it

Most definitely fucking you from behind in front of a mirror, him gripping your hair to pull your head back just to make you look at him in the mask, his blue eyes intensely staring back at you

Or when you’d be riding him, grabbing it from the night stand and slipping it on. He’d lose his mind, groaning at the sight—drilling up into you feral for more

He has tons of photos of you in his mask and jacket, Adam even taking photos of you with the other band members in the items

Poor IV listens to the guys joke you would be a much better replacement, always grumbling a fuck off as you blow him a kiss, but as he leaves playfully moping he’ll make a gesture of catching the air kiss and smashing it to his cheek or lips.

Don’t forget the few of you in just the mask and jacket he’s taken (100% has it printed in his wallet or hidden behind his phone case)

Despite his more broodier/reserved nature, he loves showing you how much he cares with acts of service and quality time

If he has to wake up earlier than you, there’s always your favorite beverage to wake up with and pastry on your bedside

After a crazy night out despite how fucked up he is, he makes sure you’re okay and settled first. He’ll make sure the makeup remover is close at hand, even helping to take it off if needed. Making sure you’ve had a snack, and have water with an aspirin before bed.

It’s even more endearing when you hardly drink, and in his most inebriated state clamoring all over your house or room trying to take care of you. Still refusing to let you fuss over him

Sometimes during shows, you get anxious or overstimulated to feel comfortable to grab from the snack table backstage. So he’ll notice and stop what he’s doing without complaint, grabbing an assortment of your favorite things without asking. Handing it to you pressing an affectionate kiss to the top of your head, “just for you, love.” Then returning to what he was doing

Always going above and beyond to plan days with just you and him. At home, on tour—doesn’t matter he loves just spending time with his favorite person

Whether it be a crazy excursions/cute dates at the city the band was stopped at or laying in bed watching movies and eating tons of food

Admittedly he loved the slower lazy days sometimes more since it felt like his lifestyle was always non stop. Especially if it just involved tagging along with you for your everyday errands and then coming home to cook dinner together

Then at the end of the night after you two had a couple of glasses of wine, he’d spend hours worshipping your body

Just something about the slow and simple routine, made him want to take his time on you. All his movements intentional with the love and care

Hips lazily thrusting into you, brushing the hair out of your eyes. “Fuck,” he would hiss as you clenched around him. “That’s right, I got you.” Pressing his forehead to yours

[empty-movement]

May I ask what scanners / equipment / software you're using in the utena art book project? I'm an artist and half the reason I rarely do traditional art is because I'm never happy with the artwork after it's scanned in. But the level of detail even in the blacks of Utena's uniform were all captured so beautifully! And even the very light colors are showing up so well! I'd love to know how you manage!

You know what's really fun? This used to be something you put in your site information section, the software and tools used! Not something that's as normal anymore, but let's give it a go, sorry it's long because I don't know what's new information and what's not! Herein: VANNA'S 'THIS IS AS SPECIFIC AS MY BREAK IS LONG' GUIDE/AIMLESS UNEDITED RAMBLE ABOUT SCANNING IMAGES

Scanning: Modern scanners, by and large, are shit for this. The audience for scanning has narrowed to business and work from home applications that favor text OCR, speed, and efficiency over archiving and scanning of photos and other such visual media. It makes sense--there was a time when scanning your family photographs and such was a popular expected use of a scanner, but these days, the presumption is anything like that is already digital--what would you need the scanner to do that for? The scanner I used for this project is the same one I have been using for *checks notes* a decade now. I use an Epson Perfection V500. Because it is explicitly intended to be a photo scanner, it does threebthings that at this point, you will pay a niche user premium for in a scanner: extremely high DPI (dots per inch), extremely wide color range, and true lossless raws (BMP/TIFF.) I scan low quality print media at 600dpi, high quality print media at 1200 dpi, and this artbook I scanned at 2400 dpi. This is obscene and results in files that are entire GB in size, but for my purposes and my approach, the largest, clearest, rawest copy of whatever I'm scanning is my goal. I don't rely on the scanner to do any post-processing. (At these sizes, the post-processing capacity of the scanner is rendered moot, anyway.) I will replace this scanner when it breaks by buying another identical one if I can find it. I have dropped, disassembled to clean, and abused this thing for a decade and I can't believe it still tolerates my shit. The trade off? Only a couple of my computers will run the ancient capture software right. LMAO. I spent a good week investigating scanners because of the insane Newtype project on my backburner, and the quality available to me now in a scanner is so depleted without spending over a thousand on one, that I'd probably just spin up a computer with Windows 7 on it just to use this one. That's how much of a difference the decade has made in what scanners do and why. (Enshittification attacks! Yes, there are multiple consumer computer products that have actually declined in quality over the last decade.)

Post-processing: Photoshop. Sorry. I have been using Photoshop for literally decades now, it's the demon I know. While CSP is absolutely probably the better piece of software for most uses (art,) Photoshop is...well it's in the name. In all likelihood though, CSP can do all these things, and is a better product to give money to. I just don't know how. NOTENOTENOTE: Anywhere I discuss descreening and print moire I am specifically talking about how to clean up *printed media.* If you are scanning your own painting, this will not be a problem, but everything else about this advice will stand! The first thing you do with a 2400 dpi scan of Utena and Anthy hugging? Well, you open it in Photoshop, which you may or may not have paid for. Then you use a third party developer's plug-in to Descreen the image. I use Sattva. Now this may or may not be what you want in archiving!!! If fidelity to the original scan is the point, you may pass on this part--you are trying to preserve the print screen, moire, half-tones, and other ways print media tricks the eye. If you're me, this tool helps translate the raw scan of the printed dots on the page into the smooth color image you see in person. From there, the vast majority of your efforts will boil down to the following Photoshop tools: Levels/Curves, Color Balance, and Selective Color. Dust and Scratches, Median, Blur, and Remove Noise will also be close friends of the printed page to digital format archiver. Once you're happy with the broad strokes, you can start cropping and sizing it down to something reasonable. If you are dealing with lots of images with the same needs, like when I've scanned doujinshi pages, you can often streamline a lot of this using Photoshop Actions.

My blacks and whites are coming out so vivid this time because I do all color post-processing in Photoshop after the fact, after a descreen tool has been used to translate the dot matrix colors to solids they're intended to portray--in my experience trying to color correct for dark and light colors is a hot mess until that process is done, because Photoshop sees the full range of the dots on the image and the colors they comprise, instead of actually blending them into their intended shades. I don't correct the levels until I've descreened to some extent.

As you can see, the print pattern contains the information of the original painting, but if you try to correct the blacks and whites, you'll get a janky mess. *Then* you change the Levels:

If you've ever edited audio, then dealing with photo Levels and Curves will be familiar to you! A well cut and cleaned piece of audio will not cut off the highs and lows, but also will make sure it uses the full range available to it. Modern scanners are trying to do this all for you, so they blow out the colors and increase the brightness and contrast significantly, because solid blacks and solid whites are often the entire thing you're aiming for--document scanning, basically. This is like when audio is made so loud details at the high and low get cut off. Boo.

What I get instead is as much detail as possible, but also at a volume that needs correcting:

Cutting off the unused color ranges (in this case it's all dark), you get the best chance of capturing the original black and white range:

In some cases, I edit beyond this--for doujinshi scans, I aim for solid blacks and whites, because I need the file sizes to be normal and can't spend gigs of space on dust. For accuracy though, this is where I'd generally stop.

For scanning artwork, the major factor here that may be fucking up your game? Yep. The scanner. Modern scanners are like cheap microphones that blow out the audio, when what you want is the ancient microphone that captures your cat farting in the next room over. While you can compensate A LOT in Photoshop and bring out blacks and whites that scanners fuck up, at the end of the day, what's probably stopping you up is that you want to use your scanner for something scanners are no longer designed to do well. If you aren't crazy like me and likely to get a vintage scanner for this purpose, keep in mind that what you are looking for is specifically *a photo scanner.* These are the ones designed to capture the most range, and at the highest DPI. It will be a flatbed. Don't waste your time with anything else.

Hot tip: if you aren't scanning often, look into your local library or photo processing store. They will have access to modern scanners that specialize in the same priorities I've listed here, and many will scan to your specifications (high dpi, lossless.)

Ahem. I hope that helps, and or was interesting to someone!!!

[adelarsims]

Hi, you are more than welcome to ignore especially if you have answered before and I missed it/it's elsewhere on your blog but can I please just ask how you get your CAS photos to look so incredibly clean? Especially around the edges, they're so smooth it's incredible. Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it! You inspire me so much tbh, everything you post is so beautiful. (Also also also the eyebags you released recently are my new gold standard and I use them for everything now tysm for sharing them) 🖤

thank you!

ok so here are a few tips, you don’t need to follow all of them, but if you like exactly my cas style, maybe some of them will help

1. edge smoothing. sorry for being obvious, but use either in-game anti-aliasing, or a smaa shader if you’re a reshade/gshade user, or you’ll get a pixelated staircase for the edges that will be hard to fix. if your PC doesn’t handle high graphics well and you play without edge smoothing, you can toggle it on temporarily just for taking a few good cas pictures and then turn it back off.

2. use MXAO. if you use reshades, use mxao shader for pictures, it's really a life changer. though i don't use it during the regular gameplay and only turn it on when i take pictures, because moving a lot with it slows down your game and is a visual overload for me.

3. but don’t overdo it with MXAO. seriously, don’t go all out with mxao. for a cleaner look shadows need to be delicate, just to overline shapes and give your sim more dimension. every time i tweaked my reshade presets, i made mxao even more thin and gentle and realized that it only got better.

4. background makes a huge difference. solid colors. in my personal opinion, grey gives the "cleanest" look (i said while still using my old dirty yellowish that i'm too lazy to find a replacement for). also, if i want to use black or white background, i make it a little darker than white and a little lighter than black, they look pretty much the same but will attack your eyes less (especially the white one).

5. CAS lighting makes a huge difference. maxis light isn't that bad, but cc lighting definitely give you more clean, crisp image. my personal favorite neutral one that i use by default is v2 by helgatisha. sometimes i use lightings with side highlights for more “rendered” look, but they aren’t always comfortable for everyday use and i only use them for specific pictures and then get back to my default neutral one.

6. shadow overlays. i mean cc that imitates shadows on sim's face, it gives sim's face so much dimension. there are spotlight v1 and v2 by simandy and lighting overlay v1 and v2 by joshseoh. i'd say josh's overlays are for fancy portrait pictures (they imitate a very strong light source from different angles, very cool for sim photographers but not for regular gameplay), and simandy's are more neutral and are very gameplay-friendly on lower opacity. personally, i only use v2 by simandy now, it's my holy grail and i don't take sim's pictures without it.

7. SRWE. it's a program that emulates having a bigger display resolution than your monitor can afford, meaning much better screenshot quality and cleanliness for small details. srwe can be a bit of a hassle to use for a lot of pics and most of the time i’m too lazy to use it and just take my regular small pixelated screenshots, but sometimes i want just one, but extra clean picture.

8. Topaz Clean 3 (photoshop). i don't usually edit my pictures and just drop them like whatever, mostly because i don't know how to do it, but sometimes i make them sharper and cleaner with a gentle touch of topaz on very low strength.

[your-astro-mami]

Pluto in Aquarius: My list of predictions I

As an Astrologer of 9 years, I decided to make a list of my predictions about the Pluto in Aquarius era (2023-2043).

Children born during this period will be the ones to bring the change into the world we have been waiting for (In both positive and negative ways). I believe this will be the generation no one will have control over. The unbiased generation that could be focused on their own world and approach to it. They will be united and fight for greater causes. Compared to the Pluto in Sagitarius (a very free approach to life, no sense of union but a strong desire for independence), Pluto in Scorpio (carries the weight of the previous generations on their shoulders, possibly the generation that is most affected by their trauma), Pluto in Libra (better sense of union than the generations after them, but more focus on the surface), I believe that the Pluto in Aquarius generation will be one that is truly connected to each other.

If we thought that there was growth in technology up to now, the upcoming 20 years will be something even greater. Possible digitalization of everything. This is an assumption of most people, even those without interest in Astrology. Regardless, I find correlation between Astrology and all Pluto "eras" up to now. Pluto in Leo (pride, nationalism, theme of the era and qualities of the people born in that era). Pluto in Scorpio (the 80s and 90s grunge era, major focus on sexuality and sexual openness compared to before). Even as a person without a deep interest (or knowledge) in history, I find major similarities in the period of history and the astrology during it.

AI and anything like ChatGPT will be used in day to day life. I find it easy to believe that many jobs could be replaced with AI (for better or for worse). Would this mean more leisure for humans or more difficulty? No one knows yet.

Until the Pluto in Aquarius babies grow, I believe we will go through a comeback of tradition, conservative values due to Pluto in Capricorn and the upcoming generation, which are heavily influenced by pseudo-conservative or conservative figures. I have observed than more and more people seek to come back to traditional gender roles (femininity gurus, men who influence men to be traditional, etc.).

There will be major clashes between the previous generations and the Pluto in Aquarius generation and the world may get into a total chaos. Is this a prediction? Not really.

Apart from the science, technology assumptions, I believe the Pluto in Aquarius era will inspire a newfound desire for freedom in people. At the same time I believe there will be unity, desire to help, focus on humanitarinism and social issues. People will fight for the causes they are passionate about and will seek to help others. This will bring back the community, desire for social interaction, closeness between people. Although Aquarius is connected to detachment, it is the sign that represent social union, uniting for the best of everyone, fighting for our mutual desires.

Will this be the true Age of Aquarius? I guess time will tell.

I can make a part two of this when I think of more predictions. Please don't take my opinions seriously.

*Photo used above is from the cover of the book Stranger in a Strange Land which I have always thought to be very Aquarian in a way.

[mr2swap]

"Sebastián"

-Oh shit ! I knew the price was too good to be true- When I bought this leather suit on the internet, I couldn't believe how cheap it was. I had been saving for years to buy one of those suits, but now that I have it on I think I have to admit it is a scam.

It is supposed to be the body of a handsome dark skinned Puerto Rico guy, but this is far from the sample photo on Amazon.

The package arrived at my house early, and I was very excited I even cleared my schedule to enjoy my new suit as it deserved, the package was wrapped in a whole roll of tape which seemed strange at first, I ran excited with a couple of scissors in one hand and the package with the suit in the other towards my room despite being completely alone in my house I closed the door. Slowly, I undressed in front of the mirror to take one last look at my original body.

It's not that I was ugly, I actually considered myself an athlete, strong athletic, handsome and maybe a little arrogant, I wanted to experience being someone else, someone new, and no one better like “Sebastián” I didn't know where that suit came from, but it was exactly what that I wanted, handsome and exotic.

Impatiently I quickly removed my clothes just leaving my red underpants on taking one last photo of my body

I took the suit out of the box and spread it out on my bed, completely ignoring the sheet of paper that was at the bottom of the box. It looked a little strange, maybe a little bigger than normal, but it was the first time I had seen a leather suit in real life, so I did not give it much importance and I undressed completely.

I sat on my bed and slowly unzipped the leather suit and inserted one of my feet inside the leather suit, inside it was sticky and somewhat tight, but I didn't stop, I inserted my other foot until my feet touched the bottom of I suit followed with the rest of my legs and then the rest of my body, the suit somehow looked bigger than it was seen in the photos -Maybe ... are they muscles? - I said to myself as I put my hand behind My back to be able to close the zipper of the suit, maybe I did it fast or too hard or maybe the suit was of poor quality but when closing the zipper it detaches from the suit and falls to the ground.

When the suit was completely closed my body began to change as the skin clung to my body a lot of fat began to fill my body, my sixpack was replaced by a huge belly and my hard pecs turned into a pair of tits of Fat. Something was wrong now, he was sure of that.

When I saw myself in the mirror I was horrified by my reflection I was no longer the handsome and thin athlete, now I was "Sebastian" an overweight nerd, as if my life depended on finding the zipper I started looking for it on the floor of the whole room but something I was wrong with my eyes, I went to the box and was able to find a pair of glasses that allowed me to see correctly.

In addition to the glasses, there was the note that he had not read "in case of wanting permanent suit, break off the zipper and enjoy your new self it "said in huge red capital letters, I think I will have to stay as Sebastian for a while until I solve this.

Hey! You can support me to continue creating stories and see all my stories on my patreon and have access to the stories on my discord server.

[thekenikaridevblog]

VVV ramble under the cut! VVV

So, one thing i've recently noticed that sets Kenikari apart from other visual novels in itch.io (aside from yttd lol) is its backgrounds

It's not the fact that the backgrounds are pixelated, or that you can click on them, but the fact that they are drawn at all. I've seen plenty of VNs where the backgrounds are stock images with filters on them or those royalty-free drawn backgrounds you've seen in gacha life videos

you know the ones

(btw, no shade to people who don't add backgrounds to their VNs! i should know, drawing these bad boys is hard, and i understand that for stuff like game jams or school projects you don't exactly have a lot of time to make a bunch of them with good quality)

(another similar thing is when people use the default rpgmaker tilesets to fill in the word. and like i said, no shade to those people either! there have been incredible games used with the default graphics, like the original mad father)

and i thought, "why do default backgrounds and default tilesets bother me so much? why was i so headstrong that i wanted to make my own tilesets, even though i could've easily found something of much higher quality that would've taken me much less effort?"

and then i realised. Visual identity.

it is far more easier for a game to stick to you if it has visuals/music that you can't find anywhere else. can you imagine if undertale used royalty-free songs and sound effects? can you imagine if yttd used photos as its backgrounds? they wouldn't stand out as much, because those projects have lost a facet of themselves that could've been used to make them even more unique

not only that, but there is something else that happens specifically when you use a default background, and that is a loss of immersion

it is harder for me to believe that i am in a real environment that is lived-in by these certain characters if there is nothing special about the place that makes it seem like the characters had an impact on it

a good example of this is Danganronpa: Despair Time

you see this dent on the wall? that's there because one of the characters tripped and fell face-first into it

not only is this hilariously stupid, but it also helps the locations the characters are in to feel alive, that you yourself could go there and interact with the world.

It doesn't have to be property damage, but there are so many small things you can add to your backgrounds to make them feel special: the room of the protagonist has a poster of a band they like, there is a photo in the living room of a family, the sofa has cardboard on the sides because the dog chews on it, there is a tree in the forest with an old carving of the initials of your friends' parents. all of these are tiny silly things that makes the place feel like it truly exists, like it couldn't be replaced by a stock photo

now, let's actually talk about Kenikari. What does my game bring to the table in terms of backgrounds?

I'm gonna be honest, they're nothing actually visually spectacular about them. they're pretty average, sometimes the perspective is a little wonky, or the palettes could be better, or the shading is lackluster, but they're my imperfect backgrounds, and there's no other game out there who has them, so i love them

but what about YTTD? This game was originally meant to be a fangame of that, what do these backgrounds have that YTTD doesn't?

I'm gonna be honest, i heavily copied the general vibe of the layout of chapter 2 for the main hub. and still, these are wildly different! not only in palette, angle, and composition, but there is also something that i have neglected to point out

(ignore the Gin) for one, the backgrounds don't take up the entire screen, so they can be as busy as they want without fear of blocking text or making it difficult to read. (trust me, this was an issue i've had to learn to work around). but also, there is a move button.

the reason why this is such a big deal is that, if you want to go from place to place, you have to click the button, then click on one of the options the game gives you.

Kenikari doesn't have that

the way you move around in the game? you click on the door you want to go through, then the game takes you there. if you want to go back to a place whose entrance isn't shown, you click on the lowest part of the screen, as if you were going to a door that's behind you

it might not seem like much. YTTD has that too, there are a bunch of places where you can click on a door or doorway and it takes you to the next room, but that is not how the game was primarily designed to traverse through

let's bring back the main hub

there are 6 doors/passageways to go through. There is a kitchen, a storage room, a gym, a bedroom, a garden, and the trial grounds, where someone will die

I want you to guess which door leads to which place

this is an extra layer of room design i've had to add to the environments. not only do you have to have every entrance visible, but it also has to be easy for the player to guess which door leads where

"now," i hear you ask, "why would you do that? you literally said that having black space under the background makes it easier for the textboxes to read. you also have to make less background, and you don't have to spend time making every entrance visually unique, wouldn't this be nothing but beneficial?"

and, when it comes to game making, the answer yes! it would take me far less time

but

there is one benefit to making the backgrounds like this

it makes the world feel more connected

let's use yttd again

there's a dining room, a bar, a darts-trowing room, and a bunch of tiny rooms with cushions for the players to drop in once they've passed their first trial. i want you to guess which exit leads where

surprise: there is no possible way for the player to know. i don't think even nankidai himself knows

when you click the 'move' button, three options pop up, and you just click on them and go to the next screen. this makes everything feel so off. in the second chapter you literally keep on getting more and more options for the same room as the story progresses even though there is no visual indicator that more options have been opened up

that's one of my main gripes with games that use this move button function. for open areas like a city it's fine. it'd be weird to have all points of interest in a single background image in a single street, and it'd be awkward to go through may street shots so finally get to where you want to go, but in enclosed spaces, it feels off. where does this door lead to? why can you go to five places even though there are only three doors? why does the architecture do a complete 180 in the next room even though this is the same building, with no aesthetic transition?

i didn't want my world to feel disconnected, and that i could just bullshit a new place to go to if i felt like it, so that's why i'm doing it like this

there is also another facet about my backgrounds that it could be interesting to talk about, but i'd say this post is getting far too long already, so if u want me to talk about it, please tell me!

[threegoblinart]

Been following you for while and after seeing a couple of your WIP it made me wonder... What exactly ia your process? And the step by step strategy you follow every time you draw.

And if you use any kind of reference, if you don't mind me asking of course

Ooh fun.

So to start, I still consider myself in a big learning phase. I stopped drawing for a decade and have spent the last 4 years relearning a lot. I only started water color coming up on 2 years ago. So take anything I say with a big grain of salt.

One big thing I've been working on is the process, having drafts, etc.

Using a recent painting I can illustrate my ideal method for illustrations (my landscapes skip numbers 4 and 5).

1) research, I use Pinterest a lot, as well as stock photos and posing apps. References are super important to me and I rarely start drawing without them.

2) thumbnails, this is relatively new but things turn out so much better when I do I rough sketch or two (or more)

3) sketch layer in blue pencil

4) round two in purple pencil (below is half way done with step 4) so you can see the two colors

5) round three in light brown ink

6) watercolor painting

(the yellow is masking fluid) that was removed later)

7) second ink layer, and highlights

For supplies I like (I'm not rich, and feel I can say most of this can be acquired on a modest budget, especially over timing and taking advantage of sales)

🌼Pilot Color Eno mechanical pencils in light blue and purple

🌼Factis Black erasers

🌼Stilman and Birn Beta sketchbooks, Baohong paper and in a pinch masters touch paper from Hobby Lobby when I need something super affordable

🌼Windsor Newton professional or Daniel Smith watercolors, pricey but last a long time. (Buy them on sale a few at a time, I have 5 ml tubes and haven't replaced one yet in almost two years). You don't need a lot, I started with about a dozen and that was plenty to start with.

🌼Washi Tape

🌼Princeton Velvet Touch Brushes (rounds in size 2, 4, 6, 8 and a large brush for washes is a great start, you need tons of specialty brushes)

🌼Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White

🌼Sakura Micron Pens (I main use brown, light brown and black in 005 and 01 size)

I don't believe in hoarding art knowledge so please ask any questions. If you're just starting I advise getting at least quality student grade materials, reddit and other sites are great for finding affordable supply recommendations.

If you're interested in watercolor there are a lot of great tutorials out there, I started with a free landscape class from thewritingdesk on Instagram!

[smallerplaces]

We have window frames starting to go in! Dad ignored my repeated statements that I needed to do another coat of paint on the shell before gluing in windows (which are a different finish of the same color) and told me I could do touch-up around them.

The entire day on Monday was like this. I say something. Dad agrees. Dad then does something else entirely and tells me I can just work with it. I feel like a terrible person for being so annoyed at someone who is building me a dollhouse (this kit is beyond what I could have handled on my own), but I think I also have a legit beef with Dad's style of handling disagreement. Maybe tomorrow will be better, as there's reason to hope he's spending this afternoon at his friend's shop, improving his work truck. (To his credit, he did voluntarily steam his own asparagus last night, which sounds like a euphemism but means exactly what it says.)

Meanwhile, wall panels were we didn't replace the hot glue are falling apart and having to be properly glued.

We cut templates for the wallpaper because Dad says the insides of the walls will not survive light sanding -- and there are so many wood glue glops from fixing them that there's no way to apply wallpaper without having it look like it's all lumps. So the plan is to trim the manila templates after the house is assembled, glue the wallpaper to them, and glue the templates to the wall. We've done this before, with a Dura Craft house that we were rehabbing in fully built condition. That one also had the "slot the walls into corner posts" construction.

To ease my general irritability, I have ordered a fireplace for the living room, which will have room for it due to skipping that pesky stairway. (seller's photo)

While the condition's not so pristine as the seller claims (which I'm not going to ding them for -- I see what I'm buying, and the price was 40% lower than the cheapest truly pristine one), a little Restor-A-Finish should take care of it. We already own every shade of Restor-A-Finish known to humankind.

This specific fireplace is all over eBay at so, so many price points, with one seller claiming it's high-end Bespaq (it isn't) and another showing the original Concord Miniatures box. The more I window-shop, the more it seems that Concord Miniatures had a wide, wide range of quality: some of their pieces are exactly like today's Town Square miniatures (which used to be Aztec), while others look like they created pieces based on the House of Miniatures kits (which were bought by Houseworks, so who did own Concord?).

While ordering a fireplace mantle, I'm thinking of skipping the chimney. It's one little block, with no chimney breast on exterior or interior, and no chimney pots, and it's the official Thing Most Likely To Fall Off or Be Inconvenient in Moving the House. Burning wood in working fireplaces has been all-but-banned in this part of California for years now -- in theory, there are a few days a year when it's legal, but good luck in identifying them -- so it wouldn't be odd to have a mantle for pretties but no real fireplace infrastructure.

This afternoon my plan is to run amok with the semi-gloss trim paint, finding all the spots where the old wood slurped it up, or where I missed a joint. If that goes well, I can start on improving the shell paint.

[superkilometerfilter]

Car Tuning – An Ultimate Guide

Nowadays car tuning has gained popularity among automotive enthusiasts. This is not surprising, in the era of modern technology, people are constantly craving for reaching the highest level of performance in every aspect of life. Hence, the automotive industry is not an exception. From the very first moment of car invention, it was a subject of modification. Here comes auto tuning –one of the most favorite topics for discussion. It is more than just maintenance, it implies all kinds of enhancement starting from the visual change to the engine boosting. You may wonder why I need it? The simple response is that the manufacturers tend to limit the capabilities of your automobile. They aim to find the balance and somehow insure themselves because unlocking the full potential of vehicles may be an inefficient decision. 

So let’s take a closer look at what it means in a wide sense and learn more about its types. Keep on reading to learn everything you need to know if you think about boosting your automobile.

WHAT IS CAR TUNING?

Tuning auto is known as a wide range of vehicle modifications. It incorporates various kinds of changes to provide improved performance, functionality and better visual effect. It can be understood in many ways. However, the aim is the same – to improve automobile capabilities. There are certain areas of modification including audio system, interior, motor, suspension, body, tires and brakes. Below I will provide you with a comprehensive explanation of every one of them.

WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR AUTO IN AND OUT

Let’s start with visual improvement. Personalizing an automobile is always a subject of excitement among motorists. Does this sound like you? I’m sure it does. We all share this feeling. Improving the aesthetics is very tempting for all. For some people, it’s a kind of obsession. When it comes to visual upgrading, it is easier to take control of the situation if you are one of those DIYers. Here are two areas where you can transform your automobile.

Body

Transforming your vehicle exterior is a big move, so you should carefully consider every detail. You need to bear in mind, the aim is to improve the exterior significantly. Hence, you should find the proper body kit that is a set of modified parts or additional components for the car. It contains front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoilers, bonnets (bonnet scoop), sometimes roof and side scoops. There is a wide range of companies that offer this hardware. Firstly, find the one that works for you. Do not hesitate to search for photos that are inspiring and buy them. Next, think twice before you start doing it yourself, if you are good at following the instructions here is a step-by-step guide on how to install.

Interior 

Another form of a car tune-up is interior styling. This type of transformation is best-loved among those who love to emphasize individuality. There are several options for personalizing the interior. For example, cockpit improvement, which implies coating plastic with wood or leather. In addition to that, automobile seats and steering wheels are also subject to upgrading. It’s pretty obvious once you think about it, so let me tell you that you don’t need to go to the workshop. Just search for and shop for accessories on internet retail shopping websites at an affordable price.

WHY IS SUSPENSION TUNING NECESSARY?

The Suspension system is what ensures road holding and ride quality. Hence, it supports a comfortable ride. Suspension is a system of tires, tire air, springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connect an automobile to its wheels. The main function of struts and shock absorbers is to control stability. The spring is what holds the car up in the air. Hence, the rocking, bouncing and shaking of an automobile is an indicator that those components need replacement.

 Auto tune-up improves speed and pick up. Hence cars need an enhanced suspension system for better handling on the road. Here comes the necessity and importance of suspension tuning. suspension tuning implies the modification of springs, struts and, shock absorbers to affect how a vehicle accelerates, brakes and corners.

The most common type of suspension tuning is so-called �� lowering. The closer an automobile is to the surface, the better you can develop high speed. Lowering is done through springs. Tuning implies shortening the existing springs or replacing them with a new one. 

Believe it or not, an innovative device is for sale at Super Kilometer Filter. It allows you to do suspension tuning independently.

The best DIY tool for suspension tuning

Lowering device is an innovative and user-friendly tool for Mercedes owners. Manufacturers designed specifically for airmatic suspension. You get various benefits from using this tool.it allows lowering and increasing options, improved responsiveness, faster acceleration, quicker stops, less rollover risk. The module also serves a practical purpose, a lowered automobile is comfortable for a person with a disability. The tool offers three different modes: factory, low and custom.

CHIP TUNING 

It is the most popular type of car tuning. ECU is responsible for controlling the fuel supply, airflow, fuel injection and ignition. It implies overwriting the manufacturer’s existing setting with new software. The main benefits that drivers get are improved horsepower and torque, better control and drivability, enhanced rev range. This type of auto tuning is significantly beneficial for diesel cars.

There are recommended programs that support live, 2D and 3D tuning. As a mechanic, all you have to do is search for the one which will be compatible with the automobile. Make sure that you own the laptop that serves you well. 

Despite the above mentioned, here’s another way to think about the issue. Boosted functioning and efficiency can be related to some risks. It is worth considering everything before you make a final decision.

What to consider

Remember, I don’t want you to become the victim of common biases related to tuning auto. how to avoid it? – get comprehensive information and be ready for the possible consequences. there is a list of things to consider before:

Increased maintenance cost. When you enjoy all the benefits from boosting automobiles, you should know that there will be the necessity to replace components such as the ignition coils more often. So consider your budget.

Insurance costs. Besides, consider insurance premiums. This type of tuning can have a potential impact on insurance costs. Trust me, they know that you don’t miss a chance to use the full potential of your automobile. Hence it makes you a high-risk driver.

Forget fuel economy. Don’t believe that fuel efficiency will be possible, you will need high-quality fuel at any rate.

Harmful to the environment. The factory settings provide the lowest emissions and therefore stock automobiles are environmentally friendly. The changes in the manufacturer’s setting may result in increased emissions.

Choose the mechanic. Make sure that everything will be done correctly. Your automobile should be in the hand of a qualified specialist if you want the best possible outcome.

Mind the warranty. If tuning is not approved by the manufacturer, you should expect to void the warranty. Let’s be realistic, you change the factory settings, so they refuse to take responsibility for the safety and reliability. 

CAR TUNE-UP IS FINISHED – WHAT’S NEXT?

So, you have a tuned automobile. It would be interesting if you could test it and see the results. However, something holds you back. I guess it is a danger of adding miles on your odometer. What if, I can tell you that testing is possible without the risk of adding mileage on your automobile. For this purpose manufacturers designed a special tool. It allows you to carefully examine all the benefits you get from tuning. This device is known as a mileage blocker.

Mileage blocker

This extraordinary and premium quality product from Germany is specially for stopping the mileage recording process from all control units untraceably. This is a user-friendly module that is easily installed behind the dashboard. The tool is superior to its counterfeits. Mileage blocker is available online and you can purchase mileage blocker from superkilometerfilter. Consider avoiding illegal usage, some people use it for deceiving potential buyers. Remember, it is only created for testing and tuning purposes. In case of any further questions, please feel free to contact us anytime.

CONCLUSION

Now you have read through the blog and you know what is auto tune-up, why it is beneficial, what to consider and how much you risk. By now you have realized that it is a very controversial topic, but the good news is that you can weigh all options and think twice before you make a final decision. There are some areas where you don’t need careful examination of every detail. For instance, interior refinement of your automobile, it just takes your creativity and budget. As for internal changes, it is worth discussing and exchanging opinions. All in all, it’s up to you. Good luck!

[hareofhrair]

For my fat trans friends, because the photos and info here are a bit focused on people with smaller busts- I don't know much about binders and I'd love if someone else could add relevant info about binders for larger people, but I do know corsets! And I want to assure you corsets can provide similar flattening even for large breasts.

I think one of the reasons people who'd like the smoothing/flattening look of a corset avoid them is because the popular image of them is primarily burlesque and bawdy historical fiction where the corsets are decorative and basically pushup bras.

But historically speaking, corsets were utilitarian undergarments intended to keep your breasts supported and out of the way while you worked. They were replaced by bras as fashion changed and began to favor thinner fabrics designed to be worn directly against the skin.

Frankly as a well be-tittied person I find corsets a lot more comfortable than bras. I suspect the larger surface area just helps distribute the weight better, plus the additional back support is very appreciated. They're also just nicer looking than most bras in my size.

They will however run you at least as much if not more than a good bra, so be prepared to make an investment. You do *not* want to buy a shitty cheap corset, for a lot of the same reasons you don't want to buy a shitty cheap binder. You will not be getting anything quality from Amazon I can tell you that.

You're looking for something with spiral steel boning (unboned won't compress anything and plastic bones are a travesty and a hazard), and it should be overbust or "stays." Stays is the historical term for the particular flattening, cone shaped corsets of the 16th century. If you're expecting daily wear, the fabric should be something breathable like cotton.

You will also need an undershirt! Generally speaking, you never want to wear a boned corset directly against the skin, because they are not easy to wash without damaging! You can't put a boned corset in the washing machine!

My go-to for modern-style corsets is usually Corsetstory. They're not the best (corset snobbery incoming- off-the-rack is never going to be as good as something made to your measurements) but they're pretty good, comparatively affordable, and they're usually running some kind of sale.

However, if you want to compress and smooth the bust, you don't want modern style corsets that prioritize an hourglass shape. You want classic/historical stays, and those are unfortunately harder to find online and more expensive when you find them- redthreaded and periodcorsets have some very high quality made to order options with nauseatingly high price tags. Considering the materials, skills, and historical knowledge involved, $500 to $700 isn't unreasonable to ask, but I sure don't have that laying around to spend on corsets.

Your best bet honestly might be to go to your nearest ren faire and talk to some of the people selling corsetry there. They may be selling their own stuff, but they're generally also historical fashion enthusiasts who will happily talk your ear off about the virtues of corsets and where to find them.

Or, if you can sew (or you'd like to learn) you could try making your own, which might actually give you the most bang for your buck in terms of ensuring it fits, is comfortable, and does what you want it to do.

You can buy a pattern, like this elizabethan style, or this 1920's corset for that boyish flapper shape. Or draft your own based on your own measurements, using instructions like these, which is a lot easier than you'd think.

So if you're a large chested individual, and you'd like a flatter profile but binders aren't a good option for one reason or another, maybe check out corsets!

THINGS I NEED TO FUCKING KNOW: Why every fuckin trans man or nb person I know who binds is like “oh binders are the worst, you can’t breathe in them, I know someone who broke a rib once”,

And meanwhile over in historical costuming, we are fucking eating, sleeping, swordfighting, riding horses, and feeling great like this:

(credit: Jenny La Flamme, The Tudor Tailor, Verdaera)

Like is there NO overlap between people who want to bind and people who care about accurate 16th century clothing reconstruction techniques?

(I, okay, maybe it is kind of a niche interest, but…. REALLY? Anyone who’s made a boned binder, PLS SPEAK TO ME)

Keep reading

[seyoonlgc]

⸻ 𝙷𝙰𝙿𝙿𝚈 𝙱𝙸𝚁𝚃𝙷𝙳𝙰𝚈 ( 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚛𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 ).

As per tradition, Seunghyun does his usual fly by birthday gift delivery as he passes Seyoon in the hall. No greeting, no well wishes - just a handoff of a poorly wrapped rectangle… and a box of his favorite granola. Not Seyoon’s, but his. One of the many things Seyoon liked to squirrel away with when the two shared a trainee dorm. …Strange, the things his mind holds onto as ‘sentimental.’

Inside the wrapping plucked directly from a discount store shelf, Seyoon would find a yellow notebook, accompanied by a pen with an attached clip designed to look like a small bear’s head ( it falls off every time one attempts to write with it ). Inside the notebook is some stationery paper, decorated to adhere to some vague theme that Seunghyun couldn’t be bothered to return to replace with something more fitting. It reads: The story you’ve been telling yourself all these years is wildly inaccurate and poorly written. Write a better one. - ( a word that begins with an M is aggressively scribbled out here and replaced with - ) Seunghyun.

Seunghyun handed off presents the way he’d probably deliver a bomb. 

“Why are you running?” Seyoon demanded, trying to catch up to his friend while mimicking the popular meme. “Why are you running?” Too late, Seunghyun was gone around the corner. His legs were just a lil bit longer and Seyoon was unfortunately distracted by the bundle that he was holding. Curiosity was a dangerous enemy. 

Poor Mushushu, though, you could really tell being cut off from the family funds did a number to his wallet. For starters, the guy would have never used dollar store wrapping paper. Last year, Seyoon got professional packaging, soft satin bow, and extra special Han Seunghyun designed silver plated Lego bear holding custom cologne. This year, he got granola, notebook and a pen of questionable quality. 

Seyoon laughed, because he couldn’t help it - it was one hell of a contrast. 

But he’d be lying if he said he loved these presents less. 

It was weird, because he did appreciate grand gestures and expensive things from some people. Guess Seunghyun was just different because they knew each other from a long time ago, back when they were more innocent. Abie Kim back in the day liked many things that cost so very little. He liked companionship. Fresh air by the sea. Collecting shells in the sand. He liked the smell of pinecones and chasing after fireflies. He liked sneaking out of his window in the middle of the night to go to the neighbor’s house, so he could play video games with their kid in the basement until they got inevitably caught at dawn. 

A good portion of his childhood was lovely, and it was nice to be reminded.

Seyoon wrote Han Seunghyun loves me very much but is too much of a tsundere to admit it onto the first page of his brand new notebook. He snickered as he took a picture of this fine sentence and sent it off.

✉ mushushu ʕ ◕ᴥ◕ ʔ : [ photo meant to embarrass you ]

✉ mushushu ʕ ◕ᴥ◕ ʔ : oh look, I wrote down something very true 💛 much accurate

✉ mushushu ʕ ◕ᴥ◕ ʔ : don’t get pissed and block my number yet wanna come over for dinner

✉ mushushu ʕ ◕ᴥ◕ ʔ : I’ll can make instant noodles

✉ mushushu ʕ ◕ᴥ◕ ʔ : with an egg. and cheese

✉ mushushu ʕ ◕ᴥ◕ ʔ : yah, it’s strange but I don’t actually feel like going out this year

[the-odd-ducks]

Google Pixel 9 — Done right again?

The Google Pixel 9  is a straightforward choice — it’s a phone that’s simple to understand. When you purchase the Pixel 9, you’re essentially getting the best features of the Pixel 9 Pro, but at a lower cost. It shares the same processors, two of the same cameras (with the Pro having an additional one), and the latest AI features, all without compromising on the essentials just because it’s not the Pro model. No other phone manufacturer offers such a clear progression from the base model to the top-tier option.

With the enhanced durability comes a completely refreshed appearance for the Pixel family. The previous camera bar has been removed and replaced with what I call a ‘camera pill,’ which doesn’t span the entire width of the phone’s back. In person, it looks much better than it did in the early leaked images. The Pixel 9 still maintains its unique design, standing out from the asymmetrical, corner-positioned cameras commonly found on iPhones or Galaxy phones. However, this is the most significant style change in years since the Pixel 6 introduced the current Pixel design language.

What do you miss out on if you opt for the Pixel 9 instead of the Pixel 9 Pro? The Pixel 9 comes with 12GB of RAM, which is the same as what you’d find in a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the Pixel 9 Pro bumps that up to 16GB. With the increasing importance of AI features in new phones, having extra RAM could be crucial. These AI capabilities likely require a substantial amount of RAM, potentially more so than an ultra-powerful processor.

The Pixel 9 also lacks a zoom lens in its camera array, unlike the Pixel 9 Pro. However, it still includes the same 50MP wide and 48MP ultra-wide cameras as the Pro version. You’re not just getting the same pixel count; you’re getting identical sensors. This is something neither Apple nor Samsung provide, as their base models don’t share the same cameras as their top-tier versions.

The Pixel 9 isn’t just about its cameras, although they do appear to be a significant upgrade from the Pixel 8. This device also highlights Google’s latest AI initiatives, with Google Gemini looking particularly ambitious. Should you be concerned about AI on your phone? Not just yet, but the possibility is approaching.

Google Gemini on the Pixel 9 represents Google’s first attempt at multimodal AI. This means it won’t only respond to your voice commands or typed inputs; it will also analyze images and audio, answering questions based on what it sees and hears. For instance, Google claims you can snap a photo of your fridge’s contents, and Gemini will suggest recipes using the ingredients you have on hand.

Similar to earlier Pixel models, the Pixel 9 can modify your photos. Some new features, like the Add Me function in the Pixel camera, seem particularly useful. As a parent, I often found myself missing from photos because I was the one behind the camera. With Add Me, the photographer can take a picture, then hand the camera to someone else and step into the frame. The other person takes another shot, and the Pixel seamlessly merges you into the original image, as if you were all together from the start.

Some of the new features border on dubious AI. The Magic Editor now includes a ‘reimagine’ tool, along with a Pixel Studio image generator. While these tools make it easy to alter images or create entirely new, artificial photos, their usefulness is questionable at best, and they could potentially be misused in harmful ways.

Is the Pixel 9 worth purchasing? That largely depends on the camera’s image quality and how much you value new AI features. AI is already deeply integrated into this phone and is only going to play a bigger role. Initially, the new Pixel-exclusive Screenshots app doesn’t seem appealing to me, but if it turns out to be useful, I might find myself taking more screenshots and increasingly relying on AI for solutions.

But why limit it to screenshots? Why stop at phone calls? Eventually, Gemini AI could expand its understanding to much more of the world around you, especially as it has become a multimodal tool. Over the next seven years, Google promises major Android OS updates, Pixel feature drops, and security patches for the Pixel 9. I expect that the most compelling and practical AI tools of today will evolve to become integral components of the entire Android ecosystem in the future.

[jason-stuck]

Precision and Passion at the Auto Body Shop

Imagine driving your BMW, feeling the smooth power and precision that this luxury vehicle is known for. Then, an unexpected collision disrupts your journey. This is where the magic of an auto body shop comes into play, especially one that excels in BMW collision repair. These shops are more than just places for fixing cars; they are havens of meticulous craftsmanship and dedication.

The Heart of an Auto Body Shop

An auto body shop is not just a repair center; it's a sanctuary for damaged cars. It's where skilled technicians breathe new life into vehicles that have seen better days. The environment is a blend of artistry and technology, with every tool and technique aimed at restoring perfection. Walking into an auto body shop, you can feel the dedication to detail and the passion for precision that drives the entire team.

BMW Collision Repair: A Commitment to Excellence

When it comes to BMW collision repair, the stakes are incredibly high. BMWs are renowned for their engineering excellence and luxury. Repairing a BMW after a collision isn't just about fixing dents and scratches; it's about restoring the car to its original, pristine condition. The process is akin to a high-stakes art restoration project, requiring specialized knowledge, advanced tools, and an unwavering commitment to quality.

The journey of BMW collision repair begins with a comprehensive assessment. Technicians scrutinize every aspect of the damage, using cutting-edge diagnostic tools to uncover even the smallest imperfections. This thorough approach ensures that no detail is overlooked and that the repair process can address all issues effectively.

The Craftsmanship of Repairs

At an auto body shop, every repair is a testament to the craftsmanship of the technicians. They approach each task with the precision of a photographer composing the perfect shot. From the initial assessment to the final polish, every step is executed with care and expertise. The goal is not just to fix the car, but to restore it to its original beauty and functionality.

The repair process is intricate and methodical. Damaged panels are meticulously repaired or replaced, ensuring perfect alignment. The frame of the car is straightened using laser-guided systems, and the bodywork is carefully prepped for painting. The painting process involves multiple layers of primer, basecoat, and clearcoat, each one applied with precision to achieve a flawless finish.

Emotional Connections and Trust

For many BMW owners, their vehicle is more than just a mode of transportation; it's a symbol of success and a source of pride. An auto body shop that specializes in BMW collision repair understands this emotional connection. They treat each car with the respect it deserves, knowing that it holds significant value for its owner.

Owners are often invited to be part of the repair process, witnessing the care and attention their car receives. This transparency builds trust and reassures them that their prized possession is in good hands. The technicians often share updates and explain the steps they are taking, creating a sense of partnership and trust between the owner and the shop.

Documenting the Transformation

As a photographer, I find the transformation that happens in an auto body shop to be incredibly inspiring. It's like watching a work of art come to life. The damaged car arrives, and through the hands of skilled technicians, it is restored to its former glory. The satisfaction of seeing a BMW, once marred by an accident, gleaming and perfect again, is akin to capturing a breathtaking photograph.

The entire repair process is meticulously documented. Before-and-after photos showcase the extent of the damage and the incredible skill involved in the restoration. These images tell a story of dedication, expertise, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. For car enthusiasts and owners, these transformations are a testament to the art of auto body repair.

Conclusion

The world of an auto body shop, especially one that excels in BMW collision repair, is a blend of art and science. It's a place where damaged vehicles are meticulously restored, much like a photographer capturing moments in time. For BMW owners, knowing that their car is in such capable hands offers peace of mind and assurance that it will be restored to its original glory.

Every visit to an auto body shop reveals new stories, new challenges, and new opportunities for craftsmanship. It's a world where the damaged becomes beautiful again, and the mundane transforms into something extraordinary. Whether it's a minor scratch or a major collision, the dedication and skill found in an auto body shop ensure that every BMW can be restored to its rightful splendor.

[rabbitindisguise]

I think honestly the most frustrating thing is that there's no other truly free blogging website with as much cross-user interaction as tumblr (tumblr positive, if cranky, rant)

what I mean is when I tried to find a replacement tumblr, my options were cohost (close, but not the same, and not nearly as active), wordpress (completely divorced from any integrated community), boba boards (does not currently exist as far as I'm concerned because I can't get an account!), mastodon (more like twitter than anything else and and not nearly as user friendly as tumblr). Dreamwidth comes close but again, it's just not the same- you can't reblog and add additions and the image quality is very bad last I checked. Neocities gets real close but again, it's just not integrated enough.

And it's like, this is why there is no competition and that's why people just won't leave. This is literally the best fandom website, it's better than pinterest, it's better than youtube, it's better than any dedicated music platform/art platform/photography hosting website for people who want to do more than one thing at a time. It's basically the cellphone of social media. You can do music. You can do video. You can do embeds and uploads. You can interact with literally broken parts of the website (deleted users, posts, glitches, etc). You can curate moodboards. You can posts photos of your pets. You can live blog, you can embed links, you can add summaries and excerpts, customize the text with lists and colors. It's a lot less functionality in any one feature than other places, but other places require $$$ for a quarter of what tumblr does half functional. It works for photographers, musicians, authors, bloggers, artists, fans of anything, people interested in STEM and anything that uses hyperlinked citation, crafters and other people who sell/use/share digital products like patterns, coders, etc. Those groups exist everywhere on social media, but nowhere else can you independently host full length blog posts, high quality images, and videos with as many users as tumblr has. At least none that I'm aware of.

You can ~build a following~ on tumblr, but most importantly you can like . . . find stuff you like? Easily? Just find one mildly interesting blog and find out who they reblog from and who reblogs from them and you suddenly have access to thousands of people who share similar interests and are using the site regularly.

If they really sincerely want more users, pausing in place (and improving features like they had been) and pivoting the marketing strategy it might actually work. It's just a matter of where to put the ads and what kinds of things to say in them. "Premium" website services that charge 10, 20, 35 dollars a month for what tumblr does for free would be gutted by tumblrs new indie shop features. Squarespace, ghost or whatever it's called, ko-fi, linktree, medium, shopify, etc would all be chipped away at very easily, while the other big name social media websites wouldn't. "Small business? Want a sleek minimalist shop experience? Personalized updates? Tumblr might be for you!" Or "self pub author? join hundreds of authors online talking about their creative process and sharing updates on their work! No character limit!" Or "tired of complicated server management? hate fixing bugs and code? try tumblr." Like jesus it's just that they don't actually understand what's actually available because they don't seem to get why so many different people use it. They're trying to turn a swiss army knife into a spatula and wondering why people keep telling them it isn't going to work :/

i get the point of the polls informally showing that the vast majority of tumblr users have been here for years and barely anyone is new. the problem is that the suits don't look at that kind of data and go "ah, we understand. the majority of our users are oldheads who want things to stay the same. we misunderstood our audience." they absolutely have hard numbers on these things. they surely know most active users have been here forever. but they look at these stats and go "wow, our growth rate really IS shit. we're still relying on an ever-dwindling pool of users who have been here since they were teenagers in the early 2010s. we need to be working even harder to make this place appeal to new users"

the higher ups and investors on sites like this want infinite growth forever. this is why they keep changing the layout to make it look like other, more popular sites, even though we hate it. this is why they try out shit like tumblr live that doesn't appeal to the established core userbase in the slightest. it's not for us. it's also not for the ~5% of active users (if the poll going around is to be believed) who signed up within the last year. no, they're chasing after the hundreds of millions of people who use twitter and the BILLIONS of people who use tiktok, hoping to appeal to them and make tumblr more popular again

this is, of course, deeply stupid. nobody is leaving tiktok to hop on tumblr live. they already have tiktok. and we're on tumblr because we like tumblr, not because we want it to morph into something else. but i'm sure automattic's got venture capital investors breathing down their necks going "why isn't tumblr more like twitter or tiktok or facebook or instagram or" etc. etc., and so here we are

[postmodernlighting]

How to choose the right desk lamp

A few weeks ago, a friend mentioned that she was having a hard time choosing a desk lamp.When it comes to size, how do you know what's right? What style should I buy? These are great questions and I'm guessing she's not the only one wondering about this topic, so I thought I'd put together a little guide to provide some guidance!

How to choose the right desk lamp? You need to find a professional table lamp supplier.

There are some good general rules of thumb that apply to almost all desk lamps, which are a great place to start when you're looking for one:

Height is determined by both function and countertop/surface height. You'll usually want to select a table or surface first and then determine the height of the lamp. My preferred range is about 24-28 inches, depending on location.

2. If you are sitting next to the lamp, the bottom of the lampshade should be at the same height as your eyes. This ensures the bulb doesn't shine into your eyes, but is at a perfect height for reading and providing ambient light!

3. When considering overall proportions, lights should be proportional to the surface on which they sit. Generally, bigger surface = bigger light. There are limitations to this logic, but when in doubt, go with a bigger light.It's important to pay attention to the size of the shade and base - make sure they're not too big or hanging too far over the edge of the table, but you don't want it to look small, either. In general, the height of the lampshade should be approximately 33-40% of the base's width and two times its height.

4. Finding the right style is an art form and may require some trial and error - think carefully about the overall style of the room and go from there. Is there a statement you would like it to make?  Do you want it to be a focal point or a supporting role?

In spite of the fact that there are always exceptions to every “design rule”, you can never go wrong if you follow these guidelines - they will lead you in the right direction every single time!

Notes on lamp quality

At every price point, there is a wide variety of options. You can spend $100 (or less!) on a desk lamp or hundreds of dollars, so how do you know what you're getting? It's not always easy to tell what the quality is when you look at it online.

I think proportions are a big factor in whether a lamp looks good or is cheap. You can find quality fixtures at affordable prices if you have the right proportions, but you usually have to sift through a large number of lower-quality fixtures at lower prices. As with many things in the world of interior design, price often correlates with better design. I don’t think you have to spend a fortune on beautiful lights!

A good shade goes a long way too. The shade is what I think makes a lot of lamps look cheap. Finding one that complements the shape of the base and is the right size is key. If you find a lamp base that you like, but the shade doesn't feel "right", just replace it!

No matter your lighting budget, a good fixture should look well-proportioned, match the style of your room perfectly, and provide the right amount of light.

My favorite place to find quality table lamps

When you search for table lamps, your search terms should be as specific as possible. Depending on what you're looking for, you can narrow your search based on color, material, or even height. There are a lot of people there, I know! If you're not sure, look for some inspiration on Pinterest to see what you like that matches your style. The characteristics of these lamps are then described to allow for a more targeted search.

Budget-friendly:

American Carpet Association  Target (but beware of small lights - always mind the size!)  Lamps Plus

Mid-range:

Crate & Barrel CB2 One King's Lane Rejuvenation

High end:

Selena&Lily Lulu&Georgia Perigold Circa Lighting

12 favorite desk lamps

First row: cream lamp, gray lamp, beige lamp, white lamp (as shown in the photo at the top of the post)

Row 2: brass + rattan lamp, green lamp, white lamp, gray lamp

Row 3: black light, white light, blue light, cream light

This table lamp review has all the characteristics of a “good” table lamp that I mentioned earlier in the post! They have good proportions and a good overall height and can be placed in many places around the house. I've tried to cover a variety of styles and price points here, so I hope they've given you some helpful examples of what to look for in a table lamp.

Use the widget above or the links below to shop them!