#It is expensive! There must be ways to make some aspect of it manageable

[firefox-enthusiast]

Do it even though the result might or will be rubbish, terrible, incomprehensible. You will learn from it.

Do it.

I read a post the other day that really resonated with me, it was about people hating contemporary art and dismissing it without further thought because "anyone could do *that*" And their response was : then do it, please! Make shitty music and 'bad' art. I would love to see it, more art in the world what a fantastic result of your disdain and outrage. Please make something!

Also, a bit of a tangent. When is it art and when is it just making things or crafting something? Is it not writing if nobody reads it? WHO CARES. Anything that aims to make sense or beauty of our world is wonderful regardless of people's label of it.

And I know this is mostly about stuff like travel, cooking or sightseeing, but there is art and creativity in so many aspects of mundane life. Please, do it. Whatever it is. Do it.

people are saying do it scared, but you also gotta do it alone. you'll miss out on so much you want to do if you wait til someone will do it with you. do it scared and do it alone.

[theophagie]

Kingdom Hearts is shounen-esque in the way it calls upon the Power of Friendship and Connections, but I think it's really nice that it also goes "hey this can be bad if it's the only thing you think you have going on btw". Both Ventus and Sora have "my friends are my power" speeches, but only Ventus has the confidence to outright state that he is a part of it too ("and I'm theirs"), while Sora. Well. "Alone, I'm worthless". It's something you can really feel if you compare KH1 to DDD... His speech in the latter isn't sad or anything, but at the same time it's not exactly triumphant or empowering to the same degree, or at the very least it tells you that huh-oh! The boy's having a shounen mc moment but there are issues beneath it all. Issues which more blatantly surface in KH3, and that are made worse by the various jokes that people around him make at his expense

Which is why it was a really bad move to change Riku's words into "You don't believe that. I know you don't" in english, because no, he truly does... the character arc...... "I believe in you. You won't give up", it's moving that Sora managed to save everyone thanks to the boost of confidence that Riku gave him, but there's also a sad aspect to it. Obviously it's something that ties into the series' themes (the believing in someone, I mean), but at the same time... spare self esteem... some spare self esteem, please... It also does a disservice to their relationship because Riku's trust in Sora is absolute to a fault and he is blindsided by it at times ("Sora could fall into any darkness and swim his way out") (said after Mickey said that Aqua is strong like Sora) ("She's been trapped in hell for 10 years but if she's like Sora then she must be fine") (needless to say, she was not fine) (gee Sora, are you fine?)

(He's not)

[meiliarotten]

Team Fortress 2 Kinktober Time

Day 2: Desk Toy (Toys)

🔞MINORS DNI🔞

Pairings: Spy x Fem!Reader

Summary: Gonna be honest with y’all, I didn’t bother with summaries for a lot of these when I originally posted them on ao3. So- how about a fun fact! This was the first Spy x Reader I ever wrote!

Tags: Overstimulation, toys, praise, kinda exhibitionism?

Word Count: 1.1k

The Masterlist

You gripped the edge of the desk until your knuckles went white, doubling over as another orgasm wracked your body. A sob-like moan ripped from your throat as you clenched around the unforgiving silicon within you, held firmly to the desk with a suction cup at its base. A sweet mix of pleasure and overstimulation washed over you, so thoroughly that you felt like you could drown in it.

And in front of you sat the conductor and sole viewer of the entire lewd display. Spy leaned back in a luxurious, expensive looking chair. He watched you with a steady gaze. The only sign that he was enjoying himself at all was the obvious tent in his pants, which he had ignored in favor of watching you ruin yourself on the fancy toy he had bought.

It was a small but thick dildo made from pitch black silicon, curved in just the right places. Spy had proudly showed off its best aspects, boasting that he had purchased it just for you. Of course, you were eager to try it out with him. You just hadn’t expected it to play out like this.

“Aw, tired?” Spy asked, faux pity in his tone and gaze as he looked you over. “I did not say you could stop though, did I?”

You had lost track of how many times you had orgasmed long ago, and the ache of overstimulation seemed to invade every nerve of your body. However, Spy continued to push you onward. He met your gaze with an expectant look. He wasn’t about to offer you any respite.

So, with some effort, you continued to thrust yourself down onto the toy, ignoring the pervasive ache in your core. Part of you wondered if you would even be able to make yourself come again at this point. You were so wet, your slick ran down the sides of the toy, copious enough to drip down onto the dark wood below.

“Look at you, making such a mess of yourself, ma bonne fille,” Spy said. You flushed at his words, wondering how he could remain so casual while saying such filthy things to you.

You simply moved faster, plunging the toy into yourself with renewed determination. You desperately chased yet another orgasm, trying to focus on your own feelings rather than Spy and his ever attentive gaze. Still, he managed to worm his way into your thoughts.

“Tell me, what are you thinking of right now?” Spy asked, almost as if he could read your mind.

“What?” You asked with a gasp, pausing and allowing the dizzying sensations to ebb away for just a moment.

“What are you thinking about as you bounce on that toy, mon amour?” Spy asked, a bit more firmly this time.

You stammered as you answered, struggling to think clearly, and in the end you were only able to get out one coherent word; “You.”

Spy simply nodded, waving his hand in a gesture that seemed to mean that he wanted you to go on, to be a bit more specific .

“I’m thinking about you,” you gasped, putting in immense effort to speak coherently between moans. “I’m thinking about you finally letting me get off of this damn thing and fucking me yourself!”

Again, all you received in response was a nod, and perhaps a grin if you squinted. It was frustrating to see him looking so calm and collected, despite his obvious arousal. You couldn’t imagine the effort and self control it must have taken for him to ignore his own needs for so long like this. He ordered you to make a mess of yourself over and over again for his viewing pleasure, only to sit there and observe you as if you were a mildly interesting film.

“Spy, please,” you begged, your movements starting to slow down as your strength began to dwindle. “I don’t think I can keep going.”

“Here chérie, let me help,” Spy said, and with that, he stood from his seat for the first time since this ordeal began. He paced around the desk to stand behind you. A gentle hand on your shoulder pulled you so that you were leaning back slightly. You wavered for a moment, trying to look behind you to the edge of the desk.

“Don’t worry dear, I won’t let you fall,” Spy said, his other hand resting on your back, promising to hold you steady.

You took a deep breath, facing forward again and grinding down against the toy when Spy told you to. A pang of genuine pleasure was felt through the haze of overstimulation when hit your g-spot. A choked moan tore from your throat as you thrust yourself down, focusing on that sensitive area.

“Ah bonne, that is a good spot, no?” Spy said, laughing softly as he heard your moans reach a sudden peak.

“Oh god, yes,” you said, moving faster with renewed strength and vigor.

“Oui, there’s the enthusiasm I wanted to see!” Spy said, beginning to caress your body. You sighed at the feeling of gloved hands traveling over your bare skin, teasing at your breasts and other erogenous areas. Eventually, his hands came to rest on your hips, gently guiding your movements.

“You’re doing so very well. Are you going to come soon?” He asked, close enough that his breath could be felt against the back of your neck. It sent a shiver down your spine.

“Yes, oh fuck!” you became almost unintelligible as you desperately ground your hips downward, chasing your climax.

“That’s right chérie, come for me, just like that,” Spy said, chuckling at your rapidly dwindling control. One of his arms weaved around your waist, his hand reaching down to rub at your clit. The rich feeling of leather clad fingers proved to be enough to tip you over the edge.

Once again, you writhed on the toy, your hands scrabbling to anchor yourself on smooth wood, eventually clutching the edges of the desk. Spy caressed you and pressed soothing kisses to the nape of your neck as you rode out your orgasm, and when you had finally come down from the high, he carefully hoisted your body up and off of the toy. Almost immediately, you collapsed onto your side, legs dangling off the side of the desk.

"Très bien. You’ve done such a good job for me, ma belle chérie,” he crooned, still petting and traversing the curves of your body with his hands.

“Thank you,” you stammered, relishing the feeling of leather gloves smoothing over your skin.

“However…”

You didn’t even get the chance to register that last word when you were suddenly rolled onto your back to face Spy, barely managing to hold yourself upright by your still trembling arms. He grinned down at you, and you saw the lust in his eyes, the lust that he had been keeping tight reins on throughout this whole ordeal, until now. You watched with an intoxicating mix of eagerness and trepidation as he unzipped his fly.

“Surely, you can handle just one more round, darling?”

[borgialucrezia]

omg i read blood and beauty and its sequel last week bc it had been on my reading list for months!!!! and is this a safe space where i can just say that it hit the nail on the head for all of the borgias without unnecessarily vilifying one or the other (i mean basically considering how most writers hold some vendetta against juan) and i loved how u could really see lucrezia's growth from her childhood innocence to being forced to mature and grow up AND obsessed w any media that portrays cesare as ferocious and sharp and ruthless and juan finally got his flowers bc they obv showed his flaws but without making him the big bad evil when instead he also started off a kid but ended up being dragged to the bottom of the river by his father's ambitions 😔

i wish the 2nd book had progressed a little further to lucrezia's childbirth bed death so the story could come full circle and sometimes the pov switching was confusing for me but aside from that, the borgias will always be famous to meeeeeeeee and i love a good book that portrays them well!

ive been on the hunt for more borgia-centric books so if u have any recs......... <3

zaynab omg hello!!!!! i was kinda waiting for someone to talk to me about this book because it's my absolute #1 favorite historical fiction book <3

i'm so happy you enjoyed reading it! the way miss dunant brilliantly humanized the borgia family by creating striking and compelling narratives for them was truly *chef's kiss*. it's safe to say that her portrayal of them has even made her my favorite author as well (and made me want to check out her other work, lol). the way she made them so sympathetic is truly admirable to me, which is also a standout aspect of the book as we manage to develop a deep understanding of their motivations and complexities through her nuanced portrayal, you know? i say it could've been done more when it came to lucrezia, as she is truly one of the most compelling figures in history (and my all-time favorite). i'm not criticizing dunant for lucrezia's portrayal!! but it's more like i wished she added more of lucrezia's lore...but alas! other books did her more justice, i must say!

my favorite theme of the book is the immense love the pope has for his children. the way [spoiler] juan was taken too soon from him is profoundly melancholic and it added emotional depth to the story and it highlighted the power of a father's love and the devastating impact of losing a beloved child. also, YEAH, the book felt like a breath of fresh air when it came to juan borgia! he was unfairly demonized with no reliable narrative and mostly used as a prop to hype up cesare at his expense *yawns*… but dunant made him an individual, likable character in the book, countering the unjust treatment he always receives. her portrayal of him allowed us to discover the vulnerability and sensitivity that lie beneath his outwardly arrogant and handsome demeanor. we really can't help but feel deep empathy and pity for him as we read about his inner struggles and emotional depth. he became a truly compelling and sympathetic figure within the borgia family, especially when his death is met with cruelty and brutality. the tragic nature of his demise evokes an even stronger sense of empathy and sorrow in the narrative of juan losing himself and being overwhelmed by the heavy task he was entrusted with…

and cesare, of course, was portrayed as that sulking, bitter, cruel but incredibly intelligent, cunning, and charming guy! lowkey a recurring theme for him, but the flavor in making him extra dark in the slayest way possible made me insane in a very positive way! you should watch "los borgia (2006)" for a delicious portrayal of cesare (and personally, i think it's the most historically accurate).

more books? i'd recommended emma lucas's 'lucrezia borgia' and maria bellonci's 'life and times of lucrezia borgia' - both are biographies btw! their work is a solid read, very unbiased without any manipulation of the letters about/between the siblings to push certain narratives (hello sarah bradford!!), well-researched, sheds light on the family's complex relationships and their rise to power, and is highly sympathetic to all of them. you won't be disappointed!!

for historical fiction, i'd recommend mario puzo's 'the family' ...you will never be disappointed after all it's by the dude who wrote the godfather!

i hope you enjoy them <333 i'll be waiting for your feedback :)

[alicepao13]

Hudson and Rex S02E13 - In Pod We Trust

This is a serious episode. Somewhat.

I can't get over the fact that they all want to listen to true crime podcast when not only are they with the police but they deal with murders all the time.

What the hell, dude? Do you not have a home?

Rex: I don't know what the fuck a podcast is but it allows me to eat Charlie's burger while he's distracted so it must be good.

Me neither. Although, in S3 we learn that Charlie had followed the news of a case of a notorious serial killer when he was like in high school, so I guess it's the true crime aspect of it.

"How did he get up there? That dog is a ninja". You haven't seen anything yet.

This is a better cops-done-wrong episode than the one that was written during the BLM movement period. The latter was basically trying to placate the audience and was presenting cops reacting unrealistically as they find out that they're part of the problem, coming off as disingenuous. Cops would not react that way. Still, it's Hudson and Rex, so I don't expect much of a balanced script in terms of that, and I've seen other (bigger and more expensive) crime shows go off the deep end when when the time came to write such episodes. They do try to handle difficult issues respectfully, I'll give them that. However, this is still a cop show. I mean, if you're ashamed that you're making a cop show... don't make it?

lol Jesse saying that the case files from 20 years ago haven't been digitized because they're ancient, in front of Joe who was already a cop back then. "I think you've just bought yourself a one-way ticket to those ancient archives". That's fair.

"I went [to the crime scene] to make sure that you didn't bury the truth, again". There's a misunderstanding. See, Charlie is a good white cop™.

Hi, Vicky, who later got a redemption storyline a lot of characters would have dreamed of.

Rex, huh?

Protestors using the imaginative slogan "Do your jobs". Awful. Do yours, writers.

"But... But... they still love me, right?"

Joe: "We have to be really careful with the optics on this one". You've put an innocent in jail, I think you should care more about that.

She totally said SJDP instead of SJPD. Oops.

Dude, I know Charlie is white but you don't have to tell him a hundred times that this case is a hot potato.

"If you come peacefully, you'll be treated fairly," he says to a man who was wrongly incarcerated for 20 years!

Booking the black guy, releasing the white police guy. I mean... I'd have asked the question too.

Well, that lasted all of 2 minutes. You can argue and have tension for like 5 minutes. It won't kill you guys.

Yeah, I wouldn't trust him just for that. I mean, that was 20 years ago. During which Joe continued climbing the ranks inside the police, which means that he could have easily stopped caring about justice more than he could afford to.

This show's attempts to write some of the jargon and phrases that would otherwise be said in a proper police procedural but can't be said on this "family show" is hilarious. I assume we can't say "ass"? Like, I have no issue believing the actress in her role, I think she's good, but the dialogue...

Enjoying Charlie's on-screen suffering once again.

Joe, like 10 minutes ago: We have to be careful about the optics in this case. Charlie: Nah, I have a murder to solve.

I bet Charlie is reminiscing the good old days where suspects were intimidated by the police right about now.

"You think I murdered Ty for ratings?" People have killed for 20 bucks.

Police corruption in the SJPD is rampant. The only clean cops are our cops lol

Okay, you need at least a second paperclip, amateur. Also, in the second shot, the paperclip is not blue.

I like that line. And she's partially right. Except for the whole murder thing.

I can't help thinking that Joe was right not to get involved further back then. That way, he kept his job, he survived a toxic environment, and even managed to rise to a rank where he can now make an actual difference. And he kept his soul. I'm sure if we were to delve deeper into it, we'd have seen the cost of that on his conscience, but it still led him to where he is now. And where he is now is not a bad place. Camilla cannot understand any of that because she hasn't been nor will she ever be in that position.

Well, turns out they did all this for nothing as Tyler had recorded his own confession and it just arrived to Phoebe a few days after solving the case.

Yeah... I don't think Romeo would want to see a cop within a hundred yards ever again. But we have to get our happy cheesy ending.

[glitterrosesnzz]

Thoughts on V/enti's cat allergies?

oh my god v/enti's allergies-

it's so good precisely because it makes zero sense. he's made out of wind why would he suffer from allergies. i think the allergies were like an accidental thing... he could probably get rid of them if he like, remade his body again, but he's either afraid of messing up in some other way, or just genuinely isn't as bothered as he pretends to be by it (it makes him feel more human... or its a snzfucker v/enti situation if you prefer that hslfkdsjflksjdfs)

the fact allergy medicine canonically doesn't work on him drives me insane btw. i've never forgotten that one phonecall to him during that summer island event. that lives rent free in my mind.

since there is like an aspect of magic to his body i do think medicine that works on him could be made if it's combined with like... leaves from the tree in windrise. whether he just doesn't know that or doesn't want to suggest it to people because it'd be Suspicious for a human to require something like that, idk.

also i know a lot of people hc that he copied the allergies from the n/ameless b/ard but honestly i think it's a lot funnier if it's just a Him thing. like he got chased by a cat while he was a tiny windsprite once and it left a mark on him to the point he developed allergies when he got a human form.

i also think that he's slightly embarrassed by it?? albeit i think the only people he would try to possibly hide it from would be like, J/ean and D/iluc...

He also probably downplays it a bit.... considering he outright accepted playing at the literal cat bar... i'm still thinking about the fact that someone there gave him allergy medicine. like... he was being so obviously miserable that they just. handed him medicine, which MUST be expensive in this universe... i WISH we could've seen his reaction to that tbh. i have a feeling he might've initially tried to turn the offer down.

WHICH ALSO. IT'D BE SUSPICIOUS THAT ALLERGY MEDICINE DOESN'T WORK ON HIM RIGHT??? SO AFTER THAT V/ENTI WOULD'VE HAD TO PRETEND THAT HIS SYMPTOMS WERE MORE MANAGEABLE WHEN IN REALITY THEY WERE STILL GETTING WORSE DUE TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE- HELLO???

no wonder V/enti resorted to hiding on the roof oh my god he probably had to keep like,,, sneaking out to have lil sneezing fits so that people wouldn't get suspicious about medicine not working on him.

(and also to keep there from being any collateral damage from anemo energy but y'know that's a given)

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

Ode to grief #4

A long time ago, a man lay quietly in his room, dying slowly. The room was sparce but expensively furnished. One could tell he was a gentleman and quite learned, for there were books in the shelf, inkstones on the desk and heirloom swords hanging from the wall. He was a stranger to this land, and had not been there for long. The house and all its servants were a gift from his wealthy patron. 

His mysterious illness had all the doctors in the land plucking their beards in frustration. He was young, hale, had not suffered wound nor chill, yet his strength waned day by day. One evening, he found that he could not walk. The next morning he could not rise. Now he was one foot in the grave. Neither food nor drink had passed his lips in ten days and he lacked the strength to even speak. 

“Fear not, my good man! The days of sickness are behind you! Salvation is at hand!” 

The dying man roused a little from his stupor and cast a bleary eye about the room. Standing in the gloomy doorway was a strange apparition. On its back it carried a large, rectangular box wrapped in broad-cloth, it was dressed in woman’s clothes, but no woman was ever so gaudily painted—or had such a ridiculous, drooping moustache. 

“You are in the presence of the illustrious Musician of Yan—Gao Jianli!” cried the man in drag. His voice was bright, loud and extremely grating on the ears. “I suppose you’ve heard of me. Oh, who am I kidding, of course you have! My music can heal the sick, make the lame dance and allow the blind to see—or so I’ve heard.” 

The man who claimed to be Gao Jianli threw open the windows, causing the dying man to wince. He was small and his movements were quick and vigorous, like that of a chicken pecking at feed. He had evidently been consuming all the garlic and chives Yan had to offer, because his breath was fit to rouse the dead. The dying man was not unconvinced that this was just some charlatan who had wondered in off the streets. Either way, he could not care enough to chase him out. 

“Gao Jianli” was not in a hurry help the dying man, or even play music. Instead, he pulled over a low table and helped himself to the dying man’s lunch, gobbling down the food like a hog at the trough.

“This stuff’s alright,” he remarked, in between slurps of wine, “but it’s not as good as the dinners the king serves me when I play at the palace. Oh well, it’s probably the best you can manage, for a man of your station.” 

With great effort, the dying man turned his back to him and closed his eyes. He detested the sun. He detested noise. He was sick to his heart of hearts and wished nothing more than to snuff himself out, like a candle that had burned to its end. 

There was a loud crash behind him, followed by a bitten off oath. The man did not bother turning around. Gao Jianli had pulled one of the decorative swords off the wall—the big, long ceremonial one, by the sound of it. 

“Wow, this is a cool sword!” Gao Jianli giggled, “I bet you three silvers I can cut your desk in half with one swing.” 

The dying man did not dignify that with a response. He was fairly certain that ridiculous little man would not even be able to unsheathe the sword, since the entire length of it exceeded his arm span. 

“Eh, what the…?” 

Told you. 

“Hey, you’re barely taller than me. I bet you can’t pull this sword out either!”

Wrong. 

“How come your arms are so short? I thought swordsmen were supposed to tall, with long arms and big muscles.”

It’s not about size. It’s about skill. 

“How disappointing! I was expecting the famous Swordsman of Wei to be a fine figure of man, worthy of his great name, but all I get is this sad little lump.” He put on an exaggerated feminine voice, just to make it clear which aspect of the swordsman’s physique he was insulting; “I must say, Sir, I’m very disappointed. I was expecting a lot more to play with.”  The dying man was getting tired of this inane jabbering, “you…are… Gao Jianli?” he croaked. 

“So my mother tells me!” 

“Prove…it…” the man said through gritted teeth, “play…something.”

“Fine, fine. I don’t usually do requests like this, but I’ll make an exception since you’re clearly not long for this world. I do hope the King invites me to your funeral, Mister Wei Swordsman, I charge extra for eulogies…” 

He picked up his long box and unwrapped it. The instrument he pulled out did not fill the dying man with any confidence. It was an old, shabby zhu, the body was without lettering or ornaments and only the silk strings were new. 

Gao Jianli placed the instrument upon his knees, rolled up his sleeves with slow, dignified grace…and proceeded to hammer violently at the zhu with both hands, assaulting the dying man’s ears with the most god-awful racket he had ever heard in his life. 

“Stop that!” the dying man snarled, and burst into a fit of coughing at the exertion. 

“How’s that for some music!” Gao Jianli howled with laughter, “you get what you pay for!” 

“Get… out…you filthy swindler!” 

“What shocking language! I don’t know how things are done in Wei, but here in the Kingdom of Yan, we are inclined to treat our guests with a little more civility.” 

The dying man collapsed back down onto the bed and squeezed his eyes shut. If he could not make the man leave, he resolved to deny him the pleasure of giving him any reaction. 

Gao Jianli let out another horrible, juvenile giggle, and edged himself closer to the bed. He had stuffed two, large, round somethings down the front of his shirt to give the appearance of being buxom. He pulled one out—revealing it to be a mantou wrapped in bamboo leaves—and took a large bite. How he was still hungry was anyone’s guess. 

“Mmgh mufff phughdg muhmfff,” Gao Jianli swallowed noisily “--wow, this mantou is so soft, white and delicious. A man would be content to nibble on them all day!” He took several more bites, and said slyly, “what a shame, this pair is not as nice as the ones that belong to your mother…” 

The man’s eyes snapped open, “what did you say?” 

“Didn’t you hear me?” the little fiend cackled, “I said your mother’s got a nice, fat, pair of—” 

This was the last straw. The dying man, who had previously lacked the energy to even speak, suddenly leapt out of bed with a roar. Gao Jianli, who had been expecting this, threw the chalice of wine at his face. While the dying man was spluttering and wiping his eyes, the musician took off at a dead sprint with his zhu tucked under one arm. The sound of his maniacal laughter could be heard echoing down the hall.  The dying man kicked the discarded sword into his hand, unsheathed it by swinging the scabbard behind his back, and took off after the scoundrel, weapon in hand and murder in his eyes. 

Gao Jianli glanced behind him, did a double-take, and turned as white as a sheet, “n-now wait a second!” 

“Die!” 

“Look, I can explain—oh, fuck—guards! Guards!”

“Stop running, you bastard!”  

“Help! This maniac is trying to kill me!” 

The two men dashed out into the garden, and began to run circles around a large cherry tree. It was hardly an exciting, high-speed chase; one was an out-of-shape zhu player, the other was a weak, half-starved swordsman with a weapon he could barely lift, but both made up for it with sheer enthusiasm. 

An on-looker might have been surprised to see that the musician was still holding onto his zhu. A normal man would have tossed it aside, or perhaps used it to block his assailant. Gao Jianli clutched the zhu to his bosom like it was his own child. It did not even occur to him to ditch the dead weight, he would have sooner parted with his own arm. 

The swordsman swung, missed, and swung again. On the third swing, the blade struck the tree trunk and became lodged inside the wood. The swordsman let out a a howl of frustration and leaped on top of the musician, pummelling him with his fists. Gao Jianli shrieked in agony—mainly because he had dropped his zhu—and retaliated with a swift, hard kick below the belt. 

They were so busy duking it out, neither man realised they had acquired an audience until a high-pitched, stringent voiced shouted rather pointedly, “all hail the King of Yan!” 

The men froze mid-blow and slowly looked up into the disapproving face of a court eunuch. Behind him stood the king and his royal entourage, staring at them in polite disbelief. There was a mad scramble as the men climbed off each other and hastily pressed their foreheads into the dirt. 

 “Good afternoon, Your Highness!”

“O, mighty King of Yan! Please forgive me for my gross impropriety! I—I don’t know what came over me. I will accept any punishment you see fit—”  

“It’s good to see you’re up and about, Jing Ke, we had begun to despair of you ever recovering,” said the king. “Gao Jianli, your methods are, ah, unorthodox but no one can deny that they are effective.” 

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Gao Jianli said, “I had long suspected that the Gentleman of Wei’s illness was not caused by a physical disease, but stemmed from deep, emotional anguish. He had fallen into despair after losing his own king and countrymen to the tyrant of Qin. Pretty songs and empty platitudes would have done little to ease his spirit. I thought the best way to help him would be to deliver a sudden, dramatic shock to his system. I can only pray I have not overstepped…I hold Minister Jing to the highest regard and I have long admired his skill and courage.” 

“I…” Jing Ke, the swordsman of Wei was absolutely speechless. He sat up and clasped the musician’s arms tightly.  “Gao Jianli, I…” Jing Ke said in a choked-up voice, “I…I am going to faint,” and immediately made good on that promise.

“Oh my god! Someone get a doctor! Oh no, oh no, oh no—You better not die on me! I’m serious! I’m going to get in so much trouble…”  

In the ensuring commotion, the last mantou bounced out of Gao Jianli’s shirt and rolled off into a bush somewhere, never to be seen again. Thus began a passionate friendship, although one would quite understand if the history books never made any mention of it.

---------------------- Notes:

haha so this is a gender flipped version of the feeding scene from the Emperor's Shadow + foreshadowing of Jing Ke's failed assassination. I've been giving you guys a lot of angst so here's a little monty python skit...that is really sad and bittersweet in hindsight!

i wanted to flesh out gao jianli's character a little bit more. I've always intended for him to be very insightful and a little bit of a troll. I like to think there's two versions of him, the happy, carefree prankster who died with Jing Ke, and this brittle, sorrowful man who is unmoored, indecisive and struggling to honor the memory of the man he loved.

I couldn't manage to squeeze it in bc it messed with the flow, but Gao Jianli is in drag because he was out performing some musical theatre in the streets! I like the idea of him being this maverick performer who just doesn't shy away from "lowbrow" art. this is based on a play in the Six Dynasties period, called The Dancing Singing Woman (踏謡娘), one of the first-recorded plays where the female role is played by a man, and it is a precursor to later chinese opera.

omg this is the first time jing ke actually gets a pov! mr not-appearing-in-the-story finally appears!

[visd3stele]

Well a jurdan fanfic of post exile, what if Jude reclaimed her identity as Jude Duarte and has her social security back and has gone back to college in the mortal world. She’s beginning to enjoy the mortal world working part time, in fact she has a date with a nice human boy. Cardan interrupts the date and whisks her off to elfhame.

Long ago she lived here. She had a mother who looked like her and a father with soft, round ears who loved her without swords or blood or pain. Once upon a time, she was just Jude Duarte, a happy, bubbly human girl with no ambitions of knighthood or dreams of armor.

The girl she became in Elfhame was ashamed of it. The weakness, the vulnerability, the neediness. The girl she was now burried that shame deep down, where the crown of a queen of nothing stood quirked and bent over itself.

Jude has been in the human realm for over a year. She spent the first months in rage and denial. She seethed at the sight of her sister thriving in a world that wasn't even hers, having a job at the nearby cafè with her girlfriend, letting her show her around the magicless magic of the humans.

But then, Vivi pushed her to clean the house. Her room was a mess and anywhere she went, Jude left behind a trail of scrunched papers – letters she never sent – empty pizza cartons and broken water bottles. She wanted to use the glass to make a sword. It took her older sister a whole month to make her drop the idea.

As she was cleaning, Jude found a drawer filled with things that used to belong to the Duarte family: photo albums, birth certificates, serious documents her young brain couldn't understand but vividly remembered being told by her parents to not touch.

It snaped something in her brain. That night, when Vivi came back from work, she found Jude on the couch, hugging herself inside a blanket and covered in paper tissues. She held the remote to her chest, nearly breaking it as she watched a movie on the tv. Something she refused vehemently since day one.

"I refuse to indulge in such laziness. There must be something productive to do even around here." She'd say. But today Jude found her mother's diary and managed to work the tv just enough to put on her favorite show.

Ever since, Jude became more tolerant regarding her human nature. She even agreed to let Vivi sign her up to college to receive higher human education. And even though she was behind in every aspect, she managed to understand just enough to pass with mediocre grades.

That's where she met Caleb. A nice human boy of her age, with way lower grades, but a "sweet athletic schoolarship" and a genuine soul. Jude was certain he couldn't lie, but not in the ways a fae couldn't, making up for the forced honesty with irony, sarcasm, half-truths and hurtfull acts. No. This boy was simply as pure as a ray of sunshine.

Jude and Caleb started going out and he introduced her to his friend group. They took a liking to the her immediately. One of them, a girl with short, colorful hair and a corset to match it, offered to go shopping with her. "You look way more interesting than you dress. Let's find your style."

She even joined the sparring club at college, having the teacher beg her to participate in contests in less than a month. "There's no way this is the first time you touch a sword, kiddo." It wasn't, of course, but no one needs to know that.

Soon, Jude even found a job. Caleb worked as a scullion* at an extremely fancy restaurant. It was nothing compared with the riches of Elfhame, obviously, but still much more ellegant and expensive than anything Jude saw in the mortal land so far. Her boyfriend talked to the manager and in no time Jude Duarte was hired as a waitress.

Some days she found it sordid work. Perhaps she did enjoy the crown more than she was willing to admit. But before that Jude wanted to be a noble knight. Serve her country, her king. Serving food and drinks to entitled humans was a far cry from it, but she could use the money for greater purposes.

Jude became interested in politics and changed majors from the easy one Vivi picked from her. She put her brain to work and landed top of her class.

One day, as she and Caleb went out to celebrate their anniversary, Jude realized with no hint of horror or disgust that she actually loved the human realm and the life she built for herself there.

And in true Cardan fashion, he had to ruin her happiness just when she found it.

The High King flew in circles over their picnic carpet, cofusing Caleb's mortal brain that struggled to make sense of the undisguised fae magic.

"What the hell!" Jude was on her feet before Cardand even had the chance to land. "You have some nerve to show up in my home."

"Your home? Such a disgracefull downfall, Your Majesty."

"What is going on?" Caleb's intervetion seemed to shake Cardan out of his mocking cordiality. He spent so much time searching for his queen, trying to reach out, expecting her praise for his clever wordplay. And instead his wife – by the laws of Elfhame and nature itself – was entertaining another, a human no less.

"I have not given you the right to speek!"

"Don't talk to him like that! You have no title here. If you want to play king, go back where you belong."

"Where we belong, you mean, my queen."

Jude took several steps forward, leaving behind a scared and confused Caleb. Her eyes were stinging with unshed tears, cheeks reddening with fury and something else. Something her heart tried to confess, but her stubborn, prideful brain refused to accept.

She told herself seeing her husband again meant nothing. Their marriage means nothing – in the human realm, at least. But facing him now, touching foreheads, lips mere inches from his, Jude caught herself longing for her old life. For Cardan. His touch burning her skin once more.

And her feelings only angered her more. "Your queen? Your queen!? You betrayed me, you useless, stupid, brainless..." Jude was hitting him, screaming and yelling for the whole park to hear. Caleb tried to interfere, his bewilderment forgotten and the sight of his girlfriend hurting so much. But one snap of Cardan's fingers and he fell to the ground in a deep slumber that'll wipe Jude out of his memory once he wakes up.

"What did you do to him?" She tried to run to her boyfriend, but Cardan caught her elbow and returned them both to Elfhame.

"Calm yourself. Your lover shall live. He will think of you as merely a beautiful dream, but he'll live."

Jude didn't answer immediately. She took in her surroundings, pretending to care about the changes that overtook the palace. It looked as miserable as Cardan felt without her.

"I though I'm banished."

"Until the royal party pardons you! And you call me the idiot. You are High Queen, Jude! You could have returned any time you wanted!"

Jude crossed her arms. "Perhaps I didn't want to come back. You have no right to snatch me away from life."

"This is your life!"

"You ought to take me back."

"I will do no such thing. Why can't you accept you don't want that? You want to rule, you want me!"

He wasn't wrong. Once she stepped foot in Elfhame again, its magic greeted her like an old friend. Like a part of her soul she forcefully threw away. A mother she abandoned.

The faerie realm was part of her as much as she was part of it, and now that she was back, she could deny it no more.

That doesn't mean she would make things easy for Cardan. He might lover her, he might have not betray her per se, but he still showed up and kidnapped her.

"I'll stay," she said. "But with one condition..."

...And their game began again.

[felmonth]

Hey I was wondering can you teach me to draw I'm trying but I always get frustrated and give up and stop for awhile I'm okie with drawing a sketch book but I wanna get better on draw on my phone sorry I don't exactly have a fancy set up.....

[There is no pressure I truly understand if you can not but thank you for being inspiring artist to me]

Hi!!

Lately I have received questions, sorry for the delay in responding, I barely use the networks....

First of all, it is a canonical event to get frustrated, cry, give up, in drawing, it is completely normal, we all go through that process, I still go through that process of frustration and I want to cry about it but hey, you have to take things. calmly….

It is normal to feel this way because what we have in mind does not come out or we rush into the facts that we will draw like professionals the first time but no… things in drawing are with constant practice (I will not lie to you I never practiced anatomy…or I practiced something specifically, but if you watch videos and draw sketches daily, believe me you will give some improvement in the drawing, you can have a better line).

As for the emotions when drawing, maybe… you need a break from drawing. In my case, when I go through these frustrating things and give up drawing, I always give myself a lot of time to come back or even watch a series that makes me draw again. I watched an anime called "New Game" that deals with drawing in some chapters and I must say that it motivated me a little to want to draw, or also play a game that interests you, read a story, dance to your favorite music or listen to your music list, do something different from drawing to clear your mind of everything and when you are ready, try it again but more calmly since otherwise you may get frustrated to the point of wanting to abandon drawing and we don't want that…

Secondly, you don't need a very expensive or "fancy" device or setup, it doesn't matter, you can draw on paper, draw on cardboard, on the phone, on a PC with a mouse, draw on walls… I don't. I know… it's not necessary to have technological equipment or something big to draw great.

I don't know if I can help you in this aspect but since you said that you want to draw more on the phone, I recommend what many use and that is… "IbisPaint X" to draw, it can be very useful, watch tutorials either on YouTube or Tiktok , there will always be a person willing to teach you the basics.

Thirdly, taking advantage of the fact that you draw more in notebooks, use your own sketches to learn to draw on the phone.

Take pictures of your drawings and transfer them to the drawing app to draw better, it can be relaxing and not so frustrating. EVEN IF you don't trace drawings from the internet…or if you do…give credit, if the creator of that drawing is not there, don't upload it, keep it as something personal without uploading it to a social network, keep it as drawing practice for you.

Another tip, if you don't want to use your sketches from the notebook to transfer them to the app, then on the phone screen (I assume you draw with your finger) makes crazy lines, be they curved, straight, it just makes scratches on the app canvas of drawing and if you manage to make a small drawing, better, because you learn little by little, I never learned to draw on the phone so I admire you and I wish you good luck in it, I would like to see how you progress in this sense with the drawings from your phone but I will have to wait for your progress perhaps in the future when you feel confident.

And I leave this as an extra… I must say that I honestly don't know how to draw with structured anatomy because I actually draw directly through shaky lines but for some occasions, in this case… to draw my Oc Tom, I need this type of structures For this I use geometric figures, circles, cubes, squares… so yes! I leave this to you to guide you so that you can at least draw your own character, I highly recommend Pinterest, that application will inspire you (although be warned, you will get addicted to the ideas so be careful haha, you can stay there for hours)

And…..yes, the hand I made in the drawing looks like a box of potato chips haha, that was the idea…

(I repeat that I am not the right person to explain these things because I don't know how to explain myself well and I tend to be very negative and demotivating but I hope I have helped you in some way… -cries- …)

Bye! take care of yourself!

Drink water and eat well, neighbor, good luck with your drawings, I hope it goes well for you and I hope to see your art in the future.

[anthonybialy]

Lazy Fair

A president who doesn’t touch anything is the republic’s best hope.  But self-control is not a typical characteristic of applicants.  Americans who tire of being groped must rely on conditioning to dodge handsy executives.  Harassment doesn’t become legal when a politician lingers on a hug too long.

As with babysitters not letting charges juggle drills, the absence of destruction is tough to notice but crucial to sense.  A term would ideally be an actively passive process.  Sadly, interviewers are not about to hire some CEO who trusts them to negotiate.

Nostalgia junkies who miss the ancient era of 2019 are really just longing for Donald Trump to again be useless.  An all-time bluffer’s emblematic ineptitude despite rather brassy claims to the contrary constitute his version of effectiveness, which is to commandeer the bus wheel in order to drive it classier.  It’s just like how success at winning an election differs from whether or not the person who receives the most electoral votes may not be smart or good or talented.

The insatiable urge to grab everything for the alleged benefit of the fondles is far from the only thing Trump shares in common with a Clinton.  A horndog president too busy seducing a zaftig intern to do the same with the economy offered the best possible precedent in an era where nobody minds their own business.

Broke and busted Americans miss aspects the last president couldn’t manage to muck up.  It wasn’t for lack of trying.  But Trump’s inability to molest everything was a gift of an unanswered prayer to himself.  Doing things never works out for him despite the most unearned assurances in civilization’s history.  The person now ripping off perception prepared with a long career of pretending to be a corporate titan as he lost money spinning roulette wheels openly rigged in the house’s favor.

Business was better before taking on a president who thinks hassling everyone but shoplifters assists the economy.  Credit something a different false savior claimed to manifest when mere existence got it done.  The free market works fantastically when clumsy amateur mechanics don’t attempt needless repairs.  Relative prosperity must’ve been spurred by their savior laying his very normal-sized hands upon it.  Inspiring people to get rich by slapping names on trash is about as useful.

All thriving takes is enough restraint to stop printing money.  I know it’s tempting to think you can get rich by having more.  But even the Goonies realized they couldn’t get away with running the presses.  The Treasury’s currency is a half-step above counterfeit.  Handing it out makes it worthless, which is one of those mean things like ice cream being unhealthy.

Explaining to the incumbent that not everything wanted happens isn’t going to sink in now.  After all, this is not just someone who’s spent a lifetime in politics but specifically Biden.  The commander-in-chief has enough trouble understanding how neckties work.  How can you get something that’s wider then one’s head around one’s neck?  Whoever dresses him must explain what’s happening every morning.

Fuel expenses do something as remarkable as the commodity itself making cars go.  All a president has to do is nothing for the cost to become reasonable.  It’s not for lack of gasoline conglomerates trying to pump up prices, as they want to sell it at a the same price per volume as plutonium laced with meth.  Meanwhile, those consuming it aspire to pay as much as they would for jugs of emergency water from Save-A-Lot.  I wonder if there’s a way for them to meet in the middle.

A president can take credit for the affordability of traveling around, although the ambulatory don’t have to give it.  Trusting adults like they’ve been given allowances for the first time is inscrutable notion in an era where whoever’s president defines not only the government but the nation.  Those things are supposed to be separate, too, for the record.

Two awful idiots like getting their hands on others as respective manifestations of their grabby philosophies.  Decent people wish it were only figurative.  The prospective final two are different styles of perverts.  The one who thinks you’ll be impressed by what an alpha stud he is if he beds enough peroxide donor recipients equipped with plastic chassis vies with the creep who molests wives other than his own and any children within his greasy reach.  But you do get to pick.

An inept presidency takes different forms.  Based on the rather pushy take on the presidency that’s been trendy this century, failing at grabbing is a triumph for the respect of those the leader hopes to help by intervening.  Doofus ex machina offers a most unsatisfying conclusion.

Lickspittles who worship the previous president for what he does should be thankful for what he didn’t.  After all, the only good parts came when he left things alone.  Praising Trump for aspects that thrived because he failed to toy with them sums him up in a way cult enlistees can’t grasp.  The best businessman of all time couldn’t figure out how to violate every aspect, and he naturally demands credit.

A mature nation needs a different kind of toddler president.  This hasn’t been a place for grownups despite time advancing indifferently.  Anyone with wisdom at any age avoids the current variety which throws tantrums around or past the age of 80.  The ability to restrain shrieking is common amongst many humans in kindergarten who don’t go on to become president.

Thorough adults should seek a presidential option who treats the nation as a visit to a childless aunt’s house.  Respect the wishes of someone who acquired fragile items.  Refraining from smashing like a big boy is part of becoming head of state.  The fact it’s not explains why the state heads the wrong way.

[dragonfly0808]

*Spoilers* Snippets of Chapter 27 Cause it’s gonna be the longest Chapter I’ve written so far

So, I’m super excited for Chapter 27 and since it’s just so freaking long, I decided to post a few snippets here to hype it up.

DO NOT READ IF YOU’RE NOT UP TO DATE PLS

The strange serene daze that had come with gaining her Enchantix had worn off, which was good since the girls had said it was a bit creepy, but Flora still felt a bit more stable than she had before.

But that didn’t mean she was fully alright. She knew she was different now… maybe even more so than the other girls that had also gained Enchantix. She looked to one of her plants, slowly tilting her head, watching it wilt and die, then she tilted her head the other way and the plant recovered it’s original color before becoming almost unnaturally bright.

——

She clung to him and he held her through the storm.

——

“Do you know why I became a Specialist Tecna?”

“No.”

“At first I didn’t want to. I only became a guard at the castle so… so none of my sisters would have to do it. In Eraklyon one child per family has to serve as a guard and… I knew I couldn’t let it be one of my sisters. It started as an obligation but… I fell in love with all of it. The training and different methods and every aspect… I love it. I love… protecting people. It’s what I do. So… who am I if I can’t-” he broke off, burying his head in his knees.

——

Aisha frowned when she pushed the door open however, “Dammit, it’s pouring.” She held a hand out of the safety of the doorframe, catching droplets of water.

Nabu smirked, saying nothing as he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him, running out and straight into the rain, almost tripping before making it to the white, wet sand of the beach.

Aisha stopped right before the waves could hit her dress, Nabu didn’t care however, cackling as the seawater hit his expensive shoes.

“Wha- seriously?” She asked with a small smile.

“Come on! Gotta enjoy the Silver Moon right?” He finished by tossing some of the water up at her.

She gasped, “It’s gonna be like that? Oh you are so done!” She kicked her shoes off and went after him, kicking up water at each other as they giggled.

Aisha managed to trip and push him into the low tides, almost all of his suit, in a similar green shade as her dress, getting soaked, but Nabu didn’t seem to mind, grabbing her wrist, trying to pull her in.

She managed to slip from his grasp, laughing as she made her way further down the shore to get away. He managed to catch up with her, wrapping his arms around her waist and letting himself fall back, dragging her down with him, “Hold your breath cause down we go!” He yelled.

——

“Genevieve… I told you those stories when you were a kid as a warning. I hoped that you would understand the price that comes with this kind of magic… perhaps I should’ve never told you the history of our family… let you believe I was your father. You were always too curious about dark magic, too ambitious… but you know what this magic does. You must know that it is wrong, that this is crossing a line that should not be crossed. Please Genevieve. Please… don’t do this.”

[bugbyte]

So it's been almost a week

And I figured I would make an update about the pain + medical marijuana situation, for science or the curious or whatever.

So it's technically been 5 days and not a full week, but who's counting?

I failed to read the directions on the actual packaging (lol) and it turns out I could have been taking a capsule like every 4 hours. I have not been doing that because I would burn through everything I have in a week, and the state limits the maximum amount I can buy in any given 30 days. So that would probably be incredibly effective but again, this whole process is incredibly expensive. That bit makes me angry, and I've effectively been radicalized into a pro-federal-legalization person, but that's another post for another day.

So! Even though I've been taking a fraction of the dose I could be taking, I have noticed major changes, and the thing that astonishes me is that all of my pain, day to day, is down significantly. Even if I didn't take anything at all that day.

Basically: part of the (many) problems in my shoulder is that my upper trapezius just. Never ever relaxes. I've had injections, I've done PT, I have a TENS unit I stick on from time to time and absolutely nothing has made that particular muscle relax even a little. Most of the time it feels like a red-hot tennis ball jammed in my shoulder. It has been at least this bad since March of 2023, until now, December. The morning after I took my first dose of MMJ, the very first thing I noticed on waking up was that I could move my arm normally.

For that entire day, I had mostly normal use of my arm, with almost unnoticeable pain. I still have to contend with the problem that it can kind of slide out of place/hang strangely/I have to wrestle it back where it belongs, but the pain aspect? Nearly gone. All I can figure, is that they explained the dose they were giving me had a certain ratio of compounds that are anti-inflammatory to compounds that are pain-reducing (I don't know enough to give details here) and the anti-inflammatory aspect must have been more powerful? Higher dosage? More effective for some reason? Than all of the other prescription things I take supposedly for anti-inflammatory purposes.

Things have been a bit up and down since then, so I suspect I'm going to need to do some adjusting of dose and timing, but I cannot complain about the results I'm getting. I was really, really excited about being able to draw pretty normally, and definitely kind of overdid it. And then I went to cook dinner, and definitely overdid it, and I paid for all that the next day, which was back to a more normal pain level for me.

I was really worried at this point that the first day had been me placebo-effecting myself and it wasn't going to work and oh well at least I tried. But after taking a rest day and continuing to take it before bed, I'm back to a manageable pain level. I spent most of today (Sunday) in the lowest pain I've felt in probably years.

I'm able to draw (as long as I don't push it too hard for now), spend more time up and around, and doing more average tasks around the house. I haven't been able to do these things in a really long time and I keep feeling like this is all fake, and a fluke, and it's going to stop working and I'll be back down in pain hell. I keep giving myself the side eye every day, like, is this real? Are you fooling yourself? But... I think it's working.

I've got a ways to go still to get back some regular functioning -- the aforementioned joints slipping out of place is a major thing. But if I can keep my average pain level to what I've got now, or lower? I can get back to PT and working on muscle strength to help keep my joints where they belong. I don't know if I'll ever get back to doing everything I used to do before this decline, but at least I have hope that things can be better.

[edwinkjayesh]

Music Player in 2023... Why Sony?

The convenience of Bluetooth streaming is great but it is constrained by how much data it can pump through its signal. Though portable music players are preferably used with wired headphones for maximal performance, wired cans have seemingly enjoyed a recent renaissance too.

Smartphones are great for convenience but they’re not necessarily great for sound. As they’re multi-taskers, able to perform a range of functions, that also means they are a product that’s a jack of all trades but master of a few. Support for higher quality music has become better in the portable space with what Qualcomm is doing with its Snapdragon Sound platform and Sony’s innovations with LDAC, but in terms of outright quality for music, you won’t find better than a portable player.

Sony’s announcement of a new and not too expensive Walkman is a sign that portable music players still have a function and a purpose, as well as reminding some they still exist. Most would assume that portable music players have (or are) going the way of the Dodo, slowly passing their way out of relevance. However, we’re still seeing specialists such as Astell & Kern launch new players every year, and just recently FiiO announced the M11S. While Apple killed off the iPod, the rest of the portable player market isn’t interested in joining the scrap heap just yet.

The NW-A306 has a battery life of up to 36 hours of continuous playback, a 3.6-inch display, and because it runs on Android, you can install your favorite streaming apps if you must, although that defeats the point of having all your music with you. You'll still need a computer to load your music onto the device, just like with the iPhone's Music app, but that somehow seems less annoying with a walkman than with a phone. It also has audiophile-level playback at up to 96KHz (more than double the sample rate of a CD), although that's probably not a difference you can hear.

But it's not all upside. For a start, you'll have to carry two devices if you still want to carry your phone. And it's possible that you kind of let your music library slip when streaming came along. I bought a used iPod a while back, and when I loaded up all my songs, there was no music from the last half-decade or so because I'd been streaming it all.

The convenience of Bluetooth streaming is great but it is constrained by how much data it can pump through its signal. Though portable music players are preferably used with wired headphones for maximal performance, wired cans have seemingly enjoyed a recent renaissance too.

In a wider sense, of this seems to have converged around a greater want for higher quality music on the go. We have for decades limited ourselves in this area as MP3 streaming and downloads were a step in the wrong direction, one that’s taken a long time to reverse. In people’s minds, the quality of what they’re listening doesn’t matter as much as having access to it. We have access to more music than we can fathom at the moment, the area that we need to beef up is the quality we listen at.

From DACs to headphone amplifiers and higher quality streaming services such as Tidal and Qobuz (we still wait for Spotify Hi-Fi to make its entrance), the issue of ‘quality’ is one of the frontiers that the music and audio industry is pushing towards. All these devices have the potential to make music sound better, so while my smartphone will still be my device of choice given how much it (rightly or wrongly) rules my day-to-day activities, when it comes to listening to music in its highest quality, I’ll be tuning in with my portable player to get the best experience possible.

On My View Point...

You may think that, there’s only a need of an audio enhancing software or a high end headphones. But on all every aspects, from nostalgic design, high end specs possible and even quality - Sony have managed to make it all happen in a capsule. And that’s it. For music lovers, this will be dream gadget for sure and so happy to see this upgrade on this formfactor which was really unexpected. And looking forward to have a glance of one of these in real. And that’s been it - Edwin K Jayesh

[nickgerlich]

Ready For Prime Time

We see it everywhere. Apple Pay. Google Pay. Paypal. Pay with Klarna. Everyone wants a piece of the action, even if it is only a small sliver. With total retail sales at $6.5 trillion, there’s plenty of money to be made at the margin, even if the margin is small.

But now Amazon is extending its reach. Buy With Prime launches at the end of the month, and allows partner retailers to leverage every aspect of Amazon’s might, from order fulfillment to payment processing and returns. Of course, Amazon assesses several payments along the way, from storage to packing and shipping, not to mention credit card processing. Customers get all the same benefits they get when using their Prime account at Amazon. And partner companies can still offer their own order fulfillment and processing if customers opt out of the Prime feature.

In some regards, it’s like being in bed with the enemy. But as they say (whoever “they” is), if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Amazon put Buy With Prime into test market last Spring among its existing Fulfilled By Amazon (FBA) clients. It works rather seamlessly: partner retailers simply add a BWP logo and button, all copy and paste just like PayPal code. Oh, and ship some inventory to the nearest Amazon warehouse.

Partnering with Amazon relieves the small company from having to handle time-consuming (and expensive) order fulfillment responsibilities, storage, as well as shipping, for which Amazon has already brokered huge discounts. Basically, you can “off-shore” multiple layers of your business, expand your reach, and quite possibly enjoy higher sales and profits.

From Amazon’s perspective, this is not all that different from food manufacturers selling off unused capacity by contracting to make private label goods. Amazon is doing the same, albeit in warehousing, packing, and shipping.

There was once a time when Amazon was demonized for being too successful. After all, shopping online necessarily displaces smaller business along the way. But that’s like complaining 110 years ago that auto manufacturers were putting bicycle retailers and farriers out of business. They had to adapt, or go out of business. Today’s small businesses have similarly been forced to evolve or die.

Or partner with Amazon. And to be fair, Amazon will probably take some heat for reaching its tentacles into more of the retail pie.

But Amazon has also reached a plateau, and has begun laying off 18,000 workers. Anything it can do to help put the company in better balance is a good thing, and BWP may very well play a big role.

All things considered, this is a good move for small retailers as well as Amazon. While smaller companies must have an e-commerce presence, managing the back end of that can be a major distraction from storefront operations. Letting the expert—in this case, Amazon—do that is genius for both parties.

And I as a customer find this particularly appealing, because I’ve been clicking those Amazon Buy Now buttons more times than I wish to admit.

Dr “I’ll Click To That“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

[tixilytickets]

The Essential Guide to Budgeting and Financial Planning for Your IRL Event

Organizing an in-real-life (IRL) event, whether it’s a small seminar or a large-scale conference, can be both exciting and overwhelming.

Among all the elements you need to plan—guest lists, venues, speakers, entertainment—there’s one crucial factor that can make or break your event: budgeting and financial planning.

Without a well-thought-out budget, you could find yourself overspending or, worse, underfunded, which can ruin the entire experience.

As an event planner (whether professional or just diving in), the financial aspect of organizing an IRL event demands your attention and care.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to approach budgeting and financial planning step by step, ensuring your event is both successful and financially sustainable.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to budget effectively and avoid common pitfalls in event planning.

1. Define Your Event’s Goals and Objectives

Before diving into the numbers, the first thing you need to do is set clear, defined goals for your event.

This is the foundation of your financial planning.

Ask yourself: What do you want to achieve with this event?

Is it a networking opportunity, a fundraiser, a celebration, or something else?

Knowing your event's purpose helps determine how you will allocate your resources and what elements of the event are most important.

For example, if your goal is to raise funds for a charity, your budget will focus heavily on revenue-generating activities like ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships.

Alternatively, if you're organizing a corporate event to increase brand awareness, the focus might be on creating a high-end experience, where money might go toward quality catering, décor, and guest experience.

Once you've pinpointed your goals, it becomes much easier to prioritize your spending.

For instance, if attendee experience is paramount, you may allocate more funds to catering and entertainment, while cutting back on less essential elements like swag bags or extravagant décor.

Your budget should align with your goals to ensure that your resources support your desired outcomes.

2. Estimate Your Total Budget

Now that you understand your goals, it’s time to build a budget.

Your total budget will depend on several factors: the scale of your event, your audience size, the venue, and the activities involved.

Here’s a simple way to start the budgeting process:

a. List All Potential Costs

First, create a detailed list of all the potential expenses you might incur when organizing the event.

Some of the common costs to consider include:

Venue: Depending on the size of the event, venue costs can vary significantly. This includes rental fees, additional charges for equipment or furniture, cleaning fees, and parking.

Catering: Catering costs depend on the number of attendees and the type of food you plan to serve. Will you offer a full meal, finger foods, or a cocktail reception? Each of these options will have a different price tag.

Speakers/Performers: If you're hiring guest speakers or entertainers, you’ll need to account for their fees, as well as their travel, accommodations, and per diem.

Technology: Event tech can be expensive, especially if you’re using microphones, speakers, projectors, screens, or live streaming services.

Marketing and Promotion: Advertising your event through social media, email newsletters, or traditional methods like flyers and posters all come at a cost.

Staff and Volunteers: You may need to hire event planners, security personnel, technicians, and other staff to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Insurance: Event insurance is a must for protecting your investment and managing potential risks, such as damage to property or injury during the event.

b. Estimate Costs in Each Category

Once you’ve listed your expenses, estimate how much each item will cost.

Do some research, get quotes, and try to be as precise as possible.

If you’re unsure about costs (for instance, how much to spend on catering or how much it will cost to rent AV equipment), it’s worth reaching out to vendors for quotes early in the process.

Getting an accurate estimate will give you a realistic picture of what you’re up against financially.

c. Add a Contingency Fund

While you can estimate most expenses, there are always going to be unexpected costs.

For that reason, it’s wise to set aside a contingency fund, typically around 10-20% of your overall budget.

This will help cover unforeseen expenses such as last-minute venue changes, travel complications, or unexpected vendor fees.

It’s better to have the money set aside than to scramble at the last minute.

3. Revenue Streams: How to Make Money Back

Now that you know how much you’ll be spending, it’s time to figure out how to generate enough revenue to cover those costs (and ideally make a profit).

Understanding your revenue streams is just as important as managing your expenses.

Here are several ways you can bring in income for your event:

a. Ticket Sales

Ticket sales are often the largest source of income for an event.

To price tickets, you need to consider your overall budget and the type of audience you want to attract.

If you’re targeting a high-end audience, you can set ticket prices higher, offering premium packages with additional perks (like VIP access, goodie bags, or exclusive seating).

On the other hand, if your event is aimed at a broader demographic, consider tiered pricing model to increase sales.

b. Sponsorships

Securing sponsors can significantly reduce the financial burden of hosting your event.

Approach companies or organizations that align with your event’s values and audience.

In exchange for financial backing, sponsors may want branding opportunities, such as having their logo displayed on event materials, banners, or in online promotions.

Make sure to tailor your sponsorship packages to fit different levels of support.

A small sponsor might just want their logo on a website, while a larger sponsor might want to speak at the event, have a booth, or even sponsor a specific session.

Offering various levels of sponsorship can attract more contributors.

c. Merchandise Sales

Selling branded merchandise is another great way to raise funds and promote your event. T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and other items can be sold before, during, or after the event.

In addition to generating income, merchandise also serves as a promotional tool—attendees are likely to wear or use the items long after the event ends, keeping your brand top of mind.

d. Food and Beverage Sales

If your event includes food or drinks, whether it’s a cocktail reception, a lunch buffet, or a coffee break, you can also generate additional revenue by selling tickets for the food and beverages.

For instance, if your event has a cash bar or food trucks, these sales can be a valuable source of income.

e. Crowdfunding

For certain events, especially those related to social causes or charitable organizations, crowdfunding might be a viable option.

Platforms like GoFundMe or Kickstarter can help you raise money by appealing to supporters who care about your cause.

Be sure to provide enticing rewards or incentives for those who contribute, such as exclusive access, shout-outs, or VIP treatment at the event.

4. Track Your Expenses and Stay on Budget

Creating a budget is only half the battle; the other half is monitoring your expenses.

You need to actively track your spending to ensure you don’t exceed your budget.

Use budgeting tools, spreadsheets, or event management software to keep tabs on how much you're spending in each category.

As you pay for services, update your records to reflect the most current information.

If you notice that you’re getting close to exceeding a budget category, it’s time to make adjustments.

Perhaps you can reduce spending in one area or find more affordable alternatives for another.

Tracking your expenses throughout the planning process allows you to stay on top of things and avoid surprises as your event date approaches.

5. Be Flexible and Adjust as Needed

While it’s essential to have a budget, you also need to be flexible.

As you get closer to the event, things may change, and new opportunities or obstacles may arise.

For instance, you might secure a last-minute sponsor, which frees up some funds for you to allocate elsewhere.

Or you might encounter an unexpected cost, like a sudden price increase for your venue or catering services.

If the unexpected happens, don’t panic.

Go back to your budget, see where you can adjust, and make the necessary changes.

Flexibility is key to staying within your financial limits.

6. Post-Event Financial Review

Once your event has concluded, it’s time for a financial review.

Compare your actual income and expenses with your initial budget.

Did you stay within your financial plan?

Were there areas where you overspent, or did you save money in unexpected places?

Understanding where you did well and where you can improve will help you plan more effectively for future events.

Conclusion

Budgeting and financial planning are critical elements in organizing a successful IRL event.

By defining your goals, estimating your total costs, creating multiple revenue streams, and closely tracking your expenses, you can ensure that your event not only meets but exceeds your expectations.

With a solid financial plan, you’ll be able to bring your vision to life without unnecessary stress or financial surprises.

With careful planning and attention to detail, you can confidently manage your event’s budget, providing an unforgettable experience for your guests without breaking the bank.

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Interest Tax Shield What Is It, Formula, Example, Benefits

If the firm puts a tax shield into consideration when making the mortgage decision, then it will be easier to make a decision. For example, a business is deciding whether to lease a building or buy the building. Taking on a mortgage for the purchase of a building would create a tax shield because mortgage interest is deductible to a business. If the business puts the tax shield benefit from the mortgage into the decision, the tax benefit of a mortgage might make the decision easier.

Examples of Tax Shields

Both individuals and corporations are eligible to use a tax shield to reduce their taxable income.

A depreciation tax shield is a tax-saving benefit applied to income generated by businesses.

Examples of tax shields include deductions for mortgage interest that you pay on your mortgage loan.

It is one of the tax shielding options available to businesses and is also known as a corporate tax incentive for debt.

It only benefits you to itemize when the total of all of your deductions exceeds the standard deduction for your filing status. Otherwise, you would be paying taxes on more income than you should. A tax shield on depreciation is the proper management of assets for saving the tax. A depreciation tax shield is a tax reduction technique under which depreciation expenses are subtracted from taxable income.

Is Tax Shield the Same As Tax Savings?

Therefore, the tax shield can be specifically represented as tax-deductible expenses. Corporations use tax shields strategically to receive tax benefits. They often do this in one of two ways, either through capital structure optimization or accelerated depreciation methods. Similar to the tax shield offered in compensation for medical expenses, charitable giving can also lower a taxpayer’s obligations. In order to qualify, the taxpayer must use itemized deductions on their tax return. The deductible amount may be as high as 60% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income, depending on the specific circumstances.

Accelerated Depreciation Methods

A tax shield is a legal way for individual taxpayers and corporations to try and reduce their taxable income. The total value of a tax shield is going to depend on the tax rate of an individual or corporation and their tax-deductible expenses. The tax shield is a very important aspect of corporate accounting since it is the amount a company can save on income tax payments by using various deductible expenses. The higher the savings from the tax shield, the higher the company’s cash profit. The extent of tax shield varies from nation to nation, and their benefits also vary based on the overall tax rate. The term “Tax Shield” refers to the deduction allowed on the taxable income that eventually results in the reduction of taxes owed to the government.

Taxpayers won’t be able to take advantage of these tax shields until they reach a level of deductions over the standard amount. The main change is the reduction in income tax rates, beginning with 2018 taxes. The corporate tax rate has been reduced to a flat 21%, starting in 2018, and personal tax rates have also been reduced. Let’s say a business decides to take on a mortgage loan on a building instead of leasing the space because mortgage interest is tax deductible, thus serving as a tax shield.

Many middle-class homeowners opt to deduct their mortgage expenses, thus shielding some of their income from taxes. Let us take the example of another company, PQR Ltd., which is planning to purchase equipment worth $30,000 payable in 3 equal yearly installments, and the interest is chargeable at 10%. The company can also acquire the equipment on lease rental basis for $15,000 per annum, payable at the end of each year for three years. The original cost of the equipment would be depreciated at 33.3% on the straight-line method. Since adding or removing a tax shield can be significant, many companies consider this when exploring an optimal capital structure.

This then means that the businesses will be able to a great value of money. Tax evaders tend to conceal their income and/or underreport their income on their tax returns. Conversely, the legal use of tax shields and other strategies to minimize tax payments is known as tax avoidance. Understanding the concept of a tax shield can have a significant impact on your financial decision-making. By doing so, you can make informed financial decisions and potentially better secure your financial future.

A Tax Shield is an allowable deduction from taxable income that results in a reduction of taxes owed. Tax shields differ between countries and are based on what deductions are eligible versus ineligible. The value of these shields depends on the effective tax rate for the corporation or individual (being subject to a higher rate increases the value of the deductions). Another big change is that the standard deduction on personal tax returns has been doubled, decreasing the value of some tax shields, like mortgage interest and charitable giving.

Finally, we conclude on account of the above-stated cases that a tax shield can be utilized as a valuable option for effectively evaluating cash flow, financing, etc., activities. A 25 % depreciation for plant and machinery is available on accelerated depreciation basis as Income tax exemption. Assume that the corporate tax is paid one year in arrear of the periods to which it relates, and the first year’s depreciation allowance would be claimed against the profits of year 1.

Tax shields can vary slightly depending on where you’re located, as some countries have different rules. Tax shields allow taxpayers to reduce the amount of taxes four tax scams to watch out for this tax season owed by lowering their taxable income. When filing your taxes, ensure you are taking these deductions so that you can save money when tax season arrives.