#No rubber parts and tons of details

[zoideramy]

Approaching Rains

[Zoids Berserk Fury - Supernova ZA (3rd party kit)]

[notafraidofredyellowandblue]

Article Rammstein giving visually impaired fans a special experience

Article from 3voor12vpro.nl Rammstein show in Nijmegen 2024-06-18/19

Googly translated

--

Special tour by guitarist Paul Landers on the stage of the German metal band

june 24, 2024, text: robin hogenboom. photos: jens koch & lonneke prins.

When you think of Rammstein, you think of theatrical shows full of flames and fireworks. But what if you cannot enjoy it optimally due to a visual impairment? The German metal band organizes a guided stage tour for those people, where these fans can feel before the show what the rest of the audience will see later. 3voor12 Gelderland is lucky and can join the tour of June 18 in Nijmegen.

Of course, musically it's all rock solid. Yet the more than 100,000 music lovers who travel to Nijmegen on June 18 and 19 also expect a show that has been taken care of down to the last detail. Cooking pots, flamethrowers, rubber boats and a gigantic penis that squirts foam: it is part of Rammstein's standard repertoire. But what if you have a visual impairment? How do you make a show accessible to people who will experience little or nothing of all those theatrical excesses?

That thought also struck guitarist Paul Landers. “At one point I thought that blind fans couldn't see the stage and so maybe it would be good if they could feel the stage. That is how the first stage tours in 2022 came about.” Since then, fans have been able to register for the tours with a simple email – and a medical certificate. “On average, 4 to 6 people register for the tour, but due to increased safety measures, only 2 groups can participate at a time. Of course, every participant also has a supervisor.”

And safety, that is of course a thing. Paul: “The tour takes place once all preparations and rehearsals have been completed. That is why we take very small groups behind the scenes and extra security is present to guarantee the safety of the visitors.” And it comes as no surprise that parts of the stage also remain closed. Paul: “There are areas that are too unsafe for visitors, for example because pyrotechnics are ready there. These pieces are not part of the tour.”

The tour

When we report to the agreed location, we meet Twan Driessen (21) from Nijmegen, who will participate in the tour with his father as a guide. Although he will experience something that many Rammstein fans would sign up for, he only became a fan of the German band relatively recently. “I'm normally not a metal fan, but 'Deutschland' made me become a fan of Rammstein. That song really stuck.” The song also had an impact on his father: “he really ended up in the Rammstein corner!”

We walk past the dressing rooms and end up behind the characteristic stage. There we meet Paul Landers, who quickly takes Twan through some highlights. Paul places Twan's hands on a gigantic steel tube that holds the stage upright. The colossus, 60 meters wide and 35 meters high, weighs about 1,350 tons and is transported through Europe by 90 trucks, says Paul. “And we have two. The other is already in Dublin.”

Schedule

And then we enter the actual stage. Just below Christoph Schneider's drum kit, Twan is allowed to experience some attributes that are already ready for the show. For example, he receives an explanation about a flamethrower and the cooking pot from 'Mein Teil', but also the pram that will be rolled onto the stage for 'Puppe'. Although, roles? Paul: “The ceiling under the stage is very low, so the wheels don't fit under it yet. They are added at the last minute.”

The more you think about it, the more special it actually becomes. About an hour and a half before the start of the show, which is known for how tightly organized it is, Paul takes the time to explain everything about the show to Twan. And the pleasure with which he provides the tour is admirable. Only the supervision of a few crew members reveals that the organization is more involved than the guitarist lets us experience.

Paul dismisses the fact that it has an impact on his own planning: “it must be well timed between the arrival of the audience and the start of the show. I have to be there on time, but it's all worth it to me. I really enjoy doing the tours for the visually impaired.” What do you find most special about the tours? “Every tour is different. Sometimes people are moved to tears. People who have poor or no vision often have a sensitive and reserved character. I love it when I can make those people happy!”

The stage

Finally, the hydraulic lift that leads to the actual stage lowers. As the field slowly fills up, Twan gets the opportunity to feel the floor of the stage. And the type of flooring comes in very handy today. Paul: “This material is normally used on oil platforms, so that you do not slip when it is wet. It's sharp and hard, so you'll need thick shoes to stand on it for the entire show. And if you trip and fall on your knee, it will hurt you for a while!”

After a photo moment with Paul we are escorted back to the field. Twan: “When I was selected for that blind tour, I already had the feeling that something special could happen. And then the guitarist comes to do the tour! It's almost surreal that you can just chat with someone so big and famous. That someone from the band takes you along and takes the time for you. I think that is really special and exceeds my expectations!”

The show

Then of course it's time for the show. Although the weather is anything but good, the atmosphere is exceptionally good. Of course, the show is phenomenal again, just like two years ago . The differences with that show can be counted on one hand. 'Armee der Tristen', 'Zick Zack', 'Zeig Dich' and 'Heirate Mich' have made way for 'Ramm4', 'Keine Lust', 'Asche zu Asche' and 'Wiener Blut' respectively, with the latter in particular having a considerable intense addition to an already impressive show. The men play very tight and don't really loosen the reins anywhere. You would almost forget that the band is celebrating their thirtieth anniversary this year.

Twan: “I thought they played well live, full of energy. The singing was also good and it was really heavy at times. 'Puppe' and 'Adieu' at the end were impressive!” But: did the tour have any influence on Twan's concert experience? “I liked getting an insight into what that stage looks like, with the flamethrowers and the cooking pot. When you feel the stage and how big it all is, that is impressive and that also gives a better idea of ​​what you get on such an evening.”

The last word goes to Twan: “compliments to Paul Landers and the management of Rammstein. They did a really good job: the service, the reception, everything. Well organised!”

We would like to thank Greenhouse Talent, the management of Rammstein and in particular Paul Landers and Twan Driessen for their cooperation in this article!

[fizzywashere87]

You'll Always Have Me [and ur money] (HC's)

notes: i'm kinda a dumbass. This was originally requested by @snipersiniora and everything after that is a long story. (the original ask got deleted because of my dumbassery) THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REQUESTING!!! <3 btw this isn't proofread <3

M.List

RotTMNT HC's with a sweet!rich!reader gf who lost her family and only has their turtle bf left

rise! Raph-a-doodle

You're a sweetheart, Raph loves you very much

He cherishes everything you give to him

You thought of him and cared enough to use your money on him?

Every time you see him, you can smell his love stink -yeah it's a thing and i made the rules

You give him (and most likely his brothers) allowances and honestly? They help tons

He does his very best to take care of everything you give him big man is clumsy

He appreciates you soooo much, he's smitten

Raph loves going to your place, it's so nice and it's a great break from underground

I imagine he sleeps over a lot

He's so protective of you, making sure nobody hurts you it's New York, being rich is hazardous iykwim

Raph is pretty dense sometimes, he might miss small details

On this topic, he might not notice when you're clingier than usual, but if you seem extra sad he'll pick up on it

Why're you sad?

If you tell him, he'll let you cry on him, and he'll assure you that you'll always have him

If he finds out by himself, he may have wished you told him but we can't change that anymore can we?

You lost your family, he's going to make sure you'll always have him

He sleeps over a lot more now, and has you sleep at the lair some nights

You're never alone unless you want to be

Raph is always there for you and he always will be and your money keeps supplying

rise! Neon-Leon

Spoiling Leo is extra fun ion know why

You get him stupid little gifts or they could be designer clothing

ion know

He's extremely protective of you and insists on walking/portalling you to and from wherever

He loves how sweet you are and he cherishes you

He'll make gold digger jokes which obviously he doesn't mean whatsoever bitch.

He expresses his gratitude for your gifts, allowances, and everything spice and nice :)

When you spoil him, he spoils you in hugs, kisses, and cuddles! :D

He's such a silly bitch boy!

Leo's also one to sleep over at your place a lot preferably sleeping in your bed because he's a little shit

He spends your allowances on stupid shit btw, but he finds them useful "Leo why tf did you buy this?" *a rubber duck that's blue* "It matches my charismatic personality!"

Leo picks up on things fairly quickly so he can figure out pretty quickly if something was ever off one day

On this topic, he notices when you're clingier, and when you seem extra sad

He'll confront you about it but whether you tell him or not is your choice

If you choose to tell him he's going to hold you in his arms and let you cry it out

He is also one to never let you be alone, no matter what he's doing he's going to find a way to keep you by him

He'll make sure you know that you'll always have him and you can always fall on him.

He'll make jokes to try and make you less sad

Anything you need he's got it for you

Will let you talk about your family if that's what you need -he'll nod along and comment when needed to show you he's listening

If he finds out he's also one to wish you would've told him

He's not mad at you but he doesn't want you keeping allat inside

Leo loves you so much and he'll make sure you know that you'll always have him and your money

rise! Othello Von Ryan

okay

You have cash, he does expensive things

Maybe you could ahhh

Help a guy out??

You supply him with expensive parts for his tech

Buy him purple jackets that aren't hijacked please he needs a lil extra help with that btw

Spoil him, buy him certain things he needs for his lab, the equipment has never looked shinier without your help

If you do this, Donatello's forever grateful, he'll probably do a happy dance

He's also very protective of you, though I wouldn't say he's SO protective

He'll make sure you get home safe, and he probably has your location -not to be creepy or anything, he just has it

Likes hanging out with you at your place but I honestly see him as someone wanting to stay at his place

He does appreciate how nice it is though, and how it's a good break from the sewers

He loves your sweetness, though he'll never admit it bad boy persona my left ass cheek

He definitely makes you little trinkets or a piece of tech to make your life easier

It's his way of giving back

Donnie is emotionally constipated but he's observant

He notices when something's wrong even if he doesn't know how to go about it

He'll keep an eye on you, and he might confront you about it

If you choose to tell him, he'll get you everything you need and he'll attempt to comfort you

If you need company? You got it.

He'll give you cuddles too because he doesn't mind touch from you he's probably touchstarved anyways

He'll keep you in his lab so you don't have to be alone

Donnie doesn't really know how to give you verbal reassurance without being awkward but he shows it

If he finds out, he won't be mad at you for not saying anything, and he'll pretty much do anything you want you're his sweet bby

You can sleep easy knowing he's not going anywhere neither is your money pooks

rise! Magic Mike

OMGIE PLEASE SPOIL HIM

Buy him random shit honestly he'll cherish it

God forbid anything happen to anything you've ever bought him "This is a job for Dr. Delicate Touch!" "Mikey no!"

He's big on keeping you safe, but I don't see him as the type to go to EXTREMES unless he feels like he has to for your safety

He is always one call away ofc

Stoppp he always sleeps at your place

He says it's so nice and cozy aww bby <333

Buy him art supplies and he'll draw you :0

Your sweetness makes him extra sweet tbh

Cuddles are all the time because he loves you and your money

When you give him gifts he gives you art and makes you foodddd

You buy random shit that made you think about him

Grocery shopping for him too LMAO

Mikey maybe lack observance but his emotional intelligence is higher than yours I can tell you that with a bucket on my head while shit comes out of the sky

He's going to notice if your rich little self is sadder than sad

Of course he's going to ask about it he wants to know why you're sad!

If you choose to tell him, he'll listen to every word you say

As distracted as he gets Mikey's an active listener when it comes to you

His heart breaks for you and he wants to take you everywhere now

He's going to let you cry on him, cuddle, and even sleep gah dam

Yeah, he gives you reassurance

He's not going anywhere and he's going to make sure you know

You're not allowed to be alone anymore if he can help it

He loves you soooo much!!

If he finds out himself, he's going to talk to you about why you should have maybe said something

It's fine if you didn't want to though but he'd rather you communicate your feelings

Mikey's probably the best at comfort out of all of them he's a little shit with therapists as alter egos tf?

They're all cuties but i think he might be the cutest in this situation

You both are lil cinnamon rolls, so cute <3 I'M SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!!!

[user211201]

Gym Goggles

--- Originally posted by ZacharyEverlust before 2018-08-22 ---

--- Note: Pokémon Leader TF ---

POOOOT!

"ALRIGHT! NEXT ONE!"

The Coach blew his whistle, and off goes another successful victim--applicant! Gomennasai for that error. But yes, we are all applicants here aren't we?

The next one of us is a delightful little chap who was personally invited to join us in Dorm Desire Academy. Average build, you can tell since he's stripped naked aside from the privates which are covered by swimming trunks. He should be getting rid of them soon anyway.

By the way, you could tell that he's one of those anime-obsessed teenagers if you pay a visit to his room, devoted to reading tons of manga and playing many kinds of anime-based games. Well, you could tell that too if you knew the man personally. I mean, that's why I invited him after all.

Boy, don't you know how these types just absolutely love to imagine being fit, more muscular versions of themselves. Charismatic, shouting and boasting about in their teenage-slang. Cheerful and popular, basically total jocks. I mean! Just look at how great they turned out back in the Academy!

No dumbing down in case you guys are wondering, just pushing aside and reorganizing their talents in academics and pushing it all into sports and leadersip. Though its really case by case scenario if you are going into detail.

But yes, time to start narrating properly again. Let's call the chap "Baikoha" for now.

"WHERE are your GOGGLES?!" The coach shouted."Don't you know that all new students are required to wear their FULL-SET of equipment before the lesson?"

Baikoha winced, his hands fumbling about in his trunks. Attempting to find the branded pair of swim-gear that's tucked in. "Why did I sign up for swimming lessons again?" He thought. Noting that this week is "Sports Week" at campus, a tri-monthly Dorm Desire event in which its a mandatory for new students to take part in one sporting event each time in the year.

He took out the swimming goggles, light blue lens with rubberized ocean colored sides. It was quite similar to the rest of the goggles of the other participants in line. Although, like what the mini-swimmer's package that was sent to me has said. It's of a completely different branding.

"Congratulations, you've obtained one of the two limited edition "Marlon & Brawly" branded goggles." It said, and judging by the rest of the swimmers' mass produced "Dorm Desire branded" goggles. It looks like him and one other guy are the lucky ones for this semester.

Well, you would be if the coach wasn't pissed off at you.

He quickly wore the eye-wear, a loud "Click" sound signifying the goggles being attached to my face. The surroundings gained a dark-blueish tone, as the chap stared at the deep blue open-aired swimming pool, which seems to be remodeled and designed like the ocean itself.

Stepping forward...little by little. Nervous to mention to the coach that he's "not particularly sure how to swim"..., especially considering that this side of the pool only seem to be really deep. And that's only what it seems! Imagine how deep it actually is!

"So you're one of those newbies huh? The coach spoke,uh ohWell once this week is over, I'll have you diving like a professional!" He gave a really fierce-looking grin, as he raised his right arm and--

"SURFS UP!" SLAP! SPLASH!

The helpless chap is slammed into the pool, water flows and culminates around the branded goggles. Bubbles bubbling about.

"WhaBLURRBBBLEGHHHH!"

Bubbles beam towards the corners of the student's lips.Streaming past the edges of his tongue, the uvula, and into the numerous systems in his body. Body completely paralyzed, limp and light. But alive as ever, with red hot blood pumping to overcome the oxygen deficit in the lung.

Triggering the whole body, as the bubbles work inward. Down the legs, through the arms, chest, and most importantly the head. All of it beginning to realign themselves into a proper swimmer's form. New info being slowly bubbled into his thoughts.

The first were the arms. Starting strongly as they slowly align into position, arms bulking and tanning themselves deeply with the illumination of the sun. Mixed with the cool richness of the minerals in the pool, forming a light chocolate collagen-rich tan showing confidently on his swimmer-ised, nimble and exposed biceps.

Next were the chest. Pecs pumping out like a heart, chest firm, proudly synchronized with the darkening skin tone from each arm. Blood bubbling into the veins, lungs being completely filled with air bubbles, muscles aching for some action. His body stings up!

Arms moving further and wider, involuntary to the new brain sensors as they spread wide! Performing a powerful backstroke underwater, solidifying those strong back muscles that complement the skill and strength of the swimmer. Broad shoulders, with abs glistening with a healthy Tan like the rest of his upper torso.

Legs giving a mighty dolphin kick, popping out those glutes as they form a proud bubble butt, shining out underneath the new trunks growing beneath. Tan line forming just around the waist. Bottom as clear and white as the gentle milky river.

Bubbles leave his pores via the lower portion, releasing the laziness, unenthusiasm, and stress. Legs marloning and Shoot!ing past the unathletic height. The Negative energy being destroyed and bursting all over his feet as two pair of plain-sticky dark blue sandals form over his well-developed feet.

His mouth forms a steady grin, unattractive thoughts seeping out of his new darkened coat, trunks expanding and wet-suiting down his tall legs, brightening into a positive light blue with three thick paler strips down each thigh. Pairs of fins youthfully pop by at the ends of each leg. Completing his favourite wet-suit.

The light brownish hue covers his entire neck and face. His eyebrows and hair dye themselves a sharpedo blue, angular jaw and prominent cheekbones showing off the cheeriness of the man. The man who enjoys being in the water.

"Study-nerd's essays, homework, and watching anime are total bummer dude!" His vocal cords cooled, laced with Surfer lingo. * "Radical thoughts like surfing, swimming and marine biology are totally in."* Hair styling itself into a fin of a sharpedo, with some white dotted sparkles spotted near the front.

"Yo, what's an anime? ...Man, for some reason. I feel like I was in one!"

The man thought, furrowing his well-shaped eyebrows before shrugging off almost instantly. The last bits of the negative bubbles leaving through his mouth, steady and high capacity lungs lay deep in his body. As the soothing wave carries him up the depth of the pool, shooting up as it transforms into a tidal wave and--

"SPLASHHHHHHHHHH!"

The new man rose to the surface.

Flipping up his special goggles and allowing the light blue aura of the pool's surface to diminish any doubt he once ever had. Eyes revealing to be a calm, and a refreshing blue, with the confidence and fierceness of an all time swim-goer.

Embracing and relaxing in his new identity, as Marlon, Former Gym Leader of Humilau City's Gym and now the Captain of The University's Water Sports Group. A Carefree Surfer Jock who loves nothing more than being in the water.

"Yo! Brawly! Sup!" Marlon raised his hand. HI-FIVE "Hey Man! Totally drenched me over here! Haha!" He laughed.

The two of them were inseparable, fierce competitors and the greatest of friends back when they met in orientation. Recognizing the other Gym Leader back when they were roomies. And having being given their own special goggles together by the higher-ups as a reward for being one of the best pairs in their category. The Ocean.

With their knowledge of the ocean, surfing as well as a healthy match of Pokemon battles and tons of working out. With Marlon and Brawly taking the lead in The school's Swimming/Water Polo and Dynamic Surfers Teams respectively, The Captains of the University's Water Sports Group were unstoppable together.

"Dude! Race you to the top of the diving board." Marlon swam. "Oh yeah? Well I'm gonna wipe you down man!" Brawly jumped in and swam right after him.

The two of them made their way to the diving board.

"Hey Man! Watch this--I'm gonna make--!"

"A Bigger Splash Than The Sea!"

SPLASH!

[taybatwo2]

G3 Hissfits Review Part 1

Guess what came in today??? My Hissfits three pack!

The box is large, 22”x12” and was 75 bucks…which is a lot (25 for each doll) and Entertainment Earth wanted another 20 for shipping (so I might have preordered a cute little 3.75” Clone Trooper Rex figure to get free shipping).

These dolls had their stock photos dropped a bit over a year ago and I guess were just sitting in a warehouse while Mattel figured out what to do with them????? I dunno why they took so long to come out, but I’m glad they were not all canceled and disposed of.

It has some little Skullettes detailed around the outside of the box.

Here is the corner illustration done by Darko.

The back of the box. That’s a huge illustration and looks really cool. It has some of their accessories hidden about and Amped Up Frankie’s accessories in the far left-hand book shelf. Perhaps they’re all playing for the Monster Ball?

Here is the UPC for anyone who needs it. These are supposed to be available on misc. sellers/shops: like Entertainment Earth and Big Lots and NOT Amazon, Walmart, Target or even Mattel Creations. Which seems like an odd choice (I wonder what their reasoning was behind it?).

Here is a close up of their blurb on the back of the box. I do find it funny that Toralei was known to be REALLY bad at singing in G1 and G3 just RAN the other way with that.

Here are the ghoul’s with the plastic removed. There was A TON of rubber bands holding them all in. They look good in the package, but there is so much plastic waste.

more under the cut

Close-up of G3 Meowlody’s face while still strapped down. Meowlody has white hair (I remember who is who by: turning her name’s first letter “m” upside down and it looks like a “w” for “white hair”).

Mine has her eyes slightly printed up too high, some white paint dropped across her right eye, and her left cheek stripes have some paint missing (you can’t tell from his photo).

She has the biggest grin out of the werecat twins and Toralei. Her heterochromia is opposite of her twin and she has purple leopard print eyeshadow. Her hair feels like saran.

My Toralei looks pretty good, but has a small lip smudge on her upper lip. I love her eyeshadow!!! Even her bright pink lips have grown on me. Her leopard rosettes are a mix of purple (Meowlody) and pink (Purrsephone).

She has almost-neon orange hair (with black, baby pink, and purple streaks). I’m pretty sure it is all saran.

And my FAVORITE, Purrsephone (turn her name’s first letter “p” upside down and it looks like a “b” for “black hair” and that’s how I remember this is Purrsephone). I like her sculpted eyelids, her full upper lips, her hair color blend *mwah!* Mine does have a spot of red paint on the bottom of her cat nose. She has pink leopard spots on the opposite side of her face as her sister.

I’m also certain she has saran hair.

They come with a ton of little accessories “to help them get ready for the show.” Even merch to sell after the show too!!

After spending about 30 minutes freeing everything from their prison and running a metal comb through their hair (they will need to be washed with water, Dawn dish soap, and some conditioner…maybe (carefully) straight iron their hair later).

I forgot to take a full body photo of Toralei before I started removing pieces. Whoops!

Here is her crown piece. It wraps around both ears and should still hold its place fairly well even after I removed the plastic stays and rubberband (it was really wrapped around it) holding it in.

Here she is without her golden crown. I might like it better off.

Her eye make-up is her two cousins’ mixed together. Oh, by the way G3 Purrsephone and Meowlody are G3 Toralei’s cousins, not just her beasties.

The leopard print reminds me of SDCC DC Super Hero Girl’s Cheetah.

Her tail tambourine (I love how clever they were in its paw-like design) also stays on her tail pretty well.

Here are her plastic dress pieces. They have some nice details to them (lots of studs, chains, and the Hissfits cat head logo) and as always, could look even more elevated with some paint. Be warned that the gold chest piece instantly wants to keep detaching itself from the skirt and shoulder pieces after you remove the rubber bands.

I LOVE her gloves (look at the little printed seams and how they make it look like there are seperate holes for her fingers). My Core G3 Toralei will be stealing them. Mine even come off by sliding over the hands (you do not necessarily need to remove the whole hand to get them off).

Here are her MASSIVE boots. They are slit all the way down the back and have some colored in details. I’m not sure if I like purple AND pink AND red being Toralei’s new colors, but these shoes look great.

Here are the bottoms (chains on the ball of the feet and a cat scratching post making the heel).

A better look at her saran hair blend. It’s really growing on me. I was just going to clean her up, steal her stock and resell the base doll. But I am heavily rethinking it.

Here she is in her outfit sans all the plastic bits. It is all attached. The main shirt/shorts have a sparkly foil look to them and her skirt has a lovely gold to magenta foil print.

And the back. Now let’s jump ahead to look at some differences between the werecat’s bodies.

Toralei has the exact same body mold as G3 Clawdeen, and the werecat twins have the same body as G3 Cleo (sans the bandages).

They didn’t give the werecat twins sharp toe claws like Toralei and Clawdeen. :( Booo!

Their ears look a bit different too (Toralei has notches in the bottom of her ears and Purrsephone/Meowlody don’t).

And for funsies. Here are all the G3 werecats’ body types for comparison (I’m still in the middle of micro-braiding my Catty’s hair, so ignore her bad hair day).

In part 2 I’ll delve more into the werecat twins.

[welcometothejianghu]

Welcome to another round of W2 Tells You What You Should See, where W2 (me) tries to sell you (you) on something you should be watching. Today's choice: 民国奇探/My Roommate is a Detective.

My Roommate is a Detective is a 2020 drama about the Jazz Age shenanigans of a terrible OT3: a useless noodle boy, a spoiled journalist girl, and a handsome thug-turned-cop, who together solve Agatha Christie mysteries in 1920s Shanghai.

I mean, seriously, have you ever wondered what Hercule Poirot would be like if he were a 6'2" Chinese rubber man? If he had a long-suffering sugar daddy from the wrong side of the tracks and a spunky sugar mommy who owned their shared apartment? The answer is, it would be a laugh-out-loud-funny series about a ridiculous and charming assortment of weirdos solving only slightly believable murder mysteries in charming period clothing.

This is another one of those shows where I'm kind of shocked at how not well-known it is, except I'm not, because I can see exactly the problems that keep fandom from descending on it like horny little vultures. Nonetheless, I think it's a good time that more people would enjoy if they gave it the chance. Here's five reasons why you should:

1. Equal parts smart as heck and dumb as butts

On the one hand, especially given its tone and tenor, this show has many surprisingly clever turns and thoughtful moments, carried along by some talented actors. On the other hand, [.gif of a guinea pig in a rollerskate being pushed merrily down a hallway]

This show is not a complicated intellectual exercise. It's an action comedy about a goofy sleuth, a rich-girl reporter, and the cop who should be the straight man in this trio, except he's as much of a goober as the other two are. If the promotional tableaus are giving you real "cover of a Clue box" vibes, you've understood the kind of pastiche it's pulling off.

The mysteries are preposterous. They're all the kind of thing that exemplify the Doyle line about how, when you've eliminated the impossible, whatever's left has got to be the answer, no matter how ding-dang improbable it may be. You know the type: tons of overly elaborate setups, unbelievably perfect timing, coincidental long-lost relatives, people hallucinating right and left. They're also very short -- most full cases take only 2-3 episodes to introduce, investigate, and resolve, even when interspersed with the larger goings-on in these weirdos' lives. The DramaWiki page for the show lists 23 separate arcs over 36 episodes, so you do the math.

And yet, it's way more thoughtful and clever than its doofy little setup would indicate. Its attention to detail surprised me on more than one occasion. Add to that a bunch of solid performances from an ensemble of real characters, and what you get is definitely more substantive than a junk-food waste of time. You can't turn your brain off while watching it, but you sure can turn it down, and that's great.

It also doesn't hurt that everyone is super attractive and wearing great outfits. The whole show's worth it for the wardrobes.

2. THE GIRL

Fuck the haters, fuck everyone, I am going to climb right up on my little soapbox and tell you all why Bai Youning is awesome.

She is insane. She's a troll. She's a clever little monster. Every other character's response to her is, oh my god, you are literally the worst. And she is! She has been spoiled beyond belief by her incredibly rich Crime Dad, and she has learned to leverage her uwu just a widdle girl status to get her whatever the hell she wants. She simply cannot hear it when someone says the word "no." She will look her future sister-in-law in the eye and point a loaded gun at her own head without blinking. Every ball she has is made of brass.

She's hardly perfect. During the course of the show, there are some times where her entitlement runs face-first into the brick wall of reality. She's not nearly as good at her chosen career path as she's been told (mostly by the people who get paid to tell her she's good). She's rarely prepared to deal with the consequences of her actions, especially when she can't just throw money at the problem.

So she learns, and grows, and changes. She's always going to be a stubborn bitch, but she can become a stubborn bitch with a more accurate conception of her relationship to the world around her.

She's actually a really good romantic foil for Lu Yao, who is equally stubborn and spoiled and obnoxious as hell. It is a pure brat4brat relationship, where each one thrives on comically enraging the other. What this means, though, is that when they actually start showing one another some vulnerability, it's really sweet.

Now: I'm pretty sure that you could not have made a female character in her position that everyone did not hate, no matter how cool you made her, because that is the fate of all girls who theoretically keep the two boys from kissing. (More on that next point.) If she were less outgoing and friendly, she would've been hated for being too cold. If she were less headstrong, she would've been hated for being a pushover. If she weren't as into the boy, she would've been hated for being frigid. I know the "god forbid a woman do anything" meme is a joke, but ... man, god forbid this girl do anything. She gets a level of hate entirely disproportionate to what she's actually like. As I said with Eom Dada, it's not always sexism, but sometimes, yeah, it's sexism.

(Real talk: Her character is also fighting both how she's definitely not written as well as the boys are and how the plot sometimes needs her to be artificially stupid and jealous for Straightness Drama Reasons, so that's a legit problem on a structural level. Also, she's dubbed by someone else and the boys aren't, which gives her voice an annoying not-quite-there quality that's hard to ignore. The deck is stacked against her real hard even before she steps onscreen.)

So here's my advice: Go into this show wanting to like her. Embrace her terribleness as a positive, intentional quality. Don't be mad at her for straightening up an endgame that was never going to be gay, even without her. Welcome her contributions to the chaos. Realize that she is exactly as entertainingly irritating as her boys are.

Truly, this is a story of three terrible people in love. They're all just awful, and you wouldn't want to be in a room with any of them for longer than you had to. Left to right up there, Bai Youning is spoiled and self-absorbed, Lu Yao is arrogant and lazy, and Qiao Chusheng is suuuuuch a fucking cop. If you're into the kind of dynamic that can only be described OT3: You All Deserve One Another, then this one's perfect for you.

3. Do you really miss '00s queerbaiting?

Like, really? Are you just super-nostalgic for being able to see the showrunners go, ha ha, girls, we know you're watching and we know you want these cute boys to kiss, which they never will -- but what if we pretended for just this one scene??? Do you just carnally ache for that with every fiber of your being?

Yep.

Now, why am I calling the occasional really gay moments between these two gentlemen "queerbaiting" and not "bromance"? Because these moments are a) obviously intentional, b) completely sporadic, and c) never spoken of again.

For example: There's a scene (which you can see a gifset of here) where the two of them are at a restaurant frequented by the cop, who brings a lot of ladies there on dates. When the waiter points this out, useless noodle boy says, I'm his date. The waiter looks mildly surprised by this, the cop says not to listen to his bullshit, and that's the end of it. The scene moves on. There is no further discussion of this comment. It does not affect their relationship.

That's the essence of queerbaiting: that little on-purpose nod to the homoerotic tension between the two, in a way that isn't a joke but also isn't not a joke, and either way is never going to happen. (In fact, the show is going to go out of its way to make sure that ship gets sunk, so, uh, get your fanfiction lifeboats ready for that.)

A true queerbaiting move is something that should make a difference in a relationship, but doesn't. It should make a difference that our cop is so comfortable in the noodle boy's personal space that he invades it at will. It doesn't. It should make a difference that noodle boy keeps getting real weird every time the cop has a date with a girl. It doesn't. Those are some real romantic moves the two of them keep pulling, and then nothing comes of them.

I had this show sold to me as being incredibly shippy, to the point of being even more so than its censored-BL contemporaries. And ... well, it is and it isn't. It has textually gayer individual moments, but it is much less pervasively gay. It's clear from the start that it's going to throw all its actual relationship points into its canon het romance. When it comes to these boys, the show is toying with you. It knows you want to see those boys smooch, just as much as it knows (and it knows you know) they're never gonna.

How you feel about this is entirely up to you -- and indeed, it may be a dealbreaker on the whole drama for you. If you are inclined to pitch a fit when your ship does not become canon, you'll be happier somewhere else. If, however, you see this as a delightful opportunity to do whatever the hell you want with the situation as it is presented, all the while enjoying little moments of startlingly blatant homoeroticism between two handsome dudes, well, here you are!

(I mean, if you want my take on it, what needs to happen is that the cop and the girl need to fuck while the useless noodle boy watches with asexual bisexual interest, and then they all need to snuggle with the noodle boy in the middle so they can both annoy him appropriately, but your mileage may vary.)

4. The multicultural extravaganza!

1920s Shanghai had a lot going on in terms of cultures and languages, and this show actually does a fair job of representing that.

By now, I've seen a number of shows set during this era, and they all at least acknowledge the international nature of the city -- usually by mentioning the French Concession and having a handful of evil Japanese characters. However, this is the first time I've seen a show go to such lengths to actually show so many non-Chinese characters onscreen, even to the point of making one a recurring character supporting the main squad.

Salim is the best. Whatever he is being paid, it's not enough. He's Qiao Chusheng's right-hand man, which means he is also the dude who most often has to put up the main trio's bullshit. (The actor himself is also a dude with a pretty cool backstory, which is another great layer.) He's sharp, he's loyal, he's patient, and he looks great with his shirt off. He's got it all!

Other non-Chinese characters include a white Jewish art collector (I'd issue a warning for period-typical antisemitism, except … honestly, it's mostly just confused), a sadistic priest who maybe is supposed to be Italian, a completely different priest who [last episode spoiler], and three whole sinister white dudes behind it all.

It's not just the world coming to China, though! A large number of the Chinese characters are said to have spent significant time outside of China, whether for business or for schooling. Near the end, when some characters are discussing moving away from Shanghai, they consider a number of foreign cities as potential destinations.

Here's a delightful detail: When Lu Yao and his sister speak English, they're dubbed by actors with posh British accents who sound like native (or near-native) English-speakers. This makes perfect sense, because both of the siblings did a lot of their schooling in the UK. When Bai Youning speaks English, she's dubbed by someone who speaks English very well but also has a noticeable Chinese accent, which makes perfect sense for her character's background. And Qiao Chusheng never speaks English at all, because he's a street tough who has no reason to know more than three words.

...This is also kind of weird to say about something literally made in China, but go with me on it: Everything's kind of got that Art Deco Orientalist vibe to it. It looks like China's idea of what Britain's idea of China during that period would have looked like. The result comes across less like what 1920s Shanghai would actually have looked like, and more what an ad for 1920s Shanghai would have looked like. It's a fascinating aesthetic, and more so for how it's mostly pretty subtle. The show isn't some visual extravaganza, but it's always very nice to look at, and I appreciate that in a show.

5. A wonderful horrible protagonist

A lot of mystery-themed prestige television involves an asshole genius detective who gets away with being a dick to everyone because he's sooooo smart, while all his long-suffering friends and colleagues spend a lot of time doing damage control for him because, sigh, he's an asshole but we need him, genius excuses all dickhead behavior, we'll always make exceptions for him because he's just ever so special. (Watch histrionic sage hbomberguy's video on Sherlock if you're unfamiliar with the trope.)

Lu Yao is an asshole genius detective, but one who winds up spending most of his time being an asshole to a) people who deserve it, or b) his horrible friends who will be assholes right back at him. When he is awful to the people who don't deserve it, the show smacks him pretty hard on the nose for it and makes him apologize.

This is a show where you'll figure out pretty quckly if you'll love it or hate it, because if you love Lu Yao, you'll love it, and vice versa. He carries most of the show himself, with his goofy charm and his incredibly bendy slenderman body and his ability to make the one competent person he knows both protect him and give him money.

Like so.

For my own part, I find him intensely charming, and I think a lot of this has to do with Hu Yitian's ability to play him as an affectionately bullyable weenie who needs to get shoved in a locker for his own good. He's the worst, and it's comically endearing instead of offputting because at the end of the day, he really does have a good heart. He's just also lazy as heck and disinclined to do anything that he does not want to be doing, and really, aren't we all?

As I alluded to in point 3, he comes across as real asexual. He's just not that interested in sex, and he is in fact pretty uncomfortable in situations where he finds himself the subject of someone else's sexual desires. He's perfectly capable of romantic feelings! I mean, not only does he get Bai Youning as a love interest, we actually meet one of his ex-girlfriends. He's just not partciularly horny about them -- which is even more noticeable as a sharp contrast to how extremely horny Qiao Chusheng is for just about everyone, but this exasperating little dork in particular.

(Like seriously, 90% of the time, Chusheng is about to explode with sexual frustration at Lu Yao's skinny oblivious ass.)

This isn't to say you couldn't get Lu Yao into bed, because you absolutely could, and he'd probably have a good time. You'd just have to remove all distractions from the room, lest his ADHD ass wind up running off to solve a crime mid-coitus.

Twiggy little nightmare man. Garbage-animal boy. Love him.

sidebar: A word about the ending

I'm going to be vague and talk about general vibes instead of specific events, but you should still skip this section if you want to remain completely unspoiled. Jump to the picture of Chusheng holding the sledgehammer.

Okay, so, a lot of people do not like the ending, and I'm including myself in that number. I honestly don't know if they got rushed and had to wrap everything pretty last-minute, or if they thought they might get a second season out of it and were leaving things open-ended accordingly. Either way, it's incredibly unsatisfying.

I think there's a clue that the show didn't actually want to end this way, and it's not actually in the text of the show itself. Every episode, between the last scene and the start of the credits, you get to see a couple still frames from the episode (usually some of the queerbaity ones). After the very final shot of the series, you get two images: the boys hugging goodbye, and Chusheng's upset face. That's not a resolution! That is at best a "to be continued..." ending!

But no, that's it. That's all, folks.

It's not quite an ending so bad it ruins the rest of the show, mostly because it doesn't feel finished, so it's less like you're watching a car being deliberately driven into a wall because someone thought that was the best route to take, and more like you're watching someone leave a car on the railroad tracks because they figured they'd have time to move it later.

As far as I know, there has been no noise made about a second season. These 36 episodes are the entirety of the narrative. It had the distinct misfortune to start airing in March 2020, which wasn't exactly prime time for planning sequels, and that seems to have been that. (There is a 2022 show called Checkmate that stars the two main guys in extremely similar roles, also adapting Agatha Christie stories, but it's apparently pretty meh? Somebody else who's actually seen it, go ahead and weigh in here.)

I'll say that if you turn off the episode right after Lu Yao gets out the handcuffs, you'll save yourself the worst of it the awkward and unsatisfying moments (though I'm impressed at your willpower to stop watching something five minutes from the end). That's not all of it, though. Structurally, there are several situations rushed to a resolution and loose threads left flapping untied in the breeze. I guess stopping before the last five minutes simply saves you the hope that it'll pull a good ending out of the fire, because it won't.

And let's be real: The more you hate Bai Youning and her romance with Lu Yao, the more you'll hate the ending. (Not that liking those elements will necessarily make you like the ending, of course, because I'm a fan of hers and I still think the ending is butts.) The ending is already like a pair of uncomfortable shoes; if the het romance especially makes you grind your teeth, the ending becomes a pair of uncomfortable shoes that also have a rock in them. A lot of the comments online indicate plenty of people dropped the show when they learned the het romance would be endgame. It's a pretty common dealbreaker.

Oh well. Bring on the fanfic, I say! Those of us who are used to taking a sledgehammer to canon are unafraid.

Smash it, baby.

Still want to see some of these mysteries?

Both iQiyi and Viki have the answer to your sleuthing!

It's not a perfect show -- as evidenced by my digression about the ending -- but it's a lot of fun. If you can handle the occasional foible and some eyebrow-raising moments, you're in for a good time with some attractive people that occasionally tastes very gay.

Every roommate crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man

[the-acid-pear]

i know i missed Dee's birthday a bit yesterday (art block :/), but!! Puppet!Dee design stuff :]

so. had a thought a short while back of "what if the Puppet was based off of a cat, since Dee likes cats (at least in my headcanon)?" and uh. yeah that's pretty much it. i've drawn it, too!

so have some fun design details!

the Puppet's "mask" is just the cat face. the material of the mask is some sort of hard plastic/rubber. it feels smooth, but not easily breakable. there's nothing really "under the mask," just the fabric of the "suit" part of the animatronic.

as sort of implied above, the animatronic doesn't have eyes under the mask; just fabric. the animatronic itself can't see. but Dee can. the glowing eyes are a result of Dee possessing it.

taller than Henry (5'11"), but shorter than Dave (7'5"). the Puppet is close to around 6'8". it is Tall.

so. Henry was very much aware of how much Dee wanted him dead, so he came up with "safety measures" (aka Ways To Keep This Six Year Old From Killing Him). these included, in order of how they were supposed to work, the Music Box (originally used to force the Puppet into some form of "day mode" so that Dee couldn't do anything; Henry never gave the Puppet any sort of regular "day mode," considering it was only built to contain Dee's soul and keep her out of trouble. Dee ended up just used the Music Box to keep herself from getting overstimulated), strings on her limbs (these kept her in the Box, or at least from getting too far out of it, while still able to move her arms a bit (since the Puppet gives gifts to children); Jack ended up cutting the strings in '83, in an attempt at trying to free his sister), and finally, a fuck ton of bells attached to ribbons (if all else failed, he'd at least be able to hear her coming before getting ambushed).

Dee herself mostly uses the bells for stimming purposes. Listen. Sound Is Good Sound. she just likes the noise they make. it also annoyed the shit out of Henry, mostly because he had to hear JINGLEJINGLEJINGLEJINGLEJINGLE from where Dee would shake her head around to get the bells on her ears to ring. those two absolutely despised each other.

the tears were not originally a part of the mask. they slowly started to run down her face more and more over the years. it's a product of Dee possessing the Puppet for such a long time.

the mask isn't supposed to be able to move. the expression was meant to be a permanent open-eyed smiling expression. the mask isn't meant to be malleable in any way. Henry Doesn't Know How Dee Fucking Does That.

Dee can make the Puppet stand on it's tippy toes to make it about three to four inches taller (6'11"-7'0"), and she does so often.

the ribbons, being pastel green and pink, almost seem out of place with the rest of the Puppet's "aesthetic"; more muted and dull colors. i'd say that it would almost be intentional; gives the Puppet a "Something's Not Right" vibe.

Dee made a small tongue for the Puppet out of an old piece of fabric. she can't taste with it, just Blep :p

that's all that's really coming to mind. in short: Cat Puppet Dee :]

- dee-in-the-box

I ADORE THESE....... SO SILLY SO CUTE. Honestly also heartwarming for her to actually have some form of stimulation while stuck in there. Henry be damned jingle that shit cat girl ‼️ also her making a tongue is sooo so cute too... Bleeh....... Getting silly w it 🫡

[primeconvoy1]

In action today is the Titanic Creations Gorgo figure set, based on the 1961 kaiju movie Gorgo, which I enjoyed watching on a Saturday afternoon as a kid.

This was a crowdfunded project that met all its goals to get produced, and I believe this is the first time we have gotten an articulated Gorgo in plastic form.

Sidenote: I know the larger figure (Gorgo's mother) in this set was called Ogra in the movie, but I'll be referencing it as Gorgo and the smaller one as Baby Gorgo.

The Gorgo set comes in a deluxe see through display package designed and illustrated by Matt Frank .

I love the presentation with the packaging, including the awesome illustration of the monster on the back. The art also shows a burning city backdrop with some nice art references of Dorkins circus that held the baby captive in the movie

You can also see all the content of the set, since the packaging is clear plastic.

Be mindful that some of the accessories can come loose inside the package. The small jet plane accessories sometimes fell behind the larger figure if the interior plastic clamshell is not closed properly.

The main Gorgo figure was sculpted by @d0pep0pe and does an amazing job representing this kaiju.

Gorgo has ton of nice details including sculpted scales, wrinkled skin, and very crocodile like features going from its head down to the tail.

The face sculpt captures the beast well with its ferocious looking design. I especially like the detailing with the ear fins.

Gorgo stands a little under six inches tall when fully posed.

Titanic Creations suggested the figure had 26 points of articulation, but after fiddling with it, I found 39 points, if you count the 11 segments in the articulated tail. That's a bold amount for a company that is putting out a posable figure like this for the first time. Well done!

Gorgo can get into some decent poses, but the toe articulation isn't that strong to hold up the figure, if you're trying to get Gorgo in more dynamic poses. (Recommend squeezing the the front toes together where it plugs into the rest of the foot to help with a tighter joint.)

Gorgo also come with an alternate head that is the same sculpt as the default head but with brighter red glow-in-the-dark eyes! The feature does work, but the glow effect only lasts for a brief time after placing it in direct light.

I use this head as my default head, as the eyes pop more in my display.

Gorgo is done in a dark green color with beige paint going down to the front of the figure, it's underbelly, and underneath the tail.

She also sports some dark grey washes on the faces as well as the scales on the back of the figure. I really like how this fleshes out those sculpted details!

Gorgo comes with some sweet accessories that were unlocked tiers during the crowdfunding campaign.

First up is the Big Ben clock tower accessory to help recreate the iconic scene the movie.

Big Ben is painted mainly in gold which brings out those sharp lines on the building. The accessory also has some claw mark scratches sculpted into it.

Big Ben also has a break away feature, so the top of the tower can be removed.

The next accessory is the small bell sub, which appears to be painted brown and has a few sculpted details.

Next up are the jets and stand. The set comes with 3 jets sculpted in either soft grey plastic or rubber. The cockpits are painted black, which is a nice detail.

To display the jets, while fighting Gorgo, the jets come with a single round base and three black bendy wires that plug into the base and the bottom of the jets.

This was probably the weakest part of the set, as the wires don't plug into the base well and not much better into the jets.

There's also a bit of balancing act to keep them stable, once you do get them on the stand.

The final accessory is the Baby Gorgo figure, which stands a little under 2 inches. It's a static figure with no articulation. Sculpt is well done with similar paint apps to the larger Gorgo figure, just not as extensive. Even the red eyes turned out great, which is impressive for such a small figure.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this figure, and give kudos to the creative team that worked on this!

I look forward to your next kaiju endeavor!

On to pics, Primers! Will post more pics shortly.

[askdannysroleswapau]

"proof of concept" design for Voidball + some pupil designs from '22 (back when he still had a tail)

quite a lot has changed! a few key design details have carried over from this one (chipped ear, singular eye, and the heart-shaped hole in the torso), but many aspects have since been scrapped or reworked

design notes under the cut! but be warned! its just a little under 1k words

before we begin, there's this phrase that i'm going to be using a lot and you ought to know what i mean by it!

the phrase is "design philosophy" and in simplified terms, its a set of rules or principals one follows when designing a character. there's a ton of different design philosophies and they vary wildly depending on the medium, the team behind it, the art style, tone and even country of origin!

the one i used for Voidball is a mix of my own observation/analysis of Rob's character design and some principals that the team of Across The Spiderverse used for The Spot. here are the rules i eventually settled on!

remove as much recognizability as possible from the character's appearance, save for their physical stature and select features (eye/mouth/hair/ears/etc.) the end result should be almost entirely unrecognizable

details such as textures, markings, or accessories must either be done away with or heavily simplified

use sharp angles wherever possible, rounded shapes must be sparse (can you tell which part i gave myself more leeway on lol)

do not clutter the design or over-complicate it; principal of Occam's razor

now, let’s get started!!

Head and Ears

i set out with the intention to give him a similarly complicated head shape to Rob, but i quickly dropped this idea because i hate drawing complex geometry! the slice taken out of the head, however, ended up sticking around! you can see some examples of what was dubbed the "sliced melon" head in the doodle dump post.

you can see that the ears have stayed about the same, although i now avoid drawing them with super defined geometry. out of all of the details carried over from this design, the chipped ear is my favorite :)

Eyes

those pesky eyes! i wanted to keep the singular eye, but at first i was unsure of what to replace it with. you can see here that i initially replaced it with an isolated box of static. this looks bad and is not visually appealing!

as i began to imagine static functioning as more of a viscous, liquid substance, i decided to cover the left side of his face with a constantly dripping river of it, obscuring the eye completely. this is both easier to draw and more visually interesting! plus it removes recognizably, which was very important to the design philosophy.

as for the right eye, the pupil shape depicted here has two sharp triangle indents in it.

while it was an interesting idea, it looked too similar to the eyes you see on rubber-hose animated characters, which wasn’t what i wanted. the other three ideas i sketched had similar ideas regarding negative space, but all of them would eventually be scrapped.

as it turns out, the original pupil shape works for a reason! i learned there that going against the original philosophy would not end up working in my favor. i went on to pull many future design elements directly from Rob's design, such as the doubled pupil!

Upper Body

his left hand was originally disconnected/fragmented from his arm/wrist. while cool in concept, this was eventually dropped because it was too difficult to draw consistently. oh well!

his torso/waist were originally more cylinder/sphere-shaped to contrast how Rob's design is made of squares/polygons. again, i have since decided to follow the original philosophy instead of going against it.

my favorite design detail for the torso is the heart-shaped hole in their chest! it is by far my favorite thing to draw :3c

Lower Body

you can see that their waist was more of an elliptical shape here; the legs were also cylinders devoid of much static and largely maintained their patterns.

also notable are the missing portions of the legs. the right leg prominently features a jagged empty space below the knee and a missing section near the hip. this aspect was dropped to simplify the design and remove recognizability

not so much as a note as it is a funny tidbit, but the feet aren't meant to look as if they've been attached at the heel. i just drew the legs before the feet and didn't bother erasing the overlapping lines.

this design wasn't meant to be super solid or well-thought out, i just needed to get the general idea down on paper, and that's what i did! :)

Tail!

ah, the static tail! the visual style of the tail was meant to hearken back to the scan lines you see on old VHS tapes.

as cool as this idea was, it conflicted with him needing to have gained a pig tail in The Future, which i consider to be crucial to the story progression. hah! i love getting to write stuff like that.

having a tail also made him more closely resemble Gumball, which conflicted with rule #1 of the design philosophy. on top of that, i had already used the static tail idea in The Sister, and i felt like recycling it for another character would cheapen the impact of that moment.

and so i revoked his tail privileges. a tragic, yet necessary sacrifice 😔

and with that the notes are done! i don’t know if anybody will actually read this, but i sure did enjoy writing it!

[apomaro-mellow]

The Bright Side S01E03: Brace Yourselves

S01E02

Steve was watching some mindless tv when El came through the front door, bags in hand from the mall.

"Someone was busy", Steve commented as she placed them right on the coffee table.

"I went to the mall!", she exclaimed, exuberant.

"Clearly. Whatjda get?"

"I got some shirts, some new scrunchies, I'm basically revamping my whole wardrobe. Max said I should've when we moved."

Steve nodded along as he watched her take more stuff out of bags. He noticed two new bracelets on her left wrist. And then another two on the other.

"New accessory?"

"Some guy at a kiosk was selling them. And I couldn't say no."

"You gotta be careful around those kiosk guys. They're ruthless", Steve said. "Remember when me and Robin worked at a keychain kiosk?"

El got a haunted look in her eyes. "I'd never seen her so aggressively nice. But they're cute right?"

"Yeah. Cute. Just make sure you avoid their eyes. We kiosk folk can smell weakness."

"Aren't you working at a gas station now?"

"Once a kiosk guy, always a kiosk guy."

--------------------------------------

"You're still wearing that?", Max asked when El showed up to school with one of the four bracelets she had bought that weekend.

"I think it's a nice bracelet. And I don't have a ton of accessories."

"You know what that means? More mall time", Max decided.

"Hey El", Mike greeted. "Nice bracelet."

"Thanks", El blushed.

"Yeah, I really like the color, uh green."

"Smooth", Will rolled his eyes.

"Maybe I'll get more. They've got a ton of colors", El beamed.

"Cool", Mike said.

"Cool", she said.

"Okay, since we're all cool, how's about we get to class?", Lucas cut in before either one could trip over their words.

"I'm right behind you", Will said.

The bell rang and the whole group went into their classroom. El was determined to get more bracelets if Mike liked them so much.

----------------------------------------

After school, Jim and Hopper were in the living room, taking some planks out of a box when Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and Will all walked in without even knocking.

"Hello children who don't live here", Jim greeted.

"Where's El? Didn't she walk home with you guys?", Steve asked.

"No, she said she was gonna stop by the mall before coming back", Dustin said as he made himself comfortable on the couch.

"What are you guys doing?", Mike asked.

"Putting together a shelf", Steve answered as he removed the last piece from the box.

Will's eyes narrowed a bit. "Is this because of what my mom said?"

"No/Yes", Jim and Steve both answered at the same time.

"Little Miss Byers seems to think I can't put together a shelf as good as this Bob guy", Jim said, basically contradicting himself.

"It is a pretty nice shelf", Will said. "Now Jonathan had a place for his camera stuff."

"Yeah, well I can beat that", Jim said.

"I don't know", Steve took out the instructions and began looking through it. "This looks...not easy. Where'd you get this thing?"

"New place. Ikea", Jim said as he grabbed one piece. "It's a shelf. I don't need instructions. Just hand me that other piece."

Steve did as he was told and Jim started to hammer away at the shelf parts.

----------------------------------------

Meanwhile, El was by the kiosk again, looking at the different selection of rubber bracelets. Not only were there several colors, but many of them combined colors. She wondered what Mike liked other than green. Maybe he'd like blue? Or yellow?

"Please tell me you're not thinking about which one Mike would like", Max said, arms crossed.

"What if I am?"

"He's a boy. And boys don't notice when girls do things for them."

El's face screwed in thought. "Like that time you wore your hair in a ponytail and Lucas didn't say anything?"

"Exactly! I spent like ten minutes getting it just right only for him to not notice! I was in the bathroom forever!"

"10 minutes is forever?"

"It's long enough. And too long for a guy who doesn't notice details. Like Mike."

"Mike noticed today though. Maybe he'll notice a new one. And maybe bracelets can be my thing."

"They most certainly can", said the employee, waiting for the right moment to strike. "These kinds of bracelets can make a statement. But if you want something more versatile..."

Some time later, El came through the door, five bracelets on each wrist and a suspiciously large plastic bag in her hand. All eyes turned towards her.

"...Whatcha got there?", Steve asked.

"Just some...stuff. Whatcha got there?", she gestured to whatever Steve and Jim were doing.

"Building a shelf!", Jim shouted from underneath a pile of shelf pieces.

"You know, eventually", Steve added.

"Why are you guys here?", El asked the boys.

"Enjoying the show", Lucas answered.

"Also, we agreed to hang here after school", Dustin said.

Will nodded. "Yeah what took you so long?"

"I was getting more bracelets."

"Well, we gotta be getting home now", Mike said. "Good luck with the shelf?"

"I don't need luck I'm an expert craftsman", Jim said.

------------------------------------------

The next morning, El jingled down the stairs, having evolved from rubber bracelets to beaded ones with charms.

"When Hopper said he needed to put a bell on you, I don't think that's what he meant", Steve said, already in the kitchen getting breakfast together.

"Where is he anyway?", El asked.

Steve pointed through the entryway towards the living room. El poked her head out and saw Jim sitting in his chair, staring pensively at an indescribable arrangement of wood that was supposed to be a shelf. El quietly went back into the kitchen.

"When did he get up?", she whispered.

"I don't think he went to sleep last night", Steve confessed.

El mouthed 'wow' and Steve nodded.

-----------------------------------------

Steve was in the middle of ringing up a customer while Robin restocked the candy.

"Okay, I've see another bag of Skittles I'm gonna puke the rainbow. Your turn to restock the shelves", she said.

"If I see another shelf I'm gonna puke. And it's not gonna be rainbows", Steve said.

"Your dad still hasn't finished the one he started. Hasn't it been days?"

Like on cue, the phone for the gas station rang. Steve answered it.

"Steve? Come home, I've had a breakthrough. But I need four hands for this."

Steve let out a sigh. "Four whole hands?"

"Today is the day this gets finished. I can feel it."

Jim hung up and Steve pinched the bridge of his nose as Robin walked over to the register.

"Uh, hey, isn't that your sister and her friends?"

Steve looked up to see El walking in the direction of home with another heavy looking back, bracelets up to her forearms and a few on her ankles as well. And if his eyes were deceiving him, some threaded friendship bracelets held her hair up. Steve held up a finger.

"One family member break down at a time."

-----------------------------------

Steve was aching and tired and Jim was sweating and the shelf was nowhere near being done.

"What are we even building anymore? A bedframe? A tv stand? I can't remember."

"It's a shelf and it's getting done whether it likes it or not", Jim said, holding his hammer threateningly at the object.

"You guys are obsessed", El said from the couch. The bracelets now went up to her elbows, up her calves, and there were even some tied to her belt. Rubber, beaded, threaded, charms and all.

"El...has anyone told you about your bracelets?", Steve asked.

"Mike said he liked my green one."

"Which one?", Jim asked, looking at her like it was his first time seeing her.

"Ummm, it'sss...it's around here somewhere", El said as she looked up and down her arms, moving other bracelets out of the way.

"I think you could stand to lose a few", Steve said.

"But bracelets are my thing!"

"Is not-standing your thing too?", Jim asked.

"I can stand!" El suddenly got to her feet but with her equilibrium off, she teetered before falling back onto the couch. "Well! Can you stand? You've been up for nights trying to build that thing."

Jim immediately shot up to his feet only to just as immediately fall face first onto the ground.

"Steve?"

"Yeah, Hop?"

"I'm callin' it quits with this shelf."

"Okay."

"Steve?"

"Yeah, El?"

"I think I should call it quits with these bracelets."

"Okay."

---------------------------------------------

"You don't need to ask Mr. Bob to fix it", Jonathan said as he snapped pictures of the mess of pieces. "It's actually a pretty good commentary about progress at the expense of tradition."

"Uh, yeah. Either way, make sure he makes it over here. I want a shelf. Not art", Jim said, swirling his coffee around. "What's happening out there?", he asked, gesturing to the backyard.

"A holy ceremony", Jonathan said cryptically.

All of the kids stood around El and Erica Sinclair.

Lucas stood as an officiator. "Do you, El Hopper, agree to relinquish all ownership over these accessories and transfer all titles?"

"I do", El said.

"And do you, Erica Sinclair, promise to care for these bracelets, so long as they are in your possession?"

"I do", Erica replied.

"Then let the transfer be done", Lucas ordered.

El and Erica shook hands. Then El slid all the bracelets on that arm onto Erica's. She did the same to the other arm. And then pushed a cardboard box with the rest towards her.

"What're you even gonna do with all those?", Dustin asked.

"Turn a profit", Erica said as she picked up the box. "Girl scouts go crazy for these things."

Episode 4

[20dollarlolita]

A little sewing machine anatomy:

This is part of a sewing machine head. It's the u-turn between the tension and the uptake lever.

On this machine, the nose plate comes off. This does not mean you should sew with the nose plate off. The plate comes off so you can get stuck thread out. After that, you should put the plate back on.

The nose plate is load bearing. The machine will not run well with the plate off. Do not lose the nose plate for your machine.

You can also see here why, if there's a little plate in the tension unit that the thread can go on either side of, I recommend going on the righthand side. It gives you a little bit of extra room for the thread to move without risking it getting tangled in the u-turn check spring.

On some machines, especially non-computerized machines, that little wire is a delicate part that is very annoying to replace. It's critical to having the machine work.

On this specific machine, that little wire is a delicate part that is very annoying to replace and critical to having the machine work. In addition, that specific part is about $80 for the part alone, not counting labor replacing it. This is because, in addition to doing the job of a check spring, it's connected to a sensor that tells the machine if the thread breaks and how much thread to put into each stitch. Be. Nice. To the little wire.

If you only sew with metallic thread, it's generally a good idea to use something like Kingstar, which isn't actually made out of metal. Commercial machines use non-metal metallic thread most of the time, because running actual metal over the little baby wire there is just begging to saw the wire in half. This isn't a problem that you have to be concerned about if you're just doing some small detailing once every few projects, but if you're making a ton of something, try to get a rice-paper or polyester based metallic thread. Even if you're paying more per cone, that little wire costs $80 plus paying someone to replace it. As a bonus, non-metal metallic-finish thread usually doesn't break as much, so you can more easily trust your embroidery machine to do something in the background while you go do dishes or something.

As a general rule, if the machine comes with a part attached to it, it's prudent to not take that part off and lose it.

However, if you have more dollars than sense, and also own a HV Ruby Ninety, Epic, or Epic 2, or Epic 980q and you just really like the color purple, you can ask your dealer if they can order you the nose plate for a Epic 95Q, which is interchangeable with the other machine, and yet is purple for some confusing reason. However, if you have a special edition or limited edition of one of these machines, they do not make the colored nose plates anymore. You have to be happy with the 95Q's purple or the normal white one. This color-matching should NOT be your primary motivation behind not losing your nose plate, but whatever floats your goat, I guess.

WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PIECES THAT SHOULD NOT BE LOST:

This piece is the plastic bit that holds your bobbin case down. Some machines have them, and some don't. On the machines that DO have them, the fact that it comes out means that you can replace your bobbin thread cutter without needing to put your machine in for service. THIS PART IS NOT OPTIONAL. Don't fucking lose it! If you're having problems with your machine, and you lug your fucking 59 pound machine into the store for help, and you don't have that part, guess what! We can't fix your machine until you get us that part! We can't troubleshoot it! We can't even look at it! This is a critical part! It is not optional!

Do not just take stuff out of your sewing machine and lose it!!! Your dealer probably doesn't have these on hand, because you're NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT OUT AND LOSE IT. This isn't like the rubber feet on the bottom of Tacony and Bernina machines, where it just falls off some times. This isn't like a threader head that you can break just by not paying attention. These are parts that yOU REALLY NEED and so most people don't FUCKING LOSE THEM

and now I'm about to fucking lose it

Have a nice night. I wrote another post and was like 90 minutes into it and tumblr deleted it because I accidentally had the nerve to hit ctrl+z.

In other news, if the circuit board is $500, please don't attempt to install it yourself.

[alln64games]

F-Zero X

JP release: 14th July 1998

NA release: 27th October 1998

PAL release: 6th November 1998

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

N64 Magazine Score: 91%

I loved F-Zero GX on GameCube, but I’ve never played the N64 version before. It turns out I love this version, too, even though it feels a lot more brutal than I remember GX being. This is Nintendo’s take on the sci-fi racer genre, and it does a great job at it.

F-Zero X features a whopping 30 racers at once (each with a unique ship) and – even with some obvious rubber banding – they all move like actual opponents, making mistakes and reacting to your presence. The game goes a great job at remaining smooth by adjusting the level of detail as the framerate is perfect throughout. The tracks twist and turn and it’s all incredibly fast.

One key part of the game is the energy bar. On top of representing your health, it’s also your boost. There are places to recharge on the track (usually near the end of a lap) so a key part of the game is deciding how much you’re willing to risk in order to go faster. Blow up and you lose a life and have to start the race again.

The tracks in F-Zero X start out quite gentle, but things take a sudden turn in the last track of the second cup (there are four cups in total, with 6 tracks each) and you’ll start getting thin portions of the track with no edges – fall off and you’re not placed back like other games, you lose a life and start again. Just surviving the tracks becomes the main challenge until you start learning them.

Not every choice is made against the player, though. You have barge attacks and a spin attack at your disposal. Take someone else and they won’t score any points for that round. To make good use of this, the game even highlights you rival (the opponent with the highest score) so you can try to target specific opponents and pick them out of the crowd.

On top of the leagues (which have four difficulties) and multiplayer, there’s a few extra modes. There’s an unlockable X cup that serves you up procedurally generated tracks and a “death race” mode where you race around a short track trying to take out every other racer (I personally would prefer if you could do this on other tracks as well).

F-Zero X is a great game that is quite full of stuff to do. It’s still a ton of fun today.

F-Zero X is fast. While other developers may have chosen to polish its exterior, Nintendo have created one of – it not, the most – well-judged and wonderfully balanced racing games we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing.

- James Price, N64 Magazine #22

Remake or remaster?

A remake of F-Zero GX with all the tracks and features of F-Zero X added in would be amazing – although it shouldn’t be based on this version of F-Zero X, but we’ll get into that when I play the Japanese-only expanded version of the game.

Official ways to get the game.

There is no way to buy a new copy of F-Zero X, the only official way to play is to rent it via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak.

Re-releases

2004: iQue

2007: Wii Virtual Console

2016: Wii U Virtual Console

2022: Nintendo Switch Online (Subscription Only)

[marknee]

mists of celeste

a series by @hongism: by marknee

(contains spoilers! please be wary when reading)

let me start you here, with the understanding that this isn’t - in any way shape or form - an essay, nor is it an attempt at such. i rather just want to blurt everything into writing regarding my thoughts of this incredibly crafted series, so my head may feel that bit lighter. because holy shit. i have a lot to say. and i cannot ask anything of you, but to believe me when i say i’m not one to sugarcoat my words, leaving you with only the purest of faith that everything i write here, i undoubtedly mean. with that trust in mind, i present to you a very unorganised mind dump (?) of mine from over the span of a fortnight of reading.

i had to pick this series up twice during its entirety as i had an unfortunate epiphany halfway through, and i only just registered the hefty loss i knew i was going to grieve over the moment my eyes gazed upon the last word, causing me to postpone reading as much as i could — which, if you should know, didn’t last for a full twenty-four hours either time. i managed five, perhaps six, at most.

if i had a physical copy of this series, a highlighter, and a shit ton of index tabs, i fear what would become of me. the author has this series so incredibly well written that every single sentence deserved highlighting and placing into a buzzfeed quiz titled, “choose a quote and we’ll guess the state of your mental health,” ‘cause fuck me, i had a lot of self reflection to do after some of the chapters. at least one thing is clear, both the characters and i need intense therapy. and maybe a warm bubble bath with a cute rubber duck.

however, i will spare you the sob story and list some of the quotes from this series i either, 1) cried about, or 2) added to my list of topics to bring up with my therapist when i see her next.

“constantly looking at the negatives will get you nowhere in life. just thinking: what’s going to go wrong? that’s a recipe for disaster, as is only thinking about the past. what went wrong in the past doesn’t necessarily mean that it will go wrong in the future.” — seonghwa to y/n, chapter 17.

“you love her. what is love compared to duty?” — jisung to seonghwa, chapter 33.

“you would do well not to romanticise love in such a way otherwise you will be sorely disillusioned. love contains the freedom to choose what you want without the other person making any decision for you.” — seonghwa to jisung, chapter 33.

“what makes me more deserving than the man who died for me?” — y/n to seonghwa, chapter 33.

“oh, darling, if you could see yourself through my eyes, you would know that you are the most deserving person in the universe.” — seonghwa to y/n, chapter 33.

i want to give you beautiful and happy memories, my darling. i want to see you smile everyday for the rest of my life, even if it’s just for a moment. i want so much for you, and selfishly, i want to be the one to give it all to you.” — san to y/n, chapter 41.

“in answering the haunting question of “what do you want from me”, perhaps, simultaneously, you want everything and nothing at all.” — chapter 41.

“whoever came up with the saying ‘the truth will set you free’ clearly should have left paragraphs worth of fine print detailing how atrocious and painful it would be before that freedom.” — chapter 45.

“should this be a monster of his hatred’s creation, you will put your hands to the clay and mold its grotesque features further into obscurity.” — about yeosang, chapter 45.

“do you wish for me to bear it on my shoulders so you can sleep comfortably at the devils side?” — hongjoong, chapter 47.

“if love is meant to be part of life, then why is it draining seonghwa of his?” — chapter 48.

perhaps i cried! honestly, the two most impactful quotes on this list for me were, “what is love compared to duty?” and “what makes me more deserving than the man who died for me?” i think they both represent this story in the most heart-rending, glorious and tragic way possible as everyone is trying to confront the demons of their past, but of course, there is no reward without sacrifice.

in a way, every crew member on the horizon sacrificed something — perhaps, in their own personal way but still, all their wounds are equal in validity, so they’re basically on the same playing field of what it means of sacrifice. y/n lost her memories. most of them lost their freedom. half of them were subdued to others control and dehumanised and belittled. and every backstory broke my heart the more the pieces were revealed throughout.

i’m praying as the story unfolds further, every member finds their own redemption and closure, and allows themselves the peace they’ve deserved from the very beginning — in whatever form that may take. i just want them to be happy. so, author, please leave my boys alone. they’re tired. i’m tired. my poor y/n has been through more shit than i can comprehend. we’re relying on you, love.

also, i want to lay out all my cards on the table right now and admit there are the two members i genuinely want to physically fight (fists ‘n all): yeosang and hongjoong. the pair of them i want to throw off the airlock myself, never mind them threatening to do it to me. watch me do it. firstly, starting with the former: what the fuck is my guy’s problem? i cannot count the amount of times i got punched in the gut, slammed against a wall, choked (not in that way, people), almost DIED because of this motherfucker, and for what? it’s not my fucking fault wooyoung and i are halves of one soul. like i asked for this shit? dude needs to get his shit together ASAP, and i’m not saying that for his behalf (even though i’m sure therapy would be very good for him), i’m saying it for my behalf. because best believe he tries me again, i will swing, and i will absolutely clock his crown jewels, no pun intended. i’ve been sparring with jongho recently, and he tells me i’ve gotten better. so don’t even try me, mate.

his ONLY redeeming feature and the last remaining bit of patience i have for him relies in how good he was in bed in chapter 45. that’s it. i don’t fucking blame wooyoung. for anything. because i understand it all.

secondly, the absolute audacity personified himself: kim hongjoong. him and i are on a poorly constructed rollercoaster at the moment where the worker is dozing off behind the control system. one minute, the man has me seething, and the next, i’m wildly attracted to him. and then he says something shitty and the rollercoaster starts again. they’re not allowing me off at all, so i suppose i’ll be here forever. unless… they solve their problems within the sheets. and hear me out, okay? it (kinda) worked for yeosang, so sex with the captain? how scandalous. and it would help let off some of that pent up frustration between the two of us — my frustration with him, mostly. he genuinely gets on my tits. but i love him.

(don’t think i forgot that bath scene, miss author.)

on note of that, i actually made a list in my notes app at the beginning of reading this series where i ranked how good the sex would be with each crew mate (that’s if she were to do it with all of them). however, i did remove the members we’ve already done it with, so here’s my hypothesis (of the members we still have yet to):

rank 5: mingi. cons include, haven’t actually had a proper conversation with him ever, he scares me still a bit, i wonder if he even knows my name. pros include, has the power for it, no doubt he’s probably amazing, but please take me to dinner first.

rank 4: jongho. cons include, dude is like my little brother, would be very very awkward during and afterwards, endless teasing from the others and i’m too sensitive for that right now. pros include, he’s a berserker so no doubt he has the capabilities in him, he’s not a touchy person, sigh.

rank 3: yunho. cons include, is still figuring out his feeling towards seonghwa and hongjoong, would hate to become between that, he’s my doctor so also very awkward. pros include, my man is hot as fuck, would be an absolute boss about aftercare and take it seriously (as he should), very romantic and sweet.

rank 2: wooyoung. cons include, yeosang would fuck me up, like seriously. i’d probably die. he’s half of my soul, so… no comment there. pros include, an absolute tease, the fucker, so caring, though he would definitely want yeosang there (is that a pro or con i can’t decide?).

rank 1: hongjoong. cons include, literally none. pros include, that man hates my fucking guts so no doubt i won’t be able to walk for the next month (not complaining), immediate bragging rights that i’ve fucked the scourge of the black sea yeah get fucked everyone hahaha, would genuinely ruin me, i get to sleep in the captains bed like how exciting is that? i haven’t even been in his quarters never mind his bed! will be a very interesting and intense chapter.

now, moving on to later in the series with that choice with the serum for mingi. i simply cannot fathom the amount of voice messages i recorded over this. it was gobsmacking to me that everyone was against her for wanting mingi to have a choice, instead of lacking him of such a ghastly thing apparently. she didn’t want to deprive him of making his own decisions and deciding his own fate, and the fact the entire crew got mad at her for it, knowing they didn’t even ask for his consent in the first place?! nah, i have beef with all of them at this point. literally fight me, i don’t care that you’re pirates. i’m a raging woman, i’m worse. and don’t even get me started on the jisung and hyunwoo ordeal. actually, let me start a new paragraph for this one because it’s gonna be a long one.

the whole situation is genuinely indescribable of how upsetting it was (not to me, but to y/n. well, i guess to me also, then). hyunwoo is very much worse than jisung, but jisung still fucked up from his shitty choice of decisions. y/n’s backstory is very unsettling and she’d never really had a solid ground and people to rely on, until she had her team in the military. perhaps they weren’t exactly a family, but they cared for each other. and that was enough. but, what hurts the most is she genuinely believed they were good people (i quote: “hyunwoo was like a brother to me”), trusted them wholeheartedly, openly defended them, and even spent years of her life to pardon the guy she thought died for her (ouch). in return, they manipulated her, backstabbed her to the gods, and planned on injecting her a third time to keep the good image she had of them for their own benefit— fuck me, i’m seething just writing this. however, i too, am mourning their deaths for the sake of y/n. they were the closest thing to family to her, and knowing hyunwoo had a family of his own… but, i guess the lesson we learnt here is once you make your bed, you have to lie in it.

i realise this story isn’t over yet, but so far, it was been such a incredible ride. the world-building is out of this world— can we take a moment of appreciation for the google docs of each planet? what. i’m so excited for what’s to come, but i just wanted to share everything. i have cried too many times over this series that it felt like a reblog wasn’t enough appreciation for me. i wanted to do more. my love language is words of affirmation for a reason!

main points of this rant (of sorts):

if hongjoong and yeosang piss me off any further it’s on sight. there’s nothing scarier than a woman whose been messed with for too long, i’ll tell you that.

i fucking loathe hyunwoo, and i hate jisung slightly less, but i mourn for them also. and for the sake of my own pride, i will not enclose how hard i sobbed over that scene. i will not. ever.

hongjoong and y/n need to fuck already. there i said it. the tension is too much i’m sure mingi could sense it from another fucking planet.

san and wooyoung and jongho deserve the world. i love those sweethearts. they could never do me wrong. i will love them ‘til the end of time.

the yeosang sex chapter was everything and more. etched in my mind eternally. incredible.

i’m so mad i can’t add this to my shakespeare series as it’s not a bts fanfic, but i am seriously thinking about making a series for ateez just to add this in there. should it be charles dickens or jane austen? ahh, don’t tempt me, please.

that’s it! a literal dump of my entire thought process going through this 48 chapter-ed (for now) series! i wanna take a moment to thank @hongism for spending her time writing and creating a piece of art for us. i, and many others, owe it to you :) we appreciate you so much.

if you do want to read this (if you haven’t already spoiled it for yourselves), the link is under ‘a series’ right at the top of this post. or you can go on @hongism’s account and check it out there!

thank you for reading,

nini x

[industrynewsupdates]

Uncovering Opportunities in Natural Rubber Procurement Intelligence 2024 - 2030

Implementing efficient procurement practices can help companies reduce costs related to sourcing natural rubber. The global market size was estimated at USD 19.73 billion in 2023. The market is driven by rising demand for the category derived from certified sustainable plantations and a shift in consumer preferences toward sustainable products. The increasing applications of this commodity in non-automotive sectors, such as footwear, consumer goods, healthcare, and construction sectors, are also driving the growth.

It is estimated that the total global production of this commodity in 2023 and 2022 was 14.5 million tons each year, compared to 13.8 million tons in 2021. On the other hand, world consumption of rubber (natural and synthetic total) decreased by 2.4% in 2023. In 2023, consumption dropped to 28.8 million tons compared to 29.5 million tons in 2022.

The industry is highly fragmented and competitive. Due to the ease with which buyers can switch suppliers, the latter has limited power to dictate terms or prices. The production and supply chain is dispersed across various regions and countries, especially in parts of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The presence of multiple smallholder farmers further contributes to fragmentation. There are more than 6 million smallholder farmers for natural rubbers worldwide. These farmers sell their production to about 100,000 dealers who then forward it to more than 500 factories.

Order your copy of the Natural Rubber Procurement Intelligence Report, 2024 - 2030, published by Grand View Research, to get more details regarding day one, quick wins, portfolio analysis, key negotiation strategies of key suppliers, and low-cost/best-cost sourcing analysis

Raw material sourcing, labor, processing (machinery, energy, chemicals and facilities), storage and transportation and others are the major cost elements associated with the production of this commodity. Transportation costs are incurred when raw latex is moved from plantations to processing facilities and finished rubber products are transported to distribution centers or customers. The costs can vary based on the distance traveled, infrastructure, and mode of transportation (rail, road, sea, or air).

In Q4 2023, rubber prices increased in the North American region due to heightened demand from the Asian market. This increase encouraged downstream sectors to spike their prices, particularly in anticipation of the winter season. This, in turn, caused an uptick in domestic inquiries for the product. At the same time, rising raw materials prices have caused a positive outlook for this commodity. Companies actively stocked up their inventories through sufficient order placements, resulting in a robust market. At the end of the last quarter of 2023, natural latex rubber (DRC 60% H.A.) prices reached USD 1,770 /MT in the North American region. Compared to Q3 2023, this was a nominal increase of 0.88%.

The top manufacturing countries are Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and China. In 2023, the top three exporters of "technically specified rubber (TSR)" were Malaysia (trade value of USD 775,783K), Belgium (trade value of USD 228,398K), and Ghana (trade value of USD 105,760K). As part of their procurement strategies, companies evaluate suppliers on multiple parameters, such as international standards (ISO and ASTM), sustainability practices, and certifications.

Natural Rubber Sourcing Intelligence Highlights

• The market is highly fragmented. Most of the fragmentation occurs from these specific regions - Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America.

• The bargaining power of suppliers is low due to the increased fragmentation. In recent years, the category has become increasingly commoditized, with very little differences between products offered by different suppliers.

• The threat of new entrants is low in this industry since the cultivation of natural rubber requires access to suitable lands or plantation zones for harvesting, high capital investment for processing facilities and a network of distribution vendors.

• Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and China are some of the ideal countries for procurement. 

Browse through Grand View Research’s collection of procurement intelligence studies:

• Lab Chemicals Procurement Intelligence Report, 2023 - 2030 (Revenue Forecast, Supplier Ranking & Matrix, Emerging Technologies, Pricing Models, Cost Structure, Engagement & Operating Model, Competitive Landscape)

• Air Freight Services Procurement Intelligence Report, 2023 - 2030 (Revenue Forecast, Supplier Ranking & Matrix, Emerging Technologies, Pricing Models, Cost Structure, Engagement & Operating Model, Competitive Landscape)

Natural Rubber - Key Suppliers 

• Vietnam Rubber Industry Group

• Hevea-Tec (Pirelli & C. S.p.A)

• Thai Hua Rubber Company Limited (Guangdong Guangken Rubber Group)

• Sri Trang Agro-Industry Plc

• Tong Thai Rubber Co., Ltd.

• Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad

• Thai Rubber Latex Group Public Company Limited

• Hainan Natural Rubber Industry Group Co., Ltd.

• Feltex Co., Ltd

• Enghuat Industries Limited

• Southland Holding Company

• Von Bundit Co., Ltd.

Natural Rubber Procurement Intelligence Report Scope

• Growth Rate: CAGR of 5.09% from 2024 to 2030

• Pricing Growth Outlook: 3%-8% (Annual)

• Pricing Models: Spot pricing, long term contract pricing, cost plus pricing, market based or competitive pricing model

• Supplier Selection Scope: Cost and pricing, past engagements, productivity, geographical presence

• Supplier Selection Criteria: Type of natural rubber, production capacity, grades offered, technical specifications, and other operational and functional capabilities

• Report Coverage: Revenue forecast, supplier ranking, supplier matrix, emerging technology, pricing models, cost structure, competitive landscape, growth factors, trends, engagement, and operating model

Brief about Pipeline by Grand View Research:

A smart and effective supply chain is essential for growth in any organization. Pipeline division at Grand View Research provides detailed insights on every aspect of supply chain, which helps in efficient procurement decisions.

Our services include (not limited to):

• Market Intelligence involving – market size and forecast, growth factors, and driving trends

• Price and Cost Intelligence – pricing models adopted for the category, total cost of ownerships

• Supplier Intelligence – rich insight on supplier landscape, and identifies suppliers who are dominating, emerging, lounging, and specializing

• Sourcing / Procurement Intelligence – best practices followed in the industry, identifying standard KPIs and SLAs, peer analysis, negotiation strategies to be utilized with the suppliers, and best suited countries for sourcing to minimize supply chain disruptions

[ceb721]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: SEE KAI RUN | 2-Pair Bundle Peyton Black & Silver High-Top Sneakers | Toddler 7.

[customsiliconemolds]

Silicone Molds for All Your Needs: Cheap, Customizable, and Versatile

Silicone molds are like magical helpers for crafting and making things. They're not just for experts – everyone can use them! In this blog, we're going to talk about the best and affordable cheap silicone molds, custom-made molds, and even molds that you can personalize. Plus, we'll peek into how silicone molds are used for making parts and big batches of stuff. Keep an eye out for the mention of Rubber Silicone Molds, a company that knows its silicone mold game!

Affordable Fun with Molds:

Let's start with the good news – you don't need a ton of money to play with silicone molds. These molds are everywhere, and they're perfect for fun projects. Whether you're into baking, crafting, or making soap, these molds won't cost you an arm and a leg. You can experiment and create cool things without breaking the bank.

Custom-Made Silicone Molds – Your Ideas, Your Way:

Now, imagine having a mold that's made just for you, with your design in mind. That's the magic of Custom made silicone molds! We’re a company that's awesome at making molds that match your imagination. Whether it's a special shape for chocolates or a unique mold for candles, they've got you covered. Your ideas come to life with molds that are tailor-made for you.

Personalized Silicone Molds – Because You're Unique:

If you want your creations to have a bit of "you" in them, personalized silicone molds are the way to go. These molds let you add your style to whatever you're making. Imagine making truly one-of-a-kind gifts or adding a personal touch to party favors. We have got a bunch of options for adding your special flair to your creations. It's like putting a little piece of you into everything you make!

Molding Silicone Parts – Precision for Serious Stuff:

Now, let's talk about silicone molds doing serious business. Industries use silicone molds to make parts for cars, medical gadgets, and all sorts of electronic items. Why? Because silicone molds can capture tiny details with super precision. So, when you need things to fit together just right, silicone molds are the go-to solution. We're like the superheroes of making stuff with accuracy.

Commercial Silicone Molds – Making Lots of Good Stuff:

Big companies love using commercial silicone molds. These molds are like the superheroes of the mold world, handling big batches of products without losing quality. We make sure businesses get top-notch molds that can handle the pressure of making a whole bunch of things.

Your Mold Heroes:

Speaking of superheroes, we are like your go-to mold hero. We know everything about silicone molds, and they're here to help you. Whether you're a creative person or a big business, We've got affordable, customizable, and reliable molds. So, when you're on the mold-making adventure, we're the friends you want by your side.

FAQs:

Q: Are silicone molds safe for food use?

A: Absolutely! Custom Silicone molds are food-grade and safe for baking, molding chocolates, and making other edible creations.

Q: Can I reuse silicone molds?

A: Yes, most silicone molds are reusable. Just give them a good wash and they're ready for your next project.

Q: How do I clean silicone molds?

A: Silicone molds are easy to clean. Simply wash them with warm, soapy water, or toss them in the dishwasher for convenience.

Q: Can I use silicone molds for non-culinary projects?

A: Certainly! Silicone molds are versatile and can be used for crafting, soap-making, candle-making, and more.

Q: What makes Rubber Silicone Molds stand out?

A: Rubber Silicone Molds is known for its high-quality, customizable molds catering to individuals and businesses. We offer a diverse range of options to suit various needs.

Conclusion:

Silicone molds are the coolest sidekicks for anyone who loves to create things. From cheap molds for your fun projects to custom-made and personalized molds for your unique ideas, silicone molds make crafting easy and exciting. And when it comes to serious business – making parts and big batches of products – commercial silicone molds are the real superheroes. Don't forget to check out Rubber Silicone Molds for all your mold needs. We're the experts in making molds that are just right for you, whether you're a crafting wizard or a business person. Happy molding!

Read More- Discover The Exciting World Of Food Grade Silicone Mould Making