#ZK month 2022

[arverst-aegnar]

I am outrageously nervous about posting anything on AO3. I don't know how i still have it built up in my head as something that requires immense skill to do, but that's the brain for you.

Anyway, this is my late, maybe or maybe not-so great contribution to ZK Month 2022.

[beealexageek]

Zutara Month 2022

Day 10

Prompt: Tui & La.

"...They balance each other. Push and pull. Life and death. Good and evil. Yin and Yang."

ZK Week 2020 - Day 7- “Rebirth”

ZK Month 2024 - Day 31- “Reincarnation”

Part of my rewards on Patreon.

Zutara Month 2022 Day 26 Prompt: Scars. - Hey, are you ok? - Yes, I'm. Just... - Zuko, it's okay if you don't wan... - I want! It's just... this... [Pointing to his scar] - What's wrong? - This not bother you? - What?! Of course not! I love every part of you. - Really? - Sure. Let me show you.

🧡 Become a Patreon!

❤️ You can also support me on ☕ Ko-fi

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[osrphotography]

ZK-CIE [Convair CV-440/580] seen at Air Center One (2020).

New to Union Oil, CA in 1957, and registered as N98G, it was built as a Convair CV-440-83 c/n 399. It was sold to Gulf Oil Corp a month after delivery and was rebuilt to a CV-580 in 1961.

After being re-registered three times (N98GL, N57RD, N565EA), it ended up in Alaska working for ERA Aviation Inc by 1967.

It was wfu in 2005 and sold to Air Chathams and flown direct to New Zealand. It was wet-leased to Peau Vavaʻu, Tonga, for a year in 2006. It was then subsequently wet-leased to Air Fiji [NB: seemingly not to be confused with Air Pacific, now Fiji Airways] in 2007. It then spent time with Chathams Pacific [Air Chathams' Pacific Island operations] and Real Tonga Airlines during the 2010-14 period.

It then worked dutifully back in New Zealand until 2022 when it was scrapped and its nose-section purchased by the recently defunct Epic Brewery, Onehunga.

Air Chathams was the last operator in the world to retire the Convair and did so mostly due to new noise regulations imposed by the CAA. This is exactly how the Tasman Cargo Airlines (trading as DHL) 727F was retired a decade earlier.

[jasmine-tea-latte]

I posted 916 times in 2022

51 posts created (6%)

865 posts reblogged (94%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@juldooz-atla

@risemaclay

@cynical-mystic

@barelyaware

@perfectlypanda

I tagged 908 of my posts in 2022

Only 1% of my posts had no tags

#zutara - 499 posts

#zuko x katara - 447 posts

#zuko - 212 posts

#katara - 195 posts

#not atla - 130 posts

#ooh this is pretty - 60 posts

#atla - 55 posts

#avatar the last airbender - 51 posts

#avatar: the last airbender - 49 posts

#zutara week - 46 posts

Longest Tag: 133 characters

#this is why i love fire lady katara. not only bc she would bring new ideology to the fn but bc she and zuko are great rulers together

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

delicate - chapter 18

In which Katara unleashes a display of power to save the Fire Prince while keeping her promise. But in doing so, lines are crossed that can't be uncrossed...

FYI, I updated the tags, and while I tried not to make anything too graphic, some parts at the beginning may make you squeamish. Nothing like Stranger Things' Season 4 levels of graphic, but still reminiscent in a way.

Lastly, you're not going to like me for this cliffhanger (but just wait until you see chapter 19's - y'all are going to be MAD.)

Anyways, without further ado... enjoy!

36 notes - Posted July 23, 2022

#4

delicate - chapter 14

In which Katara and Zuko join her family for a dinner at the Beifong’s, where their pretend courtship will be put to the test against the living lie detector known as Toph Beifong…

AKA, the chapter in which Toph and Suki channel their inner Rachel and Phoebe to figure out what these two pining idiots in denial are hiding, like in the episode of Friends when they find out about Chandler and Monica.

“They think they can mess with us? The mess-ers become the mess-ees!”

(technically Chandler’s line but who’s keeping score?)

and of course:

While poor Sokka (who’s both Joey AND Ross in this scenario) just wants food and for this to all be over with, because this is his best friend and his sister 😩

See the full post

43 notes - Posted June 18, 2022

#3

let’s go back to the start

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36708718

Aang could only stare, rendered speechless as he watched his most loyal companion who he’d given up mastery of the Avatar State for - his forever girl - choosing to side with the Fire Prince instead.

It was all too clear now exactly where Katara’s true loyalties lied, and they weren’t with him.

~*~*~

Or, Aang finally awakens onboard a strange ship a month after the fall of Ba Sing Se to a new world, one where both the Avatar and a traitorous Fire Prince have been declared dead by the Fire Nation.

Now, the pair have no choice but to put aside their differences to form an uneasy alliance. The Avatar must learn to finally let go of his attachment to Katara, while the Fire Prince finds himself surrounded by former enemies who’d just as soon see him dead...

Sequel to Taste of a Poison Paradise.

50 notes - Posted January 28, 2022

#2

When the ZK antis are trying to spread their toxicity yet again but you're too busy living your best life shipping ZUTARA and having ✨FUN✨ unlike those lame haters:

So the next time you hear "iT's NoT cAnOn" just tell them to SMILE and thank them for letting us live in their minds rent free for 15+ years 💜

(and yes, I redid the gif from the OG post because that's been bugging me all this time ahahahaha)

53 notes - Posted September 15, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I am now the proud owner of Zutara mugs 🔥🌊

Behold!

(Hot Leaf Juice not included.)

111 notes - Posted July 4, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[poeticmoonspirit]

I posted 571 times in 2022

That's 230 more posts than 2021!

89 posts created (16%)

482 posts reblogged (84%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@juldooz-atla

@cobraonthecob

@the-badger-mole

@zutarawasrobbed

I tagged 112 of my posts in 2022

#zutara - 41 posts

#zutara month 2022 - 17 posts

#zuko - 12 posts

#anon asks - 12 posts

#katara - 12 posts

#pro zutara - 8 posts

#zutara week 2022 - 8 posts

#fanfiction - 8 posts

#jet - 8 posts

#jetara - 7 posts

Longest Tag: 86 characters

#when i continue writing my jetara fic im gonna picture jet like this during flashbacks

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Why does everyone say "I wish zutara was canon" lmao have you seen the creators and their writing?? We've got everything we need in fanfics and art—hell, even AMVs! Canon is overrated!

Zutara exists in every way that matters.

96 notes - Posted April 3, 2022

#4

LMFAOOOOO why are they so mad?!?!

Imagine going on AO3 and looking for a fic for a ship that you don't even like at 6 in the morning. Talk about dedication! I love my fans <3

Anyways! I'm going to continue minding my business and writing my stories✍🏾

103 notes - Posted March 10, 2022

#3

I've talked about this on twitter, but the way canon shippers defend their ships with their whole chest is hilarious. You're that defensive because zutara is mentioned? Why? You HAVE canon, you have EVERYTHING, yet you still care about what we ship? It's giving insecurity to be honest. It's been fifteen years and you'd think they'd get it through their heads that zutara fans don't give a flying FUCK about what's canon.

Why would we when our fan content is better than anything Bryke would put out? LMAOOO

109 notes - Posted October 6, 2022

#2

These Things I've Done

"Katara, you're not a monster. You'll never be a monster."

She shook her head angrily, unable to contain herself any longer. "No, I don't think you understand, Aang. I decided to end that man's life today. I did that. Not Zuko, not Sokka, me. And if you can't handle that then you can just kindly fuck off!"

Aang sputtered, "You don't mean that—"

She let out a bitter chuckle, "Oh, I think I do," She stepped closer to the airbender so that they were face to face, toe to toe, "And I won't repeat it."

He was breathing harder now, his eyes wide, unable to believe what she was saying. She was perfect. Katara was always perfect. So innocent and kind. So why was he seeing her so differently now? Why was she acting this way?

"Katara, I think Zuko has corrupted you somehow. This isn't like you—"

She clenched her jaw, pressing her finger into his chest, "Oh, no no no—we are not doing this again. You and I? We are not the same. We've never been the same! You can't tell me how to live my life just because you don't agree with it! I ended that man's life because he killed my mother! I was owed that! And I'll be damned if I let anyone else tell me otherwise!"

"And if you think for a second that I am gonna let you slander my best friend then you've got another thing coming! Zuko was there for me, he's always been there for me! So why won't you? Why can't you support me on the one thing that would give me closure?"

"Katara, the monks always say to—"

"I don't care what the monks said, Aang! I am not a monk! I am Katara from the Southern Water Tribe. I am not you! Why don't you understand that?"

"Katara–"

"I'm sorry, Aang," She gulped, swallowing the lump in her throat, "But if you're going to shame me for killing my mother's murderer then I don't think we can be friends anymore."

Part II Part III Part IIII Part V Part VI

182 notes - Posted August 25, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

"zk is mostly katara-centric" first off, so what? And secondly, we love them both equally. Katara gets more hate than any of the other characters. As a brown girl, she can't get too emotional. She can't bloodbend because then she'll be "evil", and she can't be nuanced or too complex.

Outside of zks and the occasional Katara stan, who else is gonna ride and die for her character?? Casual fans who don't even remember what happened in the show?? Antis?? Just shut up already, you sound like a broken record.

186 notes - Posted July 24, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[workpay]

The Best PAYE Tax Calculator in Zambia

The unemployment rate in Zambia in 2022 was 6.13%, decreasing by less than 1% since 2021. Unemployment rates are, of course, viewed negatively. However, smart employers see these rates as a talent pool eagerly awaiting the right opportunities.

Hiring and paying talent in Zambia could be a great opportunity for local and international employers. Companies get diverse skills and varied cultures, which benefit the financial and brand aspects of the businesses.

But hiring from Zambia also means taking the responsibility of PAYE taxes. Employers must make accurate deductions and remit the taxes to the correct authorities. This task warrants the use of good PAYE tax calculation software or service provider.

The information below explores PAYE tax compliance in Zambia and the best PAYE Tax Calculator in Zambia.

PAYE Requirements in Zambia

Like most African countries, Zambia applies a tax collection system on individual employees known as Pay as You Earn or PAYE. The method taxes employees based on their wages or salaries. This tax collection is a significant source of income that the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) administers every tax year. The year runs starting January 1st to December 31st.

Employers must deduct the tax from employee salaries and remit it to the revenue authority. They do this for every employee and must submit the tax on or before the 14th of the following month.

Per the Income Tax Act, Zambia’s PAYE tax rates are progressive. So, the more an employee earns, the higher their tax rate. Below are the working individual income tax rates in Zambia:

Earnings in Kwacha (ZK) | Tax Rate

0 to K4,800 - 0% or no tax

K4,801 to K6,800 - 20%

K6,801 to K8,900 - 30%

Above K8,900 - 37.5%

Therefore, employers can calculate PAYE by summing the basic salary, commissions, and other earnings, then subtracting the deductions and exemptions per tax laws, determining the taxable income. With the resulting value, employers can apply the corresponding tax rate to the value and discover the PAYE.

What are PAYE Calculators?

PAYE calculators are software or digital tools that help employers and HR personnel calculate the income tax they must withhold from an employee's wages or salary per the country's tax regulations and laws.

These calculators are ideal for ensuring accurate and compliant tax deductions. Good PAYE calculators can:

Consider tax deductions. Good PAYE calculators consider the required deductions such as pension, healthcare, and other allowable expenses that reduce the taxable income.

Account for various income tax factors. PAYE calculators can account for deductions, tax allowances, and tax rates to calculate the right tax deductions for each employee.

Update tax rates and brackets. Good PAYE calculators update tax rates and brackets per changes to the legislature.

Remit taxes and payroll frequently. Employers can adjust the PAYE calculations for frequent payroll processing and tax deductions. Good calculators can offer weekly, monthly, and annual calculations.

Report. Good PAYE calculators can generate real-time reports such as payslips for employees and withholding tax summaries for employers.

Workpay Payroll: The Best PAYE Calculator in Zambia

Workpay is the best payroll management provider in Zambia. The solution makes payroll processing simple, effective, and, most importantly, accurate. The payroll feature helps with PAYE calculation in Africa, meaning employers in Zambia or with remote employees in the country can use the award-winning payroll, HR, and Benefits platform for accurate tax remissions.

Workpay Payroll Features

The Workpay payroll feature is an innovative and easy way for Zambian employees to ensure PAYE tax compliance while running payroll. Some features that make Workpay the best PAYE calculator in Zambia include:

Integration

The Workpay calculator fully integrates with payroll and other Workpay services. Employers use the software to streamline the payroll process into a single platform by pulling information from various sources such as ZRA and employee files.

In addition, Workpay integrates with services such as Employer of Record (EOR), allowing employers to make accurate deductions based on the taxing laws of the employee's country without setting up a local entity. Therefore, it ensures compliance with not just tax regulations but labor laws as well.

Accurate Calculations

Because the payroll feature integrates with taxation requirements, employers can expect accurate PAYE calculations for employees in Zambia. The calculation accounts for deductions and allowances and then aligns the taxable value of each employee with the corresponding tax bracket. The result is accurate tax deductions and salaries to individual workers.

Timely Payments

Payroll processing with Workpay is automatic, so employers can remit taxes to the ZRA on time with the peace of mind that their employees will also receive salaries on time. The payroll software can make quick calculations in seconds for multiple employees. Compared to human labor, it is much faster with the advantage of accuracy.

Self-Service

The payroll processor offers excellent convenience to both parties. Employers can conveniently access PAYE information and integrated services from web browsers and the app. Similarly, employees can access their information, payslips, and integrated services using the same methods.

Time-Saving

The Workpay PAYE calculator is fast and effective. It would take extensive time to calculate PAYE for each employee using human labor for a company with more than ten employees. Workpay makes these calculations in a few minutes, saving time that could go into other company processes.

Comprehensive Reports

Workpay provides access to comprehensive reports to employers. They can access PAYE reports in real time from anywhere for filing or referencing. These reports are useful if the company needs to prove compliance with labor and tax laws.

Customer Support

Lastly, Workpay offers employers 24/7 customer support and real-time assistance with PAYE calculations. It contributes to on-time tax remissions and employee payments.

Final Observation

As of 2022, Zambia's unemployment rate has experienced only marginal improvement, underlining the significance of opportunities for employers to tap into this skilled workforce.

Hiring and compensating talent in Zambia can be mutually beneficial. Nevertheless, it comes with a responsibility– the accurate calculation and remittance of PAYE taxes.

Workpay Payroll is the solution for this critical aspect of employment. Workpay's PAYE calculator stands out due to its key features: seamless integration, calculation accuracy, timely payments, self-service accessibility, time-saving capabilities, comprehensive reporting, and round-the-clock customer support.

Workpay Payroll is more than just a tool; it is a strategic asset that empowers employers to thrive in Zambia's evolving job market. Get in touch with us to begin your journey of compliance with Zambia PAYE requirements.

[ailtrahq]

Polygon co-founder submitted a proposal to the ApeCoin DAO governance forum for the creation of its own zero-knowledge Layer-2 blockchain. APE has seen a significant decline in demand since the month began. In a new proposal dated 10 October, Polygon’s co-founder Sandeep Nailwal suggested that ApeCoin DAO develop its own zero-knowledge Layer-2 (zk-L2) blockchain using the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK). Read ApeCoin’s [APE] Price Prediction 2023-2024 The proposal comes nearly 18 months after Yuga Labs, the creators of the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection, tweeted that ApeCoin “will need to migrate to its own chain in order to properly scale” following its “Otherside” NFT minting event in April 2022, which resulted in the highest gas fees in the history of the Ethereum [ETH] network. We're sorry for turning off the lights on Ethereum for a while. It seems abundantly clear that ApeCoin will need to migrate to its own chain in order to properly scale. We'd like to encourage the DAO to start thinking in this direction. — Yuga Labs (@yugalabs) May 1, 2022 The ApeCoin DAO voted in a later proposal to keep ApeCoin within the Ethereum ecosystem. However, the question of an ApeCoin-specific chain remains open. In his proposal, the co-founder argued in favor of Polygon’s CDK for the proposed zk-L2 network by highlighting its security, low fees, shared liquidity, customizability, and interoperability, making it suitable for achieving ApeCoin DAO’s goals.  According to Nailwal: “ApeChain will provide the ApeCoin DAO with an efficient, secure, and decentralized execution environment upon which ApeCoin DAO projects can be built to help realize this mission.” APE holders have it rough At press time, the project’s native token APE traded at $1.04. In the last month, its price has declined by 10%, according to data from CoinMarketCap. The month so far has been marked by a drop in demand for the metaverse-based token. On 2 October, the token attained a price peak of $1.29 and has since declined by 19%. Source: CoinMarketCap An assessment of the movements of key momentum indicators on a daily chart lent credence to the above position. After the bears initiated a downtrend on 3 October, the token’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Money Flow Index (MFI), initially positioned above their respective center lines, began trending downwards.  As of this writing, the token’s MFI approached the oversold zones at 28.34, while its RSI was spotted at 35.37. This suggested that token sell-offs have significantly exceeded accumulation in the last two weeks.  Moreover, APE’s Parabolic Stop and Reverse (SAR) indicator – which identifies potential reversal points in an asset’s price direction- confirmed the market’s downtrend. How much are 1,10,100 APEs worth today? When the dots that make up the indicator are positioned above the price, it indicates a downtrend. Also, when these dots are closely packed together, it suggests that the trend is strong. All of these were true in APE’s case at the time of writing. Lastly, its Aroon Down Line (blue) at 78.57% indicated that the downtrend was strong, and APE’s most recent price low was reached relatively recently.  Source: APE/USDT on TradingView  

[coinmystique]

Main cryptocurrency alternate OKX has launched its tenth proof-of-reserves (PoR) report, changing into the primary digital asset platform to launch ten consecutive month-to-month PoR stories.Based on a press launch, the newest numbers present balances of $10.4 billion in major crypto property like bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), and Tether (USDT).OKX Publishes Tenth PoR ReportThe Seychelles-based alternate lined 22 digital property, together with USD Coin (USDC), Ripple (XRP), Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), and OKB, within the newest audit. BTC, ETH, XRP, and SOL have reserve ratios of 102%, whereas USDT and USDC have ratios of 103% and 100%.OKX’s August PoR report disclosed that the USD worth of its reserves has dropped by roughly $1 billion from the $11.3 billion reported in July however elevated by 38% of the whole in January.The alternate has printed greater than 210,000 addresses for the PoR program to permit customers to view its asset flows by means of the Zero-Data Scalable Clear Argument of Data (zk-STARK) know-how. The mechanism has safeguarded the privateness of different accounts by maintaining their balances hidden since April.Consumer Sentiment on PoR ReviewsOKX revealed that lots of of hundreds of customers have engaged with its PoR stories, visited the web page, and seen their self-audits since its launch in late 2022. With the open-source verification software, customers can independently confirm OKX’s solvency and ensure their property are backed by the alternate’s reserves.In commemoration of the Tenth PoR report, OKX performed two surveys on X (previously Twitter) to judge the sentiment of the net crypto group on the significance of reserve stories and transparency.Round 84% of the surveyees stated month-to-month PoR stories are both “somewhat important” or “very important.” Shifting a notch greater, 88% of the respondents agreed that transparency is both “somewhat important” or “very important” in selecting a crypto platform to belief.“We asked our community how important PoR and transparency from exchanges are to them, and the results were as expected – users continue to call for monthly PoR and greater transparency. At OKX, we take user feedback to heart and will continue to invest in future tools for security and transparency in order to continue earning user trust,” stated OKX’s Chief Industrial Officer Lennix Lai.SPECIAL OFFER (Sponsored) Binance Free $100 (Unique): Use this hyperlink to register and obtain $100 free and 10% off charges on Binance Futures first month (phrases).PrimeXBT Particular Provide: Use this hyperlink to register & enter CRYPTOPOTATO50 code to obtain as much as $7,000 in your deposits.Supply: https://cryptopotato.com/okx-releases-Tenth-por-report-with-10-4b-in-btc-eth-and-usdt/

[ragunath12]

NFT Marketplaces Pay $2 Billion To Creators In Royalties For Secondary Sales

In the past two years, NFT marketplaces have paid out nearly $2 billion in royalties to non-fungible token creators for secondary sales.

This is revealed by the 2023 State of Cryptocurrency Report by a16z crypto , one of the leading equity firms driving Web3 marketplace development. Faced with this figure, Meta allocated $1,000 million until 2022, a figure that the capital firm describes as “surprising”, taking into account that Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp add up to around 3.74 billion monthly users. Web3 is used by only tens of millions of users today, he says.

How do NFT royalties work?

Thanks to smart contracts, creators can earn profit from secondary sales through royalties. NFT royalties are automatic payments to the NFT creator from resales that are encoded in smart contracts. With each resale, the smart contract grants an NFT marketplace development with the royalty percentage decided by the creator.

If a game or platform uses NFTs, these royalties are paid out of NFT trading fees. In other words: if someone buys your virtual art on the blockchain and resells it, they will pay a small fee to do so. This fee is paid to creators and developers.

NFT royalties creators

a16zcrypto explains that the 2023 report aims to address the imbalance “between the noise of price movements and the data that tracks the signals that matter, including the enduring progress of Web3 technology.” In this regard, the report reflects a healthier industry than market prices may indicate. With a constant cycle of development, product launches and continuous innovation, he says.

As key conclusions, the report collects the active addresses on the blockchains reached an all-time high in March, reaching 15 million, double the number of the last two years, he says. The increase, according to a16zcrypto, is due to the growing variety of apps and services, such as games, that offer people new ways to participate.

Regarding DeFi and NFT activity, the report notes that it seems to be increasing as new promising uses and applications emerge. “After a frenzied speculative period and the subsequent cooling off, it seems more people are buying NFT marketplace platform development in recent months. Meanwhile, on decentralized exchanges, more than $100 billion was traded in March, marking the third consecutive month of positive growth in transaction volume.

Zero Knowledge Technologies

Regarding the number of active developers in the crypto industry, a16zcrypto points out that it has remained stable and that almost 30,000 contributed to crypto projects in March, increasing more than 60% in the last three years. The report highlights that zero-knowledge technologies, once virtually impossible, are becoming very real. Zero-knowledge systems are advancing at a staggering pace, which will unlock greater blockchain scalability and a new category of privacy-based applications (not to mention AI applications), the study indicates. In this regard, he states that the data shows a positive trend in ZK-related research, developer activity, and usage.

The report also notes that the United States is losing its leadership in Web3. Between 2018 and 2022, the proportion of US-based cryptocurrency developers fell by 26% compared to the rest of the world. To reverse the situation, a16zcrypto proposes careful regulation.

visit :

https://www.blockchainx.tech/nft-marketplace-development

[bitcofun]

Key Takeaways Ethereum's Layer 2 networks have actually cumulatively exceeded $5 billion in overall worth locked. Optimistic Rollup services Arbitrum One and Optimism represent over 80% of the locked worth. zkSync, which is set to introduce its mainnet 2.0 on Friday, has actually likewise seen its overall worth locked boost 19% today. Arbitrum presently holds over half of all the overall worth locked on Layer 2. Inside Ethereum Layer 2 Ethereum's Layer 2 environment is on the increase. Per L2Beat information, the overall worth locked within the leading clever agreement blockchain's Layer 2 scaling networks topped $5 billion Wednesday, publishing a 9.2% increase over the previous week. The overall worth locked on Ethereum Layer 2 is presently about $5.09 billion. The dive in locked worth comes amidst a duration of bullish momentum in the cryptocurrency market. In the middle of the bounce, ETH has actually gotten nearly 20% in market price over the previous week, presently trading at about $1,540 ETH is commonly utilized as Ethereum's Layer 2 base possession, so its increase goes some method to discussing the boost in the overall worth locked. ETH/USD chart (Source: CoinGecko) Arbitrum One and Optimism, 2 Optimistic Rollup services that jointly represent over 80% of the worth locked on Layer 2, have actually respectively seen increases of 9.3% and 10.3% in overall locked worth. Arbitrum One presently holds around $2.59 billion, over half of the locked worth on Layer 2. However, while the ETH growth has actually assisted Layer 2's locked worth rise to a brand-new all-time high, it's not the only aspect behind the increase. Today is a significant one for the Layer 2 community as zkSync is set to introduce its brand-new item, zkSync 2.0, on mainnet Friday. As an outcome, capital has actually flooded over to the zkSync procedure, up around 19% today. zkSync is a ZK-Rollup service and has actually up until now seen slower development than its leading Optimistic Rollup equivalents, however the task is hoping that tomorrow's launch will offer the network an increase. ZK-Rollups and Optimistic Rollups ZK-Rollups utilize zero-knowledge evidence to bundle deals and lower the quantity of information needed to verify deals on Ethereum mainnet, in turn using faster deal speeds and less expensive costs. Unlike Optimistic Rollups, they do not need a prolonged conflict duration to preserve security (it takes about a week to send out funds from Arbitrum One back to Ethereum mainnet, for instance). Optimistic Rollups are presently leading Ethereum's Layer 2 race, ZK-Rollups have actually long been promoted as the innovation that might assist Ethereum prepare for mass adoption. Ethereum developer Vitalik Buterin has actually discussed them at length, arguing at this month's Devcon conference that they might be "a minimum of as crucial to innovation as blockchains." Interestingly, though the overall worth locked on Layer 2 is below its April 2022 peak in dollar terms, when it topped $7.4 billion, the quantity of ETH in the environment is now greater. Per L2Beat information, the existing overall worth locked is the equivalent of around 3.25 million ETH after a consistent increase over the previous year. The overall variety of ETH locked on Ethereum Layer 2 (Source: L2Beat) While the Ethereum Merge was the second-biggest blockchain's most highly-anticipated upgrade this year, Ethereum lovers have actually long hoped that Layer 2 development will assist the community struck mass adoption by minimizing expenses and making the network more available. While Ethereum mainnet still holds the bulk of all the capital in the crypto community with simply under $32 billion locked, Layer 2 seems capturing up quick. Disclosure: At the time of composing this piece, the author owned ETH and a number of other crypto possessions. The details on or accessed through this site is acquired from independent sources our company believe to be precise and dependable, however Decentral Media, Inc.

makes no representation or guarantee regarding the timeliness, efficiency, or precision of any details on or accessed through this site. Decentral Media, Inc. is not a financial investment consultant. We do not offer individualized financial investment suggestions or other monetary recommendations. The details on this site goes through alter without notification. Some or all of the info on this site might end up being out-of-date, or it might be or end up being insufficient or incorrect. We may, however are not bound to, upgrade any out-of-date, insufficient, or incorrect details. You need to never ever make a financial investment choice on an ICO, IEO, or other financial investment based upon the info on this site, and you need to never ever translate or otherwise depend on any of the info on this site as financial investment guidance. We highly advise that you seek advice from a certified financial investment consultant or other competent monetary expert if you are looking for financial investment suggestions on an ICO, IEO, or other financial investment. We do decline settlement in any type for evaluating or reporting on any ICO, IEO, cryptocurrency, currency, tokenized sales, securities, or products. See complete terms Which Ethereum Layer 2 Will Be Next to Airdrop a Token? Several Ethereum Layer 2 networks have actually hinted that they might release their own native tokens in the coming months, which would likely result in airdrops for early users. Sign Up With Crypto ... Ethereum Layer 2 Arbitrum Completes Nitro Upgrade The Arbitrum Nitro upgrade brings quicker deals, lower costs, and a much better user experience for designers constructing applications. Arbitrum Upgrades to Nitro Arbitrum Nitro is live. The Ethereum Layer 2 ... Ethereum Users Flock to Optimism for Aave Liquidity Mining Launch A brand-new liquidity mining program on Aave has actually assisted press the overall worth secured Optimism above $1.5 billion. Optimism Launches Liquidity Mining on Aave Optimism has actually introduced another round ... Read More

[kay0519]

The best investment product now.

The first one is of course the Ether merger. Yes, although it has been delayed and delayed again. But in the case of Ether, the key theme to watch for in the second half of 2022 remains mergers. The long-awaited Ether 2.0 upgrade will transition the network from PoW to a PoS consensus mechanism, which will have an impact on all aspects of the Ether ecosystem. First and foremost the move to PoS will significantly reduce Ether's energy consumption and alleviate concerns about the network's environmental impact. This is especially true among ESG-focused institutional investors. This change also paves the way for many protocol-level upgrades that will be easier to implement in PoS systems. The Ether 2.0 upgrade is also a significant bullish catalyst for ETH assets. The transition to PoS will significantly reduce the amount of issuance required to protect the network. Coupled with the burn mechanism already implemented through EIP1559, this development is likely to lead to deflationary ETH. the removal of PoW will also alleviate significant structural selling pressure. PoS verifiers will have much lower operating costs than PoW miners, thus easing the selling pressure. And the merger will be a significant driver of the Ether pledge economy.

The second is that Layer2 scaling is getting bigger. The Layer 2 network is expected to continue its growth momentum in the second half of 2022. L2 represents the present and future of Ethernet scaling. Optimistic and ZK Rollups act as the execution layer, providing users with a fast and inexpensive transaction experience while still maintaining the security of the underlying Ethernet L1. L2 adoption continues to steadily increase among users and developers. The value locked up in Ether L2 is now over $3.81 billion, and TVLs denominated in ETH are near all-time highs. In addition many L2 native applications that take advantage of the higher scalability of these networks have gained significant usage. For example perpetual exchanges such as dYdX and GMX are currently facilitating billions in transaction volume. Despite the general slowdown on the chain, the L2 ecosystem continues to grow. This growth can be attributed to Optimism's native token OP, which was launched in May.

The third concern is the rise of Cosmos and application chains. the goal of Cosmos is to create the blockchain internet. With the Cosmos SDK, developers can create highly customizable blockchains dedicated to individual applications. Also known as application chains, Cosmos chains can also be connected via Inter Blockchain Communication IBC, a trust-minimized bridging and communication protocol. IBC currently has more than 30 Cosmos chains enabled, allowing users to easily transfer assets between enabled networks. This novel technology stack has increasingly attracted the attention and interest of developers. For example, dYdX, the largest decentralized perpetual exchange by volume, recently announced plans to develop V4 of its protocol as the Cosmos application chain. cosmos, like all L1s, is experiencing growing obstacles. The decentralized exchange Osmosis was called off due to a vulnerability exploit. Accessing the ecosystem through traditional means such as bridges or exchanges remains difficult. The influx of users and capital, as well as attention, should help facilitate and drive the growth of the Cosmos ecosystem in the remaining months of 2022 and beyond.

The fourth area of concern is the ERC4626 revolution. DeFi yields fall sharply in 2022 as on-chain activity, demand for borrowing and lending, and willingness to speculate all fall sharply. But yield farming is already on the cusp of the next growth phase, thanks to the adoption of ERC4626, a new tokenized repository standard pioneered by a group of prominent EVM developers.ERC4626 promises to do the same for DeFi repositories by providing a template in which any developer can easily create ERC4626 is an extension of ERC20, meaning that these tokenization strategies are as combinable as assets such as USDC and DAI and UNI. ERC4626 can enhance the DeFi user experience by improving capital efficiency. Users will be able to trade and use these new tokens as collateral, reaping the rewards of participation while gaining from the underlying strategies run by the repository itself. Protocols and DAOs are early adopters of the standard, and DeFi users should see exceptional growth in their offerings as they realize the benefits this new type of token offers.

The fifth concern is macro uncertainty. Throughout the first half of 2022, weakness in traditional markets has permeated the cryptocurrency space, and this dark cloud is expected to envelop the market in the third and fourth quarters. Both bond and equity markets have experienced their worst days in decades as the Federal Reserve has been forced to raise rates sharply and shrink its balance sheet to combat runaway inflation. Rising interest rates and a flattening yield curve, high commodity prices and supply chain problems persisted. Falling asset prices have led to trillions of dollars in wealth erosion. Already, fears of recession and stagflation are beginning to be raised. Continued macro uncertainty is sure to drag down the price of cryptocurrencies for the foreseeable future. *** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***

[risemaclay]

@zutaramonth day 3: soulmates

[ID: A digital fanart of Katara and Zuko from Avatar: the Last Airbender, book 1. The art has two separated frames, one at the top and one at the bottom. In the top there is Katara sitting in Appa's saddle, looking down towards left with a sad look. Her braid is blowing in the wind behind her. In the bottom frame there is Zuko on the deck of his ship, leaning on the railing with his arms crossed. He looks down towards right with a frown. A red string connect their pinkies. End ID]

[osrphotography]

ZK-TLE [Boeing 737-300F] seen on finals for 23L. (2020)

This 737F has had a very long history, and as such, I'm going to gloss over some details.

In the early 1990s, the aircraft was leased to TACA International Airlines, El Slavador, and was then subleased to Freedom Air, NZ in 1996.

Registered as SJ312 it arrived at Hamilton Airport (HLZ/NZHN) and served for a year before being re-registered as SJ100 and being flown back to the United States.

After bouncing around South America and Europe, it returned once again to the US and was converted to a freighter in 2011 and was leased, then registered, to Airwork (NZ) Ltd.

It operated as AWK001 (AKL-SYD) until 2016 on behalf of Toll Holdings Ltd. In 2020, a month after I took this photo, it was officially withdrawn and flown to Bucharest by December.

It is seen here sans Toll logos, days before export.

Now, at the time, I was unaware that it was due for export, so I missed its departure.

Upon arrival at Bucharest, it was due to be sold to Olympus Air, who briefly sent a 757F here. Things didn't work out and it was registered OE-IFE.

This also didn't work out and just months after being cancelled from the register it was sold back to Airwork and came back in 2022.

A full history can be found here

[ryu-slayer]

undefined

Zutara Month 2022 Day 10: Tui and La

Hello everybody! So, I have finally finished my latest @zutaramonth entry. It is a salute to @gemgirl28 fic “The one where they got engaged.” Now I will admit this is still very much a WIP since I still need to add color and some background music but for the sake of me being able to do the other prompts I am presenting what I have so far. I hope you all enjoy it and I swear Gem, this will look some much better once I’m able to add the final touches. 🙂

Please do not repost, but do reblog this if you like it. 😁

[zutarasecrettunnel]

Late addition one-shot for Zutara Month is posted!

Allegory

Three years after the end of the Hundred Years War, Katara asks Zuko to tell her the story of the Painted Lady for a second time.

Read it on AO3 or read below the cut.

Katara digs her bare feet into the cool sands of Ember Island. The breeze that lifts her curls across her face is a bitter one, but not cold as the icy tundras of her homeland. She wraps her arms around herself, less for the warmth and more for the touch. The moon is full, casting a silver blanket over the darkened ocean. The small waves that skitter onto the shoreline glitter with firelight from the evening’s festivities. Katara can still hear the celebratory music, the laughter, all the promised jubilee of the post-war world from the large house on the dune that had once been her temporary home. 

She wiggles her toes. The shore seems the same as it ever did, soft and too inviting for a country built on conquest. The waves roar just as they had the days before Sozin’s comet. She takes in the sounds alongside the salty air of the beach, ignoring the cacophony of conviviality she left behind. A small wave crawls its way over her ankles, turning the sand around her feet into heavy plaster. Inside there is a party, an important party. On this beach there is an aching loneliness, an unexpected resignation. 

So much about the world had changed in the last three years, but this sand was the same. Three years of rebuilding, three years of ongoing peace talks and messy decolonization, three years of putting off her actual life. Katara had been an essential part of all of these world-changing processes, and yet still she felt as if the sun and moon had risen and set around her stationary body, stuck in the ground like her feet were now. 

“Can’t stay away from it for long, hmm?” 

The voice lifts itself up among the tides of merriment and salt water. Katara blinks rapidly as she turns around, her feet twisting in their spot, loosening the grip of the shoreline’s grit. She is met with the flickering outline of the Fire Lord. 

“What are you doing out here?” she asks, a quizzical expression on her face. She quickly adds a second question, “stay away from what?” 

“The ocean,” Zuko replies in his usual succinct manner, arms crossed, “and that was going to be my next question to you.” 

Katara pauses, turning back to the water as if to seek advice. 

“I was going to practice waterbending,” she does not face Zuko as she replies, choosing to lie to the ocean instead. “What are you doing here? Isn’t that whole thing for you?” She gestures vaguely to the celebration occurring behind them. 

He shrugs, stepping off the lacquered wooden steps leading from the house to the shore, his bare feet also sinking into the pillowy sand. He had changed from earlier in the night, no longer in his embellished ceremonial robes. No crown adorns his head. 

“I come out here a lot.” He says in a way that suggests the answer should be obvious, “and this is an odd time to be practicing waterbending.” 

“I always loved practicing on this beach.” 

This part was true - an excellent addition to the recipe of a facade. She had spent many hours practicing waterbending forms on this beach, integrating things she had learned from Toph’s earthbending lessons to Aang, Suki’s nimble Kyoshi warrior moves, and even some of Sokka’s swordplay philosophies. 

“I remember.” He was close to her now. The slight chill of the night’s atmosphere warmed in his presence as if it respected his royalty, his natural command of heat. Feeling the difference, Katara loosens her grip on her arms, her feet leaving their hiding spot to face him. 

“We used to practice out here together,” Zuko continues, “don’t think I forgot.” 

He fixes his eyes on her as he says it. In his cadence is an earnestness that only comes with the hard lessons he’s learned. It’s an intensity that is familiar but always unexpected, a type of vulnerability that she still finds unsettling. 

Katara is ashamed. It took less courage to take on Azula than it does to hold Zuko’s gaze. She looks down at the oncoming seawater that engulfs both of their ankles. 

Soju glasses and waves clink and crash. The wind blows her hair across her face again. 

“I guess I also came out here to reminisce,” she adds another dash of truth to her concoction, this time speaking it to the sands, “I’ve been gone for a long time.” She pulls her delicate strands behind her ear. 

“Nearly three years,” he says quickly, like he knew the exact count of days and was eager to share it. “But look at the Southern Water Tribe now. No one would ever be able to tell that an arrogant prince once sailed his hideous war ship right into your village.” 

Katara allows a small chuckle to escape from a half-hearted smile. Zuko is smiling back at her, a phenomenon seen more frequently since the end of the war, but a rare one nonetheless.

“So what were you reminiscing about?” 

Katara chews her bottom lip before responding.

“Do you remember…” 

The words come slowly, navigating all there is to say like the ice dodging rituals of her tribe. She had sought the shoreline to seek refuge from the night’s festivities. She had come to collect her thoughts, to navigate the waves of the last three years, to try to come to terms with why she felt like a shipwreck. 

She changes course. 

“Why did you really come out here?” 

Zuko frowns. 

“Noticed you were gone,” he says. “Do y-...do you want me to leave?” 

“No.” 

It surprised Katara to have uttered the word so quickly. It was as if it had jumped out in response to all the times in the last three years of summits and peace talks that they had missed. 

Zuko walks around her like a priceless vase in a museum, hesitant to get too close. He steps closer to the ocean. The sand is still damp from the receding tide, but he sits anyway.

“Well then,” he pulls his knees up, resting his elbows on them, “let’s reminisce.” 

Katara follows in his footsteps, placing herself gently on the ground beside him. Another small wave splashes onto the shore. It stretches itself toward them, but just falls short. 

“Do you remember after the fight… the Agni Kai with Azula, when I was trying to keep you awake? When I wanted to make sure you would… stay with me while I tried to heal you?” 

The question is disjointed and clumsy. It staggers from her mouth unwillingly.

“Yes.” Zuko nods solemnly. 

“Do you remember how I asked you to tell me a story? Any story? And you were so out of it you didn’t know which one to tell… so I asked if you knew about the Painted Lady?” 

Zuko nods a second time, his eyes fixed to the side of Katara’s moonlit face. She still can’t look directly at him. 

“Will you… tell me again? Tell me about the Painted Lady?” 

Zuko doesn’t remark on the peculiarity of the request, doesn’t ask why. He doesn’t mention that he has other places he’s meant to be, doesn’t note how she must know the story. He just studies her face, his own deliberate and restrained. The breeze blows silently between them until he eventually begins. 

“The Painted Lady is unique among Fire Nation spirits,” he starts, the scratch of his voice suddenly deeper, “because she is actually a water spirit. She is also rare in that she was a human before she became a spirit. The story of the Painted Lady is a story that is, above all, about love.”

He refocuses his attention on the beach beneath them as he begins to fulfill her request, poking absentmindedly at the sand. 

“In her mortal life, she lived in Jang Hui. At the time, the town was just a small village. They didn’t have much, and steep, forest-covered mountain faces surrounded the river. The Painted Lady was then known as Takiko, a humble but gracious maiden in the village. She worked as a seamstress, refining the art of weaving fishing nets into extravagant veils for brides of the Fire Nation aristocracy. When she was not working on her creations, she would swim in the clear waters of the river. She was attached to the river, cared about it. For most of the villagers, the river was prized because of what it could provide to the people, not for what it was. Takiko’s unconventional nature was tolerated because she was not only a talented and skilled artisan… “ Zuko hesitates as he considers the parameters of his storytelling and the request that was made of him. Katara finally looks at him as he hesitates, and he is able to meet the deep blue of her eyes as he finishes his sentence. 

“... She was also incredibly beautiful.” 

He did remember how he had told her the story the first time, glassy-eyed and tender, exposed and forthright. His narrative had been erratic and forgetful, but the emphasis on these words had been the same. She could still feel the way he had clutched her wrist, as if he was desperate to confess a sin to the spirits before entering their realm. The image stuck in her mind like a pearl in an oyster, a seed of knowledge developed over time, only to be harvested at the most inopportune moment. 

“It was this beauty and zeal for life, her skill and legitimate care for her people that caused the Water Dragon, the Spirit World’s guardian of the river, to fall in love with Takiko. He would watch her from afar as she worked, as she swam in the river he guarded, and as she struggled against the forces of the Fire Nation royalty and aristocracy that sought to exploit the river to ruin. Even before the Hundred Years War, the Jang Hui river had been subject to overfishing and other forms of abuse. Takiko would often berate the mercenaries who enforced the trade practices. Each time, the Water Dragon would yearn to step in and help, but he was not powerful enough to cross into the mortal realm. Each time Takiko would stand up to the soldiers, they got more and more aggressive with her. They even left her with burn marks on her face from one of the encounters. Still, she never lost hope, and still the Dragon loved her. “

Katara swallows thickly, realization trickling into her mind like a spring with each word Zuko says. 

“Eventually, the mercenaries tired of her interference, and the tolerance and protection she had enjoyed from her favor with the ladies of the ruling class could not save her. That morning, they had caught Takiko sabotaging a fishing boat set to voyage into an already over-fished area of the river. The mercenaries dragged her to the edge of the docks, binding her arms and feet. They growled insults at her as they threw her into the water. She struggled against the ropes and the deluge of her beloved river. She felt herself sinking steadily, quietly, her breath leaving her body in small bubbles that danced to the surface. The Water Dragon, seeing the encounter, returned desperately to the Spirit World to seek the favor of Paresh, one of the Supreme spirits and the only entity capable of helping him. He begged the more powerful Alldragon to help him cross over into the mortal world, to help him save Takiko, knowing the consequences of his request. Paresh, not always known for benevolence, was moved by the lesser dragon’s plea and self-sacrifice, and granted his wish. However, the deal had conditions - if he saved the maiden and lived out his mortal life with her, upon his death he would serve Paresh in whatever capacity he wished. The Water Dragon immediately agreed, and the deal was made official as he accepted a mysterious mask from the Supreme spirit. Upon making the deal, The Water Dragon raced back to the mortal realm to find Takiko still struggling, still fighting to keep herself alive. She was nearly ready to give up when she felt her lungs fill to the brim with oxygen, and pressure that felt like the softest kiss of a lover on her lips.”

Zuko pauses, nervously rubbing his palms together. It was clear he had a clearer memory of his first telling of this story than she had assumed. She could tell he could remember how close he had been to her, his breath heavy from pain, adrenaline, and trepidation. He must remember how he had reached for her, clasping her cheek as he recounted the tale, thumb brushing over her lips. Her heart roars like the ocean. She reaches for him this time, ceasing the movement of his hands by placing hers on them. 

“Please,” she says sadly, “go on.” 

Zuko swallows his shame as he continues. 

“Takiko was suddenly lifted from the river, her restraints torn asunder, and she stood towering above her attackers on a column of the river’s current. The men screamed, frightened, and tried to run from the impending onslaught. Instead, the water crashed into them, sending them hurtling into the hard wood of the docks. Soggy and terrified, the men scrambled to their feet and ran from the village entirely, never to return. Exhausted, Takiko found herself steadied by the strong arms of a mysterious young man. His face was obscured by a dark blue mask with an imposing protrusion of two tusks carved into it with what looked like the silver threads of the moon. She thanked the man, feeling oddly as if she knew him, knew that he had watched over her. Hesitantly, she gingerly placed a hand on the right side of the stranger’s face, her thumb grazing the gaping maw of his ominous disguise. A feeling of love she could not explain washed over her as she lifted the mask. From that day on, Takiko and the Water Dragon were not parted until it came time for him to make good on his bargain. On that day, the Water Dragon became The Blue Spirit. And when it came time for the end of Takiko’s life, through her immense dedication to justice, hope, and her love she became the Painted Lady, swearing to watch over the river of the Water Dragon who had watched over her, and eventually be reunited with her love.”

Zuko concludes the tale, a wistful tone in his husky voice. A drop of moisture falls between them and quickly melts onto the beach. He can barely hear Katara’s voice, feeble and forlorn, over the continuing sounds of the now forgotten party they had both sought refuge from. 

“Thank you for telling me this story again, Zuko. It… means a lot to me. This story means a lot to me… you-“ 

She stops, unable to finish the sentence, her feelings revealing themselves in a deluge. He had tried to tell her three years ago, tried to pull her from the depths of doubt and confusion. In the midst of the war’s end and the rebuilding of the world, she had not seen what was right in front of her. 

Zuko watches helplessly as a trail of regret leads a crooked path from Katara’s eyes to her chin. 

“Katara, I- “ he searches desperately for the words, “All this time, I… I just thought you didn’t - we never had time to - “ 

“Lord Zuko!” The new voice bursts like a lightning bolt between the two of them. Katara snatches her hand away from the Fire Lord’s fingers, rubbing her eyes discreetly. 

“What are you doing out here, sire?” 

There she was, the source of the joy and merriment of the evening, the reason for the nation’s rejoice. Her voice was light and pleasant, exactly what was to be expected from a well-bred maiden of the Fire Nation upper classes, exactly the kind of tone and articulation the next Fire Lady should have. She stands small and dainty at the top of the stairs, heavily decorated, her face painted in an elegant pattern, still wearing the ceremonial robes of her new station. 

Zuko’s amber eyes are hard, his jaw taut as he turns his attention to the new arrival. His voice is the controlled, disciplined tone of the ruler he is as he calls back to her. 

“I’ll be back inside in just a moment. I’m just catching up with Master Katara.” 

The delicate young woman flicks her eyes over the waterbender. 

“I won’t rush you, my Lord,” she responds, “but I am missing your presence at our celebration.” 

Zuko nods.

“I’ll re-join everyone shortly,” he replies. 

The young woman smiles pleasantly as she bows.  Her elaborate kimono whirls around her slim frame as she returns to the house. 

Katara watches the young woman’s retreat, eyebrows furrowed. 

“Firelord Zuko,”  she addresses her companion dolefully, “thank you again for the story. I think I’ll be able to remember it much better this time. “ 

“Katara, I… we-“ he stutters, realization struggling with responsibility. 

“It’s a beautiful legend,” Katara interrupts. Back only in the view of the moonlight, she dares to face him, smoothing her hands over his tunic to brush grains of sand from the threads. He stops her movement, gently clasping both her wrists as she looks up at him falteringly. She tries unsuccessfully to blink away the unwelcome stinging in her eyelids. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t understand it before.” 

Their roles, the deal they made with the world when they ended the war, settles between them in a somber silence. 

“Now,” Katara gingerly removes herself from Zuko’s grip, her voice just a breath cracking amongst the sea breeze, “you should go be with your fiancé.” 

Katara digs her bare feet into the cool sands of Ember Island. The breeze that lifts her curls across her face is a bitter one, but not cold as the icy tundras of her homeland. She wraps her arms around herself, less for the warmth and more for the touch. The moon is full, casting a silver blanket over the darkened ocean. The small waves that skitter onto the shoreline glitter with firelight from the evening’s festivities. Katara can still hear the celebratory music, the laughter, all the promised jubilee of the post-war world from the large house on the dune that had once been her temporary home. 

She wiggles her toes. The shore seems the same as it ever did, soft and too inviting for a country built on conquest. The waves roar just as they had the days before Sozin’s comet. She takes in the sounds alongside the salty air of the beach, ignoring the cacophony of conviviality she left behind. A small wave crawls its way over her ankles, turning the sand around her feet into heavy plaster. Inside there is a party, an important party. On this beach there is an aching loneliness, an unexpected resignation. 

So much about the world had changed in the last three years, but this sand was the same. Three years of rebuilding, three years of ongoing peace talks and messy decolonization, three years of putting off her actual life. Katara had been an essential part of all of these world-changing processes, and yet still she felt as if the sun and moon had risen and set around her stationary body, stuck in the ground like her feet were now. 

“Can’t stay away from it for long, hmm?” 

The voice lifts itself up among the tides of merriment and salt water. Katara blinks rapidly as she turns around, her feet twisting in their spot, loosening the grip of the shoreline’s grit. She is met with the flickering outline of the Fire Lord. 

“What are you doing out here?” she asks, a quizzical expression on her face. She quickly adds a second question, “stay away from what?” 

“The ocean,” Zuko replies in his usual succinct manner, arms crossed, “and that was going to be my next question to you.” 

Katara pauses, turning back to the water as if to seek advice. 

“I was going to practice waterbending,” she does not face Zuko as she replies, choosing to lie to the ocean instead. “What are you doing here? Isn’t that whole thing for you?” She gestures vaguely to the celebration occurring behind them. 

He shrugs, stepping off the lacquered wooden steps leading from the house to the shore, his bare feet also sinking into the pillowy sand. He had changed from earlier in the night, no longer in his embellished ceremonial robes. No crown adorns his head. 

“I come out here a lot.” He says in a way that suggests the answer should be obvious, “and this is an odd time to be practicing waterbending.” 

“I always loved practicing on this beach.” 

This part was true - an excellent addition to the recipe of a facade. She had spent many hours practicing waterbending forms on this beach, integrating things she had learned from Toph’s earthbending lessons to Aang, Suki’s nimble Kyoshi warrior moves, and even some of Sokka’s swordplay philosophies. 

“I remember.” He was close to her now. The slight chill of the night’s atmosphere warmed in his presence as if it respected his royalty, his natural command of heat. Feeling the difference, Katara loosens her grip on her arms, her feet leaving their hiding spot to face him. 

“We used to practice out here together,” Zuko continues, “don’t think I forgot.” 

He fixes his eyes on her as he says it. In his cadence is an earnestness that only comes with the hard lessons he’s learned. It’s an intensity that is familiar but always unexpected, a type of vulnerability that she still finds unsettling. 

Katara is ashamed. It took less courage to take on Azula than it does to hold Zuko’s gaze. She looks down at the oncoming seawater that engulfs both of their ankles. 

Soju glasses and waves clink and crash. The wind blows her hair across her face again. 

“I guess I also came out here to reminisce,” she adds another dash of truth to her concoction, this time speaking it to the sands, “I’ve been gone for a long time.” She pulls her delicate strands behind her ear. 

“Nearly three years,” he says quickly, like he knew the exact count of days and was eager to share it. “But look at the Southern Water Tribe now. No one would ever be able to tell that an arrogant prince once sailed his hideous war ship right into your village.” 

Katara allows a small chuckle to escape from a half-hearted smile. Zuko is smiling back at her, a phenomenon seen more frequently since the end of the war, but a rare one nonetheless.

“So what were you reminiscing about?” 

Katara chews her bottom lip before responding.

“Do you remember…” 

The words come slowly, navigating all there is to say like the ice dodging rituals of her tribe. She had sought the shoreline to seek refuge from the night’s festivities. She had come to collect her thoughts, to navigate the waves of the last three years, to try to come to terms with why she felt like a shipwreck. 

She changes course. 

“Why did you really come out here?” 

Zuko frowns. 

“Noticed you were gone,” he says. “Do y-...do you want me to leave?” 

“No.” 

It surprised Katara to have uttered the word so quickly. It was as if it had jumped out in response to all the times in the last three years of summits and peace talks that they had missed. 

Zuko walks around her like a priceless vase in a museum, hesitant to get too close. He steps closer to the ocean. The sand is still damp from the receding tide, but he sits anyway.

“Well then,” he pulls his knees up, resting his elbows on them, “let’s reminisce.” 

Katara follows in his footsteps, placing herself gently on the ground beside him. Another small wave splashes onto the shore. It stretches itself toward them, but just falls short. 

“Do you remember after the fight… the Agni Kai with Azula, when I was trying to keep you awake? When I wanted to make sure you would… stay with me while I tried to heal you?” 

The question is disjointed and clumsy. It staggers from her mouth unwillingly.

“Yes.” Zuko nods solemnly. 

“Do you remember how I asked you to tell me a story? Any story? And you were so out of it you didn’t know which one to tell… so I asked if you knew about the Painted Lady?” 

Zuko nods a second time, his eyes fixed to the side of Katara’s moonlit face. She still can’t look directly at him. 

“Will you… tell me again? Tell me about the Painted Lady?” 

Zuko doesn’t remark on the peculiarity of the request, doesn’t ask why. He doesn’t mention that he has other places he’s meant to be, doesn’t note how she must know the story. He just studies her face, his own deliberate and restrained. The breeze blows silently between them until he eventually begins. 

“The Painted Lady is unique among Fire Nation spirits,” he starts, the scratch of his voice suddenly deeper, “because she is actually a water spirit. She is also rare in that she was a human before she became a spirit. The story of the Painted Lady is a story that is, above all, about love.”

He refocuses his attention on the beach beneath them as he begins to fulfill her request, poking absentmindedly at the sand. 

“In her mortal life, she lived in Jang Hui. At the time, the town was just a small village. They didn’t have much, and steep, forest-covered mountain faces surrounded the river. The Painted Lady was then known as Takiko, a humble but gracious maiden in the village. She worked as a seamstress, refining the art of weaving fishing nets into extravagant veils for brides of the Fire Nation aristocracy. When she was not working on her creations, she would swim in the clear waters of the river. She was attached to the river, cared about it. For most of the villagers, the river was prized because of what it could provide to the people, not for what it was. Takiko’s unconventional nature was tolerated because she was not only a talented and skilled artisan… “ Zuko hesitates as he considers the parameters of his storytelling and the request that was made of him. Katara finally looks at him as he hesitates, and he is able to meet the deep blue of her eyes as he finishes his sentence. 

“... She was also incredibly beautiful.” 

He did remember how he had told her the story the first time, glassy-eyed and tender, exposed and forthright. His narrative had been erratic and forgetful, but the emphasis on these words had been the same. She could still feel the way he had clutched her wrist, as if he was desperate to confess a sin to the spirits before entering their realm. The image stuck in her mind like a pearl in an oyster, a seed of knowledge developed over time, only to be harvested at the most inopportune moment. 

“It was this beauty and zeal for life, her skill and legitimate care for her people that caused the Water Dragon, the Spirit World’s guardian of the river, to fall in love with Takiko. He would watch her from afar as she worked, as she swam in the river he guarded, and as she struggled against the forces of the Fire Nation royalty and aristocracy that sought to exploit the river to ruin. Even before the Hundred Years War, the Jang Hui river had been subject to overfishing and other forms of abuse. Takiko would often berate the mercenaries who enforced the trade practices. Each time, the Water Dragon would yearn to step in and help, but he was not powerful enough to cross into the mortal realm. Each time Takiko would stand up to the soldiers, they got more and more aggressive with her. They even left her with burn marks on her face from one of the encounters. Still, she never lost hope, and still the Dragon loved her. “

Katara swallows thickly, realization trickling into her mind like a spring with each word Zuko says. 

“Eventually, the mercenaries tired of her interference, and the tolerance and protection she had enjoyed from her favor with the ladies of the ruling class could not save her. That morning, they had caught Takiko sabotaging a fishing boat set to voyage into an already over-fished area of the river. The mercenaries dragged her to the edge of the docks, binding her arms and feet. They growled insults at her as they threw her into the water. She struggled against the ropes and the deluge of her beloved river. She felt herself sinking steadily, quietly, her breath leaving her body in small bubbles that danced to the surface. The Water Dragon, seeing the encounter, returned desperately to the Spirit World to seek the favor of Paresh, one of the Supreme spirits and the only entity capable of helping him. He begged the more powerful Alldragon to help him cross over into the mortal world, to help him save Takiko, knowing the consequences of his request. Paresh, not always known for benevolence, was moved by the lesser dragon’s plea and self-sacrifice, and granted his wish. However, the deal had conditions - if he saved the maiden and lived out his mortal life with her, upon his death he would serve Paresh in whatever capacity he wished. The Water Dragon immediately agreed, and the deal was made official as he accepted a mysterious mask from the Supreme spirit. Upon making the deal, The Water Dragon raced back to the mortal realm to find Takiko still struggling, still fighting to keep herself alive. She was nearly ready to give up when she felt her lungs fill to the brim with oxygen, and pressure that felt like the softest kiss of a lover on her lips.”

Zuko pauses, nervously rubbing his palms together. It was clear he had a clearer memory of his first telling of this story than she had assumed. She could tell he could remember how close he had been to her, his breath heavy from pain, adrenaline, and trepidation. He must remember how he had reached for her, clasping her cheek as he recounted the tale, thumb brushing over her lips. Her heart roars like the ocean. She reaches for him this time, ceasing the movement of his hands by placing hers on them. 

“Please,” she says sadly, “go on.” 

Zuko swallows his shame as he continues. 

“Takiko was suddenly lifted from the river, her restraints torn asunder, and she stood towering above her attackers on a column of the river’s current. The men screamed, frightened, and tried to run from the impending onslaught. Instead, the water crashed into them, sending them hurtling into the hard wood of the docks. Soggy and terrified, the men scrambled to their feet and ran from the village entirely, never to return. Exhausted, Takiko found herself steadied by the strong arms of a mysterious young man. His face was obscured by a dark blue mask with an imposing protrusion of two tusks carved into it with what looked like the silver threads of the moon. She thanked the man, feeling oddly as if she knew him, knew that he had watched over her. Hesitantly, she gingerly placed a hand on the right side of the stranger’s face, her thumb grazing the gaping maw of his ominous disguise. A feeling of love she could not explain washed over her as she lifted the mask. From that day on, Takiko and the Water Dragon were not parted until it came time for him to make good on his bargain. On that day, the Water Dragon became The Blue Spirit. And when it came time for the end of Takiko’s life, through her immense dedication to justice, hope, and her love she became the Painted Lady, swearing to watch over the river of the Water Dragon who had watched over her, and eventually be reunited with her love.”

Zuko concludes the tale, a wistful tone in his husky voice. A drop of moisture falls between them and quickly melts onto the beach. He can barely hear Katara’s voice, feeble and forlorn, over the continuing sounds of the now forgotten party they had both sought refuge from. 

“Thank you for telling me this story again, Zuko. It… means a lot to me. This story means a lot to me… you-“ 

She stops, unable to finish the sentence, her feelings revealing themselves in a deluge. He had tried to tell her three years ago, tried to pull her from the depths of doubt and confusion. In the midst of the war’s end and the rebuilding of the world, she had not seen what was right in front of her. 

Zuko watches helplessly as a trail of regret leads a crooked path from Katara’s eyes to her chin. 

“Katara, I- “ he searches desperately for the words, “All this time, I… I just thought you didn’t - we never had time to - “ 

“Lord Zuko!” The new voice bursts like a lightning bolt between the two of them. Katara snatches her hand away from the Fire Lord’s fingers, rubbing her eyes discreetly. 

“What are you doing out here, sire?” 

There she was, the source of the joy and merriment of the evening, the reason for the nation’s rejoice. Her voice was light and pleasant, exactly what was to be expected from a well-bred maiden of the Fire Nation upper classes, exactly the kind of tone and articulation the next Fire Lady should have. She stands small and dainty at the top of the stairs, heavily decorated, her face painted in an elegant pattern, still wearing the ceremonial robes of her new station. 

Zuko’s amber eyes are hard, his jaw taut as he turns his attention to the new arrival. His voice is the controlled, disciplined tone of the ruler he is as he calls back to her. 

“I’ll be back inside in just a moment. I’m just catching up with Master Katara.” 

The delicate young woman flicks her eyes over the waterbender. 

“I won’t rush you, my Lord,” she responds, “but I am missing your presence at our celebration.” 

Zuko nods.

“I’ll re-join everyone shortly,” he replies. 

The young woman smiles pleasantly as she bows.  Her elaborate kimono whirls around her slim frame as she returns to the house. 

Katara watches the young woman’s retreat, eyebrows furrowed. 

“Firelord Zuko,”  she addresses her companion dolefully, “thank you again for the story. I think I’ll be able to remember it much better this time. “ 

“Katara, I… we-“ he stutters, realization struggling with responsibility. 

“It’s a beautiful legend,” Katara interrupts. Back only in the view of the moonlight, she dares to face him, smoothing her hands over his tunic to brush grains of sand from the threads. He stops her movement, gently clasping both her wrists as she looks up at him falteringly. She tries unsuccessfully to blink away the unwelcome stinging in her eyelids. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t understand it before.” 

Their roles, the deal they made with the world when they ended the war, settles between them in a somber silence. 

“Now,” Katara gingerly removes herself from Zuko’s grip, her voice just a breath cracking amongst the sea breeze, “you should go be with your fiancé.” 

[ailtrahq]

Polygon has announced that POL contracts are now live on Goerli Testnet. POL is the upgraded token for the Polygon ecosystem. It is alternatively identified as the next-generation token for MATIC. POL was introduced three weeks ago with a Polygon Improvement Proposal (PIP). Now, Goerli Testnet is hosting the said contract. Also, two more proposals have been laid on the table to better shape the future of Polygon. The initial task of the POL is to handle token migration and emission. This has been specified under PIP-17. Moreover, its objective has been designed to enable community ownership, staking, and governance to accommodate zk-based Layer-2 chains. Polygon has called this a major step forward in achieving the vision of Polygon 2.0. POL has been deployed only after the community could reach a consensus. It is important to note that MATIC is exchanging hands at $0.520255, an increase of 3.03% in the last 24 hours. However, the last month has been dreadful for the token; the fall at the moment comes to 13.28% in just 30 days at the time of articulating this piece. Moving forward, Polygon is looking to gain community endorsement and begin implementing the update this quarter. PIP-19 has come under the lens as well. It highlights the adoption of the upgraded token. POL will primarily find a breakthrough as a native gas token and staking token. They will further impact the burning of MATIC, a mechanism for which has been specified in EIP-1559, with EIP being an acronym for Ethereum Improvement Proposal. The proposal has reportedly taken out 20 million MATIC tokens since January 2022. That was the time when the upgrade went live on Polygon PoS. PIP-24 seeks to bring changes to the addresses of recipients on the Polygon PoS Network. PIP-25 seeks to make adjustments in the total supply of POL. It will make sure that the allotment is pegged at 1:1 between MATIC and POL. This is to retain consistency in the mechanism. Users don’t have to do anything during the upgrade. Users of Polygon zkEVM or MATIC will experience a seamless transition. However, they can participate in the governance process by heading over to the official forum of the Polygon Community. Instructions are the same for node operators and stakers, except they can provide feedback to the team to enhance compatibility and improve the environment once they approve feedback. The update comes hours after Polygon introduced Polylang, a TypeScript for Miden VM. It has been defined as an easy-to-use language with enhanced privacy and parallel execution. Returning to Polygon 2.0 update information. On the Goerli Testnet, SOL Contracts are active to increase the visibility of the upgraded MATIC token. It will support the architecture that Polygon 2.0 is introducing, with an emphasis on the token combustion mechanism.