#actual size vs enlarged

[uraichievents]

UraIchi Week 2024

Monday, July 1st, 2024 - Sunday, July 7th, 2024

AO3 Collection

Full Prompts List Submitted This Year

(Click images to enlarge. Alt text under the cut.)

What is UraIchi Week?

It’s a week-long fanworks event to promote the Urahara Kisuke x Kurosaki Ichigo ship. There’s no sign-up, it’s just for fun, and everybody can participate. Completed works and wips are both acceptable, and any type of fanwork (fanfic, fanart, gifsets, etc.) is welcome. NSFW and/or potentially trigger-y content is allowed, although please remember to tag your works properly.

The ship itself can be written romantically or platonically, as lovers or friends or even enemies, so long as it stars these two characters together in some way. Poly ships are also fine so long as Ichigo and Kisuke are still the focus of the fanwork. And crossovers and fusions are also allowed even if it isn’t one of the given prompts for the event. Basically, anything goes, and the only criteria is that it has to be UraIchi-centric.

Posting:

UraIchi Week is hosted here on Tumblr and on AO3. For posts on Tumblr, remember to ping @uraichievents and tag #UraIchi Week 2024. For AO3, you can add your work(s) to the collection linked up above. You are also welcome to join the UraIchi Discord server if you haven’t already and come and talk about what you’re working on!

Themes:

July 1st, Day 1: i've met you before / i'll meet you again / this is the first time we've met.. right?

Time Travel / Dimension Travel

Identity Porn / Hidden Identities

“I've suffered from traumatic dreams of my past lives since I was a child, and I'm just now realizing that coming up to a beautiful stranger who looks like someone I've seen die a thousand times in a thousand different ways at a bar and asking if we've met before sounds a lot like a come-on haha no wait come back that doesn't mean I'm not desperately attracted to you please kiss me again” AU

July 2nd, Day 2: It's fact that killable problems are not real problems.

Murder Husbands

Ichigo is Deadpool / unbreakable / any other accidentally immortal being who is really kind of annoyed about it (because it’s boring, and he’s still young enough to be within his lifespan, but it sure takes the fun out of fighting).

All the times Ichigo died, he ACTUALLY died, he just came back. Every time he comes back, he comes back Wronger.

July 3rd, Day 3: Things I Should've Told You / Things I Don't Tell Anyone Else

The skeletons in your closet are about to overflow. Would you like me to tidy it up?

Ichigo is experimenting with self-expression, a hobby, etc., making up for lost time as a regular teenager. Urahara is always the first one (sometimes only one) to see or hear about a new idea.

“The person I trust most is you.”

July 4th, Day 4: Sword and Shield

I am yours to command, use me as you please.

Shiba!Ichigo and Second Division!Kisuke

Summoner/Mage AU: Paired summons who are good apart but unmatched together.

July 5th, Day 5: That One is Mine

Hollow Instincts / Feral Protective

Possessive!Kisuke: He stepped aside for Sui-Feng because Yoruichi was always master first and friend second and love interest never, and because Yoruichi wanted her in a way she's never wanted him. But Ichigo is different, and everyone soon realizes that when Kisuke truly wants something, he always gets it in the end.

“Death can’t have you. You’re mine.”

July 6th, Day 6: Monsters come in all shapes and sizes. Some are born, some are made, and some decide being a monster's pretty fucking cool.

Visored!Urahara Kisuke AU / Vasto Lorde!Kurosaki Ichigo AU

“Ichigo forges a friendship with his Hollow in the Shattered Shaft” AU

vs. Gotei 13 AU: Ichigo time travels back from a future where he was chained to the throne as the next Soul King by the Shinigami.

July 7th, Day 7: Creator’s Choice!

As always, the above prompts are all optional, and you’re free to come with your own ideas. You can also find an excel sheet with all the prompts submitted this year linked up above, so feel free to look through that if you want, and you can also make a copy for yourself.

And that’s it! We’re looking forward to what everyone comes up with!

[malarkeyrambles]

deep rock galacticglyphid post

drg is my latest hyperfixation i think i love this game so mcuh ive been thinking aboutthe glyphids a lot and their biology im not super knowledgable on bio i just really like the topic so i might get a ton of stuff wrong but idc disclaimer: because glyphids evolved seperately from earthbeings (duh cuz they're on hoxxes not earth) any similarities to earth creatures is most likely just convergent evolution extraterrestrial life could be extremely similar like the glyphids or completely different its all speculative. anyway, first things first: Bone Game

ok lets look at the glyphid grunt for a sec. Glyphids have two body segments, a head and an abdomen, and eight legs. Their front legs are usually enlarged for burrowing, attacking, and defending. These vary in size and shape depending on the bug. (most glyphid variants look like they have three body segments, such as the grunt shown above, but i believe that its just a protruding jaw as when it moves its head its entire body moves with it, and the Warden specifically has a much more obvious two-segment body plan due to its lack of sharp teeth and massive size difference in body and head) They may or may not have eyes, indicating that eyes were a trait they lost when they went underground. What separates them from spiders is their size, ability to vocalize, their eusocial hierarchy, and the fact that they probably have bones. Earth spiders are invertibrates, like all arthropods. We haven't seeen a glyphid skeleton completely before, but there is a lot of evidence pointing towards their true bony nature. They dont have typical exoskeletons that cover the entirety of the animal. They have "chitinous armor plating" as described by the bestiary that resembles more the armored back of a crocodile than an actual exoskeleton. This plating can be removed in battle and not impair the glyphid's movement, in stark contrast to an earth bug which if you removed its exoskeleton it would just be a pile of bug organs. Exoskeletons double as their skin. Also glyphid sw

armers have no armor and still are fine moving around. They also have defined teeth and jaws, unlike the mandibles on an earth arthropod.

(peeled glyphid grunt guard)

(glyphid swarmer with teeth and jaw visible) Lastly, and I'm not too sure on this one, but i dont believe an exoskeleton made of chitin could hold up a glyphid, yet alone some of the bigger ones. Praetorians are the size and weight of a midsize SUV, and they're not even the biggest glyphids get.

Solitary vs Eusocial

If you got this far you're autistic about animals like me and probably know what eusocial means. If you don't, it just means there's a queen and workers. Think ants, wasps, and bees. While it's generally a consensus that most glyphids are eusocial under one Queen (we'll talk about her later), I think not all of them are. The bestiary says that glyphids are a genus, not a species, meaning that different glyphids can evolve seperately from one another and can be able to live independently instead of in a caste system. Of these, I think the beasts most likely to be solitary are the Stalker, Menace, Stingtail, and Septic Spreader. These guys have extra tools and divergent behaviors (sneaking up behind you, digging around, keeping a distance to shoot projectiles) that seem, to me, like they are taking advantage of the fact you are preoccupied with the glyphid colony and trying to snatch you up as prey for themselves.

(from left to right) stingtail, septic spreader, stalker (below) menace

It also explains why, in some locations, there are random batches of glyphid eggs out and about. It could be this could be a clutch of one of the aformentioned solitary glyphid eggs, and all glyphids look the same when they hatch.

These swarmer nests could either be from the glyphid colony (we are in their territory, after all) or just a different variant of glyphid.

( the blue gem is not supposd to be in there usually, just the purple circles. I couldn't find a better picture.) insert super smooth segue into :

Glyphid Hierarchy

apologies for the crunchy image but i put together this tierlist to explain how I think the glyphid hierarchy works. The tierlist didn't have the stalker in it but it would have gone in solitary for reasons Ive mentioned.

Notes: Soldiers are specialized for fighting but they all have different roles. Slashers and exploders tend to flank and sneak up on their target, the latter being born literally just to die. Praetorians and oppressors are meant to soak up attention and, in our case, damage. Web and acid spitters are meant to take care of flying enemies ( probably mactera in the wild, but in our case it's dwarves on a zipline), and wardens support the ground enemies. the green baby glyphids that are in the solitary tier are called Glyphid Spawn, and they aren't actually a glyphid; rather, a fleshy monolith called a Brood Nexus (below) had taken the DNA of a Glyphid and created their own version of swarmers with it. icky.

Mutations and Anomalies

Certain bugs such as the Bulk Detonator, Dreadnought Hiveguard, and dreadnought twins are anomalies that either don't occur naturally or an unintentional byproduct of biology doin its thing. The Bulk detonator "is what happens when an exploder manages to not detonate during its volatile, and usually short, life." This description pretty much spells it out that these guys aren't supposed to exist.

also, look at their mangled faces and bulbous, pustuled bodies. Exploders are meant to be sent out and explode. I don't know what the glyphid colony does with these, but I don't think they let them stay. Too volatile, and positively humongous. They're the biggest glyphids by far and i think glyphids just wouldn't let them be.

I have no clue how the Crassus Detonator exists or how it turns an entire crater into gold when it explodes. The Dreadnought Twins are a Dreadnought that split into two in the cocoon. Assuming dreadnoughts pupate into queens (more about that below), it's likely that they would pupate into two queens, with possible ramifications outside of that (perhaps sharing energy in a cocoon means inhibited reproduction in some way?) I doubt they'd fight over power, because the dreadnought twins show impeccable teamwork when broken out, even to the point of one dreadnought will sacrafice some of it's health for the other if one gets too low.

dreadnought twins The Dreadnought Hiveguard is the closest we've got to actually seeing a Glyphid Queen. It's a dreadnought that's been baking for a while but hasn't gotten all the way there. It's impenetrable from everywhere and can spawn Sentinels to protect it. It then reveals three weakpoints on its face when all Sentinels are killed, and then reveals its booty weakpoint when the face weakpoints were deaded.

(from left to right) Hiveguard, Sentinels Because Sentinels don't come from the cocoon and dont spawn in any other area, my best guess about them is they lay dormant usually, letting the other glyphids fight. They only respond to the Queen, being her last line of defense. It'd make sense because the Hiveguard is the closest thing to a queen we've got, and it has a unique vocalization for summoning Sentinels.

Dreadnoughts, Praetorians, Queens, and Conservation

The glyphid dreadnought, at its base form, seems to be a grander Praetorian. They look similar, down to the tusks on their face, and even have similar attacks. They carry the same bite and slash that nearly all ground glyphids have, but they also have a projectile shot from the mouth.

(from left to right) Praetorian 3d Model, Dreadnought 3d Model If I had to guess, this could be a Royal Jelly Moment. To explain, lets look at earth honeybees. These guys are fed a substance called "royal jelly" as a larva until they are fed honey. Certain workers, though, are fed and fed and fed and even have the walls of their honeycomb cell lined with the stuff. These workers end up becoming juvenile queen bees and they start their own colony. Given the fact that Oppressors are canonically "aggresively mutated Praetorians", I believe they are simply praetorians that weren't fed Royal Jelly. Their armor grows, and their weakpoint abdomen shrinks.

In the game, it's heavily implied that the glyphids are without a Queen (the voiceline "Die like your mother did!" when killing glyphids comes to mind), and the only time we ever see a Dreadnought is in a cocoon, outside of the rare times it spawns on an unrelated mission. We are told explicitly that these guys arent in their final form and they will pupate into something much worse if we don't stop them, and there seem to be a lot of cocoons around. (There are 2-3 cocoons a mission and there is always an elimination mission available.) What i think is happening is Praetorians are mutating into Dreadnoughts which are further trying to mutate into Glyphid Queens to fill the empty spot in the glyphid hierarchy and they want to spew out so many glyphids that the mining operations on Hoxxes has to close down. This has a lot of implications. Firstly, glyphids are so plentiful without a queen. Imagine how insane they'll get with one. Secondly, glyphids are numbered. They aren't being replaced and DRG is killing hundreds of them a mission, potentially thousands on Deep Dives and Elite Deep Dives. (I tried an elite deep dive earlier today, got to about 897 dead glyphids on the third mission which i inevitably failed). Thinking about this really puts into perspective the damage DRG is doing to Hoxxes in the pursuit of more money and resources, polluting it with depleted uranium and plasma radiation and drill fumes and omoran heartstone lazerbeam juice and abandoned mining equipment, sucking it dry for its resources, and actively killing the rest of the wildlife that havent died from habitat loss. Glyphids are not the villain of this story. They are just following their instincts. It reflects how real-world corporations simply don't care about the earth that gives it its wealth and gives us life. I didn't mean for this rant to end the way it has, but please be grateful for the earth you stand on, appreciate nature, and don't litter. Also, if you haven't, play Deep Rock Galactic. solid game.

if only there was some salute or chant i could say to end this with a bang, one involving rocks, or stones, or something

[themiscyradobermans]

Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease vs Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Part 1)

Hope you are ready to do some learning today! I didn't want to bog down Nadia's post too much so I figured I'd do something a little more in depth, separately. I also hope that the information here might help anyone seeking information about either disease. Might want to go and make yourself a drink and/or a snack because this will be a long read.

What is MMVD? Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease also called Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease is the most common cardiac disease affecting dogs. It is an acquired disease (aka "adult onset") that is most typically seen in small breed geriatric dogs. It is characterized by a progressive thickening of the Mitral valve, which is the valve on the left side of the heart - in other words, the valve that connects the left ventricle (LV) to the Left Atrium (LA). The thickening results in it becoming more rigid and overtime it loses the ability to close properly, causing a leak (or regurgitation) from the left ventricle to the left atrium. Over time, the valve has a tendency to become so fibrinous that the leak becomes more important with time, and for some dogs with very advanced MMVD the valve may not even really close much at all anymore.

Because of the leak, over time the left ventricle and the left atrium will enlarge. When the left atrium becomes severely enlarged the patient will progress to congestive heart failure. Because of the stiffening of the valve the chordae tendineae that hold it together are also at risk of rupturing as the disease progresses. When a dog ruptures a major chord, they are at risk of an acute episode of CHF without dilation of the left atrium (because the left atrium does not have a chance to adjust or adapt to the sudden backflow) and patients in this situation will often require critical hospitalization care for 24-48 hours before normalizing. In some very uncommon or rare cases the disease can be self limiting. We have seen it in one or two patients where the dog actually improved after being in B2, with the heart reducing in size because the mitral valve thickened so much it started plugging the leak again. What causes MMVD? It is unknown what exactly causes this process. In certain breeds there is a very strong genetic, hereditary and familial component like in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, Yorkies, Pomeranians and others. It mostly affects small breeds, but any dog breed can get MMVD. How is it diagnosed? MMVD can only truly be diagnosed exclusively via cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) by a cardiologist. It can be listed as a differential with the help of other diagnostic tools like x-ray, auscultation (presence of a heart murmur on the left side), age/breed of the patient and clinical symptoms (late stages). There are other diagnostic, clinical tests but they are non-specific blood tests that can merely serve to further refer out to a Cardiologist. Can you treat it? Yes. The primary treatment for MMVD will be the administration of Pimobendan once the disease progresses to moderate stage MMVD classified as ACVIM B2. Because it is so prevalent in dogs there is empirical data on it, and one in particular the groundbreaking EPIC study has helped establish very specific guidelines for the classification of Moderate Stage MMVD and the early (pre-clinical) administration of pimobendan. In order to be classified as B2 and qualify for early administration of pimobendan the dog must meet 4 criteria:

Grade III heart murmur or higher

Left Atrium/Aortic (LA/Ao) ratio of 1.6 or higher

Left Ventricle Internal Diameter in Diastole Normalized for weight (LVIDDN) of 1.7 or higher

VHS (Vertebral Heart Score) of 10.5 or higher on xray

Where an echo is not possible, in order to qualify for pimobendan, it is recommended to wait until the the VHS is equal to 11.5 or higher. What is miraculous about the EPIC study is that it offers proof that administering Pimobendan to a dog in B2/moderate MMVD will slow down significantly the progression of the disease. The median time it takes for a B2 moderate MMVD to progress to a Stage C heart failure is 766 days without the administration of Pimobendan. With pimobendan that median increases by 60% 1228 days. Once a dog reaches CHF typically the prognosis is 6-12 months post diagnosis of CHF. With pimobendan it adds about 10% overall time without clinical signs or quality of life issues. Some Cardiologists will also prescribe an ACE Inhibitor (Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors) alongside Pimobendan even while still in Moderate/B2 stage, while others will prescribe it rather only once the dog progresses to a Stage C (aka severe stage with congestive heart failure). Once the dog reaches Stage C, typically a diuretic will be added to the treatment. Management can include adjusting dosage of the medication and on occasion adding in additional diuretics, or if exhibiting new cardiac symptoms, adding additional medication. For example in large breed dogs you can see Atrial fibrillation, and in some individuals you'll also see Ventricular Premature Contractions (VPCs or PVCs which doberman people will be familiar with due to its role in DCM) so medications can be added to control these aspects too. Now what is interesting with MMVD is that there are currently two surgical procedures/interventions with very limited availability. One is an open heart surgery that is curative and consists in repairing the Mitral Valve. There is the JASMINE Animal Referral Hospital in Japan where the procedure was developed by Dr Uechi Masami, who has then gone on to train teams in the UK at the Queen Mother Hospital Royal Veterinary College as well as a team in France at HOPIA. Currently Dr Uechi is performing mitral valve repair procedures at the University of Florida in the USA, with the goal to try and train as many teams in the USA and around the world. The likelihood of this surgery ever becoming widespread or common place or even accessible to most people is fairly low, given the high demand, and how resource intensive it is both in equipment and specialized teams. The other very recent intervention is the TEER mitral valve repair, a minimally invasive procedure that consists in installing a clamp on the mitral valve to bring it back closer together and thus reduce or eliminate the leak. Can I do anything to prevent it? While there's nothing you can do to prevent MMVD from occurring, if you intend to purchase a puppy from a small breed or medium breed, especially one of the breeds known to have high prevalence of the disease, it is imperative to ask the breeder if the parents have been screened and are being monitored for cardiac disease by a cardiologist, whether that's with a yearly auscultation or a yearly echocardiogram (because MMVD is always associated with a murmur, for regular owner it is acceptable to auscultate yearly, and only do an echo if/once a murmur is heard). Ask about the pedigree also. I strongly encourage you to start screening/monitoring for it when your dog reaches 4-5 years for at risk breeds. Breeding animals should be screened before being bred and then yearly thereafter. If you are unsure whether your breed is considered at risk, you can check the recommended tests for your breed on the OFA website. If you adopt a pup from a rescue or shelter with an unknown genetic background, I would strongly encourage you to ask your vet to properly auscultate during your yearly vet visits and physical exams, and I would request a referral to a cardiologist (if required in your area, our cardiology department doesn't per se require a referral anyone can call and book) even if your dog only has a Grade I-II murmur.

[zkylearnstherope]

AvPhysics - An Analysis [Finale]

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - [Part 4]

All the questions have been finally answered...

How did TSC_0 avoid crashing into the sun?

Like I said, everything in AvPhysics was intentional and calculated, I don't think Alan/Terkoiz would just randomly decide, "Ehh let's fan the sun with a hat." That's why I didn't include it in my analysis before. But I finally found out why-

Credits to @Toxic

It was a horse reference. Can't believe I completely missed that. I was imagining him as a bull rider, you know, like those rodeo things.

TSC_0 was actually side-kicking the rocket and waving his hat, because he was doing what is called horse "spurring". Riders do it to encourage the horse to perform specific moves, speed up, or most importantly- change its course.

Here's an image for your reference.

Why was the rocket marked as quantum entangled?

Also credits to @Toxic

Unlike the 1D strings, this rocket is 3D (or maybe more). TSC_-1 had to make its parts entangled so that when it passes through the Einstein-Rosen Bridge (wormhole), it will retain the same form when it finally becomes its full size.

Remember, the TSCs had to shrink themselves to enter the singularity. So enlarging something would presumably, require effort as well.

What did TSC_-1 selected on the wormhole?

Credits to @donaardaardendrian. You can see their replies in [Part 3].

He didn't select 2D (which I assumed to be back to the AvA universe). He actually selected "2B" which means selecting a different universe from the one they're currently on.

It basically establishes that TSC_-1 is going to end up on another AvE Episode (instead of home). A cool little detail if you ask me.

Was the power of creation demonstrated inside the singularity, explainable in quantum string theory? Or is that solely just TSC's abilities?

The nuclear engineer described what the TSC versions are doing as having access to extradimensional supertechnology. Not exactly a conclusive answer, but I guess the power of creation is just TSC (?). And that it's not possible/achievable in terms of quantum string theory.

How does AvE tie in with the original AvA Universe?

The wiki defines AvM as a spin-off series, so AvE is probably going to be a spin-off series as well.

Personally, as of now, I don't think this is the same TSC from the AvA Universe. Since this episode introduced the concept of parallel universes, there's a high chance this is a different version from our TSC.

But why would Alan suddenly introduce multiple versions of a character?

Well, he already kinda does. I've always thought that, for example: AvM Yellow vs AvA Yellow are two different people. But that's just me.

Also, AvPokemon was observed by other characters. The gang was eating popcorn as it happened. So far, AvE is just TSC. It's why I think he's a different one, from an entirely different universe. I don't think he'll ever come to AvA. He's just a separate thing.

Last notes:

I recommend watching the nuclear engineer's video, because he explained the Doppler Effect really well.

I couldn't come up with any reason as to why the apple got caught up in the Inner Horizon, other than to make us visually see that TSC_0 is shrinking.

Finally...

Thank you to everyone who liked the Analysis. Here on Tumblr, Reddit, and Discord. You guys made me feel that the effort was worth it.

[mercurytrinemoon]

One more thing about the rising sign vs looks debate or whatever

Guessing rising signs purely by appearance is so tricky and I wouldn't recommend that. I'm saying this because some are trying to argue that Billie looks more like a Pisces because Aries risings are "always stocky, muscular, rather short yada yada". Like??? People aren't made in factories??? Sure, a lot of them will have commonalities but really if you go to astrotheme or whatever and search for aries risings (or other) then truthfully, most of them will be of different shapes, sizes and beauty types.

Like for example yes, you can totally have a short Sagittarius rising. They're not all tall. A shocker, I know.

If you want to go by the looks, I'd more so suggest looking at the body language and how the person reacts to the environment they're in. And really how they approach things, the attitude. But even this will be of course mixed with the influence of the rest of the chart: the Sun, ascendant ruler, other pesonal planets, even the Sun's dispositor etc.

"I cannot explain why Billie has round and soft body features if she's an Aries rising"... ummmm... because she's a Sagi Sun? Sagis and Pisces often look similar because they're both ruled by Jupiter, which endowes both with upbeat and dreamy demeanour and sometimes fuller, rounder bodies (Jupiter enlarges things and rules indulgement, which can lead to fuller silhouettes). Also again, in her case, her asc ruler is in Pisces, which gives her an extra fishy flavour. Her demeanour tho, very fiery. I never saw piscean characteristics in the way she carries herself except for blurry aesthetic that she goes for sometimes and the famous blue hair.

An example of a 100% correctly timed chart: my Capricorn Sun sister is a Pisces rising. And except for her, what I like to call, fishy teeth (aka small weirdly shaped teeth), she does not look like Pisces: she has a very bony face, just like Capris often have. Far from the stereotypical ethereal being, she's always very strict and calculated in her movements and appearance.

Also, eye color? Honestly if you're saying an x eye color is strictly reserved for an x sign then we have a problem. Also, actually, I see blue eyes on a lot of Aries folks, risings or Suns 🤔

[dad-bodybuilding]

I FINALLY learned what Hypertrophy actually means!

Took me long enough, huh?

I’ve seen the term “hypertrophy” plenty of times, but I never really thought too much about it. It may have been that the main bodybuilding influencers I followed (namely Jim Stoppani and Kris Gethin) never, in my experience, seemed to talk about it. It wasn’t until recently - when I discovered Eugene Teo, Jeff Nippard, and Mike Israetel - did I begin to dive into what hypertrophy actually is.

By definition, hypertrophy is the increase in the size of a muscle due to the enlargement of its component cells.

Basically, muscle get bigger.

Obviously, one of my main weightlifting goals was hypertrophy, even if I didn’t know the specific term. What I didn’t realize, is how training for hypertrophy vs strength differed. Very generally, strength training is done more in the 1-5 rep range and focuses on, well, increasing strength (which may not actually do much for building size); hypertrophy is often done with sets of 5-30 (yep, that broad a range) and prioritizes size (which may not do much for building strength very quickly).

I guess you could say that strength is more practical and hypertrophy is more aesthetic (yay vanity!)

But, I mean, we all want to look good naked, right???

Anyways, as I learned more about hypertrophy, I learned some of the main principles of training that we currently believe stimulates hypertrophy:

Mechanical tension: the constant force created within a muscle as it contracts and stretches. The heavier the load, the more controlled the negative or eccentric, and a bias towards the lengthened position as contribute to mechanical tension.

Training close to failure: this is basically what it sounds like. It is important to take sets close to failure (meaning within 1-3 reps in reserve and occasionally to failure). This is an area I didn’t really push myself towards and it is hard to truly gauge how close to failure we get. But, using machines or cables can allow us to safely push to failure.

Progressive overload: as you advance from workout to workout, week to week, try to add a rep or two per set or a small increase in weight.

Biasing the lengthened position: no need to state the obvious, but I am not an exercise scientist. However, those that are seem to believe that muscle growth is best stimulated when favoring the fully lengthened position. In short (or in long?), making sure to get a full range of motion, stretching the muscle under load to its fully lengthened position. If the resistance curve of the exercise can favor the lengthened range, even better. There is even some research suggesting that lengthened partials can be as effective as some full ROM movements.

This is a lot of info and, suffice it to say, I’ve learned a lot but there is a still a TON more to learn. And as I’ve implemented these principles into my workouts, they have become much more efficient and significantly more stimulating and, dare I say, hypertrophic!!

[strobbylemonade]

explaining why this is poor design: new on left (light mode) and old on right (dark mode)

having tag thumbnails is quite ineffective when all tags have the same thumbnail

i don't know about other people but i personally prefer not to search by tag? i usually search by keyword because it gives me more varied content in my search. strange choice to prioritise tagging but lmk what other people think

"217 recent... 63K..." yeah this is sooo optimised for different browser sizes

when have follower counts for tags ever been important information that we need to know while navigating to a tag? on the website where "follower counts don't matter"??? this is useless information; i used to primarily use instagram, it was also useless there and mainly used to double check i didn't misspell anything.

the leading and vertical margins/padding are bad; not only makes the title and subtitles feel disconnected, but also makes it harder for your brain to distinguish between sections.

making everything larger makes it more cramped, and again, removes the spatial distinction between where one entry ends and the next one begins

props for making stuff more distinguishable for colourblind users and also easier to read from further away though. although uh some other website has done it better and... well... we'll get to that later

before we do, i had a search of what other people thought and stole this screenshot from @helpimstuckinafandom (ryuji image to stop the screenie from taking up too much space)

this is somehow WORSE - it's so cramped on the left side with so much empty space on the right, making it feel bloated and empty at the same time, the text in the different sections don't line up (they didn't used to either, i know), the enlarging of the icons reduces the negative space that was already lacking with my update, and somehow the bolded text of the search suggestions makes it feel even emptier compared to the cramped "tags" area. the good thing? less unnecessary information, like no tag follower counts, and no icons for recent searches.

alright. moving on, i sure do wonder where they got this idea for larger and bolder font choices from OH WAIT (roland image to stop it from being so damn large)

oh wait this actually looks pretty good though. so why does twitter's layout work? same reason why tumblr's old one was, frankly, pretty ugly but worked:

SPACING VS CLUTTER

there's no images for the tags / searches because there doesn't need to be! there's no information about follower counts because again, it's not important! notice their width is almost the same as tumblr's, but it still feels better because the content is smaller and the spacing appropriately allows your brain to digest things into smaller chunks.

it's also completely legible and comfortable to read no matter your browser size!!!!!!!!!!!! which tumblr fails to do! even when display names reach their character limits (see: PearlescentMoon) it's still completely legible and not confusing.

ok so if twitter's so good why do i hate it looking more like twitter? simple: brand identity. tumblr removing the stuff that makes it look like tumblr, is in fact, bad. having thick weighted, rounded fonts is not inherently bad. it's what twitter looks like, it's what apple looks like - they have a certain brand identity of legibility, professionalism, and cleanliness that they need to uphold. which is great. microsoft is straight edges and geometric shapes - utilitarian, functional, professional.

what i'm trying to say is this: if you want to keep branding tumblr as the stupid clown funny gay people ancient hellsite, then revel in the aesthetic. in the blatant html-ness of it all, it's unique, you can't get it anywhere else (you can but not on a site as popular). YES make it more accessible, YES make it more welcoming and easy to pick up and use for new users. you don't have to strip it of it's individuality to do so.

i was going to end it here but right before i hit post, i realised tumblr has a tumblr-looking, well spaced, organised and aesthetically pleasing suggestion-based navigation system already - right under the search bar. anyways. that's all. goodbye

[aravind002]

OnePlus 12 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra A Comprehensive Comparison

The fight between front runner smart devices warms up along with the launch of the OnePlus 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Each devices stand for the peak of engeneering coming from their particular brands, using groundbreaking features, strong efficiency, as well as stunning styles. If you're torn in between these two goliaths, this extensive contrast is going to assist you determine.

Additionally, our experts'll touch upon personalization options like skin layers, with brand names such as Gadgetshieldz delivering cost effective and also top notch modifications to maintain your tool looking new.

Concept as well as Construct Premium OnePlus 12 The OnePlus 12 features a streamlined, light in weight layout with a metal structure as well as a frozen glass back. OnePlus has concentrated on functional designs, guaranteeing the phone feels great in palm. Its balanced design as well as polished sides make it stand apart.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra The S24 ULtra keeps its vibrant, angular style, along with superior materials like Gorilla Glass Victus 3 and also an aluminum framework. The gadget feels strong and also glamorous but could be a little burdensome for those with smaller sized hands due to its size as well as body weight.

Judgment: If you choose a lighter, extra ergonomic phone, the OnePlus 12 could match you a lot better. However, for those who desire a durable, superior feeling, the S24 Ultra pioneers.

Present OnePlus 12 The OnePlus 12 boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display along with 2K resolution and a 120Hz flexible refresh price. The show delivers lively colours, strong african-americans, and remarkable luminosity, making it best for games adn interactives media.

Samsung Universe S24 Ultra The S24 Ultra includes a slightly much larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X show wiht QHD+ resolution as well as a 120Hz refresh cost. Samsung's screen technology is recognized for its first-rate shade accuracy and outdoor presence, specifying a higher benchmark.

Decision: BOth display screens are actually magnificent, yet the S24 Ultra outlines ahead of time along with its somewhat bigger monitor as well as industry-leading shade calibration.

Performance OnePlus 12 Powered through thge Snapdragon 8 Generation 3 chipset, the OnePlus 12 deals blistering efficiency. Matched with around 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM adn UFS 4.0 storage, it takes care of multitasking, gaming, as well as hefty applications very easily.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra The S24 Ultra is furnished along with the Snapdragon 8 Generation 3 for Galaxy chipset, a slightly improved version of the regular Generation 3. While it discusses comparable primary design, the "for Galaxy" version supplies minor functionality enlargements.

Judgment: The S24 Ultra has a minor edge in fresh functionality, however thge difference is actually imperceptible in regular use.

Cam OnePlus 12 The OnePlus 12 features a triple-camera setup:

Key Sensor: fifty MP with visual picture stabilization (OIS). Ultra-Wide: fifty MP along with a large field of view. Telephoto: 64 MP with 3x visual zoom. The cam device is co-engineered with Hasselblad, providing natural different colors duplication andd enhanced low-light functionality.

Samsung Universe S24 Ultra The S24 Ultra stuffs a quad-camera setup:

Main Sensing Unit: 200 MP along with innovative OIS. Ultra-Wide: 12 MP. Telephoto: 10 MP (3x optical zoom). Periscope Zoom: 10 MP (10x visual zoom). Samsung's video cameras master versatility and also long-range photography, due to its periscope zoom lens.

Judgment: The S24 Ultra is the crystal clear winner for photography enthusiasts, especially those that need long-range zoom functionalities. However, the OnePlus 12 is actually adept and also delivers great photograph quality for daily usage.

Battery and also Asking for OnePlus 12 The OnePlus 12 is actually geared up with a 5,400 mAh electric battery and sustains blazing-fast 100W wired charging as well as 50W cordless charging.

Samsung Universe S24 Ultra The S24 Ultra houses a 5,000 mAh battery along withh 45W wired asking for as well as 15W wireless charging.

Judgment: The OnePlus 12 supplies faster asking for velocities, making it more convenient for customers on the move.

Program OnePlus 12 Running on OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14, the OnePlus 12 gives a clean, quick, as well as customizable user knowledge with marginal bloatware.

Samsung Universe S24 Ultra The S24 Ultra manages One UI 6, which is actually also based upon Android 14. One UI is actually feature-rich as well as highly personalized but features even more pre-installed apps.

Verdict: Both use superb program expertises, but OxygenOS attract those that choose a cleaner interface, while One UI is actually best for users who like comprehensive attributes.

Price OnePLus 12 OnePlus continues to install its crown jewel as a value-for-money proposal, supplying high-end components at a veyr competitive rate.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra The S24 Ultra comes at a superior, showing its additional functions like the S Pen as well as evolved camera functionalities.

Decision: For budget-conscious purchasers, the OnePlus 12 gives much better market value without considerable trade-offs.

Customization and Skins Both devices are spectacular, however they're prone to blemishes as well as scratches. Personalized skin layers are an excellent method to protect as well as personalize your phone without including majority.

Gadgetshieldz uses budget friendly, top quality skin layers for both the OnePlus 12 adn Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Their skin layers are actually precision-cut, simple to administer, as well as can be found in a variety of structures like carbon fiber, matte, leather, as well as wood. Certainly not only do they improve grip, but they also keep your gadget appearing pristine.

If you're seeking a cost-effective means to make your phone attract attention while keeping it shielded, Gadgetshieldz is actually a great possibility.

Final thought Deciding on between the OnePlus 12 and the Samsung Universe S24 Ultra depends on your priorities:

Select OnePlus 12 if you wish a value-for-money flagship along with rapid charging, a tidy UI, and exceptional day-to-day functionality. Choose S24 Ultra if you need a top-tier camera, improved efficiency, anbd additional functions like the S Pen. No matter which unit you choose, brands like Gadgetshieldz ensure you can safeguard as well as customize your financial investment along with premium skins at a cost effective cost.

[lasvegasnewnoseinstile]

Rhinoplasty: The Art and Science of Nose Reshaping

Rhinoplasty, commonly referred to as a nose job, is a surgical procedure that focuses on enhancing the aesthetics of one's nose alongside the improvement of functional issues like respiratory difficulties. It's a procedure that calls for a harmony of art and science, demanding a keen sense of aesthetics alongside a rich understanding of the complex anatomy of the human nose.

In this article, we'll delve into the world of rhinoplasty, examine its potential benefits, what to expect before, during, and after the procedure, and explore some common misconceptions and concerns related to the surgery.

Understanding Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that modifies the nose's shape or function. This procedure can enhance facial harmony, balance the nose's proportions, and correct impairments caused by structural defects.

Rhinoplasty isn't merely a "nose job." It is a form of art where the surgeon sculpts the nose to enhance the overall facial harmony, blending aesthetics and function.

Why Consider Rhinoplasty?

People opt for rhinoplasty for various reasons. Some seek to refine the size, width, and position of their nostrils. Others wish to correct visible humps, depressions on the nose bridge, or an enlarged, drooping, upturned, or hooked nasal tip.

In some cases, rhinoplasty is performed to correct nasal asymmetry and achieve a more balanced facial appearance. However, it's worth noting that perfect symmetry is not always attainable, as our faces are naturally asymmetrical to some extent.

Rhinoplasty: Aesthetic vs Functional

While rhinoplasty is often associated with cosmetic changes, it can also serve a functional purpose. For instance, it can correct a deviated septum, one of the most common causes of breathing impairment. Through careful evaluation and surgical adjustment of the nasal structure, rhinoplasty can significantly improve airflow and breathing.

Consulting a Plastic Surgeon: The First Step

The first step towards rhinoplasty is consulting with a skilled facial plastic surgeon. This consultation allows patients to discuss their hopes and concerns, ask questions, and understand the potential outcomes and risks associated with the procedure.

During this consult, the surgeon will examine and measure the patient's face, take photographs, and discuss various surgical options. It's essential to have an open and honest conversation with your surgeon to establish realistic expectations from the procedure.

Preparing for Rhinoplasty

Before the actual procedure, patients need to prepare accordingly. This includes providing a list of current medications and supplements, along with their dosages, to the healthcare provider. If patients have specific aesthetic goals, they can also bring photographs to illustrate their desired post-surgery appearance.

The Rhinoplasty Procedure: Step by Step

Rhinoplasty is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, with patients going home the same day. The procedure may take one to three hours, depending on the complexity.

During the procedure, the surgeon will first administer anesthesia to ensure patient comfort. Then, an incision is made inside the nostrils or across the nose base. The skin covering the nasal bones and cartilage is raised, and the underlying structures are reduced, added to, or rearranged to create the desired shape.

What to Expect Post-Rhinoplasty

Post-rhinoplasty, patients may experience swelling and bruising around the nose and eyes, which gradually resolves over several weeks. They might wear a small plastic splint for one to two weeks to maintain the nose's new shape while it heals.

Stages of Swelling After Rhinoplasty

Swelling is a natural response to surgery. It occurs as fluid accumulates within and underneath the skin, causing the nose to appear larger than usual.

In the first four to six weeks post-surgery, patients will experience significant swelling. This swelling will gradually decrease over the next three months. It's important to note that minor swelling could persist for up to one year after the surgery, and the final results will only be visible once this swelling completely subsides.

Asymmetrical Healing Post-Rhinoplasty

Asymmetrical healing is a standard occurrence post-rhinoplasty. It refers to the phenomenon where one side of the nose experiences more swelling than the other, causing the nose to appear slightly crooked. This is a normal part of the healing process and should not cause alarm.

Managing Pain After Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is performed under anesthesia, so patients should not experience pain during the procedure. Post-surgery, patients may experience mild to moderate discomfort, which typically subsides within a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to manage this discomfort, as directed by the healthcare provider.

Post-Operative Care and Instructions

Post-operative care is crucial for a successful recovery. Patients should follow the surgeon's instructions carefully, including avoiding blowing the nose for a few weeks, keeping the head elevated while sleeping for the first few days, staying out of the sun, and avoiding exertion.

Final Thoughts: The Journey to Aesthetic Harmony

Rhinoplasty is a journey towards aesthetic harmony and improved function. It's a path marked by careful planning, meticulous execution, and diligent aftercare. With the right expectations and a skilled surgeon, rhinoplasty can significantly enhance one's facial aesthetics and improve the quality of life.

Like any surgical procedure, rhinoplasty comes with its inherent risks and benefits. It's crucial to have a thorough understanding of the procedure, set realistic expectations, and trust your care in the hands of a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon.

Rhinoplasty is more than a nose job. It is a blend of art and science that can bring symmetry, balance, and beauty to the face while improving function. It is a testament to the wonders of modern medicine and its ability to harmonize form and function.

[drstile]

Rhinoplasty: The Art and Science of Nose Reshaping

Rhinoplasty, commonly referred to as a nose job, is a surgical procedure that focuses on enhancing the aesthetics of one's nose alongside the improvement of functional issues like respiratory difficulties. It's a procedure that calls for a harmony of art and science, demanding a keen sense of aesthetics alongside a rich understanding of the complex anatomy of the human nose.

In this article, we'll delve into the world of rhinoplasty, examine its potential benefits, what to expect before, during, and after the procedure, and explore some common misconceptions and concerns related to the surgery.

Understanding Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that modifies the nose's shape or function. This procedure can enhance facial harmony, balance the nose's proportions, and correct impairments caused by structural defects.

Rhinoplasty isn't merely a "nose job." It is a form of art where the surgeon sculpts the nose to enhance the overall facial harmony, blending aesthetics and function.

Why Consider Rhinoplasty?

People opt for rhinoplasty for various reasons. Some seek to refine the size, width, and position of their nostrils. Others wish to correct visible humps, depressions on the nose bridge, or an enlarged, drooping, upturned, or hooked nasal tip.

In some cases, rhinoplasty is performed to correct nasal asymmetry and achieve a more balanced facial appearance. However, it's worth noting that perfect symmetry is not always attainable, as our faces are naturally asymmetrical to some extent.

Rhinoplasty: Aesthetic vs Functional

While rhinoplasty is often associated with cosmetic changes, it can also serve a functional purpose. For instance, it can correct a deviated septum, one of the most common causes of breathing impairment. Through careful evaluation and surgical adjustment of the nasal structure, rhinoplasty can significantly improve airflow and breathing.

Consulting a Plastic Surgeon: The First Step

The first step towards rhinoplasty is consulting with a skilled facial plastic surgeon. This consultation allows patients to discuss their hopes and concerns, ask questions, and understand the potential outcomes and risks associated with the procedure.

During this consult, the surgeon will examine and measure the patient's face, take photographs, and discuss various surgical options. It's essential to have an open and honest conversation with your surgeon to establish realistic expectations from the procedure.

Preparing for Rhinoplasty

Before the actual procedure, patients need to prepare accordingly. This includes providing a list of current medications and supplements, along with their dosages, to the healthcare provider. If patients have specific aesthetic goals, they can also bring photographs to illustrate their desired post-surgery appearance.

The Rhinoplasty Procedure: Step by Step

Rhinoplasty is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, with patients going home the same day. The procedure may take one to three hours, depending on the complexity.

During the procedure, the surgeon will first administer anesthesia to ensure patient comfort. Then, an incision is made inside the nostrils or across the nose base. The skin covering the nasal bones and cartilage is raised, and the underlying structures are reduced, added to, or rearranged to create the desired shape.

What to Expect Post-Rhinoplasty

Post-rhinoplasty, patients may experience swelling and bruising around the nose and eyes, which gradually resolves over several weeks. They might wear a small plastic splint for one to two weeks to maintain the nose's new shape while it heals.

Stages of Swelling After Rhinoplasty

Swelling is a natural response to surgery. It occurs as fluid accumulates within and underneath the skin, causing the nose to appear larger than usual.

In the first four to six weeks post-surgery, patients will experience significant swelling. This swelling will gradually decrease over the next three months. It's important to note that minor swelling could persist for up to one year after the surgery, and the final results will only be visible once this swelling completely subsides.

Asymmetrical Healing Post-Rhinoplasty

Asymmetrical healing is a standard occurrence post-rhinoplasty. It refers to the phenomenon where one side of the nose experiences more swelling than the other, causing the nose to appear slightly crooked. This is a normal part of the healing process and should not cause alarm.

Managing Pain After Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is performed under anesthesia, so patients should not experience pain during the procedure. Post-surgery, patients may experience mild to moderate discomfort, which typically subsides within a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to manage this discomfort, as directed by the healthcare provider.

Post-Operative Care and Instructions

Post-operative care is crucial for a successful recovery. Patients should follow the surgeon's instructions carefully, including avoiding blowing the nose for a few weeks, keeping the head elevated while sleeping for the first few days, staying out of the sun, and avoiding exertion.

Final Thoughts: The Journey to Aesthetic Harmony

Rhinoplasty is a journey towards aesthetic harmony and improved function. It's a path marked by careful planning, meticulous execution, and diligent aftercare. With the right expectations and a skilled surgeon, rhinoplasty can significantly enhance one's facial aesthetics and improve the quality of life.

Like any surgical procedure, rhinoplasty comes with its inherent risks and benefits. It's crucial to have a thorough understanding of the procedure, set realistic expectations, and trust your care in the hands of a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon.

Rhinoplasty is more than a nose job. It is a blend of art and science that can bring symmetry, balance, and beauty to the face while improving function. It is a testament to the wonders of modern medicine and its ability to harmonize form and function.

[phanger]

Penis Enlarger: Expectations vs. Reality

Introduction:

The quest for a larger and more satisfying penis has been a subject of interest for many individuals. With the rise of various products and methods claiming to enhance penile size, it is essential to understand the reality behind penis enlargers. In this article, we will delve into the expectations versus the reality when it comes to penis enlargers, shedding light on what works and what doesn't. So, let's separate the myths from the facts and embark on a journey of knowledge.

Heading 1: What Are Penis Enlargers?

Penis enlargers encompass a wide range of products, techniques, and procedures designed to increase the size of the penis. These may include devices such as penis pumps, extenders, pills, creams, and surgeries. Each method operates on the premise of stimulating growth and enhancing blood flow to the penile tissues, potentially leading to a larger erection.

Heading 2: Pills and Creams: Promises and Limitations

Many over-the-counter pills and creams claim to deliver substantial penis growth, but the reality is often far from the promised expectations. While some ingredients might temporarily boost blood flow to the penis, resulting in a slightly firmer erection, their effects on actual size enhancement are minimal. It is important to be wary of grandiose claims and opt for scientifically backed methods.

Heading 3: Penis Pumps: Mechanics and Outcomes

Penis pumps work by creating a vacuum around the penis, causing blood to rush into the penile chambers and engorge the tissues. This results in a temporary increase in size. However, the effects are not permanent, and prolonged or incorrect use may lead to discomfort or injury. Penis pumps are often more effective as a temporary solution or in conjunction with other methods, such as exercises.

Heading 4: Penis Extenders: The Real Deal?

Penis extenders, also known as traction devices, are designed to gently stretch the penis over time, aiming to promote cellular growth and potentially increase length. Studies suggest that consistent and correct usage of penis extenders can lead to slight but noticeable gains in both flaccid and erect length. While patience and dedication are crucial, penis extenders offer one of the most credible options for those seeking size enhancement.

Heading 5: Surgical Interventions: A Last Resort

Penile surgeries, such as phalloplasty or the injection of fillers, are the most drastic measures for penile enlargement. While they can provide some size enhancement, these procedures pose significant risks, including potential complications, scarring, and uneven results. Surgery should always be considered as a last resort and only under the guidance of a reputable and experienced surgeon.

Heading 6: Combining Methods: The Power of Synergy

To maximize the chances of achieving desired results, many individuals opt for a combination of methods. For instance, using a penis extender alongside targeted exercises and supplements may yield more significant and lasting gains. Always consult with a medical professional before pursuing such combinations, as they can help determine what is suitable for your particular circumstances.

Heading 7: Reality Check: Managing Expectations

It is crucial to approach penis enlargement with realistic expectations. While certain methods can result in slight size gains, the average increase is often modest. Additionally, every individual responds differently to various treatments, and factors such as genetics, general health, and lifestyle habits influence results. A healthy mindset, self-acceptance, and open communication with sexual partners are just as important as any physical changes.

Conclusion:

Penis enlargement remains a topic of interest, with numerous products and techniques promising transformative results. However, it is vital to critically evaluate these options, understanding that true gains may be different from the grandiose claims. By combining evidence-based methods, such as penis extenders, with a realistic mindset, individuals can better navigate their journey towards achieving their desired goals. Remember, size does not solely determine sexual satisfaction, and embracing self-confidence is the key to a fulfilling and enjoyable intimate life.

[adverbian]

The Guardian publishes a take on Barbie vs. Sindy dolls.

(Non-sexualized, non-graphic discussion of breast size and bra size under the cut. Text only, no images.)

Apparently Barbie was considered “vulgar” because her breasts were larger. Sindy was considered “safe and wholesome” because her breasts were smaller — “demure, subtler, almost self-effacing.”

The writer goes on nostalgically about Sindy. But I screeched to a halt right there. Wait, you’re just going to accept the premise that larger breast size = being more sexual?

(And that being more sexual = bad? I mean, sex is for consenting adults, so yes, sexuality would be bad for a children’s toy. But still, the assumption that sexuality = vulgar is pretty damaging for a kid who is going to hit puberty in a few years.)

But the breast size thing.

Before Reddit went down the tubes, I used to hang out in the subreddit r/ABraThatFits. It helped people find their correct bra size and shape. I highly recommend their bra size calculator (not hosted on Reddit).

It turns out — because most standard bra fitting advice is crap — most people are wearing a band that’s a couple sizes too large, and a cup that’s at least four sizes too small. So someone who is currently wearing a 36B might actually need a 32DD or 32E. Someone currently wearing a 38D might actually need a 34FF.

Over and over again, we’d get people absolutely losing it, or (more often) reporting that their mothers were absolutely losing it, at their new size.

Because if they were actually a DD or FF (or whatever) cup — then that meant they were immodest. Nice girls don’t wear anything larger than a C-cup.

And I just. Breast size is genetic. It means nothing about your “modesty” or how much sex you have or want. Having larger breasts doesn’t mean you necessarily want more sexual attention.

(There was also a good bit of fatphobia mixed in there too. Because bras with cups bigger than [whatever size] were clearly only for fat people, and their moms didn’t want them to be fat.)

Similarly, trans women who wanted HRT but hadn’t yet started it would find out they already measured as a size with a B or C cup letter. And they would often worry that the calculator was just flattering them, telling them a size that sounded more “feminine.” Or they felt like fakers, buying a bra labeled B or C. They didn’t feel like they looked like “enough of a woman” to wear that bra size yet.

And like… breast size also doesn’t equal femininity.

The subreddit was very good at gently calming people down, and gently reminding them that all bra sizes are acceptable and it doesn’t mean anything about who you are as a person. Body size and shape is morally neutral. The goal is just, if you want to wear a bra, to help you wear one that is comfortable.

I don’t want to dismiss or minimize body dysmorphia, because it’s a very real thing. It’s OK to want your body to express your gender! It’s OK if you don’t like your breast/chest size. It’s OK to want breast enlargement, breast reduction, or breast removal! It’s your body, and you are the boss of it.

But also like… can we as a society stop judging other people by their breast/chest size? Can we stop assuming it means anything about their personality, their sexuality, their gender? Can we stop shaming people with large breasts for being “immodest” or “vulgar”?

Argh.

[merriammusicinc]

Kawai K-800 vs Boston UP-132 | Upright Piano Review & Comparison | Boston Built By Kawai

When it comes to Japanese upright pianos, there’s no question that the Kawai K-300 and Yamaha U1 absolutely dominate the conversation. That said, Boston has a very nice lineup of Japanese-built pianos as well, and Kawai has other great options available as well beyond the vaunted K-Series.

In today's article and companion video, we’ll be comparing and contrasting two of the top Japanese-made uprights available today with the Kawai K-800 vs Boston UP-132 professional upright pianos. These are both full-size, 52” upright pianos, and it's an especially interesting comparison because both pianos are actually made by Kawai in the same factory.

Their designs however are quite different, with the Boston UP132 having been designed by Steinway & Sons, while the K-800 is a Kawai product through and through. Kawai also implements a number of special features into the K-800 as their flagship upright.

We’re going to cover exactly how these two pianos compare musically as well as the critical design differences, and what that means for the pianist at the end of the day. It’s not every day we have two of these pianos side-by-side in one of our showrooms so we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.

Kawai K-800 vs Boston UP-132 - Background

The Kawai K-800 and the Boston UP132 are the largest examples of upright pianos from both of these respective brands. As a result of being built by the same company in the same factory and even on the same production line in Japan, there is a ton of mixed heritage between these two acoustic pianos.

Steinway & Sons have designed the entire Boston series, so if you come across the sentiment that a Boston is really just a Kawai with a different logo, you can immediately discard that claim as false. While there are certainly a lot of shared components, and complete sharing of the labor force, these are distinct pianos from one another.

On the other hand, if you hear the common claim that Boston’s are built in an entirely different part of the factory by different employees, this too can immediately be dismissed as false. The Kawai K-800 upright piano is technically a 53” piano, while the Boston UP132 is 52” in height, but they are both approximately the same height and positioned against one another in the market in terms of price.

Commonalities

Starting with what's in common between these two pianos, both use mahogany core double felted hammers (Royal George hammer felt on the K-800, unspecified on the UP132), and have duplex scales, which is somewhat unusual for an upright piano. Both pianos feature tapered solid spruce soundboards.

They both use the same gauge treble wire, and there is not a great deal of difference in the scale tension at the upper end of the range, though there does appear to be some difference in scale tension at the bottom.

Both pianos have soft fall fallboards and heavy-duty casters and ship with a height-adjustable bench.

Key Differences Kawai K-800 Keyslips and Keybeds

Moving over to the differences and these are much more numerous. For one, we’re looking at very different back post construction for these two instruments, and this can have a big effect on the sense of overall cabinet resonance.

The bridging system is very different with the K-800 having an enlarged section of the treble bridge as it transitions into the bass bridge which is designed like this to increase resonance in this section of the piano. The K-800 also has a full complement of agraffes which ensures ideal string spacing and is generally reserved solely for high-end uprights.

Perhaps the biggest difference is with regard to touch. The K-800 uses extended-length key sticks, whereas the Boston uses a standard upright key stick length. This results in a significant difference in the sense of weight and keybed depth between these two pianos. The K-800 feels like you're playing a grand piano with a wider dynamic range at your disposal due to an increased level of control.

There are pros and cons of extending the keys when you do this on an upright piano, especially with a hammer shank. The increased control results in a slightly degraded repetition speed, and we have noticed that the K-800 has a slightly slower repetition speed than that of the Boston UP132. So really, the question here comes down to whether you want to prioritize control and a greater dynamic range or speed.

Both pianos come standard with soft, muffler and damper pedals, however, the K-800 is available with an optional true sostenuto pedal in place of the muffler pedal by special order. The K-800 incorporates a steel-reinforced keyslip which can aid in minimizing the odds of sticky keys from the piano getting bumped.

In terms of aesthetic differences, the K-800 comes with a New England grand-style hard finish music rack, while the UP132 has a more conventionally sized music desk.

One other key difference for some - the Kawai warranty is transferable to future owners within the warranty period, while the Boston warranty is not. If resale value matters to you, keep this important fact in mind.

Let’s move on to a discussion of sound.

Upright Piano Sound K-800 Upright Piano Soundboard

The tone is quite different between these two pianos, and the differences are similar to the differences between the Kawai GX-2 and Boston GP-178.

Ironically, the GX-2 was actually reminiscent of a New York Steinway-esque tone, with a little more mid-range power and warmth. Over on the Boston GP-178, the tone is brighter with some higher overtones.

This general description is also apt for the K-800 vs UP132 comparison. Let’s move through the ranges one by one.

Bass Register

The bass register really opens up on the K-800 at a low B or C, and you’ll notice some great resonance down here.

The bass is considerably bigger on the K-800, but the UP132 has a nice bass register of its own that happens to be a little bit warmer.

Tenor Register

Getting into the lower tenor range, the UP132 has certain localized areas where you can really hear the cabinet activate, and then other points where the cabinet is not really resonating at all.

The K-800 is pretty consistently resonant across this range.

Treble Register

As we move into the treble section, the differences between these two pianos start to fade away. In the top two octaves especially,

The overall character is very similar, and this makes sense because we know that there's no difference in string gauge, hammers, and duplex scale.

Overall Thoughts on the Sound Differences

The biggest differences between these two pianos are in the mid-sections. There is a brighter sound on the UP132, though at the same time it’s very nicely blended.

The K-800 takes on more of a New York Steinway tone with lots of mid-range partials, and the sound comes at the player in quite a direct way. Generally speaking, there are more guts and power out of everything on the K-800, and this is due in some parts to the extended key lengths.

Piano Action K-800 Millennium III Action

Beyond the difference in the keystick lengths, there’s a pretty considerable difference in terms of the action designs themselves. The UP132 uses a Steinway-designed maple action.

The K-800 alternatively uses the Millennium III Upright Action with ABS-Carbon fiber composites like all Kawai K Series uprights. Kawai uses this same action concept in their handmade Shigeru Kawai grand pianos, and it’s known for its excellent durability and resistance to changes in humidity and temperature.

Ultimately, both actions are well-built and reliable, though the use of ABS composites in the K-800 is certainly enticing to certain people due to the superior strength and durability of ABS to wood.

As we said earlier, however, the difference from a playing experience is that the K-800 offers a greater degree of control and wider dynamic palette, while the UP132 offers a slightly faster repetition speed.

Both pianos have their own versions of synthetic ebony and ivory key surfaces with Kawai referring to theirs as Neotex.

Closing Thoughts

Thanks so much for checking out this comparison of the Kawai K-800 vs Boston UP-132. Both of these big uprights would be a great alternative to a baby grand piano and even work very nicely in an intimate performance setting.

The post Kawai K-800 vs Boston UP-132 | Upright Piano Review & Comparison | Boston Built By Kawai first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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[windy-archer]

Edelweiss Cookie

에델 바이스 쿠키(?)

[theresa-of-liechtenstein]

it wouldn’t be the linda fairbairn extended universe without air caledonian! (enlarge for better quality. notes below)

(a320 illustrations provided for free personal use)

i spent almost eight hours total doing this and i do not regret a single minute of it 😮‍💨😮‍💨

the liveries

literally fought for my life with the clipping masks 😵‍💫

this is my attempt at a ‘retro’ livery which was sort of teased in late 2022

it combines a few elements that saw some vogue in the 70s (the cheatline, or the stripe running down the fuselage) and the hockey stick (the cheatline being carried up into the tail, which i…sort of did…to incorporate it into the saltire) combined with an element that didn’t really become popular until after the 70s (the ‘eurowhite’ color scheme that forced me to invert the saltire)

if caledonian’s origins can be traced back to regional flights in the very late 70s, slowly growing the fleet until acquiring the A320 to expand its range, i’d want it to have a sort of ‘retro’ looking livery. the original planes probably wouldn’t have been white, though. most likely aluminum

i used helvetica for the name of the airline on the side of the fuselage, which also happens to look very similar to the font of choice for philippine airlines. i did not realize this until after i’d exported it because my dad looked over my shoulder and commented.

this is their ‘redesign’ livery and the last one before the acquisition. i’d previously depicted a version of it back in 2021 but when i tried it for size parts of it looked so horrifying that i had to change it up a bit

caledonian has always existed in my head as some mix of ‘national carrier’ and ‘budget airline’ swinging a little more toward the latter for purposes of the lfeu so the bold color scheme and billboard style is honestly inspired by airlines like southwest (thank god they’re not shit brown anymore), easyjet (easy go… and thee air caledonian blueprint), and spirit (highlighter planes)

the saltire was literally me messing around with brushes and realizing like hmmmm. this actually looks pretty neat! now i know i’ve been saying air caledonian’s probably a budget airline, but as stated before, it’s also got some elements of the national carrier thing going, which is why i’m so insistent on the saltire motif

not to do with the livery but i also think since cal exists in that grey area they do have certain elements of a Not Low Cost Airline (like business class vs economy seats…i mean you’re not lying flat in any of these planes lol but you can have a kit if the pilots didn’t burgle the socks out of them) and that could have financially hurt them which would make selling out to swiss more appealing and less wounding that a ‘national carrier’ is being chopped. idk how this works though. im playing with airlines like dolls

the uniforms

i love designing uniforms. actually i love uniforms in general. i miss wearing a school uniform i did not have to think about what to wear on a daily basis. i could commit time to silly fanfiction and my meager attempts at making my own drawing style

qantas did not have tailored uniforms for differing body types until 2016 but this is fiction and the chief pilot of air cal is canonically a #GirlDad. we have tailored uniforms here. and a hat/tie variant. and a skirt option.

i reasoned since air caledonian is a scottish airline it should have formalized cold weather uniform requirements and i saw some rly cute pullover sweaters (think they were on easyjet pilots) so those went in

also the reason hats are required with the trench coat is for easy recognizability. this is indeed a policy at some airlines. martin crieff does have a point here.

oh also i darkened the jackets and trousers lol i just felt like it looked better

i think that’s all i wanted to say…

[coughloop]

hi joan i would love if you could talk about espresso clarity more!! or like more in general what you look for in an espresso calibration/dial in THANKS!!!!!!

Simplist answer I can give:

Espresso clarity is more than anything else a way to talk about the detectable flavours in a beverage. High clarity means that you can taste more nuanced flavours, like blueberry and milk chocolate for example, while a lower clarity drink would just taste muddled/muddy and indistinct. You will get higher clarity by reducing the amount of solids in your coffee by either filtering more out or increasing the ratio of water to coffee used to dilute what you've already pulled out.

Now here's some more detailed information, it will probably only make sense if you have some experience with dialling in coffee already and know what changing grind size and ratios do:

Clarity is something often put on charts like these ones as an opposite to body (as in thickness of the beverage)

While I dont think that's a perfect summation (and that also these charts are out of order over simplifications that don't actually really make any sense) I think it's fair to say that most often when making a coffee drink, you are probably going to be choosing to lean towards one end or the other.

To illustrate that, here's a quick chart I made that focuses on 1. grind size, and 2. filtration (click to enlarge):

This ignores a lot of other important parts of making coffee (agitation, contact time, temperature, pressure applied, immersion vs percolation, yadda yadda yadda), but for our purposes it gives a smaller window to put our expectations into. If we're talking strictly about espresso it means we're sitting somewhere in here:

We know espresso has some filtration due to the metal basket trapping most (but not all) of the coffee grinds in the portafilter, but because of the tiny holes it will likely never be as clear as a coffee filtered through a paper filter which catches all of the grounds except what has literally been dissolved into the water, creating the flavour and colour of the final brew (if you want to understand more about that google "coffee TDS", its a lot to explain on top of this).

With this expectation of flavour clarity and body we can now get to work dialling in and figure out exactly how we want to balance the two.

My preference generally is a shot that sits at or around a ratio of 2.5:1 water in the final cup to the amount of coffee in the portafilter, so a pretty standard shot would be something like 17.5g dry coffee in, 44g liquid espresso out (in about 30s). I know this recipe will probably be decently high clarity, while lighter in body than a traditional 2:1 because the extra water dilutes the amount of solids that have been dissolved into the liquid, meaning I will have a thinner body coffee, while hopefully being able to get a higher clarity of flavour.

If it tastes sour and strong, like all I experience is a gross, sharp flavour on my tongue, and there's no distinctly pleasant flavours present, I would want to improve the clarity by either increasing the ratio of water to coffee or by fining up my grind to pull more out of the beans.

If it tastes somewhat clear at the beginning, but its super limp and weak and leaves a bitter, chalky taste in my mouth, I would want to do the opposite of above.

Either way im aiming to move out of the fringes of gross coffee and into the central sweet spot. Its also never this simple though, and you have to make sure you're using the right water makeup, a good quality grinder, consistent measurement and techniques, all that jazz.

I also find compass tools to be very helpful for finding a more basic dial, not specifically trying to accentuate anything in the coffee but just to get a good, sweet shot, with a healthy mixture of body and clarity.

These are my two favourites to glance at when I forget what I'm trying to do:

please let me know if you have any questions this is honestly kind of a ramble but I'm hapy to go into detail about anything specific that's confusing this post is just getting very long lol