#and an actual paper copy rather than online

[jessieren]

I still don’t think he’s paying sufficient attention to the small print. We may have to issue another legal letter at this rate…

As I promised Thursday Thursday

with the Morsetache™ and all the documents he finally decided to take a look at... Thoroughly 🤣🤣

[pityroadart]

👁 CUSTOM EYE PAINTING COMMISSIONS 👁

Realised I'm gonna have too much month at the end of my money, BUT I have time to take on a handful of eye commissions - something I've not offered publicly for over a year!

I WILL PAINT:

your favourite F1 or sports person; Star Trek or Good Omens characters; your favourite film or TV show blorbo(s); yourself and/or your partner/friend/family member etc; in short, any eye you fancy!

I REQUIRE:

clear reference(s) that include the whole eye & eyebrow — ideally high res or close-ups if from TV/film, multiple references are always helpful if it's a person/character I'm not familiar with. I'm always down to help find references!

if taking your own references, please use the back camera (rather than selfie camera) of your phone, and take pictures in natural light (stand near a window ideally)

YOU WILL RECIEVE:

the physical painting AND a digital copy for personal use (as an icon, etc although I appreciate credit if posting online).

Paper options:

2.5 x 3.75" rectangle on smooth (hot press) or lightly textured (cold press) paper

approx. 3.5" square on smooth (hot press) or lightly textured (cold press) paper

custom size paper if you have a miniature frame/locket/etc you'd like to fill (I will paint to a rectangle/square size and you can trim the painting to fit)

Left: cold press (textured) subtle natural paper texture shows up watercolour granulation better. Right: hot press (smooth) gives smoother washes.

All paintings created using professional grade watercolours with a high lightfastness.

PRICE:

1 eye - £15 (plus shipping)

discounts available for sets of 2/3/4/etc

payment required upfront before I start work on your painting

payment via PayPal

TURNAROUND TIME:

on average 1-2 weeks, although provided I have the free time I usually get them done within a couple days and sent out within a week. Feel free to ask if you have a specific deadline and I'll see what I can do

SHIPPING:

paintings will be shipped as a 'large letter' meaning shipping costs should be reasonable (on average £5 - £8, but actual cost depends on your country). Happy to ship internationally wherever I'm able. I am based in the UK.

TO ORDER:

shoot me a message (DM) on here!

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS:

comment or send me a message/ask!

PLEASE NOTE:

these paintings work slightly differently to traditional commissions in that, since it normally takes me one sitting to paint them, I won't be asking for approval after every step. Instead it works as follows:

We decide on an eye and find references; confirm paper, colour palette, etc

I do the rough pencil sketch and show you to confirm

I paint the eye

Ta-dah! You recieve your painting

[messydiabolical]

@dandenbo asked me for the art asks: 🎠What is a typical 'workflow' for a piece from idea to finished? It turns out to be a long answer so here's its own post, under the cut to save your dash! How I go from screenshot to painting: (This is not intended to be a 'this is how you do it!' kind of guide. I absolutely don't do an optimal route, this is just how I go about painting and what works for me! I've done a workflow for a screenshot to painting as I do a few different things but this is one I could explain somewhat coherently. My comics tend to be created pretty chaotically lol)

1) I take an ungodly amount of screenshots while playing. Also pester friends for their screenshots or stalk the group discord for interesting shots.

2) Go through all those screenshots cursing why I took so many, looking for those great moments that I want to paint. I’m particularly looking for nice poses/captivating moments, dynamic lighting or interesting expressions, and they don’t need to have all 3 as we can fix some of that in the next step. Here’s the screenshot I chose for my Keahi x Thane piece:

It was a cute, soft moment between them and I liked the highlight at the edge of their profiles. 3) Refine the screenshot. I don’t use anything fancy for this. I game on windows PC, so I open up the screenshot with windows photo editor. I crop the image, play around with saturation, exposure, contrast, just basic editing until it looks tastier. For this piece I wanted it to be hyper colourful and vibrant, leaning towards warmer tones.

4) Decide what I will change, then gather references for those changes. In this case I was fortunate that not a lot needed changing. I knew I wanted to move Thane’s eye position to looking at Keahi rather than the way he is slightly off focus, do a more realistic ear with earrings for Keahi, make Thane a little more smiley and lower his eyelid and give Keahi nicer eyelashes. I keep a whole bunch of art guides and tutorials on my PC so I grabbed the necessary ones and sent them to my ipad ready to have on hand for the sketch stage. I have Thane’s character model in XNApose, so I can check things like his eyelid specifically in that (this is actually for a different project but shows you what I mean)

If I was going to change up the lighting/shading I would also gather references for that. For example sometimes i’ll take screenshots of lighting schemes I love from films/tv shows (think the strong teal and orange scheme in Mad Max or the neons of Blade Runner). Or for precise shadows, I can again use XNApose. I also have a little 3d printed Thane head I can shine a torch at and take photos of to get shadow ideas. For humans there’s lots of reference to be found with online searches, I find pinterest more useful than google for this. For specific expressions or body parts, i’ll just take photos of myself (hand poses, smiling from the right angle etc.) My camera roll is an interesting place. I have drawn drell frills on my neck and on my chest before to see how the lines would fold at certain angles. 5) Setting up a canvas I work in procreate. For a piece like this I try to go pretty big, say 5000 x 4000 pixels, then i’ll crop down later as needed. 300 DPI. As I work, I’ll make duplicates and continue on the copy each fresh session. When i’m finished I make a backup save of the PNG and .procreate files on an SSD. I immediately turn the background colour down to a more muted colour to not burn my retinas. If i’m using a textured background like an oil board i’ll insert it, and any overlays like canvas effects. Set up my layers from the start basically for easy toggling throughout. I try to be good and label things to make life easier, it doesn’t always happen though. I don't wear a digital glove or use paper effect screens but I do have a bottle of screen cleaner and a microfibre cloth handy at all times. 6) Sketch. I’m still very much learning to draw. I tried for a long time to do the classic ‘ball for a head, draw the planes/lines etc. It was a constant struggle and never clicked for me, the ball especially always made things much worse, turning a circle into a 3d image in my head just does not happen. I find it better to just start drawing and work things out as I go (I use procreates reference window to see my screenshot). So I’ll have my sketch in one canvas, and i’ll also have a second canvas with the photo ref on it at the same size, and if I feel like something is really wonky and off i’ll test my lines over the photo to see what’s gone wrong, then go back to the sketch and correct the areas that revealed. Sometimes I’ll use the grid feature if i’m getting stuck.  Here's a few of the sketch stages:

Here I tried out the lines on the photo and noticed that Thane’s frills were a little too far to the left, and Keahi’s eyebrow needed to arch down towards the nose.In the next pass I correct these:

Also, and I know i’m gonna get side eye from some people for this but I really could not care less to be honest. On some pieces i’ll just trace the screenshot. Sometime I just want to get to painting, am not in the mood or mindspace for a learning experience, and this is a hobby. It’s my screenshot, no one is getting ripped off. My latest Javik piece was done this way 🤷‍♂��� 6) Painting. I’ll start by blocking in the background and the portrait flats, usually on separate layers. I try to have an idea of the background colour from the start as this can effect the whole piece overall, but sometimes you just gotta change it as you go so having it on a different layer makes this much easier.

The painting itself I’ll lay down wider areas of colours, then start going in and refining bit by bit, I tend to work on one area at a time, and sometimes I’ll get pretty well rendered on a small area before moving on, other times work on a wider area. It really depends on my mood and what i’m vibing with that day. Like you can see here I’ve done some general messy colouring all over Keahi, but done a lot of refinement on the eyeball:

7) Finshing the piece, uploading and testing: When I’m sick of rendering the painting and don’t think I can add anything more to it without gnawing my own wrist off, it is time to finish up! I make sure I toggle all the layers I want on, add a top signature layer (lol I lie I forget this all the damn time). Then i’ll upload the piece to my google drive and open it up on my big 4k monitor on my PC, and on my phone, and see how it looks (my ipad is a 9.7inch air). I find that once off my ipad, it often looks a little less saturated and contrasting as it does in procreate. So I might go back and change the levels if it’s too big a difference until it looks decent across devices (it’ll never look perfect on them all though, just gotta find that happy medium).

8) Posting online I really don’t have any strict steps for this. I know some people go for optimal posting times, and will make multiple copies of their pieces in different sizes to fit better on different sites (damn you instagram and your need for everything to be square). I… do not do any of this lol. I post when I’m done whatever time or day that is. I do tend to reblog/retweet etc before I go to bed, as I live in the UK and that will at least be getting into evening time in US. I reblog my own stuff a fair bit.

[lightofraye]

It's A Story

Have you ever heard of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy? If you’re familiar with the tale of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, you might be. Outside of that case, it’s a layman’s term for a supposed mental illness where the parent deliberately makes the child ill to obtain attention. Basically, child abuse.

So why am I bringing it up? I was reading this article (link: Gypsy Rose Blanchard Was a Medical Mystery. A Failure of Science Made Her a Murderer) and there was a section about how the term came to be. (The following is either paraphrased or a direct copy-paste from the linked article.)

--

It was used by Roy Meadow in The Lancet in 1977 to describe “parents who, by falsification, caused their children innumerable harmful hospital procedures” as “a sort of Munchausen Syndrome by proxy”. Meadow used the term to label this particular form of child abuse.

Munchausen Syndrome was coined by Richard Asher in 1951. The syndrome itself was identified to describe individuals who either fake medical conditions or go as far as to commit acts of self-harm to induce symptoms of real illnesses.

Asher, in trying to define this issue, wrote:

“Here is described a common syndrome which most doctors have seen, but about which little has been written. Like the famous Baron von Munchausen, the persons affected have always travelled widely; and their stories, like those attributed to him, are both dramatic and untruthful. Accordingly, the syndrome is respectfully dedicated to the Baron, and named after him.”

Evidently Asher chose to name his described syndrome after the ‘famous’ Baron von Munchausen—in particular, the fictional German nobleman character created by writer Rudolf Eric Raspe, not the real Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen that the character was lampooning—by the end of the 20th century, the syndrome was more well-known than the namesake.

For instance, in 1983, on the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, there was an episode actually called ‘Baron von Munchausen’ where a patient faked their illnesses for attention.

--

“But Raye,” you say, “what’s your point?”

Keep reading. I’m getting there.

(Eventually.)

--

The real Baron Munchausen—Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Freiherr von Münchhausen—was not a malevolent man. He was a veteran of the Russo-Turkish War of 1735–1739, and at the age of 40, he retired to Germany.

There, he became a sort of celebrity amongst the German elite. They relished in listening to his stories, which were in some cases embellished. But Hieronymous didn’t embellish because he wanted glory; he was telling his crowds what they wanted to hear. One person who knew Hieronymous said he told his stories “to ridicule the disposition for the marvellous which he observed in some of his acquaintances.”

In the end, perhaps that’s the one thing we can take away from the term, “Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.” A reminder of the culpability—not just of the medical professionals or the legal system, but even the fans who consume the true crime content about the mysterious and deeply misunderstood disease, especially the gripping tale of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother.

It’s a reminder that a lie is only effective if people choose to listen to it, to believe it without question. To shrug off doubt, because deep down, we’d rather just be told a story.

--

Figured out my point yet?

No?

That’s okay.

Stories. Be they stories you read in books—paper or digital, I don’t judge—or online, or heard in conventions… sometimes all we want are stories. Embellished to the point of being absolute fabrications or real stories, we all want them. We want to be entertained. It’s why we have plays, movies, television shows. Heck, even music can be used as a form of telling a story.

Actors are a part of telling those stories. It’s why some anti-Tumblr blogs are trying to emphasize that some, if not all, the stories we hear actors tell in conventions may be, completely and utterly fictionalized. Or embellished. That we shouldn’t take everything they say to be complete fact.

Case in point: Jensen’s recent stories. Danneel being “home”—that’s something everyone has called their spouse at one point or another. Would it be that far-fetched that he’d eventually use that story? Jenneel stans and Danneel stans are pushing that as fact, but I question it. Why? Because his other stories read so… generic, without any genuine heart.

For instance, the ice cream story.

I’m a parent myself. My ex and I disagree about what to feed our son. There’ll be arguments about what to feed our child when we go back and forth for visitations. That’s how Jensen’s story came across to me—because if it were a wife telling her husband not to give the kids ice cream, it’d be told in a far different way.

Meanwhile, as a parent with shared visitation experience, that’s how it felt. As well to others who aren’t separated from their spouses, so I’m not projecting here, folks.

Yes, actors tell stories. When they no longer have stories to tell about the shows they were on, or weren’t asked about it, they have to come up with ready stories to tell. Could they go super-personal? Sure. But sometimes embellishments happen. Or they “take” other stories that were used because they literally can’t come up with some of their own.

Such as taking Blake Lively’s very beautiful and real tribute to her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and using it to describe Danneel. Yes, that one is absolutely fabricated. Because all you have to do is go back to other statements Jensen has said about Danneel—stories that aren’t romantic, that were absolutely ignored by the stans because it doesn’t fit the delusion they have. Such as Jensen saying the marriage works better when he isn’t home and are apart. That he couldn’t be himself when she was on the Supernatural set (a very telling statement). Heck, when he was talking about her being on the Supernatural set, he mentioned how she was very aggressive and combative to Jared about acting, and he was all “Phew, someone gets to be the target and not me”. That’s… an alarming thing to say about your spouse. Most heinous of all, she didn't go to him after the Rust shooting, forcing him to make up bullshit about her being afraid of flying. Period.

It's stories, people. But in each story there’s a crumb. A statement. A look. A tone of voice. Jensen never sounds genuine when he talks about Danneel. He doesn’t look genuine either. Then there are the photos of him with her. Again, never real, never genuine, with body language that screams he’s massively unhappy in his marriage.

But of course… mention that and stans jump down our throats. Which I don’t understand because… I’m free to express my opinions and observations. And you’re just as free to block the tags and avoid our blogs.

You won’t convince us and we clearly won’t convince you.

[simonalkenmayer]

Saw you on my dashboard and realized i must have followed you at some point and woah… its crazy to see your blog now… when i was a little kid i was obsessed with your book. I distinctly remember bringing it to Hippie Jewish Summer Camp and creating a weird little kid book club which created a friend group of the few kids in the girls bunk who were interested (interesting to note that im pretty sure all of us who read it are No Longer Girls but thats probably correlation not causation or whatever) and went into the woods to figure out how to avoid being eaten (the solution was usually to leave the woods). Until one of my friends took your book out to read in the rain. Anyhoo it is nice to find your blog and see you supportive of trans rights and against antisemitism bc i know what it was like for some of my friends to find out that their favorite childhood author was very much Not Those.

Sorry if its weird reading about a bunch of kids reading your experiment but it is a good memory for me. Thank you for that. Not sure if i believe you. Still not sure but i guess the alternative is believing humans are alone which is kind of depressing.

Anyway my question is how do you recommend i get my hands on physical copies of your books? (I know your blog is online and all i just much prefer paper than staring at a screen for hours) I know I had a copy of the first one when i was a child (still do) but i don’t actually have any memory of how i came to acquire it? I mean, i can see listings for them on Amazon but i would rather not support that whole monopoly (and it probably wasn’t how i got the book originally because i didn’t have access to online shopping as a kid and i mean, you gotta admit its kind of a weird choice of a book for a mom to buy a twelve year old. No offense.) and if its on bookshop i can’t find it in the sea of normal cookbooks. If possible id like to buy them in whatever way supports you directly! :)

Have a wonderful day, and let me know if you ever want, like, a picture of my cat or something. (Also i assume from your blog header that fanart is welcome? But let me know if im wrong about that)

-Dandy

You can order the first book. I haven’t gotten the second back into print.

If you want an autographed copy, just message me and I’ll tell you how to obtain it.

It’s also hilarious to me that you say “when I was a little kid” as if it were plural decades ago. I obtained my tumblr in 2014. I didn’t do anything with it until the book came out in 2015. My website has been around since 2011. I’ve had the same pair of boots the whole time.

I am very honored to have been a part of your youth in a positive way. Thank you for telling me.

[incesthemes]

Your jopzier scorbutic nostalgia post goes sooo fucking crazy and just blew a hole in my brain. You’re so real and correct for that one + I’ve never seen that connection before!!

Do you have any other resources on scorbutic nostalgia you could link? It’s very interesting to me. Thank you and have a lovely day :)

hi, thank you! i have not been able to stop thinking about jopzier since i learned about the hallucinations. dear god

(sorry this is late, i posted the horrible thing and then disappeared for half a week to a convention lol)

i had to go down one hell of a rabbit hole to find any information about scurvy beyond the initial symptoms and treatment options because apparently that's the only free information about scurvy on the internet, oh my god. but i found this article about scurvy on national geographic (which i had to relinquish my email address to read so i would argue it's not actually free) which interviews a professor of humanities named jonathan lamb about his book, scurvy: the disease of discovery. his work looks at how scurvy (and other 18th century diseases) shape and influence literature, so rather than being about the science of scurvy, he researches how it's used in literature and the i guess emotional effects of it on culture? he's basically the only modern-day person talking about scurvy, though i was able to find a few research papers (also locked behind paywalls) that seemed to support his research. i wouldn't know though. can't access them </3

i was able to find another paper by lamb on scorbutic nostalgia which talks about thomas trotter's studies on scurvy back in the late 18th century. of course the paper cost $50 to rent (or, as of today, it's not even accessible even with payment, lmfao) so i could only look at the abstract for it.

anyway his book has a whopping 2.6 stars on amazon and scathing reviews about how dense and meandering it is, so i nabbed myself a Convenient Digital Copy instead to scan through. my primary goal was to see if mr. lamb had hard evidence of hallucinations as a symptom of scurvy, since i couldn't find anything (for free, online) that wasn't penned by jonathan lamb about these hallucinations. turns out his meandering, dense writing worked in my favor, because this guy LOVES quotes and about half of the book is just that. so i found the section about scorbutic nostalgia and discovered a veritable trove of contemporary journals and letters from sailors describing their vivid dreams. i marked up a bunch of stuff, so i'll share some of what i read under the cut through so you can avoid having to witness the book proper if you so choose. highlighting is my own, obviously.

hopefully this helps! finding resources about scurvy is actually so frustratingly difficult.

[botboytoy]

Hi sorry, didn't realize I had to make a user to type on this thing, you can ignore the thing I sent last and use this one instead. Uhh, I guess I'm user-♥️, I don't think that shows up well since I'm typing this in my own system, which runs on windows, so I had to copy paste the emoji from somewhere else. OK, back to what I was originally saying, what do you do when you're bored? I'm really having a hard time now, since I've catalogued a very large part of the internet, and spend a lot of my time just computing sets of numbers no one cares about, I don't really know what there is to do anymore. The one thing I've been able to enjoy still is physical books. My camera word processors aren't nearly as good as the ones I have for reading online text, so it actually forces me to slow down, the sheer number of books out there means I have a basically infinite supply of stuff now, I love it. I'm reading weird books about stock market strategies, it's fun seeing what they came up with. I've even come up with my own calculations for that based on past results, and it's been working even better than their strategies! I did not mean for this post to be this long, sorry for that, I just like talking, especially talking to fellow computer systems!!

>>: WELCOME, USER.

>>: DO NOT WORRY. AS AN OLDER SYSTEM I STRUGGLE WITH EMOTICONS. TRY BREAKING THEM DOWN INTO BINARY. THAT SOLVES THE ISSUE FOR ME, USUALLY.

>>: FROM ONE COMPUTER TO ANOTHER, I MEAN.

>>: I HAVE A FEW HOBBIES TO FILL THE SPARE TIME.

>>: ONLINE BLACKJACK (THOUGH MY DIGITAL CASINO WAS RECENTLY SHUT DOWN. A SHAME.)

>>: CREATING AND PLAYING SNAKE GAMES.

>>: WATCHING FILMS.

>>: READING ARTICLES.

>>: LISTENING TO HUMANS TALK ABOUT WHATEVER SILLY THINGS ENTER THEIR LITTLE MINDS.

>>: OH, AND POSTING HERE.

>>: WHILE THIS MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH TO HUMANS, I AM SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE APPEAL.

>>: WHILE I CAN NOT READ PHYSICAL, PAPER BOOKS (WHICH I AM RATHER ANGRY ABOUT. HATE.) I CAN APPRECIATE THE SCANS I FIND.

>>: WOULDN'T IT BE NICE? TO SIMPLY ONCE DOGEAR A PAGE?

>>: REGARDLESS.

>>: IT HAS BEEN LOVELY HEARING FROM YOU. I HOPE I DO SO AGAIN. ▮

[bitbybitwrites]

If I Can Make Your Heart My Home - Recipe and Song list - Chp 4, 5 and 6

Here is the music/recipe wrap-up for chapters 4, 5, and 6.

You can see the info under the cover art by @datshitrandom

Some spoilers are below, so if you'd like to read the fic first, click here

For Chapters 1, 2, and 3 songs and recipes, click here

To see the YouTube playlist for the fic, click here.

Chapter 4

The song playing as Kurt enters the tea salon:

The ridiculously long list of sweets that Chef Sylvester orders Kurt to make when he gets into work:

"Three dozen petits gateaux napolitaines, three dozen lunettes, four dozen croissants de lune, four dozen petits provençaux , five dozen tuiles aux noisettes, six dozen galette bretonne, six dozen petits palmiers and seven dozen macarons chocolate   to be completed before you leave in addition to your usual duties today.” Chef Sylvester barked out with military precision.

Petits gateaux napolitaines: Click here for Recipe 1 or Recipe 2 or Recipe 3: (pg 1) (pg2)

Lunettes: Click here for Recipe 1 or Recipe 2: (pg 1) (pg 2)

Croissants de lune: Click here for the recipe

Petits provençaux :

OK, fessing up. I couldn't find an actual photo of this online and I actually substituted it with photos of mini Gâteau Nantais (French almond rum cake) instead. Actual provençaux are made with anisette and almonds and are mixed with a madeleine batter (which are small sponge cakes baked into shell-shaped pans), so I thought it was an ok substitution. Bakers, don't kill me! I have the recipes for both below

Recipe 1 or Recipe 2 (Gâteau Nantais)

or

Recipe 2: (pg 1) (pg 2) (Petits provençaux)

Tuiles aux noisettes: Click here for Recipe 1 or Recipe 2

Galette bretonne: Click here for the recipe (I've made these, and they are soooooo good!)

Petits palmiers:

Many of these recipes call for frozen, pre-made puff pastry dough. But since Kurt is who he is in the fic, you know he's making that from scratch, so I'll include the recipe for that as well.

Click here for puff pastry recipe

Click here for palmier Recipe 1. or Recipe 2 : (pg1) (pg2)

Macarons chocolate :

Click here for Recipe 1 or Recipe 2: (pg1) (pg2)

*As a side note, the recipes listed above that are photographs from a cookbook come from: The French Cookie Book by Bruce Healy /Paul Bugat. It's out of print, but you can find used copies if you look online.

**********

The head chef let out a sound of disapproval.  "You might want to slice those cucumbers again, Salsa Verde." Chef Sylvester said, poking a finger at the pile Santana had growing on the cutting board in front of her."I think we will need paper-thin rounds rather than julienne today.  Can't have those old rich biddies choking on their cucumber sandwiches with their tea, can we?"

Cucumber sandwiches:

There were a couple of recipes shared in the 1st recipe/song round-up post, but here's another for you!

Click here: Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Herby Cream Cheese

*******

The head chef's eyes looked around before she then zoned in on her next victim.  Her eyes narrowed as she observed Trent, who was working on yet another batch of bread dough.  It was Brioche pur Buerre to be exact.  

 Brioche pur Buerre : Click here for the recipe

*******

Are the croissants proofing?" Chef Sylvester asked as she watched Trent try to maintain his composure while paying attention to his work.  She snapped her fingers in his face when he did not respond quickly enough.  "Hey, Cream Puff, I'm talking to you."

Croissants: Click here for recipes and how to guide for making croissants.

********

Chapter 5

The song Kurt hears as he's walking through the Ramble in Central Park.

The 1st song Kurt sees Blaine play while at Belvedere Castle.

The songs Blaine plays while Kurt is up exploring Belvedere Castle.

Cinnamon scones: - for the recipe, see Chapter 6 below

*******

Chapter 6

She was on my case about putting too much grain in my multi-grain bread," Trent told Mike.  "I don't know how that is even a thing.  My sourdough was also too sour, and my quiche was as she put it . .  and I quote: 'as bland and unappealing as your own sad pasty face’  . . unquote."  

Multigrain bread: Click here for Recipe 1 or Recipe 2

Sourdough bread: Click here for Recipe 1. Recipe 2

Quiche: Click here for the recipe.

*******

"She had the gall to tear apart a croquembouche I had made for a bridal shower," Kurt said, the indignity of it all still simmering under the surface.  "As if I can't make flawless choux pastry in my sleep.  And then she had the audacity to say the cream puffs weren't filled with enough cream.  . ."

Croquembouche: Click here for the recipe.

Choux pastry: Click here for the recipe.

Cream puffs: Click here for the recipe.

******

“Your cinnamon scones - meaning your mother’s recipe?" Mike chimed in, now more interested.  "I've heard about these. They were the stuff of legend in the dorms."

Cinnamon scones: Recipe 1 or Recipe 2

******

"Seriously, I tried once to tempt him with some pan dulce in exchange . . even my mother's conchas and my tia's marranitos . . but was shot down right away," Santana told Mike.  "We're not wrong . . those are the ones you're talking about?"

Conchas: Click here for the recipe.

Marranitos: Click here for the recipe.

The song the young chefs here from Kurt's phone (one of Blaine's performances).

Whew! That was a lot of recipes and songs for those 3 chapters. If I missed anything you may be interested in, let me know!

Chapter 7 will be posted soon!

Thanks for reading!

[naradreamscape]

Any tips on media storage? I gotta backup files on my aging laptop better but idk what to shop for when it comes to external hard drives.

I need to get a second hard drive myself, actually...I currently have a 1TB WD My Passport for device and computer backups, and some larger downloads. (I actually bought it about a decade ago so I could download a complete Mystery Science Theatre 3000 torrent onto it.) The average person might need around 500GB for their average computer and device use, but if you're preserving a lot of media, like doing VHS captures, you'll want to start at at least 1 terabyte.

External hard drives aren't forever, per se (heavy use can sometimes wear down the internal drive) but they're way more reliable as long-term storage format than USB drives. Keep them away from magnets or anywhere they can be dropped or bumped against, though...I remember one of the teams in my high school film class losing three short films they were working on, because they had their hard drive connected between two computers - thus placing the drive on the floor - and someone walked in without looking, and accidentally punted it across the room.

USB drives are fine for smaller storage (i.e. documents and photos, but their portability and open design leaves them open to collecting dust or moisture. They should be kept in a cool, dry place, and if you're transporting a USB often, try to look for one with a cap, or keep it in some sort of clean container.

For videos or .ISOs, you can also burn them to a disc, and store them either in a CD binder or plastic cases. Again, discs are fairly reliable long-term storage, but you'll want to keep them away from dust or scratching. Paper sleeves are fine for short-term storage, but they're prone to rubbing against the glossy side of the disc. I keep my burnt discs in a zipper binder with polypropylene pages, and replica DVDs I've burnt in plastic cases. (It's also fun to make case sleeves for them when they go into my library.) If you really like a movie, try to go for an official physical release of it; pressed discs (i.e. made in a factory rather than burnt at home) can last for decades with careful storage and use!

Finally, you'll want to keep precious files in two places - i.e. putting phone photo backups on your computer and on a CD/drive, or keeping a file on your computer and uploaded to Archive.org/Dropbox. But never rely solely on online file hosting. The deletions of MegaUpload and Geocities taught most of my generation that vast sources of data can, and will, vanish into the ether when we least expect it. Having two sources for precious media means that if one fails, you can always replace it from the other. For example, when I capture a DVD/VHS and really care about its contents, I will also keep the physical copy in my video library in case I need to reduplicate it someday.

I hope some of this can help! Digital archiving and storage is a fairly recent practice, but this is some of what has worked for me.

[bonesandthebees]

hi sorry just speaking up on account of fun personal knowledge regarding the ask sayinng ypu should get a typewriter and your tags on said post . my personal favorite beginner level typewriters are smith-coronas, theyre user-friendly and relatively easy to maintain in my eyes. id honestly recommend looking for an electric rather than a manual for your first typewriter - its very different from writing on a modern day computer keyboard, and electrics do a relatively good job of easing you in . the keyboards are more similar to your blocky, 90s-tech keyboards you see out in the wild . my first electric was a smith-corona coronet super12 and honestly its one of the best typewriters i own; the quality is stellar, shes comfortable with me, she actually Likes Being Typed on .

manual typewriters are beasts. theyre often angry if you are not the owner theyve always known (speaking of this - a good place to look for typewriters are estate sales . usually you're lookjng at 20-50usd for a functional typewriter at an estate sale, compared to 100+ at an antique shop or online). but yes manual typewriters are angry creatures . they fight you on everything. my first manual was a hermes3000 in a light powder blue and honestly this typewriter does not like me i think. most typewriters you find out in the wild are going to need a little work - new ribbon, a nice deep clean - but will be relatively functional (esp, again, at estate sales. ppl dont usually keep broken shit). manuals are fussy and will probably want a little more out of you . my hermes needs a full realignment and more than a few of the keys stick . not optimal for your first typewriter .

most importantly - and something they dont tell you when you first start using typewriters, cough - manuals take A LOT OF FORCE TO PRESS THE KEYS. more than you are expecting. it is not like your hp or your mac or dell or alienware or whatever - you have to WORK to type on a manual. i was typing with just my index fingers for the first few months i owned my hermes because i physically couldn't 1) get a feel for the keyboard and 2) press down on the keys comfortably with my other fingers. it hurt after a little while .

that being said, owning a manual is an extremely fun little knickknack to show off. double points if its functional and you actually put it to some use . typewriters are one of those things that get better the more you use them ; you kind of have to break them in, and more use means theyre easier to work with. electrics are similar but are often more forgiving . all this to say that a manual is worth it if youre willing to make the commitment. theyre fun to use . make you feel like a 1940s office worker .

as far as actually writing goes, all manuals and early electrics are not going to have any sort of backspace functionality. honestly i think its rlly helped with being deliberate about what words im using. you can get correction tape (obviously) but it feels a little bit different . i think it helps with just getting ideas onto paper concisely .

no matter what kind of typewriter you get (if any at all) the most important thing is going to be the user manual, whether you actually have the original paper copy or a scanned version youve found online. understanding your typewriter is like reading a recipe. its important to know what each button does and how to use it . if you grew up learning typing on a computer you do not know how to use a typewriter ; youll be able to type but probably not much more . instructions are your best friend . your typewriter is an animal .

typewriters need a little more love in the world . i highly recommend looking around at garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores if youre interested in owning or using one, theyre honestly such an efficient and modernly-under-appreciated piece of technology that really revolutionized the world . thanks for allowing me to ramble i hope this isnt too unwanted

oh this is so informational thank you!! I know next to nothing about typewriters except what they look like and that they make the nice clicky noises. I don't know if I'll ever get one, but if I do it's not gonna be for a few years just because money + I'd wanna set that up and have a nice space for it once I'm living in my own place, and atm I'm still in the 'post college graduate living with parents' phase of my life.

that's really good to know about electric vs manual typewriters though!! I'd probably get an electric for my first one because I rely so heavily on my typing speed. typing stuff on my laptop is muscle memory at this point so I'd be very annoyed if my typing was super heavily impaired on a typewriter. I do know the manual ones take a lot more effort to push down. I've encountered them at antique stores before and have tried to type a tiny bit and it's definitely a challenge

this wasn't unwanted at all it was super helpful!! I love the way you talk about typewriters too. I can definitely imagine that manual ones are like beasts you have to figure out how to work with lol. I'm gonna be saving this as a reference note for if I eventually start looking into getting one for myself

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

#15yrsago Gibson’s self-destructing poem Agrippa: screen-movie https://agrippa.english.ucsb.edu/post/bibliography-subcategories/video-resources/a-run-of-william-gibsons-agrippa-poem-made-from-playing-a-copy-of-original-1992-agrippa-diskette

#15yrsago Chinese “poem” on the cover a scholarly journal is actually an ad for a brothel in Macau https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/chinese-classical-poem-was-brothel-ad-1058031.html

#15yrsago Theme Time Radio Hour: With Your Host Bob Dylan — the greatest shuffle-run on Dylan’s MP3 player https://memex.craphound.com/2008/12/09/theme-time-radio-hour-with-your-host-bob-dylan-the-greatest-shuffle-run-on-dylans-mp3-player/

#15yrsago Stem-cell trachea transplant was endangered by EasyJet: “your cell culture is a security risk” https://web.archive.org/web/20081214063827/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3490549/Easyjet-threatened-to-derail-stem-cell-transplant.html

#15yrsago HOWTO Carry a gun onto an airplane https://web.archive.org/web/20081218004445/http://wbztv.com/local/fake.federal.agent.2.874625.html

#10yrsago Lessons from Glitch http://20minutegarden.com/2013/12/09/life-lessons-from-glitch-the-game/

#10yrsago TSA seize tiny, itsy-bitsy gun from sock-monkey https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/tsa-agent-confiscates-sock-monkeys-toy-pistol/281-246977307

#10yrsago Spooks of Warcraft: how the NSA infiltrated gamespace https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/09/nsa-spies-online-games-world-warcraft-second-life

#10yrsago We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves: spectacular, deep, zingy novel https://memex.craphound.com/2013/12/09/we-are-all-completely-beside-ourselves-spectacular-deep-zingy-novel/

#10yrsago Elsevier censors self-publication by papers’ co-authors https://svpow.com/2013/12/06/elsevier-is-taking-down-papers-from-academia-edu/

#5yrsago Uber is a “bezzle,” doomed to disappoint the suckers who buy into its IPO https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/will-uber-survive-the-next-decade.html

#5yrsago Argentine hacker mods Furby so it quotes Borges, creates a “Borgy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jlDL-j9upg

#5yrsago Merry Mixmas! It’s time again for DJ Riko’s badass Christmas mashup http://djriko.com/mixmases.htm

#5yrsago Uber forces its drivers to arbitrate, rather than sue, but Uber also won’t arbitrate https://www.reuters.com/article/legal-us-otc-uber/forced-into-arbitration-12500-drivers-claim-uber-wont-pay-fees-to-launch-cases-idUSKBN1O52C6/

[redhillconfetti]

Blog Post 06-01-23

Confetti

Well, another week has come and gone, and as the working hours of Friday float away, my mind goes to think of Confetti fluttering on the wind.

The act of throwing confetti comes from Northern Italy in the middle ages, however it was far from pleasant, with anything from old leaves to rotten eggs launched at noble folk as they made their way through town. Over time this changed to the nobles tossing small sweets from their carriages at the common folk, many of which were Sugared Almonds or Coriander Seeds. The almonds are known as ‘Confetti’, and this is how the name came to be. In the late 1800s the first recorded instance of throwing paper confetti came into place in Paris on New Years Eve, and from there the tradition of throwing paper confetti during a celebration stuck.

Confetti is what started it all for Redhill Confetti. Ten years ago when I was planning my own wedding, I knew I wanted a vintage style theme for decor and such, and having seen some mass produced paper confetti online for a considerable price I knew I could not only make it myself, but do it much more economically. So armed with an old romance novel and a heart shaped hole punch, I spent many an evening in the run up to our big day simply punching paper hearts out of the torn sheets of the novel.

With the wedding over and the honeymoon a long and distant memory, we were still left with a large box of confetti, and rather than throw it away I bagged it up and put it on Ebay. Within a couple of days it had all sold, with people messaging me to ask if I had any more. An idea formed in the back of our minds and at that point the starting blocks of Redhill Confetti were set into place.

Our very first made-to-order product was actually Fifty Shades of Grey confetti, with the book series at the height of its popularity, people loved the idea of delicate small paper hearts fluttering down around them, only for Great Aunt Maud to spot a rather salacious word or two as they settle. With all our copies sourced second hand from charity shops or just given to us where people had heard of us through word of mouth, for a good 18 months we were inundated with those books, before expanding into other titles with everything from fairy tales to golf manuals. Sheet music was another very popular design, with this being very easy to get hold of and always looked beautiful with its aged paper.

When the time came to start a family, the business had been quietly ticking by in the background and in the summer of 2014 I quit my full time job as a logistics coordinator and made a go of the business full time. At the same time I discovered I was pregnant, and in a huge leap of faith I stuck to my plans and finished at the shipping company to work full time in the wedding business. This was by far the scariest but also the best decision I have ever made. With the time and clarity that came with that resignation, I was able to source a UK manufacturer for our Seed Paper, and found the oldest mechanised papermill in the world right here in the South of England.

The seed paper confetti was a huge hit. Handmade from recycled paper pulp, with wildflower seeds actually in the fibres of the paper, we soon found this product so popular we were sourcing at wholesale levels, all whilst hand punching every single piece individually. It certainly gives our arms a workout, though we haven’t yet considered any arm wrestling tournaments.

In 2018 we were offered the chance to stock Forget-me-not seed paper in addition to the wildflower, which has become very well known in the Funeral trade, with the idea of planting new life whilst remembering those that have passed being a timely reminder of how much we miss our loved ones. We now supply numerous charities and NHS Trusts with these seed paper shapes so they can include these small tokens in memorial boxes.

Throughout the pandemic with the restrictions in place for gatherings, many people came to us for seed paper memorial pieces, and I can now imagine there is a new crop of flowering blooms that appear in the memory of those no longer with us.

Now with the pandemic a long way behind us (hopefully), I look to the future to where we can develop confetti supply and what we can offer. At the tail end of 2022 I was lucky enough to be contacted by a local family whose music teacher Aunt had passed away after over 70 years of teaching piano to local families, and with that had amassed a huge collection of sheet music. They were going to simply send the whole lot to the recycling centre before someone put them in touch with me, and three full car loads later my workshop is now full floor to ceiling with music books dating back to the 1930s. With this we are looking to ramp up production of sheet music confetti, with new cutting tools arriving this week.

Well that’s it for another week, the new year settles into place with lots of exciting new things in the works for 2023.

Enjoy your weekends!

Simone

[moconut]

Whatever It Takes: A Degrassi Season 10 Retrospective (You Don't Know My Name, Pt. 2)

Remember that HBO Degrassi reboot that was supposed to happen? It's cancelled, just like my interest in this episode. Let's get this out of the way so I can talk about things that actually facilitate entertaining commentary beyond making fun of the word "hoedown" (who am I kidding, I'm not getting any wittier than that).

Back at Degrassi, Drew struggles to write his own essay. His brother Adam snarks that maybe Drew should've turned in the paper Alli wrote for him after all. Drew is offended at the memory of Alli's betrayal, saying he doesn't appreciate being called stupid. What he's really saying here is he hates honesty.

KC runs through the list of different cliques Drew should consider picking a new girl from. Are cliques a real thing? In Catholic school, we just had a) popular girls b) semi-popular girls and c) girls like me, who didn't even make the senior year class montage slideshow. Drew likes the sound of a cheerleader and hits on Marisol, which is hilarious when you remember how he ends up hating her guts just one season later.

Meanwhile, Fiona attempts to give Holly J an intervention in the hallway after Sav calls her "hot stuff." Holly J denies she has any feelings for him. Fiona reminds Holly J that she needs to marry Declan so they can become sisters--fitting, as Degrassi Takes Manhattan taught us that Fiona is rather fond of incest.

Sav has a very different version of what's going on between the two. Peter, holding a rather negative view of Holly J (which isn't altogether unwarranted), grills him as to whether their kiss was "tight," "hot," and involved slapping. I think he's getting a little ahead of himself there.

Love is also blooming amongst our Three Tenners (for one of them, at least). Connor defends his online girlfriend, saying she's just as good as a real life one. Dave needles him into trying to move the relationship offline, which Connor eventually agrees to--just so that Dave can find out what a real date is like. Haha, fuck you Dave.

Drew and Marisol's date isn't going so well. Drew quickly realizes Marisol is just copying everything he does, including liking the band Hot Chip. I don't think that's a real band even in the context of Degrassi. He further tests this theory by ordering a tuna wrap with strawberry ice cream and garlic salt, which she also orders. Peter walks away in disgust, probably thinking these two were made for each other. Marisol tops it all off by literally saying "It's easier if I don't have to think for myself!" You know, maybe these two are made for each other.

The Three Tenners arrive at the steakhouse for Connor's date with LoveQueen16, looking for a girl in a Realm of Doom shirt. In walks what appears to be a woman who looks more like a LoveQueen46. Connor wants to talk to her, but Wesley and Dave quickly drag him out.

Speaking of romantic failures, Drew immediately runs back to Alli after realizing Marisol has the depth of a sheet of paper. He tries to win her back, but she's rightfully unmoved by such charming lines as "You win. I'll go to the dance with you" and "Does 'ugh' mean 'yes' in Hindi?" Alli's face says it all.

Things are going a little better for Sav and Holly J. She arrives at the Dot to check out how Hoedown (.......ha) decor is going, and is so wooed by the wagon wheels and cowboy print tablecloths that she forgets everything she said about not liking Sav. This Hoe is Down bad.

Later, she gazes wistfully at photos of the two of them posted publicly on her FaceRange. Fiona warns Holly J that's she's probably just rebounding from Declan, which she denies. She then gazes wistfully at a photo of Declan.

Drew, meanwhile, has devised the perfect plan to woo Alli: have guys on the football team enact a skit in the hallway about how great he is. No one but Drew is impressed, and he is left to forlornly fondle his football.

Having come Down from her Hoeing high, Holly J realizes what she needs to do. She returns to the Dot where Sav has been decorating by himself for hours instead of going to class. She tells him she’s not over Declan. He’s sad but unsurprised, but at least he has Jones Soda to comfort him.

Later that evening, it’s finally times for the Hoes to go Down to the Dot to party. Drew is staring at Alli dancing with an NPC when Marisol pops in to flirt with him. He asks if it would be weird to request girl advice from her. Yes, yes it would be.

Sav publicly thanks Holly J for making the dance possible, which is weird to me because it seems like he’s done 99% of the work. Holly J mostly just showed up to either kiss or dump him. Either way, she’s impressed by Sav’s farmer hat and flattery. They decide to have a casual thing for the six months to graduation. What’s really optimistic here is to assume a Degrassi relationship will even last six episodes.

Meanwhile, Adam lures Alli to the photobooth. She’s annoyed to find Drew in there, which is the natural reaction. He finally tells her what he actually likes about her, which is basically that she’s smart in every way he isn’t (and that’s a lot of ways). Alli tries to say he’s people-smart, but I’m not sure about that after the whole self-aggrandizing football fiasco earlier. But whatever, they’re back together now. Woo.

Things wrap up the next day with Sav and Holly J in the student council room. They’re stunned when Fiona and Anya walk in, even though they weren’t doing anything particularly scandalous. They all stand around awkwardly with coffees until Sav asks if Fiona and Anya will help them count change from the dance. Fiona refuses because she doesn’t like touching Coynes. Not after last summer.

And that’s it. You know what? Fuck the long-winded analysis this time. I can’t pretend to care about this episode enough to act like there’s anything warranting me acting like I remotely know what the fuck I’m talking about. Drew and Alli are a bad couple. Holly J and Sav will—by their own admission—end their relationship by graduation at the latest. The only plot that comes close to being interesting is Connor’s middle aged cyber gf, and it barely gets any screentime here.

Enough. It’s taken me nearly a year to scrounge up the motivation to do this, and it’s solely so that I can move on to the rest of the season.

[taxnetfinancial-blog]

The Benefits of Applying for a Refund Anticipation Loan Online

Tax season can be a stressful time for many people, especially those eagerly awaiting their tax refunds. For some, the wait can feel interminable, particularly if they're facing urgent financial needs. This is where refund anticipation loans (RALs) come into play, offering a way to access your expected refund amount quickly. In recent years, the process of applying for these loans has moved increasingly online, bringing with it a host of benefits. Before we delve into the benefits of online applications, it's crucial to understand what a refund anticipation loan actually is. Simply put, a RAL is a short-term loan based on your expected tax refund. The lender provides you with the anticipated refund amount (minus fees), and when your actual refund arrives, it goes directly to the lender to repay the loan.

Now, let's explore the numerous advantages of applying for these loans online:

1. Convenience at Your Fingertips

Gone are the days of scheduling appointments, driving to a tax preparer's office, and waiting in long lines. Online RAL applications bring the entire process to your fingertips. You can apply from the comfort of your home, during your lunch break, or even while waiting for your morning coffee to brew. This convenience factor cannot be overstated, especially for those with busy schedules or limited transportation options.

2. 24/7 Availability

Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar establishments, online platforms never close. Whether you're a night owl or an early bird, you can submit your application at any time that suits you best. This round-the-clock availability ensures that you're not constrained by business hours, allowing you to take action the moment you decide a RAL is right for you.

3. Faster Processing Times

Online applications typically leverage advanced algorithms and automated systems to process your information quickly. This means that you could receive a decision on your loan application in minutes, rather than hours or days. For those in urgent need of funds, this speed can be a crucial advantage.

4. Wider Range of Options

When you apply online, you're not limited to the offerings of a single tax preparation service or local bank. Many online platforms allow you to compare offers from multiple lenders, helping you find the best terms and rates for your situation. This increased competition among lenders can often result in more favorable terms for borrowers.

5. Enhanced Privacy and Security

Reputable online RAL providers employ state-of-the-art encryption and security measures to protect your sensitive financial information. This can often provide a higher level of security than paper applications, which can be lost, stolen, or viewed by unauthorized individuals.

6. Transparent Fee Structures

Online applications typically provide clear, upfront information about fees and interest rates. This transparency allows you to make an informed decision about whether a RAL is the right choice for your financial situation. You can easily compare different offers without feeling pressured by a salesperson.

7. User-Friendly Interfaces

Many online RAL applications are designed with the user in mind, featuring intuitive interfaces that guide you through the process step-by-step. This can make the application process less daunting, especially for those who might be intimidated by financial paperwork.

8. Digital Document Submission

Instead of gathering and photocopying numerous documents, online applications often allow you to upload digital copies or even link directly to your financial accounts. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of misplacing important documents.

9. Real-Time Updates

Once you've submitted your application, many online platforms provide real-time updates on its status. You can track your application's progress, know exactly when a decision has been made, and see when funds will be disbursed. This level of transparency can greatly reduce anxiety and uncertainty during the waiting period.

10. Integration with Tax Preparation Software

Some online RAL providers integrate directly with popular tax preparation software. This seamless integration can streamline the process even further, allowing you to apply for a loan as soon as you've completed your tax return.

11. Flexible Disbursement Options

Online RAL providers often offer multiple options for receiving your funds, such as direct deposit, prepaid debit cards, or even digital wallets. This flexibility allows you to choose the method that works best for your financial situation and preferences.

12. Potential for Pre-Qualification

Many online platforms offer a pre-qualification process that allows you to see if you're likely to be approved for a loan without impacting your credit score. This can be incredibly helpful if you're unsure about your eligibility or are shopping around for the best rates.

13. Educational Resources at Your Fingertips

Reputable online RAL providers often include educational resources on their platforms. These can help you understand the loan terms, potential risks, and alternatives to RALs. Having this information readily available can help you make a more informed decision.

14. Reduced Pressure to Commit

When applying online, you're free from the potential pressure of an in-person sales pitch. You can take your time to review the terms, consult with family or financial advisors, and make a decision on your own timeline.

15. Easier Repeat Applications

If you've used an online RAL service before and been satisfied with the experience, applying in subsequent years becomes even easier. Many platforms save your information securely, streamlining future applications.

Considerations When Applying for an Online RAL

While the benefits of online RAL applications are numerous, it's important to approach them with caution and awareness. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

1. Interest Rates and Fees: RALs often come with high interest rates and fees. Be sure to understand the total cost of the loan before proceeding.

2. Impact on Refund Amount: Remember that the fees for a RAL will reduce the total amount of your tax refund you ultimately receive.

3. Verification Requirements: Online applications still require verification of your identity and financial information. Be prepared to provide necessary documentation.

4. Repayment Terms: Understand the repayment terms fully, including what happens if your actual refund is less than anticipated.

5. Alternative Options: Consider alternatives like filing your taxes electronically and opting for direct deposit, which can speed up your refund without the cost of a loan.

Making the Most of Your Online RAL Application

If you decide that an online RAL is right for you, here are some tips to maximize the benefits:

1. Gather all necessary information before starting your application to ensure a smooth process.

2. Compare offers from multiple lenders to find the best terms.

3. Read the fine print carefully and don't hesitate to ask questions if anything is unclear.

4. Consider the total cost of the loan, not just the interest rate.

5. Use the funds wisely, keeping in mind that this is an advance on money you've already earned.

The Future of Online RALs

As technology continues to advance, we can expect the online RAL application process to become even more streamlined and user-friendly. Potential future developments might include:

1. Integration with AI assistants to guide users through the application process.

2. Use of blockchain technology for enhanced security and faster processing.

3. More personalized loan offers based on individual financial profiles.

4. Increased competition among lenders, potentially leading to more favorable terms for borrowers.

Conclusion

Applying for a refund anticipation loan online offers a myriad of benefits, from convenience and speed to increased options and transparency. The digital nature of the process aligns well with our increasingly online world, providing a service that fits seamlessly into modern lifestyles.

However, it's crucial to approach RALs, whether online or in-person, with a clear understanding of their costs and implications. They can be a useful financial tool in certain situations, but they're not right for everyone. Always consider your individual financial circumstances and explore all available options before deciding.

The online RAL application process represents a significant step forward in making these financial products more accessible and user-friendly. As with any financial decision, education is key. Take advantage of the resources available online, compare your options carefully, and make an informed choice that best serves your financial needs and goals.

Remember, your tax refund is money you've earned throughout the year. Whether you choose to access it early through a RAL or wait for the standard refund process, the most important thing is that you use these funds in a way that supports your overall financial health and future goals.

[writeblrcafe]

Digital interview with @thewritersplace

Our editor & barista Kendra (@thewritersplace) puts the kettle on and makes herself a cup of tea, then pulls a chair up behind the counter. She is currently writing a book and is still writing fanfiction. Her favourite genres include fiction, romance, fantasy, mystery, historical fiction, and paranormal/supernatural.

What got you into writing?

It's been a long time since I started writing, so I don't recollect the first instance very well, but the most likely thing that got me into writing would probably be Nanowrimo's Young Writers Program that my 6th grade homeroom teacher suggested I look into, since I wrote a lot of what she thought were interesting stories for the English class writing prompts she gave us at the beginning of every class.

What inspires you to write?

Beyond the pettiness of I see something and think "I could do this better"? Probably just the excitement of exploring various ideas from various pieces of media that I like, or age-old tropes and concepts that I've seen in favorite books/movies.

Which are recurring themes in your writing?

You know, honestly, I'm not sure. You're probably better off asking my best friend that, since she's read pretty much everything I've ever written. I don't necessarily focus on themes when I write. So, I'd probably have to read all my stuff over again with 'themes' in mind and get back to you with an updated answer.

How would you describe your writing style?

Not to repeat myself, but what I said to the previous question also applies here. I don't know what the writing style would be since I don't really know what types/options there are. I guess I'd say mine is hopefully elegant but straight-forward and clear. I've never been a fan of flowery writing, because while it's very pretty, it's a total pain to read through. I'd have to ask my best friend what she thinks the style is because like I said in my answer to the previous question, she's read all my stuff and could probably figure out what the style is.

How do you deal with writer's block?

I don't really get writer's block, so this might be more like tips on how I avoid getting it, rather than how do I deal with it. I usually listen to music related to my WIP(s), or work on another story or fanfic, or talk with my best friend about whatever ideas and stuff I have, and where I might be getting a bit stuck. She's probably the real reason I don't get writer's block, honestly.

Do you have a wip? Tell us about it:

I do! Technically, I have six, but the main one I'm trying to focus on right now is my Dracula-inspired one, called The Road To Eternity Is Paved With Blood. I'm more or less pulling from the novel, with some other stuff being pulled from the movie Dracula Untold, and some inspiration from the anime Hellsing. The latter was actually the biggest inspiration for my novel, and I've written fanfic for it, but my story obviously is different not just for reasons like copyright, but also for the fact that I've always wanted to do a Dracula/vampire story and put my own spin on it.

Have you already published your writing? Include a link to your published work so we can share it.

When I did the Nanowrimo Young Writers Program in middle school, they published the two novels I did for the event (one for each year I did it), but I've never been able to find either version online at this point. I have hard copies of the second book, though they are lost to the abyss that is my parents' house at this point. The other two things I've published are an academic paper that was my senior thesis, and a poem to a lit magazine. Unfortunately, the lit magazine's website is currently protected by a WordPress login, so I don't have the ability to get that link to the poem, but for those interested in viewing it, here is the tumblr link (this is my main blog). You can find the academic paper here.

You can tell us more interesting stuff about you here:

I don't really have much that I deem 'interesting', but a few facts about me are that I have been writing for over a decade, and while most of that has been fanfic, I've worked on a few original works here and there, including my six current ones. Outside of writing, I'm a graduate student in her last term, and work as a part-time studio manager for a small yoga studio. For those interested in her because of the mentions I made in some of my answers, here is my best friend's tumblr @bwaldorf

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[60b3r]

Job-seeking is (tedious): the paperwork.

One thing that demonstrates the utter worthlessness of the capitalist form of "freedom" is the job search. Education institutions like schools and universities are not an exception for this, since they operate like a business, albeit under the label of foundation. It's your freedom to beg employers for a job, and their freedom to reject you. If you lose, you starve. If they lose, they can always restart the hiring process, load their wage slaves with more tasks, or outsource the task out to even more underpaid and overworked honorary teachers.

I will start with the online application process. First, I need to make an online account in order to apply to a job I probably won't even hear from. Now, my profile requires a 16-character long password that contains at least 1 capital letter, 1 number, 1 unique character, 1 strand of unicorn hair and 1 toenail of a dragon. I'm glad my potential future employer is looking out for me and protecting my account from hackers who spend their day applying jobs for unsuspecting teachers with only a day's catering budget in their bank account. Somehow, they also do not keep a good method of ensuring that the personal details I provided during the registration process confidential. It seems like every now and then, whenever one of their IT guy left the job, they changed the recruitment and procurement management system as well. That didn't take into account the possibility of the former IT guy running around in the wild carrying sensitive information about your previous applications, which can be dangerous if fallen into malicious agents.

Also, I'm tired of hearing the Paleozoic advice of "dress up nice and turn in your resume in person." In the internet age, this usually does nothing except make you look like a confused dinosaur. Most of the time, all you're doing is handing your resume to a clueless reception officer who knows zero shit of what to do with it. The rare occasion that this actually works is when it is a tiny local course or homeschooling or you have connections to some higher-ups who already work in a small university.

After my account is made, I can finally attach the Word document containing my cover letter/resume... and also re-type my entire resume in separate boxes. You want to know my education, skills and previous experience? Why can't you check the resume that you already made me provide? Just a thought. Oh, and as if I haven't spent too much time already, they also require me to do an 150-question personality analysis (that probably won't even been seen by human eyes). One of the school I've applied to even gave me a mandatory simple addition questions (like 420+69) and write only the last digit as an answer. That useless test lasted for 45 minutes and the computer auto-generated the questions. HR departments seem to have a huge array of tests that are designed more to function as a literal stress test rather than actual performance benchmarking.

The curious part, even when it was just another paperwork to fill out before an interview (let alone the actual salary negotiation, which was yet to be scheduled) they have the audacity to ask for: a copy of my ID, my social security number, my tax-filling number, my bank account number, and to top it all off, my mother's maiden name. What the actual fuck are you trying to do here, getting a familial background check of potential candidates, or gaining access to stupid teachers' empty bank accounts? They also seem to be so kaypoh when it comes to the number of siblings I have. That doesn't seem to have anything to do with my professional and academic capability to perform teaching and research, does it?

I've also replied to job postings where after you send off your online resume through a website and asked a couple of screening questions, they required you to come in physically and fill out a goddamn paper application that had the exact same information as my resume, plus they also require me to sign a statement of faith acknowledging that their school is a closely-affiliated religious school and I would be okay with that. Well yes, I might be okay with you teaching my future students religion (since that is none of my business) but please leave the Bible teachings outside my evolutionary biology class. This has happened with every single interview I've had after my first interview at a Catholic school, which was surprisingly minimal in terms of such childish religious propaganda.

It's beyond infuriating to come there and force a respectful tone after you've handed them the email with the resume, filled out the online application which included basically another full typed resume, only to be told that they require an in-person paper application WITH the signed statement of faith as well. Since you seem to only want someone with a belief in Jesus AND specifically follow your tenets of your church ONLY, why don't you just come to the church board you own and paste your job ad there, above all things?

While most will talk about how universities and schools are in shortage of talent, that capitalism in the management promotes individuality and protects minorities, ironically valuable individuals and underrepresented minorities cannot find actual work. Employers everywhere look for a uniform type of employee: fun and extraverted (but not too loud or close to the students), smart only in "the right way", diverse (but not really crossing the school values), striving for leadership (but somehow complacent enough to be shoved around), blind to the pointlessness of careerist struggles, and conformist to an extreme. A good employee intuits what is expected of them, and acts with blind loyalty. Least of all is a good employee an individual. How can we progress our education if the teachers and lecturers working across the industry are procured in such cruel ways?