#and it's not like it's getting implemented in a broad way yet but.

[aeide-thea]

A new way of sucking carbon dioxide from the air and storing it in the sea has been outlined by scientists. The authors say that this novel approach captures CO2 from the atmosphere up to three times more efficiently than current methods. The warming gas can be transformed into bicarbonate of soda and stored safely and cheaply in seawater.

[thecurioustale]

Writing Psychological Horror Is Hard

Writing horror is hard for me.

I think it is perhaps the clearest example, at least when I'm the subject, of the difference between being the author and being the audience. I find it extremely difficult to know what will creep out someone who doesn't know all the behind-the-scenes details of what is happening. This is despite my considerable experience as a consumer of [psychological / environmental] horror media.

When I think about the things that scare me, or maybe "unsettle" is a better word, it usually comes down to two things: 1) narratively plausible violations of the laws of nature; and 2) foreboding, i.e. the slow-building setup that something bad is coming—something that is specific enough to be apprehensible but still ambiguous enough to be cloaked in mystery.

But! Not just any attempt at these things will actually work. There is definitely a secret sauce that makes some efforts fail and others succeed.

In the game Oxenfree, probably my favorite horror game of all time, there is a scene on the "Find Clarissa!" subplot where Alex et al. are in something akin to a classroom in an abandoned military base on an uninhabited island, and a discordantly upbeat and normal-sounding midcentury-style gameshow host is talking to them through a haunted radio asking them questions in a game of Hangman (whose figure is gradually being drawn by invisible means on the chalkboard), while a lamp overhead illuminates the room in a very unnatural light as it swings back and forth for no apparent reason. And this was one of my favorite moments in the entire game, because it was really scary. It benefitted from the existing atmospheric horror build up in the events immediately preceding it, and also benefitted from not being a narrative climax; it actually ratchets up the tension in the story even higher, without resolving anything (other than itself).

But I think that if you went purely by my description, you would be hard-pressed to create a scary implementation of this scene. I certainly would be—and I know that for a fact, because I have more or less tried it!

What is it that makes something profoundly unsettling in that oh-so-delicious manner of a good horror story? Well, the academic answer is that it's appealing to our instincts of danger: dangerous environments (like rocks or cliffs or plants, or, indeed, "the dark"), dangerous predators, dangerous people, dangerous forces (like fire and wind and water), and dangerous sicknesses (e.g. infectious disease). Most horror taps into at least one of these primal apprehensions in the human psyche. And to succeed it has to feel real, the way a roller coaster feels like you're really falling. But I don't think "the academic answer" really sheds all that much light on the mystery of actually composing horrifying situations and events.

A lot of the craftsmateship is a balancing act.

For example: You don't want to hit the audience over the head with obvious bogeymates—jumpscares for the sake of jumpscares, as it were, or having your big scary cryptid jump out in its full costume in broad daylight and look absurd—but I have also found, through experience, that it is very easy to hide horrifying details too well, to be too subtle about it—and it is extremely difficult for me to get a sense, on the audience's behalf, of how subtle is too subtle.

That leads me to an important insight: Part of the secret sauce of horror is contextually embedding horrifying story elements into a broader context. A "haunted stick of furniture" isn't going to get many people a-quailin' in their boots. It has to be more about how that object is embedded in the story. You know, like a haunted couch, or a haunted table: How do you make that scary? I don't think it can be scary on its own. Not consistently and convincingly. Instead you have to set it up ahead of time in some way(s), by providing information to the audience that you are then going to subvert or manipulate later. Yet it is all too easy to do this in a way that comes across like a paint-by-numbers exercise: "Wait a minute! Wasn't this couch pointing the other way earlier?! GASP!!" No one is gonna be scared by that. It's not enough.

Ultimately, I think scaring people successfully, in the psychological horror sense, therefore involves an element of overwhelming their ability to cope with and anticipate environmental changes, which assumes an elaborate environmental structure that you're going to have to set up, in non-obvious ways, earlier in the story. You have to give them expectations about how things will change and then either gradually go beyond that magnitude of change or else go in a different direction of change entirely—usually the former. Psychological horror is all about the fear of the jumpscare that never comes.

But I'm also just spitballing for the purposes of this essay. I don't really know. I struggle with this stuff!

It really is an art form to be able to scare people in this way.

Additional, medium-specific difficulty comes in the fact that the written media that I work in does not have access to a scary soundtrack or sound effects or voices, or to scary visuals and visual effects. Written text does have the corresponding advantage of having unfettered access to the reader's imagination, allowing them to essentially self-select the personally scariest interpretations of some of the details of a scene. But taking full advantage of this power is not easy at all; you have to put the right kinds of details in, and you have to do so in a digestible format, all without cluttering the flow of the story.

I have been doing a lot of Galaxy Federal writing lately, and have been trying to write some of the "scarier" bits and pieces in it, and I almost resent how totally clueless I am in regards to whether I am hitting the mark to my satisfaction! 😮

[writingquestionsanswered]

How do you find the energy to go back to your writing to clean it up for a final draft? I have no problem to do those for stories that are 1000-5000 words, but I have written a huge (and still not done yet) 145,000 word piece of fiction and the thought of going back to clean it up just deflates me completely; since not only am I cleaning up sentences, but I also have to keep my eyes out for plot holes, inconsistent character description, the following of every move my MC does throughout the story making sure there is no illogical back and forth movment etc etc.

Logically, it's all about breaking it up into smaller pieces, but I am afraid I will miss the plot holes if I break it up like that.

Do you have any tips?

Thank you for your time,

-Red

Finding Energy to Edit a Big Final Draft

Breaking up the editing process isn't necessarily about doing it one scene at a time, one chapter at a time, or one act at a time. I mean, it can be, but it doesn't have to be. It can also be about breaking it up into like elements. For example, do a read-through where all you do is look for plot holes, character inconsistencies, and and continuity errors. Then, do a read-through where you implement small revisions, clean up sentences, fix errors, and generally polish. Just dividing it up that way can take a big load off the energy it takes to get through a read-through, because you're not looking for as many things and you're not looking for such broad things.

Something else to consider, if you can, is to make use of various editing apps and software like Grammarly or Hemingway to help with the polishing. You will still need to do a polishing read-through yourself, but having a little help from a program that can catch obvious errors and issues can cut down on the work load a lot, which makes it feel a lot less daunting when you do your own read-through. Also, if you can, try enlisting a critique partner or some beta readers to read your final draft. In much the same way as an editing program can help cut the polishing work load, critique partners and beta readers can look for issues in things like continuity, character consistency, flow, and plot holes. Once you've fixed any issues they point out, you can go into your own read-through knowing that there shouldn't be much left to catch.

I hope one or both of these methods will work for you!

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[qqueenofhades]

Ignoring his inflammatory rhetoric, do you think Bernie's *POLICIES* are actually that extreme? I've read them over and, if he had a softer approach, they seem like they'd be sound policies to me

The problem with Bernie is that it's hard to know, in actual practice/reality, what his policies are. Yes, on paper, everyone knows what they are, and it's not a week if he's not writing yet another op-ed in the Guardian about Workers' Rights or Climate Justice or whatever. But like.... what good does that do anyone? Everyone who reads the Guardian probably agrees with those things already, and that includes me -- I read it, I financially support it, etc., but it's not where I come for policy actions or where I want to see US senators spending all their time. (Like, Bernie, aren't there other people you could be talking to, who could actually do something about this?) It's the definition of preaching to the choir, where he's regurgitating a boilerplate piece of progressive ideology but not actually doing anything about it or attempting to reach an audience who doesn't already agree with him. (Plus the Guardian, unfortunately, is always also willing to let his ex-campaign manager, David Sirota, bash the Democrats for something, but never mind that.)

Likewise, Bernie's actual voting record in the Senate isn't always a match with the things for which he has (very loudly) advocated, and he's a multi-millionaire old white man from Vermont (one of the whitest states in the Union) who has often seemed interested in preaching socialism for everyone else but resisting any scrutiny or participation in that for himself. He has gotten a lot of mileage and built a disproportionately influential political career out of championing so-called leftist progressivism/socialism, but as I keep saying about him, he never seems to do anything about it. "Tax billionaires" or "save the planet" are extremely broad-brush statements that everyone in the liberal camp can mostly agree on. And no, I wouldn't say those positions are particularly extreme; they're pretty much mainstream Democratic ideology at this point. Indeed, I think Bernie gets unwarranted traction out of positioning himself as the "radical" alternative to the Democrats, when most of the things he says are now basically part of the party platform and have been adopted or explored in some shape or form. Just because they can't actually be implemented at the moment, whether due to legislative roadblocks or otherwise, doesn't mean that they're not moving in that direction.

Likewise, Bernie's favorite hobbyhorse of Medicare for All is often used by his fans to irrationally bash the Democrats, as if we don't have universal healthcare -> quod erat demonstrandum, Democrats Are Neoliberal Shills. I've written many posts about the state of the healthcare debate in America and how passing even a much-watered-down Affordable Care Act cost Obama control of Congress for pretty much the rest of his presidency. So if Bernie and co. want to offer a roadmap for how to pass another major healthcare reform/overhaul that goes even further than the ACA -- trust me, everyone's listening and wants to know how to do that. That is neither extreme nor particularly, at least among Democrats, controversial in the way it was in 2009, when we still had Blue Dog Democrats in red states like Nebraska and South Dakota. But a) we have the united fascist bloc of Republicans who would object and obstruct it on principle, and b) we DON'T have enough Democrats to just pass it by fiat and have that be the end, because that's not the way things have worked in the history of anything.

So basically: if progressives want to endlessly harp on the Democrats for not magically pulling Medicare for All out of a hat, they're welcome to do that if, and only if, they can produce a credible policy/platform/program of action to actually get it passed that the Democrats could be following and aren't (and "they don't care enough about this and could fix it if they wanted!" is not that). That way, they could actually show that the reform is empirically possible and the Democrats are not carrying it out. But flatly ignoring all the political realities and blaming them for not producing a miracle in an extremely adverse legislative and political climate does not count as good-faith engagement and isn't directed toward any constructive end. It's just performative gesturing to show that they are Better Than The Establishment, something something something, and Bernie is usually one of the chief offenders in this regard, despite actually being part of the Establishment for decades.

I will give Bernie credit for two things: he has voted for all the major Democratic legislative packages with the relative minimum of selfish hostage-taking/sabotaging such as that carried out constantly by Manchin and Sinema, and he quickly shut down any talk of running (yet fucking again) in 2024, in order to support Biden's re-election bid. But as far as policies go, he's still not shown me that he either has a concrete plan to carry them out, that he knows what they are aside from broad-brush, vague and general talking points, or that he will put in the work to get them achieved, so yeah.

[jeannereames]

It's true that Alexander seems to have not liked the part of managing/ruling his empire? I saw it mentioned a few times in different places.

Given that he kept running around, looking for new adventures, I'd say he didn't! LOL

More seriously, he seems to have been fairly good at delegating. So was his father (from whom he no doubt learned the skill). Delegating doesn't mean he didn't keep up with things. If Plutarch can be trusted (and in this detail, I think he can), Alexander was a prodigious letter-writer. Or maybe "letter-dictator" would be more accurate, as he wouldn't have written most with his own hand, especially not official correspondence. That's what Eumenes' veritable army of secretaries were for. ;-)

I'm sure he kept track of things, but he didn't manage most of it in a hands-on sort of way. He was too much of a doer to get sucked into the minutia. That's what a fully-functioning court is there to do for him. "I want to implement X; have a plan on my desk for how to get it done, by Friday."

He did seem to care about the broad brushstrokes. The whole plan to begin adopting Persian court protocol, and to merge parts of it...that was most definitely all Alexander--given how much opposition it stirred up. However necessary, it wasn't one of his more popular decisions. And he does seem to have taken an interest in how to implement it. But this is post-330 BCE.

Early in his career (pre-Gaugamela), when conquest was at the forefront of his mind, his usual post-victory solution was to reinstall whatever administrative framework was already in place via the Persias. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." He was in a hurry to move on. Some places he completely bypassed in his rush (central Asia-Minor, for instance).

Just reappointing the Former Guy proved to be a bad idea in several cases (rebellion in his rear). He replaced them, but in doing so, he also began to get more skeptical. By the time he returned from India in the spring of 324, he was giving more thought to making the empire function. This included booting a number of previously appointed satraps and administrators who'd gone rogue while he'd been in the East. Some were Persian, some Macedonian, but he replaced them all with Greeks and Macedonians, which suggests he'd stopped trusting the locals. (Far from some Brotherhood of Mankind, ala W. W. Tarn.) He did do the mass marriages, but that's a different thing.

What, exactly, he had in mind as the end-form of his administrative revamps isn't clear, as he inconveniently died before they were fully complete. (*snort*) It seems to have been more parallelism than true fusion, not unlike what he'd done earlier in the summer and fall of 330.

Ironically, he was also planning Yet Another Campaign in the West, so he clearly didn't intend to cool his heels for long. My personal suspicion is that, far from expressing distrust, Alexander called in Antipatros specifically to complete these changes. Krateros could handle the now-pacified Greece well enough. ATG needed Antipatros' great experience to sort out Asia.

I do think the day-to-day of governing bored him, but not the Big Ideas part of governing. That he appears to have liked well enough.

[canadianlucifer]

I just wanna give my two cents on AI since everyone is talking about it again and honestly, AI has a lot of good uses!

AI is what powers characters in video games, it's able to analyze large amounts of data for healthcare or finances, it's able to improve translation of languages, and a lot more. When used properly, AI has plenty of benefits!

The problem is generative AI using content stolen from those who did not consent.

Generating visual art based off artist who work hard to produce their art, singers and voice actors who train their voices being made to sing or say something they didn't, and famous personalities as chatbots. That is what is terrible. It's not only stealing work away from them but trivializing it too.

AI is completely unregulated right now, anyone can use it to do just about anything, and it's completely unethical. What we need is regulations, rules against what can and cannot be made with AI. Ways to differentiate AI generated content from real work a real person put effort into.

I'll be honest and say it proudly: I use AI very often! Synthesizer V is a program I use to make music, like Vocaloid, and it makes use of AI. The difference between SynthV and some "make spongebob sing old town road!" program is:

Everyone who's voice is involved were paid to have it be used

Worked directly with the developers and consented to their voice being recorded for this purpose

And it requires significant effort and practice on the part of the end user to produce something.

I've been practising for ages and I'm nowhere near decent because the AI implemented in it isn't some crutch, it's something that allows for more human creativity! The AI helps make the voice sound more how I want it, but can also convert say, an english voice into spanish! Voice banks usually only come in one language, maybe two, and if you want a song where the vocalist switches languages for a few words or maybe you can't afford to buy another voice bank in a different language or maybe you just really like one's voice over another, it's as simple as flipping a switch! Cross lingual synthesis isn't perfect of course, but it's a lot better than struggling to twist phonemes from one language into another. And that feature is thanks to ethical AI!

AI isn't completely good or completely bad, it's a broad and complex topic. AI generating soulless "art"? Objectively bad. AI assisting artists reach new heights? Very good! Honestly I think the biggest problem is labelling everything that is AI as AI. It's vague and doesn't accurately describe what it does. Artificial intelligence, when I think of it, is a computer that is able to form it's own thoughts separate from any training data. That obviously doesn't exist yet, and what we currently call AI is nothing more than a complex algorithm.

I'm no expert in AI, I haven't got the slightest clue how it works, but I hesitate to denounce all AI when it does have many positives to it. Many negatives too, but everything is some shade of grey.

In short: get explicit consent from artists and compensate them.

[voraciousvore]

In the Belly of the Giant (4/39)

Chapter 4

Eren suited up in her custom-made, rubbery one-piece outfit for work, and prepped all her dental tools, cleaning them to a polished shine and lining them up on the giant tray. She couldn’t help but think they looked like bizarre, sadistic torture implements, due to their grotesque size. The clinic she worked at had made several adjustments to accommodate for a human working there, including supplying her with her own miniature sink and shower for sanitizing her work gear and a platform on a robotic arm she could maneuver like a boom lift. 

The investment in specialty equipment was worth it to the clinic, because Eren always had a full roster of patients. She had an especially gentle and precise touch, and cleaned more thoroughly than most of her larger equivalents simply by virtue of the fact she could get into every small corner of a giant’s mouth with ease. Besides the fact that she was well-suited for her job, the clinic advertised the services of a human as a novel experience. Sometimes Eren acquired new clients simply because they were curious about humans, and needed their teeth cleaned anyways. Overall, she brought a lot of new clients to the business. 

Unfortunately for Eren, she also had her share of clients who were a bit strange, who were perhaps a bit too enthusiastic about having her climb into their mouths. Eating humans was illegal, and considered unethical, of course, but that didn’t mean that giants never got the urge or the hunger. Eren had learned this lesson the hard way. She noticed that some giants would get excited while she was within their open maws, would feel her miniscule body with their tongues, would salivate excessively. Such encounters made her exceedingly uncomfortable, but she wasn’t seriously concerned about getting eaten. She was surrounded by her giant coworkers, in a public space, after all. Nobody would be crazy enough to attempt such a stunt when they could be easily caught. At least, Eren hoped not. 

Even so, Eren always wore her smartwatch, in case of emergency. She could make calls for help, if she needed to, and the tracker shared her location with both her boyfriend and her father. She had never needed to use it, but she always felt safer knowing she had a crutch to lean on in the worst-case scenario. She didn’t like exposing the fancy gadget to the saliva and grime of her profession, but it was worth it for her own protection and independence. 

Other than the occasional creepy customer, Eren loved her job. She liked working with her hands and helping people. Sure, she had to get dirty often, and every once in a while she’d have to deal with some pretty gross, rotten teeth, and awful instances of halitosis that made her gag. Yet, she found the work fulfilling, especially when giants thanked her with a flashy, clean, minty-fresh smile, tiled with glimmering white teeth.  

She had kind and supportive coworkers too, for the most part. No human haters on the staff. The only giant who gave her trouble was her boss, Dr. Larson. He was a plump old man with thinning white hair and a red face who always smelled like toothpaste. He was always berating Eren for not moving fast enough, not seeing enough patients. Perhaps he was correct, to some extent, but Eren disliked rushing through her teeth cleanings. She took pride in her work and prized quality over quantity. Her boss didn’t care, as long as he could cram more giants onto the schedule. More patients, more money. 

Eren called in her next patient for the day. He was one of her new patients, so she hadn’t seen him before. Like all giants, he was massive, broad and tall, and dwarfed her in size as he sat down in the dentist’s chair. She was relieved to see his teeth looked to be in good condition. 

“Hello there, Mr...uh… Maples,” Eren greeted the giant, glancing over at the open chart on the desk. “What brings you in today? Any cavities or tooth pain?” 

“Nope, just a routine cleaning,” the giant answered in a booming, sonorous voice. “One of my friends recommended you, so I thought I’d give your services a try.” He smiled politely. 

“Wonderful! Alright then, go ahead and swish this mouthwash around for about thirty seconds for me, if you would,” Eren requested, pushing an oversized paper cup that was taller than her towards the giant. The mouthwash was in a big bottle on the counter, too big for Eren to lift, so her patients had to pour it themselves. While it wasn’t standard procedure to have the client rinse out his mouth first thing, Eren found it made her job a lot fresher when it was time for her to go inside. The giant complied and used the mouthwash, spitting the remnants back into the cup when he was finished. 

“Now I need you to lean forward, put your chin in the chinrest here, and open wide,” Eren instructed. Unlike a normal dentist visit, where the patient would lean back, Eren preferred her patient to be upright, so she wouldn’t have to fight gravity and risk sliding back into his gullet and getting accidentally swallowed. As the giant followed her instructions, she raised her little platform with her tools up to his enormous gaping mouth. 

Once she hung a suction drainage tube from the edge of his lower lip to suck out excess saliva, she clicked on her headlamp for light and grabbed her scraping tool, a fearsome hook that looked like a sickle in her hand. She hesitated before climbing into the gigantic, fleshy red cavern yawning before her. As always, she felt a nagging, persistent thrill of fear, with the uncomfortable knowledge that it wasn’t natural for a being as small (and appetizing) as her to willingly enter the mouth of a colossal giant that could swallow her whole. 

To distract from her nervousness, she shined her light into the humid darkness to examine the giant’s teeth. His teeth, rising out of the pink flesh like giant white blocks, looked relatively clean, but she did observe some crevasses between the incisors and along the gum line with plaque that would require her attention. She failed to spy any signs of gingivitis or cavities. As she scrutinized his molars further back, she felt gusts of warm breath on her skin, emanating from the entrance to his throat deep inside. At least his breath smelled like mint thanks to the mouthwash. 

She prepared herself mentally, then lifted her leg over his prodigious lower lip and stepped into the wet darkness of his mouth. The giant's jaws twitched slightly upon her entry as he felt the ticklish sensation of her tiny limbs crossing the threshold of his lips and teeth. She settled into a crouching position on his fat, squishy tongue and started scraping the plaque and tartar out of the front row of teeth. 

The giant held still, holding his mouth open wide, as Eren scraped around his incisors, in between each tooth and along the gums. She moved on to his canines, then his bicuspids, and finally his molars. She was careful not to step too far back along his tongue, lest she slide into the void below, and especially cognizant not to brush against his uvula, to prevent stimulating a gag reflex. She had made that mistake before, once, and had learned her lesson in spades. Soon enough, both the top and bottom rows were scratched clean. 

Eren stuck the hook into her belt and unfurled a long string of floss, working around the entire wall of teeth a second time. A pool of saliva was beginning to form around her feet, but she ignored it and sloshed her boots across the slippery tongue to the other side of his mouth, flossing the giant teeth as she traveled. As she walked, she dodged drips of slobber coming from the roof of his mouth. Once she was done, she exited the giant’s mouth, climbing over the incisors and bottom lip back out into the light. She temporarily removed the suction hose from his lip and squirted enough water in his mouth to fill a bathtub. 

“Swish that around for me, please,” she said to the giant, who followed her directions, washing out stray bits of plaque and debris and expelling them with the contaminated water into the paper cup. “Open up again, if you would.” She entered his open jaws again, this time to polish his teeth with an electric-powered brush and a gritty paste. Now that she was in the groove of her work, her residual anxiety had dissipated. She was in her element, enjoying the manual labor of her job and the process of making the giant’s mouth clean. 

Belong long, her work was done. She stood on the giant’s tongue, closer to his throat, hands on her hips, and surveyed the curved walls of teeth from the inside one last time for anything she may have missed. As many times as she had done this same exercise, it was still a surreal feeling to be standing, unafraid, in a giant mouth surrounded by the living, breathing flesh of a much larger person. Pushing this thought aside, she climbed over the teeth and lips, back out to freedom. She had her giant patient rinse out his mouth one more time to complete the visit. 

“Your teeth are looking very healthy, Mr. Maples. However, your gums did bleed a little when I flossed them. You might want to floss more often,” Eren said. This last bit of advice went to almost all of her clients. 

“Ah, yes. I’ll be more conscientious of that,” the giant replied, his ears reddening slightly. He flashed his huge teeth in a smile, and Eren couldn’t help but admire her handiwork. “Thank you. That was… an interesting experience. But my teeth feel great, cleaner than they’ve ever been. Thanks again.” The giant stood up to his full, incredible height, gave Eren a wave of his hand, and lumbered out. 

Eren maneuvered her adjustable platform over to the countertop and began the process of cleaning and sanitizing all her equipment before her next patient came in. She stripped off her protective suit, scrubbed it down thoroughly with strong chemicals, and hung it up to let the moisture drip off. Now that she wasn’t covered in drool, she went over to the patient’s chart and scribbled some notes for the next visit. 

As she walked back over to the human-sized sink to begin cleaning her dental tools, she felt the earthquakes of giant footsteps travel towards her until she was shrouded in shadow. She gazed up to find her giant boss towering over her. His fat belly was protruding over the edge of the counter and he had his giant hands planted on either side of her as he leaned over her with a sullen glare. 

“Can I help you with something?” Eren asked, trying and failing to keep the sassiness out of her tone. She mentally prepared herself for a volley of verbal abuse. 

“You’re moving too slow,” Dr. Larson complained. “Your next patient is already here, and has been waiting past the start of his appointment time.” 

“Maybe that wouldn’t be a problem if we didn’t have our patients scheduled back-to-back so closely,” Eren retorted, with some venom. This issue had been a point of contention between her and the dentist for a while. 

“Just hurry up,” Dr. Larson spat back. “If you take too long with your next client, and the appointment bleeds over into your lunch break, I’m not going to extend your break. You’ll have to work through lunch.” 

“Fine,” Eren snapped. It’s not like she had much of a say in the matter. “Whatever. At least give me five minutes to finish cleaning my tools before you send him in.” Dr. Larson glowered down at her, but thankfully left without any further harassment. 

“Bastard,” Eren mumbled to herself. Her good mood from a job well done had quickly soured. She rushed to scrub down all her tools with soap and suit herself back up in preparation for the next job. In her haste, she forgot to strap her smartwatch, which she took off to clean, back onto her wrist. 

Chapter 5

Chapter 1

[gorgugplushie]

(paceplace) / honestly ttcc writing is very messy i agree. i love the game to bits and dissecting it but the flaws in it are as enriching to pick apart as it is frustrating to discover. it really, truly does break my heart that toons aren't as appreciated as the cogs and i wish there were toon characters you could focus on in the same way the mgrs are. the NPCs you meet along the taskline are charming and i adore every single one of them but as much as i personally like them i don't think its enough to capture people's attention in the broad sense.

irt my qualms w/ how ttcc handles its game i think one of the many main issues boils down to the fact that they're disorganized. their issue w/ how lore has been distributed has been addressed twice by the team itself iirc (once in th same tweet where they confirmed fire\\setter as canon and once in their writers backstage post from around a yr ago). their writers backstage post helped give a little more perspective on why the lore was scattered around Like That.

as all over the place as the lore is, i do feel it's important to mention that they said in their backstage writers post they plan on eventually migrating all of their social media comics to the website so things like the rain\\diver comic is very likely to still be canon they just haven't added it in yet. idk why they don't add it around the same time its posted on social media my guess is maybe they're still trying to organize all the lore or redo some of it since its so all over the place (a couple of the comics we have rn on their website that are considered canon has info that was technically retconned) but yeah. i have hope that the way they handle their lore and (hopefully!) their taskline when they get around to rewriting it will improve in the later updates. i try very hard to stay on top w/ clash's lore esp since i have ppl come to me w/ questions regarding clash's story, characters, etc. but sometimes it is Very headache-inducing so i sympathize w/ how confusing/frustrating it is to a casual player. or just any lore-enjoyer tbf. i swear on my life i almost went crazy trying to make a timeline with btl

anyways you don't have to answer this if you don't want (i gen. apologize for the wall of text i really tried to get straight to the point w/ what i'm saying. and even then there's still a lot i wanted to say) but i'm really glad to see discussions on it. oftentimes criticism gets mistaken for hate and it shuts the entire convo which Peeves me. even if w/e's being criticized turns out to fall flat its better to address or talk about it than it is to not, imo.

Yes, exactly! I agree with all the points you've made here.

It's so strange to me that ttcc doesn't really lean into more how the cogs affect the toons, or toon society for all that matter, its a wonder people are so baised with cogs because we really dont get anything about toons. Their less part of the game and more set peices for this war, which sucks!

Theres obviously alot more room to write about toon lore and it would be easier to implement it in game, yet it gets brushed aside to further characterize the cogs and thats sad bc alot of the toons are cute and unique! Ttcc has great toon designs!

I also have to agree with the way the lore is handled, id even go as far to say big updates themsleves are handled in a frankly. Unprofessional manner. I mean, compare the update live streams done in jokey powerpoint slides to ttrs panles where they talk about progress on the updates. We really get little to no inside information until it's already ready to drop. Sure the game updates more regularly but all these updates are starting to feel like filler and padding. I at least can hope that hammerspace and mix and match at least come with some toon lore?

Its a shame that alot of what drew me into this game ends up weighing it down : (

Also yeah lol i didnt main tag this for a reason i do want to keep the discussion open! But all great points!

[irysan]

Spitballing a Fire Emblem Jugdral mod for a Paradox Grand Strategy game + Some Alt History Ideas

This idea originally started off as thinking about a Europa Universalis 4 mod since that's the only paradox game I've played, but thinking about it later, Crusader Kings is almost certainly a better choice. I just don't know the mechanics as well so what follows is mostly alt history ideas with some EU4 mechanics that I think exist in some capacity in CK. The primary religion of most of Jugdral would be something resembling either the way different Islamic Schools work in EU4, or like Hinduism with every nation being locked into choosing patron Deities representing the founding Dragon of that country. Cult of Loptyr would exist in a few scattered provinces.

Grannvale would probably be something resembling the HRE, with Belhalla as The Emperor. Their heir dies at war with Isaach, and a regency council is implemented for Belhalla given Azmur is too sick to rule. This council would comprise of Reptor, Lombard, Arvis, Ring, Byron, Claud.

Chalphy would have a unique mission tree and events to subjugate surrounding territories and incorporate them into the Empire's territory, and Sigurd would be heir for the earlygame, with insane general stats. Event would fire giving him Consort Deidre of unknown Dynasty. Verdane probably has razing mechanics so Horde-esque government. Agustria probably has Eastern tech or some kind of boost to cav to infantry ratio. Artillery probably get represented by Mages depending on tech group and Archers (which are worse) are what you get if you don't have the right tech.

If Sigurd succeeds in subjugating Agustria, a event will fire with most members of Grannvale declaring a coalition war on Chalphy, Silesse will ally Chalphy but be having a pretender war rebel problem that has to be sorted out first.

Winning that war triggers the event where Arvis assassinates Sigurd and Revokes the Privilegia. Gen 2 then follows as you'd expect with state religion being changed to Cult of Loptyr for the Empire, and this leading to a revolution with Seliph at the head of it.

But, more interesting than this is the potential for alt history. What if Sigurd dies early?

Well, presumably, Grannvale descends into a Civil War. If Veltholmer comes out on top, the same broad plot will unfold, Arvis will just have to finish the subjugation missions himself before Gen 2 can fire.

If another Grannvale Duke wins, then we'll assume Julius has been born already and Manfroy takes him away. Manfroy can then start his own revolution with Julius at the head, and Julius himself would not be Literally Just Loptyr at this point, so he'd take a similar role to Seliph. There might be some kind of event chain that could be used to delay him falling to Loptyr possession, because it could get pretty interesting if he hasn't consolidated power yet but changes state religion to the Cult, you could get another internal conflict, possibly between him and Julia (religious league war).

[elrhinochtone]

An alternative to social rolls

Every single time a player of mine rolls to remember relevant information or lie to someone, I die a little bit inside.

That's because both of those things are incredibly stupid - not in a "haha, your 20 charisma bard can roll a 1 to charm the barmaid" kind of way, but in a "Oh wow you did everything absolutely right and yet the dice fucked you over when it should have worked" kind of way.

TTRPGs, at their core, are about making interesting choices. In that light, you want to minimise dice rolls as much as possible. Dice rolls are bad, they mean you can't arbitrate what's happening through simple logic. They're a last resort.

And the truth of the matter is, there is rarely any reason to actually roll charisma. There just isn't. You know the character, you heard the PC's arguments, you can decide whether the NPC is convinced or not. No dice roll necessary. This is a good thing. It means social puzzles and encounter provide meaningful, impactful choices to your party.

The problem, of course, is that this method relies completely on player skill, as opposed to character skill. If your PC isn't really good at improvising arguments, then they can't really play a bard.

So social rolls suck, but you still want players to be able to use the game's rules to impact social situations. This has been a thorn in my side for quite a while, until a friend came up with the solution for me : Just Use Tokens lolz.

Here's the rules : you get a number of tokens equal to your charisma, or social score, or 5 + Charisma modifier, or one token per point in the social stat, whatever. You can spend those tokens for the following effects :

Make someone reconsider an argument they've dismissed

Make someone give you one more chance to argue your case

Force a subordinate to obey an order

Momentarily get a crowd's attention

Get a general idea of someone's mood

Immediately learn if someone lied to you or not

Block the above effect. If you choose to, you can both keep spending tokens until one of you gives up, at which point the truth is either revealed or left in limbo.

If you're unfortunate enough to be using a system that has a social skill system, just split these possibilities between the appropriate skills and distribute specialised tokens, or use the skill as the maximum amount of instances tokens can be spent in a single conversation or whatever. It's dirt simple to implement and won't make your rules more complicated in any way that matters.

Here's the thing : none of the above effects replace or supersede player skill. They only either give them a chance to actually play out the social puzzle or give them more information to solve it with. This gives socially bad players a chance to play socially good characters without making it all about dice rolls and eliminating choice : their role as the party face is to buy them time to convince the other party and weasel out enough information to actually do so - they barely have to talk at all except to beg the local bigwig to reconsider and give them a moment of their time.

If you can't see just how much better this is in every single way, I don't have the words to explain it to you. It increases player knowledge, give them tools to play with and preserves player choice. This is the holy grail of game dev right there.

The exception is the insight/deception bidding minigame. But that's just cool. Imagine, for a moment, a player taking a risk a lying to a dragon or something :

Dragon puts down an insight token. Player puts down a lie token. Dragon puts down another. Player. Dragon. Player, sweating. Dragon, smiling. And this uber-powerful entity just keeps putting down tokens. Imagine them sweat ! This is just good gameplay.

And like okay, there's probably some fine-tuning to be done. I haven't actually given you any rules for a concrete system yet. But in the broad strokes, this just… solves social rules forever. There are no possible drawbacks to using this system over dice rolls.

And I'm a nerd, and that got me very excited, so I'm putting it out there. Use this and thank me later. I beg you.

[netsolwatersblog]

Who Is The Best Commercial RO Plant Manufacturer In Noida?

In a commercial RO plant here in Noida, the RO membrane eliminates dissolved solids such as excess of arsenic & fluoride in addition to other contaminants. For a broad spectrum of reduction, this plant system incorporates sedimentation & carbon filtering. In a commercial RO plant system, the carbon filters remove poor taste & odour, & chlorine, while the sediment filter removes dirt & debris.

Commercial RO plants because of their excellent environmental friendliness involve many advantages.

Before the water from your home or place of business can be recycled, chemicals & other impurities must be removed. Either wastewater is dumped into riverbeds, where the cycle of hydrology mainly involves of water cycle will naturally filter it, or it is brought to a water treatment plant to be diluted to aid treatment.

Netsol Water is a top commercial RO plant manufacturer in Noida, our treatment plant system enhances the efficacy of waste treatment. Before reverse osmosis water is released from your residence or place of business, contaminants are removed through the carbon filtering process. There has been a small rise in the quantity of dissolved inorganic compounds in the residual saline water.

Geographic Location for the Proper Utilization of Commercial RO Plants

RO Plants can be installed in a small cabin or in a remote geographic location like the basement, service department, or roof. Your palatable drinks will taste better & be clearer once you remove minerals from your water by connecting your commercial RO plants to a point-of-entry. It's an easy & worthwhile process.

Commercial RO plant manufacturer In Noida is available for Various Swimming Spots

For a pool, a commercial RO plant is utilized solely when the water has a contaminant that cannot be removed by any other filtration method.

Commercial RO Plants have various applications in agricultural fields.

High-quality water is essential to the success of hydroponic farming since it employs only nutrient-rich water instead of soil to grow crops such as flowers & fruits.

Plant life is delicately balanced, yet small quantities of sediments, dissolved organics, & even salts can upset this equilibrium. The nutrients that RO water provides to your plants are entirely within your control. Implementing techniques that promote the supply of clean water for agriculture as a result.

These days, commercial RO systems are an excellent alternative if you require well water for farming. These types of treatment systems are perfect for eliminating nitrates & heavy contaminants like iron from well water.

You need commercial RO plants at your offices!

Reverse osmosis is an increasingly popular method in commercial settings & a great way to get rid of paints, dyes, & various other industrial contaminants.

Commercial RO Plants for your large Pisciculture!

In saltwater pisciculture, a commercial RO plant is required if you wish to cultivate fish. Reverse Osmosis is an effective method for removing each of the elemental ions from water, which means you can then add just the right quantity of salt to restore the minerals. RO as well as De-Ionized water is an amalgam implemented by most experts to safeguard that their fish & to be fish are submerged in incredibly pristine water.

Conclusion

Netsol Water offers a comprehensive range of innovative, eco-friendly, & customizable solutions to its clients with best commercial RO plant manufacturer in Noida, with an emphasis on chemical products, & water, including wastewater treatment services.

Netsol Water is a problem-solving company with a wide range of abilities, expertise, & experience. Any type of water-related issue, including Commercial RO Plants for your sizable commercial buildings or educational facilities, can be handled by it. Our skilled & knowledgeable technical teams offer water treatment solutions to a range of businesses & residential, commercial, along with industrial systems in both the public & private sectors across the nation.

[m1ckeyb3rry]

HEHE BRAINSTORM TIME!!! Ok wait I’ll save this section for last so it doesn’t get diluted in my responses LMAO I’m very glad some of my ideas proved useful to you in the past though!! Wasn’t really sure how they seemed from more of a writer’s perspective but I’m glad they worked out :))

No literally I remember after breeding I’d see the egg and just go yup off you go…also I remember then implementing like…elders at some point? Where you level them to 20 or something and they change form again and WOW THOSE WERE SO UGLY TOO

I’m laughing so hard when you put it like that Karasu was really going through it like damn I didn’t choose my name!!

FRRR I love the dynamic and the fluctuating power balance is my fav like they’re so complex it’s not just any cliche black and white scenario!!

YEARS!!! OOH BOY IM SO READY

I’m dying the “oh…sae….” LMAOOOOOO I loved the little brother moments and the way Sae was balanced between dry yet interested was >>>> like subtle in ways that would actually match his soccer loser personality a lot more then some of the suave fboy tropes that are more abundant….maybe it’s also because we share a lot of the same thoughts so I’m partial to the way you write their characters LOL

I’ve exhausted your BLLK masterlist and though I’m not knee deep in jjk anymore I still hold my favs dear to my heart so I’m gonna go check out that masterlist now….I literally just took a glance and 208K WORDS POMEGRANTE INK YUTA STORY??? SIGN ME UP AND THE INUMAKI ONE??? My JJK fixated self would’ve died for this I remember at some point those tags got kinda dry too (bc of Gojo hype I imagine LOL)

Ok but YUKI IDEAS ok so I’m not as passionate about yukimiya as some other characters (as I’m sure you’re aware LOL) so I’m not fully sure how hit or miss these are gonna be BUT I’m going to kinda categorize them by setting (??) or broad topic for convenience:

ok so there’s obviously some of the more cliche ones like where y/n is also a model and they collab and whatnot but I DO think that sort of au/universe has potential…? In the sense of the fic revolving more around Yuki’s career as a model so I’ll section this

MODEL CAREER:

- y/n is yuki’s manager, I can think of this also having many different ways to start but I’ll list out what first comes to mind: 1) childhood friends, y/n is with him when he first gets scouted and is the one who kinda encourages him to go for it, even just for fun. Like I imagine yuki contemplating it since he plays soccer obviously and has eye issues if he should take the job or whatever, but in exchange for him try he’s like “ok well I’m not doing this shit alone I’m dragging you with me so surprise you need to be my manager” (idk how realistic this is but shhhhhhh) 2) I’m realizing this entire setting is slightly difficult in a high school setting oops so I guess they can be in college..? But let’s just say they met in college and yuki’s like ugh my last manager was stealing my commission profits or something and is like cycling through managers like “damn they all SUCK and want my money or are trying to take advantage of the job” kinda and y/n is just like ok let me do it 3) y/n and yuki have no previous ties and y/n is just hired as his manager (maybe she’s an intern at his agency) after he gets scouted and they kinda just have to figure it out like “lmao we’re just finishing hs and have no idea how to do this shit” maybe because of their inexperience they get into a dating scandal LMAO

- Y/n dreams of being in the fashion industry and is kicking off her career by creating clothes and is now trying to form a sort of agency/company/brand to manufacture and advertise her fashion line. Obviously, her brand is gonna need some models/ambassadors to wear her clothing!! So, newbie y/n whose fresh in the industry is desperately looking for models to recruit to work with and stumbles upon yukimiya (I’d imagine at this point that he’s already an established model) I can imagine this going a few ways: 1. He refuses at first but y/n keeps hunting him down and asking (begging) him to join (maybe y/n is from a loaded family who disapproves of this career but has enough pocket money to fund her things and tries to increase her offer but yukimiya, who canonical does not care much for money, is like idc abt money LMAO), but maybe at some point y/n idk saves him from paparazzi or something or defamation and he’s like well I’m indebted to you so sure I’ll model and that’s how things kick off 2. This is a lot more meet cute like, but like most artists just starting out, I bet y/n is sleep deprived and lives in a coffee shop downing coffee while working on designs and company things and in her chaotic mess she rushes to stand up and spills coffee onto yukimiya, she offers him a free shirt or somthing from her line as an apology and yuki is either like “hey wait this shirt kinda slaps” and offers to model OR y/n goes “wait my b can I take a pic of you wearing my shirt I’ll pay you” but yeah LMAOAOA I just kinda wrote out what came to mind as I typed this so it’s definitely not very refined but if this serves as any form of inspiration go ahead and mold it as you see fit LOLLL

Eyes (duh LMAO):

- ok so this is the only one I can think of right now that maybe isn’t WILDLY cliche but ok so obviously yuki is devastated about his condition and the doctor sends him to a glasses shop (?) he recommends to get his specific prescription glasses and whatnot, let’s say y/n’s family owns this specific shop so every time he goes to get his glasses adjusted and prescription fixed she’s the one usually assisting him and yadayada they get to know each other and whatnot via those meetings, maybe he kinda hates her at first because every time he sees her it’s just a reminder that his vision is failing and that his dream is dying but eventually he warms up somehow

Penguins (ok so this one is kinda crack and formed from me looking through the Bible again because for the life of me I could not think of anything else to explore):

- model yuki’s next photoshoot involves ocean motifs so he goes to an aquarium with his crew to shoot. Ok again, as usually, I have a couple avenues for this too: 1) they have a shoot with the animals so Penguin handler/trainer y/n is in charge of bringing penguins to him to pose with him and whatever and obviously he’s omfg penguins and they start rambling about penguins and hit it off 2) during his visit he sees y/n through the glass feeding the penguins in the exhibit and eventually yuki just keeps coming back to the aquarium in his down time (because he likes penguins or otherwise the world will never know LMAO) and let’s just say they end up interacting somehow while y/n is on shift

Ok well now I wish we had more yukimiya lore (it would be really helpful if we had the LN right about now but actually I think I’ll have access to it in a couple days so I’ll def come back and dump more once we learn more from there….)

I’m NGL halfway through writing all this I was like “erm what am I even thinking” I started with an idea and it kinda just snowballed into this pile so LMAO hopefully this maybe gives you some ideas but admittedly I feel like I’ve had better brainstorming sessions oops…..will return once I get my hands on the novel (with ideas and summaries about the LN LOL)

I remember for fun I translated Hiori’s from scratch and that took way longer than I thought because of all the nuances and just me figuring out how to word things well LMAO maybe I’ll try again for practice though…..or I’ll take out the really important parts to type out but either way will return once that happens

-Karasu anon

ofc i can’t speak for every writer but at least me personally i feel like i rlly like being able to take requests in my own way?? like the more open ended a request/prompt is the more i’m like 😏 LMAOAO i think all of my longest/favorite requests have just been like character + trope (ex karasu + academic rivals, kaiser + pr relationship, sae + slowly falling in love, etc). so the more loose random thoughts you give me the better because i can use them as a starting point instead of being constrained by them 🤔 if that makes sense lol (not that i mind more specific requests HAHA anything works for me ofc!!)

i used to look up the eggs as soon as i got them just to see what they’d hatch into because some of those eggs were DECEIVING like the prettiest egg for the most mid dragon ever 😭 and omg the elder dragons were so…interesting…dragonvale truly the game of all time

karasu was going through it and he couldn’t even snap back because y/n could literally have him killed if she wanted to 😟 not that she WOULD but he was just standing there like “haha…girl you’re so funny…😭😭💔💔” GIVE MY MAN DAMAGE PAYYYY

i can’t wait to write more of otoya and y/n they truly are such an insane duo (plus dare i say a tabieitay/n trio may be in the future 😨⁉️) every time i write them interacting it’s like putting their personalities on steroids HAHAH they truly bring out the worst/best in each other

YUP YEARSSS we’re going to see y/n rise to power (in the same way oda nobunaga did) and then we’re also going to see how things end up for her (spoiler: not well, considering who everyone is based off of) so there’s quite a lot to get through!!

i agree we’re on the same wavelength w literally everything so it makes sense that we share interpretations of characters LMAOAOA we also both have a similar distaste for fanon fboy characterization which sae is a VICTIM to so when you put it that way it makes sense that you ended up enjoying him in seabird!! hehe i’m rlly happy you did though because honestly i was worried when i first posted it that i had made him ooc or smth just because i was so unfamiliar w him at the time 😩

POMEGRANATE INK IS TRULY SUCH A RIDE i started it in like 2022 and then it went on hiatus for over a year and then randomly i got so motivated that i wrote over 100k words in a month and finished the whole thing this january??? lmao its comeback is legendary on this blog 😭 honestly i’m also not that into jjk anymore but pomegranate ink specifically is so close to my heart like THAT’S what’s canon to me not whatever gege is up to!! it’s definitely very very long but it really runs the gamut…like angst?? cracky humor?? romance?? platonic/familial bonds?? side characters w plot relevance?? it has all of that plus more (as is to be expected given how long it is 😭) if you ever have the time or are bored it’s definitely one of my fav things i’ve written despite how questionable it is at first plus it has the bonus of being completed so i would 10/10 recommend you read it 👆🏻 if only so you can understand the post i made abt how yukimiya and mrs l/n from pomegranate ink could canonically know one another without making either verse an au.

SPEAKING OF YUKI OMG I LOVE YOUR IDEAS i will def take them into consideration…i agree out of tabieitaken he’s probably the one i’m hyped abt the least?? ironically their names are listed in the order of how much i love them KDJDKS but i’m sure if i ever write him as a main love interest instead of as just a pretty side obstacle my feelings will change v rapidly though!! sometimes writing men that are too much of green flags is like…boring…LMAO karasu is the right mix for me personally where he’s a green flag at heart but not afraid to be sassy when it’s necessary to keep things entertaining and dramatic 😫 like the entirety of fwtkac would not have happened if it was yuki because he’s too mature he’d just communicate w the mc and be like “hey that hurt my feelings when you said that about me so i’d prefer if you didn’t in the future. btw i actually have feelings for you!! 😊” bro 😭 but there def are avenues to getting around that i’ll just have to think abt it a bit before i get to writing!!

the way i already have more ideas for karasu and otoya though…heard the song best friend’s brother for the first time in a WHILE (on tik tok ofc because that app is truly my greatest muse) and maybe because we’ve been talking abt tabieita and their sisters but my mind IMMEDIATELY went to them HAHAHA like imagine being bffs w otoya’s younger sister and knowing exactly what kind of guy he is because she always complains abt him but then you end up falling for him anyways??? or like say karasu’s older sister is only a year or two older than him so you guys are p close in age but you always make fun of him for being a bit younger which makes him feel #mediocre because he’s actually in love w you real not clickbait!!! i thought abt yuki too but he just had to be an only child 😒 or else that trope could honestly work pretty well for him!!

[paintingdublin]

Painting Your Dublin Home Interior? Learn The Recommended Sequence For Best Results

There’s a substantial difference between a hastily done paint job and one executed with meticulous planning and precision. Properly painted interiors do more than just look good. They create environments that improve mood, boost productivity, and even welcome guests with a dash of personal flair.

Yet, beyond the initial excitement and selection of the perfect colour palette lies a critical aspect of painting Dublin home interior that dramatically influences the outcome of your project—the painting sequence. Adhering to a well-planned order of operations is not merely about following tradition. It serves as the blueprint for achieving flawless results with minimal hassle.

The Golden Rule Of Painting Dublin Home Interior: Top-Down To Minimise Mess

Whether you decide to do it yourself or entrust the job to professional painters, understanding the correct sequence of operations can be a game-changer. This knowledge not only aids in planning and execution but also in communicating your vision more effectively if you’re working with experts.

So, what is the correct order to paint a room? Start from the ceiling and work your way down. This method ensures that any potential splatters don’t ruin your freshly painted walls or trim. Begin by cutting in, which involves using a brush to paint a two—to three-inch band around the edges of the ceiling. Once the edges are covered, fill in the large, central area with a roller, moving in long, even strokes to ensure a smooth layer.

After the ceiling, move on to the walls. If applicable, finishes like doors and window frames should come next. For walls, start by cutting in at the corners and along the ceiling and baseboard edges to create clean lines. Then, use a roller to fill in the broad surfaces, working systematically from one side of the room to the other and always moving downward in sections. This technique helps maintain a wet edge and ensures even coverage. Lastly, paint the trim and baseboards, using a smaller brush to work around these narrower surfaces carefully.

Room Strategy Order When Painting Home Interiors

Now that you know the secret to a clean and orderly painting project, let’s discuss room order.

When planning to paint multiple rooms, it’s often best to first start with the main or largest room, such as the living room or kitchen. These areas tend to be the home’s focal points and can cause the most disruption. So, getting them done first will minimise the impact on your daily routine.

After the primary spaces, move on to the bedrooms, starting with the master bedroom and followed by any additional bedrooms. Since bedrooms are private spaces, they can be done one by one without causing too much inconvenience.

Paint bathrooms and laundry rooms next, as these areas are smaller and might have different requirements, such as moisture-resistant paint. Lastly, address hallways and transitional areas, which will likely require less time but are crucial for the overall aesthetic as they connect the various spaces.

Basically, this order ensures that you maintain efficiency and minimise any potential rework from splatter or damage in freshly painted, high-traffic areas.

Painting Dublin Home Interior: Top Hacks For A Speedy Project Completion

Having grasped the essence of a focused and orderly approach to painting room by room, the journey from a well-planned strategy to actual execution becomes much smoother. This sets the perfect stage to delve into painting your Dublin house interior with efficiency.

Additionally, implementing top hacks can further expedite your project’s completion. For instance, sliders placed under heavy furniture make room navigation a breeze, allowing for quick layout changes without needing constant heavy lifting. Moreover, prepping multiple paint trays for different colours can significantly streamline the process. Meanwhile, using liners for your paint trays or drop cloths can also vastly speed up cleanup times and enhance the project’s efficiency.

Beyond the clever hacks, mastering specific painting techniques is crucial for a DIY project. ‘Cutting in’ is essential for precise edges around ceilings and walls, helping create clean lines that define expert painting jobs. Proficient use of rollers complements this technique by speeding up the process and ensuring an evenly coated surface, reducing the time spent on touch-ups.

Equipping yourself with the right tools is half the battle won. For ceilings, consider extension poles that save time and reduce the physical strain of painting overhead. Meanwhile, high-quality brushes and rollers make a tangible difference in finish and ease of application, ensuring your efforts result in a professional-looking outcome.

Finally, while the DIY route is appealing, considering professional painters for your Dublin home can be wise if you seek impeccable quality or grapple with complex spaces. Professionals bring a level of fineship and efficiency gleaned from years of experience, potentially saving you time and ensuring a faultless finish.

Why Hire Professionals To Paint Your Dublin Home Interior

When it comes to painting your Dublin home’s interior, hiring professional painters is really worth considering. As mentioned, a specific order of operations makes all the difference for a top-notch paint job. However, achieving a flawless finish is also about the details and expertise pros bring.

Professional residential painters are adept at following this sequence precisely. This expertise is invaluable because it prevents common DIY mistakes like drips on freshly painted walls or unsightly brush marks. They have mastered the skill of “cutting in,” which means they paint the edges super neatly, ensuring that the final look is crisp and clean.

By enlisting experts, you not only get a beautifully painted home but also avoid the frustration of potential mishaps. Plus, a professional job typically lasts longer, which is a smart choice for maintaining the beauty and value of your property. It’s a strategic investment that pays off both in the short term and down the line.

In conclusion, whether tackling the task or opting for professional help, painting your home’s interior is a chance to express yourself and add lasting value to your Dublin property. By following the strategic sequence outlined above and incorporating the detailed tips and hacks, you’ll be well on your way to a successful paint job that looks good and creates a fresh and inviting atmosphere.

As you proceed, remember that preparation, patience, and precision are your best allies in accomplishing a home interior painting project. Taking the time to prep your space with drop cloths and furniture protection properly will save you from headaches later. Investing in quality brushes and rollers might seem like a small detail, but it makes a world of difference in achieving a smooth, even finish. Most importantly, embracing patience is key. Rushing through the process can lead to splatters, uneven coverage, and, ultimately, the need for frustrating touch-ups.

Lastly, if you prefer a professional touch, there’s no shame in hiring the experts. They bring years of experience and efficiency to the table, ensuring a flawless finish that saves you valuable time and potential headaches.

Are you ready to elevate the look and feel of your living space? Avoid the hassle of DIY painting projects. Hire experts in painting Dublin home interior to avoid the hassle and for a guaranteed flawless finish. Call us today on 086 608 1817 or click here to schedule a consultation.

[commercialroplants]

Find The Top Commercial RO Plant Manufacturer In Noida

In a commercial RO plant here in Noida, the RO membrane eliminates dissolved solids such as excess of arsenic & fluoride in addition to other contaminants. For a broad spectrum of reduction, this plant system incorporates sedimentation & carbon filtering. In a commercial RO plant system, the carbon filters remove poor taste & odour, & chlorine, while the sediment filter removes dirt & debris.

Commercial RO plants because of their excellent environmental friendliness involve many advantages.

Before the water from your home or place of business can be recycled, chemicals & other impurities must be removed. Either wastewater is dumped into riverbeds, where the cycle of hydrology mainly involves of water cycle will naturally filter it, or it is brought to a water treatment plant to be diluted to aid treatment. Commercial RO Plant is the best commercial ro plant manufacturer in noida at best affordable price.

Being a commercial RO plant manufacturer based in Noida, our treatment plant system enhances the efficacy of waste treatment. Before reverse osmosis water is released from your residence or place of business, contaminants are removed through the carbon filtering process. There has been a small rise in the quantity of dissolved inorganic compounds in the residual saline water.

Geographic Location for the Proper Utilization of Commercial RO Plants

Most reverse osmosis plant systems are comprised of point-of-usage systems. It can also be installed in a cabinet or remote location like the basement, garage, or roof. Your drinks will taste better & be clearer once you remove minerals from your water by connecting your commercial RO plants to a point-of-entry. It's an easy & worthwhile process.

Commercial RO plants available for Various Swimming Spots

For a pool, a commercial RO plant is utilized solely when the water has a contaminant that cannot be removed by any other filtration method.

Commercial RO Plants have various applications in agricultural fields.

High-quality water is essential to the success of hydroponic farming since it employs only nutrient-rich water instead of soil to grow crops such as flowers & fruits.

Plant life is delicately balanced, yet small quantities of sediments, dissolved organics, & even salts can upset this equilibrium. The nutrients that RO water provides to your plants are entirely within your control. Implementing techniques that promote the supply of clean water for agriculture as a result.

These days, commercial RO systems are an excellent alternative if you require well water for farming. These types of treatment systems are perfect for eliminating nitrates & heavy contaminants like iron from well water.

You need commercial RO plants at your offices!

Reverse osmosis is an increasingly popular method in commercial settings & a great way to get rid of paints, dyes, & various other industrial contaminants.

Commercial RO Plants for your large Pisciculture!

Commercial RO plant is necessary if you want to grow fish in saltwater pisciculture. You can employ reverse osmosis to extract all of the mineral ions from the water & then add the precise amount of salt you need to remineralize it. Reverse osmosis & de-ionization (RO/DI) water is a combination employed by most aquarists to ensure that their fish are submerged in incredibly pristine water.

Conclusion

Netsol Water offers a comprehensive range of innovative, eco-friendly, & customizable solutions to its clients in India, with an emphasis on chemical products, & water, including wastewater treatment services.

Netsol Water is a problem-solving company with a wide range of abilities, expertise, & experience. Any type of water-related issue, including Commercial RO Plant for your sizable commercial buildings or educational facilities, can be handled by it. Our skilled & knowledgeable technical teams offer water treatment solutions to a range of businesses & residential, commercial, along with industrial systems in both the public & private sectors across the nation.

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Whiteland Urban Resort Phase 2: Pros and cons of Gurgaon

In a short period, Gurgaon has gone through some incredible transformations and built itself as a contemporary urban city which has attracted not just homeowners' attention, inspiring them to relocate to the city, but also a lot of major corporate organizations globally, have also settled their base in the city which creates immense job opportunities, which also needs to growing demand of real estate properties like Whiteland Urban Resort Phase 2, One of the major factors of such a huge transformation happening in the city has to do with the evolution of real estate. While real estate development is not new to Gurgaon, they have been responsible for the improving infrastructure of the city, through its state-of-the-art commercial, residential, and retail projects. 

All the change, progress, and development in Gurgaon through infrastructure, metro, highway connectivity, and a plethora of entertainment options have built Gurgaon as a dream city and cosmopolitan hub of the country which is contributing heavily towards countries growing economy and becoming a status symbol with its lavish housing projects on the rise like Whiteland New Launch. While living or investing in Gurgaon is bound to have a lot of benefits, there are also some negatives that one needs to take into consideration. Let's study more about them in depth which can help any first-time homebuyer, thinking about relocating or purchasing a home in Gurgaon, make a conclusive decision. 

Pros of Investing in Gurgaon

Strategic Locations

A lot of times, there is a common question that often circulates among first-time buyers and investors, looking to invest in Gurgaon, what makes the luxury apartments in Gurgaon so special or stand out compared to other apartments based in different cities? The simple answer is being nestled in a great location like Dwarka Expressway which gives it proximity to major sectors and highways for easy connectivity and ease of business. 

Infrastructure Development

The lifestyle experience in Gurgaon and way of living is only getting better with each time passing. This results in their luxury apartments like Whiteland Sector 103 implementing high-end and diverse amenities. Ranging from a lavish pool, spa, Gym, and clubhouses just to name a few which not only offer a broad range of selection but also retain high standards for the same. Aside from the luxury amenities, there is also 24/7 security and maintenance at all times for the residents. 

Lifestyle and Culture

While development and progress have been taking place at rapid speed in the city, it has resulted in a diverse yet vibrant culture and an urban lifestyle, and despite all this, there are still further developments taking place in the city which puts Gurgaon on a higher and better footpath. Be it the development around the Dwarka Expressway with the latest establishments or the smart city project which is spread across 1000 acres of land that will accommodate the best of residential, financial, healthcare, hospitality, and educational sectors. All of the factors combined account for a bright and interesting future for the city. 

Cons of Investing in Gurgaon 

High Pricing

On the surface, while the growth and development of the city is something to marvel at and be impressed with, sadly it also means that there is a massive price hike in the residential complex. Finding houses in Gurgaon today has increasingly become more expensive than it was before all the development and transformation. And it's not just the Polish luxury apartments like Whiteland New Launch which are expensive but also just any property that happens to be even in a decent location, is bound to be priced higher. 

Traffic Congestion

While people talk and advertise proudly about the growing business in the city and increasing demand for commercial and residential projects which are also nothing short of grandeur in their approach and have an impressive and world-class appeal to them, one fact often goes overlooked and is probably the most important fact. The radius or the area of the city remains the same which adds a lot of traffic. 

Maintenance costs

High-end apartments like Whiteland Sector 103, may offer enhanced and improved living standards, but it comes at a high maintenance cost. A lot of homeowners look to purchase a high-rise apartment having the best of amenities, securities, and maintenance which also leads to high maintenance. 

Conclusion

With everything covered so far, there is no doubt that the future of Gurgaon still looks bright and promising, and with state-of-the-art projects like Whiteland Urban Resort Phase 2, the city will only continue to grow and progress further but it is not without its challenges and difficulties, like the price hike, congestion and other challenges. So the first-time investor must keep everything in account before investing. 

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🔴BREAKING NEWS: There is hope for Pakistan! It might get a new loan from the IMF soon!! 🤔 What happened?

▪ Pakistan had recently completed a short-term $3 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was crucial in helping the country avoid a sovereign debt default. This program provided Pakistan with much-needed financial stability and averted a potential economic crisis by ensuring that the country could meet its debt obligations.

▪ After the successful completion of the initial loan program, Pakistan immediately opened discussions with the IMF to secure a new, larger loan facility. This move was aimed at further strengthening the country’s financial position and addressing ongoing economic challenges. The larger loan facility would provide Pakistan with additional resources to support economic reforms and stabilize its economy.

▪ Now, the IMF has announced that significant progress has been made towards reaching a staff-level agreement between the lender and Pakistan. This agreement is an important step in the process of securing the new loan facility, indicating that both parties are aligned on the key terms and conditions. The staff-level agreement will pave the way for formal approval and disbursement of funds, which will further aid Pakistan in its economic recovery efforts.

🧐 Why?

▪ Pakistan is reportedly seeking a fresh loan of $6-8 billion to stimulate economic growth and support its financial stability. The additional funds are intended to boost the country's economic development, address fiscal imbalances, and provide a cushion against external economic shocks.

▪ However, obtaining this loan may prove challenging as the IMF has mandated stringent policy reforms as a condition for the funding. These reforms are aimed at ensuring long-term economic stability and sustainability, but they come with significant demands on the Pakistani government and economy.

▪ Pakistan has been asked to implement measures to raise revenues, which likely means higher taxes. The IMF has emphasized the need for Pakistan to increase its tax base and enhance tax collection efforts. Additionally, the country has been instructed to trim expenditures, which involves cutting down on government spending and reducing fiscal deficits. The IMF is also pushing for structural reforms to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Pakistan's economic policies and institutions.

▪ Some of the controversial demands from the IMF include increasing the General Sales Tax (GST) rate to 18%, which would raise the cost of goods and services for consumers. Another contentious requirement is the imposition of taxes on monthly pensions above PKR 100,000, which could affect retirees and those on fixed incomes.

▪ Furthermore, the IMF insists that all these reform and policy actions receive parliamentary approval. This means that the Pakistani government must secure the backing of its legislative body for the proposed changes, ensuring that there is broad political support and legitimacy for the reforms. This step is crucial for the successful implementation and sustainability of the agreed measures.

😲Interestingly: ▪ 40% of Pakistani citizens are now in poverty. ▪ Yet, Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif and his team have assured the IMF mission that they would implement all its conditions! ❓Pakistan has already received 23 bailout programs from the IMF and several loans from other countries! Can it survive without begging for money?? Follow Jobaaj Stories (the media arm of Jobaaj.com Group for more)