#and then package it with the video file again

[spmcomic]

my friend @artnerd1123 made my lyric comic into a video! please check it out, the scene transitions and slow pans are pretty baller.

the song is "texarkana" by r.e.m.

[lordcrumps]

Sul Sul!

Hello, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who have reached out to me and my family the past few months; for those who don't know, my mum and uncle passed away on the same day in June and then in November I lost my cat of 19 years, so lets just say 2024 can do one!

2025 brings me hope that the year will be better, and the worse of it will be over! I plan on getting back into creating CC streaming etc, but right now I am enjoying playing... well I was until my Pleasantview got corrupted due to user error, but no fear we have a new hood in the works! Pleasant Point - inspired by our very own @kashmiresims Kashmire Point!

Thanks to those who have been with me on discord calls and chats, especially those the last few months, you really helped me in more than one way and I would love to tag you all but I don't want to accidentally miss someone, but you all should know who you are!

What is to come from lordcrumps this year? Details under the cut!

So what shall we expect from lordcrumps in 2025 and beyond? That is a big question! So let's give a big answer! Below will be of some of my most asked questions, so hope I clear things up!

STREAMING - My first goal is to get Pleasant Point finished and ready to play. Once I have this I shall get back into streaming again, setting up a schedule and what not for those who are interested! You can follow here!

YOUTUBE - Can't tell you when, but I do plan on doing more on Youtube!

CUSTOM CONTENT - Everything that I have created CC form, I will go through and upload at some point. I have TONS of stuff that was meant to be in "sets" (sets like, every wall / every floor / entire stuff packs etc) but never got around to finishing due to my hyper-focus moving onto to something different. So instead of hoarding them, I will eventually get around to uploading them! Cos lets face it, I can always update at a later date!

TERRAIN DEFAULTS - My Pleasantview redo / Pleasant Point / Sim State University Redo all use custom terrain types (like lush, dirt, concrete etc), so they are not that user-friendly to just import and play sadly, so I want to create a tutorial set and videos to go along with them. I also have to have the CC released for them to work too! As well as tutorials on how to have multiple roads sets within in one hood / different roads for different terrain types.

REQUESTS - I still do not want to take requests, this is because I do not like to promise something and never deliver. I will continue doing what I want to do and sharing with of all you. Just assume that one day the entire Sims 4 will be converted by myself or other friends of lordcrumps.com *wink* @platinumaspiration *wink*

LORDCRUMPS.COM - This site is not going anywhere, well at least that is the plan, this will be the place for all of my released CC!

LORDCRUMPS DISCORD - Back in my streaming and YouTube days, I had a discord. Feel free to join, the plan is once all the existing CC is sorted and uploaded. Anything that needs play testing / unreleased stuff / sneaky conversions, will be posted in there plus any updates to existing CC.

LINUX - Thanks to @kashmiresims and @teaaddictyt i'm now a linux boi, so will update you how that goes - so far, I am very impressed.

My TOU, I have had a lot of questions about my "rules" and what not so I want to clear things up as much as possible.

I purchase the Sims 4 for me to convert the items to Sims 2, I simply upload to lordcrumps.com for prosperity reasons, and of course to share with you all.

Feel free to use / share / edit what ever you download from me. Not 1 person owns sims conversions; so I cannot lawfully dictate who does what with the downloads. What I will say is for authentic LordCrumps and co CC, it will be on lordcrumps.com, this is where any updates, fixes etc will be posted.

If you use CC for a lot and package up that to share, fine, just make sure they have all the dependencies needed (Sims 4 shadow file, master meshes etc) Just don't take entire packs and re upload and claim as your own? I only ask of this due to the nature of updating files with minor tweaks, updating and bugginess, if it is all linked to one place (my site) then all the updates will be there too.

Hair Defaults by Platasp - this is one download I will be strict on, do not upload anywhere else, this is because of how interconnected the hairs are to each other, removing one might break another. Any updates will be kept to lordcrumps or individual files on PlatAsp tumblr. lordcrumps.com is not planning on shutting down any time soon, so there is no need to re-upload anywhere else.

SIMS 4 CC CONVERSIONS - Yes, one day once The 4T2 conversions have been done, I will be working on converting CC for the Sims 4, but right now; no, unless its really spectacular. So please stop asking to convert stuff from Sims 4 creators as that does not interest me right now. The reasoning behind this is that if I start treating myself to CC items, I will get spoilt and not want to convert actual Sims 4 stuff, silly excuse I know, but I would like to convert the Sims 4 first. That would be cool.

ANYWHO - That's all I think I have to say now, if you made it this far down thank you, here is some more pics of Pleasant Point to say thanks ahah!

Have a great day! See you soon!

[padmesweetheart]

Despicable Domestic Pt. 2: The Rise of Kevin

Pairing: Hayden Christensen x Young Wife!Reader

Genre: Utter crackfic, chaotic domestic comedy, pure fluff

Word Count: ~2,900

Authors note: I’ve had theses in my back pocket waiting to post them for a few days now

To be fair, Hayden had said “absolutely not.”

He’d said it clearly.

He’d said it firmly.

He’d even tried to hide the package when the Kevin costume arrived.

But none of that stopped you.

No, because you had something far more powerful: a weapon of mass persuasion known as The Look.

You pulled it out as soon as the costume showed up, box clutched in your arms like a sacred relic.

“Haydeeen,” you said in the whiniest baby voice known to man. “I thought we were gonna match…”

He squinted suspiciously. “You said that while wearing a giant plastic eyeball head.”

You pouted. You poked his chest. You leaned your entire face against his sternum like a clingy barnacle.

And within ten minutes, you had him standing in the middle of the living room, defeated and inflated, arms stuck out at 45-degree angles inside a puffy yellow Kevin the Minion suit.

“…I hate everything,” he muttered.

You took a photo. “You look adorable.”

“I look like a sentient Twinkie.”

“My sentient Twinkie.”

—————————-

The problem was that Hayden is too tall. So while the costume technically fit, the proportions were completely off. Kevin’s overalls rode way too high. The plastic goggles were wedged too tight on his nose. He looked like someone squeezed a minion into a lightsaber hilt.

“Why is the crotch of this suit at my knees?” he asked blankly.

“Minion problems,” you said sagely.

——————-

Things escalated quickly after that.

Because naturally, once you had two people in minion costumes in one household, there was no going back.

You turned on the Minions soundtrack and began dramatically dancing in the kitchen while Hayden just stood there, arms out, vibrating with regret.

“I feel like I’ve lost control of my life,” he said as you did a slow-motion twerk in your Bob suit.

“You never had it,” you replied, doing the splits (kind of) and knocking over a chair in the process.

Then—just as Hayden tried to shuffle to the fridge—his inflatable leg hit the dog bowl, and he ate it.

Straight to the floor. Minion down.

“KEVINNNNNNN!” you screamed, diving in slow motion after him.

“I REGRET EVERYTHING!” he howled from the floor.

———————

You posted the video to Instagram Stories.

Within minutes, Rosario Dawson messaged:

“Tell Kevin I’m crying. He looks like a rejected hotdog.”

And Ewan sent a voice memo that just said, in his Scottish accent, “What in the hell have I just watched?”

Hayden took your phone and tried to throw it into the sink.

——————————

Later that evening, you were both back in pajamas and lying on the couch, still breathless from laughter.

“Okay,” Hayden said, arm around your shoulder, “never again.”

“Mhm.”

“I’m serious.”

“Sure.”

“No more minion costumes.”

“Of course.”

Pause.

“…You bought a Stuart costume too, didn’t you?”

You grinned slowly. “It lights up.”

He groaned and buried his face in your neck. “I married a menace.”

“You married a Minion,” you whispered.

“I swear, if you ‘banana’ me one more time—”

“BANANAAAAA.”

“—I’m filing the paperwork myself.”

Taglist: @skyguytoast @dessxoxsworld

[iiovserii]

Daddy’s Home — Miguel O’Hara x Fem!Reader

summary: Miguel didn’t get to be picky when it came to choosing his new, forever home, as long as he was in Gabriella’s arms again. Even if it meant sharing her with you. (3.1k Words) Based on this prompt

warnings: angst, slight smut, violence (including the disposal of a body), emotional manipulation, toxic relationship

authors note: this was inspired by one of my prompts from around a week ago and i’ve been holding onto this bad boy for about a week considering it’s my first ever fanfic i’ve ever wrote..i just wanted it to be perfect 😭 in my prompt i said something about the reader being sweet but she’s a lot more firey in this because the real miguel was an asshole who was never home..but i hope you all enjoy anyways! i was hoping to create this into series so if you want to be added to the taglist let me know 💖 i’ve also added the translation at the end just because 🤷‍♀️

Link to the Ao3 ver instead!

Miguel didn’t get to be picky when it came to choosing his new, forever home, as long as he was in Gabriella’s arms again, even if it meant sharing her with you. You were littered through Gabriella’s file, a pretty hard person to miss considering the fact that you were there for every single moment of her life—the sweet cooing voice in each video of her as a baby, the delicate hands that held the small, chubby fingers as she took her first steps, and the laughter that arose from behind the camera as Gabriella pulled a funny face.

This Gabriella was the perfect fit, however perfect came with a mother that was alive and well. It was a package deal in this universe, a love intertwined with filial devotion that Miguel would just have to deal with.

But he couldn’t help the twinge of jealousy that was buried deep in his chest, even as he watched a memory of Gabriella’s first goal (a favorite of his), which was originally only celebrated by him, now being replaced by Gabriella shrieking excitedly as she ran up to her mother, throwing her arms around you in triumph.

Moments like these, so special for his little girl, fueled his deep hatred towards you. It was watching these memories where Miguel genuinely wondered if he was even present in this universe. Nevertheless, staring down at his own lifeless body made him realize just how right he was.

What was he doing outside alone, in a dark alleyway on a Friday night anyway? Why wasn’t he home with his daughter, with his wife?

Those were the thoughts that ran through his mind as he began disposing of the body—a man too selfish and weak to even protect his precious daughter. In the end, he got what was coming to him, or so he told himself to keep from feeling guilty.

He didn’t care for details, knowing he was here now to pick up the pieces of a broken family and restore it to something he could finally have a second chance with. He snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the jingle of a ringtone coming from his new phone. Swiping the phone from his pocket, he didn’t even stop to waver whether or not he should answer as he saw your name flash on the screen, rolling his eyes as he pressed accept. He pulled the device up to his ear, resting it on his shoulder and cheek as he listened to the sound of your voice.

The first thing he noticed was how tired you sounded—were you waiting for him to return home? He could imagine you laid on the sofa, eyes nervously glancing up at the clock at any given moment, a silly housewife awaiting her husband. He almost felt bad for you; it was pathetic that you would really allow yourself and Gabriella to live like that, always waiting.

He ended the call swiftly, making up some stupid excuse about how he caught up with work and would be arriving shortly. Pretty much in character for the man he just suffocated with his own hands, not raising any suspicion for you as he heard the sleepy yawn telling him that you’d be asleep by the time he got back.

However, despite the dark act he had just committed, he was willing to go to great lengths to win Gabriella's heart again. If putting this ring on his finger and pretending that the woman on the other end of the phone was his wife would grant him another chance with her, then so be it.

He wouldn’t mind playing house with you, as long as he was able to hold his daughter in his arms once more.

He felt disgusted even calling you 'wife', but for Gabriella's sake, he knew he needed to play along. It wasn't like it mattered anyway since your daughter worshipped you so much more than him.

He didn’t need you, he knew that.

However the thought of Gabriella’s eyes as they lit up when you walk in the room seemed to tell him otherwise. She needed you.

He hated the way the house was never quiet, there was always something happening.

You were making dinner? There had to be music in the background as you traveled around the kitchen, humming and singing along to whatever tune was playing on the speaker. That soft velvety voice seemed to flow through the house, and it killed him inside that he wanted to hear more of you.

Gabriella was playing outside? Well you were playing outside as well, it wasn’t like you had a choice, having being pulled away from whatever you were doing to entertain the small girl.

You had everything running like clockwork—cooking dinner while managing homework and playing with Gabriella at the same time—all without seemingly breaking any sweat or becoming frustrated.

Miguel couldn't help but admire you for being able to handle everything so seamlessly. But deep down, he still felt resentment towards you for taking over what should have been his role as the sole parent of their child.

He’d notice small things, like the way your hands flew to your face when you were shocked, it was sweet at first, until he realised Gabriella also did the same, she never did that before. He had noticed it one morning when he stood in the doorway of Gabie’s room, not trying to make his presence known as he watched the two of you play, and the scowl on his face didn’t go unnoticed as you furrowed your eyebrows at him, wondering what he looking at so intensely.

It took him the first couple of weeks to get used to your laugh, you were always laughing. It seemed to rub off on Gabriella as well, he didn’t think he’d ever seen her laugh this much, even before.

Miguel tried his best to ignore the feelings that arose in him at the sight of you playing with Gabriella, and sometimes even joined the two of you whilst you played your games. He couldn't help but feel envious of how happy the two of you looked together, reminding him of moments he could have had if only things had gone differently.

Despite these feelings, it wasn't long before Miguel began to see a different side of you. A side that made him realise why Gabriella adored you so much.

One day while cooking dinner, he noticed your eyes lighting up as Gabriella told a story about her day at school. You were so invested in her words that for once he felt like an outsider looking into your world.

He also witnessed moments when Gabriella fell ill and how tirelessly you took care of her; staying up all night by her bedside until she fell asleep or gently rubbing Vicks on her chest when she was coughing painfully.

It was moments like these when Miguel started to question his assumptions about you and wondered whether maybe—just maybe—he'd been too quick to judge.

But as much as Miguel tried to ignore it, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had buried something deep inside him. He couldn't let go of the resentment he felt towards you for replacing his role.

He started focusing on every little mistake you made, criticising your cooking and getting angry when things didn't go his way. Every time you laughed or smiled at Gabriella, it sent a pang of jealousy straight through him.

"She's too attached to you," he huffed, standing beside the bathroom counter as you both prepared for bed, "you can't even leave the room, and she's already wondering when you'll be back again."

"Well, maybe if you were around more often, she wouldn't be so reliant on me," you retorted, the soft glow of the bathroom lights casting shadows on your face, your voice laced with frustration.

His eyes narrowed as he leaned in, reaching for his toothbrush, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, of course, it's all my fault. Because you're just the perfect parent, aren't you? Always there, always available."

"You know what, maybe if you actually made an effort instead of criticizing me all the time, you'd see the bond we have is because I've been there for her when you weren't!" you retorted, your voice rising, the sound echoing against the tiled walls.

His tone grew more defensive. "I never said I was perfect, but at least I'm trying now. You could at least acknowledge that."

A mirthless smile crossed your face as you leaned against the bathroom counter, facing each other in the confined space.

"Acknowledging your half-hearted attempts doesn't erase the damage done, Miguel. It takes more than just physical presence to be a real parent."

The tension hung heavy in the air, the scent of toothpaste mingling with their argument, as the bickering between husband and wife intensified. The wounds of the past were reopened, and neither was willing to back down or see the other's perspective.

As the heated exchange reached its peak, you turned on your heels, ready to storm off, your frustration boiling over. But just as you took a step away, Miguel's hand shot out, firmly gripping your arm. The air tightened between you, the coolness of the bathroom tiles beneath your feet.

The grip on your arm only tightened, his expression a mixture of frustration and a confused longing. "You don't speak to me like that," Miguel growled, his voice firm. "You are my wife, act like it."

“You are my husband, I expect the same from you,” you snapped back, your voice dripping with defiance, refusing to back down as you swatted away his hand. “And—I will speak to you however I want.” The sound of running water from the faucet filled the silence.

A flicker of amusement crossed Miguel's face, his eyes tracing your determined form. He had underestimated your strength, your fiery spirit. Despite the frustration that lingered between them, a newfound admiration stirred within him.

"Si supiera que eras tan molesto, te habría dejado hace mucho tiempo, Muñeca," he mused, his tone tinged with a mix of fascination and curiosity, the steam from the shower filling the bathroom. “Las cosas que haría para callar esa boca tan bonita tuya.”

The intensity of the moment had rendered you momentarily speechless, steam rising in the bathroom as the warm air surrounded you both. But you managed to find your voice, albeit in a whisper, the sound barely audible over the running water.

"Now that's not fair," you murmured, the dampness of the bathroom clinging to your skin, your voice filled with a mixture of frustration and longing. "You know I don't understand what you're saying..”

A slow, mischievous smile curled at the corners of Miguel's lips, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief as he leaned in closer, the scent of shampoo and desire filling the air. And as your lips lingered so close, the unspoken desires between you both grew stronger.

“Good.”

The man currently asleep beside you, was not, to absolute certainty, your husband.

His features held a resemblance to the man you once knew, but there was a striking difference—an unfamiliar intensity in his eyes, he looked at you like he didn’t know you.

His hair fell differently, it looked more clean compared to the tousled mess due to work. You would've sworn he had a small crease in the corner of his eyebrow, but then it disappeared along with the mole on the side of his neck.

He smelled of citrus and leather before, a smell that made you turn when he walked into the room—you knew that smell more than you knew yourself.

Instead now, all you could smell was warm spice and amber. It almost made you smile when you smelt it on him as he walked past you that morning, a couple of weeks ago, until you realised that was the fragrance you got him last Christmas, the fragrance he said he hated and never wore.

The bed, too, felt subtly different beneath your weight, as if it dipped just slightly more than it used to.

It made you feel like your heart was tearing apart. On one hand, he was paying more attention to Gabriella, and she was thriving because of it. He took her to all the soccer practices, played with her and held her so tight that you’d think she’d pop.

You’ve never seen her so happy.

On the other hand, he was hardly in your presence. He hadn’t touched you for weeks, not even a kiss. The most he had done was argue with you, mostly about how close you and Gabriella was.

However, one thing that you couldn’t help but notice was the dark look in his eyes every-time Gabriella’s attention shifted toward you.

He was hardly around before, always at work, the gym or drinking with his co-workers at the bar across from town.

Nowadays it was hard for him to leave you and Gabriella alone.

Not to mention, it was like he grew twice in size. His shoulder looked broader, the veins in his arms popped, more defined. He could basically pick up your seven year old like a feather. Had he been working out more?

You shift on your pillow, eyes glancing down at his heaving chest as he slept. The only time he didn’t look so tense recently was when he was asleep. So peaceful.

You couldn’t help but reach out and dance one of your fingers on the side of his torso, quietly humming some annoying tune that wouldn’t leave your mind that morning.

"What are you doing, Gatita?" he quipped, unable to suppress a soft chuckle that escaped his lips, snapping you out of your thoughts and making you squeak.

As you tried to pull your hand away, Miguel quickly caught it in mid-air, his touch exerting a gentle but firm hold. His finger lightly pressed into your palm, a subtle reminder of his presence and it was almost like he was showing his desire to keep you near.

“What, don't you like touching your husband?" he playfully remarked, mischief dancing in his eyes. His gaze deliberately traveled down your body, as if savoring the sight before him.

Rolling your eyes and pouting, you couldn't resist the urge to make a bratty remark. "Well, it's not exactly enjoyable when the husband is such a pain in the ass." you huffed, your tone laced with a hint of childish defiance.

Feeling his firm hold on your hand, you let out a whine at the tightness. It was as if he was purposely trying to keep you close, unwilling to let you slip away. The intensity of his grip only fueled your frustration.

That’s an air between the two of you. You just couldn’t put your finger on it. The way you desperately try to search in his eyes for something, anything, that would tell you that the man you’re looking at, is, really your husband. The man you’ve spent nearly eight years with.

It’s almost like he’s trying to breathe you in, the way he looks like he’s trying to piece together your features, it makes you wonder if he even knows a thing about you.

The weight of the impending moment made you fidget, your fingers nervously playing with the edge of the bedsheet. You were acutely aware of the lingering tension between you and Miguel, and you attempt to find a way to wiggle your way out of his grasp.

A timid sigh escaped your lips, as a sense of unease settled upon your shoulders. "Gabriella will be waking up soon," you whispered, your voice tinged with a flicker of concern.

A cruel smirk played at the corner of his lips as he leaned in closer, invading your personal space. "Is my little wife hiding from me?" he sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm and mockery. “You know she’s not getting up for at least another hour.”

Your eyes darted nervously between him and the door, your mind already jumping to potential escape routes. You couldn't help but wonder if he was purposefully trying to push your buttons with his words.

"I just don't want her to-," you began to stutter, but were cut short as Miguel's grip tightened further on your hand. "Don't worry about Gabriella," he whispered into your ear, his breath hot against the nape of your neck. “She’ll be fine.”

A shiver ran down your spine at the sensation; it stirred something within you that you couldn’t quite explain. Within the eight years of your marriage, he had never made the room feel so..heated.

You gasped at the sensation of his lips pressing into your neck, sending shivers down your spine in a wave of desire and guilt. All logic told you that this was wrong, yet there was a part of you that wanted nothing more than to give in to the heat that bubbled within.

As Miguel's kisses grew bolder and more insistent against your skin, you couldn't help but writhe beneath him.

His groan reverberated through your body, stirring something deep within as he whispered against your ear "I know I've been a bad husband," punctuating each with another kiss along the length of your jaw.

"Miguel-" Your voice trailed off into a soft whimper as he shifted so that he was hovering over you, one hand moving to fondle at the curve of your hip while the other tangled itself in your hair.

"But I'm here now," he murmured between kisses before ducking back down to press his lips onto yours once again. The taste of him flooded through you even as he reached up under-shirt slowly caressing and teasing you, making sure not too much display signs of pleasure.

As the heat continued to build between you and Miguel, he began to part your legs, eliciting a soft gasp from deep within as his intent became clear. You felt his lips curl into a knowing smile at your reaction as he watched your mean facade fall away.

"Mmm," he hummed in appreciation as his eyes roamed over every inch of exposed skin. "Looks like my little wife isn't all mouth after all." He teasingly remarked before lowering himself once again so that his tongue could trace patterns along the sensitive skin of your inner thighs.

The sensation left you moaning softly in pleasure at the skilled touch, completely lost in the moment. It wasn't until Miguel's fingers found their way back up to her hips that you realized just how much control he had over this situation.

"You know what?" He said with a smirk pulling back to look at her face before diving down for another heated kiss "I think maybe have to put you in line more often."

You wouldn’t mind that in the slightest.

eng translation:

1. “Si supiera que eras tan molesto, te habría dejado hace mucho tiempo, Muñeca,” — "If I knew you were so annoying, I would have left you a long time ago, doll."

2. “Las cosas que haría para callar esa boca tan bonita tuya.” — "The things I would do to silence that beautiful mouth of yours."

3. “Gatita” — Kitten

[yumeka-sxf]

It's been a while since I made a merch post 🙂First items I want to share are these adorable pin+acrylic stand sets featuring the Forgers in their resort island outfits from the cruise arc ❤️

Next is some merch from the Anime Extra Mission event from June. I got a clear file (which I scanned in a previous post), a fan, and a copy of the pamphlet.

The pamphlet has some nice content, including interviews with all the voice actors, transcriptions of the live reading scripts they did at the event, and a cool chart of all the current anime episodes. Here's a few pages:

Not sure if I'll ever get around to translating all of it, but detailed summaries of the live reading stories are available on the Spy x Family Fan Wiki.

Next is some goods I got from the Nijigen no Mori collab that's been going on in Japan. I got a hat, an umbrella, a mug, a water bottle, and a clear file (which I also recently scanned).

I was thankful that the hat just about fit my fat head/thick hair!

The umbrella is really nice too! I'll definitely use it during the three days a year it rains here 😅 I could use it for sunny days too I suppose, lol.

Next is the CODE: White home video release! I liked the bonus merch that came with both the Toho deluxe version (left photo) and the Amazon JP deluxe version (right photo). So I got both.

Unfortunately, I had a mishap with my copy of the Amazon version where FedEx delivered it to the wrong house! I got the notification that it was delivered, but it wasn't at my front doorstep, plus the photo they shared was of a completely different front door, so I started freaking out. I drove around the block trying to find any neighboring houses that looked like the one in the photo. After I couldn't find it, I submitted an issue report to FedEx. They said they would try to track down the driver and figure out what happened. I wasn't too hopeful and was debating ordering it again, but decided to wait a bit. And much to my surprise, the next morning the driver found the missing package...but unfortunately the house he delivered it to had kids who opened it already. So he brought it to me in a different box with all the pieces loose. Luckily everything was in good shape and accounted for...or so I thought. The deluxe version came with a lot of extras and I didn't realize until later that day that I was actually missing a couple of things, notably the nice slipcover box for the discs and the art booklet. I was of course really mad about this, but I was able to find someone on Mercari selling a copy of the movie with these items for a good price, so I bought it.

The booklet is really cool - it has concept art, key frame sketches, and other neat info~ Here's a few pages:

By this point I had three copies of the movie on blu-ray (one of which had fingerprints on the discs from the grubby hands of the kids who opened my package 😑 At least the discs still worked) So I gave the extras away to friends.

I threw in the below little lenticular bookmark with one of my Mercari orders. It was given out at this past NatsuComi expo in Japan.

And lastly, some smaller items: postcards (which I also scanned) and a Twiyor pin~

[lordressdragoonbear]

Bright Creek Townhomes Unit 1 ✨

Hello, hello! Here is my newest build!

This is a townhome unit! You can use the house I decorated or decorate one of the other units!

I specifically made this for a new season of generations but I would totally use this again!

This Here Package contains: 1 Townhome with endless possibilities!

It also comes as a package file, just put it in the library folder then you’re good to go!

Thanks to all the CC creators whose CC I used, ya’ll are grand and I love your work!

Link: SFS/DRIVE

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtwoVpGikZI

CC Links: 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |  

Bonus! Here's a picture of Luca and Lucy Herbert!

[kayleigh-83]

I updated my resources page to include a few programs & utilities I use that I think everyone would benefit from! Veteran players probably know at least a couple of these very well, but hopefully some players can benefit from this! Sharing the information here too so it can be saved more easily if anyone wants to. But the Resources link in my pinned post also has this section now.

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

This isn’t a comprehensive list of all TS2 outside programs and utilities I use, as some are more infrequent and specialized, or tailored to CC makers or intermediate and advanced builders. These are ones I use regularly and would recommend for your average player. 

Hood Checker - checks your hood and cleans it up to prevent corruption. Thanks to April Black’s work we now know corruption is far less of a risk than once believed, but this tool is still totally worthwhile to use regularly to clean your hoods I think. As April mentions in her video, the main categories you should be worried about Hood Checker finding errors in are Family Ties and Sim Wants and Fears (I’ve never had it find errors there and my hood has currently been played for over 6 years).

Object Relocator - Easy to use tool so you can recategorize objects, re-price them, and move them easily between build and buy mode. All things you can do with SimPE but far less fussy and way faster.

Outfit Organizer - Another tool that simplifies an established SimPE capability, you can very quickly change which outfit categories clothing shows up in, which age groups (assuming body type compatibility, it will not magically morph an adult outfit to fit teens for example), which gender (again assuming body type compatibility, for example all ages up through child have identical body types for male and female) and even shoe sounds where applicable. Really great if you want that fancy dress to only show in formal and not everyday, or if you’ve got the Separates For All mod and you want to make that really casual t-shirt available in the pajamas and gym categories too.

Sims2Pack Clean Installer - Sims2Pack file types are used for lots and Sims. This tool lets you see any and all CC that got packaged with the Sim/lot and remove anything you don’t want to download with a simple tickbox. I especially like to use this when downloading Sims with CC if I prefer to have a CC free version of them (ie: only their facial structure) and layer in my own CC in game. Also useful for lots if you see that there is a bunch of CC included from a build set you already have, and you don’t want to download duplicate files, or you just aren’t interested in any of the custom wallpaper the builder put in the house and you’ll put your own in when you place in�� your game.

[themockingcrows]

something that younger gen folks really missed out on was, honestly, the lack of places like blockbuster and hollywood video and even mom and pop off brand operations that had the same function. the fact it wasn't just boredly watching something that happens to cross your path, it was a decision to go out to this location and physically browse. The cover could catch your eye, tons of things you'd never consider were visible and not hidden in layered menus, just general sections. big splash decor on the walls, geometric shapes.

as a child? this place was fucking magic. mom or dad would browse for movies for themselves and tell me to go find a game and/or a movie. i would immediately fuck off to browse the familiar and unfamiliar in the aisles, finding the most random shit or beloved favorites I hadn't seen in years. How long would that tape be there? Till it fucking broke, if it wasn't replaced in some cases. Others were more rapid turnover of a year or four to keep room in the place. what about the games? they'd cycle sometimes too but that would also bring its own mysteries of random save files to explore. hidden gems could really easily be found if you were willing to dig.

the place had an AURA to it. fluorescent lights, rough as all fuck ugly carpet that'd scratch up your hands and knees if you were really getting into the rummaging on the lower shelves. always smelled faintly of plastic, warm crt tv's, and the restrained scent of popcorn and packaged snacks. It felt very surreal being there, even if it was busy it felt like you were alone in your own little bubble. Promos playing on the few screens in the background as adverts. Coupons in your hand, a two for one deal or discount, prompting you to go ahead and take a chance on something else alongside your choice because what was the harm? It was a discount! Why not try it!

The sorrow of coming to re-rent something later and finding it already rented out or, worse, gone. The heartbreak of not knowing where to find it for yourself because online shopping wasn't as common. going up to the front counter, feeling like it was too tall despite it not being taller than any other countertop, watching the adults exchange the goods, the coupons you'd been clutching for safe keeping. Occasionally, if you can swing it, making puppy dog eyes to get a special treat while you were there. Then leaving, goods in hand, excitement rising, as if you left an alternate world running on different times. If the sun had gone down while you were inside it may as well be another planet out there heading back to your car in the dark. but there was nothing to be afraid of. monsters weren't invited to blockbusters.

The glow from inside stays in view till you leave the parking lot far behind you, gently inviting. It would always be there, it promised. don't worry.

and it was.

until it wasn't and you were suddenly all grown, wishing that same soft glow would reappear in the distance somewhere, to bring back that spark of discovery and sense of excitement again. chasing that high.

[putschki1969]

Will you upload the kajifes songs in mp3? I always check your posts with that hope 😢😅

Hi there!

I have plans of making/uploading HQ rips of both BDs. Not only do the BDs contain a few more songs, I'm also hopeful that the audio/video quality will be better than the TV broadcast.

Unfortunately, I haven't received my package yet. People seem to underestimate how long it actually takes for things to get to me. Even with fast shipping options, the Austrian customs/import procedures significantly delay every single order. On top of that, I usually don't go for the high-end shipping option because I order and receive so much stuff from Japan that I'm simply not willing to spend a fortune on every little item. It's bad enough that I have to pay import taxes ranging from €10-€30 for every freaking package so I refuse to fork out €60 or more for faster shipping.

As for MP3s, we'll see how much time I'll have to work on that. Ripping/encoding/uploading the video files will take forever so it really depends on how busy I am once the package arrives.

On a related side note: I haven't looked into it yet but maybe there are already people providing all of this. YK is very popular these days so chances are high that other fans have taken it upon themselves to upload recordings/MP3s. If I were you, I would be checking out the dedicated cpm threads to see if they've got what you are looking for.

🚨Update🚨

Great news, everyone! Thanks to a kind and generous follower (@ama-m3), we now have MP3s/FLACs for Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#19 Kaji Fes.2023 Day 1 and Day 2🥳 I have updated my "Yuki Kajiura/FJ LIVES HQ" Masterpost with a link to a new Google Drive folder for Kaji Fes. 23. As of right now, the folder only contains audio files but once I have received my package, I will be adding the video files as well. Please enjoy! And once again, a HUGE thank you to @ama-m3 for sharing these audios with us🙏

[mathmodder]

hey!! i’ve been enjoying playing around with your get wild mods, i did some poking around the files and omg, the amount of work you put into this!! just finding the images of all the animals and masking them is a huge job in itself!!

i have 2 questions - 1. are there meant to be audio files? i didn’t see any in the packages and don’t hear anything in game, but it seemed like you had sound effects in some of your videos

2. would you be open to collaborating with me to create a mod that spawns specific animals in a specific place? (kinda similar to the mods that bakiegaming has for ts4) i think i could write the code for it, i’d just need your permissions and maybe some small changes to the effects.

the effects themselves are incredible, tho i’d love to have some more control over where things go! let me know what you think :)

Hi! I'm really glad to hear you're enjoying the Get Wild & Ocean Life Mod, and I truly appreciate the recognition of the work that went into it. It actually took me about a year to gather everything and get the mod to its current state, so hearing feedback like this means a lot!

As for the audio files, yes, the original plan was to have custom sounds for the animals. However, I ran into some bugs with the tool I was using, where the sounds would loop endlessly or play out of sync, and the volume was often off. To avoid these issues, I decided to release the mod with just the base game and expansion pack sounds, like frogs, birds (from the PETS EP), seagulls, bats (from the Supernatural EP), and a few others. To fix the custom sound issue, I'll probably need to consult with Denton47, who created the TS3 VFX Sound BETA tool, to see if we can resolve these bugs.

I'd absolutely love to collaborate with you on making the animals spawn in specific places! On my end, I could actually manage this solo using the FOG EMITTER from the Buydebug menu, where I can create unique effects to spawn animals in specific spots. But ideally, it would be better to spawn animals as actual objects from the Buy Mode in TS3. Let's definitely talk more about how we can make this happen!

Thanks again for reaching out, and I’m excited to work together!

[andmaybegayer]

Last Monday of the Week 2024-11-11

Getting into situations

Listening: New job which means I have need for a quick and easy source of music that I can throw down on any device with internet while I figure out exactly where I draw the line on mixing personal music files with corporate hardware. Hence, soma.fm, a really good family of internet radio stations that I enjoy a lot.

There's several stations here but to call out ones I like in no particular order:

Beat Blender: Slower house music and electronica

Metal Detector: What it says on the tin, mixed metals

Sonic Universe: Weird jazz

Secret Agent: Normal jazz

SF 10-33: The San Francisco emergency radio broadcast channel mixed with ambient music

Vaporwaves: Look we all have to get stupid sometime

Watching: Movie Night was also a sort of belated Diwali Night because a friend of mine has been getting extremely into indian food, so we watched "Sita Sings the Blues", an 82 minute, Creative Commons, mostly one-woman animation project that is a retelling of the Ramayana and also a breakup jukebox jazz musical.

There's about 30 minutes of a decent movie in here and another 15-20 minutes of the breakup part that would be hard to cut since it's the reason it exists. It's an animation from 2008 and you can see that it's exactly what it needs to be to run on one person who knows Flash reasonably well. The "blues" part is because there's numerous musical segments that use pre-existing 1920's jazz numbers to set the tone which reportedly cost the author tens of thousands of dollars to license, and she's now a free culture advocate so this is how you get Cory Doctorows I guess.

Is it good? I mean there's some really good parts. The legend is delivered in the form of three shadow puppets half-remembering the story to put it together which is very endearing in a Bill Wurtz History Of Japan kind of way. The amount of effort on display for 2008 is enormous. The concept is impressive, in that you found all these songs, but you could have probably cut the songs and got this down to a tight 40.

Reading: Work! Documentation! Learning so much about [REDACTED]. Very weird not working in an open source company again.

Also started The Book of All Skies on the metro the other day, and have gotten to the end of the first act. Compelling! Love an Egan, one of very few authors who can put a topology lesson into a book without it sucking ass.

Making: Made Gulab Jamun for movie night. From spreading my diwali cooking over more than three days I'm learning that actually this shit is easy if you don't try to cram it all into three days. I should make this stuff more often.

Playing: Poking and fiddling with things a little. Still not in the headspace to pick up a full game again. Once I have a schedule I can get back into video games but when I don't have a schedule that includes video games.

Tools and Equipment: Keyd is the new-ish hotness for client-side remapping of keyboard keys. It's not quite a custom build, but it's close.

Allows you to get 99% of the way to whatever zany custom mapping you want under Linux with fairly universal coverage and minimal faff in a very compact and manageable package.

[aso-bi]

DIY LoZ Sheikah Slate

Thought it's about time I shared the birthday gift I made for my bestie @tsukinoshinjiu! It's a custom Sheikah Slate! So I'm gonna share how I made it... (finished images at the bottom!)

First I started by looking at in-game references for it and getting a general feel of what it looks like, what pieces I'd need, and what the general shape would be like. I wanted it to be a special box of sorts, so they could hide little treasures or letters...

After getting the general feel of the colors and shapes I'd need as well as what would be sunken and what would pop out, I looked for some measurements I could base myself off of. Luckily I found a Reddit post of someone who'd already done the hard work for me.

I tweaked the sizes slightly (namely putting them in a measurement system I could actually understand) then opened up SketchUp to model it out and simulate my rough idea.

I really wanted to stay true to the rounded corners, so I went for a layered technique, using 3 mm wooden slates.

So I created a "base" piece, a "body" piece, and a "lid" piece. In the end, it ended up being 5 body pieces, 1 base, and 1 lid. (And no, I didn't have access to 6 mm wood, otherwise, I'd simply done 2 6mm pieces for the body instead) In total, the depth was roughly 2.2 cm

Once that was ready, I laid out a simple graphic for my cutter. In it you can see the measurements:

Height: 25,33 cm (~10 in.)

Width: 15,33 cm (6 in.)

Depth: 2.2 cm (0.8 in.)

(yes I named it 6mm, I mistyped dw about it) Once that was done, I looked at the front again and opened up Illustrator to make the vector path for the cutter. I had barely used Illustrator before so I had to learn while I was doing it *sweats* but I got it done, and here's what it looks like. I saved it as .eps (vector) so the cutter could read it.

Once that was done, all that was left was to wait for the cutter to be done with my pieces....

Then I immediately started painting and organizing! Decided to start with something small, so I chose the little triangles, I took them apart and painted each piece individually, then with some scotch tape I held them together and put them aside. Next I painted the main piece as well as the lid, body, and base. I glued the layers first then painted them, same with the rest. The handle was especially fun to do and I think it turned out especially pretty. Always working my way up to the smaller colors. Once all those pieces were painted I glued them in place.

The little lines really tested my pulse *sweats again* I don't think they're perfect, but I tried my best (the circle around the eye is especially scuffed)

Not pictured (because I forgor) I made little stops on the bottom of the lid so it could stay in place and be used as a box. I used some thick 2mm hard grey board to make 4 little rounded stops and glued them to the bottom of the lid. When I was done, I sprayed the entire thing in a shiny finisher!

The inside had a special engraving since I'd originally wanted to throw in the Korok Bookmark I'd made for them in there as a surprise, but since this gift had lagged behind for a while, the bookmark was sent ahead of time along with the other goodies I'd prepared for their bday.

Once it was all ready I threw in some other goodies inside and packaged it for the mail! They got it last week and the reaction was...

In the end, the slate arrived a little later than I had wanted, but it got there in one place and the unboxing video I got from them was priceless hehehe.

So yea, that was my adventure making a custom Sheikah Slate as a bday gift! If I eventually remake it, I'll try to make it look even closer to the original.

And if anyone would like to try their hand at making it, go ahead! If there's interest for the files I'll find a way to make them available as well.

Bye bye!

[crmsndragonwngss]

Do you have any tips or guides on how to make gifs?

I do! Firstly, this guide here is probably the best guide I've seen for gif making. It's concise and easy to follow, and it's what I used to learn myself. They have a lot of resources as far as programs go, but I'll list what I use below. As always, never download and install anything from unknown sources without doing your own due diligence. Run everything through your antivirus and/or virustotal before installing always always always!

This is kinda long, so imma put it under the cut lol. Also note that I use windows (Win10), so things may not work the same way for mac or linux

Before you can actually make the gifs, you need a way to download high quality videos! I like jdownloader 2 because I find the interface to be user friendly, it gives you the option to download multiple elements (like srt files), and it works with more websites than lots of other video downloaders (and their user support is leagues better as well). My second choice is yt-dlp, which isn't necessarily more complex but might look a little more intimidating. Both are great programs, but a quick note about jd2: DO NOT download it from anywhere else but the link above. The developers package adware in all their installers EXCEPT for that one (I hate it too, and I think it's fundamentally unethical, but at least they're up front about it and they have an adware free version). Both methods automatically download the highest quality video available in your source link, so you don't have to worry about fiddling with that.

Now on to extracting frames! My method of choice is ffmpeg. It looks more intimidating than it is, and it's honestly the best way to extract frames imo. Like yt-dlp, it uses your computer's command console, which means you'll need the relevant command lines to run it. This tutorial is great to get you started, and it includes a command line for if you only want to extract frames from a specific part of your video. If you want to extract every frame from the entire video, you can either input the start and end times of the video into that command line, or you can use this version (I use both depending on what I'm doing):

ffmpeg -i "file path" "out-%05d.png"

Always make sure you're working with png files. To make quality gifs you have to start with quality images, and png files, unlike jpg, are lightweight and lossless, meaning you won't end up with compression artifacts and fuzziness

To get the file path for your video, select the file, then in the upper left hand corner of your window select home > copy path. It will copy the path in quotes, so replace the entire section "file path" with the path you just copied. Then copy and paste the entire line into your command console. The tutorial above says this as well, but be sure to create a folder for your frames, go into that folder and click the file path bar at the top of the window, then type "cmd" to open the console. This will ensure your files are dumped in that folder

So now you need a way to actually MAKE the gif. This is... a little more tricky. You can use gimp, I think, though it's certainly not my program of choice. You could buy PS but like... ew. OR you could do what I did and arr it. I use a portable version of CS6 that I downloaded literally a decade ago, and unfortunately the website I got it from isn't up anymore. I did a quick search and found this on reddit, but again, do your due diligence before downloading and installing anything!

Now I'll talk a little bit about my actual process. The actual process of making frames into layers into a gif I got from that first tutorial I linked. I took that process and made an action on PS so that I never have to do it manually again because I'm lazy and my memory is dogshit and I didn't want to have to consult a guide every time I wanted to do something lol. Everything else I learned through experimenting and my own experience as a photographer, so I encourage you to play around with everything to see what you like and what works for you

For coloring, I fiddle with levels, brightness/contrast, and color balance adjustment layers until I'm happy with how it looks. You can use curves instead of levels if you want finer control (or if you want to produce effects like matte), but levels works just as well and has a histogram right there in the panel, which makes it easier to adjust the exposure based on the image's actual data

For sharpening, I have a couple of custom actions I use. Here's what they look like:

The first one (bound to the F2 key) gives a smoother appearance, and I like to use it for kpop gifs where the subjects are already airbrushed and smooth without much texture, or wide shots where detail isn't super important

The second one (bound to the F3 key) is the one I use when I want to preserve texture in the image. Closeups of people where you can see their skin texture, or busy images with lots of detail benefit most from this one

The basic gist of it is, the "sharpen" filter does exactly what it says on the tin and it's usually all the sharpening an image needs, and the "surface blur" filter erases or dampens artifacting created by the sharpening filter. Sometimes I'll run the action twice, or use them both in combination to get the effect I want. Here's what the difference looks like in practice, featuring two very cute dudes:

F2 sharpening action

F3 sharpening action

You'll notice in the first two gifs, there's not much in the way of texture to preserve. Yoongi's skin is smooth and airbrushed, and the scenery is all metal and concrete shot with a wide aperture, which makes the background nice and blurry and smooth. In the second set, Jesse has facial hair and stubbly texture on his throat that I wanted to preserve, so I used the action with the lighter surface blur

My advice on all of this though, again, is to play around with it and see what you like! And if you have any more questions, feel free to ask! I'm by no means an expert, but I'll do what I can to help!

edit: oh, a quick note about speed! The tutorial I linked above mentions changing the delay to 0.05, and that's great for full speed gifs! But if you want them slow like my gifs above, I set the delay to 0.08. Sometimes I'll slow them down even more by setting the delay to 0.09 or 0.1, but any higher and you start to lose some of that smoothness

[hoosurdaddy]

Chapter 1.

Pairing: Robin Buckley x reader.

Trigger warning: none, reader is straight.

Robin Buckley had never been one for fairy tales. The concept of “happily ever after” always felt out of reach, not because she didn’t believe in love, but because, for her, it always seemed a little...complicated. There weren’t any girls who liked girls in Hawkins—or at least none that Robin knew of. And even if there were, well, no one really talked about it.

Her crushes had been quiet, whispered secrets to herself, locked away in a part of her heart she barely acknowledged. Until she met her.

It started the way most crushes do: small. An innocent glance, a laugh at something funny, a smile that stretched just a little too wide. Robin didn’t realize it at first. Maybe it was the way she leaned over the counter of Family Video, looking for a movie to rent while casually chatting about some band Robin hadn’t heard of. Or maybe it was the casual way she tucked her hair behind her ear, exposing the line of her neck that Robin had absolutely, under no circumstances, noticed.

Absolutely not.

“Do you have anything by The Smiths?” The voice cut through her internal monologue, bright and expectant.

Robin blinked out of her daze, her hand mid-motion as she filed away returned tapes. She straightened, pushing her hair back from her face, and offered a forced smile. “Uh, yeah. I think we do. Morrissey, right? Big glasses, weird hair?”

The girl laughed, the sound light and genuine, like wind chimes. It was such a small thing, but Robin’s heart sped up anyway.

“That’s the guy,” she said, leaning forward on her elbows against the counter. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and curiosity. She seemed completely at ease, unaware of the fact that Robin’s pulse had gone into overdrive.

This was not good.

Robin swallowed, pretending to scroll through the computer inventory even though she knew exactly where The Smiths tapes were. “Uh, yeah. We’ve got some in the back. Just give me a sec.”

As she slipped into the storage room, she rested her back against the door, eyes wide. What was wrong with her? This wasn’t how crushes were supposed to go. Or maybe it was? Did straight girls make you feel like this? Did she even know if this girl was straight?

Robin let out a long breath and fumbled through the tapes, trying to get her thoughts in order. Of course, she’s straight, she thought bitterly. They always are. But that hadn’t stopped Robin’s heart from doing its traitorous thing, dragging her into feelings she couldn’t act on.

When she came back out, the girl was leaning against the counter, idly tapping her fingers, her gaze wandering around the store. She smiled when Robin approached, and there was something about that smile—easy, without expectation—that made Robin feel warm all over.

“Here you go,” Robin said, sliding the tape across the counter. “Meat Is Murder. Definitely an uplifting album.”

The girl laughed again, louder this time, and it sent a ripple of warmth through Robin. She shrugged and tucked the tape into her bag. “Maybe I just like being a little sad sometimes.”

Robin couldn’t help but grin at that. “You’ve come to the right place, then. I specialize in sad movies, sad music… basically the whole sadness package.”

“Oh, yeah? Got any recommendations?” She rested her chin on her hand, waiting.

Robin hesitated. This was dangerous territory. She knew better than to get too comfortable, too friendly. She didn’t even know this girl’s name, and yet here she was, standing at the edge of a cliff, ready to leap.

But then, she leaned in a little closer, like she wanted to hear every word Robin might say, and that small movement made something shift in Robin’s chest. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to fall just a little bit.

“Well,” Robin began, her voice softer than usual, “there’s this one album by Joy Division that’s basically a soundtrack to crying alone in your room. Could be a good follow-up if you want to keep the sad train rolling.”

The girl’s smile widened. “Sounds perfect.”

Robin laughed lightly, feeling like they were sharing a joke only the two of them understood. She didn’t feel awkward or out of place for once. It felt easy, talking to her like this, even if she knew there was a limit. There always was.

Before she could ask the girl anything else, the door to the shop jingled and Steve strolled in, looking like he had just rolled out of bed. He spotted Robin at the counter and raised a hand in greeting, but his gaze quickly flicked to the girl standing there. Robin could practically see the gears turning in his head.

“Hey,” he said, coming over, grinning at both of them. “New customer?”

The girl glanced at Steve and smiled. “Yeah. Just grabbing some music for the weekend.” She gave Robin a small wave. “Thanks for the help. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

And just like that, she was gone, the door chiming softly behind her. Robin stood there for a moment, feeling the air shift back to normal, the warmth from their conversation lingering like a fading echo. It was just another day, but everything felt different.

Steve leaned on the counter next to her, giving her a sidelong glance. “What was that about?”

Robin shook her head, trying to shake the feeling off, but it clung to her like a second skin. “Nothing. It was nothing.”

But deep down, she knew it wasn’t. She just had a crush on the wrong girl.

Again.

[eowynstwin]

Birdie (one)

This is an original work I wrote back in 2022 before I got into Call of Duty. Birdie is a former corporate software developer now living in a megabuilding inspired by the ones we see in the video game Cyberpunk 2077. This world is in transition, not quite post-corporate but on its way there. This is a story about Birdie falling into bed with the couple who moves in next door, and learning to trust other people again after enduring enormous personal betrayal. - cw: implications of stalking.

Birdie woke late in the morning to sunlight peeking through the cracks of her blinds and the smell of coffee gently percolating over in the kitchenette. It was a cool morning, silvery, the kind one wanted to luxuriate in and pretend noon would never come. Except—

Ping…ping…ping…

The soft chiming of her front door’s proximity alert was out of place.

She blinked groggily, swimming her legs through the tangle of blanket and sheets that she’d made a nest of in the night, and inchwormed her way to the edge of the mattress. 

Half the pile slithered off the bed to puddle on the floor as her feet met the cool tile, which was spotless thanks to the vacuum-bot that had done its work during the night. She took a thin, reclaimed-fiber robe off its hook on the thin sliver of wall between the window and bed, and wrapped it around herself as she plodded, still half-asleep, in the direction of the chime. 

Ping…ping…ping…

Birdie usually didn’t bring up her internal heads-up display until after her coffee, but the chime couldn’t be turned off without it. Safer that way—no one could tamper with it if they were of a mind to without hardwiring directly into her neural software. She flicked her index fingers upward in synchrony, and the translucent home screen slid in across her vision.

It was a simple interface—UI elements in soft white with simple drop shadows to contrast them against the real world they overlaid. Birdie could access the intranet, check her mail, keep track of her finances, and monitor her daily task lists as work orders came in; things people used to do on tablets or laptops, before integrated hard- and software became standard in the corporate era.

Ping…ping…ping…

No one was at the door—Birdie had set separate chimes for packages versus people. So she angled the bell camera downwards, seeking the parcel she expected to see—and scowled the moment she saw what it was. 

Ping…ping…ping…

With an angry gesture she shut off the alert, with another opened the door, but no gesture in her software was going to make the big, sparkling crystal vase, stuffed to the gills with bright red roses, suddenly grow legs and run away.

A pink envelope was filed between two of the fattest blooms. Birdie bent at the waist, indignation traveling down her brain stem and hijacking her nerve endings, and plucked it from the bouquet. With one fingernail she broke the seal—real paper! Dyed paper! The audacity!—and as if disarming a bomb, she removed the folded stationery from within. 

The ivory white, virgin sheet had obviously been recently manufactured, not pressed and cut from reclaimed pulp like any reasonable person would use these days. And, to add insult to injury, there was only one—one!—line of handwriting in the very middle. 

I’m sorry, Margie. I still love you.

full chapter on Patreon

[flowebdesigns-blog]

Why Irish Businesses Should Always Maintain Their Websites

Since so much is pulled up online, your website may be the first interaction a customer has with you. Having a good-looking website can separate businesses in Limerick, Galway and even Dublin from rivals, allowing them to attract new customers.

We have assisted many Irish businesses and what we notice most is that keeping your website up to date helps maintain your online reputation and promotes growth in the future.

In the following sections, we will focus on why maintaining your website is important for your business.

1. First Impressions Matter

You would make sure the area near your store was tidy, fresh and not damaged. What is the point of doing it again in the cyber world?

Most of the time, a potential customer’s first contact with you happens when they visit your site. If the site takes a long time to open, links do not work, the information is old or the appearance is outdated, it gives a feeling that nobody cares. This scares off visitors and weakens your reputation.

If you regularly look after your website, it will continue to be fresh and serve its purpose, making people trust it and enjoy it.

2. Security Should Always Be Considered from the Beginning

More organizations are under cyber attacks and even small businesses are being targeted. Almost all the time, WordPress, Joomla, Magento and other content management systems make security updates to guard against new risks.

If you do not maintaining of your site:

Your customer details could be taken by fraudsters.

A search engine may blacklist your website.

Our maintenance services at Flo Web Design include regular security audits, updates for plugins and malware scans to give you a worry-free website and protect your visitors.

3. SEO depends on regular website maintenance

Google and other search engines prefer websites that get updated and maintained frequently. If a site is slow, features old information or isn’t accessible on mobile, it will be given a lower ranking by search engines.

Keeping your website updated makes it better:

How fast web pages are loading

Mobile responsiveness

Metadata and organized data

Dealing with broken links

Content freshness

As a result, your website becomes more visible to search engines, it gains higher positions and gets more traffic.

4. Improve the way users interact with the application

Website users today want sites that are easy to use and quick to respond. Anything that makes the site slow such as images that don’t load or ancient navigation, will lead them to leave.

Maintaining the website often helps keep:

All the links and pages are accessible.

Pictures and videos are displayed without any errors.

Checkout, buttons and forms work efficiently.

Updates are made to give the program a new look.

A seamless experience for users will make them more likely to stay and possibly become paying customers.

5. Making Sure Your Content is Up-to-Date

Information about companies can vary—such as their prices, services, working hours, contact details, special deals, employees and similar elements. If the changes aren’t reflected on your website, it confuses your customers and decreases trust.

If your site is updated, you demonstrate that your business is lively and interested in its customers.

Our team at Flo Web Design ensures that Irish companies update their content, update their blogs and remove any old materials from their website.

6. This involves backing up and recovering your data

Website crashes can happen for reasons such as plugin conflicts, issues with the server, hacking or making a mistake while deleting something important. If you don’t back up your files often, you could lose everything you have worked on for a long time.

With our maintenance package, your site is backed up automatically, making it easy and quick to restore it and continue your business.

7. The standards of both Compliance and Performance

All Irish businesses should follow the rules set out by GDPR. Failing to keep your contact forms and cookie policies current could result in serious fines and legal issues.

Maintenance done regularly will help your website:

Follows the necessary regulations for data protection.

The website is fast to load on every type of device.

Still works properly after OS and browser updates.

It’s more important to establish trust and eliminate risks than just fulfilling the requirements.

8. Making Your Website Resistant to Future Changes

Technology keeps advancing all the time. Plugins become old, browsers are updated and people’s needs change.

When you maintain your website regularly, it grows with your business. If you add new features, boost e-commerce or update the design, frequent upgrades help you not have to begin again.

How a Retailer in Ireland Benefited from Website Maintenance

A shop in Cork contacted us for help because their site was down for two days. Since the developers failed to update the site’s plugins or security measures for more than a year, the site was breached.

We recovered the site from our backup, removed the malware, updated the plugins and applied the best security measures. By opting for a monthly service package, they haven’t experienced any downtime and now get 35% more online inquiries due to faster performance.

Take action before a problem arises. Keeping your computer well-maintained is like having insurance.

So, What Services Are Part of Website Maintenance with Flo Web Design?

Our services include packages that are customized for businesses in Ireland.

Keeping an eye on security

Ensuring a fast website

Links on your website are checked for breaks

Backup & recovery

Updates on GDPR compliance

Updates to the content (upon request)

We’ll take care of your website’s back end, helping it run as efficiently as you run your business.

Conclusion

Just as you maintain a car regularly, you should keep your website up to date. This rule also applies to the internet. A secure, effective and successful website depends on regular upkeep.

Your website’s updates, security and page issues are all taken care of by Flo Web Design. We handle all the necessary jobs, allowing you to focus on your business.

Want to Maintain Your Site in the Best Way Possible?

We will make sure your website is kept safe, fast and performing at its peak each and every month.