#basically second etho channel

[jumble-jee]

iskallman does indeed provide! it’s just a matter of people just accepting his help ..

[fogwitchoftheevermore]

ok so. forgive me for a second but i've been abnormal about skizz and ren since the hiatus between third life and last life and holy shit this season is already not helping.

let's talk about skizz, ren, undying loyalty, and golden apples, shall we?

so the thing that you need to understand about skizz is that he is loyal to a fault. impulse literally says this exact thing about him in limited life, and skizz himself says himself: "you know me and my factions, i never turn." the second thing is that the first person their loyalty manifests for in third life is ren. he and ren run into each other on the second night when ren is getting accosted by mobs outside skizz's door and skizz gives him a place to stay the night. ren decides to trade skizz for his leather, for the upcoming enchanting buisness, and gives skizz a golden apple in exchange. skizz thinks this is wildly more than he deserves but is very thankful. skizz doesn't say it here, but this is the moment he swears his loyalty to ren.

throughout third life, he is willing to do or get basically anything for ren. the two of them literally die together to the tnt trap. when ren dies on the alter and everyone thinks martyn betrayed him, skizz is the first person to get there in the morning. he's in half broken gold armor and borrowed tools from bigb and he still tells ren "get behind me", still tries to protect him from martyn. when skizz is on red, he goes a bit crazy, but he channels that bloodlust into protecting ren. he kills jimmy in the red desert, he kills cleo when she tries to attack ren, he chases down impulse when he betrays dogwarts and dies trying to kill him.

when skizz dies in third life, he's got an unused golden apple in his hotbar. after he dies, he remembers the first time he met ren, etho, and martyn, and he spends quite a bit of time on his memory of ren and ren appears in his first memory of etho. after he dies, ren wields a blade named in his honor.

skizz spends third life loyal to ren- he dies for him and he dies with him.

in last life, ren and skizz end up on completely different sides, and it very quickly gets bad because when ren becomes boogey, he kills skizz. he lures him into a trap. he tells skizz he loves him. skizz literally says "i am broken hearted" when ren kills him. ren holds no regard for the relationship they used to have and yet skizz cannot help but compliment ren's skill with the trap, outright says he can't be mad at ren.

and then it only gets worse because skizz tries to storm ren's tower with impulse after they've gone red. and that! doesn't go well! and while skizz is retreating, while he is eating the golden apple in his hot bar, ren shoots him dead.

and that is the last time they've spoken. two years ago.

because skizz isn't in doublt life. and ren isn't in limited life.

and when skizz's time comes in limited life, he ensures he doesn't have a golden apple in his inventory this time. this time, he hands the apples off to his teammates, where he knows they will go to good use. and then he hands etho a diamond fucking axe (red winter is coming) and asks him to execute him for the sake of their alliance. ok! sure! fill ren's role more explicitly, why don't you!

and that first session of secret life genuinely only made it worse. when skizz is talking to tango and cleo about their alliance, skizz says he wants to give leadership over to someone else: "i want to be more of a soldier than a leader this time." cleo says she'll fill the roll of leader- she doesn't take orders well - and then seals their alliance by giving tango and skizz a golden apple each. because of course she does.

and well, we all know that didn't really work out, so that's one person off the list that skizz can fill the dogwarts shaped hole in him with, so then he goes to bdubs. he says he'll lay his sword at bdubs' feet. he says he'll win bdubs with his loyalty. he calls bdubs "my leige", jesus christ dude, you couldn't be less subtle unless you straight up called him ren's name.

skizz has been (whether accidentally or on purpose is up to you) trying to recreate the experience he had with dogwarts, and particularly what he had with ren, since the moment dogwarts fell. he can't have it with ren because he missed his only chance in last life, so he'll fill the void with whoever he can. his fellow soldier. ren's successor. ren's new kingmaker. anyone. and it's never gonna work. i need ren to come back for like, 900 reasons, but i especially need him to come back so skizz can have a shot at making it to spring.

[prudentseer]

Helllelloello!

I don't have too many headcanons, but I do think etho and Joel definitely stalked each other's social media after the breakup lol. Well as much social media etho might have at leasf.

What do you think about swedish beams, and the implications for boat boys lol honestly I would just like to know what u think of swedish beanss.

Big fan of the fic™

Welcome back anon! Glad to see I didn't scare you off with my paragraph and thank you for a headcanon of your own about Fic™. I totally agree, they definitely made burner accounts to stalk each other's profiles even though they're over each other and don't care what the other person is doing or who they're seeing (liars). Etho, with his little to no presence online, definitely posted more after the breakup just to seem extra fine.

As for swedishbeans, I find them hilarious; no notes. I think Iskall himself put it best, he doesn't know Joel that well so everything he does is just ten times funnier. He just decided one day that he was going to be insane about Joel and committed to it 110%. Even though Joel is...lets just say standoffish by the bit, both Iskall and him know that Joel will do anything if it's for humour.

It's soap opera levels of story and drama and it's even funnier that it's basically completely one sided. From the mail spam, to the "breakup", to the rebound to Jimmy, to just being crazy on Twitter and his own comment section. Hell, he's making a love tunnel for Joel just to show him how *over* Joel he is. Iskall is just so funny, watching some of his second channel videos/vods have been an absolute treat (and apparently Joel was a fan of his content before joining hermitcraft so take that as you will). At one point during stream Iskall was like "What does Etho have that I don't?" and his entire chat was giving him reasons that he just agreed with.

So yeah. I hope he keeps doing the pathetic, obsessive "ex" bit even if it's just for a little while longer.

[theoryandahalf]

I feel like Mat will still make cameos on the channels occasionally/

I feel the same, I'm sure he'll be on to promote merch or give more attention to LoreFi. I think he probably has one more appearance on the FNAF musical (because otherwise they left it on not!Afon pulling a double Luke Skywalker on himself for no reason).

At the same time, I hope he doesn't for a long while. Not just to give Ash and Sam a chance to succeed. But also, as much as I love the man, every single time he talks about his feelings about retirement I end up feeling sorry for him.

Yes, cry for the multi-millionaire, I know. But like when he's talking about how he finally gets to work on himself now and put himself first, but then in the same breath he goes on to say "I get to go ICE SKATING!" or "I get to be a human being and play with my kid", its like, my good sir. You don't need to just touch grass. You need to rub your whole face in it. Breathe in the grass.

Like, if your job prevents you from doing even the most basic thing like going outside for a walk...you deserve a new job. No matter how rich you are. Even movie stars get a break between films. Rock Stars have to stop to record new music. The constant go go go of YouTube is just fundamentally at its core inhumane. The more MatPat talks about how his whole adult life has been Performance first, human man second, the more I'm ready to show him the door.

Its the opposite of the Mr. Beast ethos, please stop grinding yourself into oblivion for likes.

Be the MatPat. Go touch that ice.

[omgmacia-blog]

User Interface: The Secret Sauce Behind BUSAI's Phenomenal Growth?

In the bustling realm of cryptocurrencies, where countless projects vie for attention, user experience often becomes the deciding factor in a user's choice. Meme coins, with their playful nature and community-driven ethos, are no exception. BUSAI, with its unique AI-powered meme generation, has carved a niche for itself. But what truly sets BUSAI apart? Is it just the novelty of AI-generated memes, or is there something deeper at play? In this deep dive, we'll examine the role of user interface in BUSAI's success and whether its intuitive design has given it an edge over its competitors.

Why User Interface Matters in Blockchain

You've heard the saying, "You don't get a second chance to make a first impression." This is especially true in the digital world. A well-designed user interface (UI) is more than just aesthetics; it's the bridge between a user and a product. In the context of blockchain, a good UI can:

Lower the barrier to entry: A user-friendly interface can attract a wider range of users, from seasoned crypto enthusiasts to newcomers.

Enhance user experience: A seamless and intuitive interface can make interacting with the platform a joy, increasing user satisfaction and retention.

Differentiate from competitors: In a crowded market, a standout UI can give a project a competitive edge.

Dissecting BUSAI's User Interface

Let's dive into the specifics of BUSAI's UI.

Onboarding

The first impression is crucial. BUSAI's onboarding process is designed to be as smooth as possible. The sign-up process is straightforward, and the interface guides users through the initial setup with clear instructions.

Homepage

The homepage is the user's first port of call. BUSAI's homepage is clean, well-organized, and visually appealing. All the essential information, from the latest memes to the user's wallet balance, is easily accessible.

Core Features

Whether it's buying and selling tokens, staking, or generating memes using AI, the interface for each feature is intuitive and easy to navigate. The AI meme generator, in particular, is a standout feature. The interface is simple, yet offers enough customization options to keep users engaged.

Overall Experience

Navigating through BUSAI feels like a breeze. The UI is consistent throughout the platform, making it easy for users to switch between different features.

Comparison with Competitors

How does BUSAI's UI stack up against other meme coins and decentralized exchanges?

Meme Coins

Compared to other meme coins, BUSAI's UI is generally more polished and user-friendly. Many meme coins have a rather basic interface, relying more on community hype than a great user experience.

DEXs

While DEXs often prioritize security and decentralization, they can sometimes sacrifice user experience. BUSAI, on the other hand, manages to strike a balance between security and usability.

BUSAI's success can be attributed to many factors, but its well-designed user interface is undoubtedly a significant contributor. By providing a seamless and intuitive experience, BUSAI has lowered the barrier to entry for new users and fostered a strong community. While the novelty of AI-generated memes certainly plays a role, it's the user-friendly interface that keeps users coming back for more.

BUSAI has shown that a well-crafted user interface can be a game-changer in the world of cryptocurrencies. It's a testament to the team's commitment to providing a top-notch user experience. As the crypto space continues to evolve, it's clear that projects that prioritize user experience will have a significant advantage. Curious about BUSAI's interface? Click the links below and prepare to be amazed!!! The BUSAI Official Channel: Website | Twitter | Telegram

[bestpctips]

ONKYO TX-RZ50 Review

Built to bust blocks Onkyo’s second-from-the-top AVR is a nine-channel movie-lover with a healthy selection of bonus features, says Mark Craven. Read our ONKYO TX-RZ50 Review. 1. Buttons on the right of the fascia, above the volume rotary, handle input selection Onkyo’s TX-RZ50 continues the brand’s ethos of taking the basic notion of an AV receiver and adding a plethora of bells and whistles.…

[8iunie]

Why Måneskin’s New Album Felt Like ‘Going Back to Our Beginning’ After Global Success

The Italian rock stars discuss working with Max Martin, following up a smash hit and the most personal moments on new album 'Rush!' (posted on 20.01.2023)

A key to the success of Måneskin is their musical eclecticism. They can cover a ‘60s tune like the Four Seasons’ “Beggin’” or a 2000s hit like The Killers’ “Somebody Told Me,” and bring each into their own style — while at other times, channeling the White Stripes or Red Hot Chili Peppers. And while the Italian quartet possesses standard rock band qualities that have endeared them to old-school audiences and radio programmers, they also flaunt their individual personalities, gender fluidity and knack for showmanship in a way that encourages young listeners and TikTok users to hop aboard the bandwagon, too.

Måneskin’s exuberant cover of “Beggin’” blew up around the world in 2021, four years after the band first performed the cover. Since then, original tunes like “Supermodel” and “Mammamia” have earned millions of streams, the band opened for The Rolling Stones before headlining in the U.S. last fall, and in a few weeks they might take home the best new artist Grammy. Yet Rush!, their third album out this Friday (Jan. 20), carries the weight of expectation as their first full-length since stepping foot on the global stage.

The contributions of Max Martin on multiple tracks suggests a major pop bid, but Rush! spans the punk energy of “Kool Kids,” the balladry of “The Loneliest” and the groove-ready rock of “Gossip,” which features a guitar solo from Tom Morello. The album revels in the diversity of its four perspectives. As bassist Victoria De Angelis notes, “We don’t have actually similar tastes at all. We all have very different tastes and music backgrounds, so we influence each other in the writing process.”

While color-coordinated in chic brown and tan outfits, the four members of Måneskin – De Angelis, singer Damiano David, guitarist Thomas Raggi and drummer Ethan Torchio – sat down with Billboard for a Zoom discussion on their music, ethos and chemistry. 

While you’ve had a fairly even split between English and Italian lyrics on your past releases, the majority of Rush! is in English, with only three songs being sung in Italian. Is this a strategy to get you to a larger audience?

Damiano: It’s not a strategy. Basically, when we started being a band and writing songs, we started writing in English, because 90% of our influences are not strictly English, but English-sounding. We had to learn how to write music in Italian because we never thought about it. But then we got big in Italy, and we had to start doing it – and also because it’s our language and we want to do it. But now we finally had the chance to make almost the whole album in English, because it’s like going back to our beginning. It’s what we are most used to doing.

Victoria: We really never forced it. It’s always been quite natural and in the moment. We do what we feel. I think also because we wrote most of the record while we were in the U.S., so we were getting inspired and seeing a lot of shows there, meeting artists and stuff.

“Beggin’” has over a billion views on YouTube now. How has its success influenced what you’ve been trying to do since then? Have you felt pressure to follow that up?

Damiano: No, I think that for us we managed to take only the best part out of it, because that song drove behind all the other songs and all the catalog. Fortunately, it was not just that song. It [the success] happened while we were thinking about this new record, so we just thought that drive could only make us our music more open and reach more people. It just gave us more hype to write the album, because we knew that this time, it was going to be different.

On your first album, Damiano wrote nearly all of the songs. The second album was a group effort. And then on Rush! you brought in outside songwriters and producers, like Sly and Rami Yacoub. What was that process like this time?

Damiano: We just wanted to shuffle the cards this time. We have played together for more than eight years. We just got to a point where we thought that we were able to put the band’s signature on every song. But we were also able to embrace not just one direction, but keep it more random, and follow each one’s different tastes and let each one of us lead in different songs. So writing the songs was easier. But then it was harder to pick [a track list], because with this method we wrote many, many more songs. We wrote like 60 songs, so it was very hard to pick these 17.

Ethan: If it were limitless, we would have done a record with 50 tracks.

You worked with Max Martin on four of these tracks. What was that experience like?

Victoria: This thing he’s known for, pop, is what drew us to him, because we want to try something different and to be stimulated in a different way. We’re used to doing music in our vision, and we know how it is to get in the studio and jam, the four of us. We still do it and we’ve done it on a bunch of songs on the record, but we also wanted to try something new.

We were very curious about this match because we love doing covers – “Beggin’” is a pop song. We play them and make them in a completely new flavor and version. So that was the match that we wanted to try with him, to get a bit of his pop sensibility and advice, but then take it and turn into who we are and make it more dirty and sound like us. I think he really understood what we wanted.

The first time we met him was at our show, where it really shines through what kind of band and energy we have and like. It was very easy in the studio, because he got it, and respected our identity and who we are. It was just like a school – understanding a different way of doing stuff. He has years of experience, so he really gave us some good advice.

Ethan: He’s so caring. … Something I really learned from him are the rules in the music writing process. You can follow them, you can not follow them. It’s a choice. But I learned this for him.

What was the most unusual process this time around?

Victoria: Basically, we would always just go in the studio and jam. I think we learned what was very useful was just to record all the jamming. Tom Morello literally jams for five hours, records everything, and then he listens back to five hours of recording and finds all the small, cool parts he has played. Then he picks the best ones and makes the song out of it. That was a really cool way of doing it.

Ethan: You need patience.

Thomas: Exactly. Because if you stay in that moment, really natural, you can take the best part with the best energy.

Your younger fans love how you embrace gender fluidity, at a time where, in both Italy and America, LGBTQ+ rights and protections are still an issue.

Damiano: Yeah, sure. I think [Italy] is still a few years later than USA because, like everything we import in Italy, it takes a few years to start. But things are starting to change. People are starting to build a situation where it’s possible to think about changing things. And there’s always more and more people, especially of our age or slightly older, 20, 30, that are creating communities and groups and are speaking up about things that have not spoken up for too many years. I think we’re in a good place right now.

In 2021, you did a TV performance in Poland, a country that is more religiously conservative. How did the Polish TV censors respond to the kiss between Damiano and Thomas at the end of that performance?

Damiano: You could see all the people of the same age of us were super hyped, and all the parents were like, “Oh, s—t, what’s going on? Do I like it? Should I like it? Should I not like it?” Half and half, as always.

Victoria: I think that moment has a really big meaning for our audience there, from all the people from the community, because there’s really a lack of representation and they face a lot of issues. Even now in Italy, as you said in America, it’s still a s—t situation, where people struggle for their rights and everything. So it’s never to be taken for granted anywhere, but especially there everyone was literally telling us, “It’s so homophobic here, you can’t even walk with your girlfriend or boyfriend or wear what you want.” That’s why we wanted to make a statement about it. I think it meant a lot for fans, so that was the most important thing.

What’s the most personal song on the new album for you?

Thomas: “Gossip,” because I wrote the main riff one day when we went in the studio in L.A., and I remember that we took that main riff on the Dropbox of the old songs. We said, “Okay, this is a really cool riff and good riff,” but after another session, I remember that we just took the main riff that became “Gossip” with Morello and the other stuff. I was very happy at the time.

Victoria: I’d say “Kool Kids,” because it was one of the first songs we wrote, and it was one of the first riffs I came up with, so I’m very proud of that riff. I love that we had the courage to make such a powerful, strong, punk song in a mainstream record nowadays.

Ethan: Victoria stole the one that I want to say. So I’m gonna say another one, “Read Your Diary,” because I love the harmonic progression that Thomas has done. I also like the drums a lot. How they sound in the song is very cool.

Damiano: “Timezone.” I think it’s not the easiest song, but the easiest to read. There’s no metaphors, it’s very clear what I’m saying. I’m not trying to hide behind double meanings. It’s just a circle of thoughts, without any censorship.

Writer: Bryan Reesman for Billboard Magazine

[beacon-lamp]

with hermitcraft season 7 slowly coming to an end, i figured it was time to consolidate all of the Informative Posts about hermitcraft that i and some of the other members of hermitblr have made over the last several months.

if you enjoy:

minecraft youtube content, but want to see more traditional vanilla minecraft gameplay like building and redstone

fun, lighthearted interactions between genuine friends including Elaborate pranks, collaborating on massive projects, light roleplay, proximity voice chat mod

weekly 20 - 40 minute long youtube videos and consistent upload schedules

chill grind stream weekends where CCs interact with chat and each other

an entire youtube channel dedicated to weekly 20-minute recap videos on what all the hermits have been up to so you don’t have to piece it together from the posts on your dash/timeline

insanely talented people who have been doing mcyt for nearly, if not more than, a decade and essentially built minecraft youtube from the ground up

give hermitcraft a try!  

you will find all of the information you will Ever Need below the cut.  it’s Very Long so view it on desktop.

and if you ever have any more questions, just shoot me an ask :)

what is hermitcraft?

the Basics: what, who, where, how

more details on the Basics

bonus: the historical impact many hermitcraft members have had on mcyt

where do i even start watching?

start with grian.

good mix of Incredible builds and fun server shenanigans.  instigator of many server-wide events.  interacts with many other hermits.  generally entertaining to watch.  but zero redstone knowledge.

check out hermitcraft recap.

great way to be introduced to other hermits and learn what everyone’s up to.  if you find what a hermit’s been working on interesting, go watch their video and maybe give them a like and subscribe.

official hermitcraft website with links to every member’s channel

more information on every hermit’s attributes and general vibes

do hermits every stream?

short answer: yes, most do!  but these streams are mostly chill grinding or buildling streams.  and you don’t have to watch the streams to be caught up on content.  check the official hermitcraft website for each member’s twitch links.

long answer that covers most of the hermits

what do they do on hermitcraft?

let’s start with some examples of their incredible builds.

hermit cribs: some of the megabases in s7

goodtimeswithscar’s s7 magical village with shaders

stressmonster’s bakery and ren’s star wars world

Capitalism

they have a shopping district where hermits can set up shops and sell items and resources that other hermits can buy with diamonds.  here’s season 7 shopping district set on a mooshroom island:

some of the most advanced redstone you’ve ever seen

if you’re more into the technical side of minecraft, you can be rest assured that hermitcraft has some of the Biggest Brains in redstone.

tangotek: a fucking madlad.  Singled-handedly created the minigame Decked Out.  im Begging you to watch his tutorial video on how to play.  currently finishing up his Among Us but in minecraft minigame. all of this was built Entirely in survival vanilla minecraft.  get this man to 1M subscribers.

mumbo jumbo: the man himself.  built a 128 x 128 block industrial district in both season 6 and 7 packed to the Brim with mechanical farms.  half the brain behind the masterpiece of engineering that was Sahara in season 6.  currently working on Pacific, the sequel to Sahara, in season 7.

iskall85: the other half of the brain behind Sahara and working on Pacific with mumbo in season 7.  also has an industrial district like mumbo’s in season 7.

xisuma: built an automatic potion brewer in the second half of season 7.  this thing churns out potions by the Shulker Box.  can also turn a shulker box full of potions into splash potions and extend duration all with a press of a button.

impulseSV: incredible example of form + function.  farms are scattered throughout his base.  he has a farm for nearly every farmable resource in vanilla minecraft.

etho: the pioneer of some of the most widely used redstone mechanisms to date.  content isn’t super redstone-focused.  mostly does compact modules that serve a specific function.

zedaph: makes strange contraptions.  he’s basically if grian knew how to redstone.  impeccable vibes and fairly underrated.

bdoubleo100: he occassionally does this segment called “redstone with bdubs” and it’s the only redstone i understand so that’s why he’s here.

what about roleplay?  and lore?  

yeah they have Plenty of that too.  

it generally comes in the form of self-contained storylines that involve most members on the server and take place over the course of several weeks in multiple videos.  it’s fairly light roleplay, if that’s not your thing.  but the plotlines also have a Massive Potential to be angsty and whatnot if you really look into it, which a lot of people also do.

here’s a more in-depth look into the Major Plotlines over the last 2 seasons (season 6 and 7).  huge spoiler warning though.

um also there’s this post that highlights how truly cursed hermitcraft can be if you dig deep enough hahaha.

so do the hermits only make hermitcraft content?

nope!!  many of them are involved in other mcyt content as well and are friends with other prominent members of the mcyt community!!  

MCC

mcc9 blue bats video essay: the time the hermit team won the whole damn competition.  a wonderfully made video worth Every second of your time.  especially if you don’t typically watch the hermit teams.

falsesymmetry: mcc10 ace and mcc’s First Back-to-Back Winner

lord grian dreamslayer: that time grian Popped Off, killing dream, tubbo, and fundy in mcc9 survival games

Vault Hunters

a modded minecraft server coded entirely by iskall85′s team.  all the content is streamed live on twitch.  

current members are: Iskall85, AntonioAsh, Stressmonster101, HBomb94, CaptainSparklez, Fundy, CaptainPuffy, 5UP and Tubbo

more info on the series 

3rd Life SMP

hardcore minecraft server with a twist that started on 4/20/21.  all content is posted to each member’s respective youtube channels.

every member has 3 lives, as indicated by the color of their name: green for 3 lives left, yellow for 2, red for 1.  if they lose all three lives, they can only spectate the world (like in hardcore mode).  the series ends when all members have lost all three lives.

the twist: once a member is on their 3rd and final life, as indicated by a red name, they are Hostile and their goal is to take the lives of the remaining players.

the members (hermits are italicized): BdoubleO100, bigbst4tz2, Etho, GoodTimesWithScar, Grian, impulseSV, InTheLittleWood, Renthedog, Skizzleman, Smajor1995, Smallishbeans, SolidarityGaming, Tango, ZombieCleo

the tumblr tag for 3rd Life is “#3rdLife”, “#3rdLifeSMP” and “#3LSMP” if you wanna see more content, as it’s Not supposed to be cross-tagged with “#hermitcraft”.

do you have any free serotonin to spare?

here’s a bunch of posts that’ll make you smile

scar’s friendship with a bunch of the hermits

grian, false, cleo, bdubs, iskall: why they deserve so much respect

same post as above but with an addition about ren

small hermit things that give you serotonin

why you should watch tfc

if you’ve made it this far you are Contractually Obligated* to watch one (1) hermitcraft episode and reblog this post.

*for legal reason, this is a joke.  you’re not contractually obligated but consider this: Please. i spent way too much time on this.

shoutout to everyone who’s posts i’ve linked and anyone who has helped answer a question about hermitcraft.  this all started because i was frustrated that people were writing the hermits off as cannon fodder in mcc and im genuinely so glad that many of you have given hermitcraft a shot.

[diabolus1exmachina]

Ferrari LaFerrari 'Signal Green' (for six years it was owned by Jay Kay.  For sale in 2019). 

Unveiled at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show as a replacement for the Enzo, the Ferrari LaFerrari was a technological tour de force that took the world by storm. Maranello's first production model to be equipped with a hybrid power unit, the sixth-generation hypercar was the fastest and most powerful road-going Ferrari ever. It was, and remains, one of the greatest achievements in the marque's 75-year history.

Compared to contemporaries such as the Porsche 959 and Bugatti EB110, the first Ferrari hypercars had been conservative designs. For all their astonishing pace, the 288 GTO and F40 had lacked headline innovation, focusing instead on a back-to-basics ethos of minimal weight and colossal power. With the subsequent F50, the Prancing Horse had abandoned the traditional spaceframe in favor of a more futuristic carbon fiber tub, but there was little else to whet the appetite of techno freaks. Its successor, the Enzo, upped the technological ante. The first Ferrari hypercar to feature an automated paddle-change transmission and active aerodynamics, it represented a radical leap compared to the outgoing F50. The Enzo was an up-to-the-minute interpretation of what a flagship sports car should be all about. And then along came the game changer.

Based around a carbon fiber monocoque designed by F1 technical director Rory Byrne, the Type F150 LaFerrari adopted an enhanced version of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which had been used in Grands Prix since 2009. Like any other hybrid set-up, KERS employed electric motors in addition to a traditional petrol engine. With an electric motor delivering maximum torque from zero rpm, the benefits included noticeably stronger acceleration. Kimi Räikkönen had emphatically proven this in Formula 1 when his KERS-equipped Ferrari stormed past Giancarlo Fisichella to win the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix—Fisichella attributing Räikkönen's win to the hybrid system.

Dubbed HY-KERS, the production version in the LaFerrari mated a 120-kilowatt motor to a 6,262 cc 65-degree V-12 to deliver quite extraordinary results. Delivering a combined 950 horsepower and 715 lb ft of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch Getrag transmission, the car could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in a mere 2.9 seconds. The manufacturer claimed that 0-300 km/h could be dispatched in 15 seconds, while top speed was an astonishing 350 km/h. Even more startling, however, was the car’s pace around the Fiorano test track, where it was said to lap more than five seconds quicker than the Enzo. Such pace was in no small part down to the brilliance of the hybrid set-up. With HY-KERS taking care of low-down torque, the engine could be tuned for maximum power at high revs without the car becoming a temperamental prima donna. As a result, Ferrari engineers were able to produce an engine that was more potent than the Scuderia’s last V-12 single-seater, in a car able to cope with city traffic.

To ensure the thundering performance was accessible, electronic traction control was integrated with the hybrid system, and there was a third-generation electronic differential. The double-wishbone front- and multilink rear suspension was equipped with active damping, while the Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes measured a huge 398 mm at the front and 380 mm at the rear. The Pirelli P-Zero front tyres were an equally vast 265/30 R19, but were nonetheless dwarfed by the 345/30 R20 rears.

Drawing from the Grand Prix team’s expertise in computational fluid dynamics, the composite body continued the high-tech theme. Produced in-house alongside the Scuderia’s F1 racers, it was as aerodynamically efficient as it was beautiful. The vast scallops on each flank served to extract air from around the front wheels, increasing the downforce created by the active front diffuser, as well as channelling air to the rear-mounted radiators. A guide vane in the underbody automatically reduced flow to the front radiator to reduce drag, while dynamic air intakes on the haunches boosted ram effect for an additional 5 horsepower at speed. At the rear, a computer-controlled spoiler optimised drag and downforce, while dynamic diffuser flaps helped “suck” the car onto the road. This electronic gadgetry added up to 360 kilograms of downforce when cornering at 200 km/h, reducing it to 90 kilograms in a straight line at the same speed.

Remarkably, the carbon fibre monocoque boasted a 27 per cent improvement in torsional stiffness compared to the Enzo, yet was some 20 per cent lighter. In spite of the HY-KERS with its eight 15-cell battery modules, the LaFerrari was no larger than its predecessor, while the centre of gravity was lowered by 35 mm—providing further improvements to balance and stability. Visually, the whole was tied together into a tautly styled berlinetta that combined hints of classic racing icons such as the 330 P4 and 312 P with exciting flourishes from the modern Formula 1 era. In creating the LaFerrari body, form very much followed function, yet never has the application of science looked quite so stunning.

[riacte]

hello hello, would you mind talking about spopera? Specifically, i saw a post a while ago about space twitter (which was hilarious) and... could you please tell me more about that side of the au :D

(also, what's your favourite little thing in spopera?)

YESS spopera!! And omg I LOVE space twitter. We have a #shitposting channel on the server and it’s my home <3 so thanks for the ask!!

(Coincidentally this is also my favourite thing lolol)

Buckle up because it’s gonna be wild 👀

First we have the genesis of all spacetwt discourse: the trans Lumians discourse. Basically some Twitter (the official name for the app is Twilight in this AU but I’m using Twitter because it’s funnier) users think Martyn is transgender False. Because they’re blonde, the same species, and stick with Ren. That’s literally their rationale. It’s a huge conspiracy with users going “prince of hearts 😍” and deeming it’s “transphobic to use f*lse because it’s martyn’s deadname”. Of course people with common sense go “🤨they look different and their freckles are literally different colours🤨” but the trans truthers don’t listen… it’s a huge argument online 😭

Then of course we have the fanfiction!! Exterra RPF!! Who could forget! We have Launchpad (Wattpad) and the Starchive (Ao3) <3 Someone found out Ren was seen as a delinquent when he visited False during their highschool years and boy you would not believe the EXPLOSION of Bad Boy RK content. It’s embarrassing. It’s funny. Bad Boy RK x Reader…. And of course the classic “got sold to RK and Queen of Hearts”. Because the kids would want that.

There is ALSO discourse on how Launchpad and Starchive characterise Bad Boy! RK. Starchive has those 10k delinquent befriending private school student Falseren fics with lowercase lyric titles. Launchpad just has a lot of X Reader fics.

BTW the most popular Exterra RPF fic is called Cold Spells— a parody of Heat Waves of course. It’s exactly what you imagine it is. The second most popular fic is a Medieval AU called a hand to hold until the end. Yes, it’s the 3rd Life AU. Yes, the author has the trafficpose url. (Check out the real owner of trafficpose here for more spopera content!! :D)

So that’s Starchive in a nutshell. However AO3 also exists… as a chemical compound. Someone (we’re thinking Cub) found AO3 and discovered it could be used in starship launchers. Essential, AO3 fuels ships. Yes it’s a pun.

Also the shipping discourse is insane in this universe. The whole “real people shipping is bad and invasive” thing aside, people just love arguing about the ships. The Falseren shippers fight with the Treebark shippers. People ship Ren x Skizz and Ren x Etho or whatever. And Doc. They also ship Ren with his crazy blue stalker (“😍 10k enemies to lovers 😍”). There are also genuine Treebark Truthers 😭 they call the Falseren shippers “comphet” or “heteronormative” or SOMETHING.

You think it can’t get worse. Well, it can! People ship the raceships. Shipshipping. Like, they humanise the freaking ships. The Dogwarts freighter is humanised into a dilf. People would unironically make tweets like “ // shipshipping idk i don’t like how the fandom portrayals falsewell as an old person it’s kinda ageist :( “

NOT TO MENTION THE SUBTWT DRAMA…. part of #hearttwt (False’s subtwt) don’t like Ren because they think he’s problematic and weird and a “Lumian fetishiser”. So we get tweets like “// red king neg DONT WORRY WE’LL SAVE FALSIE FROM THE STINKY MAN” the replies are like “???? They’re literally best friends???”. People also say shit like “my nyooms nyooms 🥺” “my poor glow glow” unironically.

Have some Space Twitter screenshots I made <3 not entirely canon but it’s funny <3

Also I made Space Gacha. This isn’t spoilers I promise—

yeah. so like. fictional discourse is the only part of world building ive contributed to 💀 also we borrowed a ton of stuff from f1 fandom which is just irl spopera BSBFHSBSA

I can imagine it’ll only get worse with time… anyways if you’ve read this far thanks for putting up with this LMAO

[micer2012]

are there any particular skizz videos you would recommend to watch?

YES ABSOLUTELY :D COME WATCH MY SILLIEST STREAMER

Solo Skizz is the highlight of my entire week EVERY time one comes out. Skizz just goofing off and building his giant circles and glass cases and rupe goldberg machines, absolutely not going for 1. beauty 2. efficiency 3. any desirable things anyone would want. hes SOLELY going for SILLINESS and FUN and i am having SO much fun. in the newest one he adopts a bunch of vex and calls them his lil kids. ill Cry

IMP N SKIZZ SHORTS. IMP N SKIZZ SHORTS!!!!!! . these are scripted animated shorts (animated by Pooka, who also edits for the Imp n Skizz channel, and also is well known for cursing Me Personally with the jeff the minion loreBJHVCFG. pooka my beloved) written by imp n skizz, and they're very much playin characters here like it was a real animated series.. its so comfy and hilarious n great to rewatch. THEY ARE BROTHERS UR HONOR. a little angst implications as a treat

(pooka made this gif. i sent him an identical one i made earlier and he just went ?!?!? HEY SAME :D great minds think alike lol !!. look at it)

The Imp n Skizz channel I absolutely can reccomend too, especially if youre coming from hermitcraft. it feels Redundant to say theyve got "great chemistry" theyve been basically brothers for 25 years. they are two halves of a wholeBHJVG. n&s and their skyblock are GREAT

Skizz's 3L and LL. dear GOD SKIZZ'S 3L N LL. his third life is Great, though he starts pretty lonely it has one of the most tragic storylines in 3l, and a lotta interaction not in other povs. it makes me so sad

and his Last Life. legitimately, i think skizz has the best LL pov by FAR JBHVCFHVJB. BEST IN GENERAL, i would recommend watching skizz and Supplementing with bdubs episodes to get the full insanity of best. but skizz is the best LL pov. change my mind

AND HIS LEGACY !!! though short lived, ABSOLUTELY another favorite and one i rewatch often. skizz has a bit of a rough time on his first SMP (and honestly. at the beggining i was going OH.. Oh. this is why hes not in hermitcraft. Oh. I understand nowBHJV /LH) BUT. his interactions with the legates, especially LogicalGeekBoy and Pearl (yes. hc pearl. they are SIBLINGS) is so amazing. and the episodes, with the interactions and achievements and weekly challenges are such great fun and comfort. his confidence on smps has gotten a bit better since this with 3l n LL i think, but this is a Much Watch 4 me

he also streams alot, and has a second channel w stream archives !! a lot with tango n impulse, and the friday night among us streams are a GEM. one time him n etho as imposters, gaslit (IN GRIAN'S WORDS. thats the words Grian used) grian so hard at 3am (For him) (I THINK ALSO. THE NIGHT BEFORE MCC??COULD BE WRONG) he logged off and went to sleep. n skizz felt SO bad. there are edited among us videos with a bunch of the other hermits on his channel too. Its Great

[sweetsmalldog]

Can I ask what 3rd life is? I see people talk about it, but I don't know what it is or how to get into it?

It’s a server and a series on YouTube. The members are Grain, Scar, Smajor, Rendog, Bdubs, ZombieCleo, Tango, Etho, SolidarityGaming, Impulse, Smallishbeans, Big B, Skizzleman, and Inthelittlewoods. It’s all posted on their YouTube channels!! Grian, Scar, and Smajor all have shorter videos while Ren, Cleo, and Tango’s all run longer. Bdubs doesn’t have a video of last session (session 6) because he wasn’t on during the session, he was with his daughter for her birthday.

Everyone has the same explanation of how the server works at the start of their voice over in their first episodes but basically it’s hardcore where if you die three times your permanently dead, you now can only access spectator, and the season is over for you. Your not supposed to kill people when your Green or Yellow (first or second life) but you are supposed to try to kill everyone else when your Red. Their colors are reflected in their name tag color.

[writing-the-end]

Loving LoL so far and was curious if you could give a complete list of every hermit and their magical affinity or if there was one somewhere ^^

So @theguardiansofredland is the genius that came up with all this but was too lazy to answer this himself so here’s what he copied and pasted to me. First failing in discord and then google docs. We share one braincell.

Check under the cut!

Wizards and their powers

Xisuma: Void magic. A catch all destruction magic. Can create small black holes that can suck up and destroy most anything. He can even specify what can get sucked into it. That way he doesn’t end up killing his friends.

EX: Supernova magic. Able to create light and giant bursts of hot plasma and gas. Like a sun but more light. Also can use more light based magic. Like creating a shield of plasma balls around him so whatever touches it will get hurt. Or can send out little homing missile balls of light.

TFC: Mineral Magic. By touching or ingesting metal or crystal he can gain different powers based off what the mineral is. For example Lapis lazuli can give him water breathing and malachite can give him water/storm magic. However these only have a max limit of an hour before he has to touch a charged crystal or metal again. He can charge crystals and metals in the moon light

Joe: Poetry magic. An inscription magic. He can make spells or summon creatures by making poems. The longer the poem the more powerful the spell. However what gives it true power and strength is the passion poured into the poem. He has to physically write the poem on paper for the spells to actually be cast

False: Blacksmith magic. Anything that can be made in a forge she can summon and control. She can also summon liquid, molten metal and burn people. And can heat the metal of the things she summons. The more things she summons the more energy it takes.

Stress: Ice magic. Can make and create anything out of ice. Even living statues of ice that can fight for her. Also can summon icy winds and snow. Can frost over the floor to make it ice, and create huge ice sculptures and icicles.  She herself however is not immune to the cold. And enough fire can easily put her power to shame.

Cleo: Underworld magic. Has control of ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, the undead, and anything pertaining to the underworld. Can make things rapidly decay and die if she so chooses. But she has to touch them in order to do it. She can release a terrifying scream that paralyzes any who hears it for a few seconds. Up to a max of 1 minute. However it does mean everyone, even allies.

Zed: Shepherd magic. Basically like the pied piper. Can have any animal or creature aid him Disney princess style. He can also have them fight for him like Pokémon. This is all creatures, even the mythical ones. He can even use his magic to control people. However this takes a lot of energy.

Tango: Hellbound magic. He can summon demons and other beings from hell. But his main thing is calling upon the power of the demons and can transform into something like a demon. With increased power, new abilities and power, but most importantly (to him) wings that let him fly and fire magic.

Impulse: Detonation magic. Explosions motherfucker. He make things go boom. Can create a myriad of bombs and explosives. He can also create explosions from his hands. Charging explosions and then letting them go boom right when he needs them to. However it is limited to his hands. But with this powers he can propel himself forward and up and all over the place. Launching himself through the air. He can however run out of juice very easily and fast. It’s like sprinting at full speed. You can practice to do it for longer but it still wears you the fuck out. If he gets too drained he can end up passing out or throwing up.

Cub: Portal magic. Can create portals to other places. (Like wormholes) Can even jump dimensions with enough studying. However the longer the distance the more power used. He needs to concentrate or else the portal will end up someplace random.

Scar: Terraforming magic. Can manipulate any element and thing to his whim. He can make mountains out of molehills, and change and terraform anything. But he really is only good at terraforming Earth, Flora, and Water on a large scale.

Doc: Puppeteer magic. He can puppet/posses creatures and objects. It’s like Zedaph’s but not as limited. And it’s powerful. Able to control people and things like machines. He can even give them buffs and powers. Even see through their eyes and control them like a first person video game. However this leaves him standing in a trance wherever his true body is. Leaving him open to attacks. And for the people he’s puppeting, he has to have line of sight on them.

Ren: Imagination magic. Can make up spells and create anything using his imagination. Oh you want a water bottle? He’ll just summon one with his mind creativity. His most powerful ability however is to copy and use another person’s magic. He can only use it for about an hour before it disappears. And he has to make contact with the person he wants to copy. He can do this by touching them or gaining a small bit of them. Like a hair, a piece of their clothing. As long as it has come into contact with the person he can use it. However he has to use it carefully and not too much or else it can backfire bad. He has Wolf ears and a tail cause he copied someone with werewolf magic but he performed the spell wrong. But instead of starting over he pushed on with the botched spell. And now his canine parts are a consequence of that.

Jevin: Slime magic. Can create warriors of jelly to fight for him (like lapis does with creating warriors out of water) as well as create walls made out of slime. Or slow down people by shooting it at their feet. He can use extra sticky slime to stick people or objects to walls and surfaces. But other than the sticky slime, the slime can be easily destroyed. Having the consistency of Jello

Keralis: Insect magic. Can have abilities of insects! Giant moth wings, venom, spider legs, able to have ant strength (like lifting 10 times his own body weight). However he can only use the powers if he eats the insect. So you’ll see him just drinking mango and moth smoothies and nomming on baked crickets.

Bdubs: Plant magic. Able to grow, control and take on the abilities of plants and fungi. He can even turn his limbs into vines and tree branches. The bigger sized and more plentiful amount of plants take a more concentration. And plants are not immune to fire or blades. And if the plants are coming from bdubs’ body, if they get cut or burned it hurts him. The plants sprouting from his body acting like extra limbs.

Iskall: Radiation/Nuclear magic. Can create a nuclear substance (iskallium) that can burn through things like acid or thermite. Can also channel this into bolts of radioactive lightning or fire. He can’t overdo it tho. He’ll end up getting weaker and even at points be paralyzed for a good bit if he uses too much energy/magic

Mumbo: Redstone and Electricity magic. A rare thing to have 2 types of magic. But he has it. He can create almost anything out of redstone (both animated and statue like Stress) and can use it as a conductor for his electricity. But he has poor control over his magic. Going into magic surges where his magic goes out of control. If he gets more worked up or overwhelmed the problem only gets worse. 

Grian: Sky Angel Magic. One of the rarest magic in the world. He has extremely powerful wind and storm magic. Summoning storms and creating blades that shred through everything. But he also has tremendous healing abilities. Able to make people feel energized again or physically heal their wounds. He can sprout wings that allow him to fly and he can create currents under his wings so he goes even faster. A last ditch power surge is his archangel mode. Gaining a boost in power and radiating blinding light from himself. It’s like looking at the sun. His powers are boosted and he gains light magic. However afterwards it leaves him completely drained and he is usually asleep for a few days. Grian is also very fragile. A glass canon if you will.

Etho: Shadow magic. Can slip and disappear into the shadows. Can use the shadows around him to create temporary weapons and diversions/illusions. With enough power he can even turn his physical body into shadows, making it hard to strike him. However, shadows need light. And he is powerless in darkness.

xB: Whirlpool magic! Can create whirlpools and small typhoons. To either harm or suck in unsuspecting people and ships. He has the basic Kipling abilities of water bending (I couldn’t think of a better explanation). But as a deep water Kipling, his eyes are very sensitive to light. At night he glows brighter than a sea lantern. Sharp claws and teeth allow him to draw in prey.

Beef: Taurus magic. Able to use the powers of the mythical bull as well as transform into it. He can also transform into more powerful beasts. However he needs to keep his emotions in check or else he’ll lose control of himself and become full beast, losing sentience and will. It takes a while for him to return. His kind nature conflicts with his magic, making it hard to stay in control when using lots of magic

[aion-rsa]

Star Trek: How Dr. Pulaski Helped The Next Generation Find Its Feet

https://ift.tt/3tXYTED

This Star Trek article contains minor spoilers for The Next Generation Season 2 and Lower Decks.

If you’ve been watching Star Trek: Lower Decks, then you’ve probably noticed that Dr. T’Ana is clearly based on the notorious Dr. Pulaski from Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s not that Gillian Vigman is trying to channel the performance of Diana Muldaur—because she’s clearly doing her own thing—so much as the entire vibe of Dr. T’Ana is as though our collective opinions about Dr. Pulaski were channeled into a cranky, sentient cat-alien. Pulaski was human, but if you were going to reboot the character as an alien species in Star Trek, everyone would choose to make her a Caitian, or perhaps, the other cat aliens, the Kzinti. (There are a lot of cat aliens in Trek!)

The larger point is simple: Dr. T’Ana is, in some ways, a hilariously exaggerated version of Pulaski. But I’m here to argue that the actual character and impact of Dr. Pulaski are both much more nuanced than anyone remembers. Here’s why Dr. Pulaski was surprisingly pivotal for The Next Generation, and why you should never talk bad about her ever again!

Dr. Pulaski Made Starfleet More Realistic

The story of Gates McFadden being forced to leave TNG for its second season is not a pretty chapter in Trek history. Ideally, it just shouldn’t have happened. But, if we’re only focused on the fiction, the onscreen side-effects oddly created some realism. As Picard tells Wesley in the TNG second season opener, “The Child,” the unpredictability of getting new assignments is just part of what life in Starfleet is all about. The fact that Pulaski is simply assigned to replace Crusher and Crusher takes a job at Starfleet Medical is odd, but in life, these things do happen. People’s jobs change, and other people are brought in to replace them. Khan joked that “we are one big happy fleet,” but the stories of Starfleet are very close to fiction about workplaces. And in this way, the Pulaski transfer was relatable and down-to-Earth.

Dr. Pulaski Made Data Interesting Again 

Arguably, Data was TNG’s purest representation of everything that everyone loves about Star Trek. Exploring the human condition through science-fictional means is what Trek is all about. Still, as outrageous as the concept of real humanoid robots are in real life, we tend to take them for granted when it comes to science fiction.

If Data were a real person, and you’d never met a sentient android, it would be mind-blowing to know him. The leap that TNG made with Data wasn’t just to convince us that he was artificial; somehow, that was a given. The idea that Data didn’t want to be thought of as artificial is what made him compelling. But, because the TNG crew all just accepted this right away, you could argue that some of Data’s story potential wasn’t really mined in Season 1.

Pulaski changed all that because unlike the rest of the crew, she didn’t accept the basic idea of Data right away. In her very first episode, “The Child,” Pulaski objects to Data comforting Troi during the birth of her baby, telling Data that Troi doesn’t want the “cold touch of technology.” Naturally, Troi objects and is fine with Data holding her hand while giving birth. In the same episode, Pulaski mispronounces Data’s name as “DA-TAH” instead of “DAY-TAH.” This leads to Data’s classic retort, “one is my name, the other is not.” By making Data stick-up for his basic Data-ness, Pulaski created a foil for the character, which only made the writing for Data stronger as the series went on.

Read more

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Some might say the best Data episode ever is “The Measure of a Man,” which occurs during the second season. Although Pulaski is pretty nice to Data in this episode, it’s almost impossible to imagine this episode during a Crusher season. Even as Data accepts the possibility that Maddox may take him away and dismantle me, he quotes Dr. Pulaski when talking to Geordi, saying, “life is rarely fair.” Through her initial opposition to Data, Pulaski helped Data become more human in specific ways the other characters never could. She made Data stick up for himself. She also is the one who went to the holodeck with Data and Geordi to meet Moriarity in “Elementary, Dear Data,” and for that alone, she’s awesome.

Pulaski Was Better For Wesley 

The season 2 premiere of The Next Generation, “The Child,” is a wild episode. Based on an unused script for the ill-fated 1970s Trek series Star Trek: Phase II, the story also has to convince the audience of three major changes in the status quo: First, this episode introduces Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) and the basic concept of Ten Forward. Second, this episode introduces Pulaski as the replacement for Dr. Crusher. And third — which everyone seems to forget — this episode also had to figure out what Wesley’s whole deal was now that his mom wasn’t on the Enterprise. 

Because Wil Wheaton’s Wesley was such a big part of the ethos of early TNG, it’s also easy to forget how much he became himself in season 2. After “The Child,” Wesley decides to stay on the Enterprise, which formalizes his role as an acting ensign in a way that the first season didn’t. Again, it’s hard to imagine this hitting the same way had his mom still been on the ship that year. Just by not being his actual mother, Pulaski’s presence allowed the character of Wesley to grow and change. No one would say that Wesley in season 1 is better than Wesley in season 2. And that fact is connected to Pulaski. 

Pulaski Helped Shake Up The Next Generation

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To be clear, it feels wrong to say that Pulaski should have remained a regular character on The Next Generation. Bringing back Dr. Crusher in season 3 works. The tapestry of TNG is so complicated, that, as Q taught us, pulling at one of these strings could unravel the whole picture. In other words, it’s hard to imagine early TNG shaking out differently than it did. The third season of The Next Generation is clearly the moment where the series becomes the confident and prestigious show we think of today. Season 3 wouldn’t have worked with Pulaski, but it’s possible it needed her to get there.

Just like Tasha dying in season 1 of TNG, Crusher’s departure in season 2 was useful in one: These events let the audience know that no character was safe. People could die. People could leave. And, in season 3, that meant people could get assimilated by the Borg. Pulaski’s presence in season 2 subtly helped push the show into darker and more serious territory. She wasn’t a good replacement for Crusher. The return of Dr. Crusher in season 3 is essential to making TNG what it became. But before that could happen, Pulaski had to arrive and make everyone uncomfortable.

In the Lower Decks Season 2 debut, Mariner joked about how Starfleet officers aren’t supposed to have interpersonal conflict. But, that’s exactly what Pulaski provided to The Next Generation. She was the lighting rod for conflict in the early days of this great series, and imagining its journey without her is impossible.  Star Trek: The Next Generation streams on Paramount, Amazon Prime, and Netflix.

The post Star Trek: How Dr. Pulaski Helped The Next Generation Find Its Feet appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3CfZwwi

[thekillerssluts]

Arcade Fire Channels Their Inner Absurdist in “Chemistry” Video

It’s been nearly a year since Arcade Fire released Everything Now, but 2018 seems like the right time to release a visual for the album’s centerpiece track “Chemistry.”

“When times are really crazy and fucked up, you have to be able to rely on the absurd. It’s a valuable response to the insanity,” Win Butler explains over the phone before boarding a plane that will take him and his band to Europe to resume the Everything Now Continued Tour. “I think it’s confusing to people if we make something that’s not super serious. [But] one of the pieces of our catalog is, ‘Don’t take it too serious; it’s really light.’”

That ethos is at the heart of the track, as well as its video. Directed by Ray Tintori—whose filmography includes music videos for MGMT and The Killers—and animated by Starburns Industries (Rick & Morty, Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa, Community), the clip tells the story of an animated cat (played by Tootie Tootz from Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce) and a dog who fall in love under…interesting circumstances.

We chatted with Butler about the visuals, finally working with Tintori, and the band’s ever-evolving partnership with New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band, as well as why they don’t tour as much as other bands of their stature. Watch the “Chemistry” video, check out an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the recording of “Chemistry” in-studio in New Orleans, and read our interview with Butler below.

Your “Chemistry” video expands on the song’s theme of chemical attraction, using a mix of animation and live action. What made you decide to portray the story that way?

In a sense it’s almost just sort of like a Tom & Jerry cartoon—an absurdist version of a Tom & Jerry cartoon.

I wanted to talk about an experience I think many of us have had where it’s just complete mutual attraction. My mom’s from LA and grew up Mormon, and my dad’s from Maine and is sixth-generation Harvard. They were camping in Idaho, saw each other for like ten seconds, wrote letters for five years, and have been together their whole lives. On the surface, it’s absurd why people are attracted to each other—it makes absolutely no sense. I just feel like that’s an experience a lot of people have had and wanted to try to capture that feeling a little bit.

This was your first time working with director Ray Tintori, but you’ve wanted to work with him for years. Can you talk a little bit about your fascination with his work?

“On the surface, it’s absurd why people are attracted to each other—it makes absolutely no sense.” — Win Butler

I remember when he did those MGMT videos. They kind of just came out of nowhere, and you could tell there was so much love put into it. It kind of felt like some sort of collective. We were working with Spike [Jonze] on a short film for The Suburbs at the same time around when that was happening. Spike was good friends with Ray, and we initially were going to make the film in New Orleans—way before we moved there. Ray was going to help, and we were getting everything set up, and then he started working on Beasts of the Southern Wild. We didn’t know anything about it—that was just happening in the background. So we kind of pivoted and ended up making the film in Austin, which was really cool, but it was just sort of this ships in the night moment where we had the instinct to work together.

How did you end up working with him for this video?

A lot of his work is really playful and carefree. We sent him the song and he really liked it. He loves New Orleans [and that’s where we wanted to shoot it]. I had the basic Tom & Jerry idea, and he completely bugged it out with all the robots and sharks [laughs].

The video ends in the middle of Fat Tuesday, which mirrors the playful energy of the song and also pays tribute to New Orleans, where you’ve been living the past few years. In what ways would you say the city has inspired your creativity and music?

You constantly feel like a hack [living here] because there are so many beautiful, amazing musicians. You see twelve-year-olds playing the trombone and you’re just like, “Holy shit, this kid is an embarrassment of riches.” So it’s not in a literal sense, where we’re playing a more New Orlean style of music, but it’s more just being inspired by it.

We hang out at the Preservation Hall, and the saxophone player Charlie Gabriel is like eighty-five and played on most of the Motown records. I met the drummer who played on every Ray Charles record the other night. Some of these dudes—no one knows their name, and they’re kind of forgotten in a sense, but all the shit people are sampling nowadays, they played it with their hands. It’s just really inspiring and makes you want to work harder and work on more music. It kind of gives you this false impression that music is really important and is the center of the universe, which I think is a good deception to have when you’re a musician. Even if it’s not true, it’s good to believe.

You’re about to resume your Everything Now Continued Tour, which sees you traversing Europe and North America for three months and concluding at the Life Is Beautiful festival in Las Vegas. How do you prepare for such extended time on the road?

We’ve done it a lot now, so we kind of like to leave some room for the spirit. We don’t over-practice. We know the songs really well. Our team is really familial—we’ve been working with a lot of the same people for most of our career, and they know how stuff is supposed to sound and we know how stuff’s supposed to go. So when we go home we just try to get back into our lives and get inspired.

“We hang out at the Preservation Hall, and some of these dudes—no one knows their name, but all the shit people are sampling nowadays, they played it with their hands.” — Win Butler

All the touring can really be a slog. Being away from home and all the airports… As we get older, we try to space it out a little more, so when we’re on tour we can really appreciate it and give it our all, instead of feeling bogged down. I think that’s why we tour a lot less than other bands in our position—we probably do half as many dates as a lot of bigger bands, just because we give so much. I don’t ever want to be onstage and going through the motions, and thus far I don’t think that’s ever been the case. When we’re up there, we’re in it.

You’ve been collaborating a lot lately with Preservation Hall. How has your relationship with them evolved?

[Our relationship] was born out of friendship and seeing the world in the same way. We started a Mardi Gras crew with them, and half the money goes to the Preservation Hall Foundation and half of it goes to an organization in Haiti called KANPE to try to make links between Haiti and New Orleans and celebrate the historical connection. It’s a deep partnership, and I think one that will be going for the rest of our lives.

What’s it like performing with them?

It’s very humbling. They’re such amazing, beautiful people and such great players. FL

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Tell Me More About Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) Stock

https://www.schaeffersresearch.com/faq/faq_answers/other-questions/tell-me-more-about-starbucks-corporation-(nasdaq-sbux)-stock

*Article updated on December 13, 2020*

To start off our analysis of the opportunity the lies in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), here are some of the basic details every investor should know before investing in Starbucks stock:

Sector: Consumer Cyclical Industry: Restaurants Market Capitalization: $120.05 billion Shares Outstanding: 1.17 billion Headquarters: Seattle, WA Company Established: 1985 Current CEO: Kevin R. Johnson

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) in Detail

Starbucks is the premier roaster, marketer, and retailer of specialty coffee around the world, operating in over 80 markets. Starbucks also sells a variety of coffee and tea products, and licenses its trademarks through other channels such as licensed stores and through their Global Coffee Alliance with Nestle S.A. Starbucks also sells good and services under the following brands: Teavana, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Evolution Fresh, Ethos, and Starbucks Reserve. Starbucks aims to maintain its title as the most recognized and most respected brands in the world, and to continue its rapid expansion by adding additional stores in both existing and developed markets (such as the U.S.) and in newer, higher growth potential markets (such as China).

Starbucks has three reportable operating segments: Americas (including the U.S., Canada and Latin America), International, and Channel Development. Segment revenue as percentage of total revenue looks like this: Americas with 70%, International with 20%, and Channel Development with 8%.

During Starbucks' fiscal 2020 year, revenue from company operated stores accounted for 81% of total revenue. The company’s objective is to be the leading retailer and brand of coffee and tea by selling the finest quality products and providing each customer with a unique experience The unique experience is geared to be built on superior customer service, convenience, and a seamless digital experience. Starbucks stores are often located in high-traffic locations. The stores vary in size and format and, thus, can be flexible in the types of locations. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Starbucks has introduced a new store format known as Starbucks Pickup. This new format as created in order to serve the new market demand for to-go ordering, and also take advantage of the major change in consumer behavior.

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Revenues from licensed Starbucks stores accounted for 10% of total net revenue in Starbucks' 2020 fiscal year. Licensed stores typically have a lower gross margin and a higher operating margin than company operated stores. Under the licensing model, Starbucks receives a margin on branded products and supplies sold to the licensed store operator, along with a royalty on the retail sales of the product.  

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Starbucks controls all coffee purchasing, roasting, and packaging and the global distribution of coffee used in its operations. This gives Starbucks the ability to control the quality of their product and to ensure that the product supply is in compliance with their rigorously high standard.

The price of coffee is subject to significant volatility, as it is impacted by supply and demand at time of purchase, as well as the trading activities in the Arabica coffee futures market. The supply of coffee can be impacted by factors in the producing countries such as natural disasters, corporate disease, and political and economic conditions. Starbucks has a long-lasting and strong relationship established with most of its suppliers. This brings the risk of non-delivery on purchase commitments close to zero. Starbucks also operates nine farmer support centers that are staffed with agronomists and sustainability experts who work with coffee farmers to improve both quality and yields. Starbucks' business model experiences moderate seasonal volatility, and its revenues in the second quarter are typically lower than the remainder of the year.

Starbucks' primary competitors in the coffee and tea marketplace are other specialty coffee and tea shops. Starbucks also experiences direct competition from large companies in the fast-food restaurant sector, and the ready-to-drink coffee beverage market. The products sold through Starbucks' channel development segment compete directly against specialty coffees and teas sold in grocery stores, specialty retailers, and convenience stores.

As far as risks go, Starbucks' operations have been disrupted, and will continue to be disrupted to some degree, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The virus is unpredictable and the duration and scope of the pandemic are currently unknown.  Starbucks’ potential failure to preserve the value of its brands could have a negative impact on its overall financial results, as the company's success depends largely on the sustainability of its brand. The company’s future growth relies on the ability of its business partners to implement Starbucks’ growth platforms and product innovations. At this time, Starbucks' partners have also been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Starbucks is highly dependent on the performance of its operating segment in the Americas, which represented around 70% of the company's total net revenue in the fiscal year of 2020. Also, the Americas segment was reportedly the most efficient in terms of cash flow generated, thus any type of slowdown here could result in significantly reduced cash flow overall.

Starbucks Stock Dividend Information

Starbucks stock has a current dividend yield of 1.76%. The company’s dividends per share have been stable, and have been consistently growing over the past 10 years. SBUX dividends in three years are forecasted to be covered by earnings, or a 58% payout ratio, even though SBUX dividends are not well covered at the moment with a 212% payout ratio.

Who is the Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)?

Mr.Kevin R. Johnson has been the CEO of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) since April of 2017, and Mr. Johnson has been the company president since March of 2015. From January of 2007 to September of 2008, Mr. Johnson was named President of the Platforms & Services Division of Microsoft (MSFT), where he led an organization of over 14,000 employees. Alongside Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and seven other key senior executives, Mr. Johnson served on the Senior Leadership Team that set overall strategy and direction for Microsoft. Johnson is a founding member of the board of directors at Npower, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help other nonprofits use technology to expand the reach and impact of their work. Mr. Johnson came to Starbucks Corporation with extensive experience in the technology industry. The reported compensation of Kevin R. Johnson is currently $19.24 million annually.

The Shareholder Structure of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)

Technical Analysis of Starbucks Stock

Starbucks stock has been on an uptrend since March of 2020. After each upward push, SBUX pulled back to the support line drawn on the chart below.

As of right now, it is likely that Starbucks stock price is going to pull back in the upcoming weeks, but SBUX may not get as close to the previous support line as it had before. Starbucks stock has a lot of momentum behind it right now. This momentum is primarily fueled by positive investor sentiment lately regarding the Covid-19 vaccine developments.

Looking at the relative strength index (RSI), Starbucks stock is currently overbought. With that in mind, it would be advisable for investors to watch for SBUX to pull back before investing in Starbucks stock.

Financial Analysis of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)

The following table shows the 3-year averages of the following metrics: total revenue, net income, operating cash flow, and free cash flow. Free cash flow is calculated by subtracting capital expenditures from cash flow from operations.

The following table shows the consolidated balance sheet for Starbucks Corporation, comparing fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2019 in terms of assets, liabilities, and equity.

September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020

ASSETS

Current assets:    

Cash and cash equivalents$4,350.90  $2,686.60

Short-term investments$281.20  $70.50

Accounts receivable, net$883.40  $879.20

Inventories$1,551.40  $1,529.40

Prepaid expenses and other current assets$739.50  $488.20

Total current assets$7,806.40  $5,653.90

Long-term investments$206.10 $220.00

Equity investments$478.70 $396.00

Property, plant and equipment, net$6,241.40 $6,431.70

Operating lease, right-of-use asset$8,134.10 $0.00

Deferred income taxes, net$1,789.90 $1,765.80

Other long-term assets$568.60 $479.60

Other intangible assets$552.10 $781.80

Goodwill$3,597.20 $3,490.80

TOTAL ASSETS$29,374.50 $19,219.60

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY/(DEFICIT)

Current liabilities:    

Accounts payable$997.90 $1,189.70

Accrued liabilities$1,160.70 $1,753.70

Accrued payroll and benefits$696.00 $664.60

Income taxes payable$98.20 $1,291.70

Current portion of operating lease liability$1,248.80 $0.00

Stored value card liability and current portion of deferred revenue $1,456.50 $1,269.00

Short-term debt$438.80 $0.00

Current portion of long-term debt$1,249.90 $0.00

Total current liabilities$7,346.80 $6,168.70

Long-term debt$14,659.60 $11,167.00

Operating lease liability$7,661.70 $0.00

Deferred revenue $6,598.50 $6,744.40

Other long-term liabilities$907.30 $1,370.50

Total liabilities$37,173.90 $25,450.60

Shareholders’ deficit:

Common stock ($0.001par value) — authorized, 2,400.0 shares; issued and outstanding, 1,173.3 and 1,184.6 shares, respectively$1.20 $1.20

Additional paid-in capital$373.90 $41.10

Retained deficit-$7,815.60 -$5,771.20

Accumulated other comprehensive loss-$364.60 -$503.30

Total shareholders’ deficit-$7,805.10 -$6,232.20

Noncontrolling interests$5.70 $1.20

Total deficit-$7,799.40 -$6,231.00

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY/(DEFICIT)$29,374.50 $19,219.60

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Quantitative Analysis of Starbucks Stock

(NOTE: Ratios are Calculated Based on Fiscal 2019 Data)

Liquidity Ratios

Sales to Working Capital: 51.70 (the sales to working capital ratio is relatively high, which is an indication that the company doesn’t hold enough current assets)Operating Cash Flow to Current Maturities: 1.28Working Capital: $459.6 million

Quick Ratio: 0.75Current Ratio: 1.06Interest Coverage Ratio: 3.57

Cash Ratio: 0.59

Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin: 67.28%Operating Margin: 6.64%Net Margin: 3.95%

Return on Assets: 3.82%

Return on Equity: -11.89%

Return on Invested Capital: 5.27%

Valuation Ratios

Dividend Paid Per Share: $1.61Dividend Yield: 1.76%Price-Earnings Ratio: 129.2 (Starbucks has a high P/E ratio compared to the industry average of 36.8 and the market average of 19.8)

Operating Cash Flow Per Share: $1.36

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis for Starbucks Stock

For the DCF analysis below, we used the following: an intermediate growth rate of 10%, a long-term growth rate of 4.5%, and a discount rate of 10.94%.

Based on the DCF valuation model employed here for Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), Starbucks stock is currently significantly overvalued. It is important to note that investment decisions should never be based solely on any single type of analysis, and especially just based on a single valuation analysis. Doing as much research as possible and consulting with investment professionals is always highly recommended when considering the purchase of a stock. Further, the DCF is not always the best method to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock.