#best cloud services 2024

[vastedge330]

Compare AWS and Azure in this comprehensive guide to determine which cloud platform best suits your business needs. Explore key features, pricing, and performance.

[jcmarchi]

The 10 Best Cloud Hosting Providers (June 2024)

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/the-10-best-cloud-hosting-providers-june-2024/

The 10 Best Cloud Hosting Providers (June 2024)

Cloud hosting has transformed the way businesses manage their online presence by providing scalable, flexible, and reliable hosting solutions. Unlike traditional hosting, cloud hosting uses multiple servers to distribute resources, ensuring high availability and superior performance. Choosing the best cloud hosting provider is essential for businesses seeking robust performance, security, and the flexibility to efficiently handle varying resource demand as your website grows. This guide highlights the best cloud hosting providers, helping you find the ideal solution for your needs.

What is Cloud Hosting and How Does it Work?

Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting that uses multiple servers to balance the load and maximize uptime. Unlike traditional hosting solutions that rely on a single physical server, cloud hosting utilizes a network of interconnected servers to store and manage data. This setup ensures that resources are dynamically allocated across the servers, providing enhanced flexibility, scalability, and reliability.

In cloud hosting, websites and applications are hosted on a cluster of servers, often referred to as the “cloud.” When a user accesses a website, the request is distributed across multiple servers, ensuring that no single server becomes a bottleneck. This distribution allows for better handling of traffic spikes and provides a more consistent performance, even during high demand periods.

One of the key benefits of cloud hosting is its scalability. Users can easily scale their resources up or down based on their needs, without experiencing downtime or performance issues. This makes cloud hosting ideal for businesses that experience variable traffic patterns or are planning for growth. Additionally, cloud hosting typically includes features such as automated backups, disaster recovery, and enhanced security measures, ensuring that data is protected and easily recoverable in case of an emergency.

Who is Cloud Hosting For?

Cloud hosting is designed to cater to a wide range of users, from individual developers to large enterprises, offering scalability, flexibility, and robust performance. Here are some of the key audiences who can benefit significantly from cloud hosting:

Growing Businesses and Startups

Scalability and Flexibility: Startups and growing businesses often experience fluctuating traffic and require a hosting solution that can scale resources up or down based on demand. Cloud hosting provides this flexibility, allowing businesses to pay for only what they use and scale effortlessly as they grow.

E-commerce Websites

High Performance and Reliability: E-commerce sites require high uptime and fast load times to ensure a smooth shopping experience for customers. Cloud hosting offers excellent performance and reliability, which are crucial for online stores to prevent downtime and maintain customer satisfaction.

Ecommerce stores are also prone to traffic spikes especially for brands selling seasonal products – e.g: Christmas gifts shops will have peak sales towards the end of the year. A cloud hosting plan allows you to scale easily and pay only for the resources you nees.

Developers and Tech-savvy Users

Customization and Control: Developers and tech-savvy users benefit from the control and customization options that cloud hosting provides. With root access and the ability to configure server environments, they can tailor the hosting setup to meet specific application requirements.

Enterprises and Large Organizations

Robust Infrastructure: Large organizations with complex infrastructure needs require a robust and scalable hosting solution. Cloud hosting offers the necessary resources and reliability to support enterprise-level applications, ensuring business continuity and data integrity.

Educational Institutions and Research Organizations

Resource-intensive Applications: Educational and research institutions often run resource-intensive applications and simulations. Cloud hosting provides the computational power and storage needed for these applications, along with the ability to handle large datasets.

SaaS Providers

High Availability and Scalability: Software as a Service (SaaS) providers need hosting solutions that offer high availability and the ability to scale quickly to accommodate a growing user base. Cloud hosting delivers these capabilities, ensuring their applications remain accessible and perform excellently.

These Are The Very Best Cloud Hosting Providers

Cloudways stands out as a leading managed cloud hosting platform, offering exceptional flexibility and performance. 

Known for its exceptional performance optimization tools, Cloudways ensures your website runs smoothly and efficiently. Users benefit from features such as automated backups, staging environments, and advanced caching mechanisms. Additionally, Cloudways offers 24/7 expert support to help you tackle any issues promptly.

It allows users to deploy applications across multiple cloud infrastructures, including AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode.

Cloudways Unique Features:

Cloudways excels with its managed services, providing a user-friendly platform that simplifies server management. Key features include 1-click server deployment, automated backups, and advanced caching mechanisms like Varnish, Memcached, and Redis.

Why you should choose Cloudways:

Flexible server management: Choose from multiple cloud providers and easily scale resources.

Excellent performance and uptime: High-speed performance with optimized stack and SSD-based servers.

Robust security measures: Regular security patches, dedicated firewalls, and SSL certificates.

Cloudways is the best overall choice for cloud hosting, offering unmatched flexibility, performance, and managed services.

Read Review →

Visit Cloudways →

Hostinger is renowned for its affordable cloud hosting solutions, making it an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses looking for cost-effective yet powerful hosting.

With its intuitive control panel and robust performance, Hostinger is perfect for users seeking budget-friendly yet reliable cloud hosting solutions. Hostinger’s commitment to affordability does not compromise the quality, making it an excellent choice for small businesses and individuals alike.

Hostinger Unique Features:

Hostinger provides a balance of performance and affordability, featuring a custom control panel, daily backups, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Their cloud plans also include a dedicated IP and resources.

Why you should choose Hostinger:

Very affordable pricing: Competitive rates for cloud hosting plans.

User-friendly control panel: Custom-built control panel designed for ease of use.

Decent speed and uptime: Reliable performance with adequate speed for most applications.

Hostinger is ideal for budget-conscious users seeking reliable cloud hosting without compromising on essential features.

Read Review →

Visit Hostinger →

3. SiteGround (Best customer support)

SiteGround is well-regarded for its exceptional customer support and robust cloud hosting solutions. It offers scalable and fully managed cloud hosting, perfect for growing businesses.

Their cloud hosting plans are powered by Google Cloud, ensuring top-notch performance and reliability. SiteGround provides automatic daily backups, a free CDN, and advanced security solutions. Their support team is available 24/7 via phone, chat, and ticket system, ensuring that you receive timely and knowledgeable assistance whenever needed.

SiteGround Unique Features:

SiteGround’s standout features include fully managed hosting, automatic scaling, and daily backups. They provide a dedicated support team available 24/7 via phone, chat, and ticketing systems.

Why you should choose SiteGround:

Outstanding customer support: Highly responsive and knowledgeable support team.

Scalable resources: Easily adjust CPU, RAM, and storage as needed.

Enhanced security features: AI anti-bot system, daily backups, and free SSL certificates.

SiteGround excels in customer support, making it the best choice for users who prioritize responsive and effective assistance.

Read Review →

Visit SiteGround →

Bluehost is ideal for beginners due to its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with popular platforms like WordPress. Their cloud hosting plans offer enhanced performance, scalability, and security features.

Bluehost provides a straightforward setup process, making it easy for new users to get started. Additionally, they offer 24/7 customer support and a range of helpful resources to guide you through your hosting journey.

Bluehost Unique Features:

Bluehost’s cloud hosting features include easy scalability, resource monitoring, and seamless integration with various CMS platforms, especially WordPress. Their enhanced cPanel provides a simple and intuitive user interface.

Why you should choose Bluehost:

Easiest to use: Beginner-friendly interface and straightforward setup.

Reliable performance: Solid uptime and load speeds.

Comprehensive support: 24/7 support with extensive documentation and tutorials.

Bluehost is the perfect choice for beginners, offering an intuitive interface and strong performance at an affordable price.

Read Review →

Visit BlueHost →

ScalaHosting is known for its security-centric approach to cloud hosting, offering a range of features designed to protect users’ data and applications. 

ScalaHosting is known for its focus on security, offering robust cloud hosting solutions that prioritize the safety of your data. . Their proprietary SPanel ensures easy and secure management, while the SShield security system offers real-time monitoring and protection against cyber threats. ScalaHosting’s cloud plans include free daily backups, a free CDN, and fully managed services. Their commitment to security and performance makes them an excellent choice for businesses looking to protect their online presence.

ScalaHosting Unique Features:

ScalaHosting provides innovative security features such as SShield real-time cybersecurity protection and free SPanel control panel. They also offer daily backups and free SSL certificates to enhance security.

Why you should choose ScalaHosting:

Most secure: Advanced security features like SShield and daily backups.

User-friendly control panel: SPanel is intuitive and easy to navigate.

Scalable plans: Flexible options to scale resources as your business grows.

ScalaHosting is the top choice for users who prioritize security, offering robust protection features and a user-friendly management interface.

Read Review →

Visit ScalaHosting →

A2 Hosting is renowned for its speed, providing some of the fastest cloud hosting solutions available. Their Turbo Servers offer up to 20x faster page loads compared to standard hosting. A2 Hosting’s cloud plans come with SSD storage, free site migrations, and a range of developer-friendly features. Their commitment to performance and reliability ensures that your website will run at optimal speed.

A2 Hosting Unique Features

A2 Hosting stands out with its Turbo Servers, which can load pages up to 20 times faster than standard servers. The company also provides free site migrations, SSD storage, and a developer-friendly environment.

Why you should choose A2 Hosting:

Speed: Turbo Servers for enhanced speed.

Free Migrations: Hassle-free website transfers.

Developer-Friendly: Supports multiple development tools and frameworks.

A2 Hosting is the best choice for users prioritizing speed and performance in their cloud hosting solution.

Read Review →

Visit A2Hosting →

Verpex offers exceptional value for money, providing cloud hosting services packed with features at competitive prices. Their plans include free domain registration, SSL certificates, and daily backups.

Verpex’s cloud hosting ensures high performance and reliability with multiple data center locations. Their excellent customer support and generous resource allocations make them a great choice for those seeking affordable yet feature-rich cloud hosting.

Verpex Unique Features

Verpex includes features such as free migrations, daily backups, and 24/7 support. Their cloud hosting plans are designed to offer flexibility and scalability at an affordable price.

Why you should choose Verpex:

Affordable Plans: Cost-effective hosting solutions.

Free Migrations: Easy site transfers.

24/7 Support: Around-the-clock customer service.

Verpex provides the best value for money, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious users seeking reliable cloud hosting.

Read Review →

Visit Verpex →

InterServer stands out with its commitment to providing unlimited resources, making it an excellent choice for users who need flexible and scalable hosting solutions. InterServer’s cloud hosting plans include unlimited storage, bandwidth, and email accounts, ensuring that users have the resources they need to grow their websites.

Their infrastructure is designed for high performance and reliability, with features like daily backups, free website migrations, and 24/7 customer support. InterServer’s affordability combined with unlimited features makes it a top choice for those seeking robust cloud hosting without worrying about resource limits.

InterServer Unique Features

InterServer stands out with its unlimited resources feature, which includes unlimited storage, bandwidth, and email accounts. Additionally, it offers price lock guarantees, ensuring that users do not face unexpected price hikes.

Why you should choose InterServer:

Unlimited Resources: No caps on storage or bandwidth.

Price Lock Guarantee: Fixed pricing with no surprise increases.

Strong Security: Advanced security features to protect data.

InterServer is ideal for businesses or individuals with high resource demands, providing a cost-effective solution with extensive features.

Visit Interserver →

Kamatera offers highly customizable cloud hosting solutions, allowing users to configure their server resources to meet specific needs. Their cloud platform provides flexible scaling, a wide range of server configurations, and global data centers.

Kamatera’s pay-as-you-go pricing model ensures you only pay for the resources you use. Their 24/7 customer support and high performance make them an excellent choice for businesses with unique hosting requirements.

Kamatera Unique Features

Kamatera’s standout feature is its high level of customization, allowing users to configure CPU, RAM, storage, and other resources as needed. It also offers a wide range of server locations globally.

Why you should choose Kamatera:

High Customizability: Tailor resources to specific requirements.

Global Data Centers: Multiple server locations for optimal performance.

Scalability: Easily scale resources up or down based on demand.

Kamatera is perfect for users who need a customizable and scalable cloud hosting solution with a global presence.

Visit Kamatera →

DreamHost’s cloud hosting plans are tailored for developers, offering scalable resources, full root access, and a wide range of developer tools. Their OpenStack-based cloud platform provides flexibility and reliability.

DreamHost’s cloud plans include free bandwidth, SSD storage, and high security. Their excellent performance and developer-friendly features make them a top choice for tech-savvy users.

DreamHost Unique Features

DreamHost offers features like full root access, scalable SSD storage, and compatibility with a variety of development languages and frameworks. Its DreamCompute service allows for flexible and powerful cloud computing.

Why you should choose DreamHost:

Developer Tools: Extensive tools and APIs for developers.

Scalable SSD Storage: Fast and scalable storage solutions.

Reliable Infrastructure: High performance and uptime guarantees.

DreamHost is the top choice for developers seeking a flexible, powerful, and developer-centric cloud hosting environment.

Visit DreamHost →

How We Chose The Best Cloud Hosting Providers

Selecting the best cloud hosting providers involved a thorough evaluation process where we considered several key factors to ensure that our recommendations meet the highest standards. Below, we detail the critical considerations we made when choosing these hosts.

Unique Value

We considered any unique features that add value to the hosting service. This includes tools for performance optimization, user-friendly control panels, website builders, and integration with third-party services. These features can enhance the overall hosting experience and provide users with additional functionality that simplifies website management and development.

Performance

Performance is paramount when it comes to cloud hosting. We assessed the speed, uptime, and overall reliability of each provider. High-performance cloud hosting ensures that websites and applications run smoothly, providing an optimal user experience without downtime or slow loading times.

Support

Customer support is a crucial aspect of any hosting service. We evaluated the quality and availability of customer support provided by each host. This includes looking at support channels (live chat, phone, email), the responsiveness of the support team, and the availability of helpful resources like tutorials and knowledge bases. Excellent support can significantly impact the overall hosting experience, especially for users who may need assistance with technical issues.

Security

Security features were a significant factor in our evaluation. We examined the security measures each provider implements, such as SSL certificates, DDoS protection, regular backups, and compliance with security standards. Robust security features protect sensitive data and ensure the integrity of websites and applications hosted on these platforms.

Pricing

Affordability and value for money were also key considerations. We compared the pricing plans of each host, looking for competitive rates that offer excellent value. This includes assessing what features and resources are included in each plan and ensuring that there are no hidden costs. We aimed to recommend providers that offer a good balance of cost and quality, making cloud hosting accessible to a wide range of users.

Scalability

Scalability is essential for businesses that anticipate growth. We looked at how easily users can scale their resources up or down with each provider. This includes the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade plans and the ability to add resources like storage or bandwidth as needed without significant downtime or technical hurdles.

FAQs

What is cloud hosting?

Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting that uses multiple servers to balance the load and maximize uptime. Instead of relying on a single server, websites and applications are hosted on a network of connected servers, providing greater flexibility and reliability.

How is cloud hosting different from traditional hosting?

Cloud hosting differs from traditional hosting by distributing resources across multiple servers, reducing the risk of downtime and improving scalability. Traditional hosting often relies on a single server, making it less flexible and more vulnerable to outages.

What are the benefits of cloud hosting?

The main benefits of cloud hosting include enhanced performance, better scalability, improved reliability, and robust disaster recovery options. It also offers automatic updates, flexible pricing, and easy resource management, making it ideal for growing businesses and high-traffic websites.

How do I choose the best cloud hosting provider?

To choose the best cloud hosting provider, consider factors such as performance, customer support, security features, pricing, scalability options, and additional features like backups and monitoring. Reading reviews and comparing the specific needs of your website or application can also help in making an informed decision.

[techavtar]

[ivesambrose]

August 2024 Mini Messages 💛

1. 2. 3.

Like that Taylor Swift song right?

I intend that everyone has a good month regardless of the astrological weather.

To book a personal reading with me DM or email me at ivesambrose@gmail.com

Services Offered

Reviews

Thanks for the tip ✨

Picture 1

You'll be diving in deep into your subconscious this month even if it means wanting to isolate from people and places for a while. Suddenly everything seems So over the top', right? And nothing and no one is phasing you anymore. This month is the first page of a big journey you're about to take so if you don't have a journal already I'd highly recommend you start logging down certain things for the purpose of accountability, gratitude, planning, manifestion, learning as well as progress. I'm letting you know, whatever you're about to do for yourself will make you stand out and you might feel a certain responsibility upon yourself as you end up inspiring others as well. You may be a person with more independent way of thinking and doing things so it'll feel strange when you end up becoming someone who leads by example. You might find yourself breaking out from a restricted environment, mindset or lifestyle. It is likely your financial situation improves as well. You might feel a bit eccentric this month with your ideas and thrist for knowledge and experiences that shape you as a person.

You might just block out the things that don't serve you and fixate on what you want deliberately. You're too engrossed in your own world and your own untouched potential to consider anything else that is eating up too much of your valuable focus. You have decided to become a version of yourself that you have chained up for long and you will become it.

Picture 2

Your entire focus and drive has shifted to your career and public image. You've decided that even if you have to go at it alone, you will gO at it alone. But this month you'l likely learn that you aren't as by yourself as you thought you have been. Be mindful of doing anything impulsive or taking on more than you can chew or over exerting your body. Some of you may also find a healthy outlet for the emotions you have been putting a lid on. You might make new friends or deepen your relationship with existing ones. There will be moments of joy and celebration too when you least expect it. Deep down you have this inner knowing that things will go smoothly or will work out if you simply have just a teeny tiny bit more faith in yourself. You might be making travel plans too that will likely take off in September. You will also be building up your confidence this month and might also be learning a new skill, taking up a hobby or language. Thing is, you will be forced to take a pause in between or simply slow down and when that happens you might wonder okay how long is this going to take? Or you might assume your progress has halted which is far from the truth, you're in for a sweet victory consider it a reward for your persistence and your mindset.

Picture 3

There's a need to go off the radar and keep certain things private to the public eye. You might feel uncomfortable and untrusting towards a lot of people maybe you're right too, some of them aren't as reliable and don't really have your best wishes at hand. You might also consider investing in something privately for yourself for future use or you might get a return on an investment you had made. A lot of you may have been dealing with resentment, grief or some kind of fear, maybe past actions of someone towards you or how you had been with them. However. you'll find clarity and make peace in regards to what you're going through. You'll overcome something that has been hovering over you like a dark cloud for months. Some of you might also be manifesting love or end up manifesting a connection that earlier felt impossible to have in your life. You may also consider making business plans this month that you will likely launch by the end of the year. You may also consider cutting chords and might feel a sense of guilt doing so, but you'll feel much lighter and you'll find love and wealth and overall mental peace flowing into your life much easier. All the weight you've been carrying is itself begging you to let go of it, it no longer has anything to serve in your life.

[genshin-impact-updates]

"Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze" Version 4.4 Update Details

Dear Travelers,

Below are the details of the Version 4.4 update "Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze" and the update compensation.

〓Compensation Details〓

Maintenance Compensation: Primogems ×300 (60 Primogems per hour the servers are down)

Issue Fix Compensation: Primogems ×300 (please refer to the relevant compensation mail for more details)

〓Scope of Compensation〓

Maintenance Compensation: Travelers who have reached Adventure Rank 5 or above by 2024/01/31 06:00 (UTC+8).

Compensation must be claimed before the end of Version 4.4.

Issue Fix Compensation: Travelers who reach Adventure Rank 5 or above by 2024/01/31 06:00 (UTC+8).

Please log in and claim your compensation before 2024/02/03 06:00 (UTC+8).

Our developers will distribute compensation to Travelers via in-game mail within 5 hours after the update maintenance is finished. The mail will expire after 30 days, so don't forget to claim the attached compensation in time.

〓Update Schedule〓

Update maintenance begins 2024/01/31 06:00 (UTC+8) and is estimated to take 5 hours.

〓How to Update Game Client〓

PC: Close the game, open the Genshin Impact Launcher, and click Update.

iOS: Open the App Store and tap Update.

Android: Open the game and follow the directions on-screen.

PS5™ and PS4™: Highlight Genshin Impact from the Home Screen, press the OPTIONS button and select "Check for Update."

Please do not hesitate to contact Customer Service if you encounter any issues installing the new version. We will do our very best to resolve the issue.

〓Update Details〓

I. New Areas

New Areas in Liyue Now Available

◇ New Areas: In Version 4.4, the following areas in Liyue will become available: Chenyu Vale: Upper Vale, Chenyu Vale: Southern Mountain, and Mt. Laixin.

※ As long as you have completed Archon Quest Prologue: Act III "Song of the Dragon and Freedom," a Teleport Waypoint will be automatically unlocked near Liyue's Chenyu Vale: Upper Vale (If you have already completed this Archon Quest, the Teleport Waypoint will be unlocked after the update). You'll also receive the Primogem reward for this Teleport Waypoint when it unlocks automatically.

New System in Liyue

Rainjade Oblation

Fujin's adeptal energy has transformed into many Spirit Carp that are scattered all over Chenyu Vale. Collect the energy within Spirit Carp and transfer it into the Votive Rainjade within Carp's Rest to increase its level and obtain the blessings of Chenyu Vale.

Rainjade Oblation System Unlock Criteria:

• Complete the World Quest "The Cloud-Padded Path to the Chiwang Repose"

In addition, there will be new Fishing Points and "Radiant Spincrystals" in Liyue.

II. New Characters

5-Star Character "Passerine Herald" Xianyun (Anemo)

◇ Vision: Anemo

◇ Weapon: Catalyst

◇ One of the Mighty and Illuminated Adepti of Jueyun, known as "Cloud Retainer." Expert in all kinds of mechanical contraptions, her heart now turns towards the affairs of the mortal world, through which she walks under the name "Xianyun."

◆ Elemental Skill "White Clouds at Dawn"

◆ Xianyun enters the Cloud Transmogrification state, in which she will not take Fall DMG, and uses Skyladder once. In this state, Xianyun can cast Skyladder continuously to leap, where her Plunging Attack will be converted into an even stronger Driftcloud Wave instead, which deals AoE Anemo DMG. The more times Skyladder is used, the more DMG the resulting Driftcloud Wave will deal and the larger its AoE.

◆ Elemental Burst "Stars Gather at Dusk"

◆ Brings forth a sacred breeze that deals AoE Anemo DMG and heals all nearby characters. It will also summon the "Starwicker" mechanism that follows the active character and periodically heals all nearby party members. When the Starwicker has Adeptal Assistance stacks, characters will have their jump height increased. When they complete a Plunging Attack, Adeptal Assistance stacks will be consumed and deal AoE Anemo DMG.

4-Star Character "Leonine Vanguard" Gaming (Pyro)

◇ Vision: Pyro

◇ Weapon: Claymore

◇ Guard of the Sword and Strongbox Secure Transport Agency, and the head of the "Mighty Mythical Beasts" Wushou troupe.

◆ Elemental Skill "Bestial Ascent"

◆ Gaming pounces forward using the Wushou arts, leaping high into the air after coming into contact with a target or surface. If he immediately uses a Plunging Attack, he will use Plunging Attack: Charmed Cloudstrider instead, dealing AoE Pyro DMG to opponents hit.

◆ Elemental Burst "Suanni's Gilded Dance"

◆ Gaming enters Wushou Stance, briefly applying Pyro to him, recovering a fixed amount of HP, and summons his companion, the Suanni Man Chai, to smash into his target, dealing AoE Pyro DMG. After doing so, Man Chai will then attempt to roll towards Gaming. When it links up with Gaming, Man Chai will leave the field and reset the CD for Gaming's Elemental Skill, Bestial Ascent. While Wushou Stance is active, his resistance to interruption is increased, and when Gaming lands with Charmed Cloudstrider attack or completes the forward pounce attack from Bestial Ascent with over 50% HP, he will summon Man Chai again.

III. New Equipment

New Weapon (Examples based on Refinement Rank 1)

Crane's Echoing Call (5-Star Catalyst)

After the equipping character hits an opponent with a Plunging Attack, all nearby party members' Plunging Attacks will deal 28% increased DMG for 20s. When nearby party members hit opponents with Plunging Attacks, they will restore 2.5 Energy to the equipping character. Energy can be restored this way every 0.7s. This energy regain effect can be triggered even if the equipping character is not on the field.

◆ During the event wish "Epitome Invocation," the event-exclusive 5-star weapon Crane's Echoing Call (Catalyst) will receive a huge drop-rate boost!

IV. New Outfits

Ganyu: Twilight Blossom

◇ A light and graceful festive outfit accented mainly in black nightshade and cerulean blue. Its hair accessory is as radiant as the Qingxin — a pairing that Ganyu is most fond of.

◆ Between the start of the Version 4.4 update and 2024/03/11 03:59, Ganyu's outfit "Twilight Blossom" will be available for purchase in the Character Outfit Shop at a limited-time discount! During the discount period, the price of the outfit is 1,350 Genesis Crystals. The price will revert to 1,680 Genesis Crystals after the limited-time discount ends. The outfit can only be purchased once.

Shenhe: Frostflower Dew

◇ This Lantern Rite gift that Shenhe received is a set of elegant formal attire that her master, Cloud Retainer, had commissioned for her. Red ropes still adorn her arms, but the bitter cold in Shenhe's heart has faded.

◆ Between the start of the Version 4.4 update and 2024/03/11 03:59, Shenhe's outfit "Frostflower Dew" will be available for purchase in the Character Outfit Shop at a limited-time discount! During the discount period, the price of the outfit is 1,350 Genesis Crystals. The price will revert to 1,680 Genesis Crystals after the limited-time discount ends. The outfit can only be purchased once.

Xingqiu: Bamboo Rain

◇ Formal wear prepared by the Feiyun Commerce Guild for Xingqiu. The bamboo prints are refined and the cut is most flattering, but Xingqiu's favorite aspect of the outfit is its inner pockets, into which a thinner novel might be stuffed.

◆ During Version 4.4, Travelers can obtain Xingqiu's outfit "Bamboo Rain" for free by participating in the limited-time "Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze" event.

◆ After Version 4.4 is over, Travelers can buy the outfit in the Character Outfit Shop.

V. New Main Story

1. New Story Quest

Xianyun's Story Quest - Grus Serena Chapter: Act I "A Thousand Moonlit Miles"

Permanently available after the Version 4.4 update

◆ Quest Unlock Criteria:

• Reach Adventure Rank 40 or above

• Complete Archon Quest Interlude Chapter: Act I "The Crane Returns on the Wind"

2. New World Quests

◆ New World Quests: "Chenyu's Blessings of Sunken Jade" Quest Chain, "The Cloud-Padded Path to the Chiwang Repose," "Threefold Expectations," "A Wangshan Walk to Remember," "Scrolls and Sword Manuals of Guhua," "Shrouded Vale, Hidden Hero," "The Roaming Abode," "The Dealing Sands," "Our Chenyu Vale Trek," "Chili Con Cloudy," "Qiaoying, the Village of Many Tales," "Temporary Acclimatization," etc.

VI. New Enemies

Solitary Suanni

◇ These elegant and proud mystical beasts only live in mountains shrouded in adeptal energy.

It can use Hydro and Anemo simultaneously in battle. Render it Frozen while it is gathering Hydro-aligned adeptal energy, before using Shatter, Melt, or other Elemental Reactions to break the ice and cause it to enter an immobile state. When it is gathering Anemo-aligned adeptal energy, use attacks from Elements that can react with Anemo to destroy the Spiritwind Pearls summoned during the process to achieve the same advantage.

Located at Chenyu Vale: Southern Mountain

Xuanwen Beast

◇ Fierce creatures that inhabit the mountains of Chenyu Vale.

Use Elemental Reactions to freeze this creature and use Shatter, Melt, and other Elemental Reactions to break the ice and render it immobile temporarily.

VII. Other Update Details

New Recipes:

○ Chef Mao (NPC): Honey Char Siu

○ Lianfang (NPC): Chenyu Brew, Jadevein Tea Eggs, and Tea-Smoked Squab

○ Licai (NPC): Deep-Fried Doublecrisp and Braised Meatballs

○ World Quest Rewards: Guhua Fish & Lamb Soup and Fine Tea, Full Moon.

○ Event Reward: Eight-Treasure Duck

New Character Specialty Dishes:

○ Xianyun's specialty: "Encompassing Gladness"

○ Gaming's specialty: "Yummy Yum Cha"

Adds new "Chenyu's Splendor" Achievement category, and adds new Achievements to the "Wonders of the World" category.

Adds Set 29 of "Paimon's Paintings" chat emojis.

Adds some prompts for loading screens.

New Namecards:

"Xianyun: White Clouds": Reward for reaching Friendship Lv. 10 with Xianyun

"Gaming: Man Chai": Reward for reaching Friendship Lv. 10 with Gaming

"Achievement: Adeptal Valley": Reward for completing all achievements under "Chenyu's Splendor"

"Chenyu: Rainjade Rite": Reward for reaching Rainjade Oblation Level 10

"Travel Notes: Vibrant Harriers": Reward obtained via the BP system

New Wildlife: Fluff-Fleece Goat, Malachitin Lumibug, Redbill Pelican, Jadestone Turtle, and Velvetfall Duck

New Fish: Jade Heartfeather Bass

New Function: Fast Equip Artifacts

(1) Quick Configuration: A set of Artifacts will be put together for your reference based on data from recently active players. When generating a configuration, it will only consider Artifacts not already equipped by other characters.

(2) Custom Configuration: Custom Configuration data will be based on the settings laid out for each character. When using a Custom Configuration, you can configure based on conditions such as Artifact Main Affix, Set Type, and Minor Affixes and choose whether or not to use Artifacts that haven't already been equipped. The configuration created by Custom Configuration can be adjusted, with alternative Artifacts sorted based on the overall priority levels of their Artifact Set and Affixes. When "Other Options" > "All" is selected in Custom Configuration, when the configuration includes Artifacts already equipped by another character, the Artifacts will be removed and equipped to the target character.

Adds the "Borderless Mode" fullscreen option in "Display Mode" in "Settings / Graphics" interface on PC.

"Genius Invokation TCG" Gameplay Update:

New Character Cards: Thoma, Sayu, and their corresponding Talent cards. Corresponding invitation duels and guest challenges have been added to the Player List.

New Character Cards: Cryo Hypostasis, Millennial Pearl Seahorse, and their corresponding Talent Cards. Their Tavern Challenges have also been added.

New Action Cards: "Sapwood Blade," "Veteran's Visage," "Jeht," "Silver and Melus," "Machine Assembly Line," "Sunyata Flower," and "Matsutake Meat Rolls" can be purchased from Prince at The Cat's Tail.

The Forge Realm's Temper is once again available. The theme of this edition is "The Forge Realm's Temper: Clever Stratagems":

(1) During The Forge Realm's Temper: Clever Stratagems, you can select the parameters for each stage. Parameters that may be set include: stage difficulty, the round limit for the match, and enemy bonus HP.

(2) After you complete a certain stage battle, you will gain a score based on the difficulty selected for each parameter in said stage. At the same time, you can claim the corresponding rewards when your highest score reaches a specific score.

Spiral Abyss

Floor 11 Ley Line Disorder changed to:

• All characters in the party gain a 75% Anemo DMG Bonus.

Updated the monster lineup on Floors 11 – 12 of the Spiral Abyss.

Starting from the first time that the Lunar Phase refreshes after updating to Version 4.4, the three Lunar Phases will be as follows:

Phase I:

Ascendant Moon

When a character receives healing, it will be counted. When the count reaches a total of 16, a shockwave will be unleashed at the character's position, dealing True DMG to nearby opponents and clearing the count. 1 such shockwave can be unleashed every 8s.

Phase II:

Resilient Moon

After the active character's Plunging Attacks hit opponents, the character's Plunging Attack DMG is increased by 20% for 8s. This effect can be triggered once every 0.1s. Max 3 stacks. Each stack's duration is counted independently. This effect will be cleared if the character leaves the field.

Phase III:

Plummeting Moon

After the active character's Plunging Attacks hit opponents, unleash a shockwave at the character's location, dealing True DMG to nearby opponents. 1 such shockwave can be unleashed every 2s.

〓Adjustments & Optimizations〓

● Serenitea Pot

Adds new Furnishing categories, reclassifies certain Furnishings, and adjusts the sorting of certain categories.

Refactors the filter function in the "Inventory > Furnishings" and "Creation / Furnishings" interfaces, now supporting more conditions and allowing direct searches.

When placing Furnishings using the same editing mode, your current position in lists will be remembered. It will not be reset after switching to another Furnishing category.

Adds the display of Friendship Levels in the Companion tab on the editing screen. Characters without Friendship Lv. 10 will be displayed in descending order of Friendship Level.

Optimizes the sorting of Character Hangout Events and their corresponding Hangout Memories in the Furnishing "Lingering Moment."

● Genius Invokation TCG

Standardizes the skill descriptions of certain cards in some challenges.

Adjusts the text description for the Talent Card "Rending Vortex" of the Character Card "Dvalin" (actual effect remains unchanged).

The original description was: "When your Dvalin, who has this card equipped, is on the field, when Total Collapse attached to opposing active character is removed: Apply Total Collapse to the next opposing standby character."

The adjusted description is: "When your Dvalin, who has this card equipped, is on the field, when Total Collapse attached to an opposing character is removed: Apply Total Collapse to the next opposing standby character."

● System

Increases the number of party compositions in the "Party Setup > Configure Team" interface from 10 to 15.

Renames "Fullscreen" in "Display Mode" to "Borderless" in the "Settings / Graphics" interface in the Irminsul Server on PC (actual display effect remains unchanged; after said adjustment, available options in "Display Mode" in the Irminsul Server on PC are "Borderless" and "Windowed").

Adds a red notification dot in the "Adventurer Handbook > Commissions" interface to remind Travelers to go to the Adventurers' Guild and claim Bonus Rewards after obtaining all 4 Daily Commission Rewards every day.

Adjust the "Exit Challenge" interface in the "Test Run" event and add the "Other Trial Stages" option.

Adjust the "Mystic Offering" interface to support the display of the corresponding Artifacts' 2-Piece Set and 4-Piece Set effects.

Adjusts the source descriptions of Character Ascension Materials and adds a shortcut to "Adventurer Handbook > Domains."

Adjusts certain button texts in the "Artifacts Filter" and "Artifact Auto-Lock" interfaces.

● Audio

Adds a voice-over trigger scenario: Related voice-overs will be triggered the first time you obtain a character and view their character portrait, as well as the first time you obtain a character's outfit and view their character outfit portrait.

Optimizes the "Character/Ascension" screen so that characters' idle voice-overs now stop completely after being interrupted by Ascension voice-overs.

Optimizes the Korean voice-overs for certain characters and quests.

● Other

If related achievements of a Commission Quest are not unlocked yet, the probability of that Commission Quest appearing will increase.

The "Dynamic Character Resolution" feature has been added for PlayStation® and some PC devices. This will be activated by default on PlayStation® and no option will be shown. On PCs that support this feature, you will be able to find and enable "Dynamic Character Resolution" in Settings > Graphics (this option will not be shown on PCs that currently do not support it).

The text descriptions of some achievements have been fixed (the corresponding Achievement Trophies on PlayStation® cannot be modified currently).

After the Version 4.4 update, new UID naming rules will be used for newly registered accounts on the Asia server (existing account UIDs will be unaffected).

〓Genius Invokation TCG Balance Adjustment〓

Adjust the effect of the Event Card "In Every House a Stove" to the following: Draw a number of cards equal to the current Round number minus 1. (Up to 4 cards can be drawn in this way).

Adjusts the effect of the Equipment Card "Vourukasha's Glow": Only after triggering its "draw 1 card" effect, its other effect "heal the attached character for 1 HP" can take effect in that same Round.

Adjusts the effect of the status "Lightning Rod" for the Character Card "Thunder Manifestation": The effect "While this status is active, can be triggered once: DMG received by the attached character from Thunder Manifestation or its summons is increased by 1." has been adjusted to "When the attached character takes DMG from Thunder Manifestation or its summons: Remove this state, cause this DMG instance to increase by 1."

Adjusts the Elemental Dice cost of the Talent Card "Grieving Echo" for the Character Card "Thunder Manifestation", and adds effects: The number of dice required has increased from 0 Electro Dice to 3, and adds the effects "Combat Action: When your active character is Thunder Manifestation, equip this card." as well as "After Thunder Manifestation equips this card, immediately use Strifeful Lightning once."

〓Bug Fixes〓

● Enemies

Fixes an issue whereby, when the enemy "Black Serpent Knight" was defeated, the defeat animation would not play properly in certain situations.

Fixes an issue whereby, when the enemy "Armored Crab" was hit by Chevreuse's Elemental Burst, it would remain suspended in mid-air for an unusually long time in certain situations.

Fixes an issue whereby, when different Pneuma- or Ousia-aligned enemies were overloaded at the same time, there was a chance that the enemy "Arithmetic Enhancer Mek" would fail to remove its teammates' Deactivated statuses as it should do.

● Character

Fixes an issue whereby when Lyney approached opponents after turning into a Grin-Malkin Cat with his Elemental Burst, there was a small chance that he would deal an additional instance of DMG to the same opponent.

Fixes an issue with the Traveler (Hydro) whereby, when the Sourcewater Droplets produced by casting their Elemental Skill were absorbed, a special effect would abnormally remain.

Fixes an issue whereby, when Sayu and Furina were in the same party, there was a chance that Sayu's Passive Talent "Yoohoo Art: Silencer's Secret" would abnormally fail to take effect.

● System

Fixes an issue in the "Adventurer Handbook > Commissions" interface whereby despite still lacking an extremely tiny amount of Encounter Points, it would suggest there were already enough to claim the rewards.

Fixes an issue whereby the in-game camera would work abnormally when the character used the drive valve in the Fortress of Meropide: Abandoned Production Zone under certain circumstances.

Fixes an issue whereby the special effects of the All-Devouring Narwhal would display abnormally in the Living Beings section of the Archive after the Version 4.3 update.

Fixes an issue with Artifacts with 1-Piece Set effect whereby the 1-Piece Set effect would display abnormally as activated without being equipped.

Removes redundant scene objects under certain lower graphics quality settings.

● Genius Invokation TCG

Fixes an issue with the Character Card "Cryo Cicin Mage" whereby while using her Elemental Burst, if she took DMG from triggering "Sparks 'n' Splash," "Fatui Ambusher," and other Combat Statuses, the Shield Points of her Flowing Cicin Shield generated by the Cryo Cicins would be incorrect.

Fixes an issue with the Character Card "Layla" whereby the Combat Status "Curtain of Slumber Shield" created by her Elemental Skill lacked the "Shield" tag.

Fixes an issue during challenges whereby, when cards imbued with either Pneuma or Ousia energy became Deactivated after casting skills that needed to be prepared, the statuses of these skills would abnormally remain.

Fixes an issue whereby, when the Character Card "Alhaitham" had the Status "Chisel-Light Mirror" attached, the text description for the character's Normal Attack abnormally failed to state that DMG inflicted would be Dendro DMG (this was purely a textual error as the actual effect was working properly).

● Audio

Fixes an issue whereby there would be abnormal background noises when enhancing Artifacts.

Fixes grammar mistakes and errors with the Chinese voice-overs for certain characters and quests.

Fixes an issue whereby Kuki Shinobu and Navia's Korean chat voice-overs did not match their actual idle animations.

● Other

Fixes an issue in Co-Op Mode whereby the host couldn't use the Xenochromatic Ball Octopus's ability to interact with targets under certain circumstances.

Fixes an issue in Co-Op Mode whereby Leisurely Otter (Wildlife) could abnormally swim above the water surface under certain circumstances.

Fixes an issue with Hydro Crystalflies in Fontaine's underwater areas whereby there was a chance that they didn't appear or they got startled before the character approached close enough.

Fixes an issue in the Serenitea Pot whereby the "Invite" button of the Gift Set "Full Force Forward in the Forbidden Fortress" was being abnormally obstructed by the furnishing model.

Fixes an issue whereby, when using a controller to interact with the gadget "Crystalfly Trap" or "Parametric Transformer," the screen for converting Genesis Crystals into Primogems would be abnormally opened in certain situations.

Fixes some text errors in certain languages and optimizes text. (Note: Related in-game functions have not changed. Travelers can view the changes in different languages by going to the Paimon Menu > Settings > Language and changing the Game Language.)

Text-related fixes and optimizations in English include

◆ Optimizes inconsistencies between certain voice-overs and the corresponding lines in the Version 4.2 Archon Quest

◆ Optimizes certain translations on the Artifact Auto-Lock screen.

*This is a work of fiction and is not related to any actual people, events, groups, or organizations.

"PlayStation", "PS5", "PS4", "DualSense", "DUALSHOCK" are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

[storiesaplenty]

Jelly Bracelets (7)

Eddie Munson x f/Reader

Jelly Bracelets Masterlist

This has not been proofread. Please enjoy, though.

Warnings: swearing. Playing with boobs. Mentions sex, but nothing detailed.

Gifs & photos do not belong to me: 1st gif: @dixiedarky

WC: 753

©️ storiesaplenty 2024: Do not repost or translate my work. This is the only place I post my work.

Glittery Clear - wearer will let the snapper "feel up" or touch any body part

Eddie Munson may be the freak of Hawkins, but he is your best friend. Who is always willing to teach you new things, even when you get new bracelets from your cousin. Eddie will even go as far as teaching & showing you what each one means.

I am over at Eddie's place, helping him do his laundry.

He always puts it off go the very last minute, and right now he is wearing his uncle's clothes.

"You shouldn't put it off this long." I told him, as I hung up his jeans to try.

I may take his clothes back to my place and throw them in the dryer with my clothes.

"Thanks mom." He said sarcastically to me.

Just as we were about done, some dark clouds were gathering in the sky, making Eddie moan.

"Let's go to my place and dry this stuff. I have a load I have to put in the dryer."

Him and I quickly took everything down, and placing it back in the laundry basket just as the heavens opened up and it started to rain once more.

We got to my car, him throwing his clothes in the backseat as I started up the car.

He got in, joining me for the car ride back to my place.

The radio was playing, and I could tell he was upset about the music.

"You can change the station."

"Pfft, like any station around here will be playing my type of music. You know, the devil's music."

He made me laugh when he did the horn thing against the sides of his head and stick his tongue out.

"Hopefully I can save up and get a car with a tape player."

"Nah, your car is fine. Better than my van."

"That's because you need to get it serviced once in a blue moon."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw him just mouth 'yeah yeah.' and then look out the window, silence once more.

◆

I put our clothes in the dryer, and found Eddid in my room, not where I left him mind you.

I left him channel surfing in the living room, but right now, I found him at my dresser, with the top drawer open.

"Being a pervert again, Mr Munson?" I asked him as I leaned against my doorframe.

"Oh very much so." He turned around to face me, and my eyes widened when I saw what was in his hands.

It was the same bra I was wearing when I flashed him the other day.

"Okay, enough playing with my stuff, put it back Eddie." I tried to snatch the bra from his hand, but he took a step back.

"So which one are you wearing now?" He asked me, his eyes zoned in my chest."

"None of your concern. Give it back." I demanded.

"Come on, show me or better yet," He didn't even finish what he was saying as he snapped the glitter clear one, which I already knew what that one meant.

"Really Eddie? You want to feel me up?"

He gave me a small smile and shrugged.

"Fine." I closed the door behind me, not wanting to be interrupted by Steve or Robin when they come back home from work.

I took off my shirt, kind of embarrassed about what bra I am wearing right now.

It isn't one of my nice ones, and I was sure no one was going to be seeing it today.

Eddie's hands were on my shoulders, massaging them for a minute, and then his hands slowly slid down until they were cupping my breasts over my bra.

He wasn't squeezing hard, just enough for me to feel it, and all I wanted to do was moan, but I held that in.

"Can you take," I didn't let him finish as I reached up behind me and unclipped my bra.

He pulled his hands back just a bit to let the bra fall, which I tossed to the side on my bed.

The moment his hands made contact with my bare breasts, I gasped.

Eddie looked at me, his brown eyes wide as he heard me.

His hands squeezed them a bit, and closed my eyes, soft little pants falling from my lips.

"Who knew they were so sensitive." Eddie said to me.

I opened my eyes to watch him play with my tits.

I could feel myself getting wet, my pussy clenching around nothing and I wanted nothing more than to push Eddie on his back and ride him.

I have no idea how long he felt me up for, but he was the one who pulled away first, standing up and clearing his throat.

"I gotta go."

And he was out the door.

What hell just happened?

White (6) ♥︎ Glittery Pink (8)

[lenbryant]

(long post from The Atlantic) I’m Running Out of Ways to Explain How Bad This Is

What’s happening in America today is something darker than a misinformation crisis.

Charlie Warzel is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of its newsletter Galaxy Brain, about technology, media, and big ideas. He can be reached via email.

October 10, 2024

Updated at 9:43 a.m. ET on October 11, 2024

The truth is, it’s getting harder to describe the extent to which a meaningful percentage of Americans have dissociated from reality. As Hurricane Milton churned across the Gulf of Mexico last night, I saw an onslaught of outright conspiracy theorizing and utter nonsense racking up millions of views across the internet. The posts would be laughable if they weren’t taken by many people as gospel. Among them: Infowars’ Alex Jones, who claimed that Hurricanes Milton and Helene were “weather weapons” unleashed on the East Coast by the U.S. government, and “truth seeker” accounts on X that posted photos of condensation trails in the sky to baselessly allege that the government was “spraying Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton” in order to ensure maximum rainfall, “just like they did over Asheville!”

As Milton made landfall, causing a series of tornados, a verified account on X reposted a TikTok video of a massive funnel cloud with the caption “WHAT IS HAPPENING TO FLORIDA?!” The clip, which was eventually removed but had been viewed 662,000 times as of yesterday evening, turned out to be from a video of a CGI tornado that was originally published months ago. Scrolling through these platforms, watching them fill with false information, harebrained theories, and doctored images—all while panicked residents boarded up their houses, struggled to evacuate, and prayed that their worldly possessions wouldn’t be obliterated overnight—offered a portrait of American discourse almost too bleak to reckon with head-on.

Even in a decade marred by online grifters, shameless politicians, and an alternative right-wing-media complex pushing anti-science fringe theories, the events of the past few weeks stand out for their depravity and nihilism. As two catastrophic storms upended American cities, a patchwork network of influencers and fake-news peddlers have done their best to sow distrust, stoke resentment, and interfere with relief efforts. But this is more than just a misinformation crisis. To watch as real information is overwhelmed by crank theories and public servants battle death threats is to confront two alarming facts: first, that a durable ecosystem exists to ensconce citizens in an alternate reality, and second, that the people consuming and amplifying those lies are not helpless dupes but willing participants.

Read: November will be worse

Some of the lies and obfuscation are politically motivated, such as the claim that FEMA is offering only $750 in total to hurricane victims who have lost their home. (In reality, FEMA offers $750 as immediate “Serious Needs Assistance” to help people get basic supplies such as food and water.) Donald Trump, J. D. Vance, and Fox News have all repeated that lie. Trump also posted (and later deleted) on Truth Social that FEMA money was given to undocumented migrants, which is untrue. Elon Musk, who owns X, claimed—without evidence—that FEMA was “actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally and locking them away to state they are their own. It’s very real and scary how much they have taken control to stop people helping.” That post has been viewed more than 40 million times. Other influencers, such as the Trump sycophant Laura Loomer, have urged their followers to disrupt the disaster agency’s efforts to help hurricane victims. “Do not comply with FEMA,” she posted on X. “This is a matter of survival.”

The result of this fearmongering is what you might expect. Angry, embittered citizens have been harassing government officials in North Carolina, as well as FEMA employees. According to an analysis by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, an extremism-research group, “Falsehoods around hurricane response have spawned credible threats and incitement to violence directed at the federal government,” including “calls to send militias to face down FEMA.” The study also found that 30 percent of the X posts analyzed by ISD “contained overt antisemitic hate, including abuse directed at public officials such as the Mayor of Asheville, North Carolina; the FEMA Director of Public Affairs; and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.” The posts received a collective 17.1 million views as of October 7.

Online, first responders are pleading with residents, asking for their help to combat the flood of lies and conspiracy theories. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said that the volume of misinformation could hamper relief efforts. “If it creates so much fear that my staff doesn’t want to go out in the field, then we’re not going to be in a position where we can help people,” she said in a news conference on Tuesday. In Pensacola, North Carolina, Assistant Fire Chief Bradley Boone vented his frustrations on Facebook: “I’m trying to rescue my community,” he said in a livestream. “I ain’t got time. I ain’t got time to chase down every Facebook rumor … We’ve been through enough.”

It is difficult to capture the nihilism of the current moment. The pandemic saw Americans, distrustful of authority, trying to discredit effective vaccines, spreading conspiracy theories, and attacking public-health officials. But what feels novel in the aftermath of this month’s hurricanes is how the people doing the lying aren’t even trying to hide the provenance of their bullshit. Similarly, those sharing the lies are happy to admit that they do not care whether what they’re pushing is real or not. Such was the case last week, when Republican politicians shared an AI-generated viral image of a little girl holding a puppy while supposedly fleeing Helene. Though the image was clearly fake and quickly debunked, some politicians remained defiant. “Y’all, I don’t know where this photo came from and honestly, it doesn’t matter,” Amy Kremer, who represents Georgia on the Republican National Committee, wrote after sharing the fake image. “I’m leaving it because it is emblematic of the trauma and pain people are living through right now.”

Kremer wasn’t alone. The journalist Parker Molloy compiled screenshots of people “acknowledging that this image is AI but still insisting that it’s real on some deeper level”—proof, Molloy noted, that we’re “living in the post-reality.” The technology writer Jason Koebler argued that we’ve entered the “‘Fuck It’ Era” of AI slop and political messaging, with AI-generated images being used to convey whatever partisan message suits the moment, regardless of truth.

This has all been building for more than a decade. On The Colbert Report, back in 2005, Stephen Colbert coined the word truthiness, which he defined as “the belief in what you feel to be true rather than what the facts will support.” This reality-fracturing is the result of an information ecosystem that is dominated by platforms that offer financial and attentional incentives to lie and enrage, and to turn every tragedy and large event into a shameless content-creationopportunity. This collides with a swath of people who would rather live in an alternate reality built on distrust and grievance than change their fundamental beliefs about the world. But the misinformation crisis is not always what we think it is.

Read: Florida’s risky bet

So much of the conversation around misinformation suggests that its primary job is to persuade. But as Michael Caulfield, an information researcher at the University of Washington, has argued, “The primary use of ‘misinformation’ is not to change the beliefs of other people at all. Instead, the vast majority of misinformation is offered as a service for people to maintain their beliefs in face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.” This distinction is important, in part because it assigns agency to those who consume and share obviously fake information. What is clear from comments such as Kremer’s is that she is not a dupe; although she may come off as deeply incurious and shameless, she is publicly admitting to being an active participant in the far right’s world-building project, where feel is always greater than real.

What we’re witnessing online during and in the aftermath of these hurricanes is a group of people desperate to protect the dark, fictitious world they’ve built. Rather than deal with the realities of a warming planet hurling once-in-a-generation storms at them every few weeks, they’d rather malign and threaten meteorologists, who, in their minds, are “nothing but a trained subversive liar programmed to spew stupid shit to support the global warming bullshit,” as one X user put it. It is a strategy designed to silence voices of reason, because those voices threaten to expose the cracks in their current worldview. But their efforts are doomed, futile. As one dispirited meteorologist wrote on X this week, “Murdering meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes.” She followed with: “I can’t believe I just had to type that.”

What is clear is that a new framework is needed to describe this fracturing. Misinformation is too technical, too freighted, and, after almost a decade of Trump, too political. Nor does it explain what is really happening, which is nothing less than a cultural assault on any person or institution that operates in reality. If you are a weatherperson, you’re a target. The same goes for journalists, election workers, scientists, doctors, and first responders. These jobs are different, but the thing they share is that they all must attend to and describe the world as it is. This makes them dangerous to people who cannot abide by the agonizing constraints of reality, as well as those who have financial and political interests in keeping up the charade.

In one sense, these attacks—and their increased desperation—make sense. The world feels dark; for many people, it’s tempting to meet that with a retreat into the delusion that they’ve got everything figured out, that the powers that be have conspired against them directly. But in turning away, they exacerbate a crisis that has characterized the Trump era, one that will reverberate to Election Day and beyond. Americans are divided not just by political beliefs but by whether they believe in a shared reality—or desire one at all.

This article previously stated that Bradley Boone is the assistant fire chief in Pensacola, Florida. In fact, he is based in Pensacola, North Carolina.

[anueutsuho]

Completely out of season, but since it's on my mind: Every SiivaGunner April Fool's Day Special ranked from worst to best:

2022: Logan Paul's birthday: I think you can guess why this one was my least favorite. NEXT!

2019: Blue Balls Day: I mean, it was alright. I don't HATE it, it's just that almost every other April Fool’s Day was better.

2017: SiivaGunner and GilvaSunner swap upload rates: I put this one a tad below the other one just because it makes no sense unless you know how both Siiva and GiLva rolled. But I love the idea. They should rip more entire soundtracks at once.

2016: SiivaGunner and GilvaSunner swap upload styles: this was actually the day I got into Siivagunner. How painful was it that GiivaSunner was terminated only 3 days later! I actually thought that was the end until a month later! Anyway, this was the best thing they could have done for an April Fool’s Day: uploading an unedited soundtrack and claiming it was a remix.

2018: Inspector Gadget Takeover #2: Oh! Minecrap! Do you know what my favorite thing to do is, in Minecrap? I love to build brown bricks in Minecrap! But seriously, unpopular opinion but I never got tired of Inspector Gadget. And I loved the second takeover even more due to the AVGN theme and the like being featured too. Gadget's Gay Maze 2 was my favorite track from this one.

2020: Rips of April Fool's Games: this was a nice little April Fool’s Day, especially in the middle of Covid. Fake game rips are always funny. And them mocking Cloud getting two whole songs in Smash Bros was hilarious. And it helped to introduce me to Homestar Runner with the Subscription Plus joke, so that's always a plus.

2024: Algorithm Slop Day: Siiva opinions that make you go like this: This was a nice bit of satire of the current state of Youtube. I am docking points for reminding me how overpresent Skibidi Toilet is, though. But some great rips from this period include: calling out Scoose Me, One-Winged Angel using MODERN memes (I completely forgot Stick Bug was a meme), GIMME 20 DOLLARS, that one rip with the overly long story description that ends with the guy shilling his life coaching services, and a few uploads that led to a fake Patreon.

2021: Mario Dies Day: the Mario Wiki made the exact same joke and I'm still unsure who did it better. Either way, a lot of thought and effort was put into this one. They went as far as to private ALMOST EVERY RIP with Mario's name it it. I especially loved the custom art for Super M̸̌̊a̴͛̿█̸͌̑i̵̛͊█̷̾̓ Sunshine, it really looked official. And the best part was it ending with a Your Best Nightmare and Finale pair of rips.

2023: Lore & Announcements (Beta Mix): I dunno if this is an unpopular opinion but I just loved seeing announcement videos of varying seriousness being ripped and parodied. I loved that "a movie based on your defeat" was ripped. Apology (Beta Mix) crossed the line twice. And I never read the SCP that it was referencing, but the end of the event where The Voice was arrested for "crimes against anime" was hilarious.

[tomorrowusa]

Total Solar Eclipse Weather ☀

Most of us have heard this aphorism in some form: Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.

Based on climatological records, long range predictions for conditions along the path of totality for the April 8th total solar eclipse had suggested that the Texas portion of the path would be relatively favorable while the New England portion would be unfavorable. But as it turns out, almost the opposite is true.

But as of Sunday, things don't look bright for most of the Texas portion of the path with the possible exception of the extreme northern end near Oklahoma. On the other hand, the portion of the path that goes through northern New England looks quite good for Monday afternoon.

Tomer Burg is a PhD candidate in meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. His 2021 hurricane season forecasts were superb. For example: he was way ahead of just about everybody in forecasting the effects of the remnants of Hurricane Ida on the Northeast.

So Tomer has added a section on eclipse visibility to his academic site. The page of most interest is the City Dashboard.

Go to the link below and click City Dashboard on the left.

2024 Eclipse Forecasts

At the dashboard you'll find a small map on the upper left showing the path of totality with circles indicating various locations of interest. Clicking a circle will cause maps to appear to the right which show both overall cloud cover and cloud layers broken down by cloud height.

Right now the Dallas forecast for eclipse time shows a predicted 59% overall cloud cover broken down as 24% low/28% mid/55% high cloud cover. On the other hand, Colebrook, New Hampshire's cloud forecast is: 0% overall, 0% low/0% mid/0% high cloud cover.

Cloud height is key. High clouds tend to be thin and wispy. They are less likely to interfere with eclipse viewing. Lower clouds tend to be more problematic – with the exception of the very small puffy "fair weather" clouds which tend to move quickly.

So don't be too put off by moderate percentages for high clouds as long as the percentages for lower clouds aren't very big.

Here's a non-interactive map created by Tomer. Consult the City Dashboard for more specific info.

This is predicted cloud cover. The darker the gray, the cloudier; the deeper the blue, the more cloudless.

^^^ In general: west-central and northeastern Arkansas could be the best places in the South to observe the eclipse. If you're looking for a spot in a blue state west of the Appalachians, Mount Vernon, Illinois is easy to get to with both I-57 and I-64 going through town. Cleveland and the area to its west look good. Indianapolis is also promising.

But the cloudless place to be in the US on Monday is northern New England; the Clinton County shore on the New York side of Lake Champlain may be the best place for NYC residents wanting to stay in state.

For up to date weather conditions, go to the official National Weather Service site. It's no nonsense – they aren't going to sensationalize anything nor try to sell you stuff. Just enter the location or ZIP in the upper left field.

National Weather Service

[wphostzone]

What is Web Hosting? Discover Types, Key Factors, & 2024’s 12 Best Web Hosting Platforms.

Web hosting—the physical presence of your website on the internet—is essential for your online business. Without dependable web hosting, you jeopardize your capacity to run your business and meet your consumers’ expectations.

Understanding web hosting and how it works can be difficult, particularly for people who are unfamiliar with the notion. This article will clearly describe web hosting, explain the many types of web hosting plans available, and outline the essential factors to consider when selecting a hosting company.

What is web hosting?

Web hosting uses internet-facing hardware and software to provide web services to end users. It is where your website and services are stored, processed, and delivered.

At its most fundamental, web hosting consists of secure internet interfaces and communications, computer server hardware and storage, web server software, and content (text, pictures, audio/video).

However, most web hosting solutions also include database servers, content management systems, e-commerce tools, security and authentication, and other applications required for websites to function and remain secure.

The web hosting sector is critical and is expected to increase by more than 20% year between 2024 and 2028.

How much does web hosting cost?

Hosting charges vary, typically based on capabilities. You may pay $10 per month for a simple billboard-style website to market your business online, or much more if you run a successful e-commerce store with thousands of clients.

To successfully select web hosting that works for you, you simply need to understand your goals and how to translate them into hosting requirements.

Types of Web Hosting

Shared hosting.

Dedicated Hosting

VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting

Cloud hosting

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[jcmarchi]

10 Best Text to Speech Plugins for WordPress (November 2024)

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10 Best Text to Speech Plugins for WordPress (November 2024)

Making your WordPress website accessible to all users is a necessity. Text-to-speech (TTS) functionality is a crucial feature, serving not only visitors with visual impairments but also those who prefer consuming content through audio. As mobile devices continue to dominate web traffic and multitasking becomes the norm, incorporating high-quality text-to-speech capabilities can significantly enhance user engagement and expand your content’s reach.

This guide explores the top text-to-speech plugins for WordPress, carefully selected based on their performance, feature sets, and user experience. Whether you’re running a news site, educational platform, or corporate blog, these tools will help you transform your written content into clear, natural-sounding speech, making your website more accessible and user-friendly for everyone.

At Unite AI, we don’t just write about AI-powered tools – we also use them. GSpeech is our go-to text-to-speech solution across all our articles, and for good reason. This sophisticated platform uses advanced AI and ML to transform written content into natural-sounding speech, setting a new standard for audio content delivery on WordPress sites.

What sets GSpeech apart is its exceptional multilingual capabilities. It supports over 230 voices across 76 languages, meaning it can serve diverse global readership with authentic, localized audio experiences. The platform’s AI-driven speech synthesis produces natural intonation and rhythm. Its real-time translation feature, which can convert audio content into 67 different languages on the fly, is particularly valuable for maintaining international reach.

The platform’s flexibility extends to its implementation options, offering multiple player types that can be seamlessly integrated into any WordPress design. Whether you prefer a full-page player for immersive experiences or a subtle button player for minimalist layouts, GSpeech adapts to your specific needs while maintaining consistent audio quality and performance.

Key Features:

Advanced AI-powered voice synthesis with natural intonation and rhythm

Comprehensive language support with 230+ voices across 76 languages

Customizable voice tuning with adjustable pitch and speaking rates

Real-time translation capabilities for 67 languages

Multiple player options including Full Page, Button, Circle, and Read Highlighted Text players

Visit GSpeech →

Play.ht boasts one of the most extensive voice libraries in the market with over 800 AI-generated voices spanning 142 languages. This impressive range of voices, complete with various accents and speech styles, makes it an ideal choice for publishers seeking to create authentic, localized audio experiences for their global audience.

What sets Play.ht apart is its sophisticated approach to pronunciation accuracy. The platform includes a dedicated pronunciation editor that allows content creators to fine-tune how specific terms, technical jargon, and proper names are articulated. This level of control is particularly valuable for specialized content domains where precise pronunciation is crucial for credibility and comprehension. The system’s ability to learn and remember these customizations ensures consistency across all your audio content.

The platform’s commitment to user engagement is evident in its flexible player implementation options. Whether you prefer an embedded player within your posts, a discrete listen button, or a floating player that follows readers as they scroll, Play.ht provides the tools to create an audio experience that complements your website’s design philosophy. Combined with its comprehensive analytics dashboard, which tracks metrics like listens, downloads, and shares, Play.ht enables publishers to make data-driven decisions about their audio content strategy.

Key Features:

Industry-leading library of 800+ AI voices across 142 languages

Advanced pronunciation editor for precise articulation control

Multiple audio player styles with customizable positioning

Comprehensive analytics and engagement tracking

Integrated podcast feed generation and distribution

Visit Play.ht →

BeyondWords stands out by offering a WordPress plugin that transforms your content into audio format the moment you hit publish. This enterprise-grade solution has helped digital publishers approach audio content creation, making it possible to maintain a consistent audio presence without additional production overhead.

The platform’s impressive library of over 550 AI voices across 140 language locales showcases its commitment to quality and diversity. By leveraging neural voices from industry leaders like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure, BeyondWords ensures professional-grade audio output that maintains consistency across your entire content library. What’s particularly noteworthy is its sophisticated natural language processing capabilities, which handle complex elements like proper names, numbers, and dates with remarkable accuracy – a crucial feature for news and technical content.

Key Features:

Automated audio generation for new posts and pages

Access to 550+ AI voices from leading providers

Advanced NLP for accurate pronunciation handling

Built-in podcast distribution system

Comprehensive analytics and monetization tools

Visit BeyondWords →

Trinity Audio takes a streamlined approach to WordPress text-to-speech implementation, focusing on delivering a frictionless experience for both site administrators and end users. What distinguishes this plugin is its emphasis on user experience through features like the innovative Floating Action Button (FAB), which allows listeners to control audio playback while naturally scrolling through content.

The platform’s strength lies in its granular configuration options at the post level. While Trinity Audio offers site-wide automation capabilities, it also provides content creators with the flexibility to customize audio settings for individual posts. This includes the ability to skip specific HTML tags and control how shortcodes are handled during audio conversion, ensuring that the audio output maintains the intended context and flow of your content.

Implementation is straightforward, with Trinity Audio striking an ideal balance between automated functionality and manual control. The plugin’s intuitive settings interface allows publishers to quickly configure default voice preferences and player themes while retaining the ability to override these settings on a per-post basis. This flexibility makes it particularly valuable for sites that publish diverse content types requiring different audio presentation styles.

Key Features:

Intuitive Floating Action Button for seamless user control

Post-level customization of audio settings

Selective HTML tag and shortcode handling

Multiple player themes and positioning options

Automated content conversion with manual override capabilities

Visit Trinity Audio →

This TTS WordPress plugin from AtlasAiDev takes a fundamentally different approach to text-to-speech functionality by leveraging your browser’s native speech synthesis API, making it one of the most lightweight and universally compatible options available for WordPress. While other plugins might rely on external services or API calls, Text To Speech TTS Accessibility’s browser-based approach ensures consistent performance across devices while eliminating potential service disruptions or API limitations.

What makes this plugin particularly valuable for comprehensive WordPress installations is its native support for custom post types. This means you can maintain audio consistency across your entire website, regardless of content structure – whether it’s standard blog posts, custom product pages, or specialized content types unique to your site. This universal compatibility makes it an excellent choice for complex WordPress implementations that go beyond traditional blogging.

The plugin’s straightforward implementation doesn’t come at the cost of customization options. Site administrators can fine-tune the audio player’s appearance and behavior to match their website’s design language, while still maintaining the simplicity that makes it accessible to users of all technical levels. With support for 51 languages, it provides robust multilingual capabilities without the complexity often associated with more elaborate text-to-speech solutions.

Key Features:

Browser-based speech synthesis for universal compatibility

Native support for all custom post types

Extensive customization options for player appearance

Support for 51 languages

Simple shortcode integration for targeted implementation

Visit TTS Accessibilty →

Narrator stands out in the WordPress text-to-speech landscape through its intelligent approach to audio synthesis and resource management. Unlike plugins that regenerate audio content with every page load or update, SiteNarrator employs a sophisticated selective synthesis system that only processes new or modified content, significantly reducing server load and processing time.

The platform leverages premium voice technologies from industry leaders Google Wavenet and Amazon Polly, ensuring professional-grade audio quality while maintaining efficient resource utilization. What sets it apart is its innovative approach to content updates – when an article is modified, the system intelligently identifies and reprocesses only the changed paragraphs, preserving existing audio for unmodified sections. This granular approach to content management makes it particularly appealing for high-traffic sites where resource optimization is crucial.

For publishers focused on ROI and engagement metrics, SiteNarrator provides comprehensive analytics through its customer dashboard. The platform offers detailed insights into daily usage patterns and associated costs, allowing site administrators to make data-driven decisions about their audio content strategy. This transparent approach to usage tracking and cost management helps organizations maintain control over their text-to-speech implementation while maximizing value.

Key Features:

Selective synthesis technology for optimal resource usage

Premium voices from Google Wavenet and Amazon Polly

Intelligent partial content reprocessing

Comprehensive usage analytics and cost tracking

User-friendly expandable audio player interface

Visit SiteNarrator →

For WordPress site owners seeking a straightforward yet powerful text-to-speech solution, ResponsiveVoice offers a simple approach through its intuitive shortcode system. While other plugins might focus on automation and complex features, ResponsiveVoice’s strength lies in its flexibility and ease of implementation, making it an excellent choice for developers and content creators who want granular control over their audio content.

The platform’s commitment to accessibility compliance sets it apart, with full alignment to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 standards. With support for 51 languages through 168 voices, ResponsiveVoice provides comprehensive coverage for international audiences while maintaining a focus on quality and natural speech patterns. The plugin’s architectural approach allows for remarkably specific customization – content creators can control not just which content is read aloud, but also fine-tune parameters like pitch, volume, and reading rate for each instance of audio content.

What makes ResponsiveVoice particularly valuable is its selective text reading capability. Unlike plugins that typically convert entire articles, ResponsiveVoice allows you to designate specific sections of content for audio conversion using simple shortcode tags. This granular control makes it ideal for highlighting key passages, creating interactive educational content, or emphasizing important announcements within longer articles.

Key Features:

Simple shortcode implementation for quick integration

WCAG 2.0 compliant accessibility features

Support for 168 voices across 51 languages

Granular control over voice parameters and text selection

Flexible button placement and customization options

Visit ResponsiveVoice →

_*]:min-w-0″ readability=”89.748945477269″>

WebsiteVoice places a strong emphasis on content distribution and user control. Through its innovative Universal Voice Technology (UVT), the plugin offers listeners unprecedented control over their audio experience, with the ability to adjust reading speeds from 80% to 170% of normal pace – a feature particularly valuable for educational content or technical documentation.

The platform’s approach to content accessibility extends beyond mere listening options. By incorporating MP3 download functionality, WebsiteVoice enables users to consume content offline, making it particularly valuable for audiences with limited internet connectivity or those who prefer to build personal audio libraries. This offline accessibility is complemented by integrated social sharing features that allow listeners to easily distribute audio content across various social media platforms, effectively turning your written content into shareable audio experiences.

Supporting 38 languages, WebsiteVoice delivers a robust multilingual solution while maintaining focus on audio quality and user experience. The plugin’s customizable audio player can be tailored to match your website’s aesthetic, with adjustable colors, styles, and sizes ensuring seamless integration with your existing design.

Key Features:

UVT Technology for precise speed control (80-170%)

MP3 download capability for offline listening

Integrated social media sharing tools

Support for 38 languages with high-quality voices

Fully customizable player appearance

Visit WebsiteVoice →

Real Voice emerges as an enterprise-grade solution in the WordPress text-to-speech landscape, distinguishing itself through its unique multi-service architecture that supports integration with multiple text-to-speech engines. This flexibility allows organizations to leverage their existing partnerships with providers like Google Text-to-Speech AI, Azure Text-to-Speech, and in the Pro version, Amazon Polly and ElevenLabs, making it an ideal choice for businesses with specific voice quality or vendor requirements.

What sets Real Voice apart technically is its support for Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML), providing developers and content creators with granular control over speech output. This advanced capability allows for precise tuning of pronunciation, emphasis, and pacing, ensuring that even complex content is delivered with appropriate nuance and clarity. The plugin’s sophisticated monitoring system adds another layer of enterprise functionality, with a dedicated “Audio File” column in the posts menu that tracks the synchronization status between written and audio content.

The platform’s approach to content management combines automation with manual control, offering both automatic audio generation and a dedicated post sidebar for manual audio management. This hybrid approach, coupled with comprehensive analytics in the Pro version, provides organizations with the tools they need to maintain quality control while scaling their audio content production. The customizable HTML audio player can be positioned precisely using shortcodes, offering flexibility in how audio content is presented across different page layouts and content types.

Key Features:

Multi-service integration with major TTS providers

Advanced SSML support for precise speech control

Comprehensive audio file status monitoring

Hybrid automatic/manual audio generation

Enterprise-grade analytics and tracking capabilities

Visit Real Voice →

For WordPress site owners seeking a lightweight, targeted approach to text-to-speech functionality, Say It! offers a simple solution that leverages HTML5 Speech Synthesis technology. Unlike more complex plugins that convert entire articles automatically, Say It! empowers content creators to precisely control which sections of their content receive audio treatment through intuitive shortcode implementation.

The plugin’s use of native HTML5 Speech Synthesis represents a significant advantage in terms of performance and reliability. By eliminating dependency on external services for basic functionality, Say It! ensures consistent performance while minimizing potential points of failure. However, the plugin doesn’t sacrifice flexibility – for those requiring premium voice quality, it maintains compatibility with industry-leading services like Google Cloud Text-to-Speech and Amazon Polly.

What makes Say It! particularly valuable is its minimalist yet effective approach to content enhancement. Content creators can easily designate specific sections for audio conversion while maintaining granular control over speech parameters such as language, speed, and presentation mode. This selective approach not only optimizes resource usage but also allows for strategic implementation of audio features where they add the most value to the user experience.

Key Features:

Selective content conversion via simple shortcodes

Native HTML5 Speech Synthesis implementation

Optional integration with premium voice services

Customizable speech parameters

Resource-efficient targeted audio conversion

Visit Say It! →

Why Use a Text-to-Speech WordPress Plugin?

The integration of text-to-speech functionality on WordPress sites has evolved from a luxury feature to a crucial component of modern web presence. Here’s why implementing a TTS plugin should be your next priority:

Enhanced Accessibility

Makes content available to visually impaired users

Supports users with reading difficulties

Complies with web accessibility guidelines

Creates a more inclusive user experience

Expanded Content Reach

Caters to busy professionals who prefer listening while multitasking

Reaches audiences who consume content during commutes

Supports different learning styles

Enables content consumption in hands-free scenarios

Business Benefits

Increases user engagement and time on site

Reduces bounce rates through enhanced user experience

Creates new monetization opportunities through audio ads

Improves SEO through better engagement metrics

Future-proofs content for voice-first devices

With numerous options available – from lightweight solutions like Say It! to comprehensive platforms like GSpeech – there’s a text-to-speech plugin to match every WordPress site’s needs. By embracing this technology, you’re not just enhancing your website’s functionality; you’re investing in the future of content consumption and user engagement.

[urmanipulatorytendencies]

enha as twenty first century american teenager stereotypes (up until 2024)

I LIV LAF LUV playing association with enhypen because they're my interesting little stinka-butts who, in my opinion, are so frozen in this whole kpop ordeal and i need them BROKEN FREEEE

Hybe, babes, let them explore the real world and interact with idols and people who don't gaf about their latest random single release and just wanna vibe w them I BEG

+ Yang Jungwon aka "Maicah"

Maicah Jungwon Yang is the middle man of your class. He's involved, he's energetic with the dude-bros, and he's on the JV basketball team. He only has okay grades but is somehow on Student Council. He's friends with a ton of the Varsity boys, and he's got lots of cool friends. Jungwon is super bubbly but he's really put together. His rl engagement in school and enha leadership compels me to think he's responsible enough to be in Student Council but bros also just an athlete. He'd also probs be on the track team as a 100m sprinter or smth. He'd definitely have a lot of friends but he might have a surprisingly unconventional bestie. Maicah wears the same two pairs of nike sweats along with Yeezy slides and a black hoodie. If it's cold, Maicah brings a Spiderman blanket to school.

+ Lee Heeseung aka "Ethan"

Ethan is the ultimate trend maxxer of whatever Bay Area high school you have imagined. He wears string earphones, never sporting shorts, and always has a damn beanie on. Absolutely not in sports-- is THE arts student. He's on the junior group of horn instruments in band, probably plays the trumpet, and isn't all that great but he's a fast learner. Hee would be top 30 in his class, but would most likely prioritize his rising Sound Cloud presence post-Grad. Doesn't date but he has a lot of younger friends, flirts with girls two years younger than him but also maintains a homoerotic friendship with his childhood friend in college who's like a year older than him.

+ Park Jay aka "Jay"-- DUH

Jay is the batman. He's farms or surfs (depending on what region you imagine we're in the context of) by day, and is in a garage band by night. He has a super duper close knit friend group of equally spunky guys. Has absolutely no female friends-- not out of misogyny or anything but bro is just such a dude idk. He's pretty smart, def a AP Chem warrior but stinks at stem. His focal point is the school guitar group. He probably gets his community service hours working with the lunch ladies. Jay is charismatic and super sweet-- but he probably deals with anger issues and was def that kid in behavior management during elementary. Despite his emo TM status-- Jay wears the fluck out of his chino + Sperrys combo.

+ Sim Jaeyun aka "Jake"-- DUH

He is the captain of the Varsity Soccer team. Jake is popular as a mf; has a big friend group, dates around, is loved by the teachers, and most of the school appreciates his mega vibes. Think Jeremiah from The Summer I Turned Pretty. Jake probably gets zesty allegations cause he wears lots of jewelry and paints his nails but he doesn't mind cause trust-- he's pulling every female bro-lover in the COUNTY. He's super duper competitive and is a strict captain, which is the only reason why someone'd have a problem with him...but he makes up for it by being a beast on the field. He's also on Honor Roll, cranking his Class with a 4.6 GPA and Salutatorian status. He's a chronic overstayer at school with him being in sports and academic clubs year round. Jake probably has some weird connections with Parker which throw people off like Junior year. Chronic Croc wearer. Bro's committing to Notre Dame for Soccer.

+ Park Sunghoon aka "Parker"

The hottest loser on campus fr fr. He's well known for being the numba one hallway crush but bro has no school friends so everyone kinda just assumes he's a little bit of a bitch (in the best way possible). He never stays longer than he has to but he's a hard worker and the history teacher loves his compassion for AP Gov.. He's a club Volleyball player outside of school but he's not in school athletics (he's got connections to the Athletics Dir. tho). He's always at school early to use the weight room and he's an avid lean pump master poster on IG. Hoon was super isolated as a kid so I imagine that Parker would probably have a hard time being social with just normal kids (Parker's homeschooled in elementary for the plot). He was probably chubby in middle school and then had a gigantourous glow up freshman-sophomore year: 6'0, lean muscle, "clean guy" aesthetic. Guys def wanna be him but they're jelly cause their girlfriends are obsessed. Closet gay but no one knows until a random IG story during college where he takes a pic w his boyfriend or something idk. Wears Jordan 4s.

+ Kim Sunoo aka "Sonny"

The typical friendly gay bestie minus the obnoxious Netflixed exaggerations (i.e. loud and super sassy). Just think about the token feminine gay guy at your school-- he probably has a group of girl friends, is kinda introverted lwk, wears either super outdated 2018 IG fashion or is the most fabulous Hollister warrior. He definitely has a weird situationship with one of the popular guys-- top athlete, unlikely to be friends with him but is anyways...you know the shabang. Sonny's pretty witty, pretty scholarly-- excels in stem but has a soft spot for English. He probably listens to Ariana Grande and is a Olivia Rodrigo die-hard. Sonny probably bakes, too. Overall, he's on the low but anyone knows that unprovoked, that mf is loud sometimes. Will not hesitate to beat a bitch up too.

+ Nishimura Ri ki aka "Nico"

The skater boi TM, bahaha. Just kidding, but fr, I think American Ri ki would skateboard. Like-- in an East Coast way not a West Coast way if you catch my drift. He's a New Yorker at heart-- going to a crowded arts school somewhere idk. He's constantly outdoing himself with the fits-- the girls love it. He's can be shy but has a knack for being a trouble maker-- probably went to special group as a kid, the guy with ADHD (not that that's a big deal but ik we all got that one guy in class that's hyper to no end, n to me, that's ri ki). Nico's got a couple friends, plays basketball in his free time, and his specialty is, of course, dance. He leads the department by a long shot so everyone either loves him or hates him. Nico isn't afraid to be flamboyant or outgoing (as Ri ki is competitive and a little bit of a diva) but can come off a little high strung sometimes.

[techavtar]

As a top technology service provider, Tech Avtar specializes in AI Product Development, ensuring excellence and affordability. Our agile methodologies guarantee quick turnaround times without compromising quality. Visit our website for more details or contact us at +91-92341-29799.

[marketingpro1]

Top WordPress Plugins to Supercharge Your Website in 2024

Building and maintaining a WordPress site is both exciting and challenging. While the platform provides a robust foundation, the true power of WordPress lies in its plugins. From enhancing site functionality to improving user experience, WordPress plugins are indispensable tools for developers, businesses, and bloggers alike. In this blog, we’ll explore the best WordPress plugins that can transform your website into a highly functional, user-friendly, and SEO-optimized powerhouse.

What Are WordPress Plugins?

WordPress plugins are software add-ons designed to extend the functionality of your WordPress site. Whether you need to improve site speed, enhance SEO, secure your website, or add unique design features, there’s likely a plugin for that. Plugins allow both beginners and advanced users to customize their sites without coding expertise.

With over 60,000 plugins available on the WordPress Plugin Directory alone, the options can feel overwhelming. Choosing the right plugins for your website’s goals is critical for success. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most essential WordPress plugins to consider.

Must-Have WordPress Plugins for Every Website

1. Yoast SEO

SEO is crucial for driving organic traffic to your site, and Yoast SEO is one of the best tools for optimizing your content. This plugin provides on-page optimization tips, readability analysis, and technical SEO tools to help your site rank higher on search engines.

2. Elementor

Looking to build a visually stunning website without hiring a designer? Elementor is a drag-and-drop page builder that makes designing websites easy. Its intuitive interface and vast array of widgets allow you to create professional-looking pages in minutes.

3. WPForms

For websites that rely on user interaction, a contact form is a must-have feature. WPForms allows you to create customizable, mobile-responsive forms effortlessly. Whether it’s contact forms, surveys, or payment forms, this plugin has you covered.

4. WooCommerce

If you’re running an online store, WooCommerce is the go-to plugin. It transforms your WordPress site into a fully functional e-commerce platform, complete with features for product listings, payment gateways, and inventory management.

5. Akismet Anti-Spam

Spam comments can clutter your website and ruin user experience. Akismet Anti-Spam automatically filters out spam comments, keeping your site clean and professional.

6. Jetpack

Created by Automattic, the team behind WordPress, Jetpack is a multipurpose plugin offering features like performance optimization, security, site analytics, and social media integration.

7. Rank Math

Another excellent SEO plugin, Rank Math provides advanced features like schema integration, keyword tracking, and detailed analytics. It’s an excellent alternative to Yoast SEO for more advanced users.

8. UpdraftPlus

Backup and restoration are critical for any website. UpdraftPlus allows you to schedule automatic backups and store them securely on cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox.

9. Smush

Site speed plays a major role in user experience and search engine rankings. Smush compresses images without compromising quality, helping your site load faster.

10. MonsterInsights

Understanding how visitors interact with your site is essential. MonsterInsights integrates Google Analytics directly into your WordPress dashboard, offering real-time insights into traffic, user behavior, and more.

11. W3 Total Cache

Slow-loading websites lose visitors and revenue. W3 Total Cache improves website performance by caching static files and optimizing server resources.

12. Sucuri Security

Cybersecurity is non-negotiable in today’s digital landscape. Sucuri Security offers malware scanning, firewall protection, and blacklist monitoring to keep your site secure.

13. Social Snap

Boost social media engagement with Social Snap, a powerful social sharing plugin. It offers customizable sharing buttons and in-depth analytics to track your social media performance.

14. Litespeed Cache

For websites hosted on LiteSpeed servers, LiteSpeed Cache is a high-performance optimization plugin that enhances speed and reduces server load.

15. TablePress

If your site needs to display complex data, TablePress is a lifesaver. It lets you create and manage tables without requiring any coding knowledge.

Why Use WordPress Plugins?

Enhanced Functionality: WordPress plugins extend the capabilities of your site, making it easier to achieve your goals.

Ease of Use: Many plugins are beginner-friendly and require no technical expertise.

Scalability: Whether you’re running a blog, an e-commerce store, or a portfolio, plugins grow with your needs.

Cost-Effective: Most plugins offer free versions with premium features, making them accessible for all budgets.

Tips for Choosing the Right WordPress Plugins

Identify Your Needs: Start by determining what features your site requires.

Check Reviews and Ratings: Plugins with high ratings and positive reviews are generally more reliable.

Update Frequency: Look for plugins that are updated regularly to ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress version.

Avoid Overloading: Too many plugins can slow down your site. Stick to essential ones.

Final Thoughts

WordPress plugins are the backbone of a successful website. By selecting the right ones, you can enhance your site’s functionality, user experience, and performance. Whether you’re aiming to boost your SEO, secure your site, or create stunning designs, there’s a plugin tailored for your needs.

Experiment with the plugins mentioned above and watch your WordPress site thrive. Remember to regularly review your plugin list and update them to ensure optimal performance.

[nexustechnoware]

Why AWS is the Best Cloud Hosting Partner for Your Organization – Proven Benefits and Features

More entrepreneurs like e-store owners prefer Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud hosting services this year. This article will single out countless reasons to consider this partner for efficient AWS hosting today.

5 Enticing Features of AWS that Make It Perfect for You

The following are the main characteristics of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2024.

Scalable

The beauty of AWS is that a client can raise or lower their computing capability based on business demands.

Highly Secure

Secondly, AWS implements countless security measures to ensure the safety of a client’s data. For example, AWS complies with all the set data safety standards to avoid getting lawsuits from disgruntled clients.

Amazon secures all its data centers to ensure no criminal can access them for a nefarious purpose.

Free Calculator

Interestingly, AWS proffers this tool to help new clients get an estimate of the total hosting cost based on their business needs. The business owner only needs to indicate their location, interested services, and their zone.

Pay-As-You-Go Pricing Option

New clients prefer this company for AWS hosting services because this option lets them pay based on the resources they add to this platform.

User-Friendly

AWS is the best hosting platform because it has a user-oriented interface. For example, the provider has multiple navigation links plus instructional videos to enable the clients to use this platform.

Clients can edit updated data whenever they choose or add new company data to their accounts.

Unexpected Advantages of Seeking AWS Hosting Services

Below are the scientific merits of relying on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for web design and cloud computing services.

Relatively Fair Pricing Models

Firstly, the AWS hosting service provider offers well-thought-out pricing options to ensure the client only pays for the resources they utilize. For example, you can get a monthly option if you have many long-term projects.

Limitless Server Capacity

AWS offers a reasonable hosting capacity to each client to enable them to store as much company data as possible. Therefore, this cloud hosting partner ensures that employees can access crucial files to complete activities conveniently.

Upholds Confidentiality

AWS has at least twelve (12) data centers in different parts of the world. Further, this provider’s system is relatively robust and secure to safeguard sensitive clients’ data 24/7.

High-Performance Computing

Unlike other cloud hosting sites, AWS can process meta-data within seconds, enabling employees to meet their daily goals.

Highly Reliable

Unknown to some, over 1M clients in various countries rely on AWS for web development or hosting services. Additionally, AWS is available in over 200 countries spread across different continents.

Finally, AWS’s technical team spares no effort to implement new technologies to safeguard their clients’ data and woo new ones.

Summary

In closing, the beauty of considering this partner for AWS hosting is that it has a simple layout-hence ideal for everyone, including non-techies. Additionally, the fact that this partner is elastic ensures that this system can shrink or expand based on the files you add.

At its core, AWS offers various cloud services, such as storage options, computing power, and networking through advanced technology. NTSPL Hosting offers various features on AWS hosting aimed at improving the scalability of cloud infrastructure for less downtimes. Some of the services NTSPL Hosting offers include pioneering server administration, version control, and system patching. Given that it offers round the clock customer service; it is a good option for those looking for a solid AWS hosting solution.

Source: NTSPL Hosting

[coolmusiccentral]

Top 50 Albums of 2024

2024 was perhaps the best year of the '20s so far, with plenty of excellent records, some by new or relatively new bands like English Teacher, Amyl And The Sniffers or Fontaines D.C., and some by much older artists; some making a comeback after many a year (The Cure, The Jesus Lizard) and others continuing consistently on their unique path like Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Jack White or Kim Gordon whose solo album "The Collective" explored and conquered new sonic territories and is our Album of the Year for 2024. Honor yr. idols!

Here is the list of our Top 50 Albums of 2024 as it stands in the current moment in time and a few more selections. The full list is coming sometime in the near future, and you will be able to check it out here.

Top 50 Albums

The collective - KIM GORDON

No name - JACK WHITE

Cartoon darkness - AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS

This could be Texas - ENGLISH TEACHER

Wild God - NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS

Songs of a lost world - THE CURE

All born screaming - ST. VINCENT

Romance - FONTAINES D.C.

Tigers blood - WAXAHATCHEE

Angeltape - DRAHLA

I'm totally fine with it Don't give a fuck anymore - ARAB STRAP

Filthy underneath - NADINE SHAH

Clouds in the sky they will always be there for me - PORRIDGE RADIO

Glasgow eyes - THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN

Rack - THE JESUS LIZARD

She reaches out to she reaches out to she - CHELSEA WOLFE

Flow critical lucidity - THURSTON MOORE

Cutouts / Wall of eyes - THE SMILE

Nobody loves you more - KIM DEAL

To all trains - SHELLAC

Smoke & fiction - X

Letter to self - SPRINTS

I got heaven - MANNEQUIN PUSSY

Oui LSF - LES SAVY FAV

Three bells - TY SEGALL

Manning fireworks - MJ LENDERMAN

Goat - GOAT

Forgiveness is yours - FAT WHITE FAMILY

Where’s my utopia? - YARD ACT

Only God was above us - VAMPIRE WEEKEND

The cleansing - PETER PERRETT

Bright future - ADRIANNE LENKER

My light, my destroyer - CASSANDRA JENKINS

Big swimmer - KING HANNAH

As it ever was, so it will be again - THE DECEMBERISTS

Little rope - SLEATER-KINNEY

Tangk - IDLES

Afraid of tomorrows - THE MYSTERINES

Madra - NEWDAD

Untame the tiger - MARY TIMONY

The future is our way out - BRIGITTE CALLS ME BABY

Prelude to ecstasy - THE LAST DINNER PARTY

Love in constant spectacle - JANE WEAVER

Lives outgrown - BETH GIBBONS

Something in the room she moves - JULIA HOLTER

The last flight - PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING

Our brand could be yr life - BODEGA

Continuum - HOUSE OF ALL

Interplay - RIDE

All quiet on the eastern esplanade - THE LIBERTINES

And a few more recommendations:

Come ahead - PRIMAL SCREAM, The Hard Quartet - THE HARD QUARTET, Five dice, all threes - BRIGHT EYES, The past is still alive - HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF, Make it fit - KARATE, Frog in boiling water - DIIV, No obligation - THE LINDA LINDAS, The 8th cumming - CUMGIRL8, Package pt. 2 - GUSTAF, Half divorced - PISSED JEANS, What do we do now - J MASCIS, Make it right - STEVE WYNN, Soft tissue - TINDERSTICKS, Look to the east, look to the west - CAMERA OBSCURA, Below the waste - GOAT GIRL, Loss of life - MGMT, Blu wav - GRANDADDY, The dream of Delphi - BAT FOR LASHES