#but they're the peak representatives of each of their fields

[braininatankwithalaptop]

I think the funniest crossover would be Batman x Danganronpa.

Hear me out.

Let's start with the obvious connection. Junko and the Joker. The Joker's whole thing (from what I understand) is trying to get society to burn, and being an agent of chaos, and ultimately it takes just one bad day to break.

Junko looks at her nails and asks, "And?" Joker has to reckon everything he is, everything he believes, is outdone by a 15 year old girl. She's a better terrorist, a better mastermind, and a better torturer than he ever could be. But the real kicker? She doesn't give a shit about his beliefs, she's doing it because she's bored. Junko's so chronically bored that the only way she can think to solve is to push people into corners and to their breaking points. I bet if there was a treatment of some kind to help her deal with this Junko would never bother to go to those lengths again. And Joker would be furious.

Next let's look at the protagonists.

Can you imagine Batman reckoning with the DR 1 cast? Like, imagine Kyoko, a freelance detective that seems to be getting involved with every important case because she was either A) Hired or B) Roped in because her malewife assistant Makoto stumbled into a part of a large conspiracy or emergency. He wants to tell her to stay out of his business but she's neither a vigilante or a member of the police department. She's also really good at detective work. He probably gets roasted by all of his kids when he goes to Kyoko for consultation.

Batman wishes he could get all the kids out of Gotham but he has no ground to. They're all friends with the Togami Heir Billionaire, he must be funding their vigilante operation right? Nope, he's just a philanthropist trying to also do Bruce Wayne work and fix Gotham.

Well they must be metas right? Nope, none of them are. Sakura is just the peak of human physical form and would not be involved if it weren't for her girlfriend's best friend (Makoto again?) getting roped into shady stuff.

Well what about that psychic guy? Well turns out he only has a 33% success rate and mostly just scams rich people.

Okay can he at least deal with the serial killer? Nope, she hasn't even done any crimes in Gotham except kind of harass that billionaire. And also, surprise surprise, she's dating Makoto's sister.

Well Makoto must be a vigilante tying everything all together right? Nope. He's just a lame, optimistic pacifist that keeps getting into situations with a plot.

Like everything in Batman's body is telling him to adopt or send these teenagers out of Gotham but they aren't technically putting themselves in danger like his kids and don't have superpowers that attract villains so he's just stuck. Bruce Wayne just has to not tear his hair out as they keep being the only ones to defeat Joker's new rival Monokuma (whoever they are with Batman not knowing Monokuma is also a teenager) whenever they try to destroy Gotham.

[twstunes]

(slight spoilers for Book 7, tho i take it a lot of us have seen Hornton's overblot form + mama Draconia's design at this point lmao. also i'm calling her Draconimom until we get a confirmed eng spelling for her name)

Overblot mask analysis – Malleus + Dark Mirror v2

it's probably been brought up already but i'm gonna be annoyed w/ myself if i leave overblot hornton out of my overblot mask analyses, it's pretty straightforward overall but STILL

Similar to Vil, the main body of Malleus' mask takes on the shape of a cowl, echoing that of Maleficent's own headgear. This widow's peak-esque shape was already present in the design of Malleus' forehead scales (which aren't normally visible), but the mask better emulates Maleficent by bringing the point down closer to the brow line.

The central V of the mask has a fiery exterior trim; on closer inspection, the "flames" appear to be made solely of shapes based on Malleus' (and Maleficent's) horns. In comparison, the motifs on the further edges of the mask seem to be just basic fire patterns.

Arcs of spikes & scales make up both the interior trim of the mask and the portion connecting to Malleus' eyes. These directly mimic the spines and purple underbelly of Maleficent's dragon form. (The scales on his cheekbones don't correlate to any part of Maleficent's face, humanoid or dragon, and are likely there just to complement this part of the mask.)

Of note is the spiked line extending from the peak of the mask down over Malleus' nasal bone. Rather than representing part of Maleficent's face design, it appears to take after a different source–

–the main body of the mask is literally his mom's crown. which hurts a bit! own it tho ig, like hey if he's gonna be under so much pressure due to being prince then he might as well get an overblot mask to represent that. "heavy is the head that wears the crown," etc

Anyway this is like a field day for me bc Draconimom's design is literally so fantastic to analyze. I'm getting hit with the urge to make diagrams. Do u realize how rarely this happens

1. The horns? The horns. I don't think I have to go over this one again. However, the little bumps near the horns on the mask could signify the two…ear guards(?) of the crown.

2. The upper two curved prongs lined w/ dots and spikes on the Dark Mirror's mask match up strikingly well with Draconimom's pauldrons! The lower two prongs bend in the opposite direction, and seem to be there just to balance out the top pair.

3. Like the tattered edges of Maleficent's robes, the lacy edges of her cape could easily be compared to the fiery edges on the upper half of the mask. Comparatively, the frills along the bottom of the mask are distinctly rounder and less flame-like, which matches up well with the softer, almost fluffy-looking edges of Draconimom's skirt. The netting on the mask could then, logically, represent the fabric of the cape/skirt as though they're being dramatically flared out.

(Off-topic, but: if you look closely at the lace cape, you'll see roses worked into the design! This isn't part of the analysis, I just think it's neat owo)

4. Just under the mask's central 4-pointed star, there are 2 small extrusions on each side. These bear an uncanny resemblance to the 2 main lines used in the flow of the embellishments on Draconimom's bodice(?), with the upper one curling upwards while the lower one is just slightly curved.

5. I cannot stress this enough. I'm putting this in image format just so you can see how much I'm not joking. The central line of the mask is not just repeatedly utilized in Draconimom's outfit, it's literally integral to her overall character design. (It's a little hard to see due to her default pose unfortunately, as it interrupts the linear flow)

tl;dr get in losers we're getting hornton's mom out of that mirror

[fogclan-legacy]

TERRITORIES

Flameclan - Nestled in a cave halfway up the mountain. Flameclan is the most spiritual of the four clans, and are marked by their leaders being covered in gold dust when they become leaders, and medicine cats learning to make small fires.

Cloudclan - Camp is at the very peak of the mountain. Most cats are long-haired to brace the cold winds. The leaders kill an eagle when they become leaders to prove they are worthy of Starclan, and wear feathers.

Firclan - Sneaky and trained to ambush by night, they are they Shadowclan of these clans. The medicine cats chose a flower or plant to represent the leader when they gain their nine lives. If a leader wants to get the advice of a past leader, they will put their plant in the top branches of the great fir the medicine cats and leader sleep in.

Crocusclan - In a field, they change camps with each season. They're the most aloof of all the clans, and sometimes skip gatherings to explore more places beyond the territories. Leaders venture out past the territories for a couple days every start of the season. The clan is largely run by the deputy and medicine cats, the leader is more of a symbolic position.

Shining Falls - The clan's gathering place. They meet every moon in a wooded clearing next to a waterfall. Part of the purpose of the gathering is to monitor the waterfall, the floods from it could be devastating, and teamwork with other clans brings them closer together.

The Firestone - Cave of quartz with gold veins in it. At certain points of the day, the sun lights up the cave and it looks like the cave is on fire. The medicine cats of Flameclan take gold dust from the walls, and put it on new leaders when they gain their nine lives.

[raayllum]

Anyway said I wanted to talk about TDP's stage motif so here I am

The stage motif refers to well, references to the stage/theatre in terms of framing, word choice, and general dramatics. It isn't employed often, and I first noticed it upon reading the S2 novelization, in which the text states:

Callum was on a stage, but there was no one in the audience. This bed of keys was a horrible resting place. Sharp pieces of metal poked into Callum’s back. […] He heard an irritating buzz somewhere beneath him. Callum turned the cube frantically to see which primal was glowing. How could any of the primals glow in this dark place?  Something about this cube tied his stomach in knots. It wasn’t natural. A vision flickered in front of his face. Dozens of dead animals in a field. A dead butterfly. A dead deer. A dead unicorn. Cackling laughter. He chucked the cube away from him with all his might. The glowing rune was dark magic. It represented death.

This of course makes sense. Callum's dark magic dreams with a spotlight focused heavily on him easily invoke the visuals of a lone performer on a stage - often there to declare monologues that reveal a character's internal thoughts, feelings, and particularly struggles - much the way the literal visual dive into Callum's brain shows us his thought process in figuratively imaginative language (sort of like poetry).

And in many ways, Aaravos' possession scene in 4x04 is also a monologue (and performance) with even a bow to close the 'scene' out. He even sort of assigns everyone their role - a few lines to define each character before the play begins, the way a director may hand out script information in the casting process. This is also where the stage motif begins to overlap with the game motif; you can play a game, yes, but you can also play a role. Play your part.

Puppets are, after all, inherently performance pieces.

4x04 also complicates this further by tying it to both Rayla's goodbye letter and Viren's speech to Terry:

They said that, sometimes, we make sacrifices so that the ones we love don’t have to. It’s part of protecting them—part of protecting you. Taking on hard choices and going to dark places is an act of love. It’s a gift.

I have always been ready to do anything to protect my family, however dangerous, however vile. In the name of love, you may perform acts so unforgivable... you will never forgive yourself.

With the stage motif coming back in loop with Viren's dream sequences in S5 as well. While his nightmare in the throne room has curtains mostly for the Twin Peaks reference, it still invokes a feeling of performance and insanity that has to be discarded, much the same way Viren has to dismantle his lies (that everything he did was for his family > himself / that he had no choice but to do the things he's done, i.e. "every step" was not because he had to) as we see the spotlight come again. (Fun fact: Viren's is the only one thus far to change from white to red to white again.)

And Finnegrin also brings up aspects/implications of performance in 5x08 as well:

The chains are an illusion. A performance, a ruse, a show. The real thing that keeps everyone in line - under Finnegrin's control - is fear (for themselves, assumedly). Callum tried to assert otherwise, that love and connection are the decided opposite of control:

and Finnegrin called that out as a performance, too, along with his behaviour towards Rayla that proved that love and the desire to protect can also be what controls you.

All that talk about how love makes you stronger, but the second you see that elf girl in pain, you completely lost yourself [it makes you weak].

Lurking underneath the performance is the truth in what makes people tick - their fears, their loyalties, their instincts. And it's these that Aaravos preys upon. It's why he believes they'll fulfil their roles per his predictions. They're his puppets, his performers.

His instruments

for

And well, the show must go on.

[quincyhorst]

Da Round-of-16 Brothers :D

(More info about the OCs below!!)

2nd Row:

Stane: Represents Slovenia, an unlikely team to reach the TOP 3 on his league group yet suceeded. The secret relies on Stane's coach/uncle Miroslav, who travelled all across europe as to learn each country's secrets. Secretly remorseful about it, Stane is willing to throw both the german/polish kids he's trained into the mud.

Cris: The portuguese captain, known as 'the navigator'. He inherited the love for the sea from his father, and he wants to include his navigation skills on tactics. Besides trying to keep his rivarly with France and Spain healthy (Which will reach its peak on the qualifier final), he also has to look over a particular pick for the team from Galicia.

"Vlad": Actually named Ladislau. He claims to be the descendant of a vampire/strigoi, but as intimidating as he tries to be he comes off as too much of a LARPer. Was meant to be Brockenborg's first FFI rival, but all his tricks were destroyed in said match. I apologize for any romanian who's reading this, I promise this is the only Dracula reference Romania's gonna get. Also if he looks familiar… It's not a coincidence (?)

Jurgen: He has been the captain of Netherlands previously, though a fierce battle with a rival team stole his win at a previous cup. He promises he won't repeat these mistakes, though he's willing to fight to become "THE lion of Europe". (You can guess who eliminated him.)

Noa: In a world where Haizaki isn't relevant, he'd be the 'devil of the field' instead. Probably the most powerful keeper in all of Europe (Besides Blasi?). He and Pierre share some history, sure, but believe it or not his true rival is Claude. The Babel and their excellent waffles started to dominate sales around Paris when the qualifiers started, becoming a menace for the Moreau baguette conglomerate. A fierce capitalist battle begins!!!

3rd Row:

Swiss guy: Sorry, I didn't came in time to give him a name, but I promise he has some relevance!!! His team is one of Brockenborg's rivals during the Euroleague group stage. The plan was also to make him Rose Griffon's 1st qualifier round rival, but midway though I replaced him with a funnier pick-

The danish and the georgian characters are just designs I had lying around in my mind, though they don't have any relevance. Both get eliminated by Slovenia and Poland respectively :( (This has ZERO correlation with current Euro events I swear. I have no idea how I predicted those....)

I had no designs for Austria and Slovakia unfortunately so I went with animals instead. The slovakian pick is the Tatra Chamois, which lives in the mountains of the same name. They're sooo cute ;_;

And Turkey... Don't ask me. Ask turkish mythology instead.

[theamityelf]

Damn, you know how to speak my language. I'm onboard with a lot of those for many of the same reasons.

Nagito and Taka are a a lot of fun as a friendship for me. Because like, despite the fact that their views are fundamentally at odds ("talent is inborn and no amount of hard work can compete" vs "hard work is vital"), Nagito unintentionally represents a lot of what Taka admires. He IS actually a hard worker and very dedicated to stuff like housekeeping. And he's become smart enough to even rival Ultimates like Kyoko in their own field. I imagine this goofy push-and-pull where Taka's like "One day I WILL prove to you that you have value, Nagito!". To which Nagito's like "Wow, it would be such an honor to receive that kindness from the Ultimate Moral Compass, even though I don't deserve it". To which Taka just shakes his head with a smile and replies "One day Nagito, just you wait."

Nagito and Sonia are probably my favorite BroTP for both. I just love some of the fanwork people have done of the two having tea dates and discussing books, mysteries, and the like. IIRC it's implied that Nagito has skills as a linguist, so I like to imagine they play around with some bilingual silliness. Plus I kind of adore the headcanon that they're long lost relatives and just don't know it. Like maybe Nagito's grandma was a second/third princess (and aunt to Sonia's dad), who was also a Japanophile like her great-niece and became a runaway. After they later find this out, Sonia's all like "I am formally declaring you my official adopted brother".

Kamukoma is an interesting ship for me, in that I don't quite like a lot of the depictions of it. But when the right approach is taken I find it so fascinating. Rather than having Nagito as fawning and drooling over Izuru, I find it far more interesting when Izuru is kind of the embodiment of Tragedy-era Nagito's disillusionment with talent. Being kind of a disappointment. But at the same time a being he finds quite pitiable, and eventually relatable. The two seeing a strange kindred spirit in each other as being people screwed over by Hope's Peak and the world it created. As well as feeling like they've never really had any autonomy in their lives.

Komanami and Komazumi are together with Komahina in my personal top three romantic ships. Just so damn wholesome and comfy. The former comes with a kind of tragic appeal if you follow the stations of canon. Two people who never really had friends before Hope's Peak awkwardly bonding when Nagito decides to be a "training wheels friend" for the lonely Ultimate. Only for it to becomes something much deeper than either imagined before tragedy strikes. But can also be fun in non-Despair scenarios, like Fala's art has shown. Meanwhile with the latter, I think Mahiru's relative normality is actually a huge boon. The OVA heavily implies that deep down he longs for the comfort and safety of a normal life. Just something as simple as the two of them doing household chores together could make him feel so at peace. And of course a responsible partner that's eager to pitch in and help would probably appeal a lot to Mahiru.

Multi-shipping is a delight, lol.

[jailaster]

Song Review 2: Nine Point Eight by Mili

Nine Point Eight has quite the act to follow after what A Turtle's Heart had to offer. And this one certainly doesn't disappoint! This song, along with YUBIKIRI-GENMAN, being featured in Rayark's mobile rhythm game "Deemo" was tremendously helpful in the group's early success. Additionally, you can expect a similar quality of story and meaning within this song just like we saw in A Turtle's Heart. Mili really does put in the work into every song they produce. Allow me to walk you through my interpretation, analysis, and review on one of Mili's most beloved works.

Song Analysis:

Please note that I'll be operating under the assumption that our lead is female and her partner male for simplicity of writing this analysis and review.

This song features another set of star-crossed lovers who are separated and joined again by death. It appears that our couple is on the run, perhaps escaping from an abusive situation back at their homes. Maybe they're being persecuted or even exiled? What is apparent, however, is that these two are young, deeply committed to each other, and are deeply in love.

You ready? Calla lily, carnation, daisy Silently chase away your worries Chrysanthemum, kalanchoe Become your shield whenever you fall asleep

The voice giving the first line is the lead's lover. It's confident and encouraging, he's giving our lead the push she needs to take the leap of faith and escape whatever tragic situation is plaguing them back at home. And off they go with spirits high and hope at its peak. Calla lilies and carnations are symbolic of their youth, devotion, and love for each other while daisies can be taken here to represent their purity of heart and a new beginning for them. She is also a guardian, watching over him while he sleeps and shielding him from the horrors back home that may be tailing them and the worries about what the future holds. They're also optimistic yet realistic, as represented through the chrysanthemums and kalanchoes. The message of these flowers is one of devotion, hope, and persistence. All of which will be necessary for their adventure.

I cried out Please don't leave me behind, leave me behind So you held me tight And said I will be just fine, I will be just fine, I will be just fine

As he carries anxieties and worries, she is weighed down by nightmares of past and fears of being left alone. She's terrified because his body is bruised and battered, he can barely keep up. He will not last much longer. But they are there for each other — it is his turn to act as protector over his partner. Their love is one of the strongest sorts, perhaps they too are soulmates.

Petals dance for our valediction And synchronize to your frozen pulsation Take me to where your soul may live in peace Final destination

Unfortunately, her biggest fear is realized. She is leading the way, hand in hand, as he's barely strong enough to follow. And with a gust of wind that sent flower petals flying, he keels over. The wind can be interpreted as representation of the friction and challenges on Earth that they face: they're fighting against the world, and it succeeds in separating the lovers and taking what hope and support they had as seen with the flying away of the flower petals. The moment he collapses she stops and so does her perception of time. She cries out in shock and tears as she feels his body fall. "Please! Take me with you! Don't leave me!" she yells through sobs. Our next pair of lovers face another painful separation via death, and she is now left alone in a green and flowery field.

Touch of your skin sympathetically brushed against the shoulders you used to embrace Sparkling ashes drift along your flames and softly merge into the sky

As much as it hurts her to do, she must cremate his body. She won't allow him to become decomposed or food for wandering beasts. Before she does, she holds him one last time. And as he burns, his ashes dance alongside the flower petals and pollen, intertwining together in one last beautiful display — a goodbye.

Lisianthus aroma drags me out of where I was Cream rose, stargazer, iris Construct the map that helps me trace your steps

The slowing down of the song before these lyrics are sang provides a window into our lead's mind. As she's watching his ashes fly away with the flowers, so too goes their hope and plans to spend their lives together. Memoires that they created and shared together of love, peace, joy, and absurdity flashes before her. Her eyes glaze over again as she realizes who she lost and that she's all alone. She's then brought back to the present by the smell of the flowers not taken by the wind: Lisianthus, cream rose, stargazer, and iris. The smell of Lisianthus tells of the eternal bond of lovers — there may be hope yet. Cream rose, stargazer, and iris flowers speak to her newfound hope, determination, and measured thought as she realized she might be able to be reunited with her lover. But how? She observes the upwards swirl of petals, and the way is revealed to her.

Zip my mouth I just keep climbing up, keep climbing up Justify our vows I know you are right above, you are right above, you are right above

Up she goes. She's determined and will not be stopped. She will join her lover in the afterlife. The vows spoken of are likely promises of commitment both in romance and in life. She says that her partner is right above. Is this heaven she's alluring to? No. It's Mag Mell. This is the afterlife I spoke of last review. That is where her lover is now and where she seeks to go. It's not documented very well, but Irish mythology speaks of Mag Mell as a utopian place where happiness never ceases and need for food and water is no longer so. It's not quite an afterlife, rather a secluded place on Earth, but I believe Mili is taking the small jump to make it an afterlife in their universe. It's heaven in the sense that it's a utopian space but different in that only the deserving are admitted. You won't gain admission simply by forgiveness of sins. Since they are both pure of heart, they will likely be welcome.

Look Now I'm on the top of your world, top of your world My darling Here I come, I yell And take a leap to Hell

Atop the peak she arrives. Our lead is once again breathless but this time it's because she notices just how high she is and how far she can see. She is literally standing on top of his world; she is his Polaris. The map is made, and it points straight up — right to Mag Mell. What's really nice is that you can hear her hesitation and fear with the small utterance of "darling". But the reminder of being alone and the possibility of being reunited with him is the push she needs. She then runs to the edge and makes one last leap of faith.

Swirling wind sings for our reunion And nine point eight is my acceleration Take me to where our souls may live in peace Our brand-new commencement

If the wind is representative of the evil nature of the world conspiring against these two, then the wind is literally laughing and singing for her demise. Maybe it was these two against the world, after all, and their troubles larger than we might have imagined. Now, she takes the leap of faith, falling downwards at acceleration of nine point eight meters per square second. As she falls, our lead reaches out to her deceased lover and asks for his guidance in their new life together. She hopes their new beginning will be one of peace and tranquility rather than the hell they've been suffering on Earth. Perhaps the commencement referenced is a welcome ceremony that everyone gets upon admission to Mag Mell? An interesting and comforting idea.

Touch of your lips compassionately pressed against the skill that you used to cherish Delicate flesh decomposes off my rotten bones And softly merge into the sky

This song ends with our lead crashing headfirst into the remains of her lover. In life, death, and the afterlife, these two are inseparable. So, too, is her body reunited with nature and her soul with her lover. May they find peace in Mag Mell like our previous pair of lovers.

Song Review and Rating

Nine Point Eight is a similarly tragic and sad story in comparison to A Turtle's Heart, although it's told in a more direct manner. On initial readings and analysis, I was disappointed in the straightforwardness of Nine Point Eight. But upon repeated listening and reading, I've come to value this song more and more. While I appreciate the openness to interpretation that A Turtle's Heart provided, there is elegance and beauty in both complex and straightforward stories. Even in the simplest and most direct telling of stories there is nuance to analyze and interpret.

Perhaps there isn't as much depth in the way the story is told is because the one telling it — our young female lead — isn't as mature and cognitively developed compared to the older lead of A Turtle's Heart. If that's the case, then at the time of writing this, my appreciation for both songs and Mili in general has somehow increased even more.

There's something I'm still wondering about. Why is hell still called hell? Is it to rhyme with Mag Mell? I imagine this is the case because the rhyming scheme makes you wonder just how different the two are in Mili's lore. Since Mag Mell is a space in the afterlife that only admits the worthy, perhaps hell is where those are rejected go. In which case it may either be limbo or hell according to Christian beliefs. Something to ponder further.

Regardless, Nine Point Eight is a lovely song that I really enjoyed diving into! This song just aids A Turtle's Heart in shaping and defining what kind of band Mili is. However, I actually enjoyed it less than A Turtle's Heart. It's not one of my favorites, but I still appreciate what it had to add to this album, their repertoire, and to their success. I wouldn't skip this song if it came up on shuffle. Too many memories and sentiment are linked to this song alone.

I rate this song a decently high 7/10

Authors Note

I thank each and every one of you for reading my post :) It means a lot to me! As you may have noticed, I'll be working through each song in order that they are listed in the albums. I'll then be moving on from album to album in order of release date. Next Friday is my review and analysis of Utopiosphere! My opinion on that song isn't that high right now, but maybe that will change upon closer review.

As always, feel free to provide any feedback and criticism you may have through my AMA page, submissions page, or through DMs! This story was a little more difficult to construct as the story detailed by the song is relatively simple and straightforward. The parts left unsaid were very open to possibilities and interpretation, perhaps a little too open for my taste. I think it turned out alright, though! This review certainly isn't my magnum opus, but I am nonetheless proud of it.

Thank you again so much for reading! I'll see you next Friday. ❤️

Jailaster

[nobully]

❛   hand !

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃  &  𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 | hand .   hold  out  a  hand  for  my  muse  to  take .

"The views up here are incredible!"

' Mhm. Hard to imagine we're still in the same world as the city. Do you want to take pictures? '

"Oh, that's not a bad idea!" Zhilan clapped his hands and smiled at Wang Yi. "Where should we take it? Maybe just around here?"

' Well, the locals were raving about the orchid fields, right? ' Wang Yi gestured to the colorful spread somewhat below them on the cable car platform. ' I think that'd be a nice spot. '

***

Once again, Wang Yi was taking a trip to the City of Glass—a much calmer version than the one he tried with Ryuujin, since this time his feet stayed on solid ground the entire time. Zhilan came because he was interested in the plants, while Wang Yi just wanted to visit places he'd missed last time.

Orchid's Peak framed the ridge of Mt. Key volcano and the flowers were still blooming, so going there with their resident little orchid was a no-brainer. The way to get there was only accessible on foot, but despite Wang Yi's reservations, Zhilan picked out a path with ease.

"Liyue has a lot of mountains," Zhilan was saying. "especially where I lived as a child, in Qingce Village! The qingxin—they're these clusters of white flowers—only grow on the mountaintops, so you have to climb if you want to see them up close."

Wang Yi nodded along, content to follow his pace as always. ' That sounds dangerous. '

"It's really not so hard if you know where to step. Oh—watch out!" Zhilan quickly held out a helping hand as Wang Yi half-slipped on a loose rock. The latter took it gratefully, marveling at how steady Zhilan was walking despite his robes and large sleeves.

' Thanks. '

"You're welcome!"

***

After they actually reached the flowers, it was time to figure out how to set up the shot. In the end, it was agreed that they'd use their cameras and take pictures of each other before trading the photos. Zhilan had Wang Yi go first before they switched, and then the duo put their heads together to review the different snapshots.

Despite being a new hand to Spirale technology, Zhilan's shots are well framed, giving the viewer a sense of perspective. There's a shot of Wang Yi against the orchids with a bright blue sky behind him and the jagged ridge of the volcano in the background; closer shots that's just him with flowers, wind ruffling through his hair just so, and a joke one that catches him posing mid-air as he pretends to fly. In comparison, Wang Yi's shots are more...

' They're kinda zoomed in, huh. ' Wang Yi pauses to peer at them. There's Zhilan bending over to smell the flowers, a small smile on his lips as light reflects off a corner of his glasses. Zhilan sitting comfortably in a clearing surrounded by wild orchids, represented by colorful, out-of-focus blurs around him. A closeup of Zhilan's face looking excited as he turns around to point something out to Wang Yi. ' Oops, looks like I was taking them on portrait mode instead. '

"That's okay," Zhilan began, but Wang Yi just tugs him back to the flowers to pose again as he takes a second round of pictures that show off the blooms as much as their model.

' I'll send you the new shots, ' he says simply when he's done. ' How about taking a last one together? '

Zhilan swallows whatever he was about to ask to beam at him. "Right, we definitely should!"

With nobody around to help, their shoulders take turns bumping into each other as they shoot their respective selfies. Wang Yi almost knocks Zhilan's glasses askew once and laughs good-naturedly when it's his friend who apologizes instead. When they end up forwarding their best pictures into the group chat, he has fun poking at Nicolette who complains about not being there with them. Honestly, it just means they have to come again sometime.

It's a happy end to a beautiful day.

***

Later that night, Wang Yi lounges on the carpet while browsing his camera roll. Of course he lingers on the portrait shots of Zhilan most—serendipitously captured, refreshing and natural. It's amazing to think that humans can just look like that without a second thought.

' Hmm...his expressions are cute. '

Haha, I'm almost tempted to copy them.

But that's not very nice and kind of borderline creepy, so Wang Yi does the sensible thing and selects his favorite shots from the screen.

And then he presses Delete.

[jerry618]

Full Array vs. Mini LEDs: The Differences, and Their Uses

Email: sale05@xygledscreen.com

WhatsApp & Wechat: +86 18038197291

www.xygledscreen.com

Light is essential in our lives. It helps us see in the dark, draws attention to important things in our world, and, when it comes to electronics, provides a sense of comfort that something's on and, more importantly, functions correctly. Without light, life would be nothing short of difficult.

As we continue to integrate computer screens into our lives more and more, ensuring they're well-lit is crucial, whether those screens are just for entertainment or if they'll be crucial to a work field or industry.

However, lighting a screen isn't a simple matter of just having the screen make light; there's a lot at play with each screen. Each screen is lit up with an array of light-emitting diodes, also known as LEDs.

The Basics of LED Light

There are a few different ways LED lights can light a screen, but they all work off the basic principle of backlighting. Inside any backlit device, a number of tiny diodes arranged in a pattern sit behind the screen. The diodes each represent one of three colors: red, blue, and green. In addition, each diode can adjust its brightness. Different combinations of brightness allow the LEDs to mix colors and produce hues beyond the standard RGB.

An interface connects the LEDs to the screen, telling the diodes what will be on the screen at each diode's location. The diodes then use this data to determine how bright each LED in the pattern should be. While the specifics differ depending on the backlighting method, all these lights come together to illuminate the screen's pixels and produce a vibrant image.

What Kinds of Backlighting Configurations Are There?

Several backlighting configurations exist. However, the majority of LED screens use one of three popular methods to accomplish the task of screen lighting.

Full Array

With a full array backlight, a grid of lights across the screen's area provides complete lighting coverage. Each zone of the grid can be dimmed or brightened depending on the brightness of the screen image's corresponding area, allowing shadows to contrast nicely against light.

Direct-lit

Direct-lit backlights utilize LED lights spread out across the screen, similar to a full array. However, there are fewer lights in a direct-lit than in a full array, and rather than having individually dimmable zones, their lighting is uniform, resulting in evenly lit images. While shadows might not be as deep and rich, they still produce a desirable image.

Edge-lit

Edge-lit isn't exactly backlighting, but it is a related process. Edge lighting utilizes LEDs around the area of the screen, lighting it from the edge. The light is then directed down with a special panel and channeled into a diffuser. They offer decent quality at a cheap price and a slimmer size.

LED Differences: Full Array LED vs Mini LED

Backlighting configurations are just some of the things to consider when picking out a screen. It's also important to factor in what kind of LEDs you want to make up your television's backlighting system. The kinds to know are Full Array LEDs and Mini LEDs.

Both diode styles have advantages and drawbacks, and which kind you should choose depends on your personal preferences and planned usage. Below is a summary table, followed by an in-depth look at each feature.

Feature

Full Array LED

Mini LED

Diode Size

200 micrometers

100 micrometers

Array Size

Spaced Out

Dense

Peak Brightness

1000-2000 nits

2000+ nits

Dimming Zones

Standard

Superior

Blooming

Noticeable

Slight Improvement

Price

Budget-friendly

High-cost

Diode Size

Full Array LEDs come in a variety of sizes, but the ones for LED/LCD screens are around 200 micrometers, slightly thicker than a piece of paper. On the other hand, Mini LEDs are much smaller, at around 100 micrometers.

Array Size

Standard LED-based backlighting arrays are much less densely packed than ones that use Mini LEDs. Between this and the larger size of standard Full Array LEDs, there's less overall coverage.

Peak Brightness

Mini LED lights are capable of a higher overall brightness than Full Array LEDs and even surpass OLED lights in brightness. OLED screens achieve an average peak brightness level of around 800-1000 nits, Full Array averaging between 1000-2000 nits, and Mini LEDs typically sitting at 2000 nits or more, some reaching 5000+ nits.

Dimming Zones

Both styles of LEDs have accurate dimming controls, creating dimming zones that allow both dark and bright portions of an image to contrast and "pop," giving it a stunning, vibrant range of brightness and color. However, Mini LED's smaller, denser nature allows for incredibly precise dimming control, resulting in an incredible dynamic range compared to Full Array LEDs.

Blooming

Unfortunately, both LED styles suffer from blooming, also known as a halo effect. This is when light from a bright object over-spills into areas of darkness, making bright objects on the screen appear highly luminescent when they shouldn't be and, in worst-case scenarios, make shadows look washed-out.

Mini LED screens have a slightly less intense bloom, but unless you're particularly attentive to detail, the blooming on both Mini LED and Full Array LED screens will appear roughly the same.

Price

The final factor to compare is their cost. Mini LED-backlit devices cost more than standard Full Array LED ones because Mini LEDs are a more advanced and specialized technology.

Which One Should You Choose?

While Mini LED screens might seem like the obvious choice, there are times and places where a Full Array LED television would be a better option. It all comes down to where you'll be using it, and what your preferences are.

Reasons to get Full Array

If you're looking for a cheap device, aim for ones that use Full Array or other standard LED lights over Mini LEDs. Even if they might have less precise local dimming, their dimming features are still good and help make your movies and shows look more dynamic.

Furthermore, LED screens come in the broadest range of sizes. Finding especially small or particularly large screens will be far easier than it would be with Mini LED devices.

Full Array LED screens also serve you better than Mini LED screens if you buy them for business use. Not only do their lower price make them ideal for purchasing large quantities for use in places like hotels, hospitals, and convention centers, but Mini LED's benefits are unnoticeable when you're using these devices to display information like medical statistics or financial graphs rather than movies or shows.

Reasons to get Mini LED

For personal use, Mini LEDs are the way to go. They offer excellent contrast and brightness, making them ideal for shows, movies, and video games.

While they don't come in as many sizes as LED screens, they're still available in a nice selection of sizes ideal for most rooms in a house.

If you watch a lot during the bright hours of the day or prefer to watch television with the room's lights on, a Mini LED screen should be your choice. Their superior brightness makes them easier to watch in bright areas.

Conclusion

While Full Array LED televisions are suitable for business use and when you've got a tight budget, Mini LED televisions have several benefits that make them preferable for personal use and are generally better overall.

[universalinfo]

Celebrating Harvests, Handcrafts, and the Hands That Make It Happen

There's a unique allure in tracing the path your food takes before gracing your plate. You might imagine expansive fields, the hustle of farmers, and the vibrant buzz of community. This encapsulates the undeniable charm of the farm market experience. Stepping into a farm market isn't just a shopping trip—it's an immersion into a world where food is fresh, relationships are real, and every product has a story to tell.

The Essence of the Farm Market

Farm markets represent the heart and soul of a community. As one walks through the aisles, there’s an undeniable energy. It isn't merely a transactional space; it's a dynamic environment of stories, heritage, and tradition. Farmers proudly present their produce, the fruits of their labor, and offer a glimpse into their world. For many consumers, a trip to the farm market becomes a cherished routine, a weekly escapade into a world of authenticity. 

Beyond the allure of fresh produce, these markets offer a genuine connection—to the land, to the farmers, and to the rhythm of nature. Each purchase carries with it the weight of a story, the echo of a tradition, and the promise of a meal brimming with quality.

Why Fresh Makes a Difference

There’s something to be said about biting into a fruit or vegetable that’s been freshly harvested. The farm market's offerings wear their freshness proudly, often having been picked mere hours before they find their way into shoppers' bags. This unmatched freshness translates into robust flavors, vibrant colors, and an array of textures that supermarket produce often can’t compete with. 

But it’s not just about taste and visual appeal. Fresh produce, at its peak ripeness, retains more nutrients. The immediacy from farm to table ensures that you are not only enjoying a delightful culinary experience but also fueling your body with the best nature has to offer. In the realm of food, freshness is not just a luxury—it’s a testament to quality, health, and the dedication of the farmers who prioritize it.

Building Community Connections

The connections fostered at a farm market go beyond the exchange of goods. It's a hive of interactions and shared stories. As shoppers stroll through, they aren’t just faced with arrays of produce; they encounter the farmers and artisans who’ve poured their love and labor into every item. These interactions make the food we consume personal. 

The stories shared over a basket of strawberries or a bundle of fresh herbs weave a tapestry of community ties. It's not uncommon for shoppers and farmers to know each other by name, to share updates about their lives, and to genuinely care. This camaraderie is the cornerstone of a farm market, turning simple transactions into long-standing relationships.

The Environmental Benefits

Embracing the farm market lifestyle is not just a treat for the palate but also a nod to our environment. The reduced distance between the farm and the market means there's minimal transportation involved, leading to a significant decrease in carbon emissions. However, the environmental merits don't end there. Many farm market vendors are champions of sustainable farming practices. They might avoid harsh chemicals, conserve water, and maintain soil health. This not only ensures that the produce is cleaner and healthier but also that the land remains fertile for future generations. 

By supporting these farmers, consumers inadvertently become environmental stewards, promoting a harmonious balance with nature and encouraging responsible agricultural practices.

Economic Impacts and Supporting Locals

The dollars you spend at a farm market have far-reaching effects. When you make a purchase, you're essentially casting a vote for local businesses. This direct financial infusion enables farmers to sustain and grow their operations. But the ripple effect goes even further. 

When local farmers prosper, they're more likely to invest back into the community, be it through employing locals, sourcing local materials, or supporting other businesses. This cycle of local spending strengthens the community's economic backbone, fostering resilience, growth, and mutual support. Investing in a farm market is akin to investing in the community's future with Champlain Orchards.

The Variety and Seasonality

Each farm market visit is akin to a delightful surprise. As the seasons change, so does the tapestry of offerings. Spring might bring tender greens and early berries, summer boasts tomatoes and stone fruits, autumn ushers in root vegetables and squashes, and even winter has its share of hearty greens and preserved goods. This rotation allows consumers to diversify their diets, experiment with new recipes, and anticipate the joys each season brings. 

Moreover, eating in tune with the seasons means you're consuming produce when it's naturally at its best—nutritionally, flavor-wise, and texture-wise. This alignment with nature's rhythms not only enhances the culinary experience but also fosters a deeper connection with the Earth's cycles.

Tips for an Optimal Farm Market Visit

Making the most of a farm market visit requires a bit of strategy and an open heart. Firstly, being an early riser pays off—morning visits often ensure a wider selection and fewer crowds. Packing your own reusable bags and containers is another smart move, showcasing environmental responsibility and preparing you for a bounty of purchases. 

Furthermore, don't hesitate to interact with the farmers. Their insights can guide you to unique products, offer preparation suggestions, or even introduce you to heirloom varieties. An open-minded approach can also be rewarding; be willing to explore unfamiliar produce or artisanal goods. Each visit to a farm market holds the potential for discovery, learning, and culinary inspiration.

Conclusion

The experience of a farm market is a rich tapestry woven with flavors, stories, human connections, and environmental consciousness. Buying food at the market does more than you think. First, it turns shopping into a full-blown experience. It delights our senses, feeds our bodies well and also warms our souls. But there's more. When we shop here, we back our local farmers, cheer for every season's special produce and grasp the real value of our buys. So, in doing this, we don’t just eat. We become a key part of a community and tradition.

We are part of a grand narrative of community, nature, and sustenance. The farm market is more than a destination; it’s a testament to the symbiotic relationship between land, farmer, and consumer.

Read More:

The Ultimate Guide to Tasting Rooms

Orchard to Your Doorstep: Dive Into the World of Direct Ship Fruit Boxes

The Colors of Vermont: A Fall Explorer's Guide to Leaf Peeping

[jerry618]

Full Array vs. Mini LEDs: The Differences, and Their Uses

Light is essential in our lives. It helps us see in the dark, draws attention to important things in our world, and, when it comes to electronics, provides a sense of comfort that something's on and, more importantly, functions correctly. Without light, life would be nothing short of difficult.

As we continue to integrate computer screens into our lives more and more, ensuring they're well-lit is crucial, whether those screens are just for entertainment or if they'll be crucial to a work field or industry.

However, lighting a screen isn't a simple matter of just having the screen make light; there's a lot at play with each screen. Each screen is lit up with an array of light-emitting diodes, also known as LEDs.

The Basics of LED Light

There are a few different ways LED lights can light a screen, but they all work off the basic principle of backlighting. Inside any backlit device, a number of tiny diodes arranged in a pattern sit behind the screen. The diodes each represent one of three colors: red, blue, and green. In addition, each diode can adjust its brightness. Different combinations of brightness allow the LEDs to mix colors and produce hues beyond the standard RGB.

An interface connects the LEDs to the screen, telling the diodes what will be on the screen at each diode's location. The diodes then use this data to determine how bright each LED in the pattern should be. While the specifics differ depending on the backlighting method, all these lights come together to illuminate the screen's pixels and produce a vibrant image.

What Kinds of Backlighting Configurations Are There?

Several backlighting configurations exist. However, the majority of LED screens use one of three popular methods to accomplish the task of screen lighting.

Full Array

With a full array backlight, a grid of lights across the screen's area provides complete lighting coverage. Each zone of the grid can be dimmed or brightened depending on the brightness of the screen image's corresponding area, allowing shadows to contrast nicely against light.

Direct-lit

Direct-lit backlights utilize LED lights spread out across the screen, similar to a full array. However, there are fewer lights in a direct-lit than in a full array, and rather than having individually dimmable zones, their lighting is uniform, resulting in evenly lit images. While shadows might not be as deep and rich, they still produce a desirable image.

Edge-lit

Edge-lit isn't exactly backlighting, but it is a related process. Edge lighting utilizes LEDs around the area of the screen, lighting it from the edge. The light is then directed down with a special panel and channeled into a diffuser. They offer decent quality at a cheap price and a slimmer size.

LED Differences: Full Array LED vs Mini LED

Backlighting configurations are just some of the things to consider when picking out a screen. It's also important to factor in what kind of LEDs you want to make up your television's backlighting system. The kinds to know are Full Array LEDs and Mini LEDs.

Both diode styles have advantages and drawbacks, and which kind you should choose depends on your personal preferences and planned usage. Below is a summary table, followed by an in-depth look at each feature.

Feature

Full Array LED

Mini LED

Diode Size

200 micrometers

100 micrometers

Array Size

Spaced Out

Dense

Peak Brightness

1000-2000 nits

2000+ nits

Dimming Zones

Standard

Superior

Blooming

Noticeable

Slight Improvement

Price

Budget-friendly

High-cost

Diode Size

Full Array LEDs come in a variety of sizes, but the ones for LED/LCD screens are around 200 micrometers, slightly thicker than a piece of paper. On the other hand, Mini LEDs are much smaller, at around 100 micrometers.

Array Size

Standard LED-based backlighting arrays are much less densely packed than ones that use Mini LEDs. Between this and the larger size of standard Full Array LEDs, there's less overall coverage.

Peak Brightness

Mini LED lights are capable of a higher overall brightness than Full Array LEDs and even surpass OLED lights in brightness. OLED screens achieve an average peak brightness level of around 800-1000 nits, Full Array averaging between 1000-2000 nits, and Mini LEDs typically sitting at 2000 nits or more, some reaching 5000+ nits.

Dimming Zones

Both styles of LEDs have accurate dimming controls, creating dimming zones that allow both dark and bright portions of an image to contrast and "pop," giving it a stunning, vibrant range of brightness and color. However, Mini LED's smaller, denser nature allows for incredibly precise dimming control, resulting in an incredible dynamic range compared to Full Array LEDs.

Blooming

Unfortunately, both LED styles suffer from blooming, also known as a halo effect. This is when light from a bright object over-spills into areas of darkness, making bright objects on the screen appear highly luminescent when they shouldn't be and, in worst-case scenarios, make shadows look washed-out.

Mini LED screens have a slightly less intense bloom, but unless you're particularly attentive to detail, the blooming on both Mini LED and Full Array LED screens will appear roughly the same.

Price

The final factor to compare is their cost. Mini LED-backlit devices cost more than standard Full Array LED ones because Mini LEDs are a more advanced and specialized technology.

Which One Should You Choose?

While Mini LED screens might seem like the obvious choice, there are times and places where a Full Array LED television would be a better option. It all comes down to where you'll be using it, and what your preferences are.

Reasons to get Full Array

If you're looking for a cheap device, aim for ones that use Full Array or other standard LED lights over Mini LEDs. Even if they might have less precise local dimming, their dimming features are still good and help make your movies and shows look more dynamic.

Furthermore, LED screens come in the broadest range of sizes. Finding especially small or particularly large screens will be far easier than it would be with Mini LED devices.

Full Array LED screens also serve you better than Mini LED screens if you buy them for business use. Not only do their lower price make them ideal for purchasing large quantities for use in places like hotels, hospitals, and convention centers, but Mini LED's benefits are unnoticeable when you're using these devices to display information like medical statistics or financial graphs rather than movies or shows.

Reasons to get Mini LED

For personal use, Mini LEDs are the way to go. They offer excellent contrast and brightness, making them ideal for shows, movies, and video games.

While they don't come in as many sizes as LED screens, they're still available in a nice selection of sizes ideal for most rooms in a house.

If you watch a lot during the bright hours of the day or prefer to watch television with the room's lights on, a Mini LED screen should be your choice. Their superior brightness makes them easier to watch in bright areas.

Conclusion

While Full Array LED televisions are suitable for business use and when you've got a tight budget, Mini LED televisions have several benefits that make them preferable for personal use and are generally better overall.