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mayakern · 7 months ago

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upcoming store stuff & why we're doing a super sale

omg hiiii it's devin again, and this time i'm bringing store news

the short version: we're moving ourselves back to minnesota, and we're moving order fulfillment to a fulfillment center

wow, that's big news! maya and i are so so so excited to be closer to our minnesota friends (and also my family lol). i'm hoping to be back in northeast minneapolis, but let's be real we're probably gonna get priced out and into the suburbs

in addition to that, due to a variety of reasons i'll explain in more detail below, we're transitioning from in-house fulfillment to working with a fulfillment center (or 3pl, short for third-party logistics). we're at an awkward size that makes staffing difficult and have had issues with extended processing time. the 3pl should be set up by september, and we're working on the back end to have fulfillment centers in australia, canada, the UK, and eventually the EU. if tax authorities work with us we should have all that ready by december 2024!

to prepare for that we're doing a super sale. ash told me not to call it liquidation but she said that like 30 seconds after i hit send on the marketing email, sorry about that. items that we don't want to pay to move to the 3pl are discounted by 25-70%, with some of them priced at cost. under no circumstances will anything ever be 70% off again

if you're nosy you can read the q&a i made up in my head while eating pigs in a blanket:

how are the labor protections at the 3pl?

pretty good! we were shocked to find anything even halfway decent in the US; we went looking for a fulfillment center in the EU to handle all international fulfillment, and the one we found just so happened to have bought a US location two years ago.

they're located in ohio, pay $19/hr, and provide health insurance and 401k matching. that seemed too good to be true so we dug through employee reviews on places like glassdoor, and while there were some bad reviews those were all dated prior to when the facility was purchased by this new company. they also have a very low turnover rate which is a HUGE green flag

why are you transferring to a 3pl?

the serious

sometimes we have a high volume of sales, and it makes sense to have two full-time employees plus a part timer! but usually we have a low-to-medium volume of sales. we can float by on that, but it gets risky, and the economy is in a bad enough state that we're concerned about the longevity

related, the 2023 holiday sale showed us some major flaws in our fulfillment process. if the same issues were to happen this year the business probably wouldn't survive

we're moving cross-country in early 2025 and would've had to close this location anyway

the dumb:

i'm sick of dealing with commercial landlords and if i have one more wall leak i'm going to throw it into the river brick by brick

what about your staff?

unfortunately we will have to say goodbye to our office staff. they have been given 3.5 months notice and no-questions-asked PTO for interviews with a small severance

why are you moving back to minnesota?

troy was always meant to be a temporary move. initially the plan was to move to vermont or massachusetts, but after being out here for 7 years we just kinda want to go home. the weather in troy is perfect for us, we love the mountains, and we have some great friends here, but for some goddamn reason we want our eyelashes to freeze together.

will you be returning to midwest cons?

if we return to cons at all it will be with ariel and/or ash running the booth, maya will not be involved. this would likely be in california and/or in the northeast US.

my friends are begging me to go to CONvergence as an attendee so ig you might see me there? maya has pledged death before crowded venues tho

will you do any local events in minnesota?

we might do sample sales. honestly idk what we're gonna do with the samples we have in troy, most of them are terrible. do you want samples of the strangest low rise bell bottom pants ever created? please take them from me. my bush hangs out

also my kid brother has gotten really into library events and if he asks nice enough we might do some of those

is there anything else?

i mean probably, but i started this last week and i haven't had any other ideas on what to include

#devin time #store

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yumeka-sxf · 8 months ago

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I would have included this scan with my recent miscellaneous collab scans post, but I decided it deserves its own post, not just because it's one of the loveliest official Twiyor illustrations I've seen, but also because the story of how I got it is...interesting 😅

This image is from the chara fine graph (which is basically a framed picture) that was included as a preorder bonus for buying the complete season 2 blu-ray set from a shop called Rakuten Books (together with badge pins of the same designs). I briefly mentioned it back in October of last year when season 2 was airing, along with preoder bonuses from other shops like Animate and Amazon. I only wanted to get this one though, so as per my usual process of trying to secure rare SxF goods, I made a note to myself to keep an eye out for when it released. Rakuten, which I believe is the main company for Rakuten Books, has their own proxy buying service, and as the season 2 blu-rays were released, I saw them appearing there. But as noted on their main site, the condition for them to send you the chara fine graph is that you must preorder all of the three season 2 blu-ray discs from them. Once you buy the third one, if they know that you've already bought the others, then they'll send you the preorder bonuses along with it.

I was concerned that if I bought the discs via proxy, they wouldn't know that I bought all three and would cancel my order at the end! I would be devastated if that happened after waiting months and spending all that money on the complete set. I knew people would sell the chara fine graph second-hand as soon as it released, so I decided to wait until then and try to find it on Mercari.

So the months went by and eventually I found out that the final blu-ray volume of season 2 would release on April 17th, 2024. I made a mental note to check Mercari for it then, but unfortunately something else released around that same time...CODE: White in the US, which had its first screening on April 18th. Admittingly, I got distracted by the CODE: White release and had seen it twice by the following weekend. I did do some preliminary searching for the chara fine graph, but not with my usual refined search terms. It wasn't until the 21st that I finally sat down and really started searching for it. And while I did find a few listings, they had already been sold.

I was hopeful that more people would sell it, since it had only been less than a week since release. But I guess I underestimated how popular this chara fine graph was because, after the initial five listings I saw that were sold within the span of a few days, none appeared after. I had, like, ten Mercari tabs open on my browser with different search terms that I refreshed many times a day, but nothing was showing up. I would groan whenever I'd see the preorder bonuses for the other shops like Animate and Amazon pop up, but not Rakuten Books. I did finally see one new listing of someone selling just the badge pins, but that was sold within a few minutes, which made me even more nervous. I would also be nervous getting up in the morning since I didn't want to see that a new listing was posted and sold while I was sleeping! Thankfully I work from home so it wasn't too much of an inconvenience for me to refresh the Mercari tabs on my personal computer whenever I had a minute. But as the days went by and I didn't see any new listings, I started getting mad at myself that if I had only started seriously searching for it right on release day, I would have had at least five chances to get it and could have saved myself this hassle. I even sent a message to Rakuten Books via their online form, asking (in Japanese) if they could somehow sell it to me and ship internationally, etc. But their response was pretty much what I expected...a polite "no."

But then, on the evening of May 4th, I found a new listing and immediately bought it! What should have been a red flag though is that the person was selling it for $30 (with the badge pins included), while everyone else had been selling it from around $80-$100. The title they gave to the item was weird too; they simply called it "Spy Family" instead of "Spy Family Chara Fine Graph" or "Spy Family Rakuten Books Bonus" or something descriptive like that. But the seller had a decent rating so I didn't think there was a problem. After I got the email from Buyee (my proxy service) that they successfully bought the item, I thought I was all set. I closed out all my search tabs and went to bed feeling satisfied.

However, when I got up the next morning, my heart sank when I saw that about an hour after I had gone to bed, Buyee sent me another email saying that they refunded and cancelled my order! The reason they gave was "due to the convenience of the seller" 😫

But what was most frustrating about this is that, when I checked the searches again, I saw that the same seller had relisted the item, with a higher price and more descriptive title, and it had been sold already. What probably happened is that the seller realized they made a mistake with the title and price of the listing and wanted to change it, which Mercari apparently allows them to do even after it had already been sold and paid for!

I was furious with Mercari for allowing this. The least they could do in a situation like this is give the original buyer, like, one day to buy the item again with the increased price before the seller is allowed to relist it again. I wanted to write to the seller and/or Mercari, but I wasn't able to make a Mercari account since it's restricted to Japan. I was also internally yelling at myself that if I had just started searching for it within a day or two of release instead of procrastinating, I could have avoided all this. So it was back to square one, but I wasn't going to give up! I opened up more search tabs with even more refined search terms. I also expanded to other proxy-supported shops like Surugaya and Yahoo Japan Auction. I even got my mom to help me, since she's often up in the middle of the night and can check in case anything is listed during that time while I'm asleep. I downloaded the Buyee app too so I could check listings even if I was away from my computer. With all this, I was hopeful I'd be able to buy it again, though it was more of a question of "when" than "if." With second-hand collectibles, you never know when they could pop up...I could find a new listing the next day, or not for a year or two. But I just kept up the searching, and finally, after another month went by, on June 3rd (June 4th in Japan, so technically Twiyor day 😁) I finally found it again...on Yahoo Japan Auction of all places!

I had never bought via auction before so I was a bit nervous I'd get outbid or something. But I immediately clicked the "pay buyout price option" (which was only a few dollars more than the original price) and, thankfully, a short while later Buyee informed me that I successfully won the auction! But after what happened before, I was still paranoid that it could get canceled for whatever reason. But that didn't happen, and after waiting for shipping, it finally came~

I always like to add a "lessons learned" in these situations, so I'd say the lesson here is don't be blasé or procrastinate when it comes to something you really want. And of course, being persistent pays off more than not!

#spy x family #sxf #spy family #spyxfamily #twiyor #loid forger #yor forger #sxf merch

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yutahoes · 6 months ago

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Caramel

(Part Thirteen)

gif by @noyuta I can't find the gif I always include in the story so just saved it and uploaded it. I'm sorry.

characters: ex-stripper! company vice-president! Yuta x female! ex-wealthy! secretary! mom! Y/N genre: chaptered, smut, angst, fluff word count: 3.5k words summary: Y/N has everything in her bitter life, not until she meets a sweet-looking stripper. warnings: matured theme, ex-stripper au!, third person POV, alcohol consumption taglist: @cherrymotodude @tenjyucat @justsomekpopstuff @ilhoonseyeballs @whyme11 @a-bts-world @amazinggraxia

Part Twelve

It must be a dream. A very crazy fever dream.

Come to think of it, even when he first met her, it felt like a dream. A hazy fairytale. How could a pretty, wealthy, successful girl hang out with a low-life stripper? Even when she was in his arms, he felt as if he was floating and just dreaming of the moment. When they got separated and he never saw her for years, it felt like a dream-like trance.

Maybe this is still a dream. He probably just missed her so much.

Yet when Yuta pinched his arm so hard, hurting himself in the process to at least wake himself up, Y/N was still in front of him. And she looks even prettier, glowing even. He can’t take his eyes off her. He had to get his eyes checked twice just to make sure that what he was seeing was true and not a hallucination.

But why? How?

Why would the wife of a globally esteemed company chairman work as a secretary in their small company? How did Y/N end up here, in his office, of all places?

It must be a plot. Maybe she works as a spy for their own company. But why Suzaki company? Does she know that he’s been doing this to defeat Jung Tradings?

He’s getting crazy just thinking of her reason when his original reason for opening the company is to be more successful than Jung Jaehyun. Then maybe, just maybe, he’ll have a chance to steal his first love from her husband.

Is this a sign of mockery from them?

That he’s now tied up to his dad who he despised the most. He’s running a small company. That the girl he yearned for is so close yet feels so far. Even if he can always see her, laughing with his very own secretary, he cannot touch her. That even if she calls him ‘sir’, he cannot have her.

He hated this feeling, he’d rather die.

All his hard work is now slowly going down the drain because of these stupid feelings.

The money Y/N had given him the night they last shared was all poured into opening this small business. It was a deal he proposed to his biological father, Mr. Suzaki, when the elder's henchmen caught him. He had been running really well from him, avoiding him at all costs for years. But it only took Y/N’s mother for him to get discovered and be sent back to Japan.

Yuta knew, even at a young age, that his biological father was the well-known yakuza in town. Growing up, the people around would tell him that he resembled the old man’s eyes. It also doesn’t help that he used to frequent the Geisha house to visit his favorite, Yuta’s mom.

He knew his father had money. But ever since Yuta was born, the yakuza leader never once came into the Geisha house again. He never once visited him, never even bought his mother out. The first time Yuta saw him was when his mother died and he just casually bought him out of the Geisha house. A young boy living in a house full of women with raging hormones isn’t a great sign, that was what he told Yuta. But a young boy living in a house full of violent men isn’t a great sign either. He saw people being killed, and blood splattered everywhere in the house. His father is ruthless and does not spare any life.

When Yuta was sixteen, he decided to run away from everything and live a new life.

It was a well-thought-out plan. He never knew if his father did look for him all those years but he didn’t care, as long as he could stay away from the old man’s life. As long as he wouldn’t be tagged as a yakuza’s son.

Now, he is the vice president of the Suzaki group. And now that he’s back, Yuta is determined to get the president position from his father.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips. But now that Y/N is on his team, his desire to be the company president has become less. He just wants to be the vice president and keep Y/N as his secretary. She seemed closer to him this way.

Yuta thinks that he has an upper hand from Jung Jaehyun this way. His wife works for him eight hours daily. Technically, they spend more time together than she does with her husband. If possible, he saw her more this past week than when they were hanging out back then. And she didn’t change. Y/N would always forget to eat lunch especially when she’s immersed in her work so Yuta had to call for Haechan’s attention for him to ask his fellow secretary to eat. She would always stay at work late and come to the office so early. She wouldn't even complain even if he kept asking her for revisions.

Does she still have time for her husband? Is Jaehyun not clingy for her time? Because if that was him, if Yuta is the lucky person she got married to, he’d probably go to the office late and go home early to spend more time with her. He’ll probably just attach her to his hip just so they can spend all their waking moments together. Is Jaehyun already sick of her? Maybe Yuta still has the chance to snatch her away from him.

It was a mystery. This is her husband’s party yet Y/N had told Haechan that she’ll just be waiting for them outside the hotel gates. She could easily just go inside the hotel with her husband. Besides, she knew about this hotel right? Yet, seeing her in that gorgeous black dress, he was glad that she didn’t come inside with her husband. His cheeks flared up, heart beating crazily in his chest as if it would burst. Even after all these years, it’s still her.

Yuta casually opened the door of the backseat for her, letting her sit beside him in the car. Y/N obviously looked startled and Haechan, who was seated on the passenger seat, greeted her by saying that she looked lovely. For the first time, Yuta was grateful to have a chatty secretary in his life. The younger was sharing about how amazed he was at the hotel, even gasping at how far the gate was from the entrance.

“It used to be farther,” both Y/N and Yuta claimed at the same time. Haechan’s eyes widened as the two just glanced at each other. “Have you been here before?” Both nodded which made Yuta lightly smirk. How could he forget that this was the exact place where they first met? But maybe that was just him. Surely, Y/N had more memories other than him in this place. She probably spent more time here with her husband, with its posh room and quality service. And that fact, itself, pissed him off.

The driver opened the door for him and Haechan opened the door for Y/N. When the only female of their team held on to Haechan’s arms, he pursed his lips in annoyance. Even in the elevator heading to the ballroom, the two were just very chatty with each other. Y/N shared that the escargots are amazing and that Haechan should try them out but what she said next confused him, “I don’t know if they’ll serve wine, they have amazing red wine here.”

Shouldn’t she know? This is a party held by Jung Jaehyun, her husband. Or, are they still married?

He had always seen Jaehyun on the covers of magazines as the youngest chairman or one of the most successful multi-billionaires but there’s nothing about his wife or their married life together. He just assumed that she wanted their relationship low key but that would be impossible since with her intelligence and beauty, they could be tagged as the most powerful business couple. If the was him, once again, he would show off how amazing his wife is.

Yuta lightly glanced at her as she talked to the receptionist. Maybe they have broken up. He now has the best chance.

“You can come in, Chairman Jung is ecstatic to meet you Mr. Suzaki.” Both Haechan and Yuta stared at the only girl who looked startled as well. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Nakamoto.”

The high ceiling of the ballroom amused the youngest in the team, exclaiming that he had never been inside something as fancy as this. There were a lot of people, some were familiar faces from way before his nightclub days. Faces he had seen in magazines or newspapers. People who probably know Y/N from way before. But she remained glued to Haechan’s side, engaging in talks with the younger secretary. Is this her way to avoid these people? She could have declined to come here if she wanted to.

Yuta thought that Jaehyun already knew who he was. Obviously, Y/N would have shared something about him right? That the stripper she once fooled with is now her boss. She even cried to her husband the first time they met, Yuta overheard that conversation. But the look on Jaehyun’s face is rather comical. He looked surprised and then confused at the same time, his eyes squinted as if taking a clear image of him.

“Mr. Suzaki.” The party host greeted them and then glanced at the girl behind the person he just addressed. Jaehyun looked confused before smiling, dimples popping out that annoyed Yuta. He lent out a hand to shake, “I’m Jung Jaehyun from Jung Tradings.”

“Yuta Nakamoto.” he introduced, shaking his hand.

Jaehyun’s smile grew before he slipped his hand off him and then faced the other guy, shaking his hand. “And you must be Lee Haechan.” The younger one smiled widely. “You truly are a ball of sunshine.” Y/N giggled at the younger’s shocked face. “If you don’t mind, can I borrow Y/N for a second?” He lent a hand for her to take, claiming that he wanted to show her something.

Haechan looked confused as Yuta carefully watched the couple walk while holding hands across the ballroom. “Does he know noona?” the younger asked as the older took a glass of champagne.

Yuta downed the drink before taking another glass, “They’re married.”

The secretary almost spat the drink he just took then stared at his boss as if he was joking then at the couple. “They look good together,” Yuta downed another glass of champagne. “Y/N noona hit the jackpot with a rich and handsome husband.” The older just rolled his eyes at that. He’s also handsome and rich. “But why would she work in our office if she’s the chairman’s wife?”

He pursed his lips at that, “I don’t know.” Yuta claimed then stared deadpan at Haechan. “That’s why I want you to watch her every move.”

“Oh, is that what you were doing?” Haechan asked which confused the older. “I thought you were smitten by noona. You can’t take your eyes off her.” What? That’s not true. What the hell is Haechan talking about? “There are rumors that you finally moved on from your first love because of noona.” Yuta chuckled before drinking his champagne. “Your favorability in the office came up when they thought you like a single mom then it turns out she’s married.”

Huh? “A what?”

“A single mom,” Haechan claimed as a matter of fact. “You do know that she has a son, right?”

Yuta’s eyes were on the couple greeting someone. A son? They have a son together? Then it’s game over, right?

True, this is Yuta’s first social event as a vice president of a company. As a Suzaki. But he’s not in the mood to mingle with some businessman or even introduce himself in their circle. Instead, he was seated in the hotel bar with a bottle of whiskey almost empty. How could one word affect him this much? A son.

Y/N, the girl he loves, is now a mom.

Her worry from way before is now a reality. Is that why she was glowing? Why she looks prettier? Motherhood might have looked really good to her. He just hates that he wasn’t there when that happened. He hates that all his reasons are now gone. He cannot do much to defeat the Jung tradings because realistically, he’s fairly a small company. He cannot steal the girl because they have a son together.

Y/N as a mom would be such a lovely thing to see.

Yuta hissed in annoyance before finishing the last gulp in his cup. Quickly, he tried to fill the glass when someone took the bottle from him. “You’re drunk.” He took the bottle away from the other’s grip but the girl just glared at him. “Stop drinking, sir.”

He had to laugh while shaking his head. “Where is Haechan?”

“I told him to look for you in the male restroom. I’ll call…” But before she could put the phone on her ear, he stopped her. Yuta leaned his head on her shoulder. His last attempt to find out if she was really true. That she’s now in front of him after all these years. His last attempt to keep his feelings for her. “Why did you drink so much, Yuta?”

Yuta? He looked up at her, fingers of his right hand threading on her left hand. “I…”

“Noona!” Haechan called. Yuta sat up, removing his hold from her as if they were boiling hot. “You found hyung.”

Y/N nodded. “Let’s take him home.”

“Haechan can. You stay.” The girl wanted to revolt at that but the vice president continued in a cold voice, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The younger guy was once again confused but followed his boss’ orders, leaving his fellow secretary looking at them in worry.

Yuta took a heavy sigh, dragging his own feet away from her. This is it, huh? His last goodbye to his last love. How heartbreaking.

—----

Y/N had been staring at her left hand the entire time she was inside the cab. She could still feel how warm those hands were. She could still smell his sweet scent. She thought he had changed a lot. But that guy earlier was still Yuta. Sweet, handsome, sexy, and warm Yuta. Maybe it was the pressure of being a vice president that turned his attitude colder. But there’s still the Yuta she knows inside that person. If possible, she thinks this new Yuta is even hotter.

The girl shook her head. What the hell was she thinking all of a sudden?

In those years apart, she was pretty sure that Yuta had found the girl of his dreams. He knocked her out pregnant in just a night together, he probably has a family of his own now. Because seriously, who would ever resist that gorgeous face and hot body?

Even that morning, with the warm cup of black coffee with a hint of caramel in her hands, she could still feel the warmth of his hand threaded on hers from last night. It’s even warmer than the coffee itself. She probably just missed him so much.

Haechan entered the office, apologizing for working on a weekend. “On a brighter note, we could leave before lunch if we get the work done.” He chirped, confusing her. Even if it is a weekend, isn’t that against the company rules? Secretaries cannot leave without their boss’ permission. “Hyung is too hammered to come in today. He also cried a lot from being too drunk last night.”

Y/N didn’t know whether to be jealous or be relieved. She had always wanted to see Yuta drunk. He did witness her in her drunken state once and he promised that one day he’ll show it to her, ending in just a night together. She was curious about whether he gets aggressive when he drinks or just sleeps as if nothing is happening. She was relieved that he only cried when drunk and that Haechan was there to take care of him. But what does he cry about? The company? His frustrations? She’s now curious about that.

The younger secretary was so great with computers that the task of doing a presentation for Monday morning and inventory of products were instantly done. Y/N was glad that she had an amazing co-worker and that their teamwork was great. “Are you eating out for lunch?” Haechan asked, fixing his backpack.

Y/N nodded, closing her computer. “My son is coming by so we’ll grab lunch together.” The younger only nodded, “Do you want to come with us?” The sentence came before she could even think about the situation. She wanted to take it back but Haechan was grinning widely. She didn’t want to break his heart but she didn’t want to explain anything to him as well.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips, “Haechan, whatever you’re going to see…” she started then bit her lip in contemplation. How should she say this to him? “Could you please hide it from anyone?” The guy tilted his head to the side looking at her in confusion.

The girl was grateful that the younger had never asked anything. She introduced Mark to her co-worker, even sharing that he takes care of her son whenever she’s at work. The story of when she was in Canada and his parents were her adopted family there was also brought up. Her talkative son was the one who brought up that Mark wanted to be a performer in the country so he came with them.

Y/N thought that Haechan would be surprised. She even expected him to be mad. But his nonchalance in the situation scared her more. When he introduced Kenshin, he just smiled widely and then greeted the kid as if they had known each other for a long time. The young child even asked if their boss was evil which made Haechan nod at him.

Haechan had a young boy charm. His energy is off the roof and he jived really well with her son. Maybe it was also one of the reasons why she grew comfortable with the younger guy. Contrary to Mark’s calm energy who was strict with her son like a real brother, Haechan had a cheerful approach to him like a playmate. Even their interaction reminded him of her brothers from before. How were they? Are they still as close as before? She wished she had taken notes on how to take care of a young child. She wished she had seen Junyoung grow up.

“Does hyung know?” Haechan asked then lightly glanced at Mark who was listening. He probably knows right? The older woman shook her head, drinking her coffee. “Do you plan on telling him?” But she only shrugged in response.

It isn’t that she doesn’t want to tell him. That would save her an earful from Ken who kept on asking for his dad. But the said father has already reached a high status in his life. New money rich. And with the current situation, she doesn’t want him to think that she’s after his money. Kenshin was her mistake, her decision. She didn’t follow his number one rule. He asked her for condoms and she declined. She needed to take the consequences of her life decisions. Besides, if Yuta isn’t ready to have a child, she doesn’t want her son to endure a heartbreak caused by a person he badly wants to meet the most.

They’re fine living this way.

When Mark decided to leave, excusing that he had a small busking gig, Haechan came with him. The mother-son was just walking in the opposite direction when the young secretary asked, “Shouldn’t we do something?” Mark just gave him a puzzled look, raising his eyebrow at what the other claimed. “Help noona and hyung get back together.”

“Do you think they’ll both appreciate that?” Mark claimed in a soft voice. “I heard your boss likes to torment noona. The other day she even cried because he asked her to repeat the report four times and then submitted the first one she had done.”

Haechan rolled his eyes. “I’m not saying my boss is an amazing man. He’s an annoying jerk.” The younger complained, making Mark smile. “But I recently discovered that he’s only like that because he was jealous of noona and Jung Jaehyun.”

“Jaehyun hyung?”

“They’re married, right?"

Mark even stopped in his tracks. “They’re not.” Haechan stared in question. “Something about Jaehyun hyung stopping the wedding and noona running away that they didn't get married.”

The younger’s eyes were wide in shock. “No way. Hyung thought they got married and she moved on from him that’s why he’s acting like a pathetic jerk.”

“And noona thought that your boss did move on from her that’s why he’s been cold towards her.”

“When clearly he hasn’t.”

The older squinted his eyes at the secretary, “How did you know?”

The younger had a faint smile on his lips. “He kept on crying her name, saying that he missed her so much, when he was drunk last night.” The smile grew wider, “Mark, we can definitely do something to get them back together.”

“How?” Haechan smiled knowingly, making Mark sigh. “But if Y/N noona or Kenshin gets hurt, I’m out of it, Lee Haechan.”

The younger shook the older’s hand, nodding his head. “Welcome onboard, Mark Lee.”

“We will bring back Yuta hyung and Y/N noona together.”

#yuta #yuta nakamoto #nakamoto yuta #yuta fluff #yuta nakamoto fluff #nakamoto yuta fluff #yuta smut #yuta nakamoto smut #yuta angst #nakamoto yuta smut #yuta nakamoto angst #nakamoto yuta angst #yuta chaptered #yuta nakamoto chaptered #nakamoto yuta chaptered

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denial-permanente · 11 months ago

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I know Tom uses the Vixskin Ranger. How was the process of narrowing it down to that brand and size?

My husband is the one who does the research. He bought a few different ones both realistic looking and... umm... weird bulby looking I guess. Some of them smelled like plastic. They looked funny. Nothing was especially wonderful. I don't know how he found the Vixskin. It was pretty expensive compared to the others. But it did t smell like plastic and it looked a lot like him so that made it feel okay both in me and in my own mind.

🔒 Tom here. I was pretty active in online "alternative" communities, and ran across reviews of the company Vixen Creations before they came out with the Vixskin line. I actually purchased an early model (the Boytoy, IIRC) from Blowfish, a now defunct online site. We used that for several years, and when VC introduced their Vixskin line, I bought the Tex - a copy of the early one, but with a more realistic outer layer of softer silicone.

I picked the Tex (and the earlier one) because it really did resemble my natural equipment in both size and shape. At the time, permanent lockup was just a fun fantasy, not something we really expected, and I admit that I felt a little nervous about going to a bigger model.

@mrs--edge took to the Tex right from the start, and my lockups - already weeks long - quickly turned into months long. So, there's a testament to how realistic it felt.

We used the Tex for at least ten years, maybe longer. In 2018, when we started this last lock up period, we had no idea it was going to turn out this way. After four years, and some assurances on both sides that we could go on permanently, I broached the idea of going to a larger size. The Ranger is only slightly longer than the Tex, but definitely thicker, especially the head, with a similar shape and proportions. We looked at them together and she thought that it was about the largest she would want to go.

I figured that it might be the last one we bought, so I went for the upgrade to the X - which adds a third layer of even softer silicone. This turned out to be the correct choice. After a week or two she declared that I could get all the other ones and toss them out; the Ranger X was her new favorite.

#chastity question

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ming-sik · 8 months ago

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Protagonist!revolutionary!Tuuli 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

if this posts tumblr assassins have failed to kill it for the third time

myne's first invention is a modified version of mercantile that's easier to learn. she practices this by teaching lutz to read while she learns mercantile from otto and mostly as an afterthought teaches tuuli. after her family realizes that myne has the devouring and tuuli realizes myne will unavoidably be ripped away from her and sent to the temple solely because she was born without money or status, she can't let go of her grief when she's told to act like myne died and decides to honor her dream by teaching commoners to read to work towards myne's dream of even a peasant girl being able to read books.

she replaces otto when he leaves the guard to run the gilberta company by leveraging her literacy/connection to gunther and tries to start a school for peasant kids in her free time. she views lutz as a traitor to myne's memory for trying to turn her dream into products for the very nobles who killed her. lutz loses contact with the lower city once myne joins the nobility since the plantin company is immediately forced to relocate to illgner and nobody has contact with her as a gray priest so she just… doesn't get to learn what happened to myne, and her memory distorts over time. either way, in the process of finding kids to teach she comes into contact with the families of other devouring kids, and she starts developing the idea of a world without nobles.

this crystallizes when she meets gil after he and high priest in training wilfried get permission to let the orphans forage. gil is a devouring gray priest who knew myne in the temple, and found out from rosina who rozemyne bought as a music teacher what happened. well actually rosina was told that rozemyne was a noble the whole time and she needed to be hidden from bezewanst, but tuuli knows that's bullshit, so she and he piece together the real story. tuuli refuses to believe that her perfect angel of a sister would willingly participate in noble cruelty and her resolve to eliminate the system only accelerates.

she also learns more about noble society from gil and wilfried(who's in contact with sylvester because he refuses to abandon his son, even as people worry he's pulling a veronica). when wilfried finds the record of the scribes' revolt, they suddenly have both a framework and knowledge of what issues they need to plan for.

wilfried and tuuli are the protagonists but gil and delia as devouring priests are the secondary protagonists of the temple section. i have to make up OCs for the lower city section so that's still in progress, but tuuli trying to convince the temple cast that revolution is possible is her first major obstacle, during which ferdinand is their primary antagonist, and as they actually start putting their plans into motion(there's also this whole thing where wilfried learns the gods' language and teaches the devouring revolutionaries divine magic but this isn't about him) she's the one who realizes that ferdinand will protect ehrenfest with his life, which means that for their revolution to succeed, they need to find a way to take him out. tuuli kills ferdinand at the climax of that arc >:)

also she and myne meet up again when things are already in motion and the two of them have to realize that their idealized versions of each other have become completely separate from their actual sister and tuuli has to convince myne to join her cause. charlotte, rozemyne, and sylvester are the sympathetic antagonists of the temple/lower city part and convincing them to join their cause is the primary conflict when the two parts of the story crash into each other. wilfried has to convince sylvester, tuuli has to convince rozemyne and then rozemyne has to convince charlotte who is the final boss of that particular conflict. and she and sylvester have their own conflict since she killed his brother.

tuuli and wilfried fight over trying to recruit the archducal family at all, but wilfried targets the fact that there's no way she's leaving behind HER family and convinces her to at least let him try, which ends up paying off! im still working on the ending but she's definitely going to have a role there. for the story's themes it's really important that there be a protagonist who has no magic and no status and her and myne idealizing each other is very interesting to me.

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abimee · 3 months ago

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the fearmongering tariff tweets from artists were in bad taste for many reasons that more well-versed people have gone over but i personally find it insane how many artists genuinely said ''say goodbye to plushies'' ie nuis and plush fanworks cause like. idk. absolutely diabolically insane that (digital) artists see physical craft like sewing dolls as only viable if its done mass-production style by some third party website like Vograce out in some other country where the only step theyre involved in is the design. you sound like a corporation when you talk like that. Like the amount of people unwilling to learn needle and thread and so come to the conclusion of ''i as a single person cant gain access to a production company to make my ugly nuis? well looks like theres no other way then!" is biblical levels of greedy. ive bought hand-sewn dolls before from a group thats just 2 people a sewing machine and homemade patterns, but that concept is entirely unknown to you? your dolls Have to be made somewhere else, by someone else, for cheap, because all you want to be inconvenienced by is a 3-6 month processing time? you dont want to put effort into your craft, and make something with your own two hands that you can be proud of in every stitch? horrible behavior I hope your dolls get lost in shipping for now on

#i personally love all the handmade plush dolls ive gotten over the years at cons and from friends but i guess i am simply #of a different kind than these people

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16woodsequ · 1 year ago

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Sunday Steve - Day Eleven

Things that would be new or unfamiliar to Steve in the 21st century, either due to the time period he grew up in, or his social-economic status and other such factors.

Day Eleven: Toilet Paper

People used many things as toilet paper before commercial toilet paper was available. As indoor plumbing became more common toilet paper became more necessary because pipes were not designed for almanac pages or newspapers.

In the late 1800s toilet paper was still a luxury but it was being developed. "In 1890, toilet paper started to look a lot more like stuff we’re used to seeing today. It came on a roll in perforated sheets. It was a tough sell though because no one wanted to admit to buying it. In Germany, a company called ‘ Hakle’ overcame the problem with the slogan “ask for a roll of Hakle if you don’t want to say toilet paper.” (Link)

Late 1800s toilet paper. 2500 sheets.

Charmin began marketing its toilet paper around its softness in 1928, as well as selling economy-sized packs of four rolls in 1932 (Link).

There were two types of toilet paper. Soft and hard. "The hard paper was more affordable and was very shiny on one side of it" (Link). Hard paper often had printed text on it (most of the examples I've found are British).

Every source I've found says that toilet paper began to be advertised as "splinter free" in the 1935. Most casual articles don't dig into what this actually means, but I found some ads for the infamous splinter free toilet paper.

Splinters resulted from the manufacturing process, and as you can see in the below images the splinters were usually very small. I haven't been able to find out how genuinely inconvenient this splinters were.

1930s toilet paper ad (Link) (Link)

You can see the various marketing methods for soft toilet paper, treating it like a medical issue and appealing to women.

You can also see 3 rolls being sold for 20-25 cents. I think that is very expensive for toilet paper in the 30s. I've found a source showing 2 rolls of Clifton toilet paper being sold for 9 cents in 1932. (Link) And this link shows 4 rolls of crepe toilet paper being sold for 19 cents in 1930 (Link is behind a pay wall but I managed to download the price list). I'm guessing the rolls in the splinter-free ads are soft toilet paper, and the cheaper examples I found are hard toilet paper.

1930 grocery price list. Toilet paper is the third item, listing four crepe rolls for 19 cents.

In 1940 one roll is being sold for 15 cents (Link), but it's not clear if this is soft or hard toilet paper. I'm guessing soft since it's almost the price of four rolls in 1930.

My guess is Steve paid around 9 cents for 2 (19 cents for 4) rolls of hard toilet paper. I doubt he bought soft toilet paper since it cost about 20-25 cents for 2-3 rolls. But I can't know the prices for sure.

One thing for sure is modern toilet paper is softer than the paper Steve would have bought. Britain didn't even start manufacturing 2-ply toilet paper until 1942. Over the years soft toilet paper become the norm (although institutions like schools often have thinner, harder paper).

Given this information, Steve would probably be used to buying harder, cheaper toilet paper for about 9 cents for 2 rolls/19 cents for 4 rolls. Soft 'expensive' toilet paper would be surprising as the norm, and I think he'd find our massive packs of toilet paper shocking. Although as we'll see, soldiers were provided Waldorf paper, which seems to be a more softer, expensive brand.

Army Toilet Paper

Soldiers were provided toilet paper with K-rations and later with C-rations. A soldier would get one accessory packet a day with either ration and it came with twelve sheets of Waldorf toilet paper.

(Link) Accessory packet with Waldorf toilet paper.

You may have seen the factoid that British soldiers were rationed 3 sheets of toilet paper per day compared to American soldiers having 22 sheets. I believe this is a misinterpretation of this book discussing the resources available to American soldiers on base in Britain (pg. 288). But after further research I think the actual number of sheets British soldiers got a day on the front was 4 sheets. (Link) American soldiers got 12 sheets included in their K-ration. (Link)

If a soldier ran out of toilet paper they most likely had to make do. I've seen stories of pages from books being used, or even paper bills. (Link)

Bonus

First paper towels sold 1931 (Link).

1936 paper towel ad

Facial tissue paper originated from gas mask filters in World War One. Kleenex were marketed as a cold cream and makeup remover in the 20s and began being marketed for colds in the 30s. (Link)

1930 ad for Kleenex for 25 cents.

Personally, I don't think Steve would have spent money on either of these things, but they did exist.

#sunday steve #steve rogers #toilet paper #crepe paper #history #american history #20th century #20th century history #steve rogers meta #meta #kleenex #paper towel #1900s #splinter free toilet paper #1930s #world war two #rations #army rations #early 20th century

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niiniimrs · 14 days ago

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Exclusive. Big Interview with Furudate

An exclusive big interview with Furudate from Jump Giga 2024 Autumn magazine. As part of the “Interviews with Legendary Authors!” project!”

!"Tagged

F - Furudate sensei

E - Interior

H - Honda is one of the editors of Haikyu!

A - Akira is also one of the editors of Haikyu!

Since the interview is “Live” in the original, there is a laugh in brackets, I added it in brackets too !

Path to becoming a mangaka. First manga and anime adaptation -Tell us what pushed you to become a mangaka?�F: It's a frequently asked question, but I didn't have a specific reason. I just always thought I would do something related to drawing. It all eventually led to me becoming a mangaka.

-When did you first start drawing manga?�F: It was in high school. Back then, I once submitted my work to a manga contest organized by a publishing company. It was a contest for beginners held every month. I got the lowest award, where they just published the names of the winners.

I: Did you read the magazine to which you submitted your work?�F: Honestly, I bought that magazine for the first time. I decided: “I'll draw a manga and send it in!”, but I didn't know where exactly to send it to. So I bought the magazine where the contest was announced and just sent the work at random.

-After you won the award, did you have an editor who worked with you?�F: Yes, but later I got a job, and I had a period where I didn't draw manga at all. We eventually stopped keeping in touch.

F: I thought I'd get into drawing-related work one way or another, and I ended up becoming a mangaka.�-I'd love to hear about your first job! What was it about?�F: To be honest, I don't remember much about it.... I think it was a story about a high school student who saves a girl with a mysterious past.... It was something pretty short.�I: Was that your first completed manga?�F: Yeah, I think it was the very first work I completed in my life.�I: Completing your first manga is already a big accomplishment! We understand how difficult it is to bring a work to completion. How many pages were in your first manga?�F: About 30-40 pages. Later, in my third year of high school, I drew two more manga. And when I went to vocational school, I also continued to draw and submitted my work to contests.

E: Your next submission was a manga for Shonen Jump, right? Considering you were working, that must have been difficult. What motivated you to keep drawing?�F: For me, the idea of making money by drawing was a kind of unreasonable confidence. It wasn't taken as “I should try harder” but rather as something to take for granted. I had quite a long period of time when I wasn't drawing, though. As I approached my mid-twenties, I decided: “I've got to get serious about this!”

I: Why did you choose Jump specifically?�F: Well, it was the most popular magazine (laughs).

I: You thought, “I'll try to face the challenge,” right?�F: Yes, that's exactly right.

I: And that was your work, “King Kid”?�F: Yes!

I: At that time you were competing with your friends, right?�F: Yes, we had a competition to see who could finish the manga first. It wasn't a work to send to a magazine, but something for ourselves. We set a deadline and decided that each of us should draw a short story. But in the process of creating it, I came up with “King Kid” and switched to it, so I ended up losing our competition (laughs).

E: What were your feelings about “King Kid”?�F: I think I did him pretty well. Even thought I could get some kind of award (laughs). I hoped that I'd at least have enough for the cost of a shinkansen ticket to send the work.

I: Why did you decide to take your work to the editorial office in person instead of mailing it? You were living in Sendai at the time, and a shinkansen ticket was not cheap.

F: Yes, that's true... Why not? I guess I just wanted to know the result right away.

I: After “King Kid” won an award in the monthly contest, your next work “Asobiba” was published in a supplemental issue of Aka Maru Jump.

F: If you think back now, it seems strange. “King Kid” and ‘Asobiba’ are pretty similar in content, aren't they? I think it has to do with the fact that I had a sort of “corporate” approach back then, a sort of “office worker's mindset”. I was told, “If you change this, it will be better,” and I took that as something that was really worth doing. I thought, “Okay, I'll fix this and show it again.” It was like a job where they give you a document back to you for revision. Although it didn't have to be that serious, I was like, “If they said it should be done, it should be done”.

H: Would you say that “Asobiba” is a “working version” of “King Kida”? (laughs)

F: Yes, that's exactly right (laughs).

H: It was kind of an experiment for the editors. They had only seen “King Kid,” so they realized that the author had a certain style. Publishing in a supplemental issue was an attempt to see what it would take to take the work to a more professional level. It was a step towards creating audience-oriented manga.

From working in a company to working professionally as a mangaka

I: “So, since this was a magical girl's story, was the main character a girl?”

Ф: “Yes. She was a magical girl, but her physical attacks were very strong.”

X: “She appeared with a silver bat, ‘Can I make 100 friends?’ as she appeared.”

Ф: “Thinking about it now, I still think it was pretty good (laughs).”

E: “For manga in Jump, it's harder to get stories with female protagonists chosen over male protagonists.”

Akita (editor): “It's true, from an editor's point of view, it's about audience. But we thought Furudate-sensei knows how to radiate and present, so we asked them to create something like Asobiba. It turned out well, and we felt their female characters were both attractive and cute, so we thought that could be a strength. That's why we asked them to do a story with a female protagonist. Well, but that didn't quite work out.” “However, in this magical girl story, there was a scene where the girl drags a silver bat while singing, taking up about six pages. It was like a horror scene - it was so cool. That's when I realized, “Ah, they're good at directing horror.” I think that realization eventually led to “Yotsuya-senpai.”

And, “I see, the serial killer-like atmosphere..... When was the decision made to focus on horror for your next work?”

Honda: “I remember it clearly. I called Furudate-sensei to tell him. There was this store in front of another mangaka's studio, and for some reason there was a pile of salt at the entrance. It was incredibly creepy, and I immediately called Furudate-sensei and said: “Let's make a horror movie!”

Ф: “Did that happen? (laughs).”�I: “Were you originally a horror fan?”�F: “I was! Although I generally like stories where ghosts and the like appear, but with Yotsuya-senpai, we intentionally made it so that 'those things don't exist'. In hindsight, it's kind of weird.”

H: “I didn't know you were into horror. When I saw your storyboards, I just thought, 'You seem like you'd be a good fit for this'.” Recommending horror was totally inspired by a pile of salt (laughs).”

Ф: “I wasn't sure if I was right for horror, but when Honda-san mentioned it, I realized, 'Oh, I like that.' Then I remember being told something like, 'If the manga in the poll is in the top 5, it can be serialized. If not, there will be another chance.” It ended up ranking #1, so I was very happy.”

X: “It was the first time one of your works appeared in a mainstream magazine and won 1st place, so I remember calling you with great excitement.”

I: “What lessons did you learn from your first serialization? Were there any insights from Yotsuya-senpai?”

Ф: “Up until the moment the decision to cancel was made, I felt like I was launching serialization without much confidence. I kept wondering if the interesting parts were coming. But once the cancellation was confirmed, it was clear that the 'final story' was set, so I put everything into it (laughs). Of course, it's not that I was holding back before that, but looking back, maybe I was being cautious without realizing it. “Once I let go of my hesitation, I finally felt like I could fully immerse myself in the final story.”

X: “The survey results also improved towards the end. While the cancellation was disappointing, we talked about how if the ending left readers and editors with a good impression, it could lead to future opportunities. So, we decided to hold on to the end without giving up. You really gave it your all until the very end, and the results showed that in addition, the characters are clearly developed in the final chapters. Even the main character began to embody the appeal of the other characters. I thought, “Ah, they've reached a level where they can really bring out the charm of their characters.”

Ф: “Honda-san and I talked about making sure we 'do him properly'. If we threw him out at the end, he would betray the readers who stayed with us and loved him until the last page. About the time the results of chapter 4 or 5 came out, we got word that it might be canceled, so I prepared ahead of time and managed to stay tempted. Incidentally, since it was a horror manga, I went to the shrine to pray for good luck before serialization started. I got a large framed protective talisman and put it on my shelf. But one day it fell down with a loud clatter. Immediately afterward, I got a call about the cancelation. I thought, 'My luck has run out...' (laughs).”

H: “Oh no! I'm not sure if I should laugh or not.... (laughs).”

I intentionally zoomed in on the parts where I didn't follow what the editor said.”

I: “Can you share any memorable episodes about the team behind Yotsuya-senpai?”

Ф: “Let's see... Back then, Honda-san introduced me to a veteran assistant who worked with Masashi Kishimoto-sensei. I'm incredibly grateful for their help.”

(Masashi is the author of the Naruto and Boruto manga)

X: “I think giving instructions must have been difficult. How was it?”

Ф: “Everyone on the team was so professional that everything went very smoothly.”

I: “Before the serialization, you helped Matsumoto-sensei in the studio for three days, right?”

Ф: “Yes, and I relied on what I learned during those three days. That was my only experience as an assistant.”

H: “So your only experience was in those three days?”

Ф: “Exactly. That's why I modeled our workspace after Matsumoto-sensei's, down to things like how the tools were placed and how the assistants' desks were set up (laughs).”

H: “Was this after the serialization was confirmed?”

Ф: “No, I don't think it was decided at that point yet.”

I: “After completing your first serialization, are there things you think you could improve on?”

Ф: “I think it's mostly about thinking. Also, not holding back ideas. Even when I got stuck on a storyboard because I wasn't sure what would be engaging, I realized that it's important to keep working until it becomes engaging. If the work doesn't resonate with me, the readers won't like it either.”

A: “I think the pressure of serialization teaches you a lot, especially about maintaining the quality of each chapter. As an editor, I'd say it's best to take color pages or extra pages when possible (laughs).”

Ф: “That's true unless it's beyond your capabilities (laughs). If the quality drops because you're overworking yourself, that's not good either. Maintaining quality is the key fact. Looking back, I didn't have a solid image of Yotsuya-senpai as a long-term serialization. I didn't envision it having arcs that wrapped up neatly every two chapters, or that it would be structured like a series of medium-sized movies. It started out as a vague concept that ended up working in its own way. Honda-san, did you ever envision Yotsuya-senpai as a long-term serialization?”

H: “Hm... To be honest, not really. At the time, I believed in it and seriously thought, “Let's aim for an anime adaptation!” But looking back, I didn't have a clear idea that it was going to be five or ten volumes long. We were so focused on creating each chapter that we couldn't think that far ahead. In that sense, an early ending may have been inevitable.”

Ф: “You need some confidence during serialization, but if that's all you rely on, you'll hit a wall and face the consequences.”

H: “It's hard to balance intuition with planning in manga.”

Ф: “Looking back, what Yotsuya-senpai lacked in his characters was some sense of flaws or fascination in their imperfections. If the characters had quirks or weaknesses, they might have been more appealing.”

H: “Perhaps we were too rigid with the plot. Instead of structuring it tightly, it might have been better to loosely outline it, make each story about four chapters long, and focus on using each chapter to explore the characters more.”

Wah dived down a little bit (laughs).”

H: “Chapters 5 through 7 were really a precursor to chapter 8, with ”View from the Top.” And, of course, the ratings came back for chapter 8. The way these build-up sections were carefully calculated seems to be one of your strengths as a creator.” From an editor's perspective, of course we want ratings even during these build-up chapters, so we tend to push for more “catchy” content. But the fact that you've developed the ability to make considered decisions on your own has been a major factor in your success. As much as this is a defeat for me as an editor, it also speaks to your growth as a creator. It's like the relationship between defense and offense in sports. Defense alone can't score points.”

On the characters of Haikyu!!!

Yi: “I got the impression that the previous works excelled in directing, while Yotsuya-senpai stood out more for its character aspects. Was that something you consciously focused on?”

Ф: “Hm... Interesting...”

H: “From an editorial standpoint, I remember that before Asobiba, the problem was definitely character development. Your concepts and plot structures were flawless, but without strong characters, it's hard to attract readers. It feels like, starting with Yotsuya-senpai, there was a shift from focusing on direction to focusing on characters.” One moment I remember is when we were fleshing out Minobe from Yotsuya-senpai. I remember discussing details with you, such as: “He seems like the kind of guy who takes morning showers,” or ‘He's probably really picky about his coffee,’ and then arguing, ”No way, he totally likes instant coffee.”

Ф: “That ended up in the bonus content of Volume 2 (laughs).”

H: “That's when I realized, ‘This is what character work is all about.’” In Haikyu!!!, even though there are so many characters, each one has a different personality.” This may be because they all had obvious flaws, which made it easier to identify them as characters.”

X: “Their relationships and attitudes were also well developed. That's where your skill in direction really shines.”

Ф: “Although now, looking back, I probably crammed too much into every detail, which makes it a little difficult to read (laughs).”

H: “I remember you saying you were pleased with how the first chapter turned out.”

Ф: “Yeah, I think I managed to capture that balance. It wasn't just that Hinata is incredibly talented or rose from a difficult starting position, it was that I sensed those nuances and successfully wove them in.”

I: “How did you shape Hinata's character to make it so understandable yet compelling?”

Ф: “With Yotsuya-senpai, I felt like the character was too far away from me, and that complicated a lot of things. So with Hinata, I wanted elements I could relate to, like being a little timid, acting impulsively, and then stopping. Those traits made me feel familiar with him, and I think readers relate to that too.”

H: “Hinata has a sense of mystery that adds depth.”

Ф: “I didn't want him to be just a fun kid. I wanted to include a creepy, subtle anomaly. For example, a simple phrase might seem harmless, but through his facial expressions, intonation, or situation, it could send chills down anyone's spine. That mixture of charm and firmness in his words was important, and I think I struck a good balance in that.”

I: “Did you feel like you stepped up a level as a mangaka during the serialization?”

Ф: “I would say when I was creating characters that could develop through interactions, like Bokuto or Tendo. Initially, their personalities were just projectiles. For example, Bokuto's blunt honesty or Tendo's harsh words developed naturally through their interactions with others.”

I: “Do you remember any key moments when you realized that these characters had ‘transformed’?”

Ф: “For Tendo, it was when he started going back to Ushijima. For Bokuto, it was when he directly called out Akaashi. Those moments gave the characters more depth through their interactions.” I also discovered a trick: if a seemingly average character is praised by someone extraordinary, it makes them unbelievable. For example, even if Hinata doesn't directly do something amazing, Kageyama or Ushijima's reaction raises his presence and importance.”

X: “You create characters not only through their actions, but also through their relationships. Even in the planning stages, you're already imagining how certain scenes come to life visually.”

With Hinata, I incorporated aspects of myself, and it worked pretty well

I: How do you balance storylines that don't relate to the main story, given that too many of them can make the work more playful, but adding too many can make it too long?

F: It's more of a sense of duty, or rather a strong focus on keeping things from seeming unnatural. For example, when the characters go home together, there are people who aren't part of the main conversation but are still part of the collective. If I don't include them, it feels weird, so I draw them. But then I wondered what they're doing if they're not part of the main conversation. They're probably reacting to what's going on in their own way. So rather than allowing something unnatural to happen, I make sure to include enough to avoid it.

H: So even the secondary characters are alive right? (laughs).

F: Yeah, it's kind of a weird sense of duty. Because of that, the expansion of the secondary characters becomes clearer over time, and I think that's part of the reason why so many characters love them.

H: It's not just a love of the characters, it's a resistance to the unnaturalness in the scenes that underlies it.

F: I was thinking about what was important when I was new, it had to be the “imulse.” There are so many people who want to become manga artists, but completing a manga is a very difficult task. You have to go at it with the right “momentum” to do it. Once it's done, regardless of its quality, you have to show it to someone, otherwise you're stuck.

H: Yes, this applies to new manga creators who are also inexperienced in serialization.

F: Motivation fades over time, so it's better to go full speed while you have it.

I: Is there anything you're glad you did?

F: One thing I'm happy about is working on illustrations for flyers in the advertising industry. I had the opportunity to draw in different styles whether I liked them or not. I think it really broadened the range of my drawing style.

H: That's typical advice, but every experience becomes part of the creator's foundation.

F: Right. Besides, you just need that one “momentum” and then do your best!

#haikyuu #ハイキュー!!#anime #haikyū!!

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lgcparker · 1 year ago

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𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚞 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘

It takes some time for Parker to even come up with rules for his studio. It’s not because he doesn’t believe in them, but more so because he’s normally not someone who is bothered by much, and even when he is, he has little problem with voicing his concerns. And so, he spends a good amount of time thinking about these said ‘house rules’ while he decorates. One of the first things up is a California flag, and some photos of his parents and sisters and their family dog. He buys a few organizers to display some of his favorite anime characters, as well as Lego bonsai tree he had seen at Seunghyun’s house and thought was funny because of the frogs.

He’s halfway through putting together the cherry blossom version of the bonsai tree when he decides on the first reasonable rule:

(1) Swiper, no swiping: don’t take shit you don’t plan on returning.

The second rule materializes when he’s basically done and is deciding where exactly he’d like the piece to rest.

(2) Outside food must always be for sharing unless stated otherwise.

Keeping in mind how tight the space is, Parker ends up buying a plastic container to keep some backup clothes like socks, underwear, sweats and a fresh t-shirt or two. The thought process is more practical than anything else; he spends a good amount of time at the company, and sometimes, he could really do with a change of clothes or something more comfortable to change into should he decide to spend time in his studio after schedules. It’s practical.

The top of the plastic drawers ends up being a good place to put a Bluetooth speaker he bought sometime the year before. The studio itself is pretty decently set up to write and record music, but even then, Parker wants a more casual way to listen to something off his phone. It’s about then that a third rule pops into his head:

(3) No music hate. Any and all music is allowed as long as the vibes are good.

There a moment where wonders if he has the means to put in a small mini fridge for water or a kettle to boil water. He ends up finding a small fridge that works with the space, but the kettle topic is something he feels like he needs to ask his manager, something he manages to forget again and again. Even when he’s just about to bring it up, he gets distracted, and somehow, he ends up purchasing a humidifier instead.

(4) Opinions are welcome but being a dick is strictly forbidden. If you can’t help yourself, you can put yourself on a time-out.

As expected, settling on a fifth ‘rule’ seems harder than coming up with every other one before it. It isn’t until one day, when Parker is lying on the small couch of the studio, staring at the small pile of cardboard he very desperately needs to break down and take to the recycling, that he lands on something reasonable.

(5) I’m not your mom; don’t leave stuff here, and clean up after yourself.

He hardly thinks his friends are the types to take advantage of him, and if little things get forgotten, Parker isn’t the type to make a big deal about it, but it seems fair enough, even as just a warning. He’s being gifted this space from the company, so shouldn’t he take some pride in it?

That thought is at least enough to get up to roll off the couch and start breaking down boxes. Surely, his manager (and his mother) would be proud.

#( p.s. ⤏ solo )#lgc:typezeromission

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roamwithahungryheart · 2 years ago

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Daisy Jones & The Six - An Honest Review

As an avid follower of Reese's Book Club, when Daisy Jones & The Six was announced as the March '19 pick, I was intrigued. I'm always down for a fictional band to follow and fall in love with. If you've seen it, you'll understand why That Thing You Do! holds a very special place in my heart. So when I read that Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest book was inspired by Fleetwood Mac, that was all I needed to be hooked in and ready to invite The Six into my groupie scrapbook.

After another read-through of the book, and diving into the series the moment it dropped, I have a few thoughts to share.

I noticed a few comments on the Hello Sunshine IG page about the format of the paperback being hard to engage with. So I bought the audiobook before the original print version.

I feel it works better as an audiobook - after all, it's an oral history of the band. And I have to give major credit to the voice acting - it was a fun listen, with Jennifer Beals giving Daisy (inevitably) a Stevie Nicks rasp. But Miss Nicks she is not.

Daisy Jones is a precocious, headstrong character whose groovy chick persona gets lost in being repeatedly defined by her red hair and 'stunning big blue eyes - dark, cobalt blue'. No wonder she wants to break out of the box everyone puts her in. In true rock 'n' roll style, she goes off the rails, spiraling into a destructively hedonistic lifestyle with the unstoppable force of a tornado. In the Amazon Prime adaptation, the foundations are laid, but it looks like they're building something entirely different.

A review of the series by Collider calls it 'serviceable as a decent binge for people who get off on reading about how much Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham hated each other[...]' and I have to agree.

From book to screen, the journey back to the 70s is loosely translated. Sure, there are a few references to the Whiskey and the Plaster Casters in TJR's book, giving us just enough of a glimpse into the groupie scene - but this isn't the inner circle. Daisy exists on the fringe of it all, desperate to be one of the It Girls. The first episode's cinematography and costume choices are clearly influenced by Pamela Des Barres' memoir and Almost Famous, with a little bit of Ali McGraw Love Story styling for Camila Morrone thrown in for good measure.

But it falls short in a few places. For starters, the talking heads feel a little disjointed. They're supposed to take place 20 years later, yet the clothes look a little too modern. They haven't aged enough. Although, I have to say Timothy Olyphant is serving some Cougs (John Cougar Mellencamp, for the uninitiated) realness in those later interviews.

When spliced in between the main body of the story, we see nothing of the individual recollections of the characters. It's one singular objective truth. Perhaps that's the nature of the adaptations that get churned out by streaming platforms - keep it simple. Because in terms of storytelling, simplicity equates to watchable, binge-worthy television.

The story of a rock band is always anything but simple.

Maybe we'll see a little more complexity in future episodes. The story so far unfolds slowly, with only a few memorable lines. Tightening the dialogue seems to have been a slight challenge for the writers - at times it feels a little contrived. When you're working with original material that's almost entirely comprised of dialogue, it should lend itself to the screen almost verbatim with relative ease. The changes to the plot seem to have been made in order to accommodate the 10 episode format. As a result, it dulls a little of its glam rock shine.

That being said, props to Hello Sunshine and Amazon for including TJR in the writing process. It gives me a little more faith in the show, just as it did with the production company's previous hits Big Little Lies (still waiting on that third season!) and Little Fires Everywhere.

Amazon's Daisy Jones & The Six may not be as engaging as the book, but I'm still along for the ride.

#Daisy Jones & The Six #Taylor Jenkins Reid #daisy jones and the six #Amazon Prime #books #tv shows #writing #review

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mbrainspaz · 2 years ago

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remembering why I stopped going to the doctor years ago. So far it's gone like this: I went to a doctor someone recommended, they gave me the inhaler I needed at least (wish I could've just gone and bought myself the meds I knew I needed but nooooo), diagnosed another issue I needed help with, and referred me. The next doctor cost more money to tell me that the first doctor was right, but that I needed to see another doctor to confirm. That doctor said actually the last two doctors were wrong, but didn't have a clue what was actually going on. "Like idk maybe try CAT scans or something? Doctor no. 2 will call you back to follow up." Dr 2 has not called. Oh, and let's not forget the third doctor did a bunch of tests that hurt like hell and they had the nerve to interrogate me about 'why I was so down.' I hate it when doctors ask me that. I DUNNO BUB maybe I hate wasting all my time and money being processed like a slab of meat by scammy medical institutions that never actually help me?! Also I filled in your stupid form and admitted I had depression—what did you expect? They don't even read those damn things I swear. So now I've spent over $200 and wasted a total of about 10 hours running around town just to be exactly where I was before I talked to a doctor. It's so goddamn useless. Last time I spent $600 to get told I had bad knees and needed a surgery I couldn't afford. I already knew that! Now I've got another appointment this morning and I called the office (wasted 10 minutes just getting past the answering robot) to ask about the fasting the doctor told me to do for bloodwork—only to be told this wasn't an appointment for that. no no, this is just a 'follow up'. WHY?! So she can double check that I didn't die of an asthma attack in the meantime? I swear if I drive through houston traffic for 2 hours and pay another $25 just for this person to ask me how I've been breathing lately I'm done. I'm done. I'm dropping the whole thing. I'm just gonna accept that it's my lot in life to live like a 14th century peasant and hope I die of natural causes. I'll find some leeches in the creek and take some weird herbs and hope for the best. I don't even know what's going on with the insurance company because they emailed me asking me to pay another $25 copay for an appointment I already paid $50 for in person, so now I've gotta waste time and precious energy calling them to make sure there wasn't a stupid mistake, and if they say there wasn't then I just have to accept the extortion. And I've gotta keep signing all the stupid forms every time saying I'll pay I'll pay I'll pay. For WHAT? If I can never get actual medical care that fixes or alleviates the problems I'm dealing with what the hell am I paying for?! If I went to any other business and paid for a service and they failed to provide it I could demand to have my money back! But these hacks get to be like "well if you don't want to sign over your entire bank account enjoy your free human right to suffer and die lol." My elbow hurts like hell from writing this and half my hand is numb but the gods only know why. Anyway, here I go, off to spend another 2 hours and at least $25 but probably more than that on some more bullshit.

#us healthcare is a joke #fml #unhinged rant #I know I'm being unreasonable but I don't care #I hate it here #diagnosis fail #insurance companies are the actual devil #death ment tw #depression tw

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thelonesomediaries · 1 day ago

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Doll news:

The first image is of a doll from the recent lot of parts dolls I got that were shipped to me in a trash bag. 😂 This doll didn’t have arms so I attached some from other projects. The biggest issue being that the fingers on each hand are gnawed off or mangled. It’s okay. She’ll just wear gloves. The face paint around her mouth was gone and so I painted some teeth back in her mouth but still need to paint her lips. Her wig is cut. However, I love her as is. I can’t help it, the busted down dolls are my favorite!

Second image is of my Lindsey doll that I found last fall at a thrift store for like $13? Her hair was in such incredible condition that I decided to keep her and fix her up. I remember wanting Lindsey so bad when she first came out. Naturally I broke her neck string though so she’s without her head for the time being. Also, her shirt and skirt were the second and third items I ever purchased from eBay on 9/26/2006 for $8.99 EACH. Imagine paying only $9 for her outfit pieces now. (PS the first thing I ever bought was the movie Rushmore)

Non-doll news:

Third image is my GPS tracking device. He’s a Ty Beanie Kid that I put a tracker in. He goes with me almost everywhere. He was also found thrifting. I do a lot of remote hiking and adventuring so I like to have a backup to my phone for getting help if needed. Tags likes him too. His name is Specs.

Work is tough right now. We’ve been down a guy since just before Christmas who was in a car accident (he’s ok) and this is a busy time of year for us. I personally oversee inquires from all of Canada and Mexico about the parts and services my company makes. Some of it in house in our engineering lab and some we get in from our parent company overseas. I also process virtually ALL requests in the USA for parts to be shipped to field engineers doing demos for potential customers. That’s inventory management!

I’m gunning to be in the very top percentage of fans for a specific artist on Spotify because my friend scoffed at me and said it wasn’t possible. Gotta prove her wrong just because now. On the other hand I’m not cheating. I’m listening to full songs and enjoying it.

As we maybe sorta get closer to having GTA VI but also maybe not because Rockstar… I’ve been sorting out my dinosaur of a pc. I built it in 2016 and it’s never been upgraded since. It struggles to run GTA V and modded Stardew. I’m going to build a new one from scratch. Side note: nothing and I cannot stress NOTHING enough here, brings out the DEMON in someone faster than games like GTA 🥴 I was fuming the other day after I kept getting Franklin killed in a mission and was shouting the unholiest of obscenities at the game. Additionally, if you didn’t choose option C after Union Depository, we can never be friends. Not sorry. Rockstar also confirms options A and B are NOT canon endings so if you still chose those you’re not only a psycho but also just plain wrong.

Been busy writing and doodling too. My friends say I should write comedy or a comic or a novel but I don’t know if I’m cut out for it. It’s intimidating to just throw your stuff out there.

Until next time!

#sort of doll related

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hairstyleforteen · 9 days ago

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How Old is Siri and the Evolution of Virtual Assistants

How old is Siri and how old are virtual assistants? In our modern era, another participant who helps us is a virtual assistant. Being a part of our life, this virtual assistant is what we need in our everyday life. These intelligent programs work with any questions we asked them to do, like reminding ourselves our birthdays, asking questions about landmarks or groceries, and making appointments. Amongst the famous personal assistants, the household name is Siri which created in 2011. But how old Siri is? The origin of Siri was an independent app developed by Dag Kittlaus and his team in 2007. The same year, Apple bought this app. The first concept of this creation was a personal assistant that would understand and respond to users with natural language processing. Since its first creation, Siri has grown and evolved—and today, Siri is the voice-activated assistant we all know. However, Siri is not the only example of the impressive development within the field of virtual assistant technology. From the Amazon Echo's Alexa to Google Assistant and Microsoft's Cortana, all these digital helpers have changed the way we interact with technology. Below, we'll take a closer look at the evolution of virtual assistants, their place in our lives, and what the future holds for this rapidly evolving field. So, let's dive right in and explore this fascinating field of virtual assistants! Virtual assistants have a rich history that dates back further than you might think. The concept of a virtual assistant can be traced back to the early 1960s when researchers began exploring artificial intelligence and natural language processing. However, it wasn't until the late 1990s that virtual assistants started to become more prominent. In 1997, a company called Brightware released a virtual assistant known as "Kasisto." Kasisto was designed to provide customer support and was able to understand and react to user queries. Although it was not as developed as today's virtual assistants, it laid down a basis for developments in that area. Siri's development As such, Siri was a revolutionary invention when it was first launched in 2011. It was not like its predecessors, as the virtual assistant was developed for the interests beyond simple customer service. The virtual assistant was developed to function as a personal assistant able to understand and react to natural languages. Siri started by providing for basic jobs such as setting reminders, sending text messages, and calling. As the technology developed, so did the job of Siri. Siri became smarter with every new iOS update. One of the most significant job of Siri was rolled out with iOS 10 in 2016. Siri was opened to third-party developers in such a way that Siri's job could be integrated with the app of the other developer. This allowed Siri to order food, ask for rides, and effect payment through the app of the other developer.

The impact of virtual assistants on our daily lives cannot be overstated.

These smart programs have revolutionized the way we engage with technology and have become part and parcel of many people’s lives. Virtual assistants have one of the major advantages in terms of saving time. You can ask your virtual assistant to perform a wide range of tasks—by a simple voice command—such as checking the weather, setting reminders, playing music, and controlling smart home devices. This convenience enables us to focus on things that are more important in our lives. Virtual assistants have made information more accessible than ever before. Instead of browsing the web to find answers to our questions, we can simply ask our virtual assistant and get the information we need. This has transformed the way information is gathered and has made the knowledge accessible to all. Virtual assistants across different industries

The future of virtual assistants

Looking forward, technology can only promise a rosy future for virtual assistants. We can foresee more intelligent and able virtual assistants in the coming years. Two areas where virtual assistants are expected to make significant advancements are in the field of natural language processing and in personalization. The virtual assistants are currently capable of understanding and answering simple commands, but they are still struggling with more complex queries. As natural language processing technology is getting better, virtual assistants will understand better and provide more suitable responses. The other area where virtual assistants will be developed is personalization. The virtual assistants are designed now to be general-purpose assistants that can do a lot of things. But with the progress in technology, we can foresee virtual assistants tailored to the preference and needs of individual users.

The Birth of Siri

In 2007, Dag Kittlaus and his team came up with the first version of the application. He named it Siri. Siri was an independent application that went live on the App Store. Kittlaus's idea of Siri was the same as today's-it is a personal assistant that understands and responds to the user through natural language processing. The technology makes Siri understand the spoken word and deliver the right information or assistance. Apple has recognized the potential of Siri and purchased the app in the year 2010. With iPhone 4S in 2011, Siri was launched with the operating system. With a million Apple users across the globe, Siri became one of the most popular assistants. Siri was well appreciated for its ability to understand and grasp context to perform a wide range of activities, such as sending messages, making phone calls, and even telling jokes. Siri has been developed, and there have been many improvements over the years. Apple has invested in machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide more abilities to Siri. Siri now has a more natural, almost human voice, a better language understanding capacity, and more integration with third-party applications. Siri has the capacity for complex reservations, including making reservations in a restaurant and the like. There have been criticisms for Siri's limitations compared with other virtual assistants. Still, Apple continues to invest in the development of Siri, making it more intelligent and intuitive with every new version. Virtual assistants have revolutionized the way we

Virtual Assistant Alternatives to Siri

While Siri may be the most famous virtual assistant, there are several alternatives that offer similar functionalities and even surpass Siri in certain aspects. Let's explore some of the top virtual assistant alternatives to Siri: Amazon's Alexa: Alexa is the virtual assistant that powers Amazon's ecosystem of Echo devices. It is best known for having lots of skills and integrations, such as with other smart home devices. Alexa can play music, dim lights, and even order products on Amazon. It has a platform for developers to create new skills, so it stays pretty open and flexible. Google Assistant: Google Assistant is available on Android devices and Google Home speakers. It uses Google's vast search capabilities to give users precise and informative answers to their questions. It also integrates with other Google services, such as Google Calendar, Gmail, and Google Maps. With all this integration, Google Assistant is a pretty handy and versatile assistant. Microsoft's Cortana: Cortana is Microsoft's virtual assistant and is available on Windows devices or as a standalone app. It offers a large variety of features, including voice commands, reminders, and personal recommendations. Cortana also has the ability to integrate with Microsoft Office and other Microsoft services, making it a great assistant for productivity-based tasks. Samsung's Bixby: Bixby is Samsung's virtual assistant, and it is on Samsung smartphones and other devices. It focuses on giving users a continuity across Samsung devices, such that they can control most of the settings and features with voice commands. It also has a visual search feature, using the device's camera, which allows users to search the internet for photos of objects and get information. These are some of the other virtual assistants that compete with Apple's Siri. They have unique features and strengths and cater to various user needs and preferences. As virtual assistant technology progresses, the competition between these assistants will only drive further innovation and improvement.

Conclusion

Virtual assistants have come a long way since the birth of Siri in 2007. Siri, along with other virtual assistants such as Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, Microsoft's Cortana, and Samsung's Bixby, has transformed the manner of interaction that people have with technology. From answering questions and providing information to performing tasks and automating routines, virtual assistants have become invaluable tools for people in their daily lives. Though virtual assistants can't replace human assistants completely, they provide uniqueness in many aspects such as their availability, accessibility, and continuous learning. They provide convenience and efficiency, which help in achieving many tasks with ease. In this way, as virtual assistant technology continues to evolve, one can look forward to even more intelligent and intuitive assistants in the future. The next time a person will ask Siri a question or command, do consider the journey it had to take before becoming the virtual assistant it is. And look forward to the exciting developments in virtual assistant technology that will shape the future of interactions between people and technology. The evolution of virtual assistants is nowhere near an end, and people can only look forward to a future where these digital helpers become even more integrated into their lives. Read the full article

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jcmarchi · 20 days ago

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Making the art world more accessible

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/making-the-art-world-more-accessible/

Making the art world more accessible

In the world of high-priced art, galleries usually act as gatekeepers. Their selective curation process is a key reason galleries in major cities often feature work from the same batch of artists. The system limits opportunities for emerging artists and leaves great art undiscovered.

NALA was founded by Benjamin Gulak ’22 to disrupt the gallery model. The company’s digital platform, which was started as part of an MIT class project, allows artists to list their art and uses machine learning and data science to offer personalized recommendations to art lovers.

By providing a much larger pool of artwork to buyers, the company is dismantling the exclusive barriers put up by traditional galleries and efficiently connecting creators with collectors.

“There’s so much talent out there that has never had the opportunity to be seen outside of the artists’ local market,” Gulak says. “We’re opening the art world to all artists, creating a true meritocracy.”

NALA takes no commission from artists, instead charging buyers an 11.5 percent commission on top of the artist’s listed price. Today more than 20,000 art lovers are using NALA’s platform, and the company has registered more than 8,500 artists.

“My goal is for NALA to become the dominant place where art is discovered, bought, and sold online,” Gulak says. “The gallery model has existed for such a long period of time that they are the tastemakers in the art world. However, most buyers never realize how restrictive the industry has been.”

From founder to student to founder again

Growing up in Canada, Gulak worked hard to get into MIT, participating in science fairs and robotic competitions throughout high school. When he was 16, he created an electric, one-wheeled motorcycle that got him on the popular television show “Shark Tank” and was later named one of the top inventions of the year by Popular Science.

Gulak was accepted into MIT in 2009 but withdrew from his undergrad program shortly after entering to launch a business around the media exposure and capital from “Shark Tank.” Following a whirlwind decade in which he raised more than $12 million and sold thousands of units globally, Gulak decided to return to MIT to complete his degree, switching his major from mechanical engineering to one combining computer science, economics, and data science.

“I spent 10 years of my life building my business, and realized to get the company where I wanted it to be, it would take another decade, and that wasn’t what I wanted to be doing,” Gulak says. “I missed learning, and I missed the academic side of my life. I basically begged MIT to take me back, and it was the best decision I ever made.”

During the ups and downs of running his company, Gulak took up painting to de-stress. Art had always been a part of Gulak’s life, and he had even done a fine arts study abroad program in Italy during high school. Determined to try selling his art, he collaborated with some prominent art galleries in London, Miami, and St. Moritz. Eventually he began connecting artists he’d met on travels from emerging markets like Cuba, Egypt, and Brazil to the gallery owners he knew.

“The results were incredible because these artists were used to selling their work to tourists for $50, and suddenly they’re hanging work in a fancy gallery in London and getting 5,000 pounds,” Gulak says. “It was the same artist, same talent, but different buyers.”

At the time, Gulak was in his third year at MIT and wondering what he’d do after graduation. He thought he wanted to start a new business, but every industry he looked at was dominated by tech giants. Every industry, that is, except the art world.

“The art industry is archaic,” Gulak says. “Galleries have monopolies over small groups of artists, and they have absolute control over the prices. The buyers are told what the value is, and almost everywhere you look in the industry, there’s inefficiencies.”

At MIT, Gulak was studying the recommender engines that are used to populate social media feeds and personalize show and music suggestions, and he envisioned something similar for the visual arts.

“I thought, why, when I go on the big art platforms, do I see horrible combinations of artwork even though I’ve had accounts on these platforms for years?” Gulak says. “I’d get new emails every week titled ‘New art for your collection,’ and the platform had no idea about my taste or budget.”

For a class project at MIT, Gulak built a system that tried to predict the types of art that would do well in a gallery. By his final year at MIT, he had realized that working directly with artists would be a more promising approach.

“Online platforms typically take a 30 percent fee, and galleries can take an additional 50 percent fee, so the artist ends up with a small percentage of each online sale, but the buyer also has to pay a luxury import duty on the full price,” Gulak explains. “That means there’s a massive amount of fat in the middle, and that’s where our direct-to-artist business model comes in.”

Today NALA, which stands for Networked Artistic Learning Algorithm, onboards artists by having them upload artwork and fill out a questionnaire about their style. They can begin uploading work immediately and choose their listing price.

The company began by using AI to match art with its most likely buyer. Gulak notes that not all art will sell — “if you’re making rock paintings there may not be a big market” — and artists may price their work higher than buyers are willing to pay, but the algorithm works to put art in front of the most likely buyer based on style preferences and budget. NALA also handles sales and shipments, providing artists with 100 percent of their list price from every sale.

“By not taking commissions, we’re very pro artists,” Gulak says. “We also allow all artists to participate, which is unique in this space. NALA is built by artists for artists.”

Last year, NALA also started allowing buyers to take a photo of something they like and see similar artwork from its database.

“In museums, people will take a photo of masterpieces they’ll never be able to afford, and now they can find living artists producing the same style that they could actually put in their home,” Gulak says. “It makes art more accessible.”

Championing artists

Ten years ago, Ben Gulak was visiting Egypt when he discovered an impressive mural on the street. Gulak found the local artist, Ahmed Nofal, on Instagram and bought some work. Later, he brought Nofal to Dubai to participate in World Art Dubai. The artist’s work was so well-received he ended up creating murals for the Royal British Museum in London and Red Bull. Most recently, Nofal and Gulak collaborated together during Art Basel 2024 doing a mural at the Museum of Graffiti in Miami.

Gulak has worked personally with many of the artists on his platform. For more than a decade he’s travelled to Cuba buying art and delivering art supplies to friends. He’s also worked with artists as they work to secure immigration visas.

“Many people claim they want to help the art world, but in reality, they often fall back on the same outdated business models,” says Gulak. “Art isn’t just my passion — it’s a way of life for me. I’ve been on every side of the art world: as a painter selling my work through galleries, as a collector with my office brimming with art, and as a collaborator working alongside incredible talents like Raheem Saladeen Johnson. When artists visit, we create together, sharing ideas and brainstorming. These experiences, combined with my background as both an artist and a computer scientist, give me a unique perspective. I’m trying to use technology to provide artists with unparalleled access to the global market and shake things up.”

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