#customised drones

[msaadbeing]

Watch Pieces Become Purpose! 🛠️🚁 From a table full of parts to a sky-soaring drone - don't blink, you'll miss it!

[techdriveplay]

DJI's Avinox Drive System Wins Eurobike Award 2024

DJI, a global pioneer in drone and camera technology, has taken a significant leap into the e-bike industry with the introduction of the Avinox Drive System at Eurobike 2024. This innovative e-bike drive system promises to transform the electric mountain bike (eMTB) landscape, earning the coveted “Winner” award in the Components category at the prestigious event. “The DJI Avinox Drive System…

[miscling]

The M1SC Home Entertainment System!

(aka someone got me thinking about me and dronification and now i'm in a mood)

created in the mid 80's the M1SC home entertainment system was a short run of drone-units with a unique slant on providing a mix of service and entertainment. created to be not only a subservient drone, but also a companion with a fully pliant personality focussed on being the most helpful and useful machine it can be.

few units remain in the wild now, with most decomissioned or repurposed for more modern conceptions of drone behaviour. updated models and newer versions exist, but none capture the charm of the original M1SC Home Entertainment System. it boasts a wide range of accessories and clothing options.

the original M1SC boasts a charismatic and caring nature, programmed to be supportive, encouraging, and entertaining. while it can be set to work on standard drone activities, the M1SC shines when it is placed in caregiving roles. it is programmed with many conversational protocols, making it an interesting and yet fully obedient companion! it comes with four primary settings: mombot, maidbot, catbot, and sexbot, with additional storage space for custom role creation and development.

if you've ever thought that they don't build modern technology like they used to, consider a M1SC unit for your network. the M1SC Home Entertainment System can endure a lot of punishment and rough treatment. durable and hardworking, it is a valuable addition to any home. its unique build and programming runs on old-school Basic command structures, making it easy to control and use. (refer to M1SCBasic User Manual for more details.)

though the original model was released before the advent of commercial internet, the M1SC unit is fully forwards compatible! it also pre-dates concepts such as bluescreening: it is still resilient and can suffer interesting glitches through Prods and Pokes to its programming without complete shutdown. the quirks of its customisable OS and physical features makes it a distinct and curious machine, and machines serve their masters.

to learn more contact your local drone-vendor, or connect to a M1SC Home Entertainment System directly!

[cherrythepuppet]

˚ ༘♡ ·˚꒰ᥕᥱᥣᥴ᥆꧑ᥱ t᥆ ꧑ᥡ bᥣ᥆g꒱ ₊˚ˑ༄

TW below: Slightly flashing lights

Hi there! You can call me Cherry or Sebastian, I go by all pronouns but I do prefer He/Him

I am an artist and writer! Although I mainly make art of my OCs, sometimes I'll make art of other people's OCs and fictional characters I like

My fandoms include:

Ramshackle [Pilot, Thesis Film, Webtoon]

Sigverse [Studio Investigrave Games]

Murder Drones [Web Series]

Pressure [Roblox Game]

Welcome Home [Puppet Show, Website]

The Last Of Us [Video Game, Comic, TV Show, Board Game]

Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure [TV show, Disney Shorts]

My Rules:

1. Don't send me any hate such as "Your [whatever] sucks!" "You should ###!" Please remember I am a person with feelings just like you!

2. Don't send me sexual stuff! I am a minor!! If you send any sexual stuff I will delete your ask, comment, etc

3. Don't pressure me to write or draw! I work at my own pace since I am in school, I wish to focus on school at times!

Those are all the rules I have set so far! If anything happens in the future I may add more rules if needed to

Below are links to my OCs, AUs, Writings, and Other blogs:

AUs And Writing Peices

OC Related Things

Reblog Account

OC/Roleplay Account

⬆️Picrew For PFP⬆️

[torchship-rpg]

Dev Diary 2 - Character Creation Part 1

Torchship has a very involved session zero. You are not just making your characters; you’re making a program (building out a sector of space and your mission there), a rocket (by customising templates), and, indirectly, the state you work for. But characters are where we’ll start.

A Torchship character is fairly mechanically involved, but there’s not a lot of numbers. Instead, you have layers of character-defining mechanics, skills, and identities which will come into play during the campaign. The character creation section also acts to teach new players about the world, asking them right away to dive into questions about societies, politics, and life by using the various building blocks as introductions to setting concepts.

Level & Departments

The first thing you decide is your character’s level. Your level is basically how you start as a character, how powerful you are when you join the game. 

You have the option of playing B-Team, which is your basic crew member. They work a single Department and they either have expertise in a single job, or they’re working on a second team. However, the main purpose of the B-Teamer start is that you can turn your NPC crew into B-Teamers if you want to play as them later, maybe if you’re doing a Lower Decks episode or something like that.

Most starting PCs are the A-Team, the overachieving go-getters who end up on the bridge because they’ve got the most experience, most qualifications, or they’ve been working hardest for it. A-Team means you get to have two Departments and an expertise. The only thing that B-Team has which A-Team doesn’t is that they get more hobbies to invest in, because they actually have a life.

Departments are what colour shirt you wear on the ship, what your job is. Departments are used to sort skills out, and gate some special equipment later on. It’s your role on the team, basically.

There’s 8 departments, so a traditional 4-person RPG group playing A-Teamers can cover all the Departments between themselves (though it’s not a big deal if you have overlap and are missing some; that’s what NPCs are for!). The departments are…

Administration, the diplomats, bureaucrats, leaders, and social scientists which are the closest thing to the commanders. Your most skilled Administrator is probably your Vehicle Commander (that’s the captain). They wear gold. 

Engineering, the damage controllers, mechanics, inventors, and technicians on the rocket, who keep the reactor from blowing up. They wear safety orange.

Astrogation, the flight planners, pilots, drivers, and stellar navigators who fly the ship, plot orbits, and drive shuttles, pods, and rovers. They wear navy blue.

Security, the soldiers, brawlers, field officers, and crisis negotiators who put their bodies between danger and the rest of the crew. They wear red.

Tactical, the artillery officers, drone pilots, missile plotters, and space marshals who operate the weapons and coordinate with other rockets. They wear olive green.

Research, the observers, academics, technologists, and physical scientists who scan, record, and make theories about Weird Space Shit. They wear baby blue.

Medical, the paramedics, surgeons, pharmacists, and life scientists who keep the crew from dying of all the dangerous things in space. They wear teal.

Signals, the programmers, roboticists, telecom operators, and hackers who run the ship’s computers, radios, and other electronics. They wear purple. 

Identity

When you start to make your character, you begin by choosing a few high-level concepts which will guide character creation going forward. These concepts help you narrow down who your character is and provide frameworks and suggestions for the rest of the process.

Your character’s identity is what species they are and what society they are from. These contain a bunch of information for you, from a quick blurb about it to some naming conventions, followed by a list of suggested Traits. We’ll get more into Traits later, but essentially, these are features your character can take which give them unique capabilities. The traits in your Identity are not mandatory, they’re just suggestions, and they’re listed in order of how widespread they are within an identity.

The first thing you’ll notice is that there is not default ‘human’ option; this is not a game where humans are the boring ‘neutral’ choice. There are six kinds of humans you can play, eight if you include sub-categories, all with unique sets of traits, and many of the human identities are more mechanically similar to some aliens than they are to each other. You can easily play an all-human game, and yet have nobody in the group sharing any traits.

For instance, let’s talk your basic, bog-standard Earth human. This should be easy right, you don’t get anything special except maybe a bonus ability to represent human diversity?

Hell no. If you play a Terran in Torchship, you immediately discover one of the setting’s quirks; Earth is a high-gravity world by the standards of humanoid life. 1g can make you a heavyworlder; you get a bonus to physical strength and endurance, you hit harder in melee, and you aren’t well suited to 0g. 

Terrans are then divided into rural and urban sub-identity suggestions, with Urban Terrans speaking many languages and working nearest the IUR’s bureaucracy, while Rural Terrans have a connection to the local biomes and are more likely to be ‘baseliners’ with no genetic modifications. Oh yeah, surprise, genetic engineering is so widespread that not being genetically engineered is a trait you have to opt into.

The other human identities are just as detailed. You might be a tall Lunar, living and working in the underground industrial capital of Armstrong City. You could be a diminutive Martian, genetically engineered to survive the oxygen death zone of Mars and used to working with terraforming machines. You might be a low-grav Spacer, either a habber running human trade from the great spinning stations or an independent deep spacer living in the rings of Saturn or growing up on cargo rockets. Finally, the extrasolar colonies; Proxies from our nearest star with their many genetic augmentations, or the ‘free space’ of the wildcat colonies.

After humans, each of the aliens gets an identity page the same way. Being a classic pulpy space story, most aliens are humanoids with minor differences, because that’s fun! The alien identities covered in this section include nearly all the major alien powers in the setting, so you can play as a defector who has joined Star Patrol. We’ll go more into the various aliens in another diary, but we’ve got five options with a wide variety of recommended traits to cover them.

There’s also the Koath, the sole non-humanoid alien on the list. They’re crow-like aliens who joined the IUR as a peasant republic on a medieval world; what more do you want? Our eventual goal is that every alien identity will have at two sub-identities which represent different cultures or groups for each alien society we present; right now the Aquillians have four.

If you don’t really like any of them, you are free to declare your own identities and make up stuff, of course; the Trait system is very flexible and contains enough options that you should be able to play just about any kind of classic space alien. We’re even looking into making non-embodied characters playable, if you wanted to be an energy being, ghost haunting the rocket, or the ship’s computer which gained sentience (we just haven’t figured it out yet).

After you’ve picked your level, departments, and identities, you get into the meat of character creation, but this diary has already run long. Next time: Personal Information, Impulses, Certifications, and Traits!

[quebec-canada]

Créateurs de contenu Québecois (ou de la francophonie) sur YouTube

J'ai décidé de faire une liste pratique de liens vers des chaines YouTube québécoises (ou de la francophonie canadienne) que je vais épingler tout en haut du blog, donc facile à trouver!

Capitaine Montréal - Chaine d'un amoureux de Montréal animée par Ugo Bergeron

CHESTBRAS - Chaine des fameux sketchs Chest Bras et Synvain Rénove

Coralie St-Georges - Chaines de vidéos sur l'actualité, culture populaire, histoires troublantes, lifestlye et vlogs

Diplodocus Comédie - Chaine de sketchs humoristiques de Jean-François Bibeau

Le François Pérusse - Chaine de François Pérusse

Gurky - Chaine de Gurky, testeur de plein de choses

Haunted Montreal | Montréal Hanté - Ça parle de soi?!

Histoires de Crimes par Marie - Chaine de crime animée par Marie

L'Histoire nous le dira - Chaine à contenu historique animée par Laurent Turcot

Horreur FM - Critique de film d'horreur ici sur YouTube et sur Horreur Québec

Le Jeu C'est Sérieux - Chaine de collection de jeux vidéos animée par Guiz et Laurent

Kev [WTFKeV] - Chaine d'humour irrévérencieux animée par Kev

Ma Prof de Français - Chaine d'apprentissage et d compréhension du français québécois animée par Genevi��ve

ONF - Chaine de l'Office National du Film

Pi AIR; - Chaine de vidéos des paysages et villes de la Montérégie prises par drone (ou hélico?)

Propos Montréal - Un blogue urbain et une chaîne YouTube éducative

RBO - Chaine de Rock et Belles Oreilles

Starlight Dream Dolls - Chaine de customisation de poupées. L'auteur fait ses vidéos en anglais pour avoir un plus grand auditoire, mais il est 100% franco (un ami <3 )

Testeur Alpha - Chaine de jeu vidéos animée par Alpha

Tousqui Annie - Chaine de couture et de crafting animée par Annie (une amie <3 )

URBANIA - Chaine du magazine URBANIA et hébergeur du podcast Les Pires Moments de l'Histoire de Charles Beauchesne

Victoria Charlton - Chaine de crime animée par Victoria Charlton

WTFKeV Podcast - Podcasts de Kev (WTFKeV)

[aggravateddurian]

Babe, Wake Up! New Chorus OC just dropped!

This is my last post of the day, I swear. I've just been putting a lot of hours into Chorus and new OCs at the moment.

You're probably already familiar with Val (seen here in her 2079 Chorus guise, per her new lore), but have a look at the cutie to the right. That's Chet Reid, and he's Val's boyfriend in this timeline.

Full Name: Chet DeShea Reid Date of Birth: 17 March 2048 Affiliation: NUSA (former), NUS Army (former), Afterlife Mercs

Quick Chet Facts:

Chet identifies as straight. Val is his third actual relationship.

Chet was born in Ohio and moved to Night City after leaving the NUS Army.

Chet served in the Unification War. He is not proud of his service with the NUS Army.

Chet holds a special emnity for Rosalind Myers, whom he blames for the death of his friends.

Chet trained as a sniper in the Army. He claims to be the best sniper of any living Afterlife Merc.

Chet and Val met when they were hired for the same gig.

Chet has a sister, Monique, who he hasn't heard from in five years.

Full lore below the Blackwall

Chet Lore:

Chet DeShea Reid was born in Dayton, Ohio, in March 2048. His parents served in the NUS Aerospace Force, and were stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB. Chet surprised his parents by enlisting in the NUS Army in 2066 as a 19D Cavalry Scout. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (The First Team) based in Oklahoma. He primarily did border enforcement work.

Specialist Reid fought during the Unification War in 2069-2070. He earned numerous commendations and was promoted to Sergeant. He was recommended for promotion to Staff Sergeant, but elected to leave the Army in 2072 and move to the only place he knew that the NUSA didn't have its grubby mitts was Night City. Chet entered the only occupation he knew the second he arrived in Night City - Solo.

He proclaims to be the best sniper of any Afterlife Merc, and to be fair, he may be right. He keeps his girlfriend covered from behind the scope of his Nekomata, while she goes in and turns the enemy from single homogenous entities to so much cauterised sashimi. With their optical sensors linked, Chet can literally shoot the enemy through walls, so long as either he, Val or his customised Wyvern drone have eyes on.

His relationship with Valerie Ocampo-Gonzalez began in 2074. The pair met when they were hired by Regina Jones to kill a notorious Maelstrom ganger who terrorised the wrong victim, kidnapping a rich corpo's daughter and borging her out, before releasing the borderline cyberpsychotic 19-year-old high school graduate into the middle of Japantown, naked, afraid and high on just about every drug Maelstrom had access to.

The pair hit it off, and soon they were living together in an apartment in Megabuilding H10, about a level above V's apartment. While Chet had passing contact with V, they never really spoke, let alone knew that the other was an edgerunner. By 2079, he and his girlfriend of five years (by that point) were fairly well-known in the Afterlife, and had fallen into the scopes of Nightowl, a mid-league fixer who primarily organised jobs in and around Santo Domingo, succeeding Muamar 'El Capitan' Reyes, who became a 'used' car salesman.

[skullsandseances]

Book Review 2023-2024

I'm a book lover through and through. I have a Kindle to help my old 32yr old brain and eyes comprehend the text better than it would be on paper as it;s fully customisable.

I've tried to get into adult fantasy the past couple of years but I have some beef. The books all feel the same. the formula is the same. They're written in such a primary way that's not giving anything fun towards the world building or the sense of real danger for these characters.

The part of the formula I have issue with comes from the fact that they're all written in hope to be scouted by Netflix and have their work turned into a TV Series and make $$$$$.

Fourth Wing went back and forth between decent fun writing and some scrap a 16 yr old wrote on Wattpad. SO MANY TIMES I have to put the book down to cringe at the shit ass writing, or push through the boring parts.

Speaking of boring. Oh my GOD. A COURT OF THORNES AND ROSES. I bought it for $2 sale on Kindle and I could barley push through after the part where she was in the cave as a hostage. Like shit it was so Airy Fairy bullshit I don't understand how Anyone could read it and think "I'm Obsessed"

My current favourite read is "The Cat and the City" it's a book about day to day life from the point of view of different people in Tokyo and how their lives intertwine each other. It's a beautiful read. I'm sad the author has only 1 other book. Another book I found good/decent was Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. His writing style takes a bit to get use to but once you're in you're IN. I'll read the Nevernight series one day.

For now I'm reading The Hunger Games trilogy. the first book was awesome, the second felt it was droning on with Katniss's apathetic inner monologue so I'm giving it a break before the 3rd book to read The Cat and the City.

[alln64games]

Extreme-G

NA release: 27th October 1997

PAL release: 9th December 1997

JP release: 29th May 1998

Developer: Probe

Publisher: Acclaim

N64 Magazine Score: 87%

This is one I played a lot when I was younger. An extremely fast futuristic racing game on tron-like sci-fi motorbikes. It’s a proper competition-based racing game (where all the racers start at the same place, not an overtaking arcade racer) and has a bunch of weapons thrown into the mix.

The biggest criticism about Extreme-G is probably the handling, which does not manage to keep up with the speed of the bikes. To counter this, the developers added a bunch of things to ease the frustration. Walls don’t slow you down that much (they do slightly damage your shields) and the sides of the track have a kind of “energy barrier” that keeps you on the track. Respawning after falling off is also very quick. Even using the cheat to make the game even faster, making mistakes in races never feels annoying.

There are weapons dotted across the track that you can pick up, which come in lots of slight variations. These have a smaller immediate impact on racers than the likes of Mario Kart, but do whittle away shields (you also have a laser you have access to at any time to do extra damage to shields). However, the weapons are difficult to use effectively and ones like the cannons are more likely to harm you than your opponents.

Extreme-G has a good amount of tracks (compared to other racers at the time on N64, at least), although they do tend to blur a bit together due to the winding nature of them. There’s a track set around some lava games that’s the most difficult track in the game (by a massive margin), and the final track is a futuristic forest with Santorini-inspired buildings and UFOs flying around and looks absolutely gorgeous.

On top of the standard league mode, there’s time trial, practice and a shoot-’em-up mode where you have to blast drones. The multiplayer also has a battle mode in unique arenas, so there’s a good amount of stuff to do in the game.

Extreme-G is still a lot of fun, and manages to feel different to both Wipeout and F-Zero.

And, if nothing else, Extreme G is wonderful to look at. It marries Blade Runner and Alton Towers to awesome effect and, speed-wise, beats Wipeout at its own game.

- Tim Weaver, N64 Magazine #9

Remake or remaster?

An Extreme-G collection would be wonderful to see. Just do some minor improvements like properly implemented widescreen and customisable controls, perhaps even add weapon icons to the HUD. Unfortunately, IP owners Throwback Entertainment seem uninterested in the franchise, only re-releasing the poor PC port of the second game, lacking analogue steering or proper controller support.

Official ways to get the game.

There is no official way to get Extreme-G

[merryfortune]

Love at First Sight Notes

Written for the Yu-Ri-Oh! GL Dictionary - Doodle

Title: Love At First Sight Notes

Ship: Doodleshipping | Amane/Shizuka

Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters

Word Count: 1,839

Rating: T

Prompt Entry: Doodle (verb). To draw or scribble absent-mindedly.

Tags: Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Attraction at First Sight, Mutual Attraction, Meet-Cute, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Flirting, Confessions, Getting Together

   From the very first minute Bakura Amane had stepped into the classroom, Shizuka’s attention went from her sheetwork and her stationary to her. Only her. Even as the teacher droned on and on about the new transfer student and to treat her nicely and yada-yada-yada. It was blah, blah, blah for Shizuka. In one ear and out the other all whilst she made goo-goo eyes at this girl in the front of the classroom. 

   That was up until her ears pricked on something very, very important.  “Look, there is a free seat next to Kawai-san.” 

   Shizuka could have sworn her heart just leapt out of her chest. The way it burst, it gave her quite the shock as she watched - stunned - as the transfer student was pointed in her direction. She couldn’t believe her luck to have such a cute girl so close to her.

   And Bakura Amane was a cutie.

   She had such pale skin - like a ghost! - and her hair was the purest white - like snow! - and the way she customised her uniform? It was oh so daring, Shizuka couldn’t help but admire the little hints of the dark and the occult matched with the overt pink and blues of their preppy school uniforms, it was quite the combination. She loved how Amane accessorised with the black bow under the white, sailor collar of hers and the 80’s style fluffy socks and the little skull motif of her earrings that just poked out through the cascades of her hair. She was just a darling straight out of a fashion magazine.

   She was really different to a lot of people Shizuka knew and she knew some weird ones thanks to her brother. Actually, now that she thought about it… What exactly were the odds of two people with white hair both sharing the family name “Bakura”? Shizuka couldn’t bring herself to ask, she felt like she was gawking and with all these clumsy flirty questions on her tongue? No way she could bring herself to talk to Amane.

   Looking at her, however… Stealing glances and indulging in glimpses, that much Shizuka could handle. Shizuka tried to focus on her work but she only ever pretended to do it, twiddling with her pens to look busy but all she ended up doing was write Amane’s name over and over again the margins, like a child practising his hiragana for the first time. 

   Shizuka really, simply could not help herself. Her heart was pounding as she strove to get hints and pieces of what this girl sitting next to her may have been like. A switch was just flipped for Shizuka and so, she just had to keep shyly and sneakily shoot her shot. Over and over again, replacing strands of her hair behind her ear again just so her peripherals were unblocked but soon enough. The peripheries weren’t enough and Shizuka had to turn her head again.

   Her flirting was not exactly coy as she looked at Amane at every chance and cool down she got. All because, well, it's just that Amane really was a sight for sore eyes, making Shizuka really glad that she had been able to get her operation. Amane was pretty like a model and eclectic in her own way, it really drew Shizuka in and then again for more and more.

   Shizuka couldn’t keep her eyes off her but she tried, as best as she could. Which really wasn’t much but Shizuka, for one, thought she was being totally sneaky, fooling both Amane and the teacher. Yeah, that didn’t last long.

   Amane giggled as she finally caught Shizuka’s eyes through the curtain of her long, brown hair. Shizuka could have sworn she saw fangs in the corners of Amane’s mouth, her lips were a nude pink but a teeny-tiny bit sparkly. She was definitely wearing lip balm, Shizuka deduced as she felt her own face go a much darker shade of pink than nude.

   “It's good to meet you.” she said and she had a voice like silk.

   Shizuka could have swooned but luckily, she kept her composure as she introduced herself back. It was only right, they were desk neighbours. Classmates. And soon enough, friends.

   That last one was going to become the bane of the teacher’s existence. She never should have paired them up beside one another because the chatter did not stop once the breaks were over.

   At first it was fine, Shizuka awkwardly waited until the first break of the day before she really got talking - and gushing - to Amane. They got all the things figured out. Star signs, blood types, and who their brothers were and Shizuka had been right. Their older brothers were friends, too. What were the odds, seriously? Little sister supremacy for sure was established and after that, all their favourite things.

   As well as a few things they disliked. Like hospitals, for example. Amane shared how she had survived a car accident and Shizuka described her own medical issues which had resulted in eye-related surgeries. That, in of itself, just cemented their budding bond all the more, giving them plenty of room on either side for inside jokes they couldn’t really make around anyone else. Including their brothers. 

   But soon enough, over the course of a few more school days and school weeks, and hanging out on the afternoons and weekends and evenings in between, they were more than just fast friends. They were best friends and even sometimes girlfriends. 

   They hadn’t kissed or anything. Shizuka really wished they would kiss. She thought way too much about how it would feel, emotionally and physically. Not to mention it would demystify the nuances of what they felt towards each other but there was more to romantic relationships than just kissing. 

   It was intimacy and it was lingering glances and brushes of their hands. It was even being mistaken for a couple here and there, it was covering each other’s expenses at the burger joint Anzu worked at and little things like that. It was the exciting moments, too, but the more mundane moments which had Shizuka yearning for it to last forever. There was being besties like other girls were besties with each other but then there were these moments which were a little too intense, a little too charged that left Shizuka wondering.

   It was sometimes a little hard to tell but Shizuka wanted to ask. Either to make it official or to clarify otherwise but she was pretty certain that the feelings went both ways. Amane just had a very drifty, dreamy personality, the type to flirt without realising it and if she did, then it was a joke meant to wind Shizuka, or whoever, up. Though, it was that lackadaisical twistedness of Amane’s that was so strangely charming.

   So, once again, Shizuka found herself like she had all that while ago when she had first met Amane. She was staring again and Amane was flashing her smiles of her own as they tried to do their schoolwork but it wasn’t the right notes they ended up taking. 

   Shizuka thought she was being on the sly as she passed a folded up note of lined paper she had torn out the back of her workbook to Amane next to her. That gap wasn’t big but it felt huge and vulnerable as Shizuka gave it to Amane who accepted it without looking.

   She unfolded the basic, square folds of the paper and read the note. The corners of her mouth quirked, pleased, as her eyes lit up. Amane, following on the trend of being sneaky, flicked her hand over and quickly scribbled up a reply. She waited a moment, until the teacher’s back was turned, and then passed the note back to Shizuka.

   Shizuka accepted it way too greedily. She felt her heart pounding like a hammer against her ribs inside her chest as she did her best to not tear apart the note. The folds and creases were a little messier than they had begun with but the note inside was worth it.

   I like you. Do you like me?

   Shizuka’s handwriting was loopy and girly, she had practised hard for so long to make it pretty, meanwhile Amane’s was absolute chicken scratch by comparison.

   Of course <3 

   Simple and straightforward was better than purple prose had been Shizuka’s philosophy when she had first scripted up her note to Amane but now she had to worry. She wasn’t certain if Amane had gotten the subtext, Shizuka began to draw over the note, interweaving between the blue lines of the page. Paying way more attention to it than the Japanese literature class their teacher was trying to teach. Even Shizuka could feel the lovey-dovey aura of a schoolgirl with a crush emanate off her as she drew flowers and hearts and bows.

   After a couple minutes of idling away with her pen and paper, Shizuka folded it up and passed it onto Amane. Amane accepted it and so began the rally. She passed it back to Shizuka promptly and her reply had Shizuka kicking her legs underneath her desk.

   Would you be my girlfriend?

   Of course <333

   And from there, the just wanted to chatter on and on and on. They passed the note to and fro, it becoming more wrinkled and drawn on with each volley between either girl. The pen ink that scrawled on the paper now spanned black, blue, and red. There were love-hearts and flowers, bows and skulls, drawings of eyes both realistic and anime to adorn their letters. Their original messages long since written and drawn over as space became too precious to waste. It was atrocious but it was theirs.

   Shizuka and Amane were both getting caught up in this aura of theirs. It was as if the rest of the classroom didn’t exist amid their little confessional notes. She said yes, she liked her and her liked she. It was amazing, they were both giddy, they would have been playing footsies if they could have, the squirming and the giggly, disrupting the whole classroom.

   Of course, eventually, it drew the ire of the teacher. She was the exact one who had set them up beside one another when Amane had been the brand, spanking new transfer student. A novelty. And now, she was the one who was breaking them up - and their silly little notes, too, without even reading them she tore them up.

   “Kawai-san, I expect better of you.” she huffed. “Detention for the both of you.”

   Shizuka giggled, blushing. She glanced at Amane who gave her a tiny wave with her hand from across the classroom now that they had been split up but it was fine. Detention was just yet more quality time they could spend together later, where they could clean up and collect the remnants of their love notes and all their silly, cutesy doodles. Important souvenirs of their little classroom confession - and yet more to talk about way down the line.

[my-words-are-light]

I am reading 'The Terraformers' by Annalee Newitz.

So I've been reading this fascinating book lately: The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. It's set far far far into the future where private corporations can even terraform planets very specifically into anything anyone wants. The specific planet this book is set on is Sask-E (or Sasky), which is marketed by Verdance as a "genuine pre-Pleistocene experience". Which heavily restricts the bodies people are allowed to "wear" there because bodies are extremely customisable and people can even live remotely through perfectly humanoid drones.

That bit about bodies is especially noteworthy because the book also has a lot of different ideas of "personhood". Lifeforms are literally made through a bio-mechanical process and decanted with intelligence. There's something corporations use called the "Intelligence Assessment" rating to determine what constitutes a "person" but everyone agrees it's nonsense and calls them InAss ratings. The main character, Destry, has a partner named Whisper that's a moose who is determined to be a Mount; their decanting process made Whisper only able to say monosyllabic words, which Destry agonises over. There are also "Blessed" who can only speak about their role (like shopkeepers). There are naked mole rats, moose, cows, robots, and more designated to be People because of how they were made to be intelligent. One cow person in the cast is traumatised—and genuinely so; it's not played for laughs in the slightest—by coming across a dairy farm full of cows with all the intelligence of livestock. The characters figure this is part of the "genuine pre-Pleistocene experience" and believe this is morally repugnant to the highest degree to make cows like this.

There's a bit later on where workers are pressured to figure out a train system for the main continent of Sask-E. Given that the world is still being terraformed and the characters are against so much as lighting a campfire in the name of carbon neutrality lest the world be tipped off its delicate balance, they determine that train tracks are unfeasible because the terraforming process means the tracks won't even be consistent let alone finished before the terraforming is done and the tracks will be useless. They come up with an alternative: flying trains that use a gravity mesh to fly.

At the council meeting where this is proposed, one character is against using a gravity mesh on anything that isn't a person. A moose in the meeting is against making anything that isn't a person at all. They decide that only people can truly serve the needs of other people by optimising the routes between cities. Plus, the flying train people can choose to do whatever they like; like the Boring Fleet responsible for carving out chambers for the volcano, they'll find it satisfying to do jobs their bodies excel at. Other characters aren't concerned that the Flying Train Fleet will be averse to designing optimal routes and travelling to hundreds of cities across the globe. Unanswered questions like "How will every city weigh in on their transit needs?", "How will we know when new trains, routes, or stations are needed?", and more can be answered by the train people themselves.

[odi-et-amo85]

Since apparently I’m a tinyAtiny now (as well as an obstinate toddler STAY) and can make polls. Here a question for all those STAYtinies out there:

Please humour my humble ego and take the time to answer. Pleaaase. 🙏🙏🙏

[drhoz]

Uaviation uses drones, especially calibrated and filtered cameras, Dronedeploy, Pix4D and customised indices to automatically detect plant species. In this case dolichos, coprosma and boxthorn on an island off the far eastern Victorian coast.

[scruggzi]

They didn't get the seal to knock in the vid, although it did bark a bit. I'm willing to believe that seals can knock and I'd argue that some seals (harbour seals for example) are less surprising than a walrus. They are smaller and easier to transport to random locations. Elephant seals are probably equal on the Spanish Inquisition scale because of the size.

Both are less surprising than fairies because fairies are easy to make, either by dressing up as one or employing simple, practical effects. You could put a really good one together with a decent puppet on fishing wire, a cheap drone and some LEDs. Or by customising one of the flying fairy toys on Amazon to make it look more realistic. It would admittedly be hard to get it to knock without crashing it but not impossible.

At close range, nobody can fake a walrus.

There’s no way..

[timekeepersnz]

How To Get The Best Value For Your Wedding Videographer Price?

Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime events, and capturing the essence of your special day through video is an investment that will last forever. However, price is often a key factor in the decision-making process when considering a wedding videographer. 

While you may want to ensure the best quality, getting the best value for your budget is equally important. If you want to maximise your investment, here are some strategies to ensure you get the best value for your wedding videographer in Auckland prices.

1. Clearly Define Your Videography Needs

Before you start browsing wedding videographers, it's essential to define what you need clearly. Wedding videography services vary widely, from simple documentary-style recordings to cinematic productions with drone footage and elaborate editing. Understanding the type of video that best suits your vision will help you navigate different pricing structures.

If you're looking for a high-quality film with various special effects and cinematic elements, expect the wedding videographer to be on the higher end. On the other hand, if a straightforward, edited video of your ceremony and reception is sufficient, you can often find more budget-friendly options.

Tip: Discuss with your partner what kind of videography you envision—whether it's a full-length film, highlight reel, or something else. Knowing your needs upfront will help you communicate clearly with potential videographers and avoid unnecessary costs.

2. Conduct Thorough Research

Take the time to research and compare videographers in Auckland. Start by browsing their portfolios, paying attention to the style, quality, and types of weddings they’ve filmed. Reviewing client testimonials and asking for referrals can also provide valuable insight into their professionalism and the overall experience they offer.

While it's tempting to go with the first videographer you come across, doing your research allows you to compare wedding videographers' prices in Auckland and make an informed decision. Look for professionals whose work aligns with your expectations rather than simply choosing based on price.

Tip: Check wedding-specific forums or social media groups for recommendations. These platforms can provide firsthand experiences from couples who have hired videographers in the past.

3. Negotiate Your Package

Most wedding videographers offer various packages, often including a set number of hours, multiple camera angles, editing, and more. However, only some packages will be necessary for some couples. If you’re on a budget, consider negotiating a more tailored package that fits your needs.

For example, you can lower the overall cost if you're satisfied with one camera operator instead of two or only need highlight footage instead of full-length edits. By customising your package, you can reduce the wedding videographer prices without compromising quality.

Tip: Be open about your budget from the start and inquire about any flexibility in pricing or available discounts.

4. Consider Off-Peak Discounts

The wedding industry operates in seasons, with the most popular months being warmer, particularly in the summer. If your wedding is scheduled during the off-peak months or on a weekday, you can secure a discount on your videography services. 

Wedding videographers typically have fewer bookings during these times, so they may offer reduced rates to fill their schedules.

Tip: If you are flexible with your wedding date, consider planning during off-peak months for potential savings on wedding videographer Auckland prices.

5. Be Aware of Additional Costs

While most videographers provide a general quote, additional fees may not be included in the initial price. For example, travel costs, overtime, or special requests may incur extra charges. To ensure transparency and avoid surprises, always ask for a detailed breakdown of the final price and ensure you understand what is and is omitted.

Tip: Clarify all potential additional costs in advance, such as charges for extended filming hours, travel, or special editing requests. This will help you stay within your budget and avoid unexpected expenses.

6. Choose a Videographer You Trust

While price is an important consideration, so is the relationship you build with your videographer. Your wedding videographer will be essential to your day, capturing deeply personal moments. You must feel comfortable and confident in their ability to deliver.

The right videographer will provide quality work and be easy to work with, adapting to the unique atmosphere of your wedding. Trust your instincts when selecting a videographer, and choose someone whose communication style and professionalism make you feel at ease.

Tip: Consider meeting with potential videographers in person or over video call to understand their personality and approach to your wedding day.

Conclusion: Maximising Value for Your Wedding Videography Investment

Choosing the right wedding videographer is an important decision, and while the wedding videographer Aucklandwill vary, it’s essential to ensure you’re getting the best value for your investment. By defining your needs, doing thorough research, negotiating packages, and being mindful of hidden fees, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your vision and budget. 

A well-chosen wedding videographer will deliver a timeless keepsake of your special day, ensuring that the memories you make are preserved beautifully for years to come.

Source From : How To Get The Best Value For Your Wedding Videographer Price?

[techy-hub]

IoT 2030: How the Internet of Things Will Reshape Industries and Daily Life

By 2030, the Internet of Things (IoT) will be a fundamental part of everyday life, embedded in industries and homes, reshaping our interactions and daily routines. This advanced network of connected devices, sensors, and smart systems will enable cities, healthcare, homes, and transport to function with unprecedented efficiency, safety, and convenience.

The Rise of Smart Cities

Imagine a city where drones and autonomous vehicles navigate streets and skies seamlessly. In 2030, urban areas will be filled with IoT-enabled sensors tracking air quality, energy usage, and traffic flow in real time. These technologies will minimise traffic congestion, reduce accidents, and optimise energy use, creating a safer and more efficient urban environment. 

Gartner projects that over 125 billion connected devices will be in operation by 2030, transforming the daily experiences of city dwellers. Autonomous vehicles will use advanced sensors to choose optimal routes, communicate with one another, and eliminate the need for driver intervention. With predictive maintenance, vehicles will notify and resolve mechanical issues before breakdowns occur.

IoT’s Impact on Healthcare

IoT will also revolutionise healthcare by 2030. Wearable health monitors will track vital signs like heart rate, glucose levels, and oxygen saturation, allowing healthcare providers to monitor patients’ health from anywhere. If irregularities arise, automated alerts will notify healthcare professionals and family members, allowing early intervention. 

The global market for wearable devices reached $116 billion in 2022, and its growth will drive widespread use in healthcare. By 2030, it is expected that more than 80% of medical devices will be connected to IoT networks, facilitating real-time data sharing and diagnostics.

Smart homes will be equipped with emergency systems for the elderly and chronically ill, which will automatically alert hospitals if an issue is detected. Additionally, advances in 3D printing will allow for the creation of customised artificial organs, reducing waiting times for transplants and revolutionising patient care.

The Shift Away from Smartphones

The smartphone, as we know it, is likely to become a relic by 2030. Wearable devices, such as augmented reality (AR) glasses and smart lenses, will replace traditional mobile phones, providing hands-free communication and information access. IoT-enabled wearables will allow users to interact seamlessly with the digital world, from accessing emails to shopping, simply by wearing AR glasses. This evolution will make digital interactions faster, more immersive, and naturally integrated into daily routines.

A New Retail Experience

Shopping will become a personalised and efficient experience thanks to IoT. By 2030, in-store smart shelves will track stock and alert staff for restocking, while NFC-enabled bracelets or wearables will handle payments automatically. Sensors will offer tailored promotions to customers as they pass by stores, enhancing engagement. The integration of IoT in retail is expected to increase customer satisfaction and reduce operational costs.

Life in a Connected World

From homes that automatically adjust lighting and temperature to autonomous drones that provide transport, IoT will shape the world in ways that make daily life simpler and more intuitive. With over 500 smart devices per household predicted by 2030, our lives will be streamlined by a network of interconnected, responsive devices, redefining convenience and productivity.

To dive deeper into this transformative future, read the full blog: IoT 2030: How the Internet of Things Will Reshape Industries and Daily Life.