#full of these huge technological booms

[kn-1013]

i know i've been on my anti-modern AU propaganda lately and it's just because i've been delving deeper into the sally face ao3 tags and i just keep finding them over and over. it's frustrating because there are a lot of really interesting concepts out there that would fit really well and make for a genuinely really interesting story in the 90s, but they get thrown off because the author doesn't know enough about the 90s to write for that time period, so they make it into a modern au instead. there's nothing inherently wrong with that, and i think there's room for modern aus to be done well here, i even have my own half-serious modern au, but i do think you often lose part of what makes sally face special when you turn the story into any other kind of contemporary love story/horror story/etc where all the characters just have ~iphones~ and use ~snapchat~ and all these things.

like, the 90s was not some kind of alien planet, and a vast number of the problems that you're solving with smartphones can be worked around very easily with just a bit of research or thought. long distance walkie-talkies, pagers, and PDAs were all (though sometimes expensive) perfectly capable contemporary technologies for talking to people when you are not physically with them. in fact, a lot of the abbreviations and slang we use over text right now was developed by young people in the 90s using pagers to talk to their friends. PDAs were a bit more out there in the 90s than they were in the aughts, but it's still completely plausible for henry in particular to have one, considering he already owns a home computer, which was not at all ubiquitous in the 90s. considering the apparent financial limitations that he and sal live under (it's never stated explicitly, but i mean, they live at addison's, they can't be in a great financial situation) and how insanely expensive computers were back then, it's more than likely that henry's job requires a home computer of some sort, meaning that a PDA would probably be incredibly useful to him if he were away from it, because there's no way in hell he's getting himself a luggable or another kind of early laptop to bring with him, that would've been too expensive.

and that's ignoring the fact that so many situations where two characters are apart form each other but need to communicate could just be fixed by rewriting the plot so that they can meet in person. i know that's not what people wanna hear because rewriting sucks, but you can find a lot of reasons for characters to meet each other randomly or to have reasons to meet up later if you give it a bit of problem-solving. part of what makes the pre-smartphone era interesting to write for and so optimized for horror, and probably a big reason that gabry chose this time period for the story in the first place, is the level of disconnection between each character in the story BECAUSE they don't have things like smartphones. having to work around this technological limitation is part of the fun, because you get a very enjoyable push and pull of closeness vs. disconnection between each character.

this is great for alienating ash, the only one who doesn't live in the apartments (except for neil), and causing her internal conflict about her relationships with the rest of her friends, especially as the story progresses and they start discovering more shit about the cult, and her instincts are to call the cops because she's a lot more normal than her friends are. or, it's good for alienating travis, who also doesn't live there and is far more isolated than everyone else (more on that next), or for creating an unhealthy and codependent relationship between sal and larry, who, with the walkies, are the only two in the friend group who DO have semi-instant access to each other all the time--all of which are plot points i put into my writing.

and if that's not enough, think about the implications for travis's character in particular. his father is a preacher, and a huge talking point of christian extremists in the 90s was that things like television were evil and demonic in some way. they campaigned against these things heavily. with the kind of person that we know kenneth phelps to be and the way many technologies we take for granted today, including TVs, were still being adopted by older generations, it's not out of the question at all that travis doesn't own something like a TV or a VCR, putting him even more out of the loop with what other people his age are doing than he already would be, having approximately 0 friends. he doesn't know what DND is, and he doesn't know how to look it up because he's not familiar with computers or the internet, he just knows his dad thinks it's demonic, so he steers clear of it.

the intention of cult leaders like kenneth is to keep their victims as isolated as possible, and not owning a TV, VCR, home computer, etc, is a great way to keep travis and his sisters isolated and disconnected from their peers, and therefore more connected to the cult, and it's a lot easier to justify not owning these things in the 90s, where the story already takes place, than it is if you're writing a modern au. a modern au for this situation would require all kinds of technological workarounds to make sure that travis owned a phone but couldn't do anything his father didn't want him doing on it. he's the kind of father who would go through and monitor his kid's texts, he wouldn't just let travis have snapchat or whatever, but i digress.

i know i'm just doing my petty bitching and people can do whatever they want however they want to, but i really do feel like there's a huge piece of the story that is lost in turning the sally face story as it is into some kind of modern au, and it's pretty unfortunate to me that people seem to think that the 90s was such a primitive alien world of incomprehensible technology that they don't want to write for that time period at all. it's really not as terrifying as it seems, genuinely. a surface level understanding of the era's technologies would be straightforward enough for anyone who wasn't there to write something perfectly coherent, if lacking in specific cultural/technological details that nobody but me cares about because i have autism.

if you're a sally face fan reading this and you struggle with writing for the american 90s because you weren't there, go look up pagers (also called beepers) and PDAs (which are basically early pocket computers) and how they work. ask older family members if or how they used them. go look at the different kinds of home computers of the era from companies like packard-bell and IBM. learn what a pentium III is/was, or what it means to be X86 compatible. look at the history of the CD-ROM, and how when it was invented, it could contain so much data that consumers had absolutely no idea what to do with them until people started putting video games on them. go watch cathode ray dude, LGR or techmoan on youtube.

go learn things about this era, it's good for you and you will have a lot of fun, even if you're not like me, i promise, and your fanfiction will be better for it. please learn about this era. take my hand. we can go to beautiful places together.

[teastyun]

༻ pound town

arcane sevika x female reader (nsfw)

a/n: i'm going to war (exam phase is about to start), therefore i must make haste (my hiatus starts again). also, i got a new job so i'm not sure when my hiatus will end :(

pt. 1 ; masterlist

grabbing the broom from the back of your mechanics shop, you start you usual closing routine as the streets of Zaun more active as the day ends. growing up in Zaun, you appreciate the livelihood of the people, but grew wary of the criminality rising abruptly at the end of each day. enforcers started to patrol the quiet streets of Zaun and hang up missing posters of Jinx, who you've been visited by for several occasions over the last few months for tech equipment she required. you grew fond of the girl and would occasionally even slip a few extra pieces, and she would thank you proudly by telling you about her latest new technological improvements.

one time, she told you about a prosthesis as her newest invention. Sevika immediately came to your mind and the way she held your cheek the last and first time you saw her. or the way her bionic arm held your hips so strongly as you rode her strap. shit, you really are down bad for this woman who doesn't even know your name.

as several months gone by since then, you managed to gather your savings and invest it into your shop for new techs and products to sell. you were finally able to call your shop your full time job and scrap your shifts at the brothel completely. Sevika didn't only save your shop, but she saved you from drowning in exhaustion as the only thing you ever did was work day and night.

you hoped to see her again, but your hope was slowly scarped as each month passed by.

after sweeping the last corner of your shop, you only had to rearrange your products before you could finally leave to go home. as you tidied the screws collection, the door to your shop opened audibly by your crystals dangling from the person entering.

"we're closed-" you start, but stop as you see the person at the entrance.

there she was, standing in her usual cloak and a hood that hid her face, but you recognised her nonetheless. she took her hood off with a smile as she looked at you. "good to see you again."

suddenly, you felt naked again. although she knew your identity (prolly even the whole time), the mask would hide your facial expressions and reactions. now, you are standing there with a shocked impression written on your face, unsure of how to react to the person that is the reason for your shop to still be alive.

"i see you created something out of this shop since the last time I've seen you," she speaks with a soft smile on her lips as she takes a look around in your shop. "thank you. you were actually a huge help last time we've seen each other," you respond, your hands linked together behind your back as you turn to look around your shop.

honestly, your shop is quite shady from outside with its half-broken broken neon sign spelling the name mechs n' treasures. but once you enter, you quickly realise that it's a one man's business by it's intricate appearance. it has so much personality now that you have as much time as you'd like to spent in it, decorating it with your favourite things you've collected over the years that weren't too precious to be displayed in your small flat above your shop. a few colourful crystals dangle around your entrance and the door to your flat, reflecting the neon lights from the streets of Zaun onto the mechanic pieces you sell. tidiness is your top priority, since it's hard to keep such an old shop neat and clean. you love your old and shady, but precious personal shop and wouldn't wish it to be any different. business seemed to be booming recently, too. you had no idea why, but Zaun is a quick and fast learning city with its advantages and disadvantages, resulting in people visiting your shop to buy the pieces they require for their newest project.

now, Sevika is standing in the centre of your shop, taking one of the mechanical pieces into her hands and looking at it in detail.

"can i help you with something?" you ask, looking at her with curiosity. after she puts the mechanic piece back into its tray, she says "I was hoping you could me out with this."

she reveals her bionic arm, where you see the its shimmer capsules completely shattered. surprised, you walk towards her and take her bionic arm into her hand to have a closer look. you inhale her smoky scent and suddenly were confronted with a vivid memory of the first night you guys met at the brothel, as you sat in her lap writhing under her touch. focus. you twisted a few pieces to inspect the reachability of the broken capsules. "I assume you won't be able to take it off?" you ask her, your eyes still fixed on an odd piece you've found.

she shakes her head, "it would be a hazard trying to put it on afterwards. do you think you'll still manage to repair, though?"

after twisting the last few pieces for inspection, you leave her arm. "shouldn't be no issue," you take a look at your wristwatch and notice how late it already is. a few extra minutes won't hurt, you decide.

you nod towards the counter, "take a seat, i'll be right with you."

entering the back of your shop and take a big breath. fuck, this intimidating woman still effects you after several months. at this point, you were sure you even forgot about her.

you grab your toolbox and head to Sevika, who is waiting for you behind your counter on a chair. her cloak is thrown over your register's desk, revealing a similar outfit you saw at the brothel. only now you realise how muscular this woman actually is. her arm is almost fully exposed by her sleeveless top and a choker around her neck makes you shake off your dirty thoughts.

you place the toolbox on the counter before you take a seat next to it. Sevika watches every move of yours, making you even more nervous than you already are.

grabbing your first tool, you lay her arm in you lap and start unscrewing the plates that cover the isolation of the shimmer capsules. her arm felt heavy, but oddly warm in your lap for the fact that it's broken. you remember how the same arm pinned you down on her strap a few months ago.

your brain is almost about to malfunction if Sevika wouldn't have interrupted your thoughts, "so, how is your shop going?" she asks as she leans the side of her upper body on the counter. when you look down at her, she's only mere centimetres away from your face. her grey eyes digging into yours. your pussy clenches as your breathing stops at the sight of her. you quickly look away and focus on her arm again. "it's going well," you start and grab for another tool to remove the shattered pipes. "sometimes it's exhausting to handle a shop alone, but you get used to it, you know."

her eyes follow your movements on her arm while she hums as an indication for you to continue. "once, a dude i recognised from the brothel came to pick up a few things and i couldn't help but wonder what his day job is. he was a sex worker as well, so he probably even recognised me," you tell her. it's unusual for you to share thoughts and memories of your old job. you weren't ashamed of it, but you much happier spending your time in your own shop and not thinking back to your old routine.

she shifts in her seat to look up at you, "i'm glad you were able to escape that shit hole, beautiful," she says quietly, careful of the words she chooses, "do you still remember that night?"

your movements halt immediately at her questions and you felt her eyes laying heavily on you, watching every single movement. the way you took a deep breath, trying not to appear nervous around her. the mere thought of that night made you feel butterflies in your stomach and wetness in your core.

"i do," you confess. without meeting her eyes, you continue your maintenance on her bionic arm in your lap, trying to suppress the urge of jumping into her lap and kissing her senseless. "do you?" you ask in almost a whisper, unsure if you even wanted to know the answer.

when she didn't, your eyes travelled to hers in question. she seemed to be in deep thoughts as well before she asked "how couldn't i?"

her eyes finally meet yours and you recognise such sincerity and trust in them, you couldn't help the soft smile that sneaks onto your lips.

"you were the only thing on my mind in this cruel world," she continues, making you feel several things at once. "and i don't even know your name."

you chuckled and referred your eyes back to your almost finished work, concentrating on exchanging the pipes.

"so, you're not even going to tell me?" she asks amused.

"what, my name?" you act oblivious, knowing exactly what she wanted. now it was her turn to chuckle at your teasing. "you can be a pain in the ass, you know that?"

you shake your head in disbelief with a smile on your lips as you screw on the last iron plate on her arm.

"move it," you command and she obliges. she moves her joints, making the shimmer that was left in her tank fuel her new pipe, while moving it a few more times in several directions. you've never seen machinery working with shimmer so closely. you wonder how the metal felt like against your skin.

ripping you out of your trance, she stands up. right in front you, almost between your legs, which you desperately wanted to close at the sight as you felt your pussy clench.

"thank you," she looks at you, her eyes wandering from your neck down to the rest of your body. it's like she can't help herself, checking you out as you sit on her cloak next to your work instruments.

"you even look beautiful in your casual attire," she whispers as her eyes meet yours again.

"so," you wrap your index finger through her choker, "how about taking it off and see what's hidden underneath?" you cock your head before you pull her closer. your legs are opened by her thighs between them as she looks down at you, clearly surprised by your boldness. "i don't fuck nameless girls," she says in an equal tone to her low chuckle.

you take a quick look at her lips, wondering what they would feel like on yours. "didn't seem so last time we've seen each other."

your finger is still wrapped around her chocker as you grin. she didn't answer. she knows you're messing with her.

she places her arms on each of your sides, the sounds of her bionic arm moving leaving a shudder throughout your body. she's dangerously close.

"if i remember correctly, last time you've fucked yourself, princess."

shocked by her comment, your grin fades as you suddenly remember how you rode her in that brothel, eagerly chasing your orgasm as she guided you through it.

you let go of her choker and rest your hand at the back of her neck instead, caressing the soft strands of brunette hair as you try to maintain yourself.

"y/n," you whisper. Sevika's eyes widen at first, but a slight grin sets on her lips at the sound of your name.

"beautiful name, princess," she whispers back and you feel her breath on your lips with each sound she speaks.

you close your eyes as you feel her full lips grazing yours. "y/n," she whispers repeatedly. her lips finally touch yours, first cautiously but confident after a few seconds of lingering. you copy her motions and gasp when her tongue grazes your lower lip.

pressing her more firmly against yourself, you part your lips for her tongue to enter. she faintly tastes like cigarettes, but more of a harsh liquor you can't really pinpoint. your arms cling desperately around her neck, feeling her torso pressed around yours in your heated kiss. you lock her against your core with your legs around her hips, moaning as she leaves your lips to leave kisses on your neck. "you have no idea how often i thought of kissing you," she whispers before she trails down kisses to your exposed shoulder and collarbone, licking the line of it and pressing soft bites against your sweet spots.

instead of responding, you pull her up again and lock your lips together. you press your lower body against her in search of the friction you desperately seek, but with no success. her lips form into a smirk against your lips as she realises what you're seeking.

frustrated, you separate yourself from her and motion for her to step aside, so you could jump of the counter. "i have a bed upstairs," you tell her. Sevika stands there confused, but god does she look hot. her lips are glazed from your spit and her hair looks slightly tousled from your hand that clung to it.

she doesn't let you move, though. instead, her hands are pressed firmly on your side as she still stand between your legs. "i thought that might be more comfortable..." you say, unsure of the current situation. she shifts in her stance to let you stand up.

"fuck, yes. i mean, yes, let's go upstairs," she chuckles after stumbling over her own words and her bionic arm moves to gesture you to lead the way. you laugh at her sudden awkwardness but go ahead to lock up your shop.

walking up the stairs, you fumble for your home's keys. Sevika followed you closely behind, touching your waist and kissing your neck as you try to unlock the door, a sigh escapes your lips as you try to unlock your door.

as the door closes behind you, she pins you against it. her hand holds your wrist against the door as she kisses you feverishly. her bionic arm slips beneath your ass to lift you up, so you could wrap your legs around her hips. you press your breasts against her, trying to seek for any further touches. "the bed, Sev," you say between kisses, too occupied to actually resist her touch.

she ignores your words and losses her grip on your wrists instead to wander to the buttons of your shirt, never breaking the kiss. "patience, beautiful," she whispers as her lips leave yours to press a kiss on your cheek. "we have all night, right?"

your arms find their way back around her neck, playing with her loose hair. "please," you respond, your eyes making contact with hers. you peck her lips before you say, "i want to touch you, too."

her head falls onto your shoulder as she groans, "you make me loose my composure so easily," before looking back into your eyes with need and desperation "do you realise that?"

you grin at her confession and kiss her hot and wet, moaning into the kiss as she continues to unbutton your shirt until your bra is exposed to her hand. she grazes the outlines with her fingertips, making a shudder run through your body as you gasp. you press your chest into her touch and she gladly responds with cupping your breast while biting your lower lip.

her index finger grazes your puffy nipple through your bra and you can't help the moan that escapes your lips.

she pecks you one last time with a smile, before looking around your small flat, seemingly inspecting your small setup where your bedroom and living room are combined to your cozy grove.

her hand moves to your back, stabilising you in her arms before she finally heads to your bed to lay you down on it, watching you as you lay there with your undone shirt and the few strands that escaped your hairstyle completely wordless.

similar to her, you exhale at the sight in front of you. Sevika is still fully clothed, so you pull her down by her collar to kiss her hard, wrapping your legs around her waist to pull her body on top of you. "take this off," she whispers against your lips, her bionic hand gripping your shirt as her hand sneaks behind your neck to tilt your head for her to suck.

she kisses and bites your sweet spot, disrupting your motion of pulling your shirt off and making your eyes roll back in pleasure. you moan her name in frustration before she finally let's go.

"this too," she tells you as she eyes every little detail on your torso. when you take your bra off, her bionic hand cups your breast. the sharp and cold details of her metallic hand exposed on one of your most sensitive parts of your body leave you breathing hard, moaning as her pointy fingers pinch and twist your nipple. "you have no idea how often i thought of touching them since that night," her eyes are not leaving your chest as she confesses.

"you could've touched them that night," you respond, your hand finding the back of her head as you play with her small ponytail. after hearing your words she looks at you, almost with a shocked expression on her face. "there's no way i would have touched you without your consent," she tells you. surprised by this sudden turn, you move up to rest your weight on your elbows, looking at her in disbelief. "but you payed for that night with me," you state, still confused by what she just said.

she's just as surprised as you, cupping your cheek softly as she spoke, "y/n, i would never do anything to you without your consent. do you know that?" she asks you, her eyes never leaving yours as she spoke. you've never experienced any sex partner expressing their respect to you verbally. and fuck, this is probably the moment you realise you have feelings for this woman in front of you. you nod in response, still overwhelmed from your thoughts and feelings. she smiles at you as she says, "good girl."

your soaking pussy almost purred at that nickname. kissing her quick but softly, you grind your clothed hips against hers as you kiss a trail down her neck to her exposed collarbone.

she exhales heavily at your motions before saying, "tell me what you want, beautiful."

"i want you to fuck me," you respond after hesitating, still nibbling at her collarbone as a soft moan escapes her.

"with this," you continue as you grind stronger onto her clothed cunt than before.

her bionic arm holds herself on the bed as her fingers trace your curves. "with my fingers?" she teases as she opens your trousers with her other hand slowly.

your lips move up to her ear, licking and biting her soft skin. "no," you whisper, "with this."

you press the seam of her jeans with your fingers against her clit, making her grip your hips hard from your sudden touch. "fuck," she mutters in response, clearly trying to compose herself before she continues to fully undress you.

"under one condition," she starts as she takes in your naked body with hungry eyes, "i'll have a taste before i fuck you," she unbuttons her shirt, revealing a dark bandeau bra beneath. she's in a hurry, so she won't bother to take off her unbuttoned shirt, but moves on by removing her jeans as well as underwear in one go.

you try to take a peek at her body, but she immediately kneels between your legs to kiss the soft skin of your thighs, dragging her motions slowly to your soaking pussy as her hands hold you firm beneath her touch. feeling her breath on your clit, you whine from sensitivity, gripping the sheets beneath you as she finally tastes you for the first time.

both of you moan from the touch, your hips stutter beneath her strong hands. she eats you out like a starving woman, humming at the sounds you're making. your clit is circled by her tongue as she softly bites and sucks before your legs start shaking from the pleasure that builds up in your lower belly.

she moves her arm from your thigh to press softly against it, realising how close you are. "come on my tongue," she tells you, intensifying her motions as you come hard. the way you moan her name sounds similar to a scream, your thighs pressing against her head as you throw your head back in pleasure.

she gently guides you through it by licking in decreasing motions, careful of your sensitivity. as your calming down, she kisses your clit one last time before she straightens herself to watch you after your first high.

her lips and chin are glistening from her pussy and strands that were originally framing her face now hang loosely. "you did so well, beautiful," she whispers, climbing on top of you to press kisses into your face. "fuck, you really sent me to another dimension," you confess, laughing a litte at the absurdity. she chuckles at your words, grinning as she examines your face.

"are you still down for another round?" she asks carefully, giving you the space you might need, but you nod as you smile at her. she kisses you before she straightens again to manhandle your legs, placing one on her shoulder as she moves her own over your other to align with your pussy, not starting just yet. she caresses the long on her shoulder as she presses kisses along with it.

she looks absolutely breathtaking while doing it. you feel her pussy kissing yours, and fuck, she's driving you crazy. the unbuttoned shirt exposes the abs you eyed earlier through the tightness of her shirt. her v-line is deeply defined, even more when she starts to slowly grind against you. her pointy bionic fingers suddenly press into your thigh as she gasps from the pleasure she suddenly receives. her grey eyes watch you heavily, making sure you're alright with her pace as she slowly picks it up.

"you feel so good," you whimper as you meet her motions by copying hers, crying from the sensitivity from your earlier orgasm. "fuck- i'm close again."

she grins at your confession, pushing herself harder on your clit as you cry out from the friction. she's mostly quiet, but a gasp escapes her lips anytime you improve your speed.

"come with me, y/n" she leans down, kissing you with so much passion as her eyebrows furrow in pleasure. you moan into the kiss, your breasts moving with each thrust as your nipples graze against the cotton of her bandeau. you felt your orgasm creeping, but you weren't ready for the intensity it comes with. you cry out against her lips, holding her against you as you feel her groaning from her own orgasm. both your hips stutter in your motions before you stop to look at her.

her head rests in the nape of your neck and the only thing you feel is her hot breath against your skin. as you untangle your legs, you kiss on the side of her head. "are you alright?" you ask after several seconds of silence.

she vaguely nods, still maintaining her breath before she answers "you have no idea what you're doing to me."

you smile as you caress her hair through your fingers. "i'd love to figure it out in the future," you continue, making space between your faces so you could look at her as you speak. "this idea you've just mentioned," you clarify as she looks at you speechless.

she kisses you passionately after a few seconds, smiling as she realises what you were suggesting.

"let me take you to dinner after your shift tomorrow?" she asks as her thumb trails your cheekbone. you nod, kissing her on the cheeks before you answer "gladly."

you both fall asleep, and sooner or later date nights with Sevika become your favourite traditions as you two engage in a passionate, but intimate relationship with each other.

tags: @sevsbaby @womenathleteshaveme @macaroni676

masterlist

[chaoticyumelikes]

Sweet!! I have a request..fanfic! I wasn’t sure which character you write for but I’m leaning towards redson from lmk ( love me a tsundere ) who has a fem partner who’s very shy yet cuddly and wants affection from him since he’s busy with his machines but of course this is making the fire prince flustered since he’s never seen her that way and it gets worse when she says with a cute sad doe eyes “ please kiss me ” and boom. The rest is up to you! Hopefully this was okay!

Alright!!

Redson x shy!reader

Weeeeeellll opposites do attract but oh boy.

To have fallen in love with you was not easy on the flaming prince. He was of royal status. He couldn't waste his time with peasants much less so when he has the duty to build and conquer to gain the favor of his own parents. But then he meets you, a shy little mortal peasant and he scowls. When he isn't able to hear you he is LOUD and curt.

"SPEAK UP PEASANT!"

Your hurt expression does give him pause and he readjusts his temper slightly. A veeeeery tiny fraction. At first.

He does begin to like your presence though. You actually listen to him to all his ramblings, you grow fascinated at his technology and even though you don't understand his more technical terms you edge him on. So he begins to search for you when he has brilliant ideas for new mech. If he has your phone number expect him to call you at odd hours and rant to you about his latest invention and plans all the while on his bed kicking his legs with a huge smile on his face. If you complain about the hour he will get a bit snappy after all why should he respect your weak sleeping schedule. He does take note of it and kiiiinda tries to respect it. When he remembers that is. This man/demon is full of work so he's going to forget what hour and what day it even is. But he does feel fortunate to have you. While his parents treated him as a disappointment you were there fascinated and loving his every invention.

As time passes he drops the "peasant" around you.

MK tired: Stop calling us peasants...

Redson with a greatly offended expression: Excuuuuuse you Noodle Boy! I called you all peasants! *points at you with his hand* They are superior to you. In fact! *he shoos away MK from around you with a disgusted look on his face while gently dusting you off the Noodle Boy's germs off you* Stay away from them, don't bother them, don't look at them, don't infect them with your very presence. Come along dear let's go enjoy civilised company together.

Yeah... He is trying... If you point out he was rude to MK be prepared to chase a flaming Redson after MK on accounts on trying to poison you against him.

You: Please stop trying to hurt MK.

Redson smiling after a while of this repeated topic of conversation: I wouldn't dream of it *secretly presses a button to deploy several robots and weapons to carry out the job*

Invitations to his home and workshop, feel pride my shy human mortal, for you get to see the genious at work! You even try to help out when he vehemently prohibits so. You are his guest and his workshop isn't exactly... Mortal friendly. He will treat you like royalty in return for you caring about him all the while denying it. Point out his blush and he will snap that it's just the heat from the lava. And speaking of this, he will sometimes work without a shirt on and then it's your turn to blame your rosy cheeks on the general heat.

Redson: Excuse me, they asked for no pickles *now threatening the clerk* IS THAT SO HARD FOR YOUR PUNY MORTAL PEASANT BRAIN TO COMPREHEND?!

Yeeeeah he has a temper and it causes problems in his everyday life including you. He will not apologise.... By words I mean. He will leave you trinkets and acts of service. Builds you a robot for protection or build you a super cool (and deadly) vehicle.

Now about trying to show this man physical affection... Will be hard. Redson's not a very touchy person as he is deeply indoctrinated into his noble ways. And nobles do not touch unless a specific protocol is followed. So it has to be introduced in small baby steps.... You know.... Gently.... Like trying to disable a bomb.

He won't hurt you but he will flinch away and give you a look of discomfort and suspicion. Insist and be prepared for a lecture on proper etiquette.

When he FINALLY gets that he loves you... Well his world shatters. He starts to overthink and have panic attacks. How would his parents react (they have known for the longest time)? How would he court you? Should he stick to ancient demon ways to court a human? By formal kidnapping? Should he learn the human peasant ways? Eugh! But should he? Etc, etc.

He begins to shower you in gifts made by him. Super cool armor to protect you that ends up with so many functions and customization that you can't move at how heavy it is. Like I mentioned before a robot buttler, a robot bodyguard, a robot cook.... You know what? Just move in the mansion and you get a robot army. You think he is kidding... He is definitely not. The mansion has room and protection and he will make sure to attend to your every need plus you will stay close to your one only genius. Deny him and he will do as he always does..... Makes even more effort that ends in new explosive failures. One time the Monkey Crew even asked him if he was trying to actively kill you.

When you two finally get together.... You're not able to touch him, even get near him thanks to his fire powers go out of control at how happy he is. Even his parents thought for a second that he had the Samadi fire back.

He is a demon while you're human so it is a relationship that has a learning curve on the both of you. Most intimacy happens behind closed doors. On one hand you have to initiate by verbal statements.... Which due to your shy nature it's hard. Plus he is more often working than not and so you don't want to bother him. But once you do say your piece he will finish his project fast to give you the cuddles you crave.... Well almost, as he is still stiff trying to engage in less formal ways. So be prepared for him to be like a stiff manequin as you're the one that have to whether tell him or put his arms around you to what you find acceptable. Say you want kisses and I hope you're wearing layers of non-inflamable cloth or you may get burned by his embarrassment or even eagerness. He controls it with time thanks to "training" (constant cuddles and kisses). Nonetheless you'll sometimes look like a freaking forge master as he tries to reign in his flames while you try anything new. Every Winter is a blessing, 10 out of 10 cuddles, while every Summer you'll need to crank up the AC or you will die (and yes you are forbidden to deny him affection. It is LAW).

Either way once he gets the hang of it..... Be prepared to have a very clingy boyfriend as he is extremely touch starved. He, formal and set in his ways as he is, WILL include in the daily schedule hours for cuddles and other forms of affection... If you get yourself a minute or micro second late you WILL be scolded. Initiate your best affection or you'll never hear the end of it.

[centrally-unplanned]

Japanese website Forest Page is shutting down ~today, a tragic loss of "Heisei otaku memories", as so many are calling it. Launched in 2003, Forest Page was a "Geocities for mobile", a site that hosted user-created websites and gave them tools to allow non-coders to make them. In practice, it became one of the premiere places for fanfiction in Japan, with the stories hosted on author-created sites.

It wasn't quite the Fanfic.net of Japan, as for one the Japanese fandom just never centralized quite the way the 2000's western one did, instead being spread out over a half dozen or so sites. But additionally, it wasn't initially popular for fanfic so much as cell phone fanfiction, because in 2000's Japan the "cell phone novel" was a specific thing. These websites were being made for flip phones, not smartphones, and not only would people read them on those phones, they would often write them. None of that was very conducive to the creation and consumption of a "traditional" novel; so starting in the 2000's Japanese writers started making stories fit for the medium, namely:

Very short

A huge focus on dialogue and inner thoughts, with no/minimal description or scene detail

Using a limited POV of a specific character

Often employing the medium-as-message, like using emojis, structuring the story as IM's or emails, etc.

Also they all had huge gaps between lines, I'm not really sure what that is about:

Probably for readability on the phone given the small screen size? But it was absolutely part of the genre. A few of these novels actually made it big, got movie adaptations, people wrote articles about the "cultural phenomenon", it was the 2000's so Hiroki Azuma had a take on it of course, and so on. It slotted neatly into the vibe of the time of technology changing culture, paralleling discourse around otaku in the same era.

In fanfic those trends met up, and anyone familiar with fanfiction probably read that list of traits of the cellphone novel and thought "oh, this is perfect for fanfiction". Skipping out on description? I don't need it, I know what they look like already. Focus on conversation and POV? Perfect for shipping fics. Short lengths? Yeah, we are shortcutting to the good stuff, that is the point. Mirroring trends in the west, Forest Page's userbase was ~95% female, and the most common content on the site was romantic or edgy-dramatic stories in the franchises you'd expect. The closure page linked above actually summarizes the site's history by year, and lists the biggest fandoms:

Which is exactly what I would expect from a female otaku fanfiction website. Congrats to Pirates of the Caribbean for making it though, freeaboo's represent.

I do think the fact that the site was a website hoster as opposed to a fic hoster did align with the way the Japanese fandom was more "creator focused" and embraced the media mix more. There were "fic circles" a la doujin circles who made their own pages, people would make fanart, fan video games, and so own to host alongside it, and all of it was centralized to the creator; it made following them-as-a-person just a little bit easier. Most websites were simple text, but others did have the full Geocities experience:

Something that was somewhat common were basic visual novel concepts where the reader could make choices, or even insert their own name so they would be the "MC" of the story:

(Dream novels are in fact their own thing in Japan) My understanding is the site was quite popular through the 2000's and into the 2010's, though over time the "cellphone novel" as a concept fizzled out. People got smartphones, more people got PCs, and the constraints didn't make sense anymore - you can read ebooks and normal websites on your phone now after all. You can probably draw a line between these kind of stories and the webfiction/light novel boom of the late 2000's/2010's, something that was equally born on the internet, that streamlines the novel to "shortcut to the good stuff" but without the need to fit on a flip phone's screen. Though I will admit my own understanding of their histories shows them more as two sides of the same "youth demand for new literature" coin.

In 2017 Forest Page launched Forest Page Plus, a new service fully optimized for the smartphone era; but it did not transfer over all the old content, starting the clock ticking on the original Forest Page. My understanding is that in June they announced Forest Page was officially closing down; and from what I have gathered from reminiscing writers on twitter, they did not provide any easy, one-touch way to save any of the content, so people are archiving Wayback Machine links or sharing tips on how screenshot-save stories (I think the rub is they gave people a way to transfer content to FP+, but most don't want to do that, as places like Twitter & Pixiv are the content kings of this era).

As of tomorrow I would bet the large majority of the content will be gone; quite sad given both the quantity of stories there and how many got sometimes millions of readers. I am sure most of the biggest stories are archived at least, but particularly the early stuff was a very ephemeral genre, one that doesn't make sense to revisit once you aren't a 16 year old teen writing and reading fics on a flip phone in between classes. Which means another legion of the ghosts of the Wired is being born today. May we pour one out for a fellow online community that lived and died!

[edutainer2022]

In commemoration of that time, recently, when I delivered a conference keynote in a ridiculous o'clock timezone, after having been up and neck deep in other energy draining university commitments for three days straight on four hours of sleep at best, here's a little thing. I couldn't remember what I was talking about the minute the presentation ended. Scott Tracy is a public speaker extraordinaire on bingo sleep and adrenaline overdose. His brothers are worried and have to think on their feet. Special thanks to @astranite for nudging my muse in this direction.

AUTOPILOT

The trick was to get him off the stage. Scott Tracy, the Tracy Industries CEO, giving an opening keynote at the New Frontiers Expo had been scheduled a year in advance (involving the program committee begging on hands and knees for a year prior, Scott's annual commitments shuffling, some major security concessions, up to and including Kayo's team practically taking over the venue security altogether, as well as meeting a hard line of excluding any tech associated with Langstrom Fischler from the exhibits or conference talks).

Nobody could predict a mine collapse and Scott Tracy, the Commander of IR and Thunderbird One, being involved on site for the past thirty six hours (a good portion of that time spent underground without sleep).

The family medics' quorum, in full agreement with the family extended quorum, voted for canceling his public appearance and putting him on mandated rest. For a week. But Scott Tracy gave his word. So Scott Tracy gave his talk.

As keynotes go it was a huge success. Scott was passionate, funny and inspired, engaging the audience with dimples, moving personal touches and heartfelt convictions. The listeners were just about ready to "boldly go" wherever Scott would lead the way to a better, technologically enhanced and kinder tomorrow.

They divided forces in case the predictable worse actually came to pass. Virgil was behind the podium with a med kit and med scanner at hand. Gordon unironically got a tranq gun, which earned him a side-eye, but knowing Scott it might as well come handy.

John was in the audience, vigilant and listening to the keynote (and rather enjoying biggest brother public speaking prowess - seriously, how did Scott do it, half-dead on his feet?), ready to step up and take over if need be. That wouldn't be what the hundreds of Expo attendees payed and donated to R&D funds for, but they'd be getting A Dr. Tracy, at least, if The Mr. Tracy collapsed mid-sentence.

That was just the problem at the moment. Scott didn't. He concluded the speech, got a standing ovation, and was now just sort of hanging out on stage, swaying slightly. It was obvious he was running on dregs of fumes of an adrenaline high, refusing to crash on sheer willpower. It was also obvious Scott was completely unfocused and unaware where he was and what he'd been doing the minutes prior. The brilliant blue eyes were getting telltale glassy.

John had a FRANTIC Virgil booming in his earpiece. The public spotlight made the logistics of what needed to happen next tricky: they couldn't just drag him off the podium in a firefighter hold or tranq him - and spoil the profound impression of the speech; they also couldn't wait much longer till Scott fainted in front of everyone (and possibly injured himself by the fall). John was half on his way up to try and steer Scott bodily off the stage. Gordon would have been a better man for the job - dressing the thing up with a quip and some theatrics, but the Fish was still in uniform. IR on site, crashing the keynote, might have set off unwelcome panic, dangerous in a crowded space.

In the end, it was still Gordon's out-of-the-box thinking that saved the situation. They could all hear a boy's voice through their earpieces - Alan went for the highest littlest-brother-in-distress pitch he could master:

"Scotty, could you come here? I'm right behind you! Scotty, please!"

Scott could hear it too. A less exhausted brain would have remembered Allie was on the island still. They agreed Scott would take him the next day on a tour around the Expo and to several talks the kid wanted to attend.

But Scott's bandwidth capacity at the moment was reduced to the most rudimentary parent-brain instincts. So he started slightly, turned on his heel and marched backstage. It took a bit of flailing to placate a wild-eyed Scott that a) Allie wasn't in danger; b) Allie wasn't there immediately available for inspection and protecting from danger.

It came as close as Gordon clicking the safety off the tranq gun. But finally, the blue eyes stopped searching the perimeter behind Virgil's shoulder and rolled back. Scott slumped as a ragdoll in Virgil's hold.

John rushed to join the brothers the moment he heard Alan on comms. In between the three of them they settled the Commander on a hoverstrecher. Virgil insisted on a quick scan on the spot. Nothing more serious beyond bruises, exhaustion, stress and dehydration. Small mercies. Every single one of them had a private itemized inventory of possible injuries Scott might have "forgotten" to mention in order to be cleared for the keynote commitment.

Kayo's security team were clearing the path for them, off the Expo busy routes, to leave for Thunderbird Two discretely.

John lingered to brush the fringe off Scott's now noticeably pale forehead. His original intent was to go straight back to orbit after the biggest brother was sorted out. But now, there was no way Grandma or Virgil would let Scott out of the infirmary for the next forty eight hours at least. Nor would Virgil let biggest brother out of his sight for at least twice as long after. So it would fall to John to take Alan to the Expo and show the boy around.

John didn't favor crowded bustling places on a good day, but it was crucial not to disappoint or worry the kid. Scotty unconscious, sedated and grounded would have him anxious enough. It was also a great bonding opportunity with the baby-brother and a way to lift a bit of weight off Scott's shoulders. John knew biggest brother enough to foresee he'd beat himself up for succumbing to weakness and letting Alan down. John couldn't have that. So he landed a hand for support on Gordon's shoulder and all together they started the way home.

[qoldenskies]

Hi! First off, I just wanna say that I am a huge fan of your work! I absolutely love everything you write and I love hearing your general thoughts on Rise/TMNT!

Im super excited for your new work coming out, WWWW and I was just wondering if I could ask a quick question; will Donnie be good at magic?

One of my head-canon is that Donnie is actually a genius in magic, not Mikey-level genius in magic, but still a genius. I noticed that a lot of separation AUs with Donnie living in the hidden city have Donnie being horrible/disliking magic. This is a take I tend to see a lot, but in my opinion, I feel like if Donnie lived in the hidden city, magic would be his science. This is what I believe since in the show we see that Donnie Is able to fight at the same time as his brothers with equal effectiveness despite starting magic much later than the rest. It always made sense to me that Donnie would be a genius in magic, and that the only thing holding him back is his own insecurities with magic. Plus, I think it would be something really cute that Mikey and Donnie can bond over, being two different brands of geniuses. Like Mikey and Donnie would be like.

Mike: I just thought about it, and then it went bang boom, and then everything went SWISHHHH  

Don: First, my brain released adrenaline, and then a chemical reaction happened in my brain* Complex science that no one understands*, and that’s how I did it

wwww donnie does do mystics! he is not anti-mystic at all; he just doesn't do the kind of magic that leo does. its more similar to mystic aids in replacement of being able to hone weapons that require the same kind of focus and self-understanding-- partially because he's somewhat uncoordinated (and he doesn't train as much), and still because he doesn't just get it. leo himself had to work up to it-- and there's a reason he does full-on teleporting instead of mostly portaling people. it speaks to something else about him!! (mostly a better sense of self-assurance-- he's codependent, but also only truly confident in himself.)

he has a very scientific approach to mysticism. ironically, witch town may be the closest comparison, because he likes working with enchanted objects and alchemy and such. he has the same struggles that he would otherwise if he were to pick up a mystic weapon, so he works around it with more practical implementations. draxum's also a very heavy influence on him, although he does try not to teach donnie the more extreme, dangerous stuff out of fear of him-- but that doesn't stop donnie from doing it anyway! his interest in technology completely stumps draxum as well. leo's got one over on him in the mystic powers front and in combat, but donnie has strengths pretty much everywhere else.

[myloudintrerestsandthought]

How do politics affect fashion? Blog #1

HI! You can call me AverageOverlord! lol I'm deeply sorry. This is my first post! Each week I'm going to try to do one post about pop culture and one about my interest. And if you have ideas lmk (if anyone actually reads this XD)!

Lots of people are thinking about the election, so I started thinking how does politics impact fashion? After thinking for a while I started to notice a pattern. When the country (America) was more conservative, people dressed more modestly and used trends from other conservative decades. When we were more democratic, our fashion would be looser, shorter and more freeing. For example during the 1920s, woman's clothing took a drastic turn compared to the previous decades. The 1910s had a more natural silhouette, woman had long sleeves and the dresses were below the ankles. The 1920s were dresses were shorter and boxier. Woman even started to cut their hair into bob which was extremely rare. It was a time were the woman's suffrage movement flourished and a good number of woman started to not dress according to men's standards. Credit had become immensely popular during the 20's. This was heavily directed in the fashion. Flappers were covered head to toe with glitz and glam. I've also noticed that when consumerism is bigger the fashion is more bold and extravagant. In the 20s, people had more free time so they started to buy more things. In the 1950s, after the war American's turned to a more conservative lifestyle. The Nuclear family was heavily marketed and the suburbs grew. The 50s fashion was heavily inspired by the late 1940s. Which was a was a very patriotic decade because of WW2. The fashion was modest and extremely feminine. It was a comfort for people who just wanted the normal life before the war back. The president for most of the 50s, Dwight D. Eisenhower, was a Republican. All these things influenced the reclamation of conservative fashion and values. 1960s and 70s fashion was very free and bold. Big hair, bright makeup and bold clothing. Disco-esque and Hippy/Bohemian clothing were extremely popular. Hippy and bohemian clothing were made up of elements taken from other cultures (that were often viewed as inferior). The Romani people is where this 'trend' originally started from. (so please if you want to dress Bohemian and you can afford it, don't buy from fast fashion brands, buy from local and small businesses, that are run by and supported by Romani people. They deserve the credit for THEIR clothing. THAT is cultural appreciation vs appropriation.) Also the civil rights movement was growing during this time. So people of color started to straighten and perm their natural hair less, It was a protest and a statement. This was called the Afro Hair Movement, It challenged Eurocentric beauty standards and celebrated Black people's natural hair and ethnicity. So as we can see the 60s and 70s were leaning towards liberalism. The 1980s was HEAVILY inspired by the 50s. It was after the Vietnam war and consumerism was booming. During the 70s bold colors were popular, But in the 80s that only increased! Neons, loud makeup, hair and bold layered fashion. Ronald Regan was the president for a majority of the 80s and he was VERY republican. Poodles skirts from the 50s came back and Polka dots were popular in both decades. They also had bright colors and cinched waists in common. I also noticed how in the 60s and 70s wedding dresses were getting shorter and less traditional. But in the 50s and 80s, the wedding dresses were huge ball gowns with long sleeves, The 80s was definitely a consumerist decade, it was full of game consoles, new technology, shopping malls and movies. I would say the 80s was one of if not the most consumerist decade in the 20th century. The 2000s was full of metallics and iridescence makeup and fashion. We had LOW cut jeans (yes lower than your mid rise lol). And red carpet fashion that was mostly street wear. (lol idk if you can feel by tone but I'm very salty about that XD). The 2000s were inspired by a revival of the 70s and 80s. The late 2000s had to stock market crash of 2008. After this fashion was never the same. We started to lean heavily on fast fashion because people couldn't afford anything else. I hope you liked this! ;)

[tarantasina]

Leedie life update: I'm thinking about doing something to get Air (I don't open windows almost at all and the construction on this building implies you either have do that or you should have old wood windows with fractures in the wood that let the Air in. In the last ~25 years everyone upgraded to Windows That Keep You Warm/Without Holes In Them, and now stuck with the need to open them 1 time a day at minimum (documentation says ideal would be once every 3 hours for 15 minutes, but no one has time for that)

So I've been looking into options! First glance told me that it's:

1) (relatively) Cheap option - you make a hole in your room, put a Small Box that has fan+heater+filters on it and call it a day

Good: very clean Air in, no need to touch windows

Bad: even the quietest models go wrroom wrroom, so if you have trouble sleeping (like me), sucks to be you

2) Man Oh Man You Are Made Of Money option - put a Big Box in another room that has one of the walls looking at the street (usually balcony), put a bunch of ventilation shafts from it to adjascent rooms you need air in, get electric cables to feed the Big Box - boom! Many airs, quiet, no need to do anything! Maybe change filters once in 6-12 months

Good: VERY many good Airs, very quiet

Bad: PRICE IS BIG OW. Requiers a little renovation to put holes and shafts (hehe) where they need to be and to put energy lines down to feed the hungry box. Also if the rooms you need air in are not adjascent to the Big Box room, it becomes 10x harder to do it properly

3) Did You Inherit The Emerald Mine Or Something option - go all in. Big box go in one room, shafts to getting the air in and then getting it out. Electricity costs to feed Big Box go way down, requires Big Renovation of the entire flat, absolute air control, can put Big Box anywhere since you are making all these shafts anyway

Good: Many Airs. All the Airs. Control over all the Airs. Price to feed Big Box goes way down

Bad: YOU CAN BUY NEW (small) HOME FOR THIS PRICE

I very much wanted option 1 to work, but looking at how I disable all the quiet devices every night I realized it was a path to sadness and plugging an extra hole later (not even in a sexy way)

So! Option 2. There's several models of the Big Boxes and I did not want to spend Many Moneys on something bad so I went into a rabbit hole of research crying over the fact that you can't trust reviews on product pages AND normal people dont buy Costy Big Boxes much, so there was little to no reviews anyway

AND THEN. SALVATION.

Apparently there's a forum of Geeky Manly Mans who discuss technology. And in there there's a section for discussing household appliances

7 ENOURMOUS THREADS FULL OF WAYS TO GET MANY AIRS TO YOUR HOME. 7 (SEVEN)!!! Because they talked so much previous 6 threads ran into post limits

I did not go through them all (the old ones are like 10 years old and so may be out of date), but I've read every message written in the last year and searched for the models. Learned a lot about different Small Boxes! Actually found out option 2 in here, because apparently "I don't want to use Small Box for Any Reason and Biggest Box costs more than I ever held or would have in my life" is a popular problem, and this forum is inhabited by industry professionals or experienced hands-on enthusiasts who dispense free advice , and it is acceptable and encouraged to ask for help

So I looked through a couple (a lot) of "need advice" posts, saw what information the Knowledge People ask for and put down HUGE post with all the information, my flat plan, what Small Boxes I looked into and why they are not for me and what Big Boxes I looked into and what questions/concerns I have on that, and the amount of moneys I am ready to spend on this

Look at the plan btw I had to spend like half an hour to google what the flats in my type of apartment building look like (I could spend 4$ to get High Quality Plans of my actual flat but who has this kind of money in this economy)

SO, I POSTED MY QUESTION YESTERDAY AND GOT 2 VERY IN-DEPTH ANSWERS ALREADY!!1!

First one listed a couple of options on how to get Airs:

1) Very cheap - dont buy the complete Big Box, get the fan, heater, filters I fancy and all the nitty bits on my own and then put the stuff together. He put it all in listed order with links and approximate prices, I was very impressed

Good: Cheapest option. As many Airs as a proper Big Box can give

Bad: Need to find someone who can put all this stuff together - and boy did he link details that needed some work, because the separate parts were not designed to fit together. I know that would be hard because a couple of companies, when I was searching for cheaper Big Boxes, flat-out told me they only work with stuff you buy from them (even if you got the same model, they wont touch it). Also, as with regular Big Box, this set-up needs you to put cables down to feed it. Also no remote control - you need to go there push buttons with your own hands like in Ye Olde Times if you need to change speed/heat

2) Costier but doable, basically: "Hey the room you want to put it in has old leaky wood windows, right? Change them to good windows so that the air wouldn't leak, put holes to your bedroom and the other room you go to, and put a Small Box there. Small Box will get Airs into that room and then through the holes to the places you actually need, no ventilation shafts required. Since Small Box will be considerable distance away and through the wall the noise shouldn't be an issue"

Option 1 is interesting if I ever do some renovation (I would be able to get cables there to feed the handmade Big Box Ensemble), but Option 2 is doable right now!! Small Box can just be fee through a regular socket!

Second answer tweaked the handmade ensemble a little and answered lots of other questions I had, and gave advice on Small Boxes

I probably won't be doing it for a while (I need my room without holes for the next 4-5 months), but I just wanted to share the story of how I went to Scary Forum With Many Dudes and got Good Advice

[strawberryboyhimself]

Something I think that’s really interesting is the context of these two eras and the landscape around storytelling at the time. In the past stories were told mostly through word of mouth, you’d tell stories while you worked or relaxed in the pub or simply gossiped because that was what you did for fun. Life was simply slower and less full so you had the time to tell long-winded tales about the goings on around you. Think about it, the story of Scrooge could easily be something told by workers talking about their boss or Pride and Prejudice the local drama at the time or Wuthering Heights a real story built up by the locals over the years. We can also see this in the formatting of these works, how all of Dracula is told through letters and diary entries, Frankenstein begins with letters or again, Wuthing Heights is almost entirely told through word of mouth between a few characters. In the time these books were written, stories were a way of passing time and sharing news without the need for arcs or themes or anything like that because everyone told stories all the time. It was very much a time before show don’t tell because every story was passed down through being told so writers matched this method and spent their time setting scenes and creating characters who were terrible and writing their stories like everyone around them told them, the only difference was theirs were written so it would reach a wider audience. They were storytellers before they were writers.

Now, cut ahead to the boom in technological advancement, especially the invention of film and suddenly everything changes. Life is moving faster now, people don’t have the same amount of time to tell these long, winding tales, they have too much work and business and excitement in their lives. My English teacher pointed out Gatsby as a great show of this, the way it’s written in a way that is far more familiar to us, more like a movie. There’s no time wasted on these long paragraphs with little information or minor characters just to pass information or anything like that, it’s quick and snappy and rather than telling it like a story passed down from word of mouth, it cuts around like movie scenes and really wastes no time because now there is none to waste. Now films are able to tell stories that would have taken an audience days, maybe even weeks to read in mere hours, all that longwinded information can be told in a second with image and sound. The time of telling stories around a fire or while you do your long, slow work are over now it’s all efficancy and excitement and the rush of this new urban life.

Finally, not even that long after we reach today where life is faster than ever. Not only do we have movies now, we have streaming and social media and an endless stream of information that we can plug into and absorb for the rest of our lives and never even scratch the surface of it all. You have more to consume and less time to do so than ever before so there is no way you can go through all that time and energy of lengthy and longwinded writing every single time you want a story when you have all this content you could get so much more stimulation from so much quicker. It’s no longer about just telling a story anymore, it’s about selling a product, making something that stands out in this constant stream. There’s no time for the old style anymore, you gotta trim the fat and perfect your product to give it a fighting chance to survive.

Granted, that is a huge generalisation and books will always exist and be needed and cherished and one of the greatest inventions humans ever made but it’s undeniable that so much of the great literature we admire these days would never be found if it were written today, the style just would not be able to compete and books themselves are becoming more and more neglected or having to change to become more like the other, less time consuming content to be able to get any attention. It’s more a weakness of time than art itself and I am in no position to make such grand statements as this rant has become but my history lover brain simply found it interesting to look at the context and patterns of these eras and how the lives we live define the art we create and vice versa in that beautiful relationship between humanity and art.

Every 21st century piece of writing advice: Make us CARE about the character from page 1! Make us empathize with them! Make them interesting and different but still relatable and likable!

Every piece of classic literature: Hi. It's me. The bland everyman whose only purpose is to tell you this story. I have no actual personality. Here's the story of the time I encountered the worst people I ever met in my life. But first, ten pages of description about the place in which I met them.

[brocoffeeengineer]

Budget-Friendly Brilliance: Animation Tools Redefining Creativity in 2025

In 2025, animation is no longer reserved for high-budget companies. With more affordable indie tools and accessible technology, creators with only an idea, and limited resources can quickly create compelling animation that competes with big productions. If you're a student, freelancer, or a beginner animator, it's an amazing time to access incredible tools for little cost.

The Explosion of Indie Animation

There continues to be a huge growth in the amount of independent animated content available on free platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, and on streaming services like Netflix. Today, independent creators produce animated short films that evoke strong emotional responses, eccentric web series, and explorative forms of visual storytelling at costs less than that of a monthly streaming service. Part of this growth involves the vast democratization of software.

With free and low-cost tools, creators now have capabilities beyond basic studio offerings. Many tools provide advanced 2D rigging, real-time rendering, procedural animation, and storage through built-in asset libraries. Add to this the affordability of digital tablets and cloud storage, and you'll have all the power of a complete animation studio that can live entirely on your laptop.

Top Indie Animation Tools to Giggle-Over in 2025

Here are several of the most fadworthy, inexpensive tools that enable and empower new creators are going to kill it over the next couple years.

Blender: what was once known primarily as a 3D modeling and animation tool, is now also known for its Grease Pencil tool used to achieve beautiful 2D animations in a 3D environment. Particularly, the fact this is open source, and has a community that is unparalleled globally, it is being widely adopted by indie animators across the world.

OpenToonz: OpenToonz is used by Studio Ghibli and completely free! More and more people are beginning to use it because of its solid user interface workflow and its capacity to produce traditional hand-drawn animation styles. Now, as of 2025, OpenToonz has developed writing in AI (inbetweening) and realtime color grading.

Krita: Krita is often thought of as a digital painting tool, but it has an entire animation workspace!! It has everything an animator needs to animate frame by frame, and is super great for artists looking for a 2D feel.

Pencil2D: A very light open-source tool...Which means it is beginner friendly! The interface is ultra-light with as few features as possible to allow for good 'animations'. Takes away a lot of features so users can learn fundamentals of animation without being overwhelmed.

Toon Boom Harmony (Essentials version): (Because bloom) - while the full price version is a lot of money - the Essentials version hits an impressive balance of professional working features at a good price for students, or potentially non-consumers.

Cloud Collaboration and Real-Time Rendering

Collaborative animation has come full circle since the start of the pandemic. In 2025, it's so much easier to collaborate with several cloud-based tools out there. Platforms like Figma for Animation, Storyboarder, and Kitsu enable small teams to work together (remotely) in real-time. Asynchronous collaboration became popular in animation, and it became more important now in a post-pandemic world.

Similarly, real-time rendering for animations saw a lot of development. Software, such as Unity and Unreal Engine, became popular to non-gamers to create animated shorts. Where you might initially have to wait to visualise the scene with lighting, with effects, and with camera movements, now you can visualise it and have it ready for animation testing in real-time, which saved you a lot of time on the other side of post-production.

The Role of AI in Indie Animation

AI-related tools are changing the way we animate. Entities like Runway ML are allowing artists to remove a background seamlessly, auto-colour frames, and even to create tween frames just by selecting its own machine learning models inferences! By 2025, many of the repetitive tasks you did before were now so simple artists can concentrate more of their time on storytelling and picture-going, quickly .

There was now considerably greater access to text-to-motion and voice syncing Collaboration Apps, like Papercup AI, who, like ElevenLabs, can voiceover characters, while translating them to any number of languages while auto mouth-syncing at the same time.

Learning to Animate on a Budget

For aspiring animators (and, especially, for those located in cities with developing creative ecosystems), online tutorials, free resources, and hybrid courses are eliminating barriers to entry. A lot of students preparing to enter the field are now moving into regional hubs, where education meets the industry. For example, those taking an Animation course in thane are being exposed to the tools and workflows, taught by industry professionals working on both indie and commercial projects.

This type of localized growth is preparing for changes to the field of digital storytelling but equally it is cultivating artists on a whole. Emerging artists exist in every region of the country and, as smaller cities gain access to more tools, traditional forms of education catch up, and producers commit to more underway projects many of the next top-tier artists in the field are coming from these kinds of places.

Indie is Not Equated to Amateur

There is a false perception with a lot of people that indie animation is inherently lesser. However, many of the most interesting, sincere, and beautiful work is being done by independent artists using affordable software. Projects like Lackadaisy, Hazbin Hotel, and SpindleHorse projects have proved that simple, but sophisticated, ideas can be animated by small teams, and can get millions of views and recommendations.

Streaming services like Netflix and Apple TV are acquiring independent animation. This is a recognition that independent creators will always push boundaries, and create storytelling that is out of the box and not formulaic. There are growing requests for more festivals, more grant opportunities, and streaming slots opening for independent animators; the future is bright and competitive.

Conclusion: Tools Are Just the Beginning

In 2025, the answer to the question “What separates an amateur from a pro?” is not the software; it’s the story. Tools are tools. It's how you use them that will always matter most. With a focus on creativity, storytelling, and an understanding of the fundamentals, indie animators are no longer "competing" with studios, instead they are exploring the next stage.

The animation landscape is shifting quickly, and cities are shaping that shift with new creative talents. For instance, students in a 2D visualization course in thane are learning digital drawing tools and techniques, but they are also learning about the science behind effective composition with motion principles, and audience psychology. They combine the tools and methods they have learned with basic fundamentals that are available to us all, and they will have a lasting edge in the world of creativity.

[justtryblockchain]

Cost to Develop a Cryptocurrency Exchange: Key Factors & Estimates

Importance of the Topic

With the growing global interest in digital currencies, launching a cryptocurrency exchange has become an attractive business opportunity. However, one of the most critical questions entrepreneurs face is: how much does it actually cost to build one? Understanding this helps in budget planning, avoiding costly surprises, and building a compliant, scalable platform.

Quote

“The crypto market rewards those who build trust and usability—not just hype.” — Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Bitcoin Advocate & Author

1. Introduction

The rise of digital assets has made digital currency exchanges the backbone of the Web3 economy. Whether you’re a startup founder, fintech investor, or blockchain enthusiast, launching a crypto exchange seems lucrative—but it’s not cheap. The development cost can vary dramatically depending on features, technology, and compliance. Let’s explore the real price tag behind building a full-fledged cryptocurrency trading platform.

2. What Is a Cryptocurrency Exchange?

In simple terms, it’s a platform where users can buy, sell, or trade digital currencies. There are mainly three types:

Centralized Exchanges (CEX) – managed by a central authority.

Decentralized Exchanges (DEX) – powered by smart contracts.

Hybrid Exchanges – combine the best of both worlds.

Each type has different features and complexities, and that plays a huge role in the final cost.

3. Why Build a Cryptocurrency Exchange?

Besides being a booming market, owning a crypto exchange means recurring revenue through:

Trading fees

Withdrawal charges

Token listing fees

Subscription-based services

In a world going digital, crypto exchanges are the new-age stock markets.

4. Core Factors Influencing Development Cost

Type of Exchange and Its Impact on Cost

A decentralized exchange (DEX) generally costs less but requires blockchain expertise. A centralized one needs robust security and regulatory compliance, making it more expensive. Hybrid exchanges, although powerful, are the priciest to build.

Features That Add to the Budget

UI/UX Design

First impressions matter. A sleek, intuitive design can boost retention. A custom-designed front end might cost between $10,000–$25,000.

Wallet Integration

You’ll need both hot (online) and cold (offline) wallets. Integrating them securely can add $15,000–$40,000 to your bill.

Trading Engine

The brain of your platform—it matches buy/sell orders in real-time. Expect to spend $20,000–$50,000 here.

KYC/AML Compliance

Regulations demand user verification. Integrating third-party solutions like Onfido or Jumio might cost around $5,000–$15,000.

Development Methods

In-house Team – Total control, high cost.

Crypto Exchange Development Company – Experienced, reliable, moderately expensive.

Freelancers – Affordable, but risky.

White-label Crypto Exchange Software Development – Quick launch and cost-effective but less customizable.

5. Estimated Crypto Exchange Development Costs

These numbers are just ballpark figures. The actual cost depends on location, features, and complexity.

Development Option & Estimated Cost

In-house Team

$300,000 – $600,000+

Development Agency

$150,000 – $500,000

White-label Platform

$20,000 – $80,000

Freelancers

$10,000 – $50,000

6. Legal and Regulatory Expenses

You can’t run a digital currency exchange without licenses. Costs vary by country:

U.S. & U.K.: High ($50,000–$150,000)

Malta, Estonia, Singapore: Moderate ($10,000–$50,000)

Also, you’ll need legal help with compliance, terms of service, and privacy policies.

7. Ongoing Maintenance & Hidden Costs

Once you launch, you’ll still need to spend money. Here's where:

Server & Hosting: Cloud services (e.g., AWS, Azure)

Customer Support: 24/7 helpdesk

Security Audits: Regular checks and fixes

Marketing: Getting users on board

Monthly costs can range between $10,000 and $50,000 depending on scale.

8. Tips to Reduce Crypto Exchange Development Cost

Start Small with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) Build the essentials first, add bells and whistles later.

Choose Offshore Developers Hiring a team from Asia or Eastern Europe can save up to 60% on development costs.

Use White-Label Solutions Ready-made platforms save time and money and are great for quick market entry.

Conclusion

Launching a cryptocurrency exchange isn’t cheap, but it’s one of the most rewarding digital ventures today. Depending on your choices, the crypto exchange development cost can vary from $20,000 to over $500,000. Whether you choose to go all-in with custom development or opt for a white-label solution, planning and execution are everything. Are you ready to make your mark in the crypto trading world?

[marketingprofitmedia]

AI EngineHost Review – Host Unlimited Websites, AI Apps & Domains For Life

 Are you tired of monthly hosting fees, sluggish servers, and limited resources? Meet AI EngineHost, a lifetime hosting solution powered by NVIDIA GPU and supporting AI apps. It promises to host unlimited websites, AI apps, and domains on blazing-fast USA data center-based AI servers, all for an unbeatable one-time low price.

Whether you’re running a personal blog, a booming eCommerce store, AI apps, or a SaaS business, reliable, fast, and scalable hosting is essential in today’s digital world. Today, we’re conducting an in-depth review of AI EngineHost to understand its popularity among marketers, developers, and entrepreneurs worldwide.

What Is AI EngineHost?

AI EngineHost is a powerful AI-powered unlimited hosting platform that allows individuals, businesses, and developers to host unlimited websites, AI apps, eCommerce stores, landing pages, and domains on premium-grade U.S. data centers backed by NVIDIA GPU technology.

Unlike traditional hosting providers that charge monthly fees (that skyrocket over time), AI EngineHost offers one-time lifetime access with no hidden fees, no renewal charges, and no limitations. By leveraging the latest AI algorithms, it optimizes server resources in real-time, ensuring that your websites load faster, remain secure, and experience minimal downtime.

AI EngineHost Review: Overview of Product

Product Creator: Uddhab Pramanik

Product: AI EngineHost

Launch Date: 2025-Apr-26

Launch Time: 11:00 EDT

Front-End Price: $16.95 One-Time Payment! (Limited-Time Access)

Official Site: Click Here To Visit Official Salespage

Product Type: Tools and Software

Support: Effective and Friendly Response

Recommended: Highly Recommended

Bonuses: YES, Huge Bonuses

Skill Level Required: All Levels

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Refund: YES, 30 Days Money-Back Guarantee

AI EngineHost Review: About Authors

Uddhab Pramanik, the creative mind behind AI EngineHost. Pramanik is at the top of the tech industry because he is always looking for new ways to do things. He is leading the way in creating AI-powered app’s, software’s that open up new possibilities for users all over the world. Uddhab is a tech pioneer who has helped move AI technology forward so that groundbreaking uses are no longer just a pipe dream but a real possibility for everyone.

Explore Pramanik’s impressive portfolio to see his list of successful launches, which includes AI Effects Video Creator, OneAI Freedom, AI MovieMaker 2.0, AI Live School Builder, VidAvatar AI, TalkFlow AI, RankGPT, OneAi 2.0, AI MovieMaker, OneAI, MusicBuddy AI, SiteRobot AI, Dropify AI, WP Defense, and many others.

AI EngineHost Review: Key Features of AI EngineHost

✍ Host Unlimited Websites & Domains

Launch and manage as many websites and domains as you like — no restrictions, ever.

✍ NVIDIA GPU-Powered AI Servers

Experience blazing-fast performance, especially for resource-heavy AI tasks and websites.

✍ 1-Click Install for 400+ Apps

From WordPress to the latest AI tools, install everything in seconds with just one click.

✍ Support for Open-Source AI Models

Deploy and run powerful models like DeepSeek, Grok-1, LLaMA 3, GPT-NeoX, Falcon, XGen, and Mistral 7B effortlessly.

✍ Lifetime Hosting for a Low One-Time Price:

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✍ USA Datacenter-Based Hosting

Ensure ultra-fast loading times and high reliability, with servers located in top-tier U.S. datacenters.

✍ Unlimited NVMe SSD Storage & Bandwidth

Host and scale without limitations, ensuring your site never runs out of space or slows down.

✍ Free SSL Certificates

Secure your websites & Apps with free SSL certificates, ensuring trust and safety for your visitors.

✍ Ultra-Secure, User-Friendly Control Panel

Manage everything with a powerful hosting panel—no tech headaches or steep learning curves.

✍ Daily Backups & High Uptime Guarantee

Our expert team is always here to help when you need us.

✍ Custom DNS Management

Easily configure and manage your own DNS records for all your domains.

✍ Instant Updates for WordPress & Apps

Automatically update WordPress plugins, themes, and apps with no manual intervention.

✍ Unlimited Email Accounts & Databases

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✍ Advanced Security Features

Protect your websites and apps with our state-of-the-art security protocols, including DDoS protection, malware scanning, and more.

✍ Advanced Analytics & Reports

Track your website and app performance with detailed analytics and real-time reports.

✍ SEO Optimized Hosting

Ensure your websites are SEO-ready with lightning-fast load times and built-in optimization tools.

✍ Dedicated VIP Support Team

Get priority support with our dedicated VIP team available 24/7.

AI EngineHost Review: How Does It Work?

It Takes Only 3 Simple Steps To Host Your Sites & Apps With Ai EngineHost – With Zero Experience

Step #1: Unlock Ai EngineHost (Powered by cutting-edge NVIDIA GPUs)

To our ultra-secure Ai EngineHost control panel and connect your domain. You can add unlimited domains and host unlimited websites with ease.

Step #2: Manage Your Hosting with Next-Gen Control Panel

To our ultra-secure Ai EngineHost control panel and connect your domain. You can add unlimited domains and host unlimited websites with ease.

Step #3: Install WordPress, AI Apps & Web Scripts Instantly

With 1-click installation, deploy and manage WordPress sites, web apps, and popular AI models like Grok, LLaMA, GPT-NeoX, and more—no tech skills needed!

AI EngineHost Review: Benefits of AI EngineHost

AI-Powered Hosting Platform – Experience blazing-fast performance optimized for AI apps and websites.

Unlimited Website & Domain Hosting – Host as many sites and domains as you want, without restrictions.

Install 400+ Web & AI Apps Instantly – One-click deployment of top tools, scripts, and open-source AI models.

Supports Popular AI Models – Easily install & run LLaMA 3, DeepSeek, Grok-1, Falcon, GPT-NeoX, XGen, Mistral 7B & more.

Unlimited WordPress Hosting – Create & manage as many WordPress sites as you need with 1-click setup.

NVIDIA GPU-Powered Servers – Get ultra-fast loading and AI model performance with cutting-edge hardware.

USA Datacenter-Based AI Hosting – Enjoy ultra-reliable performance with secure and fast U.S. servers.

Unlimited NVMe SSD Storage & Bandwidth – Store large files, host high-traffic sites, and stream AI models with ease.

Free SSL Certificates for All Sites – Keep your websites secure at no extra cost.

Hosting Control Dashboard Access – Full control with a user-friendly interface.

One-Time Payment – No Monthly Fees – Get premium lifetime hosting with just a small one-time investment.

Built-In AI App Installer – Deploy AI apps with zero technical skills required.

Developer-Friendly Environment – Supports PHP, MySQL, Python, Node.js & more.

Drag & Drop Site Builder Included – Build stunning websites with ease, no coding needed.

Full DNS Management – Point domains, manage records, and control traffic like a pro.

Daily Backups & Site Protection – Keep your data safe with automated backup and recovery tools.

AI WordPress Tools Integration – Run AI plugins, themes, and automations directly within WordPress.

24/7 VIP Customer Support – Get fast and friendly help whenever you need it.

9% Uptime Guarantee – Reliable infrastructure that keeps your sites live around the clock.

Perfect for Marketers, Developers & Agencies – Scalable, secure, and simple to use. Iron-clad 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee

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AI EngineHost Review: Who Should Use It?

Affiliate Marketers

Bloggers

Freelancers

Product Creators

Video Marketers

Content Creators

Website Owners

Agency Owners

Entrepreneurs

Small Business Owners

Vloggers

Coaches

Authors

And Many Others

AI EngineHost Review: OTO’s And Pricing

Add My Bundle Coupon Code “AIENGINE30″ – For 30% Off Any Funnel OTO Below

Front-End (FE): AI EngineHost ($16.95)

OTO1: AI EngineHost MAX ($67)

OTO2: AI EngineHost Premium ($37)

OTO3: AI EngineHost SEO Unlimited ($27)

OTO4: AI EngineHost Site Builder ($47)

OTO5: AI EngineHost WebSite Manager ($27)

OTO6: AI EngineHost App Suite ($97)

OTO7: AI EngineHost App Suite Gold ($147)

OTO8: AI EngineHost 6+ Reseller App ($56)

OTO9: AI EngineHost Reseller ($97)

OTO10: AI EngineHost Agency ($297)

AI EngineHost Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Unlimited Hosting (Websites, Apps, Domains)

Blazing-Fast Speed (NVIDIA GPU-Powered)

1-click WordPress installer

AI Smart Optimization

Lifetime access with no recurring fees

Premium USA Datacenters

Daily Backups & Free SSL Certificates

User-Friendly Dashboard

24/7 Customer Support

Perfect for AI and machine learning apps

Cons:

Requires a paid fee and price may increase soon

Requires internet access to operate.

Nothing wrong with it, it works perfectly!

My Own Customized Exclusive VIP Bonus Bundle

***How To Claim These Bonuses***

Step #1:

Complete your purchase of the AI EngineHost: My Special Unique Bonus Bundle will be visible on your access page as an Affiliate Bonus Button on WarriorPlus immediately after purchase. And before ending my honest AI EngineHost Review, I told you that I would give you my very own unique PFTSES formula for Free.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q. What exactly is AI EngineHost?

AI EngineHost is a next-generation, AI-optimized web hosting platform that offers lightning-fast, secure, and scalable hosting — all powered by high-performance NVIDIA GPUs and USA-based data centers. You can host unlimited websites, install AI tools, apps, and even popular AI models with just a few clicks.

Q. Do I need to pay monthly fees?

No! That’s the beauty of AI EngineHost. You pay once and enjoy lifetime access. No monthly or hidden charges — ever.

Q. What makes this different from other hosting providers like GoDaddy or HostGator?

Unlike traditional hosting services that charge monthly and offer limited resources, AI EngineHost gives you:

Lifetime access with no recurring fees

High-speed AI-optimized servers

Unlimited everything (websites, bandwidth, storage, databases)

USA-based data centers

Support for popular AI models

1-click WordPress & app installers

Q. Can I install WordPress or other web apps?

Absolutely! You can install WordPress, WooCommerce, Joomla, or any app using our built-in 1-click installer in seconds.

Q. Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes. You’re protected by our 30-day iron-clad money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied for any reason, simply contact us, and we’ll refund every penny.

Q6. What kind of support do you offer?

We offer priority customer support to help with anything you need — from setup assistance to technical queries.

Q. Can I move my existing website to AI EngineHost?

YES, absolutely — without any restrictions or tech skills! We’ve made the migration process super simple. You can move your existing website effortlessly, and we’ve included a step-by-step training guide to walk you through the process. You’ll be up and running on AI EngineHost in no time.

Q. Is my data safe and secure?

Absolutely. AI EngineHost comes with advanced security, SSL support, daily backups, DDoS protection, and secure data centers to keep your websites and files 100% safe.

Final Verdict: Is AI EngineHost Worth It?

AI EngineHost provides an unparalleled blend of speed, scalability, flexibility, and affordability. For those who are serious about building a strong online presence, AI EngineHost’s AI-driven optimizations, USA-based GPU servers, unlimited hosting capabilities, and low one-time price make it an obvious choice.

Whether you’re a small business owner, AI developer, agency, or solopreneur, AI EngineHost can supercharge your projects and save you thousands in the long run. If you’re fed up with slow websites, soaring monthly hosting fees, and unreliable services, it’s time to transition to AI EngineHost.

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Check Out My Previous Reviews: Audora AI Review, Booklytic Review, Future AI Review, Clonely AI Review, and SmartPal AI Review.

Thank for reading my honest “AI EngineHost Review” till the end. Hope it will help you to make purchase decision perfectly.

[apeejay-stya-university]

Top 5 Career Paths After BCA: Exploring Opportunities in Tech

A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) is more than just a degree—it's a passport to the dynamic world of technology. As the demand for digital solutions and skilled tech professionals continues to grow, BCA graduates are finding themselves with a wide range of career options.

Whether you're interested in programming, data, cybersecurity, or design, BCA opens doors to some of the most exciting and high-growth careers in the tech industry.

Here’s a look at the top 5 career paths you can pursue after completing your BCA:

1. Software Developer

If you love coding and problem-solving, this is your go-to career. As a software developer, you’ll be responsible for creating applications, software systems, and user interfaces.

Skills Required:

Proficiency in languages like Java, Python, or C++

Understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC)

Knowledge of databases and APIs

Tip: Get hands-on experience by building real-world projects during your BCA or participating in open-source contributions.

2. Data Analyst

Data is the new oil—and BCA graduates with strong analytical skills can thrive in this field. Data analysts help organizations make data-driven decisions by interpreting trends, creating visualizations, and offering actionable insights.

Skills Required:

Knowledge of Excel, SQL, and Python

Familiarity with tools like Tableau or Power BI

Strong mathematical and statistical skills

Bonus: Learning the basics of machine learning can be a huge plus in data-driven careers.

3. Cybersecurity Analyst

With increasing cyber threats, companies are investing heavily in cybersecurity. As a cybersecurity analyst, you'll protect systems and networks from data breaches, hacking, and other vulnerabilities.

Skills Required:

Understanding of firewalls, VPNs, and encryption

Familiarity with ethical hacking and penetration testing

Knowledge of cybersecurity laws and protocols

Tip: Consider certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CEH after your BCA to boost your credentials.

4. Web Developer or UI/UX Designer

In the age of digital-first experiences, web developers and UI/UX designers are in high demand. From building websites to designing seamless user journeys, this path combines creativity with technology.

Skills Required:

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React or Angular

UI/UX design principles and prototyping tools like Figma or Adobe XD

Knowledge of responsive and mobile-first design

Creative Edge: If you're passionate about design and detail, this is a rewarding career choice.

5. Cloud Computing & DevOps Specialist

As businesses move to the cloud, roles in cloud architecture and DevOps are booming. BCA graduates with a knack for infrastructure and automation can excel here.

Skills Required:

Cloud platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud

DevOps tools like Docker, Jenkins, and Kubernetes

Scripting knowledge in Bash, Python, etc.

Growth Potential: This is one of the highest-paying domains in tech today.

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

If you’re considering a BCA degree and want a program that equips you with both technical knowledge and real-world skills, Apeejay Stya University offers a comprehensive BCA course tailored for future tech leaders.

From foundational programming to emerging technologies, their curriculum is designed to help students thrive in today’s tech ecosystem. Don’t forget to check entrance requirements and eligibility criteria while applying.

Conclusion

The world of technology is full of opportunity—and your BCA degree is the key to unlocking it. Whether you want to dive into development, analyze big data, or secure the digital world, there’s a career path waiting for you.

Start exploring, upskilling, and paving the way for a fulfilling and future-ready career in tech!

[mirrormethisphotobooth434]

Why Photo Booth Rentals Are Thriving in Los Angeles

In the heart of Southern California, where trends are born and entertainment is a way of life, photo booth rentals are booming. The demand for a photo booth Los Angeles experience is climbing with each passing season—and it’s no mystery why. From sleek, tech-forward designs to fully immersive brand experiences, LA has become a hotspot for creative photo booth integration.

The Culture of Visual Expression

Los Angeles is a city that lives for the camera. Between Hollywood glam and influencer culture, visual storytelling is part of everyday life. A photo booth complements this perfectly. It gives people a fun, spontaneous way to express themselves, share their experience online, and take home physical memories. This cultural alignment is one reason photo booths are a staple at nearly every upscale event in town.

The Business Side of Fun

In addition to personal celebrations, businesses in LA are turning to photo booths as marketing tools. A well-designed booth can generate buzz, increase brand visibility, and give companies a high ROI through user-generated content. Whether it’s a product launch in West Hollywood or a tech conference in Downtown LA, a branded photo booth captures attention and extends the reach of the event beyond the venue.

Companies often incorporate email capture, custom branding, and hashtag integration to amplify their message. It's not just about fun—it's about strategic engagement.

From Backyard Parties to Red Carpets

One of the great things about the photo booth Los Angeles market is its flexibility. You’ll find booths at backyard birthday bashes, but also at movie premieres, charity galas, and influencer activations. It’s a service that scales up or down, catering to both intimate groups and large crowds.

LA photo booth companies understand this diversity and often offer tiered packages to suit every need. From basic prints to full green screen productions, there's a setup for every type of occasion.

Personalization and Experience

In a city that thrives on standing out, personalization is key. Most LA photo booth providers offer complete customization, from the props to the user interface. Want a retro filter or a vintage aesthetic? Or maybe you prefer sleek, monochrome looks for a high-fashion vibe. The options are endless.

Interactive features such as touchscreens, voice activation, and on-the-spot editing empower guests to take control of their photo session. It becomes less about a snapshot and more about the entire experience.

A Social Media Goldmine

In today’s world, no event is complete without social sharing. One of the biggest draws of a photo booth Los Angeles style is the instant ability to share high-quality images across social platforms. Guests can text, email, or upload photos directly to Instagram, often with a branded overlay or event hashtag.

For event organizers, this translates to extended reach and organic promotion. It’s user-generated content with built-in appeal, giving your event legs long after the lights go down.

Selecting the Right Provider

Not all photo booth companies are created equal. When choosing a provider in Los Angeles, consider the following:

Reputation and Reviews: Look for vendors with proven track records and glowing testimonials.

Customization Options: Ensure the company offers enough flexibility to tailor the booth to your event's theme.

Tech Features: From DSLR cameras to video booths, check the tech specs before booking.

Support and Service: A reliable team on-site makes a huge difference, especially during high-pressure events.

Conclusion

The photo booth Los Angeles scene continues to evolve with the pulse of the city. It’s more than just a camera and a backdrop—it’s a full-fledged entertainment experience that adds value to any occasion. With technology, creativity, and social sharing combined, photo booths have carved out a permanent place in LA’s vibrant event culture. Whether you're a business looking to amplify your presence or an individual hosting a celebration, a photo booth is a stylish and smart choice that never fails to impress.

[yachtwrappinggroup]

Why More Yacht Owners Are Choosing Vinyl Wraps in 2025

Yacht owners are always on the lookout for ways to improve, protect, and personalize their vessels. In recent years, one trend has stood out across marinas and open waters alike—vinyl yacht wrapping. In 2025, this trend isn't just continuing; it’s booming.

So, why are more yacht owners opting for vinyl wraps instead of traditional paint or leaving their hulls as-is? In this article, we’ll explore the growing popularity of vinyl boat wraps and what makes them the smart choice for today’s modern yacht owner.

1. Fast, Hassle-Free Transformation

One of the biggest reasons behind the rise of vinyl wraps is speed. Compared to repainting, which can take weeks of prep, drying, and refinishing, vinyl wraps are typically applied within a few days.

This means yacht owners can revamp the appearance of their vessel quickly—perfect for those who don’t want to spend weeks out of the water. Whether it’s a simple color change or a full custom graphic, wrapping is fast, clean, and efficient.

At Yacht Wrapping Group, our expert technicians specialize in quick turnarounds without compromising on precision or quality.

2. Custom Designs for a Unique Look

In 2025, individuality matters more than ever. Yacht owners don’t want their vessels to blend in—they want them to stand out.

With vinyl wraps, the design possibilities are endless. From bold colors and eye-catching patterns to logos, names, and custom artwork, you can personalize your yacht to match your taste or brand identity.

Want a matte black hull? A chrome finish? A carbon fiber texture? No problem. With today’s advanced vinyl technology, virtually any look is achievable.

3. Cost-Effective Alternative to Paint

A full professional paint job on a yacht can cost tens of thousands—or even more—depending on the size and materials. In contrast, vinyl wraps offer a much more affordable solution, often at a fraction of the cost.

That’s not to say wraps are cheap—but they offer incredible value. You get a high-end, customized appearance with added surface protection, all while keeping more money in your pocket.

As luxury yacht ownership continues to grow, so does the demand for cost-efficient yet premium solutions—and vinyl wraps fit the bill perfectly.

4. Protection Against Harsh Marine Conditions

Yachts are constantly exposed to the elements—sunlight, saltwater, wind, and abrasions. Over time, this can cause fading, peeling, and corrosion, especially on painted surfaces.

A vinyl wrap acts as a protective layer, shielding your yacht’s exterior from environmental damage. High-quality marine-grade wraps can resist UV rays, salt spray, and minor scratches, helping to preserve the original paint underneath.

This protective quality not only keeps the yacht looking newer for longer but can also help maintain resale value when it's time to sell.

5. Easy to Clean and Maintain

Another major reason yacht owners love vinyl wraps? Low maintenance. Unlike painted surfaces that often require waxing, buffing, or special coatings, a vinyl-wrapped yacht is simple to maintain.

Regular cleaning with mild soap and water is typically enough to keep the wrap looking sharp. There's no need for polishing or harsh chemicals, which means less time maintaining and more time enjoying the water.

For busy yacht owners, that convenience is a huge win.

6. Wraps Are Removable and Replaceable

In a world where trends change quickly, flexibility is key. One of the best things about vinyl wraps is that they’re non-permanent. If you decide you want a new look or need to rebrand your yacht, the wrap can be safely removed without damaging the underlying surface.

This also makes wraps ideal for seasonal updates, sponsorship graphics, or rental fleets that may need different branding at different times of the year.

Yacht Wrapping Group ensures clean removal and offers quick replacements so your vessel can stay fresh and up-to-date.

7. Environmentally Friendly Choice

Painting a yacht involves solvents, toxins, and waste that can be harmful to both humans and the environment. In contrast, vinyl wrapping is a cleaner, greener process. There’s no sanding dust, no chemical fumes, and no harmful runoff into the water.

At Yacht Wrapping Group, we’re committed to eco-conscious practices. Our marine-grade vinyl wraps are applied using environmentally safe methods, making us a smart choice for yacht owners who care about the planet.

8. Boosting Business for Charter Yachts

If you run a yacht charter business, you already know how important presentation is. A striking exterior can draw attention, reinforce your brand, and impress potential clients. Vinyl wraps offer the perfect platform for branding your fleet with custom logos, contact details, or signature colors.

Many commercial yacht operators are now turning to wraps to differentiate their vessels, update appearances between charters, or advertise partnerships and sponsors.

9. Durability That Lasts

A common misconception is that wraps don’t last—but the truth is, modern vinyl materials are extremely durable. With proper care, a high-quality wrap can look fantastic for 5 to 7 years or more, depending on environmental conditions and usage.

When installed by experienced professionals (like our team at Yacht Wrapping Group), the wrap will adhere smoothly, resist peeling, and maintain its vivid color even after years at sea.

10. A Sign of Modern Luxury

Finally, vinyl wrapping isn’t just about function—it’s about modern luxury. In 2025, a wrapped yacht sends a message: the owner cares about innovation, customization, and presentation. It’s an aesthetic upgrade that aligns with today’s sleek, high-tech luxury lifestyle.

From mega yachts to performance cruisers, more owners are choosing wraps as a smart, stylish statement—and the trend is only growing.

Final Thoughts

As more yacht owners look for ways to protect, personalize, and enhance their vessels, vinyl wrapping has emerged as a clear front-runner. It’s fast, flexible, affordable, and incredibly effective—not to mention beautiful.

Whether you're a private owner looking to refresh your yacht’s look or a charter business aiming to stand out, vinyl wraps offer unmatched versatility and value.

At Yacht Wrapping Group, we bring your vision to life with custom marine-grade wraps that turn heads and stand the test of time. Ready to upgrade your yacht in 2025?

Get in touch today for a free consultation and see how we can transform your vessel into something truly unforgettable.