#ise's reading challenge

[dirtwatching]

reading experiment #5-8

i finished my second (or third if i count the spirou book, which i do) book, the penelopeid by margaret atwood. its beautiful, and now i immediately want to reread the song of achilles and circe by madeleine miller and other atwood stuff, but ill probably try something else now.

ive been mainly reading it outside, sitting on my grandpas old woolen army blanket.

today is saturday, the 27th. during the week, i didnt get to read as much, i only managed to read on wednesday and thursday. i was super tired this week, with no amount of sleep or caffeine being able to help this. but i feel by spending today in the sun, i could really help it. i am very contend.

the next book will be either be Zeshan Shakars Tante Ulrikkes Vei or Mithu Sanyals Identitti, and i might squeeze in the other spirou book, just so i can shelve them away together.

[wosowrites]

Good Girl (Ona Batlle x Reader)

warnings: smut, pr@ise k!nk

a/n: based off this request here and it is not proof read sorry.

prompt: in which it’s Ona and the readers first time sleeping together so the reader gets really nervous, resulting in Ona taking over and showing her dominant side.

You were extremely outgoing. You were the loudest in the changing rooms, the one who played the music, the first on the dance floor and the last to back down from a challenge. When you scored the opening goal or any goal during a tournament you made sure the whole stadium could hear your screams of joy. Your celebrations were famous throughout the women’s football community. So that’s why no one could have ever expected how absolutely nervous and almost submissive you were in bed.

When Ona found this out… she could not have been more pleased.

There had been some flirting between you and Ona for a year now. But it was very hard to tell what was just good old spanish friendliness and what was genuine romantic interest. The line was thin.

Ona would hold you close to her for long periods of time, guide you by your waist through crowds, kiss your cheek dangerously close to your lips, let her hand rest low on your hips and make a point of hugging you often when you were out on swim trips together. Nothing drove her more insane than the feeling of your skin on hers.

But neither of you had ever given in to your desires, both assuming the other wasn’t interested. You proved the other wrong in a hotel pool.

Manchester was playing Aston Villa in London and Mark had decided to let the team have the day off in London so the team would be arriving 24 hours before the game, spending the night at a hotel and then having a quick morning training session before the 3:00 pm game.

You all walked London, checking out landmarks and eating strongly mediocre food. Although your english was flawless and you barely had an accent, you were french Canadian and had played in France so you often missed the food in France.

By 9:00 most girls were lying in bed as instructed, but because you were rooming by yourself this time around due to an un even number of people there was no one to tell you to stay in bed. So, you slipped your bathing suit on and headed to the roof where there was a pool.

You loved swimming, especially in London spring. It was chilly and the water, cold as well, made your body feel good and helped you forget about every worry and unwelcome thought in your head.

You climbed to the roof, happy to see it deserted. You threw your towel to the side and then dived into the deep end. You loved the water so much because when you were around water during your childhood, it was one of the rare times you were happy. You let the water consume you and wash away your thoughts. You thoughts of tomorrows game, thoughts of the fight against Canada Soccer, thoughts of Ona…

But the second your brain wandered to Ona you couldn’t help it. When Ona was in your brain, so was her body. The way her hand we’re carved out to perfection, the shape of her chest under her training top and the way her arms flexed when she took shots.

All these thoughts ran through your head in only a couple seconds and then you emerged out of the water.

"Night swim?" a voice asked while your eyes were still closed due to you recently emerging from the water.

"Holy crap. Do not sneak up on me like that!" you squealed, opening your eyes and pushing your hair back and away from your face. "Sorry chica," Ona said with a wink.

You swam towards her to the edge of the pool, crossing your arms on the deck and looking up at her. The spaniard slipped off her shorts and hoodie, revealing her abs, arm muscles and tattoos. You stared to say the least until Ona snapped her fingers in front of your face, making you blush. "Sorry," you mumbled. "Don’t apologize, I’m looking at you too," she said, dipping her feet into the pool.

It was hard to tell with the young defender, hard to know what was flirting and what was just classic Ona.

"The waters really nice," you said to her, pushing your feet against the wall and gliding on your back, away from Ona and into the shallow end.

You held eye contact with the brunette, until a glow came across her face. "How much trouble do you think we would get in if we skinny dipped?" Ona said, walking around the pool towards you.

"Skinny dipping?!" you shrieked, taken aback and sounding a little more childish and stuck up than you wanted. You wanted the spaniard to think of you as being fun and loose. "Yeah y/l/n," she answered with a playful smirk. "Well. Jeez I think we’d get in a lot of trouble," you answered with a concerned frown on your face. "So you’re saying you wouldn’t like it?" Ona said, pushing a little further.

She had never seen this side of you before. You were always loud, energetic, and borderline agressive. This? This was different.

"No! I mean. No. I-yes. Yes I would like it," you blushed, starting to head into Ona’s direction.

She watched you with unblinking eyes as you swam up to her and stood up in the shallow end. Ona sat down with her toes in the water and spread her legs slightly for you to stand between, focusing on the small piece of cloth keeping you decent. "There aren’t any cameras, I asked," Ona said to you, looking up from your chest and into your eyes. "Something about not violating the privacy of the clients. Hotel policy," she added. "Mhm," you said softly, looking up into Ona’s eyes.

Your angle gave her a perfect view of you. Your wet hair, your sparkling body decorated with droplets of water. "You look beautiful," Ona said softly, just barely audible over the sound of the street below and your racing heart. "Where is all of this coming from?" you said softly, suddenly avoiding eye contact with her. "It’s coming from the fact that you are beautiful. Not just right now but always. And I may have had a drink and one drink Ona is extremely confident," she said, using her index to lift your chin.

The spaniard was now sitting on the edge of the pool with only a red bathing suit on to cover her up. Her stomach was toned and her arms were strong. Not in a threatening way, just in a hot way.

"No cameras, you said?" you whispered, your voice a hushed sound. "No cameras," she said, leaning back and subtly flexing her abdominals.

You were still standing between her legs and you gently placed your hands on her thighs, digging your nails into them softly and surely leaving little crescents on her skin. She didn’t even flinch.

Ona sat up straight and then stood up, giving you a look to follow her. You pushed yourself out of the pool and stood facing the slightly taller girl.

Her eyes were dark and hungry, but also warm and welcoming. She had always had that contrast. The one of always being alert and the one of being laid back. It was a strange mix.

The spaniard turned around and moved her loose hair out of the way, brining it to lie on her front. You saw that the back of her suit was tied by a string and slowly, with shaking hands, you lifted them up and grabbed both ends of the tie.

The way the strings fell apart freely and then slipped off Ona’s shoulder sent your body into over drive. You stood with your hands hovering over her bare back until she slowly turned around to face you. Your eyes brushed over her bare chest before landing on her eyes. "You’re beautiful. Tu est tellement parfaite." You told her adoringly. She smiled at you, a big toothy grin before slipping her thumbs under her bikini bottom and pulling it off.

You mimicked her, letting her unclasp the back of your bathing suit and then letting it fall to the ground. She put her hands on your waist and turned you around.

You felt like a ballerina.

A super gay, super secretly in love ballerina.

Ona slipped off your bottoms and then cupped your face gently. "Ready?" she asked you, her voice steady while you knew yours would be hectic. "Yeah," you let out.

Ona went in first, lowering herself to the pool and then turning to face you. You threw a worried glance behind your shoulder, half expecting someone to come in screaming at you both, but no one did. So, you walked down the stairs leading to the pool and pushed your way towards Ona. "I can’t believe we’re doing this," you laughed, avoiding eye contact with her. "I can’t believe your so shy. You’re usually loud and excited. Confident," she added.

"I’m not not confident… this is just new," you said, raising your head.

You gently placed your hands on Ona’s hips and rubbed your thumbs around her hip bone. The taller girl gently pulled you in by pushing your lower back closer to her. You moved your hands up from her hips to her ribs and then down to her ass. "Kiss me," you said to her, looking between her eyes and lips.

She did not have to be begged, within milliseconds her lips were trapped into yours, her hands had found shelter on your ass before slipping down to your thighs to pull your legs around her waist. You roughly kissed back, letting her hands roam your hair and using your abs to hold yourself up onto her. Ona’s hands traced every curve, every perfection, every part of yourself that you deemed an imperfection but she thought beautiful. You wrapped your arms loosely around her neck, playing with her baby hairs and scratching the back of her head with your nails. Ona took strides through the water to drop you onto the side of the pool, only separating your lips when necessary.

"Ona," you said to her tentatively as you sat on the poolside, avoiding her eyes. "Yes, mi amor," she said, holding you down gently by placing her hands on your thighs. "I’ve never… done this before," you said, thankful for the dark sky as your cheeks got flushed. "What do you mean? Sex? You’ve never had sex?" she asked, slightly shocked. "Ona! Of course I have," you groaned, pushing her slightly and making her send you a classic dazzling smile. "I mean something like this. In this setting. This is… daring," you told her. "Well then, you’re in luck pretty girl. Spaniards love the extra risk," she said.

Ona put her hand on your chest and pushed you down into a laying position. The taller girl bends your knees and places kisses on your thighs before spreading them to her liking. She took no time and gave you no warning before slipping a finger into you. You were already wet from her kissing you and un clothing you, your walls closing around her and making her laugh at you.

Ona pumped her middle finger into you, curling it from time to time and making you arch your back and try to grab on to the concrete desperately.

"Good god, look at you you’re doing such a good job, cariña," Ona praised.

Her words caught you off guard, your eyes flying open and a small smile forming on your face. Your hips bucked and your legs shook, partly from the oncoming orgasm and partly from the effect of her words. Ona chuckled at you as a wave of courage came over you.

"Ona. I need to come, touch me please," you begged her. "One thing at a time mi vida."

The defender made it seem as though she wouldn’t relieve you immediately, but how wrong you were. A couple seconds later, Ona had pulled out her fingers, leaving you with an uncomfortable empty feeling before pushing her face in between your legs. The brunette swiped her tongue through your lips before harshly pressing it against your clit.

Your hips went flying off the surface, grinding into her head and pushing your wetness more and more into her face. She could have gotten high off your smell and the way you slapped your hand over your mouth to muffle the cries of her name.

Ona was clearly experienced, the girl finding the perfect balance of sweet spots praise, and pleasure. You never wanted her to stop.

But eventually, when the spaniard dragged her nails over your bare abs and then latched onto your nipple, there was nothing more you could do to elongate the feeling of her face between your legs. You came onto her shaking and crying out, feeling slightly embarrassed at how easily she had made you cum.

Your hands fell to your sides as your chest heaved heavily, the heat in your stomach slightly fading but the ache in between your legs still present.

You heard movement in the water and soon enough the naked brunette was towering over you. "You did such a good job pretty girl," she said, looking down at you with a teasing smirk.

You knew your face turned bright red when the heat in your stomach transferred to your face.

Ona held out her hand and you grabbed it happily, letting her pull you up. You weren’t on your feet long though as your legs gave out, making Ona grab you underneath the arms and hold you steady. "You okay?" she asked you lovingly, her eyes wide and concerned, hoping not to have hurt you. "Yes. More than, It’s just been a while and you’re…" you gave her a little 'you know' look and she smiled.

Despite being not so tall, she was strong. Before you knew it, you were being carried bridal style towards picnic tables on the pool deck. You rested your head on Ona’s chest and closed your eyes for a couple seconds before opening them. "Wait. I want too- to you. I’m not a pillow princesse," you said to her, looking up. "Another day amor you’re clearly tired," she answered.

The spaniard sat you onto the table and grabbed your towel, gently using it to wipe you down. You surely hadn’t realized how much love was in your eyes as she helped you get dressed into your bathing suit again, but she did. She noticed how dilated your pupils were and how your hands grazed her and held on to her every time she was near.

"Thank you," you told her, leading her to stand between your legs once she was clothed as well. Ona dipped her head and rested it on yours, rubbing her thumb on your cheekbones. You raised yours pull her in by the waist before tilting your head and kissing her sweetly.

[tmwcs]

nah dont need to improve or work on anything✋ thats what „anon” is for: u let people know sbout your thoughts but no one can judge u about it so u just feel free or something. u having a problem about me being a writer and a psych major is ridiculous. i told u everything what was on my mind and u act like an old lady. the “knowing better” one.

also i dont need to work on my wnglosh grammar and spelling as its 1. not my first language 2. im typing on a phone. who tf writes greammsticslly correct and pays attention to the spelling if its not official or to someone important🤨 yk there are slangs right. yk people ise them right. yk it affects the grammar right. literally type in every language i know this way. normal thing. typing on paper is waaaay different😄👍

most importantly: hope u already know not to act cocky with those emojis as the grammar and spelling point was.. stupid. YOU, no… WE are on the internet, dont forget that. fun fact: most people on the internet are not scared to say whats on their mind AND dont care about the way they type 😙

well as of now everything is out of my mind. dont know if it will change soon tho😇

Ooooooh goody! A roast fest! I’ll be honest, I didn’t read a single thing you said out of that word salad you sent in but I did catch on the flaring insults (again) and that lame excuse about your atrocious grammar and spelling. So then I guess it’s my turn now 😈

The more you harass people, the more you’re exposing to be a non-factor in anyone’s life.

All of your unsubstantiated insults are just proving that you’re more than likely, a minor. Or you act like one.

Your attitude justifies why people look down on you.

Your pettiness reflects your mental imbalance.

Your lack of coherency proves you have no driven force for hard work and responsibility.

You are entitled yet you have nothing that is singularly your own.

You’re selfish.

You’re blinded by a naive sense of narcissistic values that you try to cover up, but end up failing. That whole piece from the last ask where you wrote something along the lines of “liek i kNow i was rooD but u saID u was exited.” That was a lousy attempt. At least try and be more witty about it, otherwise embrace the fact that you are a terrible person.

My guess is you don’t have a penny to your name, you have a poor work ethic, and you lack moral integrity.

I dont have a problem with your education or your hobby. In fact, I don’t have a problem at all. You’re the one the problem (several of them).

You’re more than likely lonely.

You seek attention and that’s what you’re doing right now. Luckily for you, I don’t mind showing you some.

The fact that you won’t adjust your character to become better and more open minded makes it obvious you won’t get far in life.

You act as if you have an additional chromosome. Idgaf if that’s too mean. I say it how I see it. Prove me wrong if you don’t like it. (A challenge I actually would hope that you accept).

I foresee a life without any love for you because you’re going to be too eager to allow good things to come naturally. You demand too much without any consideration of those around you. (I mean shit, look at how you started this whole thing.)

You lack discipline.

You’re probably lazy. (It shows. Since you’re majoring in psychology, you should be able to see it without me explaining it…or do you?)

You strike me as the type who is similar to the boy who cried wolf.

You’re unappreciative.

You have some deep self esteem issues (my guess. Again it shows.)

You lack clarity and consistency in everything that you do.

You have no one and that’s why you’re here making a fuss out of literally nothing.

You’re one sided.

You’re narrow minded.

You lack ingenuity.

Seems like you make claims that expresses a huge essence of contradiction and false pretenses. You’re a writer too? Yet you don’t care about your spelling or grammar? How ironic.

I type in different languages and I fail to see your logic behind typing on a phone versus on paper. There’s literally no difference. Work on your thesis and get back to me.

You play the victim card.

You think nothing is truly your fault and that your personality is perfect.

You (and I mean solely you based off our interaction) use emojis as a method of expression because you’re too emotionally imbalanced. You’re also conscientious because you’re not taken very seriously (as much as I would like to pity you, if you’re anything irl like the way you are on tumblr, it’s kind of self inflicted at this point.)

The list goes on. Can you tell I’m having so much fun? I love doing psych evals on people. But as much as I love utilizing my intuitional sense to provide you all that, I really think you should just stop visiting my page and reevaluate your development. You’re obviously young (and stupid) but that’s an easy fix. I really don’t wish anything against you, I like to help make people better, not making them worse.

So what do you say anon? You wanna keep going or do you wanna stop acting childish and either move on or just be cordial? By being friendly with those that have a lot to offer, you actually become a better person you know? But the ball is in your court now. Be wise about it. My readers deserve something better than your dumb and unreadable asks.

[bumblebeeappletree]

Electric vehicles are here to stay, but charging times and range are still major turnoffs for many buyers. So why not just slap solar panels on the car and drive indefinitely with zero fuel cost? A handful of solar cars are available for pre-order now, but how realistic is the tech? Can solar power provide enough power to extend range and cut charging time?

#planeta #solar #electricvehicles

We're destroying our environment at an alarming rate. But it doesn't need to be this way. Our new channel Planet A explores the shift towards an eco-friendly world — and challenges our ideas about what dealing with climate change means. We look at the big and the small: What we can do and how the system needs to change. Every Friday we'll take a truly global look at how to get us out of this mess.

Credits:

Reporter: Kai Steinecke

Camera: Henning Goll

Editor: Frederik Willmann

Supervising Editors: Kiyo Dörrer, Michael Trobridge

Inteviewees:

Enno Dülberg, founding member of Team Sonnenwagen

Lex Hoefsloot, Co-Founder of Lightyear

Erik Johansson, Solar Cell Researcher

Additional thanks to:

Martin Heinrich (Fraunhofer ISE),

Xin-Yu Chin (CSEM)

Maximilian Hofbeck (Webasto)

Read more:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/14/...

https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:35 Solar car concept

3:53 Solar cells in cars

6:30 Actual energy output

9:44 Other use cases

11:08 Conclusion

[sanguinarysanguinity]

Huh, do you use British spelling in British-set fic? I try to use local *terminology*, but I certainly don't use American spelling in American-set fic.

Yes, I do. I generally use British spellings in British canons, and American spellings in American canons. (Although I consistently use American-style quotation marks -- it was a long, long time before I realized that rule exists.) And most stuff of mine is only informally Britpicked, so I'm sure other errors can be found.

I'm not sure when I started consistently doing that. There was a period when I would write two Holmestice stories for the same round, one with British spellings and the other with American, just to try to make the guessing more challenging. And the greater Holmesian universe is a mess of British and non-British settings anyway, so sometimes it wasn't at all clear what set of spellings applied. (I usually go by Watson's nationality, but sometimes even that guideline fails.)

But by the time I got into Hornblower fandom in 2018 I was consistently using British spellings for British canons. When you combine that with my day job being mostly data, that means I tend to default to -ise and -our , and I have to go back and correct them if it's a work email. (If it's dreamwidth or tumblr I usually don't bother, although I'm sure I look like a teaboo to some. Or perhaps just like someone who doesn't know how to spell, as my spellings zigzag all over the place.)

I also use British pronunciations when I'm reading a British source aloud. Not a British accent, because I don't have one, but things like leftenant and privacy-with-a-short-i. Which I'm sure sounds strange to some ears, but I'm not sure lootenant is less disruptive, really?

*shrug* No one has complained yet, anyway, and I'm sure the people who find it intolerable backbuttoned a long, long time ago...

[kamini-vidrawan-ras-tablet]

anxiety kya hoti hai

Anxiety ek psychological aur emotional state hai, jisme vyakti ko bekar ka ghabrahat, chinta, aur darr mehsoos hota hai. Ye ek prakriya hai jo humare dimaag mein hoti hai jab hum kisi unknown situation ya challenge ka samna karte hain. Anxiety ka ek normal roop hai jo humare survival instincts ko trigger karta hai, lekin jab yeh zyada intense ho jaati hai ya daily life ko prabhavit karne lagti hai, to ise ek medical condition maana jaata hai.

Anxiety Ke Prakar

Anxiety ke kai prakar hote hain, jinmein se kuchh aam roop yeh hain:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Ismein vyakti ko har samay chinta mehsoos hoti hai. Ye chinta kisi specific cheez se nahi hoti, balki har din ke chhote-chhote mamle bhi vyakti ko chintit karte hain.

Panic Disorder: Ismein vyakti ko achanak se aise intense panic attacks hote hain jismein unhe lagta hai ki kuchh khatarnaak ho raha hai, jaise dil ka tez dhadakna, paseena aana, saans lene mein dikkat, ya be-hoshi ka anubhav.

Social Anxiety Disorder: Ismein vyakti ko doosron ke saamne ghabrahat hoti hai. Wo apne aap ko social situations mein uncomfortable mehsoos karte hain, jise ki parties, meetings, ya even chhote group discussions mein shamil hona.

Phobias: Ye ek specific cheez, sthiti, ya janwar se related hoti hai. Jaise kisi vyakti ko udaan bharne ka, kaale rang ke jaanwar ya khule sthalon se darr ho sakta hai.

Anxiety Ke Karan

Anxiety kayi tarah ke reasons se ho sakti hai. Kuchh common factors mein shamil hain:

Genetic Factors: Agar aapke parivaar mein kisi ko anxiety thi, to aapko bhi iske hone ka khatra zyada ho sakta hai.

Environmental Stress: Zindagi mein hone wale stress factors jaise job pressure, financial problems, ya personal relationships bhi anxiety ko trigger kar sakte hain.

Trauma ya Bad Experiences: Bachpan mein kisi traumatic experience ka samna karne ya kisi emotional event se guzarna bhi anxiety ka karan ho sakta hai.

Anxiety Ke Lakshan

Anxiety ke kuchh common symptoms ya lakshan hain:

Ghabrahat aur bechaini ka anubhav

Dil ka tez dhadakna

Saans lene mein dikkat

Be-hoshi ya chakkar aana

Dimaag mein negative soch ka ghiraav

Neend ki kami ya thakan ka anubhav

Khud ko samajhne mein mushkil

Anxiety Ka Ilaaj

Anxiety ka treatment individual needs ke according hota hai. Kuchh common treatment options hain:

Therapy (Counseling): Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aur exposure therapy jaise techniques anxiety ko control karne mein madad karti hain.

Medication: Doctors kuch specific medications prescribe kar sakte hain, jaise anti-anxiety medicines, agar anxiety zyada intense ho.

Relaxation Techniques: Yoga, meditation, aur deep breathing exercises anxiety ko manage karne mein madadgar sabit ho sakte hain.

Lifestyle Changes: Achhi neend, healthy diet, aur exercise bhi anxiety ko kam karne mein madad karte hain.

Click here to Read A Blog- एंग्जाइटी के शारीरिक लक्षण

Conclusion

Anxiety ek common mental health issue hai, jo kai logon ko kabhi na kabhi life mein experience hota hai. Agar aap ya koi aapke aas-paas vyakti anxiety se jujh raha ho, to zaroori hai ki unhe sahi madad di jaaye. Kisi bhi mental health condition ko ignore karna long term mein aur bhi problems create kar sakta hai. Isliye, agar anxiety aapki daily life ko affect kar rahi hai, to professional help lena bohot zaroori hai.

Remember, anxiety ko samajhna aur usse deal karne ke liye patience aur support ki zarurat hoti hai.

[whatsissue]

IBM Boosts Quantum Computing Capabilities with Incremental Improvements

IBM Boosts Quantum Computing Capabilities with Incremental Improvements IBM has announced significant advancements in its quantum computing technology, enhancing the ability to conduct complex calculations on its quantum hardware. While error-corrected quantum computing remains a future goal, IBM is optimistic about performing useful calculations in the interim. Key Developments in Quantum Hardware The announcements made by IBM are not groundbreaking individually, but collectively they represent substantial improvements across both hardware and software. These enhancements lead to more efficient and less error-prone operations, allowing for increasingly complex calculations. The company’s latest updates focus on the second version of its Heron processor, which features 133 qubits. This development is particularly noteworthy as it exceeds the capabilities of classical computer simulations, provided it operates with sufficiently low error rates. Jay Gambetta, IBM's VP, explained that the focus of the Heron Revision 2 was to eliminate TLS (two-level system) errors, which can disrupt qubit coherence. By adjusting the operational frequencies of the qubits during calibration, IBM aims to mitigate these issues. This adjustment helps maintain the quantum state necessary for calculations, improving overall performance. Software Enhancements for Greater Efficiency In addition to hardware advancements, IBM has revamped the software controlling the quantum systems. By learning from user experiences and optimizing the system for larger circuits, IBM has significantly reduced operation times. Tasks that previously took 122 hours to complete can now be performed in just a couple of hours, enhancing user experience and reducing the likelihood of errors during calculations. This efficiency is crucial as users pay for time on the quantum hardware, and shorter computation times can lead to fewer random errors. Addressing Errors Through Mitigation Techniques While improvements have been made, errors are still a concern during significant calculations. IBM is focusing on error mitigation techniques, which involve amplifying and measuring processor noise. This data helps create a function that approximates the processor’s output without noise, although the computational complexity of this approach increases with the number of qubits. IBM has optimized its error mitigation processes by incorporating algorithmic improvements and utilizing GPU processing. This allows for the application of error mitigation techniques to larger quantum circuits, making it more feasible to conduct meaningful experiments. Practical Applications and Future Outlook IBM has successfully modeled a simple quantum system known as the Ising model, performing 5,000 individual quantum operations called gates. The results have shown promise, enabling researchers to simulate the electronic structures of simple chemical compounds, such as iron-sulfur complexes. This development marks a significant step toward establishing quantum computing as a viable scientific tool. However, Gambetta cautions that this progress does not imply that quantum computers can consistently outperform classical systems. The quest to determine when quantum methods will surpass classical techniques remains a complex scientific challenge. Gambetta emphasizes the necessity for collaboration between algorithmic researchers and domain experts to navigate this iterative process. Conclusion IBM’s recent advancements in quantum computing reflect a commitment to enhancing performance and usability in the field. While the journey toward fully error-corrected quantum computing continues, the company’s incremental improvements position it to explore meaningful applications in the near term, paving the way for future breakthroughs in quantum technology. Thank you for taking the time to read this article! Your thoughts and feedback are incredibly valuable to me. What do you think about the topics discussed? Please share your insights in the comments section below, as your input helps me create even better content. I’m also eager to hear your stories! If you have a special experience, a unique story, or interesting anecdotes from your life or surroundings, please send them to me at whatsissue@gmail.com. Your stories could inspire others and add depth to our discussions. If you enjoyed this post and want to stay updated with more informative and engaging articles, don’t forget to hit the subscribe button! I’m committed to bringing you the latest insights and trends, so stay tuned for upcoming posts. Wishing you a wonderful day ahead, and I look forward to connecting with you in the comments and reading your stories! Read the full article

[blorboconfessions]

smeargle again. you were correct that first one was spicy. the making-men-huge is a very sexual thing for me. anyways im thinking about it again. this time for a specific character. any relevant names or copyright holders broken up with slashes so that none of this shows up as easily in a tumblr search i am so sorry to anyone with screen readers i just cannot risk it. but to clarify he is m//agn//us from k//id ic//ar//us: upr//ising. blogrunner if you think its better to just post a screenshot of this one feel free and i can send this one back in without the slashes to be copy-pasted for the alt text. since as far as i know alt text doesnt count for searches.

without further ado: i have GOT to see him tied down to a chair and tube fed so much fattening sludge that his belly is practically twice the size of his entire body. i want him to have his thoughts racing through his mind at a breakneck pace; forced to keep gulping since if he stops hell just have to swallow what fills his mouth and he cant pull out the tube; increasingly nervous about his frame as he swells since if he gets fat he wont be able to fight nearly as well anymore and yet so unbearably horny from it he doesnt know if he would stop even if he could.

i want his (stupid; pointless; all look cool as accessories but do nothing for his actual design; couldve been a bondage harness if n//int//end//o werent cowards in 2012.) belts to snap off one by one as he grows beyond what he even thought was possible and i want it to be so fucking arousing to him that hearing his outfit strain or his stomach groan the slightest bit makes him whine. i want whatever is holding all of what hes being forced to guzzle to eventually empty and for him to be almost disappointed about it even though he feels so much more full than hes ever been or ever will be again. when it all eventually gets metabolized into fat (anything short of total blob immobility is probably unrealistic but so are a lot of things i think about. and the rest of this fantasy.) i want him to be completely unable to keep his hands off himself, constantly squeezing and pinching his flab and picturing himself gaining even more than this.

i could keep going but i think you get the point. smeargle stop thinking about fictional men with unrealistically huge bellies challenge impossible 99% fail gone wrong gone sexual.

tl;dr for the wiser souls deciding they dont want to read a huge mound of text rambling about a weirdass fetish, i need to see him wider than he is tall. with tits to match.

~ smeargle anon ~

.

[micahtranslate]

Chainsaw Man Starter Rope Supporting Cast Interview

Q&A with Shiori Izawa (Pochita), Mariya Ise (Himeno), Karin Takahashi (Kobeni), Taku Yashiro (Arai), and Kenjirou Tsuda (Kishibe)

Shiori Izawa (Pochita)

Your impression & the appeal of your character?

Of course his cute appearance (his round eyes, cute mouth, and size that makes you want to hug him), but most of all, it's the strong love he has for Denji that's charming to so many people. I think. To give everything you have because you want this person to live is the most precious wish in the world, isn't it?

How did you prepare for the role?

I wanted to cherish the original work's setting as much as possible, so I'd say "wan" as "wan," and "woof" as "woof." He says human words, but is neither man or woman, neither an adult nor a child, but has a strong presence, and I was careful with his words to convey the kindness and strength of entrusting Denji-kun with the rest of his life.

Favorite Chainsaw Man character?

Beam-kun!! I love him!! His love for "Lord Chainsaw" and his loyalty is the best. And he's, surprisingly, really capable!

I'm very curious about Makima's classified past.

Favorite chapter of Chainsaw Man manga?

Chapter 71, where Denji-kun and Aki-kun take turns taking care of Power-chan, who has become mentally unstable after returning from Hell. Even the weakened Power-chan is cute and super endearing, and the way that Denji-kun and Aki-kun are working together to return to their daily lives feels kind of like they're the older brothers of the family.

Scariest devil to you?

Misunderstanding Devil.

In a lot of stories, bad things happen due to misunderstandings or people having the wrong idea about something.

Message for fans?

Please bask in the overwhelming blood, violence, and love. The rollercoaster of emotions will definitely make you feel alive (lol). Let's work together to help Denji make his dreams come true!

Mariya Ise (Himeno)

Your impression & the appeal of your character?

I think Himeno, the character I play, is the one with the highest level of empathy and the most human touch in her work. (Of course, she works as a devil hunter in Public Safety, so there's a lot about her personality that stands out) In the world of Chainsaw Man, it is impossible to play the role of a "respectable" human being, in a sense, it was a challenge, and I found it very interesting to portray Himeno's feelings and humanity.

How did you prepare for the role?

I want to play Himeno as a real human being. I want her to exist as a human being, not as a fictional character. This is something I was especially conscious of when playing Himeno. In order to express even a little of what she has experienced in Public Safety and her way of thinking, we thought about things not depicted in the original work, like her past or her feelings towards Aki, and developed those feelings. To get a deeper understanding of Himeno, I tried to regularly live as her, downloaded a lot of Himeno and Aki illustrations (lol), I thought a lot about how I spent my time outside of dubbing and how I faced the characters.

Favorite Chainsaw Man character?

Before I played Himeno, I liked Makima and Guanxi-sama and their abilities! Nowadays, I can't help but see from Himeno's perspective, so Denji, Power-chan, Aki-kun, Kobeni-chan, Arai-kun…all the friends I fought alongside in Public Safety are important to me, so it's hard to narrow down my favorites.

Favorite chapter of Chainsaw Man manga?

There are too many….. I re-read the original story to choose one, and I found myself liking every scene and chapter all over again!! I just couldn't choose, but when I focused on Himeno, I liked the scene where she brings the last cigarette she had in her mouth to Aki-kun's mouth, and the scene where she and Denji talk over breakfast…. also, there's the "mo~… moo cow…" scene!

Scariest devil?

Laziness Devil.

The scary thing about this devil is that he doesn't remember making a contract, so he somehow takes up residence in people's hearts and makes contracts with him without permission. I don't like it! Stop it! There's so much to do! Aaaaaah!…… (laze)

Message for fans?

I couldn't be happier to be able to play my favorite character from the original work that I love so much. In order to not disappoint the expectations of the fans of the original work, I will dedicate my body and soul to Himeno, so please look forward to it!!

Karin Takahashi (Kobeni Higashiyama)

Your impression & the appeal of your character?

I think her lack of self-confidence is cute and makes me want to protect her, and I think her agility in battle is cool. Although she is a bit of a quirky girl, she makes me smile and has an adorable impression.

How did you prepare for the role?

I think of Kobeni as a normal child, so I am conscious in the back of her mind that I don't make her too unique. She is also a child who expresses her emotions directly. So I tried to express my honest feelings.

Favorite Chainsaw Man character?

It's Kobeni-chan! I read the original Chainsaw Man before it was decided to be made into an anime, and Kobeni-chan has always been my favorite. There's something dangerous about her that you can't take your eyes off of, and I love how funny and cute she is.

Favorite chapter of Chainsaw Man manga?

My favorite is the scene “Easy Revenge” in Chapter 35. It's a very painful scene where you can really feel Himeno-senpai's feelings for Aki-kun, but at the same time I think it's beautiful. Also, it's cute that Kobeni wants a bonus.

Scariest devil?

Small Talk Devil (lol) I'm a little shy about people, and even during dubbing, I find myself thinking things like, "I want to talk to you, but what should I say?" or "Is this the right time to talk to you?"

Message for fans?

I'm happy to be a part of the coolest anime. I would be happy if you could love Kobeni-chan, who is loved by everyone in the original work, in the anime as well! Thank you!

Taku Yashiro (Hirokazu Arai)

Your impression & the appeal of your character?

Arai is a serious and straightforward character. To borrow Kishibe-san's words, I don't think he's a character that's very suitable for a work called Chainsaw Man (lol). I think that's what makes him so appealing.

How did you prepare for the role?

I was conscious of the contrast in the scary scenes.

I felt that what was clearly different amongst Denji and the others was whether or not they had fear of death, anxiety and expectations for the future.

Favorite Chainsaw Man character?

Denji. I was truly drawn to the obstacles he overcame in his life, his strength, and his fear. He is my favorite protagonist.

Favorite chapter of Chainsaw Man manga?

The scene in Part 1 where Denji declares to Aki, "If I can keep livin' this kinda life, then I don't mind dying."

Scariest devil?

Sleep. Absolutely irresistible. I can't win. Once we met, it was over. I think. Give Up.

Message for fans?

I'm sure there are many people who were looking forward to this work becoming an anime. I'm one of them too. Let's get excited together.

Kenjirou Tsuda (Kishibe)

Your impression & the appeal of your character?

Kishibe, a man with overwhelming strength. He's a character with a unique intimidating energy that's both cool and cold. You have no idea what he's thinking, and he has a cool indifferent demeanor. He's that kind of character.

How did you prepare for the role?

I was conscious of the director's request for a restrained performance. I held back to the point that I felt anxious, then I chipped and chipped away. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the performance comes out.

Favorite Chainsaw Man character?

Kishibe. Basically, I like the characters I get to play, but Kishibe is the one I really wanted to play. His quietness, eeriness, and presence are interesting and cool.

Favorite chapter of Chainsaw Man manga?

This work has overwhelming power in its character, story, and setting. I think the battle scenes are where that charm is fully revealed. Blood, violence, purity, and a punkish energy that destroys common sense are exploding.

Scariest devil?

"The devil that makes everything else a hassle" appears when you start concentrating on something. This is a scary demon. Because it doesn't want to do anything else other than what it's doing now. It will cause various problems. Can anyone tell me how to fight it?

Message for fans?

How will the tremendous energy of the original work be expressed in animation? How does the restrained performance animate the characters? I'm really looking forward to it myself. I would appreciate it if you could wait a little longer. It's exciting. I want to see it soon.

Translation notes:

Translated（笑) as (lol) (i think these interviews were conducted through text)

Essentially, what she's saying here is that she wanted to do everything exactly the way it happened in the manga. "Wan" is the Japanese onomatopoeia for barking, but since she says "woof" in the next sentence, I just wrote it as "wan."

Shiori says bad things happen in stories due to 「誤解」や「勘違い」, these words translate to similar words in English but are not synonymous in Japanese. 勘違い translates to misunderstanding, but is more about someone having an assumption that is incorrect, while 誤解 is a misunderstanding (as in incorrectly understanding something).

Shiori describes Makima's past as マキマは口止めされている過去, a more direct translation would be "past that has been forbidden to speak about," so I translated that as "classified" to convey that it's secret and to convey that someone has made it secret (as implied by the passive verb conjugation used in the sentence).

Shiori describes Power as 最高に萌えます, it is likely that an anime fan (the audience of this article) would be familar with the concept of moe, but since it's used as a verb here I decided to translate it to "endearing".

Shiori talks about Denji and Aki in chapter 71 as 家族に「お兄ちゃん」がいたらこんな感じなのかなー！, which would directly translate to "I wonder if this is how it would feel if there was an older brother in the family," in the context of the sentence, I'm assuming that what she's saying here is that Denji and Aki are giving the older brother feeling.

In the official Chainsaw Man, the division is called "Public Safety," so that's what I've translated it to here (instead of Public Security)

Kenjirou's fan message, he says 抑制された芝居がどんな形でキャラクターを動かしていくのか, which would directly be "how does… move the characters," but I went with animate because I felt that more clearly conveyed what he was trying to say.

[spacenutspod]

2 min read NASA Invites Media to 2023 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium NASA invites media to the 16th Annual von Braun Space Exploration Symposium from Wednesday to Friday, Oct. 25-27, at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  Among the NASA participants, Administrator Bill Nelson will provide remarks during the awards luncheon beginning about 1:15 p.m. CDT Oct. 25. The luncheon also includes a discussion on human landing systems. This year’s theme is “Advancing Space: From LEO to Lunar and Beyond.” Speakers from government, industry, and academia will focus on the latest developments, future opportunities, and challenges in space science and exploration.  Joseph Pelfrey, acting director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, will deliver opening remarks and moderate an Artemis panel on Wednesday morning. Other Marshall speakers include: Shane Canerday, aerospace engineer John Honeycutt, manager, Space Launch Systems Program Dayna Ise, deputy manager, Science and Technology Office Mallory James, aerospace engineer Mary Beth Koelbl, director, Engineering Directorate Jason Turpin, senior technical leader, Propulsion Lisa Watson-Morgan, manager, Human Landing System Program To attend, media members must contact American Astronautical Society Executive Director Jim Way at jimway@astronautical.org or 703-866-0021 for credentials. Media interested in speaking to the administrator must contact Jackie Mcguinness at jackie.mcguinness@nasa.gov. To request interviews with other NASA speakers, contact Molly Porter at molly.a.porter@nasa.gov or 256-424-5158. For more information about the symposium and the full program, visit: astronautical.org/events/vbs. -end- Molly Porter NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama256-544-0034molly.a.porter@nasa.gov

[antalyamemurlarcom]

Filenin Efeleri, Romanya’yı 3-2 Mağlup Etti

A Milli Erkek Voleybol Takımımız, CEV Avrupa Altın Ligi A Grubu dördüncü maçında Romanya’yı 2-1 geriye düştüğü karşılaşmada 3-2 mağlup etti ve üçüncü galibiyetini aldı. SÜRE: 135 dakika (26′,35′,32′,26′,16′)   Karşılaşmanın detaylı istatistiklerine ulaşmak için tıklayınız.   Romanya-Türkiye karşılaşmasının ardından grupta oluşan puan durumu şu şekilde:   TAKIM O G M P 1 Türkiye 4 3 1 8 2 Danimarka 3 2 1 6 3 Portekiz 3 1 2 4 4 Romanya 4 1 3 3 Statü Lig usulüne göre oynanacak ve 6 haftadan oluşan Avrupa Altın Ligi’nde gruplarını ilk sırada tamamlayan 3 takım ve final etabına ev sahipliği yapacak ülke (Hırvatistan), Final Four müsabakaları oynamaya hak kazanacak. Final Four müsabakalarına ev sahipliği yapacak ülke (Hırvatistan), grubunu ilk sırada tamamlaması halinde ise gruplarda en iyi ikinci sırada yer alan takım Final Four’daki yerini alacak.   CEV Avrupa Altın Ligi’nde Final Four müsabakaları, 24-25 Haziran 2023 tarihlerinde Hırvatistan’da oynanacak. CEV Avrupa Altın Ligi Final Four’unda final oynayan takımlar, FIVB Challenger Kupası’nda mücadele etme hakkı elde edecek. FIVB Challenger Kupası’nda şampiyon olan takım ise, 2024 FIVB Voleybol Milletler Ligi (VNL) biletini alacak. Read the full article

[dirtwatching]

reading experiment #4

i didnt find the time to read today. well, there's still 65 minutes of the day left over, but i dont want to cram. i dont necessarily see this as a failure, because i still had a nice day with friends, and now before bed i am genuinely hooked on edward saids lecture and would rather finish that than read a spirou (comic)

[f1turkiye]

DTM'in Diğer Motor Sporları Yarışlarından Nasıl Farkları Var?

Ayhancan Güven'in yer aldığı DTM serisi ile diğer yarış serileri arasındaki farkları merak ediyor musun?

Motor sporları hayranlarının takip edebileceği sayısız yarış serisi bulunuyor. Bunları farklı başlıklar altında kategorize etmek mümkün ki en başta dört teker ve iki teker ayrımı yapılabilir. Otomobilleri ifade eden dört teker grubunun en popüler üyesi elbette ki açık teker kategorisindeki Formula 1. Bu yazıda ise Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters’ı, yani DTM’i diğerlerinden ayıran temel özellikleri bulacaksın.

Felipe Fraga geçen sezon DTM'de Red Bull AF Corse için yarışmıştı© Lucas Pripfl / Red Bull Content Pool DTM ile F1 arasında ciddi bir fark olduğu ilk bakışta anlaşılıyor. Bunun nedeni de -az önce belirttiğimiz üzere- F1’in açık teker (open wheel) bir seri olması ki bu kategoride Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E ve IndyCar gibi seriler yer alıyor. DTM’i bir diğer popüler seri WRC’den (Dünya Ralli Şampiyonası) ayıran başlıca detay da yarışların halka açık yollar yerine pistlerde koşuluyor olması. Bu sezon Ayhancan Güven’in yarışacağı DTM’in F1 ve WRC ile hemen hemen hiçbir benzerliği olmasa da benzerlik gösterdiği yarış serileri de bulunuyor. Bunun nedeni ise DTM’de yer alan GT3 otomobillerinin birçok seride kullanılıyor olması. Ayhancan Güven’in önceki sezonlarda yer aldığı ADAC GT Masters, GT World Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup ve Porsche Supercup serilerinde de GT3 otomobilleri yer alıyordu.

Ayhancan Güven© Julian Kroehl / Red Bull Content Pool Ayhancan Güven geçen sezon ADAC GT Masters serisinde yarışmış ve Team Joos Sportwagentechnik takımı ile sezonu ikinci sırada tamamlamıştı. DTM ile ADAC GT Masters arasındaki farklardan biri, DTM’de her otomobili tek bir pilotun kullanıyor olması. ADAC GT Masters’ta Ayhancan Güven otomobilini Christian Engelhart ile paylaşıyor ve yarışın ortalarına doğru yapılan pit stop’ta pilot değişimi yapılıyordu. Bu sezon Ayhancan Güven’in yer alacağı bir diğer seri GT World Challenge. 2011’den beri koşulan serinin başlangıcında GT3 ve GT4 otomobilleri boy gösteriyordu ancak 2012’de GT4 otomobilleri seriden çıkarıldı. Bu noktada DTM ile GT World Challenge çok daha benzer hale gelse de DTM’de sadece profesyonel pilotlar yer alırken, GT World Challenge’ın amatör pilotlara da yer veren Pro-Am kategorisi bulunmakta.

DTM'de Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes ve Porsche yer alıyor© Philip Platzer / Red Bull Content Pool Son olarak DTM ile Ayhancan Güven’in birçok başarı elde ettiği Porsche serileri arasındaki farktan bahsedelim. Porsche serilerinde -tahmin edileceği üzere- sadece Porsche marka otomobiller yarışmakta. DTM’de ise 2023 sezonunda Ayhancan Güven’in kullanacağı Porsche 911 GT3 R'ın yanı sıra Audi R8 LMS Evo II, BMW M4 GT3, Ferrari 296 GT3, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 ve Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo boy gösterecek. Read the full article

[polyamproud]

Creating a flag presents a different kind of challenge for a designer. We’re making sure our team and the polyamorous pride flag selection committee are all up for the challenge.

We’ve got to consider the function of a flag as well as its aesthetic and symbolic appeal if we’re going to create something the polyamorous community feels proud to rally behind.

Follow @polyamproud to learn more and vote for a new flag design to represent polyamory worldwide.

~image description below~

[Image Description: A set of 4 square images.

Image 1: An image with a pink background. In the middle of the image is a black box with the white outline of a square inside of it. All text in the image is centered and inside the black box. At the top of the box  is the “@polyamproud” watermark with the polycule symbol beside it in dark gray. Beneath the watermak is bold pink text which reads “learning from”. Beneath that is big, bold white text which reads “good flag, bad flag.” Near the bottom of the box is smaller italicized, bold pink text which reads “North American Vexillological Association (NAVA)”

Image 2: An image with a black background. All text in the image is left-aligned. At the top of the image is big, bold white text which reads “here’s what the pros say:” Beneath it is much smaller italicized, bold pink text which reads “NAVA is only one of many international groups that study and catalogue flag designs. their principles aren’t gospel, but they are a strong place to start.” Beneath it is a list of five items in big, bold white text. To the left of each item is a pink heart. The first item reads “keep it simple.” The second item reads “use meaningful symbolism.” The third item reads “ise no more than four colors.” The fourth item reads “no lettering or seals.” The fifth item reads “be distinctive or be related.” At the bottom right corner is the ‘@polyamproud” watermark with the polycule symbol beside it in gray.

Image 3: An image with a pink background. At the top left of the image is the ‘opening quotation mark’ symbol (”) in a big white font. All the text in the image is right-aligned. Beneath the quotation mark symbol is some big black text which reads “most of all, design a flag that looks”, followed by black text highlighted in white which reads “attractive and balanced”, followed by more black text which reads “to the viewer and to the place, organization, or person it represents!” Beneath the text is much smaller italicized, black text which reads “from “Good” Flag, “Bad” Flag.” Beneath it is some bold white text which reads “NAVA”. At the bottom right corner is the ‘@polyamproud” watermark with the polycule symbol beside it in gray.

Image 4: An image with a white background. In the middle of the image is a big black box. Inside the box is text. All the text in the image is centered. At the top of the box in big, bold white letters it reads “we’re putting in the work.” Beneath it is a thin, horizontal pink line. In the middle of the line is a pink heart. Beneath the line is small, bold white text which reads “our team of designers is reading, researching, and asking experts to make the next iteration of polyamory’s pride flag something truly special, and a flag you’re proud to fly.”  At the bottom right corner is the ‘@polyamproud” watermark with the polycule symbol beside it in gray.

End ID.]

[etto-etto]

JRR #2: August 1 - August 13, 2020 

If you saw this earlier and noticed it was a giant wall of text, that’s because posting drafts from mobile seems to erase all links and other formatting in my posts. Note to self. Anyway: here’s to another set of resources. 

Yuki’s Japanese TV: He’s got a variety of video content from JLPT and grammar to vocab but also topics like food and life during a pandemic. What makes his channel extra special in my book (can you guess?) is that he speaks in Japanese. He does have some in English, and others where he speaks both, but as far as grammar—it’s in Japanese (from what I’ve seen). If that sounds intimidating, he hard subs a lot of his sentences (still in Japanese) and supplies graphics to help demonstrate points, so even if you don’t understand all that he says it’s still difficult to feel lost with Yuki.  

Automatic Japanese: I am in love with Asari’s channel! Most of her videos are spoken in Japanese and accompanied by Japanese and English subtitles (that she herself makes). She speaks with clarity and in a fair pace that I feel isn’t too fast or too slow, plus she’s given me some pretty solid learning tips this week. I also recommend checking out her IG! 

Learning Language with Youtube BETA: something I discovered from Asari! It’s similar to the LLN extension, but for YouTube. 

Learn Japanese with Noriko: a podcast in Japanese for listening practice, of course. But I love this one a little more because she offers some (limited) transcripts on her site, and that makes it a little easier (and more fun) for me to follow along. 

Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese: having never used Erin’s Challenge, I’m not sure if this is an update of the old content or entirely new, but it’s here and ready to help you learn Japanese╭( ･ㅂ･)و ̑̑ ˂ᵒ͜͡ᵏᵎ⁾✩ It’s a series of basic and advanced skit videos with additional parts like key phrases, scripts, and manga for onomatopoeia. I went into Lesson 7 and found it to be, yeah–completely cheesy–but also fun!  

Hito’s World: a fun game for learning kanji that I think is best for beginners–either that, or for hammering in the romaji spellings. Or at least in regards to the level I’ve worked up to. (And speaking as someone who never remembers which way is left or right–as in I literally bombed the same A&P quiz twice because I confused left and right–I really have to think about whether I need to type 右 or 左. It’s… a mental exercise.) I wish it allowed or accepted hiragana, but I know it’s a WIP. You can also join r/Hito and check out the road map. 

Tobira Vocabulary: Anki deck for Tobira (obviously). Beware: although it says it’s a complete vocab set, I’ve read two comments that claim otherwise. 

Tobira Kanji: includes kanji and vocab from all Tobira chapters. Another option if Anki’s not your thing (+ it may actually contain all vocab?). I’ve tried both the Tobira Anki deck and Memrise course, and I actually prefer Memrise in this case. But that’s just me. 

Learning ENG & JPN: I did a lot of hunting to find this again, and I almost thought it was a lost resource---this is a blog run by a native Japanese speaker who is learning English. Posts are short and written in both English and Japanese while containing interesting tidbits about Japan and its culture. 

Oshaberi Izakaya: this is a completely free way to get in some speaking practice with other learners organized by Japanese teacher Izumi Ise. They meet up a few times a month, but you’re not required to attend all meetings. 

Japanese Learner Cafe: similar to the one above, this provides a means to practice speaking. The on-site English allows room for needed clarity, but this is also through Zoom and I therefore assume 100% free. If anyone decides to try it I’d be interested to know what your experience was like!

[recentanimenews]

Made in Abyss Game Dated for PS4, Switch and PC

  Following some earlier previews, we now have an official launch date for the Made in Abyss console and PC game. The Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness action-RPG is coming to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam in North America and Europe on September 2, and you can take a look at the main characters and their voice cast below.

  RELATED: Made in Abyss Action-RPG Heads to the West This Fall

  Here are the leads, starting with the new customizable main character:

    "DEEP IN ABYSS" Mode Main Character

VA: Katelyn Barr

VA: Matt Shipman

Japanese VA: Akari Kito

The main character in the DEEP IN ABYSS mode. Players can customize the character's hair, facial features and more.

    Riko

VA: Brittany Lauda

Japanese VA: Miyu Tomita 

An active girl who's deeply curious. Her dream is to become a White Whistle Cave Raider. She was living at the Belchero Orphanage, but when her mother Lyza's White Whistle and letter were found, she departed, heading for the bottom of the Abyss.

    Reg

VA: Luci Christian

Japanese VA: Mariya Ise 

He descended with Riko into the Abyss to find out who he is. He tends to take things seriously and has a mature way of speaking. However, he panics easily during unexpected circumstances.

    Tiare

VA: Chaney Moore

Japanese VA: Ayaka Suwa

A colleague from the orphanage. A quiet, inconspicuous child who tends to go unnoticed. He has high physical abilities, but dislikes running. You became close friends after surviving getting lost together. He dreams of becoming a White Whistle and reaching the bottom of the Abyss.

    Dorothea

VA: Hilary Haag

Japanese VA: Akane Fujita

A colleague from the orphanage. A girl who deeply admires Riko. A bit of an airhead, which is her key charm and flaw. She tends to get rather competitive.

    Raul

VA: Meg McDonald

Japanese VA: Natsumi Fujiwara

A colleague from the orphanage. A boy who's always full of energy.  He tends to get in trouble by speaking his mind. However, he is still a likable person.

  RELATED: Made in Abyss TV Anime Reveals More About Season 2 in New Trailer

  Publisher Spike Chunsoft describes the game:

  Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness is an Action RPG in which players themselves descend into the world of the Abyss and grow through their experience in its depths. The game, supervised by original series author Akihito Tsukushi, recreates the world of the Abyss in 3D, including battles with creatures, collecting relics, and "The Curse of the Abyss". Fans are sure to enjoy the dark fantasy that remains true to the unique flavor of the original work. 

  The game offers two game modes. "HELLO ABYSS" is a story mode in which players can relive the story of the anime while learning the basic system and how to progress in the game. In "DEEP IN ABYSS," players can enjoy an original story of a new Cave Raider, who takes on the challenge of exploring the depths of the Abyss. Many characters from Made in Abyss appear, and event scenes are fully-voiced by the cast of the anime.

  Source: Press release

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief of Sci Fi Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

By: Joseph Luster