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narratingengineer · 4 years ago

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How it feels to be an engineer in core department?

Ashamed! Happy! Depressed! Proud! Guilty! Enthusiastic!

Yes, you read that right that's how it feels it’s a mixture of all feelings, I am a Mechanical engineer from southern part of India and I will be sharing my experiences here. This quandary filled journey start from junior college, with two categories of students in science group, one being the student who took it out of his own interest and the other who opted it because of parent’s compulsion, actually it’s more of relatives stupid ideas and suggestion. These relatives suddenly get dynamic after our inter results whom I wasn’t even aware that they exist in my family tree. After a huge struggle in my 11thand 12th with a good satisfactory score we pass out junior college with a dream word being said, ‘once you finish your inter you can enjoy the life’, the most unrealistic lie said to us.

Then getting into an engineering college is a huge struggle because of the stream to be selected, here at this point 75% of the students don’t have an idea why they have selected this stream, 20% of students took this stream because of some silly reasons such as boys alone in mechanical department so mechanical engineering, more girls in computer science department so computers and electronics, students who choose this department because their friends chose it and the rest 5% people will have a clear cut idea why they chose the respective department. All these categories of students will come into one single roof and start their journey.

‘College life expectations verses reality’ is one famous phrase that we all know about and after the first day of college is that is when you realize that the statement (once you finish your inter you can enjoy the life) is a lie. After a lot of struggles in college, cheating in tests, begging the professors, fighting with other department students, facing love failures, crush failures and with much more fully packed engineering life comes to an end after 4 years and just after your final exam of 8thsemester you will get this question from those magician relatives who were vanished for these four years suddenly come into existence and ask us one question, “WHAT’S NEXT, WHERE DID YOU GET PLACED” and that moment is the most irritating moment of life and with a lot of mails and resume printouts we finally find a job. If I had saved my resume printout money I would have got bOAT earphones.

The first job is always a dream to many of the youngsters out there and when that happens we all will be in cloud nine but choosing the first job actually becomes a huge challenge because of the variety of options available, here too we can find two types of students, the first one, no matter from which stream the student is from but finally he/she ends up in IT sector (honorary mention – Sundar Pichai also did the same). The other category is that students who love their department to the core and wish to just work in the core companies and this may sound easy but it’s the more toughest job on planet, studied civil engineering and getting into IT field has nowadays become normal but seeing a student who studied civil and has become a civil engineer is just like seeing a Haley’s comet. I am proud that I am one such Haley’s comet.

The struggles of IT sector workers are huge but let me detail it in another blog. So, now coming to the core job holders, where you are expected to have 3-5 years of experience within the age of 21, must be aware of the latest trends in engineering and also must have been participated in World War I and II and work for 16 hours a day! How is this even possible, but this is how the core field expects. Speaking about trends in engineering, in school teacher starts a new concept and says, “you will learn this in college in detail” and skips the topic and in college professor says, “you have already learnt this concept in school” and skips the topic and finally at work place you go and stand without knowing anything, your senior will ask, SORRY will yell at you saying, “what the hell did you learn in your school and college” that moment you will be in no position to explain your position to the your senior and there are other expectations where your senior expects you to know the working of everything right from a pencil sharpener to activating the RDX, which may be possible in the parallel universe but not here.

To all my Haley’s comet, don’t worry this isn’t your fault because in college lab access was only during limited number of hours and also our exposure to the machines are limited to the experiment list which are updated once in a millennium and not more than that. This is the reason which we lack practical knowledge and aren’t much familiar with the machines or devices. The another important problem here is with the interdisciplinary subjects, being in a one department we were not much allowed to explore other department subjects inside the college and this became a negative aspect for us.

The problems listed above are just 0.001% of the actual problems faced by my fellow Haley’s comet and regular stars (IT sectors). For every problem there is an answer so the same way, this problem also comes with an answer i.e. students must much focus on practical knowledge and also must be aware of what’s happening in engineering around the world, unless we move forward to the professor and have interest in ourselves we will not be able to get any fuel to pump our brains, be open to learning always, if you a mechanical stream guy and they ask you to learn coding to control the machine, learn it no matter what, if you are a electrical engineer and you are asked to learn about mechanical systems learn it, future technologies will involve all the streams and will be integrated into one. I have listed out our problems and also solutions that I figured out, so a huge hi-fi for my entire fellow engineers and wish you all the best for your future.

I wanted to finish with a saying by Indian director Balu Mahendra (I am a huge fan of cinema), “we may win, we may lose, we may earn, we may face difficulties but among all this, it’s a huge blessing that you are still doing your dream job and you are still persistently staying in your field”. So be happy with what you have, kudos to my engineers out there

Narrating ENGINEer

Any queries please mail me at [email protected]

#engineering jobs #work life #struggle

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rdxtango · 4 years ago

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Here Are a Few Tricks and Tips to Ensure a Seamless Gaming Experience on My Hero One’s Justice 2

My Hero: One’s Justice 2, a video game based on a Japanese superhero manga series, is a stark improvement as compared to 2018 My Hero One’s Justice. The video game was released for platforms such as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. The first game based on the superhero anime series was titled My Hero Academia Battle for all and released in Japan on May 19, 2016. Bandai Namco Entertainment published it for the Nintendo 3DS game console at the time of its release.

Even though two games have been released to cater to gamers, it is My Hero One’s Justice 2, which has struck a chord with people in the gaming world. The makers of the video game have gone one step further with the visual graphics. It feels as if the game is a complete reflection of the anime. People can choose from a vast list of characters. Every character in the video game has a unique style that defines it from the others mentioned on the list. If you are someone who is planning to play My Hero: One’s Justice 2, here are a few tricks and tips to ensure a user-friendly gaming experience for you.

Pick a Character from a List of Multiple Names

The wide range of fictional characters in the game will allow you to pick one of their personal choices. All the characters have a unique style from each other, and the superhero manga series inspire the list. If you do not want any confusion or hassle, the best way is to select your favorite character from the anime series. As a player, you can also analyze the visual style of all the characters that choose one as per your choice.

Playing with the character of your choice will lead to an enjoyable experience; otherwise, it can be frustrating if you start losing with characters you don’t like at all. Once you get comfortable, you could select the training mode and practice before you play the game.

Understand the Character’s Unique Style of Play

As soon as a player selects a character of his/her choice, it is advisable to know everything about it. Every Hero in the game has special moves assigned to them. Probably every character has a special attack, evade and defend action in the game. For example, if we take up the case of a special attack button, if you keep on pressing the button rapidly, your Hero will churn out a special attack move, which will inflict massive damage on your opponent.

If you want to perform an altered form of a special attack, tilt the stick of your console governing your Hero towards the opponent. This will lead to a counter-attack wherein your character will absorb a hit and, in return, dish out a much more powerful attack. It would be best if you also were careful about your character while blocking it from attacks. There is a meter that gets depleted whenever your Hero is attacked, leaving it in a vulnerable position.

Learn How to Perform Combo Attacks

My Hero One’s Justice 2 is a game that allows players to make their characters perform combos with huge damage potential. To accomplish such a feat, a player needs to get the hang of the dash canceling function in the game. If a player presses the dash button during a state of attack, the character will have an option of returning to a neutral state, thus allowing them to continue its combo attack. Please note- Players can use the dash cancel function once while their character is in the air. Only Bakugo has the option of using two dash cancels.

The video game world is fun, but to enjoy a seamless experience, people need to follow the basic tricks and tips to enjoy any game they plan to play alone or with their friends.

Rdx Tango is a creative person who has been writing blogs and articles about cybersecurity. She writes about the latest updates regarding office setup and how it can improve the work experience of users. Her articles have been published in many popular e-magazines, blogs, and websites like norton.com/setup.

Source:- Here Are a Few Tricks and Tips to Ensure a Seamless Gaming Experience on My Hero One’s Justice 2

#Justice 2

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alanakusumas · 8 years ago

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Rules: put your iTunes/Spotify/music player on shuffle and answer the following questions, then tag ten people!

@choicesmeetsworld hates me and tagged me in this so I GUESS i’ll do it!!!!

i tag @mrs-mckenzie @cartoonfanforlife @craighsiaos @jakemckcnzie @pixelbirb-choices @addisonsinclairs @eleanorwiferley @jessicamckenzie @fyeahjanethevirgin @katpixelberry (and @karlasouza bc i miss jev and want him to notice me ho!!!)

1. Describe yourself: Me - The 1975 2. What do people feel when they’re around you? Piece of Sh*t - Cemetery Sun (ok ro0D) 3. Describe your current relationship: Disturbia - Rihanna 4. Where would you like to be right now? Better Place - Rachel Platten (ok tru i’m stuck in my office rn lmao) 5. How do you feel about love? Pose (Eva Shaw Remix) - Rihanna 6. What is your life like? Camouflage - Selena Gomez (ok roast me shuffle-play!!!!) 7. What would you wish for if you only had one wish? Swimming Pools - Kendrick Lamar 8. Say something wise: The Girl Next Door - Tomppabeats 9. How would you describe yourself? You May Be Right - Billy Joel (ok me) 10. What do you look for in a girl/boy? Fireflies - Owl City 11. How do you feel today? Silence is Sincerity - Blake Mills 12. What’s your life’s purpose? Let’s Go - Tiesto, Icona Pop 13. What is your motto? My Forest Fire - Maldito 14. What do your friends think of you? M.I.L.F. $ - Fergie (I WISH) 15. What do your parents think of you? Temporary Fix - One Direction (ok yikes tru!!!!) 16. What do you think about very often? Bend Ova - RDX (@ me next time) 17. What do you think of your best friend? Passenger Seat - Clueless Kit, Kora 18. What do you think of the person you like? For Better or Worse - Henry Jackman (you know it!!) 19. What is your life story? Bottle of Jack - Mikey Wax 20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Hurt Me - Lapsley 21. What do you think of when you see the person you like? Temporary Love - The Brinks ok don’t call me out like that 22. What will you dance to at your wedding? Can’t Have Everything - Drake finna be a LIT ASs wedding dance y’all 23. What will play at your funeral? Big Jet Plane - Daniela Andrade 24. Biggest fear? The Morning - The Weeknd 25. Biggest secret? Elevate - St Lucia

#ok thx goodbye!!!!!#ur all wonderful btw

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lexxfics · 8 years ago

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Not All Scars are Permanent | 1

Want to read the intro before beginning? Or see who the characters are? Click HERE

Life.

It is full of many wonders and endless possibilities. New and exciting things happen all the time and there are times where it becomes too much and you want to hide away in your hole of safety, keeping the rest of the world locked out. People can go through many stages of this, and I am now currently in the stage of staying in my hole.

It’s not that I choose to keep people out, it’s just that I always bring unwanted attention. Since you probably have no idea what I am talking about I will tell you that I am not the ordinary girl you sit next to in class. I am the one in the back that people always stare at, whispering secrets about and making fun of. Why?

Well, that would be due to the unnaturally large scar across my face. Running from the bottom of my right eye to the left side of my bottom lip, it is something that has haunted me from the day it was brought into my life. No, I wasn’t born with it, if that is what you were wondering. It was from my mother, something I really don’t feel comfortable sharing with others. In due time readers, in due time.

Therefore, this girl before you is one that brings a lot of stares and questions unanswered but I prefer to be alone. I do have one friend however, and without her I think that I could quite possibly lose my mind.

Her name is Cleo. Her full name is Cleopatra (yes like the Egyptian Queen) but she prefers to be called Cleo. With her raven dark hair and piercing green eyes, she is one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen in my life. But due to her crass words and brash tone, she isn’t as popular as she could be. She is more like a social outcast as you could say. She could practically be the modern emo with how much black she wears but without the dark make-up and nasty attitude that most of the others have at our school.

We are the two weirdos - the ultimate combination. It is a wonder how we ended up together but after being assigned seats next to each other, it was like we clicked. And unlike most other people, she didn’t stare at the scar across my face and was frightened by it. No; she thought it was badass. She wasn’t scared or nervous to ask about it and that is how our friendship began.

So here we are, starting our Junior year of high school - the worst year imaginable. I have heard horror stories from others about how bad Junior year was but I tried not to let it get to me. I was determined to get good grades and head on a great college. It had been a dream of mine, going to a prestigious college that is, for reasons left unsaid for now. It would be better to let you know later, dear readers.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention. My name is Adelia. I have shoulder-length chocolate brown hair that flows in waves and eyes as dark as night. I am about 5 ft 8, so not ridiculously tall but not really short either. I love to read and I would rather live in a fantasy world than the one I live in now.

With all that out of the way, let’s get to my first day, shall we?

It started out something like this…

~~~

“Adelia, do you really want to be late on your first day?” My father called from the bottom of the stairs. I groaned loudly, not wanting to get out of my extremely comfortable bed. “Do I really have to come up there and drag you to school?” He sighed, getting very impatient. At that, I slowly started to get up, knowing fully well that he would literally drag me down the stairs - he has done it before.

“I’m up, I’m up!” I yelled, hearing his footsteps starting to come up the stairs.

“Good. You have 10 minutes before I drive you to school and embarrass you on your first day!” He said, leaving me speechless. I was terrified at the thought. I already brought enough attention with this scar across my face, I didn’t also want to be known as the ultimate ‘Daddy’s girl’ either. So I quickly ran to the bathroom across the hall from mine and saw that I looked even scarier than usual. My hair was untamed and I had dried drool on the side of my lip. I wiped at the spot, and brushed my unruly hair to something that looked a little less wild.

I lathered on some deodorant, rushed to put on my uniform, and sprayed one spritz of perfume and raced down the stairs. My father, with his stylish dark brown hair stood at the bottom, dressed in a oxford blue suit, with a white dress shirt underneath. He matched it with a baby blue tie, ready to go to work. He glanced up at me and couldn’t help but flash me his signature grin, his dimple showing itself brilliantly.

“Finally ready?” He asked, asking me one last time before we headed out the door. I nodded my head in agreement and headed out the door behind him. As the door shut, I could hear a distinct, familiar honk coming from the driveway. I turned to see Cleo in her small Acura RDX, growing impatient. She waved me over and I gave my father a quick hug and a mumbled good-bye before hopping into the passenger seat.

“Took you long enough!” She exaggerated as I closed the door behind me. “I thought I was going to miss the whole first day.” I rolled my eyes at her over-the-top reaction and buckled myself in.

“Well, sorry that I wanted to sleep,” I stuck my tongue out at her, creating a small giggle from her lips.

“So are you ready?” She asked as soon as we got on the road, headed to school.

“For what?”

“For our first day, dumbass.” She retorted, being her usual self when responding. She has no filter - at all. I shrugged.

“I guess. I don’t know.” I mumbled. I didn’t hate school but I didn’t love it either. I usually liked my teachers and found the homework to be interesting but hated the other students. They looked at me as if I was some kind of monster. Noticing my hesitation, she gently patted my shoulder as she kept her eyes on the road.

“Oh come on, it won’t be that bad! I mean at least we have two classes together this year.” She stated, making me smile. I was honestly happy about that part. We had AP Language and AP US History together, which were two of the hardest classes. Cleo was really amazing at school as well and that was something else that drew us together - our passion to get into great colleges.

“True. But what am I going to do with the classes you aren’t in with me?” I pouted, purposely sticking my bottom lip out a little.

“Just be yourself girl, it’s the best you can do. Show them what Adelia Locke is made of!” She cheered, way too excited for the first day. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Same to you too. Knock them haters down Ducreux!” I then put my fists up in a fighting stance, pretending to fight someone in front of me to prove my point.

“You know it, Locke.” She winked at me, shining her pearly whites straight at me and I couldn’t help but feel her words. Maybe she is right. This year could be different if I put myself out there more. But even if I was ever to make other friends, Cleo would still be my number one. However, the thought of having normal conversations gave me hope.

This year was going to be the best one yet, I could feel it.

~~~

I lied. This is going to be the worst year ever.

I haven’t even walked into school yet and I already felt the looks of others gazing down upon me. I would love to think that they were all starring at Cleo but when I looked up and met eyes with some of the students, I knew it was too good to be true. All the excitement I felt in the car drained from me within seconds, facing the reality in front of me.

I instead started to get nervous, wanting to run somewhere and hide away from everyone. Out of instinct, Cleo wrapped an arm around my shoulders, seeming to sense my hesitation. It was like she was saying, 'It is okay Adelia. I am here’ and I could feel myself breathe a little easier.

We walked into school like that, not paying attention to the other people sending glances our way as we headed to our lockers. Cleo’s was not far from mine, about two down, and so we both placed what we didn’t need for our first couple of classes inside, and headed our separate ways.

I wished Cleo could have all the same classes I did but I would have to face people without her, sooner rather than later. I grabbed a school map from one of my notebooks and looked for where my first class was - Physics.

I found it without problems and was happy to realize that I was one of the first ones in the class. With no apparent seating chart, I chose the seat next to the window in the first row. It was one of my favorite places as I felt more comfortable with only one person to the side of me.

It was ten minutes before class began and I proceeded to get my notebook out and started to doodle. It was something that kept me sane and tranquil as I could let my mind wander and my pencil draw whatever it wanted to.

Students started to pile in one after another and of course no one sat next to me. They chose to sit elsewhere, probably wanting to stay away from the 'freak’. Not that I minded - too much of course. But when I heard the familiar voice, the one that has haunted me since the beginning of my freshman year, I could feel my shoulders tense up.

“Well, if it isn’t Scarface,” he teased, trying to get a reaction out of me. I glanced up, to see the familiar smirk of the boy who was out to get me.

Aaron Hale.

He was the one guy most of the girls in our school would drop their panties for. He was the best linebacker in our football team with his dirty blonde hair and eyes so blue you feel like you could swim in them. However, every time I looked in his, I felt like I was drowning instead. It was like it was his mission to humiliate me and the fact that I had this class with him made me want to hurl. He was a grade A jerk, the one you only read about in books or see in movies - the classic bully.

“What, cat got your tongue? Or did someone finally silence you once and for all?” He said, leaning in so close to my face, that I could smell his breath; it smelled like tobacco and mint. Gross.

I stayed silent, not wanting to give him the satisfaction and he seemed to sense this. He opened his mouth to say something else when the bell rang, signaling that class was beginning. With a victorious look, he took a seat in the back, leaving me to my lonesome once more. Oh how I wish I could just kick him where it hurts.

Thankful, I turned to face the front and listened to the teacher as she gave her introduction to the class. She handed out the syllabus and told us what we would need by tomorrow. The class flew by and before I knew it, it was over. I quickly gathered my things, wanting to get to my next class early as well, when running face first into someone, dropping my notebooks on the ground.

I hastily reached to pick it up, when my hand made contact with another, surprising me. I glanced up and saw someone I hadn’t seen before. He had caramel brown eyes and umber colored hair, something that you did not see often. I stared at him, realizing that he was returning the look, not moving. I blushed slightly, and quickly scrambled to get my things.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, wanting to quickly leave this awkward encounter. Before I could even hear a response from him, I walked briskly down the hall, running towards my next class. I barely made it before the bell rang and I was thankful I wouldn’t have to worry about a seat in this one. I quickly looked for Cleo and breathed a sigh of relief when taking the empty desk beside hers.

“Are you okay?” She whispered, noticing how out of it I was.

“Y-Yeah.” I said, not sounding too convincing. She raised an eyebrow at my response but didn’t pry any further. She is probably going to ask about it later, I thought, pulling out my next notebook. I tried to let what just happen go over my head but I couldn’t stop thinking of the boy I just ran into. The weirdest part though was not that I touched his hand or that we ran into each other. It was the fact that he stared so deeply into my eyes - and didn’t even once look at my scar.

Realizing that I was missing some important information, I shook the thoughts of the mysterious boy from my mind and paid attention to my teacher, wanting this day to be over soon.

~~~

So how was it? Good? Let me know how I did in an ask! XD

Don’t forget to also click that tiny heart button in the corner as well so I know you are enjoying the story~

Lots of love and chocolates,

Lexxcisco

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federationsound · 4 years ago

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Federation Invasion #474 (Dancehall Reggae Megamix) 9.6.20

MIAMI VICE KENNY MEEZ REMIX,VYBZ KARTEL ODD RAS MIAMI VICE REMIX,CHRONIXX LIVE WE LIFE KENNY MEEZ MIAMI VICE REMIX,JAH CURE Never Sober,Popcaan HIGH ALL DAY,POPCAAN Get Gyal Easy,Popcaan Affairs Of The Heart,Damian Marley SET UP SHOP,"DAMIAN ""JNR.GONG"" MARLEY" So Mi Tan Dub,KONSHENS Gain The World Dub,JAHMIEL STEP UP INNA LIFE,AGENT SASCO True Friend (Buss A Shot) ,Demarco Watch Yu Frenz,Jah Vinci JAIL FOR ME,VYBZ KARTEL Don't Cry ,Mavado Can't Take Wi Life,Mavado & Di Genius FAMILY - RAW,Popcaan The Traffic Jam,Stephen Marley RAVIN KENNY MEEZ REMIX,POPCAAN SUMMER TIME KENNY MEEZ REMIX,VYBZ KARTEL FEVER BUY KENNY MEEZ REMIX ,Vybz Kartel LIKE GLUE DUB,Sean Paul NO LETTING GO KENNY MEEZ REMIX ,Wayne Wonder No Letting Go,Wayne Wonder Galang Gal,Tok Get Busy,Sean Paul Party Time,Danny English & Egg Nogg Elephant Message,Elephant Man Ruffest & Tuffest,Assassin Gonna Fight,Spragga Benz Sufferer,Bounty Killer DANCING TIME REMIX,V/A DRINKING RUM,FUTURE FAMBO & BEENIE MAN IM OK,BEENIE MAN SWAGGARFIC,MR. G WIFEY WALK OUT EDIT,liquid NAH SELL OUT DUB,KHAGO NAH SELL OUT PT 2 DUB,KHAGO PON DI TING,MAVADO SETTLE DOWN,MAVADO CARIBBEAN GIRLS,AIDONIA DASH OUT,TIFA TUN UP DI TING,KHAGO LET'S GO,BEENIE MAN FINAL DESTINATION,MAVADO Give It All To Me (DUTTY) ,Mavado feat Nicki Minaj ISLAND GIRL,RDX DAH TING DEH,Popcaan SMILE AGAIN,POPCAAN RUP RUP (BAD INNA REAL LIFE) ,POPCAAN NEW MILLENIUM KENNY MEEZ REMIX,VYBZ KARTEL & WAYNE MARSHALL WEED IS MY BEST FRIEND,POPCAAN NEVER GIVE UP DUB,SEAN PAUL TRUE,MAVADO Mavado-Pepper,Mavado NONE A DEM,SHABBA RANKS Nothing At All,Agent Sasco yeah yeah,CHINO Bounce A Gyal,Di Genius

Check out this episode!

#Reggae #Dancehall #Federation Sound #Federation Invasion #Max Glazer #Kenny Meez

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jalebi-weds-bluetooth · 2 years ago

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Dearest Soapy, How is my girl doing? Your latest post inspired a thought. The forced marriage track, rather the build up to it was beautifully executed. Khushi's distressed plea was a bitter moment. However, I always felt this is where the writers had a story till this point. Much of the post-marriage tracks were shoddy. What do you think the writers were heading to? A forced marriage or something darker? This pinches my curiosity. Love your blog as always! Hugs-RDX.

My dearest Rdx <3

Ah back ache, weird skin and pimples seem to be conquering me. I am not quite sure where it was headed to be honest. There's such an overnight shift in the tone of the story that it's one of the hardest things for me to presume.

I thought it would've led to Arnav slowly realizing the woman in front of him does not match what he saw at the terrace. There are so many probabilities - from Payash figuring out what Arnav/Khushi did, Shashi out from paralysis, Khushi confronting Arnav, Khushi confronting Shyam, Shyam spilling the truth to Khushi, etc - that it's difficult to think what would've been there.

The one relief that I get is that it would've NEVER been a sexually abusive relationship (not that it has more importance than physical, psychological, economical, verbal abuse). But the reason I sigh in relief is that it would've been SO easy to slip in hints of sexually threatening behavior. It's literally there with every other 4Lions show. So to not have that in the mix was a big relief.

But otherwise the possibilities are so much that I have no idea!

Lots of love,

Soapy

#ask #my best friend rdx #I probably should call you Radhe instead of that #at least online #lol

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eddiejpoplar · 6 years ago

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2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec: Once Again Satisfying

The 2019 Automobile All-Stars winners will be revealed on Saturday, March 9 at 11:00 am Eastern, but first we’re introducing—in no particular order—a few of the contenders each day this week. Head here for an All-Stars preview, and be sure to check back all week to see the contenders as they’re announced!

The 2019 Acura RDX represents something great for Acura: a honed vision of its “Precision Crafted Performance” mantra, executed in a compact crossover package.

A fantastic powertrain holds up the performance part. The RDX’s 2.0-liter turbo-four—effectively a “lite” version of the Civic Type R’s engine—pumps out 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, and it’s paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission that fires off quick and well-timed shifts and doesn’t trip over itself hunting for gears. Its steering is precise, and with the help of Acura’s available Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, it’s easy to wheel the RDX through winding roads with gusto. Our tester’s A-Spec appearance package added additional flair to what’s an already aggressive-looking crossover.

The RDX is so good to drive that it won the heart of our resident racer and contributing writer, Andy Pilgrim. “This RDX is sneaky good,” Pilgrim said. “I’m not an SUV fan, but after a few driving miles my thoughts slid to the dark side: ‘How much are these? Asking for a friend.’”

Most editors found the cabin well built, with wood and metal accents and a stellar panoramic moonroof standard among an impressive mix of luxury-leaning features. But Acura’s new True Touchpad interface, which serves as the primary control for the infotainment console, drew some fire. “After meandering into a desolate area out of range of any cell service, I tried searching for a ramen place nearby,” daily news editor Conner Golden said. “Five minutes later, I couldn’t make sense of the trackpad-based system, which was overly sensitive and then immediately unresponsive. I gave up and drove toward town until I regained service.”

Although the staff was suitably impressed by Acura’s overall execution of the RDX, it didn’t quite stand out enough from what was an outstanding pack of contenders. Contributor Basem Wasef summed it up best. “There’s a lot to like about the RDX, though I suspect it suffered from ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of none’ syndrome,” he noted. “The RDX is altogether a nicely executed sport ute, but not quite distinctive enough to earn it All-Stars status.”

The good news for enthusiasts is the reborn RDX is proof positive Acura has found its footing once again. We look forward to seeing what’s to come.

2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec Specifications

PRICE $46,495/$46,895  (base/as tested) ENGINE 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4; 272 hp  @ 6,500 rpm, 280 lb-ft @ 1,600–4,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine,  FWD/AWD SUV EPA MILEAGE 21/26 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 186.8 x 74.8 x 65.7 in WHEELBASE 108.3 in WEIGHT 4,019 lb 0–60 MPH 6.4 sec TOP SPEED 125 mph

The post 2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec: Once Again Satisfying appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

from Performance Junk Blogger 6 https://ift.tt/2C7xRB0 via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

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jonathanbelloblog · 6 years ago

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2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec: Once Again Satisfying

The 2019 Acura RDX represents something great for Acura: a honed vision of its “Precision Crafted Performance” mantra, executed in a compact crossover package.

The good news for enthusiasts is the reborn RDX is proof positive Acura has found its footing once again. We look forward to seeing what’s to come.

2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec Specifications

The post 2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec: Once Again Satisfying appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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jesusvasser · 6 years ago

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2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec: Once Again Satisfying

The 2019 Acura RDX represents something great for Acura: a honed vision of its “Precision Crafted Performance” mantra, executed in a compact crossover package.

The good news for enthusiasts is the reborn RDX is proof positive Acura has found its footing once again. We look forward to seeing what’s to come.

2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec Specifications

The post 2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec: Once Again Satisfying appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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ridesharestories · 6 years ago

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Driver X Interview

I’ve been doing a series where I interview current drivers like my friend Karen B. from South Carolina about their experiences. But I also wanted to talk to former drivers, like Evan Kail, the author of Ubered, a memoir of his rideshare days in Minneapolis. I’m about to talk to a driver here in Chicago whom I've followed for the past year. We'll call him Driver "X" to preserve anonymity.

How long were you a driver, and what kind of car did you drive?

So, I started out in rideshare in April of 2017 - June 2018. I was driving a 2014 Hyundai Elantra Limited with heated seats front and rear.

What were the best memories from your rideshare days?

Really my best memories are more of experiences and feelings. Driving down Lake Shore Drive at night chasing a surge of 200% with the sun roof open. So many nights my friends and myself would all be out and we could see each other's movement on Facebook Messenger. We would work on the best hot spots together. It was a lot of fun, especially when it was really busy, or having queue rides before your current one even ended.

I guess if I had to pick one memory, It would be the time I was noticed as an artist from one of my fans. She totally freaked out with her brother in the car. Good times.

What were the things you won’t miss?

Slow days. Waiting around for a ping was the worse, especially when you actually needed to make some money. I was in a position where I didn't depend on rideshare for a living, however watching my friends go crazy because it was too many drivers out was stressful. Short trips were also annoying, especially when the passenger could walk.

Why did you decide to quit rideshare? What are you doing now? Did being a rideshare driver help you transition into what you’re doing now?

Rideshare did not help me transition at all. I am a Front office manager at a luxury hotel downtown Chicago. I went to school for what I am doing now and have been in my field for 8 years and love it . . . most days.

I actually was in school and then went on tour so I had to take a year off from the hotel and that's when I quit Lyft.

Once Lyft and Uber started messing with the surge I decided to quit. It already wasn't busy enough, and with the amount of drivers on the road the surge is not what it used to be. To have so many miles on your car and only make scraps was not acceptable to me. You have to wait around for a ride, and then you get a short trip that's only worth 8-12 in the Chicago market. After lunch and gas, you were barely making minimum wage. When I started out, I was making $30 or more an hour. Lyft and Uber are both in this business to make money and I completely understand that, they have to please their investors and their shareholders, which means they have to come up with creative solutions to make money, a lot of times that means their drivers get the short end of the stick and are test dummies for their platform. They clearly state that every time they try something new and label it "Beta".

Do you think you’ll go back to being a driver someday, even if only part-time? If so, what would you do differently?

I just purchased a 2019 Acura RDX. If the market would some how revert back to how it was when I first started out maybe I would consider doing it 2 times a week for an hour or two. However since that doesn't look like it will happen than no, I will not be wasting my time out there. At this time from what I observe, those who work part time for rideshare are far better off. Especially during tax season.

What are your plans with your music career? You mentioned having fans recognize you. Do you think that experience motivated you (good or bad) to focus more on music? Does your hotel job put you in a better situation to accomplish that vs rideshare?

Ride share made working on music much easier. I have an album releasing January 3rd everywhere. Having a fan see me in a car felt very weird and awkward. She asked What are you doing driving lyft? LOL - Lyft was awesome. I definitely loved the experience.

Lastly, any advice for those of us still toiling away on the streets, looking for that unicorn ride?

My advice would more so fit the Chicago market. However, if you know your area this may work for you also. There are certain areas at certain times that will almost always surge. I still look at the heat map for my friends sometimes while they have a ride in progress. Condo Circle downtown Chicago still surges every morning on and off from 4am-8am. There are a bunch of airport trips in that area. If you do it the right way there is your unicorn. You have to play with the system and sometimes that requires you to cherry pick your rides only accepting ones with high surges. As Lyft and Uber look to decrease wait times, they are cracking down on the acceptance rate which makes cherry picking a little harder than usual. The best advice I can give is study your market. Know when it's worth it to drive and when it's not.

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robertkstone · 6 years ago

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2019 Acura RDX vs. 2019 Cadillac XT4 vs. 2019 Infiniti QX50 Luxury SUV Comparison

As an immigrant of Mexican descent, I have become accustomed to hearing the phrase, “Ni de aqui, ni de alla.” It means, literally, “Neither here nor there.” My friends and cousins often jokingly say that to describe me: I have lived in America for more than a decade, but when I mingle with Americans I’m always seen as the outsider.

That phrase can also apply to our recently tested trio of luxury SUVs. They have a shorter wheelbase and a lower price than the traditional compact European SUVs (such as the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, and Audi Q5), yet they are larger and pricier than their subcompact counterparts (such as the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, and Audi Q3). Our batch of crossovers lives between two worlds. They are tweeners.

Whether you’re in your mid- to late 30s and are about to start a family, or you’re an empty nester who’s looking to downsize from your three-row SUV or minivan, these tweeners provide the utility, agility, and value you might be seeking.

As automakers grow their SUV offerings, they try to satisfy the needs of everyone. That means splintering segments into ever-narrower niches. In the case of this particular sector, we see consistently elegant and aggressive designs but quite different approaches in terms of technology and comfortable seating for five. Did Acura, Cadillac, and Infiniti make the right choice in splitting it down the middle?

The Players

Our goal was to have each SUV priced at about $50,000. But Cadillac wasn’t able to provide us with a model meeting those specs, so they sent us one with $18,545 worth of packages and options—topping out at an eye-watering $56,835 for an SUV with a base front-drive price of $35,790. Although the XT4 is the smallest crossover from this group, it also was the most expensive. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbo engine mated to a nine-speed automatic that sends 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. With a ground clearance of 6.7 inches, the XT4 rides closer to terra firma than the two other SUVs in this group, but its polished design and clean lines make it an attractive crossover on the road.

Acura sent a $51,715 version of its top-trim RDX, with 20-inch wheels (that alone price out at $3,320). Propelled by a lightly massaged version of the 2.0-liter turbo-four yanked from the wild Honda Civic Type R backed to a 10-speed transmission and Super-Handling AWD, the RDX SH-AWD is the most powerful player in this group, with 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. However, its design can be polarizing. With a yawning pentagonal grille and an oversized brand logo, the RDX’s lines could be described as busy and aggressive. From the cockpit, it’s impossible not to stare at the hood’s sharp creases, which extend from the grille toward the A-pillars.

With its VC-Turbo 2.0-liter inline-four, the Infiniti QX50 has the most complex powertrain of the group. It’s a turbocharged variable-compression engine mated to a CVT that sends 268 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. A technical marvel, Infiniti met our $50,000 cap by sending the Essential trim, priced at $49,685. The QX50 can also be described as the most attractive of the tweeners, thanks to its clean lines and simple creases. Its constitution blends and expresses luxury from every angle.

Inside

The QX50’s interior is the nicest of the three, a clear statement of luxury. The design flows well, with a premium aluminum trim that delineates the contour of the cabin. For $50,000, this is one of the finest interiors you’ll see in this category, and if your budget is more flexible, Infiniti provides a combination of suede, wood, and leather that’s even more opulent. This is also the only tweener that offers a second row with reclining seat backs and its own HVAC controls for rear passengers. Acura and Cadillac provide air vents and heated seats for the second row, but the RDX has two USB ports while the XT4 and QX50 have one.

In terms of versatility, both the RDX and XT4 have fold-flat rear seats, but Infiniti’s seats are a few degrees off. The Acura and the Infiniti can tumble their second-row seats from either the rear hatch or the rear door openings; the Cadillac, however, only does so from the cargo area. Speaking of cargo, Infiniti’s trunk space is superior in the category, with up to 31.1 cubic feet of space. Acura offers a smidge more cargo space, but only if you include the 1.6-cubic-foot bin located underneath the cargo floor.

As for seating multiple passengers, these tweeners are challenged for space, but we concluded that the QX50 would be the one to pick—mostly due to its reclining second-row seat backs. The RDX also has a spacious second row with a flat floor that frees legroom for middle-seat occupants. Both Erick Ayapana and Chris Walton of our test team, who are hardly giants, found the XT4 cramped. Although it has a longer wheelbase than the RDX, the Caddy’s poor packaging and high beltline proved too confining. As for my 6-foot frame, there was precious little headroom and barely enough legroom.

One of the must-haves in today’s luxury SUVs is a premium audio system. After continuously listening to the three systems, we judged Acura’s 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D as the best. It delivered crisp, clear audio quality, whether I played my own tunes through Apple CarPlay or listened to SiriusXM radio. Both Infiniti and Cadillac offer a Bose surround-sound system, but the QX50 comes with 16 speakers, and the XT4 has 13. Ayapana preferred the clarity of the Cadillac’s system but added that the QX50’s sound system was also decent.

For driver assistance, both Cadillac and Acura offer a head-up display. Cadillac’s multicolor version felt more intuitive, modern, and clear, with a premium appearance.

Performance

We had a chance to sample these SUVs in two different environments—first at the Honda Proving Center near California City, as part of the MotorTrend SUV of the Year testing. The Honda proving ground allows for closed-course driving on a challenging winding track, an off-road sand circuit that mimics fresh snow, and different surfaces that imitate the worst conditions of our nation’s highways and byways. A few weeks later, road test editor Walton, associate road test editor Ayapana, and yours truly took a deeper look at the handling of these crossovers on the roads of Southern California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula—which includes hilly switchbacks, open boulevards, and the gnarled, slow-motion landslide known as Portuguese Bend.

Whether it was on city streets, the desert, or the highway, it was easy to choose a winner in terms of performance. The RDX quickly gained everyone’s attention with the way it corners, its punchy power delivery, and the smoothness of the 10-speed automatic. It’s not the quickest of the group, but it’s the one that handles best. “I love the supportive, comfy seat, the contour and weight of the steering wheel, and the directness of the steering,” Walton said.

With four driving modes available (Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport+), drivers can enjoy the different settings depending on the road conditions. The RDX can reset to Comfort or Sport every time it’s turned on, but it’s easy to switch to a different mode via the enormous rotary knob in the center console. Like its name suggests, Sport+ is the most lively of all, as the software refines the response of the steering and suspension while the engine revs at higher rpms. The RDX took 6.6 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph and completed the quarter-mile test in 15.1 seconds at 92.9 mph.

The good powertrain communication we enjoyed in the RDX was missing in the QX50. The Infiniti’s variable-compression engine is a technological marvel, but it is poorly mated to a CVT, which mutes power delivery. “There are at least three things changing all the time—gear ratio, turbo boost, and engine compression—and they are each fighting over who takes the mic,” Walton said. “They only all come together and agree what to do at wide-open throttle. What a mess.” Ayapana shared this feeling, saying that the throttle response has a “lurching, slingshotlike delivery.” We also complained about the suspension, noticing far more vibrations inside the cabin than when driving the RDX or XT4 over the same pavement. “I found bumps and impacts I didn’t know were there,” Walton said. Regardless, the QX50 was the quickest of the group, taking 6.3 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph.

Things got a little better with the XT4, though Walton described its ride as “flinty.” Ayapana liked the responsiveness of the steering but said that it lacked road feel. He enjoyed the reaction of the transmission to throttle inputs, as it shifted when it needed to. Yet the three of us found ourselves opting for the paddle shifters for a sportier experience. Despite the XT4 being the smallest crossover of the mix, we noticed a lot of body roll, which lost the Cadillac points in terms of handling. This was the tweener with less power and more heft, with a weight-to-power ratio of 16.7 lb/hp—the worst in the group.

Connectivity

There are different paths to achieving in-car connectivity. With dual screens, touchpads, and even simpler interfaces, Acura, Cadillac, and Infiniti have followed different paths to please their customers.

Walton, Ayapana, and I all liked the way Cadillac handled its business with an updated version of its once-pilloried CUE system. It behaves like a smartphone and has modern graphics that are sharp and simple to use. Through an 8.0-inch touchscreen, occupants can use their phone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, or they can use the contemporary navigation system to get around. The infotainment system responds quickly, and it’s easy to get to where you want without frustration—you can use your fingers to zoom in or out, just like with a phone. With a straightforward layout, Cadillac really paid attention to the technology. After all, some buyers place an intuitive infotainment system higher on their must-have list than, say, handling.

Such contemporariness is missing in the QX50’s nav system and its outdated graphical interface. Infiniti opted for a dual-screen layout, leaving the top screen for the nav system and the bottom for infotainment. But it’s a missed opportunity. The clunky user interface is “a glaring weakness in an otherwise decent cabin,” Ayapana said. Walton complained about the many options to control the two screens: steering wheel buttons, touchscreen, hard buttons below the touchscreen, and the push-knob controller. “In a hurry, I never know where to go to change something,” he said. We were also disappointed to find that the QX50 offers neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto. Even though the QX50 is relatively new, Infiniti failing to provide this useful technology made us wonder what the product planners were benchmarking. In a retro touch, the QX50 is the only one in the group that offers a CD player—great for folks who prefer a higher-quality audio source, albeit in a ponderous form factor.

With a touchpad cursor that mirrors the screen above, Acura has the most avant-garde infotainment setup in the group. But the system still needs some refining. How easily you can control a touchpad might depend on which generation you belong to. The younger folks on our staff found the infotainment system easier to use than the mature group at the office—yet both groups concluded that the haptic touchpad was distracting, as you have to take your eyes off the road to follow the cursor on the screen. Sure, the screen is mounted on the highest point possible on the center dash, but even then it’s hard to know where each icon is located. Apple CarPlay also takes more time to navigate, as you have to swipe your finger across the touchpad to move the “cursor” to where you want it. Android Auto is not available. However, Acura’s voice control was a good redundant option, and it understood my commands even with my strong Spanish accent.

Safety

You’re buying a crossover from a luxury brand. You expect the best. And that includes safety mechanisms. Offering AcuraWatch as standard equipment across the lineup, the RDX comes with collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and road departure mitigation. Only the Acura had been tested by the IIHS at the time of this story’s closing—it was given the prestigious Top Safety Pick+ award, scoring “Good” in all categories.

Our Infiniti came equipped with the ProAssist package, a $550 option that adds backup collision assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, and distance control assist, which helps maintain safe following distance without cruise control enabled. The Cadillac carried the Driver Assist and Driver Awareness packages, which together include adaptive cruise control, forward and revers from PerformanceJunk WP Feed 3 https://ift.tt/2E0ZtJE via IFTTT

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