#my computer does not stream them well so i use the tv

[vagueconfusion]

I don't know where my remote is so I can't watch any mooooovies

[starberry-cupcake]

I have talked before about getting rude comments on my trek posts and I don't respond to them, but this time I am sharing one of them. I got this in the post I made after watching 'the ultimate computer'

It isn't that I "don't give a shit about the lore of a franchise if it doesn't serve my stupid reactionary narrative".

I just have never watched The Next Generation in full.

I'm currently watching TOS for the first time. These are my reaction posts to the episodes as I watch them.

My parents are lifelong Trek fans, they've watched all classic seasons several times over and, with them, I've seen bits and pieces of Next Gen and Voyager as a child, probably without a decent order because they were on tv and dubbed. I've seen current seasons with them, once streaming sites started coming up with them (Discovery and a couple seasons of Picard, as well as went with them to the cinema to watch the new movies). I'm hoping that this family watch/rewatch we're doing will lead us to Next Gen after a few other stops so I can finally experience it as I should have, but we haven't gotten there yet. It's a nice family experience, my sister and I get to see my parents geek out, my dad wear his Enterprise or science officer shirt while we watch it and my mom re-live her Bones fangirl childhood, and I'm enjoying it too much to rush it in the name of Having Online Opinions.

And I think that, even if the show isn't new, I'm allowed to watch a thing for the first time and express my feelings about it. It's fun. It's nice. It's good to discover and learn about things.

Gatekeeping won't stop me from experiencing this show for the first time but it might ruin it for someone else who does care about what a stranger online with an uncalled for response has to say about them as a person (because calling me or my reaction to the episode "stupid" was certainly a Choice).

People in the replies and reblogs of this post have been talking about Data. Every once in a while I see a comment on Data somewhere. There are very interesting back-and-forths about it, and that's where the difference between generative ai and true ai comes from, not something I said but something someone replied on this post, which means this person has seen them. In my opinion, it's all very interesting and I'm reading the discussions, trying not to get spoiled too much, but I'm not getting into those discussions because all I know about Data comes from bits and pieces of childhood memories of Next Gen and two seasons of Picard and I don't think I have the necessary information to have an opinion that merits me getting involved.

Star Trek is a franchise that has become everpresent because it has shaped fandom as we know it and the genre as we know it. That doesn't mean we've all seen it and it certainly doesn't mean people get to insult my intelligence by shaming me for not having seen a season of a show in full yet.

I'm sure that, when my family and I get to Next Gen, I'll get to know more about Data and how that compares to this discussion and to today's landscape. In time.

And, if the problem is with my perception of generative ai and its current introduction in all forms of social, educational and economic situations, that's a different discussion to be had, but gatekeeping me from Star Trek doesn't immediately invalidate my opinion on some other subject matter.

I'm going to keep posting my stupid reaction posts and be roasted for them anyway, because I'm really enjoying this show and watching it with my family. It's a life-long thing I've put off because it took a while to get a streaming service here that hosted all of them with subtitles for my parents and, even if I get these replies, I still enjoy watching it and I know it will forever be a beautiful family memory, despite the internet's reaction to it.

[mistchievous]

you work in a library! you're living my dream! 💜 do you have a thoughts/opinions on what you would like people to know about libraries? (or top 5 fave authors if not)

Oh God. Please don't ask for my favorite anything. I'm terrible at making lists like that. 😂

But I love working in a library! It's such a chill space!

I think the main thing I'd want people to know is that libraries are more than just books. Like, obviously books are important (and if your library doesn't have a book on hand, I pretty much guarantee they can get it for you via ILL), but they generally have so much more to offer. And I don't mean e-books, though those are a thing too! You should look into your local libraries' resources and even the resources of library systems around you and around your county/state/etc. Plenty of places have online resources and databases that you don't even have to live in the area to access.

And also, they're FREE community spaces. You can go there and just be without anyone expecting anything of you. You don't need to buy a coffee or justify your existence. Need wifi? Go to the library. Need to use a computer? Go to the library. Need a study room? Go to the library. Need to make copies or fax? Go to the library. Need a large meeting room for a performance or gathering or anything at all? Go the library. Does your library system have maker spaces? Go use sewing machines, 3D printers, and more. One of our branches even has a professional recording studio that you can book and use for free, and it provides recording equipment and premium software.

Wanna stream movies or tv shows without having to pay or pirate, check a site like www.justwatch.com which will tell you if library provided resources like Hoopla or Kanopy have them available allowing you access with just your library card number. (Or just go check out the DVD!) There are often expensive databases available for free as well. Like Westlaw which many people in law pay through the nose for. Or Freegal where you can download music for free. Or Tutor.com which allows you free live professional academic assistance. My system has well over a hundred different databases for all age groups. Kids, teens, young adults, adults, and seniors.

Not to mention, libraries offer community programming for all age groups as well. It's not just Book Club, though we have those too. We do story times for kids. Crafts, STEM programming, performances by local and national performers (especially in the summer), etc. We show movies using large projector screens, have video game and TTRPG programs, and offer prizes for programs such as our Summer Reading Program to encourage people to read. We also have a lot of cultural and historical local archives that house information and photographs and the like that can't be accessed anywhere else in the world.

This answer is getting long, and I've really only scratched the surface, y'all. Libraries are important spaces, and they're one of the few truly free and open community spaces still available. It's infuriating when you have people who think we're obsolete and can be replaced by paid services like Audible and Kindle Unlimited. It makes me want to scream.

Support your local libraries, okay? They matter.

[reakain]

Physical Media and Preservation

I keep seeing resurgences of cries for physical media, and a return to physical media as opposed to streaming services. For movies, for books, for games, for music. I always find these resurgences interesting for many reasons.

The first and foremost one to my mind is a bit of a duality. Whether a movie is housed on a bluray, vhs, external harddrive, or computer server, it is still technically on physical media. And this is paired with the knowledge that physical media is not some static, unchanging safe. All physical media decays (much like all things, in general) and thus media and knowledge is always at risk of destruction.

There's arguments to be made about the decline and decay of physical media, versus a streaming company's sudden decision to obliterate a piece of work from all of their systems, and to demand its removal from all other possible streaming locations. This is true and fair. The desctruction caused by a company is active - a predatory threat intent on complete destruction for the sake of their bottom line. Decay on the other hand is passive, and not seeking in nature.

Even so, the collapse can still be sudden. A smashed disc versus one that simply does not read when placed in the disc tray. An external harddrive that fails to register when connected to the computer. Media is always in some risk, and having it on disc or a personal computer does not suddenly make it "safe."

To protect media is to share it. To make sure it is widely available. To routinely check personal copies and update them to new media systems as those systems evolve. Afterall, a VHS tape is no good if there are no players to play it, or TVs that can connect to the player.

I recently learned that the timing delay on smart TVs when displaying from component cables, while not severe enough for something like watching a movie, absolutely ruins the functionality of rhythm or timing focused games such as DDR, Rhythm Heaven, or even Wii Tennis. But all modern televisions use the same converter chip for reading component inputs, and so without an older TV, they become incredibly frustrating to play.

I love physical media, as well as media archival. I routinely take older movies and shows that have been abandoned and cannot be obtained and make professional-looking BluRay copies of them. But this in itself will not save them. Backups upon backups upon backups are necessary.

I always appreciate the calls for physical media, but that alone will save nothing from extant decay. Preservation is not a passive task of holding. Preservation is an action - it is active. It requires sharing media widely, holding copies across many locations, many mediums, and many people who all are willing to reshare and remake and reupload when the media begins to disappear.

So yes, cheer for physical copies, but do more than simply requesting them. Get a bluray writer for your desktop, pull copies from the internet and reupload them elsewhere when they are taken down. Keep local copies, and share it with your friends, acquantances, and strangers, so they become another person who might have a copy when your own copies decay. Be active in your preservation. Be a digital hoarder, but also share your digital hoarde.

[fycarmensandiego]

WOEICS upscale status, and a request

The request (plea, to be precise) up top: If you have any recordings (including VHS) of WOEICS off TV, or from Yahooligans! TV, and are willing to send them to me, please get in touch. The reason why below.

So, I realize it's been a year since I upscaled any episodes. Basically my workplace got rid of the computers I'd been using and I've never remembered to start again on the new ones.

The other day, however, I tried installing a newer version of the upscaling software (Topaz AI Video Enhance) on my own computer. The old version didn't work, which is why I did it at work, but by God, the newer version does! So I'm beginning work on upscaling the show again.

I am, however, starting from scratch. I realized that part of why the episodes didn't upscale well is that there's a lot of color noise around the lines. It's present as far back as the Shout! Factory season 1 DVDs, but not on my VHS (the original four releases), nor my off-air recordings of two episodes ("Curses, Foiled Again" and "The Stolen Smile") in syndication. I'm fairly certain that Dic either lost or junked their masters, and that everything from that Shout! release forward - including the Tubi uploads - has been sourced from copies, or copies of copies, which have degraded the picture and made it harder to upscale. Copies from TV broadcasts - Fox, Fox Family, Pax, or syndication - don't seem to have those artifacts, presumably because they were derived from the master. Although they tend to have more flickering noise, that's very easy to remove with Topaz.

So, what I'd like to do is source every episode from off-air recordings, if possible (and if they don't have channel or E/I bugs in the way). If you have any recordings on VHS, or for that matter DVD or via DVR, and you'd be willing to send them to me, please get in touch. I can keep them or send them back, if you wish.

In addition, I know that copies of the show from its time on Yahooligans! TV (a sort of primitive streaming service... iykyk) were circulating online at the time. I'm not sure what the quality of those is, but if you have them, I'd like to have a look.

(This is true even of the episodes I already have. For instance, the original broadcasts of Moondreams on Fox, Fox Family, and Pax had subtitles when the henchpeople speak in Chinese, but the retail release and all subsequent broadcasts don't. My copy of Curses, Foiled Again is cut off at the beginning, and there are weather alerts marring both it and The Stolen Smile - which is the broadcast version with the alternate theme and title card.)

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to stan Ivy.

[charlieeenby]

my partner, my soldier, my fault

jason only ever wanted one thing from bruce after he came back. bruce said he'd never give it to him.

in which bruce does the one thing jason asked for.

warnings and tags: murder, fix it of sorts, blood, gore, violence, gun violence, angst, hopeful ending

"I was a child, not a soldier!" Jason yelled. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Bruce stayed quiet, letting Jason yell.

"Nothin' to say, huh? You know what you did was fucked up! And then you turned around and put my suit in a case? And it's still covered in my blood! You couldn't even clean it!"

"Jay-"

"No, shut the fuck up! Shut up!" Jason turned and stormed away, shoving his helmet on, swinging his leg over his bike and taking off, the revving engine echoing in the cave, and when it stopped, Bruce collapsed.

His knees hit the ground, tears flowing down his cheeks, sobs racking his form. his baby was gone again and he hadn't been able to force himself to say something.

Bruce knew he'd made mistakes, but to hear how angry and heartbroken Jason had been, it broke him inside a little.

Not only had he been unable to bring his son's killer to justice, but he'd created a shrine that only served to create more pain for all of them.

"Master Bruce, are you alright?" Alfred was kneeling next to Bruce, concern ever present in the old butler's body language and tone.

"I have to..." Bruce inhaled, breath shaking. "I have to get rid of it." he muttered, pulling himself up and standing.

"Get rid of what?"

Staggering forward, Bruce moved over to the case. When he stopped in front of it, he stared at it for a moment. Then he opened the case, ripping the suit out.

Clutching it to his chest, he stumbled over to the edge of the platform. For a moment, Bruce didn't move, didn't do anything.

Extending his arm, fingers still gripping tightly, he whispered, "I'm so sorry." Then he let go of the suit and watched it flutter down into the darkness.

Turning around, he headed to the computer and found the Joker. He was still in Arkham, which would make getting to him easy.

"Alfred."

"Yes, Master Bruce?"

"I need a gun."

Alfred stared at his son for a moment. Then he nodded. "What kind?"

Bruce hesitated. "I don't know. I - something small, that I can conceal."

"And what are you planning to use it for?" Alfred was rather confident he knew the answer, but he wanted to be certain.

"I'm going to kill the Joker."

"Right then. I'll go get one. You best put your suit on, sir."

"Yes. Thank you, Alfred."

"Of course, dear boy."

The Joker cackled as Bruce dragged him into the warehouse. Throwing him to the ground, Bruce slammed his fist into the monster's face.

"What are we doing, Batsy?" Joker asked, blood streaming from his nose.

"What I should have done a long time ago." Bruce snarled, and pulled out Alfred's gun.

Joker laughed as Bruce pressed it to his forehead. "You don't kill, Batman. You won't kill me, you and I both -" the Joker was cut off when Bruce pulled the trigger, a bullet blowing through his brain and out the other side.

Blood and bone and flesh splattered.

Bruce let out a sigh of relief.

Holstering the gun, he stepped back. There was blood on his face, cowl, and chest. Turning around, he walked out, leaving the Joker's body there to be found by someone else.

Maybe this wouldn't fix things with Jason, but he should have done this a long time ago. The Joker had killed and ruined the lives of far too many people, including Bruce's family.

Barbra was in a wheelchair, Jason had been killed, and while Tim had recovered, he still had nightmares and any mention of the Joker triggered panic attacks.

But no more.

No more people would die because of the Joker, Harley would be able to heal from his abuse. And maybe so could Tim, just a little. Jason would no longer live in fear of the Joker finding him, though he hid that fear well.

Jason stared at his TV. The Joker had been found dead in a warehouse, a single gunshot wound to the head.

Joker had been in Arkham and there were no reports of him breaking out.

"Look, I'm not condoning killing, but the bastard needed to be put down. We'll investigate, but I wouldn't be surprised if the killer doesn't serve time." Commissioner Gordan said.

Jason wanted it to be Bruce who killed the Joker, but Bruce didn't kill and he certainly didn't use guns.

Right?

Jason heard his phone chime so he got up and walked over to it. He had a text from Bruce. Preparing to defend himself, he unlocked his phone and opened his texts.

I'm sorry. I know it may never be enough, but I did what you wanted.

Jason stared at it for a moment, trying to process what he was reading. Has Bruce really killed the Joker.

He supposed the only way to figure it out was to go talk to Bruce. He likely wouldn't confess over text or even a phone call.

Leaving his apartment, he hopped on his bike and sped to the manor.

When he arrived, he went in the front door.

"Alfred?" he called out, and a moment later, the butler appeared.

"Master Jason, it's good to see you." he said, smiling warmly.

"Yeah. I need to talk to Bruce. Is he around?"

Alfred nodded. "He's in his study."

"Okay. Thanks, Alfie."

"Not a problem. And when you're done, come down to the kitchen, will you?"

Jason smiled. "Sure." he turned and headed to the staircase, thoughts racing as he did.

Heading upstairs, Jason tried to figure out what to say to Bruce. He could get straight to the point, but maybe he would just wait and see if Bruce would admit it on his own.

If he'd even been the one to kill the Joker.

Knocking lightly on the door to Bruce's study Jason waited until he heard Bruce tell him to come in before opening the door and slipping inside.

When Bruce looked up and saw him, he was clearly surprised. "Jason?"

"That's me, old man." Jason hesitated, but kept going. "Got your text."

Bruce nodded.

"Wasn't sure what you meant."

Sighing, Bruce sat back in his chair. Jason wasn't sure what was going to happen next.

"Have you seen the news yet, this morning?"

Jason nodded, but said nothing.

"I did it."

"What?"

"I killed the Joker." Bruce didn't speak loudly, but it was enough. Jason heard him.

"Why? You said-" Jason stopped. He had no idea what to say.

"Because you were right. Because I should have done that a long time ago. He never should have killed you. He never should have hurt Tim. He never should have put Barbra in that wheelchair. I failed all of you and I failed Gotham.

"I'm sorry it took me this long."

"You did it... for us?"

"I did it because you... you needed it. And you are my son. I love you no matter what. And yes, I thought of Tim and Barbra and Gotham, but it was for you. It was because of you."

Jason stared at Bruce, not sure how he felt.

"Look, Jay, I know i messed up, and I understand if you want nothing to do with me, but," Bruce paused and looked at his hands. "If you want to be here, if you want to try to fix our relationship, I'm here. And even if you don't want to talk to me, you're still welcome here. Okay?"

Jason nodded, a little shocked. Then he said, "Thank you."

Bruce looked at him and smiled a little. "It's good to see you, Jaylad."

"Yeah." Jason looked down, tears in his eyes. "I wanna come home, Dad." he whispered, tears escaping.

Bruce stood and walked over to him. "Can I hug you?" he asked softly.

Jason nodded and Bruce wrapped him in a hug, tucking Jason's head under his chin. "Come home, sweetheart. Come home."

Jason sobbed and hugged Bruce back, fingers twisting in Bruce's shirt.

"I love you, Jason Todd. And I'm so, so sorry,"

[techtired]

How to Safely Stream Movies with Tamil DBox?

TamilDbox is a great website where you can grab Tamil films and TV shows and watch them online.  Tamil DBox is one of those not-so-legit movie platforms with a massive collection of Tamil movies. It also has a mix of dubbed web series and films in various languages. What sets Tamil DBox apart from the usual torrent sites is its knack for delivering movies and shows in glorious HD. We're talking about visuals that make every scene pop and every detail crystal clear. Whether it's the latest blockbuster or your favorite TV series, Tamil DBox doesn't compromise quality. They've got everything from standard 480p to ultra-HD 1080p, catering to everyone's viewing preferences. However, there's a bit of a hitch. The Indian Government wasn't thrilled about Tamil DBox's offerings, and understandably so. The website was known for distributing pirated copies of the hottest releases in movies and web series. That kind of thing doesn't sit well with copyright laws. So, the authorities decided to block Tamil DBox. If you try to visit the site now, you'll be redirected to Tamil Gun, another piracy hub where you can find similar, unauthorized content. From 5 stars, my rating on Tamildbox is 4.5. Website Name Tamil DBox Type Streaming Content Movies, TV Shows Primary Language Tamil Accessibility Free Registration Unnecessary Content Quality Variable User Interface Simple Ads Frequent Updates Regular Popularity Moderate Legal Status Controversial Audience Regional Platform Availability Web Streaming Quality Variable What Tamildbox Can Do? Excellent Tamil Film Quality Tamil films on Tamildbox are played in excellent quality with rapid streaming, so I enjoy viewing them. Even more ancient Tamil films are of decent quality. Furthermore, some films provide subtitles in several languages. Hence, Tamildbox is accessible not only to Tamil speakers but also to individuals speaking other languages. Current Tamil Full Movies Tamildbox features films and episodes that have lately been uploaded online. Popular movies and shows may be streamed here, including Big Boss, Bigil, Parts, and Hero. A-Z List Tamildbox's A to Z list—which arranges films alphabetically—is among my favorite aspects. For movie buffs like me, searching and viewing entire films is simple. Events News Tamildbox also supplies Tamil movie news. This part allows me to read all IMDb news about Tamil films and shows and uncover the most recent updates in the Tamil cinema scene. Best IMDb Tamildbox contains a part that filters top-rated Tamil IMDb films and shows. This list comprises all the well-known and innovative Tamil films and flicks. HD Grade Full HD availability of the newest Tamil films and episodes on Tamildbox improves my viewing experience. I can pick the caliber of the shows so that Tamildbox gains popularity for its outstanding viewing quality and regular buzz. Tamil DBox: How Does It Work? Tamil DBox is an IPTV service that lets people watch Tamil TV shows, movies, and live channels. In general, it works by following these steps: Subscription: People who want to use the Tamil DBox service must register for it, which can usually be done online. Setup of the Device: The Tamil DBox app is downloaded and installed on a device that can be used, like a computer, smart TV, streaming box, or smartphone. Sign-in: Users use their membership information to sign in. Users can look through and choose material to stream live or on-demand. Internet Connection: To stream material without interruptions, you need a stable internet connection. How Do I Use Tamil DBox? Go to the Tamil DBox website and sign up for a plan that fits your needs. Get the app downloaded. Install the Tamil DBox program on the device of your choice. Open the app, then log in using your subscription credentials. Connect to a VPN server in an area where Tamil DBox is accessible if you wish to utilize a VPN for access or privacy concerns. Search Content: Go over the accessible live channels, TV shows, and films. Choose the stuff you wish to view, and then start streaming. Top VPNs to Use for Tamil DBox VPN Provider Features Speed Privacy Price ExpressVPN Strong encryption, no-logs policy, 24/7 support Very fast Excellent $12.95/month NordVPN Double VPN, CyberSec, no-logs policy Fast Excellent $11.95/month CyberGhost NoSpy servers, ad-blocker, no-logs policy Fast Very good $12.99/month Surfshark Unlimited devices, CleanWeb, no-logs policy Fast Very good $12.95/month Private Internet Access (PIA) Strong encryption, no-logs policy, MACE Fast Very good $11.95/month PROs and CONs of Tamildbox PROS New films and series today Tamil news and commentary premium films Completely long films Fast movie streaming CONS: Ads sandwiched between complete films On a slow network, the buffer can be slow. Release date and base of reference Developed in India and debuted in 2018, Tamildbox has Over 100k people utilizing it, 80% of them from Tamilnadu in South India. My Update on Tamildbox Tamil films are the most watched in India after Hindi since they are well-known for their drama and action. Tamildbox is one of the few websites dedicated to Tamil films and shows when I wish to view the newest ones online. Tamildbox has all the recently produced shows. Top Tamil DBox Alternatives TamilGun Website - link Famous for viewing and downloading movies and TV shows, TamilGun provides Tamil dubbed and subtitled versions free of registration. Users can download complete-length films and TV episodes in HD quality and search Bollywood and Hollywood films in Tamil with subtitles. Users of the site may request particular films, and the site is constantly updated. TamilGun is a seamless and user-friendly platform, even if there are a few adverts since they do not disturb the viewing experience. Tamilrokers A free online movie streaming and downloading tool, Tamilrockers is kept orderly. It provides a large library of films in good resolution, high-quality sound, and fast-update fresh releases. Though they hardly impede the viewing experience, users may occasionally run across pop-ups. Tamilrockers is a consistent substitute for TamilDbox since it offers films of all kinds, including Tamil dubbed and subtitled versions. TamilYogi Google PlayStore - link With a vast collection of Hollywood and Bollywood movies in Tamil, TamilYogi is a great place to locate Tamil dubbed movies. It has a neat look with choices for new movies, Tamil dubbed movies, and HD movies, and it calls for no registration. Although some advertising and pop-ups could show that TamilYogi offers excellent material and a pleasant surfing experience, it is a viable substitute for TamilDbox. Movierulzz Website - link Providing a large library of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films, Movierulzz is an excellent substitute for TamilDbox. The site offers a download choice, HD video streaming, and an extensive search engine. To access the materials, users must register a free account. Movierulzz offers a complete streaming service with a big archive of Hollywood and dubbed Hollywood movies in Tamil and Telugu. Final Words Among South Indians, Tamildbox is a preferred viewing tool for free and currently available Tamil movies since it is among the greatest. Tamildbox is the finest option if you are looking for any Tamil films or series. FAQs Is TamilDbox legal to use? The licence of the content TamilDbox broadcasts determines whether or not utilizing it is legal. TamilDbox is lawful to use, provided it has acquired appropriate licences for its content. Using the service would be criminal if it transmits pirated materials without permission. To guarantee local law compliance, always verify the legal situation of the website in your own country. How should I apply to TamilDbox? Using TamilDbox, follow these guidelines: Subscribe: Visit the TamilDbox website and sign up for a relevant plan. Get the App: Install the TamilDbox tool on your gadget. Opening the app, log in using your credentials. Review the movies, TV series, and live channels that are accessible, and then choose and start streaming your preferred content. Can I use TamilDbox's VPN? Indeed, a VPN with TamilDbox will help you improve access to limited content in your area or privacy. Among the best VPNs for this aim are CyberGhost, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN. After connecting to a VPN server situated in an area where TamilDbox is accessible, go on using the service as usual. Read the full article

[billconrad]

Fan Fiction

    Writers and readers typically categorize fan fiction as the worst category. But why? The primary reason is that respected works get trashed by a fan story. For example, if a person wrote a Star Wars story about Luke Skywalker’s twin brother. This is a perfectly valid storyline, but the Star Wars creators and fans would be super upset by such an outrageous slap to their treasured character. There is even a term for such deviations, “non-canon,” meaning the Star Wars creators would not consider a twin brother storyline to be part of the approved existing story.

    There are authorized (legitimate) Star Wars comic books, novels, and TV/streaming shows that stray far away from the original story. I bet one of them might explore a twin story. This is true, but the creators of Star Wars do their best to keep alternate plots close to the original story.

    The allure of writing fan fiction is powerful because the big story is well established, it has a huge fan base, and it is fun to write in this well-loved world. A fan writer can easily take the main story in a new direction. “James Skywalker knew he had a gift at an early age…”

    Franchise owners put great effort into crushing fan fiction. This includes massive legal teams that search the ends of the internet to extinguish every creative effort. Of course, there are fan fiction sites, but they even have strict submission rules. Here is a submission guideline for one site:

    The overall theme of the above site is not to mess too much with the existing work, including not changing the main character’s backstories, adding big concepts, tarnishing core concepts, or killing a main character. They also do not like intimate relationships, mixing different parts of the franchise (like Star Trek Deep Space Nine with Star Trek The Next Generation), wacky dreams, or introducing something from another franchise like Captain Kirk using a Star Wars light saber.

    Would I ever consider writing in this space? I enjoy the freedom of playing in an existing big story and have spent time thinking about a Star Trek story. Of course, I can never publish my thoughts because of copyrights and trademarks. Plus, my writing style is not a simple “sit down and start typing.” I begin with a detailed outline, thinking about it for a long time, spending over 150 hundred hours writing and over 500 hours editing. Only then do I have enough confidence to pass my precious words to a beta reader (my mother), an editor, and a copy editor. That is too much effort for a project that will sit inside my computer. But could I sell my story to the franchise?

   The Star Trek owners have ultra-strict approval rules for new content, and my story violates them all. Working in this space means the franchise owner gets most of the profit. To make matters worse, big franchise owners only work with particular authors, and it would take a miracle for them to even look at my words. What about a fan site like the one above? My concept invents huge backstories, so the site would not accept it. It seems my idea will never get a single keystroke. It’s your loss, Star Trek fans.

    Yet, writing for fun is just that. Who cares if nobody reads a writer’s words? Fan fiction readers are just that: enjoyers of fan fiction. Fans write because they like to be part of something big. They write knowing they will never make any money or receive praise. This is probably the ultimate form of devotion. And if a reader does not like such works, they certainly will never go to a fan fiction site. So, no harm.

    How would I feel about a fan fiction story based on one of my books? After getting over the shock and joy that somebody took the time to write something based on my words, anger would set in. “Hey, think up your own ideas and stay away from mine!” I think many writers feel the same way. Yet, there is good news. I have a great imagination, which, if let loose, would do more damage than Captain Kirk could have ever done.

    You’re the best -Bill

    March 23, 2024

    Hey book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:

    Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.

    Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

    Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.

    Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.

    These books are available in soft-cover on Amazon and eBook format everywhere.

[noraellison92]

Fubo.tv/connect: How can I take advantages of it and run in my devices?

Nearly all Android TV devices running OS 5.0 or higher support Fubo tv. You will have two options when logging in with the fubo tv enter code or the email and passwords depending on whatever device you are using to watch Fubo TV. You must subscribe to Fubo.tv and download the FuboTV app to your device in order to use Fubo.tv connect. Then you can start exploring and watching channels after logging into your account. There will be an option for fubotv to sign up and log in using the credentials on each of the supported devices. While running the FuboTV application, you must select the'sign-in' option. then finish entering the Fubo.tv/connect code.  Apple TV, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire TV are all compatible with the fubotv. You shouldn't have any trouble watching live TV episodes and on-demand programming as long as you have an internet connection, a suitable device, and a current FuboTV membership.

Explore About Fubo Tv Activate/ Streaming Process And Other Features Here!

If you adore sports, it's time to learn more about the fubo. Tv/connect/sign-in/streaming procedure so you can watch the top sports channels on your TV! The only live streaming service that focuses on sports and has the top teams and leagues is FuboTV. Additionally, it provides the most well-liked films, television programmes, news, and other entertaining content for all types of viewers. All kinds of devices, including tablets, TVs, phones, PCs, and more, are compatible with fubo tv connect.

Fubo Tv Connect

The best is about the Fubo.tv/connect process is that it is super easy. You do not need to be techie to complete the process.

Start by visiting the application screen on your Television

Now click on the icon of a magnifying glass on your screen's upper right corner to search the Fubo TV.

As the application is spotted, click on install for downloading Fubo TV application on Smart TV.

As the process of download is over, click on the open to launch the button and sign in.

This will begin the process of streaming, and your fubo.tv/connect process is over.

How Does The Fubo TV Streaming Works?

On your computer, smartphone, or TV, you can stream fuboTV. You might wish to utilise a streaming media player, like the Amazon Fire TV Stick I tested, to view on a large screen. On your computer, smartphone, and TV, you can stream Fubo TV content. You might need a streaming media player to see your show on a huge screen. The fast list of gadgets that work with Fubo.tv/connect is provided below. You may look them up online.

iOS and Android tablets and smartphones , Android TV , Android Smart TVs , Apple TV

Amazon Fire TV , Roku , Samsung Smart TVs , Chromecast , Xbox One

For streaming Fubo tv, a high-speed internet connection is needed for streaming Fubo TV or other live television services. Around 60 Mbps would be suitable for Fubo TV streaming. This will help you avoid any error messages or buffering.

How do I sign in on my TV using a code?

You may have two options for signing in: email and password, or activation code, depending on the device you're using to watch fuboTV.

Using an email address and password to sign in is an option on any supported device. When the fuboTV app launches, just choose the SIGN IN option and use the built-in/on-screen keyboard of the device to enter your password and the email address you used to register for fubo.

All connected devices, TVs, and gaming consoles now have the option to sign in using an activation code. 

Launch the fuboTV app and select SIGN IN

The SIGN IN WITH A CODE screen will display

On your phone, tablet, or computer, visit fubo.tv/connect and enter the code displayed on your TV, then click SUBMIT

If you are successful, a confirmation screen will display in your browser and your fuboTV app will open the HOME screen on your device

[newmaniawe]

TCL Roku TV Keeps Restarting | Troubleshooting Guide

If your TCL Roku TV keeps freezing and restarting or stuck on logo screen. Don’t worry! Discover expert tips and troubleshooting techniques from my lab’s proven methods to fix the issue and enjoy uninterrupted entertainment.

What Causes a Roku Device to Restart

Overheating Poor internet connection An error with the device or apps Outdated apps installed on your Roku TV Loose/Faulty Cable Connections Incompatible Update TCL 50" Class 4-Series 4K UHD

How I Fix TCL Roku TV Keeps Restarting

Unplug the Roku Device and Let it Cool Down - Unplug your Roku device and let it sit for 2-5 minutes. - Check to make sure your device isn't too close to a wall, TV, computer, etc. - Plug your device back up and let it restart. Update Your Roku You may have already tried this step, but it may be worth another attempt. The Roku is updated fairly regularly to add features or fix bugs. Updating also helps when Roku TCL TV does not turn on. Reboot Your Roku Most people tend to leave the Roku plugged in and on standby mode when not in use. Therefore, it is a good idea to reboot it regularly. Which may stop freezing or rebooting problems. 1. Go to the Settings menu and then select System. Now, select System Restart. 3. Next, select Restart. The rebooting steps alone may be enough to stop the issues you're having. Remove the Headphones From the Remote 1. Update your Roku. 2. Unplug the Roku for at least 30 seconds. 3. Remove the headphones from the remote. 4. Remove the batteries from the remote and wait about 30 seconds, then reinsert them. 5. Reboot the Roku. 6. Check again for updates. Disable Your Nintendo Switch Wi-Fi There has been a known issue with Nintendo Switch interfering with certain Roku Devices, but only when playing Pokemon Sword and Shield. 1. Update your Roku. 2. Unplug the Roku. 3. Turn off the Nintendo Switch or set it to Airplane Mode. 4. Reboot the Roku. 5. Check again for updates. Uninstall Non-Trusted Apps Non-trusted apps are always a way of malfunctioning on your device because they are not approved by the TV companies but somehow thor-party developers make to benefit people and themselves by glitching the system. I recommend you to uninstall those apps which are not trusted. Follow the main points below as well. - Check if there is any app update available, if yes! Do it quickly. - If there are no pending updates, then ‘Uninstall the Application’. Check Your Network Faulty Wi-Fi signals can affect data received on your Roku device, leading to freezes or reboots. If you use Wi-Fi, check the signal strength on your phone. If other people in your household are using the network, make sure that there is enough bandwidth to go around. If the signal strength or quality is poor, connect your Roku via Ethernet (if possible) and retest. What Speed Do You Need To Stream 1.5 Mbps    Recommended SD Quality3 Mbps SD Quality Check The HDMI Cable Most Roku devices use HDMI cables to connect to your TV, so that's the next logical thing to check. Swap it for another cable and see what happens. HDMI cables become faulty or loose sometimes which causes the connection issue and creates errors in TCL TV such as black screen of death. Clear Cache & Cookies Locate the home button on your remote control and access the Home Screen. Once you've found it, press the home button five times, followed by the up button four times. Then, press the rewind button twice and the fast forward button twice. After completing these steps, you'll need to wait for a short period of time. Within a few seconds, you'll notice your Roku TV restarting as it clears the cache and cookies. This process may take approximately two minutes. Rest assured that this is a normal part of the clearing process, and it is essential for resolving any underlying issues. Once the clearing process is complete, you can expect your Roku TV to function smoothly again. Factory Reset Your TCL Roku TV i) Accessing the Settings Menu Navigate through the settings menu using your remote control. Start by pressing the left button on your remote control, which will open a sub-menu. ii) Selecting System Settings Now, locate and select the "Settings" option. To do this, use the up arrow button on your remote control. This will bring you to the main settings menu. iii) Accessing Advanced System Settings Within the settings menu, scroll down until you find the "Advanced system settings" option. Click on it to proceed. iv) Initiating the Factory Reset By selecting the factory reset option, you will reset all audio, picture, downloads, and apps on your TV. It is crucial to note that this action cannot be undone, so exercise caution and make sure you genuinely want to proceed. v) Confirming the Factory Reset To confirm the factory reset, press "OK" or "Enter" on your remote control. A confirmation code will be displayed on the screen, ensuring that the reset is not accidental. Enter the displayed code using your remote control, and press "OK" to proceed. vi) Reconfiguration Once the factory reset process is initiated, the TV will undergo a reboot. This process typically takes around a minute or a minute and a half. Afterward, your TCL Roku TV will return to its original factory default screen. Enjoy Reading Too: Why Is My TCL TV Screen Flickering TCL TV Keeps Going Back To Home Screen Frequently Asked Questions Can a software update resolve the TCL Roku TV restarting problem Yes, a software update can often resolve the TCL Roku TV restarting problem. Make sure your TV is connected to the internet and check for any available software updates in the settings menu. Installing the latest update can fix bugs and compatibility issues that may be causing the restarts. What should I do if my TCL Roku TV keeps restarting after a software update? If your TCL Roku TV continues to restart after a software update, try performing a factory reset. This will revert the TV to its default settings and can often resolve any lingering software issues. Remember to back up any important data before performing a factory reset. Can overheating cause my TCL Roku TV to restart frequently? Yes, overheating can cause your TCL Roku TV to restart frequently. Ensure that your TV has proper ventilation and is not blocked by any objects. Clean any dust or debris from the vents and consider using a fan or keeping the room temperature cool to prevent overheating. Are incompatible apps or channels causing my TCL Roku TV to restart? Yes, incompatible apps or channels can cause your TCL Roku TV to restart. If you recently installed a new app or channel and the restarts started happening, try removing or disabling it to see if the problem resolves. Check the TCL Roku Channel Store for official and compatible apps for a smoother TV experience. Could a faulty power supply be the reason behind my TCL Roku TV's frequent restarts? Yes, a faulty power supply can be a reason behind frequent restarts on your TCL Roku TV. Make sure the power cord is securely connected and not damaged. If the issue persists, consider contacting TCL support or a professional technician to diagnose and replace the power supply if necessary. LG 83-inch Class OLED

About Author Read the full article

[woodedsilence]

Electricity

I know there are naysayers who will tell me that thinking WiFi signals and electricity pulses having a negative impact on me is all in my head. My own family has a few of them and I just ignore it because I know my own body. Ever since I was a kid when we would drive by those power stations my head would hurt and I would get nauseous until I was well away from them & this wasn’t something I realized until I was old enough to start driving myself. In my city, there is a road with high powered pylons lining the middle of the road and the entire time on that road my head hurts & I get sick to my stomach.

When I started driving and like habits are, would drive down this road, I started wondering, “Is it this street” “Is it the power lines here”? Once I began finding new ways to drive around my city & the symptoms never happened again on any other route I took. Well, it doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together. As time went on and Wifi became a thing, I noticed this new intense feeling of being overwhelmed & my instincts, without thinking, were to just disconnect from everything. I could feel that feeling of being out of control and overwhelmed literally melt away as soon as the TVs and Wifi was turned off. It was too much stimulation for me. But, I use to have the TV on everyday growing up & in my early 2o’s, it was background noise & comforting. After decades now of trying to figure it out, I can say, for myself, it is not the Tv, computers or cellphones. It is the Wifi signal. I can happily and peacefully enjoy my Television, cellphone and my computer without the connection. Antenna TV is not the same as Streaming. These days everything is connected to WiFi and for me it does sometimes get to be too much.

So, back on point, last night around dinnertime, I knew it was about that time to start planning for a temporary shut down of things when I thought, what would happen if I cut off all the electricity to the house? Not, just shut off all the lights. But, turn off all the breakers, cease as much power coming into my home as possible?

Thankfully as my Husband was the one who did all the electric work on our home, he knew it was quite possible and was able to shut off everything except the fridge and the dryer, which I had just put a load of clothes into. If I could do this every night, I think I would be a very happy person. I haven’t slept that well in ages and my dreams were filled with happiness & memories, people, who I imagine, were part of my past dreams. But, I haven’t dreamt about in ages. It was like a huge reunion. It felt safe, it felt right, it felt proper. In fact, right before I started writing this, the power had only been turned back on for an hour and I caught myself in a weird trance staring at pointless venture on my computer screen, I had to snap myself out of it. {That could just be unhealthy browsing habits} But, still it wasn’t just the browsing, I felt like I was suddenly stupid. There was also pressures in my head, neck and chest that I only ever get when I drive past those power stations. It wasn’t as severe. But, having turned off the power at it’s source, has left me realizing there is a little bit of interference in our home as well. Could this all be total coincidence? I suppose so. But, it’s something I’m willing to experiment with, in fact, while browsing the last few moments of power left on my phone.

I found these plugs for lamps that will keep them working during a power outage. Don’t get me wrong, I love my candles, I prefer them actually. But, if this is going to be an every night thing. I need to make it a little more convenient for everyone in the household. I very much look forward to sharing whether or not this is something that makes my nights & mindset better.

[carlageddon]

Any one else giving WarhammerPlus a go?

So I signed up to WarhammerPlus for a couple of months to see if it’s any good... 

...well that’s a bit of a lie... I signed up for WarhammerPlus in the hopes of winning “all their Paints & Tools” 

So bearing in mind, I still have fond memories of painting back in ‘94. We had about 8 different colours to choose from... a little different to the variety (and quality) we have now.

However, it’s now 14th of February and I’m not feeling the love... because I don’t think I won? I’ve tried tweeting the fine folks at Warhammer but I just get ignored. 

Any way, whilst I have it I’ve been trying to remember to use it as it does seem to have both “Great”, “Could be better” and “Would be good if I had any friends” stuff on there.

 The entire way it’s structured is a bit bad. There are three parts to it from what I can tell, each scattered into their own separate areas.

Warhammer TV. 

 This is their video section of the subscription. They have some excellent cartoons. Hammer & Bolter seems to be great at telling different stories from different factions of the 40K universe.

Some tutorials explaining how to play their games (outside of HeroQuest, I’ve never actually ever played a Games Workshop game. Doesn’t help I have no one to play with). A lot of these look like Games that take an entire day to play.

Then they have other stuff like the Citadel Colour Masterclass, which tries to help you with Painting tutorials... they make it all look so easy.

It would be nice if you could have an APP on the LG store that allows you to watch it direct on the TV, however, you can just stream it to your TV from you App on your phone or tablet I guess.

Warhammer 40,000 “THE APP”.

 This looks like it will be good if you play the 40K. As it’s got all the stats and rules for each army and character. So would be useful to bring each one up on a tablet, rather than rifling through a Codex each and every move. 

(Don’t get me wrong.. I love Warhammer Codex Books... I’ve just started collecting them. I don’t play the game (would like to) I just like the books and the pretty pictures inside) also... I still prefer the 90s Space Wolves heroes.

Warhammer Vault.

This. This is where, I think it really falls on it’s ass.

The idea of having White Dwarf issues, in PDF format, you can view online is a fantastic idea. Not only are we getting the newer ones, but we also have access to the older 2005 and upwards (they really need to do the ones from the mid 90s though). I would quite happy pay the £5 a month for the White Dwarfs and their back catalog. 

HOWEVER. I like most people am not going to sit and read a PDF magazine, on my computer. (OK it’s useful for scrolling through and looking at the pretty pictures). When you run this on a tablet it is slow (if it loads at all). I’ve tried this on multiple brands of tablets and it’s awful. Trying to load an entire magazine as a embedded PDF in a browser. Would the better solution not be for them to have their own PDF viewing app? or integrate with Amazon Kindle? or something better than a browser. 

It makes me so frustrated, do the people that put this together, not go home and test it for themselves? Hire me. I’ll tell you how to run your company I know little about...

It looks like the Paints have gone through several releases since I used them in the mid 90s. Also yes. I am a fan of Space Wolves..

Other than Warhammer-Vault rarely works very well on a tablet. It is a brilliant idea. I hope they do manage to sort their own PDF reader App out - at the very least, an offline mode. 

Oh yeah - there was one more thing. If you subscribe for a year, you get the choice of a ‘free’ miniature : 

Currently you can get Azrakh the Annihilator for Warhammer 40K or Mobyllorr Darkfang for Warhammer Fantasy Warhammer Age of Sigmar. But you have to wait a full year (and pay the £60) before you’ll see it. By then I’m hoping my painting will of improved enough to risk putting brush to figure. That’s another thing... at some point between the mid-90s and 2022, it stopped being Warhammer Fantasy, and is now called “Age of Sigmar”. Now back in my day. We didn’t call the store Warhammer, we called it Games Workshop, and a pound coin was called a golden queen. There were only 4 days in a week, back then we didn’t call them a day, we called them a quarter moon turn...

..end of ramblings...

[californiafacts]

Disney Plus Error Code 39: A Quick Fix

Disney Plus Error Code: The options for over-the-top (OTT) services are extensive at this point. There is entertainment in every genre available on every streaming service, but none of them can compare to what Disney+ has to offer. Due to the exclusive nature of Disney Plus, my family and I like binge-watching there frequently. We get error messages like Disney Plus Error Code 39 while trying to watch our favourite shows or movies. Nonetheless, these glitches only occasionally show up as brief flashes on our screen. However, these negatives are enough to dampen any exhilaration. Social media search trends for the error code 39 seem to indicate that it is a widespread problem. Since then, a large number of Disney+ users have reported receiving Error Code 39 across a wide variety of platforms, including PCs, Apple TVs, Nvidia Shields, Android phones, and iOS gadgets. All of us are experiencing this same difficulty. In other words, you aren't the only one wondering where they can find their favourite films. Disney Plus error 39 could have a wide variety of potential causes. That's why we're committed to finding an answer for you. If you're seeing Disney Plus error code 39, keep reading to learn how to resolve the issue.

What Is Error Code 39?

The rights management code 39 indicates an error occurred when attempting to access protected content. If the streaming service is attempting a secure connection, this is good news. However, this system is not capable of delivering it. There are a number of possible culprits for this issue, including the Disney+ app, the streaming device, the HDMI cable, or even the TV itself. In the past, this was a typical Xbox One mistake. Today, though, it's not uncommon for smart TVs and other streaming devices to experience this issue as well.

Disney Plus Error Code

What Does Disney Plus Error Code 39 Look Like?

When the error occur, you will see the error message mentioned below: - We’re sorry, but we cannot play the video you requested. Please try again. If the problem persists, contact Disney+ Support (Error Code 39).

How to Fix Disney Plus Error Code 39?

Even though most people have some familiarity with technology now, many viewers still report having the problem. Users claim Disney has yet to provide a long-term fix for this issue. As a consolation, they give out some free stuff to their viewers. No one is breaking any rules, so how can they be fixed? If you're having trouble with Disney Plus and receiving error code 39, try applying the workaround provided below. Many people have reported great success after implementing these strategies. Now then, here it is. Solution #1 – Check All Other Connected Devices Having several accounts allows you to stream multiple videos at once. Your loved ones may be tuning in to your Xbox One livestream from their mobile devices or computers. However, having multiple devices streaming at once can disrupt your Xbox One experience. As a result, restrict Disney Plus use to a single device at a time. If you're using the account on more than the maximum number of devices, you'll need to log out before streaming on the Xbox One app. Solution #2 – Restart your Console Restart your Xbox One console to refresh the connection and fix the error quickly. Solution #3 – Check Your Internet Connection Do a speed test to see if you have at least 5 Mbps to stream Disney Plus. If not, improve your Internet connection. You may also contact your provider if there is a problem with your connection. Solution #4 – Change your HDMI port Try changing the HDMI port on your TV. Insert the HDMI plug into another port and try relaunching Disney+ app to check if the error code still exists or not. Solution #5 – Reinstall the App If none of the solutions above can help you, uninstall the app first on your Xbox One. Then, reinstall the app. Check if the error still exists. Read More: - Maria Taylor Height Weight: She Play Basketball In College - Rachel Weisz Plastic Surgery, Boob Job and More Facts Read the full article

[fakeshibe]

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!!! giving some recommendations back!! everything is like, online or computer based because i can't think of anything irl! Also! i tried to find things that are free, because everything costs money now and it sucks so free resources are always good :)

Does The Dog Die? (Totally free, donation optional) A crowdsourced database of content/trigger warnings for film, tv, books, comic and just general media and entertainment. It gives a yes/no for triggers as rated by users, and lets users add comments describing what exactly happens so that you can fully understand why it might be triggering. It covers a lot of stuff, from really common triggers like abuse, to more specific triggers like misrepresentation of autism or specific injuries (like i really hate teeth stuff, and this site gives me a heads-up of if anything happens, and how I'll know it's coming up). Everybody deserves to enjoy films, triggers and sensitivities shouldn't get in the way of that. https://www.doesthedogdie.com/

JustWatch (Totally free, Ad supported) A database of where films and television shows are available to stream/purchase online. It's also built into letterboxd, which i'm not gonna put on the list cause it's already fairly well known, but letterboxd is super useful for building watchlists and keeping track of what films you've seen!! Anyway, JustWatch will show you every location a film is streaming, if it's free, and you can change location to see if you can get it anywhere when you are definetly on holiday and not changing your location any other way :)

SIGNALIS (Normally £16, £11 in steam winter sale) Play signalist please oh my god. An incredible survival horror with PSX visuals and gameplay inspired by Silent Hill and Resident Evil. It has a genuinely touching and devestating story about love and loss, and visuals inspired by Neon Genesis Evangelion (Especially the last 2 episodes), Ghost in the Shell and every other good sci-fi anime to exist. It's got the depressing hopelessness of Evangelion plus the Exestential horror of lovecraft and a dash of doomed lesbian robot angst to top it all off. (And just a tip, the end is not always the end. Even when it really, really feels like it is)

This specific SilvaGunner rip (Totally free)It's a mash-up of Everything is Going to be Okay from Prey (2017) and Fresh Static Snow by Porter Robinson and when you listen to it it really does feel like everything is going to be okay.

Prey (2017) (Normally £25, currently £2.50) I talk about Dishonored a lot but I'm just as obsessed with Prey. It's just that posting almost anything about Prey is spoiling Prey, and I think it's better to go in blind. I love that game with my whole heart. I could say so much about this game but I don't wanna spoil it so I'll leave it at that.

In fact fuck it, every Arkane game (Normally £200+, currently £33) they're all on sale on steam till Jan 4th. You can buy almost every arkane game ever made in a bundle for less than £10 atm. Dishonored and all it's DLC, Dishonored 2, Prey, Dishonored: Death of the outsider, Arx Fatalis and Dark Messiah are in the Arkane 20th Anniversary collection which is currently £8.26. Deathloop is £10 and Redfall is £15. You can buy every Arkane game for £33 at the moment which is genuinely ridiculous. It'd normally be like £200!!! if you've been thinking about trying any of them, now is the time!! :)

Dither Me This (Totally free, donation optional) This website just dithers images for you, which makes them look really cool and also means they take up far less space. So if you wanna run an old tech style blog, you can make all your images look the same way they'd be displayed on an Apple II computer or a commodore 64. v cool little site! https://doodad.dev/dither-me-this/

MyNoise (Totally free, donation optional) You wanna generate noise? this website is for you! what type of noise? well there's the usual rain, white noise, oceans, brown noise, distant thunder stuff. But also! Cafe noise, forest noise, dungeon noise, tavern noise, oblivion?, spooky ghost singing??, exam hall noises??? literally any soundscape you can think of, bam there's something for it on there. And best of all? it's customisable! here are sliders to change the elements each soundscape is made of. So if your dungeon is a little too much water dripping and not enough clanking chains, well you can just move those sliders till you're happy with it, for literally every pre-set soundscape on the site. None of the pre-sets match what you're looking for? well, make your own! you can copy the sliders from other soundscapes and add them to your own composite soundscape to create a new soundscape. It's a little complicated and can only be done on desktop, not their app, but it's great!! Does your medieval tavern need more whimsical siren song, sorted. Your peaceful beach needs some bird song? easy. It's really great. Some stuff is paywalled, but honestly in my entire time using the site I've never been blocked from anything, it's only things like guided meditation and downloads that are blocked. If I used it more often I'd absolutely donate to their Patreon tbh. You can't use these soundscapes in creative stuff without permission because copyright and human decency obv, but they're excellent for writing/reading atmosphere or for ttrpg stuff!! and if you're a patron you can get them to send you an mp3 version of any soundscape, including your custom ones :)

merry christmas and happy holidays again!! I hope some of this is useful or interesting :) honoured to be part of your tradition this year!! I said in the comments already but there's definitely stuff in there that I'm gonna find super interesting!! especially the doc and the comic, they definitely seem like my thing :D

No obligation to also add things, but there's a couple things I think you guys would find useful/interesting in both posts so I'm tagging you!! @adammonoscore the sound generator especially might be useful for ttrpg stuff, @brittleboneless and @sevententv the £200 of games for £30 might be of interest to you, @exoticotter @hamtv12 and @crunchysaladx the dithering tool and art doc might be of interest to you!! (i haven't watched it yet though so i can't say exactly why other than it's art) also!! @idkhbutillendupranting i’m tagging you because i think you’d find a couple of things interesting, the yo ho ho suggestions, gaming and just general holiday vibes i wanted to tag you for

i wanna hear your recommendations!

a list with some stuff i like + a request for you to share yours :)

as a godless queer who spawned on earth randomly one time, my only holiday-season tradition is charity + passionately enjoying things. in lieu of passing my followers & mutuals $100 cash, have a random variety of things you might like to try - i know we're an international bunch so your mileage may vary on what you can access. in the spirit of giving i am hoping for some recs 🎁♥

disclaimer these are just things i like i am not paid. would be great. but.

yo ho ho if you read comics & manga but always found it to be a pain in the ass to source online, here's the aggregator app of your dreams: tachiyomiJ2K. real. not clickbait. android only tho. the extensions mangacute, mangadex, allanime, and mangareader, are good places to start. as a creator, i'm always iffy about recommending this kind of thing because i'd much prefer you went out and brought the things you're reading, however i'm not under any illusions about which era we're in, media-wise and economy-wise

gemma! - webcomic what if corvo was a woman and young emily was a dragon and they went on adventures in a fun fantasy/adventure way that is Extremely Gender. pictured: gender. god i want to be her > is this the greatest webcomic of all time? no. is it that sweet spot between 'mindless fun' and 'good'? yes. you get me

laksa noodles the more intl friends i have the more i realise that laksa isn't common everywhere. don't let that stop you from trying it. ultimate comfort food. hearty noodly soupy goodness. worth seeking out fr

ways of seeing - mini-documentary so profoundly changed the way i think that i had been wanting to revisit it and so was delighted to find its all on youtube. if you're an artist or want to improve your ability to critically think about what you're seeing in media, this is a must-see. link or embedded>

FUCKING GOOD AND CHEAP GREEN TEA price comment won't apply to everyone this site offers great prices for high quality tea direct from the farm. been buying from here for years and its always amazing - i love the houjicha/roast green tea, and if you like green tea but always wish it was stronger without sacrificing taste or becoming bitter, i recommend genmaicha matcha-iri, which uses matcha to intensify the flavour. yum

incense body powder being a perfume nerd who is prone to migraines sucks. if you like spices and good incense - not the $2 kind that you use to hide cigs from your parents but rather the kind that smells like wandering into a forest temple - you'll love incense body powder. it lasts well and i'd most compare it to a softer, more gourmand comme des garçons Incense series 3 kyoto. shoyeido is the easiest to source as far as i can tell, but other brands make it too. USD$11 - cheaper than even cheap perfumes tbh - the bag will last you years. if you try this please tell me i'd love to know what you think!

anyway!! i wanna hear your recs if you have any! can be any type of thing that has recently improved your mood or changed your life or you think someone else might like?

anyone reading can go for it, consider this a carte blanche for recommendations. gonna tag a few people - you don't have to of course thank you love you <;3 @lapinneok @dangerousdan-dan @arosebyothernames @headcrabrave @corvidad @neznoodles @retired-crow @corpseprince @i-really-hate-creating-usernames @geminison @fakeshibe @skemford @loveofdetail + please feel welcome if not tagged! edit OH @nekon-ron i tried to tag your old URL. ha

[dreamgirledward]

hey! if you're looking for a sign NOT to watch the rings of power, this can be it if you want 🥰 film-lover's psa incoming:

(this was originally a drop-down message on my the beauty of: lotr amv, which i deleted and copied here instead!)

lotr was created out of earnest love for the source material and the magic of filmmaking. the films took a total of 8 years to produce, including pick-up shots. they shot all three films continuously, well over a year, because peter jackson knew exactly what his vision would entail. the fellowship cast got matching tattoos after the experience because of how bonded they were by the end of production (john rhys-davies was the only one not to get one bc he said his stunt double, who does have a matching tattoo, did most of the hard work for him! ha!). the films put new zealand on the map and jackson opened the door for kiwi filmmakers of his generation and beyond in a way the world had never seen before. fun fact! the films also employed a huge number of Māori actors and you can actually hear and watch them doing the haka during specific battle scenes.

lotr is the perfect marriage of both 20th and 21st century filmmaking, expertly utilizing award winning practical and special effects mixed with cgi to create something wholly unique and almost timeless. compared to the two towers and return of the king being colour graded digitally, fellowship was still physically graded via colour timing (colourizing film in a lab, traditionally how all colour films were developed before the digital age), a prime example of just how new digital colour grading was in the industry. gollum was also a big first for the film industry: andy serkis shot his scenes in a motion capture suit (opposite elijah wood and sean astin), and the level of work weta digital put in to bring gollum to life resulting in such a sheer level realism was unprecedented. gollum still stands the test of time today and has aged incredibly well. the ai software, massive, was also developed for the first time for lotr to create large crowds and armies via visual effects, and changed the visual effects and 3d animation game forever. every single (computer generated) battle and crowd sequence you see in film & tv today is thanks to this software and lotr. the first time it was used was for the battle at helm's deep sequence during the two towers - and even then, that scene took over 100 days to film! the lord of the rings trilogy has been nominated 30 times and won 17 academy awards, honouring their revolutionary work in cinematography, score, visual effects, sound and picture editing, costume design, adapted screenplay, and more, and the return of the king was the first fantasy film ever to win best picture. the return of the king also accumulated eleven (!!) oscar wins, a record tied with titanic and ben-hur. aside from academy awards, the films, crew and cast have been nominated and awarded by countless guilds, boards and various awards ceremonies alike.

the rings of power however is a soulless cash grab that actively shits on tolkien's work, which is only loosely based on the novels at best. there are countless tolkien experts that can explain this much better than me, if you're interested in learning more i highly recommend reading up on it. the portrayal of galadriel alone is so severely out of character (just from the trailers!), i would argue these characters we know and love from the lotr books and films may as well be from an alternate reality of middle-earth. peter jackson and fran walsh are not affiliated with the rings of power. much like the house of the dragon, this is yet another attempt at attracting streams through the promise of nostalgia-bait, and it's riding the success of what came before it. and no, this is not because im a racist, woman-hating, anti-progressive, and elitist tolkienist, and the people who say this are performative and dont actually understand the underlying issue. the rings of power was funded because of jeff bezos personally involving himself in negotiations, and the series was created because he wanted it to be after obtaining the rights to develop a tv show. showrunners will label people like me criticizing and asking people not to support the series as anti-progressive until the cows come home because it makes them look good. if you still care about boycotting amazon, boycott this show. it's directly tied to bezos and his rotten money. if you must watch it purely for entertainment, fine, but this is a gentle reminder that pirating is easy and free <3

[miekasa]

I’m in love with the idea of twitch streamer bf eren

OKAY ME TOO!! Easily top 3 best Eren concepts imo it’s just so good and so... him, he falls on the gamer himbo boyfriend side of the scale for sure

Let’s start with his setup: purple and/or green with a dark wood tabletop. He keeps the lights green during the day or when his computer is idle, and mixes in the purple when it’s dark out because he likes the Ambiance. 

Only one monitor and do not let him buy another one no matter how much he claims he needs it. He does not. He has a TV in his room tho, but it’s not mounted above or near his desk; it’s on the opposite wall that faces his bed. Laying down and watching Netflix takes priority.  

He’s a sucker for themed keyboards/keycaps. If he finds a set themed around his favorite show or a character he likes, he’ll buy it. No self control.

The majority of his keyboards have that super clacky almost officey sounding click to them, and he’s obsessed with it. Sometimes he fucks around on Google Docs typing nonsense just to hear the keyboard make noise.

Puts in special keycaps on the ones with your initials on whichever keyboard he’s using at the moment <3 gamer boyfriend things <33

Always swears he wants to do some kind of special event or thank you for subscriber/follower milestones, but he never catches his own milestones 😭😭 by the time he realizes he has 100k subs, he’s already on 103k or something 

Then he calls you, his friends, and his subscribers fake for not pointing it out to him like sir it’s right there on your screen please. All you had to do was LOOK

If he’s in the middle of a game and he really has a to pee, or he’s gotta go do something, he’ll yell for you, and you come in, obviously slightly worried, but then Eren is just hurriedly giving you instructions, “Here, press left or right to move, spacebar to fire, avoid these, kill those. That ugly look thing to the left is Jean, and over there is his character. You’re teammates, I’ll be right back,” before he puts his headphones on your head and runs off. Now you’re left to fend for yourself, good luck.

He can be gone anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 minutes 😭😭 if he’s gone for a short amount of time, he comes back with just as much chaotic energy to take back his headphones and shoo you away as he did to throw it all on you pls.

Other times, he’ll go and make a whole ass meal and come back sauntering in with a half eaten grilled cheese in hand, “Oh shit are you still playing, babe—hey you’re doing really well, look at you go!”

When you’re not there, he mentions you a lot, because he’s always thinking about you no matter how small it is; even just the design of a character would prompt him to a make a comment, “I don’t think my girlfriend has ever played this, but I know she’d main this character.” 

Does he invite you to play a game he knows you’ve never played or are bad at with him on his stream, knowing full well he’s an ace at it and will crush you publicly? Absolutely. Without a doubt. 

There’s always a very shameless, not at all subtle shoutout to his Instagram in the middle of all his streams please, he’ll be playing a game and randomly it’s like, “Fire pic on Instagam by the way, go like that.” 

His comments are pretty respectful whenever you’re there or he mentions you; there’s a few cheeky randoms who like to make donations whenever you’re on the screen or say some inappropriate stuff, but Eren’s learned to just ignore it. It doesn’t make him happy, and he might tell people to chill if it’s excessive, but he won’t call out anything explicitly and make you uncomfortable while you’re there. 

Sometimes Connie will make a comment about how you’re hot, and that’s definitely something Eren will call out and bring attention to, more so to mock Connie than anything. 

At one point, his subscribers keep asking for more content with you (especially if you’re not there often/it’s been a while since people have seen a peek of you), to which Eren will pout because, “Hey, this is my Twitch-- now, look, you’ve gotten your Eren’s hot girlfriend privileges revoked for the week.”

Terrible at doing unboxing videos whenever he gets sent product because he just rips things open 😭😭 he’s too eager to do ASMR or gentle/detailed unboxing, he just wants to test out the new parts as soon as possible. 

Abuses his spinny gamer chair. Spins himself dizzy on it (yes, while he’s streaming and waiting for lobbies/things to load), spins you dizzy on it when you’re just trying to be comfy, spins the both of you dizzy when he’s trapped you on his lap. 

He’d be one of those lucky people who gets a cool single name user/ID. Like he gets just @eren or @jaeger/yeager, because his name is pretty unique, but I can totally see him going the typical fun gamer tag route. 

His content is anything from him streaming Overwatch and COD to terraforming his Animal Crossing island, he does not discriminate. One day you could get Eren calling Jean a fucking dumbass for not healing him, and the next day he’s doing his best impressions of Timmy and Tommy.

Do not put it past him to build you a whole ass PC setup if you express the slightest interest in one, even if it’s not solely for gaming/you wanna use it for work/school. He’ll do it. He’ll make his hyperfixating work for him. 

Plus then he’d get to give you one of his old keyboards and give you special keycaps with his initials and go on about how he’s officially got a gamer gf even if all you can do is press the spacebar <33