#ram jack systems

[abigailspinach]

"Back in DeltFall, Skarsgård gets to have some fun, briefly confusing Murderbot’s attacker by belting out the unsurprisingly cheesy theme song to The Rise And Fall Of Sanctuary Moon. The ensuing fight scene is fast-moving and kinetic and ends on a seemingly triumphant note, as Mensah appears at the last minute to ram a giant drill through the attacker’s heart. The only issue: The Override Module is not only already in place, but it’s successfully cloaked itself from Murderbot’s systems. Which means that neither Mensah nor MB know that a compulsion to kill all the PresAux humans is steadily being implanted in our (mostly) heroic SecUnit’s brain.

The sequence that follows is rich in subtext, horror, and, surprisingly, humor, as MB’s brain desperately tries to signal to itself that something is terribly wrong—most notably by dumping Skarsgård and Dumezweni’s characters into the Sanctuary Moon set, catching screamed orders from a deliberately over-the-top Jack McBrayer. It’s easily the most fun thing Murderbot has done since it started, and it shows a level of energy and inventiveness that I wasn’t sure this show had in it. Skarsgård is especially willing to come off as a goober here in the best way, half starstruck and half simply concussed, as Murderbot loses track of reality."

[maskedcop10]

AI created by fredsmith1974

It was the first time Jack worn his new rubber suit n the motor bike. It was custom made and exactly what he wanted . A good fitted muscular suit no access to his cock. His large rubber cock was fitted inside the suit, a special plug was inserted in Jack's tight hole. A special mask with black lenses and nose tubes were fitted over his head. There was no mouth in the mask, which made it even better. He looked at the mirror at home and it felt and looked perfect, this suit would be a great hit at the heath. The tight fitted boots were also custom made, and Jack looked more like a robot now then a human. His large rubber cock was pressed against the special designed cod piece. It felt great. He took his helmet and walked to his garage. The trip to the heath was about 30 minutes and it was perfect weather, so hopefully it was busy. Jack started his bike and drove off. He felt the large plug deep inside him, and it made his large cock hard as well. When he arrived at a good parking spot, he parked his bike and walked down a small path into the heath. It was a perfect evening, and Jack spotted already some good looking rubber men. Jack walked down the path and down into the bushes where the action usually took place. Jack notice the attention from men, but he wanted to wait. His cock was now semi hard inside the special cup. Jack walked around and notice a dark figure coming out of the bushes. Jack looked at the figure who was in a tight rubber suit, a gas mask with double hoses and bubble tank on his back. The breathing was heavy and they water shows that the rubber guy was breathing slowly. a massive black rubber cock was hanging between the rubber guys legs, its moves slowly up and down when he walked. Jack liked what he saw, this was something he had not seen in months. The rubber guy passed Jack and walked back into the bushes. Jack followed the rubber guy and walked down the small path into the bushes. Jack followed the guy even deeper down the small path, when the rubber guy finally stopped on the middle of the small path. Jack could hear him breathing slowly when Jack stood behind him and placed his rubber gloved hand on the guys rubber ass. Jack pressed his crotch against the rubber ass. Then Jack moves his rubber glove hands to the massive rubber cock. It was so big Jack was unable to put his hands around it. The guy turned around and faced Jack now. Pressing his monster size cock hard against Jack's crotch. Jacks hands moves over the guy's gas mask and tube system. The guy kept breathing slowly when Jack moves his hands over his mask. The mirror lenses of the mask shows no identity of the rubber guy. The rubber guy explore the suit of Jack and felt the massive bulge, hidden under the special cup. The large rubber cock was now getting harder and the rubber guy rammed it hard against Jack crotch. Jack grabbed the massive cock and stroked it The rubber guy became turned on and shows who was the top. The rubber guy pushed Jack down on the ground , and slammed his massive cock hard against Jack's helmet. Jack put his hands again over the moister size cock , Jack noticed that this cock was one with the suit no skin nothing it was something out of this world. The rubber guy took both his hands and stroke his monster size cock, and in seconds a massive load was pumped from the rubber cock over Jack's helmet. Jack took the cock in both hands and another massive load was pumped over Jacks helmet. Jack had never experience such. Jack stood up and looked at the guy who was still semi hard. Jack was pressed against a tree and the guy fucked his crotch, and another load was produced and pumped over Jack's crotch. The rubber guy finally pulled back and stood before Jack. He gave thumps up and walked back into the dark heath

[dzvelinaskebiyars]

WAS HYUK PRO IN PUNGHA HIGH?

Yes and no.

Firstly, let's make sure to remember important things:

1. Hyuk & Wooin attended Pungha HIGH school hence they were underage.

2. In the semifinals, they used their old tactics from Pungha High, which is Enchelon, lane masking, passing multiple opponents at once and etc.

3. Look at Hyuk's body and how's it built, also he was already called prodigy/genius cyclist.

You gotta note the fact that there's age restriction in Korea. South Korea enforces age-based amateurism in track cycling. High schoolers like Hyuk can compete in pro races as juniors/U23s but aren’t formally “professional” until signing with a team post-graduation. This system prioritizes education and gradual development, even for prodigies. So Hyuk could have been pro and even race pros BUT he wouldn't be able to be named as a pro because he was minor & high schooler.

Based on the description, even though Hyuk was still in high school at Pungha High, his performance and tactics were already on a professional level. Here’s why:

Hyuk had a significant mass of muscle and explosive power—traits that are typically developed by riders who train at an elite level. His ability to outpace and even overpower opponents, including those with impressive physical builds, suggests that his physical conditioning was far beyond that of a typical amateur.

In fact, even in s4 chapter 108 has been mentioned that passing in track racing is hard and passing multiple opponents at once in blink of an eye is pro level and guess what Pungha High Hyuk did? He did the same there too.

Now using Echelon? Echelon was firstly used by Kazuma crew, world classes. And irl too, Echelon formations are most famously used in professional races—especially in time trials or mass-start stages with strong crosswinds. These formations require precise coordination and deep tactical understanding, which is why pro teams and riders employ them routinely. Amateur groups might attempt echelon-like riding, but it's less common and usually not as refined. But Wooin's and Hyuk's Echelon is perfectly refined and perfectly done. Mastery of echelon formations (and even creating crosswinds artificially) is a professional-tier strategy, rarely seen in amateur racing. This requires deep understanding of aerodynamics and teamwork (with Wooin).

Now this is what we call Lane Masking. that's a tactic where a rider deliberately conceals their intended path or lane—effectively masking their true intentions to gain a competitive advantage. This technique is more advanced and typically seen in professional or high-level amateur races. It requires not only excellent bike handling but also a high degree of tactical awareness and experience.

Amateurs using such techniques is rare, they have to be pros but amateurs by name. Because these techniques predominantly features of professional-level racing due to the precision and coordination required.

Hyuk’s brute strength (ramming a jacked cyclist off his bike) and explosive sprinting (passing two riders in a blink) mirror pro-level power output. His dominance in races, such as passing multiple cyclists in the blink of an eye and even using aggressive moves like a reckless ram to unsettle competitors, demonstrates that he was operating with a mindset and skill set that belong in professional circles. Also being labeled a “genius cyclist” and a prodigy implies that he wasn’t just performing at a high level for his age but was also ahead of his peers in every aspect of racing—physical, tactical, and mental.

Hyuk was already a professional-level cyclist during his Pungha days—his tactics, physicality, and racecraft were indistinguishable from elite riders. The only thing separating him from "official" pro status was likely his age/school affiliation. This aligns with real-world prodigies (e.g., Mathieu van der Poel or Remco Evenepoel).It wasn't SAID by author that Hyuk was professional because Hyuk couldn't have the NAME of professional cyclist, but it was SHOWN that he had skills of professional cyclist.

@feelsclear @shintaru @mixingandmelting (since Hyuk is ur fav^^)

[ohnoitsz1m]

How extensive do you imagine the combine soldier modifications are? The stripped soldier model makes me think that their organs are replaced with cybernetic, “more efficient” alternatives, but how far does that go? Are their bones reinforced with metal? Are their brains supplanted with biologic sticks of RAM? How many body parts can you replace before you stop being human…

I have a couple ideas.

As far as personal headcanons go, I tend to lean towards the HL:A approach but like... It's a sliding scale.

Like, at a bare minimum, I believe every Combine soldier has the following:

A mask that cannot be removed, meaning no functional mouth </3 I do think they Have mouths. Just because of how Grunts talk. They probably just don't eat with their mouths.

Heavily modified or straight up removed organs. Their organs, especially their brains brains are heavily augmented via surgery and implants, allowing them to stay awake and on task for much longer than the average person. Likely also helps them in combat, helps em aim better and have quicker reaction times. Combine soldiers can stay awake for days at a time.

Genetic modifications helping them gain and retain muscle mass

Feeding tube or something. No mouth to eat with plus who needs the risk of a choking hazard when you can just put some already mushed up food straight into the stomach? Much more reliable. Their organs are more efficient and streamlined, minimal waste if any.

I think their brains aren't really computers so much as they're like... Enhanced. Implants are both enhancements, improving memory and cognitive abilities, as well as suppressants, directly suppressing and erasing memories as well as suppressing emotions and to an extent pain response. So yeah you could say biologic sticks of RAM. But also maybe some ransomware or something.

They do NOT have:

Genitals

Eyes

Hair

From there you get into more individualized augmentation divided by rank.

Wallhammers have longer limbs and have more muscle mass on average, they're incredibly strong at the cost of being kind of slow. They have to support heavy ass weapons as well as all their armor. They likely have stronger, more heavily modified circulatory and respiratory systems to help them. The recoil from a Wallhammers gun could probably knock a Grunt on its ass, I think. I like to think their bones are reinforced. How? Idk I'm not a medical guy </3

Suppressors don't have much going on, but their vision and visual tracking ability is probably more enhanced/specialized for their role than most other soldiers. They're also jacked because recoil.

Ordinals tend to be pretty strong but they're not that specialized. Their main role is directing the squad, so they have a wide range of capability.

Grunts are baseline, nothin special about em.

HL2 soldiers are where it gets complicated.

I'm very indecisive so there's two ways that I tend to approach this:

1. Same deal as half life Alyx soldiers

default overwatch soldiers and nova prospekt guards are a little better than baseline soldiers like grunts and are given less ability to self-govern on the job. They have some kind of visual augmentation that makes them excellent snipers.

Elites very rarely leave the Citadel and exist more as an intimidation tactic or a contingency, very limited self-governance ability, though they are able to direct squads and are excellent tacticians.

2. They are completely unique type of soldier.

Between HL:A and HL2 the combine got really good at making their implants do more with less direct augmentation. Which is why these soldiers actually have faces and seem to be able to remove their masks + uniforms.

While this saves resources, it also allows more of a soldiers humanity to show through, which is why we get that one Elite that I never stop talking about who's super interested in the gravity gun and why snipers curse when you throw grenades at them.

Sorry, these guys probably can't eat fruit either. Overwatch sayss they gotta mush it up and put it into their feeding..valve...port...thing. may as well just get the nutrient slop

There wasn't a good place to put this but I think combine soldiers are like. Chemically / emotionally rewarded for like. kills. It aims to build a resistance against the inherent psychological effects of killing people, alongside the memory wiping, of course-

[fizziepopangel]

"Ain't the Romantic Type" Pt3

Despite having slowed down on his drinking, after what happened with Angel, Husk woke up behind the bar, a half finished bottle of Jack in his hand and a hangover headache pounding in his temples. He slowly got to his feet with a groan, kicking aside the empty bottles as he stumbled toward his room, taking a swig from the bottle still clutched tight in his fist.

He had been drinking since Niffty left his room last night, but no matter how much he drank, he couldn’t get Angel out of his head…. And he couldn’t get that look out of his head; the fear in Angel’s eyes…. Husk took another swig from the bottle before tossing the now empty container aside, not even flinching as it shattered against the wall as he continued to stumble toward his room.

As he got closer to his door, he heard it.

Thump…. Thump… Thwack!

Husk groaned, rubbing his temples as he rounded the corner just in time to see Fat Nuggets shake himself off and back up as far as he could before letting out a mighty squeal and charging Husk’s door with all his might, the little pig’s head hitting the door with another thwack.

“The fuck..?” Husk muttered, stumbling forward and scooping up the little pig before he could back up and headbutt the door again. “What are you doin’, little guy? Gonna give yourself a concussion.”

Despite the daze from repeatedly ramming his head into the door, Fat Nuggets quickly squirmed his way out of the hell cat’s arms and scampered a few feet down the hall before looking back at the man, sealing with urgency. When Husk only moved toward his door, the small pig ran back, biting his pant leg and pulling as hard as he could, nearly toppling the man in an attempt to get him to follow him.

Although he caught himself, it did evoke the tiniest bit of rage in him. “Fuck off.” He muttered, trying to push the piggy away with his foot. But the pig came right back, trying his damnedest to get him to follow him. “Get off. Damn it, get off me!”  He continued to try to shake the little creature off, not understanding the urgency behind the pig’s actions….

“FUCK!” Husk shouted when he felt Fat Nuggets teeth sink into his ankle.

That was it. The alcohol in his system and the storm of emotions still brewing inside him after the events of last night all coming to a peak as he scooped up the demonic little animal and stormed to his boyfriend’s room…. Ex boyfriend? Husk wasn’t even sure after last night.

Husk just got to the door, ready to angrily rip the door open and give Angel a piece of his mind about his pet’s manners and maybe about the absolute fuckery that happened last night, but….

Husk stopped abruptly when he reached Angel’s door…. Angel’s opened door…. Angel never left his door fully open, even if he let Fat Nuggets out, he always left the door closed enough that no one could just look into his room; something he told Husk made him feel less ‘on display’ after the long hours he worked under Valentino’s watchful eye… But here Husk stood in front of Angel’s wide open door.

Fat Nugget’s wiggled out of Husk’s grasp once more, darting through the open door as fast as his little legs could carry him, stopping briefly to squeal at Husk, who stood there, frozen as he stared through the open door and into the almost eerie silence of the normally lively room. Although it took a moment, another squeal from Fat Nuggets brought him back to the present.

Following the pig into the room, his rage dying down a bit as he stepped into the room, still smelling the faintest smell of the dinner he had worked so hard on as it sat, cold, on the coffee table. Sadness twirled around in his stomach as he looked at the meal and the candles and the few rose petals he had strewn across the carpet.

He felt stupid for being sad about the food going to waste… But he had worked so damn hard on making the night perfect…. He couldn’t remember the last time he had even thought about putting that much effort into something for anyone else he had been with, but for Angel, it felt worth it and he hadn’t even thought twice about doing it after he heard Angel talking to the girls about wanting to be romanced. It honestly hurt hearing that he wasn’t making Angel as happy as he wanted to, and it killed him that he was the last to know that he wasn’t making him as happy as he could….

Husk had been deep in thought as he absentmindedly followed Fat Nugget’s through the room, not really watching where he was going until he stumbled on the bit of loose carpet that was just before the entrance to the bathroom. Husk had been meaning to fix that since Angel had rolled his ankle twice already tripping, but he had never quite gotten around to…

His eyes went wide and the alcohol-induced haze that had clouded his mind quickly disappeared as he saw Angel laying motionless on the floor, and a line of white powder beside a small baggie on the counter. “Shit, Angel!” Dropping to his knees beside his partner, Husk felt panic rise like bile in his throat as he tried to think of something, anything, to do. He’d never actually been with Angel when he had overdosed. 

Shit. That’s what this was, an overdose. Angel, his Angel,  had overdosed….

So many thoughts ran through his head as his body seemed to move on autopilot; how long had he been like this? How much did he take? What did he take? Did he do this on purpose? 

Husk’s blood ran cold. Did Angel do this…. Because of him?

“Angel, come on, wake up.” Husk begged quietly, running his hand through Angel’s hair in a soothing manner he had used to both wake the spider demon after a passionate night, and soothe him to sleep after a long day bled into an anxious night. He wasn’t sure when he sat on the floor, or when he took Angel in his arms, or when the tears began falling, but he sat there, a lump in his throat. “Come on, Legs, come on, baby, I need you to wake up. Just open your eyes for me.” 

Realistically, Husk knew that here in hell, sinners like him and Angel couldn’t just die, but as he looked at his partner lying lifelessly in his arms, the only thing that was real to him were the shallow breaths he could feel his lover taking. He couldn’t think straight, couldn’t register anything happening around him despite a symphony of commotion happening around him after Charlie found them sitting on the bathroom floor. He hadn’t heard Charlie call for help, or Vaggie calling his name, or Pentious and his eggs babbling about what they could and should do. Everything just moved at the speed of light around him, yet he felt as if everything was moving painfully slow.

“Husk!” Vaggie shouted, snapping him back to reality. “Are you listening?”

Charlie held up a hand, telling Vaggie that she had it, stepping forward and kneeling beside the pair, her expression soft and worried. “Why don’t we get Angel to his bed?”

Husk nodded wordlessly. He didn’t know when the others got there, but as he stood, feeling Angel shift the slightest bit as he carried him to bed, he couldn’t care less about anyone else in the moment. All that mattered was Angel.

Angel woke up slowly; his head pounding and his throat dry. He blinked slowly, sitting up with a soft groan. His head was spinning and he felt as if he had been hit by a truck.

“Careful.” Husk said softly, practically materializing beside him and gently adjusting the pillows behind him and holding a glass of water beside him, one hand gently rubbing the small of Angel’s back. “Scared me there, Legs, can’t do that to me.”

Angel was shocked to find Husk sitting at his bedside, and the fact that he was looking at him with so much love and care in his eyes. He took the water, taking a few small sips as tears came to his eyes at Husk’s gentle touch. It was too much; the soft touches, the way he was talking to him after he’d ruined their night.

“Hey, hey, don’t cry, doll.” Husk gently began wiping his boyfriend's tears away, kissing his cheek. “It’s alright, no one’s mad at ya.”

Hearing that no one was mad at him seemed to push him over the edge, sending a wave of tears trailing down his cheeks. “I’m sorry!” He sobbed, hiccuping as he practically fell into Husk’s arms. “I-I..”

Husk, taken by surprise, just sat there for a moment, Angel sobbing in his arms. “What? No, Angel, doll, you don’t have to be sorry.” He stammers quietly, sitting down on the bed and pulling Angel into his lap and gently shush-ing him. “You ain’t got nothing to worry about, dollface.”

“I-I ruined our night.” Angel sniffed.

Husk shook his head, although he was still hurt by what happened, he couldn’t stand to see the man he loved cry. “You didn’t ruin nothing. I…” He sighed, looking down as he brushed the tears off his cheeks. “It wasn’t your fault, I might have overdone it last night…. I just wanted to make the night… romantic for ya….” He felt his cheeks heat up a bit as the words left his mouth.

“You were trying to be… romantic?” Angel’s jaw dropped a little. Husk wasn’t the type to romance someone, Angel knew that when their relationship started and he had never expected any of the cutesy relationship-y stuff he saw other couples do. It was Husk; get-drunk-and-fight-a-stranger-at-the-bar Husk. And Angel loved that Husk, even if he wasn’t all that traditionally affectionate.

Husk sighed and nodded. “I heard ya talking to Charlie…. About how I wasn’t the romantic type like Vaggie.”

There was a moment of confusion as Angel thought back to that conversation. It hadn’t even been a real conversation, more of a comment in passing when the princess mentioned her and her girlfriend going out to some fancy little restaurant for their anniversary and asking Angel what romantic things he and Husk had planned for their anniversary…. Angel hadn’t even really given it a second thought when he said that Husk wasn’t the romantic type before changing the subject. He had no idea that Husk had heard that, but he hadn’t really thought about it having any affect on Husk if he had.

“It was stupid.” Husk mumbled in his usual gravelly voice. “I didn’t mean for it to set you off or nothing like that.”

Wiping his eyes, Angel shook his head. “It wasn’t you, I just…. It was a really shitty day at the club and I… I thought you were doin’ it just to get in my pants and… I don’t know, I just kinda exploded.”

The two say in silence for a moment, the air thick with tension as they both sat with what the other had said. Angel looked down at his hands, not having the courage to look into the gambling man's eyes as he voiced another thought… .

“Are ya…. done?” He asked softly, hoping he didn't sound too pathetic. “Like… with me….?”

The words seemed to take the other man by surprise. Done with him? How could Husk ever be done with him? Husk wasn't even sure he could put into words how he felt about the Italian idiot in front of him. So he didn't say a word.

Husk pulled Angel into a long, slow kiss, warning a squeak of surprise from him before he melted into his lover like ice cream under the sun. It was different than all the other times they kissed. It felt less rushed, less hungry, less heated…. It felt… it felt like heaven. Or as close to it as either sinner thought they'd ever get.

Though Angel wished the moment would last forever, the pair parted after a few moments. Angels face flushed a bit as Husk stroked his cheek tenderly. “Anthony, I don't think I could ever be done with you. You're the only addiction I don't ever wanna quit." 

Angel's eyes watered. “Baby, that might be the most romantic thing you've ever said."

[witchthewriter]

𝑨𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 𝑳𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒔!

𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐘

First Lesson: Sun🌞

Second Lesson: Moon🌙

Third Lesson: Rising/Ascendant💫

Fourth Lesson: Venus 💛

Fifth Lesson: Mars ⚠️

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and its orbit around the Sun is the fastest one we know of. This is why Mercury is associated with speed, communication, and efficiency.

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒔:

○ Day: Wednesday

○ Colours: Yellow, Grey

○ Mercury rules two signs: Gemini and Virgo

○ Mercury rules the third House of Communication. Some astrologers may also refer to it as the House of Sharing.

○ Mercury Retrograde happens four times a year and it doesn't affect us all the same way every time.

○ Mercury spends about two-three weeks in each sign, but when it retrogrades, which it does three to four times a year, it can stay in one sign as long as ten weeks.

○ Mercury represents the principles of communication, mentality, thinking patterns, rationality/reasoning, adaptability and variability.

○ Mercury: Nervous system, skin, face, thyroid. It has a direct influence over mental disorders, ear problems, etc.

𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑚

Daring, Blunt, and Deliberate

Modality: Cardinal

Element: Fire

Symbol: The Ram

Ruling Planet: Mars

Stereotypical Traits: Fiery temper, competitive, daring, adventurous, honest (sometimes brutally), brave, optimistic, warm

Ruled by Mars, the planet of action, Mercury in Aries people speak quickly and sometimes without thinking first. People with this placement are passionate in their expressions. They are honest and direct which is great in some situations, but can be harsh in others. They also come up with new ideas, express them easily, and have a talent for convincing people to see things their way. Because of this people with Mercury in Aries make great leaders and public speakers.

𝐓𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐬 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑙

Enduring, Pensive, and Practical

Modality: Fixed

Element: Earth

Symbol: The Bull

Ruling Planet: Venus

Stereotypical Traits: Steadfast, loyal, enjoys physical comfort, stubborn, reliable, grounded, logical

People with Mercury in Taurus tend to take their time considering things before they speak. They are deliberate communicators who get straight to the point, but unlike Aries, they consider everything they say before they open their mouths. Taurean Mercury placements prefer practical outlooks and solutions. They are very confident in their values, so confident that they can come across as closed-minded in certain conversations. They are not actually closed-minded though. It just takes them a little longer than other people to consider and process a new opinion before they can speak on it.

𝐆𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑇𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑠

Effortless, Charismatic, and Beloved

Modality: Mutable

Element: Air

Symbol: The Twins

Ruling Planet: Mercury

Stereotypical Traits: Jack of all trades, flirtatious, social butterfly, curious, charming, unpredictable

People with a Mercury in Gemini placement have an especially easeful relationship with all the Mercurian traits. This is because Mercury is the ruling planet of Gemini. People with this placement are particularly quick thinking and logical. They love to learn about the world and people around them and have a way with words in various mediums. For Mercury Gemini people, flirtation is just another way to communicate, so they do have to be careful not to lead people on. Otherwise, a Mercury Gemini placement makes for smooth communication and a life of learning.

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝐶𝑟𝑎𝑏

Quiet, Sensitive, and Adaptable

Modality: Cardinal

Element: Water

Symbol: The Crab

Ruling Planet: The Moon

Stereotypical Traits: Emotional, intuitive, fiercely loyal, romantic, loves being at home, nostalgic, nurturing

People with Mercury in Cancer have a soft and emotional approach to logic and communication. They make decisions based on your feelings rather than what might seem most logical to someone else. People with this placement are great at expressing their emotions and have a way of making people comfortable with deep conversations. They don’t like small talk, which can make them put up a wall. Instead, they open up and relax when they are in the presence of other people who can go “there.” As an intuitive, sign, someone with Mercury in Cancer seems to always know the right thing to say, even in a delicate situation.

𝐋𝐞𝐨 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝐿𝑖𝑜𝑛

Unpretentious, Responsible, and Sincere

Modality: Fixed

Element: Fire

Symbol: The Lion

Ruling Planet: The Sun

Stereotypical Traits: Stylish, enjoys attention, confident, creative, enjoys luxury, jealous in relationships

People with Mercury in Leo may feel drawn to become a performer or entertainer. They are great storytellers and have a way of naturally grabbing peoples’ attention even if they are just talking to friends. They are creatives who don’t enjoy paying attention to smaller details. So, they have to work with others to take care of those parts of projects. People with this placement tend to be leaders because of the way they naturally attract attention. They are also persuasive but have to be careful to allow enough room for other people’s opinions. Someone with Mercury in Leo can easily take up all the air in the room and forget about everyone else if they are not careful. However, in general people with Mercury in Leo are popular and make friends wherever they go.

𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐨 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑀𝑎𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛

Intelligent, Productive, and Logical

Modality: Mutable

Element: Earth

Symbol: The Maiden/Virgin

Ruling Planet: Mercury

Stereotypical Traits: Nurturing, judgmental, quick thinking, logical, hard-working, intelligent, perfectionist

Like Gemini, Mercury also rules Virgo. So, to have Mercury in this sign is a beneficial and easeful placement. People with this placement are analytical and great at recognizing patterns. They are very realistic and communicate directly. Sometimes this can be a little too direct for some people. Mercury in Virgo people need to learn to add a little sweetness into their communication, otherwise, their directness paired with their love of logic can come off as constant criticism. Mercury Virgo people are very sharp and witty, but also serious thinkers. They tend to have sarcastic humor rather than being flat-out funny.

𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠

Diplomatic, Resourceful, and Amicable

Modality: Cardinal

Element: Air

Symbol: The Scales

Ruling Planet: Venus

Stereotypical Traits: charming, beautiful, and well-balanced. They thrive on making things orderly and aesthetically pleasing. They also crave balance, and they can be equally as self-indulgent as they are generous. Libras are also the kings and queens of compromise, and they like making peace between others.

People with Mercury in Libra have a gift of using their words to create harmony, especially in social situations. They intuitively know the right things to say to smooth things over and can be very diplomatic. Unfortunately, they may often find themselves in the middle of conflicts because they are the ones trying to keep the peace. Mercury in Libra people are often the friend that both people in a disagreement confide in. Luckily, people with this placement are very trustworthy in this situation, because their desire to keep the peace is greater than their desire to spread gossip.

𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐨 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑖𝑜𝑛

Secretive, Passionate, and Exacting

Modality: Fixed

Element: Water

Symbol: The Scorpion

Ruling Planet: Mars and Pluto

Stereotypical Traits: Emotional, intuitive, loyal, caring, jealous, moody, secretive

People with Mercury in Scorpio don’t open up easily to most people. They keep their personal and emotional information close to their chest. They only open up when they feel close to someone. Because of this, they are likely to have a few close friendships instead of a larger friend group. People with this placement are also sensitive to people who could be seen as nosy. They don’t like when people pry for information. On the flip side of this, Mercury in Scorpio people are fascinated by the unknown. They are motivated to learn as much as they can about the topics that interest them to find the true answers to life’s deepest questions.

𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑐𝘩𝑒𝑟

Audacious, Eccentric, and Unfiltered

Modality: Mutable

Element: Fire

Symbol: The Archer

Ruling Planet: Jupiter

Stereotypical Traits: Adventurous, confident, friendly, open-minded, can seem irresponsible, braggy

People with this placement can be quite academic. They are intrigued by learning about heady topics that open their mind even more. They may also incorporate travel with study or work. People with Mercury in Sagittarius are direct communicators. Sometimes, they can even be a little too honest for some people. However, they never have negative intentions, they trying to be helpful and are simply calling it as they see it. Socially, Sagittarius Mercury people are charming and witty. They make friends easily but their intensity in debates or arguments can be a turn-off to more sensitive people.

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑡 

Practical, Honest, and Methodological

Modality: Cardinal

Element: Earth

Symbol: The Sea-Goat

Ruling Planet: Saturn

Stereotypical Traits: Ambitious, honest, hard-working, logical, judgmental, demanding, workaholic

People with Mercury in Capricorn have a trustworthy word. When they say something, they generally mean it and they will do what they say they will, even if they don’t want to. People with this placement can feel like they know everything, or that they know the best way to do things. They can seem to speak down to people, but they are really just trying to keep things efficient as they relate to communication and learning. People with this placement can be social, but they may get annoyed if things don’t feel efficient enough for them. Mercury Capricorn people can learn to be more open-minded and accepting of people with different viewpoints and ways of doing things.

𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟-𝐵𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑟

Masterful, Well-Rounded, and Confident

Modality: Fixed

Element: Air

Symbol: The Water Bearer

Ruling Planet: Uranus

Stereotypical Traits: Intellectual, compassionate, idealistic, unemotional, eccentric, unique, open-minded

People with Mercury in Aquarius enjoy debating for fun. They can have unconventional opinions on issues, but their arguments are never without merit. Mercury in Aquarius people have done a deep dive to learn everything they can about the issues that are important to them. They prefer to communicate about issues and facts rather than emotions. People with this placement can prefer to learn about the future rather than the past or present. They may be attracted to learning about technology, which can lead to a tech career. Socially, Mercury Aquarius people are witty, and can make you laugh!

𝐏𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐬 | 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑠𝘩

Storyteller, Enigmatic, and Private

Modality: Mutable

Element: Water

Symbol: Two Fish

Ruling Planet: Neptune

Stereotypical Traits: Intuitive, creative, spiritual, caring, understanding, naive, illogical, lots of daydreaming

Mercury in Pisces helps people with this placement communicate their inner thoughts and emotions. People with this placement are fascinated by the larger questions of life and may be drawn to spirituality to find out their meaning. They love talking about these deeper issues, like the meaning of life or why we exist. People with this placement can be sensitive, but that also depends on their other astrological qualities. Either way, Mercury in Pisces people are deep thinkers who want to connect with others on a profound level. They are likely to abhor small talk.

[foundationsolution]

https://www.yelp.com/biz/foundation-solutions-santa-clara

[saintlesbian]

is the retroid pocket a good investment? i saw your tags and am curious! :]

i'm probably biased bc i'm so used to buying retroid but yea. it's slightly pricier than some other options you might find due to the price creep of the gradually upgrading chipsets but its definitely worthwhile from my perspective, as someone who likes retro emulation and android gaming. all retroids have bluetooth support to connect extra controllers, headphone jack for audio, sd card slot to load up games from, wifi for downloading more games, and display out options to connect to a tv or somethin! you gotta bring your own games unfortunately, but it does come built in with some emulation apps to install during setup, and a choice between using the standard android OS, or the custom Retroid branded Launcher to launch games from! generally i use my retroid to play PS1, PSP, PS2 and GBA games, although im pretty sure it can handle N64, Dreamcast, NDS and 3DS too. basically if there's an android emulator or RetroArch core for it, the Retroid can probably handle it, YMMV.

the most recent model line, the Retroid Pocket 5/Mini, is still available on the GoRetroid website. generally if you're buying a retro handheld then make sure you buy it directly from the original site/source so you don't get ripped off by some offbrand seller trying to pawn one of those 100-in-1 knock off consoles on you.

time for an autistic ramble about my collection since i love these devices so much...

the original retroid pocket 2! this was the first device that caught my eye and my gateway drug into retro emulation handhelds, as it only cost $80 back in 2020. there were pink, yellow and cyan colorways too, but indigo was the most popular option :P it was a little awkward, what with the switch style analog sticks not having R3 functionality and only having one gig of RAM, but it got the job done. it also had micro HDMI out to connect to a display, kind of a hassle since micro HDMI isn't too common, but they used to sell micro HDMI cords on their site along with other accessories (screen protectors, grips, cases, etc...)

the retroid pocket 2+ was an upgraded model released a year later for $90, with 2GB RAM and a touchscreen added. still no clickable analog sticks but oh well! i bought the PS2 style colorway, a lot of their colors are styled after other retro consoles. the 4:3 screen was kinda cute! difficult for playing PSP games since it letterboxes the screen, plus you have to do some extra tweaking in the emulator settings to get it to work properly...

less than a year later, they made the Retroid Pocket 3! this one signalled a change in their release system in many ways, most notably the fact that now every retroid model comes in 2 versions: a cheaper model (with less storage/RAM) and a premium model (with more storage/RAM). personally i've never had any reason to go with the cheaper model, especially since the power difference can be so vast between the two sometimes, so every model i have is the premium model. this one cost $130, which is quite the price jump, but the added quality made it worth it for me :) the RP3 was Retroid's first foray into a 16:9 device, great for playing PSP/NDS, and easy to work with the 3GB RAM. any 4:3 games will have letterboxing on the sides now (unless you have a widescreen hack or something) but i never minded that much. also, this is the first Retroid model with R3 functionality on the joysticks! it might not matter much to most people, but i really wanted to play Ape Escape on the go :3

at some point GoRetroid realized the Retroid line kinda peaked with the RP2 form factor, so they brought it back with some added improvements for those looking for an updated 4:3 handheld, now now known as the Retroid Pocket 2S. idk what the S stands for! its looks pretty similar to the regular RP2, but with clickable hall effect joysticks on the bottom, a PSVita style DPad, and up to 4 GB of RAM. i loved this one! for a while i used to switch between the RP2S and the RP3, depending on if i was in the mood for PS1 or PSP gaming. the black crystal shell was also neat, i love clear electronics :3 price went to $120, more expensive than the original RP2 line but cheaper than the RP3. worth the price, considering the QoL improvements they made over the original RP2!

then there's the Retroid Pocket 4, released around the same time as the RP2S. this model has the same shell as the RP3 for those looking for a 16:9 form factor, while retaining the improvements from the RP2S (hall effect joysticks <3). this device is currently my go-to for portable retro emulation, with 8GB RAM and android 13 compatibility. this one can play some lighter PS2 games, but i mostly use it to play balatro these days. also, convenient feature; since the Retroid Pocket series is just an android with a built in controller, any android games with controller compatibility can be played with the Retroid controls. theres also a gamepad mapper to map button controls to other android games that don't have built in controller support, but i've never used it so i can't vouch for it -_- the RP4Pro was $200 on release, yowch! still definitely a worthwhile investment, but a far cry ffrom the original price tag of $80 back in 2020... there's still some discounted models of RP4 on sale on their website, although there's not many left, as GoRetroid is mostly clearing space for their newest model...

...the Retroid pocket 5! this model signifies another shift in Retroid's design, as they've shifted to a PSVita looking model with the rounded features and glass front panel. i got the gamecube colorway since i really liked the vibes it has... aesthetically this is the best Retroid Pocket model yet. the 3d hall sticks also have RGB LEDs built in than can be customized from a built in app, and an OLED screen that looks especially gorgeous on the black RP5 model, as the bezel screen blends right into the rest of the glass face. this one is their priciest model yet, clocking in at $200 for the RPmini and $220 for the RP5. this model also removed the micro HDMI port in favor of a display out USB-C port like how the nintendo switch does. they also released an official dock with HDMI and ethernet ports to go along with it! i haven't switched over to the new model yet since its still 8GB RAM like the RP4Pro and it'll probably take a while to move some of my android apps over, but i've heard good things about this model! it's also linux compatible from what i've heard (ROCKNIX, Batocera) but once again I Haven't Tried Those Yet

but yea that's my collection! Retroid has served me pretty well over the years, i give it the Saint Lesbian Seal of Approval

[the-overanalyzer]

PC Components and You: A Brief Primer

(a.k.a "Just What Is Adam Talking About In Those Random Posts of His?")

"Building a computer" is one of those things that sounds like an incredibly complicated technical feat, but is in reality much less difficult than it sounds. Most of the stress, in my experience, happens when you're trying to pick out parts. Second place being when the build is done and you know you've forgotten to plug something in, but can't for the life of you figure out what. Once you've got a handle on what the different parts are and do, it's mostly a process of inserting tab A into slot B, and when it's over, you'll have a machine you know inside and out and customize to your liking.

(all images from PC Part Picker unless stated otherwise)

1. The CPU

(screenshot from GamersNexus)

The Central Processing Unit, or CPU, is probably the first part you'll pick out in a build, and the second most important for gaming, image and video editing, and various CAD-related stuff. Your choice CPU will determine your options for a motherboard and RAM. You two mainstream choices for CPUs will be Intel and AMD.

Aside from a general rule of "newer tends to be better", a CPU's performance is usually determined by core count, thread count, and clock speed.

Core count, shockingly enough, refers to the number of individual processing cores. Any desktop CPU you buy today is a multicore processor, and in 2025, nothing below 6 is worth looking at. Thread count is the number of instruction sets a core can work through at the same time (put very simply; it's more like the threads quickly taking turns). Strictly speaking, more cores is preferable to more threads, but you want as many of each as you can get, especially in CPU-intensive workloads.

Clock speed is the speed at which a core operates, the faster the better. Many users manually raise the power draw of their CPUs to increase the clock speed, hence the term "overclocking".

2. The Motherboard

The thing that all the other things plug into. The Motherboard is mounted inside your case and lets all your components coordinate with each other. The nervous system to the CPU's brain. A motherboard's capabilities are determined by the CPU socket, and the chipset. They are developed by the same companies as CPUs, but manufactured and sold by a number of third-party companies.

The CPU socket is pretty self-explanatory: It accommodates compatible CPUs and only compatible CPUs; an Intel chip will not fit an AMD motherboard, or vice-versa, and trying will destroy multiple expensive pieces of hardware. A given socket may be used for multiple product generations, and older boards can usually use newer chips that fit, after a BIOS update; a board made for, for example, a Ryzen-1000 series processor in the Socket AM4, could work with anything up to a 5000 series, assuming the BIOS supports it.

A chipset determines what and how many devices a board can support, although a given board might not use all of a chipset's features.

Many (but by no means all) motherboards have built in connectivity for things like ethernet, wifi, or audio and video output (for integrated graphics, more on that below), via the rear I/O ports.

A motherboard will have a certain number of SATA ports, which connect hard drives, full-sized SSDs, and optical drives (assuming your case supports one). Headers to connect your case's USB ports, audio jacks, and fans will usually be located along the edges of the board.

PCIe slots allow for expansion cards that increase your PC's functionality with features that aren't included on the main board, like a graphics card or a network adapter. Most boards include at least one full PCIe x16 slot, and one lower-bandwidth PCIe x1. The current standard is PCIe 5.0.

BIOS is the motherboard's onboard firmware, although most modern systems use the technically different but functionally identical UEFI (which, as I recently learned, is a requirement for Windows 11). Some boards allow for either to be used, depending on what your operating system supports.

3. Cooling

(image from Amazon)

CPUs generate a lot of heat, enough to cook themselves. You need a cooling solution; in fact, most motherboards won't even let the system power on unless the dedicated cooler fan power header is plugged. Coolers are placed directly against the CPU with a conductive thermal compound and attached to the board. In a common air-cooler, the heat is radiated through the fins and expelled via fan; liquid cooling options exist for the enthusiast.

Many lower-power CPUs still come with coolers included. Higher-end chips need coolers purchased separately. The companies' rationale is that the better chips can be overclocked, which makes them run hotter, necessitating heftier cooling than it was cost-effective to provide.

4. RAM

Random Access Memory, RAM, is the high-speed memory that passes information between your storage, CPU, and peripherals. You need it for your computer to work at all, and you need more of it clocked higher for your computer to work well. You can get by with 16 gigabytes, but these days I'd recommend 32.

RAM slots on your motherboard are specialized, and vary in shape depending on which generation you're using. The current standard is DDR5, and generations are not intercompatible. A DDR4 stick (or DIMM) will not work in a DDR5 slot, or vice-versa. The sticks are notched off-center and can only be inserted one way.

Most consumer boards have two or four RAM slots, and run in dual-channel, meaning that they work best with identical DIMMs in the first and third or second and fourth slots (the reasons for this are complicated and I don't fully understand them, but that's how it works). It's my understanding that it's better, in a four-slot board, to have two high-capacity sticks than it is to have four-lower capacity ones for the same total RAM, as performance suffers when drawing from four sticks at once (also complicated, also don't fully understand it).

Besides capacity, your RAM's performance depends on its clock speed and its CAS latency. The sticks pictured above, for example, are DDR5-6400 CL32, meaning it runs at 6400 megahertz with a base latency of (more or less) 32 nano seconds. It's mechanically more complicated than that, and a faster frequency will negate much of the negative impact of a higher latency. In general you want higher clock and lower latency, with preference given to higher clock speed.

5. Storage

Long-term memory. Your storage drives will come in two broad categories: Solid State Drives (SSD) and older mechanical Hard Disk Drives (HDD).

SSDs are pure flash storage and have no moving parts, and are much faster than HDDs, which read their data off of spinning platters. This allows them to be smaller and quieter.

Desktop HDDs have 3.5''platters (which is where the 3.5/2.5 form factor distinction comes from). They're one of the noisiest components in a PC, but are relatively cheap nowadays; the WD Blue drive pictured above is roughly half the price of its SSD counterpart. Their best use case now is for the mass storage of low-impact files like music or videos. It needs both a SATA cable to connect to the motherboard, and a power cable from the PSU.

Modern SSDs are additionally split off into two types, one of which is further subdivided by interface. A regular old 2.5'' drive is connected by SATA cable and needs a power cable to run. This type is generally your cheapest solid state option, and I'd consider it the minimum for your OS and programs.

The newest option is an M.2 drive, distinguished by plugging directing into your motherboard (or an expansion card), and needing no separate power cable, allowing for a much cleaner setup. They vary in length and width, ranging from a bit larger than your big toenail to a little bigger than a stick of gum, and are very thin without a heatsink attached. Older M.2 slots are on the SATA standard, and typically won't run any faster than the 2.5'' drive pictured above. An NVMe drive, on the other hand, is both faster internally and uses a specialized PCIe slot. Their ports may or may not be intercompatible, depending on your motherboard. More demanding programs like games at high resolutions and settings benefit tremendously from running off an NVMe drive.

6. Graphics

At it's most basic, your Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is just there to put all the stuff your computer is doing onto a screen for you to see. They range from extremely basic display adapters useful for nothing more demanding than youtube videos, up to absolute beasts capable of rendering every strand of hair in lifelike fidelity at the highest of resolutions. They come in two varieties: Integrated (iGPU) and discrete or dedicated (dGPU). They're developed primarily by Nvidia and AMD, with Intel recently reentering the entry-level space, and primarily manufactured and sold by third-party companies.

Integrated graphics are built directly into the CPU and output through the motherboard. They're primarily display adapters, use your onboard RAM, and can usually only handle relatively lightweight gaming and productivity workloads. The simplest and cheapest option if you just need to see what you're doing and nothing more, but not every CPU includes one.

Dedicated graphics cards plug in via your motherboard's PCIe (usually in the top fullsized x16 slot), have their own RAM, and typically require supplemental power over a special cable from the power supply. A high-powered card is essential for heavy gaming, editing, and CAD rigs.

Like CPUs, GPUs use multi-core setups. With GPUs, however, the core count is much higher, because the workload for each is much simpler. As always, newer and more will usually beat older and fewer.

Video RAM (VRAM) is where the GPU arguably sinks or swims. Textures and effects are big and resource-intensive, and you need VRAM to load it up and push it through to the display. Even a good GPU will be let down by insufficient VRAM. 16gb is the minimum for a modern workload; 8gb can can and should be ignored for anything more than esports or pre-ninth gen titles.

These are the problem children of the PC building world; they're already the most expensive single piece in most builds, and they're by far the most subject to both manufacturer whim and market volatility. This is because their high number of simple processing cores make them great at the number crunching you need for things like cryptocurrency mining and, more recently, AI development. AI devs in particular have become the primary customers for most of this hardware, leaving the gaming and productivity crowds to fight for whatever scraps the manufacturers deign to pass along to the consumer market. The 9070xt pictured above, a card I would describe as "the high end of mid", has an MSRP of $600, and is currently selling on Amazon for $780. I don't trust the used market myself (for about 450 reasons), but it's an increasingly attractive prospect for a lot of people.

7. Power Supply

You probably don't need me to explain what this does. One bit goes into the wall, one bit goes in everything else. The power supply (PSU) supplies power. It's a critical but often overlooked part of a computer; half the reason I tell people to stay away from pre-built computers is the uncertain provenance of the components, and nowhere do things get less certain than with weird cheap OEM power supplies from companies nobody's ever heard from. They make it next to impossible to add anything in because their wattage is so low, and the first suspect in a system failure. You want a reputable brand. A good PSU can take you through multiple builds if you treat it well; a bad PSU can destroy your entire computer, and might not stop at that. It isn't that much more expensive to get something reasonable, and it's money you won't miss.

A power supply needs to be able to pull enough wattage from the wall to feed your whole system. A graphics card is usually the biggest power hog, but overclocking will also raise demand. All parts have a wattage requirement; take note of it and buy accordingly. (the second reason to avoid cheap power supplies/prebuilts: the wattage is always low, and even the ones that work can't support new parts)

You'll notice a rating badge on most boxes for 80+ certification. This means that the PSU is 80% power-efficient at various levels of load. The tiers run from basic 80+ all the way up to 80+Ruby. Basic 80+ is what I'd call the bottom of the barrel. 80+Bronze is the safestpoint for price and quality, Gold being what I'd personally feel safest at.

Every PSU has a large-plug ATX cable for the motherboard power(you'll know it when you see it, trust me), a smaller plug for CPU power(probably glance at the manual for that one), and at least one connector for SATA devices (usually three plugs per cable in my experience). Any decent PSU will have at least two for SATA, additional molex connectors, and one or two PCIe power cables to power the graphics card. You may need an adapter for that last one, which will usually (but not always) come with the card.

Power supplies are sold as either modular, semi-modular, or non-modular. A modular PSU's cables are all detachable. You plug in what you need and leave the rest in the box. Semi-modular is similar, except for the board and CPU cables, which are attached. Non-modular, as the name suggests, has all the cables attached, and is the least attractive option in terms of aesthetics.

DO NOT USE THE CABLES FROM ONE POWER SUPPLY IN ANOTHER. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. THIS CAN DESTROY YOUR COMPUTER. ALWAYS GET REPLACEMENT CABLES FOR YOUR SPECIFIC MODEL FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

As with most components, power supplies vary a bit in size, and the size you can use is dictated by the last item on today's walkthrough...

8. Case

If Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace taught us one thing, it was that George Lucas needs competent people on scripts and editing who are willing to tell him when something isn't working. If it taught us two things, the second one is that machines don't like to be naked.

The case does four things for your build: It provides the structure upon which all other components hang; it keeps out dust, debris, and pests; it ideally provides and directs the airflow to keep everything from getting too hot, and it lets you move everything in one go.

Cases generally come in one of four common form factors: Mini-ITX (both a case and board standard) is the smallest and most portable; Micro-ATX (ditto) is larger with more room for expansions. Mid-Tower cases, the most common, have a respectable amount of space and can fit most components. Full Towers are the biggest you'll find outside of server or custom markets, can fit the most and the biggest components, and are all but certain to make people ask "what the hell do you have in there!?".

Cable management between your power supply, mother board, and other components is usually done via the small space between the motherboard mount and the detachable right-hand side panel on most cases. Proper cable management is good for airflow and looks better if you have a side panel window.

You'll want a case that's big enough to accommodate the rest of your build, easy to work in if you need to adjust something, and with enough ventilation and case fans (preferably filtered) to keep it clean and cool.

Beyond those requirements, everything else is up to you. If you don't particularly care about front audio or USB, there are cases that omit it. If you do, you'll have plenty of options there as well. Glass or plastic side panel to show of your build? They've got 'em. Want to cheat on cable management and shove all your cables into a pile out of sight? Your PSU basement literally has you covered. There are cases that prioritize hard drive space, cases that are built for watercooling loops, hell there are still options for things like internal optical disk drives if you want one. Black is the standard for color, but you can find others.

Further Reading

You'll note I didn't actually include a how-to in this little guide. While it's not as complicated as it sounds, building a PC is involved, and I find it helps to watch it being done (it sure helped me). Paul's Hardware has some good step-by-step instructional videos.

For what I think are good product reviews and coverage of industry news, I prefer GamersNexus and Hardware Unboxed.

For putting together your own build, checking power consumption, and doublechecking compatibility, I can't recommend PCPartPicker highly enough.

For build advice, consider r/buildapc.

[commodorez]

Top 5 worse computers from the 80s

While I'm sure someone could come up with a more definitive well-curated list, here's what I came up with on a whim: Sinclair ZX-81 The ZX-80 was a good, inexpensive step forward for the burgeoning UK computer market. Its successor, the ZX-81, tripped and fell rather than do anything beyond streamlining it for mass production. A real pain in the ass to type on, and notoriously flaky to do any serious work on. Localized in the US as the Timex-Sinclair 1000, it was too weak to really compete with the American market. British users seem to like them but I'd chalk up most of that to nostalgia goggles.

Apple III Apple tried and failed to make a business machine, and Jobs got his way a bit too much, and it overheated alot because he mandated that it couldn't have a fan. Ultimately, it confused people and was surpassed by better Apple II's. A weird footnote in Apple failures.

IBM PCjr The answer to a question that nobody asked. Crappy wireless keyboard, intended to be bolted to your home television. Cartridges? On an IBM? WTF is that? The expansion options are hot garbage. Eventually it was upstaged by the Tandy 1000 at its own game. Just get a PC XT. Or a Tandy.

Coleco Adam Likes to erase its own tapes if you leave them in the drive on power-up due to an electrical surge it shoves through the tape mechanism. The main system power supply is integrated into the printer, so you NEED the chonky printer to be plugged in for it to work. Has those weird phone pad + joystick hybrid controllers. Just get a ColecoVision to play your cartridge games.

Commodore Plus/4 I was going to take a stab at the MAX Machine, but Commodore did worse with the whole concept of the Plus/4. This thing was too cheap for its own good, and went in a completely bonkers direction at the behest of Jack Tramiel. It's supposed to be a cheap business machine to eat the ZX Spectrum's lunch. Why go after the little guy from the UK market? Who knows. Lame rubber chiclet keyboard, totally incompatible with existing Commodore software and most peripherals, and having 121 colors can't save it from being a dumb idea. Apparently it was a hit in eastern Europe.

Remember, pretty much every system has its fanclub, regardless of how flawed, underpowered, or limited a platform it is. So while I personally don't care for any of these machines, if you're mad at me for taking a pot shot at your favorite, do keep in mind that my favorite computer of all time is the VIC-20. You know, the one that most Commodore enthusiasts ignore for only having 5K of RAM having only 8 foreground colors, only 22 columns of screen resolution, and just not being a C64.

[disneymbti]

Can you do the Big 3 and MBTI of the Incredibles: Bob/Mr. Incredible, Helen/Mrs. Incredible, Dash, Violet, and Jack Jack?

Thanks ❤️

Hi there, sweetie! I really hope you like this a lot!

Bob Parr's MBTI Type, Big Three, Enneagram Type and Moral Alignment

MBTI Type: ESFP [The Entertainer]

ESFPs are very outgoing and lively people. They thrive in groups and prefer not to spend too much time alone.

They are very observant, focusing closely on the details rather than the grand scheme. They think in terms of the present.

Entertainers tend to prioritize emotion when making decisions, concerning themselves more with how their decisions will affect others. They are empathetic and diplomatic.

They rely more on opportunity than rigid scheduling. They are spontaneous and playful people, with a passion for finding new adventures.

Big Three: Leo Sun, Cancer Moon and Aries Rising

Leo Sun: The Sun rules the sign Leo, which is why Leo Suns all about ego, will, and character. They’re known to be creative, playful, and bold.

Cancer Moon: The emotions of Cancer Moons have no limits, restraints, or depths. This is a cosmic placement that often leads to sweetness, kindness, emotional awareness and responsibility. 

Aries Rising: Aries ascendants are known as the go-getters of the zodiac. They don’t let anything stand in their way of achieving their personal goals.

Enneagram Type: 3w2 [The Enchanter]

Basic Fear: Enneagram type three wing twos are afraid of failing and being unworthy of love. They avoid this by setting and accomplishing goals, in order to feel successful and worthy.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to be admired and accepted. They seek value through accomplishment, which may push them deeper into their work.

Enchanters tend to adjust their persona to their audience, in order to feel as though they are easily liked, which may lead to playing a character rather than being themselves.

Moral Alignment: Neutral Good [The Benevolent]

These characters seek to do good, but are flexible in how they achieve it, valuing both order and freedom.

Helen Parr's MBTI Type, Big Three, Enneagram Type and Moral Alignment

MBTI Type: ESTJ [The Executive]

ESTJ types are very high energy. They’d rather spend their time with other people than alone.

They tend to pay more attention to the details of a situation. They make decisions based on what they see right now.

Executives base their decisions on what makes sense, rather than what feels right. They listen to their head, not their heart.

They are responsible and like to plan ahead. They hold themselves accountable by making lists and following set processes and rules.

Big Three: Aries Sun, Capricorn Moon and Taurus Rising

Aries Sun: The first sign of the zodiac, Aries is ruled by action planet Mars. When placed as the sun sign, the ram can motivate themselves to face on fears and blow past hesitation.

Capricorn Moon: The Capricorn Moon is reflective and contemplative, working to build a better foundation with those they care about.

Taurus Rising: Those with Taurus risings exude grace and sophistication, and handle business with a sweet disposition.

Enneagram Type: 6w7 [The Confidant]

Basic Fear: Six wing sevens’ fear losing their support system. This may be expressed through self-deprecating humor, in which they seek affirmation and assurance from other people.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to feel safe and supported. They show this by being loving and supportive to others. They honor their commitments and are very loyal to their friends.

Like other sixes, Confidants defend themselves by projecting their feelings, which may lead them to misunderstanding themselves and their relationships.

Moral Alignment: Lawful Good [The Crusader]

These are characters who believe in truth, honor and order. They always strive to do the right thing, even at a great personal cost.

Dash Parr's MBTI Type, Big Three, Enneagram Type and Moral Alignment

MBTI Type: ESTP [The Entrepreneur]

ESTP types like being around large groups of people, whether they know them or not. They prefer being out in action to being at home by themselves.

They are very observant and detail-oriented people. They are practical and realistic, focusing on the here-and-now.

Entrepreneurs make decisions based in logic. They care more about following the truth than making other people happy.

They avoid schedules, preferring to make plans as they go. They are less aware of time and enjoy being adaptable.

Big Three: Leo Sun, Aries Moon and Sagittarius Rising

Leo Sun: The Sun rules the sign Leo, which is why Leo Suns all about ego, will, and character. They’re known to be creative, playful, and bold.

Aries Moon: Lunar Aries are known to be emotionally responsive and impulsive at times, as they lead with fiery passions over than logic or reason.

Sagittarius Rising: Sagittarius risings are jovial, optimistic, and full of energy. They sparkle with confidence, and you can't help but sparkle back when you're around them.

Enneagram Type: 7w8 [The Opportunist]

Basic Fear: Seven with an eight wing fear being deprived. They want to pursue new opportunities and avoid being controlled by schedules.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to content and satisfied. They love experiencing the world by traveling and going to parties.

Opportunists defend themselves by justifying others’ negative actions and rationalizing away bad feelings.

Moral Alignment: Chaotic Good [The Rebel]

These characters value freedom and kindness, often challenging laws and order to achieve just outcomes.

Violet Parr's MBTI Type, Big Three, Enneagram Type and Moral Alignment

MBTI Type: INFP [The Mediator]

INFPs value time alone or with very small groups and can often feel exhausted after spending time with large groups of people.

They tend to focus on the big picture and don’t get lost on the smaller details. They have strong intuitions and often follow their gut instincts.

Mediators tend to prioritize emotion and make decisions that feel right. They are very diplomatic and can easily understand others' emotions.

They are very flexible in their schedules. INFPs like to keep their options open and tend to be more spontaneous.

Big Three: Virgo Sun, Pisces Moon and Scorpio Rising

Virgo Sun: Governed by communication planet Mercury, Virgos are the thinkers of the zodiac. Virgos process information with diligence and use facts to solve problems. 

Pisces Moon: Pisces Moons are hyper-attuned to the needs and emotions of others. They're likely to predict what's on your mind before you even say it.

Scorpio Rising: Prone to turning heads, Scorpio ascendents ooze with magnetism and dynamism. They're not known to back away from a challenge. 

Enneagram Type: 6w5 [The Guardian]

Basic Fear: Sixes with five wings are afraid of losing their guidance and stability. This is often expressed through their skepticism of the world.

Basic Desire: They have a strong desire for security, which they tend to show by protecting themselves and others. They seek close and stable relationships.

Guardians tend to defend themselves by projecting their own feelings onto others, which can often enhance their distrust of the world.

Moral Alignment: Lawful Good [The Crusader]

These are characters who believe in truth, honor and order. They always strive to do the right thing, even at a great personal cost.

Jack-Jack Parr's MBTI Type, Big Three, Enneagram Type and Moral Alignment

MBTI Type: ENFP [The Campaigner]

ENFP types are generally very outgoing and lively, preferring to go out rather than stay in. They love conversing with other people and generally process their thoughts externally.

They are great problem solvers and enjoy figuring out how everything is connected. They tend to focus more on the future than the present.

Campaigners like to keep the peace and avoid conflict. They care more about subjective principles than logic and fact. 

They are flexible and spontaneous, preferring to keep their options open. They dislike routines, schedules, and strict rules.

Big Three: Gemini Sun, Sagittarius Moon and Pisces Rising

Gemini Sun: Geminis are chatty and talkative, priding themselves on being in-the-know when it comes to news and gossip. Their dualistic nature allows them to see situations from a number of perspectives.

Sagittarius Moon: The Moon is considered to be lucky in Sagittarius, as it brings excitement, adventure, and abundance. However, those with Sagittarius Moons can be defensive at times.

Pisces Rising: The Pisces ascendant commits fully to their beliefs, and has an active imagination.

Enneagram Type: 7w8 [The Opportunist]

Basic Fear: Seven with an eight wing fear being deprived. They want to pursue new opportunities and avoid being controlled by schedules.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to content and satisfied. They love experiencing the world by traveling and going to parties.

Opportunists defend themselves by justifying others’ negative actions and rationalizing away bad feelings.

Moral Alignment: Chaotic Neutral [The Free Spirit]

Free from societal constraints, these characters prioritize their own freedom and make choices based on their whims.

[mightyflamethrower]

As Trump continues to show leads in critical swing states, as various lawfare-inspired cases against him seem to the public to be more persecutions than prosecutions, and as Joe Biden appears daily more incoherent and lost, the left on spec has resorted to warning the nation about all the supposedly catastrophic consequences of a future Trump presidency.

Ironically, the left seems oblivious to the reality that one reason Trump leads Biden in the polls is precisely because voters can compare the four-year record of the prior Trump presidency to Biden’s last 40 months.

Recently, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that Trump will conspire with oil executives to spike gasoline prices. But even after Biden drained the strategic petroleum reserve before the 2022 midterms and is now again doing the same as the 2024 election approaches, gas prices have averaged only one-third cheaper than under Trump.

Trump tried to top off the reserve but was blocked by Democrats in Congress. Nevertheless, he left Biden a nearly full reservoir of 638 million barrels (about 90 percent full), which Biden has now drained by some 270 million barrels to the present 51 percent full—and the levels are falling further as voting nears.

We are warned that 77-year-old Trump looks haggard after his long hours in court. He seems sleepy, we are told. He has aged terribly, the media tell us. But polls show that concern over Biden’s dementia greatly outweighs normal worry over septuagenarian candidate Trump.

Why would any sane pro-Biden handler bring up Trump’s supposed gait or occasional forgotten word when that only reminds the public of the contrast with Biden, whose speeches seem delivered in something other than English and whose transcripts must be heavily edited to airbrush away his incoherence?

We are told that Trump will increase racial tensions. Almost daily, blacks and Hispanics are warned that Trump is a racist—even as polls show that he may well receive the highest percentage of minority votes by any Republican in modern history and has some chance of winning outright the Hispanic vote. Oddly, the media is now attacking minorities on the Marxist principle of false consciousness, as if they are deluded into voting against themselves rather than being perceptive critics of the Biden disaster of high inflation, green mania, a deluge of illegal aliens, and loss of deterrence abroad.

It was not Trump, but Biden, who, during the last election cycles, called one African-American journalist a “junkie” and warned another podcaster, “You ain’t black,” if he voted for Trump. And during his presidency, on occasion, Biden has referred to black subordinates as “boy,” uses the ossified term “Negro,” and has a long history of racist drivel and smears, from “put y’all back in chains” to referencing Barack Obama as the first “clean” and “articulate” presidential candidate to proudly reminding us that his home state of Delaware was once a “slave state.”

As Trump’s polls climbed and the Fani Willis persecution was sidetracked by her own false testimonies, conflicts of interest, and the hiring of her unqualified clandestine paramour, hysterical cries mounted that a reelected Trump would use the powers of government to go after his enemies.

As Jack Smith’s federal indictment became calcified over issues of presidential immunity, his failed efforts to ram through the prosecution before the election, and his office lying over tampering with evidence seized at Mar-A-Lago, tired warnings of Trump’s weaponization to come of the bureaucracy mounted even more.

Now that the jury is out in the Alvin Bragg fiasco and his star witness, Michael Cohen, a convicted liar, has likely again perjured himself and admitted to stealing $60,000 from the Trump organization, Trumpophobia has further peaked.

In other words, the more evidence mounts that Trump’s enemies have manipulated the court system in the manner that they previously impeached him twice, tried him as a private citizen in the Senate, sought to remove him from state ballots, rounded up ex-intelligence officers to lie about the authentic Hunter Biden laptop on the eve of the 2020 presidential debate, and were exposed concocting the Russian collusion yarn by hiring a foreign national in the 2016 campaign, paradoxically, the more the left-wing media warns America that a President Trump would do exactly what they have been doing by emulating their weaponization of the courts, the bureaucracy, and the Congress.

It gets stranger still.

The left warns the country that Trump will deport some or many of the 10 million illegal aliens that Joe Biden and his impeached Homeland Security director Alejandro Mayorkas have deliberately welcomed in.

Consider the logic: the current president destroyed a once-secure border and, for political purposes, illegally rendered immigration law enforcement null and void. But we are still supposed to fear his successor, who would resecure the border, return millions of recently crossed illegal aliens to their countries of origin, and restore the sanctity of federal law. In Orwellian fashion, the Biden administration is now suing exasperated states that are doing their part to help enforce immigration laws that Biden has deliberately shredded.

The absurdity extends to foreign policy. Team Biden and the media are issuing warnings here and abroad that another Trump presidency would tear apart the global order.

Really? Vladimir Putin has invaded neighboring nations in three of the last four administrations, but did not only during the Trump 2017-2020 years. Why?

Before October 7, even Biden National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan preened that his Middle East portfolio was “quieter than in two decades”—but only after Trump’s destroyed ISIS, took out the terrorist Iranian general Soleimani, ended the disastrous Iran deal, cut off aid to Hamas, designated the Houthi terrorists, crafted the Abraham Accords, pledged full support for Israel, our only democratic ally in the Middle East, and achieved U.S. oil independence.

In contrast, Putin invaded Ukraine and may well absorb much of its eastern half. The U.S. suffered its greatest military humiliation of the last half century in fleeing from Kabul and handing over billions of dollars in weapons to the terrorist Taliban, abandoning our NATO-allied forces, sympathetic Afghans, and American contractors.

Hamas killed more Jews in a single day than any since the Holocaust. A full-scale war rages in Gaza. Hezbollah has displaced thousands of Israelis with its daily attacks. And for the first time in history, Iran has attacked in force the Israeli homeland.

China, with impunity, sent a spy balloon across the continental US. Some 25,000 Chinese male illegal aliens mysteriously barged into the U.S. And China has helped kill 100,000 Americans a year through its fentanyl exports to the Mexican cartels.

Given all that, are we supposed to worry that “sharp as a knife” Biden’s disastrous foreign policy will be ruined by a return to the peaceful record of the earlier Trump presidency?

So, what is Trumpophobia? The syndrome displays a number of symptoms.

One, the left always projects its sins onto its opponents. It accuses Trump of doing precisely what it has done, as a way of avoiding blame for its self-inflicted disasters. And the left so vehemently projects because it knows what it would do if it were Trump and was treated as he has been by them.

Two, desperate Democrats are scrambling to find some bizarre way to depose both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, especially should Biden have a disastrous, historic preconvention June presidential debate. As a result, the 2024 campaign has never been about comparison of 2017-2020 to 2021-2024. But rather, it has already descended into the Democratic de facto smear that “Trump is even worse than Biden.” And that fixation instills fears of what Trump might do rather than what he actually has done.

Three, the left feels Biden may do more than just lose the Democrats the presidency, Senate, and its close margin in the House. His hyperinflation seriously damaged the middle class. He turns them off with his arrogance, screaming speeches, loud, obnoxious gibberish, compulsive lying, and generally impotent appearance.

His racial condescension and pandering fool no one. As a result, Biden may well redefine the two parties as race is replaced by shared class concerns. Wealthy blacks may vote for Biden because they are black and wealthy, but more and more middle-class blacks may vote for Trump because they feel his policies benefit the middle class like themselves.

The public increasingly agrees that the Democrat Party is the party of the very rich, the bicoastal privileged, and the subsidized poor, while the lower and middle classes feel far more confident and secure with Republicans.

Four, the left fears a more organized, savvier Trump second term might hit the ground running‚ and thus rapidly and professionally instill a conservative agenda to stop the current neo-socialist revolution.

Given all that, 2024 for the left is little more than “Fear Trump or Bust.”

[csdp-disasterhotline]

System Failure- Test Writing

Before reading, please understand that I have been working out the kinks of the story and have been heavily debating on finishing it. Not because it is a challenge, but I fear I am changing too much of the orignal story to fit the mold better of what I had in mind. Key points of the game "Mouthwash" are too major that I had not added into the draft nor had planned to.

This is just a test to see how you guys react to it (this is just the beginning of the writing so nothing interesting is going on). I am doing this due to the lack of storries I have posted but I fear I will not complete this little project due to the massive changes I am doing from the original idea. I do not want to rewrite the game or write teh fanfiction word by word but i feel that there are too many major factors that I have taken out to make it fair.

The test

Its been 4 months. 

4 long months with depleting resources. Food wasnt…too much of a problem, but the medicine was. Parts of the carrier was still unfunctional due to the safety foam to keep as much oxygen in the ship as possible. Which was lucky in itself. 

The captain, Raimundo, was decommissioned. He was the one person that took the front of the burns and damage from the crash. A crash he had caused. His hands and most of his legs were burned off, or decomposed off in the past four months. His lips and eyelids were burned off as well, leaving exposed skin and nerves. He couldn’t really speak, and if he could, it was with pain. The pain medicine that was helping in keeping him alive was running low, and Kimiko, the nurse, was worried about hurting him while giving it to him; having to force the pills down his throat and make him swallow.

The lead maintenance, Chase, showed his disdain about the whole thing from the start. Ever since Raimundo had informed them that this last cargo delivery would be the last, Chase’s “friendly” nature towards his coworkers went to hell. He became more bitter and hostile. He didn’t particularly like hearing Kimiko whine with anxiety about Raimundos condition, and even more when she talked about their own situation. He didn’t isolate himself and very vocally told his anger towards the crew. Especially the two captains. He blamed them for the crash. They were the only ones who were in the cockpit when the direction was moved off course. 

Omi, a much younger man, was to learn from Chase. He was new to the job and the youngest of the group. His parents helped him get the job, and tough he was qualified, he was still naive. The poor boy was trying to make light of the situation but Chase wasn’t having it. It seemed Chase’s patience with Omi was slim and never existing. 

The co-captian had tried to take charge and responsibility of the crew and the crash. Jack had shown his own grudge against Raimundo. But he tried to keep a level head, remaining calm and collected for his crew. Jack though, wasn’t doing the best. Sometimes his behavior seemed to make things more tense. He and Chase never really got along, especially with Chase’s more hostile attitude. 

But never the less, they were going to make it. They had to. Until rescue came, it was just them. 

Jack sighed again. It was another day. The air felt worse than yesterday, even though he knows the air quality hasn’t changed. Jack just wasn’t finding any more joy in waking up anymore. Day by day, his hope for rescue or atleast a say without drama was depleting. 

He stood up and got dressed. There was already a knock at his door and he wanted to ram his head into the wall. He could barely stand the crew now; hell, he felt like he’d have better time with the dying man who tried to kill everyone with the crash. 

Jack opened the door. Kimiko greeted him a soft smile, but she was still filled with anxiety. He eye were dark, tired. She hasn’t been sleeping well. 

“Kim…”

“Raimundo is awake…” Kimiko said softly. He already knew what she wanted to ask.

“Okay?”

“Can you…help me give him his meds? I just…I can’t stand hearing him…”

This is becoming more frequent. But with how tired she looks, Jack gives into empathy. “I’ll give them to him. Don’t worry about it…”

With the door open, the moaning of Raimundo was now heard. Jack had stopped feeling bad a couple months ago. He had gotten so used to the pained moans that they might as well be a radio. They only got louder when Jack made his way towards the medbay. Kimiko was close to follow. 

When Jack got inside, he glanced towards the pain meds. “We’re almost out…” Kimiko said. 

Obviously. 

“Don’t you have access to more?” Jack asked, grabbing a hand full of pills and walking to Raimundo. 

His eye…that fucking eye…

“The foam blocked the medical panel where the others are…Chase won’t let me try and get it because he’s worried I’ll hit the wall and I’ll breach it.”

Jack sighed, “I’ll tlak to him”

He opened Raimundos mouth. 

Putting the pills in, he forced the pills to be swallowed. Some of it was forced to be chewd up by the exposed teeth. 

Kimiko excused herself when Raimundo began to choke on the pills. The lack of drink was making it worse. Jack had maneavured the throat and mouth to take the pills until the choking noises had stopped. The pills were down.

[seriously-mike]

I decided to test the new version of Stable Diffusion, called Flux. The prompt is at least similar to what I tested SDXL 1.0 with, a hippie girl wearing a t-shirt with the words "Everything Will Be Alright".

Well, shit. The thing is an absolute fucking behemoth, with a 11 GB data model and 5 GB dictionary, so it put my 8 GB video card and brand new 32 GB of DDR5 system RAM through a wringer. Rendering just one picture took about forty minutes when, for comparison, both SD 1.5 and SDXL need about a minute and a half. But it does replicate text fairly well, with minor typos if any and solid legibility. I also tried a web-based setup on the developers' site that's incomparably faster but still making typos (for example, I got a period-accurate white t-shirt with the phrase set in Cooper Black typeface, but it said "everything will be arright").

Also, from what I'm seeing, Flux not only messed up the number of fingers only once in a lot of pictures generated by multiple people, but can also, finally, draw guns correctly, something that annoyed me in Stable Diffusion for a long time. However, it's not that good at replicating art, being aggressively photorealistic no matter the prompt - I tried to ask the web-based setup for a replica of Rembrandt's style, something that the previous models did fairly well, got jack shit.

Also, a curious thing: I tried the Glurb prompt, a streak of random nonsense that returned goblins in every previous version of Stable Diffusion no matter the specific model, and the web-based setup returned something much closer to people's attempts in Midjourney instead - meaning that the entire thing was rewritten from scratch and not based on any previous version.