#rode micro

[ifater-tech]

Kvantumverseny a nagyvilágban és mikrofonpárbaj az iFaterben (2025-02-05)

Felpörgött a kvantum-verseny: bár mindenki az AI-ról beszél, az IT világban szép csendben felpörgött a számítási kapacitás iránti igényeket végre kiszolgálni látszó megoldás és néhány éven belül eljöhet a kvantumszámítógépek kora - legalábbis, ha hihetünk a szakértőknek. Az iFater eheti adásában azt járjuk körbe, hol is tart most ez a terület és mire számíthatunk a drasztikusan megnőtt számítási kapacitástól. A hírekben foglalkozunk többek a DeepSeek adatvesztési botrányaival, az USA ijesztően változó adatkezelési trendjeivel is, míg a tesztrovatban vendégünk a tartalomgyártók legújabb barátja a Rode Wireless Micro ultrakompakt mikrofon párosa, melyet gyorsan össze is vetettünk néhány versenytárssal.

Az epizód meghallgatásához kattints ide!

[tobiasdrake]

Ranma 1/2 reboot episode 4 opens with a deep cut.

Yeah, we're opening on the Ranma 1/2 SNES fighting games they used to have. Because fandom's like that sometimes.

(Now release a modern one.)

I was wondering if it'd be Ryoga or Shampoo introduced next.

(Because I don't actually remember the order they introduce characters in. XD)

Was hoping for Shampoo but I'll gladly take Ryoga. I hope we get to Ukyo before the end of the season. I don't expect we will. But I hope so.

IT BEGINS

Ryoga's legendary inability to find his way. This is a character who can be justified for crossovers by just wandering by. How did he get to Middle Earth? He's just that fucking lost, that's how.

My very first Ranma 1/2 experience, before I knew what the anime was, came from my cousin cosplaying Ryoga at an anime con. He rode an elevator up and down for like an hour just screaming, "Where's the door!?"

I need y'all to properly appreciate the route Ryoga took to Furinkan High School in Nerima.

Do you see that black circle? That is Tokyo. That is where he is trying to go.

The red circle is Shikoku. When he stops the boar and asks for directions to Furinkan High, this is where he is. He's got a long way to go.

The blue circle is Hokkaido, the second place where he stops to ask directions. He has made a complete journey from one end of Japan to the other without ever running into Tokyo.

He's just. So much fun.

"RANMA OUR TIME FOR DESTINED BATTLE HAS COME"

"...who are you again?"

Is pretty much the story of his life from here on out.

Ryoga is kind of a big deal. Of all of Ranma's rivals, he's the rival. He's the guy. Kuno's really more of a recurring nuisance and Mousse is more quirky than anything. Ryoga is the guy who really keeps Ranma on his toes.

Together, these two boys have a very long journey ahead.

...

Which only makes it more amazing that their rivalry is founded in something so petty and ridiculous, but that is the way of Ranma 1/2. Ryoga is homicidally furious because he was supposed to fight Ranma, but Ranma only waited three days for him to arrive at the vacant lot behind Ryoga's house rather than giving him the four days it took him. Ranma stood him up. The coward.

And all over a curry bun.

This is the magic of Ryoga Hibiki. He is an utterly absurd buffoon of a man who takes himself deathly serious. Blissfully oblivious to how entirely ridiculous he is.

He is the Tom to Ranma's Jerry but he thinks he's Vegeta.

Technically, it's his curse that he's so furious about. But. Like. He was already mad enough to follow Ranma to China. With his sense of direction. So pinning it on the curse is deflecting. Ryoga has a longstanding enmity towards Ranma born of a million micro-aggressions compounding into a spongey hatred that can't be easily untangled.

You can't just give him a bunch of week-old bread and then it's all good.

He doesn't even remember he's mad about that. Longstanding hatred eventually loses sight of why it ever started to begin with.

(And besides, Ryoga has more recent things to be upset about.)

I like the subtle build-up they lay out to the revelation that Ryoga too has a Jusenkyo curse. Starting when he says this.

It's interesting that he knows that. He should only know that Ranma stood him up and then left town. But he knows Genma took Ranma to China.

There's also his primary weapon that he fights with for most of the episode.

The story lingers on the fact that Ryoga's umbrella is ridiculously heavy. Even Akane can't lift it. The intense weight of the umbrella serves as a yardstick to show how incredibly strong Ryoga is.

And, later, how strong and determined to protect Akane Ranma is.

But there is one more interesting fact about Ryoga's umbrella that the narrative lets slip past without remarking on it: The fact that it's an umbrella. It's almost as if he's afraid of something in particular.

Something you might use an umbrella, specifically, to protect yourself from.

(Again, the way Ranma 1/2 integrates the malevolent effects of something so universal and ever-present as water into its storytelling, comedy, and action is so much fun.)

And it's in the way he takes personal offense at Ranma's comparatively benign curse.

Like. Yeah, Ranma has to suffer gender dysphoria sometimes but he did get off easy. At least he stays human. Other curse-bearers face a variety of drawbacks that Ranma doesn't have to deal with.

Nobody is going to try to cook and eat Ranma.

Of course, human misery is not judged on a curve. Ranma can be miserable with his gender dysphoria and be better off than other curse-bearers. Both of those things can be true.

But the way Ryoga loses his shit over Ranma's curse is another piece of well-placed foreshadowing about the true nature of his grudge.

Lastly, something I find... interesting... is this moment.

I need to unpack this. Ryoga's razor-sharp belt comes spinning down and slices off Akane's hair, with the implication that if she hadn't turned around to yell at Ranma just now, it would have been her head.

Ranma fucked up yet again in the middle of their argument and hurt Akane's feelings with the stupid-ass shit he says. Leading to Akane storming around, then whipping around to argue with Ranma right at a critical moment that saved her life.

But what really makes this fascinating is that it wasn't Ryoga that almost killed her by accident just now.

It wasn't not Ryoga. But it wasn't just Ryoga.

Ryoga brought the razor belt. But it was Ranma who kicked the belt out of Ryoga's hand. Ranma who sent it up into the air, and nearly brought it down on Akane's neck by accident.

It wasn't Ryoga that nearly killed her. And it wasn't Ranma either. It was the fight. And it was, specifically, a kick that was meant to end the fight, an attack Ranma threw in self-defense because the realization that he hurt Akane's feelings made everything Ryoga's about right now stop mattering.

When Ranma threw that kick, he no longer cared about whatever this shit is. He was trying to fix what he'd just screwed up with Akane, only for the unforeseeable consequences of choices he didn't realize in the heat of the moment that he was even making to suddenly come down on her like a razor blade.

It was his cruel words that put her in that spot and his shortsighted reflex that sent the blade into the air. But it was also his attempt to apologize that made her turn around and saved her from a much more grievous injury.

I don't.

Really.

Know what to do with that.

It's just. Interesting.

[mlarayoukai]

Micro bikini under wizard rode 🤔 gets light headed

[which-item-poll]

Website is in the tags!

[leodanbrock]

said this elsewhere but man i miss when voice actors weren’t micro celebrities who are easily accessible to ordinary people who thrive on parasocial attention. especially when said behaviour is in some cases has been a thinly disguised veil for predatory behaviour and you get people like vic mignoga, quinton flynn, even orion acaba in the long buried early days of critical role, running around. or a situation like joe zieja who rode the wave of popularity he got from the eng dub of claude from three houses. not saying they all end this way but i do not want to be interacting with VAs at all. i might enjoy their performances but that's it. i don't wish to engage with them personally, i don't want to have this parasocial fanservice connection.

genuinely SO bizarre and a little bit funny to me that people will be so critical about parasocial behaviour when it comes to one thing they like but when it comes to VAs for a fucking video game or anime they are willingly fanging up the engagement in their posts from people who really should consider using burners to search up their names and engage with fans rather than inserting themselves into conversations they aren’t invited into. sorry to be a killjoy but this is the exact sort of parasocial engagement people are allegedly against and it almost never ends well for anyone, it's just unhealthy.

[writingwell]

Could you write a fic where Beckett has been sick for a bit and keeps insisting it’s a cold before Castle forces her to take a Covid test preferably pre-couple pretty pleaseeee🙏🏼

pre-couple but covid, idk what time machine shenanigans would go on for that, so i made it tried-to-be-a-couple didn't-work might-try-again-any-day. you might not be looking for that. but here you go:

What started innocently enough soon turned vicious: from a tickle to a hellacious barking, sniffing when she drank a freshly made cup of espresso to vampire sneezing explosively in rapid succession.

Every eyebrow in the bullpen went up. Every eye turned her way, suspicious and damning.

She seemed to notice her audience, turned to him instead, glaring as she spat, "It's not covid!"

"Uh-huh," he answered. Both hands raised in surrender.

But they all knew.

(Well, they all suspected, because it was 2022, and they were midway through boosters and Delta/Omicron and Great Flu Resurgence and some of the beat officers were getting RSV on top of that and then a stomach flu went around when the masks came off in the precinct, and really, coughing and sneezing and a scratchy voice—what else could it be?)

No one was immune to the suspicion, just as no one was immune to covid but in the window of time afforded to one by the life of the vaccine or a previous bout with the novel corona virus, and well, everyone had their own story to tell, much like after 9/11 when that was the first thing people talked about in the street or meeting for a drink, where were you, only now it was how many of your family died or how long were you laid up?

Rick Castle cornered her (not too closely, no; he knew she was contagious and he didn't want his mother getting it, vaccinated or not) in the parking garage of the Twelfth before she could ride up to Homicide.

"It's not covid," she hissed, before he could even speak.

"So take a test," he answered easily. "Put our minds at ease."

"I did. I have. I've taken three," she hissed.

If he stepped back to avoid whatever sprayed from her hissing, could you blame him? "This morning? Before the call about the body?"

"Last night," she said. A grudging hesitation. "It was negative last night."

"Okay, then maybe go to the City clinic," he said amicably. "Could be strep." Or whooping cough.

"I don't feel bad, no body aches, no fever—"

"Alexis got strep every winter until she was thirteen. That year, no strep! We joked she'd grown out of it. But then her best friend, after every sleepover, would mysteriously come down with strep and Alexis wouldn't. Friend's mom made me take her in and get tested. Sure enough, she was asymptomatic."

"It's not strep," Beckett answered. Scathingly, but she was the Captain, and she did often push him aside when she needed to get going and he was being difficult.

(Busy woman, the Captain of the Twelfth. He was often being difficult, considering he wouldn't quit her and she wouldn't commit to him.

But she wasn't wrong, since she had a press conference to get to and a Homicide division to micro-manage. Whoops, did he say micro-manage? He was being mean. In his own head. To the woman of his dreams/nightmares.

Theirs was often a love-hate relationship these days.)

He kept silent, rode the elevator up with her. He made her a cup of espresso in the break room while she prepped for the press conference. Granted, he was rushing to get it ready—coffee was still their love language, despite the bumps in their road—but when she took a sip and her face blanched, he knew.

"Ahem. Funny taste?"

"It's not covid, Castle."

At the press conference, she was in the middle of her rundown on the DB—okay, yes, Castle should have been listening but the guy had been a jackass member of City Council who had tried to get her fired—and her voice cracked.

She cleared her throat. Coughed delicately into her fist. Tried again.

Her voice broke like fine porcelain in the hands of underpaid movers, and the first question from the press was, Are you coming down with something?

She steadfastly refused to look at him. Deny deny deny, and she was getting good at it, as the Captain of the Twelfth, had to give her that.

He was home that night working on book edits—he was giving Nikki Heat a vicious bout of covid, laying her up in her apartment, when a murderer comes to call—when his phone vibrated off his desk and dropped to the floor.

Her face the ID. From that ill-fated night in his bed. She had changed it twice before he'd discovered a passcode to his phone she couldn't guess/wheedle from his mother. Even now, it filled with him a melange of dread and sweetness, terror and tenderness.

"Captain Beckett, you rang?"

"Castle—"

"You sound awf—"

"I have covid."

"I know," he murmured, rising to his feet. "I bought chicken soup from the Czech deli on my way home, and I have a guy on speed dial who can prescribe you paxlovid."

"The drug? I heard it gives you rebound covid."

"That's not because of the drug," he told her, gathering his keys and wallet, his jacket. "It's just a thing some people get, treatment or no."

"Okay," she croaked. "Get me drugs."

"I'll be right there."

He arrived forty-seven minutes later with the prescription, chicken soup, a package of KN95s, his laptop, and a determination he'd not felt since that botched night.

She took it all.

She wore the mask, laid on the couch in the living room with her face to a satin pillow, her eyes slitted like a cat, and watched him make edits on the book.

"Did you give her covid?" she rasped.

"Yes."

She didn't answer. Merely watched him.

He submitted his first round of edits and made her a bowl of soup, wore his own mask but wouldn't isolate from her as she sipped the broth. Her throat worked as if each swallow was pain. Her eyes had dark rings, bruised-looking, and her hair was limp. She coughed and they both flinched.

He fished a water with electrolytes from his bag of provisions, opened it for her because her fingers looked fragile. She drank. She eyed him.

She fell asleep with the bowl against her chest, half drunk. He took it from her, put the water on the floor close at hand, couldn't resist pushing the hair back behind her ear.

He bent low. Held his breath for an instant before he confessed: "I didn't want to. But. I still love you."

-----

[hiheat]

Heirloom Kitchen, Old Bridge NJ

My wife and I enjoyed an absolutely first class dining experience today at Heirloom Kitchen in Old Bridge, NJ.

Food was good, almost shockingly good. I was taken aback at the subtlety of just about every dish we were served. Atmosphere was clean and quirky, somewhere at the intersection of cottagecore, industrial, and kitch. Service was top notch, attentive and professional, from a brigade that couldn't have been much older than my teenage sons.

The menu was a four course prix fixe, including dessert ($89 pp). Tonight's menu featured three or four choices for each course, so we had (difficult!) choices to make. As usual, we ordered extras: a stuffed bread course (which was amazing, both sweet and savory, with onion jam and a whipped feta spread), as well as two a la carte dishes as an additional course, (which the staff sequenced perfectly, despite our last minute addition).

Our first course was a raw cured snapper served in watermelon lime broth and a chicken liver mousse served on brioche. The snapper was served like ceviche, cured in citrus, but served over a vivid red watermelon broth. The flavor of the lime oil popped with the crisp texture of the fish, and rode nicely over the sweetness of the watermelon.

The toasted brioche was topped with a modest shmear of a velvety chicken liver mousse, which would have been a sensational pairing all by itself. But the bite was taken up several notches with the addition of pickled veg, micro cilantro, and emulsified jalapeno on the plate. The acidic and mildly-spicy pop was so helpful to cut the cloying fattiness that normally comes with chicken liver. Very well balanced and clever to keep the spicy element separate on the plate, allowing the diner to dial in their preferred level of heat.

Course number two consisted of grilled octopus and a baked squash. The octopus dish was a master class in the Maillard reaction: just about every item on the plate was cooked to caramelization, but not a single element had that burnt flavor you get when something is left in the pan a few minutes too long. Eggplant, nuts, capers, potato, and even the za'atar - each cooked to its own smoky sweetness then combined perfectly in a harmony like an exquisite campfire.

The Delicata squash was served in tender cubes over acorn squash rendered as a mousse and had several different textures across the dish. The apple mostarda complimented the squash in both a expected yet surprising way. That familiar homey flavor of simple baked apples with squash and cinnamon took on a much more sophisticated demeanor in this context.

Our third course was a pan-seared fluke and a pork belly deconstructed "tamale". The fish had a great crust and flavor, but could have maybe used one minute less in the pan. But we like our fish under rather than over, so it might have been personal preference. The pepperoni butter was the most surprising element, and one we are going to try to replicate. Each of the other elements - the cassoulet, the sofrito, and the caponata - were executed well enough to stand on their own; in combination, they supported the fluke without overwhelming it.

The pork belly was cooked "birria" style, a slow-cooked stew with meat and spices. This dish was clever and incredibly flavorful, with a generous portion of extremely moist and tender pork belly. The corn portion of the deconstructed tamale was served central to the dish, as a simple rectangle covered in the mole sauce. I enjoyed the texture that the corn and wax beans added to the dish, especially given the silky tamale/mole centerpiece. My only wish was that they had gone with a birria "tatemada" style of cooking, where the pork belly was crisped up after being stewed. I missed the sensation of crispy pork fat in my tamale, and I worry that the large moist fat cap on the pork belly might turn off some patrons. But that's just a tiny tweak, not at all a complaint.

Our bonus course consisted of a pasta dish (Sorpresine), and the duck breast we thought we had to sacrifice in lieu of the pork belly. When our server told us in casual conversation that we could add dishes a la carte, we jumped at the chance to fill in with some of the dishes we had missed. Sorpresine (meaning "little surprises") is sort of an unstuffed version of ravioli. Just folded and cooked, this pasta was served with a sticky-sweet peach agrodolce, tiny tomatoes, and a very moist stracciatella cheese, sister to ricotta. We were so pleased we were able to get this complex yet rustic dish into our menu. It simultaneously felt subtle and lush in my mouth while being reminiscent of Sunday dinners at my grandma's house.

The duck breast was served in a Jamaican style, with a dry jerk rub, a habanero jus sauce, and braised cabbage and squash. The large portion of duck breast was cooked perfectly medium rare, a lovely light warm pink in the center. We cut it into medallions, and smeared each through the spicy jus. While I loved the flavor, I really wanted a more substantial jerk sauce, sticky and clinging to the meat. This dish had such an island inspiration but fell slightly short on the thin jus. The cabbage was tasty but slightly overly-salted to my palate. All of the other flavors were spot on, however, and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again.

Last course was dessert: we had the hush puppies, and the inspired combination of basil mousse/olive oil cake/Parmesan ice cream. I have to admit I wasn't wild about the hush puppies. Served with caramel popcorn and a smear of creme "elote" anglaise, this clearly chef-inspired dessert fell flat for me. I wanted more fresh in-season fruit, instead of the one lonely bit of peach and gooseberry. I wanted more delicious sauce, instead of the tiny smear. The hush puppies and popcorn were fine but their focus should have been reversed, IMO.

The other dessert was a delightful exercise in contradiction and challenging your preconceptions. Basil mousse, parmesan ice cream, olive oil cake, pine nut brittle - this sounds like the ingredients to a nice savory pesto dish, not a dessert. However, here's a chef's dessert that knocked the ball out of the park on so many levels. The olive oil cake was a moist platform for the ice cream and a tart lemon curd. The pine nut brittle paired as expected with the basil ice cream but the surprise was that it works as a sweet dessert as well as in a savory main. This dish was just over-the-top clever in its conception, almost like it was the response to a dare: "Make a pesto dish, but dessert - go!" However the good balance of sweetness and acid from the lemon and texture from the brittle, all melting together and soaking into the tight crumb of the cake was so startling in its "challenge accepted", perfect execution.

Again, service staff was exquisite, more attentive than many restaurants asking twice the price. Busers were on the move continuously but not obtrusive. Runners knew their food preparation and could answer questions thoughtfully. Our server was funny, engaging, offering her own thoughts and opinions while remaining thoroughly professional throughout

Decor was an interesting mix. Edison bulbs, black fixtures and flatware. Seating that matched but also seemed to come from a yard sale. A library of cookbooks and an open kitchen all contributed to the informal, casual feel. I thought the music was at times a bit too loud for easy conversation though. Our server told us the restaurant started life as a cooking school, and in fact still offers cooking and baking classes, as well as a multi-course tasting experience on Sundays.

Please forgive the extensive review here. I feel like this restaurant is quite possibly one of the best in the state. More than being a "hidden gem", this experience was easily a 5-star fine-dining experience, tucked into a little strip mall off Route 9 in Old Bridge. I literally do not know if they're aware of the incredibly high quality of the experience they offer, and the value you get as a patron. But I suggest you bring an adventurous palate and a few friends for dinner at Heirloom Kitchen before they wise up, put linen tablecloths over their neat wooden tables, and double the prices. But even if that happens, you can count on seeing me there (just wearing my jacket and tie).

Happy Eating!

[hangofwednesday]

IN NO ONES VOICE After The Horsemen rode to Earth. After Armageddon. When under 1000 humans exist in the whole universe one human will try to do more than just survive. In No Ones Voice is micro audio drama with episode that will go from 5 to 20 minutes in length. This series will be a monthly look at what it means to be human. For more on Tin Pod Radio head over and listen to some of our past shows. We audio books, interviews, reviews, and many other types of podcasts. https://hangofwednesday.podbean.com/ The series theme is King Of The World by CRMNL https://www.musicbed.com/artists/crmnl/43691 Video Clips from Storyblocks https://www.storyblocks.com/ The voice of Tin Universe is Stacey Taylor https://popcultureparlour.podbean.com/ IN NO ONES VOICE is written by Brian C. Williams For All Things Tin Universe visit https://tinuniverse.blogspot.com/ #audio #audiodramas #podcasts #fiction  #scifi #sciencefiction https://www.instagram.com/p/CpxFFGeur0a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[starseedfxofficial]

Williams %R & Ripple/USD: The Hidden Trading Formula Experts Swear By Why Williams %R Is the Underrated Secret Weapon for Ripple/USD Trading In the chaotic world of Forex, where algorithms fight for micro-pips and traders chase trends like a cat chasing a laser pointer, there’s a hidden weapon most traders overlook: Williams %R. Combine it with the unpredictable yet promising Ripple/USD market, and you’ve got a trading cocktail that could be more potent than your morning espresso shot. The Mystery of Williams %R—And Why Most Traders Get It Wrong Williams %R, created by legendary trader Larry Williams, is an oscillator that measures overbought and oversold conditions—basically, it tells you when the market is getting too cocky or too scared. But here’s the kicker: while most traders use it like an RSI knockoff, the real pros use Williams %R to anticipate reversals with precision. The formula? Simple: The indicator moves between 0 and -100, with: - 0 to -20 = Overbought (Time to consider selling) - -80 to -100 = Oversold (Time to consider buying) Unlike RSI, which is a momentum-based indicator, Williams %R is ultra-sensitive, meaning it picks up reversals faster than other oscillators. But how does this translate to trading Ripple/USD? Why Ripple/USD Needs a Different Approach Unlike more “traditional” fiat-backed currency pairs, Ripple (XRP/USD) behaves more like a high-beta stock than a currency pair. It’s volatile, news-driven, and influenced by regulatory actions (or lack thereof). In other words, if Bitcoin is the king of crypto, Ripple is the wild-card cousin that either outperforms or faceplants spectacularly. Traditional RSI-based strategies might work for slow-moving pairs like EUR/USD, but for XRP/USD, you need a strategy that reacts FAST—this is where Williams %R shines. The “Ripple Reversal” Strategy: How to Use Williams %R for Maximum Gains Step 1: Identify Overbought & Oversold Conditions - Apply the Williams %R (14-period) indicator on the 1-hour or 4-hour chart of XRP/USD. - Look for extreme readings (-80 to -100 for oversold and 0 to -20 for overbought). - Don't jump in immediately—wait for confirmation! Step 2: Confirm with Price Action & Volume - If Williams %R is oversold (-80 to -100), check if Ripple/USD is forming a double-bottom or bullish engulfing pattern. - If Williams %R is overbought (0 to -20), look for bearish engulfing patterns or lower highs. - Volume is crucial—spikes in volume during oversold conditions confirm buy signals, while high-volume sell-offs during overbought conditions confirm sell signals. Step 3: Optimize Entry & Exit - Buy Entry: When Williams %R moves back above -80 after being oversold + bullish confirmation pattern. - Sell Entry: When Williams %R drops below -20 after being overbought + bearish confirmation pattern. - Stop-Loss: Below/above recent swing low/high. - Take Profit: Use a 1:2 or 1:3 risk/reward ratio. Real-World Example: Williams %R Predicting an XRP/USD Move Let’s rewind to December 2023, when XRP/USD had a wild rally from $0.50 to $0.75. Most traders FOMO’d in at the top—but Williams %R was already flashing overbought signals (-5) while price action formed a bearish divergence. Smart traders using the Ripple Reversal strategy shorted XRP/USD near $0.73, rode the drop back to $0.60, and cashed in while others panic-sold. Advanced Ninja Tactics: Williams %R + Moving Averages for XRP/USD For traders who want to level up, combine Williams %R with a 50-period EMA (Exponential Moving Average): - Buy when: Williams %R exits oversold (-80 to -100) + price is above the 50 EMA. - Sell when: Williams %R exits overbought (0 to -20) + price is below the 50 EMA. This filter removes fake breakouts and improves trade accuracy. The Final Takeaway: Williams %R + Ripple/USD = Hidden Goldmine Most traders underestimate Williams %R, but when paired with Ripple/USD’s explosive nature, it can provide high-probability reversal signals. The key? Avoid blindly buying or selling—always confirm with price action and volume! For real-time trade ideas, expert insights, and advanced methodologies, check out: - Latest Forex News & Insights - Free Forex Courses & Strategies - Join Our Elite Trading Community —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

[ivoryminitower]

Echoes of Home: 80 - Tsu'na ("safety")

Echoes of Home: FFXIV AU OC – WoLs on Earth

airplane: "About 1,060,000,000 results"

airplane crash: "About 68,300,000 results"

airplane death: 477 in 2019

bicycle death: 849 in 2019

car death: 36,096 in 2019; 640 in Oklahoma

Superman is right about flying in machines.  "Statistically speaking, it's still the safest way to travel."

Husband wants to build an airplane.  He wants to drive fly an airplane.  He wants me to fly an airplane.

We built airships in Eorzea.  We never rode in them.  They were piloted by a mammet.  If we wanted to fly, we had many flying mounts.  They did not fall down and burn.  Perhaps the airships would not fall down and burn either, since most of them used gasbags to be in the air.

So this is his latest project, or perhaps the project he has had for some time.  We had projects in Eorzea that we worked on together, but we could also focus on our own.  When he was focused on a project, I sometimes needed to remind him to notice me.  He was usually willing to do that, and talk about his progress.  Sometimes over food.  Sometimes in bed.

But the projects in Eorzea were usually not the sorts of things that could kill us.  Or, even if they did, we had our home point.

We do not yet know if we have a home point here.  I do not know if I wish to find out by trying to fly an airplane.

I spent time walking around town, thinking about the project.  It made me restless somehow.  It was a very new thing for me.  There are many things about it that are not things I know, and I think Husband does not know them well.  When he tried to explain some of them he needed to teach me new words, and some of those words needed new words to explain them.

Yet not knowing things has so far meant learning about them.  I have found I am good at learning about things.  I think there are things I understand differently than Husband does; he seems to think this is a good thing because together we can understand them better.  So simply not knowing things should not have bothered me.

Perhaps I should have talked about it with Husband, but this feeling came from talking with him, and I felt I needed to somehow think differently.

Googling "think differently" gave many results.  A lot of them seem to do with business.  I will perhaps look at these over time, but one of them mentioned "random stimuli" which seems to mean seeing or hearing or doing lots of different things to make new thoughts come.  So I walked around town looking for new things.

The library felt too quiet for new things.  The thrift store often has different things, but they are still different types of the same thing.  May's market had nothing that was new to me, though I did buy some pork rinds.

When I got near the Pit I remembered Sam's offer, that I could talk to him, even if he did not understand me.  I supposed that meant I would more be talking at him than to him.  But at that point it would be something different to do, so I went in to talk at Sam.

Sam has gotten used to my typing at the bar.  We greeted each other, he brought me a Coke as I set down the laptop, and I typed all this before engaging him.

Now it is time to engage him.

"So what's tonight's big-think topic?

"Airplanes."

"Airplanes?"

"My husband wants to build one."

"O…kay.  Why?"

"He says we do not need a license to fly one."

"Oh, like one o' them, uh…micro…para…"

"Ultralight."

"Ultralight.  Sure.  So, yer lookin' up parts an' stuff?"

"No, he is doing that.  I am…" I was staring at the words on my screen, scrolling up and down the page.  "...concerned."

"Cuz he's got a hobby?"

"Because he has a hobby that could kill him."

"Hm.  S'pose it could.  Y'know, don't take this the wrong way, but y'all face down bears an' gators an' guys with guns.  Kinda made me think y'ain't afraid o' anything."

"I…am not…it is not…"

Perhaps it was.  I needed to think about it.  Sam polished a glass.

"When we were…on deployment, we had our jobs.  It was what we did and what we thought about.  We charged into battle, we breached enemy strongholds, we deposed tyrants…"

"Tyrants?"

"There were tyrants.  We deposed them."

Sam shrugged and gestured at me to continue.

"We knew we could die.  We did not want to die.  If the danger was too great, we would run, and plan better, and try again.  But we did not think about dying.  We thought about the job.  We did the job.  Over and over.

"Now, since coming here, I learn of people dying in…stupid ways.  Car crashes.  Bad food.  Falling down.  Dying in ways that are not brave or heroic or even useful…ways that could happen to…anyone.  I have thought more about dying since coming here than I ever did on deployment."

I looked at Sam.  "And now my husband wants to fling himself into the air in a machine of his making that can fall down and burn.  I am…concerned."

"Gotcha.  Want me to try an' talk him out of it?"

"I do not think you can.  It is something he truly wants to do.  And his reasons are good…we need to be able to travel, and the airplane he talks about will let us."

"Okay, but there's, like, buses, trains, commercial airlines…"

"We need materials that may be hard to reach.  We have equipment we cannot repair, so we need to be able to make new equipment.  We can make steel, but we would like better.  We have not yet found mythril…"

"Mythril?  Like, Lord of the Rings mythril?"

"What is Lord of the Rings?"

Sam stared at me.  "...It's a book."

The Lord of the Rings: "an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkein."

"high fantasy": "a subgenre of fantasy defined by the epic nature of its setting or by the epic stature of its characters, themes or plot."

"fantasy": "a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore."

"speculative fiction": "a broad category of fiction encompassing genres with elements that do not exist in reality, recorded history, nature, or the present universe."

"Perhaps I will read it."

He continued to stare at me.  I wondered if I had confused or upset a hyur.  I tried to change his focus. "So do you know anyone who knows about airplanes?"

He blinked. "Uh…none o' the regulars.  Maybe there's someone round who does crop dustin' or hobby flyin'..."

"Do you think, once my husband has built his airplane, if someone can find out if it works well?"

"What, like a test pilot?" Sam chuckled. "You want someone else to crash an' burn b'fore he does?"

My stomach felt strange.  I realized that, yes, that was exactly what I wanted. "Is it bad to want that?"

"'S'understandable.  Can't say's I see anyone volunteerin' for it, though."

"Then perhaps someone who knows about airplanes can…look at ours to see if it is made correctly?"

"Safety check.  Sure, that's somethin' you can get people to do."

"Thank you, Sam.  I feel much better now."

"Any time."

I closed the laptop and got up to leave.

"Miz Tsu'na?"

I turned back to him.

"Y'ain't really from around here, are you?"

"I was not raised in Oklahoma, no."

"Nah, I mean…" His words seemed to be stuck inside him.  "...Sure, okay.  Have a good one."

I smiled for him and left.

Perhaps Husband can tell me what I should have said.

[genxjamerican]

A Hot Take on Jaguar's Rebrand Shot on iPhone 16 Pro Max Rode Wireless Micro: https://geni.us/FBnQh via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbcAOqpE3g8

[luclevasseur]

Les Meilleurs Micros Rode pour YouTube

Quels sont les Meilleurs Micros Rode pour YouTube : Un Son Professionnel pour Vos Vidéos Rode Microphones est une marque australienne reconnue pour ses produits audio de haute qualité, et ses micros sont un choix privilégié pour de nombreux créateurs de contenu YouTube. Que vous soyez un streamer, un podcaster ou un vidéaste, Rode propose une large gamme de micros adaptés à toutes sortes de…

[3lub]

We compare DJI's new mic mini to Rode’s new Wireless Micro and a bunch o...

[chill-that-ur-inmyhead]

Do you have any plans for tomorrow?

Try to make it to the gym. Also need to get some news pens so maybe pop into town. It is stormy weather at the moment which is really making me hesitate on going outside haha.

What's the longest movie you've ever seen?

Barbenheimer! Double bill but just one single movie would have to be Gone with the Wind.

What movies did you watch a lot as a kid?

Disney and teen rom com/ coming of age.

How many rooms are in your home?

3 bedrooms.

Do you ever experience imposter syndrome?

Yes trying hard to power through but I do feel like I am waiting for someone to call me out. Similar to Mr Huntzberger calling out Rory saying she just doesn't "have it." I think I'd steal a boat as well.

What was the last place you rode to in a car?

Pick up my brother from work at the local airport.

Do you have a PayPal account? If so, how often do you use it?

I do but rarely use it. Likely to use it if I'm purchasing something from a site that is new to me or international shipping.

Are you cold right now?

I am wrapped up in layers, long sleeved top, cardigan, wrap, blanket and a hot water bottle.

How old will you be at your next birthday?

26.

Before this one, when was the last time you took a survey?

Hmmm probs months ago - just checked and exact date is 20th July 2024.

Can you skip rope?

Yes. Used to be a regular activity.

Have you ever participated in a charity fundraising event?

Yes.

What is your hair like at the moment?

Newly washed and light.

Do you like cucumber?

Yes. Have it almost every day.

What do you like and dislike about your job? (or your last job)

Likes: good experience for problem solving and get to help people with various issues, have learnt a lot. Sometimes the clients are grateful. My colleagues and lovely and we have a laugh.

Dislikes: Sometimes the clients are not grateful. The managing team can be a bit micro-manage-y. The team also have to deal with a number of clients a day but it is impossible to deal with the clients and maintain a high quality of advice given. It is a constant push and pull between quantity and quality.

It is all about the career progression. I am happy where I am but I have plans.

Have you ever had a dream job? If so, did you give up on it, and why? Or do you happen to have that dream job?

I am still working towards it.

What's the last sitcom you watched?

New Girl.

What car did your parents or guardian drive when you were growing up?

It was a ford mondeo estate.

Do you have milk in your fridge right now? What kind?

Yes, cow's semi skinned milk.

Are you left or right handed?

Right-handed

If you have your ears pierced, how old were you when you got them done?

I don't but have been considering getting them pierced at my big age of 25.

Do you have any other piercings?

Nope.

What was the last thing you wrote down in the notes app on your phone?

Converting GBP to Euros.

Have you ever been on a winery tour?

Nope I would probs get so drunk.

When was the last time you were hungover?

September at a work event - lots of free booze.

Do you still have Facebook? If so, how often do you check it?

I do have Facebook. I opened it recently to join some Taylor Swift merch trade groups.

Are you wearing your favourite colour today?

Yes.

Would you ever want to visit South Korea?

I would love to.

How many times in your life have you been in love?

I suppose once.

Do you like your name?

It suits me. But it has taken me a while to realise that and do have name envy if I meet someone with a cool, unique name.

[atplblog]

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[joshuawithers]

Seeing the Rode Wireless Micro release today (another spectacular release from Rode) reminded me how Australian companies and people are driving the infrastructure level of the creator economy.

Rode Microphones, Blackmagic Design (cameras, accessories, switchers and DaVinci), Procreate, Canva, Linktree, and Fastmail are the big ones I can think about plus Pocketcasts, Whooshkaa, and Omny Studio in the podcast world. Also, Emojipedia!