#smart price-sourcing technology

[wisemancax]

UK Smoking Ban: What now for big Tobacco? (UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak)

UK Smoking Ban: What now for big Tobacco?

[ecrivainsolitaire]

A summary of the Chinese AI situation, for the uninitiated.

These are scores on different tests that are designed to see how accurate a Large Language Model is in different areas of knowledge. As you know, OpenAI is partners with Microsoft, so these are the scores for ChatGPT and Copilot. DeepSeek is the Chinese model that got released a week ago. The rest are open source models, which means everyone is free to use them as they please, including the average Tumblr user. You can run them from the servers of the companies that made them for a subscription, or you can download them to install locally on your own computer. However, the computer requirements so far are so high that only a few people currently have the machines at home required to run it.

Yes, this is why AI uses so much electricity. As with any technology, the early models are highly inefficient. Think how a Ford T needed a long chimney to get rid of a ton of black smoke, which was unused petrol. Over the next hundred years combustion engines have become much more efficient, but they still waste a lot of energy, which is why we need to move towards renewable electricity and sustainable battery technology. But that's a topic for another day.

As you can see from the scores, are around the same accuracy. These tests are in constant evolution as well: as soon as they start becoming obsolete, new ones are released to adjust for a more complicated benchmark. The new models are trained using different machine learning techniques, and in theory, the goal is to make them faster and more efficient so they can operate with less power, much like modern cars use way less energy and produce far less pollution than the Ford T.

However, computing power requirements kept scaling up, so you're either tied to the subscription or forced to pay for a latest gen PC, which is why NVIDIA, AMD, Intel and all the other chip companies were investing hard on much more powerful GPUs and NPUs. For now all we need to know about those is that they're expensive, use a lot of electricity, and are required to operate the bots at superhuman speed (literally, all those clickbait posts about how AI was secretly 150 Indian men in a trenchcoat were nonsense).

Because the chip companies have been working hard on making big, bulky, powerful chips with massive fans that are up to the task, their stock value was skyrocketing, and because of that, everyone started to use AI as a marketing trend. See, marketing people are not smart, and they don't understand computers. Furthermore, marketing people think you're stupid, and because of their biased frame of reference, they think you're two snores short of brain-dead. The entire point of their existence is to turn tall tales into capital. So they don't know or care about what AI is or what it's useful for. They just saw Number Go Up for the AI companies and decided "AI is a magic cow we can milk forever". Sometimes it's not even AI, they just use old software and rebrand it, much like convection ovens became air fryers.

Well, now we're up to date. So what did DepSeek release that did a 9/11 on NVIDIA stock prices and popped the AI bubble?

Oh, I would not want to be an OpenAI investor right now either. A token is basically one Unicode character (it's more complicated than that but you can google that on your own time). That cost means you could input the entire works of Stephen King for under a dollar. Yes, including electricity costs. DeepSeek has jumped from a Ford T to a Subaru in terms of pollution and water use.

The issue here is not only input cost, though; all that data needs to be available live, in the RAM; this is why you need powerful, expensive chips in order to-

Holy shit.

I'm not going to detail all the numbers but I'm going to focus on the chip required: an RTX 3090. This is a gaming GPU that came out as the top of the line, the stuff South Korean LoL players buy…

Or they did, in September 2020. We're currently two generations ahead, on the RTX 5090.

What this is telling all those people who just sold their high-end gaming rig to be able to afford a machine that can run the latest ChatGPT locally, is that the person who bought it from them can run something basically just as powerful on their old one.

Which means that all those GPUs and NPUs that are being made, and all those deals Microsoft signed to have control of the AI market, have just lost a lot of their pulling power.

Well, I mean, the ChatGPT subscription is 20 bucks a month, surely the Chinese are charging a fortune for-

Oh. So it's free for everyone and you can use it or modify it however you want, no subscription, no unpayable electric bill, no handing Microsoft all of your private data, you can just run it on a relatively inexpensive PC. You could probably even run it on a phone in a couple years.

Oh, if only China had massive phone manufacturers that have a foot in the market everywhere except the US because the president had a tantrum eight years ago.

So… yeah, China just destabilised the global economy with a torrent file.

[cinderella-ish]

If you know anyone who writes music, today has probably been a very crappy day for them.

Finale, one of the most dominant programs for music notation for the past 35 years, is coming to an end. They���re no longer updating it or allowing people to purchase it, and it won’t be possible to authorize on new devices or if you upgrade your OS.

I’ve personally been using Finale to write music for about 20 years (since middle school!). It’s not something that I depend on for money, and my work should be compatible with other programs, so I’ll be fine, but this is very, very bad news for lots of people who depend on this software for their livelihood.

(cut added so info added to reblogs doesn't get buried!)

The shittiest thing is that this was preventable. From a comment on Finale’s post:

As a former Tech Lead on Finale (2019-2021) I can tell you this future was avoidable. Those millions of lines of code were old and crufty, and myself and others recognized something had to be done. So we created a plan to modernize the code base, focusing on making it easier to deliver the next few rounds of features. I encouraged product leadership to put together a feature roadmap so our team could identify where the modernization effort should be focused.

We had a high level architecture roadmap, and a low level strategy to modernize basic technologies to facilitate more precise unit testing. The plan was to create smart interfaces in the code to allow swapping out old UI architecture for a more modern, reliable, and better maintained toolset that would grow with us rather than against us.

But in the end it became clear support wasn’t coming from upper management for this effort.

I’m sad to see Finale end this way.

Finale also could allow people who own the software to move it to their new devices in the future, but Capitalism. It’s a pointless corporate IP decision that only hurts users.

There are three main options for those of us who are having to switch: Dorico, MuseScore, or Sibelius.

Sibelius has been Finale’s main competitor for as long as I can remember. It currently runs on a subscription model (ew). The programs are about equal in terms of their capabilities, though I’ve heard Finale has more options for experimental notation. (I’ve used both; Finale worked better for my workflow, but that’s probably just because I grew up using it.)

Dorico is the hip new kid and I’d personally been considering switching for quite a while, but it’s ungodly expensive (about twice what Finale cost at full price). Thankfully, they are allowing current Finale users to purchase at a price comparable (well, still 50% higher) to what Finale used to cost with the educator discount. It apparently has a very steep learning curve at first, though it is probably the best option for experimental notation.

MuseScore is open source, which is awesome! But it also has the most limitations for people who write using experimental notation.

I haven’t used MuseScore or Dorico and will probably end up switching to one of those, but it’s also not an urgent matter for me. Keep your musician friends in your thoughts; it’s going to be a rough road ahead if they used Finale.

[talonabraxas]

A Color Diagram (From book, "The Anatomy of the Body of God")

1. Recognize the source, and intuit into the unity of all existence. The idea that we can win at the expense of them is, in the long term, illusory. We're all in this together. Ecology. An expanded sense of identity. Also, this source points to the great mystery of creation, and what lies beyond our knowledge.

2. Celebrate creativity. It's a mythically grounded idea. There's a tradition in many religions to imitate God, however the Divine is imagined: The most useful way to do this in our own time is to recognize the prolific process of creativity–not just through the "Big Bang," but in the present moment, through the imaginations and inspirations–literally, in- spirit- ations – of all sentient beings.

Corollary: Question authority. Accept nothing as the final solution. Dare to re-evaluate, revise, re-negotiate, imagine new possibilities. Obedience, in this view of the meaning of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, is no longer operative–there's a move from the medieval tone of unquestioning acceptance to the modern and postmodern worldview that supports responsibility, an alert consideration of the needs of the moment in light of continuing developments, discoveries, new technologies, etc.

3. Recognize the Other-ness of people, their differences, of the environment, and of the Divine. On one hand, we may be expressions of the Divine flow, and at some level, as claimed by Yogis and other mystics, "one" with It, yet that doesn't mean that the world is there for the gratification of your ego-narcissistic desires. Respect, reverence, humility, and a valuing of the needs of others and the whole all are implied here.

4. Cultivate Generosity and Purpose. The life force is innately generous, but in states of fear, can contract to mere life-sustenance. In today's complex culture, there are tendencies towards stinginess of spirit, and this must be balanced, in wisdom, by the joy and need for an extra bit of giving of oneself to the world. Seek to clarify your talents and abilities and turn them toward this task, at least to some significant degree, lest you die having lived selfishly, pettily.

5. Realize Limitations. Much of human life is a process of dis-illusionment, which is a process of dissolving childish feelings of omnipotence. This need not be tragic. Much of it is simply adjusting to the realities of physical and social constraints, learning to think and work politically, seeking a more refined and less impetuous mode of action in the world. It's a one-step-down form of humility, more practically applied.

Realize, also, that as shown in the diagram of the Tree, the lessons play off of each other, and especially there is the ongoing play of 2 and 3, 4 and 5, and 7 and 8, while 6 is to some degree, the player, the juggler, the dancer.

6. Exercise Balance, seek to harmonize the many different needs, desires, inspirations, ideals, and other complexes that seek expression through your own mixture of temperament and interests. One of the beauties of our time-bound lives is that we can choose how to diversify, focus, take turns, and thus have some existential responsibility for how we live our lives.

7. Identify your passions, what the comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell called, "following your bliss." What tickles your fancy? Instead of pursuing what is merely fashionable, liking or disliking largely to garner approval or to be included in the "in group"–which is an in-authentic reason–, get in touch with what more genuinely interests or appeals to you. This can take many years, even into late adulthood. Often you'll find it correlates with what you have at least some moderate ability to do. Have the courage to pursue it. (And this can be tremendously varied in the world, different folks liking different strokes.)

8. Recognize and work within the cultural matrix you live in. If not, then either be a smart revolutionary–to change or expand it–or pay the price of changing cultures, emigrating, and becoming acculturated into a different culture. Lots of people do this, too. The point is to deal responsibly with the social context you find yourself in, rather than simply sulking, withdrawing, giving up, mindlessly conforming, or numbing yourself.

9. Cultivate Imagination, in many ways–the arts, drama, mythmaking. Note that much of ordinary education and life neglects, distracts, and sometimes actively suppresses this human potential. Refuse to be tempted by vicarious imaginary experiences offered by the media, in video games, television, movies, etc. Take responsibility to use those elements like small stimuli, like appetizers or dessert, but not your main meal. Become a person who imagines your own life!

10. Manifest your life. Avoid the temptations to become preoccupied with the seductions of spectatorship, or living in "what if" (either in past or future). Deeds, projects, action. The world is no illusion. You have an opportunity for authentic enjoyment, for adding your own creativity to helping the world be a better place. In can be in as small a way as an act of kindness or generosity.

Lest these points seem like mere platitudes, rather obvious, consider that many if not most people do not live these principles out in their lives. Nor are these ten points the only lessons you can gather from studying the tree. They just show what can come to mind–that the principles noted are by no means mere abstractions.

Another way to view the tree is in terms of how it can reassure and remind you: That you are part of a great, unified "becoming" of the cosmos (1); that this is a creative process and your life creativity is an integral part of the great becoming (2); that the cosmos is here, a matrix (related to the Latin word root for mother) for you, a setting, playground, stage, for you (3); that you can choose a direction, many directions, in fact, and your choices add to your story–and indeed, you may be assured that your life is a story (4); part of that story involves the way you've coped with limitations–your body's structure, illnesses, dis-abilities, areas of no-talent, the weakness and deficiencies of your family, region, and historical era, and the many other obstacles that life presents–and indeed, that which makes your story a good piece of drama! (5); the creative way you've balanced your strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and limitations, etc.(6); the many lines of interest and ability, the archetypes, the mythic resonances with the spirit of (whatever dimension you channel)–all set you into stage in which you play many parts in a unique fashion (7); the cultural forms all this enactment takes, and how you are a carrier of certain cultural values, and a challenge to others that you don't agree with–these, too, make your life good theatre and also part of the great unfolding myth of that culture!(8); the richness of your imagination as you assemble these many threads into a meaningful story, embellishing it also with all the other what-if-dramas you can fantasize, thickening your existence (9); and, finally, how you actually play out your unique life, your actual achievements, your deeds. You might be surprised how far many of your actions have reached (10).

The point of this rhapsody is to enjoy the depth of your mythic embeddedness in the Divine Process of Unfolding. This is the way God works, through your individuality (and everyone else's, also, of course)! Envision it as an infinite symphony, improvised, incredibly rich, which, if perceived from enough distance and time, expresses amazing harmonies (in spite of a surprising amount of what in the moment may seem like mere noise, or as Shakespeare called it, "sound and fury." On a micro-scale, it may "signify nothing," but in the big picture, this is how we all grow, evolve as a species, groping, going up blind alleys, turning back, trying another way.

[stoneharbor]

deep dive character sheet

stolen from: i forgor tagging: you

NAME: ZHONGLI

BODY

height: 186cm / 6' 1"

strength: ★★★★★ [ zhongli doesn't have his hefty list of combat related accolades for nothing. presumably one of the strongest living beings within teyvat. ]

dexterity: ★★★★★ [ adept with many weapons, martial arts, acrobatics, instruments, and other things that require high dexterity. ]

health: ? [ idk he doesn't really need to worry about eating or things like that given his species.. he's 'healthy' as long as he's not actively injured. ]

energy: ★☆☆☆☆ [ pretty mellow. "a man of leisure." calmly enthusiastic about hobbies and art. ]

beauty: ★★★★★ [ described as "handsome" in his character introduction. current form is a balance of "handsome" and "pretty." ]

style: ★★★★★ [ takes great care in choosing only the finest garments for himself. all clothing he owns is custom tailored. ]

hygiene: ★★★★★ [ very, very, very finicky about how he presents himself. extensive routines in the morning and evening. ]

SKILLS

perception: ★★★★☆ [ complicated, depends on the definition. he's very sharp when it comes to most matters, and is good at reading intentions, battlefields, etc. but he's also rather airheaded when it comes to relationships due to his thinking being very 'god-like.' ]

communication ★★★☆☆ [ good at talking to people, as required by his job. excellent source for information and knowledge. per perception thing, not the best at communicating in friendships or when it comes to things like perceived sleights, as he often won't notice something is wrong. ]

persuasion: ★★★★★ [see above] mediation: ★★★★★ [ he's very levelheaded and treats things objectively, regardless of personal biases. ]

literacy: ★★★★★ [ HUGE fan of literature and storytelling. fluent in multiple languages as well, as he's had ample time to learn. ]

creativity ★★★☆☆ [ honestly don't know. he's creative when it comes to weapon design i suppose? and he's likely dabbled with many arts.. but zhongli much prefers to admire the creativity of others. ]

cooking ★★★★☆ [ fantastic chef. would be 5 ★ if not for the fact that he's terribly inefficient. his attention to detail is impeccable, but also results in a pot of soup taking 12+ hours to make. ]

tech savvy ★★★★☆ [ contrary to what people might assume due to his age, zhongli keeps pretty up to date with technological advancements. he loves new things. :) ]

combat ★★★★★ [ advice: do not fight zhongli. ]

survival ★★★★★ [ he's a 'martial god' for a reason. zhongli is an excellent strategist. one does not survive 6,000+ years of celestial bullshit without having good survival instinct. ]

stealth ★★★☆☆ [ in combat? excellent. in terms of his mortal disguise? well he tried his best. ]

street smarts ★☆☆☆☆ [ oh absolutely not. wallet? forgotten. ridiculous prices? 0 thought of bargaining. "perhaps it might be said that he cannot imagine himself being poor." his general survival instinct and perception DO help, but he is terrible at playing mortal. ]

seduction: ★★☆☆☆ [ negative rizz. any successful seduction is unintentional, as he seldom gives consideration to things like that. that being said, he is generally charming and conventionally attractive-- he is just not good at intentionally seducing people. ]

luck: ☆☆☆☆☆ [ please god give this man a break. ]

handling animals: ★★★★★ [ canonically spends a lot of time with birds and nature. general animal lover. disney princess vibes. ]

pacifying children: ★★★★☆ [ pretty good with kids! gestures to qiqi. ]

MIND

intelligence ★★★★★ [ depends on type of intelligence, but generally high. if you ever need to know something or require help with a situation, go to zhongli. a bit airheaded when it comes to 'mortal' habits, though. ]

happiness ★★☆☆☆ [ complicated. happy to be retired, but he's had 6,000+ years of grief and is only just starting to process all of it. ] spirituality: ? [ he is god. locals might consider him irreverent due to his tendency to debate rex lapis' greatness and legacy but. well. ]

confidence ★★★★★⠀/⠀generally speaking yes, but it's also kind of complicated

humor: ★★★★☆ [ very cryptic humor, but absolutely hilarious if you know what he's referencing. amuses himself with rex lapis jokes. ]

anxiety ☆☆☆☆☆ [ he's chill. :) ]

patience: ★★★★★ [ i cannot fathom zhongli losing patience with anything ever. ]

passion ★★★☆☆ [ he's very chill and mellow so there's not much outward passion? he's very firm in his beliefs and 'passionate' about things like art and the prosperity of liyue though. ]

nice⠀★☆☆☆☆⠀mean : [ beloved god for a reason. super benevolent and caring for all of his people, friends, etc, to a point of self-detriment. ]

brave⠀★☆☆☆☆⠀cowardly : [ basically impossible to shake. he's seen too much. ]

pacifist     ☆☆★☆☆⠀violent : [ vastly prefers pacifism but will also not hesitate to kill a friend if it's necessary. ]

thoughtful ★☆☆☆☆⠀impulsive : [ everything must be planned out. he views the world through the lens of order, contracts, and rules. ]

agreeable⠀☆★☆☆☆⠀contrary : [ generally pleasant and agreeable, but won't hesitate to correct incorrect information. (ask any liyue scholar) ]

idealistic⠀☆☆☆★☆⠀pragmatic : [ as said previously, views the world very rigidly. ]

frugal⠀☆☆☆☆★⠀big spender : [ mora… hmm. as the god of wealth he is so awful with his spending habits. never budgeted a day in his life. ]

extrovert⠀☆☆★☆☆⠀introvert : [ ambivert. flourishes both alone and in company. loves to talk and share things with people, but also savors peaceful moments alone. ]

collected   ☆★☆☆☆⠀wild : [ generally very composed and orderly, but he is a bit of a shit starter. his closest friends are troublemakers for a reason… ]

ambitious⠀/⠀possessive⠀/⠀stubborn⠀/⠀jealous⠀/⠀decisive⠀/⠀perfectionist

SOCIAL

charisma: ★★★★★ [ unintentionally charismatic, but very charming nonetheless. what can i say, he loves to talk. ]

empathy: ★★★★★ [ complex, as he struggles with understanding the perspectives of mortals. but he also empathizes so much with their suffering. zhongli was quite literally willing to wage war against other gods because he was sympathetic to the suffering of the commonfolk. ]

generosity: ★★★★★ [ generositied his way into archonhood. zhongli goes out of his way for anyone he cares about (including citizens of liyue he's not personally acquainted with.) ]

wealth: ☆☆☆☆☆ [ he's the god of wealth and commerce, but does not care about wealth in the slightest. ]

honest:  ★☆☆☆☆ [ zhongli will never lie, as it goes against his nature. he will dance around things, such as his identity, but he's always as honest as he can be. ]

leader   ★☆☆☆☆⠀follower : [ always ready to offer guidance and leadership, even if he doesn't wish for status ]

polite    ☆★☆☆☆⠀rude : [ well-mannered, careful to honor tradition and such. but. can be unintentionally rude because of how blunt he is. ]

political ☆☆★☆☆⠀indifferent : [ i don't even know what to do for this bc he was the leader of the country. is it political to fake your death so you can stop being the leader? ]

BELIEFS

higher power: ? [ see prev. note about spirituality. celestia is objectively there but fuck celestia. ]

magic: ★★★★★ [ magic objectively exists in teyvat, even if there's occasionally skeptics. ]

fate/destiny: ? [ this is complicated because of celestia and prophecy in lore. he's aware of this stuff but doesn't believe in the 'conventional'/human concept of destiny. ]

soulmates: ☆☆☆☆☆

good and evil: ☆☆☆☆☆

luck: ☆☆☆☆☆

[ for last three : zhongli has lived far too long to believe in any of those things. the world is unpredictable and contradictory, and that's what makes it beautiful to him. also for simplicity i'm ignoring stuff like curses and whatnot bc that's a different can o worms. ]

PRIORITIES

family: ☆☆☆☆☆ [ well he doesn't have one of those so. ]

friends: ★★★★★ [ he loves his friends, even if he's not the best at showing it. he cherishes every one of them deeply. ]

love: ☆☆☆☆☆ [ romantically, he's never considered it much. little time for things like that as an archon. would be important to him if it happened, but it's unlikely. ]

home: ★★★★★ [ zhongli loves liyue so so deeply. even in retirement, he will always be there for liyue when he's needed. a physical home is also important asa he wants to live among his people in the heart of the city. ]

health: ☆☆☆☆☆ [ not a concern to him. he's immortal. happy so long as he's not actively being stabbed or something. ]

praise: ★☆☆☆☆ [ not really something he seeks.. might be nice to have recognition as a person instead of as a god though. ]

justice: ★★★★★ [ zhongli's entire life has been in the pursuit of justice. defender of the land and of the commonfolk. he's also the god of contracts, so he values equity and fairness. ]

truth ★★★★★ [ see honesty. as said before, he values things like equity and fairness, and truth goes hand in hand with those values. ]

power ☆☆☆☆☆ [ despite holding so much power both physically and in status, zhongli never actually wanted any of it. woops. ]

fame ☆☆☆☆☆ [ after being the subject of adoration and worship for thousands of years, he wants nothing more than an ordinary life. ]

wealth ☆☆☆☆☆ [ zhongli may have accidentally invented capitalism, but he's not super interested in participating. ]

others' opinions ★★★☆☆ [ he greatly values the contributions and insight of other people, hence the stars. BUT he doesn't care about opinions regarding him at all. ]

[tomorrowusa]

Elon Musk's Twitter X has been a terrible investment.

These are bad times for Elon. Sales of Teslas are in decline, his rockets are exploding, and the chat he had with Trump on his own platform during the summer was a technological embarrassment.

On top of all that, investors are losing their pants at Twitter/X.

Musk’s Twitter investors have lost billions in value

“Elon’s done a tremendous amount of wealth destruction since he’s purchased Twitter,” said Ross Gerber, who said he invested less than $1 million, a stake he now considers worthless. “For the people who put capital into him for any amount,” Gerber said, “ … trying to explain to people how he lost” so much money “is not a fun conversation.” Among top investors, Dorsey — whose stake has lost an estimated $720 million — has made his displeasure known. Last year, he said Musk shouldn’t have purchased Twitter after all, posting on social media that hedidn’t think Musk “acted right after realizing his timing was bad.” “It all went south,” Dorsey said. [ ... ] Because Musk turned Twitter into a private company, it’s hard to know its up-to-the-minute valuation. But some things about its financial picture are clear: Advertisers, its key source of revenue, fled after controversies — some caused by Musk himself. Some advertisers were also put off by his decision to gut content moderation while restoring thousands of accounts previously suspended for breaking the site’s rules. The deal has also faced scrutiny. The SEC has an active fraud probe into Musk’s purchase of the site, examining his early accumulation of Twitter shares without disclosing his investment — a move that could have affected the share price. Some investors have received subpoenas as part of the probe.

Musk himself has lost $24.12 Billion on his investment.

No wonder Musk is desperately trying to help elect Trump. But even Weird Donald's tax breaks for the filthy rich probably aren't big enough to help recoup that enormous loss.

Rich people want you to think they are geniuses just because they're rich. Musk is the latest to prove that enormous wealth does not make you smart.

[yourreddancer]

SOME of President Joe Biden's accomplishments :

Insulin capped at $35

Prices capped on Inhalers

Expanded overtime guarantees for millions

Over the counter birth control pill

Boosted gun violence prevention and gun safety laws

Forcing Chinese companies to open their books

Renewable power is the No. 2 source of electricity in the U.S. — and climbing

Automatic Refunds from airline companies when flights are canceled

Updated Electoral laws to prevent another Jan 6

The Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act

A sweeping crackdown of Junk Fees and overdraft charges

Preventing discriminatory mortgage lending practices

Farms get $$ to implement "climate smart" technologies

The Biden administration helps broker a deal to save the Colorado River

Gave smaller food producers the ability to compete more effectively against Big Agriculture

Biden recommends loosening federal restrictions on marijuana

Biden implemented a penalty for college programs that trap students in debt

Biden moved to bring microchip production home

Forced Tech firms to face new international restrictions on data and privacy

Helped to Prevent a cobalt crisis in Congo

Cracked down on cyberattacks

Countering China with a new alliance between Japan and South Korea

Reinvigorating cancer research to lower death rates

Making medication more accessible through telemedicine

Makes Union-busting riskier

Biden inks blueprint to fix 5G chaos

Biden empowers federal agencies to monitor AI

Fixing bridges, building tunnels and expanding broadband

The U.S. is producing more oil than anytime in history

Strengthening military ties to Asian allies

A new agency to investigate cyberattack

[aghsupply77]

Top Qualities to Look for in USA-Based Hotel Linen Suppliers

Introduction

The hospitality industry thrives on guest satisfaction, and quality linens play a crucial role in creating memorable stays. Whether it's soft, luxurious sheets or durable, stain-resistant tablecloths, choosing the right hotel linen supplier is essential for maintaining your property’s standards. For hoteliers in the USA, selecting a reliable wholesale supplier involves evaluating several key qualities. Here’s a closer look at what to consider when partnering with USA-based hotel linen suppliers.

1. Commitment to Quality and Durability

The first and foremost quality to look for in a hotel linen supplier is the ability to deliver high-quality and long-lasting products. Linens in hotels face frequent laundering and heavy usage, making durability just as important as comfort. USA-based suppliers that offer premium materials such as Egyptian cotton, high-thread-count fabrics, and stain-resistant technologies are ideal choices. A supplier’s commitment to providing durable products ensures cost efficiency and consistent guest satisfaction over time.

2. Wide Range of Products to Suit Different Needs

A good hotel linen supplier should offer a comprehensive range of products to meet your property’s specific requirements. From bed sheets and pillowcases to towels, table linens, and bathrobes, having a one-stop supplier can simplify procurement. Look for USA suppliers who cater to a variety of hospitality settings, including luxury resorts, boutique hotels, and budget accommodations, ensuring that you can find the perfect linens for your brand.

3. Customization Options for Unique Branding

Personalization is becoming a hallmark of modern hospitality. USA-based suppliers that offer customization options, such as embroidered logos, unique color palettes, or bespoke designs, can help your hotel stand out. Custom linens not only enhance the guest experience but also reinforce your property’s branding, creating a cohesive and memorable impression.

4. Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices

In today’s environmentally conscious market, partnering with a supplier that prioritizes sustainability is a smart move. Many USA hotel linen suppliers are adopting eco-friendly practices, offering organic cotton, recycled materials, and responsible sourcing. Choosing sustainable linens not only aligns with guest preferences but also supports your property’s green initiatives, enhancing your reputation as an environmentally friendly establishment.

5. Reliable Delivery and Inventory Management

Timely delivery is critical for maintaining smooth operations. USA-based linen suppliers should provide reliable shipping options and have efficient inventory management systems in place. Some suppliers even offer automated reordering solutions, ensuring that your hotel never faces a linen shortage. Partnering with a supplier known for on-time delivery and accurate order fulfillment can save time and reduce operational stress.

6. Competitive Pricing and Bulk Discounts

Cost-effectiveness is another vital factor when selecting a linen supplier. Look for USA-based wholesalers who offer competitive pricing, bulk discounts, and flexible payment terms. While affordability is important, it should never come at the expense of quality. A good supplier strikes the right balance between cost and value, helping your hotel maintain its budget without compromising guest satisfaction.

7. Exceptional Customer Support and Communication

Strong customer support can make all the difference in a long-term partnership. Choose a supplier who values open communication and provides prompt assistance for any queries or issues. USA-based suppliers with dedicated account managers or responsive customer service teams are better equipped to address your hotel’s unique needs and build a trustworthy relationship.

Selecting the right hotel linen supplier in the USA is about more than just finding a vendor—it’s about building a partnership that aligns with your hotel’s goals. By prioritizing quality, sustainability, reliability, and customization, you can ensure that your linens enhance the guest experience while streamlining operations. With the right supplier by your side, your hotel will be well-equipped to meet the demands of today’s competitive hospitality landscape.

[hotellinensblog]

Everything You Need to Know About Hotel Supplies

The hospitality industry thrives on its guests' comfort, satisfaction, and experiences. One often overlooked yet essential component is hotel supplies. These are the unsung heroes who transform ordinary stays into unforgettable experiences.

Why Hotel Supplies Are Crucial for Hospitality Success

Importance of Guest Experience

Think about it: when you stay at a hotel, what makes the experience memorable? Are they soft, luxurious sheets or eco-friendly toiletries? Hotel supplies are pivotal in ensuring guests feel pampered and valued.

Building a Competitive Edge in the Hospitality Industry

In an era of fierce competition, providing top-quality amenities can set you apart. Guests now compare even the smallest details, making your supplies a key differentiator.

Essential Categories of Hotel Supplies

Bedding and Linens

Nothing beats the feeling of sinking into a soft, clean bed after a long day. Premium-quality sheets, comforters, and pillows are must-haves.

Furniture and Fixtures

Sturdy, elegant furniture like desks, wardrobes, and lighting fixtures enhance comfort and functionality.

Bathroom Supplies

Toiletries and Towels

Could you stock up on shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and fluffy towels? High-end products leave a lasting impression.

Shower and Bath Accessories

From non-slip mats to rainfall showerheads, these small touches elevate luxury.

Lobby and Reception Supplies

Signage and Stationery

Ensure clear, professional signage and quality stationery for seamless guest communication.

Waiting Area Comfort Items

Think plush seating, magazines, and water dispensers to make guests feel at home.

Advanced Hotel Supplies for Modern Guests

Smart Room Technology

Guests expect convenience, and smart technology—like keyless entry and voice-controlled devices—delivers just that.

High-End Coffee and Snack Stations

Gourmet coffee machines and locally sourced snacks can create a memorable, personalized experience.

Sustainable Hotel Supplies

Eco-Friendly Toiletries

Swap single-use plastics for biodegradable options to impress eco-conscious travelers.

Recyclable Packaging and Biodegradable Products

From soap wrappers to laundry bags, sustainability can shine through thoughtful choices.

Energy-Efficient Appliances and Lighting

Save on costs and reduce your carbon footprint with energy-efficient solutions.

Choosing the Right Hotel Supply Vendors

Factors to Consider When Choosing Vendors

Look for reliability, quality, and competitive pricing. Ensure your vendor aligns with your sustainability goals.

How to Build Long-Term Relationships with Suppliers

A strong partnership can lead to better deals and consistent supply. Communicate your needs and expectations clearly.

Trends in the Hotel Supplies Industry

Personalization in Amenities

From monogrammed towels to custom-scented toiletries, personalization is in high demand.

Increased Focus on Sustainability

Hotels invest more in green practices, and your supplies should reflect this trend.

Technology-Driven Innovations

Automation in housekeeping and inventory management is revolutionizing the way hotels operate.

Budgeting for Hotel Supplies

Cost-Effective Buying Tips

Buy in bulk, negotiate discounts, and compare suppliers to get the best deals.

Balancing Quality and Affordability

Invest in items that provide long-term value, even if they cost more upfront.

FAQs About Hotel Supplies

What are the must-have hotel supplies? Essentials include quality bedding, toiletries, and energy-efficient appliances.

How can hotels ensure sustainability with their supplies? Opt for eco-friendly products and reusable materials to minimize waste.

How do I choose the right vendor for hotel supplies? Research their reputation, compare prices, and ensure they offer consistent quality.

Are personalized amenities worth the investment? Yes! Personalized touches can create a memorable experience and foster guest loyalty.

What role do hotel supplies play in guest satisfaction? High-quality supplies significantly enhance the guest experience, leading to better reviews and repeat business.

[mahidhoot1234]

Grocery Store - Venkatesh Kirana

Great! If your blog is focused on grocery stores, there are many directions you can take depending on your target audience and the message you want to convey. Here’s a structured approach you can follow to write a detailed and engaging blog post:

Blog Title Ideas:

"A Shopper’s Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Grocery Store Visit"

"Behind the Aisles: The Hidden Secrets of Your Local Grocery Store"

"Healthy Grocery Shopping: Tips for Filling Your Cart with Nutritious Options"

"The Evolution of Grocery Stores: From Local Markets to Online Shopping"

"Sustainability at Your Local Grocery Store: How You Can Make a Difference"

Blog Structure & Key Points:

1. Introduction:

Start with a hook: You could start by highlighting how essential grocery stores are to daily life. Maybe mention the rise of grocery shopping trends, or how people have shifted between in-store and online shopping in recent years.

Why it matters: Explain why grocery shopping is important—not just for stocking up on essentials, but for making healthy and sustainable choices.

2. The Importance of Grocery Stores in Our Communities:

Cultural significance: Discuss how grocery stores serve as community hubs. They aren’t just places to buy food; they often provide local products, foster connections, and promote community well-being.

Economic role: Mention how grocery stores contribute to the local economy by providing jobs and supporting local farmers or small businesses.

3. Types of Grocery Stores:

Traditional grocery stores: Chain supermarkets, local grocers, etc.

Specialty stores: Organic markets, international grocery stores, health food stores.

Online grocery stores: How the convenience of ordering online has impacted traditional grocery shopping.

4. Grocery Shopping Tips:

Budget-friendly tips: How to make the most of your budget when grocery shopping (e.g., using coupons, buying in bulk, planning meals ahead of time).

Health-conscious shopping: Discuss tips for picking healthy products like fresh produce, whole grains, and organic items.

Sustainable choices: Encourage shoppers to choose reusable bags, avoid excessive plastic, and support local or eco-friendly brands.

5. The Impact of Technology on Grocery Stores:

Self-checkouts and automation: How technology is making the grocery shopping experience faster and more efficient.

Online shopping and delivery services: Discuss how services like curbside pickup and home delivery are changing the way people shop.

Smart grocery shopping apps: Highlight apps that help with shopping lists, comparing prices, or finding discounts.

6. The Future of Grocery Stores:

Trends to watch: You can mention growing trends like plant-based products, alternative protein sources, and more environmentally friendly packaging options.

Innovation in grocery stores: Explore how stores are innovating, such as the rise of cashier-less stores (e.g., Amazon Go), or the integration of AI to personalize shopping experiences.

7. Conclusion:

Recap the significance: Summarize why grocery stores are more than just places to buy food.

Call to action: Encourage your readers to be mindful when grocery shopping—whether it’s about supporting local businesses, choosing healthier options, or reducing waste.

Additional Ideas:

Include a personal touch: If you shop at a specific grocery store, share your experiences, favorite sections, or unique finds.

Visuals: Include images of grocery aisles, products, or grocery store trends to make the post more engaging.

Statistics or research: Incorporating facts about grocery shopping behaviors or the impact of grocery stores on the environment can make your blog post more informative.

If you have a specific focus within your blog topic, feel free to share it, and I can help you refine the post further!

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from EcoWatch:

Sunrun, a solar company, and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), the largest utility provider in Maryland, have launched a pilot program for a bidirectional power plant fueled by solar energy and EV technology.

The pilot, which involves three households, allows users to draw energy from a Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck when paired with the Ford Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System sold by Sunrun. This setup lets the household utilize energy from the EV during peak energy demand, Smart Energy International reported.

The pilot program is the first vehicle-to-home power plant in the U.S. and was funded with grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.

“This program is a significant proof of concept — no other market player has done this — and the goal is to expand these programs all around the country,” Sunrun CEO Mary Powell said in a press release. “This exciting partnership lays the foundation for the power grid of the future where electric vehicle owners can contribute to grid resiliency and utility price stability for everyone. The summer heat can be especially stressful on our power grid, which is why proving the use of stored energy in electric vehicles for capacity is so important.”

The process works by sending energy from the EV batteries to the homes, allowing the vehicle batteries to operate as energy storage. This can complement solar energy sources as well as reduce demand on Maryland’s power grids during peak times. The bidirectional power provided through the charging station can power homes for up to 10 days in the event of an outage, Sunrun said.

For the pilot program, the trucks share energy from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays from June 1 to September 30. The pilot is offering an estimated $800 to participants.

Currently, there are only a limited number of EV models that offer the bidirectional charging feature, including the Nissan Leaf, the 2024 Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models from Hyundai, Kia’s EV6, EV9 and Niro EV, and the Ford F-150 Lightning, Cars.com reported.

More vehicles are expected to introduce bidirectional charging in the coming years, including all GM and Tesla EV models, CNET reported.

Sunrun and BGE are planning to expand the program after monitoring the pilot and will offer incentives for F-150 Lightning owners to join, helping increase grid resilience. The program could also help contribute toward Maryland’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2045 and achieve��100% clean electricity by 2035.

[mjpro]

mjPRO | The Ultimate Procurement System for Reducing Costs and Enhancing Efficiency

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are looking for tools that can streamline their processes, enhance efficiency, and minimize costs. Procurement, a critical function for every organization, is no exception. Choosing the right procurement software can make all the difference in managing supply chains effectively, improving governance, and cutting procurement costs. Among the numerous procurement software companies, mjPRO stands out as a robust, AI-powered solution that offers scalability, cost-efficiency, and enhanced profitability.

In this blog, we’ll explore the best features of mjPRO, why it’s considered the best procurement software, and how it supports businesses in managing procurement processes seamlessly.

What Is Procurement Software?

Before we dive into mjPRO, let’s first define procurement software. In simple terms, procurement software is a digital tool that automates and manages the entire procurement process—from requisitioning to payment. It helps organizations track their purchases, manage suppliers, and ensure compliance, reducing manual intervention and boosting overall efficiency. Today, eProcurement software solutions are often cloud-based, providing businesses with flexibility, scalability, and advanced data-driven insights.

Why mjPRO Is the Best Procurement Software

mjPRO is not just another procurement software; it’s a comprehensive eProcurement software platform that digitizes the entire procurement process from planning to payment. Whether you’re managing simple purchases or complex projects, mjPRO provides a unified solution that reduces procurement costs, enhances supplier management, and ensures near 100% delivery compliance. Here's why mjPRO is considered one of the top procurement software solutions in the market:

1. Cloud-Based, Pay-Per-Use Model

One of the most attractive features of mjPRO is its pay-per-use, cloud-based model. Unlike traditional procurement systems that require significant upfront investment and infrastructure, mjPRO offers a flexible, cloud-based solution that allows for scalability based on your business needs. This ensures a faster ROI and eliminates the need for costly hardware or software upgrades.

2. Intelligent Platform with AI-Powered Automation

At its core, mjPRO is an intelligent procurement platform powered by AI. It leverages advanced technologies like AI and NLP-based analytics to offer real-time insights, such as category and supplier recommendations. By learning from your procurement patterns and suggesting suppliers based on past purchasing behavior, mjPRO takes the guesswork out of sourcing, making it the best procurement software for both small and large enterprises.

3. Strong Supplier Base and Smart Decision-Making Tools

With mjPRO, you’ll have access to an ever-growing supplier base. The platform continuously adds new suppliers to the ecosystem, giving businesses more options and competitive pricing. What’s more, mjPRO integrates AI-based decision-making tools to provide real-time supplier recommendations, enabling procurement teams to make informed decisions quickly.

4. End-to-End Procurement Chain Digitization

mjPRO digitizes the entire procurement chain, from planning to payment, making it one of the top procurement software platforms available today. Let’s break down how mjPRO handles each step of the procurement process:

a. Plan

The planning phase is critical to ensuring the procurement process runs smoothly. mjPRO helps streamline this process by allowing users to categorize items up to four levels, aggregate or split requirements, and manage budgets more effectively. With features like eBriefcase and category-specific insights, businesses can easily plan for both routine and complex procurements.

b. Source

Supplier management is one of the most challenging aspects of procurement. mjPRO excels in this area by offering a comprehensive supplier management module. The system helps businesses survey, rate, and profile suppliers before they are approved. mjPRO also automates RFQs (Request for Quotations) and integrates RPA-based bidding, which enhances supplier negotiations and ensures competitive pricing.

c. Procure

Once suppliers have been approved, mjPRO facilitates the creation and management of purchase orders (POs). The platform automates the post-PO process by handling tasks such as PO acceptance, ASN (Advanced Shipping Notice) generation, PI (Proforma Invoice) approval, and eCatalogues management. This automation reduces the risk of human error and accelerates procurement times by as much as 40%.

d. Pay

Finally, mjPRO ensures that payment processing is seamless. The platform performs thorough three-point checks before invoice approval and integrates with payment gateways to automate payments. The result is a faster, more efficient payment process that ensures suppliers are paid on time, minimizing disruptions in the supply chain.

How mjPRO Benefits Your Business

Now that we’ve covered the key features of mjPRO, let’s take a look at how this procurement software can benefit your business:

1. Reduces Procurement Costs by 7%

Procurement costs can take up a significant portion of a company’s budget. By using mjPRO, businesses can reduce these costs by up to 7%. This is achieved through better supplier negotiations, automated procurement processes, and more efficient resource management.

2. Makes Procurement 40% Faster

One of the most compelling advantages of mjPRO is its ability to speed up the procurement process. The platform reduces manual tasks and automates the creation and management of POs, invoices, and supplier communications, making procurement up to 40% faster. This is a game-changer for businesses that operate in fast-paced environments and need to meet tight deadlines.

3. Limits Supply Risk with 100% Delivery Compliance

Supply chain disruptions can have serious consequences for businesses. mjPRO mitigates these risks by ensuring nearly 100% delivery compliance. With advanced supplier profiling, automated RFQs, and integrated payment gateways, mjPRO ensures that your supply chain operates smoothly and without delays.

4. Strengthens Governance and Ensures Zero Frauds

In the digital age, governance and compliance are more important than ever. mjPRO strengthens governance across the procurement process by offering real-time insights into supplier performance and ensuring that all procurement activities are auditable. This procurement software also helps prevent fraud by enforcing strict supplier approval and payment processes.

Unlock the Full Potential of eProcurement with mjPRO

If you're searching for a procurement software company that offers a comprehensive, scalable solution for your business, look no further than mjPRO. This eProcurement software not only digitizes the entire procurement process but also enhances it with AI-powered tools, robust supplier management, and seamless payment integration.

With mjPRO, businesses can gain full control over their procurement activities while reducing costs, accelerating procurement timelines, and ensuring compliance across the board.

Key Features of mjPRO:

Pay-Per-Use Cloud-Based Solution: Achieve faster ROI without heavy investment.

AI-Powered Automation: Make data-driven decisions with category and supplier recommendations.

Strong Supplier Base: Access to a continuously growing supplier network.

Comprehensive Digitization: Manage everything from planning to payment on one platform.

Faster Procurement: Reduce procurement times by 40% through automation.

Enhanced Governance: Ensure zero frauds and full compliance with real-time monitoring.

If you're ready to take your procurement processes to the next level, mjPRO is the best procurement software for businesses of all sizes. Contact us today to learn more and unlock the full potential of eProcurement software for your organization!

[mariacallous]

If you ever had pastries at breakfast, drank soy milk, used soaps at home, or built yourself a nice flat-pack piece of furniture, you may have contributed to deforestation and climate change.

Every item has a price—but the cost isn’t felt only in our pockets. Hidden in that price is a complex chain of production, encompassing economic, social, and environmental relations that sustain livelihoods and, unfortunately, contribute to habitat destruction, deforestation, and the warming of our planet.

Approximately 4 billion hectares of forest around the world act as a carbon sink which, over the past two decades, has annually absorbed a net 7.6 billion metric tons of CO2. That’s the equivalent of 1.5 times the annual emissions of the US.

Conversely, a cleared forest becomes a carbon source. Many factors lead to forest clearing, but the root cause is economic. Farmers cut down the forest to expand their farms, support cattle grazing, harvest timber, mine minerals, and build infrastructure such as roads. Until that economic pressure goes away, the clearing may continue.

In 2024, however, we are going to see a big boost to global efforts to fight deforestation. New EU legislation will make it illegal to sell or export a range of commodities if they have been produced on deforested land. Sellers will need to identify exactly where their product originates, down to the geolocation of the plot. Penalties are harsh, including bans and fines of up to 4 percent of the offender's annual EU-wide turnover. As such, industry pushback has been strong, claiming that the costs are too high or the requirements are too onerous. Like many global frameworks, this initiative is being led by the EU, with other countries sure to follow, as the so-called Brussels Effect pressures ever more jurisdictions to adopt its methods.

The impact of these measures will only be as strong as the enforcement and, in 2024, we will see new ways of doing that digitally. At Farmerline (which I cofounded), for instance, we have been working on supply chain traceability for over a decade. We incentivize rule-following by making it beneficial.

When we digitize farmers and allow them and other stakeholders to track their products from soil to shelf, they also gain access to a suite of other products: the latest, most sustainable farming practices in their own language, access to flexible financing to fund climate-smart products such as drought-resistant seeds, solar irrigation systems and organic fertilizers, and the ability to earn more through international commodity markets.

Digitization helps build resilience and lasting wealth for the smallholders and helps save the environment. Another example is the World Economic Forum’s OneMap—an open-source privacy-preserving digital tool which helps governments use geospatial and farmer data to improve planning and decision making in agriculture and land. In India, the Data Empowerment Protection Architecture also provides a secure consent-based data-sharing framework to accelerate global financial inclusion.

In 2024 we will also see more food companies and food certification bodies leverage digital payment tools, like mobile money, to ensure farmers’ pay is not only direct and transparent, but also better if they comply with deforestation regulations.

The fight against deforestation will also be made easier by developments in hardware technology. New, lightweight drones from startups such as AirSeed can plant seeds, while further up, mini-satellites, such as those from Planet Labs, are taking millions of images per week, allowing governments and NGOs to track areas being deforested in near-real time. In Rwanda, researchers are using AI and the aerial footage captured by Planet Labs to calculate, monitor, and estimate the carbon stock of the entire country.

With these advances in software and hard-tech, in 2024, the global fight against deforestation will finally start to grow new shoots.

[stylesavingssavvy]

Smartwatch Smarts: Budget-Friendly Options for watch Enthusiasts

Introduction: 

With technology constantly evolving, smartwatches are becoming essential devices for both tech enthusiasts and casual users. These devices provide a special fusion of smartphone functionality and traditional watch beauty. It might be challenging to get a reasonably priced solution that satisfies your requirements and is of good quality. This article will walk you through how to determine what you need, how to do extensive research using user reviews, and how to utilize comparison and cashback sites like Redfynd to get the greatest deals on well-known brands like Fossil, Titan, Daniel klein, and Fastrack.  

Identify Your Requirements: 

Determining what you require from your smartwatch is essential before you dive in headfirst. Consider the following elements: 

Functionality: Do you require GPS, heart rate monitoring, fitness tracking, or just phone notifications? 

Make that the smartwatch is compatible with the operating system (iOS or Android) on your smartphone. 

Battery Life: Battery life has the potential to be a deal-breaker, depending on your usage. While some smartwatches may run on a single charge for many days, others require regular charging. 

Design and Comfort: The watch should be both comfortable and stylish, as you will be wearing it every day. 

Budget: To help you focus, establish a precise spending limit. Being economical doesn't have to mean sacrificing necessary features.  

Analyze User Reviews for Detailed Analysis: 

Once you are certain of what you want, look to customer evaluations for in-depth explanations. User reviews can offer realistic insight into functionality, reliability, and any problems that may not be immediately clear from product descriptions. Here's how to utilize user reviews to your advantage: 

Examine several sources: Review reviews across many platforms to fully understand. 

Pay attention to in-depth reviews: Reviews offering comprehensive details about certain features and use cases should be considered. 

Take note of persistent problems: If the same issue is brought up by several users, it's probably a legitimate worry.  

Use Comparison Sites Like Redfynd to Compare Prices: 

Make use of comparison websites such as Redfynd to make sure you're receiving the greatest deal. By comparing pricing from many merchants, these websites let you choose which one provides the greatest deal. Here's how to utilize Redfynd to its fullest: 

Look Up by Model and Brand: To discover specific results, use precise search phrases such as "Fossil smartwatch" or "Titan smartwatch." 

Compare features and costs: Redfynd helps you make an educated choice by providing feature comparisons in addition to pricing comparisons through multiple stores. 

Utilize Cashback Sites Like Redfynd: 

Redfynd not only provides comparative functions but also cashback alternatives to further reduce the cost of your purchase. Here's how to take advantage of these deals: 

Create an account: Sign up with Redfynd to get access to cashback offers. 

Examine cashback offers: Check to check whether your chosen smartwatch is eligible for any cashback rewards before making a purchase. 

Observe the procurement procedure: To make sure you get your cash back, make sure you adhere to the detailed directions provided by Redfynd. Usually, to do this, click over from their website to the retailer's. 

Conclusion: 

With careful research and smart buying techniques, you may choose a smartwatch that fits your demands and your budget. Great discounts on popular brands like Fossil, Daniel klein, Titan, and Fastrack  may be obtained by identifying your needs, evaluating user ratings, and using comparison and cashback websites like Redfynd. Happy purchasing smartwatches! 

Top 10 Popular Watch Brands

1) Carlington

2) Casio

3) Daniel Klein

4) Fastrack

5) Fossil

6) Giordano

7) Sonata

8) Timex

9) Titan

10) Versace

[iceskatingmobsters]

been working on my own headcanon timeline of owv's early years, so have a little bit about hornfels:

hornfels is just as adventurous and mischievous as slate and feldspar are when they're hatchlings, but is much less bombastic about it. despite their insatiable curiosity (or perhaps because of it) they're a pretty quiet kid. consequently, they're warned to stay well away from Danger Trio's wilder schemes and spends most of their time around the older hatchlings and the adults as a result. you know the quiet kid who was labelled as "mature for their age" but was kinda socially inept? that's hornfels. they don't have anything against the other members of their cohort, though; slate scares the shit out of them but they think slate is stupid smart, gossan seems funny and cool, and they are enthralled by feldspar's reckless curiosty. but they don't wanna get in trouble, because they're responsible or whatever. don't worry about the burns on their hands, they definitely got too close to a campfire and they definitely weren't messing around near the ghost matter patch again. for sure learned the first time not to be anywhere near the ghost matter patch.

they join in for as many shenanigans as they secretly can, anyways. those three are onto something, even if none of them -- including hornfels -- know exactly what, yet.

the old archivist/museum curator, gravel, sees a bit of themself in hornfels and takes them under their wing. gravel is of the firm belief that remembering the past and holding to tradition is what keeps the hearthians and their culture alive -- every archaic item from their past, every story has a lesson to be learned and is worthwhile to keep and remember. that isn't to say that they refuse to move on with the times, that would be a different sort of stupid, but to ignore the lessons of the past is, at best, idiocy, and at worst, deadly. needless to say they kinda hate the "space program" because the whole village knows what happens to people who stray too close to the geysers.

hornfels kinda loves the space program, which is a fucking problem. they start out as an occasional consultant -- they're easy to find most clear nights with a telescope, anyways, so they're Danger Trio's best source for questions about potential space travel who will actually give them the time of day, as long as it's out of gravel's earshot. and then it became hornfels seeking the others out, asking about their progress, offering their own ideas and advice and theories and and and...

here's the thing. hornfels likes archival work and history work, they do. they took gravel's stance that every moment deserves to be remembered and learned from to heart. but space calls to them in a language they can't ignore -- the call of endless discovery, of new technology and flora and fauna, and not just studying the stars on clear nights but being out there, with them, and maybe even finding other people out there in the great expanse if they're lucky. hornfels thinks they will be. there's a couple odd skeletons in those ruins in the mountains and with the expansiveness tektite described, there's no way those were the only ones of their kind out there.

hornfels stakes their claim on a spot as a member of ventures, proper, after feldspar blows themself up the first time (unfair of them to think that way, on second thought, that accident wasn't really anyone's fault) under the condition of utmost secrecy. which is fine! they'd snuck out to cause trouble with the others when they were really young, and the other three have been working in relative secrecy ever since the first barrel they threw into a geyser and got really serious about the whole thing. they're a lot more flippant about it than hornfels, is, though, because getting caught just means less resources and tighter works schedules, for them. for hornfels, not so much -- despite their disagreements on risk-taking and the price of progress, hornfels deeply respects and cares for gravel, and going behind their back like this is necessary and painful. they'll lose a lot more than a week in the hatchling cabin if they're well and truly caught. they want to tell gravel! they're going to, eventually. they're just gonna wait until they've got something physical and successful to show for all of ventures' hard work to bolster their case.

they don't get the chance. gravel dies a few short months before ventures is ready for their first launch, when things are getting really hard to hide. it's a silver lining, to not have to scramble so hard to hide their involvement in gravel's least favorite project in the village, but hornfels is crushed under the weight of what was left unsaid.

they find themself preoccupied with a new project, too. gravel left behind a veritable mountain of unsorted donations of old hearthian paraphernalia that they never got around to putting on display -- truth is, most of the stuff they kept isn't really worthy of display. it's too busted up, usually, or not particularly noteworthy. hornfels had offered to help sort it all, time and time again, but gravel had always refused them, saying it was their responsibility and they shouldn't have put it off for so long. they aren't here to refuse hornfels, anymore, and the pile seems insurmountable. gravel believed that every object given to them had a story and a lesson, and hornfels believes it, but they don't believe everything has to be kept pristine and behind glass to take what you need from it. it feels wrong, to throw away gravel's collected bits and bobs, but hornfels doesn't have much of a choice.

they step away from ventures for a week and a half, to sort through the old donation pile, and their guilt and grief along with it. when they come back, museum more organized than it's ever been, the grief isn't easier, but it's quiet enough they can focus on other things.

feldspar launches a month after that and comes back with a singed rocking chair. hornfels had cleared a space out for an entire ship, outside the museum, but a rocking chair is just fine, because it came back with gossan's ideas for new safety protocols, slate's plans for the next ship, and feldspar's wonder at what they saw, out there in the cosmos. hornfels learns what they need to, preserves what they can, and gets ready for what's next.

[0pinnable0]

TailPipe Chastity Bootleg

$500. Five hundred dollars for a chastity cage. 

How can a cock cage with a plug be worth that much money? 

Despite his huffing, Blake knew exactly why it was so expensive. With nanotech smart technology, the ability to shift form upon command, a plug that wrapped under the groin, and a host of other features made possible by a remote control made the LABRATory Tailpipe Chastity well worth the price. Blake unfortunately made just above minimum wage and with rent, bills, and student loans to pay off, he couldn’t go splurging on luxury purchases as much as he wanted to. He scrolled through the rest of the website, everything more enticing than the last, harnesses, masks, plugs, suits, toy models, and everything more expensive than the last $1000, $5000, $10,000, there was even a seven foot lion toy going for $25,000. 

Do I buy a new car or a lion dom top?

Blake closed out of the website. He looked at the jar of cash he had been slowly saving up for personal treats like the chastity plug he’d been eyeing for a while. Sadly broken appliances, and accidentally mismanaged payments had leached the jar to a little over $200, and that had taken almost a full year to build up to. He sighed loudly, closing his eyes, thinking of the months he’d have to wait. A thought made him open his eyes and look back at his computer screen.

Hmmm, maybe someone is reselling one, or something like it for cheaper. 

Blake had been determined to buy the goods brand new straight from the source, but his patience was finally wearing away. He put the desired keywords in quotes into the search engine, clicking through each link, only to be disappointed with the same price, or an ad, or something different altogether. He was just about to give up when he stumbled upon what seemed to be a knock off Craigslist. The toy in the pictures was almost identical. Same shiny black rubber cockcage with a tight loop to go around the balls, and a strip of rubber connecting to an egg sized plug.

“1 BRAND NEW CHASTITY PLUG UNIT”

“TECHNICALLY LISTED AS FAULTY BUT FUNCTIONS NORMALLY”

“ONLY CONTACT FOR SERIOUS INQUIRIES”

“$100”

Only a hundred?! But what does faulty mean?

Blake messaged the seller.

“Hey, saw your listing for the Chastity Plug, what exactly do you mean by faulty?”

“Yeah, the remote is a little fritzy, but it still works just the same you just have to be patient with it.”

“And it's from the same company, LABRATory right?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s still available then?”

“Yeah, if you want it, just put in your card info and shipping address and it’s yours. Just so you know, no refunds or returns, once it’s your, it’s yours.”

Blake was more than skeptical, but at the same time it was one hell of a deal.

“Just curious about why you’re selling it, can it not be fixed?”

“I mean, yeah, you could probably get it fixed, it’s also just not my kind of thing this specific toy. If you want it lemme know soon, I’ve got other people looking at it too.”

Blake thought hard. Sure it might be partially broken, but at least I’ll have one, and I could get it repaired… maybe… 

He sent over his info choosing to believe this was too good and true.

DAY ONE

It was sitting in the stairwell of his apartment when he came home from a mind numbing day at the office. A medium sized non-descript cardboard box with an unnecessary amount of packing tape sat on the landing.

It’s here! It’s finally here!

Blake grabbed the box and scurried into his apartment. He took his keys and started ripping up the tape on the box. With a deep breath he opened it. Nestled on a bed of plastic packing material, wrapped in a LABRATory plastic sleeve bag was the chastity plug he’d been waiting so long for.

Hell yeah, come to papa.

He pulled it out of the bag. It was surprisingly heavy, much denser and weightier than all the other sex toys he had used before. Most of the weight came from the plug which was firm but still with a nice give. The cage and loop were also flexible, but not so much to be useless as a chastity device. It was the same shiny black material, except for a band of bright blue running around the cage.

Didn’t notice that before. Oh, where’s the remote?

Blake dug through the packing material, but he couldn’t seem to find a remote. He searched until his fingers brushed up against something.

Huh? That’s too big to be a remote.

He lifted the object out revealing a black mask. It was distinctly feline, like a simplistic tiger’s face made of some black rubbery or neoprene like material. It had a short but distinct muzzle and what seemed to be a rubbery tuft of the same blue on the top of the head not unlike a stylized mohawk. Blue brows above dark tinted lenses. The cute triangle nose was the same blue as the hair as well as a single thin strip of blue coming out from the nose on either side, going right underneath the eyes, before swooping down to the bottom of the face. Blake was too distracted by the very suggestive O shape of the mouth to notice all those details. He turned the mask around seeing not only two holes meant to slide up the wearer’s nostrils, but a cock shaped hollow mouth gag more than a couple inches long. 

Whoa, that’s cool, but it's definitely not the remote. 

He gave it a closer look, the border of the mask unnaturally smooth with no straps and not nearly enough material to wrap around the head.

How would you even wear it, would you just have to keep sucking the whole time? That can’t be right. 

He lifted the mask, he could see through the lenses like sunglasses. He brought it closer opening his mouth, tasting the rubberiness of the gag. He almost pushed it further before the nostril tubes tickled his nose and he pulled it way.

Oh that feels so weird.

He put the mask to the side. He dumped the box upside and kept searching for the remote, but now with a creeping feeling he understood why he got these items for such a steal. After a good ten minutes of hopeless searching Blake gave up.

There’s no remote. There’s no fucking remote. Of course. Of course it was too good to be true.

He went back to his computer to pull up the seller’s page, just to be certain, but the page was gone, not even clicking through his history pulled up the page, just 404’s all around.

God I should have just waited… but still…

He looked at the toy. 

I can get it fixed. I’ll get it fixed, and sure getting it fixed might be close to $500 dollars, but now I have a kinky mask to go with it. Even without the remote it’s still usable as something.

***

After a quick shower and some prepping, Blake stood naked in his bedroom, chastity plug and a bottle of lube on the nightstand. He dolloped some lube on his hand, reaching around to slick up his hole. One finger, then two, just enough to loosen him a little, but not enough to give him a full blown erection. He brought the excess around and lightly coated his cock from the tip to base.

Alright, here we go.

After dropping some into the cage, he lined up the head of his penis with the hole and slid it inside. “Ah,” there was an unexpected ribbed texture inside that caught him off guard, and he felt the blood start to pump.

Gotta work fast.

He slid his dick the rest of the way in, feeling a tightness surrounding and holding it in place, and with some strong stretching he got the loop around his balls. The grip wasn’t too bad, like a hand firmly holding onto him. He sat there enjoying the look and feeling before letting out a content sigh.

And now for the plug.

Blake leaned over the bed, holding the plug in one hand, slightly spreading his cheeks with the other. He pressed the tip of the plug against his hole. He shivered, a little chilly, but as he held it there, it started warming up. He kept pressing, lightly put constantly, feeling it sink in little by little. Just as it reached the widest part he let out a big breath and it slipped all the way in.

“Mmmm, there we go.”

He gently clenched enjoying the fullness and the slight prodding against his prostate. He looked between his legs and was caught off guard by a soft blue light.

What is that?

He sat up looking down at his crotch. The blue ring had lit up, gently pulsing light.

What does that mean? Is it-

“Ah! Fuck-” He felt a tongue lap against his constrained cock. It licked up and down, under the head, occasionally flicking.

Oh it works! It still works! Oh wow it- oooo, it works.

He laid back, gently moaning. The licking eventually turned into lips, latching onto the head and then engulfing his dick. “Mmmph, fuck yeah,” Blake could not believe his luck, the toy was working and he was fully enjoying the feeling of something leisurely sucking him off. After a few moments he felt something lap at his balls.

But there’s nothing there to…

Blake stared down watching as the shiny black material swelled covering his junk entirely.

I don’t remember that feature.

Still sucking it eventually formed into a smooth round bulge, the blue ring slowly reforming into the shape of a lock. He reached down prodding the bulge. It squished beneath his touch, but somehow he could only faintly feel it, only really feeling the sucking and licking.

What?

He grabbed the bulge in his hand and squeezed. He felt that, but only just, the simulated mouth sucked hard and he fell back onto the bed.

Well, this isn’t bad, it’s just… different.

And with that he felt the plug pulse.

“Oh, okay, what-Ah,” the plug pulsed again and he swore he felt it get bigger?

Now what?

Blake face his mirror and turned around, spreading his legs. He stared, mouth agape, as a small indentation began to form at the base of the plug just outside his hole.

What is- “Fuck, oh fuck,” the indetation pressed inwards and grew bigger. It grew in size as it pushed inside of him. He panted and stared as the anal sheathe formed, his hole kept agape as it pressed in further, like someone with a thicker than average dick slowly spreading him open before eventually stopping a couple inches inside. He clenched but his hole still gaped. He tentatively brought a finger to his hole and touched it, sending a quiver up his spine. 

A lot more sensitive than usual.

He pressed inward, biting his lip. Past the lip of his hole he felt a smooth ridge, then another, and another.

Fuck, I’m ribbed for pleasure.

He waited for more changes, but after a minute it seemed nothing else was going to happen.

Alright, that’s not too bad.

Fully laying down on his bed, Blake started to finger his hole with one hand, squeezing his bulge with the other, thrusting into the fake mouth sucking him off. He built up a rhythm until he felt his body take over, inner walls clenching, hips thrusting-

Shit, I’m gonna cum, gonna cum, gonna-

And then it was gone. All feeling, the sucking, the sensitivity gone in an instant.

Come on!

He panted, pent up and desperate. Slowly sensation started to return. The faint feeling of licking was first, but he was distracted by the chime of his phone. A text from his manager asking him to come in early tomorrow morning.

Goddamit.

He texted back, confirming he’d be in and put the phone down.

Guess I’ll have to put you away for now.

He felt at the bulge trying to find the seam between his crotch and the rubber… but he couldn’t find one.

Come on.

He felt around the side, and underneath, but no matter where he pulled or dug his fingers in, nothing would lift the material up.

Are you kidding me?

He reached around behind him and felt the ring holding his hole open and tried to get a grip, but his fingers kept slipping. He tried to push it out from within, but it wouldn’t budge.

Just my luck, the faulty product won’t come off. I guess it is meant to be a chastity device and without the remote, gah, this is so annoying.

By that point the sucking had returned and his hole was sensitive once again.

I just gotta… I have to sleep and then I’ll get in early, get out early, and I’ll get this whole thing figured out.

Blake went about his daily bedtime routine, washing his face and brushing his teeth, all the while trying to ignore the toy stimulating him below. He went to bed with a white noise video playing, hoping the sound would help distract him from the pleasure radiating below.

DAY TWO

Blake woke with a buzz, his alarm and the plug going off at the same time. “Ah, come on!” He turned off the alarm, but he couldn’t turn off the buzzing. It hadn’t been a restful sleep, still feeling mentally and physically exhausted, but he got out of bed nonetheless, trying to ignore the vibrations aimed directly at his g spot.

Just gotta, “ah,” get through the day.

He dressed, packed his bag, and drove off while the sky was still dark, the hole plug switching up its vibrations, small and fast, low and slow, even a ripple starting at his hole and going up to the tip inside. When he finally arrived outside the office, he was just about to get out of his car when he realized

Oh shit, I can hear it vibrating… other people will hear it.

Blake hoped with the early morning nobody would be around to hear and hopefully the toy would move on to some other method of stimulation. He walked into the office, thankfully empty as far as he could see and headed to his sectioned off cubicle at the end of the hall. He was especially grateful for the modicum of privacy this allowed. He got to work. He had grown used to buzzes at this point, though combined with the oral stimulation he wasn’t his most productive. Everything was going well until a couple hours in and he heard the tell tale footsteps of his manager.

Shit, shit, shit, would do I do?

He looked around his desk for anything, any noise making object that wouldn’t make him look totally insane. Just as his manager rounded the corner, Blake started rather vigorously tapping his pen.

“Morning Blake!” his manager rounded the corner all smiles.

“Morning Greg!” Blake gritted his teeth. He prayed the tapping would cover the vibrations which he swore were getting louder.

“Thanks for coming in early, everything good so far?”

“Good, great.”

“Not anxious are you?” Greg stared at the pen tapping a mile a minute.

“Just getting some energy out, you know.”

“Sure,” a slightly confused look flashed across Greg’s face, “Think you’ll get the orders in by end of day?”

“If I buckle down, no distraaa-actions,” the plug was shifting, “I should be able too,” Blake twisted his mouth into a semblance of a smile.

“Great to hear. Don’t work yourself too hard okay?” Greg said starting to walk around the corner.

“Okay!”

Blake watched Greg disappear out of view before dropping the pen and collapsing onto his desk.

Fuck, what the hell is it “mmmmmm,” Blake fought back a moan, what is it doing now?

Slowly, little nubs started to form all along the plug, pressing against his walls.

“fuck fuck fuck fuck,” Blake tightened his fingers into fists, curling his toes in his shoes, panting, face against the desk, trying to gain control.

Just get the work done.

He started to type, but with each key he pressed, one of the nubs would spring to life for a moment, all the while the tongue flicked the head of his cock. After hours of torture, he could finally go home. He stood up with a wobble, hurrying past his coworkers, down the stairs, despite the added stimulation of each step rocking the plug, to avoid any potential elevator nonsense and into his car. He drove like a madman before racing up to his apartment, slamming the door behind him, and once again feeling like he was about to burst before all feeling faded away. 

“Come On!”

He fell to his knees, taking deep breaths.

I gotta get this off, I gotta this thing off of me.

Pulling up his laptop, he scoured the LABRATory website until he found a customer service number which he dialed. A chipper almost robotic voice responded.

“Hello thank you for calling LABRATory customer service, if you are currently unable to speak or use your hands please moan or groan twice and we will transfer you to a different line. If you are able to speak freely please press one.”

Blake pressed 1, and after a tone, was greeted by the same happy tone.

“Hello, thank you for calling LABRATory, I’m PETRI, how can I help you?”

“Hi, yes, I seem to have um, gotten myself stuck, or rather one of your toys is stuck on me?”

“Ah, sorry to hear that, would you mind telling me which kind of toy?”

“It’s the uh, um, the tailpipe chastity.”

“The what?”

“The Tailpipe Chastity! Sorry,” Blake blushed.

“Alright and you are unable to take it off?”

“Yes.”

“Have you tried turning it off with the remote?”

“I uh… i don’t have a remote, I uh, lost it.”

“Oh dear, well you should be able to come in and we can get you sorted, or we can try the manual method over the phone and try to get it off now.”

“Yes, now, please,” the sensation of the mouth sucking was returning.

“Now if you reach to the base of your crotch in between your groin and rear end you should feel a round indentation.”

Blake felt around, finding nothing.

“If you hold it for thirty seconds, the emergency release should activate.”

“I don’t have that.”

A split second pause.

“What?” the cheery voice of PETRI asked.

“I don’t have a button or whatever down there.”

Blake listened, a pause over the phone.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Sir would you mind describing the toy for me?”

“Uh yeah, it’s a cock cage in the front, a plug in the back, and there’s a blue glowing lock symbol on the bulge in front.”

Another pause.

“Hello?” Blake broke the silence.

“I’m sorry to hear about your predicament, but it seems you have the wrong company. We do not sell a black and blue model of that toy.”

“What?”

“We sell in exclusively solid colors, what you’re describing sounds like a custom job which we have no record of on our part. Would you mind telling me where you got your hands on a product like this?” There was a sudden icy serious tone to PETRI.

“I… ” Blake hung up.

Shit. If I tell them where I got it they’ll probably arrest me for buying illegal goods. Fucking fuck!

He took a deep breath trying to calm down, but failed as he watched the shiny black rubber start to spread out from the toy.

Of course, of course it had to get worse.

The material crawled along his skin, a gentle tickling, until it covered him as much as a pair of briefs would, up to the waist and most of his ass.

Well, that’s not too bad… there’s gotta be someway of taking this thing off.

Blake went to his room to the mirror, looking over every part of the material to see if there was anything new, any lift, any possible seam. Nothing. Nothing except the nubs starting to squirm which in turn made him squirm. He fell back onto his bed, writhing, feet pushing, fingers grabbing sheets, his insides wracked with pleasure.

At least it feels amazing.

He groaned and squeezed his bulge as the mouth started sucking in earnest.

Wait, no, it’s just gonna edge me again.

He pulled his hands away, trying to fight the pleasure, and he stayed there all night. The nubs wiggling and occasionally buzzing, tossing his head back and forth until he passed out.

DAY THREE

Blake woke somehow even more exhausted than yesterday, but more importantly feeling full, almost too full.

God what is it today?

He got up out of bed and looked in the mirror and gasped. It was like he was wearing a latex singlet, from his clavicle to the tops of his knees he was covered.

Shit that can’t be good.

He had to admit though, it did look good. The material hugged him tightly and smoothed everything out, creating a trim toned build. The same thin blue line tracing along the side of his torso and thighs, wrapping around his back and delving between his cheeks outlining his hole.

Oh wow.

His hole was gaping already, but today was something else. He could now easily fit three fingers inside of himself, which when he did sent a delightful shiver through his body, his inner walls involuntarily trying to clench down.

That explains the fullness.

He dressed, learning to push through the licking, and surprisingly able to hand the full sensation in his rear. He got to work early again, the less people he had to be around the better. Settling in at his desk, he got to work.

I can do this. I can totally do this.

As he was working, he searched on his phone in the LABRATory user forums on possible solutions. Nothing seemed to match his situation until a post caught his eye.

“Oh yeah, you gotta be careful of copycats out there. I heard this story of one guy, he thought he was getting this suit for a great deal, but then he started having some issues, and turns out he had bought something that had found its way out of the sex toy black market whatever that is. Apparently he vanished out of thin air one day after he started having issues. They found him months later in some wealthy guys mansion trapped in the fucktoy suit. Zonked out of his mind. The real scary thing was the guy who bought him, didn’t even know there was a real person inside, he just thought it was a toy.”

“Why’d they raid his house if they didn’t know a real person was inside?”

“Oh, they caught him trying to sneak a rhino onto his property, a real endangered rhino.”

The post continued on with the drama surrounding the purchasing of endangered species, but Blake’s mind was racing.

Oh god, what if this is a black market toy? Someone’s probably looking for it aren’t they? I mean, probably.

Blake tried to think, but was interrupted by the plug shifting.

Oh no.

He felt it form into a larger than average cock and thrust into him.

“Fuck-” Blake caught himself, stifling the sounds he couldn’t stop from making. The plug already easily seven inches deep inside him, with a girth approaching a soda can started to gently thrust in and out, in and out, never leaving his hole, just working from within.

Oh god, oh god, I gotta get out of here.

Blake stumbled to the restroom and locked himself in a stall. He sat down on the toilet seat and covered his mouth trying to ride it out. Each thrust a stifled, “Mmm.” Breathing hard out his nose, he prayed it would eventually subside. What was even stranger, he noticed, was despite how full he felt, there was still an emptiness inside him only growing stronger. He reached a hand behind his pants and felt between his cheeks. His fingertips reached his quivering hole, he could feel the thrusts even from the outside. “Mmmmm, ah- shit… it has to- mmmm… stop- unh-  eventually,” but it didn’t. Not even even when someone else opened the restroom door.

Shit!

He heard the other person walking and saw their feet stand in front of a urinal.

Just stay calm, stay calm.

Blake gritted his teeth as the cock inside picked up the pace. His coworker did his business, and flushed until, “Unh!” The tongue had started up again making Blake let out a groan, he clamped down on his mouth, terrified. The coworker stopped halfway to the sink.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.

“Best of luck to ya!” his coworker said in a joking voice before washing their hands and heading out.

Oh phew, that was- “Ahhh!” Blake felt the cock “slide out” of him, leaving him panting.

I need to leave, I need to- “Unnhh!” He felt a thinner cock slide into him making him fall forward, catching himself on the bathroom wall. Just as it went in, “Ah-mmm!” it slid out.

Okay I- “Mmmmm!” A different cock, shorter but wider took its place, and then it was out. Blake held himself up against the wall as the two different dildos took turns longdicking him until he felt the thicker one lodge itself firmly inside.

Finally I can… oh no… 

He felt it. Tapping at his already full hole, the other thinner but longer dildo.

There’s no way, no, no way it could- “Hnnng!” He couldn’t hold back his voice as the second cock started pushing in next to the first. “Hah! Hah! Hah!” Slowly, achingly he was dp’d, his knees shaking, hands holding on tight to the top of the stalls, his hips pushing back into the slow thrust. His body shook waiting for the second dick to bottom out. He had never felt this stretched before in his entire life. At long last, panting all the while, the second dildo reached its destination, and after two thrusts that made his vision almost turn to white, they were both gone in an instant. Blake fell to the ground, not caring he was on a bathroom floor, his entire being overloaded with pleasure and physical fatigue, trying to calm his breathing. He eventually picked himself up, opened the stall and walked over to the sink. As he was washing his face, he noticed a gleam by his neck. He peeked down his button up to see the rubber had climbed all the way up to just below his neck.

Fucking hell, can’t I catch a break?

Looking down his neck he caught a glimpse underneath his shirt sleeve and the inky black had almost reached his wrists. He pulled up his pants and pulled down his socks as he watched his ankles halfway covered.

That’s it I’m leaving.

Blake sneaked out of the bathroom and headed back to his desk. He turned the corner and jumped. His manager was waiting.

“Hey Blake, everything okay? You’ve been away from your desk for a little while.”

“Sorry, I was in the restroom. I-”

The plug sprang to life again.

Not now, please not now!

“Yes?” asked Greg.

“I wasn’t feeling- mnh!” he cleared his throat as he felt what was undoubtedly a tentacle start to squirm inside of him.

“I wasn’t feeling so well, so I went to the restroom and I- ah!” the tentacle pushed deeper inside him, slipping past his second hole and into his colon, causing him to double over.

“Oh my god, Blake are you okay?” Greg held him up.

“No, I, ummm, I think I, ah, need to go home,” Blake groaned as the tentacle pushed and prodded every inch of his spasming walls on its way deeper.

“Do I need to call you an ambulance?”

“No! No, thank you, no, I can- mhp!” Blake straightened up, fighting against the sensual assault.

“Alright, if you’re sure?”

“Yes, mmmph, sure,” and with that Blake grabbed his belongings and bolted. As he was pulling out his car keys, he saw the rubber creep onto the back of his hand.

Shit! I have to get home before it fucks with my hands too.

He drove, for sure breaking the speed limit, the adrenaline helping him push past the sensation of a tentacle filling his guts, and the mouth in the bulge kicking back into gear, seemingly trying to be his demise. He took three stairs at a time up his apartment building as he felt the rubber creep around his neck and around his toes. He fumbled with the keys, the slick black palms now ending in the bright blue rubber covered fingers, slightly puffier, and a lot harder to get a firm grip on his keys. After a good panicked minute, he was inside, and locked the door.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.

Blake thought he was about to start crying from the sensory overload when he felt the slick sensation of something covering the back of his head and popping into his ears. All the sensations faded to a gentle sucking of his cock, and a gentle pulse in his hole.

Toys don’t worry.

What was that?

Blake whirled around trying to find the source of the sound.

Toys take deep breaths.

Who are you?

Blake pulled at the rubber around his head, trying and failing to make it budge, his chest suddenly moving making him breathe slower, deeper.

Toys don’t wear clothes.

What are you talking about?

Blake’s arms suddenly froze, then methodically began unbuttoning his shirt.

I can’t control my arms, what-

Toys don’t worry.

His arms took off his shirt, then his pants, and finally slipped off his socks and shoes.

Toys feel better without clothes.

How are you doing this?

Toys don’t worry.

The suit marched him to the full length mirror in his bedroom. The shiny black suit had almost covered his entire body, defining his muscles on his arms, pecs, thighs, and calves accented by a thin blue line running along his sides. The only bit of skin left was around his face sparing his eyes, nose, and mouth. His ears had been smoothed over and replaced with round feline ears.

INITIATING TOY MODEL T-89

Toy model?

The rubber rippled all across his body. He felt a tug along his lower back as a little lump grew into a nub then into a long tail slowly flicking behind him, his fingers puffed up slightly, blue paw pads swelling on his fingertips and palms. The suit changed his stance, putting more weight on the balls of his feet, as muscle was packed onto the thighs as the feet grew out into paws, giving a slight digitigrade appearance, his ass plumping into a perfect pert peach. He looked himself over, his body now a supple, toned, rubbery black and blue tiger toy, except for the pink skin of his face.

Good toys put on their mask.

Mask? What… oh…

The suit marched him back into the living over to the box and dug out the tiger mask from before. Just as the suit raised the mask he gained control over his body again.

Good toys put on their mask.

Blake slowly raised the mask before stopping himself.

Why the hell would I do that, I need to- “Ahh!”

The thrusting returned, the sensation of being longdicked, fast and hard. His newly grown tail standing straight at attention, his new paws tensing and squirming, toes splayed out, still sensitive despite all he had been put through already.

Good toys put on their mask

He fell to his knees, his hole spasming, clenching at nothing “Hah, hah, hah, no, hah, ah, I just-mmmmm,” the sucking joined in, tight around the head of his cock and sliding up and down, still held flaccidly in place, driving him wild.

Good toys are rewarded.

Blake’s thoughts started getting hazy in all the feelings overtaking him.

If I could just cum, I could think clearer.

He squeezed his bulge trying to push himself over the edge, but still nothing.

Good toys are rewarded.

He looked over at the mask again, and picked it up. As he did, he felt his erection starting to be freed from the bulge, the mouth sliding up and down, licking around the head, pushing him another step closer.

So close.

Good toys are rewarded.

He brought it closer to his face and as he did he swore he could feel a strong hand push his back to the ground, and another gripping his hip, “Mmmm” he moaned, the fucking in his ass gaining a human like rhythm. Each thrust hitting his prostate, “Hah! hah! fuck! yeah!” opening him up deep. His dick quivered beneath precum dripping out of him.

Just a little bit more.

Good toys are rewarded.

And with those words in his ears he opened his mouth, wrapping his lips around the phallic gag, “MMMMM!” the sensation transfering to his own cock. He worked the tubes into his nostrils, the length sliding down the back of his throat, powering through his gag reflex as the edges of the mask lined up with the edge of the rubber, melding into one seamless suit.

Fuck yeah, fuck yeah, I’m gonna cum, gonna cum, gonna-

The lenses over his eyes darkened to black as all sensation left his body, his dick snapping back into a smooth bulge, the lock symbol shining brightly.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

A flash of light, swirling colors, and static filled his view, and Blake fell into a deep suggestive state. Small LED-like heart eyes appeared on his lenses where pupils would be.

Good toys suck.

He tried to resist, but his need for some satisfaction made him obey. Blake started to suck on the gag and he felt a faint tickle against his dick.

Good toys clench.

Blake clenched and he felt a faint thrust against his prostate.

This repeated over and over, Blake learning to do what he was told to do and receive his reward of a little more pleasure, learning to earn it, percentage by percentage. Many hours later, still sitting prone on the ground, there was a faint clicking at his door. It opened, the lockpicker standing up as two “movers” walked in. They looked at Blake, fully enraptured by the toysuit, gently rocking back and forth, lube like drool dripping from his mouth and ass. The lockpicker pulled a thick silver collar out of his bag, and locked it around the tiger toy’s neck.

ANTI-HUMAN DETECTING COLLAR INTEGRATING

The words GOOD TOY lit up around the collar, Blake letting out a moan as the “movers” picked him up and placed him inside a crate. “All clear here, the sweepers can come in and clean this place up,” the lockpicker ended the call and headed out following behind the crate.

EPILOGUE

“Where did you say this toy came from?” asked the toy club owner. The lockpicker had the black and blue tiger toy on chain connected its collar, the light up eyes in a half lidded state.

“We were doing a sweep of our warehouse and we found this toy in the back of storage. We couldn’t sell it as a suit as someone put this permalock collar on it, so we put a responsive AI in the suit instead.”

The owner gave him a skeptical look. He pulled out a small device, not unlike a handheld metal detector and gave the toy a once over.

NO HUMAN DETECTED

The owner gave it a long look before looking back at the lockpicker. “How much did you say you wanted for it again?”

“Well its a custom toy, unique coloring, obedient omega programming built in, sure it’s a little old, but I’d say, $20,000.”

“$15,000.”

“$17,500.”

“Deal, but any funny business and-”

“No funny business, just think y’all would put it to better use. It’s just not my kind of thing, this specific toy. Also,” he fished into his pockets, “Here’s the remote.” With an exchange of cash, and the handing off of the remot, the lockpicker walked out. The owner looked over at his newest member of staff.

“Who’s a good toy?” the tiger toy mewled, rubbing its bulge, its hole clenching.

“Yes you are.”