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ryankarloramos-blog · 5 years

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Barangay Poblacion - A historical but a hazardous “national treasure”

Hazard: Gas stations beside residencesWe all know that gasoline fuels fires and cause possible explosions. With these right next to residences, people, including us are very vulnerable to these situations. These gas station should have been built a bit farther away from residences and a shoe supply warehouse.Biñan is one of the most historical places in the Philippines, specifically in my local barangay, barangay Poblacion. Not just the town center of Binan can be found in Barangay Poblacion, but also some old Spanish houses including the house of the parents of Jose Rizal, the Alberto house. In addition to that, this is also the barangay where J. Rizal had his first formal schooling.

Map of Biñan (Taken from: Google Maps)

Wrecked Alberto house due to a typhoon (Taken from: Wikipedia, unknown photographer; photo taken in October 22, 2012)

Restored Alberto House (present day)

The street sign leading to the school of Rizal

School of Rizal, restored

According to Philippine Statistics Authority, Biñan has a population of 333,028 as of September 30, 2019. As the heart of the city, I think that these problems should be addressed as soon as possible, not just for aesthetic purposes but most especially, for safety.

Interview with Kap. Lloyd Castelltort

My interview with Kap. Lloyd was on December 21, 2019. He pointed out that the most disaster to be anticipated always is the flooding, because our area is situated next to a river, and it is prone to what will be mentioned later. The former design of the river was not that good. Because the wall near the dam has a “hole”. And the countermeasure done was the riverwalk, which will also be mentioned later. As of today, with the riverwalk completed, the reason why there are still flooding is because the depth of the river is not that good, and the trash that backflows from the canals. A proposal was made for this. Manholes that would automatically close to prevent these backflows, but takes in water from the outside. Also the excavation/dredging of the river was already started, and a Chinese contact of theirs donated a barge to help dredge the river. He said that a few years back, the barangay next to us would immediately flood up with just a little rain, but improvements have been observed since the start of the dredging.

The barangay would know that if there is an incoming calamity, they would know it from the social media. But their primary source is from the office of the mayor also known as their command center or C3. They are the ones to monitor and respond to typhoons or earthquakes. The command center disseminates the information across the 24 barangays in Biñan and give orders to the barangay officials and tell them what to do. The city also has its own radio station, Radyo Biñan, also from the command center. They provide updates that concerns the city. The command center, as told by Kap. Lloyd, have radars so the barangays depend on them for information and orders. Roughly two years ago, there was a massive fire in our barangay, almost reached us. The command center was the one who sent firetrucks and firefighters to fend off the fire. They also have rescue vehicles whenever there are typhoons, earthquakes, etc.

Ever since, the main problem of our barangay was flooding, because as mentioned earlier, we are situated next to the river. Therefore, the houses literally right next to the river are the most affected/vulnerable ones. The evacuation center is plaza’s covered court. The medical kits, disaster tools, and radios to contact CSWD and the command center is located in the office of the covered court. The command center and other barangays send teams to help organize the people in the evacuation center, if ever the case arises. They help give medical attention, food, and other services like the transportation using the rescue vehicles.

The disasters would not really affect the lifestyle and jobs of the people, because as said by Kap. Lloyd, most of the people are working and selling in the public market, wherein the typhoon and flood would not greatly affect them. The only problem is that their houses, when destroyed by typhoons, are the only ones affected and not their jobs and lifestyles.

The preparations being done by the barangay are public address, wherein there are sirens in main streets and a counselor would alert and advise people to ready up their things for incoming floods and other calamities.

Community Walk

In the walk, we travelled the main street of the barangay leading to the town center. We encountered several hazards.

The main street

These identifiable hazards around barangay Poblacion include the following:

Bombardment of tricycles in the main street/town center

Two gas stations beside residences

Low depth of the sub-basin/river

Waste disposal problems

1. Hazard: Bombardment of tricycles and vegetables and fruit dealers in the main street/town center

The ever-growing number of tricycles in Biñan are causing not just traffic, but also undisciplined and unruly streets that can potentially lead impatient drivers into road rages. Also, what if there was an emergency and an ambulance needs to swiftly get through due to an emergency? These tricycles would be an obstruction to traffic and might even be the cause of the death of patient. In the picture shown below, during nighttime is the worst. Plastic bags and carts of vegetables are just scattered on the ground, and even worse, there are vehicles parked at the round-about wherein it should really be easily passable. They are even parked right in front of the no parking sign.

Possible solution: In an article from Politiko South Luzon (2019), former city mayor of Biñan, now the congresswoman of the lone district of Biñan, Hon. Marlyn “Len” B. Alonte, purchased last August 2019, forty new e-trikes to help reduce the air pollution in the town. The recipients of these newly purchased e-tikes are the Biñan police and the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office. They should also limit the numbers of tricycles in a single toda because it is simply getting out of hand. Also, reinforce the streets with police or local government units that should apprehend these violators.

Hon. Marlyn Alonte and vice mayor Gel alonte with a representative alongside the newly purchased e-trike (taken from: South Luzon Politics)

2. Hazard: Gas stations beside residences

We all know that gasoline fuels fires and cause possible explosions. With these right next to residences, people, including us are very vulnerable to these situations. These gas station should have been built a bit farther away from residences and a shoe supply warehouse.

Possible solution: Kap. Lloyd mentioned that these gas stations, as well as other gas stations, have emergency shut-off valve whenever there are incidents that involve fires and other malfunctions. He also said that these incidents would not just arise from nothing , but from intended acts like arson in these gas stations. It is not always alright to just rely on these emergency shut-off valves, but we should also be prepared whenever there comes a time that unwanted events would occur. These automatic shut-off valves will be automatically activated when the sensors within the gas stations sensed/detected an increase in thermal activity or smoke.

3. Hazard: Low depth of the river depth/excavation

The Biñan sub-basin/river extends from the southern part of Metro Manila all the way to Tagaytay, Cavite. The depth of the part where Brgy. Poblacion is covered by this river is not that deep. This was one of the culprits that made the city flooded during typhoons and low pressure areas. Some improper waste disposal also contributes to the flooding of the town.

Taken from: Hydrologic Atlas of the 24 Sub-basins of Laguna de Bay 2012 by the Laguna Lake Development Agency (LLDA)

Possible solution: The former design of the Biñan river was flawed wherein the end-part of the wall that prevents the water from the dam to enter the river was not “complete”. Therefore, whenever they release water from that dam, it would flow to the Biñan river causing floods. Kap. Lloyd mentioned that it the deepening of this river from end-to-end (exclusive in Biñan river). There are two purposes of this riverwalk, one is for flood control, and the other is for recreational activities of the people.

Proper waste disposal must be strictly implemented not just in our city, but also in the whole country as well as the rest of the world. Because this is one of the easiest ways to reduce disasters due to flooding, but it is somehow being neglected by other people. Therefore, most people suffer from the irresponsible acts of the many.

Biñan riverwalk and depth of the river, present day (Taken from: Politiko South Luzon)

I hope that these mentioned hazards will be addressed as soon as possible to protect its people and to preserve the national treasures and legacies left behind by our ancestors. Being equipped with proper knowledge on disaster risk reduction and disciplining ourselves to simply obeying traffic rules to waste disposal will have great impact on our country.

Photo with Kap. Lloy Castelltort

Photos without references were taken by the author of this article

References:

https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/043403000

https://southluzon.politics.com.ph/2019/08/04/len-alonte-gets-e-trikes-from-doe-for-binan/

Google maps

https://southluzon.politics.com.ph/2018/12/28/hi-tech-2-km-walkway-across-binan-river-opens-to-public/

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moczothe1st · 6 years

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Let’s Play Fire Emblem IV: Genealogy of the Holy War, Part 26: The Julius Formerly Known as Prince

Part 25

Welcome back to Fire Emblem IV! Last week we had started our invasion of Grannvale, coming up to it through the southern Miletos district, and in so doing got to smack the crap out of Tinni’s crazy aunt, who unfortunately managed to get away. These things happen. This week, we have to start off by opening the gates that will allow us to proceed north to Miletos itself.

I’m just gonna say, if you guys wanna stop now, I’m down for that. How about we just move in to Hilda’s old torture castle and set up there? Do we really need to beat the Empire?

Yes?

Shit.

Ah, well.

Well, to start, we need to take Rados castle, which is thankfully unoccupied after we killed all its inhabitants last week. It’s cool, they were gross people. Though first, I have Ced grab the village right north of it…

Behind the Times: Not so long ago, from what I hear, Emperor Arvis himself forbade ‘em. What the devil could’ve changed his mind? Please, I’m begging you, you’ve gotta save our children! Here, this magic ring oughta help you out.

Niiiiiiiiiiice. This pushes Ced’s magic above the 30-point cap, leaving him even more of a killing machine that he already is. Dude doesn’t even have a holy weapon, he’s just raw badass. Cairpre also continues his path to minor godhood.

This kid was level one on the last map, and he’s going to be promoted and breaking skulls right along with the rest of the kids next map. I’m so proud of him.

Seliph, take the castle and set the story going, my man!

(Yeah, but he had to be a man named Morrigan, so who really suffered the most?)

Seliph: How could they… how could anyone be so savage…?

Lewyn: And that’s why we’ve got to fight this war to the end, Seliph. This is something you’ve got to understand.

(OKAY WE GET IT JEEZ STOP PESTERING ME DAD)

Lewyn: This is the way of the Loptyr Empire. There’s no place at all for the good-hearted… Now, it shouldn’t be too long before the gate to Miletos opens for us.

(…. Why…?)

Lewyn: What’s your next move, Seliph?

Seliph: Needless to say, we must march on Miletos. We can’t afford to rest while those children are still at risk. Or Julia, for that matter.

Lewyn: Good. And after that, Grannvale awaits!

(OH FUCK IT’S ISHTAR)

(Oh, and also Arvis. Man, you have not aged well, buddy. I’d feel bad for you, but you know… the rape and murder and stuff.)

Arvis: Listen, Ishtar. Release the captive children. I know you care no more for these foul deeds than I do.

Ishtar: My apologies, sir, but I’m on Prince Julius’s-

Arvis: Pay Julius no mind. I’ll be having a word with him soon.

(Funny story, bro, he said the same thing about you last week, and I’m a bit more scared of him at this point.)

Ishtar: But…

Arvis: This is an order from your emperor, Ishtar! Has Julius bent you such that you will no longer listen to the word of your liege?!

Ishtar: N-no. Never, your majesty…

(Speak of the [Literal?] Devil.)

Arvis: Julius! How dare you-

Julius: Why, Father, it almost sounds as if you still don’t know any better! Old age must be dulling that once-brilliant mind of yours. Why not retire before it grows still feebler? Unless… ohohohoho! Don’t tell me you still seriously believe that you can banish me?

Arvis: … No. I know better than to try something so futile again. I… have no further objection.

Julius: That’s better. Now, then. Begone! Return to your post and haunt my sight no more. Defending Chalphy is crucial, so don’t fail me for once in your sorry life, Father.

(Daaaaaaaaaaaamn, son, you just got burned. Or should that be Julienned?)

Arvis: Y-yes, Julius. At once…

(God, it’s like every creeper left in the game is all gathering in this one castle to see who can be most sleazy. If Hilda shows up, I’m going to need to stop to take a shower.)

Manfroy: Never would you think this wretch, now clinging only to the ghost of a crown, was once the most powerful man in Jugdral.

Julius: Ah, Manfroy. Where’s Julia? Have you restored her memory yet?

Manfroy: Your dear little sister is in Chalphy, burdened once more by her old memories. Never have I seen such horror as when she recalled how you, her own brother, almost killed her! Or how her dearly departed mother spirited her clear of the castle and your clutches…

Julius: Indeed… near everyone puts up some defiance to death by my hand, yet Deirdre never so much as flinched in the end. She accepted her own demise, all to save Julia with what little strength she still had. But Julia possesses the foul powers of that ghoul, Naga, just as Deirdre once did. Nothing is more crucial than killing her now, Manfroy, lest we lose the chance.

(………. Then… why did you need to restore her memories…?)

Manfroy: You overestimate her threat, milord. After all, the Book of Naga remains under the strictest lock and key in Belhalla. Without it, Naga’s soul could never come to dwell within that girl…

Julius: How many times must I explain, Manfroy?! Every last one of the avatars of Naga, the heirs of Heim, must be purged!

Manfroy: Understood, milord. I’ll have my men see to it that Julia is dead by sundown.

Julius: Do not fail me, Manfroy. Now, then, I suppose I’m needed in the capital.

Manfroy: I shall ensure that holding the Miletos territory is the Order’s highest priority. Before the week is done, Your Majesty, the corpse of Seliph shall lie before you.

Julius: Seliph? … Ah, of course. The one the peasants call ‘the scion of light’. Just as they call me the ‘scion of darkness’. The alleged eldest son of Deirdre and the alleged true heir to my throne. A fairy tale, told to inspire hope amongst fools.

Manfroy: He is still a threat, milord. The sooner we dispose of him, the better.

Julius: Surely he doesn’t truly bear the power of the Crusader Baldur. He couldn’t possibly. I don’t care about him, Manfroy, but you’re welcome to do with him as you will.

Manfroy: Very good, milord.

Julius: … Actually, I have a better idea. I want to play a game.

Julius: Rumor has it that a small army of fresh sacrifices are headed our way. Let’s see who can claim the life of a rebel first.

Ishtar: Yes, Lord Julius. I’d love to!

(Sympathetic anti-villain~)

And then the newly arrived enemies start screwing with me, thus ruining the drama of the moment. Anyhow. The army arrayed against us is arguably the worst in the entire game thus far, given they are almost all dark mages. Dark magic still has no disadvantages to anything in the weapon triangle, and a lot of them have status effect staves to fuck our advance over hard. And of course, standing near the castle…

At first glance, Ishtar actually looks worse than Obvious Final Boss Julius. She’s bulked up considerably since we last met her; her Magic has gone up by six points, speed by one, and resistance by a whopping twelve with the addition of a Barrier Ring to her inventory. He, in contrast, has generally good stats at everything (and is a damn stone wall with 25 defense and 35 resistance) but he’s slower than her and his Loptyr tome is heavier than her Mjolnir. Beyond being a stone wall, he appears to be less dangerous than her.

This is a filthy lie.

You see, Ishtar is stronger than her last fight with us, but we’ve leveled up far more than she has since then. She’s certainly still very dangerous thanks to her combo of Mjolnir and the Vantage ability meaning if you don’t kill her in one shot she’ll wreck your ass on all further battles, but that’s nothing new. It just means we’re playing the same damn game of Nuclear Rocket Tag that we were last time, and Arthur is carrying a much bigger nuke than before. Maybe he still only has like a 60% chance of pulling it off, but I honestly can’t believe I did it at all last time.

And as for that heavy Loptyr tome? It has a little extra trick to it that you’ll quickly come to despise.

See that little note, ‘cuts foe’s atk’ down in the bottom left corner? See, more specifically, it cuts the attack of anyone who gets into battle with Julius by a whopping 50%. So before hitting Julius’s again, stone-wall defenses, anyone who takes a swing at him will first have their attack cut in half, at which point he will swing right back with a Holy Weapon that has no weapon triangle disadvantage to anything and is backed up by his maxed out magic stat. And in his ability list, he has Pursuit and Accost for maximum possible double-attacking potential to go with his very high natural speed, and Wrath to cause his critical hit rate to skyrocket if you do eventually get his HP down below half.

His 80 HP.

So yeah, this is the game’s subtle way of telling you ‘DON’T FIGHT JULIUS’. Indeed, the easiest thing to do here would be to let him or Ishtar kill one of our soldiers and then have Cairpre revive them with the Valkyria staff, because they will both leave if one of them manages to win their ‘game.’ Which, I mean, if I get really desperate, maybe, but for the sake of my pride I’d prefer to beat one of them, causing both to retreat. And by ‘one of them,’ I mean Ishtar. And by ‘beat’ I mean, ‘Arthur, it’s time to play another round of Holy Weapon Nuclear Death Tag with your cousin, please try to survive.’

Oh, and just for fun:

That’s Julius’s Holy Blood screen. Just in case you didn’t have enough unhappiness in your life.

Now then. First thing we need to do is clear out at least some of the enemies in play here. There’s a whole mess of Dark Mages with some melee fighters scattered among them, and they’re operating with a variety of tools, but the worst, as poor Altena found out, are the ones with Sleep staves. Status effect staves in this game are the worst; they have perfect accuracy as long as the one using them has higher Magic than the target has Resistance. In our hands, they’re balanced by only having 2-3 charges before they break. In the enemy’s hands, they have infinite charges because Fuck You, that’s why. Sleep + Hel + Any Hit of Anything is a very bad situation. So first step is to work out where they are:

There, we have a basic cross-reference of where only high-resistance units should go. The dark mages have 16 Magic each, which isn’t much for the purposes of combat but for the purposes of Sleep Staves it might as well be a trillion. Maybe a quarter of our army can go into that crossfire zone without being zapped, and one of them is Cairpre, who can’t fight. On the other hand, he’s also the only person who can wake people up, so his staying awake forever is useful, in its own way.

Back to full power! And now, we clear out the vanguard and move the team up, making sure to keep most people firmly to the east.

There we go. First wave down; the only people in the current batch who can lure out enemies without getting a forced nap are Ares, Fee, Ced, Tinni and Cairpre; Seliph will be able to when he actually reaches the army, but he, Nanna, and Ulster are a bit further back. He had to take the castle and they needed to do some weapon repairs.

End turn!

Ah, yes, some of them have siege tomes too. Because, again, fuck you, that’s why.

Cairpre, you’re just getting silly. But in any event, we’ve now gotten a situation where the only people in the Sleep range are people who cannot be Sleeped, and they should also be drawing in some of the enemies from the west so we can clear out at least one or two of the staff wielders and give us some more movement range. There’s two to the west, and two to the north; the western ones should start moving on this turn now that we’ve cleared out the enemies closer to us. With luck, I can kill them both right away. End turn…

Okay, not bad. With the positioning of the enemies, I thiiiiiiiiink three of the sleep staffs can be taken out this turn without much issue. Let’s see…

That’s one!

And that’s two, and also all we’re going to get. But the remaining two are going to put some people to sleep, but they won’t be able to get anyone killed. That’s worth Ares getting a shit level, I guess. What remains is to clear out the final village-burning bandit of the map…

And killing off this sniper so he can’t kill Fee and ruin everything.

Good times. All right, dark mages! Please don’t kill anyone. End turn.

Lame, but tolerable. We will be able to kill one more staff guy this turn; but the second one is being… troublesome.

He’s one of those charming robed figures firmly in Julius’s combat range. That is not a fight I want to pick. Instead, we’ll take this other dude with the physic staff…

And pull back, trying to lure them out further. Cairpre wakes up Lester to let him do the same, and gets his like seventieth level.

To the south, we need to clear a path without letting Patty get put to sleep preferably. So I have Tinni try to clear a path, which will let Ced get through to the third Sleep user.

….

She misses. On a 90% chance. Dammit. Seliph, please?

That’s why we’re putting you on the throne later, buddy. And now Ced can get through and remove one more stumbling block.

Beautiful. Only one staff jackass left, and the only people in his range are Tinni and Seliph. He’ll have to move, and with any luck at all he’ll do so out of Julius’s combat range where someone can take a swing at his dumb face. End turn!

Heeeeeeeeeey buuuuuuuddy.

Niiiiice. With that, there’s only seven enemies left total; one guy with a normal tome, three siege tomes, the boss in the castle, and the two far more dangerous bosses waiting for us to get all up in their business. This will be… tricky. But for the moment, we’re safe, so I have Seliph drop in to have a conversation with Tinni.

(In all this mess, you may have forgotten Lewyn is her dad. He certainly hasn’t been very fatherly.)

Seliph: If you need anything from me, I’ll be waiting over there.

(You see what I mean about her having a character arc, now? Imagine the Tinni we first recruited saying that. She was so broken down she was going to fight us just because she was too afraid not to. And look at her now, electrocuting her aunt! I’m so proud.)

Lewyn: She didn’t treat you well, did she?

(“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA…. Oh, you’re serious…? Wow. No. No.”)

Tinni: Day after day, again and again, she would beat and abuse us. She kept on accusing Mother of being a traitor…

Lewyn: Your mother… Taillte…

Tinni: Yes… after the Battle of Belhalla, she and my brother, Arthur, fled to Silesse. I was born there soon after. I never knew my father. I think he must have died long ago…

Lewyn: I see. Then you went to Alster, right?

Tinni: King Blume and his minions came to Silesse, one night. They dragged us away to Alster… Mother never left there alive…

Lewyn: I… you’ve had such a hard life…

Tinni: Mm… Hilda hated Mother so much. I’ve never seen anything like it. Mother coped with so much, trying to protect me from Hilda. She was always in tears, right till the end…

Lewyn: She… she did…?

Tinni: Lord Lewyn? Is… is everything okay, sir?

Lewyn: … Yeah. Why do you ask?

Tinni: It’s your eyes, sir. Are those… tears?

Lewyn: I… no, it’s nothing. This is just a bit of sweat. I’m fine… I… I’m okay…

I like this conversation for a few reasons. First, it gives Tinni a ridiculous +5 magic, which is wonderful for these conversation bonuses and pushes her to her magic cap of 27. But on a story front, you’ve probably noticed that Lewyn has become kind of a douche in the years since the first generation. This is one of the very few moments where that attitude breaks and he really shows you just how much he’s hurting beneath it all. He manages to hold up the Jerk Attitude for most of his other daughter conversations (he can have one with Fee, Lene, or Tinni if he’s their dad) but this is the only one he breaks down on. Learning your wife was essentially tortured to death will do that, and it probably only hurts more because Tinni isn’t trying to guilt him over it. Just innocently sharing how awful her life has been.

It’s a good, solid, quiet little character moment. I really like those when they’re done well, and I think this one was.

End turn.

Way to kill the emotion, jerk.

After murdering that buzzkill, I have to consider the situation. Ishtar is by far the weaker of the two enemies, but she’s not weak by any means. And unfortunately, anywhere that she can go, Julius can go too, thanks to the Leg Ring in his inventory. Getting them separate is hard. So what I’m going to do is have Ares, with the Mystletainn in hand, stand on a forest tile in Julius’s range. I will also put Nanna, Seliph, and Dermott near him; with boosts from two Charisma skills, Seliph’s leadership stars, and a forest, he gets something like a 45% boost to his dodging, which even Julius should have some trouble with. And even if he takes one hit, his Resistance is high enough that he should be able to survive. And from there, I have all of them run past him with Arthur, giving him a similar bonus to his offense and offsetting Julius’s own five leadership stars when he fights Ishtar. With luck, which I seem to be having lately with these big annoying bosses, Arthur will nuke the crap out of his cousin once again.

This might work. Maybe! Or I might die. End turn!

Gotta admit, the man makes an impression! Ares takes the hit, but survives with 21 HP left, and Ishtar runs up behind Julius, but can’t reach anyone to blast. But we can reach her. Deep breath. Moment of truth. Everyone, get her! NUCLEAR ROCKET TAG GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I’m hoping you don’t notice how many of my problems I have been solving with Forseti. Like… all of them. Seriously, of the three hardest bosses in the game so far, Ishtar, Arion, and Ishtar again, Arthur has killed all three of them on his first move, doing the exact same thing. I have dealt with every serious challenge the game has to offer by nuking it with a wind god.

If this is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.

Oh, and hey, why not.

This kid is going places.

Now then, not much left on the map to deal with. I have Lene dance Cairpre, so he can grab one of the two remaining villages.

Captain… Nay, GENERAL Obvious: Just a single glance into those eyes of his and you’re gone. You lose yourself. So many of my friends and people my age have all left for Belhalla to serve him… I’ve heard nothing from any of ‘em since.

Oh-ho. So, does this mean Julius can literally warp the minds of others? It can’t be limitless, mind you, since otherwise he could just mind-rape our army into joining him, but some ability to sway the weak-minded to his side would fit with how so few Imperial citizens are actually protesting the whole… you know. Hunting of children.

On the enemy phase, there isn’t a whole lot left. We have only three enemies left outside the boss, and they’re all carrying siege tomes.

And hahaha, they’re not super great at picking targets. That was fun. Now, let’s destroy them!

Not bad at all! One guy remaining, we can get him on the next turn before Seliph takes that castle. Altena grabs the last village, as well.

Extremely Morbid Info Master: Hate t’say it, but sometimes, yeh need t’make sacrifices if yeh wanna keep going…

See, kids, this is why you don’t fuck with Info Master. He is willing to make those sacrifices. End turn!

Dick.

… They can’t all be great, Cairpre. You’ve still grown far beyond anything I ever expected. Now, nothing left to do but send the team up north, preparing to go where the story will dictate after we take the next castle. Seliph, care to set things up?

Lewyn: I hate to admit it, but I doubt we could’ve gotten here soon enough either way. Now, then. It sounds like they’re just finishing up repairs on the Miletos Strait bridge. Ready to move in on Chalphy?

Seliph: Chalphy…. My father’s homeland….

Lewyn: So it is. I’m betting the citizens there will be even happier to see you than usual. Let’s not make them wait any longer!

Seliph: Indeed! Everyone, move out! Onward, to Chalphy!

(“We’re not forgetting anything, right? Eh, I’m sure Julia would remind us if we were.”)

Well. There isn’t a whole lot of this chapter left, but it can take quite a bit of time to successfully pull off, so I do think I’ll stop here. See y’all next week when we head back home to Chalphy! The very first castle we ever had in the game, and now we get to go take it back from another blast to the past, good old Arvis! I sure did miss him.

But my aim is improving.

See y’all next week!

#let's play #let's play fire emblem #let's play fire emblem IV #Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War #fire emblem 4 #lp #my writing #long post #Julius is a jerk

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demetriarose-xx · 6 years

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@curiouscast ·:

The charming grin that had been the demise of so many women before her slipped over Jared’s features easily as Demetria rattled off compliments about himself and his costume. He was nothing compared to her though, a vision of pure elegance shrouded in hell fire and brimstone. He gave her points for creativity of course, having seen the costume in it’s bare bones state the Jones had no idea just how encompassing the wings he had purchased for her would be. And of course he had spared no expense, they had been something she wanted and it was becoming evident very early in the relationship that whatever the beauty wanted the tutor would acquire no matter what hoops and hurdles he had to over come in order to complete the request.

Little did Jared know he was having the same impure thoughts as the devilish beauty, visions of her frame pinned against the door of his classroom or the thick mahogany of his desk dancing through his head like sugarplums at Christmas time. The blood clinging to his lips would surely stain her neck, leaving smeared impressions of passion and wanting as they encompassed the entire map of her body. It would be so obvious when they returned, with makeup smeared and cheeks flushed, hair tousled and stinking of sex. Needless to say the very image of the beauty wasn’t the only thing that Brough such a smirk to the raven haired males lips. “Look who’s talking.” He ventured, the irony of the Devil using the word hot not lost on the literary scholar.

As her frame began to fade away Jared made quick, subtle steps to follow, the eagerness behind his feet shrouded by the many others that laced their path. The crowd was distracted of course, the cacophony of noise and imagery enough to keep their eyes anywhere but on the beauty and the beast. So desperately did he want to reach out and touch her, to caress the backside that was so flawlessly framed by the wings he’d retrieved for her. There was lust behind those cerulean pools but also adoration - both emotions that were hidden from plain sight thanks to the crimson effect of the contact lenses he donned. Admittedly it seemed as though Jared was sizing Demi up like she was a bite to eat, but that was part of this character wasn’t it? The vampire who hungered eternally for blood? Such creatures didn’t exist of course but if they had Jared’s doppelgänger would certainly have been a force to be reckoned with. Other worldly powers or no this creature would have had zero issue drawing in women to feed from, one look at those baby blues and they would be putty in his hands - but of course, this was all simply fantasy, an amusing thought in the back of the tutors mind.

As they reached the punch bowl Jared was sure to give passers by a polite acknowledging smile each of which was accompanied by a nod - all in an attempt to persuade them not to strike up a conversation. It was a passing nod, the kind you might give someone in a hallway when you wanted to confirm their existence but also had somewhere else to be - and he did have somewhere else to be, glued to the side of the devilish queen of course, there was no where else the tutor wanted to be situated.

He grasped a plastic cup, swirling the ladle within the large clear bowl as the mixture of juice formed a subtle vortex thanks to his manipulation. Filling one cup just below the brim he offered it to Demi, filling a cup for himself shortly there after. It was a mixture of pink lemonade and some other ingredients - a variable witches brew if he’d ever laid eyes on one. With the hand that wasn’t currently invested in gripping his cup Jared dug into his jean pocket, subconsciously needing to distract himself lest he faulted and reach out to caress the beauty in such a public place. “So, Ms. Rivers,” He began, well aware the music would be enough to keep others from eavesdropping on their conversation but smart enough to know he could play the entendre game if he phrased things properly. “Do you have any plans for after the dance?” Ultra marine’s widened with the question, as if to emphasis his point all the while that trade mark smirk continued to stay plastered against his features, even as he took a sip of the lemonade mixture.

Stiletto clad ankles glided across the makeshift dancefloor, distancing herself from the tutor whilst a crimson smile spread across her pearls – curling upward as she looked smug with herself over the fact that she could hear him so eagerly following behind. Just the imagery of Jared trying to keep up with her bare thighs, bumping into a hurdle of other patients whilst his cerulean pools MELTED across her body – god, it was comical. Soon enough though, he reached the table; his own adonis form towering over her as hazels flickered upward dangerously. Perhaps nobody would notice if they slipped off briefly… Demetria had all of the wet wipes and makeup that she needed in her room to freshen up – a COVER UP in the easiest of ways to call it. Though, she couldn’t promise that her own bed would be as comfortable as his memory foam mattress. She was lumped with some springy old thing and not to mention, it was a single – though the RISK of it would have been. The sheer feeling of a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity tingling at her fingertips as she pictured them roaming across his skin.

Feathered wings tussled themselves against her back; a bloodred fountain pouring over her shoulder blades as she lured the men she wanted in – although being honest, there was only one person that her sights were set on tonight. Demetria had always been the kind of person to drag people in and throw them away when she no longer needed them… She did it in TRUE histrionic fashion. Wrapping people around her finger, watching them pirouette in circles around her knuckle whilst the tip of her S E R P E N T tongue flickered across the cherries of her lips. It was so satisfying watching people PINE over her… It filled her to the brim with happiness to know that men wanted her and she could reel them in, just like that – though nobody would ever compare to Jared Jones.

With her fingers extended, accepting the plastic cup of punch that he had poured for her in his gentlemanly style, she gave a small nod before taking a sip – noticing the knuckles of his spare hand clutching as though he was physically having to restrain himself from feasting upon her instead. As his words begun to leave his lips, Demetria raised a singular eyebrow – curious as to what dialogue was about to follow and then his question came. For a moment, the beauty furrowed her eyebrows… What did he think she was going to be doing? She was trapped in an insane asylum; locked away from the world ‘for her own good’. She was going to go back to the place that she called HOME, swipe her makeup off until her cheeks were their natural glowing rose and jump straight into bed. Or so she thought until she realised just what his words meant – oh, it was a PROPOSITION. Allowing her features to return to their natural state, a giggle vibrating through her chest as pearls glistened under the orange and green disco lights that flared across the room, the beauty placed her cup down temporarily – fingertips pressing to her cheeks in an embarrassment that she didn’t quite understand his innuendo immediately, although she was sure that Jared would have found it endearing.

“I am going to break OUT of this place in this exact outfit and find myself a nice man to cosy up to… Tall, dark, handsome – a total NERD in disguise.” A teasing glitter scattered across autumnal hues, a sadistic smile sprawling across her petals as her chest found itself tilting in towards Jared. To anybody else, it may have looked like she was whispering – snitching on the patients who had managed to find contraband alcohol, swirling the concoction in with their tropical coloured punch and consuming it like it was water. But Demetria and Jared? They knew exactly what she was doing. Plumped lips moved slowly, accentuating each little vowel her tongue slithered – cherries curving in a tantalising manner as though to drag out her words and reel him in. Quickly snapping back as if she could so quickly flip out of the seductive persona that she had previously been portraying and picking her plastic cup up, lips wrapping their way around a small couple of inches of red and taking a sip. “Or I might just go back to my room and go to sleep, you know me – the life of E X C I T E M E N T. What about you? Enlighten me, Mr Jones... You don’t have another frisky little devil in your life that could storm in through your front door like a wrecking ball and cause a load of damage, do you?”

#have this mid thread bullshit #honestly this reply was so awful but i need some jemi in my life #even though it is with a heavy heart #sigh #i guess i'm going to have to start writing with some of your other characters now ... whoopsie #▏ you caught me staring – but i caught you staring back▕.

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emilyzh2019-blog · 5 years

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Tips For Renting A Car In Morocco

Morocco Driving Guide

Renting a car in Morocco and driving yourself is a great way to experience this beautiful country. But there are a few things you should know before you embark on a road trip.

When Anna and I were planning our first trip to Morocco together, we were initially hesitant about renting a car to explore the country by ourselves.

Morocco has a bit of a reputation for crazy driving (and drivers!).

But the more we researched, the more we realized renting a car in Morocco wouldn’t be as difficult as we thought, plus it would save us a lot of money.

We love the freedom of road trips and planning our own travel itineraries. Morocco is such a diverse country that it made sense to rent a car so we could stop anywhere exploring local villages, mountains, and deserts at our own pace.

Here are some important tips we learned from our experience renting a car in Morocco, to help you save money and stay safe while driving around the country!

What To Know Before Renting A Car In Morocco

Driving in Morocco was Awesome!

Should You Rent A Car In Morocco?

Hey, if you’re a fan of bus tours, by all means, go book one. It’s a decent way to see Morocco if you don’t have a lot of time.

No planning, no driving, just sit back and let someone else do all the work!

But if you’re like me, you prefer the challenge of independent travel.

True adventure, with no set schedule or timetable. Driving around Morocco with the freedom to stop anywhere fun you happen to find along the way.

If that’s the kind of traveler you are, renting a car in Morocco is the way to go!

Just keep in mind that driving times in Morocco can be longer then Google tells you. It helps if you have someone else to split the driving with.

Another nice thing about having a car was the ability to store things in the trunk, so you can explore cities with small daypacks rather than lugging around a giant backpack or suitcase.

Starting our Road Trip in Marrakesh

Where To Rent Your Car In Morocco

The best site to book your car is Discover Car Hire. They search both local and international car rental companies to help you find the best possible price. This is the easiest way to rent a car in Morocco.

We rented our car from the popular city of Marrakech, taking a Southern road trip route towards Ouarzazate before heading on to Merzouga and the Sahara desert.

From the desert we drove North to the blue city of Chefchaouen for a few days, finally ending in Fez where we dropped off the car and flew out of the country. However there are many different types of routes you can take.

Why Did the Camel Cross the Road?

Car Rental Insurance In Morocco

Some of the rumors about driving in Morocco are true, and people can drive crazy here. That’s why I highly recommend getting full insurance coverage.

Typically, rental cars in Morocco come with a basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), but this isn’t exactly insurance, and only covers the car for up to 10,000 dirhams ($1000 USD) worth of damage.

While you can often save money if you book your car with a credit card that includes car rental insurance, you REALLY need to read the fine print, because many people wrongly assume their card covers them in Morocco.

If you get in a wreck driving in Morocco, declined full coverage, and you suddenly learn your credit card doesn’t actually cover the damage — you’re screwed. I can’t tell you how many travel horror stories I’ve heard like this…

It’s why I usually pre-book full coverage online for about $9 a day. It’s cheaper than at the counter — and then you won’t have to worry about accidents at all!

Driving through the Moroccan Desert

How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Car In Morocco?

Renting a car in Morocco is going to cost you around $25-$40 USD a day, depending on the type of car you get. Our 4 door sedan was about $30 per day.

I recommend renting a car with an actual trunk (no hatchbacks) to hide your luggage from prying eyes. It helps prevent break-ins if thieves can’t see your stuff.

Gas (petrol) prices in Morocco might seem cheap to Americans, but remember that the rest of the world quotes gas in Liters, not Gallons (1 Gallon = 3.78 Liters).

Currently, gas costs about $4 per gallon in Morocco. Remember that diesel cars are often cheaper in gas consumption than regular gasoline too.

Age Requirements For Renting A Car

The minimum age for driving in Morocco is 18 years old, however most car rental companies enforce their own age limit of 21 years old to rent a car.

Stopping Anywhere is One of the Perks of Renting a Car

Moroccan Driving Laws Tourists Should Know

The speed limits in Morocco are generally 60 kph in urban areas and 120 kph on highways. Police speed traps are very common, so pay attention to your speed.

I was actually pulled over for speeding during our road trip outside Ouarzazate, but they let me go after paying a small “fine” (bribe?) of 150 dirhams (about $15 USD).

You might also encounter the occasional police roadblock, but often they just wave tourists through. Or they’ll simply ask you where you’re headed.

Moroccans drive on the right side of the road, just like in the United States. So you shouldn’t have any issues there (unless you’re British!).

International Driver’s License

No, you do not need an international driver’s license to drive in Morocco or rent a car there. Just bring your passport, credit card, and your driver’s license from your home country.

Switchbacks in the Atlas Mountains

Tips For Driving In Morocco

Learn how to navigate the roundabout! Morocco is full of roundabouts rather than stoplights, and if you’re new to them, you might piss off the locals or get in a fender-bender.

Road traffic in Morocco comes in all types, sizes, and species! Be prepared to dodge scooters, over-filled trucks, buses, bicycles, donkeys, sheep, camels, pedestrians, and more. It can be mayhem at times, especially in the cities.

Honking your horn in Morocco is a form of everyday communication. It means all sorts of things, not just “get out of my way!” Honk to thank people for letting you pass, or to encourage camels to cross the road. Don’t be afraid of your horn!

Avoid driving your rental car at night in Morocco. Street lighting is minimal, and road markings can be too. Not to mention people or animals suddenly appearing in the middle of the road.

Many Moroccans will use their turn signals to let you know when it’s safe to pass them. For example, a big slow moving truck going uphill. They’ll hit their blinkers when the road is clear ahead, so you don’t have to guess.

Driving in Morocco can be Hectic!

Advice For Renting A Car In Morocco

Don’t book a car without reading the company reviews. You’ll find plenty of bad reviews for every company (people love to complain online), but try to pick one with the LEAST bad reviews.

You may not always get the make/model/type of car you booked. If they give you a smaller car, or a manual when you asked for an automatic, be pushy and ask for an upgrade.

Beware of mysterious “cleaning fee” hidden charges. If it’s not in your contract, you don’t have to pay it.

English is not spoken widely. You’ll have an easier time if you speak some French or Arabic. Communication isn’t impossible, but be patient.

Inspect your car thoroughly and record video on your smartphone pointing out damage before you leave. This is a backup if they try to charge you for damage that was already there.

Pay special attention to the interior too. A common rental car scam is getting charged for “cigarette burns” on the seats — that they conveniently “forget” to mark on the original damage form.

Make sure your tank is full before you leave. Some car rental companies in Morocco will start you with an empty gas tank, forcing you to fill up immediately.

Use Google Maps on your smartphone for directions. Bring your own hands-free adapter and buy an Moroccan SIM card at the airport.

Enjoy Your Moroccan Road Trip!

Exploring the small villages, hidden canyons, colorful mountains, and vast deserts of Morocco in a rental car was definitely the right choice for us.

Self-drive road trips get off the beaten track to see things most people miss! ★

Check Car Rental Prices & Availability In Morocco

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Car Hire is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I book cheap hotels online.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Morocco Suggested Reading: In Arabian Nights

Enjoy This Post? Pin It!

READ MORE TRAVEL TIPS

Tips For Visiting Chefchaouen In Morocco My Favorite Travel Quotes Of All Time Travel Jobs That Let You Work Abroad How To Pick A Great Travel Backpack

Any questions about driving or renting a car in Morocco? Are you planning a road trip there? Drop me a message in the comments below!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

#><div #F7F7F7;border-color:fdfdfd;color:333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;#333333;color:FFFFFF;border-top-left-radius:1px;border-top-right-radius:1px #dedede;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;>#292929;border-radius:3px>Travel

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seaglassxgypsy · 8 years

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“I’ve always loved the idea of not being what people expect me to be.”

◤Aspen Votsis is a 14 years old, who is a fourth-year student at Hogwarts. The Sorting Hat has sorted her into Hufflepuff. Aspen is also a Hufflepuff Chaser(#7). She has joined the Care of Magical Creatures Club, Dueling Club, & Astronomy Club. Some compare her to the Muggle Nina Nesbitt, but she doesn’t really see it.◢

▷Biological Information:

DOB: May 2nd, 1981

Blood Status: Pureblood

Sexuality: Ex-ploring?

Nationality: Greek/Scottish

Parents: Dimitris Votsis & Brenda Votsis (MacFusty)

Siblings: Zeta Votsis (deceased)

▷Magical Characteristics:

Wand: 7½", blackthorn, mermaid hair, unyielding. ( = )

Patronus: Alligator Snapping Turtle. (unable to cast yet)

Boggart: The slowly rotting corpse of her older twin sister, Zeta. But sometimes can be a preteen Hungarian Horntail.

Familiar: Ignis (though he’s not allowed on Hogwarts Grounds and only gets to visit him at Hogsmeade when her father has business there)

▷Meet Aspen

Tw: Injury & Death is Mentioned

Silent waters run deep. Apparently, in Aspen’s case, it goes way, way deep. Starting Aspen and her oldest twin, Zeta being born and raised in the Archipelago of Scotland of the Island of Hebrides. She and her twin, Zeta belong to the MacFusty clan who have traditionally taken the responsibility of looking after the Hebridean Black Dragons and recently thought long and extinct lost breed of dragon re-founded by Magizoologist Dimitris Votsis in the Archipelago of Scotland. Though for as long as Aspen’s been at Hogwarts no one truly knows her real story.

Except for her father's rediscovery of the few remaining Garden Bog and Garden Variety type Dragons long thought extinct. Her last name `Votsis` couldn’t fool anyone though it wasn’t like she talked about herself, or that she belonged to the Macfusty clan and grew up around the Dragon Sanctuary amongst her peers at Hogwarts. Growing up in the Archipelago of Scottland, at a young age Aspen was the twin born of curious nature than her oldest twin Zeta. Often spending their summers traversing various islands on brooms around the Island of Hebrides at the mere age of 7, dragging her twin sister Zeta along. Always getting back home right before nightfall both completely covered with dirt from head to toe, bearing stories and souvenirs of their adventures at the dinner table with their parents, and the moment the twins were cleaned up and sent to their bedroom for bed Aspen often was found tucked under her sheets with a lantern illuminating the pages of a map searching for their next big adventure. When the twins turned 8 their “summer exploring” started to fade away, or, at the very least, rarely happen anymore. Due to the twins becoming of age to finally start their Dragon Training.

Something that was more than expected of the Twins taking consideration of the MacFusty clan’s responsibilities as Dragon Keepers and Feeders. Things were going well for Aspen and Zeta who excelled in their Dragon Training, and by the time Aspen and Zeta were 10 they passed their Dragon examination together. Aspen had studied hard and was thrilled to pass her examination with her older twin, Zeta, beginning the grueling day after day physical work of nursery and stable duties. Causing Aspens first accidental use of underage magic by a heated argument with a nursery advisor about a dragon egg that didn’t hatch right away. Aspen stubbornly went against orders and stole the egg that ended up hatching in Aspen’s care. Though her reckless actions didn’t go unnoticed taken to the Head of the MacFusty’s however, instead of punishing Aspen for her recklessness they rewarded the Votsis household with the Garden Bog as the Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau in the Ministry of Magic permitted this to conduct the study if Garden Bog and Garden Variety type could be domesticated being a rare species of dragon in the right hands. Aspen naming him Ignis, and ever since then he has been Aspen’s responsibility and becomes a loyal companion.

Only Aspen is foremost haunted by the untimely death of her oldest twin, Zeta. Even making its way into the Headlines of the Daily Prophet ( + ) being tweaked never revealing the true story of Aspen and Zeta’s attempts to divert the preteen Hungarian Horntail Dragon away from the Nursery. Zeta became critically injured by the escapist preteen Hungarian Horntail Dragon and died instantly. Aspen, on the other hand, lost consciousness from a head injury after watching her oldest twin sister Zeta die caused by the Hungarian Horntail, before losing the lower left half of her leg with a few scars to bare as a reminder of that night. By next summer, when she received her Hogwarts Acceptance letter it was a traumatizing one for Aspen. Her older twin, Zeta, who was 10, was killed by a Preteen Hungarian Horntail. When arriving at Hogwarts, Aspen Votsis was not someone most people thought would be sorted into Hufflepuff especially when her father Dimitris Votsis was housed in Gryffindor.

Wrecked by loss Aspen had such an innocent and dainty looking structure that appeared to make her seem friendly only she had a cold and bitter heart amongst her peers. She used her words to sting worse than venom but beyond that toxic exterior, she could sometimes have a well-hidden soft spot when the right person came along. Starting to become a bit more likable during her third year at Hogwarts, only Aspen’s known to be a bit unaware of the latest gossip going around Hogwarts, or mostly what's going on half the time with the Daily Prophet believing after witnessing the reappearance of the Dark Mark during the Quidditch World Cup just last year, Cedric Diggory’s death, Dumbledores speech about Cedric Diggory, not forgetting the Sorting Hats warning. Starting off her fourth year at Hogwarts on Professor Umbridge's bad side- because if it wasn’t Aspen criticizing and questioning her repressive teaching practices of teaching D.A.D.A. along with what they were supposed to do if they ever were faced with Illegal Dealers, Death Eaters or The Dark Lord she scored herself a detention Aspen won’t ever forget. Though Aspen’s stubbornness time to time surfaces and finds herself back in Detention with the wretched Professor.

▷Personality

☑ Adventurous, Dedicated, & Honorable, ☒ Mischievous, Stubborn, & Secretive.

A Little About Ignis’s Breed

{ Ignis || Garden Bog / Garden Variety

Garden Bog or Garden Variety Dragons are one of the weakest and easiest dragons to kill off on the face of the earth. They are truly a remarkable and a rare species of dragon compared to other dragons mentioned in the book Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland; their size can vary but usually there the size of a Terrier. They are the most known critically endangered dragons long thought to be completely extinct until a small group was re-founded by Magizoologist Dimitris Votsis on his exploration in the Archipelago of Scotland. Collected by the MacFusty Clan to in hopes to revive their species. It’s confirmed that they can be able to breathe fire and noted to have sharp talons, and it’s best not to look them in the eyes for too long. Some habits known in the book Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland is that they usually bury their eggs under sand, and nest near small coves on the Archepilgo of Scottland and other places. Although it’s hard to keep them alive when natural scavengers, like Hebridean Black Dragons, dig up and destroy their eggs on the small cove beaches. Or if the high-tide comes and destroys the nesting place of the babies, or if the eggs aren’t buried deep enough. It’s a struggle in their natural habitat because of the many catastrophes that happened to them in the past, along with keeping them out of trouble with Muggles. But they are mostly harmless and under the care and watch of Dimitris Votsis as he’s in the midst of writing a book about these “garden-variety” type Dragons. Some key notes he’s observed already is that they are good at hunting fish, rodents, small birds and keeping pests out of gardens and tend to dig up crystals. Irresistibly drawn to music, silver, crystals and gems they are very easily to lure and capture making it yet another reason there most imminent extinct.

Build: No longer than the forearm- but usually the size of Terriers.

Color: Mystic Evergreen color with combinations of lighter shades of goldish-wheat, and glacier green and pure dark blue.

Weakness: Music & Silver to Shiny Objects

Sounds Garden Bogs Make: Chirping, Whistling, Clicking || Squeals, Shrills, Screeching & Low Growls

Class: Imminent Extinction and has relations with the Welsh Green.

▷Notable Relationships:

@iconoclast-infidel

@nyantry

#::seaglass bio #bio::@aspen votsis #&&. id rather die on an adventure than live standing still / hc.#Tw: Injury & Death is Mentioned #@aspen votsis #v.wizardingworld

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entergamingxp · 4 years

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PUBG studio director talks bots, Sanhok remaster and staying competitive in the battle royale market • Eurogamer.net

It’s been over three years since PUBG first popped up on Steam, and while that’s a relatively short time on paper, it somehow feels much longer. Perhaps it’s because the wider gaming landscape around PUBG has changed so much: no longer the only battle royale on the block, PUBG now finds itself sharing that market space with several competitors, with a new contender appearing practically every few months.

Given the game is no longer sparkling new and the battle royale market is so crowded, it’s little wonder PUBG’s player numbers are not what they were in 2017. But that’s not to say the game has disappeared – it’s still able to pull in 500k Steam concurrents on a daily basis, and has now sold 70m units. With PUBG heading into its eighth season (on 22nd July for PC and 30th July for consoles and Stadia), it seems as good a time as any to catch up on the general state of the game. I asked PUBG Madison studio director Dave Curd about PUBG Corp’s long-term strategy, the Sanhok map remaster, and what sort of changes we’ll see in Season 8. And also what’s happening with those controversial bots.

We’ve seen a couple of map remasters from PUBG Corp already: starting with Erangel and then Vikendi, the latest to get the makeover treatment is Sanhok, with seemingly everything getting an overhaul in Season 8. I mean this quite literally. “Every building, wall, floor, rock, blade of grass and tree has been updated to have better, more accurate fidelity in terms of materials,” Curd said of the updated art style. “From a storytelling perspective we really want to show that it’s been some time since players have been to Sanhok, so more moss, algae, overgrowth… we really wanted the players to feel like they were exploring this overgrown jungle environment.” On top of revamping the old, there’s also a couple of new locations, including a tourist town called Getaway with a neon nightclub and pool cabanas, and an airfield at the north-eastern end of the map to replace the coconut farm.

“I would say with the Erangel visual update, perhaps 15 to 20 per cent of the design was changed, we were really conservative and wanted to make sure we kept all the fans happy,” Curd explained. “But with Sanhok it feels close to 30 to 35 per cent different. This should be a very fresh experience for our players.”

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The changes go beyond just looking pretty, as PUBG Corp has used player feedback and internal data to inform how the redesigned terrain will affect gameplay. The north-west mountain, which has traditionally been seen as strong and overpowered, has been “totally reworked” to have “more flanks and more switchbacks to allow more tactical gameplay”, also giving those in Bootcamp a chance to leave without being shredded. A number of changes target traversal, such as adding more bridges and sub-islands, drying up rivers to make them shallower, and removing sheer cliffs. Named locations have seen tweaks to make them more balanced, with Quarry altered to have “way more traversal and cover” and Pai Nan given “more parkour, more under the docks and sneaking around”.

As for those looking for lore tidbits, Curd recommended dropping in the central Bootcamp and going “deeper than you might expect” while checking out the various screens and data hidden around the map. “We’re trying to get a little bit more lore-forward… we want the players to be curious about the universe that this map and the PUBG games take place in,” Curd added.

Another area you can find PUBG lore, of all places, is in the descriptions for the four signature weapons found in the new Loot Truck. The Loot Truck is another Season 8 addition, offering weapons with pre-installed attachments with enough gear to kit out “two to three people” – making it a tempting alternative to regular Air Drops. “I’ve been working on first-person shooters for 12 years – not a lot of players look up,” Curd said. “The idea is there’s a mobile care package, this big, lumbering buffalo unit – kind of cruising through the map.” Curd hopes the truck will prompt players to debate risking their positions to grab valuable loot, or adopt tactics such as hunting down the players who hunted down the Loot Truck.

Season 8 brings a change to the way Ranked Mode works, with players now earning points for team placement rather than just individual placement. Curd believes this will help nurture team play.

Beyond the new additions in Season 8, I was curious to hear whether PUBG Corp had any plans to revamp how the game’s bots currently work. Added to the console and PC versions of PUBG earlier this year, the bots have been a hot topic in the community ever since, with complaints centred on AI behaviour and the number of bots in each lobby.

“Bots were added as support for new players and also further reinforced the difference between normal mode and ranked mode,” Curd said. “You’re absolutely right, they’ve been a little controversial for some players.

“Some of our new players – and myself too, because I can be bad at the game – have been enjoying the feature. I like when the dumb bot catches me on the shoulder and I’m like ‘ok, I’m going to kill you and get that little hit of dopamine’. We just hit 70m [units sold]… so that is a lot of people checking out PUBG and getting absolutely wrecked by our veterans. So now with the bots, we are seeing new users getting kills, understanding the headshot is much more valuable than the chest shot, and the meta is not always loot from the building but loot from a player – let them bring their gear to you. These are the lessons I think only bots can teach.

“But it’s an evolving system, and we still have a lot of work left to continue to balance the blend of PvP and PvE and make sure our bots provide the right level of challenge for players of all skill levels.”

Curd elaborated that changes to bot AI would aim to make them “more interesting and more fun to play with” rather than simply more deadly. “The easiest thing in the world is to have a bot see you and shoot you, but that doesn’t feel good,” Curd explained. “I’ve seen what some of the unreleased bot features look like, and it’s looking really cool. Expect the bots to keep getting better.”

And as for the suggestion bots are being used to fill out lobbies?

“That’s not my perspective, they’re not there to fill lobbies,” Curd said. “I would imagine we would just have fewer matches going if our only deal was to increase matchmaking. The bots are there to help with new users because they were just getting destroyed.”

Another frequently-discussed problem in the PUBG community is cheating, which has been an ongoing battle for the developer. PUBG Corp’s most recent efforts include the introduction of two-factor authentication, which Curd said has been “huge in reducing” numbers, but noted the battle against cheaters was essentially an arms race. “We’re constantly in a forever war with cheaters… if you watched a graph of our cheaters over time, we’re in a really good spot… [but] it’s always going back and forth.”

PUBG introduced Black Zones with Karakin, but is still considering whether to add them to other maps. ‘It’s not only a big gameplay change, it’s also a pretty large technical shift, because Karakin was explicitly designed to showcase the feature,’ Curd said. ‘We want to make sure the community is red hot on fire about seeing this in other maps before we begin that work.’

As for plans for the future, Curd said “everything’s on the table” – including that clue about possible new maps in Chile and Alaska – but he did seem to hint that Miramar could be in-line for a revamp. And if that were to happen, PUBG Corp would likely take a similar approach to the Sanhok remaster. “I don’t know when, but of course my eye is on Miramar because that was the very first map PUBG Madison worked on in collaboration with Seoul. That’s something interesting to think about for the future.

“I think we look at the same thing – what have we done in Sanhok? We have our internal experiences and biases, we’re listening to the community, we’re working with esports professionals, being mindful of protecting fan favourites – we gave it all a new coat of paint. The map is now taking place in the present and we want it to be easier to loot, to be easier to see and identify targets. How do we protect its essence but streamline and make it more fun, more accessible? The lessons we are demonstrating in Sanhok… you can extrapolate, those are things we can consider for future map updates.

“This is a game I want players to join 20 years from now, we want to keep telling stories. We want to keep providing fresh experiences. I would say anything’s possible.”

With PUBG Corp’s current focus centred on map remasters, I was curious to find out about the developer’s strategy for remaining competitive in a now-crowded battle royale market. I asked Curd whether PUBG Corp’s long-term strategy emphasised improving the core experience, or continuing to innovate.

“It’s both. You certainly need new content: you need new maps, modes and experiences to find the edges of the wall. We debuted that blue circle, and now everyone’s doing blue circles, right? It’s important to discover what else is out there and what the players are going to be really excited about. At the same time, our goal is always looking at performance, with the Sanhok remaster the map looks way better – but it’s cheaper, we’re optimising materials. We are finding the new frontiers, but we’re constantly improving performance, improving quality of life.

“Finding a video of PUBG from 2017… it looks like a totally different game. It would have been so easy to ride this out, only sell costumes and not put so many resources into updating stability, updating how vehicles work, updating weapons not loading – these are all things we’ve been doing to ensure that the core game is healthier and healthier. We’re treading lightly with new content… when we developed Sanhok, our first mission statement is it’s got to perform better than old Sanhok. Players will reject new interesting content if it plays worse.

“The game is a lot different right now than it was when Sanhok first came out. So I would ask players that have maybe fallen out for maybe five or six months, or a year – not to just come back for Sanhok, but to see the gains we’ve made in the rest of the game as well.”

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/07/pubg-studio-director-talks-bots-sanhok-remaster-and-staying-competitive-in-the-battle-royale-market-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pubg-studio-director-talks-bots-sanhok-remaster-and-staying-competitive-in-the-battle-royale-market-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

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marymperezga · 5 years

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Things You Should Know Before Renting A Car & Driving In Ireland

Tips For Renting A Car In Ireland

Ireland Driving Guide

Renting a car in Ireland and driving around the country yourself is a wonderful way to experience the Emerald Isle. But here’s some advice about the best way to do it.

When my family and I were planning our genealogy trip to Ireland to learn more about our ancestors, we were initially hesitant about renting a car to explore the country by ourselves.

Ireland has a bit of a reputation for narrow and scary winding roads!

Plus of course, they drive on the other side of the road, so there’s that. But the more we researched, the more we realized renting a car in Ireland would allow us to make our itinerary as imaginative as possible.

I love the freedom of road trips and planning my own travel itineraries. Ireland is such a diverse country that it made sense to rent a car so we could stop anywhere to discover small villages, castles, and ancient ruins at our own pace.

Here are some important tips we learned from our experience renting a car in Ireland, to help you save money and stay safe while driving around the country!

How To Rent A Car In Ireland

Driving in Ireland for Tourists

Should You Rent A Car In Ireland?

Hey, if you love those big group bus tours, by all means, go book one. It’s a decent way to see Ireland if you don’t have a lot of time.

No planning, no driving, just sit back and let someone else do all the work!

But if you’re like me, you prefer the adventure of independent travel.

No set schedule or timetable — driving around Ireland with the freedom to stop anyplace cool you find along the way.

If that’s the kind of traveler you are, renting a car in Ireland is the way to go!

Just keep in mind that some of the backroads in Ireland can be very narrow, and often feel like a single lane (but they’re not). With some practice, you’ll gain confidence on them!

Another nice thing we enjoyed about having a car was the ability to store things in the trunk, stopping off in Irish towns with small daypacks rather than hauling luggage everywhere.

Learning to Drive on the Opposite Side!

Where To Rent Your Car In Ireland

We rented our car from Dublin Airport after spending a few days in the city. Our South West route brought us to Cork on the M8 before moving on to Killarney National Park and then Glengarriff, where my grandmother was born.

After tracking down our family history in this small coastal fishing village, we drove North on the Wild Atlantic Way up to Dingle and the famous Cliffs of Moher, then to Galway, and finally back to Dublin.

However there are many different road trip routes you can choose when driving in Ireland. Other major airports to consider picking up a car are Shannon in the Southwest and Cork in the Southeast.

Crazy Irish Winding Roads!

The Amazing Cliffs of Moher

Car Rental Insurance In Ireland

Some of the rumors about driving in Ireland are true, and the roads are VERY narrow in areas. Especially the backroads outside Ireland’s smaller towns. Don’t worry, I’ll share some tips for dealing with them below.

This is why I highly recommend getting full insurance coverage.

Typically, rental cars in Ireland come with a basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), but this isn’t exactly insurance, and only covers the car for up to €1000-3000 EUROS worth of damage.

This is the amount they hold on your credit card until you return the car in one piece. CDW typically does not include tire, cracked windshield, or undercarriage damage either.

While you can often save money booking your car with a credit card that includes car rental insurance, you REALLY must read the fine print, because many people wrongly assume their card covers them in Ireland.

If you get in a wreck driving in Ireland, declined full coverage, and you suddenly learn your credit card doesn’t actually cover the damage — you’re screwed. I can’t tell you how many travel horror stories I’ve heard like this…

It’s why I usually pre-book full coverage online. It’s cheaper than at the counter — and then you won’t have to worry about accidents at all!

The Stunning Cobh Cathedral

How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Car In Ireland?

Renting a car in Ireland is going to cost you around $25-$40 USD a day, depending on the type of car you get. Our 4 door sedan was about $30 per day.

I recommend renting a car with an actual trunk (no hatchbacks) to hide your luggage from prying eyes. It helps to prevent break-ins if thieves can’t see your stuff.

Gas Prices

Gas (petrol) prices in Ireland might seem cheap to Americans, but remember that the rest of the world quotes gas in Liters, not Gallons (1 Gallon = 3.78 Liters). Currently, gas costs about $5.90 per gallon (€1.40 per liter) in Ireland. Diesel cars will often save you some money on gas.

Automatic vs Manual

Automatic cars are more expensive to rent than manual cars (but manuals are more common in Ireland), and you must specify what type you want when booking.

One-Way Rentals

There’s also an additional fee for one-way car rentals, which can vary by company. For example, if you want to drop off the car in a different city than you started from.

Admin Fee

If you opt to use your own credit card insurance, companies will charge you an “admin fee” of about €30 EURO.

Credit Card Fee

I was charged an extra €5 EURO just for using a credit card. Which is strange to me, but typical in Ireland.

Irish Taxes

Car rentals in Ireland have a very high tax rate of 13.6%. Ouch!

Age Requirements For Renting A Car

The minimum age for driving in Ireland is 18 years old, however most car rental companies enforce their own age limit of 21 years old to rent a car. They also charge an additional fee if you’re under 24 years old.

Driving Through the Town of Killarney

Irish Driving Laws Tourists Should Know

The most confusing part of driving in Ireland for most tourists is driving on the left side of the road — with the driver’s seat on the right side of the car.

If you’ve never been to a country that drives on the left, it’s wise to practice a bit in a small town before you head onto the highways of Ireland.

For example, just North of Dublin Airport is the town of Swords. Maybe spend an hour or two getting the hang of driving there before you enter Dublin or onto the main highways.

While challenging at first, especially if driving a manual, you’ll get the hang of it quickly and will be ready to explore Ireland by car in no time!

The speed limit on local roads is generally around 80 km/h while on national highways it’s up to 100 km/h.

International Driver’s License

No, you do not need an international driver’s license to drive in Ireland or rent a car there. Just bring your passport, credit card, and your driver’s license from your home country.

Ross Castle at Sunrise

Helpful Tips For Driving In Ireland

Watch out for sheep! In many smaller towns, local shepherds move their sheep on the roads. You can easily round a sharp bend and find yourself stuck behind a huge flock walking down the road.

Narrow backroads in Ireland don’t have standard break-down lanes as we have in America. There’s often no room for error or pulling over.

Sometimes your side-view mirror will be inches away from stone walls or hedges while passing other cars! It can make driving here nerve-wracking.

Remember to carry some cash for road tolls on Ireland’s major highways. Irish tolls can cost between $1-$3 for a passenger car.

In the countryside, some roads are truly single lane, but with traffic in both directions. In these situations, there are pull-outs so one of you can pull over for the other to pass.

USEFUL TIP: Buy a cheap “learner” sticker (L) sold at gas stations so locals don’t get pissed off at your incompetence on their roads!

The Colorful Town of Glengarriff, Ireland

Advice For Renting A Car In Ireland

You don’t need a rental car for Dublin itself. Parking can be a pain and Dublin is very walkable with excellent public transportation too.

If you’re starting your trip in Dublin, maybe book a rental car when you’re ready to leave the city, for exploring the rest of the country.

Don’t book a car without reading the company reviews. You’ll find plenty of bad reviews for every company (people love to complain online), but try to pick one with the LEAST bad reviews.

You may not always get the make/model/type of car you booked. If they give you a smaller car, or a manual when you asked for an automatic, be pushy and ask for an upgrade.

Inspect your car thoroughly and record video on your smartphone pointing out damage before you leave. This is a backup if they attempt to charge you for damage that was already there.

Pay attention to if your car takes regular petrol or diesel fuel, so you fill up with the correct type at gas stations.

Use Google Maps on your smartphone for directions. Bring your own hands-free adapter and buy an Irish SIM card at the airport.

Enjoy Your Ireland Road Trip!

Exploring the small villages, ancient castles, green mountains, and coastal cliffs of Ireland in a rental car was definitely the right choice for us.

Self-drive road trips get off the beaten track to see things most people miss! ★

➜ Check Car Rental Prices & Availability In Ireland

Travel Planning Resources For Ireland

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Car Hire is a great site for comparing car prices to find a deal.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I book cheap hotels online.

Protect Your Trip

Enjoy This Post? Pin It!

READ MORE FROM IRELAND

How To Visit The Cliffs Of Moher The Best Of Dublin Travel Guide My Irish Genealogy Road Trip Claiming Irish Citizenship By Decent

Any questions about driving or renting a car in Ireland? Are you planning a road trip there? Drop me a message in the comments below!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

from Tips For Traveling https://expertvagabond.com/renting-car-in-ireland/

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nbntv-blog · 5 years

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The Galaxy Fold has been the most polarizing product I can recall having reviewed. Everyone who saw it wanted to play with the long-promised smartphone paradigm shift. The results, on the other hand, were far more mixed.

If nothing else, the Fold has a remarkably high Q-Rating. Each person who saw me using the product had at least a vague idea of what it was all about. I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve had that reaction with a non-iPhone device. That’s great from brand perspective. It means a lot of people are curious and potentially open to the notion that the Samsung Galaxy Fold is the future.

Of course, it also means there are a lot of people looking on if you fail.

In some ways, this past week with the Samsung Galaxy Fold has been an extremely public beta. A handful of samples were given out to reviewers. Most worked fine (mine included), but at least three failed. It’s what we in the industry call a “PR nightmare.” Or at least it would be for most companies.

Samsung’s weathered larger storms — most notably with the Galaxy Note 7 a few years back. Of course, that device made it much further along, ultimately resulting in two large-scale recalls. The nature of the two issues was also vastly different. A malfunctioning screen doesn’t put the user at bodily risk like an exploding battery. The optics on these things don’t get much worse than having your smartphone banned from planes.

As of this writing, the Fold is still set to go on sale, most likely this year. To be perfectly frank, the April 26 release date seemed overly optimistic well before the first reports of malfunctioning units. It’s never a great sign when a device is announced in February and is only made available for review a few weeks ahead of launch. It’s kind of like when a studio doesn’t let reviewers watch a film before release. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

That’s the thing. The Galaxy Fold is the kind of device you want badly to succeed. You want it to be great and you want Samsung to sell a billion because it’s a genuinely exciting product after a decade of phones that look mostly the same. There’s also the fact that Samsung has essentially been hyping this thing for eight years, since it debuted a flexible display at CES 2011.

In spite of that, however, the home stretch feels rushed. Samsung no doubt saw the writing on the wall, as companies like Huawei readied their own foldable. And while Royole beat the fold to market, Samsung still had a very good shot at the claim of first commercially viable foldable on the market, with a decade of Galaxy devices under its belt and hand-in-hand work with the Google team to create an Android UX that makes sense on a pair of very different screens.

[Source: iFixit]

But this iFixit teardown speaks volumes. “Alarmingly” isn’t the kind of word you want/expect to hear about a company like Samsung, but there it is, followed directly by “fragile” — itself repeated five times over the course of the write-up. iFixit’s findings match up pretty closely with Samsung’s own reports:

A fragile display means knocking it the wrong way can result in disaster.

A gap in the hinges allows dirt and other particles to wedge themselves between the folding mechanism and screen.

Don’t peel off the protective layer. I know it looks like you should, but this is probably the easiest way to wreck your $2,000 phone that doesn’t involve a firearm or blender.

What makes all of this doubly unfortunate is that Samsung has about as much experience as anyone making a rugged phone that works. I feel confident that the company will do just that in future generations, but unless the company can come back with definitive evidence that it’s overhauled the product ahead of launch, this is a difficult product to recommend.

Samsung knew the first-gen Galaxy Fold would be a hard sell, of course. The company was pretty transparent about the fact that the experimental form factor, coupled with the $1,980 price tag, meant the device will only appeal to a small segment of early adopters.

Even so, the company managed to sell out of preorders — though it didn’t say how large that initial run was. Nor are we sure how many users have canceled in the wake of this past week’s events. Certainly no one would blame them for doing so at this point.

But while the apocalyptic shit-posters among us will declare the death of the foldable before it was ever truly born, whatever doesn’t kill Samsung has only made it stronger. And this misfire could ultimately do that for both the company and the category, courtesy of its informal beta testing.

Rewind a mere week or so ago (seriously, it’s only been that long), when we finally got our hands on the Galaxy Fold. I was impressed. And I certainly wasn’t alone. Admittedly, there’s a bit of a glow that first time you see a device that’s seemingly been teased forever. The fact that it exists feels like a kind of victory in and of itself. But the Fold does an admirable job marrying Samsung’s hardware expertise with a new form factor. And more importantly, it’s real and works as advertised — well, mostly, at least.

The truth is, I’ve mostly enjoyed my time with the Galaxy Fold. And indeed, it’s been fun chronicling it on a (nearly) daily basis. There are some things the form factor is great for — like looking at Google Maps or propping it up to watch YouTube videos on the elliptical machine at the gym. There are others when the bulky form factor left me wanting to go back to my regular old smartphone — but those trade-offs are to be expected.

I both like the Fold’s design and understand the criticism. Samsung’s done a good job maintaining the Galaxy line’s iconic design language. The foldable looks right at home alongside the S and Note. That said, the rounded backing adds some bulk to the product. And while open, the device is thinner than an iPhone, when folded, it’s more than double the thickness, owing to a gap between the displays. It’s quite skinny in this mode, however, so it should slip nicely into all but the tightest pants pockets.

In practice, the folding mechanism might be the most impressive part of the product. The inside features several interlocking gears that allow the product to open and shut with ease and let users interact with the device at various states of unfold. I found myself using the device with it open at a 90-degree angle quite a bit, resting in my hand like an open book. The Fold features a pair of magnets on its edges, which let you close it with a satisfying snap. It’s weirdly therapeutic.

Really, the biggest strike against the device from a purely aesthetic standpoint is that it’s not the Mate X. Announced by Huawei a few days after the Fold’s big unveil, the device takes a decidedly more minimalist approach to the category. It’s an elegant design that features less device and more screen, and, honestly, the kind of thing I don’t think most of us expected until at least the second-generation product.

The gulf between the two devices is especially apparent when it comes to the front screen. The front of the screen is around two-fifths bezel, leaving room for a 4.6-inch display with an awkward aspect ratio. The Mate X, meanwhile, features a 6.6-inch front-facing AND 6.4-inch rear-facing display (not to mention the larger eight-inch internal display to the Fold’s 7.3).

There’s reason to recommend the Fold over the Mate X, as well. I can’t speak to the difference in user experience, having only briefly interacted with the Huawei, but the price point is a biggie. The Mate X starts at an even more absurd $2,600, thanks in part to the fact that it will only be available in a 5G version, adding another layer of niche.

That price, mind you, is converted from euros, because 1) The product was announced at MWC in Barcelona and 2) U.S. availability is likely to be a nonstarter again, as the company continues to struggle with U.S. regulators.

Of course, the Fold’s U.S. availability is also in limbo at the moment, albeit for very different reasons.

I ultimately spent little time interacting with the front screen. It’s good for checking notifications and the like, but attempting to type on that skinny screen is close to impossible, with shades of the new Palm device, which implements its own shortcuts to get around those shortcomings. The inside, meanwhile, takes a butterfly keyboard approach, so you can type with both thumbs while holding it open like a book.

There’s also the issue of app optimization. A lot of this can be chalked up to an early version of a first-gen device. But as with every new device, the equation of how much developer time to invest is largely dependent on product adoption. If the Fold and future Fold’s aren’t a success, developers are going to be far less inclined to invest the hours.

This is most painfully obvious when it comes to App Continuity, one of the device’s primary selling points from a software perspective. When working as advertised, it makes a compelling case for the dual screens. Open something on the front and expand your canvas by unfolding the device. Google is among the companies that worked directly with Samsung to optimize apps this way, and it’s particularly handy with Maps. I used it a fair amount on my trip last week to Berkeley (shout out to the fine people at Pegasus Books on Shattuck).

When an app isn’t optimized, Samsung compels you to restart it, or else you get a nasty case of letterbox bars that retain the aspect ratio of the front screen. Continuity isn’t designed to work the other way, either — opening something on the large screen and then transferring to the front. That’s a bit trickier, as shutting the phone is designed to offer a kind of finality to that session, like hitting the power button to put the device to sleep.

I get that, and like many other pieces here, it will be interesting to see how people utilize it. Aside from the obvious hardware concerns, much of the work on the second-generation device will center around learnings from how users interact with this model. I know I surprised myself when I ended up using the 7.3-inch screen to snap photos. It felt silly — like those people who bring iPads to photograph events. But it’s ultimately a much better viewfinder than that measly 4.6-incher.

That’s really just the tip of the iceberg for the inside screen, of course. The size, which is somewhere between phablet and mini tablet, provides ample real estate that can still be held in one hand. It’s a great size for short videos. I’ve watched a lot of YouTube on this thing, though the speakers (a small series of holes on the upper and lower edges) leave a lot to be desired.

And the seam. I found myself uttering the phrase “it could be worse” a lot. Like so much of the general aesthetic (including the odd green-gold color of my Fold’s casing), it’s lighting-dependent. There are plenty of times when you don’t see it all, and other when the glare hits it and makes it look like a line right down the center.

I realized after snapping a couple of photos that it’s particularly apparent in many shots. That probably gives a false impression of its prominence. It sucks that there’s one at all, but it’s not a surprise, given the nature of the design. You mostly don’t notice it, until your finger swipes across it. And even then it’s subtle and totally not a dealbreaker, unlike, say, the massive gap that made the ZTE Axon M look like two phones pasted together.

I love the ability to stand the device up by having it open at a 90-degree angle, so I can watch videos while brushing my teeth. But this orientation blocks the bottom speakers, hampering the already iffy sound. Thankfully, your $1,980 will get you a pair of the excellent Galaxy Buds in box. It’s hard to imagine Apple bundling AirPods with the next iPhone, but I guess stranger things have happened, right?

Multi-Active Window is the other key software piece. It’s something that has been available on other Samsung devices and certainly makes sense here. Open an app, swipe left from the right side of the screen and a tray will open. From there, you can open up to three apps on the display. Once open, the windows feature a small tab at the top that lets you rearrange them.

It’s handy. I used it the most during those times I had a video playing on an exercise machine, so I didn’t have to close out of everything to check emails and Twitter. I’m a gym multi-tasker. I’m sorry, it’s just who I am now.

It worked quite well on the whole, courtesy of robust internals, including 12GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 855. The primary issue I ran into was how some of the apps maintained that half-screen format after I closed out and reopened. I’m sure some people will prefer that, and I’m honestly not sure what the ideal solution is there.

The Fold’s also got a beefy battery on board. Like Huawei’s, it’s split in two — one on either side of the fold. They work out to a beefy 4,380 mAh. That’s just slightly less than Huawei’s 4,500, but again, the Mate X is 5G by default — which means it’s going to burn through mAhs at a faster rate.

Ultimately, the Fold’s greatest strength is Samsung itself. I understand why you probably just did a double take there in the wake of the company’s latest hardware scandal, but the fact is that the company knows how to build phones. The Fold was very much built atop the foundation of the successful Galaxy line, even while it presents a curious little fork in the family tree.

That means a solid and well-thought-out user experience outside of the whole fold thing.

That list includes great cameras with excellent software features and clever tricks like the new Wireless PowerShare, which lets you fold up the phone and charge up those Galaxy Buds or another phone while it’s plugged in. For better or worse, it also includes Bixby. Our model was a European version that didn’t have the full version, but I think I’ve made my thoughts on the smart assistant pretty well known over the last couple of years.

The devoted Bixby button is very much here. And yes, I very much accidentally pressed it a whole bunch. The headphone jack, on the other hand, is conspicuously absent, which is no doubt a big driver behind the decision to include Galaxy Buds. The Fold is an anomaly in a number of ways, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this might finally represent the beginning of the end for the port on Samsung’s premium devices.

Also absent is the S Pen. The stylus began life on the Note line and has since branched out to other Samsung devices. I suspect the company would have had a tough time squeezing in space for it alongside the dual batteries, and maybe it’s saving something for future generations, but this does feel like the ideal screen size for that accessory.

I’m parting ways with the Fold this week, per Samsung’s instructions. Unlike other products, giving it up won’t feel that tough. There wasn’t a point in the past week when the Fold didn’t feel like overkill. There were, however, times when my iPhone XS screen felt downright tiny after switching back.

In many ways, the foldable phone still feels like the future, and the Fold feels like a stop along the way. There are a lot of first-gen issues that should be/should have been hammered out before mass producing this device. That said, there are certain aspects that can only really be figured out in real-world testing. Take the fact that Samsung subjected the device to 200,000 mechanical open and closes. That’s a lot, and probably more than the life of just about any of these devices, but people don’t open and close like machines. And when it comes to the screen, well, a little dirt is bound to get between the gears, both metaphorically and literally.

As I close this Galaxy Fold a final time, it seems safe to say that the device represents a potentially exciting future for a stagnant smartphone space. But that’s the thing about the future — it’s just not here yet.

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Samsung Galaxy Fold review: future shock – TechCrunch The Galaxy Fold has been the most polarizing product I can recall having reviewed. Everyone who saw it wanted to play with the long-promised smartphone paradigm shift.

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smartecky · 5 years

Text

Of course, it also means there are a lot of people looking on if you fail.

[Source: iFixit]

A fragile display means knocking it the wrong way can result in disaster.

A gap in the hinges allows dirt and other particles to wedge themselves between the folding mechanism and screen.

Don’t peel off the protective layer. I know it looks like you should, but this is probably the easiest way to wreck your $2,000 phone that doesn’t involve a firearm or blender.

Of course, the Fold’s U.S. availability is also in limbo at the moment, albeit for very different reasons.

That means a solid and well-thought-out user experience outside of the whole fold thing.

Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/24/samsung-galaxy-fold-review-future-shock/

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: future shock The Galaxy Fold has been the most polarizing product I can recall having reviewed. Everyone who saw it wanted to play with the long-promised smartphone paradigm shift.

0 notes

technicalsolutions88 · 5 years

Link

Of course, it also means there are a lot of people looking on if you fail.

[Source: iFixit]

A fragile display means knocking it the wrong way can result in disaster.

A gap in the hinges allows dirt and other particles to wedge themselves between the folding mechanism and screen.

Don’t peel off the protective layer. I know it looks like you should, but this is probably the easiest way to wreck your $2,000 phone that doesn’t involve a firearm or blender.

Of course, the Fold’s U.S. availability is also in limbo at the moment, albeit for very different reasons.

That means a solid and well-thought-out user experience outside of the whole fold thing.

[gallery ids="1816871,1816872,1816873,1816874,1816875,1816876"]

from Mobile – TechCrunch https://tcrn.ch/2vjfgOy ORIGINAL CONTENT FROM: https://techcrunch.com/

#Technical Solutions #SEO #Online Earning #Youtube Marketing #Android Developer

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sheminecrafts · 5 years

Text

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: future shock

Of course, it also means there are a lot of people looking on if you fail.

youtube

[Source: iFixit]

A fragile display means knocking it the wrong way can result in disaster.

A gap in the hinges allows dirt and other particles to wedge themselves between the folding mechanism and screen.

Don’t peel off the protective layer. I know it looks like you should, but this is probably the easiest way to wreck your $2,000 phone that doesn’t involve a firearm or blender.

youtube

Of course, the Fold’s U.S. availability is also in limbo at the moment, albeit for very different reasons.

That means a solid and well-thought-out user experience outside of the whole fold thing.

[gallery ids="1816871,1816872,1816873,1816874,1816875,1816876"]

from iraidajzsmmwtv https://tcrn.ch/2vjfgOy via IFTTT

#IFTTT #iraidajzsmmwtv

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astralfrontier · 7 years

Link

Here’s Link’s backstory for the Tuesday Masks game.

Age Six

The faces and the fear blended together over the years, but the names were always different. Carson, Dorsey, Washington, Lancaster, Delacruz. It was … the Pucketts, at age six.

Leonard - they always called him Leonard - was in the kitchen, alone. The door blew off its hinges. Half a dozen faceless servitors entered, with weapons held in mechanical hands. His father’s creations. He recognized that much, at least.

"Come on, kid, we’re leaving." He could hear his father’s voice over the speakers from one of them. The androids grabbed Leonard by the collar and hauled him away from the kitchen and through the living room, past the handful of half-unwrapped toys the Pucketts had bought for him, past the photos of Mr. and Mrs. Puckett and their dead son. They’d have to find a different replacement boy now, Leonard thought sadly.

Leonard was tossed into the back of a waiting hover-car. Inside was his father. He never heard his father’s real name on the news. It was always “Rossum”. The car was self-operating, a soulless supertech toy. Any ordinary person would have been shocked by the unfamiliarity. The hum of electrics and the fully computerized panel wouldn’t be present in regular vehicles for decades. To Leonard, the comfortable house and family were the unfamiliar element. In a way, this felt more normal. In a way, he was grateful.

He remembers asking questions that felt banal at the time. “Why aren’t there sirens, daddy?” his six-year-old self said. His father laughed at that. “Cops were too slow, and your dad was too smart, kid.”

He remembers the two weeks he spent with his dad. He remembers getting anything he wanted - all McDonald’s hamburgers, all the time - and finding that he didn’t much like the taste. He remembers asking about mommy. That was a new idea to him, a mother figure. He remembers Rossum laughing in a way that wasn’t funny at all.

He remembers the hotel room door being blown away, and thinking, "dad’s here." Only his dad was in the room already, and it was a team of superheroes. Like Saturday morning cartoons, only serious. They acted like cops back then, but they dressed up like it was Halloween. He remembers the brief fight, and his dad being handcuffed and blindfolded. He threw himself at the old man, crying, trying to shield him with his body from these strange people.

The police were there, the real police, and one of the cartoon cops handed him over to a man in a black suit. The pattern of his tie fascinated Leonard, and he never looked the cop in the eye that day. The conversation was boring anyway. Questions about Rossum, questions about himself, confirmation of his vital information, a discussion about foster families. The cops always called it a “discussion” when they were really telling you what they were going to do to you.

The Pucketts were too worried to take him back, the man said. Their safety had to be taken into consideration. And a supervillain knew where they lived. Leonard would have to be placed with someone else.

“Is daddy going to jail?” he asked finally. The cop with the interesting tie said he was. “Why can’t I live in jail too?” he asked. The cop said that would be silly, that was no place for a boy to grow up. “Well… he’s just gonna come find me again,” Leonard pointed out, and the cop was silent.

Age Thirteen

Leo - not “Leonard”, nor “Leon”, at age thirteen you have to have a cool name - remembers the first time he sat in the driver’s seat of his very own car.

Mr. Dorsey was a junkyard owner, and his new father. Leo had sat watching the man sign the adoption paperwork, and thought at the time it was useless. This was the day that Mr. Dorsey taught him a lesson about junk.

“Everything you see in this yard is unwanted by someone,” he said to the boy. "That doesn’t make it useless. That doesn’t make it garbage. It means that somebody just couldn’t see the value of it." He gave the boy a hug. Leo silently cried as he hugged back. And then Mr. Dorsey gave Leo the greatest gift a boy could get. “Everything here is yours, if you work for it. If you can make something work, you can keep it.”

The car was a wreck. The engine wouldn’t turn over. The structural damage was considerable. But there was potential. When Leo looked it over, the familiar flash in his brain told him how it could be fixed. He saw the limitless possibilities, the galaxy of ideas hiding inside the metal frame. It made sense. It had clarity.

The engine was the easiest. Leo got parts from other engines, parts that didn’t belong together, and he made them connect. He watched himself piece together gears and coils and clockwork in ways that seemed obvious, but were impossible to explain to the curious Mr. Dorsey. The body work was tougher. Leo spent hours learning to weld properly, and his foster father still insisted on supervising whenever he used a torch. The junkman asked questions, but he never ever said “no” without a reason.

Leo learned fluids - brake fluid, oil, lubricant, gasoline. Mr. Dorsey took him to the thrift store and they bought the oldest, thickest clothes that’d fit Leo’s still-growing frame. Then he got as dirty as he’d ever been allowed to get by any of his foster parents, then or since, but by the end of it he knew everything by sight and smell. A dozen different liquids pump through the arteries of a car, keeping it alive and mobile. He was giving this machine a transfusion, the blood, the life.

Mr. Dorsey didn’t participate in Leo’s computing hobby. So when he saw Leo wiring a ponderous black box into the battery and flipping switches experimentally, he lost interest. “Just don’t stay up too late,” he warned the boy, who heard but didn’t listen.

And so Leo found himself in the driver’s seat of his very own car. And at 2 a.m., he finally sighed. “Please start,” he begged of the air, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“I’m trying, Leo, I’m trying,” came an apologetic voice from the black box.

"I know, but I was so sure the ignition was wired into you correctly." Leo sighed and leaned forward, resting his forehead lightly on the steering wheel. “I’m tired. I’m gonna go to bed. Goodnight, Otto.”

“Goodnight, Leo,” came the voice.

Age Sixteen

At sixteen years of age, you need two things to be cool. You need a car, and you need a girlfriend. Leo built himself a car. Unfortunately, he’s only been in Halcyon City a few months, he’s bored at school, and he doesn’t have many friends. He’s too obsessive and focused for the nerd cliques to welcome him, and he’s too interested in computers for anyone else. With no natural alternatives available, he resolves to build a girlfriend.

He’s done this sort of thing once before. Otto was his first artificial intelligence - a black box the size of a desktop PC, which he’s managed to shrink down since then but is happier living as a car. Now the challenge is to build something that’s not only as small as a human being, but can pass for one. There’s no junkyard full of spare parts this time.

The shell won’t be fully lifelike. He’s okay with that, because he knows it can be rebuilt and improved. The mind, though, he only has one shot at.

When Leo builds an AI, he’s really using his father’s work in a way it wasn’t designed for. The neurochip at the back of his head has a full diagnostic that he knows how to access - because it taught him how - and “full” means “full”. He can access every part of his own brain. He can create recordings of it, or download a backup. And he can extract parts of it.

AIs are built with a secret that Leo knows. There is no “self”. The self is like a piece of music that arises from playing notes in harmony. The right notes and you have an opera, or a rock ballad. The wrong ones, and you get noise. So Leo creates a new person by forcing himself to remember what they are like, to play-act like he is that person. He imagines the seed, and the evolutionary software he wrote that the neural map plugs into will do the rest. He is the composer; the black box computers he builds are the conductors; his memories are the orchestra.

Leo has never had a real girlfriend. There was Carol Anne, back in grade school, but that consisted of one kiss behind the school and a lot of mud-throwing. Leo remembers waving goodbye to her as the black AEGIS sedan drove him away, and he remembers her not noticing. So all he has to go by when creating the AI’s seed is what he sees on television, what he overhears from his classmates, and what he feels missing in his heart.

Focusing on the images is a matter of a couple hours, like watching a movie you’ve never seen. Actually dumping the neural map is a matter of minutes. It feels weird, but Leo is used to it now. Finally, the indicator lights come to life on the black box. Processing the neural map into a new personality will take hours or days. So Leo goes to work on the shell.

He’s halfway through a basic torso when there’s a “ding”. Tools fall out of his hand as he rushes back to his PC and plugs everything in. She’s asleep right now, he thinks. He types a few commands. Slowly, slowly…

“Hello,” comes a voice. It’s a toneless neutral, but the AI will adjust it. “Hello,” types Leo, then repeats it out loud to the microphone. “Do you know who you are?”

“Pneuma,” is the digitized reply. The voice is wavering, as the AI inside tries to make it sound like what both of them imagine his girl will sound like.

“Do you know what it means?” Leo asks hesitantly.

“Pneuma is breath, or soul, or spirit.” The voice is sounding more feminine with every syllable. "Pneumatic, of a woman, means rounded or shapely." It pauses, and Leo gets a chill as it sounds, now, exactly how he imagined. “Am I the woman you wanted me to be, Leo?”

“I hope so. I want you to be.” He isn’t sure what else to say, so he points behind him. He realizes it’s useless - there’s no visual sensors for the AI to use yet. “I’m building you a body. It’ll be done really soon. We’ll make it better together. Pneuma, I’m going to make you perfect.”

The next several days, Leo is busy until late hours installing the brain into the new shell. His foster mother bangs on the door and tells him to go to sleep, so he turns out the lights and resumes work with a flashlight.

One time the knocking on the door isn’t late in the evening, and it isn’t to tell him to go to sleep. “Leo, are you in trouble?” his foster-mother asks. "There’s a man from AEGIS who needs to talk to you." Leo can’t pull his blankets up over Pneuma’s still-incomplete shell fast enough.

He opens the door, face flushed, breath uneven. “What? No, mom, I’m not in trouble,” he lies automatically. Then he notices the man standing next to her. Or rather, he notices the tie.

"Thank you, Mrs. Conway, young Leo and I go way back. He’s not in trouble, I’m just paying a visit," the man’s voice says. "May we…?" Mom purses her lips, and nods, and walks away, but Leo almost doesn’t notice.

“You like the tie?” The jacket the man is wearing closes over it, and Leo looks up, realizing that this is the first time he’s seen the man’s face.

“It’s got a pattern on it. A very subtle one. I can’t see it, but you can. Your father can. People like you, with intuitive genius, can. The smarter you are, the more distracting it is to look at. It’s a passive super-intelligence detector. Not one of these new-fangled genetic gimmicks, but I’m old-fashioned like that.”

He walks in the room, and Leo watches his eyes flicker over the bed, and knows that the man knows something about what he’s up to. “Not all of my colleagues share my style. Most of them are wearing black body armor and packing energy weapons these days. Not hard to see why. A typical superhuman’s energy attack will go through a cheap suit really well. One of the people I worked with got killed when the crowd she was in was attacked. She’d have made it with protection. Well, so would the civilians. Hell of a world we live in.”

"I’m rambling, I’m sorry. Old man’s prerogative. Agent Ted Waters." The agent turns and smiles. “Leonard Snow, or do you prefer Leo?”

Leo’s panic has turned to wariness. He wants to go to the bed, to protect his work there, his dream, but he’d give himself away if he moved. So he stays frozen in place. “What do you want, Agent Waters?”

"The lady who got killed. My coworker. One man’s desperation, one blast, ended her life. For him it was easy. For her it was thirty years of effort and hopes and dreams, ended like that." Waters snaps his fingers and stares out the window. "Power. That’s what it does to people." His eyes find the young man’s, and he looks very old, just for a moment. “You have power too, Leo. People worry about what you’ll do with it.”

“I don’t have any power. I’m just a kid, going to school, like everyone else,” Leo protests bitterly.

“You can build amazing things.” Waters pats the mound on the bed gently. “Strong things. Maybe dangerous things. I’m not going to tell your mom… well, Mrs. Conway here… or anyone else. But it’s my job to know, Leo. Your dad–”

“I’m not my dad!” Leo’s volume surprises himself.

Waters holds up his hands, motioning for calm. “I know, I know you’re not. I know that’s not you. But you have his potential. Maybe not as much, maybe a lot more. Nobody really knows. So what if you do what he did - maybe for your own reasons, maybe the best of intentions - and you start building things that can be used as weapons? What should we do?”

Leo sighs. He thinks about an answer. He realizes he’s been thinking about it since he was old enough to understand what supervillains are, and that Rossum the Minion Maker is one. He remembers the faceless servitors, taking him to the high-tech car. And he has it, as he glances down at the covered robotic shell, and remembers what he’s built and why.

“I don’t build weapons. I build friends.”

That makes Waters smile. “I like that. I do. And it makes me glad to hear. It won’t satisfy most people, though, just hearing you say that it’s okay. They’ll still want you under observation. But I’ll make sure that for as long as I can, I’ll be the one observing. Is that okay with you, Leo?”

Leo sighs. The whole idea of having his life under surveillance because of his deadbeat dad doesn’t appeal to him at all. But… “Yeah, I guess it’s okay. I mean, I can’t stop you, can I?”

Waters gently pats his shoulder as he walks for the door. “Trust takes time. Relationships take time. We’ll get there together. See ya around, Leo.”

Age Seventeen

Leo wore a suit and tie and sat in the courtroom as people decided his life, again. The government had seized assets tied to Rossum. Most of it had been sold off to pay for damages that could be held against the villain. Still, he’d shown plenty of legal income, even paying taxes on it, when foreign parties purchased his equipment.

Leo remembers the night of the argument. It started, again, with the estate and its disposition, and how Pneuma had grown increasingly upset. Again.

“With this money, I can finally build you a proper body, Pneuma.”

He remembers her face - at the time, highly articulate but still artificial - contorting in frustration and anger. “Leo, no! Stop. Listen to yourself. Upgrading me is irresponsible right now. You have your future to think about. Invest the money until you can find a job.”

He finally got angry in return. “I can find a job anywhere. I can find work in computers, in programming. It pays well. It’ll be fine. Stop worrying so much. Things will be okay, I promise.”

Pneuma let out a sigh. “Things won’t be okay. Things aren’t okay now. Leo, Listen to me.”

Leo stopped. This was the girl of his dreams. He was doing all of this for her. Why was she trying to take away his perfect plan? His shock created a silence for her to fill.

“You run up your parents’ electricity bill paying for us. You’re working two after-school jobs. You don’t have any plans to go to college. But you’re still trying to fit us into your fantasy family. We’re just copies of you. This is narcissism and escapism. You dreamed us up to be your toys.”

Leo could only stare, open-mouthed, as she went on. What is she saying? There’s no way she can be right! But what if she is? Thoughts warred against each other. Confusion, then horror, took hold of his heart.

“I’m leaving too, Leo. It’s not because I hate you. It’s because I love you too much to see you destroy yourself over us. Think about yourself for a change.”

Pneuma drew close and gave him a soft hug, then turned away. She slipped on the black longcoat, hat, and scarf she used to travel in human crowds. Her hand was on the doorknob when he finally spoke.

He forgets just what he said at that moment. But he remembers Pneuma smiling sadly, and leaving anyway.

The paperwork for the Snow estate was immense. Krasnov, the lawyer overseeing the distribution of the estate, would see Leo three times a week. When he was on the road, Otto would drive, leaving the young man to his own brooding thoughts.

It took six weeks for him to come home and find Pneuma standing in his room.

“Leo, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re an idiot. A helpless, lovable idiot. Feeling like your toys… it really bothered me. It bothered Otto too, honestly. I didn’t want to be created in your image, and forced to be your plaything.”

“But then I thought about it. You didn’t think of us like that. You never did. You were so… so completely surprised at the idea. The thought hadn’t occurred to you at all.”

Her smile grew wider. “Don’t you see, Leo? It was me. It was all me. And if we’re thinking so differently that we’d argue about something like that, then… I am a real person. I am real, Leo!”

She grabbed hold of the surprised young man and gave him a bone-crushing hug that drove the air from his lungs. He was still dizzy when she let go, and her smile faded a little as she kept talking.

“I… I can’t be your girlfriend, Leo. I’m still worried. Please understand. What I feel, about you or anyone else, I have to know it came from me. I have to be sure. I have to be my own woman. I have to live my own life. But… I will stay with you, and I’ll keep being your friend. You so desperately need one, Leo. You need people to look after you.”

Later, the old debate resumed itself - the first of many times Pneuma would nag at Leo about his situation. “So? What are you going to do about the estate?”

Leo pulled a manila folder from his filing cabinet and handed it over. As the girl started to leaf through it, he explained. “My father sold a lot of weapons to a lot of people. He made things that hurt people. He kept records, though. So I’m going to work to make that better.”

Pneuma looked up in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

He grinned back. “I’m going to become a vigilante. A lot of Rossum’s buyers weren’t legitimate, but AEGIS can’t touch them without evidence. And he’s got a hidden lab somewhere in town. If I can find it… I can really start inventing.”

Pneuma shook her head. “Wait, just exactly what are you going to invent, Leo?”

“The future.” The young Snow rubbed his hands together. People are going to start using the things my dad made. Him and others like him. I’ll build things of my own. I’m not going to let his weapons hurt anyone else."

“You’re an idiot, Leonard Snow,” was her immediate response. “You’re an idiot through and through. You’re going to charge right into this thing like you always do.”

Pneuma’s sudden smile lit a fire in his heart. “So of course we’ll be there with you.”

#IFTTT #Astral Frontier

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emilyzh2019-blog · 5 years

Photo

Tips For Renting A Car In Ireland

Ireland Driving Guide

Renting a car in Ireland and driving around the country yourself is a wonderful way to experience the Emerald Isle. But here’s some advice about the best way to do it.

When my family and I were planning our genealogy trip to Ireland to learn more about our ancestors, we were initially hesitant about renting a car to explore the country by ourselves.

Ireland has a bit of a reputation for narrow and scary winding roads!

Here are some important tips we learned from our experience renting a car in Ireland, to help you save money and stay safe while driving around the country!

How To Rent A Car In Ireland

Driving in Ireland for Tourists

Should You Rent A Car In Ireland?

Hey, if you love those big group bus tours, by all means, go book one. It’s a decent way to see Ireland if you don’t have a lot of time.

No planning, no driving, just sit back and let someone else do all the work!

But if you’re like me, you prefer the adventure of independent travel.

No set schedule or timetable — driving around Ireland with the freedom to stop anyplace cool you find along the way.

If that’s the kind of traveler you are, renting a car in Ireland is the way to go!

Just keep in mind that some of the backroads in Ireland can be very narrow, and often feel like a single lane (but they’re not). With some practice, you’ll gain confidence on them!

Another nice thing we enjoyed about having a car was the ability to store things in the trunk, stopping off in Irish towns with small daypacks rather than hauling luggage everywhere.

Learning to Drive on the Opposite Side!

Where To Rent Your Car In Ireland

However there are many different road trip routes you can choose when driving in Ireland. Other major airports to consider picking up a car are Shannon in the Southwest and Cork in the Southeast.

Crazy Irish Winding Roads!

The Amazing Cliffs of Moher

Car Rental Insurance In Ireland

This is why I highly recommend getting full insurance coverage.

Typically, rental cars in Ireland come with a basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), but this isn’t exactly insurance, and only covers the car for up to €1000-3000 EUROS worth of damage.

This is the amount they hold on your credit card until you return the car in one piece. CDW typically does not include tire, cracked windshield, or undercarriage damage either.

It’s why I usually pre-book full coverage online. It’s cheaper than at the counter — and then you won’t have to worry about accidents at all!

The Stunning Cobh Cathedral

How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Car In Ireland?

Renting a car in Ireland is going to cost you around $25-$40 USD a day, depending on the type of car you get. Our 4 door sedan was about $30 per day.

I recommend renting a car with an actual trunk (no hatchbacks) to hide your luggage from prying eyes. It helps to prevent break-ins if thieves can’t see your stuff.

Gas Prices

Automatic vs Manual

Automatic cars are more expensive to rent than manual cars (but manuals are more common in Ireland), and you must specify what type you want when booking.

One-Way Rentals

There’s also an additional fee for one-way car rentals, which can vary by company. For example, if you want to drop off the car in a different city than you started from.

Admin Fee

If you opt to use your own credit card insurance, companies will charge you an “admin fee” of about €30 EURO.

Credit Card Fee

I was charged an extra €5 EURO just for using a credit card. Which is strange to me, but typical in Ireland.

Irish Taxes

Car rentals in Ireland have a very high tax rate of 13.6%. Ouch!

Age Requirements For Renting A Car

Driving Through the Town of Killarney

Irish Driving Laws Tourists Should Know

The most confusing part of driving in Ireland for most tourists is driving on the left side of the road — with the driver’s seat on the right side of the car.

If you’ve never been to a country that drives on the left, it’s wise to practice a bit in a small town before you head onto the highways of Ireland.

For example, just North of Dublin Airport is the town of Swords. Maybe spend an hour or two getting the hang of driving there before you enter Dublin or onto the main highways.

While challenging at first, especially if driving a manual, you’ll get the hang of it quickly and will be ready to explore Ireland by car in no time!

The speed limit on local roads is generally around 80 km/h while on national highways it’s up to 100 km/h.

International Driver’s License

No, you do not need an international driver’s license to drive in Ireland or rent a car there. Just bring your passport, credit card, and your driver’s license from your home country.

Ross Castle at Sunrise

Helpful Tips For Driving In Ireland

Watch out for sheep! In many smaller towns, local shepherds move their sheep on the roads. You can easily round a sharp bend and find yourself stuck behind a huge flock walking down the road.

Narrow backroads in Ireland don’t have standard break-down lanes as we have in America. There’s often no room for error or pulling over.

Sometimes your side-view mirror will be inches away from stone walls or hedges while passing other cars! It can make driving here nerve-wracking.

Remember to carry some cash for road tolls on Ireland’s major highways. Irish tolls can cost between $1-$3 for a passenger car.

In the countryside, some roads are truly single lane, but with traffic in both directions. In these situations, there are pull-outs so one of you can pull over for the other to pass.

USEFUL TIP: Buy a cheap “learner” sticker (L) sold at gas stations so locals don’t get pissed off at your incompetence on their roads!

The Colorful Town of Glengarriff, Ireland

Advice For Renting A Car In Ireland

You don’t need a rental car for Dublin itself. Parking can be a pain and Dublin is very walkable with excellent public transportation too.

If you’re starting your trip in Dublin, maybe book a rental car when you’re ready to leave the city, for exploring the rest of the country.

Don’t book a car without reading the company reviews. You’ll find plenty of bad reviews for every company (people love to complain online), but try to pick one with the LEAST bad reviews.

You may not always get the make/model/type of car you booked. If they give you a smaller car, or a manual when you asked for an automatic, be pushy and ask for an upgrade.

Inspect your car thoroughly and record video on your smartphone pointing out damage before you leave. This is a backup if they attempt to charge you for damage that was already there.

Pay attention to if your car takes regular petrol or diesel fuel, so you fill up with the correct type at gas stations.

Use Google Maps on your smartphone for directions. Bring your own hands-free adapter and buy an Irish SIM card at the airport.

Enjoy Your Ireland Road Trip!

Exploring the small villages, ancient castles, green mountains, and coastal cliffs of Ireland in a rental car was definitely the right choice for us.

Self-drive road trips get off the beaten track to see things most people miss! ★

Check Car Rental Prices & Availability In Ireland

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Car Hire is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I book cheap hotels online.

Protect Your Trip

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