#the entire function is just kaput

[klainelynch]

Yesterday I came home from 4 days of being away from tumblr, and was attempting to go back through my entire dash, when the "next" button just completely disappeared. I was only 1 day back, so I now have 3 days that I'll never see unless tumblr magically fixes itself. It's done this before, and I don't know what triggers it. I've already contacted support, but so far their help is "update your browser" "try the link in a different browser" etc etc etc and none of that helps because why the FUCK DOES YOUR WEBSITE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOSE A CRITICAL FUNCTION??????

[shoarchives]

Lo Life

In the world of fashion and consumerism, we often find ourselves unwittingly entranced by the power of branding. The appeal of a well-crafted logo or a well-told brand story can be irresistible, leading us to seek out and covet certain products with a fervor that borders on obsession.

This journey began in my high school days in Virginia Beach, where I first fell in love with the streetwear and hip-hop style that dominated the scene. Growing up idolizing Pharrell Williams, I was naturally drawn to the vibrant and colorful designs of brands like Stussy and BAPE, which were all the rage at the time. As a struggling college student, I had to make every penny count, but when Commonwealth, the first streetwear boutique, opened its doors near my campus, I knew I had to splurge. I spent my entire lunch money on Stussy! And those free BAPE sandals from a Japanese fashion magazine? Don't even get me started. The packaging alone was worth the hype. It was the early 2000s, the golden age of streetwear, and I was all in - a fan, a consumer, a fiend for that fresh gear.

But as I grew older and began to navigate the world of video production in the 2010s, I found myself drawn to more practical and functional clothing that could withstand the rigors of travel and long days on set. That's when I discovered Patagonia, whose ethos and commitment to sustainability and environmentalism spoke to me on a deeper level. While laboring for Karmaloop, the digital retail behemoth, I was introduced to the preeminent outdoor clothier, Patagonia, by my co-producer, Will Kaner, who even authored an article for their publication. Naturally, I seized the opportunity to exploit the good 40% staff discount, accruing a surplus of gorp gear. I was adrift in the bewildering world, clad in Patagonia attire juxtaposed with Supreme, a peculiar amalgamation of normcore and Hypebeast. But alas, I was a mere neophyte in my early 30s, needing to be more knowledgeable about the customs and conventions of the scene.

Everything altered at the age of 38, an age I never envisioned, as I achieved the long-elusive milestone of accumulating a million dollars. It pains me to utter such crass numerical values, but truth be told, being a millennial millionaire is the equivalent of attaining a six-figure salary in the 90s. But with all that cash came a weird mid-life crisis that had me second-guessing my fashion choices. It's funny, because my old man, who had lived through some serious immigrant struggles, couldn't even afford to have a mid-life crisis if he wanted to. Crazy how life works, right? I didn't just want to amass a collection of clothes; I wanted to invest in pieces that would stand the test of time, and that I could pass down to future generations as heirlooms.

So there I was, 38 years old in the year of the pandemic, 2020. All my TV gigs and film projects were kaput, but what? I needed a damn break, man. The whole industry was in panic mode, and I felt burned out. Thus, the pandemic imposed an impromptu sabbatical, which led to me spending much more time on social media. And you know what I noticed? My peers were starting to dress a little more grown-up and sophisticated. I started checking out brands like Noah and Rowing Blazers, and damn, those Ivy vibes were calling my name. Not content with merely adding to my collection, I also took to the online marketplace, selling off my streetwear pieces on popular sites like Grailed and eBay. Indeed, it may have been the apex of the resell era, and I certainly reaped the benefits. In fact, I amassed nearly $20k in sales - not bad for a time of boredom and isolation. And yet, with all that surplus cash in hand, I couldn't help but feel that any future clothing purchases must be made with a deep investment in a brand that stood the test of time.

And that's where Ralph Lauren comes in. I've always been a fan of the brand's classic, preppy, all-American design aesthetic, but it wasn't until 2020 that I became truly devoted to it. That year, as the world was plunged into chaos and uncertainty by the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself seeking solace in the familiar and the timeless

In the past, I always had a thing for Polo, but I was never one of those hardcore "Lo Life" types. And let's be honest, I could never afford those Polo Bear sweaters back in the day. We had a few hand-me-down Polo joints and some CHAPS gear, which all the kids used to clown on. They'd say, "Yo, CHAPS stands for 'Can't Have A Polo Shirt'" haha. But back in 2020, with the extra time, I began to re-explore the world of Ralph Lauren more deeply, immersing myself in the brand's rich history and heritage. I learned about Ralph Lauren's influence on the fashion industry as a whole and how so many other designers and brands have borrowed from and been inspired by his designs. It's pretty charming to observe the extent to which Ralph Lauren's style has permeated the world of streetwear. Every other brand borrows elements from Ralph, with some even flipping the iconic Polo Bear to depict him engaging in questionable activities. The Polo Sport logo, too, has been emulated by countless streetwear brands, so much so that it's impossible to keep track of them all. One can see inspiration in the designs of brands like Aime Leon Dore, Palace, and Supreme, using vibrant colors, bold graphics, and classic silhouettes that pay homage to Ralph Lauren's legendary aesthetic.

In many ways, my journey into the world of Ralph Lauren has reflected my personal growth and evolution. From my early days in Virginia Beach to my struggles and successes as a video director to my current status as a devoted collector and enthusiast, I've come a long way. As I built my own collection of Ralph Lauren pieces, I carefully organized them into categories on a Google Slides document (yes, I know it sounds crazy). And even on film sets for projects I directed, I allowed the costume department to tap into my wardrobe to elevate the characters' looks. But you know what? It's all been worth it. And hey, if that means sharing my closet with the costume department on set, so be it. 

Through social media and online forums, I connected with people worldwide who shared my passion for the brand and its timeless style. I discovered community and connection among other Ralph Lauren fans and collectors. And as I built my own collection of Ralph Lauren pieces, I found myself thinking more and more about the idea of legacy and passing things down to future generations. There's something deeply satisfying about knowing that the clothes I'm investing in now will still be relevant and desirable years, even decades, from now.

But why Ralph Lauren, you may ask? Well, for me, it's more than just a brand. It's a symbol of the American Dream. My father, a hardworking immigrant who struggled so that I could have a better life, serves as my blueprint for the American Dream. And Ralph Lauren, with its connection to the all-American design aesthetic and the aspirational qualities it fosters, embodies that dream in a way that speaks to me personally.

Of course, my journey with Ralph Lauren has not been without its bumps in the road. The psychology of brand loyalty and cult-like following, particularly in fashion, becomes evident when examining the emotional connection and aspirational qualities fostered by brands like Ralph Lauren. But for me, the camaraderie and investment in the brand have been a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, culminating in a deep appreciation for Ralph Lauren's timeless appeal and global influence.

In a world that seems to be constantly shifting and changing, the enduring allure of Ralph Lauren has remained a constant for me. And while some may see my devotion to the brand as a sign of being lost in the hypnotic world of branding, I see it as a reflection of my own personal evolution and growth.

[morballs]

I think that minus the whole "on the sexual offender registry" part, Kenny would've functioned as an *okay* Carver, since his main pivot is family, and if he was the center point villain in s2 he'd likely try to graft Clementine into his fucked up idea of a family, and it would be interesting to see how his mental state had deteriorated between the two years since his first family went kaput

And I agree that Kenny should've not been in season 2, even if my entire online persona revolves around him it felt like a rushed way to incorporate "new vs old" family dynamics with him and the Cabin folk; *but* I feel like he should've rather appeared in 3, maybe under more 'villainous' circumstances (frontier member?) or to be a character that's hinted to being alive and skulking round the same area Clementine is while never truly making an appearance.

*Or* had met with Omid and Christa and travelled with and going missing during the Bandit raid?

I don't know, passionate topic for me I guess, love the guy to death, especially his dynamic with Clementine and how their losses encourage the other to keep going, and how their faults and positives complement their father daughter dynamic.

The dream scenes with Kenny's ending in 3 are sweet, he sees her as his daughter and Clem sees him as her father, and he's trying to get better as to support his children; too bad telltale dgaf

as with the Sarita thing I wholeheartedly agree too, she's just a re-skin of Katjaa that barely even serves a role within the Canon of the story, Kenny is bothered by it for a total of fifteen minutes before seemingly forgetting.

I wish they could've had her survive long enough for the player to care about, really, because when I saw her die the first thing that went to my head was "poor Kenny"

anyways yeah :)

HIII!!! opinions on the Kenny originally being Carver thing? it's like a worm in my brain and I think about it daily, and I want to see what other people think about it?

I think about this detail a lot as well and my opinion is that if Kenny had the exact level of violence and sliminess that Carver had, i think it would have been a disaster. I just cannot imagine Kenny doing any of the things that Carver does in the final season, i don’t think how they run Howe’s would be similar either. I cannot say for certain how i would feel about Kenny having Carver’s place in the story since we know very little about that draft of the story, we don’t know just how far gone he would have been or if he would be portrayed as sympathetic. It’s a complete mystery.

I do think that, despite me loving Kenny and liking how he ties into the narrative of Clementine needing to separate herself from the toxic figures in her life, it would have been better if he didn’t come back in season 2. Don’t get me wrong I love Kenny and I was happy he came back but his presence in S2 took a lot of screentime from the cabin group and other characters of the season and it kinda took away from his send off from S1, doesn’t help that Sarita is just Katja 2.

Sorry for the side tangent but in general Im glad they didn’t go foward with making Kenny into the Carver of the season. I wonder if that came from the Bruner/Dark draft of the story

[babblingbear09]

I’ve seen a lot of posts talking about how dumb it was that Five didn’t time travel in S3 to either escape the new end of the world or at least reverse time to save his siblings. On a rewatch, I don’t think the issue really is that he didn’t so much as the show didn’t fully explain why he couldn’t.

The Umbrellas arrive in 2019 and the Kugelblitz appears. Almost immediately after, we see Lila attempt to use a briefcase, and it completely fails. She steals another and the same thing happens — kaput. Five even says how astronomically impossible this is. The Commission briefcases have been the most reliable time travel in the show by a wide margin, way more accurate than Five’s powers and able to handle more jumps with more people far easier. Despite that, once the Kugelblitz started, they can no longer function.

Five and Lila do manage to time travel but it takes both of them plus a briefcase to barely get to the Fifties and back and doing so completely fries the commission briefcase. At this point, I don’t think even they together have the power to travel back unassisted without a briefcase. And that’s even before the Kugelblitz really powers up.

The big question here is why, which Five actually explains while they’re in Commission headquarters. The Kugelblitz is the opposite of the Big Bang — the timeline is collapsing in on itself, pretty much creating a giant black hole centered on 2019. This tells me two things:

1. Time, past and future, is literally collapsing into 2019. The Kugelblitz is an unimaginably powerful force that’s destroying the universe and only getting stronger by the second. If time travel is usually hard, I imagine trying to go backward against that force is next to impossible (I’d go with actually impossible once it got stronger). As mentioned, Five + Lila + the briefcase could barely do it. There’s little chance alone.

2. Despite all the destruction we see in the season, 2019 is the center point and the last thing to be destroyed. We see at the end of the show that the only thing left in the universe is the city block with the hotel. I’d imagine the same thing happened with the timelines. Why was every single person in the commission dusted? Because the commission headquarters is in the Fifties. If the timeline is collapsing, it makes sense that things further in the past are collapsing first. The Kugelblitz isn’t just destroying the present, it’s the collapse of the entire timeline with 2019 as the center point. I think by the time Lila and Five time travel, everyone from up to that point in history has been destroyed, not just the commission. Time is rolling up like a carpet with 2019 being the last to go. If they even could time travel, they would have even less time to live their lives or try to save the universe than they did in the Sparrow timeline.

I do think time travel could have worked. If they had known Harlan was the cause before Five and Lila time traveled, I think them with the briefcase could have made it back, killed him (sorry Harlan) and saved the world. But without that knowledge, they couldn’t have investigated and tried to save 7 different women before 1989 was dusted. And once they had the truth, the Kugelblitz was stronger and the briefcases were destroyed.

So yeah, there was literally no time traveling Five could do this season. I think even rewinds would be impossible against the gravitational pull on the timeline that was the end of the universe. For once, Five had to live it out with everyone else and accept fate.

[mythgirlimagines]

Time for a brand new talentswap for this fine Tuesday! Give a warm wink and a smile to Myth, the Former Ultimate Animator!

——————————————————-

BACKSTORY AND TALENT

As a youngster, Myth‘s imagination and energy was all over the place. A combination of regular consumption of books, movies, and TV, and living in a rather creative household herself, made this Myth want to bring her odd creations into the human world. Ever since she entered her first ever short animation into a prestigious film festival for preteens, she has been on a roll ever since, with romantic and fantasy anime being her main bread and butter. Her most well-known work yet is “Up in Smoke”, a Romeo and Juliet-esque animated film chronicling the romantic escapades of a two female elemental spirits, a water and fire spirit, and the rebellion against their strict family. It earned raving reviews from critics for its adorable artstyle, its loveable characters, and its heartwarming portrayal of LGBT dynamics. In fact, most of her works have at least one LGBT character, or at least have some form of LGBT subtext. She may not have a lot of human friends apart from Wyre, but she has the support of both her friends and her massive fanbase. Even as a adult, she still has it going in the animation department. 

——————————————————-

RELATIONSHIPS

Wyre Anon, Former Ultimate Animal Breeder

Due to her wild and rowdy appearance and personality, Wyre never really had many human friends, but they compensate for this with a whole arkload of animal friends, with lizards, snakes and other reptiles being her main speciality. Myth and Wyre met as children, and quickly bonded with each other over their eccentric behaviour and lack of human friends. In fact, Wyre was the one who gave Myth the eared hat and tail that Myth regularly wears. Wyre regularly brings in live animals as a drawing reference, so Myth would learn how to properly animate animal movement. 

Outfit: Same outfit as the original, but with a cat design on the skirt, a brown fox ear headband, and a matching brown prop tail. 

Anon Scar, Ultimate Princess

As the princess of a small European country called Zunduros, Scar is the current heiress to the Zundorian throne. Myth was surprised to learn that her animated shows have quite the following in Scar’s kingdom. Despite constantly carrying herself as the “Heiress of the Untouched Shadow”, the facade quickly breaks away to reveal a heavily-concerned and somewhat maternal girl, once she realises that this entertainment giant doesn’t exactly have the healthiest living habits. Nowadays, Scar is always on standby, making sure that Myth gets her daily food and rest. 

Outfit: A black Gothic Lolita-style dress, with white lace and red bows on the front, dark red stockings, red heels, red gloves, a red rose holding up her side bun.

Fusion Anon, Ultimate Musician

As the lead singer of the soft rock band, “QUIZ BOWL”, Fusion’s songs mainly center around family and parental love. Fusion’s personality matches the subject matter of his songs, being paternal and kind-hearted, despite what his height and wild fashion would suggest. Imagine Myth’s shock when this 6’3 tall boy with a large afro dyed various colors and a leather jacket claimed to be a massive fan of her adorable animated films. Ever since Myth found out and gave him an autographed art book, Fusion has been in special interest heaven. Nowadays, Fusion helps compose music for Myth’s animated films. 

Outfit: A large afro dyed various colors, a black leather jacket with an autistic pride badge on the front over a red t-shirt, black leather gloves, ripped black pants, black boots, a guitar case strapped to his back, color contacts. 

Fusion Anon II, Ultimate Photographer

As the girl behind the famous photography blog ,“bustasnap”, Fusion II has traveled all over the world to take pictures of all the scenic landscapes she can find. Upon looking at Fusion II’s photos, Myth knew that she had to use them for background references. This has led to the mysterious disappearance of many of Fusion II’s printed Polaroids. Upon finding out that Myth was the one behind the theft of her pictures, Fusion II chose to print the pictures and hand the copies to Myth. From there, Myth learned that Fusion II is a kind girl underneath her sarcastic and flippant demeanour.

Outfit: Same outfit as her original design, but with her prized Polaroid strapped to her right side. 

Just Anon, Ultimate Gamer

Dominating popular MMORPG after popular MMORPG under the name, “anon.”, Janon spends all of his time laying down and not moving from his territory. Despite Janon’s adorable appearance and fashion sense, Janon is foul-mouthed, cynical, and hates just about everybody in this goddamn con. Well, almost everybody. He has a massive soft spot for the two Jr. Ultimates of the convention. Janon and Myth like to organize little slumber parties and nap underneath a large pile of blankets, pillows and stuffed toys, where certain bothersome Anons wouldn’t bother them.  

Outfit: A Pikachu hoodie, black headphones with the Overwatch logo on each ear, formal wear and face-mask from original design.

Sparkle Anon, Former Ultimate Traditional Dancer

Coming from a long and prestigious line of traditional dancers, Sparkle’s dancing is truly a spectacle to witness on stage. Spicing up her dance moves with glitter and sakura petals, Sparkle’s moves look like they’re straight from a high-budget fantasy movie. Topping off her stellar appearance is a loud and bombastic attitude that truly shines on stage. Just like with Fusion, Sparkle is also a major fan of Myth’s works, particularly her magical girl series. Myth regularly watches Sparkle perform in order to help with animating dancing and the movement of her characters. 

Outfit: An orange kimono with pink flower designs all over it, a purple obi, white socks, brown gets sandals, a sidetail decorated with flowers, glasses from original design. 

Egg Anon, Former Ultimate Lucky Student, and Wet Sock, Former Ultimate Yakuza

Originally the twin children to one of the biggest underground yakuza chains in the world, Egg has since been cast out of the bloodline for their unpredictable luck cycle managed to nearly doom their entire bloodline, and it’s only through Wet Sock‘s control that the entire bloodline didn’t go kaput. Upon hearing about Egg and Wet Sock’s backstory, Myth thought that this would make a good premise for a film. Needless to say, despite their cursed and violent concepts, Myth managed to look past them, to find deeply disturbed individuals that just need a hug. 

Egg’s Outfit: A bandaged left eye, a half-shaved haircut, the same same clothes from their original design, but with a clover design replacing the bird designs. 

Wet Sock’s Outfit: An eyepatch on their right eye, a half-shaved haircut, a black suit just like Fuyuhiko’s.

Curious Anon, Jr. Ultimate Nurse

As the adopted child of a hospital worker, Curious ended up learning everything that they can about the medical field and the human body. Curious has became famous and beloved at the hospital for their kind-hearted and levelheaded personality, as well as their excellent bedside vigil. Because of Myth’s constant neglect of food and sleep, Curious is constantly on standby to make sure that Myth gets the proper amount of nutrition needed to function as a proper human being. Myth may not need Curious constantly hovering over her, but she appreciates Curi’s concern for her. 

Outfit: Part of their hair tied into a small ponytail, a mint green face mask, same outfit from original design, but with a white apron with a red cross design on the front, and mint green scrubs.

Anon Nerd, Former Ultimate Mechanic

Famous for his uncontrollable temper and strength, as well as his equal caliber intelligence, Anon Nerd is known for making functional machines out of literal garbage. Unfortunately, Nerd’s entire attitude doesn’t exactly make him a massive hit with other people at his mechanics store. Despite Nerd’s own workaholic tendencies, Myth just makes Nerd so angry with her blatant disregard for her own health. Nerd regularly tries to get this adorable animator to get her eyes off her drawing tablet and just go to sleep, even if it means knocking her out with a wrench. 

Outfit: Ruffled-up hair, grease stains all over his body, a black and yellow jumpsuit, black and yellow boots and gloves, scouter from original design. 

Eldritch Anon, Ultimate Team Manager

Despite Eldritch‘s jittery and paranoid behavior in public, Eldritch is unbelievably confident when it comes to leading a group. Eldritch is the number one trainer in “Fort Ritchie‘s Boot Camp”, a training center that trains children to take on the inevitable zombie apocalypse. Ignoring the whole “apocalypse” pretense, Eldritch is really good at motivating individuals to take action. Upon witnessing Myth’s poor health, Eldritch has taken it upon himself to prevent Myth from becoming zombie bait, but Myth really doesn’t want to exercise, and seems content with being zombie chow. 

Dream Anon, Ultimate Chef

As the daughter of a professional TV chef, Dream can cook healthy meals to feed all her teammates on her volleyball team. Dream is famous for being just a big bundle of joy and sunshine, as well as her energetic and overzealous attitude when it comes to cooking. Dream has taken upon herself to cook Myth only the best of meals, in order to make Myth actually drop her work to go eat with all the others. Don’t get Dream wrong, she does enjoy a lot of Myth’s works, particularly her shonen works. But would it kill Myth to eat something with actual nutritional value?

Outfit: A white chef uniform, a pink bandana tied over her head, a pink ascot, shoes from original design. 

Iris Anon, Reserve Course Student

When you first meet up with Iris, the first thing you would notice about her is her insane clumsiness and her almost stupidly optimistic viewpoint. Despite first impressions, Iris actually managed to get into Hope’s Peak Middle School’s reserve course on academic prowess alone, which makes her a veritable genius. Despite not even having an actual talent, Iris doesn’t let that, or the horrible quality of the Reserve Course get her down. Iris watched a bunch of Myth’s anime with her girlfriend, and she is currently overjoyed to be spending the con visit with the girl behind all those masterpieces. 

Outfit: A white dress shirt, a red bowtie, a dark blue skirt, white knee-length socks, black slip-on shoes, bandages on her arms and legs, glasses, star clip, and braids from original design.

Purple Anon, Ultimate Swordswoman

As the daughter of an ancient lineage of sword fighters, Purple has been taught the art of the blade by her elders, and yet she manages to surpass them all in blade-to-blade combat. Purple is hardly ever seen without her trusty claymore strapped to her back. Despite what her talent would suggest, Purple is very timid and cowardly, thanks to her sheltered upbringing. Because of her sheltered and old-fashioned upbringing, Purple also speaks in very antiquated vocabulary that is hard to understand. Myth may not understand a word that Purple is saying, but Purple would make a great fantasy protagonist. 

Outfit: A black headband, gakuran top, a long purple skirt, lilac stockings, black slip-on shoes, a purple scabbard on her back that holds her claymore.

This series centers around this adorable animator who is unhealthily attached to her work, as the people around her show massive concern for both her and her health. 

——————————————————-

PERSONALITY

Ever since she was a child, Animator!Myth has always been into the arts and a very creative soul. Her imagination is all over the place, which helps her with her works. Aside from that, Animator!Myth is also kind-hearted and happy to lend a helping hand to people who needs it. Unfortunately, Animator!Myth has a little bit gaping flaw in her personality: she is a MASSIVE workaholic. Not wanting to let down her loyal fanbase, Animator!Myth works day and night on her animated works, much to the understandable concern of her family and friends. This unfortunately means she goes for days on end without stopping for a snack or nap break, making this already childish and loopy girl somehow even more childish and loopy. Her friends are trying their best to teach Myth that overexerting yourself is no good, and taking constant breaks is the key to success. 

——————————————————-

APPEARANCE

Animator!Myth is bespectacled and slightly chubby. Myth‘s undyed hair goes down to her shoulders. As for her clothes, on her head, Myth wears a fuzzy blue hat with ears, an ahoge, and brown stripes. Myth wears an oversized blue jacket with yellow details, that holds an animator’s tablet in one of the pockets, over a pink shirt. She also wears a red skirt, black stockings, and yellow rainboots with a paw print design on the bottom. Clipped to the bottom of her skirt is a tail that matches the hat she wears.  ——————————————————-

Well, now that I have finished this week’s talentswap, let me know what you think! In the meantime, have fun and be merry!

-Fusion Anon

---

It would be so awesome to be an animator! I love this talentswap!

[missroserose]

more whining

It’s been literally a month since I got sick and I’m still having coughing fits.

Yesterday I got on the elliptical for a brief workout, and felt proud of myself...and then my focus and energy were kaput for the entire rest of the evening.

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like someone was stabbing me in the throat with an X-Acto knife every time i swallowed.  This isn’t even unusual.

Today, despite plenty of food and sleep, just going up the stairs is making me dizzy.  And I have three massage bookings tonight.

I haven’t been able to sing for weeks.

I'm better than I was, but I’m not better.  It’s been a fucking month and I’m not better. I’m functional, more or less, but I’m living in this sore-throat music-less coughing-fit-punctuated gross-stuff-in-my-lungs purgatory and I’m so frustrated.  Even the occasional good day, when I have a little more energy than usual and I’m coughing less and I think maybe I’m making progress through this tunnel, only seems to make it that much worse when the clouds close in again and I’m back to just being permanently not-well.

I’m not prone to despair.  I have a rather stubbornly internal locus of control,  sometimes to an unhealthy degree.  I know this can’t last forever.

I just feel so helpless.  And I hate it.

[mooglesorts]

snakesec here! knowledge gaps and impostor syndrome are def a bane of my existence, but tbh i think the thing that eats my lunch the most with exdys as an improvisational secondary is that i have a hard time showing my work. if your brain is leaving out steps, forgetting them, putting things in the wrong order, getting hung up on [X] thing that needs to happen before [Y] thing without realizing that’s why you can’t proceed, or just... randomly blanks out your knowledge of an entire skill or daily scenario and you have to relearn it from scratch, you pretty much have to have some built secondary modeling to lean on or you’re fucked. 

if you just try to improvise your way through it while your ability to intuitively account for things is impaired, there’s a very good chance you will fuck things up in ways that might actively be dangerous. i’ve used the analogy before of ‘man there’s dust clogging up this wall socket and i can’t clean it out. >:/ maybe this fork will get it!’ 

(see: why i am so goddamn bad at cooking and it makes me really anxious) 

i don’t know how much of this is the same for lion secondaries, but for me, snakesec that’s been burned by exdys is best summed up with

the upshot of all this is that i’ve developed a VERY robust bird model when it comes to executive dysfunction lmao. when i’m doing better, my executive functioning is very snakey: fluid, nonlinear, feels like playing a game, genuinely enjoyable. when my executive function goes kaput, and my snake is just standing there staring blankly at the microwave because i’m trying to make tea and the milk jug won’t fit in the door, it’s up to my bird to take over and go: ‘moogle. say it with me. what step in making tea requires putting a jug of milk in the microwave.’

(i don’t heat my tea water in the microwave when i can help it, but i’ve been known to resort to it and this has 100% happened to me more than once)

hopefully that helps! i’d imagine it’s probably most common for people with this issue to model bird to cover for it, but that’s my own experience. if other improvisational folks use badger to compensate instead, or if it’s different at all for lionsecs, i’d be interested to hear about it.

Hi there! If you don't mind, would you talk a bit about executive dysfunction in improvisational secondaries? I feel like maybe it's a bit harder on us

I’d love to hear some testimony on this. Most of the people with executive dysfunction issues that I know are Built secondaries - I think because those issues are more obvious *younger* on them. Improvisers are okay pulling off last-minute solutions that don’t require prep or planning, they’re more okay getting other people to help with (or even do) their work, and they’re better at finding ways around problems and around tasks. Like, not everyone needs to keep a daily planner to function? The big thing I see with Improvisational secondaries is actually knowledge gaps and impostor syndrome. 

[sunderedstar]

Lost Light, the Moon, Fairy Tales and the Unicycle Man

I find it remarkably suspicious how…central Kaput has been to so many problems, this issue, and the fact that he’s apparently dead at the end doesn’t make me any less suspicious about the whole damn thing. A lot of this is off the cuff, throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks, so take it with a grain of salt, but…

(LL #7 spoilers abound)

But first? Two not very quick tangents. 

Tangent one. Improbable and farfetched, tricking science, breaking ‘the rules’ of inter-universal physics - fun times! This is a massive red flag to me that the comic is very aware that things have gone awry since we transitioned from MTMTE to Lost Light. Something extremely suspicious is afoot and has been from the moment the art style changed and I think Nightbeat is entirely right that we shouldn’t trust all this. 

Something to keep in mind: Brainstorm figured out how to teleport everyone back from the Functionist Universe by bringing Swerve back from Killmaster’s universe-defying wand space pocket. And Swerve was the one affected by Brainstorm’s meta-bomb. The last time Swerve was emotionally overwhelmed and suicidally depressed, he found his ‘happy place’ on Swearth, breaking the fourth wall all over the place and narrating his own actions. Now, he’s taking hits of emotional suppressants in the wake of Skids’s death, and god only knows how that’s interacting with whatever lingering effects there might be from the meta-bomb if it hasn’t really worn off. Swerve and Brainstorm are at the crux of some of the most physics-breaking, meta-awareness heavy points in MTMTE, and the thought of Brainstorm 'tricking’ science and 'breaking the rules’ in this past arc? Right when we know Swerve is emotionally compromised and trying to suppress it? That’s a potent combination.  Tangent the second? 'A teleportation wand infused with temporal energy’ leads me right to this:

Killmaster brings an almost literal ‘magic’ wand into play. Tailgate uses the phrase ‘falling under someone’s spell.’ And then:

The End. With an exclamation point. Things are getting fairy tale-esque all up in Lost Light, and the more improbable and bizarre things get, the more I wonder how it’s all going to fall out. Another example of these strangely fairy tale-ish shenanigans - FU!Rung literally turned into a giant the size of fifty Titans to fight the Moon. 

‘How is this even possible?’ It probably shouldn’t be. But time and space and physics in general have been under constant pressure ever since the quantum engines split the Lost Light into two - since Brainstorm made a working time machine - since the meta-bomb went off - since Shockwave fiddled with the space/time continuum - since Megatron started messing with his chest full of black holes - since Censere figured out how to jump through time and space to save people - since the geobomb, based on Killmaster’s tech, went off - and honestly? It just Keeps Happening.

As far as fairy tales go, I’m trying to draw thematic connections to Luna-2 (though that’s a little more speculative on my part) because Killmaster’s specialty is copy and paste, bilocational weaponry and his moongun plans were supposedly the basis for the geobomb that sent everyone to the Functionist Universe in the first place. His magical wand can ignore or actively manipulate inter-universe physics and reach between the universes apparently effortlessly.

The only vaguely relevant fairy tale concerning moons that I’ve found in a quick search is the Buried Moon - the moon is buried/trapped under a stone after helping a man, and the world is dark at night with the moon absent so that evil things are free to roam at will until she’s found and freed.

Which is not only alluded to by Megatron staring up at a Luna-less sky in the Functionist Universe, but also by the fact that Brainstorm teleports Luna-2 inside the hollow Necroworld, burying it. Then to top it all off, we end LL #7 with Tailgate buried under the ground, with a very fairy tale-esque ‘the end!’ to round out the issue. 

(It’s also possible to link Tailgate’s plotline to Sleeping Beauty - the princess is cursed to fall asleep for ~100 years, etc, while the castle is surrounded by brambles and thorns, or Snow White - sealed away in a glass coffin. Having flowers grow over your 6 bazillion year tomb is again a stretch, but still…troubling. These fairy tale allusions, even the ones that are a stretch, worry me a lot.)

Finally - back to Kaput, and why I think he’s part of the fairy tale problem.

While Fangry might exacerbate the issue, he’s not the one who talked Tailgate into a hole in the ground to magically solve all his problems.

The instant Cyclonus is gone, Tailgate starts listening to Kaput - instead of, you know, also consulting Velocity or Ratchet, aka the two more familiar doctors around him. And he winds up buried alive on a planet of the dead, a planet that was the mold of Cybertron where Tailgate was buried and forgotten originally.

Being dead doesn’t clear Kaput from suspicion for me because he keeps showing up hip deep in everything, when Ratchet and Velocity are literally right there to do the doctor thing and yet keep getting sidelined all through LL #7.

Kaput says this. Kaput says that. Kaput is the one everyone consults for spark related stuff. Which makes sense, since he’s the magical spark flower guy who conveniently arrived just in time to help with all these spark flower problems with Anode and Lug! 

And…he also makes optic eyepatches? For Nautica’s optic, which when we last saw it was perfectly intact compared to the rest of her damaged face…which was also repaired. Why an eyepatch, and why now? Kaput also scans the Magnus armor and determines it needs some kind of proof of personality connection? Uhhh…why are you involved in all this, unicycle man?!  (Yet another tangent: one of the last times we had explicit personality related dissonance, Swerve split into three mental personas. Again - I am CONCERNED ABOUT SWERVE. The fact that Minimus Ambus is apparently forced to regress back to his black and white legal pedantry, now that the shades of grey that having Megatron aboard introduced to the Lost Light and the balance he brought to the command team have been banished along with Megatron to the Functionist Universe, is immensely troubling, and definitely something to unpack. We saw Minimus out of his armor the most during Megatron’s tenure on the Lost Light, so that he was more free to be himself rather than hiding in the Ultra Magnus suit/persona, and the fact that he’s trapped in the suit until he’s provoked into regressing by Rodimus is ominous. He literally can’t take it off himself or even move.)

But to kind of wrap up my point about Kaput - Tailgate quite literally asks him for a happy ending.

Let’s not forget that the word kaput means 'broken/useless’ - when we’re just coming off an arc about Functionism, and the Useless One(s). 

Between the spells, the magic wand, and the wish for a happy ending, I really don’t know what to make of it. But Kaput kept showing up to solve people’s problems throughout the issue even when it made little to no sense for him to do so, right up until the moment Fangry seemingly kills him and condemns Tailgate to a (hopefully temporary) stint in a radiation tomb version of Sleeping Beauty. 

And I don’t trust the unicycle man. Whether he’s some kind of instigator, or just a symptom of a larger problem with the Lost Light crew trapped in the liminal space of a fairy tale, I don’t like it.

[thepristineeye]

Computer Failure

So my laptop just went kaput. First time I’ve seen smoke come from a computer, in such a large quantities as well. I’m not entirely surprised, that thing was running on 12 years and was kept together with zip ties and super glue.

I’m gonna miss that thing, looked like Frankenstein’s monster after having been fixed so many times, and I had to smack it every once in a while to get the keyboard to work, but it functioned, no arguing that. It served me for so long and for so long I might actually bury it.

Now to look into getting a new one I suppose. Money is very short this time around so I’m certainly not buying anything brand new or fancy. Its surprising what you can get for $100 these days if you shop smart.

[r--g--b]

ok i have a theory and its kind of reaching but this is more fun speculation anyway but

i think the crew is going to accidentally make the first “artificially born” mech

the anode storyline back at the necroplanet has been focusing very obviously on mech creation. if this were to come into play i think she would end up creating the protoform for the mech. im not sure why she would, especially considering her past trauma, but the fact that she conveniently just has the ability makes me suspicious of the narrative.

now the spark im a bit split on. my intuition mainly points to tailgate. i think cyclonus may have accidentally helped make 2 sparks within him by overcharging it and it eventually splitting. it would explain the fatigue and his unconscious urge to “rip his spark out”. are we sure its his own spark hes trying to take out? not to mention we just happen to have a spark specialist now when we already knew tg had issues with his spark? i seriously doubt kaput isnt going to get involved with tailgates “illness”, whether he has 2 sparks or not.

but also im leaning towards rung for the spark thing a bit because god, what else would that thing he puked up be? but it also doesnt explain as much as tailgate being a sparkholder does. im actually not entirely sure whats going on with skids and rung at all rn. my best theory for then is that rungs function is actually a creator of sparks and is going to use the one he made to bring skids back, but even thats pretty loose.

whatever happens im excited to see how these archs are concluded and what new things theyll add to the idw universe 🤗

[novacronums-moved]

I had a thought while re-reading LL#2 and I present a theory -

Anode was born to be a medic.

Hear me out. I put a brief outline of this on twitter, but character limit sucks, so I’ll go into a little more detail here.

My theory was born from the flash-back panel we got just before Anode woke up from being patched up by Kaput.

Everything in this panel suggests an operation gone wrong. It sounds like it, from the dialog and the reason why I suspect Anode is a medic is that bit on the right - “Your hands, Anode! Use your hands!” 

We know from Ratchet and Pharma that hands are crucially important when it comes to medic - medic hands were an entire plot in early MTMTE, if you remember. This is where the seed of my theory started. 

Function and choice have been major themes in both MTMTE and Lost Light, as well as the IDW storyline as a whole. Whirl’s original function was a member of the Aerial Corps, but he chose to become a clockmaker; Megatron was created to be a miner, but chose to become more, rejecting functionist thinking. What we haven’t seen a lot of is medics who choose differently and I think that’s what happened with Anode.

The above panel, as I said, suggests an operation gone wrong and, if Anode is a medic and this was an operation where she lost a patient, it’s very likely that the event traumatized her, to the point where she gave up being a medic. This is something that happens to doctors, nurses, and even med-students - something happens, they’re faced with failure, and unable to take it, they leave the profession. Anode, faced with a botched operation and the loss of a patient, could have chosen to pursue a different calling, running away from her born function as a medic to become an archaeologist.

Something that could give this theory a little push is the fact that the flashback we see happened after Kaput patched Anode up in the make-shift medbay after her injury. Being injured the way she was, being in a medbay, could have triggered Anode’s PTSD, resulting in the scene we saw. 

If Anode was born to be a medic, it could also give us a potential explanation for how she and Velocity met before, perhaps during residency before the exams - although how to work in the Lighthouse that Velocity brings us, I don’t know; that’s something we’ll have to find out.

I plan to stand by this theory until it’s proven otherwise, which I’m certain, from the quotes JRO shared earlier this week, will be soon.

And if anyone dares to suggest the botched operation of my theory was Lug to try to tie this into the “dead Lug” theory, I’ll bite kneecaps off.

[qingqin]

How to work Tech2Win for Saab with Mongoose Pro GM II ?

MongoosePro GM II is a low-cost, high-performance reprogramming diagnostics interface for GM vehicles. It supports TIS2WEB for module reprogramming and Tech2WIN for diagnostics.The MongoosePro GM offers a wide range of capabilities to help you grow your business and retain customers including:

Diagnostics functions via GDS2

Diagnostics functions via Tech2WIN

All Module Flash Programming

Security system programming

 The primary use for this cable will be to perform SPS programming on my 2007 Yukon XL. However…GM recently approved this cable for use with Tech2Win! And even better yet, GM appears to have released a Saab NAO binary that DOES work in Tech2Win.

 To date I have seen almost no discussion of Mongoose/Saab NAO v9.25 Tech2Win on this forum or any others and don’t understand why not. I was able to acquire it from another webiste and it works natively with Tech2Win. I did not have to modify the binary at all.

 That means I should be able to achieve connectivity to my 2007 and 2008 9-3’s with the Mongoose and Tech2Win, using the DrewTech drivers and one of the following protocols that the Mongoose supports:

Bus Protocols

CAN pins 3-11, 6-14, 12-13

Single Wire CAN pin 1

J1850VPW / GM Class 2

ISO 9141 / KWP pins 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13

GM UART

ISO22900 Compliant for GM’s Tech2WIN software

This would make a nice alternative to the crappy Tech II’s coming out of China. The Mongoose GM II cable is ~ $450 bucks. And it works.

 Having finally given up on my clone Tech II (I fixed it, it worked for a while longer and then finally gave up the ghost ) I am determined to bring a affordable, reliable Tech2 experience to the Saab community.

 Here are tests and results of the cable…

 For one of my tests I am going to re-add my ECU on the 2007 to update the software to the latest rev to fix my engine drop on hot restart issue.

 It works!

 I was finally able to test it out the other day. This is where I got to. I will post screen shots later (at work and don’t have access yet).

 First thing you need to do with this setup is access the DrewTech Tech2Win driver settings. There is a check box about dropping CAN signals for low-speed CAN. The default is that this box is checked. Uncheck it. Without doing so, you will not be able to access the low speed CAN and will get error messages and various other problems, especially with regards to requesting security access.

 Next trick I had to figure out was how to get security access. This proved to be pretty simple…just perform the function as you would on a regular Tech II and use TIS2000!

 I tried using the Opel Global TIS V32 security access function but was not able to make it work. I cannot be sure this is due to a setting somewhere or just an incompatability with the car, but TIS2000 works great.

 Anybody excited yet? Haha, I’m just giddy over this. Legit, supported hardware and legit, supported software working.

 Tech2Win working with a Saab! Fully working! I can’t wait until the next time my wife and son are taking a nap so I can sneak off to my car to keep tooling around with this setup.

 The next thing I am doing is updating my 2007 9-3 2.0T ECU software to the latest REV because it’s currently suffering from the occational hot start idle stumble.

  Note 1:

Have to ask where you got the binary and what version is it? Also does it cost anything?

 In order to get started you need two pieces of software. One is Opel GlobalTIS V32 and the other is Tech2Win v2.256. I was able to source both from MHH Auto. I am going to attempt to get both posted in a place where people can access it easier than I did. Both were “free to me”. I prefer to think of it as borrowing.

 Tech2Win will come with a variety of BINs, including Saab NAO 9.25, so it’s included in the bundle, no separate download.

 The next trick was getting Opel GlobalTIS V32 activated. Luckily some nice folks on MHH Auto helped me with that. I would LOVE to know where to find one if possible to avoid that problem in the future.

 Once you get both installed (I am using XP 32 bit in a Parallels virtual machine on a MacBook Pro circa 2007), you are good to go.

 The reason you need Opel GlobalTIS is that it will allow you to refresh the license on Tech2Win. Otherwise that goes kaput and I haven’t found another way to “crack” it so to say. By opening Tech2Win and performing a security access operation via Opel GlobalTIS, it will update the license for 1 day and then everything will work.

 Obviously I am leaving out the part about having the Mongoose cable and installing the software with that. The one trick I found with the Mongoose was unchecking the box about dropping CAN signals for low speed CAN. Basically you open up the Tech2Win Mongoose Driver Config after install and there will be two check boxes and one of them will be checked. So just uncheck that and you are good to go.

  Note2:

Is this thing functionally a direct replacement for the entire Tech2+Candi+USB-RS232 adapters and whatnot?

 Well the results are in, I was able to repgrogram my ECU with this set up! I’d say that’s a pretty darn good validation, don’t you think? ;ol; I also browsed just about every functional menu and test there was and experienced absolutely no problems executing any of them.

 This setup IS a functionally direct replacement for the entire Tech2+Candi+USB-RS232 adapters and whatnot. The whole shebang. No more dealing with any of that crap.

 The Mongoose is certified to meet the ISO22900 standard that GM uses for Tech2 communications, which is why it can replace the Tech2.

 I will caviat one thing at this point, I know this will work with any 2003+ 9-3SS. I am almost nearly sure it will work with 9-5’s as well, because I believe the Mongoose can use K-line, which was used in the 9-5’s unitl they switched over to GMLAN.

  Note 3:

Any additional info would be awesome, like any required subscription or licencing costs.

 As for required subscription, there is none. You just need to get Tech2Win v2.256 and Opel GlobalTIS v32 and get GlobalTIS activated. It’s specifically v32 that you want, not v36. Later versions lost the ability to grant security access and other features that you need in order to refresh the license on Tech2Win. You will also need TIS2000 for security access.

 One of the next experiments I am going to perform is to clone the virtual machine and try to co-locate/co-install Opel GlobalTIS and Saab GlobalTIS on the same box. That would solve one of the problems I am having, which is that I need to get security access through TIS2000 still, which means that newer Saabs won’t work properly. The Saab NAO 9.25 BIN goes all the way up to 2012, so I just need to get Saab GlobalTIS talking to it.

 I think it may be possible to just change the ports at installation so that they don’t conflict with the other install and BAM! You are done. The other option I am looking at is an emulator that allows for remote serial connections. That way I could access Saab GlobalTIS from another box and grant security access that way. I might also be able to do SPS programming via Tech2 remote mode, all through the emulator! There is a lot more to play around with, so I will continue to play around and post as I make progress.

[superautoreviews]

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Interior, Exterior, Price, Review

New Post has been published on https://www.vwcartrend.com/volkswagen-saveiro-2020-interior-exterior-price-review/

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Interior, Exterior, Price, Review

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Interior, Exterior, Price, Review – The car-primarily based modest pickup sector was released in Brazil by Fiat while in the 1980s. Consuming a 147 as its base, the Italians eliminate the lower back seats, extra a mattress, beefed up the revocation and known as it very good. The market regarded it so, and very soon, there had been an entirely new sector gracing Brazil’s streets, with Fiat’s Strada dominating the segment. Given that this time, just about any challenger has become vanquished by the Strada’s unquestionable longevity – excluding Volkswagen’s Saveiro 2020.

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Review

Concerning VW do Brasil, the Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 is now the market place innovator in single and extended cab configuration settings. It has marketed around 40,000 systems until the mid of the year even though Fiat offered around two times that. Volkswagen says half of Strada revenue were actually of the twice cab line. So, eventually, VW unveiled and reacted a different dual cab (the Strada’s appeared in 2009). Its carry out this type of compact pickup is not the same as Fiat’s. As of 10 weeks back, the Strada now comes with a few doorways, which of course (in theory) will help admittance. Volkswagen gives just two. Getting into the car and reclining the chair, I wiggle my 6 ft ., 220 lb structure into the lower back seat.

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Exterior

Great delight. Although the Strada seats just three, the Saveiro will it for five various. There are three headrests and 3 stage seating belts only for those who stay off of to the sides. The centre passenger, furthermore preventing for space, has to make use a lap buckle. I would not want to be there with two buddies for more than brief adventures, even though the area is more significant than in the Strada. The rear section windows open up by popping out, while the rear home window is resolved. There are two cupholders and even an auxiliary jack and an area less than the car seats. Some idea was dedicated to it.

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Interior

Stepping into the entry and placed in the driver’s chair, the entire atmosphere is quite typically Volkswagen. Meaning a sober, practically uninteresting layout, tough but properly built plastics, monotone decorations and loads of unmarked plastic material covers exactly where orders for recommended tools might be. Overall it is an environment I do not, in particular, appreciate or find joy in getting, while I can take pleasure in why other people do. The chair is put a very little minimal, and the dashboard quite high leading to that sunken experience that a great many these days equate with basic safety. What’s more secure than driving a car a container, proper? It’s excellent the Saveiro Compact disk is included with car parking detectors as this kind of. In that way, you won’t break your bed into anything at all.

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Engine

The Saveiro Twice Cab gives two engines. Either is 1.6L. One particular even so has 8v although the other 16. The 16v is new and corrals 110 or 120 ponies (dependent of fuel preferred, the 1st body for Brazilian fuel, the second for Brazilian ethanol) even though the less complicated mill can make use 101 or 104 horsepower. While this outcome is reasonably reduced, the multi-control device engine draws well and vibrates under the old one. Tugging energy is continuous along with its capability to rev increased can make it much more comfortable to commute at significant rates on the road. Top rated speed is 179 km/h, almost ten more than the eight device system. It has been on the niche for an although now and therefore far has not shown the similar propensity of the outdated model of moving kaput at surprisingly low mileage.

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Engine

Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 Release Date And Price

Even though the engine in the VW is small compared to the Strada’s 18 and 16v, 132hp model, it makes the car practically as quickly and more economical, plus better than Fiat’s. Yanking electrical power is helped by the hill holder functionality even though the Strada has additional torque. The Volkswagen Saveiro 2020 is now on par with the Strada, and this will be fascinating to be seen whether or not it will accomplish Volkswagen make Brasil’s prediction of overtaking location from the Strada initially. Even though that can be a hard, uphill battle, the Saveiro now has what it requires.

[walk4johnny]

9 Tips for Longer Laptop Battery Life

We've all been there. You're in a meeting, or on the road, or in a classroom, and you find, to your horror, that your laptop is nearly dead. Maybe you forgot your power adapter, maybe there isn't an available outlet. For whatever reason, your battery power is dwindling, and you still have stuff to get done. Hope is not lost, however. There are some things you can do to buy more time on that almost-dead battery so you can meet a deadline or respond to an important email before it's too late.

Some of these techniques are for when you need to stretch your battery at that very moment, while others are preventative measures, best implemented before your battery life comes up short. There is some of overlap between the short- and long-term strategies we'll outline below, but even when the actions are the same, the reasons behind them may be different.

Short-Term Battery-Stretching Strategies If you're in a tough spot right now, there are things you can do to extend the battery life immediately. None of these actions will actually increase the amount of power left in the battery, but instead will reduce the amount of power the laptop is using, letting you squeeze in a few more precious minutes before the battery goes kaput. The name of the game in these instances is power consumption, and you need to reduce yours to as little as possible.

1. Activate Your Laptop's Battery Saver or Eco Mode Designed with these sorts of circumstances in mind, most Battery Saver or Eco modes will engage a number of automatic changes to lengthen usable battery life—many of the same changes we'll be making here. This saved profile will adjust your laptop's settings and shift components into low-power states to help you ration your remaining juice a bit longer.

Once you've turned on the automatic battery-saver tool, there are still plenty of steps to take to eke out even better efficiency. This is done by turning off unnecessary devices, adjusting settings to reduce power consumption, shutting down unwanted apps and processes, and adjusting your activities to use less power.

2. Disable Unused Devices and Ports The easiest way to reduce power consumption is to simply turn stuff off. Every component in your laptop needs power to function, but that doesn't mean you need to power all of those components all of the time. Start by disconnecting any unneeded peripherals (like a USB mouse or external drive) and turning off the biggest power hogs, like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios, graphics processors, and unused optical drives.

WARNING: Before disabling any component or device, make sure that the device is not in use, and that it is not essential to continuing operation of the laptop. For example, you do not want to disable the hard drive that houses the operating system, or the processor the runs the entire laptop. Only disable those devices you are comfortable turning off.

To disable unused devices on a Windows system, open up your system's Control Panel and find the Device Manager. In the Device Manager, individual components are grouped by category. For example, Network Adapters will often include both the LAN adapter, which provides Ethernet connectivity, and Wi-Fi, for wireless networking.

The four standard candidates for saving power are the graphics card (found under Display Adapters), the optical drive (found under DVD/CD-ROM Drives), and the Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters (under Network Adapters). Find the device you want to shut down within the relevant category. Right click on the device name, and select "Disable" from the drop down menu.

While you're in the Device Manager, you can also turn off any unused ports. Just like an extension cord left plugged into an outlet, these unused plugs still have power going through them, and losing some in the process. The actual impact on battery life will be minimal, but if you're desperate for another minute or two of life, this will help. Take a quick glance at your ports, and turn off anything that's not being used, like USB ports with nothing connected to them.

While you can disable USB ports on a Mac using the terminal program, it's something that IT administrators would use to lock down Macs for security purposes. We don't recommend doing it as an end user because it may make your system act up. You can, however, disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi from the Menu bar at the top of the screen.

3. Adjust Your Settings While you'll still have to use the display and the keyboard, you can adjust the settings for each to reduce power consumption. One often overlooked power drain is keyboard backlighting. Unless you're in the dark and need the backlight just to make out each key, turn off the backlight entirely. You can typically assign a hotkey for this function.

The next power drain is your screen. While you obviously need to keep it up and running to use the laptop, you don't necessarily need it running at maximum brightness or resolution. Many laptops will have hotkeys for increasing and decreasing the screen brightness, but if not, it can be adjusted in the control panel. Reducing the display to 50 percent when you're running on battery power can add a significant amount of time.

Additionally, if you're simply typing up a document, you don't need all of the detail offered by a 1080p or higher display. Dialing down the screen resolution to a basic 1,366-by-768 resolution or lower reduces the amount of power used in graphics processing without negatively impacting your ability to work, letting your laptop hang on a bit longer.

Finally, turn off or turn down the sound. If you need to hear, drop the sound down as low as you can, and consider switching from the laptop's larger speakers to a set of tiny earbuds to get the audio piped right to your ears. Whenever possible, just mute the laptop altogether. That way, the speakers won't be getting any power, and you'll buy yourself some more precious time.

[thegreatduggo]

Pool Logic

You do need decent hot weather to make an unheated pool appealing, so July and August are the sweet spot where the water temp should be around 80F (26C), but June and September are generally pretty warm and the water temp should be 70F (21F) or more and that’s really not too bad for a quick dip especially if the air temp is high. 

The month of May quite often has some surprisingly hot spells - we actually had a hotter spell in May (by my measurements) this year than we had in June. 

But I'm always on the arse end of things and my pool is no exception. I haven’t got round to opening it until the first or second week of July - which is daft because that's absolute prime-time for the pool. 

I think this year was the first time I've opened the pool before the start of July and that was only because Ozzy wanted to bring his missus and brood up here on July 1st. So, I put on a huge spurt to finish off the repair, prep and painting of garage eves and soffits. The paint chips and dust would have played havoc with the pool without the cover on. And then I moved onto sanding and painting the deck, which again would have caused major problems for the pool. I pushed myself very hard for about 3 weeks, working in the hottest time of the year with my Aussie Roo hat for protection.

It turned out to be a good day and was the sole good use of the pool this year, although, I didn’t even get in myself!

Aside from that, using the pool just seemed like a hassle, even on the hottest days. I'm wandering in and out of the house all day long, working on various jobs and projects and no time seems like the right time to take a break, get changed, jump in the pool, get bored, come out, walk downstairs, shower, dry, get changed and start again - fuck that!

One afternoon I drifted around on an inflatable lounger drinking a G&T, listening to the outdoor music and that was quite nice. One warm evening, I jumped in and swam around for 5 or 10 minutes and then a few days ago I dived into the cold water from the hot-tub and did a couple of breathless lengths - and that was basically my season! 

Some people joke that their best day was when they finally got their own swimming pool. But later on, their best day was superseded when they finally filled their pool in many years later! 

I've spent WAY more time maintaining and fixing the hot-tub and pool than I've spent using them - probably by a factor of 50. It's different for kids of course - they frigging love it and stay in for hours.

I’ve enjoyed the puzzle aspect of fixing the pool and hot-tub, tracking down all manner of obscure parts and learning how to fix them. My hot-tub is now 25 years old and it’s in much better shape than when I moved in 7 years ago. It’s been very challenging and I’m proud of all the tricky things that I’ve managed to fix it and the knowledge I’ve acquired in tracking down obscure parts of all types. 

The list has been long. The first thing I fixed was the ozonator. I had no idea what that even was or how to tell if it was working or not. But, I was fairly sure it was kaput - it looked very old and showed no signs of life. It was quite easy to source and was easy enough to replace. I still didn’t think it was working so I brought in an “expert”. He messed around replaced the one-way valve (which there was actually nothing with). I was skeptical but it gave me some insight and he did show me that the broken spin-jet could be replaced and he ordered me a new one. I installed it myself later. He also sold me a spa-vacuum that was much more effective than the one I already had.

I later found that the ozonator was not in fact working. The inlet tube was bizarrely wrapped around another pipe which compressed it and shut it off but had also caused it to rupture and was the cause of a leak - so much for the expert! 

I cut out the old tube and replaced it, so now the ozonator worked and the leak was fixed at the same time.

Next, I built a new set of stairs into the tub. The old set just about worked but were completely rotten. The new ones are solid as hell and weigh in at a hefty 90 lbs!

Having fixed that leak, I found there was another one. I couldn’t see where it was coming from. In the end, I took the side panels off and took a close look inside. I could see the location of the drip but couldn’t see anything that I could mess with. Out of options, I burrowed into the foam insulation around the drip and I was then able to tie it down to the wall-jet - ahhh! Now I see.

I built a custom tool to tighten up the wall-jet. It worked well and I was able to tighten it but the leak continued. I went back a second time to tighten it up and this time the wall-jet snapped off completely - Oh shit!

After a lot of searching, I found a part that was not a proper match but looked like it might work - it didn’t. Back to the drawing board. Next time round I found an exact match. It’s often hard to tell if you’re buying the right part from the pictures and quite often you just go for it and hope for the best. 

I fitted the new part with the new gasket and plenty of silicone grease and it still leaked. To give myself more options, I had also bought some silicone gaskets off another web site that turned out to be 1/8″ too small, but they were flexible and they could be stretched over the fitting. I reinstalled the wall-jet using one of those and that fixed the leak.

After that, I found that there were openings in the hot-tub frame that had allowed water and dirt to get into the frame around the hot-tub rim. That had resulted in a surprising amount of soil gathering inside the base of the tub frame. I cleaned that out, sealed those gaps and the whole hot-tub rim with clear silicone and then re-painted the rim.

Then I found that the a lot of the hot-tub frame was rotting away at the base and in some places ants had also eaten away chunks of the frame at the top of the frame as well. I drenched the infestation with insecticide then hammered in new wood bracing under the rim before putting in new support struts in on that corner.

The 10″ filter cap was badly cracked and a first I first fixed it with super-glue. That held for a while but it wan’t that strong. Later on I made a large patch out of PVC from a storage bin and glued that on with Gorilla glue, which made for a strong repair.

The integral drinks bucket holder had come away from the tub allowing water to get inside the frame and the removable bucket itself would rise up and start jumping around as water got into the container below it. I chocked out the bucket holder with wooden blocks and glued it in place with Gorilla Glue then I drilled hols in the bucket itself so that it wouldn’t lift up when water got underneath it.

During this time, the hot-tub was periodically tripping the contact breaker. This would power off the hot-tub and if I didn’t spot it for a while, the temp could fall substantially and eventually the tub could freeze, which could then split pipes and break pump components.

I again got the “expert” round. He didn’t fix anything and later I found that the fuse he’d replaced was actually two broken fuses pushed together that looked like a good fuse. I replaced that and it worked but after that. I started to get more frequent problems with the breaker cutting out.

The control circuit board was suspect. It has a number of mechanical relays and they would periodically stick. Tapping them and spraying with WD-40 definitely helped, but after a while it got too bad to ignore. I found old-stock parts on eBay, but I missed out on a couple of auctions while I was prevaricating. That pissed me off but it ultimately a good thing because I kept searching and a few months later I found that I could get a brand new solid state board that was supposedly compatible....much better. 

It did have all the right functions but the layout and operation was somewhat different. I had bought a new circuit board and a control panel for about $700. The old panel had a single 4 function switch: OFF, Main Jet Slow, Main Jet Fast, Main Jet Fast plus Jets 2, but the new one split out Jets 1 & 2 on separate buttons.

It’s all a bit confusing especially with a mix of 240V and 120V feeds in the unit. I labelled all the lines and wired it in as close as I could to the prior setup and put in the new control panel. It only partially worked. Only 120V was getting to pump #2 and on pump #1 the speeds were reversed.

I had to work out through the problem as best I could. I looked at the old and the new circuit diagrams and it turned out that some of the old wiring was wrong e.g. there was a fuse on pump #2, that is not meant to be there - it should be on the blower (don���t ask me why). I fixed that and I rerouted the power to get 240V to pump #2 and got it to work, then I flipped the power wires inside the motor itself to switch slow and fast. I needed to do it that way because it flips from 120V to 240V so flipping the wires on the controller itself would not work.

After that, the main motor started to leak and started to get weak. It wasn’t possible to just replace the leaking wet-end because the Hayward connectors are no longer available. That meant I had to cut out the old connectors. I bought cutters to cut out the old piping and new connectors and unions. I got it all done but a couple of weeks later I saw that it was still leaking. 

I took off the wet-end and found that the gasket was crimped. I twisted it around to avoid the crimp, applied loads of silicone and tried again This worked, but in the meantime I complained to the vendor and they sent me an entire new wet-end which is now in my spares collection. A few weeks later, it was leaking yet again and after quite a bit digging, I saw that one of the old unions had a hair-line split that was causing the leak. I assembled a new outbound connection and switched it from an innie to an outie. I had to do it twice because one of the unions needed to be cut back to fit and although it worked, I had cut back too much. I kind of messed it up a second time because I installed it the wrong way round and then cut back the other side - that pissed me off, but it was actually fine - it still bugs me when I think about it though.

After that I progressively rebuilt the tub supports - many of which are very hard to access. I built a new near-side panel because the far end had been eaten away by ants. I had previously rebuilt the front panel to make it fit better. All the screws had been buried into the wood and the fastening holes were buggered up so I sorted all that out but all the panels should eventually be replaced. I put that job on hold because it all looks pretty good once I repainted it and besides I had enough on my plate.

Shortly after that the blower....well....blew up. Again the connectors are not available, so the old one had to be cut out. I couldn’t put it back where it had been once I had cut out the old one and added in the safety valve. I don’t feel that the safety valve is really needed but I had bought it and I wanted to do it right. The new fitment was better than the old one though. It had been fastened to a metal plate and a loose wooden stake. 

The last fix was to replace a broken spin-jet. 

Parts of it could do with another lick of paint and I should replace some of the panels, but the existing ones are not that bad and they still look fine, so what’s the hurry....

The tub is in pretty good shape considering all it’s been through and the lack of maintenance until I arrived on the scene. It looks good, it’s solid, everything works, it doesn’t leak, it’s big and spacious and I’ll keep it running until it fully expires. In the words of Blur, it gives me an enormous sense of well-being and when I fart...well, no one can prove a damn thing!

[notwhelmedyet]

Lost Light #2 thoughts

LL #2 : The opposite of “The opposite of a pep talk” that’s what that was

my page-by-page thoughts below:

page 1: you know that one gif for Star Wars TFA where Finn bicep curls up his love interests to kiss them? Well, no kissing obviously (gross), but Rod totally looks like he’s lifted Rewind up to chat with him about Functionists...who, by the way are surprisingly blase about letting the to-be prisoners monologue about universe hopping.

page 2: Interesting stuff! I wanted a moment where Drift and Megatron interacted before this, but the bit where he asks him and Rod for what to do was interesting. Also: do the functionists really only believe sentient transformers serve purposes? Like, no inanimate object can serve a purpose? Weeeeeird.

page 3: ugh I love Lug so much. Yeah, Anode, you have been a jerk to everyone and you should stop so I can move on to liking you. And oooh, mystery function? A secret that hasn’t been spoiled! :)

on a more nitpicky note...are there trees in the background? Isn’t the necroworld entirely inorganic and the flowers are just mechanical disguised as plants? Why would there be trees?

page 4: “we don’t owe them anything.” “Er—we owe them our lives, Anode” and then we got a twist! good stuff though I was at first confused if Fangry was being thrown at the monument or jumping through it.

page 5: @choomchoom has pointed out to me that CD and Rewind are exclusively here to exposition and their expositioning here is very cute. God, this ‘god’ is such an asshole. Just look at his stupid pose while he’s gadding about, floating in the air. What a jerk.

page 6: this page is dialogue heaven. firstly, Rod and Magnus are hilarious. Secondly, my boys are talking!!!! Since i started writing Observing Drift I have gotten very fixated on Drift and Ratchet interacting and I need moooore.

page 7: arghllksdfjklj Ratchet quotes a religious text in order to impress Drift, somebody call me an ambulance but not Ratchet because I don’t want him to laugh at me for getting so excited. Also, Drift observes that Primus as a ‘warrior god’ is old-school possibly implying that Spectralists don’t believe that? More next time, I mean never, on ‘what the heck does a Spectralist believe?’

and we find out that Drift’s vision led them to the Necroworld! That’s one big question I had, answered!

page 8: ya know how some people get less coherant when they’re near a cute cat? I am near incapable of writing good commentary when Drift and Ratch are staring in each other’s eyes discussing Drift’s visions on most of the page. So good. I adore how Ratchet’s new eye lines make it look like he’s super sleepy all the time because you know Ratchet is too busy worrying about his people (mostly Drift) to sleep.

page 9: Aww sweet, I’ve been waiting for the ‘shedload of moral support’ bit for a long time now. Also, Tailgate, honey. I love ya. But you’re kind of scaring me now? Lots of power and poor impulse control are a scary combination.

page 10: ACK TAILGATE! Do not do that! “He’s genuinely not worth it” is pretty funny though. And Cy is back, thank heavens.

page 11: I thought for sure Cy was touching his horn because it’s near the flashdrive port in transformer’s heads and he was going to show Tailgate a memory of him when he was younger and the actual reveal is okay but I am so disappointed. Imagine a flashback of young-and-brash warrior Cyclonus learning the lessons Tailgate will someday learn the hard way, trying to impress the other warriors and playing loose and fast with other bots lives because he can. There ought to be more Cyclonus fanfic because I want this so badly now.

ALSO: dear lord, Anode, you have the worst fricken fraggin luck on Cybertron, don’t ya? There was one sharp object in half a mile and you fell right on it.

page 12: I’m sure JR is just trying to write an enjoyable distopia but the AVL here are basically Life of Brian style incompetent and I’m not sure what emotions I’m supposed to be feeling? It feels a little too close to farce considering how serious everything is. Also, Megs looks awesome here.

page 13: Cyclonus over here pullin an Elliot Spencer and telling me he thinks about the innocent people he’s killed every day. Well that’s a big change from his ‘I was just following orders’ introduction, isn’t it? Also, what percentage of the people he’s killed does Cyclonus regard as innocents?

page 14: THANK YOU Cy, this is exactly what I was saying but worrying more about Tailgate’s health (as Cy is apt to do) instead of his mental state. Tailgate’s waist here looks so itty bitty? idk, was it always like that? Are his shoulders getting huge because he’s so buff?

page 15: Kaput is wonderful. There should be more Kaput, because he’s wonderful. I’m not super invested in this Lotty&Anode mystery thus far, but Kaput’s facial expressions are enough to keep me going.

page 16: He’s certainly working real hard to make it unclear if anybody besides Anode can hear Lug. If I hadn’t already heard whispers about that I probably wouldn’t notice at all. Also...Swerve...are you okay? Are you doing something (probably something bad) to stop yourself from feeling anything about Skid’s death? That would be very sad.

page 17: This page could be exclusively the middle panel of Rewind&Minimus leading the rescued protesters to safety and I would still love it. Little bots leading little bots to safety! Look at them run! Ugh, I love this so much.

page 18: LOL CD lassoed a god. CD as a cowboy. I’m never going to get this mental image out of my head, also 12-of-12 is a total wimp.

page 19: terminus is ridiculously supportive, literally everyone we meet is trying to get to cyberutopia these days and it’s time for the twist...

page 20: I know this is a dramatic twist, because now we’re going to find out what (at least this universe’s) Rung is for and also now everyone knows Rung is in danger and we’ve got a moral quandary about saving ourselves versus saving Rung but...just look at his face.

He looks peeved. Functionist verse Rung is so heavy metal that he meets a millenia of torture with the same expression I make when I forgot to buy eggs and I’m halfway through making crepes before I notice. 

Overall Response: I wasn’t totally invested in the functionist stuff this time around except it was entirely dialogue between pairs of characters I love, so I totally was. And more religion worldbuilding!!! Write me a pamphlet on Spectralism already JR. The Tailgate stuff keeps getting me hints about Cy’s character, which is A++. And the Lug&Anode stuff allows Lug to say cute and supportive girlfriend shit nonstop, so that’s also excellent. I’m still nervous that Tailgate and Anode and Velocity are going to do embarrassing social stuff as they continue to flail about but it’s definitely worth it.