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moghedien · 1 month ago

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this isn’t meant to be judgement on what other people choose or their opinions and there are reasons why there is no actual ideal solution, but if I’m playing the game in which I want every character to get what I feel is the best outcome for them personally, Shadowheart is always ending the game with her parents alive

There are a couple of reasons for this. I’ve done both endings with the Selûnite path for her, and I literally just let her pick what she wanted the first time (which ended in her parents dead) and seeing both, I do think she’s happier with her parents alive in general. I think, as with other characters (specifically Lae’zel comes to mind in her romance) you have to kinda challenge them on what their first immediate response is when giving them an option in order to get to what actually makes them happiest and what they’re afraid to admit

But if we’re not even taking like the arbitrary measure of happiness into account, I do think that thematically, keeping her parents alive is the only real option if you don’t want Shar to win.

The options here are either let her parents die and Shadowheart is free of the pain in her wound, or save her parents and Shadowheart spends the rest of her life with the threat of the wound hurting her at any moment. Basically no parents and no pain or parent and chronic pain for the rest of her life.

Harsh options either way, and especially when you phrase it as “chronic pain forever” being the thematically correct path, but look at it from the angle of rejecting Shar and what those options really signify form a Sharran angle.

If her parents die, she has no pain, which is good, but she also has no parents. She has no way of learning about her past other than random scraps she might find or maybe eventually remember somehow. She also has no attachment to her Sharran cloister anymore and no attachment to any Selûnite community either. She’s void of everything, including the physical pain. Now there’s obviously like emotional turmoil she’s feeling, and you do get a scene where she expresses that, but it’s from her loss. She only has loss now. The Lady of Loss gave up her physical hold on Shadowheart and in doing so, made Shadowheart embrace loss. Shar might not win completely, but she doesn’t really care about her individual followers and communities as much as they want her to. This is still a win for Shar because she still got Shadowheart to make Sharran choices in the end and embrace losing everything: the pain, her parents, her community, her past.

Hell, the desire to free oneself from pain entirely is a very Sharran pursuit. It’s why we see people turn to Shar. Ketheric turned to Shar as a way to get Isobel back and free himself from grief. One of the people that can lead you to the Sharran cloister is a man who remembers nothing about himself except that the House of Grief helped him because he was very sad and now he isn’t. Nevermind the fact that he doesn’t even know where he lives now or that Ketheric didn’t get what he wanted, it’s the motivation of freeing oneself from some kind of pain that drives people to Shar.

That is why Shadowheart received the injury in the first place.

I jokingly call it a shock collar sometimes, but that is basically what it literally is. You can get Shadowheart’s dad to reveal more about it if you control her and go talk to him in camp. The wound is because Shadowheart was constantly misbehaving and her parents weren’t converting, and they needed something to keep her in line and also motivate her parents. Shadowheart’s pain was supposed be negative reinforcement for her not to act on her kinder inclinations and for her parents to finally fall in line and reject Selûne so that they would stop seeing Shadowheart in pain. The desire for no more pain was supposed to drive Shadowheart and her family closer to Shar.

And all of this on top of the fact that Shadowheart’s memory was wiped repeatedly to an extreme degree, even by standards of the evil memory wiping cult. She was supposed to be a blank slate that only desired to feel nothing by the end. The perfect Sharran.

So if she keeps her family alive, what does she get? A life time of guaranteed pain from Shar, but also her family. Guilt over learning all she’s done to her parents over the 40 years they were held captive, but also answers about her life before Shar and kinder memories with them after Shar. She doesn’t get to not know all that she’s done and all that’s been taken from her, and she’s forced to feel all the negative emotions that come with that, but she gets comfort and positive feelings too.

The moment I keep going back to is the scene you get after she saves her parents where she’s clearly distressed. You get a similar version of this if her parents are dead, but if her parents are alive, they show up at the end of the scene when she’s crying because of the guilt she’s feeling toward all that happened to them. The specific moment in that which I obsess over a bit is when Shadowheart apologizes to them and says that they shouldn’t have to see her like this (because they just walked in on her crying). And it’s her mom’s response to that which makes me a little insane

It’s the emphasis on feeling that really gets me, and I think is the most important part here.

Because Shadowheart was apologizing specifically for them seeing her feeling. She was in this moment apologizing for them having to see her crying and in a very vulnerable emotional state over her own personal struggles and the immense amount of guilt she feels over seeing the extent of what was done to her parents, some of which she did. She’s not supposed to feel anything about that, as a Sharran. She’s not supposed to feel at all as a Sharran, good or bad.

But it’s her very visibly feeling something that her mom points out wanting to see. it’s the one word she puts emphasis on, because that alone is proof that Shar doesn’t have a hold on her. If she’s feeling something, even if it’s bad, then Shar isn’t winning and isn’t controlling her. Shar literally had to resort to trying to coax her into wanting nothing more than to be free of feeling in order to get her to behave, after all.

If Shadowheart accepts that she’ll have pain for the rest of her life in order to save her family, Shar doesn’t get anything but the shock collar she already had. And the point of the shock collar was to eventually never use it. Hurting Shadowheart wasn’t what Shar wanted. Shar wanted to eventually stop hurting Shadowheart because that meant she was a good perfect little Selûnite-turned-Sharran who had been properly corrupted. Pain wasn’t the point and was supposed to have an ending if Shar got what she wanted.

So when Shadowheart rejects the loss of the pain, that’s about as close as she can get to telling Shar to go fuck herself. Her plans didn’t work, not even a little. Shadowheart isn’t wiping her slate clean (again) and rejecting feeling things just because they’re painful. She’s reconnecting with the past that they spent 40 years trying to erase and she’s doing it even though it’ll be hurt.

Basically by keeping her parents alive, she’s doing every single thing Shar has spent four decades trying to stop her from doing and giving Shar absolutely nothing in return. Shar gets nothing besides the ability to hurt Shadowheart, which isn’t even something she wanted in the first place.

And proof of this is shown in the epilogue, where if you romance Shadowheart and kept her parents alive, you both point out what Shar hasn’t been triggering the wound much lately. She triggers it a lot and randomly in the end of the game, and it’s clear she’s pissed off, but by the time six months have passed, it’s apparently barely happening. Because pain wasn’t the point and it wasn’t what Shar wanted. The pain was Shar throwing a tantrum because she didn’t get what she wanted. Shadowheart calls it petty in the game and that’s literally what it is. Just pettiness from a god. And it’ll probably happen to some extent for the rest of Shadowheart’s life, yes, but it’s clear that Shar is bored and realizes it’s not going to work. She might try some other ways to get at Shadowheart eventually, but in making that choice, Shadowheart denied her any ounce of power that Shar actually cares about. Even if the pain is there, the fact that it’s there is proof that Shar failed.

#shadowheart #Shar #bg3 #emmeline hallowleaf #arnell hallowleaf #baldur's gate 3 #long post

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tiny-buzz · 1 year ago

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Regis Philbin Is Alive And Has Been Appointed CEO of Kroger

Regis Weekend Has Been Extended One Day

It Will Continue Until Friday November 10, 2023

"These idiots don't know how to run a grocery conglomerate. They're animals. We're shaking things up in a big way."

"It's wrong to make people pay for food. I'm sorry, but that's really disgusting and it's money-grubbing and it's small-minded. Food at Kroger grocery stores will now be free."

"It's a sin to charge people money for food. It makes me furious to see this happen. I was put here on earth to end this barbaric practice. So we're washing that sin clean now, with the blood of the former CEO. That's all I'll say about that."

"We want to erect memorials, atrocity memorials, but in our parking lots. And it's going to be dedicated to all the people who we tortured throughout the years by charging them for food. To their collective suffering, which built up, drop by drop, into a great sea of psychic pain. We never want to forget this sin we participated in."

"Please come to Kroger, folks, and pick out some food you like. You can then remove it from the store and eat it. Chew it up and swallow it and allow it to provide you with sustenance. If you're hungry, we'd love to feed you. People don't choose to be hungry, it just happens. No one asked to be born and to be cursed with this perpetual hunger until death."

"We're going to do a lot more to combat 'shoplifting' . . . not the act, but the word itself. It won't be used. It's meaningless now. In fact, it's considered hate speech. These people were charging you money for food. Can you believe that? They're Satanists."

"All energy here on earth originated with the Sun. Plants turn the Sun's light into energy and store it in their fibers. Herbivores convert that energy into meat, eggs, and milk. It's just about energy distribution. The energy is free and provided by the Sun. Energy is the currency of life and it's provided for free by the Sun. There's enough for everyone. At Kroger, we're in the energy distribution business. Come and get it, folks. This is from the Sun!"

"Once you have enough energy, it is your job to distribute it to others. A lot of this stuff is just bouncing back into space, and we'd like to avoid that if we can. Please capture energy and help distribute it so it stays here on Earth where we can use it."

"The universe is mostly empty. I was telling Joy the other morning, and she agrees. The absence of energy is much more common than the presence of energy. 'And there are lots of forms of energy that we can't readily use,' she reminded me. And that's true too. Kroger is reflecting on the role it plays in these processes."

"The sun created everything you see, except for the stars. Can you believe that? I think we should worship the sun. They used to do it! All the things people say about "God" are true about the sun, the only difference is the sun exists. You must avert your eyes before it. It's vast and powerful but looks down on each of us. It gives form to every thing with its light. Sure, it didn't create the universe, but it created the world. That's not enough for you? You say there are larger stars? So what? You want to worship the largest star just because it's the largest? Let those who orbit them worship. Would you call another man "father" just because he was larger than your own? The sun loves all its creation. Feel the sun's warmth on your cheek and tell me that isn't love. Worship the sun, which provides all energy for free, and please come visit Kroger, where our job is to distribute the energy that the sun created. We're feeding everybody. This is a temple to the sun."

#regis weekend #honor the man #honor the temple #food is free #worship the sun

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daman19942 · 10 months ago

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*Deep breaths* I shared three four outfits for the LBB shape for this months Garden of Shadows theme, Fashion is for Everyone / Unfinished Business. I've teased these in some gameplay pics, and they've been done for months, but I never uploaded them...until now! Link here, details under the cut!

LBB Athletic Tank w/ Lucilla Sneakers

This first outfit is the oldest and quite literally the reason I learned how to use Milkshape. I wanted an LBB athletic outfit with the Uni tank, gym shorts, and sneakers and damned if I didn't nearly lose my mind making it. But that's exactly what it is. The LBB uni tank comes from @julietoon-ts2 LBB Tank PJs, the shorts are from Godlimpingby's Christmas in July set, and the shoes are from this 4t2 pants conversion by @lucilla-sims. I could've mixed and matched colors all day, but you get these seven. Categorized for everyday and athletic and contain both fat(!) and preg(!!) morph - that's how you know how old these are, I hadn't learned my lesson yet.

Download: SFS

LBB Tank w/ Skinnies and WBP Sneakers

Next we've got another really old outfit - a casual outfit using the same tank, G-Knee's skinnies (which I got from Julie here), and these great sneakers converted by WeBluePeace. Six tank colors, the shoes are the same for each. Categorized as everyday, also contains fat and preg morph (this would be the last time).

Download: SFS

LBB Sleeveless Hoodies w/ Vans or Sneakers

Lastly, I'm combining two outfits because they are the exact same except for the sneakers. These are Fanseelamb's Playful Sleeveless Hoodies with Shorts with either GLB's sneakers OR ImaginaryBoutique's 4t2 conversion of Darte's Vans Old Skool. Same recolors, I simply couldn't decide between the shoes so I made both. No morphs! Everyday and Athletic.

Download: SFS

Self aware moment: I know there is some texture repetition across these outfits, and truthfully I was very torn about even uploading these because some players may not like that (or maybe would prefer separates). But, 1). I originally made these for myself, 2). Separates for All is currently broken for me, so I'm using more full outfits again, 3). downloaders can pick and choose what they like and 4). if uploading the first functional mesh you ever made doesn't count as unfinished business, I don't know what does :)

Credits to lots of folks: Syn, JulieJ, Lucilla, GLB, WBP, Lifa (for meshing help), Fanseelamb, and ImaginaryBoutique. Everything is compressorized and clearly labelled in the folders, but let me know if you have any issues. Thanks!

(I forgot to add poly counts but i will do so tomorrow! The Vans are clearly the highest).

#the sims 2 #ts2 #sims 2 cc #s2cc #sims 2 download #clothing male #lbb #sims 2 lbb #sims 2 leanbb #ts2 leanbb #ts2 lbb #sims 2 bodyshapes

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kopw · 1 year ago

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g1 season is upon us! i'm too lazy to gif every match myself! the world needs gifmakers like you! yes you!

this guide includes: basic gifmaking, actions, how to blur on-screen graphics, coloring tips catered specifically to wrestling footage (mainly aew and njpw), how to add subtitles, what tags to use

what you will need:

photoshop (i currently use cc 2017 for windows which you can grab from this post by birdysources)

kmplayer (for extracting frames)

what you might need depending on what you're looking to gif:

4k video downloader (for downloading videos off youtube)

vkopt (browser extension that lets you download videos off vk)

step 1: getting the footage

if you're directly downloading from a site this step is super easy. just make sure to always go for the highest quality of footage available (for njpw this is nowhere near 1080p, and even aew's 1080p footage is pixelated in places—but don't let this deter you!)

if you plan on giffing something off a ppv, chances are you might need to torrent the event. if you can, look for versions off fite with either web or webrip in the title for the best quality. this applies to weekly television too (fite doesn't have picture-in-picture). always seed your torrents. yes, even that one match from 2012. especially that one

you can also get recent shows off watchprowrestling dot co (previously org) which includes njpw tour shows and indie events as well. check out indy★wrestling★group on vk for smaller promotions and japanese promotions outside of njpw (tjpw, stardom, noah...)

step 2: choosing a clip

wrestling footage quality is not consistent. entrances with too many flashing lights or small particles will have huge quality drops, so unless it's something really special, don't put yourself through that. close-ups are generally your best friend but don't shy away from clips with lots of movement (you do sometimes want to gif the wrestling parts of wrestling too)

step 3: extracting frames

open your video in kmplayer. go to the part that you want to gif (though, i suggest leaving a bit of fodder before and after the actual clip. you can always trim the frames down later and it's better to start off with more). then, press ctrl + g

this should bring up this window:

your settings might be different if it's your first time downloading the app so just copy what you see here

kmplayer automatically captures into its own folder, which you can change if you want, but i just left it as is. i recommend pinning the folder you regularly use to the quick access menu in your file explorer

hit start, start the video, let it capture frames for however long, and then hit stop on both the extractor and the video itself. and now you have a bunch of frames in a folder. cool!

step four: converting frames to layers

open photoshop. this will take ages but open it. go to file -> scripts -> load files into stack...

this will bring up this window:

click browse... and select all the frames you just extracted. depending on the number of frames, this might take you a bit. then hit ok and let your layers load into photoshop. this will take a long time (saying this as someone whose laptop tends to heat up to the temperature of an egg pan at this point in the process)

step five: actions

i use actions (user-built series of recorded commands, meaning you don't have to click everything manually) for everything except coloring. i use a mishmash of like three different actions that i never bothered to organize. these are the two most important ones:

actionpack #1 by giulia (i use the setup and save portions from this one)

squishmoon actions by lildohnut (i use the hd sharpening from here, first layer on 0.3 for close-ups and 0.2 otherwise, and the second layer at the suggested 50%)*

*most sharpening settings you'll find are made for current films and tv shows so you do have to make some adjustment to fit your crunchy wrestling footage

step six: sizing

pick a size for your gif! here is a handy chart:

as for height, it can range anywhere from 300px-540px and beyond. most people go for 350px-450px. 400px is the sweet spot

personal preference: adjust canvas size not image size and fit your footage accordingly. some footage (looking at you aew) can have an odd black bar at the bottom, and manual resizing can help getting rid of it. if you just resize the whole image that will stay there and bother you

additional tip: guidelines

9/10 times you will leave your footage centered. however, there are times when this can look a bit awkward, depending on the framing, in which case i like bringing in a few guidelines. go to view -> new guide layout...

rule of thirds is generally good for drawing the eye to certain places. these settings will divide your canvas into nine squares that help you reposition your main gif layer

optional step: blurring pop-up graphics and banners

so, you have your sharpened, resized gif... but the sharpening made the small text and other unwanted elements on your screen shrivel up like raisins. you can leave it as is, people won't mind, it's a wrestling gif, who cares. but, if you want, you can just blur it out

i'm at least a little bit certain that i'm personally the guy who brought this over from k-pop tumblr (not saying i invented the concept, i just love being a trendsetter) and so i can give you a few reasons as to why people do this. such as:

adding subtitles over pre-existing, burnt subtitles (example: njpw post-match comments off njpwworld and not youtube)

getting rid of elements that might distract people from the focal point of the gif (the hotties... and the moves. mostly the hotties)

it makes your otherwise milquetoast sharpening look a little better in contrast

it's gonna be ugly either way so it's a pick your poison type of situation. if you do want to try the blurring method, you will need a basic knowledge of filters and layer masks

step-by-step blurring process:

duplicate your gif layer

blur the layer on top (i typically go for a 4.0 gaussian blur; for this, go to filter -> blur -> gaussian blur...)

apply a layer mask to the blurred layer and make the layer mask black (this will remove the blur effect, don't be scared). to access the layer mask just click on it. you can press alt before clicking to "enter" the layer mask (though you won't see your gif this way)

go in with a soft round brush (or any brush) with white and draw over the bits you want blurred. this is the tedious part

profit?

here's a comparison:

it's really down to personal preference ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و

i convert my base gif layer and the blurred layer into a smart object before moving on with my process because sometimes photoshop likes to do this thing where it only applies the blur to the frame you're on. you can avoid this by combining the layers manually

if you're working with njpw footage and your clip plus coloring combination allows you to, you can also just go over the banner with black and blend it into the background. it's by far the best option but there's so rarely an opportunity to utilize it (i did it in the little header i made... go back and look at how beautiful she is)

step six: coloring

the big one. oh boy. prefacing this with: you can just skip coloring if you want. the sharpening settings i recommended earlier give a nice contrast to the gifs as is, so if it looks fine like that, you don't need any fancy colors. that being said...

my thought process going into coloring is to focus on skin tones and adjust everything around them. i don't tend to use psds, i always just manually color correct based on the actual footage i'm working with (venues differ, lighting differs, hues differ... incredibly hard to plan for all of it in advance). if i plan on making multiple gifsets of the same event/match, i do re-use settings, but sometimes minor adjustments are still needed

to begin coloring, you will need to use adjustment layers. you will pretty much need a basic knowledge of all of them (to the extent of knowing what the sliders and values do)

[1] i always begin with an exposure layer. this will remain above all of your layers (unless you plan on adding subtitles). here are my settings:

again, every layer you add after this will go below your exposure layer

[2] i add a selective color layer to further adjust the blacks. this will vary gif to gif but keep your adjustments small

[3] i add a vibrance layer. wrestling footage has major saturation problems that you can manage early on to make your life easier. take back a tiny bit (usually from -3 to -5) of vibrance before you begin your other color adjustments

[4] this is the big skin tone adjustment step using a curves layer. it does most of the heavy-lifting in my process. here is a video tutorial that explains the technique i use. it works the same with gifs as it does with images. the key differences are:

the image you are color picking off of shouldn't be a limited skin tone chart but rather an image of the wrestler(s) in natural (or as close to natural as you can find) lighting. i just go for renders used on the roster page. fan photography is way too edited to use here

try picking from a darker area of skin (shadows, midtones). it fits better with match lighting

this step will most likely correct color tints, but keep in mind that different promotions/shows/venues have different lighting. here are my personal observations:

aew dynamite and rampage have strong magenta tints

aew collision and roh honor club have strong red tints

njpw has a washed out blue tint

impact has a strong green tint

you can either lean into these (play around with making them really vibrant) or cancel them out using opposites on the color wheel (for example: to get rid of the magenta tint on dynamite, either decrease the magenta slider in your neutrals using selective color or add more green using color balance)

you will almost always have to add more cyan as well (either using color balance or channel mixer; channel mixer can also help you fine-tune skin tones with its blue tab—don't get rid of yellow undertones!)

[5] here is where i start fiddling around with manual adjustments that i seriously can't help you with... just add layers and change colors until you think it feels right. don't be afraid to start over if needed

[6] finishing touches! if you're like me you will have overcolored in the previous step. don't be afraid to add a saturation layer and decrease specifically the saturation of the reds (this will affect the skin tone; if you feel like you're on the right track but it's just too orange-looking, it's a saturation issue)

i also tend to add a black & white layer below the exposure layer up top set to soft light and lowered to 10% opacity. this gives you a bit of additional contrast that pulls the final gif together in my opinion

optional step: adding subtitles and watermarks

always add text layers above your coloring!

[1] subtitles

the font i use for subtitles is arial rounded mt bold, which you can download for free here. the point of subtitles is for them to be readable, so feel free to use any other font as long as it can be read with ease (nothing too thin or too blocky). if you plan on using the font i use, make sure to set it on faux bold and faux italics

font size differs based on the size of your gif, but it should normally be between 17pt and 23pt. i like to keep my tracking (letter-spacing) the same as my font size (so for 21pt subtitles i would have the tracking also at 21). i keep leading (the space between multiple lines of text) 3pt or 4pt

if there are two people speaking, i like setting the second speaker's text color to #ffd300. this is a generic yellow caption color that is still easy to read

after you have your basic text done, right click on your layer to add blending options. adding a stroke and a drop shadow can further help bring your text to the foreground. I keep my stroke (hah) at a simple 1px black. here are my drop shadow settings:

here is a more detailed guide about subtitles by clubgif

as for placement i add a horizontal guide at 95% and put my text on top of the line (while also keeping it centered vertically)

[2] watermarks

i personally don't use watermarks because i just don't care to, but if you want to add one, the same general ideas apply. just lower the opacity of your text layer at the end (if you want... again, a watermark is personalized)

step seven: timing

this is where you'll have to convert your video timeline back to a frame animation!

delete the frames that you don't need and then set a consistent timing (click on your first frame and shift + click on your last one to select all of your frames before adjusting). i like my gifs at 0.04, but depending on the footage you can go for 0.03 (newer bte episodes) or 0.05 (this also works if you don't have enough frames and want your gif a bit slower)

step eight: exporting

go to file -> export -> save for web (legacy)...

here are my export settings:

make sure to keep your gif under 10mb! if your file exceeds 10mb, you can't upload it to tumblr. you either have to cut some more frames or add compression to your gif (something i would never do, i always just cut frames)

additional tip: tagging

you have your gif! but how do you get people to actually look at it?

i always tag wrestlers* (full name, for both searchability and tag filtering purposes), promotions (initialisms like #aew over #all elite wrestling; if it's a more generic promotion name i.e. impact, go for #impact wrestling), tracked edit tags (#aewedit, #njpwedit; this not only helps source blogs find your posts and give them a bigger reach but it lets you browse other people's works). if you want to go the extra mile you can also include which event/video the gifset is from somewhere in your tags (if it's not already in the caption)

*even if you feel like it personally hurts you to tag that one wrestler you can't stand who happens to be in a match with your fave: do try tagging all wrestlers involved for ease of filtering, especially if you don't add image descriptions to your gifsets (tumblr's post content filtering system picks up on those)

general tumblr etiquette but don't cross-tag (i.e. tag a wwe gifset as #aew). no one likes cross-taggers. crossover events are exempt from this rule of course (forbidden door, multiverse united...)

additional tip: accessibility

don't use gradient text in your captions. screen readers can't read them!

if you can, include an image description. no matter how basic. this not only helps people with screen readers but the alt text of your gif is what's going to be displayed in case the gif isn't loading properly. here's a guide on how to caption gifsets by shangs

and you're done! all that's left to do is get silly with it. once you have the basics down you can virtually do anything. you can make those pretty graphics with blending. you can gif every single match of your fave in chronological order. sky's the limit

don't be discouraged if your gifs are not "perfect" from the get-go. this is a hobby just like any other hobby, and with time you'll get better at it. don't compare yourself to others and don't put your efforts down. only you can make the exact gifs you want to see

#aewedit #njpwedit #i spent all day on this... i hope it's at least a little bit helpful 🙏

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omentranslates · 8 months ago

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Trigun Maximum Chugai Grace Cafe Collaboration - I Translated the Website :3

Hi I saw someone on twt wanting this to be translated and that's literally all it takes to get me moving anymore so!

Anyways I translated all the food and drinks, I found the references they chose really cute except for the evil one lmao and I also included the unbelievably small print drink ingredients if you wanna try mixing them yourself!! 🫶

Also also, if you know how to use a proxy, there is actually some stuff here that overseas fans can get our hands on!! Under the cut to keep the dash clean!! Hope it helps!!!!!

Edit my dumbass forgot the original announcement link sjshsk IT’S HERE!!!

So, the menu

Going from left to right we've got

"Battle Sausage Spaghetti"

"As Many Salmon Sandwiches You Want"

"Love&Peace Donuts"

"Banana Sundae"

and on the bottom row

"The Perfect Meal Plate: Vash's Handmade Fried Rice and Salad" ((´༎ຶོω༎ຶོ`) o k )

"Particularly Wonderful Udon"

"Mille-feuille with Ceylon Tea" (i believe the first part specifies gateau mille-feuille but I went to episode one and checked the subs for what they had her say officially and they left the gateau off so I did too)

"Latte with a random character art"

Character Drinks!!!

The Bride Soda, which comes with a double-sided postcard of the sworn friends (very common nickname for Vash and Wolfwood in JP fandom and ig official uses it too)

So the soda is their proprietary thing, it doesn't say what flavor it is or if it has one, but the shotglasses come with a little bit of smoked oak syrup and black ceylon tea and you're meant to fill the rest of the glass with soda and drink it that way. And then the rest of the text is just information and disclaimers for customers that plan on taking the bottle home (I guess it breaks really easily that’s So. lmao).

Vash's Drink <3

strawberry syrup

carbonated water and lemon juice

yellow candied cherries (drained cherries) and ice

Wolfwood's Drink

crushed coffee jelly and cafe ice (ice made and flavored with concentrated coffee and fruit juice)

brewed iced coffee and gum syrup

blue curaçao syrup and carbonated water

experimental ampules filled with blue soda

the cigarette is full of light brown sugar you're meant to mix in before drinking

Knives's Drink

apple juice and round sliced apples

mint and ice (it looks like mint leaves but full disclosure they have blurred that kanji to all hell I have no idea)

Legato's Drink

blue curaçao syrup

grapefruit juice

carbonated water and a mint cherry

a lemon and ice

Collab Merch

(Overseas pay attention here!!!!!! ChugaiOnline is opening these to online orders so we can get them with a proxy, I'll leave their link at the end of this section!!!!!!)

I've also listed all the prices in yen here so you can convert them to your currency, and all of these are the prices including the listed Japanese sales tax. If you want to see the price without it, it’s just the other number on the image!

So they've got

Two way acrylic figure stands (the main stand comes with a ball chain, you can reference these on Amiami for what this kind of product looks like I'm prettyyyyy sure like they're called different but it looks like they go together the same way). Anyways this is a set of 6 and 1650 yen each, it looks like you get to choose which one you want but they don't have a deal listed for getting all of them.

Next to it are the buttons (also called can badges idk which one is more common over here), set of 12 (6 are regular and 6 are glittery variety). They are 550 yen per button AT RANDOM, THEY WILL GIVE YOU A RANDOM ONE, or a box with one of each all 12 for 6600 yen.

Below that is the polaroid collection, it's also a 12 piece set and you can get A RANDOM ONE, THEY DO NOT LET YOU PICK for 330 yen each or a box with all of them for 3960 yen.

The same exact deal with the plastic (like a vinyl material) postcards underneath, they're double-sided and come one for 660 yen each at random or the whole set for 7920 yen.

The calendar is for 2025 and is 1980 yen probably obvious but y'know

I would be so shocked if a proxy actually let you ship the Kuroneko sama cookie discs lmao but hey wtf they're 1080 yen.

The Bride soda is listed here because this is the same merch that will be sold in the shop but they specify elsewhere that it's not available for online order even in Japan you have to go to the cafe ;-;

Also this is just personal experience but a lot of proxies will not let you get like blind or random stuff like the buttons they don't let you pick which one, some of them will only let you get it if you're getting the whole box.

Annnnnnd online order special gifts!!

For every 3000 yen spent in merch (including tax) you will get a random postcard from this set!! There are 15 to collect, they are NOT divided into halves of the event, you can get any of them at any time or all at once!! However, you can't combine orders made at different times/by different people to get more and if they run out that's it. Altho fwiw I have never seen an event run out of these lol

The online order period will be from Friday, May 24th at 11 am to Sunday, June 16th at 11:59 pm (both JST) and items will begin to arrive (within Japan, proxies will have to handle our own shipping ofc) from August 2024 on a first ordered first shipped basis.

CHUGAIONLINE STORE (JAPAN)

Ok, this last bit is relevant to the in-person cafe experience so it's just for if you're curious about other cool things going on or you have a hobby of watching JP mercari like a hawk and wanna know what to expect!

Guests who reserve places at the cafe online will get copies of some of Nightow sensei's most prized sketch pages, they'll get 3 random ones! Like with the special gift postcards, there are a limited amount and this event will end when they're all gone.

And these are the coasters, guests will get one with every item they order off the food or drink menu at random (while supplies last)! The variety you can get is split between the former and latter halves of the event so there's something new to come back for even if you've already been once! (The first 12 days is on top and the last 12 days is on bottom)

They're also doing a wallscroll campaign!

They'll have these decorating the venue, and when the event is over a raffle will be held where the winners get to pick out a scroll of their choice!

OK I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING RELEVANT HAPPY TRIGUN MANGA CAFE EVENT!!!!!

#trigun #trigun maximum #english translation #chugai has honestly been so fucking good to us yknow theyre the ones responsible for the mochi plushies and nendroids too??#yeah i genuinely hope you guys use this as a guide to make them make a billion dollars this is now a mutually beneficial trigun relationshi #i hope that person on twitter finds this anyways sdflkj #leaving in the tags but yall know this is a very small blog so. its not in my requests but if any of you ever need help finding something o #or help with a proxy genuinely just hmu i gotchu #ok goodnight

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hussyknee · 1 year ago

Text

I accidentally deleted this ask yesterday but fortunately had a screenshot. Ngl I'm kind of ??? about it because...why would you single out Hinduism to pick the most fundamentalist, cultural and political aspect of it, that's not even practised in most the Hindu minorities outside of India? Nearly every community in India has a caste system regardless of religion. Within Hinduism there's no just one caste system either. Eelam Tamil Hindus have a caste system, but it's not as violent as India's (although of course still violent and oppressive). Sinhalese have a caste system too, and the ones still invested in it would swear blind this was related to Buddhism somehow, a doctrine that preaches against inequality of any kind. Caste systems are literally haram in Islam and yet some Muslim communities managed to rationalize creating one because they wanted to assimilate into the worst of us I guess.

I know fuck all about Hinduism to tell you the truth, but my sister is a convert and devotee of Durga Matha. I asked her about it and she sent me this:

There are as many variants of Hinduism as there are varieties of grass. The only thing they have in common is the Vedas which is a bunch of hymns and stuff. It doesn't really go into detail about caste.

The caste system comes from a book called Manu Smriti. Some accept it as a Hindu text, some don't. Hinduism isn't even a religion actually. It's a bunch of similar belief systems that the Britishers lumped in together for ease of classification. Within Hinduism there are many sects- Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, etc. So to define Hinduism as some sort of oppressive religion doesn't make sense because it isn't a religion as Westerners define it. Anyway, truth is everyone cherry picks the parts of religion that suits them and discards the rest. Some think that's being dishonest. I think that's just common sense.

This makes sense to me. It's very colonial to monolithize belief systems that evolved from the disparate religious texts and syncretic practices of dozens of kingdoms and dynasties over 4000 years, just because it shares the unique character of belonging to the Indian subcontinent. (Which is precisely why its propagated by Hindutva nutcases. They're imperialist colonizers permanently snorting Indian manifest destiny crack.)

Bestie. Friendo. My guy (gender neutral). Ideology doesn't shape society. People wrap ideology around what they already want to believe and do. This is how you get Zionists (both Christian and Jewish), Wahabi/Salafi Muslims, Hindutvas and... whatever we're supposed to call this current iteration of Theravadin Buddhism that is also characterized by ethnosupremacy and genocide. Religion takes the character of the individuals and ideologues that choose to follow it. There are no exceptions.

To reiterate the point that inspired this ask: Some LGBT folks's queerness is inextricable from their religious identity. Stigmatising and ostracizing religion in queer spaces is alienating, racist and violent. Just like no one should force religion on you, no one should force secularism on people either. There is enough air for us all to breathe free.

#religion #hinduism #religious tolerance #casteism #social stratification #buddhism #islam #anti zionism #hindutva #culture and society #racism #colonialism #christianity #knee of huss #asks #anon #sri lanka

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letomills · 2 years ago

Photo

Download showerproof skins: SFS / Mega Download Dummy Thicc TF clothing: SFS / Mega

Dummy Thicc is a body shape created by @digisims2, learn all about it here.

This is a follow-up on the Dummy Thicc AF-EF clothing set I posted here. Explanations and previews under the cut.

This post gives you 2 independant downloads:

I. Five custom skins correlated to the Dummy Thicc body shape (S1-S4 + alien)

These skins will pick up your skin defaults (or the Maxis skins if you don’t use defaults). Let me repeat that they are custom skins - they will not replace your skin defaults, they will only have the same textures as your defaults. They are also not geneticized or townified. If you’d like to genetify and townify them, check out Rikkulidea’s tutorial. Skins that are correlated to custom body shapes are also called “showerproof”, meaning that the body shapes they are linked to only shows up when the sims are nude (taking a bath, streaking, doing ACR stuff, etc.). They have no effect whatsoever on clothing, because clothes use their own meshes. To show up at all on a nude sim, these skins require top and bottom meshes, which are included. I took the liberty to include the AF-EF meshes @digisims2 shared here, and added the bottom mesh with block feet. I also converted the shape for TF and supplied TF top and bottom meshes. You will have to choose between block feet and sexy feet, and between Maxis hands and smooth hands. Digi’s mesh files have been renamed so that everything is as clear as possible. The skins come in two versions: AF-EF and TF-AF-EF. If you want skins that give the Dummy Thicc body shape to AF-EF only, only keep the “AF-EF” folder. If you want TF to get the Dummy Thicc shape as well, only keep the “TF-AF-EF” folder. You can use these skins on any sim though: all other age groups and all M sims who have them will just have the standard Maxis shape.

Uncensored previews are included, though their value is limited since as I said, these skins will have different textures depending on the default skins you use. If something isn’t clear, feel free to ask.

~~~

II. Dummy Thicc TF clothing set

You don’t need the skins for the clothes to work. Same as with my AF-EF set, everything has fat and preg morphs, polycounts are low to reasonable and all clothing categories are covered. All recolors are BSOK’d.

1. Sweater Jeans Outfit

Mashup of @yuichen’s Drinking Mercury sweater (+ Mazsims recolors), Kayleigh’s Bustelo jeans (with Mork’s textures) and the sneakers from this. Categorized as everyday. Polycount: 2,134.

2. T-shirt Shorts Low Sneakers

Top textures are by @serabiet, shorts are by Aweeshie, and shoes are by Yuxi with textures by @deedee-sims. Categorized as everyday. Polycount: 2030.

3. Floral Dress Wedges

Tops and skirt textures by @gobbluthbutagirl, original skirt mesh by Sentate, shoes by Trapping. Categorized as everyday and formal. Polycount: 2130.

Find the Maxis-size TF version here.

4. Puffy-sleeved minidress

Original dress mesh by Maxis, dress textures by Nymphy (I got them from @mrs-mquve-cc‘s blog here) shoes by Amaryll. Categorized as everyday and formal. Polycount: 2,056.

5. Long Scarf Is Long Slouchy Boots

The original Long Scarf is Long is a 3t2 conversion by @rented-space but I used Eir’s shoeswap from here. Textures by Eir, @rented-space and @mrs-mquve-cc (from here). Categorized as everyday and outerwear. Polycount: 5,090.

6. Athletic Mashup

Mashup of yftophipsweats and @platinumaspiration’s Clumsyalien Riona Pants. Pants colors are my recolors of Platasp’s textures, tops are based on the Maxis textures and some of these jooxis recolors, except the white one which was taken from this billielith set. Categorized as everyday and athletic. Polycount: 4,222.

Find the Maxis-size TF version here.

7. Leotards

Original mesh by Maxis, recolors by Maxis, Parsimonious Kate and Emosims. You’ll have to choose if you want them standalone or repo’d to Dummy Thicc AF-EF. Categorized as athletic. Polycount: 2,152.

8. Swimwear Sporty

Original mesh by Maxis, one-piece recolors by Anna (for the blue) and me, two-piece recolors by @persimmonthusiast / Monsieur Oshima. You’ll have to choose if you want block feet or sexy feet. You’ll also have to choose if you want the one-piece recolors standalone or repo’d to Dummy Thicc AF-EF. The two-piece recolors are standalone only. Categorized as swimwear. Polycount: blockfeet: 2,024 // sexyfeet: 6,602.

9. Underwear

Textures by MzzUnvrz, Rosaline_10 (Cute and Valentines), @autumnparanoia / FadeToBlack (VFormation) and @artemida-sims (here). Choose if you want block feet or sexy feet. Categorized as underwear. Polycount: blockfeet: 1,948 // sexyfeet: 6,526.

10. MissTiikeri Cinnamon Spider Nightie

Original dress mesh by Sentate, dress textures by @misstiikeri, leggings textures from here. Choose if you want block feet or sexy feet. Categorized as sleepwear. Polycount: blockfeet: 1,912 // sexyfeet: 6,490.

Find the Maxis-size TF version here.

11. Parka Jeans Outerwear

Original coat and boots by Maxis (I removed the gloves and lowered the saturation on the pink and blue), jeans by @pixeldolly. Categorized as outerwear. Polycount: 2,442.

#sims 2 #download #body shapes #dummy thicc #clothing:everyday #clothing:outerwear #clothing:athletic #clothing:formal #clothing:sleepwear #clothing:underwear #sims 2 download #sims 2 cc #ts2cc #s2cc #clothing:swimwear #showerproof skins

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chordsykat · 2 years ago

Note

Can you explain what type of guitars and speakers someone like Toki might use when he's on stage? I'm a noob and don't play at all, but, want to write some music scenes into a story. Sorry if this question is dumb.....

No such thing as a dumb question around here, OP -- just dumb answers because it's me. :D

And apologies that it took me a while to come back around to this one. Talking guitars gets the neurodivergent side of my brain all sex-crazy, so you're in for a ride. And so, I'm proud to present:

A Semi-Competent Explanation of Gear for Metalocalypse-Inclined Persons Who Might Not Speak Guitar-Weirdo.

Strap in and learn a thing, kids!

The Guitar: Toki uses a Gibson Flying-V and in later seasons, he's shown using an Epiphone Snow Falcon Flying-V. Gibson is a guitar manufacturer that's been around for a longass time, and they actually own Epiphone these days. Generally speaking, Gibson makes high-end guitars and the Epiphone division makes more affordable versions of those guitars.

Though they've steadily lost some ground to competition from other brands, (ESP/LTD/Jackson to name a few) Gibson/Epiphone Flying-V's are still a common sight and a favorite guitar amongst metal artists. The author of this guide finds them to be more balanced than the Gibson Explorer, and notes they allow better fret access than even a Gibson Les Paul. In fact, I have no idea why Skwisgaar chooses to play an Explorer (except the whole aesthetic/James Hetfied thing - I get it, I do)... given the choice between Explorer, V, and LP, I'd go with the Les Paul or the Flying-V over the Explorer for playability, alone. But that's me.

(Side note/bitch: Eden's Reverse Flying-V? Much as I love how they look, I have no idea how anyone ever managed to think making such a thing was a good idea... Yowza. :D)

The Pickups: If you're not already aware, pickups are the little "soap bars" that hang out in the middle of the instrument which are responsible for "picking up" the vibrations of the strings and converting them into an electrical signal which an amplifier can translate into "guitar sounds."

Dethklok uses EMG pickups, and according to Skwisgaar's interviews, they're probably 81/85's. These are active pickups, which means they have a battery they hook into in order to work. This also makes them louder than traditional magnetic humbuckers. 81's are usually positioned at the bridge (lower on the guitar) and are a preferred lead pickup for heavy metal artists especially. 85's are the all-around reliable rhythm humbucker most often paired in the neck position, but some artists also use a second 81 (I wouldn't be surprised if Magnus, king over-overdoing everything, does this) for rhythm. Less commonly, metal artists might use an 89 in the neck position, which can be setup to toggle between a humbucker or olschool single-coil mode (Caj uses an 81-89 setup). There's also an EMG 60, which produces a super clean tone in the rhythm position.

The Amplifiers: If you're going to end war and stuff, you gotta play loud. Dethklok used to play Krank amps but have since moved on to Marshall. Unfortunately, Krank seems to have gone out of business as of 2013, which is a real shame, because in the early-aughts, they were (in my opinion) setting themselves up to shake up the gear industry in some very innovative ways. I remember getting into them and Orange at the same time, having only known Marshalls, for the most part.

But Dethklok now uses Marshalls exclusively, so no reason for me to be getting all reminisc-y. Typically, guitarists of a professional capacity will use tube amps - so named for the vacuum tubes they use to get their sound. The alternative, solid state amps, work well enough... but they don't sound half as good when they get loud.

Pedals and Junk: Not really sure what pedals Dethklok might be using, specifically. I'm sure there's the usual wahs, choruses and distortions. You're better off asking Brendon about this one. :D

Anyway -- hope this was helpful, OP. It's not a lot but if you want more details about how any of these things work, hit me up and I'll do my best to be a resource for your music-related questions.

Sorry it took me a while to respond!

#mtl #music stuff #guitars and junk #dethklok #toki wartooth #answered

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furfcozy · 2 years ago

Text

can i just gush about rss though?

rss is so fuckin rad those who don't know what rss is: RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is basically a standardized way for websites/blogs to send news and updates to any program or app that supports it it's a standard that's almost 25 years old, but has so many perks of using it over all kinds of other stuff in this world of everything trying to grab your attention in the most hostile of ways

super easy to add sites! — some rss readers have a built in list of sites with rss support that you can pick and choose from to get started, most rss-friendly websites have a link that you just copy-paste into the reader and it adds it

no algorithmy shit! — you get to pick and choose which sites, blogs, subreddits, youtube channels, etc. and it's all delivered chronologically

no accounts needed! — nearly everything that supports rss just lets you add their feed without an account

no fuckin ads in your face! — feeds generally don't have advertisements in them, with some possible exceptions i personally have yet to see, and it depends on the if reader app you use has their own built in ad delivery system, but for the most part it's ad-free

far more control! — readers typically let you tweak and customize all kinds of things like how often your feeds refresh, if you want similar feeds grouped together in a folder, if you want to be notified when feeds are updated, etc.

no doomscrolling! — big thing that's helped me personally: readers aren't built like modern apps where the point is to get you to stay in the app for disgusting amounts of time; readers are built mostly like an email app or client. you don't scroll down an endless feed of nonsense that may or may not be relevant to your interests. there's no social junk, no comments, no arguments, nothing but what you want to see in a little package every hour or so, wrapped up in a nice bow.

yes, i know my own reader looks like something straight out of windows xp and outlook express, but that's why i wanted this specific reader

the downside to rss is that it's not been nearly as popular as it once was, meaning a lot of websites don't even have it anymore. why don't they have it anymore? because of the reasons above. it doesn't try to trick you into stay on their website for hours, it doesn't shove ads in your face, it doesn't force you to make an account for them to sell the data.

i highly emplore anyone who wants a break away from a lot of the clutter and garbage to try rss at least once. don't think of it like a social media app, think of it like an email app without the spam or ads.

some sites to try rss with:

some subreddits you like (just add .rss to the end! e.g. reddit.com/r/cozyplaces.rss)

your local news sites

news sites relevant to your hobbies

youtube channels (just copy the channel url!)

if all else fails, check out sites that let you convert the front page of a website to rss (yes they exist, but sometimes they do need an account/subscription so be aware!)

#rss #tech #god i fucking love old tech stuff

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bastardsofravenkroft-blog · 2 years ago

Note

HOW ARE YOU DOING/WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

[^PRETEND IT'S SPARKLY AND FUN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE COOL THINGS]

below the cut ~~

So the sparkle things are gifs, which means we need to

1.) make the frames and

2.) turn the frames into a gif

Step 1: Making the frames

I use ibispaint bc its free and has great versatility, it doesnt matter what photo editing app you use it will just change how you add the glitter. To keep this super simple im just going to show you how to glitter

In ibispaint, open whatever size canvas you want/open the image youre glittering. Choose the text tool and add your chosen text

On the bottom row here ^^ you can see a little button with a number two, its where you can open the layer/canvas menu. Click that

Click the "+" on the left hand side, click clipping, and click the dropdown that says "normal" and choose "add" (this is the blending mode). Your screen should now look the same as above.

in the menu on the righthand side (the "tools" menu), click the fx filter icon

Scroll to "artistic"

Fix the settings until they look like the ones above

Type: color

Strength: 75

Amount: 25

And blending mode normal

Click the green check

Now go to the adjust color section and click "exact line drawing" and match it to the settings above

Black: 0

White: 100

And middle: 55

Click the check

The layer is now going to be black rather than the colors it was before, that means youre on the right track

Click the x to leave the filter menu, go back to the layers/canvas menu

Click this little flippy button, "invert layer color" now you should have a glitter layer!! This glitter layer is going to be part of one of our frames

Now repeat the steps of making a new layer, clipping it and changing the blending mode, adding the filters, and inverting the layer color 1-2 more times to have two or three glitter layers (yes theyll be stacked on one another but that is okay for now)

Saving the frames to make a gif:

Now we have several layer, descending they should be:

2-3 glitter layers

A text layer

(And an empty base layer, just ignore it lols its just chillin, u can delete it if you want it doesnt matter)

All these layers have eye images on them. If the eye is dark the layer is visible. If its not its invisible. We are going to save every glitter layer over the text layer individually to get the frames for our gif

The text layer needs to be visible at all times during these next steps.

Turn off the visibility of all the glitter layers except the bottom one (by clicking the eye icon on the layer)

Only one should be visible while we're saving the frames

There is an arrow on the bottom bar all the way at the right

Saving as transparent png makes the background see through like the gif above, save as png makes the background white. Pick whichever, but choose the same one for all of them (if you choose transparent choose transparent for all frames)

Go back to the layer canvas menu, make the glitter layer that is currently visible invisible. Click the eye on the layer above that one to make it visible (the second glitter layer)

Repeat the saving process. If you have a third glitter frame, make glitter frame 2 invisible, glitter layer 3 visible, and save.

Part 2: making the gif itself

go to ezgif dot com. ezgif dot com is the best simple gif maker. ezgif dot com is now your best friend. hashtag not sponsored

Click gif maker

Click "choose files", "photo library", add the glitter frames you made and click add or choose whatever is at the top idr

(I wound up using 3 frames not 2) where it says delay under each gif, delete the "20" and add 12 to one and 13 to the rest (the delay is how much time each frame will take in the gif, using one number thats different keeps tumblr from screwing up and accidentally converting them into videos. Idk why that happens but sometimes it does.)

Ignore all the rest of the settings, you dont need to mess with them just for lil glitter gifs and click the create button at the bottom

Now you can either click download when your gif pops up or you can long press to save it directly to your camera roll

Extra notes:

If you want your glitters to be rainbow, skip the "exact line drawing" and "invert layer color" steps

Ezgif isnt good for high quality gifs. For the gifs on my website i make the frames in ibispaint and use photopea (a free online photoshop) to make the gifs themselves. But thats more difficult to do as you cant really use photopea on mobile without a mouse and its much more complicated (so thats a separate tutorial if you ever need high quality gifs)

#If any part of this was confusing or if you need help lmk on discord im more than happy to help you ^w^#gifs #crimson answers #crimson explains #kaikaikaikaikai

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ryderlynnofficial · 6 months ago

Text

and... action!

DATE & TIME: May 2024 LOCATION: Hollywood Boulevard, Venice Beach SUMMARY: Ryder and Kitty are on set to film the music video for Ryder's new single, Partners in Crime. WARNINGS: None TAGS: @kittywildeofficial

Kitty This outfit was absolutely ridiculous. The leather stars that had been looped together in some chainmail contraption could barely qualify as trousers, but when paired with the matching black corset top, she couldn’t deny she looked good. Kitty squinted as she stepped out of the trailer, the hot LA sun beating down on her, and she prayed to God she wouldn’t sweat and smudge her makeup. Yeah, maybe a music video for Ryder Lynn wasn’t the height of prestige, but she still didn’t want to look like a drowned rat, especially in front of him. She was ushered through set towards where the red convertible sat, Ryder in the front seat, and she walked over to stand next to the driver’s door, her hands on her hips. “Was the outfit your idea?” She asked, an eyebrow raised. Ryder Ryder had been skeptical when his management team suggested putting Kitty in his new music video, trying to make the most of the publicity buzz surrounding the kiss at the party. All it had taken was one camera phone for their locked lips to be the talk of the internet and the remaining print media outlets which hadn’t been driven to extinction yet. His skepticism turned to outright shock when she accepted the job offer. He had been under the impression that she had better things to do and none of them involved him.

Ryder had been waiting in the car for Kitty to be done with hair and make up, absentmindedly drumming a beat on the steering wheel with his hands. He turned as he heard Kitty’s voice next to him, his eyes instinctively widening as he took in the sight of her. “No it wasn’t but clearly I need to give that person a raise. You look hot as fuck,” He commented, trying his best to keep his eyes locked on hers. It was a tricky task given her (incredible) boobs were the same level as his head. Kitty Kitty taking this job had been a surprise to her team. Although it was obvious why Ryder’s people had wanted her for this video, this wasn’t the kind of high profile shoot that she’d gotten used to over her years in the industry. She didn’t really have a good reason for them as to why she’d accepted, having gone with some half-assed ‘I want to push my boundaries creatively’ that none of them bought (it was a music video where she looked sexy in the back of a car - a dime a dozen job for her).

The truth, though she’d never admit it, lay somewhere in the fluttering feeling in her gut as she watched Ryder work hard to look absolutely everywhere except her chest, and she smirked, moving her hands to rest on the car and leaning forward against it. She knew this action pushed them further into his line of sight, but she kept her eyes upwards, nonchalantly looking at the sectioned-off street around them, bustling with the activity of a music video shoot. “I’m aware.” Was all she said. “God, you guys sectioned off half of Hollywood Boulevard for this shit.” She commented. “You must think this record has some promise.” Ryder Ryder had been planning something entirely different for this video but the plans had been abruptly changed when the pictures of he and Kitty had come out. His team had gone into planning mode, rewriting the video to capitalise on the attention that people were now paying him. He’d rather have gotten the attention on merit from his music, but he knew that fame was fickle and he had to pick and choose which battles were most important. Besides, getting to spend a day in close proximity to Kitty was hardly a chore.

“I like to think all of my songs have promise,” Ryder replied nonchalantly, still trying his best to not stare at her chest. He didn’t want her to think that he just liked her for her body, there were plenty of guys that she could go to for that. He liked her for the way she challenged him, and the insults they traded back and forth whilst pretending there wasn’t a strong chemistry underlying it all. Not that the boobs hurt either. “You must have thought it had promise too, since you agreed to do it. I can’t imagine you agreeing to a dud project,” He added, raising an eyebrow at her in question. Kitty Kitty shrugged a shoulder. She had listened to the song, in a meeting with her team, and then a few times in the car on the way home afterwards. She hated to admit that it was good, definitely good enough to warrant her tapping her foot along to the beat. Of course it went without saying that Ryder couldn’t know that. “You’re right, I wouldn’t.” She commented, moving back, impressed that he hadn’t fallen prey to her cleavage trap. “It’s not a bad song, Lynn, and you’re damn lucky the music video’s gonna kill as welll.

The director came to them now, some scrawny guy with a bad goatee, explaining to them the general vibes of the shoot, but it seemed that Kitty and Ryder had a decent amount of creative control over what they did in the car. Before she knew it, she was stood in the backseat of the car behind Ryder as they sped down Hollywood Boulevard for some behind shots, Kitty’s hair tossed in the wind, moving to the music that played just loudly enough for them to hear it. "God, I hope you’re a good driver.” She called out to Ryder as she danced, raising her arms above her head. “I’m not dying here doing this video with you.” Ryder Ryder was very surprised when she called his song “not bad”. That was incredibly high praise from her, and said to his face too. He was about to reply with a quip about how he was going to use that as a quote on the album cover, like how books did, when the director appeared next to them instead. Ever the professional, he swallowed the comment and made a mental note to try and remember it for later.

They were soon on the move since apparently the agenda for the day wasn’t just for him to sit and talk to Kitty more. He was a good driver, usually. But normally he didn’t have Kitty Wilde dancing in his back seat, looking unbelievable in her black leather outfit. The LA sunlight seemed to be bouncing off her, making her even more of a vision than she usually was. He was captivated, and it made it hard to pay attention to the road. He was just glad it’d been cleared of people so he could avoid any manslaughter convictions for when ran off the road, his only defense that Kitty had looked too good to take his eyes off of. “Don’t worry about me, I got you,” He called back, forcing his gaze back to the stretch of concrete in front of him. “I’m a great driver. Formula 1 tried to sign me up but I said no. I didn’t want to show them all up,” He added jokingly. Kitty Despite her attempt at a sultry, careless appearance, Kitty’s legs were trembling. Ryder wasn’t going so fast, but she was still standing up in a moving car with absolutely nothing holding her down. The director had guaranteed that it was safe, especially given that the road was clear of cars and there were first responders on-set, not to mention the thousand legal threats her team had made in regards to her safety, but it still made her anxious. She rolled her eyes at Ryder’s words, glad that the cameras were behind them so she could relax and talk to him a bit and get her mind off what she was doing. Plus, something about the way he said ‘I got you’ made her believe him.

“Yeah, you comparing your driving to Formula 1 doesn’t help. Those cars go stupid fast.” She replied, shaking her hair out in the wind. The car bumped against something and she sharply sucked in her breath, leaning forward momentarily to grab Ryder’s seat. “Jesus Christ.” She muttered, her brain quickly working overtime to arch her back and hopefully make this shot something they could use, despite her blunder. Still gripping the seat, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself, trying to focus on something, anything, to get her mind off the fear and get her standing upright again.

Ryder’s song restarted from where it was playing on a loop on the car radio, and she hummed along a little, the tune starting to catch on, before her mouth started moving of its own accord. “And if the heat comes close enough to burn…” Her voice was soft as she sang along. “Then we’ll play with fire 'cause…” She slowly pushed herself up, using the momentum to raise her arms again in time to sing the chorus a little bit louder. “You’ll never takes us alive…” Ryder Ryder couldn't help but stare at Kitty through the rear view mirror as she sang along to his song. His song that she apparently knew the words to, which was just surreal. Part of him had expected her to just show up and look hot, he didn't expect her to actually put effort in or learn the lyrics. According to her, she didn't even like him so he hadn't thought she'd consider the video worth her time.

"We swore that death will do us part," Ryder sang, his eyes briefly flickering to the road before they were back on Kitty again. "They'll call our crimes a work of art." He hadn't written the song with the blonde in mind, but a work of art was certainly a fitting description for her. He tried to picture the two of them on the run, a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. They'd be a hot criminal duo, that was for sure.

"Ryder, eyes on the road please, you're not supposed to ogle Kitty the entire video," Ryder heard the director call over the megaphone. He reluctantly pulled his eyes back to the road ahead of them, already fighting the urge to glance back at the rearview mirror again. Kitty Eyes closed, Kitty threw her head back, confidence starting to settle in her stomach as she continued to sing."You'll never takes us alive..." She knew she wasn't much of a singer. Her talents had always been relatively limited to her looks and her wit, and part of her wondered if she should maybe feel self-conscious singing in front of Ryder, especially since it was his song. As much as she hated to admit it, he had a voice and a half on him.

But as she lowered her head, her eyes opened and locked onto his in the rearview mirror. Her instinct was to laugh at how he was staring at her with a look on his face that could only be described as captivated, and make some teasing comment. However, she found herself keeping her eyes on his, letting herself sway her hips and toss her hair over her shoulders as she continued to sing, her eyes trained on him, all humour lost from her face as she found herself as captivated by him as he seemed to be by her. "We'll live like spoiled royalty, lovers and partners, partners in crime..."

A voice on a megaphone was the only thing that could've possibly broken the spell she was under, and she jumped slightly, letting out a chuckle at the director's words. She brought a hand down to grip onto Ryder's headrest for a moment, leaning down towards him with her back and knees perfectly straight, knowing that it was giving an eyeful to the camera. "Yeah, Lynn, stop ogling me." She murmured into his ear, before straightening herself up again, almost disappointed to not see his eyes in the mirror anymore. Ryder Ryder wasn't embarrassed by the call out. Recently he had made no effort to hide the fact that he was into her. He'd always found her attractive but that night at the party where she kissed him had kicked it into another level. He didn't think it was a lie to say it had been the best kiss of his life, and it'd only been fleeting. He could only imagine what getting to kiss her properly, away from prying eyes, would feel like.

Ryder smiled to himself as he felt her lips next to his ear when she spoke. Stop looking so damn sexy then. That's what he would have replied back to her if he got the chance. But not only did she move out of earshot as she straightened back up, but he didn't want their business to end up on the internet again. He had no doubt that the sound technician monitoring the mic feed wasn't paid enough to stop them leaking the audio. He wanted something real with her, and ending up on TMZ again over such a comment wasn't the way to go about that. He'd just tell her later when they were away from everyone else. So instead of saying anything, he found her eyes in the rearview mirror again before throwing a wink in her direction along with a flash of his most charming smile.

The rest of the car section of the shoot passed in a blur. They must have run through the song dozens of times, capturing tons of footage from every possible angle. They'd also made their way to Venice Beach with the hope of capturing the final shots as the sun set. "Ryder, Kitty, positions please." The director called, indicating for them to move closer to each other. The shot was supposed to be two of them getting cosy as they celebrated pulling off their crime spree. "And try to look like you like each other."

"You're going to have to put your acting to the test there," Ryder teased under his breath as he moved closer to Kitty, their foreheads almost touching. He held eye contact with her, for the sake of the shot of course, a smirk playing on his lips. Kitty Getting Ryder's eyes back on hers did more than calm her again, save for the butterflies, and the rest of the car section of the shoot passed almost upsettingly quickly. Over the couple of hours that Ryder drove up and down Sunset Boulevard she had developed a fondness for the wind in her hair and Ryder's eyes watching her in the rear view mirror. Even for the shots where she'd had to hang off the back of the car, she'd felt nothing but adrenaline where she would've usually felt fear. There was something about Ryder that calmed her. Or maybe it was that she liked showing off for him. She liked the idea that he was watching her.

The last part of the shoot brought them to Venice Beach. Not Kitty's favourite place, but at least they'd put some wooden flooring down on top of the sand; the one stipulation in Kitty's contract. She'd risk falling out of a car, but this video wasn't worth getting sandy feet. Production had done a great job timing this, because the sunset was exquisite, but it meant they had to work quickly. At the director's words, Kitty rolled her eyes, before turning towards Ryder. She had her signature unimpressed look on her face, lips pursed and eyebrow raised. She stepped closer to him, eyes flicking up to meet his, determined to keep the look on her face as long as possible.

"Well, Lord knows you won't have to act at all." She teased him right back in a whispered breath, just as the director shouted 'action'. Immediately, her lips parted, and her eyes flickered between Ryder's lips and his eyes as she kept close to him. She moved one hand to rest on his chest as she tilted her head back, moving herself as close to him as she could without actually touching lips. She knew she had plausible deniability that this was acting but if she were being totally honest with herself, this came so naturally. What she'd been doing before had been acting. Ryder Ryder heard the director call out action and it was like his tunnel vision just switched on. He could see Kitty but everything else was blurry or out of focus. He had her in his space, lips practically touching as they stared at each other. They were so close that he could even feel her breath on his face. One small movement from either of them and their lips would be touching. God, did his manager want to kill him? He wasn't sure that he was even going to survive this shoot.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, gently pulling her even closer so that their bodies were touching. Time seemed to slow down, the only movement he was registering was the rise and fall of their chests as he continued to hold Kitty's gaze. He searched her eyes for any kind of sign that she was feeling the tension between them as much as he was. It was electric, at least from his perspective. Ryder couldn't help but glance down at her lips, to really sell the shot for the cameras of course, before dragging his gaze back up her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes that he would definitely be thinking about non-stop now that he'd seen them up close like this. Kitty Kitty couldn’t help the sharp exhalation that escaped her lips as Ryder pulled her closer, feeling her breathing pick up its pace ever so slightly. She brought one hand up to run up his forearm, her fingers tightening as they moved to his bicep. For the next two minutes, the entire rest of the world vanished. She forgot about the film crew, she forgot about the sand, she forgot about the online masses and their inevitable opinions on this video.

All she saw was Ryder, looking down at her with an expression that could only be described as pure desire. Maybe even adoration. For a moment, she lost herself in it, allowing herself to hope for a second that he could feel that way about her, maybe that he even did feel that way about her. Moving on autopilot, she looked down at his lips for a moment, before her eyes moved up to meet his again, and she felt the magnetic pull to kiss him. Their lips only millimetres away, she leaned up slightly, brushing her lips against his, only a warm-up to the kiss she so desperately craved.

“Okay, cut!”

It was the director’s voice that broke her trance, and she jumped slightly at it, mouth agape as the world suddenly snapped back into focus. She took a step back from Ryder immediately as if he’d burned her, tossing her hair behind her shoulder and trying to appear nonchalant. “Great job, Kitty, nice instinct with the lips touching thing, it really worked.” The director commented, and Kitty hoped that nobody could see her cheeks growing hot at the comment. God, screw that hoping. Hoping for stuff like that was for idiots who didn’t know better. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to look at Ryder, still not totally able to meet his eyes like she had before. “God, you could win a damn Oscar with that performance.” Was all she came up with, and she wanted to cringe at how lame it sounded. Ryder Kitty actually pressing her lips against his threw him entirely. He hadn't been expecting it in the slightest. He figured it was a 'look but don't touch' kind of deal, though they hadn't exactly discussed it in detail. The shot had been described as them standing and gazing into each other's eyes, there was nothing in the discussions that had indicated that she would actually press her lips against his, no matter how lightly.

As Kitty stepped away from him, it took all of Ryder's willpower not to grab her. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. The entire day had done nothing but continue to amp up the tension between them and he wanted her more than ever. He was still dazed as he heard the director talking, looking at the floor and running a hand through his hair as he tried to catch his breath. He was definitely feeling a bit hot under the collar. "Huh?" Ryder asked as he heard Kitty's comment, his brain needing a moment to catch up. It wasn't like he hadn't heard her, it was just that his brain had got stuck on replaying what had just happened and was acting on a delay. "I think the Oscar would actually go to you," He laughed lightly. "I don't think I was acting at all, you're the one who knocked it out the park. Maybe you're in the wrong career."

Kitty Kitty's eyes snapped back to Ryder's as he asserted that he hadn't been acting, and that stupid little hope flickered in her chest again. It was so silly, and she knew it would never amount to anything. If, even by some miracle, he could ever feel anything for her beyond just attraction, she'd have to quash it immediately. Yeah, it was a cliché, a blonde bombshell with commitment issues and an allergy to feelings, but it was a line she couldn't cross. Which made it so much worse that she had let her lips touch his.Way to seem uninvolved and unbothered.

So she just smirked, trying to save face. "You're probably right." She asserted, putting her hands on her hips. She watched him for a moment, feeling like she was swimming in his warm brown eyes, and suddenly wanting nothing more than to run into his arms, or run in the opposite direction. Luckily, she stayed put, tucking some strands of hair behind her ear. "Sorry about the sneak attack with the lips thing. I figured a move like that will make this song go #1 based on buzz alone." She shrugged. "Just trying to help." Ryder Ryder was pleased when Kitty finally made eye contact with him again after initially avoiding looking directly at him. "I like to think that the song can go to #1 on its musical merit but sure, I guess this won't hurt its chances," He said. She wasn't wrong, there was no way that this video wouldn't boost the streaming figures. "But thanks for caring, Wilde. Here I was thinking you didn't like me, I didn't think you'd be trying to boost my sales numbers for me," He teased.

"And if I can help you out in return, I'd be happy to," He continued. "For example if you do want to change careers to acting and you want some more practice, you've got my number. Feel free to use it." He flashed a smile at her, more than happy to encourage her acting career if it involved her putting her lips on his again. Ideally the next time (should there be a next time) it happened, he hoped that they'd be in private somewhere and not in front of a camera or surrounded by people at a party. Kitty Kitty wrinkled her nose, theatrically shaking her head. “I wouldn’t say I care. More like I don’t want to be connected to a flop project. Nothing I’ve done has ever flopped, and I’m not having a music video be the thing that does.” It was partially true. There had been some ad campaigns early in her career that had been questionable at best, but it was true that she didn’t align herself with dud or low-profile projects. It was why her team had been so confused about her choice to do this video.

At his suggestion that she ‘practice her acting’, the latest in his series of thinly veiled attempts at flirting, she felt something inside her flutter, but she ignored it, rolling her eyes. “Well that’s an offer with zero ulterior motive if I’ve ever heard one.” She let a makeup assistant run on set to quickly touch up her powder, before getting back in place in front of him as they prepared to roll again. “I’d take you up, but I think the cops would be called to your house, I told my therapist to lock me up if I were caught making out with Ryder Lynn again.” She teased. As the director called ‘action!’, she reached up to put her hands on his shoulders, her words ringing false in her own head because there it was again; that desire to lean up and kiss him. She took a deep breath, pushing the thought to the crevice of her mind. It didn’t serve her in any professional capacity, and it scared the shit out of her. It would be dealt with another time.

#002

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rickscarpentry · 7 months ago

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New Orleans Patio Covers: Enhancing Outdoor Living Spaces

If you’ve ever been to New Orleans, you must have realized that open air living is a major part of the city’s lifestyle. People in this area like time spent out-of-doors beginning from the historic French Quarter to the cute Garden District. But as it often happens, New Orleans weather is quite unpredictable; there may be scorching heat one moment and a sudden rainfall the next. To rescue settle sips, New Orleans patios covers come to rescue.

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When your home’s worth gets higher you might need some shade structure that makes it beautiful at the same time raises its price in the market. Most of your potential clients will appreciate having such spaces where usability pairs with beauty on a scorching day.

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There are different styles and materials you can pick from when choosing a patio cover for your New Orleans home which will meet all its requirements while improving its aesthetic appeal and usability. Therefore do not wait any longer convert your external space today with Rick’s Carpentry LLC and take advantage of everything we have to offer.

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sandeepsrk007 · 8 months ago

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Discovering Kochi in Premium Style: Your Guide to Premium Car Rentals

Kochi, a vibrant city on the southwest coast of India, is a blend of history, culture, and modernity. Known as the gateway to Kerala, it offers visitors a chance to explore picturesque landscapes, historical landmarks, and bustling markets. To navigate this diverse city with comfort and elegance, renting a premium car can enhance your experience significantly. This blog explores the best Premium Car Rentals in kochi ensuring your travels are luxurious, comfortable, and hassle-free.

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Metro Cars Kochi is known for its impeccable fleet and exceptional customer service. They offer a selection of well-maintained premium cars that include the likes of Audi A6 and Toyota Fortuner. Ideal for corporate travelers and tourists alike, Metro Cars provides both pick-up and drop-off services, which can be particularly convenient for airport transfers. Their rental plans are flexible, offering daily, weekly, and monthly packages to suit various time frames and budgets.

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Kochi Luxe Car Hire specializes in luxury vehicles that don’t just get you from point A to B but do so in an extraordinarily comfortable and stylish manner. Their fleet features the latest models from BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus. Each rental comes with premium insurance cover, 24/7 roadside assistance, and a no-hassle booking process. Additionally, their knowledgeable chauffeurs can double as informal guides to the city, enriching your travel experience.

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Heritage Car Rentals offers a unique twist to exploring Kochi by providing a fleet of both modern and vintage premium cars. Imagine cruising down Marine Drive in a classic Rolls Royce or attending a high-profile event in a Bentley. They are highly rated for their professional service and maintain a high standard of customer satisfaction. Heritage Car Rentals is an excellent choice for weddings, photo shoots, or simply making a grand entrance.

5. Swift Luxury Hire

Swift Luxury Hire excels in delivering a personalized rental experience. They understand that each customer's needs are different and offer tailored services that include flexible pick-up and drop-off times, comprehensive tour packages, and special arrangements for special occasions. Their fleet is diverse, including everything from sporty convertibles for a fun drive along the coast to executive sedans for business meetings.

Tips for Renting Premium Cars in Kochi

Plan Your Route: Knowing your itinerary can help determine the type of car you rent. For example, SUVs are ideal for rougher terrain if you plan to visit hill stations around Kochi.

Early Booking: Especially during peak tourist seasons, it’s advisable to book your vehicle well in advance to secure the best car and rate.

Check Reviews: Before choosing a rental company, check customer reviews to gauge reliability and service quality.

Insurance and Safety: Ensure that the rental includes proper insurance. Also, familiarize yourself with local driving laws if you choose a self-drive option.

Conclusion

Renting a premium car in Kochi not only adds layers of comfort and luxury to your visit but also offers the flexibility to explore the city at your own pace. Whether you're here for business or leisure, the premium car rental companies in Kochi provide options to suit every need and taste. With the right vehicle, your trip to Kochi can be as memorable as the city itself. Remember to consider practicalities like booking in advance and choosing the right vehicle for your travel needs to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.

#wedding car rentals #employee transportation services trivandrum #self drive car rentals in trivandrum @lowest price #premium wedding car rentals in kerala

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elalmadelmar · 10 months ago

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It's really easy to say "[Situation] isn't complicated!" when you are looking at it as a matter of principles only. This is true regardless of the situation or the principles under discussion.

But - let's be real, that's also kind of useless for anything except propaganda and preaching to choirs.

Why? Because between principle and material reality is implementation, and that's where complexity lives. Implementation is where a principle has to be interrogated and picked apart and the innumerable questions of how get asked. People are complicated, and groups of people multiply the complexity, and the interaction of multiple groups of people multiplies the complexity yet further.

So, okay, example. Here's a simple principle: coal energy is bad and we should stop using it. This is a pretty solid principle; it's hard to argue for any positive aspects to coal burning, and the negative effects are legion and severe.

All right, next step: actually stopping it! But here's where the problems come in:

- Is there enough energy reliably supplied by other means on a global level? If not, how long will it take for that energy to be available? What steps need to be performed to accomplish this?

- Same question, national level. Even if the total energy production of the whole world is sufficient, that energy production may not be allocated equally all over the globe. Are any specific countries more reliant on coal energy than others? If yes, what are the obligations of other countries to assist, and what is the freedom of the coal-reliant countries to object to offers of assistance on the ground that those offers are poisoned with imperialistic demands or unacceptable conditions?

- Same question, regional level. See the same logic as above re: energy production not being equally distributed. Is this also the case across different regions even within a single country? Which countries, and what is their capability to fix that?

- How many jobs are reliant on the coal industry? How many people will be out of a job if the coal mines and coal power plants close down tomorrow? How can various national or international governments best assist those workers in reskilling to other careers, and how quickly can that be done? Relatedly, how much economic aid would be needed to bridge the gap? What industries have the most capacity to absorb the number of workers who will be displaced by the termination of coal, and what reskilling will be most appealing and accessible to the workers you're retraining? How much freedom will these workers have to choose the training offered to them?

- For areas where coal mines, coal processing, coal plants, or other coal-related jobs are a major employer, how well can other major regional employers be brought in to fill the gap, and what would be the cost to entice these other employers to come to town?

- What are the legal obstacles in play in forcing the shutdown of an industry? Are there existing legal grounds that could be used to accomplish this goal, and are those legal grounds ones that are generally as just/as minimally unjust as possible? If the legal grounds don't exist, can they be created without damaging the essential liberty of the country unnecessarily? Remember that every political tool will be used in the future, possibly for very different ends.

- What is to be done with the mines, plants, and other infrastructure left behind? What about the companies that were processing coal? Can the power plants be converted to generate power in other ways? Are the mines safe to leave as they are or do they represent an ongoing ecological or geological danger?

- If any of the issues raised above call for a phased transition off coal rather than an immediate hard shutdown (which they probably do), what is a realistic transition timeline and what should its phases look like? What order should the various steps be taken in? Which steps are reliant on other steps, which steps need to be taken simultaneously, which steps require new legislation to be discussed, which steps require delicate international treaties to be forged?

- How extensive is this ban? Are we talking only about industrial power generation, or are we following the concept all the way down to charcoal (not the same as fossil coal, but it's in the name and therefore the definition we're working with needs to be discussed) used for camping, barbecues, and incense burners? What about uses on the individual household level in areas without power grid infrastructure?Are there any other niche uses of coal that resist conversion to other sources of energy, and if so, are they small enough niches that their ecological impact is insignificant?

The people who just wanna state the principle and call it the end of the conversation will reject all of these issues as being excuses for never getting off coal, and it's true that objections of complexity can be used this way - but it's equally true that if you actually want to implement change, this is stuff you really do have to think about! You have to define your terms, define your scope, consider the possible unintended consequences, and consider the human impacts of any meaningful change you make. It isn't enough to decide that you want to do something; figuring out how you're going to do it is an enormous part of the work, and then riding herd on the process and making adjustments when the inevitable unforseen complications arise is even yet more.

And even if you're just an individual running your mouth on the internet with no role in making the change happen, it's worth thinking through these things, because it helps you understand what progress actually looks like. .

#eadm originals #i used coal as an example but I am not an energy expert #please do me the favor of understanding that i am using it as an analogy #people hate nuance but let's be real #human beings are fucking complicated and nuance is necessary

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