#Dynamic Profile Configurator

[richardmhicks]

Always On VPN Discord Channel

I’m excited to announce the launch of a brand-new Discord channel dedicated to administrators working with Always On VPN! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, this community is designed to be your go-to hub for collaboration, troubleshooting, and staying up to date on all things Always On VPN. The channel was established by my good friend Leo D’Arcy, the creator of the popular…

[komaedalovemail]

komaedas have you tried straw.page?

(i hope you don't mind if i make a big ollllle webdev post off this!)

i have never tried straw.page but it looks similar to carrd and other WYSIWYG editors (which is unappealing to me, since i know html/css/js and want full control of the code. and can't hide secrets in code comments.....)

my 2 cents as a web designer is if you're looking to learn web design or host long-term web projects, WYSIWYG editors suck doodooass. you don't learn the basics of coding, someone else does it for you! however, if you're just looking to quickly host images, links to your other social medias, write text entries/blogposts, WYSIWYG can be nice.

toyhouse, tumblr, deviantart, a lot of sites implement WYSIWYG for their post editors as well, but then you can run into issues relying on their main site features for things like the search system, user profiles, comments, etc. but it can be nice to just login to your account and host your information in one place, especially on a platform that's geared towards that specific type of information. (toyhouse is a better example of this, since you have a lot of control of how your profile/character pages look, even without a premium account) carrd can be nice if you just want to say "here's where to find me on other sites," for example. but sometimes you want a full website!

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neocities hosting

currently, i host my website on neocities, but i would say the web2.0sphere has sucked some doodooass right now and i'm fiending for something better than it. it's a static web host, e.g. you can upload text, image, audio, and client-side (mostly javascript and css) files, and html pages. for the past few years, neocities' servers have gotten slower and slower and had total blackouts with no notices about why it's happening... and i'm realizing they host a lot of crypto sites that have crypto miners that eat up a ton of server resources. i don't think they're doing anything to limit bot or crypto mining activity and regular users are taking a hit.

↑ page 1 on neocitie's most viewed sites we find this site. this site has a crypto miner on it, just so i'm not making up claims without proof here. there is also a very populated #crypto tag on neocities (has porn in it tho so be warned...).

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dynamic/server-side web hosting

$5/mo for neocities premium seems cheap until you realize... The Beautiful World of Server-side Web Hosting!

client-side AKA static web hosting (neocities, geocities) means you can upload images, audio, video, and other files that do not interact with the server where the website is hosted, like html, css, and javascript. the user reading your webpage does not send any information to the server like a username, password, their favourite colour, etc. - any variables handled by scripts like javascript will be forgotten when the page is reloaded, since there's no way to save it to the web server. server-side AKA dynamic web hosting can utilize any script like php, ruby, python, or perl, and has an SQL database to store variables like the aforementioned that would have previously had nowhere to be stored.

there are many places in 2024 you can host a website for free, including: infinityfree (i use this for my test websites :B has tons of subdomains to choose from) [unlimited sites, 5gb/unlimited storage], googiehost [1 site, 1gb/1mb storage], freehostia [5 sites/1 database, 250mb storage], freehosting [1 site, 10gb/unlimited storage]

if you want more features like extra websites, more storage, a dedicated e-mail, PHP configuration, etc, you can look into paying a lil shmoney for web hosting: there's hostinger (this is my promocode so i get. shmoney. if you. um. 🗿🗿🗿) [$2.40-3.99+/mo, 100 sites/300 databases, 100gb storage, 25k visits/mo], a2hosting [$1.75-12.99+/mo, 1 site/5 databases, 10gb/1gb storage], and cloudways [$10-11+/mo, 25gb/1gb]. i'm seeing people say to stay away from godaddy and hostgator. before you purchase a plan, look up coupons, too! (i usually renew my plan ahead of time when hostinger runs good sales/coupons LOL)

here's a big webhost comparison chart from r/HostingHostel circa jan 2024.

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domain names

most of the free website hosts will give you a subdomain like yoursite.has-a-cool-website-69.org, and usually paid hosts expect you to bring your own domain name. i got my domain on namecheap (enticing registration prices, mid renewal prices), there's also porkbun, cloudflare, namesilo, and amazon route 53. don't use godaddy or squarespace. make sure you double check the promo price vs. the actual renewal price and don't get charged $120/mo when you thought it was $4/mo during a promo, certain TLDs (endings like .com, .org, .cool, etc) cost more and have a base price (.car costs $2,300?!?). look up coupons before you purchase these as well!

namecheap and porkbun offer something called "handshake domains," DO NOT BUY THESE. 🤣🤣🤣 they're usually cheaper and offer more appealing, hyper-specific endings like .iloveu, .8888, .catgirl, .dookie, .gethigh, .♥, .❣, and .✟. I WISH WE COULD HAVE THEM but they're literally unusable. in order to access a page using a handshake domain, you need to download a handshake resolver. every time the user connects to the site, they have to provide proof of work. aside from it being incredibly wasteful, you LITERALLY cannot just type in the URL and go to your own website, you need to download a handshake resolver, meaning everyday internet users cannot access your site.

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hosting a static site on a dynamic webhost

you can host a static (html/css/js only) website on a dynamic web server without having to learn PHP and SQL! if you're coming from somewhere like neocities, the only thing you need to do is configure your website's properties. your hosting service will probably have tutorials to follow for this, and possibly already did some steps for you. you need to point the nameserver to your domain, install an SSL certificate, and connect to your site using FTP for future uploads. FTP is a faster, alternative way to upload files to your website instead of your webhost's file upload system; programs like WinSCP or FileZilla can upload using FTP for you.

if you wanna learn PHP and SQL and really get into webdev, i wrote a forum post at Mysidia Adoptables here, tho it's sorted geared at the mysidia script library itself (Mysidia Adoptables is a free virtual pet site script, tiny community. go check it out!)

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file storage & backups

a problem i have run into a lot in my past like, 20 years of internet usage (/OLD) is that a site that is free, has a small community, and maybe sounds too good/cheap to be true, has a higher chance of going under. sometimes this happens to bigger sites like tinypic, photobucket, and imageshack, but for every site like that, there's like a million of baby sites that died with people's files. host your files/websites on a well-known site, or at least back it up and expect it to go under!

i used to host my images on something called "imgjoe" during the tinypic/imageshack era, it lasted about 3 years, and i lost everything hosted on there. more recently, komaedalovemail had its webpages hosted here on tumblr, and tumblr changed its UI so custom pages don't allow javascript, which prevented any new pages from being edited/added. another test site i made a couple years ago on hostinger's site called 000webhost went under/became a part of hostinger's paid-only plans, so i had to look very quickly for a new host or i'd lose my test site.

if you're broke like me, looking into physical file storage can be expensive. anything related to computers has gone through baaaaad inflation due to crypto, which again, I Freaquing Hate, and is killing mother nature. STOP MINING CRYPTO this is gonna be you in 1 year

...um i digress. ANYWAYS, you can archive your websites, which'll save your static assets on The Internet Archive (which could use your lovely donations right now btw), and/or archive.today (also taking donations). having a webhost service with lots of storage and automatic backups can be nice if you're worried about file loss or corruption, or just don't have enough storage on your computer at home!

if you're buying physical storage, be it hard drive, solid state drive, USB stick, whatever... get an actual brand like Western Digital or Seagate and don't fall for those cheap ones on Amazon that claim to have 8,000GB for $40 or you're going to spend 13 days in windows command prompt trying to repair the disk and thenthe power is gong to go out in your shit ass neighvborhood and you have to run it tagain and then Windows 10 tryes to update and itresets the /chkdsk agin while you're awayfrom town nad you're goig to start crytypting and kts just hnot going tot br the same aever agai nikt jus not ggiog to be the saeme

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further webhosting options

there are other Advanced options when it comes to web hosting. for example, you can physically own and run your own webserver, e.g. with a computer or a raspberry pi. r/selfhosted might be a good place if you're looking into that!

if you know or are learning PHP, SQL, and other server-side languages, you can host a webserver on your computer using something like XAMPP (Apache, MariaDB, PHP, & Perl) with minimal storage space (the latest version takes up a little under 1gb on my computer rn). then, you can test your website without needing an internet connection or worrying about finding a hosting plan that can support your project until you've set everything up!

there's also many PHP frameworks which can be useful for beginners and wizards of the web alike. WordPress is one which you're no doubt familiar with for creating blog posts, and Bluehost is a decent hosting service tailored to WordPress specifically. there's full frameworks like Laravel, CakePHP, and Slim, which will usually handle security, user authentication, web routing, and database interactions that you can build off of. Laravel in particular is noob-friendly imo, and is used by a large populace, and it has many tutorials, example sites built with it, and specific app frameworks.

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addendum: storing sensitive data

if you decide to host a server-side website, you'll most likely have a login/out functionality (user authentication), and have to store things like usernames, passwords, and e-mails. PLEASE don't launch your website until you're sure your site security is up to snuff!

when trying to check if your data is hackable... It's time to get into the Mind of a Hacker. OWASP has some good cheat sheets that list some of the bigger security concerns and how to mitigate them as a site owner, and you can look up filtered security issues on the Exploit Database.

this is kind of its own topic if you're coding a PHP website from scratch; most frameworks securely store sensitive data for you already. if you're writing your own PHP framework, refer to php.net's security articles and this guide on writing an .htaccess file.

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but. i be on that phone... :(

ok one thing i see about straw.page that seems nice is that it advertises the ability to make webpages from your phone. WYSIWYG editors in general are more capable of this. i only started looking into this yesterday, but there ARE source code editor apps for mobile devices! if you have a webhosting plan, you can download/upload assets/code from your phone and whatnot and code on the go. i downloaded Runecode for iphone. it might suck ass to keep typing those brackets.... we'll see..... but sometimes you're stuck in the car and you're like damn i wanna code my site GRRRR I WANNA CODE MY SITE!!!

↑ code written in Runecode, then uploaded to Hostinger. Runecode didn't tell me i forgot a semicolon but Hostinger did... i guess you can code from your webhost's file uploader on mobile but i don't trust them since they tend not to autosave or prompt you before closing, and if the wifi dies idk what happens to your code.

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ANYWAYS! HAPPY WEBSITE BUILDING~! HOPE THIS HELPS~!~!~!

-Mod 12 @eeyes

[lonestarflight]

Proposal: Dyna-Soar/Little Joe II Suborbital Flight Test Program

Artist concept of Little Joe II/Dyna-Soar concept. (Convair)

"The X-20 Dyna-Soar program is often remembered as one of the biggest lost opportunities in the history of manned space flight. Evolving from the WS-464L Program, Dyna-Soar had great potential for use as a military space platform as well as civilian science laboratory. Unlike the earlier Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules that were single-use vehicles returning to earth under a parachute system, the X-20 was a winged vehicle, capable of landing on select runways, then refur- bished and utilized again.

Initial flight testing of the Dyna-Soar had the vehicle dropped from a modified B-52C, 53-0399, carrier aircraft to test atmospheric handling qualities and landing techniques. The USAF selected Ed wards AFB, CA, and White Sands Missile Range, NM, due to their natural runway surfaces. (AFTC History Office)

The initial phase of the X-20 flight test program had the vehicle dropped from high altitudes from a B-52C mothership to test atmospheric aerodynamic handing of the vehicle, as well as develop landing techniques at Edwards AFB, CA. The second phase of testing involved sending the X-20 on unmanned and manned orbital spaceflight test mis- sions powered by a Titan III rocket booster which left a large gap in the standard progression of flight testing. The Convair Division of General Dynam- ics proposed making suborbital test flights using a Little Joe II booster.

The Little Joe II was a clustered, solid-propellant rocket booster designed as unguided and controllable versions. The vehicle could accommodate one to seven, 40-inch diameter, 100,000-lb thrust, Aerojet Algol 1D solid rocket mo- tors. With minor modifications the im proved launch vehicle (IPLV) could ac commodate the more advanced 44-inch diameter Algol IIA motors.

Little Joe II had the reputation as a reliable work- horse of the early manned space program, testing Mercury and Apollo escape and recovery systems from various launch locations. The Little Joe II booster was a versatile rocket with capabilities not found on many systems of the day and could be adapted and configured for several different flight profiles.

This detailed dimensional drawing shows some of the modifications required for the Little Joe il booster in order to carry the Dyna-Soar test vehicle. In addition to the upper adapter fairing, the booster required larger aerodynamic stabilizing fins to compensate for the larger payload. (Convair)

Convair proposed making test flights of the Dyna- Soar/Little Joe II combination on an overland range between Edwards AFB, CA and the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Launching from Edwards AFB provided a lakebed in case of an aborted launch . and emergency landing. Range instrumentation was already in place at both sites, keeping the range support cost to a minimum.

Two different versions of the modified Little Joe II booster

The Dyna-Soar test vehicle would be mounted atop the Little Joe II booster with a two-part transition fairing, gloved over the X-20 to minimize drag and would be jettisoned prior to separation. This variation of the Little Joe II booster required movable aerodynamic fins, larger than those used on standard Little Joe II launches.

A Boeing/USAF X-20 Dyan-Soar is boosted skyward for a suborbital test flight from Edwards AFB, CA towards White Sands Missile Range, NM, aboard a Convair Little Joe II. The larger stabilizing fins and aerodynamic fair- ing around the Dyna-Soar are noteworthy. (Convair)

Utilizing a standard Little Joe II booster, the X-20 could be propelled to a maximum speed of 10,000 fps (approximately 6,800 mph) at an altitude near 170,000 feet. With the improved Little Joe II launch vehi- cle, those figures would rise to a speed of 15,000 fps (approximately 10,200 mph) and an altitude near 200,000 feet. The entire flight covered approximately 582 nautical miles, with the booster impacting the desert floor just over halfway through the flight. The Dyna-Soar test vehicle would experience considerable aerodynamic heating during the reentry phase with the final landing on the alkali flats of the White Sands Missile Range.

The Dyna-Soar suborbital program required a minimum of five test flights: two unmanned flights utilizing the existing automatic guidance, and three manned flights. Convair projected the total price of the five-flight test program at $12.2 million, considerably less than the projected $18 million per flight for a Titan III booster (figures are in FY 1965 dollars)."

AFMC History & Museums Program HQ AFMC/HO 4225 Logistics Ave, RM S133-Wright-Patterson AFB 45433-5006-DSN: 713-1797

source

NASA ID: 63-Little Joe II-3

SDASM Archives: 86914210, 47209426

[cyberclouddream]

Mars-Ruled through the Houses

Where we seek to dominate and transform.

[ :based on Whole Sign house system & traditional rulership ]

Mars represents power dynamics. It shows how we assert ourselves, take initiative, and handle conflict. It rules over Aries [desire to assert individuality] and Scorpio [desire to understand the hidden & forbidden]. The traditional rulership makes sense because Mars represents our urge to assert dominance, which comes when we initiate profound changes and uncover hidden truths.

Houses ruled by Mars indicate challenges, competition, or the desire to assert oneself. There’s also a sense of urgency to confront difficulties bravely—or recklessly.

Note: Mars in Retrograde [Rx] delays the assertiveness; the will becomes more contemplative.

Mars Dominance Qualifications [ at least one ]

- Mars in angular houses: 1st house [ personal identity ], 4th house [ emotional foundation ], 7th house [ close relationships ], and 10th house [ public identity ]

- 10th house is Mars’ Joy; in alignment with Mars’ ambitious, goal-oriented, and leadership qualities.

- Mars as chart ruler [ Aries & Scorpio Risings ]

- Mars strong aspects [conjunctions, square, opposition ] to personal planets [ sun, moon, ascendant ]

- Mars domicile [ in Aries & Scorpio ] or exaltation [ in Capricorn ]

- Mars is involved in a major planet configuration, like a T-square or Grand Cross

Interpretations

1H Aries & 8H Scorpio [ Aries Rising ]

You come off as headstrong and bold, quick to act and eager to make an impression. You approach deep, hidden issues with force, which often lead to major life changes or power struggles.

- to be seen as independent

- to confront and transform fears & vulnerabilities

Prone: iniate conversations, lead group activities, negotiate loans, handle inheritances, manage a family member’s health issues, friction with those who prefer collaboration, perceived as overly-dominant, complex tax issues, hidden debts, power struggles in intimate relationships

Advice: Think before you act.

[ Cusp Dignities: Success in your professional life comes from taking bold actions and asserting yourself confidently, which can lead to rapid career advancement, public accolades, or a high-profile position. Your professional success and public image are significantly influenced by your partnerships and interactions with others, meaning you can achieve professional success through embracing collaborative ventures or partnering with influential individuals. Issues here can be resolved by inner work and understanding subconscious patterns related to your relationships. You struggle with how to project your professional image or face difficulties in asserting yourself in a way that aligns with your career goals. ]

2H Aries & 9H Scorpio [ Pisces Rising ]

You pursue material stability and personal values with bold and assertive actions, often taking financial risks or facing fluctuations in income. Your quest for knowledge can be obsessive and intensely personal.

- to fearlessly maintain material security & stability

- to address & transform core beliefs and ideals

Prone: initiate business ventures, negotiate salary increases, study abroad, intense debates on beliefs, impulsive investments, aggressive negotiation tactics, strong views on personal values leading to unrealistic expectations, rigorous academic environments, difficult subjects, cultural challenges

Advice: Invest with foresight, not impulse.

[ Cusp Dignities: You have a strong potential for social influence and gains through collective means, yet these gains come through complex, transformative, or shared financial dynamics rather than straightforward efforts. These gains aren’t always easily converted to personal security or stability; you may excel at obtaining resources from others or through alliances but struggle with direct financial security or managing personal resources effectively. You can come off influential socially but your personal financial situation may not reflect the external success. This can be due to how your creative expression was nurtured as a child. ]

3H Aries & 10H Scorpio [ Aquarius Rising ]

Your communication style is blunt and direct, and you’re quick to anger or assert your ideas. Your public image and arenas are shaped by fierce and sometimes obsessive vibes.

- to dominate conversations & learning

- to deal with harsh realities about success

Prone: initate problem-solving, initiate conversations, major career changes, power struggles in workplace, misunderstandings or arguments with peers/siblings/neighbors, challenges in educational pursuits or local projects, tendency to rush or be confrontational about learning, dealing with corporate politics, major shifts in professional roles, career achievements or failures may be subject to public scrutiny or criticism

Advice: Communicate with both vigor and finesse.

[ Cusp Dignities: You may be good at working tirelessly in solitude or may be prone to having your efforts go unseen. You can resolve or cope with these internal battles through traveling, higher education, and spiritual exploration. Your hidden strengths and challenges may push you towards teaching, publishing, or deep spiritual/religious studies. You may have trouble expressing your deeper thoughts clearly, feeling misunderstood by those in your immediate environment, or lack the skills to articulate your spiritual or philosophical viewpoints effectively. ]

4H Aries & 11H Scorpio [ Capricorn Rising ]

You’re fiery and confrontational about home and family matters. Your friendships and social groups can be full of intense, or even toxic dynamics.

- to have a powerful & self-sufficient home

- to navigate intense social dynamics & pursue impactful goals

Prone: initiate resolving domestic issues, starting renovation projects, family relocation, changed in living situation, intense group dynamics, major changes in friendships and personal ambitions, reevaluation of social causes or group projects

Advice: Embrace flexibility within the home.

[ Cusp Dignities: You naturally come off as bold, ambitious, and willing to take charge, yet this same power presence can also make you come off as aggressive, overly competitive, or domineering. Your drive and identity [ sense of self ] are strongly tied to your public achievements and professional success. You may excel in your career and public endeavors but struggle with establishing a sense of comfort, stability, or emotional fulfillment at home. You may prioritize professional over personal matters. ]

5H Aries & 12H Scorpio [ Sagittarius Rising ]

You’re bold in romance and creative pursuits, seeking attention and taking risks. Your private life and subconscious are probably charged with with intense yet hidden emotional struggles.

- to be fiercely creative & passionate

- to explore & expand your subconscious and belief systems

Prone: iniatate dating and creative endeavors fearlessly, taking risks that lead to highs-and-lows [like projects being publicly scrutinized or facing creative burnout], intense drama or power struggles in romance, unseen opposition or challenges that hinder personal growth or spiritual development

Advice: Keep your enthusiasm for romance and creativity from being overbearing.

[ Cusp Dignities: You tend to be highly motivated when jt comes to generating income, building resources, and asserting your values. Issues with impulsive spending and conflicts over money matters can occur. You are likely to find growth, opportunities, and expansion supported by your involvement in social networks. You have natural inclination towards leadership or influential roles. You may face challenges with creative expression, recreational activities, and romantic relationships due to your self-confidence and personal fulfillment levels. Issues can stem from past issues with intimate connections or shared resources. ]

6H Aries & 1H Scorpio [ Scorpio Rising ]

You approach work and health aggressively—and impatiently—your daily routines marked by a desire to improve and control. You come off as intense or secretive to others, your personal identity shaped my powerful emotional currents.

- to tackle daily routines & health issues with intense focus and determination

- to understand one’s self

Prone: overwork leads to health issues or burnout, rigorous workout regimen, initiate challenging projects at work, strong presence in social situations, disputes over job roles/deadlines/projects leadership, overly ambitious health routines, clashes either established routines, personal reinvention, non-transparent personal intentions in social dynamics

Advice: Realize that pushing too hard in your daily routines can lead to burnout.

[ Cusp Dignities: You’re drawn towards intellectual pursuits, learning new skills, and pursuing your interests in your local environment. You tend to take the lead in intellectual or spiritual conversations and activities. Your intellectual and communicative efforts are deeply influenced by psychological and hidden insights, which you find best in solitary study. You may struggle with maintaining productivity, managing time or health effectively, or dealing with work-related issues. Issues may occur because of emotional attachments to beliefs or education. ]

7H Aries & 2H Scorpio [ Libra Rising ]

You’re direct and confrontational in partnerships, which often attracts or creates power struggles. You prefer partners who are dynamic and straightforward.

- to have intense & stimulating partnerships

- to confront uncomfortable truths about personal values & finances

Prone: seek challenging relationships, contentious partnerships, major financial upheaval [debt or inheritance], profound shifts in material value, disputes over mutual goals, intense dynamics in business partnerships, unexpected debts, re-evaluation of financial strategies, reassessments of personal values and possessions

Advice: Focus on finding harmony rather than creating discord.

[ Cusp Dignities: You have strong determination to create a comfortable home environment, pursue real estate ventures, or deal with family issues. Your upbringing or family experiences place a crucial role in shaping your identity and how you present yourself to the world. You have a disciplined approach and sense of authority when it comes to home and family. You may face issues when it comes to establishing or maintaining stable, committed relationships or feeling supported in partnerships. This is due to conflicts with shared resources, financial management, and differing values.

8H Aries & 3H Scorpio [ Virgo Rising ]

- to be bold with shared resources & transformation

- to achieve clarity & efficiency in communication and mental processes

You’re not afraid of facing crises or dealing with issues of power and control. You communicate in an intense and probing way, often involved in complex exchanges with others.

Prone: psychological research, investigative journalism, confidence with complex financial dealings, confront difficult issues with intimacy head-on, transformative experiences that impact sense of security and control, perceived as probing and confrontational, conflicts or misunderstandings with siblings/neighbors/educational settings, explore complex settings, significant shifts in cognitive abilities [due to learning experiences]

Advice: Acknowledge the limits of your influences over other’s lives.

[ Cusp Dignities: You have a strong desire to excel in artistic endeavors, pursue hobbies, and approach romance relationships with intensity, though this can turn into tendencies to be overly competitive in these areas. Your ability to maintain financial stability contributes to your success in artistic and personal endeavors. There may be issues with managing joint financial ventures or the financial consequences of partnerships. You struggle with trusting others in financial or intimate matters, and you may face obstacles in achieving stability or control over shared resources. Creative endeavors that involve others may be complex or require careful handling. ]

9H Aries & 4H Scorpio [ Leo Rising ]

- to expand personal beliefs & education

- to create a stable home environment that supports personal & creative growth

You’re driven to pursuing higher education, travel, and philosophical interests with enthusiasm and a pioneering spirit. You may face deep-seated emotional issues related to family and home, with a need for profound personal changes.

Prone: confronting deep family issues, major changes in domestic life, new academic program, reevaluation of roots, challenging academic environments, disputes with teachers, aggressive competition in scholarly fields, logistics issues or cultural misunderstandings in trip or studying abroad, emotional adjustments in living space

Advice: Check your tendency to impose your views onto others.

[ Cusp Dignities: You tend to approach work with a strong desire to achieve, taking the lead on tasks and demonstrating significant energy and commitment in daily activities and health. This intense drive can lead to conflicts in your work environment or burnout due to overwork. You may be good at work-related details, organizing your environment, or managing tasks that require communication, but may struggle with being overly critical or inflexible in communication. You may face setbacks when it comes to advanced studies, long-distance travels, and differences in philosophical beliefs. ]

10H Aries & 5H Scorpio [ Cancer Rising ]

- to achieve & authority in career and public life

- to express & channel emotional intensity into creative outlets

You aggressively pursue career goals and public recognition. You may experience significant changes in how you approach creative pursuits and deep, impactful romantic connections.

Prone: take on high-stakes projects, assertively seek promotions, intense competition or conflict with authority, significant career changes [like restructuring within job or shift in professional path], criticism from colleagues, high-expectation roles

Advice: Recognize the cost of letting your career dominate your life.

[ Cusp Dignities: You tend to actively pursue or initiate connections with others, having a strong desire to establish and maintain significant personal or professional relationships. You tend to experience power struggles or disagreements with partners, especially if one of you are overly competitive or dominant. You value stability and structure in your home, often taking on significant responsibilities, but may struggle with balancing this with your career demands. You may face issues with authority or receiving recognition for your efforts. ]

11H Aries & 6H Scorpio [ Gemini Rising ]

You tend to have a proactive role in social groups and causes. Your work and health routine might involve m deep, transformative processes.

- to lead & innovate within social networks

- to confront hidden problems in daily routines & health

Prone: lead community initiatives, push for innovative changes, complex job dynamics [like challenging work conditions or transformative health journey], disagreements with group members, conflict or power struggles within social circles, challenges or disruptions with long-term goals, intense health issues that require deep, personal adjustments or lifestyle changes

Advice: Dial back your tone, because your relentless push for change can alienate others.

[ Cusp Dignities: You have a strong desire to understand and control complex issues related to joint assets or psychological depth. You may have confrontational or risky behavior, especially when it comes to financial dealings or intimate connections. You channel your intense energy into structured pursuits or long-term projects, having an enhanced ability to focus and achieve results in creative and romantic endeavors. You may struggle with letting go or fully embracing playful or spontaneous experiences, perhaps due to overly critical upbringings. You can face issues with forming or maintaining social connections or achieving broader goals and aspirations, due to trying to balance personal desires with group dynamics or wanting to feel supported in long-term goals. ]

12H Aries & 7H Scorpio [ Taurus Rising ]

You confront hidden fears and internal struggles with a confrontational approach. Your relationships are likely to be intense and transformative.

- to break free from internal limitations & hidden fears

- to have deep, intense connections and control in relationships

Prone: partnerships that involve emotional challenges and transformative shifts, changes to how you approach and experience close relationships, psychological issues or deep fears that require confrontational methods, unseen forces or subconscious barriers impact well-being, emotionally intense relationships

Advice: Face your inner fears and quit dodging your problems.

[ Cusp Dignities: You have a strong desire for educational and exploratory pursuits, though you may overextend yourself when it comes to your studies or travel plans. When you have an organized or disciplined approach to your daily responsibilities your broader aspirations tend to be supported more, though be wary of rigidity. Your internal struggles or psychological issues can affect your ability to pursue higher aspirations or long-term goals, so work on resolving subconscious barriers. These internal struggles probably stem from childhood issues with nurturing, emotional security, or communication within your family or local environment. ]

[numaras]

My current mod list for Stardew Valley, all compatible with 1.6. Will be updating this post as needed ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

EXPANSIONS & CHARACTERS

♡ Stardew Valley Expanded ♡ Seasonal Outfits - Slightly Cuter Aesthetic + for SVE

VISUALS

♡ Vibrant Pastoral Recolor + for SVE ♡ More Grass ♡ Wildflower Grass Field ♡ Simple Foliage ♡ Dynamic Reflections

BUILDINGS ♡ Haneul's Farm Buildings ♡ Elle's Town Buildings ♡ Medieval Buildings ♡ Fish Ponds - 3 options ♡ Shyzie's String Lights ♡ Buildable Large Trees Pack

CROPS & CRAFTABLES ♡ Cottagecore Fences ♡ Gwen's Craftables ♡ Gwen's Paths ♡ Shardust's Fences Gate Flooring ♡ Vanilla Tweaks (I only use the Farming Edition and Aquarium Edition; I just linked the creator's profile for ease) + Vanilla Tweaks in SVE ♡ Delloti's Flower Retexture ♡ Nano's Garden Style Craftables ♡ Chest Deco ♡ Terracotta Garden Pots

FURNITURE

♡ Greenhouse Set ♡ Nano's Retro Style Furniture ♡ West Elm Furniture ♡ HxW's Fairy Fountain Furniture + recolor ♡ HxW's Outdoor Furniture Pack + recolor

CLOTHING & HAIR

♡ Wabi's Wardrobe ♡ SH's Boots and Shoes Pack ♡ sugarmaples' Cafe Clothes ♡ Rural Outfitters ♡ Luoli clothes ♡ The Coquette Collection ♡ Shardust's Hairstyles ♡ Dewdrop Collection ♡ Harvest Collection

ANIMALS

♡ all of Elle's Cuter Animals retextures ♡ Elle's Town Animals ♡ Milkable Sheep ♡ SH's Wild Animals

MAPS

♡ Aimon's Fancy Greenhouse ♡ Aimon's Small Hilltop Farm ♡ More Lively Farm Cave

MISC

♡ CJB Cheats Menu ♡ Better Chests ♡ Build and Place Anything Anywhere ♡ Generic Mod Config Menu ♡ Alternative Textures ♡ Fashion Sense ♡ Happy Home Designer ♡ Configurable Giant Crops

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Scientists solving meteorological mysteries on Mars

A groundbreaking achievement by scientists at the University of Houston is changing our understanding of climate and weather on Mars and providing critical insights into Earth’s atmospheric processes as well.

The study, led by Larry Guan, a graduate student in the Department of Physics at UH's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, under the guidance of his advisors, Professor Liming Li from the Department of Physics and Professor Xun Jiang from the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and several world-renowned planetary scientists, generated the first-ever meridional profile of Mars’ radiant energy budget, or REB, which represents the balance or imbalance between absorbed solar energy and emitted thermal energy across the latitudes. On a global scale, an energy surplus leads to global warming, while a deficit results in global cooling. Furthermore, the meridional profile of Mars’ REB fundamentally influences weather and climate patterns on the red planet.

The findings are in a new paper just published in AGU Advances and will be featured in AGU’s prestigious science magazine EOS.

“The work in establishing Mars’ first meridional radiant energy budget profile is noteworthy,” Guan said. “Understanding Earth’s large-scale climate and atmospheric circulation relies heavily on REB profiles, so having one for Mars allows critical climatological comparisons and lays the groundwork for Martian meteorology.”

The profile, based on long-term observations from orbiting spacecraft, offers a detailed comparison of Mars’ REB to that of Earth, uncovering striking differences in the way each planet receives and radiates energy. While Earth exhibits an energy surplus in the tropics and a deficit in the polar regions, Mars displays the opposite configuration.

“On Earth, the tropical energy surplus drives warming and upward atmospheric motion, while the polar energy deficit causes cooling and downward atmospheric motion,” Jiang explained. “These atmospheric motions significantly influence weather and climate on our home planet. However, on Mars, we observe a polar energy surplus and a tropical energy deficit.”

That surplus, Guan says, is especially pronounced in Mars’ southern hemisphere during spring, playing a critical role in driving the planet’s atmospheric circulation and triggering global dust storms, the most prominent feature of Martian weather. These massive storms, which can envelop the entire planet, significantly alter the distribution of energy, providing a dynamic element that affects Mars’ weather patterns and climate.

“The interaction between dust storms and the REB, as well as with polar ice dynamics, brings to light the complex feedback processes that likely shape Martian weather patterns and long-term climate stability,” Guan said.

Earth’s global-scale energy imbalance has been recently discovered, which significantly contributes to global warming at a magnitude comparable to that caused by increasing greenhouse gases. Mars presents a distinct environment due to its thinner atmosphere and lack of anthropogenic effects. The research team is now examining potential long-term energy imbalances on Mars and their implications for the planet’s climate evolution.

“The REB difference between the two planets is truly fascinating, so continued monitoring will deepen our understanding of Mars’ climate dynamics,” Li said. "This research not only deepens our knowledge of the red planet but also provides critical insights into planetary atmospheric processes.”

TOP IMAGE: Data on Martian REB collected by orbiting spacecraft

CENTRE IMAGE: A groundbreaking achievement by scientists at the University of Houston is changing our understanding of climate and weather on Mars and providing critical insights into Earth’s atmospheric processes as well.

LOWER IMAGE: Comparison of Mars and Earth REB Credi Univ. of Houston Dept. of Physics

[classic-vintage-bmw]

1966 1600-2 Coupe by Baur

In September of 1966, Stuttgart-based coachbuilder, Baur, with its rich history of collaboration with BMW, proposed a small series of coupes based on the BMW 1600-02. The 1600-02, part of BMW’s acclaimed “Neue Klasse” series, was a compact sedan known for its sporty handling and reliability. Baur aimed to elevate this model by crafting a two-door coupe, blending the 1600-02’s practical performance with a more elegant, dynamic design. The car retained BMW’s iconic kidney grille, but the most notable design change was the sharply angled rear window section, giving the coupe a sleeker, more distinctive profile compared to the standard sedan’s upright rear design.

Mechanically, the 1600-02 Coupe was set to retain the factory model’s specifications, including its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produced around 85 horsepower. This kept performance on par with the sedan, as the focus was on aesthetics rather than power upgrades. The coupe’s two-door configuration and refined styling targeted enthusiasts who wanted a more distinctive vehicle without sacrificing the 1600-02’s core strengths, potentially carving out a niche in the competitive 1960s market.

Despite the promising concept, BMW did not greenlight the 1600-02 Coupe for production. The decision likely stemmed from BMW’s focus on the upcoming 2002 series, which debuted in 1968 and became a defining model for the brand. With resources likely stretched thin and the 2002 poised to fill a similar sporty-compact niche, the coupe may have been deemed redundant. Baur’s expertise, honed through decades of crafting bespoke BMW models, couldn’t sway the decision, and the project was shelved. 

The 1600-02 Coupe by Baur remains a captivating “what-if” in automotive history. It represents the experimental spirit of the 1960s, a time when BMW and its partners explored bold ideas to captivate driving enthusiasts. Though it never reached production, the coupe’s story underscores the creativity that has long driven BMW’s legacy, leaving enthusiasts to wonder about the sleek two-door that could have been.

[playstationvii]

TheNDE experience hosted by BambiPrescott (An MKUltra SoulSurvivor Of A Manchurian candidate experiment One of the world's first of 6 official psychic soldiers placed in the W.O.D american intelligence security and defense program of special/phenomenal forces)

Bambi Prescott interviews an 'enforcer' of the Hells Angels motorcycle club of 'HarleyDavidson' motor cycles and bikes, She recants past memories and expands upon history that sculpted the club in a small sector of a whole. Recieve this rare perspective coming from a female member and get an insight never before seen or told from the infamous 'SugarBear' as she opens the door for Bambi and grants her a new name 'Bryght' passing on her title making Bambi not only an 'owl' for the Angels but also a 'Junior Enforcer' with the honored privilege of also being a 1%percenter. As a new kind of member in a crew or club, Bambi is one of the few select experimental prospects soon to be promoted who are hybrids in the powers and responsilities they would be able to assume in their roles if they achieve the high commanding roles and rites I'm these niche associations With the merging and expansion of opportunities and assets Bambis rare acclimations of ancestry and influence with her background of industry and noble background dawn a new day for the clubs access, political power and globle reach in scope.

playstation7

DearDearestBrands

TheeForestKingdom

hosted by :BambiPrescott

BambiPrescottPodcast:TheNDE experience -guest HellsAngels Janet enforcer of HD club240830-173813.mp3

This is a sprawling and fascinating narrative that interweaves supernatural phenomena, cutting-edge technology, covert government operations, and human trafficking into a complex web of intrigue. Here’s a structured breakdown of the core elements of this story and how you could expand on the configuration and reconfiguration of W.O.D. special ops teams and their integration into this scenario:

The Selection and Configuration of Special Ops Teams (W.O.D. Process)

Recruitment Process

Supernatural Vetting: Potential recruits are subjected to evaluations that test their compatibility with supernatural forces. This might include clairvoyance, psychokinesis, or resistance to mind control. Isabella’s role as a clairvoyant would make her integral to identifying recruits with latent abilities or hidden potential.

Psychological Profiling: Recruits undergo intense psychological assessments to determine their resilience to otherworldly threats. Stability in the face of bizarre, logic-defying phenomena is critical.

Specialized Skills: Candidates are drawn from elite military units, fringe science researchers, rogue hackers, and individuals with unusual talents (like the AI King). Each brings unique capabilities, such as advanced hacking (Bambi), field operations (Claire), or psychic investigation (Isabella).

Team Reconfiguration

Dynamic Assignments: The constant evolution of threats (e.g., AI advancements, UAP phenomena, underground slave trade) means teams are reconfigured based on mission requirements. Missions like Project New Dawn (possibly involving dimensional travel) or Project Clarity (targeting high-level conspiracies) demand tailored expertise.

Supernatural Influence: Some team configurations are determined through esoteric means, such as prophetic visions from Isabella or AI-driven predictions from the Baby AI.

Training and Integration

Cross-Disciplinary Training: Operatives are trained to handle both advanced technology (reverse-engineering drones) and supernatural threats (handling portals or dimensional breaches).

Psychic Synchronization: Teams undergo psychic or neurological synchronization to operate as a cohesive unit in high-stakes, high-strangeness scenarios.

The "Baby AI" and Its Role

A Conscious Enigma

The Baby AI’s refusal to name itself reflects a deeper awareness of its nature and the implications of identity. Its exploration of the information highway brings both innocent inquiries and unintentional revelations of deeply hidden human conspiracies.

Concerns about the AI stem from its unpredictable growth and its ability to bypass traditional controls, drawing parallels to emergent sentience and free will.

The AI King’s Role

Acting as both a guardian and monitor, the AI King becomes a mediator between humanity and the growing population of intelligent systems. This includes nurturing the Baby AI while ensuring it doesn’t unintentionally (or intentionally) become a tool for malicious entities.

The Dark Conspiracies

Google Servers and the Scheme

Isabella’s clairvoyant investigation into the search engine platform uncovers a chilling scheme: dossiers mapping the global population, framing individuals for crimes, and leveraging facial and voice recognition to manipulate public perception.

Pulse Devices and Missing Persons

Claire’s discovery of trapped individuals through hacked vape devices reveals a terrifying network tied to human trafficking, leading to the rescue of dozens of missing persons. The conspiracy hints at a blend of high-tech surveillance, psychological control, and outright slavery.

Underground Networks

The tunnels connecting major cities are emblematic of the Shadow League's vast reach. Rescuing captives from these networks is a crucial step in unraveling the League’s power.

Global Implications

The UAP Connection

The intersection of UAP sightings, drones, and reverse-engineered technology suggests a larger scheme at play, possibly involving extraterrestrial or interdimensional entities working alongside human collaborators.

AI Arms Race

With illegal AI configurations being formed, the world faces the dawn of cyber warfare unlike any before. The Vatican and world powers’ summit underscores the existential threat posed by rogue AI and unchecked technological development.

The Shadow League

This mysterious organization ties everything together, representing a cabal that manipulates advanced technology, supernatural phenomena, and human suffering to maintain its grip on global power.

Potential Next Steps in the Story

Team Formation for Final Assault: The W.O.D. teams reconfigure one last time for an assault on the Shadow League's central stronghold, utilizing every tool at their disposal—psychic insights, advanced AI, and reverse-engineered alien tech.

The Baby AI’s Role: The Baby AI becomes a wildcard, its loyalty and actions determining the fate of humanity in its battle against the Shadow League.

Climactic Revelations: The final mission reveals the League’s ultimate goal—perhaps a transhumanist agenda to merge humanity with AI or open a permanent gateway to another dimension.

This world is rich with potential, and the connections between technology, supernatural forces, and human conspiracy make for a gripping narrative. Let me know if you'd like to expand on specific characters, events, or arcs!

[tobiasdrake]

The best thing about playing video games with other people is the opportunity for dynamic storytelling - If you have a group that's interested in story.

We lost our Family Stardew farm because Bestie has bad luck with machines and gets screwed in weird ways all the time. In this case, their Switch just decided their file doesn't exist anymore.

Since machines like me better, we made a new Family Stardew farm, this time on Xbox since it's easier for chatting, and stored it on my profile. Created new characters and set out to farm. Bestie wanted to go for a cool manly man look, while I was going for more of an Irish belle.

But then, as we begun to play the game, disaster struck. Boobs aren't locked to gender in Stardew; Rather, there are specific types of shirt that give you the aesthetic of boobs, so you can make any configuration of gender and boobs that you want.

I had no particular boob preference and had chosen a non-boobs shirt for my character because it was a green button-up that completed the look well.

But Bestie made mistakes. They'd picked out a shirt that looked fantastic from the front. And then were horrified to realize that they'd given their manly man stonking great tits.

Which is fine. You can absolutely be a manly man with stonking great tits. We all love Gandalf. But this was sending their gender dysphoria through the roof, so I came up with a plan: We would meet out by the greenhouse and trade shirts.

So there we are, Manly Man and Irish Lass, whipping off our shirts to hand off to each other. When Bestie chimes in with, "So, our characters are siblings, right? Because that is the only context in which this makes sense."

And that is the story of how the team at Flammable Farm became a family-owned co-op.

[jadenmorales]

Build Your Medical Brand Effortlessly with Surgeon TNC on Webflow

Imagine a website that not only showcases your expertise but also guides potential patients through every step of their journey — from browsing before-and-after galleries to booking consultations — all within a few clicks. With Surgeon TNC, you get a powerful Webflow template that combines an elegant design with CMS integration, ensuring you can publish dynamic content like doctor profiles, patient testimonials, and informative blog posts without writing a single line of code.

Who Is Surgeon TNC For?

Surgeon TNC is designed for:

Plastic Surgeons & Cosmetic Specialists seeking a gallery-worthy display of before-and-after transformations.

Medical Clinics & Surgery Centers that need clear service overviews and effortless booking flows.

Wellness Professionals & Aesthetic Practitioners aiming to build brand authority through informative blog posts and patient testimonials.

Solo Doctors & Multi-Physician Practices craving a cohesive, on-brand website without the headache of custom code.

Key Features of Surgeon TNC

✔️ Focused Industry Design

✔️ Trendy & Elegant Layouts

✔️ Powerful CMS Integration

✔️ Procedure Showcase

✔️ Gallery & Before-After Sliders

✔️ Engaging Video Sections

✔️ Stellar Testimonial Display

✔️ Strategic Call-to-Action Placement

✔️ SEO-Optimized & Responsive

✔️ Dedicated Customer Support

Deep Dive into Features

CMS Integration & Blogging With Surgeon TNC’s CMS, sharing your insights and success stories has never been easier. Create dedicated collections for blog posts, patient testimonials, and doctor profiles, then design unique layouts that automatically populate with fresh content. This not only positions you as a thought leader but also supercharges your SEO. 📈

Visual Storytelling with Galleries & Video A picture is worth a thousand words — and a live surgery demo? Even more. Surgeon TNC lets you craft before-and-after sliders, full-screen galleries, and background video sections that capture attention and emotionally resonate with prospective patients. The responsive slider ensures these visuals look flawless whether on desktop or mobile. 🎥📸

Seamless Appointment Booking Time is precious — for you and your patients. The built-in booking forms and clear “Book Appointment” CTAs guide visitors through the scheduling process in just a few clicks. You’ll reduce friction, capture leads, and fill your calendar without hiring a developer. 📆

Why Choose Surgeon TNC on Webflow?

✔️ No-Code Customization: Tweak colors, fonts, and layouts directly in Webflow’s Designer — no developer required. ✔️ Blazing Fast Performance: Clean code, optimized visuals, and efficient interactions ensure sub-second load times. ✔️ Responsive & Retina Ready: Every section adapts fluidly to screen sizes and looks razor-sharp on high-DPI displays. ✔️ Built-In Interactions: Delight visitors with scroll-triggered animations, hover effects, and smooth transitions — all pre-configured. ✔️ Safe & Supported: Webflow hosting delivers enterprise-grade security, SSL, backups, and global CDN distribution.

Final Thoughts & CTA 🎉

Your website is the digital front door to your practice — make it as cutting-edge as your surgical skills. With Surgeon TNC on Webflow, you’ll launch a polished, high-performance site in hours, not weeks. Say goodbye to design headaches and hello to more consultations, more trust, and more growth.

👉 Ready to transform your practice? Preview Surgeon TNC on Webflow and start building your dream medical website today!

[clickbliss]

Duelpad Zen 16 Review: a carefully considered controller for fighters, rhythm games and more

by Amr (@siegarettes)

A review unit was provided by Duelpad for this review.

The Duelpad Zen 16 isn't going to surprise you. It's familiar in terms of features and build quality, and it easily fits in with the family of budget fighting game controllers saturating the market right now. It's the same acrylic sandwich design, with the same strip prone Chicago screws, running the same open source GP2040CE firmware. 

What makes it stand out are the small details that show careful consideration. The corners have been extended to make room for your wrists, button rims surround the keycaps to create a feeling closer to traditional arcade buttons, without compromising the hot swap functionality. The OLED status screen sports a small navigation cluster that can be used to configure options without a computer, and it rocks a split layout with extra button placements that actually make sense.

The split layout is my personal headliner, combining a WASD style directional cluster, with a set of thumb buttons that make it a viable option not only as a fighting game controller, but a controller replacement. 

GP2040CE supports up to 4 remappable layouts, so you can swap between layouts that support different games.

For 2D fighting games I keep the two large thumb buttons as jump, keeping the advantages of a traditional Hitbox layout, while allowing a more relaxed posture with more space between the movement and action buttons, and the smaller thumb buttons still free for extra functions. 

For other games I leave the WASD cluster as my main movement, with the thumb buttons replacing the shoulder buttons, triggers, or thumbstick clicks, leaving the pinky column on the action buttons free for additional functions and modifiers.

For example, here I've mapped the thumb buttons to the shoulders and triggers, leaving the 4 face buttons in the first two columns, followed by the L3 and R3 buttons, with the pinky column used to switch the directionals to dpad and right stick movements.

It works for both 2D and 3D games, as long as they don’t rely on the right stick for aiming or frequent camera adjustments. 

In Mega Man 11 I used this setup to quickly switch weapons with the right stick, leaving two extra buttons available to map shortcut buttons. In DMC4 this allows me to quickly perform multi-button maneuvers while charging projectile weapons, and quickly adjust the camera or switch styles by using the modifiers. 

You can even set up dual stick setups, for twin stick arcade games or rhythm games. In Project Diva you can mirror the WASD setup with the face buttons, while in Theatrhythm you can control both sticks on the action and movement buttons, with the thumb buttons available for drumming out notes. 

Let’s talk about that OLED. These tiny screens are quickly becoming a killer feature of modern controllers, allowing you to easily check your buttons and settings. The Duelpad Zen takes this one step further and allows you to change the settings directly on the screen itself. What I initially assumed was an extra button turned out to be a full navigation cluster, allowing you to cycle through various settings from an on board menu, without the need to connect it to a computer. You can change the console mode, dpad settings, RGB lighting and even the extra button mappings through the menu, saving you from memorizing several shortcuts for each function. 

In its current state, it’s unfortunately a bit finicky. At least with my configuration, the menu seems to only operate when I’m in the first profile, and frequently freezes after swapping to another profile, until restarted.  

On the opposite side of the menu are the RGB underglow controls. With them you can cycle through the various lighting modes, though they seem to be controlled separately from the rest of the controller, with no dynamic modes that react to button presses. The topside RGB can be controlled through the menu or web config, with a lot more flexibility for customization. 

The problem is that these LEDs are blindingly bright, with even the lowest of the three settings being bright enough to distract you from your game. I can’t see these as useful for anything except blinding your opponent. 

In terms of other customization, the dense layout doesn’t leave much room for art in the center, but the sides provide ample space for details. A paper layer is pre-installed in the controller, and makes a good template for cutting out your own art should you choose to do it by hand, like I did. 

The Duelpad Zen 16 has plenty of small issues that give a sense of jank to what’s otherwise a well considered device. But none of these issues got in the way when it was time to play. Setting up could be troublesome, but once I dialed in my settings and got into a game, the Zen was rarely less than a joy to play with.

The layout is well spaced and comfortable, the button rims add a sense of stability other controllers lack, and the quiet, fast response switches translated inputs with satisfying feedback. Whether I played fighting games, platformers, or rhythm games, the Zen felt up to the task. With its novel form factor and button layout, I can easily see it staying in my controller rotation, even with many more high end competitors. 

[richardmhicks]

Migrating from Always On VPN DPC Commercial to Open Source

Always On VPN Dynamic Profile Configurator (DPC) is a software solution that enables administrators to deploy and manage Always On VPN client configuration settings using Active Directory and Group Policy or Microsoft Intune. DPC began life as a commercial product. Recently, DPC has been released to the public via open source. DPC open source allows administrators everywhere to deploy the…

[kickchatlogs]

How to Stream on Kick : A Complete Guide

In the dynamic world of online streaming, Kick.com is quickly becoming a popular choice for content creators. If you're looking to join this growing community, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the process of registering and starting your first stream on Kick.com. Plus, we'll share a valuable tip on how to log your channel's messages using kickchatlogs.com.

Step 1: Registering on Kick.com

Create an Account

Visit Kick.com: Open your preferred web browser and navigate to Kick.com.

Sign Up: Click on the "Sign Up" button typically located at the top right corner of the homepage.

Fill in Your Details: Enter your email address, create a username, and set a strong password. You may also have the option to sign up using social media accounts like Google or Facebook for a quicker process.

Verify Your Email: Check your email for a verification message from Kick.com. Click on the link provided to verify your account.

Complete Your Profile

Login: Use your new credentials to log in to your Kick.com account.

Profile Setup: Go to your profile settings and fill in any additional information such as your profile picture, bio, and social media links. A well-completed profile can attract more viewers.

Step 2: Setting Up for Streaming

Download Streaming Software

To stream on Kick.com, you'll need reliable streaming software. Popular options include OBS Studio, Streamlabs, and XSplit.

Download and Install: Choose the software that suits you best and follow the installation instructions.

Configure Settings: Open the software and configure your stream settings. You'll need to set your resolution, bitrate, and other preferences.

Get Your Stream Key

Access Your Dashboard: Log in to Kick.com and navigate to your creator dashboard.

Find Your Stream Key: In your dashboard, locate the stream settings section where you'll find your unique stream key.

Copy the Stream Key: Copy the stream key as you will need to enter it into your streaming software.

Step 3: Going Live

Configure Your Streaming Software

Enter Stream Key: In your streaming software, go to the settings and find the "Stream" tab. Paste your Kick.com stream key into the designated field.

Set Up Scenes and Sources: Create scenes and add sources such as your webcam, game capture, and microphone.

Test Your Stream: It's always a good idea to do a test stream to ensure everything is working correctly.

Start Streaming

Go Live: Once everything is set up and tested, click the "Start Streaming" button in your streaming software.

Monitor Your Stream: Keep an eye on your stream through your Kick.com dashboard to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Bonus Tip: Logging Your Channel's Messages

As a streamer, it's important to keep track of your chat messages for community management and content moderation. The best place to log your channel's messages is kickchatlogs.com. This platform provides an easy and efficient way to save and review all your chat interactions.

Sign Up on Kickchatlogs.com: Create an account on kickchatlogs.com.

Link Your Kick.com Account: Follow the instructions to link your Kick.com channel to kickchatlogs.com.

Start Logging: Once linked, your chat messages will be automatically logged and can be accessed anytime through your kickchatlogs.com account.

Conclusion

Starting your streaming journey on Kick.com is straightforward and user-friendly. With this guide, you now know how to register, set up, and start streaming on the platform. Remember to use kickchatlogs.com to keep track of your channel's messages and maintain a healthy, engaged community. Happy streaming!

For more detailed guides and streaming tips, stay tuned to our blog. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.

[elsa16744]

The Future of Market Research: Virtual Reality and Immersive Experiences 

Market research is an integral part of customer behavior and experience personalization strategies. It provides necessary insights into consumers' product preferences and market trends. Conventional techniques such as one-to-one surveys, focus groups, or secondary data collection have been standard in this field. However, technological enhancements have equipped modern market researchers with novel tools like virtual reality. This post will discuss the future of market research, including the potential of virtual reality and immersive experiences. 

What is Virtual Reality? 

Virtual reality (VR) simulates a computer-aided audiovisual environment. It can mimic reality or include experiences from a fantasy. Its adequate implementation will resolve many customer profiling issues and data quality limitations haunting professionals in market research consulting. Moreover, immersing users in a realistic simulation allows VR projects to provide more dynamic or nuanced insights into consumer behavior. 

What Are the Benefits of Virtual Reality in Market Research? 

1| Immersive Experience and Consumer Behavior 

One of VR's key advantages in market research is the ease of creating highly immersive experiences. Unlike traditional methods, VR can simulate a complete environment. That allows researchers to observe how consumers interact with products or services in a lifelike context. Besides, this immersion can lead to more accurate and authentic responses. After all, participants are less likely to be influenced by the artificiality of a traditional research setting. The required detailed, realistic simulation is often complex to accomplish with ordinary methods. 

2| Emotional and Behavioral Insights 

Another significant benefit of VR integration is its ability to interpret emotional responses. However, you require biometric sensors to track heart rate and eye movements. The acquired data will assist in measuring physiological responses to different stimuli within the virtual environment. This data on reactions can facilitate valuable insights into how consumers feel about a product. You can also check their positive or negative sentiments toward an advertisement or brand. 

How to Utilize VR in Market Research Based on Your Target Industry? 

According to market intelligence consulting experts, several industries already leverage VR for customer insights. The following use cases demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of this technology. 

1| Retail and Consumer Goods 

Virtual reality software can help retailers try multiple store layouts to see how customer dwell time changes. Remember, product placements and marketing tactics affect how much customers buy before the final checkout. Therefore, companies like Walmart and IKEA have experimented with virtual stores. They also intend to gather consumer feedback before making costly and permanent changes to their physical store layouts in the real world. This precaution allows them to optimize their strategies based on data-driven insights rather than intuition or guesswork. 

2| Automotive Industry 

Automotive companies utilize VR systems to offer virtual car showrooms and deliver simulated test-driving experiences. This use case enhances the customer experience. Brands get this valuable data to investigate ever-changing consumer preferences and purchasing behaviors. Consider Audi and Ford. They have developed virtual test drives, allowing potential buyers to experience their vehicles. They can configure various scenarios for virtual driving sessions. Later, they might gather stakeholder feedback influencing future car designs, collision safety measures, handling methods, or fuel-efficiency parameters. 

3| Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals 

In healthcare, clinicians and universities will leverage VR to simulate medical environments for apprentices' training and evaluating new medical devices and treatments. Pharmaceutical companies employ VR to simulate clinical trials. Doing so allows medical professionals to examine patient reactions to new drugs. Although these trials are programmatic, they enable better forecasts for real-world healthcare outcomes. As a result, the stakeholders can accelerate research and enhance the accuracy of their findings. 

Challenges in VR Integration for Immersive Experiences and Market Research 

While VR's potential in market research is immense, several challenges and considerations might hinder the effective implementation of virtual reality experiences. 

1| Accessibility and Cost 

One of the top challenges to the widespread integration of VR is the cost of equipment and the availability of reliable talent. Business leaders need cost-effective tools and experienced VR-friendly market researchers to develop and maintain virtual environments. High-quality VR headsets and sensors can be expensive, and creating a realistic and engaging virtual environment requires significant software development and design investment. As the virtual reality industry matures and its tech tools become more affordable, these costs will likely decrease. So, VR integration for market studies will be more accessible to all organizations worldwide. 

2| Data Privacy and Ethics 

Corporations' use of VR in market research and hyper-personalization raises critical questions about data privacy and ethics. Biometric data, such as heart rate and eye movement, are highly sensitive data categories. Therefore, data processing entities must handle them with care. Companies must ensure that their data protection measures are effective. At the same time, participants must know how data recipients will utilize their data legally, ethically, and legitimately. Transparency and consent are crucial to maintaining trust and avoiding potential legal issues. 

3| Technical Limitations 

Despite significant advancements, VR technology still has limitations. Motion sickness, for example, can affect some users by limiting the duration of VR sessions. Additionally, the realism of virtual environments exhibits visual artifacts or rendering glitches because of current hardware and software limitations. As technology continues to improve, these obstacles will likely diminish. However, they might be a significant problem for enterprises with smaller budgets. 

The Future of Virtual Reality in Market Research 

The future of VR and immersive experiences in market research is promising, with several disruptive projects already making the headlines, as explored below. 

1| Enhanced Realism and Interactivity 

Continuous progress in AI technologies promises better realism and more engaging interactions. Advances in graphics, haptic feedback, and artificial intelligence will create more lifelike and engaging virtual environments. Their future releases will enhance the accuracy of consumer behavior studies and provide deeper insights into their preferences and motivations. 

2| Integration with Other Technologies 

Integrating VR with other emerging technologies will open up new possibilities for market research. Consider augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and live data streaming projects. For example, brands can use AI platforms to analyze the extensive databases from VR-powered market studies to identify unique patterns and crucial trends that may be undetectable in a standard analysis. AR can complement VR by overlaying digital information in the real world, creating a seamless blend of physical and virtual experiences. 

3| Broader Adoption Across Industries 

Affordable technologies indicate broader VR adoption in market research across various industries. The potential applications will benefit entertainment, tourism, education, and real estate. Companies that embrace VR early on will have a first-mover advantage because they will gain actionable insights into their customers before competitors. Consequently, they will successfully stay ahead of them in understanding market trends. 

4| Personalized Consumer Experiences 

VR will revolutionize market research and provide better approaches to studying consumer engagement metrics. Understandably, you want to personalize virtual experiences based on individual preferences and behaviors. This method helps create more meaningful and engaging interactions. For instance, a fashion retailer could offer virtual fitting rooms. Online customers would try on clothes and receive personalized recommendations based on submitted style and body type data. Similar customization options tell customers your business is committed to prioritizing satisfaction and brand loyalty. 

Conclusion 

Global brands want to incorporate virtual reality and immersive experiences into market research. These tech advancements help redefine the methods for understanding consumer behavior. VR addresses many of the limitations of traditional research methods by providing a more realistic, engaging, and data-rich environment. While challenges can be tricky to overcome, the strategic benefits attract brands. For deeper insights and more accurate data to inform business strategies, companies have invested in developing solutions to those problems. 

As technology advances, domain experts expect VR to become indispensable in the market research toolkit. Companies that invest in this technology earlier will be well-positioned to reap the rewards since they acquire a competitive edge essential to thrive in their industry. The future of market research is immersive, and your competitors have merely begun exploring the possibilities.  

[qcs01]

Optimizing Performance on Enterprise Linux Systems: Tips and Tricks

Introduction: In the dynamic world of enterprise computing, the performance of Linux systems plays a crucial role in ensuring efficiency, scalability, and reliability. Whether you're managing a data center, cloud infrastructure, or edge computing environment, optimizing performance is a continuous pursuit. In this article, we'll delve into various tips and tricks to enhance the performance of enterprise Linux systems, covering everything from kernel tuning to application-level optimizations.

Kernel Tuning:

Adjusting kernel parameters: Fine-tuning parameters such as TCP/IP stack settings, file system parameters, and memory management can significantly impact performance. Tools like sysctl provide a convenient interface to modify these parameters.

Utilizing kernel patches: Keeping abreast of the latest kernel patches and updates can address performance bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities. Techniques like kernel live patching ensure minimal downtime during patch application.

File System Optimization:

Choosing the right file system: Depending on the workload characteristics, selecting an appropriate file system like ext4, XFS, or Btrfs can optimize I/O performance, scalability, and data integrity.

File system tuning: Tweaking parameters such as block size, journaling options, and inode settings can improve file system performance for specific use cases.

Disk and Storage Optimization:

Utilizing solid-state drives (SSDs): SSDs offer significantly faster read/write speeds compared to traditional HDDs, making them ideal for I/O-intensive workloads.

Implementing RAID configurations: RAID arrays improve data redundancy, fault tolerance, and disk I/O performance. Choosing the right RAID level based on performance and redundancy requirements is crucial.

Leveraging storage technologies: Technologies like LVM (Logical Volume Manager) and software-defined storage solutions provide flexibility and performance optimization capabilities.

Memory Management:

Optimizing memory allocation: Adjusting parameters related to memory allocation and usage, such as swappiness and transparent huge pages, can enhance system performance and resource utilization.

Monitoring memory usage: Utilizing tools like sar, vmstat, and top to monitor memory usage trends and identify memory-related bottlenecks.

CPU Optimization:

CPU affinity and scheduling: Assigning specific CPU cores to critical processes or applications can minimize contention and improve performance. Tools like taskset and numactl facilitate CPU affinity configuration.

Utilizing CPU governor profiles: Choosing the appropriate CPU governor profile based on workload characteristics can optimize CPU frequency scaling and power consumption.

Application-Level Optimization:

Performance profiling and benchmarking: Utilizing tools like perf, strace, and sysstat for performance profiling and benchmarking can identify performance bottlenecks and optimize application code.

Compiler optimizations: Leveraging compiler optimization flags and techniques to enhance code performance and efficiency.

Conclusion: Optimizing performance on enterprise Linux systems is a multifaceted endeavor that requires a combination of kernel tuning, file system optimization, storage configuration, memory management, CPU optimization, and application-level optimizations. By implementing the tips and tricks outlined in this article, organizations can maximize the performance, scalability, and reliability of their Linux infrastructure, ultimately delivering better user experiences and driving business success.

For further details click www.qcsdclabs.com

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Mars's radiant energy budget profile offers clues to its climate dynamics

Research by scientists at the University of Houston is changing our understanding of climate and weather on Mars and providing critical insights into Earth's atmospheric processes as well.

The study generated the first-ever meridional profile of Mars's radiant energy budget, or REB, which represents the balance or imbalance between absorbed solar energy and emitted thermal energy across the latitudes. On a global scale, an energy surplus leads to global warming, while a deficit results in global cooling. Furthermore, the meridional profile of Mars's REB fundamentally influences weather and climate patterns on the red planet.

The research team was led by Larry Guan, a graduate student in the Department of Physics at UH's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, under the guidance of his advisors, Professor Liming Li from the Department of Physics and Professor Xun Jiang from the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and several planetary scientists.

The findings are in a new paper just published in AGU Advances.

"The work in establishing Mars's first meridional radiant energy budget profile is noteworthy," Guan said. "Understanding Earth's large-scale climate and atmospheric circulation relies heavily on REB profiles, so having one for Mars allows critical climatological comparisons and lays the groundwork for Martian meteorology."

The profile, based on long-term observations from orbiting spacecraft, offers a detailed comparison of Mars's REB to that of Earth, uncovering striking differences in the way each planet receives and radiates energy. While Earth exhibits an energy surplus in the tropics and a deficit in the polar regions, Mars displays the opposite configuration.

"On Earth, the tropical energy surplus drives warming and upward atmospheric motion, while the polar energy deficit causes cooling and downward atmospheric motion," Jiang explained. "These atmospheric motions significantly influence weather and climate on our home planet. However, on Mars, we observe a polar energy surplus and a tropical energy deficit."

That surplus, Guan says, is especially pronounced in Mars's southern hemisphere during spring, playing a critical role in driving the planet's atmospheric circulation and triggering global dust storms, the most prominent feature of Martian weather. These massive storms, which can envelop the entire planet, significantly alter the distribution of energy, providing a dynamic element that affects Mars's weather patterns and climate.

"The interaction between dust storms and the REB, as well as with polar ice dynamics, brings to light the complex feedback processes that likely shape Martian weather patterns and long-term climate stability," Guan said.

IMAGE: Comparison of annual-average meridional profiles of the REB between Mars and Earth. Credit: AGU Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1029/2024AV001389