#best developer tools 2025

[skillbabu]

Top 7 Free Tools Every Beginner Developer Should Know in 2025

This article explores the top 7 free coding tools that every beginner developer should use in 2025. It’s designed for students, career switchers, and aspiring developers who want to start coding without paying for expensive software.

You’ll discover tools like Visual Studio Code (a powerful code editor), GitHub (for version control), and Replit (a browser-based IDE), along with FreeCodeCamp, Postman, StackBlitz, and GitPod. Each tool is explained with a beginner-friendly problem-solution format, helping readers understand why it's useful and how to start using it.

The article wraps up with a practical checklist, encouraging readers to take action by downloading tools, joining communities, and building real-world projects.

It’s an essential read for anyone starting their coding journey in 2025 with zero investment.

[pauljonessoftware]

My AI Pair Programmer Works as Hard as I Do

How I Rediscovered My Love for Building With Help From an Invisible Teammate When I first started programming, it was exciting—creative, even intoxicating. I came from a background in electronics engineering, and code felt like this unlimited sandbox where I could invent anything. I dove in enthusiastically, thinking I’d found the perfect side hustle or creative outlet. But then something…

[olivergisttv]

Data Science in 2025: The Shocking Tools That Will Make or Break Your Career

The data science field in 2025 is no longer what it used to be. With AI-native tooling, vector search pipelines, and local-first compute on the rise, a seismic shift is underway. 📉 40% of traditional data science tasks are now automated 📈 Roles demand real-time, AI-integrated, and app-ready solutions ❗ And if you’re still clinging to legacy tools like Pandas and Jupyter? You’re not just…

[solvixtech]

Best Frontend Development Frameworks 2025: A Guide to the Top Tools and Trends

Frontend development is evolving rapidly, driven by new frameworks, libraries, and user experience demands. As businesses aim for high-performance web applications, choosing the right frontend framework is crucial. In 2025, developers have a variety of powerful frameworks to build scalable, efficient, and visually appealing applications. This article explores the best frontend development frameworks 2025, analyzing their features, advantages, and use cases. 

Additionally, we will highlight essential frontend development tools and libraries that complement these frameworks, helping developers optimize workflows and enhance productivity. 

1. Why Choosing the Right Frontend Framework Matters 

A frontend framework determines how a web application functions, how it scales, and the user experience it delivers. With technology constantly advancing, developers must stay ahead by adopting frameworks that offer performance optimization, faster development, and seamless integrations. 

The right framework should: 

Support reusability and modularity for faster development cycles. 

Enhance performance and speed, ensuring smooth rendering and interactions. 

Offer strong community support and continuous updates. 

Be compatible with modern technologies like AI, server-side rendering (SSR), and WebAssembly. 

2. Best Frontend Development Frameworks 2025 

a) React.js – The Powerhouse Continues 

React.js remains one of the most widely used frontend frameworks, thanks to its component-based architecture and vast ecosystem. Backed by Meta (formerly Facebook), React.js continues to evolve with new features enhancing performance and developer experience. 

Why Choose React in 2025? 

Server Components: React’s server-side rendering (SSR) capabilities make applications load faster. 

Concurrent Rendering: The latest React updates optimize page rendering and responsiveness. 

Rich Ecosystem: A vast selection of third-party libraries and state management tools like Redux and Recoil. 

Best Use Cases 

Single Page Applications (SPAs) 

E-commerce platforms 

Social media applications 

b) Vue.js – The Developer-Friendly Framework 

Vue.js has gained popularity for its simplicity and flexibility, making it an excellent choice for both small-scale and enterprise applications. Vue 4, expected in 2025, promises even better performance and state management capabilities. 

Why Choose Vue.js in 2025? 

Lightweight and Fast: Vue’s optimized reactivity system improves rendering speed. 

Easy Learning Curve: Developers can quickly adapt to Vue due to its intuitive API. 

Improved Composition API: Enhances code reusability and scalability. 

Best Use Cases 

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) 

Lightweight dashboards and admin panels 

Small-to-medium-scale business websites 

c) Angular – The Enterprise-Grade Framework 

Angular continues to be the go-to choice for enterprise applications. Developed by Google, Angular’s TypeScript-based structure ensures maintainability, security, and scalability. The latest updates in Angular 2025 bring improved performance and a better developer experience. 

Why Choose Angular in 2025? 

Modular Architecture: Supports large-scale applications with maintainable codebases. 

Improved SSR with Angular Universal: Faster page loads for SEO-optimized web apps. 

Strong CLI Support: Automates repetitive tasks and enhances developer productivity. 

Best Use Cases 

Enterprise-grade applications 

Banking and financial platforms 

Healthcare and government systems 

d) Svelte – The Future of Lightweight Web Apps 

Svelte is gaining traction as a modern alternative to traditional frameworks. Unlike React or Vue, Svelte compiles components into highly optimized JavaScript, eliminating the need for a virtual DOM. 

Why Choose Svelte in 2025? 

No Virtual DOM Overhead: Results in faster rendering and better performance. 

Smaller Bundle Sizes: Reduces load time and improves page speed. 

Reactive State Management: Simplifies handling UI changes without external libraries. 

Best Use Cases 

Interactive web applications 

News and content-heavy websites 

High-performance web experiences 

e) Next.js – The Leader in Server-Side Rendering (SSR) 

Next.js, built on top of React, is redefining frontend development with its powerful server-side rendering capabilities. With the rise of SSR and static site generation (SSG), Next.js remains a top contender in 2025. 

Why Choose Next.js in 2025? 

Hybrid Rendering: Supports both SSR and SSG for dynamic applications. 

Optimized Image Loading: Built-in image optimization enhances site speed. 

Edge Computing Support: Deploy apps closer to users for low-latency performance. 

Best Use Cases 

SEO-friendly websites 

Content-heavy platforms like blogs and news websites 

E-commerce applications with dynamic content 

3. Supporting Frontend Development Tools and Libraries 

While frameworks provide the structure for web applications, developers rely on various frontend development tools and libraries to optimize workflows. Some essential tools include: 

Webpack: A powerful bundler that optimizes assets and improves page load speeds. 

Vite: A next-generation build tool offering faster development and hot module replacement. 

Storybook: A UI development environment for building and testing frontend components. 

Lodash: A utility library that simplifies JavaScript functions. 

These tools help streamline frontend development, ensuring better performance and maintainability. 

4. Future Trends in Frontend Development 

With rapid advancements in web technologies, here are some key trends shaping the future of frontend development: 

a) WebAssembly (WASM) for High-Performance Web Apps 

WebAssembly is revolutionizing frontend development by allowing developers to run high-performance code in web browsers, making web applications as fast as native applications. 

b) AI-Powered UI/UX Enhancements 

AI-driven design tools and automated accessibility testing are becoming integral to frontend development, improving user experience across devices. 

c) Headless CMS Integration 

More developers are adopting headless CMS platforms like Strapi and Contentful for better content management and scalability. 

d) Jamstack Architecture 

With a focus on speed and security, Jamstack (JavaScript, APIs, and Markup) continues to rise in popularity for developing static and hybrid applications. 

Choosing the right framework is critical for building efficient and future-ready web applications. The best frontend development frameworks 2025—including React.js, Vue.js, Angular, Svelte, and Next.js—offer powerful features that cater to various business and technical needs. 

Pairing these frameworks with the right frontend development tools and libraries ensures seamless development, enhanced performance, and optimized user experience. As technology evolves, staying updated with the latest trends and frameworks will help developers build cutting-edge web applications that stand out in the digital landscape. 

[sweecute-jamie]

Do you know which game avatar is this ? Checkout on https://Gamepodcasts.com and play online games

[techcronus]

Node.js Development: Everything You Need to Know in 2025

In 2025, Node.js development continues to be a powerful tool for building efficient, scalable, and real-time applications. This backend JavaScript framework has become a go-to technology for backend development, favoured by developers for its speed, flexibility, and vast ecosystem. Here’s everything you need to know about Node.js development trends, advantages, and key considerations in 2025.

Why Node.js Remains Popular in 2025

Node.js has gained a strong foothold in web and app development due to its high performance and ability to handle large volumes of simultaneous requests, making it ideal for data-intensive applications. Its non-blocking, event-driven architecture allows developers to build scalable web applications that can easily support thousands of concurrent users.

Key Node.js Trends to Watch in 2025

Serverless Architecture: Serverless is growing in popularity, and Node.js serverless applications fit perfectly with this trend. In a serverless environment, developers don’t need to manage server infrastructure; they focus instead on writing code. This approach can reduce development costs and improve scalability, making Node.js a key player in the serverless computing market.

Edge Computing: As demand for faster data processing rises, Node.js for edge computing is becoming crucial. By enabling data processing closer to the data source, Node.js helps reduce latency and improve application performance, particularly in real-time applications.

Microservices Architecture: Microservices are essential for large-scale, modular applications. Node.js, with its lightweight nature, is perfect for Node.js microservices architecture, allowing developers to build small, independent services that can be deployed and scaled individually.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Integration: In 2025, integrating AI and ML models into applications is a significant trend. Node.js with AI and ML is compatible with powerful machine-learning libraries, making it an attractive choice for developers looking to create intelligent applications.

Benefits of Using Node.js in 2025

High Performance: Node.js uses the V8 engine, offering impressive speed and efficient execution of JavaScript. This makes it suitable for applications requiring fast response times, such as real-time applications, chat applications, and IoT devices.

Rich Ecosystem: The Node.js ecosystem, including npm (Node Package Manager), gives developers access to a wide range of reusable modules and libraries. This Node.js ecosystem reduces development time and helps accelerate project timelines.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Node.js Development cross-platform applications work well across different platforms, making it easier for developers to build applications that run seamlessly on various operating systems.

Scalability: The non-blocking, asynchronous architecture of Node.js for scalable applications makes it easy to scale horizontally, supporting increased workloads as businesses grow.

Best Practices for Node.js Development in 2025

Leverage TypeScript: Using TypeScript with Node.js enhances code quality and reduces bugs, making it a valuable addition to any development project.

Prioritize Security: Security is a primary concern for developers, particularly in 2025, as cyber threats grow more sophisticated. Implementing Node.js security best practices, like input validation and rate limiting, is essential for protecting applications.

Adopt CI/CD Pipelines: Continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines streamline development and ensure faster, more reliable Node.js deployments.

Conclusion

Node.js continues to be a versatile and high-performance choice for backend development in 2025. Its adaptability to trends like serverless architecture, microservices, and AI integration makes it a prime technology for building future-ready applications. By leveraging the power of Node.js developers, businesses can develop scalable, efficient, and intelligent solutions to stay ahead in the digital landscape.

[goddessinnerglow]

Become Your Best Version Before 2025 Masterlist

Hello! This is the Become Your Best Version Before 2025 masterlist. It’s a collection of all the posts from the series, gathered in one place to make it easier for you to access and follow along.

I hope you find it inspiring and helpful as you work towards becoming the best version of yourself!

Day 1: What Does Becoming Your Best Version Mean

Day 2: Understanding Yourself / Self-assessment

Day 3: Identifying Limiting Beliefs

Day 4: Identifying Your Core Values

Day 5: Setting SMART Goals That Actually Stick

Day 6: Creating Your Personal Mission Statement

Day 7: Building Better Habits

Day 8: Mastering Time Management

Day 9: Auditing Your Relationships

Day 10: Mastering Your Emotions

Day 11: Taking Care of Your Body

Day 12: Stress Management

Day 13: Financial Planning and Budgeting

Day 14: Career and Purpose

Day 15: The Power of Self-Talk

Day 16: Digital Detox and Mindful Living

Day 17: Decluttering Your Life

Day 18: Creating Healthy Boundaries

Day 19: Self-Care Rituals That Actually Stick

Day 20: Building Confidence

Day 21: Overcoming Fear & Self-Doubt

Day 22: Developing New Skills

Day 23: Personal Style & Self-Presentation

Day 24: Setting Up Progress Tracking Systems

Day 25: Designing Your Accountability Plan

Day 26: Personal Development Tools and Resources

Day 27: Hobbies & Passion Projects

Day 28: How to Keep Yourself Motivated

Day 29: Prioritizing Yourself and Your Needs

Day 30: Creating Your Vision for 2025

Day 31: The Beginning of Your Best Year Yet

*** Divider Credit: @thecutestgrotto ***

[reasonsforhope]

"An AI-equipped foot scanner placed at one’s bedside could be a lifesaving companion to those living with a risk of heart failure.

Developed by Heartfelt Technologies in concert with the UK’s National Institute of Health, the scanner takes 1,800 photos of a person’s two feet and analyzes them for signs of a fluid buildup called oedema, one of three best indicators of oncoming heart failure.

Heart failure occurs when the heart’s inability to pump blood properly results in a buildup of fluid in the lungs and a lack of blood-derived oxygen reaching vital organs.

Dr. Philip Keeling, the lead author on a study debuting the invention who is also a consultant cardiologist at the South Devon National Health Service Foundation Trust, explained why such a device would be a key tool in combating heart failure, something which affects 1 million Brits every year.

“This device detects one of the big three warning signs for people with heart failure before they end up in hospital,” he wrote, according to the BBC.

“Only about half of people admitted to hospital with heart failure currently get assigned an early review by a heart failure nurse who can check to see if they are suffering a harmful build-up of fluid because their heart is not working properly.”

“Amid a shortage of heart failure nurses, a device like this can be like a virtual nurse, tracking people’s health.”

AI IN MEDICINE: 

Teens Developed App That Identifies Mouth Cancer–Making Early Diagnosis Easy and Winning $50k for Their School

In 10 Seconds, an AI Model Detects Cancerous Brain Tumors Often Missed During Surgery

After Studying Mammograms, AI Can Detect More Breast Cancers Than Humans–With Fewer False Positives

New AI Smartphone App Accurately Diagnoses Ear Infections and Prevents Unnecessary Antibiotic Use

The study which Dr. Keeling helped run involved 26 patients across five NHS trusts. Alerts given by the device of potential heart failure came between eight and 19 days in advance of a hospitalization, giving a mean prediction time of 13 days, which is enough for measures to be taken that could prevent hospitalizations.

Six hospitalizations occurred during the trial period, and the device accurately predicted 5 of them. 82% of patients decided to keep the device after it ended.

“This small study suggests a simple device could significantly improve outcomes for at-risk patients with heart failure by keeping them out of hospital,” said Dr. Bryan Williams. Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation which was not involved with the study."

-via Good News Network, June 16, 2025

[lj-lephemstar]

Progress Checkup! (Jan. 2025) | Scratchin' Melodii Devlog

Hey guys! Time for another progress checkup; This is actually the first one of the new year! I hope you were all able to enjoy the holidays. I took a bit of a break from working on most stuff last month and have been getting back on things this month. First, I wanna thank everyone who's wishlisted Scratchin' Melodii on Steam! So far, the game's gotten over 17,000 wishlists! Thanks so much for the support!

In the previous devlog, I mentioned some changes to the rhythm system. In the Dragon Funk preview, you can see the new rhythm system and character icons I mentioned in the previous devlog! Actually, let's unpack some of the new things you're seeing in action there:

Hold Notes This is the first song in the game to include hold-notes! They mostly work the same as they would in any other rhythm game. However, since this game has an emphasis on self expression, moving the control stick during these will let you tune the note's pitch-bend for extra expression points! I showed that off in a post here. As for Pow Notes, I've been working on a way to let the player get expression points from these too! I'd like for most of the special notes like these to be not just a gimmick, but a tool that the player can use to their advantage.

Quadruple Lines Yep! The first blue line in this one is extra long and has 4 rows! Fun fact actually, I had to implement this feature after I realized that part of the song was too long to fit in just two rows. It was pretty difficult to figure out both how to do it and how to execute it in a way that doesn't feel too jarring, but I'm pretty satisfied with the results! In fact, barely anyone's even noticed it; I guess that's just how natural it feels! Not sure how much more often I'll be having lines longer than two rows, but it's great that I have the option now.

AutoPlay You might also notice that the player inputs are perfectly timed... TOO perfect... that's because I've developed an autoplay feature for the game! At the moment, it's mostly for debugging and stuff, but if all goes according to plan, AutoPlay Mode and Replays should hopefully be available to players as well in some form when the game comes out!

"Next" Indicator & Other UI Related QoL Some of the top things players said they had trouble with in the demo were related to being prepared for the next line. So, if you look at the right-end of the rhythm bars, you'll see a little tab that shows the color and amount of rows the next line will have! Also, now each line's suggested notes can be seen before the rival performs them. This did take some thought, as I actually kinda still liked the idea of it appearing as if the characters were making it up on the spot, but to put game design first, it makes more sense to have it displayed as soon as possible so the player has more time to react and prepare. This also opens up more possibilities for future mechanics, so in the long run, I think I've made the best choice here.

Now, let's get into what I've been and/or will be working on that you haven't seen yet!

Act 2's Boss The music for the Act 2 Boss is  nearly complete! I'll likely be starting to animate it pretty soon. This song is the longest one I've done so far, clocking at a duration of a little over 3 minutes long!

More Animation Updates for Stir & Mix At this point, I've done even more cleanups on the sequence you saw in the last devlog and I've finished animating the "I wanna" scene of the song, which will probably have the most changes out of any other scene in the song. When I first animated Stir & Mix, I didn't quite have the time or skills to do everything I really wanted to do with it. That scene in particular I felt was WAY too stiff and boring, especially compared to the more dynamic and fluid scenes that appear in some of the other the stages now. I'd say I'm about halfway done retouching all the animations for this one!

Refined Model Sheets I don't talk about these very often, but sometime around 2023 I started using model/reference sheets for the characters. (I might show them off someday, but for now they're staying private!) Before this point, the designs are pretty inconsistent from shot to shot, so this helped a lot with that. Recently, I've done some revisions I'm really pleased with. Their designs are finally becoming... well, final! I'll be reworking the affected characters' hub world sprites at some point to reflect these changes.

Slight Reworks for some Act 1 Songs On the sound side, Stir & Mix's vocals have been reworked again! As I've mentioned in the previous devlog, 2cada's tuning style and techniques have evolved a bit since we first started working together, so we thought it'd be fun to go back and incorporate some of that into it. We'll also probably be reworking the structure of Nami's song a little bit at some point just to make it a feel a bit more solid, which may require a new line or two from her voice actor, Meggie-Elise! So funnily enough, it seems some of the songs will have end up having TWO unused beta versions after this.

Also, a quick PSA: Please note that beta versions of content will NOT be included in the full game. I've heard people ask for them to be "brought back" or toggleable, but in my situation something like that is both easier said than done and I also just... don't want to LOL. With as many directions I can take this game, I know I can't satisfy everyone, but I can make a game that satisfies me, so I'm aiming for that! And hey, maybe other people will like it too.

I think that's all I wanna talk about for now! Thanks so much for reading. It can be a bit of a daunting task to write these at times, but I'm glad to keep you up to date on the project when I can.

-LJ

[saltasaurus-loricatus]

Have you ever found yourself wondering,'What if the characters from hit anime and manga Bungou Stray Dogs were not dogs, but dinosaurs?' If so, this is the video for you!

I have spent a truly disgusting amount of time thinking about this, and I hope you like my theories (:

If you're anything like me and would much rather read something than listen to some guy with an annoying voice ramble, here's the text version:

But before we get started, a couple disclaimers. I have not read the manga or watched the anime in a while, so mistakes are entirely possible. I am not an official paleontologist yet, just an amateur student dinosaur enthusiast. Also, there may be spoilers, so I wouldn’t watch this if you plan to consume the anime or manga in the future. And finally, I unfortunately could not think of corresponding dinosaurs for the entire cast, so I left a couple out. Maybe I’ll make a part 2 sometime in the future. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Atsushi would definitely be a T. rex, because they are both very powerful, popular, and everyone wants one. Some folks may argue that they’re a bit overrated, but I still maintain that they are top tier, 10 out of 10 organisms. And obviously, both Atsushi and the T. rex are the protagonists of their respective pieces of media. The T. rex was the protagonist and best character of the entire Jurassic Park franchise, and my mind can not be changed.

Dazai would be an Iguanodon, because they are both perceived as peaceful to the uninitiated, so it’s often a surprise that they are quite large and can easily fuck you up good if you mess with them. See those nasty thumb spikes on the Iguanodon? Those are for stabbing. Actually, the Iguanodon’s entire hand is an all purpose tool! They had a thumb spike for defense, three weight-bearing toes for walking and an opposable pinky for grabbing and holding things. Dazai is similarly all purpose, as he can simultaneously be an ultra-manipulative supervillain type, and a pathetic wet cat of a man. Whichever the situation calls for. Also, Dazai is one of the first characters introduced in BSD, and Iguanodon was one of the first dinosaurs discovered and described. They’ve both come quite a long way from their old selves as well.

Not too sure of this one, but I’d say Kunikida matches the vibes of a Struthiomimus more than anything else. Probably because they both remind me of modern day birds, heck Struthiomimus was named after its resemblance to an ostrich, tell me you don’t see the similarities. In addition, the Struthiomimus had bones that were quite stiff, in order to keep itself balanced while running, much like Kunikida. And the species name, altus, is Latin for “lofty” or “noble” which brings to mind Kunikida’s devotion to his ideals for life. And finally, I’m not sure how common this phenomenon is, but I also often see depictions of ornithomimids in fantasy settings, including Struthiomimus, as having neat handwriting, so is it too much of a stretch to give one a trademark notebook?

Yosano’s a Carcharodontosaurus, because they were both hurt by a war. For Yosano, I really hope I don’t have to explain that being groomed into torturing soldiers to the point of literal insanity for everyone involved is bad for a developing and impressionable young child, but carcharodontosaurus is a bit more complicated. While they didn’t actually serve in any WWII efforts, a partial skeleton that was initially thought to be a carcharodontosaurus, and was also the first postcranial material ascribed to it, was destroyed in an Allied bombing. Until 1995, the only material anyone had from the carcharodontosaurus was the surviving internal cast of the partial skeleton, which threw a huge wrench into the studying of the genus. That’s probably part of the reason why no one figured out the sample was from a completely different dinosaur until 2025. Both of them also share cool little head ornaments, and are pretty damn strong and aggressive, which makes them absolutely terrifying. Carcharodontosaurus shows some evidence of face biting, which is also very common in related dinosaurs, and were one of the largest theropods ever, with one study putting the lifting strength of an adult at nearly 1,000 pounds. And Yosano has declared that everything is her strength, and has no weaknesses whatsoever, but she is also extremely fond of scaring the shit out of all her patients. But that’s nothing compared how she treats her enemies, coming at them with her massive fucking meat cleaver, or on at least one occasion, a chainsaw. Scary.

This one was pretty hard, but I think Ranpo would be a Troodon. Troodons are a small, more birdlike species, that were likely pretty intelligent at least by dinosaur standards, just like Ranpo. Not much is known about Troodons, we’re just basing this off some established evolutionary trends. They also practiced communal nesting, where several different Troodons lay their eggs in the same nest. This is quite similar to how Ranpo grew up without a biological family, but with Yosano and the other young detectives. Also, Troodon was discovered quite early, and was one of the first dinosaurs described, though it was originally thought to be a lizard, then a megalosaurus, then a pachycephalosaurus. The genus is still under scrutiny today and may be reclassified again. Ranpo too was the co-founder and first member of the armed detective agency, but spent his earlier years bouncing around between many different schools and jobs, never staying long. The similarities are eerie.

Kenji would definitely be an ankylosaurus because they are both basically living tanks. All that bony armor on the ankylosaurus made them practically invulnerable, and generally a huge pain for anything to attack. Which is the same for Kenji, part of his power is superhuman durability, he gets fucking impaled almost as often as Atsushi and still can beat the shit out of practically anyone. He’s literally the incredible hulk. The only difference I can see is that Kenji hits people with wholeass traffic signs rather than a bone-shattering tail club. In addition, there’s some speculation that ankylosaurus was adapted for earth-moving, maybe not burrowing, but perhaps digging for roots and tubers to eat. Kenji also engages in earth-moving behaviors, like that time he literally moved a mountain to protect his village. Also, with all that armor, ankylosaurus did not have a lot of space in its skull for brains, which is why they are often known as “the cows of the Cretaceous”. And Kenji raises cows, loves cows, so I see no issue.

Tanizaki here, I’m thinking he would be an Amargasaurus. Amargasaurus was a pretty small species of sauropod, that’s well known for the two rows of spikes down the back of their neck. No one’s quite sure what they were for, maybe they could stab in defense, rattle them to scare off predators, or there’s now growing speculation that they were covered in skin, making a cool sail. Whatever the case, they were likely used for display purposes. Tanizaki’s ability, Light Snow, allows him to create illusions as a display, usually for battle, kind of like the Amargasaurus might’ve. They are both also on the smaller side, at least compared to the people around them. The main difference between these two is that while the Amargasaurus might’ve been able to stab their enemies, Tanizaki absolutely would. Remember when he very nearly succeeded in stabbing the fucking mafia boss to death? In addition, the Amargasaurus’ spines or sail would likely have made their necks pretty inflexible, keeping their heads low. Similarly, Tanizaki seems to have trouble holding his head high, metaphorically, referring to his ability as ill-suited for battle, and feels mediocre about himself at best. Regardless, they are both absolutely spectacular animals.

I feel like Fukuzawa would be a Diplodocus, because they’re both naturally solitary creatures. Don’t come at me, it took a hot second before the kids grew on Fukuzawa. Also, neither of them have very many natural predators. They’re too awesome. Honestly, most of my reasoning for this one is about vibes and that awe-inspiring aura of power. I’m sure I’ll have better ideas later.

Akutagawa would be a Yutyrannus. Yutyrannus is a tyrannosauroid that’s bit older and smaller than the T. rex, and far less loved, unfortunately. Just like Akutagawa here! But I love them anyway. Other similarities between them are that they both have killer coats, just one is made of beautiful feathers and the other actually kills people with his coat.

Higuchi would be a pachycephalosaurus because just like the pachycephalosaurus, she charges into battle head-on, guns blazing, and has quite the tough exterior, mowing down enemies with no hesitation. Similarly, pachycephalosaurus has a wholeass nine inches of bone on the top of it’s skull, making it ideal for charging at other dinosaurs, maybe even other pachycephalosaurus’, and a broad bulky body that made it able to take hits much easier. And unfortunately, we know practically nothing about either of their daily lives. Pachycephalosaurus aren’t often fossilized, because they lived in the extremely erosive highlands, with the exception of their extremely durable nine inch skull domes. Higuchi too could live in highlands for all we know, because we haven’t really seen her at all outside of her mafia work. The only thing we know about her is that she lives with her younger sister. We also can speculate, from Kafka Asagiri’s twitter, that Higuchi has some kind of special ability, the name and nature of which is unknown. Like Higuchi, we are also only left to speculate on what Pachycephalosaurus used their head domes for, because further scrutiny has revealed that they likely didn’t ram their heads together like previously thought. It’s more likely they butted each other in the sides.

I’d say Kyouka would be a velociraptor because they’re both pretty small, the velociraptor was only 40 pounds, they both lived in darkness, we do know that Velociraptor was nocturnal due to the size of some of their preserved eye bones while Kyouka was a notorious mafia assassin for years under the assumption that she was a flower that could only bloom in darkness. They’re also both good with blades, Kyouka with her swords and knives, and Velociraptor with its scary sickle claw. In addition, they are both commonly thought of as monsters, Kyouka from being dubbed “the 35 count murderess” from her mafia days, and Velociraptor from an unflattering depiction throughout the Jurassic Park franchise. But they’re really not, Velociraptors were just sweet little dog-sized chickens with teeth and long tails, and Kyouka’s a sad 14 year old girl who is trying her very best to be good. And finally, Kyouka seems to like rabbits a lot, carrying her rabbit toy around all the time, and Velociraptor would love rabbits too if they lived in the Late Cretaceous, they would be the perfect size for them to hunt.

Chuuya would be a Triceratops because they are both extremely popular with the fans. And I feel very confident, after doing many surveys, that practically everyone knows what a Triceratops is, probably due mostly to Jurassic Park, which gives them lots and lots of well-deserved fans. And maybe I just don’t get out enough, but I have not met a single BSD fan who does not love Chuuya. I’m not saying I don’t like him or anything, I love Chuuya as much as the next gay, but it’s a bit surprising, considering that he literally has something like 20 minutes of screentime in the whole 5 seasons so far. They also both have plenty of fancy ornamentation, and despite not being the tallest or the smartest around, both Chuuya and Triceratops are 100% prepared to fight and kill the some of the most dangerous creatures to ever live in order to protect their families, whether it be dragons, giant cthulhu monsters, or T. rexes.

I’m thinking Fitzgerald would be a stegosaurus, because first of all, they are very recognizable. Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of dinosaurs can recognize a stegosaurus, they’re in practically every book, film and museum related to dinosaurs! Similarly, the real Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald is a household name, even my stupid ass was able to recognize the Great Gatsby guy when he showed up in the anime. In addition, both Fitzgerald and the Stegosaurus can be bought, and require vast quantities of money. Fitzgerald is very rich, likes having money, typically only helps people who will benefit him and who he is convinced will win, which is why he stopped fighting the detectives and is now helping them. Similarly, the Stegosaurus fossil known as “Apex” was the one of the most expensive fossils ever sold, at a whopping 44.6 million dollars in 2024. He now belongs to a rich private owner. In addition, they could both be described as “great” because Fitzgerald’s ability is literally called “the Great Fitzgerald”, and the stegosaurus is only one of the hands-down best animals ever. And finally, they both evidently cared for their families, Stegosaurus because there’s fossil trackways showing family units of juvenile and adult stegosauruses traveling together, and Fitzgerald because he literally tried to rewrite reality to bring back his daughter and heal his wife.

Mori would probably be an oviraptor, because they both are slender in build and have gotten bad reputations over the stealing children or eggs allegations. The main difference between them is that while oviraptor has had its name cleared for the most part, though there is still a bit of speculation that they may eat an egg if necessary, Mori is guilty as charged. He very much has groomed multiple children into doing dirty work for him. It’s literally a documented fact. In addition, Mori has a habit of purposefully hiding his true personality in favor of acting like a normal middle aged man, especially in public. This is not too dissimilar from the oviraptor’s original skull had been crushed and badly distorted during the rigorous fossilization process.

Lucy would definitely be an Appalachiosaurus, because Lucy’s last name is literally “Montgomery”, while Appalachiosaurus is named after Montgomery County, Alabama, close to where it was discovered. The only known specimen of the Appalachiosaurus is a juvenile, but most of its skeleton was remarkably complete, including the new bone growth on its tail that was indicative of healing from an injury. Lucy too is healing from her childhood injuries, both figuratively and literally with the poker scar on her arm. Also, if you remember from the beginning, Atsushi is a T. rex, a close relative of the Appalachiosaurus and close friend of Lucy because he was the first person to ever be nice to her as far as I know. Due to the difficult life she had, Lucy has a pretty closed off and hidden personality that she covers up by being mean to people. Similarly, Appalachiosaurus was a highly derived animal, more so than almost all others in the tyrannosaur family. It had 6 whole crests on its head, though it’s a bit hard to see here. And finally, they’re both from the East Coast of North America. We haven’t got confirmation on Lucy’s home, but the real Lucy Maud Montgomery was from Prince Edward Island, Canada, so a common theory is that Lucy is also from around there. As the name implies, Appalachiosaurus is from the Appalachian region, and is in fact the most complete dinosaur from the North American East Coast! Which is not a high bar or anything, there are barely any dinosaur fossils around there due to geological activities, but still!

I’d say Kouyou would be a Spinosaurus because for starters, they are both very tall and narrow shaped, as opposed to crocodilians that are more short, round, and barrel shaped. And maybe I’m just looking in the wrong places, but I tend to see a lot of fanart associating Kouyou with cranes, which are very very cool. If you look at Spinosaurus here, it most likely lived very similarly to a giant prehistoric crane, wading into the water and waiting for fish to get close before snatching them out and eating them! A proposed function of the Spinosaurus sail is creating shadows in the water to make fish think “hey, this is a good place to shelter”, much like some modern wading birds like herons do with their wings. Their weaponization of the darkness is similar to how Kouyou thinks of Kyouka, and by extension, herself, as flowers that can only bloom in darkness, which is why she’s so cynical and shuns things like hope and love. She also had a lot of trouble accepting the fact that Kyouka, or anyone else could change and thrive in the light in despite of the past that she seems to be stuck in. Similarly, Spinosaurus was not done in by the asteroid at the end Cretaceous, it was likely brought down earlier, when climate change destroyed their river habitats and they were unable to adapt enough to survive.

Fyodor would definitely be a Dilophosaurus, mainly because there’s a wealth of information perpetuated about both of them, and almost all of it is faulty or just straight up wrong. While Fyodor leaks fake information about himself and his ability on purpose to kill people better, the Dilophosaurus was unfortunately put into Jurassic Park with many embellishments, including a frill and a tiny size, and now many people genuinely believe that, half the paleoart I see of them features a frill and venom spitting, even though there is no evidence of either. Although it does look super cool and I love Jurassic Park nostalgia as much as anyone. These common misconceptions would make both of them extremely difficult for most people to fight, although that’s not a likely scenario for you or I to be in. Also, Fyodor’s cello playing absolutely slaps, while the sound reconstructions of Dilophosaurus sound extremely cool, much like a bird humming, at least in most of the studies I’ve followed. In addition, as far as we know, neither of them can spit venom, at least in the literal sense. They are also both shown as monsters in their respective pieces of media, although whether or not Fyodor is a monster is open to interpretation I guess. But the Dilophosaurus was just a silly little girl, I mean, look at her! It is often easy to forget that dinosaurs were just animals, not just spiteful hungry monsters. However, they were both the apex predators, or close to it, of their environments. Fyodor is basically the top of the food chain as far as we’ve seen in BSD, but that may change, as they are allergic to not adding new super predators every season to up the stakes.

Nikolai would obviously be an Archeopteryx because both of them are often compared to modern day birds. Archeopteryx because its extremely well developed flight feathers and broad wings meant that it was most likely capable of flying or gliding, and Nikolai because his main motivation is wanting to be free as a bird, and this bird you cannot chaaaange. They also both have very elaborate coats that are slightly asymmetrical, much like most modern birds. In addition, Nikolai seems to be almost conflicted on his actions, claiming that he does indeed feel guilty about torturing and killing tons of people. However, this guilt does not stand in the way of his sadism, and may even encourage his behaviors further because he wants to be free of everything holding him back. Similarly, the Archeopteryx was a very complex animal compared to other dinosaurs, and had an unusually large brain. This is more evidence towards the fact that they could fly, because flying takes a lot of brainpower. Archeopteryx also had a long hooked killing claw on its feet, similar to the velociraptor, likely for grabbing prey. Nikolai engages in a similar behavior, particularly when he captured Atsushi’s leg and stabbed it many times before leaving it in the floor.

Tetcho is definitely a Therizinosaurus, in part because they both are known for having extremely odd diets. Tetcho habitually combines unorthodox foods together and eats his hard boiled eggs with the shells on (he’s so me fr), and the Therizinosaurs are the only known family of theropods to have converted back to herbivory, likely just eating leaves and foliage. They are also both equipped with sick ass blades, Tetcho with his sabre and Therizinosaurus with giant Freddy Krueger claws. But unlike Tetcho, Therizinosaurus likely just used its blades for grabbing leaves rather than attacking children. In addition, while they are both pretty large and quite scary-looking, they seem to be the least dangerous and violent member of their respective peers. I know that is not saying very much at all, but while he may be a cop who tried to murder at least one innocent child, considering that half of the other Hunting Dogs seem to really take pleasure out in tormenting anyone they can, I personally would rather take my chances with Tetcho than any of the others. And considering Therizinosaurus was a large, slow, plant eater, I would much rather run into one of those than any other big theropod, like a Tyrannosaurus or Tarbosaurus.

Teruko’s a coelophysis because they are both tiny, nasty little buggers who are actually pretty old. Coelophysis was one of the earliest genuses of dinosaur, living over 200 million years ago in the Triassic, and while Teruko’s age is not confirmed, considering that she was a tween during the Great War, which was a minimum of 15 years ago, it can be inferred that she is probably in her late twenties to early thirties. That is ancient for a BSD character, whose life expectancies are just over 24 years old, if my math is correct. They are also both known for being skilled hunters who are even feared by their allies. Teruko can be a little intense in the best of times, and behaves aggressively towards almost everyone, including her peers. Coelophysis’ were also not known for their flocking behavior and lived alone, although they were likely not cannibals as has been previously thought.

Anyway, thanks so much for watching, this took forever to make. If you think a part 2 is necessary, or if I’m wrong about something, feel free to fight about it in the comments. And thanks slidesgo, for letting me download this presentation template. Maybe some other time, I’ll show off the terrible doodles I made of the dinosaurs dressed as their respective characters.

[theomeganerd]

The Witcher 4 Tech Demo Debuts

CD PROJEKT RED and Epic Games Present The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo at The State of Unreal 2025!

At Unreal Fest Orlando, the State of Unreal keynote opened with a live on-stage presentation that offered an early glimpse into the latest Unreal Engine 5 features bringing the open world of The Witcher 4 to life.

Spotlight:

Tech demo showcased how the CD PROJEKT RED and Epic Games are working together to power the world of The Witcher 4 on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, and bring large open-world support to Unreal Engine. The tech demo takes place in the never-before-seen region of Kovir.

As Unreal Fest 2025 kicked off, CD PROJEKT RED joined Epic Games on stage to present a tech demo of The Witcher 4 in Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). Presented in typical CDPR style, the tech demo follows the main protagonist Ciri in the midst of a monster contract and shows off some of the innovative UE5 technology and features that will power the game’s open world.

The tech demo takes place in the region of Kovir — which will make its very first appearance in the video game series in The Witcher 4. The presentation followed main protagonist Ciri — along with her horse Kelpie — as she made her way through the rugged mountains and dense forests of Kovir to the bustling port town of Valdrest. Along the way, CD PROJEKT RED and Epic Games dove deep into how each feature is helping drive performance, visual fidelity, and shape The Witcher 4’s immersive open world.

 Watch the full presentation from Unreal Fest 2025 now at LINK.

Since the strategic partnership was announced in 2022, CDPR has been working with Epic Games to develop new tools and enhance existing features in Unreal Engine 5 to expand the engine’s open-world development capabilities and establish robust tools geared toward CD PROJEKT RED’s open-world design philosophies. The demo, which runs on a PlayStation 5 at 60 frames per second, shows off in-engine capabilities set in the world of The Witcher 4, including the new Unreal Animation Framework, Nanite Foliage rendering, MetaHuman technology with Mass AI crowd scaling, and more. The tools showcased are being developed, tested, and eventually released to all UE developers, starting with today’s Unreal Engine 5.6 release. This will help other studios create believable and immersive open-world environments that deliver performance at 60 FPS without compromising on quality — even at vast scales. While the presentation was running on a PlayStation console, the features and technology will be supported across all platforms the game will launch on.

The Unreal Animation Framework powers realistic character movements in busy scenes. FastGeo Streaming, developed in collaboration with Epic Games, allows environments to load quickly and smoothly. Nanite Foliage fills forests and fields with dense detail without sacrificing performance. The Mass system handles large, dynamic crowds with ease, while ML Deformer adds subtle, realistic touches to character animation — right down to muscle movement.

Speaking on The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, Joint-CEO of CD PROJEKT RED, 

Michał Nowakowski stated:

“We started our partnership with Epic Games to push open-world game technology forward. To show this early look at the work we’ve been doing using Unreal Engine running at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5, is a significant milestone — and a testament of the great cooperation between our teams. But we're far from finished. I look forward to seeing more advancements and inspiring technology from this partnership as development of The Witcher 4 on Unreal Engine 5 continues.”

Tim Sweeney, Founder and CEO of Epic Games said: 

“CD PROJEKT RED is one of the industry’s best open-world game studios, and we’re grateful that they’re working with us to push Unreal Engine forward with The Witcher 4. They are the perfect partner to help us develop new world-building features that we can share with all Unreal Engine developers.”

For more information on The Witcher 4, please visit the official website. More information about The Witcher series can be found on the official official website, X, Bluesky, and Facebook.

[olivergisttv]

Mobile App Development: A Lucrative Career Path in 2025

In 2025, mobile app development continues to be one of the most in-demand and financially rewarding paths in tech. With smartphones remaining our go-to devices for everything from productivity to entertainment, companies are investing heavily in creating seamless, intuitive mobile experiences — and they need skilled developers to build them. Whether you’re a self-taught coder, a bootcamp…

[blissfullyunawares]

Hi friends! I’m a writer and I want to share some of my best templates with you!

My favorite pages in my writing composition notebook:

Character Development Worksheet

Name / Nickname

Age / Gender

Heritage / Family

Motives

Strengths

Weaknesses

Backstory

Setting / Time Period

Other Details / Notes

Dialogue Prompts

Essentially: Someone says something to your character, how do they respond?

Purpose: Character Development

Writing Prompts

Essentially: Something happens, an action or event, and your fictional world or characters respond or adapt

Purpose: World Building & Writing Practice

7 Act Structure

The structure gives me a way to plot the story, insert the characters, and build a compelling narrative that moves toward a set arc. This allows each character to find motive to move forward.

This is what I’m referring to:

🫶🏻 Tag for Credit OP: @thewritingumbrellas

I renamed them or gave them a short list of alternate names for each act to allow for my own interpretation.

The Realization (Act7) for example, in my mind is the Resolution, Acceptance, or Rejection and the perfect place for a good ending, tragic outcome, or cliff hanger.

List: Possible Character Names

One of the biggest roadblocks I found as a writer is the Internet (I know, I know!) and my solution for this was writing the old school way (pen and paper, baby!).

In the back of my notebook, I’ve written down possible names I would use in future stories. No need to generate names, no need to get distracted.

There’s a list for first names, and a list of last names, so there’s no need to sorry about looking it up.

List: Public Places

World building is fun, and I want mine to be immersive, so I’ve included a list of public places that range from ancient civilizations, to Victorian era Canada, to the Wild West.

A quick run through my list of places and I’ll have an idea of where my characters are off to on their next adventure!

Follow for More!

When you follow along in 2025, you’ll get

⚡️ 2 Dialogue Prompts Weekly ⚡️

⚡️ One Liners from Recent WIPs ⚡️

⚡️ Feedback Fridays ⚡️

WAIT!! FRIEND!!

If you liked this post, and you’re interested in a writing toolkit for your very own fictional conquest, please leave some emojis in the comments below! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

I’m working on a library of tools for writers and D&D enthusiasts (and I’m super excited to share it with youuuuu)

Until next time 💕

[notashadowbutawave]

hmmm (8x13 "Invisible")

would have been way more believable and probably a better story for Hen to have actually gotten the date wrong (her birthday is tomorrow, ex. she thought it was the 12th the whole time and actually it's the 11th or something) and somehow Athena also had the date wrong which gave her confirmation bias, and actually everyone was totally aware of her birthday. she wound herself up and made herself angry about being forgotten without investigating/taking a sanity check.

i think they took Archie a little far but i ultimately liked how Hen helped him and they really could have taken it a little further with the "not giving yourself a sanity check" thing, like him realizing that his girlfriend sucked and he was with her because he thought he sucked and didn't deserve better? would have thematically tied into other themes from the season as well

Eddie storyline was probably the best done in the episode. i have seen folks kind of complaining like "why did he bother reconciling with his family if they were just going to suck again later? bad writing!" but idk it rings true for me... parental relationships can be a roller coaster man. i've forgiven my mom for some of the shit she's pulled but not for some of the other shit, you know? it doesn't mean i'm not going to be in her life.

however, didn't like eddie "telling" chris he was moving back in. i would have preferred the flow to be "i really want you to move back in with me. is that what you want, too? because we can do that. if you don't, i'll be sad, but i'll respect your choice" - i.e. giving them both agency to agree. again, chris is old enough to make his own choices and it would have meant a lot to see his agency highlighted in the dialogue.

eddie diaz's mommy issues ..... so much about him makes so much more sense now

evan buckley:

i don't buy that hen, karen, bobby, and athena made him do yard work and sent him home with a to go box..... that's crazy behavior

my wife said maybe culturally they wouldn't have let a sweaty man in work clothes sit at the dinner table. i was not raised in the sort of family who had Seated Dinners so maybe i'm just low class

that said, having him walk in looking filthy and sweaty and sending him out the side door like a rent boy was pretty hot to me personally, but that's .... private

i loved buck and eddie cooking on facetime together!!! i love their platonic friendship!!!! (regular reminder that eddie is literally in existential crisis rn and buck is probably at his most independent and self-actualized and i don't think anyone needs to be Checking In With Him right now at least not in a focused way onscreen.... i think it's gonna make it hit different when Tommy does imo!!!! Tommy Kinard is coming back and Bucktommy Are Endgame 2025)

(i also accept buck with power tools etc. as an acceptable shorthand for character development and also possibly as a sex thing) (again, they know what they're doing)

i should actually just write the post i want to write that analyzes buck's costuming in the show because they're doing crazy work right now, he looks AMAZING and also queer in a very specific way

kind of a mid episode overall but i like that it featured a lot of eddie positivity. at this point, i'm unsure whether it means eddie might return to LA or if he really is just in el paso now. if he stays in el paso i hope that means we get to have Ravi Panikkar/Anirudh Pisharody Main Cast 2025

[covid-safer-hotties]

Summer COVID surge shows we may have to return to 2020 pandemic measures - Published Aug 29, 2024

As summer 2024 draws to a close, the U.S. finds itself once again grappling with a surge in COVID-19 infections.

This wave has taken many people by surprise, particularly as the country has largely consigned the pandemic to the past. While public life has pretty much returned to pre-pandemic norms — something almost none of us would have believed in the summer of 2020 — the virus itself has not.

Mutations of the virus continue to occur, and new variants are emerging, posing ongoing challenges to public health and safety. As we look ahead to the remainder of 2024 and into early 2025, we need to take stock of where we are, understand the factors driving this resurgence and better anticipate how the pandemic might evolve.

The recent surge in COVID-19 cases has disrupted summer travel plans, overwhelmed healthcare facilities in certain areas, and left many Americans dealing with the familiar symptoms of fever, cough and fatigue. The summer months, typically associated with lower respiratory virus activity, have instead seen a significant uptick in COVID-19 infections. Several factors contribute to this unexpected surge.

One factor is the high transmissibility of newer variants. The virus has continued to mutate, with certain variants displaying enhanced ability to spread, even among populations with high vaccination rates. While vaccines remain effective at preventing severe disease and death, breakthrough infections are becoming more common, especially as immunity from earlier vaccinations wanes.

Second, the widespread relaxation of public health measures has created an environment conducive to transmission. Mask mandates, social distancing guidelines and restrictions on large gatherings have all but disappeared. This return to normalcy, while massively psychologically and economically beneficial, has provided the virus with ample opportunities to spread.

Finally, the pervasive sense of pandemic fatigue has led to a serious decline in vigilance. Many people, weary of the pandemic’s disruptions to their lives, have become markedly less cautious. This complacency, coupled with the underestimation of the virus’s ability to adapt, has allowed COVID-19 to regain a foothold.

The federal government’s response to the latest surge has been tepid at best. After years of intense focus on COVID-19, there is a palpable desire in Washington to move on. This has resulted in a fragmented approach, with responsibility for managing the current wave largely devolving to state and local governments. While some have reinstated certain precautions, others have continued with business as usual, leading to inconsistent messaging and outcomes.

Moreover, the federal government’s decision to end the public health emergency earlier this year has had unintended consequences. The end of the emergency declaration led to a reduction in federal funding for testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts, just as these tools are once again needed. The lack of a coordinated national strategy has hampered efforts to control the surge and has left healthcare providers scrambling to manage increased caseloads with fewer resources.

Looking ahead, the trajectory of the pandemic remains uncertain, but there are several key trends and scenarios to consider.

The virus is likely to continue mutating, with new variants emerging that could potentially evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. This means that COVID-19 will remain a moving target, requiring ongoing surveillance and adaptation of public health strategies. The development of updated vaccines and treatments will be critical in staying ahead of the virus, but the speed at which these can be rolled out will determine their effectiveness.

We can and should also expect periodic surges in COVID-19 cases, particularly in the fall and winter months, when respiratory viruses typically thrive. These surges may not reach the levels seen during the height of the pandemic, but they could still cause significant disruption, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates or limited healthcare capacity. Localized outbreaks, driven by specific variants or super-spreader events, will likely become regular features of the landscape.

The healthcare system, already strained from years of dealing with the pandemic, is also going to face additional pressure if the current surge continues into the fall and winter. Hospitals and clinics will need to balance the demands of COVID-19 patients with the resumption of regular medical care that had been postponed during the pandemic’s earlier phases. This balancing act could lead to increased wait times, resource shortages and burnout among healthcare workers.

And we can’t underestimate how public fatigue with COVID-19 precautions will grow, making it more difficult to reimpose restrictions or encourage preventive behaviors. This resistance could be particularly strong in regions that have experienced relatively low case numbers or where political leaders have downplayed the severity of the virus. Overcoming this fatigue will require clear and consistent communication from public health officials, as well as community-level engagement to reinforce the importance of ongoing vigilance.

We are also making a big mistake if we ignore the economic and social implications of continued COVID-19. The virus’s persistence may lead to renewed disruptions in the travel industry, supply chains and workforce participation. Along with this, the psychological toll of a prolonged pandemic, with the associated uncertainty and anxiety, could have lasting effects on mental health and societal cohesion. Policymakers will need to address these challenges proactively, with a focus on resilience and support for affected populations.

So where do we realistically go from here, given that it is clear that COVD-19 is far from over? While much progress has been made in terms of vaccination and treatment, the current surge is a stark reminder that complacency is not an option. The road ahead will require a renewed commitment to public health, both from government leaders and from individuals.

We all need to prepare for not only the possibility of continued disruptions but for another new normal that might be a little closer to 2020 than how we’ve recently been living. That means preparing for future waves and the long-term implications of a world in which COVID-19 remains a persistent, if manageable, threat.

Aron Solomon is the chief strategy officer for Amplify. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania.

[finchinmoria]

Spice Week 2025 Entry (Adar/Camnir)

@rivendellwatch (Thank you for putting on this event!!)

Title: The Sweet Spot

Pairing: Adar/Camnir

Rating: M (Mature) just to be safe. I love reading smut but I am terribly rusty at writing it so though sexual encounters are referenced and recounted there's nothing explicit on page. Camnir ends up covered in oil though.

Blurb/Summary: Adar can't feel Camnir's touch because of his scarring and nerve damage, but a little bit (or a lot a bit) of cinnamon rectifies the situation.

Tags/Warnings: Established relationship. The Uruk are semi-permanently settled and Camnir lives with them. Adar lives of course. References to scars and body damage but no explicit descriptions. Author is disabled and chronically ill/disabled Adar is my jam. If we are going to call Camnir a cinnamon roll, Adar should get to lick him like he is one. Not smut, just playfully sexual. I wasn't going to write anything but then I got this idea and just had to so it is not very long but I'm happy with it. Uruk OC's Mocdul and Draga mentioned. I think that's it, get on with it:

Since becoming his lover, there was nothing Camnir enjoyed more than touching Adar. Camnir was a cartographer after all and he treasured the gift of such delicious topography that pulsed with life beneath his hands.

However, it didn't take long for him to figure out that his touches were not always received as vibrantly.

Adar had been forthcoming in the fact that his body had been through cruelties that had left parts of him deformed and numb. But the extent to which he had lost sensation was revealed more slowly.

Adar tried to hide it at first. But it was difficult to hide from Camnir. Never before had Adar experienced such an attentive lover intent on traversing and mapping every inch of his body so lovingly. Camnir caught on pretty quickly that Adar was much more interested in watching Camnir touch him than the actual touches. And when Adar wasn't looking at where Camnir's hands landed, he didn't respond at all.

This wasn't surprising considering there were precious few places Adar's skin wasn't webbed or notched. Indeed the tracks of some of Adar's scars were nearly an inch deep and Camnir could fit his fingertips into them easily at the top of Adar's shoulder and follow them down in a claw like motion the length of Adar's entire back. Finally Adar confessed, to both Camnir as well as himself, that he felt none of it.

But, Adar explained, just because he couldn't feel Camnir superficially didn't mean he couldn't feel him in the ways that were important. He could feel heat. And pressure. Two very key things that made their sexual encounters more or less the same as anyone else's—other than they took things slower and there had to be decent lighting, whether that be firelight or sunlight, so Adar could see what was going on.

One day, however, the Valar blessed Camnir with a tool that allowed Adar to feel his touch.

Well, actually, it had been an accident. And an innocent one at that.

It started when the weather turned cold. Even though he was an elf, the rougher lifestyle of the Uruk took it’s toll on Camnir in various ways. One of those was that Camnir’s lips became dry and cracked in the cold air.

The Uruk healer in camp, Mocdul, had various tinctures and salves for burns and other ailments. But these were developed for the Uruk biology, and Camnir was fairly certain the ingredients were mostly toxic to elves and he'd be poisoned if he tried to use any of them, especially on his lips.

Thus he had to invent a cure on his own. A simple lip balm would do.

He procured some sweet cooking oil from the best cook in camp, Draga, and added in some ground cinnamon he had in his personal stores. (Much like medications, Uruk tea was hostile to Camnir’s sensibilities so he was on his own when it came to brewing and flavoring his tea.)

After he boiled and cooled the concoction, he jarred it up and let the balm settle. When he was done he had a good sized jar of oil he could use and not worry about dying.

The first kiss he received from Adar while wearing the lip balm was meant to be a quick, chaste greeting when Adar retuned to their cabin after a long night with a scavenging detachment. But something activated when their lips met and a sensual burn blossomed over Camnir’s lips. Adar felt it too and the next thing Camnir knew they were kissing again, deep, devouring, and toppling onto the floor, all weariness (and the fact they had a perfectly good bed in the corner) completely forgotten in favor of pleasure.

The next night, Camnir decided to try using the balm on other places in addition to his lips. He applied it to the tips and lobes of his ears, his neck, and his wrists. Adar took some time licking each spot thoroughly, but as soon he moved to unite their bodies, they were both done in less than thirty seconds.

The next night, Camnir coated his hands in oil and splayed them across Adar's back, massaged his neck, caressed his chest, thighs, and everywhere else he could touch. As their encounter progressed it turned into the loudest, most sensual session they had shared in their history together. They were both grateful the Uruk settlement had been able to build small homes and cabins because there would have been no way Adar’s children would have not overheard what was going on if they were still using tents. As Adar drifted into sleep he confessed to Camnir that it had been the first time he felt touch that burned with sweetness instead of pain.

After that night, Camnir used his entire store of cinnamon to make several more jars of the balm and Adar and Camnir used it every time they made love.

Which was almost every day, but sometimes things were hectic enough that they were interrupted for a few nights. On one such dry spell, Camnir retired to their cabin early, resolved to not allow another night to go by without any action.

He grabbed a fresh jar of the cinnamon oil.

It started simply enough. He applied the balm to his lips, of course, and then around his ears, under his jaw, and along his collarbones.

He then stripped off his clothing and added oil to the important parts: his nipples and the insides of his thighs. The spiced scent and the dull burn that spread over his sensitive spots ignited his eagerness. Before he knew it, Camnir was slathering the oil on every inch of himself he could reach.

He only stopped because his hands had become so coated in oil that he couldn't hold onto the jar anymore. It slipped through his fingers and landed with a thud at his feet. None of it spilled only because there was too little left in the jar to spill any.

It was then Camnir realized he had taken things too far. His brain halted. He had never been naked, completely soaked in oil, and turned on out of his mind, all at the same time. He didn’t know how to proceed.

His mind was so muddled he didn't even hear Adar enter their home.

When Camnir looked up his wide, panicked eyes were met by Adar’s gaze, a look mingling between desire and amusement.

They stared at each other for a few moments until Adar took a slow step, then another, until he was close enough to Camnir to take a deep, warm inhale of the sweet cinnamon radiating off his lover's body.

When Adar spoke, his voice was even more low and graveled than usual.

“It seems,” he said, lifting one hand and gently pressing his index finger on Camnir's nose.

"You’ve missed a spot."

The end…. whatever you imagine happens after this is between you and Eru.

Thanks for reading <3

(Also, I'm still writing the Adar/Camnir story that I posted a snippet of during Cuddles Week, I have not forgotten about it, I promise I'll tag everyone who expressed interest when it is finished.)