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[dirtysvthoughts]

𝓟 𝓡 𝓘 𝓥 𝓐 𝓣 𝓔 𝓓 𝓐 𝓝 𝓒 𝓔 𝓡 - CHAPTER FIVE

pairing: producer/regular! jihoon x stripper! reader

word count: 2.1k

general tags/warnings: smut, pwp, power play between jihoon and reader, female! reader, some sexy lil foreplay, jihoon is an ass man and pussy devourer, teasing, jihoon reveals his abs/chest, couch sex, full nudity (for both jihoon and reader), pet names (baby, honey, etc.)

notes: i may have indulged myself a little cause jihoon has been wrecking my bias list a little TOO hard lately 😵‍💫 the end gets to be pure filth simply cause i was in my horny feelings 💔 need him so bad

playlist songs: tonight - jimmy brown, sweet the kid, lust - hoody and elo, on me (prod. kang yujeong) - haeil

taglist: @im-gemmy @enhacolor @hooniewnderland @svtup @kawaiikels @weeevrse @diorsfxck @kyexvly @woozarts @ifuckcheol @marsstarxhwa @haoxiaoba (if your user is crossed out that means i can no longer tag you,, if you would like to be added to the taglist, let me know by commenting under this post!)

you normally don’t do house calls. it’s an unspoken, spoken rule for strippers that you rarely go to a client’s home for work.

and with this particular regular of yours, he doesn’t normally allow outsiders in his private space.

but tonight was different. he contacted you earlier in the day if you could come over to the universe factory, his personal studio, trying to keep it cool when the reality was he needed you. desperately.

“i’ve been working on these tracks, these demos for multiple artists, it’s been a lot, and,” he sighs clicking on his mouse, moving things around on his screen. “i think it would help me a lot if you were here. besides, it’s been way too long…”

“aww, hoon!” you cutely admire, already packing your travel bag with your pleasers and settling on an outfit. “well lucky for you, i’m not working at illusion tonight, so i can stay for as long as we both want. not gonna lie, i missed you too hoon, especially after the last time. i missed your hands rubbing all over my waist, mmmm kissing my neck..” you tease him, trying to rile something out of him.

you smile to yourself when you hear him hiss over the phone. “don’t make me come and i haven’t even seen you yet,” he groans, now a little annoyed that you gave him flashbacks to a few weeks ago. you giggle proudly, your voice continuing to melt his ears, “make sure you keep it up for me then okay? i’ll see you soon, baby!”

before jihoon can utter another word, you hang up the phone and toss it on your bed, loving the fact that you got to keep him on the edge of his seat. you knew he would get you for hanging up on him, hoping it would lead to getting fucked in every position in every corner of the universe factory.

——

jihoon sets the mood in his space, ceiling lights dim, multiple-colored galaxy lights spread across the big room. in a corner stands a tall, silver chrome pole and across from it a black cushion accent chair with an armrest. he sprays down your pole to clean it, wiping it down with a cloth, soft r&b music (all music he’s been working on) lowly playing in the background.

jihoon made sure beforehand that his studio is clean, any food or trash completely taken out. as he makes sure everything is perfect, his phone dings with two messages.

sage: hey honey, i’m inside the building, ground floor

sage: let me up whenever you’re ready 🤍

without hesitation, he heads down to the elevator to the ground floor. a few minutes later, he exits the elevator to find you, scrolling through your phone - your crop top and gym pants already having him wanting to take you down. he calls your name and you look up with a smile on your face when you see it’s him.

“hey beautiful,” he says built arms wrapping around your waist. he donned his usual wear, an oversized shirt and shorts, this time wearing a white tee and black shorts. his long back hair fell over his eyes, giving him a more mysterious, even sexier look. you can’t help yourself as your mouth melts into his kiss, he tilts your chin up to get more access, feeling your body up.

you nearly mouth into his mouth, but you catch yourself realizing that you two were still in an open space where anyone could easily walk by and even spy. you gently pull away from him, brushing some of his hair out of his face.

“hey, baby - i really missed you,” you muse, your panties pathetically starting to get wet. right now you had to be the one in charge, whatever jihoon could do to you, that would be for later.

“i missed you too,” he takes his hand out and you grab ahold of it, as he walks you to the elevator. “you look even prettier today.”

“thanks,” you say, admiring how attentive he was. as the doors close, it’s a struggle for you both to keep your hands to yourself, but you soon get to jihoon’s floor quicker than you think. he exits first and you follow right after him, only a few feet away from the universe factory.

he punches in a code on the keypad and it makes a little melody as it unlocks. he motions for you to come in first, shutting the down once you’ve entered, door automatically locking behind you two.

“go get changed honey, ’ill be waiting for you,” he smirks at you, going to his desktop, pulling up something on the screen. you playfully roll your eyes as you unzip your bag and take out your clothes, walking towards the bathroom.

——

you check yourself out in the mirror, mentally thanking yourself for making the right decision on your outfit. you settled on a very short white bra top (to where the lines of your breasts could be seen) and barely there jean shorts, the cute ones that left most of your booty out, but still left that area covered. you paired it with your black thigh highs, deciding to be a bit bolder and wearing eight inch heels.

once you’re completely convinced, you step out of the bathroom door, walking towards jihoon, who now was sitting on the black chair across from the pole. he doesn’t notice you coming out, but he does notice you when you start to roam your hands across his shoulders and his chest, attempting to give him a massage.

“mmmm, my jihoonie has been working so hard lately,” you kiss the temple of his forehead as your continue your motions. “so tense that i can feel it just touching you.. let me help you relax honey, don’t worry about anything tonight.” he easily gives into you, and now without having to worry about anyone watching or listening, he groans out loud and it goes straight to your core.

as he tilts his head back, trying to immerse himself into you, you take the chance and gingerly sit in his lap, teasing him by slowing moving your hips and grinding down on him, instrumental beats that he’s made playing in the background. jihoon’s hands tighten their grip on the armrest, and you can feel him starting to get harder through his shorts. you chuckle to yourself, purposefully moving harder.

“so you did keep that dick up for me!” you sweetly kiss his forehead, and then his lips. “you can’t even resist the thought of me, can you baby?”

as the music continues to play, you roll your hips in rhythm to the slow beats, jihoon admiring your confidence, eyes never leaving each other’s. you bounce your ass on his lap, jihoon clearly enjoying the movement, nodding his head, hands gripping your waist as your shake your ass, spanking your right cheek in response.

“love seeing that ass shake for me,” jihoon smacks the opposite side, smirking as your face contorts in pleasure.

“should i turn around then? let you see it from the back?” you bite down on your lips again, playfully questioning him. you turn around, making sure your ass is poking out, jihoon groaning at how good your backside looks up close and personal.

“damnnn, baby,” he draws out, palming your behind. “you may need to wear these shorts more often, lookin so damn sexy dancing on me,” he pulls you flush against his back, groping your breasts feverishly.

“sh-shit, hoon!” you continue to moan out, going insane at how he was touching you. jihoon set himself apart from your other regulars, knowing just where to touch you at just the right moments. you don’t know if he knew this already, but his fingertips doting across your skin always sent chills down your spine. you turn back around to face him and kiss jihoon’s neck, head resting on his shoulders, leaving a few hickies along the way.

your hands trail down jihoon’s shirt, and you’re shocked by what you can feel. “h-hoon? your chest, holy fuck?” he can’t help but smirk at your expression as you bring the hem of his shirt up, revealing a peek of his lower abs, defined and absolutely delicious.

“you wanna see more honey?” jihoon slyly says, guiding your fingers to his abs, letting you feel him up. “god yes!” you whine out, feeling the heat course through your body. without anymore hesitation, you take off his shirt and he helps you get it over his head and you toss it across the room.

you maneuver off his lap and go down to your knees, face inches away from jihoon’s crotch. you slowly bring your head up and kiss your away up his chest, every now and then, your tongue traveling over his sculpted abs.

“oh, jihoon…,” you swoon coming up momentarily and then continuing your actions. “you taste so good honey, i can’t wait to get the rest of you in my mouth later, can’t wait to swallow every last drop of you..”

before you can go any further and pull down his shorts, he grabs your wrist and pulls you back on his lap, shoving his mouth into yours. your hips grind into his, trying to feel the friction of your bodies, panties long soaked through. jihoon’s tries to match your energy, bucking your hips up, his thrusts making you crave for more.

jihoon holds your legs by your thighs and hoists you up as he stands, walking as quickly as he can without losing his balance - both of your mouths still dancing with each other’s. once he feels his legs hit the edge of the couch, he nearly crashes his back into the piece of furniture, rotating your bodies to where you were underneath him.

before he lays you down, jihoon takes off your crop top, leaving the both of you shirtless. you whimper as the cold surface hits your back, body to body - chest to chest. “fuck, jihoon! o-oh, jihoon,” you call out, pulling down his shorts, and revealing his boxers- a wet spot visible from how much pre-cum was leaking.

“a whole wet spot and we haven’t even gotten inside each other yet.. you really are down bad for me hoon,” you chuckle, but it quickly turns into a whine when he puts his finger in your mouth and you quickly suck on the digits.

“you talk about me, but what about you honey?” he scoffs, taking his fingers from your mouth to the button of your shorts, unzipping and dragging them down your legs, clearly enjoying the fact that you wore nothing underneath. “one touch from me and you’re a whimpering, needy mess, just like you are now,” jihoon hums, taking off the waistband of boxers. “just my needy little honey who’s always ready for me..”

“fuck, c’mon jihoon, put it in me already,” you say getting impatient, tapping his forearms. “for someone who’s generally quiet, you sure have been talking a lot tonight.. why don’t you put that mouth to good use and eat me out huh?”

before he can protest, you shove his head down to your set of lower lips, high-pitched pornographic moans leaving your mouth. you knew he was gonna get you back in a split second, this fight for dominance something you always enjoyed.

he starts sucking your clit at normal pace, but jihoon makes sure you can feel every inch of his tongue in your special place. as he alternates between sucking and licking, you grip the nape of his hair tighter, causing him to groan into your pussy, making the sensations in your stomach coil.

but just when you feel yourself getting used to the speed of jihoon’s mouth, he goes faster - your juices covering his lips and chin. you practically buck into his mouth at this point, trying to do whatever to chase this fantastic high, this wave that was about to crash over you.

“j-ji-jihoon, jihoon, jihoon!! FUCK!” you scream, calling out his name like it was the only thing you knew. you convulse on his couch, orgasm spreading through the fabric, dripping down your legs, and most importantly covering his lips, your taste encapsulating his thoughts as he swallows every last bit he can.

you still breathe heavily as he comes up from your legs, groaning as you miss the intimate contact. but you quickly get your wish fulfilled when jihoon gently starts to push his tip in, gasping at how such a small move had a vice grip on your body.

“h-hoon, f-fuck, i-” you start to speak but he puts a finger over your lips, hushing you for a moment.

“mmm, don’t say anything honey, just let me fuck you right tonight.. you deserve it all baby, let me return the favor.”

[aceofwhump]

Hello @crispyliza !! So I'm replying in a separate post because this is too long for a reply on the post. Hope you don't mind. I also think it might benefit others who have asked me in the past and those wishing to start gif making. Especially with whumptober just around the corner.

So here's a full look at how I make my gifs. This got very long so I put it under a read more

A quick thing before I start: I use windows and google chrome. If you're a mac or firefox user I'm not sure of this will work for you in terms of programs. The techniques I use in photoshop should though.

Okay for this demonstration I'm going to show you how I made the gifs for this gifset

To start we need a video. I don't torrent because my internet connection will cut out a random which makes using vpns rather pointless. I've tried. My internet would cut out halfway through a torrent download and then my internet provider was notified to what I was doing. It was just not great. So I found a new way to download videos off the internet! You can use torrents though. If you've got a vpn, go for it.

There are several streaming sites that I go to to get my videos. 1movies, and bstsrs are my go to right now since soap2day is gone (rip i miss you).

Now there are three ways I can get a video depending on what website I'm using. Bstsrs is the easiest because they have a whole bunch of links available. I always go with mixdrop because it has an easy to use built in download button. Unfortunately this site doesn't have movies. Just tv shows and sometimes it's not the best quality or there aren't links available. That's when I go to 1movies. Once you've found your video I use the chrome extension Cococut to download it. Click the extension button to open, then the download button. Then you just have to wait until the video is rendered. Click save. Wait until its downloaded.

Okay we now have our video! The next step is to turn the scene you want to gif into frames. For this we're gonna need KMPlayer. This video player makes it really easy to turn scenes into frames/screencaps. Open your video. Find the the scene you want and pause the video. Type control-g to open this screen:

Here you choose the destination you want your frames to be saved. Decide what to name your frames and match up your settings with mine. You want to continuously extract frames, original size, and I stick with every 2 frames. Then, and this is important, choose video images only.

Now click start then start playing your video until the scene you want to gif is done. When you've got everything you wanted, pause the video. Hit ctrl-g again to reopen that screen and click stop. You now have all the frames you need so go ahead and exit out of KMPlayer. You don't need it again unless you need to redo frames or get the dialogue or something.

Next up we are gonna open Photoshop. I use Photoshop CC 2014.

Click on File -> Scripts -> Load files into stack -> Browse.

Go wherever you saved your frames and select the ones you need. Click okay and let the frames load completely before doing any thing else. Depending on how many you've selected this could take a while.

Once all of your frames are loaded, click "Create Frame Animation". Next click the little arrow button on right followed by "Make Frames From Layers" so we have all of our frames laid out. Now we need to reverse the frames because they're backwards so click that little button again and then click "Reverse Frames"

Okay you've got your frames loaded and all set to go. Time for all the cropping, resizing, setting the speed, and editing.

First thing I do is set the speed because otherwise I forget and it's important to do and a pain in the ass to do after all the editing is done. So do it first and get it out of the way. Select all of your frames. Click the little button beneath a frame where it says 0.0 and pick your time. I usually go for .1 seconds but .05 is also a popular speed. Just test one out and see which one you like best for your gif. You can hit the play button at any time to test your gif.

To set speed:

After this I do one of two things. Either I go into cropping and resizing or I separate frames. Depends on how many frames I uploaded. If I uploaded all the frames needed for an entire gifset this is the part where I separate them out onto individual gifs. So let's do that.

Originally I was just gonna do one gif but I have 115 frames uploaded which is waaaay too many for just one gif. I like to keep my gifs between 30 and 80 frames. So I'm going to split this into 3 gifs I think. It'll make a nice balanced gifset.

Select the frames you want for the first gif and copy them using the copy frames option in the same menu as the make frames from layers menu. Open a new document with the same dimensions as your current document. Click "Create Frame Animation" and paste the frames over the selected frame. Make sure that first frame is the same speed as all the other frames. Repeat until you have your desired gifs.

Next up I crop and resize. For this gif I'm going to first crop out the black bars above and below the image because we don't want that in the gif. Use the select tool to pick what you want to keep then "Image" then "Crop".

Now I could leave it as it but I think for this gifset I'm gonna focus more on Geralt so I'm going to crop it in a bit more.

Once cropping is all set i'm going to resize the gif to tumblr dimensions. Click "Image" then "Image Size" and change the width to 540px. The height can be anything and best not to mess with it so your gif keeps it's proportions. 540px is the width of a tumblr post and I plan on making these gifs stacked one on one.

Okay the gifs are all cropped and sized. Now it's time to do some editing. Go back to your first gif. We'll do all the work on this first gif and apply the same things to the other ones later because the scenes are the same. If they were different each gif would be colored and edited individually. First thing to do is turn it from frame animation to timeline. Timeline mode makes applying things like sharpening and brightness much easier and smoother.

So just click this button in the bottom left corner to go into timeline mode. Next up select all your layers. They're on the right side. Make sure you've selected ALL of them. Then click on "Filter" -> "Convert for Smart Filters" THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP! We can't edit until this is done.

This button to switch from frames to timeline:

First thing I do is sharpen. You can use one of the presets or try to do manually do it with smart sharpen. I use the preset labelled "sharpen" because I'm lazy and this one does a fine job for my gifs. I also add a layer of surface blur to smooth things out. Just a small touch. Like barely any blur but I think it smooths noise a bit and makes it look better.

Next up: Editing!! This step is going to be different for each and every gif you make. It all depends on the colors in the scene your giffing so you're gonna have to do a lot of experimenting to get the right look you want. Personally that's what I like about it. Makes it fun.

All your adjustments can be found found on the right side of the screen:

I almost always start with the "Levels" layer to brighten up the image because as we all know, every freaking whump scene is sooo dark. So with levels you just slide the little arrows around until you get a look you like.

Then I add a layer of "Curves". I love curves. With curves you can select the whitest white and the darkest black and the middle tone to change the brightness and colors of your gif. Or you can use this part and just brighten or darken a specific part. It's really versatile and i love it. It does take some practice and experimenting though.

Now a layer of "Contrast" and a layer of "Vibrance".

After this it's all about the selective colors, photo filters, and color balance to work on the colors and brightness. For this gif I'm only doing a tiny bit of editing cause I like the coloring but sometimes I'll have multiple layers of these to create a good coloring.

Once you're satisfied with how your gif looks it's time to save it!

Click "File" -> "Save for Web" and wait until it's all loaded. Important thing too look at here is the size of the gif. You can't upload any gif that is larger than 10mbs so make sure it's under that. Sometimes even 9.8 is too big because tumblr is a butt. I go for anything below 9.8. If your gif is too big try resizing it or removing a few frames. Make sure you gif is set to loop forever. Otherwise it'll just stop after a little bit. Don't forget to change this!

Here are the rest of my settings:

After that you can click save.

And that's it! You've made a gif! Congrats! If you have any questions or want clarification feel free to message me :)

[yatescountyhistorycenter]

Are we there yet?

By C.J. Hartman Thompson

(The following article originally appeared in Bluff & Vine, a literary review featuring work created in and around the Finger Lakes region of New York State, and is published here with the permission of the magazine. This article also appeared in three parts in Yates Past, the bi-monthly newsletter of the Yates County History Center).

I vividly recall growing up in the 1960s and ’70s, as if it were yesterday. Two of my younger siblings, our parents, and me, sitting upon red padded chairs, separated as if by seniority around the outskirts of our chrome-legged Formica top table. There, as with most nights before, we conversed over our day’s events, with my mother monitoring our consumption, occasionally reminding us three kids, “Children in China would be grateful to have half the food we had on our plates!” This, a likely response to me chasing nasty whole beets about on my plate with a fork, while my sister pretended she liked the venison steak that she would eventually conceal in her napkin and later place in the trash. My brother, forever innocent, and the youngest at the time, would proclaim that my sister and I were staring at him, knowing full well that it would get us in trouble again.

We were all expected to clean our plates and leave the kitchen spotless or forfeit going for our nightly ride out on Bluff Point. Exiting our home toward the driveway, as if in response to the slam of our screen door, I recall yelling, “I have the middle,” as we piled into our 1972 green Pontiac Catalina in reckless abandon, absent of all regard for the use of seatbelts. None of us wanted to sit behind our father, because when he smoked his pipe, he would periodically empty it against his outside driver’s door handle, sending the ashes back into the rear window. Adorned with his corn-cob pipe, our father preferred a tobacco named Sir Walter Raleigh,  which came in a variety of red and black tins. Back then, there wasn’t any consideration given to children purchasing tobacco products, and so I remember biking to either Loblaws or Charles Bollen’s Super Duper to purchase tobacco, filters, or pipe cleaners for Dad. Our dad, having grown up on Pepper Road, could tell you about every nook and cranny on Bluff Point there was to know. My siblings and I never knew where we would end up on these nightly adventures, as we called them.

We would leave our home on the lower West Lake Road, which was behind Race’s Willowhurst Garage. Our grandfather Alton owned and operated the garage after being discharged from the Army, having served in World War II. We would head south to Keuka Park, and on the lake side going toward Keuka Park, Dad and Mom told us that this larger red brick building in Brandy Bay was once the electric generating plant for the Penn Yan, Keuka Park and Branchport Railroad. One of our great-grandfathers, Ray Kenyon, had been a conductor on one of the trolley cars.

Brandy Bay had been the hot spot back in the day, as just behind the tracks, closer to the lake, there had been a place called Electric Park, where folks would spend summer evenings listening to music and dancing in a community pavilion. Our parents were quick to mention that the railroad and Electric Park were way before their time, certain that the passenger service had stopped in 1927, while the railroad continued to transport freight for some years afterward.

In the early ’60s, the lower West Lake Road ran directly from Indian Pines to the Brandy Bay trolley stop, passing scattered family-owned cottages along the way. Remnants of the original track lie east of today’s Central Avenue, which wouldn’t be constructed until many years later. Minutes from Brandy Bay, we would be at the stop sign with the main entrance of Keuka College on our left. Ball Hall, Hegeman Hall, and Harrington Hall looked very impressive to all of us. An all-female college at the time, Keuka College became co-ed in 1985. Both my sister and I agreed that we would attend there following our graduation from high school, and the college would later graduate five members of our immediate families.

Turning right after stopping, our parents, pointing left, acknowledged the location of a general store and café owned by the Johnson family close to where the former Keuka Park Fire Department building stands, now a storage facility for Keuka College. A gazebo has been constructed nearby, a gift from a Keuka College alumni. Further up the road on the right was the community center, which is now the location for the Branchport and Keuka Park Fire Department. By this point in the ride and yet only minutes from home, one of us kids would ask, “Are we there yet?” to which Dad likely replied, “Pipe down, sit back, and enjoy the ride.”

Once out of Keuka Park, we headed southwest up Skyline Drive, where we were encouraged to look for deer, be they in a field or hedgerow, coming to a stop the moment any of us saw one. I kid you not, it wasn’t out of the norm to spot herds in excess of 60 deer milling about the fields of the bluff near dusk. If the deer were standing close to the road, Dad, placing two fingers in his mouth, would send a loud whistle their way, scaring them back into the impenetrable woods. In truth, I think he enjoyed watching them hop and dart back to the safety of the trees, while telling us how the motion of their tails would signal to the other deer in the herd if danger were nearby. I laugh now as I could not tell you the number of times we would stop, each of us pondering, “Are we there yet?”

The Herrick Cemetery, an old cemetery associated with the Bluff Point community, is soon pointed out to us, as our fourth-great grandparents, Elisha and Charlotte “Latchie” Knickerbocker Kenyon are both buried there. The cemetery itself sits back maybe 50 yards from Skyline Drive and looks majestic, as it sits higher than the fields surrounding it. I have in recent years gone there and walked around. Numerous markers made from old limestone have either toppled over or are not even marked. Elisha and Charlotte’s markers looked to have been repaired. It is a beautiful and tranquil spot, as one can overlook the valley, the rolling hills, and surrounding vineyards. Now the trees, once saplings 60 years ago, are large deciduous trees with the exception of a lonesome pine, all offering shade to those who rest in peace beneath them.

This particular day had been a hot one, and thankfully it was slowly cooling down. The evening sun was hesitant to disappear, and from our vantage point it looked to be like a red orange balloon in the sky way off in the distance. We knew tomorrow would also be another sweltering day. The smell of Coppertone Sun-tan Lotion, applied earlier in the day, still lingered, having been outside all day. Still near the cemetery, Dad might then point out the Pinnacle, which is about the same elevation of 1,400 feet above sea level as Bluff Point. The Pinnacle is a peak that overlooks Bluff Point and Branchport.

The Esperanza Mansion, in the distance, was perfectly placed close to the tip of the Pinnacle and was completed in July of 1838 by John Nicholas Rose, a wealthy farmer from Virginia. Upon further research, the Roses for the most part had many of the early indigenous people known to inhabit Bluff Point along with a retinue of enslaved people provide much of the labor in construction of the mansion. It is believed that they transported the limestone from near the end of the Bluff by canoe to the shores currently in care of Keuka Lake State Park. The limestone provided necessary support in the construction of its 11- to 14-inch thick walls, complete with internal shutters to cover the windows, given the potential for rogue arrows to be directed at them.

Unbeknownst to me, the Esperanza Mansion was also part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. Mind you, as kids, Dad was simply pointing to a huge hill beyond the cemetery that had a huge house on it. We were impatient of course to get to wherever Dad was taking us. Even with all windows down, just sitting next to one another we were weary of the heat and our knees and elbows bumping into one another for what we thought had been a monumental amount of time. One of us again asked, “Are we there yet?” Mom turned around and gave us the look as if to say, you best not ask that again.

Further up the road from the cemetery, we take a right turn at the “V” intersection, remaining on Skyline Drive. Should one choose the road to the left, you are on Vine Road. At this junction stands a small house, formerly a two-room schoolhouse my father attended. With additional research, I found the original structure was built in 1860 for $395. Its location was known as Jerusalem District No. 4, Fingar District. Several improvements were made between 1861 and 1903; a coal stove replaced the wood-burning unit, walls were plastered, a wire fence was built, new student seats, an entrance hall was added, new floor installed, and shade trees were planted in 1903. The salary for one teacher for the winter and summer terms was $5 per week.

My siblings and I were astonished to think that the little house could be a school and that Dad had to walk to school with his siblings. Dad smirks when he tells us that he along with some of his buddies would tip over the outhouse when other students were in there. Though the distance seemed like miles to us, it was less than a half-mile from his Pepper Road home, absent concern for the weather. My siblings and I make eye contact across the large backseat, grateful to hop on a bus only minutes away from our home, transported to a larger school complete with running water and plumbing.

Still on Skyline Drive, we have now gone by the northwest entrance to Scott Road, as we still call it today. There is a house that looks to be half in the ground on the left. Mom mentions the property the house now resides upon was once left to my dad’s mother when her father had passed away, and for whatever reason, my grandparents relinquished their ownership, though the cost of additional taxes may have been motivation at the time.

If we were lucky, some nights we would see the occasional flock of turkeys trot across the road, as they like to roost just before sunset. Tempted by the possibility of an ice cream cone from Seneca Farms, we were all encouraged to increase our focus out the windows, in search of wildlife running amuck. We were rubbernecking, as competition grew to spot the next animal or feathered friend.

Just down the road a piece is the John Hall Road, which was and still is a dead end. The only things we could see from Skyline Drive were a huge barn and a house down over the hill surrounded by vineyards that looked as though they may well go all the way to the lake. Our ride proved to be more interesting and fun the further we went out on the bluff.

Arriving upon yet another old schoolhouse, which I have researched as being District No. 5, the Kenyon District, Scott Settlement District, Bluff Point District. This schoolhouse is located near the southern entrance of the Scott Road and Skyline Drive intersection. Today, the most recent owner of the schoolhouse has taken the roof off of the building and placed a huge telescope in its place, making it the perfect spot for an observatory.

Fewer houses embellish our views out of the Pontiac, as we make our way to the end of the bluff, soon approaching the home of Marland (Dutch) Griffith and his wife, Izzy (Isabelle Walrath) on the left.

They were both dear friends of our parents. I believe Dutch and Izzy owned around 210 acres out on the bluff, which had two houses and multiple outbuildings. One of the homes, not visible from the road, was in fact Dutch’s childhood home, complete with a working hand-pump above its dug well and a three-holed outhouse east of the dwelling. A large red barn to the south stored his wooden bobsleds and countless wooden beer lugs used to harvest grapes by hand, prior to modern convenience.

The house visible from Skyline Drive also had a pole barn where firewood, tractors, and implements were stored, while a wood framed hangar lay tucked away in the corner of a hardwoods, secreting Dutch’s single-engine plane, complete with canvas wings and but one seat.

An avid private pilot, Dutch was a member of the Penn Yan Flying Club, having earned his license by bicycling once a week to Penn Yan and back in his teens. Our mom, more curious than our father, once went for a brief ride in the plane. She recalls sitting upon a turned over 5-gallon bucket for a seat.

Before takeoff, Mom recalls asking Dutch if the door handle was secure enough. There was what looked to be a water hose going out onto the upper edge of the windshield from within the plane, transferring fuel to the engine. Dutch took Mom as far as Bath and back, she having a death grip on Dutch’s shoulder during the flight’s entirety. Liking the ride, she was no less happy to be back on the ground, and still the three of us begged to ask, "Are we there yet?”

The Scott family lived across from Dutch and Izzy, while the Disbrow family home and property lay to the south and east side of Skyline drive, separated by a vineyard retained by the Scotts. The Disbrow family still owns much of the land on both sides of Skyline Drive, running all the way to the Garrett property on the east side of Skyline Drive but ending somewhat sooner on the west side.

Mom excitedly tells us when Dad and she were first dating they walked down over the hill near Disbrows and carved their initials into a tree. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave the surrounding landscape a stunning panoramic view. We felt as though we were on top of the world. One could see only the tops of other hills, Barrington to the east and Pulteney to the west. We could see deer everywhere in the fields on both sides of the road.

We pulled over on the east side near the little old stone spring house that still today feeds water to the Garrett Chapel. We all got out to stretch our legs and gazed in the direction of the Wagener Mansion, built by Abraham Wagener in 1833 on the southern tip of Bluff Point. Dad mentioned the stones used to build the foundation of the mansion were rumored to have come from the early indigenous ruins on Bluff Point. The mansion is not only intimidating by its size, but the grounds around the residence were well taken care of.

Dad was like an encyclopedia, full of information that he wanted to share with us. He then mentions our great-grandfather, Ray Kenyon, had been the manager of Paul Garrett’s vineyards for a time. Dad, along with his father and brother, all worked for the Garrett family, tending to their vineyards and fields, often using work horses to complete many tasks up and over the steep terrain, better suited to billy goats.

In writing this story, I interviewed my brother, who spent countless hours hunting with our dad on the bluff. I inquired as to whether I had forgotten any significant locations we may have heard tell of during the course of our rides, and he had several: Besides knowing the whereabouts of abandoned wells of grave importance to hunters, he mentioned places like the Hogpen, the Hole, and the Hairpin. The latter two, still visible on Google Earth, each name assigned to trails forged for farming or logging, all located on the west side of Skyline Drive.

Conversation momentarily turns to ice cream, and the debate ensues as to who wants what, with many, “I changed my minds,” in between. Both Dad and Mom settle on splitting a banana split. Returning North on Skyline Drive, Dad decided to take the first left going down Pepper Road.

I have found in old articles that Pepper Road had also been called Pepperville Road. The property immediately on the west side of the road had once belonged to the Pepper family. John William Pepper and Ruth Annie Kirk had immigrated from Leicestershire, England. They raised their family on Bluff Point. Dad went into great detail describing how the farm was huge, with a great big white farmhouse and a barn. He had never been in the house but was told by other Pepper family members that there had been a wood kitchen stove, and water needed for the kitchen was brought up by the pail from a pump down the hill in the gully. There was also an outhouse.

They owned several animals: cows, horses to pull the plow, rabbits, chickens, and pigs. Best known for their Concord grape vineyards, they also had assorted apple, cherry, and pear trees as well as black and red raspberries and strawberries. This property is now part of Keuka Lake State Park. Sadly, the Pepper home perished in a fire.

Our ride down Pepper Road continued, and we only had to cross over West Bluff Drive, which was perpendicular to Skyline Drive. This next property belonged to Herb Valentine; he owned around 114 acres, with his property adjoining the Gridley property. Both Pepper and Valentine properties went down the hill from Skyline Drive to Keuka Lake.

Dad and his father had been out hunting deer on a cold December morning when they heard cries for help coming from the Herb Valentine property. They found Herb lying on the ground near the wood pile. He had gone out to get wood for his stove the night before and fallen. Unable to get up, he had laid there overnight. Thankfully, Mr. Valentine didn’t suffer any great harm.

The Finger Lakes State Park, as it was known then, filed notice of acquisition and transfer of deeds, dated November of 1961 after the death of Herb Valentine. The Pepper and Valentine property totaled close to 500 acres.

I remember Dad parking the car at the top of West Bluff Drive in the winter, as the road was and still isn’t plowed in the winter. My parents, my siblings, and I would trudge through the snow part way down West Bluff Drive with our sleds in tow. We would be exhausted just going sledding down the hill two or three times.

[xomoosexo]

btw guys if you have android if you put the kick stream on full screen on chrome and exit the app you can go into picture and picture and go into other apps while watching the stream without having to make an account or download the app<3

[seodrt]

How to Check Your UAE Visa Validity Online Using Just Your Passport Number (2025 Guide)

Why You Might Need to Check Your UAE Visa Status

There are many situations where you need quick access to your visa details:

✅ You’ve just landed in the UAE and want to check your entry visa status

✅ You’re waiting for your residence visa to get approved

✅ You want to know your visa expiry date to avoid fines

✅ You’ve lost your Emirates ID or file number, but still have your passport

In all these cases, checking online via passport number is a lifesaver.

🔍 Official Systems: ICP vs GDRFA – What’s the Difference?

Before jumping into the process, you need to understand which government portal you should use. This depends on where your visa was issued.

✳️ ICP Smart Services (Federal Authority)

Applies to visas issued in: Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain

Official site: https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae

✳️ GDRFA Dubai (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs)

Applies to visas issued specifically in Dubai

Official site: https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae

So if your visa was processed through a Dubai company or free zone, you’ll most likely use GDRFA. For all other Emirates, ICP is the way to go.

✅ Step-by-Step Guide: ICP Portal (Non-Dubai Visas)

This is the simplest method if your visa was issued outside of Dubai.

👉 Follow These Steps:

Go to https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae

Click on “Public Services” (menu on top)

Select “File Validity”

Choose:

Search by Passport Information

Document type: Visa or Residency

Enter your passport number

Choose passport type (usually “Ordinary”)

Select your nationality

Complete the captcha verification

Click Search

🔎 The system will now display:

Visa status: active/inactive

Visa number

Expiry date

Issue date

No Emirates ID or file number needed.

✅ Step-by-Step Guide: GDRFA Portal (Dubai Visa Holders)

If your visa was issued in Dubai, here’s the process.

👉 Follow These Steps:

Visit https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae

Click “Visa Status Inquiry” under the Services section

Choose “Residence Visa”

Enter:

Passport Number

Date of Birth

Nationality

Fill in captcha and click Submit

🧾 Results will show:

Visa status

File number

Expiry & issue dates

Note: In some cases, GDRFA may ask for additional details like your file number. If that happens, try accessing from incognito or use the mobile version.

🙋‍♂️ My Personal Experience

When I first tried the process, I mistakenly used the wrong portal — tried GDRFA when my visa was actually from Sharjah. It took me a few minutes of confusion before I realized I should be using ICP.

Once I got on the right platform, the process took less than 2 minutes. The result showed my visa validity, issue date, and expiry instantly — just from my passport number.

That’s when I knew I had to share this with others.

🛑 Don’t Make These Common Mistakes

Here are some errors I ran into (and you might too): MistakeSolutionUsing wrong portal (ICP vs GDRFA)Double-check your visa copy or issuing authorityEntering incorrect passport numberCopy it exactly as shown in your passportUsing VPN or unstable browserUse Chrome or Edge, turn off VPNSelecting the wrong visa typeChoose "Visa" or "Residency" correctly

🧠 Pro Tips for Using the Portals

💻 Use a laptop or desktop for smoother navigation

📱 If using mobile, keep screen in landscape mode

🔄 If you get a blank or error page, refresh or retry incognito

🧾 Keep your passport, visa copy, or Emirates ID handy if needed

👨‍⚖️ Who Can Benefit from This?

This method is ideal for:

🧳 Tourists who want to verify entry/exit records

🧑‍💼 Employees under probation needing visa confirmation

👨‍👩‍👧 Families tracking dependent visa status

🎓 Students and freelancers under self-sponsored visas

🏢 HR managers who need to verify employee documents

🔗 Want the Full Guide With Screenshots?

I followed a detailed guide published by A&A Associate Business Setup Consultants. Their article includes:

✅ Updated links to ICP and GDRFA

✅ Actual screenshots of the process

✅ Answers to most common FAQs

✅ Extra support if you get stuck

📌 You can read the full blog here: 👉 https://www.aaconsultancy.ae/easy-way-out-to-check-the-uaes-visa-validity-and-status-by-passport-number/

📋 FAQs: UAE Visa Check by Passport

Q1. Can I check UAE visa status without Emirates ID? Yes, all you need is your passport number and nationality.

Q2. What if no record is found? Double-check your details. If still no result, your visa may not be active or issued yet.

Q3. Can I check someone else's visa status? Technically yes, if you have their passport details. Use responsibly.

Q4. Are these portals safe? Yes, both ICP and GDRFA are official UAE government platforms.

Q5. What if my visa is expiring soon? Start renewal ASAP or consult a visa agency.

💼 Need Professional Visa Help?

If you’re unsure about which portal to use or can’t access your visa record, don’t worry. Companies like A&A Associate specialize in UAE visa assistance, renewals, and business setup.

They’ve helped 1000+ clients in:

Mainland and Freezone visa setup

Freelance and investor visas

Family visa processing

📞 Reach out to them via the blog: 👉 Easy Way to Check UAE Visa Status Online

📣 Final Thoughts

Checking your UAE visa status shouldn’t be complicated — especially in a country known for its digital-first services. Whether you’re renewing, applying, or just curious — the passport number method is your best friend.

🔐 It’s fast, safe, and doesn’t require login credentials or Emirates ID.

If this blog helped you, consider sharing it or bookmarking it for future reference. Let’s make visa info accessible for everyone in the UAE. 🇦🇪

[keploy]

How to Exit Full Screen on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Full screen mode on a Mac is a great way to minimize distractions, but it can sometimes leave users puzzled about how to exit it. If you’ve ever been stuck in full screen mode, you’re not alone. This guide will walk you through all the ways how to exit full screen on mac, making your workflow smoother and stress-free.

What Is Full Screen Mode on macOS?

Full screen mode is a feature designed to give you a clean, focused workspace by hiding unnecessary interface elements like the dock and menu bar. When activated, it expands your current app or window to occupy the entire screen, eliminating visual clutter and letting you focus entirely on your task.

This mode is especially helpful when working with apps like Safari, Pages, or even creative tools like Photoshop. However, knowing how to exit full screen efficiently is crucial to avoid disrupting your workflow.

Exiting Full Screen Using the Green Button

The simplest way to exit full screen mode is by clicking the green button in the top-left corner of the window.

Hover your cursor at the very top of your screen to reveal the hidden menu bar.

Locate the green button in the top-left corner of the window.

Click the green button, and the window will shrink back to its original size.

This method is universal across macOS applications and is a go-to option for many users. The green button also toggles full screen mode, so you can use it to enter or exit as needed.

Exiting Full Screen with the Keyboard Shortcut

For those who prefer speed and efficiency, using a keyboard shortcut is the quickest way to exit full screen.

Simply press Control + Command + F, and the application will return to its normal windowed mode. This shortcut works in most macOS apps, including Safari, Chrome, Pages, and Keynote.

Keyboard shortcuts are excellent time-savers, and mastering them can significantly enhance your productivity.

Using the Escape Key to Exit Full Screen

In some applications, pressing the Escape key is all you need to exit full screen mode.

Apps like QuickTime Player, some media players, and certain browsers allow you to press Esc to return to the regular windowed view.

However, it’s worth noting that not all apps support this method. If the Escape key doesn’t work, you’ll need to rely on other methods like the green button or keyboard shortcuts.

Managing Full Screen Apps in Mission Control

Mission Control provides an overview of all your open windows, including full screen apps, making it easy to switch or exit them.

Here’s how you can use Mission Control:

Swipe up with three fingers on your trackpad or press the F3 key.

Locate the full screen app you want to exit.

Drag the app’s thumbnail down from the top of the screen to restore it to windowed mode.

Mission Control is especially helpful if you’re juggling multiple apps or desktops, as it provides a bird’s-eye view of everything you’re working on.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Exiting Full Screen

If you’re unable to exit full screen mode, a few simple troubleshooting steps can usually resolve the issue:

Green Button Not Visible: Hover your cursor at the top of the screen to ensure the menu bar appears.

App Not Responding: Force-quit the application by pressing Command + Option + Escape, selecting the app, and clicking Force Quit.

Outdated macOS Version: Ensure your macOS is up-to-date, as newer versions often fix bugs related to full screen mode.

These steps can help you quickly regain control when exiting full screen doesn’t work as expected.

Tips for Better Full Screen Workflow on Mac

Mastering full screen mode and its shortcuts can significantly enhance your macOS experience.

Use Multi-Desktop Spaces: Combine full screen apps with macOS Spaces to organize your workflow. Swipe between spaces using three fingers on the trackpad.

Switch Apps Without Exiting Full Screen: Use Command + Tab to toggle between open apps without leaving full screen mode.

Customize Trackpad Gestures: Go to System Preferences > Trackpad and enable gestures that make navigating full screen mode easier.

These tips can streamline your workflow and make full screen mode a powerful tool rather than a source of frustration.

Conclusion: Simplify Your Mac Experience Exiting full screen mode doesn’t have to be confusing once you know the right steps and shortcuts. Whether you use the green button, keyboard shortcuts, the Escape key, or Mission Control, these methods will help you navigate full screen mode with ease.

[squarshedbrains]

How to Activate Full Screen Mode in the Chrome Web Browser on a PC | Step-by-Step Guide

In this video tutorial, learn how to activate full screen mode in the Chrome web browser on your PC. Full screen mode enhances your browsing experience by removing distractions and utilizing the entire screen. Follow our easy, step-by-step instructions to quickly enter and exit full screen mode in Chrome. Perfect for both new and experienced Chrome users, this tutorial will help you make the most of your browsing. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more useful Chrome tips and tricks!

Simple Steps

Method 1

Open The Google Chrome Web Browser.

Keyboard shortcut to enable or disable full screen mode is f11

Method 2

Open the Chrome web Browser

Click on the 3 dot hamburger menu and next to "Zoom" click on the full screen Icon.

[laxmankodadala]

10 Best Remote Desktop Tools That Outshine TeamViewer

Many of us are very much aware that TeamViewer helps us connect to any device from anywhere at any time! However, if you’re excited to explore the free alternatives to TeamViewer?

We hear you

Fortunately, when it comes to finding a suitable TeamViewer alternative, there are several options available that offer similar functionality. Additionally, you can find discussions about these alternatives on platforms like Reddit.

Before we explore the top TeamViewer alternatives, it's worth reviewing why TeamViewer may not always be the ideal choice.

As TeamViewer lags from Time to Time and doesn’t work properly through the proxy servers, it’s a perfect time to shop around.

If you want a TeamViewer alternative that’s among the best remote desktop access software, keep reading. We’ve gone out to the remote desktop access market and reviewed the pros and cons of ten apps that can act as a TeamViewer alternative.

Troop Messenger

Troop Messenger is the best Team Viewer alternative that allows users to connect with remote teams with lightning speed.

This advanced screen-sharing feature enhances the user experience with the ability to initiate one-to-one and group audio-video calling better explain the contents of the screen. Different users from different parts of the globe can share their screens via their desktop, web, and mobile.

While presenting the screen contents to remote users, one can highlight the required section with the help of screen annotation.

Troop Messenger is better than TeamViewer because it supports a wide range of use cases such as providing a live chat app to sites through chat APIs, and the users can avail many privileges like conducting team meetings, webinars, online classes, etc., they can talk, meet face-to-face, and share their screen contents.

Troop Messenger is a flexible and effective alternative to TeamViewer, offering an extensive range of functions designed to decorate team collaboration and communique. With its screen sharing, far-off management, stable messaging, and extra, Troop Messenger gives everything your team wishes to paint efficiently and successfully in Teamviewer Alternatives.

Why choose Troop Messenger’s Remote Screen Sharing?

Can choose to share the contents of the entire screen, application window, or any Chrome tabs.

Can initiate an audio-video call to talk and have face-to-face interactions while presenting the remote screen.

Can switch from an audio call to a video call while sharing a screen.

Can add more users to the call while sharing the screen.

Can end the audio or video call alone.

Can exit self.

Can stop sharing your screen while continuing the audio or video calling.

2. Anydesk

AnyDesk is considered the best alternative for TeamViewer which allows its users to connect to a distant computer remotely, be it the next-door buddy or halfway around the world. This TeamViewer alternative ensures reliable remote connections to desktops for both on-the-go individuals and IT professionals.

AnyDesk developers worked devotedly to make it a TeamViewer competitor; as a result, it became extremely fast but put some restrictions on access to the network. It uses bandwidth and band-with rates effectively to achieve high performance.

Pros

Cons

Lightweight and fast interface

Copy-Paste function freezes sometimes

Mobile app connectivity

Occasional issues with adjustment of resolutions

Full-screen mode available

Session limits

Network customization (portable options)

Shows the entire screen to the connected user

Supported Platform: Windows, Android, Linux, FreeBSD, Raspberry Pi, iOS, and macOS

Pricing:

Free for personal use

Lite Plan: US$10.99 per month

Professional: US$20.99 per month

Power: US$52.99 per month

3. LogMeIn

LogMeIn is software like Teamviewer, that is cloud-based and functions as a powerful endpoint management tool with remote support. It provides high-quality servicenow consulting through a wide range of solutions like LogMeIn Pro, LogMeIn Central, and LogMeIn Rescue.

One of the best features of this app like TeamViewer is the Multi-monitor Display, which can allow the presentation of multiple remote monitors in 1:1 size. For security-conscious organizations, password management features are a great add-on, where you can get complimentary access to LastPass so that all accounts are stored in the password vault.

Pros

Cons

1 TB file storage for seamless storing of files and remote access.

Reporting feature needs some bug-fixing

Allows printing of remote documents from a local printer

File transfer speed is not optimum

99.9% uptime: reliable control

Pricing could be better

TLS 1.2 Security & AES-256-bit encryption

Endpoint infrastructure management

Uses BitDefender as an antivirus tool to protect user’s privacy

Password Management Feature

Supported Platform: PC, iOS, Android, and Mac OS, and more

Pricing for LogMeIn Pro:

Individuals: US$30 per user per month, access up to 2 desktop

PowerUsers: US$70 per user per month, access up to 5 desktop/computers

small businesses: US$129 per user per month, access to up to 10 desktops/computers

4. Chrome Remote Desktop

Chrome Remote Desktop is one of the best free alternatives to TeamViewer free - in other words, it is the best open-source TeamViewer alternative and completely free to use. The tool offers two different elements, including remote support and remote access. The simple and interactive interface makes it easy for non-technical users to make a connection.

Furthermore, Chrome Remote Desktop supports both spontaneous access and also unattended access. It’s highly secure and compatible with multiple devices. So if you are looking for a TeamViewer alternative open-source tool Chrome Desktop could be your ideal tool.

Pros

Cons

Blazing fast speed and Two-step set up

Chrome Remote doesn’t work with browsers other than Google Chrome. Hence, to use it you’ve to have Google Chrome.

Full-screen mode is available

Doesn’t allow drag & drop file transfer from one desktop to another

It’s free of charge, unlike other proprietary remote desktop access services

No multi-monitor support

Can function even when the host is not logged in

No multi-session support

Highly Secure

Cannot reboot the remote machine

Supported Platform: Web, Android, and iOS

Pricing: Free

5. WebEx Remote Access

Cisco’s WebEx Remote access is one of the premium replacements for TeamViewer. It is often touted as the pioneer of remote desktop access. Not only does it allow real-time access to the remote screen but also makes it easy for users to view and control the extended servers, and point-of-sale systems, and improve remote support effectiveness.

WebEx Remote Access users can create distributed remote access networks and keep pace with changes in regulatory issues without investing in expensive data transferring systems. It also enables users to manage company software and hardware proactively and reduce maintenance delays. WebEx, as an alternative to TeamViewer, makes it easy for users to transfer files, reconnect, and reboot as required to resolve problems.

Pros

Cons

Drag-and-drop interface for file transfers

Start-up time is slow

Comprehensive session logs

Occasional trouble during session set-up

Available in nine languages

Record, edit, and playback the remote access sessions

Works across firewalls

WebEx Remote Access is Customised for the Windows OS

Support multiple computers – over thousands of connections at one time

Enterprise-grade security - passwords at the site level, 128-bit SSL, Block out machines, and AES encryption

SupportedPlatform: Access from any web browser

Pricing: Custom pricing

6. GoToMeeting Video Conferencing & Online Meeting Software

Pros

Cons

No need to install a software

Pricing

Free trial available

Sometimes the audio becomes choppy

One-Click Screen Sharing

The lite version doesn’t support web video streaming

High-quality audio, toll-free blends, recording, scheduling, and remote control,

24/7 admin control on the account

Responsive, Reliable, and Easy-to-use interface that allows hassle-free sharing of files and graphics

Supported Platform: All Web Browsers, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and more

Pricing:

Lite: $10 (allows access up to 5 computers)

Pro: $20 (allows access up to 15 computers)

Premium: $30 (No limit)

7. Splashtop

Splashtop’s main feature is remote desktop access for individuals, IT teams, support teams, and business professionals. It’s a great alternative to TeamViewer since Splashtop offers excellent on-demand customer support. It is a simple, powerful, and cost-effective solution for remote desktop access.

Pros

Cons

Reliable, Fast, and HD remote desktop connections

Occasional lagging issue

All remote desktop connections are protected by device authentication and multiple 2nd-level passwords

The user interface is not as interactive

Encrypted with 256-bit AES and TLS

iOS app supports all languages except French and Italian

Easy migration from other remote desktop services like LogMeIn and TeamViewer, which makes it a better alternative to TeamViewer

Includes both attended and unattended access

On-demand support

supported platform: Windows, Chromebook, Mac, iOS, Android, & more

Pricing:

Business AccessSolo: US$5 per month, billed annually, allows access up to 2 computers

BusinessAccessPro: US$8.25 per month per user, billed annually, allows access up to 10 computers

BusinessAccessPro, VolumeLicenses: US$4.54 per month per user, billed annually

8. Ammyy Admin

What makes Ammyy Admin a superior TeamViewer alternative is its Zeo configuration requirement. With Ammyy Admin you don’t have to install software or set up anything. Ammyy Admin users can swiftly control and give access to remote desktops, from anywhere, at any time.

Ammyy Admin also has a wide variety of plans for different corporate needs. It is undoubtedly the quickest way to run a remote desktop connection without following any additional set-up steps.

Pros

Cons

No installation needed

Poor Customer Support

Supports HTTPS proxy

No full-screen mode

Access servers and network computers remotely

Limited security features

High-quality data transfer (built-in file manager) on a remote server

Basic chat function

Built-in voice chat

Limited shortcut and remote keys

Highly compatible with Windows

SupportedPlatform: Web, Android, and iOS

Pricing:

Free for Personal Use

Starter v3 plan at US$33.90 (One-Time fee)

Premium v3 plan at US$66.90 (One-Time fee)

9. VNC Connect

When we talk about TeamViewer competitors, one of the best options is VNC Connect. This application appeals more to the small business sectors. It has a security feature with password protection and two-factor authentication. This app can be helpful for the user because of its high-speed streaming for remote access across cloud and offline connections.

It may not compete with TeamViewer alternative's free plans since VNC Connect lacks web conferencing features in the basic plan, its paid version gives control over unlimited devices, and standard features like data transfer and chat.

We can consider the paid version of VNC Connect as a good competitor to TeamViewer. Because it provides a quick and efficient service to the user.

Pros

Cons

Flexible in use

Not transparent to the firewall

Provides remote access

Lacks web conferencing

Very good security features

High-speed Internet required

Provides quick service

The initial set-up process is quite complex

High-speed streaming

Slightly challenging program

SupportedPlatform: Web, Android, and iOS

Pricing:

Home: Free for non-commercial use

Professional- Instant support: 16.99$ /per month

Enterprise- Device Access: 4.59$ per remote computer /per month

Enterprise- Instant Support: 33.49$ /per month

10. Mikogo

There are many applications that we count as TeamViewer competitors. Mikogo is one of them. It is used for screen sharing, and desktop sharing to streamline web conferencing, online meetings, etc. It also allows the users to record the screen, website integration, schedule the meetings, company logo branding, web conferencing, etc.

In Mikogo, you can share your pdf documents or application windows with up to 25 participants in real-time. It also provides high-quality VOIP ad teleconferencing for many users.

You can also schedule meetings in advance and send calendar invitations to other users. It also provides facilities for recording the session for future reference. Mikogo also supports multiple monitors up to 4 screens.

So, we can say Mikogo is one of the TeamViewer competitors for its TeamViewer similar kind of features and advanced technology.

Pros

Cons

Real-time access, chat & File transfer

Sends file size up to 200MB only

Remote keyboard & mouse control

Doesn't work at numerous customer sites

High-quality teleconference

Sharing up to 25 meeting participants

Session scheduler & session recording

Slow downloads and screen refreshes

Multi-user collaboration

Supports up to 4 screens

Multiple monitor support

Supported Platform: Apple IOS, Android, PC

Pricing:

Free Trial

Basic Annual: 156$

Professional Annual: 228$

Professional Lifetime: 456$

What is the best TeamViewer alternative?

Fortunately, when it comes to finding the best or right TeamViewer alternative, there are a variety of options. Apart from ensuring seamless access and control, these tools can also help you to avail real-time chat and collaboration that can bolster employee engagement and customer experience.

Given the choice, I would prefer to go with Troop Messenger because it offers more than just an alternative to TeamViewer. It is a comprehensive team collaboration tool that eliminates the need for relying on multiple tools for different requirements.

Finally, it's worth considering these 10 tools as alternatives to TeamViewer. It's challenging to determine the absolute best alternative since the requirements vary for each business and organization. Whatever choice you make when replacing TeamViewer, prioritize security and easy accessibility as top priorities.

[this-is-where-i-hide-my-bullshit]

Oh and I found out how to make the screen mirroring on my ipad work on my tv.

I had to download chrome because it refuses to play the video in full screen on safari, and then I have to let the video play for a few seconds BEFORE making it full screen, then I have to press the full screen button which takes a few seconds to load, then the video automatically exits full screen and for some reason the video has the replay button as if it was fully watched, and THEN you have to hit the full screen button AGAIN, but THIS time you'll see the screen say "live broadcast", and now you have to hit the play button and THIS time when it loads it will FINALLY play the video in full screen on my tv.

Because Apple products are sooooo user friendly and well designed 😒

[turtlethon]

With AJ Howard, I wonder if there's more to his mutant self hidden under a latex disguise or if he has a slug head with a normal body? The statue of his mutant form indicated his slug self was at least relatively human in shape, so I'm gonna assume he still has legs and fingers under the disguise, even if they're slimy.

As for J. Gordon Hungerdunger, I feel you could turn him into a playmates figure if you mutate him; undoubtably into a western setting animal like a Buffalo. Though then again that might be creeping into Cowboys of Moo Mesa's territory.

PS: The writers of the Dirk Savage episode sure knew the future when they did a plot of a powerful land mogul with his own tower persecuting minorities for his own power play!

I suppose Hungerdunger wouldn't even need to be a mutant animal to make it into the toy line, sometimes there are figures in there who appear conventionally human but every aspect of their look is turned up to 11 (like Tattoo or Pizzaface). Just make him the rootin'-est, tootin'-est guy ever, give him a comically oversized removable 50-gallon hat that's almost as big as he is, make his moustache as wide as his entire body, take that dollar sign bolo tie thing he had going on and make it a big chromed piece, go all-out.

(It's a shame that the flow of traffic in TMNT at the time seemed to go mostly one-way, we got a lot more characters introduced into the show who were created for the toy line than the other way around. Occasionally we'd get a highly requested figure like Mona Lisa and I still think it's incredible that in time they got around to sort-of doing both Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop, but the cartoon is full of characters and vehicles that would have made great toys, that just didn't happen - I'm tempted to compile a list, actually!)

Howard kind of got the worst of it from both sides: the requirement for his mutation to be a twist revealed halfway through his only episode meant his backstory was inevitably going to be underdeveloped, and he didn't receive a satisfactory exit. It can't have helped that he had to share screen time with Dirk Savage, plus all of the guest mutants. Maybe the Dirk Savage ep was another one from season seven that would have been better served by being a multi-part show. And yeah, something about him feels... almost like a quasi-mutation rather than a full one, closer to cat lady April rather than someone like Baxter whose transformation would be impossible to conceal. (That's actually something in itself that could be explored if things weren't so constricted: he calls himself the greatest mutant of all time, and maybe the rationale for his hate campaign was rooted in him convincing himself he's not like the other mutants. Behind the mask, he can continue to mingle in high society and act as if nothing had changed, a privilege not afforded to the people he's attacking.)

The comparison to Trump is well-observed, and something I didn't pick up on while writing about the episode. Howard is probably about as close as you could get to just putting Ross Perot in the show as a slug-man without risking legal action; giving him Richard Nixon's voice comes across as an obfuscation to be able to say he's not intended to represent any one person. But yeah, the tower named after himself and its gold interior suggests there was always a little of Trump in his NY property mogul era mixed in there too. Something that I didn't know until I was doing research to write the Dirk Savage Turtlethon entry was that Perot initially polled strongly in the 1992 presidential campaign before falling off. Trump basically borrowed his whole "I'm a successful man of industry, put me in the White House and I'll run it like a business" schtick from him, but had the advantage of not running as a third party candidate.

So I guess AJ Howard deserves at least an honourable mention as yet another Trump stand-in alongside McDonald Crump, Donald J. Lofty, Fenton Q. Hackenbrush, and in the UK Hero Turtles comics, Ronald Bump. There's probably more of these across the wider spectrum of TMNT media that I haven't discovered yet - it seems that wealthy buffoon / unscrupulous real estate kingpin / blustering con-man worked well as a foil for the Turtles at the time.

[govindhtech]

Chrome Android devices using Google Speech-to-Text Features

Your web pages can now be read aloud in Bengali and Hindi on Android devices using Google Chrome. This is how it operates.

Google is now offering numerous customization choices along with the ability to read aloud the full web page to users with its new “Listen to this page” function for Android. The update for all stable users should be available shortly. 9to5 Google discovered the new feature on Google Chrome for Android version 125.

Google Speech-to-Text The three-dots menu on the Chrome Android app has the Listen to this page option directly beneath the Translate option. When the new option is tapped, playing should begin in a format akin to a podcast, with options to choose the desired voice and play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, or skip 10 seconds.

There are currently 4 voices available: Field (low-pitched, bright), River (mid-pitch, brilliant), and Moss (low-pitched, serene). Ruby is a warm, mid-pitched voice. The new feature is accessible in Hindi, Bengali, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish in addition to English.

Chrome app for Android But not all websites have ‘Listen to this page’ enabled, according to a Google support page, and the option won’t show up in the overflow menu if a page can’t be played back. Although it’s already possible for Android users to ask Google Assistant to read aloud online pages, doing so required exiting the Google Chrome programme and offered few customizing options.

Google Chrome for Android smartphones now allows reading online pages aloud in Bengali and Hindi, which is a huge step towards accessibility and inclusivity. This function improves the surfing experience and accessibility of web material for millions of native speakers. Here’s a detailed look at the advantages and operation of this functionality.

New Text-to-Speech Function Understanding Google Chrome’s TTS helps Bengali and Hindi speakers read websites in their original languages. This is perfect for aural learners and vision-impaired folks. Google makes sure that the spoken output sounds genuine and is clear by utilising sophisticated machine learning and natural language processing technologies.

Google Text-to-Speech How to Make Google Chrome Text-to-Speech Work On Android devices, turning on Google Chrome’s text-to-speech capability is simple:

On your Android device, launch Google Chrome. Go to the webpage you wish to have read aloud on the internet. Press the three dots located at the top right corner to access the menu. After choosing “Settings,” select “Accessibility.” Activate “Screen Reader” or “Read Aloud” feature. After the reading feature is activated, you may use it by hitting the play button when it shows up on the screen. After thereafter, you can choose the language in which the material is read aloud. Options for Customization The text-to-speech user interface can be tailored in a number of ways:

Select Your Voice: From a variety of voices, select the most agreeable or comprehensible for you. Reading Pace: You can customize the listening experience by adjusting the pace at which the content is read aloud. Highlighting: To make it simpler to follow along, the text is highlighted on the screen as it is read out. Multilingual Accessibility’s Significance Creating a Digital Divide Bridge

Google Chrome is meeting the requirements of approximately 650 million speakers of Bengali and Hindi by incorporating support for these languages. In order to ensure that non-English speakers have equitable access to online information and to close the digital gap, this action is essential.

Increasing User Involvement This feature has the potential to greatly increase user engagement for content providers and website owners. Listening users spend more time on websites than reading ones, which lowers bounce rates and boosts other site analytics.

Advancing Learning and Education Converting text to speech is useful in teaching. Hearing teaching in their native language can improve comprehension and recall. This aids distance learning and multilingual classes.

Technical Details of Google’s Text-to-Speech Advanced Machine Learning Advanced machine learning algorithms underpin Google’s text-to-speech capability. Large datasets are used to train these algorithms, ensuring precise intonation and pronunciation. The system produces natural-sounding output that closely resembles human speech, and it can handle complicated phrase structures.

Combination with Additional Google Services Other Google services, including Google Translate and Google Assistant, are easily linked with this capability. The user experience may be consistent across many platforms and devices thanks to this connection. Using the same excellent text-to-speech capabilities, users may request that Google Assistant read a webpage aloud.

Prospects and Advancements for the Future Increasing Support for Languages

Bengali and Hindi are a big step, but Google will probably add additional languages to this feature in the future. With this development, the web will become even more inclusive and reachable to a wider range of users.

Increasing Voice Clarity Artificial intelligence and machine learning will improve Google Speech-to-Text voices. Future advances may include more lifelike voices and the ability to express emphasis and emotions to increase listening.

Improved Communication Future iterations may possibly have more interactive elements, such the capacity to navigate to particular webpage sections or pose queries regarding the text being read aloud. The functionality will become even more adaptable and user-friendly with these improvements.

Regarding Users Are you weary of typing? With Google Speech-to-Text, you can create emails, documents, and messages by speaking instead of using a keyboard. It is akin to possessing an extremely powerful audio recorder that can comprehend your speech and convert it into text.

Increase your output! Say goodbye to stumbling over missing keys. Talk out loud and see your ideas come to life on the screen. Google speech-to-text is ideal for people who have trouble with traditional typing, taking notes while on the road, and writing messages while juggling multiple tasks at once.

universal accessibility. People with disabilities or others who find typing difficult are empowered by Google Speech-to-Text. You can communicate with your gadgets and express yourself vocally thanks to this technology.

Regarding Developers Transform your software applications. Integrate the Google Cloud Speech-to-Text API into your apps to provide them robust and precise speech recognition. This powerful API is adaptable for a wide range of use cases because it supports several languages, accents, and audio formats.

Improve the experience for users. Develop apps that understand spoken commands. Google Speech-to-text makes your apps more interesting and user-friendly by letting users communicate naturally.

Transcribing extends beyond simplicity. Google Speech-to-Text lets you build more powerful speech-enabled apps with speaker dualization and sentiment analysis.

In conclusion An important step towards improving web accessibility and inclusivity has been taken with the release of Google Chrome’s text-to-speech features for Hindi and Bengali on Android devices. In addition to helping millions of native speakers, this functionality gives educators, learners, and content producers new opportunities. They can anticipate many more technological advancements that will improve people’s digital experiences globally as time goes on.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[blogger360ncislarules]

Fremantle has completed its big-money acquisition of Death in Paradise producer Asacha Media Group. The super-indie notified this morning that the deal, which was revealed several weeks ago, has gone through, and will see the Poor Things maker acquire the group from Asacha’s founding partners, managers and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management. Fremantle hasn’t revealed how much Asacha cost but has said it has spent more than €200M ($216M) on both Asacha and 80% of Singapore’s Beach House Pictures since the start of this year. Fremantle takes hold of an eight-label group including Death in Paradise producer Red Planet, Arrow Media and Italy’s Stand By Me. Headquartered in Paris, France, Asacha will continue to be run by Co-Founder and Group CEO Gaspard de Chavagnac who will report to Fremantle’s Andrea Scrosati. De Chavagnac will continue to be supported by Marina Williams as Chief Content Officer of Asacha. Labels will report to de Chavagnac. “We are pleased to welcome Asacha and its incredible labels, producers and creative talent, under Gaspard de Chavagnac to the Fremantle family,” said Scrosati. For Fremantle, the completed move will be a big boost in its bid to reach its much-discussed €3B revenue target, which Deadline revealed last week has been pushed back by up to a year.

London TV Screenings Unveils Next Year’s Dates

The London TV Screenings has announced dates for next year and said there was a 50% uplift in buyers this year. The growing event, which brought together 29 studios and distributors in 2024, will take place February 24 to 28 in 2025. Organized by ITV Studios, All3Media International, Banijay and Fremantle, the screenings have become an integral part of the TV market calendar. The fourth annual event enjoyed an uplift of 50% more buyers in attendance, organizers said, some 750+ in total, as well as attracting 29 participating distributors/studios, a slight increase on the 2023 edition. It comprised a full schedule of free-to-attend events and numerous evening socials.

‘Death In Paradise’ Lead Exits

Death in Paradise lead Ralph Little is exiting the show after four years. Little, who played Neville Parker, is the longest-serving Detective Inspector in the long-running BBC series, coming after Ben Miller, Kris Marshall and Ardal O’Hanlon. New lead casting is coming in due course. Licensed to more than 230 territories across the globe, Death in Paradise has been airing for 13 seasons and more than 100 episodes. It follows the Saint Marie police team solving crimes in the Caribbean Island. “Joining a successful show like Death in Paradise as the lead is a daunting and risky prospect, but Ralf’s confidence and talent shone through from day one and the audience response to Neville and his journey has been amazing,” said exec for Red Planet Pictures Tim Key.

[lizlemondyke]

update I finished hacks obviously and I only had to do my It’s Just A TV Show technique once (1x)!!!!!!

aaaaaa the end of season stress is setting in

[houstatlantav3g444s]

HANDS | Daveed Diggs x Reader

word count: 1.3k

female reader gives daveed a slow, attentive blowjob.

i had a dream about this deadass.

(if you use google chrome, i highly recommend the extension "interactivefics" for 'y/n inserts!)

On a Saturday evening, you found yourself awakened by the orange and purple hues of the Brooklyn sunset, beaming through your shared brownstone apartment windows.

As you stirred in the white sheets that is your bed, you noticed that something big was missing.

That something was Daveed, your boyfriend, whom you shared your brownstone with.

Coming out of the bedroom, and into the living room, you found Daveed right where he was when you dozed off: on the couch, headset on, controller in hand, in front of the flatscreen.

When he notices your presence in the door frame, he glances over towards you, and then quickly back to the screen to pause the game.

"Evening, sleepyhead. How was your nap?" Daveed breathes, yanking his headset off and rising to stretch.

"Fine, I wasn't asleep that long anyway. Have you been sitting here the whole time?" You ask, making your way to the kitchen to look at the time on the microwave.

"Ummm.. Yesss." Daveed says wryly.

"It's 7 PM, Daveed." You say, yelling from the kitchen.

"Y/N, you know time gets away from me sometimes." Daveed says, entering the kitchen to wrap his arms around you.

"Well, I guess you do deserve a break, you've had quite the year!" You say, turning in his arms to face him.

He leans down to kiss you. It's soft, like "all of it was worth it to see you" soft. It makes you tingle, and that's when you get the idea in your head.

Breaking the kiss, you say "Baby, go sit back on the couch. I have an idea."

"What is it, can I eat it? Daveed asks, unlocking his arms to walk away, cutting his eyes at you.

"No silly, you can't. Just wait for it." You say, exiting the kitchen, heading back to the bedroom.

Going to the very back corner of your closet, you find your special box full of toys and gimmicks for what you referred to as 'kinky times'.

In passing the rest of your "equipment", you opt for blue rope to be thoughtful, instead of red, because it complements Daveed's skin tone.

Stowing the box back in its place, you head back out to the main room to find him back on the couch, looking around, and humming under his breath.

As you enter the room, with your hands behind your back, you slowly waltz over to the coffee table, putting it between the two of you.

"... What's that, baby?" Daveed asks, doing his best to peer around your frame.

"My idea." You say, bringing your hands in front of you.

Daveed's eyes widen slightly at the sight of the royal blue rope, and then he looks up at you.

"Can I tie your hands?" You ask shyly, although looking him right in the eyes.

"Yes. I trust you not to murder me." Daveed laughs, bringing his wrists together over his lap.

"I won't babe." You laugh back. "Stand up and turn around for me please?"

He does so as you bring yourself around the coffee table, bringing his wrists behind himself.

You unravel the rope to tie an intricate knot, tight enough so he keeps his hands to himself, but loose enough to be comfortable.

This is where the fun begins.

You turn Daveed around to kiss him deeply. Although being bigger and much stronger than you, he flops on the couch at your tiny push.

You sit on the couch beside him, looking into his deep brown eyes, and all you can see is the twinkle in them.

Pressing your lips to his, you kiss Daveed with all the passion you could muster. Biting his lip, tugging on it, mingling your tongues, and Daveed returning the energy.

You bring your hand up to his neck, snaking it into his hair to tug on it a little. This makes Daveed gasp, breaking the kiss long enough for you to assault his neck with kisses and hickies.

Taking your hand out of his hair, you get off of the couch to be on your knees in front of him.

"Baby, you've been awfully silent. Are you okay?" You ask, parting his legs to lean towards him and rub his shoulders and chest.

"I'm more than fine, babygirl. Just watching you do what you do. I love it by the way." Daveed says, biting his lip. His voice was laced with pure sex, with little pauses between each word.

You move your hands from his chest to his thighs, taking your time to massage them. A small moan escapes Daveed, barely audible, but a moan nonetheless.

Undoing his belt buckle, Daveed raises his hips to help you remove his jeans. Through his black briefs, you could definitely see that Daveed was thoroughly enjoying every single touch you gave him.

You lean towards him one last time to kiss him, through all of his gasps, as you palm him through his briefs.

Releasing the kiss, you tug on Daveed's underwear to finally get them off.

His length springs free, lightly slapping against his stomach. Precum made his tip glisten in the light, which made him flustered.

A blushing Daveed, with his legs spread on the couch was quite the sight to see. He'd never been touched so slowly, so precisely.

You grab his cock, all eight inches, and bring the tip towards your mouth. Looking up at Daveed, you kiss it, slowly bringing your lips over the entire head of his length. Your tongue swirls around it, being especially attentive to the underside, as it made Daveed tingle.

With a small "pop", you move your lips to kiss his shaft, stroking it, kissing it, trying to be as tender as possible.

Humming while you work, you look up at Daveed, whose cheeks are the most pink you've seen. He closes his eyes tight and bites his lip when you lick the right spots, causing him to moan.

"Mmm, baby… You- don't know… how bad- I want to touch you… right now…" Daveed says between groans and growls.

Relaxing yourself, you take the majority of Daveed into your hot, wet mouth, making him shout when his tip brushes past the back of the tongue, into your throat.

You bob your head, while moaning, to give Daveed as much pleasure as possible, stroking what you can't fit into your mouth. With your other hand, his gonads being massaged at the same rate.

In order to gain more contact, you can feel Daveed raising his hips up to meet your mouth. You pull your lips over his tip again, licking the underside, making him quiver.

The longer you kept this up, the more you could feel Daveed squirm and shake.

"Baby… I'm close." Daveed cries out through hooded eyes and shaky breaths.

You continue to work on him, making sure nothing went untouched and he was satisfied.

The tip of his cock hits the back of your throat one last time before Daveed shot off thick, white ropes of sweet cum into your mouth.

"Kiss me, Y/N." Daveed says before you could swallow through moans, gasps, and curses.

You snake your body up his to kiss him roughly, spit mingling with cum.

Reaching around his body to undo your knot, Daveed's hands break free and find your body.

"That was amazing, baby. I've never had anything like it before." Daveed says with a glow, picking you up to straddle him..

"I'm glad you liked it." You say, smiling.

"I did, I really did. I love you, Y/N." Daveed says kissing your cheek.

"I love you too, Daveed." You say, leaning into the kiss.

"Ah…" He sighs. "...my turn!" Daveed says, picking you up bridal style, headed for your bedroom, with a devilish tone in his voice.

HANDS | PART II

[keploy]

How to Exit Full Screen on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Full screen mode on a Mac is a great way to minimize distractions, but it can sometimes leave users puzzled about how to exit it. If you’ve ever been stuck in full screen mode, you’re not alone. This guide will walk you through all the ways how to exit full screen on mac, making your workflow smoother and stress-free.

What Is Full Screen Mode on macOS?

Full screen mode is a feature designed to give you a clean, focused workspace by hiding unnecessary interface elements like the dock and menu bar. When activated, it expands your current app or window to occupy the entire screen, eliminating visual clutter and letting you focus entirely on your task.

This mode is especially helpful when working with apps like Safari, Pages, or even creative tools like Photoshop. However, knowing how to exit full screen efficiently is crucial to avoid disrupting your workflow.

Exiting Full Screen Using the Green Button

The simplest way to exit full screen mode is by clicking the green button in the top-left corner of the window.

Hover your cursor at the very top of your screen to reveal the hidden menu bar.

Locate the green button in the top-left corner of the window.

Click the green button, and the window will shrink back to its original size.

This method is universal across macOS applications and is a go-to option for many users. The green button also toggles full screen mode, so you can use it to enter or exit as needed.

Exiting Full Screen with the Keyboard Shortcut

For those who prefer speed and efficiency, using a keyboard shortcut is the quickest way to exit full screen.

Simply press Control + Command + F, and the application will return to its normal windowed mode. This shortcut works in most macOS apps, including Safari, Chrome, Pages, and Keynote.

Keyboard shortcuts are excellent time-savers, and mastering them can significantly enhance your productivity.

Using the Escape Key to Exit Full Screen

In some applications, pressing the Escape key is all you need to exit full screen mode.

Apps like QuickTime Player, some media players, and certain browsers allow you to press Esc to return to the regular windowed view.

However, it’s worth noting that not all apps support this method. If the Escape key doesn’t work, you’ll need to rely on other methods like the green button or keyboard shortcuts.

Managing Full Screen Apps in Mission Control

Mission Control provides an overview of all your open windows, including full screen apps, making it easy to switch or exit them.

Here’s how you can use Mission Control:

Swipe up with three fingers on your trackpad or press the F3 key.

Locate the full screen app you want to exit.

Drag the app’s thumbnail down from the top of the screen to restore it to windowed mode.

Mission Control is especially helpful if you’re juggling multiple apps or desktops, as it provides a bird’s-eye view of everything you’re working on.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Exiting Full Screen

If you’re unable to exit full screen mode, a few simple troubleshooting steps can usually resolve the issue:

Green Button Not Visible: Hover your cursor at the top of the screen to ensure the menu bar appears.

App Not Responding: Force-quit the application by pressing Command + Option + Escape, selecting the app, and clicking Force Quit.

Outdated macOS Version: Ensure your macOS is up-to-date, as newer versions often fix bugs related to full screen mode.

These steps can help you quickly regain control when exiting full screen doesn’t work as expected.

Tips for Better Full Screen Workflow on Mac

Mastering full screen mode and its shortcuts can significantly enhance your macOS experience.

Use Multi-Desktop Spaces: Combine full screen apps with macOS Spaces to organize your workflow. Swipe between spaces using three fingers on the trackpad.

Switch Apps Without Exiting Full Screen: Use Command + Tab to toggle between open apps without leaving full screen mode.

Customize Trackpad Gestures: Go to System Preferences > Trackpad and enable gestures that make navigating full screen mode easier.

These tips can streamline your workflow and make full screen mode a powerful tool rather than a source of frustration.

Conclusion: Simplify Your Mac Experience

Exiting full screen mode doesn’t have to be confusing once you know the right steps and shortcuts. Whether you use the green button, keyboard shortcuts, the Escape key, or Mission Control, these methods will help you navigate full screen mode with ease.

[cheezritsu]

Afterthought (Exit Stage Left) || Akaashi Keiji

Wc: 2.1k

Inspired by this quote that lives rent free in my mind, and by Afterthought by Joji

The scenery that stretches out the window of your train is a blur of orange tinged buildings, the glint of the setting sun catching every window on every skyscraper as you speed through the outer edges of the greater Tokyo Met area. You avert your squinting eyes, choosing to watch your quiet companions. The passengers on your train all sway in a similar manner, like a gif on a constant loop.

Despite this nearly cinematic tableau, there is something missing from this moment—perhaps it’s the fact that you’re on your way back to work after your lunch break and the sun is already setting, but there’s something more bittersweet than an early twilight. Your eyes sweep across the train car, searching the little cracks and crevices as if someone has left clues for this mystery.

But there is nothing out of the ordinary—the salarymen are as shiny-shoed and bored eyed as ever, the junior high girls are still huddled close together and giggling over a phone screen. One of the girls reaches down to pull up her leg warmers, and you think about how long it’s been since your friends wore those. The crest on their uniforms is unfamiliar, yet looking at them feels like a portal to the past.

The feeling in your chest grows exponentially as the train slows to a halt. The girls promptly get off, along with a host of other young, fresh looking passengers. One young man with a college ID on his lanyard walks past you, with something in his arm brushing against you. It makes a crackling sound that garners both of your attention.

“Oh!” He says, turning back to you quickly as the doors start closing. “I’m sorry!” He bows shallowly, and from the motion you catch the bouquet of purple tulips, abundant and bright, tied off with a white ribbon. He doesn’t stay in your sight much longer, running through the doors with the type of urgency only a young person could afford. You frown harder.

Now the train car is full of adults, and the alienation sits like lead in your stomach. You have nowhere else to be but work, yet you feel like you’re forgetting something—a prior engagement? A rendezvous with a friend? A missed call? You check your phone; nothing. A date—?

You remember it now. An entire train stop has come and gone. Your train stop. When you blink out of your stupor you realize you now have to walk blocks—blocks!—to his apartment, with the quickly setting sun making chills creep under a coat not meant for winter. Your fingers are popsicles where they curl around the stems of the bouquet tucked into your arm. Perhaps it’s getting a little too predictable; here you are on a Thursday, in an outfit that’s mostly black, in makeup he’s seen a thousand times. You’re a broken record for sure, but comfort and familiarity were things Akaashi savored more than onigiri.

(Right?)

You like the familiarity too. Walking into his apartment complex gives you a fuzzy warmth, and you barely pay attention as your fingers automatically press the button to his floor. Your reflection in the chrome doors is a haunting type of deja vu that leaves you with a sinking feeling you’re sure isn’t just his janky apartment elevator.

As one foot drags and the other heel clicks against the floor, it feels like you’re marching to a forlorn melody, something non-diegetic that would warn your imaginary audience that something terrible is about to happen, but leaves you clueless. There are layers upon layers of irony that surround the moment you turn the key into Akaashi’s apartment, only to find it dark and near barren.

Tokyo winters are notoriously cruel to apartment complexes. The grey sky matches the towering skyscrapers and colors the world in dismal shadows. Akaashi sits among them, a single desk lamp washing the pages of his newest project in harsh light.

He doesn’t look up when he hears your heels click against his kitchen floor. Silence drapes the room, punctuated only by the furling of pages. It sounds like a library or a study, not like a home with two lovers.

But you like watching him; the intense blue of his eyes as he scans the pages, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He looks handsome and pristine, like a marble statue.

He still looks that way when he finally turns to you, not so much as a smile on his face. “Hey.” He says, like you’re an afterthought.

“Hey,” you say, still possessing the bashfulness of a schoolgirl. You wait patiently for Akaashi like a dutiful kouhai would their senpai. When he does a once over of the flowers in your hand, he sighs.

He closes the magazine then pushes himself up from the desk as if it’s the most difficult task in the world. Akaashi pads over to you, still in his work shoes, and turns your head to look in your eyes.

There is no longer any feverish excitement in his touches. That placid countenance you got a thrill out of breaking never cracked, and it left feeling cold and forgotten. His fingers placed themselves exactly where they were supposed to, robotically so, with little tease, or foreplay, or reverence.

“These are pretty,” he says, and all you do is nod.

You’d heard about loveless marriages before. About people who stay together despite there not being a spark. You didn’t think it’d ever happen to you, for you had enough love for Akaashi to last a lifetime and then some. But here, now, when his lips pressed to your jaw, your neck, your collarbones with precision and no passion, you felt your soul detach from your body and allowed him to continue kissing a corpse.

He never said a word.

And when he did, it’s just: “What are they for?”

And this is where you come out of your comfort zone with him. “They’re for you. It’s a goodbye present.”

‘So that’s what it takes,’ you think as Akaashi’s eyes widen impossibly large. You’d laugh if you didn’t feel so hollow.

“Wh-“ he flounders, pushing the bouquet of purple asters back into your arms. “What are you talking about.”

“I can’t do this anymore, Keiji.”

He spares you the theatrics. Keiji was a literature major; he excels at context clues.

Yet he looks between the flowers and you, like it’s an incomplete puzzle. “What exactly is it you can’t do?”

Akaashi watches as you shuffle back and forth on your heels. Sometimes he can see the person he fell in love with back in high school: your nervous habits have stayed the same. But still, you’ve undeniably grown since then. Aged, like wine; becoming bolder, harder to swallow.

He can’t really be impressed anymore when you look him in the eye and say, “I can’t keep putting you first when I’m second place for you. I can’t be your afterthought anymore.”

“You’re not an afterthought.” It’s the lame reply of someone who can’t think of what else to say. You know it too.

“Ji,” you apply his coveted nickname, and it makes it all the worse. “You’re just keeping me around because you’re used to me.”

Something blooms across his face. It prickles with heat as a protective bubble of anger bursts in his chest. “What’s wrong with me being comfortable with you?”

Your stare goes level, lids dropping so the light in your eyes vanishes. The wings of your eyeliner make you look dangerous, ethereal. He really has always liked the way you looked. Your beauty is no longer subjective to him, it doesn’t steal his breath. It’s just an emotionless fact.

“Being comfortable is something friends are. We can be friends if that’s what you want.”

His brow raises. “Is that what you want?”

You shrug. The nonchalance is what gets him—the action is unhurried, comical, almost, in how lackadaisical you’re making this moment. (Although, he admits to himself that his anger is redirected guilt for not feeling too torn up about this himself.)

“That’s up to you,” is your only reply.

He heel turns, groaning and rubbing his twitching hands down his face. “Y/n what does that mean?” He says, voice finally rising. There’s no longer the thrill of getting him riled up. Only a dull throb where adrenaline should be. “Why are you making this harder than it has to be?”

“I-!” You laugh hollowly, and Akaashi stares at you with pinched brows. “Me? I said I can’t do this anymore. Clean and simple! You’re the one dragging this out when you don’t love me anymore!”

The anger ebbs like receding waves, and its wake is the wreckage he’s been waiting to appear. Akaashi is stunned by your violence, and nothing more.

And perhaps it’s his refusal to do anything about it that makes you turn your head as you swallow down the bitter acceptance he’s spoon fed you. “I mean,” you sniff, not even attempting to salvage anything. “I’ve always loved you more than you love me.”

The crooked smile you give pushes him over the edge.

“That’s not true,” he scolds quickly. “I just don’t show it the way you do.”

“Because you never wanted to.”

(Does it feel like he’s been shot in the chest because it’s true, or because he’s been caught?)

The flowers land on the table unceremoniously, punctuated by your heavy sigh. “So what,” Akaashi says, looking down at you. He never held his height over you condescendingly, but he’s scowling at you now. You give him a look that’s not quite defeated, but definitely not unbothered, waiting for him to finish.

“So you just knew I’d fallen out of love and you stayed with me the whole time? And now you walk in here, dressed up, with..with goodbye flowers? What kind of plan is that?”

“It wasn’t a plan, Ji.” You give a pitiful excuse for a laugh, somewhere between a scoff and a sob. ‘I just...I stayed because I still love you.”

Under his bewildered gaze you deteriorate faster than paper in water, crumbling into soggy remains as you give a wobbly smile. “But I suppose that’s not enough, is it?”

Your middle finger and thumb rub circles into your temple, like this conversation is giving you a headache. In the grey evening light of mid-winter, Akaashi can see a tear twinkle down the contour of your face like a Renaissance painting. And then it hits him all of a sudden that he’s the cause of all your wretched pain, and it winds him like a spin kick to the chest.

“I’m sorry,” he says, but never says what for. It can’t leave his lips (and why should it? You both know what for, why should he make it harder than it has to be?)

You don’t say you accept it. You don’t cry either. You simply scoot the chair back with a grating noise, and to this day, the sound still haunts Akaashi, teleporting him back to this moment, when you walked out the door and never came back.

Akaashi stares at the now unoccupied chair, his eyes lost and something pricking in the corner of his eyes.

“Akaashi.”

No, Akaashi scrunches his brow. Panic bubbles in his chest this isn’t right. You never called for him. Why didn’t you call for him?

“Akaashi,”

You leave his life as simply as stage directions—Y/n: exit stage left. The door stays open, because you’re not petty enough to slam it. Considerate, even when smashing your own heart to pieces.

“Akaaaashi.”

And his.

“Akaashi!”

He blinks once, twice. There are no more flowers, no open door, no dim grey lighting. Just the clean, white tile of Onigiri Miya, still empty during its dedicated lunch break. Orange light spills in and grants the store a golden look. From where he stood after scooting back his chair, Atsumu Miya raises a brow, his concern shadowed by the sun at his back.

“Are you okay?” He passed his hand in front of Akaashi’s face, somewhat teasingly. His handsome smile is small. “Lost ya for a sec.”

Atsumu’s left hand is still gripping the back of his seat. The other occupants of the table are seated, their curious eyes squinted at Akaashi as if they could possibly discern what was going on on the other side of his eyes.

“Sorry,” he finally says, fixing the blond with an apologetic smile. “It’s just,” he looks in the middle of the table, where sticking up from a small glass vase was a single purple kikyo flower, its head hung low and mournfully. He can’t keep his eyes off of it. For someone who’s supposed to be an afterthought, you’re always at the forefront of his mind; like the fraying anxiety of leaving the stove on, or the person one sees from their peripheral vision. If only he’d said all that when it mattered. Then maybe you wouldn’t be—

“It’s nothing. Just a memory.”