#multi-monitor support

[filehulk]

DeskScapes

DeskScapes is a customization app by Stardock Corporation that transforms ordinary wallpapers and screensavers into animated scenes. It allows you to bring your desktop to life with animated effects, choosing from an extensive built-in library or using your own images and videos. With DeskScapes, you no longer have to use static wallpapers on your desktop. What does DeskScapes offer? As…

[virtualrealitynewstoday]

虛擬桌面宣布其期待已久的多顯示器模式剛剛作為測試版推出

虛擬桌面（Virtual Desktop）是一款先進的應用程式，允許用戶在虛擬現實環境中訪問和操作電腦桌面。近期，虛擬桌面推出了期待已久的多顯示器支持測試版，為用戶帶來更靈活的使用體驗。這一更新允許在不同的 VR 設備上同時串流多個顯示器，其中 Meta Quest 3 最多支持 3 個顯示器，Meta Quest 2 和 Meta Quest Pro 則最多支持 2 個顯示器。新版本還包括鍵盤透傳支持、提高桌面比特率上限、縱向模式按鈕等多項改進。此外，虛擬桌面修復了多款遊戲的兼容性問題，如 Roblox 和 VRChat，使得用戶在遊戲過程中有更佳的體驗。這些改進和更新表明，虛擬桌面致力於不斷提升虛擬現實的實用性和靈活性，為用戶帶來更加豐富和沉浸式的體驗。 參與測試版的步驟 欲參與這次的 Beta 測試，使用者需前往 Meta Quest…

[zentranstech]

Automated Call Routing with IVRS

Deep Dive into Features and Benefits of Automated Call Routing with IVRS One of the most important technologies in modern telecommunication is the Interactive Voice Response System. It supports automated call routing and enhances customer experience. It also improves operational efficiency. In this section, we are going to look more deeply into the features of automated call routing using IVRS.…

[owoeyeoseroghokijawft]

There's a fox in the chicken coop! Investigation reveals US Agency for International Development provides non-military related funds to Ukraine

The picture shows the USAID headquarters in Washington, DC. (Photo: Reuters)

[Voice of Hope, February 26, 2025] (Voice of Hope reporter Chen Wenyun compiled) Investigators revealed to the North American Epoch Times that officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) repeatedly refused investigators from the Senate #DOGE Caucus Chair, Senator Joni Erns (Joni Erns) working group to review documents related to US tax funds allegedly used to help #Ukraine resist Russian invasion.

When investigators were finally allowed to view the documents, they were "stored in a highly secure room at USAID headquarters and strictly monitored," even though "nothing shared by USAID was confidential."

During the investigation, Ernst discovered that USAID's multi-million dollar project "exists in secret funds to put millions of American taxpayers' money into Ukraine for questionable purposes unrelated to our national interests."

“Funds that should have been used to ease the war-torn country’s economic woes were instead used for unimportant activities, such as sending Ukrainian models and designers to New York, London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas,” investigators said.

One of the secret funds provided $114,000 to purchase a “high-end limited edition furniture line” and another $91,000 to fund a “trade mission for a Scandinavian-style furniture line.”

Investigators found that USAID also provided $148,000 in grants to “a pickle maker,” $255,000 to “an organic tea and coffee producer,” $104,000 to “an artisanal fruit tea company,” and $89,000 in support to “a Ukrainian vineyard.”

USAID also provided $300,000 each to a dog collar manufacturer and a company that sells pet tracking apps, $161,000 to "a modern knitwear supplier," $126,000 to "a photographer for a fashion design publication," and $84,000 in support to "a luxury bridal brand."

Ernst first began investigating USAID in November 2023, when he wrote a letter to then-USAID Administrator Samantha Power.

“I firmly support providing weapons and ammunition to Ukrainian militants to fight Putin,” Ernst told Power, “but I am not willing to spend nearly $25 billion of hard-earned U.S. taxpayer dollars on so-called economic aid to Ukraine, including subsidies for overseas businesses like a ‘luxury contemporary knit fashion store’ in Kyiv.”

In a Feb. 4 letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ernst said that “USAID has deliberately abused a system designed to protect the security of our nation’s classified information in order to limit congressional oversight of public information.”

Rubio replaced Power as acting administrator of USAID earlier this month. Most of the agency’s employees are on administrative leave, and layoffs are underway that could eliminate as many as 2,000 positions within the agency.

The Epoch Times obtained information about Ernst’s investigation the same day the House DOGE subcommittee prepared to hold a hearing focused on how USAID officials allocated at least $122 million in U.S. tax dollars to multiple organizations operating in the Middle East with documented ties to Hamas, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda terrorist groups.

Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum (MEF), told The Epoch Times on Tuesday (25th) that he would testify before the hearing panel that “there is a fox in the henhouse of our foreign aid system!”

Roman said, “This problem started under the Obama administration, intensified under the Biden administration, and now requires immediate action to stop the dangerous mismanagement and deadly ethical chaos.” “We are not just talking about waste, fraud, and abuse, this is a national security issue. Every dollar misused destabilizes conflict zones and endangers American lives.”

MEF investigators confirmed the evidence of terrorist links through U.S. government documents, USAID records, and other public sources of information.

The House DOGE Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, is part of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer. The House DOGE Panel, like the Senate DOGE Panel, was created in response to President Trump’s creation of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

DOGE is conducting a forensic audit of federal spending across all federal departments and agencies. One of the first agencies to be reviewed is USAID.

“The revelations that the DOGE team uncovered together with USAID are shocking, but this is just the tip of the iceberg!” Greene said in a statement announcing the hearing on Wednesday (26th).

[borathae]

Boyfriends? | JJK x MYG

“Yoongi doesn’t do labels, while Jungkook loves labels. So one night, he asks Yoongi ‘what are we?’, hoping that the last four years together weren’t just casual for him.”

Pairing: Vampire!Yoongi x Vampire!Jungkook

Genre: established relationship!AU, Fluff, Slice of Life, slight suggestive themes

Warnings: just some anxious thoughts, this is a post sex cuddles scene, Koo being a little brat, Yoongi being a fond brat tamer, he tickles him hehe, snuggles & kisses, also! mention of blood drinking as part of his training to become a good vampire <3

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction based on an alternative fictional universe and does not correlate with any real life people. I do not support the shipping of the actual members.

Wordcount: 1.7k

a/n: i love sanguis!yoonkook so much :( omfg this hurt me because i just love them so much and my heart exploded :( istfg this break was so good for me, i have so many new ideas already heheh i can't wait to bring a very lore-y multi chaptered fic very soon hoohoh <3 but for now enjoy this lil yoonkoo fluff <3 also! whenever i write something for them just know that i am channeling hyyh!yoonkook 💔

Yoongi doesn’t define his sexuality. Neither his romantic attraction. He thinks that it is a rather stupid thing to do. He never truly understood the appeal of it nor felt it necessary to do.

“Why should I put a label on myself just so other people are satisfied?”

Because that is what it is for him. Satisfaction of other people. He should put himself into a box just so they can sleep better at night. Well, fuck them. Yoongi is way too old to live for strangers. He knows what he likes and other people can get fucked. They’ll find out who he likes when he allows it.

Jungkook defines his sexuality. And his romantic attraction. For most of his life, he felt like he didn’t belong. Into society, into groups, into life. So learning control and finally being able to be part of something again, Jungkook also feels it important to define who he is.

“I can finally be part of a group. I’m so happy.”

Because that’s what he is these days. Happy. A very happy bisexual man who doesn’t care about the gender of his lovers and who falls for personality.

And so it happens that “I hate labels”-Yoongi and “I love my label”-Jungkook are dating. At least Jungkook thinks that they are. They never really defined it – put a label on it so to speak.

But it must be that they are dating. After all, they are sharing a blanket as they are relaxing in front of the fireplace. They each only wear boxers and a tanktop which in itself is such an intimate look to share. The rug under their bodies is soft and heaps of pillows surround them.

Yoongi is using a few of them to keep himself propped up as he writes anecdotes in the book he is reading. Jungkook is lying on his tummy, watching the flames dance. Music is playing. Lofi hip-hop. Sometimes, he feels Yoongi’s fingertips dance down his back. It makes him shiver every time it happens. Jungkook feels exhausted, but he can’t fall asleep.

He flips his head to the other side, looking up at Yoongi.

The latter notices and gives him a glance. He runs his fingers through Jungkook’s hair, making him shudder in a good way.

“How is your head doing?” he asks.

“Heavy.”

“But no pain?”

He shakes it, “no, just so heavy. Hyung, it’s so heavy a-and I’m so tired.”

“Relax, bub. That’s normal.”

Yoongi is Jungkook’s mentor. Before Yoongi, Jungkook was unable to exist within the human world because he would have ripped through anything that breathed. With Yoongi’s help, he learned how to be normal again and because the road to perfection wasn’t finished yet, they used tonight to train.

“You are ready for the next step in mastering your urges”, Yoongi told him and then monitored Jungkook as he drank from a blood bag filled with human blood.

Up until this point, they merely trained with animal blood. At first Jungkook was very confused, “but I thought that I shouldn’t drink human blood? At all. Never.”

To which Yoongi assured him, “completely staying away from it, will only do the opposite. You need to learn how to handle it, so that if you accidentally drink it, you don’t become violent.”

With Yoongi’s reassurance, Jungkook choked down the blood deliciously and if it wasn’t for the older vampire, he would have lost control.

But he didn’t. Yoongi took his mind off of it in the typical, amazing way Yoongi often takes Jungkook’s mind off the bloodlust. And Jungkook wanted it. It felt so good. Quite frankly, he didn’t want it to stop.

Yoongi pulls his hand back and continues to scribble in his book. Jungkook is thinking. Yoongi calls him bub and bun and Kookie, but does it mean anything? Yoongi allows him to cuddle into him, but does he want the same? Yoongi fucks him, but does the sex even mean anything to him?

It has been two years since the world became peaceful and four years since they met and not once has this relationship been defined. Yoongi doesn’t call Jungkook his boyfriend. He calls him “my boy” or “my Kookie.” But never my boyfriend. What if he is just a good friend to him? What if Yoongi doesn’t want to put a label on them?

“Yoongi?”

“Yes, bub?”

“Are we dating?”

Yoongi lowers the book, “what do you mean?”

“Am I your boyfriend?”

Yoongi widens his eyes, blinking them in confusion.

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“Just feeling anxious.”

“Jungkookie, hey”, Yoongi softens his voice, “just relax. You’re okay, everything will be okay.”

“Please don’t avoid my question”, Jungkook insists anxiously. Is this it? Four years of intimacy, of building trust and bonding and it never meant the same to Yoongi?

“Of course you’re my boyfriend.”

Jungkook’s chest instantly stops tightening. His body tingles.

“You silly boy, do you seriously think I’m like this with someone I’m not dating?”

“You’re a really kind person.”

Yoongi chuckles, eyes soft in adoration. He pinches Jungkook’s cheek.

“You little bun, that’s not the same.”

“We never made it official.”

“I didn’t think it necessary. I thought it was pretty clear that we are dating once this”, he gestures between them, “became regular.”

“I guess, but I was thinking. About labels and how you hate them and yeah. I got scared that we aren’t official for you.”

“We are.” Yoongi pushes the pillows aside and lies down to face Jungkook. He tugs a strand of hair behind his ear. “If I’m not showing it enough for you, you have to tell me. I’m not good with reading signs or getting hidden messages. You gotta tell me directly what you want.”

“I know.”

“So? Do you want me to show it more?”

“No, you’re showing me that you love me. I think I just needed to hear it tonight.”

“I understand. You can tell me if you need that. You know me, I’m not gonna recite love poems to you on my own.”

Jungkook chuckles, “I know you, hyung. I think it’s cute.”

Yoongi grimaces. “If you say so.”

“I do. You are so cute.”

Yoongi chuckles, “you’re aware that I rearranged your insides just moments prior?”

“I know.” Jungkook closes his eyes and settles into the pillow. “Only cute people can do that.”

Yoongi laughs, “okay, okay you’re being an idiot. I get it”, he says, leaning in to kiss the shell of Jungkook’s ear.

Jungkook relaxes his muscles, enjoying the soft tingles rising all over his skin as Yoongi kisses every inch of his upper back. His face next. Jungkook rolls to his back so Yoongi can reach it better. Their eyes meet. Yoongi cups his cheek and kisses him. Jungkook seriously thinks that it feels so much better now that he knows it’s official. Every second, every moment, every touch exists to strengthen their relationship as boyfriends. Seriously, if Jungkook’s heart was still beating, it would race like crazy.

He giggles. Yoongi smiles.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I’m happy.”

Yoongi kisses him with a smile before he begins littering his face with kisses.

“I’m happy too, bub.”

“Oh, Yoongi”, Jungkook lets out and unable to control the surge of happiness, he shoots up to take Yoongi into the tightest hug human- and vampirekind has ever seen.

“Okay. This is happening”, Yoongi chuckles, letting it happen without hugging him back. It’s not because he doesn’t want to, but simply because Jungkook is squeezing his arms against his sides.

“I love you so much”, Jungkook giggles, shaking Yoongi from left and right.

“I love you too, but please stop that”, Yoongi laughs, head thrown back and bouncing around.

“No. You’re my stim toy”, Jungkook says and squeezes him tighter, making a cute sound for it.

“Whatever that is”, Yoongi laughs, taking the squeezing until it starts hurting. Then he begins to fight back. Softly of course, finally using his strength to shove Jungkook’s arms open.

“How are you doing that?” Jungkook gasps, trying with all his might to bear hug Yoongi again, but it is useless.

“I’m the strongest, remember?”

Jungkook’s back hits the rug, his wrists get pinned by one hand. Yoongi looks at him as if he wanted to take him to euphoria and back. Just for a second because then pure mischief burns in his eyes. Jungkook feels said mischief very soon as Yoongi begins tickling his sensitive side.

“No! Stop! Hyung please stop”, Jungkook squeals, laughing so loudly it bounces off the walls. He tries to fight his wrists free, kicking his feet helplessly. But it is useless. Yoongi is stronger and he is hellbent on getting Jungkook back for always being a little brat.

“Hyung I’m sorry”, Jungkook laughs, crying tears.

“Not enough”, Yoongi coos, changing sides.

“Ah! Please I’m gonna pee myself, stop! Please”, Jungkook squeals, laughing oh so much that his mouth truly cannot open any further.

“Mhm, alright”, Yoongi rasps and stops. He lets go of his wrists, sliding his hands to the smallest part of his waist to hold him. Somehow in their tickle match, Yoongi slid between Jungkook’s legs. They are thrown over his lap, resting their weight on him.

Jungkook recovers with little gasps and gulps. The first thing he does is wipe the tears from his blushy cheeks then he pouts at Yoongi.

“This was totally not necessary and very mean.”

Yoongi chuckles, “for all the bratting you did this week? It’s a mild punishment.”

Jungkook pouts harder, “I can’t help it. Besides, you’re too sensitive. I’m not even bratting.”

“Careful”, Yoongi squeezes Jungkook’s waist. The latter squeals and writhes.

“Sorry.”

“Better.” Yoongi smiles, bending down. His hands run along Jungkook’s torso until he has to rest them on each side of his head. “You’re so fucking pliable.”

“Hyung…” Jungkook sighs, melting into a puddle.

Like this. Underneath Yoongi and with his head foggy in feel good emotions, Jungkook gets kissed. He wraps his limbs around Yoongi and deepens the kiss. This might be one of the best nights of his life. He is his boyfriend. And now he is making out with him. This is the best night ever.

[liquidcrystalsky]

top ways to know that a tumblr post about tech software and shit is bullshit:

The stuff they recommend is incredibly out of date. Hey here's a version of microsoft office from fuckin 8 years ago, no. stop. This also includes recommending people to stay on out of date operating systems !

They recommend using like 13 different things all at once, when 1 or 2 is able to do the exact same. Privacy related firefox addons, you only need ublock that's it. More is not better. any time it's like here's a list of things which do [ONE THING] you only need One Thing, not a whole list.

They tell you to edit shit in the registry. only if you are for sure that there is no other option, you should use some front-end like Winaero Tweaker, or often there may be a built in script in windows. The BYPASSNRO is now "start ms-cxh:localonly" no registry needed to avoid connecting a microsoft account.

They tell you to edit the system itself. Editing the windows installation ISO is a really bad idea! A lot of debloating tools will delete actually important system files! there's a reason you can't delete edge (yes it sucks it's been like this for ages though). There are ways to safely remove bloat and telemetry from base windows without sacrificing security afterwards. again, uninstall what you can normally, and use Winaero Tweaker for the rest.

Just "new bad old good, retvn" bullshit man can we get over this. While yes the Default experience of everything is getting worse and worse and that's awful. you can also just not lie down and take it. You can uninstall things you dont like and use Different Things. you can change settings. you can actually Do Things to Make Things Better. I like windows 11 more than 10. Yes there's copiliot (you can turn it off), telemetry (in windows 10 already, and you can turn it off), the new right click menu (winaero tweaker to put it back, again this app is beautiful), recall (99% of computers cant even run it in the first place), but it's also got a better file manager, settings menu, multi-monitor support, UI (i said it), snipping tool, task manager, WSL, Terminal Shell, window management, WPA3 and NVME support, and security. but new thing you can turn off easily is a deal breaker i guess. You can just disable it. oh notepad sucks cuz copilot, uninstall it and use something else, notepad++ is good as hell. Just change things! also i dont even use windows anymore don't call me a shill windows 11 sucked less than 10 but it still sucked and i use linux.

[16mistypaw]

A continuation of @skyloftian-nutcase's HC snippet Honor Walk, and her response to this ask.

---

Wild stepped out of the elevator, joining the crowd lining the hallway. The doors to the ICU unit stood at the other end of the hall, where people kept casting expectant glances. The quiet murmuring among them was silenced as the doors swung open, and the Honor Walk began.

The donor patient was lying still in her bed, resting for what would be the last time, unaware of the people gathered to honor her life, and the life she would be gifting to others. She was escorted by her care team and family, the people who had stayed by her side and fought to save her, until there was nothing more to be done.

Everyone was silent as the patient was pushed out of the unit, many dipping their heads in respect. A multi-colored scrub cap caught Wild’s eye, drawing him to the one he had come to support. Four had been run ragged since the patient’s admission, and Wild knew it hurt him to have been unable to save them.

Their eyes briefly locked as Four looked back up from the monitor he was tending. The nurse’s eyes were glistening and red, having been fighting back tears during the procession. Wild gave a small smile and dip of his head. Four gave a small smile in return, before having to look away as the wetness in his eyes burned hotter.

Then they were gone, rounding the corner that lead to the OR, leaving a void in their path. Everyone attending knew it was there where she would be given a rest this world could not offer.

After a few more moments the assembly began to break up, everyone dispersing to return to their units and assignments.

Wild trailed behind the crowd, Four’s face burned into his mind’s eye. His next breath trembled and his clasped hands held tighter as they began to shake. Hurriedly he rushed into one of the unoccupied family waiting rooms, harshly sitting himself down as he began to fall apart.

The room was silent, but the sounds of the hospital buzzed in his ears. The soft beeping of monitors, the hum of equipment, an alarm of some kind or another going off. His hands unclasped, feeling restrained, and grabbed for the IV and tape on his arm that wasn’t there. The soft lights of the family room suddenly seemed harsh and fluorescent. And amidst all of it, Four still stood in front of him, unshed tears in his eyes as he diligently tended to him.

Wild had been that patient. Wild had gotten lucky; he’d survived. The girl being honored today hadn’t. Four had been on the verge of breakdown during her Honor Walk. She would never know, that someone she would consider a stranger, would mourn for them. Simply because she was a person, and a life had been lost.

‘That could have been me. I could have been the one lying in that bed dying.’

To have such an impact on a stranger’s life… He couldn’t imagine how the family had felt, losing a loved one, if even a stranger could grieve for them.

‘That could have been me.’

He saw Twilight’s face, Sky’s, Wind and the others. Tear stained and afraid as they sat at his bedside, talking to him and whispering assurances, trying to comfort him as much as themselves.

He recalled, in his brief moments of awareness amidst the sedation, the tube in his throat, the pressure of something in his skull. The same devices he’d seen on the girl that had passed by just minutes ago.

‘That could have been me.’

The cushion dipped, startling him out of his thoughts as a familiar colorful hat came to rest beside his shoulder, and an arm reached up to cradle his back and put firm pressure on his other shoulder.

‘That could have been me.’

‘But it wasn’t.’

“Thank you.” Four’s voice was quiet, a slight wobble to those simple two words.

“Anytime, Four.” Wild returned the one armed hug, squeezing the smaller male into his side, before huffing out a laugh. “…Dang my guardian angel is working on freaking overtime. Sorry, buddy.”

Four snorted a strangled laugh, pushing away to swat at Wild.

“Dude, your guardian angel needs a vacation.”

[pillowfort-social]

Site Update - 2/9/2024

Hi Pillowfolks!

Today is the day. Post Queueing & Scheduling is finally here for everyone. Hooray! As always we will be monitoring closely for any unexpected bugs so please let us know if you run into any.

New Features/Improvements

✨ *NEW* Queue & Schedule - One of the most highly requested features has finally arrived at Pillowfort. Users can now effortlessly Queue or Schedule a post for a future time.  

Queue helps keep your Pillowfort active by staggering posts over a period of hours or days. Just go to your Settings page to set your queue interval and time period.

How to add a post to your queue: 

While creating a new post or editing a draft, click on the clock icon to the right of the “Publish” button and choose “Queue.” Then click “Queue” when you’re ready to submit the post.

Schedule assigns a post a specific publishing time in the future (based on your timezone you’ve selected in Account Settings). How to schedule a post: 

While creating a new post or editing a draft, click on the clock icon to the right of “Publish” and choose “Schedule.” Enter the time you wish to publish your post, click on “Submit” and then click “Schedule.” 

How to review your queued & scheduled posts: 

On the web, your Queue is available in the user sidebar located on the left side of the screen underneath “Posts.” (On mobile devices, click on the three line icon located on the upper left of your screen to access your user sidebar.)

Note: the “Queue” button will only display if you have one or more queued or scheduled posts.

A CAVEAT: It is not currently possible to queue or schedule posts to Communities. We do intend to add this feature in the future, but during development it was determined that enabling queueing & scheduling to Communities would require additional workflow and use case requirements that would extend development time when this project has already been delayed, and so it was decided to release queue & scheduling for blogs only at the present time. We will add the ability to queue & schedule to Communities soon after the Pillowfort PWA (our next major development project) is complete.

✨ End of Year Fundraiser Reward Badges: End of Year Fundraiser Rewards Badges will begin to be distributed today. We'll update everyone when distribution is done.  

✨ End of Year Fundraiser Reward Frames: As a special thank you to our community for helping keep Pillowfort online we have released two very special (and cozy!) Avatar Frames for all users. 

As for the remaining End of Year Fundraiser Rewards - we will be asking the Community for feedback on the upcoming Light Mode soon. 

✨ Valentine’s Day Avatar Frame: A new Valentine’s Day inspired frame is now available!

✨ Valentine’s Day Premium Frames: Alternate colors of the Valentine’s Day frame are available to Pillowfort Premium subscribers. 

✨ Site FAQ Update - Our Site FAQ has received a revamp.  

Terms of Service Update

As of today (February 9th), we are updating our Terms of Service to prohibit the following content:

Images created through the use of generative AI programs such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and Dall-E.

An explanation of how this policy will be enforced and what exactly that means for you is available here: https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/4317673

Thank you again for your continued support. Other previously mentioned updates (such as the Pillowfort Premium Price increase, Multi Account Management, PWA, and more) will be coming down the pipeline soon. As always, stay tuned for updates. 

Best, Staff

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Biggest boom since Big Bang

Astronomers from the University of Hawaiʻi’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) have discovered the most energetic cosmic explosions yet discovered, naming the new class of events “extreme nuclear transients” (ENTs). These extraordinary phenomena occur when massive stars—at least three times heavier than our Sun—are torn apart after wandering too close to a supermassive black hole. Their disruption releases vast amounts of energy visible across enormous distances. The team's findings were recently detailed in the journal Science Advances.

"We’ve observed stars getting ripped apart as tidal disruption events for over a decade, but these ENTs are different beasts, reaching brightnesses nearly ten times more than what we typically see," said Jason Hinkle, who led the study as the final piece of his doctoral research at IfA. “Not only are ENTs far brighter than normal tidal disruption events, but they remain luminous for years, far surpassing the energy output of even the brightest known supernova explosions.”

The immense luminosities and energies of these ENTs are truly unprecedented. The most energetic ENT studied, named Gaia18cdj, emitted an astonishing 25 times more energy than the most energetic supernovae known. While typical supernovae emit as much energy in just one year as the Sun does in its 10 billion-year lifetime, ENTs radiate the energy of 100 Suns over a single year.

ENTs were first uncovered when Hinkle began a systematic search of public transient surveys for long-lived flares emanating from the centers of galaxies. He identified two unusual flares in data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission that brightened over a timescale much longer than known transients and without characteristics common to known transients.

"Gaia doesn’t tell you what a transient is, just that something changed in brightness," said Hinkle. "But when I saw these smooth, long-lived flares from the centers of distant galaxies, I knew we were looking at something unusual."

The discovery launched a multi-year follow-up campaign to figure out what these sources were. With help from UH’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, the W. M. Keck Observatory, and other telescopes across the globe, the team gathered data across the electromagnetic spectrum. Because ENTs evolve slowly over several years, capturing their full story took patience and persistence. Recently, a third event with similar properties was discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility and reported independently by two teams, adding strong support that ENTs are a distinct new class of extreme astrophysical events.

The authors determined these extraordinary events could not be supernovae because they release far more energy than any known stellar explosion. The sheer energy budget, combined with their smooth and prolonged light curves, firmly pointed to an alternative mechanism: accretion onto a supermassive black hole.

However, ENTs differ significantly from normal black hole accretion which typically shows irregular and unpredictable changes in brightness. The smooth and long-lived flares of ENTs indicated a distinct physical process—the gradual accretion of a disrupted star by a supermassive black hole.

Benjamin Shappee, Associate Professor at IfA and study co-author, emphasized the implications: "ENTs provide a valuable new tool for studying massive black holes in distant galaxies. Because they're so bright, we can see them across vast cosmic distances—and in astronomy, looking far away means looking back in time. By observing these prolonged flares, we gain insights into black hole growth when the universe was half its current age when galaxies were happening places—forming stars and feeding their supermassive black holes 10 times more vigorously than they do today."

The rarity of ENTs, occurring at least 10 million times less frequently than supernovae, makes their detection challenging and dependent on sustained monitoring of the cosmos. Future observatories like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and NASA’s Roman Space Telescope promise to uncover many more of these spectacular events, revolutionizing our understanding of black hole activity in the distant, early universe.

"These ENTs don’t just mark the dramatic end of a massive star’s life. They illuminate the processes responsible for growing the largest black holes in the universe," concluded Hinkle.

IMAGES:

1: An unlucky massive star approaches a supermassive black hole Credit University of Hawaiʻi

2: The star gets stretched by the intense tidal forces, eventually being ripped apart in a tidal disruption event. Credit University of Hawaiʻi

3: An accretion disk forms around the black hole, powering an extreme nuclear transient ENT. Credit University of Hawaiʻi

4: An infrared Echo tells us that a dusty torus surrounds the central black hole and newly-formed accretion disk.  Credit University of Hawaiʻi

5: The ENT outshines the entire stellar output of its host galaxy for nearly a year. Credit University of Hawaiʻi

6: After more than a year, accretion onto the black hole slows and the ENT fades. Credit University of Hawaiʻi

[merakimagic]

Multi Mutant Verse Part 7

First | Previous | Earth 1792

WE DID IT!!!

It only took a year but the prologue for Multi Mutant Verse is finally done and now it’s time to jump into unknown possibilities and brand new worlds. I’m so excited!

While in the process of making the final my art monitor completely broke and I had to get something new to draw on and a whole new drawing app. I’m still figuring it out so it does look a bit different from some other parts of the comic but I love it.

This prologue has been a lot of fun and really taught me a lot about comic designs and storyline’s. I hope you all have enjoyed it and despite how much fun this prologue part was I am really looking forward to moving into new worlds that constantly will revolve around some random new idea for the turtles boys.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this part of the comic and I can’t wait to interact with more of you in the main comic which will officially start next month✨

Love you all💖

[linked-disability]

While mobility equipment is some of the most recognisable disability aids, they are not the only ones. For other disabilities there are a vast range of equipment that can help. It can be specialised equipment, repurposed items, or even just an item being used in its usual method, but used because of a disability. Some are obvious and others are subtle. Some will see everyday use, and others will only be used on occasion. There are as many aids as there are disabilities - and then some - and very rarely will two disabled people use the exact same combination of equipment.

Upper-body prosthetics are a very visually obvious type of non-mobility related aid. While all prosthetics aim to replace lost function, some people will find them more helpful than others. This depends on many factors: expense, length of the remaining limb (eg. how much movement must be replaced), and personal preference. Many people find they can function best with their remaining limb as it is and may only get either very specialized prosthetics for specific uses or simply aesthetic ones.

If you have a particular disability in mind that you wish to write about, we recommend looking it up and seeing what people with it use. However, here are some specific examples if you are looking for ideas:

Stoma Bags

Glucose Monitors

White Canes

Colour Filters

Glucose monitors

Hot Water Dispensers

Grab Rails

Grip Aids

Shoe Horns

Hearing aids

Prosthetics

Could one of the dungeon items from a game be used as a disability aid? How so?

Does the character use any aids in day to day life?

Does Link have his aids with him on this multi-dimensional journey? What about if one gets broken? Or he has to improvise something?

Do different periods have different aids available? If yes, are any Links bringing something back to try and make their lives easier?

Has Link had to alter the Master Sword to be able to wield it? How do the others react to this?

 Household gadgets and equipment to make life easier - Social care and support guide - NHS

Living Made Easy - Dressing aids 

Healthtalk  (various interviews with people about what aids they have, use and the process of getting them)

How my Body Powered Prosthetic Works, explained 60 seconds #shorts #prostheticarm #amputee

How Does a Body Powered Upper Limb Prostheses Work

What is a stoma? - Colostomy UK - Supporting and empowering you

The different types of white cane - Blind Veterans UK

Coloured Filters for Dyslexia | Dyslexia Research Trust

Flash glucose monitors (Freestyle Libre) and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) | Diabetes UK

One-handed - The Active Hands Company

Take Hold: 6 DIY Adaptations for Gripping and Grasping - Equip2Adapt

Hearing aids: How to choose the right one - Mayo Clinic

Upper Limb Prosthetics | Hanger Clinic

Different Types of Prostheses

[eretzyisrael]

by Hank Berrien

A bombshell new report states that the British government is knowingly sending millions of pounds to the terrorist group Hamas.

NGO Monitor obtained a British Consulate-General in Jerusalem (BCGJ) document dated November 2022 with a plan for “UK Humanitarian Support in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”

The document notes distribution of “multi-purpose cash” assistance in Gaza.  The document states, “The cash assistance component will be implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development MoSD. … The MoSD in Gaza is affiliated with the de facto authorities and thus UK Aid can be linked directly or indirectly with supporting the de factor [sic] authority (Hamas) in Gaza which is part of a proscribed group.”

“Since taking control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has employed a number of methods to divert international aid,” NGO Monitor wrote. “By exploiting monies and material intended for humanitarian purposes, the terrorist organization expanded its military infrastructure, paid salaries, and cemented its rule. More disturbingly, this aid diversion was central in Hamas’ preparations for the October 7 massacre, including the construction of tunnels and other military installations, and stockpiling supplies and resources.”

“Hamas has exercised effective control over the MoSD in Gaza for several years. In April 2019, Hamas appointed a politburo member, Ghazi Hamad, to lead the Ministry,” NGO Monitor notes. “As of July 2024, Hamas leader and politburo member, Ghazi Hamad, heads the Gaza branch of the MoSd. … In November 2024, the US Treasury Department designated Hamad, labeling him a “senior Hamas official. … In an October 24, 2023 interview on Lebanese television, Hamad hailed the October 7th massacre.”

“A Hamas-controlled entity was an integral partner in determining how cash assistance provided by the UK government to UNICEF would be distributed in Gaza,” NGO Monitor’s Anne Herzberg explained.

Israeli journalist Amit Segal noted after reading the report that the funding appears to have continued after the Hamas terrorist offensive.

“But maybe London changed its policy after October 7?“ Segal asked rhetorically. “Well, in March 2024, UNICEF wrote that it ‘maintained and strengthened the partnership with the MoSD,’ adding in November that ‘this humanitarian cash transfer program in the Gaza Strip is supported by the European Union, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).’”

“Citing the UN Financial Tracking System, NGO Monitor wrote that ‘in 2024, the UK provided UNICEF with approximately $23.1 million for West Bank and Gaza operations,’” Segal pointed out, adding, “And yet, at the same time that Britain is knowingly sending millions of pounds to Hamas, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is busy condemning Israel for the war in Gaza.”

[rideboomindia]

What strategies can RideBoom implement to ensure the safety and security of its platform?

RideBoom has implemented several strategies to ensure the safety and security of its platform:

Rigorous Driver Screening: RideBoom conducts thorough background checks and driving history verifications on all its drivers to ensure they meet strict safety standards. This includes screening for criminal records and driving violations. The company has deactivated over 40,000 drivers who did not meet their safety criteria [2].

Continuous Driver Monitoring: RideBoom monitors its drivers' records and behaviors to identify potential safety concerns. This allows the company to quickly address any issues and maintain the integrity of its driver pool [2].

In-App Safety Features: RideBoom's mobile app includes various safety features, such as sharing trip details with friends or family, an emergency button to contact emergency services, and prompts to verify the driver's identity and license plate number [1][2].

Integration with Emergency Services: RideBoom has integrated its platform with RapidSOS, a technology that provides emergency dispatchers with critical information like the rider's location and vehicle details, enabling a faster and more effective emergency response [2].

Transparent Pricing and Policies: RideBoom's pricing model is transparent, with upfront fare estimates and no hidden costs, allowing customers to make informed decisions about their rides. The company also clearly communicates its safety policies and procedures to both drivers and passengers [1].

24/7 Customer Support: RideBoom offers round-the-clock customer support to address any inquiries, concerns, or feedback promptly, ensuring a smooth and satisfactory experience for all customers [1].

Expansion of Electric Vehicle Fleet: By incorporating electric vehicles into its offerings, RideBoom is promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly transportation options, which can contribute to overall safety and security [3].

Multi-Modal Transportation Integration: RideBoom's integration of various transportation modes, such as ride-sharing and public transit, provides customers with more flexibility and options, enhancing the overall safety and convenience of their journeys [3].

[mariacallous]

After Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, and the ensuing war in Gaza, a protest movement roiled college campuses across the country. The movement was primarily focussed on the enormous death toll in Gaza, and the United States’s support for Israel, although some of the demonstrations included incidents of antisemitism. Last month, the Trump Administration threatened sixty colleges and universities with “enforcement actions” if they fail to protect Jewish students. It has also revoked the visas of international students involved in the protests, and those who spoke out against the war. Some of these students, such as Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil, are currently in ICE custody, and a number of them have been accused of being Hamas supporters, often with no evidence.

Deborah Lipstadt, a Jewish History professor at Emory, was until recently the State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism under former President Joe Biden. Lipstadt became famous—and was later portrayed onscreen by Rachel Weisz—for winning a judgment in a British court against the Holocaust denier David Irving, who had sued her for libel. Lately, Lipstadt offered surprising support for some of the Trump Administration’s actions, telling the Forward, “I’m not opposed to the administration rescinding the student visas of some of the people that they’re rescinding the student visas of.” She added, “To depict some of these people as martyrs and heroes is ludicrous.”

I recently spoke by phone with Lipstadt. During our conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, we discussed whether the Trump Administration really cares about antisemitism, why she wanted to keep some of her comments off the record, and the problem with “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Are you pleased that the Trump Administration is talking so much about antisemitism?

I’m pleased that they’re addressing it, because that’s what I did for the past three years, which was to really push the Biden Administration to seriously address it. So I am very, very pleased that it’s on their agenda.

And what do you see that agenda as being?

Well, I guess I’ve gone through a transition. Let me step back for a minute and say that from my first day in office, one of the things that I called for was for institutions—such as governments, universities, and the media—to take antisemitism seriously. I talk about antisemitism as a multi-tiered threat. One is the threat to Jews and Jewish institutions. But it’s also a threat to democracy. And I know that’s a very easy thing to throw around. People will say food insecurity is a threat to democracy. Which is true. But there’s a very direct link in terms of antisemitism. And that direct link is the fact that antisemitism is a conspiracy theory, in contrast to any other form of discrimination. Its distinctive characteristic is as a conspiracy theory.

What do you think the Trump Administration is doing to fight antisemitism and, in that sense, uphold democracy?

It’s calling universities to account. And, if you look at the first demands it made of Columbia, what’s striking about those things, like an end to encampments and masks—those were things that Columbia students have been asking for for a very long time. So I was pleased by that because they were asking the university to live up to its own standards. I’ve been told by people who are close to university presidents and administrators that many of them felt those were legitimate demands that should have been seen to earlier. So I didn’t have any gripe with those.

You are a smart person. Do you seriously believe that the Trump Administration cares about antisemitism? I’m a little confused here.

Yeah, I don’t . . . I don’t know. They haven’t spoken to me, they haven’t consulted with me. So all I can judge is by—

But Deborah, your entire career has been judging people for antisemitism, in some cases very effectively. The President hosted white supremacists for dinner. Elon Musk made what appeared to be a Nazi salute. Surely you can look into their souls here.

I have called that out.

O.K., but more broadly can you make some sort of judgment?

Yes, no, there’s been . . . there certainly has been a disturbing tendency, whether it’s whatever Elon Musk was doing with his arm, or when he appeared on video at a campaign event for the far right in Germany. There are a lot of examples. They’re disturbing and they’re bothersome.

I agree with you about the connection between antisemitism and democracy, but it also seems to me that picking up students off the street who write op-eds or demonstrate in favor of ending the war in Gaza is problematic for democracy, too.

Absolutely, absolutely. There’s no question about that. Look, we pride ourselves on being a country that abides by the rule of law, the democratic rule of law. When I say take antisemitism seriously, I mean we have a legal system that can address it. A judge made a ruling in August of 2024, after students filed suit because they had been blocked access to certain pathways at U.C.L.A. because they were “Zionist-free zones.” [The judge, Mark Scarsi, found that it was “abhorrent” that certain parts of campus had been physically blocked off from students who refused to denounce Israel and Zionism and ordered U.C.L.A. to insure equal access. The lawsuit is still ongoing.]

But the Jewish students on campus who have no way to bring their grievances, or, when they bring a grievance find that the university doesn’t take it seriously—which has been the case at a number of our most élite universities—they give up on the university. One of the calculations when applying for college now is: Will I feel safe there as a Jew?

There were some really terrible instances of antisemitism after the war in Gaza began, but now we are actually in a political environment where an American President is using antisemitism as an excuse to literally pick people up off the street for writing op-eds.

Freedom of speech is freedom of speech. And I’m a stalwart supporter of freedom of speech. In other countries where they’ve outlawed Holocaust denial, I’ve spoken out against that. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech. Incitement is something else. I’m not a lawyer, and I’m not going to get into what that is.

The reason I ask all this is because in the Forward interview you said, “I don’t oppose many of the things that are being done. I just wish they would be done more deftly.”

Yeah, “deftly” was the wrong word. That sounds almost conspiratorial. They should be done according to law. Here’s the other thing: universities have regulations, universities have rules. You can’t cheat, you can’t plagiarize, you can’t build encampments in certain places, you have to be able to identify yourself. People on campus have to be willing to identify themselves to the proper authority and can’t go around with a mask unless it’s, you know, for medical purposes.

Do you understand why, in the current climate, people who are advocating for an end to the war in Gaza may not want to identify themselves to the proper authorities?

Well, this current, you know, this current atmosphere is pretty difficult. But this has been going on for a long time.

I was just trying to get at the actual dynamics of who has power here.

This refusal to identify yourself—are we negotiating with students or are we negotiating with people off the street?

When you said that the people being picked up are not “heroes and martyrs,” what did you mean by that?

I mean some of the people, and I’m not going to get into any specific cases, but some of the people who have been detained or cited are people who have obstructed entrances to universities, have taken over buildings, have broken the regulations of the university. I’m not talking about speech. I’m talking about action.

Without making direct analogies, you could point to any civil-rights movement in the past in which people did not just engage in speech. They blocked entrances.

Civil disobedience has a long history, but these protests were often directed at a particular group of students. Like the U.C.L.A. example I gave you. But what I’m so afraid of, and our having this conversation is indicative of it, is that some of the actions of the Administration in recent weeks are taking the focus off of the very real problem of antisemitism.

Are we making a mistake in thinking that the Administration even cares about antisemitism at all? Is it simply using antisemitism as an excuse to crack down on educational institutions?

Yeah, it’s a good question.

It is, I think.

I served in an Administration in which the people who worked for it did not march in lockstep. There were different views. I think there are people there who seriously care. I spoke with my successor, the person who’s been named as my successor. You know, he called, and we had a nice conversation. It wasn’t substantive, but he really cares.

Who has been named as your successor?

What’s his name? Kaploun? Yehuda Kaploun, I think it is. And he seems to really care about this deeply and genuinely. I know other people in the Administration who care about this deeply and genuinely. I worked in an Administration with people who cared about this deeply and genuinely, and there were some who didn’t. You know, an administration is made up of thousands of people, so I can’t say that it speaks with one voice.

It sounds like this guy is a friend of Trump.

Yeah. He supported him and worked with the campaign. [Kaploun is a right-wing Miami businessman.]

Well, that right there makes me wonder. I’m just a little confused why people who care about antisemitism are friends with Donald Trump.

It is confusing. It is confusing, you know, but I can’t . . . In speaking to him, my sense is, with the little I know about him, which is very little, that he truly is concerned about fighting antisemitism. I also think there are many Jews, and some non-Jews, too, but many Jews who are disappointed by how universities have behaved since October 7th, and they see a strong—to use Passover terminology—a strong hand being used. Now, whether that hand is being used properly or not raises certain questions about what’s happening. To answer your question, a lot of people were relieved to see this forceful approach. I think, in many respects, it’s going too far.

You said some nice things about Secretary of State Marco Rubio. What has your reading been of him?

As a senator, he had a very strong track record on fighting antisemitism. I know there are many people, including Democrats in Florida, who appreciated his stance. What’s happening now is, I think, you know, I can’t judge, you know, but let me put it this way: I would hope that he would continue to maintain the strong stance he took while he was a senator.

You can judge him about, say, tweeting happily about people being sent to a horrific prison in El Salvador, right?

Look, there’s no reason . . . Look, when you take someone off the street who’s not supposed to be taken off the street, and you deport them, you make a mistake. I come from a tradition and a personal belief that when you make a mistake, you say, I made a mistake, and we’re gonna fix it. And that’s disturbing.

They may not care that they made a mistake. That’s the issue.

Off the record and not for quotation: [Goes off record.]

Is there a reason you don’t want to say that on the record?

Yeah, I don’t, because I’m still, you know . . . I don’t want to give people the chance. You know, there’s some people I know, including good friends of mine, who suffer from what the Republicans would call, what is it, “Trump Derangement Syndrome”? You know, anything he does is bad. Look, he moved the Embassy to Jerusalem. So I give him credit for that. I do give him credit for that. I’m not gonna say just because it’s the Trump Administration it’s bad.

I wasn’t asking you to say just because it was the Trump Administration that it was bad. I was just pointing out that they’re sending people without any sort of due process to a horrible prison in El Salvador.

You know, that is something that I find disturbing and I would hope that, you know, that they would, they would recognize that, because that’s not what this country is all about.

So we have all these horrific things with immigration, with DOGE dismantling the federal bureaucracy, with Trump basically destroying the Atlantic alliance. But we also have, on the other side of the ledger, moving the Embassy to Jerusalem in the first term. It shouldn’t be all black and white.

No, it’s not all black and white. It’s not all black and white. And, if you paint it only black, here’s what happens: then I have to wonder which of your criticisms are valid and which aren’t. That doesn’t mean you should go look for white when there isn’t any. But I think there are some places where, and that’s why initially I said, you know, there are some things that I applaud. But you can’t, you know, you can’t just ignore our laws. We’re a nation of laws. It wasn’t tolerance that allowed Jews to thrive here. Jews have flourished in this country because it is a nation of laws. When students feel they have no place to bring their grievances, or that when they bring their grievances, nobody cares, then you open up the door for this kind of action. So much of what’s going on could have been avoided had the universities really cared and taken antisemitism seriously.

I want to go back to your comment about these students being picked up not being “heroes and martyrs.” You gave no specifics there, but it seems like maybe you are more willing to criticize them than the Trump Administration.

No, no. I’m an equal-opportunity critic.

I did think about your praise of Rubio. And I saw you praise Mike Pompeo, too.

On this issue. I’m not praising them on everything, you know.

If people are close to antisemites, or part of a party that’s awash in antisemitism, or working for a man who dines with white supremacists and says really gross things about Jews, it makes me think that if they’re pro-Israel you give them slack that you wouldn’t if people were doing the same thing but were not pro-Israel.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Look, the universities failed to address this seriously. And by failing to address this seriously, they failed the Jewish students on campus. They dismissed their grievances. They created an inhospitable atmosphere. We’re now seeing the fruits of that failure. What disturbs me so much is that the debate will now become over whether antisemitism is being used as a weapon to fight against people we don’t like. Antisemitism should not be a cudgel.

If you are worried about that, and you want to say very clearly that you think the Trump Administration is doing that, and you even want to put on the record the very brief comments you gave to me, you’re welcome to do that.

I think there are certainly trends right now. For instance, some of the latest demands made of Harvard have been disturbing in part because if you’re calling for an external audit of courses and things like that, then what happens when you get a progressive administration? Do they then turn around and audit? The fight should be against antisemitism and not against the institutions. The institutions opened the door. Most universities failed miserably to address this, and we’re seeing the consequences of that now. 

[konqi-official]

One year of using Linux: Some personal thoughts/ramblings

Okay, more like 1.5 years based on my chat history with some of my friends, but I started using Linux as my main operating system sometime after Microsoft announced EOL for Windows 10.

Although I had some prior experience with Linux Mint, I began with Kubuntu as my "daily driver" since a friend of mine spoke highly of it. I am a KDE Plasma lover and Ubuntu is already a highly popular (and supported) Linux variant.

I used it for an entire year and enjoyed it quite a bit! I was able to play every game I had on my original OS, and some of them ran a bit faster than before. I like that updating my system was consistent and reliable, even if I had to do it more often than I did back on Windows (it's also easier to update my machine knowing that it won't randomly make it worse like Windows does).

A month ago, I got a new computer (technically used, but better specs than the old one) and decided to try Manjaro this time around. I was getting a bit tired of Snap and the way that most programs always felt a bit outdated, but I was scared of going all-in on Arch, so I thought Manjaro would be a good stepping stone. It has it's own variants of issues, but I haven't had too much of a problem with it. I still gotta move all my files, though...

Anyways, some thoughts and feelings in bulleted list form:

Krita has some weird quirks on my machine, even when I use the official AppImage from the website. On a multi-monitor setup, the menus for resizing the canvas will appear completely offscreen and require me to use the Super+Arrow Key command to snap it back onto my monitor. Also, the canvas tends to behave weird when alternating between pen and mouse input (i.e. the cursor preview not moving, or the selection commands not functioning until the mouse is moved off of and back onto the canvas). It doesn't stop me from using the program, but it does get a bit annoying.

Spectacle my beloved. Such a good screenshot tool and I like that I can tweak the screenshot more easily compared to the Snipping Tool on Windows 10.

On Kubuntu, it was kinda frustrating to have Firefox constantly be outdated due to using the Snap version. This was part of why I decided to try out Manjaro.

I love that Manjaro preinstalled Yakuake and a couple of other programs that I often used back on Kubuntu. They know what we want <3.

Manjaro doesn't play nicely with turning the screen off when the computer is idling. The screen either dims but doesn't turn off (leaving only the cursor visible), or it does turn off but crashes the KDE Plasma shell, requiring me to reboot it in the terminal. I'm not sure how to fix this, but my system does have an update to run this morning. Hoping it fixes that 🤞.

Troubleshooting issues feels a bit hard when problems and solutions can be scattered across multiple places. This is an issue I've noticed with several open-source projects, where something can be spread across a forum, an issues page on a repository, and a wiki. I wish there was an easier way to search for and ask for help, so that there's less duplicate questions.

Overall, Linux has been a very stable and enjoyable experience to use, and less unwieldy than what I was anticipating. Even then, I don't think I'm quite ready to recommend it to people who aren't familiar with computers and using a command line. I hope that more people adopt Linux, even if it's because of how Windows is... changing.

So yeah! Pretty nice, pretty customizable. Sometimes has issues but I find workarounds most of the time. I hope that the community around open source software can grow and improve, especially hoping to have a wider range of people with different skill levels and walks of life.

[reyaint]

magic system dr | aura manifestation & development

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

date: june 21-22 2025. started: 11:15pm ended: 12:02am

I am NOT feeling better lmao. i didn't go to the doctor bc i slept all day but i think it's probably my stomach issues. i changed some of the ages while editing this because i didn't like them manifesting so early.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

✧˖*°࿐aura development and manifestation

aura manifestation is not just a magical event — it's a biological, emotional, and energetic rite of passage. it defines a person’s path, identity, and sometimes even their place in society. every stage of manifestation brings unique challenges, dangers, and cultural implications.

*ೃ༄early bloomers (7-10)

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָꪆৎ 15% of magic users unstable core: these children often manifest flashes of power before they have language to articulate what they’re feeling. this leads to spontaneous, sometimes dangerous, surges of raw mana—e.g., glowing eyes, levitation, or emotional storms. aura volatility: their auras often shift in color, tone, and intensity until age 10–12. early bloomers may appear to have one aura type, only to “settle” into a completely different form later. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ training needs: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › require specialized educational programs with emotional support, play therapy, and early mana regulation exercises. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › often assigned a magical “shepherd” or counselor to monitor development ꪆৎ 𓂃 › magical shielding garments are common to prevent accidental outbursts in public. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ potential: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › higher likelihood of rare or hybrid tones, especially metallic, adularescent, or early dual-tones. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › can become prodigies or dangerously unstable without proper care.

*ೃ༄standard manifestation (11–14)

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָꪆৎ 60% of magic users baseline model: considered the “ideal” or “safe” age range for aura manifestation. most magical education systems are designed around this timeline. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ gradual manifestation: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › begins with subtle symptoms: enhanced sensitivity, emotional shifts, glowing fingertips, sensitivity to metal or crystals ꪆৎ 𓂃 › aura becomes visible to trained observers over time, with clear definition by age 12. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ development arc: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › best outcomes when given structured learning, group bonding, and exposure to nature or leylines. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › most users in this category develop standard tones, though some evolve into deeper tones with age. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › magical aptitude matches personality growth; very compatible with multi-aura users later in life.

*ೃ༄late bloomers (15–18)

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָꪆৎ 20% of magic users puberty-triggered: magical awakening often coincides with hormonal changes, emotional volatility, or traumatic adolescence events. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ sudden onset: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › powers don’t emerge gradually — they explode. manifestation can be violent (mana shockwaves, physical changes, nightmares). ꪆৎ 𓂃 › high incident rate of magical hospitalization or public outbursts. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ tone characteristics: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › much more likely to develop light/pastel tones, due to emotional volatility and raw power access. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › control is harder to develop and requires deep mindfulness training.

*ೃ༄adult manifestation (19+)

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָꪆৎ 5% of magic users დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ rarity & risk: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › often caused by intense trauma: near-death experiences, loss, exposure to relics or cursed magic. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › some religious or spiritual groups see this as divine awakening or punishment. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ power level: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › immensely strong at initial onset — frequently mistaken for cursed or corrupted. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › many adult manifesters develop unique sub-powers, like mana sensory enhancement or reactive defense magic. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ control difficulty: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › no childhood foundation or neurological imprinting makes power extremely difficult to master. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › requires specialized “Reintegration Programs” involving martial discipline, therapy, elemental retraining, and energy surgery.

✧˖*°࿐aura inheritance patterns

despite its mystical nature, aura manifestation follows observable genetic, epigenetic, and spiritual inheritance laws. researchers classify magical heredity under “bio-arcane transmission.”

*ೃ༄both parents

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָꪆৎ 75% chance of magical children likelihood: highest probability of aura transmission. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ inheritance patterns: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › often results in dominant color inheritance or hybridized tones. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › dual-aura children occasionally occur (0.3% from magical parent pairings). magical dynasties: these children are highly valued in wealthy or old magical lineages; often receive sponsorship into elite academies.

*ೃ༄one parent

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָꪆৎ 35% chance of magical children დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ outcome: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › unpredictable — may skip generation, manifest weak or diluted aura types. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › if the magical parent carries a rare tone, child may inherit a dormant variant.

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ social perception: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › mixed-blood magic users often face skepticism or cultural pressure, particularly in traditionalist regions.

*ೃ༄neither parent

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָꪆৎ 8% chance of magical children spontaneous manifestation: called wildborne or neo-arcanes. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ mechanics: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › usually triggered by hidden recessive genes, environmental factors, or arcane anomalies. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › these children often develop non-standard tones, iridescence, or adularescence without known family precedent. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ superstitions: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › governments may place them under surveillance or offer scholarships to train them safely.

*ೃ༄color and tone inheritance probabilities

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ color inheritance: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › 40% chance the child inherits a similar color family (e.g., parent with red aura passes red/orange). ꪆৎ 𓂃 › hybrid color formations (e.g., parent with blue + parent with yellow → child with green) are possible but rare (10%). დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ tone inheritance: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › only 25% chance of tone matching parent (e.g., light-tone user birthing another light). ꪆৎ 𓂃 › metallic, iridescent, or adularescent tones are almost never inherited directly — they often arise through trauma or mutation.

*ೃ༄skip generation pattern

phenomenon: 15% of magical children are born to non-magical parents but have one or more magical grandparents.

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ mechanics: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › caused by recessive arcane traits combining with the right environmental conditions (high-mana zones, magical artifacts, etc.) ꪆৎ 𓂃 › children may exhibit stronger magical signatures than their grandparents due to generational mana stacking. დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ cultural role: ꪆৎ 𓂃 › these “mana-skippers” are studied heavily by genealogists and arcanobiologists. ꪆৎ 𓂃 › sometimes seen as a second chance for dormant bloodlines to reclaim magical status.