#Asterisk developer

[vindaloo-softtech]

The Future of Asterisk: Upcoming Features and Trends

Asterisk, the renowned open-source communications platform, is all set to shape the future with upcoming features and emerging trends. It continues offering high-tech functionalities and integration to enhance connectivity. With a focus on improving scalability, security, and user experience, the latest developments in Asterisk promise to empower organizations with more robust and flexible communication solutions.

Let’s explore the key innovations and trends of an asterisk in the coming years and how they will help to build VoIP software advanced.

Before that know……

What is Asterisk?

Asterisk is an open-source platform for developing telecommunication applications, which was developed by Digium. Users can easily access and modify the source code based on its features and components. It is based on the Private Branch Exchange (PBX) that enables voice and video communication via (IP) Internet protocols. Asterisk seamlessly turns a PC into a VoIP server and manages various business requirements through its compatibility with multiple operating systems and communication technologies.

An Asterisk, well-known for its robust telephony stack in the VoIP sector. It acts as a comprehensive toolkit for creating advanced telephony solutions. With Asterisk solutions, there is no requirement for any additional hardware, making it a cost-effective choice.

There is another Asterisk IVR Solution, whereby the callers can interact with your phone systems through the menu by using voice commands. This way, it can win customer satisfaction. Hire an asterisk developer to get a personalized IVR system as per your preferences.

Interesting Facts about Asterisk:

2,000,000 downloads annually

Implemented on 1,000,000 servers globally

1,300,000 new endpoints are added each year

Used in over 170 countries

A community of 86,000 contributors Source: https://www.asterisk.org/

How does Asterisk help to Build a VoIP System?

Asterisk gives power to various communication solutions such as IP PBX systems, VoIP gateways, conference servers through Asterisk Video Conference, and many more tailored applications.

In VoIP, Asterisk enables setting up and customising the VoIP system including call routing, voice mail, video conferencing etc. It supports various VoIP protocols such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and IAX (Inter-Asterisk Exchange), to provide a seamless communication experience. Asterisk integrates and connects with different hardware and software such as IP phones, gateways and CRM systems.

Asterisk call centres configure extensions and call queues and customize IVR systems for efficient call routing. It also provides tools for managing calls, including call forwarding, call recording and conference calling. This enhances scalability by accommodating growing user numbers and increased call volume.

Get the best asterisk development services from Vindaloo Softtech.

The Future Trends of Asterisk

Asterisk is a fit for all types of organizations from small enterprises, large corporations, and call centres to government agencies. Asterisk is all set to go with its future trends and advancements. With continuous technological advancements, it will introduce upgraded features and improve all performance including advancements in security, cloud-based solutions, and robust analytics.

Moreover, it will integrate with artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to revolutionize communication. With these features, it will transform the way businesses manage and utilise their communication system more smartly. Asterisk Development is at its peak to serve the business beyond the best.

How does Asterisk help to enhance business communications?

Robust Connectivity:

Asterisk rules out communication barriers and lets businesses connect with clients and employees across the globe without any interruptions.

Streamlined Operations:

It centralizes communication by integrating all communication channels so that employees can collaborate efficiently. Businesses utilize it to boost productivity and create more efficient workflows.

Cost Cutting:

Traditional phone systems can cost a chunk, especially to manage high call volumes. However, asterisk significantly reduces communication costs. It is a cost-effective option for companies seeking affordable solutions.

Scale up:

Asterisk accommodates changing communication needs without needing additional investment. As businesses scale up, asterisk permits businesses to effectively add or remove extensions and lines.

Flexibility:

Asterisk has a versatile application in various businesses and their different models. It can be implemented in any sector regardless of its scale. It adapts to the specific requirements of each organisation.

Global Reach and Convenience:

Now that Asterisk provides global access to businesses through its virtual presence, there is no need for physical offices in multiple locations. The best part is that it supports virtual phone numbers and international calls to remove geographical barriers.

Asterisk Vs FreeSwitch: Which VoIP Technology is Right for You?

It is often a matter of confusion in deciding the best from Freeswitch Vs Asterisk. Each has its own bright side depending on your business needs. However, Asterisk is easier to develop on several levels while FreeSwtich offers better modularity and manages more concurrent calls. To dig deeper, scroll your eyes through a write-up on Asterisk Vs FreeSwtich Development.

[trainerethan]

Bpd green...I see a vision...reds avoidant personality would be hell on earth for him but it's okay. They can work it out.

But for awhile after their reunion I know green woke up every day convinced red was going to walk off into the mountains again. Also just endless guilt about being mean to red when they were younger so he way over compensates now and it feels weird and forced for both of them.

Red has long forgiven green and wouldn't just leave again but unfortunately he doesn't actually like speaking out about how he's feeling so he seems sort of distant which makes green spiral a little.

Red isn't avoidant/closed off bc he thinks green won't care/doesn't trust him to confide in him but green probably sees it that way for awhile. He just has 0 experience with actually talking about your feelings instead of staying silent about how he feels and then leaving to live on a mountain to avoid any stress factors.

It's okay. Theyll figure it out. Being reunited after years of one of you living alone on a mountain and the other drowning in guilt over it will have your conflict resolution skill be a little rusty.

[torschlusspanikattack]

This superficially resembles a silly point, but is not quite identical to caring, not caring = same—

All the ‘anti-voting’ arguments being discoursed across my dash mostly seem like caring a lot about voting; all the effort spent arguing against voting could easily…

(actually, not easily, bc political change is hard—

even knowing what you need to know how to do (i.e. knowing what alternative would actually accomplish anything if executed properly) is recursively challenging (e.g. an effective protest movement is defined by employing means that actually work, which requires knowing both the right target and the right execution, each defined in terms of the other: the right target is one that can be successfully achieved via execution and the right execution is one that can successfully achieve the target)

—, but not doing something is even easier)

…be spent on arguing for the alternatives without even bringing up voting (since they basically don’t conflict) and would function exactly the same 90% (100% made-up number) of the time, assuming you actually didn’t believe in the impact of voting instead of being crypto-electoralists that at least act as though they believe not voting is meaningful (which is just electoralism).

All the actual anti-electoralists I know, either for normie-adj reasons or rejecting bourgeois democracy reasons don’t talk about voting or not voting, they just talk about what they’re doing instead (non-politics and non-electoral organising, etc, respectively).

Even on the marquee issue, US elections and Palestine, if you actually believe elections / bourgeois democracy are pointless, then the votes for Joey B’s ancien régime are irrelevant in any direction, so there’s no benefit of even bringing up the election at all—if you’re trying to persuade at all (which has to be assumed if you’re spending time discoursing about voting), should just be organising as you think is viable for Palestine—acting like people demanding votes for American Democrats is counterproductive****** or harmful is implicitly conceding that the votes matter at all (electoralism!).

Now, to be fair and charitable, the main reason behind the anti-voting posts is not to persuade or affect anything; it’s that American election posts are annoying and it feels good to counter-post and present a backlash to very common annoying opinions online. But this just means that at best. such discourse and posts are the most literal example of saying words recreationally, posting just because it feels good to react against annoyances, and at ‘worst’ (it’s posting, the ceiling is low for benefit, but so too is the ceiling for harm) it means that getting mad online has escaped brain containment and negatively polarised you/them (feel attacked or smug as you wish) into sincere/unironic nega-electoralism.

*****if your position is that people voting matters (negatively) because it counterproductively or harmfully distracts real efforts, so does arguing about it (as much as posts are anything, as previously discussed)—>

if you’re committed, just ignore elections and start organising: if you get results, people will see the effectiveness of dual power (dual power isn’t the exact concept I am thinking of, but I can’t remember the English word for it, close enough imo) and it will be easy to direct the efforts of—

[anyone who was focused on elections because that represented best avenue for making a difference (vs those pro-elections because it represents a cap on the effort they’re willing to commit)]

—to a process that actually results in change; —>

if you don’t get results from it, then people being distracted from ‘the real movement’ doesn’t matter anyway, that’s tough, move to Finland/Switzerland/France/Poland/Switzerland and wait for the next crisis of capital I guess.

[lordofthestrix]

Let’s see, why do I follow Lex? Could it be the incredible replies? The way your headcanons are always so thought out? The attention to detail? All of the above? Yes. Absolutely yes. Your blog is perfection and I love reading you how you bring Tristan to life

Please tell me anonymously or not why you follow me. I could use some positive messages

[sherdnerd]

I love that with a couple asterisks, you can say "Vikings VS. Romans with flamethrowers" is a historical matchup that actually happened

[crmvoipsoftwaresolutions]

Asterisk Development vs. FreeSWITCH Development in VoIP Solutions

In the dynamic landscape of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) development, businesses encounter the choice between Asterisk and FreeSWITCH as their preferred platforms. Both are renowned for their open-source nature and extensive feature sets, understanding the nuances between Asterisk development and FreeSWITCH development is crucial for making informed decisions regarding communication infrastructure. Let's delve deeper into the intricacies of each platform to help you navigate this vital choice for your organization.

Asterisk Development: Developed by Asterisk developers globally, Asterisk has established itself as a versatile and powerful VoIP platform. Renowned for its rich feature set, including call routing, conferencing, voicemail, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Asterisk appeals to businesses seeking flexibility and customization in their communication solutions. Asterisk development companies leverage its open-source architecture to craft tailored solutions that meet specific business requirements, empowering organizations with control over their communication infrastructure.

Conversely, FreeSWITCH Development offers a compelling alternative for businesses aiming for scalability and performance. Developed by experienced FreeSWITCH developers, this platform boasts advanced media handling capabilities, support for various communication protocols, and high scalability, making it a preferred choice for large-scale deployments and carrier-grade solutions. FreeSWITCH development companies collaborate with businesses to harness its features for complex telecommunication projects and real-time communication applications.

When evaluating Asterisk and FreeSWITCH development, several factors merit consideration:

Scalability and Performance: 

While both platforms offer scalability, FreeSWITCH is often favored for its superior performance and media handling capabilities, making it suitable for demanding environments and high-volume traffic.

Customization and Flexibility: 

Asterisk development stands out for its extensive customization options, allowing businesses to tailor solutions to their specific needs. However, FreeSWITCH also offers robust customization capabilities, catering to complex requirements and diverse use cases.

Community Support and Resources: 

Asterisk benefits from a vast and active community of developers and users, providing comprehensive resources, tutorials, and third-party integrations. Similarly, FreeSWITCH boasts a dedicated community and support channels, ensuring assistance for businesses embarking on FreeSWITCH development projects.

Cost Considerations: 

While both platforms are open-source and offer cost-effective solutions compared to proprietary alternatives, businesses must factor in development costs, ongoing maintenance, and support when evaluating the total cost of ownership.

Integration and Compatibility: 

Both Asterisk and FreeSWITCH seamlessly integrate with a variety of third-party applications and services, enhancing interoperability and functionality within the communication ecosystem.

Concluding notes

In conclusion, the choice between Asterisk development and FreeSWITCH development hinges on your organization's specific requirements, scalability needs, and long-term objectives. Whether you opt for Asterisk or FreeSWITCH development, partnering with experienced VoIP development companies and skilled Asterisk or FreeSWITCH developers is paramount for ensuring a successful implementation aligned with your business objectives. By understanding the nuances of each platform, businesses can make informed decisions and leverage the power of open-source VoIP solutions to drive communication excellence. AC InfoSoft is one of the leading VoIP development companies offering Asterisk and FreeSWITCH development services. To learn more about this VoIP development company and its technology-specific services, please visit https://www.acinfosoft.com/voip-development-services/

[springvaletales]

One of Almaea's favorite things to do is walk amongst her people.

Velenna had no interest in replacing one mad tyrant with one in training, so she made sure her charge was well-socialized with the common folk who were fighting so hard to make a better future for their kingdoms while she was raising her freedom force. Almaea took the lesson to heart so thoroughly that even once she was crowned the Queen for Whom the Sun Rises, she would often sneak out of the palace to just walk around the budding Palace City. If left to her own devices, she would be gone all day, but Manon-Val was often sent to coax her back home after only a few hours.

Unfortunately, by the time Almaea had her last child she had grown into her horns, and even in her *humanoid form, the iconic 'halo' shape that rises above her hair (and the fact that her portrait has been circulating on the currency for nearly a thousand years) made her too recognizable to pass as a random elf or even a Tiefling. Any trips out of the Palace City now have to be grand affairs whether she likes it or not, and with the exception of the New Moon Festival, she can no longer blend in anywhere in her own kingdom (and even a few neighboring ones).

She commiserates with her husband, who lives a similar experience as a former paladin who can no longer travel without causing a stir, and these feelings play into why they both allow Vashael to so freely run around the kingdom with his friends. They know that one day, he's going to grow into his horns, too, just as his siblings are, and more people will recognize his portrait.

They want him to experience this freedom while he still can.

*see tags

[gventuretech]

Asterisk is a powerful and flexible open-source communication framework that can be customized to meet the specific needs of businesses, offering cost-effective and feature-rich solutions for a wide range of communication applications.

[inextrixtechnologies]

It is an open source framework in the VoIP industry that is used for Asterisk solution development. It provides you with the building blocks to develop any custom VoIP based communication tool.

[vindaloo-softtech]

Hire VoIP Developers for your Business - Vindaloo Softtech

The recent pandemic forces businesses to adopt the remote working model and allows them to tap into a more comprehensive resource pool for project execution. Observing the demand for dedicated VoIP developers for building custom enterprise-grade VoIP solutions for businesses, Vindaloo Softtech announced the launch of “Hire VoIP developer services”. Vindaloo Softtech is a VoIP development company known for its innovative solutions and services and houses several capable and expert VoIP developers. The company has been offering expert VoIP development services to its customers for many years, and now it has decided to meet the need for dedicated VoIP developers.

“Our team of expert VoIP developers has provided VoIP development services to our customers for 6+ years. Our customers are delighted with our VoIP development services. However, sometimes we receive requests from customers that they would like to hire VoIP programmers for their VoIP development projects. So we launched the “Hire VoIP developer” service as the demand rose. Now anyone can hire an experienced VoIP developer for their VoIP Development projects on flexible pricing plans”, shared a spokesperson of Vindaloo Softtech.

According to the details about the model, customers can hire VoIP developers with in-depth knowledge and experience in all popular VoIP technologies. This hiring model is perfect for VoIP development projects that use different VoIP technologies to develop the final product. On the other hand, if a business needs an expert in a specific VoIP technology, it can hire an expert in the respective technology. For example, if the whole VoIP development project is on Asterisk or FreeSWITCH, the business can hire a dedicated Asterisk developer or a FreeSWITCH developer from Vindaloo Softtech. Furthermore, the model is flexible enough to allow customers to hire more than one VoIP developer for as long as they want. The benefits of hiring remote VoIP developers surely outweigh the costs.

Currently, the company has the resource pool for its customers to hire a dedicated developer in any of the following disciplines:

Asterisk Developers

FreeSWITCH Developers

Kamailio or Opensips Developers

Talking about the hiring model, the company has three different augmented team hiring models to let its customers hire developers.

1. Full time

The company lets its customers hire VoIP experts for 160 hours per month. The hired developer works exclusively on client projects full-time.

2. Part-time

In this model, the customers of Vindaloo Softtech can hire VoIP software developers for 80 hours per month. It means the hired VoIP developer will work for 4 hours per day on the VoIP development project of that customer.

3. Hourly

In this model, Vindaloo Softtech lets its customers hire VoIP developers for a predefined number of hours. The customers of this VoIP development company can hire one or more developers for a specific number of hours which can be used within a week or a month based on that customer’s requirement. This model is focused on VoIP service providers who may need expert-grade VoIP experts to achieve short-term goals or unforeseen needs.

The company’s spokesperson has shared that the hired VoIP developer will perform all required operations for the client, such as development, customization, bug fixing, support, etc. The company has launched a web page under the ‘Hire Dedicated Resources’ section to answer all the queries that may raise the customer’s mind. The webpage contains all the required information related to the company’s services. Get in touch with us!

[loveperfectcreationcollecto-blog]

USA Government Agencies IVR | KingAsterisk Technology

Experience seamless communication with our cutting-edge IVR solutions tailored for USA Government Agencies. KingAsterisk Technology offers state-of-the-art Interactive Voice Response systems, enhancing citizen engagement and service efficiency. Our user-friendly, customizable IVR platform empowers government entities to streamline interactions, provide vital information, and ensure citizens' needs are met promptly. From shortening response times to simplifying complex processes, our IVR technology optimizes government services, all while adhering to the highest standards of data security. 

Trust KingAsterisk for comprehensive IVR solutions designed to meet the unique demands of government agencies in the USA, bolstering public trust and satisfaction. Elevate your citizen engagement today!

Feel free to Contact us anytime for better service and support.

contact : +91 968 773 3355 Whatsapp : +1 (786) 414 2610 Skype : kingasterisk OR king.asterisk Watch Live demo of our solution : http://www.kingasterisk.com/live-demo EMail : web.kingasterisk@gmail.com visit our website : https://kingasterisk.com

[nimata-beroya]

Note: Since my old masterlist is getting notes again (and I'm hosting @tbb-appreciation-week this year), I thought it's a good time to release a new version with a lot more resources. If any of you know another site or thing that it's missing from the list, let me know and I'll include it!! [Altho, I'm getting this close 🤏 to the hyperlinks limit on this thing 😆]

Note 2: To avoid tagging the 3 people from whom I got multiple resources repeatedly, I've placed 1-3 asterisks between square brackets after the links, depending on the OP. I give the respective credit to them in a legend at the end of the post.

PLACES / TIME

Interactive Galaxy Map by Henry Bernberg

Map of the Galaxy

List of planets and moons [Wikipedia /needs expanding]

Planet Name Generator 1 [SciFi Ideas]

Planetary System Generator [Donjon]

Tatooine Location References [*]

Various locations Cross-Sections (Jedi Temple, Palp's office, Tipoca City & more) [**]

Republic - Separatist - Hutt space during the Clone Wars

Hyperspace Travel Times (to calculate how much time would take to go from point A to point B within the GFFA)

Standard Calendar and Holidays [including month names!]

Galactic Standard Calendar [wookiepedia // including week day names]

Date converter according to SWTOR [Google sheet]

Dated Star Wars Chronological Order (Movies + live-action shows + animation)

TCW Chronological Timeline by @mauvrix

Estimated date for: shared by @spectres-fulcrum

Partisans' attack on Onderon

Siege of Lasan

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

General

Star Wars Name Generator 1 [Donjon]

Star Wars OC flow chart by @thefoodwiththedood

Star Wars Name Generator 2 [FantasyNames]

Star Wars Name Generator 3 [FantasyNames]

MetaHuman [Unreal Engine]

The character creator

Droid Name Generator

Star Wars Randomizer by @aureutr

Character Picrew [Twi-leks, Zabraks, Torgutas and Nautolans] @/megaramikaeli

Jedi

Taking a Closer Look at the Jedi Order in Star Wars Canon [Meta/Reference Guide] [**]

Jedi Order Structure Flowchart by @rileys-nest

Mandalorians

Mandalorian Armor design by MandoCreator

Keepers of the Way (Mandalorian Lore) [*]

Clones

Complete List Of Named Clone Troopers shared by @propheticfire (Organized by Unit)

Clone Creator [MandoCreator]

Clone Picrew

Star Wars Character Templates by SmacksArt [the ULTIMATE battery of template for any human/humanoid original character in any era. From troopers to droids, from Jedi to Sith, from KOTOR to the sequel Trilogy. 100% RECOMMENDED]

Basic Guide to Clone Trooper Armour by @odekiisu

GAR structure summary by @intermundia

The Clone Wars Republic Military Hierarchy Flowcharts [***]

Clone Trooper Lore [*] [Ranks, Culture, Training, Organization, etc.]

Clones and Kamino [*]

The Bad Batch Characters Concept Art shared by @shadowthestoryteller

MISCELLANEOUS

Star Wars Character Age Comparison Chart by @the-yearning-astronaut

Tusken Raiders lore by @snarwor

Materials (fabrics, leathers, silks, plastics, construction, metal composites, etc.)

Materials in Star Wars by marvel_dc_heart_throbs

Star Wars Fashion [*]

Leisure, Art, Musical Instruments, Ethnography [*]

Political and Criminal Organizations in the GFFA [**]

Financial reference about credits by @thecoffeelorian

List of TCW Opening Quotes

Transcripts of all the TCW episodes shared by @book-of-baba-fett

Star Wars Crawl Creator [not exactly writing-related, but just for fun]

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

Canon Medical Lore [*]

Real World reference for Field organizational structure for corpsman (medics) [*]

Kaliida Shoals Medical Center (Republic Haven-class medical station) shared by @clonewarsarchives

GAR Battalion Aid Station [*]

GAR Clone Medic Q/A [*]

More combat medicine, shipboard medicine, veteran issues, and military culture [*]

SHIPS AND VEHICLES

Ship Generator 3D

Ship Name Generator

All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE) shared by @stairset

Republic Vessels Reference [*]

Low Altitude Assault Transport/Infantry (LAAT/i) [*]

List of GAR Flagships in the Clone Wars by @meandmyechoes

Layout of the Havoc Marauder

Dimensions of various ships from the Clone Wars [**]

FOOD AND DRINKS

Star Wars Menu Generator

In-Universe Alcoholic beverages

Canon Cocktails (recipes) [*]

Another In-Universe Drinks list shared by @systemic-dreams

Teas in Star Wars by marvel_dc_heart_throbs

Foodstuff [*]

Canon Star Wars Holiday Recipes [*]

Trask Chowder Recipe (from The Mandalorian) [*]

LANGUAGES; PHRASES AND SLANG; VOCABULARY

Languages of the Galaxy [*]

Script of different languages in the GFFA by @lucif-hare-blog

In-Universe phrases and slang [Google sheet]

List of phrases and slang [wookiepedia]

List of equivalents to real-world objects [wookiepidia]

Talk Like a Clone Trooper shared by @archeo-starwars

Aurebesh Translator [Aurebesh.org]

Learning Aurebesh Tools [Aurebesh.org] Reading - Writing.

Mando'a Database [Mando.org]

Mando'a Transcripticon [MandoCreator] (Create your own text in the Mando'a script.)

@project-shereshoy (Blog that collects and posts sources for Mando'a from all over the internet.)

Mando’a Categorized Spreadsheet

Learning Mando'a Tools [MandoCreator] Reading - Writing.

Setting Thesaurus Entry: Spaceport [Writers helping writers]

Fan-created Conlangs

@dai-bendu-conlang (Jedi Culture Explored) (This blog is the home of the Dai Bendu Conlang, invented by the Archive of Our Own Users aroacejoot, @ghostwriterofthemachine, and loosingletters for the Jedi Order in Star Wars.)

Lasana Lexicon by Anath_Tsurugi (fandom lexicon of the Lasat Language)

HELPFUL BLOGS & SITES

The amazing @fox-trot, who not only makes astonishing art and write an amazing fic, she also responds to medical questions and gives all kinds of references for writing medic characters. Check her #medicposting tag and you'll find tons of information. Also check #star wars reference and her art tag while you're at it.

@writebetterstarwars, which seems to be inactive, but there are a bunch of references there.

@howtofightwrite The place to find out how to write a good fight scene.

@scriptmedic no longer active, but it has a great deal of useful information.

@scripttorture for your whump needs. Major trigger warning for all its content.

@sw-anthrobiology A blog dedicated to collecting headcanons about the biology and cultures of Star Wars species.

@archeo-starwars In-universe sources on culture and history.

@clonewarsarchives Resources & Concept Art Blog for The Clone Wars animated series.

Wookiepedia If you don't find something in here, it's probably because it doesn't exist, neither as a canon nor legends reference.

Star Wars Databank: The official Star Wars website's reference guide. All canon.

WRITING IN GENERAL (For those who don't want to die like Stormtroopers)

SlickWrite: Completely free; online. Checks grammar, punctuation, flow, and writing style according to different settings (including fiction writing).

ProWritingAid: [RECOMMENDED] One of the most thorough online proofreader I've ever used. Although when using a free account gives extremely thorough feedback, with +20 different in-depth reports, for only the first 500 words. However, you can earn a premium account license (for a year or for life) if you get 10 or 20 new users signing up for free; (if you wouldn't mind doing so using the link above and help me earn mine, please). The settings allow you to check your writing according to your needs, from general to formal to creative. It has a bonus that you can check depending on the genre you're writing. For example, in creative, you can choose romance or sci-fiction (there are 14 sub-genre in total). And just like google docs, you can share a document, and people can view, comment or edit it too.

LanguageTool: [RECOMMENDED] Another excellent proofreader. It also has a word limit in free accounts, but if you use the add-on for Google Docs, it counts each page as a new document, so hitting the word limit is nearly impossible. It helps you to rewrite a sentence (3 a day), even if it doesn't raise any flags; it's very useful for when your sentence is grammatically correct, but it doesn't feel quite right.

Grammarly, Hemingway Editor: No so great, but they do the basic job.

Legend

[*] Shared by @fox-trot [**] Shared by @gffa [***] Shared by @cacodaemonia.

[theswordwizard]

the AMERICAN* FUJO* Kickstarter is now live!

introducing a new literary journal about the intersections of gender & sexuality, power, and virtual space in fandom. By the editors who brought you works like yaoi zine, yuri zine, and butchverse 1 & 2.

(cover illustration by the incredible shalida)

AMERICAN* FUJO* is Alexis theswordwizard (thats meeeee :D) & tshirt3000's forthcoming anthology on fandom culture, trans identity, and general overanalysis. Our project tries to asterisk and complicate its categories of both “American” and “Fujo” as much as possible, interrogating gender and sexuality, power of all kinds, and the virtual communities we call fandom. 

We asked our contributors questions along those lines: How has being a fan affected your gender or sexuality? How has our gender or sexuality affected how we engage in fandom? Who is a fujoshi, who wants to be one, and who doesn’t get the choice? In America-centric fan spaces, what is necessarily suppressed? How can we trouble the category and dominance of “American” from within and without? Finally, what does it mean to be in a community that’s overwhelmingly virtual, as reliant on digital social platforms as it is on fictional media, both owned by another party? And what affects or acts are uniquely enabled by these virtualized desires and sexuality? 

Our contributors range from actual self-identified American fujos to writers who are emphatically neither. They answer these questions through illustration, comics, essays, and autotheory, developing creative ways to capture fandom and its discontents. The anthology surveys a wide range of topics, from transgender fujoshism (in any direction) to race and belonging within theoretically progressive fandom. We want to make the full vibrancy of fandom as accessible as possible, and theorize both its possibilities and its limits through this anthology. We hope you’re as excited to read AMERICAN* FUJO* as we are to make it!

Support or follow our campaign on Kickstarter!

[silphiumandrue]

For the delectable simple meal: he is of onion, he is of oil, he is of breadcrumbs, he is of optional bacon and optional SPAM, and if creole seasoning, the green one. Also he can be of self rising flour.

Take the onion and cut first his ass and discard it, and then cut it not the entire way down in the form of an asterisk* ✳️. Then, put onto him oil or bacon grease or butter, and cover him generously with the bread crumbs, seasoned with the green creole seasoning, listen to your heart. Then, wrap the bacon strip around and between the sliced arms of the onion.

If you are eating the spam, cut him into slices and cover him well with the seasoned bread crumbs.

Put them both into the air fryer, and cook them at 350 or 400 for however long. The onion will look and smell delicious, and the bread crumbs on the food will be golden. Take them from the air fryer and eat them well, perhaps with biscuits. You can make them with self rising flour, and some fat like butter or oil, and however much water. They will turn into a shaggy dough, careful not to overly knead it or it will develop too much gluten. Put them onto the tray, and Put it in the oven for 350, or 400, or 425? For however long. Maybe 14 or 9 minutes, until they are beautiful. Maybe 20 minutes. And also you don't technically need the fat in the biscuit it just helps you live deliciously.

Go forth and eat deliciously

[fantastic-nonsense]

So what are the best Nightwing runs to read?

*sigh* this is a very loaded question.

Three things to keep in mind before we continue:

Dick's best writing historically happens in books that are not the Nightwing solo.

The tenures of Nightwing solo writers are usually pretty long, so despite Dick having a solo comic for nearly 30 continuous years, there's a limited number of writers who have actually written Nightwing.

The direction of Dick's solo book has been at times driven largely by the whims of editorial edicts rather than creative team desires, particularly the fallout from War Games and Infinite Crisis pre-reboot and Dan Didio's personal hatred of the character post-reboot. So most Nightwing runs already come with a huge asterisk beside them labelled "*Note: worse than it would have been without editorial interference."

For ease of answering the question, I'm not including Dick solo books that happened when he was Robin or Batman on this list. Since there's only 14 total Nightwing/Grayson writers to choose from (Dixon, Grayson, Jones, Wolfman, Tomasi, Higgins, Seeley and King, Seeley, Humphries, Percy, Lobdell, Jurgens, Taylor, Watters), your options are already limited. Of those:

Devin Grayson's run, Marv Wolfman's run, Tim Seeley and Tom King's Grayson run, Ben Percy's filler arc, and Scott Lobdell's Ric arc are all objectively bad, for various reasons. All have redeeming features, but I would rarely actually recommend them to anyone.

Bruce Jones' One Year later filler arc wins the prize for "had potential, ruined by the most utterly bizarre creative decisions of all time" (aka, everything about Cheyenne Freemont and Tentacle Monster!Jason).

Dan Jurgens' run is…fine. Unfortunately, because it's short and focused on cleaning up Joker War and the Ric arc, there's not a lot of redeeming plot features.

Tim Seeley's solo run and Tom Taylor's run are aggressively mid. They're both readable, and they both have some solid arcs and character development; they also have creative approaches, characterizations, and/or plotlines that are just. very bad.

tbh, my opinions on Taylor's run written prior to the sister reveal vs. post-reveal are funny because it's just a complete 180. my pre-reveal opinion was like "oh this is a fun lighthearted palette cleanser run after the nonsense of the last 5 years. I have issues with it, especially with the ableism and general treatment of Babs, but the run itself is probably needed to re-establish an actual status quo" and my opinion of the post-reveal part of the run is like "this run is dead to me."

So this ultimately leaves us with a Top 5 of Chuck Dixon (his og run, not including Nightwing: Year One, which I personally dislike), Peter Tomasi, Kyle Higgins, Sam Humphries, and Dan Watters' current run.

I'm still not sure where I'd rank these Top 5, since they all have really great elements and not great elements. Dixon's run is foundational but is more focused on worldbuilding than it is on plot progression; it's a great starting place as long as you don't expect consistent quality from all 70 issues. Tomasi's run had fantastic characterization, but his plots aren't great and are frankly racist in hindsight. I really enjoyed Higgins' run, but it was clearly held back by all of the New 52 era editorial edicts and Batfam history/relationship erasure. Humphries' run was imo great but ultimately too short to consider a 'top run.' And Watters' run has been incredible so far, but he's literally only 5 issues in and I can't guarantee he'll stick the landing or stay this good.

So. Probably Tomasi>Dixon>Higgins>Humphries, with the current run by Watters tentatively somewhere on the list as well?

[catboybiologist]

So y'all may have noticed I've been posting a lot about progesterone lately. I'm at the point on HRT (just passed the 9 month mark [with the asterisk that my levels didn't get good until 7 months or so]) where I'm actively considering it. I'm waiting a bit more for a couple reasons, but its still on my mind a lot.

And it bothers me how much the "no compelling evidence for progesterone" line is floated around. And this is true, for the exact case of breast size in transgender women. And yeah, maybe this study has been done.

But I have two things that I think should be said about this:

1, there will never be a clinical study that studies the exact niche case of person that you are. That's why thinking about when results can be translated from a different group that has been studied, to your group. In my opinion, most information about cis female hormones can be translated to trans women. There's far less of a physiological difference than people think, and most of those differences are dictated by hormones anyways.

2, progesterone has an enormous number of effects beyond breast development, in both cis and trans women.

Why do I bring these up?

Take a look at this review paper (if you can meaningfully read it):

This is a review paper that I somehow only just stumbled upon that summarizes a lot of my thoughts about progesterone that I developed from other sources.

It primarily uses data from cis women, but also supplements with data from trans women when applicable, about the effects of progesterone. And, as can be seen just by the sheer number of topics addressed, it finds a diverse set of functions that it regulates and improves. At that point, any breast growth that may or may not occur is a happy side effect.

Progesterone is part of normal female physiology, just like estrogen. So why the hell is it not standard practice with HRT the same way that estradiol is? It just needs to be applied later. That's pretty much it.