#Chinese Range Hood Brands

[prokitchendeals]

Ultimate Guide To Finding The Best Range Hoods For Chinese Cooking

A range hood is a vital kitchen appliance that helps to remove smoke, steam, and odors from the air while cooking. Chinese cooking often involves high heat and lots of steam, so a good range hood is essential for keeping your kitchen air fresh and free of grease and grime.

There are two main types of range hoods: ducted and ductless. Ducted Best Chinese Kitchen Hood are connected to an external venting system that directs fumes outside of your home. Ductless range hoods have an internal fan that filters and recirculates air back into your kitchen.

When choosing a range hood for your Chinese cooking needs, it’s important to consider the size of your stovetop and the power of the fan. For example, if you have a wok burner or other high-heat cooking surface, you’ll need a range hood with at least 350 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of suction power.

In addition to removing smoke and odors, range hoods can also help to keep your kitchen cooler by circulating fresh air. This is especially important in hot summer months when cooking with high heat can make your kitchen feel like an oven.

So whether you’re looking to improve the air quality in your kitchen or simply want to keep cool while cooking up a storm, investing in a good range hood is a wise decision.

[dippedanddripped]

CLOT x THE NORTH FACE COLORED BY NATURE

CLOT is pleased to announce its first collaboration with the world-renowned outdoor sportswear expert The North Face. Seeing outdoor exploration as our dialogue with Mother Earth, the brands take us through the mountains and towards the misty peaks, introducing a collection that brings together elements of nature and stylistic aesthetics that aim to add colors to your journey.

“The core person that I am, it hasn't really changed over time, but my curiosities have, what gives me a successful feeling has. My mindset is actually exploration. Allowing yourself to see new things, allowing yourself to experience with clouds, sunset and sunrises, is a story that I've never told. I feel like The North Face was the perfect conduit for that story to be expressed,” shared Edison Chen, Founder and Creative Director of CLOT.

Reshaping outdoor wear with eminent style, the collaboration delivers a perfect combination of design and functionality. Nature-inspired elements encountered along the journey are translated through colors with hints of oriental charm, topped with technologically enhanced materials and creative layering ideas for maximized practicality. Edison Chen has also invited fashion designer Kazuki Kuraishi to participate in the project, integrating his unique fashion understanding into The North Face's outdoor pieces, creating more possibilities for outdoor wear.

“When I design, I normally think about the details first. I don't think too much about the concept, but Edison does. That's why we work together. I always think of good design as it is, but even beautiful design needs good function,” explained Kazuki Kuraishi, Fashion Designer.

EXPLORE THE COLORS OF NATURE,

FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA AND THE CLOUDS

Taking in the beautiful colors of nature while trekking through the mountains, The North Face and CLOT have put together a collection featuring captivating landscapes and sensual gradients. This new collaboration features a breathtaking sea of clouds above mountaintops, along with natural shades of lunar slate to lupine, reef waters, and macchiato for a unique aesthetic.

Thanks to DRYVENT technology, the CLOT x The North Face Shell Jacket features an all-over cloud print, topped with color-blocking sleeves and side seams to create a stylish outdoor look. Meanwhile, the new waterproof Poncho can be adjusted with the hidden buttons on the hem, ensuring a perfect fit. In addition to outerwear, the extensive The CLOT x The North Face collection also includes Fleece Pullovers in different colorways, each with a detachable hood and Chinese button knots signature to CLOT. Wear it with the matching Fleece Pants for extra warmth and comfort. Crafted from translucent materials, the Shell Pullover comes with a detachable hood and diagonal placket, designed for laying over the Fleece Pullover. All jackets can be styled with translucent Shell Pants or Fleece Pants for a solid look.

PERFECT YOUR LOOK

WITH ACCESSORIES OF COLORS

Discover the hidden gems in the mountains and cherish every moment. CLOT and The North Face have expanded their creative offerings to a range of accessories and footwear, so you can coordinate your outfits from head to toe. With a mesmerizing sea of clouds print, the Camping Blanket is made of heat-retaining fabric to protect against sudden temperature changes. Thanks to The North Face’s patented VECTIV™ and FUTURELIGHT™ waterproof technology, along with the high-traction SurfaceCTRL™ outsole, the VECTIV™ TARAVAL hiking shoe can provide exceptional stability and drive on any terrain. The collection also includes the ThermoBall™ Traction Mules and other outdoor-dedicated footwear, creating more possibilities for all kinds of exploration.

SPICE UP FAMILY TRAVEL WITH

CHILDRENSWEAR COLORED BY NATURE

The CLOT x The North Face collection also debuts with childrenswear, offering more options to fashion and outdoor-loving families. From Shell Jackets to Fleece Pullovers and Fleece Pants, these children's dedicated creations present little explorers with a piece of the ingenious design and care of the collection.

The CLOT x The North Face collection is set to pre-release at select JUICE selling doors on February 23, 2023, opening a new chapter in the combination of artistic expression and outdoor functionality.

[novumtimes]

BYDs Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8 battery specs revealed with 100 km range

The battery specs of the BYD-backed Fang Cheng Bao (FCB) Bao 8 were exposed by the Chinese regulator. This PHEV crossover has up to 100 km of electric range. The Bao 8 will enter the Chinese market this year. Later, it can enter Europe as part of the Denza brand. – Advertisement – Fang Cheng Bao is a high-end off-road brand launched by BYD in 2023. Its model line comprises a single car, which is a Bao 5 (Leopard 5) SUV. FCB has recently caused a scandal by slicing the Bao 5’s price to enhance the sales volume. This year, the BYD’s brand will launch two more cars: the Bao 3 electric crossover, and Bao 8 PHEV off-roader. FCB Bao 8 battery specs Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8 (left) and YangWang U8 (see secs) Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed the battery specs of the Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8. It has a 36.864 kWh LFP Blade battery from BYD subsidiary FinDreams. This pack weighs 300 kg. The curb weight of the Bao 8 reaches an enormous 3,305 kg. As a result, the electric range of the Bao 8 reaches 100 km (unknown cycle). – Advertisement – The regulator’s filing revealed the fuel consumption of this massive beast is 8.87 L/100km. Under the hood, the Fang Cheng Bao flagship SUV has a 2-liter BYD487ZQD turbocharged petrol engine for 200 kW (268 hp). This ICE is paired with two electric motors for 200 kW (268 hp) and 300 kW (402 hp), respectively. There is no information about the mixed range of the Bao 8. More about FCB Bao 8 The Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8 is a full-size body-on-frame SUV. Its styling stays in line with the FCB Bao 5 (see specs). Its front end has a large bumper, blocky headlights, and a trapeze-shaped grille. The Bao 8 has a LiDAR sensor on the roof, flush door handles, and wide wheel arches. From the back, it has vertical taillights and a swing-out tailgate with a full-size spare wheel. The Bao 8 has the DMO plug-in hybrid powertrain on board. Its dimensions are 5195/1994/1875 mm with a wheelbase of 2920 mm. Its approach and departure angles are up to 30/29 degrees, respectively. Inside, the Bao 8 has two interior layout variants: for 6 and 7 seats. Its zero-to-hundred acceleration time is 4.8 seconds. The top speed reaches 180 km/h. The Bao 8 will launch this year at a price of 500,000 yuan (69,600 USD). – Advertisement – Source: MIIT, Weibo Source link via The Novum Times

[thepursuitroom]

OnePlus Expects to Lunch New Nord Smartphones, OnePlus Flip, Foldable

OnePlus 11 5G with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC under the hood is good to go to make its debut in India on February 7 alongside the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds. However, aside from the upcoming flagship smartphone, the Chinese smartphone brand is reportedly planning to unveil new smartphones in the Nord, T, and R lineups in the coming days to diversify its portfolio. OnePlus could launch OnePlus 11 Pro model and its first foldable smartphone in the second half of 2023. A clamshell foldable smartphone by OnePlus is expected to compete with the likes of Oppo Find N2 Flip, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, and the Motorola Razr 2022.

Known tipster Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) on Twitter suggested that OnePlus is gearing up to unveil new Nord, T, and R series smartphones in the next year. According to the tipster, the launch of the rumored Pro model will not happen in the first half of 2023, so release in the second half is more likely. OnePlus is currently working on a mid-range smartphone, which may debut as a OnePlus Nord 3 with MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC, said, Brar.

[jetour]

Look at the upcoming affordable SUVs in UAE

With a goal to broaden its business and establish itself as a world-class brand by concentrating on making the best and most reasonably priced, affordable SUV models, Jetour is the latest result of a two-decade dedication to create a brand that would stand out in the automotive market and createaffordable SUVs.

It is rumored that an X90 Plus will be released, but it is unclear if it will be a different model or a variant of the X90. The X90 Plus, which was first expected to debut this year, is more likely to do so in the second half of 2022. The X90’s mid-cycle upgrade and the launch are likely to take place simultaneously. The X95, which entered series production two years ago, followed the X70 and X90.The X95 should receive a facelift around the second quarter of this year.

Visit us for more information :- crossover cars

New 2023 Jetour X70 plus

TheJetour X70 plus, has enough room within to accommodate seven people, setting a higher the benchmark for seating capacity in luxury vehicles. It can be rightly called as one of the most accommodating vehicles in its category. The X70 plus epitomizes luxury in every possible meaning of the term. The interiors or the cabin of this car, like all other Jetour cars, is constructed with high-quality materials to provide the driver and passengers with the greatest possible comfort and safety. There are several technical features of the new 2023 Jetour X70 plus that needs tobe emphasized. One will find chrome metal inlays in the dashboard and doors. Jetour X70 plus offers beautiful watchable sunroof, superior quality of sound insulation, and the best part is that folding rear seats are included as well. The 2023 X70 plus in addition to the abundance of features also offers opportunity for wireless charging, Bluetooth, and offers additional USB connection features as well.

The design aesthetic and features offered by the Jetour X70 plus undeniably create one of the most stunning automobiles one can lay their eyes upon. The X70 plus gives a dominant, athletic, and streamlining appearance. It is a testament that it was created to become a landmark in the automobile world. The hood and cabin of the Jetour X70 plus are finely laid out so that it can be set back toward the rear of the car. The Jetour X70 plus, is an affordable SUV made available in the UAE whose body surface is exquisitely sculpted. It is available in amazing and attractive colors. x70 FL dubai

2022 Jetour Dasheng The Jetour Dasheng, a new sporty compact SUV for the automobile market, will be on sale in the third quarter of 2022, according to an official announcement from Jetour. Thisaffordable SUV is anticipated to have a price range of 14,700 USD to 26,500 USD. On May 8th, the pre-sale officially began, with reservations costing just 1.46 USD. Within the first 48 hours, more than 5,017 units had been ordered. The English translation of the Chinese “Dasheng” is “Great Sage”. For the first time Jetour aims to target this car towards the younger generation. The interior features a simple aesthetic look that is very appealable and suits everyone’s taste regardless of age. The third-generation Snapdragon high-performance chip is included into the control panel in the centre that is 15.6-inch. It also supports AutoNavi, Tencent, and Baidu navigation maps. An 8-inch full LCD screen, a HUD head-up display, speech recognition, and Level 2+ driver assistance features such as cruise control and lane change are also a part of the interior. There will be a fuel and a PHEV plug-in hybrid variants of the Jetour Dasheng. The 1.5T+6MT/6DCT and 1.6T+7CDT power the gasoline variant. The 1.6T engine can generate a maximum of 197 horsepower and 290Nm of peak torque. Despite being an affordable SUV, the model boasts of a 1.5T engine and 3-speed DHT gearbox in the PHEV variant produce a maximum of 326 horsepower, 565 Nm of peak torque, and 100 kilometres of pure electric driving capability. In terms of appearance, the new car’s headlight adopts a special kind of split design. The upper part is combined with the front hood and LED daytime running lights, whereas the lower part of the high and low beam group is integrated with the front design. In addition to this, the interiors are well equipped with a well-proportioned space for large group to ride while being pleasing to the eyes. No doubt this affordable SUV has already caught the interest of the public with its feature-rich, luxurious aura!

Visit us for more information :- jetour x90 plus abu dhabi

[yikesharringrove]

I have a headcanon that Billy doesn"t really know how to apologize like most people do. To him, the words are kind of empty so he just does things for people instead. Things like replacing all of the dishes with better quality ones for the Byers, making the girliest clothes Max hates disappear and replaced with things she likes, a new slingshot showing up in Lucas's locker, breaking into a car to fix it. Steve is weirdly charmed by it.

These may both be you? But here’s a combo since they’re p much the same idea

anonymous asked: Billy has forgotten how to actually connect with people so he shows affection through acts of chaotic good, like planting catnip all over the yard of the lady who allergic for yellomg at Max or breaking into a car so he can fix the engine. Steve figures out Billy is the one doing all these oddly kind things but he is still kind of intimidated by the blonde so instead of thanking him out right he just leaves things like cigarettes and baked good for him in his car. Have fun with that one!

This got pretty long so I put some of it under the cut.

-

Billy didn’t believe in the words I’m sorry.

They just didn’t make sense  to him. He had never heard the words when someone actually meant them, and fuck knows he’s never actually meant those words before.

But that does not mean there aren’t things in his life he regrets.

For example: beating the shit outta Steve Harrington.

He felt like absolute fucking garbage about it. 

Harrington hadn’t deserved that shit. Billy was just runnin’ hot that night, and Harrington had been unlucky enough to have bad timing.

But he didn’t know how to fix it.

So he started leaving snacks in Steve’s locker.

He noticed how he would always be giving his friends the food off his fucking plate, so he would shove granola bars, candies, even made him a sandwich one day.

He watched as Steve would eat whatever it was Billy had left for him, just fuckin’ chowed down without question.

He would look into classes, find out where Steve sat and leave little treats on his desk.

“Mr. Harrington, I think you may have a secret admirer.” Steve flushed a little at the cupcake, and shoved it into his mouth in two bites at the beginning of history class, but he wasn’t gonna look a gift horse in the mouth, so to speak, and figured whenever this chick came forward, he would thank her for being so thoughtful, and let her down gently.

-

After leaving Harrington alone with all his snacks, Billy set his sights on his other regret.

He had Max hadn’t always fought and bickered. True, Billy wasn’t the warmest, when they first met, but once he got his car they would drive around together a lot. He’d take her to the arcade and the boardwalk. They both didn’t like being home too much.

So when Billy’s informed he’ll be watching Max for the weekend while Neil takes Susan to the city, he forms a little plan.

There’s one Chinese restaurant in Hawkins. It’s totally not authentic, not like the dim sum they used to get wandering around San Fransisco, but they had steamed pork buns and Billy picked up eight.

He let Max do whatever she wanted that weekend, figured they would have better luck with one another if they both acted like outdoor cats, coming and going as they pleased, but come Sunday evening, all the pork buns were gone, and there was an unopened pack of cigarettes on his nightstand.

-

Regret number three: Lucas Sinclair.

Billy probably felt the most fucked up over this kid.

He’d gone after him, a fucking child, in his blind rage.

He had figured that out when he came to on the floor of that weird house, sitting up empty and alone, realizing I’m just like Neil.

He had seen all those kids with their nerdy toys, went out to RadioShack, early Sunday morning, leaving with a light wallet and a new idea.

Dustin was arguing with Mike over the realism of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, like there was anything realistic about it.

Lucas rolled his eyes, opening his locker, his mouth dropping open when he saw something inside.

He pulled the bag out, peering inside.

There were six brand new walkie talkies inside.

They were better than the ones they already used, had further range and more channels.

Everyone went silent.

“Um, these aren’t mine.”

Max’s eyes went wide. She snatched something up from the top shelf of Lucas’s locker.

The new Wrist Rocket had a note attached to it. She knows this handwriting, but couldn’t place it.

Enjoy the new gear. Don’t quit saving the world.

“Do you think they’re from Steve?”Max furrowed her brows at the note.

And then everything clunked into place.

“Maybe.”

The boys were tearing into the new walkies.

She got two cokes from the vending machine at lunch, handing one quietly to Billy when she got in his car after school.

-

Billy doesn’t really know what he’s doing here.

He had driven Max to one of her nerdy little friend’s houses, and somehow he got roped into staying? He doesn’t even remember.

But now he’s standing with a short kind woman, in the exact kitchen he beat the shit out of Harrington in, with Steve himself leaning against the other wall, watching the kids like some kinda hawk.

Billy’s hands were shaky, and he inserted himself into washing dishes from dinner.

He noticed most of them had chips, and all of them were mismatched. He put them away quietly, and drove to the nearest home goods store he could find.

Ceramic plates didn’t run too much, and he got a nice set of three different sizes, twelve plates of each size, light blue like the one he broke.

He left them on the porch, parked his car down the road a ways.

He rang the doorbell, sprinting and diving into the bushes before anyone can see him.

He watched as one of the sons, the one his age, the one in his English literature class, opened the door, his brow furrowing at the box of new plates.

“Um, Mom? Somebody left us a set of plates?”

He closed the door, but the took the plates with him.

-

Billy was sitting on the lawn, had just finished raking up all the damn leaves, and was taking a well-earned smoke break as he watched Max skating up and down the street, practicing her kickflips and ollies.

She cut into the driveway across the street, the only one on the entire block that was well paved, no cracks in the cement.

“Get out of here!” Max started as Mrs. Reynolds, a mean old woman was shouting through her screen door. “You little hooligan! You’re going to leave marks!”

Max bit her lip, trying not to laugh as she boarded back over to their house, standing next to Billy.

“I’ll be having a word with your father!” She rolled her eyes as Billy ground his jaw.

Cat nip was way more expensive than Billy was expecting, but he bought plenty of packages, returning home just past sunset.

He waited until about three in the morning, when Mrs. Reynolds’ sprinklers had finally turned back off before he climbed out his window, spreading the cat nip through her yard.

He flipped her house the bird.

Max was awed at the cats the next morning as Billy drove them both to school.

There must’ve been at least a hundred.

“Isn’t Mrs. Reynolds allergic?” Billy tried not to laugh.

“Damn. That sucks for her.”

-

Billy was sitting on the hood of his car, reading one of his lit books while he waited for Max to get out of her nerd club.

He startled a little bit when someone knocked on the hood.

And it was Harrington, smiling sheepishly at Billy.

“The Byers got some new plates last night. You know anything about that?” Billy tracked the thin scar on Steve’s head. It disappeared into his hairline. Billy wonders how long he had sat in front of a mirror, picking glass out of his thick hair.

“Who’re the Byers?” Steve huffed a laugh.

-

Max was standing in front of the mirror looking like a grumpy old cat.

Susan had bought her a lovely new dress, and Max fucking hated it. Susan was fussing over it, saying I ordered it from the Sears catalog! and can you believe it was only fifteen dollars?

Billy slipped a five and a ten into Susan’s purse later that day, taking the dress to the Goodwill downtown.

He found Max a couple crappy t-shirts there, bands she would hum to on the radio, shit like Journey and Foreigner, and slid them into her closet where the dress used to be.

She wore one the next day, blinking slowly at him over breakfast.

He avoided all eye contact.

-

Steve has long legs.

this was of course something Billy always knew, but watching him stalk in all his righteous fury down the street towards the high school really solidified that fact for Billy.

He was stomping, his strides long as he hustled to class. Billy thought about offering him a ride, didn’t think they were there yet.

Billy found himself in Steve’s driveway later that night, popping the hood of Steve’s dead car and searching over everything with a flashlight.

Billy rolled his eyes.

Steve had probably always paid someone else when his car broke down, didn’t realize if your oil was low, your car wouldn’t work.

Billy kept a few cans in his trunk, refilled the bad boy for Steve, making sure that was it.

He found nothing else wrong and Steve pulled into the school parking lot the next morning.

Billy could feel Steve staring at him when he walked into school.

He found Steve sitting on his car at lunch, holding the sandwich Billy had snuck into his locker, and a loaf of bread wrapped in cling film. .

Billy raised an eyebrow.

“I saw you last night.” His cheeks went hot. “Thanks for fixing my car. And all the snacks and stuff. And for the Byers’ plates. And for all the stuff with Max.”

“Nothin’s happened with Max.” Steve appraised him for a moment.

“She said you’re being nicer.” He held up the bread. “Homemade banana bread. Made it while you were being not at all stealthy fixing my car.” He smiled at Billy, one a’ those perfect sunshine smiles Billy had only ever seen Steve direct towards his kids.

“I just changed your oil. Car won’t run if you don’t got oil.” Steve furrowed his brow.

“My gas tank was full. I had just filled it.”

“Nah Pretty Boy, oil. It’s different.” And Billy took a deep breath. “Could show you, if you like. Teach you some basic car shit. How to jump, how to change a tire.”

Steve beamed at him.

“I’d like that! I don’t know shit about fixing cars. Always figured it would go way over my head.”

“It’s pretty easy. There’s usually only a few major things that go wrong in nice cars that are easy fixes. You’ll figure it out quick.” Steve slid off his car, and Billy lamented that for a minute, liked how Steve looked perched on Billy’s car, wondered how he’d look in the passenger seat, in the backseat-

Steve pushed the bread into Billy’s hands.

“Y’know, I forgive you. For that night.” Billy tightened his jaw. Steve’s eyes were a little green in the sun. “There was a lot goin’ on, and I was being sketchy. I don’t hold it against you.”

“I, uh, thanks, I guess. I’m sorry, about it.” Steve smiled at him again, the corners of his eyes crinkling just a bit.

“Yeah, I know.” Steve took a bite of his sandwich, his cheeks all cute and full. “And I’m more of a ham and cheese fan.” Billy rolled his eyes at Steve, taking with his mouth full of turkey sandwich.

“Sorry man, you get what Susan buys.” Steve laughed, his mouth still full. Billy was uncomfortably endeared by it.

“Don’t be surprised to find some lasagna on your porch one night soon.” And Steve winked at him, walking backwards towards the school. “You’re not so bad, Billy.”

“Tryin’ not to be.” Steve gave him a stupid little finger gun. Billy’s heart melted.

“You’re doin’ a good job.” And Steve set off back into the school.

[currentfandomkick]

Marinette did Not sign up for this part 5

so, this happened. i would feel bad, but the characters hijacked this story after chapter 1 and i’m just along for the ride and checking that words makes sense.

First part here Previous Here ao3 Here

--

“Hey Alya, you haven’t been getting more hits on your blog from Gotham lately, have you?” Marinette asked.

Alya rolled her eyes as honestly, could her bestie be any less obvious? She could see the “new” necklace. The one that only shows up when Multimouse is on call. Honestly—why is it everyone keeps thinking she doesn’t know who’s who? She’s the Fox—Illusions and Truth are her bread and butter.

“Now that you mention it,” Alya pulled up her latest stats. “Yes. The whole site—jeez these guys must have just found out and want the scoop from the best source in Paris,” Alya preened.

Marinette acted… different after she got that answer. Moved in on herself. Alya could feel the attempt at a cover-up before she even asked.

“Hey, is something up?”

“Nothing! Nothing is up, why would something be up! Ha, that’s a good one Alya!”

Ah, the miraculous-related tic was in full swing then. Marinette isn’t exactly the most in-the-know miraculous user, and the Mouse is always taken back after its been used. She could be forgiven for assuming Alya, the expert in all things Miraculous second only to the Original duo and their boss, would not know that something was going on in a certain spotted heroine’s life, and it was all hands on deck.

“Okay,” Alya switched to her theory notes, “Any new names to add to the ‘would not be surprised if they were Hawkmoth’ list?” Marinette is a goldmine on this topic, and while miraculous adjacent, definitely able to ease the whole ‘not in control’ and helpless feelings this situation was probably stirring in her girl. She knew it was for herself atleast.

Marinette perked up with a familiar ‘I know what you will say, but lets do this anyway’ type of sly smile. “Okay, so we do agree that it has to be someone that knows Gabriel’s schedule and doesn’t want to interfere with it for the most part, right?”

“Well,” Alya wasn’t letting this hunch go anytime soon, no matter what LB and Chat said about evidence against. She knew she was onto something with it, and for all she knew, some miraculous magic could be interfering. “I still say it could be him and Natalie taking turns, but that doesn’t rule them both out.”

Marinette shot Alya a look, of the ‘I strongly disagree, but feel it is futile to remind you why’ variety.

“I’m kidding, your boss isn’t Hawkmoth, I know… He’d totally have better designs for akumas if he was.”

Marinette leaned forward conspiratorially. “You should have seen him tear into the Bubbler one when I brought it up as an example of horrible design. His face was perfect!”

Alya would love to imagine the many, many ways to torment Gabriel after what she and Nino have come to understand about the man from their friends. Ranging from negligent and uninvolved control freak at best to manipulative, victim-blaming, and abusive POS. If Adrien and Marinette were a little less attached (re: not pedestalling the man so much), then she could get them to see the truth and they could go over the pair’s options to get them both away from his BS and make the man pay for the all the crap he put Adrien through, and was starting to put Marinette through. Why else would the girl be running herself ragged—especially the past week—if the man wasn’t a demanding asshole boss?

“That’s great, next time, get a pic or vid and share the love.”

“I will, so I met another one of his suppliers and…” Alya began to take vicious notes, glad for Marinette’s attention to detail on these things. It made looking for possible Hawkmoths much easier on her and Max—yes she knows who Pegasus and Cowboy are, Markov in a hat is still Markov in a hat. It was a wonder that no one else noticed.

Alya grinned when she saw Trixx peek out of her hiding place, a wide smile that reminded her exactly why Alya could catch everyone’s identity while her friends still hadn’t put together she’s Rena; a Fox casts illusions. To do that well, you have to learn to seek and see the truth, and get your evidence. And Alya? Is a damn good fox.

----------

Tim hates his stupid insane list of designers. He managed to knock of half by using his own damn filters, thank you very much for dominant genes from the Wayne side that could be seen visually. It knocked out a good chunk (about two thousand out of five thousand) on hair alone. He decided he would let it keep running for those that linked their socials to their psueds and aliases.

The problem was the handful (about ten) that didn’t. He’d have to meet them in person, used his glasses to get pictures, and run those against social media posts in Paris to find out who these more private designers were—all to find out if they really are in the right age range, and if their natural features do put them in the ‘likely a Wayne’ category for Wayne dominant traits (and those possible given Bruce’s own DNA makeup, which he doesn’t know Tim has. Hey, he’s the Robin that Gets Shit Done, never said he was the polite one. That’s Dick’s job, not his.)

---------

Adrien hates not having Plagg with him. Not that Tikki isn’t great and all! Really! Just… he misses him and his stinky cheese, okay?

“Adrien,” Natalie knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Natalie entered the doorway, but no further. “When is Marinette free for consultations next? we have a high end client who would like to commission her as soon as possible.”

“Give me a minute…” Adrien checked his ‘overseeing Marinette’ schedule on his phone. “Uh, she has walk-ins around four until five tomorrow.”

“Excellent. Will she be at her home or the studio Gabriel has provided for consultations?” By her tone, he could tell which Natalie and Father would prefer.

“Let me check with her.”

“See that you do.”

Adrien sent a lipstick, X arm lady, and house emoji to Marinette.

In a minute she sent back a thumbs up and apartment building emoji.

“Studio it is.”

Natalie nodded. “Excellent choice. I will let them know to be there at four ten, given Marinette’s… difficulty arriving on time.”

Adrien grimaced a bit on that as yeah… no longer having a Danger sense meant her punctuality was… not very good.  “Are they speaking to Marinette or MDC?”

He’d need to know if he should just pick her up or not. MDC didn’t have to get picked up—designers to celebrities are allowed to be late and can blame it on getting caught up in a few details on a commission design for a walk-in consultation. Marinette was tied to the Gabriel Brand and needed to reflect that, therefore, be there on time and ready.

“Marinette for now, though they expressed an interest in MDC as a budding designer, and they are well within the MDC price range,” Natalie hinted.

Adrien kept the hiss growing in the back of throat quiet. Marinette chooses who MDC works with, not his Father.

--------

Stephanie is both delighted and upset when she sees Cass. As its Cass—she probably figured it out already damn it!—but its Cass and she missed her since she left a few months back for a mission and got caught up in the Chinese crime scene again.

“Hey Cass!”

Cass grinned when she saw Steph and made her way over.

“Found her!”

Stephanie was gutted. She really wanted to win, just this once, at a detective thing. You know, be the normal one that managed to out-do the prodigies and geniuses. Not to be again. “Oh, that’s great. Where is the baby bat?”

Cass shook her head. “Not her, Soup Girl.”

Stephanie opened and shut her mouth. Then lit up as she still has a chance! “Oh, right—right! You said you wanted to meet her a while back.”

Cass nodded. “Her family is nice.”

“Did you talk to her or…”

Cass shook her head. “Busy.”

“Ah.” That made sense. “Well, uh, still competing?”

Cass raised an eyebrow. That was a yes.

“Maybe we should work on helping her on the hero side of things together, you know, so we don’t freak her out when we all swarm her place. Make the whole thing a bit less…”

“Dramatic.”

Stephanie nodded. It would help ease the girl into the family, and keep Cass on that case instead of finding Baby Bat for a bit. Win-Win for Stephanie and Baby Bat.

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

Chatte Noire really, really hates dealing with akumas. She's built for strategy, to see tricky parts and work out how to make them safer for the team and minimize risk. She is not made to be Chatte Noire. Yet here she is, in an akuma attack, trying to play the role of a Black Cat—identify and destroy threats to the team. Problem is, she lacks Chat Noir's heightened ability to sense danger. In fact, she lacks it completely--and she knows the team isn't happy.

The attack is taking longer than it would if she was Ladybug. This would be over if she had just managed to keep her big mouth shut and not talked to Aquaman. Then the Justice League wouldn’t be involved. Then the whole promise to Murder Robin would not be broken and Paris would already be saved for the day instead of dealing with another Sandboy attack going on well into the night, with a cure that won’t be able to handle fatigue, energy renewal or relax the body for sleep post ‘I’m scared out of my mind’ fear.

She made sure to avoid this Sandboy’s attacks and she would save whoever got caught. Her Cataclysms may not be as strong as Chat’s (his do make the whole thing go away) but she is just as quick on her feet and just as good at getting civilians out of danger.

“Chatte!”

“On it Buggaboy! And not yet!”

It was too off for the Lucky Charm. They’d need Viperion, and he was stuck underwater with Aquaman trying to get him out at the moment. Until then, she just had to minimize damage, keep civilians away from their nightmares hunting them down, and keep moving and planning and work everything out while playing bodyguard for the team at Cha—At Mr. Bug’s call.

She hopes things turn out okay.

Then she sees a bat symbol and the world vanishes.

----------

Red Hood blinked when he saw some girl running around on rooftops in… Isn’t Chat Noir supposed to be the cat one? Where the hell is Ladybug—and why is some guy in her place? Shit, did the baby bat lose her miraculous or was it stolen? Damnit, now he has to steal it back for her!

“Okay, how did LB get hit when she isn’t even here?” The fox girl groaned as she dodged another attack. “Aren’t these guys supposed to go after who’s scared of them?”

The bee girl rolled her eyes. “More than just Ladybug can be terrified of the bats. They’re the Ghosts, remember?”

“Hey, can we argue about fears and who has rights to them some other time?” fake ladybug asked, flinching and moving closer to the Turtle guy. “Uh, Chatte, that way!”

Cat girl—Chatte— said something he didn’t catch and grabbed a kid stuck in a mob and bounce out.

“I—” the boy threw his hands up. “We’re screwed. She really, really isn’t getting the whole Cat thing.”

Red Hood pulled out his guns, checking that the darts were loaded and aiming for Spots.

“Chatte---guy with a gun!”

This time cat girl managed to look over and froze. She started… hyperventilating? Shit—kid’s having an attack.  

Red Hood lowered his gun and made sure to get closer to her---seeing as the other heroes—Dragon girl, Monkey boy and Snake Guy were busy with the bee and fox girls trying to circle some kid on a pillow. No clue where the other kid in black was, but the cat girl losing it? that was his current focus.

“Kid, come on, breathe.”

“Oh my—” the kid looked at him like he was the threat. “Fuck, no—I shouldn’t have talked back to---shit. Shit, now I’m gonna—”

“VOYAGE!”

Just like that, Red Hood was dropped into Gotham harbor. Jason didn’t even get to look around to see what happened. He did manage to tread water and work out which was to go to get to shore.

“Oracle!”

“Jesus Hood—sending Robin to your location. What happened?”

“Some kids stole baby bats’ jewels, some akuma attack, the actual cat thief was hyperventilating and then I end up here.”

“Oh, B is not going to like this.”

“I already don’t like it.” Batman growled out over comms. “Did someone say voyage?”

Red Hood wracked his somewhat waterlogged brain. “In French, yes.”

“One of the local heroes.” Jason could feel Bruce’s annoyance. “Why were you in Paris.”

“Well,” Red Hood kept swimming to shore. “When you find out a long lost bat is in life threatening danger, one must locate and meet this possible winner of the ‘avoided having crappy parents raise me’ lottery to give a well-earned ‘congrats, you’re a well-adjusted person in a family of crimefighter! Mazel tav.”

“Hood.” Robin began on a private channel. “We need to talk.”

“Gotta go B, life to live, baby bat to find.”

“Red Hood!”

“Bye!” Red Hood climbed out of the harbor, finding his baby brother on his motorcycle that was definitely not Bruce-Approved.

“What’s up buttercup, didja miss me?”

Robin scowled at him. “Of course not, the world is more peaceful without the drivel that falls out of your mouth.”

Red Hood snorted. “Yeah, and that’s why you hide in my room all the time.”

Robin refused to make eye contact, shoving Red Hood onto his bike. “Is it true, did my sister lose her miraculous?”

“Unless she’s B and Catwoman’s lovechild and she decided to embrace it.”

Robin was quiet on the way to the cave. “…how long would it take to get the pilot to return and take me to Paris?”

“…you’d make it there around their in time for dessert.”

Robin frowned. “that’s not soon enough.”

“Closest you’ll get. And don’t’ think you’re going alone.”

Robin frowned. “I am not exposing my sister to you.”

“She’s our sister first of all,” Red Hood corrected. “and second of all, I have a bet to win, and I’m behind thanks to this portal guy. So I’m coming.”

Robin rolled his eyes. “Only if you get past Father and Alfred.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

Robin smirked as they pulled into the Batcave.

“Father, I believe Red Hood needs your full attention given he was in the harbor for so long, and we all know how cold they are this time of year.”

Jason decided Damian was by and far his least favorite sibling in that moment. “Wait, B, no, look—no signs of hypothermia, no shaking, just need to change and—”

“I will check and ensure you don’t develop it with Alfred on standby.”

Jason glared at Damian, already stripping from his Robin gear with that self-satisfied smirk. “Traitor!”

“I simply want what is best for my siblings, how is that wrong?”

----------

I hope this gave you all a good idea of what’s going to happen next… I do love the Batfam and all, but some of their approaches here… no good and need to have that hit over their head.

And if I’m screwing up ladybats characterization, feel free to let me know so I can fix it---going off what I could find from DC fans and lore but I also do not know these characters inside and out, and want to do them justice.

OH and for anytime i refrence princess Justice, got a refrence for you now! picture the one made by @tinymelonbug right here with the only (maybe?) change being that below the cut it is cut off as a romper: Here 

TAGS:

@heldtogetherbysafetypins @laurcad123 @raisuke06 @chaosace @jeminiikrystal @toodaloo-kangaroo @kris-pines04

[kelsieex]

Cultural Diversity in fashion

What is diversity?

Cultural diversity is about appreciating that society is made up of many different groups with different interests, skills, talents and. needs. It also means that you recognise that people in society can have differing religious beliefs and sexual orientations to you.

whis is cultural diversity important?

Cultural diversity is important because our country, workplaces, and schools increasingly consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. ... As people from diverse cultures contribute language skills, new ways of thinking, new knowledge, and different experiences.

For many decades diversity in the fashion industry has been massively under represented and when it has been represented-many times they've been taken down for the racist advertising,infact the fashion industry has long been called out for cultural appropriation, racist advertising, and its blatant lack of diversity across campaigns, catwalks and behind the lens.

An example of some racist advertising is Zara's campain.

The ad, which was posted on Zara’s Weibo account, featured Chinese model Li Jingwen and was promoting a new lipstick range. The ad depicted Jingwen with her freckles showing and minimal make-up which angered its Chinese followers.Critics have labeled the ad humiliating to Chinese women and claim the brand is defaming Chinese beauty. Chinese women favour clear pale skin as a beauty look and most beauty advertising reinforces this look.

Howeverlately diversity is starting to get some of the represention in the fashion industry it deserves.With bigger brands starting to embrace other cultures.In November 2019, Burberry’s Christmas campaign, by creative director Italian designer Riccardo Tisci, broke barriers with its most racially diverse cast to date, featuring British-Somali hijabi model Ikram Abdi Omar. Praised for embracing inclusivity, this was a moment of redemption for the luxury British brand just months after it was forced to apologise for sending a model down the catwalk wearing a hooded noose, which many thought evoked imagery of racist lynchings, while also being insensitive to the issue of suicide.

Another huge step for diversity in the fashion industry is the recent vogue editor Edward Enniful-the first poc and first male editor of vogue.His aim is to produce more diversity in the industry and has already created powerful vogue covers representing this like May vogue cover.

Diversity is starting to get more of the recognition it deserves but only slightly there's still a long way to go and hopefully it will continue to be represented in positive ways.

[novumtimes]

Hongqi HS3 PHEV will start pre-sale in August in China

On July 17, the plug-in hybrid version of the Hongqi HS3 compact SUV made its debut at the Hongqi Fan Festival held in Changchun, China. The expected pre-sale start date is in August. – Advertisement – The wheelbase of the Hongqi HS3 PHEV is 2770 mm, and the overall dimensions are 4655/1900/1668 mm, which are the same as the current gasoline-powered variant. Power comes from a plug-in hybrid system that combines a 1.5T engine with an electric motor, paired with CATL battery packs. The engine has a maximum power of 124 kW (166 hp). The official pure electric range is 115 km and the comprehensive range is 1,100 km. At this time, the detailed specifications have not been officially revealed. Hongqi HS3 gasoline-powered variant Hongqi HS3 PHEV For the exterior, the PHEV variant continues the design of the gasoline-powered variant, featuring a large waterfall grille with the Hongqi logo running through the front hood, further highlighting its brand identity. The front fenders are also equipped with the Hongqi logo. Two rim sizes are available: 19 and 20 inches. – Advertisement – Declaration images from the Chinese MIIT The rear adopts a through-type taillight group. The PHEV label has been added to the lower right to indicate its status, according to the declaration images from the Chinese MIIT. Furthermore, the cockpit has a symmetrical layout and a “zero formaldehyde” interior. There is a multi-function steering wheel, a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel, and a 12.6-inch vertical central control touch screen. The air-conditioning outlets are integrated on both sides of the screen. At the same time, a 40W mobile phone wireless charging function and intelligent driving assistance system are not absent. Earlier in 2023, Hongqi announced its “All in New Energy” initiative to promote the electrification of all models. Xu Liuping, chairman of FAW China, said that starting from the second half of 2022, all of Hongqi’s new technology innovation investment and production capacity will be used on new energy vehicles, except for special-purpose vehicles. – Advertisement – By 2025, Hongqi aims to sell one million vehicles annually, of which new energy vehicles will account for more than 50% of the sales. By 2030, Hongqi targets to sell more than 1.5 million vehicles, of which new energy vehicles will become the main sales force. Source: Hongqi Weibo, Sohu Source link via The Novum Times

[quellemaquilleur]

A Modern Style Guide To Keeping Bridesmaids Happy.

One thing I see time and time again at weddings are bridesmaids wearing similar looks to one another which I can guarantee they would never normally consider wearing in their everyday lives. I’m always very confused by this kind of thinking because if I wear to watch a red carpet awards ceremony, I will never see any of my favourite actresses wearing cloned hairstyles and matching makeup. Women are currently celebrated for their unique take on fashion styling as well as grooming, so it only seems natural to me that this movement should filter through to the modern bridal party.

THE ORIGINAL ROLE OF A BRIDESMAID

The idea of having your bridal party all wear the same dress actually dates way back to an old Chinese practice during the feudal era for when a young girl would be soon married. The original role of a bridesmaid was to protect the bride from a potential kidnapping by a jealous suitor or evil spirit. The bridesmaids she chose would be requested to all wear white dresses so that if someone were to try and kidnap her, they would hopefully be confused by who the actual bride was and capture one of her maids by mistake. It wouldn’t be until after the ceremony that they would be aware that they had taken the wrong woman. Later, as legal protections for marriage were established, this was no longer necessary, and the role of a bridesmaid became more symbolic.

As we no longer need to trick our guests into knowing who the bride is, I believe it is more agreeable than ever before to allow your bridal party to look and feel as comfortable in their wedding attire as you do in the gown you have likely spent weeks or months searching for. Another thing to bear in mind is that often bridesmaids are told they could wear their dress again – however, if the dress doesn’t make them feel comfortable or like any version of themselves, that (pricey) dress will most likely end up in a charity shop, on eBay or at worst straight into the bin directly after your big day.

STYLING OPTIONS

One of my favourite bridesmaid styling options is allowing your friends the opportunity to find what looks best on them. If you truly have your heart set on a particular colour palette, something as simple as allowing them to pick alternate tones for their dress can make a world of difference to how they will perceive their dress. Another styling option would be to have them each choose a different cut in the same tone so that their varying body shapes all fit perfectly in their dresses, leaving them as confident in what they’re wearing as you do in yours. I find brands such as THE OWN STUDIO and SHONA JOY to be wonderful suppliers as they carry their dress styles across a range of different cuts and colour palettes which flatter different body shapes and skin tones.

Another modern but fun item for bridesmaids is something like a monogrammed boyfriend shirt to get ready in, rather than the ultra feminine bridal robes we have all seen before. The added touch of having their initials embroidered in is something they will appreciate alongside the fact this is a wardrobe staple they can wear again after the wedding day.

After the dress, the next clone culprit is usually to do with hair or makeup. So often I see women subject their friends to exposing unfortunate hairlines or wearing mismatched colour palettes just because it’s a wedding. Honestly, if your friend came out of the hair salon looking like their toner was off, you would tell them to march straight back in there and ask them to fix it, so I think the same could be said for style choices on a wedding day. These ladies are supposed to be your friends, after all.

Differing style height options and partings are not the only way to mix things up to suit everyone. If one friend looks better with her hair down and the other with a ponytail style, plan ahead and practice wearing these different styles together on dinner dates to make sure you can all agree on something which both makes them feel themselves and makes you happy.

When it comes to makeup styling, so long as everyone feels enhanced, I think you should let them wear makeup they feel comfortable in. There is honestly nothing worse than being told you have to wear eyeliner when you don’t have the eye shape for it. Tightlining the upper lashline will give enough definition to the eyes for those with small or hooded eyes, so there isn’t any need for every bridesmaid to wear winged eyeliner. Sometimes this classic look just doesn’t suit everyone, so it’s better not to force it.

FINAL TOUCHES

To make sure everyone is totally equipped for the day, designate a day around the week of your hen party to catch up and collect those final items to make sure you are all ready for the day. This can include things such as the perfect jewellery choices to match their style (and yours), touch up items, heel protectors and those magic curve huggers we all know as Spanx. Never underestimate the importance of girdle style support underneath silk finish fabrics!

The final step is now to organise any last appointments for you and your ladies to enjoy together a week before the wedding so that you all feel your absolute best and worry-free in the last two weeks before the wedding. This is a great way to ensure everyone is absolutely primed and prepared before the big day, as well as a means for you to have a little female bonding together through self-care. If you or your bridesmaids have any hair appointments during this time, just remember to save any big changes for after the big day so that no one ends up with a bad fringe choice in your forever photos! The same goes for facials. If you really can’t resist one, I personally recommend the FaceGym facelift. This one is more focused on lifting through massage, so there will be no nasty chemical redness, reactions or breakouts after. Just remember to try anything new before the big day to be sure of the results so that there are no surprises before the big day.

If you liked the above or have any questions, be sure to leave a comment below! I’d love to hear your thoughts and get chatting.

[chattonlait]

Pretty Lies

“When you’re walking across the runway, Adrien, just make sure you hold your chin up, and even if you don’t feel confident, make sure you make long, confident strides.”

“Even if I don’t feel confident, mama?”

His mother’s eyes crinkled, “Even if it’s not real, try to make it real to your audience. They only know you, and the clothes you’re wearing. They don’t know your story.”

A.K.A The fic where Adrien has the worst month of his entire life and it spirals wildly out of his control. Modeling is tough work.  Ao3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21142004/chapters/50316563 

“When you’re walking across the runway, Adrien, just make sure you hold your chin up, and even if you don’t feel confident, make sure you make long, confident strides.” “Even if I don’t feel confident, mama?” His mother’s eyes crinkled, “Even if it’s not real, try to make it real to your audience. They only know you, and the clothes you’re wearing. They don’t know your story.” Adrien held his head high, took a deep breath and he walked. One confident stride followed the other. Cameras flashed in his peripheral but he was too blinded by the stage lights to see each and every one. His mind wandered, his throat tightened in an impossible way and he blinked back the tears that he knew would give him the perfect en vogue look when the shots released in a few hours. Nobody would think there was something wrong, they’d point at it and go, “That’s just part of the look.”  Even if it wasn’t, because he made it real to his audience, and they didn’t know his story. He turned at the end of the runway, flashed a smile that made his eyes crinkle, and walked the other way. His heart felt like it would pound out of his chest at any moment. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again he was backstage. His heart stilled and he walked back to his dressing room, letting the bright lights drown out his feelings.

It had been so long since his mother’s advice rang in his ears. When he first started modeling, he repeated it like a mantra, day after day, shoot after shoot. Sometimes he’d think about it during fencing lessons, and Chinese classes. If he held his head high, and made long confident strides, then he could do everything. The world didn’t need to know what was going on inside his head. He changed out of the runway clothes, hanging them up on their pristine velvet hanger. “Something’s bothering you, kid,” Plagg’s voice broke the cacophony in his head and Adrien turned, smiled, “I’m fine, just stressed, that’s all,” and he shrugged his shoulders like it was the easiest thing in the world, plucking a blonde hair off the shoulder cuff. It was a truly beautiful garment, hand beaded. There was no doubt that his father was a brilliant designer. Plagg floated over to land on his shoulder, face nestling against Adrien’s cheek. He leaned into it, selfishly, and sighed. It was a long day, and the exhaustion weighed heavily upon his shoulders. After that runway shoot, he had to go over to Luka’s to watch their Kitty Action rehearsal (a song that Adrien wasn’t in, something he would forever be grateful for) He enjoyed his time with his friends, and he got it preapproved by his father. That didn’t help explain the anxiety settling in the pit of his stomach, coiling up like a frightened snake. “Okay Mr. Stressed, care to put pants on?” Adrien snorted out a half laugh, “Yeah, I will. Don’t worry. How else am I supposed to show off the Agreste loungewear line?” He rolled his eyes, opening up the box his father had left him. At least it should be comfortable. And it was, he realized as he popped the sweatshirt on, combing his hair artfully back and out of his face. It was still sticky with styling products, falling in loose waves around his head. He took a makeup wipe to his face in an attempt to rid himself of the thick layer of foundation on his face. It halfway worked, and when he looked up at himself he felt like it was okay. Smeared mascara was a look, right? Oh well, he didn’t have time to take off the rest of it. He managed to jump into joggers, and toe his sneakers back on before he was grabbing his bag and rushing through the door. He didn’t stop jogging until he was out of the building, flipping the hood of the sweatshirt up. Plagg stayed by his side, tucked in the space between his neck and shoulder. “That exciting, hmm?” Adrien laughed, genuinely, “It is, it’s practically a sleepover..” Practically? Who was he kidding? It was a sleepover by all sense of the word, and his father actually approved it. His heart beat heavily, not with dread, but with joy. “Ohhh a sleepover! How exciting, did you remember-” “Your camembert, yes Plagg, I remembered your camembert, but you have to stay hidden. I’m only bringing you along because..” “Because anything can happen, I know, I know. And while you listen to your friends write and perform music, I’ll be making the coziest home out of your bag.” “And you call me weird,” he huffed and shook his head. The houseboat was in sight in it’s massive glory.  The top of it was lit up with beautiful string lights that reflected against the inky water it sat upon, swaying slightly against the waves. Adrien took a second to compose himself, sucking a deep breath in, and exhaling it slowly. It was just a sleepover, it was so simple, but it was with so many of his friends. Marinette, Alya, Juleka, Rose, Ivan, and Luka. Nino wasn’t able to make it but it would be okay. Head high, confident strides. The text message said to just walk in so he did, and he was greeted with well- a lot- They were laughing in the practice room, it smelt like popcorn and oddly like pancakes. Plagg zipped into his bag and grinned up at him. Adrien swallowed and walked in, laughing nervously. “Sorry I’m late, I tried to get here as fast as I could.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, he really did try to get there quickly, he knew he was quite late though. What if he missed the rehearsal? “I didn’t know you wore makeup during your shoots, Adrien,” Alya was the first one to speak and she sat up from the floor. In seconds she invaded his personal space, swiping a thumb under his eye. Oh right, the smeared mascara. “Well, in shoots I uhm- no? No makeup during shoots but this was ah.. runway and those pictures are like uhm, well you know, super candid and stuff so it’s important to wear makeup so that you look alright from all angles, and you know, this is kind of the debut before the winter collection so it’s a bit more macabre,” he was pressing his fingers together, a nervous tic he’d been told to stop multiple times. He couldn’t help it, Alya was just so close and Adrien’s nerves were still shot from his modeling endeavor Juleka’s head cocks out along with Marinette’s, and Adrien felt heat rise in his cheeks. Was it that weird? “I thought you might be finally trying a punk look,” Juleka said with a smile and a little nod, hiding behind her hair again. Marinette giggled, “It would be an interesting look on you,” and she patted the spot next to her, “Both of you need to come sit!” Adrien nodded and shifted his bag, smiling at Alya. She smirked back at him and led him along. Luka smiled at him and patted the spot next to him. Adrien sat down, succesfully, between Luka and Marinette. “If I did a punk look my father would probably keel over,” he didn’t mean for the joke to come out as dark as it did but even Ivan snickered. “Or have a freaking stroke,” Alya added.

“So he’s still controlling?” Luka asked, and Adrien could only shrug. “Just.. overprotective. Looking different can get you into trouble, I guess? Or get you odd looks, and I do represent his brand.” Marinette sighed, “His very posh, fashion forward brand.” “Exactly!” Adrien leaned forward, crossing his legs and bringing his knee up to his chest, “But I do enjoy the modeling, I’m actually doing something new for the winter line.” “Ooh, you have to spill,” Rose spoke up, and laughed, “The winter shows are always the best! The clothes are sooo avant garde.” Adrien couldn’t remember a time he ever talked about himself so much, maybe as Chat Noir, but that didn’t count. He really did love modeling though, it was so easy for him to talk about.

He nodded to Rose’s comment, and then to Marinette and Juleka’s questioning, wide eyes. “The winter show is always more couture,  it’s not about wearable fashion stuff like this,” he fluffs up his sweatshirt, “Which is going to be apart of the new Agreste lounge slash sportswear collection- I digress. The winter shows, it’s where designers from all over the world are assigned a model and they design a fashion piece based off of them. This is going to be the first show that I’m doing just by myself- and on stage in general. I won’t even know which designer I’ll be working with until next week.” “So instead of it being about wearable clothes, it’s basically an art show? Kind of like pop versus Indie?” Luka asked. Adrien nodded, “It’s exactly like that. The Ageste brand is definitely a more commercial brand, but the brand itself hosts smaller designers to come to Paris once a year and show off their art. Every design is made to the model’s body, which means it’s all one of a kind. Whatever I’ll be wearing? It’ll be the only one and that’s.. Exciting.” It was also heart racing. He used to watch his mother walk across those runways, in gowns with multiple tiers, intricate beading, and gorgeous patterns. Gowns that billowed around her and made her look like a floating angel surrounded by twinkling lights. This would be the first year that he walked that stage in her place, there was so much weight to it, emotionally, and publicly. If he screwed up on stage, he wouldn’t hear the end of it from his father. . And he’d disappoint himself, but he would never say that out loud. “That sounds absolutely incredible! So many designers and garments in one place. It must be such a hub of inspiration,” Marinette bounced her fists up and down, “What I’d give to be one of those designers.” Adrien tilted his head, “You could be, one day. They are randomly chosen, and it’s annual. As long as you keep applying, you could totally get in!” “You think so?” “Marinette, I’ve seen your designs, I know so.” Alya elbowed Marinette and Marinette squawked. Everyone laughed and Luka stood back up, Ivan followed. “We’ll all be ready for that winter collection, but in the meantime, why don’t we get some practice done. It’ll help us brainstorm in this creative hour of night. Rose bounced up, “I’ve been working on new lyrics!! Here,” she dug around her bag and handed everyone a piece of printed paper. Adrien shifted to scoot closer to the couch, sitting with his back against the seat, giving the rest of them room to perform with their instruments. He couldn’t focus on the words on the page, and peaked up over the top of it to look at Marinette. She was probably gathering inspiration for the new costume designs for the song. She took out her sketchbook and everything. Adrien leaned in a little closer, watching her pencil move across the page but not really seeing what she was drawing. He wasn’t close enough to tell what exactly it was. A bodysuit, maybe? A pantsuit? Who knew, certainly not him. He got lost in her movement before realizing that the rehearsal was starting. It was like coming back up from being underwater, and he realized he must have spaced out at some point. Marinette’s eyes were focused on the band Adrien looked there too, at Ivan on the drums, Rose singing, Luka on guitar, and Juleka on bass. The song hit him then, resonating a deep chord somewhere in his heart and his throat tightened up again. He should have read the lyrics, it would have made him feel less stupid but in that moment his brain caught up with his body when Rose sang. “Maybe we’re just friends, but I want more.” Adrien hit his fist into the flat palm of his hand, “It’s a love song.” Rose giggled into the mic and for the second time that night, Adrien felt his face going hot. “Sorry, I promise I read the lyrics it just.. It didn’t hit me until now, hearing it out loud.” Marinette had her hand over her mouth and Alya nudged him, “I’m glad you caught onto the meaning behind the words.” “I never did claim to be a great poet, or understanding poetry,” he scratched behind his ear and laughed with them, “Still, I think it’s great. It’s a refreshing take on a love song it’s so.. In your face!” Rose smiled, her cheeks turning pink, “I’m glad that you caught it! If you caught it, then our audience certainly will!” Everyone nodded, and Adrien settled back against the couch, glad that his spotlight moment had finally ended. He still felt how his cheeks burned and he kept his face clasped in his hands to hide himself. One day he’d actually read the things that were handed to him, and read them well, so that he wouldn’t embarrass himself like that again. They resumed rehearsal and Adrien put his head down on his knee. He was tired, beyond tired, and it was finally catching up to him. All he wanted to do was lay down but he was enjoying his time with his friends. They were all so.. Lively, and happy. It was an energy he wasn’t used to, but he appreciated to a level he would never be able to describe in words. He felt safe in the presence of his friends, undoubtedly safe. The beat of the song throbbed in his ears as he nodded off, cheek falling flush against the couch cushion

[cannedapricot]

winter sun.

in which a boy who resembles the summer sun waltzes into your life on a cold winter’s day. 

word count: 3.4k of fluff and slice of life again because i’m unable to write anything else kms

The first time you encountered Lee Donghyuck was on a day where little white ice crystals fell from the grey sky, tossing and turning in the air until they eventually came to a halt, falling on top of one another as they rest on the man made roads.

Even the trees were shivering in the temperature. They shook their bare branches every time someone moved passed them with heavy steps, ridding themselves of some of the freezing snow that built up on them overnight.

Shuffling along the snow strewn walkway, you attempted to nuzzle your red,  numb nose further into the red, thick scarf that you had tightly wrapped around your neck. It was a gift from your grandma for Christmas, a set along with the  red gloves and beanie hat from the multiple holiday seasons before. The color choice was bright and obnoxious, contrasting against the plain, white background you were walking through in order to get to your destination. 

You scowled as your scarf loosens up and gets caught on the bag on your back, exposing the tiniest bit of your neck to the cold. Pulling your covered hands out of your coat pockets, you clumsily readjusted the woolen armor that was fending you from the bite of winter, making sure that it won’t come loose again on your journey.

A puff of hot air escaped your lips as you quickened your pace, wanting to escape the tormenting weather as soon as possible. As much as you loved snow, the temperature forced you inside for many of the cold days, cowering before the crackling fireplace.

The glass door creaked open as you pushed on it. It was as if it was whining about the weather with you. Letting out a sigh of relief at how warm the interior of the small, local coffee shop was, you make your way towards the back table, where two of your friends were already seated.

“Good Morning, Y/N.” Jeno greeted. The boy’s eyes curves up into crescents at the sight of your nose matching the rest of your attire as you stumbled over to him.

You collapsed onto the old, bouncy sofa opposite him. It let out a low pitched wheeze at the sudden weight as Jaemin, the boy situated next to Jeno, raised an eyebrow at you in amusement. 

“Matching your clothing pieces with your nose?” He asks jokingly, sliding the hot mug of coffee he had ordered for you across the table. You scoffed, prying the thick, knitted gloves off of your fingers. Which were also, a matching red.

“At least I won’t get lost in a snowstorm being this bright.”

Jeno laughed heartily at your retort, earning a weird glance from the group of middle aged women from the table over.

“Let’s get onto this stupid project now, shall we?” You said with a roll of your eyes. Though the small smile you had hanging off your lips gave it away that you didn’t feel annoyed at all.

You had thanked the gods when your history teacher told you that you could choose the people you worked with. You may as well loose your mind if your were put with Chenle and Jisung again. They were fun to be with, yes, but did they do any of the work? Nope. At least Jaemin and Jeno did work.

Pulling a sleek laptop out of the bag you heaved through the snow, you started the discussion about King Philip's War in the 1670s. It was as if the three of you fell through a wormhole once the research started. The warm smell of coffee beans that had once filled the air disappearing as you dived head first into the war between the English Colonists and the Native American Tribes. 

None of you paid attention to the chiming of the bell against the door whenever someone trudged with a trail of snow in their wake, opting to joke around with each other during break times instead.

But when a soft, warm breeze floated through the open door instead of the usual harsh, winter wind, you couldn’t help but look up from the Wikipedia page you were on.

There, standing in front of the fragile glass door, stood a light haired male brushing snow off of his dark coat. The said person met the barista’s eyes and when a smile broke out on his face, you felt the whole temperature of the room rise. 

“Hiya Mark, sorry I’m late. A snowstorm just kicked up outside.” He voiced, an almost honey-like sound filling the air before moving across to the counter.  Mark, the part time barista you had gotten familiar with thanks to the many times you frequented this particular coffee shop, clicked his tongue before meeting his friend. 

“I guess we’ll have to wait it out before leaving, huh?” 

“Does this count as overtime? You should ask your boss and earn some extra cash.” 

“Lee Donghyuck, my boss hesitates when we ask for our paychecks in advance, do you really think he’ll agree?”

“Lee Donghyuck.” You breathed, voice barely a whisper as you processed the name in your head. Snickers were suddenly heard from the boys right in front of you. Snapping your head to glare at them, you found them trying to hide their mouths behind their mugs. 

“What’s so funny?” You asked, taking a sip of your own caffeinated drink. 

“The fact that you’re staring so boldly.” Jaemin stated, a dumb smile you wanted to wipe off on his face. 

“Also, it’s worth mentioning that the redness on your nose spread onto the whole of your face. It’s matching the scarf even more now.” 

It was hard to stop yourself from pulling Jaemin into a headlock right then and there, so you settled for a kick to his shin. As your meddling friend hissed in pain with Jeno laughing into his latte, you felt a pair of eyes on you. Directing your eyes towards the direction, you wanted the creaky floorboards to swallow you whole in that moment. Because Lee Donghyuck had witnessed all of this with a sparkle in his eyes.

The second time you, encountered Lee Donghyuck was on an awfully dreary day. The sun must’ve had a fight with the moon that day because the heavens were crying, sending a heavy shower over your little town. 

Fat tears fell with a dramatic plop, spreading themselves out on the pathways. Lucky ones met with their friends and formed a puddle together, reflecting the sky and reminding everyone with their eyes on the ground about the grey sky above.

It was days like this that made you crave instant noodles. So you took the chance when the clouds seemed like they were starting to calm down from their sobbing fit. You threw on your old, neon green raincoat, which helped very little against harsh rain, and decided to head out to your nearest convenience store.

You danced around the puddles of water, twisting and turning in order to save your sneakers and jeans from getting wet. The last thing you wanted was the gross feeling of clothing sticking to your skin when it could’ve been avoided.

A pleasant tune flowed from your lips as the dainty bell rang above your head, announcing your entrance to whoever was in the store during the humid weather. 

The unknown song you were humming echoed throughout the mini mart, following your figure as you took your time browsing through the aisles. Your eyes light up the sight of your favorite brand of noodles being in stock before sweeping a bulk bag of five into your arms. Having the goods in your clutch, you make a beeline for the checkout, wanting to start eating as soon as possible.

“Hello, Y/N” The cashier, Renjun, greets as you appear in front of him. You nod in return to his greeting, attention taken by the Chupa Chups that were to the part-timer’s right.

“Were you planning to eat one here?” The Chinese boy asks, settling your food down into a plastic bag. You hum, answering positive to his question. Renjun’s brows then drew together in a crease.

“Unlucky, the rain’s really coming down hard now, our tables and chairs are soaked.”

“What?” You flipped your head around to observe the furniture placed outside, groaning at the sight of water droplets falling onto the smooth surface with no mercy. Your acquaintance pats your arm in pity, handing you your bag.

“I’ll have to wait it out, this stupid jacket won’t do anything against this rain.” 

So you found yourself leaning against the brightly painted exterior walls of the twenty-four hour mart, seeking refuge under the slight overhang as the clouds laughed at your misery. You cursed the weather under your breath, looking up at the heavens with frown on your face. How dare they delay you from eating your warm meal.

A hooded figure that came splashing through the wet conditions suddenly caught your eye and you immediately rose up from your sulking position, eyes on the newcomer in curiosity. You felt a familiar rise in temperature as the hood came off and the person turned to smile brightly at you.

“Terrible day isn’t it?” 

Your eyes turned into saucers as the pleasant voice canceled out the snickers of the harsh clouds above. The boy at the coffee shop had once again slid into your line of vision. 

“Yeah.” You mumbled, stuttering to get the word out. Turning your eyes away from the beaming male, you cringed. Why did you stutter? Why did your voice barely come out louder than a whisper? Why did your ears feel as though they were on fire?

“Nice coat.” Lee Donghyuck mentions casually, glancing at the neon choice with a glint in his eyes.

“It’s just as bright as your scarf from the other day.” 

Great. He remembers. You mentally start beating yourself up, why does the cutest boy in town have to catch you wearing the brightest clothes in your closet every time you meet.

A small smile spreads across Donghyuck’s face. You were embarrassed, it was obvious. The red ears, the way your face scrunched up in regret, it was endearing. 

He’d love to get to know you more.

“Wait here, I’ll be right back.” He says, clumsily pulling his fingers out of the pockets of the thick, dark jacket. You watch, confused as he makes his way into the mart, waving to Renjun as he does. The temperature drops down again as he disappears.

Donghyuck appears again a few moments later, emerging from the little store with a neon green umbrella in his hands. 

“It was the only one they had, I’m not teasing you, I swear.” The boy reminiscent of summer explains, pushing the metal branches up to reveal a frog design on the plastic. Donghyuck steps out into the rain, the frog above his head shielding him from the wet bullets. He motions for you to step under the children’s umbrella with him and because the rain didn’t look like it wanted to stop anytime soon, you did.

Shoulders brushing against each other under the small frog, you were granted a closer look at the breath-taking boy. A quick peek up past your lashes made you realize that the small moles that were spread on his left cheek and his neck formed a familiar constellation you’d see in the night sky. Just when you though he couldn’t get any more ethereal, he did.

“See something you like on my face?” He asks , craning his head to meet your eyes. There it was again, the familiar heat climbing up your neck. 

“I- Uh-”

“You’ve been staring at me the whole time we’ve been together.” His lips rose up in a teasing smirk, adjusting the frog so your shoulder didn’t get wet. 

“Yeah, well, there’s a constellation on your cheek, and people like looking at constellations formed by the stars.”

You were well aware that the babble you had stumbled out made little to no sense. If Jaemin and Jeno were here, they’d be on the floor laughing at your feeble attempts at conversation. 

A rosy hue powders Donghyuck’s cheeks, something you would’ve noticed had you not been wallowing in self-pity. 

“I’ll take that you mean you like looking at my face.” 

The two of you exchange names and numbers at your doorstep (though you already knew his name), agreeing to meet up sometime soon. But as the frog turned back to defend his master from the attack of the rain once again, you noticed how wet his right shoulder was.

Your shoulders was perfectly dry.

The third, fourth, fifth and rest of your encounters were history. The two of you met up often during the last few weeks. You learnt how to hold a decent conversation with the man you oh so adored, you even introduced him to your friends.

“Chenle, Jisung, Jaemin and Jeno, meet Donghyuck. You can call him Hyuck if you’d like.”

“So this is the dude you’ve been gushing to me over text about?”

“Jisung, you better close your trap before I tape it shut.”

And though you didn’t need introducing, you also got close to Mark and Renjun, the people Hyuck claims are the “most closest things he’s got to friends”. Renjun had rolled his eyes at his claim, pulling his same aged friend into a choke hold.

“Yeah right, stop putting on a front, Hyuck. You’d do anything for us.”

You treasured the time you spent with the glowing boy, always feeling as though you were in the middle of summer vacation instead of the winter semester. 

It wasn’t until one day, when the sky sent dainty little crystals down to visit Earth again, when you finally came clean with your feelings for the boy that made it feel like summer whenever he appeared.

It almost felt like deja vu. The sky seemed sick of crying everyday for the last week and, as if an apology, sent fairies that took the form of snowflakes to flutter down make up for the grey weather.

Frost gathered on your glass pane and tinkering sounds could be heard as the fairies bumped into the transparent surface. You watched from the warmth of your bed as a blanket of white started to settle over the town for the second time in a row. The snow fell softly, nudging itself into every nook and cranny. Contrasting against the soft, sparkling background, a hurrying figure that donned a bright red scarf caught your eye.

You blew you nose for what felt like the hundredth time within the hour before throwing the scrunched tissue into the bin, where a pile had been forming. It landed just as Hyuck burst into your cosy room, shaking stray snowflakes out of his coffee colored hair. 

“Hyuck, my carpet’s gonna get wet.” You croaked between your sniffles, already reaching for another piece of tissue. 

“I had to get the medicine to a certain bedridden person asap, didn’t have time to shake it all off before entering.” The boy you grown fond of states, unwrapping the thick scarf you had lent to him. 

Scoffing, you hid a blossoming smile underneath the tissue you prepared to blow your nose in. Acting like you were annoyed, you said,

“Well, if a certain person didn’t start a snowball fight yesterday, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Hey! You definitely started it first, I saw you roll the first ball.” He retorted childishly, flinging the box of pills onto your lap. Shrugging off the same jacket he wore on the day you first met, he wanders off into your kitchen, returning with a glass of water.

“Take your medication then get some rest. I’ll go make some soup, yeah?” 

You grunt in response, receiving the glass Donghyuck offered you gratefully. He ruffles your hair before shuffling out of your room, making sure to close the door softly behind him.

Obediently, after swallowing the tasteless pill, you snuggle back under your blanket and lull yourself into a dreamless sleep. Falling asleep in peace knowing that Hyuck was now out of the cold.

You awoke to Donghyuck gently shaking you, fluttering your eyes open to the boy sitting on the edge of your bed with steaming bowl of chicken soup in his hands. 

“Good morning, your highness.” He says as you sit up, the bed creaking from the shift of weight. 

“Care for some soup?” 

Laughter fills the air as you reach for the ceramic bowl. Instead of passing the bowl to you, Hyuck spoons up some of the hearty liquid and presses it to your lips. 

Hesitantly, you accept this offer, though you were arguing as you did.

“Hyuck, give me the bowl, I have hands!”

“You’re sick, I don’t want your shaky hands to spill what I’ve spent the last few hours on.”

“I’m a grown person-”

“Says the person who threw a snowball at me first.”

Pouting, you turn your gaze out the window in mock annoyance. Donghyuck blows on the next spoonful before bringing it in front of you again, afraid that it was still too hot.

Giving in, you allow your friend to spoon feed you and slowly, the bowl became empty. The second Donghyuck placed the bowl down, you pull him down onto the bed with you, screaming in joy as he yelled out in fright.

“What the hell, Y/N?!”

“If I’m sick, you’re getting sick with me!” You announced, rolling around with the boy still in your embrace.

“Let go, I’m warning you!” Hyuck exclaims before his hands wiggled against your sides, resulting in a hysterical laughter bubbling out of you.

The squabble continued on for a while, the two of you messing with each other until your seemingly endless energy finally gave out. Flopping back onto your mattress, the two of you laid side by side, taking in big breaths to calm down from the laughing fit.

“Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

“Have you ever thought of dating anyone?”

Hyuck’s question caught you off guard. Your eyes widened and your breath suddenly gets caught in your throat.

“Of course I have, why?” You ask, propping yourself up to face him.

Donghyuck sits up and looks at the wall opposite the bed. He was fiddling with his t-shirt, bunching it up around his fingers and letting it loose again only to repeat the action.

“The person you think about dating, can it be me?”

His confession came out rushed, his voice unusually quiet and the air silent afterwards.

Again, you felt it. The burning ears, the reddening cheeks and the tingling neck. The feeling when you first met the golden boy, it was still there. 

It never left.

So you crawled up in front of Donghyuck, cupped his equally burning cheeks and brought his face up to meet your eyes.

“I mean, you don’t have to give me a reply now, I just- I just want you to think about the possibility because I really, really like you and-”

“I’ve always thought you talked too much.” You giggled, placing your forehead against his. 

“I’ll date you.”

It was felt his breath hitch and saw his eye widen, the gleam you’ve grown to love sparkling as he processed your words.

“Really? Oh my god, you don’t have to feel pressured just because I asked, I just saw Jaemin holding your hand the other day and got jealous and wanted you to think about me as well-”

“Shut up, Hyuck. I’m not pressured to do anything. I like you.”

Donghyuck let out a excited screech before peppering your face with kisses. He pulls you back down on the bed, a big, bright smile that could rival your scarf on his face.

“Don’t kiss me or you’ll really get sick.” You warned against your new boyfriend’s chest.

“I’ll do what I want.” The boy reminiscent of summer tells you, giddy with happiness.

“You’ll have to look after me anyways.”

“Sunflower, I have class now, you’re going to have to let me go.”

“But you’re warm.” You wine, nuzzling your numb nose into your boyfriend’s arm.

Mark scrunches his face up in distaste as he passes by the table you were situated at in the coffee shop. Jaemin and Jeno both had equally grossed out expressions etched on their face. 

“Alright, but if I fail Physics, I’m blaming you.” Hyuck scolds playfully, placing a gentle peck on the crown of your head.

“Gross. Is it bad if I miss single Hyuck and single Y/N?”

“When they’re doing things like this out in public? No.”

[armangarments]

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review: one of the best budget phones money can buy

The design of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is fine, as designs go. It feels a little bit chunky and heavy in the hand, and the bottom bezel is slightly thicker than you might prefer, but it's by no means an ugly phone – there are display curves in all the right places and the teardrop notch isn't too intrusive.

Remember this is a phone you can pick up from as little as £179 – the starting price of the iPhone XS Max is more than six times higher. Does the iPhone offer a more premium finish and feel? Yes. Is it six times as better-looking as the Redmi Note 7? Absolutely not.

The 6.3-inch screen gives you plenty of room to work with and is bright and sharp enough to a more than satisfactory degree. Like a lot of budget phones, the resolution is pegged at 1080 pixels across, but we found the screen fine in day-to-day use – you're not really going to notice this too much.

From pretty much every angle, the Redmi Note 7 looks stylish. Black and blue are your colour options (at least in the UK they are), but the blue actually offers a subtle blue-purple gradient that looks really nice – if you want to turn a few heads when you're pulling the phone out of your pocket, that's the shade to go for.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review

The dual-lens rear camera bulges out a little bit, but not so much that it's annoying, and the back of the phone features a classy and minimal design broken up only by a fingerprint sensor and a small Redmi logo besides the camera.

A 3.5mm headphone jack is included up at the top, so you can carry on using your existing wired headphones, and down at the bottom of the phone you've got the USB-C port and two speaker grilles (but actually just one speaker). Volume and power buttons are at the side – they feel a little budget and basic, but still fine.

We do like the tiny LED notification light on the chin at the bottom of the phone, though it seems a bit odd to have it off to the side like it is – it helps you see at a glance whether you've got any notifications to check up on, and it's something we wish that more phones would offer.

Overall, while the Redmi Note 7 isn't going to win any design awards anytime soon, it's still a fine-looking handset, especially for the price. As with many budget and mid-range phones nowadays, it looks more expensive than it actually is, so it has to be a thumbs up for the look and feel of the Redmi Note 7.

These are our favourite small phones on the market XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 7: SPECS AND POWER Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review

Under the hood the Snapdragon 660 processor is a perfectly respectable choice at this price point – in fact, it's more than respectable, and should give you more than enough power for all but the most demanding tasks on mobile. We certainly didn't notice any lag or slowdown in our time with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7.

Our review unit came with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and this is the sweet spot as far as configuration goes – 3GB / 32GB is cutting it a bit fine in terms of system resources, and while 128GB of storage is great, it costs quite a lot more too. Considering the phone has a memory card slot, 4GB and 64GB should be fine.

Plenty of Chinese brands are using the Snapdragon 660 in their budget and mid-range phones at the moment, but outside of China the 660-toting handset you're probably most familiar with is the Nokia 7 Plus. That's where we're talking in terms of power.

It's at least on a par with other phones at this very low price range, and may well outperform a lot of them. In terms of Geekbench 4 scores at least (see the separate box out), the Redmi 7 Note does better than a phone like the Moto G7 Plus.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review

We tried to put the phone through its paces as extensively as possible, but whether it was scrolling around in Google Maps or racing around a beautifully rendered track in the latest Asphalt game, the Redmi Note 7 was up to the task.

Occasionally there's a millisecond or two of a pause where you might expect a smoother experience if you've downgraded from a flagship phone, but it really isn't anything to panic about. As with every other aspect of the Redmi Note 7, you have to balance performance with price – and considering how much (or how little) you're paying, the Snapdragon 660, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage combination is very decent indeed. It's only slightly below the Pixel 3a, which costs twice as much.

Of course we can only talk about the first few weeks of using the phone: buying a more expensive handset usually means it's going to stay faster for longer, though phone makers and software developers seem to be getting better at stopping this from happening.

Based on our time with the Redmi Note 7 and the benchmarking scores it was able to hit, you should have no problems at all with it in the performance department. You won't hit the frame rates or the loading times of something like the Samsung Galaxy S10, but you will find it perfectly responsive and up to all the tasks you give it.

GEEKBENCH 4 BENCHMARKS – XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 7

[CPU test]

Single-core: 1,635

Multi-core: 5,918

[Compute test]

RenderSript Score: 5,681

[Battery test]

Battery Score Estimate: 5,517

The very best phones that Samsung sells right now XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 7: CAMERA Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 comes packing a dual-lens rear camera, and one of those camera lenses offers up a whopping 48MP of resolution – a very high watermark for a phone at this price. It's accompanied by a 5MP snapper, so on paper the phone should be capable of getting some very decent shots.

We're happy to report that's the case – most of the time at least. On the whole, pictures came out sharp and vibrant, though in one or two shots we did find there was a lack of clarity and sharpness in the details. That was only really visible when zooming in though, so something you'd never notice on a social media feed.

Unless you override it in the settings, the Redmi Note 7 actually takes photos at a 12MP resolution, using the extra pixels from the 48MP sensor to do some clever image processing. Considering 12MP photos are as big as you're every likely to need, we're happy with that.

We did find there was a slight, almost imperceptible lag in the shutter speed on the Redmi Note 7. It's not going to get in the way of you taking the snaps you need, but it's something we noticed compared to the very top flagships on the market (which, sorry to labour the point, cost a whole lot more money).

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 camera impresses, on the whole.

In good light most pictures are sharp and feature a nice balance of colour.

It's not the most advanced camera in the world, but it won't disappoint.

Close ups usually include lots of detail and sharp focus.

For the majority of the time, you can just point and shoot to get great results.

The portrait mode on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 seems responsive and effective.

With a bit of light, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 camera can get decent results at night.

As with most phone cameras, as the light goes down, the noise goes up. Next At night the Redmi Note 7 coped pretty well with the shooting tasks we gave it, as long as there was some form of illumination coming from somewhere. It's in the darkest scenes where noise starts to creep in and the phone's rear camera doesn't hold up to the Pixels of this world. The dedicated night mode does help a little, but we found it a bit hit and miss in terms of balancing noise and illumination.

As in most other areas though, the Redmi Note 7 camera goes above and beyond what you would expect from a budget phone down at the bottom end of the market. There's no optical image stabilisation (so keep your hands as still as you can) and no laser autofocus, so it might take a little longer to lock onto subjects.

You won't find much in the way of shooting modes or enhancements here – bar a rather gimmicky "beautify" mode – but there is a portrait function for blurring the backgrounds behind subjects. It's basic in its implementation, especially compared with the flagship phones of the moment, but in our tests it does a very respectable job.

On the front there's a 13MP single-lens camera which we found to be very much up to the job of taking decent-quality selfies when needed. A second lens for a wider angle would be welcome, but we wouldn't expect one at this price point.

Get yourself a phone for less: the best cheap phones XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 7: SOFTWARE AND FEATURES Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review

If there is an area where Xiaomi phones fall down, it's in the software it slaps on top of Android, and the Redmi Note 7 is no different in this respect. Xiaomi's MIUI isn't hideous, it's just a bit more bloated and a bit more busy than we would really like.

You get a ton of Xiaomi Mi apps that you can't uninstall, plenty of prompts to set up a Mi account that you don't really need, and no app drawer (something we like to have on Android, but your mileage may vary).

Every app Xiaomi adds on is like a cheap imitation of what Google does – like the "App Vault" that appears when you swipe right from the home screen. Of course you can use the Google apps instead and ignore the Xiaomi ones, and even revamp the entire interface with a third-party launcher, but in our eyes MIUI is still the weakest part of the overall Redmi Note 7 package.

You do at least get the latest Android 9 Pie running under MIUI, but whether you'll get Android Q anytime soon remains to be seen. Like most phone makers, Xiaomi tends to take months to get all its handsets updated, whether you're running one of its budget models or something at the high-end.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review

Aside from the software, the phone doesn't offer any sort of waterproofing, which is pretty much par for the course at this price level. Ditto wireless charging, which isn't available, though 18W fast charging is. You do also get dual-SIM capabilities, if you need to juggle work and personal numbers.

One of the advantages of lower-powered components and a lower-resolution screen is better battery life, and the Redmi Note 7 scores well in this department too. We often found ourselves with a third of the battery still left at the end of the day, and sometimes more, with light-to-medium usage.

If you really push the battery hard with games, GPS and video you're going to need a recharge by the end of the day, but on most days you're not going to have to worry about making it to bedtime. At the same time the phone isn't going to revolutionise your life with two days between charges either.

In the regular battery test we run, the Redmi Note 7 went down from 100 percent to 87 percent after an hour of Netflix at maximum brightness and medium volume, a fairly average result That works out at 7-8 or so hours of video watching between charges – a result that's about average for a phone in 2019.

The top phones out of the MWC 2019 event this year XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 7: VERDICT Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review

We're sure you're bored of us saying it now, but: the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 can be yours for as little as £179 (or £199, for the version we tested). Everything else about the phone has to be viewed in that light, and from the camera to the design to the performance, the Redmi Note 7 manages to exceed expectations by some distance.

The few reservations we had about the phone, including a lack of waterproofing and the rather overbearing MIUI software, aren't enough to dissuade us from what is a very good deal right now. The quality, finish and power of Xiaomi phones have been steadily improving over the years, and it's trickled down to the budget Redmi line too.

The Redmi Note 7 isn't going to take photos as well as a Google Pixel can, or look as stylish as an iPhone, or race through tasks as quickly as a Samsung Galaxy – but in terms of the bang you get for your buck, we'd say it beats pretty much everything out there at the moment.

[thesevillereport]

In Focus: EV Wars Update

It's been a busy couple of weeks in the EV space. We've had delivery reports, delivery date announcements,official test drives, factories bought and sold, as well as manufacturing rights bought and sold.

In my piece on the Rivian IPO a few weeks ago, I spoke on the electric vehicle wars heating up, and over the past few weeks, the moves made by some major players have turned the heat up even more. Here is of some news that occurred over the past several days involving some of the major players in the EV wars.

Tesla

Tesla ($TSLA) recently released its delivery numbers for Q3 2021. The company reported that it delivered 241,300 vehicles during the quarter, topping analyst estimates of 220,900. Deliveries in Q3 also topped Q2 2021 deliveries by 20%.

Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y accounted for close to 229,000 of the total deliveries for the quarter, and nearly 9,000 Model S and X vehicles were delivered during the quarter.

Lucid

Last week a lucky few got the chance to visit the Lucid Group ($LCID) plant in Arizona for a tour and test drive of the Lucid Air Dream. From everything I've read, the car is spacious, and has a luxurious fit and finish to it. The Range edition of the car offers 520 miles of range, which is more than any Tesla, and the Performance edition of the Air comes with 1,111 horsepower.

Lucid expects deliveries to start in October, but if you haven't already reserved your Lucid Air Dream,  you'll have to wait a little longer. The Air Dream Edition has already sold out and Lucid has closed reservations.

Though I've talked about holding off on an investment in Lucid, what I've read about the car from people who have taken it for a test drive has made me rethink my original position. Specifically the part about the car's fit and finish. I've seen too many Tesla's with uneven spacing between the hood and fender, and a number of other build quality concerns. Elon's personality, and the cult that is Tesla owners has caused many people to overlook these issues, but for how long? If Lucid can keep its delivery date of October, I'll definitely have to revisit the stock.

Rivian

It's been a busy few weeks for Rivian. In September the company started deliveries of its R1T pickup truck. A feat that has been severely down played, likely because the company isn't a public company yet. Rivian was able to beat Tesla, Lordstown Motors ($RIDE), Ford ($F), and GM ($GM) to market with a functional electrical pickup truck. It's a kick to the gut of Ford and GM, whose F150 and Chevy Silverado, respectively, are among those companies' best selling vehicles.

Rivian won't be private for long. The company has filed its paperwork to go public, and it released its S1 last week. The company's filing has everything I expected. Big losses, big spends, big cash reserves, and big plans. The company lost over $1 billion in 2020, spent $1 billion in research and development over the last two years, has over $3 billion in cash, and has plans to sell vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, and then expand to Western Europe and then Asia.

Foxconn and Fisker and Lordstown Motors

Earlier in the year Fisker ($FSR) completed a manufacturing deal with iPhone manufacturer Foxconn (2354.TW). The deal would allow Foxconn to manufacture a car for Fisker. Last year, Foxconn stated it wanted to be the Android of electric vehicles by creating a platform to help automobile companies make electric vehicles.

For months, the question has been where will Foxconn manufacture Fisker's vehicle, and this week we got our answer. Lordstown, Ohio is where Foxconn will manufacture vehicles. Foxconn purchased the Lordstown Motors manufacturing facility for $230 million.

Does that mean Lordstown Motors is done? Not really. Foxconn, purchased the building, made an equity investment inLordstown Motors, and also secured the right to manufacture Lordstown's electric pickup truck, the Endurance.

As for Fisker, Project PEAR (Personal Electric Automotive Revolution) is expected to start production in 2023. Fisker's SUV, Ocean, will be manufactured in Europe by manufacturer Magna Steyr. The production of the Ocean is scheduled to begin in late 2022.

Winners and Losers

In this update of the EV wars, I would call Tesla, Lucid, Rivian, and Lordstown winners and Foxconn the big winner.

Tesla's deliveries in Q3 show that people are still all in on the Tesla brand. Tesla continues to lead the EV charge and build upon its lead in the EV space.

The Lucid test-drive reviews have been good so far, a spacious car with a luxury fit and finish. I keep harping on the fit and finish, and it's because I've seen enough Teslas with a terrible fit and finish.  Lucid could be the competitor to Tesla That the markets have been waiting/hoping for.

Rivian, they did it, they produced and delivered an electric pickup truck before Tesla, Lordstown Motors, Nikola ($NKLA) (who scraped their pickup truck plans), GM, and Ford. As I alluded to earlier, the Ford F150 is the top selling vehicle in the U.S. followed by the Chevy Silverado, why Ford and GM didn't make producing an electric version of these trucks a priority will always confuse me. Rivian has set itself up nicely to take some of Ford and Chevy's share of the pickup truck market.

Lordstown is another company that won this week. Since May of this year the company has been open about its cash problems and delays, especially after word got out that it wasn't close to producing the truck it promised, and it appears the expected delivery date for the Endurance is being pushed back again. In August the company's plans were to start production of the Endurance in September of this year and begin deliveries in Q1 2022, now it appears deliveries won't take place until mid to late 2022. The $230 million received for the plant and the $50 million equity investment from Foxconn should go a long way in helping to stabilize Lordstown. The company has had a tough go of it alone, this partnership with Foxconn could be what the company needs to get it back on track.

Foxconn is the big winner in this round of EV news and updates. Securing the rights to manufacture vehicles for Fisker and Lordstown, while also picking up a factory that Lordstown has already spent big money outfitting to produce electric vehicles is a very nice win. Foxconn also has a deal in place with Chinese automaker Geely to manufacture its vehicles.The company's plan of becoming the Android of electric vehicles is starting to take shape.

In this round Fisker wasn't a winner, but I wouldn't call it a loser either. The production date for the Ocean is just too far out to put it in the mix.

The losers in this round are Ford and GM for the reasons I've stated above. Ford's electric F150 is expected in spring 2022, but I have very little faith in that delivery date. The electric Chevy Silverado isn't expected until 2023.

The EV wars are heating up and getting more exciting by the week.

[novumtimes]

BYD Song L DM-i reached dealers before launch revealing trims

Chinese dealers began receiving BYD Song L DM-i plug-in hybrid crossovers with a DM 5.0 tech and prepared for the pre-sale start. The Song L DM-i will reportedly enter the market during Q3 this year with a price range of 99,800 – 139,800 yuan (13,750 – 19,250 USD). – Advertisement – BYD Song L DM-i is the latest addition to the brand’s Song series. It applied for the sales license in June. On July 4, BYD officially announced more details on this vehicle, warming the audience before the pre-sales start. Meanwhile, dealers across China have already begun receiving Song Plus DM-i crossovers. BYD Song L DM-i at dealers According to Chinese automotive bloggers, BYD allowed dealers to purchase Song L DM-i. At the same time, netizens shared photos of these crossovers being delivered to dealerships. It seems the first batch of BYD Song L DM-i isn’t only for displaying in showrooms but for sales. However, many valuable details about the BYD Song L DM-i leaked online. – Advertisement – The BYD Song L DM-i will start pre-sales with a price range of 120,000 – 150,000 yuan (16,500 – 20,650 USD). During the launch, BYD plans to slice the price to 99,800 – 139,800 yuan (13,750 – 19,250 USD). The Song L DM-i will be available in four trims: 112 km Leading 112 km Transcend 160 km Transcend 160 km Brilliant According to leaked information, only three trim levels of the Song L DM-i will be delivered to dealerships in July. They are 112 km Leading, 112 km Transcend, and 160 km Brilliant. The BYD Song L DM-i has four body color options: Ice Blue, Emerald, White, and Gray. Each shade goes as standard. As for the interior, there is a single color scheme called “Golden Sand Ceramic”. – Advertisement – More about the BYD Song L DM-i The BYD Song L DM-i is a mid-size SUV that follows the brand’s distinguishing Dragon Face design language. Its dimensions are 4780/1898/1670 mm, with a wheelbase of 2782 mm. Under the hood, the Song L DM-i has a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated ICE for 74 kW (99 hp) paired with a 160 kW (215 hp) electric motor. The Song L DM-i has two LFP battery options made by BYD subsidiary FinDreams for 18.3 kWh and 26.6 kWh, suitable for 112-160 km of CLTC range. Another feature of this SUV is DM 5.0 PHEV technology. This system has a thermal efficiency of 46%, 2.9 L/100km fuel consumption, and up to 2,100 km range. However, the fuel consumption and range of the Song L DM-i will differ from the mentioned metrics. Source: WeChat Source link via The Novum Times