#Fake W2 Generator

[revoevokukil]

TW3 Story Leaks

It's Saturday, and I bring you some cold, hard rumour.

It seems somebody on reddit is working through the leaks of The Witcher 3, claiming approximately 300k of lines relating to the previous story iterations also leaked in 2021. Much of what they are claiming matches with the leaked files from 2014. There is completely new information too, though, and they plan on publishing their work-through early 2025.

So far, this is the information I've gathered from their posts:

Iorveth's daughter was Vernossiel. Her quest had her involved with a cult of the Bloody Mother; spores from a particular "flower" affected her thinking so she got brainwahsed into being sacrificed in a ritual killing in order to rise as the Bloody Mother herself.

Cerys was fake-Ciri.

The Baron (or Baron’s men?) was originally a rapist.

The Big 4 was originally Big 5, including Isengrim. Isengrim and Iorveth had houses in Novigrad.

Vincent Meis' model existed.

There was a quest with “thralls” (most likely Following the Thread involving Jad Karadin and the Faroe island) where Geralt would temporarily get married to a chieftain’s daughter.

We’d lock Yennefer in dimeritium handcuffs at one point to prevent her from interfering with the King’s Gambit questline.

Avallac’h provided Geralt with the means to warg as a rat in order to eavesdrop on the meeting of the Big 5 (including Isengrim) on Dijkstra’s ship. (Iorveth was planning on blowing the ship up.)

The Catriona Plague questline. It had a Nilfgaardian general Martin running a krankenhaus, where was infecting his countrymen with the plague and stealing their valuables. He made deals with Gaunter O’Dimm (his involvement in HOS is as a leftover from here) to get a cure for the Catriona, then with Gaunter’s archnemesis to get to keep the cure. Geralt had to figure it all out as Catriona was becoming more and more rampant and the faction with the cure would have huge leverage in how the war questline would resolve. Geralt would get the chance to hand the cure back to Gaunter, to Radovid, or Emhyr.

Iorveth got infected with Catriona, then infected Thaler to improve his morale on getting a cure (Thaler promised Iorveth a cure for assassinating Emhyr or some such.)

The war quest lines were somehow related to the dreamer Corinne Tilly who was a Nilfgaardian spy.

Voorhis laid siege to Crow’s Perch because Temerian rebels took it over.

The Sabbath originally had slave markets, an orgy meadow, and ritual suicides. Changed after 2014.

There was an option to assassinate Radovid after taking out Roche, so Dijkstra's rule was always an option.

Roche originally preferred fighting for Temeria no matter what. Reason of State had Roche vs Thaler and Dijkstra.

Radovid was more like his W2 self. Emhyr "more like Stalin."

Radovid took over the Temple Isle.

Emhyr was supposed to appear in the army camp center.

If Emhyr lost, Voorhis would overthrow him.

All the content showcasing Nilfgaardian war crimes was cut: a Nilfgaardian general was spreading the Catriona plague, robbing his dying countrymen; Voorhis' cruelty during the siege of the Crow's Perch, Nilfgaardians' direct attack on Kaer Trolde.

Crach died during the battle for Undvik and Voorhis negotiated over his body; the corpse was returned and Nilfgaard respect local burial traditions.

Melusine quest line had more content related to blood shrines.

There was an opportunity to try and convince Caranthir to betray Eredin, after which he'd get replaced by some elven lady (Isilira?). (Conflicted about this, as in 2013 leaks it seemed Caranthir knocks Avallac’h out on Naglfar when Geralt and him try to infiltrate it.)(Isilira is the lady you meet in Avallac’h’s lab in the released version.)

There was a sequence in White Orchard in the Empress ending where Voorhis had announced he'd arrive and propose to Ciri in few days, but Ciri lost Emhyr's signet ring to prove his approval of the marriage. Then some kind of gamble ensued under the influence of a Korred, and Ciri decided if she'd win she'd marry and if not she'd run away (not sure if this shouldn't it be the other way around).

Gameplay-wise:

There was a 'vital spot' system, where you gained points by performing various actions and could then use those points to perform combat moves that would either weaken of 1-shot an enemy.

Manticores were cut.

Players could buy boats and horses; rowboat for rivers and lakes.

Wind tunnels and proper storms in which a boat could tilt over.

Water combat was cut.

Focus mode in combat was cut.

[welcometothejianghu]

Welcome to another round of W2 Tells You What You Should See, where W2 (me) tries to sell you (you) on something you should be watching. Today's choice: 叛逆者/The Rebel.

The Rebel is a 2021 period drama set during the 1930s and '40s as seen (mostly) from Shanghai by a patriotic young man who just keeps getting injured, ow, that poor baby.

It's a fairly realistic spy drama, by which I mean, there's not a bunch of cute costume changes or fun fake identities. Instead, this is a story about people who live entire other lives for years, keeping their true allegiances under wraps, doing what they can to help their side while sweating out what they can’t. It's way more John le Carré than Ian Fleming -- no James Bond flashiness or gizmos, all George Smiley subterfuge and paperwork. Actual spycraft is tough, kids!

Full disclaimer up front: This show is not a happy fun good time. It's a fascinating, gripping, tense piece of work about a thirteen-year period of history where a whole lot of miserable things were happening. The body count is frighteningly high. Be very careful about which characters you get attached to. Exactly one man has plot armor, so God help the rest of them.

However, if you're up for a quality drama with a serious tone that's so full of HISTORY! it's bursting at the seams, I have five reasons you should give this one a shot:

1. Starring the veins in Zhu Yilong's forehead

Do you feel like watching a beautiful man have a terrible day for 43 episodes straight?

This show is absolutely a Zhu Yilong vehicle. The rest of the cast is great (and more on them later), but he's the star -- and the show just loves to beat him up, both emotionally and physically. His character, Lin Nansheng, exists in a Murphy's-Law situation where if anything bad can happen to him, it will. If you like seeing this gorgeous gentleman in distress, this show has you covered.

Someone please care him.

2. Daddy Issues

Chen Moqun is a bad, bad man. He's a bastard in his first scene, and he's a bastard in his last. He is loyal to exactly one thing, and that is his own survival. He will ally with anyone and fuck anyone over if it means he gets to live another day.

He is also scaldingly hot in his bastardry.

Chen Moqun is the spymaster who pulls Lin Nansheng out of the regular military ranks and into the world of the intelligence services, despite Lin Nansheng's lack of experience in the field. This means that Lin Nansheng is Chen Moqun's little golden boy -- and that means Chen Moqun feels justified in making Lin Nansheng do whatever the hell he wants, and in getting all up in Lin Nansheng's business when he doesn't do it perfectly.

I know there are several of you out there whose tails just started wagging. Good, you've got it.

Alas that he is not in nearly as much of the series as his top billing suggests he would be. He's a major figure in the early arcs, but pretty soon after, Circumstances relocate him to somewhere Lin Nansheng isn't -- and because Lin Nansheng is our POV character, Chen Moqun all but vanishes from the show. He reappears later, but as a much less prominent figure. Still a self-serving bastard, though! Don't worry about that.

I like Chen Moqun as a character for a lot of reasons. He's slimy, but he's effective. He's smart, but he's not a supervillain. He's the kind of competent bastard that it's very fun to watch the good guys outwit. He kind of has to leave the narrative, because he's so sharp that much of the plot would be impossible under his supervision; he gets replaced by [spoiler], whose general incompetence makes him dangerous in a very different way, but who is so self-absorbed that he can't see when he's being played. Pulling the wool over Chen Moqun's eyes is a much nastier business.

At the same time, though, he's a coward. He'll sell out anything and anyone to save his own skin. His lack of inner conviction eventually reduces him to something pathetic, leaving him at the mercy of people he once abused, Lin Nansheng included. ...Ah, your tails are wagging harder now, I see.

Now, for those of you who are not into a Bad Daddy dynamic, may I sell you on how Lin Nansheng also has two Good Daddies?

Honestly, if this show had not been laboring under the weight of [gestures to the state of Chinese media and culture], I'm pretty sure they would have made at least one of these two Older Lifelong Bachelors textually gay. I'm just saying, throw-yourself-into-the-cause-style patriotism is a great cover for never marrying and being cagey about your entire personal life.

Also, I know their super-secret espionage meetups on park benches aren't intended to look like dudes cruising, but come on.

3. A startlingly good love story???

And I say "startlingly" because the love story comes in multiple stages, and I haaaaaate the first one. Fortunately, so does the show!

When Lin Nansheng and Zhu Yizhen start off their romance, she's a wealthy college schoolgirl (which comes off as more than a little creepy, since Tong Yao is clearly in her late thirties) and he's a TA at her school -- except she's actually a student activist working for the Communists, and he's a member of the KMT sent to seduce her and infiltrate her cell. It goes exactly as badly as you'd expect! And when it was clear it was over for good, I breathed a sigh of relief. I liked them both as individual characters, but as a romantic pairing, the amount of malicious deception involved really wasn't doing it for me, to say nothing of how I dislike teacher/student as a trope. (Also, they really have no chemistry together, but whatever, I'm used to c-drama hets by now.) Well, I thought, thank goodness all that's over and we'll never have to come back to it!

But here's the thing: They come together again later under different circumstances, and oh, that's some good stuff. She gets a haircut, he gets to be himself, and the two of them have to learn how to work together even when they can't entirely trust one another.

That amount of deception is great, because that's not lies -- it's opsec. They are both withholding colossal amounts of information from one another, and each one of them knows the other's doing it, even if they don't know what information is being withheld. They both want to know what the other person knows, but they also know that person would die before giving up their secrets.

This does lead to a number of points where you're hollering JUST TELL HIM/HER at the screen, which can get a little frustrating. But, like, you get it. They've got reasons for not sharing information, and grim little reason number one is, the bad guys can't torture out of you what you don't know.

This is not a romance drama; this is a drama that happens to have a complicated romance stitched all the way through it. Sometimes it's the main focus, but much of the time it's a side note. The two of them go years at a time without interacting. They each spend a fair amount of time believing the other is dead. When they do get to work together, they're great partners. When they're separated or at odds, they don't collapse.

I said earlier that Lin Nansheng is the POV character, which is mostly true. However, we do get a not-small amount of the story told from Zhu Yizhen's POV when he's not around, which goes a long way toward making her an actual person and not just an accessory to his story -- and that goes a long way toward making this romance something between equals, and not just a case where a nice guy feels real bad about how much he fucked over the girl he liked.

I'd say that if you're looking for a drama where the love story is a central point of interest, or for a drama without any love story at all, you'll be happier elsewhere. However, if you're a Goldilocks who enjoys a fraught love story when it's there but doesn't miss it when it's gone, this may strike a good balance for you!

This pair is also about as much as the show gets in terms of textual, onscreen romance. Howerver, there are also a number of couples in this show who have to pretend to be married, if that's a trope that does it for you. And speaking of those...

4. My Fair Lady

Lan Xinjie turned out to be maybe my favorite character in the show, which surprised the hell out of me, considering how she was introduced as a pretty throwaway character: Oh, look, a pretty and sophisticated woman at the dance hall, she can use her refined and wordly ways to make The Virgin Lin Nansheng sweat, it's great.

But then she comes back. In fact, she keeps exiting the narrative and then showing up again a couple episodes later! Her continued involvement with these spy boys keeps both ruining her life and saving it. Every time you think she's gotten out, circumstances pull her back into Lin Nansheng's catastrophe orbit, making her maybe the most tragic character in a series full of them.

Here's a thing that impressed me about the drama: Lan Xinjie is a sex worker, but the show never shits on her for that. The show presents what she's doing as negative, but mostly because she doesn't particularly enjoy doing it. She keeps doing it, though, because sometimes it's the best way for her to make money, and sometimes it's the only way for her to make money.

The thing is, Lan Xinjie herself never talks about what she's doing like it's some tragic fate. It's a job. She has to play nice with jackass men from all over the world, and she can do it because men fall all over a pretty girl like her. Whenever Lin Nansheng makes a sad face about it, she basically rolls her eyes at him. She has a very solid grasp of the way the world works, and she's going to do what she needs to do to keep herself and her loved ones alive.

Now: Lan Xinjie definitely functions in the narrative as a contrast to how Good and Pure Communist Girl-Next-Door Zhu Yizhen is. Lan Xinjie is a little too much of a Fallen Woman, so she's never going to threaten Zhu Yizhen's position as the main love interest. However, it would have been so easy to go all in on slut-shaming Lan Xinjie to make that contrast even starker, and the show does not do that. It does not judge her for her choices, in part because it understands that women like her very often doesn't have any.

On top of all of this, Zhu Zhu can act her damn face off. There are story beats that could have been melodramatic and unintentionally comic, but she sells them and makes them devastating. Arguably the best scenes in the entire show are when she and Zhu Yilong are working together, because the two of them consistently turn in stellar performances. This show is not exactly a font of subtlety (see my next point), but both of them manage to play their roles with restraint and dignity that make their moments together shine.

I won't spoil where exactly this goes, but to me, the complicated relationship between Lin Nansheng and Lan Xinjie is one of the highlights of the show. It's a lot of guilt and obligation intertwined with genuine affection, and because it can't be The Love Story, it winds up being a very fraught, intimate friendship that lasts through the best and worst parts of both of their lives.

Also, everything she wears is stunning. Marry me, Miss Lan.

5. Makes you feel real smart!

Hey, nerds! Do you like history? Because boy oh boy, is this a show about history!

It's so much a show about history, in fact, that it occasionally has to break into little documentary-style interludes, where you get to watch pictures of actual historical footage while one of the cast members narrates a small summary of what's going on with the geopolitical situation at that moment. Everyone in the main cast is fictional, but there are plenty of real names dropped all over the place. You aren't expected to know everything already, but you're definitely expected to keep up.

I will admit that I don't know the ins and outs of that historical period well enough to fact-check a lot of the particulars, so I can't swear to the accuracy of its various smaller moves. I do know enough about it to know, though, that this story is a little biased.

And by that I mean: This show is propaganda through and through. It’s all about how well the Righteous Communists did in their battle first against the Terrible Japanese, then against the Wicked KMT (the non-Communist Nationalists). Characters give stirring declarations of their principles at a rate of about one every other episode. There’s a whole scene where two dudes sit on a park bench and talk animatedly about what a great and prescient writer Mao was. Be prepared to be serenaded by a number of (what I assume are) stirring Communist anthems.

This all has zero emotional resonance to me. There were several points I could tell it was making references to events and people and speeches that are surely real historical things, but I lack most of the cultural competency that I’d need to recognize them without explanation. The climactic moment of Lin Nansheng’s joining the Communists (this is not a spoiler, you know it’s coming from the get-go) mostly seemed goofy to me, especially with the closed-fist salute that looks like you’re about to punch yourself in the head.

See what I mean?

All of which is to say: The propaganda did not bother me, because I mostly found it abstract and funny. And for heaven's sake, I'm from the US; I learned how to laugh my way through unsubtle pro-government propaganda watching Saturday morning cartoons.

However, I can imagine people closer to these cultures and events having MUCH stronger reactions. If this is you, yeah, be careful.

What's kind of sad (and by sad I mean funny) is how much the blatant Communism! Fuck Yeah! just turns the show into the "How do you do, fellow kids?" of propaganda. If it had just told the story, it honestly would have done a better job of making the Communists seem like the cool underdogs against the overpowering forces of authoritarian jackassery. But when you have someone all but turn to the camera damn near every episode to make sure you, the viewer, know how good and noble and smart its brave communist characters are, it sure spoils the effect.

I honestly don't know enough about the production team to know how accidental or intentional this was. Is it possible the drama is actually subtly lampooning these hyper-patriotic tropes? Sure, maybe! Is it possible that it actually believes this cringe with all its heart? Could be! Is it maybe neutral on matters of personal belief but playing up this version of history to get the show approved by party censors during the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CCP? Ah, yeah, that's the most likely one. Believe what you want about its motivations. Those who are inclined to be moved by its ideologies probably will be. The rest of us, probably the opposite.

All that said: I actually think it's useful and good to hear obviously biased takes on historical events, especially from unfamiliar and non-western perspectives. This is because all takes on historical events are biased, and it's dangerous and stupid to pretend they're not! Looking at how someone tells a story is as instructive as looking at the story they tell. If you go into the Rebel with that in mind, it adds a meta-layer of interest that I (a historian) find fascinating.

Ready to watch, comrade?

This one's an iQiyi exclusive -- and it's not a VIP exclusive, so if you're willing to put up with some ads, you can watch it all for free.

This is a show I'm probably never going to watch all the way through again, on account of how heavy it is. However, it is also a show I'm very glad I watched, because I find myself thinking about it a lot. Even when it's being hokey and jingoistic, it never stops being interesting. It's just a well-made drama that contains multitudes.

And, of course, one of those is this beautiful man's beautiful face.

[stella632]

[W2] SDL Task 1: Photography and truth - Part 2

The article explores the complicated relationship between photography and truth, illustrating how the medium has been manipulated and interpreted throughout history. It begins with the introduction of the Kodak No. 1 camera in 1888, which made photography accessible to the general public. This democratisation of photography led to famous photographic trickery, such as the Cottingley fairies hoax in the early 20th century, where two young women faked images of fairies, deceiving even respected figures like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The article highlights how the rise of snapshot photography created a perception of authenticity and sincerity. However, snapshots, like modern-day social media posts challenge this perception, as they are often carefully curated to present an idealised reality. The introduction of colour photography, beginning with the Lumière Autochrome in 1907, further complicated the relationship between photography and truth. While colour photography was praised for its realism, the process was still subject to manipulation, raising questions about whether the colours depicted were authentic to nature.

The discussion then shifts to manipulating documentary photography, often considered a truthful record of events. Iconic images like “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” and “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” were later revealed to be staged or manipulated, undermining their perceived authenticity. Even photographs meant to document harsh realities, like Dorothea Lange’s “Migrant Mother,” were edited to enhance their emotional impact.

The article concludes by discussing the origin of digital manipulation tools like Adobe Photoshop, which made it easier to alter images. This has led to ongoing debates about the truthfulness of photography, as the medium continues to be used both to reveal and obscure reality. Ultimately, the article invites readers to reflect on the role of photography in shaping our understanding of truth.

A notable memory of encountering a manipulated photograph was when I saw a photo of one of the Kardashian sisters on social media posting her 'new look' during the COVID lockdown. It was obvious that there had been some kind of transformation, therefore I scrolled down to the comments section to see what people had to say. I saw a comment that said, "where is her necklace chain at?"

When I went back to review, I hadn't noticed the small detail. Although I could tell something was slightly off with the image, it wasn't immediately noticeable. Maybe she had just used a light filter - but later news sources called her out on it. The NZ Herald even wrote an article, showing the before and after of her 'new look' which turned out to be a manipulated image. This type of deception is prevalent in today's world, especially with the rise of social media. It tends to be detrimental to perspectives on beauty standards which can be damaging to a young woman's confidence.

[nityarawal]

3/5/2024

Morning "Cat" Physics

Songs 

Wigoner Waggoner

Wiggled

Are They Related

Reading Up On

Shrodinger's

Cat

Experiment

De Broglie - Brohn

Theory

So Simplisic

Doje Everywhere

Now Quantum

Mechanics

Cats

Overtaking My Lair

What To Understand

Since Physicists

Want You To Know

It's About

The "Born Rule,"

Agents Protocall

Super Agents

Danielle 

Smachtenberger Calls

Them

Hustling "Qubits"

Elon Seemingly Let's Them

With Atty Coercion

But Does A

Celebrity

Have A Choice

Does A 

Cat 

Have A Choice

Is The Cat 

Dead Or Alive

In The Box

Physicists

Taunted On Bribes

Or Hostage

"I know (by the

theory)

that they know

(by the same

theory)

that "X is equivalent

to "I know that

X,"

Reasoning-

Assumptions-

Make Me A

Agent

"No-go,"

Agent

Inspiring Books Like

"Time Like Infinity,"

By

Stephan Baxter

Fiction

"Refugee Thought Experiment,"

But Is It Just A

"Quantum Suicide

Machine?"

Forbidden Subjects

Lead Poisoning

Carbons

Exploding

Don't Break My 

Heart

DNA

In Ten Thousand

Pieces

Of Carbons

From

Fake

Queen's

Greenwashings

At Rewind AI

Like A Cat

In A Box

Dead

With Cancer

Just A Meme 

Now

Cyborgs

At Rewind

A Prototype

Cloned

Space X

Harems

Trolling Me

Irany

Once J-ma 

Now 5 Tracey 

Thomas's 

Spies

Spidering

Venomous

Scorpions

Gambling

Lymes

It's An

"Effective Collapse,"

"Empty Branches,"

They Call It

Barren Trees

Stripped

Of Tree 

Of Life

Stripped 

Of Her Children

Fruit Of Life

In Germ

Warfare

MUM

Disease

Don't Break My

Heart

Ten Thousand

Times

Beloved Gigolos

"Trust No One,"

Says Elon

But Then We Might

Never Know Love

Eloning To

Mars

MIU

Physicists

So Embrace The

Truth

Listen To What

He Once Said

Plus Your Intuition

Guts

Before Identity

Thefts

Mash Ups

With Rewind

So You Can

See Past

The Smoke

Past The Clouds

Past The

"Shrodinger's Cat 

Experiment,"

For We Lost Romeo

The King Of

Savannah Harems

Irany

"Declarence Is 

Generally Considered

To Prevent

Simultaneous Observation

Of Multiple States In

Physics,"

"F1 with W1 and

F2 with W2,"

Benny

Waggoner

(Nanny Daniel Hauptman And

Alex Martinez's Iowa

Magistrate Step Dad Judge)

Waggoner

Burned

Is First Sutra A "Friendly,"

Exploitation

Of "Pat-Anjali's"

First Sutra

In Gautama's

Family

"The Friends'

Of Wigoner's

Friend,"

Is A "Friend,"

The First Sutra

Patanjali

First Step Of

Unity

Harmony

Inter Galactic

Space

Don't You Know

Fly With Me

Don't "Spin"

Don't Lie

They'll Try To Break

Your Heart

Integrity

Faith

"Trust

No One,"

Except

Me

Physicists

Gravity

Moms

Merci

Baraye

Peace,

Nitya Nella Davigo Azam Moezzi Huntley Rawal 

[doebrandon57]

Modernizing Payroll: The Benefits of Using a Pay Stub Generator with Logo

In today's fast-paced business environment, modernizing processes is essential for staying competitive and efficient. One area that has seen a significant transformation is payroll management, thanks to innovations like the integration of a Pay Stub Generator With Logo. This advancement is revolutionizing how companies manage their payroll systems while offering a range of benefits that extend beyond the mere paycheck.

Branding Beyond Borders

The inclusion of a company logo on pay stubs might seem like a small detail, but it has a substantial impact on brand identity. Each time an employee receives a paycheck stub with the company logo prominently displayed, it reinforces the brand's presence and creates a sense of unity. It's a powerful visual reminder that every payday is connected to the larger purpose and values of the company. This simple addition goes a long way in building a strong corporate identity that resonates with both employees and external stakeholders.

Professionalism in Every Pay Stub

Gone are the days of handwritten paychecks and basic text-based pay stubs. With the availability of advanced check stub makers and pay stub generators, companies can create professional-looking pay stubs online. These platforms allow businesses to add logos, customize fonts, and select color schemes that mirror the company's branding. This attention to detail contributes to an overall sense of professionalism and reliability, helping to foster trust between employers and employees.

Employee Engagement and Satisfaction

Creating pay stubs online using a generator with a logo is not just about delivering accurate financial information; it's also a way to engage and empower employees. A well-designed pay stub, complete with the company logo, shows that the organization values transparency and takes its communication seriously. This proactive approach can enhance employee satisfaction and increase loyalty. Moreover, when employees see their efforts reflected in a professional, branded pay stub, it can boost morale and foster a sense of belonging.

Efficiency and Accuracy

The process of manually creating pay stubs is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors. On the other hand, utilizing a check stub maker or pay stub generator streamlines the process, ensuring accuracy and consistency. Employees can access their pay stubs online, eliminating the need for physical distribution. This reduces the chances of lost or misplaced pay stubs and minimizes potential disputes regarding payment details. The automation provided by a pay stub generator enhances efficiency, freeing up valuable time for HR personnel to focus on more strategic tasks.

Compliance and Record-Keeping

Accurate record-keeping is critical for any business, especially when it comes to payroll. Pay stub generators often come equipped with features that ensure compliance with legal requirements. This includes the inclusion of essential information such as tax deductions, contributions to retirement funds, and other deductions. With the help of a pay stub generator, companies can effortlessly maintain detailed and accurate records that are essential for audits, employee queries, and tax reporting.

Check these :- 

Fake W2 Generator

Free Pay Stub Template

Paystub for Self Employed

Accessibility and Convenience

In a digitally connected world, accessibility is key. With the ability to Create Pay Stub Online, both employers and employees can access necessary financial information at any time and from any location. This convenience is particularly advantageous for remote workers or employees who travel frequently. The inclusion of a logo on these online pay stubs ensures that the company's brand is carried with them wherever they go, strengthening the sense of belonging and alignment with the organization.

In conclusion, modernizing payroll by incorporating a pay stub generator with a logo offers a multitude of benefits that go beyond the financial transaction. From reinforcing branding and professionalism to enhancing employee engagement and satisfaction, the impact is far-reaching. With advanced tools like check stub makers and online pay stub generators, businesses can streamline processes, improve accuracy, and provide their employees with a polished, branded representation of their hard-earned income. As technology continues to evolve, leveraging these tools becomes an essential step toward a more efficient and engaging payroll management system.

[paystubspaystub]

Create Professional Pay Stubs with Logo using Pay Stub Generator

A Pay Stub Generator With Logo can significantly improve the image of your business. Learn how this tool can streamline your payroll processes and create professional-looking pay stubs for your employees. With a pay stub generator, you can easily create accurate pay stubs that include important information such as employee wages, deductions, and taxes. And by adding your company logo, you can make the pay stubs look more official and personalized.

Not only does this tool make your business look more professional, but it can also save you time and money by eliminating the need for manual calculations and printed pay stubs. With a pay stub generator with a logo, you can easily customize your pay stubs to meet your specific needs and ensure that your employees receive accurate and professional-looking documentation of their pay.

[byakuyasdarling]

I won’t lie, I have not had a single cognitive thought about him as of recent, just simple outbursts of, “aaaaakghjaa”. Not a single scenario. Just, “ aaaaakghjaa “. 

[pettyrevenge-base]

Get me fired? It’s a small world, isn’t it?

I’m recently retired from healthcare administration (and I feel for you younger guys who don’t know how you can ever retire.  Sometimes I feel like I was in the last generation that had any real chance at “the American dream”.  Anyway, that’s not the story).

Years ago I was working in a very dysfunctional academic medical center.  My boss (a really decent guy) who didn’t play the political games well enough got fired.  He got replaced, the new boss witch hired someone else in a management position over me (let’s call her witch #2).  Among other things, W#2 had me write up a business proposal that I was in no way qualified to do (it really needed a group of actuaries and a whole lot of financial data we didn’t have to do it right).  Her instructions to me were that it had to be break even by year two. Which was ludicrous.

I kept my head down and worked hard (I was young and stupid) and was eventually fired for BS reasons so they could bring their own people in.  Someone else in the medical center then hired me because I had a good reputation, which really pissed off W1 and W2, but my new boss didn’t care.

I eventually found a good job at another health system that was successful and growing.  The academic med center I had worked at was not doing well financially.  Then someone in another department said to me one day “you were at Academic Med Center, do you know Witch #2?  She’s applied for a position with us.”  I replied “yeah, she had me fake the numbers to make her proposal look good.”  My colleague thanked me for my input.

Witch #2 did not get hired.

Source: reddit.com/r/pettyrevenge

[wtficedance]

GP Espoo RD Quick Thoughts

Gilles/Poirier

* strengths: putting the ChRS at the very beginning so it doesn’t disrupt the rest of the choreo. Mirrored portion of the MiSt is very visually interesting where each does a rocker and counter instead of the same turn. Ice coverage in the PSt is very good with some interesting use of crossed hand in hand, however very little of it during the turns themselves.

* weaknesses: no true latin character in either rhythm or choreography, especially outside of their one rhumba section where it’s unclear whether they’re trying to express cha cha or samba and the only integrated choreo is a New Yorker Cha Cha step or a solo Samba roll. Weak edge quality by both especially during the MiSt with very little ice covered as a part of the actual step or turn. Mostly covered in basic stroking or chassés. A weak rotational lift for one of the top teams in the world especially given that they’ve also repeated their previous RD RoLi for 4 years. Overall, significantly little ice covered on one foot, significant amounts of two-footed skating in a RD which isn’t broken up by a stationary element like the ChRS or StaLi.

Twizzles: W3, M2

PG pirouetted in 2nd set, -1 level

PP pirouetted in 2nd set, tripped out of the 3rd set acting as their 4th and only level C feature, -2

MiSt: W2, M3

PG hopped rbi counter

PG flat rfo rocker

PP flat rfo c-step (if you called Piper strict she also flattened out on the entrance edge but not to the degree Paul did)

PSt: PSt3

PG very flat exit of rfo rocker

Hawayek/Baker

* strengths: significantly stronger salsa and cha cha character reflected in choreography and interpretation than G/P. I think Jim Carrey allows them to remain quirky but also authentically latin in a way I would say the entire field has struggled with this year. Really enjoy their MiSt with the use of the swing c-& s-steps as well as the ina bauers, a lot more ice coverage on the curves of the turns themselves. In particular the LFO rocker to direction change exit with the inside edge ina bauer is so effective. Also love the fake out of looking like KHaw is going into a RBO rocker out of the 2Tw but instead going for the skid stop.

* weaknesses: strongest elements at the beginning, underwhelming straightline lift that doesn’t reflect the character or timing of the music, rather open in the PSt when I would love to see some more flares with changes of hold.

Twizzles: W3, M4

Not sure about the first feature, extending the leg forward makes it look like they’re not maintaining that 45 deg extension (normally done to the side). Not sure if that’s the camera angle or what, but that could potentially be a loss of level for both.

KH loses level on that second set pirouette

MiSt: both 3

I would ding them both on the swing RFO S-step for not holding the LBI exit for nearly long enough, but everything else looked really clean, C step overall curve looked pronounced.

PSt: 4

all turns clean!

Carreira/Ponomarenko

* strengths: choosing Bossa Nova! Adria did a fantastic job on choreography for the top half of this RD, does such a good job emphasizing how much Christina’s command has improved. Particularly love the changes of edge into rocker and XB steps after the counter. Good use of closed hold in parts of the PSt. Strong lift but I think it suffers a bit in comparison to T/V who hold the top position instead of moving through a change of pose. I think the first two music selections are A+ and do a great job of showing off their maturity and improvements.

* weaknesses: ice coverage on steps and the exit edges, particularly in the MiSt on both the S and C steps, just very little speed carried onto that second curve given how well they’re emphasizing and holding the entrance edge. Anthony in general is looking tentative and scratchy on turns. I think it hurts them to end on that samba in a rather stagnant ChRS after such a strong RD that primarily showed their fluidity and Christina’s vastly improved extension & body/edge control. Would love to see them rework that section.

Twizzles: W4, M4

No checking or pirouetting! only minor thing is Anthony’s leg is a lot higher on their little kick flare after the first set and Christina’s coupe is a bit neater. That’s kinda it. Really well matched in that second set.

MiSt: W3, M2

AP rfo rocker flat

AP rfi bracket scratched on exit

both flat rfo c-step

PSt: PSt3

CC rfo rocker ✅

AP rbo s step ✅

CC lfi counter (in hold, super crisp with that right leg extension on the entrance edge) ✅

AP rfo c step (flat on entrance)

Turkkila/Versluis

* strengths: carriage, extension, posture are the class of the entire ice dance field, and not just at this event. The samba portions at the beginning and end are really well done and not frenetic like some ice dancers tend to slip into to mimic the speed of samba steps. The helicopter turn entrance to their rhumba section after the twizzles is a fantastic use of movement to set a mood change. Outside hold to killian in PSt is effective and I would love if they would use more of it in the second half of the PSt. In the MiSt Im really fond of the RBO S-step immediately into the counter.

* weaknesses: at times a bit too polished and formal. The rhumba section is more just slower movements and not like specifically rhumba movements other than really the lift. Would love to see the ina bauers in their PSt connected through more intricate changes in hold or combinations of steps. Missing that first “and IIIIIII-“ in Wicked Games in the PSt is a huge missed opportunity especially if you’re gonna use it for rhumba when it’s not rhumba music. The second stop in the ChRS and in the MiSt (tho I think the exit is great) are slightly too long to be effective IMO.

Twizzles: W4, M3

Matthias pirouettes in that second clockwise set

MiSt: both 2

both slightly too flat on that rfo entrance to the rocker

both flat rfi bracket

PSt: PSt3

MV rfi counter ✅

JT rfi s-step ✅

JT rfo rocker ✅

MV lfo c step ❌ flat

[whydidntyoushoot]

this post is about Kaidan’s mbti and enneagram types, I’m only using the tags to archive, thank you.

conclusion first: ISFJ in general, in ME3 the writers injected a lot of Fi in him so sometimes a bit like INFP (he shows zero Se whatsoever)

idk if bioware had different writers for him, but to me, his personality in ME3 isn’t exactly the same as in ME1 (we don’t talk about ME2). yeah, development, you can say that. he’s not real, no problem.

I see ISFJ in ME1, and largely ISFJ in ME3 with Fi moments

Si:

-easily impacted by the environment, don’t like lights or noises or banshees, and “I like the fountain it’s very soothing”.

-makes weird comparisons: tiles in the holes and bathroom floor, comparing what’s in front of his eyes to what’s already in his head. also when making a point (that conversation about cutting corners, “if someone’s special to you you help them”) he refers to his past experience.

-“she’s beautiful, like you ma’am” that’s not a wise way to flirt but I guess that’s just the way his brain works

Fe:

-a v smooth talker especially in ME1. also his fake crying in the casino HAHAHAHAHA (he’s introverted, yes, but not shy at all. he has a way with words and people.)

-cares about people. people’s wellbeing comes first by default. wants to help. considers the impact of his words and actions on others. this is however consistent throughout the trilogy

-asks “am I out of line?” too much, is fully aware that a relationship can only work when it’s two way.

-on Horizon, his frustration is mainly directed at Cerberus because they’re the enemies. “them vs us”, working for them is 100% betrayal, no problem.

Ti:

-in the opening scene, the reasoning, “the council has the right to send someone because they funded this”

-rationalizes whatever happened in brain camp

-basically he doesn’t make any value judgements, only explains why he sees something in a certain way or try to explain where something comes from

Ne:

where is it

then he has some Fi going on in ME3:

-on Mars, at first the mistrust was still Cerberus-centered, about “them vs us”, Fe styled, no problem. but then he said “Shepard I don’t know what you are?”“don’t try to explain”“is the person I followed to hell and back still in there?”, I was like what happened to him, why is he thinking like that. he just went from “as an alliance soldier I won’t trust the enemy and I can’t believe you joined them” to “are you still you? did they change you? how can I believe you are you?”, from where we stand to what I believe. Fe to Fi. plus he was questioning Shepard’s authenticity like never before. he didn’t do this on Horizon. didn’t in the mail. didn’t mention it again afterwards, only did it in that sole moment. it bugs me too much, and I blame the writers for it.

(bioware kind of reduced Kaidan and Ash to one character, while I think Kaidan questioning Shepard’s loyalty and Ash questioning Shepard’s authenticity makes more sense. they’re different characters after all.)

-after the coup, his whole speech is a solid example of Fi. by popular standards there’s nothing good to hold on to in Udina’s intentions, nor in the outcome. Kaidan was in the dark, right, but after learning the ins and outs there shouldn’t be a problem anymore, yet he still got caught in his personal beliefs, questioning himself if gunning down Udina is the right move. he acted on what he believes is right, good, ethical, authentic, regardless of the rest. and he risked his life standing up for his morals. its not like his usual level-headed self but I can respect that.

I’m not good with enneagram, but can definitely see 6 in him as he always voice concern on this and that. he also scores pretty high on 9, 1, 2, not sure about 4. 1w9 is a reasonable guess, because rule-binding, doing the right thing, live up to that standard. w9 instead of w2 because self-controlled, peace-seeking and “sometimes you just get overwhelmed, you don’t know what to do so you don’t do anything” (I love that line hehehehehe). I’m thinking about tritype 162.

sp/so, he just isn’t the sx intensive type. sp first because physical security and satisfaction. so because are WE this are WE that, values GROUP too much.

[witcher-ot3]

List of Iorveth/Roche WiPs

Because somethings I like to torment myself by showing how many fucking things I’m working on. Doesn’t help that lately, I’ve started a new WiP every time I get stuck in another fic. So, in no particular order (literally just how the tabs are ordered in my window lmao), here are all my Iorveth/Roche WiPs

2 fics in the Petals and Stripes ‘verse - one with Roche’s POV straight after and one of the Stripes’ POV as they deal with the aftermath... and try to help their boss woo Iorveth. Surprising no one, they’re terrible at it.

Curse breaking WiP where True Love’s Kiss strong emotion for one’s enemy saves Iorveth’s life. And then he, Roche, and Triss team up to go save the Scoia’tael.

Roche’s POV WiP set before they first meet. Includes some nice knife and blood kink during a face off between Iorveth and Roche. No idea where this one is going.

Eye On You Chapter 3, for which the plan is thigh-fucking. That’s it, that’s all I got.

Fake dating casefic (The Curious Case of the Murivel Resort for Couples). rn they’re playing strip gwent and I somehow signed up to write 5 different gwent games for this 😢

Competitive makeouts (The Chase) rn they’re spiderman kissing, but there’s gonna be a conspiracy plot that Iorveth has to reveal.

New ‘verse involving Iorveth/Roche/Kayran and Roche/Foltest lmao. First WiP is Roche running into Iorveth during his monthly fuckdate with the Kayran... and then joining in. Second WiP is a comparison of Roche’s two relationships and how they make him feel. For some reason, I framed it around the Chivalric Virtues from Blood & Wine and made it a 5+1 lol

Pining and Poignards, a WiP in which there is pining and stabbing lol. A poignard is a type of knife, which Iorveth generously “gifts” to Roche. rn Iorveth is sneaking around the army base and has just caught Roche masturbating. I...only sort of know where I’m going with this one.

Tittyfucking. That’s it, that’s the plot lmao. Iorveth is a lil obsessed with Roche’s chest and attempts to fuck it.

Gross Gremlin Man aka Iorveth prefers Roche nasty and sweaty. Uh... I just started this one and somehow it went from “huh, why do I not mind Roche when he’s all sweaty” to “hmm, I think I’m gonna steal his clothes and smell them while I touch myself” and I’m still working on the transition from one to the other lol

Red is the Rose Chapters 3+4 - Ch3 is about ready for posting, but I’m trying to figure out how much of the events of W2 to cover or if I should just skip all of them and get to the post-W2 plot.

Fun fact: all of those WiPs above are in 1 document because I like to make life difficult for Google Docs. But the other docs are all specific ‘verses (or themes) and these ones are theoretically standalone. Theoretically.

More standalones

Letters - a post-W3 WiP where Roche is running Temeria and hates it and starts receiving letters from Iorveth (sealed with a forget me not in wax).

WiP where they both get captured and imprisoned in a magic cell and whoops, sex ends up happening... and then their teams come rescue them.

Cuddles with the Commander - continuation of Pride of Temeria, where Roche wakes up cuddled up with Pillow Tits and his team.

Fire Breathing - a Meet the Family WiP where Iorveth is hanging with the Stripes and PT decides to demonstrate how to breathe fire. Iorveth is more than slightly freaked out that humans have this ability.

Iorveth gangbang - uh yeah, what it says on the tin. The Blue Stripes take Iorveth apart under Roche’s guidance.

Different first meeting identity porn WiP - they meet in Flotsam just as the Scoia’tael is starting to get formed. Neither knows who the other is, but they have amazing sex and every time they’re in Flotsam together, they meet up again. But Iorveth, of course, leads the Scoia’tael, and Roche has been tasked with hunting them down.

Crones WiP - Roche went to the Crones to plead for his men back. He gets them back - but as ghosts. He also gets assigned to help work on a cure to the Catriona plague, and it turns out one of the people already working on it is Iorveth. I literally just want Blue Stripes ghosts laughing at Roche’s bad flirting, but somehow it’s mostly angst rn ooops

Love Shack WiPs

First Time WiP - this one is so close to being done dammit. It’s actually the first WiP I ever started for this pairing and it just needs like 2 more orgasms aaaaahhhhhh

Medicine WiP - morning after their first time, they have a discussion about scars and medicine and how elven medicine is way better than human medicine. Not at all based on the billions of medical procedures I’m going through or anything.

PWP Ovi WiP - uh yeah, this one is just pure porn. rn Iorveth is giving Roche his eggs and Roche is loving it.

The Picture Says It All - next is gonna be a sketch of Roche hard at work hunched over a desk and Iorveth is all “no, this is wrong, he’s meant to be wielding a sword and fighting me”

The Haunting of Barrack 8B - Adda!! Adda is officially getting introduced in the next part, which is good, ‘cause she’s important in this ‘verse (and in my heart)

Roche builds Iorveth a home WiP - oh yeah, I stalled out because I realized I had to establish Roche and Rinn’s friendship before she could give him a hint about making a nest for Iorveth

Long Live the King - WiP about Roche’s relationship with Foltest, some of what he’s done for the King, how Iorveth feels about it, and then the big finale for this ‘verse, which I will leave secret for now.

Don’t Cry For Me, Temeria WiPs These are only the ones that have actual WiPs started, because believe me, I have a LOT more ideas

(Im)Perfect Strangers ch 27 - time for Roche to step up his wooing. Featuring dinner, dancing, and gift giving. And, of course, it wouldn’t be me without misunderstandings lol.

Between Two Fools Ch 8 - I’m working on getting this out as soon as I can. Just gotta finish writing their sex from the end of (Im)Perfect Strangers ch 26

Unlucky Number Thirteen - I want to write about how he starts spying for Roche and their developing kinda mentorship relationship

Silas’s story - he’s literally JUST joined the Stripes and I need to write how he and Thirteen work closely together but also this poor anxious boy is like 3 seconds from a heart attack at all times rn. It will get better tho.

Earning Your Stripes ch 2 - the first time. This chap will actually have porn! But first I gotta finish writing it lol. Rn Ves and Finch are double teaming Fenn and PT and Thirteen are in subspace cuddling with Roche, but soon they’ll get to join in too.

break (v /brāk/): to destroy someone's resistance - cnc WiP where Iorveth asks Roche to break him - and Roche has a lot of fun doing so as they pretend to fight like they’re still enemies.

Bath House - this was SUPPOSED to be a porny lil thing where Roche talks dirty to Iorveth while they’re stuck being proper for the kids, and then finally they get some alone time. But what it also turned into is that Anais and Thirteen equally hate baths lmao. Boussy loves them tho. He’s a hedonist, while Anais is just bored and Thirteen is like a cat with water.

Tutti Ch 2 - Iorveth begins to compose a symphony for Roche about their love story.

Daggers, Dumplings, and Dresses - the Elihal/Hattori side story. Not gotten much written so far - mostly just Elihal reflecting on his friendship with Iorveth.

The First Rule of Fight Club ch 2 - Ves now has time to think about what Ciaran said about Roche not being worthy of her loyalty. And also about how Ciaran’s skin tasted when she bit him.

Dragonfucking - another PWP WiP featuring a threesome with Saskia... except Roche still doesn’t know about the whole dragon thing, so he’s in for a surprise.

Water Balloon Fight - silly lil WiP where the Scoia’tael and the Blue Stripes have a water balloon fight. PT is the ref.

Baby Mama - lmao yes that is what it’s listed as in my doc. Not gonna say a lot about this, but will probably be a longer piece. Set in the distant future in DCfM,T.

Tempt Not a Desperate Man ‘verse Yeah, does anyone know what this is? It’s the ‘verse that started with Devour What’s Truly Yours and so far has nothing else published oops

Part 2 - in which they actually have to face each other again and figure out where they stand. And then there’s some fisting.

The Chaperon - Iorveth decides to make Roche a chaperon since the last one was sacrificed as a cum rag

Human Bootlicker - Iorveth makes a joke about Roche surrendering on his knees when he gets the upper hand in a fight between the Blue Stripes and the Scoia’tael - and then Roche actually does.

Elven Baths - so it’s kinda a thing in this ‘verse that they end up meeting and fucking in the elven baths in the Flotsam forest. As in, the legend about “if you’re in love, you can still hear the lovers’ sighs in the garden” came to being because Roche is fucking loud lmao. Also, roses of remembrance. 😉

Sort of series fics, but technically stand alone. AKA apparently I decided I wanted to do Themes. 

Theme 1: Possessiveness aka all the kinky sex kinda embarrassed to admit to these which is dumb because fuck shame

Piss fic - uh, kinda what it sounds like? Roche decides to be an asshole and refuses to move out of the way when Iorveth tries to get to the bathroom - and somehow this turns into Iorveth pissing on his crotch.

Come inflation + piss fic - Roche gets a potion that makes him come a lot. Iorveth likes it and wants more.

Possessiveness - Iorveth has feelings about his nemesis and Roche does not know how to feel about this.

Tentacles + Breeding - a tentacle/vine plant instinctively tries to lay its eggs in Roche. Iorveth is not okay with this plant going for his enemy... until it turns out Roche is very much here for it. And also for Iorveth fertilizing the eggs after they’ve been laid.

Dream - Roche dreams about Iorveth being an elven king and himself being essentially Iorveth’s plaything, to use and to show off

Theme 2: King Roche aka hey, wouldn’t it be funny if he ended up in charge? He would hate it so much

Murder husbands - Iorveth breaks into the palace and finds the very unhappy “King” Roche, then they go run away and kill war criminals together. But of course Roche could never abandon Temeria, so he’s still in charge by day. But by night, it’s murder time.

Okay, technically this has like a line written for it, BUT bodyguard AU where Roche knows he’s gonna get assassinated without protection once he becomes king, and only Iorveth is allowed to kill him. So only makes since for Iorveth to become his bodyguard. 

Arranged Marriage AU - inspired by softestpunk’s The Gift, I literally just want cracky fun where they are forced to get married and they hate it but also fall in love. That’s it, that’s the story.

Holy fuck, I have a lot of WiPs. But I think that’s all the Iorveth/Roche ones. Which is not to say I don’t have more, but rn, I am hyperfixated on these idiots, so these are the ones I am actively writing.

[welcometothejianghu]

Welcome to another round of W2 Tells You What You Should See, where W2 (me) tries to sell you (you) on something you should be watching. Today's choice: 절대 그이/My Absolute Boyfriend

My Absolute Boyfriend is the 2019 Korean live-action adaptation of the Watase Yuu manga "Absolute Boyfriend." (There are two other adaptations, one Taiwanese and one Japanese.) It tells the story of a woman who has just broken up with her celebrity boyfriend, and the robot who becomes a real boy by falling in love with her.

(And yes, the reason we started watching it was because of Yeo Jingoo, since the tantalizing prospect of "that guy who played Han Juwon, playing a robot boyfriend" was too amazing to pass up.)

I need to note right off the bat: I am not usually a consumer of bippy k-dramas, romcoms, or het romance in media in general. No shade to anyone who likes these thing; they're just not my regular cup of tea. So if your tastes are akin to mine, you may have looked at the poster and been like, hm, no thank you.

Thus I am here to try and sell you on it even if you are not a fan of these genres.

This show is so unwatched that (as far as I can tell) there is nothing for it on AO3. There are a mere eight hits for the manga, Zettai Kareshi | Absolute Boyfriend, but there's nothing at all for this adaptation. This is an absolute crime, for reasons I will detail in the forthcoming five reasons to watch (above and beyond the simple pleasure of watching Yeo Jingoo be a handsome goober, though that remains a serious point in its favor):

1. Balls entirely to the wall

You know those Tumblr posts where someone comments and is like, at no point could I have predicted what the next word in that sentence would be? Yeah, that, only the sentence is the show.

This show is absolutely bonkers. It is absolute storytelling mayhem. It is gleefully head-clutching weird. Someone told it that girls like exactly three things -- cute boys in adorable outfits, cute boys with their shirts off, and cute boys in Situations -- and it is ready to deliver.

I could tell you what the plot of the show is, or at least I could try, but that wouldn't convey the sheer volume of shenanigans it gets up to. I feel like every time it had a flashback montage (set to one of its six licensed pop songs), I was like, oh yeah, that happened.

The thing, too, is that it's so self-aware. This show knows precisely what it is, and it's having fun with it. The acting is often melodramatic, but obviously very consciously so. I'm not going to say the show never takes itself seriously (because it does -- see my point #5), but it never doesn't know exactly what it is.

Browsing the MyDramaList page, I can see that a lot of viewers had lukewarm feelings on the show as a whole. (Normally I don't make the mistake of reading the comments, but since this is such a non-property in English-speaking fandom, I had to go find out what the hell.) And yeah, I can imagine that if you came into this expecting a more straight-faced entry in the genre, what you get could be confusing and alienating.

If you watch this, take off your nitpicker's hat. There are many, many points that do not make sense. Just go with it. Let the cute boys take off their shirts. Kiss a robot. Embrace chaos.

2. A++ Girlfriend

Eom Dada is great. She's just so weird. I love her and I absolutely understand why those two boys want to get with her.

She is a special effects makeup artist who runs her own three-person team that specializes in sci-fi/horror properties. One of the first things we see her doing is mixing up a bunch of different types of fake blood, because, hey, a lot of different stunt people are going to die today, and you can't just use one type of blood for everybody!

She is a dadgumn professional, is what she is.

What she isn't, however, is a pick-me, not-like-the-other-girls girl. Several times, she gets dressed up real cute and femme, and she never expresses negativity toward her more girly-girl friends. It's not that she's rejecting femininity so much as that her vision of femininity is big enough to include creating beautiful fake severed body parts. When someone describes a female character as "quirky," I cringe reflexively. But that's what she is! She's got quirks! She's a nice, normal girl who is also a big weirdo.

Since I did go read the comments, I found out pretty quickly that a lot of viewers hate her. Part of this, I'm sure, is just your generic vitriol you see aimed at any woman in a show, because holy fuck, we sure do hate women.

But I think part of it may come from how she's not asking "how high?" every time those boys tell her they'd like her to jump. There's some real viciousness out there toward women that turn down men, epecially from other women. Without getting too much into psychoanalysis about it, an awful lot of hate gets directed from other women toward the female ex-/partners of desirable men, much of which comes from the terrible assumption that if you were in her position, you'd be appropriately grateful! You'd treat that boy right! That lucky bitch doesn't know how good she's got it!

...You see how that's bad, though, right? Like, really bad and toxic?

Eom Dada tells those boys "no" when she doesn't want what they're offering. She's realizes early on that setting yourself on fire to keep your partner warm is terrible, so she stops. She's going to make them wait until she wants it -- and if she never wants it, well, those boys just get to keep right on waiting!

Read me loud and clear: I'm not saying the only reason to dislike Eom Dada is misogyny. Sometimes you just don't like a character! It happens! It's legal! What I am saying, though, is that when you look at a lot of the hate toward her all at once, certain trends emerge, and they're more than a little bit ugly.

And I think that's unfair because she's an absolute pumpkin who deserves all the smooches and spicy noodles she wants.

3. ...Are they gonna kiss?

And by "they" here, I don't mean Girlfriend and Robot Boyfriend, who obviously smooch. I mean Robot Boyfriend and Ex-Boyfriend.

They hate one another! They make heartbreaking sacrifices for one another! They're vicious rivals! They team up to solve mysteries! They're incredibly suspicious of one another! They trust one another completely! What the actual hell is going on with these two? Because oh boy, the show itself sure doesn't know.

Their relationship yo-yos constantly throughout the length of the series. They're never friends, but they get weirdly close on several occasions, including rescuing one another from terrible predicaments. They also both seem fascinated with each other, above and beyond how they're competing for the affections of the same girl. The actors have some solid chemistry (much of it comedic) in their shared scenes. They're certainly not afraid to get right up in each other's personal space.

This isn't queerbaiting, it's not using gay as a punchline, it's ... something, that's for sure. And by that I mean, I don't know if I've ever seen a more powerful vindication of the principle that the optimal solution to every love triangle is a threesome.

This to me is one of the flaws of the show, that it has decided it must never acknowledge the strength of their independent bond outside of its place in the central love conflict, and to keep from doing so, it keeps nuking Ex-Boyfriend's character back to square one. He learns about love and trust and growth! ...and then we need the plot to have a which boy will she choose??? conflict, so he's got to unlearn all of that real quick so he can be a real dillhole again. If it didn't feel obligated to do that, things would get sexy fast, I'm just saying.

Here is the main reason I'm baffled that I'm getting no AO3 hits for this: These three would be one hell of a throuple. Where are my bisexual horndog fix-it fics where all three of them wind up sharing Ma Wangjoon's comically large bed?

4. Weirdly healthyish messages about romance?

I mentioned earlier that het romance in media is not my thing, and one of the main reasons it's not is how many just gross messages it delivers about normative gender roles and behaviors.

This show absolutely starts that way. Robot Boyfriend is raised on all your classic romcoms and taught that love is all about giving everything with no concern for your own well-being, while at the same time overriding all your partner's objections because you know what she really wants. When he first latches on to Eom Dada, he's kind of your classic overbearing comedy stalker who doesn't take no for an answer, because True Love.

And then ... he changes. He realizes that his romcom education is not going to help here, so he decides to figure out what kind of boyfriend she actually wants. Once he does that, he starts to figure out that he wants to be loved too. And that's when things get interesting.

He never stops being pretty forward about things, but it becomes far more playful when he's not pressuring her, just reminding her that the offer is still on the table. Eom Dada then responds by becoming clear about how she definitely wants to take this boy out for a spin -- just at her own pace, when she herself is ready for it.

It makes an interesting contrast to how, when she was with Ex-Boyfriend, all she wanted was for him to acknowledge her (which he wanted to do too, but couldn't, for absolutely bonkers reasons, because this show is just Like That). The two of them are still in love, but the show makes it clear that being in love doesn't mean you're going to be good together -- and it doesn't mean you have to forgive the bullshit your ex-partner pulled back when you were together.

But the love triangle isn't even the sole source of romance! There's a whole 'nother love ... triangle? quadrilateral? Whatever, you've also got Robot Boyfriend's charmingly goofy MIT-educated co-creator/trainer/big brother, who becomes the object of affection for at least two of the supporting characters.

My take on this is that Handsome Robot Hyung deserves the whole harem: the boss lady who can pick him up, the cute thirsty girl who does yoga, and the sweet gay-coded boy who is so impressed that he knows robots. (This is another tragic casualty of the NO HOMO attitude of the show, where that boy should be treated as a legitimate love interest, but can never be. But we know better!)

I'm used to seeing love triangles solved in one of three ways: 1) one point on the triangle gets demonized so significantly as to make the other one the obvious choice; 2) the eventually unchosen point gets given a Consolation Prize Significant Other so we don't fell too bad about how they didn't get chosen; or 3) one point dies or is otherwise removed from the narrative, letting the other two hook up without guilt. None of those things happen to either of these love polygons. Despite some genre-appropriate catty, melodramatic speed bumps, everything gets resolved in the manner of adults with reasonable amounts of emotional maturity. It's weirdly kind of nice.

(This isn't to say there's no toxic bullshit that slips in -- for instance, I still don't know what to make of that one arguing couple, or what Robot Boyfriend says to them. It's just much less than I expected.)

Your mileage may vary about the choices the show makes at the very end. It's not how I would have ended it, sure, but I also don't think it could have ended any other way -- remember, this is a show that never forgets what it is. It is contractually obligated by its genre conventions to keep certain narrative promises. If anything, I think it's interesting how much it feels it can get away with leaving hopeful yet unresolved, up to and including how many people are still comfortably single at the end of the show. Partnered romance isn't always the solution to everything! Sometimes you've got your career and you've got your friends, and now you've got some time to work on yourself! Maybe it won't always be that way, but it sure is right now. And that's great.

5. A surprisingly sophisticated meditation on memory and mortality (say that five times fast)

Real talk: In the past four months, I have lost a lot of people, places, and animals who were very dear to me, and had some close calls with a couple more. It has sucked exactly as much as you think it has.

So yeah, in the last few episodes, I blew through some tissues.

To a certain degree, it's exactly the kind of melodramatic tearjerker narrative you'd expect from a property like this. And let me tell you what, there is nothing wrong with getting a good, sappy cry going because of the overwrought dramas of fictional people. There are plenty of objectively mediocre shows and movies I put on because I know I'm going to be a blubbering wreck by the end.

This show, however, has the extra layer of interest that Robot Boyfriend is both Boyfriend and Robot. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that having a guy designed to be reformatted every time a new person smooches him adds a whole lot of interesting layers to what counts as death and mourning.

Add that to how Eom Dada is still grieving the loss of her beloved father, who taught her everything she knew about her career, and you get some surprisingly moving little moments that creep in through the wacky hijinks that make up the rest of the show.

Look, it's nothing I'd ever teach in a Philosophy seminar, or anything so profound as that. But it's quiet and nice, and it has more depth than I expected, and it all hit me right in my tender little feels box. If that's the kind of thing you're open to, you could do a lot worse.

Thinking about giving this one a shot?

Viki's got the series in its full 40-episode run. (It's actually 20 hour-long episodes split in half because of commercial break rules, if you're wondering why it's sometimes Like That.) So does Tubi. I guess your choice then becomes which one's ads you'd rather sit through.

I think if you go into this with the attitude that you're just going to go with it all and laugh at how zany it is, you're in for a fine time. Whether or not you think it's good is up to your standards of quality. But it's hard to deny that it's a whole lot of fun.

And then get your ass to AO3 and give me some OT3! Mama needs these three cutie patooties to smooch~

[themattress]

Pokeani: The Evolution of the Faithfulness

Pokemon: Indigo League was a very faithful adaptation to the games...in spirit, anyway.

In details, there was a lot to be desired. For example: 

- Brock has a huge family the games never indicated he had. - Misty is co-Gym Leader with three older sisters. - Lt. Surge is a big bully and not a respectful soldier. - Sabrina is a villain who has a split personality. - Erika is a humble gardner and not a spoiled princess-type. - Koga is a stoic ninja and not a sadistic, cackling weirdo. - Cinnabar Gym is closed down and Blaine's mustache is fake. - Nobody knows that Giovanni is the boss of Team Rocket. - Bill is a fancy gentleman and not a humble nerd. - Gary doesn't have an older sister. - There is a stretch of new locations between Fuschia and Cinnabar. - Silph Co. doesn't seem to exist. - The Team Rocket plot from the games is not adapted in the slightest. - Giovanni finances the creation of Mewtwo. - Mewtwo was created on New Island, not on Cinnabar. - There is no Mr. Fuji, just Dr. Fuji, who dies. - Lavender Tower is just a haunted house, not a Pokemon burial site. - The Seafoam Islands are a populated resort site. - Professor Oak is not the sole designer of the Pokedex. - Only one member of the Elite Four, Bruno, appears.

And that’s not getting into other stuff like the designs of certain characters and places, the way Pokemon battling works and the (unlimited) attacks they can learn, and stuff that was just made up for the adaptation whole-sale.  Now, not all of these are bad.  Some, like nobody knowing Giovanni is Team Rocket’s leader, are improvements and are shared with the Pokemon Adventures manga. But that manga was more faithful in spirit and details than the show, which played very fast and loose with the details while still staying true to the general feeling of the games. Sadly, not even that was to last when Generation II began.

Not only was Pokemon the Series: Gold and Silver still unfaithful to the details of the games (characters having their personalities and backgrounds changed, places designed differently and a lot of new anime-exclusive locations created, the plot of the games barely adapted at all), but they lost the spirit of the games. When I play the Johto games, I get the feeling of a grand adventure through a region of vast forests, wide rivers and high mountains, I get drawn in to the region’s mythology and culture, and I get determined to defeat my absolute douche of a rival. None of this comes through in the anime - the glut of generic anime-exclusive locations (much more than Kanto had) robs the Johto region of its unique feeling, the sense of exciting adventure is killed by the banal filler episode formula, the mythology and culture are criminally underplayed and even changed outright, and Ash’s rivalry with Gary is far less prominent and tamer than it was in Kanto, with no sign of the douche Gen II rival at all.

Hoenn and Sinnoh were no better. The changed characters, changed locations, changed mythology, abundance of anime-exclusive locations, lack of adapting of the games’ plots, filler episode formula, and overall faithlessness to the spirit of the source material put a huge damper on these sagas. I don’t feel the same sense watching these regions as I do playing through them or reading through them in the case of Pokemon Adventures (and, in Sinnoh’s case, Diamond/Pearl Adventure!) - the “atmosphere”, as it were, is completely absent. 

As is a trend in most of these posts, Best Wishes (Pokemon the Series: Black and White) is what turned the tide. The Unova region was very faithfully rendered compared to the previous regions, and anime-exclusive locations were kept to the absolute minimum possible. The filler episode formula was abandoned, most of the characters were faithful to their game counterparts (with the only notable exceptions being Cilan, Cheren, Bianca and her father, Elesa, Charles, Skyla and Marlon), the regional mythology was mostly unaltered, and above all, the spirit of the games was actually maintained, as was the theme of how different people with different viewpoints, feelings, personalities, skills and ideas need not always be opposed and can still come together to do positive things in the world; that life isn’t black and white.

The only part where the BW series still falters is when it comes to adapting the plots of the games, as we only get a rushed mash-up of the B/W and B2/W2 Team Plasma plots over the span of a few episodes. It’s still quite good for what it is, but it falls short as an adaptation.

The XY series was pretty much exactly the same.  The Kalos region was done faithfully to the games, there was less formulaic filler and more filler that took advantage of the region itself, most characters were in-character to their games selves (with the only notable exceptions being Serena, Valerie, and Malva), everything about Mega Evolution fits into what was shown and said in the games, and the same spirit of the games, one of relaxation in a beautiful region full of friendship and romance with the main character being an unstoppable and adored badass, was maintained (even if I don’t like it.)  But not only was the plot of the games still scarcely adapted, but this also affected the portrayal of the region’s mythology. Xerneas? Yvetial? AZ? The Ultimate Weapon? Don’t expect to see any of that stuff here! 

Now we have Sun and Moon (Pokemon the Series: Sun and Moon). The Alola region faithfully portrayed? Check. No filler episode formula? Check. Characters from the games portrayed correctly? Check (with the exceptions of Sophocles, Olivia, and to an extent Lillie, Gladion and Lusamine). The regional mythology retained? Check. The same fun and light-hearted (except when it’s not) spirit of the games and the same theme of working together and sharing strength being better than isolation? Check. And as for the plot of the games, it’s actually being adapted the best out of any anime show thusfar. While Ash is usually stationed at the Melemele Trainer School, he still gets chosen by Tapu Koko, takes on the Island Trials, and gains Z Crystals, and no doubt will be drawn into the Alola League once Professor Kukui finally creates it. The plotline with Nebby, Lillie and the Aether Foundation wasn’t started immediately, but after a lot of build-up a kind of loose, abridged adaptation of it is playing out.

In conclusion, Sun and Moon is the most faithful-to-the-games anime series to date. Sure, there are some glaring absences like Hau, Ilima and Guzma, but as the show continues into its second year and begins to reflect US/UM, we may see them yet. It’s definitely a show that’s keeping me watching and entertained, and I highly recommend it to all game fans.

[maybeapizzatrophy]

Thoughts on beauty and the beast 2017

-Audra McDonald is boss, but that song is weird.

-prince Dan is super sassy.

-prince Dan does not deal in a plant based economy. 

- Honestly, I feel bad for anyone who just got a job there. I filled out my w2s, excited for new life adventure annnd now I’m a rug. Thanks Potts for recommending me.

*song Belle*

- ohhhhhhhh, emma can’t sing. Hopefully that won’t be too distracting.

-belle is mean 

-are those boys checking her out?is that lady checking her out?

-Damn LeFou! Mark your territory.

-so I guess in disney if you really think people are talking about you behind your back, they are not. They are singing about you behind your back.

-wow gaston gets distracted quick. Have fun with the ladies. Don’t get syphilis!

-ooo, belle asking her dad for a rose just like in the original story.

-Belle: I invented a washing machine to make your lives easier! 

               Towns people: witch!!!

-Gaston, are you trying to guilt her for not having a baby? What are you her judgy aunt Edna, wondering why her sister’s not a grandmother?

- uggh the singing. why didn’t they just dub over her?

-Maurice in the woods. Just snow….in June. Perfectly safe. Totally normal.

- Phillip, the baller horse, saves his life,. MAURICE repays him by leaving him outside to be killed by elements and wolves. No stables huh?

- Pro Tip! When wandering into someones house, don’t eat their food. This might happen!

- Maurice, run for your life, but there is always time to smell the roses.

-Beast smelling Maurice’s blood. Is the beast a vampire? That would explain the capes. And fangs.

- Yell at that horse, belle! Get a straight answer! POS Phillip. 

- God does Lumiere hit on everyone that comes into that house? Maybe that is why the Beast has crappy housekeeping.Wonder which object is his lawyer?

-Maurice “how did you find me?” that is a legit question, Belle.

-she’s either Sherlock Holmes or can talk to animals. Maybe that’s why she calls chicken “little people.”

-Prince Dan has changed his mind about a plant based economy. Flower for a life. Sounds fair.

-Beast: you’re a fool. True looove?? At this point he’s gotten more action with her dad.

- Lumiere is giving belle a new room. belle has a vagina so that means you get nicer commodities. Also they don’t want another poor yelp rating. 

-is Lumiere hitting on her again ? “ oh you are very strong. this is a grreat quality." 

- is he priming her up so she won’t get crushed by the beast when they have sexy time later?

-# beast in the sheets

-"why should I be startled, I’m talking to a candle.” lols. OK, you got me movie.

- “whats in the west wing? Monologuing.” 

- the East wing, or as I like to call it, the ONLY wing!

 -does Lumiere know the definition of modest?

-Lumiere! Not in front of the kids! Keep it in your pants, if you want a PG rating.

-Belle talking to a brush. She may need some therapy after this.

- did the wardrobe just fall asleep? Does the humanoid objects need sleep?

- Lefou has got it bad.

-spelling is hard. Poor baby.

- uh oh. Maurice is raving again.

-when prince dan enters the room, he makes an entrance.

- Prince Dan does not like hanging with the common folk. Ewww. She better not touch his cloak and make it dirty. Her father is a nobody!  (seriously maybe he should have kept Maurice around)

#Always warm in Beasts bed

-Lumiere: show me the smile!

-I’m so sorry I lost my train of thought.

-Prince Dan does not think mental health should be a laughing matter. You should not call people crazy. He gets Bimonthly visits from his therapist couch.

-Go starve! Be my guest! And don’t even THINK about having an elaborate song and dance number with all my staff based on this same title! (runs off to the west wing and can’t hear fireworks due to another great speech by President Bartlett)

-*petal falls, castle shakes* flower based economies can not save your crumbling infrastructure! 

-*belle is trying to escape* so she’s an active heroine because she’s trying to run away? Lets be honest, I don’t think this movie could pass the bechdel test

-Lumiere: they are fighting, oooh so hey must be in love. Umm does Lumiere have a problem?

*Be our Guest*

- yay you’re hungry, so your food will dance in front of you but you can’t eat any of it. seriously he gives her food and then takes away her fork.

-Side Note: I used to have the biggest crush on Ewan Mcgregor when I saw Moulin Rouge in High School. His singing can make me feel so many things. 

However, singing in a fake french accent is just making me cringe.

- Mrs. Potts: you can change him! Great advice. that totally works. 

Belle wanders into beasts bedroom and is surprised he's upset. Actually think he's in the right here.

-Hey wolves, you don’t mess with Phillip!

-What are the wolves waiting for? The music to become more dramatic?

-Its a motherfucking growl off

-Yep Maurice doesn't know where he's going. So Belle is definitely Sherlock or talks to animals.

Newsflash. In breaking news, Gaston is dick.

Belle and Beast arguing over her being in the west wing: You shouldn't have been in the west wing. DUDE. You're in the west wing now.

ANOTHER NEWS BULLET. This just in- Beast isn't cruel, hes a brat

-Audra McDonald has the voice of an angel.

-WAIT A SECOND. WHAT the hell is this curse?! The prince gets stuck as a monster and everyone else DIES. Or stops existing. Boo freaking hoo, this prince has had a hard life but that doesn’t mean you have to die for him! where is the loophole. Agatha is a bitch to servants.

-Oh girl! Beast knows Romeo and Juliet. And he is mocking her. What is he going to quote his favorite Shakespeare Titus Andronicus? Or Fall out Boy?

Oh nice library.(Bitches love libraries.)

The ice is thawing. SYMBOLISM! 

Ughgh the autotune.

So she's not “glancing at you,” shes staring at your hairy ass. She’s wondering if the rumors are true.

Lumiere please don't light the library on fire! its the only reason Belle is staying there. 

LOL. when Mrs. Potts says chip it sounds like shit.

The pep talk for the beast took a weird turn.

Like how they brought back the organ/harpsichord from the crap sequel.Tim Curry!

-Prince Dan: Do you love it here? How much time has past, a week? you can’t leave! do you love me yet? 

-Ok I know he has to let her go so she can save her dad but he's condemning all of his people to death. I’m pretty sure if someone explained this loophole to her she would give a shit.

Oh, beast wants to love and be loved in return.

Damn Dan can sing

Ok belle put the phone down. Gaston thinks he can be a politician

Gaston is sounding horribly familiar. That beast is a bad hombre.

LeFou- Wrong “monster" is released. ehhem. 

Wow they fortified quickly. Maybe one of the servants was a former military general.

Oh I think its the coat rack.

Reading is fundimental! Illiteracy kills!

Man, Lefou is fickle. Guess he’s  good guy now because he has a conscience and only tried to kill Maurice...for love.

Gaston, never look up your exs new boyfriends on facebook. You are only going to depress yourself.

The power of love will save you!

What is that, like the third time gaston shot prince dan in the back?

You came back? Oh course. You have a great library. And those rumors better be true.

Ok i am actually sad about the dog and chip, and Mrs. Potts.

Good job general coat rack. You were amazing. *getting emotional*

Belle loves the beast but has to say it in front of Agatha. Otherwise doesn't count.

Prince Dan is human again. Now change him back! He was hotter before.

Ugggh ewan in a french wig is not attractive. Nope can’t unsee that. and now neither can you. bleh

Who tells their 6 year old they smell good? Like really?

Mr. Potts story is ridiculously sad. He always knew he was missing something, and that something was not right in his life. Turns out his family was taken away from him and he was forced to forget about them but never really could. Fuck you Agatha.

Oh and cogsworth had a wife? But he hates her? weird tonal change...

Yep, Dirty Dan get a beard. He looks fine with a beard

And lefou hooks up with a cross dresser. All well that ends well?l

Moral of the story, invest in something other then plants. Diversify your stock portfolio..

[sidemensdgrl]

My Thoughts on the Beef

This is gonna get a little personal, but I owe it to my followers to explain why this blog is coming back from the dead. 

As some of  you might know, I have been a fan of the Sidemen, mainly KSI, since about 2015. I’ve spent hours binging his content, new and old, and found him--as well as Deji--to be quite enjoyable. Then, something happened: KSI left YouTube earlier this year, citing personal growth, which I thought was a good move for him. We all grow and learn as humans. However, this left the Sidemen’s future unknown. 

Cut to about 2 weeks ago, KSI announces he’s leaving, mainly due to Ethan (Behzinga). Behz drops a diss track, followed by Harry (W2S), followed soon by many other diss tracks. Deji gets into the mix too with possibly the worst fucking diss track I’ve ever heard in my entire life. Three minutes of straight dick jokes. Simon comes through and drops the best diss out of everyone toward Deji, and then Vikk comes through and makes a really funny one. 

It all felt kind of staged--at first. The instantaneous flow of diss tracks--about one everyday--the high quality production in such a short time, and the general joking atmosphere of the diss tracks--all made people wonder whether or not it was fake, also the lack of personal information released made it seem like it was fake as well. However, something...changed. 

The turning point of the beef was KSI’s “Little Boy”. Unlike Earthquake, which was three minutes of fat jokes, this felt a lot more personal, with such choice quotes as “Your sister fucks a crowbar, fam it’s really that deep.” That’s the turning point where I believe the Sidemen knew and KSI knew that it evolved into something that none of them saw coming. Now, all of the disses seem completely genuine, more time is being spent writing and producing them, verses are becoming full blown songs, and today W2S completely fucking killed KSI. The reactions are becoming more and more genuine as well, with Deji seeming completely pissed off by some of the diss tracks and even feeling as stunned as the rest of us were by Harry’s. 

It’s heartbreaking. 

At first, I was kind of a spectator. I watched on as JJ dropped disappointing diss tracks but wished for him to do well. With all of the controversy surrounding Joe Weller and KSI in the upcoming boxing match at Upload, no one knows what the future holds for this beef. At first, it looked predictable, but this has flown off of the rails into something that’s likely actually destroying long standing friendships. With some of the personal information revealed ala Harry’s diss today (STDs, drugs, etc.), I’m almost 100% on the beef being real now. What maybe started out  as a joke or something for views with maybe the team coming together and being friends again at Upload has now become a complete war. Deji’s diss drops tomorrow, and I hope it’s better than the last diss he put out.

I chose to be Team Sidemen because the team said that JJ didn’t even let them know that he was leaving until the video was uploaded and/or he posted about it on Twitter (feel free to correct me if i’m wrong). Plus, he didn’t really give a reason as to why he hates Ethan? All he did was call him fat? I wonder if this’ll be revealed in a future diss of KSI’s. Feel free to go back into the old posts on my blog as well, I’ve been a pretty huge KSI fan up until this point. 

What will the future hold? No one knows. But I hope the everyone makes it through to the other side.