#Hexagonal display cases

[munchboxart]

For the people who collect stuff like figures, plushies, etc. Where/how do you display them? I've kind of ran out of space but I'm still... buying... Kirby merch because I've wanted them for years!! And I'm curious how other people display their stuff because I need more ideas

[episims]

Split Character Files

I was let known that my personality-based witch idles mod causes new sims to have split character files.

It made me look into the issue. Since the information about it is spread across various forum threads and lacked some details too, I decided to gather what I've found in this post.

What does a 'split character file' mean?

Each sim has its own character file in Documents directory. For example, Neighborhoods \ E001 \ Characters \ E001_User00024.package is Samantha Cordial.

When a character file is split, in addition to the usual E001_User00024.package there's also a file named E001_User00024.1.package. It would still be Samantha Cordial, but her data would be stored in two files instead of just one.

What kind of mods cause it?

Mods that edit character templates. That means: TemplatePerson (group 0x7FEDFE16), TemplateCat (0x7F99E646), TemplateDog (0x7F3C1917), and TemplateSmallDog (0x7F593B25). In addition, NPCs have their own character templates too.

These templates seem to get copied whenever a new sim or a pet is created. If you have a mod that includes a part of them, it appears the game creates a second character file and then copies any related BHAVs from the mod into it.

Do split character files cause problems?

In SimPe's neighborhood browser, a split character file might not be displayed properly and it's possible that you won't be able to edit the sim's stats with SimPe if that happens.

The game itself seems to be able to parse the sim together from two character files in most cases. However, it's plausible that it causes the empty/wiped face glitch to appear. As I tested the issue, I was able to replicate this myself multiple times with split character files and others have seen this happening in their games, too.

There are also people in related threads who say they have split character files and haven't noticed it causing problems.

Why do mods edit these templates, then?

I don't think it's been common knowledge what exactly causes the issue. And to be fair, creating new sims and then inspecting their character files isn't probably a part of many modder's testing routines. It sure hasn't been a part of mine.

The unpleasant fact is that if we want to make some things happen through mods, editing the code related to templates might be necessary. Ideally, Maxis would've only used them to create new sims and pets, but that's not the case. Their code gets called in various other situations – when witches idle, for example.

Now that we know which groups are involved, I hope modders can at least alert players when we share mods that cause this issue.

How can I know if the mods I use cause split character files?

It's not that common for mods to edit the templates, so suspecting all mods isn't necessary. Here are some mods that do edit them:

My Personality-based Witch Idles (includes code from TemplatePerson, the NPC witch template, and the NPC servo template) the latest mod update doesn't cause split character files anymore

Object Freedom 1.02 by @fwaysims (TemplateCat, TemplateDog, TemplateSmallDog)

lobonanny by Pescado (the nanny NPC template)

Spectral Cat Variety by @hexagonal-bipyramid (the spectral cat NPC template)

AntiGoodWitchIdleAnims by @paradoxcase (the link is broken and kestrellyn hasn't reuploaded this one to MTS, but assumingly involves the same templates as my witch idle mod)

Landlord Gardens Only Communal Areas by simler90 (the landlord NPC template)

Business Mod by simler90 (the chef NPC template, the reporter NPC template)

Gypsy Matchmaker Fix by simler90 (the matchmaker NPC template)

Buy Build Enabler for BV by cathair2005 (the social worker NPC template)

More points for woohoo with professors by Marhis (the professor NPC template)

No Relationship with Servers by Neder (the server NPC template)

Baby Toddler Mod by simler90 (the nanny NPC template)

There are probably more but in most cases, only specific NPCs are affected. Quite many people have reported having split NPCs in their games without noticing any issues with them.

Using these mods doesn't affect existing character files, but it will affect any new ones. You can prevent the split from happening by temporarily removing these mods from your game before creating new sims or pets, but you should keep in mind that this also includes spawning townies and NPCs (when their template is involved, that is) as well as born-in-game babies.

Can we stop the character files from splitting altogether?

If we can, it's sadly beyond my skillset as it appears to be hard-coded. I'm interested in testing if split character files can be safely merged back into one but I don't know about that either, yet.

I hope this clarifies the issue for someone! If I missed some crucial info, please comment.

[equinoxts2]

Quin's Mini Mod Set

I have made a few little mods for my own game, and I thought other simmers might be interested in them. So here's a description of what they each do:

Equinox_NoBillDelivery prevents bills from being delivered. It also (at least in my testing, with my mod cut) prevents the spawning of an NPC mail carrier unless there's non-bill stuff needing delivery, for example a NL restaurant coupon.

Equinox_NoPaperDelivery is the same but with newspapers and paper carrier NPCs. I don't know if it affects hobby magazines - if it does block sims from receiving hobby magazines, let me know and I'll put a new version up!

Equinox_NoToiletPapers is a mod that prevents sims reading newspapers on the toilet. I got so fed up of this in my prehistoric game, so... modder powers activate!

Equinox_NoYoureCrazyAnims replaces the finger-twirl animations, done when a sim sees someone talking to the Social Bunny or Therapist, going into aspiration failure, or just dancing badly, with the "why me?" looking up animation. The text "You're Crazy!" displayed when hovering over the queue icon has been changed to "Oh wow..."

Equinox_SwimwearInSauna and Equinox_SwimwearInSauna_MermaidUndies make sims change into their swimwear, not a towel, when getting into a sauna. Why? Maybe towels are too modern for your game, or you use bodyshapes and it's a bit weird seeing all your sims revert to Maxis shape in the sauna. Or, you know, just Reasons. The mermaid version has sims with @midgethetree's Mermaid Lifestate change into undies instead. It doesn't require Easy Inventory Check, as I used the global "Is sim mermaid?" from Midge's mod to check for the lifestate.

trait_HighlyEmotional is what will probably be the last TS2 trait name replacement from me, since I no longer play with 3t2 traits. However, I did want to replace the "Over-Emotional" trait in case I ever went back to them - the "over" sounds unnecessarily critical to me. It has been changed to "Highly Emotional" instead. Note, this is the collection-only trait, and - as with all traits - requires trait_MAIN from @hexagonal-bipyramid's Traits Project.

All mods are in one zip file, but you're free to delete what you don't want in your game. I promise I won't come chasing you with a pitchfork.

And now I've said all this: DOWNLOAD (SFS)

[icwasher]

I'm trying to figure out characterization and arcs for the Qui-Gon and Tahl fic. This little bit won't happen until either later on into their respective Padawanships, or early into their time as Knights.

“Might we have permission to look at your artifacts?” asked Tahl politely as she peered at an intricately painted ceramic vase displayed in a glass-covered case. “I’m trained to inspect them carefully, so I won’t ruin any, Captain Ohnaka.” The female Weequay rested a hand on Tahl’s shoulder. “Oh, please, call me Mama Ohnaka. And yes, I will grant you full access to my archives. Come, come!” She hurried down the hallway, beckoning Tahl and Qui-Gon forward. The beads draped around her neck jingled.  Tahl shot Qui-Gon an excited grin and eagerly trailed after Captain Ohnaka. Qui-Gon followed somewhat dubiously, keeping a careful eye on the pirates lining the hall. Their hands were on their blasters, so Qui-Gon kept his lightsaber hilt curled in his palm, ready for the slightest hint of trouble.  His eyes were drawn away from the pirates as Tahl asked, “So how did you find the tome?” Captain Ohnaka laughed. “Oh, it is a long story fraught with danger and peril! I doubt it is suitable for ears as young as yours, but I have told it to my little boy and he loves it very much so I believe I will tell it to you now.” She paused at length, and Qui-Gon watched as Tahl leaned forward eagerly, her steps quickening so she could stay directly beside Captain Ohnaka. “It was several years ago, and I was with my sixth husband—the one who fathered my little Hondo. We were raiding a ship headed to a museum, of all things—my late husband was an avid collector of ancient Jedi artifacts, you know—but we were not prepared for the Darksider aboard the ship.” “A Darksider?” asked Tahl, her voice low with awe.  “Yes, yes.” Captain Ohnaka grinned. “I fought him off while my husband raided the hold. I am rather good with a vibroblade, you know.” “I had no idea, actually,” muttered Qui-Gon. Tahl shushed him. “Anyway, the ship exploded and we only made it off with the tome. It was worthless, anyway, because we could not read the writing!” Captain Ohnaka shook her head with a sigh. “I have no qualms with giving it away, so long as I am compensated for my efforts.” “Of course.” Tahl reached into her satchel. “How many credits would you like? I have plenty.” Captain Ohnaka gave her a look. “Oh, Jedi Girl, I don’t need the credits. I have enough as it is.” “So what do you want?” asked Qui-Gon with a raised brow. She smiled, and Qui-Gon had the sense that whatever she was going to ask, it was going to be either very dangerous or very arduous. He didn’t know which he preferred. “See this necklace?” she said, holding up a pendant that had been hiding in the mass of beads. She handed it to Tahl, who ran her fingers over the edge with a look of concentration on her face. From where Qui-Gon was, he could tell that it was supposed to be hexagonal, but was missing a section. “I need you to retrieve the final piece,” finished Captain Ohnaka. Qui-Gon and Tahl looked at each other. Tahl seemed excited at the possibility of adventure. Qui-Gon, on the other hand, was resisting the urge to let out a groan loud enough to be heard all the way in Coruscant.

[misswriteress]

[Begin Image Description: from left to right, an clear eye with no pupil staring straight ahead with white smoke overlaid on top, the words Day Three - Mechanics written in grey-white scratched writing with two hexagons interlocking bordering it and a coin levitating above a hand with white smoke overlaid on top with the words Day Three - Mechanics written in black-grey scratched writing with two hexagons bordering it

End Image Description]

WTW POWER PROMPTS - DAY #3: MECHANICS

An excerpt from Introduction to the Classification of Psychic Abilities by Dr. Amelia Everett ->

Psychic abilities are divided into two main categories: receptive (meaning the ability presents itself internally with no external evidence) and projective (the ability presents itself in the physical world with external evidence) though some abilities fall into both categories. In terms of inheritance, generally children will inherit the abilities of their psychic parent, however there have been cases of psychics having their abilities evolve i.e a psychic with precognition develops the ability of retrocognition and vice versa. A psychic's ability can grow over time, becoming stronger though it can also diminish in power, particularly if a psychic chooses to suppress their ability though so far no cases of a psychic ability vanishing have been witnessed. Known Psychic Abilities are as follows: Telekinesis (classification: projective): The ability to manipulate matter with your mind, the most common variation of this is the ability to move objects or people, however there are sub-types related to the manipulation of elements such as fire, water, etc. One of the more common psychic abilities and easily the most dangerous, especially if a psychic becomes emotional. Psychics with this ability are called Telekinetics. Astral Projection (classification: receptive): The ability to separate your spirit from your body, allowing you to enter the astral plane. Psychics with this ability can also enter people's dreams or minds in order to communicate with them. Using this ability however puts one's body into an comatose state, leaving you vulnerable to attacks.

Empathy (classification: receptive and projective): One of only two abilities to be classified as both categories, it is the ability to sense and understand another's emotions, as well as even manipulate a person's emotions to make them feel a certain way or share another person's emotions with them. Psychics with this ability are called Empaths. Telepathy (classification: receptive and projective): The other ability classified as both categories, Telepathy is one of the most powerful abilities along with Telekinesis. This ability allows one to not only read another's mind (at its most powerful, without them even knowing) as well as communicate with them mentally. More skilled psychics with this ability can outright control a person and even modify or erase memories, making them one of the more feared psychics. Psychics with this ability are called Telepaths.

Clairvoyance (classification: receptive): Also called ESP, it is one of the more common psychic abilities with several other abilities falling under its umbrella. It is the ability to gain information about an object, person, place or event beyond normal means. A psychic with this ability might have a vision of what has already happened or is about to happen (Retrocognition and Precognition) or may see a location far away from them that they shouldn't be able to see even with the help of technology (Remote Viewing). They may also be able to tell what has happened to a person or object by reading them through touch or find a person by touching something that has belonged to them (Psychometry). Many psychics only show one of these abilities, but others might display some or all of these abilities though they can cause a great strain. Psychics with this ability are called Clairvoyants as a broad term, though other terms are used if their ability is more specialized (Seer for those with Retrocognition or Precognition). Mediumship (classification: receptive): The ability to perceive and communicate with both ghosts who walk on the mortal plane and those who have moved on to the afterlife. One of the more unique psychics, as many of them show abilities associated with clairvoyance but only limited to the dead i.e a medium might only sense the emotions of the dead. They can channel ghosts by offering their bodies as a temporary host, though it can be risky as the ghosts may refuse to leave. Powerful psychics with this ability can even repel or banish ghosts from an area, either temporarily or permanently. Psychics with this ability are called mediums.

[flowersandspacestuff]

"Webb's Diffraction Spikes Extended Description

This is a diagram labeled “Webb’s Diffraction Spikes”. The top right of the image shows three stars producing eight-pronged diffraction spike patterns. This diagram is composed of five sections.

The first section is headlined “What Are Diffraction Spikes?” Below the headline is a caption that says, “Have you ever noticed that bright stars in your favorite space images have unique spikes around them? These are known as diffraction spikes. Diffraction spikes are patterns produced as light bends around the sharp edges of a telescope. While all stars can create these patterns, we only see spikes with the brightest stars when a telescope takes an image. For most reflecting telescopes, including Webb, diffraction spikes appear when light interacts with the primary mirror and struts that support the secondary mirror.” Below this is an image of Webb’s observing side, including its 18 gold hexagonal segments, science instruments, primary mirror, struts and secondary mirror.

The second section is headlined “How Does Diffraction Happen?” Underneath this headline is a caption that says, “Light, which has wave-like properties, tends to radiate from a central point outward, similar to how water behaves when a stone is tossed into it. As light encounters an edge, it is bent and redirected, sending it in different directions. In situations where these light waves meet and interact, they can either become more amplified or cancel each other out. These areas of amplification and cancellation form the light and dark spots that show in diffraction patterns.” Underneath this caption are two boxes, lined horizontally. The first box, on the left, is a star that displays Hubble’s Diffraction Pattern, which has four-points – two vertical and two horizontal points. The second box, on the right, is a star that displays Webb’s Diffraction Pattern, which has eight-points – two vertical, two horizontal and four diagonal points.

The third section is headlined, “Primary Mirror Influence”. Underneath this headline is a caption that says, “Primary mirrors in reflecting telescopes cause light waves to interact as they direct light to the secondary mirror. So, even if a telescope had no struts, it would still create a diffraction pattern. The shape of the primary mirror, in particular the number of edges it has, determines the mirror’s diffraction pattern. Light waves interact with those edges to create perpendicular diffraction spikes.” Underneath this caption are six images, broken into rows of three. The first three are labeled, “Primary Mirror Shape”, which display a circle, square and hexagonal shape, like Webb’s, in white. The last three are labeled, “Image of Point Source”, and display the patterns due to the “Primary Mirror Shape” underneath. The first displays a diffraction pattern with a solid, bright center and alternating dark and light circles. The next shows a six-pointed spike pattern with alternating bright and dark regions. The last shows a complex fractal of light and dark regions within eight spikes – the closest representation to Webb’s.

The fourth section is headlined, “Strut Influence”. Underneath this is a caption, which describes the graphic below it, and says, “The number and position of struts holding up the secondary mirror determine the struts’ diffraction spike pattern. In the first row, there is a set of struts organized in a single line. When light hits a strut, the light bends into a single, perpendicular pattern of amplified and cancelled light (represented by a yellow dashed line). In the second row, a second set of struts is added to the first, creating a second, perpendicular diffraction spike (represented by a red dashed line). In the third row, there are three struts with two of them at an angle. In this case, there would be three diffraction spikes, with each spike perpendicular to a strut (represented by yellow, red, and blue dashed lines).”

The last section is headlined, “Webb’s Eight-Pointed Stars”. Underneath the headline is a caption that says, “Like most reflecting telescopes, the diffraction spikes for Webb are defined by its primary mirror and struts. Webb has three struts, with two angled at 150 degrees from its vertical strut, and its primary mirror is composed of hexagonal segments that each contain edges for light to diffract against. Webb’s struts are designed so that their diffraction spikes partially overlap with those created by the mirrors. Both of these lead to Webb’s complex eight-pointed star pattern.” At the bottom of this diagram is Webb’s eight-pointed star pattern organized by its “Strut Influence”, which overlaps parts of the star with red borders, and its primary mirror influence, which overlaps parts of the star with yellow borders. Above this image are more images that show the Webb’s segmented primary mirror and struts, with the primary mirror’s borders highlighted yellow and its struts highlighted red."

https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/01G529MX46J7AFK61GAMSHKSSN

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

In The Style, Blue!

SH presented two watches of the same brand at Nobleman's photo shoot, one of which matched the colour well. The watch chosen to match her blue jacket is a MONOBALANCIER HURACAN STERRATO inspired by a Lamborghini from the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer. The colourful piece was launched simultaneously with the new supercar of the same name.

Although SH's trousers have no hems, his stylist did not pay attention to the unfinished edge of the trousers.

Styling @mrmontyjackson

Roger Dubuis has led the charge in daring and innovative watchmaking, earning its reputation as the master of “hyper-horology”. The brand’s creations boast a bold and avant-garde design philosophy, resulting in futuristic and distinctive timepieces incorporating cutting-edge materials and complex mechanical movements.

The Excalibur Spider Monobalancier Huracán Sterrato is a brilliant extension of the brand’s Excalibur line, taking inspiration from the off-road Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato released last year, only this time dressed in an alluring blue attire.

Sporting a blue outfit, the new Huracán Sterrato watch features lines that cut across the dial, echoing the shape of the car’s roof rack. The timepiece boasts a quick-release system for rapid strap changes, allowing seamless adaptation to any occasion. The bright camo-patterned strap is a nod to the gritty abilities of the Huracán Sterrato, a remarkable feat achieved by vulcanising numerous coloured rubber plates.

The New Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Monobalancier Huracán Sterrato. Experience the latest offering from the hyper-horology brand created in partnership with the Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

The watch is powered by the automatic RD630 calibre movement, explicitly developed for the partnership with Lamborghini Squadra Corse, and it mirrors the hexagonal air intakes of the Huracán. The balance wheel takes centre stage at noon, tilted at a 12° angle to evoke Sterrato’s rev counter. This ingenious design decision adds depth to the dial and potentially enhances precision by averaging out positional errors.

The date display at 6 o’clock maintains the balance of the dial, while its rotation in front of a coloured decoder makes for a fascinating visual effect. With a transparent case back, you’ll marvel at the semi-skeletonised movement and its full rotor, cleverly resembling a Huracán wheel rim in motion. The dynamic illusion of pure speed is captivating. The watch offers 60 hours of power reserve with twin barrels, ensuring reliability and performance.

When it comes to telling time, the hour and minute hands might blend into the dial, but there are other focuses. The watch’s essence lies in its experience, just like driving a Lamborghini is more about the thrilling journey than the destination. The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Monobalancier Huracán Sterrato delivers a powerful and exhilarating experience, and it can be yours for £ 59.500 (USD 70,000, taxes not included) Note only 28 will be made.

Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato. Asphalt and dirt can travel together.

The Excalibur Spider Monobalancier Huracán Sterrato is a timepiece to celebrate the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato supercar built to conquer off-road terrain. The car is a marvel like no other, with its 5.2-litre V10 engine delivering a breathtaking 610 CV (449 kW) at 8,000 rpm and rocketing from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds.

[vlad-theimplier]

WIP Wednesday: Custos Custodium

Still getting into the habit--have a WIP snapshot! Jensen must have had a first visit to the Time Machine, and I have to imagine that he and Koller made quite the impression on one another. Check out the whole fic here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55686901/chapters/141357007

"After me now, please,” and Koller tugged his shoulder with ginger metal fingers. He walked through what was obviously a secret doorway and heard it close behind him, waiting politely to open his eyes until they entered an elevator that dinged and descended with a grinding lurch.

They stepped out into a charnel house in blood and iron, and he feared he’d come to entirely the wrong sort of place after all. A set of modern dentist’s lights on articulated arms spotlit a vintage dentist’s chair, all cracked leather and chrome: clean, but surrounded by red streaks leading to a floor drain in the concrete nearby. Screens holding CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and other imaging Jensen didn’t recognize stood around the disconcerting centerpiece. Five monitors sat edge-to-edge on the desk along one wall, backstopping a graveyard of takeout containers and soda cans that made Jensen’s old apartment look neat and Pritchard’s desk at Sarif Industries look neurotically tidy. Skeletal chicken feet jutted from several of the boxes, their bony toes held together by scraps of cartilage and tendon that had curled them as they dried.

From the ceiling hung sealed bags in droves, clearly opened and reused, each one holding an augmentation of some kind. Arms, legs, feet, eyeballs alone and in pairs, neural hubs… the array was dizzying. More augs stood in glass cases dotting the floor. Vials of Neuropozyne and a score of other substances stood in glass-fronted cabinets, a few refrigerated. A pair of wheeled carts sat haphazardly near them, stacked with gauze and bandages, needle and thread, soldering iron and cutting torch.

Sticky notes wallpapered the support pillars and posters for augmentation firms looked down from over the computer screens, all curling from their bottom corners. Water trickled somewhere nearby. Jensen smelled rust and damp and realized they were near the sewers, although fortunately not a malodorous section of them. He clenched his jaw in dismay.

“Well, let me have a look!” Koller said. “Into the Chair, come on, come on, I want to see what’s under your hood!”

Jensen held up a quelling hand. “I didn’t come here to get opened up like a can of beans. I need a… a system reset, or something. I had a bad injury, was in a coma for a while, and when I came out, I couldn’t use half my augs.”

Koller looked like a kicked puppy. Jensen watched him wring his metal hands and thought he might burst into tears. But he only heaved a gusty sigh and said, “Okay, okay, not today. But someday!” He raised a dramatic finger. “Someday you will need the Chair, and the Chair will be waiting for you. And I’ll give you a hand. Or two, or three.”

Koller’s gaze flicked to a rack that Jensen realized held replacement hands and arms for detailed aug work. Saws and drills and drivers and probes and laser scalpels… He shuddered, as much at the thought of hot-swapping entire limbs as at the armamentarium of terrifying devices on display.

They each sank into a much more normal office chair. “So, show me what’s on your mind,” Koller said, pulling out a neural interface cable. Jensen groaned and thumbed open the port on his temple, the hexagonal divot sliding sideways and bunching up the skin. “Aha, ha, I’m sorry,” said Koller as he leaned forward and plugged in the jack, patently nothing of the sort. “It helps me keep my English skills in good shape. Puns are hard, you know? It is like an exercise, a workout. Pun-ishing, yes? Yes?”

Jensen groaned again. “Just reboot my hub or whatever you need to do.”

But Koller was not listening. “Oh… that’s interesting. That’s very interesting now indeed. Hmmm. Ooh, so fancy, Mister Sarif. Someday I will shake your hand. Maybe open it up and look inside, too… hmmmmm…”

He broke into a tuneless whistle as he hammered at his computer, diagrams flashing across the monitors. Jensen recognized several from the manual Dr. Markovic had given him when he woke up in Detroit. “Icarus, very cool, very cool, yes. I bet it is dramatic when you use it. You’ll let me see sometime. Energy converter is most efficient, good, for all your power needs. And big biocells, too—who needs two kidneys anyway? Redundant. Sentinel, okay, nice, we do not need to waste anesthesia on you—”

“Excuse me?”

That got Koller’s attention. “Ah, yes, well, it is only… I don’t have very much. Painkillers, sure, but to put someone underneath?”

“Under.”

“Under, thank you—this is something I do only when I have to.”

His sources had been clear. Koller was the best there was in Prague, probably in the Czech Republic. He had only a few competitors in all of continental Europe. Jensen gritted his teeth. “The Icarus is glitchy. My smart vision and my cloak aren’t working at all.”

Koller’s eyes lit up, surprisingly still organic. “Cloak? Cloak! GlassShield is the Sarif one, yes? Ah, so cool… yes, yes, I’m looking. Eyes first. Should be easy. Blind for thirty seconds, okay?”

Despite Koller’s erratic, frenetic energy and bloodstained floor, that was more informed consent than he’d ever gotten from Dr. Markovic or Sarif. “Yeah. Go ahead.”

“Tři, dva, jeden…” Darkness. He suppressed a flinch and counted breaths. In, out, in, out. It was like staring down the pit of Panchaea, underwater, before he’d looked desperately upwards and seen the sky, that tiny, distant, hopeless hope—nope. Just breathe. In, out. In, out. His eyes turned back on like a thrown switch. In and out and he was okay.

“Try now!” Koller said, oblivious to his brush with panic. He clenched his eyeballs in the way that made smart vision activate, and there indeed it was.

“Nice. Good work.”

Koller preened visibly, then ducked his head, abashed. “No problem. I turn it off and on again, it’s all. Now Icarus… Hmmm. Okay, I see him. Mister Sarif is maybe not so smart as I thought. This one is tricky because reboot will require immediate activation. I will use laptop—we can go to the roof.”

“Activation… Christ. You’re joking.”

“I never joke!” said Koller, hand to his heart. “Okay, sometimes I joke. A lot. But not about patients. It’s seven or eight meters—those legs will be fine if anything goes wrong. Not that it will!”

“Save it for last, I guess. The cloak?”

Koller’s fingers hammered his keyboard again. “Running diagnostic… and… oh. Needs recalibration. Augmentation has forgotten shape of user and creates conflict with shape of cloak field. I will provide manual override, if you want, but calibration is easy.”

“Manual override?”

“Takes more energy but lets you expand or contract the cloak field. Physics means only some changes are possible. Meanwhile, I hit calibrate, you stand in the middle of empty space, and the field detects its own interference with you. No problem.”

“Sure. Give it to me.”

A new icon appeared in his HUD before shrinking away to nothing. “Play with it when you like. Now, I set for thirty-second delay, and… go.” Koller unplugged the cable and ushered him past a cluttered little bedroom to a flat, uncluttered patch of concrete near the sewer. He stood and waited, still as a statue. His cloak activated, but rather than hiding him, it picked out the surface of his body and clothes in golden tessellations. They rippled over him, a geometric wave of light, before fading away.

“Will it still hide my guns?” he asked.

“Yes, profiles for most weapons are built-in, or the cloak will read them from the smart link. This is for baseline. You should be okay now! Try it! I want to see. Or, see not seeing? Is like Cheshire man, I think. Smile!”

He did not smile, let alone match Koller’s manic grin, but he triggered the cloak. It worked, all right, and he became smoothly invisible to himself—although the damn thing still chewed through his energy reserves. He turned it off promptly. Koller was hopping up and down with delight, clapping his hands with a metallic clangor.

“So coooooool… okay! Now you jump off the roof, yes? Yes!”

Jensen buried his face in his palms. “Yeah. Fine. Let’s go.”

[fountainpenguin]

"Ain't nobody but yourself to trust... Whatcha gonna do when the chips are down? Now that the chips are down!"

---

New Factor It In chapter today!

Chapter 6 - “Torus”

Read on FFN || Read on AO3

Start from Chapter 1

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Exposition Guy and Wife take Rex shopping... Becky comes too, and then they hit the beach. It's fun! Captain Huggyface, however, is less willing than Becky is to overlook the mysteries of Rex's past. Case in point: If that's really his spaceship, then what happened to his co-pilot? Ohh boy...

(First 1,000 words under the cut)

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Torus

.:: January 3rd - Saturday - 7:43 pm ::.

"Not every path will cross, and some do for but a moment. Make the most of what little time you have."

(Ancient Hexagon proverb)

➕ ➖ ✖️ ➗

Psst! Look for the words myriad and bluster

---

Later that evening, at the shopping mall across town…

"You okay?" Becky asks. Rex buries his face in the arm of her sweater without responding. Nearby, Mrs. Pirakell rustles through clothing racks in a way that makes the plastic hangers clack. Huggy watches in silence, saying nothing, as Rex screws his eyelids up tight.

It's warm inside the SpAdes clothing store. Warm enough that Becky's wearing her pink and purple coat tied around her waist now. The hot, bright lights bearing down on them do nothing for roasting fur (or skin, probably). Becky bends her neck, forcing Huggy - who leans over her head like a fuzzy gargoyle - to adjust his footing against her shoulders. There are still snowflakes and bits of gravel sprinkled in her curls. She didn't shower after that last explosive skirmish with Ms. Question. Huggy lifts a few strands of hair free from the back of her collar. They ripple like liquid chocolate across his palms.

Pretty color. I can't believe she'd have streaks of light cinnamon by now if she'd stayed on Lexicon. The sun's UV rays are killer there. Not enough atmosphere to shield the population, even that far from the sun. Huggy traveled a wide range of communities before the fateful mission that left him and Becky stranded on Earth, you know. Lexiconians spend almost every waking hour outdoors, hunting for food… Her community in particular use lightened hair as a sign of maturity. She'd be learning to drive a scootercraft right about now.

I guess I could pull the old one out of the garage block… but I doubt the fuel would still work after so many years.

Rex's eyes are so scrunched, he may as well have dunked his head underwater. Even his cheeks are puffed up. There's a famous rusty red fish back on Lexicon that inflates its cheeks and the long spines along its back when it senses predators skulking near. There's no telling what its name would translate to in English, but it's a bottom-feeder with whiskery tendrils like a catfish. In his scarlet hoodie, Rex looks sort of like that: a startled, squirmy fish. After such a wild, messy day, he even has spikes bending free from his carefully combed hair.

Huggy blinks at the boy in silence. Hmm. It's a fitting comparison when you think about it. Maybe not the bottom-feeder part, but definitely the defensive attitude the fish displays when under threat. When tricks of avoidance (like camouflage) don't shake off a curious predator, it fights back. It flares its hidden daggers and lashes a snapping tail. If you could earn a degree in fight over flight, Rex would be a shoo-in. Mostly.

Tonight, he doesn't seem sure.

Becky's handling the noise and brightness of the store better, though Bob can feel her twitches beneath his folded arms. Rex's spidery fingers tighten in her sweater like tiny fangs. He nods in response to Becky's question (the "You okay?") even though he'd ignored her the first time. His hair and glasses scratch against her sleeve. He presses one hand against his ear. Mrs. Pirakell checks over her shoulder at them, then returns to counting shirts. Cloth rustles like the leathery wings of Lexicon's gliding lizards. It sends shivers down Huggy's spine and lifts his hackles by a smidge. Plastic hangers click nearby. Each one rattles like a pebble.

Like home.

Earth this. Lexicon that. Divide and sort, splitting thoughts and memories in completely separate boxes like separate shards of his identity. Huggy's New Year's resolution is the same every year: to stop the word home from conjuring memories of Lexicon like fireworks inside his brain. So he's already unsuccessful, but that doesn't mean he can't try again. And again and again and again.

At least that's what New Year's resolutions are for.

The brightly lit store they're in now is called SpAdes (capital A not optional, because their logo is the Eiffel Tower). All these sunny yellow walls and cheery rainbow shelves are a welcome relief after the cold, clingy wasteland of gray lurking outside. He's needed this. It's a shame Rex and Becky are both hunched over, heads bent. They're missing out. It's a beautiful night to hunker down indoors, away from falling snow. Maybe they won't have to go out again. Maybe not tomorrow either. That'd be nice.

Mrs. Pirakell straightens up and turns to say something to her husband. Mr. Pirakell hovers in the walkway between clothing racks, watching the trembling Rex and gentle Becky. His hands stay bundled in the pockets of his forest green sweatshirt, but Huggy can hear him opening and closing his clenching fingers. Milo's noisy. He's also bouncing on his heels.

And he's always watching. Though his unblinking stare pierces straight through his fur to his skittish heart, Huggy's always liked the guy. A little. Mr. Pirakell means well, even if he does have a nasty habit of bumbling into trouble. Regardless of his wandering, his foresight has proved invaluable on myriad occasions. Wrong place. Right time. That's sort of how he lives his otherwise unremarkable life.

Scratch that. Unremarkable feels like a cruel word on his tongue. Mr. Pirakell's soft, moist cakes are unbeatable and the Mrs. is a wizard with frosting, fruit salads, and soups. She nails the presentation every time. 5 out of 5 stars for the both of them. Huggy can't help swiping his tongue around his lips. Mr. Pirakell jumps a little and skitters his eyes away. He turns aside to study a bin of puffy winter-themed socks.

In Huggy's humble opinion, it's been much too long since they visited the mall. Becky, Violet, and Scoops are still young and starry-eyed, prone to splurging their allowance on toy store unicorns, art supplies, and microphones. Stores all around them are shutting down for the night. Honestly, Huggy's a little surprised that Mrs. Pirakell wanted to swing by this place instead of Bullseye where she can double up her shopping with food, but maybe she has coupons. With the amount she's buying, she'd better, he thinks absently, then stops. Bullseye doesn't allow monkeys.

Is he making things hard again?

[Cnt'd on FFN / AO3 - Links at top]

[mauvelilywilliams]

Writeblr Garden Advent Calendar Event: Magic System

Get prepared for a long post, because that's what this is. Ha ha.

TLDR: Guardian Spirits are long-living mortal creatures with strong souls that guard the elemental balance but are trapped within a 6-mile area. Humans can learn magics, but it takes lots of time. If they are granted magic by a Guardian, they will learn insanely quicker, but they may become trapped in that 6-mile area along with their Guardian.

(Full post is under the cut.)

In Skyline Spirits, the world is divided into hexagonal shaped Areas of magic influence. Each area is roughly 6 miles wide at its widest and has its own Guardian Spirits of the Elements that keep the Elements stable in those areas. Supposedly it was decided a long time ago that it was easier to manage the elemental balance if the entire world was cut into small sections and each one managed. Nobody is certain who or what decided that. And many people have been frustrated by it.

Each area has one Guardian Spirit for each Element, except in the rare case of one teaching a new one to take its place, but there is never more than two Guardians per element in an area at any given time. Guardian Spirits live for hundreds of years so this is rarely ever seen. 

Each Guardian has their own System they have to manage, and those systems have to work alongside the other Guardians’ systems. The systems are usually set up by placing Elemental Anchors, items enchanted with elemental energy, in certain locations around the area. Each Anchor stabilizes the System within a limited range, so it is common for each Guardian to have between 30-50 Anchors in order to get good coverage over the entire area. Each Anchor cannot be too close to another Guardian’s Anchor – especially an Anchor of the Opposite Element. Moving the Anchors without careful calculations can cause problems for the System. If not an immediate problem, then problems over time. 

Guardian Spirits also have to maintain their Anchors and monitor their coverage and strength, to make sure the natural increase and decrease of their strength over time won’t be too much to knock their System – or fellow Systems – out of balance. 

Each Guardian Spirit has magical strength over their element and no other element. The Guardian Spirit of Plants can create plants, the one of Fire can create Fire, and so on. The most common restrictions for the Guardians and their magic is distance and System strength. Like their Anchors, the Guardians can only use magic within a certain distance from their bodies. 

Even though Guardian Spirits have such important roles, they are not immortal nor do they have fancy bloodlines. They simply have a different kind of soul. Each Guardian Spirit is born to normal parents, normally some kind of animal – rarely human – because animals have a stronger link to the natural elements. They grow slower than their normal counterparts, and often get abandoned by their parents before they are grown, but Guardians live longer. Much longer. The average lifespan of a Guardian is between 800-1000 years. In some instances, Guardians have been known to be the last of an extinct species or display traits that are not found in their modern-blooded cousins. 

Guardian Spirits are not the only creatures capable of using magic. Humans, and less commonly other creatures, can learn to use magic. But it often takes many years of practice and discipline in order to unlock their individual soul’s ability to access the Elements, especially since humans usually have a weaker connection to the natural elements. On rare occasions, Guardian Spirits may ‘bless’ a human or other creature to have easier access to their own Element. This takes a great toll on the Guardian Spirit though and may even shorten their lifespans or give an opening for another way to disrupt their System. So ‘Blessings’ are usually considered forbidden except in the rarest of cases. 

Human magics, once practiced and learned, have manifested themselves anywhere from having a green-thumb to being magical warriors that could call fireballs or bolts of lightning down on their enemies. If they are Blessed, those abilities will only work within the Area that the Guardian Spirit that blessed them resides. And Guardian Spirits are bound to their Area, they cannot ever leave, even in death. So, Blessed people, are no longer considered Blessed if they leave the bounds of their Guardian’s Area. And some have been known for being so in-tune to their Guardian, that they were unable to pass the boundaries of the Area as well. Being forever trapped in this 6-mile area, like the Guardians, for the rest of their lives. 

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Stink Bug Eggs - Family Pentatomidae

This is a first, as it's not very often that I find insect eggs. Lucky for me, my dear friend Sarali found this cluster during her yearlong travel across Asia. I'm not aware on the context which these berries where found, but for an idea of the sense of scale in these pictures: the black (or possibly purple) chokeberries on display are likely between 7-12mm wide. With that knowledge in mind, an adult insect could easily fit a lot of egg clusters on just one of those small fruits! However, unless the insect in question is a specialist on fruit infiltration, a plant's leaves are the safer option, especially if the fruits are likely to be eaten. If the arrangement of this egg cluster is any indication, these eggs belong to a Stink Bug; they are quite fond of placing their eggs in hexagonal clusters. An adult Stinkbug is capable of laying several hundred eggs throughout her lifetime, so this is just a sample of the possibilities. The count does seem a bit low however (only 14), but nature is large, intricate system and there could be many reasons for such a small cluster (e.g., specie dependent, egg-laying was disturbed, smaller clusters laid across more plants/leaves, other eggs were eaten). Currently, I cannot determine which Stinkbug specie these eggs belong to or the age of these eggs.

Resources keep referring me to the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, but the eggs don't match at all. It might be because of that particular insect can be found on chokeberry and is a common find, especially in its native range. It's likely something a bit more exotic that may be more familiar in South Korea compared to my limited understanding of that environment from Canada. Although at a glance they seem closer in appearance to the mature eggs of the Green Stinkbugs (Chinavia spp.). Perhaps a distant relative! Nevertheless, under normal conditions when these eggs hatch, the young Stinkbug nymphs move out and find a suitable location along a plant (either this one or another) to pierce it and absorb nutrients. Those that are lucky will molt several times and reach shield-shaped adulthood, and can then take flight to a new plant. In this case however, if these eggs hatched in proximity to the fruit, the nymphs could fall into the berries and become someone's breakfast! There's always a small chance, especially when it comes to ripened fruit, so it may be best to thoroughly wash food obtained from an outdoor market. It's the same over here as I think of the neighborhood grocery stores and the Yellowjackets enjoying bites of peach and packaged berries. Washing is best; these insects are not for eating.

Pictures were taken on July 31, 2019 in Korea with a Google Pixel.

[rubyfire777]

To Johan Huizinga, author of the classic 1938 study Homo Ludens, it is the healthy, energetic civilization that is able to constantly engender new forms of play, whereas in decadent societies, highly organized systems of recreation and amusement become mere formal games. With its concise group of works, all from 2012, Paul Pfeiffer’s exhibition “Playroom” explored the spectrum of modernity’s forms of play, from “free,” fun and pleasurable activities to codified competitions in which profit or passive entertainment seem to be the motivating impetus [...]

The physical centerpiece of “Playroom” was the show’s titular sculpture, a five-by-five-foot hexagonal structure set eye-level on a white plinth. The work is a re-creation of basketball star Wilt Chamberlain’s so-called X-rated or “play” room from his 1970s-era Bel Air mansion, a space of period luxury—mirrored wall panels, a fur-covered water bed—and the site of his much publicized sexual romps (he once claimed to have had sex with more than twenty thousand women). In his architectural model, Pfeiffer removes most of the decorative embellishments (paintings, sculptures, and throw pillows) and makes each of the room’s six walls a one-way mirror, so the experience of looking into the sculpture is a dizzying mise en abyme of reflections without a subject (one’s own peering face is, of course, left out). Pfeiffer’s hollowing out of the space turns it into a Robert Smithson–like non-site (the sculpture’s mirrored, geometric, display-case form contributes to the sense of its contents being nearly geologic) and gives the impression that the “love nest” was not dedicated to spontaneous, “free” pleasure but was the epicenter of a rigidly quantified game of sexual conquest. For Huizinga, play was separated from ordinary life and therefore no material interest could be gained from it. Yet, Pfeiffer suggests, “professionalized” games often trade more in routine and spectacle than in authentic, creative, unalienated pleasures.

Eva Díaz for Artforum

'playroom' paul pfeiffer (2012)

[atplblog]

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[vijay34]

Graphene Market Booms with Demand from Electronics and Energy Storage

Expanding Applications in Electronics, Energy Storage, and Composites Drive Growth in the Graphene Market.

The Graphene Market Size was valued at USD 366.5 Million in 2023. It is expected to grow to USD 4997.1 Million by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 33.2% over the forecast period of 2024-2032.

The Graphene Market is driven by the material's exceptional mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal properties. Known as the "wonder material," graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, offering 100 times the strength of steel while remaining incredibly lightweight and flexible. Its versatility has attracted applications in electronics, energy storage, composites, coatings, biomedical devices, and more.

Key Players:

GrafTech International 

Graphene NanoChem Plc 

XG Sciences, Inc. 

Applied Graphene Materials plc 

Haydale Graphene Industries Plc 

Versarien Plc 

Talga Resources Ltd 

First Graphene Ltd 

G6 Materials Corp. 

Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. 

Future Scope & Emerging Trends:

The graphene market is rapidly evolving as global R&D efforts continue to uncover new use cases across various industries. In electronics, graphene is enabling the development of flexible displays, faster transistors, and advanced sensors. The energy sector is exploring graphene for high-performance batteries and supercapacitors, pushing toward more efficient energy storage solutions. Biomedical applications like targeted drug delivery, bio-imaging, and antimicrobial coatings are gaining traction. Additionally, the aerospace and automotive industries are incorporating graphene into composites for lightweight, high-strength components. With ongoing government and private investments in nano-innovation and green technology, graphene is poised to become a cornerstone of next-gen materials.

Key Points:

Graphene is stronger than steel, yet incredibly thin and lightweight.

Key applications include electronics, energy storage, composites, coatings, and biomedical devices.

Surge in demand for flexible electronics and high-capacity batteries fuels market growth.

Increasing use of graphene-enhanced materials in automotive and aerospace.

Significant R&D and commercialization efforts in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe.

Governments and companies are investing in scalable production and cost-reduction technologies.

Conclusion:

The Graphene Market is on a transformative path, reshaping industries with its unmatched performance characteristics and disruptive potential. As commercialization accelerates and costs decline, graphene is expected to become a key enabler of innovation in the clean energy, healthcare, electronics, and advanced materials sectors. With its promise of revolutionizing the way we power, build, and connect the world, graphene is truly paving the way for a smarter and more sustainable future.

Read Full Report: https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/graphene-market-4733                                 

Contact Us:

Jagney Dave — Vice President of Client Engagement

Phone: +1–315 636 4242 (US) | +44- 20 3290 5010 (UK)

[foggypainterstudentac]

9 video games using grid based movement: hexagonal grid #1, #2, #3

#1: Civilisation V

The hexagonal grid is implemented in this game because it allows the movements to be clearer as the game utilises 6 directional movement. The grid adds to the gameplay by making the environment more visually pleasing as the hexagonal shape allows for more organic shaped coastlines, mountains, etc. It also improves combat as it makes all the moves clearer to the player as its harder with a grid to visualise diagonal attacks. The game uses 6 directional movement. The grid affects interactions by having the landscapes hexagonal it allows a mountain to fit in one so you can strategically put your civilisations behind these or ontop forhigh ground.

#2: Panzer Corps

This game implements this type of grid as it makes everything more visually simple for the player and it also works better with the combat system because of all the tactics you could use like flanking, encirclement. This grid adds to the gameplay by making it easier to count how far away you are making calculating attacks faster and it makes it easier to establish your zones of control thr other players cant move in. This game also has 6 directional movement as it works well with the hexagonal grid which in turn works well with the combat systems and overall game idea as you get to see the whole landscape and your enemies movements and they are easier to track due to the hexagonal shapes. The grid effects interactions between players as it forces them to play more strategically and this is the same with the map the grid makes you utilise this as you have to avoid the other players.

#3: Catan Universe

The game implemented this type of grid as it is again a strategy game involving territory expansion so this works well for this case. The grid adds to the gameplay as it makes it so each hex has a yield number making players have to decide strategically on what they will do with how they place and where they place settlements. You traverse the grid by rolling dice which then decides where your turn will take place e.g. if you have a settlement in 6 and you roll 6 you can take action at one of the 6 hexagons. The grid affects interactions with the player and the map by having the players strategically place settlements near places of high yeild resources and control all of one resource or just take one of each.

Overall the games all use the grid in a similar way as they are all strategy games which is most common genre for the use of hexagonal based grids. The first two games use it for the same reason being placements of settlements or in Panzer Corps the tanks and units. While in Catan it is used for displaying materials and yields and the edges of the grid spaces are where the settlements are placed on the lines etc. So hexagonal grids are very commonly used in strategy games as they work well with the turn based combat systems and for expansion strategy games.