#Latest Gadgets 2025 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jo3ydr3w · 3 months ago

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stobotnik week 2025 day 2

Prompt 1: Yearning

The silence in the dimly lit lab was almost suffocating, but Stone didn’t mind. He’d grown used to the quiet, the soft whirring of Robotnik’s machines filling the gaps between their conversations. Tonight, however, something was different.

Stone hovered near Robotnik’s workbench, his fingers nervously fiddling with a small wrench. His gaze kept darting to Robotnik, who was focused entirely on his latest project, his brow furrowed in concentration as he adjusted some gadget with a precision that could only come from years of experience.

Stone had been working tirelessly all afternoon, fetching tools, sorting through piles of equipment, organizing components, all in an effort to make Robotnik’s tasks easier. But despite the hours of effort he’d poured into his work, something was gnawing at him—a deep, unshakable feeling that maybe it wasn’t enough. That Robotnik didn’t notice. Or worse… that he didn’t care.

He shifted from one foot to the other, trying to calm the tight knot in his chest, but the longing was growing too strong. He needed something. Just a word. A simple acknowledgment. Something to remind him that all of this—everything he did for Robotnik—meant something. That he meant something.

Robotnik didn’t look up from his work as he adjusted a small dial, eyes flicking over the blueprints he had spread out before him. Stone’s heart beat faster in his chest.

“Doctor…” Stone’s voice was barely above a whisper, almost hesitant. But his need to be heard pushed him to try again. “Doctor, I… I finished organizing the parts like you asked.” His words hung in the air, but Robotnik didn't even flinch. He merely grunted in acknowledgment, his attention never leaving the schematic in front of him.

Stone’s hands clenched the wrench tighter, feeling a wave of disappointment flood him. He swallowed hard, trying to push down the ache in his throat, but it was getting harder to ignore. He couldn’t help but feel… invisible.

“Robotnik,” Stone tried again, his voice just a little more insistent now. He stepped a little closer to the workbench, careful not to disturb anything. “I—I found that rare part you needed, the one for the actuator. It’s all cleaned up, ready for you to use. Just like you said.”

There was a pause. Robotnik glanced at him, just a brief glance, but it felt like an eternity to Stone.

“Mm. Good,” Robotnik muttered, a small grunt of approval. But his attention was already back on his work, his fingers moving with mechanical precision as he fine-tuned a component.

Stone’s heart sank.

Good. It was always just good. He needed more. Needed everything to be good enough for Robotnik, for his praise, for his approval. Without it, he felt like a ghost—an afterthought, someone who simply existed in the background, never fully seen.

He took a step closer to Robotnik, his voice trembling now, desperate for something more, something real. “I’ve been working so hard for you, Doctor,” Stone said, his eyes cast downward, the wrench now a lifeline in his trembling hands. “I’ve been doing everything you asked. Everything.” His voice cracked slightly as the words tumbled out. “Just… can you say it? Can you say you’re proud of me? Just once.”

Robotnik paused this time, his gaze flicking over to Stone. The air felt thick with the unspoken words hanging between them. The silence stretched out before Robotnik sighed, wiping his hands on a cloth as he leaned back in his chair, eyeing Stone carefully.

“Proud of you?” Robotnik’s voice was cool, but there was a flicker of something behind his eyes—something that Stone couldn’t quite place. “I don't have time for empty praise, Stone. You want praise for every little thing you do? Then you’re wasting both of our time.”

Stone’s chest tightened, and the words hit him like a slap. He tried to steady his breath, but it was hard when all he wanted was that tiny scrap of validation, that one shred of acknowledgment that he mattered. That the things he did, the things he gave for Robotnik’s success, actually meant something.

“But I…” His voice faltered. “I’m trying so hard, Doctor. I’ve been doing everything for you. Everything.” His words were pleading now, the desperation creeping into his tone. “I just… I just want you to notice. To… to say that I’m doing a good job. That you care about what I do for you.��

Robotnik’s expression softened ever so slightly, and for the first time that night, he leaned forward, studying Stone intently. There was something different in his gaze, something more understanding, though it was fleeting.

“You are doing a good job, Stone,” Robotnik said, his voice quiet but firm. “You’ve been helping me in ways I couldn’t have done alone. But you don’t need my constant praise to know that. Your work speaks for itself.”

Stone’s heart fluttered at the words, the quiet warmth of them. But it wasn’t enough. Not yet. He needed more. He needed to hear that Robotnik truly valued him, that all of his tireless efforts were seen and appreciated. He took another step forward, his voice almost pleading now, fragile.

“I just want to know you care,” Stone whispered, his voice raw. “I want to know that… that I matter to you. That I’m more than just… just someone who does your bidding.”

Robotnik paused, and for a long moment, the room was filled with nothing but the soft hum of machinery. Finally, Robotnik leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening just a little more.

“You matter,” Robotnik said, his voice quieter than usual, though still laced with his usual sharpness. “You’ve always mattered. Without you, my plans would fail. I couldn’t do it without you.” He let out a long sigh, as if this was a difficult thing for him to admit. “You may not always get the praise you crave, Stone, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate you. You’re more important than you give yourself credit for.”

Stone stood there, staring at Robotnik, the weight of his words sinking in. For a brief moment, everything inside him felt like it had shifted, the aching hole inside him filling, just a little. He didn’t need grand gestures or constant praise—just this.

A single, quiet acknowledgment.

“Thank you,” Stone murmured, his voice trembling, his heart finally calming. “That… that’s all I needed.”

Robotnik nodded curtly, turning back to his work. “Get back to it, Stone. I still have plans to execute.”

But this time, as Stone picked up his wrench and returned to his tasks, there was a small, steady warmth inside him. It wasn’t everything he had yearned for—but it was enough. For now.

Prompt 2: Dependency

The dim light of the hideout flickered against the walls, casting long shadows across the cluttered, makeshift living space. The usual hum of Robotnik’s gadgets was eerily absent. The machines lay dormant, as though they too were waiting. Waiting for their master. Waiting for him.

Stone paced back and forth, his feet dragging on the cold floor, his mind spiraling. He hadn’t felt this way since… since before he had ever joined Robotnik. Since before he had become the loyal, devoted assistant to the mad genius.

But now? Now, with Robotnik gone, Stone felt completely adrift. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Every movement felt mechanical, every task meaningless. Without Robotnik's presence—his direction, his orders, his sharp reprimands—Stone felt like something was missing. Like a part of him was gone, leaving him hollow.

He’ll come back soon, Stone tried to tell himself, but it did little to soothe the restless, frantic anxiety building in his chest. It had been days—weeks?—since Robotnik had disappeared. There had been no word, no communication, and that was eating away at him more than anything.

He sat down heavily on the couch, running his hands through his hair as he stared at the monitor in front of him. The screensaver flickered, and he absently reached to tap the keyboard, but he couldn’t focus. He couldn’t concentrate. Everything seemed insignificant without Robotnik there to guide him, to give him purpose.

Why hasn’t he called?

Stone’s thoughts churned, spiraling into darker corners. He had grown so accustomed to the constant presence of his superior, the never-ending barrage of tasks and orders. When Robotnik wasn’t around, Stone’s mind became a prison. He thought of all the things that could have gone wrong on that planet. What if something happened? What if Robotnik needed him and he wasn’t there to help? What if…

He stood up abruptly, feeling the weight of his own thoughts pressing in on him like a physical force. He moved to the window, looking out into the night, though there was nothing to see but the blackness of the empty sky. The wind outside rattled the panes, a reminder of how alone he was. How completely isolated he felt in this moment of waiting.

His fingers tightened around the edge of the windowsill, nails digging into the wood, as he whispered to himself, “Where are you, Doctor?”

His words hung in the air, almost a plea. It was irrational, it was unnecessary, but there it was—this deep, gnawing fear that he couldn’t shake. Without Robotnik, without his genius, his plans, his presence, Stone didn’t know who he was. He didn’t know what he was supposed to be doing. He felt like a shadow without his light.

The door to the lab creaked open, and Stone’s head shot up. His heart skipped a beat as he turned toward the sound, expecting to see Robotnik walk through, his usual confident stride filling the space. But the figure who entered was not Robotnik.

It was just a few of Robotnik’s leftover machines. A set of drones, dispatched on some unimportant errand. Stone’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. He felt a pang of frustration as he turned away from the door. His body slumped back down onto the couch.

Why hasn’t he called? Why hasn’t he come back?

His thoughts were like a drumbeat now, incessant and pounding. The only thing that calmed his racing mind was the thought of when Robotnik would finally return. When his master would walk through that door, his commanding voice filling the room. Stone needed that. He needed him. The very thought of Robotnik’s presence—the way he would stride into the room with all his intelligence and authority—was the only thing that made Stone feel grounded.

Minutes stretched to hours, and the anxiety in his chest twisted tighter. Every sound outside, every movement in the shadows of the hideout, made his heart race in anticipation.

Where is he?

Stone gripped the edge of the couch tightly, his hands shaking. He couldn't seem to breathe properly, his chest tightening with each passing second. He had no idea what to do. Without Robotnik, he was just… adrift.

He stood again, pacing, his hands running through his hair in agitation, his eyes darting constantly toward the door. His thoughts were chaotic, desperate.

What if something happened? What if he’s in trouble? What if he doesn’t come back?

The thought terrified him. He couldn’t live without Robotnik. His entire existence had been shaped around serving him, supporting him, making sure the doctor’s plans came to fruition. He had been content, in a way, with that role. But now? Now, with nothing to do but wait, it was like a part of him was missing. The uncertainty gnawed at his insides, a hollow ache that he couldn’t shake.

Suddenly, there was a noise—a soft click, followed by the unmistakable sound of the door unlocking.

Stone’s heart leaped into his throat as the door creaked open. There, standing in the doorway, was Robotnik, his eyes tired but gleaming with that familiar brilliance.

Stone’s breath caught in his throat, and he froze, the weight of his own desperation heavy in his chest. The need to reach out, to make sure Robotnik was really there, to beg for some reassurance, overwhelmed him. He needed to hear it. Needed to hear the words that would make him feel whole again.

"Doctor…" Stone breathed, his voice trembling. “I—I’ve been waiting for you… I’ve been… so worried.”

Robotnik looked at him for a long moment, his gaze shifting from the door to Stone’s trembling figure. There was something unreadable in his eyes, but he didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them.

“Worried?” Robotnik’s voice was tired, but it still carried that sharp edge, that command. “You shouldn’t be. I knew you’d hold down the fort while I was gone. You’ve been a good assistant. You always are.”

Stone’s hands trembled at the praise, the weight of it sinking into him. It wasn’t just any praise. It was Robotnik’s. And that was enough to calm the storm inside him, just a little. He closed his eyes for a moment, a shaky exhale escaping his lips.

“Thank you, Doctor,” Stone whispered. His voice cracked with emotion, and he couldn't quite bring himself to look up. He wasn’t sure why, but the words felt like the first breath he’d taken in days. Like a weight had been lifted from his chest.

Robotnik gave him a short nod, his eyes softer than usual. “Now, get some rest, Stone. You’ve done well.”

And with that, Robotnik turned, already heading toward his workbench, but Stone didn’t care. The words had done their job. He wasn’t alone anymore.

And that was enough.

Prompt 3: Control (This one is real angsty)

Stone had thought about this moment for a long time.

Control.

Not just in the small ways—bringing Robotnik his coffee exactly how he liked it, anticipating his needs before he even voiced them, ensuring everything ran as smoothly as possible. No, Stone had that kind of control down to a science. That wasn’t what he wanted.

What he wanted—what he needed—was something bigger. A shift in power. Just once, he wanted to be the one in charge. He wanted to pull the strings, to make Robotnik react instead of the other way around.

So he tested it.

Little things, at first. Holding eye contact just a second too long. Answering orders with clipped affirmations instead of the usual “Yes, Doctor.” Standing a little closer than necessary when handing him reports.

Then, he got bolder.

Interrupting. Not with anything blatant—Robotnik despised blatant incompetence—but with small, subtle derailments in conversation. Steering things in his own direction. Making suggestions before Robotnik could demand them.

Then, finally, finally, pushing back.

“You should take a break, Doctor,” Stone said, voice measured, controlled. “You’ve been at this for hours. I can—”

He barely saw it coming.

One moment, he was standing there, perfectly composed, perfectly poised to take another step forward in his attempt to wrest some semblance of control from the situation. The next—

Fingers in his mouth.

Stone’s brain blanked out completely.

Robotnik’s hand was on his jaw, fingers pressing down against his tongue, forcing his mouth open. He didn’t squeeze—didn’t need to. The mere gesture of it was enough to short-circuit Stone’s mind, to make every thought scatter like static interference.

“You,” Robotnik murmured, tilting his head as if observing something mildly amusing, “are adorable.” His voice was slow, deliberate, dragging over every syllable like he had all the time in the world. “I’ve been watching you try to play this little game, Agent Stone. Pushing back. Speaking out of turn. Thinking, for even a second, that you could tell me what to do.”

Stone’s breath hitched, but he didn’t move. Couldn’t.

Robotnik leaned in, just enough for Stone to catch the sharp glint in his eyes, the barely-restrained amusement behind them. “I don’t take breaks. My mind doesn’t stop. That’s why I’m the smartest person in the world.” His fingers flexed slightly, pressing down just enough for Stone to feel the pressure. “And you? You’re here because I allow it.”

Stone’s knees nearly buckled.

His grip on control—his carefully constructed plans, his attempts at tilting the balance—evaporated in an instant. All that remained was this. Robotnik’s voice, his presence, the undeniable weight of his authority pinning Stone in place.

Then, just as quickly as it happened, Robotnik withdrew. He wiped his fingers absently against his coat, already turning back toward his work as if the exchange had been nothing more than a passing thought.

“You’re good at following orders, Stone. Stick to that.”

Stone stood there, swallowing hard, pulse hammering in his throat.

Right.

Control wasn’t his to take.

Not here. Not with him.

And maybe—just maybe—he liked it that way.

#🛼 Maria #stobotnik week 2025 #stobotnik week #stobotnik #eggs and rocks #agent stone #dr robotnik

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rachelsimbuild · 2 months ago

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🐰 BUNNY TATTOO & GAME - The Sim 4

🎮🐰 BUNNY TATTOO & GAME – The tattoo shop for pink-loving gamers!

💖🎮 Lot Size: 30x20 – Built for The Sims 4: Get to Work & Hobbies (Latest 2025 Patch) “Why can’t girly, pink-loving folks get tattoos?” “Why do tattoo parlors have to look edgy and dark?” The answer is: They absolutely don’t!

💥 BUNNY TATTOO & GAME is a sweet yet rebellious mashup of a tattoo parlor and a retro game shop, made for Sims who love gaming, pastel colors, and expressing themselves in their own quirky, pixelated way!

🌈 Main aesthetic: A full-on pastel dream! Bright pink walls, neon signs, checkerboard floors in electric blue and purple, and plenty of plush seating shaped like donuts and hearts. Private tattoo stations with adorable curtains, cozy beds, and walls covered in retro anime, quirky line art, and pixel icons.

🕹️ Game zone includes: Vintage-style arcade machines, console displays, and gamer-themed decor. Sell games, geeky gadgets, and quirky collectibles—perfect for your Sim’s gamer biz!

🧁 Tattoo service, but make it gamer-core: Pixel art tattoos, neon cats, Sailor Moon sipping boba, glitchy Pac-Man ghosts, even kawaii robots with attitude. Perfect mix of chaos and cuteness—your Sim will leave with ink that levels them up. 💬 Slogan:

✨ “Gamers have style. And that style? Totally tattooable.” ✨

🌟🌟🌟 Download Here : https://www.patreon.com/posts/bunny-t...

or here : https://ko-fi.com/s/bfe098479b

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geekcavepodcast · 8 months ago

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"Zootopia" Gets Ongoing Comic Book Series

Dynamite Entertainment's Disney line is getting a new ongoing comic book series set in the world of Zootopia. Zootopia will feature writing from Jeff Parker and art from Alessandro Ranaldi.

"It’s another beautiful day in the bustling city of Zootopia, where every animal is free to strive to realize their full potential — and one of the most successful among the pack is Tripp Zebrando, owner of the PB&J cell phone company. Their high-tech devices have become the can't-miss gadget for every citizen of Zootopia, and they're about to launch their latest flagship model with a huge publicity event. Everything goes awry when someone has it out for PB&J, set on sabotaging the event and the company by bringing the whole house down — right on top of the unsuspecting crowd!

Luckily this is a case for ZPD's finest, as Officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde rush to the scene to keep the peace, contain the chaos, and investigate the mystery at the bottom of it all." (Dynamite Entertainment)

Zootopia #1 goes on sale in January 2025. The debut issue sports covers from Alessandro Ranaldi, Trish Forstner, Craig Rousseau, artwork from the Disney film, and more.

Image via Dynamite Entertainment - Alessandro Ranaldi's Cover of Zootopia #1)

#zootopia #judy hopps #nick wilde #jeff parker #alessandro ranaldi #dynamite entertainment #disney #TGCLiz

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mariacallous · 3 months ago

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If there's one word on your mind this week, it's probably tariffs. Last week, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on foreign goods imported into the US, setting the stage for a global trade war and stoking fears of a recession. A blanket 10 percent tariff on all imports kicked off on Saturday, April 5, with additional reciprocal tariffs on 60 countries to take effect by April 9.

It's a wildly dynamic situation that's changing by the day, but you might wonder how this affects you. The first thing to know is that tariffs are paid by the company importing a product into the country. In short, that fee affects their bottom line, so companies often pass those costs on to consumers by increasing the price of the goods.

Here's an example from Jason Miller, a professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University: Let’s say a laptop costs $400 at import in the US. A retailer would then add an average gross margin rate of 30 percent—how much revenue the retailer retains after deducting the cost to produce or acquire the item—and that laptop will now cost $571. That's the price you'll pay at a big box store.

China exports a lot of laptops to the US, and as of April 9, you'll have to factor in the 104 percent tariff, according to the latest figures. Based on historical data that suggests 95 percent of the tariff is absorbed by the importer, the import price jumps by $395 to $795, and if the retailer passes those costs to you, the new total you'll pay at the store is $966. That represents 69 percent inflation, and the retailer's gross margin rate is lowered to 18 percent. Basically, you pay more, and the retailer earns less.

Every country has been affected by Trump's tariff salvo. While many product categories will likely see prices rise, electronics is a big one. "There’s not any major electronics-producing nation that’s not substantially affected by tariffs," Miller says, including Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, and India. He believes tariffs will be negotiated for many countries, but expects the tariffs on China to stay.

That will heavily impact the prices of goods like smartphones, laptops, and video game consoles. Smartphones are the largest import from China, with laptops sitting in second. Miller says it's important for consumers to understand that while there were tariffs on some goods from China before, there were zero tariffs on electronics like smartphones and laptops as of January 2025.

His advice? If you were planning on upgrading your laptop, tablet, or smartphone soon—maybe the battery is lackluster or it's just too old—do it now. “Buy it now. Do not wait, it makes no sense to do that,” he says. You likely won't see prices rise for a few months as companies have stocked up on goods ahead of the impending trade war, but if nothing changes in the coming weeks, Miller expects to see prices soar starting in June or July.

Miller rattled off various categories outside of electronics that would also be affected, specifically from China, which is the second largest source of imports to the US behind Mexico:

Furniture

Shoes and apparel

Microwave ovens

Silverware, plates

Blinds, linens, and curtains

Toys

Solar panels

Building materials, like vinyl flooring

Cashews

Candles

Fans

Air conditioner parts

Golf clubs

Exercise equipment

Keyboards

Auto parts

Christmas ornaments and Home Decor

Toilets

Food blenders

Seafood

Outside of higher prices, Miller says consumers should expect less product variety. “What importers are going to do is they're only going to import their most profitable, best-selling items for which they know they can still make a profit under these tariff regimes.” Apple will still import its iPhones, but a smaller smartphone maker that doesn't sell many units of a specific model may skip the US market entirely. It will also negatively impact any product where there's already a lot of consumer sensitivity to price increases.

How Are Companies Reacting?

A few companies have already made tariff-related announcements on their products. Nintendo canceled the original April 9 preorder date for the Switch 2 video game console and has yet to provide a new date, though its June 5 launch window hasn't changed.

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive is pausing auto shipments to the US this month. And Framework, known for making repairable laptops, is also pausing sales on a few models of its base Framework Laptop 13. Razer seems to have paused direct sales of its laptops in the US, though the company hasn't responded to our request for comment. Fujifilm announced a new Instax 41 camera today, but says it “has not yet determined the camera's pricing for the US market.”

WIRED reached out to more than 70 companies, from electronics manufacturers to coffee companies, asking if they could share any details about potential price increases on imported products. The vast majority, like Garmin, Oura, Amazon, Logitech, OnePlus, and Steelcase, declined to comment, while others said it was too early to discuss pricing. Still, some companies responded.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Popular home office furniture brand, Branch, says it has been preparing for trade policy changes for some time, finding efficiencies in its supply chain to absorb the impact of tariffs with minimal increases to pricing. The company says there's a lot of uncertainty: “Candidly, we may need to adjust some prices in the coming months, particularly for products sourced from countries where tariff rates came in significantly higher than we anticipated.” Branch says if there is a price change, it will be to protect margins rather than to expand them. It's worth noting that Branch's Ergonomic Chair, long recommended in WIRED's Best Office Chairs guide, used to be $339 but is now $359, though Branch says the price was adjusted before tariffs were announced.

Drip coffee maker Moccamaster says it may absorb “some short-term pressures at the US level," though it's too early to confirm whether prices will increase. Portland-based coffee machine maker Ratio says it's holding prices steady through April, but “tariffs this high will unequivocally compel higher retail prices—potentially much higher. We are a small business that was already struggling with increasing costs.”

Moment, which makes camera bags and photo equipment, says it will increase prices on “most items” by $5 to $10 next week, though the company says some prices will stay the same and some will go down. “Unfortunately, these tariffs make it impossible for us to continue without cheapening the quality, laying off the team, or forcing our mom-and-pop suppliers out of business,” the company says in a newsletter it sent out to subscribers.

Supernote, a company that makes digital notebooks, pointed to a statement it made on Reddit. It's implementing a price increase in the US by the end of April: “We are actively adjusting our supply chain to mitigate the long-term impact of these tariffs," the company says on Reddit. ”These adjustments take time, especially with the new tariffs hitting everything from people to penguins, which makes the situation more complicated. It's going to be a tough time."

The company behind smart bird feeders from brands like Harymor and Sehmua, says it's exploring strategies to absorb costs internally, with no price adjustments—"We are facing rising expenses that directly affect our profit margins. … We recognize the competitive nature of the market and the price sensitivity of our customers."

Meanwhile, Samsung hasn't responded to our request for comment yet, but the company told Reuters the tariffs don't affect its TVs as much since most are produced in Mexico.

We'll keep adding information from brands as we receive it. While it's too early to make a definitive statement on an ever-evolving situation, we can probably expect higher prices on almost everything if the tariff situation remains unchanged. The last thing we want is for everyone to panic buy, but if you need a new phone, a mechanical keyboard, or an air purifier, you should probably start looking now.

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hauntedparaclassics · 2 months ago

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Korn’s Jonathan Davis Joins the ‘Ghost Adventures’ Team

By Rebecca Murray - April 24, 2025

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Korn frontman Jonathan Davis joins the Ghost Adventures team as they return to investigate the Glen Tavern Inn on episode six, airing April 30, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel. Davis joins Zak Bagans and his crew – Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley, and Jay Wasley – in a special trip back to Santa Paula, CA following the death of local medium Patrick Smith.

Discovery Channel released this description of the episode:

“The crew’s mission to document the afterlife takes them to iconic haunted locations this season alongside special guest investigators. As they embark on groundbreaking investigations shrouded in paranormal legends, the team uncovers frightening accounts of ghostly activity that invoke chills at every turn. Conducting immersive lockdown investigations using the latest scientific gadgets and technology, they seek to capture physical evidence of the paranormal and a deeper understanding of these supernatural mysteries.

Zak Bagans and the crew return to the Glen Tavern Inn in Santa Paula, California, to help its staff find closure after the tragic loss of a beloved local medium, Patrick Smith. After Bagans experiences a premonitory dream during their investigation, he invites musician Jonathan Davis from the band Korn and paranormal investigator Gary Galka to assist the team on their lockdown, as they dig deeper into the dark mysteries of the former gambling house.”

Billy Tolley, Aaron Goodwin, Zak Bagans, Jonathan Davis, and Jay Wasley in ‘Ghost Adventures’ episode 6 (Photo Credit: Discovery Channel)

Source: Showbiz Junkies

#Youtube

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tallmini · 4 months ago

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star

synopsis: “amongst the embroidered stars in the sky, you are my own light, my star”

“I’ll be the night that where you can shine, now let me protect you”

pairing: perfect child!jungmo x bestfriend!reader genre: comfort, fluff wordcount: 1k+ tallmini’s note: this is a oneshot inspired by cravity’s star. i suggest everyone to listen to it because it never failed to make me tear up. enjoy :)

Jungmo, the only child in a sprawling, loving home, seemed to lead a charmed life. Envy followed him like a shadow– the grand house, the latest gadgets, the unwavering support of his parents, you name it. Yet, at 15, a subtle weight settled upon his shoulders. He felt the unspoken expectation, the need to repay their love with unwavering success. Each perfect report card, each beaming parental smile, became a measure of his worth, a burden he carried with a quiet fear of failure.

Then, you appeared.

Your connection wasn't forged in crowded school hallways or through mutual friends. It began on a rooftop, under a blanket of stars. You, who occasionally stayed at your aunt's house—a convenient spot closer to school—interrupted his solitary stargazing. Drawn by a spark of curiosity, you interrupted his solitary stargazing. What started as a casual conversation bloomed into nightly rendezvous, a shared sanctuary high above the world.

The rooftop became your haven. You'd talk for hours, about everything and nothing, or simply exist in comfortable silence, the cool night breeze a gentle caress.

"Why do you like stargazing so much?" you asked one night, breaking the quiet of the routine hangouts that has been going on for more than 2 years now.

Jungmo's gaze remained fixed on the celestial tapestry. "I don't know," he murmured, "I guess they're just... pretty."

But his mind delved deeper. "Actually," he confessed, "the stars remind me of you."

"Me? How so?"

"It used to be so quiet here," he explained, his voice soft, "especially since I'm alone. I'd come up here and talk to the stars—which, I know, is a bit weird."

"Not really," you reassured him, "I think it's romantic."

He chuckled, a blush warming his cheeks. "Wait, I'm not finished yet. Before you, it was just… them. They listened. They were always there. And now that you're here, it feels like they sent one of their own to be with me."

"So, I'm your personalized star?" you teased, a playful smile gracing your lips. "You have a weird way of being cheesy, Jungmo."

He laughed, a warm, genuine sound that made your heart flutter. "But think about it," he countered, "we met because you saw me stargazing. Maybe they did send you."

"Then," you asked, your voice a soft whisper, "if I'm the star, what are you to me?"

His eyes, dark and earnest, met yours. "I'll be your night," he said, his voice laced with sincerity, "where you can shine brightly. Because you shine the brightest when you're next to me."

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken emotions. You both broke into simultaneous laughter, a nervous, joyful sound that filled the rooftop. Neither of you had ever spoken of your feelings, and the sudden vulnerability was both exhilarating and comical.

"Jungmo! Y/N! It's getting late! Y/N has to go back!" His mother's voice echoed from below, breaking the spell.

"That's my cue," you said, a hint of reluctance in your voice. "I'll stay with my aunt tonight, since it's so late."

Jungmo stood, his hand outstretched. "Let's go, my star."

-tallmini, 2025

#tallmini #tallmini oneshot #jungmo imagines #jungmo scenario #koo jungmo #cravity imagines #cravity scenario #cravity fluff

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satoshi-mochida · 7 months ago

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Cozy repair shop simulation game Piece by Piece announced for Switch, PC - Gematsu

Publisher No More Robots and developer Gamkat have announced cozy repair shop simulation game Piece by Piece for Switch and PC (Steam). It will launch in 2025.

Here is an overview of the game, via No More Robots:

Piece by Piece is a cute repair shop simulator about helping forest animals fix up their broken gadgets and gizmos. Are we for real? We absolutely are. Inherit your family’s repair shop, roll up your sleeves, and get to work fixing, painting, baking, planting, sweeping, mixing and piecing back together dozens of family heirlooms, toys, and beloved items from a variety of woodland creatures. If you think this’ll be a walk in the park, Piece by Piece is going to outfox you. Each day you’ll need to tidy up your store, attend to anyone who needs help, then throw a bunch of stuff on sale and see if you can make a tasty profit. Being a good Samaritan is great and all, but this fox needs to put food on the table! Customize your shop with different colors and materials, grow plants and mix paint, spruce up the items that pass through the store, bake cookies for your neighbors, and listen to the latest gossip. There’s plenty to do in the world of Piece by Piece, and plenty of cute critters to share your story with.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

youtube

#Piece by Piece #No More Robots #Gamkat #simulation game #Gematsu #Youtube

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mostlysignssomeportents · 6 months ago

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Picks and Shovels Chapter One (Part 3)

Picks and Shovels is a new, standalone technothriller starring Marty Hench, my two-fisted, hard-fighting, tech-scam-busting forensic accountant. You can pre-order it on my latest Kickstarter, which features a brilliant audiobook read by Wil Wheaton.

This week, I'm serializing the first chapter of my next novel, Picks and Shovels, a standalone Martin Hench novel that drops on Feb 17:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels

The book is up for presale on a Kickstarter that features the whole series as print books (with the option of personalized inscriptions), DRM-free ebooks, and a DRM-free audiobook read by Wil Wheaton:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/picks-and-shovels-marty-hench-at-the-dawn-of-enshittification

It's a story of how the first seeds of enshittification were planted in Silicon Valley, just as the first PCs were being born.

Here's part one:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/09/the-reverend-sirs/#fidelity-computing

Part two:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/10/smoke-filled-room-where-it-happens/#computing-freedom

And now, onto part three!

The logo for the Computing Freedom was a stylized version of an inverted Fidelity Computing logo, colored magenta, just a few shades off of the mauve of the Fidelity family of products.

Their catalog was slimmer than Fidelity’s, omitting the computers themselves. Instead, it was filled with all the things that went with the computers: printers, ribbons, paper, floppy drives and disks, RAM and modems. Unlike the Fidelity catalog, the CF’s catalog had prices. They were perfectly reasonable prices, maybe even a little on the high side.

“Our computers, they’re a system,” Bishop Clarke said. “We provide everything, and guarantee that it will all work together. Our customers aren’t sophisticated, they’re not high-tech people. They’re people who organize their lives around their faith, not chasing a fad or obsessing over gadgets.”

“We hold their hands,” Rabbi Finkel said. “There’s always someone who’ll answer the phone and help them, whatever problem they’re having. It’s like a family. One of their computers breaks, we send them another one! That way, they can keep working. We know the system is important to them.”

“It’s not cheap,” Father Marek said. “That kind of customer service isn’t cheap.”

“We filed suit as soon as we found out,” Bishop Clarke said. “We didn’t want to.” He looked sad. “What choice did we have.” It wasn’t a question.

CF managed to fly under the radar for a couple of months. They started with sales calls, cold calls to their old contacts, their best customers, explaining that they had created a new business, one that could supply them with high-quality, interchangeable products for their Fidelity systems. The prices were much lower than Fidelity’s, often less than half.

“Sure they were less than half,” Father Marek said. “When you don’t have to pay a roomful of customer-service people, you don’t have to charge as much.”

The customers were happy, but then a San Antonio stake president was invited to dinner at the home of a local prominent businessman, the owner of a large printshop who relied so heavily on Fidelity systems to run his business that he kept one at home, in his study, with a modem that let him dial into the plant and look at the day’s production figures and examine the hour sheets and payroll figures.

The president noticed the odd-colored box of fanfold printer paper behind the congregant’s desk, feeding a continuous river of paper into the printer’s sprockets. He asked after the odd packaging and the parishioner gave him a catalog (CF included a spare catalog with every order, along with a handwritten note on quarter-sized stationery thanking the customer for his business).

The president assumed that this was some kind of new division of Fidelity, and he was impressed with the prices and selection in the catalog. Naturally, when he needed a new box of floppy disks, he asked one of the girls in his congregation for a box of the low-cost items—

“Why would he ask a girl in his congregation? Didn’t he have a Fidelity sales rep?” I’d filled much of my little steno pad with notes by this point. It was quite a story but I wasn’t quite sure where I fit in with it.

Bishop Clarke started to answer, but Father Marek silenced him by clearing his throat in a loud and pointed way. The priest stared at me for a long time, seeming to weigh me and find me wanting. I can’t say I liked him, but he fascinated me. He had such a small bag of tricks, those glares and noises, but he was a virtuoso with them, like a diner cook who can only make a half dozen dishes but prepares them with balletic grace.

“Mr. Hench,” he said. He let the words hang in the air. “Mr. Hench,” he said again. I knew it was a trick but he performed it so well. I felt a zing of purely irrational, utterly involuntary anxiety. “We don’t have a traditional sales force. The sales groups are small, and their primary role is Empowerment.” He leaned so heavily on the word that I heard the capital letter.

“Our sales groups travel around, they meet people in each place who know their communities, people who have the knack for technology, who need a little side business to help them make ends meet. The sales groups train these people, teach them how to spot people who could use our systems, how to explain the benefits to them. They use their personal connections, the mutual trust, to put our machines where they can do the most good.”

Bishop Clarke could see I wasn’t quite following. “It’s like the Avon Lady. You know, ‘ding-dong Avon calling’? Those girls are talking to their neighbors, helping them find the right products. Their friends get the best products for their needs, the girls get a commission, and everyone is happy.”

I got it then. Fidelity was a pyramid scheme. Well, that was a waste of time. I almost said so, but then I held my tongue. I didn’t want to get into an argument with these men, I just wanted to leave.

“We’re not a pyramid scheme,” Rabbi Finkel said. Had it shown on my face? Maybe rabbis got a lot of practice reading people, hearing the unsaid words. “We follow the rules. The Federal Trade Commission set the rules in 1979 and we’ve always followed them. We are a community-oriented business, serving faith groups, and we want to give back to them. That’s why we pay commissions to local people. It’s our way of putting some of our profits into the communities that depend on us.”

“That’s so well said,” Bishop Clarke said. “So well said. Perfect, in fact.”

“Perfect,” Father Marek said, with a scowl that made it clear he wasn’t happy to have been interrupted.

Check out my Kickstarter to pre-order copies of my next novel, Picks and Shovels!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/11/socialism-for-the-rich/#a-lighter-shade-of-mauve

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