#Pitfall (Mobile)

[vimbry]

glaring mistake in art spotted only After sharing it online, but I'm in beddy bye and can't change it til morning >:/

[g4zdtechtv]

THE PILE PRESENTS: X-Play - Where's My Energon? | 8/21/12

One HUGE episode. Borderline obese, really.

[hybridappbuilder]

Navigate Mobile App Development Outsourcing Like a Pro in 2023! 📱💼✨

Discover Expert Tips to Avoid Common Pitfalls and Ensure Success.

🚀💡 Don't miss out on this valuable advice that can save you time, money, and headaches.

[forevergoldgame]

Forever Gold's demo will release on June 26th, 2024 on itch. It's been quite the development road to reach this point. We're excited to show you the first look of Vestur!

Forever Gold is a dark fantasy, text-heavy roleplaying game being developed in the Twine engine by Broncoburro and LSDolphin.

Take a looksie below. : ) (The game is free and playable in browser, on both desktop and mobile.)

(A disclaimer: Forever Gold is a game for mature audiences. It does not feature adult content, but the subject matter can get serious in a way not appropriate for all ages.)

“Even among the finest breeding, aberrations of nature can occur. A prized goat births a kid with two heads. A pedigreed cat bears a one-eyed kitten. An archduke begets a son with the haretouch."

You are Duke Quintrell Barghur: a cursed black meur wielder, misanthrope, and an all-around painfully awkward man. When a mysterious affiliation called the "Brothers of the Barehand" starts stirring up political unrest, you are summoned from your lowly job of mine inspector to join the Prince Convoy. With the rest of your companions, you must travel the Tri-Kingdom of Vestur, quelling unrest and managing the complexities of public and court life... all while navigating the pitfalls of being, well, you.

Halfway between visual novel and interactive fiction, Forever Gold is incorporates artwork and writing with role-playing game mechanics such as skill systems, dice rolls, and lasting narrative decisions.

In the demo, you've been summoned to Diadem Castle by Prince Oscar Andimeur for unknown reasons. The demo spans one major quest from the first chapter of the game.

Play in either human or wolven mode - a visual reskin depending on your personal preferences.

You've a variety of companions on the Convoy who can accompany you. They may aid in quests, help surpass skill checks, or...

...drive each other crazy and be of no help at all.

A lot of artwork is sprinkled throughout the game - every character has several portraits, and in addition, illustrations are sprinkled throughout.

There are several systems to help you navigate the world of Vestur - from a map system, to the party camp, to the inventory and the codex... we can't name them all as this post is long enough, but here's some screenshots!

...And I think that's a good enough introduction! Thank you for reading. This game is a labor of love by two hobby devs - we've spent many a weekend coding, writing, and drawing for Chapter 1. We hope you'll give the demo a play on the 26th!

You can follow the game's progress and see all our extracurricular artwork by following this blog or checking out the website. : ) Additionally, we welcome questions (and sometimes draw answers for them, too).

[creatingblackcharacters]

Hello!

My name is moukies (she/they), and I am a queer/trans Black editor who specializes in sensitivity readings and cultural consultations. Pleased to e-meet you! :)

I am looking to build my roster of clients, and have created my own service, moukies editing, with the express intent of promoting my skillset and establishing myself as a freelance editor.

If you don't know what sensitivity readings are, they are essentially having someone with the lived experiences of your characters (for example, black characters, gay characters, non-binary characters, Muslim characters, disabled characters, etc.) read over your manuscript and point out what they feel is realistic, authentic, and resonates with them, as well as areas of improvement and stereotypes that are harmful and reductive in nature.

The purpose of a sensitivity reader is to help you avoid those pitfalls and polish your manuscript with the experience and authenticity of someone who shares the identity of your characters.

If you book with me, you can expect in-line comments within your document (preferably Word (.docx) format, please), as well as a write-up at the end. My aim is to ask you pointed questions, help you realize areas you excel in and areas you could work on, and get you to think critically and be introspective about some unconscious biases or habits you may fall into within your writing.

If that sounds of interest to you and you would like to work with me, please send me an inquiry at moukiesediting@gmail.com, and tell me about the story, the word count (this is crucial), what you're looking for in a sensitivity read (specifically if there's any characters you want me to pay special attention to), and how soon (or late) you'd like it returned. Default turnaround time is two (2) weeks, which is rather speedy since the norm is 3 - 4 weeks!

You can also find out more in my pinned tweet, and for those of you with curious minds and who like exhaustive detail (including genres/mediums I read for and my rates), you can find that under the cut!

Thank you for taking the time to read this! Have a wonderful morning, day, afternoon, evening, or night!! :) 💕💝❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜💖🤍🩶🤎🖤

I have been doing this for several years now, and I would like to do it full-time because I'm good at it. Like, damned good at it. Not only has it reinvigorated my childhood love for reading and voracious appetite for literature, it also allows me to channel my critical thinking skills towards your works and help parlay that into something that benefits both you and me.

I've edited manuscripts for everyone from independent writers to those repped by publishers like Penguin Random House, Macmillan, HarperCollins, and more. I excel at what I do, and now I want to do it for you!

My preferred genres are fiction and specifically fantasy, but I will read pretty much anything. I also read for erotica and NSFW stuff, as well as fanfiction, so if you want to feel secure that your black and/or queer characters aren't harmful depictions, then I'm your go-to pal for that.

Payment is based on word count, and my rate is $0.009/word. I usually have a turn-around time of two weeks, but that might scale depending on the length of your manuscript. I work on a half-up front, half-upon completion system (or alternatively, you can pay in full upfront if you'd like), and payment can be received here. The email for paypal payments is sa.bouraleh@gmail.com or PayPal.me/sabouraleh, in case the links don't work on mobile.

If you want a quicker turn around time, I can most likely accommodate that, at anywhere from a 1.25 to 1.5x multiplier of my rate, depending on just how fast you want the feedback returned to you. Next day feedback is possible, in some cases, but is of course subject to the multiplier.

If you have ever donated to me in the past, send me a screenshot of it and you'll get a 10% discount off your first two reads. If you like what I do and am satisfied with the result, please do recommend me to your friends, I'm always looking to take on clients.

I do reserve the right to decline a project, and if I find the material within the manuscript extremely objectionable, I reserve the right to cancel and refund you. I am not easily disturbed, however, but I thought I'd mention that anyways.

Here is a list of stuff I read for. I'll also include the two levels of edits I do, "Write-Up" (this is shorter and quicker, with no in-line comments), and "Sensitivity Read" (this is the premium package with the in-line comments, thought-provoking/armour-piercing questions, guaranteed to make you do some introspection, and write-up at the end).

What I read for:

The following are topics (and genres) I’m willing to read for. If something is not listed here, it doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t read for it! I am definitely willing to broaden my horizons, so feel free to ask.

Topics:

Race (Black)

Ethnicity (Somali)

Religion (Islam)

Sexuality (Queer)

Gender (Non-binary, trans)

Mental Health (ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, OCD)

Disabilities (Physical, IBS, GERD)

Body Image Issues

Gender Identity Issues

Abuse (Domestic, Physical, Emotional, Mental, CSA)

Racism/Anti-Blackness (microaggressions, discrimination, dehumanization)

Poverty

Islamophobia

Homophobia

Transphobia

Genres/Mediums

Fantasy (Especially Urban Fantasy)

Noir/Neo-Noir

Sci-Fi

Thriller

Mystery

Whodunnit

LGBTQ+ (anything queer, especially MLM)

Children's Books

Young Adult

Comic Books

Manga

Anime

Video Games

Geek Fandom

In addition to original fiction, I also read for fan fiction and erotica/NSFW content.

SERVICES OFFERED

Write-Up

No, not like when you get in trouble at work! (You won’t get in trouble, I promise.) In academic terms, think of the write up or a full-sensitivity read as a peer-reviewed work, vetted by those with the expertise in the relevant experience(s).

This is the simplest service I offer. I read your work and write-up my thoughts. This includes areas I think you did well, and areas of improvement.

The content contained within the edits are suggestions, not expectations for change, and it is ultimately your work and your decision as to whether or not to incorporate the feedback.

Turn-around time is usually two weeks, but depending on the length or requested turn around time, this is subject to change.

Quicker requested turn-arounds are subject to a 1.25x to 1.5x multiplier, depending on how soon you would like the material returned with my notes.

I work on a half upfront, half upon completion payment model, via PayPal only. You can pay in full upfront, if you so desire.

The price for this is $0.007 USD/word.

Sensitivity Reading

The fact that you’re even here indicates your desire to do right by the marginalized communities represented in your work. That shows your intentions are good, and I would be delighted to help make your literary dreams come true.

You will receive in-line comments and feedback as I read through your piece, as well as a detailed Editor’s Letter, explaining areas of strength and pin-pointing areas of improvement, as well as suggestions for how to resolve any issues raised.

As always, the feedback are ultimately only suggestions as opposed to expectations, and you are free to choose what you take away from the feedback provided.

Turn-around time is usually two weeks, but depending on the length or requested turn around time, this is subject to change. Quicker requested turn-arounds are subject to a 1.25x to 1.5x multiplier, depending on how soon you would like the material returned with my notes.

I work on a half upfront, half upon completion payment model, via PayPal only. You can pay in full upfront, if you so desire.

The price for this is $0.009 USD/word.

[coolreallifes]

How to Choose the Best Broker for Stock, Forex, and Crypto Trading in 2024?

Navigating the world of trading can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to selecting the right broker to meet your trading requirements. Whether you’re interested in stocks, forex, or cryptocurrencies, the choice of broker can significantly impact your trading experience and success. In this post, we’ll explore the key factors to consider when choosing a broker and introduce you to ForexJudge.com, a reliable resource that offers comprehensive reviews and detailed analysis of the world’s best brokers.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Broker

Regulation and Security:

Ensure the broker is regulated by a reputable financial authority. Regulation provides a level of security and oversight, protecting you from fraudulent activities.

Look for brokers that offer robust security measures, including encryption and two-factor authentication, to safeguard your funds and personal information.

Trading Platform:

A good trading platform should be user-friendly, reliable, and equipped with essential tools for analysis and trading.

Consider whether the platform offers mobile compatibility if you plan to trade on-the-go.

Fees and Commissions:

Compare the fees and commissions charged by different brokers. Lower fees can significantly enhance your profitability, especially if you trade frequently.

Be aware of hidden fees, such as withdrawal charges, inactivity fees, or charges for additional services.

Range of Assets:

Ensure the broker offers the range of assets you’re interested in trading. If you plan to diversify your portfolio, choose a broker that provides access to stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies.

Some brokers specialize in specific asset classes, so make sure your chosen broker aligns with your trading preferences.

Customer Support:

Reliable customer support is crucial, especially if you encounter issues with your account or trading platform. Look for brokers that offer multiple support channels, including live chat, phone, and email.

Check reviews to gauge the quality and responsiveness of the broker’s customer service.

Education and Resources:

Many brokers offer educational resources such as tutorials, webinars, and market analysis. These resources can be invaluable, especially for beginners.

A broker that provides regular market updates and trading insights can help you stay informed and make better trading decisions.

How ForexJudge.com Can Help

With so many brokers available, making an informed choice can be challenging. This is where ForexJudge.com comes in. ForexJudge is a trusted platform that has compiled detailed reviews and analysis of the world’s best brokers. By providing comprehensive information and user feedback, ForexJudge helps traders make well-informed decisions.

Detailed Broker Reviews

ForexJudge offers in-depth reviews of brokers across various asset classes, including stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies. Each review covers critical aspects such as regulation, fees, trading platforms, and customer support. By reading these reviews, you can gain valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different brokers, helping you choose the one that best meets your needs.

User Feedback and Ratings

In addition to expert reviews, ForexJudge features user feedback and ratings. This community-driven aspect allows traders to share their experiences and provide honest assessments of brokers. This real-world feedback can offer a clearer picture of what to expect and help you avoid potential pitfalls.

Regular Updates and Alerts

The trading world is dynamic, with brokers frequently updating their services, fees, and policies. ForexJudge keeps you informed with regular updates and alerts, ensuring you have the latest information at your fingertips. This proactive approach helps you stay ahead of the curve and make timely decisions.

Making the Final Decision

When choosing a broker, it’s essential to consider your trading goals, risk tolerance, and preferred asset classes. By leveraging the resources available on ForexJudge, you can make a well-informed decision that aligns with your trading strategy.

Steps to Follow:

Identify Your Needs:

Determine what you want to trade (stocks, forex, crypto) and what features are most important to you (low fees, robust platform, educational resources).

Research and Compare:

Use ForexJudge’s detailed reviews and user feedback to compare different brokers. Pay close attention to factors such as regulation, fees, and customer support.

Test the Platform:

Many brokers offer demo accounts. Use these to test the trading platform and ensure it meets your needs before committing real funds.

Start Small:

When you choose a broker, start with a small investment to test the waters. As you gain confidence and experience, you can increase your trading capital.

Conclusion

Choosing the right broker is a crucial step in your trading journey. By considering factors such as regulation, fees, trading platforms, and customer support, you can make an informed choice that enhances your trading experience.

For a reliable resource in your broker selection process, turn to ForexJudge.com. With its comprehensive reviews, user feedback, and regular updates, ForexJudge provides the insights you need to make the best decision for your trading needs.

Happy trading, and may your investments be fruitful!

[mindfulwrath]

The Triaxial Theory of Horror

I have a theory that most horror fits into a volume of conceptual space described by 3 axes, which are:

Discrete--Diffuse

Mobile--Sessile

Wet--Dry

The Discrete--Diffuse axis describes the source of the horror. A Discrete horror has a physical, usually tangible form; is recognizable as the source of the horror; and takes actions which make it horrifying. On the opposite end of the scale, a Diffuse horror is one with no obvious source, center, or primary actor. Most of Steven King's work falls on the Discrete end of this scale; Silent Hill falls close to the middle; and The Others lands on the Diffuse end.

(As a note, any point on this axis can be done badly; hamfisted Discrete horror rapidly enters a space I call "Ooga-Booga Horror," where the object/entity/what-have-you is so cartoonishly scary as to wrap back around to being silly. Likewise, poorly handled Diffuse horror becomes "Vapor Horror," which is so completely sourceless as to be nonsensical.)

The Mobile--Sessile axis, meanwhile, describes the behavior of the horror. A Mobile horror is one that hunts, pursues, clings, reappears, or otherwise moves around; 80's slasher flicks being a prime example. Sessile horror, in contrast, stays put, and the horror derives either from the inability to escape its radius of influence or the inability to stay away; The Haunting of Hill House nearly exemplifies the far end of the axis.

(Here, too, poor handling can lead to the inversion of horror into comedy, on a scale from "Imma Gonna Getcha" to "Just Leave, Bro.")

Finally, the Wet--Dry axis deals with the effects of the horror, and is essentially equivalent to the gross-out factor. Typically, Wet horror is rich in blood, brains, and body parts, while Dry horror keeps its victims physically intact; however, this scale is not necessarily coupled to the presence or absence of viscera. For example, The Color Out of Space involves significant bodily disturbance, yet remains relatively Dry due to the elision of details. In the same vein (but in the opposite direction), Crimson Peak is an exceedingly Wet horror film, yet utilizes actual gore quite sparingly, preferring to shift the language of decomposition onto the inanimate house; yet its substitution of red clay for blood in no way lessens the Wetness of the horror.

(And as expected, this axis has its own hilarious pitfalls; over-the-top gore rapidly enters "Blood Fondue" territory, while excessively dry horror risks becoming "Totally Scary, Trust Me." Some would argue that The Color Out of Space indeed represents a plunge into the latter category.)

Some examples, then, of the triaxial scale in action:

NBC's Hannibal is Discrete/Mobile/Wet. Hannibal is the primary source of the horrifying events, he can and will chase you down, and when he does, it's going to get messy.

Saw is Discrete/Sessile/Wet. While the threat of bodily harm is similar, and its source similarly known, as in Hannibal, the texture of the horror is significantly altered by the confined setting.

House of Leaves is two horrors stacked up in a trench coat: the parts dealing with The Navidson Record are Discrete/Sessile/Dry, while Johnny Truant's narrative is Diffuse/Mobile/Wet.

Likewise, The Shining nests Discrete/Mobile/Dry horror (Jack chasing Wendy around with an axe) inside Diffuse/Sessile/Wet horror (the Overlook Hotel itself).

Silent Hill, as mentioned, is close to centered on the Discrete-Diffuse axis, and is also nearly centered on the Mobile-Sessile axis, although it is consistently Wet.

The Magnus Archives utilizes all three axes nearly to their fullest extents, but tends to cluster in the Discrete/Mobile/Wet octant.

To be sure, there are elements of horror not described by these axes--internal vs. external, active vs. passive, certain vs. uncertain doom--but as a system for interpreting and categorizing the main structural elements of horror, and particularly for describing one's preferences in horror, the triaxial scale functions well.

[mysteryshoptls]

SR Ortho Shroud - Rabbit Gear Vignette

"The Rabbit Imitation Test"

[Clock Town – Race Venue]

Ortho: YAY! WE WON THE RABBIT RUN RACE!

Silver: Ortho, is your body alright after falling into those pitfall traps?

Ortho: Yep. I've done the emergency maintenance on all damaged parts already.

Silver: I see. Well, don't overextend yourself.

Ortho: I have no problem just moving around normally. Thanks for your concern, Silver-san.

Ortho: Since I entered the race without prior planning, I was able to gather a lot of data on what functions I lacked…

Ortho: So when I get back to campus, I'll upgrade my Rabbit Gear right away!

[Ignihyde Dorm – Ortho's Room]

―One week later

Ortho: Oookay. Assembly complete!

Ortho: I repaired all broken parts, so all the Rabbit Gear specs should be vastly improved now.

Ortho: I changed the heavy monocoque body into a ladder frame chassis, so that improved my overall weight.

Ortho: I completely restructured the basic design from the ground up, and restored the anti-gravity system that I had removed.

Ortho: Alright, time to retrofit it and test it out.

[Sports Field]

Ortho: Prototype Rabbit Gear Mk-II activated. All systems green.

Ortho: Starting Performance Test!

Ortho: High-speed mobility…

[tup tup! tup tup!]

Ortho: Satisfactory. Continuing on to Flight…

[ZOOM!]

Ortho: Satisfactory. Landing…

[thup]

Ortho: Satisfactory. Next...

Ortho: Fire the laser!

[BOOOOM!!]

Ortho: The laser power is also satisfactory.

Ortho: Good. All the standard functions are working perfectly.

Ortho: Alright then, it's time for the big one… The Rabbit Imitation Test. First, I have to turn off the flight feature.

Ortho: Perfect. After all, the greatest feature of this Rabbit Gear is that it should imitate a real rabbit.

Ortho: Walking…

[tup tup…]

Ortho: Satisfactory. Movement…

[hop! hop!]

Ortho: Satisfactory. Hopping…

[jump!]

Ortho: Satisfactory.

Ortho: …Hmmm.

Ortho: Everything moved smoothly, and is perfectly stable. The test results are all satisfactory.

Ortho: But… I feel like something's still missing.

Ortho: This Rabbit Gear I designed should be able to become more rabbit-like.

Ortho: What can I do to make it even more like a real rabbit?

[Sports Field]

Ortho: What can I do to make it even more like a real rabbit?

Silver: Is that you there, Ortho?

Ortho: Ah, Silver-san.

Silver: You seem to be wearing your Rabbit Gear. The sight of you in that outfit reminds me of our trip.

Ortho: The shopping we did, the festival and race… That was real fun, huh.

Silver: Yeah. However, why are you wearing your Rabbit Gear here, on campus?

Ortho: Since I finished repairing every part of the Rabbit Gear that broke during the race, I was just doing a function test.

Silver: I see. Has it returned to normal?

Ortho: Yep. And I didn't just fix it, but I overhauled its performance completely.

Ortho: But… I feel like it's still missing the proper rabbit-like characteristics, which is the most crucial aspect of the Rabbit Gear.

Ortho: I don't know what I should do…

Silver: …Ortho, I assume you haven't seen many wild rabbits up close, have you?

Ortho: I've never seen one personally… But I've gathered data on them from books and the internet. I've also studied a lot of rabbit videos.

Silver: I see. You put in a ton of effort.

Silver: However, there are often differences in seeing the real thing and merely reading about it. The first time I left Briar Valley, there were many things that were new to me as well.

Silver: If you see a real rabbit, you may discover something that helps.

Ortho: Oh, I see. You do have a point, Silver-san. But, what can I do to even meet a real live rabbit?

Silver: In the woods behind the campus, there are many wild rabbits.

Silver: I've had the opportunity to interact with rabbits much in my past. I may be able to be of help. Come with me.

Ortho: Yay! Thanks, Silver-san.

[Woods Behind Campus]

Ortho: We're here in the woods behind the campus, but… Now what?

Silver: If we just wait here, the rabbits should start to make their appearance.

Ortho: Eh, really!? But I read in my books that rabbits are really cautious…

Wild Rabbit: [rustle]

Ortho: Heat source detected. What's that over there…? A rabbit!

Ortho: And it's coming over here! I wonder why.

Silver: I don't really understand why, but… Animals often like to approach me.

Ortho: There's two, three… And more! WOW!

Wild Rabbit: [rustle, rustle]

Ortho: Ah, they ran away.

Silver: They must have been frightened by your loud voice.

Wild Rabbit: [shup]

Silver: That rabbit over there is standing up on its hindlegs and looking over at us.

Silver: It's vigilantly watching us. With its ears perked up like that, it's warily listening for any sounds we make.

Ortho: Okay, I see. Maybe if I move around like that, I'll seem more like a rabbit.

Ortho: Alright, I'm gonna try that.

Ortho: [shup!]

Silver: Yeah. You look just like it.

Wild Rabbit: [pitter, patter]

Silver: It came up to me. I'll pat its head.

Wild Rabbit: [hop! hop! hop!]

Silver: And when it's happy, it hops like this.

Ortho: Like this…? [hop! hop! hop!]

Silver: When you want to run away like they did earlier, you want to quickly make a big jump.

Ortho: Simulating an enemy attack, and… Run upon first contact! [JUMP, JUMP!!!]

Wild Rabbit: [runs in circles]

Ortho: Ah. The rabbit is running in circles around you.

Silver: This looks to be how they move when they want to play.

Ortho: It's a motion to play, okay. [runs in circles]

Wild Rabbit: [thump!]

Silver: When it kicks the ground with its hindlegs that forcefully, it must be angry.

Silver: Perhaps it’s in a bad mood, since I am not playing with it.

Ortho: So it's like its Rage Meter maxed out. [THUMP! THUMP!]

Silver: How is it? Are you starting to understand?

Ortho: Yeah. When I get to see the actual thing shown in front of me, it's so much easier to get!

Ortho: When the motion is linked to a specific emotion, I feel like I'm able to reproduce it so much better.

Ortho: Hey, Silver-san. Teach me about its other actions. The more data I can store, the more I'll be able to put to good use!

Silver: Got it. Next is…

[Ramshackle Dorm]

The next day

Ortho: When relaxing, I lay on my side and kick out my legs.

[lounges about]

Ortho: When I'm in a good mood, I hop around.

[hop! hop! hop! hop!]

Everyone: OOOOOOOOOH!!

Ortho: Hey, everyone, what do you think of my updated Rabbit Gear Mk-II?

Deuce: You seem to have copied a lot of actual rabbit movements. That's amazing.

Epel: Back when I was a kid, I took care of rabbits, and you're acting just like them!

1. You can do so many things!

Ortho: Yep. I've added a ton of different possible variations in motion.

2. You're just like a real rabbit!

Ortho: Yay! You saying that makes all the testing worth it.

Ortho: Thanks to Silver-san, I was able to greatly improve my Rabbit Gear. Thank you!

Silver: It wasn't anything much. Your desire and motivation was just strong enough. That's all.

Deuce: …Hey, Ortho. Why did you fix the Rabbit Gear in the first place, when you're not going to use it anymore?

Ortho: Well, obviously, so I can wear it during next year's White Rabbit Festival.

Deuce: Eh!? Are you going to come to Clock Town next year too? I guess you really liked the festival.

Ortho: Yep. And let's all win the Rabbit Run Race next year, too!

Epel: EH, ALL OF US!? You mean I have to wear that outfit again…!?

Grim: Then, next time, I'm gonna race too! I'll be the anchor leg of the relay and really stand out!

Ortho: Ehh! I want to be the anchor next time!

Silver: I look forward to next year, Ortho.

Ortho: Yeah. I'll completely smash through all the traps and win it hands down!

Requested by Anonymous.

[exeggcute]

the pendulum of opinion swingeth I guess. and swingeth wildly lol. the "addiction isn't real" shit feels a lot like the "disability is primarily a social/accessibility issue (rather than a medical issue)" shit to me because I think they both mean well and come from the same impulse (i.e., a desire not to pathologize traits that are actually "normal"/common/otherwise value-neutral) but do so in a way that not only starts with a conclusion and works backwards to prove it, which is obviously not the best approach, but also tries to hard to dodge an existing pitfall that it creates new and exciting pitfalls in the process.

uncharitable 2 AM thoughts but chewing it over I also am starting to wonder if like, okay. zeroing in on the disability part here because I think that's both a broader category and further up the river of conclusions. I do kind of get the sense that the "in a perfectly just and accommodating world, no one would be disabled" angle tends to come most forcefully from people whose perspective on disability either focuses solely on neurodivergence or on (surface-level) mobility issues specifically. things that affect how you navigate the world, essentially. because those are for sure two areas where social improvements have a huge and positive impact! maybe even two areas where you could reasonably argue that social improvements are enough to remove the barriers that "disable" people in a verb way, full stop.

but extrapolating that to all forms of disability is less useful, because not all disabilities are primarily issues of accessibility, and if it's not broadly true across the board then I think its fair to say it's just basically not true. you end up glossing over too much shit. not that social improvements aren't helpful, but many disabilities come from the fact that your body needs to do certain things to stay alive but is not always good at doing them properly, so you're gonna have to address that directly at some point. I don't think it's an accessibility issue when your trachea collapses or your kidneys start to give out or your immune system starts tearing up the wires in your spine. and yeah you could circle back to say, well, the accessibility piece here is really about access to treatment, which is fair! but that still requires finding and developing treatment in the first place, which leads us back to the "this is a pathology to fix/address" thing. permanent treatment or otherwise. I guess I think it's not only true that some states of physiological equilibrium are like, objectively ideal, but also possible to accept that premise without fucking over anyone who isn't in that equilibrium. or even zooming out, I think it's possible to strive for a cure to to "my body is bad at surviving"-type conditions in a way that doesn't also imply that the people with those conditions are not worthy of surviving otherwise. and I think that if we ever figure out a cure for celiac disease there's gonna be parades in the streets

[robfinancialtip]

Today we are sharing the 10 essential things you must know before launching your eCommerce website.

Drawing from experience with over 5,000 eCommerce sites, including 43 of the top 50 direct response TV campaigns in 2023, we cover crucial aspects like budgeting for advertising, the importance of marketing basics, creating compelling offers, and designing for mobile-first experiences.

Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve your existing eCommerce site, these insights will help you avoid common pitfalls and set you up for success.

Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:30 Advertising Your eCommerce Website 1:32 Learn Basic Marketing 2:04 Website Conversion 3:53 Understand Offers 4:57 Product Benefits not Features 6:07 Mobile First 6:48 PayPal Express 7:15 Social Proof and Reviews 7:49 Performance Marketing 8:27 Testing

Books Mentioned: Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins

[es46]

A carapaceon that evokes mantis shrimps, massive lobsters, and the notion of hydrothermal environments - METAMOR-DECA Title - Hyperthermal crab Monster class - Carapaceon Known locales - Locales rich in magma/lava upwellings, occasional forays to mountainous environments Element/Ailment - Soiled + Dragon + Fire Elemental weakness - Ice (3), Water (3), Dragon (2), Thunder (0), Fire (0) Ailment weakness - Paralysis (3), Sleep (3), Poison (1), Stun (0), Blast (0) Metamor-Deca is a carapaceon known to inhabit environments where magma upwellings are prominent, though occasionally venturing to mountainous terrain. Recognised by its burly frame, with enormous chelipeds modified into club-like structures and a flexible abdomen that swings a cudgel-like end, Metamor-Deca coats its shell in volcanic material. The reinforced carapace and sturdy limbs enable excellent defensive integrity, with its head defended by spear-like antennae and its second and fifth pair of limbs adjusted for delicate handling. Predominantly a herbivore, feeding on the few plant and lichen species able to survive close to lava flows, Metamor-Deca is also known to be an effective lithophage, easily ingesting many inorganic materials. They tend to gravitate to rich mineral upwellings, where they may also harvest rock and gems to affix to their reddish-black shells and bolster their defences. Because of their defensive integrity, Metamor-Deca is rarely bothered by other creatures, and it is perfectly tolerant of humans in close proximity. However, any motion towards its current favoured food supply can be interpreted as thievery, goading the carapaceon to lash out. Researchers must pay close attention to their surroundings when observing Metamor-Deca and remain very still if they feel it is agitated. As expected, Metamor-Deca relies on its hard shell to fend off the few monsters that would dare attack it. Waste products from its plant diet accumulate in pores below its carapace and can be released as a noxious gas, augmented by ashen materials affixed to its rocky coating. But if the enemy persists, Metamor-Deca will charge its limbs with dragon energy and lash out with the blunt abdomen and pincers. If even this is not enough, Metamor-Deca will enrage and enter what is called a Molten State. Its dragon energy superheats its body, destroying its rocky coating whilst raising its mobility. Now venting heat able to induce a Fire effect, Metamor-Deca attacks with incredible ferocity, though this Molten State cannot be maintained for long. Metamor-Deca tend to live solitary lives, defending their turf vehemently against rivals, but when the time comes to reproduce, the carapaceons migrate to mountainous environments. There, the adults mate with any compataible partner and then bury the eggs before leaving them to their fate. The young that emerge have specialised membranes on their second and fifth limbs that allow them to glide, letting them travel their environment in search of food with ease. Eventually these membranes will atrophy as the juveniles reach adulthood, coaxing them to leave the mountains and seek out lava flows. Metamor-Deca is renowned as an apex in its environment (Low Rank - 5, High/Master Rank - 4) and so presents a formidable challenge. When facing it in its shelled form, hunters should focus on its more vulnerable joints and abdomen, baiting its powerful attacks to leave it open. Once the beast is enraged and enters its Molten State, water and ice weapons will prove effective at inducing temperature shock. Pitfall traps are not effective against Metamor-Deca, who easily climbs free, but shock traps can stymie it. As expected of such a heavily armoured creature, Metamor-Deca has very few enemies, beyond exceptional specimens such as Deviljho or Teostra. One consistent rival, surprisingly, is the piscine wyvern Daemona Xocoe, which may prey on juvenile Metamor-Deca. Adults that encounter this foe thus attack it with extreme prejudice. - Thank you for reading and take care.

[fatehbaz]

Sheetal Chhabria sets her finger on the core of a shared problem that her book Making the Modern Slum: The Power of Capital in Colonial Bombay, Yahia Shawkat’s Egypt’s Housing Crisis: Shaping the Urban Space and my own Possessing the City: Property and Politics in Delhi 1911-1947 are outlining. The settings and periods are diverse and the particular histories diverge. But, in each of our work, we point to both the commodification of shelter and the paradoxical histories of efforts to oppose or mitigate that commodification. The Housing Question – how to provide decent and dignified shelter to every human – seems to be hummed to a drearily repetitive tune (with a few varying notes) in the Global South. Indeed, many of the same problems are reproduced in the Global North as well.

The stubbornness with which mass housing initiatives are reinserted into commodity circuits is a key lesson in all three works. This despite a related phenomenon that Chhabria points to the sheer variety of ways in which housing has been used by the state to ‘manage populations’. Chhabria and Shawkat both refer, for instance, to moments in which housing has been utilized as a tool to ensure the immobilization of working populations. Much like in a prison, to use housing as a way to prevent or restrict the mobility of working people.

---

Part of the reason for this is that Chhabria’s work on Bombay culminates at a point of unique labor mobility: the migration away from the city of much of Bombay’s mill labor force in the wake of the late nineteenth century plague epidemic. [...] But it was also a project of housing in which luring workers back to the city and holding them there was an essential component. The Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT), whose trajectory from inception to failure Chhabria meticulously chronicles, bears the marks of exactly such an origin point. The BIT was in the final reckoning a mix of welfarism, state-subsidy for financial speculation, attempts to signal a more sanitary city and immobilising labour. [...] However, this limited decommodification of shelter was a mere sub-theme among the other agenda of the BIT.

Crucially, Chhabria points out, Indian elites and the colonial state joined in their appreciation of the opportunities for profit-making and governing on the cheap, while solving labor supply problems through the BIT’s housing initiatives.

In Shawkat’s Egypt too, both in the late nineteenth century and in the present, the ‘izba recurs as a form of housing designed to immobilize labor – converting peasants more fully into workers. [...]

---

The slum must also [...] be an active source of a reserve army of labor. [...] Here the establishment of a Delhi Improvement Trust (in 1937, nearly 40 years after the BIT) was initiated by a piece of bad press. [...] The DIT’s major success was in [...] (something that Chhabria points out happened in Bombay too) participating in a round of speculative development in the Delhi countryside. [...] These and myriad other pathways have tended to return housing – even housing built at subsidized rates for the city’s working poor – to circuits of accumulation and profit.

---

Shawkat [...] is clear-sighted about the terminal point – decommodified housing. Any intermediate position, he argues, would prove unstable and return housing to the circuits of capital circulation. [...] As I have been pointing out, each of our three works provides templates by which waves of partial decommodification are clawed back into circuits of profit and loss.

How, then, could a more permanent extrication of shelter from commodification be achieved? The unsuccessful efforts to decommodify housing in colonial Delhi illustrate some potential pitfalls. [...] The weakness of struggles to decommodify housing in Delhi meant that even housing for Partition refugees would become the launchpad for what is today India’s largest private real estate firm -- Delhi Land and Finance. [...]

---

The Housing Question, cannot be separated from the much broader question of power. Mobilizations from below which are committed to a vision of broad human emancipation are the only viable way forward. Neither a brilliant urban plan nor the temporarily persuaded ear of a state official can achieve the decommodification of shelter that Shawkat calls for. [...] Stubbornly enough, [...] at the heart of it tends to lie a nexus between industrialists, richer traders, real estate speculators, and the state. Yes, temporary relief might be won [...]. But, as the history of the return of housing to circuits of commodity demonstrates, [...] the battle to provide shelter as a right is first about building [...] [movements] that can fight and win a broad decommodification of everyday life.

---

Text by: Anish Vanaik. “Shelter as Capital: Housing and Commodification: Lessons from the Global South.” Borderlines [open-access site mentored by editors of Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East]. Published online: 18 February 2021. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[rollercoasterofshitposts]

happy disabled pride month, here’s some light reading/listening

https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2022/4/13/strategies-for-combating-ableism#:~:text=Brown%20notes%20that%20ableism%20is,ready%20to%20shift%20those%20expectations.

-

-

Don’t forget about me.

Don’t forget about us.

We should belong.

[dominateeye]

Damn it's disappointing that Cohost is shutting down. I didn't use it nearly as much as I'd have liked; I never really felt like having a mobile browser interface was a sufficient replacement for having an app (having fewer things saved to the device meant that there were slightly more and longer loading times than an app would have, and that adds up to a slow-feeling experience), and to be honest I did miss the numbers aspect of knowing how many people enjoyed what you posted (even just a basic count of likes and followers would have been enough for me on this), but I really admired what they wanted to do and I wanted it to work. If for no other reason (and there were other reasons) than having a backup plan for if Tumblr implodes.

Yeah, having all of their funding come from a single investor was probably not going to work out long-term, and I think they knew this and were trying to get revenue streams established that weren't based off of exploiting user data and attention. But from the updates I read, pretty much every revenue-generating feature they tried to introduce got hit with roadblock after roadblock, and I think they just ran out of time to try different strategies and break through those blocks.

I saw someone else talk about how moderation may not be a problem that can be ethically solved, at least not under capitalism, and I think that might be right. Having not spent a huge amount of time on the site, I don't know what the culture was like recently, but I can imagine that having only one full-time moderator was probably not enough. And while I understand the principle of not wanting to rely on unpaid labor, and the potential social pitfalls of having a system like this, I really think they should have given more of a chance to having community-sourced moderators. Without being able to hire more mods, community mods would be the next best thing. But even professional mods have to deal with really disturbing things now and again, and the point about that just being a thing we have no real idea of how to account for and keep from traumatizing people is a really strong one. I imagine that a reluctance to expose unpaid users to that sort of thing was at least part of the decision, and if so I can't fault them for that.

It's unfortunate that their funding model means the site's code was their loan collateral, and that means it can't be open sourced, and that means it's not a situation where a new team can easily come along and stand on Cohost's shoulders. I have to wonder if it could have worked with some tweaks and a few more conventional social media features.

Maybe someday there will be a viable better way to do social media.

[first-digi-add]

Common SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Common SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Introduction 

In today's digital world, having a strong online presence is critical for business growth. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a vital role in achieving this by boosting your website's ranking in search results. However, understanding the dynamic world of SEO may be challenging. That's where SEO Services come in, offering expert guidance to optimize your website and attract more organic traffic.

What Exactly Are SEO Services?

SEO services encompass a range of strategies professionals employ to enhance your website's visibility and search engine ranking. These are some of the main topics they cover: 

Keyword Research: Identifying relevant keywords users search for to find your products or services.

On-Page Optimization: Fine-tuning website elements like title tags, meta descriptions, and content for optimal search engine understanding.

Technical SEO: Make sure your website can be indexed by search engines, loads quickly, and is compatible with mobile devices. 

Content Strategy: Develop high-quality content that engages users, provides valuable information, and incorporates relevant keywords naturally.

Link Building: Acquiring backlinks from reputable websites to demonstrate your website's authority and expertise.

Local SEO: Optimizing your website for local searches if you cater to a specific geographic area.

SEO Analytics: Tracking website traffic, ranking performance, and making data-driven decisions to further optimize your strategy.

Benefits of Hiring SEO Services:

Expertise and Efficiency: Professionals possess in-depth knowledge of SEO best practices and the latest algorithms, saving you time and resources.

Improved Search Ranking: With a well-optimized website, you'll attract more organic traffic, leading to increased leads and sales.

Enhanced Brand Awareness: Higher visibility in search results translates to greater brand recognition and trust among potential customers.

Long-Term Growth: SEO is an ongoing process, and an SEO service provider can offer continuous monitoring and adjustments for sustained success.

Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid in 2024:

1. Keyword Stuffing: Overusing keywords unnaturally within your content results in a poor user experience and penalties from search engines. Focus on creating informative content with a natural flow of keywords.

2. Neglecting Mobile Optimization: With a significant portion of searches now conducted on mobile devices, a website that's not mobile-friendly is a major turnoff for users and search engines alike.

3. Ignoring Core Web Vitals: These Google metrics address loading speed, responsiveness, and visual stability. Poor Core Web Vitals will make it difficult for a website to rank well. 

4. Low-Quality Content: Search engines prioritize websites with informative and engaging content. Avoid thin content with little value to users.

5. Backlink Spam: Building backlinks from irrelevant or low-quality websites can hurt your SEO performance. Focus on obtaining backlinks from established and trustworthy sources.

Staying Ahead of the Curve:

The world of SEO is constantly evolving. Here are some of the latest updates to be aware of:

Entity SEO: This approach focuses on establishing your website as an authority for specific topics by building connections with related entities in your field.

Voice Search Optimization: As voice search becomes more prevalent, optimizing your content for conversational language queries is crucial.

Focus on User Intent: Understanding the intent behind search queries allows you to tailor your content to provide users with the information they truly need.

Evolving Core Web Vitals: Google regularly refines its Core Web Vitals metrics, so staying updated on these changes is essential.

Conclusion:

Investing in professional SEO services can significantly improve your website's visibility and drive sustainable business growth. By avoiding common pitfalls and embracing the latest trends, you can navigate the ever-changing SEO landscape and achieve top rankings in search results.

[jordanianroyals]

Queen Rania of Jordan celebrates her 53rd birthday on 31 August 2023

The Royal Court has released two new portraits of Queen Rania for the happy occasion.

The past year featured a number of joyous occasions for the Hashemites: the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein, the wedding of Princess Iman, the university graduation of Princess Salma, and the high school graduation of Prince Hashem.

In the days and weeks preceding their children’s weddings, Their Majesties were eager to share their happiness with their country’s people, involving the Jordanian public in the various celebrations marking the marriages of their first-born son and eldest daughter.

Her Majesty hosted a Henna party for Princess Iman, as well as a dinner party held in honor of the Crown Prince’s wife, Princess Rajwa, where the Queen and members of the royal family were joined by women from across Jordan’s 12 governorates to celebrate the two happy occasions. Both events spotlighted the richness of Jordanian culture and included several folkloric musical and dance performances by local female artists.

Throughout the year, Queen Rania continued to follow up on issues of importance to the Jordanian public by carrying out a number of visits to charitable associations, home-based businesses, startups, and other organizations across the country’s cities, villages, and rural areas.

A celebrated advocate for women and youth, Her Majesty’s local engagements included meetings with women artisans and young entrepreneurs, as well as visits to a number of women-led initiatives and associations supporting women’s financial empowerment.

During the holy month of Ramadan last March, for the second consecutive year, the Queen organized a mission to Umrah – the lesser Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca – for 500 women from across Jordan, a group of whom the Queen joined to perform the sacred pilgrimage herself. Earlier, in December 2022, Her Majesty took part in the lighting of the Fuheis Christmas tree among members of Jordan’s Christian minority.

Alongside her work within Jordan, over the course of the year, Queen Rania participated in several distinguished global gatherings, and accompanied His Majesty on a number of regional and international working visits.

At the invitation of the Her Majesty Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom, Queen Rania attended a reception at Buckingham Palace in London aiming to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. She also met with U.S. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the White House while joining His Majesty and Crown Prince Al Hussein on a visit to Washington, D.C.

While in D.C., the Queen delivered the keynote speech at the 2023 National Prayer Breakfast (NPB) Gathering’s International Luncheon on Capitol Hill, where she affirmed that religion is not “a shelter for hiding,” but “a launch pad for living.” She also posited that, in the face of widespread polarization, the act of prayer can lead us towards a better, more nuanced path that she described as “the third way.”

“This third way is not the average of extremes, but rises above the binary, elevating us to higher ground that can become common ground as well,” she said. “Our win doesn’t need to be someone else’s loss. And being right doesn’t mean that the other side is wrong — only that we need other points of view to see a multi-dimensional picture.”

The Queen also spoke at the 2023 Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, where she underscored the potential pitfalls of humanity’s increased reliance on technology. “I am concerned that we’re undervaluing the most precious currency of all – our time,” Her Majesty said. “I am concerned that, even as virtual reality improves by the day, we’re neglecting the needs of our actual reality.”

In her capacity as a member of the Earthshot Prize Council, the Queen delivered remarks at the first-ever Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, hosted in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. In her speech, Her Majesty called for mobilizing collective action and ingenuity to repair the planet, cautioning against claiming that “climate change is somebody else’s problem,” or leaving it for future generations to address.

This year, Queen Rania continued to use her global platform to advocate on behalf of refugees in Jordan and beyond. At the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York, Her Majesty explained that a refugee crisis is “not just a short-term humanitarian crisis,” but rather a “crisis of human development” that requires long-term solutions focusing on growth, building resilience, sustainability, and job creation.

Additionally, the Queen repeatedly underscored disparities in the treatment of refugees based on their country of origin. Speaking at the Paris Peace Forum, she noted the difference in reception of refugees from Ukraine to those from countries such as Syria, Myanmar, and South Sudan, who had also been driven from their homes.

“What accounts for the contrast in compassion? Does skin color make all the difference?” she asked.

In May, Queen Rania attended the coronation ceremony of the King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London alongside King Abdullah. Their Majesties also attended the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in September.