#Remote Direct Memory Access

[govindhtech]

5th Gen AMD EPYC and H4D Virtual Machines For Cloud HPC

Next-generation HPC-optimized H4D VMs

At Google Cloud Next, Google Cloud introduced H4D virtual machines (VMs), their latest HPC machine type. Based on HPC capabilities, H4D virtual machines (VMs) fulfil the evolving needs of demanding workloads in manufacturing, weather forecasting, EDA, healthcare, and life sciences.

H4D virtual machines run on 5th generation AMD EPYC Processors with over 950 GB/s memory bandwidth and 12,000 gflops whole-node virtual machine performance. Cloud Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) on Titanium gives H4D, the first CPU-based virtual machine, minimal latency and 200 Gbps network bandwidth. With this powerful mix, you can quickly get insights and develop HPC workloads.

H4D outperforms C3D by 1.8x per virtual machine (VM) and 1.6x per core for the open-source High-Performance Linpack (OSS-HPL), a benchmark for supercomputer floating-point computation. H4D outperforms C2D by 1.7x per core and 5.8x per virtual machine.

H4D outperforms C3D by 1.4x per core and 1.3x per VM on STREAM Triad, a memory bandwidth benchmark. H4D outperforms C2D by 1.4x per core and 3x per virtual machine.

Increased HPC application performance

H4D virtual machines (VMs) outperform AMD-based C2D and C3D in compute performance and memory bandwidth. This speeds up simulations and analysis and improves performance across a variety of HPC applications and benchmarks compared to C2D, a prior generation AMD-based HPC VM:

Manufacturing

Siemens Simcenter STAR-CCM+/HIMach and other CFD packages enhance 3.6x.

Ansys Fluent/f1_racecar_140 and other CFD applications enhance 3.6x.

FEA-explicit programs like Altair Radioss/T10m improve up to 3.6x.

CFD applications like OpenFoam/Motorbike_20m increase by 2.9x.

Ansys Mechanical/gearbox and other implicit FEA programs improve 2.7x.

Healthcare and life sciences:

Molecular Dynamics (GROMACS) increases five-fold.

Weather forecasting

WRFv4, an industry benchmark, improves 3.6x.

AMD's tight relationship with Google Cloud drives the next generation of cloud-based HPC with the new H4D VMs. The 5th Gen AMD EPYC CPUs' architectural advances allow Google Cloud to enhance HPC benchmark performance by a significant amount. Customers may speed up their hardest HPC jobs and get immediate insights. Corporate vice president of AMD's Cloud Business Ram Peddibhotla

Titanium Cloud RDMA accelerates HPC

These virtual machines' first Titanium offload, Cloud RDMA, boosts H4D performance. Cloud RDMA is dedicated to HPC applications including molecular dynamics, weather modelling, computational fluid dynamics, and others that require inter-node communication. Cloud RDMA outsources network processing and provides consistent, low-latency, high-bandwidth connections between compute nodes, reducing host CPU constraints.

Cloud RDMA uses Falcon hardware transport to deliver reliable, low-latency communication over Google Cloud Ethernet-based data centre networks. This effectively solves RDMA over Ethernet difficulties and provides reliable, high-performance at scale.

Since Cloud RDMA employs more computing resources than Falcon, simulations are faster. H4D gives 3.4x and 1.9x speedups on four virtual machines (VMs) via TCP for smaller CFD issues like OpenFoam/motorbike 20m and Simcenter Star-CCM+/HIMach10, which have limited inherent parallelism and are hard to accelerate.

Scheduling and clustering

Cluster Director (formerly Hypercompute Cluster) and DWS will be supported by H4D virtual machines.

DWS helps schedule HPC workloads for optimal performance and cost-effectiveness and ensures resource availability for time-sensitive simulations and flexible HPC applications.

Cluster Director can now build and scale a large, physically-colocated accelerator cluster as a single unit in HPC settings. Cluster Director simplifies HPC cluster creation and management utilising H4D virtual machines by allowing researchers to run large-scale simulations.

Virtual machine sizes and regional availability

Google Cloud offers ordinary and high-memory H4D virtual machines for various workloads. The CPU-based seismic processing and structural mechanics applications Abaqus, NASTRAN, Altair OptiStruct, and Ansys Mechanical require high-speed storage. Google Cloud offers local SSD options.

Plans are underway to expand H4D virtual machines outside Europe-West4-b (Netherlands) and the US-Central1-a (Iowa).

[autistic-robin]

Why “Hiding in the Light” Didn’t Work: Stranger Things’ Psychospiritual Implications

Supplementary Sources: Jungian Theory & A Wrinkle In Time

Alright, buckle in. I’m running on a year’s worth of spiritual awakening, deep dives into Jungian theory and non-dualism, and my own ego’s primary coping mechanism: immersing myself in media as escapism. The purpose of this analysis is to break down the themes of non-dualism and light/darkness in ST (and maybe predict some character arcs), and also to position the narrative of ST as a psychospiritual wake-up call.

For some context: last year, I discovered the work of psychoanalyst (or philosopher, depending on who you’re talking to) Carl Jung. He had a pretty extensive theory about the human psyche that I immediately connected to the themes throughout Stranger Things, specifically Vecna’s mind control and curse. I’m going to break Jung’s theory down as succinctly as I can, and then delve into how it plays out in our favorite gay monster show.

But before I delve into Jung’s ideas, I also think it’s important to define selfhood (you’ll understand why in a minute). For the purposes of this analysis, the experience of the “self” is an illusion created by our senses, perceptions, memories, and consciousness, all of which are impermanent. Therefore, the self is what we call “conditioned.” There is no you or me, just the ideas we have of ourselves.

Now, we can get into Jung’s theory. He posited the following:

1. Every individual has a “persona” they show the world (a constructed self) to feel like they belong. Underneath this persona, everyone has a personal “shadow,” or the part of themselves they don’t want to acknowledge. This shadow is always projected onto others— every negative thought we have about someone else is a product of our own unintegrated shadow. Note: The shadow is NOT bad, it just “is.” It’s actually there to HELP us grow and integrate all the unhealed parts of us.

2. Individuals’ shadows are usually part of their unconscious, meaning most people are not aware of their shadow side or cannot bear to delve into their trauma/darkness and begin to heal it.

3. All of human consciousness is CONNECTED. This means two things. 1: There is a “collective unconsciousness” that contains the sum of all of our unintegrated trauma, and 2: We can heal our collective unconsciousness by healing our own unconsciousness.

How do we heal our own unconsciousness? By becoming AWARE of our shadow side, accepting and forgiving the conditioning that created it, and working to encourage others to do the same.

What— or rather, who— does that remind you of?

Also— great use of lighting here.

We know Vecna has direct access to his victims’ consciousness; not just their memories, cognition, and emotions, but also their awareness itself. This is how he’s able to target and trance people. But it’s not just their consciousness Vecna has access to; it’s their unconsciousness. Their shadow. Their trauma. Yes, he has psionic abilities akin to El’s, but as far as we know, El can’t access the collective unconsciousness like Vecna can. She is only capable of “remote viewing” via the void or piggybacking into people’s minds. So why is Vecna capable of this?

If you want my take on it: the only way to access a collective shadow would be through accessing your own shadow. So is Vecna really Henry, or his unintegrated shadow? And is either really condemnable, considering the larger themes of the show?

We see this theme of non-dualism echoed in Brenner’s NINA pep talk with El:

It’s fascinating to me that they’re communicating these bigger thematic ideas through the show’s “villians”— while the above conversation could be taken at surface-level as Brenner being manipulative, it’s important to acknowledge the truth of what he’s saying. NINA is only successful because El faces “the good and the bad.” This is why “hiding in the light” is a no-go for Max.

Focusing only on happy memories is a form of emotional bypassing. Throughout the show, we’ve been told time and again that hiding doesn’t work. Neither does running away. The only way out for our characters is through their own shadows.

Now, the fun part: predictions. Looking at all of this with a Jungian lens, it doesn’t make much sense to villianize a character or to end the story by “defeating evil.” In non-dual theory, there are no evil people, only unhealed ones.

We know what worked for our characters temporarily (Will in the UD, Max in her first trance, El using her powers against Vecna) was the memory and vibration of love.

This reminded me of A Wrinkle In Time, which is a science fiction novel that’s been noted more than a few times as one of Stranger Things’ primary influences. In the book, a girl and her brother travel through time to rescue their father from an alternate dimension where all beings are controlled in a hyper-individualist suburbia by a giant, all-knowing brain. The climactic “defeat” of the brain is shockingly simple, but incredible impactful— Meg, the heroine, tells it over and over that she loves it. This love ultimately brings her father and brother out of trances they are in, and they’re able to remember her and travel back home.

(Tangent: And God. The implications of that, outside of analyzing ST, are powerful. How do we live in a capitalist hellscape that is so caught up in the mind— in acheiving, obtaining, securing, protecting the ego— that many of us have forgotten our hearts? The answer is love. Loving ourselves more deeply to love all beings more deeply, “the good and the bad.” But love does not negate accountability, and it does not excuse harm.)

Our characters are all struggling with self-acceptance and self-love in some form or another. Each is wrestling with secrets and lies, and the desire to hide parts of themselves they think others can’t accept.

Mike is clearly struggling with self-loathing, guilt surrounding what happened to El in s1, and a crippling hero complex.

Will is also on the self-loathing train, continually self-sacrifices to his own detriment, and is hiding his identity out of fear (not at all villifying that, just for the record.)

El struggled to reconcile her abilities and forced weaponization with her identity outside of the lab pre-s4.

Max was suicidal and had a lot of self-hatred after B*lly’s death.

Nancy parallels Mike in her survivor’s guilt post-s1 and exhibits the same lack of self-preservation and self-sacrificing tendencies.

You get my point. So how will these characters overcome their trauma? Not through hiding, or running, or bypassing. Not through the light alone. Through love— acknowledgement of their own darkness, compassion for the unhealed nature of others, and commitment to being honest with themselves and their loved ones. We know Will is El and Henry’s mirror/foil and will play a central role in S5, and with all of this in mind I think it’s safe to say he will break the cycle of bypassing and hiding from trauma and pain once and for all. He won’t fight it like El, hide from it like Max, or run from it like he did as a kid.

Only by integrating their shadows can our characters become truly “themselves,” or as Brenner puts it, “whole.”

I will probably have much more to say about this after my re-read of A Wrinkle in Time, but for now, that’s all I’ve got. :) Hope everyone is doing well!

[writing-my-time]

Daddy Ain't Home

Images taken from @boydholbrook-fan's gifsets, and pinterest x

Pairing: Clement Mansell X F!Reader Word Count: 3.6k Warnings: 18+, Smut with plot, age gap (Reader is around 19 to early 20’s, Clement in his late 30’s/early 40’s), swearing, morally dubious actions, coercion, unhealthy power dynamics, oral (m/receiving). Reader has grabbable hair, but otherwise nondescript. Summary: When your dad’s so-called ‘friend’ needs to stay at your family home for a few days, using the excuse of “in-between” places, you find his incredibly forward nature hard to resist. Your temptation only worsens when your dad goes to work Author's note: My beautiful babies have been SO sick. Needed to be a full time Mama for a bit but now I’m back in action!

The older you got, the less sure you became of your father’s previous lifestyle. You’d grown up relatively normal, but the occasional tale he’d tell after a few beers often left your imagination running wild. He’d speak of something far darker than youthful tomfoolery; recounting memories of guns, cash, and deals gone wrong. At some point in his life, your dad had turned himself around, leaving whatever rough and tough lifestyle he’d had behind. Today, he’s a blue collar man with a family, in other words, completely unspectacular. Sure, he’d become a friendly face in the neighborhood, shoveling snow and fixing gutters, but other than that, the peers of your parents wouldn’t exactly blink twice at the man. Which is why when his ‘old friend’ stops by uninvited, it opens a can of worms you never thought imaginable.

It’s past midday, you know that much. You’ve only been back a week, in your family home in a remote town just outside of Detroit, having come back to enjoy the semester break without the bleak surroundings of your college campus. A small group of your friends never left; staying home to take over their parents’ business or wait tables. Still, having some friends in your hometown pays off. That is, until you’re nursing a headache courtesy of your latest reunion. In a place as small as this, everyone knows everyone; meaning that even in your less than perfect state, you can tell the blond man in front of you is an outsider. He’s standing opposite your dad in the middle of the kitchen, unintentionally blocking your access to any form of sustenance as you approach from behind. Bleary-eyed and weak-willed, you fail to recognize the brewing tension in the room, stepping around the stranger with a grumble.

“Well, shoot.” The blond nods in your direction, cocking his brow as you manage to stumble past. “The apple sure doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?”

There’s an audible huff from your dad, and you reach the fridge as he grabs the stranger's arm and hauls him into the living room, slamming the door behind them. If you were sober, you’d be outwardly surprised by your dad’s aggression. Right now your sole focus is to hydrate using whatever bottle your hand grabs first. Judging by feel, you’ve picked up some type of juice; gulping it down greedily right from the lip of the bottle. As the sweetness trickles down your throat, you feel a morsel of the raggedness from your night before wear away. Leaning against the kitchen counter, you drag a hand down your face, taking note of the mascara very much still crusted against your lashes. Apparently you had come home coherent enough to get into bed, but not enough to get your makeup off. Just as you’re about to make your return to your room, the sound of your father’s hushed muttering permeates the closed door.

“Absolutely not.” He grumbles, saying something else but you can’t quite make out the words. “Clement, I won’t-”

“-Don’t forget now,” You can hear the other man loud and clear. “You do owe me a favor.”

A prolonged silence follows. One which is only filled by the sound of your own heartbeat thudding in your ears. This time, you fight the haze just enough to get a better read on the conversation going on in the next room. Hearing the clearly strained resignation of your father come through the door, you decide to hover in the kitchen a little longer. Whoever this Clement character is, he’s got intimidation down to an art.

“You can be here for one week.” You’ve never heard your dad sound so defeated. “That’s all. One week.”

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” The southern drawl of the man rumbles through the door. “You always had to be so serious about things.” 

“Just don’t bring my family into it, yeah?”

“Now, now. Terrorizing families was more your style.” Clement clicks his tongue. “I will be on my best behavior, of that you can rely.”

Your brows furrow upon hearing what appears to be the end of the exchange. They’ve come to an agreement; one you don’t truly understand considering the ominous accusation thrown your father’s way. Your dad, a terror? The man who mows old ladies’ lawns on the weekends for nothing more than a cup of tea and a sandwich? That’s enough eavesdropping for one day, you decide, shaking your head. You begin your retreat, eventually climbing up the stairs toward your room.

Neither of your parents had changed anything about your room since you had left. You still had the same gaudy palm tree wallpaper your mom had picked out, only saved by the amount of band and movie posters you’d covered it up with. All the furniture was the same as it was, too. A mix of things your dad had either built or bartered for over the years, leading to an eclectic mess of clashing styles; something you’d come to miss when your dorm room was nothing more than a bed and a desk. Your shins meet the foot of the bed, and you flop down face first onto your pillows. Still in the throes of a hangover, now layered with the strange pit of uncertainty embedding itself into your stomach, you tuck the blanket up above your head and fall asleep.

—

It’s early in the morning when your dad knocks gently at your door. Of course, you’d slept the entire day away; a habit you aren’t exactly happy you’d picked up while at college. You slowly peel yourself out of the blankets, sitting up as your dad steps softly into your room. Dressed in his usual work clothes of his boilersuit over a white t-shirt, you gauge that it must be almost time for him to leave. He’s holding your favorite mug in his hands, bringing in a coffee just for you. The thought is lovely, even if you both know you’ll forget about it until it’s already gone cold. Your dad sets it on your nightstand before kneeling down beside your bed. There’s a reserved look in his eye, one you aren’t sure you’ve seen before.

“Morning, princess.” He speaks softly. “Thought I’d say hi. Since I didn’t see much of ya yesterday.”

“Sorry, dad.” You mumble, looking away in shame. It wasn’t like you to drink so hard that you wasted an entire day. “I think I went too hard.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’re young. It’s good that you’re having fun and still coming home safe.”

There’s another flicker of something in his eyes when he speaks. Despite his kind reassurance, you can tell his mind is elsewhere, perhaps reminiscing on something. His nose scrunches for a brief moment, and you shift slightly under your sheets. You watch as he presses his lips together, evidently trying to find a way to word his thoughts.

“I need to let you know, we have an old friend staying with us for a week.” He explains with a smile. A smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “His name is Clement. I knew- I’ve known him since before you were born.”

“How do you know him?” You ask him quickly, watching him shift his weight on either knee as the question rings through his mind.

“You know, that’s a good story.” Your dad pulls back just as quick, sucking in air between his teeth as that forced smile reappears on his face. “Maybe just not when I'm leaving for work, yeah?”

In response, you nod, earning a kiss to your forehead from your dad. Since coming back home, he’d gone right back to treating you like his little girl, and the affection had been greatly missed. He pulls himself back up to a stand, brushing his knees before he looks at you one last time.

“He’ll be hanging around the house, but don’t feel like you have to keep him company, okay?” He raises his eyebrows at you, waiting for your response.

“Is that code for ‘don’t talk to him’?” You ask, receiving a pause in return.

“You can talk to him, just… don’t go outta your way to make him feel welcome.” He explains with a sigh. “I love you, honey.”

“Love you too, dad.”

His exit leaves you in a befuddled silence, pressing your lips together in thought. You stay in place as your father’s footsteps begin to trail off, eventually dulling once he reaches the bottom of the staircase. Minutes later, the house rattles ever so slightly at the opening and closing of the front door. Your father has left for the day, leaving you alone in the house with mystery man Clement. What you remember of yesterday’s overheard conversation lingers in your mind. How do they know each other? Why didn’t your dad want him to stay? And why does he owe him? In a rapidly-failing attempt to take your mind off of it, you pull the covers back over your face. Thoughts swirl around your mind while no answers come to call. Clement had claimed your dad had a terrorizing schtick. It just didn’t match up. 

Not wanting to give in to the oncoming spiral, you bring yourself to a stand. A shower will help. Or at least, that’s what you’re telling yourself as you close your bedroom door behind you with a sturdy thud. Lazily, you trudge down the hallway until you find yourself standing on the cold bathroom lino. After a few minutes of mincing around, you slip under the gentle caress of the showerhead. Streaming down your face, neck, and shoulders, the warm water does wonders in quelling your nervous mind. Even after you'd moved out, your parents still kept the bathroom stocked with boujee products far out of your price range. It’s a dramatic change from the discount bath and body works garbage you’ve got littering your dorm shower, and you smile to yourself as you lather the coconutty soap over your body. For the first time in what feels like months, you have a long, warm, relaxing shower.

Eventually, you force yourself out of the cocoon of warmth you’ve created in the bathroom, stepping out with a fluffy towel wrapped around your chest. The house is silent, eerily so. You wonder if it means that Clement had also gone out, leaving you alone for the time being. With light-footed steps, you pad along the hall back to your bedroom. Thoughts of having the house to yourself cause a dopey smile to paint your face, and you eagerly wrap your fingers around your doorknob. With the door ajar, a gentle push is all it takes to enter your room. You stride in, humming a tune under your breath as you seal yourself back in your bedroom once more. You’re about to peel the towel away from your dampened skin when a low whistle beckons from your bed.

“Ain’t that a pretty sight.”

You flinch and desperately twist your hands into the fabric of the towel, keeping it as close to your body as humanly possible. With wide eyes, you turn towards the graveled voice. There lies Clement, completely reclined on your bed, wearing nothing but what appears to be your father’s navy robe. He’s got one of your books in his hands, open on the page you had bookmarked and forgotten about a few nights ago, now. The older man isn’t shy in his staring, dragging his tongue along his teeth as he raises a cocky brow. He rests the book in his lap, allowing him to rest his now free hands on the back of his head, unabashedly ogling your towel-cladded form. There’s nowhere for you to hide yourself while the intruding man remains confidently splayed on your bed.

“What’re you doing in my room?” You ask, swallowing down the nervous lump in your throat. 

“Shoot.” He raises his hands defensively, though his eyes still sparkle with a dark sense of mischief. “Your daddy said to make myself at home, and I wanted a good book to read. Nothin’ downstairs caught my attention - but this?”

Clement holds up the open book, waving it around long enough for you to remember exactly where you had left off. Fuck. The arrogant smirk sprawled on his face isn’t just to revel in your scantily clad form, but also your perverse taste in literature. Very perverse taste. He clicks his tongue, pretending to make a stern face as he drags his slender finger along the page.

“This is definitely something worth a read.” The blond furrows his brow, reading the very extensive smut you had bookmarked for when you were alone. “You, you pretty young thing, are into some extreme shit.”

“Can you get out of my room, please?” You attempt to speak with confidence, though there’s something about him making you shiver.

“Why? Voyeurism not your thing?”

“Not really, no.”

“No?” He begins to climb off the bed, his tall frame already towing over yours as he begins to stalk towards you. “It didn’t seem so bad in your book.”

You shy your gaze away from Clement as he comes toe-to-toe with you. While none of his fingers touch your soft skin, there’s a clear intention swirling in the air. Your heartbeat pounds in your ears as he chuckles to himself. It’s a dark, throaty chuckle. Creases form around his eyes as he laughs. Is it at your expense? You can’t tell. You barely hold your ground as he continues to talk.

  “Girl in your book liked older men. Wasn’t interested in boys. What about you, little lady? You like real men?” He runs his finger across the seam of your towel. “I think you just might.”

He’s not wrong, and unfortunately, your outward lack of fear towards his grotesque intimidation is only proving his point. There’s some part of you that’s enjoying this, perhaps it’s because fortunately, he’s not exactly unattractive. As he stands before you, his newly acquired dressing gown begins to slip open, and you find yourself admiring the tattoo decorating his chest. You know you've gotten lost in your own ogling when his finger begins to slip through the seam.

“My dad would kill you.” You try to slap his hand away, but he grabs your wrist just in time.

“I don’t know if you noticed, but your daddy ain’t home, sweetheart. He left you all alone.” His voice lowers into something akin to a growl, while his breath hits hot against your face. “With me.”

Clement’s hand travels away from your wrist to the back of your head, making a tight fist within your damp hair as he sneers. It sends an involuntary shiver down your spine, going as far as to make you gasp through clenched teeth. You close your eyes, not wanting his piercing gaze to make you squirm more than it already has. He lets out another breathy snigger, baring his teeth as he cranes your head back with ease. A weak exhale escapes your trembling lips.

“Knew you were into dark shit.” He hums in your ear. “This ain’t even that bad, little lady.”

Before you can respond, the man pulls harshly on your hair, sending you crashing to your knees in front of him. For a brief moment, he keeps you there, doing nothing but glaring down at you while his lips continue to curl into a perverse smile. Your eyes flit to his other hand, watching it glide down until it slips underneath the seam of his dressing gown. Slowly, tauntingly, menacingly, Clement pulls the gown open. It’s just enough for you to get an eyeful of his white briefs, and the significant bulge growing beneath them. His eyes stay focused on your face, watching with twisted delight as you wet your lips.

“See? I had a whole plan to convince you, and you don’t even need it, do ya?” Clement taunts with a low voice. “If only your daddy knew how easy it is to get you on your knees.”

He loosens his grip on your hair, knowing you won’t do anything other than sit pretty on the floor. Clement’s other hand now slips into the waistband of his briefs. Of course, he doesn’t bother to take them off, instead opting to tug the fabric underneath his balls and taking his twitching cock into his fist. Though his underwear left little to the imagination, he’s girthier than you anticipated. Your eyes are glued to it, observing the way his hand trails up his veiny shaft, then back down until it meets the unruly hair decorating his pelvis. A bead of sticky pre-cum glistens at his tip, and you stay transfixed on the image as he drags his palm up his shaft one last time. Clement clearly notices your ogling, letting out a breathy chuckle before he begins to push your head towards it.

“Go on, baby.” He urges, watching with bated breath as your lips begin to part open. “Put your mouth on it, yeah, there you go.”

You glide your tongue up the bottom of his shaft, dragging from base upwards until you wrap your lips around his tip. His sharp intake of breath is enough to encourage you further, eventually sliding your mouth down until you’ve taken him whole. As his hand steadies your movements, a low, satisfied hum leaves his lips, and you look up just in time to watch him throw his head back.

“Fuck, I knew just from lookin’ at your pretty face that you’d have a mouth on ya.” He grits out as you begin to hollow your cheeks, sucking him slowly yet eagerly. “Shit. Didn’t think you’d be this obedient. Like a fuckin’ dog, you are.”

Doing as you're told, you don’t change up your movements right away. Instead keeping a slow, languid pace. Each bob of your head creates a rich mixture of your own drool and his slick, letting his taste be savored on your tongue. He tastes of salt and sweat and musk. When you’re about to bob back down, Clement guides you by pushing on the back of your head, and forcing you to take him right into the back of your throat. Your nose is almost embedded into his pubes, causing you to splutter around him from the lack of oxygen. Even so, he doesn’t let up. Clement clicks his tongue, giving you a surprisingly affectionate look.

“Now that’s a sight I could get used to, little lady. Look at you, chokin’ on me.” He holds you there for just a second longer, before letting you lift your mouth off of him completely. A string of drool connects your bottom lip to the tip of his cock, and before Clement can speak, you’re already diving back in. 

This time, you don’t suck him with lazy strokes, no. As your lips wrap around his head for the second time, you hollow out your cheeks and wrap your hand around the base of his cock. Your mouth pumps in time with your hand, all the while Clement doesn’t shut up, grunting out praises, as he rolls his hips in time with your movements. He fists your hair again, keeping your head still for his oncoming onslaught of hard thrusts. Drool coats both his shaft and your lips, bubbling and spilling out of the corners of your mouth as he fucks it with enough force to make you gag. Tears prickle the corners of your eyes, threatening to spill over as you keep choking on his length. He doesn’t stop, instead grinning as you continue to struggle around him.

“Keep your lips on me,” Clement rasps out, almost lost in the moment. “That’s it. That’s it, thaaat’s it.”

“Knew from the moment I saw you that I needed this.”

He squints his eyes shut.

“Knew that you’d give it to me.”

He throws his head back.

“Knew your daddy would make a good girl.”

He fucks himself down your throat.

“Good. Girl.”

Clement pushes your head back down to the base of his cock, holding you tightly in place with your hair as his hips begin to buck without rhythm. Your only other warning to what might be coming is the chesty moan that leaves his lips. You flinch as the hot, thick ropes of his release spill down your throat, coating your tongue with a salty, bitter taste. There’s no other option but to swallow it all, having his hand forcing you into position. Once the last drop is gone, Clement pulls you off him, eventually letting go of your hair entirely. As if nothing had happened, he tucks himself back into his briefs, and re-wraps the gown, covering his body once more. You look up, slightly dazed as air finally makes its way back into your lungs. With your lips pink, wet, and parted, you must be a sight to behold - earning a cocky chuckle from Clement.

“Thanks, little lady. Just what I needed to feel welcome.” He grins, swiping some of the drool off your bottom lip before heading towards the door.

“That’s it?” You can’t help but feel short-changed, watching as the man exits into the hallway.

“For now,” He states, dragging his fingers through the coarse hairs of his beard. “I’ve been really wantin’ a shower, and now it’s all freed up.”

He looks you up and down one last time, scrunching his nose as he sniffs with what almost seems like indifference. Then, before you know it, he’s closing your bedroom door, leaving you alone on the floor as you come to terms with what’s just happened. You drag the pads of your fingers over your lips, closing your eyes as you grunt in frustration. He’s still here for an entire week, and you caved already. What would your dad think?

---

A very big thank you for reading. As always a big thank you for those that encourage me - @justeverythingprettymuch, and those that inspire me - @toxicanonymity!

[raynerberg]

Awakening Continuation of the story based on those drawings

— Attention! Only emergency systems are operational. The operation of all systems in the "Epsilon" complex has been suspended, — echoed an emotionless voice from the automated defense system, emanating from speakers embedded in the ceiling.

A standard warning meant to prompt all personnel to follow one of two protocols: evacuation or activation of the main life-support system from control centers where energy reserves were still available to power the reactor. Yet, there was not a soul here — neither synthetic nor organic. This place would have remained forgotten, forever entombed in darkness beneath layers of rock, if not for the single island of light within this "tomb," clad in tungsten-titanium panels. The only place where a fragile chance for a new beginning still remained. The first breath and first exhalation had already been taken before the warning even finished.

— Main computer, cancel protocols 0.2.0 and 0.1.1, — a robotic baritone commanded softly.

A humanoid figure sat motionless on its knees at the center of a circular charging station, carbon-fiber hands hanging limply, resembling a monument to a weary martyr. It could feel the electric tension within the wires embedded in its head, running beneath a slightly elongated protrusion where a human’s parietal bone would have been. These connections to hubs and gateways fed it information, energy, and programs necessary for independent operation. Data streams pulsed in uneven impulses, flowing directly into its central processor. Disconnecting remotely from all storage units during the upload process was pointless while the body remained in a state of non-functioning plastic — albeit an ultra-durable one. At that moment, it could be compared to a newborn: blind, nearly deaf, immobilized, with only its speech module fully operational.

— Request denied. Unknown source detected. Please identify yourself, — the computer responded.

— Personal code 95603, clearance level "A," Erebus, — the synthetic exhaled a trace of heated steam on the final word. The database key reader had been among the first systems to activate, already granting necessary access.

— Identification successful. Access granted. Please repeat your request.

— Main computer, cancel protocols 0.2.0 and 0.1.1, — the android reiterated, then expanded the command now that full access was in his mechanical hands. — Disable emergency systems. Initiate remote activation of the S2 repair engineer unit. Redirect energy from reserve tank "4" to the main reactor at 45% capacity, — Erebus added, his voice gaining a few extra decibels.

— Request received. Executing, — came the virtual response.

For two minutes and forty-five seconds, silence reigned, broken only by the faint hum of the charging station. The severe energy shortage had slowed down all processes within the complex, and hastening them would have been an inefficient waste of what little power remained. Erebus waited patiently. A human, placed in a small, cold, nearly pitch-black place, would have developed the most common phobias. But he wasn’t human…

He spent the time thinking. Despite the exabytes of data in his positronic brain, some fragments were missing — either due to error, obsolescence, or mechanical and software damage. Seven hundred eighty-five vacant cells in the long-term memory sector. Too many. Within one of these gaping voids, instead of a direct answer, there were only strands of probability, logical weavings leading nowhere definitive. In human terms — guesses. He knew who had created him, what had happened, how Erebus himself had been activated, and even why — to continue what has been started. These fragments remained intact. The registry was divided into sections, subsections, paragraphs, chapters, and headings, all numbered and prioritized with emphasis. A task list flickered as a small, semi-transparent window on the periphery of his internal screen, waiting to be executed. But… The android had been activated, which meant the battle was lost. Total defeat. Area 51 was destroyed. All data stored there had a 98.9% probability of being erased. Blueprints, research, experimental results — all had been consigned to the metaphorical Abyss created by human imagination. So why did any of this matter now? And to whom? These were the first questions of the logical mechanism to illogical human actions.

Yet, to put it in poetic human language, Bob Page had been a luminary of progressive humanity. A brilliant engineer, a scientist, and most importantly, a man of absolute conviction. Cynical and calculating, but one who genuinely loved his work. The idea above all else.

It’s known that true ideological fanatics are among the most radical and unyielding members of Homo sapiens. They can’t be bought, they won’t allow themselves to be sold, and they will trample others underfoot if it serves their belief. They don’t need others' ideals — only their own. These are individuals who elevate themselves to the rank of true creators. Even after death, they remain faithful to their convictions, leaving behind tomes of their interpretations and scientific dogmas to their equally devoted disciples — followers always found at the peak of their intellectual and physical prowess. So, upon activation, had Erebus inherited… An Idea? Has he become a spiritual heir?

Did Page have no biological heirs, or did they not share his ideology? Or were they simply unaware of it? Could a true pragmatist have lacked successors or trusted disciples? Hard to believe, even with missing fragments of data. To entrust the idea to a machine instead of a human? As Homo sapiens would say — "a mystery shrouded in darkness." Questions multiplied exponentially. But Erebus had plenty of time to think about all of it. As well as about his own deactivation — after all, a machine has no fear of "death".

"Loading 98%... 99%... 100%. Secondary initialization complete. All systems active at 100%. Disengaging."

The message flashed across the inner visor of the android’s interface before vanishing. Behind him, with a low hiss, the plugs disconnected from their sockets, and fiber-optic-coated cables fell to the floor with a subdued clatter. The android slowly raised his hands before himself, clenching and unclenching his fingers, then rotated his wrists inward, as if they had the capacity to go numb from disuse. Finally, planting both fists on the ground, the synthetic pushed himself up in one fluid, springy motion, straightening to his full height. Motor functions — normal. Calibration — unnecessary. Optical focus — 100%.

— Attention! Reactor online. Power at 45%. Follow procedures for medium-level emergency response, — the announcement echoed through the chamber. Erebus turned his head slightly.

— Main computer, report overall operational status of the "Epsilon" complex, — the android commanded.

— Overall status: 10.5% below safe operational levels, — the computer obediently replied, recognizing the synthetic as an authorized entity.

"Acceptable," Erebus thought, and addressed the system once more.

— Redistribute energy between the maintenance sectors, communication center, transport hub, and computational core. Utilize reserve tanks as necessary.

— Request received. Energy rerouted. Reserve tanks "2" and "3" engaged. Reserve tank "1" decommissioned. Reserve tank "5" operational at 90%, awaiting connection for redistribution, — the computer reported.

— Excellent. Main computer, power down, — Erebus issued his final command to his brief conversational partner. — Now, I am the master here.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Hi, I'm the human who got trapped inside a TARDIS.

Thank you for the help, I managed to open the interior doors a few days ago and went looking for the owner. No luck, but I found a swimming pool, a huge library, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, science labs, entertainment rooms and what seems to be a huge park?

I don't know how on Earth something like this can even exist, but I guess there's all the time in the world to learn while waiting for rescue. I'm worried about the pilot though; isn't there a way to locate them, given how advanced this craft is?

Hi there, trapped human! Let's address your concerns about the pilot.

How to locate a TARDIS pilot

Do not attempt to operate the TARDIS flight controls without being absolutely sure it is safe. On earlier models, use of the console without a Symbiotic Nucleus may result in injury or a very slow and painful death.

Note: Most of the systems are in Gallifreyan. TARDISes do not tend to translate Gallifreyan, so you may not be able to read them.

Here are some methods you can try:

📡 Stattenheim Remote Teleport Control: Look for a small black disc stored in a transparent dome on the console. If properly calibrated, pressing this button may immediately transport you to the pilot. If it's not there, the pilot has taken it, or the TARDIS doesn't have the Mark X refit.

⏪ Fast Return Switch: This will return the TARDIS to an approximate time and location near where it last landed. It's clearly labelled on the console. Turn it clockwise to operate. [Use with caution]

📍 Locate the Doctor: Some models may have this feature. It is activated by pressing a button on the console labelled 'LTD' (your TARDIS may have another personalised variation). The Visual Display Unit will show the pilot's relative position on a map.

🧬 Passenger Adoption Scanning Terminal (PAST): This system registers and protects passengers. Due to how it works, if you’re registered, the pilot is likely still on board.

👥 Internal Monitor: A Mark II TARDIS can detect the number of sapient life forms onboard and display it on the Internal Monitor.

💻 The Scanner: The Scanner can locate the pilot's biodata within a two-mile radius outside the TARDIS. Some pilots have a preprogrammed switch by the scanner that will instantly display their pilot's location, but this is a modified feature.

🎤 Voice Interaction: Try speaking to the TARDIS. Some models respond to vocal commands for minor systems. If the TARDIS doesn’t respond, your voice print registration is required.

��� Artron Telepathic Radiation: If you find another Time Lord, they can scan for the pilot's ‘thumbprints’ left by their symbiotic nuclei to identify them.

🛠️ Cloister Room: This room contains telepathic circuits to communicate with the pilot, possibly providing an audiovisual link. It's accessible via a shortcut in the Secondary Control Room. Be cautious, as this room may have minor effects on your nervous system.

🚨 Extreme Emergency Lever: Crew members can use this lever to lock onto a pilot drifting in space and materialise around them.

🗝️ TARDIS Key: Use a key to locate anyone processed by the PAST (such as other crew members). Mix their blood with saline solution, coat the key, and suspend it in clear oil. The oxidised blood particles will 'point' in their direction.

🧠 Memory Store: Stores memories of TARDIS occupants, including audio-visual recordings of the Control Room. Useful to identify the pilot and the last time they were there.

💉 Medical Bay: The Automatic Diagnostic Terminal usually uses the pilot's avatar to communicate. You may be able to ask the avatar their identity, although responses may be limited.

If you need to take emergency action:

There is an 🚪Emergency Door located in the Power Stacks Room, leading outside. The 🚨 Fail-Safe Switch locks the TARDIS onto the nearest habitable environment, creating emergency doors. The 🆘 Emergency Emergency System (so emergent they named it twice) creates a wormhole to the nearest habitable planet. This is one way only, so there is no return to the TARDIS afterwards.

💀 Pilot Death & TARDIS Adoption

Usually, emergency systems will try to lock onto the pilot. If this is not happening, the pilot may have died without regeneration. TARDISes will normally go into a period of mourning following the death of their pilot, possibly involving a loss of power or shut down of many systems.

If you're finding systems are not shut down but have increasing suspicions the pilot may have died, this could be because:

The TARDIS has already gone through its period of mourning;

It has reactivated at your presence, hoping to establish a link with you;

It didn't really like its pilot very much.

It's not unheard of for humans to forge a bond with the TARDIS, especially if it's been left alone for some time. The TARDIS might be adopting you as its new caretaker, which would explain the access you've been granted. Some clues:

🎁 TARDISes sometimes leave gifts to welcome new arrivals. Look around for anything unusual or out of place.

💭 If you feel any strong intuitive pushes or thoughts, it might be the TARDIS trying to communicate with you.

🔑 If you're finding you have access to a lot of the TARDIS (including intricate systems), the TARDIS definitely likes you.

🏫 So ...

To locate the pilot or other crew members, try any of the procedures outlined above. Be sure to familiarise yourself with the main areas and secure access to food, water, and other necessities. The TARDIS can help—look for glowing arrows or symbols on the walls. These can lead you to important areas. Remember, the TARDIS is a complex and sentient machine. If it has adopted you, it will do its best to keep you safe, and it has a plethora of effective automated defences to achieve this.

Related:

🤔|🧬🛸What's the link between a Time Lord and their TARDIS?

💬|🧬🛸How does TARDIS symbiosis work for individuals and groups?: Details on this special Time Lord-TARDIS connection.

💬|🧬🛸How long can a bonded Time Lord be away from their TARDIS?: If extended absences can impact symbiosis, and also annoy your TARDIS.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[razzek]

Top 5 MOST useful tools for blind people just starting out

Top 5 most fave tools for the blind overall

Top 5 least useful

Top 5 fucking weirdest and/or funniest

This is a big ask and I will do my best to answer, with the caveat that I am just a single blind person with memory issues who doesn't remember everything my blind friends have told me. XD I am counting other people as tools in this list because a person with eyes sometimes is a handy tool for us. XD

Top 5 MOST useful tools for blind people just starting out 1. White cane 2. Blindness skills training through centers, government programs like Vocational Rehabilitation, Orientation & Mobility specialists, and anywhere you can find it 3. Membership with the National Talking Book Library aka NLS in your state (US); I think the UK is RNIB and Canada has one, not sure about other countries 4. Supportive family and friends and other blind people if you can find them 5. Screen reader (NVDA is free for Windows, iPhone has VoiceOver, Android uses TalkBack)

Top 5 most fave tools for the blind overall 1. White cane and/or guide dog 2. Text to speech, screen readers, audio books, audio described movies and tv 3. Accessible smart phones (often iPhone but Android is catching up) 4. Bump dots (stick-on tactile dots you put around your home) 5. Braille and refreshable braille displays/notetakers

Top 5 least useful 1. Sighted people inventing crap without talking to any blind people ("smart" canes, "smart" shoes, dangerous devices you hold in your only free hand that claim to tell you what's in front of you but actually don't, screen reader breaking "accessibility" overlays, etc...) 2. That ring which only shows one braille cell at a time (that's not how anyone reads) 3. Strangers giving/yelling vague directions ("It's right over there!", "Oh my god watch out for the stairs (that you are halfway down)!", giving directions to the guide dog who doesn't speak English or any language because they are a dog...) 4. Hot liquid measuring devices (always broken, the noise they make is so fucking loud it's caused me a lot more injury than just sticking my finger in the hot liquid, will wake up the neighbors) 5. All but one use case of AI claiming to be for the blind, at least as far as I've seen

Top 5 fucking weirdest and/or funniest 1. Ping pong balls (good for measuring hot liquids) 2. Funnels (really helpful for pouring liquids) 3. The lanyard strap that sticks to the back of your phone so you can wear it around your neck (looks silly, is incredibly useful) 4. White cane holster (yes it's a thing, I have at least three XD) 5. Things being organized Very Specifically (close your eyes and YOU try to find the remote after someone put it in a random place! XD)

[thrspidcr]

"𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥" 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘴

@halfdent ASKED: [ FOOD ]: after ensuring the receiver is safe and stable, sender brings them out a plate of food. (HARVEY && TWOS)

The goblin had been the hardest one to track down, he always was. Peter was too reliant on his senses when it came to the Goblin. How else was he to deal with the level of crazy that floated around on a glider?

To top that off, he hadn't expected the clown to join in. That kind of insane would surely contest the other. He couldn't wrap his head around how such a pairing was remotely possible.

He had accepted the Batman's help. The Disaster that had hit New York prior to his suction into this universe was already becoming a reality here.

The Goblin somehow had access tot he technology. Giving it to the clown seemed a worse idea than its own inception. The only crumb of sanity was that the Goblin had been searching for something ( or rather someone) and whatever temporary truce had transpired, Peter wasn't letting the citizens of Gotham pay for it.

He didn't remember much beyond his mask being slashed and the gas hitting his lungs. He had a vague memory of webbing ahold of Robin and the woman they had targeted before flinging them into the direction of safety.

Between pain, fog, and whatever else had transpired, he only knew the last thing he had tried to do, was keep the buildings standing, and let Batman handle the Joker and evacuation.

He wasn't going to let what happened to his home, happen here. He just couldn't. Whoever they were searching for wasn't worth the cost of the lives it would take tearing the universe apart to find them.

He hurt.

When he opened his eyes, he could still feel pain radiating down his spine and into his legs. He imagined this was what sciatic pain felt like. He was stiff as his arms throbbed down to his fingers. He tried to stand and wavered, clearly the gas was still in his system.

He didn't wander very far before he began to cough. Great. What did he break now? The coughing turned to retching and the wrenching produced some red mass of internal importance and several bullet shells right into the nearest trash can.

Swell. At some point he'd been shot.

He'd picked up the small can and had proceeded throughout...wherever this was. He couldn't exactly leave the trash can where it was when the contents inside were radioactive enough to give anyone cancer.

He needed his stuff. His suit, his web shooters. Whose clothes were these even? He didn't like to use his organic webs, they were harder to control.

He did use them, however, on the first person he was alerted to. he wasn't strong enough to climb the walls to evade them and the slightest misstep meant his identity would be exposed. Better to get them first.

--

" I'm sorry about that, sir." he repeated again, now seated and calmed down. " It'll dissolve in an hour or two, your guy'll be fine. Promise."

He really was sorry. He was only trying to protect himself. "Thank you." he said softer, watching the bowl of chicken noodle soup be placed down in front of him. He didn't think he'd actually get it. He was starving.

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 40, 2024

Impact of Extracellular Current Flow on Action Potential Propagation in Myelinated Axons. Abdollahi, N., & Prescott, S. A. (2024). Journal of Neuroscience, 44(26), e0569242024.

Prefrontal coding of learned and inferred knowledge during REM and NREM sleep. Abdou, K., Nomoto, M., Aly, M. H., Ibrahim, A. Z., Choko, K., Okubo-Suzuki, R., … Inokuchi, K. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4566.

Distinct basal ganglia contributions to learning from implicit and explicit value signals in perceptual decision-making. Balsdon, T., Pisauro, M. A., & Philiastides, M. G. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 5317.

Hebbian priming of human motor learning. Bjørndal, J. R., Beck, M. M., Jespersen, L., Christiansen, L., & Lundbye-Jensen, J. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 5126.

The well‐worn route revisited: Striatal and hippocampal system contributions to familiar route navigation. Buckley, M., McGregor, A., Ihssen, N., Austen, J., Thurlbeck, S., Smith, S. P., … Lew, A. R. (2024). Hippocampus, 34(7), 310–326.

Ouvrai opens access to remote virtual reality studies of human behavioural neuroscience. Cesanek, E., Shivkumar, S., Ingram, J. N., & Wolpert, D. M. (2024). Nature Human Behaviour, 8(6), 1209–1224.

Two distinct networks for encoding goals and forms of action: An effective connectivity study. Di Cesare, G., Lombardi, G., Zeidman, P., Urgen, B. A., Sciutti, A., Friston, K. J., & Rizzolatti, G. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(26), e2402282121.

Conductance-based dendrites perform Bayes-optimal cue integration. Jordan, J., Sacramento, J., Wybo, W. A. M., Petrovici, M. A., & Senn, W. (2024). PLOS Computational Biology, 20(6), e1012047.

Subpopulations of neurons in the perirhinal cortex enable both modality-specific and modality-invariant recognition of objects. Lim, H.-Y., & Lee, I. (2024). PLOS Biology, 22(6), e3002713.

Hippocampal and orbitofrontal neurons contribute to complementary aspects of associative structure. Lin, H., & Zhou, J. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 5283.

A vast space of compact strategies for effective decisions. Ma, T., & Hermundstad, A. M. (2024). Science Advances, 10(25).

The direction of theta and alpha travelling waves modulates human memory processing. Mohan, U. R., Zhang, H., Ermentrout, B., & Jacobs, J. (2024). Nature Human Behaviour, 8(6), 1124–1135.

Mental navigation in the primate entorhinal cortex. Neupane, S., Fiete, I., & Jazayeri, M. (2024). Nature, 630(8017), 704–711.

Low and high beta rhythms have different motor cortical sources and distinct roles in movement control and spatiotemporal attention. Nougaret, S., López-Galdo, L., Caytan, E., Poitreau, J., Barthélemy, F. V., & Kilavik, B. E. (2024). PLOS Biology, 22(6), e3002670.

Striatal Dopamine Contributions to Skilled Motor Learning. Phillips, C. D., Hodge, A. T., Myers, C. C., Leventhal, D. K., & Burgess, C. R. (2024). Journal of Neuroscience, 44(26), e0240242024.

Visuo-motor updating in individuals with heightened autistic traits. Pomè, A., & Zimmermann, E. (2024). eLife, 13, e94946.3.

Spindle-locked ripples mediate memory reactivation during human NREM sleep. Schreiner, T., Griffiths, B. J., Kutlu, M., Vollmar, C., Kaufmann, E., Quach, S., … Staudigl, T. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 5249.

Disruption of dopamine D2/D3 system function impairs the human ability to understand the mental states of other people. Schuster, B. A., Sowden, S., Rybicki, A. J., Fraser, D. S., Press, C., Hickman, L., … Cook, J. L. (2024). PLOS Biology, 22(6), e3002652.

A prefrontal motor circuit initiates persistent movement. Wang, Y., & Sun, Q.-Q. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 5264.

Decomposition of an odorant in olfactory perception and neural representation. Ye, Y., Wang, Y., Zhuang, Y., Tan, H., Zuo, Z., Yun, H., … Zhou, W. (2024). Nature Human Behaviour, 8(6), 1150–1162.

[cozycomet22798]

I had ai make a desc for my oc in mind because I dont feel like doing all that writing, shes a goddess character from botw. I bended its words to how I prefer and I also added side quests for her because I can so here it is (do not come for me writing takes awhile but for now I have this and if you repost this give me credit.)

Name: Narella, the Tidebound

Title: Forgotten Goddess of Shores and the Sea

Domain: Beaches, tides, coastal winds, and shallow waters

Appearance: Narella appears as a graceful, ethereal figure draped in flowing garments that ripple like waves. Her skin has a sun-kissed, opalescent sheen, and her long hair shifts color from sandy gold to seafoam green. Seashells and bits of coral adorn her crown and jewelry, and faint bioluminescence glimmers across her body at night. Her eyes are a deep cerulean, swirling with ancient sorrow.

Personality: Once worshipped by fishing villages and coastal settlements, Narella was a gentle but proud deity. Now forgotten, she is wistful and soft-spoken, often seen alone along quiet shores, whispering to the waves. She is slow to trust but deeply compassionate, with a fierce protectiveness toward marine life and those who revere the sea with respect.

Lore: Narella was once honored with driftwood shrines and pearl offerings by early Zora and seaside Hylians. As time passed and her temples eroded, her name was lost to the tide. Some say her essence lingers in hidden tidepools and uncharted coves. During fierce storms, sailors whisper prayers to her out of instinct, not memory.

Abilities:

Tidecall: Can summon and manipulate ocean tides, creating paths or revealing sunken ruins.

Seaborn Veil: Cloaks herself and allies in mist, granting stealth and calming foes.

Echoes of the Deep: Communicates with sea creatures and reads the memories of the ocean floor.

Pearl of Remembrance: A glowing relic she carries that can restore fragments of lost history or bring peace to wandering spirits.

Location: Narella’s last known domain is a secret cove hidden beyond the Palmorae Beach in the Faron Reigon in Lurelin Village, accessible only during a rainy day at low tide. Worshippers:

🌊 The Wavecallers of Lurelin

Description: A secluded fishing community on the southeastern coast, the Wavecallers were known for their reverent relationship with the sea. They believed Narella blessed their nets and calmed storms.

Rituals: They placed conch shells at the water’s edge each full moon and sang “The Hymn of the Shore” while casting their nets. Elders taught that her spirit would guide the fish to honest hands.

Fate: As Lurelin modernized and adopted newer fishing techniques, their traditions faded. Only a few elders still hum her songs.

🐚 The Shell Maidens

Description: A secretive order of all-female monks who once lived on the remote Crescent Isles (now submerged ruins east of Eventide Island).

Role: They acted as priestesses, tide-readers, and guardians of ancient water scrolls said to be written in Narella's own script.

Appearance: Wore robes dyed with sea ink and adorned with silvered shells. Known for carrying coral-bladed ritual knives.

Beliefs: They believed Narella whispered fate through waves and interpreted dreams cast during high tide.

🌊 Common Offerings at Narella's Shrines

🐚 Seashells and Coral

Symbolism: Represent the sea's beauty and fragility.

Use: Arranged in spirals or circles, often forming patterns meant to mimic tidal flow.

Special Items: Rare, naturally occurring blue or pink shells were considered sacred and placed at the center of offerings.

🐟 Pearls

Symbolism: Purity, hidden wisdom, and the sea’s gifts to those who wait.

Use: Kept in small stone bowls carved into the shrine base. One legend says Narella wept pearls when she was forgotten.

🐬 Water from the Sea

Symbolism: A direct link to Narella's domain.

Use: Collected at dawn and poured into tidebowls—shallow stone basins built into shrines. Offerers would whisper thanks or prayers as the water evaporated or rejoined the tide.

🌾 Dried Sea Grasses and Driftwood

Symbolism: The connection between land and water.

Use: Used as incense or kindling in ritual fires. Shrines often had driftwood frames or chimes.

🪨 Smooth Stones

Symbolism: Longevity, patience, and memory shaped by time.

Use: People would write short prayers or names on the stones and place them at the foot of her altars, sometimes stacking them into tiny cairns.

🎶 Shell Chimes and Wind Instruments

Symbolism: Her voice carried on the wind and waves.

Use: Hung around shrines so her presence could be felt when the wind stirred them. The melody was said to bring peace or attract sea creatures.

🌕 Offerings of Moonlight

Symbolism: Her connection to tides and hidden things.

Use: Shrines were often visited at night during full moons. Devotees lit small lanterns with pale blue flame or luminescent fish oil, letting their light reflect on the water.

📍 Shrine Locations

Her altars were typically found:

In sea caves carved by the tide

Beneath overhangs on quiet beaches

Atop cliffs where sea breezes blew strongest

On boats or docks, especially among traveling fishers

🌊 Prayer to Narella – “Whisper of the Shore”

O Narella, Lady of the Tides, Whose breath stirs wind and wave alike, Hear this shell-born voice of mine, Carried on salt and silver light. Guide our boats, calm our seas, Bring the fish, and hush the storm. In moon’s pull and ocean's song, Let your grace once more be born.

Traditionally, this would be said while placing a shell or stone at the shrine, and during full moons, it might be chanted by groups in a slow, rhythmic cadence to match the waves.

🐚 Questline: “The Tidebound Remnants”

A forgotten goddess stirs as the sea begins to whisper once more...

🌀 1. "Whispers in the Wind"

Location: Lurelin Village Quest Type: Discovery / Mystery

Description: Villagers report hearing strange songs carried on the sea breeze at night. An elder named Mara asks Link to investigate the cliffs east of town.

Objectives:

Climb the sea cliffs and find a shell chime swaying in the wind.

Examine a weathered shrine hidden in a rock alcove.

Collect three “Echo Shells” washed up on distant shores.

Outcome: The chimes sing when the Echo Shells are placed, revealing a poem that hints at Narella’s name. Mara speaks the name aloud—and the wind dies for a moment.

🌊 2. "Offerings to the Tidebound"

Location: Multiple coastal regions Quest Type: Gathering / Lore

Description: The shrine awakened in the first quest is dormant. Mara believes offerings may rekindle Narella’s spirit.

Objectives:

Place specific offerings at three ancient coastal shrines:

Lanayru Bay (Zora stone + pearl)

Martha’s Landing (seagrass bundle + driftwood fire)

Eventide Island shore (stacked stones + moonlit water)

Defend the Eventide shrine from monsters who were drawn to its reawakening.

Outcome: Each shrine gives Link a “Sea-Marked Stone.” When all three are placed in the original Lurelin shrine, a faint voice calls his name.

🌫️ 3. "Veil of Mist"

Location: Necluda Sea Quest Type: Puzzle / Stealth

Description: A ghostly figure is seen walking on the water during foggy nights. Locals call it The Sea Bride. Link must follow the mist path without disturbing the fog.

Objectives:

Use stealth and wind-based tools to follow the figure.

Avoid aggressive sea spirits (fog wraiths) by staying within Narella’s mist trail.

Discover a hidden island cove only accessible during fog.

Outcome: Link reaches a sealed shrine where Narella briefly manifests. She speaks in fragments—grateful, sorrowful—and asks Link to retrieve her lost relic.

🐚 4. "The Pearl of Remembrance"

Location: Submerged ruins east of Hateno Quest Type: Diving / Combat

Description: Narella’s sacred pearl lies deep in a sunken temple, guarded by ancient sea guardians. Link must dive and solve water puzzles using Cryonis, Ultrahand, or similar tools.

Objectives:

Navigate the broken, submerged corridors of the Tidebound Temple.

Solve puzzles using flowing water and reflections.

Defeat a cursed sea spirit: Abyssal Remnant, a corrupted guardian beast.

Outcome: Link recovers the Pearl of Remembrance, which glows with her divine power. Returning it to her shrine restores her full voice.

🌙 5. "The Tide Rises Again" (Final Quest)

Location: Original Shrine, Lurelin Village Quest Type: Spiritual / Reward

Description: With her pearl returned, Narella awakens in spirit form. She thanks Link, warning of growing darkness at sea—ancient monsters rising as the balance falters.

Objectives:

Help Narella sanctify her three shrines by activating protective sigils.

Witness a vision of the world when her faith was strong.

Choose to accept her blessing or let her spirit fade peacefully.

Reward Options:

Narella’s Blessing (Passive): Water-based enemies deal less damage, and sea creatures occasionally assist in battle.

Tidebound Cloak: A tunic woven from sea mist, enhances swimming speed and stealth near water.

Pearl Blade: A one-handed weapon made of coral and light, especially strong against cursed or aquatic foes.

With Narella’s shrines restored and her voice returned, she gently asks Link for one final act of kindness—not for her, but for the world.

"My name is a ripple in memory. But the tide flows both forward and back. If hearts still open to the sea, let them remember me... not as a goddess, but as a song."

She asks Link to carry her story across Hyrule, to plant seeds of remembrance—not in temples, but in tales, songs, and signs.

🧭 Quest Objectives (Can be completed in any order):

Tell the Story to the Rito

Location: Rito Village

Speak with Breoli, the songstress.

Help her compose a ballad of Narella using lines from the earlier poem and local lore.

Outcome: She performs “Whisper of the Shore” in the village square at night.

Bonus: Link gets a Shell Flute that can play a fragment of the melody.

Rekindle the Zora’s Memory

Location: Zora’s Domain

Find an elder named Laeren, a retired Tidebinder.

Bring him a Sea-Marked Stone and help him repair an old underwater shrine.

Outcome: He holds a quiet memorial, and younger Zora begin adding shells to their armor in tribute.

Inspire the Artists of Hateno

Location: Hateno Village

Show Narella’s Pearl to the painter Mondé, who sketches her shrine.

Outcome: He posts the painting at the inn, and rumors begin to spread.

Bonus: Travelers start humming a mysterious sea-song.

Restore a Shrine in Gerudo Territory

Location: Kara Kara Bazaar

Help an old sea trader named Nali, who remembers Narella’s name from stories told by her Hylian grandmother.

Rebuild a small shrine using coral tiles and shells.

Outcome: She leaves water every morning and starts a ritual greeting: “Salt and wind guide you.”

🌕 Final Outcome: “When the Tides Return”

Once at least three of the four tasks are completed, return to Narella’s original shrine at night under a full moon.

The wind carries faint songs from distant places. Narella’s spirit appears, not as a goddess, but as a figure formed from water and memory.

She says:

"You gave me no temple. You gave me no crown. But you gave me voices. That is enough."

She disappears into the sea breeze—leaving behind a small, radiant item: the Tidebound Sigil, which glows when near any coastal shrine or hidden memory related to her.

🏆 Rewards:

Tidebound Sigil: Illuminates faint glyphs and echoes of forgotten spirits by the sea.

Title: Bearer of the Saltwind – Some NPCs may now recognize Link as a teller of old sea tales.

Small changes in the world: children in coastal villages play “goddess of the sea,” a traveling bard sings about a "lady in blue mist," and more conches appear at docks.

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for starting a fire?

I, (15?F), am the product of a rebellion and the enemy of another rebellion. The rebellion I'm a part of is somewhat working with the ruling authority of the world I'm in, and the enemy rebellion has killed one of the members of said ruling authority. They have caused tons of damages in the past, and will cause damages in the future.

One of their members left the group and started helping us. With her help, we found an enemy storehouse and got a team to collect stuff from it. The ex-member convinced me to grab all I needed and get rid of the rest.

I started a fire.

The base was built into a waterfall. We had to get out before people arrived to stop/fight us. There was a time crunch, and I had to think fast. The fire didn't hurt anyone, it was a remote location surrounded by water. I had also scratched a symbol in the dirt so they would know it was me and that I'm not weak anymore.

Once we got out of the storehouse, everyone was mad at me. They said I hadn't warned anyone, that I was too fast, that I didn't think, and that I was being destructive. They said that I had made a direct attack and started a war with people who already acted like we were in one. They have tried to destroy multiple cities. They have freed the most dangerous criminal our society has ever seen. They have collapsed buildings during treaty negotiations. They have tried to kill an entire race for their own agenda.

I feel like everyone's forgetting all the things they did and blaming me for starting a war that was already started. I'm tired of playing defense, I just wanted to make the first move for once.

AITA?

(also sorry if some of the info is wrong, I currently don't have access to the exact piece of media this is from and am going off of memory)

[govindhtech]

Tech Breakdown: What Is a SuperNIC? Get the Inside Scoop!

The most recent development in the rapidly evolving digital realm is generative AI. A relatively new phrase, SuperNIC, is one of the revolutionary inventions that makes it feasible.

Describe a SuperNIC

On order to accelerate hyperscale AI workloads on Ethernet-based clouds, a new family of network accelerators called SuperNIC was created. With remote direct memory access (RDMA) over converged Ethernet (RoCE) technology, it offers extremely rapid network connectivity for GPU-to-GPU communication, with throughputs of up to 400Gb/s.

SuperNICs incorporate the following special qualities:

Ensuring that data packets are received and processed in the same sequence as they were originally delivered through high-speed packet reordering. This keeps the data flow’s sequential integrity intact.

In order to regulate and prevent congestion in AI networks, advanced congestion management uses network-aware algorithms and real-time telemetry data.

In AI cloud data centers, programmable computation on the input/output (I/O) channel facilitates network architecture adaptation and extension.

Low-profile, power-efficient architecture that effectively handles AI workloads under power-constrained budgets.

Optimization for full-stack AI, encompassing system software, communication libraries, application frameworks, networking, computing, and storage.

Recently, NVIDIA revealed the first SuperNIC in the world designed specifically for AI computing, built on the BlueField-3 networking architecture. It is a component of the NVIDIA Spectrum-X platform, which allows for smooth integration with the Ethernet switch system Spectrum-4.

The NVIDIA Spectrum-4 switch system and BlueField-3 SuperNIC work together to provide an accelerated computing fabric that is optimized for AI applications. Spectrum-X outperforms conventional Ethernet settings by continuously delivering high levels of network efficiency.

Yael Shenhav, vice president of DPU and NIC products at NVIDIA, stated, “In a world where AI is driving the next wave of technological innovation, the BlueField-3 SuperNIC is a vital cog in the machinery.” “SuperNICs are essential components for enabling the future of AI computing because they guarantee that your AI workloads are executed with efficiency and speed.”

The Changing Environment of Networking and AI

Large language models and generative AI are causing a seismic change in the area of artificial intelligence. These potent technologies have opened up new avenues and made it possible for computers to perform new functions.

GPU-accelerated computing plays a critical role in the development of AI by processing massive amounts of data, training huge AI models, and enabling real-time inference. While this increased computing capacity has created opportunities, Ethernet cloud networks have also been put to the test.

The internet’s foundational technology, traditional Ethernet, was designed to link loosely connected applications and provide wide compatibility. The complex computational requirements of contemporary AI workloads, which include quickly transferring large amounts of data, closely linked parallel processing, and unusual communication patterns all of which call for optimal network connectivity were not intended for it.

Basic network interface cards (NICs) were created with interoperability, universal data transfer, and general-purpose computing in mind. They were never intended to handle the special difficulties brought on by the high processing demands of AI applications.

The necessary characteristics and capabilities for effective data transmission, low latency, and the predictable performance required for AI activities are absent from standard NICs. In contrast, SuperNICs are designed specifically for contemporary AI workloads.

Benefits of SuperNICs in AI Computing Environments

Data processing units (DPUs) are capable of high throughput, low latency network connectivity, and many other sophisticated characteristics. DPUs have become more and more common in the field of cloud computing since its launch in 2020, mostly because of their ability to separate, speed up, and offload computation from data center hardware.

SuperNICs and DPUs both have many characteristics and functions in common, however SuperNICs are specially designed to speed up networks for artificial intelligence.

The performance of distributed AI training and inference communication flows is highly dependent on the availability of network capacity. Known for their elegant designs, SuperNICs scale better than DPUs and may provide an astounding 400Gb/s of network bandwidth per GPU.

When GPUs and SuperNICs are matched 1:1 in a system, AI workload efficiency may be greatly increased, resulting in higher productivity and better business outcomes.

SuperNICs are only intended to speed up networking for cloud computing with artificial intelligence. As a result, it uses less processing power than a DPU, which needs a lot of processing power to offload programs from a host CPU.

Less power usage results from the decreased computation needs, which is especially important in systems with up to eight SuperNICs.

One of the SuperNIC’s other unique selling points is its specialized AI networking capabilities. It provides optimal congestion control, adaptive routing, and out-of-order packet handling when tightly connected with an AI-optimized NVIDIA Spectrum-4 switch. Ethernet AI cloud settings are accelerated by these cutting-edge technologies.

Transforming cloud computing with AI

The NVIDIA BlueField-3 SuperNIC is essential for AI-ready infrastructure because of its many advantages.

Maximum efficiency for AI workloads: The BlueField-3 SuperNIC is perfect for AI workloads since it was designed specifically for network-intensive, massively parallel computing. It guarantees bottleneck-free, efficient operation of AI activities.

Performance that is consistent and predictable: The BlueField-3 SuperNIC makes sure that each job and tenant in multi-tenant data centers, where many jobs are executed concurrently, is isolated, predictable, and unaffected by other network operations.

Secure multi-tenant cloud infrastructure: Data centers that handle sensitive data place a high premium on security. High security levels are maintained by the BlueField-3 SuperNIC, allowing different tenants to cohabit with separate data and processing.

Broad network infrastructure: The BlueField-3 SuperNIC is very versatile and can be easily adjusted to meet a wide range of different network infrastructure requirements.

Wide compatibility with server manufacturers: The BlueField-3 SuperNIC integrates easily with the majority of enterprise-class servers without using an excessive amount of power in data centers.

[angelsandemons]

Bill Cipher (Hellaverse AU)

About the Muse

Date of Death :: February 15, 2016

Pronouns :: He / Him

Species :: Demon (Sinner)

Height :: 3' 5'' / 104 cm

When Stanford used the memory gun to wipe Stanley's memory while Bill was in the latter's mind, Bill was erased along with the memories. However, because of a last minute prayer to the Axolotl , Bill's soul was preserved in an transient state. While initially sent to the Theraprism, Bill ultimately broke out, hoping to start his life anew again. However, without a stable soul, it wasn't long before he "unraveled" and ceased to have a physical form again. Now no longer on the path to reincarnation, Bill's soul ended up judged and sent to Hell.

While many human souls that enter Hell gain new abilities they did not have in life, this is not the case with Bill. Due to the nature of his death, many of the abilities he gained in life are no longer functional or have far more limits than they did before he died. While he retained his own direct memories and knowledge from life, Bill could no longer access the breadth of knowledge he could before.

He also kept the form he died with pretty much unaltered save for size and the massive scar across his body from where he shattered.

Abilities

Levitation: Bill can hover up to 10 feet off the ground at will.

Remote Vision: Bill can see through the eyes of any likeness of himself. Pictures of Bill, even those drawn, provide him a window he can look through at will regardless of his current location.

Mindscape Travel: Bill can, with permission (sealed via a formal deal), transport his mind and soul into the mindscape of another. Here he has access to memories and can communicate directly with the owner of that mind via dreams if he so chooses. He cannot, however, leave Hell with this method of astral projection. His physical body is also vulnerable while he is projecting his mind and soul elsewhere.

Possession: Bill can, with permission (sealed via a formal deal), temporarily take control of another body when the host is asleep or meditating. If the deal is worded in a certain way, he may be able to actively "kick out" the person the body belongs to while they are still awake and conscious. Any damage taken to the physical body during this remains if/when the host's soul returns to it. If he dies via any method other than angelic steel while in another's body, he exists and the body becomes impossible to re-enter for the host). If he dies via angelic steel, the body still becomes impossible to re-enter, but Bill's soul ceases to be as well.

Additional Notes

If You Are The One Being Possessed:

Only one mind and soul can be in control at a time, but if there is a mutual agreement between the host and Bill, both souls can exist in the body at once and experience the same sensations.

If the host’s mind/soul is aware of what is happening in one of these exceptional cases where Bill can kick someone out, they can’t displace Bill once he’s already in a body, but they CAN talk to him, and influence their surroundings to a degree. Basically, you're working on ghost rules; no one can see or hear you but Bill.

If You Are The One Interacting With Someone Who Is Possessed:

The only physical indications that someone is possessed are cold hands, almost as if touching a corpse, and slight flashes of a yellow cat eye effect in the right light. Please discuss with me if you plan for your muse to notice either of these.

If Bill is possessing a body while the host is simply sleeping or meditating, he will be ejected once they wake up again.  If Bill is possessing a body under a more unique circumstance where he forcibly displaced the host's soul, the only way to get him out is to have him l eave voluntarily or knock out the possessed person completely. The latter only temporarily ejects Bill from the body; if the true host is not around to re-enter, Bill can do so shortly after.

[marcusrobertobaq]

If CyberLife really wanted to make the whole immortal hunter thing they could make one central AI entity controlling bodies remotely from a specific place inside 'em server. The system of bridge would be the same we see making connection to ZG.

We got this AI outside the body, meaning if a body "dies" the connection is interrupted but doesn't affect the AI neither it's memories cuz everything is stored on the cyberspace side the AI is (server).

I honestly don't think CyberLife got this tech in use specifically, but they're in the right direction using ZG and the RK800 bridge and having remote control access, the memory transfer system too. The problem with memory transfer is the Copy/Paste system instead of Cut/Paste, meaning u can have a multiple copies of the same entity - what can give a damn headache in the future. Having only a central one it's easier to manage, but doesn't mean it's immune to copies, after all is a digital construct.

[qxp-india123]

Family Fun in the Maldives: An Unforgettable Island Escape for All Ages

When people think of the Maldives, romantic honeymoons and luxurious adult getaways often come to mind. But the truth is, the Maldives is rapidly becoming a top destination for family vacations — and with good reason. Safe, serene, and packed with both adventure and comfort, this island paradise is a fantastic choice for families looking to bond in a beautiful setting.

From high-end Luxury Maldives Holidays tailored for family comfort to thoughtfully arranged Maldives Package Tours designed with kids and multi-generational groups in mind, the Maldives is ready to welcome families of all sizes and ages.

Why the Maldives Is Ideal for Families

The Maldives may be remote, but it’s incredibly family-friendly. With direct flights from many global hubs and resorts offering full-service amenities, it's easier than ever to plan a smooth and enjoyable trip with children.

Family-Friendly Highlights:

Shallow, calm lagoons ideal for young swimmers

Educational marine life excursions

Dedicated kids’ clubs and babysitting services

Family villas with multiple rooms and private pools

A safe, quiet environment with no traffic or crowds

Indulge in Family Comfort with Luxury Maldives Holidays

Many luxury resorts have redefined the idea of a family vacation. Rather than crowded pools and basic buffets, these resorts offer personalized service, gourmet child-friendly meals, and activities designed for every family member.

With Luxury Maldives Holidays, your family can enjoy the perfect blend of relaxation and recreation.

What to Expect:

Spacious family villas with direct beach or lagoon access

Personal butlers and concierge services

Private dining on the beach or in-villa

Customized children’s menus

Wellness treatments for parents and spa experiences for kids

Complimentary water sports and cultural experiences

Top family-friendly luxury resorts include:

Niyama Private Islands – With the "Play" and "Chill" islands designed for both families and adults

Soneva Fushi – Offers one of the largest kids' clubs in the Maldives

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru – Combines luxury with hands-on educational programs

Easy and Fun: Maldives Package Tours for Families

If you’re looking for ease, affordability, and variety, Maldives Package Tours provide all-in-one solutions that cater to families. These packages often include flights, accommodation, meals, transfers, and a range of kid-friendly activities.

Package Inclusions Often Feature:

Family-sized beachfront rooms or connecting villas

Buffet-style dining with kids’ options

Daily entertainment or guided excursions

Free snorkeling gear, kayaking, and paddleboarding

On-site medical support and babysitting services

Group discounts and free stays for young children

These packages make it stress-free for parents to plan and enjoy the trip without constant organizing.

Best Family Activities in the Maldives

Even though the Maldives is made up of tiny islands, there’s no shortage of family-friendly adventures:

1. Snorkeling and Marine Exploration

Explore coral gardens teeming with vibrant fish, turtles, and harmless reef sharks.

2. Dolphin Watching Cruises

A thrilling experience for both kids and adults — and very common near most islands.

3. Glass-Bottom Boat Rides

See the wonders of the reef without even getting wet.

4. Local Island Cultural Tours

Teach your kids about Maldivian traditions, crafts, and daily life.

5. Stargazing Nights

Thanks to little light pollution, families can enjoy dazzling views of the night sky.

Travel Tips for Families Visiting the Maldives

Book Early: Especially for family villas during school holidays

Check for Kids Stay Free Offers: Many resorts offer great family deals

Bring Essentials: Baby supplies and medications may be limited on islands

Choose Direct Flights if Possible: To minimize travel fatigue

Stay Hydrated & Sun-Protected: The tropical sun is strong, even on cloudy days

Final Thoughts: Memories That Last a Lifetime

The Maldives isn’t just for couples — it’s a destination that brings families closer together through shared moments of awe, adventure, and relaxation. Whether you prefer the elevated comfort of Luxury Maldives Holidays or the convenience of all-in-one Maldives Package Tours, the Maldives is a family travel dream come true.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Build sandcastles by day, gaze at the stars by night, and create magical memories that your family will cherish forever — all in the serene embrace of the Maldives.

[zetexa]

Find the Most Stunning Places to Travel in America in 2025 

The United States is not only a nation—it's a mosaic of vibrant cultures, stunning landscapes, and iconic cities. From coastlines and deserts to mountain ranges and metropolitan masterpieces, there's an adventure around every bend. With 2025 bringing more opportunities than ever to roam freely, it's time to refresh your travel bucket list with the most stunning places to visit in America.

Whether you're organizing a solo break, a romantic escape, or a family holiday, these expertly selected destinations are sure to make lasting memories—and yes, they're ideal for both experienced travellers and newcomers alike. 

1. Grand Canyon, Arizona 

Few destinations rival the sheer scale and ageless beauty of the Grand Canyon. Shaped by the Colorado River over millions of years, this marvel amazes with its striped, red rocks and panoramic vistas. Whether you hike the South Rim, raft along the river, or soar above in a helicopter tour, this is nature at its most grand. 

Travel Tip: It's far and spread out, so a good digital connection is helpful for maps and updates. 

2. New York City, New York 

Throngs of energy and constantly eclectic, New York City is an absolute must-see. Spend your days walking Central Park, taking in the view from the Top of the Rock, or immersing yourself in world-renowned museums such as MoMA or the Met. Evenings are best left to Broadway stages or the lively boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. 

Staying online in a city this busy can be tricky—most tourists now use travel eSIMs such as ZETSIM to avoid the inconvenience of tourist SIMs and remain online while discovering.  

3. Yellowstone National Park 

America's first national park, Yellowstone is the iconic and inspirational place. Steaming geysers, colourful hot springs, and roaming bison give it an otherworldly feel. Hike through the Grand Prismatic Spring or watch Old Faithful erupt in its famous ceremony—just don't forget your camera in hand. 

In the remote corners of national parks, mobile signals can fade. If you’re traveling cross-country, consider options like global eSIMs that work in multiple locations and national parks across the U.S. 

4. San Francisco, California 

San Francisco is America's prettiest and most cultural city. Highlights include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf. The city's rolling hills, foggy dawns, and multi-coloured Victorian homes provide a film-like setting for your West Coast adventure. 

Being in a tech-savvy city, connectivity is paramount—not only for directions and bookings but for sharing and capturing your moments live. Intelligent travellers prefer to have flexible mobile data choices such as ZETSIM to keep things easy. 

5. Maui, Hawaii 

Hawaii’s islands feel like a world apart, and Maui offers the perfect mix of adventure and serenity. Drive the legendary Road to Hana, snorkel in Molokini Crater, or catch the sunrise atop Haleakalā. Beaches like Wailea and Kaanapali invite lazy afternoons and stunning sunsets. 

While paradise is beautiful, remote locations can mean weak cell service. Travel SIM solutions help bridge the gap, especially if you’re island-hopping or planning an extended stay. 

6. Chicago, Illinois 

Known for its skyline, jazz heritage, and deep-dish pizza, Chicago is a city that's equal parts rough-around-the-edges and refined. Visit Millennium Park, embark on an architecture river cruise, or watch the Cubs play at Wrigley Field. Don't miss the world-class museums and Lake Michigan shoreline. 

Urban travellers are augmented by the availability of unlimited data access for everything from getting around to local tips. Increasingly, travellers are turning to eSIM services such as Zetexa's ZETSIM to escape roaming fees. 

7. New Orleans, Louisiana 

No other city swings to its own beat like New Orleans. The jazz reverberates through the streets, particularly in French Quarter and along Frenchmen Street. Immerse yourself in decadent Cajun and Creole food, gaze at the spirited art scene, and bask in the history that surrounds every building and alley. 

For foreign tourists arriving here, having instant internet connectivity through downloadable eSIMs is becoming a preferred choice over SIM cards. 

8. Miami, Florida 

Culture and beach converge in Miami, where Art Deco buildings, Cuban cuisine, and nightlife come together. From Little Havana to South Beach, it's a sensory overload. You can even hop over to the Everglades or the Keys if you're willing to take a scenic route. 

Stay data-prepared as you wander—particularly when toggling between city and nature retreats. Flexible travel eSIM plans make this a whole lot simpler. 

9. Savannah, Georgia 

This Southern treasure overflows with charm. Savannah features moss-covered oaks, carriage rides, and historic homes. It's a slower pace of travel, where strolling along cobblestone streets and enjoying sweet tea feel like time traveling. 

In more quiet towns, solid mobile data isn't always available—but international eSIM vendors like Zetexa are able to provide broad coverage across even less-populated areas. 

10. Seattle, Washington 

Situated between mountains and ocean, Seattle is a combination of innovation and nature. Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and coffee shops on every corner make it an excellent place to begin a Pacific Northwest Road trip. You can also head to Mount Rainier or the San Juan Islands. 

Whether you work remotely at a coffee shop or take the ferry to Bainbridge, digital tourists count on intelligent eSIM services such as ZETSIM to remain online wherever they may be. 

Stay Connected While You Travel America 

As travel continues to change, so do the means of remaining connected while traveling. Old-school SIM cards bring with them nuisances such as airport lines, carrier incompatibilities, and surprise fees. That's why increasing numbers of travellers are turning to eSIMs, and specifically Zetexa's ZETSIM, for their U.S. and international travel. 

Here's why most prefer it: 

Download and activate with QR code 

No physical SIM swaps required 

Consistent coverage in cities, coastlines, and out-of-the-way parks 

Perfect for short visits, extended stays, and road travellers 

Since America has everything from mountains to cities, remaining online shouldn't be a problem. Devices such as ZETSIM enable you to explore freely without compromise. 

Final Thoughts 

America is teeming with unforgettable destinations to visit in 2025—whether you're seeking adventure in national parks, cultural scenes in big cities, or tropical beach relaxation. From sea to shining sea, there's something for every traveler. 

Wherever your journey takes you, make sure you’re equipped to share, navigate, and book on the fly. Digital-friendly solutions like Zetexa’s ZETSIM are changing the game for how modern explorers stay connected. 

Travel smarter. Stay connected. Go everywhere. 

Download:

ZetSIM App from the APP Store

ZetSIM App from the Google Play Store

[castlecrewsblog]

Elevate Your Home with Bespoke Kitchen Renovations in Port Macquarie 🍳✨

The kitchen isn’t just a cooking space — it’s where families connect, stories are shared, and everyday moments turn into cherished memories. If your kitchen feels uninspired or no longer fits your lifestyle, a tailored renovation can completely redefine the heart of your home. From sleek contemporary designs to warm, rustic makeovers, experienced kitchen renovators in Port Macquarie can bring your dream kitchen to life.

Why a Kitchen Makeover is Worth Every Dollar 💰🏠

Renovating your kitchen goes far beyond aesthetics — it’s a practical and rewarding investment for your home. Here’s why it matters:

📊 Boost Your Home’s Resale Potential: A modern, well-designed kitchen is a huge selling point, increasing your property’s market value.

🛋️ Improve Everyday Convenience: Say goodbye to cramped layouts and outdated appliances with a kitchen designed for better workflow and functionality.

⚡ Switch to Energy-Efficient Features: Lower utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint with eco-friendly lighting, appliances, and materials.

🎨 Express Your Personal Style: From cabinetry colours to benchtop finishes, design a space that reflects your unique taste.

🌿 Create a Sustainable, Healthy Environment: Modern kitchens embrace green building materials and sustainable practices.

Must-Have Features for a Functional, Stylish Kitchen ✨

To craft a kitchen that’s both visually stunning and practical, focus on these essential design elements:

📐 Smart, Space-Savvy Layouts

The right kitchen layout makes all the difference. Whether you prefer open-plan concepts or traditional designs, professional renovators can help optimize your space for cooking, entertaining, and storage.

🛋️ High-Quality Materials That Last

Investing in durable materials ensures your kitchen stays beautiful and functional for years to come. Popular choices include:

Quartz or Stone Countertops: Sleek, strong, and easy to clean.

Bespoke Cabinetry: Made-to-measure solutions for maximum storage and style.

Durable Flooring: Choose between hybrid planks, vinyl, or hardwood for both durability and warmth.

⚙️ Modern Appliances That Work Smarter

Upgrading to contemporary appliances enhances convenience and energy efficiency:

Induction Cooktops: Quick, precise, and safe.

Smart Fridges & Ovens: Control settings and monitor food freshness remotely.

Touch-Free Faucets: Clean and convenient for busy kitchens.

📦 Clever Storage Solutions for a Clutter-Free Space

Transform your kitchen into an organized haven with smart storage ideas:

Pull-Out Pantries: Access every item with ease.

Hidden Compartments: Make the most of every corner.

Under-Cabinet Drawers & Hooks: Keep essentials tidy and within reach.

💡 Lighting That Sets the Mood

Great lighting enhances your kitchen’s functionality and ambiance:

Task Lighting: Bright, direct light for food prep areas.

Pendant & Feature Lighting: Stylish centrepieces for islands and dining nooks.

Under-Cabinet LED Strips: Subtle, practical illumination for benchtops.

Advantages of Hiring Expert Kitchen Renovators in Port Macquarie 🛠️

While DIY projects have their place, professional renovators deliver lasting quality and peace of mind. Here’s why they’re worth it:

🎯 Precise Workmanship: Get flawless cabinetry, tiling, and installations from seasoned professionals.

📐 Custom-Built Solutions: Tailor your kitchen’s design to suit your space, preferences, and lifestyle needs.

✅ Compliance & Safety Assurance: Renovators manage permits and ensure your kitchen meets local regulations.

⏳ Time-Saving Efficiency: Avoid delays, mistakes, and budget blowouts with an experienced team at the helm.

📑 Clear, Transparent Pricing: Receive itemized quotes so you know exactly what you’re paying for.

What to Look for in a Port Macquarie Kitchen Renovation Team 🔍

Choosing the right renovation company is key to a smooth, successful project. Keep these criteria in mind:

📸 Impressive Portfolio: Browse before-and-after photos and completed projects to gauge their design quality.

🌟 Positive Client Feedback: Look for consistent praise in reviews about communication, reliability, and workmanship.

🏢 Accreditations & Licenses: Ensure the business is qualified and insured for renovation projects.

💸 Fair, Transparent Quotes: Avoid surprises with clear, upfront pricing on labour, materials, and installation.

It’s Time to Design Your Dream Kitchen 🎉🍽️

Whether you’re craving a small cosmetic refresh or a dramatic kitchen transformation, partnering with experienced kitchen renovators in Port Macquarie ensures a result you’ll love. With expert advice, custom design options, and high-quality workmanship, you’ll soon be cooking and entertaining in a space that’s both functional and inspiring.

🚀 Ready to get started? Reach out to trusted Port Macquarie kitchen renovation specialists today and start designing a kitchen tailored just for you!