#Swift frameworks

[webdevelopments-ava]

Boost iOS App Development With the Top Swift Frameworks

Uncover the best Swift frameworks and tools for advancing your iOS app development. Amplify efficiency and foster ingenuity with specialized tips.

[beeapocalypse]

do not think i have talked abt cholla here either. sphinx who was made a knight of ve-corpsis (basically just showed up demanding it and nobody was brave enough to say no because of the threat of fluisau hovering right behind them) and then went on a meandering countryside murder spree where nobody dared to strike them down for fear of divine retribution until belrath eventually confronted them + beheaded them despite fluisaus rage. had genuinely believed themself unkillable and accepted belraths challenge to a duel with a smile

[full-stackmobiledeveloper]

React Native or Native: Which Is Superior for Developing Apps?

In today’s digital ecosystem, mobile applications are pivotal for engaging users and driving business success. One of the earliest decisions developers and business owners must make is choosing the right technology for their mobile apps: React Native or Native development. Each option brings distinct advantages and trade-offs depending on the project's needs, budget, and long-term goals. This blog explores the strengths and limitations of both approaches to help you determine which is superior for your app development journey in 2025 and beyond.

Understanding the Basics: What Is React Native and Native App Development?

React Native is a popular open-source framework created by Meta (formerly Facebook). It allows developers to build cross-platform apps using JavaScript and React. With a single codebase, developers can deploy apps on both Android and iOS, significantly reducing development time and cost.

On the other hand, Native app development refers to building mobile applications specifically for a single platform—Android or iOS—using languages and tools provided by the platform vendor. For Android, this usually means using Java or Kotlin in Android Studio; for iOS, it's Swift or Objective-C in Xcode.

Performance: React Native vs Native App Development

When it comes to performance, native apps generally have the upper hand. Because they’re built using platform-specific languages and APIs, native apps offer smoother animations, better response times, and faster execution. This is especially important for apps that require heavy processing, advanced graphics (like AR/VR or gaming apps), or deep integration with the device hardware.

React Native apps, while impressive in reach and flexibility, rely on a JavaScript bridge to communicate with native modules. This can introduce latency and performance bottlenecks in high-performance applications. However, for many standard use cases—such as e-commerce, social networking, or booking apps—React Native performance is sufficient and increasingly optimized with tools like Hermes engine and JSI (JavaScript Interface).

Keyword tip: Businesses often search for terms like React Native vs Native performance, making it a core comparison factor in decision-making.

Development Speed and Cost: Why React Native Wins

If you’re working with limited time and budget, React Native app development services may be your best bet. With a single codebase for both iOS and Android, developers can create apps faster and cut costs significantly, sometimes up to 40–50% less than building two native apps.

Furthermore, code reusability, live reloading, and modular architecture in React Native enhance development speed and team collaboration. For startups or MVPs aiming for rapid time-to-market, React Native offers a compelling solution without compromising on functionality.

In contrast, native development requires separate teams, toolsets, and codebases for each platform, effectively doubling the effort and cost. While this might make sense for enterprise-grade or mission-critical apps, it can be overkill for simpler projects.

User Experience and UI: Native Still Leads

Native apps are known for delivering a superior user experience. Since they’re built for a specific operating system, native apps can take full advantage of the platform’s UI guidelines, gestures, animations, and components. The result is an app that feels more integrated and intuitive to the user.

React Native tries to replicate native UI components but can sometimes fall short, particularly with platform-specific design elements or highly customized interfaces. While libraries like React Native Paper and NativeBase offer prebuilt components, native still excels in creating pixel-perfect, fluid UIs.

That said, React Native UI is constantly improving, and for many common use cases, it provides a satisfactory and visually pleasing experience. However, for apps where the user interface is a core differentiator, native development has the edge.

Maintenance and Updates: React Native Simplifies It

From a maintenance perspective, React Native simplifies updates due to its unified codebase. Bug fixes, feature updates, and performance improvements can be rolled out simultaneously across both platforms, streamlining app management.

Moreover, tools like CodePush allow for over-the-air (OTA) updates without requiring users to download a new version from the app store. This is a major advantage for agile teams that need to iterate quickly.

Native apps, however, need platform-specific maintenance and updates, which increases the workload and risks inconsistent feature parity between platforms.

Access to Native APIs and Device Features

If your app requires extensive use of native APIs, sensors, or background services (such as Bluetooth, GPS tracking, biometric authentication, or background video processing), native development offers direct access and better control.

React Native, while offering access to many native modules through libraries or custom bridging, can sometimes lag in supporting the latest native APIs immediately. In such cases, native development provides a smoother path to integrate cutting-edge features.

However, React Native has made significant progress in this area with tools like React Native Reanimated, React Navigation, and community-driven modules that support a wide range of native features.

Community Support and Talent Availability

React Native benefits from a massive and active open-source community. With thousands of contributors and extensive documentation, finding React Native developers is relatively easy, and solutions to common issues are readily available.

While native app development also has strong community support, especially for Android and iOS individually, it may require more specialized expertise, which can increase hiring costs and development time.

From a talent acquisition perspective, React Native offers broader flexibility. Developers familiar with JavaScript and React can transition into mobile development more easily than native development, which demands platform-specific knowledge.

Long-Term Scalability and Security

For apps requiring high scalability, robust security, and tight hardware integration—such as banking, fintech, or healthcare apps—native development is often preferred. The performance stability, access control, and OS-level security features make native apps better suited for enterprise-grade solutions.

React Native apps can scale well too, especially with proper architectural planning and the use of native modules. However, security can be a concern if the JavaScript layer isn’t handled properly. Obfuscation, secure storage, and regular audits are essential when using React Native in sensitive domains.

When to Choose React Native

Choose React Native app development if:

You need to build apps for both iOS and Android quickly.

Budget and time constraints are important.

The app doesn't require complex animations or high-performance hardware access.

You're building an MVP or prototype to test the market.

You want faster iterations and simplified maintenance.

When to Choose Native App Development

Choose native app development if:

The app requires maximum performance, such as 3D games or AR/VR apps.

You need to integrate deeply with device hardware or native APIs.

Security and scalability are top priorities (e.g., in fintech or healthcare).

UI/UX customization is a critical part of your user engagement strategy.

You have the resources to maintain separate codebases for iOS and Android.

Final Verdict: Which Is Superior?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The superior approach—React Native or Native—depends entirely on your project’s goals, complexity, and constraints. React Native is a great choice for startups, cross-platform solutions, and rapid development. Native development, on the other hand, remains unbeatable for performance-critical, secure, and UI-intensive applications.

Partnering with the right mobile app development company is key to evaluating your needs and choosing the best technology. Whether you opt for React Native or native app development, ensure that your chosen team has deep expertise and a clear understanding of your industry requirements.

[brutal-out-here]

Ah shit I’ve now just re-thought about something I associate the “I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone” line with 🙃

[nikparihar]

Whichever technology you choose, staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the app development landscape is crucial for success in this fast-paced industry

[deception-united]

Let's talk about story structure.

Fabricating the narrative structure of your story can be difficult, and it can be helpful to use already known and well-established story structures as a sort of blueprint to guide you along the way. Before we delve into a few of the more popular ones, however, what exactly does this term entail?

Story structure refers to the framework or organization of a narrative. It is typically divided into key elements such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, and serves as the skeleton upon which the plot, characters, and themes are built. It provides a roadmap of sorts for the progression of events and emotional arcs within a story.

Freytag's Pyramid:

Also known as a five-act structure, this is pretty much your standard story structure that you likely learned in English class at some point. It looks something like this:

Exposition: Introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation of the story.

Inciting incident: The event that sets the main conflict of the story in motion, often disrupting the status quo for the protagonist.

Rising action: Series of events that build tension and escalate the conflict, leading toward the story's climax.

Climax: The highest point of tension or the turning point in the story, where the conflict reaches its peak and the outcome is decided.

Falling action: Events that occur as a result of the climax, leading towards the resolution and tying up loose ends.

Resolution (or denouement): The final outcome of the story, where the conflict is resolved, and any remaining questions or conflicts are addressed, providing closure for the audience.

Though the overuse of this story structure may be seen as a downside, it's used so much for a reason. Its intuitive structure provides a reliable framework for writers to build upon, ensuring clear progression and emotional resonance in their stories and drawing everything to a resolution that is satisfactory for the readers.

The Fichtean Curve:

The Fichtean Curve is characterised by a gradual rise in tension and conflict, leading to a climactic peak, followed by a swift resolution. It emphasises the building of suspense and intensity throughout the narrative, following a pattern of escalating crises leading to a climax representing the peak of the protagonist's struggle, then a swift resolution.

Initial crisis: The story begins with a significant event or problem that immediately grabs the audience's attention, setting the plot in motion.

Escalating crises: Additional challenges or complications arise, intensifying the protagonist's struggles and increasing the stakes.

Climax: The tension reaches its peak as the protagonist confronts the central obstacle or makes a crucial decision.

Falling action: Following the climax, conflicts are rapidly resolved, often with a sudden shift or revelation, bringing closure to the narrative. Note that all loose ends may not be tied by the end, and that's completely fine as long as it works in your story—leaving some room for speculation or suspense can be intriguing.

The Hero’s Journey:

The Hero's Journey follows a protagonist through a transformative adventure. It outlines their journey from ordinary life into the unknown, encountering challenges, allies, and adversaries along the way, ultimately leading to personal growth and a return to the familiar world with newfound wisdom or treasures.

Call of adventure: The hero receives a summons or challenge that disrupts their ordinary life.

Refusal of the call: Initially, the hero may resist or hesitate in accepting the adventure.

Meeting the mentor: The hero encounters a wise mentor who provides guidance and assistance.

Crossing the threshold: The hero leaves their familiar world and enters the unknown, facing the challenges of the journey.

Tests, allies, enemies: Along the journey, the hero faces various obstacles and adversaries that test their skills and resolve.

The approach: The hero approaches the central conflict or their deepest fears.

The ordeal: The hero faces their greatest challenge, often confronting the main antagonist or undergoing a significant transformation.

Reward: After overcoming the ordeal, the hero receives a reward, such as treasure, knowledge, or inner growth.

The road back: The hero begins the journey back to their ordinary world, encountering final obstacles or confrontations.

Resurrection: The hero faces one final test or ordeal that solidifies their transformation.

Return with the elixir: The hero returns to the ordinary world, bringing back the lessons learned or treasures gained to benefit themselves or others.

Exploring these different story structures reveals the intricate paths characters traverse in their journeys. Each framework provides a blueprint for crafting engaging narratives that captivate audiences. Understanding these underlying structures can help gain an array of tools to create unforgettable tales that resonate with audiences of all kind.

Happy writing! Hope this was helpful ❤

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[ranticore]

I wanted to keep drawing some pern dragon stuff because I'm now writing a full AU set in weyr but I didn't want to put this stuff on my main blog or patreon due to it being basically for my own reference, though i felt others would like it too! so here is My Take On Dragon Wings By Type...

It's no secret I love drawing bird wings and prefer them a lot over traditional dragon wings. Growing up, I read the pern books featuring cover art of dragonfly-like wings with lots of little translucent panels, which I always loved. So I thought I'd try to nail down some wing shapes & structures by blending those two things i like together. I am aware dragons fly by telekinesis but I prefer a more realistic type of creature design so I will be choosing to ignore that fact. I do not care about strict canon compliance but I do like to keep some of that framework there as well, for fun.

The wing is made up of three main sails, as well as a propatagium sail (in front of the elbow). They are relatively polymorphic and can expand or contract to an extent to change the shape of the wing in response to flight demands, like the wing of an airliner. The trailing edge can expand and the slots between the spars of the 1st wingsail can deepen or become shallower (where those are a feature). The main structural matrix is opaque, while the membranous 'sails' are translucent and let light through like stained glass. These are a bilayer of membrane with air sandwiched between, which forms part of the air sac & respiratory system.

It makes sense for the original engineers of dragons to diversify dragon wing types by colour so that when fighting Thread, there's a dragon for every conceivable aerial job.

[individual descriptions under the cut]

Queens have the longest wings, though the largest bronzes can rival them for surface area. Gold wings are high endurance - a queen can fly further than any other dragon in active level flight, leaving even the swiftest bronzes behind if they can't muster up the energy reserves to catch her. She is an effective flier at all elevations and can pass very low over terrain without issue as well; she is an expert at taking advantage of the ground effect, where extra lift is generated within one half of a wingspan above land. This way, she can pass low below the main wings fighting Thread to catch any stragglers without expending too much energy. However, she is not very agile and may need a bit of a run-up or cliff-edge to get airborne.

Bronzes are suited for command positions during Threadfall, rising highest and maintaining that altitude effortlessly by soaring on thermals. From this vantage point they can easily survey the wings of riders below and make tactical decisions to direct the tide of battle. They have the size and stamina to chase queens, but might find it difficult to keep up on the flat, so they continually select for fitter hatchlings as only the best manage to mate. It takes a very clever and agile bronze to catch a green, if they are so inclined.

Browns are swift, highly agile, and the fastest vertical fliers, ideal for diving through the Thread mass from top to bottom while the other types pass horizontally. During earlier Passes, browns were capable of using their speed to catch queens, but as queen & bronze endurance gradually increased, browns struggle to keep up if they haven't managed to immediately catch their mate in the starting scrum, which is unlikely due to the bulkier bronze dragons being able to shove the browns aside.

Blues are fast on the flat and nicely manoeuvrable, with enough endurance to last a full Threadfall. Good all-rounders with a characteristic vertical take-off, they work best in the horizontal plane in battle but really they can do a little bit of everything. They often beat browns to catch greens, being very precise in flight and almost as manoeuvrable as their green mates.

Greens make up for their low stamina with their extreme manoeuvrability. Their short and elliptical wings let them turn on a dime, hover, and even fly backwards if they are sufficiently skilled. They have the fastest wingbeats, flying with a distinct thrumming sound. Of all the types they are least likely to be hit by a stray Thread, but they tire easily on the flat and have no soaring ability at all, often tapping out midway through battle in favour of replacements. In battle, greens excel at catching odd and skewed clumps of Thread that don't fall as predicted, or ones that are missed by the other riders. Green mating flights are a whole different beast to gold mating flights, where extreme aerial acrobatics are favoured instead of endurance and altitude, and these flights may be over within seconds. You need to be able to withstand a Lot of G-force to be a green rider.

[wilwheaton]

I’m not surprised the Trump campaign is going there. I mean, they’re vicious degenerates and professional liars. But even more generally, campaigns put out lots of tendentious attacks. “Fair” isn’t part of the political campaign framework. But we should expect a lot better from the country’s leading dailies, especially charges directly from a campaign that contain so many red flags. Once a major paper picks up a hit and gives it credulous coverage it stops being a campaign attack and becomes a “story.” It’s a very specific kind of editorial decision. As I’ve explained in other posts, there’s been a growing push, especially at the Times but more generally, that Harris’s campaign momentum has been going on too long and needs to come to an end. Little question that fever played heavily into this editorial decision. And it’s not the first time. Let’s remember that the Times spent the better part of a year in 2015 and 2016 writing articles based on the hit book “Clinton Cash” which was funded by Steve Bannon. It’s a pattern.

Times and WaPo Jump On Board Trump Camp Swift Boating of Walz

[the-moon-files]

oh DUDE do I have songs for lu x reader vibes I have a list just for this LMAO

Her Song by The Family Crest (the cutoff at the end when imagining smth is BRUTAL lol)

Life's a Dream by The Polar Boys (this one is specifically aimed towards Legend :>)

Rule #1 - Magic by Fish in a Birdcage

Don't Know About The World by Emei

Immortal by Reinaeiry

When The Sun Loves The Moon by Reinaeiry

Black Hole Fantasy by The Crane Wives

Little Runaway by Benson Boone

Lover Boy by Mad Tsai

Nothing by Bruno Major

The Night We Met by Lord Huron

Canary in a Coal Mine by The Crane Wives

Time Will Change You by The Crane Wives

Lover In The Sky by Reinaeiry

most of these are kinda sad oops lol

is the sapphic part of me kinda obvious in this too or

MMMMMMM-!!!!!!!

When i tell you i listened to every single one of these (includuing the few I knew, but just in Guide Reader LU related POVs) and i just Thought abt it All Day.

Im So Serious.

Also added like half of those to the Playlist of the fic i havent written yet

(Yes i spiraled enough over these to write a little snippet or try to settle on the framework for the future)

BRO-

Okay, so these are also on playlist but figured id point out my favorites just in case any of them are new to you or are enjoyable in the context, and i gotta return the favor:

Would You Fall In Love With Me Again? By Jorge-Rivera Herrans, Anna Lee (EPIC the musical)

(weirdly enough) The Prophecy by Taylor Swift

Nothing I Need by Lord Huron

(Some parts of) Lost in Time and Space by Lord Huron

Anthems For a Seventeen Year-Old Girl by yeule

icantbelieveiletyougetaway by aldn

Francesca by Hozier

Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce

A kind thing to do by Cavetown, Pierce the Veil

About You by The 1975

(Lowkey Dark Link + Fierce Deity + and Guide Reader themselves towards Link tbh) De Shelby (part 2) by Hozier

(and if youre into instrumental, this just hits different, I always imagine smth like a big reunion between Chain and Guide seeing you for the first time, or Link realizing he's in love with the Guide late at night after you've logged off/gone to bed, smth thats like this great big love and deep adoration kind of vibe) Son of Nyx by Hozier

The Frost by Mitski (Every Links POV after the adventure ends)

Talking to the Moon by Bruno Mars

Letter - Live/Acoustic ver by Mother Mother

j's lullaby (darlin' id wait for you) by Delaney Bailey

Past Lives by BØRNS

As it Was by Harry Styles

Who Is She? By I Monster

I'd Have To Think About It by Leith Ross

Sick of Losing Soulamates by Dodie

NFWMB by Hozier

Wish that you were here by Florence and the Machine

The Call by Regina Spektor

The King by Sarah Kinsley

OKAY LAST ONE FUCK THERES SO MANY

Dear Fellow Traveler by Sea Wolf

Omg im so sorry for spam i got carried away, u dont have to listen to all of these LMAO

i just was too excited and thinking way too fast liek "omfg US YO- GUIDE- LINK- AHH-"

Yeah me ^ making this post listening to and vibing to each song as i rapidly type them out lmao

Have a great night/day violet!! Tysm for the more song recs im Thriving

Peace out,

🌙📂

[ingek73]

…

About 150 people carrying St George’s Cross flags, shouting “you’re not English any more” and “paedo Muslims off our street”, were greatly outnumbered in Leeds by hundreds of counter-protesters shouting “Nazi scum off our streets”. Skirmishes broke out between demonstrators and punks – in town for a festival – in Blackpool, with bottles and chairs thrown.

In Bristol, police kept protesters and counter protesters apart before a group headed to a hotel used to house asylum seekers.

The need for urgent political intervention was stressed by the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, Lord Walney, who told the Observer that new emergency powers may be needed. “The system isn’t set up to deal with this rolling rabble-rousing being fuelled by far-right actors,” he said.

“I think home office ministers may want to look urgently at a new emergency framework – perhaps temporary in nature – that enables police to use the full powers of arrest to prevent people gathering where there is clear intent to fuel violent disorder.”

Keir Starmer held a meeting of senior ministers on Saturday in which he said police had been given full support to tackle extremists who were attempting “to sow hate by intimidating communities”. He made clear that the right to freedom of expression and the violent scenes over recent days were “two very different things”.

Last week’s riots followed the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday. Axel Rudakubana, 17, from Lancashire, is accused of the attack, but false claims were spread online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat. In the wake of these messages, far-right protesters – guided by social media – gathered in cities across the country.

A key factor in this spread of online disinformation involved Elon Musk’s decision to allow rightwing activists such as Tommy Robinson back onto his social media platform X, said Joe Mulhall, director of research at Hope not Hate, the anti-fascism organisation. “The initial disinformation and anger was being perpetrated by individuals on Twitter, for example, that have been previously deplatformed,” he said. “And now they’ve been replatformed.”

Robinson was permanently banned from the platform (then called Twitter) in March 2018, then reinstated in November last year, after Musk bought it. “We hadn’t seen any significant numbers at any demonstrations since 2018,” Mulhall added.

An example of the danger posed by the misuse of social media was revealed in Stoke-on-Trent, where police were forced to deny there had been a stabbing, countering claims made on social media. “There is growing speculation that a stabbing has taken place as a result of the disorder today. We can confirm this information is false and no stabbings have been reported to police or emergency responders, despite videos fuelling speculation on social media,” police said.

The danger of such intervention was stressed by Ben-Julian “BJ” Harrington, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for public order, who condemned social media disinformation as a cause of last week’s disorder.

He said: “We had reports today that two people had been stabbed by Muslims in Stoke – it’s just not true. There’s people out there, not even in this country, circulating and stoking up hatred, division and concerns in communities that they don’t care about, don’t know and don’t understand.”

[in1-nutshell]

Hi! It's me again! Hope you're doing great!

My request would be about Quickhatch again) What about him getting into TFA world? The shenanigans in there, the troubles, the protectiveness of the Team Prime... all the things.

Don't forget to rest!

-Casey.

P.S.: about that request about Primal and the sabertooth sparkling. It's okay, I get it! We all have life outside social media) so don't worry if it takes a lot of time to make the request you receive!

Quickhatch across the multiverse?

Lets do this!

Hope you enjoy!

Quickhatch meets TFA Team Prime

SFW, Platonic, Cybertronian reader

TFP/TFA

Team Prime was in the middle of a Con attack when the sky opened up and dropped a large bot in the middle of the street.

The bots were immediately on edge seeing the sheer size of this bot.

Surely, he must have been a Con.

The Cons have no idea who this new bot is.

What kind of trick were those Autobots planning?

Quickhatch in the meantime was just rubbing his helm.

One minute he was responding to an energon signature, then next he had faceplanted on the asphalt and looking at some small bots.

Wait…

When did everyone get so tiny!?

Quickhatch, looking bewildered, at Team Prime. He kneels in front of Bumblebee. Quickhatch: “Bee? Is that you kid?” Bumblebee steps back. Bumblebee: “How do you know my name!?” Quickhatch stand up in a start. Quickhatch: “Your voice! You can talk!” Starscream: “Hey! If your done doing whatever you’re doing, we have better things to—” Quickhatch just holds a digit up. Quickhatch: “Shush! I’m talking to tiny Bee.” Bumblebee: “I’m not tiny! And what about my voice!?” Optimus steps forward and carefully pulls Bumblebee behind him. Optimus: “Who are you?” Quickhatch: “Sweet Solus Prime, you have got to be kidding me. A tiny Prime?” Starscream: “Stop ignoring me!” Quickhatch gives the Seeker a side glare before looking back at the smaller Prime. Quickhatch: “This Con giving you trouble Prime?” Before Optimus could respond, Starscream tried to lunge at Quickhatch. The larger bot simply sidestepped and pinned the Seeker down and drew out his claws. Quickhatch: “Another word from you and I’ll being doing more than plucking those wings Seeker.”

It was safe to say that the Cons took a swift retreat after that encounter.

Now time to address the elephant in the room.

Or in this case, the big mech that seemed both unimpressed and stressed at the same time.

The news of Quickhatch being from a different universe wasn’t too outlandish.

It would certainly explain his way of transforming and unique framework.

While most of the bots were curious, some a bit cautious, about their new visitor, Quickhatch was internally screaming.

Not only was he not in his own dimension, but this one had its own set of rules and history that clashed with what he had known for years!

He didn’t know what was scarier.

The fact that this universe’s Megatron could snap Prime like a twig or the fact that Tiny Team Prime didn’t own a single blaster!

The closest thing they had resembling a blaster was Tiny Bee’s stingers!

Nope, nope, nope!

Until he found his way back home, the outlier was going to stay with this team until Megatron was either offline or permanently out of commission.

Quickhatch was cleaning his claws when he felt a tap on his pede. It was Tiny Team Prime’s human companion, Sari Sumdac. Quickhatch: “You need something kid?” Sari: “Nope.” She sat down right on top of his pede. He grumbled a bit but made no attempt on moving her. Quickhatch noticed the slight pout and sad look on her face. He didn’t push it and continued to clean his claws. They stayed in silence for a little bit longer before Sari spoke up. Sari: “Optimus benched me again.” Quickhatch stopped cleaning and looked down. Quickhatch: “He did? For what? Did you do something with Bumblebee again?” Sari just crossed her arms. Sari: “No, I just want to help! I have the Key! I helped the guys when they are in danger!” The older bot sighed. Quickhatch: “Sari—” Sari: “He told me I wasn’t a part of the team!” Quickhatch stopped mid sentence. Quickhatch: “I’m sorry, Prime told you what?” Meanwhile… Optimus is looking up and around. Bumblebee: “Prime?” Optimus: “Something just happened…” Bumblebee: “A lot of things happen Boss bot.” Optimus: “No I know that… but it feels like I just made a big mistake…”

Yep!

 The old grumpy bot still had a soft spot for kids.

And after nearly having a spark attack from hearing Tiny Team Prime’s ages, Quickhatch categorized them all as kids.

Yes, even Ratchet was qualified for this category.

So far no one has correctly guessed Quickhatch’s age and its scaring them.

The ‘Baby Babies’ aka Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Sari were the ones who liked to test the old bots patience.

Not all in obnoxious ways, but in learning new things.

To the outliers credit, he was giving them a lot more patience than he usually gives bots.

Curse the baby optics that have taken some control over his frame!

Bumblebee: “Please?” Quickhatch: “No.” Bumblebee and Bulkhead: “Please!” Quickhatch: “…No…” Bumblebee places Sari on top on his helm as Bulkhead places Bee on his shoulders. Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Sari: “Please!” Quickhatch: “…” Quickhatch sighs in defeat. Quickhatch: “Fine but remember to use the washable colors this time.” The kids have brushes and buckets of paint. Sari: “Don’t worry! You’ll be the best painted Wolverine ever!” Quickhatch: “And I’m already regretting my decision…”

The ‘Babies’ aka Optimus, Ratchet and Prowl were the ones who asked questions and were even a bit on edge around him.

 Something he could respect.

If one of them landed in his world, the outlier would have probably be much more hostile.

He wasn’t as patient with the others, but it was still there.

Quickhatch nearly had a stroke hearing how the Prime title was a simple military rank.

Quickhatch is watching Sentinel and Optimus from a far with Bumblebee and Sari. Quickhatch: “So that’s… who again?” Bumblebee: “Sentinel Prime.” Quickhatch pauses for a bit remembering awful bits of his meeting with his Sentinel Prime. But this place had new rules, maybe this Sentinel wasn’t too bad. Sentinel shoves a digit into Optimus’s chassis. Sentinel: “Why don’t you take the mop and do something actually useful Maintenance Prime?” Bumblebee and Sari wince a bit at the familiar nickname. Bumblebee: “Yeah he’s a bit of a glitch—Quickhatch?” The larger bot was no longer by his side. …Rather walking very fast towards the Prime’s. Sari: “We should stop him.” Bumblebee: “…Yeah…” The two just get comfy as the larger bots pace quickens, claws already out, as Sentinel started calling Optimus more names and even shoving him. Bumblebee: “Get the Key ready Sari, Sentinel’s gonna need it.”

[immortalthunderstorm]

Criston Cole and Fandom Perception

There seems to be this idea that Criston's character and motivation solely revolves around Rhaenyra, which seems to be a fandom-wide belief. I won't deny that she plays a part on his development, but even that is more about who he is than what she means to him.

I'll provide my personal interpretation.

The overarching theme for Criston, something that was deeply explored by Jaime as well (who in the books refers to Criston as a man of duality), is that the idea of knightly valour in theory is rarely applicable in practice. A knight in theory is meant to be honour-bound, fearless, principled and chivalrous, obey each of their vows. Their name and the Ser they have earned is a badge of prowess and honour.

Especially the Kingsguard, having sworn off all "earthly" pleasures in order to serve their monarch for life, have a deep sense of focus on this as their duty is a singular one, while also having sworn their knightly vows before their Kingsguard ones. The Kingsguard is seen as this incorruptible, elite force of the very best of knights, a high office to have and the dream of even many of the highborn knights. The societal regard for this office is also very high.

Criston is not highborn. He's the son of a steward, Dornish, and unlike many highborn sons who are trained and fostered to rise the ranks and bring glory to their already established name at tourneys, he had to get there the hard way. The show makes this explicitly clear in the scene where Otto suggests choosing a knight with a good name to the Kingsguard, and Rhaenyra chooses Criston for his real experience (points can be made that she's also attracted to him, or impressed by his tourney feats, but she is not in the wrong here. Most knights at this time have never seen real battle, as Rhaenys says to Corlys)

His vows represent everything he has accomplished for himself "all that [he] has to [his] name" - his entire self worth.

Criston's speech on the boat is not about him being in love with Rhaenyra. He explicitly says he thinks it's the only way to wash the stain off his honour and name. He's desperate and of course it's a bad plan, but it's the only way out he sees with the prospect of death and torture now looming over his head in ever waking hour (see Ser Lucamore the Lusty). That's why he's so jumpy the whole episode and the next. He's paranoid about being exposed, and that's why he's so angry that Rhaenyra simply wants him to be her "whore". She's not in love with him either, it's all just about sex for her while it's a life or death situation for him. That's why he breaks down to Alicent so quickly and almost unprovoked, and confesses and asks for a swift death.

"I took an oath. As a knight of your Kingsguard. An oath of chastity. I've broken it. I've soiled my white cloak. And it's the only thing I have to my fսcking name! I thought if we were married, I might be able to restore it."

His devotion for Alicent also isn't primarily motivated by his dislike for Rhaenyra. To him, she's his second chance to live up to his ideals. She's his "Lady of Honour", the person he sees as the perfect example of a dutiful woman (as fostered by the society they live in) . Her he can chain his own sense of honour to, safely devote himself to without conflicting feelings, and be his idealistic version of what a white knight should be.

I'm not saying his behaviour is logical, knightly hypocrisy is one of the central themes across GRRM's work, but it's a lot more complex than what a lot of people make it out to be (everything is about Rhaenyra)

I'm also tired of this situation being simplified to "he's just an angry Incel" by this fandom. It's much deeper than that and I don't get the absolute demonisation of Criston who's a very complex character.

People just love to look for some ulterior reasons to justify their hatred for a him. It's absolutely fine to dislike Criston if they want, but applying these pseudo-psychological frameworks to him is getting old very quickly.

He is not an incel, he pretty much tells Rhaenyra he's been with at least a couple women before joining the Kingsguard, and it's not like he's angry at her because she doesn't want to sleep with him, on the contrary she pretty much offers him to be his 'paramour' and he gets upset because he doesn't want to be used for sex at the risk of his life. The whole point is his extreme sense of honour and paranoia of breaking his vows.

Similarly the Madonna-Whore complex doesn't check out because this only applies to his dislike for Rhaenyra, not sexually active women in general. Criston hates one (1) woman and that's more for personal reasons than religious extremism - he's very respectful and polite to the prostitute in ep 9, does not treat her as someone lesser or sullied or sinful despite being religious. He pretty much says to Aemond that all women should be treated with respect.

This man insults one woman (who he has personal beef with) once, and immediately apologises for it, yet the fandom seems hellbent on him being some raging misogynistic incel.

(If we want to start throwing stones, Daemon calls people bitches, whores and cunts in almost every episode lol.)

[reasonsforhope]

"Major technology companies signed a pact on Friday to voluntarily adopt "reasonable precautions" to prevent artificial intelligence (AI) tools from being used to disrupt democratic elections around the world.

Executives from Adobe, Amazon, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and TikTok gathered at the Munich Security Conference to announce a new framework for how they respond to AI-generated deepfakes that deliberately trick voters. 

Twelve other companies - including Elon Musk's X - are also signing on to the accord...

The accord is largely symbolic, but targets increasingly realistic AI-generated images, audio, and video "that deceptively fake or alter the appearance, voice, or actions of political candidates, election officials, and other key stakeholders in a democratic election, or that provide false information to voters about when, where, and how they can lawfully vote".

The companies aren't committing to ban or remove deepfakes. Instead, the accord outlines methods they will use to try to detect and label deceptive AI content when it is created or distributed on their platforms. 

It notes the companies will share best practices and provide "swift and proportionate responses" when that content starts to spread.

Lack of binding requirements

The vagueness of the commitments and lack of any binding requirements likely helped win over a diverse swath of companies, but disappointed advocates were looking for stronger assurances.

"The language isn't quite as strong as one might have expected," said Rachel Orey, senior associate director of the Elections Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center. 

"I think we should give credit where credit is due, and acknowledge that the companies do have a vested interest in their tools not being used to undermine free and fair elections. That said, it is voluntary, and we'll be keeping an eye on whether they follow through." ...

Several political leaders from Europe and the US also joined Friday’s announcement. European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said while such an agreement can’t be comprehensive, "it contains very impactful and positive elements".  ...

[The Accord and Where We're At]

The accord calls on platforms to "pay attention to context and in particular to safeguarding educational, documentary, artistic, satirical, and political expression".

It said the companies will focus on transparency to users about their policies and work to educate the public about how they can avoid falling for AI fakes.

Most companies have previously said they’re putting safeguards on their own generative AI tools that can manipulate images and sound, while also working to identify and label AI-generated content so that social media users know if what they’re seeing is real. But most of those proposed solutions haven't yet rolled out and the companies have faced pressure to do more.

That pressure is heightened in the US, where Congress has yet to pass laws regulating AI in politics, leaving companies to largely govern themselves.

The Federal Communications Commission recently confirmed AI-generated audio clips in robocalls are against the law [in the US], but that doesn't cover audio deepfakes when they circulate on social media or in campaign advertisements.

Many social media companies already have policies in place to deter deceptive posts about electoral processes - AI-generated or not... 

[Signatories Include]

In addition to the companies that helped broker Friday's agreement, other signatories include chatbot developers Anthropic and Inflection AI; voice-clone startup ElevenLabs; chip designer Arm Holdings; security companies McAfee and TrendMicro; and Stability AI, known for making the image-generator Stable Diffusion.

Notably absent is another popular AI image-generator, Midjourney. The San Francisco-based startup didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

The inclusion of X - not mentioned in an earlier announcement about the pending accord - was one of the surprises of Friday's agreement."

-via EuroNews, February 17, 2024

--

Note: No idea whether this will actually do much of anything (would love to hear from people with experience in this area on significant this is), but I'll definitely take it. Some of these companies may even mean it! (X/Twitter almost definitely doesn't, though).

Still, like I said, I'll take it. Any significant move toward tech companies self-regulating AI is a good sign, as far as I'm concerned, especially a large-scale and international effort. Even if it's a "mostly symbolic" accord, the scale and prominence of this accord is encouraging, and it sets a precedent for further regulation to build on.

[dcdreamblog]

I’ve just moved from moved from Central City to Opal and I’ve gotta say, the attitude on The Shade is completely different here. The opinion the Flash Museum has on The Shade is negative (although professional), as it is on the other rogues that have fought The Flashes. But I’ve been hearing rumors here that The Shade protects the Opal. Is that true? How does your museum (and you) view him?

The Shade is bad. BAD man who should not be trusted. However he is also a very OLD man and, as with any old man, has gained his share of complexities.

(An image of the shade, dated to the late Victorian Era) Nobody publically knows much about the man who calls himself The Shade, who has also been known under the names Mr. Black and Richard Swift. By some mysterious method The Shade became an immortal, floating about the upper society of his native England for decades until moving to what is now Opal City. He fell in love with the city, becoming a friend and confidant of the city's original protector, Brian Savage, the gunslinger known as "Scalphunter" (That is a WHOLE unpacking for another time). Over time he amassed a small fortune, using his seemingly inherent ability to control shadows and darkness as a contract killer, a guise he continued in for decades. However it was here that he first adopted his strange code of honor, including the fact that he never worked or committed any crime WITHIN Opal City itself considering it "neutral territory" which he jealously guarded from organized and small time criminality alike. His odd moral framework was also awakened by the onset of WWII where he spent 1939 and 1940 in his native England working alongside the RAF and SAS in battling Nazi Germany, establishing a pattern where he always refused to work for or with avowed fascists. It was in WWII when his existence would be revealed to the world when, in 1942, he kidnapped Keystone City's entire police force under a veil of artificial darkness. It was there that he first encountered Jay Garrick, the two becoming prolific enemies although OF Garrick's enemies, The Shade was always the most...jovial? Affable? Rarely seeking to cause outright harm and seeming to commit crimes purely to antagonize the Flash into another bout. He would pop up here and there after the war, never for very long and always vanishing back into the ether from whence he had come. He would be...reevaluated when Jack Knight took on the mantle of Starman and his father's old nemesis The Mist unleashed a night of anarchic violence upon the once untouched city. The Shade, acting in his self appointed role of "maintaining" Opal's peaceful nature assisted Knight in defeating the Mist. Like his relationship with Opal City's original protector, The Shade became a half trusted source for the younger Starman. Offering him insights into the city's criminal underworld and seemingly retiring from criminal activity altogether. This is where the divide in his posterity comes from. He's a criminal. A killer even. And yet, especially to the people of Opal City he's seen as something of a...dark guardsman. The one who stands at the door and keeps any truly nasty sort from gaining a foothold in their community. In the spectrum of supervillains he's seen as a low level threat and not worth chasing despite having served only limited jail time for the crimes he HAS committed. We are not a supervillain museum (they do exist and I find most of them ungodly macabre), we frame The Shade as he was during the period we cover. He was a thief, his crimes were stopped by the heroes of the era. Further examination of his character and ethical interrogation of his being is better left to Opal City historians, Supervillain experts, or both.

[qqueenofhades]

Hey! I just found your blog and followed yesterday. Came for the fact that you're the only other person in this webbed site actually say out loud that they liked Biden, stayed for the hope and determination and perspective. Anyway just wanted to introduce myself and I hope you're coping well!

Hello and welcome to you and the other sudden flood of followers that I got after yesterday's event. I'm glad to have you and hope you are all in on the project of Kicking Fascism In The Shriveled Testicles 2024, American Edition. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.

Biden was not my first choice (far from it) in the 2020 primary process, but when it became clear that he was going to win the nomination, I supported him early and often. Trust me, this was not a popular position, and it remains so, but so be it. By any reasonable metric, he is the most progressive president we have ever had, it is a crying shame that the media is so beholden to the Trump Teat of Drama that they gave him such a kid-gloved free pass and ratfucked Biden instead, and it makes me worry, a lot, for American democracy. I have always gotten a lot of "you support everything Biden has done so you're awful and going to hell!!!" messages, because this sure is a Webbed Site Where We Piss On the Poor, and like -- I don't. I had major disagreements with Biden, especially on foreign policy! But because I apparently did not performatively self-flagellate myself in every post about how awful he was but maybe I guess vote for him anyway, that got some people very mad! It's also true that there's literally nobody in the world anywhere, especially and including in Palestine, that would benefit from Trump becoming president again! Especially since Biden at the NATO summit recently and explicitly endorsed progress on the ceasefire framework he has been pushing for several months! So unfortunately, we live in a society where shitty choices are necessary, and that is part of being a grownup!

....anyway. Deep breaths. Rant for later. Glad you're here. I have been desperately trying to Not Politic for a bit, since doing so on social media in the year of our lord 2024 is a recipe for swift insanity, but the world keeps taking a large dump directly on those plans, and I guess someone's gotta do it. In more normal times (OH LORD WHEN), you can expect history (I am an academic by trade), random posts, various asks, and sometimes a great deal of fanfic for assorted blorbos, though the Horrors have done a number on that and I am also working on an original fantasy trilogy at the moment. (Still deciding whether I should bother trying to agent it or just publish it on Amazon/Lulu/etc.) I have turned off anon for the moment because otherwise my inbox would be a nightmare beyond comprehension, but I do generally enjoy talking about things and/or answering them as much as I can. I am old, queer, tired, fueled by coffee and spite, have been politically conscious since the first Bush Jr. term and have therefore seen all the Anti Voting nonsense before (quick thought: if it was going to deliver the perfect Leftist Messiah and/or stop a flawed candidate from becoming president, don't you think it would have done so by now?) So yes. Welcome again and I hope you will enjoy (if that is the right word for it) your stay.