#The typing on this phone or website is SO glitchy....

[hajihiko]

Now that youre done with v3 may I ask about what your final thoughts on each character are? (Briefly, if you dont feel like elaborating too much-- like a senstence each maybe?)

Ok warning for opinions: I'm not head over heels for a lot of the cast

Shuichi- sweet boy I like his emo vibes (both in jest and also how he's actually pretty emotional)

Kaede- sweet girl gone to soon :'( why do this to the girl Protag

Kaito- fun guy I like him I hate his hair. Hypocrite (character trait) (not moral judgement) (affectionate)

Maki- grew on me a lot her expressions are cute. Also hypocrite (same brackets as above)

Himiko- good voice acting and I guess the character development was pretty good! Never grabbed me as a character tho

Keebo: my beloved. I didn't think he'd be so important! Thank you for being helpful and rational sweet robo boy.

Tenko: I've been told the translation made her a lot more aggressive than the original Japanese text but she sooooo annoying about the Degenerate Male thing and it was too much of her dialogue

Angie: most fun design, biggest cutie. I know she was kind of sinister sometimes but I forgive her BC I actually enjoyed the time she was on screen.

Korekiyo: coolest design, actually kind of intriguing character, but then the backstory hit... I dunno I could continue to be interested I guess but it's a little weird now.

Miu: I liked her more at the start but then I feel like she didn't grow at all? It's like she started being a bit different when Kaede was still protagging and then she just didn't stop being The Overtly Loud And Suggestive One.

Gonta: darling. Precious. Probably one of the saddest cases :(

Ryoma: I'm biased because fsr I liked him from the start. Didn't get a chance to develop much. Get him some therapy.

Oh my god there's so many of them aughshdh

Rantaro: pretty and good voice. What a waste of a good design since we didn't get to see him do like anything

Kirumi: I like her potential and I probably would have ended up liking her if she'd lived, but kudos for being one of the few calm and helpful characters.

Tsumugi: props for being incredibly unassuming if I hadn't already known. They really made her just boring enough to be not suspicious, but not too boring to be suspicious again. Annoying voice tho

Kokichi: only surpassed by the monokubs in how much l don't like him.

Monokubs: die

[levelzeo]

So I only just recently learned that there was a national alert test this week. Why did I not know? Well, I’ll tell you.

You see, I work from home, and I tend to have various YouTube on for both background noise and entertainment when my code compiles. I’m this particular instance I was down a horror rabbit hole. I like horror, but I’m also a big baby, so the videos are putting me in a very jumpy mood. The video I watch recommends I watch something else, a bit of horror content that pretended to be a gmod stream. That sounds cool, so I start watching. There’s some spooky stuff going on, and partway in there’s a very well-done animated section that overtakes the stream. It has my mind and heart racing, and it includes a neocities link that flashes on screen. I pull out my phone and shakily type the link from the paused video. For a few moments I see an ominous black page with a glitchy image of a blood-red fence, and a bunch of text that surely promises more spookiness.

So hopefully you understand where I was and why my general headspace was. Because right before I get a chance to read the page, THE NATIONAL ALERT TEST GOES OFF.

Of course, I did not know this was a thing. All I know is that I followed a horror video to a spooky website and now my phone was screaming like it was being tortured in hell. Without reading the pop-up I shut it down and delete the neocities tab. I wait for my heart to stop trying to escape before I carefully open the page on my laptop instead, convinced that the alert that just happened was something built into the page to scare people, and that it only happened on mobile. I was too much of a wuss to check again on my phone.

Of course, I was very wrong. But you know what, I’m glad this happened. The horror was good, but the national alert playing on a page talking about people going missing? That shit elevated it to new heights.

[locke-writing]

Not to nerd rant, but I'm totally nerd ranting right now. Windows Phone Link is way more useful than I ever thought it was and ignoring the feature for so long actually put me in a lot of inconvenient situations.

It works for both Apple and Android phones as long as you have Windows 10 or 11 on your computer. It comes preloaded on W11 and you can download/install it on W10.

Basically, you put the Phone Link app on your phone, pair it with your computer, and then it's able to read your phone screen and project it to the computer. It also has really useful UI features, here are some of my favorites:

Typing into your phone with your computer keyboard.

Keeping pet apps running on your desktop as a work companion (Finch is a great one that can also function as a checklist/goal setter. I recommend this to students.)

You can use Snapchat and Tiktok on your computer without the weird glitchy website versions.

You'll get all your phone notifications on your desktop, so you don't have to look down to check your phone.

Your phone goes into rest mode while pairing is enabled, so you can charge it and leave it anywhere in the house while still having full access to it.

You can participate in SMS and phone calls through it if you so please.

Freely share photo access between your devices. Edit your desktop photos with phone apps and then transfer it back.

[liluwrites]

Acetalia Week Day One: Friendship

Characters: Poland, N. Italy

Word Count: 504

@asexual-hetalia

“Truth.”

Feliciano shifts to face Feliks on the bed, eyes glittering. “Okay, who do you have a crush on?”

Feliks sighs, oddly disappointed by the question. Of course it would be something like that. “No-one. I’ve told you that before.”

“Come on, Fe, you must have a crush on someone! I have, like, fifty million different crushes every single day.”

“I told you,” he insists. “I’ve never had a crush. I don’t even know what a crush would feel like.”

Feliciano pouts. “How is that even possible? Okay, fine - if you had to choose someone, who in our grade would you most like to kiss?”

Feliks thinks for a moment - imagines the squishy, moist feeling of lips on his own, someone else’s saliva in his mouth, the taste of their tongue and the feeling of their face pressed uncomfortably close to his. He shudders. “I don’t know,” he admits, squirming. “I don’t think I really want to kiss anyone, it’s gross.”

Feliciano looks at him searchingly for a long moment, then rolls onto his back on the bed and asks, head tilted back to the ceiling, “Do you think you might be aromantic?”

“What?”

“It’s this thing, I heard my brother talking about it the other day. It means that like, you don’t want to fall in love with anyone ever, and you don’t want to kiss anyone or do lovey-lovey stuff with them.”

“Is…is that a thing?” He really hopes it is, but sometimes Feliciano gets confused or just totally makes stuff up. It’s not his fault - he doesn’t do it to be mean - but something went wrong with his brain when he was little and now his memory is kind of weird and glitchy.

“Yeah, I swear it is!” He rolls over to grab his phone from the side of the bed. He’d been given a touchscreen phone with internet for his thirteenth birthday, and Feliks is insanely jealous. “Look.”

He types quickly into the search engine then practically shoves the phone into Feliks’ face. Feliks scrolls slowly through the website, his eyes widening. It all fits so perfectly, it’s like everything he feels is put into words. When he reaches the bottom of the page, he looks up to meet Feliciano’s eyes with a torrent of emotions swelling in his throat.

Feliciano smiles expectantly. “Well?”

He takes a deep breath, then says it out loud, into the midnight silence of Feliciano’s bedroom. “I think I’m aromantic.”

“Okay.” Feliciano lies back down next to him, his eyes reflecting the golden lamplight. “See, I told you you weren’t alone. You’re never going to be alone.”

Feliks squints at him, confusion creeping through his haze of sleepy contentment. “Why not?”

“Because - “ Feliciano rolls over to face him, wraps his arms around him and holds him close to the warmth of his chest. “No matter what happens, you’ll always have me.”

[sauvonslesjambons]

Excellent Why You Should Choose Handled Word Press Hosting

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Consider the enormous quantity of additional value the handled WordPress hosting options, the choice is an extremely attractive choice.

DreamIT Host

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[relationshipba729]

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Screenshots

[stephenmccull]

‘Cruel’ Digital Race For Vaccines Leaves Many Seniors Behind

With millions of older Americans eligible for covid-19 vaccines and limited supplies, many continue to describe a frantic and frustrating search to secure a shot, beset by uncertainty and difficulty. 

This story also ran on NPR. It can be republished for free.

The efforts to vaccinate people 65 and older have strained under the enormous demand that has overwhelmed cumbersome, inconsistent scheduling systems.

The struggle represents a shift from the first wave of vaccinations — health care workers in health care settings — which went comparatively smoothly. Now, in most places, elderly people are pitted against one another, competing on an unstable technological playing field for limited shots.

“You can’t have the vaccine distribution be a race between elderly people typing and younger people typing,” said Jeremy Novich, a clinical psychologist in New York City who has begun a group to help people navigate the technology to get appointments. “That’s not a race. That’s just cruel.”

While the demand is an encouraging sign of public trust in the vaccines, the challenges facing seniors also speak to the country’s fragmented approach, which has left many confused and enlisting family members to hunt down appointments. 

“It’s just maddening,” said Bill Walsh, with AARP. “It should be a smooth pathway from signing up to getting the vaccine, and that’s just not what we’re seeing so far.” 

Glitchy websites, jammed phone lines and long lines outside clinics have become commonplace as states expand who’s eligible — sometimes triggering a mad dash for shots that can sound more like trying to score a ticket for a music festival than obtaining a lifesaving vaccine. 

After being inundated, some public health departments are trying to hire more staff members to handle their vaccination hotlines and specifically target seniors who may not be able to navigate a complicated online sign-up process.  

“Just posting a website and urging people to go there is not a recipe for success,” said Walsh. 

‘Terribly Competitive’ 

Like many other seniors, Colleen Brooks, 85, had trouble sorting through the myriad online resources about how to find the vaccine where she lives, on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound near Seattle.

“It was an overwhelming amount of information,” she said. “I knew it was here someplace, but it wasn’t easy to find out how to get it.”

After making calls, Brooks eventually got a tip from a friend who had spotted the vaccines being unloaded at their town pharmacy. When she dropped by her health clinic to inquire about how to sign up, it happened they were giving out shots that same day.  

“That was totally serendipitous for me, but I actually personally know several seniors who just kind of gave up,” said Brooks. 

Finding out how to get a vaccine appointment was more straightforward for Gerald Kahn, 76, who lives in Madison, Connecticut. 

Kahn got an email notice from the state’s vaccine registration system telling him to make an appointment, but he ran into problems at the very end of the sign-up process. 

“As much as I would pound my finger on the face of my iPad, it didn’t do me any good,” he said.

So Kahn did what many have and called a younger family member, who was able to help him finish signing up. 

“I think there are a lot of people my age, maybe the preponderance, who can only go so far into the internet, and then we’re not only stymied but also frustrated,” he said. 

When Helen Francke, 92, logged on for a vaccine at the designated time, she discovered the spots available in Washington, D.C., filled up almost instantaneously. 

“It was evident that I was much too slow,” she said. “It’s terribly competitive and clearly favors those with advanced computer skills.” 

The next week, Francke tried calling and going online — this time with the help of her neighbors — without success.

“If I had had to depend on the D.C. vaccination website and telephone, I’d still be anxious and unsuccessful,” said Francke, who got a shot only after finding information on a neighborhood discussion group that directed her to a hospital. 

In Arizona, Karen Davis, 80, ended up on a roundabout quest through state and hospital websites with no clear sense of how to actually book an appointment. 

“I kept trying to do it and kind of banged my head against the wall too many times,” she said. 

Davis, a retired nurse, called her doctor and the pharmacy and then eventually turned to a younger relative, who managed to book a 5 a.m. appointment at a mass vaccination site. 

“I’m sure they did not expect older people to be able to do this,” she said. 

Miguel Lerma, who lives in Phoenix, said his 69-year-old mother has been unsuccessful in finding a shot. 

“She’s not an English speaker and doesn’t know technology well, and that’s how everything is being done,” said Lerma, 31. 

Lerma said it’s especially painful to watch his mother struggle to get the vaccine — because he lost his father to covid last year. 

“She’s mourning not only for my dad, but she’s also suffering as an adult now because she depended on him for certain tasks,” Lerma said. “He would’ve handled all this.” 

‘Desperate’ Seniors Look for Help  

Philip Bretsky, a primary care doctor in Southern California, said his older patients would typically call him or visit a pharmacy for vaccines like the annual flu shot, rather than rely on novel online scheduling systems. 

“That’s not how 85-year-olds have interacted with the health care system, so it’s a complete disconnect,” he said. “These folks are basically just investing a lot of time and not getting anything out of it.” 

California’s recent decision to change its vaccination plan and open it up to those over 65 only adds to the confusion. 

Bretsky said his patients are being told to call their doctor for information, but he isn’t even sure when his office, which is authorized to give the vaccines, will receive any. 

“Patients in this age group want to know that they’re at least being heard or somebody is thinking about the challenges they have,” he said. 

There are some local efforts to make that happen.  

In the village of Los Lunas, New Mexico, public health workers held an in-person sign-up event for seniors who needed assistance or simply a device connected to the internet. 

A Florida senior center recently held a vaccination registration event and a clinic specifically for people over 80 who might not have a computer. 

Novich, the clinical psychologist in New York, teamed up with a few other people to create an informal help service for older adults. It began as a small endeavor, advertised through a few synagogues and his Facebook page. They’ve now helped more than 100 people get shots.  

“We have a huge number of requests that are just piling up,” said Novich. 

“People are really desperate and they’re also confused because nobody has actually explained to them when they are expected to get vaccinated. … It’s a big mess.” 

The ongoing shortage of vaccines has led Novich to halt the service for now. 

This story is part of a partnership that includes NPR and KHN.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

USE OUR CONTENT

This story can be republished for free (details).

‘Cruel’ Digital Race For Vaccines Leaves Many Seniors Behind published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/

[gordonwilliamsweb]

‘Cruel’ Digital Race For Vaccines Leaves Many Seniors Behind

With millions of older Americans eligible for covid-19 vaccines and limited supplies, many continue to describe a frantic and frustrating search to secure a shot, beset by uncertainty and difficulty. 

This story also ran on NPR. It can be republished for free.

The efforts to vaccinate people 65 and older have strained under the enormous demand that has overwhelmed cumbersome, inconsistent scheduling systems.

The struggle represents a shift from the first wave of vaccinations — health care workers in health care settings — which went comparatively smoothly. Now, in most places, elderly people are pitted against one another, competing on an unstable technological playing field for limited shots.

“You can’t have the vaccine distribution be a race between elderly people typing and younger people typing,” said Jeremy Novich, a clinical psychologist in New York City who has begun a group to help people navigate the technology to get appointments. “That’s not a race. That’s just cruel.”

While the demand is an encouraging sign of public trust in the vaccines, the challenges facing seniors also speak to the country’s fragmented approach, which has left many confused and enlisting family members to hunt down appointments. 

“It’s just maddening,” said Bill Walsh, with AARP. “It should be a smooth pathway from signing up to getting the vaccine, and that’s just not what we’re seeing so far.” 

Glitchy websites, jammed phone lines and long lines outside clinics have become commonplace as states expand who’s eligible — sometimes triggering a mad dash for shots that can sound more like trying to score a ticket for a music festival than obtaining a lifesaving vaccine. 

After being inundated, some public health departments are trying to hire more staff members to handle their vaccination hotlines and specifically target seniors who may not be able to navigate a complicated online sign-up process.  

“Just posting a website and urging people to go there is not a recipe for success,” said Walsh. 

‘Terribly Competitive’ 

Like many other seniors, Colleen Brooks, 85, had trouble sorting through the myriad online resources about how to find the vaccine where she lives, on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound near Seattle.

“It was an overwhelming amount of information,” she said. “I knew it was here someplace, but it wasn’t easy to find out how to get it.”

After making calls, Brooks eventually got a tip from a friend who had spotted the vaccines being unloaded at their town pharmacy. When she dropped by her health clinic to inquire about how to sign up, it happened they were giving out shots that same day.  

“That was totally serendipitous for me, but I actually personally know several seniors who just kind of gave up,” said Brooks. 

Finding out how to get a vaccine appointment was more straightforward for Gerald Kahn, 76, who lives in Madison, Connecticut. 

Kahn got an email notice from the state’s vaccine registration system telling him to make an appointment, but he ran into problems at the very end of the sign-up process. 

“As much as I would pound my finger on the face of my iPad, it didn’t do me any good,” he said.

So Kahn did what many have and called a younger family member, who was able to help him finish signing up. 

“I think there are a lot of people my age, maybe the preponderance, who can only go so far into the internet, and then we’re not only stymied but also frustrated,” he said. 

When Helen Francke, 92, logged on for a vaccine at the designated time, she discovered the spots available in Washington, D.C., filled up almost instantaneously. 

“It was evident that I was much too slow,” she said. “It’s terribly competitive and clearly favors those with advanced computer skills.” 

The next week, Francke tried calling and going online — this time with the help of her neighbors — without success.

“If I had had to depend on the D.C. vaccination website and telephone, I’d still be anxious and unsuccessful,” said Francke, who got a shot only after finding information on a neighborhood discussion group that directed her to a hospital. 

In Arizona, Karen Davis, 80, ended up on a roundabout quest through state and hospital websites with no clear sense of how to actually book an appointment. 

“I kept trying to do it and kind of banged my head against the wall too many times,” she said. 

Davis, a retired nurse, called her doctor and the pharmacy and then eventually turned to a younger relative, who managed to book a 5 a.m. appointment at a mass vaccination site. 

“I’m sure they did not expect older people to be able to do this,” she said. 

Miguel Lerma, who lives in Phoenix, said his 69-year-old mother has been unsuccessful in finding a shot. 

“She’s not an English speaker and doesn’t know technology well, and that’s how everything is being done,” said Lerma, 31. 

Lerma said it’s especially painful to watch his mother struggle to get the vaccine — because he lost his father to covid last year. 

“She’s mourning not only for my dad, but she’s also suffering as an adult now because she depended on him for certain tasks,” Lerma said. “He would’ve handled all this.” 

‘Desperate’ Seniors Look for Help  

Philip Bretsky, a primary care doctor in Southern California, said his older patients would typically call him or visit a pharmacy for vaccines like the annual flu shot, rather than rely on novel online scheduling systems. 

“That’s not how 85-year-olds have interacted with the health care system, so it’s a complete disconnect,” he said. “These folks are basically just investing a lot of time and not getting anything out of it.” 

California’s recent decision to change its vaccination plan and open it up to those over 65 only adds to the confusion. 

Bretsky said his patients are being told to call their doctor for information, but he isn’t even sure when his office, which is authorized to give the vaccines, will receive any. 

“Patients in this age group want to know that they’re at least being heard or somebody is thinking about the challenges they have,” he said. 

There are some local efforts to make that happen.  

In the village of Los Lunas, New Mexico, public health workers held an in-person sign-up event for seniors who needed assistance or simply a device connected to the internet. 

A Florida senior center recently held a vaccination registration event and a clinic specifically for people over 80 who might not have a computer. 

Novich, the clinical psychologist in New York, teamed up with a few other people to create an informal help service for older adults. It began as a small endeavor, advertised through a few synagogues and his Facebook page. They’ve now helped more than 100 people get shots.  

“We have a huge number of requests that are just piling up,” said Novich. 

“People are really desperate and they’re also confused because nobody has actually explained to them when they are expected to get vaccinated. … It’s a big mess.” 

The ongoing shortage of vaccines has led Novich to halt the service for now. 

This story is part of a partnership that includes NPR and KHN.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

USE OUR CONTENT

This story can be republished for free (details).

‘Cruel’ Digital Race For Vaccines Leaves Many Seniors Behind published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

[hummingbirdcas]

Tagged by @dijetedrago (thanks!)

rules: answer these 85 statements about yourself, then tag 20 people

1. Last drink: water

2: last phone call: my mom

3. last text message: “Ready” sent to my mom

4. last song you listened to: You Sang To Me by Marc Anthony

5. last time you cried: lmao yesterday

6. dated someone twice: gross, no

7. kissed someone and regretted it?: Maybe, I honestly don’t think about it

8. been cheated on?: No

9. lost someone special?: If we’re talking about death, then yeah

10. been depressed?: Lmao we got a manic-depressive mood disordered person over here!!

11. gotten drunk and thrown up?: Only once! (on Kahlua)

fave colors

12. Black

13. Red

14. Blue

in the last year have you...

15. made new friends?: I actually don’t really make friends so...? Maybe?

16: fallen out of love?: nope

17. laughed until you cried?: Maybe once???

18. found out someone was talking about you?: Nuh-uh, I am incredibly insignificant

19. met someone who changed you?: Nah

20. found out who your friends are?: yes

21. kissed someone on your facebook friends list?: I don’t have a facebook anymore, so probably not!

general

22. how many of your facebook friends do you know irl?: When I had a facebook, most everyone on my “list” I knew in real life.

23. do you have any pets?: Two cats at my dad’s; two dogs and two cats at my mom’s; but one of the dogs is fully my own

24. do you want to change your name?: Nah, that sounds like a lot of work

25. what did you do for your last birthday?: Just went out to dinner with my family and then went to bed early, lmao

26. What time did you wake up today? 5:30 am

27. What were you doing at midnight last night?: sleeping

28. what is something you can’t wait for?: Retirement. Get my doctorate, make some killer money, and then RETIRE. (<------millennial pipe dream right there)

29. What are you listening to right now?: American Idiot by Green Day

30. have you ever talked to a person named tom?: No idea

31. something that’s getting on your nerves?: my university’s fucking glitchy WI-FI, I am paying money to be here, they can at least have some decent fucking connection

32. most visited website: Tumblr and Blackboard

33. hair color: dark blonde/light brown

34. long or short hair: My hair’s pretty long

35. do you have a crush on someone?: Lmao fuck that, no

36. What do you like about yourself?: Gee let me just look at my big book of positive qualities......oh shoot, it’s blank.

37. want any piercing?: No I’m good

38. blood type: A+

39. nicknames: My name is good

40. relationship status: single and NEVER gonna mingle

41. zodiac: libra

42. pronounds: she/her

43. fave tv shows: spn, doctor who, bones; probably others but I forget

44. tattoos: nah

45. right or left handed: right handed

46. ever had surgery?: I’m going to get my wisdom teeth pulled in a couple weeks so I guess yeah, lol

47. piercings?: Two on each ear, and a navel piercing

48. sport: I used to dance

49. vacation: I’d like to visit France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Iceland.....a lot of places.

50. trainers: um??? I’m not sure what that means

more general:

51. eating: I just had a slice of pizza

52. drinking: water

53. i’m about to watch: Nothing, I’m supposed to be studying

54. waiting for: bedtime!!!!!!!!!!!

55. want: my doctorate and make some killer money

56. get married: nononononononono

57. career: I want to be a badass synaptic-neuroscientist, but right now I’m just a student

which is better:

58. hugs or kisses: I’m guessing this section is in regards to a significant other. So I’m going to say hugs, but kisses when I want to get into it

59. lips or eyes: both

60. shorter or taller: I’m not picky, but maybe taller?

61. older or younger: same age, but they (men) better have their shit together

62. nice arms or stomach: both

63. hookup or relationship: ugh neither

64. troublemaker or hesitant: hesitant

have you ever:

65. kissed a stranger: no

66. drank hard liquor: yes

67. lost glasses: Nope, but I mostly wear contacts now

68. turned someone down: yep

69. sex on first date: nope

70. broken someones heart: I guess? Not purposefully, but I’m not going to be guilted into “giving someone a chance” if I don’t want to

71. had your heart broken: nope

72. been arrested: no

73. cried when someone died: yep

74. fallen for a friend: a few times, in high school when we were hormonal and crazy

do you believe in:

75. yourself: lol what even is this question? If I was backed into a wall, then I would say no, but I can’t focus on negative things too long or I’ll get bad again

76. miracles: no

77. love at first sight: no

78. santa clause: I wish

79. kiss on a first date: I did a few times, back when I did date

80. angels: no

other:

81. best friend’s name: I don’t have one lmao

82. eye color: dark brown

83. favorite movie: City of Angels, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy

84. fave actor: don’t have one.

I tag @deservetobesaved @misparadix @helianthus21 @janblue @dean-is-bi-till-the-day-i-die @idjitsaviors @pagegoat @iknowgabytoo @creepypastalavista@talkshit-get-hit @sparkpegasus12 @rollsapple @iliektehhaxs @allonsyanklebiters @meispeight @kuroo-is-my-weakness @kay-cas19 @7fairylights @cosmogyral-impala

[mitchellryansketchbook]

Web Analysis 2

Web Site Analysis.                 URL: https://www.gregoryrossblog.com

One of the things we are trying to promote is a critical analyse of both your own work and that of others. Before we create our own websites we need to be clear what we want to achieve. Start by looking at the web presence of other photographers/videographers. Include screen grabs to illustrate your analysis.

Give a brief description of the site:

This is a website of a photographer named Gregory Ross and is basically his website to promote and show off his amazing wedding / engagement / family moments photography. The website has a portfolio of his work available and everything in between.  

What is the photographer/videographer trying to achieve with this site? Is it for direct sales or is it a simple showcase?  Who is their intended audience?

The photographer is trying to showcase his talent of wedding and special occasion photography. I would say the website is made to showcase his imagery but also to intrigue customers to consider him when having a special occasion such as getting married. His target audience is clear and is aimed at people needing a wedding photographer or a very special occasion photographer.

Why did you choose this site? What are its good points?

I chose this site because it’s a really pretty and unique website. I think it really shows off his best work and really sells himself to the people looking for that type of photography. I think the way his website is laid out is really well and intrigues people to look deeper and eventually maybe even book him.

Does the site have any failings, how could it be improved?

The only thing that I would say is something that could be improved is some of the font used on the website as to some people including myself can sometimes be pretty hard to read so people don’t really know what being said. Other than that I think this is an amazing professional website.

What have you learnt from this site, that you could apply to your own work (both positive and negative)?

From this website I have learnt a lot of different ways to layout the first initial page which is arguably the most important page on a website. So I am going to make sure I try a lot of different themes and layouts when designing my own website.

Technical issues to be aware of:

Is navigation obvious and easy to use? – Yes

Is the site cross browser compatible? - Yes

Would it download quickly on a slow connection? – Yes

Does it require special plugins (Flash is not efficient on OSX machines)?  - No

Does it display correctly on portable devices, such as iPhones or Android phones? - Yes

Are there any other technical issues?  - Only thing I would say is that some of the drop downs / pop ups are a little bit glitchy when loading.

[secrethauntedcollect]

I got all of the above for $2.69 (nice)

Oh What’s This? It’s Soren’s No-Bullshit Guide To Couponing

When I say “no bullshit” I am aiming for a very high level of no bullshit. Cause you know when you see blogs about this shit, it’s all hyped up and overwhelming and click-baity like “PAY NINE CENTS FOR GROCERIES FOR A WEEK” except those groceries are just, like, some toilet paper and like 100 tubes of kids toothpaste or something? This guide is not going to do that to you.

I’m going to talk about: how couponing works, what I do and use, what you need for it, what the “catches” are, and what may or may not be applicable to you as well. You can save on a lot of stuff, but I haven’t found my grocery bills cut in half or anything. This is a long guide because there’s a lot to cover. Get yourself some tea/water/coffee/hot chocolate (or all of those), get cozy, and settle in for the read.

So, how does this stuff work?

It’s not like it was back in the 90s or any date before smartphones became widely used. Smartphones have changed the whole game. You no longer work exclusively with newspaper coupons and nor do you have to cross examine sales ads every week for like 10 hours a day to figure out where to get beans for free. 

A huge change is rebate apps like Ibotta and Checkout51. You add your favorite stores, see what items offer rebates, and then add them to your list. Once you’ve bought stuff, you upload photos of your receipt (or scan the QR code) and it gives you cashback on whatever you bought. I use Ibotta, because I have limited phone storage and try not to cram too many apps on my phone. If I had more room I’d probably download Checkout51 as well.

Here’s a link for Ibotta https://ibotta.com/r/gqdfows (if you sign up with that link I get $5 and we also get to be “teammates” on the app, which means we are friends. Also, Ibotta gives you $10 for signing up and using it within the first 30 days)

In-store sales and manufacturer’s coupons (or “MFG coupons”, usually found in newspapers but about 40% of the time you can get them online as well) still factor in, of course. The real money saving is when you can stack up all three, which happens pretty often. The website and app Krazy Coupon Lady tells you exactly where these stack ups are. You don’t have to do shit except scroll through what they’ve found for you, print some coupons, add rebates to your rebate app, and then go get it. You can use this on your desktop if you don’t have phone space, or you can download the app. It’s up to you. The app is handy for remembering when you’re out and about what was for sale where, but then you could also just write a list to remind yourself.

BUT—and here’s the biggest catch of all with couponing—do you need all the couponing deals and steals? Do you even like what’s on sale? Do you need to buy 10 kids toothbrushes even if you can get all of them for 60¢? 

This is the most frustrating part of couponing, I’ve found. There are a lot of deals on stuff I don’t like or don’t use at all. Ever. I don’t need to save on toddler clothes, and I make my own laundry soap (it’s actually incredibly cheap to do it this way) so I don’t need the Amazing Deals On Tide Pods At Target This Week Only. My savings could be “more” if I did need these things, but I don’t. Because it’s mostly moms that do this, it’s pretty mom-geared. But it can work for other people, smaller households and single people like myself too.

What I use:

A computer & printer

A smartphone (with one rebate app, one couponing app, Target app, for Cartwheel savings)

A car

What I’m mainly missing is: the other rebate app, a newspaper subscription

I save because I can print coupons from home, I’m really mobile, so I can go to more than one store (each type of yoghurt above is from a different store) and I have a smartphone with a rebate app on it. 

If you don’t have a car you can still get some good deals through rebates, coupons & sales in the stores near you. Most grocery stores are listed on Ibotta and offer refunds. So whatever’s near you and you tend to shop at a lot, you can probably find some rebates. You can stick to looking at the stores near you and still do a pretty good job saving. You don’t need to coupon EVERY DAY. Most sales are about a week long, so even if you grocery shop once a week, this can work for you. (If you live out in the sticks like I used to and only grocery shop once a month, that’s going to be more difficult)

If you don’t have a printer I’m not going to tell you something absurd like “ask your neighbor to print coupons for you.” Cause, like, no. That’s fucking unreal. No one would ever do that. (I would totally try to print coupons at work or school though.) But if you can’t get printable MFG coupons, you can still combine rebates with in-store sales and save. You’ll save about two-thirds or half of what everyone else is saving.

If you don’t have a smartphone… it’s going to be tough, honestly. But you can still check out the Krazy Coupon Lady site for where the deals are and use printable MFG coupons stacked up with in-store sales.

If you don’t have a newspaper subscription you can do what I do, which is check the recycling bins near you for coupons. I found some once. I’m usually in there anyway, throwing out my own recyclables, or, yes, scrounging around for stuff. Mainly clean boxes I can use for shipping stuff. I haven’t found coupons consistently though. A lot of coupon sites will tell you to just ask your neighbors… lmao nah. No thanks. 

Like a lot of things in life, the more you already have, the more you can save. Kinda sucks, but that’s how it goes. No bullshit!!!

What’s the Deal, the Lowdown… the “Catch”

MFG coupons: there is no catch here. You just print them and use them. Most people think you can only print one, but you can actually print two per device each time. Print one, click the back button on your browser. Make sure the barcode numbers are different. Print again. You can get two from your computer, and then two from your smartphone if you can hook up your phone to your printer (I haven’t figured that out yet, I’m lazy.) So you can, ideally, get 4 coupons to use on multiple items. OH YEAH and you can get a lot of MFG coupons on coupons.com. Sometimes you have to go directly to Kleenex.com and sign up for their mailing list before you can get your coupons. SOMETIMES you can get a bigger coupon if you share on social media. (This is what a locked alt twitter is great for.)

Ibotta: it mainly collects consumer data/feedback from you and sometimes you have to watch a 10-15 second ad in the app to add a rebate to your list. Half the rebates I add don’t ask for either. Sometimes you get one that’s like “Wow! What new ice cream flavor of ours are you most excited for” and you have to click on a flavor. It’s whatever. Also, you can only withdraw your money once you have over $20. Is that hard? Not really, I’ve found. Your first one is especially easy since they give you $10 for using a rebate within the first 30 days of downloading it. I’ve been using it since late June 2017 and have saved up $59 already (so I’m really close to my third cash out of $20.) Update for March 2019: I’m hovering right under $500 in savings now.

It sends your funds to either Paypal or Venmo, not your bank account, so you need one of those.

I’m not sure about Checkout51, but I assume it’s basically the same.

Krazy Coupon Lady app/website: no catch here, but you might have some carelord online @ you that you’re being problematic because it has the word “crazy”, albeit spelt wrong, in it. They have some good guides over there, I recommend downloading their guide to couponing at Target, it gives you a pretty good taste of how this shit goes. 

Overall, since some savings come from rebates, it doesn’t always cost that much less up front. If you’re using just Ibotta for a discount on something, you still pay the full price, and you won’t see your refund until your blessed $20 limit is reached. However, I like ibotta because you don’t have to do shit at the cash register, and you can go home and take pics of your receipt after you’ve bought everything. It’s pretty easy. Sales and coupons give you the up-front-at-the-register discounts so you out-of-pocket pay less. That feels a bit more rewarding, especially if you know you have an ibotta rebate to add later. However, you have to remember to bring your coupons, and make sure they’re still valid. Also they can be glitchy! Half the time I have to have someone come over (I pretty exclusively use self-checkouts) and validate or collect the coupon because the system is angry.

The products themselves: what can you get on sale? Is buying name brand cheaper than buying store brand?

Real deal: they talk a lot of shit about really cheap toilet paper, but I have yet to find any name brand toilet paper with 1000000 coupons/rebates/sales that’s cheaper than a store brand. Not worth it, but you can keep looking and hoping if you want.

Besides that, it’s kinda up in the air. Sometimes, depending on the deals around, you CAN get name brand for much cheaper than the store brand and have it be worth all that effort. Sometimes it’s ten cents difference and like, fuck that. I don’t need name brand plastic bags that bad. 

THERE ARE A LOT OF DEALS ON LAUNDRY DETERGENT. So many. So fucking unbelievably many. Half of them seem to be “I got some Tide at rite aid for a dollar.” If you do a lot of laundry, this is great for you. 

Most of the deals are for like… “normal American food” stuff, I guess. A lot of name brand breakfast cereal, granola bars, canned soup, Kleenex, yoghurt, ice cream, sometimes cheeses. P&G brands. Your dairy products are generally on sale (except butter, weirdly—though they do push the margarine.) There are not a lot of offers for produce, which is like… fine really, cause it’s already pretty cheap. 

On Ibotta, however, there are “any item” rebates for some produce and other “staple” items. For a while they were giving you 25¢ off any bananas, 50¢ off any milk or bread, that sort of thing. Now they’re for oranges and eggs I think. They also tend to have 25-50¢ off any item rebates too which you can snatch up easy. I like those. I was getting 50¢ off single donuts at Fred Meyers for a while, making them 19¢.

What about special diet stuff? Organic stuff? 

There’s honestly not a whole lot of this when it comes to coupons + sales + rebates stack ups featured in the KCL app. Which is weird to me, you’d think someone on the site would be paying more attention to Whole Foods sales and matching them up with rebates, but whatever. So you’re not going to get gluten free bread for 50¢ a loaf. There are, however, coupons here and there. Ibotta has a rebate at Whole Foods for $1.50 off Udi’s GF bread right now, there’s a $5 rebate on organic protein powder, some kombucha, Stonyfield Grassfed yoghurt… it’s there, though it’s not like Cheap As Free, so it doesn’t get advertised as much. You can still save here, but not as much as if your diet is mostly General Mills breakfast cereal and Tide laundry soap.

What’s good, though, is if you save enough in other areas of Household and Grocery, it makes it a little easier to get some of the nicer stuff that never really goes drastically on sale.

So what about that yoghurt up there? How’d you do that?

Alright.

The Chobani Smooth yoghurts, both of them, were free. There’s a rebate on Ibotta right now (as of Sept 8 2017) for $3.00 off two of them. They’re currently priced at $1.50 at Walmart, so those suckers were cheap as free. The KCL app told me about this one. I didn’t need to print coupons or do anything but go buy them and scan the QR code to redeem the rebate.

The Oui yoghurt was also free. This was from softcoin.com, which loaded the coupon onto my Fred Meyer’s card (always get the store club cards, they’re free), so when I scanned it at the register, it became $0.00. There was a limit of one. The KCL app told me about this one too.

The Noosa yoghurt was from Target and I paid 73¢ for it. Or something. Idk about my math on that one. The KCL app listed it at a lesser price than it eneded up being in my store, so I didn’t get it for 48¢. The savings came from three places: 1) 15% off Noosa yoghurt from the Cartwheel part of the Target app; 2) A MFG coupon from noosayoghurt.com; and 3) an ibotta rebate for noosa yoghurt. With the cartwheel app, you just add the offers you want to your list, and then scan your barcode at the register for the discounts to apply. Sometimes there are MFG coupons in there for you! Paperless! Nice!

The Suja organics drink was from Winco, originally $2.48 but ultimately ended up being 73¢. If you can, always try to use coupons and rebates at your cheapest grocery store. I used an ibotta rebate for 74¢ off, and found a $1/off 1 MFG coupon on the bottle itself at the store. Which isn’t the first time that’s happened. 

The Zico was 75¢ off with an Ibotta rebate, making it $1.23 (not bad for coconut water). 

With the last two, however, there’s more: there’s currently a bonus on Ibotta that if you buy a Suja drink, Zico coconut water, and an Odwalla smoothie, which all have their own single 75¢ off rebates, you get an extra 75¢ off, which means they each become 25¢ less on top of that. All this shit I drink already (I’m big into bevs) so this is a good save for me.  There are bonuses like this a lot, though I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to all of them because they aren’t always relevant.

Some of my good past buys have been: 4 bags of pasta for 38 cents a piece (safeway sale plus MFG coupons). I got linguini and fettucini noodles because the long noodles you can’t get in bulk at winco (bulk noodles are always cheaper)

And I got some puffs cube box tissues (ie the ones that fit in my silly tissue covers) for 75 cents a piece instead of like two something. That was a safeway sale + MFG coupon and an ibotta rebate, if I remember right.

Anything else?

The most rebates on Ibotta are at Walmart. They by far have the most rebates.

Also, not every rebate is for every store. I tried to use something at Winco once only to find out it’s only valid at Target. You can see where it’s redeemable when you scroll down. Most of the time this isn’t a problem, though.

Ibotta has a lot of rebates on alcohol. If you have or have had a drinking problem, you can hide all of these from you in your settings (I think it should be something you can turn off when you sign up, but whatever)

Kohl’s weirdly has amazing clearance deals on household stuff. who knew? the KCL app will tell you about them.  

So, basic getting started:

download Ibotta

go over to KCL and check out their shit about what’s on sale where and when and how. you don’t have to download their app if you don’t want to. it might be overwhelming but... just look for a bit. think about it. (i usually browse through the app while i’m watching tv or just before bed to see if there’s anything i need to pick up the next day)

go over to coupons.com to see what’s out there

then, when you’re ready, fuckin coupon 

That’s probably it for now. If you have questions, feel free to ask me.

And again, if you want to try out ibotta and give me $5, my referral code is GQDFOWS wooo okay 

[tripstations]

The Best Vacation Rental Apps

Booking a vacation rental from a desktop computer is passé. The best vacation rental apps can handle any task you do on your PC, and then some. In fact, some of the top vacation rental apps have more features than their desktop counterparts.

Vacation rentals are a $36 billion a year market. A recent study by Travelport suggests that 58% of travelers prefer searching for their trips with a mobile device. Is anyone surprised that vacation rental sites are putting so much effort into their smartphone apps?

Getty

Since booking vacation rentals by smartphone is a thing now, it’s probably worth asking: Which are the best vacation rental apps? Here’s what you need to know:

There’s a short list of best vacation rental apps. Each of the apps is suited to a specific vacation rental booking task.A deep dive into one of them, the Vrbo app, will show you what it’s like to look for — and book — a vacation rental through a smartphone.

Which are the best vacation rental apps?

If you want to book a vacation rental on your mobile device, these apps are worth checking out:

Christopher Elliott

Airbnb

Airbnb is the best known of the vacation rental apps. It promises to deliver “unforgettable travel experiences” on your smartphone. (Download it for iOS and Android.)

Pros: The app is easy to use. It allows you to do everything you can do on the Airbnb website: search listings, make a reservation, and look at local experiences. Setting parameters like your dates and number of guests is a snap. The Airbnb app also makes it easy to communicate with your hosts. “AirBnB’s app is great,” says Jordan Gary, a project manager from Chicago. “Very simple and easy communication.” 

Cons: Airbnb won’t let you use the app without creating an account. That’s unfortunate for anyone who wants to just browse the listings, which you can do on the website without an account. Also, the app doesn’t display a full price when you’re shopping — only a “nightly” rate that looks deceptively low. Once you click the “book” button, Airbnb adds all the taxes and fees for your stay. 

Christopher Elliott

Booking.com

Booking.com boasts access to over 27 million options across the world. Like TripAdvisor (see below), it handles a lot of travel inventory. But it specializes in accommodations. Booking.com owns a variety of online travel companies, including Agoda, Cheapflights, Kayak, Priceline and Rentalcars.com. (Download it for iOS and Android.)

Pros: Booking’s interface is easy to use and fast. You can specify your desired destination and dates quickly. It also displays an all-in price for a rental. No messing around with a tricky “per day” or “per week” rate.

Cons: Its rental inventory is somewhat limited in the United States — and expensive. Also, by default, its app tries to put you in a hotel. You have to click on “filter” and select “property type” and “vacation homes” to access its inventory.

Christopher Elliott

HomeToGo

HomeToGo is a vacation rental aggregator. It lists 17 million properties from all of the major sites, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. (Download it for iOS and Android.)

Pros: The app gives you a quick overview of what’s available and then sends you to the site to make a reservation. (Think of it as Kayak for vacation rentals.)

Cons: Users complain about the ads and inaccurate prices on HomeToGo.

Christopher Elliott

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor, which bills itself as the “ultimate travel companion,” incorporates vacation rentals in its app. You can access inventory from FlipKey, Holiday Lettings and Niumba. All are owned by TripAdvisor. (Download it for iOS and Android.)

Pros: TripAdvisor’s app is the Swiss Army Knife of smartphone apps. It allows you to book vacation rentals and much more. It gives you access to its vast database of user-generated reviews. It also quotes rates by the week and for the entire stay, avoiding the price games other apps play.

Cons: The vacation rentals on TripAdvisor tend to be far more expensive than on other apps. Also, there are complaints about fake reviews and the app being “pushy” about other TripAdvisor products. Like other apps, they are trying to sell you something. 

Christopher Elliott

Vrbo

Vrbo offers to set up the “perfect vacation” with its smartphone app. You can search more than 2 million unique places to stay in 190+ countries. (Download it for iOS and Android.)

Pros: Vrbo’s new Trip Boards, integrated into its app, make it easy to find and share vacation rentals with friends and family. The app is great at showing instead of telling, putting big photos front and center.

Cons: Occasional complaints about glitchy software or currency confusion for non-American renters. Vrbo renters also gripe about high fees. 

What’s the best way to use a vacation rental app?

So which of these apps should you download? If you live in vacation rentals (like I do), the answer is: All of them.

An app like HomeToGo offers a broad overview of what’s out there. If you’re just trying to get an idea of pricing and availability, it’s a good place to start. Airbnb has a lot of inventory and is easy to use. Many travelers just default to Airbnb, believing they’ll always get the best deal. They might. Then again, they might not.Vrbo is hands-down the winner when it comes to collaboration tools (scroll down for details). Although its prices are a little higher than Airbnb’s, sometimes its hosts are willing to negotiate a lower rate if you ask.Booking.com is a must-have app if you’re planning a trip overseas, especially to Europe.

Although these apps have been thoroughly tested, they are far from perfect. As a regular user of all of these programs, I’ve found a glitch or two and have had to revert to booking on the website. 

Even if you prefer booking on a desktop, you should still consider having an app on your phone. The reason: One of the standout features for all of the apps is their messaging capability. You can easily communicate with a host through most of these apps. Best of all, there’s a written record of your communication. That can come in handy if there’s a dispute.

Christopher Elliott

What’s it like to book a rental through one of the best vacation rental apps?

I used Vrbo’s app recently to find a rental in western Colorado. My choice: Vrbo’s smartphone app (reviewed above). As is the case with most of my vacation rentals, this one didn’t lack drama.

I picked Vrbo for several reasons. At the top of the list: The collaborative features that allowed me to share rental options with my family.

Creating a Trip Board is a snap. You just have to “heart” a property. The app gives you the option of saving to an existing Trip Board or starting a new one. You can also select a friend with whom to share your collection of vacation rentals and they can add properties, vote on their favorites and leave comments.

One of the challenges of booking on a smartphone is that you’re working with a much smaller screen. Even a small desktop offers ample room to view photos and listing details. Vrbo’s answer is to simplify the booking interface and put the photos front and center. I liked the way it allowed you to swipe right to view property photos.

My kids and I can’t agree on much of anything. Also, we always do everything at the last minute. (That’s actually a good thing when you’re looking for a vacation rental. The best prices go to the renter who can wait.)

We couldn’t even agree on a region. 

My 14-year-old son wanted something on the Front Range — Denver or Boulder, but definitely not Fort Collins. I like Fort Collins, but was put off by the high prices in Denver in August. My 17-year-old son liked the ski towns in Summit County, but the hosts there had lost their minds, when it came to pricing. My 12-year-old daughter and I liked western Colorado. Grand Junction is a quiet, frontier kind of town, and we would be there during peach, plum and apricot season.

So we had three Trip Boards going plus a few dark horses, like Chicago and St. Louis. I thought we had an excellent chance of scoring a reasonably priced rental in at least one of the places. But the properties we liked were either unavailable or wanted to charge us the full rate for a monthly rental. 

And we were running out of time.

Here’s where Vrbo’s messaging capabilities made a difference. With just hours before we had to leave, we had to make some quick decisions. So when the western Colorado property came through with a decent monthly rate, I received the notification immediately through the Vrbo app. And I jumped on it.

The Vrbo app has a few standout qualities. They include messaging, collaboration and a dead simple search tool. Just about the only thing I didn’t do through the app was the actual booking. I preferred to do that from my browser, where I could review all the fine print in a larger desktop environment.

Behind the scenes at Vrbo

It turns out Vrbo’s app is relatively new. The company introduced it in 2017 but has made several significant updates to it since then. One of the most significant was its latest, in which it added Trip Boards. Vrbo says the app has been downloaded more than 10 million times.

“A great mobile experience is extremely important in the travel industry,” Eric Moore, Vrbo’s vice president of product, told me. For Vrbo, the trick was to build an app that made this a “go-to” app where you could find all the information you need about your vacation rental, such as check-in times, the address of the property, and instructions on accessing the vacation rental. 

He says the Vrbo app has three standout features:

Trip Boards

Trip Boards allow you to invite your family and friends to view, add, comment and vote on places to stay, making it easy to find a place that makes everyone happy. “Our new group planning tool makes planning a trip easier,” he says.

Virtual Assistant

A new Vrbo virtual assistant offers travelers a new way to locate property information quickly. With the help of artificial intelligence, the virtual assistant uses information from the listing page like ratings and reviews or text from the property description to answer commonly asked questions about the vacation rental. For example, “How many bedrooms?” or “Does your property have a pool?” “This saves both the traveler and the owner time,” says Moore.

Messaging

Communicating with owners is pretty seamless on the app. “It’s much more convenient than digging up an old email confirmation,” says Moore. “Additionally, push notifications alert you whenever you receive a communication from the owner or when any of your friends and family members comment or vote on a Trip Board property.”

Moore says his programmers are planning more features for upcoming releases of the Vrbo app. “Our developers are always looking for ways to optimize the user experience to make discovering, searching and booking vacation homes as convenient and enjoyable as possible,” he says.

Bottom line: if you’re not looking for — or booking — your vacation rental through a mobile device, you might be missing out. The best vacation rental apps have features that can help you find a vacation rental faster — and maybe help you save a little money.

The post The Best Vacation Rental Apps appeared first on Tripstations.

from Tripstations https://ift.tt/2zowyvz via IFTTT

[butterflies-and-muse]

Tag game

Thanks for tagging me @sing-for-muse !! Omg and the wonderful @my-dark-shines tagged me too thank you sm!! Alright here we go

THE LAST: 1. Drink: Water 2. Phone call: My sister 3. Text message: I usually use DMs, and that would be my friend Shailah. But if it has to be text its my sister. 4. Song you listened to: Fairly Local - Twenty one pilots 5. Time you cried: I don’t remember

HAVE YOU: 6. Dated someone twice: yeah.. I have.. 7. Kissed someone and regretted it: No 8. Been cheated on: No 9. Lost someone special: Yes 10. Been depressed: oh yeah 11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: haha no I’ve never drunk

LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS: 12. Red 13. Blue 14. Black

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU: 15. Made new friends: Yes!! 16. Fallen out of love: hmm I don’t think so 17. Laughed until you cried: ohh yes 18. Found out someone was talking about you: I don’t think so 19. Met someone who changed you: I believe so 20. Found out who your friends are: I’m not totally sure what’s being asked here, but I think so 21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: Fun fact- I actually deleted my Facebook a long time ago because Ive had since I was like 9 and it was pure cringe.

GENERAL: 22. How many of your Facebook friend do you know in real life: If you replace Facebook with Instagram, then its almost all of them 23. Do you have any pets: Yes!! I have a cat named Bella and she may or may not hate me 24. Do you want to change your name: Another fun fact- I have a pretty unique name but I happen to share it with a porn star.. So that’s nice. I guess I would like to change my name, but I don’t think I will. 25. What did you do for your last birthday: I invited a lot of my friends to my house and we ate tacos 26. What time did you wake up: uhem.. uhh definitely not 3 in the afternoon because I fell asleep at 6:30am,, definitely not that one 27. What were you doing at midnight last night: I’m pretty sure I was practicing the piano 28. Name something you can’t wait for: Season 3 of vld!! 29. When was the last time you saw your mom: Like a few minutes ago 30. What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: I just really wish I could see my friends more (fun fact #3 I recently moved) 31. What are you listening to right now: At this moment? Well nothing, but thanks for giving me the idea to listen to music while I finish this post. 32. Have you ever talked to a person named tom: Close, his name was tommy 33. Something that is getting on your nerves: LoTS, I don’t think this post needs to be 6 pages long though. 34. Most visited website: YouTube and Tumblr

RANDOM INFO 35. Mole/s: No, but lots of random dark freckles, unless you consider that a mole 36. Mark/s: Yes!! 37. Childhood dream: I believe a scientist 38. Hair color: Brown with blonde ombré 39. Long or short hair: Long 40. Do you have a crush on someone: Maybe 41. What do you like about yourself: That I have made wonderful friends 42. Piercings: Just some ear piercings 43. Blood type: Is it bad that I don’t know? 44. Nickname: I have a few, but my main is Angie 45. Relationship status: Single 46. Zodiac: Aries 47. Pronouns: She/her 48. Favorite tv show: At the moment it’s vld 50. Right or left hand: Right 51. Surgery: No 52. Hair dyed a different color: Yes 53. Sport: I used to play softball and volleyball ..the good old days when I actually did something with my life 55. Vacation: Mi casa 56. Pair of trainers: I do not know what this is

MORE GENERAL: 57. Eating: I’m actually currently eating these weird cinnamon things 58. Drinking: Is this asking if I drink, or what I drink. Idk but I’m just gonna say water. 59. I’m about to: Sleep ..sometime, probably. Actually that’s a lie. 61. Waiting for: Ik this is like the 3rd time I’ve mentioned this, but I have no life. Vld. 62. Want: I just really want some french fries right now 63. Get married: I don’t know if anyone would actually want to marry this 64. Career: I would love a career in music, but as that is unlikely I do really like science. Maybe an astronomer. 65. Hugs or kisses: Both 66. Lips or eyes: Eyes 67. Shorter or taller: I’m pretty average 68. Older or younger: Younger 70. Nice arms or nice stomach: uhhhh 71. Sensitive or loud: Probably loud, but actually both 72. Hook up or relationship: Relationship 73. Troublemaker or hesitant: Depends who I’m with

I did most of this tag but my tumblr is being really glitchy and keeps deleting my progress, so the full tag is at @sing-for-muse 

I tag: @exogenesis-lights @we-were-kissing-gods @youwillneverownmeagain @ohmisbelieverr @spiral-static @hoverboard-howard I kind of just tagged some random blogs so I hope you don’t mind

[just-chilling-out]

92 Statements

Tagged by: @theonepariah Rules: You must answer these 92 statements and tag 20 people

THE LAST:

1. Drink: Milk 2. Phone call: My mom 3. Text Message: I sent a gif of someone drinking wine to my friend 4. Song you listened to: Blood Sweat & Tears by BTS 5. Time you cried: Like 5 days ago 6. Dated someone twice: Nope 7. Kissed someone and regretted it: I’ve never kissed anyone 8. Been cheated on: Nope 9. Lost someone special: No 10. Been depressed: Yes 11. Gotten drunk and throwing up: Neither

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:

12. Purple

13. Aqua/Turquoise 14. Light Blue

IN THE LAST YEAR, HAVE YOU:

15. Made new friends: Yes

16. Fallen out of love: I’ve never been in love

17. Laughed until you cried: Yes 18. Found out someone was talking about you: Yes 19. Met someone who changed you: Not really 20. Found out who your friends are: Yes 21. Kissed someone on your facebook list: I’ve never kissed anyone

GENERAL:

22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: I don’t have Facebook 23. Do you have any pets: No 24. Do you want to change your name: Sometimes yes, sometimes no 25. What did you do for your last birthday: I had a sleepover with a couple of my friends 26. What time did you wake up: 8:30 am 27: What were you doing at midnight last night: I was on Tumblr on my phone 28. Name something you can’t wait for: I’m leaving for camp today, can’t wait to get there 29. When was the last time you saw your mom: She’s sitting across from  me right now 30. What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: I wish my mom had a job she actually liked 31. What are you listening to right now: Red Flavor by Red Velvet 32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: No 33. Something that is getting on your nerves: The weather 34. Most visited website: Probably AO3, Tumblr or Youtube 35.Mole/s: None

36. Mark/s: Stretch marks??

37.Childhood Dream: As a kid, I wanted to be a chef or a fashion designer

38: Hair color: Dark Brown 39. Long or short hair: Long 40. Do you have a crush on someone: Not right now 41. What do you like about yourself: My eyelashes and kinda my personality 42. Piercings: Only one in each ear but I’m planning on getting a couple more 43. Blood type: A+ 44. Nickname: I don’t have one 45. Relationship status: Single 46. Zodiac: Virgo 47. Pronouns: She/Her 48. Favorite TV show: I dont really have one, i dont have the patients to finish a tv show so i mostly start them and never finish them 49. Tattoos: None at the moment but im planning on getting a couple 50. Right or left-handed: Right 51. Surgery: None 52. Hair dyed a different colour: I have blond streacks in my hair but i want to dye it light purplw 53. Sport: I play volleyball and i like to swim 54. Vacation: I’ve always wanted to go to Italy and Japan

MORE GENERAL: 57. Eating: Nothing 58. Drinking: Nothing 59. I’m about to: Idk, finish this post?? 61. Waiting for: 11 am so I can leave to go to camp 62. Want: Art supplies, books and tumblr friends 63. Get married: ??? 64. Career: I’d like to be an architect

WHICH IS BETTER: 65. Hug or kisses: I’ve never been kissed but I really like to cuddle so hugs 66. Lips or eyes: Both 67. Shorter or taller: I don’t really care 68. Older or younger: Older 70. Nice arms or nice stomach: Stomach i guess 72. Hook up or relationship: Relationship 73. Troublemaker or hesitant: Depends on the situation

HAVE YOU EVER: 74. Kissed a stranger: No 75. Drank hard liquor: No 76. Lost glasses/contact lenses: No and thank god cause my mom would kill me 77. Turned someone down: No 78. Sex on the first date: I’ve never been on a date 79. Broken someone’s heart: idk 80. Had your heart broken: Not in a relationship way 81. Been arrested: No 82. Cried when someone died: In a book or on TV 83. Fallen for a friend: No

DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 84. Yourself: Depends 85. Miracles: Yes 86. Love at first sight: Lust at first sight, not love 87. Santa Claus: No 88. Kiss on the first date: Maybe, depends on the mood 89. Angels: Yes but not in a biblical way

OTHER: 90. Current bestfriends name: Amira, Sharai, Christina, and Abyan 91. Eye color: Dark Brown 92. Favorite movie: There’s to many but I really liked Home (the cartoon with the aliens)

I'm not gonna tag 20 people cause I don’t know that man people on this site, I'll just tag the people that are in my notes @omgneonwhite @shewhoforgothedragon@carlybird9 @bookfandomsaremylife @tommoscott @lysselove

*Please ignore the glitchy spacing, my computers being an idiot

[cdrforea]

Cricut Maker Review: It Cuts Everything but the Kitchen Sink

New Post has been published on https://bestedevices.com/cricut-maker-review-it-cuts-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink.html

Cricut Maker Review: It Cuts Everything but the Kitchen Sink

“The machine builders want that. It cuts, scores and draws on everything from paper to wood. "

Cuts, embossing and scores

Draws and writes

Uses a wide range of materials

Super intuitive

Feels robust

Glitchy app

Sticky mats are annoying

No screen

Cricut has been the pinnacle of paper making machinery since 2006. Although these machines are very popular among artisans, the company has decided to improve their game and develop a machine that can do almost anything. That's how the Cricut Maker ($ 399.99) was born.

This machine can cut, score, emboss and perforate paper. This can be expected with this type of machine. However, it can also cut vinyl, thin wood, fabric, cardboard and felt and draw with special pens that you insert into the machine.

While the Cricut Maker seems to be doing everything, it has some limitations. Let's dive into what this craft machine has to offer.

No scanning

The maker works a little differently than its competition. You don't scan designs that you want to cut. You upload images to your Cricut Design Space account or choose from thousands of pre-made designs. I found this much easier than trying to find the right shape, print it out, and then scan it into my cutting machine. As soon as I had an idea, I could use the Maker to search for the right shape online using the Design Space or via the app. Then I added it to my virtual canvas, tweaked it how I wanted it, and sent the image to the maker for cutting.

You also have the option to join the Cricut Access membership plan ($ 9.99 per month), which gives you access to over 100,000 fonts, images, and projects that you can use with your Maker computer. Membership also gives you discounts on deliveries.

No, so tasty

I was thrilled to be able to use the Cricut app to find projects, fonts and shapes that could be sent to the maker. I set up the machine on my coffee table and started cutting different shapes for a vacation project while watching TV. However, I was amazed very soon.

The app is very buggy and tends to crash while creating projects. A look at the app reviews in the Android Play Store gives the impression that I'm not the only one who is frustrated with the app.

After struggling for over an hour, I gave up and grabbed my laptop. The online site works fantastic and I was able to shorten my projects immediately.

Cutting edge

The app didn't impress me, but the functions of the Cricut Maker. Getting started is easy with the step-by-step instructions and foolproof design of the Cricut Design Space website. The site is completely intuitive and guides you through the creation of a project. You will be asked what type of material you are using and it will be suggested what type of tool should be loaded into the machine for you to get good results.

Speaking of results, the cuts are spectacular. The cuts that Maker made on fabric were precise and left no torn edges. The paper cuts were sharp and the vinyl creations were perfect.

The only material I was not impressed with was wood. My project had some areas that weren't completely cut through, even though I used wood that Cricut sold specifically for the machine.

It draws

If you're like me, you've looked at beautifully crafted art on Pinterest with perfectly handwritten typeface and longed to write so beautifully.

Well, the people at Cricut must have heard our silent wishes, because the maker can write anything you want about your projects in a nice script. All you have to do is place a special pen in the A slot of the device, type what you want to say on the canvas project page, select a font, and then set the line type to Draw.

Our opinion

I love the maker, but there are some features that could improve it. For example, I would have liked a built-in screen like the one on Brother ScanNCut2 so that I can use the device without my phone or laptop.

I would also like to cut objects without sticking them to a mat, like the Silhouette Cameo 4. I found that pulling the cut objects off the mats often crumpled or crumpled them when I wasn't careful and slow.

I also recommend budgeting some money for accessories. For example, only one blade is included and you need many different types of blades to achieve all of the manufacturer's functions, e.g. B. embossing, cutting wood and crevices. There is also no scraper included, which is a must to keep the sticky mats clean.

Although the Cricut Maker has some limitations due to its faulty app, missing screen, and dependency on sticky mats, it's a solid craft machine that really doesn't have a close rival on the market. It makes clean cuts and gives your craft a professional advantage that will delight your friends and family.

Is there a better alternative?

No other machine has the versatility of what it can cut combined with the ability to access projects.

How long it will take?

The Cricut Maker appears to be robust. The plastic case is thick and the cutter and pen holder are made of thick metal. A one-year warranty is also provided.

Should you buy it

Yes. It's a little pricey at $ 399.99, but if you're looking for a machine with versatility, it's worth it.

Editor's recommendations

[andylocksmithtipsntricks]

The Best VPN Service

Best for Maximum Privacy

NordVPN

Read Review

30-day money-back guarantee

Advanced security features

30-day money-back guarantee

Advanced security features

Visit Site

Read Review

Best for Streaming

ExpressVPN

Read Review

Dedicated servers for streaming

Educational features

Dedicated servers for streaming

Educational features

Visit Site

Read Review

Security Alert October 23, 2019

NordVPN has revealed a security breach of one of its servers in March 2018. In addition, VPN providers TorGuard and VikingVPN may have also been breached in 2018. Learn more about the NordVPN breach in the review below, and read NordVPN’s full response.

Bottom Line: NordVPN Delivers Security and Speed

NordVPN stands out in hands-on tests for both speed and advanced security features, making it our best overall VPN provider. NordVPN is located in Panama, which puts it out of the reach of the “14 Eyes” countries (an international surveillance alliance that works to collect and share data). That means its no-logging policies are more legitimate than VPNs that operate in countries with surveillance agreements (like the US).

This VPN provider also comes loaded with leading security features like Double VPN (your data is encrypted twice) and DNS (Domain Name System) leak protection. That means if your computer ever reverts to its original DNS, NordVPN will detect it and reroute your online traffic to the safe VPN “tunnel.”

But all those extra security measures can slow down your connection, so it might not be the best choice for online gamers and anyone else needs a lot of speed.

Compare the Best VPN Services

VPN Monthly Price Special Offers Number of Connections Supported Server Locations Learn More

$11.95 $12.95 $10.00 $9.99 30-day money-back guarantee 30-day money-back guarantee 7-day money-back guarantee 7-day free trial 6 3 10 5 5,100 servers 60 countries 160 servers 94 countires 1,300 servers 50 countries 3,000 servers 50 countries Visit Site Visit Site Visit Site Visit Site

{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Table", "about": "" }

Data effective 05/06/2019. Offers and availability subject to change.

Top 4 VPN Services

NordVPN: Best for Maximum Privacy

ExpressVPN: Best for Streaming

IPVanish

TorGuard VPN

How We Tested the Best VPNs

It was all hands on deck as we dug in to find the best VPN service provider. In addition to in-depth online research examining all the ins and outs of the most popular VPNs on the market, we also looked at expert and customer reviews and conducted our own hands-on tests. Four members of our team tried out six different VPNs, looking for how well each performed in these specific areas:

Setup and installation: How easy was it to install on different devices, how much time did it take, and were they any hiccups?

Performance: How well did activities like streaming, online gaming, and other online activities perform? Were you able to access services like Netflix?

Speed: How did the VPN affect upload and download speeds on different devices (desktop and mobile; iOS and Android)?

Mobile app functions: Was the app easy to install, and did it work as expected?

Features: What extra features are available, and did they deliver as promised?

Reviews: Best VPN Service

NordVPN: Best for Maximum Privacy

Visit Site

If privacy is your top concern, NordVPN offers the most privacy protection of any of the VPNs we considered. This VPN service provides all the standard security you expect from a VPN, but they load on a bunch of extras.From Double VPN protection to DNS leak protection and military-grade encryption, NordVPN is like having your own private Secret Service agent when you go online.

NordVPN Pricing

1 Month 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years $11.95 $83.88 $95.75 $107.55

You also get an automatic kill switch that instantly blocks access to the internet if you accidentally lose connection to the VPN. That means there’s virtually no way you can inadvertently expose yourself online when NordVPN is on the job. Plus, its Panama location ensures that even if your data is somehow tracked, the VPN provider can’t be forced to hand over any information.

But NordVPN came in second for speed and streaming. We ran into trouble downloading content on Netflix, and some sites wouldn’t load at all, including Amazon. That’s a major bummer if you want a VPN for safer online shopping. Our tester also noted that NordVPN worked better on her Mac than on her PC, so it might be a better fit for Mac users.

About the NordVPN Security Breach

In March 2018, a NordVPN server in Finland was accessed by a hacker. The hacker stole an expired internal private key that allowed them access to a data center where the server was housed.

NordVPN’s seemingly late response to the early 2018 breach was due to the company’s ongoing investigation and subsequent confirmation that the threat was no longer viable. NordVPN learned about the incident a few months ago.

Because of NordVPN’s no-logging policy, there were no user activity logs or user data available to the hacker. And the stolen key didn’t give the hacker the means to decrypt any customer data that may have been present.

When the data center learned of the breach, it deleted the accounts that led to the vulnerability and did not inform NordVPN.

“As soon as we learned of the breach, the server and our contract with the provider were terminated and we began an extensive audit of our service,” says NordVPN in its official response.

The response continues, “The security of our customers is the highest priority to us and we will continue to raise our standards further and further.”

Our Tester’s Biggest Pros and Cons:

“No tech knowledge needed. As long as you can install an app, you’ll be fine.”

“The VPN made it hard to load some sites. I couldn’t get Amazon to load at all on my PC. On my Mac, Amazon was significantly slowed.”

Pros

5,160 servers

Zero logging policy

Deep discount for annual subscription

Cryptocurrency payment options

Double encryption

30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Slower speeds due to double encryption

Issues downloading content on some sites

Glitchy PC performance

ExpressVPN: Best for Streaming

Visit Site

ExpressVPN was the winner when it came to easy setup (everything was said and done in under two minutes) and the number of streaming services that it works with. But even though you get a hefty discount if you opt for the annual plan—it works out to about four months free—it’s still the most expensive VPN on our list.

ExpressVPN Pricing

1 Month 6 Months 12 Months $12.95 $59.95 $99.95

One of the things that made ExpressVPN stand out is its educational tutorials. The ExpressVPN website provides security tips, online privacy news, and step-by-step guides about things like how to delete your search history. Our testers also reported no lag or diminished quality of video or audio when streaming—and download speeds were quick. Finally, ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, another jurisdiction that isn’t subject to international surveillance agreements, so you can trust that its no-logging policy is legit.

ExpressVPN got dinged by our testers for higher monthly pricing and limited simultaneous connections. You can have only three connections, which is the smallest number of all the VPNs we looked at. It also has the fewest VPN server locations. And even though you get a hefty discount if you opt for the annual plan—it works out to about four months free—it’s still the most expensive VPN on our list.

Our Tester’s Biggest Pros and Cons:

“They sent a setup email right after signup and linked to handy resource pages to help me! The directions were super clear (even though I ended up not needing them because the setup was pretty intuitive).”

“Occasional lag on my phone. Support was available only in English.”

Pros

Quality streaming experience

Easy setup (best in our test)

Educational privacy tutorials

Bitcoin and other anonymous payment options

30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Small number of servers

Limited simultaneous connections

Expensive prices

Other VPNs We Considered

IPVanish

IPVanish Pricing

1 Month 3 Months 1 Year $10.00 $26.99 $77.99

This VPN service is jam-packed with features and works with nearly every OS and device out there. IPVanish also has one of the most intuitive VPN apps we saw, which helps you navigate its feature-rich landscape. But if you’re not very tech-savvy, it may all feel a bit daunting at first.

Even though IPVanish won our desktop speed test (there was only a 9% drop in download speed), our tester noticed a big lag when browsing on their iPhone. Other minuses include its US location and a longer setup and installation process—it took the longest among all the VPNs we tested.

Pros

Impressive app

Fast speeds

1,300+ servers

7-day money-back guarantee

Cons

App features that can be confusing

US Jurisdiction

TorGuard VPN

TorGuard Anonymous VPN Pricing

Monthly Plan Quarterly Plan Semi-Annual Plan Yearly Plan $9.99 $19.99 $29.99 $59.99

TorGuard VPN was the most technologically challenging VPN we tested. Our tester was able to get it set up and navigate the features, but it wasn’t a simple process. TorGuard offers some advanced security features, like DNS leak protection and the option to turn off your connection to the internet when TorGuard isn’t running, but it requires more tech knowledge than we expected to take full advantage of everything this VPN offers.

The biggest disappointment was that after trudging through the high-tech setup, the one thing our tester really wanted to do (stream a favorite show in the UK) didn’t work. We think TorGuard will do the job to ensure your privacy online, but we recommend it only for diehard techies. If you’re just looking for a simple VPN solution, this isn’t it.

Pros

3,000+ servers

Built-in DNS leak protection

Dedicated IP address add-on for streaming

7-day free trial

Cons

High tech app and features

US Jurisdiction

VPN Terms to Know

Let’s face it—when it comes to VPNs, it gets technical fast. To help decode the VPN lingo, we’ve put together a quick list of common terms you need to know.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN is a like a secret tunnel that gets you to the internet from your home network or mobile device undetected. It hides your connection and everything you do while connected (shopping, browsing, bingeing on Netflix) so that hackers and other cybercriminals can’t get to you.

DNS (Domain Name System)

The DNS is the internet’s phonebook. It takes the words we use to find a website (like SafeWise.com) and translates it into language your computer understands. Basically, it converts everything into numerical IP addresses. DNS servers are the GPS that gets you to your internet destination. They can also be tracked, which gives hackers information about what you’re doing online.

DNS Leak Protection

This is a security feature offered by many VPNs. A DNS leak is a breach in your internet connection, and due to glitchy Wi-Fi connections or a flaw in your device, a leak can happen even if you’re using a VPN. These leaks are usually momentary disconnections that leave your internet browsing and other activities vulnerable. Leak protection is a VPN feature that blocks any access to the internet—even for a second—if the VPN isn’t active.

Encryption

Encryption is the process of translating data into a code so that it’s protected, even if there is a security breach.

The 14 Eyes

If this term makes you think of James Bond or Killing Eve, then you’re on the right track. The 14 Eyes refers to global surveillance alliances that are in place to collect and share data. It’s called the 14 Eyes because there are 14 countries involved, including the US. When it comes to keeping your information private, a VPN company based in one of the 14 Eyes countries can be forced to share any data they’ve collected–even if they have no-logging policies. A list of 14 Eyes countries is included below.

Australia

Belgium

Canada

Denmark

France

Germany

Italy

The Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Spain

Sweden

The United Kingdom

The United States

No-Logging Policy

VPNs are all about privacy, so when you use one, you don’t want to leave a record of your online activities. If a VPN claims to have a no-logging policy, that means the VPN servers keep no record of what you do on the internet when you’re using the VPN. Most VPNs advertise a no-logging policy, but some are more reliable than others. If the VPN provider is located in a 14 Eyes jurisdiction, then any records that do exist (like your account information) could still be accessed by a government or law enforcement agency.

FAQs

Why should I use a VPN?

A VPN is one of the fiercest protectors you have when it comes to online privacy—it creates a private network no matter where you are. We recommend always using a VPN when you’re on public Wi-Fi networks, but it can be smart to use one on your home Wi-Fi network as well. Here are some of our top reasons to use a VPN.

Hide your actual IP address and location.

Encrypt all the data that’s transmitted over your internet connection.

Access websites that are available only in certain countries and bypass censorship restrictions.

Prevent hackers from accessing your internet connection and data.

Shop online safely.

What devices can I use with a VPN?

You should be able to use a VPN with any device that connects over the internet. Whether its a PC, Mac, tablet, smartphone, or a home Wi-Fi router, you can use a VPN to protect your online activities. You can also use VPNs with some smart TVs and with Amazon Fire TV.

Will a VPN slow down my internet connection?

Probably. Most VPNs have an impact on both download and upload speeds. But there have been so many advances in VPN technology that most of the time that lag isn’t detectable. You’re most likely to notice sluggish performance during streaming activities, like watching a movie or online gaming. If you notice a big difference, try using a VPN server that’s close to your physical location. If the problem persists, contact customer service.

Are free VPN services as good as paid ones?

Probably not. That’s not to say you’d be better off with no VPN over one that’s free, but when it comes to protecting your information from online threats, it’s worth a little investment. We didn’t include a free VPN among our recommendations. Instead, we chose paid VPN services because they are less likely to experience a data leak or share your information.

If you want a VPN only for occasional web browsing, then a free VPN could be enough protection. But if you’re online regularly—and especially if you conduct any banking or other financial transactions online—we recommend going with a paid VPN service provider.

More Resources to Keep You Safe Online

10 Cybersecurity Tips for Online Shopping

How to Protect Your Children Online

How Can I Keep Grandma and Grandpa Safe Online?

Best Parental Control Apps and Software Buyers Guide

Best Anti-Malware and Antivirus Software

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