#Ticket-Based Access Control

[parkomax]

Ticket-Based Parking: Reliable Access Control and Revenue Management Manage parking operations efficiently with Parkomax’s ticket-based solution, offering robust access control, revenue tracking, and a smooth flow for vehicles entering and exiting your facility.

[obaex]

the blind date - rafe cameron

summary: your friends set you and rafe up on a blind date, but it doesn't go quite as you'd expected.

words: 1.7k

a/n: based on this request ♡♡ the way this has me giggling and kicking my feet in the air - ahhhh!

“Alright lemme make sure I have this straight: unlimited access to your jet skis for the rest of the summer, your season tickets to the first two Panthers home games, and two cases of whatever beer I want?” Rafe confirmed, looking over to the driver’s seat at his friend Dylan who huffed in reply and rubbed a hand over his face.

“Yes, dude, that’s what we agreed on. Christ, it’s a blind date, not a death sentence. I swear to God if Maddie didn’t put me up to this, I would’ve left your ass to wallow at home alone.”

“I’m doing you a favor” Rafe replied, “It’s the least you could do.”

“I’m telling you she’s hot, you know you might actually be into her, did you even consider that?”

Rafe looked at him completely perplexed. “What makes you think I’m even looking for a girl? I do just fine as it is, thank you very much, plus you and I have very different tastes.” A pause. “Can I please see her insta?”

“We’ve been over this. No. Maddie said it would defeat the purpose of the ‘blind’ part of a blind date.”

“So fucking stupid” Rafe said as he shook his head and looked out the passenger side window.

You had gotten to the restaurant early; your best friend Maddie wanted to make sure every little thing was perfect and she was practically bubbling over with excited energy at the prospect of your blind date.

“This is going to be amazing, I just know it!!!” she said enthusiastically. “He is so your type, I will be at your wedding, babes, I swear it! Ahhh!” She had pulled you into the bathroom and was fluffing up your hair, touching up your lip gloss and tugging at your dress.

“So happy you went with this one, like yes you will thank me later, you look so damn hot.”

For all her flustered energy, you appreciated her hype and as you looked in the mirror you kinda had to agree with her. She had helped with your hair and makeup and the result was truly stunning; you had just the right amount of makeup on to make your natural beauty pop. Your dress was a little more revealing than you were used to, but it did make you feel confident and who knows, the way she talked about this guy, maybe it would all work out?

“Okay, okay, enough fussing, I’m already nervous enough. Can we please get a drink? I need a drink” you said, moving to walk out of the bathroom as she checked her own appearance in the mirror one last time before following you.

“Yes, good idea, you go loosen up, I’m going to make sure they got us that table by the window.”

You sidled up to the bar and leaned your arms on it, happy to have a moment’s reprieve from Maddie’s frenetic energy as you looked around in an attempt to distract yourself. The restaurant was really cute, coastal and modern and there was a sizable crowd between the bar and dining area. The steady thump of tropical house music played softly in the background which calmed your nerves and lifted your mood.

Within moments the bartender spotted you and made his way over. He was just about to greet you when he glanced over your shoulder. “Rafe! What’s up!” he said enthusiastically. “So sorry m’am, just one moment” he apologized as he clapped hands with the tall stranger that had walked up beside you. “What can I get you, bro?”

Rafe was smiling at the bartender and glanced at you briefly when he realized you’d been snubbed. It was a quick glance but he did a double take before he could control himself. You were… simply perfect. Your face held an expression of amusement and surprise with a clear smile that rested on perfectly glossed lips. You had an effortless air about you like you woke up every morning looking that good and then immediately every part of him wanted to know what you’d really look like in the morning… in his bed… at Tanneyhill… the sun reaching through the blinds…

What the fuck is the matter with me? he thought suddenly. And then, Fuck. Was I staring?

The bartender was looking at him expectantly with an eyebrow raised. He asked me something. Drink. A drink. What do I want to drink?

“Yeah man, I’ll have a bourbon, neat, and uh, whatever she wants” he replied, nodding his head towards you.

You smirked at him before glancing at the bartender, “Spicy margarita please, and since he’s paying, I’ll take it with Patrón.”

“Oof” Rafe said, grabbing his chest with his hand like you’d delivered a physical blow to him, “Way to take advantage.”

You laughed and tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear. “Yeah, well, I don’t believe in coincidences, and it just so happens I need some liquid courage. If a handsome stranger is offering, I’m taking top shelf.”

Rafe pursed his lips and nodded, trying to tamp down the feeling in his heart that you'd called him handsome. He glanced back towards the door to see if he could see Dylan and couldn’t find him. Good he thought, allowing himself to feel guilty for half a second until he refocused on the sight of you in front of him.

He cleared his throat. “So, uh, liquid courage?” he asked.

“I’m meeting a date here actually” you said, shaking your head, your blushed cheeks turning slightly rosier. “It’s a whole thing…” you trailed off, waving your hand dismissively.

Rafe couldn’t reason with himself why he felt so angry that you were here for someone else. Thankfully the drinks arrived which gave him a moment to process as he watched you take a deep sip of your drink.

‘What asshole doesn’t pick a girl up and take her on the date himself?’ he thought. Well, he thought he thought before he realized he’d said it out loud as you nearly choked on your drink in laughter.

You shook your head again, smiling and laughing “It’s not like that, it’s –”

“—Nah, I’m sorry, it’s not my business, I shouldn’t have said that” he interrupted, mortified that he'd let that slip.

“You’re fine” you reassured him. “It was sweet. It’s nice to know there are still decent men out there willing to keep things chivalrous.”

I would’ve picked you up he thought. On time. Walked to your front door. Flowers in hand.

His head was spinning. What the fuck is going on with me. He looked down at his drink and then drank it in one swig. When he set the glass down, he caught your look of amusement as he coughed.

“You good?” you asked, giggling.

He grimaced, “I will be” he said, holding up his empty to signal the bartender for another.

“Is my company that bad?” you joked.

His eyes darted to yours, “Quite the opposite, sweetheart” he said in a low voice that you felt from your beating heart to your fingertips to your belly and shaky knees. Shit you thought as you registered the effect this man had on you.

You blushed and met his warm gaze, realizing for the first time how deeply blue his eyes were, like sapphires. The two of you stood there, an arms-length away and it was like time stood still. You could feel your pulse in your throat, feel your body tingling like it was physically reacting to his proximity. Was he stepping closer to you or were you imagining it? His eyes left yours for only an instant to look at your lips and in that moment he had you hook line and sinker.

Suddenly, your phone buzzed on the bar in front of you and you jumped. He took an imperceptible step back, clearing his throat.

“S-sorry” you mumbled, quickly swiping open a text from Maddie: ‘Where r u?!!!!”

Shit.

“I-I’ve got to…” you waved your phone by way of excuse and nodded your head towards the tables, literally unable to string a sentence together at this point.

“Yeah, no problem” Rafe said, as casually as he could muster as you moved to leave. “Try to have a good time. And, hey” he said, capturing your attention one more time “Tell this guy he better give you a ride next time, okay? None of this high school ‘I’ll meet you there’ shit, okay?”

You laughed at your little inside joke and met his gaze one more time before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Rafe’s next drink arrived and he slammed it back instantly before settling the tab, leaving a hefty cash tip and making his way towards the dining room.

Dylan fucking owes me he thought through gritted teeth, grimacing all the way through the crowded room, replaying your smile, the way you'd looked at him through thick eyelashes, even the way you’d smelled: like vanilla and coconut.

He was clenching and unclenching his fists as he searched the crowd, willing this godawful date to be over before it had even started. Finally he caught a glimpse of Maddie’s bright hair and Dylan’s frame at a table by the window; he moved to shift around several people when his eyes met yours, seated next to Maddie, across from an empty seat.

“Oh my god” you said, covering your mouth with your hand, stifling a fit of laughter and joy when you caught his eye.

He began to laugh too, the tension in his body immediately dissipating as he rubbed a hand over his face in an attempt to wipe away the goofy grin he felt there as he took his seat.

“What is going on, do you two know each other, what am I missing?” Maddie demanded.

“Nothing, it’s nothing, Mads” you said, giggling as your eyes danced and twinkled at Rafe.

She narrowed her eyes as they darted between the two of you. “Okaayyyyy, well YN, this is Rafe!”

“So, so nice to meet you” you said, your voice dripping with sarcasm, though you were thrilled to actually know his name.

“The pleasure is truly mine, sweetheart” he played back, a knowing smile resting on his lips that had you bursting at the seams as you two ogled each other.

Maddie and Dylan looked at you both like you were crazy as you just stared and giggled at one another before they gave up and settled back into their own conversation and you and Rafe picked up your menus.

“Tomorrow at 7:00” Rafe said just quietly enough for you to hear him as he pretended to eye the menu.

“What?” you whispered in reply.

“Be ready tomorrow at 7:00. I’m taking you out. And I’ll be picking you up this time” he said as he shot you a smirk over his menu.

taglist: @ietss, @gillybear17, @palmwinemami, @moremaybank, @one-sweet-gubler, @m-indkiller, @diary-of-jj, @crlsummer

[empyrealoasis]

hey so im going to explain my situation and the context , i also want to request you to please answer this ask as nobody is replying to me and i need it the most right now.

I've been into LOA and manifesting for 4 years, and a month ago, I decided to use the Void to manifest. My main desires are good grades, my grandfather’s health, and easier manifestation. I’ve tried meditating, using SATS, and entering trance states to access the Void, but despite using different methods, I haven’t succeeded. On November 20, my grandfather passed away, which has deeply affected me and my family. I also have my board exam viva on December 3 with zero preparation and a 30% attendance rate, putting my eligibility for the boards at risk. I urgently need to enter the Void to manifest solutions, as there’s no time left.

Please offer advice

Hi my dear, before I give you any advice I will reiterate that I do not respond to asks and dms, especially if you can find the answers in the community. The knowledge that you need is readily accessible at any point in time, all you have to do is read and apply. I'm not trying to be disrespectful towards you or anyone else, but if you looked at my introduction post I've stated my rules clearly. However, I have no problem in making some exceptions! >_<

Firstly, the usage of "tried", "entering" and "using different methods" says a lot about how you view the void state. The void state is not a magical place you try to enter. It is within you. Pure consciousness is a state and you are always changing states. Whether it is falling asleep or walking. Do you try to go to sleep? Do you try to breathe? So why are you trying to enter the void state/pure consciousness? There's a reason why anons, like yourself, including other bloggers and myself say that when they induce pure consciousness after months/years of "trying", they realize how easy and simple it was.

Secondly, you are overcomplicating the void state. By using various, elaborate methods and overconsuming, you are bound to spiral and search for an answer you already know. There isn't anything I can tell you that you don't already know. There isn't a cheat code or special method/ritual only bloggers know. You don't try methods to walk or run, so don't apply them to something you were born to do.

The most basic and effective way of inducing pure consciousness is going to bed 30 minutes to an hour earlier than usual. Relax your body by doing what works for you, whether it's through meditating, counting or hypnosis. Ignore your body and 3D by focusing on the darkness behind your eyelids and breathing. Affirm and allow yourself to slip into pure consciousness.

"My four principles: Relax, Ignore, Affirm, Allow"

In the same way, you ignore your surroundings when you want to sleep it's the same principle for inducing the void state. The only difference is you keep your mind active instead of entering the dream state.

Now, based on your circumstances your mental health is causing you to be desperate and emotionally dependent on seeing results in the 3D. In my humble opinion, I think you need to take time for yourself and work on your mental health for a while before you try to induce pure consciousness. It's unwise to idolize the void state as your only ticket to living your best life, as you can become more depressed- and develop more mental health problems in the long run. I also believe you should focus on your education and grief. If you're not up to that, induce pure consciousness when you feel most comfortable and happy. After all, I can't tell you what you can and cannot do. Only you can make that decision.

Lastly, I'm going to be transparent but I was once in your shoes as well. I was OBSESSED with the idea of the void state. I put it on a pedestal, became dependent and I became even more depressed. I spiralled out of control and fixated on the idea of entering. Long story short, I got absolutely nowhere. I only had success with entering (as you may see from my ask to @konniesreality) after I focused on getting a somewhat stable mindset and self-concept. I don't think I included it in that ask specifically, but that was pretty much my "secret" to MY success. It's NOT necessary, but I think it's worth it to put your mental health first in the long run.

I hope you find my response helpful and good luck on your journey! Remember to be kind to yourself and to take care of yourself. It's okay to take your time as it is infinite. :>

- Aquamarine 🐋🐚

[3koboldsinahoodie]

Hello not at all my usual posting but please consider signing this petition - it applies in NZ but I believe you can sign from anywhere.

Destiny Church is a cult/hate group with charity status in Aotearoa New Zealand, meaning they do not have to pay tax, while being violent instigators of anti LGBT hatred. They recently attacked a ticketed drag event where they *assaulted a teenager*, as well as protesting the parade in Auckland. They are aggressive and violent, and incredibly controlling of members making it nearly impossible for anyone who questions the beliefs to leave.

Their actions have made many LGBT+ Aucklanders feel unsafe and it is clear they are likely to continue to target LGBT people and events.

Please consider signing this petition to strip them of their charity status. In having this, the NZ goverment is essentially cosigning their actions as well as allowing them access to more funds than they would have if they paid their fuckin taxes. Honestly they should be locked up but this is the bare minimum

I know most of my followers are probably US based and you guys have enough to worry about right now, but support is always appreciated 💞

[heartbreakprincewille]

I've seen some people say that August becoming the Crown Prince isn't really a punishment for a person like him and he basically got everything he wanted.

And it IS true on some fronts. He will be holding the title of King, his name will go down the history, he will be wealthy and will be the pinnacle of class and privilege and everything he believes in AND he will be good at his duties.

But he won't be happy.

Throughout the seasons, we see his shell break, little by little. He is not a changed person by the end, but we get to see more of where he comes from and how he feels about everything that happens around him. He does not become a selfless, remorseful and redeemed person- he still sees the world from his self-obsessed lens. But that lens shifts from almost-evil narcissism to a sort of awareness- that he is a person who can love, and can be loved, a person who can be truly happy. But then Sara leaves him for good- and he has no reason to hold onto this hope. What is he supposed to do with this awareness, when he has no one to reinforce it back to him?

And now he will be the Crown Prince. The eventual King. His circle will be extremely restricted, his life will be controlled by a whole institution. Unlike Wilhelm, August is more of a pleaser when it comes to authority figures- how can he ever find a way to find happiness for himself when he will be too busy people-pleasing?

He will be living the ultimate Cishet Man-Alpha Male Life- a life full of power, status and he will enjoy aspects of it, there's no denying- after all, he is a believer in class and heirarchies. But he will also shrivel in his shell- he will be giving himself away to an institution which leeches onto anyone who is willing to step into its shoes, the Individual Person behind that title be damned.

Whenever I think about what his life will be like as a Royal, I remember that scene from S3 E5- a drunk August gulping down wine after wine, the life of the party, the "crowned" Bad Boy of his class, seemingly having the time of his life. But then he steps out of the room for some air, and he throws away the title of "Bad Boy"- a title based on how people perceive him, but he no longer identifies with it. He is relieved only when he sees Sara- a person who showed him a part of himself he does identify with. But now, he no longer has access to that part of himself.

In my mind, August will be a true successor to Kristina- carrying the legacy of an institution forward even if it costs them their relationships and their mental peace, with an unfortunate romance locked somewhere in their hearts. But his journey to accept this role would be harder than it was for Wilhelm- after all, August was the spare of a spare. How could he ever know what was coming for him?

I think that is why an open ending works for his character- we can imagine him extremely smug to win the lottery ticket, but we can also imagine him realizing that he willingly stepped into a trap he can never free himself from.

[ariel-seagull-wings]

@the-blue-fairie @princesssarisa

"The stage musical is a popular format to try and capture the discontent of the... something. There's a lot of those. But RENT is literally based on the first "We Have Been Left Behind by the System: The Musical".

La Bohème was the original... that.

Puccini's La Bohème was arguably the start of the mainstream counter-cultural "fighting the man" musical.

It is the basis of not only RENT, but many modern films and musicals, most notably Moulin Rouge which, although based on La Traviata, borrows arguably more from Bohème than Traviata, or the film from which it takes its name, but not its exclamation point!

I'd summarize the plot, but it's basically identical to RENT; swap out tuberculosis with AIDS, the Latin Quarter with Alphabet City, the 1840s with the 1980s, and American-ify the characters' names a bit.

Puccini's Bohème was popular because its characters were relatable and the story was emotionally charged.

The real revelation here is that his opera is about an underclass; he isn't writing about kings or dukes, but about starving artists who feel that they've been left behind.

It is truly a universal story translatable to any era.

Phantom of the Opera also draws a lot of inspiration from Bohème in that it goes a long way with raw, simple, shallow emotionality. 

But the difference between Phantom and RENT is, Phantom wasn't trying to make a grand statement about society.

And the truth is, La Bohème isn't either. Not really.

It exists more in the same vein as Moulin Rouge. See, they use terms like "revolution" in Moulin Rouge, but really it's about emotionality with an artistic movement set as the backdrop.

Shows like this have romantic ideas in the guise of revolution, but none of them challenge any existing power structures in a way that might alienate the wealthy audience.

Every decade sort of had its own: the 1960s had Hair, the 70s had Jesus Christ Superstar, 80's had Les Mis, 90s had RENT.

2000s... *wanted* to have Spring Awakening (but really they had Avenue Q).

They all tried to capture the voice of the class of youngs that feel left out of the system, although all of these are what George Ishikawa has called "bourgeois" or "finished theater".

In other words, they frame themselves as revolutionary, but continue to push the voice, worldview, and values of the status quo; in this case, middle-class white kids who want to pass off their home movies as "true art."

(...)

Echoing Marx, Boal argues that the dominant art is the art of the dominant class, who control the means to disseminate art; in this case, Broadway shows.

All of these shows revolve around the social discontent of some underclass, but the shows did not reach the mainstream because some underclass propelled them there.

RENT did claw its way up from off-Broadway, yes, but only because it found success with the people who had money. 

Hamilton is a perfect example of this phenomenon in action right now; high demand and extremely limited quantities mean that only the wealthy control access to the stage show.

A lottery system does exist that sells tickets for $10, but there are 21 of these tickets *per show*, and thousands of entrants; real access comes in the form of people with thousands of dollars to drop on tickets.

And because Broadway shows are so uniquely expensive in terms of consumable art, they have to walk a fine line between being trendy and maybe even a little edgy, but not enough to put the people with money outside of their comfort zones.

It presents a multi-culti hip-hop narrative about the life of Alexander Hamilton and the foundation of the country, but it is ultimately really, really reassuring about the American experiment.

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story? The ruling class does.

If you want people to hear your message, it first has to get the okay from your wealthy patrons.

I mean, it's no coincidence that the first hip-hop musical to become a huge hit happens to be about the whitest thing ever.

And Hamilton is excellent, don't get me wrong, y'know?

It's just not here to challenge any ideas on American exceptionalism or start any revolutions.  

Does every musical need to necessarily challenge the culture it's trying to sell itself to?

God, no!

I mean, how else would I see Phantom for the 20th time?!

But anyway, not every musical, even the ones with explicit revolutionary text, needs to be trying to tear down the system.

But what would a revolution look like if it had been included in RENT rather than the subtext being "reject the system" instead of "change it"?

Well, probably what was going down in Alphabet City, in the 80s, in the real world.

Protests, societal upheaval, all those unpretty things that were very much going on during the AIDS Crisis.

They were not designed to make the type of person with hundreds of dollars to drop on a Broadway show ticket comfortable.

But Les Mis does not position itself in opposition to the culture it is trying to sell itself to.

Neither does Hamilton ...

but RENT does. 

And if your musical spends its entirety dressing down the phoney-baloney culture while at the same time kind of being its very embodiment... then we may need to have words."

(Rent: Look Pretty and Do Little as Possible)

"George Bush!

Is only for now

We're gonna back up this idea that, you know, we tried, we fought, it didn't work, so right now we just have to wait it out, we will survive this

Don't stress!

Relax!

Let life roll of your backs"

(Protest Music from the Bush Era)

[driftingmoonmenace]

Guard Dog AU Lore

Some of this has already be mentioned in my previous lore post and asks, but I've broadened more on the world setting and stuff!

Eventually I'll make another post going into more detail about the story and more about Y/N and Sun/Moon interactions and feelings but this is what I got for now!

I'll put it under the cut since it's a little lengthy!

The AU is futuristic and has a lot of Biopunk/Cyberpunk dystopian overtones, with technology that is more advanced than today’s modern technology. Despite its advances there is a lot of societal unrest. The general public is suffering because of how capitalistic its society has become and mega-corporations basically run the world. 

Most cities are a very dense concrete jungle, with neon lights and hologram ads everywhere.

A major branch of technology and scientific research has made a lot of progress using robotics and DNA for creature creation. Their ultimate goal is to create super-soldiers for military and authoritarian use. To help rapidly grow their department and data, they’ve teamed up with mega corporations and other research facilities globally, and have allowed them access to their base data findings for their own use to so that they can explore and discover more ways to broaden their projects. It has been several years at this point since this decision has been made and many new methods have cropped up since. 

Most of these creatures vary in shape, size (though most are much larger than humans), and theme, and also vary on how much of them is a blend of organic and robotic augmentations. To everyone they are simply known as ‘Creatures’ and don’t have an official name. Most of them are sentient and intelligent enough (levels of intelligence vary between them, though none are made to be super intelligent) but overall they retain an underlying feral nature. This way it's easier for them to fight each other without question of ethics between them and easier in some ways to control, so them being more animalistic is by design.  

By allowing companies to invest and create within the scientific branch, they’ve come up with a way to capitalize on it for entertainment purposes, further funding their research and lining their pockets with more money. They have created a new form of entertainment which is ‘Creature Cage Fights’ or better known as its official league name CFE (Creature Fighting Entertainment). Similar to wrestling and illegal animal fighting, these creatures are pitted against each other to fight within large stadiums and whomever knocks out their opponent, or renders them unable to continue the fight, wins. CFE is the main umbrella league and places globally are able to form their own mini-leagues under CFE. 

People are able to spectate in person or television and have the ability to place official bets (similar to horse racing). This idea of making them for entertainment allows these creatures to be normalized to the public and for further studying their fighting capabilities to gather research. Companies and people of wealth have also taken to sponsoring or hosting fights to make a profit.

There are ‘Death Matches’ where creatures must fight until either one (or both) die. These kinds of fights are deemed ‘illegal’ and not televised, yet the police and higher people of authority turn a blind eye and allow them. Death matches are typically hosted by the rich and tickets are sold to other rich people to spectate and place bets. These fights are really only used as a way to make money, profits being split between the hosts and companies who lend their creatures out to these fights. 

Fazbear Entertainment, like many other companies all over the world, have joined the scientific branch to get in on this new form of entertainment that’s rapidly growing in popularity globally with people of all ages and cash in on big profits. So far FazCo has made several creatures of their own. These include: Freddy, Chica, Roxy, Monty, and Sun & Moon. 

Sun and Moon, who are more heavily robotically augmented (though still partially organic) compared to the others, are unique in that they are dual AI who both share a body and a ‘brain’. Being able to seamlessly switch between the two and both having their own preferred fighting style. Both AI can come together to create a third form, Eclipse, which has a different fighting style than their own individual ones. Instead of creating a new separate AI or ‘person’ when this happens, this form is instead both AI simultaneously co-piloting the mind and body together. 

The idea of their creation was to have a creature that is able to have multiple different fighting styles and able to switch between them to keep their opponent unaware and on their toes. This feature is actually a huge secret that Fazco has been keeping. The public and other fighters are completely unaware that they are dual AI, as all of their marketing and paperwork is labeled ‘one entity’ named Eclipse. 

The only way to tell which is which is their eyes changing color and the differences in demeanor. When Sun is in control, both eyes are white. He comes off more playful and upbeat, almost ‘puppy-like’. He’s also more excitable and has a seemingly endless amount of energy. When Moon is in control both eyes turn red. He’s more laid back and less energetic. He’d rather be a gremlin and chill (maybe take a nap) than bound all over the place like his counterpart. When both AI come together to become Eclipse, the left eye is white and the right eye is red. Eclipse has a blend of both of their personalities harmonizing into one. 

In a fight Sun, Moon, and Eclipse are completely different in how they act compared to how they are in their downtime. Sun is more performative and wants to make the fight into a spectacle and woo the crowd, taunting his opponent and making them into a joke. He much prefers it than actually fighting while Moon is the opposite.. Moon is more violent and bloodthirsty when he fights, rather than playing around. Eclipse, while they do show off and taunt to an extent, they’re more calm and cunning, fighting efficiently with heavy hits to end the fight quickly. 

The major underlying fact no matter what situation they’re in, is there will always be that feral blood-lust fight/kill instinct at play in the back of their mind. Both are more than capable of killing if they want or need (human or creature a-like), and its ferocity shows whenever they’re irritable, angry, or upset. 

To satiate the general public and quell their fear of public safety when it comes to creatures, CFE decided to officially give these creatures ‘handlers’. One to two fellow humans who help train them, bond with them, accompany them at all times, and ‘keep a leash’ on them to show that they are under control.

The job of a ‘Handler’ is a dangerous one (and the fatality rate is high, unbeknownst to the public) but it also has its perks that make it all that more tempting. The pay is well above blue-collar average, with all-expenses-paid for traveling, hotels, and other miscellaneous job related things. There’s the obvious spotlight of being a creature handler to a successful championship winner that also has its perks, though it’s not too uncommon for some handlers to avoid it as much as they’re able to.   

FazCo is based in a large underground facility on the outskirts of a city where their research development and creatures are kept, the building being under heavy surveillance. Handlers are required to live in a section of private living quarters on-site, though they’re able to leave the facility at any time and must be chaperoned in order to do so. This acts as an extra precaution in case of any information leaks. Handlers are also on-call 24/7 and can be flown out anywhere globally at a moments notice, so having them live at the facility makes it easier. 

At FazCo handlers have a few job requirements such as training and ‘bonding’ with their creature for a certain amount of time per week or preparing for upcoming matches through supervised fighting simulations. Having a handler that is able to keep a creature under control (with whatever means necessary) and making sure both perform their best during matches is the highest priority.

Y/N, having grown up poor their whole life in a bad neighborhood with nothing to lose, jumps on the opportunity of a newly listed ‘Handler’ job. A quick successful interview has them sign a very hefty NDA contract with FazCo and from there they’re immediately moved to the facility. They’re told that the previous handler had quit (though the truth is they were killed) so FazCo was looking for someone new to assign to Eclipse.

Y/N is actually unsure of how to feel when they first meet Eclipse. There’s excitement and awe but there’s also the growing fear in their gut that Eclipse may be too much to handle for them. The pay and job perks with a comfy living situation is really the only thing keeping them there at first. 

Sun/Moon/Eclipse are capable of simple speech, small one word answers and short sentences, and have a general understanding of what’s being said or going on around them. However they aren’t very trained to be aware of their strength or how fragile a human can be so they are more dangerous than other creatures. They have killed multiple handlers in the past through aggression or ignorance.

[honeysickledream]

| SFW [minors and ageless blogs still DNI], American!Reader, GN!Reader, inspired by my commute twice a week | can't stop thinking about Soap tagging along for your commute because surely it's not that bad. Only for him to realize that yes it is that bad. It started out great: he two of you had gotten out of the city limits relatively quickly, the controlled access highway left behind for intersections where thru-traffic doesn't stop. Nothing but flat countryside and farmland on either side of the road. Sometimes the mobile irrigators would turn on, or you'd spot a harvester doing its thing. The occasional asshole drive sped by going twenty, even thirty miles over the posted speed limit, but you and Soap paid them no mind and continued to ride your own ride for the longest, snacking and laughing over the music.

Then the small amount of traffic ahead of you all slammed on their breaks as a small town's 'Welcome' sign came into view. Soap was about to ask why everyone suddenly slowed when he saw it. The 65MPH sign with a 45 MPH about two one-thousand counts behind it. It felt like a going at a snail's pace, your foot working to keep the car going at exactly 45MPH. You had to explain to him that 'speed trap towns' get most of their revenue from writing tickets based off the sudden drop in posted speed, and that while it's not entirely legal to do so, hardly anyone seems to want to change it.

[styrmwb]

I beat Miitopia

I literally only played this to cope with the distance to Tomodachi Life

Well, not entirely true. I played Miitopia on the 3DS when it first came out. I love Tomodachi Life, I love RPGs, so what's not to like about a combination of both? I never beat it back in the day, though. So when the Switch remaster came around, with an insane mii creator, it was an easy purchase. I then proceeded to only make miis with it and never actually played the game. Skip to now! It's been on my backlog for far too long, Tomodachi Life is in the horizon; let's finally beat Miitopia.

The RPG

Like I said, the gameplay is a combination of Tomodachi Life and classic turn-based JRPG combat. There's different jobs, of course; each Mii can have different personalities that give them different interactions, as well as each mii have relationships between each other that can cause different events to happen. You can only control your mii, and for the most part, you're an observing force; however, you do have "sprinkles" to take more direct control over recovery, as well as the ability to put miis in a back lane safe spot.

I have two feelings on this. I think it's the perfect representation of WHAT a mii game would be as an RPG. The fun of Tomodachi Life is watching the silliness that occurs, and that's part of the fun of Miitopia. However, and this is my other feeling, I don't think they mesh perfectly. In an RPG, I like taking control of my party members and strategizing and exploring and stuff. When that control is, for the most part, taken away, it kinda takes away some of the joy? Especially since you can only control your guy, it makes some jobs way worse in the NPCs hands, or makes just your gameplay not as fun as it could be. There's a lot of levels with different paths to take, which is in one part cool cause that gives each place a lot of replayability, but in another part... kinda boring. Cause I'm just watching my miis go through path over path over path and I don't really have a lot of control of anything beyond pick a path. It becomes kinda monotonous, especially late game. (Side note, as of writing this, I haven't done post game, so it's very possible that there's a shift, but playing through the Darker Lord section of the game, I imagine it's more like that). It's not bad though. Like, there's a reason I was able to finish it; it's still entertaining enough.

To go into a little more detail about some other essential pieces of the puzzle; relationships are very important. But grinding them is not the best in the world. You want high relationships, but they only increase a bit in the after level inns, or after certain events. I think this mainly becomes a problem when you have your whole party available to you, and introducing everyone to everyone becomes rough, and you're doing harder fights and you don't have the firepower needed (or alternately the wide variety you should have access to). The switch remake does help this though, which I'll clarify in a sec. There's also the food system. You feed your miis foods to increase their stats, but they also have randomly generated likes and dislikes, like Tomodachi. This is great flavor wise! But it does stink when I want my RPG to get stronger and just... nobody likes the food they need. I swear my mage hated EVERYTHING that increased magic. I get why this is all here, the pieces all make perfect sense, I just think the connections are rough around the edges.

Back to the Switch version; it did add a couple things. One is Outings, which are special events you can send a couple miis to to boost their relationships. This is HUGE. This helps the grind of relationships so much, when you can get your hands on the tickets needed (they also add a lot more funny situations for you to see while you play through, break up the monotony). It also adds a horse. The horse isn't... as hype as the outings? But it's nice and I'm glad its there. You can customize it (mine was Invincible from WoW), it gives you extra damage, but it's also another relationship you have to build, and it doesn't always make itself useful in the optimal times.

That's only one half of the game though. The other half, I enjoy FAR more.

The Miis

The original charm of Miitopia from frame 1 is that it's an RPG where you choose all the characters. Any NPC is a mii that you can customize and slot in your own dudes, as well as your party members. What then occurs is the same sort of fun you get from Mad Libs, seeing things that make surprising sense or are COMPLETELY out of character. Making miis is fun, seeing the miis do things is also fun.

Where the Switch version takes this is upping the customization to 11 with "makeup" and "wigs", essentially "place shapes everywhere on your miis" and "have some extra hair". This leads to some people making complete works of art, but more generally, your mii cast is widened. To really show this, have this nice little visual I spent way too much time on to show My Entire Mii Cast:

(names of miis representing my real friends are censored for privacy's sake)

I tried to generally keep That Mii Style cause I just like it, but you can really see how insane the creator can go (and I'm not even a master with it).

Similar to the RPG section, there are pros and cons with this. Pros are obvious, fucking look at that. The creator is amazingly fun to use and create with, and the scope of possible characters is infinitely increased. Don't tell me I could have really had fucking Among Us Crewmate as one of my main antagonists in the same way as just with the old mii maker. Cons: the wig system kinda sucks. It feels super limited and hyper specific, and if Tomodachi Life uses or expands on this creator (god I hope it does), I really want them to broaden the span of that system. Mii hair in general has always been the weakest part of the creator. The other con is as amazing as the makeup system is, you cannot use it on NPCs as you're picking them. What I personally did to fix this, and to not break the gameplay flow of "oh new city let's spend a whole day on character creation" is I precooked everyone before I even started the game, prepping everyone in the whole run. This made for a great RPG section, but it sucked when I was like a week in and I just didn't get to play (I also started my job so that didn't help my time)

The Topia

I really wanted to use this title joke but MAN does it ruin the integrity of my writing (is that something I have) cause it is hard to think of what it means, but I will do it regardless

I think the interpretation of The Topia I'll use is the set pieces and visuals; I really love the way this game looks. It was originally a 3DS game, so it kinda has this 2D, layered vibe to it. It feels like a stage play, kinda Paper Mario-esque (which double works since the Miis are referred to as actors so this is probably intentional), but on top of that, I love the colors and textures. The desert and the final zone are probably my favorite examples, with the moving sand, or the storm of mii features in space. I also really love when it goes all in on the 2D vibes, looking like it was cut out of paper to make little puppets. It's a perfect vibe for this kinda game.

The actual world generally feels pretty generic RPG, but in a good way. You can even see it in the punny names that it's intentional. The first location Greenhorne is a grassy field, then you have the classic World 2 desert of Neksdor; you have the elf forest (featuring Bigg Forest), and Karkaton, the final zone of hell. There's also the act 2 areas but they didn't really leave as much of an impression on me as much (again except for that final area that was really good)

The Comedy

The game is funny. Which, for a half Tomodachi Life, I sure hope it does. As I said earlier, it's got that Mad Libs charm to it, with the comedy of seeing whatever miis you put in get into the precooked situations. I took a lot of screenshots during my gameplay, so I can actually supply visuals to prove my point:

It's very silly, and there's much more than just this. There's also all the in between bits with just your party; the time they spend with each other in the inn, or the random events mid exploration. I got a lot of giggles during playing. I do think the charm of it kinda fell off in the 2nd act, but that's mostly cause it wasn't really introducing anything new to the table. But that 1st act, when you're meeting a bunch of new people and getting into weird situations? Peak.

There's also an enemy called a Twerkey. Just thought you should know if you didn't already.

The Story

The story isn't the deepest thing in the world, but it doesn't have to be and shouldn't be, due to the nature of the game. What it is though, is absolutely PERFECT for what a mii based RPG should be. There's an evil Dark Lord stealing faces and putting them on monsters. That's great! I love that it's based around faces. The 1st act is where I think it's at its strongest, as you're exploring new towns, making new friends, and really hitting different mini arcs, with the last area pulling together all your friends (side note, I love that your character just gets so annoyed with the same shit happening for the 3rd time). The 2nd arc, after you've defeated the Dark Lord, and the Dark Curse has possessed the Great Sage (who, regardless of the face I put on, I very much enjoy), is really where I lose interest in it (and where I stopped in the 3DS version), as you only get the one city of the Traveler's Hub, and the NPCs are far less interesting. It picks back up once you've finally opened the Sky Scraper, and you get the unpossessed Dark Lord to explain the backstory for you. As well as that final fight being an amazing combo of Miis, Bizarro Sephiroth from FFVII, and Bhunivelze from FFXIII Lightning Returns. There might be more in postgame, but I don't think I'll really delve into that any time soon unless I get a fire in me.

Ho ho! You've finished your post, I see?

Miitopia is not a perfect game. I got bored with it in the 3DS version, and if I wasn't so determined to finish it here, I might have fallen off again. But. Regardless. I wouldn't change it. It might be a flawed combo of two very different types of game, but in a way, it's also kinda perfect? It did something weird, and it went all in on that weirdness, it tried something crazy, and I can only respect it for that! Just cause it's not PERFECTLY tailored to my wants, doesn't mean there's not plenty to enjoy about it. Miitopia is a game that I'm glad was made.

Playing it just makes me more excited for Tomodachi Life though. I just wanna use this mii creator and see my guys do silly things Without me necessarily having to also play an RPG.

Oh also, if you wanna download any of my miis (excluding real people and OCs those are mine), the code is 1RCRW6R.

7/10. Not a perfect combo of aspects, but something that is very charming regardless, and brings a lot of humor and creativity to the table. An experiment, where more should follow in its boldness.

[felikatze]

Hi, this is your ticket to infodump about isat/fe aus.

whehe. wheh. wawawawa. (i start vibrating)

i dont know how much i've posted abt my thoughts vs how much i just monologued to various people on discord (hello and thank you to pix, alice, and lozy (i think i also monologued to riu once? hi riu)) but you can find all (most?) of the stuff tagged under "isat emblem" on my art blog

ANYWAY. SO. I'M NOW TALKING ABOUT THE UHH. fourth. isat/fe crossover i have, which is the "what if isat ran on FE lore" one, instead of any roleswap or isekai shenanigans.

i'm looking you straight in the eye. look at me. listen to me. the forgotten island is Valla. It's literally just Valla.

FULL GAME SPOILERSSSS riu don't look at this.

ok. listen

you cannot say its name. if you say its name, you fucking die

people from valla cannot share that they are from valla, making them simply foreigners from "somewhere else"

the disappearance of valla seems to be recent, yet nobody besides people from it have any memories of it

it still physically exists, but is generally impossible to access

associated with water-based enemies that attack anybody yet also represent the regrets of its people

IT'S JUST VALLA, YALL

THE VALLA ZOMBIES ARE IF SADNESSES WERE ACTUALLY DEAD PEOPLE.

so. you may have already seen my Manakete Siffrin, but it is needless to say, i took a FUCKTON of cues from corrin for this. this entire AU is generally very fates adjacent. with some engage in it, for flavor.

Manakete Siffrin is so tasty. Please also look at Pix's dragon sif AU because this is VERY MUCH the exact same flavor because me and Pix were just on the same brainwave i guess.

In this Au, Siffrin is a dragon (silent dragon or divine dragon, either works). And the dragons lived on the island, but the island disappeared. Because dragons were so deeply associated with this place, knowledge of dragons disappeared, as well, outside of perhaps the occasional myth. (Imagine Sif being told "Dragons aren't real, silly!" man.)

Siffrin is a dragon, and fucking forgot about it. All they know is that they are Different. But not how. Or why. Imagine.

Imagine, as the loops progress, Siffrin grows stronger not through training, but through learning how strong they already were. That there are claws beneath the gloves, that they can see in the dark, that if they focus just right, they can breathe fire.

Imagine, for me, Siffrin learning they are not human. They are Other. They are a Myth. And how this plays perfectly into Siffrin's increased alianation from the party, and Siffrin's growing belief that they are a monster, and that if this is ever discovered, his friends will leave him.

If you want to bring my wolfskin Isabeau into this. I already mentioned it briefly but. Isabeau is also not human but he is In Control of it. He makes it palatable. People know what beastfolk are, they're documented in Vaugarde, I'd imagine that there's one or two frozen around the House. They are a Known Quantity. Even compared to the nonhuman, Siffrin is Other, is a Beast, and he can feel his control slipping. Compared to Isabeau, he is a feral animal. (Or, at least, they believe they are.)

Augrh. Okay.

Also. Lizard Loop. Ok.

UM. SO. I mentioned Engage, so. EMBLEMS!! This Au actually has Emblems in it. See, on the island where the dragons lived, the Emblems lived as well. And people prayed to the Emblems, to the heroes from the countless stars, to the heroes sent by the universe to guide them. Only the dragons could summon Emblems, but they could grant favor to anyone. And if all Emblems came together, they could rewrite the Universe itself.

The Emblems knew this.

And thus, when the Emblems came togehter, they wished to be forgotten. The place where they dwelled, and the people that worshipped them... were casualties of an ill-fated wish, to seal away this catastrophic power.

Yup, I made Wish Craft emblem flavored!! Because man. It's literally "prayer incantation". Divine Dragons draw power from Emblems through Prayer, through belief, and Fell Dragons draw power from Emblems through Incantation, through ritual. And the most powerful of all is combining the two. IT'S WISH CRAFT RULES, YALL.

So so, the concept of Emblems also got forgotten, but the main wish just erased the Emblems as people. That's why Sif and Co could find out about Emblems as the story progresses, same way in canon they can find out about Wish Craft.

Because I love suffering, I'd say. Instead of a Silver Coin, Siffrin has a silver ring, instead. It's just a plain band that's been around their finger for forever. It's not special at all.

....or is it?

...sometimes, Siffrin manages to rememeber a friend. Only for brief moments. When Siffrin does Mirabelle's hair, he wonders how he knows to work with kinky hair. When they eat the fish head, they reminisce that someone else liked it..... and then they forget again.

In this AU, that friend was an Emblem. That was Siffrin's Marth. But they're gone. That ring is empty.

....or is it?

hihi.

About Loop.

I think this was Lozy's suggestion, but. Loop is an Emblem. Loop wasnt always an Emblem, but Engage shows how people can become Emblems, yeah. So, Loop is a spirit from another world, sent by the Universe to guide this one. Loop is bound to their own ring, though neither of them realize. When an Emblem is asked for power through incantation, they cannot refuse. Siffrin's wish causes the timeloop by calling upon the power of the dormant Emblem they carry, which is Loop.

(How did Loop cause their own loops? Well, it was still an Emblem, even before Loop was in it. Who was it? Well, I don't know, and that's the pain, isn't it?)

Also I think it'd be really cool if Big Sif isn't just, Sif fully transforms into a dragon (which is already cool as hell) but also like. Siffrin manages to Engage with their Emblem. And after that, the Emblem is well and truly gone, for good. It just said goodbye for the last time.

And ofc Act 6 when Loop disappears, Siffrin picks up the ring that houses them in the hopes Loop will awaken one day. Yeah.

UM. CHARACTERS BESIDES SIFFRIN!!

I've mentioned this in my FE6/ISAT parallels posting but Mirabelle is so lord-coded. Specifically the Roy-flavor of "just some guy" lord. She wasn't chosen for this she just happened to be here. SHE EVEN HAS A RAPIER!!! AND AN UNAVAILABLE MENTOR!!!

Listen to me she's so so so Roy-coded MIRABELLE IS A FIRE EMBLEM LORD.

Ok. Ok.

I think it'd be really funny if Odile was just straight up from Hoshido. It would work. I don't want to change Vaugarde to a FE country because the culture is just too unique for any straight equivalent, but the other countries with less detail work. (Puts Odile in Onmyoji because she's a magic class 100%)

Bonnie's class is actually Transporter. Lozy suggested "Aptitude Villager" but i feel we need to keep the spirit of "Do not Attack The Child". So Bonnie is the Elibe-exclusive Cannot Die Items Holder class. It even works with Bonnie's potshots that Merlinus (the only transporter in the whole entire FE series) gets daggers in Heroes, which is the debuff support weapon.

Bonnie chucking holy water from the back of a horse. Thank u. That is all.

Um yeah. So that's all (most?) of the FE-flavored ISAT thoughts I have. yeah. Um.

Thank u very much for asking this. I love talking.

[parkomax]

Efficient Vehicle Access Management with Ticketing Systems Our advanced ticket-based system simplifies parking management by offering precise entry and exit control. Reduce congestion, improve customer experience, and maintain high security standards effortlessly.

[realm-sweet-realm]

Her Own Hands, chapter 7: Reunion

After Team Galactic collapses, Mars is desperate enough to return home to her father, Giovanni. She must navigate the politics and grand goals of the Kanto team in order to rescue her former leader… and keep Team Rocket from taking over the world in the meantime.

---

Back when Mars had worked for Team Galactic, the depots of stolen and illegal goods were checked daily even if they didn’t have any other business in them that day. It was a menial task for the gruntiest of grunts. If Jupiter hadn’t changed the policy, it would be her ticket out. So, even as the sun went down and the warehouse went dark, Mars kept her hope that she’d be found soon. The Illumise and Volbeat were out that night, making their lullaby-like chirps, and her eyes were getting heavy, but she had to stay awake. She couldn’t lose her chance.

The door squeaked open, and in came some random, tired-looking bowlcut grunt. He turned on the lights and took a gulp of his murky drink as he looked around at the warehouse. He’d started checking things off his little checklist when Mars burst out in front of him.

The grunt yelped in surprise, dropping the list and his drink as he reached for the pokéballs on his belt.

“Hey, I’m not looking for a fight!” Mars explained. “I’m on your side. I have a very important message for Jupiter’s team.”

The grunt loosened the grip on his pokéball. “O-okay,” he said, clearly still tense. “Let’s hear it.”

Mars pressed the button on the recording device, and the tape played. Hello. This is Cyrus, messaging from the Distortion World. I am alive, and Commander Mars has found me and wishes to rescue me. In order to do so, she needs help from Team Galactic. She can access this realm with the use of a bioweapon called “Mew2.1” that is under Giovanni’s control. You must steal it. This is not only a matter of saving me. If Giovanni keeps ahold of Mew2.1 much longer, he will use it for conquest, including conquest of Sinnoh. You must steal it immediately. There is not much time left, either for me or for the safety of the world. Mars will now tell you its location and all other information you need. Do not disappoint me.

Mars clicked the button and stopped the tape before it went into the details of Mew2.1’s location. No need to overwhelm the poor slack-jawed grunt more than he already was.

“We need to get you to Jupiter,” he stated.

“Yeah. And another thing you should know is… Team Rocket might be after me.”

“Then we gotta double get you to Jupiter. Come on, let’s go.”

And so they did. The two piled into the nondescript white van and hit the road. The grunt peppered Mars in questions, most of which she had no way of answering. Before long, they were back in Sinnoh. They passed through Twinleaf Town, through Jubilife, and came within sight of Oreburgh. Before they reached the mining town, however, the grunt took a hard left onto a thin dirt road into the mountain.

“When you see the new base, you’re gonna flip, ” the grunt announced.

“I believe it!” Mars replied.

Then, the grunt took a hard right straight into the mountain’s cliff face. Mars screamed. But then, instead of the sound of her bones splintering against stone, she heard the sound of a mechanical door closing behind her. She opened her eyes to find herself in a huge, brightly lit garage, occupied by grunts working away at various vehicles.

“Wow,” Mars breathed, her heart rate still returning to normal as she realized she was not, in fact, a pancake on the side of Mount Coronet.

“Yeah, this is it. Welcome to the Neo Team Galactic base!” The grunt said, smiling widely and with excitement in his eyes. “I know the garage looks kind of empty right now, but Master Jupiter says there’ll be way more vehicles in here soon once we win them from Saturn in court, or, y’know, steal ‘em from him.”

Mars nodded, feigning excitement. “They got quite a rivalry, huh?”

“With those traitors? Of course we do! Do you know how many grunts went to prison because he wouldn’t join us? But hey, I guess it doesn’t matter if the new world’s still on the table, right?”

Another grunt, with oil stains on her clothes and a sour look on her face, opened the door and cleared her throat, looking pointedly at Mars’ companion. 

“God, maintenance people. So impatient. But anyhow, let’s leave this van to her and get you to Jupiter. She’s basically nocturnal, so she should still be up. Wait, you’d already know that. You two were-” 

The maintenance grunt pulled him out by his arm. 

During their short but chatty walk, Mars noticed some eyes on her- angry eyes and malicious smiles, like they saw her as someone getting exactly what they deserved. It wasn't exactly the welcome party she was expecting. Finally, they arrived at a large black door.

"Sorry, but... this is where I leave," the grunt said, shuffling his feet. "Jupiter has a tendency to shoot from the hip, and... well..."

"She hates me more than she hates Saturn."

The grunt nodded. For once, it seemed like he had nothing to say, so he turned away.

Mars stared up at the door, listening to the grunt's footsteps as he made what sounded like a hasty escape. This was it- either Jupiter would hear her out and everything could be fixed, or she wouldn’t and she’d die at the hands of one team or another. Mars took a deep breath and opened the door.

Jupiter’s quarters were dimly lit, made of dull black plastic and glowing purple accents, and she was clearly making the most of her wealth. Before she could find Jupiter, Mars’ eyes travelled to a minibar and what looked like a pool table with glowing balls. Then, she noticed a small group of people. There, at the end of the room, was Jupiter, lounging in a small hot tub with what were probably some favoured grunts, laughing and whispering to each other. To Mars’ horror, she realized that all their eyes were on her.

Jupiter lifted herself out, got to her feet, and sneered at Mars as the others watched with cruel eyes.

“Well, if it isn’t the little defector. I don’t know how you got this far, or what you expected to get out of this, but you’ve definitely come to the wrong place.”

Jupiter snapped her fingers, and one the male grunts got out and took to her side.

“I’m going to knock out her Pokémon, then you take her to a holding cell. And just for invading our off time? Make sure it’s the shittiest one we have.”

“I’m not a defector!” Mars snapped. “You need to hear this.” She didn’t wait. She took out the recorder and pressed play.

From the moment she heard Cyrus’ voice, the smugness dropped from Jupiter’s face. At the word “rescue,” she clasped her hands over her mouth. The grunts were looking at her, and no one was sneering anymore.

“We can actually bring him back,” Jupiter said once the tape ended, finally looking at Mars with gentleness.

“Yeah,” Mars replied. “We both want the same thing. So, are you with me?”

Jupiter nodded, regaining her composure. “You bet. Heh, pjs and a full face of makeup. You always were a trendsetter. Go get some sleep- one of the grunts will show you to a room. We’ll take it from here. First step, stealing Mew2.1.”

"I'm about as trendy as you are in your dripping-wet swimsuit. And yeah, sounds great."

Exhaustion hit Mars like a wave now that she could finally relax. There was a lot else to talk about- rescuing Cyrus' crobat, defeating the Sinnoh champion, rescuing Cyrus, reabsorbing Saturn, making the new world under her instead of Cyrus... but that would take time, and none of it could be done if they didn't steal Mew2.1, so Mars left Jupiter to it and took her up on the offer of a night's sleep.

[aktechworld]

Integrating Third-Party Tools into Your CRM System: Best Practices

A modern CRM is rarely a standalone tool — it works best when integrated with your business's key platforms like email services, accounting software, marketing tools, and more. But improper integration can lead to data errors, system lags, and security risks.

Here are the best practices developers should follow when integrating third-party tools into CRM systems:

1. Define Clear Integration Objectives

Identify business goals for each integration (e.g., marketing automation, lead capture, billing sync)

Choose tools that align with your CRM’s data model and workflows

Avoid unnecessary integrations that create maintenance overhead

2. Use APIs Wherever Possible

Rely on RESTful or GraphQL APIs for secure, scalable communication

Avoid direct database-level integrations that break during updates

Choose platforms with well-documented and stable APIs

Custom CRM solutions can be built with flexible API gateways

3. Data Mapping and Standardization

Map data fields between systems to prevent mismatches

Use a unified format for customer records, tags, timestamps, and IDs

Normalize values like currencies, time zones, and languages

Maintain a consistent data schema across all tools

4. Authentication and Security

Use OAuth2.0 or token-based authentication for third-party access

Set role-based permissions for which apps access which CRM modules

Monitor access logs for unauthorized activity

Encrypt data during transfer and storage

5. Error Handling and Logging

Create retry logic for API failures and rate limits

Set up alert systems for integration breakdowns

Maintain detailed logs for debugging sync issues

Keep version control of integration scripts and middleware

6. Real-Time vs Batch Syncing

Use real-time sync for critical customer events (e.g., purchases, support tickets)

Use batch syncing for bulk data like marketing lists or invoices

Balance sync frequency to optimize server load

Choose integration frequency based on business impact

7. Scalability and Maintenance

Build integrations as microservices or middleware, not monolithic code

Use message queues (like Kafka or RabbitMQ) for heavy data flow

Design integrations that can evolve with CRM upgrades

Partner with CRM developers for long-term integration strategy

CRM integration experts can future-proof your ecosystem

[04k96]

The Social Credit System in China is a government-led initiative aimed at promoting trustworthiness in society by scoring individuals, businesses, and government institutions based on their behavior. While it’s often portrayed in Western media as a dystopian surveillance system, the reality is more nuanced. The system is still fragmented, evolving, and complex, blending both digital surveillance and bureaucratic rating mechanisms.

Here’s a detailed look at its structure, goals, mechanisms, and implications:

⸻

1. Origins and Goals

The Social Credit System (社会信用体系) was officially proposed in 2001 and formally outlined in 2014 by the State Council. Its main objectives are:

• Strengthen trust in market and social interactions.

• Encourage law-abiding behavior among citizens, businesses, and institutions.

• Prevent fraud, tax evasion, default on loans, and production of counterfeit goods.

• Enhance governance capacity through technology and data centralization.

It’s inspired by a mix of Confucian values (trustworthiness, integrity) and modern surveillance capitalism. It’s not a single unified “score” like a credit score in the West but rather a broad framework of reward-and-punishment mechanisms operated by multiple public and private entities.

⸻

2. Key Components

A. Blacklists and Redlists

• Blacklist: If an individual or business engages in dishonest or illegal behavior (e.g., court judgments, unpaid debts, tax evasion), they may be added to a “dishonest” list.

• Redlist: Those who follow laws and contribute positively (e.g., charitable donations, volunteerism) may be rewarded or publicized positively.

Examples of punishments for being blacklisted:

• Restricted from purchasing plane/train tickets.

• Difficulty in getting loans, jobs, or business permits.

• Public exposure (like having one’s name posted in public forums or apps).

Examples of rewards for positive behavior:

• Faster access to government services.

• Preferential treatment in hiring or public procurement.

• Reduced red tape for permits.

B. Fragmented Local Systems

Rather than one central system, there are hundreds of local pilots across China, often using different criteria and technologies. For example:

• Rongcheng (in Shandong Province) implemented a points-based system where citizens start at 1,000 points and gain or lose them based on specific actions.

• Hangzhou introduced systems where jaywalking, loud behavior on buses, or failing to show up in court could affect a personal credit profile.

Some local systems are app-based, while others are more bureaucratic and paper-based.

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3. Surveillance and Technology Integration

A. Data Sources:

• Public records (tax, court, education).

• Private platforms (e.g., Alibaba, Tencent’s financial and social data).

• Facial recognition and CCTV: Often integrated with public security tools to monitor individuals in real-time.

B. AI and Big Data:

While the idea of a real-time, fully integrated AI-run system is more a long-term ambition than a reality, many systems use:

• Predictive analytics to flag high-risk individuals.

• Cross-agency data sharing to consolidate behavior across different parts of life.

However, this level of integration remains partial and uneven, with some cities far more advanced than others.

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4. Criticisms and Concerns

A. Lack of Transparency

• Citizens are often unaware of what data is being used, how scores are calculated, or how to appeal decisions.

• There’s minimal oversight or independent auditing of the systems.

B. Social Control

• Critics argue the system encourages conformity, discourages dissent, and suppresses individual freedoms by rewarding obedience and penalizing perceived deviance.

• It may create a culture of self-censorship, especially on social media.

C. Misuse and Arbitrary Enforcement

• Cases have emerged where individuals were blacklisted due to clerical errors or as a result of political pressure.

• There are concerns about selective enforcement, where some citizens (e.g., activists) face harsher consequences than others.

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5. Comparisons to Western Systems

It’s important to note:

• Western countries have private credit scores, employment background checks, social media tracking, and predictive policing—all of which can impact someone’s life.

• China’s system differs in that it’s state-coordinated, often public, and spans beyond financial behavior into moral and social conduct.

However, similar behavioral monitoring is increasingly used in tech-based social systems globally (e.g., Uber ratings, Airbnb reviews, Facebook data profiles), though usually without state-enforced punishments.

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6. Current Status and Future Trends

Evolving System

• As of the mid-2020s, China is moving toward greater standardization of the credit system, especially for businesses and institutions.

• The National Credit Information Sharing Platform is becoming more central, aiming to integrate local experiments into a coherent framework.

Smart Cities and Governance

• The social credit system is increasingly linked with smart city infrastructure, predictive policing, and AI-powered surveillance.

• This aligns with the Chinese government’s broader vision of “digital governance” and technocratic legitimacy.

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7. Key Takeaways

• Not one unified “score” like in fiction; it’s more like a patchwork of overlapping systems.

• Used as a governance tool more than a financial one.

• Integrates traditional values with modern surveillance.

• Viewed domestically as a way to restore trust in a society that has undergone rapid transformation.

• Internationally, it raises serious questions about privacy, freedom, and state overreach.

Needed clarification 😅

[limoserviceseo]

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Games Research - Board games

Scotland Yard - the goal of this game is to move around a map of London to find an invisible character called Mr x. you need to work with a group of people, at least 2 to use your tokens, taking a taxi to move 1 space, a bus to move 2 to 3 and taking a train to move quite far around the board, this game is a skill game, having to guess where the invisible mister x is moving and co-ordinating where his tickets are taking him, when you catch Mr x, your teamwork pays off and you have won the game, making everyone else happy, I think that anyone can play the game, as all you need to is communicate what token you want to use and where you are moving to as a player, as mister x it would be harder, but achievable.

Catan - Catan is a game where you have to build a civilization by trading several recourses like ore sheep and wood, this game builds its own economy and I think that is really clever. every game is different and sometime nobody has ore and another time nobody has any wood, making some recourses a lot more desired than others. this game is fairly easy to play and easily accessible, only needing cards and pieces for roads and houses. to win you need a total of 10 victory points, you collect these by having a large village, when you win you feel a sense of pride, because you have the biggest city. there are lots of different expansions to this game, making it a lot more challenging.

Risk - This game involves a globe on a board and the countries are divided into larger spaces, that you need to control over to win, this game is known for taking absolutely ages to play, but it is very fun. the basic premise is you need to battle other players to win, throwing an amount of dice based on how powerful your army is going into the area you want to capture. this game is fairly accessible due to its simple way to play, it all boils down to dice, when you win you have gained various years in your life and the massive achievement that you won the game, because of how long it actually takes to play.

Monopoly - this game involves owning lots of properties and making them expensive to stay at when your opponents land on their tiles, this game isn't as accessible because there is a dice roll and a movement system around the board, and cash that you need to hold onto to decide whether you make the right choice buying properties, or other businesses to make money over time. this game also takes a very long time and there are many different versions to play this game too, some being a lot more simple.

Most of these games have fairly simple goals, but lots of different features that make them quite complex, i think that all of these games are accessible, but can be fairly stressful at times.