#Tools & Tips

[asharid]

Tips Mempercepat Loading Website untuk Meningkatkan Peringkat di Google

Sudah tau kan? Apa akibatnya jika halaman website anda lambat saat diakses? situs web yang lambat bisa sangat menjengkelkan! Di dunia digital yang serba cepat ini, kecepatan adalah kunci untuk memberikan pengalaman pengguna yang optimal. Situs web yang memuat lambat dapat berdampak negatif, seperti: Pengalaman Pengguna Buruk: Pengguna cenderung meninggalkan halaman jika memerlukan waktu lebih…

[codeburnerblogs]

PhotoRoom Pro: Elevate Your Image Editing Experience

[linalisays]

Candle Making Log Sheet Template

Quality control for your candle making just got easier. When you’re just starting out with candle making, there are so many variables that can contribute to the success or disappointment of your homemade candles. Getting your candle wax melting and pouring temperature down to a science can help you maintain candle consistency and pinpoint issues that you may encounter. With a candle making…

[susanhannifordcrowley]

Lovely Things I've Found By Susan Hanniford Crowley

[deborahannauthor]

New Release! Word Count Tracker for Authors ~

This simple word count tracking notebook is an easy and ideal way to track your writing and reach your writing goals! ~ Word Count Tracker for Authors notebook is a simple way for authors to stay organized and keep track of their writing progress, to help stay motivated toward success. The word count tracker has doable goals of 100 words at a time. But that’s not set in stone, you can change it…

[maybefae]

What do you need to hear right now?

Pile 1 - Pile 2 - Pile 3

Remember, this is a general reading and it may not resonate for everyone or completely. Tarot is a tool to help guide but you are responsible for your actions and life, you choose your path.

Tips!

|Pile 1

Tarot: The Tower, Page of Pentacles, The Moon, Queen of Swords, Knight of Swords, King of Cups, Ten of Pentacles, The Hierophant, Four of Cups (bottom of the deck)

Advice: The Opossum and Peony — bashfulness, The Bear and Cedar — leadership

Mhm, Pile 1… Well, I am doing your pile second and I also got distracted for 10 minutes (and keep getting distracted) as if I was avoiding something…Much like how you are. :)

This feels more job related, but adapt it how you will. One of the things that distracted me actually feels similar to the messages I am receiving for you. My sister was trying to find her guitar tuner, which my father had previously used for his bass a few weeks ago. But she couldn’t find it on her desk so she asked me to help find it. But the more we looked, our parents ended up joining in on the search. Turns out, the tuner was clamped on her amp right in plain sight.

You are trying to achieve something but you have come to obstacles that you can’t solve by yourself. I mean, you can…but it would certainly take a lot longer. Ask for help, Pile 1. There is someone, maybe more qualified, that could help. This person could also have others join in to work on the problem as well so there is a whole team that is striving to solve whatever problem you have encountered. 

I don’t know if you’re stubbornly independent, shy, or both. But the solution is really simple and is presented right in front of your eyes that you are neglecting to even flirt with the idea. Your solution is to just ask for help. You may have that “well, that was stupid” feeling that you get when something turns out a lot smoother than expected after worrying yourself sick beforehand. For example, when I was in uni, I used to worry myself way too much over exams that I had studied for extensively and I knew that I knew all the material — I take the test and ended up with a passing or perfect score which I was then left dumbfounded that I worried so much in the first place. 

You would probably help someone if they asked so why do you think that someone else wouldn’t do the same? You’d actually be surprised that other people would extend kindness and help.

|Pile 2

Tarot: Six of Swords, Page of Pentacles, Queen of Swords, The Empress, Ten of Pentacles, The Emperor, Ten of Swords, Six of Cups (reversed), Three of Swords (bottom of the deck)

Advice: The Quail and Gooseberry — Anticipation

Hello Pile 2! I am actually doing your pile first because the energy was being really insistent and I also feel like someone’s spirit guide was pushing me to start with your pile first. It’s a more feminine energy but it also almost feels like an angel or light being in an androgynous sense. I don’t know if that was any help trying to determine who or what it could be for you.

Pile 2, I keep second guessing myself and it’s really reflective of the energies in your reading. It’s like you keep digging your heels into the ground while an energetic force pulls you in the direction you need to be going. This could honestly be the spirit guide I was picking up on. There’s, not stubbornness per say, but an unwillingness to move. You may have to move in a direction that causes a lot of emotional turmoil for you. You do know that you need to make this move but you keep saying “I don’t know” because you truly don’t want to make the decision, even if it’s what is best at the moment. 

The way I’m getting these messages is really fast and it’s really hard to grasp each one so I can relay it because it’s so much. There could be a lot of energy surrounding this (dark or light), either way, both energies are a conductor that will facilitate this movement. Or you have spirit guides that are grabbing you by the arms and dragging you in a direction because you have stalled for so long. Think of it as a pipe — you are the blockage that is backing up all the energy behind you and at some point, the force behind you will move you.  

This situation has to do with walking away from something. A partner, family, a childhood friend, something from your childhood, or something that wasn’t the best for you and you knew you should go but you stayed (leading to you getting hurt over and over again). This could be an “older daughter/sibling” dynamic that you want to break but it leaves you feeling terribly guilty. If it is, just know that your younger siblings want you to do what is best for you and to stop beating yourself up. 

I don’t really like to bring up “divine feminine/masculine” energy but I don’t have other terms to use… But there is a need to bring balance. If you’re an older daughter, that will be incredibly difficult since it’s usually harder to truly express emotions and just let everything flow, not controlling everything. But I remember hearing about “feminine rage” energy and how you can confuse it with divine masculine energy. Feminine rage energy is the act of plowing forward with endless amounts of adrenaline until a hardship is done and your safe, it’s quiet because you’re detached from emotions, it’s easier to burn out, and you endure until you're safe and then you collapse. Masculine energy is more about self discipline — you have routines and boundaries that take care of your physical body, mental health, etc, and you are more logical but your emotions aren’t ignored. 

A lot of you are at different points. Some need to make the decision to walk away from someone or something while others are told to develop a healthier balance in your life now that you’ve made said decision. Your guides want me to tell you that there is a lot to anticipate in the future (but won’t specify what…It’s definitely a surprise).

|Pile 3

Tarot: Nine of Swords, Past Lives (Death), Ten of Wands, The Vessel (The Devil), Eight of Cups, The Shapeshifter (Knight of Wands), Two of Cups, Five of Wands, Seven of Wands (bottom of the deck)

Advice: The Fox and Ivy — Adaptability

I saw The Vessel while I was shuffling and had already got a message but I ended up putting it back and just shuffling the cards out. The Vessel is The Devil in this deck that I’m using and the image is a lot less scary than the original picture we get with the devil card. It’s a drawing of a capped vase and there’s a lot of light coming from it, practically glowing. And definition-wise, a vessel is used to transport something — but it’s also contained to that space. 

Some of you have an addiction (when I saw it the first time, someone very much needs to quit vaping/smoking but it could really be anything) that has really hindered your life and has trapped you. A bad habit, substance abuse, a mindset, anything. This addiction has entrapped you…It could’ve once been something that actually allowed you to carry through life, but only so far. Again, you are stuck in the walls of this vessel. And I get the feeling that this addiction has finally reached the point where it is getting annoying to you. There’s frustration that this addiction has so much power over you and your life. You are ready to lift the lid on the vase and finally set yourself free. For some of you, this could be breaking generational trauma.

I feel like you know this, but this reading could be external validation to finally take baby steps towards your personal freedom. I want you to know that I support you. Breaking any addiction isn’t easy and it’s very easy to fall back to bad habits, but it’s the fact that you are willing to try over and over again to finally get the freedom you want that means the most. It could look like you’re lazy or not trying hard, but trust me, there’s a lot of strength and courage and willpower that you have to muster to try after failing numerous times. 

You love yourself. You are willing to try to get better and that is loving yourself, even if you are hard on yourself sometimes. Be gentle with yourself. Tough love isn’t beating yourself up — it’s willing to be disciplined with yourself. And ya know, you may have to try different ways to break the cycle. It may not land with the first way you try and it may not be in a way someone else does it. It honestly could be unconventional.

I am supporting you and I’m sending love. xoxo

Dividers: @inklore

[zeke-fanfucs]

I like this picture a lot. Makes me feel safe. Anyways @creatortools @bookwor-mmm @solzticesoulz hope you like this

18/17 (and extra one)

Double Trouble Date Night

Wyvern x Blanche + Sakura x Rosella

Date night. They wore nice outfits. Everything still exploded.

⸻

“I’m begging you,” Wyvern said, adjusting his tie. “Let’s have one normal double date. Please.”

“We will!” Blanche chirped, straightening his pastel collar and slipping on his gear-enhanced bunny boots. “As long as Rosella doesn’t threaten the waiter again.”

“She was being polite,” Sakura mumbled, pulling on a cropped jacket over a band tee. “For her.”

Rosella stood silently at the door in a black turtleneck and dark jeans, arms crossed, sunglasses on at night like a very judgmental cryptid. She said nothing

“She has a knife,” Wyvern whispered.

“She always has a knife,” Blanche replied, unfazed. “It’s romantic.”

They picked a small rooftop café overlooking Nation City’s westside—a classy, quiet spot with a synth-jazz quartet and mood lighting

For ten minutes, it was almost peaceful.

Blanche was talking about weird metal allergies. Sakura was stealing Rosella’s fries. Rosella was watching Sakura like she was the sun. Wyvern was enjoying his drink and not being on fire.

Then the waiter brought the wrong order.

Rosella blinked slowly. “This has—onions.

“I can fix it, miss,” the waiter stammered.

Rosella reached inside her coat.

“NO,” Sakura said firmly, gently putting her hand over Rosella’s. “No stabbing today.”

“But—”

“I’ll eat the onions. For you.”

Rosella flushed and fell silent.

Blanche leaned over to Wyvern. “See? Healthy relationships.”

“I need another drink,” Wyvern muttered.

It got worse from there.

• Sakura and Blanche got into a bet about who could sneak into the kitchen and replace the chef’s seasoning mid-meal.

• Wyvern had to apologize to management twice.

• Rosella growled at a tourist taking their photo.

• Blanche may have accidentally flashbanged the dessert tray with his pocket tool.

• Sakura tried to tip the band and tripped, knocking over an amp and starting a small electrical fire

⸻

Later…

All four sat on the curb eating takeout noodles from to-go boxes.

Rosella picked scallions off of Sakura’s box without asking.

Blanche was leaning against Wyvern, head on his shoulder, half-asleep and covered in soot.

“I liked it,” Sakura said brightly, noodle hanging from her mouth.

“You lit the tablecloth on fire,” Wyvern replied.

“I liked it.”

Rosella hummed. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

Sakura beamed.

Blanche wrapped a leg around Wyvern’s and yawned. “We’re doing this again next week.”

“…Yeah,” Wyvern said with a reluctant grin, “we are.”

[ostensiblynone]

Speaking to Gibson TV, the Oasis guitarslinger reflected on the instrument's changes and how young players have — and haven't — benefitted from them

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher said his own son called him out for his inability to shred. His response to the slight explains how guitar playing has changed in the decades since Oasis first came storming onto the Brit-rock scene.

Speaking to Gibson TV, Gallagher said young players today have more tools and information available to them than when he first wrestled with an electric guitar.

“I've seen young kids playing instruments, and they're great,” he says. “There's a lot more information out there now when you're starting, for equipment, what it does and what you should be doing. Tips for this, videos for that. They'd have a sleepless night thinking about what we used to be. I don't know how we got by.”

But their advanced prowess on the instrument doesn't necessarily translate into a career.

“My lad will say ‘You can’t play guitar like that,’ and I’m like ‘Thank the fucking Lord!’ because if I could play guitar like that, you know what I’d be doing right now? Playing guitar like that!

“I wouldn’t be going, 'Maybe...' [sings the first word of "Live Forever"]. You can go anywhere with that.”

As Gallagher tells Gibson TV, Oasis were five years into their career when they played an immense sold-out show at Knebworth House, in the U.K. Yet he was still a novice when it came to understanding the intricacies of his rig.

""Ever seen the shot from the stage at Knebworth?" he asks. "I've got a pedalboard that's on a piece of plywood. It's got a delay pedal on it and a tuner.

"125,000 people. And I didn't even have a proper pedalboard!

“Somebody said to me, ‘Why is the bass, middle and treble all on 10?’ ‘Because it all goes to 10?’ And he’s like, ‘Try turning the bass down.’ I was like, ‘Don't fucking touch it! It sounds great.’

“I was 20 years into it before I went, ‘Middle… Oh, so the louder you turn it up….’ Why didn’t somebody tell me that 20 years ago?”

That iconic Knebworth performance helped Oasis ascend to rock's highest peaks. But following 1997's Be Here Now, Gallagher set about overhauling his rig, plywood pedalboard included.

Speaking to Guitar Player in 2000 to promote the release of the group's 2000 album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, he explained how his go-to Marshall amps weren't doing it for him anymore.

“No disrespect to Marshalls, but they have one sound, and that's just about it. They're either really loud, or really quiet. But I found that each Fender amp has its own character.”

Gallagher's trusty Epiphone Casino wasn't out of the firing line either. The guitarist was toting "a really cool, wine-red '80s Les Paul Deluxe, a Fender Strat, and a '60s Telecaster that Johnny Depp bought me for my 30th birthday."

Shredding, though, was left to other bands. Oasis's appeal has always been rooted in simplicity, chord progressions that anyone can get behind, and a rock and roll swagger for the masses.

But there is perhaps a semblance of jealousy aimed at the current crop of all-knowing guitarists. In a recent post to X, he revealed “I’ve got no control over the music I make. I’m not adept enough as a musician. All I can do is sit with a guitar and wait in hope for something to happen.

“I call it going fishing… I sit by the river, with the guitar and if I get a catch, great! And that’s what I do, it comes from within.”

—“My lad will say, ‘You can’t play guitar like that,’ and I’m like, ‘Thank the Lord!’ ” Noel Gallagher’s son called him out because he can’t shred. His response was priceless | by Phil Weller | published 21 November 2024 Guitarplayer.com

[gumiluver]

can I have prompts 14 and 15 with Gojo, pretty please 🤭 feel free to do whatever you want with them I just think they fit him so well

ofc luv!! & I agree lolol these two prompts are def gojo coded—I hope you enjoy!! <3

prompt 14: What’s that? Ohh pretty girl, you know the rules, ‘m not stopping ‘til I hear our safeword—you get me?

prompt 15: “Aww, you cryin’ for me? Is my dick too good for you baby?”

luver <3: gojo satoru x afab! reader

byr/byi: the content in this fic is not suitable for individuals under the age of 18--minors will be blocked (DNI), wc: 1.2k

cw: smut, nsfw, mdni, dacryphilia, manhandling, dirty talk, pet names (princess, pretty girl, babygirl, brat), restraining, teasing, brat taming, fingering

border credit: @/cafekitsune, pic credit: manga panel!!

Satoru always had such a filthy mouth.

Every single word that came out of the strongest sorcerer alive was laced with pure filth—at least, when it was directed towards you.

You knew not to get intimately involved with him, but the constant banter between the two of you only heightened the sexual tension that was already present—so strong that not even cursed tool: playful cloud could shatter the connection.

So when he gets you splayed out perfectly on his bed, both arms pinned above your head—a cocky grin adorning his face, making sure to mind your place, you knew the game had already started.

He peers down at you with such intensity you can feel yourself shiver under his touch—your pussy quivering for more. He knew it too, he could quite literally feel the way your pussy purrs for him as he fingers your cunt, “ooohh she’s calling out for me, hear that baby~?”

It doesn’t make it any better that he seems to be in a much more playful mood than usual, wanting to assert control over the situation—demonstrating so by having you completely bare before him as he remains fully clothed. A powerful move from a powerful man, and it seems to have lured you right into a trap that you’ve been all too familiar with recently.

Embarrassed, you peer down below to avoid confessing. You were close to breaking, both he and you knew it. You always get so flustered and needy whenever he has you trapped in his web, becoming a dead give away of your pending undoing.

“s-stop teasing me ‘toru,” you mumble, exasperation laced in every word you spoke as your hips sinfully swayed along his fingers and thigh. The moan you let out was delicate, but shit didn’t it make you sound oh so delectable.

“Oh? Someone’s impatient,” he teases, but nevertheless, heeds your command. He hastily shoves his pants down, too amped in adrenaline to strip away—a dead give away of how pussywhipped this man has become for you. He wants you just as much as you want him, maybe even a bit more.

“Pretty girl’s gotta attitude today,” he chides, unable to hide his glee. For him, your brattiness has become a blessing in disguise—uncovering a newfound endeavor in your relationship with him. Every time he gets the chance to tease and rile you up until you talk back, stamp around, or furrow your brows is a dead giveaway for an…interesting day.

And he won’t deny it either, he loves fucking the brat out of you.

“Don’t start cryin’ on me, ‘kay pretty thing? You’re gonna take all of my cock in nicely for me won’t you?” gojo guides his leaking tip against your soaked folds, and before he can press his hips towards your pelvis and thrust his cock down into you, you’ve already shimmied those sneaky hips of yours upwards—effectively pulling in an inch or two more than he intended, shocking him in the process.

“D-damn it, f-fuck aghh—“ he groans, quickly splaying his hand and forearm across your tummy and reaffirming his grip on your wrists. A sweet chuckle sings amidst the haze of lust and it brings Satoru back into reality, allowing himself to stop from sinking fully into your princess pussy and ruining all the fun—sneaky little minx.

“Naughty brat,” he clicks his tongue, nipping slightly at your neck and tilting his hips away from your pussy. Ohhh no—you won’t be getting off that easy, not after that little stunt you just pulled.

“Ah ah babygirl, we go at my pace tonight.”

What seemed like hours of sadistic torture for you was truly only ten minutes of Satoru’s teasing, pulling out and pushing in soooo slowly—sometimes even stilling inside of you and effectively cockwarming himself. When he’s feeling generous, he’ll give a little circle or two of his hips or will draw figure eights along your slit whilst fully submerged within your depths. You would squirm and beg for him to hurry up, pick up the pace, to just fuck you already, but he would always quiet you down and still your sultry hips by pressing firmer onto your tummy and wrists—all in a way that made you feel so fucking alive.

“I-I can’t, no more!! please ‘toruu just fuck me!!” you cry, puppy dog eyes pulling out those show-stopping tears that make his cock throb ridiculously and chest groan ferociously. You can almost feel his cock becoming thicker—bigger. Molding your pussy to the shape of his dick; molding it to take him for all his worth and then some.

To say he was obsessed with you would be criminal. This, was possession at its finest.

His eyes light up once he hears you beg for him, sees you cry for him, feels you tremble for him.

The perfect lover for the strongest man.

“Aww, you cryin’ for me? Is my dick too good for you baby?” he growls lowly, starting up a brutal pace that has your titties bounce from the sheer force. He quickly latches onto one, licking along the delicate flesh and sucking slightly to further harden your bud.

“You cryin’ soo much for me to fuck you harder—love my dick so fuckin’ much don’t ya baby,” he doesn’t let up on your breasts. Instead, switching to the other as he mumbles those words to you. A man possessed by the sheer glory of your titties and tummy, feeling the way your body ripples against his skin—his powerful thrusts shaking you to your core. You’re moaning so loudly, so violently you almost start to worry about getting a noise complaint.

Almost.

You stopped caring once Satoru let go of his hold, switching positions effortlessly by maneuvering his hands to wrap around underneath your thighs, pushing your legs all the way up to your ears. The grunt he lets out as he stares down at you can be described as animalistic—monstrous, even. It reverberates throughout gojo’s house and makes your heart drop down to your slutty cunt.

“Fuckk, you better get ready for me princess cause ‘m not playin’ around this time.”

He resumes his brutal pace in this much more intimate position, losing himself in the rhythm of your hips and watching the way your plush thighs jiggle with each thrust of his pelvis against you. Fuck he could cum just to that—it makes him go absolutely wild and feeds his ego like nothing else.

“aaa!! ‘toruu~!! toomuchtoomuchtoomuch!! w-wait a sec-ahh~!!” you whine out, pressing your hands on his defined chest, pathetically pushing him away from your body in a fake attempt to escape, serving only to rile your lover up—still holding onto that bratty attitude aren’t you?

“What’s that? Ohh pretty girl, you know the rules, ‘m not stopping ‘til I hear our safeword—you get me?”

You didn’t have to look at him to know he has his signature look, his confident aura, his teasing smirk.

And yes, while Satoru does have a filthy mouth, you can’t help but love that it’s only catered to you.

a/n: sorry for the smol hiatus guys, lots of big things happening in my life!! anyways, hope y’all enjoyed this—requests still open!! <33

As always, likes, comments, follows, reblogs, and any other form of interaction is greatly appreciated <3 #supportcreators

[artvaris]

Hi Riikka, I stumbled across your art recently and am just blown away. It's absolutely gorgeous! *0* I am pretty new to digital art and was wondering what procreate brushes/settings/textures you use, especially for sketching (but also for painting)? I tried searching around your blog/links to see if you've answered this before and couldn't find anything so I apologize if this is a repeat question. ^^;

Hello hello! I'm so glad you enjoy my artwork so much! Thank you so much for your kind words - I try my best to level up and draw cooler every day haha Now about my brushes: I mostly draw in Paint Tool SAI 2 actually (I currently only use Procreate for simple sketches), and I've been meaning to make my SAI 2 brushes available for purchase for some months now since you are not the first person to ask me this. I mostly use textured, bristled, and round brushes, often with a custom brush shape. Nothing super "fancy", just a few versatile and functional brushes. But this is still a work in process since collecting and organizing my rather messy brushes into a nice brush set takes time, plus I also tend to change my brush settings a lot depending on what I need. So I've been creating and saving the brushes as I work (plus I've been rather busy with freelance work as well).

I also use the same brushes for sketching and rendering, because the way I render nowadays is more like drawing than painting. At least that's how it feels to me. I just change the brush settings (opacity, size, tip tapering, texture intensity, etc).

But I will post about this when the set is finally ready! But I also sketch in Procreate, and lately, I've been mostly using:

B Rough - as my main sketching pencil - from this free set: https://ghkim0045.gumroad.com/l/FREE_PencilSet

JF Grungy dilute ink Wash - I use this to fill in light gray values - https://jasonheeley.gumroad.com/l/keasb?layout=profile

I have also been experimenting a bit with this "PSKI" set, mainly using "PSKI pencil large rough" (a nice hard/soft edge brush): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0vkcsrnf4wvtal5/AAAlVQYZGP4ZGHNMQ6kZwCTta?dl=0

I have also used the standard Procreate sketching brushes a lot, such as the 6B pencil (my favorite). I often like to amp up the texture intensity of my brushes though.

I have also used a brush called "DizzyTara's Oval Sketch 2" for sketching, but I've altered this brush a bit to fit my own taste (more texture and bigger max brush size). It's basically a pretty "basic" and textured oval brush, but often brushes like this are the best and most versatile tbh!

Other settings: In Procreate, I've also adjusted my pen pressure curve to be more sensitive so that I don't need to press so hard - this will save your hand and wrist as well!

[mariacallous]

It’s a common nightmare scenario: You’re alone—walking home at night, maybe, or waiting to meet someone at a bar—and someone approaches you, intending harm. They’re bigger than you, and you’ve (maybe, probably) never been in a fight before. What do you do?

Turns out, even experienced brawlers worry about being assaulted. Cara Marie Chooljian, a seasoned Hollywood stunt performer, often wonders how she would react—and she knows jujitsu. And kickboxing. And judo. “When I’m out, I think about this stuff,” she says. “A, because of my work, and B, because I want to keep myself safe.”

For her latest movie, the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, Chooljian had to fight like someone who has been trained to kill since childhood: She was the stunt double for Eve (played by Ana de Armas), an assassin who is trying to avenge her father’s death. Cue scenes involving shoot-outs, hand-to-hand combat, and even a flamethrower battle. The movie also required de Armas and Chooljian, both about 5'6", to go toe-to-toe with John Wick himself, played by 6-foot-tall Keanu Reeves.

Choreographing fights between the two, then, proved to be an amped-up version of what anyone might do when faced with someone bigger or stronger. “What was fun for the film was thinking, ‘How would I win?’” says Chooljian. “We wanted to make it as real as possible, because the reality is that if I’m fighting a giant man, I’m not going to be able to just hit him in the face and win.”

But what about the rest of us, the people who aren’t trained in combat? WIRED asked Chooljian for some tips on what the average person could do to defend themselves in a hand-to-hand fight they can’t escape.

Drop to Your Butt (Seriously)

It might sound ridiculous, but falling down right away can throw your attacker off-guard. “If someone’s going to fight you, and then all of a sudden you sit on the ground,” she says, “they’re going to be like, ‘What the fuck?’” She recommends a favorite move from her jiujitsu training: Flop down fast, right at their feet; hook your hands behind their ankles, rock back slightly, and use both of your feet to kick them on their hip bones, knocking them flat. You can also just pull their ankles toward you to topple them; but if you can kick, your chances of getting them down greatly improve.

Get on Top

If you’re able to sweep your assailant off their feet, hopefully they’ve hit their head on the way down. Use that moment to climb on top of them, and then get to work, beating them with your elbows. (In a fight against someone much larger than you, your smaller fists aren’t going to be as effective.)

Death by a Thousand Cuts (or Scratches or Whatever)

Ultimately, you’re trying to wear your assailant out until you can get away or help comes—or, ideally, they give up. Chooljian says use whatever tactics you can. Gouge them in the eyes, scratch them in the face, knee them in the groin. “One of my favorites is the fish hook,” she says, demonstrating by pulling the side of her mouth with her finger. “Anything that could really start to beat them down.”

Use Your Legs

If falling on your ass doesn’t get the results you wanted, you have other options. If you get pinned down on an elevated surface like a table, as Eve does in Ballerina, you can use the leverage and proximity of your attacker to your advantage. Get them in what the stunt world calls a “triangle.” You know the move; you’ve probably seen it before in movies. To execute, lift your hips, wrap one leg behind the person’s neck, then wrap your other leg around it, locking your knee around your ankle. Then squeeze. “So his head is between my legs, choking him out,” Chooljian says.

Anything Can Be a Weapon if You Hold It Right

Throughout any fight, always look around for tools that can help you. The cord on a curling iron? That’ll do. A candlestick? Why not? It worked in Clue. “If I’m in a bar and I’m not trusting a situation, the first thing I’m probably going to grab is a bottle,” Chooljian says.

If All Else Fails, Go for the Groin

It's the one move that Chooljian says is her go-to when facing bigger, stronger dudes: You kick ’em in the nuts. “It’s cliché, but you know what? It works.”

[starwarsmum]

Day 4: I Wanna Boy Who Isn't Anything Like Me

@maribat-calendar-events

Link to AO3

On the grand opening of their bar, Marinette was amped up and ready to greet whoever came through the door. Did she hope that Raven had received her message and would be in attendance? Of course! But that didn't mean she wasn't also excited to see who else might appear.

Chloé rolled her eyes at the excited squeal that Marinette gave as Adrien turned the sign on next to the door to show they were open but Marinette ignored her. They'd put so much work into getting the place presentable and fun looking, hoping that anyone who wanted to frequent it would be the kind of people who didn't cause trouble. 

“I'm just saying maybe we shouldn't have invited the woman who admitted that her group got ejected from their last bar,” Chloé said with a frown. 

“They haven't done anything at this bar yet, it would be rude not to tell her when we opened given she asked,” Marinette said with a pout. When Chloé leveled an unamused look at her, she threw her arms up. “Okay, so I invited her because I think she's hot, what's so wrong with that?” 

“Nothing wrong with that, Maribug,” Adrien chimed in from behind the bar. He was reading recipes for drinks and practicing throwing some of the tools and bottles around for flair. He always bragged that his cat-like reflexes were purr -fect for wowing crowds of people as he served them. 

“Thank you!” 

“But I'm still mad at you for missing out on getting that coffee guy's number,” he said severely, an exaggerated frown on his face. She stuck her tongue out at him and he grinned again, still throwing things around. “Give me a drink to make, I want to practice again.” 

Before either she or Chloé could come up with one, the door to the bar opened and a group of people came in, looking around. Marinette stayed where she was at the bar, practically beaming when they wandered over to the new pool tables she'd had Chloé buy. It didn't take long for them to settle in and then they wandered over to the bar to order. 

After the first group, people started coming in in drips and drabs. Occasionally someone would come in solo and just order a drink to have at the bar, but for the most part people were socialising and it gave the bar a very warm atmosphere. It made Marinette glow with pride that she was party to making a place that people seemed to genuinely be enjoying. 

Chloé ducked into a back office after the first hour, claiming that she had some bookkeeping to do. Neither Marinette nor Adrien questioned it, very aware that she hated being in crowds of people for extended periods of time. Marinette jumped behind the bar when it got even busier, making simple drinks and handing off anyone that wanted a complicated cocktail to Adrien. If it continued to get this much foot traffic, they would need to hire someone with more bar experience but for now it was just the two of them. 

Marinette worked hard and enjoyed it, but she was relieved when she got to call for the last round. It was tricky, and took a lot of her strategising ability to remember who ordered what and which order to go to people in. She didn't know how Adrien wasn't passed out on the floor by the end of the night, but she did notice a handful of paper in the tip jar that was suspiciously not money. She'd bet they were phone numbers for her pretty blond friend, and she said as much to him. 

“Well that's- mind your own business!” He sputtered, though his red cheeks were raised by his smile. The grin faltered a little and he sighed as he ruined the jar out and started separating the money from the other paper. “There wasn't anyone who struck me as the kind of guy I want to date right now.” 

“Do you have something specific in mind?” She asked, wiping down the tables across the room. “Like, do you mean looks or personality?” 

“Personality. I think I want my next boyfriend to be the complete opposite of me. I want someone who knows their own boundaries and will stand up for them, you know? Luka was so easy going I could never tell if he liked when we were spending time together.” 

“Mmm, makes it hard to know if you're doing something right,” she agreed. “You know, you should really be working on setting boundaries yourself. Because whoever you end up dating should be able to trust you to know yourself well enough to say no when you need to. And you're a little bit of a people pleaser, Kitty.” 

“Hey, that's…completely fair,” he sighed, replacing the tip jar and putting the phone numbers in the bin. “It's not like I was raised to be an independent thinker. And what am I supposed to do, go to therapy? As Chlo would say, ridiculous-” 

“Utterly ridiculous,” they chorused, bursting into fits of giggles. They subsided after only a minute, Marinette looking at him fondly. It was impossible to know if therapy was something that would help given they couldn't tell them everything about their pasts, but she wished he would give it a try. Just from what Gabriel had put him through she thought that it would be good to get a professional opinion. 

“Are you two making fun of me?” Chloé demanded, appearing in the doorway now that the crowds of people had been sent home. 

“Who us? We would never dare,” Marinette assured her, stifling another giggle at the withering look Chloé gave her. “But now that you’re here, we should suspiciously change the subject and talk about something else.”

“Hmph, whatever you say Dupain-Cheng,” Chloé sniffed, turning to Adrien and wrinkling her nose. “You need a shower, Adrikins! Let’s go home before it gets any later and you can tell me all about your horrendous night of serving commoners.” 

Still laughing, Marinette followed her two blonde friends and locked up the doors to their new bar. She had a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach and she couldn’t wait to see where they went next. 

[sngl-led-auto-lights]

What should you know about OEM automotive lighting before upgrading your vehicle?

Before upgrading your vehicle’s lighting system with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts or equivalents, it’s important to understand compatibility, regulations, performance trade-offs, and installation details to avoid safety risks, legal issues, or damage. Here’s a structured guide:

OEM vs. Aftermarket: Know the Difference

OEM Lighting: Parts produced by the vehicle manufacturer (e.g., Toyota Camry headlights). Guaranteed fit and performance, but expensive.

OEM Equivalent: Parts provided to OEM specifications by a supplier (e.g., Philips, Osram, Hella). Often identical to the original part, but at a lower cost.

Avoid Cheap Imitations: Uncertified “OEM-style” parts may lack safety coatings, proper beam patterns, or durability.

Compliance: Avoid Legal Hassles

DOT (US)/ECE (Europe) Standards: Headlights must meet local regulations for beam intensity, beam pattern, and glare control.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) allows a slight increase in glare; ECE anti-glare regulations are stricter.

Illegal upgrades: Installing an LED in a halogen housing (or vice versa) is generally against regulations unless the entire assembly is replaced.

State inspections: Noncompliant lamps may fail inspections (e.g., in New York or Texas).

Bulb technology compatibility

Halogen → LED/HID bulb swaps: Never install an LED/HID bulb in a halogen housing without a spotlight. Halogen reflectors scatter the light, causing glare to other vehicles.

Full assembly upgrades: If retrofitting, replace the entire headlamp assembly to ensure proper optics (e.g., replacing a spotlight with an LED).

CAN bus systems: Modern vehicles use a network (CAN bus) to monitor the bulbs. Adding an LED bulb may trigger an error code; use a CAN bus compatible bulb or resistor.

Electrical Load and System Safety

Power Differences:

Bulb Type Power Consumption (Low Beam) Halogen 55W HID (Xenon) 35W LED 15-50W

Wiring Harness: HID kits often require a relay harness to avoid melting the factory wiring.

Fuses and Relays: Match factory amp ratings to prevent overloads. High-wattage bulbs may require upgraded fuses.

Performance Tradeoffs

LED:

✅ Pros: Brighter, whiter light; 30,000+ hours of life.

❌ Cons: Can be difficult to drive on deep snow/ice (low heat output).

HID:

✅ Pros: Better illumination at long distances.

❌ Cons: Slow to warm up (3-5 seconds); can cause glare if misaligned.

Halogen:

✅ Pros: Low cost; suitable for most drivers.

❌ Cons: Dim/yellowing light; shorter lifespan.

Installation Critical Factors

Alignment: Improperly aligned headlights can cause glare or poor visibility. Use a level surface and an alignment tool (or have it professionally aligned).

Thermal Management: LEDs require a heat sink; HIDs require a ballast mounted away from moisture.

Weather Seal: Prevent condensation with OEM-grade seals.

Plug-and-Play vs. Wiring: OEM fixtures plug directly in; aftermarket may require an adapter.

Warranty and Long-Term Costs

Vehicle Warranty: Non-OEM parts may void warranty coverage for related electrical issues.

Bulb Life: Cheap LED/HID bulbs die faster than OEM bulbs (e.g., ~1 year for no-name LED bulbs vs. ~5 years for Philips/SNGL bulbs).

Replacement Cost: OEM components cost $300-$2,000+; labor costs for complex conversions are not negligible.

Key Takeaways Safety first: Never compromise on beam pattern or glare control.

Verify certification: Look for DOT/SAE/ECE markings on the bulb or housing.

Consult a pro: For retrofits (halogen → LED/HID), consult an auto electrician.

Check resources: Sites like https://www.sngllighting.com/ or https://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-au/car-lights offer certified upgrades.

💡 Pro Tip: Before upgrading bulbs, install a headlight lens restoration kit ($20) to restore yellowed factory lenses to their original state.

By balancing regulations, technology, and compatibility, you can improve visibility without endangering yourself or others. 🔧🚘

[susanhannifordcrowley]

Writing Tools: How I Named My Characters in The Vampire with a Blanket of Stars By Susan Hanniford Crowley

[yukipri]

I felt so dumb after I sent the question. I legit agonized over it at work that night.!

Lighting!! I love your lighting style and am working to refine my own, how do you start making lighting on art?

Please don't feel dumb! But yeah, having specifics really helps me actually say something that might help you!

Mm, so regarding lighting, I admit I'm largely just winging it myself so I'm not sure how helpful I can be. But a few random tips in case one of them is a new thought:

1. Everyone says "pay attention to the lighting source," which sure, is very important. But I've found that my own lighting got a lot more interesting and just better in general when I also thought about lighting *other* than the primary lighting source, especially reflective light. So if I have light shining down from above-ish (like, 99% of my art lol), I also make sure to not just add harsher lighting to foreheads/places where the direct light hits, but also a softer glow (sometimes of a different color!) from the opposite direction, where presumably whatever is off screen is reflecting the light.

2. Play around with different lighting hardness. This will depend entirely on your style, but for me, I usually have at least two lighting layers: one with very soft, big airbrush to set a kind of atmospheric direction lighting, and then another separate layer with my harder more defined lighting. Playing with how hard/soft those edges are can really change the vibe of the piece!

3. Use effects layers, and try different types. I'm also just lazy, and find that effects layers are an easier way to throw on lighting/shadows. For me, I like to use Dodge layers for lighting, but dodge layers also tend to turn things warmer toned. Which works for me because I like warm tones, but might not be what you're looking for. Other effects layers may give things a whiter/ashy tone, or amp color saturation, etc, lots of options! Effects layers also vary by the program you're using, but yeah, the tip here is to just play around with them, you might be surprised at what works for you!

4. Shadows and Highlights are in many ways different sides of the same coin. I know a lotta folks just want to say there is a "neutral" no lighting flat color for things, but the reality is that everything we perceive through vision has light on it. What this means is that though you may start with a flat color for practicality's sake (I mean, I assume most of us do), sometimes adding shadow to the right parts will make it look like it has lighting, or vice versa. So oftentimes, to make lighting look more dramatic or moody, I will have darker shadows on the rest of the character to give more extreme contrast.

5. Especially if you're not going for hyper realism, sometimes lighting doesn't necessarily have to be literal. Even if it doesn't make the most sense, you can add brighter/different color lighting in areas that you want to highlight, like a character's face, or a special point on their prop, etc. Lighting is, in the end, just a tool to make your art, so make it do what you want it to do, not the other way around!

Kinda just spewed out first things that came to my mind! Idk if any of these help, but I hope some do!

❀ ❀ Send YukiPri an Ask! ❀ ❀

[wherechaoswins]

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