#angular 2.0

[qyrhan]

Some more studies of the Uprising style. Hoping I’ll be able to make full illustrations soon after I get a hold on it!

[do not repost my art to other sites]

[mih-nuh]

fav train & why?

ouuuugh that's a really hard question i don't know if i can narrow it down T SET BLAST

(oliver poate – cc-by 2.0)

these ones are my favourites. they're often also called tangaras. they just look so fucking awesome, this perfect balance between the super angular rolling stock that came before it and the super round, almost bubbly rolling stock that's come after it (no complaints to the a sets and b sets out there)

(thebusofdoom – cc-by-sa 4.0)

here's a more side-on view and i mean come on. trains is bugs dude. there's simply no denying it here. sometimes i call em cheese wedges on account of that big flat ol face right there.

weird place to put the windows on the sides, don't ya reckon? ah. this is my wicked trick, my terrible twist. these trains are double decker

(TfNSW/goninan – they linked this bad boy without attributing anyone in particular)

i love melbourne's rolling stock as much as the next guy (the comeng is also bugs) but there's just something about how dedicated sydney trains are to curating double decker rolling stock, by all means a relatively silly decision (takes a while to unload passengers in exchange for a decent bit more capacity).

i don't think it's a perfect train. at fucking all. the upper deck windows tend to fog up and warp a bit. you're not hearing an on-board announcement for your life. they're not the comfiest trains in tow. but i've ridden nothing like it. it feels almost otherworldly.

i leave you with the sounds behind the damn thing. they sound like goddamn angels they do

[mariacallous]

Earlier this month, Tesla, the Elon Musk-led car company, staged a publicity stunt in front of the White House. A row of electric vehicles, including an angular stainless-steel Cybertruck, was arranged for Donald Trump to inspect before a fleet of news cameras. As far as photo opportunities go, it was absurd enough, turning the supposedly august Presidential residence into something resembling the set of a car-dealership commercial. (In its jarring clash of high-and-low symbolism, it recalled the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference that Rudy Giuliani hosted on Trump’s behalf after the 2020 election.) Trump, playing the role of the discerning shopper, stepped into a gleaming red Tesla Model S. Musk circled the car, ready to assist his faux client, and pointed out the brake and the accelerator. “It’s like driving a golf cart,” he said. Trump, presumably admiring the touch screen that the car has in lieu of buttons, exclaimed, “Wow! That’s beautiful. . . . Everything’s computer!”

The event was a transparent attempt to lift Tesla’s stock price, which has suffered recently in large part owing to mounting anti-Musk public sentiment. But it was Trump’s brief utterance that stole the show. He has always had a genius for contagious coinages—even, occasionally, when the language is accidental. (Remember “covfefe”?) “Everything’s computer,” with its compressed and fractured syntax, perfectly evokes the befuddling era we find ourselves in: technology is infiltrating every aspect of our lives—even, with Musk’s DOGE rampage, the workings of the federal government. Tesla is computer; artificial intelligence is computer; politics is computer. Am I computer, too? The phrase instantly became a meme, used to caption everything from clips of “The Matrix” and “Star Wars” to images of Kim Kardashian with a humanoid Tesla robot with which she has lately been staging scenes.

The phrase is enthusiastic yet ambivalent. It can be uttered in delight or in fear. Above all, it expresses a kind of bemusement at the tumultuous unknowability of our moment, and in that respect it has something in common with other memes that have gained traction in the first months of the second Trump Administration. As I observed in a column last year, the 2024 election was characterized online by its brain-rot memes, nonsensical collisions of imagery that produced a lot of noise but little coherent impact. (See, for instance: Kamala Harris and brat summer.) Now the brain rot persists, but the underlying subject matter is more dire. We participate in the memes to express our anxiety that whatever is coming next might be even more chaotic than what is already happening.

Another recent example: “Trump took egg. Egg gone.” That phrase is the work of Michael Sweeney, a video editor in San Diego who sometimes directs Democratic political ads. He’d been to his local Costco, where shoppers were maxing out a store-mandated allotment of eggs: two packages of sixty eggs apiece. Sweeney grabbed one of the last eggs on the shelves and, on February 4th, reposted a picture of bare shelves to the social network Bluesky with the caption in question, which quickly took on a life of its own. Sweeney told me recently, “Unlike a lot of problems in the government that Trump’s incompetence is causing, this one is very easy to point out and self-evidently a problem even to people who don’t pay attention to politics.” The phrase morphed into “Trump Take Egg” and then became a memetic rallying cry across social media, labelling more photos of empty shelves and graphs of rising egg prices. A taqueria in Virginia used it as an excuse for a buy-one-get-one-free deal on breakfast tacos: “Trump take egg. Brazos give egg.”

Democrats have struggled to craft any sort of effective message of opposition to the second Trump Administration. One recent round of video clips featuring the speeches of Democratic senators was roundly mocked for repeating tired talking points. In the absence of anything more galvanizing, the formula “Trump Take _____”—fill in the blank with “egg,” “cancer research,” or “Social Security”—is, as Sweeney put it, “sort of self-consciously stupid but at least feels like you’re landing a punch.” Another favorite target of late is Vice-President J. D. Vance. Vance hadn’t made much of an impression in the new Administration until he helped Trump berate the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, last month in a televised meeting from the Oval Office. Vance sat on a couch, looking something like a petulant child, before practically leaping out of his seat to demand Zelensky “say thank you.” It was Vance’s first breakout public moment as Vice-President, and the meme machine went to work: Vance as Humpty Dumpty; Vance as a toddler with a propeller hat and a lollipop; Vance as a hippie troubadour with a neckbeard and a mop of curly hair. The more bizarre—Vance as the center of a nuclear-bomb explosion—the more apt.

A version of the same Vance meme first took hold last October when the Republican congressman Mike Collins posted an image of Vance that had been heavily edited (“yassified,” in internet slang) to have stronger cheekbones and a more angular jawline. Collins, for unexplained reasons, had turned Vance into a “Chad,” an online archetype of bro-y masculinity. Then a Los Angeles-based creative named Dave McNamee posted an altered portrait of a chubby-faced Vance, promising, “For every 100 likes I will turn JD Vance into a progressively apple cheeked baby.” He went on to create a feminine Vance, an elderly Vance, a Justin Bieber-ish Vance. Collins’s original post, McNamee told me, “revealed a deep insecurity that the right has about J. D. Vance—that he is not the masculine icon they want to prop up.”

Liam Grey, the Canadian administrator of various Instagram meme accounts, including one called @dailyvance, for which he collects memes of Vance’s face, compared the Vice-President to “a modern-day Harambe,” referring to the gorilla that was shot and killed, in 2016, when a human child fell into his zoo enclosure. On social media, people photoshopped Harambe into every imaginable scenario, less out of any animal-rights sentiment than as an early expression of online brain rot, the pursuit of viral content for its own sake: the more meaningless the better. The profusion of memes turned Harambe into a sort of internet folk hero, but Vance is no innocent zoo animal; the images of the Vice-President function more like voodoo dolls, casting vengeful spells from afar.

Zach Silberberg, a digital producer in Manhattan who, last July, created a much-shared meme of Vance with slightly shrunken features, interpreted the popularity of Vance memes as a sign of “people feeling powerless.” The new Administration is dismantling the federal government, allying itself with strongmen, and implementing a new McCarthyism. The Vance memes transmute terror into mockery: as Silberberg put it, “This man has an unprecedented amount of access to power. I’m gonna ruin his day just a little bit.” Earlier this month, the journalist Julio Rosas reported that Vance has seen the memes and “thinks it’s a funny trend.” A few days later, the Vice-President himself posted a Vance meme to his account on X, an edit of his face onto Leonardo DiCaprio’s frame in a scene from the film “Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood,” in which DiCaprio’s character, an actor, points at a television screen in recognition. In today’s political ecosystem, any form of internet notoriety might be desirable.

It’s one thing when political memes are brain-rotted; it’s another when the practice of politics itself seems to be. This week, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, wrote about being added by mistake to a Signal group chat, titled Houthi PC small group, in which national-security leaders—apparently including Vance; the national-security adviser, Mike Waltz; the deputy White House chief of staff; and the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, among others—were planning an attack against the Houthis in Yemen. (The White House press secretary denied that war plans were discussed in the chat.) Waltz celebrated the operation’s launch with a fluent string of emojis: 👊🇺🇸🔥. In a display of gallows humor at the sloppiness of the leaders’ theoretically clandestine communication, people online quickly turned those symbols into memes, and renamed their own chats Houthi PC small group. Making war is computer, too.

[absolutebl]

This Week In BL - These Are the Days of Our BLs

Aug 2023 Wk 2

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Laws of Attraction (Sat iQIYI) 5 of 8 - They cute making heart eyes at each other, but could we get back to punching & slutty silk shirts? OMG the poor rich kid & the bodyguard who wants to hug him SO BAD are KILLING me. I did giggle & yell “punchy punchies” during the fight scene before the fire. But Charn is a diamond-encrusted evil-gorgeous gremlin beastie, isn’t he? 

Only Friends (Sat YT) ep 1 of 10 - NO SINGING, but also.. wristbands! Sand is great = smart, snappy & over this shit. (Tired Gay 2.0) Neo & Mark are a revelation, where’d that chemistry come from? Force playing a douchenozzle is damn delight. Plus a counter lift in the first ep? Boys, you’re spoiling me. Mew is the least interesting, but Book is still adorable. Ray is the least likable character, but since it’s Khao, he’s the most likable screen presence. In fact, I’m enjoying all the messy messy gays & I know all their types IRL. I wish we had some femme & swish rep tho. Is this Thailand’s Queer as Folk? Seems like. Is it good? Not sure. But it is FUN as hell. Still, I gotta say it… they all dance like straight boys. 

Hidden Agenda that isn’t hidden (Sun GMMTV YouTube) ep 5 of 10 - Zo just wants to turtle & avoid but Joke is not gonna allow that. GMMTV keeps having sub issues (usually fixed within a few days). 

Low Frequency (Sat iQIYI) ep 6 of 8 - I do like the psychic gay detective trope. It makes this show more interesting and enjoyable. But they solved the mystery awful fast. I guess different drama spins the final 2 eps? 

Be My Favorite (Fri YouTube) ep 12fin - It was fine. I was fine with it. A kind of Vice Versa situation. The usual with Jittirain, as it turns out, is pretty simple: one of her main characters is going to be a manipulative liar or extremely unlikeable or both. It got an 8/10 from me, but probably should get a 7/10 just because I’m so exhausted by this. But I have to be fair and judge each BL on its own & not in light of repeat author mistakes. Not much of a trash watch here. Final full review here. 

Dinosaur Love (Sun iQIYI) ep 7 of 10 eps - Boyfriend trip together. Terrible overalls. What the fuck? No. Meanwhile, perfect choice for college star. (Could Ton please lead out a new BL? I know I’m 0 for 2 with him but I’m willing to try again if he is.) I actually enjoyed this installment for a change. Perhaps “enjoy” is too strong a word. Not much happened, dog days of BL, perhaps that’s a good thing with Dino? 

Be Mine Super Star (Mon Viki) ep 6 of 12 - Mostly I was excited to watch this week because of Ben but there wasn’t much of him. Sadness. OK, I know it has STIFF competition but does this show have the worst music in BL, or is it just me? I still like Big Daddy & Hot Doc as characters but I am despairing over their arc (would we call it an arc?). All in all this week... Whatever.

Wedding Plan (Weds YT & iQIYI) ep 4 of 7 - I am officially being driven to drink. Trash watch is happening!

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Jun & Jun (Korea Thurs Viki) 4 of 8 - This show makes me laugh so much. It is so damn cute. And there’s so much language play going on. THEN . . . JUST ADD SIMON. I love a good Simon. Who doesn’t love a good Simon? I know SO MANY Simons. Now 3 boys are circling the ingénue (who I suspect is less innocent than he appears). So much delightful competition, postering & flirting. “My Jun,” is he, Simon? You are a precious angular stalk man, aren’t you? Pacing is great with this show. Every week I can’t wait for the next installment, that’s a hallmark of the best KBLs. If the language stuff confused you as much as it did me here is an EXCELLENT post on the subject that will help. 

Stay By My Side (Taiwan Fri Gaga) 7 of 10 eps - Sweetest seme. He’s hurt & mad at his boy but still can’t help taking care of him. I do like the courting with snacks & sweet little notes. (It’d work on me.) YAY!  Reunion kisses & nuzzles!!! Snuggling!!!! Gah! Taiwan, I love you. These 2 aren’t your best kissers but their cuddling is off the charts. I guess we are just gonna be plotless messy gay bfs for the final 3 eps? That’s cool with me. 

Sing My Crush (Korea Weds iQIYI) 3-4 of 8 eps - it’s adorable, they’re adorable, I’m enjoying it a whole lot. It’s like a very soft, low-stakes Addicted. 

Love Class Season 2 (Korea Fri Viki) 10 eps - I liked Love Class 1 (more than most on Tumblr) & I normally don’t want 2nd seasons. But this has an entirely new cast (in the “Replay” model). I’m fine with a 2nd season that has little or nothing to do with the first. J-min is an interesting choice of idols but he’s doing an unexpectedly good job. (He is a truly great rapper, by the way.) Trigger warnings out the gate... also this is complicated. Ready? We got 3 queer besties: artist gay Hyun (J-min), shy cafe gay Minwoo (in love with), sunshine gym bunny bi slut Maru (represent, my brother). Then we got Mr Put-upon-TA (+ boy who saw him nekid). And the twist = all black otaku Kim An (used to tutor artist gay in high school = exes ghosting DRAMA). This last reads as a hyung romance. Which you know I love. But it also feels v dark. All of which is to say, I am intrigued but a little nervous over the tone. 

My Personal Weatherman AKA Taikan Yoho (Japan Sat Gaga) ep 1 of 8 - Classic JBL is back! This one is My Beautiful Man + Tokyo in April/Oh My Assistant. It’s odd and warped af but I like it. Very much has a the feel of old live action yaoi + VERY D/s. BRING IT JAPAN.

Minato's Laundromat Season 2 AKA Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2 (Japan Thu Gaga) 6 of 12 eps - Shin is my sweet bean sprout and Minato should just boink him. Why all this waffling? I love the doctor. But mostly I’m as frustrated with this show as Shin must be in general. Minato 2- the season of blue balls.

Stay Still (Hong Kong Tues YouTube) 2 of 5 eps - I re-watched the first 2 eps & now find it a bit more comprehensible (yes 2: there is an ep 0). I don’t think we can expect this to end happy for either couple. It’s kinda sticky & grungy (in a way I’ve come to expect from the Philippines, although this is not as cluttered visually nor as brightly colored as the Pinoy stuff). I do kind of like that lived-in feeling, it reminds me of Taiwanese shorts. There is something very honestly queer about the primary leads (tattoo & babyface) in particular the way they dance queer? around each other: verbally, emotionally & physically - laying down breadcrumbs of gay for the other to follow. The secondary couple (reunion, cheating) is very sad. Although I do love a counter lift make-out sesh. (Occasionally Cantonese sounds like Vietnamese to me. Apparently I am not alone in this.)

Gossip - AKA P’ABL is Disappointed

I was gonna put a statement here but I just did it separately, earlier this week, since my ask box was overflowing regarding actor gossip and other stuff. 

Meanwhile, Stay With Me ended exactly as expected. Can’t say I didn’t warn ya. You watched this anyway? You got what was coming to you. I am entirely unsympathetic. 

 Next Week Looks Like This:

Look at that PACKED week. NIIICEEEE. 

Starting:

8/18 Dangerous Romance (Thai Fri GMMTC YT) 12 eps - Perth returns to lead out a BL, odds on that ever happening were slim. (Let alone Chimon.) Still here we are. Interesting times. Chimon plays a poor studious kid who hates the school bully but is forced to become his private tutor. Lurv results. 

8/19 Love in Translation (Thai Sat One31) 10 eps - Two strangers start working in a cafe together. Looks very pulp. No idea on international distribution. 

8/19 I Feel You Linger in the Air (Thai Sat Gaga) 12 eps - The time travel historical romance many of us have been waiting for. Adaption of y-novel by Violet Rain. Heartbroken architect is transported to the 1930s. From the producers of Lovely Writer.

8/20 My Universe series (Thai Sun iQIYI) 24 eps - This is sampler pack BL, 12 pairs, each pair gets 2 eps, not sure on the order they’ll drop. Known couples include EarthBank from Destiny Seeker and KaownahTurbo from Love Stage!!!, fresh faces otherwise. Jane to direct.

Still Coming in August 2023

8/22 Kisseki: Dear to Me formerly known as Miracle (Taiwan Tues ????) 13 eps - From screenwriter Lin Pei Yu (We Best Love, H3: Trapped) features a student doctor forced to take care of a gangster. I love the premise and like the writer, Viki or Gaga will get this one.  

8/23 Why R U? (Korean remake iQIYI) is supposed to be out this month, filming started in sept 22. I find everything about this hilarious. I mean if Korea remakes it, we lose all the sexy and then... would we have a story at all? No we would not. Not even for six short eps. It’d be like one of those mesh shopping bags.

8/24 Man Suang (Thailand movie, domestic cinema release) - historical drama about Thai burlesque with KP’s MileApo. 

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED)

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Talking grandkids. Made me snicker. (Low Frequency.)

The waist grab that launched a thousand gifs (Laws of Attraction). Okay it was last week but I gotta chronicle it here in the weeklies. For science. 

Sing My Crush. They are so damn cute. 

Thank you for the counter action GMMTV, please Sirs, may I have another?

Captain snark in the house. Of course they handed the best and most complex pairing to these two. Well done GMMTV. (Only Friends) 

I really did not expect J-Min to be this good. (Love Class 2) 

(Last week) 

[thelostmetallurgist]

Dwemeris Rosetta Stone...

Dwemeris Rosetta Stone 2.0

A comprehensive framework for deciphering, learning, and playing with the Dwemer (Deep Folk) tongue—runic, spoken, numeric, and mystical.

I. Alphabet & Glyphs

Rune ID Direct English Phoneme Approx. IPA Numeric Value ⟨R1⟩ A /a/ [a] 1 ⟨R2⟩ B /b/ [b] 2 ⟨R3⟩ D /d/ [d] 3 ⟨R4⟩ E /ɛ/ [ɛ] 5 ⟨R5⟩ F /f/ [f] 6 … … … … … ⟨R26⟩ Z /z/ [z] 26 ⟨G0⟩ Zero glyph – – 0 ⟨G★⟩ Capital/Start – – –

Notes:

Runes are carved in sharp, angular strokes echoing gear teeth and vent grooves.

⟨G★⟩ placed at sentence start; ⟨G0⟩ marks numeric zero.

II. Systems of Interpretation

System I: Direct Substitution One-to-one mapping of each Dwemer rune (⟨R#⟩) to a Latin letter (A–Z), ignoring phonetic nuance.

System II: Romanized Phonemes Use English digraphs (/kh/, /th/, /zh/) to approximate distinct Dwemer sounds:

⟨R10⟩ → “kh”

⟨R12⟩ → “th”

⟨R19⟩ → “zh”

System III: IPA‑Precise Assign each rune an IPA symbol for scholarly transcription:

⟨R10⟩ → [x]

⟨R12⟩ → [θ]

⟨R19⟩ → [ʒ]

III. Grammar & Syntax Rules

Morphology: Polysynthetic. Single words can encode subject, object, instrument, and purpose.

Word Order: Typically SOV, but subordinate phrases nest within word‑vehicles.

Plurals & Cases: Indicated by suffix chains (-zûn for plural, -thak for dative).

Verbal Roots: Embedded in initial morpheme; tense/aspect follow as affixes.

Example Structure: duum‑zûn‑kharthak‑eft (dwemer-PL-TO/FOR-help) → “they build for the benefit.”

IV. Core Vocabulary

Dwemer Word System II Gloss duum duum “Dwemer” / “deep folk” duumzûn duum‑zun plural “Dwemer” nchuand‑zel nchuand‑zel “Radiant City” (Markarth) eftar‑ eftar‑ verb root “to promise/swear” fahlzûn fahlzun “great ones” (honorific) khaz khaz “metal” / “iron” zar‑tûk zar‑tuk “secret passage”

New Formed Words (structure follows polysyllabic compounding):

khaz‑duum‑tir: “metal‑deep‑gate” → subterranean vault

eft‑fahl‑khar: “help‑great‑forge” → master smith

V. Numerical System

Base-10. Digits 1–9 use ⟨R1⟩–⟨R9⟩; 0 = ⟨G0⟩.

Notation: Place-value; numbers read left-to-right.

Symbol Sequence Value ⟨R3⟩⟨R1⟩ 31 ⟨G0⟩⟨R5⟩ 05 ⟨R1⟩⟨R0⟩⟨R0⟩ 100

Mathematical Usage: Dwemer engineers carve equations alongside gearweights, e.g. “5⟨G0⟩ + 7⟨G0⟩ = 12⟨G0⟩”.

VI. Practical Examples

Divine Metaphysics (Inscription Fragment)

Runic: ⟨G★⟩ R4‑R1‑R5‑R3‑R7 …

Sys I: E A F D G …

Sys II: /ɛ a f d g/ …

Gloss: “Eternal forge awakens…”

Translation: “When the eternal forge awakens, the world trembles.”

Egg of Time (Mural Glyph)

Runic phrase: ⟨R10⟩‑⟨R4⟩‑⟨R3⟩‑⟨R15⟩

Sys II: kh‑e‑d‑s

IPA: [x ɛ d s]

Meaning Hypothesis: “Cycle” or “renewal.”

Nchuand‑Zel (City Name)

Runic: ⟨R14⟩‑⟨R3⟩‑⟨R21⟩‑⟨R1⟩‑⟨R4⟩‑⟨R14⟩ …

Translation: “Radiant City under the mountain.”

VII. Supplementary Materials

Pronunciation Guide (IPA): Full chart listing all 28 runes with IPA values.

Cultural Context: Dwemer believed sound was material—tonal resonances could animate automatons. Language mirrored their architectural philosophy: precise, durable, efficient.

VIII. Interactive & Collaborative Tools

Digital Rosetta App Mock‑Up:

Rune → drag‑drop to Latin; click to hear IPA playback.

Number pad showing glyphs.

Translation pane with System toggles (I/II/III).

Community Portal Concept:

Live forum threads for new inscription photos.

Crowdsourced lexical suggestions.

Versioning history of hypotheses and peer reviews.

This Rosetta Stone 2.0 is a living document—update with each new cavern find, artifact, and scholarly breakthrough!

[feralbutfluffy]

40: Aziraphale

Chapter 40 (!) of Too Wise to Woo Peaceably

*********************************************

“Before, in the bookshop, when you said you had a plan… Was there actually a plan?"

Aziraphale really wished Crowley would let this go. "Of course there was!"

"You didn't just pop up here on a wing and a prayer then..?"

"That was a dreadful pun. If you must know, we were going to meet with The Metatron, discuss our concerns, and come to a compromise. Make a deal, if you will.”

“A deal,” Crowley repeated slowly.

“Yes.”

“With The Metatron.”

“Yes. Are you going to repeat everything I say or just most of it?”

“And how did that go?” asked Crowley, brushing past Aziraphale’s last remark.

“Poorly.” Aziraphale gave him a withering look. “Obviously. He was… Well, he wasn’t particularly happy about us having removed you without his permission.”

“Blasted hypocrite. No qualms about removing me without my permission.”

They stood over The Metatron. Crowley was draped over Aziraphale for support, warm and angular and so close the angel could bury his face in his neck if he only turned and tilted his head.

Which he wouldn’t, obviously.

But he could.

Crowley leaned more heavily on Aziraphale so he could shift his weight onto one foot, and used the other to nudge The Metatron with his toe.

Nothing happened.

“Not sure what I was expecting,” he said, and then after a pause, “What a bastard.”

Aziraphale nodded in agreement and sighed. “We should do something about this.”

“About what? The dead behemoth?”

“Yes. A little combined miracle perhaps? Just to conceal the crime, as it were. That would work, surely?”

Crowley moved his head from side to side, considering Aziraphale’s suggestion. 

“Ngn. Sure. Why not? Might as well try it. But only so long as once it’s done we head right back down to Earth-” He narrowed his eyes when Aziraphale nodded. “... I mean instantly, Aziraphale. If a siren goes off I don’t want to be around to hear it.”

“Oh, I doubt you can set sirens off in Heaven from the inside...”

“If it’s all the same to you I’d rather not test that hypothesis,” said Crowley dryly. “Alright. What’s the miracle? Make it so nobody knows this occurred? Hide it? A sort of… Grim Jim 2.0?”

Aziraphale thought for a moment. “That should do it.”

“Right. Okay. Hand-”

Aziraphale didn’t move. One of his hands was still wrapped round Crowley’s ribs, holding him up. The other was clutching at the arm he’d slung over Aziraphale’s shoulders, keeping him steady. He wasn't sure which was more essential to Crowley’s stability.

Crowley noticed his indecision and made the choice for him. “Here, look, instead of my forearm, just grab my hand. Use your other hand for the wavy bit.”

Aziraphale loosened his grip and his fingertips traced down along the inside of Crowley’s wrist until he reached his hand. Crowley interlocked his fingers with his own, pressing their knuckles together far more tightly than Aziraphale thought was strictly necessary.

“Ready? Count of three?”

Aziraphale nodded. “One… two…” 

There was a sound of powers being brought to bear and then the room shifted, Aziraphale blinked, and everything was different.

They both stared.

The room looked completely undisturbed. The Metatron and the sword had vanished, as had the broken silver quill. There was no sign of struggle, not a single smear of ichor. There was nothing at all to indicate anything had happened there recently other than perhaps the filing of paperwork.

Aziraphale opened his mouth to say something, but Crowley cut across him. “Use your fancy archangel powers and get us out of here?”

The angel gestured with his fingers and then they were back in the bookshop.

They stood motionless for a moment, both quietly trying to process things, fingers still intertwined against Aziraphale’s chest. Crowley broke the silence. 

“What the fuck?”

Aziraphale turned his head slightly to look at Crowley. “Quite.”

“Was that your-?”

“No, and I’m assuming it wasn’t your intention either. We were trying to hide him, not make him disappear completely.”

“Where the blazes did he go?”

Aziraphale shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

Crowley groaned and drummed his fingertips against his forehead. The swelling on the left side of his face had gone down, leaving dark mottled bruising in its wake. He called out for Muriel and Saraqael, but the bookshop was quiet.

“Probably just taking the long way home,” Aziraphale said, patting Crowley’s side reassuringly. “Saraqael will have needed a new chair.”

“They’d better be somewhere safe.”

“I’m sure they are.”

Crowley swore and flicked his wrist to look at his entirely-too-complicated watch. “I’m giving them one hour and if they’re not back here by then…”

He sounded very much like a parent grousing about their child breaking curfew. Aziraphale considered the gravity of the situation and wisely decided not to point out the similarity. 

Crowley sighed and threw his head back. "Alright, The Metatron disappearing... That’s not good.”

Aziraphale furrowed his brow. “...Isn’t it?”

“You don’t think anyone is going to wonder about the disappearance of The Metatron?”

“If you really think about it, nobody really marked his presence the last time we…” He trailed off, not wanting to bring up that painful day in the bookshop. “In fact, you were the only one to recognise him. I really think that actually, with a little bit of luck on our side, it could be quite some time before anybody notices anything amiss!”

“Except…” Crowley sounded worried and Aziraphale dipped his head to look into his face. He was worrying his bottom lip with his teeth, eyes dazed, and Aziraphale quickly looked away, his face flushing with unexpected heat.

Ridiculous.

Ridiculous to think he looked appealing in such a stressful situation. He felt depraved for even noticing.

He struggled to keep his voice level. “Except?”

“Well, except God, right?” Crowley tilted his head and Aziraphale was convinced he could actually feel him staring. “God’s bound to notice.”

“Ah,” was all Aziraphale could manage. A minute of silence passed. He was still staring. Aziraphale couldn’t bring himself to meet his gaze.

“...Ah?” Crowley was incredulous. “Is that the full and finished thought?”

No, Aziraphale wanted to say. There are no full or finished thoughts in my head, only buzzing, only bees.

He cleared his throat. “Let’s move you over to the Chesterfield.” Maybe he’d be able to think more clearly if he could establish some space between them.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Crowley shake his head, but he made no complaint. Together they shuffled towards the nook by the desk. Aziraphale gently lowered Crowley onto the sofa, half sitting down himself in the process. He dropped his arm from around Crowley's waist and pulled away slightly with the intention of extricating himself, but the arm over his shoulders stiffened and Crowley’s fingers tightened round his own, keeping him anchored fast. 

He let himself sink down into the sofa.

So much for space.

“I don’t think we can worry too much about the Almighty,” he said eventually, if only to distract from the fact that he was now sitting on the sofa with Crowley’s arm draped across his back, casually holding his hand. 

His chest felt tight, as if it was suddenly two sizes too small for his lungs. “After all, her plans are-”

Crowley’s fingers clenched round his, pressing a warning into his hand. “ Don’t you bloody say it. ”

“...Ineffable!” The word came out at rather a higher pitch than Aziraphale had intended.

Crowley muttered something inaudible. 

“I'm going to choose to believe that whatever you just said was complimentary,” he said primly.

“Believe what you like,” Crowley grumbled, but Aziraphale thought he heard amusement in his voice, and he relaxed a bit, allowing himself to sink deeper into the sofa. His side pressed against Crowley’s as the cushions dipped beneath their combined weight and lightly tipped them towards each other.

He felt Crowley flinch, and his body arched carefully away from Aziraphale. It was subtle, but not subtle enough; Aziraphale could imagine why, and the thought made him sick to his stomach. 

“I should have asked if this-” He swallowed. “Is this alright?”

Crowley gave him a sidelong glance. “Is what alright?”

“This.” He gestured between them. “The fact that we’re so close together, that we’re, well, that we're touching …”

Crowley went incredibly, excruciatingly still and Aziraphale felt his muscles harden beneath his clothes. Tension filled his face. “Is it alright with you?”

“Me?”

Crowley looked profoundly uncomfortable. “I can-” He started to pull away.

“No!” Aziraphale tugged at him. “I just mean after everything they did to you-, after how they pretended to-”

“Oh.” Crowley seemed to sag against him. There was strange and quiet relief in his voice. “Yeah. Well. Like I said, knew it wasn’t you.”

“Looked like me, though,” Aziraphale said miserably.

“Looked like you,” agreed Crowley, then bumped his shoulder with his own and gave him a lopsided smile. “Gave me something nice to look at while they were tearing strips off me.”

“That's not funny.”

Crowley said nothing.

They sat in silence, lounging back against the leather, Aziraphale trying not to stare at the way Crowley’s fingers were still entwined with his. The sun was starting to come up, and it bathed the bookshop in an orange haze. Some of the dust particles Muriel was so fond of were glowing by the window. It was quiet and warm and Aziraphale was sure this was his favourite place in the world.

“The sun’s coming up,” he said, in case Crowley had possibly missed the obvious.

Crowley rolled his head against the back of the sofa and looked up into Aziraphale’s eyes, and he was so close the angel’s heart stuttered in his chest. 

Embarrassing. 

“This is the best I’ve felt in…” Crowley hummed low in his throat. “It’s the best I’ve felt since Gabriel arrived on your doorstep stark naked with his memories crammed into a fly.”

A real smile then. The tip of Crowley’s tongue was resting against a pointed cuspid tooth, and Aziraphale was fairly certain his heart stopped altogether before starting again at twice the usual speed. He knew he should turn his head, but he couldn’t look away, and Crowley’s laughing mouth was right there, and his pupils were blown so wide they almost looked human, and Aziraphale swayed closer without meaning to, and Crowley must have seen something in his face because his eyelids lowered, and the smile faltered, and he dropped his gaze to Aziraphale’s lips, and-

The door of the bookshop swung open and the sound separated them instantly. Aziraphale jumped up to face the door, and Crowley rolled his head back to stare at the ceiling, flexing his fingers against his thigh.

Muriel and Saraqael were in before curfew.

[cruxiu]

Toyota lanzará en 2025 un SUV Hilux Ranger de siete plazas basado en la camioneta Hilux Camp

El modelo tendrá tracción trasera y dos motores: Gasolina de 2.0 litros (139 CV) y turbodiesel de 2.4 litros (149 CV), con transmisión manual de 5 velocidades o automática de 6 velocidades (solo diesel)

El diseño es angular, inspirado en el FJ Cruiser. La producción es limitada (50 auto / mes). Precio-408-511 millones de Rupias Indonesias (2,6-3,25 millones de rublos)

Toyota выпустит в 2025 году семиместный рамный кроссовер Hilux Rangga SUV, созданный на базе пикапа Hilux Camp

Модель будет иметь задний привод и два двигателя: 2,0-литровый бензиновый (139 л.с.) и 2,4-литровый турбодизель (149 л.с.), с 5-ступенчатой МКПП или 6-ступенчатым автоматом (только для дизеля)

Дизайн — угловатый, вдохновлённый FJ Cruiser. Производство ограничено (50 авто/мес). Цена — 408-511 млн индонезийских рупий (2,6-3,25 млн рублей)

[simulation-machine]

Tuesday O. Wallace was the previous alpha mascot for my Tumblr, before I fully made the switch over to MM, which has since settled into a Maxis Mix vibe.

Anyways, more info on her below!

Like Wren, Tuesday is an older character concept, coming into my brain in the late fall of 2020. She was an affair baby, her mom slept with her very married boss when she worked as an office admin at a tech startup (that later became a hella successful company). She has a total of 6-half siblings, two older from her father's marriage (that somehow survived the blatant adultery) and four younger from her mother's later marriages.

She coped with her chaotic upbringing with chain-smoking, playing the guitar, daydreaming about moving to de-Mothered StrangerVille, and a close friendship with her elderly next-door neighbor Lorene.

Tuesday will also be a part of this little story idea that I've been calling Another Door.

Compared to Wren, I changed fairly little in Tuesday's appearance, just made her eyes bigger, made the irises a more golden brown, and made her mouth just a bit less frowny and angular. She's still one of my more gaunt-faced sims, still on the tall end, and still takes after her likewise curvy mom.

Tuesday and Wren have never lived in the same universe before, and it's interesting to write how they get along, something that others will hopefully get to see (assuming I don't get bored too fast).

Bi the sexual: Tuesday Maxis Mix makeover uses the Yuhum 2.0 preset by @windslar! Check it out by clicking right here!

[babkaboy]

Hi! Big big biiiiiiiiig fan of your obikin work over on twitter, both for the naughty bits :3 and your art style like omg I love love loooooove the angular character design and the way u colour with scribbles hidden in it to look like it’s pencil coloured and the double lineart over (is it intentional or aesthetic thing?)

I wanted to ask a question: I noticed whenever I see your twitter art and tumblr art even tho it’s the same fan art some of the stuff on tumblr is slightly different like obi-wan/anakin’s face is more structured on tumblr version or slight change of pose or adding new things like obi-wan’s red lingerie in your obi-wan’s history of bras/lingerie while he’s naked on twitter version. Do you purposely change it for tumblr?

Hi there!! What a wonderful message to receive 🥺🙏 First of all, thank you for such kind words ❤️ I hope you don’t mind I answer both of your asks here!!

My art-style has been mutating through the years since I graduated and nowadays I’ve found a nice balance with this sketchy one I’m currently using (definitely influenced by Mikael Ross, his traditional cartoonish style is a huge inspo for me when i do comics). but I love trying new methods and switching things up every now and then. And yes, the double lineart is intentional!! I like how it gives some dimension and dynamism to the anatomy and makes it feel like animation 💞

And you are very observant!!! Bc I definitely change things in my art when I post them to different sites. part of it is because I’m kind of a perfectionist, and once i post something on twitter i start noticing all the mistakes and tangents and I just know i won’t post it on tumblr until i feel satisfied and fix things or re-do them. on the other hand, tumblr is very strict with the nudity stuff and i keep getting flagged every time i post something slightly suggestive (or maybe someone is reporting me 👀 won’t be the first time tbh) so i gotta tone things down, like adding obi-wan’s red lingerie in that one fanart while on tumblr he’s showing ass and cock HAHAHA. so yep, twitter gets ass and tits while tumblr gets the fixed 2.0 stuff. but in some way i kind of like the idea of posting different things on each site, like little easter eggs 🥰

I’m so excited for you to participate on the #UnderTheJediUniform tag 🙏 also tag me if you do it cuz my shadowban sometimes hides some of the art in the tag 😭 it started as a little idea and it warms my heart seeing people doing their drawings or fics or hcs about obi-wan in lingerie 💘 But take it easy specially if you are coming back from a creative burnout after uni, i was there too and it was no fun at all. sometimes is a way for our brain to tell us to take a break and nurture ourselves from different things other than drawing, like looking at different artists or photographers, watching movies, reading books and from life itself. and when you less expect it, you will suddenly get struck with the need to grab a pen 😊

thank you again for this lovely message, it really made my day!!! as you said, there‘s always shit happening and disgusting losers trying to drag you down in this fandom, but messages like this and the wonderful people that i have met through obikin is an enough reason to stay and keep doing what i want ❤️

[lunarsilkscreen]

JavaScript Frameworks

Step 1) Polyfill

Most JS frameworks started from a need to create polyfills. A Polyfill is a js script that add features to JavaScript that you expect to be standard across all web browsers. Before the modern era; browsers lacked standardization for many different features between HTML/JS/and CSS (and still do a bit if you're on the bleeding edge of the W3 standards)

Polyfill was how you ensured certain functions were available AND worked the same between browsers.

JQuery is an early Polyfill tool with a lot of extra features added that makes JS quicker and easier to type, and is still in use in most every website to date. This is the core standard of frameworks these days, but many are unhappy with it due to performance reasons AND because plain JS has incorporated many features that were once unique to JQuery.

JQuery still edges out, because of the very small amount of typing used to write a JQuery app vs plain JS; which saves on time and bandwidth for small-scale applications.

Many other frameworks even use JQuery as a base library.

Step 2) Encapsulated DOM

Storing data on an element Node starts becoming an issue when you're dealing with multiple elements simultaneously, and need to store data as close as possible to the DOMNode you just grabbed from your HTML, and probably don't want to have to search for it again.

Encapsulation allows you to store your data in an object right next to your element so they're not so far apart.

HTML added the "data-attributes" feature, but that's more of "loading off the hard drive instead of the Memory" situation, where it's convenient, but slow if you need to do it multiple times.

Encapsulation also allows for promise style coding, and functional coding. I forgot the exact terminology used,but it's where your scripting is designed around calling many different functions back-to-back instead of manipulating variables and doing loops manually.

Step 3) Optimization

Many frameworks do a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to caching frequently used DOM calls, among other data tools, DOM traversal, and provides standardization for commonly used programming patterns so that you don't have to learn a new one Everytime you join a new project. (you will still have to learn a new one if you join a new project.)

These optimizations are to reduce reflowing/redrawing the page, and to reduce the plain JS calls that are performance reductive. A lot of these optimatizations done, however, I would suspect should just be built into the core JS engine.

(Yes I know it's vanilla JS, I don't know why plain is synonymous with Vanilla, but it feels weird to use vanilla instead of plain.)

Step 4) Custom Element and component development

This was a tool to put XML tags or custom HTML tags on Page that used specific rules to create controls that weren't inherent to the HTML standard. It also helped linked multiple input and other data components together so that the data is centrally located and easy to send from page to page or page to server.

Step 5) Back-end development

This actually started with frameworks like PHP, ASP, JSP, and eventually resulted in Node.JS. these were ways to dynamically generate a webpage on the server in order to host it to the user. (I have not seen a truly dynamic webpage to this day, however, and I suspect a lot of the optimization work is actually being lost simply by programmers being over reliant on frameworks doing the work for them. I have made this mistake. That's how I know.)

The backend then becomes disjointed from front-end development because of the multitude of different languages, hence Node.JS. which creates a way to do server-side scripting in the same JavaScript that front-end developers were more familiar with.

React.JS and Angular 2.0 are more of back end frameworks used to generate dynamic web-page without relying on the User environment to perform secure transactions.

Step 6) use "Framework" as a catch-all while meaning none of these;

Polyfill isn't really needed as much anymore unless your target demographic is an impoverished nation using hack-ware and windows 95 PCs. (And even then, they could possible install Linux which can use modern lightweight browsers...)

Encapsulation is still needed, as well as libraries that perform commonly used calculations and tasks, I would argue that libraries aren't going anywhere. I would also argue that some frameworks are just bloat ware.

One Framework I was researching ( I won't name names here) was simply a remapping of commands from a Canvas Context to an encapsulated element, and nothing more. There was literally more comments than code. And by more comments, I mean several pages of documentation per 3 lines of code.

Custom Components go hand in hand with encapsulation, but I suspect that there's a bit more than is necessary with these pieces of frameworks, especially on the front end. Tho... If it saves a lot of repetition, who am I to complain?

Back-end development is where things get hairy, everything communicates through HTTP and on the front end the AJAX interface. On the back end? There's two ways data is given, either through a non-html returning web call, *or* through functions that do a lot of heavy lifting for you already.

Which obfuscates how the data is used.

But I haven't really found a bad use of either method. But again; I suspect many things about performance impacts that I can't prove. Specifically because the tools in use are already widely accepted and used.

But since I'm a lightweight reductionist when it comes to coding. (Except when I'm not because use-cases exist) I can't help but think most every framework work, both front-end and Back-end suffers from a lot of bloat.

And that bloat makes it hard to select which framework would be the match for the project you're working on. And because of that; you could find yourself at the tail end of a development cycle realizing; You're going to have to maintain this as is, in the exact wrong solution that does not fit the scope of the project in anyway.

Well. That's what junior developers are for anyway...

[k00299539]

Disrupt Project Week 6 - Impromptu Tutorial

Above: Beauty...

After having the tutorial with Sylvia, I somehow got roped into a workshop I hadn't even signed up for. It was Exploring 3D Materials with Mike Fox and Aisling McCallion. I'm glad for it though, cause left to my own devices I probably wouldn't have done anything.

At this point in time I had the vague idea of making an avatar from clay, vacuum-forming that to create a plastic mold, and then using that to make a sculpture of ice or wax that I could melt... cause disrupt.

So the first thing I had to do was make a bust out of clay. The only problem? I was in the 3D workshop with a limited amount of clay, no tools, and little common sense. The result is this Easter Island looking figure before you.

Above: Voldemort

So basically I smushed his face and started again. RIP I guess. I knew I didn't have enough clay to make the full bust like I wanted so I decided to focus on the head and figure the rest out from there.

Above: Gimli, Son of Gloin

Clayface 2.0 turned into a Tolkien Dwarf looking guy but I thought there was a real charm to his exaggerated features. It kind of went against the whole reason I wanted to use an avatar instead of my own face, which was for easy reproducibility, but still I liked it. I thought a the look of this tired old man was accurate to myself, at least on some level.

At this point I was out of clay and had no idea where the kiln was, who I should contact about vacuum-forming, or anything really. So I called it a day and hoped things would make more sense in the morning.

The next morning things still didn't make sense, but I put down on paper some of the ideas I had in my head as to how this yoke should look, which you can see above. I liked the idea of going very geometric and angular, using boxes and triangles to define the prominent areas of the face. But a plan is only a plan and eventually I was gonna have to get back to grappling with clay.

[khushidw]

How to Integrate APIs in a Full Stack Web App (With Example)

Integrating APIs in a full stack web application is essential for building dynamic, feature-rich platforms that connect seamlessly with external services. API integration allows front-end and back-end components to communicate effectively, enabling real-time data exchange and efficient user experiences. In modern full stack development, RESTful APIs and GraphQL are commonly used to fetch and manipulate data. Technologies like Node.js, Express, React, Angular, and Vue.js simplify API requests through HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. Secure authentication methods like JWT and OAuth 2.0 ensure safe API communication. Leveraging third-party APIs like Stripe, Google Maps, or social login APIs can enhance functionality and boost app scalability. Full stack developers must also handle error management, rate limits, and asynchronous operations using tools like Axios or Fetch API. Proper integration of APIs accelerates web app performance, improves user interactivity, and supports seamless integration with cloud-based services and microservices architecture.

[calculatingtundracipher]

How to Integrate APIs in a Full Stack Web App (With Example)

Integrating APIs in a full stack web application is essential for building dynamic, feature-rich platforms that connect seamlessly with external services. API integration allows front-end and back-end components to communicate effectively, enabling real-time data exchange and efficient user experiences. In modern full stack development, RESTful APIs and GraphQL are commonly used to fetch and manipulate data. Technologies like Node.js, Express, React, Angular, and Vue.js simplify API requests through HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. Secure authentication methods like JWT and OAuth 2.0 ensure safe API communication. Leveraging third-party APIs like Stripe, Google Maps, or social login APIs can enhance functionality and boost app scalability. Full stack developers must also handle error management, rate limits, and asynchronous operations using tools like Axios or Fetch API. Proper integration of APIs accelerates web app performance, improves user interactivity, and supports seamless integration with cloud-based services and microservices architecture.

[aitoolswhitehattoolbox]

Automation Lead

Should have 8+ experience in handling WEB APPLICATION Automation using in Selenium WebDriver, and Selenium Grid tools on CSS, HTML, and ANGULAR JS 2.0 designed applications. MandatoryStrong in WEBSERVICES testing on SOAP and REST API s on different payload formats like XML, WSDL, JSON, TEXT, CSV using tools like JMETER, POSTMAN, ADVANCE REST CLIENT, CHROME NETWORK XHR. Should have experience in…

[xettle-technologies]

What Tech Stack Is Ideal for Building a FinTech Banking Platform?

In the fast-evolving world of digital finance, choosing the right technology stack is a critical decision when building a fintech banking platform. The efficiency, scalability, security, and user experience of your solution hinge on how well your tech components align with the needs of modern banking users. As the demand for agile, customer-focused fintech banking solutions continues to grow, the technology behind these systems must be just as robust and innovative.

A well-structured tech stack not only supports essential banking operations but also empowers continuous innovation, integration with third-party services, and compliance with financial regulations. In this article, we break down the ideal tech stack for building a modern fintech banking platform.

1. Front-End Technologies

The front-end of a fintech platform plays a pivotal role in delivering intuitive and responsive user experiences. Given the high expectations of today’s users, the interface must be clean, secure, and mobile-first.

Key technologies:

React or Angular: These JavaScript frameworks provide flexibility, component reusability, and fast rendering, making them ideal for building dynamic and responsive interfaces.

Flutter or React Native: These cross-platform mobile development frameworks allow for the rapid development of Android and iOS apps using a single codebase.

User experience is a top priority in fintech software. Real-time dashboards, mobile-first design, and accessibility are essential for retaining users and building trust.

2. Back-End Technologies

The back-end is the backbone of any fintech system. It manages business logic, database operations, user authentication, and integrations with external services.

Preferred languages and frameworks:

Node.js (JavaScript), Python (Django/Flask), or Java (Spring Boot): These languages offer excellent scalability, developer support, and security features suitable for financial applications.

Golang is also becoming increasingly popular due to its performance and simplicity.

An effective back-end architecture should be modular and service-oriented, enabling the platform to scale efficiently as the user base grows.

3. Database Management

Data integrity and speed are crucial in fintech banking solutions. Choosing the right combination of databases ensures reliable transaction processing and flexible data handling.

Recommended databases:

PostgreSQL or MySQL: Reliable and ACID-compliant relational databases, ideal for storing transactional data.

MongoDB or Cassandra: Useful for handling non-structured data and logs with high scalability.

In most fintech platforms, a hybrid data storage strategy works best—leveraging both SQL and NoSQL databases to optimize performance and flexibility.

4. Cloud Infrastructure and DevOps

Modern fintech platforms are built in the cloud to ensure high availability, fault tolerance, and global scalability. Cloud infrastructure also simplifies maintenance and accelerates development cycles.

Key components:

Cloud providers: AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud for hosting, scalability, and security.

DevOps tools: Docker for containerization, Kubernetes for orchestration, and Jenkins or GitHub Actions for continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD).

Cloud-based fintech software also benefits from automated backups, distributed computing, and seamless disaster recovery.

5. Security and Compliance

Security is a non-negotiable component in financial software. A fintech banking platform must be fortified with multi-layered security to protect sensitive user data and comply with global regulations.

Key practices and tools:

OAuth 2.0, JWT for secure authentication.

TLS encryption for secure data transmission.

WAFs (Web Application Firewalls) and intrusion detection systems.

Regular penetration testing and code audits.

Compliance libraries or services to support standards like PCI-DSS, GDPR, and KYC/AML requirements.

Security must be integrated at every layer of the tech stack, not treated as an afterthought.

6. APIs and Integrations

Open banking and ecosystem connectivity are central to fintech innovation. Your platform must be designed to communicate with external services through APIs.

API tools and standards:

REST and GraphQL for efficient communication.

API gateways like Kong or Apigee for rate limiting, monitoring, and security.

Webhooks and event-driven architecture for real-time data syncing.

With APIs, fintech software can integrate with payment processors, credit bureaus, digital wallets, and compliance services to create a more versatile product offering.

7. Analytics and Reporting

To stay competitive, fintech platforms must offer actionable insights. Analytics tools help track customer behavior, detect fraud, and inform business decisions.

Tech tools:

Elasticsearch for log indexing and real-time search.

Kibana or Grafana for dashboards and visualization.

Apache Kafka for real-time data streaming and processing.

These tools ensure that decision-makers can monitor platform performance and enhance services based on data-driven insights.

8. AI and Automation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a cornerstone in fintech banking solutions. From automated support to predictive analytics and risk scoring, AI adds significant value.

Popular tools and frameworks:

TensorFlow, PyTorch for model building.

Scikit-learn, Pandas for lightweight data analysis.

Dialogflow or Rasa for chatbot development.

Automation tools like Robotic Process Automation (RPA) further streamline back-office operations and reduce manual workloads.

Conclusion

Building a robust and scalable fintech banking platform requires a thoughtfully chosen tech stack that balances performance, security, flexibility, and user experience. Each layer—from front-end frameworks and APIs to cloud infrastructure and compliance mechanisms—must work in harmony to deliver a seamless and secure digital banking experience.

Xettle Technologies, as an innovator in the digital finance space, emphasizes the importance of designing fintech software using a future-proof tech stack. This approach not only supports rapid growth but also ensures reliability, compliance, and customer satisfaction in an increasingly competitive landscape.

By investing in the right technologies, financial institutions can confidently meet the demands of modern users while staying ahead in the evolving world of digital finance.

[hescobarrier]

Advanced Double-Twisted Hexagonal Gabion Systems for Structural Resilience and Ecological Engineering

​​Precision Engineering Meets Natural Aesthetics​​ Available in modular dimensions (1.5m–4m lengths) and wire diameters (2.0–3.9mm), the system accommodates site-specific requirements while maintaining an 80×100mm or 100×120mm mesh density (±16% tolerance). When filled with locally sourced 4–8” (100–200mm) angular stone, the units create permeable barriers that harmonize with ecosystems, reducing hydrostatic pressure by 40% compared to solid walls while supporting vegetation growth.

​​Transformative Applications Across Industries​​

​​Urban Infrastructure:​​ Stabilize highway embankments with interlocking gabion tiers that absorb vibration from heavy traffic. ​​Water Management:​​ To dissipate hydraulic energy, construct stepped weirs in flood channels using diaphragm-reinforced units (0–3 partitions). ​​Coastal Defense:​​ Deploy staggered gabion revetments that self-adjust to tidal forces, reducing erosion by 60% in 3-year field trials. ​​Landscape Architecture:​​ Craft curvilinear retaining walls with on-site bendable baskets, blending engineering with artistic terrain sculpting. ​​Smart Installation & Sustainability Features​​

​​Pre-Assembled Kits:​​ Reduce construction timelines by 35% with foldable units requiring minimal onsite labor. ​​Carbon-Neutral Option:​​ Specify recycled aggregate fills to achieve LEED certification points for sustainable material usage. ​​Monitoring Integration:​​ Embed strain sensors within critical baskets for real-time stability tracking via IoT platforms. ​​Technical Validation & Compliance​​ Third-party testing confirms:

25 kN/m² load-bearing capacity under AS 3700 standards 0.02% annual zinc coating loss in salt spray tests (ASTM B117) Full ASTM A975-97 compliance for civil engineering applications