#secure sockets layer

[reversedout-blog]

Why Do I Need An SSL Certificate?

If you run a website, you've likely heard of SSL certificates. In fact, they've become as ubiquitous in the online world as social media is in real life. But what is an SSL certificate? How do they work? And why do I need one? Let's get the word out about SSL certificates and why they're important!

What can an SSL certificate do?

The most important thing to realize about SSL certificates is that they are a defense against cyber attacks.

You may have heard the term “hacker” and thought it was someone who was trying to steal your password. While that might be true sometimes, there are other ways in which hackers can use technology to cause damage or compromise your data and company. An SSL certificate will protect you from these kinds of attacks by:

Protecting sensitive data like credit card information and social security numbers.

Protecting against phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks (fraudulent websites).

Protecting against keyloggers or any other software used specifically for stealing information from users (like emails).

Keep hackers away from your website so they can't try their luck at stealing anything else.

Create a site-wide encryption standard.

An SSL certificate is a substantial way to protect your data. It's like the lock on your front door, securing your online home from would-be intruders. With an SSL certificate in place, no one can get into that data—not even hackers!

The bad news is that many people don't know how to use these locks effectively—and they often mistakenly believe that all SSL certificates are created equal. In reality, there are two main types of SSL certificates: domain and wildcard certificates. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses (as well as price points).

Create a sense of trust among users.

SSL certificates help establish a sense of trust among users. The more confident a user feels, the more likely they will be to complete an online transaction or purchase. In order to increase the likelihood that a user will feel safe, secure, and confident in their online transactions, you should use an SSL certificate on your website.

Types of SSL certificates

SSL certificates are available in multiple types. The type of certificate you choose depends on the level of security and encryption you need, as well as the duration for which you want to secure your site. Here's a breakdown of what each type offers:

Domain validation certificates are the least expensive option and provide basic protection for your website. They're also the fastest to set up and can be issued within minutes once approved. However, they lack strong encryption measures so they're not recommended for e-commerce sites or sites that handle sensitive data like medical records or financial information.

Organization validation certificates are more secure than domain validation because they require proof of ownership from an authorized representative within your company or organization (such as an executive). They are also more expensive than most other options.

Extended validation SSLs offer the highest level of assurance and require more time to process than other forms because they require additional checks before being issued.

There are many reasons why an SSL certificate is essential.

It protects your website against phishing scams and data breaches.

It secures the server that you are using to host your website and all of its files.

The SSL certificate creates a public key, which is used to encrypt and decrypt data sent over the internet between two computers or devices (like a browser). This process uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) technology, which sends information through encrypted channels so that if someone intercepts it, they cannot read it without knowing what the key is. Because of this encryption method, an SSL certificate makes sure that any person browsing on their device with an unsecured connection will not be able to see any sensitive information about you or your business—including credit card numbers, usernames/passwords for social media accounts, etc.—that passes through their computer's connection with your site's servers when they click on links shared from within its content.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that an SSL certificate is a powerful tool for creating trust among your users and establishing a sense of professionalism. You can use SSL certificates to redirect traffic from HTTP to HTTPS, track visitor statistics, or even use them as security keys to encrypt data between your web server and client computers. As you can see, there are many benefits associated with having an SSL certificate installed on your website, so don't wait any longer!

To learn more about how Reversed Out can help secure your WordPress site so that people cannot access personal information stored there without permission (and make sure no hackers get in), contact us!

Contact Us

At Reversed Out Creative, we understand the challenges and opportunities presented by AI disruption. Our team of experts specializes in web design, SEO, graphic design, and digital marketing services. Reach out to us through our contact form to learn more about navigating the evolving job market and embracing the potential of AI. Together, let's shape a future that combines human ingenuity with the power of AI.

Original content source: https://reversedout.com/why-do-i-need-an-ssl-certificate/

[digischema06]

Domain hosting is a service that registers and maintains the domain name of your website, enabling online access (e.g., www.example.com).

Web hosting: Keeps the files for your website on a server so that visitors can view them online.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): A security system that ensures safe transactions and trust by encrypting data between your website and users. SSL-enabled websites utilize https:// and display a padlock icon.

[liveblack]

[webstrategyplus11-blog]

What is Search Engine Optimization and Why Do You Need it?

Over the years, search engine optimization has been described in many different ways. But at its core, SEO is simply a way to help your website show up near the top of Google and Bing for relevant searches. While there are individuals and companies that engage in SEO practices specifically prohibited by Google, the type of search engine optimization Web Strategy Plus does for all of its clients is in full compliance with Google’s guidelines. To get a better understanding of what exactly goes into search engine optimization, we want to highlight several of the key building blocks of this practice: 1. Strategy Successful search engine optimization requires an investment of time and resources. That’s why it’s very important to start with a well-developed strategy. By thinking through issues like which keywords are going to bring in actual leads or customers, you can ensure that the investments you make in SEO will help move the needle for your investment. 2. On-Page Optimization Since your business website is the foundation of all SEO efforts, it’s important to have it fully optimized. In addition to things like using the right keywords in your H1 tags, you also need to address any technical issues. Specifically, Google has placed a lot of emphasis on page speed and mobile friendliness in recent years. Having a site that’s slow or doesn’t load easily on devices with smaller screens will hamper all of your SEO efforts. 3. Content Related to on-page optimization, regularly publishing quality content is essential for helping to rank for all the keywords that are relevant to your business. The type of content you publish will likely be a mixture of blog posts and landing pages. Utilizing SEO strategies like internal linking will help maximize the rankings of these pages. 4. Links Google still relies on links from other websites to determine popularity. However, link building can easily go wrong when people do things like focusing on quantity instead of quality. And it’s also important to understand that the optimal approach to link building for a local business website will differ from a site that’s trying to rank for more generic terms. 5. Data Ranking data is important for seeing how a website is advancing on target search engine results pages. But it’s also important to go beyond that and look at analytics data like average page views. Seeing this information will help confirm if the pages that are ranking highly are actually providing visitors with what they’re searching for. There’s a lot that goes into developing and executing a successful SEO strategy. If you want to ensure that you have a knowledgeable professional on your side to help with all of this work, you can easily learn more about how Web Strategy Plus approaches search engine optimization.

If you want expert help creating the right Search engine optimization strategy, be sure to take a look at how Web Strategy Plus can help.

[athena-gundampla]

HGFC 1/144 P-Bandai Neo-China Mobile Fighter GF13-011NC "Dragon Gundam" 🐉🇨🇳

It's finally ready! Last year, I built the Gundam Maxter and Gundam Rose from Mobile Fighter G Gundam's 30th anniversary revival line by Yasuhiro Imagawa, and after months of waiting I was finally able to build the third release, Neo-China's Dragon Gundam.

In keeping with the other two kits, this one was very well designed, although it has a much larger parts count than the other two, both to allow for complete colour accuracy from the box, as well as to facilitate more flexible posing options. There were barely any colour correction stickers, aside from a few black ones for the vents on the arms and chest, and of course a metallic green for the eyes and the Core Booster's windshield. Just like the other kits, the Core Booster plugs into the back to form the suit's backpack.

This is an incredibly posable kit, with carefully designed hips that allow it to mimic the human-like movements of the suits in the show. However it did also feel incredibly fragile at times, with parts like the feet and waist falling apart when I was attempting a pose. I'm unsure if this is down to a different matte topcoat that I was using for the build, or just due to the kit design itself, but it was very annoying.

Building on the hand options created for Rose and Maxter, the Dragon Gundam adds an extra flat-palmed left hand option for a martial arts look. I would've appreciated replacing the pointing open hand option grandfathered from the Rose kit with a right handed flat palm, but the full set of both open and closed fists is appreciable. It can be tricky to get them into the wrist socket in the dragon mouths though!

The kit also includes the same Action Base 5 parts, this time in a deep trans-green.

Aside from the plethora of hand options, Dragon also comes with a full set of the Feilong Fangs. There are 12 half-staff pieces representing the stored weapons (4 in each shoulder and 4 on the backpack/core booster), and 6 full length pieces.

The Feilong Fangs come with two beam-spear effect pieces, and a single extra "tassel" effect, as well as 6 beam-flag effect parts to recreate the Feilong Flag. All of these are super well moulded, and are UV reactive with a very impressive glow.

There's also an extra ponytail piece, to create the "Benpatsu Tou" weapon, plugging directly into the end of the ponytail. The Dragon Claws are really impressively created with multiple layers to maintain colour separation, and there's a set of arm extensions to recreate the attack poses.

I think the coolest inclusion in this kit, however, is the effects parts for the Dragon Gundam's Hyper Mode attack, "Shin Ryusei Kochouken". There's a set of butterfly wings that can be secured within the backpack, created in a really vibrant clear vinyl.

There's also a disc shaped effect part, with special arm sections that clip with the Dragon Claws to form a frame for the text that appears during the anime scene where Sai Saici uses this attack after the Dragon Gundam's arms are destroyed. In the anime scene it translates to "True Meteor Butterfly Sword", but the effect disc unfortunately warps the text a little to make it fit.

Nonetheless it looks really really cool, and I'm super disappointed that I don't have the space yet to display it like this.

Overall I've been super impressed with the engineering and design on these HGs. Imagawa has done a great job updating the designs while also maintaining colour separation and poseability, and without compromising on the simple designs from the series. I'm looking forward to whenever the Bolt Gundam is released, and I'm super excited for the RG rendition of the Shining Gundam.

[mamawasatesttube]

"Your hands are freezing." or "I brought you something." ?

The lights in Tim's apartment are on.

Given that Tim himself is standing on a rooftop across the way, and he's pretty sure he turned everything off before he left for patrol, that's a little odd. Normally, he'd suspect it's just Cass inviting herself over for a post-patrol sabbatical in his shower, but it can't be her because she didn't patrol tonight; she and Dick took tonight off to go across the bay to see the Metropolis ballet do the Firebird or whatever it's called.

It's three in the morning. Tim glares at the innocent, brightly-outlined curtains. Who's in his apartment? He's cold and tired, and he wants to go to bed.

Ugh.

There's nothing for it, though, and none of his alarms have been tripped, so it's probably fine. (Unless it's like, a capital-S Situation instead, but he would really rather it not be. He's sleepy, and it's bitterly cold out here.) So he huffs again, then fires his grapple line.

The scent of fresh-baked cookies greets him the moment he slips inside, and he balks beside the window, blinking. Aw, beans, now he's hungry, too—

"Finally! There you are!" Kon appears in a rush of color, grabbing Tim's shoulders with a bright grin. "I've been waiting for ages. You took forever! I got bored enough to make cookies, and they're getting cold!"

Forget the cookies. Tim tackles him.

Kon sweeps him off his feet and twirls him around, laughing. His arms fold around Tim's waist snugly, and Tim beams as he tucks his face into the warm skin of Kon's neck, exhaustion forgotten. Kon's been off in space with Kara for three weeks, and Tim missed him so much it ached.

"Your nose is cold," Kon complains. Tim pushes his nose further against his neck in response, and Kon huffs. "Hey."

Tim lifts his head to look up at him fondly. Kon bumps their foreheads together, then reaches up with a gentle hand to peel Tim's mask away. Tim wrinkles his nose—Kon's TTK working between his skin and the sealant always makes him want to sneeze.

"Took you long enough to come back," Tim teases, chest full of warmth. He gets to look at Kon without the lenses of his mask now. He's radiant. "Did you get lost or something?"

Kon kisses him lightly. He wants more immediately.

"No, we just accidentally started a revolution on the fourth moon of Tallon, out in the Alpha quadrant?" Kon grins ruefully, rubbing the back of his neck. Tim needs to kiss him again. "In our defense, we didn't mean to, but there was this whole thing with this guy called Kossak who miiiight have a vendetta against me, and... anywhoozies, that's beside the point. See, I brought you something!"

He sets Tim down and hurries across the room to dig through the backpack slung lazily onto Tim's favorite armchair. While he's at it, Tim strips off the outer layers of his costume—the gloves, belts, body armor, overshirt, and outer pants—and leaves them in a heap on the floor for the moment. Now clad in just an undershirt and thermal leggings, he pads over to see what Kon's got.

As he slips his arms around Kon's waist, leaning into his back, Kon hisses. Tim innocently kisses the back of his shoulder and tucks his fingers more securely under Kon's shirt, against bare skin.

"Your hands are freezing," Kon complains. "You ice gremlin."

"Yeah, it's winter and I haven't had my favorite handwarmer for weeks." Tim hooks his chin over Kon's shoulder with a hum. "What'd you get me?"

Kon grins. He twists about in Tim's arms to present him with a glowing box about the size of a Rubik's cube. Its faces are translucent; the light comes from somewhere within. It's not blindingly bright, but Tim's attention is drawn to the socket-looking port in one of the sides.

"It's a power pod for Kossak's spaceship," Kon explains, beaming. "I don't think it's got enough oomph on its own for space travel—Kossak's ship had ten of 'em, but Kara kiiinda exploded the other nine?—but I thought you might have fun building something out of it anyways!"

Oh, that's fucking rad. Tim lights up just like the little box. It's heavier than it looks; he turns it over in his hands appreciatively. He's not sure what exactly its power output looks like, but that'll be fun to play with. He can take it over to the Cave tomorrow; that way, if anything explodes, it's Bruce's problem and not his.

"You're the best." He carefully sets the cube on the coffee table and tucks himself back into Kon's chest. Kon hugs him again, squeezing him tight enough to lift his feet off the ground, and Tim hums. "...I missed you."

"Missed you too, sunshine," Kon says, and presses his lips to Tim's temple. "I'm glad to be back."

"Yeah." Tim smiles, content. "I'm glad, too."

[inmate62763]

When you were in prison were there cctv cameras in your cell? What security measures were there in your cell?

Hi. Thanks for the question. No not when I was in prison No there were no cctv cameras in the cells. Obviously in all the communial areas of the prison there were cameras everywhere but not in the actual cells. The only cells I can think of that I've been in that had cctv cameras were the cells at the police station, the holding cells at court and the temporary holding cell at the prison reception/intake area. My actual cell in the prison didn't have cctv coverage in it.

Even without cctv in the cell, screws and other prison staff can look in whenever they wanted and randomly at any time by obviously just unlocking my door and walking in or more usually if there was no need to unlock my door then they could open up the little viewing window slot which is cut into the cell door and look in. That's what normally would happen if a officer needed to look inside, they would just open up the window slot in my cell door, look inside and then close my window slot, lock it up shut and move on to the next cell.

As for cell security, my cell was quite typical of what you find it a lot of the older built British prisons like I was in. Manually operated cell doors locked and unlocked with keys and I had the standard type of spring loaded lock, bolt and outer handle on my cell door. There was no handle or anything on the inside of my cell door. My cell door also had a viewing window slot that i mentioned before but unless they accidentally left it open then i couldn't see through that as it was normally closed shut and locked up from the other side. There was also a little circular hole with a yellow plastic plug in it cut into the door called a inundation point, lt allows staff to spray water or other substance into the cell without opening the door in times of riots for example.

The main window in the back wall of my cell was barred over and then had a layer of wire mesh over the bars which was the standard design at the prison I was in. Couldn't see much out of the window but there wasn't much to see anyway as my cell backed onto a little courtyard area where the refuse / wheelie bins were kept.

Other things you could describe as security features were the table and bed were fixed to the wall, the light in my cell had a wire grill over it to stop breakages and also as a security and safety feature there was a emergency alarm button (better have a good reason for pressing that or you would find yourself on a disciplinary). The panel that had the alarm button also had a plug / shaver socket and a light switch for the light in my cell but the light can be overridden by staff from outside the cell.

Sorry, quite a long answer but that was the best way to explain it and I hope that answers your question.

Best wishes from 62763.

[liveblack]

Here are the best SSL certificate providers for free | Liveblack

Website security is always a subject of concern to all website owners. If your site isn’t protected, visitors won’t mind ignoring your site. For security and the betterment of your website, you need an SSL certificate. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) keeps all sensitive information secure. Its security protocol creates a safe encrypted link between web browsers and servers.

Why is it necessary to get an SSL certificate for your website?

Your website is more than showing off how creative you are with your designs and content or how many products and services you offer your customers or visitors. It is also about the data the customers share, and their private information should not fall into the wrong hands. Your customers or visitors of the website expect your site to be secured with appropriate security measures. Without a secure connection, your website and customer data risk getting hacked. All in all, your website should be protected with SSL, whether it’s about financial operations you do on your website or its customer data security.

Web browsers like Chrome and others notify people visiting your website about not visiting the site as it is not secure for them to use. So it’s better to have an SSL certificate to protect everything that your site has from your sensitive information to the customer’s data, to protect privacy.

Securing your website with an extra coating of protection is mandatory. There are free SSL certificate providers. Free SSL provider gives certificates that will encrypt the data and provide security for online communication between a web browser and a web server.

There are mainly three types of SSL certificates — DV (Domain Validation), OV (Organization Validation), and EV (Extended Validation).

If you are looking for the best free SSL certificate providers, check out our detailed blog to choose the best one.

1 — Let’s Encrypt

Let’s Encrypt is a renowned SSL Provider operated by a non-profit organization named Internet Security Research Group (ISRG). They offer free SSL certificates that are easy to acquire, manage, and renew, with the mission to create a more secure and protected web. You can easily apply for SSL certificates if you have a domain name.

One of the main advantages of having Let’s Encrypt is it allows you to create Wildcard and Subject Alternative Name (SAN) certificates. You can install Let’s Encrypt from your web hosting provider. However, if your web hosting provider doesn’t provide you with a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate, you can install it manually by following the guidelines on how to install it.

Each certificate issued by Let’s Encrypt becomes public as it is online for anyone to check out. That’s how they display their transparency. If you have many websites, generating Wildcard and SAN certificates makes it easy to create SSL certificates without installing them for a separate domain or subdomain.

Let’s Interact is a reliable option to install SSL certificates to provide security and protection to your website and the people who are your customers or visitors.

2 — SSL for Free

Anyone can quickly create SSL certificates from SSL for Free, as the name says so, and follow the thing. It unquestionably provides free SSLs and works on all significant browsers. SSL for Free offers 90-day certification; afterward, you must manually renew certificates. But don’t worry about a manual process as it is easy to work on, and spending a few minutes every three months doesn’t take much time.

Build trust among your customers and website visitors by having SSL for Free. Protect every piece of information you have, and improve site ranking, and it’s 100% free to generate SSLs. Over three million free SSL certificates have been generated and counting.

3 — GoDaddy

GoDaddy is a name everyone has heard of somewhere, and it is the best SSL provider, providing free and paid SSLs. GoDaddy doesn’t just offer SSL certificates, but it can also provide many other services like web hosting, professional email, web design services, SSL security, domain registration, etc. The SSLs provided by GoDaddy are compatible with every leading browser and give 24*7 support.

You must know about GoDaddy that they don’t provide SSLs for free. You will get an SSL certificate for free by purchasing other services. It depends on what package you are buying, and according to that, you’ll benefit from having SSL free for how much time.

Whether you own a single website or more than one website, GoDaddy will be there to protect you from unwanted and unexpected harm.

4 — GoGetSSL

Another highly trusted name in the list of free SSL providers, GoGetSSL, quickly avail SSL certificates for you. For SSL certificates, it gives a 90-day free trial. It takes only about 5 minutes to get domain validation (DV) SSLs, for which they don’t demand any paperwork, callback, or anything—an easy and quick way to be secured.

Technically speaking, GoGetSSL doesn’t provide SSLs free, they have a 90-day free trial in which you can try and test, and they have a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with the SSLs, they fully refund the money within 30 days.

Do you know any SSL certificate providers with a better price? Because GoGetSSL will match the price with other providers. Get the best possible price with them to save your money.

5 — Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the best and most popular free SSL certificate providers, providing services at an affordable price. Signing up for any hosting plan with it will provide you with free SSL certificates. Do you want your first website to go online? Consider buying any hosting plan from Bluehost. You’ll get a free domain name for the first year, a perfect all-in-one package.

If you want to switch web hosts, Bluehost is an ideal choice. Enjoy the best website hosting benefits with Bluehost and have an amazing and secure website. By choosing Bluehost, you select the best for your site, as it makes it easy to renew SSLs and enable them.

Whether you are looking for free SSL certificate providers or any services related to digital marketing, we will help you with everything. At Liveblack, you’ll find productive solutions that inspire people to know more about your brand or business, grab people’s attention through inventive social media posts and creatives, let your website stand out, and level up your marketing with us.

[webstrategyplus11-blog]

Why Every Business Needs An SSL Certificate

Cybersecurity is more important than ever. Why do SSL certificates matter? Google rolled out a plan with the introduction of Chrome 68 to start marking websites as unsafe that do not have an active SSL (Secure Sockets Layers) certificate.

Websites viewed in Chrome that have not been secured with HTTPS encryption will be labeled with the above warning in the URL browser bar to alert users that their information might not be protected. So, what exactly does this mean, why is it important, what happens to websites that don’t have one, and what should you do to ensure customers can learn about your business?

What it means

With 18.5 million websites infected with malware—or roughly 1 percent of all websites—it’s important to take necessary measures to protect your users’ information. One way is with an SSL certificate, which can be added to a website to require encryption between a link and a browser.  An SSL certificate has become a standard technological component for websites and eCommerce platforms to prevent hackers from gaining access to personal information, especially when it comes to financial transactions.

Why it’s important

SSL certificates are the gatekeeper to a website when it comes to personal information. They encrypt personal details such as passwords, form entry data and payment information that could be readily available to hackers. Having a secure and safe online experience not only protects your customers from having their personal information stolen, but establishes your brand’s credibility through a safe journey online.

What happens to websites that don’t comply?

This warning message can affect your website’s performance and metrics, especially bounce rate, time spent on site and conversions. Any website that has a form to collect information must comply with having an SSL certificate to prevent this warning. Many users will simply leave the site before entering upon seeing that message. However, website owners shouldn’t view Google as punishing them for not complying to new rules; they should see it as Google rewarding those that are making the Internet safer against cybercrime.

What should you do?

The good news is SSL certificates are easy to obtain and aren’t very expensive. Web Strategy Plus can help you add an SSL certificate to your website. For a free consultation and quote about how we can help make your website more secure, contact us today!

[archivus]

MAG[REDACTED] - The Divine and The Machine

Statement of Jeremy Creek regarding a series of strange emails and their sender. Original statement given November 29th 2024. Put to tape on Christmas Eve, 2024. Statement begins:

I'd like to believe I've always been a rational man and am aware that the standards I keep myself to shouldn't have allowed for this to happen. Quick backstory, I had to switch from therapist to therapist because talk therapy focusing on my feelings did nothing for my wellbeing. Rational isn't even the right word, I was overzealously justifying every thought that came into my mind. I never found love and I simply don't believe I even need it. When I tell you I simply had no concept of what it meant to be drawn to someone or something before this and how my brain just blanks when I try to figure out the rhyme or reason to it, you'll understand why I'm reporting on this. I'm quite skeptical still, have no doubt about it, but I've read that your whole institute was built on the supernatural and when that amount of money is involved I can't help but wonder if there's more to you than a glorified Santa's mailbox for the psychotic.

So... I finished my computer science degree two years ago. After spending months in deep depression saying I'm "making up for all the sleepless nights I spent studying" or just "cutting my sleep debt" I finally came across a job listing I was interested in... No, sorry, came across isn't the right word, I subscribed to email notifications for more companies than I could count but I kept discarding the mails because none of the offers seemed enticing. I also specifically turned off recommended content, yet somehow I got more listings from this one company than all the others combined. What's more, I clicked on their page and it didn't exist. Not a single post, not even a deleted account, the waybackmachine had no record of any previous activity under that link, but the emails kept pouring in. They never seemed to stop, not when I labeled them as spam, not when I muted them, seemingly the mastermind behind it avoided using keywords just so the emails would end up in my inbox again. Changing their email address little by little to get through my filters. I was getting tired of this... scammy business so I unsubscribed from the whole site, which was just another futile attempt on my part. My previous address pretty much unusable I tried making a new account, but the new address was also, well I wouldn't say flooded, rather slowly but surely filled up with the same types of messages.

Thanks to the avoidance of keywords the texts began to twist from clear and professional to almost a desperate cry, they lost their impersonal tone and I began to get a picture of who the author was, or rather what prompt it was using. I never for a second believed that there was a human sitting behind a desk somewhere writing me all these twisted letters inviting me to their company. I was at a point in my life where I would have sold my soul to be hired, but if that's what they required they could've sugarcoated their intentions for a bit longer.

This is when I told a friend of mine about these mails and it wasn't long before our combined curiosity got the best of us. We decided to just wing it, with no reply to the emails we went to see the address it supposedly came from. About an hour away from my house, I parked my car tucked away behind a few streets just in case they'd try to do anything weird with my license plate. The apartment complex was ran down, the windows were covered in a layer of dried dust and limestone, the tempered glass doors that once meant to give the house a modern feel and a sense of security had completely failed at their purpose, the handle was rusted and tilted loosely in its socket. The silicon seal has hardened, snapped in half and was hanging out from under the doorframe. It was a cold afternoon in late autumn, so I tried scraping away at the layers of dust with the glove coating my knuckles. As it got more clear I could see a few houseplants wilted and rotting in their cracked pots, clearly uncared for for a long time. "It was dead inside" - I thought to myself - "at least no one was going to jump us". I reached for the doorknob. The smell of dozens of cigarettes once smoked in that staircase hit me as soon as I opened the door. The creaking hinges gave both of us goosebumps, but we pushed on.

Few important things to mention here: I have experimented with urbex as a teenager, so I was prepared to take only pictures and leave only footprints, that's also to say I was familiar with the feeling of an abandoned building. I never even knew what "presence" ghosthunters were talking about. But there was a deeply unsettling feeling that shook me to my core as I walked up the stairs. The address in the emails lead us to apartment 44. That's the 4th floor and to the right.

Well, right off the bat there was something strange about it. The door was torn clean off, slanted against the wall next to its frame. The apartment radiated heat, I can not stress this enough, the weather outside was below freezing and in the corridor it was no different. That signature muted smell of warm plastic mixed with the warmth smacked us in the face, you'd recognize that air anywhere once you've been inside a server room. And once again, no one in sight. The warmth was more inviting than I'd like to admit and well, here comes the part I regret, I unzipped my jacket, headed inside and for some reason my friend didn't object either.

After passing by a ran down kitchen we got closer to the source of the heat. The smell started to numb our brains. I worked gigs in maintenance where I got up close and personal with molten plastic cable covers, but it never smelt this bad. Pushing the N95 into my nose I carried on deeper, something made me want to push on. My friend stayed behind in the kitchen. I walked through an empty doorframe then pushed open the door leading to the innermost room.

I can't describe it any better, what I saw was a shrine. A shrine alongside the author of those emails. A shrine with its deity, its brain and its beating heart all in one. A supercomputer spreading over the walls, filling the room. You'd think there is no way anyone besides Google would have something akin to this. Yet it was there, its cables in an organized chaos, branded into thick tentacles with cable ties. They flowed towards the core of the mechanism that seemed to be hanging from the ceiling. There was exactly one, standard sized monitor in the entire room and it was tucked away behind the door. This wasn't meant to be perceived through human senses, I could tell that much. This wasn't made for people to use. I witnessed the epiphany of machinery and I felt helpless, unable to comprehend it. Only when looking back do I feel the extreme temperature that must have been in that room, as standing right there I only felt adoration for *it* and nothing else.

The rest of the story is a blank unfortunately. I woke up in a hospital bed after sleeping a whole day with second degree burns over my legs, arms and hands. I can only guess I got too close to some burning hot wires in there. My friend came in after me when I didn't react to him calling out my name. Since that day I keep getting these intense visions of similar machinery, they keep appearing in my sight and I seem to completely dissociate. They're not solely about the one I saw either, makes me wonder if there's a whole system of these out there. I also started sleepwalking, which I've never done before. Makes healing all these burnmarks that much harder. I think that's all the relevant information I have for you. Do get back to me if you find anything.

Statement ends. There's a reason I'm recording such a recent case and on Christmas Eve, no less. Jeremy has been reported missing. Two days after giving us this statement he left his flat unlocked and his family found no trace of him since. Notably, his PC has been ripped to pieces. Shallow clues, I'm aware, but the Extinction works in mysterious ways, we need all the data we can get.

Another thing to add, our institute rarely engages with the police, but for an ongoing investigation I can't help but provide the relevant information at our disposal. The details given here are vague and I haven't personally contacted the family yet to be able to see things for myself. As much as I don't like this, we are reliant on what the law enforcement is willing to share with us. But if the Extinction took roots inside Budapest we'll soon have bigger issues at hand than some tech savvy guy joining a cult. Recording ends.

Thanks for reading! Happy Holidays and an amazing New Year! And thank you for sticking with me through my hiatus. I would like to make this the actual formal announcement that I'm no longer that active in The Magnus Archives fandom, but whenever I get the inspiration I will write and occasionally post statements. My AMA is still open for ideas, my long term goal is to actually write a statement for every entity. Ahh, Extinction my beloved.

If you enjoyed you can find the rest of my works here: The Flesh The Vast The Stranger The Dark The Lonely

And here: #magredacted

[fortheloveofarchons]

The night between Alatus and Rapunther, where they try to open up… a little bit

Full chapter down below with the Ao3 link!!!

So much has happened in just one day. 

Almost falling down to his death from the tower. 

Hanging out and befriending with a bunch of intimidating ruffians that he has never, ever met before. 

Being chased by what seemed to be palace guards along with a tall, maniac ginger guy whose eyes are as dead as a fish out of water. 

Almost drowned and escaped in a flooded cave. 

Now, they’re just peacefully chilling in a campfire that Alatus made. 

Peaceful indeed. 

A gentle breeze rustles the long, thick strands of blond hair being hung on tree branches. The only light, aside from the moon, was the fire that crackles to life. 

As the fire crackles to life, the two of them sit side by side atop a massive tree root, thick and gnarled with age, its rough surface softened by patches of green moss. The root stretches up from the ground like a natural bench, wide and sturdy, curving just enough to cradle them comfortably. 

And Rapunther is bandaging Alatus’s arm with his… hair? 

“This looks and…”  One eyebrow slid up Alatus’s forehead slowly. As if Rapunther isn’t already eccentric enough back at the tower, this is just a huge scoop of icing on the cake. “Feels weird. Very, very weird.” 

“Just– Don’t comment on it!” A faint blush arises Rapunther’s cheeks. “Now, hold still. I don’t want to hurt your arm.”

After noticing a large wound that Alatus got on his arm from smashing the rocks, Rapunther insists on a method that can heal his wound immediately. Plus, this would probably best explain Rapunther’s magical powers even further through this act. 

Black wisps seep from Alatus’s arm, but Rapunther’s touch is gentle, as if any pressure might worsen Alatus’s pain. 

His hands move with practised care, guiding his blond hair around the wound, layer by layer, until Alatus’s arm is encased in the soft, blond strands. 

“You know, you don’t have to pretend you’re not in pain.” 

Hearing this, Alatus gives him a keep-your-mouth-shut glare, and Rapunther could only avert his gaze down to the wrapped arm, without noticing that Alatus’s face was equal parts heated and embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Paimon carefully reaches out their feathers toward the small but growing flames. Their feathers hover near the flame as they try to absorb as much warmth as possible. 

Steam slowly rises from Paimon’s feathers. 

“Warm! Very warm!” 

“Paimon! Get away from there!” Rapunther immediately swoops Paimon back into his palms, covering the little finch from the open flame. 

He gives a quick look at Alatus's bandaged arm, then gives Paimon the finch a glare. “Any more closer and you’re fowl meat for dinner!” 

“Chirp!” Paimon’s eyes widen as though their eyes are going to pop out of their socket. 

“Oops!” Rapunther immediately lets go of Paimon, and they fly down onto the grass to recuperate themselves. “Sorry Paimon…” 

“Chirp! Angry! Chirp!” Paimon puffs out their feathers, clearly frustrated by Rapunther’s carelessness. 

“So…” Words stumble out of Alatus’s mouth, each word ending in an upward inflection, portraying his confusion from this absurd situation. Usually, when Alatus was being tortured and hurt back in the dungeon, he either uses his torn clothes as bandages or he just lets the wound stay until it slowly regenerates itself, as if his wound wasn’t there in the first place. 

He had grown accustomed to doing things on his own, and now that Rapunther had intervened, he was uncomfortable, to say the least.

A soft groan escapes Alatus’s lips as he says, “You’re being strangely cryptic when you wrap your… magic hair around my arm.” 

“Sorry! Just… don’t freak out.” Rapunther takes a deep breath. 

After ensuring that it’s secured like a protective cocoon, the first verse seeps out of Rapunther’s lips. 

Mu fla, mon cravi shaviri

Pu makriya

Vu, melodie son nafluri

As confusion is about to seep into Alatus’s face, his eyes wander up to find Rapunther’s hair on his head pulses with a faint energy. 

From the tall tree branches to the grass, his hair begins to flow in a bright, golden hue as if a drought has been revived by a stream of water.

His hair, infused with what seemed to be magic, glistens with an almost ethereal warmth as he brings it forward, tenderly guiding the strands around his wounded arm. 

“Chirp~” 

Alatus looks down at Paimon, who only gives him a smug look. They then point to their own wing, signalling Alatus to look at his bandaged wound just to observe the magic further. 

Mu fla, mon cravi shaviri

Pu mashi na

Hu lu mi sche yo 

Diri  

Rapunther eyes are closed, his brows slightly furrowed in deep concentration, as he lets the familiar song pour from his lips. His voice is soft, yet his voice resonates in the quiet space around them, filling the air with a sense of warmth and healing.

In front of him, Alatus could only look at him with surprise etched onto him. 

His hair strands… are like liquid sunlight.

Rilacri

Si yu mi flavi

Drim cra ri chi di piu

Melodi, suvinavi

Slowly, the golden strands encircle around Alatus’s injury, and the golden, magical energy seeps from his hair into the wound. 

Underneath the hair, the golden glow penetrates the skin, knitting the torn edges together as it moves. Alatus could feel a soft, tingling warmth, like a balm easing away the pain.

A familiar voice calls in his mind, reminiscent of the times when they’d help each other after going through many battles together.

Alatus, make sure to take care of yourself, alright? 

Jeez, stop charging in like this! I’ll make us some herbal tea for all of us. 

Here, let me help you with this balm! The humans are really kind to give it to us! I told you mortals like them are good! 

Brother, let me bandage you up with this– Wait, why are you running? Why are you running?!?!

Though slowly, the healing energy coming from Rapunther mends each layer. 

Rilacri

Si yu mi flavi

Drim cra ri chi di piu

Melodi, suvina

As the wound begins to close, the golden glow in Rapunther’s hair fades slightly, softening to a gentle shimmer as if its purpose is nearly complete. 

Rapunther finally opens his eyes, gazing down at the nearly healed wound, relief and quiet joy reflected in his eyes. He brushes a loose strand of blond hair behind his ear, his gaze lingering tenderly on Alatus, the last note of his song fading into silence as the wound fully closes, as if the faintest trace of a scar doesn’t even exist at all.

“Don’t freak out!” Rapunther immediately puts his hands up in defence. “Just– please don’t freak out about my magic hair!” 

Instead of expecting fear or anger or even a glimmer of greed in anyone’s eyes, a single raised eyebrow expressed Alatus’s scepticism, and his lips twisted in a perplexed frown. 

“I’m… not.” Alatus held Rapunther’s arm, and slowly put them down to lock his eyes. “Just confused.”

Hearing this, a faint blush seeps into Rapunther’s cheeks. “...Oh?” 

“I don’t get why you’re scared about this.” Alatus checks his arm again. Even if he blinks as many times as he can, his eyes can’t lie about one thing. 

His arm is completely healed, with not a single scar in sight. 

“Rapunther, magic… or rather, the elements are a very normal thing. Don’t tell me…” 

There was a brief hesitation, but he swallows, and continues despite that he knows the answer. 

“You’ve never seen magic outside before?” 

Rapunther could only stare at him, mouth clamped and eyes fixed. 

“There’s… magic out there beside me?” 

Hearing this, that baffles Alatus even more. “...Rapunther, you’ve met me . You’ve seen things that are not exactly normal like what mortals do. What makes you think that there’s no magic or anything mythical outside?” 

Rapunther could not bring himself to look at Alatus anymore, and he could only stare at the open flame. 

Then, to the moonlight where it illuminates his golden eyes. 

It all made sense, Alatus was the only one who also had powers that’s far beyond what a mortal could’ve achieved. Itto, the only man with a pair of red horns and immense strength, would also be considered as someone of uniqueness. 

Not to mention that ginger-haired guy that can summon what appeared to be electric swords in thin air. 

Had Rapunther moved out of that tower sooner, who knows what other things he might discover. 

“I… didn’t know.” Rapunther puts his legs up on the tree stump, and he holds them together with his arms, as if he’s shrinking himself into a fetus. “Father… never told me this. Just said that I’m the only one special, and that people out there would hurt me if they found out about me.” 

“Because… of your hair?”

“A gift like that…” Rapunther slowly brushes his hair with his fingers. “It has to be protected. That’s why father never let me…”

He lets out a slow sigh, though Alatus can’t tell if this was a sigh of exhaustion, or a sigh of being a victim of deceit. “That’s why… I never left and… ” 

“You never left that tower?” Alatus finishes Rapunther’s sentence with a question.

Rapunther turns to him, eyes a bit glossy, slowly nodding his head in response. 

“And you’re still thinking about going back?” Alatus asks another question. 

“No!” Rapunther shouts, then his eyes flicker down to the grass. “Yes…?”

In the end, all Rapunther could only do was to bury his face with his hands together. “Auughh… It’s complicated… Now, it’s even more complicated now that I know that magic doesn’t just happen to me…” 

“Father… Why would you lie to me? Just what exactly… is out there?” 

Seeing this, a soft groan escapes Alatus’s lips as he asks, “Then, doesn’t that give you more reasons to leave the tower?” 

“Huh?” Rapunther slowly looks up at Alatus’s golden eyes. 

“You said that your father lied to you. So… why not take this opportunity to explore more?” Xiao shifts in his place, but knows that Rapunther needs to hear this. “Don’t you wish to know more about the world outside of the tower? And most importantly, the lanterns? They wait for you, Rapunther. Don’t let your father’s words make you miss out on an opportunity that you longed for so long.” 

“Yeah… yeah– you’re right!” Rapunther immediately stands up, his gaze sharpening bit by bit. Alatus is almost convinced that he could see Rapunther’s hair flow and puff up with determination. “I’m not going to let his words come to me! I came for the lanterns, and I’ll stay for them!” 

His eyes, once clouded, now spark with a glint of fire, and his lips press together in a firm line, a slight smirk forming. 

“Alatus.” 

Rapunther sits back down, this time inching a bit closer to where Alatus is sitting.

“Thank you, I’m really grateful for your kind words.” 

Then, a smile forms. 

Alatus could only widen his eyes as a response, seeing how that smile that forms on Rapunther’s lips could have melted a thousand hearts with how beautiful it was. 

Seriously, don’t you dare enchant me with those eyes... 

 Despite the open flame, the night chill forms small bumps on Alatus’s skin. 

“Don’t think too much of it.” Alatus darts his eyes away for a hot second. 

“So…” Rapunther fiddles with his thumbs before he decides on his next conversation topic. “Can I ask you a question this time?” 

“Sure.” 

“Alatus… who exactly is the Golden Winged King?” 

This question was unavoidable. 

A flicker of a scorching glare appears, but slowly diminishes to a quizzical manner. 

“Humans and their curiosity, huh?” Alatus pauses. He sighs, relaxing his body on the exhale, and turns to face Rapunther. “I figured you would ask at some point, thanks to that freckled mortal.” 

“No, even if it wasn’t because of that tall, ginger guy.” Rapunther shakes his head. “I would still be curious to know more about you. I want to ask you so many things, but I figured that… it might be a bad time to ask.”  

Alatus lets out a soft ‘tch’, returning his gaze to his healed arm. While he didn’t like the confrontation of this conversation, he knew that if he were to avoid it, Rapunther would think of him differently. Maybe wary of him, anxious about his past, maybe even avoiding him…

Wait. 

When did I even care about what he thinks? 

I…

“You wish to know about me. Very well… I shall.” 

[loozerboykisser]

back in the day networking software was what is defined as monolithic: it was all one big blanket of code that handled everything from the data to send to what headers and information add to it before sending it to the Cables(tm)

problem is, get one problem somewhere, you have to unravel all of it to find where the problem is, and the network stops netting and/or working

enter, drumroll please,

iso/osi stacks

the guys over at iso (the organization) came up with this nifty little trick to slice up the Big into many Smalls: 7 layers (or abstraction layers if you are a big nerd)

application: here are the high-end protocols! like http, ftp (file transfer protocol, what were you thinking?) and the dreaded simple mail transfer protocol which i can say after studying it, it is not simple

presentation: applications dont speak internet, so presentation handles (de)codification, (de)encryption and (de)compression however the Protocols see fit

session: most protocols don't have functions or buffers to remember who sent what so session handles keeping connections alive with sessions: little tin cans with a string so the two members of the communication remember each other

transport: this guy is responsible for whether you want to use tcp or udp as a transport protocol (tcp is slower and has data validation for the recipient, udp is faster but fails more often) and chopping up data in tidbits to actually be able to wring them around the net

network: handles ip addresses, routing and telling the other guy everything is okay because that fuckass udp lost me two whole packet fragments

data-link: the oddball of the bunch because it has a dash in its name. and also because it's two sublayers under a trenchcoat

physical: takes whatever the upper layers gobbled up and zip-zaps the cable to send electricity

basically what happens is application concocts the data, hands it to presentatiom and one it is done, it hands it down to session, so on and so forth until physical sends it to the recipient who is going to do the opposite! physical takes the data, gives it to data-link, d-l chews it up a bit, gives it to network until application gets the oh-so-coveted picture of a cat the sender was sending

it's not over yet as those cheeky bastards managed to wedge the stack open with a lego brick remover and stick a little guy called secure sockets layer in to secure the sockets (woah.). he's dead and now we have transport layer security which is that, but better

whevernevr you see an s at the end of a protocol's name, it means one of these two motherfuckers meddled with your data to make it secure and unreadable to the big mean hackers typing dir /s in green letters in the command prompt

Huh

[tremendousqueenqueen]

Crafting Engaging Content: The Key to Effective SEO in Dublin

Introduction

In the bustling digital landscape of Dublin, where businesses vie for attention amidst a sea of information, crafting engaging content has emerged as the cornerstone of effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In a world where consumers are bombarded with choices, the ability to create compelling and relevant content sets brands apart. This article delves into the intricate relationship between content creation and SEO, exploring how businesses in Dublin can leverage this synergy to enhance their online presence and drive traffic.

Crafting Engaging Content: The Key to Effective SEO in Dublin

Creating engaging content isn't just about filling pages with words; it’s about delivering value that resonates with your audience. When you provide informative, entertaining, and relevant content, not only do you attract visitors, but you also encourage them to stay on your site longer. This engagement signals search engines like Google that your website is worth ranking higher.

Understanding SEO Services in Dublin

SEO services in Dublin encompass a range of strategies designed to improve a website’s visibility on search engines. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, investing in professional SEO services can yield significant returns. By understanding the nuances of local market demands and consumer behavior, these services help businesses tailor their content to meet specific needs.

The Role of an SEO Agency Dublin

An SEO agency in Dublin serves as a guiding light through the complexities of digital marketing. They analyze your existing content, conduct keyword research, and implement strategies tailored to enhance your visibility. With expertise in on-page optimization and technical SEO, these agencies ensure that every aspect of your site works harmoniously towards achieving higher rankings.

What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to the practices aimed at increasing both the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. It https://blast-wiki.win/index.php/Technical_SEO_Essentials_Every_Business_Owner_Should_Know_in_Dublin involves various techniques including keyword research, link building, content marketing, and more.

On-Page Optimization Techniques for Engaging Content

On-page optimization is crucial for ensuring that your content is both engaging and discoverable by search engines. Here are some key techniques:

Keyword Placement: Use primary and secondary keywords strategically throughout your content. Meta Descriptions: Write compelling meta descriptions that accurately reflect page content while enticing users to click. Header Tags: Use H1, H2, H3 tags effectively to organize content hierarchically. Image Alt Text: Optimize images with descriptive alt text for better accessibility and image search optimization. Internal Linking: Create internal links between related articles to keep visitors on your site longer. The Importance of Technical SEO

Technical SEO focuses on improving more advanced aspects of your website's architecture and backend setup. This includes:

Site speed Mobile-friendliness Secure sockets layer (S

[theocannibalistic]

NPC gala fits part 1

ID: four digital drawings of original characters, described top to bottom and left to right: 1. Adreila, a spring eladrin woman with bright green skin and long dark pink hair. She is wearing a layered and frilly white gown with gauzy draped sleeves, thorned vines and flowers with dark red centers growing up from the bodice and a spiked crown of dark metal. 2. Mabkha, an elegant elven goddess with very pale skin, dark eye sockets and frostbitten extremities and blue lips. There are icicles growing from her hair and dripping off her ears and she is wearing a gray-blue gown with flowing wide sleeves, a ragged hem crusted with snow and a snowflake-inspired bodice. 3: Bracken the Incessant Hunger, a dragon elf with dark purple skin covered in patchy black scales and dark green hair pulled back in a loose bun. He has bone-colored horns jutting from his head, black digitigrade dragon legs and a long black dragon tail that ends with a spade that looks like a ribcage. He is wearing a set of dark robes with a colorful bead belt strung between the robe layers. 4: Vossii, a dryad with pointed ears, short curly bright yellow hair and olive green skin. It has a scar on one cheek and through one eyebrow and is wearing a short black dress with a larger half-skirt at the hips, black knee-high boots and a single metal shoulder pauldron secured with a brown belt. It has a greatsword strapped to its back that peeks over its right shoulder.

Player Characters NPCs Part 1 (you are here) NPCs Part 2