#the links lead to their official twitters by the way! and you’ll find the links to their websites there

[chibi-sunrise]

Where can I watch Luminaria’s Anime?

For Global Viewers

You can watch the first episode of the “Tales of Luminaria the Fateful Crossroad” anime with EN subtitles here. We’ve also got Spanish subtitles, French subtitles, German subtitles, Italian subtitles, Portuguese subtitles, and Russian subtitles.

You can now watch the first episode of the “Tales of Luminaria the Fateful Crossroad” anime in EN dub here.

You’ll need a Crunchyroll or Funimation subscription to watch the second episode on their respective websites. I once saw one of my mutuals was able to watch it without subscriptions (with ads, of course), but I haven’t tested it for myself.

For JP Viewers

If you’re recommending the anime to a friend who lives in Japan, this tweet lists different sites where they’ll be able to search for it. Tales of Luminaria’s official anime website has been shut down, though, so you won’t be able to check it for details on the different options… But I’ll provide whatever links I can find!

We have Amazon JP Rent/have Amazon JP Prime or the dアニメストア subscription service so far.

Well, I’m sure most people on tumblr will know where else they can watch the anime if they’re interested enough… If using official means is the best way to directly support the works I care about, then I’ll use official means as much as possible. And if those official means aren’t, then…I won’t turn down other options.

If you’re interested, then click the readmore for links to voice actor interviews regarding the anime, comments from the anime directors, the motion actors, two event reports on the CG animation studio’s lecture on their animation work process, and more!

So first up, this post has the bulk of information on the anime. You’ll find the anime directors’ comments, scenario writers’ comments, and a twitter thread about the AniTsuku free web-only seminar that was held on September 23-25, 2022.

This tweet will lead you to a detailed event report on the Tales of Luminaria seminar that was held at the time. If anything happens to that tweet, then I’ve also got the direct link to the article here. I’ve also got another article that covers different information on the event here.

We also have these tweets from a few of the motion actors who helped construct the scenes for CG animation. We’ve also got a tweet from the animator in charge of facial expressions! I loved their work on the Fire Emblem Heroes special Book movies; check out this one in particular for their work on facial expressions.

And this post has Luminaria’s Writing Team’s comments, which include a note about the animation.

This tweet leads to Comic Natalie’s interview of Arai Ryohei (Leo’s VA) and Takeda Kaito (Hugo’s VA) If anything happens to that tweet, then I’ve also got the direct link here.

This tweet leads to Comic Natalie’s interview of Umehara Yuichiro (August’s VA) If anything happens to that tweet, then I’ve also got the direct link here.

This tweet leads to Comic Natalie’s interview of Uemura Yuto (Lucien’s VA) If anything happens to that tweet, then I’ve also got the direct link here.

I want people to be able to recognize the Luminaria anime as the top quality work it is. There was so much work, passion, effort, and love put into this animation; please don’t dismiss it just because it’s CG.

Oh, and these aren’t comments, but check out the art the anime directors did! Midori drew Easter Leo here, drew a piece for Celia’s birthday here, and sketched a little something to celebrate that Itaindou completed accepting orders for Luminaria’s custom hanko stamps here. And Shiori drew Laplace here.

[unogeeks234]

OPEN SAP SUCCESSFACTORS

Unlock Your HR Potential: A Guide to SuccessFactors Training with openSAP

In the fast-paced world of Human Resources (HR), staying ahead of the technology curve is essential. SAP SuccessFactors is a leading cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) suite that is revolutionizing the way organizations manage their most valuable asset—their people. openSAP, SAP’s free online learning platform, offers a fantastic opportunity to master SuccessFactors and propel your HR career forward.

Why SuccessFactors Matters

SuccessFactors is a robust HCM system that streamlines core HR processes across:

Talent Management: Attract, develop, and retain top talent.

Employee Experience: Boost engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

Core HR & Payroll: Manage crucial employee data and payroll functions.

HR Analytics: Gain data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions.

openSAP: The Gateway to SuccessFactors Expertise

openSAP provides a treasure trove of SuccessFactors courses, catering to various experience levels and specializations. Here’s what you’ll find:

Introductory Courses: Ideal for beginners, these courses offer a comprehensive overview of SuccessFactors concepts, modules, and overall functionality.

Specialized Training: Delve deeper into Employee Central, Performance & Goals, Recruiting, Onboarding, and more.

Implementation Expertise: Understand best practices and strategies for successfully deploying SuccessFactors within your organization.

Continuous Learning: With new courses added regularly, stay up-to-date with SuccessFactors’s latest features and advancements.

Benefits of Learning SuccessFactors on openSAP

Flexibility: Learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere.

Self-Directed: Progress based on your schedule and interests.

Community: Connect with fellow learners, share knowledge, and get support.

Expert Instruction: Gain insights from SAP experts and industry leaders.

Free of Charge: Access world-class training without any financial barriers.

How to Get Started

Create an openSAP account: Visit the open sap website and register.

Explore Courses: Browse the course catalog and search for SuccessFactors offerings.

Enroll and Learn: Start your chosen course and follow the lessons, videos, and exercises.

Engage: Participate in discussions, collaborate on assignments, and network with other learners.

Tips for Success

Set Clear Goals: What do you want to achieve with SuccessFactors knowledge?

Dedicate Time: Block regular time slots in your calendar for learning.

Practice: Apply concepts to real-world scenarios or explore trial environments.

Get Certified: Consider validating your skills with official SAP certifications (optional but highly beneficial).

Transform Your HR Career

By harnessing the power of openSAP and SuccessFactors, you’ll enhance your HR skills, become more valuable to your organization, and position yourself for exciting career opportunities. The world of HR technology awaits – start your journey now!

You can find more information about  SAP Successfactors in this  SAP Successfactors Link

Conclusion:

Unogeeks is the No.1 IT Training Institute for SAP  Training. Anyone Disagree? Please drop in a comment

You can check out our other latest blogs on  SAP Successfactors  here - SAP Successfactors Blogs

You can check out our Best In Class SAP Successfactors Details here - SAP Successfactors Training

----------------------------------

For Training inquiries:

Call/Whatsapp: +91 73960 33555

Mail us at: info@unogeeks.com

Our Website ➜ https://unogeeks.com

Follow us:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnogeeksSoftwareTrainingInstitute

Twitter: https://twitter.com/unogeeks

[bbndory]

Sig sauer rifle serial number lookup

#SIG SAUER RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP HOW TO#

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Don’t forget to use sig sauer date code chart and save. By clicking on the deal you will be linked to come to the official website and pick up your favorite items, add them to your shopping cart then check out as normal. Besides, you can click on ''Show Link Coupons'' to see all the latest coupons and deals from different sources updated by us. You will see a lot of coupons and deals on the screen. Put the sig sauer date code chart in the search box then press enter. How to get sig sauer date code chart from us Our new features on a coupon site will lead beloved customers to the highest levels of shopping experience.

#SIG SAUER RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP HOW TO#

Besides, isCoupon is building a big answer to how to find the biggest sig sauer date code chart in the fastest way. Secondly, directly visit the store’s homepage and look for discount programs there. The official stores' fan pages are where they bring to the latest information and the recent promotion programs. Firstly, follow up on famous social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+. Are you looking for a trustworthy enough place to look for sig sauer date code chart and save your cart when shopping online? Spend a minute to read through our guides to know the best place you can refer to. Poor content and information on the internet have trapped us in a bad shopping experience. How can you tell if a SIG Sauer is made in Germany?Īs for how and when it transitioned back to “Made in Germany,” particularly in the case of SIG Sauer pistols, you’ll have to continue reading to find out! Another way to identify a West German SIG is the existence of proof marks and date codes, though their existence alone does not automatically determine a pistol’s provenance. For an even more affordable solution, buying a used handgun can be a very wallet-friendly option. How Much Do Sig Sauer Handguns Cost? SIG SAUER pistols start at around $450 and can go up in price to $1,500 or more. 45 ACP 8 Rounds Polymer Base Plate Steel Body.

#SIG SAUER RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP FULL SIZE#

SIG Sauer, P250/P320 Full Size Magazine, 17 Rounds. SIG Sauer P226 20 Round Magazine 9mm Steel Blued F. What kind of magazine does a SIG Sauer use? Unfortunately they no longer give it out for free.

#SIG SAUER RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP SERIAL NUMBER#

If not the only information you can get is from the serial number and only SiG has that information. If the gun was proofed in Germany there is a date code. History for SiGs is spotty or at least not published publically. Here's a top tip: Replace the recoil spring with a Nine Ball Hi Capa recoil spring and it'll feel more like a real pistol.Where can I find the serial number on a SIG Sauer? It doesn't surprise in that area, but it doesn't have the greatest kick in the world, actually rather sluggish for a CO2 pistol. You will also notice that is a CO2 pistol, so you will expect it to kick really hard. The hammer, magazine release and trigger will be very stiff, reminiscent of the real steel version and the slide can be removed with fluidity and is just as slick when it comes to putting the slide back on. Once you pick it up, you will fall in love with the weight, texture and how smooth it functions. It doesn't look particularly unique, honestly it looks like a lot of P226s out there, but this brings so much more to the table. Every single pistol has a unique serial number so even though they are all similar in looks, you'll feel like you have your own designated pistol. What caught me off guard was the fact that the grip had 'Sig Sauer' printed on it, which is something you have never seen on another replica P226. Since it is a fully licensed replica, you can expect all the correct markings on the slide, frame and grip. This means that the Sig Sauer P226 from Inokatsu has a steel slide, an aluminum frame and plastic grips. We know it has been a very long time since they have released a pistol but who knew they would move on to a P226? I am glad they have, mainly because it is a fully licensed pistol made of materials you would find on the real steel version. This is because they are very well known for their 1911 series. When it comes to quality CO2 gas blow back pistols, the name, Inokatsu, comes to mind.

AIRSOFT GAS & CO2 SNIPER RIFLE MAGAZINES.

AIRSOFT GRENADE LAUNCHER BB SHOWER SHELLS.

[ashbicreativestudio]

Top 5 places to promote your website

Introduction

You've got a great website. It's beautiful, it works well and you're proud of it! But if you don't take the time to promote your website and build an audience, it won't matter how great your website is; no one will see it. The trick is finding the right channels to promote your website through - since there are so many different avenues available today, it can be hard to determine which ones will work for you. If you're struggling to get visitors even though your site is top-notch, here are some of our best tips for promoting your website online:

Google AdWords

Google AdWords is Google's advertising platform. It allows you to place ads on Google, Yahoo and other search engines. AdWords has several forms of advertising, such as text ads or image ads. If you are looking for a quick way to drive traffic to your website and generate leads/customers, then AdWords might be the best option for you.

Google My Business Listing

Google My Business (GMB) Listing is the official way to list your business on Google. It helps you with your search engine ranking, which means more traffic for you. There are many advantages of having a GMB listing: - It helps you get found by customers on Search, Maps and Google Assistant using your website address as the call to action (CTA). This can increase qualified leads and sales for businesses that get it right - You can share special offers or discounts with customers who visit Google from desktop computers but there are no limitations on mobile devices.

Advertise on Social Networks

Social media is a great way to promote your website and drive traffic. You can use it to increase traffic, engage with your customers, or promote your website. The following are some of the best social networks for promoting your site: - Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn

Ask for References

One of the most effective ways to get backlinks is by asking for references. You can do this by requesting testimonials, referrals and reviews from your customers. You may also want to ask for advice or feedback on your business in general.

Use Content Marketing

Content marketing is a great way to build trust with your audience. Think about it: if you can show them that you're an expert in something, they're going to be more likely to believe what else you say—and do what you ask! Content marketing is also a great way to build relationships with your audience. Most people want the same things out of their relationships as they do their professional ones: respect, understanding, and loyalty. By giving them quality content that helps them solve their problems (and helps them learn new things), you'll earn those things from them too! Finally, content marketing is also one of the best ways for building credibility with your audience because it shows that you know what's important about being an expert in this field--which means that people will listen when something comes up later down the line because now they trust that even if something seems "off" at first glance there might actually be some truth behind it (or at least some basis for concern).

Be sure to promote your website.

- Be sure to promote your website. - Use social media to get the word out about your website. You can use Google AdWords, Facebook ads or local business search options on Google and Bing. - Submit press releases that include a link to your website (don't forget this important step!)

Conclusion

So, now you know the best places to promote your website. If you want to get ahead of your competition and make sure people know about your site, be it a local brick and mortar store or online shop, you will need to take advantage of every opportunity to advertise. Take a look at what we covered here again and think about whether or not it’s time for you to really start reaching out with some content marketing strategies Read the full article

[unogeeks234]

LEARN SAP SUCCESSFACTORS

Unlocking the Power of SAP SuccessFactors: Your Essential Guide

SAP SuccessFactors is a leading cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) suite that is revolutionizing how businesses manage their workforce. If you want to enhance your HR skills or become a SuccessFactors expert, you’re in the right place! This blog will guide you through the fundamentals of SAP SuccessFactors and the best ways to master this powerful platform.

What is SAP SuccessFactors?

Think of SAP SuccessFactors as a comprehensive toolkit for all your HR needs. It’s a collection of integrated modules covering:

Core HR & Payroll: Streamlines core HR processes, employee data management, and payroll administration.

Performance & Goals: Aligns employee goals with company objectives, facilitating continuous feedback and performance management.

Recruiting & Onboarding: Attracts top talent, simplifies the hiring process, and seamlessly welcomes new employees.

Learning: Drives employee development and skill-building with customized learning programs.

Compensation: Designs and manages incentive structures and rewards programs.

Succession & Development: Nurtures future leaders and plans for talent transitions.

Why Learn SAP SuccessFactors?

High Demand: Businesses of all sizes increasingly adopt SAP SuccessFactors, creating a surge in demand for skilled professionals.

Career Advancement: Expertise in SuccessFactors opens doors to lucrative roles such as HR consultant, implementation specialist, or system administrator.

Process Optimization: Understanding SuccessFactors lets you streamline and improve HR processes within your organization.

User-friendliness: SAP SuccessFactors has an intuitive interface, making it relatively accessible for those with an HR background.

How to Learn SAP SuccessFactors

SAP Training and Certification: Take advantage of official SAP courses and certifications. These programs offer structured learning paths and validate expertise.

Online Resources: Explore platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and openSAP for self-paced SuccessFactors courses.

SAP Help Portal: Access extensive documentation, tutorials, and best practices directly from SAP (https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_SUCCESSFACTORS_LEARNING).

SAP Community: Join the online SAP SuccessFactors community to ask questions, connect with experts, and learn from others.

Practice: Request access to a demo or sandbox environment to gain hands-on experience configuring the system.

Tips for Success

Start with the Basics: Focus on Core HR, then expand your knowledge into specific modules.

Real-World Context: Seek examples and use cases to understand how businesses apply the concepts.

Network: Connect with SuccessFactors professionals on platforms like LinkedIn.

Stay Updated: SAP SuccessFactors continues to evolve, so keep track of new releases and features.

Embark on Your SuccessFactors Journey

Learning SAP SuccessFactors is an investment in your career and a valuable asset for any organization. By following these guidelines and putting in the effort, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a SuccessFactors pro!

You can find more information about  SAP Successfactors in this  SAP Successfactors Link

Conclusion:

Unogeeks is the No.1 IT Training Institute for SAP  Training. Anyone Disagree? Please drop in a comment

You can check out our other latest blogs on  SAP Successfactors  here - SAP Successfactors Blogs

You can check out our Best In Class SAP Successfactors Details here - SAP Successfactors Training

----------------------------------

For Training inquiries:

Call/Whatsapp: +91 73960 33555

Mail us at: info@unogeeks.com

Our Website ➜ https://unogeeks.com

Follow us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unogeeks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnogeeksSoftwareTrainingInstitute

Twitter: https://twitter.com/unogeeks

[kaftan]

Can you share the names of some of your favorite literary magazines?

I sure can!! Disclaimer: these are all for literary fiction‚ because I personally only really enjoy litfic when it comes to short form writing. But they’re amazing‚ and if genre fiction is more your thing you’re sure to find it by just… looking at suggested accounts on twitter. I hate to bring up the t word‚ but that’s where all the writers (and more importantly‚ the publishers) are.

(Also: all of these litmags have websites where you can easily read what they publish without paying a cent. You can also buy physical or digital issues from most‚ I believe‚ if you want to financially support them. Editing is not a lucrative business!)

Onto recs:

Jellyfish Review: has to take the #1 spot. But I might be biased because the editor who runs the official twitter is just really‚ really funny and good at promoting it. Still‚ it’s the source of some of my favorite flash fiction—just gorgeous‚ inventive stuff. Here’s one that I’m sure I’ve recced before: Vagabond Mannequin by K.B. Carle

Milk Candy Review: this one’s for very short flash fiction. I think their word limit is 750 words? Anyway‚ really amazing stories. Here’s a good one: Scheherazade Tells the Tale of the Northern Shrike by Katie DePasquale

Cotton Xenomorph: fucking AMAZING poetry‚ I’ve barely looked at their other stuff sorry. But I have so many of their poems saved‚ I posted a few before I remade. Let me dig up those links and get back to you. Also I just think it’s really funny that the editor picked the name from a twitter meme that gives you a randomized litmag name. (EDIT: aha! Here!)

Pidgeonholes: simply fantastic‚ and on the fancier side for a small literary magazine (lol). I just checked and they actually also publish speculative fiction‚ so there you go! Love love love their poetry also.

Okay Donkey Magazine: chef’s kiss. Self described as a magazine “for the odd, off-kilter, and just plain weird.” Really good flash fiction & poetry‚ here’s a story I loved from them: Bear by Shayne Terry

No Tokens: I… I can’t not give them a shoutout‚ seeing as they published one of my poems. Little old me! Joking tone aside‚ I really like the stories and poetry they house. Check them out.

❗️Lightning round of some other literary magazines I like‚ sourced from my twitter following list lmao:

Heavy Feather Review‚ Barren Magazine‚ Longleaf Review, Riggwelter Press‚ Passages North (this one’s a national magazine that published an author I adore), Cease Cows

❗️Not Actually Litmags‚ But Check Out These Publishing Presses Because Fuck The Big Five:

Graywolf Press (extremely legit‚ they publish The Good Shit)

Copper Canyon Press (less of a reputation‚ but they also publish Good Shit)

Salò Press (published one of my FAVORITE poets who I discovered online‚ Katherine Osborne‚ her stuff is insanely good)

[thebibliosphere]

[ID: a gif of John Oliver the comedian splaying his hands wide and saying, “Welcome to whatever this is…”]

Hello! My name is Joy Demorra, I’m an official 2x International Best Selling Author, Vampire Romancer and Shitpost Producer Extraordinaire, and yes, I am the vampire nipple erotica editor who just wants to rest , thanks for asking!

You may know me from such posts as the infamous Crucifix Nail Nipples (x), Robin Williams Punching Death Eaters Dream (x) or one of my many, many, many vampire shitposts, chronic illness/advocacy posts, or my ADHD posts. However you found me, I hope you enjoy your time here. Please have patience if you are sending me messages either here or somewhere else on the Internet. I am but a humble smut peddler, peddling my weres. I am also multiply disabled with at least one genetic disability and several chronic illnesses and mental health issues that make keeping up with a high traffic blog very difficult. I never expected to become a hub for shitposts and chronic illness/ADHD resources, but here we are!

If you ever get tired of seeing my personal health posts, you may wish to blacklist the following tags: ‘#chronic health tag’ & ‘#chronic health tag: teeth’, that way I can bitch and moan into the void and you don’t have to read it if you don’t want to.

Due to Tumblr successfully tricking me into becoming a professional author, I have several hundred ongoing projects at once, most of them vampire themed. 

My international best selling debut novel, Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites is available for purchase on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and several other places still updating as I type. It was supposed to be a short paranormal polyamorous satirical romance featuring a vampire, a werewolf and all other manner of creatures that go bump in the night, but has since morphed into a paranormal polyamorous gaslamp fantasy romance series with potentially 5-6 books planned. Don’t ask how, I do not know. Also yes, ha ha, I’m so bisexual I couldn’t even pick a genre. 

The series follows the antics of three main characters, a disabled and partially deaf werewolf known as Nathan Northland, a 400yo mad-scientist-dandy-styled vampire named Vlad Blutstein, and Ursula, who goes only by the mysterious moniker, The Lady Ursula. It’s set in a pseudo-regency-steampunkish gaslamp era, and the characters inhabit a world much like our own, excepting of course the fantastical ideas of magic being real, vampires living among us, and government bodies being held accountable for their actions.

The book will also be available in paperback, and will also come in two editions: one with the sex scenes for those who like a little bite with their fangs, and one without, for those who like a little bit more fluff. Links coming soon! There’s also already a fandom tag, which is #Phangs and #Phangdom and because I’m a weak creature and easily lead, AU fanfic on my Ao3 under original works, most of which is Adult 18+ in nature.

You can read more about my other ongoing works by clicking on my blog Welcome Page (x), and also at www.joydemorra.com for any upcoming news and announcements. Alternatively you can subscribe to my Newsletter (x) which I do promise I’ll update soon.

Given the nature of my work, if you are under the age of 18, I do ask that you respect my boundaries and refrain from interacting with anything on my blog that is labelled 18+

I try very hard to keep my blog as safe for everyone as I can and respect your boundaries. No mean feat when you’re known across the Internet as “the crucifix vampire nipple lady” :P

If you need me to tag something for trigger purposes, no matter how silly you think I might think it is, please let me know, I will be more than happy to do so. Also while I do try very hard to be conscientious of the things I do and say, sometimes I will inevitably make mistakes or misspeak, and it is important to me that it be brought to my attention so I might correct my behavior and apologize. So please don’t be afraid to tell me when I’ve got my head up my ass. I make no pretenses at being a good person. I’m just trying my damnedest not to be an awful one.

Other places you can find me on the Internet include:

Patreon! (x) where things are about to get a drastic shake up.

Twitter (x) where I occasioanlly yell at clouds and retweet all the funny and poignant things you lot say.

Facebook (x) where I mostly hide and don’t interact with anyone because it’s Facebook, but will be more active once book stuff starts going live.

Twitch (x) where I occasionally stream surviving the apocalypse in the frostbitten world of Frostpunk.

Ao3 (x) where I post my fanfic, sometimes even of my own work because I am weak-willed and easily led astray.

I also have a Ko-fi (x) where I cross post my Patreon work for anyone who doesn’t like Patreon. It also functions are my general tip jar, so if you like what I do here and would like to help me keep doing it, tips are deeply appreciated though by no means expected. I do what I do on tumblr primarily for love, and I’ll keep doing it for as long as I can, for as long as I’m capable.

Thank you for reading this far, and remember, take care of yourselves and each other. You’re more important than you’ll ever truly know. 

[friendsim2]

New Years FAQ

🎊Happy New Years!

As we're moving closer to our first release, we here at Friendsim 2 wanted answer a few questions that have been floating around about our game!

Q: Who's Running this?

Friendsim 2 is being developed by @StudioJuneGames, which is a loose collective of creators representing a wide range of backgrounds and identities.

Our director (and lead writer, programmer, and social media woman) is Jonaya Riley (@JonayaRiley on Twitter)!

Q: Is this a commercial game?

Absolutely not!

This is a 100% free fan project, and all assets are licensed under the CC Attribution Non-Commercial license, meaning they will always be free for everyone to use for *non-commercial* projects!

Who's working on FS2?

A: We have a team of around 40 artists, 30 voice actors, six writers, and a dozen musicians!

That includes everyone from veteran contributors on official projects (including folks from literally every official HS project!) to non-Homestucks!

Q: What are the details on the voice acting?

Voice acting is being provided by a diverse selection of voice actors, both professional and semi-professional, under the direction of Anna Marcus (@acMusic27 on Twitter)!

Q: How are you paying artists?

Our director was fortunate enough to have inherited and saved some money to help compensate our artists and voice actors.

She wanted to help support the artists working on this project however possible!

Q: How is it on STEAM?!

Steam and Itch.io are both platforms for distributing content and, legally speaking, aren't distinct in that regard - but we wanted playing the game to be the easiest possible experience for everyone!

Q: Thoughts on the Official Content?

Everyone on the team has their own feelings, but the core reason for this game existing is due to how much Hiveswap - especially Friendsim - means to our director and so many people on the team!

Q: What about What Pumpkin?

It's our hope that WP recognizes the wide range of fandom creativity and effort that this project represents - a lot of us really respect the work they've done, and this project is intended to continue that legacy!

Q: What's the story?

The basic story continues the narrative of Friendsim and Pesterquest, picking up with MSPAR deciding to return to Alternia to retrieve their friends from Friendsim.

Things do not go as expected!

Q: What happens to my favorite character?

You'll find out! We've spent a lot of time making sure that the characters are handled in ways that're both coherent and satisfying!

We can't promise everyone a happy ending, but we think that the outcomes will at least feel right.

Q: Are the assets original to Friendsim 2?

You bet! Everything from the sprites to the music to every line of writing are 100% new assets, and the game's programming, UI, and design are brand-new!

Q: Okay, but that logo looks... familiar

It's a high-res vector interpretation of the original Friendsim logo, with some tweaks and changes. We wanted to match the look and feel of the original game, while also expanding on it!

Q: Should I even play the official games?

Absolutely!!!

Not only is our game a sequel to both Friendsim and Pesterquest, but all of the games have a ton of work put into them and you should absolutely support the artists that worked on them!

Q: Why are you doing this?

Hiveswap means a lot to us, and we love these characters.

We think it's unlikely we'll get a Friendsim/Pesterquest sequel from What Pumpkin, so we decided to put together a team and do it ourselves!

Q: Can I financially support the project?

If you want to offer financial support, we suggest donating to the individual artists involved or commissioning work from them!

We credit individual artists on posts, and the game itself will include links to their social media!

Q: Can I contribute?

Unfortunately we don't have any openings for contributors at this time, but if we do need additional help we'll be posting updates to our Twitter account!

Q: Can I support the developers?

Just spread the word, follow us here on Twitter, all that good stuff!

Also, follow our studio Twitter (@StudioJuneGames) and keep an eye out for future, non-Homestuck projects after Friendsim 2 is complete!

Seeing the enthusiasm and support for this project has been a humbling and amazing experience!

This is a fandom that means a lot to all of us, and we hope we make something great for you all!

-Jonaya (Director/lead writer, Friendsim 2)

If anyone has any additional questions about our project or its development, feel free to send our director asks here on our tumblr!

[foodbytesback]

The Rise and Fall of Bon Appetit

Sometimes life comes at you fast.  Sometimes, that means stories in the food industry break in such rapid succession that you have no time to blink in between.  Sometimes, it means someone found out about something racist you did a few years ago.  What happens when it’s both?  Ask the fine folks at Bon Appetit.

In recent years, Bon Appetit made a name for itself, rising from the ashes of dying print media, through its Youtube channel featuring a diverse cast of personalities.  But over the course of this past week, many of the publication’s executives have been found to foster a toxic workplace culture, rife with racism, sexism and homophobia.  

Before I get too deep (because this is going to be a long one), I feel the need to point out that while this story’s breaking happened to coincide with Black Lives Matter protests across the country and gained traction from people’s outrage towards inequality, the events that have unfolded should not be blamed on “cancel culture,” “political correctness run amok” or any other reactionary dismissal of critical thinking.  Adam Rapoport didn’t lose his job because Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter came to be because of the damage that many in positions of power like Rapoport have done in both mainstream media and society as a whole.

[Also, yes, there are going to be a lot of links to Instagram posts that have been screenshotted and uploaded to Twitter.  Clearly the real takeaway from this debacle is that I need to get an Instagram account.  Also also, thanks to Tumblr’s new rules about offsite links, you’ll have to go to my main site for the full receipts.]

Preamble

Shortly after the killing of George Floyd, Adam Rapoport, Editor-in-Chief at Bon Appetit, wrote an editorial highlighting some of the coverage they’ve given to black chefs.  Many criticized this as being superficial and performative, with others saying that BA has, on numerous occasions, shut down articles relating to black culture for not being “trendy” enough or otherwise was discriminatory towards black employees. (Also, the repeated use of “uprisings” instead of “protests” seems a little suspicious.)

An article from Eater criticized the role BA played in the appropriating and whitewashing of many cultures’ ingredients and cuisines (gochujang, Aleppo pepper, and sumac seem to be some of BA’s favorite ingredients) that had become prevalent in food media in recent years.

While it’s a fairly minor offense in comparison, it may also be worth bringing up the time Rapoport accidentally called Priya Krishna “Sohla,” the name of his other Indian employee.

Monday, June 8th

Food writer Tammie Teclemariam posted a screencap of an Instagram post made by Rapoport’s wife, which depicted the two of them donning Puerto Rican stereotypes as Halloween costumes, brownface and all.    

Many were quick to declare their outrage and demand that Rapoport either resign or be fired.  Meanwhile, Sohla El-Waylly, one of the leading stars of the Youtube channel, was one of the first BA employees to speak up, and disclosed that this kind of behavior was just the tip of the iceberg.  She said that BIPOC workers have been paid disproportionately for their work, including not being paid a per-video commission that the white stars of the Youtube channel receive. 

Molly Baz, one of the aforementioned white stars, announced that she would no longer make videos for BA until all of El-Waylly’s demands were met.  One by one, their white coworkers chimed in in agreement.  

Former staff photographer Alex Lau also wrote an extensive tweet thread about his experiences at BA, including how he had futilely tried to fix the system from within.

By the end of Monday, Adam Rapoport had resigned from his position as Editor-in-Chief.

Tuesday, June 9th  

Since Rapoport’s official resignation did little to fix many of the systemic problems in place at BA, many began to turn their attention to other senior members of the staff.

Some came for Andrew Knowlton, the Restaurant Editor, for behaviors such as gaslighting an employee for trying to bring up racist practices in the offices.

Others called out Matthew Duckor, a VP at Conde Nast and BA’s former “Head of Video” (Did a 3 year old come up with that job title?), for a series of old racist and homophobic tweets.  He tried to apologize by saying that he was young and didn’t know any better at the time, but many were quick to point out that he was, at the youngest, 20, aka for all intents and purposes An Adult when he wrote those tweets. 

Tammie Teclemariam returned to ask current and former BA employees to DM her information about Duckor that they didn’t want to go public with themselves, ranging from his hand in the aforementioned pay disparity to making inappropriate comments towards women.

Teclemariam also did even more social media muckraking and found that Drinks Editor Alex Delany had once decorated a cake to look like a Confederate flag, while others found things like a Vine where he says the f-slur and some questionable comments about women on this Tumblr.  He later deleted his Tumblr and Twitter, and issued a cookie-cutter apology on his Instagram.

She also vague-tweeted that Brad Leone, one of the most beloved stars of the Youtube channel, is “possibly not a great guy,” but later added, “don’t fret.” At that point, some began to accuse her of just trying to stir the pot.

Ultimately, Matt Hunziker, director and camera operator for Leone’s show, reported that the higher ups were ignoring the situation regarding the pay disparity, and that they were not “learning and growing.”

Wednesday, June 10th

By this point, journalists were able to do more thorough investigations and put together exposés that were more than a blurb about an accusation followed by a nut graph.

Business Insider published an article where they interviewed 14 current and former BIPOC employees of Bon Appetit.  In addition to information already discussed above, it also described events such as an incident where several BIPOC staffers were told they weren’t allowed the test kitchen. (Carla Lalli Music, the Food Director at the time, would later defend her stance in the affair on Twitter.)  Ryan Walker-Hartshorn, a black woman who served as Rapoport’s personal assistant, recalled that she would often spend her day doing menial tasks like polishing her boss’s golf clubs or trying to teach his wife how to use Google Calendar.  In another incident, Knolton called Rick Martinez a “one trick pony” for only developing Mexican recipes, which is what he was being forced to do so BA could tout “diversity” bonus points.  Martinez would also say that the magazine under Rapoport’s tenure “went from old and irrelevant and white-washed content to young and trendy white-washed content." (Martinez would also upload a more graphic description of the treatment he received  to his Instagram that same day.) Later that day, Business Insider would also report that Duckor had left the company.

Vice would liken Rapoport to Michael Scott from The Office, but noted that that kind of bumbling, endearingly insensitive bad boss archetype isn’t as charming in the real world where real employees are being affected.  Parallels were also drawn between the Youtube channel and The Office itself, stating that the “quirky workplace” facade put on in the videos helped hide the more sinister practices that lurked beneath the surface, and that the notion that they were “one big family” often pressured BIPOC into doing more than their fair share for the greater good.

Jezebel showed email transcripts where Rapoport argued the semantics of having his costume be called “brownface” when he wasn’t wearing makeup, and had to be explained to, like a child, that the term refers to the racist caricature and not the literal act of putting brown makeup on one’s face.  What a douche.

Bon Appetit published an official apology on their site, a whole two days after the controversy began.  Many believed that their empty promises of “learning from their mistakes” were a day late and a dollar short.

Meanwhile, on Twitter, former BA writer Alyse Whitney said that senior editor Andy Baraghani had, on several occasions, used his influence to undermine her efforts. Whether this had to do with racism, sexism, or just Andy being petty is up for debate, but still constitutes as unprofessional behavior to say the least.

Thursday, June 11th

As interest in the story seemed to wane for many in the industry, Claire Saffitz, arguably the face of the Youtube channel, released another statement on her Instagram.  She said that her relative silence was due to taking time to find the right words, and that the same-old promises to “learn and grow” that most had been giving felt empty and performative. Unlike many of her white coworkers, she directly apologized for being complicit in the toxic environment  and for not using her status to try to leverage even pay for her BIPOC coworkers.  

Another BA Youtube personality, Amiel Stanek, also released a statement in response to BA’s official press release, where he demanded Conde Nast to stop avoiding action by setting vague timelines for changes or making excuses for not giving BIPOC workers raises like “the money just isn’t there.”

Associate editor Christina Chaey also opened up about her experiences with being pushed into more and more videos to “diversify” them- all without compensation.  

Friday, June 12th

The biggest scandal of the day was that, as Teclemariam predicted, Brad Leone is possibly not a great guy.  A leaked screenshot of an Instagram DM showed him making callous, almost Trump-y comments regarding El-Waylly’s demand for better pay.  He also allegedly said that if Delany were to be fired (as of that day he had been sent on leave), he would quit.

Saturday, June 13th

The New York Times published an article suggesting that the issues prevalent in BA’s management may go all the way to the top of Conde Nast.  Highlights include Chief Executive Roger Lynch chastising the whistleblowers within the company for raising their concerns in such a public manner and an account of an incident where he gave his black assistant a guidebook on how to speak “proper” English.

The Sporkful released a special episode of their podcast containing interviews with several current and former BA BIPOC workers.  Nikita Richardson divulged that after she was laid off, a story she had already done all the leg work for was picked up and credited to Amanda Shapiro, a white staff writer who is now acting Editor-in-Chief in lieu of Rapoport.  Sohla El-Waylly confirmed that the self-congratulatory editorial Rapoport wrote in the wake of George Floyd’s death was the real beginning of the end, and that the racist photo was just the final straw.  She also described a company-wide Zoom meeting held after the photo began to be spread around where Rapoport issued a half-hearted apology, and began talking about how he would “fix the brand” before El-Waylly demanded he resigned.  Furthermore, she revealed that after her Instagram posts began circulating rapidly, Duckor had offered her a new contract with increased pay, but she is refusing to sign it until all BIPOC have received similar compensation.  She also said that she had a hand in the wishy-washy statement that BA had published on Wednesday, and said that it originally had taken much firmer stances on the issues but their PR office made them tone it down.  Also, she commented that Leone, for the most part, just seemed like she “genuinely think[s] [that he] just found out racism is real.”  Ultimately, she was glad that the story was getting as much coverage as it was, since it made her feel that her voice was finally being heard.

Sunday, June 14th

Baraghani released a statement on Instagram apologizing for his behavior, saying that trying to achieve his personal goals in BA’s toxic, competitive environment made him lose sight of solidarity with his fellow BIPOC.  

While that may seem like the end of the story for now, it’s important to note that, even with the resignation of two executives, nothing has truly been done to fix the systemic problems at hand.

[thesims4blogger]

The Sims 4: Official “Sims 411” Recap

The Sims team has released a recap of Tuesday’s Inside Maxis live stream.

Hot Topics When will the ‘Simulation/Autonomy Lag’ be fixed?

We’re on it! Particularly, what we’re doing right now is identifying what the root cause of this issue is. That means, we’re investigating what specific actions during gameplay do lead to the lag? This is the first step we need to take because the simulation/autonomy lag is not the actual issue, it’s rather a symptom that can have dozens of different causes. If the lag has happened in your game, you’ve probably experienced the following most common manifestations of this symptom:

Sims standing around doing nothing

Sims not doing anything on their own (with free will set to max)

Sims take forever to do a given command

Time jumping backwards after fast forwarding to Ultra Speed. The Sims will usually freeze while fast forwarded.

Sims come home late from school

FPS Drops

Once we identify what specific actions and circumstances lead to the lag, we’ll know what we need to work on. And the best way to find out, is by analysing your save files! The more save files we can analyse the higher the chance we’ll be able to find the cause soon. That said, please continue your awesome support and keep sending us your save files whenever you experience the lag!

How to share your save files

Please provide the following information when sending your save files. You can send your info through this form or DM SimGuruNick directly on AHQ.

Basic Information about your computer (CPU, Operating System, Amount of RAM, Graphics Card, Hard Drive Space). This is not to blame your computer for the issue but to see what kinds of systems this issue is occurring on)

How big is your save game ?

Does the issue also occur on a new save for testing purposes

Video of the issue happening. Just upload to youtube and post the link in this thread. You don’t need to list it

Please add the following files to a .rar or .zip archive and share with QA These files can all be found in the following folder: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\

lastException.txt (if it exists. If there is more than one, please include all of them.)

lastUIException.txt (if it exists. If there is more than one, please include all of them.)

Config.log

the entire saves folder

Things you can try in the meantime

Empty out your Sims inventories (all households you have ever played)

Reduce the amount of objects in your house

Play in a smaller house with less art pieces and stuff lying around

If you over-clocked your computer, check how it goes if you revert that.

Once the freezing occurs, try saving your game (save as), go to your options and back or press M or to go to the world map and back

Lower Graphics settings

If you play with higher resolution than 1920×1080, try lowing to 1920×1080

Go to the Audio settings and remove the check next to Enable Mood Sting

Make sure you fulfill the minimum requirements of the game

Reduce the amount of mods and cc you use

Start a new game (completely shut down the game, then restart it and start a new save game)

Move your Sims to a new game

Why is there no response to my ticket?

While there’s no guarantee that every post receives a response, we regularly review the forums, internal processes, and bug reports with the Quality Verification team. That way, we can sync across the business on what’s happening and what’s most important to our players. But AHQ is not just a tool for our teams! It’s also designed to support players helping players, and, fun fact, The Sims community is one of the most active and engaged on AHQ – so keep up the great work, Simmers! Still, we are here to help, of course, and a support ticket through EA Help is a player’s best friend for getting assistance with issues like account access, purchases, etc.

What personality traits were updated in the last patch?

Bookworm

Bookworm Sims will prefer to choose reading activities autonomously over other Fun actions.

NPC Bookworm Sims will be seen carrying books where possible.

Cheerful

When a Cheerful Sim socializes with a non-Cheerful / non-happy Sim, that Sim has the chance to get a Tense ‘Cheered to Death’ buff.

Cheerful Sims will autonomously try and perk up Gloomy Sims

Negative emotional buffs will decay faster than usual when Cheerful Sims are in a Happy mood.

Cheerful Sims have a greater chance of success with Friendly socials when in a Happy mood.

Clumsy

Clumsy Sims have a chance of failure when engaging in sporting activities like Using a Treadmill, Ice Skating, Snowboarding or Skiing.

Clumsy Sims have a chance of stumbling when walking around – this will elicit a response from nearby Sims.

Clumsy Sims with higher Handiness have a lesser chance of breaking objects.

Clumsy Sims have a small additional chance of breaking certain electronic devices like the Computer, Research Machine, Juice Fizzer, Cupcake Machine, Games Console, Arcade Machine and Popcorn Maker.

Genius

Genius Sims have a chance of a ‘Eureka Moment’ while showering or bathing that gives a small amount of skill for a random skill they already have,

Genius Sims get a new interaction ‘Solve Hard Problems’ that helps them build Logic skill.

Genius Sims get a new idle where they appear to be pondering / solving problems.

Genius Sims will prefer ‘cerebral’ activities like Chess over other more trivial Fun actions.

Gloomy

Gloomy Sims will choose to autonomously Mourn, or act in a gloomy way (like sighing to themselves) more often.

Gloomy Sims will get an Inspired ‘Spectral Influence’ buff when in proximity to Ghosts.

Gloomy Sims get Sad moods prolonged if they see Cheerful Sims doing cheerful things, and also react in disgust.

Gloomy Sims have an increased chance of waking up in a Sad mood.

Glutton

Glutton Sims will autonomously choose to grab snacks more often.

Good

Good Sims get a new interaction ‘Help Out’ that reduces negative mood duration on another Sim in a negative mood.

Good Sims have a lower chance of choosing to do Mean or Mischief actions autonomously.

Good Sims will autonomously choose to react negatively to seeing Mean actions being performed.

Good Sims are more likely to choose to do Friendly actions autonomously.

Goofball

Goofball Sims are more likely to autonomously choose Mischief or prank activities like Prank Toilet.

Hates Children

Asking a Hates Children Sim to ‘Try For Baby’ has no chance of success unless the Sim is Dazed.

Hates Children Sims will get Tense, then Angry around child Sims, and also move away when they get to the Angry stage,

Hates Children Sims will look annoyed when idling in the Tense or Angry buff stages.

Hates Children Sims get a Happy ‘Quiet Environment Child-free Zone’ buff if away from children for a time.

Hot Headed

Hot Headed Sims who get pranked have a greater chance of getting Angry.

Having other Sims Enthuse about things can make Hot Headed Sims Angry.

Hot Headed Sims get Angry if they lose career performance

Hot Headed Sims won’t be targeted by other Sims as for Mischief actions.

Hot Headed Sims get Angry at failed romance attempts (giving or receiving).

Jealous

Jealous Sims get a new interaction “Talk through issues” which gives a chance of a reduced duration of negative Buffs from less serious Jealous buffs

Jealous Sims get a reduction in the duration of less serious Jealous buffs

Jealous Sims are now less sensitive to time spent away from their SO.

Mean

Mean Sims will autonomously laugh at other Sims misfortune.

Mean Sims are more likely to choose to do Mean actions (like Kick Over Trash Can) autonomously.

Neat

Neat Sims are more likely to autonomously choose to do cleaning actions more frequently.

Neat Sims will try and clean things that aren’t dirty autonomously.

Noncommittal

Asking a Noncommittal Sim to ‘Try For Baby’ has a very low chance of success.

Perfectionist

Perfectionist Sims will get an increased chance of Masterclass crafted objects, and will react favorably when they do.

Perfectionist Sims may choose to autonomously repeat some crafting actions (like Painting) numerous times.

Perfectionist Sims who create any Masterwork have a high chance of gaining a Focused ‘In The Zone’ buff which has a chance to increase the quality of another crafting interaction.

If they do achieve a better quality during this buff, they gain an Inspired ‘Focused Payoff’ buff.

Ambitious

Ambitious Sims will autonomously mock Goofball Sims for Goofball actions.

Slob

Slob Sims will autonomously mock Neat Sims for cleaning things.

What’s On Your Mind?

What do you want us to talk about in the next Sims 411? We’d like to know what’s on your mind when it comes to The Sims, what topics you’re interested in, what your concerns are and what you’d like to chat about with us.

On May 6th starting at 6AM Pacific Time, we’ll be welcoming your comments during 24 hours in The Sims Forums. We’ll close the conversation after 24 hours. But don’t worry if you missed the window. You’ll be able to share any additional comments in the next Sims 411 forum thread that will be open before the next Inside Maxis livestream (our team is made of humans, and there’s only so many comments one human can read at a time… ).

Tell us what’s on your mind on May 6th, beginning 6AM PT on The Sims Forums here: https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/989179/sims-411-forum-feedback#latest

Closer to the date, we’ll share the link to the forum thread again on The Sims Twitter account and on The Sims Forums.

We appreciate your understanding that:

This is not a wish list for content requests, but a place where we can listen to your thoughts without distraction.

This is not a guarantee we’ll provide an answer in the next Sims 411, but rest assured that your comment is being read and will be addressed whenever possible.

This is not a place to report bugs, but please continue to report bugs on AHQ.

THE GOLDEN RULE

We’ll only read comments that adhere to our Positive Play guidelines.

GUIDELINES AND RULES

We’ll only read comments that adhere to our Positive Play guidelines and our forum rules – here are some of the most important points when it comes to giving feedback:

Be respectful. We want to hear what you have to say but please be kind and respectful when posting here. Being mean or aggressive as well as cursing and swearing doesn’t help to bring your point across.

Keep it game-related and on topic. As we said before, this is not the place to post a wish list and bugs, or talk about all things The Sims 2 (even if it’s a great title!).

Don’t make things personal. It’s not cool to target other players who may have different opinions or attack SimGurus and other officials. This also means: please no mass taggings.

Don’t bully, troll, bait, or derail the conversation. This is never okay – which should go without saying! If you do this, you will be moderated as per our forum rules.

Don’t spam or flood this thread. Posting the same thing over and over will not get your question into the Sims 411 but it may lead to moderation.

We’re looking forward to your comments on May 6th on The Sims Forums!

Next Patch Sneak Peek

What’s coming

We’re including the updated retro style Large Afro and a new Short Afro into the next patch update. Both hairs will be available for adults, children and toddlers.

We’ll also add six new hair colors in a future patch. In our Inside Maxis livestream on 4/27 we stated the colors will be updated in the next patch. However, the update will not happen in the upcoming but in a future patch instead. We apologize for any confusion.

Last but not least, there will be new Asian eye presets that specifically are intended to bring in more options for east Asian representation. We’ve received some feedback from you about adding more diverse body features in CAS and this is part of our ongoing effort to continue updating the game to bring in more diverse content that allows users to re-create their authentic selves in game. We appreciate your ongoing and passionate engagement to support us in making this game the best it can be!

Our approach

We put a lot of effort into delivering the most authentic design to make sure we create hair and body features that are truthful to representation. We did loads of research and took inspiration from real world examples. But we also talked to a variety of people such as our ERGs (Employee Resource Group) and most importantly, to the Game Changers that consulted us on skintones.

Why is the hair red?

During the development process, we use a lighter color – red or orange – because it’s easier to better see highlights and shadows when designing the hair. Working with darker colors off the bat can be more difficult because noticing the contrast can be tricky. Once we have the hair completed, we translate it into the different colors and adjust the levels from there.

What will it look like?

Take a look at a selection of the concept art below. Please note,these concept arts are work in progress and do not necessarily represent what you’ll see in-game.

Retro Style Large Afro

Six New Hair Colors

New Asian Eye Presets

[insomniziam]

Analysis of the PR Relationship between Liam and Maya

Okay, Liam and Maya made their relationship official in September 2019 through Liam’s Instagram post:

(notice how there are only two points of contact on his behalf, the two fingers on her waist and their foreheads. Doesn’t come off very relationship-y to me. I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this were photo shopped) 

Conveniently, this news came to light a few days after the release of his new single at the time, Stack it Up (shocker, I know). And what did we get? The same thing that happened with Zigi:

Bringing attention to Liam’s new single and of course, the new up and coming model (sound familiar to you at all?)

Maya Henry

But who is Maya Henry? The first real news we ever get about her is due to her father spending a whopping 6 million dollars on her fifteenth birthday party back in 2016 (more on that later). But what does this prove? That her father is incredibly rich, and has no issues spending millions of dollars on a single night if it means getting his name in the papers. He hasn’t just done this with Maya, he spent another 4 million on his son’s 18th and another 4.5 million on his own 56th birthday, and both somehow made headlines (paid promo maybe?)

That’s not even the best part... They tried to do their own Kardashian style reality TV show but it flopped massively. 

(Literally the only place I could find it anywhere was dailymotion...)

They have a Facebook page, but most of the videos have been set to private on YouTube so you can’t watch pretty much anything on the page anyway. There’s probably on average 50 interactions per post (and that’s me being generous).

Maya started her own YouTube channel early 2018, but that didn’t gain any traction either (it’s currently sitting at 16K) and there are no videos on the page at all (I’m pretty sure she’s deleted them off, although I can’t find copies of them any where, probably because no one actually cared to download them).

I will admit, she was doing pretty decently before she was connected to Liam, had even done a few international covers for magazines like Elle Romania and Vogue Ukraine.

But Gigi had walked the New York Fashion runway at the age of 18, a feat Maya herself didn’t seem to be nearing. However, Gigi also has a lot of connections that no doubt helped her gain a following (her “friendship” with the Jenners, as well as her connections with Swift and her mean girl posse). 

(If ya’ll don’t see how this was a publicity stunt, I don’t know what to tell you)

But how does an increase of following help you career wise, isn’t about talent? You may ask, and I would have a hard time not chuckling at the question, because talent has nothing to do with it (Miss Gigi “I’m still learning how to cat walk” Hadid is a testament to that).

As for the answer, an increase in following leads to an increase of fans, which leads to an increased likelihood of more people buying the shit her name is attached to - makeup, accessories, clothing lines ect. - and increased viewership that have her (and her ‘best friends’) starring in. *cough* Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show *cough*. 

But one thing in particular that really stood out, was Gigi’s ‘relationship’ with one Zayn Malik... you see where this is going?

Why Liam?

Now, unlike Zayn, Liam didn’t really have any bad press he needed to distract the general public from. However, he pretty much only had three different talking points in interviews; ‘his son’, Cheryl and One Direction. Those three subjects no one really cared to listen to anymore, because it was the same bullshit over and over again. Enter new (but also extremely old) topic: a new girlfriend!

It gave the papers something new to talk about (although funnily enough, they would always end the article talking about Cheryl and her kid), someone Liam could use to promote himself a little more. So although the benefits were heavily leaning to her side, there still was something in it for Liam, and she had already been linked to him in the past, an easy set up.

Maya’s Age (this is where you’ll either feel really grossed out or extremely pissed, fair warning)

Now this is where shit gets hella shady. According to articles, Maya has been 19 since last year: 

Using the fact that Maya’s 15th birthday was in 2016 as according to this Daily Mail article detailing all the expenses and a little bit of quick math, it’s easy to see that she only turned 19 in February of this year.

Now, your eyebrows might be furrowed right now, and you may be asking why does her age matter?She’s still a legally consenting adult. However according to articles, Liam and Maya had actually met back in 2015 at a One Direction Meet and Greet:

Sound familiar at all?:

This shit has me feeling sick to my stomach (I did give you a fair warning) because this is the second time Liam has been linked in some way to what some could argue somewhat child grooming behaviour. Because not only did he meet her back in 2015, when she was actually 14 despite what the papers are trying to tell you she was 15, he apparently started dating her back in 2018, when she was 17 years old:

Realising their mistake, my guess is that Liam’s team tried their best to have her birthday changed a year earlier, so as to make people think they started dating when she was 18, to make their relationship more acceptable. But the damage had already been done, and when someone made a thread on their twitter pointing out this fact, some absolute idiot decided to use Liam’s twitter to try and discredit them:

Despite the fact that neither Liam or Maya were tagged in the thread, meaning that whoever was behind the keyboard would have had to go searching for it, especially since the thread probably only had a few hundred interactions before, they drew eyes to it. (The tinhat in me wants to believe that this was actually a smart move made by Liam to show people just how shady their relationship is, but I highly doubt that fact considering how creepy it makes him look 😒)

And, because people were smart enough to actually read through the thread, they weren’t buying what whoever was running the account at the time was selling:

It’s not a good look, but I guess any press is good press according to Liam’s team.

Conclusion

Maya and her family are crazy thirsty for attention. They tried to acquire that attention through spending millions of dollars on birthdays parties to gain headlines. Obviously not enough for them, they tried out their own reality TV show which somehow made it to season two before scrapping the whole thing entirely due to low ratings. Maya started a YouTube channel, it didn’t go as well as she hoped and then focused on Modelling full time. However she wasn’t climbing anywhere near as much as she would like, and since her father had no issues paying for celebrities in the past, probably had no issues with paying Liam’s team for him to play boyfriend, and try to recreate a Zigi situation.

Liam’s team saw this as an opportunity for a new subject to be brought up in interviews and headlines and decided to go for it. They fucked up with the age, tried to fix it and just made the situation worse, and hoped eventually everyone would just forget about it.

At least, that’s my best guess