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junypr-camus · 9 months

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Just a good ol’ fashioned girl-hates-government dystopia.

Oh, and mind control.

A CITY WITHOUT BIRDS

GENRE: Science Fiction

SUBGENRES: Dystopia, cyberpunk, hopepunk

THEMES: Found family, change, memories, hope

AUDIENCE: Anyone

P.O.V./TENSE: First person, past tense

Memories can’t be trusted in Seranid. Feisty Terry Silver learns the hard way when she’s forced to flee the utopian City of her childhood, charged with a crime she has no recollection of committing.

Here’s what other people say

“really action packed…. incredibly well written and kept up the pace for the whole book” — Vee Ramage

“I must admit I was totally taken in by Terry and the Professor and the supporting characters.”

“What I like most is that it really takes points from our own flaws in society. The use of the separation between the rich and the poor to cover bigger schemes.”

Interested?

You can find A City Without Birds on Goodreads, and it’s on sale on Amazon.

Or keep reading…

Welcome to Seranid. You’re happy here. Everybody is.

From the ruins of the Pacific Coast rises Seranid, where

“THE CAMERAS AREN’T WATCHING YOU. YOU’RE WATCHING YOURSELF.”

Terry Silver doesn’t know she’s living a lie. She thinks nothing of the status symbol implanted into every Seranidian at birth. She’s unaware of the dissentious thoughts erased from her mind, or the half-truths fed to millions of Seranidians to maintain the paradisial City. Even, of the fact that she may have taken a life. But when the mysterious Professor Camus Remin whisks her from the crosshairs of Seranid’s task force into the Slums, she finds stolen memories — including ones of her long-dead father, and a people trampled by innovation — who call her the Phoenix that will herald the rebirth of the nation. As Terry tries to foment an uprising, she faces more than her own mortality: resurfacing trauma, the deaths of loved ones, and the looming threat of all-out nuclear war. She’s forced to ask herself: what price would you pay for change?

Seranid’s Government rules through division. Knowledge workers: doctors, engineers, teachers, and scientists are kept in the City, a bubble of utopia, while the rest are cast into the Slums, where poverty, disease, and corruption run rampant. Status symbols implanted at birth label Seranidians and feed them propaganda, altering their thoughts and memories to keep them in line. The task force eliminates any remaining rebels.

The Council, the coalition of the six business heads of Seranid, is the guiding force and source of comfort in many Seranidian’s lives. From controlling the weather in the City to providing aid to those in need, they are the sympathetic heart of Seranid. And the driver behind the City’s endless consumerism.

Propoganda

CHARACTERS

Terry Silver: Fatherless and friendless, Terry finds solace in her work: keyboards, droids, and the soldering iron that burned a hole through her cargo pants. Her defiance gets her in trouble when Seranid’s government targets her for something she can’t even remember.

Terry’s first memory | Sketches | Terry’s mirror

Camus Remin: He has a charming smile and a burning passion for physics, but remains a mystery to his students, burdened by past mistakes. He quickly becomes the father Terry never had — but only later does she learn why he saved her.

Quote | Sketch

Marco Luiz: An old friend of Camus and a resident of the Slums, Marco knows the injustices of Seranid’s system firsthand. Both idealist and kind-hearted, he’s quick to sacrifice himself to help those in need — or just cook them some good roast lamb.

OC’s a ten but…

Janette Thornell: Hardened by past failures, the Resistance leader often clashes with Terry. Yet Janette loves those she protects — most of all, Emmy, who knows the secret of her origins.

Janette’s Secret

Emmy Wood: A City surgeon who defected to the Resistance, Emmy is more a scientist than a fighter. But when fate separates her, Camus, Marco and Terry from the rest of the Resistance, the four must learn to fight – and survive – together.

OC’s a ten but…

SETTING

North America, in the distant future…

Three countries share North America: materialistic Seranid on the West Coast, militaristic Leifen in the East, and modest Mirena, caught between the two superpowers. Each has their own way of surviving in this cruel new world, and each has their own flaws.

More Descriptions | Sketches | Leifen | Mirena | Ideals

psst. hey you.

Thank you for making it this far! I got a little secret… I’m planning on making A City Without Birds free for a few days later this year (date undecided). Please reblog/comment if you’d like to be tagged when that happens!

#books on tumblr #indie books #dystopia #bookblr #tbr #books #a city without birds #indie author #authors of tumblr #booklr #sci fi writers #writerscommunity #writing community #writeblr #writers on tumblr #book art #book recs #science fiction #reblog/comment if you would like to be tagged when it's free

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lightleckrereins · 15 days

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I feel like we’re all getting our hopes up about the new costume variations. If they had intended to use orange pants and shorts only for the full run last time (and didn’t bother replacing the pants when something presumably went wrong), I doubt they’re going to have a new variation designed this time. And if Cristina is still going to function as an if-necessary back up (which seems to be implied by ‘alternate swing’) I can’t imagine they’re going to design new alt variations for her. (I know it’s unlikely Zara’s costume is still wearable, but why would they give her the pink costume instead of silver if there wasn’t a practical reason like reusing a costume instead of making a new one?) I want new variations as much as anyone so I’m mostly hoping you can convince me lol

How about a really long answer (under the cut)

I think in this case the most likely scenario is a middle point. No suddenly getting all the missing variations but also no only one costume either.

So first. We know Cristina is pink. She wore pink for the color coded promo shoot for the color coded show. If she was going to wear silver her promo outfit would have been silver.

And costumes will be new. The original costumes are almost five years old, worn, and designs are not up to date. Even for returning cast in the same role they are due for a new costume. Specifically about Cristina she will probably get a new pink costume with only the main variation. I don't think there is any chance she gets an old one refited. There is a small chance she ends up wearing Zara's costume again with the whole alternate swing thing. But I think the most likely scenario is a new costume. All UK alt costumes made since reopening are now their alt stock so those arent free to take to AUS.

And she will have her own costume. It falls in the same category as the alt costumes in the UK or the cruise alt costumes or even the swing variations (when those are made). Some costumes are not expected to be worn many times but that doesn't mean necessary things won't be made.

It is not really fair to compare the situation AUS was in at reopening vs now. Then it was a popular but small show that last time it was active it had to refund months of advance ticket sales because of the pandemic. Now it is the highly anticipated return of a hit show thats selling out months before opening.

Back then money was tight, borders were closed or restricted and there were major supply chain issues. We don't really know the details of their situation but from what we do know they made smart choices. Phoenix got a new costume made with the materials available at the moment (including a different vinyl color). Chelsea got a new top and Chiara a new peplum but otherwise they inherited Courtney and Ella's costumes. Everything else just got minor alterations. Chiara did have the pants and wore them up to tech, my guess is they ended up being uncomfortable for her to wear with no easy alteration to fix them. But she did have two variations to wear which covered all queens so things were left like that. Compare that to what happened in the UK and US. All new costumes in the US, a lot new to take all UK principals to some version of the updated designs, major alterations as necessary for everyone else, many new wigs crowns and hairpieces. Completely different situations.

The new AUS cast is best compared to the Canada opening. New costumes for the entire cast, a lot of work put into hair alternatives in the months leading up to CAN, lower heels introduced. AUS will get the same new and shiny treatment.

With the alt costumes it gets tricky. Everyone is confirmed as swing and announced with an alt color. The easy guess from that is they are getting alt costumes only over principal costumes for two roles and alt costumes for everything else like the UK alts. The costume system is the question.

Back in the good old costume days (read 2019) the alt costume system was, with a few variations, alts get 1-3 costume variations meant for their first covers and wear whatever worked best if they had to go on for second or third covers. The strenght of that system is versatility: one main top with two different bottoms goes a long way with creating different looks that fit each role. Add different sleeves, crowns and hairstyles and they are set.

When the 2019 AUS costume teasers started everyone assumed that would be the case, each alt had two very specific costume variations that accounted for all six queens. They ended up being all swings with no official cover order. But if you look into performance numbers there ended up being an unnoficial cover priority in place (different to what the costumes said tho). I think that will be the case again. No hard cover order but a priority of who goes on for what to play to their strenghts.

And that priority is the most important thing in here. If it is stablished already, which is possible considering Chiara is returning, and Gabriella did a different production already so they know what works best for them, they might go for variations that favor that priority. If not they will probably go for whatever is the most versatile. My current guess is 2-3 variations for everyone except Cristina with whoever is priority Cleves getting the jacket and likely reveal which was mentioned as a possibility in the casting call.

And here is where the fun starts. Multiple black variations have been worn since reopening and without a surprise return of the B/H skirts we know how the uptated black variations look. But for teal and orange nothing has been touched since 2019 except the pants. Even if the AUS swings get just two variations, and even if it is same designs as before just with new materials updates need to happen. And here I start asking questions (because that is how I design alt variations):

Orange Cleves will probably stay mostly the same with added studs for the cutouts, but the shorts have fur. Will they switch that for vinyl to reflect updated cleves and work better for other queens? Will they alter the shoulders to do spikes? How about teal Cleves, the jacket is too plain for current six costume standards. How will the cutouts look? If there is a priority Cleves cover does she have a reveal? And the teal open skirt? There are three potential designs, would it be any of those with more studs or a completely new one? How does a potential orange open skirt look like? Peplum or no peplum? Which cut for Seymour skirts? If there is a priority Boleyn cover does she get that skirt? Teal has two designs already. Is it either of those? Do they add tabs like the ones on the peplum? And orange Boleyn, there are different cutout options. Which wins?

I could go on and on. But my point is. Only alt costumes says its very likely the swings get more than one variation if only to give them a better look range for all six queens. And just making those in 2024 vs 2019 means things have to change to some degree.

#ask #six the musical #six costumes #six alternates #six australia

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neverlearnedtoread · 7 months

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The Dragon Republic

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐; rin making bad decisions like they’re going on sale at the market, arms full of regrets, guilt, mistakes, and self-destructive coping mechanisms: i can fit in one more

Oh?? 👌😉😏

rf kuang gave us an unflinching exploration on the cycles of violence and oppression, dissected the ever-escalating chain of vengeance, and the good good of eastern-inspired mythology?? like ma’am.....the good food im eating at your feast.....ive been so hungry

the lore deserves its own point. it was so effortlessly woven into the story, especially the way it tied into certain characters’ backstories. i can’t say much more because spoilers but if you like integrated worldbuilding and you like chinese-inspired magic systems get over here!!

the friendships. namely rin 🤝 kitay. miss kuang you know what really matters, and its not 10398 handsome men, its one ride-or-die bff holding you back or yeeting you into the midst of battle as needed

grimdark, but not oppressively depressing? im not sure how to describe it..the story gives you enough adrenaline to power through with the sheer speed of reading to find out what happens next, but doesn’t pull its punches. i think its partly that rin herself ploughs through the narrative like she’s trying to outrun the events, giving the reader the momentum to move with her

No.. ❌🤢🤮

i took a screenshot when my friend and i were planning to do a buddy read together. the trigger warnings took up an entire page. do not screw around with this. there’s no shame in tapping out for any book, but especially this one

some characters die, and i specifically blame rin for it. i mean there were a lot of other factors, but in the spirit of the phoenix herself i am choosing to close my eyes to the rationality of working through my feelings of grief in a healthy way and plunge straight into being pissed off about it, forever. *wipes tear* just like rin taught me

did suffer from a bit of middle book syndrome, at least to me. i mean, i finished an 800~ page book in 8 hours of reading time, so maybe don’t believe me, but the first half of the book dragged more than i remember the poppy war did. i will admit a lot of that was because rin was in no position to be a rational, active protagonist. the narrative needed her to flounder, and she did.

Summary: Rin goes unhinged 2: water dragon boogaloo (ive tried and tried to write an actual summary for this book but i don’t think i can top this throwaway line i wrote as a placeholder)

Concept: 💭💭💭💭💭 Where to start? There are historical influences, commentary on social issues and the impact of violence on communities both physical and otherwise, the slow and terrible descent of a beaten-down protagonist. Basically a checklist of stuff I like exploring in high fantasy settings!

This is the second book in a trilogy - spoilers ahead!

Execution: 💥💥💥💥 Rin doesn’t like politics, and I think that made the narrative drag a lot initially as the moving parts tried to be interesting but through Rin’s jaded lens were stripped of their veneer. Kuang was more than ambitious with her sophomore book, and I know that she was open about struggling with the pacing of TDR while she was writing it - still, I think there’s more than something to be said about shooting for the stars! I didn’t think any part of the book dropped the ball, but the nature of all the heavy topics it was trying to handle became a hefty meal to swallow

Personal Enjoyment: ❤❤❤❤ Like I said, I read this book over 3-ish days in 8 hours. The library copy I had said it was 800 pages. I felt as powerful as Rin when I finished. The first half was a little dead in the water (which is a pun, yes, how many damn times did someone fall into the water and nearly drown in this book?? smh) but nothing I couldn’t handle with a little exasperation at Rin’s...*gestures* mental landscape. But when we reached the lore about Su Daji, and the Trifecta, and their chosen gods....i broke into a flat-out sprint. I was naruto-running through the plot.

Favourite Moment: it’s a battle to the death between the scenes with the trifecta backstories and the rin 🤝 kitay scenes

Favourite Character: chaghan, because i loved his backstory so, so, so much....also I didn’t know that handholding scene in the mountains was like. canon. and not fanon. rin really looked homosexuality in the eye and said ‘huh?’ with her whole chest.

#the dragon republic #tdr #the poppy war #rf kuang #books #book review #booklover #bookblr #reading

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diamondcrownacademy · 7 months

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DCA Info Part 6: Idol Performances and Mechanics

The art used is from this post originally posted on August 4th, 2020.

Idol Performances

As mentioned before, Diamond Crown Academy is renowned for its idol performances that are viewed worldwide. On occasion, students go wild with their songs and performances.

It was initially prohibited to display this kind of energy during the school festival. That was the case until Headmistress Citrouille pulled a poll for the two magic schools and most of the votes said "Yes".

Fans now go wild and fanclubs get new members. The merch sales are off the roof and it's just a somehow chaotic outcome. But in a good way. Evonie being the rockstar fan she is, secretly performs rock concerts and uses a mask to hide her identity. Her fans dubbed this rockstar persona of her's "The Masked Maiden" (仮面の乙女). (Phoenix joked that this is similar to the double life of Hannah Montana).

Star Muse

Because the academy is known for the idol performances and competitions a ranking system keeps track of all the students and who is currently the Star Muse of the dorm and academy. In the dorm, the Star Muse has at least three seats, one of which is taken by the dorm leader as they are at the top of their game during performances. The two other seats will have students of that dorm compete so that they can move on to compete with other dorms' Star Muses. The most challenging round of idol competitions have all elected Star Muses to compete against each other to be crowned the top five, Stella Nova. The low ranking idol competitions are kept within the academy while the higher ranking competitions are performed on a venue outside the or a live show held at the academy where civilians can purchase tickets to attend the show.

Stella Nova

The five seats that are reserved for the winners of the top five idols. Stella Nova Muses are awarded a crown with a unique gem attached to it that has an ensemble that is of Premium Rank. The ensemble changes depending on the person who wears the crown, it also has it's own custom wings that are unique to the wearer.

The current top five who occupy the seats are:

Briar - Diamond Crown

Vidya - Topaz Crown

Evonie - Quartz Crown

Cerule - Ruby Crown

Ella - Sapphire Crown

If one of the Star Muse contestants were to beat one of the Stella Nova Muses, the latter muse must give her crown to the winner. The gemstone crowns are ranked by rarity, Diamond as the first seat, Topaz as the second seat, Quartz as the third seat, Ruby as the fourth seat and Sapphire as the fifth seat.

Performing in Groups & Idol Versus Matches

Idols usually face against each other on separate places except they sing the same song. Their score will depend on how many people cheer for them. There is always a camera around the stage, broadcasting their performance to an online audience. The idol with the most number of cheers are declared the winner and are rewarded a styling jewel or points in order to increase idol rank.

Idol Points - These are accumulated points after winning an idol match. As the idol goes up a rank, the more idol points they need to acquire in order to advance, which means participating in a lot of matches.

Cheer Points - These are points gained from audience who watch the performance live or online. The ones who attend the venue of the idol are the base points, the ones online vote for which one they liked better. DCA is able to keep track of the points each student has and has an application that students download on their phone to keep track of their scores.

In an idol group performance, the contestants will be ranked on teamwork, harmony and synchronization. This is much harder since casting illusion appeals takes more practice because it needs to be done by everyone in the team, they lose points if one member is either too early or too late in casting their illusion.

But there are group performances who are there for entertainment in order to build up their likeability to the public, same rule applies to the idols who perform solo.

Idol Groups

Students often form groups but this applies to entertainment performances, the public has a group they favor and will want to keep track off. The group name is registered by the staff by sending a form to fill out, writing down the group name, and who the members are.

The group style is unanimous and must not stray away from the motif of their group name. This is for stabilizing their name in the public and changing styles would create confusion and lessen likeability. Forming a group allows the students to introduce themselves to the public and gain likeability faster so if they were to perform solo or in another group, the fans who favor them will want to vote for them which can be an advantage to win the match.

The student can be a part of more than one group. It's a strategy to gain even more likeability among the public.

List of Idol Groups

Bravery Crest (ブレイバーリクレスト) A trio with a cool princely motif, an aesthetic of empowerment and breaking from the norm.

Members: Allison, Evonie and Vidya.

Butterfly Moon (バタフライムーン) - A duo group who as an elegant vibe, they depict the aura of a woman who is always at the top and paves her own empire.

Members: Evonie (as The Masked Maiden) and Vidya.

Candy Shell (キャンディーシェル) - A duo group who has a rather bright and bubbly vibe to them, showing off the carefree and whimsical world under the sea.

Members: Allison and Cerule

Spring Drop (スプリングドロップ) - A trio who depicts the beauty of the forest with it's simple yet warm atmosphere.

Members: Elu, Perrine and Evonie.

Glass Moon (グラスムーン) - A duo that shows the beauty of maidens who hold a mysterious aura, tempting curiosity.

Members: Ella and Rozeline.

Platinum Queen (プラチナクイーン) - A quartet who have an elegant motif, to show the world the power of a queen.

Members: Vidya, Briar, Cerule and Jinlong.

Passion Festa (パッションフェスタ) - A duo who has a cultural vibe that shows the different cultures coming together to create a unification.

Members: Jinlong and Perrine.

Baroque Rose (バロックローズ) - A trio with a dark gothic motif, displaying an alluring yet sorrowful performance.

Members: Rozeline, Briar and Evonie.

Idol Mechanics

At the start of school, there are at least 4 months to prepare for the beginner debuts. This is only held in the school and is not broadcasted, this is to scope out the abilities of the freshmen as upcoming idols.

The freshmen are given enough time to choose their outfits from the starting brand and time to rehearse using already made songs.

Passing would allow them to be moved to a training class for idols and magic for their actual debut.

Those who fail are given a chance to try again in another 4 months or they can choose another role to help out in the idol performances through either writing songs, making outfits or even stage prep.

Students who pass the beginner debuts are given 4 months to train themselves for their proper debuts. They can go solo only if the teachers think their abilities are up for it, but mostly it is kept in groups of 3-5. This is broadcasted in a special venue where there are many cameras filming the students for the world to see.

The studies aren't too straining for the students to keep up with idol work as it all relates to magic training.

First years are limited to using the beginner brand until they reach second year. That is when they get to either pick from the available brands or establish a new brand.

In their second year, the students have the choice to form an idol group or go solo in the upcoming performances they will be chosen to perform at. The staff will inform the chosen students ahead of time of the venue, whether it be solo or a group.

The performances are spread throughout different kingdoms with approval from the authority managing the area the school wants to perform in.

This is to showcase the student's capability in magic so they may be scouted in the future, as well as promote their academy to increase favorability among the masses.

Forming Idol Groups

Idol groups can either have permanent members that last until graduation or have members that alternate in different idol groups.

What's special about the idol groups is that each idol's preferred brand would collaborate to make ensembles exclusive for that idol group.

But of course, the process of forming a group is tricky, because students aren't paired with the people they want.

You have to go through measuring your synchronization with others, this is done through a simple vocalization class where a large group of students who wish to form groups would harmonize in one room.

The students are given enchanted music sheets that measure their vocal compatibility. The names of the people in the room would also be on the music sheet and after the exercise, compatibility percentages would appear beside the names.

They would then group up with those whose compatibility percentages are closer to their own.

An Idol's Regalia

"Regalia" is what you refer to an idol's aura that appears if the idol has full concentration of magic as well as focus on rhythm.

This is a spell taught to the DCA students very early on and what they will train on mastering during their idol rehearsals. It was said to be used to cloak a certain area with illusions to avoid any enemies from trying to invade, or so they heard.

It can be difficult to pull off for first timers and even difficult to maintain throughout the performance. It can be stabilized with another idol's Regalia, hence why some would start off as groups.

Solo idols are considered veterans when it comes to summoning their Regalia. Most dorm leaders can do a solo performance, though there was no shame in a dorm leader wanting to perform in a group more often.

The Regalia appears like a large crown overhead the idol, below the crown is a "Curtain" that contains an illusion magic that changes the environment within its radius.

Above the crown is the idol's "Symbol", it can take the form of anything that represents the idol.

Think of it as parts of a Merry Go Round. The top part is the Crown, the middle where the rides are is the curtain where the illusion effects are and the bottom is the radius.

Each idol has a different Regalia which makes it a delight to the audience on what each one would look like everytime new students would perform.

Hybrid & Themed Regalia

A Regalia can merge with another idol's, creating a "Hybrid" of the crowns along with the symbols and curtains.

This is a bit tricky as the group needs to have the same endurance. If one of the idol gets too tired to keep up the Regalia then only that idol's Regalia would fade from the group while the others remain.

However, to create a Regalia that is completely different to their own is an incredibly difficult feat.

Only the highly skilled would be able to cast this.

An example would be a "Themed Regalia" that the group would have to imagine and synchronize in order to manifest it.

Trying to guess what your group mates are imagining is the hard part as well as the focus to keep the spell up during the performance.

Starting idol groups would only appear with their own Regalias and won't merge at first.

Then with a little more training they can merge the Regalia designs during a group performance. When the group is in perfect sync they can accomplish summoning a Themed Regalia.

The size of the Regalia can also depict the idol's current magical capabilities. The student can increase the radius with enough training and focus.

Small radius means you are a beginner, the bigger the radius is then it shows how far your capabilities are.

If a Regalia disappears somewhere along the song then it's a sign that the idol is nearing exhaustion of their magic and their body is subconsciously trying to prevent any more stress.

Warning: A student is NOT allowed to resummon their Regalia if it disappears, Regalia uses up magic and accumulates blot like any other magic.

DCA Students' Regalia

🍎 Evonie

- Crown: Curled branches of a tree decorated in leaf-shaped gemstones

- Symbol: A bright apple-shaped gem with blue birds flying over it

- Curtain: A shower of white flowers

🖤 Masked Maiden (Evonie's Idol Persona)

- Crown: Black tiara that looks like a cage

- Symbol: A raven on top of a red heart

- Curtain: Black feathers and red smoke

👠 Ella

- Crown: White pumpkin vines with stars

- Symbol: A mini castle

- Curtain: Glitter and blue flowers

🐰 Allison

- Crown: Ring of sweets that are shaped like card suits

- Symbol: White rabbit in a teacup boat

- Curtain: Silhouette of Alice in a caucus race

🌹 Briar

- Crown: Green rose vines with stained-glass roses

- Symbol: Three colored roses (Red, Blue and Green)

- Curtain: Rose petal shower

🐠 Cerule

- Crown: Lines that form waves with pearls decorating the sides

- Symbol: Open shell depicting Ariel's silhouette

- Curtain: Faint illusions of the waves with fishes splashing around

📚 Rozeline

- Crown: Black thorns wrapped around an iron gate

- Symbol: Caged rose

- Curtain: Floating candles that glow a gold hue

🏝️ Vidya

- Crown: Ring of towers resembling the ones of Agrabah's palace with clouds surrounding the ring

- Symbol: A crescent moon that shines like a gem

- Curtain: Shower of gemstones

🐲 Jinlong

- Crown: Chinese lanterns and silk

- Symbol: Dragon circling around a jade crystal

- Curtain: Small ember sparks

🍂 Elu

- Crown: Leaf ring with wings

- Symbol: Four arrows mimicking a compass

- Curtain: Illusion of a forest

🐸 Perrine

- Crown: Flower ring with musical notes

- Symbol: Dancing frogs on a lily pad

- Curtain: Fireflies hovering in a ring

👑 Darling

- Crown: White and blue feathers in a ring

- Symbol: A swan encased in a crown

- Curtain: Illusions of ducklings in a tutu twirling around

🗝️ Maddison

- Crown: Dark green heart-shaped hedges with dark pink roses

- Symbol: Bleeding gem heart with a sword in it

- Curtain: Shadows of a sharp-toothed grin

#DCA info #general information #diamond crown academy

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lookingupatthesamemoon · 5 months

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janAUary #1 - grocery store

pairing: Bonnie x Willy Wonka (2023)

summary: Willy becomes quite the regular customer at Bonnie's grocery store

word count: 1154

author's note: this was very much just a warm-up style drabble !!! just flexing the muscles - not my best work, but fun to write :) divider is from @/yaynowimglad

Bonnie was used to slow days. She had only been in charge for a couple years, but she could probably count the customers she had seen in her time as the owner on just her two hands. Her grandmother had left it to her in the will, and she had worked there since she was a teenager - come to think of it, it had always been pretty slow.

Of course, Bonnie’s store, The Concoctor's Cabinet, didn’t sell just milk and eggs and bread. She sold things far more interesting - like liquified sun rays and phoenix feathers. The handmade shelves were chock full of jars of some of the rarest ingredients found all around the world. She would’ve thought all the rich freaks in this part of Europe would be chomping at the bit to get their hands on stuff like this - where else around here could you find literal lightning in a bottle? But it apparently wasn’t interesting enough for more than a single novelty visit for many back when the place first opened… While her grandmother was still alive.

So, naturally, on a random Tuesday in the early days of winter, Bonnie expected not to see a single soul during her work day. That is, until she saw a frail young man barrel in the door. She watched him from the counter for a moment before greeting him, taking note of his mannerisms. He looked… Different. Nothing like the customers she’d seen in the past. Not much like her other regulars, either, come to think of it. His clothes were brighter, albeit a little dirty, and he wore a brown top hat over his tousled hair. She almost wanted to laugh, until he looked up and met her eyes.

“Good afternoon,” she stammered. “Can I help you find anything in particular?”

The man smiled, removing his hat and placing it under his arm. “As a matter of fact, you can. I was told I might be able to find some griffin tooth here?”

“Oh! Absolutely, let me take you to it,” Bonnie replied, leaving her post to lead the way. Surely she could have simply pointed to the shelf, seeing as the shop wasn’t exactly big, but customer engagement was important to her - after all, for all she knew, a personalized shopping experience could be the difference between a lifetime regular and a one-time novelty shopper. The two took a short walk over to the right corner of the store, where all the gold products were - Bonnie liked to organize them by color, she thought it made things look prettier.

“Okay, owl feather, pot of gold, golem gear… Ah! Griffin tooth! How much were you looking to get?”

“Well, how much you got?”

“It looks like… About four jars.”

“I’ll take ‘em all,” the man beamed. “I mean, it’s a miracle I was even able to find any… Thank you.”

“Of course! You’re very welcome, mister…”

“Wonka,” he said, filling in the blank. “Willy Wonka.”

“Well, Mr. Wonka, you are very welcome,” Bonnie repeated.

“Please, call me Willy,” the man insisted.

“Was Mr. Wonka your father?” Bonnie asked, attempting to joke with him as they made their way back to the checkout counter.

“No, I don’t know my father’s name, actually,” Willy responded.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he grinned.

Bonnie’s face tinted pink as she took her place behind the counter, setting herself up to make the sale. All the while, Willy kept his eyes on her, watching as she typed away on her system. She looked to be about his age, which was wonderful news for Willy for a multitude of reasons. For one, it gave him hope for his own business venture - if Bonnie could run a shop like this, surely he could make it with his chocolate shop. It also gave him hope that maybe, just maybe, he could finally find a friend his own age in her. For much of his life, Willy really only knew people older than him - well, Noodle being the exception. But, on the boat, all of his coworkers were a bit older, and his new friends from Scrubbit's were all a bit older, and even much of his customer base proved to be at least a few years older than he was. He felt like he was so far behind them - maybe someone like Bonnie could help him catch up.

“Okay, so… four jars of griffin tooth… That comes to twelve sovereigns!” Bonnie said cheerfully, breaking him out of his thoughts.

“Really?” Willy asked, tilting his head to the side. “Just… Just twelve sovereigns?”

“Sure,” Bonnie shrugged. “Three sovereigns per jar, four jars… That makes twelve sovereigns.”

Willy looked at her bewildered, his expression suggesting some kind of boyish glee. Bonnie’s blush surely got darker, though she couldn’t tell considering her cheeks had been a little hot since he walked through the door.

“I don’t think I’ve ever found griffin tooth at that kind of price before,” Willy said. “I mean, I almost feel like I’m stealing from you. You’re sure that’s all I owe you?”

“Positive,” Bonnie nodded. “My grandmother always wanted to keep the prices reasonable - she always said everyone deserved the finest goods at the fairest price.”

“Well, your grandmother sounds like she was a wise woman.”

“Yeah, she was,” Bonnie replied, grinning to herself.

She finished ringing up the sale, putting the twelve sovereigns in her register, then gently wrapping up each jar. Her packaging was something she prided herself on, and as she stealthily glanced up at Willy, she could tell he was a fan of it too.

“I like that paper you’re using, it’s pretty,” he mused, his eyes fixated on the burgundy striped paper curling around the jar in Bonnie's hands.

“Thanks,” she smiled. “Gotta keep the jars safe, you know? I don’t want them to break and make a mess in the bag.”

“Well, I appreciate the gesture. Not too many shop owners around here seem to put in the level of care you do. I mean, even down to the decor… I can tell there’s a lot of love in this place. I can only hope my shop can feel a fraction as nice as this.”

“You have a shop?” Bonnie asked, raising an eyebrow as she slid the bag of griffin tooth closer to him.

“I do! Wonka’s Chocolate Shop, down at the Gallery Gourmet.”

“Chocolate… Is that what you need all this griffin tooth for?”

“Sure is! Not all at once, of course, but it never hurts to have a little extra… You should come by! I’ll let you taste test the batch I use your ingredients for.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Bonnie said, offering a nod and a smile.

Willy put his hat back on, tipping it to her as he picked up the bag and headed for the door. “Bonnie was it?”

“Yep, that’s me!”

“I will definitely be back.”

#rye writes !#janauary2024 #ship: sugar rush #self ship #self shipping

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untilteddocument · 1 year

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So I've Been Thinking About: Potion Craft - Alchemist Simulator

Welcome once again to So I've Been Thinking About, a journal series where I talk about things I find interesting or appealing about various pieces of media, often video games. This time, I'll be talking about Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator from niceplay games, which came out very recently!

They Really Mean Craft

This is going to be pretty low-intensity, in large part because the game itself is much lighter and low-key than, say, Phoenix Point, but this is by no means a sign of any vapidity.

What really draws me to Potion Craft is its command of the sense of place. The music is unobtrusive and pleasant. The art style is of course a nice remix/facsimile of old medieval illustrations, easy to parse while retaining the feel.

It's all pretty calming, even meditative as you craft your potions, and on that front the game really does a bang-up job of giving you a satisfying sense of tactility with its system. The mortar and pestle's sounds are perfect as you grind up the various ingredients and drop them in the cauldron.

The stirring and ladling to set or correct your ingredients' path along the map feels almost perfectly weighted to your mouse movement.

Working the bellows to bring it to a boil to lock in the effect gives you a satisfying foom as the fire comes to life.

Another thing that makes the game so interesting is the granularity of making the potions. Grinding up ingredients, especially the rarer ones, often has them follow a convoluted path, sometimes even doubling back on themselves. However, you're able to grind partially, up until they hit the spot you want them to stop at. Likewise, you can finesse stirring and ladling to get to the perfect spot, or as close as you can manage. It doesn't feel finicky, at least for me, but rather like you're...an alchemist, using a steady hand and keen senses to fine-tune your brew.

Side Note

Being that they're both games centered around making potions, I feel like comparisons almost have to be drawn between this game and Potionomics, which released earlier this year, though honestly the two games couldn't be further apart given their shared premise. I don't have it, but I've watched Potionomics gameplay, at least enough to get a sense of the loop, and the distinction is this:

Potion Craft is a game where you make potions. Potionomics is a game where you run a store.

The latter game focuses more on the haggling and sales pitch, with the potions almost shoved into the background in favor of how you can make those potions appeal to your customers. The appeal lies in the emotions expressed by your character and the people she interacts with. The former, meantime, is very much about the actual creation of the potions, which each one being the answer to its own puzzle, while the haggling is pretty abstracted. Neither game is the worse for it, of course; they each follow their respective styles, and are good examples of each.

Spicing It Up

If there's one thing I feel Potion Craft is lacking (aside from an in-game Potion Seller joke; one of the achievements does deliver, though), it's a specific type of sensory feedback that would really contribute to the game's sense of place.

Smell.

Imagine if grinding up terraria root punctuated that woody rustling and the clink of stone against stone with a shot of earthy bitterness. Imagine the scents of a firebell-heavy concoction shifting from dry and papery to sharp peppery heat as you stir. Imagine the acrid cocktail that gets released when you need to turn to the stink mushrooms. There's so much the game already does to give you the sense that You Are Making Potions, and I feel like that would complete the picture in a marvelous way.

...Aside from...y'know...how impractical it is to have some kind of proprietary computer-coordinated odor profile peripheral with your digital distribution game.

Still, you could probably get enough out of lighting some incense while you play.

My Potions Can Do Anything That You Can

Like I said, kind of light, and certainly less meaty than some, but the game is a treat, and I love how it's chosen to try and draw the player in.

Oh yeah also Geralt's in the game, sort of?

#potion craft #So I've Been Thinking About

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recentlyheardcom · 8 months

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‘I wouldn’t touch [them] with anybody’s money’: Grant Cardone argues these two major US cities are some of 'the worst markets to be in right now' for real estate investors — here's whyProlific real estate investor Grant Cardone has singled out two U.S. property markets he wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole: Austin and Seattle.Cardone shared this hot take — and many others — in an interview with Moneywise after he prompted an AI chatbot to answer the question: “What are the 10 best markets for investing in rental real estate in America?”Don't missThe AI Smith response started with: “The best markets for investing in real estate in America can vary depending on factors such as population growth, job opportunities, rental demand, affordability and potential rental income.”Up until that point, Cardone — who performed the task live on camera — was pretty happy with the response. But when the AI listed Austin, Texas, as the best market for investing in real estate, the investment guru blew up.“Austin, Texas is one of the worst markets to be in right now,” he exclaimed. “Of all the markets in America, it’s probably the most overbuilt.”Here’s why an overbuilt property market is bad for real estate investors — and how you can still invest without taking on all the risk yourself.Overbuilt property marketsThe top 10 American cities for investing in real estate AI Smith listed for Cardone are: Austin (TX), Dallas (TX), Nashville (TN), Atlanta (GA), Raleigh (NC), Phoenix (AZ), Tampa (FLA), Denver (CO), Charlotte (NC), Seattle (WA).But he wasn’t happy with that response.“Those [top] four markets are all on the top five list of the most overbuilt markets,” he said, suggesting that AI chatbots sometimes give out-of-date information and require fact-checking.Story continues“Real estate is a very fluid thing.”Cardone didn’t give a source for his “most overbuilt markets” claim but a report earlier this year by Redfin also listed Austin, Seattle and Denver among the fastest cooling property markets.That being said, it's important to always take advice from such financial experts with a grain of salt. Cardone has been the subject of litigation in recent years over allegations of misleading investors.He has denied the allegations, writing on LinkedIn it's a “tragedy our system is so litigious and people are encouraged to sue others in order to hold a company doing great things hostage.”Here's a deeper dive on these "overbuilt markets" and what it might mean for aspiring investors.Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate — without the headache of being a landlord. Here's howWhat’s wrong with Austin and Seattle?Austin was one of the boomtowns of the pandemic. It soared in popularity in 2021 and early 2022, with out-of-town remote workers moving there to take advantage of the historically low mortgage rates.However, the capital of the Lone Star State is now experiencing the quiet after the storm. While it has remained "resilient" in the face of challenges like rising interest rates, home sales and the median price of a home both fell in the first half of 2023. And, according to Norada Real Estate Investments, researchers consider Austin to be among the most overvalued markets in the United States, with home buyers paying almost 51% more than what's expected for homes.Redfin has described Austin as “a victim of its own popularity.” The surge of affluent home buyers during the pandemic pushed up property prices, and then the rapid rise in mortgage rates priced people out of the market, leading to a drop in demand.Meanwhile, Cardone said he “wouldn’t touch Seattle with anybody’s money.”The Emerald City has suffered a major blow to its job market. A huge surge in tech layoffs in the wake of the pandemic — similar to that experienced in San Francisco — has shaken the Seattle economy and has resulted in a drop off in home buying demand and competition.As of September, the number of homes sold in Seattle fell 17.

2% year-over-year, according to Redfin, and home prices were down 4.6%. And homes are lingering on the market for longer, too, for an average of 29 days — a 9.5% increase year-over-year, according to Rocket Homes.What this means for real estate investorsWhen a property market is overbuilt — whether housing or commercial properties — this can lead to an excess supply, which can drive down property values.As a real estate investor, this supply and demand imbalance can reduce your rental income (and potentially make it harder to find suitable tenants) and it could even lead to diminished profit margins.Overbuilt markets also tend to see an uptick in vacancy rates — like we’ve seen in the office sector in saturated markets like New York City — which can cause financial difficulties for investors, who must keep up with mortgage payments, maintenance fees and other costs.If the hassles associated with picking the right market, buying a property and becoming a landlord don’t appeal to you, but you’re still interested in real estate investments, there are other options.You can invest in a residential real estate investment trust (REIT), which are publicly-traded companies that collect rent from tenants and pass that rent to shareholders in the form of regular dividend payments.You may also consider crowdfunding platforms that allow everyday investors to pool their money to purchase property (or a share of property) as a group.What to read nextThis article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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ranchrealty · 9 months

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Reasons To Hire a Realtor For Buying Houses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ

Moving to a new state can be extremely challenging. Trying to find one’s way proves to be equally difficult. Finding accommodation is the most challenging situation that awaits a new entrant to Arizona. It certainly helps to inquire well in advance and then decide to rent a home or invest in property. It is interesting to know that Arizona is indeed alluring, and many people are eager to settle in this state by moving into a self-owned home. The property market conditions are encouraging, with the available facilities being as per the need. Dropping in when there is an open house event in progress is the ideal way to locate the right property, though. Instead, it is essential to connect with a professional and then try to find suitable houses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ. Negotiating the terms is not the only way to clinch a deal, however. The investor must consider the following points before deciding whether the said home is going to be a good choice:

· Finances- It is vital to prioritize finances. The price plays a huge role in purchasing a property, but it is not the only aspect one must check. Getting the finances in order is an essential part before going ahead and looking at properties in the selected neighborhood. Assessing the credit score is a must, as this determines the loan availability required to invest in a home. The associated costs, including down payment, mortgage rate, and closing costs, must be calculated before agreeing to buy the chosen house.

· Realtor- Teaming up with a local real estate agent or a company can make the procedure simpler and cost-effective at the same time. Sure, many companies operate across the country, but only a local realtor would be able to provide detailed information when faced with specific queries. Most of them will be well-versed in local market trends and upcoming neighborhoods that are in demand. Moreover, such realtors can assist with the negotiation as well.

· Touring Houses- It is necessary to check out the home for sale. Some may participate in an open house event, but many homeowners prefer discretion too. The prospective buyer can tour the home with the realtor and check the rooms, water system, construction, and storage space. The seller is likely to be available to take questions from the buyer most of the time. One may make the final decision once the needs are met perfectly. There is no reason to finalize the first house, though. The real estate agent would happily set up more tours until a deal is made.

· Offer- Admittedly, the property would be listed with the for sale tag before being included in directories. The price is sure to be displayed as well. It is important to remember that the initial price is not the final one. On the contrary, the buyer and seller may negotiate avidly and meet halfway to clinch the deal.

There are varied types of houses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ. A buyer must consider several factors and consider properties that meet the requirements.

#houses in Phoenix and Scottsdale #AZ

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mattved · 3 years

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Kanban

Kanban is now well known in IT management of large corporations. Where did it come from? Who popularized it? And what is the best software to make IT work for you?

It has lately been a big hit in IT - both development and operations.

What is a Kanban?

First of all, do not call it kanban board - it comes from 看 "Watch over" 板 "board" - and you do not want to be the person who types their Personal Identification Number number in an Automatic Teller Machine machine.

In its native field of manufacturing, Kanban boards serve as a visual aid in materials release and workforce management. In a large blackboard-like layout, cards are arranged for the floor manager and those concerned with medium-term management get a clear information on production factor volumes held in each stage of manufacturing process.

Often color-coded by delivery date, contract, or intermediate products sub-step, the cards go into pockets arranged in columns. These represent stations, which may range in size - from a workbench to an assembly line to external facilities.

Additional ways to divide the board exist. One example is horizontal division into green, yellow, and red sections between load thresholds. There may be lines splitting to-do, in-progress, and done batches for purposes of floor logistics. Some companies bring in more than just that - sticky buttons, date indicators, even electronic components such as barcode scanners and RFID tags for data aggregation.

The specific use may also vary from station to station - assembly may be waiting for multiple specific cards in a row to begin work on a batch, stations using smaller parts may store them directly inside Kanban bin rack. Materials will organize their board in a weekly layout, foremen will use them for monthly rota, shift managers for even distribution throughout the day, sales may even need to work on quarterly basis to assign lead times.

With all this, the plant manager and their superiors could get all the information they need from a single view - either from the balcony, using an optional binocular, or from the less tangible but handy on-line dashboard.

Kanban in IT

How is this applicable in IT, though? With the field's importance growing, there was a need to rid it of its reputation throughout the corporate world. People had long seen it as the factor slowing them down.

"My company PC is slow, why can I not just use my own?"

"it is connecting to what?!"

"A week? Am supposed to just sit here and pick my nose?"

"Yeah, IT fucked up again, take out pen and paper."

There are many approaches, dusting off the good old manufacturing principles being one of them. In an almost religious way, a fairly recent IT management novel – The Phoenix Project – recounts them and highlights those that do apply to IT Operations with a sequel doing the same for software development.

Written in a tone of Eliyahu Moshe Goldratt's excellent piece on operations management -- The Goal -- it introduces a character of an "unconcerned" advisor. In this case, he is not as distant to the matter but appears on the main set, forcing the protagonist to observe their own company's manufacturing division.

And through these elementary observation, authors make it stand out. They explain how IT operations can structure tasks by type into infrastructure, user hardware, and software, by urgency, frequency, responsible teams, and finally steps. And that while being overly optimistic about Kanban.

The Phoenix Project Critique

Firstly, we've seen solutions to the matter in business IT ages ago in form of ticketing systems as well as project management suites. While the book is aware of both, they point at how difficult these are to follow. Company employees get access to them and slap them with overload of issues, tickets, feature requests, and cries for help. There always needs to be somebody to filter these, shielding their team from redundant or unnecessary workload. Ask for approval where it is needed, store the ticket in appropriate area, and finally assign the correct person to deal with them. And that is where it gets could get difficult.

Kanban is a pretty way to see who is busy with what and how much they can promise given the constraints. Showing this to the manager will shut them up for a while, maybe even make them understand how overloaded this business critical department is at any point.

The operations/project/product manager will also happily work with them - they can make tasks, break them down, split between teams, set deadlines and so on. Provided they have a 4K screen, there may even be enough space for them to see the whole thing.

For the developer, nowadays tied to their screen, it is not as great. With multiple columns showing up on the screen and limited width for some meaningful description of often difficult task, good 70% of the screen area becomes useless.

I may be happy to know that there are tasks coming once a prerequisite is complete but why waste an entire column with it where an expandable list with a counter would do? Upcoming tasks need work-hour estimates and have deadlines I need to track - both will do better in a simple orderable table. Backlog is not really a category for me, it's still a to-do. And completed tasks are great to check on to understand my impact but never helpful if they make my window horizontally scrollable.

The Ideal Kanban Software

Atlassian does have an okay environment in Jira but overloads it with a bit too many features I should be allowed to hide. Trello, Jira's sibling targeted at start-ups, takes the flashy stuff from her but only allows one task to be viewed at a time and does not really allow for the contingency we would love. Through the very open API, we can at least bring the relevant bits out but is it worth the time? And money?

Wekan does the same with an open-source license and a little better interface but still doesn't cut it for more complex operations with many details.

For a very similar yet more barebones solution, check out KanBoard. Being an open-source PHP project, it is very hackable on top of the great deal of ready-made plugins. It even allows toggling away from kanban view to a list-mode!

For a more user-friendly open-source, take a look at taiga.io. It also offers views on the tasks and allows filtering using all attributes. There is also a collapsed Kanban mode for top-level overview, native zoom, dynamic sectioning, sense of contingency and time-management features. And a half-assed git integration.

Step aside from kanban-first apps, Asana may come handy for teams more concerned with business operations. One can toggle Gantt view, visualize dependencies and write-up on tasks. Progress reports are more clear. Ironically, working in it gets time-consuming and it won't satisfy the technical needs of an IT department. It integrates well, sure, but is it worth the money?

For less support-oriented purposes, Notion is a great pick, bringing together task management with knowledge base, scheduling, and even allows for some custom table-form based micro apps.

Finally, there is the recently fallen big brother to them all - Phabricator by Phacility. It was an end-to-end solution for product-oriented companies in ITs with a great potential outside IT. Unfortunately, it is now, for whatever the reason is, gone.

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rishi8759 · 11 months

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Shop Smarter, Shop Easier: Unlock the Power of Phoenix Nhance, the Game-Changing Ultimate Shopping Mall App for Mall Enthusiasts

In today's fast-paced world, technology has revolutionized the way we shop. With the advent of smartphones, mobile applications have become an integral part of our shopping experience. One such groundbreaking app that is revolutionizing the way we navigate through shopping malls is Phoenix Nhance. This ultimate shopping mall app is designed to enhance the shopping experience for mall enthusiasts, offering a range of features and benefits that make shopping smarter and easier than ever before. Seamless Navigation: The Phoenix Nhance app acts as a virtual guide, seamlessly navigating users through vast area of Phoenix Malls with ease. Say goodbye to the days of wandering aimlessly, searching for your favorite stores. With the app's advanced indoor navigation system, you can effortlessly find the stores, restaurants, and facilities you're looking for, ensuring you never miss out on the best shopping opportunities. Rewards Galore:

Phoenix Nhance app is like genie but only with endless wishes. Other than many other benefits, it rewards shoppers every time they shop or dine at the mall. Every shopping or dining bill scanned on the Phoenix Nhance app leads to Phoenix Points added to the user’s account. These Phoenix Points can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards including exciting brand vouchers. Real-Time Promotions and Offers: With Phoenix Nhance, you'll never miss out on the latest promotions and offers from your favorite stores. The app provides real-time updates on exclusive deals, discounts, and limited-time offers, ensuring you're always in the know. Whether it's a flash sale, a special promotion, or a new product launch, Phoenix Nhance keeps you informed and helps you make the most of your shopping experience. Power of Pre-booking Long queues at popular stores or restaurants can be a significant inconvenience. However, Phoenix Nhance offers a solution with its reservation feature. With just a few taps on your phone, you can book your spot eliminating the need to physically wait in line. Additionally, you can make reservations at restaurants, ensuring you have a table waiting for you upon arrival. This feature saves time, enhances convenience, and provides a seamless shopping experience. Conclusion: Phoenix Nhance is transforming the way mall enthusiasts' shop, offering a comprehensive range of features and benefits that streamline the shopping experience. From seamless navigation and personalized recommendations to real-time promotions and interactive store directories, this game-changing app empowers shoppers to shop smarter and easier. With Phoenix Nhance, the power to unlock an enhanced shopping experience is right at your fingertips. Download the app today and revolutionize the way you shop!

#Lifestyle App #Fashion App #Shopping Mall App #Luxury App #Rewards App

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thetoxicgamer · 1 year

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Crowdfunding website Fig is no more

The crowdfunding website Fig for video games, which supported the creation of titles like Psychonauts 2 and Homeworld 3, is no longer accessible. As reported by RPS, the news was shared by Double Fine and Blackbird Interactive, who issued updates shortly before the website's shutdown. "We've been informed that the Fig website is going to be brought offline on Sunday, May 28th," wrote Double Fine's community manager Harper Jay on the Psychonauts 2 Fig page, adding "that means we're going to have to shift our communications to a different hub." Likewise, Homeworld 3's publisher Gearbox published a similar post on its official website, stating "We are committed to continuing to provide you with consistent updates and visibility into Homeworld 3 through alternative channels." It appears both studios were given little warning about Fig's imminent shutdown. Jay notes in their update that the revelation was "a bit of a surprise to us too!" while Gearbox's post states that the company "recognize that this news is sudden". Regarding outstanding backer rewards, both studios reassured Fig backers that they would be contacted about these by email. Originally launched in 2015, Fig's prominence as a crowdfunding platform rose alongside the announcement of Psychonauts 2. It was selected as the platform for the game's crowdfunding campaign in favour of Kickstarter, which developer Double Fine used for its previous game Broken Age. Unlike Kickstarter, Fig allowed some users to invest in projects and receive a share of future revenue. Double Fine's CEO Tim Schafer was also on the Fig board, alongside other notable game developers such as Brian Fargo and Cliff Bleszinski. It was an idea that bore some fruit. The first game published on Fig, Kingdoms and Castles, quickly made a million dollars in sales and doubled the return for its investors. Other notable games to use Fig included Wasteland 3, Outer Wilds, Pillars of Eternity 2, and Phoenix Point. Larger events affected some of Fig's more high profile projects, however. Double Fine's acquisition by Microsoft changed the payout to investors from being contingent on game sales to a fixed payment. This was higher than the initial promised payout, but was also a one-time affair. In 2021, Gearbox announced that it wouldn't be collecting reserved investments, due to the company's acquisition by Embracer Group. Fig itself was acquired by Republic in 2020. According to the platform's website Republic "curates private investing opportunities with high-growth potential across startups, gaming, real estate, and crypto". It's worth noting Republic had previously announced the Fig website would be closing, although no date had been specified. Ongoing campaigns will also not be affected by the shutdown of Fig, and have already been moved to Republic's own funding system. Read the full article

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trendytechreviews · 1 year

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Independent Software Vendors Market – Global Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028

Companies desiring an efficient business growth should adopt market research report like Global Independent Software Vendors Market which seems to be very imperative in this rapidly changing marketplace. While formulating this market report, absolute industry insight, talent solutions, practical solutions and use of technology are merged together very well to advance user experience. The business report brings to notice many points regarding Independent Software Vendors industry and market. These are mainly explained with respect to market definition, market segmentation, competitive analysis, and research methodology as major topics of the consistent Independent Software Vendors report. It also gives details about market drivers and market restraints which aids businesses in guessing about reducing or increasing the production of specific product.

A thorough market study and investigation of trends in consumer and supply chain dynamics covered in the wide-reaching Independent Software Vendors market report helps businesses draw the strategies about sales, marketing, and promotion. Besides, market research performed in this industry report puts a light on the challenges, market structures, opportunities, driving forces, and competitive landscape for the business. It assists in obtaining an extreme sense of evolving industry movements before competitors. If businesses are willing to gain competitive advantage in this swiftly transforming marketplace, then opting for such market research report is highly suggested as it gives a lot of benefits for a thriving business.

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IBM, Google, VMware, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Microsoft, Salesforce, ASG Africa, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Oracle, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP, Phoenix Software International, Inc., ServiceNow, Inc., Virtusa corp., Red Hat, Inc., Numerical Algorithms Group Ltd., Magic Software Enterprises, KELLTON TECH, Barnard Software, Inc., Wipro Limited and Accenture among other domestic and global players..

This report also comprises of strategic profiling of key players in the market, systematic analysis of their core competencies, and draws a competitive landscape for the market. This research study lends a hand to the purchaser in comprehending the various drivers and restraints with their effects on the market during the forecast period. The report has been prepared based on the market type, size of the organization, availability on-premises and the end-users’ organization type. Independent Software Vendors report puts across the idea of high level analysis of major market segments and identification of opportunities.

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An exceptional Independent Software Vendors market research report can be structured well with the blend of top attributes such as highest level of spirit, practical solutions, committed research and analysis, innovation, talent solutions, integrated approaches, most up-to-date technology and dedication. Further, strategic planning supports in improving and enhancing the products with respect to customer’s preferences and inclinations. The report comprises of all the market shares and approaches of the major competitors or the key players in this industry. Moreover, this market report also brings into the focus various strategies that have been used by other key players of the market or this industry.

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What Are The Market Factors Explained in the Report?

Key Strategic Developments: The study includes the major strategic developments of the market, comprising R&D, new product launch, M&A, agreements, partnerships, collaborations, joint ventures, and regional growth of the key competitors functioning in the market on a global and regional scale.

Key Market Features: The report analyzed key market features, comprising price, revenue, capacity, supply/demand, capacity utilization rate, gross, production, production rate, market share, consumption, import/export, cost, CAGR, and gross margin. Besides, the report also offers a comprehensive study of the key market dynamics and their latest trends, along with relevant market segments and sub-segments.

Analytical Tools: The Global Independent Software Vendors Market report includes the accurately studied and analyzed data of the key industry players and their scope in the market by means of several analytical tools. The analytical tools such as Porter’s five forces analysis, feasibility study, and ROI analysis have been used to analyze the growth of the key players functioning in the market.

Some Major Points in TOC:

Chapter 1. Report Overview

Chapter 2. Global Growth Trends

Chapter 3. Market Share by Key Players

Chapter 4. Breakdown Data by Type and Application

Chapter 5. Market by End Users/Application

Chapter 6. COVID-19 Outbreak: Independent Software Vendors Industry Impact

Chapter 7. Opportunity Analysis in Covid-19 Crisis

Chapter 8. Market Driving Force

And Many More…

Check The Complete Table of Content @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-independent-software-vendors-market

Independent Software Vendors Market: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period.

Detailed information on factors that will assist market growth.

Estimation of market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour

Analysis of the market’s competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of market vendors

Reasons for Buying this Report

**This Independent Software Vendors report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics

**It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining Independent Software Vendors market growth

**It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the Independent Software Vendors market is predicted to grow

**It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future

**It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors

**It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of Independent Software Vendors market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments

Thanks for reading this article you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe, MEA or Asia Pacific.

Looking for provoking fruitful enterprise relationships with you!

About Data Bridge Market Research, Private Ltd

Data Bridge Market Research Pvt Ltd is a multinational management consulting firm with offices in India and Canada. As an innovative and neoteric market analysis and advisory company with unmatched durability level and advanced approaches. We are committed to uncover the best consumer prospects and to foster useful knowledge for your company to succeed in the market.

Data Bridge Market Research is a result of sheer wisdom and practice that was conceived and built-in Pune in the year 2015. The company came into existence from the healthcare department with far fewer employees intending to cover the whole market while providing the best class analysis. Later, the company widened its departments, as well as expands their reach by opening a new office in Gurugram location in the year 2018, where a team of highly qualified personnel joins hands for the growth of the company. “Even in the tough times of COVID-19 where the Virus slowed down everything around the world, the dedicated Team of Data Bridge Market Research worked round the clock to provide quality and support to our client base, which also tells about the excellence in our sleeve.”

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ottspot · 1 year

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I Bought A 10 Year Old Nintendo 3DS Game And Loved It - My Thoughts on Fire Emblem Awakening

It all started one day in December, just one month before the year was over. I woke up with the sudden urge to buy one game I had been meaning to get all these years, a game that I've had interest in but just never got to for some reason... Fire Emblem Awakening for the Nintendo 3DS.

I had been exposed to it a number of times via Club Nintendo promotions, "Best Of The 3DS" lists, praise from my friends, and even playing the demo all those years ago. I may be almost ten years too late but I bought it second-hand from a retro game store (cheaper than GameStop!), and I couldn't have been happier with my decision.

In the age of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch, many consumers would be baffled at the idea of buying games for older systems, like the Nintendo 3DS. Some people in this case would often ask, "why not emulate or pirate?" There are advantages to doing that of course, especially considering that Nintendo doesn't even make money off of second-hand physical copies, and they soon won't be able to make money off of even the digital versions, with the company closing down the Nintendo eShop of the 3DS and Wii U systems in less than three months as of writing this!

The thing is, even in a time where we can just get games and DLC for these older games without spending a cent, I still wanted to experience getting a game officially one last time. And that's what I did late November of 2022, where I bought... Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice. Yeeeah, I thought the Zelda "Oracle" series games on the Virtual Console would be my last digital purchase, but I saw those two on sale and they were the only ones I was missing on 3DS, so... I bit the bullet. And those were my, as of now, final Nintendo eShop purchases on the 3DS system.

But just one month later, I woke up and thought about one game in particular. A game that I believed I should get not in a digital form, but a physical copy. Indeed, it was the one I stated before and the main subject of this post, Fire Emblem Awakening. I drove to my local retro game store that morning and I picked the game up.

The inside cover had some pretty nasty water damage, but I plan on getting a new case entirely at some point, so it's okay.

I booted the game up, and discovered that there was a save file already there! Thanks to my modded 3DS system, I backed it up before erasing it. That way I can go back to it and see how they played.

After making a new save of my own, I chipped away at the game bit-by-bit until I finished it on January 3rd. I would have finished it already by now but I had other plans in my life, as well as a few other games to play a little bit of as well. But regardless, I did beat the game! And let me tell you... I adored it.

Now, this wasn't exactly my first experience with Fire Emblem. I had played Warriors on the Switch a while back, and I played a hacked version of Fates (only the Birthright path) and they were alright experiences. But Awakening was on another level entirely to me. The story, without giving too much away, had lots of tension, pain, and moments where I genuinely gasped out of fear. The other games I had played never made me feel that way about the story before.

The gameplay is a favorite of mine, too. I really like tactical RPGs like this, even if I haven't played a lot of them. I appreciate games giving me some time to plan out my moves and selecting which units to have fight the enemy, or stay back so they don't die. In that way I really felt like a tactician, just like the main character.

Speaking of, all the characters in this game were very lovable. Their writing was phenomenal and I loved their little voice lines. Lissa is definitely a favorite, and was always one ever since I played the demo back when it first came out. And that's the thing! Even early on in the game I learned to love and care about these characters. That's how good I feel the writing is.

Overall, I feel that this game deserves the reputation that it has right now. After 16 and a half hours of playtime, that couldn't be more obvious to me, and it's easily one of my favorite Nintendo 3DS games now. While it's great to see new games in the series release due to the success of this one, I don't believe there will be another game that will match just how great this entry is. So yes, once again, I bought an almost ten-year-old Nintendo 3DS game and I loved it. And I think you should buy it too, because it's 100 percent worth the money.

Thanks again for reading! I hope this will push me to experience some older Fire Emblem games someday, and hey- it might get me to try Three Houses or Engage too.

Next up: My Journey With The Nintendo 3DS... Does It Still Hold Up?

#fire emblem #fire embem awakening #nintendo 3DS #game review #retro #why did it take me so long to get to this damn game #nintendo #lissa is the best character fr fr

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wahajsirajw · 1 year

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Home Builder Nashville Accommodate Buyers In A Changing Market

After the recent year or so in a sluggish market, Home Builder Nashville are making strides in meeting the expectations and desires of their buyers. While recuperating from a slow housing economy, Home Builder Nashville home builders are finding solace and increasing sales by giving buyers what they want in the form of upgrades and eco-friendly features.

Large national companies also consistently provide consumers with attractive amenities, but they are finding it more difficult to meet the demands of buyers who yearn for "greener" options and inexpensive homes. As the laws of demand in a market dictate, both Home Builder Nashville and large national companies are attempting to "give people what they want." Custom Home Builder Nashville

Home Builder Nashville are accommodating the desires of their buyers by offering personalized options in new homes. Outdoor living options are a high priority in the minds of many buyers and designers. While a barbecue grill and kidney-shaped pool have traditionally been the standard, buyers are now opting for outdoor kitchens, kid-friendly pools, putting greens, ramadas, and even a few backyard skate parks. Designers say kitchens are a key focal point indoors, showcasing convenience and beauty.

Custom home builders are trying to promote a particular lifestyle through gourmet kitchens, islands, and upgraded appliances. They maintain buyers do not want standard kitchen appliances, choosing instead to have upgraded appliances in their new homes. In custom homes, buyers are also requesting bigger and more elegant guest rooms and bathrooms. In response to buyers wishes, Home Builder Nashville are "going the extra mile" to please their buyers.

Arizona new home buyers also follow national trends in their desire to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, and Arizona Home Builder Nashville are meeting their demands. Installing energy-efficient appliances is commonplace, but custom home builders are doing more to accommodate buyers who wish to live a "greener" lifestyle. Many Arizona custom builders have adopted construction techniques that emphasize conservation of energy, water, and resources. Yet this type of construction for the large national builders (who build a majority of the new homes in metro Phoenix,) this means completely revising their business structure, which is driven by production. The large builders view this as risky at a time when revenue is down and sales are stalled.

National Home Builder Nashville recognize the environment-friendly market, and many already include more common features such as dual-pane glass and low-water bathroom fixtures. More extensive green construction, though, involves numerous other items: ductwork placed underground or in "conditioned" enclosures and "gray water" systems that reclaim used water from kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms and use it to irrigate the landscaping. These features can be expensive, and national builders are skeptical as to whether enough buyers are willing to spend the additional money on a new home. It is estimated that "going green" increases a home's price by approximately 5%. National companies are finding it difficult to justify any features that raise a home's price, at a time when they are trying to clear out their excess inventory.

Markets are influenced by consumer demand. If Arizona's home buyers continue to follow national and global trends in eco-friendly housing, national builders will benefit from "going green" and begin to see their sales increase. Home Builder Nashville in Arizona are already reaping the benefit by giving buyers exactly what they want.

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