text:
Showing results by author "Kim Stanley Robinson" in All Categories
Plus Catalog
Red Mars
By: Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: Richard Ferrone
Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, Red Mars is the first book in Kim Stanley Robinson's best-selling trilogy. Red Mars is praised by scientists for its detailed visions of future technology. It is also hailed by authors and critics for its vivid characters and dramatic conflicts.
For centuries, the red planet has enticed the people of Earth. Now an international group of scientists has colonized Mars. Leaving Earth forever, these 100 people have traveled nine months to reach their new home. This is the remarkable story of the world they create - and the hidden power struggles of those who want to control it.
If you like books with DETAIL not much Action
By Paul on 01-05-09
Series: Mars Trilogy, Book 1
The Ministry for the Future
Narrated by: Jennifer Fitzgerald, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Ramon de Ocampo, and others
The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all. Its setting is not a desolate, post-apocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us - and in which we might just overcome the extraordinary challenges we face.
Great ideas, uneven narration
By depthpsychologist on 12-09-20
Narrated by: Jennifer Fitzgerald, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Ramon de Ocampo, Gary Bennett, Raphael Corkhill, Barrie Kreinik, Natasha Soudek, Nikki Massoud, Joniece Abbott Pratt, Inés del Castillo, Vikas Adam
Blue Mars
The once red and barren terrain of Mars is now green and rich with life - plant, animal, and human. But idyllic Mars is in a state of political upheaval, plagued by violent conflict between those who would keep the planet green and those who want to return it to a desert world.
Trilogy Started Strong
By Sherry on 02-18-19
Narrated by: Suzanne Toren, Robin Miles, Peter Ganim, and others
New York Times best-selling author Kim Stanley Robinson returns with a bold and brilliant vision of New York City in the next century. As the sea levels rose, every street became a canal. Every skyscraper an island. For the residents of one apartment building in Madison Square, however, New York in the year 2140 is far from a drowned city. There is the market trader, who finds opportunities where others find trouble. There is the detective, whose work will never disappear - along with the lawyers, of course.
Audacious modern masterpiece, great narration
By Nynaeve Al'Meara on 08-01-18
Narrated by: Suzanne Toren, Robin Miles, Peter Ganim, Jay Snyder, Caitlin Kelly, Michael Crouch, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Christopher Ryan Grant, Robert Blumenfeld
Green Mars
The initial Martian pioneers had fierce disagreements about how the planet should be used by humans. This led to a war that threatened the lives of billions of people on both Mars and Earth. Now, the second generation of settlers continues the struggle to survive the hostile yet strangely beautiful environment of the red planet.
Green Mars: a textbook scifi novel
By Erick on 08-05-13
The Years of Rice and Salt
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
It is the 14th century, and one of the most apocalyptic events in human history is set to occur - the coming of the Black Death. History teaches us that a third of Europe's population was destroyed. But what if the plague had killed 99 percent of the population instead? How would the world have changed? This is a look at the history that could have been - a history that stretches across centuries, a history that sees dynasties and nations rise and crumble, a history that spans horrible famine and magnificent innovation.
Alternate History as Philosophical Vehicle
By Mark Patterson on 08-22-15
The Wild Shore
The Three Californias Triptych, Book 1
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
North America, 2047. For the small Pacific Coast community of San Onofre, life in the aftermath of a devastating nuclear attack is a matter of survival, a day-to-day struggle to stay alive. But young Hank Fletcher dreams of the world that might have been, that might yet be - and dreams of playing a crucial role in America's rebirth.
Needs 6 stars
By Carl on 01-12-16
Series: The Three Californias Triptych, Book 1
Included in Plus membership
Free with Plus trial
Narrated by: Ali Ahn
A major new novel from one of science fiction's most powerful voices, Aurora tells the incredible story of our first voyage beyond the solar system. Brilliantly imagined and beautifully told, it is the work of a writer at the height of his powers.
Deus Ex A.I.
By Tripp Southern on 01-30-16
Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman
The year is 2312. Scientific and technological advances have opened gateways to an extraordinary future. Earth is no longer humanity's only home; new habitats have been created throughout the solar system on moons, planets, and in between. But in this year, 2312, a sequence of events will force humanity to confront its past, its present, and its future. The first event takes place on Mercury, on the city of Terminator, itself a miracle of engineering on an unprecedented scale. It is an unexpected death, but one that might have been foreseen....
My favorite book of the past 5 years.
By Casey on 09-07-15
The Gold Coast
North America, 2027. Southern California is a developer's dream gone mad: an endless sprawl of condos, freeways, and malls. Jim McPherson, the affluent son of a defense contractor, is a young man lost in a world of fast cars, casual sex, and designer drugs. But his descent in to the shadowy underground of industrial terrorism brings him into a shattering confrontation with his family, his goals, and his ideals.
Classic Kim Stanley Robinson poetic mysticism
By James on 07-27-20
Pacific Edge
North America, 2065. In a world that has rediscovered harmony with nature, the village of El Modena, California, is an ecotopia in the making. Kevin Claiborne, a young builder who has grown up in this "green" world, now finds himself caught up in the struggle to preserve his community's idyllic way of life from the resurgent forces of greed and exploitation.
The final volume in Kim Stanley Robinson's Three Californias triptych, Pacific Edge is a brilliant work of science fiction and an outstanding literary achievement.
No escapism here
By Pam on 04-14-15
Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
There is Thorn, a shaman himself. He lives to pass down his wisdom and his stories - to teach those who would follow in his footsteps. There is Heather, the healer who, in many ways, holds the clan together. There is Elga, an outsider and the bringer of change. And then there is Loon, the next shaman, who is determined to find his own path. But in a world so treacherous, that journey is never simple - and where it may lead is never certain.
By David on 03-17-15
From legendary science-fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson comes a vision of climate change unlike any ever imagined. Told entirely through fictional eye-witness accounts, The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, the story of how climate change will affect us all over the decades to come. Its setting is not a desolate, post-apocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us - and in which we might just overcome the extraordinary challenges we face.
eco-utopian politics and economics
By Emma Hooper on 11-11-20
Narrated by: Jennifer Fitzgerald, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Ramon de Ocampo, Gary Bennett, Raphael Corkhill, Barrie Kreinik, Natasha Soudek, Nikki Massoud, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Inés del Castillo, Vikas Adam
The year is 2312. Scientific advances have opened gateways to an extraordinary future. Earth is no longer our only home; new habitats have been created throughout the solar system, on moons, planets and in between. But in 2312, a sequence of events will force humanity to confront our past, present and future. The first event takes place on Mercury, in the city of Terminator, itself a miracle of engineering on an unprecedented scale. For Swan Er Hong, it will change her life. Once a designer of worlds, now Swan will be led into a plot to destroy them.
Narrated by: Adam Verner
It is a stark and inhospitable place, where the landscape itself poses a challenge to survival, yet its strange, silent beauty has long fascinated scientists and adventurers. Now Antarctica faces an uncertain future. The international treaty which protects the continent is about to dissolve, clearing the way for Antarctica's resources to be plundered, its eerie beauty to be savaged. As politicians wrangle over its fate, major corporations begin probing for its hidden riches.
athe performance was awesome. The copyright not.
By Matthew J. Bennett on 07-20-21
Narrated by: Maxwell Hamilton, Joy Osmanski, Feodor Chin
It is 30 years from now, and we have colonized the moon. American Fred Fredericks is making his first trip, his purpose to install a communications system for China's Lunar Science Foundation. But hours after his arrival, he witnesses a murder and is forced into hiding. It is also the first visit for celebrity travel reporter Ta Shu. He has contacts and influence, but he, too, will find the moon can be a perilous place for any traveler.
16 hours of nothing much happening
By GP on 03-31-19
Sixty Days and Counting
Science in the Capital, Book 3
Narrated by: Peter Ganim, Kim Stanley Robinson
By the time Phil Chase is elected president, the world's climate is far on its way to irreversible change. Food scarcity, housing shortages, diminishing medical care, and vanishing species are just some of the consequences. The erratic winter the Washington, D.C., area is experiencing is another grim reminder of a global weather pattern gone haywire: bone-chilling cold one day, balmy weather the next. BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by author Kim Stanley Robinson.
Narrator not worthy of author
By Grant on 12-26-09
Series: Science in the Capital, Book 3
Fifty Degrees Below
Best-selling, award-winning, author Kim Stanley Robinson continues his groundbreaking trilogy of eco-thrillers - and propels us deeper into the awesome whirlwind of climatic change. Set in our nation's capital, here is a chillingly realistic tale of people caught in the collision of science, technology, and the consequences of global warming - which could trigger another phenomenon: abrupt climate change, resulting in temperatures. BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by author Kim Stanley Robinson.
Avoid this narrator!
The Best of Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: David Marantz
Adventurers, scientists, artists, workers, and visionaries - these are the men and women you will encounter in the short fiction of Kim Stanley Robinson. In settings ranging from the sunken ruins of Venice to the upper reaches of the Himalayas to the terraformed surface of Mars itself, and through themes of environmental sustainability, social justice, personal responsibility, sports, adventure, and fun, Robinson's protagonists explore a world which stands in sharp contrast to many of the traditional locales and mores of science fiction, presenting instead a world in which Utopia rests within our grasp.
A nice treat for Kim Stanley Robinson fans
Forty Signs of Rain
The best-selling author of the classic Mars trilogy and The Years of Rice and Salt returns with a riveting new trilogy of cutting-edge science, international politics, and the real-life ramifications of global warming as they are played out in our nation's capital - and in the daily lives of those at the center of the action. Hauntingly realistic, here is a novel of the near future that is inspired by scientific facts already making headlines. BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by author Kim Stanley Robinson.
Its all
By steve on 01-07-09


Where Has Trump's Humanity Gone?
Where has humanity gone? A question that is on most of our minds. When we talk humanity, we think of compassion, helping hands, open arms. As humans, it is our natural instinct to survive. Unfortunately, survival means something different depending on where you live. Imagine finally getting the courage to flee danger, whether it's a war-stricken country, poverty, or threat of violence, and making it to the United States. The home of the American dream. The home of freedom and equality. Only to be told you're not allowed in. Why? Simply because you're a refugee, an immigrant, and in the eyes of Donald Trump an other, a burden. Suddenly, compassion is thrown out the window. His helping hands are reserved for whites only, and open arms mean something entirely different to him.
Trump has gone against every value that America prides itself on. He remains arrogantly oblivious to the fact that this is Native American land to begin with, and the rest of us are all immigrants here. His policies are solely in line with his white supremacist ideology. Everything he has done while in office is to feed that logic, and empower white supremacists. He constantly claims immigrants are criminals who are here to steal jobs from Americans, and his actions indicate that the Americans he is referring to are white Americans only. This may be news to him, but all the statistics debunk his fabricated numbers.
According to the New York Times, "In 136 metro areas, almost 70 percent of those studied, the immigrant population increased between 1980 and 2016, while crime stayed stable or fell." This proves, beyond a reasonable doubt that his abhorrent border wall and Muslim ban are nothing more than an extension of his white supremacist agenda.
There are countless examples of refugees and immigrants coming into a country and contributing positively to the economy. Let's take Canada, for example. Canada has become the safe haven for refugees. They have taken the values that Trump has destroyed, and put them into action. Canada has opened its arms to many refugees. Kameel Nasrawi and his family fled war and violence in Damascus and settled in Canada, where he created the first Syrian and Arab community newspaper, "The Migrant". "As a newly settled refugee back in 2016 with his wife, Arij, and two children, he had nothing but his savings — but Nasrawi felt it was his mission to help inspire other refugees after having endured many difficulties with language barriers," CBC reported.
This is what humanity is all about. These are the real stories that Trump refuses to listen to. The most beautiful thing about these stories is the fact that they each made an effort to pay it forward. So Mr. Trump, if these are crimes, then we're not quite sure what to call what you've been doing, and masking as "border security". The only security that Trump is concerned about is the security of the white race. Period.
The United States of America was always open to refugees and immigrants. It wasn't until Trump took office that we've seen a shift in the values that were once seen as the foundation of this country. If the president of the "Land of the Free" won't uphold these values, it's our job as citizens to share these stories of triumph and kindness, and lend our own helping hands.


First, though, I'd like to remind anyone who hasn't voted for the December/January Pitch Pick to please go here and vote. The winner will be announced Friday!!!
Second, as you know, I like to sweeten the pie a little (tee hee) by offering a random prize each month to one of our dedicated Perfect Picture Book bloggers. You get one chance for every book you posted in the month. (There were 96 books posted in January – not counting mine which makes an even 100!!! – not too shabby, eh?) I enter them all (except mine) into random.org and voila! we get a winner. November's was Stacy, December's was Clar, and January's duhn duhn-duhn duhn-duhn duhn DUHN! is Miranda!!
Miranda, come on down! This month's bag o' goodies (which changes every month depending what I've got kicking around :)) contains hardcover copies of Red Sings From Treetops, The Busy Life Of Ernestine Buckmeister, and April Fool, Phyllis! and a paperback copy of Jean Auel's The Land Of Painted Caves (which is not for kids, but I just happen to have a brand new spare copy!) Please select one and Email Me (see that handy button over there?) with your choice and it shall be yours 🙂 All you other PPB bloggers, thank you SO MUCH for the wonderful job you do every week! We are growing such a great resource! The next thing I want to add to it is Best Books for Boys (since it seems many people have a harder time engaging boys with reading) so please let me know if you have found any of the titles already on the list especially engaging for boys, and if you add a title that fits that category, please be sure to bring it to my attention! And who knows? Next month YOU could be the lucky winner!
And now – got your Something Chocolate? – it's time for Would You Read It!
Today's pitch comes to us from Dede who says she quit writing more times than she can remember. She stashed her drafts and turned her attention to more practical pursuits – her day job, the ever-present laundry pile, the bills. Despite her lack of attention, characters kept nudging until she gave in and finished writing their stories. Here's one of them. The others can be found on her website.


Widely regarded as a premier journal dedicated to the study of Syriac, Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies was established in 1998 as a venue devoted exclusively to the discipline. An organ of Beth Mardutho, the Syriac Institute, the journal appears semi-annually and will be printed in annual editions. A peer-reviewed journal, Hugoye is a respected academic source for up-to-date information about the state of Syriac studies and for discovering what is going on in the field. Contributors include some of the most respected names in the world of Syriac today. Volume 13 is a special Isshue on Philoxenos of Mabbug.


Home Events & Holidays15 DAZZLING STRING LIGHT IDEAS FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS HOME DECOR….
CHRISTMAS is all about lovely decoration , beautiful home decor,sparkling lights etc .STRING LIGHTS are now in trend because they can be used to decorate the interiors very beautifully . THEY are safe so there's no worries in decorating the interiors of the house . STRING LIGHTS can be used to decorate however we want on the walls, in the windows , on the stairs , through the main door etc . THESE lights are not so sparkling so it doesent comes on our eyes . ITS safe for childrns too.HAVE a look at some amazing string light ideas for your home decor.
Previous Article26 CHARMING REINDEER DECORATION IDEAS ….
Next Article23 COOL RETRO STYLE BLACK & WHITE COURTLY FOR THIS CHRISTMAS…..


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Buy the Farm . . . Share: How Do You Like Them Apples?
Tonight when I picked up the guys from day care Martin looked at me and became so elated that he began shaking all of his limbs and giving me the biggest smile I'd ever seen.
It's pretty nice to see that reaction in someone. Elliott, on the other hand, gave me a look like I was seriously lacking. Somehow I disappointed him greatly. I guess he was expecting to get picked up by someone a lot cooler than his dear old dad.
Tonight, we tried the Wombats on their first taste of apples. Martin was a very big fan. Elliott was hesitant at first because he was kind of acting like a weirdo. After some maneuvering he ate a healthy portion as well. It was one of their favorite foods so far.
*Frozen. Will rank again fresh. After finally wrangling the babies to bed we had a quick dinner including this Sculpin India Pale Ale from Ballast Point Brewing Company. I kept hearing great things about this beer. I've seen this around for years but I've never thought to try it given the picture of the big dumb fish on the label. It turns out it's a really, really good IPA for a very reasonable price. Who would have thought that after looking at that strange bottom-feeder on the label? Elliott has been having trouble staying asleep lately and seems to only want to sleep in bed snuggling with me. While this is fine by me I think it's probably best to break him of this habit. It will become particularly awkward when he starts to have sleepovers.
Instead I took off my shirt and let him snuggle with that which seemed to knock him right out. It seems like bad parenting to put dirty laundry in the crib with your child but I like to take a "Whatever Works" type approach to parenting.
Now I just need to figure out how I can get them to start doing the laundry. It's never to early to learn household chores!
I'm hoping that Elliott was knocked out by the comforting scent of his dear old dad and not some sort of shirt funk!
Did you notice that bananas snuck into the Favorote Food List?


I have an 11 y.o. Min poodle who has becoming more and more finicky about his food and eating. Sometimes he will sit by it for over 12 hrs. I would change flavor or brand and he would joyously eat it got one meal, but when served again – forget it. He then just had 21 teeth pulled and even though he was already getting wet food his level of disgust for all the high end food only increased. So I started cooking chicken and turkey, which he readily ate, but I knew this was not complete diet. I had always seen the refrigerator case at Pet Smart, but never checked it out. Well i did and boy am I glad. He loves the food, absolutely loves it. Gobbles it down. No staring or growling at it. I am so relieved.


text:
Ferguson pre-Scunthorpe
Gaffer eyes up a dose of derby day delight for Doncaster.
Darren Ferguson was in a positive mood ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Scunthorpe United.
The meeting with the Iron not only presents Rovers with the chance to return to the top half of the table for the first time since the opening week of the season, but an opportunity to record an eighth successive victory over their local rivals.
"I think it's a good game, derby games take care of themselves. It'll be a good crowd on Boxing Day and I'm sure the tackles will be flying in – that's what you want and you expect – and it's a game that I'm really looking forward to," said Ferguson.
"I think it's an important period of the season, there's no question that December and the Christmas period - because you've got so many fixtures - things can turn either for good or bad,"
"You want to be a confident bunch and have that belief that in every game we go in to now we feel we can win and that's where we're at. We know well that you can slip up but generally we go in to the games feeling confident and the players have a belief about them."
Rovers recent run has seen them overtake United in the League One table but form could go out the window when Darren Ferguson comes up against his ex-Manchester United teammate Mark Robins.
"If you get a good Christmas, you have a real optimism going in to the New Year of what you can do," said Ferguson.
"He (Mark Robins) was a teammate of mine, as was David Kelly (United's assistant manager) at Wolves. I've come against him quite a few times as a manager. I think he's got a really good squad, I watched them myself in the (FA Cup) replay against Orient and we'll prepare as we have done all week.
"I'd take a win and hopefully not so dramatic - we look a real threat and we're getting goals!"
Tickets for the game are available below or by calling 01302 762576.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Election Commission is yet to announce the dates of Bihar assembly elections, but Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi on Saturday said the poll process in the state will be completed before November 29.
Zaidi's announcement puts a lid on speculations that the polls were heading to dates beyond November 29, the day the tenure of the present assembly expires.
The speculations fuelled as August and September are times of floods in the state and this period will be followed by festivals like Bakri Id, Dushehra, Muharram, Diwali and Chhath slated for October and November.
President's Rule would have to be imposed in the state if the election process is not over by November 29.
Zaidi was on a two-day visit to Patna for review meeting on preparedness for assembly elections. He met representatives of 10 national and state parties, as well as, top administrative officers, including the chief secretary and the Director General of Police.
The CEC expressed satisfaction over his meeting with state government officials.
Zaidi said Bihar Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and DGP P K Thakur have assured him that the model code of conduct will be strictly implemented and communal harmony maintained at all cost.
The CEC said all political parties have demanded deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces on all polling centres to ensure free and fair voting and the EC will consider the demand.
"Our effort will be to deploy more CPMF personnel in comparison to the numbers used in the previous assembly elections in the state in 2010," Zaidi said.
The total number of polling stations in Bihar has risen to over 63,000, around 3,000 more than the ones during the previous polls, he said.
The CEC said all out efforts will be made to conduct free, peaceful highly participatory polls and all government officials working in the state will be under keen observation of EC till the elections are completed.
The CEC said as per photo electoral rolls published in the state on July 31, there were 6.68 crore voters in Bihar, of which 3.56 crore were male.


text:
icn_button-arrow
Moving on up to Windows 10 Pro
Do you know enough to make a smooth transition?
Whether you've already moved to Windows 10 Pro—or you're still kicking the tires—there are important things to know about this next-gen operating system. How does your knowledge stack up? Take this quiz to find out.
What operating system comes after Windows 10?
The OS currently code-named "Cygnus" There is no new OS after Windows 10 Windows 11 Nirvana
Not Quite...
Microsoft is rolling out incremental updates for Windows 10. This continuous delivery model means that large-scale OS migrations might finally be a thing of the past.
Next Question See Results
One of the new security features in Windows 10 is:
Credential Armor Identity Lock Secure Boot None of the above
Secure Boot is included with Windows 10 to help computers resist attacks and infection from malware. Specifically, Secure Boot protects the firmware within Windows 10.
One of the servicing options for Windows 10 updates is:
Microsoft OS update Current branch Windows OS stream None of the above
With Windows 10, you can choose the current-branch servicing option to receive security updates, bug fixes, and new features every few months.
What does WaaS stand for?
Windows advanced advisor sentry Windows arbitrary analysis scheme Windows as a service We are all superstars
Microsoft is referring to its incremental rollout framework as "Windows as a service," or WaaS. But we are definitely all superstars, as well.
Next generation silicon, such as Intel's Kaby Lake, will only be supported on Windows 10 (and beyond).
Microsoft's mandate is that the latest generations of silicon, such as Intel's Kaby Lake, will require Windows 10. It will not be supported on Windows 10 Pro downgrade to Windows 7 or 8.1.
The acronym DMT stands for:
Double migration tracking Data migration timing Data migration tool Don't mess (with) Texas
Data migration tools (DMTs) can help automate the migration process to speed it up and ensure everything goes smoothly.
How do you enable the new security features in Windows 10?
By adding third-party software to fill the gaps that will still exist By upgrading the legacy BIOS to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) By performing a full bare-metal rebuild of the legacy hardware All of the above
Windows 10 has deep architectural changes that literally change the game when it comes to hacking and malware threats. To take advantage of these new protections, you have to upgrade to UEFI.
When will Microsoft's extended support for Windows 7 end?
June 1, 2017 January 14, 2020 October 31, 2017 July 29, 2035
Microsoft's extended support for Windows 7 is ending in early 2020, which means that almost every organization needs to begin planning now.
What's the recommended amount of time for a typical migration project?
0 to 6 months 6 to 12 months 12 to 18 months 18 to 24 months
Many analysts recommend that you plan for a 12 to 18-month migration project. This may seem like a long time, but the planning phase is essential, especially within large organizations.
How should you prepare for a Windows 10 migration?
Establish the business case for the migration and your IT priorities Audit your apps—consider their compatibility with Windows 10 Create a reliable design, including staffing requirements, timeline, and budget Carry out a proof of concept All of the above
All of these steps are required for a smooth Windows 10 migration. With the right planning and design data, you can understand your organization's readiness and be prepared to meet its unique needs.
You're lightyears ahead
Way to go! You already know a lot about Windows 10—looks like you're on the fast track to the future. You're well aware of the security, simplified management, and hardware options in the new OS.
Get Windows 10 Help Now
Dell has the expertise, software, and services to get you further, faster. In fact, Dell has been named Microsoft Windows partner of the year for six years in a row and the Microsoft Enterprise Partner Group 2016 Global Windows 10 Deployment Partner of the Year. Why settle for anything less?
Check out Windows 10 PCs from Dell
Dell has the most secure PCs in the industry with Windows 10. Period. Plus, LAPTOP Magazine rates Dell the #1 Windows Laptop brand of 2016 with 5/5 stars for innovation, value and selection.
Learn more about our future-ready PCs.
Share Your Results with Dell at SpiceWorld!
Print this Results page, and bring it by the Dell booth at SpiceWorld 2016. You'll be entered to win something out of this world!
Nice job. You know a lot about migrating to Windows 10, but could learn a tad more before taking the leap. The security, simplified management, and upgrade options are well worth the effort. Be sure your entire organization can make the most of the new OS.
Up, up and away…
OK, you have the basics down about Windows 10. But you could definitely learn more to get moving a little faster. The security, simplified management, and upgrade options are real crowd pleasers. You may also need a technology partner to assess and consult on your migration readiness.
Watch out, hazards ahead
Whoops, your lack of knowledge about Windows 10 could be a little dangerous. You don't want to stumble when making the move! Learn more about the full range of features in the new OS—and connect with Dell EMC Services to help you plan for your migration.


text:
require 'forwardable'

module Cequel
  module Metal
    #
    # Encapsulates a data set, specified as a table and optionally
    # various query elements.
    #
    # @example Data set representing entire contents of a table
    #   data_set = database[:posts]
    #
    # @example Data set limiting rows returned
    #   data_set = database[:posts].limit(10)
    #
    # @example Data set targeting only one partition
    #   data_set = database[:posts].where(blog_subdomain: 'cassandra')
    #
    # @see http://cassandra.apache.org/doc/cql3/CQL.html#selectStmt
    #   CQL documentation for SELECT
    #
    class DataSet
      include Enumerable
      extend Util::Forwardable

      # @return [Keyspace] keyspace that this data set's table resides in
      attr_reader :keyspace
      # @return [Symbol] name of the table that this data set retrieves data
      #   from
      attr_reader :table_name
      # @return [Array<Symbol>] columns that this data set restricts result
      #   rows to; empty if none
      attr_reader :select_columns
      # @return [Array<Symbol>] columns that this data set will select the TTLs
      #   of
      attr_reader :ttl_columns
      # @return [Array<Symbol>] columns that this data set will select the
      #   writetimes of
      attr_reader :writetime_columns
      # @return [Array<RowSpecification>] row specifications limiting the
      #   result rows returned by this data set
      attr_reader :row_specifications
      # @return [Hash<Symbol,Symbol>] map of column names to sort directions
      attr_reader :sort_order
      # @return [Integer] maximum number of rows to return, `nil` if no limit
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      # @return [Symbol] what consistency level queries from this data set will
      #   use
      # @since 1.1.0
      attr_reader :query_consistency
      attr_reader :query_page_size
      attr_reader :query_paging_state
      attr_reader :allow_filtering

      def_delegator :keyspace, :write_with_options

      #
      # @param table_name [Symbol] column family for this data set
      # @param keyspace [Keyspace] keyspace this data set's table lives in
      #
      # @see Keyspace#[]
      # @api private
      #
      def initialize(table_name, keyspace)
        @table_name, @keyspace = table_name, keyspace
        @select_columns, @ttl_columns, @writetime_columns, @row_specifications,
          @sort_order = [], [], [], [], {}
      end

      #
      # Insert a row into the column family.
      #
      # @param data [Hash] column-value pairs
      # @param options [Options] options for persisting the row
      # @option (see Writer#initialize)
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @note `INSERT` statements will succeed even if a row at the specified
      #   primary key already exists. In this case, column values specified in
      #   the insert will overwrite the existing row.
      # @note If a enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see http://cassandra.apache.org/doc/cql3/CQL.html#insertStmt
      #   CQL documentation for INSERT
      #
      def insert(data, options = {})
        inserter { insert(data) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # Upsert data into one or more rows
      #
      # @overload update(column_values, options = {})
      #   Update the rows specified in the data set with new values
      #
      #   @param column_values [Hash] map of column names to new values
      #   @param options [Options] options for persisting the column data
      #   @option (see #generate_upsert_options)
      #
      #   @example
      #     posts.where(blog_subdomain: 'cassandra', permalink: 'cequel').
      #       update(title: 'Announcing Cequel 1.0')
      #
      # @overload update(options = {}, &block)
      #   Construct an update statement consisting of multiple operations
      #
      #   @param options [Options] options for persisting the data
      #   @option (see #generate_upsert_options)
      #   @yield DSL context for adding write operations
      #
      #   @see Updater
      #   @since 1.0.0
      #
      #   @example
      #     posts.where(blog_subdomain: 'bigdata', permalink: 'cql').update do
      #       set(title: 'Announcing Cequel 1.0')
      #       list_append(categories: 'ORMs')
      #     end
      #
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @note `UPDATE` statements will succeed even if targeting a row that
      #   does not exist. In this case a new row will be created.
      # @note This statement will fail unless one or more rows are fully
      #   specified by primary key using `where`
      # @note If a enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see http://cassandra.apache.org/doc/cql3/CQL.html#updateStmt
      #   CQL documentation for UPDATE
      #
      def update(*args, &block)
        if block
          updater(&block).execute(args.extract_options!)
        else
          data = args.shift
          updater { set(data) }.execute(args.extract_options!)
        end
      end

      #
      # Increment one or more counter columns
      #
      # @param deltas [Hash<Symbol,Integer>] map of counter column names to
      #   amount by which to increment each column
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @example
      #   post_analytics.
      #     where(blog_subdomain: 'cassandra', permalink: 'cequel').
      #     increment(pageviews: 10, tweets: 2)
      #
      # @note This can only be used on counter tables
      # @since 0.5.0
      # @see #decrement
      # @see http://cassandra.apache.org/doc/cql3/CQL.html#counters
      #   CQL documentation for counter columns
      #
      def increment(deltas, options = {})
        incrementer { increment(deltas) }.execute(options)
      end
      alias_method :incr, :increment

      #
      # Decrement one or more counter columns
      #
      # @param deltas [Hash<Symbol,Integer>] map of counter column names to
      #   amount by which to decrement each column
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @see #increment
      # @see http://cassandra.apache.org/doc/cql3/CQL.html#counters
      #   CQL documentation for counter columns
      # @since 0.5.0
      #
      def decrement(deltas, options = {})
        incrementer { decrement(deltas) }.execute(options)
      end
      alias_method :decr, :decrement

      #
      # Prepend element(s) to a list in the row(s) matched by this data set.
      #
      # @param column [Symbol] name of list column to prepend to
      # @param elements [Object,Array] one element or an array of elements to
      #   prepend
      # @param options [Options] options for persisting the column data
      # @option (see Writer#initialize)
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @example
      #   posts.list_prepend(:categories, ['CQL', 'ORMs'])
      #
      # @note A bug (CASSANDRA-8733) exists in Cassandra versions 0.3.0-2.0.12 and 2.1.0-2.1.2 which
      #   will make elements appear in REVERSE ORDER in the list.
      # @note If a enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see #list_append
      # @see #update
      #
      def list_prepend(column, elements, options = {})
        updater { list_prepend(column, elements) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # Append element(s) to a list in the row(s) matched by this data set.
      #
      # @param column [Symbol] name of list column to append to
      # @param elements [Object,Array] one element or an array of elements to
      #   append
      # @param options [Options] options for persisting the column data
      # @option (see Writer#initialize)
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @example
      #   posts.list_append(:categories, ['CQL', 'ORMs'])
      #
      # @note If a enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see #list_append
      # @see #update
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def list_append(column, elements, options = {})
        updater { list_append(column, elements) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # Replace a list element at a specified index with a new value
      #
      # @param column [Symbol] name of list column
      # @param index [Integer] which element to replace
      # @param value [Object] new value at this index
      # @param options [Options] options for persisting the data
      # @option (see Writer#initialize)
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @example
      #   posts.list_replace(:categories, 2, 'Object-Relational Mapper')
      #
      # @note if a enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see #update
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def list_replace(column, index, value, options = {})
        updater { list_replace(column, index, value) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # Remove all occurrences of a given value from a list column
      #
      # @param column [Symbol] name of list column
      # @param value [Object] value to remove
      # @param options [Options] options for persisting the data
      # @option (see Writer#initialize)
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @example
      #   posts.list_remove(:categories, 'CQL3')
      #
      # @note If enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see #list_remove_at
      # @see #update
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def list_remove(column, value, options = {})
        updater { list_remove(column, value) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # @overload list_remove_at(column, *positions, options = {})
      #   Remove the value from a given position or positions in a list column
      #
      #   @param column [Symbol] name of list column
      #   @param positions [Integer] position(s) in list to remove value from
      #   @param options [Options] options for persisting the data
      #   @option (see Writer#initialize)
      #   @return [void]
      #
      #   @example
      #     posts.list_remove_at(:categories, 2)
      #
      #   @note If enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #     executed as part of the batch.
      #   @see #list_remove
      #   @see #update
      #   @since 1.0.0
      #
      def list_remove_at(column, *positions)
        options = positions.extract_options!
        sorted_positions = positions.sort.reverse

        deleter { list_remove_at(column, *sorted_positions) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # @overload map_remove(column, *keys, options = {})
      #   Remove a given key from a map column
      #
      #   @param column [Symbol] name of map column
      #   @param keys [Object] map key to remove
      #   @param options [Options] options for persisting the data
      #   @option (see Writer#initialize)
      #   @return [void]
      #
      #   @example
      #     posts.map_remove(:credits, 'editor')
      #
      #   @note If enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #     executed as part of the batch.
      #   @see #update
      #   @since 1.0.0
      #
      def map_remove(column, *keys)
        options = keys.extract_options!
        deleter { map_remove(column, *keys) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # Add one or more elements to a set column
      #
      # @param column [Symbol] name of set column
      # @param values [Object,Set] value or values to add
      # @param options [Options] options for persisting the data
      # @option (see Writer#initialize)
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @example
      #   posts.set_add(:tags, 'cql3')
      #
      # @note If enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see #update
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def set_add(column, values, options = {})
        updater { set_add(column, values) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # Remove an element from a set
      #
      # @param column [Symbol] name of set column
      # @param value [Object] value to remove
      # @param options [Options] options for persisting the data
      # @option (see Writer#initialize)
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @example
      #   posts.set_remove(:tags, 'cql3')
      #
      # @note If enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see #update
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def set_remove(column, value, options = {})
        updater { set_remove(column, value) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # Update one or more keys in a map column
      #
      # @param column [Symbol] name of set column
      # @param updates [Hash] map of map keys to new values
      # @param options [Options] options for persisting the data
      # @option (see Writer#initialize)
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @example
      #   posts.map_update(:credits, 'editor' => 34)
      #
      # @note If enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see #update
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def map_update(column, updates, options = {})
        updater { map_update(column, updates) }.execute(options)
      end

      #
      # @overload delete(options = {})
      #   Delete one or more rows from the table
      #
      #   @param options [Options] options for persistence
      #   @option (See Writer#initialize)
      #
      #   @example
      #     posts.where(blog_subdomain: 'cassandra', permalink: 'cequel').
      #       delete
      #
      # @overload delete(*columns, options = {})
      #   Delete data from given columns in the specified rows. This is
      #   equivalent to setting columns to `NULL` in an SQL database.
      #
      #   @param columns [Symbol] columns to remove
      #   @param options [Options] options for persistence
      #   @option (see Writer#initialize)
      #
      #   @example
      #     posts.where(blog_subdomain: 'cassandra', permalink: 'cequel').
      #       delete(:body)
      #
      # @overload delete(options = {}, &block)
      #   Construct a `DELETE` statement with multiple operations (column
      #   deletions, collection element removals, etc.)
      #
      #   @param options [Options] options for persistence
      #   @option (see Writer#initialize)
      #   @yield DSL context for construction delete statement
      #
      #   @example
      #     posts.where(blog_subdomain: 'bigdata', permalink: 'cql').delete do
      #       delete_columns :body
      #       list_remove_at :categories, 2
      #     end
      #
      #   @see Deleter
      #
      # @return [void]
      #
      # @note If enclosed in a Keyspace#batch block, this method will be
      #   executed as part of the batch.
      # @see http://cassandra.apache.org/doc/cql3/CQL.html#deleteStmt
      #   CQL documentation for DELETE
      #
      def delete(*columns, &block)
        options = columns.extract_options!
        if block
          deleter(&block).execute(options)
        elsif columns.empty?
          deleter { delete_row }.execute(options)
        else
          deleter { delete_columns(*columns) }.execute(options)
        end
      end

      #
      # Select specified columns from this data set.
      #
      # @param columns [Symbol] columns columns to select
      # @return [DataSet] new data set scoped to specified columns
      #
      def select(*columns)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.select_columns.concat(columns.flatten)
        end
      end

      #
      # Return the remaining TTL for the specified columns from this data set.
      #
      # @param columns [Symbol] columns to select
      # @return [DataSet] new data set scoped to specified columns
      #
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def select_ttl(*columns)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.ttl_columns.concat(columns.flatten)
        end
      end

      #
      # Return the write time for the specified columns in the data set
      #
      # @param columns [Symbol] columns to select
      # @return [DataSet] new data set scoped to specified columns
      #
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def select_writetime(*columns)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.writetime_columns.concat(columns.flatten)
        end
      end
      alias_method :select_timestamp, :select_writetime

      #
      # Select specified columns from this data set, overriding chained scope.
      #
      # @param columns [Symbol,Array] columns to select
      # @return [DataSet] new data set scoped to specified columns
      #
      def select!(*columns)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.select_columns.replace(columns.flatten)
        end
      end

      #
      # Filter this data set with a row specification
      #
      # @overload where(column_values)
      #   @param column_values [Hash] Map of column name to values to match
      #
      #   @example
      #     database[:posts].where(title: 'Hey')
      #
      # @overload where(cql, *bind_vars)
      #   @param cql [String] CQL fragment representing `WHERE` statement
      #   @param bind_vars [Object] Bind variables for the CQL fragment
      #
      #   @example
      #     DB[:posts].where('title = ?', 'Hey')
      #
      # @return [DataSet] New data set scoped to the row specification
      #
      def where(row_specification, *bind_vars)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.row_specifications
            .concat(build_row_specifications(row_specification, bind_vars))
        end
      end

      #
      # Replace existing row specifications
      #
      # @see #where
      # @return [DataSet] New data set with only row specifications given
      #
      def where!(row_specification, *bind_vars)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.row_specifications
            .replace(build_row_specifications(row_specification, bind_vars))
        end
      end

      #
      # Limit the number of rows returned by this data set
      #
      # @param limit [Integer] maximum number of rows to return
      # @return [DataSet] new data set scoped with given limit
      #
      def limit(limit)
        clone.tap { |data_set| data_set.row_limit = limit }
      end

      #
      # Control how the result rows are sorted
      #
      # @param pairs [Hash] Map of column name to sort direction
      # @return [DataSet] new data set with the specified ordering
      #
      # @note The only valid ordering column is the first clustering column
      # @since 1.0.0
      #
      def order(pairs)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.sort_order.merge!(pairs.symbolize_keys)
        end
      end

      # rubocop:disable LineLength

      #
      # Change the consistency for queries performed by this data set
      #
      # @param consistency [Symbol] a consistency level
      # @return [DataSet] new data set tuned to the given consistency
      #
      # @see http://www.datastax.com/documentation/cassandra/2.0/cassandra/dml/dml_config_consistency_c.html
      # @since 1.1.0
      #
      def consistency(consistency)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.query_consistency = consistency
        end
      end

      def page_size(page_size)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.query_page_size = page_size
        end
      end

      #
      # @see RecordSet#allow_filtering!
      #
      def allow_filtering!
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.allow_filtering = true
        end
      end

      def paging_state(paging_state)
        clone.tap do |data_set|
          data_set.query_paging_state = paging_state
        end
      end

      #
      # Exposes current paging state for stateless pagination
      #
      # @return [String] or nil
      #
      # @see http://docs.datastax.com/en/developer/ruby-driver/3.0/api/cassandra/result/#paging_state-instance_method
      #
      def next_paging_state
        results.paging_state
      end

      #
      # @return [Boolean] Returns whether no more pages are available
      #
      # @see http://docs.datastax.com/en/developer/ruby-driver/3.0/api/cassandra/result/#last_page?-instance_method
      #
      def last_page?
        results.last_page?
      end

      # rubocop:enable LineLength

      #
      # Enumerate over rows in this data set. Along with #each, all other
      # Enumerable methods are implemented.
      #
      # @overload each
      #   @return [Enumerator] enumerator for rows, if no block given
      #
      # @overload each(&block)
      #   @yield [Hash] result rows
      #   @return [void]
      #
      # @return [Enumerator,void]
      #
      def each
        return enum_for(:each) unless block_given?
        results.each { |row| yield Row.from_result_row(row) }
      end

      #
      # @return [Hash] the first row in this data set
      #
      def first
        row = execute_cql(*limit(1).cql).first
        Row.from_result_row(row)
      end

      # @raise [DangerousQueryError] to prevent loading the entire record set
      #   to be counted
      def count
        raise Cequel::Record::DangerousQueryError.new
      end
      alias_method :length, :count
      alias_method :size, :count

      #
      # @return [Statement] CQL `SELECT` statement encoding this data set's scope.
      #
      def cql
        statement = Statement.new
          .append(select_cql)
          .append(" FROM #{table_name}")
          .append(*row_specifications_cql)
          .append(sort_order_cql)
          .append(limit_cql)
          .append(allow_filtering_cql)
      end

      #
      # @return [String]
      #
      def inspect
        "#<#{self.class.name}: #{cql.inspect}>"
      end

      #
      # @return [Boolean]
      #
      def ==(other)
        cql == other.cql
      end

      # @private
      def row_specifications_cql
        if row_specifications.any?
          cql_fragments, bind_vars = [], []
          row_specifications.each do |spec|
            cql_with_vars = spec.cql
            cql_fragments << cql_with_vars.shift
            bind_vars.concat(cql_with_vars)
          end
          [" WHERE #{cql_fragments.join(' AND ')}", *bind_vars]
        else ['']
        end
      end

      # @private
      def allow_filtering_cql
        if allow_filtering
          ' ALLOW FILTERING'
        else ''
        end
      end

      protected

      attr_writer :row_limit, :query_consistency, :query_page_size, :query_paging_state, :allow_filtering

      private

      def results
        @results ||= execute_cql(cql)
      end

      def execute_cql(cql_stmt)
        keyspace.execute_with_options(cql_stmt,
                                      consistency: query_consistency,
                                      page_size: query_page_size,
                                      paging_state: query_paging_state
                                     )
      end

      def inserter(&block)
        Inserter.new(self, &block)
      end

      def incrementer(&block)
        Incrementer.new(self, &block)
      end

      def updater(&block)
        Updater.new(self, &block)
      end

      def deleter(&block)
        Deleter.new(self, &block)
      end

      def initialize_copy(source)
        super
        @select_columns = source.select_columns.clone
        @ttl_columns = source.ttl_columns.clone
        @writetime_columns = source.writetime_columns.clone
        @row_specifications = source.row_specifications.clone
        @sort_order = source.sort_order.clone
      end

      def select_cql
        all_columns = select_columns +
          ttl_columns.map { |column| "TTL(#{column})" } +
          writetime_columns.map { |column| "WRITETIME(#{column})" }

        if all_columns.any?
          "SELECT #{all_columns.join(',')}"
        else
          'SELECT *'
        end
      end

      def limit_cql
        row_limit ? " LIMIT #{row_limit}" : ''
      end

      def sort_order_cql
        if sort_order.any?
          order = sort_order
            .map { |column, direction| "#{column} #{direction.to_s.upcase}" }
            .join(', ')
          " ORDER BY #{order}"
        end
      end

      def build_row_specifications(row_specification, bind_vars)
        case row_specification
        when Hash
          RowSpecification.build(row_specification)
        when String
          CqlRowSpecification.build(row_specification, bind_vars)
        else
          fail ArgumentError,
               "Invalid argument #{row_specification.inspect}; " \
               "expected Hash or String"
        end
      end
    end
  end
end


In order to run the Selenium WebDriver from within PyCharm, you need to explicitly add the path of the browser driver executable.
It is in fact not necessary to add the PyCharm Selenium plugin.
I'm using PhantomJS as a headless browser because it is way faster than Firefox or Chrome. I wish I could disable all loading of CSS files.
Putting the explicit path to the browser driver executable into the test fixture causes problems when I run the same test on Snap CI. A better solution is to add the directory of the (PhantomJS) executable into PyCharm itself.
into Environment variabls. That's all. Now PyCharm finds the executable of PhantomJS in that directory and I can remove the executable_path line from the fixture.
I do not know why PyCharm doesn't just import the $PATH from my shell.


Learn about blending while tasting through some beautiful reserves from one of the country's top distillers.Join Master Blender David Whitmer for a Master of Rye event, brought to you by Belgrade Liquor. On April 24th at Open Range in downtown Bozeman, enjoy a guided tasting, followed by craft cocktails and dinner. Whitmer will host a George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Rye Whiskey tasting, including the very limited Remus Repeal Reserve (winner of the 2018 Chairman's Trophy/97-points Ultimate Beverage Challenge). George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskies are made by MGP Ingredients at their historic 170-year old distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN.


text:
Meizu reveals the smartphone of the future with no buttons, charging port, SIM card slot
Tyler Lee	Jan 24th, 2019 publishUpdated Sep 11th, 2021, 9:26 am
Foldable smartphones are expected to challenge the way we view and use our smartphones, but it seems that Meizu could be looking to challenge us in a very different way with the launch of the Meizu Zero. As its name implies, this phone has zero physical buttons, it does not come with a charging port, and there is no SIM card tray either.
We know, it sounds pretty wild! However there is a reason for its design in which Meizu wanted to make sure that the phone IP68 certified, meaning that it will be able to withstand immersion underwater without worrying about water seeping through any of the ports. It relies on wireless charging to juice it up, and also an e-SIM which does away with the need for a physical SIM card slot.
As for its specs, the Meizu Zero actually packs some pretty decent hardware. It uses last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and a 5.99-inch AMOLED display. There will also be an in-display optical fingerprint scanner which is something we're starting to see more of these days.
It also has some rather nifty features such as pressure-sensitive edges where users can press down on to activate the power or to adjust the volume, which reminds us of the HTC U11 which was actually the first smartphone to introduce such a feature. There is also an under-display sound technology called mSound 2.0 which allows the phone to emit sounds without a external speaker.
Meizu has yet to officially confirm when the phone will be launched or how much it will cost, but it is definitely a very interesting concept.
Source: Lowyat.net
local_offer Meizu
Meizu's button-less, port-less smartphone w
You can buy Meizu's buttonless smartphone o
Meizu E3 lineup coming on March 6th
Meizu M6S officially announced
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[1481] Steamy Appreciation
Moderators: Invisigoth, chemi
Re: [1481] Steamy Appreciation
Post by Zandra » Tue Jun 20, 2017 9:25 pm
Aww come on guys. Kimiko just wants something to drink. *wink* Nothing like a nice protein filled drink is there? Because She IS Thirsty.
I WAS the Owner of Wolfboys 800th post but SOMEBODY had to go and get a new Forum lol!
Invisigoth
Post by Invisigoth » Tue Jun 20, 2017 9:46 pm
Zandra wrote: ↑
The old hot beef energy injection, right?
GouryG
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA
Post by GouryG » Wed Jun 21, 2017 12:33 am
My money is on that the bang we heard was Junpei landing on the hood of the car in full Ninja combat mode. He then takes command of the situation and facilitates their escape.
mistersaxon
Location: Thame, UK
Contact mistersaxon
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Post by mistersaxon » Wed Jun 21, 2017 3:51 am
She was about to drive between the feet of the mecha so if it scooped her up that would cover the mechanics of all we've seen here. Let's hope it is Junpei driving it however or it may be a very literal crunch time.
Yea, verily: Who is that, running on the steppes! It is Sax, clutching buzzsaw hand extensions! He howls homicidally:
"I'm seriously going to pound you into the fast lane!!!"
Oh, yeah, I wrote Ping some backstory once.
arimareiji
Location: the future province of South British Columbia
Post by arimareiji » Wed Jun 21, 2017 6:32 am
Iffinger's Post: Everything we've think we've read is simultaneously true AND false. Except when it isn't.
C'est la vie. I've certainly done my share of pontiffycating over the years as well. ^_^
You know how when you do laundry, you have that one sock left that doesn't match any of the others? That's me.
Original forum join date 1 Aug 2008. Slightly less old than dert.
NinjaDefenestrator
Post by NinjaDefenestrator » Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:44 am
So is Kimiko going for a BJ or some smooching? Is she even in her right mind, what with just waking up from "being" Miho?
Thank goodness for Piro's pathological cluelessness. If he'd responded and Megumi (and whatever she's facing down) noticed shenanigans occurring in the back seat, who knows what kind of comedy would result?
...on second thought, please let Megumi catch them in the midst of shenanigans.
Post by Zandra » Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:52 am
Invisigoth wrote: ↑
Teddy-Werebear
Post by Teddy-Werebear » Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:57 am
[/quote]So what's in front of Megumi that she's staring up at? Gameru the giant drunken turtle? A re-embiggened ZomZom? Junpei activating his Apache Chief grow powers? Tune in next comic. Same MegaTokyo time, same MegaTokyo website.[/quote]
But it is never the same time...
I would say a giant robot. Not just a mech, but something that would look at Mazinger Z and say, "hey there shortie!"
Or maybe it is the Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man.
maldrul
Post by maldrul » Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:12 pm
So, attacked from the side, but Megumi is looking with astonishment in front and above.
Seems like the car was just scooped up by... a rent-a-'zilla.
Junpei's rescue Deus Ex Machina of choice :>
Post by Con » Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:59 pm
Piro wrote: Megumi is fun...
I agree! ^u^ ... wait, was that sarcasm? >.>;
garapagosu wrote: So, she's really just upset at herself for going starry eyed over a ninja who caught a bullet for her.
I think she's more upset that after catching that bullet she thought he would be protecting them, but it's not looking like that's the case. So she's expressing her...disappointment. And while her rant is funny in that it reveals what sort of thoughts she may have been having about Junpei recently, it also serves as suggestive commentary on what's happening in the back seat... some people are even confusing the dialogue for Kimiko herself.
darrin wrote: Fred, whatever the difficulties involved, the results are well worth it. Megumi is awesome and the past handful of strips have been well-executed and a lot of fun. Thanks!
I second this sentiment! Thanks so much for keeping the quality comics rolling and working hard to meet your Patreon goals!
paarfi wrote: A fan on another chat pointed out something interesting. Notice now Megumi's accent slips in panel three. She sounds a lot like Mugi. I'll bet she makes an effort to "speak proper", but it naturally comes out under stress.
That makes a lot of sense, otherwise that would be a very strange speech pattern for her... plus it's a common trope in anime, and goes along with revealing her freckles that happened recently. Fred is revealing more and more about Megumi as this scenario plays out. I get he feeling we're going to learn a lot about her and the Sawatari family in general this chapter.
Re: Kimiko's Steamy Appreciation: I admit to being confused by this since the last page...but I think my brain has finally parsed this into a character motivation that makes sense without having to rely on iffy (sorry iffy) theories about Kimiko becoming Miho's character analogue (if anything, in my opinion, she would become her own unique character analogue). The main thing that was confusing me was I couldn't understand why she would be doing this with everything going crazy... but then I thought about it from her perspective, and maybe that's exactly why she's doing this: What if this is the only chance she has to show him her appreciation? Her affection for everything he's done? Is Doing?
Kimiko is a very spontaneous and emotional person, and she has difficulties expressing and containing her feelings. Right now she's been given a moment to express some obviously strong feelings, with nothing to loose, so much confusion she has to push through, and she desperately wants Piro to understand. I think words are failing her, and she is probably confused about a lot of things herself. She's reaching for anything to express herself in the moment. So she used what was right in front of her. I just hope Piro understands... if not now, then hopefully later, when(if) he has a moment to consider.
Post by iffy » Wed Jun 21, 2017 5:47 pm
Whatever hit the car, slams against or pushes at the driver door or nearly, it kind of knocks it around almost like somebody kicked it. Jumbles them all up, changes the vehicle trajectory but doesn't knock it over, etc. Is what is there a good thing or a bad thing ? Both? Neither?
Which Kimiko's abnormal actions, will be important at some point one imagines. For now, they have been interrupted for at least a while. Mostly that's all a distraction (perhaps) and not important to what the car is doing and how the escape is going. Even though it's not in 'normal person this situation' or Kimiko's past usual exhibited behaviors. For other nonquestions, we've seen Piro's chest, neck and face. Unless he has somehow mutated differently than at the bath house, has no extra body parts or ones where humans don't have them.
Back to the car and the escape. Megumi looks like she's seen something shocking surprising unexpected.... perplexing. It's not clear yet depending on if that's helpful (helpful, from the standpoint of those trying to end the story or get away). Masamichi in a mech isn't clearly either good or bad, but a random agent/officer in a mech probably isn't good. Yet, that sound wasn't one that seemed like metal. Though that doesn't mean it's organic. It might not even be very big, yet it still suggests something that would get that look probably, such as a large reptile of some sort.
IMO there are two more likely scenarios here. The first is the escape does not end and goes on, the second is that they get stopped and there is no escape for them this time.
First one. Given Junpei and him helping, it would seem like this, which then a Megumi is looking at a a zilla. Even if it's Largo or Yuki, or Meimi and Junpei's sister, tho it doesn't matter much, still zilla, all fits. They help block and screen, or call off the others, or what have you. The escape continues and other questions remain until later.
Second one. They are being stopped and that's it, no driving, no getting Miho away. How then to get out of this without giving away Miho's not dead, and Kimiko isn't acting or subsituting. It's the sawing a lady in half trick with moar mirrors and smoke. She's not in the cabinet, she's behind you, no that's a tiger. Miho gets carried into car, Kimiko is nowhere around either, somebody that's neither walks out. Explains the weird behavior, is a matter of staying in character, the story doesn't even really change much if at all.
Post by arimareiji » Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:48 pm
iffy wrote: ↑
For other nonquestions, we've seen Piro's chest, neck and face. Unless he has somehow mutated differently than at the bath house, has no extra body parts or ones where humans don't have them.
Lizard Piro objects to your speciesism.
Once you go Sleestak, you never go back.
Post by darrin » Wed Jun 21, 2017 8:35 pm
I wonder which of {Kimiko, Piro} ended up with a bloody nose in their little collision? Four distinct possibilities, but it's doubtful they're equiprobable. Kimiko traveled further in the collision. Piro has a history. (Arguably so does Kimiko, but his was seen in-comic which may give him the edge here.) Having them both bleeding on each other seems funnier though (possbily sexier? nah better not say that or the blowjob crowd will start yerping again). And of course Fred may be too busy with upcoming Megumi goodness to bother with nosebleed sideplot hijinks.
Yeah, "both" is funnier, I'll go with that for now.
Avatar by Broken, I changed the book
My rescripts, now with little bits of commentary for each one
Patty Acer
Post by Patty Acer » Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:11 pm
paarfi wrote: ↑
A fan on another chat pointed out something interesting. Notice now Megumi's accent slips in panel three. She sounds a lot like Mugi. I'll bet she makes an effort to "speak proper", but it naturally comes out under stress.
I thought the exact same thing. The family resemblance is coming out.
And I'm with Ningen. Whatever Kimiko's doing, it's only confusing Piro. And if it is something like fellatio, it's really the wrong time for that.
Rapierman
Contact Rapierman
Post by Rapierman » Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:21 pm
"Bakahammer" from Con coming in five...four...three....two....one....
The Rapierman: Intelligence with a sword and a smile.
GreyWolfe
Contact GreyWolfe
Post by GreyWolfe » Thu Jun 22, 2017 12:08 am
Patty Acer wrote: ↑
Which is precisely why she's doing it, because she's that whacked out right now to the point where she is living the crazed idol/crazy fan thing to the max.
'The secret of lesbian porn is the self-insertion fantasy, the feeling of "You know, the right dick could turn those clam-licking hotties into hot wet sex fiends... and I am that brave dick." Keep that in mind' - Dom
Post by Teddy-Werebear » Thu Jun 22, 2017 2:55 am
I doubt method actress Kimiko has switched from action adventure to cream lemon hentai story mode.
Yl33 D4 N00b
Post by Yl33 D4 N00b » Thu Jun 22, 2017 7:36 am
Well, Kimi does have experience in that sort of thing, at least as a VA......
My MAL profile, not as a noob, though.....
Post by darrin » Thu Jun 22, 2017 1:44 pm
Teddy-Werebear wrote: ↑
Indeed you are absolutely right to so doubt, my friend.
In fact after repeatedly cycling among 1479, 1480, and 1481 I finally have figured out what the fuck is going on physically.
In the last three panels of 1479 Kimiko is lying flat on Piro. (She was still Limp Dead Miho in panels 7 and 8 and hasn't had time to do anything else; in panel 9 she has only lifted her head.) Her forehead is up near Piro's chin (clear from her hair draped on his face in panel 8).
In 1480 panel 2, her forehead is still near his chin; panel 3 doesn't seem to show any motion, so is probably the same; but by panel 8 she is much lower down, near the bottom of his sternum at a rough guess. (A thread or two back I said she was still near his chin but retracted this when it was pointed out that their faces are not in two separate panels, but one big panel joined by a thin strip between panels 7 and 10 (like panel 6, which is much more obvious as being a single big panel overlapped by others).) How did she get there? Fred didn't show the movement, but she has obviously moved south quite a bit. Steamy! Suggestive! But wait, in panel 9 she is stretching back up towards Piro's face.
By panel 3 of 1481, her forehead is right back up near his chin, where she started out in 1479. Ok, so rapid up-and-down movement! Also Steamy! Also Suggestive!
I think not. The key insight I finally got was that in panel 3 of 1481, she is now up on her knees. At some point she went from lying limp and flat on top of him to being up on her knees. Let's say it's a safe guess that whatever she is worried / confused about in panel 9 of 1479, she has at least decided she wants to kiss him. (If you claim on the other hand that panel 9 of 1479 is already her "I can feel your boner" face (which I still say not because this -> <- is not anything resembling Piro-has-anything-like-a-boner face), it does not matter -- the next conclusions and result are exactly the same.)
She wants to kiss him, but she can't, not conveniently anyway; she is lying flat and limp on him, wriggling up along him would be bad because he is lying on broken glass. So she pulls herself up onto her knees first (sometime between panels 2 and 8 of 1480) so that she can easily stretch toward his face as seen in panel 9 of 1480. Her head moving south in 1480 isn't indicative of "impending oral sex" (which I thought was crazy because geeze, they haven't even kissed yet; that one doesn't count 'cause she was still playing Miho); it is just a natural result of scrunching up on her knees. Try moving from a flat prone position to being on your knees without moving your upper torso and thus head; it is awkward and unnatural. Just doing it without thinking about it you will find both your legs and head moving centrally towards your center of mass, hence her head goes south prior to her stretching back north, i.e. she is trying to kiss him. The kiss on the chest was a precursor / working up her courage sort of thing.
There you have it. My apologies that the theory does not contain blowjobs, but despite what they taught you in undergraduate physics, not every theory can contain blowjobs. (I need the :eng: professor icon from the old forums here. )
Last edited by darrin on Thu Jun 29, 2017 5:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Post by iffy » Thu Jun 22, 2017 2:07 pm
darrin wrote: ↑
i.e. she is trying to kiss him.
Of course, it's also likely any other conclusion was a bit of stirring up things that nobody seriously believed, given all we've seen that didn't match. But indeed, kissing Piro would be the seeming goal here. Maybe it just looks oddly incongruent. Perhaps nothing strange is going on. Well, aside from an animal-person (family at least) driving an Idol faking an Analogue's death and an artist helping her who are all trying to escape the forces of cataclysm management including mechs with the help of a Ninja, and potentially a giant lizard.
Yl33 D4 N00b wrote: ↑
Oooops. Wrong file.
arimareiji wrote: ↑
'tis merely a matter of anatomy, even for Lizard Piro, which is good. Because if what wasn't going on had been and Piro was endowed upon his chest or above, in which direction things were happening, sudden motion might likely have Bobbittized the lad. No need to fret, given the past visible state of his upper anatomy and the fairly clear general sequence of motion. Not that this is that kind of story, elements of such things mentioned from time to time or otherwise. Well, it didn't used to be at least. It perhaps can be expected that it still isn't, although one of course never can tell until after something has happened that determines it one way or another.
Con wrote: ↑
theories about Kimiko becoming Miho's character analogue (if anything, in my opinion, she would become her own unique character analogue).
It's kind of difficult to explain. Depends on the idea one has about how sources that are not direct sources but lead to other things, in the sorts of literary analogue ways one might imagine they are. Not well defined to start with, and those in MT explain the ideas behind it in various ways that don't always quite match. Fiction and or non-fiction. How we hear things from Ibara to Junko, versus the guy that interrogated Piro, versus what Miho's said sort of (and semi explained to Kimiko at Diner, CoE, Ikebukuro, apartment) versus a number of things Masamichi has said. Piro comments on these sorts of things a lot too, but as if they're all bogus nonsense, except the ones he participates in. Largo, he kind of lives it. We've also seen lots of others slide around, particularly Yuki. Of course, most all of everyone isn't quite exactly normal, it's a matter of degrees. Be that as it may.
It's not though that anyone is becoming anyone else exactly or completely or in particular ways, but that there's some transformation from usual demeanor and behavior (along with plans, goals, expected results) as one is absorbed by the story, or we might say when imagination and feelings partially replace reality. When that's artificial it can be done very well, but with the real thing is actually replaced. Not that that is what Kimiko is doing or having done to her right now necessarily.
I certainly agree, becoming something other for her would be some change particular to Kimiko in a given story/scenario context. Not turning into Miho but perhaps to or akin to what sort of thing Miho is, potentially, in a generic sense. Not like Ping supposedly did, but they're not the same sort of being, hyper-advanced EDS and Idol. It's much like how Kimiko took the Kotone in Sight and put her own unique spin on it, breathed more life into it, made it more than just a character. Seemingly took the emotive power from the alleged source story (a version of which apparently Miho weaves at the apartment) and transferred that power to how the story goes in Sight, not wealthy girl turns dejected pirate story and whatever else it was. Because it isn't about the details it's about the overall effect regardless of the "unimportant" actuality. Which in Sight, they also had to adjust the character and story because of what Kimiko added of her own. Miho and Kimiko discuss this to some extent quite a bit and in various ways between the diner rescue and the end of that chapter. Maybe an example is Miho facing off against Dom and so easily and unconcernedly destroying his car, while Kimiko is emotionally beaten down and has Miho take over for her in dealing with the phone call, but recovers to assert her own independence.
The main thing that was confusing me was I couldn't understand why she would be doing this with everything going crazy... but then I thought about it from her perspective, and maybe that's exactly why she's doing this: What if this is the only chance she has to show him her appreciation? Her affection for everything he's done? Is Doing?
Clearly not everyone sees it this way, but starting to crawl up Piro to kiss his chest and face while he lays on glass as they're under a blanket in a car that's attempting to escape the police's cataclysm division seems exceedingly bizarre for anyone to do. From all we've seen of Kimiko (especially recently) we might say more overly aggressive, even if it were the best of times for such behaviors. And that's even if it didn't go against what's known of Piro's ideas of how things should be, and which Kimiko has been apparently quite in agreement with in the last few days.
Seems rather mindless behavior, not caring who or what is around, unwilling or unable to even answer Piro of what she's doing, ignoring the entire environment until physically made to. Last time they hugged and fell asleep. Trying to get physical as the world falls apart around them boggles, and appears not the actions of someone who is themselves and in full control of their capacities. More especially if all it accomplished was making him do is get a brain freeze trying to figure out what would cause that behavior and cause it at this point in time, given the circumstances. Sure it's possible she is doing something she thinks is fine, but it appears far beyond usual.
Which if she is 'in character' because they're going to get stopped, or if it's just overwhelmed her (especially in some new role), we might explain it sensibly . Yet it appears more like part of the demonstration of what Miho is than it does Kimiko showing Piro her appreciation for how helpful he's been in Kimiko's goal of giving everyone a replacement Miho death to save her. Even if it turns out later to be something else entirely.
Kimiko is a very spontaneous and emotional person, and she has difficulties expressing and containing her feelings.
She's seemed to have been doing quite very well at it the last couple of days though. Understanding, patient, saying what she thinks, calm and collected. Not the same as when she got angry at him for giving her a rail card or freaked out at Otaku night at Anna Millers and lashed out at him. More like the one that was touched by the drawing and then later decided they would make a perfect team to work on Sight, not the one who in the past ran off or smothered. The one who has been giving space and who has been concerned about others.
Ray Kremer
Location: NW suburbs of Chicago, Illinois
Contact Ray Kremer
Post by Ray Kremer » Thu Jun 22, 2017 7:13 pm
So she pulls herself up onto her knees first (sometime between panels 2 and 8 of 1480) so that she can easily stretch toward his face as seen in panel 9 of 1480. Her head moving south in 1480 isn't indicative of "impending oral sex" (which I thought was crazy because geeze, they haven't even kissed yet; that one doesn't count 'cause she was still playing Miho); it is just a natural result of scrunching up on her knees. Try moving from a flat prone position to being on your knees without moving your upper torso and thus head; it is awkward and unnatural. Just doing it without thinking about it you will find both your legs and head moving centrally towards your center of mass, hence her head goes south prior to her stretching back north, i.e. she is trying to kiss him. The kiss on the chest was a precursor / working up her courage sort of thing.
I'll buy that, because the whole thing is so muddled that I can't even really tell that anything's happening at all.
GreyWolfe wrote: ↑
Every time I think Fred's doing something straightforward, he goes and muddles it all up again. Right, so Piro and Kimiko have this thing, and it's probably the closest either of them have had to a real relationship in a while, but it's not deep enough to really go anywhere. They're too similar to each other for sparks to fly and exciting dramatic things to happen, whatever. It wasn't doing it for Fred in the end. Miho's shit hits the fan, forcing Piro into Good Samaritan mode even though he's generally maintaining his disdain for the girl she turned out to be over his love for the girl he thought he knew online. Kimiko sees right through him, and start to ship Piro with Miho as well as getting some revealing info on Miho's true nature. (As does Yuki.)
With Miho's new pacemaker (thanks to Piro's permanent mundane viewpoint) she's no longer the dying girl analogue, and I was expecting it to be a spectacularly beautiful anticlimax, but instead it's a rough transition and Miho's shit hits the fan part II: shit harder. Insert complex meta bullshit about needing to manage Miho's story in order to fully extract her from dying girl analogue and transition her to whatever comes next (I have a personal theory on that based on things but now's not the time). Kimiko uses her acting skills to stand in for Miho in terms of what the world of fanhorde expects and needs to see, and involves Piro in the performance because fanhorde already knows he's mixed up with Miho somehow. (Yuki did this too, last chapter.)
So Kimiko does the big "I love you" and "dies", and I'm thinking okay, she did that because Miho needed to symbolically say it to Piro (the real Miho ain't quite there yet, and even with all her prior flirting she's consumed by her analogue issues right now), Piro needed to hear it even from a symbolic Miho, fanhorde something something meta something, and small bonus to Kimiko personally because at this point she wouldn't say that to Piro as herself but it's a nice bit of closure for what they almost might have had. And then they get out of sight and what happens, Kimiko not only doesn't drop the act, not only does she not explain a damn thing to poor confused Piro, but she seems to be lost in la-la land. Even though the performance was supposedly primarily for the fanhorde's benefit, it's not over despite them being out of view. Was almost straightforward, but Fred had to complicate it again.
So, just on the basis of Fred dumping his internal creative conflicts all over the Twitch chat this week, I'm concluding that Kimiko is indeed making some kind of physical move on Piro. Exactly what, I don't know, and Fred seems to hate it for a collection of reasons but seems to be dragging himself kicking and screaming in that direction anyway. So, okay. Wild theory time based on the above. One, she's stuck in "I'm Miho" mode and since Miho and Piro aren't going to hook up easily on their own anytime soon or maybe ever, she'll force the issue right here and now in order to reignite true love, somehow. Two, she's caught in "this is my last chance for what we almost might have had" and with the proxy declaration of love not being enough, wants one solid moment of physical intimacy between herself and Piro, before (probably?) pushing him into Miho's arms for good. Three, I don't know, maybe she thinks it's about damn time Piro get some girl action regardless of who, where, and why, because fuck it all it's chapter 12 and Yutaka's gotten farther than he has, not to mention Largo for fuck's sake.
Probably though, all of that will be rendered moot somehow by the coming pages, because again, Fred is a wrecking ball to straightforward and anything I can come up with that makes sense to me is automatically likely to be the furthest thing from what Fred ends up with.
Post by Patty Acer » Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:02 pm
Best. Thing. Ever. Said. on these forums anyway . The. BEST.
I've taken undergraduate physics, I should know.
Ray Kremer wrote: ↑
In all honesty, the only explanation I can think of that makes sense is that Kimiko is currently in the 'Kimizilla' mode Erika tweaks her about in one of the early strips, where she wrecks a relationship by smothering the guy with attention he isn't ready for...
Post by mistersaxon » Fri Jun 23, 2017 4:36 am
I think the characters are finally out of the asylum and doing whatever the f they want and poor Fredrin is trying to keep up with them.
And apparently some of them are very horny...
Post by maldrul » Fri Jun 23, 2017 5:33 am
mistersaxon wrote: ↑
Don't ya just hate it when the characters improvise? It's like herding catgirls!
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The Elgato Wave:3 (opens in new tab) is one of our favourite mics (opens in new tab) if you want an excellent allrounder for streaming and gaming. I use one of these to record podcasts and get excellent sound quality, though sometimes it needs a little help from Nvidia's RTX sound thanks to all my ambient noise. It's a great cardioid mic that gets even better when you know it's nearly 30% off. The Elgato Wave: 3 is down from $150 to $110 USD (opens in new tab). Those of us in Australia can grab it for $167 (opens in new tab), down from its marked price of $239. An easy recommendation to make for gamers and streamers alike.
Those looking for a little more control in their life can grab one of the Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 studio controllers in either black (opens in new tab) or white (opens in new tab). We've recently seen the new Stream Deck + (opens in new tab), which features tactile knobs and a touch screen, which this model doesn't offer. If that matters to you it may be worth holding out, but others can grab it for 20% off right now, bringing the price down from $150 USD to $120 (opens in new tab). That's down from $239 AUD to $169 (opens in new tab) saving 29% for those of us down under.
Now that we've finished dishing out deals to the yanks we can cover some exclusive AU bargains, like both the low- and high-profile versions of the Elgato Wave Mic Arm. A mic arm can really help save room on your desk and make your setup a bit more flexible, and Elgato's are pretty good and use standard connections. I have one myself and the difference an arm over a standard desk mic can make is huge. Just make sure the sizes will definitely fit the mic you're going for before you make the big discounted purchase. These are down from $149 AUD to $119 (opens in new tab) saving you $30 dollarydoos.
The Elgato Green Screen is also on sale, though it still feels like a very pricy piece of kit at $189 AUD (opens in new tab), it is down from $259. This retractable green screen looks super useful for streamers, but you can get the same effect with some green cloth. Still, the ease of setup, wrinkle-free promise, and ability to keep it nice and tidy are pretty huge selling points, and it's a little less expensive than usual.
Last is the Elgato Key Light Air, which is another one of those products that's a little harder on your wallet. You can get fairly capable light diffusing solutions much cheaper, but they probably won't look as nice or be as easy to use. These are bafflingly expensive at full price, going for $219 AUD, so with a $59 discount bringing it to $160 (opens in new tab), now is definitely the time.
If you're on the hunt for more Black Friday deals from all sorts of brands make sure to check out our excellent collection of savings. Whether you're after other mic and streaming deals or anything related to PC gaming, we've got you covered.
Black Deals Elgatos favourite Friday mic streaming webcam


Unless you just met me 12 seconds ago, my love for history is a pretty well known fact. Two of my favorite eras include WWII and the Civil War. So if an author covers either one of those topics, I'm in for the win.
And y'all Jocelyn Green knows a thing or two about writing, military and the Civil War! I really enjoyed Green's first book, Wedded to War, in Heroines Behind the Lines series and the second just came out! She also writes non-fiction, encouraging army wives across the globe. So pretty much she's awesome. I'm so glad to have her here on the blog with 4 Questions!
Award-winning author Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage in her readers through both fiction and nonfiction. A former military wife herself, she offers encouragement and hope to military wives worldwide through her Faith Deployed ministry. Her novels, inspired by real heroines on America's home front, are marked by their historical integrity and gritty inspiration.
She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, Toblerone chocolate bars, the color red, and reading on her patio. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two small children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.
Well, five years ago, I didn't have my first book published yet. (Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives was my first and released in November 2008.) So I would never have imagined that in five years, I would have written or co-authored four nonfiction titles, a devotional Bible, and two novels, with three more contracted and scheduled to release in the next 18 months.
I imagine that every author, when rereading a book she/he has published, can point to a passage and think of a better way to write it after it's been printed. But as far as genuine life regrets, or publishing journey regrets, I wouldn't change anything. There are some lessons you have to learn the hard way, or through hard work, so I don't wish that my past was different.
My two happiest days of my life were the days my children were born. Of course my wedding day was a joyous occasion too, but there are so many details and people to please on one's wedding day. When our babies were born, it was just a much more intimate joy that I shared with my husband—and it was centered not on me, but on the miracle of new life.
The value of true, flesh-and-blood community, and how to joyfully serve others. We live in such a me-first society, and it's easy for each of us to be the stars of our own lives. Facebook has changed the meaning of the word "friend" and Twitter tells us we deserve to have "followers." I use social media too, and I value it as a tool, but it's no substitute for genuine friendships. I want the next generation to know how to get beyond themselves and reach out to others in need.
Be sure to leave a comment! Leave one by 6/14/13 at 11:59 (CST).
I love this interview with Jocelyn. She has such a great gift of writing.
Have you read the first in the series? She definitely has a gift! Thanks for commenting and good luck!
Excellent interview, Jocelyn's novels bring history to life. Can't wait to read Widow of Gettysburg.
She's fantastic right!? Thanks for commenting and good luck!
Enjoyed the interview – thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Glad to spread the word about Jocelyn and her work! Good luck!
I follow Jocelyn on Facebook.