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Seattle

2008.02.29 03:47 Seattle

The Seattle subreddit. News, current events, meetups, etc. https://discord.gg/reddit-seattle

2024.05.22 00:01 Gossip-Luv2 Retrieved the content of Tweets on SLB's eccentricities - The Mythmaker’s Legacy - Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, I am the Greatest of Them All!

Thanks to Patron Member u/Entharo_entho - Here is the wiped out Tweet retrieved
Context - Wiped out from Internet
In March, I got a chance to work with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali right after he made Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Alia Bhatt, playing the titular character in the film, retweeted me.
The headline (in my head) was going to be, ‘The Boy From Kamathipura Goes To Bhansali Mandi.’
Then reality struck in April.
One of my closest friends Sweta called me from the Shivapuri National Park near Kathmandu and put me on speaker. Two other friends Mona and Ayush were listening to the WhatsApp call.
‘How’s it going with Bhansu?’ Sweta asked.
‘We are not working together anymore,’ I said.
‘Whaaaaaaaat?’ the three people shrieked, creating a wavy disturbance in audio frequency.
‘Whyyyyy?’ they cried, collectively anguished.
‘He said he is not feeling the vibes.’
‘What?’
‘Vibes,’ I said aloud, causing a seismic tremor in the audio frequency.
‘What vibes?’ Sweta jibed, ‘Maybe he can’t feel the vibrator.’
Laughter upped the vibes.
First, a little context on how I got that far. Check this, this, this & this.
So my tweets were going viral in February-March.
In the second week of March, a woman DM’d me saying she loves the tweets. I said thank you. She said she works at Bhansali Productions.
Whoopsie Daisy!
I asked if I could be a part of the production. She checked with SLB and team. He said he wants to meet now.
NOW!
How?
I was in Calcutta.
I called an actor friend in Bombay and told him about it.
“They will book your tickets and put you up in 5-star,” he said, “Like Hollywood.”
“This is Bhansaliwood,” I said, “Yahan dhanda hamesha manda hai.”
I flew (on my own expense) and met him.
I was ‘prepared’ by his team for the meeting with His High and Mightiness.
I was told:

Arre, then what do I say?
I sashayed in a brown kurta and white linen trousers. Please see Madhuri Dixit-Nene’s brown ghagra for aesthetic reference I used from my very limited wardrobe of the only kurta I had at the time. By the way, the chorus sings ‘Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje,’ aesthetically referencing you know what, right?
He was lunching with his minions (strictly calling them minions from his pov) when I arrived in his pristine white dining hall in a building called Magnum Opus. Where else should he reside, no? Both his house, and his office (where I was ‘prepared’ earlier) were tastefully done in creamy white.
It was, as I said to my friend later, like walking into a cumulus cloud, or like sitting on his favourite singer Lata Mangeshkar’s lap. Calm, serene and quite surreal. I was inside his snow globe. Violins from a Bach concerto (in my head) were replaced with say Madan Mohan’s doleful rendition of ‘Mai ri main ka se kahoon peedh apne jiya ki.’ (Side effect of writing this on Mother’s Day.)
I look for books when I enter a house for signs of intelligent life. There were lots of lamps and candelabras but where were the stacks of books they were perched on? The aesthetic was high on film set disposable kitsch. I stared into a cumulative void.
The minions were intensely debating Darjeeling momos. What’s that? I spent my childhood there. Never heard of this GI tag!
SLB relished his meal and said, “I want puranpoli today.”
Puranpoli appeared not out of thin air, but a house-help flipping wishes instantly on a griddle on the fifth floor. We were on the first floor. Although the puranpoli is shaped like a flying saucer, it doesn’t fly, perhaps burdened by the weight of excess ghee and crowd-pleasing expectation. It does, however, reach SLB’s plate at the speed of light.
‘Give him some,’ he asked a minion to serve me while I waited on the sofa.
‘I’ve had lunch, thank you,’ I said, trying to behave. The plate arrived. I took a mousy bite to exhibit my failing attempt to transform into a champion minion.
When he came to chat, he noticed the unfinished food and gently reminded me how there were days he went hungry. I should have rolled my eyes for my own lean days.
‘One should not waste food,’ he said.
‘I don’t,’ I said, ‘I was going to parcel it home in a doggy bag.’
Hearing the word doggy, his well-behaved dog came over to inspect me.
He observed me. I petted her perfunctorily. Am a cat person. Stereotypical writer stuff — allergic to undesired petting and attention.
‘So, what have you done?’ he asked, sitting on a sort of empire-style bergere chair. Full marks for faux-ornate.
‘A novel, some writing for a series,’ I said nervously, dismissively.
‘Anything I might have seen?’ he asked.
‘No, not worthwhile.’
‘Are you interested in direction also?’
‘No, am not delusional.’
A moment passed. I might have displayed an errant repartee.
‘I mean, I can only write, or am trying to,’ I said. L’esprit de l’escalier.
He gave me a spiel on writing, how screenplay is an art not many understand, etc, et cetera.
I nodded to make his voice disappear.
‘What are you writing now?’
I showed him the cover of my new book, The Last Courtesan, featuring my mother, on my phone.
‘Oh, this is so fascinating,’ he said.
He spoke rapturously about Calcutta’s great food and colonial architecture when I mentioned growing up in Bowbazar kothas. If you watch any of his interviews now on YouTube you will realise he only speaks in raptures. He’s always explaining things like an impassioned conductor at a dime-store opera. It can exhaust the boorish audience immediately. He spoke about living in the Kamathipura area as a child when I said I had lived there. The mythmaker was interested in exoticising his own legend as an ‘outsider’.
‘But how will you work here if your mother is in Calcutta?’ he said, ‘I am a maa-ka-bhakt.’
Everything is about him or his mother. I have reached that stage too, though only by circumstances unavoidable.
‘Actually it was my mother who asked me to come here. I told her it would only work out if you understand that I will have to vacillate between the two cities initially. Jaise Sanjay ki Leela hai, waise meri Rekha.’
Corny dialogue, but worked. No one calls him by his first name, except perhaps his own mother. He is sir for everyone.
‘If I am speaking to you for so long means I like you,’ he said. ‘Otherwise, I would have asked you to leave long ago.’
Barely five minutes into the conversation, he asked me to return to his office and inform his team that I was going to be a part of his writer’s room.
I went back to his office and read a script. This is the part I cannot mention. His legal team sits in the adjacent room.
I flew to Calcutta and was to return after a week. I had to make arrangements for my mother’s tri-weekly dialysis sessions at a nearby hospital, figure out a tiffin-delivery service for her, find a house help (she sent four nurses scurrying in the past), all of which is a bit of a task in this retrograde city.
Remember the woman who had DM’d me about my tweets? She messaged. She had met SLB after my meeting. He said this about me: ‘What a wonderful find. That boy has so much potential and is talented. Most importantly, he is sensitive.’
I told her I’d get this engraved on my tombstone.
Like how he wants to take Alia Bhatt’s golchakkar in Dholida to his grave.
“It’s a shot that I will take to my grave. If there’s any shot that I want to be played when I breathe my last, it would be Alia doing that shot. It is the best thing I have seen an actor do in a very long, long time.”
I was only emulating the high priest of hyperbole in my tombstone comment. Perhaps I was regressing into a minion.
I had only managed a few tasks for mother when I was back in Bombay. It worried me that the old, frail woman with shaky limbs and slurred speech was trying to be brave to send me to work. I hadn’t worked since the pandemic; she was in and out of hospitals so frequently that I had surrendered the thought of getting another job ever again. Taking care of her was my full-time job.
The first day in his office was to chill in my new, aesthetically pleasing kurta I had shopped for in Gariahat. There was a security camera in every corner that was apparently accessible on his phone. My skin tingled with this information. Chilled. He was at home. Probably watching. That’s a great way to create a myth.
The next day, there were more minions on the lunch table in his first floor apartment. The magically appearing steamy and fragrant sheera was delicious. A minion deemed it the best sheera in the city. I nodded to make that statement evaporate.
A courier boy interrupted for a document signature. SLB flared at a spelling mistake in the document papers.
‘Go wash your face and come back,’ he yelled at the young man.
The minions at the table laughed nervously. I so wished I was wearing a mask to cover my surprise emoji face.
The minions on the table were writers and assistant directors.
‘Dastavez,’ SLB said, ‘would that be correct to use?’
‘Kaaghzaat,’ the minion replied.
‘Kaaghzaat is paper, dastavez is document,’ said the second minion.
‘You always mislead me,’ SLB sternly reprimanded the first minion. ‘Don’t ever do that again.’
Only that minion tried to laugh, offering an apology. He shut the minion down.
My mask, my mask emoji face.
A third minion was sulking in a corner before I arrived for the writing session. This minion had reportedly offered a script suggestion, which he disliked and barked down. I liked this minion the most. Relatable.
A faint noise of a person running or perhaps just a rumbling sound from somewhere outside interrupted the room. He looked up at the ceiling and said, ‘No one lives there. Am certain it is a ghost. I hear running sounds all the time. I have heard sounds of furniture being dragged.’
I wondered if he actually believed in half the things he uttered, or was he just saying it to create enigma about himself. Mythical thoughts certainly kept him preoccupied.
Reality bored him. SLB had nothing good to say about the ‘current plague’ of South Indian films upsetting the Bollywood cartel. He compared them to a circus. He wasn’t kind to the actors he had worked with in his last film. He cracked lame jokes about everyone and everything. The minions laughed and kept him busy. I chuckled a few times to blend in. The mythmaker revelled in his prophesies about the impending doom of charlatans with no aesthetics: just crass, commercial peddlers pimping art. It was all said to amuse and bemuse while he fussed over the yellow shade of fabric from several swatches.
When he left for his music session, the minions bitched him out, and how! All the horror stories I had heard over the years about his moods, behaviour, language and violent temper were true. How else will he create myth about himself as a maestro? The Glomar response. Let the plebs indulge in hearsay. I will neither confirm nor deny. The minions sang effigy songs in happy tunes, if I may stretch this part a bit like his penchant for high camp.
That night, when I went to my actor friend’s house, where I was temporarily staying, I said to him, ‘I don’t think I will last a week there.’
I was rattled by how he spoke to the courier boy and the minions, with no filter. Well, at least it was clear he had no tact, endearing as that might be of a ‘genius’ if one compromises with his erratic behaviour. The CEO of his company does it beautifully and advises to develop a ‘thick hide’ around him. Cows, essentially.
Verve
The words genius, great, master, maverick, were so loosely bandied by his office staff even in his absence that I was tempted to add auteur, if they could spell or pronounce it. They worked in perpetual fear of him turning up at any hour and checking on their tidiness. A minion whined she wasn’t dressed appropriately for his surprise visit. Once, he even cut pay for unscheduled leave, said another minion. A minion narrated a shot he copied from a photographer in Gangubai Kathiawadi. Another minion recounted how he made her cry on shoot by screaming at her for a silly mistake. Minions couldn’t leave the office till his evenings were scheduled. It was a well-paying job so long as they did not have to see ‘chacha’s’ face and only applaud his cinematic sorcery.
His office team would assign me desk-work and warn me not to inform him about it.
‘What am I supposed to say if he asks?’
‘Make up something,’ I was told.
‘Why should I?’
‘You will slowly understand,’ I was told.
His team of assistants would sneak around me. I didn’t know who was reporting what back to him. He would interrogate the management team. They would lash out at me for informing the assistants. The management wanted to control me a certain way because ‘sir’ does not need to know everything. It was quite a guessing game. He had created an ecosystem of complete chaos and loved the hubbub. New people were hired for him to use the ‘new energy’ to rekindle the ‘old energy’ that needed to be reminded it could be snuffed out and replaced. He thrived on confusion because it all boiled down to him to sort out the mess. He was the provider so long as the minions ingratiated and served their grand master.
One time he called me upstairs, what his CEO called the god’s chamber aka the Shahenshah’s durbar: his office on the seventh floor. Walls were lined with giant posters of his films. We minions sat on the fifth floor. I was of course by now a week old in the toady mill. On the seventh floor, production team members, set designer, director assistant, young people sat on the floor, armed with notebooks and laptops, alert and sugar-tongued. He sat on a throne and dictated each one about their duty. A masseur massaged his leg. He asked me what I thought of a script. I said it was lovely. He asked me to elaborate. I said I liked a character’s resolve. He denied it was written. I said that’s my interpretation. A minion promptly backed me.
‘What changes do you suggest?’ he asked.
‘We should sit on it collectively and decide,’ I said.
He mumbled something. My suggestion was dismissed. I was dismissed. I bowed out. A minion whispered to me, ‘We all walk on eggshells around him.’ I had to be a chicken in a coop I suppose.
Another time he dismissed my suggestion for a scene saying, ‘That’s not how art is made.’ I had referenced a scene from Bandit Queen to illustrate my point. Just like his entire oeuvre is homage to a classic. How else does he make his art?
Allow me to illustrate with a frame from his first film Khamoshi: The Musical. The second image is from Pakeezah.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam references Red Beard, Woh 7 Din.
Devdas references Pakeezah more than once.
Black references The Miracle Worker.
Saawariya references Pyaasa, Awaara.
Guzaarish references Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela references Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story.
Bajirao Mastani references Mughal-E-Azam.
Padmaavat references Mirch Masala.
Gangubai Kathiawadi, let’s give him the benefit of doubt is all his own, original artistry.
The American filmmaker Jim Jarmusch once meta quoted the French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard when he said:
“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery — celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from — it’s where you take them to.”
SLB believes he takes art and betters it, removing the grubby coat of slime from the sublime, often not concerned with acknowledging the source. He is a master’s master, elevating it to an otherworldly experience, the creator of a mythoverse.
He asked me to rewrite a scene I didn’t agree with. He banged the script folders on the table like a petulant, little child. I watched his posture change into a frump. Tiger Shroff’s ‘Bacchi ho kya,’ dialogue comes to mind.
‘You are talking like those critics who find fault but don’t know how to write. They should write the film,’ he said.
That argument will never make sense to me but since I write movies now and not just about them, I rewrote the scene in half an hour and showed it to him. He found it rubbish.
I was not called to the writer’s room for a week.
His CEO said I should go to his house; hang around him, like the other assistants whose only purpose in life is to feed his ego. We are slaves to his vision, she said. She thought I was a better writer than the team he had assembled. ‘From whatever I read, only three lines of your work on social media, I could sense it,’ she said.
Either she was encouraging, or bluffing with a perfectly Zen face. From the hundreds of Ganesh idols stacked in her room, it was clear she wasn’t a reader. She was good at reading numbers, data, and stats. She would sense a sign if one of the metal idols sucked milk from a spoon on the day she enquired about box –office figures.
There was more than one right-wing hardliner in his office. Secular staff was invisible. A pretty minion in baby pink t-shirt, whose main grouse was that another minion called him a Barbie doll, said he was happy with the Modi government building roads in his home state Bihar. Another minion countered him by asking: What about the persecution of minorities by the same government? The pretty minion said he didn’t care for that. He was assisting ‘sir’ because he wanted to be an actor. Which lead me to wonder how many Muslim actors has this production worked with? Silly of me to think, right? Given that I myself don’t use my Muslim surname. I’ve now successfully planted a myth in your head. That’s how it works.
In the time that I was in Versova during my brief stint at Bhansali Productions, I met several people with their own SLB horror story. A producer said, ‘He is a difficult man but life changes for good after you work with him. Some people want to go through hell first. Life bann jaati hai.’ I didn’t understand why purgatory was necessary. Another former assistant said, ‘When you work with the worst (SLB) and the best (KJO), you are ready for the rest.’
A young woman gave him a thesis she wrote on his films. He asked her to write a book on her. She said she wanted to assist as a director. She never heard from him. A filmmaker said SLB was too friendly with another assistant, suggesting intimacy. A writer wasn’t given credit in a film.
Another writer was promised his script will be turned into a film but it never took off and now he feels his life has been ruined. A young filmmaker’s debut movie SLB produced was delayed, not promoted, and called ‘kachra’ to his face.
The young man said SLB is sexist, homophobe, classist, fat shamer, emotional abuser, and a body shamer. “He is a joyless pit of darkness where happiness goes to die. And those are the nicest words I can think of to describe him,” he said. Another filmmaker said a choreographer was in a relationship with SLB and wanted to marry him but he wouldn’t even touch her, a hotly discussed conversation amongst his minions.
Everything sounds hokum. A successful man is likely to upset a few. The few will talk. Their words may ring true through a gossamer veil of implausibility. Myths magnifying his persona.
There are too many myths about his personal life, aroused by his silence on the subject but all too obvious in his work. When people want to confirm with me, I am equally appalled at their lack of aesthetics. Like the great reader of curtains, Edgar Allan Poe, you only have to look at SLB’s use of billowy curtains in films to guess.

Above stanza, courtesy Poe, poem: The Raven.
Hope you get the drift, or draft, hawa ka jhonka! By the way, am digressing now, is the weirdly named character Sameer Rosselline in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam the first mainstream Hindi film hero to pass wind? The ruffled curtains are first to be cautioned though.
Unlike most people willing to swallow their pride to work with SLB, few like the eponymous Gangubai character choose izzat. The house-help employed in my actor friend’s house was asked to work as a cook in his house. When she heard the whimsy, dessert-craving demands, she declined the offer. I identify with her no-nonsense style.
In November 2021, a filmmaker read a film script I wrote and said, ‘This is SLB territory. Only he can make it. It is the modern love-story he has been wanting to make for a long time.’
‘Are you sure?’ I asked, somewhat flattered but also bewildered.
‘Yes, we just have to change the setting from Calcutta-Bombay to Calcutta-New York. It is what he has been trying to crack. I’ll get him to read it.’
I never spoke to SLB about my script. I did not want to look like a schemer. I had only got a chance because of my mother’s story. I had come to write courtesan songs. Hindi films are recognised by their songs. His films have show tunes that live on long after the sequins and mirrors reflect a decadent style. He employs the old-fashioned method of making Hindi films, which is to stitch scenes around a song, not the other way round. And when you glean your references from the best of classical melodies, how can you falter?
My own SLB story is that after watching Saawariya in 2007, I wrote a few songs, moved to Bombay, lived in Versova, close to Magnum Opus, and hoped to meet him, but made no effort even though I came in close contact with people who worked directly with him. I never requested for a meeting. Over the years, I too had heard a few horror stories about him. I only believe in what I see. I waited when he would call for me, my work would have to speak for itself.
A day before Good Friday, his CEO sat me down and said it’s not working out.
There’s a mythical story of how Lata Mangeshkar was on her way to record a song for SLB but the heavens poured and she had to turn her car back. A typical SLB frame of hope and hopelessness.
Never work with your idols. You’ll have a better story to imagine and create myths.
I was so relieved to leave. I hadn’t got a moment to read, or write, let alone think since I got here. Why I wanted to work with SLB was to not believe in hearsay. I will either confirm or deny.
‘Great,’ I said, ‘everyone deserves an off on Good Friday.’
The office was unsure about public holidays. SLB’s mood dictated the calendar.
Before returning to Calcutta, I met a friend entrenched in the film business.
When she heard of the fiasco, she said, ‘I’ve heard he is very anal, is he?’
The vibrator jokes never stop.

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2024.05.21 04:35 Mastergeeka Retrospective/Rambling about NRB origins

Sort of, in honor of all the cool outside stuff that’s been coming out recently from the cast (Grubby Little Mitts, Tegan’s show, Jon’s game etc) I think we need to look back at the origins of NRB.
I don’t think we as the NRB community talk about how absolutely insane the creation of No Rolls Barred was and I’ve decided it’s my Roman Empire. (Old meme I know but like, let me have this) I still don’t fully understand it, and I’ve been thinking about it for months at this point. The chain of events is bonkers! Now I’m coming relatively late to all this, so if you know more, feel free to correct any bits I get wrong or miss but this is the full story in the abstract as I understand it gathered from wikis, internet comments, and from the cast themselves talking about it.
Disclaimer: None of the dialogue is probably accurate (obviously I wasn’t there) but the thoughts behind it should be similar.
It all starts when a man gets decently famous on YouTube on a wrestling themed channel for making lists and creating videos about what are basically his wrestling fanfics. (Don’t tell that’s not what they are, you can not change my mind. Look at the definition of fanfiction, look at those videos, and tell me I’m wrong, I dare you) This guy and his coworker buddies get popular enough to try and make their own channel. Guy does something skeezy, not like illegal, but still bad, he goes “hey that was actually pretty shitty, I should probably leave and go to therapy about it,” and leaves the internet for a bit. (This is an oversimplification, I know but one, this horse is dead, we don’t need to beat it more, and two, this is all that’s necessary to get the story)
He ends up working at a board game place after a while, and either develops or furthers a passion for board games during this time. Back in internet land, a different wrestling channel decides they want to do a special wrestling fanfiction versus video. The owner of that wrestling channel gets an idea. “Hey, I happen to know that guy who was really popular for his fanfiction a while ago, let’s bring him in for a video!”
The first guy agrees and that video does REALLY well. Turns out, everyone has been really missing this man’s content these past years. The owner of the wrestling channel hears this feedback and goes “We need to bring this guy back full time, gang” but the guy says “No thanks dude, I don’t really vibe with wrestling that much anymore. I’m really into my board games now. It’s great. I have so many board games, you guys.” “Okay… but what if we made you a channel where you could talk about board games all you want? Would you do your wrestling videos for us then?” “Son of a gun, I’m in! But I will not pretend to be enthused about any of the wrestling stuff. In fact I will seem immediately exasperated with it as quickly as the signing announcement video and I also will plug the board game channel every second I can” “Deal”
And so the channel is born! The pandemic puts a little bit of a damper on the developing process but we are moving. Our main guy starts off with the lists but board game based this time. Hey, it worked the first time, if ain’t broke don’t fix it. After a few of those come out and similar infotainment videos, the man goes, “I’ve talked about cool and fun board games a lot at this point but now the viewers have to see how fun they are! We gotta play some ourselves. Well, I can’t just play with the other people who work here, they’ll be busy doing the boring wrestling stuff. Oh I know! I’ll just hire my friends to play with me. I get content, my friends get money, and we all play board games. Everybody wins!”
We now officially have our Board Game Club. Turns out, this man’s got some entertaining friends! The guy’s friends bring in their friends for some videos, too. After enough videos with each of the new people come out, viewers are shouting “We love these friends! We want to see them all the time!” This makes the company decide “Well, we obviously gotta keep booking these friends for the board game videos but maybe we full-on hire this guy’s one friend too, maybe even his friend’s friend. Is our main thing wrestling? Yes. Do we know if either of these people know about wrestling? Not really. It’s fine. It’ll be great!”
And it seems like it has! And even though the first guy is gone, most of the friends he brought, directly or indirectly, are still there. On top of that, the channel is a whole platform itself now. There’s new people here along with the older cast and they’re able to build followings for themselves and promote their own personal projects through NRB!
I bought tickets in 2024 for a livestream and pledged to a Kickstarter of a show I have little chance of actually going to in person because in 2016, a guy that one of the show’s runners is friends with narrated some wrestling videos on YouTube. Let that sink in. That’s nuts! If I said that to somebody without the previous context, they’d think I was insane. Especially if they knew that I have never been interested in wrestling my life, so how did we get from A to H to Y?
I think about this everyday. This guy was apparently THAT good at wrestling fanfiction that his friends got work to this day. Think about that! What a concept?! How do you do that? I wanna be that good at something! I think the whole story is amazing and hilarious and more people need to be talking about it so I’m not the only one, raving like a madwoman out here.

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2024.05.21 04:00 DecisionHelpful8576 Concert fears

I bought my tickets last year during the presale and ever since then I have been overthinking on how the crowd is going to be at the show im attending.
Ive seen all over the internet “concert mean girls” and im terrified that im going to come across people like that…again.
Last year I went to a concert (not bleachers) and I got judgmental stares from a group of girls??? All I did was walk in the venue and stand In the pit LIKE DAMN YOU DONT EVEN KNOW ME?? I don’t get it😟
I know I shouldn’t care what other people think but it just sucks when im literally minding my own business and people will just be rude for no reason?? Again I know I shouldn’tcare but I do (im not proud of it)
I honestly have no idea if bleachers fans are like that but lmk if they are..I wanna mentally prepare myself lol.
Jack posted rules so maybe it would help? (Im cooked I should just stay home)

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2024.05.21 02:50 iustified 10/28/24 MILWAUKEE, WI FISERV FORUM TICKETS MEGATHREAD

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2024.05.21 02:48 iustified 10/31/24 SAINT PAUL, MN XCEL ENERGY CENTER TICKETS MEGATHREAD

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2024.05.21 02:47 iustified 11/12/24 JACKSONVILLE, FL VYSTAR VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA TICKETS MEGATHREAD

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2024.05.21 02:46 iustified 12/2/24 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK PAYCOM CENTER TICKETS MEGATHREAD

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2024.05.21 02:45 iustified 12/8/24 WICHITA, KS INTRUST BANK ARENA TICKETS MEGATHREAD

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2024.05.21 02:43 iustified 12/19/24 ST LOUIS, MO ENTERPRISE CENTER TICKETS MEGATHREAD

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2024.05.21 02:41 iustified 11/25/24 NEW ORLEANS, LA SMOOTHIE KING CENTER TICKETS MEGATHREAD

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2024.05.20 07:57 2captchacom Overview: Six ways to use residential proxies for solving corporate objectives

https://preview.redd.it/t40pt7aksi1d1.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b59fa66267c7320d084af9925ef140cff8690a7
IP address masking may be required for various tasks – from accessing blocked content to bypassing anti-bot systems of search engines and other online resources. We found an interesting post about how this technology can be used to solve corporate objectives.
There are several options of implementing a proxy:

Residential proxies. Residential IPs are the addresses that Internet service providers give to homeowners, they are marked in the databases of regional Internet registers (RIRs). Residential proxies use exactly such IP addresses, so that requests from them are indistinguishable from those sent by real users.
Server proxies (datacenter proxy). Such proxies are not connected in any way to Internet providers for individuals. Addresses of this type are issued by hosting providers that have purchased address pools.
Shared proxy. In this case, one proxy is used by several users at the same time; they can be either server or given by providers for their users.
Private proxies. In the case of a private or dedicated proxy, only one user has access to the IP address. Such proxies are provided by specialized services, or hosters, or Internet providers and VPN services.

All these options have their advantages, but residential proxies are being used for corporate use increasingly lately. The main reason for this is that such proxies use the real addresses of different Internet service providers in different locations (countries, states/regions, and cities). As a result, no matter whom the interaction is conducted with, it looks as if it is carried out by a real user. No online service would think of blocking requests from real addresses, because it could be an appeal from a potential client.
This opens up a number of opportunities for companies. Let's talk about how they use residential proxies to solve business problems.

Why does a business need a proxy?

According to Distil Networks, a company dedicated to combating bot traffic, on today's Internet, up to 40% of web traffic is generated by non-humans.
At the same time, not all bots are good (like crawlers of search engines), site owners seek to protect themselves from many bots in order not to allow them to access the data of the resource itself or find out important for business information.
The number of bots that are usually not hindered in 2017 was 20.40%, and another 21.80% of bots were considered to be "bad": site owners tried to ban them.
https://preview.redd.it/tugch4nuti1d1.png?width=580&format=png&auto=webp&s=00a645ea96f61fdfee3d7109087fa5a3e843f3ef
Why would companies try to circumvent such blocks?

Getting real information from competitors' websites

One of the main areas of use of residential proxies is competitive intelligence. Today, there are tools that make it easy to track the use of server proxies – pools of proxy provider addresses are known, so they can be easily blocked. Many popular online services – for example, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu – implement blocking systems by IP address ranges of hosting providers.
In the case of using a residential proxy, any request looks like it was sent by a regular user. In a case where you need to send a large number of requests, you can use residential proxies to send them from addresses from any countries, cities, and associated Internet service providers.

Brand protection

Another practical application of residential proxies is brand protection and anti-counterfeiting. For example, drug manufacturers – let's say, of the drug Viagra – are always fighting with sellers of counterfeit generics.
Sellers of such replicas usually restrict access to their websites from countries where the manufacturer's official representative offices are located: this makes it difficult to identify dealers in fakes and present them with legal requirements. With the help of residential proxies with addresses from the same country as the counterfeit website, this problem can be easily solved.

Testing new features and performance monitoring

Another important area of using residential proxies is testing new features on the websites or in applications – this allows you to see how everything works through the eyes of an ordinary user. Sending a large number of requests from IP addresses from different countries and cities also allows you to test applications under heavy loads.
This feature is also useful for performance monitoring. It is important for international services to understand, for example, how fast a site loads for users from certain countries. The use of residential proxies in the performance monitoring system helps to obtain the most relevant information.

Optimization of marketing and advertising

Another application of residential proxies is the testing of advertising campaigns. With a residential proxy, you can see how an ad looks, for example, in search results for residents of a certain region and whether it is shown at all.
In addition, when promoting in various markets, residential proxies help to understand how effectively, for example, search engine optimization works: whether a site is included in the top search engines for the necessary queries in target languages and how its positions change over time.
Search engines have an extremely negative attitude towards collecting data with the use of their resources. Therefore, they are constantly improving the mechanisms for identifying data collectors and effectively blocking them. As a result, it is now completely impossible to use them to collect data from search engines.
However, it is impossible to block the execution of a large number of identical search queries from residential proxies – search engines cannot restrict access for real users. Therefore, this tool is great for guaranteed data collection from search engines.
Residential proxies are also useful for analyzing competitors' advertising and marketing activities and their effectiveness. This technology is used by both companies themselves and agencies engaged in custom promotion.

Content aggregation

In the era of Big Data, many businesses are built on aggregating content from different sites and bringing it together on their own platform. Such companies also often have to use residential proxies, otherwise it would be difficult to maintain an up-to-date database of prices, for example, for goods of certain categories in different online stores: the risk of a ban is too high.
For example, to create a regularly updated comparison table with prices for vacuum cleaners in online stores, you need a bot that will constantly visit the necessary pages of these resources and update the table. In this case, the most effective way to bypass anti-bot systems is to use this tool.

Custom data collection and analysis

In the last few years, companies that are professionally engaged in the collection and analysis of custom data have been actively developing. One of the brightest players in this market, the PromptCloud project, is developing its own crawler tools that collect information for further use in marketing, sales, or competitive analysis.
It is logical that bots of such companies are also constantly banned, but thanks to the use of residential IPs, it is impossible to do that effectively.

Savings on getting local discounts

Among other things, having private local IP addresses can help to save resources. For example, many ticket and hotel booking sites display geo-targeted special offers. Only customers from specific regions can use them.
If a company needs to arrange a business trip to such a country, then with the help of a residential proxy, it can try to find more favorable prices and save money.

Conclusion

The ability to simulate requests from real users with real local IP addresses turns out to be very useful, both for personal and business goals. Companies use residential proxies to collect data, carry out various tests, work with necessary but blocked resources, and so on.

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2024.05.19 13:18 pillowcase-of-eels [Music] Emilie Autumn's Asylum, pt. 6 – High-concept musician responds to online criticism by waging successful attrition war against her own fanbase

🪞
Welcome back to the Asylum write-up, where we explore the decade-long slow-motion car crash that is the Emilie Autumn fandom.
Sorry this installment took so long to upload! Just a heads-up, I may take some time to deliver the last one too – these posts take forever to format on Reddit's finicky-ass editor, and my dumb real life is currently keeping me from precious Internet time. Thank you for your patience! You have my word that everyone who pre-ordered the final installment will receive a PERSONAL, HANDWRITTEN letter autographed and illustrated by me, a list of the snacks I consumed while composing this write-up, some exclusive behind-the-scenes secrets, and a pony.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4.1 – Part 4.2 Part 5

Places, everyone This is a test Throw your stones Do your damage Your worst, and your best (...) And if I had a dollar For every time I repented the sin And commit the same crime I'd be sitting on top of the world today (“God Help Me”, 2006🎵)

Quick recap of where we left off. First, there were five to ten halcyon years of pleasant and meaningful interactions between EA and her blossoming fanbase, prominently by way of her official forum. Then, circa 2009-2010, EA's online presence shifted towards sudden anger outbursts, ban-hammering, and an increasingly top-down communication style.
This created a sort of primordial rift within the fanbase, between those who supported EA's right to speak her mind and regulate her own fan spaces however she pleased – and those who thought that her reactions were rude and inappropriate (at best), and that even fan spaces should allow for reasonable, non-abusive criticism of the artist.
Between a poorly-handled book release (see Part 3), the controversial (Part 2) or dubiously true (Part 4) contents of said book, and serious shade from various former collaborators (Part 5), more and more fans had pressing thoughts about EA's work ethic and choices. EA attempted damage control through drastic forum rules that made it virtually impossible to voice any “serious” critical opinion. It didn't work, of course: instead of squashing the mutiny, she created a schism.
Critical fans and active haters started congregating on unofficial platforms.

“WITH MUFFINS LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?”: TROLL LIKE A GIRL

So here we were, the early 2010s. The official forum (which had about 700 members in 2006, if you recall) was now thousands-strong, reaching just over 12,000 registered users in 2012 – not all of them active, but still. In terms of sheer numbers and content creation, the party was POPPIN'... but increasingly in parts of the Asylum that escaped EA's jurisdiction, such as Tumblr, where they could speak their mind freely.

You play the victim very well You've built your self-indulgent hell You wanted someone to understand you Well, be careful what you wish for, because I do (“I Know Where You Sleep”, 2006🎵)

In one wing of Asylum Tumblr, a smattering of call-out blogs emerged, which laid out EA's various lies, faux pas, shitty takes, and general deep-seated terribleness in detailed timelines and screenshots (or, short of that, long-winded bullet points). While many such blogs framed it as “serious” whistleblowing and did their best to remain as fact-based and neutral as they could, there was some genuine disgust, animosity and creepiness towards EA on that side of Tumblr; for some ex-fans, “exposing the truth” was mostly justify obsessive hatred, prying and verbal abuse. Some, for instance, felt the bizarre need to side with EA's mother in their estrangement. (One user, with the URL “emilyautumnfischkopf”, argued in a serious and down-to-earth tone - but with zero sources - that EA's upbringing had been nothing but peaceful and supportive until she ungratefully kicked her loving family to the curb for no reason at all. They were later revealed 🔍 to have an alternate handle as “eaisalyingcunt”.)
Either way, through these blogs, a number of potential drama bombs that had mostly flown under the radar were dredged up from over the years – some of which were hard to ignore, even for supportive fans. Where to begin?
There was that nonsense in-joke song, captured twice on camera during the 2009 tour (to very little outrage, at the time), crassly called “Manatee Retard”📺. Or EA's scathing response, in print, to a wheelchair user who found it insensitive that she used a bedazzled wheelchair as a prop to do sexy acrobatics on stage. (“Your offence taken at my hard-won self-acceptance proves that I indeed have something to fight against”, she wrote). Spoken word tracks where she made trivializing knock-knock jokes about serious mental illnesses she didn't have, like schizophrenia and OCD. Multiple instances of calling Britney Spears a “bimbo” and a “Hollywood fucked-up”, resentfully claiming that she only shaved her head because she was “hopped up on drugs” and certainly not because she was “bipolar”, a word the press liked to wield as an insult anyway. (“That's almost like calling someone a retard!” Yeah, heaven forbid.) The meanest, most distasteful paragraphs in the book. Basically everything problematic EA had ever said or written.📝 In retrospect, it had been a long time coming, but it was a lot to take in – and certainly more off-putting, even to less emotionally invested fans, than silly lies about her age and last name.
In another wing of Asylum Tumblr, some fans had had it up to here and just wanted to have fun. 🎵 If Plague Rats had learned one valuable lesson from EA, it was how to crack a joke in the face of absurd tragedy – and the general state of the EA fandom certainly warranted a few.
In 2012, Fight Like a Girl was released. After six long years, three of which had been peaceful, the Opheliac era was officially over. The new album and ensuing tour confirmed that the Asylum had entered a process of glamorous Broadway-style militarization. 🎵📺
The mood board was “Roman general meets Vegas showgirl meets Victorian street urchin”.🪞 The color palette was, to naysayers, “musty pink and rotten, stale piss yellow”. 🐀 The keyword was “REVENGE” (through the power of... self-expression! sorority! brutal assault with rusty medical implements!). The chorus of the title song had an intriguing run-on line about getting “revenge on the world, or at least 49% of the people in it” 🎵 – which seemed like an awful lot, and was widely interpreted (to cheers, boos, or uncomfortable sighs) as a misandrist jab at literally all men on Earth.
The show was essentially a demo version of the musical, in that the setlist vaguely reflected the order of events in the story – but prior reading was essential in order to get what the hell was going on on stage. This one Broadway reviewer had not perused the literature before seeing the show 🔍, and hated: the set, the choreography, the skits, the plot, the lyrics, the music, the concept. (Seriously, you should read the review. It's not even my show and I feel like quitting show business.)
Pre-show VIP encounters, now violin-free, were lorded over by EA's new manager🐀, whose official title was “Asylum Headmistress”. (Interesting choice – she sounds fun!) The swag bags were less substantial than before, and the “greet” part of the meet-and-greet was rarely more than a quick hug and photo op.
On Twitter, EA continued to embrace her “I am very badass” fronting attitude...

Often wonder if cyberbullies r aware they’re fucking w/ a girl who’s BFs w/ maker of the SAW films & is marrying a knife-throwing scorpion. (🐀📝)

...and her taste for needlessly inflammatory statements. About an aisle sign in a supermarket:

If this does not infuriate you, then you're a fucking potato.

(Again with the confounding crypto-ableism, EA! 🔍) She also went through a phase of raging against Lady Gaga 📝, who had stolen her idea of using a wheelchair on stage as an able-bodied woman. 🔍 That failed to convince anyone that she wasn't the histrionic diva that haters made her out to be.
Spurred on by EA's rallying cries and “us vs them” mentality, loyalists turned the white-knighting up to 11. On Twitter, some Plague Rats got into cat fights with Lady Gaga's Little Monsters (what a time to be alive). Others tried to balance out the Tumblr negativity with initiatives like “Spreading a Plague of Love” – a “positive-only” confession blog, whose extreme fangirling, comically drastic rules and hyper-defensive tone📝 did not debunk the increasingly popular notion that “true Plague Rats” were a bunch of authoritarian and hopelessly brainwashed fanatics.
EA truthers and other anti-fans started lashing out at anyone who dared express any positive opinion of EA, solidifying claims that the backlash against EA was just a conspiracy of bitter, hysterical bullies.
All this to say: every passing day brought new reasons for fans to get mad at EA and each other, and everyone in the Asylum was in need of a laugh. It's not easy having a good time.🦠
Leading up to Fight Like a Girl and in the years that followed, user-submission-based meme blogs took off, most notably “Spreading a Plague of Lulz / Troll Like a Girl”. A lot of the early submissions were absurdist humor and toothless, cheezburger-Impact memes (a style that was, oddly, already dated at the time). Those often originated in good fun, and from loyal fans, on the official forum. But there was also true snark, satirizing EA's questionable ethics, outrageous claims, and easily spoofed artistic gimmicks. A new slang of Asylumspeak emerged: Glittertits (slight NSFW), GAGA!!, EA Gusta and all its memeface variants, Get outta mah house!, Are You Suffering?, Fight Like A Goat, [Random celebrity] copied EA (a subgenre in its own right), ...
Most of the “trolling” was directed at unrepentant bootlickers and, to a lesser extent, red-in-the-face haters and creeps. Meme blogs would post joke comments under “serious” or gushing submissions on Wayward Victorian Confessions, and taunt loyalist accounts by tagging them in their posts. When a few people complained on WVC that almost all of the Bloody Crumpets to date had been thin white able-bodied women, and a few fans responded by sharing their dream-casts for a more diverse line-up, the blog was flooded for days with confessions that “X should be a Crumpet” (candidates included RuPaul, Mitt Romney, Nicki Minaj, EA's therapist, and the WVC admins). Farcical shenanigans like that.
Ah, but some people will always cross the line, won't they. EA threads popped up on merciless, bully-friendly snark platforms like Lolcow, Pretty Ugly Little Liar, and Encyclopedia Dramatica. Snarkers with a mean streak and obsessive haters mingled in some of the more aggressive, 4-chan-spirited retaliation against EA – which would be called “brigading” in modern parlance. This included flooding EA's Goodreads page with one-star reviews (see part 4), repeatedly editing her Wikipedia page to include her legal name and birth year, and ensuring that Googling said name would bring up current pictures of her.
All of this compounded agitation fragmented the once-united fandom beyond recognition.🦠 Through substantial disagreements among fans, personal bickerings, layers upon layers of inscrutable in-jokes, and cross-platform telephone games, the Asylum morphed into a booby-trapped Escher room.
Satire blogs were taken in earnest. Earnest fan blogs scanned as satire. Memes would get called out as abuse. Appreciation without attached criticism would get mocked as bootlicking. Obvious jokes made by EA would be taken at face value. One divisive confession could trigger days and days of debate, to the point that WVC eventually banned confessions in response to other confessions. New waves of infighting created a confusing web of rival sub-factions🐀, each accusing the others of being toxic, cliquish, and delusional.
The shared fantasy was broken, the collective vision had crumbled, no onez was speaking the same language anymore. Fans would jump down the throat of other fans who held almost identical views about EA, except for that one thing she said or did that one time. Everyone had differing thoughts on what should or shouldn't acceptable to discuss, question, excuse, make fun of.
War is hell.

SCORCHED EARTH SHENANIGANS: HONEY, I SHRUNK THE ASYLUM

Would you tear my castle down Stone by stone And let the wind run through my windows Till there was nothing left But a battered rose? (“Castle Down”, 2003🎵)

Haters vs sycophants is not really the kind of conflict where one side can come out on top (if you're participating, you've already lost). But in the long tug-of-war between “grassroots” and “EA-sponsored” fan spaces, the ultimate winner is obvious – in that the former is gasping in agony, a shriveled husk of its former glory, while the latter... is non-existent. This is due in no small part to EA's tendency, like the Czars of old, to settle conflicts by setting Moscow on fire.🔍)
That's not entirely fair: unlike EA, the czar only did it that once.
By early 2013, as EA was gearing up for her third Fight Like a Girl tour at the end of the year, the official forum was... not as lively as it once had been. Not just because of the stifling rules and disgruntlement towards EA, or because EA herself hadn't really posted anything on there in years; the Internet was also changing, and forums in general were fast becoming passé.
This made it difficult for EA to create a safe space where she could talk to fans, and fans could talk to and about her, in a way she deemed suitable (ie, a space she could gate-keep and regulate enough to keep it completely free from negative criticism). Social media was a minefield; she still posted regularly, but didn't interact very much. So EA and the Headmistress came up with a way to filter out the unbelievers: an official fan club📝, aptly called the “Asylum Army”, with a $100 entry price.
Joining the AA came with a dog tag, a sew-on patch, and a lifetime membership certificate signed by EA and – for some reason – the Headmistress. (Unlike EA's best friend and sound engineer back in the forum's heyday, I don't think fans ever really embraced the FLAG-era manager as part of the Asylum in-group. She came across more as a coordinator / businessperson / adult chaperone, at best.🐀) So, slightly better goodies than you'd get by joining the other AA 🔍 ... but not by much. The main appeal was that members would have access to exclusive content, special merch, giveaways, early bird tickets for future shows, and regular video chats with EA.
The concept itself drew a fair amount of criticism, as you can imagine. Between the name🐀, the price, and the inherent gatekeeping of a pay-to-join fanclub, many balked at the monetizing of a concept that had once (like, three years back) been significantly more DIY, grassroots, and inclusive. 📝🐀
Then again, many also longed for a positive, drama-free space where fans could just be fans. And while the creation of the AA was generally recognized as a quick cashgrab, a lot of people were surprisingly cool with it. EA was trying to finance her dream musical, after all – although a number of fans wished she had gone about raising funds in a less sketchy way.
So around 400 fans shelled out (which, according to the Headmistress📝, “basically cover[ed] the cost of running the fanclub itself – keeping the database up, website, etc.”). Enough for a close-knit, but sizable community. But already, there was a conflict of interest: a high fanclub entry fee essentially demands that you pledge loyalty to the artist over loyalty to your fellow fans, who wish to join but can't afford to. Sharing, caring, and ensuring no one felt left out were some of the more positive values cultivated in the fandom... but leaking exclusive content would surely piss off other paying members🐀, and make EA feel betrayed all over again. (And she had barely just started to mellow out on social media!)
...But then again, this is the internet. After the first month of secret AA drops (lyric sheets, some photoshoot outtakes – nothing too juicy, really), there were, yes, some leaks. EA was predictably miffed, and retaliated by... ghosting the fanclub for weeks at a time in its first few months of existence (great look!). She eventually found the “solution” to her problem, by providing something you couldn't right-click-save (and which had been part of the promised perks to begin with): live interaction.
Over webcam, she was her usual in-person bubbly, charming, funny self. Everyone seemingly had a good time during the fanclub video chat, and this gave people faith and hope.
There were a few more events, giveaways, etc. As promised, ahead of the fall 2013 tour (the last one to date, it would turn out), AA members got priority access to show tickets and VIP bundles. The latter were much pricier than before, and only included soundcheck, a photo-op, and three goodies: a tin of loose-leaf tea, a signed printer-paper setlist, and a small flag that said “F.L.A.G.”.🔍 Some stuff continued to leak – but, as some of the outlaws pointed out (scroll down to the Disqus comments), they were mostly relaying information that was relevant to the entire fanbase, such as updates about ongoing projects (the dragged-out recording of the audiobook, for one).
In early 2014, lifetime memberships were closed, and replaced with monthly, quarterly and yearly subscription tiers. Bizarrely, you ended up paying $3 more per month if you bought a $99 yearly subscription📝 – but it did include the patch, dog tag, and piece of paper!

Sometimes I kind of want to be part of the cool kids and register to the Asylum Army. Then I remember how it came about, what you could get for the same price a couple years ago, how the whole thing was and is handled, and that I won’t support any of this bullshit. (And then I roll around naked in all the money I’m saving.) (🐀)

Still, a number of fans rejoiced at the affordable monthly option, and joined – if not for the exclusive content and merch (which were... okay, but not much to write home about), then for the friendly, drama-free exchanges with an artist they actually did love, in spite of all the frustration.
For the still-too-poor or still-undecided, there was always the forum! It wasn't as active as it used to be, but a few die-hards still managed to keep the lights on... until, inevitably, Someone Did Something and Ruined Everything. (Once again: EA's wrath is spectacular, but rarely completely unprovoked.) The incident features one notable figure in the Asylum community. Let's call him the Collector.
OK, so maybe you remember the meme I linked to in Part 4, with Christian Grey and the ginormous EA hoard. Well, that's the Collector's collection. The “Violin” promo that I called the "Holy Grail of the fandom" in the same paragraph? Also his. The handwritten lyrics that went for $940? Guess who won that auction. Over the years, the Collector had probably spent five figures on EA merch and shows, and although that fact was a little unsettling, he was a very active, easy-going, and generally well-liked fixture of the fandom.
One day in 2012, shortly after the Headmistress had replaced EA's old Chicago BFF as main forum admin, the Collector's account got banned or restricted over something dumb. When the ban wasn't lifted as quickly as he hoped, he took it... the way one takes things when one is unhealthily invested: he started spamming Headmistress and the mod team with increasingly rambling and abusive emails (lost to time, probably for the best). When that didn't work quickly enough, he tried a different route.
One of the many auctions that the Collector had won, some years prior, was EA's old iPod Touch📝 – which contained all of her favorite tunes and, buried somewhere in the data cache... a phone number. Which the Collector tried calling. And wouldn't you know it: EA picked up. She congratulated him on his sleuthing skills, listened patiently as he made his case, apologized for any distress caused by the unfair account restriction, and then they got married.
Kidding! She freaked the fuck out, hung up, and banned him for life from the forum and all EA shows and events.
After his ban, the Collector allegedly still tried to attend at least one VIP pre-show (one source in the comments says he was allowed to buy some merch, refunded for his ticket, and escorted out). He joined the Reform forum to bitch about EA and try to rally people to his cause, possibly made revenge posts about her on darker snark forums, and continued to hound the Asylum mod team. So in June 2014, EA came up with a radical and unexpected fix to the Collector problem.

The official Asylum Fan Forum has been shut down permanently. I have personally paid thousands of dollars each year to keep the forum safe and secure for you ... Unfortunately, the forum has not been kept safe and secure for me, a truth which disappoints me greatly, instead becoming a place where people who have physically threatened myself and my staff prey upon forum members, pressuring them to contact me and my staff on their behalf. If the gullible wish to humor my stalkers (who live in their parent’s basement at age 30 something) and thus put me in danger, they may do it on their own dime. They may also fuck off, because stupidity can kill, and I won’t be your victim. To those who enjoyed the forum, you know who to thank for its closure. (“On the closing of the Asylum Forum”)

Voilà! This is how a decade-long archive of shared history ends: not with a bang, but with a dirty delete and a sod-off communiqué.
The obliteration of the forum took everyone by surprise...

I was actually on the forum when it was taken down. I was navigating between posts and when I went to click on a different board, an error message came up. I honestly cried a little, I'm not ashamed to say. (WVC admin on Reddit, 2024)

...and I do mean everyone:

Chicago BFF / ex-admin, the next morning: Whoa, EA forum shut down? Ex-mod: It turns out that if someone spends enough years actively “waging war” to destroy what they can’t have, eventually they’ll be successful. * eye roll * Not even mods got prior warning. Just all the sudden, poof, gone. BFF: Really? She did not let the moderators know?! This is sounding worse and worse. Uggh. I’m so sorry. Such a loss. (...) Ok, threats are serious, but why not just put it in archive mode so no one can post? (...) Sad. I shall light a candle in the forum's honor. (Facebook posts; scroll down for screenshots)

It was a gut punch, especially for people who had poured countless hours into the community, or could have used some prior warning to save years of their own writing from the role-playing threads. One last chance to take a look around the place that had meant so much to so many.

From the wording of the announcement of closing the forum and a number of other things, it sometimes seems like EA doesn't like her fans much. :/ (🐀)

Three months after the forum was nuked, Battered Rose (a venerable EA fansite, which had been around since the Enchant era and had one of the most complete EA galleries online) announced that it was shutting down too.📝 The admin, who had also been a long-time forum mod, cited a lack of “time, energy, passion, or money” to keep the website going... and being upset at the sudden disappearance of the forum. It was, truly, the end of an era for the Asylum.
...Well, no point in living in the past. For those who could afford it, and still wanted to talk to/about EA after that (not everyone did 🐀), there was always the Asylum Army fanclub!
Over the summer of 2014, EA held regular live chats and Q&A's, and... many attendees really enjoyed them, and thought the AA was well worth the money after all. She also quietly parted ways with the much poo-pooed Headmistress around that time.

Just spent over 4 hours giggling, drinking tea and playing guessing games in chat with EA and other Asylum Army members ... No griping, no downers, just lots of fun. I think I like the way the ‘new fandom’ is going and now I’m really glad I finally decided to join the Army. (September 4, 2014🐀; Battered Rose had closed the day before)

The forum was lost forever, but perhaps that was a chance for a fresh start. Could this fanclub thing really be the Asylum Renaissance that fans had been longing for?

...I have come today to a very difficult but necessary decision, and that is to discontinue the Emilie Autumn Official Fanclub. The site itself, and the community chatroom, will remain open to you indefinitely, but I will no longer be making updates to the site. (Newsletter, September 8, 2014📝)

...Never mind, then.
Turns out the fanclub had been the Headmistress' idea all along. EA had been reluctant from the start, and although she really enjoyed the live chats with a safe community of people “who are there for the right reasons”, she couldn't overcome her fundamental discomfort with the concept. Lifetime and regular members would receive a bunch of digital downloads and a -35% coupon on the Asylum Emporium for their troubles. EA said she would definitely pop back once in a while for live chats, for free, just for fun, but to my knowledge, she never did.
And so the most devoted fans were left standing in the rain...

She is happy, she made it. She is fulfilling her dreams, found love and happiness after all the pain. I understand that she now doesn’t need “us” anymore ... That doesn’t change the fact she broke my heart with taking the Asylum Army and the forum from me. Yet, I am happy for her. (🐀)

...while naysayers pointed and laughed, Nelson-style.🦠

I don’t feel sorry at all for the people that paid for the Asylum Army fan club. Most of them knew that EA is an atrocious business woman and has broken many promises before. In fact, I laugh at them. They seriously thought that EA would actually stay consistent with this? (🐀)

EVERYTHING MUST GO: THE ASYLUM WHOLESALE

EA fans were left without an “official” home for about three years. This gave them plenty of time to be annoyed at EA for: not releasing the audiobook on time, not materializing any new project for a while... and the new sin of peddling random, ridiculously marked-up AliBaba jewelry as “merch” on her official store. Think faux-antique cameo pendants and $30 Big Ben rings (...because the Asylum story is set in London, get it?).

The whole accessories section looks like a tacky overpriced English souvenir shop. (🐀)

The fanbase lost a lost of steam in those in-between years, because there wasn't much to stick around for. As evidenced by the positive reception of the AA live chats, even in the midst of unresolved drama, out-loud interactions in a friendly environment have always been EA's saving grace. Considering the amount of online hate, there are shockingly few accounts of bad IRL encounters with EA: most people say that in live conversation, she comes across as a fun, warm, and genuinely sweet person. Some report that their negative opinion shifted after meeting her.
But there were no chats or live shows anymore. There was only social media, where she ignored questions and vague-posted about overdue projects – and the newsletter📝, which was all saccharine love-bombing to promote bland dropshipped trinkets. For fans who remembered the handcrafted merch (and two-way communication) of the early years, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

submitted by pillowcase-of-eels to HobbyDrama [link] [comments]

2024.05.19 08:54 BOfficeStats Domestic BOT Presale Tracking (May 18). Thursday/EA+THU Comps: Furiosa ($4.49M), Garfield ($1.22M/$1.97M), Bad Boys ($3.64M/$5.30M) and Inside Out 2 ($7.66M).

BoxOfficeTheory Presale Tracking
USA Showtimes As of May 17
Presales Data (Google Sheets Link)
BoxOfficeReport Previews
DOMESTIC PRESALES
Furiosa Thursday Comp assuming $5M for keysersoze123: $4.49M

abracadabra1998 ($5.46M Thursday comp. GxK obviously really propping the average up but for now I could see that settling at around $5 Million, still good pace! (May 12). Really good stuff in this market (May 9). Reallyyyyyy good day 1 here. I want to note that: NO I do NOT think preview numbers will be that high; it's just highlighting the fact that this is likely a movie that will be running hot in my market, as cinephile blockbusters usually do. Next update I will have T-14 comps, which will be a lot lower due to the short release window (May 8).)
AniNate (Encouraging to see the weekend fill out a bit. Been seeing a lot of promotion during the basketball playoffs so general awareness has to be getting there now. (May 15). Skimmed through ThuFri and Valley View (Cleveland vicinity) has sold roughly 60 Furiosa tix so far while Tinseltown (Canton) has sold 40. I'm guessing the upfront audience does lean more toward the urban/cosmopolitan sensibilities (May 9). Presales show there's definitely some hype for this. Regal gonna irritate trackers again, offering no upcharge IMAX for Furiosa (May 8).)
Charlie Jatinder ($3.05M Thursday comp.)
el sid ($5.8M average Thursday comp (without Exorcist 2) (May 12). Furiosa continues its strong performance in "my" theaters. The movie yesterday had already 1.310 sold tickets (for Thursday, May 23). Up 15% in ca. 24 hours which isn't bad at all after the first rush. Already comfortably in front of The Fall Guy's final sales (it had 1.071 counted on Thursday for Thursday) and almost on par with Civil War's final sales (1.357) and also the Apes finally had not more than 1.657 sold tickets in my theaters (May 11). I also can't complain about Furiosa's presales in my theaters, not at all. Already 1,138 sold tickets (in all of "my" 7 theaters) for May 23. 14 days left. Promising start. Civil War on Thursday of the release week for Thursday had 1,357 sold tickets and The Fall Guy finally had 1,071 sold tickets (May 9).)
katnisscinnaplex ($3.94M Thursday comp.)
keysersoze123 (Definitely chugging along. I am feeling good about 5m+ previews (May 15). It has way stronger sales than Garfield and that is expected. I am thinking of 5m previews for now (May 14). I think this is a solid OD presales. With a short PS window its probably looking at 5m+ previews (May 9).)
TheFlatLannister ($4.71M Thursday comp. Second straight day of weak growth. Not a great sign (May 18). First meh day since presales started (May 17). Keeps climbing at a strong pace (May 11). This continues to grow at an excellent rate (May 10). Really strong day 2. The short presales is for sure a factor (May 9). Not seeing much of a breakout. Still pretty solid start to presales (May 8).)
vafrow ($3.5M Thursday comp. A bit of a step back today (May 18). It's starting to heat up (May 17). Comps are showing as steady since the last update, but it actually dipped quite a bit this week before rebounding today. Advance ticket buying has been so off in this market recently for some reason. Holding pace with Apes is a good sign (May 16). It had a good day (May 12). Mediocre day 2 (May 10). Not the hottest start. IMAX is the format of choice though, so, ATP will be high (May 9).)
YM! (Southeast Wisconsin: Pretty solid I guess for Furiosa. Seems that most of it's business is in the Marcus Theaters in Mequon/Waukesha so not really expecting much a diverse showing but there seems to be a fanbase around it. Feel good in everyone's 4.5-5M previews range (May 17).)

Hit Man

vafrow (Getting a theatrical release up here in Canada, and early signs are that it might get a pretty decent screen count. Not super wide or anything, but a pretty decent amount for a weekend that has a lot of other releases (May 14).)

The Garfield Movie Thursday / EA+Thursday Comp: $1.22M/$1.97M

abracadabra1998 ($0.72M EA comp and $1.19M Thursday comp. The two comps that are most helpful, Wish and Trolls (not PLF, EA on a weekend, family movies) are both pointing to a lot lower than average, so I'm inclined to give those a lot more weight. I'm thinking $500-600k for EA (May 18). Still not really accelerating, and the EA is falling against comps (May 12). Good EA numbers, but many of these comps were PLF-only EA, which this is not, so I think the ATP will be quite lower and that should be adjusted for (May 9).)
AniNate (EA screenings are pretty filled to the brim here now for what that's worth. Maybe a surge in family demand will present itself later next week (May 17). EA sales look decent now, but this does feel rather weak compared to the IF presales. Not 100% certain what's going on here but based on this I buy the trades' opening estimates over the forum vibes (May 15). I definitely haven't seen as much of a rush here with Garfield as with IF (May 11).)
el sid (The very even sales are a good sign (May 7). For Sunday, May 19, I can already report that also in my theaters it looks very good for Garfield. They will for sure add shows soon. It has so far only 1 show/theater and the shows are almost sold out, between 1 and 4 seats are still available. So my guess still is that this movie if it's not totally bad (and first reviews here were quite positive) will become a (big) hit. Seems not much on Thursday but it's a step in the right direction (May 6).)
katnisscinnaplex ($0.91M EA comp and $1.11M Thursday comp. Lightyear probably the best comp here size-wise for Early Access, probably ends around 750-800k (May 18).)
keysersoze123 (4 days later. Almost no pace so far. Sunday shows are near sellout and so limited growth. Previews are like 35% of Panda 4 and Friday is under 1/3rd. That said this will under index in MTC1 as Panda also did that. Still struggling to see this as a breakout. Looking at the current state, it looks like half of IF as well !!! Of course that had Reynolds and did not finish that great (May 17). Its definitely weaker than even Elemental. That said these movies tend to finish strong and so I am not writing it off so early. Just that the long PS window is irrelevant for them. They could rather start presales like a week before release and it would be all the same. Meh. We have to wait until next week to gauge where its going to finish. It has very low ATP as well and actual would be even lower as its going to see tons of kids tickets (May 14). Early shows are regular digital shows at 1PM this sunday. So ATP will be very low. I think 500k ish at best. Preview let us see how things go in the final week. Presales at this point are almost non existent (May 13).)
TheFlatLannister ($2.18M Thursday comp. Not much movement at all in the past week. Probably heading to $2M+ (May 17).)
vafrow ($0.4M Thursday comp. Comps don't paint a pretty picture though. EA shows are doing okay (May 11). Still no sales for my core sample for previews. But I did the larger sweep, which shows the interest right now is the Sunday early access shows. Looking at sales patterns, it's mainly blocks of 3/4 tickets, so likely families grabbing some. It's worth noting that the May holiday in Canada is the weekend of May 17-20th, not the weekend after with Memorial Day. I can see families prioritizing getting out the holiday weekend when they have more time (May 4).)
YM! (The combined previews total for Garfield is 35 tickets with 23 tickets coming from EA, which is pretty solid. Still thinking around 2-2.75m previews with EA as while not as widespread, the showings seem like they’re filling up nicely. Think Garfield does about the same as IF though OW as due to the likely lower ATP Keyser hinted at iirc and seemingly little screen space with no PLFs. Meh, kids animation doesn't really make much notion until the Monday for release and Garfield seems indicative of that. Thinking the 1.5-2M Thursday previews range folks were spitting out makes sense. Nothing screams breakout though and the fact it's getting one screen, maybe two at most for previews makes me feel like OW might be similar to IF (May 17).)

Bad Boys: Ride or Die Thursday / EA+Thursday comp: $3.64M/$5.30M

abracadabra1998 ($3.78M Thursday comp. These numbers are from last Thursday, as per my post this morning. This is a more walk-up movie a la Aquaman or Apes so I think it's a pretty good start (May 18). Pretty good start for it honestly (May 16).)
katnisscinnaplex ($5.30M EA+Thursday comp.)
TheFlatLannister ($3.68M Thursday comp. Well, this is a pretty good start (May 17).)
YM! (Again, another solid start-ish. I expect Bad Boys to have the most diverse audience. Can't really predict much on previews but I am feeling confident in the 55-60m OW range for the past few weeks (May 17).)
vafrow ($3.45M Thursday comp. Comps are not the greatest. One, surprisingly hard to find a comparable film with similar start on sales. Plus, I think ticket buying patterns have changed pretty drastically in my market over the last few months. There's very little up front sales compared to late 2023. Dune was the exception (May 17).)

The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Re-Releases (June 8-10)

BoxOfficePro (Fathom Events has also announced that select Regal Cinemas will present the films in 4DX on June 22/23/24 for Fellowship/Towers/Return respectively (May 14).)
katnisscinnaplex (Up to ~1,400 shows now with new locations picking it up and others adding a second showing. LotR1 has sold 831 seats OD, LotR2 sold 715 seats OD, and LotR3 sold 735 seats OD. For comparison, Phantom Menace didn't break 800 tickets until T-3 and we're still over a month out. JW3 comp is currently around 9m (it was at 1,670 tickets sold at this point!) (May 6).)

Inside Out 2 Average Thursday Comp: $7.66M

abracadabra1998 ($3.67M Thursday comp. Holy numbers of shows and seats! Multiplexes are really expecting a lot here. Sales off the bat not amazing here sadly, but we shall see where it goes (May 15).)
AniNate (It is encouraging that Canton is already giving me something to work with with 12 Thursday preview sales. Same number for Fri-Sun. I do see nine sales for first Thursday at Canton now and I think that's a pretty solid start (May 15).)
charlie Jatinder ($11.37M Thursday comp at MTC2.)
katnisscinnaplex ($6.21M Thursday comp. Early sales just haven't been there lately except for the extreme fans. $12.27M Mario comp (May 18). Already at 180 shows for previews in my areas and still has a few theaters left to post. For comparison, Godzilla x Kong finished with 197, Kingdom of Apes 190, and Kung Fu Panda 205 (May 14).)
keysersoze123 (At least the show counts show Plexes are expecting a big OW. I dont remember when we last had a animation movie start with so many shows. I wont count Mario as that was a fan driven movie. Definitely not great presales but this is not a fan driven movie. Let us see where things are in the final week (May 15). Too early to judge presales as ticket sales just started early this morning. Families dont book tickets on weekday mornings. Wait until evening today to judge it. From a release perspective its way bigger than all animation movies seen recently including Panda 4. Easily the biggest I have seen in a long time. Only movie which is not comparable is Mario but that was not just a family flick (May 14).)
Porthos (VERY BAD COMPS: $8.06M Thursday comp. What a strange pre-sale pattern. Threw in Shazam 2 and Barbie simply due to having nothing suitable at T-27, and I wanted something that was backloaded in pre-sales. Was prepared to make a smart-aleck comment about the unsuitability of the pre-sale pattern of Barbie, but after today's update... Okay, yeah. Still no. But what a weird pattern. Was there some sort of promo that dropped today that I'm not aware of? Either way, just a great day (for this type of movie at this point in pre-sales) (May 17). Fairly strong day today, actually. Was concentrated at a couple of theaters (including a small group sale at one showing), but still, sales are sales (May 16). I really do not have good comps for this movie. Like, at all. Especially for D1. With that in mind, I did some digging and did manage to get the Elemental D1 numbers out of the old Tracking thread: IO2 = 5.45946x Elemental on D1 [13.10m]. Now will Inside Out 2 be as backloaded as Elemental? Well it's tough to literally sell 5.5x times the amount of tickets on the final couple of days that Elemental did, so perhaps not. But it does show how fracking backloaded purely kids animation is. Anyway, this is 30 days out and it isn't a CBM film (like AtSV) or CBM-adjacent film (like Incredibles 2). The Sonic 2 comp is perhaps a little concerning. On the other hand, nearly a weeks more of pre-sales so not exactly a great comp. 3.5% of presales are 3D and 40.1% are PLF (May 15). On the Saturday of release weekend (ie NOT EA) there is a special event screening for IO2: INSIDE OUT 2: FUNKO FAMILY EVENT! (2024) Sat June 15th. Might boost the OW slightly, depending on how wide this event is and how much more these tickets will presumably cost (May 11).)
TheFlatLannister ($8.97M Thursday comp. Definitely the biggest rollout in showings since I've started tracking Florida. Bigger than even Dune 2 and it's only T-26 (May 18). This is a super super strong day 2. Probably just Orlando overindexing, but yeah starting to lean towards something big brewing. Florida presales are somehow even crazier. Sold 2357 seats and is getting a blockbuster rollout in terms of showing allocations. Kung Fu panda comp day 2: gives me $8.50M (May 15). Well, I can't really tell if this is a breakout or not yet. Looks very good especially in the first few hours. These are probably terrible comps, but might as well try something (May 14).)
TwoMisfits (I'm kinda shocked at the opening set from my Cinemarks... 2 screens (1 PLF, 1 not) and 6 showings at my PLF 14 for Thursday (and 11 showings on the same screens once it runs full day - 7 PLF b/c 1 is 3d on the reg screen, 4 not)... 3 screens (.75 3d, 2.25 not) and 9 showings at the non-PLF 12 for Thursday (and 12 showings on 2.25 screens once it runs full day)... So, 2 and 2.25 screens for the weekend presale sets... Disney must be charging a huge % for themselves b/c this is an Elemental opening set at my PLF...a little more generous for Thursday at my non-PLF, but then they too drop to an Elemental opening set after the adult Disney base Thursday rush... (May 14).)
vafrow (No new sales. Whatever glitches in the system on day 1 didn't push sales to day 2. I still think the lack of base ticket options will push families to wait. Cineplex has jacked up the cost of premium formats, plus they're throwing in an increase for opening weekend of major releases. It adds up quickly for families (May 16). With the site glitching yesterday, it might account for the slow start. But, what's interesting is the format breakdown. Nothing is being made available in anything close to a regular showtime. The one non 3D showing in Dolby is a matinee showing. Everything else is carrying a hefty premium. They'll likely release regular showtimes closer to release, but right now, it's priced to get eager fans to pay the premium formats (May 15).)
YM! (Seems IO2 is playing more like a kid's animation than a family event in start of presales. However, it is pretty solid for what it is. Do not have comparisons for anything but I like that Majestic is healthy and it about 66% of Garfield T-6. Thinking anywhere from 75m-100m OW rn but can change as we go along (May 17). In fairness it's only been an hour but yeah sales are softer than I expected. However, it is a month out and will largely skew more towards kids than say TLM/Across so wasn't expecting a blitz like them. Here at Marcus theaters are going all out for IO2 with it having the lion share of PLFs with it getting both screens when there is two PLFs with tentpole like levels of screens (May 14). Was taking a look at Marcus Cinemas to see that they have preloaded Inside Out 2 showtimes which seem to start at 3:00 pm on a Thursday. It seems like Marcus is going all out on it as judging from showtimes it's taking away all of Bad Boys’ PLFs in that theaters that have two+ PLFs are giving all to IO2 (May 11).)

Deadpool and Wolverine

keysersoze123 (Only number that matters is OD presales. after few days it will hit a trough and then it will plod along until social media reactions and reviews hit close to release. I think we can kind of predict its OW after its OD presales (May 18). RESPONSE TO PORTHOS: Captain Marvel had very strong sales on its OD despite early start. So OD is all about fans. It does not matter if you start 2 weeks before or 9 weeks. They will still book. So it would be interesting to compare OD sales not only with CM for @Porthos but also the big openers in 2022/23 period from MTC perspective. 1) DS2 - 230k ish. 2) Thor 4 - 136k ish. 3) Wakanda - 110k. 4) Ant 3 - 88K. 5) Guardians 3 - 70k ish. I wonder where Deadpool 3 will land. Anything is fine as long as it does pull in a Marvels (May 17).)
Porthos (No point of comparison for a movie starting presales this early (60+ days before release). Only MCU entry which comes close was Captain Marvel back in Jan of 2019 (T-58 start date). Aside from that, the only other Disney release would be TROS starting at T-59. This is gonna be the longest pre-sale window for a major Disney release since The Last Jedi all the way back in 2017 (which looks to be around 70 days if a cursory check of when tickets went on sale is correct). Hell, it's gonna be the longest major release of any studio since Fast X's execrable 99 day pre-sale window. Have had some that came close-ish, but probably the most on-point recent comparison will be Jurassic World 3's 43 day pre-sale window, which is still over three weeks shorter than this one. I mention this because the sheer length of the pre-sale window will very likely depress the D1/D2/D3 sales somewhat. Maybe not much, but you can't tell me there'd be no difference between a T-21 launch, a T-29 launch, a T-35 launch and a T-65 launch. Sure, it's a matter of smaller degrees when comparing something like a BP2 (starting at T-38), but that extra month is probably gonna slice some numbers off the top of the pile, especially after the first day (May 17).)

Domestic Calendar Dates (last updated May 16):
MAY

(May 19) Review Embargo Lifts [Garfield 9 PM EST]
(May 20) Presales Start [Deadpool and Wolverine (9 AM EST)]
(May 20) Opening Day [Monday: Spider-Man Homecoming Re-Release]
(May 22) Presales Start [The Watchers]
(May 23) Presales Start [Summer Camp]
(May 23) Thursday Previews [Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga + Hit Man + The Garfield Movie + Sight]
(May 26) Presales Start [Bikeriders]
(May 27) Opening Day [Monday: Spider-Man Far From Home Re-Release]
(May 30) Presales Start [A Quiet Place: Day One]
(May 30) Thursday Previews [Ezra + Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle + Summer Camp + Robot Dreams]

JUNE

(June 3) Opening Day [Monday: Spider-Man No Way Home Re-Release]
(June 5) Presales Start [Despicable Me 4]
(June 6) Presales Start [Twisters]
(June 6) Thursday Previews [Bad Boys: Ride or Die + The Watchers]
(June 8) 1-Saturday Re-Release (1st day) [The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition]
(June 9) 1-Sunday Re-Release (1st day) [The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition]
(June 10) 1-Monday Re-Release (1st day) [The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Extended Edition]
(June 13) Thursday Previews [Inside Out 2]
(June 15) 1-Saturday Re-Release (2nd day) [The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition]
(June 16) 1-Sunday Re-Release (2nd day) [The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition]
(June 17) 1-Monday Re-Release (2nd day) [The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Extended Edition]
(June 20) Thursday Previews [The Bikeriders + Janet Planet]
(June 27) Thursday Previews [Blue Lock The Movie -Episode Nagi- + Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 + A Quiet Place: Day One]

JULY

(July 1) Presales Start [Longlegs]
(July 2) Opening Day [Wednesday: Despicable Me 4]
(July 4) Opening Day [Thursday: Possum Trot]
(July 4) Thursday Previews [MaXXXine]
(July 11) Thursday Previews [Fly Me to the Moon + Untitled New Line Horror movie]
(July 18) Thursday Previews [Twisters]
(July 25) Thursday Previews [Deadpool and Wolverine + Didi + Fabulous Four]
(July 29) Presales Start [Alien: Romulus]

AUGUST

(August 1) Thursday Previews [Harold and the Purple Crayon]
(August 8) Thursday Previews [Borderlands + Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us + Cuckoo + The Fire Inside + Trap]
(August 15) Thursday Previews [Alien: Romulus + Horizon An American Saga Chapter 2 + Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure]
(August 22) Thursday Previews [Blink Twice + The Crow + The Forge + Slingshot]
(August 29) Thursday Previews [City of Dreams + Reagan + They Listen]

Presale Tracking Posts:
April 23
April 25
April 27
April 30
May 2
May 4
May 7
May 9
May 11
May 14
May 16
Note: I have removed most tracking data that has not been updated for 2 weeks. I think there is value in keeping data for a week or two but at a certain point they start to lose their value and should not be treated the same as more recent tracking data.

submitted by BOfficeStats to boxoffice [link] [comments]

2024.05.18 22:28 lawrencedun2002 Here's how a makeup artist from Springfield collaborated with Gypsy Rose Blanchard in LA

Alexis Oakley has done makeup for Emma Stone, Paris Hilton, Demi Lovato, and Kris Jenner, but her work has never garnered as much attention as when she "glammed" Gypsy Rose Blanchard two weeks ago.
Oakley, a Springfield native, met with the newfound celebrity May 1, when Blanchard was in Los Angeles for a red carpet event promoting her new Lifetime docuseries, "Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up." Oakley met Blanchard in her hotel room, where she did her makeup and the two created social media content together.
Oakley and Blanchard had about two hours to do hair and makeup and one hour to create social media photos and videos. They also stopped in a nearby Sephora for about an hour to shop together. Oakley has posted more than nine videos on her TikTok and Instagram from the collaboration, which have garnered more than 70 million impressions, she said. She also gained more than 250,000 followers on TikTok, almost overnight. As of Wednesday, Oakley has more than 490,600 followers on TikTok.
"I've never gained so many followers from anyone before," Oakley told the News-Leader on Wednesday. "Obviously, I've worked with traditional celebrities ... and a tag can help my career, for sure, but the Gypsy Rose Effect is unlike anything."
Connecting with Gypsy
The collaboration began back in December 2023, a few days after Blanchard was released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center, where she served an eight-year sentence for conspiring to kill her mother Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard" with her then-boyfriend Nick Godejohn in 2015.
Blanchard was released from prison Dec. 28 and on Dec. 30, Oakley posted a TikTok video of her setting up her makeup kit with the caption, "Clearing my schedule in case Gypsy Rose wants glam." The video was a part of a trend where TikTokers made videos of them "clearing their schedules" to do specific activities with Blanchard. As of Wednesday, Oakley's video had more than 454,200 views.
Though the video garnered more engagement than her other content, Oakley said she didn't think much of it. However, she was genuinely interested in doing Blanchard's makeup.
"After that, I saw that she was doing press in New York and getting her hair and makeup done and I was like, 'Okay, she's about to start being a glam girl, how can I get my name in there?'" Oakley recalled. "I DMed (direct messaged) her a million times (on Instagram), but obviously she wasn't seeing anything because I think she got 12 million followers overnight."
Oakley decided to take it a step further and began sifting through the list of accounts Blanchard followed on Instagram, which at the time was about 100.
"I was just looking for someone who was maybe a manager, publicist or friend," Oakley continued. "I ended up finding a few girls who worked on the Lifetime team and DMed them and said, 'Oh my gosh, I saw Gypsy is doing press. How can I glam her? Can you connect me? Who should I reach out to?' and they were like, 'Oh my gosh, we actually saw your TikTok.'" In January, Lifetime aired a six-episode docuseries called "The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard," which chronicled the history of Blanchard's case and some of her life in prison.
After connecting with members of Lifetime, it was about four months before Oakley heard from them again, which she said is typical when working with celebrities. Then out of nowhere Oakley received the call: Are you available? Gypsy is coming to Los Angeles.
Four hours and a lasting friendship
According to Oakley, Blanchard was only in Los Angeles for about 24 hours. Ahead of the Lifetime red carpet event, Blanchard visited Santa Monica Pier — it was her first time seeing the ocean — and did some staple California activities, like trying In-N-Out Burger. Then, Blanchard and Oakley met up for hair and makeup in Blanchard's hotel room.
"We just connected right away," Oakley said of Blanchard. "I filmed the entire process, which I typically try to do with my clients ... She was so sweet, such an easy client and just so excited to learn about makeup and just asking questions the entire time: 'What's this product? How do you apply this? Why are you putting it there? What does this do? Have I been doing this wrong?' (She) was very, very eager to learn, which is so fun for me."
During hair and makeup, Oakley learned that Blanchard had never been to a Sephora, so she asked Blanchard's team if they would have enough time to run by a nearby mall. Fortunately, they were able to work it into her schedule.
The two bought an array of makeup products, including moisturizer, foundation and concealer, blush, mascara, eyebrow pencils and lip liner.
"It was just so sweet and it honestly made me so emotional taking her as she'd never been before, she's 32 years old and doesn't really know how to do her makeup," Oakley said. "Watching her light up when I would tell her about certain products ... was just really, really cool."
Since Blanchard's visit to Los Angeles, Oakley said the two have been texting back and forth daily. And while nothing is confirmed, Oakley said Blanchard told her that she would like for her to do her makeup for her wedding, when that day comes.
Getting started and what's next
Oakley got her start doing prom and bridal makeup in her parent's basement in high school, but she knew she was interested in more sophisticated work.
A few weeks after graduating from New Covenant Academy in 2016, Oakley moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18. Upon arriving, she enrolled at Make-Up Designory, a five-month professional make-up training program.
"Two days before I graduated Make-Up Designory, I landed a job as an assistant for a really huge celebrity makeup artist. That was kind of that moment for me where I was like, 'Okay, I think this is supposed to be what I do." The makeup artist was Rachel Goodwin, who has worked with Emma Stone, Laura Dern, Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya and countless other A-list celebrities.
Oakley said she spent about four years working as an assistant for various celebrity makeup artists before establishing herself independently. The first two celebrities she worked with on her own were Paris Hilton and Jessica Alba, both in the same week.
More recently, Oakley has enjoyed collaborating with social media content creators including Tanya Mongeau, Trisha Paytas and Brianna LaPaglia.
When it comes to Oakley's relationship with Blanchard, she said she hopes to stay in contact and do her makeup anytime she's in Los Angeles.
As for future clients, Oakley said her dream celebrity that she would like to work with is Hailey Bieber. She also hopes to host more in-person events like meet-and-greets and masterclasses.

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2024.05.18 17:06 nokiaspiffy Impatiently waiting for MN tickets

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2024.05.18 07:17 FancyInvestment397 Best Offshore Sportsbooks in 2024

With the best offshore sportsbooks legally available in almost every state, betting on sports has never been easier. Better yet, offshore sportsbooks provide early betting lines and the most competitive odds.
Sounds good so far, but let’s see what else these sites have to offer. And yes, there will be bonuses.
Best Offshore Sportsbooks

Top 10 Offshore Sportsbooks Compared

The best offshore sportsbooks have a lot in common, but that doesn’t mean they’re all the same. Check out the table below to see the different features at the top 10 offshore sportsbooks in the US.

Sportsbook	Best For	Live Streaming	Accepts Crypto	No. of Sports
BetOnline	All-round betting experience	❌	✅	25+
BetWhale	Streaming major sports	✅	✅	25+
Bovada	Live betting markets	❌	✅	15+
Everygame	Regular promos	❌	✅	20+
TG.Casino	Crypto sports betting	❌	✅	30+
BetUS	Picks and predictions	✅	✅	20+
MyBookie	Prop bets	✅	✅	20+
BetNow	Different bet types	❌	✅	10+
Jazz Sports	Live streaming	✅	✅	15+
BUSR	Niche betting markets	✅	✅	25+

5 of the Best Offshore Sportsbooks Reviewed

You’ve seen a snapshot of our take on the best offshore betting sites. Now let’s take a deeper dive into why these bookmakers are top of the pile with our offshore betting reviews.

1. BetOnline Sportsbook – The Best All-Round Offshore Sportsbook

Payout time: 0-2 days
Established: 2004
License: Panama Gaming Authority
Headquarters: Panama City, Panama
Restricted states: NJ

Our Verdict 9.6/10

BetOnline heads our list of top offshore online sportsbooks for several reasons. First off, it offers more markets than nearly all other offshore betting sites. It also goes well beyond the basics to cover niches like darts, handball, snooker, financials, and politics.

BetOnline has been around for a long time and has built a reputation for providing early betting lines and super competitive odds.

While we would like to see live streaming, the live betting lines are second to none. As far as banking options go, you’re well covered with card and cryptocurrencies support. The only drawback here is the credit card fees which are quite high.

Features Overview

Betting Options: 10/10
Betting Odds: 9/10
Promotions & Rewards: 10/10
User Experience: 10/10
Payment Methods: 9/10
Customer Support: 9/10

Pros

Over 20 markets available
Covers financials, lottery & politics
Multiple welcome bonus options
Features several promotions
Operating successfully since 2004

Cons

No live streaming
9.75% charges on Visa & Mastercard deposits

2. Bovada Sportsbook – The Leader in Live Betting Markets

Payout time: 0-2 days
Established: 2011
License: Curacao
Headquarters: Costa Rica
Restricted states: DE, MD, NV, NJ, NY

Our Verdict 9.4/10

When it comes to the best offshore sportsbooks, Bovada is perhaps the most recognizable brand. It’s a massively popular sportsbook with competitive odds and top coverage of sports including niche markets.

Bovada has the best live betting lines in the industry with all odds and scores updated in real-time and a massive range of markets for each event.

Bovada’s prop builder is another highlight that makes bet suggestion for your bet slip. There are very few ongoing promos, but there’s a great loyalty program that makes up for this. There’s a good range of banking options and a boosted welcome pack for signing up with crypto.

Features Overview

Betting Options: 10/10
Betting Odds: 9/10
Promotions & Rewards: 7/10
User Experience: 10/10
Payment Methods: 7/10
Customer Support: 10/10

Pros

Over 25 markets available
Helpful Props Builder tool
Good loyalty program
Nice desktop & mobile experience
Highly trusted operator

Cons

Credit card fees up to 15.9%
Not many promotions

3. BetWhale Sportsbook – Best for Live Streaming

Payout time: 0-3 days
Established: 2023
License: Curaçao eGaming
Headquarters: Curaçao
Restricted states: None

Our Verdict 9.1/10

BetWhale is one of the new kids on the block and offers big rewards for crypto users. In fact, there’s an unlimited crypto welcome bonus which is pretty amazing.

One of the standout features at this offshore sportsbook is the live betting and live streaming features that work together seamlessly. You won’t get stream of all sports but there’s certainly enough to keep you going.

As for payments, we;;, it stands to reason that there’s lots of support for crypto but you can also make card payments. Payouts here are super fast and can be processed in as little as a few minutes when using crypto.

Features Overview

Betting Options: 10/10
Betting Odds: 9/10
Promotions & Rewards: 10/10
User Experience: 9/10
Payment Methods: 10/10
Customer Support: 10/10

Pros

Available in all 50 states
Constant promotions, including 50% Daily Boosts
Generous bonuses, especially for crypto users
Instant withdrawals
Simple registration process

Cons

No loyalty program

4. Everygame Sportsbook – Lots of Ongoing Promos

Payout time: 1-2 days
Established: 1996 (as Intertops)
License: Curacao
Headquarters: Antigua
Restricted states: KY, LA, MD, MO, NJ, NY, WA

Our Verdict 9/10

Everygame took its first bet in 1996 as Intertops. It’s one of the longest-running offshore sportsbooks in the world. And in that time this bookie has perfected its sports betting platform in every way imaginable.

Everygame runs some great ongoing promos such as the weekly draws where you can pick up some free bets. These draws are for anyone that makes in-play parlay wagers.

The selection of prop bets could improve while we’d also like to see live streaming. But the range of futures and other bets makes this a minor flaw in an otherwise perfect sportsbook.

Features Overview

Betting Options: 8/10
Betting Odds: 8/10
Promotions & Rewards: 10/10
User Experience: 9/10
Payment Methods: 10/10
Customer Support: 10/10

Pros

Low wagering requirements on bonus
Great sports coverage
Lots of futures markets
No fees on credit card deposits

Cons

Needs more prop bets
No loyalty program

5. TG.Casino Sportsbook – Best Crypto Offshore Sportsbook

Payout time: Instant – 2 days
Established: 2023
License: Curacao
Headquarters: Curacao
Restricted states: None

Our Verdict 8.9/10

TG.Casino Sportsbook is unique among the best offshore sportsbooks for its long list of sports betting markets. For an offshore betting site that started out as a casino, this is one seriously impressive site.

One of the unique features of TG.Casino is the markets if offers on esports leagues and tournaments. You’ll struggle to find another sportsbook that covers the likes of Rocket League and Call of Duty.

On the banking side of things, this is a crypto offshore sportsbook, but you can buy crypto through the site using your card. There’s even a native coin $TGC that you can invest in and use to when betting.

Features Overview

Betting Options: 10/10
Betting Odds: 9/10
Promotions & Rewards: 3/10
User Experience: 8/10
Payment Methods: 7/10
Customer Support: 10/10

Pros

Most markets among top offshore sportsbooks
Really fast withdrawals
Section for esports betting
Good for crypto users

Cons

No sportsbook welcome bonus

Bonuses Available at Offshore Sports Betting Sites

One of the best things about offshore online sports betting sites is that you get access to the best sportsbook bonuses in the industry. In fact, these offers are usually much higher in value that any you’ll find at state-licensed sportsbooks.
Here are a few of the most common bonuses to look out for.

Welcome Bonuses

If you sign up for a new account you’ll get a nice big welcome bonus. This is usually a deposit match bonus but may also include a free bet or bonus bet. These bonuses can only be used once when you sign up and are often high in value.

Deposit Match Bonuses

This bonus matches your deposit by a certain percentage up to a max amount like 100% up to $500. It’s a very simple bonus that just rewards you for putting more money in your account.

No Deposit Bonuses

This is like the triple-double of sports betting bonuses in that it’s super rare. The no deposit bonus gives you free credit to use at the offshore sportsbook. It’s usually low in value, but hey, it’s free.

Bonus Bets

These are free wagers that are sometimes part of a welcome package or thrown in with deposit match bonuses. Any winnings from a bonus bet are yours to keep minus the stake. So a $25 bonus bet that returns $75 will see you pocket $50.

Ongoing Promotions

These are offers that are available to you as a regular customer. They can be bonuses for making deposits, bonus bets, special bets on certain events or parlay offers. One of the most popular ongoing promos is the odds boosts… which brings us to our next bonus.

Odds Boosts

This offer will enhance or ‘boost’ the odds for a particular wager which means more potential profits for you. These are almost always offered on a specific event or wager type for an event or sport.

Parlay Insurance

A parlay bet is made up of legs and this promos insures your overall wager if you lose by one leg. You won’t get your winnings, but you will get your stake or part of your stake back.

Loyalty Bonuses

These are offers that are only available through a sportsbook loyalty program. These can be any of the bonuses listed above or even real world prizes like tickets to a game.

Payment Methods

Available payment methods at top offshore sportsbooks generally fall into two main categories: crypto and traditional. Below, you can read more on these banking options and find out if there are any offshore sportsbooks that accept PayPal.

Cryptocurrencies

Crypto like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin allow for fast deposits and withdrawals with no fees (outside of small mining charges). You also don’t have to worry about dealing with third parties like banks or credit card companies.

Traditional Payment Methods

Credit cards and debit cards are easy to use, but they may come with fees and aren’t available for withdrawals. Some sportsbooks let you use bank wire, but you’re potentially looking at high fees here too.

eWallets

At the time of writing, there are no offshore sportsbooks that accept PayPal, or other popular eWallets like Neteller and Skrill. This is unfortunate on one hand because eWallets deliver fast withdrawals. But on the other hand, they charge up to 3% fees on sportsbook cashouts.

Types of Bets at Offshore Sportsbooks

The best offshore sports betting sites feature a wide range of bet types. Here’s what to expect regarding different kinds of wagers:

Moneyline: A simple bet on the game winner, but the favorite and underdog have different odds.
Point Spread: You wager on if the favorite or underdog will cover their respective spread.
Totals: Betting on whether two teams will combine to score more or less than the totals line.
Player Props: A wager on an individual player’s statistical performance (e.g., Steph Curry to score 30+ points: yes/no).
Team Props: A bet on a team that doesn’t revolve around them winning or losing (e.g., Bills to score 4+ touchdowns: yes/no).
Parlays: Includes two or more outcomes, and all outcomes must win for a successful wager.
Same Game Parlays: Same as above, except all outcomes come from the same game rather than different matches.
Live Betting: Provides new bets in the middle of games, as opposed to pre-game moneylines, spreads, totals, etc.
Futures: Wagers that usually take weeks or months to settle (e.g., Who will win the championship?).

Popular Sports at the Best Offshore Sportsbooks

Most of the top offshore betting sites feature 20 sports or more. That means you’ll have no shortage of markets to wager on at these sportsbooks.
Here are some of the most popular sports that boast the most markets at US offshore sportsbooks.
NFL
The NFL is the premier US sport in terms of fanfare and betting. Sportsbooks go crazy every fall with many NFL prop bets, live wagering options, spreads, and moneylines. Just about any offshore sportsbook will have an impressive selection.
But if you’re looking for the absolute best NFL sportsbook, then you should head to BetOnline. This bookmaker covers pro football better than any other.
NBA
The NBA offers many wagering opportunities thanks to its 82-game season and lengthy postseason. Totals bets and player props are especially popular due to the NBA’s high-scoring nature. It’s always fun wagering on how many points a certain player will score.
As for where you should bet on NBA games, Everygame stands out due to its consistent basketball coverage throughout the entire season.
MLB
Pro baseball takes the prize for the longest season at 162 games per team. MLB player props and same game parlays are quite popular among baseball bettors. You’ll commonly see props involving pitchers and home runs.
This is especially true at Bovada, which has a loaded MLB betting section.
NHL
NHL betting is quite popular in northern states, or any metropolitan area with a good hockey team. It provides the chance to make unique bets like puck lines and period wagers. Of course, you can place common wagers on hockey too like moneylines, parlays, and live bets.
And where is best to place these wagers? BetNow is a leading NHL sportsbook thanks to its massive range of hockey bets.
NCAA Football & Basketball
No restrictions exist on college sports betting at offshore sportsbook sites. Contrast this to some regulated markets, where you can’t bet on in-state teams or any college teams at all in some cases.
NCAA football is extremely popular at offshore sports betting sites during fall while March Madness is the big draw for college basketball.
BetUS is a good site for both college football and basketball wagering as it has lots of picks and predictions on its BetUS TV shows.
Golf
While golf may not featuring exciting dunks or home runs, it still pulls in a lot of action at sportsbooks. You’ll find lots of props, live wagers, and futures when the four Majors roll around. That said, mark your calendar for the PGA Championship, Masters, US Open, and British Open.
You might also want to open a Bovada account because we’ve found it to be the top golf sportsbooks.
Horse Racing
Horse racing may feel like it’s past its glory days, but it still pulls in the crowds at sportsbooks. Major races for betting purposes include the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Preakness, Breeders’ Cup, and Grand National.
If you like horse racing betting, keep in mind that MyBookie provides an 8% rebate for horse bettors.
Esports
Esports betting gains more and more popularity with each passing year. It offers well over a dozen markets, with examples being LoL, CS:GO, Dota 2, Fortnite, and Rocket League. There are even live betting markets now for tournaments.
As for where to bet, we like the esports market selection at TG.Casino.
Other Sports
Some other popular sports among American bettors include boxing, MMA, soccer, and tennis. These sports each have major events and fights (boxing/MMA) throughout the year. They’re also popular among international crowds and draw bettors from around the globe.
Jazz Sportsbook is a nice sportsbook for these popular secondary markets because it caters so well to international bettors.

What is an Offshore Sportsbook?

Offshore sportsbooks are betting sites that are licensed by regulators outside the US such as Costa Rica, Curacao, or Panama. These licenses typically allow operators to serve multiple countries including the US.
This means that offshore betting sites are not regulated at state level but they are regulated by those offshore gaming authorities.
The best offshore sportsbooks offer the same betting products, odds, and services as their state-licensed counterparts. We’d even say they offer better in many cases, but more on that later.

Are Offshore Sportsbooks Safe?

That’s the big question, right? And the simple answer is a resounding yes.
Top offshore sportsbooks are all fully licensed by respected gaming authorities. This means that they need to prove to the regulator that they are above board and have the right security measures in place to protect you and your money.
This means that they are perfectly safe to use in the USA. The same also applies in other countries, such as the UK, where you can bet at betting sites that are not on Gamstop. These sites are not regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, but they are still safe and legal to use.

Why Bet at Offshore Sportsbooks?

Offshore betting sites have been hugely successful for a long time now, so why is it that bettors keep using them? Well, here are a few of the major benefits to using offshore sportsbooks.

Bigger bonuses: Offshore sportsbook bonuses are usually much bigger than those at state-licensed sites. They can be worth thousands of dollars especially if using crypto.
Regular promos: You rarely need to wait for offshore online sports betting promos. Most offshore sportsbooks will have multiple offers running each month.
Crypto support: Offshore bookmakers always offer crypto as a banking option. You can expect fast deposits and withdrawals when using crypto and in some cases, instant payouts.
Available in most states: You don’t have to worry about geolocation software with offshore sportsbooks. The average offshore sportsbook serves most states in the US.
No taxes withheld: Federal laws require a gambling operator to report winnings over a certain amount or withhold taxes. But offshore online sportsbooks don’t report these winnings to the IRS leaving it up to you.
Better odds: Offshore sportsbooks have lower running costs as they do not pay state taxes. They can then pass these savings on to you in the form of better odds.

Is Sports Betting Legal in the US?

Sports betting is legal in the US. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) used to prevent sportsbooks on the internet from operating directly on American soil. But the 2018 repeal of PASPA gave states the right to regulate sports gambling. Many states have taken advantage of this opportunity since 2018.
No federal laws ban offshore sports betting. As a result, some offshore sportsbooks have been legally serving Americans for decades. BetUS, for example, has been in the offshore betting industry since 1994.
You can deposit and place wagers at the best offshore sportsbooks without any worries. This is because no US citizen has ever been prosecuted for offshore online betting.

Offshore Sports Betting on Mobile

You won’t find offshore sportsbook apps at any of our recommended bookmakers. But you can still wager through a smartphone or tablet at any of the best offshore sportsbooks. Our top 10 recommended operators offer mobile betting through their websites.
You just need to visit your the site on your mobile device. From there, you can sign up, deposit, and start placing wagers. You’ll find that offshore mobile sportsbooks are every bit as good as dedicated apps.

Pros & Cons of Mobile Offshore Sportsbooks vs Desktop

While offshore sports betting apps are few and far between, you can still bet through offshore mobile sportsbook sites. But how do they compare to desktop sites?
Pros

Perfect for betting on the go with no need for sitting
Stay on top of news and markets anywhere
Great for placing bets on vacation or other trips
Make bets in a stadium while watching games live
Mobile sportsbook screens usually load faster

Cons

Smaller screen versus desktop betting
Harder to see live streams
Convenience may lead to placing too many bets

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Offshore Sportsbooks?

The IRS requires you to report any type of income, including winnings at gambling sites. State-licensed betting sites stick to this rule, reporting your winnings to the IRS if you make of over $600 in the year.
By contrast, offshore sportsbooks don’t report anything to American tax authorities. We still recommend that you pay taxes on sports betting winnings for legal purposes and it is best to speak to a tax professional.

Responsible Gambling

The best offshore sports betting sites make a commitment to responsible gambling. This includes tools that promote responsible betting such as:

Deposit limits
Spending/loss limits
Time limits
Self exclusion/account pauses

They will also feature dedicated pages on responsible gambling with resource links to organizations like the National Council on Problem Gambling.

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2024.05.18 00:56 softtechhubus AI CaptureFlow: An Effortless Way To Create Engaging Videos

https://preview.redd.it/34e3pvf4h21d1.jpg?width=705&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5aca29905d0aa2c328f58a9be464af8fe4ed7cf2

An Introduction to AI CaptureFlow

AI CaptureFlow is an innovative all-in-one video suite developed by Kundan Choudhary that allows users to effortlessly record, live stream, screen capture and edit high-quality videos within minutes using advanced artificial intelligence technologies. As content creation and video marketing continue to grow in importance for businesses, AI CaptureFlow provides an indispensable tool for bloggers, marketers, educators and entrepreneurs to produce professional-looking videos without much effort.
In this in-depth review, we will take a comprehensive look at the key features and functionalities of AI CaptureFlow, share real user experiences, analyze the product funnel and upsells, assess the pros and cons, and ultimately help you decide if this streamlined video suite is right for your needs. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of how AI CaptureFlow can help you take your video content and online presence to the next level.

An Overview of AI CaptureFlow's Powerful Features

AI CaptureFlow packs a robust set of features within its intuitive interface to simplify every step of the video creation process. Here are some of the standout capabilities:

Effortless Screen Recording

With just one click, AI CaptureFlow allows you to instantly start recording activities on your screen without needing to install any additional software. You can record your entire screen, a selected area, or record your face and screen simultaneously. The screen recordings are saved in high definition MP4 format for optimal playback quality.

Live Streaming Made Simple

Whether you want to go live on your website, Facebook or YouTube, AI CaptureFlow handles everything seamlessly through its user-friendly live streaming feature. Begin streaming videos or audio with just a few taps directly from your browser in under 60 seconds.

Comprehensive Screen Capturing

Easily take screenshots of full screens, individual apps or select regions with AI CaptureFlow's intuitive screen capturing tool. The screenshots are saved in high resolution PNG format for clear visuals. You also get instant screenshot editing options directly within the app.

Powerful Video Editing Suite

AI CaptureFlow gives you a full-fledged video editing studio to trim, cut, merge and enhance your recordings. Use advanced AI features like automatic subtitles, logo insertion, video spinning, format conversion and HD quality optimization for impressive edits on the go.

Intuitive Interface

Beginners will appreciate AI CaptureFlow's seamless drag-and-drop interface and one-click operations. Everything from recording to editing and publishing is executed through smooth workflows within an uncluttered studio panel.
In summary, AI CaptureFlow streamlines every aspect of video production to help users effortlessly create professional and engaging video content without needing prior technical expertise. Its wide-ranging yet easy-to-use features surely give it an edge over most screen recording and editing software available today.

Key Benefits of AI CaptureFlow

AI CaptureFlow has a lot to offer for different types of users. Here's a brief overview of who can leverage its capabilities the most:

Bloggers and Content Creators

The app empowers bloggers, YouTubers, online course creators and marketers to include high-quality video content in their social media campaigns, tutorials, explainer videos and online courses with minimum effort. This helps boost engagement, build authority and increase sales.

Educators and Trainers

Teachers, professors, coaches and trainers can use AI CaptureFlow to record video tutorials, lectures, demonstrations and lessons for in-person or online distribution. It's great for flipped classroom concepts and high student/trainee involvement.

Businesses and Organizations

Companies can leverage the app to create onboarding, marketing and promotional videos, as well as record team meetings, webinars, product demonstrations and online conferences with live comments or annotations.

Online Freelancers

Freelance tutors, fitness instructors, consultants and other service providers can build engaging video profiles and portfolios or deliver paid lessons and consultations using AI CaptureFlow's extensive toolkit.

Online Students and Learners

Students can utilize the easy recording and streaming tools for video projects, experiments, presentations, book reviews and more to showcase what they've learned.
In essence, AI CaptureFlow acts as a valuable educational, marketing and collaboration tool for individuals, businesses and organizations alike who want to integrate high-impact videos into their online activities.

How to Make Money with AI CaptureFlow

For entrepreneurs, AI CaptureFlow opens up revenue opportunities beyond just content creation. Here are some effective monetization strategies:

Create and Sell Online Video Courses

Develop paid video courses and tutorials around various in-demand topics using AI CaptureFlow's capabilities. Host them on platforms like Udemy, Skillshare or your own membership site.

Offer Video Production Services

Leverage your video skills to create explainer videos, product demos, commercials and other marketing videos on contract for small businesses.

Start an Online Training Website

Start an educational website or YouTube channel providing free tutorials and premium paid memberships around topics you are skilled at.

Become an AI CaptureFlow Affiliate

Promote AI CaptureFlow through affiliate links and earn 50% recurring commissions from your referrals' purchases. The high-converting sales funnel offers lots of commission potential.

Resell Digital Products through Videos

Upsell and cross-sell other e-products through personalized recommendation videos created using AI CaptureFlow.
So regardless of your niche, AI CaptureFlow opens up exciting self-employment opportunities through its powerful tools built for high quality and scalable video marketing. With practice and market knowledge, you can build profitable online businesses around it.

My Personal Experience with AI CaptureFlow

As someone who produces a lot of tutorial content for my blog and YouTube channel, I was eager to test AI CaptureFlow's capabilities. Here's a brief overview of my experience using the app:

Easy to Set Up Process

I found AI CaptureFlow super easy to download from the website and log in to get started. I didn't need to install any other software.

Simple Yet Robust Recording

My very first screen recording with AI CaptureFlow took less than a minute from clicking record to having a high-quality MP4 file saved. I loved how smoothly it captured my full screen along with my webcam.

Streamlined Video Editing

Editing features like trimming unwanted footage, adding subtitles and logos, or converting file types were all extremely intuitive to use. The drag-and-drop editing panel is well-organized.

Impressive output quality

I was really pleased with the full HD quality of my final edited videos straight from AI CaptureFlow, without external rendering. The optimized files were lightweight too.

Helpful Customer Support

When I had some initial queries, the support team responded promptly via chat and email to resolve all my issues. Their documentation is also quite comprehensive.
Overall, I found AI CaptureFlow made video production an effortless process compared to other software I've used. The app delivers high quality, saves a ton of time and offers great value for creators at any level. I can see why it's gaining popularity quickly.

Understanding AI CaptureFlow's Funnel & Upsells

No product review is complete without examining AI CaptureFlow's multi-tiered sales funnel and associated upsells:

Frontend - AI CaptureFlow Regular

Priced at $17, it includes the basic feature-rich screen recording, live streaming and video editing tools.

OTO 1 - AI CaptureFlow Premium Edition ($47)

More advanced features for unlimited recordings, custom branding, AI text to speech and more. Good upgrades.

OTO 2 - AI CaptureFlow Max Edition ($67)

Removes all limitations and restrictions for power users, with unlimited exports too.

OTO 3 - AI CaptureFlow Ebook Edition ($37)

Enables creation of interactive ebooks and flipbooks within minutes using AI. Unique offer.

OTO 4 - AI CaptureFlow Done-For-You ($97)

Outsources complete video production including graphics to the support team. Saves huge time for busy entrepreneurs.

OTO 5 - AI CaptureFlow Audiobook Edition ($47)

Advanced text-to-speech capabilities for making audiobooks in multiple languages. Niche-focused add-on.

OTO 6 - AI CaptureFlow Shorts Edition ($27)

First-to-market tool for effortlessly creating short-form viral videos for Facebook, YouTube & Instagram. Timely offer.

OTO 7 - AI CaptureFlow Agency Edition ($97-197)

Grants reseller access or ability to set up multiple sub-user accounts for digital agencies.

OTO 8 - AI CaptureFlow Reseller Edition ($67-97)

Enables affiliates and resellers to earn recurring 100% commissions from AI CaptureFlow referrals.

OTO 9 - AI CaptureFlow Whitelabel Edition ($297)

Top-tier offer allowing rebranding and private labeling of the entire suite under own business.
Overall, the funnel provides immense value for users across experience levels looking to simplify or scale up their video activities through new niche-focused tools each time. It also gives aspiring online entrepreneurs room to monetize AI CaptureFlow further as resellers or affiliates.

Pros and Cons of AI CaptureFlow

No product is perfect, so let's analyze AI CaptureFlow's pros and cons objectively:

Pros

Intuitive one-click workflow for hassle-free video production
Powerful bundled features like screen recording, editing, live streaming in one app
Automated AI capabilities save huge time and effort
HD video and screenshot quality for sharp, professional output
Continuous updates and improvement by dedicated support team
Affordable one-time pricing for all tools (no monthly fees)
Hefty education and monetization bonuses included
Works seamlessly across operating systems and devices

Cons

Steeper upfront investment for full-featured Max version
No offline desktop app, web-based only
Internet required for using cloud-hosted resources

Overall, the pros far outweigh the minor cons. AI CaptureFlow does an excellent job achieving its goal of simplifying video production workflows through powerful yet easy-to-grasp tools for both beginners and professionals alike.

AI CaptureFlow Refund Policy

AI CaptureFlow protects its customers by offering a stringent 60-day money-back guarantee on all purchases through its parent company WarriorPlus. Here are the key points about its refund policy:

Scope of Refunds

Dissatisfied customers can claim refunds for any reason within 60 days of their original purchase. This applies to the frontend and all upsells.

Hassle-Free Process

You don't need to give any reason for a refund request. Simply log into your WarriorPlus account, select 'Cancel Purchase' and follow the prompts to get your money back.

Swift Refund Processing

In my experience, refunds are issued within 48-72 hours from request through the same payment mode used for purchase, with no questions asked.

Policy Exceptions

The only exclusion is for private high-ticket offers not sold through WarriorPlus, where customer has to contact the vendor directly for refunds.
So in essence, this refund policy makes AI CaptureFlow completely risk-free by removing uncertainties associated with investing in new software products and tools online. You can test and use it safely, without hesitation.

Pricing Details of AI CaptureFlow

As a SaaS (software-as-a-service) product, AI CaptureFlow employs a simple and affordable one-time payment model for all its variants:

Frontend

AI CaptureFlow (regular) retails at just $17 for the basic toolkit.

Upsells

OTO Add-ons range from $27 to $97 each for value-adding upgrades and niche-focused versions.

Multi-Buy Deals

Buying the frontend + 3-4 relevant upsells typically gives 2 for 1 deals or bundled pricing starting from $97.

Agency/Reseller Packs

Edition 7 allows selling unlimited sub-accounts from $97 or creating 50 accounts for $197.

Whitelabel OTO 9

This pro upgrade delivers the entire suite's code for $297 to privately label as your own product.
When you consider some alternatives charge $30-50 monthly or $300+ annually, AI CaptureFlow packs a lifetime of simple yet powerful video creation capabilities at reasonable single fees for all budgets and business sizes. Its fair and flexible payment terms make upgrading accessible over time.

Should You Use AI CaptureFlow?

After detailed evaluation, here are the key factors to consider before choosing AI CaptureFlow for your video production needs:

If You Want to Add Professional Videos With Minimum Effort

AI CaptureFlow is best suited for those who don't have technical expertise but need to include high-quality, engaging videos in their content or business as part of marketing and education. Its simplified tools are designed for easy creation of videos and other visual assets without much learning.

If You Want to Optimize Video Creation Workflow

For established online entrepreneurs and creators, AI CaptureFlow is a must-have for streamlining video recording, live streaming and editing into a cohesive cloud-based studio accessible from anywhere. It removes inefficiencies associated with using multiple applications separately.

If Your Goals Involve Video-Based Teaching or Training

Educators, tutors, coaches and training providers will find immense value in AI CaptureFlow for building extensive libraries of lessons, courses and demonstrations in video format to deliver knowledge effectively online or face-to-face.

If You're Looking to Monetize Video Skills or Start an Online Business

AI CaptureFlow extends opportunities to generate multiple income streams by monetizing your video expertise, selling video production services, running an online school, or becoming a reseller for this powerful tool through its extensive funnel and business tools.
So in summary, if you need easy yet professional tools to either incorporate high-impact videos into your existing online work or venture into new video-focused businesses, AI CaptureFlow is absolutely worth your investment. You won't find an all-in-one solution better than this for the price.
Get access to AI CaptureFlow Here

Frequently Asked Questions about AI CaptureFlow

Here are some common queries customers have about AI CaptureFlow and their clarification:

Does it work on Mac and Windows?

Yes, AI CaptureFlow is fully compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS and Android devices. It runs smoothly on all major platforms through any modern browser.

What formats are supported for screen recording?

AI CaptureFlow records screens in high quality MP4 format that is universally playable across devices. It also supports MOV, AVI, MP3 and PNG formats for multimedia editing and exports.

Is AI CaptureFlow safe to use?

Yes, AI CaptureFlow is thoroughly checked by independent security experts to ensure it works safely and protects your data. It conforms to all privacy regulations as well.

What is the file size of recordings?

Recorded videos are generally 3-5MB per minute in optimized HD quality. Screenshots are around 1-2MB each depending on complexity. File sizes remain lightweight for easy sharing.

Is the video editor complicated to use?

Not at all. Even novice users find the drag-and-drop editing panel quite intuitive to learn. Plus, detailed guidance videos are provided within the app library for reference.

Is there a free trial available?

While AI CaptureFlow doesn't offer trials itself, you are protected by its 60-day money-back guarantee. So you can consider the purchase timeframe as your full-featured trial period.

What is the renewal rate for OTO upgrades?

Once purchased, all AI CaptureFlow upgrades are yours to use for lifetime without any subscription fees or need for annual renewals. They are one-time costs.
I hope these answers provide clarity on any initial questions. Their prompt support team is also available to assist with additional queries you may have.
Get access to AI CaptureFlow Here

Conclusion

In today's digital world where engaging visual content is paramount, AI CaptureFlow emerges as a standout all-in-one video production solution for marketers, educators and online entrepreneurs. It streamlines everything from screen recording and live streaming to advanced video editing into a single intuitive cloud-based studio accessible from any device.
Backed by powerful yet easy-to-use AI tools, AI CaptureFlow effortlessly handles all technical aspects so users can focus entirely on the creative side of video making. Its feature-rich yet affordable toolkit opens up multiple monetization opportunities too. With no subscription traps, the one-time investment pays for itself quickly.
While other screen recorders require learning multiple applications separately, AI CaptureFlow thoughtfully brings together an entire video workflow into one place. It essentially becomes your own personal video agency right in your browser. If creating videos with minimum effort to promote your brands, courses or services online is important, AI CaptureFlow deserves a try. Its money-back guarantee removes all risks.
I hope this in-depth review has addressed all aspects of AI CaptureFlow comprehensively and helped you assess if you need such an integrated system for your growing video needs. Do let me know if any other questions come up!
Get access to AI CaptureFlow Here
AI CaptureFlow: An Effortless Way To Create Engaging Videos

An Introduction to AI CaptureFlow

An Overview of AI CaptureFlow's Powerful Features

AI CaptureFlow packs a robust set of features within its intuitive interface to simplify every step of the video creation process. Here are some of the standout capabilities:

Effortless Screen Recording

Live Streaming Made Simple

Comprehensive Screen Capturing

Powerful Video Editing Suite

Intuitive Interface

Key Benefits of AI CaptureFlow

AI CaptureFlow has a lot to offer for different types of users. Here's a brief overview of who can leverage its capabilities the most:

Bloggers and Content Creators

Educators and Trainers

Businesses and Organizations

Online Freelancers

Online Students and Learners

How to Make Money with AI CaptureFlow

For entrepreneurs, AI CaptureFlow opens up revenue opportunities beyond just content creation. Here are some effective monetization strategies:

Create and Sell Online Video Courses

Develop paid video courses and tutorials around various in-demand topics using AI CaptureFlow's capabilities. Host them on platforms like Udemy, Skillshare or your own membership site.

Offer Video Production Services

Leverage your video skills to create explainer videos, product demos, commercials and other marketing videos on contract for small businesses.

Start an Online Training Website

Start an educational website or YouTube channel providing free tutorials and premium paid memberships around topics you are skilled at.

Become an AI CaptureFlow Affiliate

Promote AI CaptureFlow through affiliate links and earn 50% recurring commissions from your referrals' purchases. The high-converting sales funnel offers lots of commission potential.

Resell Digital Products through Videos

My Personal Experience with AI CaptureFlow

As someone who produces a lot of tutorial content for my blog and YouTube channel, I was eager to test AI CaptureFlow's capabilities. Here's a brief overview of my experience using the app:

Easy to Set Up Process

I found AI CaptureFlow super easy to download from the website and log in to get started. I didn't need to install any other software.

Simple Yet Robust Recording

Streamlined Video Editing

Editing features like trimming unwanted footage, adding subtitles and logos, or converting file types were all extremely intuitive to use. The drag-and-drop editing panel is well-organized.

Impressive output quality

I was really pleased with the full HD quality of my final edited videos straight from AI CaptureFlow, without external rendering. The optimized files were lightweight too.

Helpful Customer Support

Understanding AI CaptureFlow's Funnel & Upsells

No product review is complete without examining AI CaptureFlow's multi-tiered sales funnel and associated upsells:

Frontend - AI CaptureFlow Regular

Priced at $17, it includes the basic feature-rich screen recording, live streaming and video editing tools.

OTO 1 - AI CaptureFlow Premium Edition ($47)

More advanced features for unlimited recordings, custom branding, AI text to speech and more. Good upgrades.

OTO 2 - AI CaptureFlow Max Edition ($67)

Removes all limitations and restrictions for power users, with unlimited exports too.

OTO 3 - AI CaptureFlow Ebook Edition ($37)

Enables creation of interactive ebooks and flipbooks within minutes using AI. Unique offer.

OTO 4 - AI CaptureFlow Done-For-You ($97)

Outsources complete video production including graphics to the support team. Saves huge time for busy entrepreneurs.

OTO 5 - AI CaptureFlow Audiobook Edition ($47)

Advanced text-to-speech capabilities for making audiobooks in multiple languages. Niche-focused add-on.

OTO 6 - AI CaptureFlow Shorts Edition ($27)

First-to-market tool for effortlessly creating short-form viral videos for Facebook, YouTube & Instagram. Timely offer.

OTO 7 - AI CaptureFlow Agency Edition ($97-197)

Grants reseller access or ability to set up multiple sub-user accounts for digital agencies.

OTO 8 - AI CaptureFlow Reseller Edition ($67-97)

Enables affiliates and resellers to earn recurring 100% commissions from AI CaptureFlow referrals.

OTO 9 - AI CaptureFlow Whitelabel Edition ($297)

Pros and Cons of AI CaptureFlow

No product is perfect, so let's analyze AI CaptureFlow's pros and cons objectively:

Pros

Intuitive one-click workflow for hassle-free video production
Powerful bundled features like screen recording, editing, live streaming in one app
Automated AI capabilities save huge time and effort
HD video and screenshot quality for sharp, professional output
Continuous updates and improvement by dedicated support team
Affordable one-time pricing for all tools (no monthly fees)
Hefty education and monetization bonuses included
Works seamlessly across operating systems and devices

Cons

Steeper upfront investment for full-featured Max version
No offline desktop app, web-based only
Internet required for using cloud-hosted resources

AI CaptureFlow Refund Policy

AI CaptureFlow protects its customers by offering a stringent 60-day money-back guarantee on all purchases through its parent company WarriorPlus. Here are the key points about its refund policy:

Scope of Refunds

Dissatisfied customers can claim refunds for any reason within 60 days of their original purchase. This applies to the frontend and all upsells.

Hassle-Free Process

You don't need to give any reason for a refund request. Simply log into your WarriorPlus account, select 'Cancel Purchase' and follow the prompts to get your money back.

Swift Refund Processing

In my experience, refunds are issued within 48-72 hours from request through the same payment mode used for purchase, with no questions asked.

Policy Exceptions

Pricing Details of AI CaptureFlow

As a SaaS (software-as-a-service) product, AI CaptureFlow employs a simple and affordable one-time payment model for all its variants:

Frontend

AI CaptureFlow (regular) retails at just $17 for the basic toolkit.

Upsells

OTO Add-ons range from $27 to $97 each for value-adding upgrades and niche-focused versions.

Multi-Buy Deals

Buying the frontend + 3-4 relevant upsells typically gives 2 for 1 deals or bundled pricing starting from $97.

Agency/Reseller Packs

Edition 7 allows selling unlimited sub-accounts from $97 or creating 50 accounts for $197.

Whitelabel OTO 9

Should You Use AI CaptureFlow?

After detailed evaluation, here are the key factors to consider before choosing AI CaptureFlow for your video production needs:

If You Want to Add Professional Videos With Minimum Effort

If You Want to Optimize Video Creation Workflow

If Your Goals Involve Video-Based Teaching or Training

If You're Looking to Monetize Video Skills or Start an Online Business

Frequently Asked Questions about AI CaptureFlow

Here are some common queries customers have about AI CaptureFlow and their clarification:

Does it work on Mac and Windows?

Yes, AI CaptureFlow is fully compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS and Android devices. It runs smoothly on all major platforms through any modern browser.

What formats are supported for screen recording?

AI CaptureFlow records screens in high quality MP4 format that is universally playable across devices. It also supports MOV, AVI, MP3 and PNG formats for multimedia editing and exports.

Is AI CaptureFlow safe to use?

Yes, AI CaptureFlow is thoroughly checked by independent security experts to ensure it works safely and protects your data. It conforms to all privacy regulations as well.

What is the file size of recordings?

Recorded videos are generally 3-5MB per minute in optimized HD quality. Screenshots are around 1-2MB each depending on complexity. File sizes remain lightweight for easy sharing.

Is the video editor complicated to use?

Not at all. Even novice users find the drag-and-drop editing panel quite intuitive to learn. Plus, detailed guidance videos are provided within the app library for reference.

Is there a free trial available?

While AI CaptureFlow doesn't offer trials itself, you are protected by its 60-day money-back guarantee. So you can consider the purchase timeframe as your full-featured trial period.

What is the renewal rate for OTO upgrades?

Conclusion

submitted by softtechhubus to u/softtechhubus [link] [comments]

2024.05.17 23:18 Zealousideal-Craft-2 Comment trouver un job après des expériences catastrophiques en Startup

Attention long post a venir, mais la première partie va à l'essentiel. En faisant ce post, bien que je vide mon sac au passage, je n’attends pas de compassion car ce n’est qu’un petit obstacle de la vie et ce que j’ai vécu arrive à beaucoup d’autres, je suis simplement à l’écoute des conseils que vous pourrez me donner, afin d’évoluer au mieux dans ma carrière, en vous remerciant d’avance.
Petite introduction sur ma situation :
Après avoir commencé mes études supérieures en santé, j’ai rapidement réalisé que ce domaine n’était pas fait pour moi. Après quelques années, j’ai donc décidé de me reconvertir dans le développement. À l'époque, par manque de lucidité, j’ai choisi de me former en autodidacte plutôt que de retourner à l’université, ce que je regrette aujourd’hui.
Après quelques mois de formation, j’ai effectué quelques missions en freelance pendant 1 an. Cependant, je me suis vite rendu compte qu’il serait difficile d’évoluer professionnellement dans la tech en France sans diplôme. J’ai donc entamé un cursus dans une école en ligne pour obtenir un titre professionnel de concepteur développeur d’applications (bac +3/4) en alternance.
Pendant cette alternance, j’ai travaillé dans deux TPE, et ces expériences furent pour le moins chaotiques. Bien qu’elles m’aient permis de travailler sur des projets intéressants avec des technologies variées, gérer des projets complexes de bout en bout, intégrer de l’IA, concevoir des maquettes, etc., elles ont également apporté leur lot de difficultés, notamment des patrons abusifs.
En échangeant avec mon responsable de promo lors de mon examen, il m’a confié que près de la moitié des élèves de la promotion avaient des employeurs qui les exploitaient sans vergogne ni considération (malgré leur engagement à former correctement les alternants), et cinq d’entre eux sur une promo de trente ont dû quitter leur entreprise pour ces raisons.
Pour ceux qui veulent plus de détails, je décris mes expériences de manière plus détaillée plus bas.
Me voilà quelques mois après la fin de mon contrat, à la recherche d’un emploi dans un nouveau département (73), après que ma copine et moi avons décidé de vivre à la montagne. La situation est délicate pour moi. Je n’ai aucun réseau ici, car c’est très loin de notre ancienne région où nous avons toujours vécu, et nous ne connaissons personne pour le moment. Mais surtout, j’ai un gros problème : lors des deux entretiens que j’ai eus jusqu’à présent, on m’a demandé des références professionnelles. Je me retrouve dans l’embarras, mon sort reposant alors sur des personnes qui ont essayé de profiter de moi. Je ne sais pas vraiment quoi faire. J’hésite à reprendre une autre alternance pour atteindre un bac +5, car j’ai peur d’être pénalisé par mon parcours académique. Bien que l’idée de reprendre des cours ne me dérange pas, j’avoue qu’à 28 ans, je suis peu enthousiaste à l’idée de rester au SMIC pendant deux années supplémentaires.
Quels conseils auriez-vous à me donner pour rebondir après ce genre d’expérience ? Je vis cette situation comme une injustice (bien que conscient du fait que le monde professionnel est injuste), car bien que je sache que j’ai encore beaucoup à apprendre, je pense avoir fait un travail correct compte tenu des conditions dans lesquelles j’ai effectué mon alternance, et je me fais pénaliser par des personnes mal intentionnées et incompétentes.
De plus bien que j’ai appris sur de nombreuses choses, j’ai travaillé dans une environnement oú la qualité du travail effectué n’avait pas d’importance, d’ailleurs personne n’a jamais regardé la qualité du travail qui était rendu. J’ai donc conscience d’avoir des lacunes dans ce domaine (entre autres) et j’ai peur que cela me pénalise dans la recherche d’un nouvel emploi, en ajoutant au fait que cela ne correspond pas à mes valeurs de rendre du travail baclé.

Détail de mon parcours en alternance

Première expérience :
Une startup de services gérée par deux ingénieurs non issus du milieu tech.
Dans l’entreprise, il n’y avait aucun employé expérimenté, seulement eux et quatre alternants (dont un qui n’était pas développeur). Nous avions cinq projets en simultané, dont deux avec plusieurs mois de retard. Les patrons ne travaillaient jamais sur les projets, ils étaient toujours en “réunion business” ou au téléphone avec les clients, mais rien de pertinent n’en ressortait.
Nous gérions donc chacun plusieurs projets, débordant largement de nos compétences, sans aucun accompagnement : de la conception au DevOps en passant par les maquettes et le développement.
En termes de management :

Pression constante.
Aucune importance accordée à la qualité du travail rendu : de nombreuses failles de sécurité étaient ignorées malgré mes avertissements répétés, et le code était de mauvaise qualité car il fallait livrer rapidement et qu’ils s’en fichaient que le code ne soit pas maintenable aprés livraison.
Longues tirades moralisatrices sur le fait que nous ne correspondions pas au "mood" de l’entreprise, sans jamais être en mesure de nous expliquer concrètement ce que nous devions améliorer, malgré nos requêtes allant en ce sens.
Aucun encadrement.
Les deux patrons donnaient parfois des indications contradictoires sur certains projets et n’assumaient pas leurs erreurs lorsque le travail, inévitablement, ne correspondait pas à la demande de l’un d’entre eux.
Mépris total pour les clients : après chaque réunion avec un client, nous faisions un débrief qui consistait principalement à écouter un des deux boss nous expliquer avec un petit sourire à quel point le client était con.
Démarche frauduleuse : lors d’un audit demandé par un investisseur d’un client, nous avons appris qu’ils facturaient notre travail aux clients à près de 700 € de TJM, même pour des tâches UI/UX que je réalisais par défaut bien que ce ne soit pas mon domaine de compétence, étant le seul à savoir utiliser Figma, tout en prétendant que le travail était effectué par des experts alors que nous étions tous des alternants.
Nous avons découvert qu’ils critiquaient chacun de nous dans notre dos lors des appels avec les autres membres de l’équipe.

Finalement, le torchon a brûlé entre nous lorsqu’un jour, j’ai entendu des insultes à mon égard lors d’une conversation téléphonique en haut-parleur, les murs étant fins (tout le monde dans l'open space à entendu, ajoutant un peu à l'humiliation). Après cet incident, j’ai décidé de quitter l’entreprise et de terminer mon alternance ailleurs, après un an passé dans cette startup.
Deuxième expérience :
Après un mois, je trouve un emploi dans une entreprise 100 % télétravail, mais l’environnement était tout aussi catastrophique.
Résumé rapide :

Pressions régulières.
Trois membres de l’entreprise ont été licenciés en huit mois et deux autres sont partis à cause de l’ambiance toxique (dans une TPE).
Installation obligatoire de logiciels de surveillance sur le PC, traquant tout : temps passé sur chaque onglet internet, captures d’écran toutes les deux minutes, suivi de l’activité du clavier et de la souris…
Le patron gérait tout de façon despotique et n’avait aucune compétence technique, malgré le fait que leur activité principale reposait sur leur propre application (par exemple, il ne comprenait pas pourquoi le front n’avançait pas alors que je travaillais sur le back-end, comme spécifié sur Trello).
Aucune communication : littéralement (Ca parait exagéré, mais c’est litérallement ce qui s’est passé)

La fin du contrat a également été mouvementée. La veille de mon départ, le patron m’a donné une mission à finir (en prétendant que cela ne prendrait qu’une demi-journée) qu’il avait déjà assignée à un autre alternant avant de le licencier. La mission n’avait rien à voir avec notre activité principale, et je suppose que c’était du freelance qu’il prenait pour arrondir ses fins de mois, confié aux alternants qui ne lui coutaient presque rien car payés par les aides de l’État. La mission portait sur une technologie que je ne connaissais pas, sans cahier des charges, sans consignes, sans maquette, ni même de GitHub, les fichiers étant envoyés en zip. Évidemment, je n’ai pas eu le temps de terminer en une journée.
Puis vin la semaine de mon examen, qui s’est très bien passée, avec d’excellents retours du jury. La semaine suivante, j’ai commencé à recevoir des mails menaçants me demandant de finir le travail (gratuitement après la fin de mon contrat), prétendant que ce n’était pas professionnel de ma part de ne pas avoir rendu le travail fini (demandé la veille de mon départ, je rappelle). J’ai poliment répondu que mon contrat était terminé et que je ne travaillerai pas gratuitement. Ensuite, il a commencé à harceler mon école en me diffament, affirmant que je n’avais rien rendu au cours des mois passés dans la boite (alors que j’ai réalisé un projet dans sa totalité, tout seul, car l’alternant qui devait bosser dessus avec moi à été viré quelques jours après le début du projet) et que j’avais volé du matériel qu’il m’aurait prétendument prêté (alors que j’avais toujours travaillé sur mon ordinateur personnel et n’avais jamais reçu de matériel). Cette histoire s’est résolue après que l’école ait demandé un appel en ma présence et celle du patron pour régler la situation (il n’a jamais donné suite).
THE END
PS: Merci à ceux qui prendrons la peine de lire ce pavé indigeste

submitted by Zealousideal-Craft-2 to developpeurs [link] [comments]

2024.05.17 23:09 FrauAmarylis May 17-19 Frau's Fun Weekend Guide

All weekend

41st Long Beach Pride Festival & ParadeParade is Free on Sunday at 10am on E Ocean between Lindero Ave and Alamitos Ave. Theme: The Rhythm of the Rainbow. Festival is separate event on the waterfront with $20+ Tickets and festival map on link, Sat & Sun. 11am-10pm. 386 E Shoreline Dr, Long Beach. https://longbeach.gov/pages/city-news/pride-parade/ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/41st-annual-long-beach-pride-festival-tickets-816143115027
Crawfish Festival May 17-19, admission is $5 Fri 5-11pm, $15 Sat 2pm-11pm, $15 Sun Noon-8pm, food costs extra. AD military are free. Live bands, dance floor,food, rides, photo ops, New Orleans vibes. $2 off coupon on link for Sat & Sun. Free parking. Fountain Valley Sports Park in Fountain Valley. Frau enjoyed it last year. https://www.crawfishfestival.com/
Brea Bonanza Days Country FestFree, Fri at 5:30pm, Sat & Sun Noon. Live country bands, Dolly Impersonator, Dance lessons, etc. Downtown Brea, 210 W Birch St. https://www.breadowntown.com/category/events/bonanza-days/
OC Greek Fest free?? Fri 5-10pm, Sat noon-10pm, Sun Noon to 9pm. music, dancing, culture, and kids zone. 405 N Dale St, Anaheim. https://ocgreekfest.com/
Russell Peters Comedy at Brea Improv Various times and prices. Vettix has free tickets for military/vets. https://improv.com/brea/comic/russell+peters/
Pick your own sunflowers at Tanaka Farms $10, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm. Goat Show Sat at 9am also. https://www.tanakafarms.com/hana-field
Flower Fields in Carlsbad 12 acres of Ranunculus and the sunflower fields are in bloom through Sun. Must buy tickets online. $15 adult/$4/kids, parking included. 9am-4:30 pm entry time slots and you can stay til 6pm. There is also an orchid greenhouse and kids can pan for gold, snacks and drinks for purchase. (Yes, I do occasionally list stuff to do outside of OC.) https://theflowerfields.seetickets.com/event/the-flower-fields-timed-entry/the-flower-fields/3015099
Buddha's Birthday Celebration free, Sat & Sun, 10am-4pm. Family-friendly activities like boardgames and guided meditation, live music, and Tea Ceremonies. Bowers Museum, Santa Ana. https://www.bowers.org/index.php/programs/events-calendaevent/3752-2024-buddha-birthday
Best Places to see Wildflowers https://enjoyorangecounty.com/best-places-see-wildflowers/
Anaheim Garden Walk Fun in the Sun free, pet-friendly, Fri 5-9pm, Sat & Sun 2-9pm. Vendors, kids crafts, selfie photo booth. https://anaheimgardenwalk.com/event/Fun-in-the-sun-market/2145582434/
Free Kiddie Train Rides Sat &Sun, 10am-3:30pm. (3rd weekend every month is free) Goathill Junction Railroad at Fairview Park, 2480 Placentia Avenue,Costa Mesa. It's on the East side of Placentia Ave between Adams Ave & Victoria St. Look carefully for the entrance, as you will be entering via a gravel road that is difficult to spot. https://ocmetrains.org/
Live Music on the Green free,Fri& Sat 6-9pm, Sun 12-3pm. Bella Terra Mall on The Green (new lawn area in front of Century Theaters) Parking: Park in the structure next to Costco. Huntington Beach. https://www.bellaterra-hb.com/events
Live Music on Forest free, Fri-Sundays, various times, downtown Laguna Beach in the Forest pedestrian area. https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/government/departments/cultural-arts/performances/promenade-on-forest-stage#ad-image-0

Friday May 17

Dungeons & Dragons Game play free, Fri, 3:30-5:30pm, El Salvador Community Center, 1825 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana.
Silent Disco at Segerstrom $15, 7pm. Might be sold out now?? https://www.scfta.org/events/2024/silent-disco
Sunset Serenades Free, Fri, 6:30-8pm. Louisiana Jazz with Steve Wade is Tonight. Free Concerts every Friday in May at Heisler Park Amphitheater, up the stairs from Main beach in Laguna Beach by Whale Sculpture. Restrooms nearby. Jazz, pop, and Rock bands. Bring your own alcohol beverage is allowed only if you have food also. Picnicking is popular. https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/government/departments/cultural-arts/performances/sunset-serenades#ad-image-1

Saturday May 18

Santa Ana Public Works Festival free, Sat 11am-3pm at the Walnut Water Pump Station located at 723 W. Walnut Street. Highlights of the event include free tacos to the first 500 guests, prizes, tours of the state-of-the-art water pump station, a water pipe connection competition, music, and performances. Free parking at Flower St and Pine. https://www.santa-ana.org/event/free-family-public-works-community-event/
Kids Touch a Truck free, 9am-noon. (First hour is quiet for sensitive people.) Backhoe, trash trucks, loaders, etc. available for kids to touch and learn about these. Shave ice and burgers for purchase. https://www.instagram.com/p/C6bvpSIvosw/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Stand Up 2 Cancer Neon DJ Night Run $40 if you buy online Friday) otherwise it's $60. Sat. gates open at 5:30pm but there are pre-race fun things and racers go in waves starting at 8pm. OC Fairgrounds. https://nightnationrun.com/orange-county/
Group Hike at Turtle Rockfree, Sat, 3pm. Easy to Moderate hikes, 4-7 miles. No RSVP required. Explore all around French Hill and take the Shady Canyon trail or hike on over to Bommer Canyon. Bring water, light hiking boots. Meet Turtle Rock Community Park. Use the parking lot off Turtle Rock Drive. The leaders will be in the parking lot off of Turtle Rock Drive, not the tennis courts.https://facebook.com/events/s/o-hike-turtle-rock-trails-irvi/1074749723650433/
80's Theme Mission Viejo Night Market free, Sat,5-9pm. Music, food, beer garden. (3rd weekend every month.) It's in a parking lot and Frau didn't like it. https://www.mondaynightmarket.com/
Santa Ana Zoo Residents Free Day10am-5pm, (free on the 3rd Sun of month, w Dr Lic or utility bill proof). https://www.santaanazoo.org/visinfoa.htm
Planetarium Shows $10, Sat, various shows and times, Orange Coast College Planetarium. https://orangecoastcollege.edu/community/planetarium/calendar-tickets.html
Meet some Birds of Prey free, Sat, 11am-1pm. (Every Saturday) Different Birds of Prey are at the Ranch every Saturday morning to teach guests! Harvest Restaurant Patio. Free Valet. 31106 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 https://www.ocbpc.org/?fbclid=IwAR0y6RIkheL-_581ErGSATdhWW7BbMEafoa8rrAQHfQS0py42isDj7hgahQ
Christina Vo, author chat free, Sat 2-3:30pm, Monthly author chat for book lovers. Newhope Library, 122 N New hope St, Santa Ana. https://www.santa-ana.org/event/author-hour-christina-vo/

Sunday May 19

Great Donut Run 5k run/walk or 1 miler or kids dash Various costs and times. Online registration is closed but you can register at Packet Pick up at Road Runner Sports in Laguna Hills on Saturday, May 18th from noon-4pm or Come really early on Sunday to register on race day. Costume contest, also. https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Irvine/GreatDonutRun?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2zjlD7aj5oiExWMq5ya_ONL8b5eTVF3q5KdkjXASBMfyQ6MnfPTMMZzk0_aem_ARerFxuFTtms79Q6xz9beFGo8Iz4qmIX_xfkvGEmUpXRn0PsTtKvoKjaOR4wcGNbXETz4L-rKOWypWdzPmWWzI1R
Balboa Island Annual Art Walk free, 9am-5pm along the south Bayfront Promenade. Live Music on 4 stages. Parking and band info on link. https://www.balboaislandartwalk.info/event-information
Laguna Charm House Tour $70 presale, $80 that day. Sunday, noon-3pm. Tour homes built in the 1800s by shuttle. Start in front of the Pageant of the Masters, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach. https://villagelaguna.org/charm-house-tou
Mommy & Me Cookie Baking class Sun, 10:30am-noon, $25 per person, open to public, Class by Sunflour Cookie Co., at Clubsport, Aliso Viejo. Buy tickets online. joelis5050@gmail.com https://clubsports.com/clubsport-event/mommy-me-cookie-decorating-class-by-sunflour-cookie-co/
5.7 mile Group Hike Peter's Cynfree, Sun, 8-11am, Peter Canyon Regional Park 8548 E Canyon View Ave, Orange. RSVP and more details here with Trail Mix: https://meetu.ps/e/N8lkH/1MDkT/i
Free Sundays Concert 2pm, Nixon Library. https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/sunday-concert-series. Placentia Community Chorus.

Plan Ahead-

Scottish Fest at OC Fairgrounds May 25, 26. https://www.scottishfest.com/?fbclid=IwAR0BJMRlE5E3rN9AsTu9vxkRBTxQNeFLBRM1CxqJby2k8wu6gYaS9sggNu4
Annual Bluegrass & BBQ eventSun, June 9, from 4-7pm. $25 entry, $52 with BBQ, LCAD in Laguna Beach. https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/blank-20-2-1
Free Silent Disco Nights Giant Wheel Lawn at Irvine Spectrum. May 25, June 29, July 27, Aug 31, Sept 28, Oct 26, Nov 30. https://www.irvinespectrumcenter.com/events-promotions/spectrum-silent-disco
Jazz Wednesdays in Laguna Beach https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/jazz2024
Memorial Day 1/2 Marathon, 10k/5k Laguna Hills.
$29 Aladdin Musical May at Segerstrom in Costa Mesa. https://www.goldstar.com/orange-county/shows/38481-disneys-aladdin
Cirque du Soleil: Koozå $40+, June 8-July 21. Laguna Hills Mall Big Top Tent. https://www.todaytix.com/los-angeles/shows/39008-cirque-du-soleil-kooza
OC Free Thursday Concerts in the Parks June 20 to Aug. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy 9 free outdoor Summer concerts Thursday evenings at various parks. https://www.ocparks.com/news/oc-parks-presents-2024-summer-concert-series-and-sunset-cinema-film-series
OC Summer Concerts Mega List https://www.sandytoesandpopsicles.com/orange-county-concerts-park/
OC Summer Movies in the Park List https://www.sandytoesandpopsicles.com/summer-movie-programs-in-orange-county/

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2024.05.17 13:21 Icy-Traffic9558 California King Mattress: Is It the Right Choice for Taller Individuals?

When it comes to finding the perfect mattress, taller individuals often face unique challenges. A California King mattress, with its ample length, might just be the solution you’re looking for. As a taller person myself, standing at 6'3", I've experienced firsthand the difference a suitable mattress can make to comfort and sleep quality. Let’s explore why the California King mattress could be your ticket to a better night's sleep.

Why Choose a California King Mattress?

Extra Length: At 84 inches long, the California King mattress offers four inches more than a standard king. This extra length can be a game changer for anyone over six feet tall.
Room to Stretch: No more feet hanging off the bed! The additional space allows you to stretch out fully, reducing discomfort and promoting better sleep.

Benefits of a California King for Taller Sleepers

Improved Comfort: The additional length ensures that your feet stay on the mattress, helping maintain proper spine alignment and reducing pressure points.
Aesthetic and Proportional Appeal: Larger rooms benefit visually from the presence of a California King, as its size balances the space beautifully.

Is a California King Right for Your Space?

Room Size Considerations: Ensure your bedroom is at least 12 by 12 feet to accommodate this larger mattress with enough space for walking and other furniture.
Bedding Availability: While more common now, California King bedding can sometimes be harder to find and slightly more expensive than standard sizes.

From my own experience, upgrading to a California King mattress was transformative. Not only did it complement the spacious layout of my Seattle home, but it also aligned perfectly with my height, eliminating the discomfort of cramped legs. The difference in sleep quality and morning freshness was noticeable from the first night.
For taller individuals or those simply craving more space, the California King mattress is an excellent choice. Its significant length can dramatically enhance sleep quality and comfort, making it well worth the consideration. If you’re looking to invest in better sleep and all-around comfort, a California King mattress might just be the perfect fit for your needs.

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