#machine learning experiments (original score)

[sinceileftyoublog]

Augustus Muller Interview: Synth Stories

Photo by Jimmy Fontaine

BY JORDAN MAINZER

For Augustus Muller of Massachusetts-via-Georgia electropop duo Boy Harsher, feeling the pressure gets results. Not for the duo's studio albums, mind you, but for the impressive number of film scores that he and Boy Harsher have been releasing the past few years. "Soundtracks are cool because you have 2-3 weeks to write them. You have to be prolific in that amount of time," he told me over the phone last month. "A record is going to take a couple years to finish, for the same amount of music...you don't have a lot of time to make a mistake." Looking at Muller's history as a creative, from his early days to his recently released scores for Cellulosed Bodies and My Animal, his spontaneous mindset has paid off.

Before he made music, Muller was an aspiring filmmaker, creating short films as a teenager, and attending film school. As he started making music for his own films, he realized her liked that part, too, and his career shifted. Of course, his project with film school classmate, vocalist Jae Matthews, took off, starting as Teen Dreamz and eventually becoming Boy Harsher, as the combination of her spoken word and his beats became more dance-oriented. Films were on the backburner, and it wasn't until 2020, when he teamed up with progressive adult film producer collective Four Chambers, headed by experimental pornographer Vex Ashley, that Muller released his score debut. Machine Learning Experiments (Original Score), comprised of distinct scores to two films (Orgone Theory, tracks 1-5, and Hydra, tracks 6-10), was released via the band's imprint Nude Club Records. In combination with the film's subject matter and Boy Harsher's usual minimal synth wave, the music fittingly sounded like a sort of dystopian cousin to the works the late Patrick Cowley made for John Coletti in the 80's. And early last year, the band released The Runner, which started as a piece of music but sounded to them so suited for the screen that they simply directed an accompanying short horror film.

Now, Muller has given us two more scores. Cellulosed Bodies is another collaboration with Ashley, structured similarly to Machine Learning Experiments in that it features two scores for two films, Crash and Automaton. What makes Cellulosed Bodies a standout in Muller's oeuvre is that the two scores that make it up simultaneously provide a cohesive whole and exercises in textural contrast. Both films deal with the relationships between bodies and machines, the former an homage to David Cronenberg's erotic body horror film of the same name, the latter exploring pandemic-influenced digital isolation and dependency. Crash uses all analog instrumentation, sounding appropriately tactile on the pulsating synthesizers of "Fur And Metal" the crispy, synaptic drum machines of "Perverse Technology", and the booming bass of "Shattered Glass". Automaton, on the other hand, doesn't abide by as many patterns, using more FM synths for its droning vignettes and metallic harmonics, notably oblique strings and organ synthesis on "Observation" and "Who Is In Control" and vocal samples on "Subdue Yourself". But whether taking a more traditional or contemporary approach, Muller exudes the same visceral quality from his compositions.

On Friday, Muller released his score for Jacqueline Castel's My Animal, which, like Crash, uses mostly hardware but has the same abstractly filmic quality as The Runner. If you didn't know it was a film score, you'd think it was just a standalone piece of instrumental 80s synthwave, as effective in the club as it is soundtracking horror romance. "Sanctuary" borders on stadium rock, layered with drum fills and arpeggios, while the combination of wincing synthesizer and shuffling beats propels tracks like "Transformation #1", "The Slots", "Outside the Rock", and "Something's Building". More simply, many of the record's tracks are heavy on vibes, with the music evoking exactly what the titles suggest: "A Soft Howl", or "Winter Drone". At this point, Muller and Boy Harsher have amassed a solid following for their studio albums, but all signs point to Muller--still an aspiring filmmaker, after all--becoming an in-demand name for helping filmmakers bring their corporeal visions to life.

Below, read my conversation with Muller, edited for length and clarity.

Photo by Jimmy Fontaine

Since I Left You: Describe the process of working on Cellulosed Bodies with Vex Ashley. Was the music made in tandem with the visuals or in response to them?

Augustus Muller: She'd send me a rough cut of what she was working on, and I'd write something to that. It was pretty loose. She cut around stuff. I would send something back, she'd send me notes, and edit around what I'd written. Then she'd send another cut, and we'd work on transitions and put finishing touches on it.

SILY: What's unique about this soundtrack as compared to others you've done?

AM: Compared to writing a feature film, there's a lot more space for music. Crash has no dialogue at all. With porn, the music can lead. I felt like I had full freedom with that. I could write a full track. With other scores, for narrative, you have to hide it under dialogue, so it's a different sound palette.

SILY: Are you often given the whole film without the score, and then you work around it?

AM: Yeah. For Crash and Automaton, there wasn't even temp music. I started from scratch.

SILY: Why did you decide to release "Fur And Metal" and "Stretching / Invading" as the first tastes of Cellulosed Bodies?

AM: For this project, it's been difficult to explain to our fans and the world what it is. It's my solo music, but not an album, but an original score to porn films. People are blasting through social media, not really reading through the fine print. "Fur And Metal" was one of my favorite tracks from Crash, and I thought it was important to share something from Automaton, which is what "Stretching / Invading" is from. It's more of an ambient, droney track. It's good to show the range the album has.

SILY: It emphasizes the distinct textures and qualities of the scores, too. You used strings and organs on the latter.

AM: Yeah. It's two pretty different sounding scores. Similar subject matter--a techno dystopian future--but Crash was all analog gear and vintage hardware. It has that older sound. Automaton is a lot of FM synths to get these new sounds.

SILY: The final track, "Subdue Yourself", has vocal samples [from dominatrix Miss Marilyn]. Why did you choose to introduce voice at the very end?

AM: That track is not in the film. It's something I wrote and ultimately didn't use, but it's a song I really liked. I love Miss Marilyn's monologues, so I thought it was a cool thing to include in the soundtrack. Giving it context, like when original scores and soundtracks have clips from the movie in it.

SILY: Do you think this score holds up separately as its own piece of art? Can it be consumed and appreciated separately from the film?

AM: I think it really varies soundtrack to soundtrack. This one can definitely stand by itself. I'm really proud of the tracks. I think it's listenable. I was just listening to Vangelis' Blade Runner [soundtrack]. I had never actually listened to the LP before even though I've seen the movie a million times. There are a lot of instrumental tracks that must be so low in the mix in the film that when listening to the LP, it felt like I'd never heard them before. They're banging tracks!

SILY: Crash is a direct homage to Cronenberg's film of the same name. Have you ever called out an influence that directly in your music before, whether with Boy Harsher or your solo work?

AM: On tour, we're playing a "Wicked Game" cover. [laughs] But in terms of the Crash score, I watched [Cronenberg's film] and wanted to get Howard Shore's soundtrack channeled through me. I then realized, "I can't do this. Howard Shore's a genius. This is not my style." I just started playing some driving bass and went a totally new direction.

SILY: When I listened to your score for My Animal, I thought it was pretty banging itself. There are a lot of catchy tracks on there, like "Sanctuary" and "The Slots". These could be singles.

AM: I was writing with a lot of temp music. [Jacqueline Castel] was putting Boy Harsher songs in it as temp music. So I was channeling drum-driven material.

SILY: Do you think Boy Harsher songs work well within a film context?

AM: I think so. We've had some stuff licensed for films and TV shows. When I'm writing something, I know it's good when it feels visual, when it's evoking some imagery or takes me some place.

SILY: I feel like certain general aesthetics seem to fit films very well. What are some of your favorite film soundtracks or creative influences when making a soundtrack?

AM: Recently, that Jonathan Glazer movie Birth. Alexandre Desplat does that really tight chamber music. I like it because it's the opposite of what the scene is showing. It really changes the mood. That was really inspiring for me, to show what music can do for a film, to take a scene and transport it into a totally different vibe.

Abraham Marder and Nicolas Becker's [work on Sound of Metal]. I have to shout out Tangerine Dream's Sorcerer. That's such a powerful tool in the film. It really elevates all the emotions, but it's also an album I can listen to on its own.

SILY: Have you ever thought about curating a film's soundtrack, picking songs from other artists?

AM: Like Trent Reznor for Lost Highway? Yeah, I think I could do that.

SILY: It seems like you have that ear as a film and music fan.

AM: I just love putting music to visuals. That's how I got into music, making shitty short films as an 18-year-old. I was like, "Wow! This film got so much better with this music behind it." That's why I kept making music before making it on its own.

SILY: Are you going to make films again?

AM: I want to so bad. But it's such a privilege, and you need so much money. It's something I've been working towards for a while. I just need to find that opportunity for someone to trust me for a big chunk of change.

SILY: You could make the film and the music.

AM: That's what I dream about every day. Make the film, edit it, write the score.

SILY: Anything you've been listening to, watching, or reading that's caught your attention?

AM: I just saw Bottoms. It's really funny. A feel-good movie. I've been watching a lot of [Rainer Werner Fassbinder]. Somebody gave me a book on him, and I realized I hadn't watched a lot of his films. I watched Querelle, which was definitely a vibe. The Marriage of Maria Braun was really cool. I love genre films that are an allegory for something else. It's been fun digging into his movies.

#interviews #augustus muller #nude club #four chambers #cellulosed bodies #jimmy fontaine #boy harsher #my animal #jae matthews #teen dreamz #vex ashley #machine learning experiments #machine learning experiments (original score) #orgone theory #hydra #nude club records #patrick cowley #john coletti #the runner #crash #automaton #david cronenberg #jacqueline castel #vangelis #blade runner #howard shore #jonathan glazer #birth #alexandre desplat #abraham marder

[toontastictoons]

Toontastic Cast and Crew!

Hi there Toons, Cogs, and everyone in between! We're the Toontastic Toons Crew! There's a bunch of us, so we figured it was time to make a little bit of an introductory post!

The most experienced Toon in our group is JJ Trickyfluff, a Raccoon. He's fond of Throw and Toon Up. JJ Is part of a club called The Midnight Crew! He's a little on the fence about all the cog drama. He really wishes we could just sit down and talk things out.. despite knowing that's a little unrealistic. JJ has had some... Interesting experiences with Insiders. He was given a Toon Task by a friend, which was basically a dare to ask a cog for a Kiss. He chose an Insider. Things haven't been the same for him since.

He/They, INFP

🦝

Our Runaway, Little Midge! Midge is a daredevil. Most likely of our group to be caught running around with low laff. Midge is partial to Throw and Drop, as they're the hard hitters. Small but mighty, Midge tends to pack quite a punch. They've taken a liking to Yesman Cogs, as well as Buck Ruffler, the Duck Shuffler. They like that he's a daredevil too. While Midge doesn't like most cogs, they're learning that even some of these "cold, heartless machines" do in fact have something a little more to them.

They/She, ESTP

🐭

"Sprite" or "Lucky Star" as most of us will teasingly call them. Star Sourpop is our sweet little green bat. When they were a brand new Resistance Ranger, they had one heck of a lucky fight with Buck Ruffler. He continuously scored all sevens. After that fight, the two had several more run ins. We all think Buck told the other cogs in Toontown Central to take it easy on Star, or else they would be in big trouble! They even joined a club called "Duck Shuffle Fluffle" to show how much they appreciate Buck! Star doesn't really want to fight the cogs. She would rather make friends with them, and have fun adventures with them! When spooked, however, Star won't hold back... so cogs beware.

She/They, ENFP

🦇

Ace Miller is our resident non-toon... Most of the time. They do have an established "Toon Disguise" much like we toons have Cog Disguises. Their Toon Disguise is known as "Ace Tinkertoon"

Ace spends most of their time repairing managers and higher level cogs who personally request them. Usual repair teams work fast, not unlike a pit crew on a race car track. Ace takes their time, and pays far more attention to detail. They have different relationships with each cog they work with, though Misty, Buck and Chip are some of their favorites. When undercover in their Toon Disguise, Ace makes regular notes about Toon life and COGS Inc. They have also taken to snagging gags where they can, and preforming experiments on them to see how they work.. and what their weak points are. Ace puts up with toons, begrudgingly. Their bright colors and loud sounds often get the better of the repair tech. Sensory Overload leads to a lot of time with cogs like Misty... sitting peacefully on the docks.

They/Them, ENTP

🔧/🦊🔧

"Petals", as we have nicknamed our magical deer friend, is originally from Ye Olde Toontown. She held out on joining the fight against the cogs as long as she could... but when things started to get messy at home, Petals joined up. They were shocked when the elders told them they couldn't use magic against these metal menaces. Settling (begrudgingly) for learning to use Gags, Petals made her way to Toontown Central. Cogs just make them mad. Petals had a wonderful life in Olde Toontown before they all came along. The worst of them is that Witch Hunter. Petals had a run in with him far before they were ready for such things. Luckily some Resistance toons saved the day. A few cogs are okay... Petals likes how happy Star gets around Buck Ruffler... and Holly and Misty have definitely caught her eye... Not that she would ever admit to that.

She/They, INTP

🦌✨

Lokitty is a bit of a mystery to the rest of us. We are pretty sure thats how they like it. This Mischief Making Black Cat has a fondness for the Brrrgh, and the blue colored cogs. A Loki Variant? Maybe. Regardless, this agent of chaos can be found making trouble in any way possible. Cogs are just a way to have fun to them!

They/he, INFJ?

🐈‍⬛

Last but not least, Space Cadet! Our sweet dog toon friend who's head is often in the clouds! Space Cadet is friendly to almost anyone who's friendly to them! If you run into this Space Ranger, be sure to say hi! She loves to chat! The fight with the cogs makes Space Cadet kind of sad. They want to be friends with everyone. They'd rather not fight. Given the option, Space Cadet would extend a hand to even the most dangerous cogs. A daydreamer with high hopes, Space Cadet hopes for a better future between cogs and Toons.

They/She/Space, ENTP

🐶💫

#toontown #toontown corporate clash #ttcc #toonblr #corporate clash #cogs #sparrowatheartoc #toontastic toons #sparrowatheartgames #JJ Trickyfluff #Little Midge #Star Sourpop #Ace Miller #Ace 'Tinkertoon' #Daring Petaltwist #Lokitty #Space Cadet #Toontastic Cast and Crew #Blinkies #Blinky #blinkies cafe #Toontown OCs #Original Characters

[matchagator]

Hustlers: Sin City (BTS Fanfic)

What a perfect scene of sin! Isn't the Vegas strip just the perfect place to indulge in lust and greed? The perfect playground for our group of hustlers eager to make a pretty penny off of the poor unsuspecting souls.

{Main Pairings:} Jeon Jungkook/Original Female Character, Park Jimin/Original Female Character, Kim Taehyung/Original Female Character(s)

{Rating:} 18+

{Genre:} Alternate Universe - Hustlers/ Con artists

{Word Count:} 12k

{Genre:} Sexual Content, Mature Language, Gambling, Manipulation, and Alcohol

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

Hustlers Episode Order:

Episode 1: Sin City

Episode 2: Pink Diamond

Episode 3: Cyber Flight

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

Big Fish: Kim Namjoon Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

What a perfect scene of sin! Thousands of people flood the Vegas strip to indulge in lust and greed, eager to get laid or make a buck in the brightly lit city that never sleeps. Casinos and bars lined the strip, women in slutty attire at every corner as they sold their bodies for money, offering to take pictures or strip to make their living. It was every man's dream, after all, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas right?   Inner mixed through the corruption stood lavish resorts, offering first class entertainment alongside the luxurious shopping centers and extravagant Michelin star restaurants, drawing in a wealthier clientele. 

While tourists and the elite busied their minds with the gaudy displays and ludicrous experiences the city has to offer, others were busy at work, taking advantage of the poor souls through fraud and deception. It was the perfect playground for out femme fatales, frequenting the strip often since they resided not too far from the chaos, tonight promising yet another victim amongst the sea of florescent lights. 

The loud buzz of the casino echoed through the various slot machines as Emmy made her rounds, strutting around with bold confidence as her velvet bodycon dress hugged her curves deliciously, showing the perfect amount of legs to be both scandalous and elegant. She was the face of their operations; the youngest, her beauty and flair for the dramatics allowing her to manipulate and deceive with ease. While she wasn’t naturally confident, she’d learned to fake it better than most women fake an orgasm. 

Emmy’s striking blue eyes reflected the sheen of the flashing lights as she approached the bar, her clutch tucked beneath her arm filled with the various items she pickpocketed this evening while flirting up a storm with wealthy men. She let her smile pull into an endearing grin, knowing it wouldn’t take long for a man to offer to buy her a drink. 

Ruby was crowded around a poker table on the opposite end of the casino, lusciously propped onto the stool as she pocketed chips, swiftly manipulating the pawns discreetly. Her petite frame was draped in a black jumpsuit, elegantly adorned with lace detailing. She was the brawn of the group, often completing the difficult and physical tasks with simplicity. Her features were perfectly morphed into a rock-hard poker face, fiddling with her cards in an attempt to intimidate her opponents, the men at her table quick to underestimate a woman.

She closely observed a tall individual that sat directly adjacent to her, recognizing him as Kim Namjoon, a young wealthy entrepreneur currently enjoying a holiday in Sin city. He was the perfect long-term target, knowing the girls would most likely be able to score big off of the handsome bachelor.  Namjoon’s entourage consisted of four other men, one being an extremely handsome young man who introduced himself as JK, cautious not to share any personal information as he played his cards. Jungkook was observing Ruby as she secretly pocketed chips throughout the game. 

The last of the trio was hidden somewhere amongst the slot machines, her hair tied back into a ponytail as she sat comfortably, tapping away as she played the slots. She strategically selected a certain game, already knowing the inner workings of the machine before putting in the time and money into it. She was dressed casually, a pair of high waisted jeans and a plain crop top allowing her to camouflage away from the attention of most. 

Jade gently pushed the black frames of her glasses up her nose, glancing around before pulling out her cellphone. She snaked a thin wire between her legs, connecting it to a miniscule port hidden beneath the keypad to swipe your casino card. She was the brains of their operations, being the oldest and most tech savvy of the trio. She was able to crack codes and hack the most complex systems which made hacking a simple slot machine easy as pie. 

Before anyone had the time to even notice her ministrations, she was already back to casually pressing her slot machine, her next tap paying out with a thousand-dollar victory. She smirked proudly as she swiped the credit onto her card, eager to cash out her winnings. 

Back at the bar, Emmy wiggled her way through the crowd till her torso was pressed against the bar top, waving down the bartender to order herself a drink. She huffed as she shifted her weight from heel to heel, feeling the dull ache in her soles from the obnoxiously high heels Jade and Ruby insisted she wear. “They make your legs look hot”, She recalled them saying, always ending up having to be the one to sell her looks as a decoy for their manipulations. 

She caught the attention of Taehyung who was sitting on a barstool beside her, his eye raking over her body and the way the velvet texture of her dress hung deliciously low to expose her cleavage. He leaned back, resting his arm against the countertop as he motioned over to the bartender. He wasn’t one to pass up the opportunity to impress a sexy woman with hopes of getting her into bed.  “A drink for the lady.” 

Emmy snapped her eyes over to find Taehyung’s cocky grin as he tilted his head towards the bartender, motioning for her to place her own order. She narrowed her stare slightly before turning her attention to the man behind the counter. “Scotch…on the rocks, please.” 

She moved to retrieve money from her clutch, watching as Taehyung dropped a twenty-dollar bill onto the tabletop. “It’s on me.” He hummed, watching as the attractive brunette twisted her body towards his.

“Thanks for the drink…” She paused as if waiting for him to introduce himself. 

“V, my friends call me V.” He beamed, thrilled when Emmy’s expression pulled into a flirtatious smile. “Scotch on the rocks huh? I’m impressed.” He sat up, motioning for her to take the stool beside him, Emmy happily accepting the invitation. “I had you pinned for a Daiquiri kinda girl.”

Emmy felt a smirk creep onto the corner of her lips, shrugging her shoulders slightly as the bartender returned to place a short glass in front of her. “I guess I’m just full of surprises.” 

“Oh, I bet you are.” Taehyung’s words caused Emmy to pause, stunned by how he seemed to be more forward and flirtatious than herself, which was saying something. She took a closer look at him, her eyes settling on the intense stare that radiated from behind his irises. He was undeniably handsome, having reason to be as cocky and seductive as he was. If she was any typical girl, he’d win her over within minutes. Luckily, she only had one purpose for talking to him, and it wasn’t to get into his bed.

“So, who do I have the pleasure of buying a drink for?” He questioned, gently circling the pad of his finger along the rim of his drink. It appeared as if he barely touched it, keeping his sight fixated on the beauty before him as he continued to blatantly check her out.

Emmy hesitated, taking a sip of her drink before gently setting her glass back down, trying to remember why she allowed the girls to convince her to place herself in these types of situations. “Emmy…my friends call me Emmy.” She mimicked, also managing to keep her identity from the mysterious man before her as she scanned his figure. 

“Well Emmy, what brings you to Sin city? Looking for love?” He curled an eyebrow, speaking his words slowly as he passed his tongue along the bottom of his teeth. 

Emmy’s eye darkened, curling a finger towards her as if enticing him to come closer. “I’ll tell you a secret.” She cooed, leaning till her lips were inches from his ear. “Women don’t come here looking for love.” She continued, implying exactly what he wanted to hear as she heard a soft groan fester in his chest as he entertained the thoughts of fucking her in one of the hotel rooms of the resort. 

Just as she had him distracted, she maneuvered her hand discreetly towards the pocket of his coat jacket, managing to sneak his wallet without pulling any attention to herself. Unfortunately, Taehyung wasn’t alone and the sudden pressure she felt against her wrist revealed another handsome man who snatched her by the wrist. 

“Looks like your date is a kleptomaniac.” Jimin spoke harshly, Taehyung’s attention snapping towards his friend. Emmy’s expression hardened, tugging back her arm as Jimin pulled the wallet from her grip. “Let's go, JK’s finished for the night.” The stranger added, his eyes judgmentally observing Emmy as she squirmed in her seat. She’d never been caught like this before, her heart rate spiking as Taehyung stood and retrieved his wallet. 

“You are full of surprises.” He spoke calmly, glaring back at her not sure whether he should be angry, surprised, or impressed. He reached over her, grabbing his drink and downing it in one gulp, making a face as the alcohol hit his lungs. “Nice try, sweetheart.” He added before turning to join Jimin in retrieving the third member of their own trio. 

Emmy stood in complete shock as she watched the two men disappear between the slot machines, still trying to fathom the entire interaction. Why didn’t he get upset? She turned her attention back to her drink, downing the rest in one gulp as her face scrunched from the sting of the alcohol in her throat. She shook off the strong sensation, groaning from the aftertaste as she set the drink back down, looking up to see Ruby and Jade walking towards her. 

“Hey, Emmy.” Jade moved quickly, beaming with pride from her recent winnings as she flashed her casino card. “Guess who's ordering room service and champagne tonight?” She announced happily, watching as Ruby’s face lit up with excitement. 

“Hell yeah!” Ruby cheered as she observed the youngest’s expression, curious as to why she seemed so flustered. Emmy stood from her stool, eager to rip off her heels from her feet, ready to turn in for the evening and count their makings. 

“Let’s get out of here.” She huffed, her discomfort only added to her already on edge demeanor. 

“Hey, remind me to tell you about this guy at our poker game. Might just be able to score big with that one.” 

—

 Jungkook adjusted the cuff of his long sleeve, fastening the button as he stepped into the darkly lit club with Taehyung and Jimin at his side. “Alright, where’s our boy?” The trio subtly looked around the bar section that led into the main dance floor. 

 “The private booths are near the dance floor.” Jimin acknowledged, nodding his head towards the bright purple flashing lights with loud music blaring from just beyond a platform of stairs. 

 Taehyung ran his hand through his hair, smirking as a woman blatantly checked him out while walking by. “Perfect.” He winked at her as they held eye contact, following his buddies up the steps into the club.

 The dance floor was packed with bodies, bouncing and grinding to the beat of the music as the three men searched out the rest of their entourage. Jimin skimmed the floor for Namjoon, knowing he was a sucker for a pretty face. Low and behold, he found the entrepreneur dancing with a brunette in a short sequin dress that snuggly shaped her figure. From his vantage point, he couldn’t get a good look of her face, but could only assume she was attractive with the evidence of Namjoon’s proud smirk. Jimin tapped Jungkook’s shoulder, “Found him.”

 The youngest followed Jimin’s gaze, running his eyes down the length of the woman’s body. The dancing pair turned on the dancing floor as they moved to the music and Jungkook could see his comrades react from the corner of his eye. “Do you know her?” He examined her features, digesting her wide smile, almond shaped blue eyes, and upturned nose.

 “She’s a little thief.” Taehyung mused, observing her clinging to their newly acquired friend.

 Jungkook watched for a moment, noticing her stealing glances towards the outer perimeter of the dance floor towards the more casual booths in the club. His eyes found another brunette nursing a highball glass of alcohol as she twiddled on her phone. “Looks like she’s not alone.” Jungkook nudged Taehyung, tilting his head towards the booths. Jimin peered over from the corner of his eye, turning his back slightly so that his staring wasn’t so obvious. 

 “Seems they're trying to play with our friend. I’m game.” Taehyung licked his lips, narrowing his focus on the lonely woman sitting at the booth. 

 “Divide and conquer.” The trio broke off, going in different directions as they surveyed the club for any other obstacles they might encounter that evening. Jimin found his way to the long bar sitting near the VIP section and across the dancefloor from the booths that Taehyung was currently pursuing. He leaned across the counter to grab the bartender's attention, “Can I get a Black Russian?”

 The beauty behind the bar, Ruby, narrowed her eyes at him briefly, pursing her lips as she grabbed a short glass and Kahlua. “Sure.” Her smile was tight, annoyed that she was stuck working the bar while Jade and Emmy could mildly enjoy the ambiance of the club. The only upside was it was very easy to steal sips of drinks when no one was looking. 

 Jade fiddled with her phone, trying to adjust the settings so she could hear the recordings of the device Emmy planted on Namjoon while she danced with the wealthy entrepreneur. She sucked up the last of her drink as the noise of her inhale echoed through the glass of ice. “Can I get you another drink?”

 She glanced away from her phone and found a handsome man leaning his arm on the back of the booth closest to the aisle way. His hair was attractively messed up, strands falling over his mysterious eyes as he smiled charmingly at the brunette with a generous view of her cleavage. She snapped herself out of his alluring grin and shook her head, pulling the straw away from her lips. “Oh, no thank you.”

 Taehyung only smirked as he slipped into the booth, sliding across the cushion to close the distance between them. “Are you here by yourself?” He asked smoothly, enjoying the way she scrambled for a cover up story.

 “No, I’m here with friends.” She put her phone down, eyes subconsciously flickering towards Emmy and Ruby, who were intently watching her with the stranger. 

 He hummed with amusement as he leaned into her ear, glancing down at the vision of her assets. “They wouldn’t mind if you left with me, right?”

 His deep voice sent shivers down her spine as her mind slowly registered the context of his question. She leaned away from him, “What?” Was he actually asking her to leave with him? Who the hell did this guy think he was?

 He reached up, gently capturing her jaw between his fingertips and pulled her back in. His seductive features had her completely defenseless as she followed his guidance, her breath hitching in her throat as he dragged his thumb across her bottom lip. “I wanna take you up to my room.” His breath brushed over her face, his lips hovering just over hers.

 A sudden slam on the table broke the trance as Jade and Taehyung looked to find the bartender aggressively setting down a carbon copy of Jade’s empty drink. “I got you your refill.” Her words were firm as her eyes flashed pointedly at the woman being cornered in the booth.

Jimin watched the exchange from afar, curiously sipping his drink as he deduced that the bartender was also involved with them. A playful glint shined in his eyes as he waited for Ruby to return, flashing her a striking smile. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Honestly, all the women working together to pull a fast one on Namjoon were attractive, but that didn’t excuse them from taking advantage of the situation. Jimin sought to do his part in foiling their plan.

Ruby regarded him as she went back behind the bar, her features hardening with a roll of her eyes. “Save it for someone who cares.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and moved towards the other end of the bar, leaving Jimin with his jaw on the bar top.

Taehyung glared at the bartender as she left the table and went back to entrance his target, but she slid away from him. “You should go. I’m not that kind of girl.” She tried to hide how intrigued she was by his presence, focusing back on the task at hand. 

He groaned, feeling cheated from another night of fun. He looked over the dancefloor to see Jungkook making his move and decided to cut his losses before his dignity was wounded any further. He leaned back into her one last time, his sly smirk over his lips. “Well, if you’re looking for a good time, I’ll be at the bar.”

Down on the dance floor, Emmy was enchanting Namjoon with her feminine wiles with gentle touches, seductive dancing, and flirtatious smiles. Every once in a while she would glance over to check on Jade, hoping the device she snuck in his breast pocket worked in their favor. When she noticed some guy infiltrating their plans, Emmy was left in the dark to continue schmoozing the attractive male with hands traveling lower and lower with every dance they shared. 

She caught another look with Jade, who sent her the subtle signal that she could hear everything in the chip. Emmy sighed in relief, worried their course of action would be disrupted by the stranger that approached the brains of the operation. “Do you want to take a break and come to my private section?” Namjoon asked, pressing his lips against the shell of her ear.

Emmy cracked a smile, “I would-”

“Namjoon!” She felt irritation that there was yet another interruption this evening as the pair looked around their shoulder to find a younger male with large eyes and a crooked smile approaching them. Emmy quickly ran her eyes over his body, observing his sheer black shirt under the matching button-up thrown loosely over his shoulders. His smile glistened with the reflective metal hoop sitting on his bottom lip that he subconsciously ran his tongue over as their eyes met. “Do you mind if I steal him for a sec?” 

Regardless of her answer, Jungkook pulled Namjoon away from the succubus out for his wealth. He pulled his friend in close, wrapping his arm around the man’s shoulders in comradery. “Listen, this girl is nothing but trouble. If you want to wake up with your wallet in the morning, you should keep fishing.” 

Namjoon peered over his shoulder at the brunette he danced with most of the night. “Really?”

Jungkook slapped his back playfully, “Would I lie to you? Trust me, run while you’re still ahead. I’ll keep her off your tail.” He could see Namjoon’s hesitance and searched out another target for his friend, noticing a chick checking them out from across the dancefloor. “See her?” He turned his buddy’s head in the appropriate direction. “Go get her.” He pushed him encouragingly towards the new conquest, turning back to the jilted female behind him. 

His smirk infuriated her as she went to recapture Namjoon’s attention, but the newcomer grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. “What’s your problem?” She hissed, trying to rip herself from his grip.

“Sorry, baby girl, but I can’t let you take advantage of my friend.” He firmly held her hips, swaying to the music to coax her into following his lead. “It’s not a good idea to make a scene. I don’t think you want that kind of attention.” He grinned, watching her defiantly let him lead them into a dance. She limply wrapped her arms around his neck, frustrated that he dismantled her part of the plan. “Aw, don’t be so sad. I’ll keep you entertained.” 

Her eyes bore into his as they danced together, the pace of the song slowing their movements and bringing them instinctually closer. “He’s your friend?”

He grinned down at her, “Wouldn’t you like to know.” Her eyes narrowed and Jungkook chuckled. “I know girls like you and they're after one thing.” He pursed his lips together, becoming serious under the bright lights of the club. “So do me a favor and stay away.” He spun her in a twirl before he abruptly dropped his hands from her to leave the dance floor. He made sure to quickly smack her ass as he walked by, smirking to himself as he heard her huff with annoyance.

—

 The chilled flavors of pineapple and coconut swirled along Emmy’s taste buds as the sweet kick of rum accompanied the taste of her pina colada. She hummed happily as she leaned back against the pool lounge chair, the dry heat of the Las Vegas air warming her limbs that were exposed from her two-piece bikini. She had a sarong wrapped around her waist, the fabric hanging off her hips as a pair of aviators concealed her bright hues from the harsh rays of the sun.     Ruby laid on her stomach beside the youngest, desperate for a tan as her skin drank up the sun around her scandalously cut one piece. Jade was enjoying time in the pool, allowing the water to engulf her limbs as she fidgeted with the fabric of her tankini. She couldn’t help but think of the previous evening, recalling her interactions with Taehyung, his words circling her mind as if plagued by his conceited demeanor. 

 She let a sigh escape her lips, knowing she shouldn’t be so bothered by a man she’d just met. He was far too handsome, not to mention dangerously forward as he offered up a silver platter filled with temptations. Jade let her body relax, attempting to allow her frame to float as she fell into her habits of overthinking almost everything. 

 Who was this guy anyway? He didn’t know anything about her and her desires. If that was the case, then why were his words bothering him so much? She heard a familiar voice calling over the tropical music of the pool patio “Jade!” It allowed her to break free from her silent torment as she found Emmy waving her over. She nodded in her direction, dunking her head beneath the liquid as an attempt to snap herself back to reality. 

Jade became quite accustomed to her hustler persona, almost recognizing it as if it was her birth name. The girls wanted to make sure to keep their identities as secretive as possible, using jewels and codenames to keep them as inconspicuous as possible. It worked out perfectly for them, using their code names to keep from drawing attention to their normal lives. 

 She climbed her way out from the pool, her body dripping as she made her way towards her empty lounge chair, pulling the fabric of her towel to wrap around her torso, wringing out any excess water from her loose curls. “What’s up?” 

 Ruby stirred from her relaxation, pushing up on her elbows to peek up from her sunbathing, glancing over at Emmy. The youngest tipped her sunglasses down, nudging her head forward as if encouraging them to follow her field of vision. The two eldest followed her gaze, stumbling upon the sight of Namjoon strolling past the bar on the far end of the terrace. 

Ruby rolled onto her side, leaning up on her elbow as a mischievous smirk crawled onto her features. “You know…he’s going clubbin’ tonight.” She began, shifting once again until she was comfortably slouched against her back. “You could easily swipe a copy of his room key while giving him a dance.” 

Jade vaguely recalled their eavesdropping session the following evening, a look of pure amusement gleaming in her eyes and they widened at Ruby’s remark. “Yeah, give him a good dance.” She chuckled, watching as the youngest glared between the two. 

Emmy often maneuvered her way around a dance floor to seduce a man or even get close enough to steal or manipulate. This was going to be another easy task for the youngest brunette, taking another sip of her frozen cocktail as she scoffed in amusement. “A dance is nothing. What club?”

Jade chewed on her bottom lip nervously, already imagining the reaction Ruby was about to extract from the unsuspecting beauty. “Oh, you know…Peppermint Hippo.” 

Emmy was mid-sip of her cocktail, the mere name of the club causing her to choke back the burn of her alcohol. Jade and Ruby grinned wickedly as the youngest mulled over her words. “I’m sorry, did you say Peppermint Hippo? The gentlemen’s club?” She recalled hearing all about it, the new club being the only gentlemen’s club located directly on the Las Vegas strip. Advertisements loomed around the city with promises of VIP packages, pole dancing, and topless women. 

“I’m not gonna shake my tits for that prick and his gang of idiots.” Emmy recalled her dance with Namjoon the previous evening, having also encountered some of the men in his overrated entourage. One in particular came to mind, recalling her sudden dalliance with a stranger as he stepped in for a condescending dance. 

Ruby tutted happily, enjoying the discomfort that was clearly painting across Emmy’s stubborn demeanor. “Come on. You’re the only one who can pull off being a stripper.” Ruby begged, pouting her lips playfully as she imagined the large amount of money they could make from this hustle. “Just wear a wig, no one will remember you. They’ll be too drunk off their asses.” 

“Think of the money.” Jade interjected, as she glanced down at the screen of her phone. “He’s a millionaire…All you have to do is do a little shimmy shimmy and scan his card with this.” She held up a small chip, wiggling it between her fingers. 

Emmy was in complete disbelief, stunned that her friends were encouraging her to use her looks and youth in such a ludicrous display for money. Not like she hadn’t done it a plethora of times before, however stripping, that was a new one. She let her mind wander to the possibilities that this kind of money could bring them, greed ultimately outweighing her options. “Fine! But you owe me a new handbag.” She whined, putting down her drink before dramatically laying back in her lounge chair. 

Jade and Ruby found each other’s gaze, their hilarity on full display as Jade nodded her head in victory. “Enjoy your drink, cause after that you gotta practice your pole dancing.” Jade teased, quickly ducking to dodge the towel that Emmy chuck in her vicinity, still mulling over the mess she’d just agreed to partake in. 

“Shut the fuck up. I’d love to see you try pole dancing.” She barked back, Jade holding her hands up in defeat as she laughed uncontrollably. 

“Yeah, never gonna happen.” Jade hollered as Emmy smiled sarcastically in her direction. Jade and Ruby enjoyed their laugh as they returned to their leisurely activities, enjoying whatever remainder of the early afternoon they had. 

—

 “I thought Emmy was the only one who had to dress up?” Ruby snapped in the earpiece before tucking it back in her ear, pulling her hair over her shoulder to cover the device. She flashed a smile as she passed a table of men that openly ogled her legs in the fishnet stockings and thigh-high boots. The only decency she was allowed for the waitress uniform was a thin jacket over a revealing two-piece.  

 As she navigated the floor with a tray of drinks, she heard Jade’s voice. “Do you know how to operate a sound booth?” Ruby poorly mocked her voice and asked the same question, annoyed that the planner somehow was scott-free of the ridiculous outfits they were forced to wear. 

 “I’ll switch.” Emmy offered as she adjusted her blonde wig in the mirror, glancing down to her light blue lace set with matching garter belt. She heard the tune of her teammates change almost instantly and sighed as she pulled her hands away to test the hold of the false hair on her head. It sat nicely and had little give as she tilted her head around to make sure it didn’t slip.

 The ambiance of the gentlemen's club was dark where Jimin made himself comfortable, sitting near center stage while keeping his eye on the crowd for the entourage to arrive. Next to him was Taehyung with the energy of a puppy as he drooled over every female that came by. Jimin smiled with his eyes as a dancer approached them while downing his drink, the woman swayed her hips as she leaned in close to his ear. “Want a dance?”

 He shook his head, he needed to stay focused. “No, but my friend here would.” Jimin pulled out some money from his suit pocket, handing it to the woman. Her pretty smile turned towards Taehyung as she situated herself in front of him. Jimin rolled his eyes when a goofy smile sprung over his friend’s features from the slightest attention of the entertainer. 

 He caught a glimpse of the familiar black uniforms of the waitresses and reached a handout to grab the woman’s attention. “Excuse me, miss?” The fake smile on Ruby’s face faltered as she looked at him and Jimin instantly recalled her stony expression from the night before. It was the bartender from the night club, who interrupted Taehyung and the chick sitting in the booth. 

 He furrowed his brow, trying to figure out what she might be doing here and if she recognized him. “Can I help you?” Apparently, customer service was not one of her strong suites. From her unenthusiastic demeanor, he could tell she didn’t realize she rejected him the night before. Her face became irritable as she waited for him to answer her, brow raising with expectation.

Jimin blinked back into reality and grabbed his empty glass. “Yes, sorry can I get another?”

She wordlessly grabbed the glass with a harsh hum, running her tongue over the front of her teeth with mild judgment. “Sure.” Once she was gone, Jimin scoured the area for the other girls they encountered that gave Namjoon an uncomfortable amount of attention. That’s when he noticed the DJ booth was inhabited by the woman Taehyung tried to seduce. There was no way that was a coincidence. 

“I’m ready.” Jade heard in her earpiece as she prepared the playlist for the next song and pulled up the program they would use to copy Namjoon’s key card. Emmy stood just behind the curtain of the center stage, taking soothing breaths as she got into character. “It’s the end of the month and the weekend…”

Emmy exhaled, peeling back the curtain and walking out onto stage with her hands on her hips, back curved to make her assets pop, and seductive smile on for the audience. “Welcome to the stage, our brightest jewel, Emerald!” Emmy methodically moved slowly across the stage as Jade introduced her routine. She reached the pole just as the chorus began to build and gently twirled around the chrome.

“I came here to drop some money…” Emmy wrapped her hands around the pole and lifted herself, curling one leg so that she could spin a little faster. “Twerking, twerking when I buy the things I like…” She curved into the pole, showing her ass to the audience as she gently jostled her legs side to side. She held herself up against the rod as she bent over to enhance the view of her jiggling behind as she heard masculine cheers from the crowd.

Jimin’s eyes were wide as he drank in the display of the new dancer, picking up on how intently the waitress and DJ watched her. These girls were more than just some small-time hustlers that were looking for an easy money swipe. He wasn't exactly sure what they’re plan was, but he had a few guesses on who they were there for. He glanced at the lobby just in time to see Namjoon arrive with his small posse. 

 “He’s here.” Jade said in the earpiece for her teammates to hear. Emmy was on her knees in front of guys sitting on bar stools near the stage. She lulled her head, tossing her hair out of her face as she flickered her gaze towards the entrance to see the two gentlemen from the previous night. She only hoped the blonde wig was enough to hide her identity. 

 Namjoon led the group to their private booth in the corner of the room, which was immediately greeted by a waitress and dancers. Jungkook made eye contact with Jimin, quirking his eyebrow at Taehyung, who was still enjoying his lap dance. Jimin tried to subtly gesture towards the three potential threats, but Jungkook’s attention was pulled away by Namjoon.

 After Emmy’s performance of ‘Money” by Lisa, she descended from the stage and made her rounds, parading herself through the room. She sashayed across the tables, strategically setting her sights on Namjoon’s. She cocked her hip as she stood in front of the group of men with a dazzling smile. “You boys look lonely.” She clocked the friend from the night before and started on the opposite end of the booth. Swirling her hips for the men, letting them place tips into the straps of her lingerie. She then hovered over Namjoon, leaning over him so he was perfectly level with her breasts. “How about a private dance?” She cooed, shimmying her girls in his face to entice him.

 Namjoon’s eyes had yet to meet her face, but he smirked regardless. “Hell yeah.” Jungkook watched as the blonde grabbed his buddy’s hand to guide him to the private rooms. Their eyes met for a brief second and he instantly recalled the same blue eyes staring up at him from the night before. They were far more gentle in this circumstance, but her features were unmistakable under the wig. He only smirked when he found himself faced with the challenge, “This’ll be fun.”

 Emmy led Namjoon into an oval room with several beaded curtains pulled apart with velvet ties. She took him to one of the rooms farther back, letting him sit in the black cushions of the bench seat before untying the beads to hide their session. “Hi, handsome.” She flirted, crawling into his lap and trapping him under her thighs. She held the back of the plush cushion, grinding her core against his lap as she straddled him. He was thrown off by how abrasive her behavior was but enjoyed it all the same as he slowly touched her thighs and ran his hands up her body. 

 She leaned back on his lap, swiveling her hips as she rubbed her plush bottom against his firming length. The sensation was nothing new in these settings, but she was surprised how little effort it took for her to get him all lusted up. His hands were holding her ribcage and as he traveled them higher, she firmly shook her head. She leaned back into him, playfully wagging her finger. “No touching.” She bit her lip and got up from his lap to turn her back to him. 

 She slowly lowered back down on his lap, leaning against his chest as she continued pushing against his groin. His hands gripped her hips as she moved over him, moaning in her ear from the pleasure shooting through his body. While he was distracted with the visuals running against his body, she slid her hands along his pants in search of his wallet. She bounced herself in his lap as she pulled the wallet from his pocket, tucking it in between the cushions before she turned back around.

 He looked delirious with passion as she pulled him up by his tie, “Can I use this?” Her eyes were hooded with the softest of smiles and Namjoon could only comply with her request from how enticing she looked. She giggled and slipped the tie off his neck, crawling into his lap so she could tie it over his eyes. Once the knot was secure, she placed his hands back on her body. “Touch me.” She whispered, feeling him shudder beneath her as she dove for his wallet in the crevice of the cushions.

 She moved quickly to remove his hotel room key before stashing the wallet back in its hiding spot. She then reached to unclip her bra, tucking the card into the cups and then discarding the article off to the side. She looked to see Namjoon enjoying the sensory deprivation as he caressed the skin of her stomach and thighs, squeezing the fat of her ass. 

 Back in the main stage area, Jade noticed her program initialized and knew Emmy had successfully seduced Namjoon to get access to the key card. “Perfect.” She murmured as she watched the device scan the card. Hidden in the cup of the blue lacey bra was a device that could steal the information of any card with a magnetic stripe. Once it was fully loaded, she saved the data and gave Emmy the signal. “You can put your bra back on.” Jade teased knowing her comrade had to remove the article to make it work.

 Emmy rolled her eyes as she continued her dance with Namjoon, reaching for the key card and putting it right back where she got it. She tucked it into the cushions, preparing for the finale of their session to return his wallet in its rightful place. She gently pulled the tie from his eyes, dragging the fabric down his torso and up her body as his gaze followed the movement. Her arm was crossed over her chest, teasing him from the view of her nipples as she smiled at his reaction. He was a child at Christmas and Emmy was the present he wanted to unwrap first. 

 She dropped her arm, biting her lip and batting her eyelashes. “Oops.” She reached over to her bra and held the strap by her finger, “It fell off.” Again, his vision refused to leave her chest and Emmy rolled her eyes as she leaned into him, hovering over his face to distract him while she slipped the wallet back into his pocket. Once the bill fold was secured, she leapt from his lap and began placing her bra on. “Hope you had fun.” She hummed, leading him out as she clipped the article around her bosom. 

 Namjoon grinned, handing her a final bit of tip money as he left the private rooms to rejoin his posse. Emmy sighed, briskly moving towards the back rooms when her destination was blocked by the man from the night before. “You willing to do another private dance?” She hesitated, wanting nothing more than to go and wash tonight’s memories with a hot shower, but then Jungkook held up a crisp hundred-dollar bill between his middle and index finger. “Just one and this is yours.”

 She met his eyes, contemplating if he recognized her, but he wasn’t calling her a gold digger and giving her money. She figured she would enjoy stealing his money, especially for one dance. “Sure.” She turned on her heel, swishing her hips as she walked to the oval room. She glanced back to find him following her and smirked, mentally preparing to give him the worst lap dance of his life. That would serve him right for messing with her plans yesterday.

 “Abort. What are you doing?” She could hear Jade hiss in her ear, but she just ignored the nagging voice of her friend as she waited for him to sit down. She released the bead curtain and swayed to the music as he watched her.

 Jungkook eyed her, entertained to see what sort of show she would put together for him, but right away he could see she was putting zero effort. He noticed her flirtatious smile fall into a sly grin and wasn’t going to pay for this crap. “I bet you can do better than that.”

 Emmy faltered, not expecting him to bluntly call her out for her lack of enthusiasm. “Excuse me?” She wasn’t sure why, but the tone behind his statement made her upset more than anything else. 

 He shrugged his shoulders, “I’m just saying, working at a place like this, I expected … something.” The corner of his mouth lifted as he looked at her from the plush seat. “Hell, the waitresses gave me a better show.”

She stopped moving, staring him down as he slandered her performance. If only he saw the show she gave Namjoon, he probably wouldn’t be talking. She hated that this prick kept getting the best of her and she couldn’t fight her natural instinct to prove him wrong. She stomped her heels against the carpet, placing her foot on the seat next to his thigh to cage him in as she leaned over his body. “I’ll show you.” She huffed, bringing her other foot up on the cushion so that she was standing directly above him before slowly dropping her body down on his lap.

Jungkook sat back, eyeing the way her body shifted into gear from his coaxing. He was thrilled to see her trying to prove him wrong and figured it would be fun if he ever encountered her again since she seemed to be targeting his friend. She rolled her hips against his lap, the air from her lungs coming out in pants against his lips as she worked to swirl her body. She was determined to make his jaw drop and get hard just like she did with Namjoon so he could eat his words. 

Halfway through the song, Emmy was sweating as he simply just sat there as if she were an educational video; intriguing, but not really engaging. She pulled back, grabbing his hands and placing them on her body as she brushed her ass against his groin, riding his lap fast and hard. “Touch me.” She gasped, feeling inflamed as his hands touched her. Her body was becoming tired from the continuous movements since her session with Namjoon.

He pulled his hands away, “Not much to grab onto.” He said simply, fighting the malicious smile that he wanted to display for her. He saw her eyes go wild and it took everything in him to keep his erection at bay as she calculated his expression.

Did he just say…? She looked down at her body. Was he serious? “What does that mean?” She was appalled. She never had complaints about her body and this man that she sought to steal money from and cheat out of lap dance was trying to ruin her day? Absolutely not. She reached back to unclip her bra, ripping the material from her chest. Then proceeded to invite his hands back to her body, placing them on her breasts for him to hold. 

Her compulsive need to validate her figure, sent him spiraling as he ran the pads of his thumbs around her nipples. He shuddered as the buds pebbled under his touch and he could no longer keep himself tame as his penis swelled with desire. “Fuck…” He spat under his breath, bucking his hips up as she pushed down on him. 

Emmy sighed with satisfaction as she watched him crumble, knowing that she made him that way with only the feel of her naked body. It made her feel powerful, her body becoming hot as he deliciously massaged her tender nipples. She leaned into him, hovering over his lips. “Not much, my ass.” She shot back at him, claiming her spot at the top as she finally got the best of him.

The song ended and she smirked, ripping his hands away from her and getting up to grab her bra. “Your dance is done.” She slipped her arms through the straps, glancing at him as he ran his hand over his face. He was in disbelief that she got him so worked up, but his only complaint was that it had to stop there. 

He got up, fixing himself so that he didn’t look like a horny mess as he pulled the hundred-dollar bill from his breast pocket, slipping it into her bra cup. “Worth every penny.” 

She bit her lip, hiding the smirk that threatened to show as she watched him stride back out to the main area. She giggled to herself as she pulled the bill from her bra, waving it in victory. “Damn right, I am!” She tucked the bill in and strutted to the back room, a proud smile on her lips from a job well done. 

—

The soft reverberation of chatter surrounded the high stakes poker tables of the casino, crowds of well-dressed individuals indulging in a late-night game as they enjoyed the finest cocktails and instrumental music. Emmy was perched against a stool, elegantly dressed in a satin black gown that hugged every inch of her figure as she fiddled with a handful of poker chips, a supercilious grin stretched across her lips. 

She watched as her victory brought in a generous load of chips to her side of the table, thrilled to know that her evening was already paying out. “Congratulations.” She heard the dealer call over the noise, her eyes settling on Namjoon and his entourage walking through the dimly lit space as she celebrated her triumph. 

Bright lights hung from each poker table, creating an immersive ambience as guests waged their finances in attempts to leave with a win under their belt. She was expecting the young entrepreneur, having memorized his scheduled itinerary for the evening perfectly, ready to do her part in keeping him distracted while Ruby and Jade finished making bank off of the poor unsuspecting soul. 

One of the waiters made their way over to Emmy, holding out a delicious coral colored beverage served in a dainty martini glass. “Your French martini, Miss.” She turned her stare towards her choice of alcohol, eager to savor the taste of the upscale drink as she wrapped her fingers gently around the frame of the glass. 

“Thank you very much.” She hummed, bringing the rim of the cup to her lips as the tastes of raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice invaded her taste buds, the sting of vodka accompanying the delightfully refreshing cocktail. 

Jungkook scanned their surroundings, spotting Emmy’s now emptied table as Namjoon’s small entourage searched for a game to join. He grinned maliciously as his eyes settled on the same beauty from the past two evenings. Unfortunately for Namjoon, he hadn’t noticed her attempts in manipulations. Jungkook however caught onto her inconsistent features, enjoying the sight of her vibrant blue hues against the return of her brunette locks in contrast to the blonde from his strip dance the night before. 

“There’s a table.” Jungkook pointed out, drawing attention to the sultry lady in black in just the way she hoped he would. This next game would be the perfect opportunity to keep them occupied, allowing the girls to complete their task so they could high tail it home with a hefty hustle. 

Jungkook was eager to ruffle Emmy’s feathers once again, taking pleasure in the fact that he knew her secrets and had the upper hand due to his sparked friendship with Namjoon. Emmy watched as the men approached, lowering her glass from her lips as she lifted the beverage just a tad as if welcoming her opponents. “Evening, gentlemen. I hope you brought your poker face.” She teased, Namjoon huffing in amusement at her challenge. 

As the men took their seats, Emmy’s eyes pierced into Jungkook, her anger slowly bubbling in the pit of her stomach as she recalled their last two encounters. She watched the smug expression invade his features as he took the seat beside her, catching onto the fact that he was adamant in blocking her from Namjoon. Emmy smiled sarcastically the moment they made eye contact, knowing this was not only the man who foiled her original attempts to get close to Namjoon, but also the first man that ever blatantly criticized her looks.

She turned her attention back to her drink, downing another sip as she slid her fingers across her chips, enjoying the slight clicking sounds as they shifted from her touch. The game was about to begin, and she was going to do whatever she needed to make sure Jungkook didn’t get the best of her yet again. 

—

Jade sat quietly on the rolling chair nestled at the small office nook of their hotel room, her fingers rapidly tapping away on her keyboard as she hacked the concierge computer system to find the location of Namjoon’s hotel room. Her eyes skimmed the text displayed across her screen as she caught sight of the room number registered under his account.

“Room 1464.” She spoke quietly, hearing a shuffle resound in her eardrum from the opposite end of the communication device. Ruby was on the opposite end, casually strolling through the halls as she awaited instructions on which target to hit, prepared to execute the technical part of their scheme. 

The brawn of the trio hummed in response, moving swiftly towards the elevators to ascend to the fourteenth floor in search of the proper room. Jade continued manipulating the keys of her laptop as she pulled up the proper program needed to unlock the young millionaire's hotel suite, taking a sip of the iced coffee that was keeping her awake into the late hours of the evening.

Just as Jade directed Ruby, a series of knocks echoed against their hotel door, causing Jade to jump from the surprise of someone stopping by at such a late hour. Was it someone from the hotel? Did any of them order room service before they embarked on the evening's tasks? She raised an eyebrow out of curiosity, pushing her palms against the desk to allow her chair to roll back. She hesitantly stood from her position, taking slow steps towards the door as she called out. 

“Coming.” She spoke softly, her hand pressing down against the door handle as she pulled the bulking panel back towards her. Her eyes widened at the sight behind the door, stunned to find a handsome man with the most intense eyes staring directly at her, a devilish charm radiating from his features. 

“Room service.” Taehyung tutted happily, moving swiftly past her as he balanced a silver tray atop his left hand. A black suit adorned his built frame, a tussle of messy hair hanging just above his eyes as he stalked her field of view, placing the tray down against the desk on the opposite end of the room. 

Jade’s jaw unhinged as she watched the hotel staff bulldoze past her, completely shocked by how forward and confident the man appeared to be. She released the door to inquire about what was ordered, wondering if Emmy or Ruby placed a request for a celebratory treat.

As she moved, the weight of the door caused it to swing on its hinges, shutting her inside with the mysterious hotel staff member. She moved to capture the lid of the platter, lifting her hand up to spot a plate full of chocolate strawberries beautifully displayed against the china. Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the treat, subconsciously licking her lips as her eyes devoured the sight. 

Taehyung took the opportunity to inch closer to the curly hair brunette, his mind racing with creative and amusing ways that he could distract her from assisting her partners in crime. 

The sensation of a hand resting against her hip caused Jade to flinch in surprise, turning quickly on her heel to be met with only a few inches of proximity keeping Taehyung from her lips. His sharp stare latched to her mouth, seductively flicking his eyes up to meet hers as he wrapped his arm behind her back, pulling her forward to crash into him. 

Jade found herself completely frozen, stunned by how daring Taehyung seemed as she pushed back against his chest. She went to protest, Taehyung tapping his index finger over her lips as he subtly shut her up. 

“Did you know that chocolate covered strawberries are an aphrodisiac?” He hummed, reaching past her to grab one of the plump berries before bringing it up to his lips. His eyes glimmered in amusement as he stuck the fruit in his mouth, taking a bite of the decadent treat as Jade watched as if a moth to a flame. 

“Here…take a bite, sweetheart.” He grinned, reaching past her to replace his strawberry with a fresh one. He held it out, the chocolate coating brushing against her lips as she fought the heat building in her core. Who the fuck was this man? And why did she so desperately want him to ravage her despite being a complete stranger?

Her mind short circuited in her attempts to pinpoint his familiarity, the delicious taste of chocolate invading her taste buds. Just as she went to give in, he pulled the morsel away, tossing it back on the plate before moving his hands to cup her face, pulling her lips flush against his own. 

Jade’s eyes nearly bulged out from her head, her body stiffening as she tasted the mix of chocolate and strawberry on his tongue, her body slowly melting into his embrace. She couldn’t help the small moan that manifested from the sweet kiss, Taehyung grinning proudly against her lips as he dropped his hands back to her waist, shifting her body to press against the foot of the bed. 

It had been a while since Jade received this kind of attention from a man, let alone one as handsome as him. As her mind fogged with the haze of sinful desire, Taehyung took every opportunity to move in on his prey, pressing softly against her stomach to push her back against the cotton sheets beneath her. 

Jade gasped at the sudden drop, finding clarity as she remembered that this man was a complete stranger to her. Obviously, she wasn’t the type of girl to let a man she just met have his way with her, but why did she so desperately want to? 

Taehyung didn’t allow her a moment to think, quickly crawling onto her as she slowly inched back, still fighting with her sense of reason as she became caged beneath him. “I bet you taste as good as the strawberries…” He breathed, tempted to abort his mission and fuck her with their strawberry laced make outs. “What do you think? Can I taste you?” He smirked, pressing his lips forwards to capture her lips once again. 

Any rational thinking left in Jade’s thoughts was swept under the rug, allowing Taehyung to continue his manipulations. He trailed his hands up her side, capturing her wrists as he brought her arms above her head, trailing his lips from her mouth down her neck to flirt with her collarbone. 

Just as Jade’s body ignited with the heat of her desires, the cold touch of metal brushed against the skin of her wrist. She pulled away, a short series of clicks confirming her worst nightmare as Taehyung’s lips pulled into a devilish grin. Her eyes snapped up to find her wrist handcuffed to the headboard of the bed, Taehyung chuckling mischievously as he pushed up to rest on his knees. 

“Come on, Sweetheart.” He laughed once more, his head tilting back in amusement. “You want it so badly that you’d spread your legs for the first man that touches you?” As he spoke his words, he trailed his fingers up her thigh, flirting with the edge of her shorts. 

Jade narrowed her eyes as she intently observed his features, the look of shock crashing over her as she recognized him from a few nights back. This was the same man who flat out asked to take her up to his room at the nightclub, distracting her from eavesdropping on Emmy’s conversation with Namjoon. How in the world did he even find her? Who the hell was he?

Jade huffed in annoyance, watching as Taehyung swung his leg over her, standing back up as he moved to retrieve another strawberry. He ate it joyfully as he discarded the stem, glancing back at Jade who was letting a series of curses escape the barrier of her lips. 

“Fuck you!” She hissed, tugging hopelessly against the cuffs. 

He let out another chuckle. “Oh, trust me, I wish you would.” He teased, sucking the reminisce of chocolate from the pads of his fingers. “Unfortunately, I have places to be.” He continued, moving towards the door as he relished in the sight of her helpless against the mattress. “Hang in there.” He added, watching as her wrist hung from the bedframe, thoroughly amused by how easy it was to detain her, it was almost humiliating really. 

Jade felt her anger bubble over, “Get me out of this shit.” She hissed only to watch Taehyung wave his hand as he dismissed himself. 

“Sorry, Sweetheart. You look too good tied down.” He called back, his pearly whites shining through his cocky grin as he swiftly moved out of her hotel room. 

Jade let out a deep growl of frustration, kicking her legs as she tried to slip her hand from its confinements. After a few minutes of her hopeless attempts, she sighed in defeat, mulling over how she was possibly going to explain this to Emmy and Ruby.

—

Ruby calmly moved through the halls of the hotel, following the plaques posted with a series of room numbers. She fiddled with the decoy key card as her hips snapped to and fro with each domineering step. “Almost there.” She spoke softly in her earpiece, watching the room numbers ascend door by door. The silence from her teammate wasn’t unusual since too much chatter tended to distract from their tasks.

Her indication allowed Jade to start the transfer of data into the decoy so that Ruby could gain access into the room and work her magic on the safe. As she approached the door, she quickly glanced up and down the hallway, making sure the coast was clear before using the key card. The door beeped, but the light flashed red in error. Ruby tried it again but had the same result. “Jade, is the key ready?”

She suddenly felt nervous after a moment of silence, worried about trying the key once again. “Jade? Hello?” There was still no response and Ruby cursed, attempting the decoy once again. She jostled the handle to test if it would let her into the room, but the door held firm. “I’m going to kill her…” She muttered under her breath, analyzing the lock for an alternative route inside. 

While she messed with the door handle, she failed to realize there were a pair of footsteps coming from around the corner until their intimidating presence loomed from down the hall. “Step away from the door!” A man hollered, causing her to whip her head in the direction of his voice. 

Her eyes widened as she saw two security guards stomping towards her. “Shit!” She hissed, pushing off from the door and bolting in the opposite direction. She darted down the long corridor, trying to gain distance as she turned the corner only to be met with a brute force blocking her path. 

 She glanced up to find the smile of a familiar man, placing his features back to the club as she recalled turning him down and fetching him a drink. His satisfied smirk told her all of the unspoken communication she needed, feeling a pair of hands grab her arms from behind. 

 “This is the one.” Jimin’s voice was calm and collected, the security guards aggressively tugging at her arms to prop them behind her back. She winced in pain as she felt herself get pushed forward, their collective strength too much for her to take single handedly. 

 She narrowed her eyes, shouting back towards Jimin as she felt her body continue to get propelled forward. “You ass!” Her voice echoed in the hallway as she bent her neck uncomfortably to watch Jimin get farther away from them. Just as she went to turn the corner, she noticed him pluck out a hotel room key from his pocket, holding it up between his index and middle finger, a smug grin plastered on his face as he turned his attention to Namjoon’s door. 

—

Back at the poker tables, Emmy sat observing her cards intently to plan out her next move. The men of the table didn’t seem to be concerned whether their funds would increase or decrease in the game, mostly enjoying the company and drinks as Namjoon ordered another round of Jack Daniel’s for his entourage. 

Jungkook glanced down at his phone, his eyes scanning the text on the screen as Jimin informed him of their success. A large malicious grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he swiftly placed his device back in the pocket of his dress pants. He took this opportunity to pivot in his stool, his eyes entrapping the crystal hues of Emmy as he leaned back, his body practically dripping with finesse. 

“I gotta say, you play your cards well.” He grinned, fanning his cards slightly as he placed them down against the table with flair. “Too bad your hustle isn’t as good as your poker face.” His amusement multiplied as he watched the sexy brunette’s face morph in confusion, trailing his eyes towards Namjoon to give Emmy a hint. 

Emmy could feel the pressure Jungkook was trying to apply, taping her fingertips gently on the back of her cards. “Whatever do you mean?” She gritted between her teeth, watching as the men around the table placed their bets in the center. 

“This poker game, dancing with Namjoon at the club, even your little stunts at the strip club…” Jungkook spoke casually as he turned his attention to place his wagers onto the plush green tabletop. His eyes shot to the side, catching the glimpse of panic striking in her features as she connected the dots that he knew exactly who she was the entirety of their exchange, including a specific lap dance turned explicit. 

Emmy huffed in disbelief, placing the rest of her chips into the center as she went all in on her current hand of cards. “Take your losses, hot shot. I got this game in the bag.” She knew the girls would be finished with their tasks any minute, allowing her to take her leave as she fought the urge to compulsively challenge Jungkook yet again. 

She wanted to smack the smug look off of his face as he leaned back in, whispering seductively as the dealer displayed the cards. “I’m always one step ahead of you, baby girl.” He glanced back to the men conversing besides them, making sure to keep quiet only for her ears to hear. “Did you know that right now, my boys and I just made bank off of…” His eyes darkened, his voice mimicking that of a helpless damsel in distress, “my dear friend that I just couldn’t let you manipulate?” 

He let out a chuckle watching as Emmy pieced together the information of his confession, watching as her eyes burned with rage at the discovery of their deceit. Just as she often manipulated through dramatics, Jungkook turned to the table, slamming his hands down in defeat as the dealer announced Emmy’s poker victory. This man was a male copy of herself, dramatic and clever. 

Namjoon laughed from across the table, watching as the dealer shifted the chips towards the feisty woman in black. “Better luck next time, JK.” Namjoon tutted as he turned his attention back to the waiter who was taking their drink order. 

Emmy was starstruck, completely flabbergasted at the amount of effort Jungkook placed into sabotaging their hustle just so he could profit himself. This entire time he poses as part of Namjoon’s entourage after building his trust the first night he spent in Vegas, only to become the one who would deliver the final blow. It was infuriating. Once again, he’d managed to get the best of her. 

“You’re a real ass, JK.” She spoke his name harshly, finally having a name to associate with his obnoxious appearance. He simply hummed in satisfaction as he stood from his seat, glancing back in her direction. 

“You might want to save your winnings to bail out your friends.” He leaned forward whispering in her ear as he became increasingly more cocky. “They got in the way.” 

He smirked as he pulled away, Emmy desperately wanting to snap back at him but coming up short at the reality that Jungkook and his comrades had successfully bamboozled them. 

“Oh, and by the way…” He flicked his tongue against the metal hoop of his lip piercing, catching it between his teeth as he glanced over her body. “Thanks for the strip tease, baby girl.” 

That was it! Emmy officially had her jaw dropped, gapping like a fish as she vividly recalled Jungkook feeling up on her naked body the previous evening. He knew exactly who she was this entire time and even when she thought she bested him at the club, he had other intentions, pocketing the opportunity for a rainy day. She felt her cheeks burn in frustration as she completely disregarded her winnings, pulling her phone from her clutch as she quickly dialed Jade’s number. 

She glanced back over her shoulder as Jungkook walked the floor with swag, watching as he retreated from the room, the dial tone blaring in her eardrum as she helplessly waited for Jade to answer. 

—

 “When we find her, I’m gonna kill her.” Emmy hissed, marching through the hotel corridors in search of the room Jade should have been in to aid in their efforts, but failed to respond. Shortly after trying to reach her friend, she got a call from Ruby, who was being detained in hotel security. The plan completely fell apart and they were about to get to the bottom of it. 

 “Get in line.” Ruby muttered, stalking menacingly next to her, equally as upset about the circumstance. They arrived at the room and practically busted the door, expecting to find clues of her whereabouts rather than her fighting against the handcuffs that kept her against the headboard. “What the fuck were you doing?” Ruby narrowed on the plate of chocolate covered strawberries, noticing that someone had already indulged in the decadent fruit. 

 Jade gasped, turning away from the headboard to see her teammates glaring at her. “Oh my god, I’m so glad you guys are here!” She overlooked the intense fire burning in their irises as the pain of the cuffs seared from her tender wrist, since she fought with them for quite some time. 

 Emmy rolled her eyes, running her tongue over her teeth as she came over to help Jade out. “I wouldn’t be…” She said ominously, plucking a hairpin from her clutch and sneaking it through the mechanism to unlock the cuffs. 

 Ruby was still looking at the platter in bewilderment, “Seriously? What happened?”

 Jade sighed as the metal unlatched from her wrists and gently rubbed the raw flesh. She turned to her girls, finally registering their annoyed expressions. “Uh, well I got distracted-”

 “Yeah, no shit. It looks like you were trying to get laid while we were busy doing our job!” Emmy snapped, trying to get the truth from the brains of their operation. Jade was very good at sugar coating, but that’s not what they needed to hear.

  “Listen, someone knocked on the door and I thought you guys accidentally ordered room service…” Emmy began shaking her head in disbelief. She could already see where this story was going. “This guy just walks in with the strawberries and… um…” Jade became sheepish, remembering how easily she let him disable her with some sweet words and kisses. 

 “Please tell me you’re joking. This has to be a joke.” Emmy rubbed her temples, growing more agitated with her friend’s stupidity. It was like the first lesson of seduction and Jade completely fell for it. 

 Ruby started laughing, bending over from the severe stomach pains as she watched the shameful expression over Jade’s face. “And I thought you were the smart one.” Her laughter only became louder.

 Jade glared, crossing her arms over her chest. “How was I supposed to know I would be a target? I’m behind the scenes for a reason.” She argued with a huff.

 Emmy was beyond herself. She was already on edge from her interaction with JK, then she had to get Ruby out of holding, and to put the cherry on top, Jade couldn’t even help them because she let her vagina do the thinking. “I showed my tits three times during this mission and have nothing to show for it, so you owe me.” Emmy went towards the bathroom, ignoring the looks her comrades gave her. “Don’t ask!”

 Ruby only smirked back at Jade. “So, how did he woo you? Did he call you pretty or the most beautiful girl in the world?” She teased, mimicking a deep voice as if she were the guy that bested Jade.

 Jade retaliated by throwing a pillow at her head, tossing herself on the bed in shame as they heard the shower run in the other room. She glanced back at Ruby, “So, what did I miss? Was it bad?” 

 Ruby cringed, “Yeah… it wasn’t good.”

—

After Emmy’s shower, they quickly packed their things to leave the scene and were checking out of the room in the hotel lobby. Jade glanced around the space, making sure they weren’t spotted or being watched until her eyes came across the handsome stranger that disposed of her earlier. He was leaning up against the wall near the entrance, unbothered by his surroundings as he stood waiting for something or someone.

Jade nudged Ruby’s shoulder while Emmy consulted the receptionist at the front desk. “That’s the guy.” She whispered, tilting her head in his direction as Ruby followed the gesture. 

As the two women watched him from afar, his dark eyes flickered towards them, locking onto them as a smirk crawled over his plush mouth. He lifted his hand and slowly dragged his thumb across his bottom lip along the tip of his tongue as his stare bore into them; his actions drawn out and deliberate. “What the hell?” Ruby whispered to herself.

Jade blushed from his intensity, remembering the brief moment back in the hotel room before a loud honk from outside reverberated through the lobby. He broke away, glancing outside to see a black car parked just in front of the doors. He flashed the girls a large smile and then bent down to grab his small duffle bag.

“What are you guys looking at?” Emmy huffed, still working through her irritation from the day. She followed their eyes to see a familiar man leaving the entryway of the hotel and going out towards the car.

Jade briskly walked towards the doors, hoping to catch the license plate number and her teammates followed after her, “Jade, wait!” 

He stepped into the back of the vehicle, the windows of the front passenger seat rolled down to reveal Jungkook and Jimin. The girls reached the valet, as they connected all the dots from this mission. Emmy knew JK had accomplices, but she never imagined it would be with the two she encountered at the casino. Ruby glared at Jimin since he was the reason she got detained.

“Thanks for your hustle, ladies. It really paid off!” Jimin hollered out the window as Jungkook pulled away, leaving the women to watch the back of the car. Jade noted the license plate and chuckled sarcastically to herself. 

“What could possibly be funny?” Emmy asked, feeling annoyed once again. If she ever had the chance to see them again, she would make sure they paid for the humiliation. She would show them exactly what she was capable of and play dirty to win. 

Jade was in mild disbelief, “Their license plate… it was H, U, S, L as in hustle.”

Ruby smacked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, “Men are stupid.”

#bts fanfic #jeon jungkook #kim taehyung #park jimin #bts smut #Hustlers

[shogikappa]

My Top 10 digital pinball tables, June 2023

I’ve always been a fan of pinball, but my interest in it had been renewed after playing on the Beatles pinball machine in 2019. After getting tired of getting my ass handed to me by unfair mobile games, it was really refreshing to play games where my loss could only be blamed on my poor play, rather than the designer having calculated it all to make things hard for you so that you have to pay for microtransactions. In any case, I started looking for more pinball games after Flash was no longer supported and Pinball King and Funhouse Pinball (not the Rudy one) became defunct and I need newer pinball games to play. I’ve discovered lots of tables I’ve never played before and here are my top tables.

10. El Dorado (Zen Pinball) - Pinball FX3

Not to be confused with the more well-known pinball table of the same name by Gottlieb. Admittedly, El Dorado is kind of an acquired taste. It didn’t look very fun at first, but after playing it for a bit, I found it pretty fun, and I only really fell in love with it after immersing myself in the role of an Indiana Jones-style archaeologist, and you’re pretty much playing as one digging up treasures, deciphering ancient glyphs, avoiding traps, and collecting idols and poison remedies. As part of Zen’s older original tables, El Dorado is relatively easy in that it’s very easy to keep the ball in play for a long period of time, and the ball saver could be activated easily in the mobile version and on Pinball FX2, so I will say this table isn’t one that offers the most excitement when it comes to the thrill of risking losing your ball all the time as with many of the other tables here. The treasure-hunting theme and the minigames and toys however quite sold me, and the gameplay is fun too, but you might wanna give this game more goes and throw yourself into the role for better enjoyment.

9. Pin-bot

I first discovered Pin-bot via the NES adaptation of the game, but I was always frustrated that it added animated enemies that gobbled up your ball (making you lose it) and other enemies outright destroying your flipper. They probably thought that adding enemies not present on physical tables could spice up the experience, but it just makes me wish I was playing on the real machine instead. With pinball you already have very limited control - 2 flippers. With one or both of your flippers taken away by enemies or additional enemies that eat your ball, that’s a massive handicap and only serves to make me want to play the real table instead. The Moon cheese ball though is a nice touch.

Pin-bot has been recreated for Visual Pinball and is on PSP as part of the Williams Collection. There was also an OK port of it for the Pinball Arcade on mobiles. The game is pretty straight-forward: You want to give Pinbot eyes and score jackpot, and try to reach the Sun as you move around the Solar System. The game is relatively simple to learn and is quite fun for what it is, although it does lack some of the features and presentations present in the more exciting pinball tables from the 90s.

8. Who Dunnit

Who Dunnit has been ported to Visual Pinball, and used to be available on the Pinball Arcade for mobile. Here you play as a noir detective trying to gather clues and interrogating suspects to solve murders. This table incorporates a roulette portion, a slot machine, and essentially a sort of deduction minigame. I personally find it to be great fun. Solving murders would culminate to a climatic roof chase mode where you have to shoot a changing target within a relatively short time limit. It doesn’t have a whole lot of modes, but it packs a lot into a relatively simple-looking table.

7. Pinball Noir - Pinball FX

Another noir detective-themed table, this is a newer Zen original table and these are not plagued by the problem of being too easy to keep the ball in play that you could play for long periods easily without losing a ball that was common in Zen originals in El Dorado’s time. It seems that it’s going for a more modern full-colour display style too since it doesn’t seem to be basing the score display on DMDs. This monochrome-ish table’s got a lot of style, although it seems to me that where you’re supposed to shoot at any given time isn’t so obvious, as everything will just be lit. The voice acting is also a little poor, with the lead actor sounding way too try-hard to sound like a noir detective in a way that doesn’t sound natural. Nonetheless, this is a table I find myself coming back to again and again. It’s fun to shoot the mobsters and score jackpots after they’re down.

6. Curse of the Mummy - Pinball FX

Now this table doesn’t look like much at first, but there’s a lot going on here. I believe you play as archaeologists raiding the mummy’s tomb, although that doesn’t seem very explicit. There are lots of objectives to do here which physically change the layout a little, like building a bridge that connects the two upper playfields, and lighting torches in a maze which turns the centre waterfall into a passageway. Also helping the game is its Egyptian-sounding soundtrack, which seems to be something that’s missing from other Egypt-related games, surprisingly. Just to reiterate, don’t be deceived by the simple-looking layout. There’s a lot to do here.

5. Nautilus Remake - Zaccaria Pinball

I find this to be an outlier in Zaccaria Pinball, in a good way. Now most of the Remake and Deluxe tables in Zaccaria tend to be pretty easy. This table, although the same applies, has really good presentation. An update inspired by their 70s pinball table, this modernized take introduces multiball, ramps, modes, and a wizard mode into the mix while adding a nice soundtrack that makes you feel like you’re diving in the deep sea. I really love this table, although I wish it would ramp up the difficult to match those of the 90s Williams tables and make it so that it’s easier to drain the ball. As with other Zaccaria tables though, there’s no graze period. If you get down to 1 ball, multiball mode immediately ends and you won’t get a few seconds to score a jackpot like Williams tables tend to give you.

4. Whirlwind

Previously available on The Pinball Arcade, and also on the Williams Collection for PSP and on Visual Pinball, and recently made available for Pinball FX, I accidentally discovered this machine after confusing its name for the predecessor table of Hurricane (it turns out to be Cyclone, not Whirlwind). As part of the “natural disaster series” along with Earthshaker and later inspiring features found in the famous pinball table the Addams Family and the Twilight Zone, Hurricane has a very thematic use of its iconic spinners called “Whirlwind spinners” on Wikipedia (though the article strangely does not mention the Whirlwind table), which will cause the ball to be thrown off its trajectory. The physical table also has a fan mounted on top of the backglass which blows wind towards the player’s face when the storm is here (the spinners are spinning). The goofy “storm blaster” and wind from the backglass are also nice treats, and you could hear the wind telling you to “Feel the power of the wind”, a line which would be referenced again in the Addams Family and the Twilight Zone. Overall a very fun table with a very thematic use of spinners.

3. Cirqus Voltaire

At first I didn’t like the theme. Some kind of evil cirqus controlled by a green-faced ringmaster? It seems evil circuses are kind of an overdone trope. Now I will still say that the theme isn’t an especially appealing one, but it really makes up for it in gameplay. You’re trying to perform various acts in hopes of joining the circus, and over the course of the game, you’ll perform the various available acts. My favourite is the juggler, who actually juggles the balls around the juggler ball locks.

But the star of this table is really its wizard mode - what happens after you successfully finish all the marvels. Without wanting to spoil the ending, this is something you should definitely give a try. This table has one of the most climatic endings I’ve seen in a pinball game.

2. Twilight Zone

Available on Visual Pinball and recently for Pinball FX (there was also a super easy adaptation on the Pinball Arcade), Twilight Zone is one of the most well-known pinball tables and its prices are very high if you’re looking to get a machine. If you’re one of my friends, you probably already know I’m a big fan of the TV show, but this table boasts one of the most complex rulesets I had come across in a pinball game.

With a few features taken from the Addams Family and Whirlwind, the goal is to “unlock the door with the key of imagination”. Now I was thoroughly disappointed that on the physical table, the door doesn’t actually open. Pinball FX’s recreation rectifies this by opening the door every time a door panel is awarded. This table is also filled with unconventional features like a gumball machine that dispenses a lighter and faster ball sometimes, and “invisible” magnet flippers called magnaflips.

The Twilight Zone is usually very punishing for its residents... But sometimes, perhaps, just before you score the jackpot, the game will give you opportunities for easier shots... which in itself makes for something quite unexpected and fitting for its theme... of the Twilight Zone.

1. The Getaway: High Speed II

Released for Pinball FX/FX3 and also available on some other platforms (mobile, Visual Pinball, formerly the Pinball Arcade), The Getaway is the sequel table to High Speed. Now I was pretty happy with HS, but after playing the Getaway, it pretty much completely replaces the original HS.

You play as the owner of a sports car trying to pick up a beautiful hitchhiker and running the red light while outrunning a cop in pursuit. The most eye-catching feature is the metal ramp equipped with electromagnets that speed up the ball above the playfield, called the Supercharger (which is apparently something you put on cars to make them go fast). This table also boasts fast-paced gameplay with a matching fast-paced soundtrack (as opposed to HS) as your ball would need to be fast in order to make the necessary shots. This table is also probably the fastest-to-wizard mode table I’ve ever played, with me reaching wizard mode in under 3 minutes regularly. Loop shots are fun as you try to keep looping the ball around the orbits, gaining increasing points for each successive loop. A little gimmick this table has its that in order to move to the next mode, you need to press the launch button, meaning you pretty much have to take your hand away from a flipper button, although it’s considerably easier to do on digital recreations when all you have to do is to press Enter when your flipper key is the right shift.

Overall a very exciting table just due to the fast action it delivers, making it my favourite table, along with Twilight Zone.

Conclusion

These are my personal top pinball tables. I do realize tables like the Addams Family and Medieval Madness are among the most popular tables, but they just don’t resonate with me as well as these ones here, and I wanted to include games other than ones found in Pinball FX’s Williams tables and Zaccaria Pinball here as well for some diversity, hence Pin-bot making it into the top 10s.

#pinball

[agentnico]

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) Review

Oh. My. Gosh.

Plot: Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.

2018′s Into the Spider-Verse was a surprising hit that featured some of the most amazing animation ever put to screen, as well as being not only one of the best Spidey films, but also one of the top comic-book movies of all time. Additionally the inclusion of Nicolas Cage propelled that film to all kinds of new heights! Now following a successful box office run of that movie and a well deserved Academy Award win for Best Animated Feature, the first of two sequels is gracing our screens, and I am always weary when it comes to sequels to great movies, as one wonders if the creative team can retain the magic from the original.

At this point there should be a rule made in Hollywood to never bet against the duo that are Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Every time we find ourselves shocked whenever films involving these two come out and end up being some of the most superb cinema experiences. 22 Jump Street - a hilarious comedy. The Lego Movie - a uniquely animated movie that turns out to be much more than a simple cash-grab. Mitchells vs. the Machines - again another ground-breaking animation style with a wholesome story of family in the middle of it. Cocaine Bear - it’s a movie about a bear on cocaine, need I say more?! The list goes on, these two consistently deliver quality content and we should learn to accept this. So with Across the Spider-Verse I am happy to report that it’s another hit from these producers/writers, however not only is it a hit, it may just be a bloody masterpiece!

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is, put simply, brilliant! It’s everything that made Into the Spider-Verse great dialled up even more, and the result is honestly fantastic. Look, I watch a lot of movies. And yeah, movies are great and I love them deeply. But in watching so many films I have in a way lost that magic of being in awe every time I go to the cinema. Cliches and repetitiveness in films stick out like sore thumbs to me. However with Across the Spider-Verse I felt like a kid again, purely stunned in amazement at every single frame, engaged with the characters and story-line, not knowing where it will go next. Like I cannot reiterate how much fun I had watching this movie!

The animation...where do I begin? This is a gorgeous movie that retains that graphic novel look from the first movie, however due to the narrative being set in various universes, the animation team go a step further by having each reality animated in a different way. There are so many various art-styles used, and each one is absolutely gorgeous. Yet it never comes off as pretentious, instead all used in benefit of the story. There’s a certain sequence involving two characters having a dramatic emotional exchange of dialogue, and the use of watercolours and the changes in the background as the emotion changes throughout that scene was honestly some of the best and most powerful piece of animation I’ve ever seen. Not only the animation though, but the music. The music!!! Anyone seen that meme online featuring a guy playing a piano that’s on fire? Well that’s how hard composer Daniel Pemberton went with the musical score of this film. The way it amplified the action, embodied the tenderness of the emotional scenes, and played up to each character’s unique style, the music and sound design were absolutely spectacular! From a technical standpoint Across the Spider-Verse is a marvel.

There’s a lot of going on in this movie. It’s relentlessly fast paced, with lines of dialogue spilling out like Niagara falls and so many jokes, Easter Eggs and references thrown all at once that it’s easy to miss things on your first viewing. So I imagine this movie will serve well as a rewatchable one, so that you can catch the details you’ve missed before. However through all this content thrown at you at 100 miles per our the movie never forgets to stay focused on telling its story, and fleshing out all the main characters. And yes, there are lots of characters in this movie, yet every single one feels unique with many layers, and that’s due to the writing and the superb voice cast. Shameik Moore is freaking amazing as Miles Morales. That tone of vulnerability, this maturity but still immaturity cascading and once more evolving the character from the first film... you can’t help but root for him and also believe in him. Hailee Steinfeld is wonderful as Gwen Stacy, that is both vulnerable yet strong, trying to navigate her way through life whilst dealing with the dysfunctional relationship with her dad and having to be the hero she is meant to be. Also it’s always impressive when actors can portray good chemistry using only their voices, yet Moore and Steinfeld have that to a tee. Oscar Isaac (who was but only teased in the credits scene of the first film) is appropriately moody with a dark edge, showing hurt, anger and fire in every line he delivers as the anti-hero Miguel. Jason Schwartzman as Spot has that usual comedic every-guy demeanour to him, however his character is then revealed to be more reckless than expected, and Schwartzman is easily believable as the psychotic villain wanting to dominate to prove his worth. Brian Tyree Henry as Miles’ dad, Daniel Kaluuya as a punk Brit Spidey, Shea Whigham as Gwen’s father....the list goes on. Honestly every member of the voice cast does incredible work. You end up caring for these characters, and are fully invested in them.

In terms of negatives there aren’t really many. I’d say to the beginning the movie focuses a little too much on exposition of bringing everyone up to speed on the events of the first movie, and I’m just there like “I’ve seen the first movie, get on with it already!” and also the fast pace delivery means certain lines of dialogue are thrown so quickly they are easily missed, yet again though, I feel that in rewatching the film multiple times I will find enjoyment it catching out those missed details. In the end though, Across the Spider-Verse is a fantastic Part 1 to a story that is left at an expected cliff-hanger ready to be picked up by next year’s Beyond the Spider-Verse, however as a middle movie of a trilogy it stands strong along the likes of Empire Strikes Back or The Two Towers, in that it continues to flesh out the characters in a meaningful and powerful way, the animation and music is ridiculously good, and overall it’s one of the best superhero films I have ever seen. Also, it manages to deliver the idea of a multiverse much better than anything the MCU is currently attempting to do, so yep, also a solid multiverse movie. There’s plenty of fan-service thrown in throughout though I never thought it felt forced, and overall this is simply superb filmmaking. Can’t wait for Beyond the Spider-Verse!

Overall score: 9/10

#spider-man #spider-man: across the spider-verse #across the spiderverse #phil lord #chris miller #shameik moore #hailee steinfeld #oscar isaac #brian tyree henry #shea whigham #jake johnson #jason schwartzman #daniel kaluuya #karan soni #animation #comedy #superhero #marvel #2023 #2023 in film #2023 film #daniel pemberton #miles morales #multiverse #film #movie #movie reviews #film reviews #cinema #across the spiderverse review

[zerogpt262]

AI Music Generation: Exploring the Future of Music Creation

In the realm of music creation, the fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and creativity has led to an exciting frontier: AI music generation. Imagine a world where music is not only composed by humans but also by intelligent algorithms capable of learning, analyzing, and generating original compositions. This is the promise of AI music generation – a revolutionary technology that is reshaping the way we think about music creation and composition.

The Rise of AI Music Generation

AI music generation has gained significant traction in recent years, thanks to advances in machine learning, neural networks, and other AI technologies. By leveraging vast datasets of existing music and sophisticated algorithms, AI music generators are able to compose original pieces of ai generate music that rival the work of human composers in complexity, emotion, and creativity.

But what exactly is AI music generation, and how does it work? At its core, AI music generate involves training a computer algorithm on a large corpus of musical data – including melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and structures – and then using this knowledge to ai music generate new compositions. This process is often guided by certain parameters or constraints set by the user, such as genre, mood, tempo, or instrumentation, allowing for a high degree of customization and control.

The Benefits of AI Music Generation

The benefits of AI music generation are manifold. For one, it offers a powerful tool for musicians and composers to overcome creative blocks and spark new ideas. By providing endless sources of inspiration and exploration, AI music generators can help artists break free from traditional compositional conventions and push the boundaries of their creativity.

Moreover, AI music generation has the potential to democratize music creation by making it more accessible to a wider audience. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a complete novice, AI music generators offer a user-friendly interface and intuitive controls that make it easy to compose, arrange, and experiment with music – no formal training required.

Exploring the Possibilities

The possibilities of AI music generation are virtually limitless. From generating background music for films and video games to composing original scores for concerts and performances, AI music generators can fulfill a wide range of creative needs and applications. Moreover, AI music generation opens up new avenues for collaboration and experimentation, allowing artists to collaborate with intelligent algorithms and explore new musical territories together.

But perhaps the most exciting aspect of AI music generation is its potential to push the boundaries of what we think is possible in music. By combining the analytical power of AI with the emotional depth of human creativity, AI music generators have the ability to create music that transcends traditional genres, styles, and conventions – music that is truly innovative, inspiring, and timeless.

Create Music with AI Today

Ready to explore the world of AI music generation for yourself? There are a variety of AI music generators available today, ranging from simple web-based tools to sophisticated software applications. Whether you're looking to compose a new song, experiment with different musical styles, or simply experience the thrill of collaborating with intelligent algorithms, there's never been a better time to dive into the world of AI music generation.

#create music #AI music generation

[gqresearch24]

Digitization in Lending Market Huge Growth in Future Scope 2024-2030 | GQ Research

The Digitization in Lending market is set to witness remarkable growth, as indicated by recent market analysis conducted by GQ Research. In 2023, the global Digitization in Lending market showcased a significant presence, boasting a valuation of USD 423.66 Million. This underscores the substantial demand for Digitization in Lending technology and its widespread adoption across various industries.

Get Sample of this Report at: https://gqresearch.com/request-sample/global-digitization-in-lending-market/

Projected Growth: Projections suggest that the Digitization in Lending market will continue its upward trajectory, with a projected value of USD 857.74 billion by 2030. This growth is expected to be driven by technological advancements, increasing consumer demand, and expanding application areas.

Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR): The forecast period anticipates a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 26.58 %, reflecting a steady and robust growth rate for the Digitization in Lending market over the coming years.

Technology Adoption:

Increasing adoption of digitization in lending processes for efficiency and convenience.

Digitization utilized for loan origination, underwriting, approval, and servicing.

Integration of online platforms, mobile applications, and electronic signatures for seamless customer experience.

Application Diversity:

Consumer Loans: Digitized application processes for personal loans, mortgages, and auto loans.

Small Business Loans: Online platforms for business loan applications, credit assessment, and funding.

Peer-to-Peer Lending: Digital platforms connecting borrowers with individual investors for lending opportunities.

Microfinance: Digital lending solutions targeting underserved populations with microloans and financial inclusion initiatives.

Consumer Preferences:

Demand for streamlined and paperless loan application processes accessible through digital channels.

Preference for mobile-friendly interfaces and self-service options for loan management and payment.

Emphasis on data security, privacy protection, and transparent loan terms and conditions.

Desire for fast approval times and quick disbursal of funds facilitated by digitized lending platforms.

Technological Advancements:

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for credit scoring and risk assessment.

Integration of big data analytics and alternative data sources for personalized lending decisions.

Development of blockchain technology for secure and transparent loan transactions and smart contracts.

Adoption of open banking APIs for seamless integration with financial data and third-party services.

Market Competition:

Intense competition among traditional banks, fintech startups, and online lenders in the digital lending market.

Differentiation through innovative loan products, competitive interest rates, and superior customer service.

Strategic partnerships with technology providers, credit bureaus, and regulatory compliance firms.

Focus on digital marketing, customer engagement, and brand loyalty to attract and retain borrowers.

Environmental Considerations:

Consideration of environmental impact in the reduction of paper usage and physical documentation in lending processes.

Promotion of energy-efficient data center infrastructure and sustainable computing practices.

Implementation of eco-friendly practices in loan servicing and collection operations.

Compliance with environmental regulations and standards governing electronic waste disposal and recycling.

Regional Dynamics: Different regions may exhibit varying growth rates and adoption patterns influenced by factors such as consumer preferences, technological infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.

Key players in the industry include:

Fiserv

ICE Mortgage Technology

FIS

Newgen Software

Nucleus Software

Temenos

Pega

Sigma Infosolutions

Intellect Design Arena.

Tavant

The research report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Digitization in Lending market, offering insights into current trends, market dynamics and future prospects. It explores key factors driving growth, challenges faced by the industry, and potential opportunities for market players.

For more information and to access a complimentary sample report, visit Link to Sample Report: https://gqresearch.com/request-sample/global-digitization-in-lending-market/

About GQ Research:

GQ Research is a company that is creating cutting edge, futuristic and informative reports in many different areas. Some of the most common areas where we generate reports are industry reports, country reports, company reports and everything in between.

Contact:

Jessica Joyal

[phone] | [phone] Website - https://gqresearch.com/

#DigitalLending #FintechInnovation #OnlineLoans #FinancialInclusion #TechDrivenFinance #LendingSolutions

[swissforextrading]

CERN and the Swiss Arts Council announce the artists selected for the sixth edition of Connect

CERN and the Swiss Arts Council announce the artists selected for the sixth edition of Connect Connect is an art residency programme launched by Arts at CERN and Pro Helvetia in 2021. Dedicated to Swiss-based artists working at the intersection of science and artistic research, this research-led residency invites them to come to CERN to explore ideas and develop new work. The selected duo is composed of Robin Meier Wiratunga and Vimala Pons. Meier Wiratunga is an artist and composer who seeks to understand how humans, insects and objects think. Collaborating closely with scientific researchers, Meier Wiratunga's work blends machine learning with insights from animal intelligence, creating constellation scores where musical patterns emerge as ‘thinking tools'. Vimala Pons is an actress who has worked in independent and auteur cinema. Meier Wiratunga and Pons will dedicate their residency at CERN to developing their proposal titled Guided Meditations for the End of the Universe. This project aims to delve into cosmological theories about the end of the Universe to transform them into meditative and embodied experiences. Employing an anthropological approach to engage with science, the artists intend to employ spoken voice recordings, electronic music, light environments and sonified data from particle events. Now in its sixth edition, Connect has become a pivotal platform for Swiss-based artists to expand their artistic practice in dialogue with the field of physics and science at CERN. This collaboration framework between Arts at CERN and Pro Helvetia will continue through the next year with an iteration in Chile and India, sustaining its mission to foster interactions and dialogue between artistic and scientific communities. “We find ourselves in a challenging yet exciting time, as we witness the emergence of a strong and vibrant infrastructure devoted to the integration of artistic activity within the sciences,” says Mónica Bello, Curator and Head of Arts at CERN. “This is a transformational and promising development that presents unprecedented opportunities for cultural innovation. Connect is evidence of these dynamics, and I am proud to see that our partnership with Pro Helvetia is advancing further, bringing in new residents with different perspectives and backgrounds and strengthening the confluence of art and science in Switzerland.” “This sixth edition of Connect continues to reaffirm the significance of the interface between art, science and technology. The quality and diversity of applications received illustrate the rich interdisciplinarity inherent in this dynamic field, and the extent to which it is part of current artistic practice. We are happy to foster dialogue and innovation at this remarkable intersection and are very pleased about the ongoing collaboration with Arts at CERN,” explains Philippe Bischof, Director of Pro Helvetia. The jury of Connect was formed by Mónica Bello, Curator and Head of Arts at CERN; Giulia Bini, Head of Program and Curator of “Enter the Hyper-Scientific” at EPFL Lausanne; and Federica Martini, Head of the CCC - Critical Curatorial Cybermedia Master at HEAD Genève. angerard Tue, 04/02/2024 - 16:09 Publication Date Wed, 04/03/2024 - 14:00 https://home.web.cern.ch/news/news/cern/cern-and-swiss-arts-council-announce-artists-selected-sixth-edition-connect (Source of the original content)

[jcmarchi]

📝 Guest Post: Evaluating LLM Applications*

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/guest-post-evaluating-llm-applications/

📝 Guest Post: Evaluating LLM Applications*

To successfully build an AI application, evaluating the performance of large language models (LLMs) is crucial. Given the inherent novelty and complexities surrounding LLMs, this poses a unique challenge for most companies.

Peter Hayes, who holds a PhD in Machine Learning from University College London, is one of the world’s leading experts on this topic. As CTO of Humanloop, Peter has assisted companies such as Duolingo, Gusto, and Vanta in solving LLM evaluation challenges for AI applications with millions of daily users.

Today, Peter shares his insights on LLM evaluations. In this 5-minute read, you will learn how to apply traditional software evaluation techniques to AI, understand the different types of evaluations and when to use them, and see what the lifecycle of evaluating LLM applications looks like at the frontier of Generative AI.

This post is a shortened version of Peter’s original blog, titled ‘Evaluating LLM Applications‘.

Take lessons from traditional software

A large proportion of teams now building great products with LLMs aren’t experienced ML practitioners. Conveniently many of the goals and best practices from software development are broadly still relevant when thinking about LLM evals.

Automation and continuous integration is still the goal

Competent teams will traditionally set up robust test suites that are run automatically against every system change before deploying to production. This is a key aspect of continuous integration (CI) and is done to protect against regressions and ensure the system is working as the engineers expect. Test suites are generally made up of 3 canonical types of tests: unit, integration and end-to-end.

Typical makeup of a test suite in software development CI. Unit tests tend to be the hardest to emulate for LLMs.

Unit – very numerous, target a specific atom of code and are fast to run.

Integration – less numerous, cover multiple chunks of code, are slower to run than unit tests and may require mocking external services.

End-to-end – emulate the experience of an end UI user or API caller; they are slow to run and oftentimes need to interact with a live version of the system.

The most effective mix of test types for a given system often sparks debate. Yet, the role of automated testing as part of the deployment lifecycle, alongside the various trade-offs between complexity and speed, remain valuable considerations when working with LLMs.

Types of evaluation can vary significantly

When evaluating one or more components of an LLM block, different types of evaluations are appropriate depending on your goals, the complexity of the task and available resources. Having good coverage over the components that are likely to have an impact over the overall quality of the system is important.

These different types can be roughly characterized by the return type and the source of, as well as the criteria for, the judgment required.

Judgment return types are best kept simple

The most common judgment return types are familiar from traditional data science and machine learning frameworks. From simple to more complex:

Binary – involves a yes/no, true/false, or pass/fail judgment based on some criteria.

Categorical – involves more than two categories; for exampling adding an abstain or maybe option to a binary judgment.

Ranking – the relative quality of output from different samples or variations of the model are being ranked from best to worst based on some criteria. Preference based judgments are often used in evaluating the quality of a ranking.

Numerical – involves a score, a percentage, or any other kind of numeric rating.

Text – a simple comment or a more detailed critique. Often used when a more nuanced or detailed evaluation of the model’s output is required.

Multi-task – combines multiple types of judgment simultaneously. For example, a model’s output could be evaluated using both a binary rating and a free-form text explanation.

Simple individual judgments can be easily aggregated across a dataset of multiple examples using well known metrics. For example, for classification problems, precision, recall and F1 are typical choices. For rankings, there are metrics like NDCG, Elo ratings and Kendall’s Tau. For numerical judgments there are variations of the Bleu score.

I find that in practice binary and categorical types generally cover the majority of use cases. They have the added benefit of being the most straight forward to source reliably. The more complex the judgment type, the more potential for ambiguity there is and the harder it becomes to make inferences.

Model sourced judgments are increasingly promising

Sourcing judgments is an area where there are new and evolving patterns around foundation models like LLMs. At Humanloop, we’ve standardised around the following canonical sources:

Heuristic/Code – using simple deterministic rules based judgments against attributes like cost, token usage, latency, regex rules on the output, etc. These are generally fast and cheap to run at scale.

Model (or ‘AI’) – using other foundation models to provide judgments on the output of the component. This allows for more qualitative and nuanced judgments for a fraction of the cost of human judgments.

Human – getting gold standard judgments from either end users of your application, or internal domain experts. This can be the most expensive and slowest option, but also the most reliable.

Typical makeup of different sources of evaluation judgments. AI evaluators are a good sweet spot for scaling up your evaluation process, while still providing Human-level performance.

Model judgments in particular are increasingly promising and an active research area. The paper Judging LLM-as-a-Judge demonstrates that an appropriately prompted GPT-4 model achieves over 80% agreement with human judgments when rating LLM model responses to questions on a scale of 1-10; that’s equivalent to the levels of agreement between humans.

I believe teams should consider shifting more of their human judgment efforts up a level to focus on helping improve model evaluators. This will ultimately lead to a more scalable, repeatable and cost-effective evaluation process. As well as one where the human expertise can be more targeted on the most important high-value scenarios.

Different stages of evaluation are necessary

Different stages of the app development lifecycle will have different evaluation needs. I’ve found this lifecycle to naturally still consist of some sort of planning and scoping exercise, followed by cycles of development, deployment and monitoring.

These cycles are then repeated during the lifetime of the LLM app in order to intervene and improve performance. The stronger the teams, the more agile and continuous this process tends to be.

Development here will include both the typical app development; orchestrating your LLM blocks in code, setting up your UIs, etc, as well more LLM specific interventions and experimentation; including prompt engineering, context tweaking, tool integration updates and fine-tuning – to name a few. Both the choices and quality of interventions to optimize your LLM performance are much improved if the right evaluation stages are in place. It facilitates a more data-driven, systematic approach.

From my experience there are 3 complementary stages of evaluation that are the give the highest ROI in supporting rapid iteration cycles of the LLM block-related interventions:

Interactive – it’s useful to have an interactive playground-like editor environment that allows rapid experimentation with components of the model and provides immediate evaluator feedback. This usually works best on a relatively small number of scenarios. This allows teams (both technical and non-technical) to quickly explore the design space of the LLM app and get an informal sense of what works well.

Batch offline – benchmarking or regression testing the most promising variations over a larger curated set of scenarios to provide a more systematic evaluation. Ideally a range of different evaluators for different components of the app can contribute to this stage, some comparing against gold standard expected results for the task. This can fit naturally into existing CI processes.

Monitoring online – post-deployment, real user interactions can be evaluated continuously to monitor the performance of the model. This process can drive alerts, gather additional scenarios for offline evaluations and inform when to make further interventions. Staging deployments through internal environments, or beta testing with selected cohorts of users first, are usually super valuable.

Recommended stages for a robust evaluation process. Interactive, offline and online.

It’s usually necessary to co-evolve to some degree the evaluation framework alongside the app development as more data becomes available and requirements are clarified. The ability to easily version control and share across stages and teams both the evaluators and the configuration of your app can significantly improve the efficiency of this process.

At Humanloop, we’ve developed a platform for enterprises to evaluate LLM applications at each step of the product development journey. 

To read the full blog on Evaluating LLM Applications, or learn more about how help enterprises reliably put LLMs in production, you can visit our website.

*This post was written by Peter Hayes, CTO of Humanloop. We thank Humanloop for their insights and ongoing support of TheSequence.

#agile #agreement #ai #alerts #API #app #app development #applications #approach #atom #automation #binary #Blog #Building #Canonical #challenge #change #code #college #Companies #complexity #continuous #continuous integration #CTO #data #data science #data-driven #deployment #Design #development

[cricutnewmachinesetup]

5 Best Cricut Machine Reviews: Which One is Worth the Pick?

 A few years ago, you asked me what the Best Cricut machine is. I probably wouldn’t have answered. Back then, I was unfamiliar with each Cricut machine model, so I couldn’t give the best Cricut machine reviews. But today, after many years of crafting experience, I have tried almost all Cricut machine models.

On the contrary, I am only talking about the Cricut cutting machine, not the Heat Press. Since I have dedicated half my life to crafting, I think I am the perfect person to give YouTube Cricut craft machine reviews. Therefore, I would like to introduce you to different Cricut machine models and their key features through this blog. Also, I would like to share its pros and cons to help you decide before buying it. Let’s get into this blog to explore these models in detail.

1.  Cricut Explore Air 2

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is one of the oldest models in Cricut’s lineup. Also, this particular Cricut model is the most suitable one for beginner crafters. I always recommend novice crafters to start with Explore Air 2, and then further they can advise with the latest version. With this machine, you can easily craft stickers, and it is also affordable for everyone.

Pros:

Cuts 100+ materials

Compatible with 6 tools to score, foil cut, write, and more

Bluetooth wireless technology

Built-in tool holder

Extra storage to hold extra tools and accessories

Decent performance

Beginner-friendly

Cons:

Noisy

Unsuitable for pro crafters

2.  Cricut Explore 3

In all these best Cricut machine reviews, I can’t miss this amazing Cricut Explore 3 machine, which is one of the best machines available at an affordable price. However, the main difference I know about this model is its compatibility with Smart Materials. So, let’s see why you should consider it as the best option and why you shouldn’t.

Pros:

Works with 100+ materials + Smart Materials

Best fit for home inkjet printer for Print Then Cut feature

Cuts complex designs with accuracy

Bluetooth wireless technology

Cricut Manufacturer Warranty

Performs operations such as writing, drawing, foiling, scoring, and more

Smooth and quiet

Has adaptable cutter

Cons:

Can cut up to 100 materials only (less than Cricut Maker 3)

Less powerful than Cricut Maker 3 but better than its predecessor

Extra investment for extra attachments

3.  Cricut Maker

Here comes an advanced model, or we can say it is better than all Explore models. But it is suitable for those crafters who have a good budget and want something advanced. I don’t think the Cricut Maker model is the right investment. Let’s explore the best Cricut machine reviews to learn more about the Maker model.

Pros:

Works with 300+ materials

Performs different operations, including writing, drawing, foiling, scoring, and more

Works with 13 tools to cut, write, score, foil, engrave, deboss & more

Cuts complex designs with preciseness

Best for Print Then Cut projects

Seamless customer support via phone or chat

Cricut Manufacturer Warranty

Bluetooth wireless technology

Cons:

Outdated technology, meaning Cricut no longer supports it

Can’t cut Smart Materials

Slow performance and less power

4.  Cricut Maker 3

Cricut Maker 3 is an updated version of its predecessor. In addition, it uses the same process, and the Cricut app and attachments are similar. Only one thing makes it different from other Cricut models: it can cut, score, and engrave Smart Materials without using the cutting mat.

As a result, you can cut up to 12 feet. Also, in terms of speed, it cuts much faster than the original Cricut Maker.

Pros:

Works with 300+ materials + Smart Materials

Cuts complex designs with precision

Best for a consistent outcome

Compatible with Bluetooth wireless technology

Writes, engraves, embosses, draws, foils, and more

Suitable with a home inkjet printer for the Print-Then-Cut feature

Cricut Manufacturer Warranty

Online courses & beginner’s cheat sheets

Seamless customer support via phone or chat

Cons:

Expensive

Materials are costly

Too much investment for beginner crafters

5.  Cricut Joy

Okay, here are our Cricut Joy machine reviews to help you determine why this is best for you. Ever since I decided to write about the best Cricut machine reviews, Cricut Joy was at the top of the list. This is compact and looks really cute! In addition, it is designed for crafters who travel a lot and want a portable cutting machine.

Thus, let’s see why it could be the right choice for you!

Pros:

Works with 50+ materials

Writes, draws, and foils

Seamless customer support via phone or chat

Bluetooth wireless technology

Cuts design in detail with precision

Cricut Manufacturer Warranty

Compact and portable

Adaptable

Ideal choice for paper crafts

Cons:

Weak and small size

No USB connection

Extra investments for pens, blades, and engraving tips

FAQs

Question 1: Which Cricut machine is the best?

Answer: My overall best pick is the Cricut Explore 3. It is because I know Cricut Maker models are the best and most robust. But still, I’d say Explore 3 because it is also robust, and you can get this cheaply. It is a great tool for intermediate crafters, including beginners. So, if you want something cheap and basic, you should go with Cricut Explore 3.

Question 2: Which Cricut machine is apt for beginners?

Answer: If you want a Cricut machine for beginners, then you will need to use the Cricut Explore Air 2. This machine is designed for beginners and doesn’t cost too much. So, start using the machine and create anything with Explore Air 2 when you have no time. Overall, Cricut Explore Air 2 is the best for beginner crafters.

Question 3: What do I need when buying a Cricut for the first time?

Answer: If you are buying a Cricut machine for the first time, you will need to gather many other accessories. Thus, below are the items you will need with your Cricut machine:

StandardGrip Mat

T-shirt

Weeding Tool

BrightPad (optional) or Light Box

EasyPress or Heat Press or Iron

EasyPress Mat

Everyday Iron-on

Conclusion

Finally, this write-up covers all the best Cricut machine reviews. Be it Cricut Explore models Maker or Joy; I have given my honest reviews about all of them. So, the main aim of writing this blog was to help you decide which Cricut model is the best from others. As you move further into the blog, you will find a lot of pros and cons. Explore them in detail and make purchases accordingly.

Source: best Cricut machine reviews

#best Cricut machine reviews #Cricut machine for beginners #Cricut Joy machine #Cricut Explore Air 2 #design space signin

[datasportsgroup]

Driving Digital Soccer Experiences with Structured Data Feeds

Soccer (or football as known in most countries) is the world's most popular sport. As a professional sports writer, I've seen first-hand how digital technology has elevated soccer engagement for fans, media, teams, and leagues. Real-time data feeds in structured formats like XML have enabled richer experiences across apps, websites, broadcasts, and IoT devices.

In this post, I'll explore the evolution of soccer data, the value of XML feeds, and innovative applications being powered for clubs, analysts, and most importantly - the supporters.

The Origins of Digital Soccer Data

Capturing soccer data digitally has exponentially increased in recent decades. Early data was limited to basic stats like possession, corners, fouls, and shots manually recorded by team staffers or league statisticians. This was eventually entered into spreadsheets and databases.

Digital tracking and analytics arrived in the 1990s and 2000s thanks to companies like Prozone who installed camera systems in stadiums. This optical tracking captured players' movements and events like passes, tackles and shots to generate data. Machine learning later automated this video processing.

FIFA, leagues, and data firms also introduced sensors in balls, on players, and across stadiums to capture immense volumes of event and biometric data. The data landscape has exploded into hundreds of attributes quantified for every match and player.

The Power of Structured Data Feeds

With massive volumes of soccer data being captured, distribution becomes critical. Structured formats like XML (Extensible Mark-up Language) have emerged as the standard for powering digital experiences.

XML provides a consistent way for leagues, data providers, and clubs to distribute feeds of soccer data. The code wraps around data attributes and organizes them into hierarchical categories. This creates a common language for different applications to quickly ingest data.

For example, Data Sports Group offers soccer data feeds like Live Score XML. This contains live play-by-play data flowing at sub second speeds to update apps. Elements like <period>, <team>, <player>, and <event> structure the action. Media outlets, sportsbooks, and any developer can directly consume the feed into experiences.

The Applications for Fans

Structured soccer data is what brings digital experiences to life for supporters. Live Score XML allows mobile apps to deliver play-by-play commentary, statistics, line ups, and substitutions as matches unfold. Fans feel like they're at the stadium through their pocket devices.

Apps utilize XML feeds for powering widgets like league tables, top scorers, fixtures schedules, club news, and ticket purchases. The data integrates seamlessly so developers focus on great features instead of warehousing data.

Even broadcasting and augmented reality are enhanced by data feeds. Networks leverage XML for live graphics with ball possession, formations, and live tables. AR overlays like shot trajectories and offside lines are powered by real-time data and analytics.

New Possibilities for Teams & Media

For clubs, structured data provides a feedback loop for analysts and coaching staff. XML feeds contain granular event data that can surface insights around tactics, performance, recruitment and more. This data ultimately improves decision-making.

Media outlets also rely on structured data for fueling statistical visualizations, predictive models, and storytelling. The narrative around soccer has greatly expanded thanks to the availability of rich datasets.

Data visualization platforms like Opta Widgets offer drag-and-drop tools where any publisher can create interactive match reports, customizable formations, and advanced metrics. Infographics become easy to generate from XML feeds, engaging readers.

The Road Ahead

As technology progresses, the possibilities with structured soccer data will multiply. 5G allows faster data transmission from stadiums to power more immersive experiences. Smart venues will create new streams of biometric and spatial data to add new dimensions.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning will unlock deeper insights. Natural language generation can auto-translate data into written commentary and reporting. Computer vision will expand to provide data annotation of full matches beyond just highlights.

However, the core foundation will remain structured data in formats like XML. This ensures a consistent pipeline for clubs, developers, and analysts to build the next generation of soccer experiences.

The game of soccer has never been played and experienced like this in history. The digital revolution has truly transformed world football. Structured data feeds will only accelerate innovation to bring fans closer through facts, narratives and interactivity.

#live score xml feed #American football xml data #sports xml feed #soccer xml data

[nerdyvoidlady]

Unveiling Customer Sentiments: A Deep Dive into Insurance Industry Perceptions

Originally published by Quantzig: Sentiment Analysis: Understanding Insurance Customer Perceptions

Introduction:

Understanding customer sentiments is paramount in the insurance industry, especially amidst economic fluctuations and regulatory changes. Insurance companies are increasingly turning to sentiment analysis to enhance customer experiences, manage brand reputation, and drive strategic decision-making. By analyzing customer feedback across various channels, insurers can gain valuable insights into customer perceptions, preferences, and behaviors, ultimately strengthening their competitive position and fostering long-term growth.

Insurance Industry Overview:

In response to economic uncertainties and regulatory shifts, insurance firms are revamping their product portfolios and embracing long-term growth strategies. Sentiment analysis has emerged as a pivotal tool in this transformation, enabling insurers to gauge customer sentiments, categorize opinions, and tailor offerings to meet evolving needs. By leveraging sentiment analysis services, insurance providers can effectively manage customer feedback, understand preferences, and enhance market presence.

Importance of Sentiment Analysis:

Sentiment analysis offers several key benefits to the insurance sector:

Customer Feedback Analysis: Enables insurers to gather genuine feedback from customer support interactions and social media comments, facilitating personalized responses and improved customer satisfaction.

Brand Monitoring and Reputation Management: Allows insurers to monitor brand sentiment across social media platforms, proactively addressing negative sentiment to maintain a positive brand image.

Campaign Performance Tracking: Helps measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns by analyzing sentiment trends and audience reactions, optimizing resource allocation for maximum impact.

Risk Assessment and Fraud Detection: Utilizes machine learning to analyze customer data for patterns indicative of risks or fraudulent activities, enhancing quality assurance and compliance efforts.

Quantitative Understanding and Decision Making: Provides quantitative insights into customer sentiments, guiding data-driven decisions for product development, marketing strategies, and customer engagement.

Sentiment Analysis Process:

The sentiment analysis process involves several steps:

Data Collection and Preprocessing: Gathering textual data from various sources and preparing it for analysis through cleaning and normalization.

Feature Extraction and Representation: Transforming textual data into numerical representations using techniques like word embeddings or TF-IDF.

Sentiment Classification: Applying sentiment classification algorithms to categorize text into positive, negative, or neutral sentiments.

Fine-Grained Analysis and Aspect-Based Sentiment: Providing nuanced insights by scoring sentiment at a granular level or analyzing sentiment towards specific aspects or features.

Integration and Application: Integrating sentiment analysis results into various applications and systems for actionable insights and decision-making.

Types of Sentiment Analysis:

Different types of sentiment analysis cater to diverse needs:

Rule-Based Sentiment Analysis: Uses predefined rules and patterns to determine sentiment.

Machine Learning (ML) Sentiment Analysis: Trains models on labeled data to predict sentiment.

Aspect-Based Analysis: Focuses on sentiment towards specific aspects or features.

Intent-Based Analysis: Uncovers underlying motivations behind expressed sentiment.

Emotional Detection: Identifies and categorizes emotions expressed in text data.

Business Challenge and Solutions Delivered:

A leading insurance company sought to understand customer perceptions and enhance brand engagement. Quantzig's sentiment analysis solutions enabled proactive insights into customer attitudes, streamlined social media engagement, and identified competitive opportunities.

Benefits of Sentiment Analysis Solution:

Quantzig's sentiment analysis services empowered the insurance company to gain actionable insights, refine business models, and design targeted marketing campaigns. By tapping into customer sentiments, the insurer optimized product performance and pursued promising opportunities.

Conclusion:

Sentiment analysis is a game-changer for the insurance industry, offering invaluable insights into customer sentiments and driving strategic decision-making. By leveraging sentiment analysis, insurers can enhance customer experiences, manage brand reputation, and drive long-term growth in a dynamic market landscape.

Contact us for tailored solutions

#data analytics #data

[privocorp3]

Unleashing a New Era in the Mortgage Industry: The Revolutionary Impact of AI on Mortgage Originators in 2024 and beyond

The mortgage industry has long been characterized by its intricate processes and paperwork-heavy workflows. Despite the strides made in digitization, challenges persist and leading mortgage originators continue to seek innovative solutions. In this blog post, we delve into the current challenges faced by mortgage originators, the conventional solutions in place, the persistent delays, and the emerging demands for personalized customer experiences. Moreover, we explore the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in ushering in a new era for mortgage originators in 2024 and beyond.

Current Challenges and Conventional Solutions:

The mortgage industry, like any other, grapples with a myriad of challenges, ranging from cumbersome paperwork to inefficient processes. Mortgage originators have traditionally addressed these challenges by implementing technology solutions that automate certain aspects of the mortgage origination process. However, the conventional approaches often fall short in delivering the speed and precision demanded by the modern era.

Why It Causes Delays:

The delays in mortgage origination can be attributed to several factors, including the manual nature of tasks involved in document verification, credit scoring, and risk assessment. Traditional underwriting processes are time-consuming, as human underwriters meticulously review and analyze vast amounts of data to make informed decisions. Additionally, the reliance on outdated legacy systems further exacerbates delays. These systems often lack the flexibility and agility required to adapt to the dynamic nature of the mortgage industry. As a result, mortgage originators find themselves grappling with inefficiencies that hinder their ability to provide timely and responsive services.

The Need for Fast and Automated Decision-Making:

In addressing the challenges and demands of the modern mortgage industry, AI emerges as a transformative force. The ability of AI to process vast amounts of data at unparalleled speeds makes it an ideal candidate for revolutionizing decision-making in the mortgage origination process. Let’s explore the key areas where AI can make a significant impact:

A. Predictive Analytics:

AI-powered predictive analytics holds the promise of revolutionizing the risk assessment process in mortgage lending. By analyzing historical data, machine learning algorithms can identify patterns and trends that human underwriters might overlook. This enables more accurate predictions of borrower behavior, creditworthiness, and potential defaults.

Predictive analytics not only expedites the decision-making process but also enhances the precision of risk assessments, leading to more informed lending decisions. This results in reduced default rates and increased profitability for mortgage originators.

B. Efficient Workflow Automation:

One of the primary drivers of delays in mortgage origination is the manual handling of tasks that can be automated. AI-driven workflow automation streamlines the entire mortgage process, from application submission to closing. This includes automating document verification, data entry, and communication with various stakeholders.

Automated workflows not only reduce the time required for each step but also minimize the likelihood of errors associated with manual data processing. Mortgage originators

embracing AI-driven automation can significantly improve operational efficiency and provide a faster, more reliable service to borrowers.

C. Enhanced Fraud Detection:

The mortgage industry faces constant threats from fraudsters seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in the lending process. AI excels in detecting patterns indicative of fraudulent activities, enhancing the industry’s ability to identify and prevent fraud.

Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast datasets to identify anomalies and flag suspicious activities in real-time. This proactive approach to fraud detection not only protects mortgage originators from financial losses but also safeguards the integrity of the mortgage lending ecosystem.

Conclusion:

The mortgage industry stands on the cusp of a transformative era, driven by the unprecedented capabilities of AI. From predictive analytics and efficient workflow automation to enhanced fraud detection, real-time market insights, and blockchain integration, AI presents a myriad of opportunities for mortgage originators to revolutionize their operations.

As mortgage originators embrace these AI-driven innovations, they not only address current challenges but also position themselves to meet the evolving demands of borrowers for personalized and streamlined experiences. The future of mortgage origination belongs to those who harness the power of AI to create a more efficient, responsive, and customer-centric lending ecosystem. The era of intelligent, automated decision-making in the mortgage industry has arrived, promising a new frontier of possibilities for both mortgage originators and borrowers alike.

To know more: https://privocorp.com/blog/unleashing-a-new-era-in-the-mortgage-industry-the-revolutionary-impact-of-ai-on-mortgage-originators-in-2024-and-beyond/

#leading mortgage originators

[mycricutdesign]

Cricut Maker vs Maker 3: Comparison to Choose the Best Option

You have landed on the right blog if you are looking forward to deciding between the Cricut Maker vs Maker 3 machine. As a professional Cricut crafter, I have used both tools for a significant time. And to be honest, both machines are my favorite. However, it can be a challenge for new crafters to decide which machine they should buy. But don't worry, as I will provide you with comprehensive content to help you choose the best tool.

In addition, Cricut Maker and Maker 3 are two of the highly sought-after crafting machines available in the market. These machines come with smart features and advanced crafting specs that help crafters make brand-like crafting results. So, keep reading this blog till the end to get to learn the major difference between both machines.

Cricut Maker vs Maker 3: Overview

In the section below, I am going to provide a complete overview of both Cricut Maker and Maker 3 machines.

Cricut Maker

Cricut Maker is the first iteration in the brand's Maker series. This machine is considered among the most worthwhile and versatile cutting machines for beginners. With the help of this machine, crafters can cut 100+ materials, including metal, glass, wood, leather, and smart materials. Plus, the machines work with 13 additional tools to offer top-tier cutting, scoring, foiling, drawing, and writing results.

The machine also works with fine point blades to offer flawless cuts for intricate designs. Also, the machine comes with Bluetooth/USB connectivity options and has a companion app to connect with various devices. You can easily connect the Maker machine to your computer and phone. This machine offers a great deal of comfort for beginners who want to use a full-featured crafting machine.

Cricut Maker 3

When it comes to the most advanced crafting cutting machine of the brand, the Cricut Maker 3 stands in the first position. This machine is the third iteration of the Maker series and has everything a DIYer needs to get pro-level results. It includes all the features available in its predecessor. Cricut Maker 3 has got so many improvements to their previous iteration. It has a sleek design and sturdy build quality to give durability and reliability. Plus, its easy-to-use interface gives the user the utmost comfort to use the machine without any hassle. Also, it works with the roll holder to offer a long materials-cutting experience at once.

In addition, the machine comes with seamless connectivity options and is compatible with Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS devices. It also needs the Cricut Design Space companion app to set up and operate. With the help of the machine and the app, anyone can create jaw-dropping DIY crafts in no time. Most importantly, this machine is considered among the most sought-after cutting machines available on the market.

Cricut Maker vs Maker 3: Features Comparison

This comparison will help you understand the major differences between the Cricut Maker and Maker 3 machines.

Conclusion

After reading this blog and learning about the features and differences between Cricut Maker vs Maker 3, it is clear that both machines are perfect in their own position. However, it depends on one choice and budget which cutting machine you should buy. Cricut Maker 3 offers all the premium features and is more expensive than the original Maker. If you already have the Cricut Maker, then there is no actual need to upgrade. But, if you are buying Cricut Maker 3 and do not have any other major cutting machine, then you can go for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Machine Is Best Between the Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3?

Cricut Maker vs Maker 3 are both worthwhile and advanced machines for crafting. Also, both machines offer almost the same features and specs. However, both machines have a little difference in power and prices. You can buy any of these machines based on your budget. If you are a complete beginner, then go for Cricut Maker, and for professional crafting, choose Maker 3. 

What Are the Features Available in Cricut Maker and Maker 3?

Here are some primary features that are available in both machines.

●     Cricut Maker and Maker 3 can cut 300+ materials with pinpoint precision and accuracy.

●     These machines work with a plethora of special materials, such as metal, wood, glass, and smart materials.

●     They are compatible with the 13 additional tools to write, foil, score, deboss, and cut on materials.

●     Both Cricut machines are identical in shape and size.

Which Devices Are Compatible With Cricut Maker Machines?

Cricut Maker machines are compatible with computers and phones. They also support various operating systems, such as Mac, Android, Windows, and iOS. But they do not work with Chromebooks. To connect your Cricut Maker machine, you can use the Bluetooth or USB connection options. Also, to complete the setup process of your machine, it is necessary to download the Cricut app on your desktop or smartphone.

#Cricut maker vs Cricut maker 3 #Cricut maker vs maker 3 #cricut.com/setup #cricut setup #cricut explore air 2 #cricut crafts #cricut software

[shapirohardison23]

3 Forms Of Training : Formal Informal And Non Formal B Ed

However, formal training may be rigid and inflexible, which can stifle creativity and innovation. Education is a vital facet of our lives that shapes our future and enables us to steer a fulfilling life. Education is the process of buying varied forms of data, abilities, values, beliefs, and habits. In this article, we are going to discuss varied kinds of schooling, including formal, informal, and non-formal techniques of training. However, this profit may also be certainly one of its biggest disadvantages. One argument in opposition to traditional education emphasizes that traditional faculties exist solely to develop productive staff and eliminate individuality. Traditional schooling is often accused of stifling creativity, treating college students as machines to be fed data. Education is a strategy of buying information, skills, habits or values by way of varied methods like coaching, teaching, discussion, research, etc. One can only prosper and achieve the set goal if they've the proper info, state of mind and attitude. Also, training equips one with the proper instruments to gauge their ideas and interests as properly as with skilful methods to precise them.

Moreover, it's the learning methodology that everyone is half of every day, knowingly or unknowingly. The which means of the word ‘Formal’ is well-structured, certified, or official within the dictionary. In one other way, you'll have the ability to say it’s an organized, systematic, and goal-driven learning technique throughout the premises of an space. The scholar and the trainer are each conscious of the details and have interaction themselves via a means of education. Informal schooling is, in some ways, the alternative of formal education. However, like other types of training, it also has its execs and cons. Informal means one thing informal, pure, easy-going, or unofficial. It is the kind of information someone features from the Internet, browse it on their very own, or register for online coaching. It is usually subject-oriented, with students learning about completely different subjects in separate classes. Solemn schooling is usually hierarchical, with totally different levels of education, similar to main, secondary, and tertiary training. Most people today would think about gaining information a extremely priceless activity. In the United States, the training department is responsible for the formal education part of all states. However, some college districts and faculty councils can even supervise some smaller schools and solve problems in some schools. There is not any need to rent specialists or professionals for this learning. There is mostly no age limit to gain this sort of training. All three types of education are defined in this part below. A marketing campaign advert enjoying at a restaurant in Concord, N.H., last week. The New Hampshire primary arrange a probable general-election contest between the present president and his predecessor. Encourages creativity and innovation – It also stimulates originality and novelty, as learners can discover and experiment with out restrictions.

Accomplish Your Course Creation And Pupil Success Objectives Quicker With Thinkific

Educators don't merely teach students data and expect them to memorize it and get perfect scores on checks. Instead, they have their students interact in active hands-on studying via tasks, experiments, and collaboration with friends. In this way, college students can pursue subjects and subjects they're passionate about. Informal training is flexible and permits learners to amass knowledge and skills at their own pace. However, informal training isn't standardized, which may result in inconsistencies in the quality of training. Since studying is private in this schooling system and there's no proper mentor, there's a excessive probability that individuals learning from casual training will lack discipline and attitude.

Students acquire information from skilled and skilled lecturers. The numerous types of education consists of formal, informal, and non-formal methods of schooling. The formal system of education includes main, secondary, and tertiary training. However, whenever you choose to study informally, try to learn from dependable sources or try to collect information from a quantity of sources to improve accuracy. In such schooling, learners learn based on their preferences. However, in some international locations and regions, whether or not to just accept pre-school education is very versatile. In the United States, most mother and father choose to let their youngsters enter kindergarten for training and improve the way they impart with mother and father and pals. There are a big selection of disadvantages in numerous types of education methods like lack of self-discipline, long term study approach, lack of exposure that does not profit learners. Learners can see the disadvantages for each sort of training described below. Informal education is an experience primarily based learning and is a lifelong process. https://lifealofa.com/why-students-hate-science/ of Education consists of classroom studying, online lessons, coaching, etc.

Related Articles

Following are the details of these two classes of studying with their pros and cons. Pandemic time is also a good time for top schoolers to take thrilling programs, prepare for exams... With this, we encourage each pupil to develop all the skills and skills required to evolve as a better human being.

Because this kind of training is obligatory, the college affairs division has the best to ship college students to the juvenile middle or session office.

It can also be important for educators to show ways to search out and use info.

However, in some international locations and areas, whether or not to simply accept pre-school education is very flexible.

Non-formal education is flexible and customizable, which makes it best for addressing the precise wants of learners.

Through skilled learning, college students will take into consideration numerous things and have a deep understanding. The individuals driving the world at present take the initiative to understand the complexity of various topics. Therefore, systematic studying in colleges helps us improve our sense of competition and encourages us to contribute to the country’s improvement. Proponents of progressive schooling believe that, underneath this model, college students are extra probably to develop a love of schooling and turn into lifelong learners. Students use critical considering abilities outside the classroom as they evaluate and reevaluate their perspectives on real-world subjects and points. Traditional education’s inflexible construction allows college students to develop up with a way of group and order. This article explores the multifaceted nature of formal training, shedding mild on its deserves and drawbacks. Formal education is a structured and systematic method of learning. It is a standardized schooling supplied to students by teachers who've obtained skilled study. It is a natural learning process that can come from anywhere and in all places. The training system refers again to the whole process that a pupil has to bear in order to acquire data. What are the traits of the three types of education? Formal schooling systems often place a significant emphasis on grades and standardized testing.

#how education helps in establishing self esteem #why students hate science #types of lifestyle #can you study computer science without prior knowledge #advantages and disadvantages of informal education #Advantages and Disadvantages of Formal Education #is electrical engineering harder than mechanical #Can You Go To Cosmetology School With No Experience #can you go to culinary school with no experience #is robotics a good career

[francisfitzgerald30]

Three Forms Of Education : Formal Informal And Non Formal B Ed

However, formal schooling may be inflexible and rigid, which might stifle creativity and innovation. Education is a crucial facet of our lives that shapes our future and enables us to lead a satisfying life. Education is the method of buying numerous forms of information, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. In this article, we will discuss varied types of schooling, including formal, casual, and non-formal systems of education. However, this benefit may additionally be certainly one of its greatest disadvantages. One argument in opposition to conventional training emphasizes that traditional schools exist only to develop productive workers and eliminate individuality. Traditional schooling is commonly accused of stifling creativity, treating college students as machines to be fed data. Education is a process of buying knowledge, skills, habits or values by way of varied techniques like training, instructing, dialogue, research, etc. One can only prosper and achieve the set target if they've the best information, frame of mind and perspective. Also, schooling equips one with the best instruments to gauge their ideas and pursuits in addition to with skilful methods to express them.

Moreover, it is the learning method that everyone is half of daily, knowingly or unknowingly. The which means of the word ‘Formal’ is well-structured, certified, or official in the dictionary. In another way, you'll have the ability to say it’s an organized, systematic, and goal-driven studying technique throughout the premises of an area. The scholar and the instructor are each aware of the details and have interaction themselves through a means of education. Informal education is, in some methods, the other of formal schooling. However, like other kinds of education, it also has its professionals and cons. Informal means something informal, pure, easy-going, or unofficial. It is the sort of information somebody gains from the Internet, browse it on their own, or register for online training. It is usually subject-oriented, with students studying about different subjects in separate courses. Solemn schooling is typically hierarchical, with completely different levels of education, corresponding to primary, secondary, and tertiary training. Most folks at present would think about gaining knowledge a extremely useful exercise. In the United States, the schooling department is responsible for the formal education a half of all states. However, some school districts and school councils can also supervise some smaller schools and remedy issues in some faculties. There isn't any want to rent consultants or professionals for this studying. There is mostly no age limit to gain this type of education. All three types of schooling are defined on this section below. A marketing campaign advert enjoying at a restaurant in Concord, N.H., last week. The New Hampshire major set up a probable general-election contest between the current president and his predecessor. Encourages creativity and innovation – It also stimulates originality and novelty, as learners can explore and experiment without restrictions.

Accomplish Your Course Creation And Scholar Success Objectives Faster With Thinkific

Educators don't merely teach college students data and anticipate them to memorize it and get excellent scores on exams. Instead, they've their students interact in energetic hands-on learning by way of projects, experiments, and collaboration with peers. In this manner, college students can pursue matters and subjects they are enthusiastic about. Informal schooling is versatile and allows learners to amass information and skills at their very own pace. However, casual education just isn't standardized, which can result in inconsistencies in the quality of training. Since learning is private in this education system and there's no proper mentor, there's a excessive probability that people studying from informal schooling will lack self-discipline and angle.

Students acquire data from educated and skilled teachers. The numerous types of education contains formal, casual, and non-formal systems of education. The formal system of education contains main, secondary, and tertiary schooling. However, whenever you choose to learn informally, attempt to learn from reliable sources or try to collect info from multiple sources to improve accuracy. In such training, learners learn based on their preferences. However, in some nations and regions, whether or not to accept pre-school education could be very flexible. In the United States, most mother and father select to let their children enter kindergarten for schooling and improve the method in which they convey with dad and mom and associates. There are a wide selection of disadvantages in varied kinds of schooling systems like lack of discipline, long term research method, lack of publicity that does not profit learners. Learners can see the disadvantages for each type of schooling described below. Informal schooling is an experience primarily based studying and is a lifelong process. Types of Education consists of classroom learning, on-line courses, training, and so forth.

Associated Articles

Following are the small print of those two classes of learning with their execs and cons. Pandemic time is also a nice time for top schoolers to take exciting courses, put together for exams... With this, we encourage each pupil to develop all the talents and skills required to evolve as a greater human being.

Because this kind of schooling is obligatory, the varsity affairs division has the proper to ship college students to the juvenile center or session workplace.

It is also important for educators to teach ways to search out and use information.

However, in some countries and areas, whether to merely accept pre-school schooling could be very versatile.

Most often, casual education isn’t even deliberate in advance.

Non-formal schooling is flexible and customizable, which makes it ideal for addressing the particular wants of learners.

Through skilled learning, college students will think about various issues and have a deep understanding. The folks driving the world at present take the initiative to grasp the complexity of various matters. Therefore, systematic studying in faculties helps us improve our sense of competitors and encourages us to contribute to the country’s growth. Proponents of progressive training consider that, beneath this model, college students are more probably to develop a love of schooling and turn out to be lifelong learners. Students use important thinking expertise outdoors the classroom as they consider and reevaluate their perspectives on real-world subjects and points. Traditional education’s rigid construction permits students to develop up with a sense of group and order.

Cons Of Formal Learning:

This article explores the multifaceted nature of formal training, shedding light on its merits and downsides. Formal training is a structured and systematic way of learning. It is a standardized training offered to students by teachers who have acquired skilled examine. It is a pure learning process that may come from anyplace and in all places. The schooling system refers to the whole course of that a pupil has to bear in order to purchase data. What are the characteristics of the three types of education? Formal training techniques usually place a big emphasis on grades and standardized testing.

#how education helps in establishing self esteem #why students hate science #types of lifestyle #can you study computer science without prior knowledge #advantages and disadvantages of informal education #Advantages and Disadvantages of Formal Education #is electrical engineering harder than mechanical #Can You Go To Cosmetology School With No Experience #can you go to culinary school with no experience #is robotics a good career