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Delays Be Damned: Tezos Blockchain Tech Enters Beta Testing
A nearly year-long wait appears to be over for investors in the embattled block chain project Tezos.
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So, ok, there's a lot going on here so please bear with me and be patient as I just spill a lot of very, very wordy, um, words here (it'll become clear as I explain my love for wordiness).

First of all to answer the most basic of questions: yes I've read [url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Nerf/wiki/index]the Nerf index to this SubReddit[/url].

Second, I guess to most basically summarize what I'm getting at/asking: I'm highly interested in doing something along the lines of Worker/CaptainSlug/Out of Darts/etc and manufacture and supply accessories and even complete foam dart blasters.

Now for the wordiness most of you will probably not even bother to read (not that I can blame you because it's TL;DR): so some personal background. Mostly, I'm a big reader and writer. Most of my hobby and professional interests are related to books. I'm a YA (young adult) novelist (I've yet to be published) and my higher ed background (including grad school) is related to education and the publishing industry. The vast, vast majority of my Reddit posts so far (which you can look up, and in fact I'd be appreciative if you do) are related to reading and finding freelance writing work for supplemental income. Right now, professionally, I'm mostly a writer (as I've said), I have a job in education lined up for the upcoming school year and I have a few strong job prospects related to working at or with book stores.

Prior to all that, I was in college studying the aerospace industry, which yes includes some engineering background. I have a very strong interest in various creative arts - I love reading, and I love writing, because I greatly find enjoyment and fulfillment in bringing characters to life (but you don't care about that, because this is the Nerf Reddit and not the creative writing Reddit). I also love to dabble in some traditional art/painting (think Bob Ross - not to be insulting to him but it's like comparing a Jolt to an FDL with every option ticked off). But I also really, really love engineering and product design. I've been - yes I'm completely serious - dabbling in the design of motorcycles, cars and even aircraft that one day I seriously hope to manufacture in some limited capacity (I'm not talking like making supercars, but again that's a different Reddit).

Also, most bookstores now double as toy stores. I assure you, both of these points are highly relevant.

For almost two years or so I've been seriously looking at the possibility of small-scale toy manufacture - originally with the goal of making very low-cost toys for various charity groups, but now with an eye of having inventory to sell at the bookstore(s). I've visited the engineering lab of my alma mater talking with a few students and faculty about 3D printing here and there. You can probably see where this is going but a bit more background still:

One day, I'm watching YouTube (up to this point I've been extensively and almost exclusively watching videos from the "BookTube" and Mega Man fangame/LP communities and some general aerospace/STEM-related channels) and for whatever reason, I don't know, I see a lot of recommendations/suggestions from "the Algorithm" for what looked like this weird guy seriously into Nerf. It was kind of annoying and for a while I didn't click on them, but I didn't outright dismiss them because it looked potentially interesting, and one day I decided to click on his "longest Nerf barrel" vid (as you might've figured out it's Franklin Cooper aka Frank aka Coop772's channel). That was over 90 days ago and since then I've been watching his vids religiously, sub'd and been watching LordDrac's vids religiously, same with Out of Darts, blah blah blah.

I'm bringing this up specifically because 1.) it specifically inspired me to want to get into actually manufacturing foam dart blasters and accessories of some kind but also 2.) to lay out there and admit and explain that watching Frank and LordDrac a lot...is the most extensive experience I've had in Nerfing for, um, decades. I figured that I might want to try pro/semi-pro Nerfing first before I dive headlong and make serious financial commitments - in fact just a few hours ago I found a really sweet, too-good-to-refuse deal on a Modulus on Craigslist (with a ton of attachments and accessories no less!) that even as I'm typing this I'm trying to negotiate over. But I figure this is also probably a good time to start a thread and ask the specific questions I'm looking answers for.

So with that:

1.) This is probably especially ambitious but...I'm looking to do something with CaptainSlug's Caliburn or the Chimera (as far as I can find nobody's done anything yet with a Chimera including...actually manufacture one and when I try to Google "Northeast Design Corp Chimera" it takes me to a bunch of design firms that seem bereft of Nerf/foam blaster references and just back to Jangular's video). That said, either blaster seems like a great way to really get into the nitty-gritty of all aspects of the sport/hobby (including if not especially manufacture) even if the financial investment is pretty pricey. I also know these are open-source designs and I'm wondering if that would allow me to put them up for retail at for example one of the bookstores I may work with, with the proviso that CaptainSlug and/or North East Design Corp are recognized as the origins of this design (I particularly like the Chimera because...well, blah blah bullpups). Again given the open source nature of the designs I'd really like to add what I feel would be refinements that would make them more attractive to casual playability, sport/Nerf War-ability, and even retailabitiy (and just what I figure would be my personal play style or preferences). In particular I'd really like to add N-Strike/Modulus-compatible barrel and stock attachment points (yes you read that right I want to add an N-Strike male stock attachment point to the stock the Caliburn already has - I know you guys think I'm crazy but I've actually worked out a very specific plan for this - although now that I think about this, I might just end up using either a tac rail or some other attachment mechanism). Are there any legal, manufacturing or retail issues I should be aware of? Is a potentially insanely expensive foam dart blaster like this even something a bookstore would be interested in carrying? I'm also looking to downgrade the FPS output to say 110, just because I feel that's an upper limit for what parents might consider appealing and safe for children. Would doing so effectively...if you forgive the choice of words, "nerf" the Caliburn straight into pointlessness and eliminate the whole appeal of it?

I know the Caliburn for Elite darts can also simultaneously accept cut-down darts (like Worker darts for example) - or at least I saw LordDrac's video demonstrating this capability. I saw on CaptainSlug's Esty that he also sells Caliburns for Rival and Mega rounds. I'm wondering, is there any way to engineer a Caliburn to just accept mags for Elite, Mega, and cut-down darts and Rival ballz? Heck even BoomCo darts too?

2.) And just a general open-ended question: I'm also looking into doing a flywheel blaster (because all I do is watch Frank talk about #FlywheelMasterRace). I want to do a super-compact, say even bullpup or Uzi-style from-the-ground up flywheel blaster. Something not unlike an FDL except...IMHO the FDL is ungodly overpowered and complicated (or if not complicated per se, even ungodly too customizable for realistic retail expectations) and nothing to say of the price. Is it realistic to have a flywheel blaster like that that I manufacture myself (whether 3D printed or even injection-molded) that can shoot Elite or compatible darts at say 110 FPS and retail for about the same price as a brand-new Stryfe?

I will undoubtedly have more questions in the future, but as I continue to do more research and informational interviews, I do not know what those questions are yet. And an advance thanks!

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2019 BMW X4 First Drive: Fashion First

When I was growing up, my parents’ general policy was to only make rules about things with long-term consequences. I wasn’t supposed to get a tattoo before I graduated from high school, for example, but I could dress myself and cut my hair the way I wanted. Over the years, I made some pretty cringe-worthy fashion choices, but with three boys to raise, my parents preferred to spend their energy getting us into college and keeping us out of jail. It (mostly) worked.

When I drove the 2019 BMW X4 recently, I couldn’t help thinking about my parents’ old rules. I don’t understand the appeal of coupe-like crossovers, and still, I have yet to see one I think looks good. A decade from now, the X4 will probably look about as cool as a pair of baggy cargo shorts or an unbuttoned dress shirt worn over a T-shirt. But coupe-like crossovers are hot right now, so why get worked up that BMW’s gotten in on the trend?

Compared to the low bar that was the previous-generation X4, the 2019 model is certainly an improvement. It’s longer, wider, and slightly lower, with a stiffer chassis, lower curb weight, and a more aerodynamic shape. The designers also did a better job of integrating the fastback roofline with the new X3’s front end. Although the old version looked cobbled together, the redesigned model has a much more cohesive exterior design.

Inside, the X4’s cabin looks like it was pulled straight out of the X3, with only a few accommodations made for the sloping roof. Considering how cheap the first-gen X4’s interior felt, that’s a good thing. BMW used significantly nicer materials this time around that, when paired with the cabin’s more modern design, make the X4 feel much more luxurious. That said, the interior isn’t quite up to the standard set by the X4’s most direct competitor, the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.

The standard 10.3-inch touchscreen isn’t integrated into the center console like the screen in the last-gen X4, but because it’s mounted higher on the dash, the new system is easier to see and more intuitive to use. Navigation comes standard, as do sports seats and a panoramic moonroof. The multi-color head-up display is 75 percent wider than before and projects an impressive amount of information into the driver’s line of sight.

Several safety features including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking come standard, but buyers have to pay extra for adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and even blind-spot monitoring.

Considering the X4’s coupe-like roofline, the designers also deserve credit for giving rear passengers more room than you’d expect. There’s one more much-appreciated inch of legroom than before and enough headroom to accommodate most passengers. With the rear seats down, the 18.5-cubic-foot trunk opens up to offer 50.5 cubic feet of cargo room. That’s not quite as much as the GLC Coupe has, but it’s a small improvement over the outgoing model.

Under the hood, buyers get their choice of two engines. The $51,445 X4 xDrive30i uses a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 good for 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Spring for the $61,445 X4 M40i, and you get a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 355 hp and 365 lb-ft. Both engines send their power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2.0-liter doesn’t feel especially quick, but it should be more than adequate in daily driving situations. Even though it’s the base model, the X4 xDrive30i will also hold its own on a winding back road. It’s no sports car, but with a standard M Sport suspension, it’s competent enough in the corners. Especially in Sport+ mode.

Anyone with cornering on their mind, however, will want the X4 M40i. That extra 100-ish horsepower makes it significantly quicker than the four-cylinder model, hitting 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. Add in the larger brakes, adaptive suspension, and the optional M Sport differential, and you have a surprisingly enjoyable corner carver. The crackling sports exhaust is just a bonus.

The brake pedal is less firm than I’d prefer, but the brakes themselves are strong, and the tires have plenty of grip. The paddle shifters deliver quick shifts, but the transmission programming is also smart enough that you can usually leave it to its own devices. Inflate the adjustable bolsters, and the seats do a good job of holding you in place, too. And although it initially wants to understeer, if you really push it, you can even hang the tail out for a well-controlled power slide.

The X4 M40i wouldn’t be my first choice for track duty, but it offers the kind of hop-in-and-go fun that would make errands more enjoyable and a quick trip to the mountains exciting. When you need a quiet, comfortable commuter, Comfort mode is a button press away.

No matter how sporty and well-rounded it is, some people will still dismiss the X4 as just an uglier, less practical X3. That’s fine. The X4 isn’t for them. But the fact that something isn’t for everyone doesn’t mean it isn’t for anyone. Buyers who like the X4’s styling should enjoy the driving experience, too, and those who don’t can still buy the X3.

Besides, if trends change in a few years, it’s a lot easier to replace a car than it is to remove a tattoo.

 

 

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