#Corona Special Train

[transmascpalamedessextus]

gideon the ninth characters and their 2025 jobs

harrow: the hardest one on this list tbh. nun’s too simple, religious studies scholar isn’t insane enough. chef is too funny, as is orthopedic surgeon. we’ll go with historic preservationist, specializing in religious architecture and artifacts.

gideon: barista employee of the month, every month, at an inclusive crossfit gym. moonlights at a bar down the street some nights and is known for making sure everyone gets home safe, no matter how many asses she has to kick to the curb (literally)

palamedes: PhD and research consultant with multiple published works (research under his real name, fiction under a pseudonym). what’s the phd in? yes.

camilla: that one friend who can do anything and has done everything. certified meditation instructor? check. semi-professional martial artist? check. volunteer park ranger? check. often credited in palamedes’ works, but you didn’t even know she had a degree. throws mugs and vases in her spare time but vows to never open an etsy store

ianthe: evil woman in STEM (you pick her crime) or chain-smoking actress with a scandalous reputation and horrible interviewing manner but unmistakable talent

naberius: instagram model who is literally always filming sponsored content for a new boutique european hotel or “experience”

corona: so torn on this. either a fellow instagram model that 50% of her audience thinks is fake and 50% thinks is “actually really sweet!” or like a famous marine biologist working to save the turtles or something

jeannemary: young record-breaking olympian/pro athlete. it’s not fencing or martial arts — it’s skateboarding

isaac: internet star with a rising pop punk music career, a la noahfinnce. jeannemary did a viral drop-in to one of his songs

abigail: every gay student’s favorite history (or maybe archaeology?) professor at a world-renowned college

magnus: owner and operator of a charming pub in the quaint town where said world-renowned college is. it’s overpriced but the atmosphere and food are genuinely great

“dulcinea”: chronic illness content creator (later revealed to be grifter)

dulcinea: content creator, artist (painter), and sometimes streamer. candid and humorous about her illness, but refuses to be inspiration porn

“protesilaus”: male podcaster, incel edition

protesilaus: beloved personal trainer who privately trains for american ninja warrior on the side

silas: idk, the cuntiest bitch at the monastery? do we still have monks? can someone be a combo of trust fund baby and monk?

colum: successful practitioner of an age-old craft like blacksmithing. always taking commissions but prefers to help at historic reenactments or even ren faires. exclusively makes historically accurate pieces

judith: cop

marta: cop wait she helped harrow in the bubble so i have to be nice hard-but-fair-and-well-respected fencing instructor at a private school. she might as well be a monk for how little everyone knows about her personal life, but suspicion is rife and all the baby lesbians hope she’s got a wife (bars)

bonus: teacher: cult leader is too easy so we’ll go with “local guy who runs a shop selling crystals he bought from china at a 500% markup. he pretends they’re sustainably/ethically/lovingly sourced and guaranteed to cure your depression/anxiety/adhd but you both know he’s full of it”

[princess-ibri]

Disney Parents Backstory Tangled Version!

So here's what I've come up with for Rapunzel's parents. We know that Arianna used to adventure with Willow and that they competed in the Contest of Crowns, and yet they don't appear to be princesses of one of the Seven Kingdoms. So I had the idea that this is how the Princess and the Pea story goes in the DisneyVerse!

Young Arianna travels through Corona who's once again hosting the contest, and decides to join in as it seems fun and hey, she and Willow are princesses as well!

Prince Frederic's mother is less then enthused at this young nobody claiming to be a princess winning all these events for royalty, as she had decided to use the contest as a way to find a suitable wife for her son. Frederic, however, is head over heels for this beautiful talented adventurer and makes sure to help her win the last-minute "challenge" his mother sets up to test Arianna--the infamous pile of mattresses and the pea underneath.

Meanwhile, with Eugene's Parents I think they'd fit well with the "Man meets Odd Traveling Companions and they help him win a Princess' hand" storyline

When you've got a place with a name and the vibe of "The Dark Kingdom" well you're just gonna attract wicked sorcerers. Its prime evil tower real estate!

So young Prince Edmund is sent to run him off, and in the process of scoping out the tower he meets the sorcerer's young daughter, a beautiful young maiden named Hortensia.

(I wanted a name to link Eugene's birthname too, and Hortensia works well as a feminine version of Horace xD)

They start talking and meeting secretly, and she helps Edmund avoid her father's raven spies. But she herself is trapped and unable to escape due to her father's power.

Eventually they're discovered, and the sorcerer, mostly to amuse himself, gives Edmund three impossible tasks to fulfill in order to marry Hortensia when Edmund states his feelings towards her.

So Edmund, determined to free her, goes off on his journey to do the tasks and along the way he meets young Quirin, Hector and Adira, helps them with whatever trouble he finds them in and so they form The Brotherhood, and they later use their special skills (and some secret help from Hortensia, through the ravens she's managed to turn to her aide) to fulfill the tasks, and eventually defeat the evil sorcerer once and for all.

The three companions find a new home and family in Edmund's court, Edmund and Hortensia are happily married and she has control of her father's ravens now, which she starts training to listen to Edmund as well, and the little chick seen in her hand in the portrait in the show turns out to be baby Hamuel.

[alwayshappyhoursomewhere]

[Translation] SPUR September 2023

Exclusive Interview with Stéphane Lambiel "About Love"

Stéphane Lambiel invites us into his beautiful musical world with his smooth skating and graceful ballet-like movements on the ice. He talks about his love and passion for skating, and everything in his life.

Looking back on his remarkable season as a coach.

Stéphane Lambiel came to Japan to perform in "Fantasy on Ice," the most prominent ice show in Japan. In the 2022-23 figure skating season, Japan's Shoma Uno, whom he coaches, won his second consecutive World Championships, and Koshiro Shimada won a silver medal at the All-Japan Championships. Latvia's Deniss Vasiljevs has also distinguished himself in the Grand Prix Series, so it has been smooth sailing for the coach.

"Shoma, Koshiro, and Deniss are not the only young talents sprouting up one after another. I want all the students at Champery (Switzerland) to grow. I hope my teaching will have a positive impact on their careers and lives. That's my number one goal right now."

After the Corona disaster, the international sports scene is slowly returning to its original state. This year, Stéphane organized a joint training camp in Kyoto with students from the Kinoshita Academy in Japan and Champéry.

"This is a good opportunity for the students to experience a different method from the one they are used to," said Stéphane. This time, we also made time for them to learn physical performance that is different from skating, such as yoga and dance lessons, not only on the ice. By learning new ways to use their bodies, they can feed back to their skating and improve their artistry. They were able to motivate each other, so I felt it was beneficial to share practice.

Today, Kinoshita is home to an elite group of figure skaters who are the future of figure skating.

"I was amazed by all the students. They are able to practice very meticulously while also maintaining their focus. If I had to name a few players that I personally pay attention to, I would say junior players Mao Shimada and Shunsuke Nakamura. I feel something special about them. Hana Yoshida knows her body well and has the ability to use it well."

About the challenges to tackle for the new season

During the training camp, Stéphane also choreographed new programs. He also said it was an opportunity to see the response from Uno, Shimada, and Vasilijevs.

"As for Koshiro, he will continue with his SP "Sing Sing Sing". For FS, he will perform a piano version of "Danse Macabre," choreographed by me. Denis performed his new SP "Hallelujah" for "Fantasy on Ice". This was his first time working with choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne. It was a very innovative piece, and it took him some time to understand what she was trying to achieve. Then he practiced a lot, and made it his own. I will be choreographing the FS, which will be different from the atmosphere of the past. Please look forward to it.

Shoma has two programs for SP, and I think he is considering which one to use for the competition.One is by Shae-Lynn, and the other one is my creation. I think he will decide after skating both of them at the summer ice show. The SP I made will have a pretty challenging content. It will be divided into several parts, with a short intro to present the outline of the story, followed by a romantic and lyrical part, and then a dynamic change at the end. The unfolding is quite extreme, and I think it will be a very intense performance. I'm looking forward to seeing it at the show, too. For FS, I have proposed some songs, and the choreography will be done by Kenji Miyamoto."

This will be his third (sic) season as Uno's coach. Stéphane says he will do his best to support Uno, who has expressed his desire to improve his expressive side.

There are two wonderful things about Shoma," said Stéphane. One is the rich expressive power of his eyes and of his body movements as a whole. The other is his passion to control everything by himself. When he learns something new, his willingness to practice and make it absolutely his own is second to none. These two virtues have already made him a unique, one-of-a-kind skater. If he is looking for something more on top of that... from me, I think I can help him in terms of musicality. Of course he has musical sense, but I think he can deepen it even more. by refining his sensibility, he will be able to add more "umami", as they say in Japanese, to his performance, a taste that only he can bring out. I believe that the audience too will be able to sense something special from his performance.

Putting his love for his soulmate into his dance on the ice

Thirteen years after retiring from professional skating, Stéphane is now in his mature stage as a professional figure skater. The two performances at this year's Ice Show were truly musical works that moved the audience emotionally.

The first piece performed at Fantasy on Ice was the fourth movement of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5, Adagietto. My friend Beatrice Belieu(?), a musician, played the piano and made the arrangement. The second is "Simple song" from the soundtrack of the movie "Grand Finale" (2015). Adagietto was choreographed by Salome Brunner. In fact, the performance presented here is only a part of the whole. Champéry has a festival called "Rencontres Musicales de Champéry" (Encounters with Music), and next year I will be skating Adagietto with Beatrice, who will play live.

The adagietto by Maher, known in the 70's for the film "Death in Venice" and more recently as the key piece in the film "TAR" (2022), is a classic. The sweet and dramatic tune is linked with a personal story.

Mahler's Adagietto was written with love as its theme. Through this song, I wanted to express the various stages of love that I have experienced. It begins with the meeting of two people, the period of burning love that brings them together as one, and then the period when there are discrepancies in the relationship. After overcoming these difficulties, they feel comfortable with each other, and then they rediscover each other as if they had met anew, even though they are the same person. The first meeting and the last meeting have different meanings, and their love evolves. When I skate to this song, I envision in my mind's eye a very rich relationship with the person I am now living with, my soulmate. There is actually a subtle twist to this performance. I thought of it with Salome, it has the same movement at the beginning and the end, but in reverse. With that movement, I expressed the evolution of the relationship and the sense of distance that is created.

He devised the choreography for 'Simple song' with his colleagues at Champéry. It is an insert song for the movie, sung wistfully by Korean opera singer Sumi Jo.

I had heard this song by chance before I saw the movie, and I thought it was a great song. I rediscovered it after watching the film, and then chose it. The personal theme of this film is growing older. Considering my own career, I am slowly approaching the limits of my physical capabilities, and I don't think I will be able to skate for much longer in the future. Still, there is a part of me that wants to skate forever. So when I am skating to this song, I express myself to the fullest as my performance, and I hope that it will be forever. *Adagietto and Simple Song both incorporate movements that require quite a bit of physical endurance, since I have to stand on one point of the edge of my skates and hold it for a long time. The goal is to achieve a noble movement despite being forced to exert that kind of control. Although I feel pleasure in being able to be in control, there are also times when I feel fragility and danger in front of the audience. It's a very lovely moment."

At this year's Fantasy on Ice, fellow skater Johnny Weir retired.

We get together every year in early summer for the show, and the performers are like family. I've talked about that with Johnny, too. It's sad to retire from the ice show, but I think it's also a positive thing. I can't speak for him, but I think he would like to do another project in his life. We have promised that we will spend time together again somewhere. Maybe a private vacation! Sometimes I think about my last show myself. I haven't made up my mind yet.

Despite being involved in a variety of activities, you are still passionate about skating. What is the source of your motivation?

I think it has something to do with the fact that I have matured, and when I aim for my best performance, I want to express myself in the most natural way. My personality is lyrical and romantic, so I often get inspiration from watching that kind of movies or from stage music. Music shakes up emotions from a deep place inside of me, and pushes to the surface the life force within. I can skate by borrowing the energy of the song. As I feel that, I guess that maybe I can perform better, with a sense of unity."

[aspiringwarriorlibrarian]

Honestly it’s a shame that John messed with the gravity of the Houses cause can you imagine the characters if they had the realistic biology of 10,000 years on their respective planets.

The fact that Harrow needs skeletons to sit up in bed makes perfect sense. She’s the scion of thousands of years of living on a rock too small for planethood, I’d be surprised she could handle Earth gravity at all. Gideon, on the other hand, is both very clearly not Ninth (the working theory is either Second or Seventh), and a fucking freak of nature for being able to get ripped in the environment she’s in. When Jeannemary asks her how she gets her biceps so big, it’s not “tell me your workout”, it’s “how the hell do you have visible biceps?”. Old people probably retire to the Ninth to be without joint pain.

Palamedes and Camilla are on the smallest planet, no wonder Sixth cavaliers have such a terrible reputation. Camilla probably trained in a centrifugal gravity room so she could handle fighting on a decent sized planet.

Seventh settled on Venus so they could handle Earth plant life and climbing roses. It’s the perfect amount of gravity for being frail enough to be willowy but not so frail you just die immediately from any sickness.

Second is on Mars because it’s the closest to Earth gravity and everyone else in the universe settled on Earth size planets. They train for higher gravity but they’re used to Earth or near Earth because that’s where they’ll be fighting.

Now we get to the gas giants and things get fun. Magnus and Abigail are from Jupiter, very short but very dense. Abigail could pop someone’s head off with her bicep in Earth gravity . Fourth is probably just as dense, hence why they’re the vanguard: you’d need specialized rifles to just to get through their bones. They probably weigh a lot too, Gideon picks up Jeannemary and actually struggles for the first time in her life.

Eighth is on Uranus. Moving on.

Corona and Ianthe are odd in different ways. Corona because she’s tall, which is a feat in higher gravity, Ianthe because she’s frail. Corona’s genetic lottery really bailed her out on appearing necromantic, while Ianthe probably has to pad her joints a lot as they wear down.

I don’t mind that the people of the Nine Houses have been magically frozen on pseudo Earths, it fits the theme after all, but thinking about the alternative is hilarious.

[midnight-raven]

Spider-Mirabel: Across the Spider Verse

One year after becoming the Spider-Gal, and teaching Antonio about his powers, Mirabel Madrigal is launched across the multiverse on a grand adventure of a lifetime.

On her journey, Mirabel meets dozens of alternate versions of Spider heroes, even members of her family.

The Webslinger/Camilo Madrigal

An alternate version of Mirabel's theater-loving cousin who was bitten by a radioactive spider.

Spider-Lady/Isabela Madrigal

An alternate version of Mirabel's older sister, who holds the mantle of a Spider-Madrigal.

Spider-Woman/Luisa Madrigal

The multiversal doppelgänger of Mirabel's other sister; The Invincible Spider-Woman.

Scarlet Spider/Dolores Madrigal

A Spider-Madrigal who had the ability to sense and hear danger from over a mile away.

… along with several more (sorry, bad at coming up with super names)

Spider-Man/Hiro Hamada

A new young spider vigilante from San Fransokyo. A robotics student that picked up the mantle of Spider-Man after his older brother's death.

The NightCrawler/Hiccup Haddock

A college student skilled in engineering, who is best friends with the spider that bit him. With the help of his special ‘friend’ Hiccup watches over the people of Berk from the shadows.

Spider-Woman/Rapunzel Corona

A talented young artist with long, indestructible hair. While using her hair to protect people, Rapunzel also tried to uncover the origin of her magic hair.

The Arachnid Archer/Merida DunBroch

A trained athlete that is known as the greatest archer in the city of DunBroch. With her bow and arrow, Merida dedicated herself to protecting her city, and her family.

Frost Spider/Jack Frost

A young hockey player with a past that he cannot remember. His heroics caused Jack to be offered a role in a team of heroes called ‘The Guardians.’

Ghost-Spider & Lady Web/Elsa and Anna Arendelle

The Spider Sisters, both bitten by the same spider and both determined to protect their city and each other, while uncovering the mystery behind their parents' deaths.

Spider-Man/Tadashi Hamada

An alternate version of Hiro's older brother from another dimension, where the brothers' roles are switched.

La Telaraña/Miguel Rivera

A young musician who discovers the spider that gave him powers could be linked to a deep family mystery. The disappearance of Héctor Rivera, and his connection to genetic scientist Ernesto De La Cruz.

Spider-Man/Varian Rudiger

A young alchemist from an alternate reality of Rapunzel's dimension, teamed up with other talented super teens; Hugo, Nuru, and Yong.

Spider Byte/Coraline Jones

A curious young girl that was bitten by a strange spider hidden in the walls of her new house, and is being hunted by the original creator of that spider.

Water-Spider/Moana Waialiki

A skilled young surfer with the powers of a spider, who protects her home with the help of her super strong brother, Maui.

The Arach-Kid/Walter Beckett

A young mutant that is part of a secret agency, and partners with the top spy, Lance Sterling. With his powers, Walter is determined to make a difference in the world.

Water Dragon/Raya

A trained fighter whose genetics were altered by a spider. Raya uses her powers to make her city the home her father always envisioned.

[shellyseashell]

@panthera-tigris-venenata and @tiredflowercrown asked for this so here’s an explanation of my demon hunter au!

the basic idea is, when beast brought together all the fairytale worlds, it didn’t just bring villains back from the dead. it brought back demons that had been previously killed or locked away (many of whom were villains anyway, but the point here is they’re stronger). having so many powerful demons/sorcerers/whatever (chernabog, the horned king, zhan tiri, chatana, and maybe maleficent i haven’t decided which version of her i want to use are the biggest threats, but then there’s the other villains, many of whom are still magic) throws all magic into wack, meaning it’s stronger, wilder, and there’s practically no barrier between the natural world and the otherworlds.

this leads to the creation of the king’s guard, a special order meant to take down the demon lords. initially, many of the more magical kingdoms (avalor, camelot, kumandra, corona, etc.) that are threatened by them ally with beast to trap/kill them. they end up trapping them on the isle, built off neverland. it was meant just for demon lords and their allies, the biggest threats, not the villains that yeah, are magic, or dangerous, but they’re not near gods in power (like, the evil queen is a threat, but still human, so she doesn’t necessarily need to be on the isle, for example, charmington can deal with her just fine). but to make the isle, beast had to trap and kill plenty of innocent people, many of whom were magic, which is a thing i like to call foreshadowing.

after the demon lords are locked up, beast turns on all magic users and creatures. in his mind, all magic is dangerous, and has the potential to be just like the demons they just locked up. and well, locking up the demons didn’t really calm magic or make demons vanish, so really, he’s just finishing the job, right?

all the magic kingdoms that had previously allied with beast split, formed their own alliance known as just the rebellion or the guild. leaders include elena, phoebus, jasmine, ariel, repunzel, raya, and arthur. if their kingdom is highly magical, chances are at least some of their people joined.

they fight, and slowly, beast slowly forces the rebellion to surrender. most of his success comes from having some very fanatical people on his side, mainly: frollo. i wasn’t going to make it a religious persecution type story, but the idea of frollo working for beast but so does phoebus and the dynamics that brings basically wrote itself so here we are.

anyway, most of the rebel kingdoms are forced to surrender with heavy consequences to them, one constant being sending most of their magic users to the isle (many of whom are characters we consider villains anyway for consistency of why they’re there). the only ones that are allowed to stay are those who either hide and escape the hunts, or who join the kings guard, now the only organization allowed to use magic.

when the rebellion is successfully defeated, frollo is sent to the isle to ensure it remains so. many on the isle helped build it, they know best how to take it down. i’m not sure if those on the isle will maintain any contact with those off the isle, but either way there’s still very much so a war happening on the isle.

which is the situation the villains kids are born into. there are three alliances they can be born to: the king’s guard (many human villains like gaston ally with frollo. they were thrown on the isle because if magic users are criminals, what’s to say criminals aren’t magic users?), the demon lords, or the rebellion. many drift to the rebellion eventually.

no matter where the kids are born, they’re brought up for war. the king’s guard trains within themselves, usually parents teaching kids. a few are sent to auradon to train, but never kids of major prisoners, always kids of guards that were stationed there. they send kids into war at 16 at the youngest, legally, but on the isle some kids are sent in even younger (either because they’re prodigies, or because they’re hated, like gil, and their families are hoping they’ll die in action). they hoard any supplies sent to the isle, and they kill indiscriminately. to them, their job won’t be done, and the world won’t be stable again, until everyone the isle is dead. not many kids end up leaving.

most kids born to demon lords are raised to bring an era of darkness to the world, to amass as much power as they can. many of the magical villains who weren’t rebels are allied with them (evil queen, Jafar, etc). they’re isolated, usually, but not always. this how many, like jay, are able to leave (in jay’s case, he wandered into rebel territory and ran into the 40 thieves, who adopted him on the spot). it’s brutal, and most don’t have a choice in what they do. they’re the ones most often killed by their parents. they’re usually some of the most powerful magic uses on the isle, too. many kids from this group escape eventually, and join the rebels.

the rebels are a majority of the isle. not many of them actually fight, but plenty of magic users were sent to the isle unfairly and are under their protection. like the kids in the other groups, they’re raised for war, but it’s much more a community effort than and isolated thing. the schools, dragon hall, serpent prep, and the witch academy are run by their gangs and are very military focused. they send kids into the field at 15, but that’s a recent rule and many of the older kids have been fighting much longer by necessity. the rebels is the alliance many of the canon gangs fall into. those who ran from the other alliances often fight, but only after they’ve proven their allegiance.

there are villains who don’t really fall into any group, like hook, and other never land pirates, who were just vibing before everything happened, or the de vils who just wanted to run a crime empire why are they in the middle of a war now.

in auradon, things are only slightly better. they’re not necessarily in a total war, but the isle if anything made the demon issue worse. the prep is a school meant to train king’s guard knights, and the former rebel kingdoms are forced to send their royal kids there to keep an eye on them and keep the kingdom in line. kids who aren’t royal are allowed to attend, but even they have king’s guards in their family. they start training officially (but many have trained longer at home) at 14 and ends at 18-20. (the reason 16 is the legal fighting age for frollo’s men is because at 16 trainees — squires, as they’re called — begin going on hunts with senior students) the reason they can afford sending people into the field when they’re older is because they have more people, and can afford the wait for more soldiers. the isle doesn’t have that luxury.

magic users are hunted and executed regularly. some are still sent to the isle, but beast finds just killing them is quicker. they focus more on killing witches than demons, or figuring out and ending the source of the issue, believing if they just kill all witches then the world will right itself. therefore, many illegal hunting groups formed, who hunt demons (and often still witches) instead of the organization meant to do that.

so what’s the plot? ben still gets kids off the isle. how? well, his argument is that they’re sent into the field before they’re legally old enough (by auradon standards) and therefore the rebels are committing war crimes and the kids shouldn’t be there. it’s flimsy, and the kids who he chooses to come over are all rebels, but it’s on purpose.

growing up, ben is mentored by phoebus, captain of the kings guard in order to protect the romani (in paris at least) for as long as he can. beast intended it to be a “see what happens when you rebel” type thing, but instead phoebus adopted another son and made sure he knew exactly how horrible his father is.

so ben brings kids over, knowing and hoping they’ll bring their rebellion with them. and also, because of the fighting on the isle, the barrier has been slowly eroding, and many of the remaining rebels in auradon are starting to think that’s the issue.

[asexual-hugger]

*Rapunzel bolts awake in bed, her stomach roiling. She sits up quickly and checks the spot next to her, where Eugene lies sound asleep. Careful not to disturb him, she sweeps the covers aside and hurries to the bathroom, her long blond hair trailing behind her*

Rapunzel: *throwing the toilet seat up* Urrrrghh! *she retches, her sides heaving*

*In their bed, Eugene stirs, his eyes flying open at the sound of her puking*

Eugene: Huh?

*Rapunzel weakly rests her chin on the rim of the toilet, her breaths heavy. Her face is pale, and her eyes are rimmed with red*

Rapunzel: Ughhh. Kill me now.

Eugene: Rapunzel, are you okay??

Rapunzel: Huh? *she feels another wave of nausea and quickly vomits it up*

Eugene: Oh, my God. *he holds her hair back from her face* Rapunzel, what’s going on?

Rapunzel: Ugh. I think it might be morning sickness. I feel like a train ran over me.

Eugene: Oh, geez, I forgot about that! Baby Fitzherbert really giving you the hard stuff, huh? *he continues to hold her hair back as she retches*

Rapunzel: Tell me about it. *groans* I knew that morning sickness was a struggle, but I didn’t think it would be this bad. And of course I woke you up.

Eugene: Hey, it’s fine. I want to help you. I'm not letting you do this by yourself. Wherever you are, I am.

Rapunzel: *weak* What are you, Jack Dawson?

Eugene: I’ll be whoever you want me to be.

*Rapunzel is hit with another sharp wave of nausea, and Eugene uses his free hand to wipe her face with a tissue*

Eugene: I’m right here.

Rapunzel: God, I hope I can pull through this when we announce our pregnancy to the kingdom this afternoon. All of Corona is going to be there. I just can’t think about it right now.

Eugene: Take all the time you need. I'll be right there next to you. You can do this. Sounds like Baby Fitzherbert is gonna be a wild one. *he looks very concerned in Rapunzel’s direction*

Rapunzel: Wild and adventurous. Just like Dad.

Eugene: And Mom. You have a free spirit, too. It’s in the DNA.

*The town square is filled with people. The entire kingdom of Corona has gathered at the foot of the palace steps to hear the big announcement from the prince and princess. Word has spread fast, although no one knows what the news is. There are jumbled voices from the crowd, everyone looking at one another in confusion and excitement, wondering aloud what the royals have to say. The talk and whispers quiet down gradually when the palace doors open, the King and Queen of Corona emerging first. They gaze out in silence before stepping aside, and as soon as Rapunzel and Eugene appear, hand in hand, the crowd bursts into cheers*

King: Thank you, everyone, for coming out today. We are so glad you can make it.

Crowd: Woooo!

King: As you know, you are all here today on behalf of our daughter, the Princess Rapunzel, whom you remember as having disappeared for the first eighteen years of her life and has now been safely returned to us. *more cheering* Thanks to the bravery and love shown to her by our now son-in-law, Prince Eugene Fitzherbert, we are beyond grateful to have her back home and him in our family. *Eugene squeezes Rapunzel’s hand, and she squeezes back* However, we give the floor to them. Rapunzel, Eugene, this is your moment.

*He steps back and Rapunzel comes forward. She and Eugene scan the huge crowd slowly. Everyone’s eyes are on them, and no one says a word*

Rapunzel: Hello, Corona. *She smiles and waves* We have some very special news. Eugene, would you like to do the honors?

Eugene: Of course. *He looks slightly nervous at everyone staring at him, and he clears his throat* Hey. Uh, well, what I would like to say is…RAPUNZEL IS PREGNANT!

*The crowd gasps in astonishment*

Rapunzel: It is very true. Eugene and I are expecting a child! There will soon be another royal added to the Corona family!

*The crowd immediately roars its approval, and Eugene pulls Rapunzel tightly against him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Thousands of happy, grinning faces look back at them. A couple villagers speak out*

Villager: Is that true, Your Highness?

Rapunzel: It’s true. We couldn’t be happier.

Villager: I don’t see a bump. Are we supposed to see a bump?

Rapunzel: I’m currently three weeks along, but we will definitely keep you updated on Baby Fitzherbert’s progress. We are so glad you could share this magical moment with us.

Villager: We love you, Your Highnesses!

Villager: We’re glad to be spending this moment with you as well. Congratulations, both of you!

Eugene: Thank you.

Villager: You’ll tell us if it’s a boy or a girl, right?

Rapunzel: Most definitely. We will introduce you after the baby is born. You have our word.

Villager: Congratulations!

Eugene: The little one is growing fast. I can almost feel it.

*The crowd starts moving towards the steps, giving the couple their well wishes and congratulations. Rapunzel and Eugene, being the royals that they are, respond to each individual person with warmth and grace. The King and Queen walk over to join them and couldn’t be prouder*

Villager: So does this mean your baby will be next in line to rule Corona?

Rapunzel: Yes. It won’t be for some time, but there will be that moment.

Villager: I wish you all the luck in the world, Your Highnesses. May you and your future heir be blessed with all the good fortune in the world.

Eugene: Thank you so much. We do appreciate that.

*Somewhere in the crowd, a figure stands out of place, wearing a hooded cloak. They haven’t spoken at all since the announcement, but they have been watching closely. A pair of gleaming eyes is fixated entirely on Rapunzel and her unborn child. She is smiling and mingling with the crowd. The figure is pushed closer as the others waiting to have their turn move forward. The figure uses this chance to speak*

Mystery Voice: You’re having a baby with a thief?

Rapunzel: Who said that?

*She looks around wildly, and then a cloaked figure she didn’t notice before removes its hood. The face of a young man about her own age stares back at her, his hair ghost white and emitting a strange aura. His eyes are deep red*

Mystery Man: The name’s Tito. Del Tagglia. And I believe you have made a terrible mistake…Princess Rapunzel.

[dancing-coyote]

💯 and 💙!

I'm gonna answer these for both Corona and Umbra :)

HUNDRED POINTS SYMBOL — share three random facts about your oc that others may not know.

Corona: - Is not averse to flirting in order to get something she's after - Is a classically-trained swordfighter - Blames Optimus for the destruction of Tyger Pax

Umbra: - Hadn't been in Iacon a week before he crossed paths with Corona - Is an exceptional excavator - Has an abiding fondness for small things

BLUE HEART — does your oc have any cool/special powers and/or abilities? how are they with magic, if it exists in their world?

Corona: Aside from her chameleon module, she is (as noted above) very skilled with a sword, as a result of her upper-class upbringing.

Umbra: Unlike most mechs, he is a surprisingly good swimmer, able to seal off his internal spaces and draw water in/force water out as needed, and use his vents for basic propulsion.

[pendragaryen]

Happy birthday Anne 🍾🎂!!

I hope you're enjoying your special day☕️, because it's one of your favourites, and i wish you the best to come (health☀️, above all, OF COURSE, but also much love with your loved ones, and... time to enjoy life🧡 💛). Lots of love, mwah !

Oh look who's there to wish you a happy birthday too !

🥹😃🥰🥰🥰 Oh Stéphanie! What a lovely surprise! You even added my name! I am grinning like an idiot right now. Adorable! Thank you so much for your message and the birthday wishes, especially the one about enjoying life. This is indeed something I have to train more, to regain it somehow. After two surgeries throughout the last 3 years and the hormone therapy I have to go through since then I somehow lost that ability in a way, and that's very sad. I have to enjoy the little things more again, something I was very good at BEFORE the 2 surgeries, before Corona happened and yeah... before that disastrous ending of The 100. I may not be online here very often anymore, but trust me, you people are helping me a lot just by being there and still creating content or tagging me in things. This means a lot to me and never fails to make me smile. I hope your times are changing for the better too these days and that you also have the chance to enjoy life more - I've seen your awesome photos from Southern France and I guess so/hope so😊 Have a great time with your family and friends! Anne

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Descendants Canon: Prologue

(The Auradon royal cousins/Auradon Jr Council)

(Top to bottom: Ben Florian, Chad and Aricka Charming, Sebastian White and Audrey Rose.)

Our story begins with an iPad being flipped to a book, with the title Descendants. A young girl’s voice can be heard narrating; and this is what she says…

“Once upon a time, long, long ago... well, more like 20 years ago... Belle married her Beast in front of 6,000 of their closest personal friends.” She laughs. “Big cake. Yeah, so instead of a honeymoon, Beast united all of the kingdoms and got himself elected king of the United States of Auradon. He rounded up all the villains and sidekicks... basically all the really interesting people... and he booted them off to the Isle of the Lost with a magical barrier to keep them there.”

The iPad shows pictures of a decrepit wasteland; with rundown buildings, rotting trees and little to no food to be seen. “This is my hood. No magic. No wi-fi. No way out. Or so I thought. Hang on, you're about to meet us. But first, this happened…”

~~~~~~~~~~

In the United States of Auradon, several teens gathered in a secret meeting room in Château de Bête, where they had been planning a special proclamation since they were 12. The teens gathered were:

Crown Prince Benjamin Alexandre Florian I of the United States of Auradon.

Crown Prince Chadwick James Charming of Sardinia, and his twin sister, Crown Princess Aricka Claire Charming of Charmington.

Crown Princess Audrey Rae-LynnRose of Auroriaand Ulstead, and fill-in heir of the Moors.

Crown Prince Sebastian Alistair White of Hanover, and his little sister, Crown Princess Emma White of Misthaven.

Prince Doug Crystalsmith of Stonehaven.

Future General of Xiangyang, Li Lonnie.

Sultan in training Aziz Jaliyl Ababwa of Agrabah.

Crown Princess Ruby Eliana Fitzherbert of Corona.

Future Head Fairy Godmother Jane LaFae of Auradon.

Crown Princess Melody Daniels of Atlantica and Westerly Kingdom.

Genie-in-Training Jordan Dahlia Fadel of Agrabah.

And the twins of Enchancia, Crown Princess Amber Rhiannon and Prince James Declan Winslow.

They were the future of Auradon after all. They had to be better than their parents when it came to providing equal opportunities for everyone who deserved them.

~~~~~~~~

“Alright,” Ben addresses his future council. “Tomorrow is my final fitting for the coronation. I will also be announcing our first official proclamation to my parents. We all know which children we want to invite over. Do we all have our papers pleading those children’s cases?”

Aricka Charming, acting as Ben’s secretary in the moment, accepted the papers being passed forward and handed them to Ben, who slotted them into a briefcase next to him. “Thank you, Aricka,” he says, smiling gratefully at her. “Just so we’re all on the same page, let’s review the children I’ll be mentioning to my parents tomorrow.” He clears his throat. “I selected Mal Bertha; daughter of Maleficent. The daughter of the Mistress of all Evil deserves a chance to be good if she wants to be, and to have opportunities to be safe and in an environment where she can relax for once.”

“Jay Scheherazade. His mother knew he was kidnapped by his father when the barrier went up, and she’s been petitioning Auradon and Agrabah to rescue him for years, this is the least we can do for her.” That was Aziz. “That and nobody deserves to grow up with that man as a sperm donor.”

Audrey went next. “It was difficult for me to decide but after what our teams found out I believed the best choice was for me to pick Princess Evelyn Grimhilde. She has committed no crime against Auradon so her royal status should be respected and validated, and I know for a fact anyone living with someone like the EQ needs a chance to be free.” Jane and Aricka squeezed Audrey’s shoulders, knowing what she was implying.

Then Chad spoke, “I selected Carlos de Vil, because he has been at the mercy of that cruel woman for years, who knows what she did to him, we all know what she tried doing to the Radcliffe family. Anita and Roger also have expressed an interest in adopting him if he wanted them to. We would just have to be careful in exposing him to any kind of dog, big little or in between.” He looks at his notes. “He has a cat, maybe we could look into making the cat his emotional support animal.”

Aricka spoke up after her twin, “We all know I’ve been having dreams lately… dreams about a boy who is my True Love…” they all nodded. “I’m choosing Harry Hook, as he is the boy in my dream. However. My official reasoning for selecting him is that he has sisters as well, and in order for them to come they need to see that Harry is good, and I know he is. In my dreams he is nothing but sweet and kind and earnest, but he hides it under a mask of anger and rage and vengeance. If we get him away from his father’s influence he should thrive.”

“I’ve selected Uma Nautica, daughter of Ursula. She is a fierce leader and Ariel has also expressed an interest in getting to know her cousin, as Ursula is Ariel’s aunt. Melody and I both chose her as our pick, as she is from the Wharf side of the Isle and would know which of those children we should bring over as well.” That was Jane.

Lonnie was next, “I selected the only VK who was given special permission to leave the Isle six months out of the year to live with her stepmother Persephone; Aricka Kore Page. She will be able to help us help her fellow VKs acclimate and adjust to being in Auradon as she knows more of how things work over here, and she can also aide in the selection processes.”

“I chose Azalea Ixoria,” Sebastian White drawls, having sent Lonnie one of his dazzling white smiles, as Aricka Kore Page was also his girlfriend. “Daughter of a florist turned royal jeweler for the Queen of Hearts, one of the lesser villains on the Isle.”

Then came the one they were all most anxious to mention. “I have chosen Gilbert Legume,” Doug says. “Son of Gaston. Belle of all people should feel sympathetic for him, she knows just how toxic Gaston was, and we can use her sympathy to convince her to help us help Gil. He’s just a child, he deserves a chance. Just like any of them.”

They all nod, knowing they would have to have Gil be mentioned last, hating that he might be the only not able to be included this first wave just because he was born to Belle and Adam’s worst enemy.

“We can’t worry about that right now,” Ben pushes on. “We simply must make the proposal and then mention the children we want to come over in the first wave. These kids are the main players on the Isle. If we get the leaders over here: they can help us help their crew. We can get them to see that good really is worth it all.”

Murmurs of assent are heard, Jane Darling dutifully taking notes of the proceedings. “After the VK Isle Reformation Proclamation has been in place for a while, we will then move on to the Magical Creatures and Persons Act, allowing those born with magic or those who have been chosen to learn magic to be allowed to practice their arts in peace, much like the Northuldra in Arendalle do, or the people of Camelot.”

“We can restore the Moors to its original beauty,” Audrey says, remembering her mother’s stories of how beautiful it had once been.

“And we can work on getting homes for the VKs who were orphaned or who don’t want their villain parent to be their parents anymore,” Aricka added.

“Hear, hear,” Chad said. “We already have several parents interested- including Lathyn Baker; mine and Aricka’s aunt Anastasia’s husband. He’s eager to have his 19 year old son, Anthony, back home.”

“So it’s settled,” Ben says, and suddenly they could all see a glimpse of the future king he was to be. “I will make our proclamation known to my parents, and after that we will begin working on invitations for the future transfer students.”

They dispersed with hugs and plans to meet up for homework finalizations or for meals or just to hang out together, and Ben went to his own room to prepare for the most nerve wracking conversation of his life.

~~~~~~~~~ The Next Day ~~~~~~~~~

Ben assembled his council again, and when they all met in the secret room as usual they were met with a very exuberant and excited Prince Benjamin. “So,” he begins with a wild grin on his face. “Who’s ready to finalize the preparations for our new guests?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@astralshipper

@rosieshipper

@hyperionshipping

@yeehawselfshipping

@letsgofoletsgo thank you for always letting me borrow Azalea-!

@callsign-revenge

@tsundere-selfship

[yugonoashiato]

Yugo Kochi – It's important to be enthusiastic about what you want to be – Birdman TV Show

Yugo Kochi (29) from the six-member group SixTONES appeared as a studio guest on NTV's special programme 'Bird Man Contest 2023' (Aug 30, 7pm). He watched the romantic flight over Lake Biwa live. The sight of the birdmen fulfilling their dream of soaring in the sky made him realise that "as in our idol work, it's important to have the 'enthusiasm to be a birdman'", and that it overlapped with his own career path. We also asked him about their flight as a group and his thoughts on his last year in his twenties.

This year marked the 45th anniversary of this major summer event and we cheered from a special studio by the lake. It was, of course, the first time he had seen the event live. Watching his friends pray from the platform, he said: "It's a very human documentary. I realised that a four-metre headwind is tough. It was a luxury to be able to enjoy it again on air".

He even visited the platform from which the plane took off. Although his name '髙地' means 'highland', he said: "When I see how high it is, I wouldn't dare to run down 10 metres in a glider by myself. I prefer low ground," he said with a wry smile.

Watching the flight of the 28 teams in the Human Powered Propeller Aircraft category, he was impressed by the division of labour in designing, directing and supporting the pilots in their training. The team's performance was also supported by the lighting crew, the choreographer and others, without whom we could not create a single piece of work. That's why we cry when we succeed and feel frustrated when we fail.

When asked if he would form a SixTONES flying team, he replied: "I would be the leader of the cheering squad. I am the leader of the cheering squad! I don't want to be involved in the design (laughs). The pilot could be Tanaka, who is surprisingly agile. He's also light and has guts when he puts his mind to it," he fantasised.

The group took off on six wings in 2015. It also experienced headwinds. "We were said to be in a fierce junior battleground with Snow Man and Travis Japan, who are now doing well in their generation, and there were whispers that we might not be able to make our debut. But I didn't give up and that was a big part of it. I've got a tailwind too: I'm being challenged by a company with the latest technology." [E/N: I think he meant Sony 😭🙏🏻].

His debut came in the middle of the Corona disaster. "I couldn't do the location work properly and my TV time was short... When you jump before you fly, you have to bend your knees. If you look at it like it was time to bend your knees, it wasn't bad." He also sees the flow as a positive: 'I didn't get tired from being busy, I had a good slow start and was able to keep going without strain."　

Of course, the status quo cannot be maintained. "I have to carry more weapons on my back. It's important to sharpen the weapons in my backpack. I certainly don't want people to think I haven't changed since my debut." His appearance on the current show was also well received for his comments. It must have been stimulating.

He is the oldest member of the group and will be 30 next March. "I joke about it on the radio, but I'm thinking of keeping my age a secret when I turn 30 (laughs). I don't want to be limited by my age. If I don't force myself to look young and do my best to do my own thing, I think I will look young naturally. I don't say things like 'I'm already an old man' when I turn 30 (laughs). I want to greet my juniors cheerfully.” As his surname suggests, he is aiming high.

From Yahoo Article:

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/996487d58a141fb0761ee49c45eae3cc04c4ee8f

[helpersseniorlb]

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[iamsumati]

The Reel Virus: A Pandemic More Contagious Than Corona?

Remember when we used to be afraid of viruses? You know, the ones that spread through coughs, sneezes, and bad hand hygiene? Well, move over, Corona—there’s a new pandemic in town, and it doesn’t care about social distancing. Welcome to the age of Reel Addiction, where people aren’t just living their lives but meticulously staging them for likes, shares, and that oh-so-satisfying dopamine hit.

The Reel Virus is no ordinary affliction. It doesn’t come with a fever or a sore throat, but the symptoms are far worse: Ever seen someone bust out an impromptu dance in the middle of the road while traffic honks impatiently?; Victims lose all sense of surroundings while capturing the ‘perfect angle,’ even if it means dangling off a cliff or standing in the middle of railway tracks; From ‘waking up looking flawless’ (which took two hours of prep) to ‘eating naturally’ (while making sure the camera catches the perfect bite), reality takes a backseat to performance; Conversations with family and friends? Forgotten. Special moments? Only if they can be monetized. If it wasn’t posted, did it even happen?

We have never been more connected yet never been more distant. People are physically present but mentally lost in the next content idea. Parents capture every milestone of their kids—but through a lens, missing the magic of the moment. Couples sit across each other at restaurants, scrolling through strangers’ love lives instead of living their own.

And let’s not forget those who’ll hang from moving trains, dance on rooftops, or pretend to ‘accidentally’ drop their iPhones into fountains—all for viral fame. The irony? Some of these stunts land them in hospitals (or worse), proving that chasing virtual validation can cost you your actual existence.

Yes, reels can be fun. They’re a great way to express creativity, tell stories, and kill time (sometimes, too much of it). But when they start replacing real-life experiences, conversations, and responsibilities, we need a hard reality check.

Scrolling endlessly may be entertaining, but it’s not living. When was the last time you had a deep, undistracted conversation? Felt the joy of watching a sunset without recording it? Enjoyed food without a “food vlog” performance?

Reels will always be there. Real life moments won’t. Choose wisely.

[pasargadinks]

Overcoming Challenges with Specialty Inks in Rotogravure Printing: Solutions for Improved Print Quality

Discover the challenges of using specialty inks such as water-based and oil-based inks in rotogravure printing. Learn effective solutions for selecting the right ink to enhance print quality with Pasargad Iranian Ink Company. Overcoming Challenges with Specialty Inks in Rotogravure Printing: Solutions for Improved Print Quality Rotogravure printing, a highly regarded printing process known for its precision and high-quality results, often involves the use of specialty inks such as water-based, oil-based, and other types of inks. Each type of ink presents unique challenges that can impact the print quality if not managed properly. This article explores the common issues associated with different specialty inks in rotogravure printing and provides effective solutions for choosing the right ink to ensure optimal print quality. Common Challenges with Specialty Inks - Water-Based Inks: - Challenges: Water-based inks are environmentally friendly and have low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. However, they can be prone to drying issues, affecting ink transfer and adhesion. - Specific Issues: - Drying Time: Water-based inks require longer drying times, which can slow down the printing process. - Adhesion: Proper adhesion to non-porous substrates can be challenging. - Water Sensitivity: Prints may be sensitive to water or moisture, affecting durability. - Oil-Based Inks: - Challenges: Oil-based inks are known for their rich pigmentation and durability. However, they can pose environmental concerns and require specific handling. - Specific Issues: - Environmental Impact: Higher VOC emissions can affect air quality and require proper ventilation. - Drying Time: Oil-based inks tend to dry slower, which can lead to smudging if not managed properly. - Cleanup: Cleaning equipment and presses can be more challenging due to the oil content. - UV Inks: - Challenges: UV inks cure quickly under ultraviolet light, providing excellent durability and vibrant colors. However, they require specialized equipment for curing. - Specific Issues: - Curing Requirements: UV inks require precise UV light exposure for proper curing, which can add complexity to the printing process. - Health and Safety: Handling UV inks requires safety measures to avoid exposure to UV light. - Solvent-Based Inks: - Challenges: Solvent-based inks offer quick drying times and strong adhesion. However, they emit high levels of VOCs, posing environmental and health concerns. - Specific Issues: - VOC Emissions: High levels of VOC emissions require proper ventilation and environmental controls. - Health Risks: Prolonged exposure to solvent fumes can pose health risks to operators. Solutions for Choosing the Right Specialty Ink - Assess Ink Properties: - Solution: Evaluate the specific properties of each ink type, including drying time, adhesion, durability, and environmental impact. Choose inks that align with the specific requirements of the print job and substrate. - Benefit: Ensures optimal print quality and performance for each application. - Optimize Drying and Curing Processes: - Solution: Implement drying and curing systems that match the ink type. For water-based inks, use advanced drying units to speed up the process. For UV inks, invest in precise UV curing systems. - Benefit: Reduces drying and curing times, preventing print defects and improving efficiency. - Enhance Adhesion: - Solution: Use surface treatments like corona or plasma treatment to improve ink adhesion on non-porous substrates. Select primers that enhance the bonding of specialty inks to the substrate. - Benefit: Ensures strong adhesion and durability of the print. - Implement Proper Ventilation and Safety Measures: - Solution: For inks with high VOC emissions, install effective ventilation systems to maintain air quality. Provide protective gear and training for operators handling hazardous inks. - Benefit: Protects the health and safety of operators and meets environmental regulations. - Regular Maintenance and Cleanup: - Solution: Establish regular maintenance schedules for cleaning equipment and presses. Use appropriate cleaning agents designed for specific ink types to prevent buildup and contamination. - Benefit: Maintains equipment efficiency and prevents ink contamination. Best Practices for Using Specialty Inks - Collaborate with Ink Suppliers: - Work closely with ink suppliers to select the best specialty inks for your printing needs. Suppliers can provide valuable insights and technical support to address specific challenges. - Conduct Print Tests: - Perform print tests with different specialty inks to assess their performance on various substrates. Adjust printing parameters based on the test results to achieve optimal print quality. - Stay Updated with Industry Trends: - Keep up with the latest advancements in specialty inks and printing technologies. Regularly update your knowledge and skills to stay ahead in the industry. - Train Printing Personnel: - Provide ongoing training for printing personnel on the proper handling and application of specialty inks. Knowledgeable staff can better manage ink-related challenges and ensure consistent print quality. Conclusion Using specialty inks in rotogravure printing presents unique challenges that require careful management to ensure high-quality print results. By understanding the specific issues associated with water-based, oil-based, UV, and solvent-based inks, Pasargad Iranian Ink Company can implement effective solutions to enhance print quality. Embracing best practices for ink selection, drying and curing, adhesion, ventilation, and maintenance will further improve the efficiency and reliability of the printing process. These strategies not only optimize the final product but also contribute to a more sustainable and safe printing environment. Read the full article

[artsychowroamer]

Christmas in Italy

AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER

CHRISTMAS IN ITALY

VISITING OFF-SEASON

Europe is the number one destination for travel around the world and it is very crowded because of that. Having spent the holidays there before, I have found that time of year can not only be magical but easier to navigate during the off-season. Depending on your departure and return dates, the airports are easier, the planes less full and all lines much shorter.

When I got a text with some unbelievable last minute air deals for Italy, I snagged two for a holiday visit to Florence. Sure, we have been there before but not at Christmas and I knew it would be a lovely gift to ourselves, full of beautiful decorations, fabulous shopping and special sights. There is so much to see, eat and do in the cradle of the Renaissance that I would never be able to cover it all in one blog but I will try to give you some of my favorite things.

WHERE TO STAY

While there are any number of nice contemporary hotels, we prefer to look for smaller, well-located spots that offer that old traditional Florentine ambience. We chose the Corona d’Italia Hotel located in the historical city center of San Lorenzo. It is close to the Santa Maria Novella train station and right next to the San Lorenzo Market, one of the largest indoor/outdoor markets in Italy.

While it is only a three star property, we loved the Italian tile floors, warm wood stylings on the front desk and lobby bar and old-world color scheme in yellows, blues and maroon. The front desk staff were welcoming and upgraded us to a larger room without asking. The lobby bar was cozy and intimate, the perfect spot for an early evening martini before going on to dinner.

Our room was spacious with windows that opened to the street, a large comfortable bed, a place for morning coffee or breakfast if you wanted to bring it up from the buffet. The bathroom was well outfitted with toilet and bidet. A working desk and a large flat screen made it quite comfortable for the weeks stay. BTW, that breakfast buffet was luscious, offering everything you could ever want with a machine that put out every sort of coffee and tea drink known to man and was included in our room rate which was excellent value for Florence.

WALKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Another enjoyable aspect of where we stayed was how easy it was to walk around the neighborhood for holiday spirit with trees, lights, merry-go-rounds and nativity scenes. The outdoor stands in the market were full of wonderful gifts and souvenir items. Anything you might want to give was there for really excellent prices.

I did all of my shopping a little every day finding leather products like bracelets with silver catches and decoration in black, brown, gray and red with that Italian sophistication to the design. Perfect for my besties. The softest cashmere wraps that could be used as a scarf or shawl were stacked in stunning shades of yellow greens, pumpkins, golds and reds; fall colors that had me buying several for my mother and myself.

Nobody does paper products like this city and while you find shops with larger selections, there were plenty of journals, watercolors on paper, books, pencils and pens which worked well as gifts for my architect friend and his wife. Handbags, wallets money clips, beautiful blouses, sweaters and dresses were available everywhere. Rugs and luggage bags of all sizes were popular as well as Italian foods and candies.

I found some of the sweetest handmade wooden toys for toddlers along with little books like Pinocchio which is the perfect Italian story to read to the children on Christmas Eve. Stall after stall had jewelry of all types, styles and price points. Pretty necklaces, earrings and rings made for great stocking stuffers. I loved the Lorenzo market and hit it every single day I was there.

PIAZZA DEL DUOMO

Our first stop is always a walk about on the Piazza del Duomo. The cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese in Florence was commissioned in 1296 and completed in 1436 with a dome designed by the famous Filippo Brunelleschi. Designed in the Gothic style with marble panels of various shades of green and pink, it is bordered by white and features an elaborate Gothic Revival facade designed by Emilio De Fabris. Put up with the line to see it if you’ve never been inside.

This area is full of galleries and shops for strolling, bars for drinking and restaurants for eating some of the best food in the city. One of our favorites for lunch is Il Bottegone with indoor and outdoor dining options. It’s beautiful in the evenings for people watching while staying toasty with all the festive decorations, heaters and blankets.

We opted to eat lunch inside as it was really cold so we ordered grappa with a cappuccino to warm up while the server brought a basket of fresh breads and butter for us to nosh on. Delish! Wanting not to spoil dinner we opted to share a platter special of fresh salmon slices with lemon, capers and dill served with olive oil, vinegar and toast points. This dish was simply sublime and hit the spot.

PALAZZO VECCHIO

Next up is always the Palazzo Vecchio which is about the fanciest town hall you will ever see. Here you will find a copy of Michelangelo’s famous statue of David along with other works of art including the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi. While having been know by other names, it got its current name when the ruling Medici duke’s residence was moved across the Arno River to the Palazzo Pitti.

I like to sit and have lunch outside in this area to view the statues and watch the people come and go. It is one of my favorite shopping areas for three things in particular. Art galleries where you can find affordable small pieces of glass and paintings, a small perfume shop that makes their own very unusual scents with wonderful bottles and boxes and one of the best liquor stores in the area where you will find all manner of things including grappa in fancy Italian blown bottles with stretched necks and colorful beads.

LA MENAGERE

Last but not least, I never make a visit or recommendation that doesn’t include La Menagere. Shopping is at its best in this magical shop and restaurant offering beautiful glass pieces, flowers, books, household goods, kitchen goods and more. Many stop in for tea or lunch sitting in the retail space before or after their shopping is done. It is always beautifully done up this time of year and they offer many of their decor items for sale as well.

Their glass is offered in many different colors with special one-of-a-kind pieces. I bought some lovely espresso cups, saucers and spoons with gold rims that I will always treasure. Their florists were very busy putting together the most visually interesting compositions I have ever seen. We had lunch next to the patio in the glass dining room which was outstanding. Fried gnocchi with sweet potato puree and fried shallots were over the top delicious as was the potato tart with melted gruyere cheese. Both were served with a wonderful glass of the house Italian red wine. Light puffs of heaven with cream and chocolate were dessert along with an espresso and brandy. This is my favorite place in Florence. Don’t miss it.

EATING IN FLORENCE

You don’t really have to venture out to areas that are far away from the hotel where you are staying in order to find some of the best food around. A simple walk about will give you more places than you can try in a weeks stay or more. It won’t just be Italian eateries either. Some might be surprised to find out that one of the best meals we had in Florence was at an Indian restaurant just around the corner from us. Aroma of India was a cozy little spot with the friendliest of owners.

She seated us at a table and brought us a long menu to study while rushing over water and a little taste of what was to come from the chef. Delicious light crispy hollow balls filled with tasty fillings were a fabulous start. A little beer was the perfect wash down. Papaduums and garlic naan arrived next with delicious sauces from mild to spicy; mint, tamarind and chutney. Butter chicken and lamb vindaloo finished us off and were some of the best we have ever had.

Upon arriving in Florence, it was late and we popped out to the first sweet restaurant we came upon for bottles of lovely red wine, loads of fresh bread with the best peppery olive oil and basalmic vinegar at Osteria del Borgo. Since all their pastas are freshly made daily, we took the special and got pappardelle with a wonderful country slow cooked sauce with a thick chunky cut to the meat and veg. Beautiful….wish you were here kind of food!

Shout out to La Falterona for one of the best Italian meals we had just a couple of blocks walk to a lovely spot with a waiter who was utterly charming in an old school sort of way. Sliced duck with honey mustard glaze and mashed potatoes along with wild boar pasta were matched beautifully with his red wine suggestion that set us back a bit! Leave room for dessert please!

CONCLUSION

While many people might think Italy is only worth visiting during warm weather, we found that the tourist numbers are so high in-season that it almost begs the planning of your trip during the holidays. My husband and I love slow walks without dodging in and out of crowds. We like to be able to move around in shops without queuing up to pay. It is pleasant to walk into a restaurant or bar and be able to get a table without a reservation.

Add in the beauty of the decorations, the Christmas market stalls and the holiday spirit we found everywhere, it was just about perfect. Don’t be afraid to avoid the crowds when planning your visit. I highly recommend Christmas in Florence, Italy.

If you enjoyed what you read, you might enjoy other posts under Explore the World. There you will find my tips and guides on exciting places to visit with an emphasis on art and food as well. I also give you a taste of some fabulous spots under Snap Shot which will help you add to your bucket list. Until next time…

Cheers!

ArtsyChowRoamer

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Aerial Utility Inspection: How Drones and UV Cameras are Transforming Power Line Maintenance

The Need for Efficient Power Line Maintenance

As demand for electricity rises and the complexities of power grids grow, efficient maintenance of power lines and associated infrastructure becomes increasingly vital. Traditional inspection methods for these assets have often been time-consuming, risky, and expensive, requiring substantial manpower and machinery. Utility companies must ensure that power lines are well-maintained to avoid potential issues such as power outages, equipment failures, and safety hazards. However, with vast networks of power lines often located in remote or hard-to-reach areas, achieving timely and thorough inspections has historically been a challenging task.

In recent years, advances in drone technology and specialized cameras, such as UV and thermal imaging systems, have brought about a paradigm shift in the field of aerial utility inspection. By using drones equipped with high-tech cameras and sensors, utilities can now conduct faster, safer, and more efficient inspections, while also gaining access to detailed data that helps identify early warning signs of wear or potential failures. This article explores how drones and UV cameras are transforming power line maintenance, highlighting the benefits and future potential of this technology in the utility sector.

The Challenges of Traditional Power Line Inspections

Traditional power line inspection methods generally involve ground-based visual checks, manual climbing, or helicopter flights for a more comprehensive view. Each approach has limitations, making them less than ideal for the task at hand:

Safety Risks: Manual inspections, especially those requiring climbs, expose personnel to potential injuries or falls. Even helicopter inspections, while faster, can involve risky maneuvering near high-voltage lines.

High Costs: Helicopter inspections are particularly expensive, given the cost of fuel, maintenance, and trained pilots. Ground-based inspections, though less costly, are labor-intensive and require significant time investment.

Limited Access: Many power lines are located in remote, rugged, or densely forested areas, making them difficult to reach with traditional vehicles or equipment.

Environmental Impact: Helicopters contribute to noise pollution and emissions, which is particularly concerning when inspection sites are located in or near protected natural habitats.

These drawbacks have led utility companies to explore more efficient, safer, and environmentally friendly options. Aerial inspection using drones equipped with advanced imaging technology, such as UV and thermal cameras, has emerged as a promising alternative.

How Drones and UV Cameras Improve Aerial Utility Inspection

Drones equipped with UV cameras and other specialized sensors can fly close to power lines, gathering high-resolution images and detailed data that provide a clear picture of equipment health. With their ability to hover, maneuver, and capture images from multiple angles, drones offer unparalleled access to every segment of power line infrastructure.

Key Advantages of Drone-Based Inspections

Enhanced Safety: By using drones instead of sending personnel into dangerous environments, utility companies can conduct inspections without exposing workers to high-risk conditions. Drone pilots can operate from a safe distance, directing drones remotely to capture the necessary data.

Cost Efficiency: Drone inspections are more cost-effective than helicopter inspections, allowing companies to conduct more frequent assessments without prohibitive expense. Over time, regular drone inspections help prevent costly repairs by catching early signs of damage, further reducing operational costs.

Comprehensive Data Collection: Drones equipped with UV and thermal cameras collect high-quality images and videos that reveal subtle issues such as corona discharge, overheating, and insulation degradation. This comprehensive data provides valuable insights for maintenance planning and fault prevention.

Accessibility in Difficult Terrain: Drones can reach power lines in remote, mountainous, or heavily wooded areas with ease, eliminating the need for extensive ground transportation or off-road vehicles.

Environmental Benefits: With minimal noise and no emissions, drones are a more environmentally friendly option for aerial utility inspection, helping companies meet sustainability goals and reduce their environmental footprint.

The Role of UV Cameras in Detecting Corona Discharge

One of the main benefits of using drones in power line maintenance is their ability to carry specialized cameras that detect issues invisible to the naked eye. A UV corona camera is one such device, designed specifically to identify corona discharge. This phenomenon occurs when the electrical field around a conductor ionizes the surrounding air, causing visible sparks or a faint glow under UV light. Left unchecked, corona discharge can lead to insulation damage and eventually cause equipment failure.

UV corona cameras capture images of the UV light emitted during corona discharge, enabling inspectors to locate and assess areas where discharge is occurring. By using UV cameras mounted on drones, utilities can perform fast, accurate inspections across wide areas, identifying problem spots early and mitigating the risk of costly failures.

Thermal Imaging and Partial Discharge Detection

In addition to UV cameras, drones are often equipped with thermal imaging sensors that detect hotspots in electrical components. Elevated temperatures are a common indicator of issues such as faulty connections, loose hardware, or damaged insulation. Thermal imaging captures heat signatures that help identify these areas before they result in failure.

Thermal imaging can also be useful in partial discharge testing. Partial discharge is an electrical phenomenon that occurs when a localized electrical fault causes small, repeated breakdowns of insulation within an electrical component. This type of discharge is particularly dangerous, as it can degrade insulation over time and lead to complete failure if not detected early. By capturing heat variations and discharge patterns with thermal cameras, drones can provide a more comprehensive inspection that includes both visual and thermal data.

Real-World Applications of Aerial Utility Inspection

Several utility companies around the world have successfully adopted drone technology for aerial utility inspections, demonstrating the practical advantages of this approach.

Case Study 1: Enhancing Inspection Efficiency in North America

A major utility company in North America deployed drones equipped with UV and thermal cameras to inspect transmission lines across mountainous and densely forested regions. Previously, these areas were only accessible via helicopter, resulting in high costs and limited inspection frequency. With drones, the company has been able to perform more frequent inspections at a fraction of the cost. Furthermore, the addition of thermal and UV imaging has helped detect early-stage issues, such as minor corona discharge, which can now be addressed before they escalate.

Case Study 2: Improved Fault Detection in Europe

In Europe, a leading electricity provider uses drones with advanced imaging technology for aerial inspections of its extensive grid network. Previously, the company relied on manual inspections, which were time-consuming and provided limited access to certain components. Since adopting drones, the utility has identified and repaired numerous faults that would have been missed with manual inspections, including insulation issues detected through partial discharge monitoring.

The Future of Aerial Utility Inspection: AI and IoT Integration

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) with drone technology is expected to further enhance aerial utility inspection capabilities in the future. AI-powered analysis tools can process the vast amounts of data captured by drones more efficiently, identifying patterns and anomalies with greater accuracy than human inspectors. This allows companies to develop predictive maintenance models based on historical data, improving their ability to anticipate and prevent equipment failures.

Similarly, IoT integration allows real-time data transmission from drones to central monitoring systems. This capability enables on-the-spot analysis and faster decision-making, as critical information on equipment health is available instantly. Together, AI and IoT promise to make drone-based inspections an even more powerful tool for maintaining utility infrastructure.

Challenges and Considerations in Drone-Based Inspections

While drones offer numerous advantages, their deployment in utility inspection is not without challenges. For instance, regulatory restrictions on drone flights, particularly in urban or restricted airspace, can limit their use. Utility companies must work closely with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and acquire necessary permits.

Additionally, drone inspections require skilled operators who are trained in both piloting and data analysis. Companies must invest in training and certification programs for drone operators, as well as ongoing education to keep pace with technological advancements.

Finally, while drones equipped with specialized cameras such as UV and thermal imaging systems are highly effective, they represent a significant upfront investment. However, given the long-term cost savings in maintenance and the reduction in inspection-related downtime, many utilities consider this investment worthwhile.

Aerial Utility Inspection as the Future of Power Line Maintenance

Drone technology, combined with advanced imaging systems, has opened new possibilities for aerial utility inspection. By enabling safer, faster, and more comprehensive inspections, drones equipped with tools like the UV corona camera are transforming how utilities manage and maintain power line infrastructure. With the addition of partial discharge testing through thermal imaging, drones can provide an extensive dataset for evaluating the condition of high-voltage components, identifying potential risks before they result in costly repairs or outages.

As utility companies continue to invest in drone technology, the industry can look forward to more efficient maintenance processes and improved reliability of power delivery systems. The future holds exciting possibilities for further innovations, with AI and IoT integrations poised to bring drone inspections to a new level of effectiveness. By adopting these advanced technologies, utilities not only improve operational efficiency but also contribute to safer, more sustainable power systems.