#Designers Guild Outlet | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

soulofamy · 8 months ago

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22 for Z.W.E.I. x Viola for the OTP Prompt!!💜

Soft OTP Prompts

22- Write about a member of your ship giving the other a special gift.

Viola found it odd that Z.W.E.I. had been coming to sleep later and later each night as of late. Smelling of coal and iron, she could only surmise that he has been spending all his time in the forge. This worried her.

While many warriors honed their skills with their weapons to relieve stress, Z.W.E.I. preferred a more creative outlet. The forge was his escape from all the pressures of his day to day life. If he was spending so much time there now, that could only mean that there was something on his mind. But what it was, Viola was uncertain. Whenever she inquired about it, he always dismissed her concern and reassured her that everything was fine. It wasn't like Z.W.E.I. to hide things from her.

Though his eyes were tired, he seemed to be in especially high spirits one morning when he asked her to come hiking with him. The idea immediately was enticing to her. It had been a while since the two of them had been able to spend time together with no duties to their guild looming over their heads. Perhaps now she could get him to speak his mind.

The conversation they made while hiking was familiar to her. That was to say, Z.W.E.I. did most of the speaking, while Viola thoughtfully listened. His mood did not betray that there was anything he was holding back from her. For once, Viola was at a loss, unable to make sense of his recent behavior when his demeanor did not match it. Z.W.E.I. was not one for playacting either.

The two finally reached their destination. They stood on the bank of a secluded pond. The water was as clear as crystal. The waterlilies on its surface appeared to be floating on air.

"It's beautiful," Viola breathed.

"I thought you might like it," Z.W.E.I. responded with a smile. "Found it on my way back from my last assignment." He turned back to face the pond. "Just imagine what this place looks like at night."

A sly smile formed on Viola's face as she looked over at Z.W.E.I. "That sounds like an invitation to come back here with you."

Z.W.E.I. chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it is. Next time we can bring supplies and set up camp."

Viola took his hand and slipped her fingers between his. "I'd like that."

He looked down at her and smiled. "I have something for you, by the way."

Viola's eyebrows knit and she looked at him with curiosity. "For me?"

He reached into his pocket to produce a small drawstring pouch and handed it to her. It saddened her to think he would go out of his way for her. Money had always been hard to come by, even as mercenaries. The last thing she wanted was for him to struggle for her sake. Still, she was already holding the gift. She couldn't offend him now by refusing it. She delicately opened the pouch and pulled out a ring. The details were delicate and intricate, and a breathtaking pink stone sat embedded in the middle. Viola's eyes widened, then her eyebrows knit.

"Oh Zwei..." she said, her voice both thankful and apologetic.

"I saw you looking at a ring similar to that in the marketplace a while back," he began to explain. "I wanted to give you this one earlier but it turns out jewelry making takes much longer than weaponsmithing."

Viola looked up at Z.W.E.I. with raised eyebrows, inwardly relieved. "You made this?" She looked back down at it and marveled at its craftmenship. Is this why he spent so much time in the forge? Her heart fluttered when she pictured him concentrating as he carved out the designs. She splayed out her fingers and admired how effortlessly it fit her.

Z.W.E.I. looked down at her with anticipation. "Yeah. Do you...like it...?"

She looked up at him with a smile and stood on her toes to press a kiss to his jaw, then wrapped her arms around his middle. "I love it. Thank you. I will treasure it always."

Z.W.E.I.'s posture relaxed with her words and he kissed the top of her head before reciprocating her embrace. "Of course."

#ank3kur0 #ahhh my zwei/viola writing is rusty #thank you for the prompt!!#soul calibur #soulcalibur #viola #zwei #z.w.e.i.#twoviolets #fanfiction #writers on tumblr

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snailswirls · 8 days ago

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Hello people of tumblr nation, among others who were navigated here by my art accounts or friends via my pleas.

I do not use this app often, however I assure you all I come in peace! This blog is more or less a public compilation of my artwork, world building, story telling, and game design for my story, Foxgloves.

Foxgloves

The story centers around a party in the Lost Adventurer’s Guild called The Foxgloves. Their job, among other parties of the guild, is to seek out those who have gone missing in rather peculiar or risky situations across the world— for a hefty price, of course! Often they search for not just adventurers, but mercenaries, missionaries, researchers, monster hunters… virtually any occupation that may bring one to a more dangerous region.

It’s nothing new for the Foxgloves, though. This group consists of four well experienced members with various abilities and skills. However, a certain new and peculiar quest has them thrown into the deep. They are to search for a missing nobleman, as commissioned by an unknown woman, for an obscenely high price in the freezing, difficult to reach region, Northern Yula. They realize as they journey, searching for this unfamiliar nobleman, that they have stumbled into something much more sinister than they could have ever realized.

The Game

This game is being worked on independently in RPG maker MV, taking inspiration from the likes of games such as Felvidek and Fear and Hunger. (In terms of vibes. I have not played much of Fear and Hunger.) The world is high fantasy, and relatively grim. By absolutely no means is this a professional project, and will be worked as I am able to! I am still learning RPG maker, and have been working on the story and characters itself for the past five months or so. I am using this as a creative outlet and to share the collection of my work for Foxgloves!

The Party:

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kaelor0409 · 1 year ago

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Dead By Daylight

The Artist: Revised Backstory

While I like Carmina Mora (The Artist)’s design and theme, her backstory leaves a bit to be desired. Her relationship with the Entity is a departure from its usual MO as an opportunistic corruptor. It also brings in elements that, by the very nature of the game, are basically doomed to go nowhere.

More importantly, there is no need to introduce an evil corporation or sinister cult to mutilate and kill an anti-authoritarian Chilean artist. The Pinochet regime arrested, tortured, and ‘disappeared’ those sorts of people for almost two decades, with famous singer Victor Jara and many others suffering tortures very similar to what was done to Carmina. It was the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and publicize a tragedy that is often ignored or glossed over (because the United States backed Pinochet’s coup and Britain supported him for his help in the Falklands War), as well as show that sometimes the things real, ordinary humans do to each other are more terrifying than any horror monster.

So here’s an alternative backstory for our dear Artist.

Content warning: torture, suicide, and death

Carmina Mora came from a broken home. Her father was an abusive drunk, and her mother abandoned them shortly after the birth of Carmina’s younger brother Matias. Her father was quick to blame Carmina and Matias for their mother’s disappearance, though Carmina did her best to shield Matias from his abuse. Due to her father’s negligence Carmina was Matias’ only caretaker. It was a task she was far too young for, but she loved her brother with all her heart. Besides Matias, the only other joy in Carmina’s miserable home were the art supplies her mother had left behind. No one ever showed her how to draw or paint, but splashing and scribbling colors onto a page or canvas proved a useful outlet for her emotions and helped her feel close to her missing mother. Carmina could not say she was happy, but with Matias and her art she was able to find peace.

It did not last.

Carmina and Matias were playing along the bank of a nearby river when a local policeman arrived, accusing them of truancy and demanding to know where their parents were. Carmina attempted to explain, and by the time the officer had left Matias was nowhere to be seen. Carmina searched frantically and was horrified to see his limp body being slowly swept downstream. In her brief distraction, Matias had wandered out of sight, fallen into the river, and drowned. The aftermath of Matias’ death was a whirlwind of pain, grief, and guilt. Carmina blamed herself for his death. So did her father, though nothing he shouted at her could cut so deeply as what she told herself when she was alone.

In her spiral of grief, Carmina eventually walked onto the bridge over the same river that had claimed Matias. The location was extremely popular for suicides, earning the name “Death Leap”, and Carmina intended to be its next victim. Convinced she was responsible for her brother’s death, a belief her father confirmed every night with his screams and drunken blows, Carmina could no longer stand the endless guild that clawed like talons at her gut. Desperate for any kind of release, she hurled herself off the bridge to join her brother in death.

What Carmina did not know was the riverbank was also frequented by a local birdwatcher, who made a hobby of studying and sketching the birds that nested nearby. When he came to the river as he always did, he immediately noticed a group of crows circling over something on the riverbank. He was astonished, since crows are not native to Chile, so he immediately set out to investigate. He realized the birds were circling the battered body of a girl: Carmina, who had somehow survived the fall into the river and washed up on the bank.

As she recovered in a local hospital, Carmina became fascinated with the crows that had inadvertently helped save her. She returned again and again to the bank where she had washed up, bringing them food and watching them. She was often joined by the birdwatcher, and he explained that the crows were likely partially domesticated. Crows are extremely intelligent, capable of completing complex tasks for various rewards, and probably came to Chile following someone who once used to feed them. Now that she was feeding them, it seemed that they had bonded to her instead. He taught her to sketch them with charcoal, turning her love of art from a hobby into a passion. Art became an outlet for her guilt and grief, and while her drunken father still screamed she learned to ignore his words.

Carmina was soon old enough to abandon her abusive home and was almost immediately swept up in the growing Nueva Cancion (New Song) movement. Her comrades in the Nueva Cancion movement showed her the joys of songs and poetry. They supplied her with books, something that had been in short supply where she’d grown up, and Carmina greedily devoured every single one. She would later joke that her dream home would be a nest in a tall tower, surrounded by shelves upon shelves of books. Carmina soon began to write instead of merely read. Her poems were quite popular, but her primary focus was always her art. Her signature inky black style, inspired by the glossy black feathers of her crows, was very distinctive and she was a mainstay of the Chilean art scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As she lay dying on the bank of the river, her final vision had been of black wings and avian eyes, so abstract crows were a reoccurring theme she used to represent death. Her crows followed her everywhere and Carmina incorporated them into her art, making the act of creation a performance that included elaborate costumes and her ever-present crows.

Like many artists at the time, Carmina frequently used her art to criticize government corruption and expose injustice. Pushback and threats from authorities merely emboldened her. She openly vandalized the walls of government buildings, police stations, courtrooms, and monuments in her usual performative style, her shining black paint intended to reflect the darkness and corruption she felt hid behind their polished facades. These acts of defiance would soon have disastrous consequences.

When Pinochet took power in 1973 through a violent coup, he immediately targeted anyone he perceived as a threat, particularly political opponents, leftists, and “subversives”. Within two weeks 7000 prisoners were being held at the National Stadium alone, with many more held at other locations or executed on the spot.

Carmina herself was arrested mid-performance and dragged to a nearby monastery in the Atacama Desert, a monastery the regime had seized to use as a detention center. Prisoners were physically and psychologically tortured: starved, beaten, humiliated, denied sleep for days, and electrocuted, among many other horrors. The bell tower in particular was a favorite location for these torments, as it allowed the screams of the victims to echo through the entire monastery and surrounding desert as a potent psychological weapon. Prisoners were hung from its beams and left to dangle while they were beaten, burned, and whipped. Weights were often tied to their limbs, causing their bodies to agonizingly stretch until their arms and legs popped from their sockets. Some were even hung by their necks, left to slowly strangle only to be cut down at the last moment so they could be hung all over again.

Those who died from their tortures or were executed were also strung up in the bell tower, attracting flocks of carrion birds that tore at the living and dead alike. The constant presence of these birds caused the guards to begin mockingly referring to it as the Eyrie.

Carmina’s fame immediately singled her out, and in addition to the normal torments the guards mockingly demanded she paint her fellow prisoners being tortured. They refused to give her actual paint, instead forcing her to use blood, bile, and filth. Under threat of death and torture, she complied with their demands. Carmina crafting a number of abstract paintings that, despite their crude nature, still managed to convey the raw pain, sorrow, and despair of the victims in a manner that was almost palpable. The guards hung these paintings in her tiny prison cell to further mock her, something Carmina used to her advantage. She scribbled poetry on the backs of the paintings, sometimes in her own blood, then tore them into small pieces and slid them through the bars in her window along with some of the meager food she was allowed. Carmina was already starving, so to sacrifice even crumbs was a painful blow, but she soon reaped the rewards.

Her ever-present crows had followed Carmina even to the remote prison, and they immediately swooped down to consume her offerings. She’d often given them scraps of cloth or paper for their nests in the past, so they also snatched up her torn paintings and carried them away. Carmina’s friends and compatriots were familiar with her signature crows and where they nested. Those lucky enough to have escaped the initial purge soon spotted the new additions to these nests and realized Carmina was using her crows to smuggle messages out. Her paintings revealed the true horrors of the regime’s torture camps and were swiftly passed to anti-government groups throughout Chile.

Though Carmina suffered as much as any other prisoner at the cruel hands of her captors and often suffered more than others due to her fame, her guilt at seeing her friends and comrades suffer eclipsed any physical torment. In her smuggled poetry she compared her situation to being back on the bank of the river, watching her brother drown over and over and being unable to save him. As days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months, this guilt began to take a toll on Carmina’s mind.

Her artwork became more savage, and her poems took on darker and darker tones. In one, she wrote about wishing to drive the dull palette blade she’d been given for her “art” into a fellow prisoner’s eye and leaving him for the birds. The poem expressed a longing for all those around her, prisoner and guard alike, to die so that the crows would be her only company. Their dispassionate black eyes held no judgement, and though they screamed at least their screams did not fill her with guilt.

She remained defiant despite her fraying sanity, until at last her schemes were exposed. In a desperate gamble, several of Carmina’s most shocking poems and paintings were released to the public. It was hoped that the visceral evidence of what the regime was doing would spark outrage around the world, and the resulting pressure would force Pinochet to ease his grip. The attempt failed. Pinochet had powerful allies, allies who had helped him take power and had a vested interest in keeping him there. Carmina’s artwork was dismissed as false propaganda, and Carmina herself was painted as a deranged anarchist and communist. The efforts to expose the crimes of Pinochet and his regime only managed to stir up a handful of minor protests and diplomatic rebukes, which were easily ignored.

As the world turned its back on the suffering of Chile and its people, it became clear that the release of Carmina’s art had done nothing but seal her fate. Once it was revealed that she’d somehow been smuggling subversive materials to anti-government groups, retribution was swift. The guards dragged her out of her cell and hacked off her hands with machetes in front of the other prisoners, demanding to know how she would paint her pictures or scribble her poems now? She told them she would paint with her bloody stumps and speak her poems aloud every minute of every day. In response the guards cut out her tongue and threw her back into her cell to ‘paint her pictures’.

The final account of Carmina Mora comes from a prisoner who was in the process of being transferred to another facility. He was dragged past Carmina’s cell shortly after her dismemberment, and claimed he saw her there. Blood was trickling from her mouth, but her eyes were filled with madness as she dragged her raw sumps across the rough concrete wall, painting her final masterpiece even as she bled to death.

She was never seen again.

The legacy of the prison facility where Carmina was held is a confusing one. Shortly after Carmina’s mutilation, contact with the facility was lost due to a severe earthquake that knocked out electrical and phone lines in the area. The Atacama Desert is what is known as a ‘fog desert’: the majority of its moisture comes not from rain but from fogs rolling off the nearby Andes Mountains. Extreme banks of fog were not uncommon at the monastery-turned-prison, it was the primary reason the monks had been able to thrive in what is otherwise one of the driest deserts in the world, but when the fog finally cleared almost a week after the earthquake the facility was completely deserted. There were no signs of the prisoners or guards, and all of their equipment had been left behind. The last painting of Carmina Mora was discovered covering the walls of her old cell: spider-like limbs, reeking of malice and covered in sadistic barbs and blades, curling down to menace a single flickering flame of hope.

Government officials stated afterward that the facility was shut down because its location made resupply difficult. The official release claimed that the guards and prisoners were all accounted for and had merely been shuffled off to different locations. Certain local sources dispute this, pointing out that no convoys of guards or prisoners were ever spotted on the road leading from the monastery and questioning why so much expensive equipment was just abandoned if it was a planned relocation. Some claim that the official story is merely a coverup. They instead maintain that a resistance cell attacked the facility, killing the guards and freeing the prisoners. No evidence has ever surfaced to support this alternative claim.

While many of the poems Carmina Mora wrote in prison were copied down or memorized and thus survived, the same cannot be said of her artwork. They were made on scavenged paper with vile substitutes that did not last like traditional ink or paint. They were torn apart to smuggle them out of the prison, picked at by birds, and the surviving shreds had to be stored in harsh environments to hide them from the regime’s agents. The government destroyed any scraps they could find, and those that escaped soon disintegrated. The few scraps of Carmina’s prison paintings that survived were eagerly sought by those fascinated by the macabre and grotesque and have long-since vanished into private collections. Attempts by Chilean groups to recover and memorialize them have met with no success.

Carmina’s final masterpiece has also been lost. The earthquake that struck the monastery did serious damage to its foundations, and when a second earthquake hit a year later it completely collapsed the majority of the monastery. This included the cell where Carmina’s final painting was located. Chile remained in a grip of terror due to the ongoing efforts of the regime, so after the initial brief exploration no one dared venture into the abandoned site for fear that they too would be arrested. When the monastery collapsed Carmina’s painting was destroyed along with it, and the only description of the painting comes from one of the anonymous individuals who first found the site after its abandonment.

Today only the infamous “Eyrie” remains, along with the sprawling graveyard that surrounded the monastery. Many of these graves and crypts are from long before the regime’s occupation, used by the monks to bury their fellows or residents of nearby towns, but a large number of crude or unmarked graves have been discovered containing the bones of those who died in the prison. Its remote location and the sheer number of bodies interred around it gave the monastery-turned-prison a bleak new nickname: the Forsaken Boneyard.

An official effort was made to disinter the graves so the remains could be identified and sent back to their families, but the effort was plagued by bad weather, yet another earthquake, and a bloody accident that claimed the lives of two workers. These disasters eventually forced the identification effort to be called off completely. A movement to remake the site into a memorial was similarly abandoned due to the monastery’s remote location and the risk that further earthquakes might collapse what little remained.

Like many victims of the Pinochet regime’s campaign of terror, Carmina Mora’s remains were never found.

#dead by daylight #the artist #carmina mora #dbd the artist #alternative lore #chile #augusto pinochet #operation condor

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heibaicnseo · 7 days ago

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The Evolution and Impact of Online Gaming on Global Culture

Online gaming has become a dominant cultural force in the digital age. What began as a niche pastime for enthusiasts has blossomed into a massive industry with millions of players worldwide. The rise of online multiplayer games, mobile gaming, esports, and live-streaming platforms has significantly impacted not only entertainment but also social dynamics, economies, and technological innovation. This post explores the evolution of online gaming, its profound effect on global culture, and the exciting future that lies ahead.

A New Era of Socialization

Online gaming has revolutionized how people socialize, offering new ways for players to connect with friends, family, and even strangers. In the past, gaming was often a solitary activity, or at best, something done with friends in the same room. However, with the advent of the internet and the rise of multiplayer games, gaming has become an inherently social experience.

Games like World of Warcraft (2004) and League of Legends (2009) introduced large-scale multiplayer experiences that allowed players to connect from all over the world. This shift from local to global multiplayer gaming led to the formation of online communities where players could collaborate, share strategies, and build lasting relationships. Whether it’s forming guilds in MMORPGs or teaming up in battle royales like Fortnite or Apex Legends, online games have fostered a sense of community and belonging among players from diverse backgrounds.

In recent years, gaming has gone beyond simple interaction and has become a form of socialization in its own right. Platforms like Discord have provided gamers with spaces to connect outside the game itself, while services like Twitch allow players to broadcast their gameplay to a live audience, creating a dynamic social ecosystem. In this new world, gaming is not just about playing; it’s about sharing experiences, building relationships, and creating a sense of belonging.

This shift in socialization has been particularly apparent during times of social isolation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. With physical distancing measures in place, many turned to online gaming as a means to stay connected with loved ones. Virtual spaces within games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons became an outlet for socializing, attending virtual events, and even hosting online parties, proving that online gaming can transcend traditional entertainment and provide an essential social function.

The Rise of Esports and Competitive Gaming

Esports, or competitive video gaming, has emerged as one of the most significant developments in the online gaming world. What was once a small community of gamers competing for fun has evolved into a global industry, with professional leagues, sponsorships, and multimillion-dollar tournaments. Games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Overwatch, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have established themselves as pillars of the esports scene, attracting millions of viewers both online and in-person.

Esports has grown from an underground hobby to a mainstream spectacle, with major events such as The International (Dota 2’s world championship) and the League of Legends World Championship regularly drawing millions of viewers and offering prize pools in the millions of dollars. Top players have gained celebrity status, securing sponsorship deals, endorsements, and media appearances. Esports athletes, coaches, analysts, and broadcasters now represent a diverse array of professionals making a living from the competitive gaming industry.

The rise of esports has also led to the development of collegiate programs and scholarships dedicated to gaming, further solidifying its place as a legitimate sport. Universities across the globe have established esports teams and offer courses in game design, business management, and broadcasting, ensuring that future generations will continue to push the boundaries of competitive gaming.

Moreover, the growth of streaming platforms like Twitch has allowed gamers to turn their passion into a career. Content creators can now earn income through sponsorships, subscriptions, and donations from fans, establishing gaming as a viable career path for talented individuals who may not want to compete professionally. This accessibility has broadened the appeal of gaming and allowed people to build personal brands and communities.

Economic Impact and the Gaming Industry

The economic influence of online gaming cannot be overstated. The gaming industry is now worth more than $150 billion globally, surpassing even the film and music industries in terms of revenue. This economic boom has been driven by the success of mobile games, free-to-play models, and in-game purchases, which have made gaming accessible to an incredibly wide audience. In fact, mobile gaming has become the fastest-growing segment of the industry, with games like Candy Crush Saga, Pokémon GO, and Clash of Clans generating billions of dollars in revenue.

The free-to-play model, combined with microtransactions for in-game cosmetics or additional content, has allowed developers to generate continuous revenue long after a game’s initial release. Popular games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone have shown that gamers are willing to spend money on cosmetics, season passes, and battle passes that enhance their experience. This model has also allowed smaller developers to reach a global audience without relying on traditional sales.

In addition to mobile games and in-game purchases, online gaming has created an entire ecosystem of jobs, from game developers and designers to community managers and content creators. Companies like Riot Games, Epic Games, and Blizzard Entertainment employ thousands of individuals to design, maintain, and support the games that millions of people play daily. Beyond the development side, there is a growing demand for professionals in marketing, broadcasting, journalism, and esports event management.

This economic explosion has had a ripple effect on local economies as well. Major gaming events, such as the League of Legends World Championship or BlizzCon, draw thousands of fans to host cities, contributing to tourism and local businesses. The revenue generated by esports tournaments, online streams, and merchandising has transformed gaming into a legitimate economic powerhouse, with the potential for growth continuing to skyrocket.

Technological Innovations Fueled by Gaming

The online gaming industry has also played a significant role in driving technological innovation. As the demand for better graphics, faster speeds, and more immersive experiences has grown, gaming has pushed the development of cutting-edge technology.

One of the most exciting advancements is the rise of cloud gaming, which allows players to stream games directly from servers, removing the need for expensive gaming hardware. Platforms like Google Stadia, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and NVIDIA GeForce Now have made it possible for players to access high-quality games on lower-end devices, such as smartphones or laptops, as long as they have a fast internet connection. Cloud gaming could potentially democratize access to gaming, allowing individuals from different economic backgrounds to participate in the gaming experience.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies have also been significantly impacted by the gaming industry. Games like Half-Life: Alyx (2020) and Beat Saber (2018) have demonstrated the immersive potential of VR, offering players a level of interaction and immersion previously unavailable in traditional gaming. As VR technology becomes more affordable, it is expected to luxury777 login transform not only gaming but also fields like education, training, and entertainment.

In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) is being increasingly used to enhance the gaming experience. Developers use AI to create more intelligent and realistic non-playable characters (NPCs), while machine learning algorithms help optimize game performance and offer personalized experiences for players. The advancements in AI have made gaming worlds more dynamic and responsive, adding depth and realism to the digital experiences we enjoy.

The Future of Online Gaming

Looking ahead, the future of online gaming appears incredibly bright. As technology continues to advance, we can expect more immersive experiences, with the line between the virtual and physical worlds continuing to blur. The metaverse, a fully immersive, interconnected virtual universe, is already being explored by companies like Meta (formerly Facebook), who are investing heavily in virtual worlds where users can socialize, work, and play.

We may also see the continued evolution of blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which could revolutionize the way digital assets are owned and traded within games. Players could have true ownership of in-game items, skins, or even entire virtual properties, enabling a new economy within online gaming.

Cloud gaming, VR, and AR will only continue to evolve, making online gaming more accessible and interactive. The opportunities for new forms of entertainment, socialization, and even work within the gaming space seem limitless.

Conclusion

Online gaming has come a long way from its humble beginnings, transforming from a niche activity to a global cultural phenomenon. It has reshaped how we socialize, compete, and experience entertainment. As technology continues to evolve, online gaming will undoubtedly continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, creating new opportunities and experiences for players around the world. Whether through socializing with friends, watching esports tournaments, or exploring new virtual worlds, online gaming is an integral part of modern culture—and it’s just getting started.

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alwaysonelectrical · 5 months ago

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What Is Electrical Installation?

Electrical installation Newcastle is a complex process that involves the creation of electric circuits and wiring. It can be done in factories, offices, or homes. Electrical installers install new wires, fixtures, and outlets according to blueprints and codes. They also inspect and repair existing wiring.

It is now a legal requirement for landlords to get their fixed electrical installations tested and certified with an EICR report. This is an essential task for ensuring safety in your property.

Qualifications

A person seeking to become an electrician will need a certain set of qualifications. These include technical knowledge and the ability to solve problems. They must be able to read blueprints and understand electrical circuits and codes. Other requirements include physical stamina and attention to detail. Electricians are responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing electrical systems. They are also required to follow local, state and national electrical safety standards.

The Level 3 NVQ Electrotech Apprenticeship qualification is the most common and recognised route to becoming a fully qualified electrician. It requires a level 2 qualification and the completion of the City and Guilds 18th Edition Course, which is a pre-requisite for those who are not already JIB approved electricians.

The City and Guilds 2393-10 Part P Domestic Electrical Qualification is a popular choice for practising electricians, trainee electricians, and other trade professionals, including handypersons, gas engineers, plumbers, landscapers, kitchen fitters, and builders. This qualification is designed to showcase your comprehension of the latest industry regulations on wiring in dwellings and can improve your career prospects.

Experience

Electrical work requires extensive knowledge of the BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and Part P of the Building Regulations, which govern electrical safety in homes. It is also important to understand the risks involved in working with electricity and have access to appropriate protective gear, such as insulated gloves and safety goggles.

Experienced electricians can perform routine maintenance tasks and help prevent potential issues before they become a problem. This includes conducting planned maintenance, responding to breakdowns, and testing equipment to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Domestic electrical installation begins with planning the layout of outlets, switches, and lighting fixtures. This involves assessing the size of your property, determining how many outlets are needed, and identifying any special requirements like dedicated circuits for high-usage appliances. You should also consider future needs, such as the addition of smart home technology. Taking the time to plan your wiring system can reduce installation costs and ensure compliance with the code.

Safety

Keeping safety measures in mind is critical when working on electrical projects. It’s important to use proper safety equipment, including hard hats, gloves, and eye protection. It’s also a good idea to keep all non-essential devices off of shared circuits to minimise the risk of overloading. Unplugging unnecessary appliances and switches before leaving a workspace can also help to minimise fire risks.

An ECIR report is essential for residential and commercial properties, as it highlights any potential electrical safety issues. It can help you avoid costly repair bills and ensure that your property is in compliance with electrical safety regulations.

Lockout/tagout procedures are designed to prevent workers from accidentally coming into contact with energised equipment while servicing or repairing it. These procedures involve locking or tagging out equipment that’s being serviced or repaired to prevent it from accidentally being re-energised while it’s unattended. They’re essential to preventing accidents, injuries, and downtime. Having an experienced electrician by your side can help you implement these procedures effectively and safely.

Cost

Electrical wiring is a complex and potentially dangerous task that should be left to professional electricians. Although DIYers may be tempted to save money by doing the work themselves, this could cost more in the long run due to mistakes and repairs. A qualified electrician will provide a comprehensive quote itemizing all expenses, which can help homeowners to understand what they are getting for their money.

The price of a residential electrical installation is dependent on a variety of factors, including location and energy efficiency upgrades. For example, installing a smart home system requires specialised equipment and labour. However, the increased convenience and energy savings offered by these upgrades make them worth the upfront investment.

Regional differences also impact costs, as some areas may require additional permits and inspections. In addition, urban regions typically see higher prices, owing to higher demand for electricians and the higher cost of materials. This can lead to significant price variations, and homeowners should always obtain a comprehensive quote before committing to a project.

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castlebyersafterdark · 11 months ago

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yes YESSSSS don't even get me started on junkets and press! ever since s4 dropped and i got back into ST, i have been fantasising about the fancy editorials they could do with noah and finn. i'm talking vogue, i'm talking gq, esquire, even some indie mags like i-d like they used to when the show first dropped. i want to see them both together in designer clobber photographed by giampaolo sgura or some shit. i want to see a whole narrative set up, like cowboys at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, shot in black and white. or a set up in a photography studio, something including a sword prop for finn but with a modern edgy twist? like a heart painted over his chest and noah dragging his hand through it, red paint everywhere. lots of smouldering looks. you know, like back when actors actually got back into character for their editorial photo shoots, gazed into each other's eyes.

maybe its my background in set design and editorial just freaking out lol, but they have so much potential and i cant believe how cheesy the majority of ST group photoshoots have been over the years. like, i looked up something similar for the challengers movie, being all erotic as it was, and the photoshoots are soooo lacking in passion, it's a freakin crime

(i also really hope for a long junket with more serious journalists, at least an hour long, moderated by a proper news outlet or even a guild? there's just so much meaning i want to excavate, and not just about byler, but certainly a lot about the actors' experiences of that because even if it is only noah who is out, there'll be lots of interesting things to discuss there. i think the show deserves so much better than page 3 press)

Oh, you're really speaking my language now, this is such a vision. Where is the glamour in Hollywood anymore, the romance of making television and film? Selling the characters, the chemistry! Imagine all of our wildest dreams come true and Byler is well and true and established. The really in depth think-pieces could be insane. The PHOTOSHOOTS?? Lordddd, you said it all. Bring some genuine artistry to the promo of these articles instead of just some trendy off runway outfits that look odd slapped on the stars as they pose halfway between a catalog and an instagram shoot. No! Give us mood, give us drama, give us chemistry!

Cowboys at the gas station! The smeared red heart??? I'm hand to my forehead swooning over that, you have been gifted with true sight. Sure hope you're peeking into our post-season 5 landscape because. I'm impressed with these vibes. And now I'll be so disappointed if we just get gab and drab all over again for the promo.

There could be so much room for really detailed and thoughtful conversation and both Noah and Finn seem very introspective actors. I'd love for them to really be given the chance to dive into their experience and world of Stranger Things that's been so important for a decade of their lives. Ahhhh.

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bluewitchcreator · 1 year ago

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Exploring the Endless Creativity of Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts have been integral to human expression for centuries, serving as a means of creative outlet, cultural preservation, and personal enjoyment. From ancient civilizations to modern societies, individuals have engaged in various forms of artistic creation, utilizing diverse materials, techniques, and inspirations. In this article, we delve into the rich world of arts and crafts, exploring its history, significance, and enduring appeal.

The Historical Roots: The origins of arts and crafts can be traced back to prehistoric times when early humans adorned cave walls with paintings, carved figurines from stone, and crafted functional objects from natural materials. As civilizations evolved, so did the complexity and sophistication of artistic endeavors. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans left behind a legacy of intricate pottery, textiles, and architectural marvels, showcasing their mastery of artistic techniques.

Medieval Europe witnessed the rise of guilds and artisan workshops, where craftsmen honed their skills in areas such as metalwork, woodworking, and manuscript illumination. The Renaissance period ushered in a revival of interest in the arts, with artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo pushing the boundaries of creativity in painting, sculpture, and architecture.

The Arts and Crafts Movement: In the late 19th century, a reaction against industrialization and mass production of goods emerged, leading to the Arts and Crafts movement. Advocates of this movement, such as William Morris and John Ruskin, emphasized the value of handmade objects, traditional craftsmanship, and the integration of art into everyday life. Inspired by nature and medieval aesthetics, artisans created furniture, textiles, and decorative items characterized by simplicity, quality craftsmanship, and attention to detail.

Modern Interpretations: Today, the spirit of the Arts and Crafts movement lives on in various forms, from DIY projects and hobbyist pursuits to professional artisanal endeavors. With the advent of the internet and social media, individuals have unprecedented access to inspiration, tutorials, and communities of like-minded creators. Platforms such as Etsy have provided artisans with a global marketplace to showcase and sell their handmade wares, fostering a resurgence of interest in handmade and locally crafted goods.

Contemporary artists and designers continue to push the boundaries of traditional crafts, experimenting with new materials, technologies, and concepts. Mixed-media art, upcycling, and eco-friendly practices have gained prominence as artists explore innovative ways to express their creativity while promoting sustainability and social consciousness.

The Therapeutic Value: Beyond its aesthetic and commercial aspects, engaging in arts and crafts offers numerous therapeutic benefits for individuals of all ages. Creating art can serve as a form of self-expression, stress relief, and emotional healing. Whether it's painting, knitting, or pottery, the act of making something with one's hands can promote mindfulness, boost self-esteem, and foster a sense of accomplishment.

Conclusion: Arts and crafts encompass a vast and diverse array of creative pursuits, spanning cultures, periods, and artistic styles. From ancient traditions to contemporary innovations, the world of arts and crafts continues to evolve, inspiring generations of creators and enriching our lives with beauty, ingenuity, and meaning. Whether practiced as a hobby, profession, or therapeutic outlet, the enduring appeal of arts and crafts lies in its ability to ignite the imagination, celebrate cultural heritage, and connect us to the joys of creative expression.

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palaisbv · 3 years ago

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#Designers Guild Outlet #Designers Guild Canada #Designers Guild

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blucifer08 · 3 years ago

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Tell me about Naru’s time with the Weaver’s Guild in Ul’dah. Catering for the stylistic whims of Ul’Dahn society ladies must have been quite a change from her martial beginnings? Or did she stick more to crafting gear for miners and adventurers? How did she get on with Rendolent Rose?

I've been thinking about this a bit! Truly the weaver bit of her lore is just something small for me. She needed a way to make a living when she ended up in Ul'dah. It was during this time she started training with the weavers-- AND she was training with her friend Levi on the side.

Levi taught her to draw, and his artistic abilities helped inspire her when she learned to make clothes and sew. She discovered that she really likes fashion, and the creative outlet helps her cope with her wounded pride. (She got injured really badly by some Garleans, which is how she wound up in Ul'dah basically)

I think she made a lot of gear for socialite men and women, designing really good and cool clothes. But she didn't do this job that long! She took more to the art lifestyle that Levi taught her and eventually she started making more money doing portraits :)

(I don't remember the weaver quests so unfortunately I can't elaborate on her relationship about rendolent rose :( i'm sorry!)

#naru #ask #thank youuuuuu<3 #mimble ur too kind to me

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nerdasaurus1200 · 3 years ago

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Some Elsa Padare ideas/anecdotes/retcons I've come with over the last month, and some I can't remember if I have or haven't talked about on here:

Elsa and Anna's last name is Oldenburg

The Oldenburgs used to be a tribe of vikings that were fascinated by magic. That's why they made their settlement (Arrendelle) so close to the enchanted forest. They even made a prophecy regarding Elsa and Anna

Ever since she was a kid, Elsa has always been fascinated by dragons

Anna has powers too. To compliment Elsa's power of ice and snow, Anna has the power of light and warmth

Kristoff meets Elsa and Sisu on the road and escorts them into Arrendelle

I plan to actually incorporate Elsa and Anna's Northuldra heritage and address the relationship that the Natturas have with them

Honeymaren and Ryder leave the Forest with Elsa and Sisu. So does Bruni

The Spirits have always been watching over Elsa and Anna ever since they were little. Gale and Bruni were "imaginary" playmates, while Nokk and the Giants were kinda like silent guardians

Iduna and Agnarr actually did meet Elsa once when she was a child. They visited Corona to discuss an alliance treaty and the Padares let them stay in their home. Needless to say, Cass was PISSED when she realized this

Cassandra always encouraged Elsa to be expressive with her powers, to the point where she showed her the Tower cove to use as a secret outlet spot

Elsa and co. stayed for a couple months on Berk on the way to Corona, because they got in a shipwreck and Elsa broke her leg

The Riders are convinced that Bruni is a new type of dragon and Sisu is an undiscovered dragon. Hiccup calls them the Firestarter and the Water Walker

Varian was always completely convinced that Bruni was only an imaginary friend, until Elsa came home with him

Bruni rides in a little pocket in Elsa's dress

Instead of red hair, Elsa dies her hair black. She's preferred to wear it short ever since an accident with Atlas and scissors when she was little

Elsa makes and gives Anna a hat before leaving Arrendelle

Anna goes to Ahtohallan with Elsa while Sisu stays to break the dam. Show Yourself turns into a duet

While Elsa is recovering from her leg on Berk, she and Hiccup slowly start to fall in love. Sisu is shipper trash in the background the entire time

Both Anna and Elsa get dragons. Anna gets a Singetail she calls Blaze and Elsa gets a Snow Wraith she calls Snowstorm

By the time Elsa finally gets home, Corona and Arrendelle are at war

A while after Elsa returns home, Hiccup and the Riders eventually follow her to Corona and Elsa convinces Cass and Varian to set up an arranged marriage between her and Hiccup, with Berk's army as a dowry. This is mostly so Cassandra doesn't go Moon Witch on Arrendelle

Elsa sings "Let it Go" while on Berk

I'm kinda toying with the idea of Anna and Hans expecting a baby (or engaged at the very least) by the time Elsa meets Anna

Elsa's palisman is a snow hare she calls Loki

Elsa has quite a few jobs in Corona. She is an engineer, architect, fashion designer, and a nurse as well as a member of the Sorcerer's Guild

Anna and Elsa have always been able to somewhat understand animals

Over the years, Elsa made a lot of snowmen besides Olaf and Marshmallow. Others include Svensen, Jensen, Jorgen, Fjorgen, Bjoergen, Gunthar, Gunnar, Diedrich, Friedrich, and Jose

#tts #rta #tangled #tangled the series #rapunzel's tangled adventure #frozen #httyd #how to train your dragon #nerd talks #elsa padare au #elsa #anna #kristoff #bruni #varian #cassandra #hiccup haddock #hans of the southern isles #atlas

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cynical-roll · 4 years ago

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My sister bought a pop socket for her phone today, but she didn't like it so she gave it to me instead and OH MY GOD. GAME CHANGER! I'd been debating getting one for a while, and now I'm wondering why I didn't get one sooner. I have a longer/taller phone so having something to hold it with means I don't have to worry about dropping it as much, and it's really comfy to hold in either hand. I bought a stand for my phone a couple weeks ago and the base doesn't work great on slanted surfaces, but the pop socket does so double win!

Also, it works great as a stim. I've always thought having a stim would help me (I've never got any because I know people would think it weird/childish for me) because I have a lot of nervous energy and tend to fidget/play with my hands/clothes/hair etc, so the fact that it pops in and out on two levels and the top spins round is a really good outlet for me.

I redecorated it (UA high logo from My Hero Academia, if anyone doesn't know) because it's a glittery marble design, which isn't my thing, and I have so. many. ideas for more. Marvel (SHIELD logo, Spiderman, Cap's shield, Bucky's star etc.), Skyrim logo, Genshin Impact geo sigil, Fairy Tail guild tattoo, Kaneki's mask, FGO Chaldea symbol, etc. etc etc.

yes I'm a weeb, sue me and yes that's Giyu Tomioka's haori pattern on my phone case, which I also made myself. I also made an MHA phone case when I should have been doing uni work

As you can tell, it doesn't take much to amuse me

#phone #mobile phone #pop socket #mha #my hero academia #phone case #anime #why didnt i get this sooner??

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mtgbracket · 4 years ago

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Tiebreaker - Tuktuk the Explorer vs Blim, Comedic Genius

Hi folks! Today’s results included our second win, with these two red cards fetching 152 votes each in Batch 2.16. As always, I don’t vote in the daily batches just in case.

As a reminder, the format is:

- Quality of design, scored out of 10 - Power level, scored out of 5 (overpowered cards will score lower) - Flavour, scored out of 5 - Art, scored out of 5 (taking the best of multiple arts if relevant) - Place in Magic history, scored out of 5

Here we go!

Tuktuk the Explorer

Design

Tuktuk is a simple concept - an understated creature which promises a reward if you can kill him off. The reward is pretty simple - a 5/5 custom token - but the card itself leaves it open-ended how you are going to get there. Unlike some other similar cards, Tuktuk can block, so there’s an easy option for you there, although that does make the card an oddly out-of-feel defensive red card. Otherwise you can pair Tuktuk with sacrifice outlets for a nice, direct reward. He also somewhat randomly has haste, which doesn’t add a whole bunch to the design as he’s not a compelling attacker.

Overall, I am not a massive fan of this design - it’s simple but not hugely elegant or compelling. While getting a 5/5 for three mana feels like cheating, getting a 1/1 for three feels like getting cheated, and it’s not overall an enticing or exciting design.

Power level

Tuktuk is a fairly lacklustre card for a Legend, with a decent reward but no other immediate benefit. Even the token is just power and toughness. As you would expect he has a low EDHREC rank, at #1094 as a Commander and in 0% (rounded) of red decks.

Flavour

Tuktuk is a historically notably Zendikari Goblin, having gotten killed by an Eldrazi trap only to have his body replaced with rocks. This story is well told by the design, as his token is both an artifact creature and a Goblin Golem. His own flavour text, identical in all printings, provides a little bit of world building explaining what happened to Tuktuk and his subsequent impact on the clan of Goblins that took his name and followed his teachings to destroy and eat hedrons and other rocks - until he was killed by Zada, who took his teachings a little too far. The idea of a reckless Goblin adventurer getting caught up in a deadly trap is very in the spirit of the Zendikar setting.

Art

Volkan Baga’s orange and red colour palette is lovely, and there’s some nice work with the lighting that draws your attention first to Tuktuk’s face and curiously reaching hand, then across to the intriguing runed surface of the hedron. The lighting is even diegetic to the illustration, coming from the torch in Tuktuk’s other hand. There are also lots of nice touches to Tuktuk’s outfit, the background stonework, and so forth.

Seeing as the token exists only for this card, I will consider it lightly. Franz Vohwinkel’s piece seems to show Tuktuk returning from the same cave - with an orange backlight and some rocks. Some intimidated goblins crowd around his feet, showing how his experience quickly propelled him to power. Tuktuk himself is a fairly generic floating rock monster, which we’ve seen many times over, but with some neat hedron markings mixed in.

Place in Magic history

Tuktuk is the namesake of his own clan, seen on a couple of other cards such as Tuktuk Rubblefort. He appears in some stories but his card and character don’t have any other strong place.

Blim, Comedic Genius

Design

Blim is a bit of an oddball. He’s a pretty efficient flyer for his cost, with a seriously odd ability. He must donate your permanents on hitting, and then has a symmetrical trigger based on how many permanents are controlled but not owned by each player. It’s a clunky wording (necessarily so to make it work), but has some subtle touches - for example, seeing as Blim is designed for Commander Legends limited, his trigger catches each player, not just the one he hits, so that you can continue to punish people for the gifts he’s given on previous attacks even when attacking a different opponent. There’s also a nice side-effect of punishing anybody playing Mind Control effects on top of the inbuilt donation effect.

Blim is also something that many players wanted for a long while - a black-aligned card similar to Zedruu, allowing you to give away some of black’s many downside cards. Because of the power of giving away cards like Demonic Pact, he’s not as easy to use as Zedruu, but the power is still there.

Overall, we have a card that’s doing quite a lot on a technical level, but through a bit of an awkward and clunky wording.

Power level

Blim, like many of the 73 new Legends in Commander Legends, has to serve two masters - the needs of the CMR draft format, and taking a swing at the wider Commander format. Blim manages that reasonably well, unlike many of the others, by taking a unique ability to donate your permanents. This means he’s done pretty well for popularity as a new card, but more by being unique than by being overpowering - he’s currently at #493 on EDHREC as a Commander, although also in 0% (rounded) of black-red decks.

Flavour

Blim is a brand new character to CMR, and his fairly lengthy rules text means we don’t get any flavour text. He doesn’t have any other story appearances, just a couple of paragraphs in this infodump article. He’s flavoured to fit the Rakdos comedy-circus-slash-violence flavour, which has developed over the years since the original Ravnica; the guild started with no clear role in the Ravnican society, but has steadily adopted a sort of “official counter-culture” role. The name is a bit silly-sounding, if appropriate for an imp, but the design doesn’t really connect to the mechanics especially. Admittedly this is a difficult text box to find a flavour connection for, but dark / violent comedy isn’t really it.

Art

Jason A Engle’s piece certainly gets the Rakdos feel across, with a terrifying black-red fiery imp character taking up the foreground and a selection of spiky gear, chains, fabrics and more in the background - he’s clearly in the Rakdos performance line. The “comedian” aspect isn’t really made clear, and the largely flavourless text box of course can’t really be depicted either. But I am a big fan of the colours and the fade between the reddish orange at the top and the darker, almost black at the bottom. The funky body proportions of Blim, with his oversized head, is a little funny, but the horns are funky.

Place in Magic history

None to speak of.

Final verdict

Tuktuk the Explorer

Design - 5/10 Power level - 2/5 Flavour - 3/5 Art - 4/5 Place in Magic history - 3/5 TOTAL - 17/30

Blim, Comedic Genius

Design - 6/10 Power level - 3/5 Flavour - 2/5 Art - 3/5 Place in Magic history - 2/5 TOTAL - 16/30

It was close even in the scores, but by an edge I give it to Tuktuk the Explorer! He will join the Top 256 which will begin on Monday. Come back tomorrow for some stats and facts!

#mtg #magic the gathering #mtgbracket #tournamentofchampions #magic bracket tiebreaker

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southeastasianists · 5 years ago

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As one of the world’s top travel destinations, the impact of COVID-19 on the Indonesian island of Bali has received intense media scrutiny — and speculation. After foreign arrivals and transits were temporarily suspended on March 31, by mid-April most international media coverage had shifted from stranded tourists to those seeing out the pandemic in paradise.

Dozens of stories detailed luxury lockdowns and quiet beachfront retreats. After Sky News interviewed a British family spending their lockdown “watching the sunset and playing in a paddling pool,” Indonesians began to push back, including award-winning investigative journalist Febriana Firdaus who tweeted: “Can we just stop publishing stories on the matter of the tourist gaze? This is so wrong at many levels of journalism.”

With 235 confirmed cases, 121 recoveries, and four deaths at the beginning of May, Bali did not emerge as the coronavirus hotspot that contagious disease experts had predicted. Rather, it had one of the lowest fatality rates in Indonesia. At the same time, however, it has been widely reported that Indonesia has had one of the lowest per capita testing rates in the world, with Bali being no exception. As Indonesia’s total number of cases increased steadily — and the much-cited Reuters report of record high burials in Jakarta did the rounds — stories of Bali’s “mysterious immunity” caused consternation for Indonesian public health experts and journalists alike.

On May 12, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo praised Bali’s provincial government for its handling of the outbreak, attributing the “success” of containment efforts to the island’s 1,493 desa adat (traditional villages). From meting out “social sanctions” like push-ups for those who violate nationwide mandatory mask use to taskforce members in traditional masks denying entry to those attempting to access closed areas, the efforts of local authorities, both creative and standard, have been widely celebrated.

After Jokowi’s stamp of success, foreign media began focusing on Bali’s timeline for reopening, but official estimates varied. Three days after Jokowi praised the Bali government and the traditional village system, the secretary of the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani, said in a statement that the Ministry was planning to “revitalize destinations” in select parts of the country, including Bali, between June and October, while partial reopening “may begin” in October.

On the same day, the head of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association’s Badung Regency chapter, I Gusti Agung Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, told the ABC that Bali would “hopefully” reopen in July. Minister for National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa, echoed this projection on May 28, announcing that “we expect Bali will be ready to open for business soon in July.”

Predictably, dozens of media outlets jumped on the July reopening period, while others opted for far less click-worthy October. For Gustra Adnyana, co-owner of a library cafe in Ubud, the contrasting timeframes only fueled his skepticism of the reports. “It isn’t clear lately,” he said. “It makes me doubtful of the accuracy of the media.”

As the squall of articles on when tourists could return to their favorite resort island intensified, so did the severity of adjectives used to describe the impact of COVID-19 on Bali’s economy. As James Guild writes in New Mandala, “some of the more sensationalist [news items] tend to privilege the perspective of foreigners or use somewhat alarmist language to push a narrative of impending disaster.” He also notes discrepancies in reports of the percentage of tourism’s contribution to Bali’s GDP. Al Jazeera pegged it at 80 percent, while Coconuts Bali quoted the deputy chief of Bank Indonesia’s Bali office, who put it between 54 and 58 percent. The latter is in line with the Central Statistics Agency’s 2019 figure of 55 percent, which Guild cites.

“For me,” he writes, “this idea that Bali will die without tourists comes uncomfortably close to a White Savior narrative, implying that local people have no choice but to hunker down and endure this crisis until foreigners start showing up again to rescue them. Such framing strips Indonesians of their agency in rising to meet this challenge, something they are quite capable of doing and have done many times before.”

Community-led initiatives to help the nation’s most vulnerable groups withstand the pandemic — such as Donations for Transwomen Bali and Pasar Rakyat Bali — receive significant local coverage, but expat-founded charities tend to attract more international media attention. A similar sentiment was expressed by Shane Preuss in The Diplomat, who pointed out that “what the Australian media has missed is the resilience of the Indonesian people.”

He also points out that in the 2019 Legatum Prosperity Index, Indonesia ranked fifth in the world for social capital and first for civic and social participation, with the highest levels of volunteering of any country. In the 2018 Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) World Giving Index Indonesia also ranked first for frequency of donating and volunteering.

Meanwhile, Eve Tedja, an associate editor of a gourmet and lifestyle publication, believes that when it comes to local perspectives, foreign media coverage of COVID-19 in Bali is “very lacking.” She contends that “if there is more coverage about real issues as opposed to Bali’s ‘mysterious immunity,’ maybe journalism can become the motor to create the necessary change.” Tedja feels that the “only genuine voice of Balinese perspectives” is independent community-based journalism portal Bale Bengong, which “allows us to speak our often unheard and most often, reluctantly voiced, opinions.”

At the end of May, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster quashed speculation on when Bali would reopen, stating there were no plans to restart the tourist industry in the near future. As reported by Kompas, Koster has insisted his government is putting the health of the island’s population first. After a recent increase in local transmissions, bringing the total number of confirmed cases as of June 10 to 608 with 409 recoveries and five fatalities, he has reemphasized the ban on large gatherings of any kind, ordered tourist sites to remain closed, and urged residents to be more cautious.

The Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has declared that when travel restrictions are eased, Bali will be the pilot location for the Ministry’s Cleanliness, Health, and Safety (CHS) program. The program will be rolled out across the archipelago’s top travel destinations as part of Indonesian tourism’s transition to the “new normal,” although Bali’s Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha won’t be using this term. “In the context of Bali, I don’t call it the new normal, I call it the new era of Bali, which will change the paradigm of tourism in the future,” he said during the Indonesia Tourism Forum teleconference on May 15.

So what do Balinese want their island’s “new era” to look like?

Many are concerned about environmental sustainability and preserving the natural beauty of their island, which, prior to the pandemic, drew increased volumes of tourists annually. In 2019, international arrivals grew 3.6 percent from the previous year to 6.3 million, according to the Central Statistics Agency’s Bali office.

Putu Evie, a dancer, dance teacher, and member of Trash Hero Indonesia, believes the CHS program’s hygiene and sanitation protocols will need to address the issue of waste and single-use packaging. “The public still believes single-use plastic is the answer to maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, so there must be a change in mindset first. Whether we want to or not, with this pandemic, we must learn to confront this problem.”

Although the island has long suffered from alarming amounts of plastic waste on land and in its seas and waterways, confronting the crisis has only become a major government focus in the last two years, according to Andre Dananjaya, a co-producer of Pulau Plastik, a collaborative campaign tackling single-use plastic in Indonesia.

Environmental preservation is also a priority for Ayu Gayatri Kresna, a traditional chef in Bengkala Village, North Bali. She feels that the island “needs to consider returning to quality tourism, where guests appreciate and participate in preserving the sustainability of nature, culture, and traditions.”

Cultural tourism should be one of the foundations of Bali’s new era, says Jero Mangku Istri Alas Arum, who was ordained as a Hindu priest at the age of eight in Batur, northeast Bali. “There is a cultural and spiritual sanctity that we must maintain in Bali. When this is protected, tourism will be sustainable.”

Ida Bagus A. Gangga, a member of the Desa Adat Dawan COVID-19 taskforce in Klungkung on the island’s southeast coast, believes there should be equal focus on the health and safety of the population as there is on the environment. Similarly, I Gusti Krishna Aditama, who works for a national character-building association, says “the environmental aspect needs close attention, because this is where we work and live. If the environment is destroyed, where will we live?”

In a similar vein, hotelier Bagus Ari Saputra asks, “Do we want Bali to essentially be a playground, or theme park, where people from the outside come in and have fun in a plastic space designed for their entertainment, or do we want it to be something that serves the people who live here, who in the end are responsible for managing the development on the island and the preservation of its culture and natural resources?” Bagus admits, however, that “in the end, money talks, and custom decides which places proliferate or prosper, so it will always be a dance between local landowners, developers, and business owners on the one hand, and the tourists who come here on the other.”

Wulan Saraswati, an author and Indonesian language teacher for international students, believes “we need to stop looking at Bali only as a source of foreign exchange, as if Bali only comes from foreigners who bring money. Why don’t we also look at the other potential that lies within Bali itself?”

After the massive decline in tourism caused by COVID-19, which many say is worse than the downturn after the 2002 Bali bombings and the 2017 Mount Agung volcanic eruptions combined, Koster has declared that developing other sectors of the economy, such as agricultural exports, will now be a government priority.

This is welcome news for 24-year-old specialty coffee farmer and processor I Kadek Ari Darsana in Pelaga, Central Bali, who has also worked as a tour guide. “For young Balinese who are worried about the stability of a career in tourism, I think farming is an answer.” Ayu Sudana, also a young specialty coffee farmer and processor, shares his optimism: “Coffee is a great option as no matter what happens in the world, people will still drink coffee.”

As the island’s tourism industry remains dormant, I Made Ady Wirawan, head of Udayana University’s School of Public Health, notes the most likely tourists will be Balinese themselves. “This is a good time for Bali to prepare itself.”

When the island does reopen, he urges that “the new era or new normal must be in parallel with government efforts to increase capacity in testing, treating, tracing, and isolating cases.”

#indonesia #bali #tourism #coronavirus #covid-19

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