#Facial aesthetics South West

[alisondentaldesign]

Rediscover Radiance: Exploring Dermal Fillers at Skin South West in Exeter

In the heart of Exeter, where history intertwines with modernity, lies a sanctuary dedicated to enhancing natural beauty and restoring youthful vitality – Skin South West. Within the walls of this esteemed aesthetic clinic, a team of skilled professionals is committed to helping clients achieve their aesthetic goals through advanced treatments and personalized care. If you're looking to rejuvenate your appearance and enhance your features with confidence and precision, your journey to radiant skin begins here with dermal fillers.

Understanding Dermal Fillers: A Gateway to Youthful Beauty

Dermal fillers have revolutionized the field of aesthetic medicine, offering a safe, effective, and minimally invasive solution for addressing common signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and lost volume. Composed of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body, dermal fillers work by replenishing lost volume, smoothing wrinkles, and enhancing facial contours to create a youthful, refreshed appearance.

At Skin South West, the team of experts understands the transformative power of dermal fillers and is dedicated to delivering natural-looking results that enhance each client's unique beauty. Whether you're looking to plump up thin lips, soften deep lines and folds, or restore volume to sunken cheeks, dermal fillers offer a versatile solution tailored to your individual needs and desired outcome.

The Artistry of Dermal Filler Treatment

Dermal filler treatment is as much an art as it is a science, and at Skin South West, the clinicians approach each procedure with precision, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. During your consultation, the aesthetic practitioner will take the time to understand your aesthetic goals, assess your facial anatomy, and develop a customized treatment plan designed to achieve natural-looking results that complement your unique features.

Using the latest techniques and advanced injection methods, the practitioner will carefully administer the dermal filler into targeted areas of the face, gently sculpting and refining contours to achieve a harmonious balance and youthful radiance. Whether you're seeking subtle enhancement or more dramatic rejuvenation, you can trust that you're in skilled hands at Skin South West.

Benefits Beyond Beauty: Confidence, Self-Esteem, and Empowerment

Beyond the physical enhancements, the benefits of dermal filler treatment extend to the realm of confidence, self-esteem, and empowerment. A refreshed, rejuvenated appearance can have a profound impact on how you feel about yourself, boosting confidence and instilling a newfound sense of self-assurance that radiates from within.

At Skin South West, the team understands the emotional significance of aesthetic treatments and is committed to providing a supportive, welcoming environment where clients feel empowered to embrace their beauty and live life with confidence and vitality.

Experience the Difference at Skin South West

In Exeter, where the beauty of the countryside meets the vibrancy of city life, Skin South West stands as a beacon of excellence in aesthetic medicine. If you're ready to rediscover radiance and unlock your full potential, schedule a consultation at Skin South West today. Discover the transformative power of dermal fillers and embark on a journey to a more confident, youthful you.

Skin Southwest

Sommerville House

30 Southernhay East,

Exeter,

Devon,

EX1 1NS

Enquiries@skinsouthwest.co.uk

0139292570

07544965213

[cirusthecitrus]

People of the Galactic Horde (the OGs)

Since I'm working on a Horde Prime origin story, it was inevitable that one day I would have to come up with designs for his species aka the original spacebats. And well, it was a fun challenge!

(click/tap to have a better look!) My first attempt at drawing other bats was with the High Priests of the Four Temples - the most influential and powerful people on the planet, also known as Anillis'/Prime's teachers :)

See that last guy? That's the emperor of the original Galactic Horde! Though after his unexpected early death his wife had to become the new Prime. Gladly, Horde World was not left without a future heir to the throne^^

Fun thing is, I never planned on making designs for Anillis' parents, since they never appear in the actual story + even the twins don't remember what they looked like. But idc making fanparents is fun! (In my vision Horde Prime inherited the death stare from his mother and the sly misleading smile from his father >:} )

(I talk more about the characters and worldbuliding in my fic "Violent Youth". U can find the link in my pinned post)

I also had to design tons, and I mean tons of episodic characters of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Now after all this training I'm ready to fill the backgrounds with bats :3

Some general notes on the people of the Horde under the cut

Every spacebat is born with a white face. Any deviations were rare and considered a type of skin condition

Facial markings slowly appear once baby bats hit puberty. When spacebats' white faces were seen as blank canvases, the facial markings were their life journey drawn on said canvases. The markings were seen as the real window to the soul. Having no marks as an adult was simply outlandish, people of Krytis even had a belief that such bats "had nothing behind their soul" and thus could not be trustworthy

Facial markings (as well as ears) came in many forms. In ancient times one could tell in which of the four original provinces a person was born by simply looking at their faces. Nowadays it became nearly impossible to guess someone's homeland this way (mostly everyone are people of mixed descent), but to those curious this is how bats used to distinguish one another by their markings:

North - straight lines across/all over the face (e.g. the emperor)

South - wavy lines across/all over the face e.g. (the High Priestess of the Southern temple)

West - straight minimalistic lines (e.g. horde clones)

East - wavy minimalistic lines (e.g. the empress)

Hair never held much cultural significance on Krytis, so the styling was only a question of one's personal preference and fashion trends. Some bats (mainly from the south) saw no point in having hair whatsoever - those would choose to go bald or shave parts of the head to better show off their markings

Everyone had one set of eyes. Only local deities were sometimes depicted having 3 and more eyes. And yes, their eyes and teeth do glow in the dark

I wanted to make colorful bats to futher emphasise their whimsical and peaceful nature :) Well, if u think about it many poisonous creatures are colorful too...

I wouldn't be myself if I didn't say anything about local fashion. I don't have my own concepts at hand sadly, just references, but my main inspiration for the fashion of Krytis are late 90s-early 00s futurism and cyber aesthetic. Here and there u will also see smth similar to mall goth or streetwear style, but it's mostly something what young blood were into

Some bats like the royal family and council members would wear more classy and regal clothes but still more or less modern looking. Such choice of attire was espeically important to the empress, who, unlike her late husband, stayed far away from religion and magic and made it the main goal of her campaign to weaken the influence of the religious community and push for scientific and socio-cultural progress

If you have any questions about the people of the Horde/Krytis, feel free to ask! I'm always happy to talk more about this AU!

[feeshies]

i hesitated to make this post bc it's a vague frustration instead of calling people out directly, but it's been bubbling up inside of me for a while and no single person was the catalyst. also it's my blog. i get to vent.

i get annoyed when some people in trans spaces (including transfemme spaces, even though i can't speak to that directly) claim that (east) asians have an "easier" time being trans because our "natural androgynous" appearances make it easier to "pass"

i added "east", but you know these people don't lol. they just say "asians" as if south asians, southeast asians, west asians, and central asians all look like k-pop idols.

even most east asians don't look like k-pop idols??? the korean men in my family have broad shoulders and square jaws. the koreans i know show way more variety than you could get from a white person's gender envy pinterest board.

this sentiment only holds an ounce of water if you believe that the trans struggle begins and ends at "passing". why don't you talk to trans poc instead of reducing them to an aesthetic.

not everyone wants to be androgynous??? i certainly agonized over my inability to grow decent facial hair.

so much of (east) asian existence in trans spaces is boiled down to aesthetics. it's anime, k-pop, advertisements, our skin, our features, our bodies. it's like people are window-shopping for our culture without bothering to come inside and chat with the owners.

don't get me wrong, i've definitely used my heritage to my advantage. one time someone tried to justify getting my gender wrong because i'm "small with effeminate features", and i played dumb and responded with "well...my family is korean, is that what you're talking about?" and they got so uncomfortable and it was amazing. i dominated that interaction and i don't feel sorry.

but it's a shitty and alienating feeling. and this is coming from someone who isn't always immediately identifiable as east asian. i can easily pass as other groups or just "spicy white" if i need to, but it's a different story when i see how some white people in trans spaces talk about my heritage.

(also i'm obviously not going to go there, but i've seen some black transmascs talk about not being able to ask for advice regarding looking more masculine, because white people will tell them that they already look masculine. again, not my place to speak, but i feel like it's at least related to the same problem and how race is tied to gender in white-centric spaces).

[near-los-angeles-ca-blog]

Near Los Angeles CA

Getting The Lip Implants Denver Beverly Hills CA

Lip fillers Los Angeles is a common keyword search for women but do you know that men are also obsessed with it? Sexy lips should not just be exclusive for the ladies. Men like to have sharply defined lips too to boost their confidence. If you are looking for lip fillers near me, you may encounter Skinsation Los Angeles. This is a medical spa that offers simple to complicated procedures. For their lip fillers, they use water-based products like Restylane, Kysse, and Juvederm. They are also popular for people looking for the best facial spa near me, those who want microneedling Los Angeles, and botox Los Angeles.

Things to do

There should be no dull day if you are in Los Angeles. As the entertainment capital of California, you will never run out of activities to enjoy with your entire family. But of course, your list depends on how much time you have and how much money you want to spend. Most visitors include a day or two for Universal Studio and Disneyland. Just prepare a more generous budget since tickets, food, and shopping can be a little expensive here. For those who want to enjoy the city for free, check out the Griffith Observatory and drop by Santa Monica Pier. These two places will give you a bird’s eye view of the entire city without the need to spend a single dollar.

Skin Tightening, Botox and Lip Fillers by Skinsation LA

Finding the best facial spa near me is a must if you want to get the most from your money. It is a fact that facial spa in LA is not very cheap. Thus, you need to make sure that you deal with clinics with highly competent staffs to get your money’s worth. When looking for facial Los Angeles, you must also consider whether they use the latest technology. The cosmetic industry is fast revolving and definitely, you do not want to end up with a clinic that has been stuck for years. Skinsation LA uses the latest beauty treatments and cutting-edge technology to deal with our skin imperfections. They do lip fillers Los Angeles, microneedling Los Angeles, botox, and other aesthetic procedures to keep you looking younger and fresher.

Small Earthquake Rattles Southland

The quake was centered 2.5 miles north-northwest of El Segundo and 2.6miles west-southwest of Inglewood. On the USGS website, residents reported feeling the quake in an areacovering the bulk of the westside, as far south as Rancho Palos Verdes, northto the area of North Hollywood and stretching from Santa Monica to East LosAngeles. Read more here

While the 3.4 magnitude earthquake in West Los Angeles and South Bay did not cause damage and no one was injured, earthquake is still one of the scariest natural disasters. We always remember the January 17, 1994 earthquake that rocked Los Angeles causing billions of damages and killing 54 individuals. This is one of the most damaging in the US history. The 6.7 magnitude quake happened 4:31 am and good thing that most people are in their homes. Even with the collapse of a mall and damage of bridges, very few people got injured because people are sleeping in the comfort of their homes. If this happened in broad daylight, the casualties could have been higher.

Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA

Your Los Angeles trip will never be complete unless you go to the Universal Studios Hollywood. Dubbed as the “Entertainment Capital of LA”, this theme park is one of the highly visited attractions in the city. Initially, it was established only to offer a tour for visitors to appreciate the universal studio setting but later on the management added a theme park as its major attraction. During your visit, expect to see universal characters roaming around the park grounds like the Minions and Kung Fu Panda. You should also be ready to get an adrenalin rush from their famous roller coaster rides and attractions based from other Universal Studio characters.

Link to map

Driving Direction

19 min (7.9 miles)

via N Highland Ave

Best route now due to traffic conditions

Universal Studios Hollywood

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, United States

Head north on Universal Studios Blvd

Pass by LA Fitness (on the left in 0.3 mi)

2 min (0.3 mi)

Continue on Cahuenga Blvd. Take N Highland Ave and Beverly Blvd to S San Vicente Blvd

25 min (7.5 mi)

Turn right onto S San Vicente Blvd

13 s (213 ft)

Skin Tightening, Botox and Lip Fillers by Skinsation LA

6310 San Vicente Blvd Suite 325

[fymonsta-x]

[ARTICLE] Men In Makeup: Korean Male Celebrities Are Changing The Perception Of Male Beauty

We often see girl groups and top South Korean actresses front beauty campaigns such as BLACKPINK's Jennie for Hera and Song Hye-kyo for Sulwhasoo. But equally influential are the male idols and actors who have fronted beauty campaigns and become ambassadors for beauty brands.

In South Korea especially, it is not uncommon to see well-groomed men sporting natural makeup on the daily, and to see male idols speak openly about their own beauty regime, from skincare to makeup. Now, we are seeing this trend spread to the West where some of the biggest beauty brands have appointed male Korean stars to front their own beauty campaigns to a global audience.

According to a CNN report, about three quarters of South Korean men undertake a beauty or grooming treatment (from salon hair treatments to at-home facials) at least once a week and the number increases dramatically if we reduce the sample size to males born after the year 2000. They consider these beauty regimes part of grooming and maintaining a clean appearance.

A major contributor to this is, of course, K-pop, where stars perform with a full face of makeup, complete with eyeshadow and lip colour.

While initially this was to prevent male stars from looking "washed out" on camera, it eventually transformed into an aesthetic that is synonymous with the K-pop image.

Today, we're looking at some the pretty boys who not only deliver incredible visuals to beauty campaigns but also breaking male stereotypes on a global scale.

MONSTA X FOR TONY MOLY

Last year, K-pop boy group MONSTA X was announced to be the face of K-beauty road-shop brand, TONYMOLY. In their first commercial with the brand, the seven-member group showed a different, more adorable side of themselves to the audience.

MONSTA X is often synonymous with powerful and masculine performances. So, it was refreshing to see these handsome men not just pose with the product, but actually apply them to their lips to show how they would wear it.

Full article on eonline.com

[mimzy-writing-online]

Writing Blind or Visually Impaired Characters: Narrative

Before I get started, I want to refer you back to part one of this post which covers how to craft your blind character. The reason for this referral is because it involves determining what caused your character to go blind and what they see themselves. What your blind or visually impaired character is capable of seeing is crazy important to what kind of narrative you’re using.

Link to the Master Post: https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/185122795699/writing-a-blind-or-visually-impaired-character

Link to Part One, Crafting your Character: https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/185123396964/writing-a-blind-or-visually-impaired-character

Every post I make about writing blind characters, both now and future, will be tagged #blindcharacter on my blog. Follow this blog for more writing advice.

Disclaimer: I have been visually impaired for the last two years of my life, and I have written with two blind characters, using specifically their first person POV, so this is really getting into my experience there. This will also involve some real life experience and memories that I, a visually impaired person, have.

Narrative Choice

If your character is the main character than you have to make the choice between writing in first person and writing in third person. If you character is a secondary character or a background character, narrative choice won’t be as important, but you still need to be aware of what they can see in a particular moment and scene because it will affect how they act in that moment.

First Person

I personally think writing a blind character in first person is always the ideal. This allows your readers to inhabit the character and see what they see, or don’t see. Readers want to temporarily experience someone else’s life, and if they’re reading a story with a blind main character then they want to experience that person’s life fully.

There are drawbacks. You have to work in terms of what your character can and cannot perceive. That can make scene description hard (I will include tips for that down below) and it can be easy to slip up and forget that your character shouldn’t be able to see the color of someone’s eye, their smile, a passing street sign, the color of a gifted scarf. You have to learn to work inside their limits. If there are places you mess up and accidentally write them perceiving too much with their sight, then all you need to do is edit.

Again, there will be narrative tips for first person down below.

Third Person

The drawback to third person is the inability to inhabit the life of your character. It’s much easier to slip up and include things your character shouldn’t be able to see. Your readers will probably forget how blind your character is if they read pages and pages with great visual description and then be surprised when your character verbally remarks that they didn’t see X and Y and Z. You still have to work with what your character can realistically see and it’s much easier to forget if you’re watching their life from a bird’s eye view instead of through their eyes.

Third person is something I would recommend if it is your preferred writing style and you struggle with first person. I would still recommend at least trying first person before you nix the idea.

Again, narrative choice isn’t as crucial if your blind character isn’t your main character.

Describing the Visual World through your Blind Character in First Person

This is where thoroughly visualizing what your character can and cannot see because hugely important. Even if your character only has light and shadow perception left, there are plenty of ways to give visuals to your character’s world.

Some of this might even sound like cheating.

Depending on how old your character was when they went blind, they may still remember what it was like to have sight. Yes, this sounds like cheating, but it’s very possible that your character might remember what their home, neighborhood, friends, and family look like. However they may eventually forget and that depends largely on time. I’m jumping back to Molly Burke real quick. 

Her YouTube channel here (since it’s the first mention of her in this specific part of the post): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwf9TcLyS5KDoLRLjke41Hg

Molly lost most of her vision when she was 14, but before that she did see colors and nature and what her family looked like (she was always legally blind though, since birth) but Molly is 25 now and it’s been ten years now since she lost the rest of her vision. She doesn’t remember what colors look like or what certain animals look like now because she hasn’t seen them in 10 years. She knows which colors look nice together, but that’s from years of social learning, people saying what colors they think look good together and which colors clash. So if it’s been a long time since your character lost their vision, or if they moved away from the town they grew up in, they probably don’t have any visual memory to use.

Your readers will create their own scenery automatically. They already do with sighted narrators. No matter how thoroughly you describe a room or a house or a beach they will always see it with their mind, and their mind will always use the things they know to see. (I personally use layouts of houses I’ve been to before when reading a book with a character who lives in a house, and same with apartments that I’ve been in, and my mind’s picture is never identical to the writer’s but that can’t be helped.)

So your readers know what a suburban neighborhood looks like. They know what a beach looks like, or a forest, or a meadow of flowers, or a late fall afternoon looks like. They know what schools, hospitals, department stores, and restaurants look like. Their brains will automatically fill in the narrative gaps with the details that belong there, you just have to tell them where they are, or where the character understands themselves to be.

A trick for triggering the right mental picture in just a few words: Use location, mood, time of day, how crowded it is, and aesthetic. A quiet and peaceful beach versus a crowded beach littered with trash. Two different settings, but described in only a few words. A modern, busy coffee shop versus a relaxed hipster coffee shop. Loud nightclub? Smokey jazz lounge? Dark dive bar? Dingy public bathroom? Clean, modern bathroom? They all invoke different images in your head based on past experiences you’ve had but I only used a few words for each location.

Unless you’re like me and have absolutely no experience with nightclubs and have no idea what they’re like because you’re not about that life, so whatever you picture is based off Oliver Queen’s bar on Arrow because you’ve seen enough clips of it.

Things your character will always know (unless in special circumstance)

-Location (unless they were kidnapped or blacked out and woke up somewhere new, in which case you get to decide how they figure out where they are)

-Time of day (unless drugged or just particularly awful with time keeping like me)

-North, East, South, West (blind people are better at this than sighted people actually. They teach themselves to be so they don’t get lost.)

-Season and climate they live in

-If where they are is crowded or deserted or somewhat populated, and if the current amount of people is odd for this particular location and time.

That is enough to get a setting started, but then you add in non-sight sensory details.

Your character’s other senses can pick up the other details.

They’ll hear the leaves crunching under their feet and scraping against the pavement as they move their cane, hear the traffic or the kids playing in the park or the footsteps behind them on a quiet street or the skateboards whizzing past. They’ll feel the sand under their fingers, the soft sink of grass under their sneakers, slippery mud, the cracked pavement or the bumpy asphalt under their cane, or the peeled paint on the wall chipping under their nails, or sticky syrup on the table they didn’t see before they put their hand there. They’ll feel the sun on their cheeks. They’ll feel the chill of the wind. They’ll smell the food in the restaurant they’re visiting, or smell the pinesol floor cleaner, or the smelly dumpster they’re passing, or the wet dirt after rain. (When I walk outside I usually can smell the wet dirt before I see the wet puddles on the ground) Their senses can add details their eyes never could.

As a writer in general, you need to get use to using all five senses when writing, but consider this the extra mile where you use them to compensate for the lack of visual description.

Describing Conversations without Sight

That sounds like a contradiction, but there’s a lot more sight involved in a conversation than you think. Somewhere between 60 and 90% of communication is non verbal (I’ve heard multiple versions of this statistic and I can’t be bothered to look it up again myself)

This means what your characters are saying isn’t the only information you’re getting. Sighted people can use body posture and facial expression to get a feeling on someone’s mood during a conversation. A frown or a smile, crossed arms, sharp and agitated arm gestures or flowing and light arm gestures. Rolled eyes, annoyed looks, shared glances, funny faces, all of it. In some cases your blind character might see the smile or the body posture, if they have enough sight to allow for that, but if they don’t?

Your character doesn’t know who’s smiling or frowning, or what their friends look like when they do those things. Shared glances aren’t possible and your character won’t notice their friend rolling their eyes.

(Not unless their specific amount of vision allows them to sometimes see these facial expressions, such as when they’re very close and the lighting is good)

Your character is using vocal tone and word choice to find the emotion of the speaker. Fast talking implies urgency or excitement. Broken sentences or stuttering implies anxiety, shyness, guilt, lying, agitation. Calm tones, slow talking, and light laughter implies easy conversation with no tension. Mispronounced words or slurred words imply drunkenness, exhaustion, or injury.

Friends and Family Sometimes Fill in the Details You Don’t See

This is personal experience I’m writing from. It’s very common for my friends and family to point visual details out for me when I’m out and about, especially if they’re details I would care about seeing or that would make me happy to know, and these are all real things they’ve mentioned to me.

“There’s an orange cat on that roof.” “There’s a really nice garden over there, lots of roses.” “There’re two kids outside playing with light sabers.” “There are parrots in the trees above us.” “There’s a street performer across the street.” “There’s another person walking by with a cane twenty feet away from you.” (This happened yesterday before my last class of the semester, so fresh memory) “Oh, there are pride flags hanging from that building.” (that was last summer on a drive through a nearby town during June, and I was very happy about it)

Or mentioning things that might be a hazard for me- “There’s a big crowd coming up.” “We’re walking into the parking lot now” “There are some orange cones ahead” “There’s a nearby ladder, walk to your right.” “There are some skateboarders coming towards us.”

Or mentioning social things of interest- “That person is checking you out.” (flirting) “That person is staring at you.” (rude) “There’s a cute guy/girl over there.” “Friend A does not look like they’re enjoying talking to friend B.” or “Friends A and C are dancing/smoking outside/laughing/staring at their phones.” Anything really.

Sometimes it’s things that are inappropriate and rude and judgey, but trust me when I say that people will tell you about it when you can’t see it. “Wow, that girl’s outfit is terrible.” or “Wow her roots are bad.” or “That dude looks like he hasn’t shaved and showered in a month.” or “I don’t like this tattoos.” or “He looks like a troll.” If your blind character has a companion who’s especially judgey, these might be things they say.

Identifying Other People in a Conversation

Here’s an important question. Does your character see enough to identify someone by their face or body or walking style? No? Here’s what you need-

If a good friend or a nice classmate walks up to your character, they should say, “Hey Matt, it’s Kara” or introduce themselves somehow so that your character knows who they’re talking to, and then the conversation starts.

If you’re going to tell me that your character recognizes everyone by the sound of their voice, I’m going to tell you that you’re wrong.

Humans aren’t capable of producing super unique vocal tones and ranges that set them apart from the other 7 billion here, and humans, (even the super powered blind people I’m going to tell you to avoid writing in part three) even blind humans are not capable of recognizing everyone’s voice.

Your character might recognize a specific voice if its- 

1) Their parents or their siblings or their best friends or their teachers, maybe. I can’t pick my mom’s voice out in a crowd, so obviously that’s not a guarantee 

2) They might recognize someone if they have a recognizable accent that few other people in your character’s life have. American friend in the U.K. or a Russian classmate in America with an accent.

3) That person has an exceptionally high or low voice that really stands out. Not likely though.

If they do recognize that person, they probably only recognize them in context. I recognize teacher’s voices if I’m in the specific part of campus I normally see them in. I recognize some -some- of my classmate’s voices if I’m physically in that class, but I’d never pick them out of a voice line up on a different side of campus. I recognize actors voices if I’m watching TV (actually, it’s more that I recognize dialogue of movies and tv shows I’ve watched before and remember who played what part)

In certain circumstances, yes, maybe your character would recognize someone’s voice. Please use the “Hi Matt, it’s Kara, have you finished the homework yet?” method because it’s so much more reliable and I would love it it the people who read your works learn to start introducing themselves that way to their blind friends.

Obviously, not all of your characters will know to introduce themselves to you this way, or may forget, but hopefully your blind character has taught their friends well enough to do that.

I will leave that as Part Two. It’s been five hours since I started this project and it’s way past midnight. Feel free to leave me asks about writing blind characters. I will always be happy to answer your asks.

Follow this blog for more writing advice (and not just for blind characters)

[kyndaris]

Formosa, the Beautiful Island

Taiwan, or the Republic of China, is only recognised by a few countries as its own sovereign state. To most, it is seen as a rebellious territory of the People’s Republic of China. No wonder then that when I told my work colleagues, some were of the opinion that I was venturing into the very epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak. At the time of travel, Taiwan’s reported numbers were quite low. During the week I stayed, it reached to the mid-twenties. A far-cry to some of the more major outbreaks in countries such as South Korea.

Unlike Australia, though, the entire populace seemed incredibly paranoid about contracting the virus. The streets of Taipei had masks everywhere. People were encouraged to practice good hygiene. When entering hotels, thermometers were aimed at foreheads to ensure those staying were not sporting fevers. For this blogger, it felt both excessive and oppressive.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. It was the 15th of February and our flight to Taiwan was slated to be one of the last few flying out for the day. My mother and I had spent much of the Saturday completing chores and packing the remaining items we needed for our trip.

It was seven when my cousin appeared at the door to take us to the international terminal of Sydney Airport. Checking in proved to be a simple affair, although I discovered that China Air was one of the only queues where a vast majority of individuals were sporting facial masks. I wanted to tell them to remove them as were departing Australia. At the time, there had only been about 15 reported cases across the nation and several had already recovered. According to the Department of Health, there was no need for the public to be donning anything. When my mother joked about it, I grumbled about the whole situation until we had passed through security.

As we waited for our flight, my mother decided thought to take advantage of her status as a holder of an American Express card. Despite the fact that the lounge was in the opposite direction of our gate, we made our way to the exclusive lounge. To my utter dismay, I was mistaken for the housekeeper by one of the other guests. I would not be lying to say that I felt a little outraged that such a mistake was made. Yes, I’m of Asian descent but that doesn’t mean I’m automatically the help. But who knows. Maybe the man would have asked the same question if I was of Caucasian appearance. Who knows. At the time, I was filled with indignant outrage at the thought that I had been racially profiled. Instead of challenging the man, however, I merely answered with a simple ‘no’ as I made my way to the restroom. 

On the plane, there was a sea of masks. Bowing to the pressure, my mother and I slid on our masks. I didn’t think it was very likely that we would be contracting COVID-19 but even the flight attendants were sporting protective facial masks.

A long eight to nine hours had us finally land in Taoyuan Airport at four in the morning. Mask still in place, we disembarked and made our way through Taiwan quarantine and customs. Just like Australia, Taiwan also had several restrictions on individuals carrying passports from the People’s Republic of China. We were also made to complete and sign a declaration in relation to COVID-19 that threatened a hefty fine if it was discovered that we had lied.

Luggage in hand, it was a long wait for our ride to the Orchard Hotel that we would be staying in for the night. Unable to check in, however, due to the fact that it was not even noon, my mother thought it best to take advantage of the day and squeeze in a little sight-seeing despite the inclement weather.

With the aid of our driver, we arrived in Taipei City at eleven. With our trusty map in hand, we wandered the streets - taking in the sights and sounds of the west side of the city. From Ximending, we stopped first at the Red House as well as a small temple that we could enter via the street. After stopping for lunch, with my mum purchasing a set of beauty masks for the area around the eyes, we visited the back entrance of the Presidential Office.

All in all, it was a fairly quick tour of the immediate area where we had been dropped off. As it was also a Sunday, not many stores were open. And still exhausted by our early start, I was able to quite easily persuade my mother that it was best to head back to our hotel. After all, it was three in the afternoon. Surely, we could check in now?

An express Taipei Main Station had us return to the airport. It was followed by a short taxi ride. Within the hour, we were safely ensconced in our rooms and finally able to rest.

The 17th of February started early as well. With a proper breakfast in our stomachs, our tour began in earnest in Jiufen. It was with mild surprise that I greeted the massive coach that had been prepared. Considering the threat of COVID-19, what had once been a group of roughly thirty had swindled down to seven. Unfortunately, three Canadians had not been able to make their flight. Beyond my mother and I, only another mother-daughter duo joined us. Yes. That’s right. We had a tour group of FOUR. That’s right. You read it correctly. Four. F-O-U-R. 

How they were expected to make any profit was a mystery to me. But I’m glad that they decided to continue, even with such small numbers.

A few hasty introductions later, our tour guide going by the name of Jason, provided us an overview of Taiwan and its rich history. Jiufen, the place that he was taking us, was one such place that exemplified its complicated history as a territory that had once belonged to Japan before it was ceded back to China after the Second World War. Located quite close to Taipei, Jiufen is situated atop a winding mountain path that makes it very difficult to navigate with a huge coach. Taiwan, in general, uses scooters more than cars for transportation and it was clear from the narrow alleyways that it is almost a necessity. Just before we reached the car park that was next to the cemetery, our tour guide also provided us with some additional history about the place: from how it got its name to why so many Japanese tourists visited it. 

After an extensive shopping trip in Jiufen that had my mother and I nearly frozen in place, our little group headed to the Grand Hotel of Taipei. Embodying Eastern aesthetics, it was a grant palatial building that I had first seen in an episode of Fresh off the Boat. My mother and I spent our allotted time inspecting all that we could of the first two floors. Though there were cafes and stores aplenty, we kept our wallets firmly closed until we finally returned to our bus.

Our next stop was a garden in Shilin. After taking a gander at the myriad tulips on display, my mother and I retreated to a local cafe for something to warm us up. Though not as frothy as the hot chocolates in Australia, I very much enjoyed regaining feeling in my extremities as the beverage heated up my cold freezing body.

Back on the bus, we headed to the next city on our itinerary. Several hours on the road, where I slipped into a micro-sleep and learned a little more of the Canadian duo, we arrived at Nantou where we checked in to our hotel and enjoyed a fairly simple dinner before retiring for the night.

This first glimpse of Taiwan was an enlightening one and filled with a hefty number of surprises. The facial masks were a bit of a nuisance, but to the people living on the island, prevention is probably much better than the lack of a cure. Risking one’s health, along with others is a pretty steep price for purely selfish desires.

[kontextmaschine]

Roseburg

Okay, Roseburg. It’s the capital of the southern Oregon timber industry, which fell hard with the end of harvesting on federal lands in the early ‘90s.

It’s got a population of 20,000, in a town center at a bend in the river and several residential neighborhoods, with more modern retail north of the city center around I-5. Several thousand more live in outlying areas, and Roseburg is seat of Douglas County stretching to the coast counting 110,000 population in total.

The airport offers no scheduled passenger service. Flights to major mountain west cities are available 83 miles to the north or 90 to the south; equivalent service is available 15 miles from Bend.

The only college in the area is a community college.

The town center, oriented around a “couplet” (parallel one-way streets) for a Main Street in Oregon tradition, has government buildings and a roughly five square block downtown. The downtown is early-20th century in character, solid frontages of storefronts with 1-2 stories of residential above, with churches, banks, and apartment buildings on the periphery.

The downtown is not pedestrianized, but has been designed for cars to park on the periphery. One block of storefronts is block-through, with entrances on each of two opposing sides. Many storefronts are empty. Several bars and restaurants are active, with a few (plus a co-working space) that look to have opened recently. Other stores remain looking a little out-of-time, and several storefronts have been occupied by nonprofits, street-level offices, or enterprises that look to create low returns while occupying high spatial volume. A gym occupies one sizeable space, two large markets stand empty. Despite this emptiness, only the markets look truly dilapidated; others have intact windows and clean interiors and reasonably fresh paint and facades. Scattered throughout are several civic monuments and monumental-looking fraternal lodges.

Sloping away from this downtown, the town center contains more stores, warehouses, restaurants, and bars. On the I-5 corridor, several hotels and travel-oriented businesses serve the freeway, mostly north of the town center.

- - -

So, in some ways this is kind of what I’d been expecting to like - a resource extraction town for a collapsed industry, leaving a fully built-out but intact infrastructure ripe for use. With poor flight connections to finance centers and a local economy still tapering off as the legacy population drifts away, an obvious hope is to market the small-town experience to internet workers or others who generate resources in a way that doesn’t require an existing resource base in physical proximity, while in the interim, the courthouse, the remaining private-lands timber industry, and the highway services support a basic level of services.

The maintained facades, the nonprofit offices occupying storefronts, and the general effort to keep downtown looking active suggest a level of coordination by local elites in support of the city’s viability.

- - -

And it’s… Cascadia. It’s green but at the same time younger than the east coast or rust belt - the wilderness hasn’t been carved into as much, the people not guarded, exhibit the good down-home parts of “country” without much “narrow-minded bumpkin”.

Many stores and bars have signs at the doors saying to take hoodies off, no backpacks, no tweekers, this site recorded on camera. There are at many points one to three people who are obviously homeless or on drugs in view. A Greyhound bus stopped in front of one dilapidated market and disgorged 7 vagrant-looking people. Every day the city police log lists like 6 arrests. On sites where these mugshots are compiled and shared around you see these are usually about heroin, meth, thefts to buy heroin or meth, or parole violations by people with convictions about heroin or meth. Even among apparently functional people working behind counters and bars, there are more facial scabs than you expect.

There is, frankly, an absurd level of pro-military sentiment. Signs in all sorts of windows, military discounts everywhere, banners from some past event benefiting some charity for military families. A veteranarian’s office is painted with the American flag, silhouettes of dogs and soldiers saluting or wearing helmets. I wondered if there had been a military base closed nearby because even after a week traveling through much more “red”-than-Portland country I had seen more of that stuff but nothing near that level. I never saw any murdered-out trucks or Punisher skulls or Black Rifle Coffee or 5.11 or any other military-adjacent aesthetic, though. Wearing Chinese-replica BDU pants, I was sporting more of a tactical look than anyone I saw.

Douglas County gave 64% of its vote to Trump in 2016.

- - -

The clear signs of people coming together to keep downtown appealing, all the monuments, the particular aesthetic of the places catering to a downtown crowd (and of that crowd itself), the legacy of what you’d expect from timber barons and their clerks… I was like “oh I get this, there’s a strong country-club Republican strain.”

Knowing that the region’s forest workers were pretty radical (that’s an important thing about Oregon, its normative rural experience isn’t of yeoman farmers but forest workers) I was wondering when I was going to get a sign of that, eventually I realized the yay-military stuff was the expression of class solidarity I was looking for.

Knowing both of those I turned to the addicts and fuckups and was like “ohh, you’re the third player in this drama, the unvirtuous poor that the virtuous poor and white collar types can bond over identifying against”.

A good deal of the nonprofits taking up space downtown seem to be the prison-industrial-complex type, the therapy or treatment you get sentenced to, designed to employ the first group turning the third into the second.

- - -

Seeing Roseburg makes some things about Portland make sense. That, say, when timber collapsed some of the “worker” types or their kids moved to, or stayed in Portland and brought the ethic to food service.

Traditional Oregon is weirdly exclusive, had an anti-Californian sentiment in particular but I’ve heard stores from Washingtonians about getting their cars pelted with rocks in the 80s, the state’s most famous statement of boosterism included a direct request not to move here.

There’s very much a sense that Portland has become swollen with non-Oregonians who seek to impose themselves on traditional, rural, Oregon, I could see a distaste towards any idea of making Roseburg more Portlandish.  

When I walked in to look at the co-working space (it’s really just a period office building with individual offices) I overheard a guy saying that he could accept if they just made up a list of the guns it was okay to buy…

And the thing about a strong local elite invested in the future of your town is the town is under the control of a strong local elite with an interest in its future, presumably wanting to keep or develop it as its own playground.

At the same time, whoever owns all those buildings would very much like to see them filled at competitive rates  I’m sure, and property owners are the backbone of any local elite. (I do not know the in-town landholders’ relationship to the woodland barons.)

- - -

So. Promising. It’s a charming Portland-in-miniature, houses are still available in the $100s and apartments at $500/br/mo. Between empty and underused space there’s maybe 10 years of solid expansion before all the slack has been taken up, and by all appearances the local system would love to see it happen and has no better pitch than quality-of-life-experience, being what Portland was in the 90s.

(Even the class system isn’t terribly off, a lot of the “Portlandia” years were about importing a middle class to fit between the old money in the West Hills and the retreating border of “Felony Flats” across the river to the east.)

That said it’s not abandoned just waiting for my guiding hand, there are preexisting power structures and culture to accommodate or challenge. And if undermining the local culture is the last thing I want - it’s what appeals to me, and the loss of which I’m mourning in Portland – I’m already thinking “okay that’s honestly too Republican, but that’s the only way to end up with a tolerable culture after it floods with creatives so hey”.

This is assuming it does take off, which I honestly think is a good assumption, as the big west coast cities fill up and cascade down (in the interim, look at Olympia, Visalia, Sacramento, Eugene, and Fresno) but isn’t inevitable. Oregon environmental laws and declining influence of Republican state legislators could further undermine the rural economy. Things could just keep declining past the point of being able to keep up appearances - the VA hospital just closed its emergency room, and there are two more in the area but the reasoning was the difficulty of recruiting and maintaining specialized staff, and that’s a bad sign.

Maybe I’m just psyched to see an authentically Cascadian town again and I should check out some others before getting swept away, in Oregon alone I’m still virgin on Albany, McMinnville, Forest Grove, and Coos Bay.

Still, I dunno. Might be a site for a good life.

[alisondentaldesign]

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[f4liveblogarchives]

Fantastic Four Vol 1 #138 & #139

Sun Jul 28 2019 [02:24 PM] Wack'd: So apparently the whole "60s issues colored Wyatt white so as a compromise let's give him a slight tan" was not an invention of John Bryne

[02:24 PM] Aleph Null: that's supposed to be a tan? [02:25 PM] Wack'd: That or he's covered himself in strawberry yogurt [02:25 PM] ThreeOfFour: maybe its the widows peak but is that Namor? [02:25 PM] Wack'd: Nope! It's Wyatt Wingfoot! [02:26 PM] Aleph Null: dang, you're a wing, and you have feet? [02:27 PM] Wack'd: Under Kirby's pen Wyatt's hair varied from a standard close cut to something vaguely Clark Kent-ish [02:27 PM] Bocaj: Wait. [02:27 PM] Bocaj: Namor has wing feet [02:27 PM] Bocaj: HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM [02:27 PM] Wack'd: His hairline's receding a bit, though I have no idea if this is intentional or just how Buscema draws him [02:27 PM] Bocaj: HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM [02:27 PM] Wack'd: *Anyway* [02:28 PM] Wack'd: So wait--I have questions

[02:28 PM] Wack'd: 1. Did Johnny drop out of school? Probably, right? I mean, he’s not graduating today [02:28 PM] Bocaj: Damn johnny is a drop out [02:30 PM] Wack'd: 2. Metro College is nearby? And has phones? Besides "Stan forgot about me" there's no good reason why he hasn't spoken to Johnny or the rest of the Four in, uh--five years [02:31 PM] Wack'd: I get the idea that if he's going to return you want to make it kind of a big deal, but I'm far more comfortable with the idea that he's still been around and just not doing anything superheroey? [02:31 PM] Wack'd: Because now it's just like "oh, I've moved on with my life but I should probably invite my old best friend who's also a drop out to my graduation ceremony" [02:32 PM] Wack'd: "By breaking into his apartment" [02:32 PM] Umbramatic: oh [02:33 PM] Wack'd: Anyway, Reed decides to give the ceremony (and subsequent chill sesh at Wyatt's place) a miss in case Sue comes back [02:33 PM] Wack'd: Look, dude, I'm sure she does she'll call first? Or leave a note? [02:33 PM] Wack'd: Whatever [02:34 PM] Bocaj: When you refuse to make the first move it involves a lot of sitting by the telephone [02:34 PM] Wack'd: In fairness she's deliberately gone off the grid with his infant child and asked that no one tell Reed‏ where she is [02:35 PM] Wack'd: Not really a lot of opportunities for first moves here [02:35 PM] Bocaj: Has he asked [02:35 PM] Wack'd: Also fair [02:35 PM] Wack'd: But I'm pretty sure when someone doesn't want you to know where they are, going out of your way to find out is stalking, and that's generally frowned upon [02:36 PM] Bocaj: Well like he could have asked someone to send her a message saying he wanted to talk [02:36 PM] Wack'd: True [02:36 PM] Wack'd: You make a lot of good points [02:36 PM] maxwellelvis: True, but the problem is this is Reed Richards we're talking about here. [02:36 PM] Bocaj: Since Reed Is Never Wrong in Reed's Mind he's stuck in limbo waiting for her to come crawling back [02:36 PM] maxwellelvis: He'd have to delegate it entirely to someone else [02:36 PM] maxwellelvis: because aside from what Bocaj just said, Reed tends to make a big production out of everything. [02:37 PM] Wack'd: John Buscema awakes with a start and realizes that nothing about the team's civvie fashion sense has changed in thirteen years

[02:38 PM] Umbramatic: shameful [02:38 PM] Bocaj: "Oh shit, fashion changes" [02:40 PM] Wack'd: 1. Humphrey Bogart was a major movie star and *definitely* has folks fussing over his hair.  2. I'm finding a *lot* of photos of Lloyd Nolan with immaculately trimmed facial hair.  3. Oh god Ben's a "what about the troops" guy

[02:41 PM] maxwellelvis: Just change the references to 'Nam-era stuff and he sounds like Walter Sobchak [02:41 PM] Umbramatic: yufoufgtpit;u;jo'piop [02:41 PM] Wack'd: I'm starting to think that last issue all of his talk about being old wasn't him being brainwashed, that's just how Gerry Conway thinks he should behave [02:42 PM] Wack'd: Which is not exactly endearing me to his run [02:42 PM] Umbramatic: rip [02:42 PM] Wack'd: Well that's ominous

[02:42 PM] Umbramatic: eeeep [02:45 PM] Wack'd: So, Wyatt's tribe has a name now. "Keewazi" (EDITOR’S NOTE: I’d apparently forgotten Lee and Kirby explicitly made him Comanche.) [02:46 PM] Wack'd: I'm sure that was talked over with a lot of Native Americans not just a bunch of randomly-picked syllables [02:47 PM] Aleph Null: marvel bad [02:47 PM] Umbramatic: marvel no [02:48 PM] Wack'd: "I haven't seen Johnny in about five years, so it's definitely socially acceptable to laugh at him"

[02:48 PM] Wack'd: That said, he looks like a friggin Brady [02:48 PM] Bocaj: Which is weird because Marvel Avengers tended to leave it vague and Claremont X Men picked specific real tribes [02:49 PM] Umbramatic: now i'm just imagining a laugh track at all mentions of johnny's hair [02:49 PM] Umbramatic: and it's the Tidus Laugh [02:52 PM] Wack'd: I will say this, to Buscema's credit (and maybe Conway's?)--there's definitely still in "old west" aesthetic here, but the outfits are not nearly as "I watched a movie once" as they were last time we saw these dudes. Also: smart move avoiding teepees. It's the 70s! People want efficient heating!

[02:52 PM] Wack'd: (We didn't actually see any dwellings last time. Mostly just Wyatt's dad sitting on a carpet in the middle of an open field) [02:53 PM] Wack'd: Uuuuuuh "kings" yeah sure

[02:54 PM] Umbramatic: big mountain boi [02:56 PM] Wack'd: And with regards to "warriors" [02:58 PM] Wack'd: Oh no, Johnny did drop out!

[02:59 PM] Umbramatic: poor johnny [02:59 PM] Wack'd: So the Keewazi are in Oklahoma so jot that down [02:59 PM] Umbramatic: oh [03:00 PM] Wack'd: Wyatt traveled a long way to go to a state school! [03:01 PM] Wack'd: That explains nothing, thank you

[03:01 PM] Aleph Null: this is just what men are like [03:02 PM] Wack'd: Also last time we saw this joker he was just Mysterio but earlier and worse [03:02 PM] Wack'd: So this should honestly be a cakewalk [03:02 PM] Umbramatic: good [03:04 PM] Wack'd: nerts

[03:05 PM] Wack'd: Fortunately it turns out that attacking Miracle Man himself breaks his concentration, so no more rock man [03:05 PM] Wack'd: Coming out to gloat--*always* a bad idea [03:08 PM] Wack'd: Oh wow so Miracle Man's new backstory sure is something [03:08 PM] Wack'd: He sought out a tribe of Native Americans who'd mastered "total mental control" and had dwindled to seven despite never having interacted with a white guy before [03:09 PM] Umbramatic: oh [03:09 PM] Wack'd: They agree to a free and equal trade of information, but once Miracle Man has learned all he cares to he murders them all [03:10 PM] Wack'd: Nice of Conway to leave future writers an escape hatch in case this one day turns out to be problematic

[03:11 PM] Wack'd: Which it did, I'm pretty sure, the second it was written [03:11 PM] Umbramatic: yes [03:12 PM] Wack'd: If nothing else this is all fairly on brand for a white guy.

[03:12 PM] maxwellelvis: Well, the next time we see Miracle Man is in Marvel Two-In-One #8, written by Steve Gerber, and he doubles down on the weirdness, as I've said before. [03:13 PM] Wack'd: That's cool so long as he doesn't also double down on the racism

[03:15 PM] Wack'd: ...sure

[03:16 PM] maxwellelvis: To paraphrase Rifftrax, "Either the laws of physics no longer apply, or [Johnny] is playing Halo 2" [03:17 PM] Umbramatic: these are superhero comics, physics are just a suggesstion [03:18 PM] Wack'd: Okay, so the philosophy at play here is kind of nonsense bonkers, but I really want to hone in on the "city he has created on these barren sands." The sands weren't barren! People lived here! They were using it! Christ, Conway!

[03:19 PM] maxwellelvis: Not by choice, mind you. Though I'm not sure if Wyatt's living on a reservation or not. [03:20 PM] Wack'd: Lee and Kirby certainly seemed to think so. Conway and Buscema have issued no statement on the matter [03:20 PM] maxwellelvis: And IIRC most reservations were deliberately placed in the most desolate areas the feds could find. [03:21 PM] Wack'd: But still, it's super shitty to talk about someone's home as though you could be using this land better. [03:21 PM] Wack'd: It tends to be a big anti-Palestinian talking point--"it's good the Jews came in because it's not like those idiots were doing anything worthwhile"--so I'm a little sensitive to it [03:22 PM] Umbramatic: ah, geez [03:22 PM] maxwellelvis: Gotcha [03:23 PM] Wack'd: Anyway, Johnny, Ben, and Medusa make their way back to the surface, and Miracle Man conjures some monsters for them to fight [03:24 PM] Wack'd: And then when things start going south he summons a cyclone to wipe them all away [03:25 PM] Wack'd: Reed Richards Is Useless™

[03:26 PM] Umbramatic: LOOK BEHIND YOU REED [03:26 PM] Wack'd: We're going to find out about that next issue, apparently [03:26 PM] Wack'd: And meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, Franklin without a high-pitched scream and then passes out [03:27 PM] Wack'd: Sue decides not to send for a doctor because "somehow I know he's alright" [03:27 PM] Wack'd: Good instincts, Sue [03:28 PM] Wack'd: Back to the main story! The cyclone harmlessly drops everyone off a few miles away from Miracle Man's city [03:28 PM] Wack'd: And yeah, the Keewazi live on a reservation [03:29 PM] Wack'd: And so Wyatt, Johnny, Ben, and Medusa build a raft and head upstream back towards the reservation, with Johnny using his fire powers as a "motor" for the boat [03:29 PM] Wack'd: I'm sure that much open flame next to a wooden raft is definitely a good idea [03:30 PM] Wack'd: I think Miracle Man might actually be the most morally reprehensible villain in *Fantastic Four* yet

[03:30 PM] Wack'd: A genocidal colonist and a potential rapist to boot [03:30 PM] Umbramatic: ew [03:31 PM] maxwellelvis: Next time we see him, he'll start trying to become God. Not hyperbole [03:32 PM] Wack'd: Apparently Miracle Man is planning on destroying the entire earth! Jesus!

[03:33 PM] Umbramatic: ah yes, the classic supervillain plan, blow up ze earth [03:33 PM] Wack'd: More mook fights. Medusa is kicking some serious ass this issue, effortlessly flinging around three at a time [03:35 PM] Wack'd: Ben, meanwhile, has gone after the Man himself--and this fight is too fucking good to deprive you of

[03:35 PM] Umbramatic: BALOOM! [03:35 PM] Wack'd: God I love me some Buscema punches [03:37 PM] Wack'd: Anyway, Miracle Man tries to get up one last time, but is spirited away by the ghosts of the Cheemuzwa tribe he wiped out, who hope they can cure him of his megalomania. Awfully magnanimous of them. [03:37 PM] Wack'd: Why didn't they do this earlier? shrug [03:38 PM] Bocaj: There was a character from Fairy Tail who was raised by a first nations esque tribe but then it turned out They Were Ghosts All Along so character was free to join the main cast [03:38 PM] Bocaj: Also I hate Fairy Tail [03:38 PM] Wack'd: Anyway, we go out on a cliffhanger, the thing Reed should've looked behind him that was a Negative Zone alarm light

[ivtherapytreatments]

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[streetsbound]

Let’s See How to Build a Campaign 5- Some Mainland Nations

Last time I threw out some history- little prompts with which I might be able to build stories and a general idea of what’s informed the world! I took that and sat down to come up with some nations on the Mainland. I also thought more about the religion I’d mentioned. Something I really want to expound on. I’ll probably do a series of posts of that next. But the basic idea is that it’s a faith centered around offering its adherents a path to become divine. United with the divine, rather. The high aspect of the faith is debating the nuances of how to best follow that, while the low aspect of the faith is around the veneration of sainted figures, called “the Willed”, who discovered the path to heaven by being paragons of their role in life. There’s a whole system of hagiography associated with them. I like the name Ekken, so that’ll be the name of the faith’s founder. A quiet monk who found the path first. So, it’ll be the Church of Ekken. Or the Ekkenites.

Last time I talked a little about humanity’s ancient role, and how they emerged during the later magical age. I already mentioned wanting to work with b/x or labyrinth lord just because of how simple it is to bolt stuff onto it and a side effect of that is race-as-class. Except for humans. I kind of like how it doesn’t exactly make humans just a plain version of other races, just the more commonly seen version- playing with that, here’s an idea of the human ethnicities and nations- most integrated into the Reâdic state to some degree. It was supposed to be five main regions, but I wound up really liking the idea of a savannah to the south and wanted to have more than the draconic inheritors present. I also spoke some with a friend, and he’d had a nation he wanted to see included as well. I dug it and wanted to spin off it as well.

Reâd- The chief most nation of humanity. It is here that the Crimson Throne rules over a vast state, a churning bureaucracy. An archipelago comprised of many islands, but a few primary islands it is a fecund breadbasket capable of feeding much of their expansive state. The cultures of the archipelago are perhaps as diverse as the other nations of the world but maintain a sort of chauvinism about their imperial heritage. Besides the complexes of empire- there is also a significant population of ogres here, whose culture has had great influence on the human peoples. Ogres here would exert the same sort of cultural influences the Spanish Muslims or the Basques may have on the Castilian state. Reâdic people are olive skinned and often with dark, wavy hair, they see themselves as the forebears of culture and civilization. They always seem to find a way to discover coin- Seemingly able to milk stone, such is their lust for fortune and their strength of character to pursue it. A deeply pious folk, they are also unquestionably proud of their faith, claiming to be the bearers of the true path to enlightened being.

Reâdic Names: (Male) Ruon, Ekken, Coron, Tael, Au-El, Phelean, Valan, Atenes, Erias, Amel, Anthone, Ruluos, Saendo, Elvan, Naian, Cesvin, Cosea, Liemdo, Argin, Riano, Xaino, Xidrid, Iesel, Keian, Gero, Dume, Baceo, Baldo, Lixar, Gisui, Baete, Sabaio, Caela, Samo, Diago

(Female) Belo, Sinda, Iufe, Auriane, Sola, Sancia, Eavade, Aundira, Mara, Maena, Salea, Pliana, Eidiancia, Tainza, Eisaca, Xuaddougi, Sesa, Vera, Aciana, Enganxea, Veli, Valaiba, Ciossae, Itassia

Shadiran – The heritors of an ancient empire once ruled by Dark Cabals of Witch-Kings. Theirs was a northern power fueled by horrific abuses of magical might and blood sorcery. Their horrid towers were built deep into the great arctic and glacial expanses of the Rimewind Peaks- a country marked by vast impressiveness to be sure. Mountains reaching into the heavens, stark fjords, walls of glacial ice and thick forests of conifers. The Cyclopean towers, elevated by multitudes of adepts using magical powers to place the stones (where their own weight holds them in place) long stood as bastions of tyranny for Shadic Witch-Kings. Cruel memories burned into the culture of the people. Shadiran is no longer the great magocratic empire they once were, long incorporated into the Reâdic state. Still, even in the wake of the ice-age and their integration power is still held by the few. Iron-fisted bureaucrats rule over small villages in the pines like absolutist fiefs. Sergeants in Shadic soldiery bark orders with an iron fist. Masters in schools insist on their supremacy, and so on. The culture is one that valorized hierarchy and claiming your own place by might. Another curious feature of the Shadic people is a custom of facial tattooing of arcane words and passages in their tongue. The superstitious of the world claim it is because they bear the sins of their ancestors on their face. Pages of dark tomes, markings from forgotten scrolls, songs of their ancestors, things whatever they are of deep and personal import which they do not speak of to outsiders. The national tongue is a flowing musical sort of language favored by thaumaturges for its connection to Vestiges- established in the magical age.

Shadic Names: (Male) Kjel, Toresh, Korem, Rolle, Askel, Skolfi, Tjarte, Sindri, Osvir, Afthir.

(female) Njele, Asag, Thjaga, Helle, Kesta, Siagra, Thyra, Saebja, Rega, Bjode.

The Dragon Coast–To the southeast of the mainland is a bizarre land said to be named for the many dragons which long-ago roosted here. Unlike the rest of the south, this is a place where forests of mushroom-shaped trees bleed when cut- Or where alkali rivers cut sharp paths between spires of Dragon-bones from a best large enough to house a building. A narrow country, it is perhaps only a hundred or so miles across, this alien land running from the coast to high peaks which mark out natural borders. The inhabitants call themselves the Yokale, a clay-skinned wizard-folk, arranged into allegiance to great dynasties associated with Dragons. Ages ago, the first people settled here, fleeing from a foreign land for unknown purpose. It is said they learnt the secrets of Magic from the bones and blood of the Drake- and now each of them bears that remarkable heritage within them. The Yokale are rightfully proud of their dynastic affiliation, but this and their harsh land tends to create a feeling of insular loyalty among them. Much of Yokale culture prizes the values of the aesthetic- Their cities are raised from living stone and patterned in geometric designs, the dragon-motif ever present. Yokale are fond of jewels, make-ups, bright colors to accentuate themselves and proclaim their beauty to the world (for they call themselves the most beautiful people in the world). Marriages are often determined by selecting husbands based on aesthetic looks with families pouring money into tangible dowries (gold cloths to drape on bachelors, jeweled earrings that can be sold, so on). The furthest Hills of the Dragon Coast see the most awesome parts of their culture as the skeletal bones of titanic dragons are carved into towers for the most impressive wizard-dynasts. For the empire? The Dragon coast was never subjugated nor integrated. The dynasts, unwilling to treat with such barbarous peoples and the empire unwilling to throw lives away on such a harsh country struck an accord. The dragon coast would become a tributary or client-state of the empire in exchange for their total autonomy.

Yokale Names: (male) Asarkanth, Bhadrajha, Kimrita, Hadha, Jalasham, Ayulityan, Kanti, Kamadha, Bhujyota, Cirava. (Female) Devire, Kaja, Nindha, Jinhi, Anath, Kanksa, Purna, Gavi, Hisra, Chara.

Alabar– A collection of disparate fiefs strewn across a tremendous southern savannah dotted with elven ruins, Alabar is the aftershock of a tremendous cultural eruption. Millennia ago the Elf confederations ensured that humanity would be tertiary in the region. Following the collapse of the ice-age Human inheritance saw the savannahs filled with new life and a rich martial culture that boomed with the development of iron-work that would rival even the great elf-smiths. The next great cultural achievement of the Alaborn occurred when Ekkenite faith came to the savannah- Persecuted and seeking a place of haven, some of the Early Disciples fled southwards carrying their message like a thunderbolt cleaving the sky. Their words and faith gave laws and literature to the people and allowed them to challenge the ancient rule of Chiefdoms. Under the Ekkenite banner, they organized themselves into a vast knightly order and waged a campaign of conquest that forever altered the landscape. They erected great castles built of banco architecture guarding over key points. Because of this peoples’ uprising there are no kings in this land, rather society has peasants and the warrior caste above them. It is a country of chivalric orders and knightly romance. The orders of Knighthood are the Lion, the Sun, The Ibex, The Falcon. There are said to be dissident orders of the Termite and the Baobab whose messages run against the accepted ways. Each order has its Grand Master- A council of whom oversee the nation, none of which hold authority over the other but all share in the common nation. The empire waged a brutal war to incorporate the Alaborn- but their culture wound up taking root in the Reâdic isles with affectation for knightly orders flourishing in the wake of integration. The Ekkenite faith is also supreme among the Alaborn. Though freedom of belief is allowed by tenet of the Ekkenite faith the establishment of other shrines is forbidden by decree of the Orders- a line that Reâdic viceroys have had to toe carefully.

Alaborn Names: (Male) Ouaden, Chasra, Adoun, Amin, Djebe, Cheagwu, Usieh, Tari, Jiagge, Ouajuru. (female) Jebe, Kete, Obeh, Nkeja, Djalla, Jakouna, Bisia, Nwole, Keru, Afah

Talas– Just west of the Reâdic isles this expanse of land shares in the heat and humidity of the heartland. The first settled land of the Reâdic and considered once to have been an integral part of the empire. A migration of people from an unknown land would come and conquer when the Reâdic empire was too weak to resist- integrating local peoples cast aside by Reâd’s chauvinism. Adopting readic customs of kingship and legalism they would establish their own empire for sixty years of sovereignty- before cultural affectations saw them rejoined to the Reâdic empire. This is a land of clockwork miracles and alchemical genius. The Talassin venerate their great minds in rigid icons where their stern bearded visages judge their lessers and cast them into shame for failing to meet greatness. In lieu of holy texts on the walls of their temples are Theses and Formulae, and within the nation great strides in alchemy and invention have been made- from everburning torches to the fabled creation of life. Talassin cities are built out of the way of steaming jungles, glazed ceramic roofs and complex brickwork keep watch high in the hills while lowland peasants toil alongside hedge-alchemists. Though an inventive society, it is far from a progressive one, old traditions of imperialism dominate, court life is complicated by ancient laws that could fill a shelf of codices.

Talassin Names: (Male) Boha, Vojta, Domir, Premil, Vasek. Zdimil, Steko, Jasna, Zita, Lasla. (Female) Kvela, Mira, Mlabka, Boska, Vetla, Rina, Svita, Brada, Dosla, Prana

Gwaen– A large expanse on the central mainland, Gwaen is no singular country but a motley of kingdoms filled of fair-skinned folk and primaeval wood. This land has rarely found any sort of unity as the valleys, clannish chiefdoms and forests often isolate Gwennish folk enough that they turn to feudal warlords wherever they can. The thriving and beating heart of Gawen are its druids, tending to sacred groves and menhirs, where the traditions of the ancestors have provided stability. After long and protracted war (think Caesar’s gallic wars or the invasions of Britannia) the empire eventually brought with it law and order, but could not bring lasting change. Though imperial law meant many feuds were stopped and a resistance to foreign aggressors saw a Gwennish identity formed, no nation had been built. The empire contented itself with vice-roys and allied chiefs. Each valley seems to have its own king and traditions, though a high-king called a Tanist was once chosen in a sacred ash-wood grove. Imperial influence has often tried to mission to the Gwennish druids and an uneasy accord has been struck which requires imperial governers to give legal authority to druids.

Gwennish Names: (Male) Ysberyr, Blathaon, Emrid, Neifon, Carnedyr, Gwitart, Comhri, Edern, Pyrs, Rheu (Female) Daere, Morvudd, Eneuawg, Penarddun, Cadi, Asgre, Rhianwyn, Ceri, Braidha, Dalla

The Usskayan–The nation suggested by my friend- they are nomadic people who hail from the western steppes. Though their people have expanded far beyond their homelands, they are united under the teachings of Danika, Willed of the Endless Road. Respected in many cultures, she was a warrior poet who many still believe is unrivaled in horsemanship and mounted combat. Usskayans have been found in every corner of the mainland because they are impelled to travel. The Journey is the most respected tradition among Usskayans, stemming from the mythic wanderings of Danika. Every child is expected to travel from their place of birth- often as a way of declaring their adulthood and entrance into the People. Even the most isolated villages will often see Usskayans come among them, and they have been championed as messengers and traders. Some will travel a number of years and find a new place to settle, some wander before returning to their place of birth, some take the pilgrimage with the ultimate goal to return their homelands in the Steppes, while some never settle down and journey their entire lives. This tradition has also led to Usskayan families settling where humans aren’t usually found, such as in the treetops of elf kind, underground in cave systems or among cursed ruins.

Usskayan Names: (Male) Shovrukh, Nazruqul, Komil, Rostak, Khudayberdi, Parpi, Ilyas, Tesha(Female) Bassar, Nezi, Kayrukha, Roziya, Shayli, Toti, Faroghat, Oqila

[gulfcoastacademyfl]

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[thefarmhousehotelsite-blog]

The Farmhouse Hotel What’s on Offer

For details on the farmhouse hotel take a look at the review below.

Many first create a city building or perhaps the company they benefit in the event the topic of egress safety arises; however, a person's power to identify exit paths is important in numerous kinds of structures

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Additional exits are shown on each map in the event the nearest one becomes blocked by fire or another obstacle

Visit Some of Hidden Treasures at the farmhouse hotel

But now, time is closing in

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Condensing the information in the basic facts will allow you to increase the risk for choice that best meets the requirements your family

How to Find a Good Hotel in South Africa

Joseph, Missouri has a population of around 75,000 people and it is located approximately 60 minutes north of Arrowhead Stadium where the Kansas City Chiefs play eight home football games a season

Joseph and by extension Kansas City are placed inside the northwestern portion of the state near the Kansas, Nebraska, and a smaller extent the Iowa border

Kansas City, on the Missouri River, is all about a four hour drive on I-70 from St

Louis Missouri which can be on the east side of the state about the Mississippi river bordering Illinois

Location - it is located well away of only 2kms from your railway station which makes it quite accessible for travelers. Guests can save on his or her transportation costs and travel straight away to the place in the railway station. The Bhopal airport is located well away of 15kms from your hotel.

For this reason hotel owners have now recognised which it can be cheaper to refurbish a lot of rooms in different given year instead of to construct new ones (where possible of course). The techniques used nowadays by Hotel Refurbishment specialists ensure that it is business as usual in other places of the hotel as well as the final result will leaving guests wondering whether here is the same room they stayed in the previous year.

Overlooking the tranquil Langebaan lagoon, The Farmhouse Hotel is an experience to be savoured. Celebrated for our nice workers, in-house museum and West Coast warmth, The Farmhouse Lodge gives company an authentic coastal farmstead experience. Explore the lagoon, keep fit in our Technogym, flick through our antique collection or simply chill out and enjoy the sunset.

With an internationally certified therapist, fastidiously selected products and beautifully appointed salon, booking a remedy on the Mint Wellness salon is guaranteed to sooth your soul. Obtained a question? Contact our journey experts for an in depth quote to match your vacation necessities. Telephone, electronic mail, or dwell chat - or we can even name you back! A spread of pet beds and menus are available and may be arranged when making your reservation. From canine to cats, birds and hamsters, guests are welcome to convey them alongside to an unforgettable West Coast holiday at the farmhouse hotel.

The higher level larger bedroom is complemented by wooden floors and a quaint lounge with a big window providing views of the lagoon. The bed room downstairs opens onto the terrace and has beautiful views. Moreover, the ‘truly new dimension' of this new resort in Langebaan is clearly seen within the interior and design of the resort, which was fully constructed from scratch. The Basic Rooms at the Farmhouse Hotel in Langebaan are situated in the annex and supply exquisite views. All Classic Rooms feature en-suite loos with showers. Discover the West Coast at the most effective charges for visitors over 60 years previous. We will assist in finding you the perfect getaway and travel packages.

The Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel is tucked away in the quaint fishing village of Paternoster, which lies along South Africa's unspoiled West Coast, roughly a hundred forty five km from Cape Town. Windtown Lagoon Resort presents its visitors a full-service spa, an out of doors pool, and a sauna. There is a restaurant on site. You possibly can get pleasure from a drink on the bar/lounge. Free breakfast is offered daily. Public areas have free WiFi. Proceed north on the R27, route Velddrif (The R27 turns into the West Coast Highway) for about 120km. Book a room at My Cascades resort Langebaan on-line and save money. Finest worth assured!

Continue for an additional quarter-hour till you see the West Coast 1-Cease (Engen Petrol Station) and the signs for the town of Langebaan. At this intersection it's essential to turn left off the R27. Continue for 10km whereupon you will enter the town (in Oostewal Road).

Created and adorned with a West Coast farm-fashion aesthetic, the rooms at The Farmhouse Lodge are inviting and comfy spaces. From crash pads, traveller's rooms, one bed via to a household sized room and a twin stage 2 bed room cottage, the hotel has the proper lodging for couples, families, mates and business visitors wanting to benefit from the environment of the West Coast.

Seek for Windtown Lagoon Resort reductions in Langebaan with KAYAK. Search for the cheapest resort deal for Windtown Lagoon Lodge in Langebaan. KAYAK searches hundreds of journey websites that will help you discover and guide the hotel deal at Windtown Lagoon Hotel that fits you greatest.

The attractive Celebration Room on the Farmhouse Lodge in Langebaan boasts gorgeous 180Ëš views of the crystal clear lagoon and opens up onto the spacious veranda. Good for internet hosting cocktail events or smaller sit down wedding ceremony dinners and lunches.

While Langebaan already counts a number of faculties and lodging choices for surfers - predominantly backpackers - the Windtown Lodge presents not only a place to stay and sleep but also endows the town's collection of B&Bs, resorts and self-catering homes with a truly new dimension. Our guests are energetic people of all ages who have a subtle preference for kitesurfing and windsurfing and who can afford just a bit more luxurious than what a backpackers supplies,” explains Martin.

in partnership with presents highly aggressive rates for all types of accommodations in Langebaan, from reasonably priced household resorts to probably the most luxurious ones. , being established in 1996, is longtime Europe's leader in online hotel reservations.

An in-house, internationally acknowledged therapist presents company a beautiful alternative of massages, facials and therapies. The spa is uniquely located in the wine cellar the place remedies are completed by nicely-certified therapists. The spa that is also open on Sundays and will be accessed without leaving the lodge, treatments and leisure continues out onto the pool space throughout the summer months where visitors can chill out in gowns and slippers. The spa additionally boasts a spa bathtub, which may be integrated right into a therapy. The middle gives lovely views of the lagoon, including to the ambiance of leisure.

Guide your lodge in the present day, and in case you discover the identical resort for a less expensive worth elsewhere on-line, we'll refund the distinction up till midnight earlier than verify-in. Terms & ConditionsOpens in a brand new window apply. The Legends Bar on the Farmhouse Hotel is a good pleasure for social gatherings and for having fun with refreshing drinks in a relaxed ambiance.

The attractive Eating room on the Farmhouse Hotel in Langebaan is a part of the cosy Panorama Restaurant, and boasts beautiful views of the lagoon while friends relax by the hearth and watch because the chefs prepare their farmstead style meals from the attractive kitchen. Good for bigger sit down dinners or wedding pre-drinks.

Relax on the full-service spa, the place you may take pleasure in massages, physique treatments, and facials. You're positive to appreciate the recreational facilities, including an outdoor pool and a sauna. Extra facilities at this resort include complimentary wireless Internet entry, concierge companies, and marriage ceremony companies.

After taking time to locate our booking I was informed our room was unavailable, we also had to inform the hotel who and how much to pay for the room. Not overly proud of the room I asked if there were other choices and I used to be instructed the only obtainable rooms are 3 occasions the value and that they we reserved for the rich folks. It was mentioned in humour however nonetheless not a pleasant comment. The room was nonetheless being cleaned at 3pm so we went for lunch.

We now have chosen rooms which are Pet Pleasant. Deliver your fur-baby and let us take care of the rest. Peacefull Moments has therapeutic massage/remedy rooms. Companies embrace Swedish massages, massages, facials, and physique scrubs. Quite a lot of treatment therapies are provided, together with aromatherapy. The spa is equipped with a sauna. For family stays, camper beds are perfect for kids as it brings in the enjoyable aspect of tenting while still providing consolation so that you just little one can get an excellent night's rest. Available for youngsters three - 12 years. Sports prices are further as required (see sports centre pages for extra on this).

Make your self at dwelling in one of the 28 air-conditioned guestrooms. Complimentary wireless Web entry keeps you connected, and satellite programming is on the market on your leisure. Loos have showers and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences embody separate sitting areas and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is offered day by day.

At you won't be charged any booking charges, cancellation charges (see specific hotel insurance policies), or administration fees - the reservation service is free of cost. The reservation system is safe and your private information and bank card is encrypted.

Overlooking the stunning Langebaan lagoon, The Farmhouse Lodge is an experience to be savoured. Celebrated for their friendly and attentive staff, antique collection and West Coast warmth, The Farmhouse Hotel presents friends an genuine coastal farmstead encounter. This unique and really effectively run property is the one real high normal resort model property near the lagoon and so a perfect base for these looking for a captivating, rustic and high standard lodging.

Personal or manage this property? Declare your itemizing without cost to answer critiques, replace your profile and far more. This spa lodge is throughout the area of West Coast Nationwide Park and West Coast Fossil Park. Culinary experience - Take pleasure in meals of high quality and flavours of the region with distinctive taste at the farmhouse hotel.

Resources:

The Farmhouse Langebaan | The Farmhouse Hotel

The 30 best hotels in Langebaan, South Africa

THE FARMHOUSE HOTEL LANGEBAAN INFORMATION

[alisondentaldesign]

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·         Save Face registered and accredited for four years

·         Botulism toxin treatments administered by Dr Pradnya

·         Two-week follow up post treatment as standard

·         Aesthetic dentistry awards finalist 2017 and 2018 for full face rejuvenation and 2018 finalist for lower face Botox® treatment

 Wrinkle relaxing injections can also be used to reduce teeth grinding (bruxism) and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and the appearance of visible neck bands. Botox® can by injected in a range of facial and body areas including frown lines in-between brows, the eye area, mouth, forehead, nasal area (bunny lines), the neck and armpits for excessive sweating.

Results

A fresher, more relaxed, face, is the overall result after about 10-14 days following treatment. Results in the case of excessive sweating can take as little as a couple of days. Sometimes a top-up injection is needed at your two-week review appointment.

Skin Southwest also hold a clinic once a month in London at 52, Harley Street, Marylebone, London, W1G 9PY. Tel: 0207 856 0461

Skin Southwest Ltd – Facial Aesthetics in Exeter

Sommerville House,

30 Southernhay East,

Exeter EX1 1NS

 Tel: 01392 426 285

Email: enquiries@skinsouthwest.co.uk

Web: https://skinsouthwest.co.uk/

 For further information on Skin Southwest’s Facebook page click here

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'We're proof beauty is more than skin deep': Miss Unique Beauty UK contestants show off their scars

'We're proof beauty is more than skin deep': At first glance you might not notice, but all these women have devastating scars. Now they're in a unique pageant they hope will conquer a lifetime of prejudice

Dance teacher Rochelle Barrett, 30, from Sheffield set up the competition after entering Miss Caribbean UK

When she was eight-months old an accident left her with third degree burns over 70 per cent of her body

The pageant is for survivors of burns, scarring and disfigurement and the winner will be crowned this month

By Claire Coleman for the Daily Mail

Published: 22:01 GMT, 20 March 2019 | Updated: 01:18 GMT, 21 March 2019

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Rochelle Barrett never used to consider herself a beauty. The 30-year-old dance teacher from Sheffield was just eight months old when an accident with a kettle of boiling water left her with third degree burns over 70 per cent of her body.

She was bullied as a teenager and spent years hiding her scars. But after getting into dance and performing in her 20s, she was attracted to the world of beauty pageants.

'I love anything to do with fashion and beauty so when, in 2015, I saw that Miss Caribbean UK was looking for contestants, I thought it would be a wonderful thing to do,' she says. 'I didn't know there would be a bikini round until halfway through and to be honest, I didn't know if I could do it. But I'd come so far I thought 'why not?'

It's a decision she has not regretted.

A group of women are taking part in a new type of beauty pageant called Miss Unique Beauty which is 'exclusively for and celebrating survivors of disfigurement and visible differences'

Rochelle Barrett, 30, is a dance teacher from Sheffield. She was just eight months old when an accident with a kettle of boiling water left her with third degree burns over 70 per cent of her body

'When I stepped on stage and showed all my scars, it was the most wonderful and empowering experience I've ever had,' she says. 'I felt like I could do anything.'

After being crowned Miss Personality in the contest, Rochelle was determined to give other women the opportunity to experience that same feeling.

'The pageant built up my confidence so much, I wish I'd done it long ago. There are lots of women out there who have visible differences that mean they haven't felt accepted in society and by the worlds of beauty and fashion. I wanted them to be celebrated as beautiful and desired, to show you're more than your trauma.'

And so, at the end of this month, the winner of Miss Unique Beauty UK will be crowned.

'The pageant is for survivors of burns, scarring and disfigurement and flips the traditional beauty pageant on its head. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and we should be celebrating those differences,' says Rochelle.

Rochelle's desire to challenge that cookie-cutter perception of beauty could not be more timely. In an era when we're bombarded with more images of so-called aesthetic perfection than ever before, anything that forces a reassessment of what we consider to be 'beautiful' is surely a force for good — for all women.

Rochelle was bullied as a teenager and spent years hiding her scars. But after getting into dance and performing in her 20s, she was attracted to the world of beauty pageants

Lauren-Marie Cross, a 22-year-old radiographer's assistant from Doncaster who is one of the finalists, thinks it's about time 'girls like me' were celebrated in the world of fashion and beauty

She was born with a cleft lip and palate, which means her facial features didn't form properly, and admits that she was 'not always a fan' of her face

Lauren-Marie Cross, a 22-year-old radiographer's assistant from Doncaster who is one of the finalists, thinks it's about time 'girls like me' were celebrated in the world of fashion and beauty.

She was born with a cleft lip and palate, which means her facial features didn't form properly, and admits that she was 'not always a fan' of her face.

'Boys have said nasty things in the past. I've been taunted, called 'Scarface' and 'Clefty' but now, I absolutely adore my scar. I wouldn't be me without it,' she says. 'If you try to hide your scars, you're trying to hide a part of yourself. I've never tried to cover it with make-up — now I even put highlighter on it to make it stand out more.

'There was no one moment that changed how I felt about it, but as I got older I realised that a lot of the negativity comes from people not understanding it, so now I just explain why I look the way I look.'

Lauren-Marie says she's frustrated she doesn't see people with facial disfigurements in the fashion industry. 'The way beauty is defined so narrowly makes many women feel ugly, because it seems so unobtainable,' she says.

When she finishes university later this year, she intends to challenge this by redoubling her efforts to become a model.

Laura Masters, 26, jumped at the opportunity to take part in a competition actively seeking women with visible differences

 'I've applied for beauty competitions since I was 18,' says the care worker from Caerphilly, who at just a year old was placed in a bath of boiling water by her birth mother's boyfriend, resulting in third-degree burns across half her body

Like Lauren-Marie, Laura Masters, 26, jumped at the opportunity to take part in a competition actively seeking women with visible differences.

'I've applied for beauty competitions since I was 18,' says the care worker from Caerphilly, who at just a year old was placed in a bath of boiling water by her birth mother's boyfriend, resulting in third-degree burns across half her body.

 I can't think about what I'd have looked like if I hadn't been burned. My scars have made me the person I am, and I can't imagine being anyone but me.

'But I've been told I couldn't take part because of my scars — they'd never say it outright, instead they'd say things like: 'Your image doesn't meet the requirements.' That's a horrible thing to hear. It tells you that you're not good enough.'

After months in intensive care as an infant, Laura was placed with a foster family who went on to adopt her, supporting her through more than 100 operations, the most recent a laser treatment to help break up her scar tissue. 'I can't think about what I'd have looked like if I hadn't been burned,' says Laura. 'My scars have made me the person I am, and I can't imagine being anyone but me.'

She hopes taking part in the pageant will give her the opportunity to spread the word about the organisations she credits with giving her confidence.

'There are clubs all over the UK for burn survivors, and it was through them that I met people in the same boat as me. I was 21 when I took a trip to South Africa with one of the clubs and although up until then I'd always worn clothes that hid my scars, out there I wore shorts — I didn't have to worry that anyone was going to stare at me, they understood.' Again and again, these women bring up the difficulty they face in dealing with others' attitudes to their appearance.

Maxine Syrett, 33, from West London, currently works as a volunteer. She was born with a cleft palate and lip, which affected her hearing, speech and sight

 She had her first corrective surgery at the age of six months and the last just over two years ago. She sees the pageant as an opportunity to come to terms with something she says she's 'always resented'

'Just because I have a facial disfigurement, it doesn't make me different,' says Maxine Syrett, 33, from West London. 'I still have my intellect, I still live a normal life.'

Maxine, who currently works as a volunteer, was born with a cleft palate and lip, which affected her hearing, speech and sight. She had her first corrective surgery at the age of six months and the last just over two years ago. She sees the pageant as an opportunity to come to terms with something she says she's 'always resented'.

'As a child I was bullied and called names, such as 'Bent Nose', so I had to learn to stand up for myself. I just felt angry at the world. As a teenager, the way I looked had a profound effect on me. I was always rejected by the boys I had crushes on. I remember one telling me 'I won't kiss you with a lip like that'. I constantly felt ugly, and as if I didn't fit in.

'People would assume that I had learning difficulties because I looked and sounded different. It makes it hard to make friends, or to create a good impression in a job interview. People are scared of what they don't understand, they don't know what to say to you.

'But I want to show people that no matter what I've been through I can still face the world. I hope it will show others self-worth shouldn't be based on appearance.'

Saffron Cohen, 21, a student at Southampton University, has struggled with the fear that other people might not accept her because of the way she looks. Saffron was four when she was dancing in front of a gas fire and her dress caught light, leaving her with burns up her legs and torso

Growing up on the south coast she was always in a swimming costume, but when she hit her teens she became much more self-conscious

Saffron Cohen, 21, a student at Southampton University, has struggled with the fear that other people might not accept her because of the way she looks. Saffron was four when she was dancing in front of a gas fire and her dress caught light, leaving her with burns up her legs and torso. Growing up on the south coast she was always in a swimming costume, but when she hit her teens she became much more self-conscious.

'It would upset me when people stared, because you realise you're different and, as a teenager, the last thing you want is to be different. The biggest hurdle was my own worries that other people might not accept me. Now, I accept people will look at me, but it's taken a while to get to this point.'

She's at pains to point out that these things don't happen overnight, that you have to 'be patient with yourself'.

Lauren-Marie agrees. 'It's a process, learning to love your scars, but you get there eventually.'

Kira Evans, 24, admits that she still struggles. She was in a house fire aged 14 and had to be put into an induced coma for several months while the burns that covered a third of her body were treated. 'Even today I won't wear shorts and I've never been in a swimming pool since,' she says. Kira, from Llanelli, a stay-at-home-mum to Carys, five, and Levi, three, says that after the fire she became a recluse. 'I shut down, I didn't leave the house for well over a year.'

Kira Evans, 24, admits that she still struggles. She was in a house fire aged 14 and had to be put into an induced coma for several months while the burns that covered a third of her body were treated. 'Even today I won't wear shorts and I've never been in a swimming pool since,' she says. Kira, from Llanelli, a stay-at-home-mum to Carys, five, and Levi, three, says that after the fire she became a recluse. 'I shut down, I didn't leave the house for well over a year.'

When she met her partner, Andrew, 29, seven years ago, she says she was 'shocked he had any interest in talking to me. I wasn't comfortable being out in public at all.'

When she met her partner, Andrew, 29, seven years ago, she says she was 'shocked he had any interest in talking to me. I wasn't comfortable being out in public at all.' They started off as friends — 'I didn't want to let my guard down' — before their relationship developed. This tentative approach is something Saffron and Lauren-Marie both recognise.

'I tend to build relationships quite slowly, because I feel like I have to pick the right moment to tell them about what's under my clothes,' says Saffron. 'Although it's never been a problems for any of my boyfriends, so I think a lot of that fear is based on my own worries rather than reality.'

Lauren-Marie has been with her boyfriend since they were 15, but remembers the first time he asked to kiss her. 'I remember saying to him, 'My mouth might feel weird, it might put you off' — but he told me he couldn't care less.'

The pageant is for survivors of burns, scarring and disfigurement and flips the traditional beauty pageant on its head. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and we should be celebrating those differences

All of the women see the pageant as an opportunity to be the role models they wish they'd had when they were growing up.

'Back then there was nothing,' says Kira. 'It was hard to find out about burns or scars, there was nobody you could look up to.'

'I want our voices to be heard,' adds Maxine. 'And to change society's perceptions of disfigurement and disability.'

They also see it as a chance to reframe our conventions. 'There isn't one standard of beauty,' says Saffron. 'It's more than the generic vision we're usually presented with, and I hope this shows that.'

However, it's telling that, despite many beauty brands' outward claims of inclusivity, when we spoke Rochelle was struggling to get sponsorship for the pageant, after being rebuffed by many of the companies she approached. She has even taken on a second job to finance the project.

This quiet determination to make the event go ahead regardless of the obstacles she faces is characteristic of all of the finalists we spoke to, and is encapsulated in a quote Saffron tells me she found on the internet which, she says, 'just seemed to sum up how I feel. It said: 'I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.'

For more information about the pageant, see Rochelle's Twitter feed at twitter.com/BarrettRochelle

  Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6832075/Were-proof-beauty-skin-deep-Miss-Unique-Beauty-UK-contestants-scars.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490