#Frontier Consulting Group

[kaspavanlortsyal]

Let It Be Enough - 1 Year Anniversary

"You will always be enough."

This beautiful art was commissioned from the incredibly talented Elle Noir (twitter/instagram/deviantart)! Thank you, Elle, for bringing this beautiful moment in their story to life.

This time last year, I posted the first chapter of Let It Be Enough on AO3. The butterfly effect of my simple desire to share my silly little story is unbelievable. In one year it garnered over 50k hits on AO3, and that isn't even the coolest part. I made lifelong friends, found a community of wonderful writers, and fell in love. I reflect upon 2023 and bear witness to the power of storytelling. I never thought that I'd still be writing fanfiction about Petra and Miles a year later in the form of my Fairytale AU, The Memory of Stars, and yet here I am.

The world of Avatar is magnificent. It gives me hope that the highest grossing movie of all time is an allegory about colonialism. It emphasizes the importance and beauty of our connection to the Earth (or in the case of the Na’vi, Pandora), and condemns corporate greed. I sincerely love Avatar, not just because of the nostalgia, but because of how bold it is in its storytelling.

Stories are the backbone of society. For all of human history, we have told each other stories. Stories shape our worldview and helps us convey emotions and ideas. Every person finds their own truth in the shape of words.

James Cameron is a fantastic storyteller. However, he is also a white man, and some stories are not his to tell. Many aspects of the Na’vi are drawn from real world indigenous cultures. I understand that he consulted various groups in his development of the Na’vi, but if you enjoy Avatar, I strongly encourage you to seek out own voices stories as well. Our world is troubled and complicated, but I truly believe that it gets better each time someone opens their mind to traditional indigenous knowledge. That gives me hope more than anything: the will to listen. 

One of my favourite books: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (If you're a fan of audiobooks, Robin reads the audiobook herself and it’s incredible. I highly highly recommend picking this up, especially if you like plants.)

Also, if you are playing Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, please dedicate time to researching Residential Schools and their dark legacy in North America. You will better understand the real world inspiration of the Ambassador Program, but more importantly, you will be offering a listening ear to the important stories of survivors. Feel free to add more book suggestions to the comments as well!

Thank you for being here. 

[pandoras-romance-guru]

Just finished the new DLC secrets of the spires main questline and it got me thinking about some things from the main story. Might be a controversial hot-take but i want to talk about it. SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT FOR MAIN STORY OF AVATAR FRONTIERS OF PANDORA

I feel like Nor acted inappropriately once we learnt the fate of the Sarentu clan. Let me explain;

His feelings? Justified. Obviously. He and the rest of the Sarentu children have EVERY RIGHT to be upset/angry/both. This is not what im saying.

Alma's punishment? Getting her connection (her avatar) killed so she can no longer connect to ewya/pandora as a whole? This is a fitting punishment.

My issue is that we (the sarentu children) shouldve talked about it AS A GROUP. The punishment/outcome wouldve most likely been the same, but still. But it shouldve been a judgement we all shouldve collectively come to an understanding and agreement on.

Nor wasnt the only one who lost ppl. We all did. Now, i understand that him and Aha'ri (player character's older sister) had been the oldest of the sarentu children when we were initially taken so he probably had more memories than us so it wouldve been harder for him. I get it, i do.

But i cant help but read his response as childish? He makes such decision with little to no consult with the others on how/what they feel about the situation and what to do, then he RUNS AWAY? What?

He spends half the game up until this point doing almost nothing (apart from brooding, feeling sorry for himself, and blaming others for his feelings) and doesnt actively try to move through his emotions with the others. He makes one other attempt after the first connection to ewya, decides he cant do it, then gives up to wallow in self pity bc he is "too human and he will contaminate ewya with his rage" yet he doesnt try to soothe his anger by trying to find meaning in the suffering? Or getting support from the three other people who might be feeling the same?

Compared to our character, who also heavily doubts themselves, they are actively trying to seek meaning, to understand. To find ways through the hurt.

It may seem harsh but it how the overall situation makes me feel. And maybe what i mean when i say "he acted inappropriately" i think the better wording might be "he acted without proper oversight". He can feel what he wants, i cant take that from him, i also felt the same way when i played through that scene (and the ones leading up to it). I think a good saying that comes to mind is "every feeling is welcome, every action is not" (if im saying it correctly)

His feelings? Justified. Alma's punishment? Also justified. But in that moment he acted too impulsively when we all shouldve had a say.

I hope my meaning isnt lost in my rant and this makes sense.

[dufferpuffer]

Finally watched Fantastic Beasts while waiting for new years and I am full of thoughts... here are my initial thoughts B^)

+ I like the super-strict direction of American wizarding society - since it was the same puritans that caused the Statue of Secrecy to be written that colonized America, I doubt many Wizards went there initially - so western Wizarding society is a newer frontier over there... and puritan ideals are stronger in no-maj society. Like real America All the wizards being constantly in no-maj clothing because they have to mingle with them to get anywhere - they have no standard clothing culture or infrastructure that allows for hidden travel like an old Floo network - that's awesome. Muggles built the (colonized) country; not a combined Muggle-Wizard history like in England.

+ I like most of the major characters. Newt was a fun 'polite trickster' who nods his head to anything people say... but then goes and does whatever the hell he wants. I like him more than movie Harry (but not book Harry). Jacob is adorable, its hard to hate the wide-eyed, overwhelmed, brave and sweet sidekick. I love him. I wanted him to be happy and full of wonder and to get his bakery. He and Newt had good chemistry tbh. All the 'fat jokes' were fucked up though, what the hell Queenie... frightens me. She's a bad bitch when she dropped her creepy cutsey flapper act and became dangerous, and her genuine desire to understand people when her powers push them away was sweet. Being deeply uncomfortable was icing on the cake. Credence is sorta cheating. His character is 'confused and abused, turns to shifty sources for help' - and then 'has lived a life of CONSTANT suffering and is freaking out in immense pain'. He's a tragic boy. You're meant to want to give him a hug and tell him it's okay... and they hit that nail on the head. Success.

- I DIDN'T like ex Auror much. Whats her name...? She wasn't very compelling. I liked that she peeked around corners and tried her best - she's cutsey in an 'anime girl' way and had a nice hat - but she seemed wasted. No chemistry with Newt, either. At least Queenie and Jacob had the decency to be weirdo's...

+ I like most of the beasts. I typically prefer when HP leans to more 'grounded' designs rather than trying to be super colourful and whimsical - I prefer Erumpants to Mooncalf - but it's all cool. I was a little disappointed by Occamy, it was my favourite creature in the book and the movie had different ideas - how DARE they not consult me >:^( Newt actually feels like he LIKES animals and is trying to do well by them with what he has, in a world that's otherwise cruel to them... that's rare for a HP thing. I like how Niffler are like... if there was another monotreme. Something between a platypus and an echidna... and yet FEELS British somehow? I could imagine that thing in The Wind in the Willows

+ I LOVED Newt's suitcase. So full of character. It seems like a very special, powerful magical item many people would want to get their hands on... yet didn't feel too overpowered? I suppose because the downside of 'can be easily closed and carried away while you're inside' is actually a steep downside - It was just cool and I liked it. I think it would have been fun if it had a bit of a mind of its own. It unclipped its own locks, but if it had a bit more of its own personality that would have been cool. :^)

But that's kinda the limit of what I liked. There was more that didn't really work, or only sorta-worked...

- What was the point of the rich Muggle guy and his politician son who was killed first, and the younger brother...? Why were they there other than to waste time that could have been spent on the anti-witch group? The Bitch, red-herring Girl and Credence worked. But all of them barely did anything. I wish they did something.

- Sometimes shit just... happened. Why did the tight-ass Muggle banker walk down to see Jacob and Newt 'steal' from the vault? How did ex-auror find them after the Erumpant? Why is the American execution system so... weird? An oddly modern looking chair that spins around over a molten metal pool, they tempt you with nice memories and then you go in the chair instead of walking in the pool... why don't they killing curse? A Potion? What was the point of their execution...? Why did Newt think to cast a revealing spell on Graves at the end?

- All the elements of the story felt disjointed. I get it, Newt's Beasts are being blamed for the destruction of the city - which is actually being fostered by Gellert's pet Obscural... it just doesn't feel like the story flows like that? Newt doesn't feel especially blamed, the beast hunt doesn't feel important beyond Newt simply caring for them... the stakes are weirdly low. The beast hunt felt like key-jangling.

- All the elements lacked punch. Breaking into a bank, being caught covered in jewels, chasing down beasts for their own safety, dodging being caught, being sold out by sleazy weird-finger guy, almost being executed - none of it felt weighty. No tension aside from when Newt's trunk was taken away and Queenie stepped the fuck up - and Credence had a big wobbly near the end.

- I have very mixed feelings about Graves. He was dull most of the time but intense when interacting with Credence. I LOVED his manipulation - the sweet-soothing, the knowing exactly what that boy needed to hear, hugging and kissing him like a father but sharply punching him in the face when he was overwhelmed - not stopping all the fatherly sweet talk for it! That barely contained violence under a perfectly acted mask - and you can see how confused Credence is by it. Graves heals his injuries, soothes him with affection he has never had - but then dishes out sharp, sudden pain... he is SCARY!

Most of the movie he wasn't much of a player in events, didn't stand out much, wasn't interesting... I just figured he was one of Gellert's followers. In a way I liked that for him. He was a small-fry trying to help by doing small-fry things.

But then at the end it is revealed he was Grindelwald. Yippee...? It never felt like there was any mystery about him. Graves was a man-in-the-shadows, using his power in America-Ministry to his advantage... and his goal seemed to be using an obscurial as a type of weapon and propaganda to Gellert's goals. I feel like that would have been a good way to set up Gellert for the next movie: arrest Graves and have him be like 'Don't you see how we suffer??? Grindelwald is right-!!!'

But no. Graves WAS Gellert. Suddenly Gellert seems... small-fry and pathetic. BUT. BUT - I definitely get why the FB Albus/Gellert ship is popular: Gellerts manipulation of Credence as an example opens SO many doors to how he and Albus' romance could have played out-!!! From the darkest abuses and control to the monster being tamed. When 'Graves' was like 'so Newt... what does this 'albus dumbledore' teacher see in you...?' man just wanted to talk about his ex lol

- My main takeaway is like... this movie was BEGGING on its hands and knees to be an 8ish episode series. An episode per beast - so re-capturing them feels like an important achievement and we fall in love with them as much as Newt does. Make sure the American-Ministry is applying constant pressure. No-Maj cult sub-plot every episode - try to build the mystery. Get us really used to Graves as a player in the story that seems both reasonable and shifty.

Episode 3: Teddy the Niffler A plot: After checking inside the wonderful case the previous episode, Jacob and Newt escape the apartment to track down the missing beasts - running into the elusive Niffler rampaging a jewelry store. As Newt doesn't know much about Muggles and their police - they are surrounded and then chased. Having learned previously that magic around Muggles is more trouble than its worth in America, Newt tries to escape with non-magical means... for the most part. While previously unsure of magic, Jacob now trusts in it - urging Newt to 'be more magical!' in their escape. (A temporary role reversal - Newt going 'I don't want to draw attention!' and Jacob going 'for gods sake man, they have GUNS!') Jacob is starting to feel his lack of magic keenly. Miraculously they are saved by mundane creatures Newt finds just as wondrous - but Jacob knows it can only mean something is very wrong... the hook for the next episode. B plot: First real look at the anti-magic house since meeting them briefly on the stairs in episode 1. It is the end of a long day making pamphlets, and the kids are being checked and ushered to bed. All the kids are creepy - especially red-herring girl - but are treated with at least some care by The Bitch... until Credence. He tries to slip into his room but is stopped. He is blamed for going out when he shouldn't, and he tries to deny it - but seems to know he will be punished, anyway. Next time we see him he is housing injuries, curled up in bed... but in the middle of the night, we see he is a liar: he HAS been sneaking out. He gets out of bed as the clock reaches midnight and goes out to meet... Graves. He seeks affection, shows his injuries, cries and is treated with comfort and care - it seems like Graves is using him to get information, but does genuinely care for the boy. (for now the viewer trusts him enough as a tough wizard cop who isn't afraid to break the law a little and has a soft heart, even to no-maj.) C plot: Ex-Auror is pissed (Queenie heartbroken) that their pet boys have escaped. Bugger. On her way out to find them again she runs into other Aurors. Graves is there. There's been ANOTHER Statue of Secrecy breach - a bunch of Muggle police. It's odd for him to be out for such a small event - but he seems worried this string of cases will get worse unless the perpetrators are caught quickly, so he is investigating. He tells ex-Auror to not get in the way and heads off in a different direction... (to see Credence) Ex-Auror almost turns around to leave the real Auror's to it... but as she discovers Newt and Jacob scurrying to their next destination she gets a burst of confidence - if she catches them it might impress Graves and might give her back her job-!

...Something like that.

It's not quite that the movie didn't have enough time. I mainly feel like it chopped itself up poorly - a different structure would have suited it better. A little more time wouldn't hurt either, though.

[tellusd20]

Artwork by @hirodraga A campaign I started in June 2021 has finally concluded and this band of tomb robbers and grubby mercenaries archaeologists and brave adventurers have gone their separate ways at the end of their expedition. Starting from top left and then zig-zagging down to bottom right, here are their brief bios and character arc conclusions: Qiliq: orc ranger and party leader. Minor noble from the empire of Alamgir who got roped into a matter of family honor. His uncle, the patriarch of their family, had been disgraced and accused of cowardice. His uncle had subsequently undertaken an honor quest into a magical wasteland (the remnants of a collapsed civilization) with the promise of retrieving the crown of a long-dead tyrant as a trophy for the emperor. He disappeared instead, leaving Qiliq to both solve the mystery of his disappearance and to complete the quest. The party accomplished both objectives, recovering both his uncle's corpse and the crown. The tyrant's crown turned out to be a powerful, sentient magic item that began speaking to them in their dreams, preying on insecurities and tempting them into bargains. Almost all of them desired it for themselves, but in the end, Qiliq ended up possessing it. Instead of returning to Alamgir and presenting his emperor with a new prize, Qiliq turned to a conquistador path, using his newfound wealth from the expedition to hire more mercenaries and carve out his own bloody "kingdom" on the periphery of civilization.

Minerva: elven druid, common born retainer of a reactionary noble house in the elven empire of Melate. A spy inserted into the group to ensure that any elven artifacts recovered on the expedition were returned to their homeland. Over the course of the campaign, she made a bargain with the fey to betray her sponsors in favor of the empress for her own gain.

Minerva possessed the tyrant's crown when it was first obtained, but ended up trading it to Qiliq in exchange for a political marriage and a leadership position among the forces he intended to raise. She went on to conduct numerous atrocities in their conquest of a new 'kingdom'. Her player was aware that the lifespan difference between Qiliq and Minerva meant that the crown would pass back into her possession again within a few short decades, and she was fine with being patient.

Zerrus: tiefling warlock masquerading as a human sorcerer. A con artist, grifter, and criminal from Alamgir's lower classes, he misrepresented himself to acquire a spot on Qiliq's expedition and the opportunity to gain wealth, power, and most importantly, a way out of the country. During the course of the campaign, he somehow managed to keep his secrets. Zerrus liquidated his share of the expedition's treasure, purchased a townhome in the city of Aphursa (a bustling, Istanbul-style metropolis), and went on to invent the world's first multi-level marketing scheme.

Auden: human fighter, archaeologist from the kingdom of Talland. Marooned in the wasteland by the deaths of his prior party, Auden gratefully took the chance to join a new group after meeting them at a frontier outpost. Upon the conclusion of their adventure, Auden returned to his homeland and university, where he published numerous research papers on his findings. He became a highly sought subject matter expert on the wasteland; published tales of his adventures raised him to something of a minor celebrity and enabled him to found a profitable consulting service for other expeditions.

Aupo: orc, orthodox cleric from Alamgir's anti-magic Tathir religion. He signed up mostly to remove heretical and blasphemous artifacts from existence. His enthusiasm for the task often generated tension with the rest of the party, particularly when his hammer fell upon expensive relics. The crown never revealed its true nature to Aupo, and the rest of the party concealed the truth from him, knowing he would attempt to destroy it. He signed up with Qiliq's mercenary force, becoming a fanatical missionary in new lands.

Herwyg: human druid, archaeologist from the kingdom of Talland. Upon return to his homeland, he liquidated many of the mundane treasures but kept all the interesting pieces for his own collection. His research papers and artifact loans to museum exhibitions won him tenure and academic awards, as well as recognition from the royal government for his service to the kingdom's cultural prestige.

[word-ghost]

sunspots // 2

Gale squeezes his left shoulder, glaring at the book propped open in his lap. It’s not yet highsun and he can’t decide what to do with himself, other than sulk by the water’s edge and wait for what isn’t coming. 

Idle. Useless. 

He didn’t have to abide Ysara’s request that he remain behind. The choice bordered on irresponsible.

Lae’zel might keep the group on track, if she and Shadowheart can refrain from provoking each other. The ‘Blade of Frontiers’ boasts considerable skill and greater power, but Gale can’t help but wonder what the latter cost. Most definitely more than an eye.

He doesn’t have to wonder why the lad boasts. Wyll’s admiration for Ysara is as obvious as it is untimely. Yes, Gale can admit she’s good in a fight. Agile—rather graceful, if he wishes to be forthright—and stronger than her slight build would suggest.

Despite that, had he not witnessed it, he’d never believe she—the one always wandering off the path to pluck flowers or consult with a bluebird—could convince the interim First Druid to hear reason.

Ysara ensured a child’s safe return to her parents’ embrace and asked for nothing in return. Graciously declined her mother’s meager offering. 

Gale hates how much he hates her for it. 

That spot in his chest throbs, and he wishes he never laid eyes on that damned locket. 

As if it might make a difference. 

It’s been six days since he could placate the insatiable darkness dwelling within him. Gale can’t be sure how many more might lie ahead. Or how few. 

And she’s left him here, where there’s no chance of finding anything that might ease the worsening ache beneath his ribs. 

Gale huffs and turns the unread page, nearly letting out a frustrated groan when the rustling of someone’s approach further impedes his nonexistent concentration.

He expects to find Astarion, weary of his own company, coming to force it upon him instead. Of course it would be the object of this moment’s loathing, covered from braids to boots in a mess of dirt and dark blood. 

keep reading

[mono-blogs-art]

Revue Starlight Sports Festival Draft!

As you know, the big Stage Girl Sports Festival Revival will take place in February - literally just a full day event of the various cast members of Revue Starlight (from anime, game, and stage plays) will participate in a funky pretend-highschool sports festival. Today the full teams were decided via draft stream!

The team leaders had previously been announced:

Koyama Momoyo (Aijo Karen, Seisho) - Yellow Team "ZERO" Tomita Maho (Tendo Maya, Seisho) - Blue Team "This is..." Nomoto Hotaru (Yukishiro Akira, Siegfeld) - Red Team "HOT" Nanaki Kanon (Yanagi Koharu, Seiran) - Green Team "shuThuarunomi" (集中あるのみ; "sTay focused")

Also quite funny to me that 3 of the team leaders (all but Maho) are former Sera Myu performers... the Sailor Moon squad has taken over

As is tradition at this point, ensemble member Jinko Moe is the MC for this stream and explains the rules. In the first two rounds, all leaders are free to pick 1 stage girl of their chosing per round from the roster as their top picks. If any chose the same person, they will have to decide by draft - the loser can then choose freely again. After round 2, all other rounds are chosen by draft completely by luck. We already knew not all cast members are going to be there so not every stage girl is available for chosing. Suzuko Mimori (Hikari), Emiri Kato (Tsukasa) and Shiina Hekiru (Souda-sensei) are going to be the MCs at the event, so they won't be participating as athletes either. Also, Tsukui Minami (Suzu) and Kobayashi Yuka (Yakumo-sensei) are a "2 for 1" deal, as they won't be able to make the whole event (iirc).

Team Zero's name is the most easily explained. Moyo gets a lot of praise from her colleagues and chat for her genius team logo design. The E is a crown with tomato jewels... I'm in awe

Maho explains the pronunciation of her team: The "..." is performed dramatically with the eyes, like the above. Lol

Nossan's design of course features Hot-kun, Akira's favourite food & beloved plushie. The Hot-kun icon is actually the inside of a chili, not a sun. Apparently.

Kanon struggled quite a bit with finding a team name, and after consulting with the other leaders in their Line chat group, she wanted a good Koharu line as the team name. Koharu's "うるさい." ("Shut up.") came to mind, but she thought that was too rude for a team name, so shuchuarunomi it became. She placed a big T (position zero!) for the "ch" sound. Complicated, but clever.

Time for drawing the teams! In round 1, everyone is asked to present their top picks for their team.

Moyo's is: MATSUZAWA! Aka Matsuzawa Kanon, who plays Shiro from Siegfeld Middle School!

Maho's is the one and only Sato Hinata - student council president of Seisho herself, Hoshimi Junna.

Nossan's top pick is: Ikuta Teru of Futaba fame!! And funnily enough...

Kanon's pick is also Teru!!! She even drew a tiny Ponzu (Teru's dog) to sway the public. The crowd goes wild. They have to let fate decide who wins over Teru for their team, and Nossan comes out on top. So Kanon gets to choose again, and her next free pick is Haruchan! Aka her fellow Photon Maiden bestie, Iwata Haruki of Mahiru fame.

Time for round 2, and last round of free picks! Again, Moyo goes first.

Moyo's second pick is Saeki Iori, who plays Rinmeikan's Yuyuko!

Maho's second pick is Sasaki Mikoi aka Mikoron, Shizuha of Frontier!

Nossan's next pick is Koizumi Moeka aka Moepii, who plays the one and only Banana! Complaints from the other leaders are heard for her making her team too strong. Lol. We'll see about that.

Kanon's pick is Kuge Kokoro of the Siegfeld Middle Schoolers, who plays Minku! No overlaps this time, so everyone gets their first pick!

The next picks are all made by random draft, so it's really just up to luck. Kanon is praying to get at least one other Seiran member for her heart. Everyone is praying not to get Aiai (lmao). Kanon manages to draw Tsumutsumu, another Photon Maiden member, making it a 3/4 for her team (with the fourth PM member, Hinata, sitting in Maho's team). For Nossan, she manages to draw two people very close to her - Ozaki Yuka (Michiru) and Kadoyama Yoko (Hisame), two of Akira's girlfriends. Moyo gets both of the Yumeoji siblings. Maho gets to draw her bestie's wife, KDHR. Kanon's wish is fulfilled by drawing the 2for1 duo of Minami&Kobayashi, her fellow Seirans. The crowd goes wild when Nossan draws Aiai, her team being declared the noisiest for sure (they're not wrong, this will be utter chaos).

Final distribution:

Yellow Team "Zero": Koyama Momoyo (leader; Karen), Matsuzawa Kanon (Shiro), Saeki Iori (Yuyuko), Tono Hikaru (Shiori), Fukagawa Ruka (Ryoko), Kurachi Reo (Fumi)

Blue Team "This is...": Tomita Maho (leader; Maya), Sato Hinata (Junna), Sasaki Mikoi (Shizuha), Ito Ayasa (Kaoruko), Kudo Haruka (Yachiyo), Takeuchi Yume (Mei Fan)

Red Team "HOT": Nomoto Hotaru (leader; Akira), Ikuta Teru (Futaba), Koizumi Moeka (Nana), Ozaki Yuka (Michiru), Kadoyama Yoko (Hisame), Aiba Aina (Claudine)

Green Team "shuThuarunomi": Nanaki Kanon (leader; Koharu), Iwata Haruki (Mahiru), Kuge Kokoro (Minku), Tsumugi Risa (Rui), Sato Yuria (Kuina), Tsukui Minami (Suzu) & Kobayashi Yuka (Yakumo-sensei)

Info & Graphics can be found on the official Revstar twt , the stream was archived so you can watch the shenanigans yourself here!

[glitterblossom]

Note: We’re Arab, not Native American, so listen to their opinions on this before ours.

I wanted to have hope that Outlaws of Thunder Junction would be handled well, or even just not awfully. But the evidence is starting to rack up, folks, and it aint pretty:

At MagicCon, Blake Rasmussen (mtg’s Senior Communications Manager) said that, “everyone’s a newcomer to Thunder Junction.”

Also at that MagicCon panel, Aaron Forsythe (VP of Magic Design) called it an “unspoiled land.”

Mark Rosewater (mtg Head Designer) says that, “prior to omen paths [sic], it was uninhabited.”

Could this just be three white guys saying White Guy Things? Sure. Especially since they’ve all shown themselves in the past to be kinda uninformed on the particulars of their product’s storyline. But it’s not a great look.

The narrative that lands are uninhabited and ripe for plunder is inextricable from the American colonial genocide of indigenous nations (which has never stopped). This is especially the case in a setting based on the American West, rife with the trappings of the imperialist genre of American Westerns, and fraught with the colonialist propaganda of “frontier fantasy.” For this world, they’ve even created an ethnic group explicitly based on the Diné nation, per the official MTG Twitter account. Yet they still chose to center the set’s story around the genocidal selling point of “exploring uninhabited lands to find untold treasure and fortune.”

Yes, they’ve said they used cultural consultants. And, sure, that’s gone well-ish (though not without great flaws) for NEO and LCI. But whatever influence those consultants were allowed to have on OTJ, it was clearly not enough. Because holy shit, even the (otherwise amazing) side story, No Tells, says, “Thunder Junction’s a new plane, one that’s still beginning.” (Do NOT go hating on the author; I doubt he had control over that level of worldbuilding.)

All of this has shattered my hope in the set being respectful, or even not actively harmful. You can say, “wait and see,” and we will, but we’ve seen a lot already—and gang, it has not looked good.

[electronickingdomfox]

"Deep Domain" review

Novel from 1987, by Howard Weinstein. This author (apart from writing the TAS episode "The Pirates of Orion") had previously published another novel, The Covenant of the Crown. And this one has a few things in common with it: a setting that leans more towards fantasy/adventure than sci-fi, a political plot involving the government of an alien planet, a timeline set in the movie era (in this case, shortly before "The Wrath of Khan"), and a villanous couple that discuss their evil plans before having rough sex.

The culture and society of the water-based planet Akkalla is well developed, so the reader gets a fairly comprehensive vision of this world, its problems and its landscapes (and "seascapes"). It appears that Nimoy consulted Weinstein for ideas while working in "The Voyage Home". The appearance of whales and the environmentalist message of this novel seem to have inspired the movie.

This author also has a knack for writing the characters in their movie incarnations, specially Kirk (though at times he seems a bit indecisive) and McCoy, who seems to be his favorite child. For a section of the story, we have the unusual duo of Spock and Chekov working as a team, and they have some good scenes together (at one point talking about marshmallows and campfires, years before the scene in "The Final Frontier"). There are plenty of guest characters, perhaps too many, though some of them disappear from the narrative later, and their plot threads turn out rather inconsequential.

On the downside, the novel flounders a bit in its middle section. The political imbroglio becomes rather messy and hard to follow, with so many factions involved. And the point of view changes too much between the different characters, with some scenes feeling unnecessary (for example, I don't feel we needed so much info about what the villains were plotting behind the scenes). The plot also kind of comes to a halt. Though things get back in track again towards the end.

It's definitely not the most exciting story, and Kirk gets involved in the local problems more out of chivalry, than because there's a real danger to the Enterprise. But it's not a bad novel by any means, with endearing characters and occasional touches of humor.

Spoilers under the cut:

A group of Federation scientists have come into trouble with the Akkallan government after a revolutionary discovery. The Enterprise is scheduled to review their progress, but they send Spock and Chekov in a shuttle first. Upon approaching the planet, the shuttle is attacked by ships from nearby planet Chorym, and crashes on the ocean. Spock and Chekov observe how the giant Chorymi harvest ship swallows tons of ocean water, to catch whatever they find there, and then departs. Using an emergency raft, Spock and Chekov manage to reach an island, but they're captured soon by guerrilla rebels. Calling themselves the "Cape Alliance", they oppose the incresingly totalitarian government, and are led by a man named Zzev.

When the Enterprise finally arrives at Akkalla, they find the scientists holed up and facing reprisals from the native scientists of the Collegium. The problem seems to be some bones they found, which would prove the existence of the mythical Wwafida, an evolved race of Akkallans that live underwater. Kirk and McCoy also visit the Publican, who governs the main continent, but find him a rather weak man, subject to the manipulations of his brigadier Jjenna Vvox (yes, all Akkallan names look like that). The brigadier says that they don't know what happened to Spock and Chekov, but starts a half-hearted attempt to locate them.

After this comes the part that's quite messy. On the one hand, the Federation scientists disappear (apparently abducted by the government). On the other, Kirk comes into contact with Llissa Kkayn, preceptor of the Collegium, and discovers that the rift between both groups of scientists was engineered by the government. Vvox and her lover conspire to take the power from the Publican, and start arresting politicians and scientists, though Llissa avoids imprisonment aboard the Enterprise. Meanwhile Spock and Chekov, alongside rebel leader Zzev, had also been captured by the military. Though they eventually escape the ship bringing them to an island prison, and the three beam up to the Enterprise.

Once everyone's reunited and the plot threads come together, they decide that the only way to stop the government from oppressing the scientists, and the Chorymi from raiding the oceans, is proving without doubt the existence of the Wwafida. The government has a lucrative arrangement with Chorym: in exchange for energy resources, they let them harvest in the ocean. But the existence of sentient life under the sea would ruin this business; and that's why they were supressing the research (though the Chorymi had already broken the treaty and were fishing illegally, so I don't know why they care so much...). Zzev, who is revealed to be Llissa's long-estranged father, and obsessed with the Wwafida, joins the investigation. Kirk and company lead an underwater expedition aboard the submarine shuttle "Cousteau", though they only find some very old bones from centuries ago.

They have more luck when exploring a northern island, declared off-limits by the government. There, they discover a subset of Akkallans that lead an isolated and primitive life. They're friendly, and no elders are on sight. The tribe leader explains that that's because normal Akkallans, upon reaching a certain age, undergo a transformation to Wwafida, and start living beneath the waves. Yet somehow, the modern population has lost this ability. When some fishermen from the tribe accidentally kill a Wwafida, McCoy has the opportunity to study the corpse. And he discovers that it has a gland missing on Akkallans from the main continent. Llissa explains that this gland, so far believed to be useless, is removed at birth for religious reasons. Yet the gland proves to be crucial in the later development as Wwafida. (So, these idiots had the opportunity to spend their retirement days as mermaids, and threw it away!? Ugh! Also, considering that the author is Jewish, I wonder if this is criticism of circumcision).

In the later part, Zzev decides to undergo a dangerous treatment with hormones extracted from the gland, to turn himself into a Wwafida at breakneck pace, despite McCoy's objections. But this is the only way to offer proof of their existence, and warn the other Wwafida about the impending raid from Chorym. The Enterprise tries to keep at bay both the harvest ships, and Vvox's troops, while Zzev says a final goodbye to his daugther and goes to live under the sea.

Spirk Meter: 2/10*. It's very little, a rings rather professional, but while talking with Llissa about Spock, Kirk has nothing but praise for him: "But I've got no doubts that Spock's the most loyal friend a man could ever have. I've never met anyone with more integrity, intelligence, strength -oh, he's got his flaws, but we bring the human out in him every so often- kind of makes up for them. [...] He'd give his life to save this ship and crew. I know that as surely as I've ever known anything. He wouldn't think twice about it, if it were the 'logical' thing to do. If I ever gave up command of the Enterprise, he's the only man I'd trust with her." Which is exactly what he does at the end of the novel, in preparation for the stage of the second film.

As it's usual with this author, the McKirk elements are far more evident. Kirk and McCoy are... well, they are very married. They argue like an old couple, yet go together EVERYWHERE (McCoy follows Kirk so closely, that he bumps into him a couple of times). Both can tell at once if something's wrong with the other just by observing his body language and subtle gestures. In the few fighting scenes, they act as an action couple. They have a botany park aboard the Enterprise that is their favorite place... There's also a scene where McCoy is so tired after working non-stop with Zzev's treatment, that he refuses Kirk's invitation to dinner. Chapel intervenes as a good friend, and urges him to go have dinner with the Admiral, to soothe his mind. And Kirk is pained to see the emotional turmoil in McCoy's eyes during their "date", blaming himself for pushing the doctor so far. At the end, McCoy argues vehemently with Kirk about his decision to abandon the Enterprise and become an Academy teacher, and takes this as a personal issue. Apart from this, McCoy shows a peculiar, playful behavior around Kirk that nobody else exhibits, yet somehow he gets away with it.

*A 10 in this scale is the most obvious spirk moments in TOS. Think of the back massage, "You make me believe in miracles", or "Amok Time" for example.

[warningsine]

Hundreds of Hezbollah members were injured and an unknown number killed on Tuesday after pagers used by the Lebanese Shiite militia exploded across Lebanon simultaneously.

A Hezbollah source told the Guardian that they suspect Israel was behind the attack, but that the number of wounded was still unclear. They added they believe the attack was in response to the alleged assassination attempt by Hezbollah on a former top Israeli defence official, revealed on Tuesday by the Israeli Shin Bet security agency.

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was one of the injured in the explosions, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency.

Lebanon’s minister of health, Firas Abiad, said that while it was too early for an accurate tally, the number of wounded was in the “hundreds” and there were some fatalities from the explosions.

The attack was the third time Beirut has been targeted since the beginning of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah on 8 October, after the latter launched rockets at Israel “in solidarity” with Hamas’s attack the day prior which began the current Gaza war.

Ambulances choked the streets of Beirut, the southern city of Tyre and villages across the Beqaa valley and south Lebanon, rushing the wounded to hospitals. Pictures of the wounded with scorched hips and mangled hands circulated across local media.

A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the detonation of the pagers was the “biggest security breach” the group had been subjected to in nearly a year of war with Israel.

Lebanon’s health ministry asked all healthcare workers to head to their stations and put hospitals across the country on “maximum alert”. It further instructed citizens to distance themselves from wireless communication devices.

Hezbollah maintains its own communication network separate from the rest of Lebanon. Suspicions that Israel has managed to penetrate the group’s telecommunications have been held since October, as several Hezbollah commanders have been assassinated in targeted strikes.

Israel has yet to comment on the attack.

The incident in Lebanon comes as the Israeli prime inister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been holding a series of high-level security consultations with the heads of the security forces as tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon rise, according to Israeli media reports.

The Times of Israel and Ynet news described the meetings as “dramatic.”

The high-level security consultations were called a few hours after Israel, during an overnight meeting of the security cabinet on Tuesday, approved the decision to expand its war goals to include the return of tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from towns along the northern frontier that have been badly damaged by rockets fired by Hezbollah – a move that suggests a major military operation against the Lebanese militant group is likely.

On Tuesday, Israel’s internal security agency said it had foiled an attempt by Hezbollah to kill a former senior Israeli security official, which was reportedly to be carried out in the coming days. The Shin Bet said in a statement that it had found an explosive “device fitted with a camera and a mechanism that would allow it to be activated by Hezbollah from Lebanon,“, although it did not provide evidence linking the device to the Lebanese group.

Hezbollah officials have said in the past that the group would stand down if a Gaza ceasefire was reached, while Israel insists it cannot allow militants to remain in the border area in Lebanon’s south.

The violence has killed hundreds – mostly fighters – in Lebanon, and dozens of civilians and soldiers on the Israeli side. The fighting has also forced tens of thousands of people on both sides to flee their homes.

In recent days, according to media reports in the country, Netanyahu has been allegedly considering dismissing the defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in a move that would be the biggest leadership shake-up in the country since the 7 October attacks, and could potentially pave the way to an all-out conflict against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Gallant is believed to have consistently opposed a major military operation in Lebanon, as the country is still fighting Hamas in Gaza, with the West Bank witnessing an escalation of violence and military activities, and while the country is fighting off Houthi missile attacks and dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and threats.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Joseph (Jake) Klein

Published: Mar 14, 2023

On March 1st, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, an independent publisher that markets Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion literature to businesses, hosted a webinar entitled “Racial Justice: The Next Frontier.” The event featured DEI consultants Mareisha N. Reese and Mary-Frances Winters in conversation with Robin DiAngelo, the famous (or perhaps infamous) author of White Fragility. 

The discussion revealed some good news for those of us concerned by the particular vision of so-called “racial justice” advocated by DiAngelo and her colleagues, in which all white people are racist by definition and all individuals are judged based on their immutable characteristics. All three of the panelists were noticeably less optimistic than they’ve appeared to be in the past about their ability to succeed in bringing their vision of society to fruition.

Each of the panelists expressed substantial frustration at the difficulties they’ve experienced in bringing our society the “systems change” they allege it needs. Mary-Frances Winters noted that she felt their ideas had finally become the basis for a real movement in the “racial reckoning” following the murder of George Floyd. But she lamented how her hopes during that time have not been realized.

Many corporations, Winters said, have added “justice” as a goal (turning DEI into DEIJ) without understanding “what that really means.” She explained that she now hears “a lot” that business leaders are uncomfortable with the DEIJ programs being proposed to them, and that her company, The Winters Group, has lost contracts with businesses who didn’t know what they were getting into—“oh, this is what you mean by anti-racism work? That’s not what we signed up for.” She attributes the failure of these companies to accept her DEIJ program to their “fragility” and choosing to “center white comfort.” DiAngelo added that corporations exhibit a lot of “proclaimed investment with absolutely no true investment,” and that in order to get to a place where they are capable of true investment, “white people have to build their stamina.” She complained that “so many companies have the diversity question…and no one on the hiring committee even knows how to assess a good answer.”

That ideologues like DiAngelo have had an imperfect relationship with corporations is not entirely surprising. Many DEI advocates have long complained that corporations mostly adopt DEI practices for appearance’s sake. But nonetheless, it is noteworthy that some companies are backing away from DEIJ programs once they learn what they truly do. Obscuring the true nature of these programs by using broadly agreeable words such as “inclusion,” “justice,” and “anti-racism”—a strategy often called a “motte-and-bailey”—has been essential to DEI advocates’ ability to market to mainstream America. The panelist’s account of their failures gives reason for opponents of race-essentialist DEI to be optimistic that our ongoing efforts to shed light on its divisive and impractical underpinnings is working. 

Unfortunately, the bad news is that despite failing to meet their ambitious expectations, DiAngelo and her colleagues are moving ahead undeterred. To address opposition to her divisive brand of anti-racism training, DiAngelo proposed that companies must be pushed to view any employees who reject it as “simply not qualified in today’s workplace.” If employers fail to find candidates who are sympathetic to her views on racial justice, then recruiters should consider it a “failed search” and try again. “What I want to do is create a culture that actually spits out those who are resistant,” DiAngelo said. DiAngelo invoked Malcolm Gladwell’s “tipping-point theory,” noting that “you don’t need everyone, you don’t even need 50%, tipping points happen at 30%, roughly.” Once a company goes past the tipping point, the 30% can set out to rid the undesirable influences. 

Perhaps DiAngelo’s most troubling suggestion was that “people of color need to get away from white people.” One concrete manifestation of this reasoning that was mentioned favorably by all three of the panelists is “racial affinity groups.” These groups have already achieved widespread implementation in both schools and businesses and are explicitly segregated by racial identity. Affinity groups also are often geared towards advancing DiAngelo-style racialist politics and social change. The panelists all expressed hope that affinity groups can be used to organize workers and students in racial solidarity.

Ultimately, however, it appears that the uncontrolled spread of race-essentialist DEI has been mitigated—for now at least. The pushback is working. The necessary work of rehabilitating the pro-human vision—treating people equally regardless of the color of their skin or other immutable characteristics, of breaking down what divides us to recognize the truth of our common humanity—will make for a long road ahead. But a road grounded in positivity and harmony offers far more fertile ground to reach a “tipping-point” than DiAngelo’s ever can.

[datastringconsulting]

Brazil, Singapore, and South Africa: The New Frontiers for Immuno Oncology Clinical Trials Market Players

Brazil, Singapore, and South Africa are the fastest growing demand hubs within the $10.0 billion Immuno Oncology Clinical Trials market and expected to grow with a CAGR range of 10.9% and 14.5% for the period of 2025 to 2030. Personalized cancer treatment and next generation sequencing are major application areas for Immuno Oncology Clinical Trials and market competition is fierce in these applications. Here is a notable use case where trials help pinpoint cancer mutations that may respond well to targeted therapy which can assist in matching patients with treatments effectively; Illumina Inc. And Thermo Fisher Scientific are prominent companies involved in this field.

Leading players in such as Merck & Co. Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca plc, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc, Novartis International AG, Gilead Sciences Inc, Eli Lilly and Company, Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Sanofi, TG Therapeutics Inc and Bayer AG are pushing the boundaries of innovation and forging strategic partnerships to capture larger market share.

Check detailed insights here - https://datastringconsulting.com/industry-analysis/immuno-oncology-clinical-trials-market-research-report

The scene in the Immuno oncoloy Clinical Trials market is changing as precision medicine takes stage more and more these days. Its a shift that helps healthcare providers and scientists better forecast the most effective treatment plans for different patient groups dealing with specific diseases. The focus on precision medicine in immuno oncoloy trials is paving the way, for personalized treatment options that could potentially enhance both treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes.

Global & Regional Analysis

As per research study, Immuno Oncology Clinical Trials is expected to rise to $35.0 billion by 2035 from $10.0 billion of 2024 with a CAGR of 12.1%. In North America and especially the United States is where the Immuno oncology Clinical Trials market thrives globally because of advances in healthcare tech and a strong network of key industry players who are pioneering new strategies in cancer research. Competition is fierce here due, to the involvement of established pharmaceutical and biotech firms driving clinical trials forward. The market shows promising opportunities with a projected growth rate due, to the regions focuson personalized and precise medicine and the high incidence of cancer.

About DataString Consulting

DataString Consulting assist companies in strategy formulations & roadmap creation including TAM expansion, revenue diversification strategies and venturing into new markets; by offering in depth insights into developing trends and competitor landscapes as well as customer demographics. Our customized & direct strategies, filters industry noises into new opportunities; and reduces the effective connect time between products and its market niche.

DataString Consulting is a professional market research company which aims at providing all the market & business research solutions under one roof. Get the right insights for your goals with our unique approach to market research and precisely tailored solutions. We offer services in strategy consulting, comprehensive opportunity assessment across various sectors, and solution-oriented approaches to solve business problems.​

[harshamadaan]

Hotel Asset Management Companies in India

Promiller Group, among the top Hotel Asset Management Companies in India, is a dynamic conglomerate with ventures in hospitality and beyond.For more information, visit

[tyccommunicationblog]

Artificial Intelligence: The Next Frontier for Public Relations Professionals

As brands seek innovative ways to capture audience attention in a crowded marketplace, AI has emerged as a vital resource for PR professionals. From sentiment analysis and media monitoring to content generation, AI-driven solutions empower PR teams to create more strategic, data-informed campaigns. The integration of AI in PR opens doors to exciting new possibilities and stands to redefine the future of the industry.

Artificial intelligence is transforming public relations by enabling professionals to manage, analyze, and interpret data at a scale never before possible. PR professionals today are tasked with not only generating impactful content but also measuring its effectiveness in real-time. AI tools, such as sentiment analysis software and predictive analytics, empower PR teams to capture the audience's mood, anticipate responses, and fine-tune their communication strategies.

One major area where AI is making an impact is in media monitoring. Traditionally, PR teams would monitor media manually, but AI-driven solutions can now track mentions, sentiments, and trends across thousands of digital platforms in seconds. This ability to analyze and interpret vast amounts of online data allows PR professionals to gain valuable insights into public perception, competitors, and emerging trends. The best PR agency in Delhi can use these tools to refine its messaging and positioning, ensuring that campaigns are aligned with real-time audience expectations.

Another significant benefit of AI in PR is its ability to personalize communication. AI-powered algorithms allow PR professionals to deliver highly customized messages to different audience segments, creating a stronger emotional connection with each group. By analyzing customer data, AI tools can help PR teams understand individual preferences, behaviours, and needs, ensuring every campaign feels relevant and engaging to its target audience.

AI also simplifies content creation and distribution. With AI-generated content tools, PR teams can streamline tasks such as drafting press releases, social media posts, and blog articles. This allows professionals to focus more on strategy and creativity while maintaining a consistent content output that aligns with brand objectives. For instance, AI can suggest optimal posting times, predict content performance, and even generate captions based on trending topics, making content delivery both efficient and effective.

While AI offers many advantages, PR professionals must also approach it responsibly. Transparency, ethical considerations, and data privacy are paramount when leveraging AI to shape public narratives. As AI continues to evolve, the PR industry must remain vigilant in addressing potential ethical concerns to build trust with audiences.

In gist

As PR continues to evolve with AI, The Yellow Coin Communication stands at the forefront of this transformation. With a deep understanding of AI-powered PR solutions, they offer services that integrate data-driven insights, innovative content strategies, and efficient media monitoring to help brands achieve their communication goals. Known for providing the Best PR Services in Delhi, The Yellow Coin Communication is committed to helping clients succeed in the age of AI-driven public relations.

[lizseyi]

Unexpected Sales Drop For LVMH Underscores The Luxury Sector’s Challenges In 2024 - Skywire

LVMH’s reputation has long been one of a luxury giant that somehow weathers economic storms better than its competitors. This makes it all the more startling a story that for the three months to the end of September, group revenues fell to €19.1 billion (£16 billion) – a 3% decline compared to a year earlier. 

Furthermore, the French conglomerate’s fashion and leather goods division – widely seen as a bellwether for the luxury goods industry – saw its sales decline by 5%. 

Those aren’t figures that constitute disaster for the Louis Vuitton owner’s annual revenue. However, such pronounced stagnation in the group’s fashion and accessories portfolio does indicate the sector may now be undergoing a more challenging period, after a golden age of growth in recent years. 

Even LVMH can no longer avoid certain pressures  

Brands from the LVMH stable were highly visible during the summer Olympics in Paris, which adds to the sense of surprise that the booming sales predicted by analysts didn’t happen. 

LVMH – which counts such brands as Moët Hennessy, Dior, Givenchy, Celine, and Fendi under its banner – has historically been able to achieve strong growth through strategic price increases, the creation of highly desirable niches, and expansion into new markets. 

The company’s sales downturn, though, indicates that such factors as inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, as well as perceptions of luxury brands not being sufficiently innovative, might be exerting their effects on LVMH. 

Questions have been asked as to whether high-end brands might be presiding over an increasing disconnect between luxury products and consumer demand. The last five years have seen the prices of luxury handbags and accessories almost double, resulting in a sharper divide between consumers’ aspirations and their ability to afford such products. 

The Asian component also appears to be a strong one. While China was long a major growth frontier for prestige brands, the recent economic pressures on Chinese customers haven’t left them with much room for discretionary luxury expenditure. This has been borne out in Chinese customers spending less on LVMH’s cognac, designer handbags, and clothes. 

A cautious time for the high-end goods sector

Recent performance data from other parts of the luxury industry tells its own story, backing up the consultancy Bain’s forecast a few months ago that sales of personal high-end goods could be flat in 2024. 

Kering has already been reporting double-digit declines this year, and is set to unveil its third-quarter results on 23rd October. Hermès will release its figures the following day, although it seems that a more resilient ultra-wealthy client base has enabled the design house to swerve the wider luxury market’s decline so far – its year-on-year group sales went up by 13% during the second quarter. 

Still, the surprising turbulence encountered by LVMH illustrates that few things can presently be taken for granted among the world’s prestige brands. 

Such an uncertain situation, in turn, underscores the importance of luxury, lifestyle, and fashion players seeking new drivers of growth, online and offline. For an in-depth conversation with us about how our luxury advertising agency could help your own brand achieve sustained growth through the delivery of digital excellence, please contact the Skywire London team today. 

[drlalitbhardwaj]

Brain Tumor Treatment in Jaipur: Advanced Care for Complex Conditions

Brain tumors are among the most complex and challenging medical conditions to treat, requiring expert care and cutting-edge technology. In Jaipur, a hub for advanced medical care, numerous healthcare facilities offer comprehensive treatment options for brain tumors, attracting patients from across the region. If you or a loved one is dealing with a brain tumor diagnosis, knowing the available treatment options in Jaipur can help you make informed decisions. Here’s an overview of brain tumor treatment approaches in Jaipur and the specialists who make a difference.

Understanding Brain Tumors

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within the brain, and it can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Symptoms may vary depending on the size, location, and growth rate of the tumor, often including headaches, seizures, changes in vision, and cognitive or motor impairments. Early diagnosis and precise treatment are key to improving patient outcomes.

Diagnosis and Initial Consultation

The journey to treating a brain tumor starts with a comprehensive diagnosis. Specialists in Jaipur rely on advanced diagnostic tools like MRI, CT scans, and PET scans, along with biopsies, to assess the nature and extent of the tumor. Dr. Lalit Bhardwaj, a leading neurosurgeon and brain tumor specialist in Jaipur, is known for his expertise in diagnosing and crafting personalized treatment plans based on each patient’s condition and medical history.

Surgical Treatment for Brain Tumors

Surgery is often the primary treatment for brain tumors, aiming to remove as much of the tumor as possible while preserving surrounding healthy brain tissue. Jaipur offers advanced surgical techniques, including minimally invasive procedures, that allow for greater precision and faster recovery times. Skilled neurosurgeons like Dr. Lalit Bhardwaj in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, use high-end technology such as neuronavigation and intraoperative MRI to enhance surgical accuracy, reducing the risks associated with brain surgeries.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is another key component of brain tumor treatment, especially for malignant tumors or cases where surgery alone cannot fully remove the tumor. Jaipur’s oncology centers are equipped with the latest radiation technology, including stereotactic radiosurgery and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). These methods deliver high doses of radiation directly to the tumor, minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and improving outcomes.

Chemotherapy and Targeted Drug Therapy

Chemotherapy involves using drugs to destroy cancer cells and is often combined with surgery or radiation for more aggressive brain tumors. In recent years, targeted drug therapy has gained popularity, allowing doctors to use drugs specifically designed to attack the genetic mutations driving tumor growth. Brain tumor specialists in Jaipur may recommend chemotherapy based on the type, stage, and location of the tumor, tailoring treatments to each patient’s needs.

Immunotherapy: A New Frontier

Immunotherapy, a novel treatment approach, boosts the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It has shown promise in treating certain brain tumors that are resistant to traditional therapies. While immunotherapy is still emerging in brain tumor care, some leading centers in Jaipur have begun offering it as part of clinical trials or specialized treatment plans for eligible patients.

Holistic Support and Rehabilitation

Brain tumor treatment in Jaipur goes beyond medical intervention, emphasizing supportive care, rehabilitation, and quality of life improvements. Jaipur’s hospitals provide a range of services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support, to aid recovery and help patients return to daily life. Family counseling and support groups are also available, offering emotional and practical support for patients and their families.

Conclusion

Brain tumor treatment in Jaipur has reached new heights, with advanced options ranging from precision surgery to innovative therapies like immunotherapy. For anyone facing a brain tumor diagnosis, Jaipur provides access to top-tier specialists and cutting-edge treatment options, ensuring patients receive personalized, high-quality care. Consulting an experienced neurosurgeon can help you understand your options and embark on a treatment plan that offers the best chance for recovery and quality of life.