#LED Colour Changing Lights In Australia

[mybeingthere]

Described as a ‘Virtuoso of the potter’s wheel’ by Peter Timms, Art Critic for the Melbourne Age John Stroomer is a master potter who is internationally recognized for his work with Crystalline Glazes. His forms are classical, balanced, simple, full bodied and reflect his mastery of both the potter’s wheel and crystalline process.

“I have been making for almost 50 years, employing 23 potters during the 80s/90s supplying wheel thrown domestic stoneware to major retailers, direct selling companies and homeware stores Australia-wide.

The recession of 1981, a devastating factory fire in 1988 followed by the 1990 recession and subsequent fluctuating market forces eventually led to a change in personal philosophy/direction. They were all pivotal in leading me to where and who I am today.

The exacting nature, temperature control, balance and understanding of materials and glaze technologies demanded by the Crystaline process reflect John’s mastery of his craft over many years. Each pot is fired at over 1,300 Degrees Celsius for at least 18 hours. Once peak temperature has been reached, the kiln is rapidly cooled to pre-determined temperatures, at which point the crystals begin to be formed. As crystal formation requires slow cooling, the temperature is held and slowly reduced/managed with a crystal growth period of an additional six hours.

Crystals can take on a myriad of shapes and are three dimensional in nature. In direct sunlight or strong light, spectacular effects can be created by the refraction of light bouncing off the crystals, giving each pot a true three dimensional appearance.

Metallic oxides and combinations of various materials are used to produce a wide range of colours, ranging from dark browns, to cobalt blues and coral greens, amongst many others.

The end result are a range of pots that are exquisite.

[vamp-orwave]

Her Favourite Worst Nightmare

I - Toccata

It was a cold winter night for Adelaide, but having just come from London's mild summer, Judith had expected it to be much colder. There was almost no change at all in temperature, but the air was cleaner -- so clean she wondered how she'd ever breathed at all before she died. The rain had followed her to this city too, gently spattering across the tram window.

"So what do you reckon?" Frankie prodded, nudging Judith with his meaty elbow across the aisle where they both stood.

"Huh?" The Daeva turned blankly to her clanmate, taking a moment to process his question. The last night she was awake had been a very long night, and she had the feeling tonight was going to be another.

Rubbing her bleary eyes and focusing past the rain, she surveyed the urban scenery as it passed by. Lit only by false light under an overcast sky -- orange sodium, cold fluorescent, LED headlights, colourful neon, and their blurred reflections on the drizzle-slick asphalt -- Judith could make out the painted iron of colonial balconies, the elaborate stone of Victorian masonry, and the glass and steel of modern skyscrapers between the slow river of cars and pedestrians that wove their way in and out of the connecting streets and alleys. This city wore its age on its sleeve, and it was young, like she was.

She was grateful for that.

"At least there's a night life?" Judith attempted gloomily.

"Better than you could hope for on such short notice. Just wished more bands stopped here, ay. Y'know Zeppelin passed us over in '72? Fuckin' devastating." Frankie shook his head, then shot a cheeky wink at the older fellow seated nearby who'd turned to give him a queer look.

"But I was asking about your new digs," he added, a little quieter.

"Oh." Judith's mind flashed back to the peeling paint and stained carpet.

"They'll do fine," she replied, a little more honestly this time. It was private enough, and shelter from the sun, and she knew havening in another shithole would make her feel right at home in this pale, sleepy shadow of the broken empire she'd never see again.

"Right on. We'll get you some furniture so you're not sleeping on the floor."

The tram crawled to a stop at a sheltered island in between the lanes of King William Street. As the doors opened, and the kine surrounding them began to shuffle out into the night air, Judith leaned in close enough to whisper.

"Think I've got time for a hit?"

Moving to alight with the other passengers, Frankie looked her up and down with a grin, and beckoned her to follow suit before more evening riders could cram themselves into the carriage. He sat down on a steel bench and waited for the tramstop to empty and the doors to close.

"Probably not the best idea to be sky high when you meet the Prince," he laughed, as the transport slowly slithered off to resume its circular route.

"'Sides, you'll be here for hours trying to sniff out anyone willing to take junk from some rando cockney punk they've never laid eyes on. Anyone your type, anyway."

Frank's eyes lingered on her chest for the third time that night, Judith noticed. She always noticed when someone looked a little too long. Not that men ever tried to hide it.

"I dunno," she shrugged. "I can be pretty bloody persuasive."

With a sarcastic smile, Judith turned to appraise her surroundings. She tried her best to focus, to put the itching thirst for her next fix out of her mind. Her new best friend had brought her here, to the communal hunting grounds known as The Rack, because she had a more pressing thirst to quench.

"Hindley Street that way," he pointed ahead of him, "Pubs and clubs galore," then he thumbed over his shoulder. "Rundle Mall that way. Shops are all closed right now though."

"Closed!?" Judith gaped. "It's not even six yet!"

Frankie let out a brassy chuckle. "Welcome to South Australia!"

"How the fuck do you buy shit then?"

"Ghouls. Just about everyone's got one."

Judith rolled her eyes. Lovely. Another complication. Frankie waved dismissively.

"No worries, we can share until you've found one. Grant's got good taste, he'll get you started on a new collection."

Judith made a sour expression and resumed her focus, scanning the thin crowd of mortals on either side of the street for her next meal. It still stung that she'd had to abandon 35 years of records, not to mention her favourite Fender.

"You 'right then?" she offered.

"Yeah, had a snack on the way in. Back here when you're done, then we'll boogie."

With a nod, Judith hopped off the tramstop and strode purposefully off towards the outdoor Mall to the East, avoiding further conversation. She wasn't in the mood to play the social game, and no good targets had yet presented themselves for an ambush. Most women walked with their partner or in groups, or else they weren't particularly appetising.

Trudging out of the mild bustle of King William into what was at this hour an underused thoroughfare between more desirable destinations, she was about to settle on tailing a wrinkled old bat dragging a hand-cart when her ears picked up the sound of music.

The piercing, mournful song of wailing strings cut through the damp night air, drawing Judith in like a siren. For a few sweet moments, she forgot her gnawing hunger as she floated upon the melody, following it to its source.

Rounding the corner of one of Rundle's numerous side-passages, she at last laid eyes on the gorgeous, glossy curves of a violin in fervent motion. It was cradled by a short, skinny lad, bundled up in a duffel coat and thick red scarf, and he seemed lost in his passionate playing.

Judith stood, captivated. Leaning against the wall across the path from the young man, she watched the soft rain fall between them from her adjacent point of shelter, surrendering herself to join him on the higher plane of ecstasy shared only by a musician and their audience. It was some classical piece she was sure she'd heard before, but couldn't name. Hardly her scene, but masterful regardless.

When she came back to earth, Judith noticed the violinist was staring at her from behind his dancing bow. Momentarily startled, she thought to reach for her wallet for a tip until she remembered she was woefully short on this country's legal tender. Instead she patted her pockets and shrugged to her fellow artist with an apologetic smile, and had turned to move on when a passerby suddenly caught her eye.

A woman, tall and pale. Blonde. Fishnets. Fur coat. Judith felt her heart leap into her throat.

It couldn't be. Could it?

She forgot her prior reverie immediately, falling in behind the girl in a silent pursuit. Her ravenous eyes burned into the back of that pretty, golden head. What would Charlotte be doing on this side of the world? Had Frankie smuggled her out of hot water too, all those years ago? Don't be stupid, she told herself. Even if she were here, what are the chances you'd meet her again the very first night?

Judith quickened her pace. She couldn't sense a Beast within that beautiful figure, but she had to be sure. When her quarry turned off the main path, she seized the opportunity to close the distance.

"'Scuse me, love!" she called out.

The woman turned. It wasn't Charlotte.

Judith's heart sank a little. The blissful nights she'd spent with her Sire were so long ago now that they seemed like a dream, and throughout the lonely years since she'd woken, the details had been slowly slipping through her fingers like grains of sand. Would she even recognise Charlotte's perfect, painted smile if it were inches away?

"Can I help you?"

The mortal woman in front of her did not smile. Her posture stiffened at being approached in this low light, but she stood her ground. Judith gave her a friendly grin. Her small stature and deceptively cherubic face tended to set strangers at ease, despite the studs and leather jacket.

"Sorry to bother you love -- my phone's dead," Judith lied. "Any chance you can point me to a cafe that's still open?"

The pretense and friendly tone gave the poor girl an excuse to lower her guard a little.

"Oh." She glanced around to further gauge her immediate safety, wobbling a little on her red stilettos. "Sure, hang on."

Momentarily taking her eyes off of Judith, she dug a hand into her coat pocket to pull up google maps. Though cordial, she kept a vice grip on her gold-plated smartphone.

"Cheers love," Judith edged ever closer, eyeing her prey's white, swan-like neck.

When her search had loaded, she tilted her phone screen to show Judith the nearest red pins, wordlessly inviting her to lean in.

Too easy.

Lightning fast, Judith latched one hand tightly around the woman's wrist, slipped the other arm around the waist of her cocktail dress, and pulled her into The Kiss.

She felt her fangs slip into the warm, supple flesh like butter. Her prey quickly loosened in her grip, and uttered a delicious, sugary moan. Judith pushed Not-Charlotte up against the nearest wall; pressed a knee between her thighs. She let herself sink into a bittersweet nostalgia as thick, coppery blood -- with a welcome kick of vodka -- gushed red-hot into her waiting mouth and down her throat. Drinking her fill, she lost herself in the smell of her hair, the dance of her heart, the shape of her lithe body helpless beneath desperate hands.

It was only after Judith had licked the puncture marks closed and left her victim alone in a daze that she noticed the violin had stopped. Retracing her steps, she found that sure enough, the lad had packed it in and was nowhere to be seen.

Mustn't be a good night for it, she thought with a small pang of regret. For a moment, she considered chasing him down, thrusting twenty quid into his hand and letting him figure it out, but decided against it. With any luck, she'd be in town long enough to see him again.

Besides -- she had somewhere more important to be tonight, and she was probably already fashionably late.

[next]

[alyssamonah]

Emerging Trends & Innovations in Newcastle Electrical Services Industry

The electrical services industry in Newcastle, Australia, is undergoing a remarkable transformation driven by technological advancements and changing consumer demands. This article explores the emerging trends and innovations that are shaping the future of electrical services in Newcastle. From smart homes to sustainable practices, these developments are revolutionizing how electrical services are delivered and experienced.

Smart Home Integration

Smart homes have become a ubiquitous trend in Newcastle's electrical services industry. With the increasing availability and affordability of smart devices, homeowners are seeking ways to automate and control their homes for convenience and energy efficiency. Key innovations include:

Voice-Activated Systems: Integration of voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home to control lighting, heating, and security systems.

Energy Management: Smart meters and energy management systems that allow homeowners to monitor and optimize their electricity consumption.

These innovations not only enhance the quality of life for residents but also contribute to reducing energy wastage and lowering utility bills.

Renewable Energy Solutions

The growing emphasis on sustainability has driven a surge in demand for renewable energy solutions. Newcastle electrical services industry is at the forefront of harnessing clean energy sources such as solar and wind power. Key developments include:

Solar Panel Installations: Newcastle has seen a significant increase in solar panel installations, both for residential and commercial properties.

Battery Storage Systems: Advancements in energy storage technology, such as lithium-ion batteries, enable homeowners to store excess energy for later use.

These innovations align with global efforts to reduce carbon footprints and combat climate change while providing cost-effective energy solutions.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more popular, the need for accessible charging infrastructure is growing. Electrical service providers in Newcastle are increasingly involved in the installation and maintenance of EV charging stations. Key points to consider are:

Fast Charging: The deployment of fast-charging stations in public spaces and homes to accommodate the needs of EV owners.

Solar-Powered Charging: Integration of solar panels with EV charging stations to utilize clean energy for transportation.

The expansion of EV charging infrastructure supports the transition to sustainable transportation and positions Newcastle as a city committed to reducing emissions.

Advanced Home Security Systems

The safety and security of homes have always been a top priority. Newcastle's electrical services industry incorporates advanced technology to offer comprehensive security solutions. Notable trends include:

Smart Cameras: High-definition, Wi-Fi-enabled security cameras with real-time monitoring and remote access.

Access Control Systems: Smart locks and access control systems that provide homeowners with control over who enters their property.

These innovations not only enhance security but also provide peace of mind for homeowners, knowing they can monitor and secure their homes from anywhere.

Energy-Efficient Lighting Solutions

Efficiency remains a cornerstone of electrical services, and lighting is no exception. The industry is witnessing a shift towards energy-efficient lighting solutions:

LED Lighting: Widespread adoption of LED lighting due to its energy efficiency and longer lifespan.

Smart Lighting: Automated lighting systems that adjust brightness and colour temperature based on occupancy and natural light.

These innovations not only reduce energy consumption but also contribute to cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint.

Predictive Maintenance

To minimize downtime and ensure reliable electrical systems, predictive maintenance is gaining prominence. By utilizing data analytics and sensors, electrical service providers can:

Predict Failures: Identify potential issues before they lead to system breakdowns.

Schedule Maintenance: Plan maintenance activities at optimal times to minimize disruption.

This approach maximizes the longevity of electrical systems and minimizes repair costs.

Digitalization and Remote Monitoring

Advancements in technology have allowed for remote monitoring and management of electrical systems. Key innovations in this area include:

IoT Integration: Utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) to collect and analyze data from electrical systems.

Remote Control: The ability to control and monitor electrical systems remotely via smartphone apps and web interfaces.

These innovations enhance efficiency and responsiveness in managing electrical services, particularly in commercial and industrial settings.

Training and Skill Development

With the introduction of new technologies, the electrical workforce in Newcastle is continuously upgrading its skills. Training and skill development programs are essential to staying up-to-date with emerging trends. Key areas of focus include:

Renewable Energy Training: Courses on installing and maintaining solar panels and other renewable energy systems.

Smart Home Integration: Training programs to equip electricians with the knowledge to install and configure smart home devices.

Investing in skill development ensures that the workforce is well-prepared to meet the evolving needs of customers.

Enhanced Customer Experience

Customer expectations are evolving, and electrical service providers are investing in enhancing the overall customer experience. This includes:

Digital Service Requests: Online platforms for customers to request services and receive quotes.

Transparent Pricing: Clear and upfront pricing models to build trust with customers.

A positive customer experience not only retains existing clients but also attracts new ones through referrals and reviews.

Regulatory Compliance and Safety

Compliance with safety regulations and standards is paramount in the electrical services industry. The electricians Newcastle NSW are proactively ensuring:

Safety Protocols: Strict adherence to safety protocols to protect both customers and workers.

Environmental Regulations: Compliance with environmental regulations when installing and maintaining systems.

This commitment to safety and compliance instils confidence in customers and contributes to a safer environment.

In conclusion

The Newcastle electrical services industry is embracing a range of innovative trends and practices that are reshaping the way electrical services are delivered and experienced. From smart home integration to renewable energy solutions and advanced security systems, these developments not only meet the evolving needs of customers but also contribute to a more sustainable and technologically advanced future for the region. As these trends continue to evolve, Newcastle's electrical services industry is positioned for a bright and electrifying future.

[ledlightsaustralia]

LED Strip Lights in Australia: Illuminating the Future

Australia, a country known for its awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse wildlife, and innovative technology, is now embracing a bright addition to its palette – LED strip lights. A popular choice worldwide, LED strip lights in Australia have seen a surge in popularity due to their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and versatility. From urban homes in Sydney to rural spaces in the Outback, these lights are illuminating the way Australians perceive interior and exterior design.

What are LED Strip Lights?

LED strip lights are thin, flexible lighting solutions that come in a strip form, embedded with small LED bulbs. Available in a myriad of colours, these lights are often used for ambient lighting, accenting spaces, and even as primary light sources in certain design scenarios. Their adaptability and range of colour options have made them particularly popular among homeowners, designers, and businesses alike.

Why LED Strip Lights are Gaining Popularity in Australia

Energy Efficiency: Australians are globally known for their environmental consciousness. As a nation that feels the direct impacts of climate change, opting for energy-efficient solutions is a priority. LED strip lights consume considerably less energy than traditional bulbs, leading to reduced electricity bills and a smaller carbon footprint.

Flexibility in Design: Whether you’re illuminating the poolside area in Queensland, adding a cosy touch to a cafe in Melbourne, or giving an artistic flair to a gallery in Perth, LED strip lights offer unmatched design flexibility. They can be cut to specific lengths, allowing for personalised designs suitable for any space.

Durability: Australia’s diverse climate demands products that can withstand varying conditions. LED strip lights are not only energy-efficient but are also long-lasting. Their robust design ensures that they can endure both hot summers and cooler winters.

Safety: Unlike traditional bulbs that can heat up considerably, LED strip lights remain cool to the touch. This makes them safe for use in children’s rooms and in areas where there's a risk of contact.

Using LED Strip Lights in Australian Homes

From urban apartments to sprawling suburban homes, the use of LED strip lights in Australian residences has taken interior design to a new level.

Kitchen & Living Spaces: Installing them under cabinets or around kitchen islands offers a modern touch. In living spaces, they can be used behind televisions or as accent lighting on shelves and niches.

Bedrooms: LED strip lights are perfect for creating a serene ambiance. They can be placed behind headboards, around mirrors, or even along the baseboards to offer a soft glow.

Bathrooms: These lights can transform an ordinary bathroom into a spa-like experience. With appropriate waterproof ratings, they can be used near bathtubs, showers, and sinks.

Commercial Use of LED Strip Lights in Australia

Businesses across Australia are realising the potential of LED strip lights in creating memorable customer experiences.

Retail: Shops are utilising them to highlight displays, attract customers, and even guide foot traffic.

Restaurants & Cafes: From fine-dining establishments in Sydney to beachside cafes in Gold Coast, LED strip lights create the perfect ambiance for diners.

Offices: Modern workspaces are incorporating LED strip lights to improve aesthetics and ensure a pleasant working environment for employees.

Choosing the Right LED Strip Lights in Australia

When considering LED strip lights for any project, it's essential to consider the following:

Purpose: Determine whether they are for ambient, accent, or primary lighting.

Colour: They come in various colours and even in RGB versions that can change hues with the help of a controller.

Brightness: Ensure the luminosity is appropriate for the intended space.

Waterproofing: If being used outdoors or in moist areas, always choose waterproof variants.

Conclusion

LED strip lights in Australia are more than just a trend; they are shaping the future of lighting design across the country. Their myriad benefits, coupled with the nation’s focus on sustainable and innovative solutions, ensure that these lights are here to stay. Whether you’re redesigning your home or establishing a business, consider LED strip lights as a bright option for all your lighting needs.

[gearzenfan]

Buy Quality Solar Christmas Lights & Decorations in Australia

With society becoming more environmentally conscious, people are looking for new and innovative ways to harness solar power. Using solar Christmas lights is increasingly becoming popular in Australia, especially during the festive season. Such initiatives allow you to enjoy the holiday season without adding to the growing energy crisis. 

Premium quality solar Christmas decorations are a great way to use renewable energy and reduce carbon footprint. Reputable solar light suppliers offer a wide range of options so that you do not need to sacrifice style for sustainability. 

The Uniqueness of Solar Lights & Decorations 

Solar lighting changes the way one thinks about sustainable outdoor decor, especially during the festive season. Besides reducing your energy consumption, solar Christmas lights and decorations save your expenses in the long run, as they do not require electricity to operate. 

Solar-powered Christmas decorations harness sunlight during the day and illuminate automatically at night. Such lights create an eco-friendly and charming ambience in your backyard. Besides being energy efficient, they’re easy to install, adding a touch of festive cheer to your home. Elevate your holiday decor without adding any extra work to your to-do list with solar Christmas decorations. 

Looking for a hassle-free solution to light up your home this holiday season? Solar Christmas lights are the perfect solution in Australia! The location of your nearest electrical outlet doesn’t limit solar lights. You can string them up anywhere you like. It comes with the added convenience of automatic on/off settings — you don’t have to worry about switching them on or off manually. 

Why are Solar Christmas Lights Popular Today? 

Fed up with pesky extension cords? Try using solar Christmas lights! Imagine having a festive outdoor display or brightly lit Christmas tree without the need for a power outlet. Sounds like magic, right? 

With solar Christmas lights in Australia, you can make your holiday season both bright and merry, all the while being kind to the planet. Add some sparkle to your home without burning a hole in your pocket or harming the environment. 

Come to Gearzen for an Extensive Collection of Solar Lights! 

Looking for a more sustainable way to decorate your home? Solar Christmas lights are the ideal solution! 

At Gearzen, we offer you a wide array of solar Christmas lights, from classic white lights to festive and colourful designs. Hang our lights wherever you choose. Our range of solar Christmas lights comes in various sizes, shapes and designs and can be placed wherever you like to ensure every corner of your home is illuminated. 

Add a unique touch to your holiday decor. Our products are cost-effective as they absorb energy from the sun during the day. We offer you lights that are better for the environment. Light up every corner of your garden while emphasising the importance of clean energy. Invest in solar Christmas decorations TODAY and enhance your Christmas decor while being environmentally friendly. Visit https://gearzen.com.au/collections/led-decorations-solar-led TODAY!

[counterfeitsale]

Counterfeit AUD 5 Bills

The Australian 5 dollar note was first issued in 1967 and since then there have been Fake $5 Notes For Sale In Australia. One year after the currency was changed from the Australian pound to the Australian dollar on 14 February 1966. It was a new denomination, with a new mauve coloration. There have been five different issues of this denomination:

Counterfeit AUD 5 Bills are common these days as people use them for several reasons. While the most common is for movies, with producers using them as prop money. Some People ten to use Counterfeit $5 Bills in Australia for their personal gains in deceiving people who have no clue on how to detect them. 

Description

Dimension

Size: 130 x 65mm Paper type: Polymer Main Color: Mauve$5 Dollar Australian Banknote

The new Australian five-dollar polymer banknote was issued on 1 September 2016. It retains the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which is drawn from the same source photograph represented on the first polymer five-dollar banknote.

The note features different species of Australian wattle and a native bird. The banknote also depicts New Parliament House and the Forecourt Mosaic, which is based on a Central Desert dot-style painting by Michael Nelson Jagamara titled ‘Possum and Wallaby Dreaming’ and a schematic plan of the New Parliament House.

This was based on the Design Development Landscape Plan, which was provided by the Parliament House Construction Authority.

How to spot a Fake $5 Notes Australia (Security Features)

In other to spot a fake $5 Australian banknote, Check for the following features as per the descriptions Given below: 

Top-to-bottom window

Look for multiple security features in the clear top-to-bottom window. The window should be an integral part of the banknote and not an addition. Check that the security features in the window cannot be easily rubbed off.

3D Image

Tilt the banknote to see a three-dimensional image with a colorful border. The image will appear raised or recessed.

Flying bird

Tilt the banknote to see a bird move its wings and change colour in the top-to-bottom window.

Colorful bird

Tilt the banknote to see colours change within a bird.

Reversing number

Tilt the banknote to see a number change direction within the building. The number alternately appears forwards, disappears, then appears backwards.

Rolling color effect

Tilt the banknote to see a rolling colour effect. On one side of the banknote it is a prominent patch near the top corner on the other side it is within a bird shape.

Image in small window

Look for an image in a small clear window. The image is embossed and has a light and dark effect. The window should be an integral part of the banknote and not an addition.

Intaglio print

Feel the distinctive texture of the dark printing. The slightly raised print can be felt by running a finger across the portraits and numerals.

Background print(offset)

Multi-coloured and multi-directional fine-line patterns appear on each side of the banknote. This background printing should be very sharp. Check for irregularities such as less clearly defined patterns, thicker or thinner lines, or colour differences.

Fluorescent ink

To validate the UV fluorescent features on Australia’s banknotes, it is recommended that a UV black light with a wavelength that is centered around 365nm be used, and that it is done so in low ambient lighting conditions. Many UV black lights that use Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) emit wavelengths between 395 – 400nm, which are not suitable for viewing the UV features.

MicroprintThere is microprint, or tiny, clearly defined text, in multiple locations on the banknote.

Why Buy Fake $5 Notes For Sale In Australia at Counterfeit sales?

At Counterfeit Sales, you can buy the best quality $5 Australian dollar bills for Sale at good rates. We sell all types of counter $5 Dollar Australian Banknotes. Our prices are cheap and affordable to anyone. Delivery is within 72 hours and you can use these banknotes as soon as you want. 

Where to buy Fake $5 Notes For Sale In Australia?

Buy counterfeit AUD 5 bills online at counterfeitsales.com. You can use them for doing any kind of payment without thinking of being caught. No banker or any scanner machine will be able to detect it as they are undetectable counterfeit money.

 Buy counterfeit dollar bills, Buy counterfeit euro bills,  Buy counterfeit GBP banknotes and other currencies from number one suppliers in the Market. We are not responsible for what you use our prop money for.

Sources:

In order to come up with this beautiful peace of write up, we read and copied some contents from other amazing writers/bloggers. Below is a list of sources we used;

rba.gov.au

wikipedia.org

Fake $5 Notes For Sale In Australia / Counterfeit AUD 5 Bills

[blindsnewcastle]

The Shutter Guy Newcastle

Located amongst pristine beaches and lush bushland and National Parks, Newcastle is a must-see tourist destination. But it is also a Global Gateway City, with a strong, working culture that has embraced the cosmopolitan cafe, wine and foodie vibes of its neighbours to the south. It is this culture that has led many homes and businesses to seek better thermal regulation for their windows through modern shutters.

Choosing the right product for your home

Choosing the right shutters for your home is important, as they will add value to your property and give it a stylish look. Sliding shutters come in many different materials, including timber and aluminium, so you can choose the perfect option for your home. They are also easy to keep clean, making them a great choice for homeowners. They can be cleaned with a hose or brush, and they can be easily locked to prevent intruders from entering your house.

Newcastle is a city that is surrounded by pristine beaches, bushland and national parks. It is a must-see holiday destination, with a relaxed beach culture and a cosmopolitan cafe, wine and foodie scene.

Its changeable temperate climate has prompted homeowners and business owners to seek ways to improve their building’s indoor temperature regulation. Shutters Quickly provides them with superior quality window solutions for better thermal protection and energy efficiency at the best prices in Australia. The company offers an extensive range of high-quality domestic and imported window shutters to suit a variety of styles and tastes. In addition, it offers custom-made options for all products. It also offers a wide selection of colours and designs to complement any interior décor.

Installation

We offer a full service, from measurement through to installation of shutters and blinds in your home. Using products from carefully-selected manufacturers, we can supply you with an extensive range of internal and external window shutters and blinds. Our goal is to help you make the right choice of products for your unique needs and budget.

When you choose The Shutter Guy, you’ll get expert advice and assistance from a knowledgeable specialist. We’ll guide you through the options available to you, and help you decide whether you want soft window treatments or hard window coverings. We can also assist you in selecting a style, such as aluminum or PVC, genuine or faux wood.

Newcastle’s changing weather, which can be prone to hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, has led many residents in this beautiful city to look for more energy-efficient solutions for their window treatments. One popular option is plantation shutters. These window treatments are easy to clean and provide great light control and insulation. They can also be tilted to allow more sunlight in during the day or to keep out the cold in winter.

Maintenance

One of the most common mistakes that people make when purchasing shutters is not maintaining them correctly. This can lead to the shutters losing their functionality and not being able to perform their purpose in the home. This is why it is so important to make sure that your window treatments are properly installed and maintained by a professional.

Another mistake that people often make is thinking that shutters are only for older homes. This is a big misconception because shutters can be used in any type of home, and they can offer a modern look that can really enhance the beauty of any room. They are also very durable and long-lasting, so they can be a good investment for your home. This is especially true when you choose high-quality shutters like those from shutter guy newcastle.

source https://blindsnewcastle358125862.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/the-shutter-guy-newcastle/

[lunarlightingsblog]

The Future of LED Lighting

LEDs stand for the most substantial growth in lights since the creation of the electrical light more than a century earlier.

They allow us to create special, low power lights solutions, as well as their lower upkeep costs and as investment proceeds and volumes raise, the cost of LEDs must come down by 10% or even more a year. Yet when will LEDs come to be much more conventional? Presuming LED lights continues to establish as anticipated, it is currently possible to forecast the future with some certainty.

For some time now LED lighting systems have been utilized as uplighters as well as downlights to light up ildings, bridges and also monuments. As a result of their flexibility and the opportunity to establish any kind of preferred colour, LEDs supply lighting services, which are not feasible with any other existing modern technologies, such as colour wall cleaning, sharp light/shadow lines as well as preventing light air pollution on windows. light tower for sale australia

LED Lights For Business

Offices are already seeing the first specific niche LED applications with desk lights as well as particularly emergency situation illumination. However, as replacements for standard general lighting LEDs are still some years off due to the fact that the cost/lumen proportion is still too expensive - performance will certainly need to enhance (at least > 80 lmW at a system level) to complete.

Nevertheless, the next few years ought to see the very first effective LED services in specialist areas of the office, such as, reception as well as meeting locations, where even more attractive impacts are needed. Within 3 to five years the initial options must appear which can take on small fluorescent modern technology on complete expense of possession requirements and also within a years LEDs must become a viable alternative for basic illumination options.

LED Illumination in Industry

LED replacements/retrofits are already making a tiny influence in industrial specific niche areas primarily interested in illumination in fire threat and explosion danger locations. LEDs are optimal because they run at Safety and security Extra Low Voltages (SELV) - usually 12V or 24V. Their integrity, lengthy life and also immediate flicker-free turn on are additionally significant selling factors. But similar to the commercial market, general LED lights solutions are still some years away.

LED Lights For The Leisure Industry

In the leisure field, hotels and also restaurants are mounting LED illumination for ornamental objectives in bars plus reception and also dining areas. Hotels are also starting to make use of LED bedside as well as standing lights as well as effective 3W LED downlighters, (made to replace 20W halogen variations), are anticipated within a year approximately.

LEDs are likewise being made use of in resort signage to replace fluorescent, incandescent and also neon lights. Their reduced energy usage, bright clear colours as well as long life make them perfect.

LED Lights In Retail

It's an application that is often used within the retail market. LEDs are likewise locating an excellent application in commercial freezers because they are untouched by the cool and have actually currently changed standard TL flourescents in some locations.

Elsewhere, anticipate brand-new LED rack lighting within a year and also portable LED mini highlights soon after. Within 3 to 5 years, LEDs ought to begin to show up as a whole retail illumination applications. The possibility for LEDs in the style and also high end of the retail market is additionally significant, where they are already being used for feel development and vibrant effects.

The first screen LED illumination systems are likewise beginning to show up on the market, yet it will certainly be at least 5 to 10 years prior to effective LED lighting options will certainly start to show up in mainstream shop lights. HMI Lighting

The Future of LED Lighting

In the coming years, the light output of LEDs will remain to raise, allowing mass-market basic illumination applications from approx 2010 onwards. The very first reliable basic LED solutions to change incandescents will appear on the market over the following two to three years, but originally they will be reasonably expensive.

Nonetheless, as advancement proceeds the primary inquiry is not when they will replace what, but what new advancements will be made possible.

[4eternal-life]

James Turrell  (American, born 1943)

Virtuality squared,  2014

Ganzfeld: built space, LED lights, 800 x 1400 x 1940.5 cm (overall), Collection James Turrell. National Gallery of Australia

https://theconversation.com/experiments-with-light-james-turrell-dazzles-at-the-nga

...As you enter a light-filled room you experience a sense of weightlessness as your eyes are deceived and colours seem to change in intensity and solid material forms dissolve into space. It is exceptionally effective as you are drawn into a transcendental state while overlooking the void...

[tavernermotorsportsblog]

Electric Triumph TE 1 prototype project reaches completion

The Electric Triumph TE prototype project has reached completion in Australia, and the team is looking forward to continuing its work on this exciting new technology. The project has been a great success and has shown that electric motorcycles can be fun and practical. The Electric Triumph TE prototype is a beautiful bike and offers a lot of features that are unique to electric bikes. For example, it has a suspension system that uses air pressure instead of springs, which makes it very comfortable to ride. It also has a battery-powered motor, which is very environmentally friendly.

The team looks forward to continuing its work on the Electric Triumph TE prototype project and developing additional features for this exciting new technology.

The Most Efficient Electric Motorcycle 

The Electric Triumph TE 1 is the market's most advanced and efficient electric motorcycle. It features a sleek, modern design with LED lighting that makes it look like a high-end sports car. The bike has an estimated range of up to 150 miles per charge, making it perfect for long rides or commuting. The engine is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which allows for quiet operation and low emissions. The Electric Triumph TE 1 was created in partnership with Australian company Emap Solutions, which has been instrumental in developing the bike. The project has taken over two years to complete, and the final product is now available in Australia. The Electric Triumph TE 1 is perfect for those looking for an environmentally friendly way to get around town or take long rides without worrying about gas prices or exhaust fumes.

Prototype Project Has Been A Success

The Electric Triumph TE 1 prototype project has been a success, with the electric motorcycle reaching its final destination in Australia. The project started in 2014 when the Australian government set out to find an electric motorcycle that could be used for transportation purposes. After months of research and development, the Electric Triumph TE 1 was born and has since proven itself to be a successful prototype. The Electric Triumph TE 1 is powered by an electric motor that produces up to 100 horsepower and can reach speeds of up to 120 mph. The motorcycle also features a range of about 130 miles, making it a viable option for transportation. The Australian government is currently testing the Electric Triumph TE 1 to see how it fares in different conditions and settings. If everything goes according to plan, the motorcycle should eventually be introduced into regular service as a replacement for traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles.

Will Change The Motorcycle Industry

The Electric Triumph TE 1 motorcycle has been completed in Australia and is set to change the motorcycle industry. The TE 1 was designed by UK-based company Easy Motion and is powered by an electric motor that provides a whopping 129 miles per charge. That's enough range for a full day of riding, and the bike can also be plugged into a regular outlet to recharge. The TE 1 has a top speed of 60mph and can travel up to 25mph on battery power alone. 

It's available in two colours, silver and black, and is expected to cost around $18,000 when it launches later this year. The Electric TriumphTE 1 isn't the only electric motorcycle out there, but it's one of the most advanced models available. Other companies, such as Zero Motorcycles, are also working on electric motorcycles, but the TE 1 seems ahead of the curve in design and functionality.

If you are a true fan of Triumph motorcycles Australia, make sure to check out Taverner Motorsports. Taverner Motorsports is a small shop in Queensland, Australia, that specialises in restoring and customising Triumph motorcycles. The team at Taverner Motorsports is passionate about Triumph motorcycles and spends a lot of time and energy restoring them to their former glory.

[poolgearaustralia]

Architectural design trends in Swimming Pools

Over the past few decades, there have been major changes in swimming pool design. In the early days, most pools were relatively small and simple, with straight lines and basic shapes. However, as pool technology and materials have evolved, so has the style of pools. Nowadays, there are different pool designs to choose from, and it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some of the most popular swimming pool design trends that you might want to consider for your pool:

Modern look

Many homeowners want to spruce up their backyard by adding or renovating a swimming pool. If you're considering adding a pool to your home, you'll want to be aware of the latest trends in swimming pool design. A modern look is one of the most popular trends in swimming pool design. Homeowners increasingly opt for sleek, clean lines and geometric shapes for their pools. This trend is also seen in other outdoor areas, such as decks and patios.

Tropical Design

When designing a pool by professional pool shop Gold Coast company, there are key trends to keep in mind. Tropical design is one of the most popular choices this year. This design typically features warm colours, palm trees, and other elements that create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. If you want to add a touch of paradise to your backyard, then a tropical-themed pool is the way to go.

Nature Inspired Swim Spas

If you're looking for a way to add a natural element to your swimming pool, consider a swim spa. Swim spas are small pools that use jets to create a current, allowing you to swim in place. They are often used for exercise and rehabilitation but can also be a great way to relax. There are many different styles of swim spas you can find at pool shop Gold Coast according to your taste and needs. You can even find ones that mimic natural bodies of water, such as rivers or lakes. If you want to add a bit of luxury to your pool, look for a swim spa with features like massage jets, built-in seating, or waterfalls.

Unique Features

A few key features will make your swimming pool stand out from the rest. Incorporating one or more of these unique design elements will give your pool a fresh look that will turn heads.

Water features designed by professional pool     shop Gold Coast company are a must-have for any luxurious pool.     Whether it's a simple waterfall or an elaborate fountain, water features     add a touch of elegance to any space.

Fire features are another way to add     personality to your pool area. There are endless possibilities for     incorporating fire into your poolscape, from fire pits to torches.

If you're looking for something unique,     consider incorporating LED lighting into your pool design by professional pool     shop Gold Coast company such as Pool Gear Australia. Whether     you want to light up the entire pool or highlight certain areas, LED     lighting can dramatically affect any space.

Another trend that's gaining popularity     is the use of natural stone in swimming pools. Natural stone adds beauty     and function to any poolscape, from flagstone pavers to stacked stone     walls.

Underwater Rooms

One of the hottest architectural design trends for swimming pools is underwater rooms. These unique pool features provide a private space for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing submerged in water. Underwater rooms typically have acrylic or glass walls and a concrete floor. They can be equipped with lights, air conditioning, and other amenities to make them truly luxurious. If you want to add an underwater room to your pool, be sure to work with a reputable builder with experience with this type of construction. 

[purecommemasolitude]

woahohohoho part three

Cyprus - His vocals are pretty good, better than I expected for some reason. His outfit is good, and it looks like the song will be reasonably well-staged-- the LED stage is used well IMO, and the smoke and lights also look good. Overall, nothing screams out at me as fantastic, but neither does anything as bad

Iceland - I think I might prefer the NF LED screens? These ones look really pretty, but they don't fit the energy of the song as much, and the lack of smoke doesn't help much either. I'm still intrigued to see the choreo, and if I'm recalling correctly the LEDs do change to show something else later, so we'll see if this qualifies (and of course Diljá's vocals kill as always)

Greece - I'm not sure about the LEDs, though them and the lighting and the smoke ensure that the staging is pretty atmospheric. I do wish, however, that they'd changed the choreography a little, because Victor seems to be struggling a little with keeping his vocals good with the choreography being what it is, but it's a nice little piece

Poland - Ohhhhh man. Once again I tried to be open-minded about this, but even if you love the song and Blanka, the staging is just. Man. What a Choice. The beginning is alright, if Blanka does lack a bit of stage presence, but the dance break..... It was already only alright in the first rehearsal TikTok, but I think the horrible editing may have completely ruined their chances for qualifying-- and this is coming from someone who actually liked the editing for River last year. What is the point. Of adding a dance break. If you're not going to let us see her properly dance. Anyway, I've gone from "unfortunately, this will probably qualify" to "almost definitely this will not qualify"

Slovenia - The boys!!! The stage part of the staging is just sort of There, but it doesn't take away from the song at all, and every member of Joker Out has insane stage presence and charisma, especially compared to Blanka right before them. Bojan's vocals seem a bit shakier than normal to me, so I'm very scared about that, but I'm hoping it's just cause this is a rehearsal and not the final show. They're very obviously playing to a nonexistent live audience, so I'm willing to bet this is all going to be elevated tenfold once there actually is an audience

Georgia - This staging is SO GOOD I want to eat it. I'm lowkey worried that Slovenia comes right before this, because this is a strong contender right now for best staging of the whole contest. I love every element of the staging, and I hope this gets Georgia's best-ever result

San Marino - This actually is very nice staging, I'm a big fan. The lighting is very fun, as is the use of LEDs, and I like the energy of the band members. Not sure if this will qualify, but this staging gives it a much better chance of doing well than before. Manifesting, if not a qualification, at least a decent result for these guys

Austria - It's very intriguing choices made, that's for sure. I like the slow walk forward during the 0,003 part, but other than that I'm not sure whether the staging (and camerawork for that matter) elevate or detract from the song. I'm hoping (and predicting) they'll do well regardless, but maybe not as well as initially expected

Albania - Very, very good staging; it's made me go from "this probably won't qualify" to "this will probably qualify, and maybe even get a good result". The staging and performances really heighten the drama of the song, and I feel like televoters especially will eat it up

Lithuania - While I like this dress much better than her first rehearsal one, I still feel like the NF outfit fits the song much better-- oh well, though. The staging is nice, as is the camerawork and the colour scheme, and I really like the blocking. Hoping she'll do well, though she is sandwhiched between two songs with more interesting stagings

Australia - I'm a much bigger fan of this staging than I expected to be, not gonna lie. The lighting, camerawork, and LEDs all fit the song really well, and I've even grown used to the real actual car. What choreography there is looks really cool, everyone is a very good performer, and I'm rooting for them to do very well

Thoughts on Eurovision second rehearsals

Because I love self-sabotaging and looking at esc videos instead of doing homework 🤪

I'm lowkey getting scared for a lot of countries I thought were safe ngl

Norway - The LED on the floor is neat, but her vocals and energy seem a bit off? I still think her pre-party vocals was just cause she decided to have fun at them, which, fair, and I do think a lot of this will be fixed by the energy a live audience brings (depending on the audience it make elevate one's performance tenfold), but we'll see

Malta - This seems a bit less fun than the first snippets seemed, but once again I bet a lot of that is the lack of live audience. I bet it'll look great for a first-time audience, though, and I think they're going to do much better than I initially expected

Serbia - This is either going to place very well or incredibly flop, and I'm soso scared as to which one :(. I don't mind the word projections so long as they don't over-use them, but I'm scared the graphic on the LEDs will discourage people from voting :((. The lighting and everything looks great I am just full of fear

Latvia - This looks great!! Honestly, at this point I'm convinced they're qualifying (and will be soso sad if they don't). I was right when I predicted camerawork would make this, and I'm relieved the camerawork does seem to be good. Hoping they have now found their costumes elemayo, and also I'm really happy they managed to bring the lights!! The blurry shot right before it cuts off also looks intriguing and I'm sososo excited to see their final performance

Portugal - This is another country I'm getting worried about-- she seems tired, and I can't tell if that's true or if I'm just looking for things to be scared about, but I'm hoping this will once again be solved by live audience. The dress is doing the opposite of growing on me, but the rest of her styling looks good!

Ireland - I like Conor's costume here better than the last one by far (I'm pretty sure they're different but I can't bring myself to check), however I'm not as much a fan of his vocals :( I'm by no means a vocal expert, but his particular rasp sounds unhealthy and bad vibes, even if it actually isn't. I don't know, we'll see how he sings the night of the semi-final. I really like the gold into multi-colour in the chorus decision though!

Croatia - Their staging actually looks really clean and good, I'm intrigued as to what their full performance will look like. The cut-off being right after Lenin with his bombs and the lightning is really funny

Switzerland - I'm actually really scared for their staging now :(( the pyro and the smoke and the rapidly shifting lighting and the everything is just So Much visual stimuli and I'm scared it'll take away from their actual song by a lot. Still don't really like his outfit, but that is way overshadowed by my staging worries. The last second right before the cut away looks good though, so I'm hoping the rest of it is still okay

Israel - The more I watch this, the more I actually like the choreography for the dance break less, which I wasn't expecting. However, I'm sure Noa will sell it even more with the energy from a live audience yadda yadda yadda. My main complaint is the far-away shots, especially the one when they do the fancy spin-- it's such a cool moment, and making the audience not look at it is such a baffling choice??? Israel don't you want to do well. But overall I have no doubt they'll place high

Moldova - Not much to say here again, other than that it's very very well-done and that it bugs me that he's ever-so-slightly off-centre in the circle

Sweden - Ohh no :(( I knew something would be lost with the downsizing of the platforms, but it seems to fall so much flatter now-- hoping it will still look cool for first-time viewers. I'm really not a fan of the lighting, it washes Loreen out and makes everything so much less atmospheric IMO. Also I think there was smoke in her Melfest performance that's missing here? If so I wish it were back. Overall it is still good, and I hope she pulls off the semi performance

Azerbaijan - This might??? Qualify???? After all????? Or I may just be losing it. I really like the staging, the lighting especially is great, the camerawork adds a lot, and if they pull off everything just right, they miiiiight just qualify

Czechia - I have gone from very optimistic to oh so scared again. Their vocals seem off a little, I mislike a lot of how they're using the LEDs, I'm baffled by some of the choreography choices, and overall I just really really hope it looks better in the three minutes than it does here (I am also being overly pessimistic about them because I am so so scared). At least the sound for the rap part is finally not awful though!

The Netherlands - They might qualify?? Maybe??? It's pretty nice, Good camerawork (mostly), the costumes are still nice and it's pretty atmospheric, which is needed for a performance like this. I don't know if it would've worked better had they gone with strictly lights instead of LEDs, but overall it's a decent job

Finland - I mean obviously the beginning of this is going to bring the house down come semi-final. I'm very excited, the staging seems great. Again not much to say here, other than the first shot amuses me (he's just a little guy) and that live audiences bla bla you get it by now

[johdinag]

You Can Dramatically Reduce Energy Prices With LED High Bay Lights In Australia

It is a tested truth that LED lights are best for the high roof covering interior rooms, ranging from 25 feet and also over. Generally, this kind of lights is installed in godowns and storage factors. Individuals like them as a result of affordable efficiency. Very same holds true with LED High Bay Lights in Australia. These lights are comparatively small however brighter than standard lights as well as do not have any type of kind of issue in lighting upright surface areas like racks in a storage space facility. The main difference between these lights as well as old light bulbs is that the average incandescent light bulb has gasses which create warmth along with the light. If utilized continually these can fume as well as create damage or obtain merged. Their lifetime is therefore really short. In addition to that, these likewise consume a lot more electric present hence obtain pricey. LED on the various other hand does not have any of these hazards hence making it the better as well as more secure choice. Worldwide, LED lights have actually been in the all set fairly time currently due to their cost performance as well as power effectiveness.

The function of these lights is quite easy. Actually, LED represent Light Emitting Diode. It is a semiconductor light source which generally lightens up when existing goes through it. High-bay-lights are a modern-day type of LED lights, nonetheless, made to be made use of in a more company set up for instance storage space centers, factories, going shopping malls as well as additionally such. They give out well-distributed light in spaces along with crannies additionally, making it a staple for storage centers. Since just recently, numerous warehouses have actually integrated using LED High Bay Lights in Australia. The reason for them being made use of mainly readily and additionally not residentially is generally due to the fact that these lights are made believe it manages areas that have high ceilings.

Benefits of High bay Led Lights

Although that one may need to pay even more car loan in the purchase of LED lights, they will assist in conserving up in the future given that they have actually exceptionally reduced maintenance. It can be claimed that they are extremely near to being problems proof, therefore, incredibly little or no maintenance is needed during their life expectancy; the expected life-span of a typical LED light bulb is 13.5 years. They, in addition, do not break down heat like an average light bulb (basically no heat is discharged), for this reason saving loan using cooling down on a large scale.

Among the most vital as well as beneficial aspects of LED lighting is its safety and security and likewise harmony. When the switch is pressed, there is no lag time or flickering, the light rapidly turns on unlike a fluorescent or incandescent light which takes a while to locate to complete brightness as well as likewise are vulnerable to flickering. In a commercial arrangement, where min items are being assembled by employees, excellent lights are exceptionally crucial. They function well in a huge selection of temperature levels without significant decrease performance.

EndNote

LED lights despite being somewhat costly absolutely supply much better value for one's cash. With its numerous attributes, it is absolutely where the future is headed. The white light an LED produces similarly proves for specific work in areas where color control is of utmost value. They launch the incredible bulk of their power in the recognizable variety, a small amount in the infrared spectrum, and also practically none in the ultraviolet location of the spectrum. This recommends that LEDs have the capability to securely along with accurately light up UV fragile items like art that will definitely break down as well as weaken progressively if exposed to this type of discharge. In spite of being slightly expensive, LEDs absolutely provide much better worth for one's cash. With its many features, it is certainly where the future is headed and if you're wishing to save cash in the future, it is recommended that you get LED lights for your industrial setup.

[tsarisfanfiction]

WIP #59b

(Send me a number 1-60 [or a fandom/character I guess] for the corresponding wip) because I’m bored and brain-fried and have too many wips that’ll otherwise never see the light of day.

@purfectpurple asked for more of this one!  Which, tbh, I get the feeling a few of you wanted, judging by your reactions to it.

So, we’ve had our nasty accident and a nice healthy dose of emotional and physical whump for Scott.  Let’s see what the rest of the brothers are up to, shall we?

(If it wasn’t obvious by now, I’ve had so much fun writing this one.  It’s definitely getting revisited once I have the time.  And no, this still isn’t everything I have written for this wip because it’s a pretty long one... considering it was supposed to be a oneshot)

Gordon was last to the scene, summoned by Alan’s shouts and John’s too-loud voice transmitting from every speaker in the den, and arrived just in time to see Scott disappearing from the room with hunched shoulders.  In front of him was carnage: Alan wriggled in Virgil’s grip, determined to escape the thickset Tracy even though Virgil showed no indication of releasing him, and John was hovering with crossed arms above them, eyebrows furrowed in an expression of worry more usually seen on Virgil.

He didn’t need any explanations.  Late to the party he might have been, but he had ears and he was fairly sure Alan’s explosion could have been heard in Australia.

“Let.  Me.  Go. Virgil!” Alan ground out, but the bear of the family simply held tighter and made his way over to the nearest sofa, writhing brother in his grip.

“What’s got into you?” their elder brother demanded.

“Nothing!” Alan snapped.

“Nothing doesn’t lend itself to you telling our eldest brother you wish he was the one presumed dead,” John cut in coolly.  Gordon startled, not expecting their space-bound brother to be quite so harsh towards Alan.  The two astronauts tended to band together, and a division in those ranks meant things were serious.

“I never said that!” Alan argued back, giving up on trying to escape Virgil’s death grip and assuming a pose that could only be described as sulky.

“Maybe not in so many words,” John conceded.  “But that’s what I heard and, more importantly, that’s what Scott heard.”

“He’s just being so annoying,” Alan defended himself, as though there was really any defence for saying that to anyone, and Gordon knew once he calmed down he’d be regretting it. “Alan don’t do this.  Alan, don’t do that.  Alan, you’re too young,” he mimicked, kicking his legs out. Virgil took the hits without commenting.

“He’s trying to protect you,” he said instead.  “He does it to all of us, you know that.”

“I know,” Alan grumbled.  “But it’s too much!  How are we supposed to save people if we’re being smothered into being safe all the time? He’s going too far!”

“He was there,” John cut in quietly, reclaiming all of their attention.  “You might not know – you were all away at the time – but Scott was with Dad on that mission.”

Something heavy and unpleasant lodged itself at the bottom of Gordon’s stomach, and from the sudden look of horror on Alan’s face, he wasn’t the only one.  Virgil looked sad, like he’d already suspected it.

“Scott was there?” Alan’s voice came out strangled. “Then… how…?”

“It was supposed to be his mission,” John continued, and Gordon felt sick at the idea that it might have been Scott lost back then, or worse, both Dad and Scott.  “Dad changed his mind at the last minute and told him to hang back.”

“‘I couldn’t save Dad’,” Virgil murmured, and Gordon’s attention snapped to him.  He wasn’t restraining Alan anymore, instead holding him in a hug that wasn’t being protested.  “He said that to me, once.”

“I didn’t mean it.” Alan sounded small, even younger than his fifteen years.  In Virgil’s hold he looked it, too.  “I was just frustrated… he knows that, right?  Scott knows I don’t actually wish we’d lost him?”

“I’m sure he does,” John said, sounding more like his usual self and taking Alan’s side once again. “But you should still apologise when he gets back.”

“Where has he gone, anyway?” Gordon wondered out loud, and John checked something out of their sight before frowning.

“His comm signal is by the pool,” he said.

“But sitting still isn’t Scott’s thing,” Virgil pointed out, and John nodded in agreement, lips pressed together thinly.

Gordon took it upon himself to head out onto the balcony and sneak towards the edge, only to find what they already suspected.  “He’s not there.”

“Maybe he dropped it?” Alan sounded hopeful, but Gordon knew he didn’t believe his own words – their communicators were designed to stay with them no matter what.  The only way it would come off of Scott’s wrist would be if he took it off on purpose.

He couldn’t imagine what Scott could be feeling to intentionally cut himself off from the rest of them.

“He’ll be back in his own time,” Virgil said, heaving a sigh and finally letting go of Alan.  The youngest sprang to his feet and ran straight down the stairs; Gordon watched from the balcony as he rooted around beside the pool for a moment before bending and picking up something blue.  It didn’t take a genius to know what it was.

If he’d gone for a run, they were probably looking at an hour before he came back.  Resigned to an awkward wait, Gordon followed his younger brother down the stairs and flopped onto the nearest lounger.  The pool gleamed invitingly at him in the early afternoon sun, but his swimming gear was in his room and he couldn’t muster the motivation to leave the poolside.

Alan stood at the edge of the paved section, staring out down the path around the island, Scott’s communicator clutched in his hands.

Together, they waited.

And waited.

And waited.

“He hasn’t come back.” Alan’s voice was quiet and trembling as it broached the silence.  Above them the sky was changing into greys and oranges as dusk loomed.  “Why isn’t he back?”

Gordon tapped his own communicator.

“John?  Any sign of him?”

“He isn’t back yet?” the ginger asked, popping into holographic existence immediately.  “It’s been four hours.”  His fingers flew over an invisible keyboard, and Gordon watched his face get more and more frustrated.  “Scanners can’t tell him apart from the other wildlife,” he finally admitted.  “But there aren’t any lifesigns on his usual trail.”

“Well we know he hasn’t left the island,” Virgil said from behind them, a second holographic John hovering over his wrist.  “None of the jets are unaccounted for.”

“We have to find him!” Alan sounded close to tears. “It’ll be dark soon!”

Earlier, Gordon – like Virgil and John – had been of the opinion that Scott should be left alone to chew through the argument in peace.  Now, he agreed with Alan.

Four hours was too long and his squid sense was prickling uncomfortably.

“Alan, you’re with me,” Virgil said.  “We’ll check the main trail first and try to find which route he took.  Get your boots.”

Boots.

What had Scott been wearing? Gordon couldn’t remember.

“I’ll take the trail the other way,” he said.  “Meet you halfway.”  Virgil nodded and they scattered to change.

“Don’t forget a torch,” John said from his wrist.  “You have just over an hour until sunset.”  Gordon threw one into the bag he was hastily packing, alongside a first aid kit – hopefully not required, but better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it – and a grapple with several packs.

He didn’t reconvene with Alan and Virgil, simply striking out as soon as he was ready with a quick message across the comms to let them know.  Scott’s favourite trail was easy to follow, well pounded into the earth by years of running, but Gordon knew he wouldn’t find him on there.  If he’d ditched his comm, he didn’t want to be found, and John’s minimal information confirmed that the trail was still devoid of life.

Scott would have taken one of the other, tougher, trails.  The problem was that Scott was the only one who knew all of them.  Alan knew the rock climbing trails, Virgil knew the ones that led to good viewpoints, and Gordon knew the ones nearest the ocean.  To find him, they’d need to use all the old fashioned tracking knowledge they had, drilled into them by Dad and Grandma with the threats that technology wouldn’t always help them.

With Scott’s comm still firmly in Alan’s possession and too many lifesigns on the island to differentiate which one was their brother, technology was decidedly useless.

Gordon almost missed it – unevenly spaced footprints snaking away from the main track and up over a steep incline.  He called it in, but Alan and Virgil were almost at the other side of the island already. By the time they reached him, the encroaching dusk would make the trail too hard to spot.  He made the executive decision to proceed alone.

It was slow going, the path tough and often fading into little more than craggy outcrops the closer he got to the summit of the volcano.  Scott did these for fun?  He always knew his eldest brother was crazy.  Said crazy brother was currently missing, though, and Gordon couldn’t bring himself to poke fun at him when he’d been gone for too long.

A gash yawned in front of him – a jagged line cutting diagonally through the rocks – and Gordon eyed it carefully as he started to manoeuvre his way around it gingerly, only to stop as he caught sight of something that didn’t look like it belonged there.

Darkness was looming, encroaching on his visibility too much for him to confidently identify it with the naked eye, so he dug through his pack for the torch John had told him to bring. He almost wished he hadn’t when the something turned out to be a scrap of light blue fabric caught a little way down the crumbling edge of the rockface.

He knew that colour, just as he knew what the dark smear accompanying it was.

“John,” he called, and his brother appeared instantly.  “Any of those life signs directly below me?”

Please say no, he begged silently as he stared into the darkness.

“There’s one,” John said after a moment.  “About fifty feet below you.  It’s not moving.”

There probably wasn’t a worse thing to hear right then.  The first aid kid in his bag suddenly felt heavy, and he reached for his grapple.

“I’m checking it out,” he said, pleasantly surprised that he sounded in control still.

“What have you found?” Virgil cut in – of course John had linked them all together.  Gordon didn’t answer as he shot the line and, praying it would hold and that the rocks wouldn’t give way like they clearly had earlier, swung down over the edge.

It narrowed quickly, the chasm turning into a slit barely big enough for Gordon to get through. Virgil would never have fit, and Gordon wouldn’t have expected Scott to except the smear of blood dragged all the way down through it, more snatches of blue shirt snagged on outcrops at random intervals.

He had to push the pack through first so he could get through, and counted the seconds until he heard it thud against something.  Only two – not too bad of a drop.  If you had a grapple line.

He touched down easily, sweeping the torch across the volcanic cavern to first locate his pack, and then the source of the life sign.

It didn’t take long for a shadow to look wrong, and he hurried over, heart in his mouth.

The good news was that it was Scott.

The bad news was that Scott didn’t look good, at all.

“John, see if you can find another way into this cave,” he said.  “Virgil, if he can’t, make one.”  His torch caught the unnatural angle of Scott’s leg and he bit back a curse. “And bring a stretcher.”

WIP #59c>>>

[artificialqueens]

Wings (Bitney) - Cheetah

Summary: In a world where the first tattoo you get will also appear on your soulmate’s skin, it’s difficult to fit in when romance is the last thing you want. Courtney never got her tattoo with the intention of finding her soulmate, and yet, they are still led to one another by those ink-dark feathers.

The world was not made for them, but perhaps it never needed to be.

A/N: As much as I love sweet, fluffy romantic stories, there’s always been a part of me that yearned for there to be more aro rep in fic. Of course, the best way to get what you want is to write it, so here it is: my first fic centred around aromanticism, framed through the lens of a soulmate au.

The soulmate au felt a natural choice because of how typically romance-centric they are; I wanted to flip the script and create a universe where aromantic soulmates were possible. I chose not to remove the inundation of romance in society, because that is something a lot of aros have to deal with and I wanted to represent that.

Also, this fic is set in the same universe as One Direction (To Your Heart), but it’s not necessary to have read that to understand it. All you need to know is that Bianca is the head of her own fashion label, and Courtney is one of her models.

Enjoy!

Ao3 // my blog

“Fuck.”

The wings. Courtney has the wings.

“Bianca? Are you okay?”

They’re right there, inked across her back, feathers arranged in perfect rows. The sight of them makes Bianca’s stomach turn, and she doesn’t reply for a long moment.

“I’m fine,” she says eventually, her tone clipped, even harsher than it usually is. “Just remembered something.”

She tears her eyes away from the tattoo, feeling like she’s going to be sick.

Courtney has the wings.

The same wings that appeared on Bianca’s skin two years ago.

“Courtney, I’m going to need to see you in my office before you go home this afternoon. It’s important.”

“Okay, but–”

“Be there.” Bianca doesn’t give her the chance to ask any questions before she turns on her heel, leaving Courtney standing with her dress half-zipped, green eyes glimmering with confusion.

~

The dress is beautiful. It fits Courtney like a glove, shimmering with pale sequins that catch the light every time she moves. But whenever she looks in the mirror, she can’t stop herself from turning around, peering at the delicate feathers fanning out across her shoulder blades, exposed by the low cut of the dress.

The ink burns her back, digging deep claws into her skin. Her tattoo is beautiful, and she wouldn’t change it for the world, but… still, sometimes she regrets it. She regrets visualising the possibility that there could be somebody out there who is supposed to be hers. The wings make it - make them - real, tangible, and the idea of them hurts Courtney’s soul, hollows it out until she isn’t sure who she is anymore.

Is she wrong for not wanting them? The world tells her she is, fires it at her from all angles, and yet nothing she does can fill that emptiness in her chest.

She has seen how her friends’ faces go dreamy whenever they talk about their soulmates, and every time, Courtney has to force a smile, her happiness for them dulled by the discomfort pooling in her stomach. Looking at her ink-dark wings, she wonders about the person who shares them. Will they paint that dream-touched look on her face, too? Courtney can’t quite fathom it.

And when she asks what it’s like, everyone always says her soulmate will complete her, tells her that they will fit beside her like a puzzle piece; that she will find everything she never knew she wanted wrapped up in their perfect smile.

Courtney simply can’t see her hopes and dreams existing as a person. She doesn’t like the idea of being better thanks to somebody else - she’s Courtney Act, and as far she’s concerned, she’s just fine the way she is. Needing someone else to reassure her of that, to fill in the missing pieces of her soul, feels stupid. Childish, almost. Like being a teenager and watching all her friends fall in love, wondering why she was never enough to be their first choice.

She turns away from the mirror, wrapped in a familiar discomfort that has long since started to feel like home.

~

Bianca startles at the sound of knocking.

“Come in,” she says gruffly, glancing at the clock, only just noticing what time it is.

Shit.

“You said you wanted to see me?”

Bianca’s gaze snaps up, meeting gentle green eyes and a soft smile. Her heart twists at the sight.

“I did,” she replies stiffly, waiting as Courtney helps herself to one of the empty seats opposite her.

So this is her soulmate. Courtney is generically pretty, with a petite frame and luscious hair like the models in magazines and shampoo advertisements. Still, she radiates a genuine warmth and friendliness; she doesn’t seem to be intimidated by Bianca in the slightest, which Bianca supposes is something she can appreciate.

“Okay, look, this is going to sound really stupid. But just hear me out, alright?” Bianca takes a deep breath, quickly revising what she’s planned to say. She’s been mulling over it all afternoon, ever since she left the dressing rooms, but she still feels completely unprepared.

“It’s fine,” Courtney assures her. “Say whatever you need to. I’m listening.”

Bianca steels herself, vacating any shred of expression from her face until all that’s left is a cool, collected emptiness.

She might as well get this over and done with.

“You’re my soulmate,” she says bluntly. “I saw your wings when you were doing the fitting this morning.”

She pauses to gauge Courtney’s reaction and it’s… strange, to say the least. Bianca watches as her eyes go wide and the colour drains from her face. The clock ticks on the wall - one second, two seconds, three - but Courtney remains silent, motionless.

“I’m just going to say this upfront,” Bianca continues, when it becomes clear Courtney has nothing to add. “I have no interest in you, or whatever magical bond is supposed to make us fall in love for the rest of our lives. Destiny means shit to me, and if that matters to you, you can fuck off and go cry somewhere else. Tissues are there if you want to take one on your way out.”

She doesn’t look at Courtney again. She doesn’t think she’s ready to see the hurt she’s plastered all over that delicate face. The words had come out harsher than she’d intended - more defensive, as though Bianca is a cornered animal - but there’s no turning back now.

Courtney surprises her by breathing out a sigh of relief.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she says, sounding like an immense weight has just been lifted from her shoulders.

“Are you fucking deaf?” Bianca snaps. “This should not be a good thing for you.”

“But it is!” Courtney replies delightedly. “Something about this whole ‘soulmates’ thing has always thrown me off, and I guess… it’s nice to find someone that thinks like that, too.”

Bianca takes a moment to eye her up and down. She’s lying - she must be lying. Bianca has never met another person who hasn’t been obsessed with the idea of finding their other half.

“I’ve just never found romance that interesting,” Courtney elaborates. “It doesn’t appeal to me. It never has. I like to think I’m perfectly fine without some fated love to complete me.” She says the words with a casual air about her, but Bianca can still hear the bitterness grating between her teeth.

It feels painfully familiar, and Bianca has to take a stunned moment to replay Courtney’s words in her head. She has never heard her own thoughts - and such deeply personal ones, at that - come out of another person’s mouth, and she certainly never imagined her own soulmate would be the one echoing them back to her.

“But then, if we’re soulmates… what does this mean for us?” she asks quietly, shock and caution laced in every word.

Courtney smiles, taking Bianca’s hand in both of hers.

“You know what? I think that’s up to us.”

~

“So we’re soulmates.”

“I thought we’d established that already.”

Courtney coughs awkwardly, staring into her steaming mug of tea. Bianca’s abrasive personality still isn’t something she’s used to, but she finds she doesn’t mind it.

She glances up again, meeting Bianca’s eyes. They’re a warm brown, speckled with gold, and they remind Courtney of sunny Christmases in Australia: of long, shiny days, of sitting out in the backyard as the sun sets and her family downs cartons of beer together. She can’t help but smile, and Bianca’s gaze darts away again, but not before Courtney’s catches the odd mix of confusion and intrigue in the depths of her eyes.

She knows there’s a softer side to Bianca under that tough surface. She’s seen it already, in Bianca’s quiet hesitance on the drive back to her apartment, and in the gentleness with which she gave Courtney her tea.

“You know,” Courtney says, shattering the tense silence that has settled around them, “I’d kinda been hoping that this - the wings - that they wouldn’t really be a soul tattoo.”

“Why’d you take the risk, then?” Bianca asks. “If you’d kept your skin clear, you’d never have to worry.”

It’s apparent that that’s the path Bianca chose, and the path she’d hoped her soulmate would choose, too.

“Unfortunately, I find tattoos pretty and wanted to get one regardless,” Courtney tells her. “I didn’t get it with the intention of finding you… I just liked it.”

“Well.” Bianca clears her throat. “That was a stupid idea.”

Courtney laughs. “What, don’t you like me?”

Her chest hums in pride when Bianca smiles, dimples appearing in her cheeks.

“You caused me two years of grief, so I can’t say I do,” Bianca deadpans, but she’s still smiling. Despite that, Courtney knows exactly what she means, hears the quiet honesty behind her words.

Romance has been an ever-present force in her life: something that Courtney has tried and failed at running from, time and time again. It was in her childhood, in the sugary cartoons filled with matching tattoos and happy endings. It was in her adolescence, when her friends left her behind for their first taste of love even before they were tattooed. It follows her now, as the people around her find their soulmates and dive into relationships Courtney has never been able to see for herself.

So, of course she knows what Bianca means. The wings always represented the possibility of there being someone else, someone out there who was supposed to be hers. They represented the inevitable heartbreak that Bianca had clearly been expecting when she called Courtney into her office earlier that afternoon.

Except that didn’t happen, and now they’re here, sitting across from each other at Bianca’s dining table.

“Do you think it’s destiny?” Courtney blurts out.

“What?”

“Destiny. I - I always thought this whole soulmates thing would force me into a relationship I don’t want and a love I can’t feel. But it hasn’t, because… you’re like me.” Courtney swallows thickly. “I’ve never met anyone else like me.”

“Neither have I,” Bianca replies quietly.

There’s a long silence. Courtney counts her heartbeats.

“Maybe it is,” Bianca finally says, meeting Courtney’s eyes again. “Destiny, I mean. Have you ever heard that ‘your soulmate is tailored to you’ bullshit?”

Courtney nods.

“Maybe there’s something to it,” Bianca admits, a slight frown tugging at her lips. Courtney knows how she feels - it’s weird, rethinking everything she thought she believed. But it’s a good kind of weird, especially now that she has Bianca. Someone who understands.

“I’m really happy I found you, Bianca,” Courtney murmurs.

Bianca smiles, and it shines in her eyes like fairy lights.

“You know what? Me too. You’re not so bad after all, Miss Act.”

Courtney laughs. “I’ll take it.”

And in this moment, sitting across from Bianca - her soulmate, she thinks, not without a little newfound wonder - she feels like everything might just turn out alright.

[aurora-daily]

Northern light

Interview by Andrew McMillen for The Australian (June 1st, 2019).

As a child, Aurora Aksnes grew up in a town not far from Bergen, in southwestern Norway, surrounded by a forest, ocean, space and plenty of silence — fertile grounds in which to plant seeds of imagination.

Although she had siblings, she spent a lot of time alone and often felt as though she didn’t quite connect well with others. The child held no aspirations as a performer; when role-playing, she would prefer to be watching from the crowd rather than on stage.

Her two older sisters, Miranda and Viktoria, were worried that her strangeness — especially her out-there dress sense — would make her a target for bullies. “We were so scared that it was going to be tough for you to go to high school,” her sisters say in a video published in 2016. “But everybody loved you.”

Singing, songwriting and playing piano became her three fascinations; all activities she could indulge on her lonesome. This began in childhood and continued into her adolescence, when she was plucked from obscurity and essentially asked whether she wanted to pursue a career in music. She said yes, and she hasn’t looked back. In that same video from 2016, filmed in Bergen with her friends and family, and released to coincide with her debut album, Aurora says, “Music is not something that you should keep for yourself. It can’t be put in a cage because it’s wild and alive.”

On stage in Brisbane on a Monday night early last month, the blue-eyed and blonde artist is midway through a powerful 90-minute set. Dressed in red and flanked by a live band that produces pulsating electronic pop, the 22-year-old pauses between songs to address the 800-strong capacity crowd at the Triffid.

“I feel like I’m in this room with friends,” she says. “It’s a nice feeling because I feel so often disconnected to humans. I feel very lucky because I don’t know how the hell I got here. I don’t know how I became an artist — but I do know that it’s 90 per cent because of you guys.

“Without you, it’s an empty room; without you, there’s no one that gives my words power.”

Then, with a nod to her drummer and co-producer Magnus Skylstad, the band kicks into the next track as the lights change colour and the crowd thrills to her music.

She does not so much perform as inhabit these songs, as if singing them for the first time. There’s not a trace of self-consciousness; instead, the young woman dancing centre stage, microphone in hand, exudes a contagious freedom and vitality. Here, among friends, she is adored.

Two days later, in the hours before another Groovin the Moo festival sideshow in Fremantle, Aurora perks up when reminded of her philosophy that music cannot be caged.

“Oh, yes, it’s very true, and that’s why I know I have to share it,” she tells Review. “When I perform, that’s why I’m so excited; it’s like the music is too big for my tiny shape of a body. I feel very explosive when I perform. That’s the whole point in why I started sharing the music: if you have the gift of making music, it’s like we’re on a mission, we people who can translate the music into something that the rest of the world can understand.”

In a relatively short time, the rest of the world has come to understand and appreciate Aurora’s art. While the story of her ascent from small-town anonymity to filling clubs and playing festivals on the other side of the planet is somewhat typical of the streaming era, the results are certainly not.

It goes like this: after uploading a song online in 2012, when she was 16, what was intended as a Christmas gift for her parents found its way to the ears of an agent, which set in motion an unexpected but welcome recording career. Since 2015, she has released an EP, a debut album — 2016’s All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend— and a follow-up LP that has been split into two halves, released last year and this year.

As well, a couple of well-chosen cover songs have helped to highlight her extraordinary, singular vocal abilities and opened up new audiences.

First in 2015, her stark take on Half the World Away by Oasis featured in a prominent British Christmas advertisement; it remains one of her most-played songs on streaming services. Then on an Australia visit in 2017, she recorded a spellbinding cover of Massive Attack’s Teardrop for Triple J’s Like a Version segment. It has since attracted nearly seven million YouTube views.

In turn, the global response to her music during the past four years has led to a pleasant awakening: her work matters.

“I want to do this as long as I feel like people need me to do this,” she says. “Right now, I feel very needed. It’s a job that the world needs because being a human is so hard and music sometimes makes it easier. As long as I feel needed, I’ll do it. I’ll be an artist forever; I’m a very hungry woman, and I like to dance and paint, and I want to explore and eventually share that with the world, too.”

In conversation, Aurora comes across as remarkably grounded and insecurity-free. A month out from the release of A Different Kind of Human (Step 2) — usually a time of peak anxiety and uncertainty among recording artists, who will soon learn whether their latest work is judged to be their greatest or otherwise — she shrugs and says that she doesn’t really have any particular hopes or expectations for it. “Whatever will happen will happen,” she says. “I’m already working on my next album; I feel quite far away from this album. I hope at least one person will really love it. It is quite diverse, with many different moods and personalities. I am quite excited to perform the songs live, but it doesn’t really matter how people perceive it.

“Some people will always understand it and appreciate it, and that’s enough.”

Between songs at the Triffid, Aurora talks a lot, and she’s often funny and endearing.

“We’ve been doing all these shows in Australia, and it’s so strange we can have our own show in Brisbane and there are people here waiting for us,” she says at the beginning. “From the bottom of my huge heart and small tits — actually, no, they are quite big — thank you so, so much for coming tonight.”

Later, she admits to feeling some snotty congestion: “It’s kind of loosening up now as I’m dancing and making its journey down my throat. It tastes like salt and I don’t know how I feel about that.” But while introducing Through the Eyes of a Child, she turns serious for a few moments.

“Sometimes it’s hard to find people to talk to about your pain because it makes us feel like a burden, or we are taught to feel like a burden when we are not happy,” she says. “I know you’re all here for a reason. Maybe you’re a bit like me: you’re emotional or you look a bit different on the inside or the outside. This next song is for you if you’re going though a hard time.”

This connection with her audience is real and rare, but it wasn’t always this way.

“In the beginning I didn’t really talk because I didn’t have anything to say,” she tells Review. “But then I learned that if you do talk to the audience, people tend to feel more safe and more connected to you. You show them a special thing they don’t usually see unless they go to my show. It’s like they’re my friend or I’m their friend. I do have mouth diarrhoea because I tend to talk way too much, but it just happens. I do what I want and, at the moment, I feel like talking a lot.”

There’s another aspect of her artistry that has changed in recent years, too. “I used to feel nervous before shows, but then it stopped because I realised it’s obvious I know what I’m doing,” she says. “I know why I’m here; I know how to do this. Now, I find it more scary to be among people or to have a one-to-one conversation with someone. I know what to do on the stage and it feels like it’s important.”