#ONE BILLION MICRO LABELS GO

[happynewyear-99]

you'll never guess who THIS guy kisses (jeremy)

[hkpika07]

How do you think Gordon would show affection? Does he express it through physical touch or words?

YAY I GET TO TALK ABOUT HOW EMOTIONALLY REPRESSED GORDON IS AND THE SUBTLETIES OF HOW HE SHOWS LOVE

Okay Gordon is…. Not good at showing affection to say the least. It takes him years to even begin to soften up around his fellow engines and even when he does it’s very rare. But that’s not to say he doesn’t love and appreciate his friends far from it. Though he hides it under a million layers of coded jargon and fake anger/annoyance. (To which I’ve labeled Gordon Jargon) I honestly think if he tried to expression affection through words like a normal person he’d struggle to stutter out half a sentence then explode and crumble into dust.

I even drew a little comic about it. But I’m too lazy to grab the link since I’m answering this on mobile. So to summarize, Gordon will hide his worry/affection.care under a billion different layers that you have to decode. For example he might say to Edward. “You never shunt my coaches right, I’ll do it myself.” Is his was of saying “thanks for helping me up the hill again. I’ll shunt my coaches so you can take a break.” Or he might say “No no, big strong engines like myself don’t need the warm berth. We are perfectly fine without it. I’m far too strong to rely on such frivolities.” Is his way of saying “you take the warm berth, I heard you had a bad run in with the snow earlier, please take the warm berth so you can rest up.” And his most common phrase “You are such a stupid silly little engine what on earth were you thinking!?” Is his way of saying he was worried about you.

Gordon also probably shows a lot of emotion through micro-expressions because of that patented Gresly Emotional Repression™️

Another way of him showing affection is the amount of time it takes for him to apologize to you. His image is very important to him. He despises being wrong or being in the wrong. And will take a bit to apologize since he doesn’t want to admit it. Now he will always apologize since he learns from his mistakes and is a good person at heart but the amount of time it takes for him to apologize depends on the person and the situation. He will apologize to Edward and Henry the fastest, since not only does he realize he’s wrong he also doesn’t want to see them upset.

Gordon is not a physical touch person at all. I would say his love language is acts of service. He’ll do little things like shunt his own coaches, let others take the turntable first, let them go ahead of him for water, coal or go first at the steam works.

In ITAR specifically, he shows affection with his avatar as well. While he doesn’t do hugs or physical touch, the most he’ll do is give you an approving shoulder pat. Though he has made a couple of exceptions. He was pulled into a hug by Edward and Henry a few times (they always initiated the hug), he gave James an affectionate side hug at the end of the great race, he has hugged Spencer after the silver slick had a emotional breakdown, and the only time he ever initiated a hug was when he had his own emotional breakdown in front of Edward. But the most often way he’ll show affection with his avatar (and this is a sign you’ve earned his trust) is by giving you his jacket. If you’re cold, or sad and he cares about you, he will toss his jacket in your face or throw it around your shoulders. He’s probably the most affectionate with his kids. He will leave a small plate of coal and mug of water for his kids as well as give them some hair ruffling.

In ITAR one of the only times Gordon has actively shown great amounts of parental emotion is in Journey Beyond Sodor when James and Thomas get lost on the mainland. He has a panic attack because James is gone. If anything happened to any one of his kids he’d be a wreck. He worries by anxiously pacing back and forth for hours, hand over his mouth not saying a word.

[nickgerlich]

In Your Cart

Now that consumers have returned to shopping in stores much like they did before COVID, retailers are ramping up efforts to figure out how to blur the lines between online shopping and that done in the physical world. It involves ever more use of our smartphones as savvy shops leverage technology as well as content that can be directed individually as well as to all.

You just thought you could put your phone away in pocket or purse.

Now before I continue, I must say that I am not doing any more shopping in-store after COVID than I was before. I am a huge fan of online shopping, and just don’t like being out among the masses. I get in, get out, and go home. But companies like Walmart are doubling down on the in-store experience, and it involves their in-house advertising arm, Walmart Connect.

A relatively new buzz word—omnichannel marketing—bridges whatever gaps there were between the digital and physical. In other words, use both methods to enhance shopping in the physical realm.

Basically, the shopping trip of the future is going to involve a lot of QR codes, from the shopping cart to shelves and displays. The goal is to increase customer interaction, and whether the content is a Walmart ad or one from one of their many vendors, it matters not. The goal is the same: Increase sales. The efforts even include in-store radio ads, pumped out through the house PA system.

You have probably already experienced some of these methods, and didn’t even realize it. An increasing number of convenience stores run ads at the gas pump, both visually and audibly. Think about it. That’s about five minutes of precious dead time that could be exploited by marketers since we have nothing else to do while refueling.

Interestingly, Walmart Connect works much like an advertising medium. Vendors buy ads to be used at either the macro or micro level, depending on the degree of specificity sought. Amazon is doing much the same in its online store. In fact, it has become a huge revenue maker for them, to the tune of nearly $40 billion in 2021.

I have noticed lately just how much phone-holding I do when getting my groceries at Walmart. Since I build my shopping list with Alexa at home, I am constantly looking at that list in the Alexa app, and then checking off items as I get them. And Alexa even offers me deals that Amazon knows about. My phone never gets a rest.

Maybe they should make shopping carts with a phone cradle. I’m afraid I’m going to drop my phone one of these days while maneuvering my cart through the maze of shoppers.

And if they were to do that, just think about how much more advertising could be done. Holding the phone is one thing, but having it within eyeball range is even better, because if we check in to a store via an app, they can now guide and direct us throughout the store, selling more stuff to us the entire way. In-store geo-fencing could be used to pin us down right in front of the pasta, for example, because the system would know where we are. And because we have logged in, ads can be aimed specifically at us.

In a twisted view of the future, now imagine shopping with a VR headset like the Apple Vision Pro we discussed a few days ago. We’d be walking around like a bunch of tech zombies in a sci-fi thriller, being served visuals and hearing voices in our head that craft an audience-of-one shopping experience.

OK, enough of that. I’m willing to hold Alexa’s hand—I mean hold my phone—while shopping, but I’m not quite ready for a totally immersive experience like that. Still, retailers increasingly see that in-store shopping will be more and more about the experience. The goal is to engage us more, better, and longer. In return, they hope, we will spend more money.

Meanwhile, I’ll just continue to shop online for everything else. I know. I could get my groceries that way too, but I still like to inspect my fruits and vegetables, and read labels. It’s hard to squeeze the lettuce or thump the melon if you’re not there.

Put all this in your cart and think about it.

Dr “Point And Click” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[cubicdesignz]

Unlocking Instagram Marketing Secrets for Explosive Brand Growth in 2024

Instagram-the visual playground where creativity meets community continues to be a powerhouse for brands and marketers. With over 2 billion monthly active users, it’s not just a photo-sharing app; it’s a dynamic platform that can propel your brand to new heights. Let’s dive into the secrets and strategies that will make your Instagram presence shine in 2024:

Know Your Audience Inside Out Understanding your audience is the foundation of any successful Instagram strategy. Who are they? What do they love? Where do they hang out? Dive deep into demographics, interests, and behaviors. Use Instagram Insights to uncover valuable data. Remember, it’s not just about followers; it’s about building a community of engaged fans.

Create Thumb-Stopping Content In the scroll-happy world of Instagram, your content needs to stop thumbs mid-swipe. Here’s how:

High-Quality Visuals: Invest in eye-catching photos and videos. Use filters consistently to maintain your brand’s aesthetic. Stories: Leverage Stories for behind-the-scenes glimpses, polls, and interactive content. Add stickers, GIFs, and music to spice things up. Reels: Jump on the Reels bandwagon! These short, entertaining videos are Instagram’s answer to TikTok. Get creative, showcase your brand personality, and entertain your audience.

Hashtags: The Magic Key Hashtags are your passport to discovery. Research relevant and trending hashtags. Mix broad ones with niche tags. Create a branded hashtag unique to your business. And don’t forget to engage with hashtag communities—like-minded users who share your interests.

Collaborate with Influencers Influencer marketing isn’t going anywhere. But in 2024, it’s not just about mega-influencers. Micro-influencers (with smaller but highly engaged followings) can be gold. Their authenticity resonates with niche audiences. Partner with them for genuine endorsements.

Shop Till You Drop (Literally) Instagram’s shopping features are a game-changer. Set up your Instagram Shop, tag products in posts, and use Shopping Stickers in Stories. Make the buying process seamless. Remember, people come to Instagram to discover and shop—so give them what they want!

Engage, Engage, Engage Don’t be a silent observer. Respond to comments, engage with Stories, and participate in conversations. Show your human side. Host Q&A sessions, go live, and build relationships. Remember, social media is about being social!

Track, Analyze, Optimize Use Instagram Insights to track performance. Which posts resonate? When is your audience most active? Adjust your strategy accordingly. Test different content formats, posting times, and calls-to-action. Be agile and adapt.

Be Authentic and Transparent Authenticity wins hearts. Share your brand story, values, and the faces behind your business. Transparency builds trust. If you’re running ads, label them clearly. Your audience appreciates honesty.

Remember, Instagram is a dynamic canvas. Paint it with your brand’s colors, tell your story, and connect with your tribe. Whether you’re a fashion brand, a local bakery, or a tech startup, Instagram has a spot for you. So go ahead—create, engage, and conquer! And if you need expert guidance, reach out to us at Cubic Designz Digital Marketing Agency in Chennai.

And hey, if you need those 15 creative Instagram post templates, grab them from Hootsuite—they’re like sprinkles on your content cupcake! 🧁📸

Sources:

Hootsuite: Instagram Marketing Strategy Guide

[blogponly]

Digital Printing Market: Pathways to Industry Dominance

The latest report, titled ‘Global Digital Printing Market,’ comprises a profound analysis of the fundamental parameters contributing to the global Digital Printing market scenario. The research report provides the reader with an in-depth interpretation of the Digital Printing market dynamics, including the crucial drivers, opportunities, threats, and challenges. The report also describes the key business strategies, demand and supply ratios, leading regions, and the renowned market players, in a nutshell, offering a futuristic outlook of the overall Digital Printing industry. The market intelligence report is a prototype of the 360° overview of the global Digital Printing industry, shedding light on the estimated market value, share, growth trends, gross revenue, competitive overview, prominent manufacturers and buyers, available product types, and end-use applications.

The Digital Printing market size reached USD 25.20 Billion in 2021 and is expected to register a revenue CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period to the latest analysis by Emergen Research. The increasing adoption of digital printing in the packaging industry is a major factor driving the growth of the market. In addition, the growing demand for digital printing from the textile industry is beneficial for revenue growth of the global market. One of the major advantages of this method of printing is the speed with which adjustments may be made during a manufacturing run. In contrast to full-day shutdowns, new labels and features may be swapped out in minutes. This gives a lot of flexibility when it comes to accommodating last-minute project modifications or resource swaps. When it comes to labeling, digital printing allows for variable input data, such as using unique labeling information extracted from a database rather than a single file source. Since plates do not need to be manufactured for each label set, this significantly speeds up labeling manufacturing. All the printer has to do now is double-check that the current database is the one required to complete the current task. This strategy provides for very short lead times due to the great flexibility mentioned above, making it a go-to platform for last-minute assignments with only a few days to setup.

To receive a PDF sample of the report, visit @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/1046

The latest research report is dubbed as the first document encompassing the latest information about the Digital Printing market that has been gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The global health crisis poses significant threats to the future growth of the Digital Printing industry. The report assesses the profound changes in this business setting caused by the outbreak and considers the prominent market aspects that have been severely disrupted by the pandemic. The report thus expounds on the rapidly changing market scenario in this COVID-19 era, which aims to help businesses involved in this sector overcome the pandemic’s gripping effects and formulate new growth strategies to boost the COVID-19 preparedness.

Market Overview:

The report bifurcates the Digital Printing market on the basis of different product types, applications, end-user industries, and key regions of the world where the market has already established its presence. The report accurately offers insights into the supply-demand ratio and production and consumption volume of each segment.

Digital Printing Market Segmentation:

Ink Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2019–2030)

Aqueous

Solvent

UV-Cured

Latex

Dye Sublimation

Others

Print Head Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2019–2030)

Inkjet

Thermal Inkjet

Piezo Inkjet

Electrostatic Inkjet

Micro-Electro Mechanical System Inkjet

Laser

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2019–2030)

Books

Commercial Printing

Texting

Packaging

Labels

Corrugated Packaging

Cartons

Flexible Packaging

Metal Packaging

Others

It focuses on the recent mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations, partnerships, licensing agreements, brand promotions, and product launches, among others. The report also provides details about the company overview, business expansion plans, product portfolio, manufacturing and production capacity, global market position, financial status, and consumer base.

The report also discusses the key players involved in the market such as

Avery Dennison Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P, Seiko Epson Corporation, Ricoh Company, Inca Digital Printers Limited, Smurfit Kappa Group PLC, Roland DG Corporation, Westrock Company, Amcor PLC, and ARC Document Solutions LLC

Request customization of the report @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-for-customization/1046

Global Digital Printing Market Highlights:

Regional demand estimation and forecast

Product Mix Matrix

R&D Analysis

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Pre-commodity pricing volatility

Supply chain optimization analysis

Technological updates analysis

Raw Material Sourcing Strategy

Competitive Analysis

Mergers & Acquisitions

Location Quotients Analysis

Carbon Footprint Analysis

Patent Analysis

Vendor Management

Regional Landscape section of the Digital Printing report offers deeper insights into the regulatory framework, current and emerging market trends, production and consumption patterns, supply and demand dynamics, import/export, and presence of major players in each region.

The various regions analyzed in the report include:

North America (U.S., Canada)

Europe (U.K., Italy, Germany, France, Rest of EU)

Asia Pacific (India, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, Rest of APAC)

Latin America (Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., South Africa, Rest of MEA)

Browse Full Report Description + Research Methodology + Table of Content + Infographics @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/digital-printing-market

Highlights of Table of Contents (TOC):

Overview of Global Digital Printing Market

Competitive analysis of the Digital Printing market

Regional analysis of Global Digital Printing market production and revenue

Regional analysis of Global Digital Printing market supply, consumption, and export & import

Type-based market analysis of global Digital Printing production, revenue, and price trends

Application-based analysis of the global Digital Printing market

Manufacturer profiles, manufacturing cost, and upstream and downstream analysis of global Digital Printing market

Global Digital Printing market forecast (2020-2027)

Conclusion of the research report

Appendix

Thank you for reading our report. Please get in touch with us if you have any query regarding the report or its customization. Our team will ensure the report is best suited to your needs.

Look Over transcripts provided by Emergen Research

Carbon Capture and Storage Market

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy Market

Epoxy Curing Agents Market

Mass Flow Controller Market

Industrial Valves Market

Facility Management Market

Digital Maintenance, Repair, and Operations Market

Tractors Market

About Us:

Emergen Research is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target, and analyse consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries, and help clients make smarter business decisions. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across multiple industries, including Healthcare, Touch Points, Chemicals, Types, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware of the latest trends existent in the market. Emergen Research has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise. Our industry experience and ability to develop a concrete solution to any research problems provides our clients with the ability to secure an edge over their respective competitors.

Contact Us:

Eric Lee

Corporate Sales Specialist

Emergen Research

Direct Line: +1 (604) 757-9756

E-mail: sales@emergenresearch.com

Visit for More Insights: https://www.emergenresearch.com/insight

Other Related Reports 

Polyamides and Intermediates Market

Thermosphere Ablation Technology Market

Reflux Testing Products Market

[cosmeticpackagingdesign40]

Cosmetic Packaging Design For Business

By 2030, it is anticipated that the global market for skincare merchandise will usher in income worth $1196.2 billion. Successful brands have a constant look and feel in every little thing they put in entrance of their customers. One of the major advantages of this sort of consistency is that it supplies straightforward recognition of any product among customers. You can even use the power of micro-influencers to market your beauty brand to a targeted and area of interest audience

.

By taking the time to create a cosmetic brand design that is distinctive and eye-catching, you may be nicely in your method to success. It isn’t simple to get your ideal buyer proper from the get-go, so we extremely suggest you contact our brand technique team who can develop an in-depth buyer persona on your magnificence model. Brand picture and perception are two phrases which are often used interchangeably, but they couldn’t be extra totally different when it comes to application.

Do you need help establishing the right blend of colors, fonts, and brand positioning for your brand? Contact our staff at Aventive Studio and let’s chat about how we can help you attract extra customers with a strategic and unforgettable visible brand. Many startups start with an concept of their target buyer, but as their business grows they understand their precise target is not who they originally pictured. Even if you have been in enterprise for a while, take a moment to zoom in on the primary points of your best client. Bahama Naturals is a brand for the natural and pure lovers of skincare.

With multiple beauty branding manufacturers launching and rising on this business, attracting the goal purchasers and convincing them to choose on your brand over others is a significant challenge. These days, anyone can purchase generic eyeliner, lipstick, or hairspray on the grocery retailer. Even a distinct segment like “natural beauty” is no longer slim sufficient to stand out within the crowded magnificence product marketplace. Droplets can represent infused serum, leaves represent natural products, and they are shaped like a person's beauty.

Know your strengths and your competitors' weaknesses and create a creative plan that highlights the individuality of your model. You must take your cosmetics beauty branding marketing critically if you want to succeed in the beauty trade. The competition is even harder if you would like to dropship skincare products. When it involves beauty branding, one thing that you want to perceive is that consumers do not simply need your products. They need lit-from-within, spotless, and beautiful skin with none effort.

Remember, your brand is extra than simply your products—it's the expertise and connection you provide to your viewers. Consider working with our team of expert and skilled designers at All Time Design to take your cosmetics branding to the next degree. With our expertise in working with a quantity of cosmetics brands, we may help you elevate your brand’s visible identity via captivating and efficient design options that can improve your brand’s attraction.

It may be challenging to get a broadly known beauty influencer to advertise your brand, especially when you're initially starting. Luckily, a profitable influencer advertising campaign does not require a giant name. Make your message personalised if you would like an influencer to collaborate with you. Create a tailor-made message that explains why your brand is the ideal fit for their channel and their audience, demonstrating to them that you understand who they're and what they stand for. Expedite packaging design and maintain creative compliance with our label design software program. Proof labels and advertising belongings with good tools and checklists to launch products and campaigns forward of time.

The explosion of social media, the advent of chatbots as a advertising software, and rising consumer demand for personalized solutions have provoked big modifications in almost every industry. Not only are they gaining useful press for a product that hasn’t been announced but, but they’re additionally letting clients really feel like a part of the method while having enjoyable on the similar time. In a regularly altering advertising landscape, it's changing into more and more essential to grasp tips on how to efficiently merge product and model advertising. As prospects are uncovered to a beauty model extra often, they become more inclined to love it. Cox applied design thinking to create the brand’s flagship product, Wink, a naturally derived oil designed to promote regrowth of lashes and brow. If you’re beginning a brand new magnificence business or rising an present business, you could have a lot of competition, and it’s tough to face out.

It isn't any surprise many individuals interact within the sector immediately with out knowing who they are surely as a company, what makes them totally different from the remainder, and who their target shoppers are. According to studies, it reached $511 billion this 2021 and is estimated to reach $716 billion by 2025. The mythological determine together with her crown of writhing snakes is an apt symbol for Versace's bold, provocative essence. The intricate detailing within the brand, from the defined facial options to the textured scales of the serpents, displays the brand's dedication to superior high quality and craftsmanship. The emblem strikes the perfect stability – it has depth and visible curiosity whereas remaining recognisable and cohesive as a Versace brand mark.

For occasion, in case your cosmetic model is fixing the issue of pores and skin dehydration, you presumably can create content across the steps the users should take to keep their skin hydrated and glowing. Your magnificence company’s branding must be consistent on all advertising channels and platforms so the audiences don’t get confused when choosing products. Consistent branding also ensures that your beauty company is trusted and credible to choose on products from. Develop a powerful and distinctive model identity that encapsulates your brand’s persona, values, and unique promoting propositions.

For instance, Clinique's logo font and “Clinique” name have stayed constant for many years, however the flower graphic has become extra fresh and modern. In the wonder industry, model logos distinguish between simplicity and intricacy. While clear, minimalist designs are often favoured for their sleek aesthetic, some brands opt for extra complex and ornate symbols to speak status and capture consideration in a crowded market. Consumers kind an emotional bond with MAC by utilizing their products and supporting a company that aligns with their compassion and social justice values.

A robust digital presence allows the beauty brand to achieve a wider viewers, improve brand credibility, and foster buyer loyalty. Digital presence refers to its online visibility and actions throughout various digital platforms. It encompasses the brand’s website, social media profiles, internet marketing, and other digital advertising efforts. A strong digital presence is crucial in today’s digital age, permitting the model to attach and interact with its target audience, construct brand consciousness, and drive buyer acquisition.

One means to do that is to create a unique and memorable brand identity. Through creative design, intelligent marketing is achievable; a beauty model that succeeds in doing so will discover itself well-positioned for fulfillment in today's aggressive market. Once these elements are in place, you possibly can develop packaging and product designs that replicate your model's unique character.

Consumers don't wish to buy a ton of products; they want easy routines with minimal effort they usually count on fast results. However, that is not all the time the case and therefore branding turns into a vital a part of your success as a beauty brand. The magnificence business is continually evolving and changing into more competitive, making it onerous for brands to face out.

Cosmetics branding is just like another form of branding in the market. When it comes to branding your business, you should know a couple of fundamentals. The wealthy text factor permits you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, pictures, and video multi function place as an alternative of getting to add and format them individually.

This imagery conjures up ideas of natural magnificence rituals utilizing plants contemporary from nature. The intricate particulars showcase Aveda's experience in sourcing and crafting plant-based hair and skin solutions. Meanwhile, the sun represents enlightenment and personal progress, reflecting the model's holistic method to inner and outer magnificence. We have a proven track document of sustaining a stable relationship with the client by thinking out of the box.

Bare + Bloom will also offer flexible and personalised service, with customized subscription offers primarily based on the individual needs and objectives of our purchasers. Our mission is to assist our shoppers make sustained positive modifications in their physical and emotional well being, and in their lives overall. We aim to become a household name that people sit up for inviting into their homes each month. In the lengthy run, we plan to add whole-food, natural supplements as well. Invest in visually fascinating model elements that stand out in the cosmetics industry. Consider the newest design trends while guaranteeing your brand maintains a unique, timeless aesthetic that aligns together with your target audience’s tastes.

The branding course of could be fulfilling but requires that you simply go over the steps and strategies rightly to get your required results. In order to get you through this process efficiently, we've covered all you need to know about cosmetics branding in this blog, and all that’s left for you is to start out your branding journey. Color palettes are fastidiously curated alternatives of colours that outline the brand’s visible identity.

Production and worldwide distribution of organic medical natural dietary supplements and natural cosmetic fluids for skin primarily based on accient Ayurvedic strategies, recipes and formulas. This idea is created by combining four shapes inspired by the hemp leaf to create the business name initial in a creative way reaching a symbol that is great for brand expansion. Micro-influencers have smaller audiences, however those audiences are far more engaged. Relationships with them can provide much more worth in your cash. Micro-influencers are additionally more productive per engagement than bigger influencers. This can include how-to movies, product unboxings, and Q&As about utilizing your products.

• Build relationships – Connect with influencers, trade contacts and press in order to get extra consideration for your brand. Having an online presence is important for any brand, and a website should be the middle of your digital strategy. Creating your model purpose, your purpose for current, brand pillars, model key messaging, model character, your mission and vision and types tagline. If you did the correct research, you need to be ready to formulate a singular model position on your makeup brand.

Each component of your brand ought to be in line with a unified model strategy. People have so many selections of whose story they wish to listen to. Eighty p.c of Glossier s development and sales come through peer-to-peer suggestions or our personal channels. That goes to indicate that girls are not essentially listening to beauty brands. So we see our neighborhood as co-conspirators, co-builders, co-storytellers.

Too Faced additionally has a very distinctive character in its style and design. They put forth this vision of “what magnificence appears like” they usually feed off of our desires to look like that. They use super airbrushed models, their merchandise could not work very nicely, and they can be costly.

For more data, you'll find a way to go to the residence page or the brand design portfolio to view examples of our work. If you want a 3D product render or design, you can also schedule a meeting to discuss your imaginative and prescient and inquire for a quote particular to the project. Now I’ll be the first to inform you I’m not the biggest Kylie Jenner or Kardashian fan, however this was a very strategic enterprise transfer.

Overall, the branding designs Lancôme carry a creative aptitude that boosts the general aesthetics of the model. Cosmetics manufacturers are all about style—and if you want your branding to really feel consistent, you need to tie all of it along with a model fashion guide. Your values won't solely drive your inner strategy, they may even help you join externally with your prospects. Using the all-natural product example, your company values could be sustainability and security.

[nicollekidman]

Hi can you explain romantic friendships? Sorry if this is a bothersome question I’m on the spectrum and stuff like this is a little confusing for me but I want to learn!

okay this needs a lot of caveats because it’s not a set concept with a specific definition (opposite of, in fact) and it’s just the way i think about it. and i’m a person who considers Love the basis of everything and thinks the increasing reliance on labeling emotions/micro-identities to be like... the antithesis to authentic human expression. 

basically the way i think about it is.... there is Romance involved in all of our relationships, but there is a strict delineation for most people, between Romantic Partner and Friend, which i would consider to often not encapsulate the nuance and depth of humans’ bonds with each others, and our individual lived experiences! 

our lives and relationships are a hugely rich and complicated tapestry of emotional/sexual/spiritual/practical bonds, and it seems like an absolute waste to spend our time demarcating these relationships with value-based labels, as if there is a meaningful emotional difference between a romantic partner and a “friend”. of course this happens because we live in a society that expects One Individual to be the provider of very niche/emotional need, whether it’s familial, therapist, child-rearing, sexual, financial, etc etc etc. and everyone else is somehow on a Lower level. this isn’t saying that i think everyone should be polyamorous or that True Love doesn’t exist, or that labels as a whole aren’t useful, or that each relationship isn’t different, but it’s more........ 

let yourself form an organic authentic patchwork of relationships with people without worrying if what you’re feeling is Romantic or Friendly. newsflash it’s all about love!!! whether we’re talking about “found family” or crushes or friends or romantic partners or sexual partners, what we’re talking about is the hugely varied intrapersonal relationships that make up our lives. you often don’t feel Less for someone just because you’re not having sex with them, or because you’ve chosen to build a life with someone else. and those boundaries shift and change constantly, as they should!!! you can feel Soulmate attachment to one person and maintain relationships with other people that mean just as much in different ways! intellectualizing the ways in which we Mean Something to others is a lonely exercise that i feel is mostly unneccessary. i feel like this is coming across as very hippy dippy free love in a way that i’m not intending but...... 

if you’re not in love with your friends??? what are you doing!!! love is not a finite resource and we all have the capacity to give and reiceve it in a billion myriad ways that go beyond “romance” vesus “friendship” and if you just let yourself feel the way you feel, it’s kind of crazy how connected and supported and warm you can feel. 

ALSO..... this is not me saying there is not a DIFFERENCE between a Romantic Partner and a Friend, but it IS me saying that you don’t have to attach a value judgement that marks one as better or more intimate/important than the other.

also, read this article bc it makes my heart squeeze and is a good concrete exploration of how these kinds of ideas function in real life, and is a more in depth portrait of how it’s possible (and beautiful) to prioritize the platonic relationships/friendships in your life even over your Romantic Partners) : https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/10/people-who-prioritize-friendship-over-romance/616779/

[cadmar]

Mindless Knowledge

Knowledge does not need a mind.  We have this view that we need to link one thought, one concept and one idea to another.  We need to label.  Labelling gives us this ability to link.  When we can link, we then are able to manipulate.  When we can manipulate then we can plan on how to use this link that is an idea, a concept, a thought, and a word.  If we do not have this ability to link, then, it just sits there, like a rock.  No movement, no change, and no progression of discovering future knowledge and technologies.  From our lack of complete observation of the millions of micro steps involved in just one interaction, we need to link.

Everything in the universe is a combination of one fundamental particle interacting with another fundamental particle.  Nothing is changed, nor transformed.  Either the two fundamental particles attach to each other, or not.  One fundamental particle does not swallow up the other one so that it disappears and no longer exists.  

Our knowledge is memory.  Since we do not have full knowledge, observing the millions of steps between a simple interaction, we lump together, generalise, and make assumptions.  For example, the colour of one’s hair.  If we observe the single fundamental particle of the hair, it has no color, and yet, we combine and generalise all the hair particles as to having this one color.  We do this with all our knowledge and observations.  We then need to make assumptions and to manipulate our guesses to smooth over our lack of observations of these millions of micro steps per interaction of fundamental particles.

If we have all the observations of all these millions of micro steps, there would be no need to manipulate our assumptions and guesses.  We would then have all the information and there would be no need to label, to manipulate, and to project an educated guess.  For example, if one group has one billion fundamental particles all moving in one direction at the same speed, then there is no need to guess where it would go in the next micro step.  It happens.  This is the state of being.  The intertwining of all these fundamental particles at every moment in time and in all locations in space.

There is no universal mind.  Just an universal interaction of all objects and spaces.  This is the state of being.  Being.  Mindless.  

This is the source of our consciousness. This is the state of being.  No dogma, no doctrine, no beliefs, no words, and no rituals are needed.  Just a state of being.  The universe is at a state of being.  I am what I am is this state of being.  No mind.  No intellect.  No memory.  All at once and we are connected to it!

[uh-drarry]

Can i ask what the difference between ace and aro is? If not thats totally fine! I was just curious, have a lovely day ♥️

Of course!! I hope you are having a lovely day as well, nonnie. Thanks for the ask! I’m not an expert but I have done a lot of research since realizing I was both ace and aro but I only recently realized this within the last six months so I’m going to give kind of broad terms and they both definitely have more definitive terms depending on the person using them. Ace is short for Asexual. Aro is short for Aromantic. (As I type this Aromantic is showing as a spelling error, and if that doesn’t tell you anything about how underrepresented that community is idk what will). This got a bit long, so I am putting it all under the cut.

Asexual people feel little to no sexual attraction. The opposite of this is Allosexual, meaning you do feel sexual attraction. Asexual is an umbrella term and there’s many micro labels under it as well. This doesn’t mean aces don’t have a libido though. Some people have high or low libidos and are still Ace because it’s about sexual attraction. Asexual people sometimes define themselves as one of the following, sex favorable (does enjoy sex, but possibly won’t initiate it themselves, or they could live without it but are happy to partake as far as I understand), sex positive (this can mean the previous, or, like me, they encourage others to have sex if they want it, and believe safe sex should be taught, etc.), sex neutral (they might enjoy sex, but eh, that’s cool if they never do it again, or ever), and sex repulsed (might get nauseous at the thought of it, never wants to partake, depending who they are they might not want to see it, hear it, watch it, etc even within media, nothing). Back to feeling or not feeling sexual attraction, for example, I have never once looked at, say Chris Hemsworth or Zendaya, and thought “Yeah, they turn me on, I’d have sex with them.” (Honestly the fact that I really had to think to come up with names there, which I think it very telling, I’m laughing at myself). *oversharing probably but trying to help people understand, sorry* Despite the my lack of sexual attraction to anyone, I do feel things, for example, when I read smut or something similar. Ace people might get themselves off, have sex, or never do anything of the sort down there. That kind of thing is about feeling good, you don’t have to think your partner or whatever is sexy in order to do that. If anyone wants to do their own research, AVEN.com (Asexual Visibility and Education Network) is probably a good starting point, or I can rec some blogs here.

Aromantic people feel little to no romantic attraction. Very different from feeling sexual attraction, yes? Basically, take all of what I wrote about being Ace and exchange sex with romance and that’s an aromantic person. I will explain anyway. Just like allosexual, alloromantic people are people who do feel romantic attraction. Romantic attraction is when you want to do romantic coded things with people. Of course romance is a bit harder to define than sex, so it can mean a lot of things to different people. Kissing can be seen as romantic to one person, and another aro person could really enjoy kissing others for example. Personally, I get pretty uncomfortable in romantic situations regarding myself and someone else, which I would probably define as being Romance Repulsed. After learning what this term meant and reading some about it, I really thought of my experiences. I’m pretty sure I’ve never had a crush on anyone, relationships (the brief two that I’ve had) really just felt like friendships. I didn’t initiate anything besides maybe handholding because I didn’t know what to do, or I didn’t even realize that was a thing that most people in that situation would be doing at that point in a relationship. I felt very uncomfortable when a ex tried to take a kiss further than a peck, among other things. Again, being Aromantic doesn’t mean aro people automatically will never have or want romantic relationships. They just don’t feel those feels for people usually. Like AVEN for asexuals, there’s Arocalypse.com for aro people. I have less blogs to rec here, but I can rec some if someone wants it.

There are good examples of different types of attraction, I personally feel platonic attraction which would be the desire to be someone’s friend, as well as aesthetic attraction which is defined below.

People can be one, or both, or neither. I am both, AroAce. People in these communities often use the Split Attraction Model (SAM). Which would be like someone stating that they are Asexual Homoromantic, or Aromantic Heterosexual, or Aromantic Pansexual, among many other combos.

Because I do feel aesthetic attraction, pretty much solely towards women, I define myself as an Oriented AroAce, or Lesbian AroAce. If I ever did end up in a relationship with someone, I can only ever imagine it to be with a woman. Again though, that’s just one microlable among so many that are out there.

This is a huge list of identities and labels, it overwhelms be tbh, but I’m linking it here anyway because it’s very informative.

I assume this ask was in response my reblog here. Yes I get very annoyed when people treat these two orientations as the same thing, despite me identifying as both. As I hope you can now see, they are very different things. A lot of the time, I enjoy reading about romance and sometimes sexual relationships, but sometimes I want to read other peoples thoughts, fics, posts, etc about only one of these and the Aro/Aromanticism tag is flooded with posts about asexuality which really doesn’t help people who are trying to learn about aromanticism or wanting specific content.

One more point before I wrap this up. I read a book because I wanted to see if it’d help me know for sure if I was demisexual (definition can be found in the huge list I linked two paragraphs up, or on google), and it actually made me realize I was aroace and I am forever grateful for it so I will rec it here. It’s called Loveless by @aliceoseman and it has quickly become my favorite book. So if anyone wants to read about a fictional character realizing they’re aroace, this is a fantastic book. I related so much to Georgia, it’s crazy. Also her other works are fantastic.

Remember you are not alone! Experts believe that 1% of the population is ace (and I think it’s the same for aro people) and that might sound like no one but, guys, theres 7.8 billion people on this planet. That means theres 78 million people like us! I ended up finding a lot of ace people to follow on twitter as well by the way.

This might be a hot take to some but the A in LGBTQIA+ does not mean ally! It’s for Asexual, Aromantic, and Agender! And we do belong in the queer community because the queer community is for people who aren’t straight, cis, or amatonormative. Wow, I hope this all makes sense, if any of you are confused or have more thoughts, or I messed something up, UNLESS YOU’RE BEING APHOBIC, add your thoughts, or message me!

Side note: Do please send me recs of people to follow, books, fics, shows, whatever, I am always searching for new content within these orientations!

[the-ghost-of-jason-todd]

let’s talk about labels and trauma real quick.

there’s a pushback against ace-and-aro-spectrum micro-identities like lithromantic on the grounds that such identities are ‘harmful’, ‘bad coping mechanisms’, ‘trauma-based’, etc.  i just want to say how little i care about that discourse.

talk all you want about how YOUR OWN journey with one of those labels was self-harm and maladjusted, if it was for you.  but when you’re on the outside of someone else’s lived-experience, you DO NOT get to criticize them, say they’re coping badly or letting their trauma dictate their labels or harming themselves or otherwise imply that they have made the wrong decision and chosen the wrong label.  like, for real.  it’s entitled as shit, to assume you know what’s best for someone else, ESPECIALLY a complete stranger on the internet.

“but” you say, “they’re really hurting themselves.  i can’t just let that lie”

to which i say: there’s a piece of advice that’s stuck with me for a long time.  i can’t remember what the original quote was anymore, but BASICALLY it goes like this: only criticize others in exactly the manner you are able and willing to help them.  like, for instance: drug addiction.  it’s easy to say “get sober” to someone, right?  it’s easy to criticize their life choices.  but if you REALLY want to help, you need to get them the resources they need to detox and deal with the cravings afterward, to get clean and actually change their life.  otherwise you’re just blowing hot air and making no real difference in someone’s life except to put stress on them.  there is no net gain when you criticize someone’s life/a coping mechanism/a choice they made.  you need to follow through and support them.  and if you can’t, well, then stay quiet.  

(that said, the way some of you try to help and/or support people is... it leaves a lot to be desired, which is a whole other post)

what am i getting at?  simple: basic human decency.  you shouldn’t just call people out on the internet for coping badly with no way to help them get through the fallout of possibly losing said coping mechanism.  if you don’t know someone well enough to offer support (like, for instance, you’re complete strangers and you’ll probably never interact again) then you have NO REASON to go prodding at coping mechanisms.  coping mechs are MECHANISMS FOR COPING, and you don’t know if a stranger is going to be okay if they lose one.  you have NO CLUE what their life is like, their stability, their support systems, etc.  you don’t know if this coping mechanism is a stand-in for something much less healthy, and they’ll go right back to a worse place if they lose this one.  you have no frickin’ idea.

“but i’m also a trauma survivor, i know what i’m talking about”

oh?  you know exactly how all 7.8 billion people on this planet react to trauma and how to help them?  come on, bro.  admit that trauma doesn’t have a blueprint and accept that you don’t know shit about strangers on the internet.

and this isn’t even touching on the fact that sometimes people are just different and their choice to use those words/labels has no connection to trauma at all.  the world is a huge place and there are people out there that you can not and will not understand.  

and honestly... after all this i don’t understand why it matters if it’s a trauma-response/coping mech at all.  if someone finds a word that explains their lived experience, why shouldn’t they use it?  how much does it really matter if someone uses ‘lithromantic’ as a label because they’re traumatized?  some people use the label ‘lesbian’ because they’ve been traumatized by men, and i don’t see anyone out here insisting that we need to get rid of the lesbian label on the grounds that traumatized people might be using it.  when you hear someone say ‘oh she’s just using the term lesbian because she’s been hurt by men’ ten times out of ten you’re talking to a homophobe.  

and for real... if a traumatized person has found solace in a label, why would you try and take that away from them??  ‘because they’re not processing their trauma and they’re letting it control their lives--’ just shut the hell up, man.  you don’t get to decide how someone else deals with trauma.

TLDR; everyone’s journey is different, and not everything has to be a Big Fucking Deal.  

[castycasty]

Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and Tiktok on hot sit, see latest apps racing to overtake them.

CastyCas

Tumblr

Tumblr, also spelt Tumbir and pronounced Tumbler is a microblogging social networking site founded in 2007 by an Americaan computer programmer David Karp.l

Bloggers in Tumbir can follow fellow bloggers, they can make posts, comment, reblog and start conversations, like other people's posts or comments, upload texts, images, videos, quotes and links as well as start a group chat. Art works, personal thoughts, original GIFs, edited remix of celebraties can also be shared on Tumbir.

A Tumbir user can link posts with twitter and facebook, they can also tag other tumbir users as well as privately chat with other Tumbir users one-on-one.You can just be an onlookers watching and reading what others are writing, saying and doing without qualms, if you are the shy type like me.

Tumbir says it is a place where users interests connect the user with and to his or her people, Tumbir touts itself as a place for freedom of expression,where users can say whatever and however using it's queuing tabs to say it whenever.

The beauty of Tumbir is that since December 17th 2018, Adult content is prohibited, although not completely as LGBTQ contents is known to be promoted and protected by the platform, just like Facebook.

Tumbir is available in Android and windows.It also allows you to chat secretly using inbox features. Group chats, story boards, Queuing and dashboard are some of the unique features of Tumbir with which it intend to outshine facebook.

Users interests are shared and respected in Tumbir hence serving as a foster home to many, as it allows them to express their individuality and to be who they really are and what they really want to be.

Tumbir allows it users to like and stay connected with stuff that matters to them, with Tumbir, you can express youraelf, be yourself, connect with your people and join millions of communities across millions of hashtags.

Currently, Tumbir has 167 million users worldwide, it has about 441 employees, it headquaters is located in New York City.

Tumbir has about 500 millions blogs, 500 million monthly visitors, 172 billion posts and about 21 million daily posts. Tumbir is 12Mb app, making it a non space consuming app.

Yahoo bought it in 2013, at 1.1 billion dollars, it was later sold to Automatic at about 300 million dollars due to decline in advertisements revenues.

Promoters of Tumbir hope that one day Tumbir and not Facebook will be the talk of the town.

 Parler

Parler is a U.S based news based, micro blogging social networking service app which was launched in August 2018 by its founder John Matze.

It is being ardently promoted by political conservatives in America who tout it as alternative to Twitter which they believe is strifling free speech.

Parler is multilingual just like it's arch rival Twitter, it has it's headquarters situated in Henderson, Nevada US.

Parler currently has about 5 million users world wide, and has been downloaded over 1 million times on the Google play store, it has been touted as the fasted growing microblogging site of 2020.

The promoters of Parler say parler is unique in the sense that it's a commenting platform that's not biased, promotes free speech and solidly focused on protecting users right.

They say that parler enables its users create their own community and enjoy contents and news in real time while applying moderation tools to filter contents, they say it empowers users to control their social media experience and be a verified member of the community.

Leon Rife, a parler user wrote this about parler on the internet;"Super easy to use, whipped right through registration page, so i can't understand how others seems to be having a problem with it. I've been using this app for about a month, as well as Twitter and really enjoy parler as the superior app for content and expression...great app and great platform.

Another parler user, Tom lane said the app is wonderful for open self expression, "if you're looking for a Twitter alternative, this is it..."

The oops about the app especially for Nigerian users is that unlike Twitter, Parler requires your valid means of identification for you to be verified, unverified users may have their experience limited as people who don't like what you posted or commented can label you as a robot which may earn you some unpalatable repercussions.

Can parler displace or even stand neck to neck with Twitter? Only time shall tell

Telegram

Telegram was the massaging app that forced WhatsApp to go into end to end encryption, because that's exactly what telegram say it is all about.

Telegram says it is fast, synconizable, unlimited in the amount of data users can upload, download or send. They say they are secure, powerful,reliable,fun filled, simple in use and accessibility, respects users privacy as well as enables secret chats which deletes itself immediately after sending and after reading by the reciever.

Telegram doesn't accept advert and doesn't advertise itself anywhere, despite that, it has 500 million downloads as against whatsapp's 5 billion downloads on the Google play store. it is a 22.92 Mb app as against whatsapp's 23.81 Mb, people prefer smaller apps to larger ones as they strive to conserve space, hence, telegram's increasing popularity.Critics say that telegram's strict encryption fuels and supports the spread of terrorism.

It was developed in 2013 by Russian brothers Nikolai Durov, Pavel Durov who is the chief executive officer CEO, and an entrepreneur Axel Neff.

Telegram has it's legal headquaters in London UK and its operational headquarters in United Arab Emirates.

Telegram has about 400 staff, about 400 million active users. It is presently in the top ten of the most downloaded app of apple and Google app stores.

This massaging app enables users to securely connect with family, classmates, co workers and others. It is a cloud based instant massaging, video telephony, Voice over internet service app which enables fast and secure usage.

Remember that Telegram has never advertised itself anywhere, all its users come after recommendations by users who are mesmerized by its strong principles and quality features.

It's available on Android, IOS, Windows phone, Windows computers, Mac Os, GNU/Linus platforms, in almost all the countries of the world and accessible in 15 different languages.

Telegram was Instrumental in the recent anti government uprising in Iran.

Triller

Triller is owned by the owner of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg, it was founded on December 5th,2015, but was retooled, reactivated, reinvigorated and updated on August 5th 2020, in what analysts see as an attempt to rival tiktok.

Triller is a video creation application where an Android phone owner who downloads the app can produce own music videos using the songs that are available in the music library. Triller is a video creation app which also works as a social media platform in various ways.

Thanks to the current situation of tiktok in the face of US president Trump's threat of banning it, Triller is blazing the trails in the hope of catching up with tiktok and even overtaking it.

Triller says it is not seeking to rival tiktok, afterall it is older than tiktok, as it was founded in 2015 while tiktok was founded in 2017, instead it sees itself as the "adult version of tiktok", matured tiktok so to say.

It is available on Android's Google play store, it is 43.93 Mb app as against 58.98Mb making it a darling of users with low end smartphone.

Triller has 120 million downloads as against tiktok's 1 billion downloads, but it's known to have a growth than tiktok.

Trump campaign, snoop Doggy, Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys, Eminem and other celebrators have opened triller accounts as triller continuous to cash in on tiktok's China connection backlash.

Promoters of Triller say that Triller enables users to show off their unique talents.

If you know tiktok and you know Triller, if you see Tiktok you see Triller because Trillion is a copycat with advanced modifications. It remain whether American's Triller can beat China's Tiktok in China's home field of copycating.

[dragonnan]

Chaos - confusion - something terrible has happened.

A new enemy has taken the stage.

Avengers Compound – 2019

Two Months Earlier

Tony sagged in the orthopedic chair in the dimly lit room. They had to keep the light levels down due to the hypersensitivity of the patient occupying the bed before him. Not permanent, he'd been told – they figured they'd have it resolved in a day or so. Boredom though... well, he could relate to that particular malady.

His companion had been awake for the better part of thirteen minutes.

“How long before I can finally leave this... environment?”

Tony cleared his throat and glanced at his watch. “uh... about six days... give or take.” He sniffed; stretching before looking back towards the mulish gaze glaring at him with eyes a little too much like a small furious shark. “Maybe five. Look, I know you're twitchy but-”

“I was promised three days!” Nebula practically snarled as her hand curled around her plastic water jug – compressing the sides before abruptly spasming – the jug fumbling out of her grip and bouncing against the floor in a spray of water. Tony made an aborted grab for the jug before forcing his feet to the floor and making his way three feet left to where it had jostled to a stop under the edge of the counter. One hand braced on his lower back, he leaned down to collect the vessel; surprisingly mostly still full but for one largish puddle.

“Sorry – I put that one on Banner. He has a weird way of trying to make friends; what can I say.”

Unimpressed, Nebula crossed her arms and sank into herself. “This is intolerable.”

Setting the jug back on the rolling table, Tony dropped back into his chair – one hand rubbing at his left bicep. He started to speak, going so far as to open his mouth, only to let a breath through his nose instead. Dropping both hands to his lap he leaned over his knees. “You're right. And it shouldn't be taking this long. You should have been out of here a week ago. The thing is, it isn't Bruce's fault. And it isn't Strange, or Cho, or anyone else on your medical team. Those guys are rockstars and what they were able to do was astounding.” He made a cut off sound as he dropped his eyes to the fractal pattern of spilled water seeping across the tile. “This one is on me. I thought I...” he shook his head. “I let you down, kid. I'm sorry. But I'm going to make it right.”

That look, again. Searching/perplexed/cautious... and as always it twisted something within him that recognized it without creating a label. It had taken him so long to realize why it was so familiar.

Longing.

The first person to ever trigger that, for him, had been Rhodey. And it had taken him a lot of years, most of them spent without therapy (which he only, very recently, had discovered was actually a really good thing), to get a handle on what it all meant. And to not feel guilt about it.

Okay, he still felt guilt about it but, well, work in progress. He still wasn't entirely sure why he felt guilt – he just knew that he did.

So, yeah, he knew that look. He got that look. And he knew where it came from. And he wanted to curb stomp Thanos all over again.

He smiled – pointing at the slender hand still twitching, slightly, on the top of the sheet. “Mind if I...? I think I can...”

Glancing down at her misbehaving appendage, silently, Nebula reached her arm over the railing and allowed Tony to gently clasp her wrist.

Studying the surface for a moment, Tony identified the seams before looking up at the face watching him. “Is this alright?”

Quiet, for a moment, Nebula nodded. “It's alright.”

There were micro-tools in a kit alongside the bed. Unlike what he used on his suits, these were medical grade and sterile. Tony stood, once more, to wash his hands at the sink before slipping on nitrile gloves and hooking a rolling stool with one foot.

He spent the next forty minutes leaning over her wrist – magnifying glasses over his nose and humming something even he wasn't paying attention to... not until it was brought to his attention.

“What is that?”

“Hm?”

Nebula shifted – eyes averted. “That sound... song... what is it?”

Smiling, as he gently eased a nearly microscopic tube back into its equally tiny coupling, Tony rewound what had idly been slipping from his mouth. “Old seventies classic. One of Mom's favorites. “Only Yesterday” by the Carpenters.”

A trickle of lyrics whispered past his teeth; soft and tuneless.

“Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely

You showed me the way to leave the past and all its tears behind me

Tomorrow maybe even brighter than today

Since I threw my sadness away

Only yesterday...”

The final piece slotted into place and Tony sat back. “Okay, give that a whirl.”

Dark eyes watching him, Nebula carefully lifted her arm and flexed her fingers. The tremble was gone and, stretching her arm, she rotated her wrist and bent her elbow – her full range of motion restored. “It is better.”

Grinning, Tony took back the limb and closed up the seams once more. “Hey, not bad for an old mechanic...” and then he froze as Nebula's hand came to rest on his shoulder.

The woman was looking at him; her face doing something complicated before she sucked in a breath and shook her head. “I've never... that has never been done without... It was always my fault. If my body needed repairs... I learned how to repair myself; as much as was possible. He... he always would...” her words ran out with a silent snarl and with a nearly vengeful swipe she crushed the moisture away from her cheek with her free hand.

Tony rested his hand over the blend of flesh and prosthetics that still braced on his shoulder. His teeth clacked a few times as he deliberated. Nearly a decade later and it was still a knife that twisted. But, then, maybe that's what made this important in the moment.

So he told her about a young boy – never feeling like he measured up. About a young man losing all he knew and learning to lean on another who became a stand in for something he'd never actually had – a confidant, a parent, a friend... And he told her about betrayal. About hurt. About the truths that only became revelations when he'd been able to look back with a critical eye... and truly see that Afghanistan hadn't been the first betrayal but merely the logical progression of a thousand betrayals he'd willfully ignored. Had denied. Had categorized as something, anything else than what they were.

No, it wasn't the same experience – his abuse hadn't been a physical one... well, not like hers anyhow. But there was that pattern of subtle guidance – of grooming – that had made him something he'd never wanted to be. Something he'd thought he was supposed to be... to make his father proud. To make Obie proud.

Neither one of them had been given a choice. They'd had to figure that out on their own.

Afterward they sat together. This, too, was familiar. Their shared space. The only two living things amongst a billion trillion stars.

Finally; with her newly restored hand, Nebula reached for him – waiting for him to reach back. Her fingers closed around his in a careful grip.

“I've never... This. I've never had this... before.”

Tony swallowed. He nodded and managed a damp smile. “Well, from now on, you'll never go without it.”

[gay-trans-lgbt-advice]

I do hope I’m not bothering you but Im in a situation and I can’t talk to anyone irl about haha so I’ve never really had feeling for anyone but Id say I’m gay? boys are pleasing to look at and I’ve had crushes on fictional boys but like the idea of being with a boy in anyway makes me feel gross and the idea of a girl does not make me feel gross but I’ve never liked a girl idk ig I just wanna feel valid haha that’s lame also I don’t think I want to give up the possibility of ever being with boy

I’m sorry I’m sending another thing,,,,,, but I’d hate to label myself one thing and then be another and I wish I could talk to my bestie about this bc they’re a part of the LGBT+ community but I don’t think they’d take me seriously and like what is I’m just trying to be different or quirk but like I cannot be with a guy but also what if I’m just straight and rlly picky? But also being with a girl doesn’t make me feel SiCk ugh I’m so sorry I hate to be that person but I am ConFusEd

Don’t apologize!!! You are most definitely not bothering me in the slightest, I love answering asks and giving advice! Even the difficult ones! Which, honestly, this isn’t one of them. Yeah sometimes I go on accidental hiatus’ from answering asks like the one I’m just ending now, but that doesn’t mean the asks bother me. Really I just feel a little bad for letting them sit there, but you do what you gotta do.

Anyway

You’re definitely experiencing comp het, or compulsory heterosexuality. I want you to know that attraction doesn’t make you feel sick, or uncomfortable, or gross. Girls who are actually straight / actually like men, even the ones who are picky, don’t feel that way.

You not wanting to give up the possibility of ever being with a boy despite how terrible they make you feel, is comp het. And fear. Thinking “what if I’m just trying to be different or quirky and im actually just straight?” is comp het. You doubting yourself so much despite the evidence is comp het, and fear.

ALSO! I definitely understand not wanting to label yourself as one thing and then later have to switch, I too used to have this fear but guess what!! I’m only 19 years old and in the past six years I have changed my identity and re-come out… four or five times maybe? And thats not even counting the billion micro-identities I only told one person about or the times I switched between butch and femme. 

Don’t be afraid of that. What I’ve done isn’t the most common, but it can happen. And it really isn’t that scary in the end.The goal is to be comfortable and happy, and sometimes that eventually means changing labels, but they’re just words. Just don’t put so much pressure on yourself to pick a label that will stick for the rest of your long life. Pick the one that fits you right now. Let future you worry about future you.

And why do you think your friend wouldn’t take you seriously? I think they probably would. If you trust them, and you need help, you should talk to them about this in private. It could really help. Of course, you’re always welcome to send more asks here as well!

Anyway. Not to tell you who you are, but you don’t like men. See the first two paragraphs after the ‘anyway’ for my evidence. You could be gay, or asexual. Idk.

Best of luck figuring it out! You got this!

[riusugoi]

Protocols: Duty, Despair and Decentralisation transcript - Matt Dryhurst

https://medium.com/@matdryhurst/protocols-duty-despair-and-decentralisation-transcript-69acac62c8ea  No-one is going to pay for music anymore sufficient to keep scenes as we know them going. At least not in the ways many have been used to. So while some artists might make petty change from digital sales through Bandcamp, my assumption is that those figures will dwindle over time as streaming establishes greater supremacy. My assumption is also that whichever streaming platform wins (as all roads lead to monopoly in this current paradigm), the artists that benefit from that streaming platform will be those that most dutifully satisfy the requirements of the streaming platform, which I think is a very different aspiration than satisfying the requirements of feeding healthy international and local music scenes. When Daniel Ek says he wants “one million artists to live from their work”, I think of one million musicians, sitting in flat shares, stocking playlists for people to shower to. Music from nowhere, for no-one in particular. A far cry from a healthy, or interesting, music community that people in attendance today might care about.  My other assumption is that Spotify won’t succeed. If I were Google, or Apple, or Amazon, I would look at Spotify’s immense burn rate: “they posted an operating loss of $461 million on revenue of nearly $5 billion last year”, and bide my time. From where I stand, Spotify is spending immense amounts of money to reorder the way music works as we know it. They might well eradicate the traditional label and publishing model, by finding new ways for artists to post directly to their platform, locking them into new forms of agreements over their work that also indemnifies them, or any prospective parent company, from legal action over copyright infringing material that might be hosted on their servers. Soundcloud is trying to do something similar with their new agreements, and in lieu of a viable business model appearing, all I read from that is that these are moves to leave the door open to potential acquisition by a bigger fish I don’t think there will be a streaming competitor to Spotify, or whoever might acquire them. Our best bet is to drastically reconsider the value proposition of music. What do people value and what are they prepared to support? the club music economy is resilient in ways that other scene economies are not. Club music, on the contrary, is very much based on location and loyalty, and is more generalised and functional. People go to dance, and are often less concerned with who is playing than what they are playing. The functional underpinnings of most club music are also compatible with the functional expectations of streaming, as both require a fast and steady stream of somewhat anonymous compositions that transition seamlessly into one another. Music to work to. Music to play to. Seamless. This is all well and good, but again we are left asking, what about those musicians who don’t want to tailor their output to a predetermined function?

One of the significant battles we face at the moment is a war between music from nowhere, and music from somewhere. Music designed for instantaneous engagement, and instantaneous dismissal, and music that communicates with an archive. The role of the critic has been under threat some for time, and will continue to lose influence to algorithmic populism, and the kindof process-hack algorithmic manipulation that makes stars on Instagram and Youtube. Spotify and Apple are already hiring journalists to cover the work they promote on their platform, so we will see more hagiographical journalism feeding that system, and the traditional idea of the critic as arbiter of taste, and gatekeeper of the archive, will continue to be eroded. Other gatekeepers, such as labels and niche festivals, will continue to lose prominence over time unless they radically reconsider their value propositions. The end of history? Nope, but the end of an era for sure. The recent announcement that Conde Nast intends to paywall all of it’s publications, presumably including Pitchfork, by 2020 is interesting news. Exclusivity like this might work for the cream of publications, and also might perhaps trigger a snow ball of similar subscription plays by smaller publications. I like it when people pay for things, and we will see how that experiment plays out, but once paywalled, what we understand as the archive might well end up being housed behind those walls. Better that than disappearing altogether, perhaps. RBMA and Boiler Room have been busy creating maps of culture. Maps are valuable, as they allow for the establishment of trade routes. On the one hand, RBMA and Boiler Room are doing a great job, as their models are predicated on the primacy of the kind of cultures that are under threat by the algorithmic populism of say, a Spotify or a Youtube. Contrary to the hackneyed divisions that linger from the past, there really is no “mainstream” or “underground” in this new economy. Under ad-driven platform capitalism, there are either fertile pathways to sell people stuff, or barren and quantified pathways to sell people stuff. It’s a map. I’ve said a million times, in this economy, unique niches (or unexplored corners) are highly valuable. If you are an artist whose practice speaks to a unique intersection, say based on genre, identity, or personal narrative, then you are an interesting proposition to advertisers, as you are prospectively establishing new territory to sell people stuff. Brands, as patrons, want you to establish new territory on their behalf, and be first to that party. So, for example, if now millions of people have the tools to create good-enough-Jeff-Mills-derivative techno tracks, it only makes sense that the distinguishing logic that someone might use to opt to support producer X over producer Y would heavily focus on tangential narrative elements. So much so that these narrative elements become the main source of value when competing with art of similar formal characteristics. Those tangential elements are perhaps better understood as metadata; equally optimal for growing new audiences and courting the interest of brands looking to achieve visibility in new niche markets. The original indie pioneers did a great service to music, but let’s be real, have left us all an impossible legacy to continue. Record sales = money in the bank = options. Period. Options to say no. Options to do wild, and risky things. Who has those options today? Where would the money come from?     So the original indies, as far as I can tell, were predicated on two firm principles: 1.The majors were corrupt, strong armed bad music into the popular spotlight, and ignored radical new developments in music creation and localised scenes that needed to be represented. 2.On the other hand, being independent meant doing what you wanted, however you wanted it, with no-one above you influencing your creative decisions. Self sufficiency basically. People who colluded with brands were considered sell-outs as they had to tame their vision to appeal to a wider audience and secure that funding. I know of more people who cite concerns about the gentrifying effects of transnational cultural institutions spending money across the globe, but lets be honest, indie music scenes of socially mobile young artists were doing just fine at gentrifying neighbourhoods before brand money got involved. So, in the vast vast majority of cases, what is the inconsistency here? Warp, or Dischord, or 4AD, or whatever, aren’t communist enterprises. They aren’t radical free culture enterprises. No. They are and were, for better or worse, entities that made great strides to support the individual visions of unique artists, and helped them to gain prominence in the market for music, and for a period of time symbiotically reaped the rewards from sales of that work. I think that in many ways, the foundational logic of independent music won. Now large portions of the economy are predicated on the promise of individualist independence. Everyone is free to self publish their unique perspective, and hypothetically find an audience for it online. That being said, we hardly live in a utopia as a result. 

It is no secret that many of the original indies were founded by the wealthy, or in many cases by middle class entrepreneurs who could afford to dedicate their 20s to a speculative cultural business. Equal ability to publish something means nothing when only those with the ability to fund promotion of the work are discovered. I’ve said it before, there will be an abundance of free culture, and free time, in the slums. Amazon can produce your product cheaper than you can, and strong arm you out of business unless you work with them. Facebook can acquire any competitor before they become dangerous. Pop music can appropriate and spit out your micro-scene before it has any ability to generate its own momentum, or it’s own funds.

In 2019 we all work for Kanye, only some of us figured out how to get paid for it.

So in the absence of the ability to accrue a foundation of wealth and stability for new music, independent artists who gained prominence via the centralised media channels of the 80s and 90s will reign supreme over the long tail of precarious younger artists until the day they choose to call it quits. The gravitational pull of those artists who established the categories by which playlists, and festival line ups, must orient themselves to reach enough people, dictates that most new music emerging needs to flatter the formal and conceptual foundations of those pioneers.

There is going to be a whole lot more music that flatters the impressive legacies of Aphex Twin, Bjork, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Jeff Mills etc as those are the kind of petrified shapes of envelope-pushing music from just before when the volcano of Web 2.0 went off 🌋 .Radical musical culture circa-1996 preserved forever, like the ruins of Pompeii - or as I believe Mark Fisher (or Simon Reynolds, or both??) referred to it, a kind of permanent 1990s.

Well on the one hand, the platform monopolies like Spotify and Youtube are going to continually erode your influence with every new person that comes online. Their algorithms will direct traffic away from your priorities, and towards theirs, and to survive in that ecosystem you will need to satisfy their agenda. Doesn’t sound too independent does it? Journalists will have to write more about what Spotify prioritises. Artists will have to make work to satisfy the debased formal requirements of those platforms. Labels will be shoo-ed off like annoying pests that are messing with the platforms long term vision. Really bad, and a great reason to be really angry at that particular logic of culture.

If your previous raison d’être was to support marginal communities, and weird music, you are probably going to end up being out competed by their models. Models that manage to leverage brand money to support those communities will grow and grow in prominence. The thing is, if you are playing exactly the same game, and one entity found a model to support exactly the same thing that you have supported traditionally, but more effectively, then you are probably going to lose that game. It sucks, but that’s what is likely going to happen.

I think the ‘cultural cartography’ model discussed before is quite precarious, as of course they too need for new and diverse things to actually be happening on the ground in order to maintain the model that they have built. Companies dependent on brand money are always a few emails away from being out of favour. State supported festivals are very fragile to that possibility too. As the popular narrative that Spotify is ‘solving the problem’ of music proliferates further, it is going to become increasingly difficult for people to convince brands, or an increasingly conservative state, that these niche pockets of music we might care about are worth the investment. Stat-supported music, if unimpeded, will come into direct conflict with state supported music.

So I actually think it is in everyone’s interests for new models to emerge.

I think some of those models can be complimentary to the institutions we have today, and some can be wholly antagonistic, and ideally we would see both come to prominence in the next few years for the health of scene development across the board.

As I said before, one reason I see things going south for competitors to the brand-aligned organisations is that they are competitive. You solve this problem quite easily by becoming uncompetitive, and doing something they can’t or won’t do.

One thing brands or their intermediaries can’t do, for example, is distribute ownership under a cooperative model. They literally can’t. But there are all kinds of reasons why that might make sense for various different cultural scenes or organisations.

Co-operativising creates loyalty and an alignment of interests between an organisation, festival, artists and audience.

Co-operativising allows for collective strategising towards common objectives. Rather than funds being ingested to the benefit of one artist, in competition with another, those same funds can be channeled into infrastructure that helps everybody and keeps the culture afloat.

So what of decentralization? To explain what decentralisation is, I’m going to borrow from Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin’s model, which is focussed on technical infrastructure but has application beyond that.

He breaks decentralisation into 3 groups:

Architectural (de)centralization — how many physical computers is a system made up of? How many of those computers can it tolerate breaking down at any single time?

Political (de)centralization — how many individuals or organizations ultimately control the computers that the system is made up of?

Logical (de)centralization — do the interfaces and data structures that the system presents and maintains look more like a single monolithic object, or an amorphous swarm? One simple heuristic is: if you cut the system in half, including both providers and users, will both halves continue to fully operate as independent units?

Benefits of decentralisation in the context of music:

1) the network/archive is hard to take down. If Soundcloud fails, what happens to all that music, and the activity around it? If a magazine goes down, what happens to all of that history?

Decentralised, nodal systems like blockchains, or torrent networks, are resilient both architecturally and logically. You can’t cut the head off them. It took the state to take down What.cd for example, such was its resiliency.

Projects like IPFS propose a peer-to-peer immutable web, a web that can never be taken down, fortified by a nodal structure not dissimilar to torrent seeding.

2) regarding political decentralisation, this can be approached by entertaining ideas of common ownership. Rather than a centralised team at Spotify, or Youtube, making decisions that determine how your artwork is distributed, or the logics by which some work is made more visible, and prioritised over other work, politically decentralised networks entertain the possibility of pluralistic and democratic decision making.

3) Decentralised networks, when dealing with an open source code base, also allow for forking. If you don’t the way things work, you are encouraged to take the code and build something that disagrees with it. Over time what this mechanism creates is a healthy competition of ideas, and participant choice.