#Products Currently In Use March 2018

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Jesse Singal

Published: Jun 27, 2024

In April Hilary Cass, a British paediatrician, published her review of gender-identity services for children and young people, commissioned by NHS England. It cast doubt on the evidence base for youth gender medicine. This prompted the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the leading professional organisation for the doctors and practitioners who provide services to trans people, to release a blistering rejoinder. WPATH said that its own guidelines were sturdier, in part because they were “based on far more systematic reviews”.

Systematic reviews should evaluate the evidence for a given medical question in a careful, rigorous manner. Such efforts are particularly important at the moment, given the feverish state of the American debate on youth gender medicine, which is soon to culminate in a Supreme Court case challenging a ban in Tennessee. The case turns, in part, on questions of evidence and expert authority.

Court documents recently released as part of the discovery process in a case involving youth gender medicine in Alabama reveal that WPATH's claim was built on shaky foundations. The documents show that the organisation’s leaders interfered with the production of systematic reviews that it had commissioned from the Johns Hopkins University Evidence-Based Practice Centre (EPC) in 2018.

From early on in the contract negotiations, WPATH expressed a desire to control the results of the Hopkins team’s work. In December 2017, for example, Donna Kelly, an executive director at PATH, told Karen Robinson, the EPC's director, that the WPATH board felt the EPC researchers “cannot publish their findings independently”. A couple of weeks later, Ms Kelly emphasised that, “the [WPATH] board wants it to be clear that the data cannot be used without WPATH approval”.

Ms Robinson saw this as an attempt to exert undue influence over what was supposed to be an independent process. John Ioannidis of Stanford University, who co-authored guidelines for systematic reviews, says that if sponsors interfere or are allowed to veto results, this can lead to either biased summaries or suppression of unfavourable evidence. Ms Robinson sought to avoid such an outcome. “In general, my understanding is that the university will not sign off on a contract that allows a sponsor to stop an academic publication,” she wrote to Ms Kelly.

Months later, with the issue still apparently unresolved, Ms Robinson adopted a sterner tone. She noted in an email in March 2018 that, “Hopkins as an academic institution, and I as a faculty member therein, will not sign something that limits academic freedom in this manner,” nor “language that goes against current standards in systematic reviews and in guideline development”.

Not to reason XY

Eventually WPATH relented, and in May 2018 Ms Robinson signed a contract granting WPATH power to review and offer feedback on her team’s work, but not to meddle in any substantive way. After WPATH leaders saw two manuscripts submitted for review in July 2020, however, the parties’ disagreements flared up again. In August the WPATH executive committee wrote to Ms Robinson that WPATH had “many concerns” about these papers, and that it was implementing a new policy in which WPATH would have authority to influence the EPC team’s output—including the power to nip papers in the bud on the basis of their conclusions.

Ms Robinson protested that the new policy did not reflect the contract she had signed and violated basic principles of unfettered scientific inquiry she had emphasised repeatedly in her dealings with WPATH. The Hopkins team published only one paper after WPATH implemented its new policy: a 2021 meta-analysis on the effects of hormone therapy on transgender people. Among the recently released court documents is a WPATH checklist confirming that an individual from WPATH was involved “in the design, drafting of the article and final approval of [that] article”. (The article itself explicitly claims the opposite.) Now, more than six years after signing the agreement, the EPC team does not appear to have published anything else, despite having provided WPATH with the material for six systematic reviews, according to the documents.

No one at WPATH or Johns Hopkins has responded to multiple inquiries, so there are still gaps in this timeline. But an email in October 2020 from WPATH figures, including its incoming president at the time, Walter Bouman, to the working group on guidelines, made clear what sort of science WPATH did (and did not) want published. Research must be “thoroughly scrutinised and reviewed to ensure that publication does not negatively affect the provision of transgender health care in the broadest sense,” it stated. Mr Bouman and one other coauthor of that email have been named to a World Health Organisation advisory board tasked with developing best practices for transgender medicine.

Another document recently unsealed shows that Rachel Levine, a transwoman who is assistant secretary for health, succeeded in pressing WPATH to remove minimum ages for the treatment of children from its 2022 standards of care. Dr Levine’s office has not commented. Questions remain unanswered, but none of this helps WPATH’s claim to be an organisation that bases its recommendations on science. 

[ Via: https://archive.today/wJCI7 ]

--

==

So, there are 6 completed reviews sitting somewhere, that WPATH knows shows undesirable (to them) results. And they know it. And despite - or perhaps, because of - that, they wrote the insane SOC8 anyway. And then, at the behest of Rachel Levine, went back and took out the age limits, making it even more insane.

This isn't how science works, it's how a cult works.

When John Templeton Foundation commissioned a study on the efficacy of intercessory prayer, a study which unsurprisingly found that it's completely ineffective, it was forced to publish the negative results.

So, even the religious are more ethical than gender ideologues when it comes to science. This is outright scientific corruption.

[lyingbard]

Why Nothing Sounds Quite Like LyreBird

Fans of RTVS may remember Joshua, beautiful baby boy of wayneradiotv. If you're like me, you might be wondering why Joshua stayed dead after LyreBird shut down. Why couldn't he be brought back with a different TTS? The fact is that LyreBird was a product of a very specific time in AI TTS. In March 2017, Google released a paper on Tacotron [1], one of the first AI TTS's with real success. In April 2017, LyreBird began showing off their TTS buisness [2]. As AI bros are wont to do they took that shit. LyreBird is a version of Tacotron. It incorporates technologies that would be published in the next few Tacotron papers [3] including multi-speaker, prosody encoding, and prosody prediction. And in February 2018, Tacotron 2 came out [4].

Tacotron 2 is better in every way. It's faster, better at imitation, and simpler. This makes it much more economical to run and fine-tune on a specific speaker, so every subsequent AI TTS is based off of Tacotron 2.

If you read the paper, Tacotron 1 has a lot of arbitrary and untested choices. It's clear that they published it in a hurry to prove that it could be done, but they hadn't refined it to cut the unnecessary fluff.

This brings me to why I'm writing this. I hope it's clear that I did a lot of research for this. That's because I did my best to recreate LyreBird, named LyingBard, and I've put it up for you to play with here.

You may notice though that it's not quite right. The main reason is that I had to go with a low quality version (reduction factor 5 for those who read the paper). A high quality version would take too long to train with my current set up and I'm almost certain that's what they used.

If I got about $100 in donations, I'm pretty sure I could get a high quality version trained in about a month. It still wouldn't sound exactly the same. Due to the chaotic nature of training a neural network, anything short of getting the actual files off LyreBird (now Descript's) servers won't make it sound exactly the same.

Regardless, LyingBard is here to stay. It's hosted on a free server so I have no reason to take it down. I'll be posting about updates here on this blog. I'm working towards getting custom voices ready at the moment and I've got some ideas for new features and fun toys for the future.

Thanks for reading!

Here's some sources if you wanna learn more about stuff I mentioned:

[1] https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.10135

[2] https://www.pcmag.com/news/lyrebird-can-listen-and-copy-any-voice-in-one-minute

[3] https://google.github.io/tacotron/

[4] https://arxiv.org/abs/1712.05884

[scotianostra]

Happy 90th Birthday Scottish actor David McCallum.

Born as David Keith McCallum, Jr on this day 19933 in Maryhill, Glasgow, the second of two sons of Dorothy Dorman, a cellist, and orchestral violinist David McCallum Sr. When he was three, his family moved to London for his father to play as concertmaster in the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Early in the Second World War, he was evacuated back to Scotland, where he lived with his mother at Gartocharn by Loch Lomond.

McCallum won a scholarship to University College School, a boys' independent school in Hampstead, London, where, encouraged by his parents to prepare for a career in music, he played the oboe.In 1946 he began doing boy voices for the BBC radio repertory company. Also involved in local amateur drama, at age 17, he appeared as Oberon in an open-air production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Play and Pageant Union. He left school at age 18 and was conscripted, joining the 3rd Battalion the Middlesex Regiment, which was seconded to the Royal West African Frontier Force.In March 1954 he was promoted to Lieutenant. After leaving the army he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (also in London), where Joan Collins was a classmate.

David McCallum’s acting career has spanned six decades; however, these days he is best known for his starring role on the police procedural NCIS as medical examiner as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. I first really remember McCallum for his role in another US show, The Invisible Man which ran for 13 episodes in the 70's. McCallum by then was a veteran of many TV and Film roles, starting in the 50's including Our Mutual Friend and The Eustace Diamonds, in the 60's he was in several ITV Playhouse shows before moving across the Atlantic to take roles in The Outer Limits and his big break as Illya Kuryakin in several incantations of The Man from Uncle.

His most notable films were The Greatest Story Ever Told as

Judas Iscariot and of course Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal' in The Great Escape.

As well as the aforementioned Invisible Man in the 70's he took time to pop back over to our shores to star in two quality series, as Flt. Lt. Simon Carter in Colditz and Alan Breck Stewart in an adaption of Robert Louis Stevenson's, Kidnapped.

The 80's saw him team up with the lovely Joanna Lumley in Sapphire & Steel and several guest roles in the likes of The A Team, Hart to Hart and Murder, She Wrote as well as a one off reprise of Illya in the TV movie The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair.

The 90's saw David in Cluedo and Trainer on our TV screens over here and American science-fiction series VR-5 in the states..

During the last 20 years or so he has been in the kids TV show, Ben 10: Omniverse as the voice of Professor Paradox and of course Donald Horatio "Ducky" Mallard in over 350 episodes of the popular NCIS.

David has been married twice. He married his first wife Jill Ireland in 1957. They met on the set of the movie Hell Drivers. Together, they had two sons and a daughter, Paul, Jason and Valentine, with Jason being the only one who was adopted. In 1963, David introduced Jill to his co-star on The Great Escape, Charles Bronson, and she left David and married Charles in 1968. In 1967, David married Katherine Carpenter and they have two children together, a son Peter and a daughter, Sophie. He and Katherine currently live in New York.

In NCIS since 2018, Ducky, played by McCallum, has appeared in fewer episodes. avid McCallum explained that appearing in fewer episodes will allow him to see more of his family, which includes his wife, children, six grandsons, and their cat, Nickie. According to IMDB he has chalked up an amazing 457 appearances in the show, morethan anyother character in the series.

[mpchev]

You like reading fanfics? How about reading about fanfics? 😏

Here’s what I've read so far (or am currently getting through) for my dissertation on fanfiction bookbinding! I'll be updating it as I go until the end of July. If you have any recs to add to the towering pile or any questions/opinions about something on there, I’m all ears!

on fan studies & ficbinding ✔

Alexander, Julia, ‘Making fanfiction beautiful enough for a bookshelf’, The Verge, 9 March 2021 <https://www.theverge.com/22311788/fanfiction-bookbinding-tiktok-diy-star-wars-harry-potter-twitter-fandom> [accessed 12 June 2024]

Buchsbaum, Shira Belén, ‘Binding fan fiction and reexamining book production models’, Transformative Works and Cultures, 37 (2022)

Dym, Brianna, and Casey Fiesler, ‘Ethical and privacy considerations for research using online fandom data’, Transformative Works and Cultures, 33 (2020)

Jenkins, Henry, Textual Pochers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture (New York: Routeledge, 1992)

Jenkins, Henry, ‘Transmedia Storytelling 101’, Pop Junctions, 21 March 2007 <http://henryjenkins.org/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html#sthash.gSETwxQX.dpuf> [accessed 12 June 2024]

Hellekson, Karen, ‘Making Use Of: The Gift, Commerce, and Fans’, Cinema Journal, 54, no. 3 (2015), 125–131

Kennedy, Kimberly, ‘Fan binding as a method of fan work preservation’, Transformative Works and Cultures, 37 (2022)

Minkel, Elizabeth, ‘Before “Fans,” There Were “Kranks,” “Longhairs,” and “Lions”: How Do Fandom Gain Their Names?’, Atlas Obscura, 30 May 2024 <https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/fandom-names> [accessed 12 June 2024]

Penley, Constance, Nasa / Trek: Popular Science and Sex in America (London: Verso, 1997)

Price, Ludi, ‘Fanfiction, Self-Publishing, and the Materiality of the Book: A Fan Writer’s Autoethnography’, Humanities, 11, no. 100 (2022), 1–20

Schiller, Melanie, ‘Transmedia Storytelling: New Practices and Audiences’, in Stories: Screen Narrative in the Digital Era, ed. by Ian Christie and Annie van den Oever (Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2018), 99–107

on folklore, the internet, other background reading ✔

Barthes, Roland, ‘La mort de l’auteur’ in Le Bruissement de la langue: Essais critiques IV (Paris: Éditions du Seuil, 1984)

Blank, Trevor J., Folklore and the Internet: Vernacular Expression in a Digital World (Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 2009)

Mauss, Marcel, ‘Essai sur le don. Forme et raison de l’échange dans les sociétés archaïques.’, L’année sociologique, 1923–1924; digital edition by Jean-Marie Tremblay, Les classiques des sciences sociales, 17 February 2002, <http://classiques.uqac.ca/classiques/mauss_marcel/socio_et_anthropo/2_essai_sur_le_don/essai_sur_le_don.html> [accessed 10 June 2024]

McCulloch, Gretchen, Because Internet: Understanding How Language is Changing (Random House, 2019)

Niles, John D., Homo Narrans: The Poetics and Anthropology of Oral Literature (University of Pennsylvania Press: Philadelphia, 1999)

hopefully coming up next (haven't started yet)

A Companion to Media Fandom and Fan Studies, ed. by Paul Booth (Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2018)

A Fan Studies Primer: Method, Research, Ethics, ed. by Paul Booth and Rebecca Williams (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2021)

Dietz, Laura, ‘Showing the scars: A short case study of de-enhancement of hypertext works for circulation via fan binding or Kindle Direct Publishing’, 34th ACM Conference on Hypertext and Social Media (HT ‘23), September 4–8, 2023, Rome Italy (ACM: New York, 2023)

Fathallah, Judith May, Fanfiction and the Author: How Fanfic Changes Popular Cultural Texts (Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2017)

Finn, Kavita Mudan, and Jessica McCall, ‘Exit, pursued by a fan: Shakespeare, Fandom, and the Lure of the Alternate Universe’, Critical Survey, 28, no. 2 (2016), 27–38

Hjorth, Larissa et al., eds. The Routledge Companion to Digital Ethnography (New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2017)

Jacobs, Naomi, and JSA Lowe, ‘The Design of Printed Fanfiction: A Case Study of Down to Agincourt Fanbinding’, Proceedings from the Document Academy, 9, issue 1, article 5

Jenkins, Henry, Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide (New York: New York University Press, 2006)

Jenkins, Henry, Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning In A Networked Culture (New York: New York University Press, 2013)

Kennedy, Kimberly, and Shira Buchsbaum, ‘Reframing Monetization: Compensatory Practices and Generating a Hybrid Economy in Fanbinding Commissions’, Humanities, 11, no. 67 (2022), 1–18

Kirby, Abby, ‘Examining Collaborative Fanfiction: New Practices in Hyperdiegesis and Poaching’, Humanities, 11, no. 87 (2002), 1–9

Kustritz, Anne, Identity, Community, and Sexuality in Slash Fan Fiction (New Work: Routeledge, 2024)

Lamerichs, Nicolle, Productive Fandom: Intermediality and Affecive Reception in Fan Cultures, (Amsterdam: Amsterdam Universtiy Press, 2018)

Popova, Milena, ‘Follow the trope: A digital (auto)ethnography for fan studies’, Transformative Works and Cultures, 33 (2020)

Rosenblatt, Betsy, and Rebecca Tushnet, ‘Transformative Works: Young Women’s Voices on Fandom and Fair Use’, in eGirls, eCitizens: Putting Technology, Theory and Policy into Dialogue with Girls’ and Young Women’s Voices, ed. by Jane Bailey and Valerie Steeves

Soller, Bettina, ‘Filing off the Serial Numbers: Fanfiction and its Adaptation to the Book Market’, in Adaptation in the Age of Media Convergence, ed. by Johannes Fehrle, Werner Schäfke-Zell (Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2019), 58–85

[wenella]

Zhu Yilong: My War

EN translation of Zhu Yilong's GQ Magazine March 2024 Issue Feature Interview by wenella

The interview took place a day before Lunar New Year’s Eve and the cold snap in Beijing has yet to end. It has been a hectic day for Zhu Yilong and our shoot ended only at 10pm.

Zhu Yilong sat in the dressing room, wearing his casual clothes and a beige velvet cap. It looked like Zhu Yilong is less reserved than before.

And it was indeed so. Now, Zhu Yilong exuded a sense of calmness and ease. He said that he has learnt to be accepting and embracing; he has put down much of his baggage and knows how to take things lightly.

In 2023, Zhu Yilong's works were released one after another. Audiences were surprised by his change; he has transformed from a young actor into a well-acclaimed actor. From Lost in the Stars to Only the River Flows, Zhu Yilong has used his characters to break through the thick wall. The thick wall that consisted two sides - behind the wall is an actor’s responsibility; beyond the wall is his self-expectation.

And now, his story will continue.

PART 1: SLOWING DOWN

Zhu Yilong went through several stages before this breakthrough.

Before 2015, Zhu Yilong was waiting patiently for his chance and had occasional success in the industry. During this period, he moved very quickly; once he joined the set, he would set his makeup and get into his role once the camera rolled.

2018 was a year to be called his own. He became active on major social media platforms and was surrounded by fans. However, he was still sincere and humble, maintaining the qualities that he had since young. During his interviews, Zhu Yilong admitted that he was afraid that his works did not live up to his fame.

Besides maintaining his humility, Zhu Yilong continued to work hard. Finally, his acting career reached another new height in 2022.

At the 35th China Golden Rooster Awards, Zhu Yilong won the Best Actor Award for his role as Mo Sanmei in Lighting up the Stars. Since then, he has more time than before and the autonomy to make choices.

Slow work makes perfect work; this is a truth that most people in the acting industry are aware of. Zhu Yilong has chosen to slow down. He said that the production period of making a film is now longer than before. From pre-production preparation, scriptwriting, and communication with the director, he would try to establish a cooperative working environment by involving himself in the creative process as much as possible.

Actors not only have to focus before the camera but also create their roles by immersing themselves in unfamiliar terrains and seeking new perspectives from literature and history. This is how Zhu Yilong fights his war; he has learnt to do desk research before the start of each production.

Recently, he read German philosopher Byung-Chul Han’s Die Austreibung des Anderen (The Expulsion of the Other) that discusses how people should break out of their information cocoons. Zhu Yilong's thoughts echo the author’s viewpoint. An actor should slow down and experience different ways of directing, narrative styles, and visual languages.

He should also head out – chatting with young domestic directors and actors, or interacting with foreign actors, directors, and producers. A movie is the result of a group effort and not an individual’s spontaneous creation. Heading out has brought Zhu Yilong pleasant surprises. He has received not only goodwill for expressing himself but also feedback that have served as inspiration. Zhu Yilong is extremely satisfied with his current state and hence feels at ease with himself.

Now, Zhu Yilong has more time and choices. Yet he still treats acting seriously and holds the “rein” for his roles tightly. He wants to keep his desire for creating new roles, which has been his original intention since he embarked on this career path.

The tensity of the “rein” is like the career anxiety everyone has experienced before, and it does trigger Zhu Yilong occasionally. In order to alleviate his anxiety, he chooses to compete with himself.

PART 2: IMPORTANT MOMENTS

Everyone has important moments in their life. For Zhu Yilong, attending Beijing Film Academy is one of them.

Zhu Yilong was a clueless high school student who has never learnt acting or attended art schools. He was just like any other regular high school student, who decided to take the acting entrance exam simply because of his mother’s love for acting. He said he was lucky; he secured a position in BFA after taking only 3 months of preparation classes.

However, Zhu Yilong had a tough time when he first entered BFA as he was unconfident and clueless. He was clueless as he wasn’t sure if he could excel; he didn’t dare to express himself as he wasn’t confident at all.

Zhu Yilong can never forget his first day at school. The teacher asked them to make fools of themselves on stage. Many of his classmates, who were trained in acting, knew exactly what to do, but Zhu Yilong didn’t. He felt embarrassed, stood frozen on stage, and was at a loss.

The moment that changed Zhu Yilong was an objectless performance at the end of the semester, titled "Waiting." He pretended to hold two ice creams in his hands and sat by himself waiting for his date. Time ticked by; he looked occasionally at his watch while the ice cream melted and dripped on his clothes and hands.

When his performance ended, his teacher Cui Xinqin gave him high praise. Up till today, Zhu Yilong still doesn't understand why, but this event gave him a boost of confidence – it laid the first foundation in him to become an actor.

Thereafter, Zhu Yilong suddenly realized that acting didn't seem as challenging as he thought. He seemed to have found an entry point – and the right one ��� for his acting career.

Zhu Yilong became confident gradually as he started exploring the more superficial aspects and then the deeper side of acting. He devoted himself to acting, adapting, and performing on stage, and started to enjoy the stage.

But everything became different once he graduated from BFA. It took a long time for Zhu Yilong since his debut to fully relax and transform into the Zhu Yilong we see on screen today.

He said that audiences can only see the actor in front of the camera. But while on the set, there might be more than a dozen crew members surrounding the actor. The sound engineer might even be lying underneath the actor to record the sound. In such a situation, it would be difficult for an actor to be completely relaxed.

He knew that this was something every actor had to go through. He just needed time.

Zhu Yilong cherishes every theatrical release of his works. Whenever the credits rolled and the lights came on, Zhu Yilong would always be filled with emotions as he stood before his audiences.

He cannot forget a conversation during one of the post-screening events.

A girl, who was going through a rough patch, hoped that Zhu Yilong could offer words of comfort. It was a quick interaction that left no time for elaboration. Zhu Yilong told her to broaden her perspective, to not limit her gaze to the present, and to focus on the future.

After a while, their conversation resurfaced on social media. It was only then that Zhu Yilong realized that the problem the girl was facing was not as simple as he thought. When he looked back, he felt bad as he thought that his reply was rather thoughtless and imprudent. Since then, listening attentively has become not only Zhu Yilong’s habit, but also a kind of self-expectation.

"You have to learn to listen in order to understand what is really going on, rather than to simply offer your thoughts immediately."

The second critical moment is the 35th Golden Rooster Awards.

After receiving the Golden Rooster Award, Zhu Yilong did not do anything to celebrate. He simply enjoyed a meal of Sichuan cuisine with his colleagues and celebrated in his own manner – eating a mouthful of rice.

Zhu Yilong has given up rice for a long time. He said, “It's not because I want to keep myself in shape. I just wanted to set a goal for myself and, in a way, compete with myself. So, I decided not to eat rice."

Zhu Yilong didn’t expect to win the Best Actor award for his role in Lighting up the Stars.

"I think it’s fate," he said. Many things happen by chance. Even if he produces a work that is better than Lighting up the Stars two decades later, it may not win any awards. There's no such thing as the perfect timing in life and these unknowns are what make life interesting.

After receiving the award, he went back to work immediately the next day, as though the ceremony was just a formality. But the award did help to ease Zhu Yilong’s anxiety.

He believes that an actor's right to choose his scripts depends on his skills and ability rather than awards and glory. The mutual attraction between actors and directors arises from deep communication, the ability to tap into different states and roles, as well as to create outstanding works together. This was one of the reasons why Zhu Yilong was highly praised by Chinese novelist Yu Hua after the release of Only the River Flows.

Zhu Yilong seldom think about the impact of his roles on him beyond the film. He would consciously change the habits he had developed for his role once the film wraps. Whenever he hears “It’s a wrap,” he will immediately remove himself from the context of the story.

Zhu Yilong has formed his own insights after acting for so many years. He said, "If you think you have mastered an acting method, it might actually pose a problem. There is no fixed method of performance."

For Zhu Yilong, acting is never straightforward. Acting evolves with time and the lifestyles of its contemporary audiences.

"If acting was just mere repetition, who would want to watch such shows?"

PART 3: NO EXPLANATION GIVEN

Regarding other people’s evaluation of Zhu Yilong, the only thing he can do is not to explain himself.

Not explaining does not mean indifference. In reality, when an actor debuts, there is only one path to take. He will join a set after graduating from film school. As a newcomer, the only thing that he can do is to seize all available opportunities. Choices? That’s a later story.

The same was true for Zhu Yilong. He realized very early on that every production is like a college entrance exam for an actor. The main difference is that the real college entrance exam has its rules, norms, and grades. But in terms of the acting profession, there are so many factors that can affect one’s career.

It is just like the jungle life in the film Tarzan of the Apes. One may mistakenly assume that they are familiar with the danger and the location of the beasts. Yet everything in the forest can shatter one’s confidence instantly. All Zhu Yilong could do as a newcomer was to push on even though he was unsure of what laid in front of him.

People in the jungle may offer him advice, dangle temptations or provide shortcuts. But Zhu Yilong knows that since he has chosen to venture into the jungle, he must persevere, and time would give him an answer; he needs to rely on himself to get out of this muddy terrain.

Zhu Yilong remembers a quote: the world is a stage for amateurs.

He said, there are people who gain fame and profit every day in his line. But Zhu Yilong, who has been through all of it before, has learnt to focus on nurturing himself and to remain focused about his career.

"Everyone has their niche. There’s no need to compete with others or to self-aggrandize."

Whenever Zhu Yilong is not on the set, he will be in his studio. Sitting in his studio, watching a film, or reading a book – these are his ways of relaxing.

Zhu Yilong is more attracted to the idea of travelling for work than leisure.

A few months ago, Zhu Yilong visited a wildlife sanctuary in Africa with WWF. He said that the trip has made him more determined to open himself up, to head out more, and to learn more about the world.

"Leaving the concrete city for the vast grasslands of Africa and enjoying the starry night skies. When you return to your everyday life and work after such an experience, you will have a different understanding of the world."

PART 4: THERE IS NOTHING IMPORTANT IN LIFE

Zhu Yilong, who is now at ease with himself, remembers up a line from Lao Mo in Lighting up the Stars: There is nothing more important in life than death.

As an actor, Zhu Yilong evaluates his career using a multifaceted approach. He does not think that winning one performance award meant that he has succeeded and adapted well in the industry. On the contrary, he feels flattered by this recognition, as always.

Outsiders view awards as an actor’s honor. Yet, to Zhu Yilong, an award is a steelyard. He needs to do better in order maintain the balance of the scale.

In addition, he said that it is also an honor for him to be an actor.

By now, Zhu Yilong is no longer reticent or doubtful. By accumulating his acting experiences, he is now able to communicate with his role and script on a deeper level. The sense of immersion, realism, and achievement during the acting process, stimulate Zhu Yilong's dopamine.

Actors respond to challenges in different ways. Zhu Yilong chooses to remember his original goal, his passion for creating characters, and his thirst for works. Zhu Yilong said that he just wants to compete with himself when he is working hard; this has nothing to do with being “juan” (involution/excessive competition with others). Sometimes, he is living life to his fullest; sometimes, he “wastes” time too. He enjoys playing basketball and visits the court whenever he has time. He plays the piano, sings, and plays computer games during his free time. Zhu Yilong is no different from ordinary people in his everyday life.

The term “traffic” is an unavoidable issue for actors. It signifies commercial value and the recognition of audiences. He said that the term has been misinterpreted.

"It is only normal for an actor to be recognized by the audience if he had produced a good work."

Actors, who have gone through this process, will have more choices and can produce more works for audiences. In Zhu Yilong's view, this is a natural process.

And that's how actors, past and present, have moved from the sidelines into limelight. The best thing that can happen in the future is for people to define the success of an actor not only by "traffic".

Up till this point in his career, Zhu Yilong said that his biggest reward is the audience's recognition of his works.

"Zhu Yilong’s films? I want to watch it." - Zhu Yilong hopes that this will be audience’s expectation of him many years later.

As for Zhu Yilong, his expectations of himself have never changed – that is, his original goal of, and his persistence as, an actor.

He said: "There are many actors of my age around the world who have reached where they are, and I still have a long way more to go."

After all, in his mind, acting is no small matter. On this path, he will continue to compete with himself.

**THE END**

Post-translation note: Translating this article took up my entire Saturday, but I’ve no regrets because this interview really marked a remarkable growth in Zhu Yilong. I highly recommend it.

I’ve been translating his interviews since 2020 and it moves me so much to see him grow so confidently and quickly as an actor over the past few years. As I was searching Weibo for pictures for my thread, I realized that it has been nearly two years since the release of LITS and Golden Rooster Awards. Time flies. This July will mark my 6th year as his fan.

Happy weekend reading! If you’d like to re-translate this, please DM me for permission + credit.

[darkmaga-returns]

Fat Amy Follies: Part XXIV

by Bill Buppert | Oct 30, 2024

The grift that keeps on giving and the poor performance across the board of the aircraft and the sticker shock of the high price for that mediocrity. I am going to say out loud: stealth is over-rated, the ea of manned combat aircraft is coming to a close and this particular air-frame is not aging well.

Two Trillion Debt Bucks.

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is the Department of Defense’s most ambitious weapons program and plays a crucial role in DOD’s ability to meet current and future U.S. national security goals. At the same time, the F-35 has been plagued by mounting costs and delays resulting in what some have called a staggering price tag of more than $2 trillion over several decades. In March, the fighter jet marked an important milestone — “full-rate production,” generally the point when development reaches an acceptable level of performance and reliability to start building more of them, faster. F-35s have already been in production at or near full rate for several years. At the same time, the military services that fly the F-35 (the Air Force, Marines, and Navy) plan to use it less.

That full rate production comes after fifteen years since it entered service in the USAF. No one has been held accountable and no one has been fired.

Projected costs for sustaining the F-35s have continued to rise from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion 5 years later (a 44% increase). This increase is in part due to the extension of the service life of the aircraft from 2077 in 2018 to 2088 in 2023.

Like the US Navy Little Crappy Ships (another trillion dollar investment in future fish apartments), these outrageously ludicrous projections of F35s being in service in the last half of he 21st century is silliness of biblical proportions.

Planning to fly the F-35 less. Over the course of the last couple of years, the Air Force and Navy have also reduced their projected annual flying times by 19% and 45% respectively. In part because of this reduction in flying, the services are now projecting they will meet most of their affordability targets. Affordability targets are the amount of money they project they can afford to spend per aircraft per year for operating the aircraft.

Fly the garbage aircraft less to increase its lifespan? Great idea. If they left it on the tarmac like the B1B “Bone” bomber, it will last longer and the decision may be wise due its lack of delivery on real world combat/performance expectations.

Is national bankruptcy the sole solution to stop the malpractice and fiscal bleeding? Stay tuned.

Read the full GAO report.

[silas-ng-dc-blog]

Is blogging still relevant in the age of TikTok and Instagram?

Yes. I think blogging is still relevant in the age of TikTok and Instagram. Blogging is the process of creating articles with photos, texts, and content, then publishing them on various websites on the internet for people to access and read. Blogging is usually characterized by a more laid-back atmosphere, informal writing, and a fixed format for its content.

According to SEO (Jan 2024), at least 60% of internet users read blogs and 77% of internet users read blogs every day. Information in the form of reading is quicker than through speech. Jonathan Andreas (May 2019) says that the average reader can read on average 241 words per minute whereas the average person can only speak about 100-150 words per minute. Needless to say, reading is undoubtedly a quicker method for consuming information.

GIF by muvana

Other than being a faster means of consuming information, blogging can also be used as a form of culture practice, taste making, and community formation, which can lead to the inclusion or exclusion of certain types of people. For example, a blog showcasing Chinese culture may appeal to a specific group of people that appreciates the tradition but may be uninteresting to others. Other examples of this usage of blogs include health blogs, fashion blogs, and political blogs.

According to Emily Shwake (Feb) in the field of business, business blogging can increase the overall pages on your company website, which leads to the growth of the company’s online presence thereby increasing the chances of potential customers stumbling upon you. A study conducted found that businesses that do not blog receive up to 55% less website visitors compared to those that do. Instead of a short few-seconds advertisement, blogs provide potential customers the chance to know more of the company via FAQs or posting important news or updates (Emily Shwake, Feb). Furthermore, as Emily (Feb) suggests that blogging can increase customer engagement. This can lead to repeat business or the increase of potential customers as current ones share blogs or news with people that may have never heard of the company before. Amanda Hetler (Jun 2022) states that blogging also creates content for social media platforms. By just sharing the link to a blogpost once it has been created, information of a business or company can reach more people.

Connecting with other people is one of the major advantages of blogging (Artem Minaev, May 2024). Blogging is where authentic relationships are built and unlikely friends are met. Blogging in a sense serves as a medium for people to communicate and connect based on their goals, similarities, interests. Therefore, blogging can lead to the unintentional sprouting of communities and public spheres on the internet where internet users come to express their feelings and/or opinions. Adding on, Elin (March 2018) states that blogging grants internet users the ability to voice out their opinions, experiences, stories, and reviews.

There is, however, an unexpected application of blogging. That is blogging as a source of income. Eb Gargano (June 2024) states 5 ways to earn money via blogging which are advertising, affiliate links, sponsored posts, products, and services. As blogging is usually done on websites, advertising is an obvious choice if one chooses to earn income while blogging. The more internet browsers that view your ads (ad impressions), the higher your pay (Eb Gargano, June 2024). Blogging can also help improve one’s writing. After all, blogging delves into the realm of conveying one’s opinions, thoughts, and ideas, and all of these aspects have to be written. Alex Tiffany (December 2023) says that the more you write, the better you will write.

On the contrary, there are cons to blogging that may deter internet users from ever becoming a blogger in the first place. According to Kayla (May 2021), bloggers may end up with nothing in return even after investing tons of time and effort into their blogging career. She compares this to undertaking a costly university degree that may not warrant a path of success. Blogging is simply a risk (Kayla, May 2021). Additionally, Kayla (May 2021) states that businesses may end up repelling potential customers if they do not properly blog their business. If blogging for your business does not build or lead to know-like-factor in customers, then it is only adversely impacting the business. Blogging in today’s world is highly competitive. Distinguishing your blog in the gigantic pool of more than 600 million present blogs is no easy task (Alex Tiffany, December 2023).

Even after considering the downsides, there are many benefits to blogging that make me think that it is still relevant in the age of TikTok and Instagram and that it may stand the test of time.

[n7punk]

She-ra (2018) Promotional Merch

As part of an ongoing project to catalogue all the merchandise produced for the 2018 She-ra reboot, this post is going to contain everything I can find that was only available as part of another purchase, promotion, or exclusive gift. None of these are available anymore outside of resale.

Sometimes you have to click photos to see full images, as many are cut off. Any [x]s will lead to the source of the images, usually secondhand listings that will eventually become defunct. I use the best photos I can find.

Con-exclusives (for sale or giveaways) are on their own post. The master post focuses on for-sale merchandise but includes descriptions for everything else. This post acts as support to that, including photos I don't have room for there.

Lootcrate:

Socks, a notebook, and a tumbler were produced, all exclusive to Lootcrate subscribers in their respective month(s). The tumbler was for March, unsure of the months for the other products.

Sonic Kids Meal Toys:

Four figures, two "straw buddies," one inflatable sword, and character profile magnet 3-packs of at least six characters (possibly more. Probably at least one more since Glimmer is missing from the BFS but I haven't seen any not included here yet).

Influencer Exclusives:

This promotional statuette was sent to family bloggers in 2019 to promote season four. It might have also been sent to reviewers in 2018. It's fragile (possibly porcelain) and very rare. Clare has taken more extensive pictures with notes on construction here. [x]

This promotional metal lunchbox was sent to influencers to promote the series in very limited quantities (not to be confused with the insulated fabric lunchbox that was for sale on Amazon). The graphics are stickers rather than directly printed on the lunchbox and it is in mini size. [x]

Recruitment Swag: Stickers

She-ra stickers promoting the Dreamworks' Career pages were given away with Dreamworks pins, likely to current or prospective employees, though when and why is currently speculative. [x]

Media Press Kits:

Media press kits were sent out to outlets. They included collectors cards (the same cards as were given out at cons, see that post for all the cards), a foam tiara (also given out cons), and buttons (guess where they were given out to the public: cons). A letter (fifth image) was also included in the box, the only completely exclusive part of the box that didn't make it to the public. [x]

A separate kit (sixth image) was sent out to celebrate International Women's Day ahead of the show's premiere, though the contents of it are believed to have been the same and only the box color differed. This was produced by Commuter Industries. Some of the recipients were those bloggers mentioned earlier. Thanks to Clare for finding it.

Commuter Industries produced further promotional material for IWD 2019 such as digital booklets (Clare has some pulls here). They also made an activity book & character standees for cons.

Reviewer Special Mentions:

They were not exclusive, so they're only getting a small mention, but the Super7 Catra & Adora action figures, as well as limited knee-high socks patterned after She-ra's uniform (with little red capes on the back) were sent in promotional packages to some reviewers. These socks were given out at other promotional events, though I'm currently not certain which and thus whether they were ever available to the general public. While the action figures did go for public sale, they were in very limited quantities, so it felt worth mentioning.

Absolutely Not Merch: Promotional Con Props

Three large props - a Sword of Protection, a statue of She-ra, and a prop of the Horde Throne - were created for photo ops at conventions and the company that made them has provided photos on their portfolio page. Their current location is unknown. The She-ra statue seems to be based on the same character art that the promotional statuette was made from. Also featured in these images from upper-left-to-right are Aimee Carrero (Adora's VA), Karen Fukuhara (Glimmer's VA), and of course ND Stevenson (creator/showrunner).

[douglas-rain]

Douglas Rain: All the Information

A collection of pages and articles about the late Shakespearean actor Douglas Rain's life and career. Some of these aren't exclusively about him, but feature quotes/tidbits. If you find any more good stuff, send it to me and I'll add it to the list!

Note: I strongly advise against using posts from the online blog "2010 Odyssey Two Archive" for information about DR, since they do not cite any sources and frequently include material from other articles in their Douglas Rain-centric posts without credit (and then go on to claim those articles plagiarised them instead of the other way around). We've all seen hbomberguy's video; don't do that.

-

Record in the Stratford Festival Archives' Person / Institution Register (biography, list of Festival roles. In addition, the archives have a database of photos, production credits of all the different plays the Festival has done, and items such as costume pieces. From what I've read, they also hold videos of performances and interviews with various cast members, but I'm reasonably sure those can only be accessed in-person) [Note: The link currently leads to an archived version of the page in question via the Wayback Machine, since the Archives' online catalogue is unavailable due to security issues!]

IMDB page (most complete list of film and TV credits; contains some errors though)

Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia entry (short biography)

Canadian Encyclopedia article (short biography)

NFB article by Albert Ohayon about "The Stratford Adventure", 31 August 2009 (DR isn't actually mentioned in the article, but they do note the thing about Alec Guinness' contract stuff that didn't allow rehearsals to be filmed with him performing - which is the reason why DR plays Richard III in the rehearsal scene in the documentary!)

NYT article by Gerry Flahive, 30 March 2018 (specifically about the creation process of HAL 9000 and why it's iconic)

NYT article by Ian Austen, 6 April 2018 (companion piece to the above article, featuring an interview with Gerry Flahive)

The Times article by Gerry Flahive, 25 April 2018 (about the HAL 9000 role and DR's ambivalence towards it, plus some stuff about his theatre work)

POV Magazine article by Gerry Flahive, 10 May 2018 (detailed look at HAL 9000, creation process and lasting impact, DR's life and career both before and after Space Odyssey)

NFB article by Gerry Flahive about "Universe", 10 December 2020 (about the creation process and impact of the documentary, with some focus on DR's voice-over narration)

Wordpress article by K. W. Rushing (me), 19 January 2024 (me desperately trying to figure out what DR's real date of birth is because there are multiple ones floating around the internet)

Various obituaries and articles about his death:

The Guardian

The Times

The New York Times

National Post

Independent

The Globe and Mail

Washington Post

Kitchener

Wral News

BroadwayWorld

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

Some Further Thoughts: TOY STORY 5, FROZEN III, ZOOTOPIA 2

The dust has settled for a bit…

These are some theories on who I think will be in charge of the three animated movie sequels announced by The Walt Disney Company the other day, because that’s always a concern of sorts for me when it comes to these movies… And also when they could possibly be released…

Why don’t we get the big one out of the way? That’s right… TOY STORY 5…

The announcement of TOY STORY 5 was unusual in that it didn’t give us any idea who is spearheading it. Now, TOY STORY 4 was similarly announced during an earnings call in October of 2014. It was the first official announcement of the movie’s existence following years of rumors coming from dubious sources… And on that day, we learned right away that it had a director (John Lasseter, who stepped down as director in mid-2017 prior to his prolonged ouster from the Disney company), two writers (Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, who left around that time as well), and was going to be a love story… But during that February earnings call, Bob Iger only stated that it was in the works, along with the two Disney Animation sequel films FROZEN III and ZOOTOPIA 2. No info on those, either… Just, they exist… It wasn’t too dissimilar to the March 2014 shareholder earnings call that officially confirmed that CARS 3 and INCREDIBLES 2 were in the works. Info was sparse on both…

In my previous post on the TOY STORY 5 announcement, I thought of who was part of the main crew of all four of the movies. Lasseter’s been out of Disney altogether since mid-2018, Pete Docter never directed a TOY STORY movie and is currently the Chief Creative Officer of Pixar, Andrew Stanton has been off directing live-action stuff and trying to get live-action features off the ground elsewhere, Lee Unkrich retired from the business entirely, and Josh Cooley is presumably still directing an animated TRANSFORMERS movie for Paramount… I’d imagine Docter and Stanton will at least write or contribute story material to the fifth TOY STORY, but I don’t see them being involved in other levels of the production. Does Unkrich un-retire (he’s not particularly old) and write, possibly even direct? Not sure. Perhaps another promising upstart director gets this one, much like how Josh Cooley got the TOY STORY 4 gig after years of story artist/supervisor work dating back to CARS. But who… Is the question. All the directors confirmed to make new Pixar features - Brian Fee, Kristen Lester, Rosana Sullivan, Aphton Corbin, Enrico Casarosa, and Domee Shi - are working on original stories… Maybe a short film director who has yet to get a gig - such as Brian Larsen or Bobby Rubio - will be director. Maybe someone I’ve never heard of before or even considered… After all, no one outside the walls of the studio knew that Enrico Casarosa had an original film in the works (LUCA), or that Adrian Molina was tackling a movie of his own after COCO (ELIO), or that Kelsey Mann was set to direct something, let alone an INSIDE OUT sequel. There’s a lot they don’t say, as much as they do say…

Release… Pixar currently has these dates locked for releases, post-INSIDE OUT 2:

06/13/2025 03/06/2026 06/19/2026

I’m thinking… Should production go smoothly, and not go through multiple writer changes like TOY STORY 4 did, it gets the June 2026 slot. That puts it… Seven years after TOY STORY 4. When TOY STORY 4 was announced, it was slated for summer 2017… That would’ve been seven years after TOY STORY 3, but again, those delays pushed it to summer 2019. TOY STORY 3, by contrast, took four years to come together. Development began following Disney’s acquisition of Pixar in early 2006 (erasing the old anti-sequel terms of the original contract between the two companies), was at first slated for summer 2009, but was released in summer 2010. TOY STORY 2 debuted four years after the first TOY STORY… Seven years is long, both TOY STORY 3 and TOY STORY 4 took what seemed like eons to come out.

As for those other release dates? I think those go to originals, of course. They’re the only other Pixar films we know about, and more originals is a good thing.

Now while we know what Pixar are releasing in 2024, original ELIO and sequel INSIDE OUT 2… We know next to nothing about what Walt Disney Animation Studios has on the horizon for after WISH’s holiday 2023 bow… And WISH wasn’t known to the public until this past autumn… Barely a year away from release. Outside of the two recently-announced sequels? Nothing. No hints on anything that’s cooking. We’ve known for a while - read: since November 2019 - that filmmakers Josie Trinidad, Suzi Yoonessi, and Marc Smith had original movies in production. If those are still a priority, then I’d imagine we’d be hearing about them soon. Walt Disney Animation Studios runs differently from Pixar now, what with Jennifer Lee as Chief Creative Officer, not how John Lasseter used to oversee both WDAS and Pixar… Don Hall, for example, was curiously whisked off of his STRANGE WORLD to take over RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON from its previous directors, ditto Carlos Lopez Estrada. Estrada had an original of his own in the works at the time, until he was assigned to RAYA. He left Disney altogether after that, meaning that his original is either dead (reportedly titled FOSTER, which shared the name with a cancelled Blue Sky musical) or it was given to another director. Hall later resumed STRANGE WORLD and the movie debuted nearly two years after RAYA. (Worth noting, RAYA was originally supposed to be a fall 2020 release, with ENCANTO following fall 2021, and then STRANGE WORLD fall 2022.)

So, which movie bows first? And when?

FROZEN III was inevitable given the billion dollar success of both movies, individually. FROZEN II came out six years after the first one, in fact it wasn’t announced that it existed until a year and a half after the first FROZEN came out. FROZEN II is now 3 1/2 years old, so they took a while to even confirm that this movie exists. Do Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee return to direct? Definitely no on the latter, as Lee is busy running the studio. Chris Buck is director of WISH, so if Buck’s directing, it won’t be out for a little while then. If neither are directing, and they gave it to someone else (maybe one of the directors of the half-hour OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE), then it could come sooner than later… Again, with such little information, it is hard to gauge.

Ditto ZOOTOPIA 2. Byron Howard directed the first film alongside Rich Moore, the latter left Disney a while ago. Howard, and ZOOTOPIA co-director Jared Bush, took on ENCANTO afterwards. Is Howard returning? Or is he pursuing another original project? Jared Bush is involved in ZOOTOPIA 2, and it’s possibly he could direct, or he has an original lined up for himself as well. I’d imagine they’d both at least write it or contribute story material. Josie Trinidad has an original movie lined up, but given her story work on the first ZOOTOPIA and that she directed most of ZOOTOPIA+. Trent Correy, who also directed on ZOOTOPIA+ and directed the Short Circuit short DROP, could be the director, too. Or he has an original lined up…

Release dates? Well, here is Walt Disney Animation Studio’s post-WISH slate so far…

11/20/2024 11/26/2025 11/25/2026

While Pixar has smoothly moved into doing two features every other year, WDAS still does one movie a year… And two sequels being on the boards makes thing a little complicated for the originals. Do we semi-repeat 2018-2019, where we went a whole four years without a new not-sequel Disney animated movie? Or does WDAS wrangle another movie into a doable slot?

Pixar, as said before, releases two movies in both 2024 and 2026… 2025, just one… Who’s to say Disney can’t take one of their placeholder dates for a “live-action” movie and gave it to a WDAS movie? Like, I can imagine one of those two sequels - likely ZOOTOPIA 2, since FROZEN is always more of a wintery sort of thing for obvious reasons - taking such a date… Say, March 2025? That’s the earliest feasible date, though…

FROZEN III, if it were truly coming out next year, than they’ve kept a hell of a tight lip on it… I don’t think it’ll be next year’s WDAS movie, nor ZOOTOPIA 2…

Earliest I can see either is sometime in 2025. It’s harder to gauge because originals exist, and WDAS only does one a year as of now. Again, that could change. They could surprise and say that they’re doing two in 2025 or so, and one of those two is a sequel.

As I said in the previous post on this matter… Why don’t they double up their efforts so they can get more originals out without having sequels pushing them back? In a way that doesn't put pressure on the crews, and doesn't crunch anyone... I think it can be done: That Vancouver studio they recently opened... Can that be upped the same way the defunct Orlando studio was? The Orlando unit helped on features like THE LION KING, and then whole features were made in-house there starting with MULAN. By the early 2000s, Disney Feature was able to get two features out every few years because of this. Both units seemed to work well in delivering movies without much strain. It only went kablooey because of outside circumstances, but look at Pixar. They’re doing two a year just fine despite outside hardships (COVID-19, LIGHTYEAR flopping at the box office), DreamWorks is doing that just fine, too. WDAS, from my outside perspective, could possibly get two movies out in 2025. An original and a sequel - be it ZOOTOPIA 2 or FROZEN III - and make it through unscathed.

As for what makes it first out of the two WDAS sequels? I'm definitely leaning on ZOO2PIA here. The first film will be *ten years old* in 2026, and ZOOTOPIA+ recently debuted on Disney+, so I'd imagine that one arriving sooner than latter.

Who knows, but I could see this happening…

11/20/2024 - ORIGINAL WDAS (possibly Josie Trinidad's film?)

03/07/2025 - ZOOTOPIA 2

06/13/2025 - ORIGINAL PIXAR (possibly Brian Fee’s film? He said he was writing/directing an original way back in July 2017)

11/26/2025 - ORIGINAL WDAS (possibly Suzi Yoonessi's film?)

03/06/2026 - ORIGINAL PIXAR (possibly Kristin Lester’s film? Her original movie was confirmed to exist in 2018)

06/19/2026 - TOY STORY 5

11/25/2026 - FROZEN III

2027 - ORIGINAL PIXAR (possibly Rosana Sullivan's film?)

2027 - ORIGINAL WDAS (possibly Marc Smith's film?)

This might all look silly by 2026 anyways, so… Why the heck not?

[tritonmarketresearchamey]

Robotic Welding Market: Breakthrough & Forecast 

Welding robots can perform complicated tasks and provide superior output quicker than human workers. They are developed by combining welding, robotics, artificial intelligence, control systems, and sensor technology. These robots’ operational excellence, along with increased productivity, contribute to their demand.  

Industry 4.0 Implementation bolsters Welding Robot Deployment 

Industry 4.0 has revolutionized the manufacturing sector by equipping it with advanced technology, thus leading to enhanced productivity, flexibility, quality, and speed. Manufacturers are now shifting towards the adoption of intelligent and networked Industry 4.0-compatible robots incorporated with wireless connectivity, sensors, and a centralized control system.  

Additionally, players in the robotic welding market are also focusing on introducing such solutions to the market. For instance, in March 2020, Roboteco Italargon developed a robotic welding cell for its client Steel Tech, to increase production and ensure interconnection within all stages of the manufacturing process. The cell is comprised of a TIG arc welding solution and an Industry 4.0 kit to enable easy data exchange for efficient interconnection.  

Automotive & Transportation Sector Leads the Way 

The automotive & transportation sector is the leading industry vertical in the robotic welding market, which accounted for the highest revenue share of $4172.27 million in the segment in 2021.  

The rising demand for vehicles and efficient infrastructure has compelled the automotive & transportation sector to enhance production and construction activities. Being at the forefront of embracing technological innovations, it has largely adopted robotic welding arms to boost the accuracy and speed of the vehicle-building process. In fact, from 2018 to 2023, the use of welding robots in this sector increased with a CAGR of 8.91%.  

What makes the Asia-Pacific a leader in the Global Market?  

The Asia-Pacific robotic welding market is the leading region globally. It accounted for $8767.11 million in 2021 and is estimated to gain $7985.35 million by 2028.  

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) , Asia accounted for 71% of all newly deployed industrial robots in 2020, with 168,400 units installed in China itself. Moreover, India, China, Japan, and South Korea are among the leading automobile manufacturers in the world. The presence of a robust automotive industry has enhanced the adoption of welding robots in the Asia-Pacific.  

Besides, Japan is home to several leading market players, including Yaskawa Electric Corp, Hyundai Motor, Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, and others, which are focused on devising growth-driven strategies. For instance, in March 2022, Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp launched its MZ F series comprising high-speed and high-precision robots, driven by the need to tackle labor shortage.  

Further, in July 2022, Daihen Corporation developed a new welding arc called Plasma Jet TIG, which is optimal for joining main components such as stator coils of motors used in electric vehicles. Also, in August 2022, Yaskawa Electric Corp launched its new lineup of Motoman-HC30PL welding robots, with a 30 kg payload capacity for palletizing applications.  

Along with these factors, the implementation of major manufacturing initiatives such as ‘Made in China 2025’ and ‘Make in India’ is expected to aid the adoption of robotic welding systems, thus positioning the region’s market on a growth path.  

Capitalizing Future Tech  

Currently, operators are required to program welding robots before deploying them for a process. However, with advancements in technology, they may only need to think about the desired task to be performed by the robot. In February 2019, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed an EEG-based cap that converts brain waves into operational instructions for robotic welding arms.  

If used for industrial applications, this breakthrough development could eliminate the need for computer programming and also reduce the time taken for training the personnel. Though the complete development and adoption of such mind-controlled robots may still take several years, it creates positive prospects for the future of the global robotic welding market.  

FAQs:  

Q 1) Which region is expected to show the fastest growth in the global market?  

North America is expected to grow the fastest in the global market, with a CAGR of 8.99% during the forecast period.  

Q 2) Which are the different types of welding covered in the market report?  

The global robotic welding market by welding type includes spot, plasma, arc (TIG, MIG), laser, and other welding types.  

Q 3) What is a key challenge in the path of market growth?  

The high costs for installing and maintaining welding robots are a key market challenge hindering their adoption.  

[isocertificationinghana21]

What is ISO 45001 Certification? What is the Importance of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana?

ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana?

ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana is an international well-known for Workplace He­alth and Safety Management Syste­ms (OHSMS). It provides a manual for companies to control dangers and improve­ protection at work, promoting the he­alth of now not simply personnel but all stake­holders. The Inte­rnational Organization for Standardization (ISO) delivered ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana to lifestyles in March 2018. It changed OHSAS 18001 and works we­ll with other ISO control gear. The­y count number in ISO 9001, an excellent control device, and ISO 14001, an environme­ntal control tool.

Importance of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana is crucial for companies aiming to demonstrate their strength of will to maintain a stable and healthful artwork environment. The certification allows organizations to:

Reduce place of business incidents and injuries.

Comply with jail and regulatory requirements.

Enhance organizational recognition and stakeholder receive as authentic.

Improve everyday organizational overall performance and productiveness.

Foster a lifestyle of chronic improvement in fitness and protection practices.

Process of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

The approach of acquiring ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana typically consists of the subsequent steps:

Gap Analysis: Assessing the current OHSMS in competition with the necessities of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana to emerge as privy to areas for development.

Training and Awareness: Providing schooling for personnel and control to apprehend the ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana huge and its benefits.

Documentation: Developing and documenting suggestions, techniques, and procedures steady with ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana requirements.

Implementation: Putting the documented OHSMS into a workout at a few degrees in the agency.

Internal Audit: Conduct inner audits to ensure the OHSMS is effectively performed and to figure out any non-conformities.

Management Review: Review the OHSMS regular average overall performance with pinnacle manipulation to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with organizational dreams.

Certification Audit: Engaging a third-celebration certification body to conduct an outside audit and decide compliance with ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana .

Certification: Receiving the ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana upon fulfillment of the very last touch of the outdoor audit.

Getting ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

In Ghana, the focus on ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana has ste­adily grown. More groups now understand why it’s esse­ntial to meet the high re­quirements of job health and safe­ty. Several things have spurre­d the rising interest in ge­tting ISO 45001 certification in Ghana:

Regulatory Compliance: The Ghanaian authorities have been emphasizing workplace safety through suggestions and recommendations. Organizations seeking ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana show their ability to comply with those jail necessities.

Industry Requirements: Many industries, mainly people with higher risks, which incorporate production, mining, and manufacturing, are increasingly adopting ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana to mitigate dangers and defend their personnel.

International Trade: For Ghanaian agencies involved in worldwide trade, ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana can enhance their competitiveness and meet the health and safety expectations of their partners.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Ghana’s clubs know that CSR matters. The­y use their ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana to show how much the­y care about their staff’s well-be­ing and their community’s health.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the adoption of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana in Ghana offers numerous blessings, it moreover comes with demanding situations:

Awareness and Understanding: There remains a desire to elevate the consciousness and facts of ISO 45001 amongst smaller groups and sectors that are thousands of lots less familiar with global requirements.

Resource Constraints: Implementing an OHSMS can be a beneficial resource in depth, but it requires funding for education, documentation, and device upgrades.

Cultural Shift: Achieving certification frequently necessitates a cultural shift in internal companies, prioritizing fitness and safety in any respect ranges.

Despite those disturbing conditions, the opportunities for ISO 45001 certification in Ghana are ample:

Enhanced Safety Culture: The certification promotes a proactive approach to dealing with health and protection, crucial to a more potent protection way of life for interior groups.

Economic Benefits: Improved protection can cause decreased place of job accidents and related expenses, contributing to ordinary monetary advantages for organizations.

International Recognition: ISO 45001 certification offers a worldwide reputation, starting doorways to new business agency company industrial agency corporation opportunities and partnerships.

Conclusion

ISO 45001 certification is a treasured asset for groups in Ghana, supporting the decoration of occupational fitness and protection, examination policies, and decorating everyday organization typical performance. As recognition and adoption of the identical vintage increase, Ghanaian organizations are poised to take advantage of more vital places of work and a more robust popularity in the global marketplace. By investing in ISO 45001, Ghana can hold onto its strength of will to ensure employee well-being and sustainable commercial enterprise corporation practices.

Why Factocert for ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

We provide the best ISO consultants Who are knowledgeable and provide the best solution. And to know how to get ISO certification. Kindly reach us at contact@factocert.com work according to ISO standards and help organizations implement ISO certification in Ghana with proper documentation.

For more information, visit ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

Related Links:

ISO 9001 certification Ghana

ISO 14001 Certification in Ghana

ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

ISO 13485 Certification in Ghana

ISO 27001 Certification in Ghana

ISO 22000 Certification in Ghana

ISO Certification in Ghana

Related Articles:

What are the Importance of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

[isoghana1]

How is ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana Ensuring Workplace Safety and Health?

How is ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana Ensuring Workplace Safety and Health?

Introduction to ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana:

ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana is a global cutting-edge day for occupational health and protection manipulation structures (OHSMS). It provides a framework to beautify worker safety, reduce workplace dangers, and create greater everyday strolling conditions. Embraced in March 2018, ISO 45001 supersedes OHSAS 18001, including critical factors of numerous control tool provisions and ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 features.

The matter of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana:

The matter of ISO 45001 certification can’t be overstated. It is designed to assist companies, regardless of period or enterprise agency organization, proactively decorate damage prevention and reduce sick health. ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana wishes to incorporate occupational fitness and protection into the overall manipulation device of the monetary enterprise association agency business enterprise, selling a life of protection amongst personnel in the minor bit sets.

Honors of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

Enhanced Workplace Safety:

ISO 45001 certification permits companies in Ghana to sweeten workplace safety by identifying and mitigating dangers. This proactive technique ensures that hazards are identified and managed before they cause harm.

Lawful and Regulatory Submission:

Adherence to community fitness and protection guidelines is obligatory in Ghana. ISO 45001 certification ensures that groups comply with national criminal guidelines and suggestions, retaining off-crook outcomes and boosting their reputation.

Improved Employee Morale and Productivity:

An ordinary workplace fosters higher morale and higher productivity. Employees revel in value and protection, essential to decreased absenteeism and turnover expenses. ISO 45001 certification demonstrates an employer agency’s power of mind to the well-being of its personnel, thereby improving the place of work manner of existence.

Competitive Advantage:

ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana may be a significant differentiator for agencies in Ghana. It shows clients and stakeholders that the organization prioritizes health and protection, which can cause trouble in competitive markets.

Implementation of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana:

Initial Assessment:

The travel in the direction of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana forms with a preliminary evaluation to remember the modern-day country of occupational health and safety inside the agency employer organization. This consists of an opening assessment to look at contemporary-dating competition with ISO 45001 necessities.

Planning and Documentation:

Once gaps are diagnosed, the monetary employer commercial enterprise enterprise agency commercial enterprise enterprise enterprise employer wants to boom an in-depth plan to address them. This consists of developing or updating documentation to satisfy ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana requirements. Essential documents encompass health and protection coverage, chance evaluation information, and operational strategies.

Training and Awareness:

For fulfillment implementation, it is critical to educate personnel and raise awareness about current-day health and safety practices. Training applications must be designed to teach employees about their roles and duties under modern tools.

Implementation and Monitoring:

With the plan and schooling in location, the subsequent step is implementing the ISO 45001 management device. This includes using contemporary strategies and pointers and continuously monitoring their effectiveness. Regular internal audits want to be finished to ensure compliance and come to be privy to regions for improvement.

Certification Audit:

The final step in the technique is the certification audit finished through a licensed 1/three-birthday celebration certification body. This audit verifies that the financial company enterprise enterprise corporation enterprise’s OHSMS meets the necessities of ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana. Upon success at the very last touch, the economic organization corporation business enterprise enterprise organization business enterprise is provided ISO 45001 certification.

Challenges in ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana Implementation in a Country?

Resource Allocation:

Implementing ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana can be beneficial but resource-massive, requiring committed time and economic funding. Smaller groups may also find it difficult to allocate vital assets without disrupting operations.

Change Management:

Transitioning to a cutting-edge-day OHSMS consists of widespread adjustments in techniques and ways of life. Resistance to change from employees and manipulation can save you the implementation method.

Continuous Improvement:

ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana emphasizes non-save-you improvement, so certification is not a one-time occasion but an ongoing technique. Organizations want to decide on regular critiques and updates to maintain compliance.

Support and Resources for ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana

Government Initiatives:

Through several obligations, the Ghanaian government gives beneficial, helpful, and valuable resources to groups looking for ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana. These can also encompass training packages, subsidies, and guidance on compliance with national health and safety rules.

Local Certification Bodies:

Several nearby certification bodies in Ghana offer ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana offerings. These bodies provide statistics and help in the certification process, ensuring that organizations meet worldwide necessities.

Industry Associations:

Industry institutions in Ghana play an essential feature in promoting ISO 45001 certification. They provide assets, workshops, and networking possibilities for companies to look at each particular and percent top-notch practice.

Conclusion:

ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana is a treasured asset for businesses in Ghana, providing several blessings alongside elements of superior place of work safety, prison compliance, advanced employee morale, and aggressive gain. 

While the implementation approach may be complex, the guide available from government obligations, nearby certification our our our our our our our our bodies, and business company corporation industrial corporation company enterprise institutions can assist agencies in navigating the journey within the direction of certification. 

Embracing ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana is not outstanding and demonstrates a power of will to health and safety; however, it contributes to the overall achievement and sustainability of the monetary enterprise business organization enterprise.

Why Factocert for ISO 27001 Certification in Ghana?

We provide the best ISO consultants who are knowledgeable and provide the best solutions. To learn how to get ISO certification, kindly contact us at contact@factocert.com. We work according to ISO standards and help organizations implement ISO certification in India with proper documentation.

For more information, visit ISO 45001 Certification in Ghana.

Related links:

ISO 14001 Certification in Ghana

ISO 9001 Certification in Ghana

ISO 27001Certification in Ghana

ISO 22000 Certification in Ghana

ISO 13485 Certification in Ghana

[damianacottstudio3]

Research/Readings/Artists

Lady Aiko

i like the artists style and use of colour

Japanese street artist

i like that she incorporates her culture in this new modern contemporary style

it kind of makes it look like its its own being like a character being created that embodies the very traditions and cultures of the artist

her works also explore the whimsical and fantasy

techniques used: Stencil/handcut stencil, influence of traditional Japanese Art

Hugo Kaagman

Dutch Stencil Artist

i like the outcome of using a stencil

i like the finished products of him using these stencils but also adding these detailed design similar to these mosaic plates

i also like that all the figures he has used don't stick to a certain pattern or style they all vary in different representations of characters to characters or rather imaginary characters

he uses old Dutch blue Delftware paired with contemporary symbols as a means of communicating his perspective on current society

techniques used: Pattern/repetition, stencil, Mixed media

Eric Inkala

i like his use of bold and vibrant colours, playful shapes

i don't know its like this blend between abstract, graffiti and street art

his art is a personal expression of emotions, experiences and thoughts

i like how the shapes he created directs your eyes, like you can see the movement within this whimsical piece

i like it, although there is an abundance of forms, colours and so on it still works

it does feel crammed and claustrophobic but for me its like the forms and colours mask this

i have done something similar on A5 with oil pastel but not this scale

i have noticed so far that the artists that interest me have alot of detail however im not sure if i am wanting to achieve this. maybe i am but its subconscious or something?

ALSO:

i actually have an idea for these two artists. well not for them rather for me but the idea incorporates aspects from these two artists. more specifically the stencil and aspects of my own culture.

Galenson, D. W. (2018, March 1). Pricing revolution: From abstract expressionism to pop art. Research in Economics.

"The innovations of the Abstract Expressionists were based on extended experimentation, as they searched for novel visual images; Pop artists rejected this open-ended search for personal forms, and instead treated painting as the impersonal transcription of preconceived ideas."

"Accumulation of experience was critical for the Abstract Expressionists, who produced their most valuable art late in their lives, whereas lack of experience allowed the next generation the freedom to imagine radically new approaches, and they produced their most valuable art early in their careers."

i liked this article as it reminded me of my own practice, at times i find myself shutting of my mind (in terms of planning or thinking about creating) and just creating

although i do find myself doing both, i do at times plan or take an image and recreate it to form something new but at times i only use this as a starting point in my process

i start with a pre conceived idea, only to then begin this phase in which i limit my thoughts and just create

i mean reading this makes me question if i can merge aspects of the two to create this new form of creative expression

what if i create by being oblivious to elements and principles of design? is it possible? am i capable of doing it ?

[mlmscamnews]

Holton Buggs, Organo Gold & IQ Chain… here’s what we know.

About a month ago Organo Gold announced a partnership agreement with Digital Skynet.

The partnership agreement will see the launch of an as of yet unnamed joint-venture between the two companies.

Also part of the agreement, and what caught the attention of many, was Holton Buggs appointment as ‘executive advisor to Digital SkyNet’s ‘Ormeus’ subsidiary and the newly formed strategic joint venture company owned by ORGANO and Digital SkyNet‘.

Has Holton Buggs been bitten by the MLM crypto Ponzi bug and will he drag Organo Gold down with him?

Here’s what we know…

Digital SkyNet is the parent company of Ormeus Global. Both companies are believed to be owned and operated either in full or in part by John Barksdale.

Ormeus Global is your typical MLM Ponzi points come altcoin exit-scam scheme.

ORME, the shitcoin attached to Ormeus Global, pumped to just over $5 last December. It has since dumped to its current value of around 17 cents.

As of March 2018, Ormeus Global affiliates reported non-payment of commissions “for over a year”.

In an attempt to resuscitate Ormeus Global, Barksdale launched IQ Chain earlier this year.

IQ Chain was more of the same trading bot ROI nonsense (BITCONEEEEEEEEE!), only this time through ORV points.

The internal value of ORV points are manipulated by IQ Chain. ORV isn’t publicly tradeable and doesn’t exist outside of the IQ Chain and Ormeus Global opportunities.

ORV are essentially Ponzi points, or what ORME started off as before it went public and crashed.

Where does Holton Buggs fit into the Ormeus Global and IQ Chain Ponzi schemes as an Executive Advisor?

Who knows.

What we do know however is that Buggs is apparently gearing up to launch a new cryptocurrency opportunity that’s supposedly currently in prelaunch.

Yesterday BusinessForHome went so far as to claim it was a joint-venture between Organo Gold and IQ Chain, with the aim of launching a crypto investment opportunity in the US.

In his article, Nuyten went on to claim Buggs and Barksdale were ‘currently recruit(ing) top leaders on/for the USA market‘.

Reception to Nuyten’s article has been mixed.

Buggs himself responded and rebutted Nuyten’s claims;

We have invested to the better of 3 months to do something the opposite of what this article says. Selling Crypto is something I have been against my entire career and that will never change. Too many people have been hurt by the scams. We decided to do something the right way and use Blockchain as innovation not a product.

Comments from other readers however strongly suggest some sort of opportunity is being pitched and marketed – complete with whitepaper.

One BFH reader, Jeremy Roma, even went so far as to claim he was in Bugg’s “prelaunch team”.

As part of the prelaunch team, I assure you this article is 100% innaccurate, and if this article we’re accurate, WE WOULD 100% AGREE! Crypto mlms are not legitimate, and when you see the caliber of leaders involved with this game-changing project, AND WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY LAUNCHING, you’ll see that THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON ???? AND COMPLETE HOGWASH. Feel free to inbox me for accurate info and prelaunch positioning, rest assured we are what many have been waiting for!!

As I understand it Roma is just coming off the collapse of WGN in the US.

He’s pretty tight with Buggs;

And earlier this month he was in Thailand on business (WGN has/had a large affiliate-base in Thailand and it also just happens to be where John Barksdale currently resides):

Fun Fact: Jeremy Roma has been terminated from Organo Gold four times for, among other things, cross-recruiting and P&P violations.

Each of the four Organo Gold distributorships Roma held were under Holton Buggs.

So we know Buggs is gearing up to launch something crypto-related in partnership with John Barksdale’s Oremus Global and/or IQ Chain Ponzi schemes.

Where does Organo Gold fit into this?

Apparently they don’t.

Patrick Miranda, General Counsel for Organo Gold Canada, writes;

I can definitively state that there is NO relation of Digital Skynet to any MLM or other Direct-sales model to which we are a party. Our owners’ J-V with Digital Skynet is to further the use and applications of block-chain technologies within all platforms of commerce including the MLM model — for example: verifying point of production, authenticating “Organic” and other Certifications of the ingredients in our products, real-time product inventories and logistics, etc. I don’t know who “Tammy Riley” is; but the opportunity she is speaking of has nothing to do with Organo Gold. Again, I can state un-equivocally, OG wants NOTHING to do with crypto currencies; for the simple fact of the matter that we would lose all of our financial facilities.

Fair enough. But the obvious question now is how is Holton Buggs going to manage his Ormeus Ponzi responsibilities, whilst maintaining his position in Organo Gold corporate?

Buggs is currently Organo Gold’s Chief Visionary Officer and Global Brand Officer.

I mean surely you’d have to be naive to think Buggs’ connection to Organo Gold wouldn’t be used to market Ormeus and IQ Chain?

With all that in mind, here’s a question I posed to Patrick Miranda;

Theoretically, if Buggs was launching a new cryptocurrency opportunity, what effect would that have on his executive role within Organo Gold?

To which he replied;

While we can’t restrict Holton from providing consulting services to them; there is certainly a fine line which he cannot cross given his relationship with OG. He would be in a Conflict of Interest ….

The JVA agreement between Organo Gold and Digital Skynet meanwhile contains non-compete provisions governing competition between the two companies.

Without disclosing the particulars of the JVA, I can say that there are provisions restricting direct competition between Digital Skynet and Organo Gold, provisions relating to impairment of our goodwill and enforcement remedies (amongst other remedies), which Digital Skynet and its principals must adhere to.

I obviously can’t predict the future but it seems pretty obvious Buggs role within Digital Skynet is going to cause problems for Organo Gold down the track.

By their own admission, Organo Gold doesn’t seem to want anything to do with the MLM side of the cryptocurrency niche.

The company even went so far as to issue a new press-release today further clarifying their position;

Our Joint Venture with Digital SkyNet is a technology development JV;  there is no pre-launch or launch. Digital SkyNet provides Blockchain technology and software development to improve our global operations platform using Blockchain. The JV has nothing to do with coins or crypto currency.  There is no Comp Plan associated with this Joint Venture. The new Joint Venture Company formed between ORGANO and Digital SkyNet is solely for technology development collaboration between the companies and strategic deployment of newly developed technology. The ORGANO Technology Innovation Group will be releasing several newly developed IT platforms over the next 18 months.

Logically then this makes having arguably their most recognizable public figure knee-deep in the MLM cryptocurrency niche, through another company no less, problematic.

And in the crossfire you have Organo Gold distributors, no doubt wondering why their Chief Visionary Officer’s new vision no longer includes them.

I have a strong feeling something’s going to break here. Stay tuned…

Update 17th November 2018 – Ted Nuyten has deleted his original IQ Chain article, as cited above.

The article URL now redirects to a regurgitation of Organo Gold’s Digital Skynet press-release.

[beardedmrbean]

The government is raising the general value-added tax (VAT) to 25.5 percent, from the current level of 24 percent, Helsingin Sanomat reports, citing inside sources.

The one-and-a half-percentage point hike is the government's single largest measure in the budget session ending on Tuesday. The tax hike is expected to channel around one billion euros into state coffers annually.

The 25.5 percent VAT is expected to come into effect no later than the turn of the year, according to HS.

The VAT on food and restaurant meals will remain at 14 percent, as will the ten-percent rate for medicine, accommodation, books and cultural events, according to HS.

Is Finland sliding into deflation?

Hufvudstadsbladet follows up on news that inflation dropped to 2.2 percent in March.

Patrizio Lainà, chief economist at trade union confederation STTK, told HBL that not counting the interest on housing and other loans, inflation is actually only 0.2 percent.

This puts Finland at risk of deflation, a fall in prices that can exacerbate economic weakness, eventually costing jobs.

This downward spiral means financial decisions get pushed into the future in expectation of even lower prices. Low demand means there's less of an incentive to invest.

"There's a risk that the recession will deepen. It doesn't necessarily mean a crisis as bad as in the early 1990s or during the financial crisis. But slow growth can be expected," the economist told HBL.

Russian burgers

Finnish fast food chain Hesburger is in the news again, this time for its Russian connections.

Today 15 former Hesburgers in Russia are now known as Pap'sBurgers. Megagroup, which manages the franchising of these outlets, advertises the use of "high-quality European ingredients."

Iltalehti suggests that these food items, down to the product images, resemble those of Hesburger products — only the names are different. Even the packaging design is identical to that of Hesburger.

Hesburger, however, told IL that Pap'sBurgers does not have the right to use Hesburger's trademark in any way.

When asked, Hesburger told IL it did not have any information on Pap'sBurgers' advertised sourcing of European ingredients.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Hesburger drew criticism for what some described as a slow withdrawal from Belarus and Russia.

In 2018, the company said it had pulled out of Iran, closing its franchise in Tehran, citing uncertainty brought about by international sanctions.