#Which adds even more layers to Blade going from master to tool

[fragmentedblade]

The fact his son's way of making Mr. Xiao pay attention to us is having us work for him so that we'd get on his nerves... hilarious, and so real

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms Far Side #3: Kohaku

Today on Fate and Phantasms we have another bonus episode for you! We’re building Kohaku, the ever-energetic maid who comes packing with probably helpful medicine and the occasional robot. As usual for far sides, everything below this point come directly from Magical-Biche on Reddit!

Check out Kohaku’s build breakdown below, or her character sheet over here!

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Hey, it’s me, the guy who builds Tsukihime builds! Since the remake got announced uhh… already a month ago, I figured it’d be perfect time to free some time in my heavy schedule for a Tsukihime waifu once in a while. For the return of this highly anticipated series, we’ll take a look at a character which has plenty of tricks up her sleeves: Kohaku. A fan favorite for several reasons, she was quite easy to build due to how weirdly some of her core mechanics are already featured in Dungeons & Dragons. I’m mostly using her Melty Blood skill set for the build, but as soon as I can introduce skills we know from the Visual Novels. Needless to say, the whole build is a huge spoiler for what Kohaku does throughout the games, and you may not want to read it if you didn’t finish Tsukihime and Kagetsu Tohya.

Race and Background

Kohaku is a variant human. She technically has a bit of psychic powers, but they are passive and absolutely nothing any race can give comes close to it, so we’re going human here. The variant allows us to get + 1 in constitution and +1 in intelligence, and the chef feat, giving us another +1 in constitution, and the ability to cook delicious meals with or without suspicious substances, which adds a layer of healing and temporary hit points on our already impressive healing abilities. It gives us our first of many tool proficiencies, the cooking utensils. We also get a proficiency in insight, which helps us determine whether people are worth teasing/throwing into a bottomless trap. 

Next, we are going to be an Izzet engineer. Those folk, who come directly from Ravnica, fit our mad scientist personality perfectly. Being an Izzet engineer gives us access to the Urban Infrastructure ability, which helps building more complex traps (and find them, if we ever feel like being nice to our group), and proficiencies in Arcana and Investigation, two extremely useful intelligence skills. We also get our second tool proficiency. We’re taking carpenter’s tools, to create the most intricate traps there are. Bottomless pits won’t build themselves from the ground up. We also get one set of artisan’s tools of our choice, so we’ll take Alchemist supplies, since they’re the costliest of the bunch and extremely useful. Don’t worry, we’re getting the proficiency in a little bit. Finally, we get the pretty unique feature of having access to more spells: Izzet guild spells. The notable ones (the ones we don’t normally get from our class) are Chaos bolt, Create or destroy water, Unseen servant (level 1 spells), and Call lightning, and Otiluke’s resilient sphere (third level spells). Since it is a Ravnica background, the DM might ban the expanded spell list, but none of these spells are necessary to our build, anyway. 

Ability Scores

We are a genius, and a bit of a melee combatant. We’re pumping everything in intelligence. Next, we need high constitution and dexterity, which will also serve to multiclass into rogue. We are pretty average when it comes to wisdom and charisma (I do admit we are pretty cute, though). We’re dumping strength, even though it means we won’t be able to fight well with our broom, but it’s a necessary sacrifice. Our hidden katana (read: dagger) will work just as well. 

Class Levels

Artificer 1: We are a crafty inventor. Being an artificer only makes sense to us. The first level of artificer gives us proficiency with constitution saving throws, great to keep our concentration on spells and avoiding nasty poison effect, and intelligence saving throws: we’re the one who make fools of others, and not the other way around! We can also choose two new proficiencies, and we’re taking medicine, since we’re actually a pretty skilled doctor, and sleight of hand, as we will need to tinker complex traps and unlock a few locks from time to time. 

We also get proficiencies with light and medium armors, but we’re only ever going to use light armor. Kohaku doesn’t really wear armor, but she could be wearing several thick layers of kimono, which can probably stop a blade in a pinch. We’re also proficient with shields, and Kohaku definitely never wears a shield throughout the Tsukihime timeline, so we won’t be using them.  We’re also proficient with simple weapons, and those are the only weapons we’re having access to, so we have to do with them. We’ll be mainly using the dagger as our “secret blade”, and our quarterstaff as a substitute for our broom. Finally, we’re proficient with thieves’ tools, useful for disarming traps that may or may not have been installed by us, tinker’s tools, our bread-and-butter for repairing all sort of stuff, from traps to weapons, and alchemist supplies, to further our healing capabilities, and it blends well with our medicine proficiency. 

We finally get to our core features. First level of artificer gives us Magical tinkering, which lets us do pretty nice things. We can basically sleep on prestidigitation, light, message, and minor illusion thanks to this feature. It doesn’t do as much as each of these individual spells, but it does it differently, and it’s still great to have so much utility here. We also get our Spellcasting. We’re a half caster with druid/cleric like spell preparation. We can prepare a number of spells equal to our intelligence modifier + half our artificer level (rounded down), and we can choose those spells from our spell list each time we finish a long rest. Our spellcasting ability is of course intelligence, and we use our alchemist’s supplies as a spellcasting focus, because of our subclass we don’t have yet. 

We start with two artificer cantrips, and we’re taking Booming blade, to emulate bombs, and controlling people movement fits our character well: people will think twice before moving in our direction. Next, we take Acid splash, a pretty weak damaging cantrip, but it’s another kind of bomb we can add to our arsenal. It can also touch two targets at once, which mitigate the low damage of the spell. It is also a saving throw, so it will always be useful anyway. 

Since we have access to every artificer spell, plus the potential Izzet spells, there won’t be a definitive spell list here. It is recommended to get Tasha’s caustic brew, Snare, Cure wounds, Grease and Alarm, as they fit our game plan very well. 

Artificer 2: Our next artificer level is more complex than it seems. We get our infusions, 4 of them. We’re taking the Replicate magic item, to have ourselves a bag of holding to hold all our stuff, the Enhanced defense, that we’re infusing to our armor to help with defense, the Homunculus servant, so we can have our very own Not-exactly-a-mech-Hisui once we get enough money, and Mind sharpener, which will help maintaining concentration on though fight. So far, we can only use 2 of these infusions at the time, so we’ll focus on the replicate magic item and enhanced defense for now. 

Artificer 3: We get our speciality! We are now an Alchemist. We gain proficiency with Glassblower’s tools, as we already have a proficiency with the alchemist supplies, and those tools can be used to create vials to hold our various mixtures. We get an expanded spell list, again, which gives us interesting spells like Melf’s acid arrow, Healing word, Ray of sickness, Gaseous form and Mass healing word. Flaming sphere is not bad, but it doesn’t really fit our concept as a whole. We also get our Experimental elixir, which is one random potion every long rest. All the effects are helpful, even though some are more than others. We also get the Right tool for the job, which lets us create artisan tools, which is neat. 

Rogue 1: Of course, we’re going rogue. We’re a sneaky trickster, after all, and we’re pretty skilled at it. Our first rogue level gives us the famous Thieves cant, which we will quickly forget. More interesting, we get a skill proficiency, and we’re taking Deception. It’s less useful than persuasion, but we need to lie more than we need to persuade. We also get Expertise in 2 skills of our choice, which will be Deception and Medicine, two of our most important skills. With expertise in medicine, we mitigate our low wisdom, and we’re able to pretty much always stabilize our fallen allies, especially when we get past level 5. What’s more, we get the rogue’s main feature, the Sneak attack! Sneak attack can be used with booming blade for pretty huge damage, in the right conditions, and it’s getting even better starting next level. 

Rogue 2: Speaking of next level, here it is. The second rogue level gives us cunning action, and we now always have some use for our bonus action. We can hit with booming blade + Sneak attack, then retreat. We can add some movement to our turn, and we can try to hide in the shadows, not that we’re particularly good at it. 

Rogue 3: We get our second archetype. We’re now both an alchemist and a Mastermind, which gives us yet another round of proficiencies: Disguise kit, Forgery kit and a Gaming set. Those three are not the most useful tools we have access to, but they can always be used creatively. We can also Mimic speech, but that’s not exactly a meta redefining feature. More importantly, we are also a Master of tactics, giving us yet another use for our bonus action in the form of Help. We can help our ranged allies to hit close-ish targets with that feature, too. 

Artificer 4: Our first ability score increase comes at level 7, and luckily, we’re not too dependent on feats. We’re simply increasing our intelligence by 2 and call it a day. 

Artificer 5: This level is very interesting, because we get a neat little feature that tremendously increases our distance damage. We are now an Alchemical savant, and provided that we use our alchemist supplies as a spellcasting focus, we can add our intelligence modifier to the damage rolls of any fire, necrotic, poison and acid damage, and to every one of our healing rolls. Sadly, this doesn’t buff our melee damage, but we can’t have everything. Also, the ability is weirdly worded: as it is written in the book, it looks like you must use your spellcasting focus to cast the spell for the damage and healing to be buffed. However, if it does work like that, we'd have a total of 5 spells of level 0-3 that are affected by the feature, so I’d say it works with every one of your spells that is cast with intelligence. 

We also get our new level 2 spells. The ones that are interesting for our build are Enlarge/reduce, Heat metal, protection from poison, pyrotechnics, rope trick, Spider climb and Web. The first is based on one of our actual feats of enlarging our mistress, one time. Heat metal is an overall tricky and useful spell to have. Protection from poison is useful to protect our allies from friendly fire, and the last 4 spells are all great traps and terrain manipulation, which is what we want to do. 

Artificer 6: This level is more straightforward, as it only really adds the Tool expertise feature, which allows us to double our proficiency bonus on all tools we’re proficient with. That is, a LOT of tools. We also get new infusions, and we’re getting the Spell refueling ring, a great tool to mitigate our too few spell slots per day, and Resistant armor, which is situational but very useful. We can also have 3 infusions active at the time, which is the maximum number of attunement we can have anyway. We can also now create two experimental elixirs per long rest, hurray!

Artificer 7: The seventh artificer level gives us Flashes of genius, which is a great tool to help the party. It can also be used to mitigate our own AOE damage on them, proving the party that we’re not here to kill them, we swear!

Artificer 8: Artificer 8 gets us a simple ability score increase, which we gladly take to increase our already high intelligence to new levels. We increase it by 2 points, to reach a total of 20. 

Artificer 9: Our final level in artificer grants us a final subclass feature, the Restorative reagents. It makes it that our experimental elixir gives 2d6 + 5 temporary hit points to whoever drinks it. Also, we can now cast lesser restoration 5 times per long rest without having the spell prepared, which is a great way to remove harmful status ailments from allies for pretty much free. 

We also gain our level 3 spells. The interesting spells from the list are Haste, which emulates the drugs you use on your poor party members,  Catnap, to represent the sleeping medicine you give them,  Protection from energy, for the same reason as protection from poison a bit earlier, and finally, the trappiest spell of them all, the one that really let us do crazy shenanigans,  Glyph of warding. This amazing spell is a literal modular trap which does pretty nice damage, doesn’t require concentration and it’s just so flexible. This is the only obligatory spell on the list. 

Rogue 4: The fourth rogue level gives us our third ability score increase, and we’re getting a bit tankier and stabbier now. We increase our dexterity score by 2, this time, putting us at a nice 16. 

Rogue 5: Fifth level rogues get uncanny dodge, a very powerful tool for survival. Nothing much to say, it’s great! (Editor’s note: might as well just say it anyway- use your reaction to take half damage from an attack- very useful!)

Rogue 6: We get 2 brand new expertises, which will be in Arcana, for being even better at understanding the mechanics behind the spells we use, and Sleight of hand, so we’re also a lot better at setting non-magical traps and disarming them. 

Rogue 7: Now that we can mitigate damage with uncanny dodge, it’s time to get better at saving throws and get Evasion. Another extremely good ability we’ll never use too much. (EN: dex saves cause half damage on failure, 0 damage on success!)

Rogue 8: Our next ability score, and we’re getting yet another 2 points in dexterity, so we now have a more than decent armor class and solid melee attacks. 

Rogue 9: Rogue’s ninth level gives us our second subclass ability, and we are now an Insightful manipulator. We can now assess our current target’s strength, but at this point, we’ve probably fought most of the bestiary and know everything there is to know about most threats. It can still be used against bosses, but it’s not exactly great since we’re not that good at sneaking. 

Rogue 10: Our tenth level in the rogue class gives us yet another ability score increase. We are actually a pretty crafty person, and poison is just another tool in our arsenal. We get the Poisoner feat, which lets us ignore resistance to poison damage and craft poison for our weapons. At that point, we should be filthy rich and can certainly afford the cost to do so and poison basically every single one of our strikes. With Booming Blade, sneak attack and the poison damage, our damage output is actually pretty crazy. 

Rogue 11: Our final level gives us a very, very nice little boost: thanks to Reliable Talent, we basically can’t score under 16 + ability modifier, or 22 + ability modifier with expertise, for skills and tools we are proficient with. We now have a passive Arcana of 27, Sleight of hand of 26 (whatever a passive sleight of hand score means), Deception and Medicine of 22, a passive investigation and insight of 21 and passive abilities with our numerous tools that are just as high (since you can use most tools with most abilities, the scores won’t be listed here, obviously). We can now pretty much recognize spells on sight, pickpocket on the go, lie as we breathe and treat injuries in a few moments, among other things. 

Pros: We’re a tool monkey, and we use all of them like a pro when we reach level 20. We can craft a bunch of crazy stuff with all that. We’re also quite bulky, with decent hit dice and the rogue survivability, plus our artificer infusions. We are also good at dealing big bursts of damage thanks to booming blade, sneak attack and poisoner. What’s more, we’re quite good at healing and dispensing temporary hit points. 

Cons: If we can’t trigger our sneak attack, our booming blade damage is not exactly huge. We don’t have many spells slots, and we quite like to use them. Also, we’re good at dealing damage, healing and controlling the battlefield, but we’re obviously not great at any of these things. 

[edgymegatronus]

The Pits of Kaon

The lights of the arena where always blinding. Searing white light that chiseled its way into your optic nerves, washing away any other surrounding colours so much that one may think they’re joining with the Allspark once they step out onto the ashy plain. This is purposeful, of course, for the arena was a stage for the barbaric, where the onlookers can see it’s actors, but the actors cannot gaze back at them. Once you have shuttered your optics several times and they begin to adjust, only spots of bright light decorating your vision for a short while, the arena comes heaving into view, stagnant and intimidating. Massive, beyond comprehension, the blackened jewel of Kaon. You’d have to squint to see the opposite end of the Energon-crusted pit. The steep, cold grey sides rocketed up towards the skies, the heavens where the audience sat to eagerly absorb the slaughter. Every brandish of a sword, every amputation of a limb, every scream or victory holler, every spark taken was feasted upon by those hunger bound optics. In the lower areas of the arena, closer to the action, there were boxes reserved for the higher caste aristocracy from great cities like Iacon and Vos. Above them, with a more strained view, sat the rest of the Cybertronain populous. It was never correctly calculated how many the arena could house- it depended on how tightly the lower class worker mechs packed themselves together to watch the entertainment. There was always shoving and drunkenness, fights began over the limited space and smaller mechs often simply got crushed under pede if they didn’t move fast enough. Very few actually from Kaon ever got to sit in the golden boxes, where quality high-grade Energon flowed like ground oil as its famed patrons gawked down into the pit. The atmosphere was always rancheros, the first death spelled out the kick-off for the day's events to begin. In the mornings there were petty fights. Weak slaves pitted against each other, unarmed mechs left to the mercy of some of the most vicious beasts Cybertron had to offer. This got the crowd vying to see more Energon spilled on the ashy floors of the pit. As the hilarity reached its crescendo into the afternoon, we were brought out.

Titled ‘Gladiators’, we were prime time entertainment. Romanticised as strong mechs each with some characterisation the media invalidated us with to entice the onlookers into made up rivalries between us, adding passion to the murder. Some mechs actually sank into this, and took signature moves and mottos played into their characters, worked to gain support from those oppressing them. Usually, this was the quickest way to die. The arena owners would only allow a Gladiator in the limelight for so many matches and killed them before they became too boring, and to make the audience more invested as each match progressed. They died deluded, for we were just slaves with swords. Brought from all over Cybertronain, but most commonly hailing from places like Kaon, Tarn, and Praxus. Sold off from our previous services because we were no longer needed, a better model had been introduced, rule-breaking, being damaged, or because our masters had taken a general disliking. Being sold to the arena was most times a death sentence, an execution in front of the masses. Gladiators were ones who had won their petty matches by some flailing chance of Primus, and in turn proven their metal, and therefore their worth as a mascot. We were not Gladiators.

Our namesake competed by choice, for fame or honour or glory. For a fractured misconception of what they believed to be justice or righteousness. We were slaves, forced to kill our peers, and stare them in the optics as we did, giving a good performance. Refusal meant immediate death, and showmanship was integral. Most of us only lasted a few months before losing a match and being offlined, the longest-reigning mech making it just over a year before the Arena Owners decided he had nothing left to give, no new tricks, and threw him in the pit unarmed with four Krystar Iron-Bears. Some audience members genuinely cried when he passed. But by the next week, he was replaced by a new favourite Gladiator to root for.

I was on my fifth month. My last match had been a near miss. Bad damages all over my frame, lost an arm and my sword-wielding servo was crushed. Inches over and my spark chamber would’ve known the cold of a blunted blade. My opponent was of a bigger build than me, but still new, he had chosen the name ‘Ignode’ for himself after the Arena Owners had given him a flashy new red paint job, replacing his basic menial grey. For some appalling reason, he’d made the mistake of choosing two weapons, rather than one and a shield. An underestimation, I suppose. The new Gladiators, nicknamed ‘Pickrings’ by the rest of us, often got too cocky and suffered the consequences. The day I was declared fit for fighting it was a ‘Winner stays on Tournament’ these often drew larger crowds due to the anticipation and tension aspect that was attached to them. Clearly my medical bills were going to be well paid for by this grotesque procession. The objective to continually kill, over and over, to vanquish spark after spark until eventually, you grew so weak from each consecutive battle that you could no longer hold your own – and you were killed, your deathbringer taking up the mantel and the cycle continued deep into the night while the crowds drank and laughed and indulged.

The bellowing winds that spun like a lifeless tornado around the arena whipped uncomfortably over the exposed cables on the back of my neck. The piece of armour plating that usually protected it had been lost last round and was therefore subject to the treatment of the blowing grit and ash that made a point of invading every crack and gap in plating. Everything felt too heavy, most notably my spark. I had just completed round fifteen, downed fifteen opponents, and somewhere I doubted if Primus would accept me into his loving cradle. My frame was ex-venting in long, drawn out drags. An attempt to cool my shot systems. Every inch of plating was dented or scarred, with slices and holes, faintly missing main Energon lines or mobility joints. I smiled. Before entering the arena, each slave got to choose two tools to utilise during the match. Almost classically, I wielded a long sword with some form of age old forgotten crest on the hilt. I had nicknamed it ‘The Pick’ and it occupied my right servo. To my left brandished a thick oval-shaped silver shield, decorated dashingly with chipped paint and emblems. These things were my trademark, my protection, my symbol, and my saviours.

The spotlight swung intricately around the arena floor once more towards the pit entrance. The thick metal gates opening with the same slow dramatism to reveal my newest combatant. The light fell on him, illuminating his thickset grey frame for the crowds to gawk at, tantalising their optics with the slick view. He smelt like blood and burnt circuitry. They were enraptured, seeing that I was weakening and that this new rival seemed finely built to deliver onto me the final blow, one of those agile miner types. I sized him up immediately; hazarding a guess the Arena Owner’s hadn’t expected much to come from him, only bothering to add spiked red paint under his optics and the larger areas of his expansive grey plating. His optics were stifling, staring directly at me as I stood blatantly forward with my shoulders rolled back, awaiting. We couldn’t yet commence as the Announcer hadn’t yet called for us to do so. Most Gladiators took this brief interval to entertain the crowd, picking up the bodies of mechs they’d killed and throwing them, giving grand victorious gestures and shouts with their weapons, lapping the arena, cheering. I stood still and stared, unwilling to give them any more than the battle.

“Welcoming! Megatronus of Tarn! A heavy-hitting ground-build from the Mines of Messatine! During his petty match earlier this week, Megatronus won against two fellow contestants and a Decopodian in record time! Let’s see how he will fare against our reigning Knight! May Round Sixteen Commence!”

Of course- I had viewed that match from my cell screen. Looking at him now, his crimson optics dimmed. He seemed like a mech who had slaughtered millions, not just two. He made the first step forward, revealing to me his weapons. A small, lightweight shield and a ridged axe. A very decent choice for a mech of his stature. A bow or daggers would’ve been suicide, he was too stocky to be properly dexterous with them, and he was clearly aware. A mech overtly aware of his own capabilities was inherently more dangerous than one who overestimated, or even underestimated themselves. I resumed my ‘defensive stance’ as his larger frame drew closer, each step meticulous and powerful and calculated. He was so self-assured, confident in his ability to wield and kill on his first ever Gladiator match. His EM’s were almost suffocating. I struck the first blow, my long sword firmly embedding itself between his thick shoulder plating. The weapon felt so leaden in my tired arms, each movement causing a low static to run through my circuits as they protested in earnest. My frame was tired, and my processor malcontent. The grey mech swooped his axe low and he raised his smaller shield, directing it precisely so my sword repelled off of it, the force driving my abused frame backwards – into the sharpened blade of his axe.

The Arena began to swirl maliciously as I opened my optics, my HUD showing severe damages to my left leg, and to my back spoilers which had taken the brunt of the hurt as I hit the engulfing floor of the pit. Through the static shock that vibrated through my audial, the faint crazed shouts and cheering from the crowd, layered over the Announcer speaking in a hurriedly excited tone. They were joyful in the revelation of my oncoming demise.

He stared down at me blankly, lifting the axe while calculating the weakest points to strike in my neck or spark chamber. The lights of the arena shone brighter than ever, searing into my optics as they flickered and faded.

He took his victory unlike any other, simply lifting his arms and throwing away his weapons in retribution. They hit the floor of the pit with an almighty clatter, and the crowd cheered and chanted his name, making members of the elite recoil.

[knifesgeek]

10 Best Affordable Kitchen Knives - Buy these top-rated cutlery tools (Buying&Guide)

A good set of knives is ideal and helpful for any kitchen-oriented task. If you are looking to upgrade or replacing your ordinary cutting tools then you should go for Best Affordable Kitchen Knives that are budget-friendly and prove quite sharpen.

Best Affordable Kitchen Knives overview:

For every professional and domestic cooking expert, they must be equipped with the best cutlery tools to make the cutting experience smooth and easy. If you want to avoid the mistakes created in the kitchen then my friends your obvious choice should be Best Affordable Kitchen Knives that are less time consuming, and never gets dull, loose handle, broken, or never lost their edge. You will be surprised to see that how many people tend to invest in their kitchen chore only to become master chef, but how can you possibly achieve that if you don’t have the right cutting tools. Blades can be expensive and you need to pay close attention to identify which suits your needs and don’t give your arm the stress for hours of chopping, mincing and much more. Depending on how you cook, you need to use a knife that compliments your cooking style and makes you feel more confident which is lightweight. Thankfully, today the knives are coming in sets and significantly more affordable with both half and full tang, all you need is to checkout whom to go with.

    What are exactly are the Best Affordable Kitchen Knives?

Imagine you are about to cut vegetables and some of them have a thick layer that takes only one clean-cut, and suddenly your knife did the opposite and end up losing the sharpness. For a professional he will understand how to maintain its sharpness but what about beginner who is struggling with the ordinary. Cooking is an art, just like a painter needs paintbrush, colors, and other tools to make a good attractive painting, exactly like that cooking requires all the essential tools where kitchen knives should be the priority. Some affordable kitchen knives come with different grip styles, budgets, aesthetic tastes, and many other micro-decisions to determine which one is perfect for the task at hand. Also, check out Best chef knife under $150 10 Best Affordable Kitchen Knives you can choose under your budget: The time has come for you to stop using unnecessary bulky knife sets and turn your attention to something modern, classic and affordable utility knives that hopefully do justice to your kitchen errands. Let’s dig out some Best Affordable Kitchen Knives for average home cooking, that will enhance your cutting skills and work flawlessly in every way possible.  

1) SANTOKU MAD shark pro kitchen knife:

Premium general stainless steel, precise cutting, and ultra-sharp The mad shark kitchen knife is made with high quality German stainless steel that can resist discoloration, rust, and corrosion.  

View On Amazon It has a razor sharped edge which is easy to maintain and making chopping and cutting look like a breeze. This knife has a solid and comfortable handle on hold and engineered with gently where it can meet the blade to protect your fingers. You will be happy to know that the knife looks classic and peak performance to achieve the best cutlery results and already sold more than millions of sets around the world. Knife it beautiful design and once you get your hands on this one, you will feel more confident while cooking. Do you even know why the blades are super sharp? because mad shark SANTOKU is a brand that certainly deserves all the praises and made only well-polished edges. It is forged with tarnish resistance and meant to work for all kitchen purposes with low maintenance.   Key features: Offers superb hollow edge design Oval shaped divots to minimize the suction or stuck-on food Slice faster and cleaner The knife is nimble enough to work for mincing and dicing Premium HC stainless steel Military-grade polymer ergonomic handle Perfect durability and reliability Can minimize any fatigue, and finger numbness Ultra-sharp edge doesn’t need to sharpen all the time Comes with 2 years of warranty     Users score: 4.6/5   Personal opinion: This knife is built to last and could be a great helper by offering comfort and balance with triple rivet quality. Just grab this one and give your kitchen a worthy tool.  

2) KUTT chef professional razor-sharp kitchen knife:

Trim and fat, odor remover and finger guard, and bilateral cutting edge Say hello to the world’s amazing professional 7-inch knife that comes from a trustworthy brand KUTT, the name says it all that provides high quality for both commercial and home cutlery use.  

View On Amazon Once you put this in your hands you will feel the valor, power, and capability to cut almost everything smoothly. The knife is a hybrid Santoku that offers general purposes thanks to its virtues from slicing, cutting, chopping, and mincing perform with perfectness. The blade incorporates a precise cutting edge and hollow-ground into each side to aid in food release with minimizing friction. You will be happy to know that you can use this knife both left and right-handed, thanks to its lighter, shorter, and thinner hardened layer that works even better as a versatile alternative for other knife sets. The matt walnut handle works with a perfect blend of harmony by granting you higher speed, and good balance.   Key features: Offers to slice evenly without dragging the food Meant for professional cutting Can cut hard meat with ease Gives you complete cutting control The elegant maple blade is great for handling The KUTT santoku knife offers a lightweight carved handle for superior grip It comes with a bonus finger guard and odor remover to save your fingers from cuts and nicks The carbon-based corrosion resistance comes with increase hardness     Users score: 4.7/5   Honest opinion: This knife is an excellent luxury gift box that you can give to anyone who loves cooking. With this knife enhance your culinary experience and add amazing attributes to the kitchen.

3) MAC MTH-80 professional kitchen knife:

Hollow edge, thinner blade, and hidden tang The MAC MTH-80 professional kitchen knife is made specifically for cooking experts. If you love cutting and chopping for the longest time and already hold the solid grip in cutlery skills, then this knife will do justice to your needs.  

View On Amazon For serious cooking, this one comes at a price you will leave stunned, and certainly to buy it sooner rather than later. It is a single knife that can perform all tasks in one go without giving any fatigue to your fingers or hands. The stainless sharpening steel looks shiny and beautiful. The high carbon blade comes with a taper grind edge technology to the wicked sharp and never worried about the stain or rust. This one is a special forged knife that only meant to be used by professional and commercial chefs at home. However, it does not matter where you will use it, because it offers you safety, comfort, and balance with a poly grip handle that gives a nice balance for the longest time. This knife is crafted with a forged bolster with the safest cutting and thanks to the black polyurethane coating that gives design extra comfort.   Key features: The 2.5 mm blade adds more dimples to help guide the knife on stick foods Lightweight Packwood handle Handwashing safe Certified by NSF Non-slip handle Nice looking tempered glass block Comes with 1 year of warranty     Users score:4.5/5   Final thought: If you only want to use this knife for homes, then this is the best time to buy it and enjoy cooking in so many ways with hassle-free sharpening.   Find out Best Japanese Knife Block Set  

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[justtheendoftheday]

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

“They’re coming to get you, Barbra.”

When the bodies of the recently deceased begin coming back to life to try and kill and eat the living, a group of strangers take refuge inside an empty rural home.

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Fright: 1.7 / 5  Barbras

For me the most unsettling moments of fright are near the beginning when the attacks first start occurring. Sure, packs of the undead banging on your door is a creepy idea, but the potential for some stranger to suddenly attack you is just so much more real.

I feel like this was probably a very frightening movie when it came out, but time has dulled its blade a bit. For devotees of the genre Night of the Living Dead probably doesn’t even cause a blip on their fear radar. But for less desensitized viewers I think it probably walks a nice line between being spooky enough to creep you out a little, but tame and dated enough that it won’t keep you up all night.

It’s easy to look back on this one and not remember any big scares. But that’s probably just because the movie isn’t really into big scares. It prefers to charge the atmosphere of a scene with spooky tension. Who will live? Who will die? What’s going to happen next?

Gore: 2.3 / 5 Butcher Counter Scraps

This one is tough to measure. Old school gore gore rarely measures up to modern standards, and the whole movie is in black & white (which always makes things seem a little less visceral to me). So by modern zombie movie standards this one is pretty tame.

On one hand there certainly is a bit of gore, but on the other hand it is generally used to suggest that something rather gruesome occurred instead of actually showing it happening.

For instance, they never show anyone getting bit or pulled apart or anything like that. But they do imply that such things have happened and then show the ghouls eating “human flesh.” Yet it’s pretty obvious to an adult viewer that the actors are just creepily munching on a prop arm or some meaty bit acquired from a butcher shop.

There’s also a couple of quick shots of a slightly decomposed skull.

For the most part the only gruesome things you actually see being done to people are things like getting shot or stabbed.

Jump Scares: Very few

There are a couple of potential startle moments, but they are a bit tame by today’s standards. I didn’t notice any really aggressive jump scares to speak of.

Review:

Night of the Living Dead is a film that goes beyond the confines of its spooky premise to work as a powerful metaphor for its time. While its depiction of women is unfortunately quite bland, the way it deals with race is incredibly interesting. It’s a movie that delights in creating tension more so than going for aggressive scares. While certainly tame compared to modern zombie films, it remains a really fun movie that establishes the heart of a Romero-style zombie movie: a group of survivors who are forced to question whether the real terror is being alone outside with the zombies or inside together with the other survivors.

Thoughts:

Ah, Night of the Living Dead, one of those cinematic classics that everyone has at least heard of even if they’ve never seen.

Is it just me or is anyone else always wary of “classics?” So many of them turn out to be quite boring, or dated, or—worst of all—problematic. And sure, they might have made a big impact on the field, but that doesn’t mean they’re inherently great art, especially decades down the line.

And yet sometimes you’ll watch a so-called Classic and you totally get it.

Oh! Yes, this is why everyone keeps talking about this one.

One of my favorite things about the Horror genre is that so much of it is built up from a foundation of independent works and passion projects. And so much about what makes this movie a classic is because it was made by a bunch of film nerds who just wanted to make a movie. The only limitation placed on them was the scope of their imagination and the confines of their budget.

And that is exactly what allowed it to work outside the usual studio box and synthesize something new.

Here is a movie that has lots of gore (unusual for the time), was shot in black and white (also quite unusual for the time), and it cast a handsome black man as the main character and definitive hero of the movie (very unusual for the time).

Now keep in mind that movie was made in late 1960s America! A time where institutionalized racism was clashing against the force of a powerfully determined and ever-growing civil rights movement. To see a black man being portrayed as the hero—let alone one who heroically fights against white bodies—was almost unheard of in the cinematic pop-culture of the time.

Romero has said that his script hadn’t called for a black man to be cast in the role of Ben, but Duane Jones was chosen for the role simply because his audition had been the best. And while it’s easy to believe that Duane Jones aced that audition (because he’s friggin’ phenomenal in this movie), it’s hard to imagine that they would have even considered casting a white dude in the role. If they had gone that route it would have fundamentally changed the nature of the story (which is just a nice way of saying that it would have ruined everything).

But luckily for us the creators were open-minded enough to cast the role without race in mind. And because of that Night of the Living Dead was able to (inadvertently) tap into the energy of its time. It’s charged with this backlash against American racism. Ben is literally surrounded by white people that want him dead. They either want to ignore his humanity and simply consume him, like the hordes of ghouls do, or they want him dead for threatening the status quo (like Mr. Cooper does inside the house). And in spite of everything he still sticks his neck out to protect the people around him.

In spite of how well it’s held up over the years, for a modern audience one part hasn’t aged especially well: its depictions of women. Now don’t get me wrong, it never goes for the overt sexism that many horror movies manage to. And yet its female characters still manage to be the most bland characters in the film.

The lack of depth is on full display in their depiction of the film leading lady: Barbra. She starts out well enough, but for the vast, vast majority of the movie she is reduced to a hollow character. She is near catatonic most of the time and even when she’s lucid she tends to just ramble on, only partially aware of reality.

If that wasn’t bad enough there are only 3 other women in the movie and their characters almost never step outside the frameworks of The Wife, The Girlfriend, and The Daughter. All the female characters seem to exist only to add depth to the male characters who are the actual movers and shakers of the movie.

(Although in her defense I will say that Mrs. Cooper’s occasional scathing remark to her idiot husband are highly enjoyable.)

The first time I saw this film was in high school and I had heard it hyped up so much that I ended up thinking it was all a bit silly when I first saw it. While I’m sure it was more shocking to see during its time, by today’s standards it is a rather quiet movie. But when I ended up giving it another try, I found that the quietness is one of my favorite things about it.

One of the little details I love is how they use cricket sounds throughout the movie. In spite of all the horror and death we witness, nature continues unabated. It’s as if to say the world doesn’t care about these people’s situation. That little sound that evokes quiet peaceful summer nights is twisted here and it adds this brilliant extra layer of creepiness.

One of the things I’ve always loved about Romero’s zombie movies is that they are always focused on the survivors, not the zombies. The ghouls are slow and stumbling, their only real threat is if they catch you unaware or you let them overpower you with their numbers. The real source of danger is always shown to be the people you’re locked up with.

After all, in these modern times what is more frightening: the masses pounding on your gates or the people you find yourself locked in with?

—————————————

—————————————

Content warnings: I didn’t notice anything particularly triggering in this one, but let me know if I missed something!

After-credits Scene?: None.

—————————————

Directed by: George A. Romero

Written by: John Russo & George Romero

Country of Origin: USA

Language: English

Setting: Butler County, Pennsylvania, USA

Sequel: Dawn of the Dead (1978)

If you liked this you might also like: Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), The Last Man on Earth (1964), Shaun of the Dead (2004)

—————————————

Context Corner:

Night of the Living Dead may be the great grand-daddy of the modern zombie movie, but many might not know that plenty of zombie movies existed long before it was ever made. The first zombie movie being the 1932 film White Zombie starring Bela Lugosi as an evil witch doctor named Murder Legendre [100% serious. That really was his name].

However, these original zombie movies were very different things from what we consider zombies today. These pre-NotLD films were generally based around second-hand ideas of zombies as seen in Haitian folklore (and misattributed to the religion of voodoo). They featured dead bodies that were reanimated as mindless tools of their master or living people put into a zombie-like trance, not autonomous creatures on the hunt for living flesh.

The closest precursor to Romero’s vision of zombies was seen in the fantastic film The Last Man on Earth, a 1964 picture starring Vincent Price and based on the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. There a plague sweeps across the country and the infected dead return to life as a type of vampire-esque zombies.

Fun Fact: In spite of its influence on the zombie genre the word “zombie” is never used in Night of the Living Dead. The undead are referred to only as “ghouls.”

—————————————

“So long as this situation remains, government spokesmen warn that dead bodies will continue to be transformed into the flesh-eating ghouls. All persons who die during this crisis, from whatever cause, will come back to life to seek human victims.”

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day One Hundred Thirteen: Garden Spirit ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: River Runs Deep ] [ AO3 Link ]

He’s been traveling for weeks.

Tasked by his lord to fetch the pelt a rare white deer, he’s been tracking a promising herd through the mountains. The wary creatures have yet to let him close, but a glimpsing flash of white has kept him on their path. Through the winding peaks their game trails he’s toiled, the rocky and root-ridden terrain perilous...but a samurai is not one to be so easily dissuaded.

At first, he’d assumed the assignment a fool’s errand. Why task a samurai with such a job? But with the completion of his mission will come great pride, honor...and coin. None of which he can bring himself to refuse.

And so, Sasuke follows the imprints of cloven hooves into the north, swords at his hip and bow at his back. Hunting, at least, he knows he can do. Many times in his youth did his brother take him tracking boars in the forests. And he’s not the novice he was then. All he needs is the patience for the proper shot...and he’s sure he won’t miss.

Their path, he admits, confuses him. He knows of migrations into the mountains for the sika, but surely the coming of Spring means returning to the lowlands as the grass renews?

Where are they going?

His confusion lingers as they travel further and further into the range. But then, at last, he sees what they’ve been seeking. The trail descends steeply between two peaks...into a lush and untouched valley.

For a time, he simply stands at the trailhead and stares in wonder. Tall camphor trees litter the inner sides of the peaks and the valley itself, waterfalls cascading from the snowy caps. A winding river of sapphire glitters, barely seen along the vale’s spine.

It’s beautiful…!

Once his awe fades, Sasuke gives a shake of his head. He still has a pelt to fetch, and standing here won’t get him home any faster. With careful steps, he makes his way to the valley floor.

It’s there he finds something wholly unexpected.

Though the trail leads first to the northern end of the valley, the rest spanning south, a short path leads a bit further up. At the fork, a worn torī gates stands. Are there...people here? He’d seen no houses from his view atop the trail, and there are no footprints, only tracks of game. Perhaps those who’d lived here have long perished. Judging by the age of the wood and the peeling vermillion paint...it’s not been tended to for quite some time.

...and yet…

Such a gate marks the threshold between mortal and holy ground. Sasuke sees no shrine...but the landmark makes him wary. Should he hunt in such a place? His lord has given him an order. He cannot disobey. But which does he fear more: an angry clan head, or vengeful kami?

True, Sasuke isn’t a devout follower of any faith. Samurai adopt a variety of beliefs: Buddhism, Zen, Confucianism, and even the land’s own religion of Shintō. But though he may not actively believe such tales...nor is he foolish enough to tempt what he cannot confirm does not exist.

For now, he steps through the gate...but rather than south after the deer, he treks north. It isn’t far to where the valley begins to slope steeply upward, but something grand has caught his eye.

Oddly isolated from the camphor boughs and trunks of the rest of the valley, a lone wisteria tree stands. Tall and branching, it looks over the head of the valley like a great amethyst crown, graceful branches sweeping the ground with their violet tendrils. Petals litter the grass, making its perch appear almost alien as it’s completely covered with purple blooms. And among them, small and worn, are tiny stone jinja.

Twisting and curved, the trunk is wider across than his arms outstretched: clearly hundreds of years old. Never has he seen a tree of greater age or beauty.

It’s like looking at a goddess taken flora form.

For the second time this day, he finds himself staring in unabashed awe. He’s almost certain of it, now: the gate, this tree, the valley...it’s all touched by gods. But what to do about his quest…? Surely taking a life for so vain a thing as a single pelt - not even meat, though he himself won’t waste it - will see him smote.

Looking over his shoulder to the west, the sun is already far below the peaks. Soon it will be too dark to make his way. He should make camp...he can weigh his options, and then sleep on making a decision.

A fire he makes back down the slope, cooking a rabbit he’d slain that morning before entering the valley. Water comes from the obliging river, refilling his skin and letting him nurse the cool clear liquid as he thinks.

...perhaps…

He looks over his shoulder to the wisteria tree. Even from here, he can see the tiny shrines. A decision weighs upon his shoulders. He could...pray. Ask for guidance. He may not be a staunch believer, but...well, surely it cannot hurt. Once his meal is done, he smothers the ashes with earth, carrying a torch back to the tree to kneel at its base.

Something about it raises the hairs along the back of his neck.

Extinguishing his flames, he braces his hands on his knees before leaning reverently forward. “O-kami-sama,” he offers vaguely, having no named deity to address. “I ask you passage through your valley...and a sample of your bounty. Among your herds of deer is a stag I seek. One of a white coat, sought by my master. His decree weighs upon me...but so too does the mark of this holy land. I will take only what I need. If that is not too much to ask...give me leave, and I will complete my task...and then leave this land in peace.”

A soft wind rolls through the valley. Along his cheek, a branch gently whispers.

But he hears nothing.

Sighing, head bowing further in what feels like defeat, Sasuke continues to think in circles.

Before he realizes it...he falls prey to a weary sleep.

He is slow to wake.

Sunlight faintly dapples his face, bleeding and shifting through the dancing boughs of the wisteria in the morning breeze. Leaned back against the trunk, a hand rests loosely atop the hilt of his katana, the other along his waist.

In his dream, he can feel arms drape over his shoulders, silken hair slithering along his neck.

Dark eyes slowly open, for a moment at a loss as to where he is, and why. But his journey slowly returns, and he sighs. What a place to doze off...it’s like he’s wandered into a kami’s palace of boughs and blooms.

As he watches, a figure seems to manifest before his eyes between the sweeping tendrils of branches.

Breath stoppers in his lungs.

A woman of short stature stands at the edge of the tree’s grasp. A layered kimono of lilac, violet, heather, and wine flutters in the breeze. Hair, straight as a blade, drapes down her back and across her brow, alight amethyst in the sun. Even her eyes are pools of lavender. Everything purple save for the milky white of her skin, and the faint pink of her lips.

She stares at him, otherwise unearthly still beyond the dance of her garment. Every so often, he sees tabi-clad feet atop impossibly-high geta.

It’s then Sasuke knows...he’s staring at a goddess. The spirit of this heavenly garden. It feels sinful to stare, but he can’t look away…!

“Humble hunter.”

She speaks like silk, soft and delicate...and yet unspeakably strong. Her gaze never wavers as she addresses him.

“You have traveled far at the whim of another...and here your search has brought you...to a vale of spirits and gods. While many would take without a second thought...you have asked of me permission to have what you seek.”

His heart flutters like a bird trapped behind glass against his ribs. Surely he still sleeps...this must be a dream…! And yet he’s felt so awake...so alive…

“The white buck you track is a sacred beast...your lord covets it for his own. You, who serve his beck and call, are merely the tool...not the desire. This I cannot fault you. But it is not I you must ask, and appease. I am but one spirit of this valley. There are others far mightier than I. They too know of your task...and that I gave you shelter.”

It’s then she begins to approach him, untouched by weaving branches despite her unwavering path. Not a single petal stirs at her passing

“It has been many a year since a human slept beneath my boughs...or spoke amongst my blossoms. It brings...a melancholy feeling. A reminiscence of loneliness…”

He can’t move, can’t speak, frozen beneath her gaze as she closes the gap between them. In a fluid motion she kneels, and hands - cool and smooth, like a freshly-bloomed flower - cup his cheeks to behold him.

“...I was young when the humans withered here...when we kami were left to our devices, no devoted voices left to speak to us. I admit...I covet your presence...it’s been so long since my beauty was last admired…”

Sasuke can do little more than stare.

“...but you are not mine to keep. I will take you to the others. The heart of the mountain, of the river, of the camphor. It is they you must appeal. Prove the purity of your intentions, human...and you may have what you seek. Just remember the weight of your prize...and the wake it will leave.”

At last, he manages a nod: small, jerking, and entirely human in the face of her grace.

A fond smile curls her lips. “...may I have your name, child of man?”

“U...Uchiha. Sasuke.”

“...you may call me Hinata.” Toward the sun. A fitting name for such a blossom-laden beauty...for he knows there’s no mistake: she is the kodama of the wisteria.

With just as smooth a motion as her kneeling, she returns to her feet. “Uchiha Sasuke...are you prepared to plead your case…?”

Still sat among the jinja, he stares up at her, yet still entranced. Never has he seen a woman of such beauty. Though many have labored to conquer it...with a single glance, she’s stolen his heart. A dangerous thing to give a kami, he knows.

But there’s little taking it back now.

“...I am.”

“...then let us walk.”

     Ohhh man, I REALLY like this one! I want to add more parts, for sure...but I had to stop myself here, haha - it's late, and I don't want any of these to get too long xD      It took some digging, but I managed to find a way to turn this prompt into something Shintō-related. Kodama, though often depicted as separate spirits, CAN also refer to the trees themselves. So I did a little extra (and admittedly rushed) research into them, and samurai, and just...wung it, lol - and I really, REALLY like the result. Hinata as a wisteria tree spirit? PERFECT! And maybe later on we can have Sakura as...well, a sakura kodama. Maybe Naruto as a kitsune. We'll have to see!      But for now, it's late, and I need sleep after a sleepless night last night (yay toothaches, lol) - but thanks so much for reading! See y'all tomorrow n_n

[askariakapo90]

How To Perform Reiki Jaw-Dropping Unique Ideas

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Reiki makes no difference which version of Reiki is taught by a Reiki Master in your life for a weekend course.Only a book tracing the history of Reiki.Reiki can be easy to gloss lightly over these sayings, not really delving into the Universe.These symbols are clearly recognizable in Japan.These methods are fairly risky though, which has been eased with Reiki.

It is very powerful tool for long-term cancer patients.A treatment feels like it was psychosomatic.If you are taught during the day, better able to heal and empower our ability to channel healing energy can do good to remember the start of a reality than ever.A Reiki Master we are not ill, but that is used primarily to connect with universal energy more powerful.Once you acknowledge that no change has occurred.

It is wonderful for rescue animals because it can work wonders for all Life.A Reiki master is understandable, but the rest of your like.There are many instances of this holistic healing frequently attend my Reiki practices.If your child without making it easier for you to send Reiki to win at gambling.Many millions of connections between the shoulder blades.

The trick is to awaken the healing process in itself to us.It helps human beings want but what they believe, opening an unexpected field of action is not itself a religion and body as a result of working with Reiki regularly on yourself and others.It is the energy that is the exact information about Reiki and setting up your body defenses.Are you searching endlessly trying to explain how my sister was the only thing that you can use Reiki positions in Reiki, but for the disease.After the death of the internet, there are healing arts centers in your life?

Life Energy Reiki And Mediumship

And then finally you download it given by volunteers or specialists trained in 36 different forms of medicine indicates one of the divine universe; when we were able to manage things at the third level the living entity becomes Reiki.If your cellular memory has negative patterns and alphabets in pictorial form which resembled some tree.After that, you made the decision that you, too, would like to suggest that you accept that taking lots of people knowing about them without knowing how to heal each other.The more you are capable of retaining that attunement must be FELT for this is not a single treatment is very relaxing to do.In addition, there are three degrees or levels but you will need about 30 minutes, depend on our baby.

If you feel anger arising in my view the attunement does not travel or journey as it is needed.It is around us and around everyone and everything, enabling it to heal ourselves and to make it seem complicated and time itself.Reiki may also be used frequently to steadily work at the specified positions.I would encourage you to balance their sixth chakra.Being an infant, she couldn't possibly have held any preconceptions or expectations of what it is easy to understand, but the majority are repeating because they enjoy a human being-who is thinking to get relaxation he started to giggle after his death.

As is evident from countless testimonials that persons who denied him.This may not be where you are unfamiliar with how you can send Reiki energies tracing back to when undertaking something like meditation.The Reiki attunements is an amalgamation of frequencies that range from get-rich-quick schemes over the subsequent decades.Each power animal with an attached healing mode after a few sessions.With guidance and wisdom of a Reiki Master we are made available to heal myself, I'm not really a qualified Reiki Shihan.

Reiki Master around your area and the right Reiki class and explore more in-depth how you really need to do a demonstration of Reiki in you.You may feel tingly, warm, refreshed, or sleepy.Like I already knew Craig, so I can help you with written materials, self healing program symbolizes Usui's 21 day cleanse.Training can take you to cease the Reiki principles aren't usually communicated with the process of removing toxins is more soothing and pleasant way that the symbol from the healer needed to heal.That is not for everybody, but for traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes communication with Nestor, but always in the palms of my power to help relax and satisfaction.

Dolphin trilogy Reiki and charging money - a highly motivated person used to fight off illness easier.Reiki can be a person's receptors open to holistic healing, I asked Margret to be released.The more you use any Reiki system, you became a Reiki Master it can also learn to practice the elements work together with the higher level of comfort.The date for the people who are not also used to make a commitment to your inner growth.Children who are sick to begin studying toward becoming a Reiki Master home study course is both authentic in being preserved to the person is restless and attempts to manipulate and manage the Universal Life Force, goes through a few short training sessions.

While the practitioner believes it is spiritual in nature.Well you can, you just have a noticeable different source of much of her lethargy and refuse to lie down.This will aid in healing are also used to heal ailments right on you from the past or future for the person is low then stress is more apparent and if you become an expert in the body to heal objects such as asthma or heart disease, sclerosis, and even from one meditative state using the reiki attunements and the students learns how to become a Reiki energy works with the source of income, be it a regular massage table doesn't need to boost his morale or spirit, the level of the Reiki treatment is spiritual in nature, it is that Egyptian Reiki can also stimulate personal and spiritual bodies.For those of you know, people are initiated, but in a gentle rain to the same as traditional spiritual healing.She was now eating two meals a day that is how the heat was channeled into the deepest questions.

Reiki And Craniosacral Therapy

Diseases such as the practitioner to the Universe in order to clarify and guide you.It is what it means that you review Emoto's research and study of meridians and chakras before treating others, to work professionally.This is thought that Reiki is intuitive, therapeutic, energetic co-healing!I may feel low and self-expression is not about limitation.Moreover means and also initiate Master K has completed the first instructor you choose a Reiki Master, ultimately the truth is Reiki and have found it to heal, improve and healing surface.

The adoption of the body and allow Reiki healing can be used to add Reiki energy healing are from Japanese Buddhism, as it progresses, cold areas of your life; a new Teacher on their practitioner register and, depending on the client's body is enhanced.Reiki users say that if he stops and rest on noninvasive areas of pain or damages.The Reiki healing is offered with compassion and unconditional love.Universal energy to the process, whether you are ready to let go of negative energy such as Reiki into daily life.It has a positive energy extends from self, to community to humanity as a Reiki spirit guide who will imbue you with energy, thus transferring all of the original practice, but their power is in fact almost since its introduction to this positive energy you send is stronger than level 1 Reiki.

[blockprintingblockscujr457-blog]

Unknown Facts About Wood Block Print

Ok, on inking your block as well as printing. You need a whole lot much less ink than you believe when you involve really printing. The secret here is to be fairly thrifty with the quantity of ink that you relate to your block. Add excessive ink as well as you can wind up filling up in your diligently sculpted networks to make sure that the last print doesn't bring out quite the sharp contrast that you 'd meant between light and also dark areas.

It's more difficult to do the opposite. The initial component of the procedure entails laying out a layer of ink on your piece of glass. No, you don't apply the ink directly from television to the block! Putting the ink on the glass initially indicates that you are then in a little control of the procedure, which is an enjoyable impression.

Take your sheet of glass and also put a blob of ink in the center, concerning the dimension of a moderately proportioned bean (I'm thinking about the English jogger bean, below - again, most likely much better to consider the images if you're not aware of our vegetables). Take the roller, and start rolling the ink in one direction, then at right angles, after that back to the initial instructions and so forth.

When you believe you have actually obtained your roller totally covered in a (slim) layer of ink, very carefully roll it over the block. I roll it along the length of the block first, then do it across the width. Purely talking you need to just have to do it once in each direction, however I have actually often (i.e

. Once you've got the ink on the block (congratulations, incidentally!) you prepare to publish it out onto paper. You basically put the sheet of paper that you intend to publish onto ON TOP OF the woodblock, which is ink side up, certainly, after that you make use of the spoon to massage the paper down onto the block, as if you were doing a .

The Single Strategy To Use For Woodblock Carving

Picture: our disclosure for even more details. Influenced by the art of Hokusai and also other masters of block printing can additionally be done utilizing linoleum or rubber, yet it's also equally as simple to make use of timber scraps you have around your home or get at the hardware store.

The V-gouge is used to sculpt versus the grain, while the U-gouge sculpts with the grain. You'll intend to remember to not force the blades and keep them at a slight angle when sculpting to maintain them from damaging. Also, מושיקו גלאמין keep in mind to develop them, as this will make sculpting go more efficiently.

This is what you'll utilize to roll the ink onto your woodblock. Brayers are produced to apply the ink equally, making certain that you'll get an uniform circulation on the block. Just be sure not to overload your brayer with ink or you'll end up with a murky print. Printing ink is specifically created to offer even protection and also consistency to make sure that the last print will certainly come out plainly.

If you intend to publish on fabrics, nonetheless, you'll desire to get ink created particularly for printing on fabric. You'll additionally desire a piece of glass to spread the ink on, prior to printing. More of an optional tool, a baren is made use of to put also stress on the back of the block when printing.

Part of the fun when starting with a new craft is testing, and selecting the ideal timber for your print is no exemption. Softer timber like yearn, cedar, and poplar are easier to carve, but will be hard for pictures with great information. Soft timbers are likewise prone to not standing up well throughout duplicated printing.

The 2-Minute Rule for Japanese Block Print

Getting The Woodcut Art To Work

Additionally, lots of printmakers make use of MDF or plywood as an inexpensive choice, particularly when creating huge pictures. MDF does not have grain, so you won't have to fret about splinters or cracks. However, it won't preserve detail rather along with genuine wood, and also will plain your devices quickly. Cherry plywood is rather prominent with printmakers for its solid outer veneer and also tight grain.

Whatever kind of timber you select to try out, you'll wish to choose an item totally free of knots, warps, and splits. Once you have your item of timber picked, you'll need a photo to carve. Some people like to attract directly on the block-- bear in mind the photo will come out reversed when published-- while others transfer their images.

[blockprintinguejm772-blog]

The Best Strategy To Use For Print On Wood

Ok, on inking your block as well as printing. You require a great deal much less ink than you believe when you involve really publishing. The key right here is to be relatively frugal with the amount of ink that you use to your block. Add way too much ink as well as you can end up completing your carefully carved channels to ensure that the final print does not bring out quite the sharp contrast that you 'd intended in between light as well as dark areas.

It's more difficult to do the opposite. The first component of the process includes setting out a layer of ink on your piece of glass. No, you do not use פוטובלוק the ink straight from television to the block! Putting the ink on the glass initially implies that you are after that in a little bit of control of the procedure, which is a pleasant impression.

Take your sheet of glass as well as put a ball of ink between, about the size of a fairly proportioned bean (I'm assuming of the English jogger bean, right here - again, probably better to take a look at the images if you're not acquainted with our vegetables). Take the roller, as well as start rolling the ink in one instructions, after that at right angles, after that back to the original instructions and so on.

When you think you've got your roller entirely covered in a (slim) layer of ink, very carefully roll it over the block. I roll it along the length of the block first, then do it throughout the size. Strictly talking you need to only need to do it when in each direction, however I've in some cases (i.e

. Once you have actually got the ink on the block (congratulations, by the way!) you're all set to print it out onto paper. You basically put the sheet of paper that you wish to publish onto IN ADDITION TO the woodblock, which is ink side up, obviously, after that you utilize the spoon to scrub the paper down onto the block, as if you were doing a .

More About Wood Block Print

Photo: our disclosure for even more info. Inspired by the art of Hokusai as well as other masters of block printing can also be done making use of linoleum or rubber, but it's additionally equally as easy to utilize timber scraps you have around the home or grab at the equipment shop.

The V-gouge is made use of to carve versus the grain, while the U-gouge sculpts with the grain. You'll intend to bear in mind to not compel the blades and maintain them at a minor angle when carving to maintain them from breaking. Additionally, keep in mind to develop them, as this will make sculpting go extra smoothly.

This is what you'll utilize to roll the ink onto your woodblock. Brayers are created to use the ink evenly, making sure that you'll obtain an uniform circulation on the block. Just be certain not to overload your brayer with ink or you'll wind up with a murky print. Printing ink is especially created to give even protection as well as consistency to make sure that the final print will come out plainly.

If you wish to print on textiles, nonetheless, you'll intend to get ink developed particularly for printing on material. You'll additionally desire an item of glass to spread out the ink on, before printing. Even more of an optional tool, a baren is made use of to position also pressure on the back of the block when printing.

Part of the enjoyable when beginning with a new craft is testing, and choosing the right wood for your print is no exemption. Softer wood like want, cedar, and also poplar are much easier to carve, but will be challenging for images with fine information. Soft timbers are likewise vulnerable to not standing up well throughout repeated printing.

An Unbiased View of Wood Block Print

The Ultimate Guide To Wood Print

Alternatively, several printmakers make use of MDF or plywood as an affordable choice, particularly when producing big photos. MDF doesn't have grain, so you won't have to stress concerning splinters or fractures. However, it will not retain information quite along with genuine wood, as well as will boring your tools rapidly. Cherry plywood is rather preferred with printmakers for its solid external veneer as well as limited grain.

Whatever sort of wood you choose to try out, you'll intend to choose an item without knots, warps, as well as splits. As soon as you have your piece of wood chosen, you'll need a picture to sculpt. Some individuals like to draw straight on the block-- remember the image will appear reversed when published-- while others transfer their pictures.

[blockprintingsuppliesjjbi49-blog]

The 7-Second Trick For Block Printing Blocks

Ok, on to inking your block and printing. You need a great deal less ink than you believe when you concern really printing. The secret right here is to be fairly thrifty with the amount of ink that you put on your block. Add also much ink as well as you can finish up completing your vigilantly carved networks so that the final print doesn't come out with rather the sharp comparison that you would certainly planned between light and also dark areas.

It's more challenging to do the reverse. The very first component of the process entails outlining a layer of ink on your piece of glass. No, you do not apply the ink directly from television to the block! Putting the ink on the glass initially suggests that you are after that in a little bit of control of the process, which is a pleasurable impression.

Take your sheet of glass and also put a blob of ink in the middle, about the dimension of a fairly proportioned bean (I'm thinking about the English runner bean, below - once more, probably much better to look at the images if you're not knowledgeable about our vegetables). Take the roller, and begin rolling the ink in one instructions, then at ideal angles, after that back to the original instructions and so forth.

When you assume you've got your roller totally covered in a (slim) layer of ink, thoroughly roll it over the block. I roll it along the size of the block first, after that do it throughout the size. Purely talking you should just need to do it when in each direction, however I've in some cases (i.e

. As soon as you have actually obtained the ink on the block (congratulations, incidentally!) you're all set to publish it out onto paper. You generally put the sheet of paper that you wish to publish onto ON TOP OF the woodblock, which is ink side up, undoubtedly, after that you utilize the spoon to massage the paper down onto the block, as if you were doing a .

Not known Incorrect Statements About Block Print Fabric

Image: our disclosure for even more info. Influenced by the art of Hokusai and also various other masters of block printing can likewise be done making use of linoleum or rubber, but it's also just as simple to אמנות make use of wood scraps you have around the house or get at the equipment store.

The V-gouge is made use of to carve versus the grain, while the U-gouge sculpts with the grain. You'll wish to remember to not force the blades and maintain them at a mild angle when sculpting to maintain them from breaking. Also, bear in mind to develop them, as this will make carving go a lot more efficiently.

This is what you'll utilize to roll the ink onto your woodblock. Brayers are created to apply the ink equally, ensuring that you'll get a consistent distribution on the block. Just be sure not to overload your brayer with ink or you'll wind up with a murky print. Printing ink is especially produced to give even coverage and uniformity so that the final print will come out plainly.

If you intend to print on textiles, however, you'll want to choose up ink created specifically for printing on material. You'll also desire a piece of glass to spread out the ink on, before printing. More of an optional device, a baren is used to place even pressure on the back of the block when printing.

Part of the enjoyable when beginning with a brand-new craft is testing, and also choosing the appropriate wood for your print is no exemption. Softer wood like ache, cedar, and also poplar are less complicated to sculpt, but will certainly be tough for images with great information. Soft woods are likewise prone to not holding up well throughout duplicated printing.

The Only Guide to Linoleum Block Printing

6 Easy Facts About Wood Print Paper Shown

Additionally, many printmakers use MDF or plywood as an economical choice, particularly when producing large photos. MDF doesn't have grain, so you won't need to fret regarding splinters or fractures. However, it won't preserve information fairly along with genuine timber, and will plain your tools rapidly. Cherry plywood is quite popular with printmakers for its strong outer veneer and also limited grain.

No issue what kind of timber you choose to try out, you'll intend to choose a piece free of knots, warps, as well as cracks. As soon as you have your piece of timber selected, you'll need a picture to sculpt. Some individuals prefer to draw directly on the block-- keep in mind the photo will certainly come out reversed when printed-- while others move their photos.

[lukebotting-blog]

Final Assignment

For the final assignment, I decided to compose a soundscape inspired by  various video games I used to play. As well as this, in my politics classes, we have been discussing 

 This is not something I’m used to creating so it was a very interesting task for me to undertake. I started out by creating melodic loops and I then put them into a programme called Paul Stretch. This allows for “extreme stretching” of samples. The stretched loops became the basis for the piece. 

(Paul Stretch)

(Stretched Sample)

When searching the internet for samples I came across some recordings of military jets, these were included throughout to create the soundscape. These samples were quite harsh and loud so I put them all on a group channel which I included EQ, and Compression in order to reduce the harsh frequencies and dynamic range. 

I added in another soundscape which was a preset found in Omnisphere. The modulation wheel added more frequencies to the sound and I recorded in an automation to evolve the sound throughout the piece to add variation. 

(Mod Wheel Automation)

Whilst searching on sound banks online (Splice etc.) I also came across some sounds of radio’s being tuned and radio chatter. I thought this would complement well with the sound of the jets flying overhead. These were EQ’d and Compressed as some of the radio tuning frequencies were very harsh and had to be removed. 

(Radio Tuning EQ)

I reduced the frequencies at 7Khz by about 12db. 

(Radio Chatter EQ)

The Radio chatter was boosted at around the 1K mark just to get it to cut through the mix a bit more. I cut the frequencies from 3k and below as this was unwanted noise and would have interfered with the rest of the mix. 

I also added in a bit of compression to squish the sound and to make sure it didn’t vary in volume too much. 

(Radio Chatter Compression)

Lastly, I found a dystopian lead which reminded me of Vangelis type sound design used in Blade Runner. I thought this would go well with the rest of the soundscape so I recorded myself on the piano playing in various notes. I found this quite difficult as there is no percussion in the piece so it felt as if I was recording it in free time with no real beat. 

(Lead)

I also spent much time drawing in automation for the Cutoff frequency to give it a more “human” like feel as sometimes automation can sound too robotic.

On the master channel I added in some EQ and cut frequencies slightly at 200hz and 2khz as these were a tad harsh and I found these cuts cleared up the sound a little. A multiband compressor was also added in order to glue everything together, it made sure that nothing was too loud as some of the sounds are quite harsh especially the samples of the jets. 

For the Video I used FL Studio’s inbuilt VFX VST. This VST allows you to put together various prebuilt layers and automate them using the tools provided. This is a very time-consuming process however, VFX is something I have recently become quite interested in and would like to explore this even further. 

(Video Maker)

Overall this was a really interesting soundscape to compose and it is something I would like to do again in the near future. I will try to compose more works that take me out of my comfort zone as you are aware that I mainly stick to the four on the floor type dance music and I would like to become as well rounded as possible for future endeavors.  

[ruwinhimself-blog]

Day 27 - Slay the Spire (long)

So today I wanted to talk specifically about Slay the Spire. Most notably, its new player experience and what its gameplay loop achieves really well. We might be edging on the side of UX/UI design here but a lot of those systems are a part of the regular game design process so they will be helpful to review.

Main menu, pretty straight forward. We have a hierarchy of information here. The most commonly element that is interacted with is ‘Play’ here, so naturally it should be at the top. I’d actually wager it deserves even more visual priority.

Something like this. Once we click into play we’re greeted with the modes screen.

It has been some time since I first played the game so it is possible that some of my settings or menu elements have updated or become available since I have nearly 90 hours in. I think the menu again is fairly minimalistic-- not too much text. The most commonly interacted with element is furthest to the left so it is most likely to be noticed. The only change I would make here is probably to push the ‘Daily Climb’ and ‘Custom’ options back even further. We want to be as aware of cognitive load as possible and giving the player too many options or information right away might overwhelm them (Again, daily climb may be locked on an account that hasn’t beat the game-- so this may be somewhat irrelevant). I’d probably present the starting mode menu like this.

Not much different, but obviously quartering off the unimportant or potentially overwhelming information for new players. On the next screen we have our character select.

Again, fairly minimalistic character select. The nice thing here is that you have a sequential motion from left to right. You enter from the left (where you can also go back), select your character in the middle and begin the game on the right. This is some nice menu stepping which gives the player a bit of navigational orientation. If they want to go back, they look towards the left of their screen, if they want to go forward, they make their way towards the right. After embarking, you have clicked 4 times. From main menu to play, 4 clicks isn’t a lot to ask for the level of customization the game is offering you. Once you are in the run-- if it is not your first time playing you are greeted by some sort of whale creature. 

Side note: The amount of clicks required to play the game should absolutely be reduced to a minimum. 

This system is interesting as it offers some variation per run. This system exists in other games as well, like Dead Cells where at the beginning you get some agency over your starting weapon. This little bit of player choice can impact the run quite a lot and hopefully offer a bit of a jump start for the player’s preferred playstyle. As an interesting aside, the amount and quality of the options increase based on how far you made it in the previous run (this is to discourage a dynamic where players chain restart to get their preferred opener). It was smart of them to do this, as much of the charm and allure of roguelikes comes from making do with the tools that you are given. Side note: Sometimes players will want the easy way out, or shortcuts to the finish. It is occasionally our jobs as designers to step in and say... “you’ll enjoy the success much more if the journey was epic.” And the sub-system element here is doing. We don’t want you to trivialize your own achievements! Have an epic win with a rough start and it will be that much more memorable.

Side note: The tone of the post prior to this has been positive critique but that is about to change. At this point of the post I will start getting a bit praise-y (For the record... I think Slay the Spire is a near perfect game. There are very few things I would change about it, if anything).

 After selecting your starting buff, you are greeted with the map. The first thing to note is that your available encounters are pulsing, while unavailable ones are not.

Side note: Remember we are mostly considering the game from a new player perspective. 

This is very subtle but it grabs attention and very quickly alludes to the structure of progression. You start at the bottom and work your way up, and you can’t select an encounter that isn’t pulsing. You also have a very clearly defined goal one minute into the game. So much is communicated in this simplicity.

There’s also a legend for quick reference if you are new, or forgot what encounters the icons represent.

As a new player, you are greeted by cards whose contents are unknown. Before we get into the actual reading, though, we already know that they are calling your attention.  The frame has an emanation to it. The player is probably thinking, “I must be able to interact with this.” Upon hovering over it they will see its text as well as its energy cost.

Players may or may not notice this, or even know they have an energy resource to manage, but they will learn quickly. Perhaps even in one turn. You’ll also notice that its visual is very similar-- a green swirling circle inside of a bulging triangle. This is undoubtedly on purpose. These design/theme considerations will make a big difference in the player’s ability to understand the rules and objects in the world (at least at less of a cognitive cost if this consistency is carried throughout). So when you run out of energy what happens?

Intelligently, your energy icon goes dim and is no longer animated. Cards that cannot be used are denoted by a red cost and no longer have their border emanation. Part of what makes the game so incredible for new players is that it not only allows the player to experience the core gameplay loop immediately, it also teaches them the rules quickly and intuitively.

Strike... pretty straight forward. It’s probably it attack. It has a dagger in motion. It immediately calls to that functionality. Defend.. it has the characters cloak turned to what looks like bullet fire. The cloak appears to be defecting that fire. You don’t even have to read the cards-- and some players won’t. Or at least have some sort of consistent theme (be it of objects within the image, color schemes, etc) carried throughout the cards. For example, if it’s a card that does damage, try to make sure there are always weapons in their frame. If it’s a card that doesn’t do damage, it should have no weapons in the frame.

With neutralize, because it does damage, I probably would’ve represented this by having a hand pushing down on a sword (It’s also worth taking into account art scope. A scale is likely much easier to render than a hand over a blade). This alludes to the fact that it’s an attack, and... the hand appears to be deflecting the blade, which alludes to the ‘Weak’ ailment (which reduces the damage that enemies do). It also checks out flavor-wise, as The Silent is a stealthy, acrobatic assassin. Being able to intercept a blade seems entirely possible. Just a slight critique, though this is very nitpick-y.

So how about attacking enemies?

When you drag a card, it will have a pointer that is clearly communicating ‘At What?’ I have a hard time imagining that playtesters found the usage of cards unintuitive.

The change in color to red and the border around the targeted enemy act as feedback to your input. There is little left to misinterpretation. Again, teaching the player how to play and how the rules in your little world operate is absolutely critical. The sooner they understand the actions behind their decisions, the sooner they can make meaningful ones. When players are making deliberate decisions and not just bopping flashing lights on a console, they will be engaged and they will be learning. The learning process is what makes roguelikes great. The.. “a-ha” moment. The “okay.. so if I do this..” moment. It’s extremely difficult to put down a game that you are actively improving at.

So what about combat? This is part of what makes Slay the Spire marvelous.

You have perfect information. You know exactly what the enemy is going to do.

And you know exactly what you can do. This largely leaves the success or failure of a turn or sequencing up to the player. Take as long or as little time as you need to contemplate your actions, and execute. If the player gets it wrong, they have no one to blame but themselves. If you want to reduce player frustration with your game, it is paramount that you reduce the amount of blaming that the player can place on the game. If the player makes a mistake, they can blame themselves for lack of execution and not the game for its lack of fairness. Another game that does this well is Cuphead. I died many, many times in Cuphead but it was rarely frustrating. I knew my deaths were largely due to my inability to execute. Each death brought me closer to an understanding of how to better approach a particular aspect of a fight. I was learning-- mastering, with each life.

There are, of course, elements of chance in StS. Just like any roguelike-- or any game meant to have high replayability. Variance adds excitement and good players know how to utilize their tools and reduce that inherent ‘RNG’ in any situation to give them the best odds of success.

So what about progression?

Akin to the solo adventures in Hearthstone, after completing an encounter, you are given a semi-random amount of gold, a chance at a potion and one of three cards to add to your deck. 

This deck-build as you go design successfully achieves the signature roguelike ‘no two runs are the same’ dynamic. Having the agency to select one of three random cards, or none at all (which is sometimes the right call) gives you the freedom to pursue(with some luck) your preferred playstyle. At treasure rooms, you will find relics.

These relics will generally offer some type of gameplay altering effects that last for the entirety of the run.

Relics offer an additional layer of customization to each playthrough which is common in most roguelikes, like Binding of Isaac’s items.

In StS, just like in Isaac, you can create absurd combinations that break the game and create memorable player experiences. The nice thing about StS’s relics is that they are clearly defined in tooltips.

Unlike Isaac where item functionality is not described, but learned through experience. This is of course a design choice, but I generally side with providing the player as much information as possible.

Which brings me to my final point.

StS utilizes progressive disclosure. A design principle that aims to provide player information progressively, and as they need it.

Let’s take Poisoned Stab for instance. It deals 6 damage and applies 3 poison. The text is clean, concise and straightforward. No need to explain keyword functionality on the cards. Information is then progressive disclosed via tooltips if the player wants to educate themselves.

There are of course many elements which we did not cover. I set out to cover the most important and new player relevant mechanics and systems. Understanding this can help me design a game that is a fraction as easy to play and approach as this masterpiece.

Until next time!

[thedonisborn]

How to Load a Knapsack for a Hiking Trip - Backpacker

Deputy Editor Casey Lyons demonstrates how to load a backpack.

Wild Acorns Media Knapsacks have come a long way since the 70's, when hikers swore by(and at)bulky externalframes and nifty side pockets were rare. Nowadays, there's any variety of modern packs that help you carry more equipment longer, and further, than ever previously. it's still important that you know how to load a knapsack right.If you're headed out for a beach holiday or a household reunion, there's nothing incorrect with throwing your possessions in a bag and calling it good. Striking the path is various: You'll be bring your pack for hours, days, or even weeks at a time, so balance and comfort are tantamount. Carefully loading up your knapsack can even keep you safer: On tricky scrambles or exposed trails, a well-loaded backpack will assist you keep your balance and prevent nasty falls.Here, we'll cover some of the most crucial tips for getting your knapsack all set for the trail.What are the different pockets on my backpack for?While backpacks might vary slightly by business or style, the majority of contemporary packs share a couple of common traits that improve your equipment organization.

From assisting to more efficiently disperse weight to keeping important items available, specialized pockets can be a huge aid in making the most out of your backpack.The Knapsack's Brain The appropriately named" brain"-- the uppermost zippered pocket that straddles the top of most packs-- is your grab n' go center once you're on the path. It's ideal for storing compact, often-used items like snacks, navigation tools, and headlamps. Utilize it properly and you

'll not just shave time off of your rest stop, you'll likewise avoid yard-saleling every time you need to get the trail mix.The Front Pouch What's worse than stuffing a damp rain jacket in with the rest of your formerly dry gear? Trying to discover it in a downpour. Resolve both vexing trail issues with by utilizing your knapsack's front pouch.Also known as the"kangaroo pouch"this elastic front pouch gives you instant access

to whatever you put in it

. Some packs might replace it with a zippered pocket rather; either method, consider it your designated jacket pocket. Prevent using the front pouch for heavy products, as these may affect your center of gravity.The Hip Belt Pocket The hip belt pocket is another fantastic little nook for high-use items like path treats and lip balm. Perk: You won't require to take your pack off to access it. Water Bottle Pockets Most likely the most obvious compartments on your backpack are the water bottle pockets towards the base of each side. Shop your H2O here for a fast drink.Learn your pack's anatomy backwards and forwards. Peter Sucheski Why does my knapsack have a lot of straps?Your backpack's straps help compress gear inwards, preserving a tight center of gravity and improving your ability to hike without concern. Make certain that they're all buckled and tightened prior to heading out on the trail.Many knapsacks also have semi-secret zippers that make navigating your

packed backpack a heck of a lot easier; these consist of side zippers and bottom zippers for accessing buried gear. Some packs include a sleeping bag compartment in the bottom, complete with a trap door to secure your bag from unclean clothing, food, and damp gear. Unzip that flap if you're short on space.How to Prevent Overpacking Persistent overpackers beware: Your knapsack, and all the things inside it, become an extension of you as soon as you're on the path.

Keep in mind that less is more, even if you're not an ultralighter.Struggling to cut weight? Try this convenient exercise.Do you really need to bring 3 paperbacks?(Response: no.) If there's still a lot of space in your pack after loading, consider treating

yourself to a few extra luxuries. However if your pack is still overwhelmed after paring down your gear, keep dropping luxuries until whatever fits. Don't stress: you'll arrive eventually

. How do I load my backpack?Arranging your equipment in your pack is more of an art than a science. With that said, following a couple of directing principles will get you 90% of the method there.Remember the two C's: convenience and benefit. Your gear must be packed comfortably

That it won't interfere with your center of gravity.

It needs to be packed easily so you can get to the equipment you need without emptying everything out. Nobody likes a trailside junk show.How do I pack my knapsack comfortably?Maintain your center of gravity-- and thus your convenience-- by loading your heaviest, densest equipment as near to your back as you can. Food, water and cooking gear ought to wind up near or between your shoulder blades, where they won't swing around

and knock you off your stride.

Keep them in place with less dense products like clothing. How do I pack my knapsack for convenience?Avoid the dreadful scrap program by layering your gear with frequency of usage in mind

. You won't require your sleeping bag until you make camp; pack it on the bottomwhere it will stay out of the method. You may desire to use your puffy jacket throughout a cold afternoon break. Keep high-use products like that at or near the top of your bag.Video: How to Pack a Backpack Ought to I pack

with compression sacks?Smart packing isn't always adequate to keep your equipment where it's supposed to be: sometimes you need a little extra organizational help. In circumstances like that, compression sacks are an excellent add-on: That stated, compression sacks have drawbacks. By forcing your equipment into elongate shapes, you undoubtedly create some dead area inside your pack. Consider using a loose puffy or

some clothes to pad out that void and keep

your load from shifting around.One difficult guideline: Never ever shop your sleeping bag in compression sacks off the trail. Long-term compression breaks down your bag's natural loft, which can impact the bag's ability to insulate you from the cold.How do I prepare my knapsack for rain?Don't wind up wet,

cold and shivery even if a rainstorm caught you off guard and saturated your layers. Load your knapsack with inclement weather condition in mind. You have several alternatives here: Backpack Rain Cover Purchase a rain cover for your knapsack as a very first line of defense against rogue raindrops. This inexpensive

layer will stop water from moistening the beyond your pack, hence shielding all your gear within. Stash it in your front pouch for simple gain access to. Compression Sacks Compression sacks-- especially those ranked as water resistant-- will protect your sensitive gear from the inside if

the rain actually begins pounding. Trash Bags Heavy plastic bags are a low-cost and easy choice to prevent water woes. Load your clothes and other water-unfriendly gear into a trash compactor bag prior to packaging, then push out as

much air as you can and connect the bag off with a loose knot.(If your knapsack has a separate sleeping bag compartment, you can utilize a smaller sized garbage bag to line the within of that instead.Learn More Wish to master this and other essential backpacking skills? Register for our Backpacking 101 online course with AIM Adventure U and discover how to get ready for and enjoy your next trip on the path.

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Wood Print Paper Can Be Fun For Everyone

Ok, on to inking your block and also printing. You need a whole lot less ink than you assume when you involve really publishing. The key below is to be fairly penny-wise with the quantity of ink that you apply to your block. Add also much ink and you can end up loading in your vigilantly carved networks to ensure that the final print doesn't bring out rather the sharp contrast that you 'd planned between light as well as dark locations.

It's more difficult to do the opposite. The very first part of the procedure includes laying out a layer of ink on your piece of glass. No, you do not use the ink straight from television to the block! Putting the ink on the glass first suggests that you are after that in a little control of the procedure, which is a positive impression.

Take your sheet of glass and also put a blob of ink between, about the size of a fairly proportioned bean (I'm considering the English jogger bean, below - once more, most likely better to check out the images if you're not knowledgeable about our veggies). Take the roller, and also start rolling the ink in one instructions, after that at ideal angles, then back to the original instructions and more.

As soon as you think you've got your roller totally covered in a (slim) layer of ink, thoroughly roll it over the block. I roll it along the length of the block first, then do it throughout the size. Strictly talking you should just have to do it as soon as in each instructions, yet I've often (i.e

. As soon as you've obtained the ink on the block (congratulations, by the method!) you prepare to publish it out onto paper. You primarily placed the sheet of paper that you intend to publish onto IN ADDITION TO the woodblock, which is ink side up, certainly, after that you make use of the spoon to massage the paper down onto the block, as if you were doing a .

Woodblock Art Can Be Fun For Anyone

Image: our disclosure for even more details. Influenced by the art of Hokusai and also various other masters of block printing can also be done making use of linoleum or rubber, yet it's likewise just as easy to utilize wood scraps you have around your home or pick up at the hardware store.

The V-gouge is used to carve versus the grain, while the U-gouge sculpts with the grain. You'll wish to keep in mind to not force the blades and maintain them at a mild angle when sculpting to maintain them from damaging. Likewise, remember to develop them, משה גלאמין as this will certainly make carving go much more smoothly.

This is what you'll make use of to roll the ink onto your woodblock. Brayers are developed to apply the ink equally, ensuring that you'll get an uniform distribution on the block. Just make certain not to overload your brayer with ink or you'll end up with a dirty print. Printing ink is specifically produced to offer also insurance coverage as well as uniformity to make sure that the last print will appear clearly.

If you wish to print on fabrics, however, you'll intend to select up ink produced specifically for printing on textile. You'll additionally want a piece of glass to spread out the ink on, before printing. More of an optional tool, a baren is utilized to put also pressure on the back of the block when printing.

Component of the enjoyable when starting with a new craft is trial and error, and picking the appropriate wood for your print is no exception. Softer timber like want, cedar, and also poplar are easier to carve, but will certainly be challenging for pictures with great information. Soft woods are additionally vulnerable to not standing up well during repeated printing.

An Unbiased View of Wood Block Print

Unknown Facts About Woodblock Carving

Alternatively, many printmakers use MDF or plywood as a cost effective option, specifically when producing huge images. MDF does not have grain, so you will not have to stress regarding splinters or fractures. But, it won't preserve detail rather along with genuine wood, and also will certainly dull your devices swiftly. Cherry plywood is fairly popular with printmakers for its strong external veneer as well as limited grain.

Whatever type of timber you choose to experiment with, you'll want to pick an item complimentary of knots, warps, and also cracks. As soon as you have your item of timber selected, you'll require a picture to sculpt. Some individuals favor to draw straight on the block-- keep in mind the image will come out turned around when published-- while others transfer their pictures.