#adobe decrees

[shikokunature]

📸 Discover the Sacred Serenity of Kakurinji, Shikoku Pilgrimage Temple #20 🌸

Perched atop Washio Mountain at an elevation of 550 meters, Kakurinji (鶴林寺) offers an extraordinary blend of spiritual tranquility and historical significance. With its rich history, dating back to Kobo Daishi’s ascetic practices, this temple is enveloped in the majesty of cedar, cypress, and pine trees. The three-tiered pagoda, unique in Tokushima, stands as a symbol of harmony between nature and devotion.

🗺️ Whether you’re a pilgrim, a lover of Japanese culture, or simply a seeker of beauty, you can explore Kakurinji through stunning visuals available on these platforms:

🌏 Stock Media Platforms:

Wirestock Explore my portfolio on Wirestock Content: High-quality stock photos and videos showcasing Shikoku’s natural and cultural beauty. My most mature collection, with 90% of sales coming from here.

Adobe Stock Find my work on Adobe Stock Content: Exclusive content for a global audience, including breathtaking aerial photography of Japan’s iconic landmarks.

Shutterstock Browse Shutterstock Content: Wide-ranging photography and videos of Japan’s landscapes, temples, and more.

Alamy Explore on Alamy Content: Premium photos, ideal for editorial and commercial use.

Pond5 Shop my Pond5 portfolio Content: Royalty-free video clips, perfect for cinematic projects.

🎨 Print-on-Demand Art and Merchandise:

Redbubble Discover designs on Redbubble Content: Unique prints, artwork, and photography.

Threadless Shop at Threadless Content: Free gallery with art and a convenient shopping experience.

Spreadshirt Check out Spreadshirt Content: Fun and quirky designs, including chemistry-themed apparel.

TeePublic Visit TeePublic Content: Satirical t-shirts and custom hand-drawn designs.

Zazzle (日本語対応) Shop in Japanese on Zazzle Content: Japanese-themed products with global shipping.

☕ Show Your Support:

Buy Me A Coffee Support me here Love my work? Buy me a coffee and help me continue creating.

📆 Kakurinji Highlights:

Three-tiered pagoda: A Tokushima Prefectural cultural property built in 1817-1827.

Pilgrim Path: A historic trail preserved since the Muromachi period.

Deep historical ties: Founded in 798 by Emperor Kanmu’s decree.

🎯 Stay connected on my socials for more updates:

Instagram: @shikoku_4k

Twitter (X): @shikoku4k

Let the timeless beauty of Kakurinji inspire your next project. 🕊️✨

[shikoku-news]

📸 Discover the Sacred Serenity of Kakurinji, Shikoku Pilgrimage Temple #20 🌸

Perched atop Washio Mountain at an elevation of 550 meters, Kakurinji (鶴林寺) offers an extraordinary blend of spiritual tranquility and historical significance. With its rich history, dating back to Kobo Daishi’s ascetic practices, this temple is enveloped in the majesty of cedar, cypress, and pine trees. The three-tiered pagoda, unique in Tokushima, stands as a symbol of harmony between nature and devotion.

🗺️ Whether you’re a pilgrim, a lover of Japanese culture, or simply a seeker of beauty, you can explore Kakurinji through stunning visuals available on these platforms:

🌏 Stock Media Platforms:

Wirestock Explore my portfolio on Wirestock Content: High-quality stock photos and videos showcasing Shikoku’s natural and cultural beauty. My most mature collection, with 90% of sales coming from here.

Adobe Stock Find my work on Adobe Stock Content: Exclusive content for a global audience, including breathtaking aerial photography of Japan’s iconic landmarks.

Shutterstock Browse Shutterstock Content: Wide-ranging photography and videos of Japan’s landscapes, temples, and more.

Alamy Explore on Alamy Content: Premium photos, ideal for editorial and commercial use.

Pond5 Shop my Pond5 portfolio Content: Royalty-free video clips, perfect for cinematic projects.

🎨 Print-on-Demand Art and Merchandise:

Redbubble Discover designs on Redbubble Content: Unique prints, artwork, and photography.

Threadless Shop at Threadless Content: Free gallery with art and a convenient shopping experience.

Spreadshirt Check out Spreadshirt Content: Fun and quirky designs, including chemistry-themed apparel.

TeePublic Visit TeePublic Content: Satirical t-shirts and custom hand-drawn designs.

Zazzle (日本語対応) Shop in Japanese on Zazzle Content: Japanese-themed products with global shipping.

☕ Show Your Support:

Buy Me A Coffee Support me here Love my work? Buy me a coffee and help me continue creating.

📆 Kakurinji Highlights:

Three-tiered pagoda: A Tokushima Prefectural cultural property built in 1817-1827.

Pilgrim Path: A historic trail preserved since the Muromachi period.

Deep historical ties: Founded in 798 by Emperor Kanmu’s decree.

🎯 Stay connected on my socials for more updates:

Instagram: @shikoku_4k

Twitter (X): @shikoku4k

Let the timeless beauty of Kakurinji inspire your next project. 🕊️✨

[shikoku4k]

📸 Discover the Sacred Serenity of Kakurinji, Shikoku Pilgrimage Temple #20 🌸

Perched atop Washio Mountain at an elevation of 550 meters, Kakurinji (鶴林寺) offers an extraordinary blend of spiritual tranquility and historical significance. With its rich history, dating back to Kobo Daishi’s ascetic practices, this temple is enveloped in the majesty of cedar, cypress, and pine trees. The three-tiered pagoda, unique in Tokushima, stands as a symbol of harmony between nature and devotion.

🗺️ Whether you’re a pilgrim, a lover of Japanese culture, or simply a seeker of beauty, you can explore Kakurinji through stunning visuals available on these platforms:

🌏 Stock Media Platforms:

Wirestock Explore my portfolio on Wirestock Content: High-quality stock photos and videos showcasing Shikoku’s natural and cultural beauty. My most mature collection, with 90% of sales coming from here.

Adobe Stock Find my work on Adobe Stock Content: Exclusive content for a global audience, including breathtaking aerial photography of Japan’s iconic landmarks.

Shutterstock Browse Shutterstock Content: Wide-ranging photography and videos of Japan’s landscapes, temples, and more.

Alamy Explore on Alamy Content: Premium photos, ideal for editorial and commercial use.

Pond5 Shop my Pond5 portfolio Content: Royalty-free video clips, perfect for cinematic projects.

🎨 Print-on-Demand Art and Merchandise:

Redbubble Discover designs on Redbubble Content: Unique prints, artwork, and photography.

Threadless Shop at Threadless Content: Free gallery with art and a convenient shopping experience.

Spreadshirt Check out Spreadshirt Content: Fun and quirky designs, including chemistry-themed apparel.

TeePublic Visit TeePublic Content: Satirical t-shirts and custom hand-drawn designs.

Zazzle (日本語対応) Shop in Japanese on Zazzle Content: Japanese-themed products with global shipping.

☕ Show Your Support:

Buy Me A Coffee Support me here Love my work? Buy me a coffee and help me continue creating.

📆 Kakurinji Highlights:

Three-tiered pagoda: A Tokushima Prefectural cultural property built in 1817-1827.

Pilgrim Path: A historic trail preserved since the Muromachi period.

Deep historical ties: Founded in 798 by Emperor Kanmu’s decree.

🎯 Stay connected on my socials for more updates:

Instagram: @shikoku_4k

Twitter (X): @shikoku4k

Let the timeless beauty of Kakurinji inspire your next project. 🕊️✨

[kvibestudios]

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-storage/AJQWtBNU394NtG-4R2aMkjD3XPYGp7qpg3QiRVcZjc09J09e5amg_GUFOPD7kwYtO2XEL92XvIfm1RMoNUX7dGWPTp2SUYiuml0-dv728zTx9_G5vNE=s700"> "AI Cinematography & Perfect City Hall Elopements Guide"

Artificial Intelligence and Cinematography Best Practices & City Hall Elopement Planning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing a multitude of fields, and cinematography isn't being left behind. The incorporation of AI into filmmaking is boosting production efficiency, streamlining workflows, and expanding creative horizons. This evolution is marked by the utilization of AI film tools, data-centric insights, and best practices for seamlessly incorporating AI into cinematography.

AI Film Tools to Enhance Production Efficiency

AI has become an essential tool in the cinematography arsenal, optimizing various stages of film production such as filmmaking, editing, and directing. AI film tools are designed to improve production efficiency while also enriching the creative process.

A prime example of AI in cinematography is AI-powered cameras. Take, for example, the RED Komodo 6K camera equipped with AI algorithms that analyze and enhance image quality in real-time. This cutting-edge technology allows cinematographers to attain precise and consistent results, even during challenging lighting conditions.

In editing, AI tools like Adobe's Project Fast Mask utilize machine learning algorithms to automatically detect and isolate objects within a scene. This greatly simplifies the creation of complex composites and visual effects, making post-production work more seamless.

Directors can also benefit from AI tools such as CognitiveVR. This technology uses AI to analyze 360-degree video footage, providing directors with valuable insights into audience engagement and behavior. This data can be pivotal in optimizing storytelling and enhancing the viewer's experience.

AI Integration in Filmmaking

AI integration in filmmaking goes beyond merely using tools and technology. It involves employing AI algorithms to analyze and interpret data, allowing for informed creative decisions, tailored marketing strategies, and greater success overall.

AI can examine social media data to identify key influencers and trending topics, enabling filmmakers to more accurately target their marketing efforts. Additionally, AI algorithms can assess audience demographics and behavior, providing insights into the type of content that will most likely resonate with specific groups.

Best Practices for AI Integration in Cinematography

To fully leverage the potential of AI in cinematography, it is crucial to follow best practices:

Invest in top-notch AI tools and technology to boost production efficiency and spur creativity.

Utilize AI algorithms to analyze and interpret data, such as audience demographics and viewer behavior, to make informed creative decisions and customize marketing strategies.

Collaborate with AI experts and data analysts to ensure effective and ethical AI integration.

Continuously monitor and evaluate the impact of AI integration on the creative process and the film's overall success.

In addition to focusing on AI in cinematography, planning a city hall elopement in locations like New York (NY) or New Jersey (NJ) involves important steps to ensure a memorable experience.

Steps to Plan a City Hall Elopement in NY or NJ

For couples considering an elopement in NY or NJ, here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Gather Necessary Documents

Begin by ensuring you have all the required documents. This includes valid identification (such as a driver's license or passport), birth certificates, and, if applicable, divorce decrees. Confirm the specific requirements with the city hall where you plan to marry.

Step 2: Schedule an Appointment

Many city halls require appointments for wedding ceremonies. Visit the official website or contact the city hall to book your wedding. Keep in mind that some locations might have waiting lists, so plan accordingly.

Step 3: Obtain a Marriage License

Both NY and NJ require couples to obtain a marriage license. Visit the city hall to fill out the application. Be sure to check the licensing office hours and any waiting periods that may apply.

Step 4: Plan Your Ceremony

Even though it's a city hall wedding, you can still customize your ceremony. Consider including personal vows, choosing your favorite music, and inviting close family and friends. Remember to check with the city hall about guest limits and allowed customs.

How Simple Marriages Express Ceremony Compares to City Hall Weddings

For couples who prefer a unique and personalized wedding, Simple Marriages Express Ceremony offers a standout alternative to traditional city hall weddings. Emphasizing simplicity, affordability, and personalization, Simple Marriages Express Ceremony ensures a stress-free and memorable wedding experience.

Conversely, city hall weddings often come with bureaucracy, extended waiting times, and limited customization options. Nonetheless, with proper planning, city hall weddings can be just as special and memorable as more elaborate ceremonious forms.

In conclusion, AI is significantly enhancing cinematography workflows by introducing advanced tools and refined processes. Coupled with thoughtful planning, whether for elopements or film production, AI and structured approaches ensure successful and memorable experiences.

#AI #Cinematography #FilmProduction #CityHallWedding #WeddingPlanning

Learn more at https://www.kvibe.com

[maypoleman1]

7th March

Black Chickens

Source: Adobe/23ABC Bakersfield website

Chickens, especially black chickens, are generally considered lucky, particularly those who are born in March who are considered extremely fertile (‘a chicken in March is eggs for a year’ as the saying has it). The dawn-crowing cock is linked to the sun god in many pagan religions and his crow was believed to dispel evil at the start of the day. In Somerset, lore declared that ‘a cock will frighten away the devil himself’. Equally the crowing of the cock is a signal for the undead to cease their night time revels and hurry back to their graves before sunrise - as referenced by Shakespeare in Hamlet and the composer Saint-Saens in his work Danse Macabre.

Faith in the chicken’s good fortune charms was such that the unfortunate bird was often sacrificed during the construction of new buildings and buried in the foundations to ensure the structure would safely stand. Other traditions however decree to sacrifice a chicken will bring bad luck. The cock crow can of course be irritating. A traditional rhyme states rather impatiently that:-

A whistling wife and a crowing hen

Is neither good for god nor men.

Aside from the casual misogyny, the reference to a whistling wife probably relates to witches and their propensity to whistle up storms; the reference to the hen possibly reflects the annoyance of those who are woken up at dawn by their feathered friend.

[caribooed]

hand over more love wins moments fo your dads

:)

I genuinely don't remember any of the issues for the panels I'm gonna show so my bad

And then there was that time where all Superman's closest allies were being attacked and shot and so Clark and Bruce both thought Lois was next

But then Bruce was shot instead

Bc he was the person that knew Clark best and the person Clark would miss most if he died

[enubus]

[pinkprimrose05]

GX Month Day 15: Ayers Rock Sunrise

@gxmonth

Ao3 Version Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/33473653/chapters/83933650

Alright, let's face it. Even in the slower format of Duel Links, playing Evil HERO as a pure theme is bound to fail. It's not that it lacks a win-condition, the agressive nature of the Fusion bosses cover that relatively well, it's that the Deck has no sort of inherent protection, follow up, or interaction with the opponent, and falls short in terms of consistency as well (you have to run the crappy vanillas to access all of the Fusions bar Fiend, and that simply doesn't work in a format where every card is a combo starter).

What I'm trying to do here is give Evil HEROes some cool starters, extenders, and forms of interruption (plus some niche cards because I want a way to toy with them names). Please do tell if there's any way to improve these, I'd appreciate that a lot!

~~~~~

PART 1: We're Evil Now (Vanilla HERO Retrains)

This concept has been floating in my head for quite a while as a form of support, because when you go -3 to make a Fusion without your materials giving you any form of recovery or protection, you know something's wrong with your Deck. The following cards are mainly meant to help with consistency and maintaining enough resources to make a comback if things go south, but since I have a knack for adding useful GY effects on Main Deck combo pieces, you get some more advantage or protection as well. Here we go:

Evil HERO Pyro Burst

FIRE

Level 3

ATK 1200 / DEF 800

Fiend/Effect

This card's name is also treated as "Elemental HERO Burstinatrix" while in your hand, Field, or GY. If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Dark Fusion" from your Deck or GY to your hand. While this card is banished or in your GY, when a card or effect is activated that targets an "Evil HERO" monster(s) you control (Quick Effect): You can shuffle this card into the Deck; negate the activation, and if you do, inflict 500 damage to your opponent. You can only use each effect of "Evil HERO Pyro Burst" once per turn.

Evil HERO Twister Shot

WIND

Level 3

ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

Fiend/Effect

This card's name is also treated as "Elemental HERO Avian" while in your hand, Field or GY. If this card is sent to the GY or banished as Fusion Material for the summon of a "HERO" Fusion Monster: You can Draw 1 card, then shuffle 1 card from your hand into the Deck. You can only use this effect of "Evil HERO Twister Shot" once per turn. If an "Evil HERO" monster inflicts damage to your opponent, by battle or card effect: You can return this card to your hand.

Evil HERO Adobe Shield

EARTH

Level 4

ATK 800 / 2000

Fiend/Effect

This card's name is also treated as "Elemental HERO Clayman" while in your hand, Field or GY. If this card is Normal summoned: You can target 1 "Evil HERO" monster in your GY; return it to the hand or Special summon it. While this card is face-up on the Field, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the summon of your "Evil HERO" monsters'. The first time an "Evil HERO" Fusion monster that used this card as material would be destroyed by battle or card effect each turn, it is not destroyed.

Evil HERO Jolt Blaster

LIGHT

Level 4

ATK 1600 / DEF 1400

Fiend/Effect

This card's name is also treated as "Elemental HERO Sparkman" while in your hand, Field or GY. If you control an "Evil HERO" monster: You can Special summon this card (from your hand). If this card is sent to the GY by a card effect: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; negate its effects. During the Main Phase, if this card is in your GY (Quick Effect): You can banish this card; set 1 Spell/Trap that lists "Evil HERO" in its text directly from your Deck. It cannot be activated this turn. You can only use each effect of "Evil HERO Jolt Blaster" once per turn.

~~~~~

PART 2: All Aboard the Reference Train! (Backrow Support)

More tools to work with in terms of interaction and interruption, another Fusion Spell, and most importantly, a whole load of references in names and effects. Let's have a look, shall we?

Supreme King's Castle Guards

Spell/Continous

When this card is activated: You can set 1 "Supreme King's Castle" directly from your Deck. Each time a monster(s) is sent to the GY: Place 1 Castle Guard Counter on this card (max. 6). All monsters you control gain 100 ATK for each Castle Guard Counter on this card. When a card or effect is activated in response to the activation of your card or effect, while you control an "Evil HERO" monster: You can remove 3 Castle Guard counters, negate the activation. You can only control 1  "Supreme King's Castle Guards".

Dark Miracle

Spell/Normal

Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, that must be Special Summoned with "Dark Fusion", by shuffling the Fusion Materials listed on it from your hand, Field and/or GY into the Deck. (This is treated as a Fusion Summon with "Dark Fusion").

E - Empyrean Valor

Spell/Quick-Play

Target 1 "Evil HERO" monster you control; it gains 500 ATK, and if it does, your opponent's cards and effects cannot be activated during each Battle Phase this turn.

V - Vindictive Order

Spell/Quick-Play

Target 1 monster you control; Special Summon 1 "Evil HERO" monster with the same Level from your Deck. It cannot attack this turn. You can only activate 1 "V - Vindictive Order" per turn.

I - Infernal Decree (Read as Trunade PTSD)

Spell/Quick-Play

If all monsters you control are "Evil HERO" monsters (min. 1): Return all set Spell/Traps your opponent controls to the hand. You can only activate 1 "I - Infernal Decree" per turn.

L - Latent Darkness

Spell/Quick-Play

Send 1 card from your hand to the GY, then target 1 "Evil HERO" monster in your GY; Special Summon it in Defense Position. You can only activate 1 "L- Latent Darkness" per turn.

Evil Flash!!

Spell/Quick-Play

Banish "E - Empyrean Valor", "V - Vindictive Order", "I - Infernal Decree", and "L - Latent Darkness" from your GY; shuffle all cards your opponent controls into the Deck. You can only use this effect of "Evil Flash!!" once per turn.

~~~~~

PART 3: I'll Play Myself, Thank You (Bonus Card)

This is kinda too broken for Duel Links, but I found myself loving the idea of monster support for archetypes having that one card that heavily resembles their user or are inspired by them (see Amazoness Paladin and T.G Star Guardian), and decided to do one of my own as a bonus boss alongside the support cards above. Presenting...

Evil HERO Malicious Majesty

DARK

Level 10

ATK 3900 / DEF 3400

Fiend/Fusion/Effect

1 "Evil HERO" monster + 1 Fusion Monster

Must be Special Summoned with "Dark Fusion" or by its own effect, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. Cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. This Fusion Summoned card is unaffected by your opponent's card effects, unless they target this card. During the Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can destroy all cards on the field, and if you do, this card gains 100 ATK for each card destroyed by this effect, until the End Phase, also your opponent cannot activate cards or effect in response to this effect's activation. Once per turn, during the Standby Phase, if this card is in your GY: You can target 1 "Evil HERO" monster that is banished or in your GY; Special Summon that target. You can only use each effect of "Evil HERO Malicious Majesty" once per turn.

Some trivia about this card:

1- It's an indirect upgrade to Malicious Bane, as seen with the higher Level, higher stats, same attribute and similar protection/board wipe effect.

2- Its Fusion Materials and the effect that prevents your opponent from chaining cards to the board wipe are a reference to Super Polymerization; where the former means you can summon the card with Super Poly under Supreme King's Castle, and the latter is a shared effect with Super Poly itself.

3- ...Nothing, really, I just wanna make a third point for some reason. Yeah, this should be everything for now. Goodbye.

(Jk, I'm still staying for Day 18. 'Till then.)

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Discovery of 20 new moons puts Saturn ahead of Jupiter (AP) The solar system has a new winner in the moon department. Twenty new moons have been found around Saturn, giving the ringed planet a total of 82, scientists said Monday. That beats Jupiter and its 79 moons. If it’s any consolation to the Jupiter crowd, our solar system’s biggest planet--Jupiter--still has the biggest moon. Jupiter’s Ganymede is almost half the size of Earth. By contrast, Saturn’s 20 new moons are minuscule, each barely 3 miles (5 kilometers) in diameter.

UN Chief Says UN Facing Worst Cash Crisis in Nearly 10 Years (AP) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday that the United Nations is facing its “worst cash crisis” in nearly a decade because 64 of its 193 members have not paid their annual dues--including the United States, its largest contributor.

White House vows total halt to impeachment probe cooperation (AP) The White House declared Tuesday it will halt any and all cooperation with what it termed the “illegitimate” impeachment probe by House Democrats, sharpening the constitutional clash between President Donald Trump and Congress. “Given that your inquiry lacks any legitimate constitutional foundation, any pretense of fairness, or even the most elementary due process protections, the Executive Branch cannot be expected to participate in it,” White House Counsel Pat Cipollone wrote.

El Salvador Begins Mass Trial of Alleged MS-13 Gang Members (AP) El Salvador on Tuesday began a mass trial of over 400 alleged gang members, including 17 purported leaders of the feared transnational crime group Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.

Venezuela designers turn to piracy after Adobe announces it will cut service (Reuters) Venezuelans desperately explored piracy workarounds on Tuesday to continue using Adobe programs after the software developer said it will cut access to its products for the country’s users, citing U.S. sanctions.

Protests paralyze Ecuador (Foreign Policy) For the fifth day, thousands of indigenous protesters in Ecuador blockaded roads and crowded the streets of the capital, Quito, on Monday, to demand that President Lenín Moreno revoke last week’s decree to end longtime fuel subsidies. The protests also disrupted three state-run oil fields. Since the unrest began, 477 people have been arrested. An indigenous organization, CONAIE, says the protesters refuse to back down until Moreno withdraws the fuel hike. The movement has significant precedent: Indigenous-led protests forced three presidents out of office before ex-President Rafael Correa took power in 2007.

A U.S. diplomat’s wife killed a British teen in a wrong-way collision, police say. She claimed immunity and fled the U.K. (Washington Post) An American woman, the wife of a U.S. diplomat, has fled the United Kingdom after killing a British teenager in a wrong-way collision, authorities revealed Saturday. The Aug. 27 wreck left 19-year-old Harry Dunn dead after the woman allegedly collided with Dunn’s motorcycle near the Royal Air Force Croughton station, which is operated by the U.S. Air Force. Offering his sympathies to the family for their “tragic loss,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday that he hoped the woman, who has been identified as 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas, would return to Britain to face justice.

Brexit update (Reuters) A Brexit deal is essentially impossible as German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson that to do one, Northern Ireland must stay in the European Union’s customs union, a Downing Street source said. With just 23 days to go before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU, the future of Brexit remains deeply uncertain.

Cyprus, Greece, Egypt call on Turkey to end ‘provocative’ actions (Reuters) Cyprus, Greece and Egypt called on Turkey on Tuesday to “end its provocative actions” in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, including exploring for oil in Cyprus’ territorial waters, which they called “a breach of international law”.

Ahead of offensive, Turkey says it strikes Syria-Iraq border (Reuters) Turkey’s military struck the Syrian-Iraqi border to prevent Kurdish forces using the route to reinforce northeast Syria, as Ankara prepared to attack following a surprise U.S. troop pullback, Turkish officials told Reuters on Tuesday.

Lam says Chinese military could step in if uprising gets bad (AP) Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam warned Tuesday that the Chinese military could step in if an uprising for democratic reforms that has rocked the city for months “becomes so bad” but said the government still hopes to resolve the crisis itself. Lam urged foreign critics to accept that the four months of protests marked by escalating violence were no longer “a peaceful movement for democracy.” She said seeking Chinese intervention was provided for under Hong Kong’s constitution but that she cannot reveal under what circumstances she would do so.

Iraq reaches a breaking point (Foreign Policy) On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered the army out of the Sadr City district, where dozens of protesters were killed over the weekend amid the country’s ongoing violent unrest. The intensity of the demonstrations has surprised even some veteran protesters, as young demonstrators call for the government to be overthrown. A number of protesters even say they are ready for military rule.

The Zimbabwe doctors’ strike (Foreign Policy) Public doctors in Zimbabwe continued their month-long strike on Monday, defying a government order to return to work and rejecting a 60 percent pay increase. Under extreme inflation, the doctors say that is not enough and have demanded salaries pegged to the U.S. dollar. Already facing medicine shortages, Zimbabwe’s state hospitals are struggling amid the strike.

[iffahnizar]

The Night of Decree: Lailatul Qadr It’s time Here it comes Sad i feel For how lacking I’ve been Disappointed For I know i have not done enough For all the could haves and should haves But alas here it is It’s time Here it comes And hopeful we must For His mercy is vast So drown in your tears Drop on your knees Again and again and again Push, drag, crawl if you must For it is time Here it comes The night that are better than a thousand months “Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni” ‘O Allah You are The One Who forgives greatly, and loves to forgive, so forgive me. [Sunan Ibn Majah] ———— Allah swt says in the Qur’an: “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” [97:3-5] The blessed Laylatul Qadr can be found in any of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, which are the most blessed nights of the year. As such, we should increase our worship and devotion during this period. Abu Hurayrah r.a relates that the Prophet s.a.w said: “Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. And whoever spends the night of Lailat Al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i] #iffahlukislukis #ramadhan #lailatulqadar #last10nightsoframadhan #CWAMuslimahCreative #illustration #islamicillistration #komikmalaysia #adobe draw #ipadpro

[caribooed]

liking transformers is great for artists because it forces you to learn perspective, how to draw mechanics, and the joys of bullshitting your way through a piece and hoping nobody notices

[ki11erpancake]

Five Things I Do While Painting in Photoshop

Making little vids about my process has been super helpful for me to understand my shit and get better. Maybe it can be for you as well? Below I elaborate on my minute vid posted originally in my Instagram feed.

Set Up

I know a lot of people who like to save a million versions of separate layers of things. I guess you could call me a minimalist because I cannot be bothered to hold on to the past. In this file I have merged the grey-scale drawing into one single layer. Next I create two layers for color. One has the Multiply blend mode activated and the other is in the Overlay blend mode. From there I play around with the color until I get what I like—just like IRL painting. Starting off gradually I eventually get super detailed but I haven't agonized over every choice made in the drawing.

As I go I combine the layers using the best trick ever. Hold down "ctrl", "alt", "shift", and "E" (I dunno what this is on a Mac—sorrrrryyyyy). All of your layers will be merged into a single layer NO MATTER WHAT BLEND MODE THEY ARE IN. Here is the full scoop on this tip from Photoshop Essentials. I use this trick all. Damn. DAY.

The Goal

The rest of the image is built off of the basics I lay down early. I can add things and make adjustments but if the foundation sucks then the image is garbage and I'm left tinkering with something that can't be saved.

Brushes

When I was learning how to paint in Photoshop I heard a lot about Kyle Webster on Insta and at Adobe Max and basically any-fucking-where anyone talks about a damn Photoshop brush that isn't mentioning Syd Weiler. I impulse bought a mega pack (and sixteen million other packs) of his before Adobe brought him on board (like... right before it came with your Adobe CC subscription).

I now use two of those brushes (yeah I know). Both are from the PaintBox. The first is "Big Wide Softy" which is super bitchin' for blending and building trees and clouds as fast as humanly possible. The other is Bristle 3 for drawing and painting things out. Otherwise, I'm using the lasso tool and paint bucket or shaping things with the smudge and eraser tools.

For me, finding the right brushes was similar to finding a favorite medium in the real world. We each draw differently in the same way that we all have different handwriting. Play around with things and go from there—and don't spend a million dollars on a ton of things you will likely never use.

The View

Go to Window, Arrange, and at the bottom of the menu is "New Window for {blah blah file}". Then Go back to arrange and select the view that works best for you (I do 2-vertical). That way you can have a bird's eye view of your work while you are also zoomed in real close. If both windows are rotating at the same time there's a box you can uncheck "Rotate All Windows"  in the toolbar when Rotate function is active.

Take one thing off

I've started the use the Olly Moss trick of putting your "finished" WIP on your phone screen. When you look at it randomly during the day you will see what is so wrong or so right, so fast...

Music "Kawaii" by Frequency Decree from Nul Tiel Records, used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License

[alexey1968]

Pair of red paper hearts on red background. Good love, valentines day, womens day banner, offer, card, invitation, flyer, poster template.

The history of Valentine’s Day–and the story of its patron saint–is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Still others insist that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and–most importantly–romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

https://stock.adobe.com/images/pair-of-red-paper-hearts-on-red-background/319163144

#hearts #heart #valentine #valentines #valentinescard #valentinesday #womansday #love #lovebackground #valentinesbackground #romantic #romance #cutout #paper #handmade #wedding #card #banner #flyer #card #offer #advertising #ad #sale #shop #shopping #discount #invitation #congratulation #greeting #celebrate #background #celebration #simple #red #pair #couple

[boludosaires]

1/11/17: Presented

In español (or castellano, as they say here), you introduce someone to another person by saying “te presento ______”. And today my supervisor Flor “te presento-ed” me to a whole bunch of amazing peeps. Hence the title of today’s blog.

The first person I met with was an environmental and poverty reporter named Laura Rocha, who was a super sarcastic and blunt woman but really nice. She enthusiastically showed me this database that was just released with info about a lot of the slums in BA, and she wants me to work with her to analyze the data and find some stories, and also make some videos. Which sounds like it could be really social justice-oriented and important, so I’m excited. I’m definitely wary about using the slums as this exciting, investigative basis for a story, because poverty is fetishized all the time, and I don’t want to engage with that. But I hope I can work with Laura to guide the story in a direction that is more productive than that.

 I also met with Micaela Urdinez, who writes stories about different social issues. She was also really nice, and said I could help them with different stories they have coming up in which they’re making videos. She basically said the video team for the TV channel, LN+, was planning on coming with, but that she could just kick them off and take me. Lawl. I hope that’s not how it goes down; not tryna make newsroom enemies already.

Next was Manuel, a skinny, fast-moving guy who is def the most stressed person I’ve seen in this newsroom so far. Despite being one of the top 2 papers in the country, the La Nacion newsroom is suuuuuper laid back; everyone is always down to stop what they’re doing and talk or be helpful. Manuel was the first guy who actually seemed like he had urgent shit to do, probably because he helps produce the nightly news show.

He was also the first man who did the kiss greeting with me! To explain, in Argentina, everyone greets each other with a quick side kiss. What is a side kiss, you ask? Imagine going in to kiss someone, and then at the last second they decide “naaaah”, and jerk their head to the left, so you end up just scraping your cheek against theirs and flailing your lonely lips in the air. That’s what it is. No lips make contact with face, but you do make a juicy kissy sound right in the other person’s ear.

This all makes it sound way grosser than it is; it’s actually super friendly, and I like it way better than the stupid formality of U.S. handshakes. But there’s been this weird gender barrier so far where, whenever I enter or leave a room, every single woman does the kiss with me. But most of the guys just extend their hand for what ends up being some kind of bro shake. But Manuel didn’t give a fuck, and went right in for the kiss, which I really appreciated as a lovey person myself.

Anyway, the last meeting was with Lucio, a guy that works with the graphics department to make cool animations for the TV shows. We ended up just chilling for an hour, him showing me things on Adobe AfterEffects and talking about Buenos Aires. I liked him a lot, and def hope to collab with him sometime.

As I left today, Flor said to me that I have plenty of “clients” to choose from to work with. Which I guess is true. And really amazing. She’s great, and I’m super grateful for all these opportunities on the horizon

<3 Escoot

Palabras Nuevas (yah these are getting mad long cause I’m reading a lot, sry)

·      amparo-refuge

·      Violentar- distort, abuse

·      Cámara-chamber (gov’t)

·      Frenar-to stop, brake

·      asentamiento-settlement

·      Cabe recordar- note that

·      Cloacal- sewage

·      Cuenca- watershed

·      Encubrir-to hide/conceal

·      Imputado-suspect

·      Anhelo-desire

·      Tratativas-negotiations

·      Atentado-attack

·      Dictamen-legal document

·      Confeccionar-to prepare

·      Remitir-to send

·      Disponer- to have, to prepare, to decree

·      Prófugo-fugitive

·      Sometimiento-subjugation

·      Fiscal-public prosecutor

·      Probar-to prove

·      Heredero-heir

·      Alucinante-amazing

·      Ajedrez-chess

·      Oveja-sheep

·      Lana-wool

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.8

307 – Jin Huaidi becomes emperor of China in succession to his father, Jin Huidi, despite a challenge from his uncle, Sima Ying. 871 – Alfred the Great leads a West Saxon army to repel an invasion by Danelaw Vikings. 1297 – François Grimaldi, disguised as a monk, leads his men to capture the fortress protecting the Rock of Monaco, establishing his family as the rulers of Monaco. 1454 – The papal bull Romanus Pontifex awards the Kingdom of Portugal exclusive trade and colonization rights to all of Africa south of Cape Bojador. 1499 – Louis XII of France marries Anne of Brittany in accordance with a law set by his predecessor, Charles VIII. 1547 – The first Lithuanian-language book, Simple Words of Catechism, is published in Königsberg. 1735 – The premiere of George Frideric Handel's Ariodante takes place at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. 1746 – Second Jacobite rising: Bonnie Prince Charlie occupies Stirling. 1790 – George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address in New York City. 1806 – Cape Colony becomes a British colony. 1811 – An unsuccessful slave revolt is led by Charles Deslondes in St. Charles and St. James, Louisiana. 1815 – War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans: Andrew Jackson leads American forces in victory over the British. 1828 – The Democratic Party of the United States is organized. 1835 – The United States national debt is zero for the only time. 1863 – American Civil War: Second Battle of Springfield. 1867 – African American men are granted the right to vote in Washington, D.C. 1877 – Crazy Horse and his warriors fight their last battle against the United States Cavalry at Wolf Mountain, Montana Territory. 1889 – Herman Hollerith is issued US patent #395,791 for the 'Art of Applying Statistics' — his punched card calculator. 1904 – The Blackstone Library is dedicated, marking the beginning of the Chicago Public Library system. 1912 – The African National Congress is founded, under the name South African Native National Congress (SANNC). 1918 – U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announces his "Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. 1920 – The steel strike of 1919 ends in a complete failure for the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers labor union. 1926 – Crown Prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thuỵ ascends the throne to become the last monarch of Vietnam. 1926 – Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud is crowned King of Hejaz. 1936 – Kashf-e hijab decree is enforced by Reza Shah ordering the police to physically remove the Hijab from any woman in public. 1940 – World War II: Britain introduces food rationing. 1945 – World War II: Philippine Commonwealth troops under the Philippine Commonwealth Army units enter the province of Ilocos Sur in Northern Luzon and attack Japanese Imperial forces. 1956 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. missionaries are killed by the Huaorani of Ecuador shortly after making contact with them. 1959 – Charles de Gaulle is proclaimed as the first President of the French Fifth Republic. 1961 – In France a referendum supports Charles de Gaulle's policies in Algeria. 1963 – Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is exhibited in the United States for the first time, at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. 1964 – President Lyndon B. Johnson declares a "War on Poverty" in the United States. 1972 – Bowing to international pressure, President of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto releases Bengali leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from prison, who had been arrested after declaring the independence of Bangladesh. 1973 – Soviet space mission Luna 21 is launched. 1973 – Watergate scandal: The trial of seven men accused of illegal entry into Democratic Party headquarters at Watergate begins. 1975 – Ella T. Grasso becomes Governor of Connecticut, the first woman to serve as a Governor in the United States other than by succeeding her husband. 1977 – Three bombs explode in Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union, within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. 1981 – A local farmer reports a UFO sighting in Trans-en-Provence, France, claimed to be "perhaps the most completely and carefully documented sighting of all time". 1982 – Breakup of the Bell System: AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions. 1989 – Kegworth air disaster: British Midland Flight 92, a Boeing 737-400, crashes into the M1 motorway, killing 47 of the 126 people on board. 1994 – Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov on Soyuz TM-18 leaves for Mir. He would stay on the space station until March 22, 1995, for a record 437 days in space. 1996 – An Antonov An-32 cargo aircraft crashes into a crowded market in Kinshasa, Zaire, killing up to 223 on the ground; two of six crew members are also killed. 2002 – President George W. Bush signs into law the No Child Left Behind Act. 2003 – Turkish Airlines Flight 634 crashes near Diyarbakır Airport, Turkey, killing the entire crew and 70 of the 75 passengers. 2003 – Air Midwest Flight 5481 crashes at Charlotte-Douglas Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, killing all 21 people on board. 2004 – The RMS Queen Mary 2, then the largest ocean liner ever built, is christened by her namesake's granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II. 2005 – The nuclear sub USS San Francisco collides at full speed with an undersea mountain south of Guam. One man is killed, but the sub surfaces and is repaired. 2009 – A 6.1-magnitude earthquake in northern Costa Rica kills 15 people and injures 32. 2010 – Gunmen from an offshoot the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda attack a bus carrying the Togo national football team on its way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, killing three. 2011 – The attempted assassination of Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords and subsequent shooting in Casas Adobes, Arizona, in which five people were shot dead. 2016 – Joaquín Guzmán, widely regarded as the world's most powerful drug trafficker, is recaptured following his escape from a maximum security prison in Mexico.

[caribooed]

Just saw the new Matrix movie and wow I have a lot to say about how terribly it feeds into harmful behaviors surrounding mentally ill people