#also as someone who wanted to go into stage design with a focus on lighting these films were SUBLIME

[apricot-antlers]

Just watched Knives Out and then Glass Onion straight after

I get it now

[palomahasenteredthechat]

My thoughts on AQPDO

So, did this image appear in the actual film? Yeah, that's what I thought...

I loved it, and I was disappointed by it. This is long, so buckle in. Major Spoilers discussed below.

First, the outstanding: the performances. Holy hell. Lupita. Just...her talent is breathtaking. To sustain that level of intensity without overdoing it, I am simply in awe. Well done. I hope some attention is paid to her performance when award season rolls around. Ditto Alex Wolff. He did a LOT with so little screentime. Djimon too; they all were so, so moving.

Joe was so heartbreaking, and yet Joe's character is one of the things I am disappointed about, because I needed more. Not because I love Joe, but because the story needed it. I know there was a backstory that was cut, and to be honest I don't think that was necessarily a poor decision, but the issue is it was cut late in the creative process, versus in the writing, and that is where the problem is. More on that in a bit, but Joe delivered a sensitive and moving performance, and really understated as well. Not a bit of the cheeky Joe we have come to love so much that also I think pops out in Eddie and Michael occasionally. He was wholly immersed in Eric's reality and his energy complimented Lupita's so well; you can see how much they worked off each other. Dare I say she elevated his game. Another marathon performance and I can imagine how exhausting it must be to sustain that.

Second, Michael Sarnoski, hats off to you sir. The pacing, the way you put the story together visually, your heartbreaking script, just so well done. I hope they release the shooting script because I would love to read it and see the words (or lack of) that Joe and Lupita interpreted so movingly. I wonder if Michael has processed the death of a parent recently, because I felt so much emotion from this story. This film is about accepting the inevitability of death, while going through the five stages of grief, yet seeking to live fully regardless. Trigger warning: DO NOT see this movie if you are going through a rough time with someone who is terminally ill. It will wreck you. But this film is tragically, beautifully human. To deliver that story in a Hollywood big budget action film is a hat trick. Every actor in Hollywood who wants to grow creatively should be calling their agents asking to work with Michael Sarnoski right now.

Also, shout out to the production design people. They completely suspended my disbelief that the characters weren't in New York. Set design, lighting, like I could SMELL New York. Virtual production is getting so fucking good - we're well past the Unreal Wall vistas of the Mandalorian. If you ask yourself how A24 could shoot an Iraq war movie in the pastoral hills of England this is your answer.

Now, the not so good.

Go back and watch the first and second trailers and tell me how many of those moments were in the movie. Answer: barely any.

Map claw hand? We have to get out of the city? Gay couple? Old man turning off engine? Nada.

So, was this all misdirection in the marketing, making the audience think they were coming to see a summer action movie? That's legit, trying to get butts in seats, but I have a strong feeling Michael delivered a very different movie that was hacked up in the testing process. All of those scenes probably made the movie feel 'too long', and they had to cut them back to balance the action sequences with the emotional sequences.

The helicopters overhead spelling out THEY CAN'T SWIM probably came from focus group comments where someone was like 'why didn't the aliens just cross the river and start eating people in New Jersey?' (good point). But I'll bet you they wanted to give Alex Wolff's character a more significant death in regard to Samira's emotional journey, so they reshot the scene with the old man turning off the engine and had Alex do it instead.

Also, I get the strong feeling Eric showed up in the story much earlier in the original cut of the film, and the scene with Map Claw Hand illustrates that. The big question regarding Eric is why this random sad British dude gloms on to Samira and I'm not sure they answer that question in the final cut. Joe absolutely sells it, but it doesn't make sense and I suspect it's because it wasn't written that way.

Also, and call me crazy, but I think Joe is wearing a wig in some parts of this movie and not in other parts. It would make sense if there were significant reshoots based on early testing of the film. I wonder if the Alien Lava Tiki Bar (what...was that actually) scene was added later. Like, I get why Eric went up there- actually I don't, I think Eric would have been focused on getting the medicine back to her and wouldn't have taken a detour up scaffolding to follow I cat at all, but that's just me.

Finally, let's talk about the cat. Both Schnitzel and Nico are exquisite and enjoyable to watch, though how no one got scratched or bitten by a disgruntled feline is a mystery. We had a long debate about whether The Cat Represents Samira's Life, or The Cat is An Angel, or Fate, but ultimately we just went with KITTY and that made the story more enjoyable.

Samira is on a quest, to die on her terms, and once she accepts her fate, she sheds the things that no longer matter to her, and in the process gives Eric a purpose. The scene in the jazz bar was so moving. The final shot is also incredibly moving, and I hope the city was filled with the sound of music one last time, a beautiful elegy accompanying her soul to heaven.

Bravo.

[synergysilhouette]

5 things I want for Broadway's take on "Tangled"

NGL, I am slightly surprised that "Tangled" is getting a Broadway adaptation before "Moana" and "Encanto," but I'm hoping it's success opens the door for more Broadway musicals taken from Disney's revival era (and maybe bring back "Frozen"). That said, as someone who is NOT the biggest fan of "Tangled," there are a few things I'd like to see changed in the stage version. I'll try not to make this a repeat of my post on how I'd change the movie itself, but it's similar:

A more hesitant Rapunzel--As-is, she's a pretty complex character, but I feel like a lot of that is only utilized in the tower or in relation to Gothel. She's shown to be fiercely intelligent and have a lot of hobbies that she's mastered into talented skilled (baking, chess, pottery, painting, guitar, star charting, etc.), but it's mainly only shown in her intro song for how she kills time and how she knows about the floating light. She does keep herself busy in Corona, but her time there is relatively short, and her skillset is condensed to a musical sequence as before. I'd enjoy hearing more technological conversation from her or show how she navigates the forest, as I'd imagine she read as much as she could before going out into the world on how to survive and navigate, even if she mainly read books designed for entertainment rather than information. Along with this, I'd probably make her less innocent and bubbly--at least on the surface, presenting her as more aloof and tough because of how Gothel raised her, with her insecurities leading to a lot of trust issues that make her very antisocial and not trust Flynn at all. I felt like the "innocent young girl with a jaded older guy" trope is very played out. Speaking of, I'd probably make her older than 18 and and make Flynn only a couple years older than her at most. And I kinda want her in a new dress since her canon one feels a bit costume-y.

2. Make Flynn someone to take seriously--I've mentioned before that I'm not a fan of they sympathetic thief trope, and that Flynn never comes off as cool or charming as he's supposed to be (we never see his charms work off, actually; according to when Rapunzel meets him, he's having an off day apparently), instead feeling a lot goofier. Similar to how Rapunzel is more reserved and tough, Flynn is more suave and capable, more focused on clever lines than quipping one-liners. Make him feel somewhat threatening and dangerous since he's a thief, and fueling Rapunzel's mistrust. A thing I'd also like to focus on more is his past and how he changes for Rapunzel. I like the idea that he sees the "Mother Knows Best (Reprise)" sequence from afar, and realizes that Rapunzel may only like him because he's not a good person, as people in abusive relationships may hop into another one, and vows to be someone who can protect her and care for her properly as he realizes he loves her, and has previously taken advantage of her in order to try to manipulate her into getting the crown back. I'd also like if he talked about his past periodically rather than just once after Rapunzel heals him; I need a recurring story rather than just a quick backstory that explains why you became pessimistic about the world (unless it's told through an ACTUAL flashback instead of just dialogue, similar to Nick Wilde's backstory in "Zootopia"). Perhaps put it into a song, and I was always weird about Flynn Rider being a fake name, especially since it doesn't affect the story; if you wanna highlight his insecurities, there are other ways to do so besides a fake name.

3. Give Gothel more songs (and perhaps make her a bit less over the top)--Given that Broadway musicals add songs, I doubt I have to worry about Gothel not getting to sing some more, but something I do kinda want is less over the top behavior with Rapunzel. I assume it's done to show the audience that she's clearly the villain and understand that she's manipulating Rapunzel, but I enjoy the more subtle moments. For example, right before the reprise of "Mother Knows Best," Gothel told Rapunzel that she found her by listening to the sound of "complete and utter betrayal." I'm sure some parents actually say stuff like this, but it sounded too obvious. However, afterwards, when she sings, it feels more legitimate, like she's actually angry, sarcastic, and frustrated (ironically during a big number). I'd enjoy more moments where her being a toxic parent are less obvious and are more subtle, personally. And ACTUALLY, someone once asked if "Mother Knows Best" (Reprise) was all in Rapunzel's head, and I do kinda like the idea that Gothel has made Rapunzel so insecure that she just has to wait for Rapunzel to unravel rather than directly intervene.

4. Make the Stabbington Brothers more important--Like I've said before, Flynn doesn't really have an obstacle or antagonist, as the brothers quickly become henchmen to Gothel, who she double-crosses when they fulfill her goal. In other words, despite originally being villains for Flynn, they end up not affecting his story on their own accord, but are pawns of Rapunzel's story. If we expanded on Flynn's past and lean into the fairy tale aspect, I kinda like the idea that they're his stepbrothers. And if we borrow from Flynn's prototype Bastion (who wanted to get out of being a thief rather than enjoying it), Flynn could just be forced to be a thief and manipulated emotionally like Rapunzel into believing he isn't going to survive on his own unless his does as his family asks.

5. Stay in Corona longer--I always hated how little time they spent in Corona, with most of the film taking place in the forest. I'd like for Rapunzel to have more time there to learn and explore her skills and interests (slowly becoming more social), kinda like how Ariel did in Eric's kingdom during her three days. I like the idea that Rapunzel periodically sees Gothel here and there but just tells herself she's going crazy, and Flynn has the same experience with the Stabbington brothers.

[soaringwide]

Tarot Offerings Menu ✨

I decided to rework my listings as I think the past ones were not clear enough. I'm also open to custom readings in case you can't find what you want.

See the bottom of the post to learn how to book.

GENERAL 💡

👁️ Clarity Reading - 30$ 👁️ This reading is the most general, is highly flexible and can be applied to any area of your life such as love, career, spirituality or personal growth. You can use it as a self-reflection tool, or as a way to troubleshoot a situation. It is designed to shed light onto whatever situation you're struggling with and help you navigate it and give you tips on how to achieve the goal you have in mind. Please indicate what you need clarity on when booking the reading. You can also keep it general and let any message arise from the cards, in a ''what do I need to hear right now'', type of way.

🎯 Achieving your Goal - 30$ 🎯 For those who have a goal in mind and want to know what they can do in order to achieve it. This reading can focus on anything, from job search, career success, creative fulfillment or developing a skill. Depending on your specific question, I'll tailor a spread in order to analyze the situation and give you keys to facilitate your way towards the goal you have in mind. Please indicate what your goal is upon booking, as well as your gender. Also, keep in mind that this reading is in no way a guarantee that the future will indeed unfold as you wish it to. I can merely pass on the advice of the cards to help you work towards it. Life is, at time, a pretty chaotic and flowing thing.

LOVE 💞

💕 Love Connection Check-in - 30$ 💕 This reading is made for those who want to check-in on the current state of an existing relationship. It can apply to any type of relationship, from platonic to romantic, from a crush situation to a couple. The structure of the reading is made of three parts: you; them; the relationship dynamic. I'll look into the thoughts, feelings and intentions of each person. If you'd like to see what it can look like, I have a pick a card reading I made some time ago that should give you a good idea of what it looks like. Click here. Upon booking, please specify you and you person's gender as well as either a name or initials I need to use.

💖 Deepening Love - 30$ 💖 This reading is designed to help you improve a connection with someone, whether you’re in an established relationship with them or in the initial stages. I'll look at the current dynamic of the relationship, how you both communicate with each other, what is working and what isn't, and finally what are the steps you can take in order to improve the situation. Upon booking, please specify your gender and the gender of your person, as well as the type of relationship you have with them.

💘 Welcoming Love - 30$ 💘 For those who are single and interested in understanding what they can do in order to welcome love into their life. This is very connected to my philosophy of tarot, which is that it should always motivate you to take actions an reflect on yourself and not throw shallow predictions at you without giving you any power. I'll look at the current state of your love-life, what is blocking you and what's going for you, as well as what can be done to open yourself to love. As a conclusion, I'll look into the most probable outcome for your situation. Upon booking, please specify your gender and the gender(s) you're looking for, and specify if you have someone in mind or if you're open to whatever life might provide you.

SELF KNOWLEDGE 🦋

🌹 Glamour - 50$ 🌹 We live in a world of appearances and illusions, veiled truth and masks. This in depth reading is meant to dive into your own personal glamour and find ways to magnify the way you appear to others, in your private life or for those who are in the public eye.��The goal is to approach yourself like a work of art and find ways to impact others powerfully. I will provide practical steps to enhance your appearance and magnetism, find your own glamour and help your understand the mask you wear in society, and how to shape it consciously. This reading is more expensive because it is longer, and not only analyzes the situation but also provide steps to put in place, such as styles you can experiment with, or ideas to explore. I will also provide a moodboard and use tarot on top of my knowledge of fashion, trends and art history in order to paint the picture, so to speak. Upon booking, please specify your gender.

🧩 Map of your Mind - 30$ 🧩 For those who want to explore the depths of their mind, looking at who you are and who you are becoming on different layers, this reading inquires on your current state, the past you carry, and the future you seek. It explores the layers of your conscious and subconscious selves while connecting you with your highest self. This is low-key based on the jungian view of the mind as a layered maze, with the goal being individuation, or the integration of all layers of your mind in harmony and for personal growth and freedom. Upon booking, please specify your gender.

🪞 Self Worth - 30$ 🪞 This reading is made for those who wish to improve their sense of self-worth. Through this process, my goal is to bring you support, comfort and hope for the future. I'll look at the current state of your self-worth, how you view yourself vs how you think others view you, how you speak or treat yourself and what's the root cause of the problem. Finally, I'll look at ways to improve things. Upon booking, please specify your gender. You don't need to give me any context but you are very welcome to do so if you want to share.

🍋 Lemonade - 30$ 🍋 Inspired by the saying ''When life gives you lemons, make lemonade", where I'll look at a difficult situation you are currently experiencing and help you make something positive out of it. Can be applied to something you are going through or a mental health related issue. Do keep in mind that for heavy health related topics, you must also be supported by a professional and ongoing treatment or therapy, otherwise I won't be able to accept your reading, the reason being that tarot cannot solve all your issues and that I cannot carry this responsibility alone. Upon booking, please specify your gender. You can give me some context if you wish so or leave it open, as you prefer.

HOW TO BOOK A READING WITH ME?

You can book a reading directly on ko-fi (and pay there with whatever payment method they accept), and we'll chat through the platform to make sure we are on the same page about your question and the delivery time frame of your reading.

Alternatively for tumblr folks, you can DM me and pay through PayPal, or Twint if you're in Switzerland.

What can you expect?

I provide in depth readings that will be delivered to you in a PDF format of at least 1K3 words or 4 pages minimum, with pictures of the cards I pulled. I do not limit the amount of cards I draw and usually spend at least an hour per reading (not including formatting the PDF and reviewing my notes). I usually deliver the readings in 7 days, but will give you a more precise time frame upon booking.

What to keep in mind before booking?

Who am I and my philosophy

What I do not read on

Testimonials

[u2fangirlie-blog]

Existential Malaise: Post-Birthday Crash

I tried hard to celebrate my 50th birthday in my own weird way. I tried to focus on goals. I created things (that some people might call art), including photography and writing. I even shared the things I created (that some people might call art) with other people. I posted it on social media for my very limited audience of 73 people. Very few people read my writing. Very few people viewed my photographs. Out of those very few, even fewer responded. I hoped for some discussion of the visual elements in the photos (costume pieces and background) or discussion of the themes in the writing (advice to one's younger self). No one wanted to discuss anything. (Except one friend who provided some constructive feedback on the photos because I asked for advice.) They responded with likes, hearts, or unenthusiastic comments like, "Good thoughts," and "Yes, I saw it," when asked if they had seen it.

Artists know the pain of sharing their creations with an audience that, at best, doesn't have time to read, an audience that is not skilled in analyzing or responding to the art, an audience that doesn't understand the art or the artist, an audience that just doesn't care, or, at worst, an audience that actively dislikes the art and/or the artist. I know people don't have time to read longer essays or articles. There's also the issue of ubiquitous written media to choose from. There's so much of it that readers must sort through and select what interests them. I know.

[EDIT: After having been told this piece was passive-aggressive attack on my audience, I revised it. The changes are italicized.]

I know my own shortcomings in responding with the appropriate language and appreciation for what my friends create, be it photography, painting, writing, fiber arts, dancing, singing, playing a musical instrument, acting, sound and light design, or stage production. I'm not educated enough to adequately express the appreciation my artist friends need to feel seen, valued, and understood. But I try.

Today, once again, I feel like a character in a Flannery O'Connor story. This feeling has come to me many times in three decades, since I was introduced to the Southern Gothic writer of "A Good Man is Hard to Find." You know the character type. Eventually, they suffer a revelation. I feel hopeless, listless, disaffected, frustrated, misunderstood, and ignored. I am a combination of Hulga from "Good Country People" and Asbury in "The Enduring Chill." Am I the Grandmother in "A Good Man is Hard to Find"? I am an insufferable person.

"She would have been a good woman if it had been someone there to shoot her every minute of her life." - The Misfit.

That is my revelation.

I'm going back to bed.

[etrangersvoyageant]

Rewire, day 3

Final day, also the shortest, because sleep deprivation is a thing. Anyway, there was still some cool stuff to see.

The day began with Conception Huerta. She’s a dark ambient producer from Mexico, who’s been working on a solid repertoire with her albums. Her set was dark in both sound as well as set-up. Although light was used, it felt like a rather brooding and dark 45 minutes. It also made me realize there had not been many sound producers with visuals so far, which struck me as peculiar. Quick segue: think about it. At best, the title of a track is all you have to go on as a listener, the creator doesn’t use any or much other words. Anyway, a decent set.

Arushi Jain is a creative producer who uses electronics in various ways. In 2021, she blended her voice with an excellent atmosphere on Under Lilac Sky. However, this year’s Delights record, she moved away from this design and laid the focus on modular synths. The latter was used as the fundament of this set as she explained after her performance. The music seemed fragile like glass, but was rather tame unfortunately. The lighting however was great. Jain was the next artist drowned in red light and it went well with the sound. Later on, the purple light broke in, things changed for a bit, but it wasn’t meant to last. Overall, it was a lovely set.

I skipped on SUNN O))) as my ears requested the easy day to continue. So, I took a food break before heading to Astrid Sonne. She started out as a viola player, but has since then has started to incorporate electronics more. This resulted in a hybrid set where she used both a track to set the mood, but was also accompanied by a violin and cello player. Unfortunately, she did have technical difficulties, but she was gracious about it, which resulted in laughter and applause from the audience.

Next up, I went to Maya Shenfield. Another woman in the electronic sound design (check Under the Sun). She teamed up with Pedro Maia for the visual effects. Finally, here’s one and it worked well. Shenfield started calm, engaging and adventurous and the video followed. There were overhead shots of mountains, mining sites before it got more personal. Someone was reflecting the sun into the camera eye. This effect was imitated by 8 on-stage lights which blinded the crowd. Together with a stroboscope, which was used heavily at times, it made the performance a little draining.

Looking back, I wonder if this was a good show for the last few hours of the festival. When tired eyes might enjoy something more soothing; Tim Hecker’s partnership with Vincent de Belleval from last year comes to mind. Anyway, Shenfield & Maia’s collaboration was the highlight of the day for me.

After I decided to stay in the venue and end the evening with Nailah Hunter, a harp player. And that was probably a bad call. In short, there were technical difficulties and she started late. Consequently, I only stayed for 25 minutes before I called it a night. I was done anyway and wanted to catch my train.

Compared to the previous 2 days, this was the least one, but that’s alright. If a festival ends on a high note, I find it hard to leave. Thus, as odd as it may seem, I was glad to go. Plus, I could count my lucky stars I had seen some amazing performers and got reacquainted with some familiar faces, so it was a successful festival regardless.

[apogee-gd4]

Writing Initiative #7

Which piece did you present to the class today? How does it relate to the other pieces previously presented?

The final piece that I presented today was my reflective deliverable. This piece is in essence the piece that [will] seek to re-affirm all of the other pieces by summarizing their meanings through letters. Each of my pieces is built with the intention of representing addiction in some way - whether that be through an emotion, through a timeline of sorts, or through an analogy. More specifically:

2D (Window Frame) = Drowning in (the search for) ultimate contentment, not being able to grasp or hold onto the ultimate "high"

3D (Light Sculpture) = One's light being smothered or choked by their addiction

4D (8D Soundscape) = the timeline of addiction, and what that feels like, as represented through sound

Experimental (Microscopic Chemical Reactions) = The idea that addiction is acquired through stages, in a series of chemical reactions or desires

The reflective piece is made up of a pill prescription bottle holding 4 capsules, one capsule designated to each piece. Each capsule is able to be opened, and will contain a letter written by someone who in some way relates to addiction. The letter will connect to the deliverable, putting real life stories to words that in a sense "prove" the concreteness of each deliverable as being a real experience.

Describe 2–3 specific strengths your classmates found in your work and their reasons for identifying them.

The pill bottle is understandable, and recognizable, viewers do not have to stuggle to understand what the pill bottle is, and can focus their efforts on the meaning held inside each capsule

The letters (which are still yet to be sourced) will do a good job at representing just how multifaceted addiction really is. Not every experience looks the same. The letters are also a solid concept that will help to reflect on the entire project as a whole, while also being a form with meaning that visual represents "apogee"

Describe 1–2 specific ways your classmates thought you could improve this work going forward.

I am to work on the craft going forward. While the imperfectness of the form so far does create a sense of humanity in the piece, I don't want to confuse rawness, with unintentional messiness. Therefore, I need to continue to refine the form so that it appears both intentional, and human.

Consider the remaining outcome yet to be presented in a couple of weeks; why have you put it off the longest? Describe your reasons for presenting this outcome last.

All of my outcomes have now been presented :)

Finally, you have now had a chance to present each of your projects (2D, 3D, 4D, Experimental, Reflective) in process to the class. Produce an image of each one and describe how an aspect of your word is manifested in each piece.

2D - Apogee means trying to reach the highest point of something - euphoria, which is ultimately a temporary and unachievable feeling. This leaves us feeling like we are drowning, falling, and unable to hold onto this euphoria, apogee.

3D: Trying to achieve apogee, the ultimate high (for too long), can leave us feeling smothered. Not ourselves, and unable to truly feel.

4D: Trying to achieve the ultimate high (apogee) is a process. At first it's serene, we feel good about it - but we don't stay there. It slowly but surely becomes more amplified discomfort, panicky, full of searching, and ending in deafening silence.

Experimental: Addiction comes in stages, and occurs through a release of dopamine in the brain, a series of chemical reactions that leave us feeling latched. Apogee also has connections to planetary concepts of orbit - these chemical reactions have a planet surface like look to them. I am still working to refine this piece.

[obsiusfb]

Discover the 8 Most Popular Trending Toys in 2024!

Are you looking for the best toys for your kids? If yes, then you’re scrolling through the right guide. While classics like Barbie and Legos never go out of style and captivate everyone’s attention. But, this year, make a change and select some trendy or educational toys that take center stage. From technology-infused toys to superhero action figures, the toy landscape offered something for every imagination. So, if you’re curious to know what toys you should purchase for your little one, then continue reading. Without more ado, let’s start exploring the amazing and best baby toys for your kiddo!

List of Best Toys for Kids

It’s time to hop into the list of the best toys for your bundle of joy.

Flower Garden Toy Set

Buy Now!

If you’re looking for some indoor toys, then a flower garden toy set can be the one. With this fantastic indoor toy set, your kiddo can do gardening every season. This toy set has assorted types of flowers, stems, and leaves, which are brightly colored. This bundle offers more than just toys; it serves as a gateway to developmental growth and joyful learning specifically designed for toddlers aged 1–3. So, if you want to gift a flower garden toy for kids to someone or want to purchase it for your baby, then you can use ZSUHOW3Q to get 20% off.

Dinosaur Toy

Buy Now!

Another amazing toy that is designed explicitly for imaginative kids. This product stands out from the crowd, as it offers a world of exciting world of prehistoric adventure and learning right at your fingertips. This toy is on the list of trending toys and is built with high-quality and durable materials. Apart from all these things, one interesting thing is that you can get 20% off this product by using this coupon code “B54BIJYG”. So, why are you delaying getting this toy to your home today?

Building Block Set

Buy Now!

The next toy on the list of popular toys for kids is a building block set. This toy set is made to help children recognize different colors and shapes. While buying this toy set, don’t forget to apply the ZSUHOW3Q coupon code to get 20% off. In addition, this interactive toy advances creativity, symbolic thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Baby Musical Drum

Buy Now!

The Baby Musical Drum, also known as the Musical Wonderland Projector, promises to be more than just a toy. It’s an immersive experience designed to delight and stimulate babies from 12 to 36 months. This musical drum is like a well-rounded toy that combines auditory, visual, and tactile stimulation. Its safety features and focus on early development make it an attractive option for parents looking for an engaging and enriching gift for their little ones. Additionally, you can get 20% off by applying this code “ZSUHOW3Q”.

Stunt Car

Buy Now!

The RC Stunt car is listed among the new toys, and it’s like every kid’s dream come true. It performs 360° flips, conquering any terrain with its double-sided design and shining bright with cool lights and interactive messages. It’s built tough for outdoor adventures, rechargeable for endless fun, and even helps develop motor skills! With this coupon code “B54BIJYG,” you can get 20% off on the purchase of this thrilling gift.

Remote Control Stunt Car and Boat

Buy Now!

Doesn’t a remote control stunt car and boat sounds like an awesome toy? It’s clear you’re excited about its features, and it does seem like it would be a lot of fun for kids who love adventure. It’s versatile, durable, and packed with features that will keep them entertained for hours. Do you have a child who has this toy, or are you considering buying it for someone? Whatever it is, by applying the ZSUHOW3Q code, you can get 20% off on this fantastic stunt car.

Dinosaur Toy Set

Buy Now!

The dinosaur toy set is an exceptional gift that releases the creators within children. This innovative and one of the best toys for kids is the gateway to a world where dinosaurs roam freely and adventure awaits. The toys are crafted with easy assembly. Each piece of this set is made from superior quality, durable materials to withstand the test of time and play. What sets this dinosaur toy apart is its ingenious design, featuring realistic lighting, sound effects, and blinking eyes that bring the creatures to life. You can get 20% off on this product with the use of this coupon code “B54BIJYG”.

Musical Light Up Infant Drum

Buy Now!

The Musical Light Up Infant Drum is a well-rounded, stimulating toy that caters to various aspects of your baby’s development. Its focus on sensory exploration, motor skills, and musical engagement makes it a potential playtime favorite. So, get this product 20% off with the application of coupon code “ZSUHOW3Q”.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the above-mentioned best kids toys offer a wide range of options catering to each and every child’s imagination and developmental needs. With discounts available through coupon codes, parents can invest in educational and entertaining toys that foster creativity and growth in their children. So, don’t wait long; get these amazing toys ASAP.

The original article is published on: www.medium.com

[drew-mga2022mi6021]

Research | Conducting a Focus Group

Furthering my research on Solarpunk as a phenomenon, I want to conduct some primary research on the idea. My main point of reference (and possibly the most infamous piece of Solarpunk media in recent years) is the short film "Dear Alice" which I will be using as a case study in my dissertation. One idea that I would like to explore is the possibility of conducting a focus group.

A focus group is a research method that brings together a small group of people to answer questions in a moderated, controlled environment. The group is chosen due to predefined demographic traits, and the questions are designed to shed light on a topic of interest. The topic in this case, is to gain an understanding of whether Solarpunk presents a plausible framework for an idealised version of our future, how this idea fits into peoples' minds and to gauge peoples' feelings on the topic. The demography I am currently targeting are fellow young creatives, between the age of 16 and 20. This is due to the nature of Gen Z, who is more likely to push for change more than previous generations. I am also targeting young creatives as they may provide insights that I may have not considered as someone who has experience and pre-conceived notions of their own body of research.

Some of the pros of conducting a focus group is the collection of qualitative research, mostly in relation to opinions, emotions or ideals. Observations of the group’s dynamic, their answers to focus group questions, and other subtle cues can inform future research on my future research, and consequentially, the world that I am building for my final major project.

As research is currently in its most base stage, this opportunity will allow for  real-time, unfiltered responses on my chosen topic or in the dynamics of a discussion between participants, opinions or perceptions as opposed to facts, and as touched on earlier directional information that will aid future research. I am also partial to a focus group due to the freeform nature of the environment. Whilst the questions are fixed, depending on the space and the group taking part, the order of the questions can shift and change, and create new openings for unplanned questions.

Since I have set a topic, now I can go about setting a scope for my research. To aid this, I have crafted some questions that may aid me in this matter;

Am I interested in a particular sector of the population? While yes, I have narrowed down the demography to young creatives, one must consider how to gather them. I am planning on utilising the current L4 batch from my own campus, but this posits the following problem; do I want all of them, or just MGA students for example? I believe that the best results can come from students within my own field (those being VC and MGA, generally out of the box thinkers), however I do not see any negatives in involving the other degree departments.

Am I only interested in those who are familiar with the concept of Solarpunk? No. In fact, I believe it would be better if there were those who were unfamiliar with the idea, so that I could get their initial thoughts and reactions on the matter and what it represents.

Do I want to know what their general opinions on their ideal future would be like, or if their ideas align with Solarpunk? Either works, as their own culture, beliefs and perception could inform decisions for when I am fine-tuning my world later on. Furthermore, I intend to strip down the idea of Solarpunk to its basest form in order to build something anew for the narrative and world that I have in mind.

What will this study not entail? The purpose of this exercise is merely to collect data based on feelings and initial reactions on the idea of a Solarpunk world. What are some of the pitfalls of a speculative world like this? How would they imagine their life would be different living in this sort of world? If this world is built on a different belief system (eg;- the value of hard work), would that shape the individuals within society differently? Would it vary from person to person? Would goals and desires be different? These are the limits of this exercise.

Further definition of my scope are logistical. My plan is to conduct this decision for half an hour, just after classes conclude for the L4s. The sample size would be between 10 and 25 students, varying on the size of the class and other interested parties in the area. I plan to be the primary moderator for the discussion, however I am in the process of recruiting a secondary moderator who may act as someone who directly challenges the beliefs of the participants (if none are present) or myself.

Now that these things have been established, I can go ahead and begin crafting the questions and accounting for potential variables for this initiative.

[orlamount]

Chosen Brief

After looking at all the briefs, I liked this one the most because I can relate to it a lot and I think it's the most personal brief. As someone who's struggled with mental health, theres been problems that I've had to overcome and a lot has to do with what I do with my time and what sort of activities I do.

Answering parts of the The Brief:

What do you do – or what would you like to do – to create a more balanced and happier existence? To create a more balanced and happier existence, I like to socialise with friends, visit new places, mini trips, explore, surf, travel, make music, go for a run.

Something I would like to do is learn new skills and be more active than I am. Solutions / activities I can do anywhere, no matter the weather.

Choose a subject that has a widely (or perhaps lesser) known well-being benefit and tell us its story. About 3 months ago I begun surfing and it's opened a whole world I didn't know about. It gets me out of the house at any time of the day, significantly helped my mental health as well as my friends. It keeps me active as well as it not feeling like I'm doing exercise, because it's fun. Surfing has been found for years but it's not an overly saturated sport because people don't know enough about it and can be seen as too much effort to get into.

Firstly, you could consider thinking personally; What draws you to the activity? What originally drew me to the activity was seeing other people doing it. Seeing their skills made me want to start learning.

How does it make you feel? It makes me feel fulfilled, and healthy as well as happy because I can do it with friends.

How have things changed for you? Mental health has gotten much better as it brings me out of the procrastination stages I have.

How are you happier? More energy and more motivation to do things.

And so on. Perhaps, you could bring to light something you haven’t experienced, but would like to? Secondly, you should consider supporting any personal narrative with data, science, insights and case-studies that support your proposal.

Strategy and Research

You need to define a context, identify a target audience and build a strategy that rationally underpins the development of appropriate outcomes. We expect rigorous sketchbook research with evidence of your responses to the information that you uncover. We also expect to see a range of initial potential directions explored in order to be able to understand what has informed the focus of your subsequent concept and design development.

Your sketchbook content should reflect the development of your strategic and interpretive thinking. It should be vibrant and organic – full of visual references; notations; sketches; exploration of materials and ideas. It should not be a scrapbook or dissertation and it should not be retrospective – ‘Now I’ve finished the piece – time to fill the sketchbook with photocopies’.

Target Audience/Deliverables

The content, format, media and range of your project outcomes should be determined by their suitability and potential to influence your chosen target audience – as expressed in your strategy.

[supercantaloupe]

@dancingchopines yep! during the 18th and into the mid 19th centuries opera was a highly social event, especially in very cosmopolitan cities like london and vienna. it was very common for members of society (the beaumonde as it was called, mostly the nobility but increasingly, as the decades passed, the upper middle classes too) to move about during performances to socialize with each other, visit each other's boxes, and even leave partway into one performance so they could go over and attend another in progress (!).

(we have records of composers like haydn stipulating that his pieces be played later in concert programs rather than at the very start, because he wanted to guarantee people were there to hear it -- which means people weren't arriving right away!)

paintings, drawings, and engravings of public opera performances from this period depict audiences that are highly active and "distracted" (not solely focused on the stage) -- they're reading their librettos, they're buying snacks from vendors in the aisles, they're chatting and moving around, they're playing cards in the boxes, they may be shouting taunts at the stage. written accounts from newspaper reviews, journals/diaries, and correspondence from audience members also mention a lot of this activity. in particular, lists of names and the "who's who" in an audience are super common -- clearly an important element of the affair to the authors!

now this is not to suggest that audiences of the time didn't care at all about the performance nor that they never paid attention; many viewers were indeed invested in the performances and were highly educated and opinionated in music themselves. it was fashionable for the upper classes at the time to be themselves music makers in the home. but opera performances (alongside dinner clubs, coffeehouses and taverns, other forms of theater, public concerts, and balls/dance parties) were super important gathering places for members of society to interact in, up until the rise of the middle class and salon culture in the 19th century, itself (partly) a reaction to social and political change in europe sparked by napoleon.

audience behavior at public performances didn't start to change on a major scale to what we would consider as being appropriate today until the mid 19th century, due to the influences of romanticism and richard wagner. by the 1850s and after, artistic opinion had grown to more greatly revere The Artist as an unchallegeable genius whose works were deserving of undivided attention, and it was wagner, when given the opportunity to construct his own opera house at bayreuth in the 1870s, who became the first to design and operate a theater in a "modern" way (few aisles to keep people from moving about during performances; dimming the lights during performances to focus the audiences' attention on the stage).

but that cultural shift hadn't happened yet in 1812! so back then, an opera performance would very much have been a very social event, a place to see and be seen -- which is actually depicted in the musical, with the description of natasha getting dressed up, seeing, being seen, and commenting on it all in the first part of the sequence! it was common, arguably expected even, that society members would move around during the performance and visit each other in their boxes to socialize, and it would not at all have been unusual for someone to leave early or walk in late!

If I had been at that opera, the rest of the events of the musical would not have happened because I would have chased Anatole out of Moscow right then and there!!!!!! Red flags from the beginning with that man!!!!!!

[knucklestheenchilada]

Saw your repost saying you have plants from black mirror?! What do you do on set? How did you get into it? I’ve always wanted to work on movies/tv

i'm a scenic artist, which basically means that I paint sets and some props! I don't wanna go into too much detail because I don't know who's on Tumblr or who will see this but I went and got a bachelor's in production arts and design and before that one in technical stage management. (you 100% don't need both I just hate myself) I started in theatre and then someone needed a painter for a film and it kinda just snowballed from there!

Getting in is the hardest part but once you work for people who know you're competent/like you they'll snag for projects! You can't just show up to a studio not knowing anything unless you got family already in the business (yes production side nepo babies are a thing)

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Is a great school to look into. Don't let the name fool you, it's not as fancy as it seems but they do offer scholarships for international students and all the profs are great. Their tech/production courses are only three years. If you're in the states there's the Pacific Conservatory Theatre which is in the armpit of California Santa Maria, they're a 2 year course but they also have summer internships! Both of these places are really hands on so you're actually working on and running theatre productions instead of just sitting at a desk and writing essays

RCS Is great if you have a focus like scenic art or props or lighting or stage management while PCPA Is great if you want to learn how to do a little bit of everything while having a set department as your goal. While They're both theatre oriented the skills can transfer to film

If you apply to either of them, dm me and I'll throw you my name so you can toss it out to them as a buzz word xx

[confusedinfj]

HOW YOU FEEL

Fi vs Fe is often misunderstood as an actual difference in feelings and character, and t types are often mistakenly characterised as unemotional. This is an analogous attempt to explain that Fe and Fi are simply processes that are used to connect with yourself and the world.

Picture a theatre. You're standing up the front, on the stage, just to the side. You can see everything on stage, hear what's backstage, and see the whole audience.

It's packed. The audience = the world. Everyone you engage with.

The lights are your natural empathic gifts. T types can be empaths, it's not related to function. The lights shine on the audience so you can see their faces. Maybe the lights are dim, and you can't make anything out unless they're close. Maybe they're bright, and you can see everything. Empathy can improved, you can learn to turn those lights up. This isn't related to mbti, but how you process the input you're getting does.

Back stage is every feeling you could possibly feel. A myriad of actors who have their own short or dramatic speeches ready to go. A single spotlight shines on the centre of the stage.

Fe

If you have Fe anywhere, you prefer to watch the audience as the performances go on. Your feelings sort themselves out backstage, or tiptoe on the stage at the back. You're generally aware of them, but you prefer to bring audience members onto the stage, into the spotlight. You're fascinated by each person, and want to interrogate and understand them all. You soak up their feelings mentally, and begin to identify yours in the background by matching them with audience member's emotions you've seen before.

Sometimes one of your feelings enters the spotlight. It's been hanging around for a while, so it must really be bothering you after all to take centre stage. Now you pay attention for a moment, and understand by watching it as if it were another person's feeling.

Fe is not about the audience seeing the feelings' performances, it's about the performers seeing the audience. Most feelings are kept away from the spotlight, quietly sorting themselves out back stage. Feelings that insist they need the spotlight must carefully craft their speeches to the audience, because their response is the most important thing. The priority of the performing feeling is to make the audience understand its case without upsetting them. Because of this, Fe can be naturally good at diplomacy, but also very slow to voice contention.

The absolute worst thing that could possibly happen is a feeling refuses to wait any longer. It doesn't carefully craft its speech, it just races into the spotlight and starts screaming, like a deranged animal. Healthy Fe doesn't repress feelings, it just likes to check they're not momentary emotions before expressing them. Being overcome would be a disaster, and would run the risk of horrifying the audience and losing them. This is Fe's greatest fear: the feelings taking over and the audience being lost. Weak or unhealthy Fe is at a greater risk of doing this, since it may repress the feelings until they start screaming on stage about years and years of things they've been putting up with. This poorly manage Fe actually has little do with where it is in the function stack, and more to do with character and assertion.

Due to this constant state of back stage managing, feelings that do present themselves often speak rather robotically. Tps have a strong reputation for this, but Fjs do this too. The feeling causes as little offense as possible by calmly announcing its existence, the cause of its existence, and the solution to the problem. This is well managed Fe.

Fe is not supposed to watch its backstage feelings on stage, it needs to watch the audience. If there is too much emotional distress on stage, the Fe user must focus on themselves and stop the deranged characters screaming their lines, which is deeply distressing to someone who was designed to study the audience. This brings the Fe user into very low Fi, and drains them.

For those who have Fe lower down, these fears may be intensified. Having the function lower down is like being distracted on your phone during the performance and not knowing what's going on in either the audience or the stage at all times. Immature Tps may even attempt to repress all back stage feelings, but mature tps learn it is far safer to allow stage action before the emotions lose control and steal the spotlight. This would ultimately repel the audience, leading to the Fe user's greatest fear. It would leave them isolated and in despair. To rectify this, the tps would have to shift their focus back to the audience, and fix the emotional damage that had been done. Apologies would have to be given, and the actors would have to be sorted out on the stage.

Fi

If you have Fi anywhere, you prefer to watch your feelings on stage as they perform. You want to spotlight each one, interrogate and understand each. You are aware of the audience without watching closely, but they are not the focus. When you do see a feeling in an audience member, you understand it because you've studied your own.

Fi is not about seeing the audience, it is about exploring every feeling of your own and giving it the spotlight. These feelings should not be filtered, they should be raw and truthful. Fi users can express their feelings easily, and don't filter them much. Their primary concern isn't upsetting the audience, it's allowing themselves to be.

Fi does not need the audience to understand, it needs to understand itself. However, if the audience becomes very distressed by the performance, the Fi user must pay attention to them instead. As they begin to jeer, this causes emotional distress in the Fi user. Fi's greatest fear is the audience steals the spotlight, and all sense of self is lost.

This fear may be intensified if Fi is lower down in the function stack. It's like being on your phone while trying to watch a performance - you're going to miss something. Weak or low Fi may deliberately choose to miss things. Since Fi isn't concerned with the audience, Tjs can go too far and ultimately not manage to connect with anyone at all. They may ignore the Fi performance to the point of isolation from themselves and others. Not watching the Fi performance on stage, they pay too much attention to the audience, and shift into very low Fe. They allow people to take their spotlight, fulfilling their deepest fear. They lose themselves and despair. To reclaim themselves they must shift their attention back to their own inner performance, to the feelings they pushed to the back of the stage. They would need to bring them into the spotlight and really pay attention to what the actors are saying must be done. In doing so, they will put the audience back in their place.

[kerosene-saint]

1. are you named after anyone? well my current legal name (which isn't my dead name) I choose after the character Captain Jack Harkness (or Javic Thane which is where one of my other names comes from) from Doctor Who/Torchwood

2. last time you cried? I think a couple days ago

3. do you want any kids? nope, I think I'd be a terrible parent. I'm a camp counselor that is enough work for me

4. what sports have you played? well I did mixed martial arts and dance and gymnastics when I was younger but I don't really have the ability to do any of those anymore.

5. do you use sarcasm? sometimes, but I always mark it with the "/sar" tone tag

6. what's the first thing you notice about someone? I guess their speech? idk

7. what's your eye color? really dark brown

8. movies with happy or sad endings? I mean I guess happy endings, sad endings always kinda feel like cliff hangers

9. what talents do you have? I mean I guess I'm kinda okay at art, I like to write too.

10. where would you like to live? probably California, they have good Healthcare and are generally safer for me as a trans person

11. what are you hobbies? I mean I like to draw and write, I also like to sew occasionally and bake sometimes

12. do you have any pets? I have two cat, two guinea pigs, and a rabbit

13. how tall are you? pretty short at 5'1"

14. what's your favorite subject in school? I mean if we're talking core classes then probably chemistry, I like doing all the electrons stuff and learning about radiation was really cool. If we're talking electives then definitely stagecraft, I get to build sets and paint stuff and design and all that. Plus it helps me gain new skills I can use when I hopefully do general stage design (costumes, set, props, lights, sound).

15. what's your dream job? I have so many at this point tbh. I really wanna illustrate children's books, I wanna write things like comics and novels, I want to draw things maybe animate, I really want to sing in a band. I think the one that I've stuck with the longest purely because I have the most foot in the door in this field is general stage design and technical theatre. It's something I can practice at school and it's something I've done long enough that I got into the national thespian honors society. It's something I've wanted to do since 7th grade and basically not stopped doing stuff to achieve it. it's my main focus in school and basically the only reason I still go to my school. so yeah... probably that

@pnuk-r0ck @faded-moon13 @lahmajun @sleepyjim @metaphorforcapitalism @reportinglivefromsoda @piercedneckboy /nf

(not 15 but anyone who wants to join in can :])

15 questions, 15 people

Thx for the tag @marauders-everything2

Starting a new post, it was too long. Slightly modified some questions.

1. Are you named after anyone?

Nope.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Don't remember, probably yesterday.

3. Do you want to have kids?

No thanks :)

4. What sports do/have you played?

My parents tried putting me in a bunch of shit when I was younger so I've done: swimming (for some years, still not great at it lol), surfing (quit after like 2 months), kizomba dance (hated it), another type of dance, contemporary dance (I liked it but the place closed), and we went skiing several times (which I love). If horseriding counts, I did that for a year. Currently not doing any.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Yeah, sometimes. But I'm also quite direct and straightforward. Only "straight" I am.

6. What's the first thing you notice about someone?

Their fashion style. I love going up to strangers to compliment their outfits!

7. What's your eye colour?

Dark brown.

8. Movies with sad or happy endings?

I love movies with uncertain, ambiguous endings, in which the meaning is up for debate (like Inception).

9. What talents do you have?

Fast at absorbing information (sometimes), hypercreativity, great at bullshitting in academic tests/essays, good at making accents and voices, ummm... Can't remember more.

10. Where would you like to live?

New Zealand. It's pretty and one of the least problematic English-speaking countries (wanna live somewhere where English is the official language).

11. What are your hobbies?

Writing fanfiction and original stories (more like my passion), playing The Sims 4, drawing digitally (haven't in a while though), singing?

12. Do you have any pets?

My parents have 3 dogs (no breed) and koi fish. I want a cat :')

13. How tall are you?

165 cm or 5'5" for the Americans.

14. Favourite subject in school?

At college. Don't really like any of my current classes. Ig English C1.2 because we studied the Broadway play Hamilton. Although I haven't learned anything new.

15. What is your dream job?

Writer/author, would also like to do voice acting. Maybe a psychologist too, haven't decided if I'll take a second college degree.

No pressure tags: @siriuslystarbucks @starsandmoonys @whoopsiesnodaisies @star4daisy @starchaser-lily @half-cold-coffee @cazzythefrogking @starsarestories @my-beloved-fandoms @my-castles-crumbling @reggiecantswimm @artbyace @literallytoogaytofunction @rosemelodyshah @theres-an-endless-starry-sky

[animeomegas]

Hi!!!, first, congratulations on 1000 followers!I wanted to ask you something, could you make a list of omegas that would have worse self esteem during pregnancy.if you can't don't worry, have a nice day and again congratulations.

(Hey, thank you so much for your congratulations!! Hmm, I’m sure I can make a little list~)

Warnings: Insecurities of all sorts, mentions of sex.

Insecure over appearance:

· Itachi – Itachi is worried about how skinny and sickly he is. He’s always been on the small side but pregnancy has stopped him being able to keep much food down, and so he just kept getting smaller and smaller. It’s a small insecurity at first, but he does find himself staring at his reflection and wondering if his mate finds him attractive. Itachi goes a long while without sex because of how sick he gets during pregnancy and after birth, and that feeds the insecurity that his alpha doesn’t find him attractive.

· Tamaki – He’s completely fine until he gets lost in a rabbit hole on some parenting and omega focused forums. He finds all these posts from other omegas about how their alphas don’t find them attractive anymore, and about how they’ve stopped having sex. Now, Tamaki is extremely sexually needy during his pregnancy, so he’s suddenly paralysed with fear. Has his alpha been forcing themselves this whole time? Have they just been doing it to please him without enjoying it themselves? He cries about it quite a bit until his alpha finds out and knocks a little bit of sense into him.

· Asmo – Asmo puts so much effort into his physical appearance. He’s very proud of it and he’s very reliant on his appearance to carry his self-esteem. So, a drastic change of any sort would be extremely distressing. He buys every cream and treatment imaginable to stop stretch marks, and acne etc. but things still change with his body. And because Asmo views his worth through looks, he assumes that his alpha does also. He tries to hide, to turn down sex, but of course, this alerts his alpha immediately to the fact that something is wrong. He never really gets over the insecurities while he’s still pregnant, but his alpha can minimise the effects with copious love and praise.

· Julian – He’s extremely insecure as it is, constantly questioning why his alpha finds him attractive at all but being pregnant adds enough layer on to the pre-existing insecurities. He always tries to reassure his alpha that they don’t have to touch him if they don’t want, that they should leave the room before he gets changed or when he’s bathing because they probably don’t want to see him like that. His insecurities run very deeply, just like Asmo’s, so they can’t be fixed, but they can be helped with lots of comfort and reassurance.

Insecure over abilities (e.g., being weak physically etc.):

· Sasuke – The fact that he can’t go on missions or train pisses him off. And as the months go by, he’s gaining weight and losing muscle definition and it freaks him out because he feels like he’s losing who he is which drops his self-esteem. Training has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. Just design some softer workout routines for him with a mednin and remind him that he can still practice throwing kunai before he loses his goddamn mind.

· Bakugou – The physical condition of his body changing isn’t that big of a deal for him. He has a very small tummy, especially considering he’s pregnant with twins, and he knows he can bounce back after the birth because he’s super dedicated to his physical routine. What he’s not so confident about is the slipping control he has over his quirk. He has (had) an iron clad control, and the random explosions while pregnant are so embarrassing. Not to mention the disruption that his quirk causes in his nest. He has to replace so many cushions which makes his instincts go wild because significant changes to an omega’s nest while pregnant is distressing. If his friends tease him about the loss of control, he gets genuinely mad about because it’s something of a sore spot.

· Jumin – Jumin tries to keep his life while pregnant as close to his life before being pregnant as possible and in many ways, he nails it. He buys copies of his favourite suits and has them tailored every other week to fit his growing stomach. He buys non-alcoholic wine and drinks it with a grimace. He schedules lots of massages to keep the aches and pains away, so he feels normal. But there is one thing that isn’t so easy to keep normal: his emotions. Now, this fits into this category rather than the one below because Jumin gets insecure about how his emotional control impacts his ability to work. His emotions had never impacted his career before, but now he can’t help but tear up when he gets overstressed, he can’t work long hours without getting lonely and wanting to go home, he can’t take business trips because he doesn’t want to leave his nest for too long. It makes him feel a little like he’s lost himself because these things are things he’s been doing with ease for his entire life. He’s quite irritated by it and it damages his self esteem somewhat.

Insecure emotionally (e.g., unsure about being a good parent etc.):

· Tamaki –Tamaki also makes it onto this category. His insecurities are very specific, but he worries about being a bad role model socially for his pup. If his alpha is very socially adept, I’m not sure he would worry as much, because he knows that his pup can learn from their other parent, but if Tamaki’s alpha is also a little shy or prefers not being around people, then he gets really worried about it. Him being so shy and anxious has really impacted his life and he really doesn’t want it to impact his pup in the same way. He really worries that he’ll be a bad influence in that regard. (but the prospect of an extremely extroverted child is an equally terrifying concept in a different way haha.)

· Lucifer – He is very worried about being a good parent because all he can focus on is the past times when he wasn’t a good older brother. I mean, Satan hates him, and that’s as close to a father/child bond that Lucifer has, so surely that must mean he’s not cut out to be a father? He’s not good at emotions or reasonable punishments or showing affection or… well, point is he doesn’t think he has what it takes to be a good parent, when all he’s ever had is a shitty father himself, and all he’s ever been, is a shitty older brother that drove his family apart.

· Levi – Levi is insecure about most things that have to do with himself, so it’s not surprising that he gets very insecure about being a good parent which drops his self-esteem to an all time low. He can’t even watch any anime that focuses too much on parent/child relationships because he can’t help but compare himself every time, and he works himself up into a mini panic. It’s difficult to calm Levi’s insecurities but his partner can help him somewhat.

· Hawks – Keigo is very insecure about his abilities to protect his pup. His has this conspiracy theory that the hero commission will try to kidnap his child. They were furious when they found out he was pregnant during the peak of his career and they pushed him heavily towards abortion. Keigo leaked the pregnancy news to the public to force the commission’s hands, but he’s still so paranoid that they’ll stage a 'tragic accident' for his pup to force him back into hero work, or try and kidnap and raise his pup as they raised him. He doesn’t have any proof, per se, but he’s terrified that he can’t protect his pup so he really doesn’t like to leave his alpha’s presence. When he’s close to his due date, he’s too insecure with all his conspiracy theories clouding his mind to even let his alpha shower by themselves.

· V – Jihyun sort of convinces himself that he’s cursed when it comes to looking after people (Rika, Saeyoung, Saeran), so he’s very upset by the prospect that he’ll probably fail at raising his child too. He originally says that he wants to give the pup up for adoption to save them, but eventually you talk him around and start working through his problems. He just doesn’t thing he’ll be a good role model. The longer he waits to have children after the more traumatic events of his life, the less these issues crop up.

Miscellaneous:

· Aizawa – Shouta gets insecure when people pay too much attention to him being pregnant. He doesn’t like people giving up their seats for him on public transport, he doesn’t like his students and colleagues asking invasive questions, he doesn’t like those awful shop attendants that try to shoehorn him into buying baby supplies he doesn’t need. He wishes people would just treat him normally. (and he absolutely starts to activate his quirk every time someone tries to touch his tummy without asking first.) But yeah, all the eyes and attention makes him super uncomfortable and it makes him overanalyse everything he does which does impact his self esteem.

· Light – Light has a very specific insecurities while pregnant which revolve around the fear that he’s lowering himself by carrying a pup. All his life he’s had people tell him that because he’s an omega, he should give up on all his dreams and have pups and stay home instead. It really doesn’t sit well with him that he’s doing what all those awful people told him to do (at least it feels that way to him). He feels ashamed and he hates it. He avoids everything stereotypical while pregnant. He’ll kick you in the face if you try to rub his feet, he does everything in his power to avoid giving in to cravings, and he doesn’t make a nest. It all takes a serious toll on his health but it would take one hell of a stubborn alpha to get him to bend on any of that. It puts a strain on the relationship.

[lynaiss]

My contribution for the Autumn Season of @tgtw-project​ with the Trostenwald dark ales!

There's a few CR C2 easter eggs peppered all over the piece, can you spot them? 😀

Notes about my process for this are under the cut!

I've been learning a bit about how to make my process more manageable and helpful to me, so I thought I should share! This post isn't so much a walkthrough as it is just some general ideas and techniques that work for me. Hopefully some of it gives you ideas for your own workflow too or an insight into how I approach things.

So lets start off with getting the prompt for Trostenwald ale (part of Critical Role Campaign 2 setting lore) while working on a fan project. The first thing I did was go on wiki and read up on Trostenwald in more detail to figure out what vibe and props should go into the piece. I'm mostly looking for "what" and "why" to build a scene around. 

After doing so I came up with a  rough mental checklist of things I wanted in the piece: barrels (because beer is a common produce), a fish and grains based dish (also a common produce), bottles representing the three named breweries (it is directly linked to the prompt) and a warm golden hour-like atmosphere (to convey the cozy tavern vibe I was aiming for).

Before I started on a sketch I looked at images of beer ads to get a sense of how they arrange things composition-wise and what are common props.

As I made a rough sketch I was largely concerned with the color palette and light, and some general shapes and elements of the composition, like the barrels framing some of the  bottles and foam of the drinks creating a fun pattern that guides the eye to the palest bottle. I wasn't concerned with details or prop design, just getting my idea down quickly while using all the ideas I got from my beer ad research. Note that I forgot to add a third bottle for the last brewery that we know of by name from the show. Whoops.

After having the sketch down, I realized I had no idea what kind of shadows  this type of lighting would cast or what angle would be best to show the scene, so I mocked it up in Blender. This was the first time I fully did it and it helped so much with lighting and perspective! Cycles render takes a bit to render but all the reflections and shadows it shows are very handy for realistic lighting.

3D is such a great tool and it can truly help tackling complex lighting scenarios and unusual perspectives. It's okay to not know everything; that is what reference is there for!

The Sketchfab plugin was insanely helpful in this because I could just import models other people made and adjust them - as someone who doesn't know  how to model and texture things from scratch effectively yet that saved  me so much time because I only had to nudge things around. I arranged  everything as close to my original sketch as possible and rotated the camera to find the best angle. During this I realized some things (like the barrels) would work better composition-wise in a different position so I just moved them until I got something I liked. The tankard was rotated as well because the shape its handle was creating in the sketch was overly confusing and made the eye focus on it too much.

(and I also remembered that there should be three bottles rather than two!)

With  the 3D model there to guide me and my collection of refs ever expanding, I made a much tighter sketch. I even traced some parts of the render with slight adjustments because I was content with where they were. There is actual item design now and lighting is more firmly defined. I finally added in the third bottle and figured if Trostenwald is also known for fishing to include some fishing net decor in there.

This is where the idea of adding some easter eggs as clutter started to form. I knew I needed more stuff in there to make it feel less staged and adding something fun seemed, well, fun. Spaces in real life are rarely perfectly orderly, there is always some clutter or things are at odd angles. In pieces like this finding balance between clutter and readable composition is something that can make it work as a piece and sell the atmosphere!

(yes, I forgot to add foam in the tankard...)

After this majority of planning is done and there is pretty much some 10% of work left to do but time-wise this step takes the longest because there is a lot of fine work to do. Rendering is where a  good piece can become a fantastic piece if important things are touched up properly and less important ones are touched up just enough that they do not seem "unfinished". 

I have very mixed feelings about rendering because on one hand I enjoy capturing very fine detail of various materials but on the other, a lot of the time it feels like you are making very little  progress and you're working on the piece for hours on end. It does end  up worth it in the end, though!

During this stage I made some small changes like finally adding foam to the tankard, and flipping the candle so it points the eye into the piece rather than out, along with a lot of detail work. I also finally tackled designing the beer labels. Graphic design is absolutely not my area of expertise but it was a fun challenge.

And  some 15 hours later we end up with this! I'm sure that would've been a  much lower number if I could've worked on the piece more consistently  but instead all progress was stretched over several weeks so I often struggled with getting back into the swing of it and wasted a lot of time.

I'm fairly happy with how it turned out and it made me  really push texture work, but one thing I realized I should definitely  improve on is where I put detail and how much of it. Quite a ways into  painting the background I realized it had a ton of visual information  and was competing a lot with the focal points (the bottles and glasses),  and then when I reduced the contrast a lot of the detail I spent hours  working on got lost - wasted. I easily could've been looser and avoided  the entire issue to begin with. Finishing this piece provided me with a roadmap to further improvement and I don't think I would've spotted my weakness if I haven't completed the work on this.

A note that I didn't know where to put - through the entire painting process I kept adding more references because there are always things that I need more visual info on and know that I won't do my best off the top of my head. No matter how  many times I draw something, I only retain 20% of the actual information and need refs to get it right. 

By the end of it, I ended up with a reference board that looked something like this. I often keep several images for items or materials that are important so I can spot as many features of it as possible.

If someone got this far and is still reading, here is some technical info: I probably spent around 25 hours working on this piece, not counting putting together a Blender scene. That one probably took another 8 because I'm still very slow at using the program. I did all of my painting with Wacom Intuos graphics tablet, in Clip Studio Paint, with 2 custom brushes.