#and that very specific design of having a fully-closed under layer would be for protecting your arm from a bowstring

[borom1r]

…would it be helpful for anyone if I compiled all my notes/references for armor/appendages + clothing?

i’m mostly thinkin abt this from th perspective of a LotR fanfic author bc while we can find a ton of good visual references they’re also 1) costumes meant for actors, not actual practicality and 2) th visual references don’t generally have accurate names

[fannishcodex]

So I love @revasnaslan 's Where One Fell Verse, a SPOP AU. :D (Will add a link to the fic series in a comment or reblog below after remembering that tumblr sometimes has issues with embedded links, I think.)

Like, I really love it a lot, it borders on self-conscious "am I being too much, will this for some reason bother the fic writer??" And really, I’ve realized, no way, it won’t, especially since I write fic too and know I would be delighted if my fic got that reaction; but I think this may be more part of my self-consciousness and shyness. In any case, my affection for these fics is on hyperfixation level. I'm in the WOF Verse fandom. It's a thing I've been thinking about in some way since I found it late last year via @cirusthecitrus, it's one of the things that cheers me up these days. I struggle to articulate my pleasure with this fic, but I want to try to do it more.

This fic is a wonderfully character-driven story.

Fic spoilers under the cut, so recommend reading Where One Fell (fic 1) and Everything But A Door (fic 2) before this--and also, just, this fic has my deepest rec and everyone should check it out:

But, another different note first, even more self-conscious on my part: me writing about this fic more feels long overdue, but I really do struggle to sometimes articulate even my positive feelings about a thing because I want to get it across well--but I'm trying to more just spill it out now instead of trying to refine it more; and just also other things have been...a lot, there's been a lot (good and less good) that's pulled my attention in other directions too. So, long overdue, I wish I could've done more earlier, but I still just want to...gush about the fic; but I get self-conscious and worry about, like, "I don't want to end up pestering/pressuring and asking for immediate gratification for a new chapter/I don't want to guilt-trip for an update especially since I feel like I understand because I write fic too and I write slow and it's hard"...but I still want to gush about WOF verse, especially since it's like any other story I enjoy. I like gushing about the stories I enjoy.

So, again, this fic is wonderfully character-driven, which I love.

I'll bring up some canon for obvious reasons, but mostly in terms of contrast. One of the ways WOF Verse felt refreshing and drew me in was that after SPOP canon--well, in some ways SPOP canon feels like a wasted ensemble show; like many other things SPOP doesn't pull off, it doesn't pull off an ensemble show (especially when it ends up sidelining a bunch of characters that should've been prioritized more instead of a very mishandled character), and it kinda feels like it ends up having too many characters/like it starts feeling like too many characters if some are sort of just there and not really used (and I have my thoughts on who should've been prioritized, but that's another post; though granted I think my interest in this fic really indicates some of the characters I would've prioritized more).

So, I enjoyed how WOF Verse focuses on a smaller cast, giving them more attention and exploring them more. The general summary of the fic immediately drew me in, because I'm a sucker for family themes and dysfunctional families and familial love getting messy and complicated in fiction, and I hadn't realized I needed clone Hordak and his genetic template/progenitor Horde Prime shifted to them being literally brothers, plus the added twist of having Horde Prime actually care for his brother, but Prime's become thoroughly twisted in how he shows that affection and protectiveness--didn't know I needed that until I found this fic. And oh do I enjoy how this fic opened up the original '80s She-Ra/MOTU up to me more, because I just thought "wow, Hec-Tor Kur is a good made-up alt name/'real-ish' name with a last name for Hordak in this AU, and Anillis Kur just sounds cool and it just feels like it fits as an alt name/real name for Horde Prime when he's not always using that title," and I thought making them literally blood brothers was just a neat twist on them being clone and genetic template/progenitor. But nope, apparently Hec-Tor Kur and Anillis Kur are their real alt names from the original '80s canon which also heavily implies they're brothers, and that's really cool. (And I think it would've been really interesting if spop/the latest reboot had actually just explored that more, explored them more as brothers and siblings.)

Again, WOF is very character-driven, and I love that. And I enjoy how this feels like it also fits the story and world of the fic, which involves Anillis Kur/Horde Prime going into Extremely Overprotective Brother Mode and confining his sickly younger brother Hec-Tor (Hordak) to the Velvet Glove because he's that paranoid about anything happening to his brother due to a lot of family trauma that happened before Hec-Tor was even born/when he was just a baby (and baby Hec-Tor himself almost succumbing to illness and dying did not help with Anillis's issues), not to mention that controlling; so much of the fic so far is in a closed world, it adds to the hyper focus on the characters in that closed world. I appreciate how at times the fic really does have this claustrophobic feeling. I like how it sometimes makes me think of like a one-setting/limited setting play on a multi-chapter scale.

And of course, I like the specific characters getting this sort of hyper focus, and WOF makes me enjoy them even more. I love Hordak, his character, his voice, his design, etc. Horde Prime also has such a cool design and again that same cool voice, I adore Keston John's voice acting and his range in it. Canon S5 doesn't give him enough internal depth or character though, and ultimately makes him too much of just an obstacle and symbol/too much of a plot device in the show and a wasted opportunity for a more interesting character. That becomes even more apparent in contrast to WOF Verse, because Anillis Kur/Horde Prime is so much more interesting!!! Like Anillis/WOF!Prime is so much more interesting, it makes me realize how canon Prime is lacking in character/interest.

Ohman, this Prime. Prime has a great design and a great voice, and WOF has an interesting personality to match those elements in quality. There's so much fascinating contrast with him in WOF, and it makes him feel like a more unsettling villain. We've seen him care, and so it feels more frightening when he turns more aggressive and ruthless and cold. WOF's opening scene really effectively sets that contrast with him; it starts with him exhausted but having a really sweet moment with a very young Hec-Tor, and then not long after that when Hec-Tor's asleep in his arms it's a very unsettling mood whiplash with how Anillis coldly treats the clone attendant; it's even very effectively distilled and crystalized even further with the image of Anillis holding a sleeping Hec-Tor in his arms while glaring daggers at the clone attendant, that contrast of love and threat. Like, definitely a character that can do Both and I love that. And contrast adds layers to Anillis, it renders him in even more emotional dimensions, he can be multiple things at once.

And I rather love that he's far less...touchy, with everyone; it more finally struck me that he's rarely negatively touched anyone until a pivotal scene, and it being a rarity made the scene pack more of a punch, and then I looked back and realized he just doesn't do that often, there's another earlier scene that also feels shocking because it's another rare use of explicit touch, his touch is more targeted--he doesn't need to constantly do it to feel threatening at all, and is in fact much more threatening and unsettling without it. (I literally had to pause some instances because I was nervous about what Anillis would do next.) It's so fascinating to watch Anillis steadily grow worse and to watch Hec-Tor gradually have the dawning realization of what Anillis is really doing and the truth of his situation. It's interesting to see Hec-Tor gradually realizing that what he's lived with his whole life and what has felt normal isn't a good thing, it's not acceptable.

And I really do like that familial love is such a motivating factor for Anillis, and that it's something that feeds into a lot of his ruthlessness and villainy; and it feels like something I still don't see enough in fiction. And it just feels more believable, more consistent. Anillis acts horribly, is abusive, but it still feels like what he does is out of love for his brother and he really is blind to what he's actually doing to his brother, that it's the opposite of what he wants, it's not protecting him like he believes. I like that level of character believability/consistency, and part of that also involves how it's overall framed, and it's still framed as pretty terrifying; Anillis cares about his brother, but his methods are twisted.

And my gut feeling does...well, feel connections between canon and this AU--and that may be obvious as source material and fic based on it, but I mean--it's as if canon were the very rough first sketch/draft, and WOF is the fully realized version of the character, plus the change of shifting his brotherly status into a brother that actually does care but goes about it in a horribly twisted way. WOF takes parts and pieces and little details from canon and fleshes them out into something more fully dimensional and more interesting. Like the trace of canon Prime's collection with plants/other things and even arguably the imagery at the end with his ship the Velvet Glove becoming a tree feel connected to a more fleshed out version in WOF where Anillis keeps a garden. And there's so much meaning that can be pulled from his garden--it's another reflection of his controlling behavior with the way he controls/manages the garden; on the flip side, it feels like it further reflects the contrast/dichotomy in his character, as gardens can still have positive connotations too--it can reflect the potential Anillis had (may still have?) for genuine good/for genuinely nurturing care. And it also does more explicitly point to Anillis's affection for family since his late father had kept a garden too and Anillis's own garden on the Velvet Glove still has his father's plants. There's so much done with Anillis's garden.

And with his backstory and the contrast in his character, just his...everything, I also want to know more about Anillis, I'm curious for even more of his backstory, even going more into "why are you like this?" Like this is a genuinely fascinating, charismatic, threatening, multi-faceted antagonist right here.  

And I can go on about Anillis, but I love Hec-Tor/Hordak in this too. I love Hordak, and I enjoy how this still feels so much like Hordak, but with a different life; I feel like there are commonalities that remain from canon within him combined with differences based on the AU he's in and the different experiences he's lived with. Like, there's such an interesting detail with Hec-Tor's growing anger issues that remind me of Hordak--it's there, but different because of their different lives, Hec-Tor's developing because of his isolation but still quieter, simmering, because his brother only has his best interests at heart, he shouldn't act like this... And then it’s so nice to see Hec-Tor be even more talkative about SCIENCE because he does have more space to be a bit more open about his passions in this AU/different life situation. And it's all like another AU I didn't realize I wanted until I saw it--I really dig seeing Hordak/Hec-Tor as a baby, as a little kid, getting to have a childhood and get to have more typical developmental stages and to have more familial experiences, albeit twisted ones. And I love how the story has shifted to Hec-Tor more, love his POV and following him on his journey.

And the clones! The clones are great in WOF and give me feels too. I love how more of them are focused on as individuals, and that we get to see more of their characters and glimpse their differing views. And when Etherian characters join in, they're as well written and interesting too (the Entrapdak is so good). I just like WOF's cast, and the line-up plucked from canon and how they adjust to the AU; this ensemble just feels better, and it's utilized and treated better than canon.

And the worldbuilding with Anillis & Hec-Tor’s race and the clones and their world is so good and seamlessly interwoven with story and character, enhancing the whole thing even more and making things even more interesting.

I just...really love these characters and this story. They have a lot of heart and intrigue.

(Disclaimer: I definitely ended up having trouble figuring out tags for this. Especially since I think only the first five tags actually show up at first? And I think last I checked tumblr freaks out over dashes within a tag so while “hec-tor kur” probably fits better, I don’t think tumblr can handle that for some reason so just going with “hordak,” which also really still just fits.)

[valhallanrose]

Monster Miriyam Headcanons

So, to preface, Miriyam is still technically human - her monster form comes about as a contract with her patron, the King of Swords, and manifests this way because she is halfway to becoming a member of his court. She’s essentially got one foot in the realms of the arcane, the other in her/the normal world - changing or transforming means pulling magic from the realm of the Suit of Swords and rather than expressing that through spells, does so through self modification. Hence the monster form, which was inspired off the Nyx Hydra design for the King of Swords in the Arcana tarot deck. She’s met with Arcana a few times now and while some very perceptive humans read her more as Arcana-adjacent than anything else, the Arcana very much believe that she’s human regardless of what form she takes. 

Size-wise, she’s about 7’2”, not including horns (horns make it a good 7’10”). Very muscular and definitely as strong, if not stronger than you think she is based on appearance alone. Prehensile tail. 

Miriyam doesn’t break this form out without a long conversation as to what she is (only held with potential long term partners, really, casual hookups don’t usually get to a personal enough point to warrant that)

Transforming is kind of gross, honestly? Like this is some very audible crunching/popping, like when you crack your knuckles but way louder, but it’s also a very fast paced change so you don’t hear it for every long

She’s got some habits from the monster side that have quickly become noticeable when she’s wandering about as a human. 

This includes enhanced sense of smell, hearing, and sight.

Smell and hearing are particularly intense, though, to where she can pick up on a mouse running on the palace marble or tell you exactly what spices someone mixed into a dish as soon as she stepped into the kitchens. 

Sight is trickier to quantify, but the average human with 20/20 vision can see the furthest edge at 3 miles away. Miriyam’s would be somewhere in the 4-5 mile range, while night vision is about 3-4 miles (assuming clear skies and no obstacles)

Very catlike? Loves to sun herself if she can find a private spot in the daytime, will purr if you scratch behind her ears, also easily tempted by shiny things (particularly gold shiny things, her eyes get bigger than her brain at the idea of Expanding the Instinctual Hoard)

Extremely embarrassed to admit she has a not insignificant collection of gold coins and trinkets she’s collected over the years based purely on instinct - she has no idea where half of it came from

Has gone and still goes on long flights, usually to get out when her nightmares get bad. While her secondary form isn’t necessarily a secret - she used it in the Coliseum during her brief time as a gladiator, and most of the guard is aware simply for the sake of ease - she still waits until nightfall for some sense of privacy. 

Her favorite place she’s ever gone was to the Scourgelands, where she flew through the southern lights, and she’s hoping to bring a partner there one day if they’d be alright taking the fast route. 

When it comes to fighting prowess, she’s absolutely a predator - armored scales, claws, fangs, speed, strength...fuck around and you will find out and yes I do mean that double entendre 

There’s some art refs under the cut from @anonbunnyart and @lajadelmira so you get an idea of what she looks like, and then we’re going to dive into the thirst. 

In case it isn’t clear: NSFW AHEAD, MINORS DNI, also obvious monsterfucking cw 

by anonbunnyart

by lajadelmira

Still cis, still a lesbian, so she’s still attracted exclusively to women and femme-presenting nonbinary people, the pool is only narrowed based on if her partner would ride the dragon. 

Yes I’ve made that joke many times, no I’m not going to stop making it. If I don’t, just assume I’m dead

Absolutely a top and a dominant top at that, convincing her to bottom when she’s in monster form is very, very difficult and usually only comes about in niche circumstances. More on that later. 

Addendum: She’s slightly more willing to bend if you want to use your hands/mouth, but straps are damn near impossible for her to get into when she has all of you right there to pay attention to. She’s not opposed to being touched, but she’d really just rather pay attention to her partner like this. 

Personal pleasure is very much just an afterthought, and honestly, she’s okay with that

Has several ‘weak spots’ on her body that will definitely turn her to putty, no matter how tough she acts. Done in sort of a sensitivity scale from least to most. 

Horns:

It’s not that they’re sensitive, but if you grab her by the horns and tell her exactly what you want to do her/her to do to you, she’ll find it very hard to tell you no.

Loves it and will take it as encouragement if she’s going down on her partner and they grab her by the horns when she does something they like. 

Tail:

Her tail is prehensile, and she will use that to her advantage, including fucking her partner with the tip of it (which is nice if her partner likes penetration, because finding a strap to fit her in draconic form is A Whole Nightmare)

However, she will go a little apeshit if you play with the tip otherwise - particularly if you suck on it - and honestly you’ll probably get pounced

Wings:

Quick note - Miriyam usually keeps her wings tucked fairly close to her back as a sort of protective measure, and she doesn’t usually like being on her back because she doesn’t like them being pinned, but can ease into it with a partner

Loves, loves, loves it if you touch her wings - the membranes are sensitive and just running your fingers across them makes her want to purr like a kitten

Fun fact, stimulating the right spot on her wings will actually make her orgasm. (That spot is on the wing membranes closest to her back, about halfway down, and no, that’s not something Miriyam will realize until she has a partner that wants to explore her physically like that)

Territorial. Absolutely a territorial bastard. She tries to tamp it down, she really does, but some days it’s harder than others. Particularly when she can pick up the scents of other people on her partner, that really kicks up the ‘mine’ instinct even if she logically knows nothing happened and trusts her partner fully

She really likes scent marking because of this - no, she won’t piss on you, that’s just the best term I can come up with - but she has a few approaches if she’s feeling like she needs to ‘stake her claim’

Lots of roaming hands and definitely letting her mouth wander, but if not directed to a specific spot she will absolutely go for a full bite on your pulse point to really just layer the scent in there

Tucks shed scales into the pockets of her partner’s clothing (jackets, shirts, pants, etc)

Or, a good old fashioned absolute obliteration - by which I mean she’ll fuck her partner until they’re an overstimulated puddle in her lap plus an orgasm for good measure - and then taking care of them afterward 

That being said, this definitely goes both ways, she will be raring to go if you just murmur a ‘mine’ in her ear - she’ll be eager to prove that yes, she is yours, and she’s not going anywhere

When it comes to actually doing the deed...

Favorite positions (in no particular order)

Partner pinned to the wall, any position, just. Pinned to the wall

One hand around both her partner’s wrists, legs spread out over her thighs, the other hand between their thighs or otherwise roaming

I feel like I should mention here that monster Miri has a habit of filing down at least the first two claws on each hand (middle and index) if she knows sex is on the table, she’s not out here to hurt her partner like that

Seated on the edge of the bed, ideally facing a mirror, with her partner in her lap. One hand/her tail tip between their thighs, and arm around their waist, chin on their shoulder watching them in the mirror

Yeah this is definitely a favorite of monster Miri’s 

A handful of things she enjoys (all with prior consent)

Primal (predator), some painplay (ft. claws, teeth, and a very strong grip), sensation play, overstimulation

Some turn-ons

Lingerie, but the shinier the better

Gold accents in particular will really make her go AWOOGA, she jokes it’s because of the gold dragon hoard but it’s actually not far off

Dirty talk/dirty...actions?

Just manhandle her she’ll think it’s hot

Any and all of the brat fighting words 

“What are you going to do about it?”, “Make me.”, etc

Honestly the more I think about it I’m not sure there’s an off switch so much as each side of the switch being fight or fuck. Like. Miriyam is always horny like this. She can chill but why would she in the privacy of her home/when she’s with her partner

This might be. TMI. But the scale plating over the fun parts is….retractable I guess? I don’t know what word I want but they’re not always out because that feels like a hazard. And unfortunately no nips like this because those are also a hazard, but her neck, ears, lower belly, and the previously mentioned areas are all very sensitive and prime for the touching. 

[bluemoonpunch]

⭐The BTS Rap Line Triad - Connection and Relationship - Tarot Reading

[This reading covers the relationship dynamic between Kim Namjoon, Min Yoongi, and Jung Hoseok on a subconscious and energetic level. This particular reading has been altered to fit three people and can cover romantic, platonic, and familial relationships and is designed to put a connection between three individuals into perspective, showcasing what is gained from the relationship as well as the highest potential of it. For this reading in particular, I use 2 decks — the Rider-Waite Tarot deck and the Linestrider Tarot Deck. This spread is an original design by me. This reading lasted 3 hours.]

This reading was performed on November 29, 2018.

Pre-Reading:

The only way I am going to be able to get through this reading is if I go through the whole damn thing and explain the Soul Body and how that shit all worked out because the way they worked together there is nearly identical to how they work now on a soul level, which reverberates through to their conscious connection. Plus I had gotten more questions from when I posted that channeled nonsense about how the timelines were folding over and that’s why things seemed like they were getting worse or whatever, so I thought I could try to clear things up here.

Obviously, to explain the Soul Body, i have to start with Namjoon disconnecting himself from the source energy that they were getting their transmissions from, which for a long time I did not fully understand how that happened either, especially since they were still able to make ports and whatever else, but that channeled post pretty much threw it all at me to explain it. 

I have drawn pictures of what I was shown to try and make it a bit clearer so, hopefully, it will make things easier to understand.

-full reading with photos under the cut-

So, this would be Namjoon’s shit. 

The bottom circles are his layers of consciousness — the outer layer being the conscious mind, the middle being the subconscious and the very small inner circle would be the unconscious mind. 

Directly connected to the unconscious mind would be Namjoon’s energy center, his Higher Self, which is what makes up the Soul Body. The bit above the energy center, the circle with the satellite looking thing is… I mean, I guess it is pretty much a satellite. In a very weird and not accurately described way, it is like the Higher Self’s Higher Self, or the energy center’s energy center. it is the “remnant” of the old body when they were existing as one. As long as they, all seven of them, are connected to the remnant, they are perfectly in sync, in balance, and able to connect with their source energy.

In the beginning, I kept saying that Namjoon was consciously disconnected from the energy center, from his soul, from his Higher Self, but that was not really the case, which is kind of obvious, but you know… The disconnect was actually between the energy center and the remnant, which was caused by a “distancing” between the unconscious mind and the energy center. The line there was never broken, it was just being stretched.

So, pretty much on a conscious level he stopped trusting himself, stopped listening to his gut feelings, stopped fully living through the soul, and that caused him to distance himself from his subconscious mind, which distanced him from the unconscious mind, and so on. 

As things got further and further away from each other, those energy lines connecting them, just like the energy lines between people, got dimmer as the vibration started to lower. Then the energy center completely broke off from the remnant because it was not able to hold that vibration anymore.

This caused the entire Soul Body to start shifting out of balance. I understand now that in the natural state of the Soul Body everything will always ripple down through each energy center, so it was like a domino effect with everyone else. From what I can tell, it took about two months for everyone to be disconnected and then another two months for things to start manifesting on the conscious level.

So, with Namjoon’s Guides — each of them have multiple, but there are three separate Guides that direct and watch over them collectively, they’re more focused on the Soul Body — they started trying to “hand deliver” transmissions, pretty much filling in for that source energy and directly administer the transmission to the energy center, but even then it would only get to the unconscious mind. 

At that point, it was completely on Namjoon to be open to receiving them subconsciously and consciously, and he was not. He was still getting them, but he was not actually taking them in with the right intent.

There was still unconscious knowledge of how and where to put in the ports, but at that point, it was almost completely unconscious, especially with group music because that’s is where the most self-doubt was at the time. He was more likely to take in his own understanding with his own personal work, which is why Mono had more transmissions than the first two group albums in the Love Yourself series. That’s also why they were stronger as well because they were being channeled directly through the layers of the conscious mind.

For the group work, which is what those three Guides care most about, Namjoon was completely unreachable. Again, he still had an unconscious awareness of where and how to put the ports in the music, but none of them were being filled because he was not channeling it, he was disconnected. 

it is like getting a bowl out of the cupboard but refusing to put cereal in it because you think there’s a mouse in the box, so you just leave the bowl there and wait for someone else to get cereal so you can be sure there’s no mouse. That kind of filtering pretty much distorted a lot of what they were able to get through and made it extremely weak.

Now, when the Soul Body started to go out of balance everything in it started to shift. I know now that the positions of the energy centers in the Soul Body were actually mirroring the soul/energy connection between them within the layers of consciousness. The only difference was that based on the positions of the energy centers, their purpose, and their own individual connections, the lines that were connecting them started to “turn off” and be used as anchors to literally hold each other in place because they were starting to drift. So, half the lines were energy exchange and the other half were empty and just being used to hold everyone in place.

The remnant dropped down to the very center of the body and also acted as a tether which put them in this weird position of trying to pull themselves closer together and also trying to keep themselves from getting too close. If they got too close they could have started to merge because of how close that remnant was.

Compared to the Energy Body, they were way more imbalanced. In the Energy Body every line between them is being used to exchange energy and because of that, they are all an equal distance apart. it is a perfect little structure. The Soul Body, while trying to mimic that balance, was already extremely unstable because the vibration, it is own collective energy, had dropped so much. So, there were like a million things wrong on the inside and that kind of gave birth to the three-way exchange at the head of the body that I lovingly referred to as the “Rapline Triad.”

Out of every other position and exchange in the body at that time, this was the most complex one.

As I have mentioned many times before, Hoseok is extremely receptive to cosmic shifts to the point where he can experience personal retrogrades and be mentally affected by planetary transits. it is part of how they balance for him to be grounded into the physical energy of physical bodies even if he is not consciously receptive. His body will take the energy in which is why it affects his physical and mental state. 

Because of his ability to receive energy from the planetary bodies, half of their collective Guides started to literally send transmissions to Hoseok by bouncing them off of the Moon and Mars. They could have used other planetary bodies, but I only ever saw those two being used.

So, half of their Guides were focused on that while the other half was forming the net around the Soul Body which was meant to help balance the energies inside while also providing protection while they were disconnected. 

The connection to the source energy allows the body to vibrate at a frequency that literally cannot be touched by anything beneath that frequency or vibration, so once they disconnected and everything got all wacky, they became extremely vulnerable to attack and manipulation, which was already being allowed to occur on a conscious level through Namjoon as well as the company.

So, try to keep that straight. Half of their collective Guides were projecting transmission off the planets while the other half was completely wrapped up in projecting this net around them, which means in terms of guidance and keeping things on track with the souls, it was left up to the energy centers, their Higher Selves, to be in complete control of the conscious layers, which was already extremely difficult to do.

The transmissions that were being sent through Hoseok’s energy center were not transmissions for the collective, they were frequencies specifically to trigger a reconnect, which is why this energy would cycle through the three of them rather than going through Hoseok and immediately dropping to the remnant of the Soul Body. 

You can think of Hoseok’s energy center as a defibrillator at this point in time. It was basically these very raw frequencies, literally like pure electricity versus the radio waves that were coming through from the source energy. 

The problem with that was that these raw frequencies, because they were being bounced off the planets and being directed at Hoseok on an unconscious level with all the other energy he gets from cosmic shifts, and then being delivered to the energy center, they were picking up a lot of “dust” and losing a lot of the vibration. 

So, once it got to Hoseok’s energy center it would be filtered. One of Hoseok’s jobs in the Soul Body is to filter things going in and coming out, but in this situation, because of the energy centers lower vibration and instability, it was very rough on him to actually be doing that, even on a conscious and physical level.

Once the frequencies were filtered through Hoseok they were sent directly over to Yoongi’s energy center which was straight across the way.

Out of everyone, Yoongi always seemed to be the most coherent out of all of them, even when he was working with Jimin’s energy center to restructure the Soul Body and heal Hoseok later on, and that’s because his layers of consciousness were all connected and he pretty much never experienced that distancing from his own energy center or Higher Self. 

On a very conscious level, he could feel that imbalance, and he was very, very sensitive to those shifts, especially collective shifts that were going through around the time of Tear where he was starting to experience the ascension symptoms which would have him wavering in and out of the connection. 

All very complicated, but it is just important to know that Yoongi was always receptive.

Yoongi was acting as a “translator” which is pretty close to what he does in the Soul Body, but it is more of a translation of concept to an image rather than code to words. 

Literally, the first time I was shown this it just looked like waves of frequency being sent to Hoseok, and then being converted to binary code (1’s and 2’s rather than 1’s and 0’s), which Yoongi would translate into plain words and send them off to Namjoon’s energy center, who would do some fancy shit with it and just send it down to the remnant.

The thing with that is it really seemed like Namjoon’s energy center was not doing anything other than being used to send things down to the remnant, so mostly, while Namjoon was disconnected, it was just Yoongi and Hoseok that were manning the head. 

Actually, now that I think about it, every time I was in the Soul Body, even recently when I did Namjoon’s solo reading for December, it seemed like he, or his energy center, was not really all there. Like in terms of communication and kind of having a mind, I guess. Which leads me to believe, as he is in the position of the Crown Chakra, his energy center is just a conduit. Which would line up with what I got in his Elemental Alignment reading where I said he was born already integrated with his Higher Self. 

So, pretty much that energy center is the conduit, Namjoon himself is his Higher Self (kind of, at least in terms of integration), and the other guys are his layers of consciousness that he works through. Kind of.

Something that was shown to me this time around was that the frequency, or the code, or the words that Namjoon was receiving was actually being split in two. 

One half was being sent down to the remnant while the other was being projected out of Namjoon’s energy center towards Yoongi’s conscious layer. Why was Yoongi’s energy center not just doing that on its own? I have no idea. I am sure it has something to do with whatever Namjoon’s energy center was doing, followed by a “path of least resistance” kind of thing, but I do not know.

So, Yoongi was channeling some of the transmissions but it just so fucking happens that a lot of his work that he was doing was getting rejected for albums around this time, so a lot of them did not even make it to the public… which is interesting.

The other half of the transmissions would be sent down to this middle point between Yoongi and Hoseok where — how I was seeing it — Fire energy was being produced. 

There’s this whole thing about the Soul Body not being able to or allowed to carry too much Fire energy specifically because it would raise the vibration too much and they would pretty much move too fast. Like them being around for a few years before blowing up and then having a very steady rise in popularity was exactly how it was supposed to happen. If they had gone up too fast they would have pretty much burnt out and would have not been able to carry out what they are meant to do due to a lack of development with the public connection as well as an inability to handle the pressure mentally… which I guess was still a thing since Namjoon disconnected due to pressure, but that’s okay.

So, this Fire energy was being produced in this funny little space because the Soul Body on its own was not carrying the right level of vibration anymore, so this energy had to be created or built up. 

There was a risk to this as the Fire energy, this very high-frequency energy, could throw things off or make things move too fast. So, Jimin and Jin, who were across from each other just like Hoseok and Yoongi, but very far apart, would push and pull that energy once it got to the remnant, which was between them.

You can imagine them as a machine pulling hot syrup into a taffy. They were stabilizing it and turning it into a “solid” form that could then be passed down slowly, very slowly, to Taehyung and Kook who were at the bottom, sitting across from each other, but very, very close together, to the point where they were almost working as one.

The energetic attack that affected Hoseok came through a literal hole in the net around the body that was there to let those transmissions from the planets get into him. Low-vibe nonsense literally infiltrated that space, fucked with the frequency, and pretty much loaded Hoseok with Fire. Like they were burning his energy center, loading it with so much energy that it was starting to rip and break apart. At least that’s what it looked like happened to it. It was quite graphic when I actually got to see it during the Soul Body Healing process.

This severely affected Hoseok on a conscious and physical level and it made it very difficult for that process of exchange to continue on, and things became even more unbalanced as Jin and Jimin, the book holders of the bodies on all levels, were completely focused on trying to balance and cool down that energy in the remnant.

So, that was where they were at when I first started getting things about the Soul Body back in April of 2018. It was “the wobble” that I talked about in the original OT7 2018/2019 Outlook reading at the very beginning. It was the reason they were not all able to integrate their Higher Self when they were meant to around June or July. 

It was all a thing and very dramatic and I spent about 2 months with @lunar-lepus trying to figure shit out because… shit was complicated.

While that manipulation was happening there, it was just affecting the guys on a conscious level. Not a lot, but enough to make things slightly off and weird, especially for Hoseok who I am pretty sure was experiencing physical symptoms from this.

Then all hell broke loose when the low vibe manipulation dropped into down Taehyung’s energy center where the projected energy of the body, the frequencies that meet the public, and it started pumping out insane amounts of this extremely distorted energy. 

It was a literal psychological manipulation through public perception. 

Around this time a lot of rumors and controversies started popping up and I kept telling people, especially after the healing, to not focus on it because it was manipulation and feeding into it causes it to take much longer to die out. 

No one listened of course. 

Also, the same thing is happening now because of the timelines folding over and that energy is being presented again, but it is very hollow on it is own. it is only being upheld by public perception, there’s no manipulation to it now.

Taehyung’s energy center being attacked is what spurred the healing because, from my perspective, it seemed like that was going to be the downfall of the body, which would be the downfall of the group as they would literally start to fade out the public eye as they wouldn’t be carrying the right frequency anymore, which would just fuck everything up with their job in the ascension process. Again, it was very dramatic.

But the healing was done and everything was fine after that, but it did take a couple of months for the body to be fully restructured, even longer for Hoseok’s energy center to be completely healed, and then a little while longer, literally around late October for everything to manifest on the conscious level completely. 

The ports were filled through the Answer album and, of course, a lot more transmissions came out through Mono.

So, this is what the Soul Body looked like when it was all out of whack and under manipulation:

And this is what it looks like now in its proper form:

Very different.

The structure underneath the current Soul Body is that energetic connection, or soul connection between the seven of them. it is very similar to what the previous state of the Soul Body looked like, but it is much more evenly distributed and balanced between all of them in terms of how energy is exchanged. In this Soul Body, everything ripples through from top to bottom and is then spread out through the unconscious minds of the individuals, which has them perfectly in balance with each other.

Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok are in the “area of reception”, Jimin and Jin are in the “area of balance,” and Taehyung and Kook are in the “area of projected energy.” Then at the very bottom, there are the receptors for the Soul Group and the general public that the projected energy is being put out toward.

I have noted there on the side about how the bit between Namjoon’s layers of consciousness and the Soul Body is where there’s this collection of unconscious knowledge, which is what he channels when he writes, whether it be for an album or a blog post, that has all of the ports, symbolism, and frequency in tones as well as how to use them and put them into his work. 

it is completely unconscious and handled between the aspects of the Higher Self and unconscious mind. 

Honestly, on a conscious level he probably just thinks about something looking cool or sounding cool, but he will always gravitate towards those specific images and sounds for that reason. 

If you listen to his music or what he’s produced for the group with headphones you can hear the same patterns and tones being used in songs in the background. it is also why he tends to mess around with the tone of his voice in his solo music and why he does that weird breathing as backing vocals for a lot of his solo stuff. 

He’s putting out tones that trigger parts of the brain and push people that are already receptive to it along with the ascension process.

A lot of media does this and it triggers things unconsciously in the individual so, unless you’are already in the know, it is not going to really be noticeable, or even if it is, most people wouldn’t think about it being something to alter the brain and expand consciousness for the sake of human evolution and ascension… right?

The way they function within the Soul Body still vibes with how they function together on a conscious level. They mesh well in spite of there difference in perception, understanding, and energy because they literally just move together really well. They sync up really well.

This seems a bit too on the nose, but what can you do?

The 3 of Cups is that meeting point where the three of them come together as I’m sure you could have guessed, but how on point and accurate the other three are in describing their energy is almost too much for me, lol.

The Star is Hoseok with his energetic connection to the cosmic bodies, the Ace of Cups is Yoongi’s open channels and receptive nature, and The Chariot is Namjoon’s streamlined and focused awareness towards what their purpose is, a literal leader. 

Just like I said before, they all carry something extremely different, have different jobs in the group and in the Soul Body, but they are able to meet and work together in the most seamless way possible.

The Reading:

Energetic Contributions To The Relationship:

Namjoon: Death

Hoseok: The Magician

Yoongi: The High Priestess

Before I get into this, can we just talk about how many majors came out for this reading… like wow okay pop off, I guess.

For sure though, all three of these cards are gorgeous representations of their energy and what they actually bring to the table in their relationship both on a personal level and with their work.

Namjoon’s place as Death is more in line with that very forward focused kind of progression on an internal level that is projected through their music and what they stand for as a group. 

I was really focused on the image of the card. It’s a classic image of a skull with flowers growing out of it, a great symbol of killing parts of yourself in order for new things to grow in their place, letting go of bad habits to form better ones, recognizing and accepting your flaws so they can be utilized for something good. 

It’s like Namjoon, because of his alignment with his Higher Self, experiences ego deaths constantly, like mini-bursts of self-reflection and awareness that forces this kind of mental purging that ripples through everyone else.

He provides this stable cleansing for everyone in the group which leads to this kind of vibe where no one is allowed to stagnate, no one is allowed to stay in one headspace for too long. It’s very unconscious as well which goes with what I talked about in his Elemental Alignment reading a while back where I said he teaches as he is being taught, he guides as he is being guided. 

He’s not really enforcing anything, he’s suggesting and encouraging and leaving it up to everyone else to move through the process on their own.

Then there’s Hoseok with that Aquarius vibe being all innovative and making very hard jabs that really make things move. Where Namjoon causes change internally, Hoseok causes change externally. He’s the off the wall thinker, he’ll just bring up something out of nowhere that sets things in motion and they go pretty far. 

You can see how far he can actually push things when it comes to his solo performances, his solo dances, and his solo music. He pushes the boundaries and in a way, he’s constantly opening new chapters or presenting entirely new books for the others to look at and broaden their perspective on a very conscious and intellectual level.

It’s more hands-on than Namjoon, or at least it feels that way. Namjoon is inspiring, he’s doing things for himself and he presents it as a sort of anecdotal sort of thing rather than preaching it, but Hoseok is like wearing these concepts, handing them out on fliers. It’s very physical and at the forefront of the mind.

Then Yoongi, Mr. Pisces Man Min Yoongi, is over there in his Water World with The High Priestess sort of in the background drawing these ideas and concepts into existence. It’s very difficult to explain how I’m seeing his position here. 

I said it earlier that he projects the image from a concept, and that’s a great way of summing up what this is here. It’s like he processes what Hoseok and Namjoon do and actually forms it.

It’s just a lot quieter, not a lot of it is being pushed out for other people, or at least not pushed outside the group, it’s just something within this energetic exchange that he does. It’s very calming as well, this very smooth feminine energy to balance out the more bombastic masculine energy that Hoseok brings into the mix.

There’s also this nice balance in terms of where things are at on the levels of consciousness as Hoseok really brings forward the conscious state, the very physical and 3D aspects of understanding, while Namjoon brings forward the awareness of the subconscious, the self-exploration, and then Yoongi connects them to the unconscious mind, the silent connection to what is neither seen or understood fully by either the conscious or subconscious awareness.

Very cool.

How They See The Relationship:

Namjoon: Strength + Temperance

Hoseok: Wheel of Fortune + Justice

Yoongi: The Moon + The Empress

Again, a lot of fucking majors here… like, they’re all majors.

It’s actually so interesting how these combinations of cards go with everything that was just laid out above in terms of how they help each other cope with being sort of settled into those specific layers of consciousness.

Namjoon, with that connection to the subconscious, the awareness and maybe even an over-awareness of the self and his own mind and mortality can become overwhelmed very easily. 

He overthinks things and gets in his head about small things long enough to turn them into big things and then he has an anxiety attack and collapses for a while. These two people literally bring him strength, he sees them as his support system, what sends out the life raft when he starts getting into the deeper waters. Temperance, when compared to Hoseok’s Justice card, shows his view on both of them as being what allows him to find stability within the subconscious mind, a balance between conscious and unconscious.

Then Hoseok, with the Wheel of Fortune, sees both Namjoon and Yoongi as being a source of big change in his life on a very grand level, and with that comes this very big wave of energy that seems to always be put towards something. 

I kept going back to the whole “get the ball rolling” thing where Hoseok can have all these big ideas and either not know how or not have the confidence to implement them and act on them, and Namjoon and Yoongi give him this foundation, these resources to do it. 

Like, in the past, they were the ones to literally teach him how to rap and how to write. They gave him tools that he then built up and extended with his own flair and individuality. It’s kind of like that, that’s what the Wheel of Fortune is.

The Justice bit, as I mentioned, is in line with Namjoon’s Temperance, but it’s much more conscious, much more physical as things tend to be with Hoseok. 

A lot of his mental issues, his stress, anxiety, and mood swings tend to be intellectualized and shoved down, which can cause these very upset and difficult moments of what seem to be very big outbursts that last literally just a few minutes. 

In those moments, maybe even before they happen, Namjoon and Yoongi, who have that deeper sense, can see it coming and are able to balance him out. This is especially true with Yoongi which I talked about in his and Hoseok’s relationship reading (Part 1 / Part 2). This, of course, comes from Yoongi’s sensitivity to people’s energy and emotions.

Yoongi’s cards are pretty interesting as well because usually The Moon always gives me kind of heavy vibe as it shows this hidden and mysterious kind of energy, a representation of the unconscious or what people can be unconscious or blind to, but that’s not what this felt like. 

This felt very hopeful actually, and quite happy and open. 

I was really focused on the Moon itself in the image, the brighter parts of the image. It’s this vibe of being allowed to bring light to what was usually hidden. In terms of Yoongi’s open honestly about his personal struggles, his beliefs, all that kind of stuff — the comfort and confidence towards sharing that came from Hoseok and Namjoon, which makes a lot of sense considering Namjoon’s inner development and progression and Hoseok’s outer development and progression.

Being able to see them be open on these different levels made it possible for him to express that, they gave him that platform, foundation, however you want to look at it, to speak openly without any fear of judgment or ridicule. 

Yoongi does that for a lot of people, but as it tends to be with a lot of old-soul Pisces, he sometimes doesn't follow his own advice.

Speaking of foundations, the presence of The Empress is just that for Yoongi. 

My first thought when I see The Empress is “Mother Earth,” it’s the fertile soil that people can build on and work through, it’s very comfortable energy. It’s very open and loving. 

Stability was a big thing here which is exactly what someone who’s very rooted in their unconscious mind, very sensitive to energy, and very empathic need. They need something to ground them and help them feel more present, something to allow them to connect externally. That’s what Hoseok and Namjoon do for Yoongi. They’re literally his bridge to the outside world, just as the subconscious bridges the unconscious to the conscious mind.

Current State of The Relationship:

Knight of Swords

Currently, and this may be because of the different levels of integration that they are currently at, they are all mostly connecting to each other on a conscious level. 

This isn’t bad, it’s not imbalanced in any way, in fact, this may be a great sign that a lot of that integration is pulling things to the surface where they are able to connect consciously through those different levels of awareness, which would put them in a great position to start working more directly on their music again.

There’s really not a lot to say here other than that there is a lot of stimulation between them on a conscious level, a lot of plans about to be put into motion, which is very exciting.

Highest Potential:

The Sun + Ace of Swords

Again, there’s not much to say here, it’s pretty simple in the sense that this is clarity on both ends coming through the full integration of the Higher Selves for all three of them. The Ace of Swords is the conscious connection to The Sun or the collective awareness and perception through all levels of consciousness.

If you recall from the solo readings for December with all the members, the Sun was a big factor as the light integration was becoming very focused on acting through the heart, or living through the soul, expressing the soul in its entirety. 

One of the things that’s gotten away from them over the past year, year and a half is the soul expression, the deeper connection to the music for the sake of progressing the collective, and that’s what this is. The highest potential between the three of them is these equal projection of the soul, the projection of the dominions of the layers of consciousness, a literal projection of integrated awareness and conscious expansion.

Pretty deep, but they're literally like right on the cusp of being at this level again.

That’s all I have for this reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for reading it all!

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[vividracing]

New Post has been published on https://www.vividracing.com/blog/top-4-best-infiniti-g37-headlights/

Top 4 Best Infiniti G37 Headlights

The G was Infiniti’s first luxury coupe and it quickly became so much more than that. The G coupe was an instant hit with performance enthusiasts and it still remains an icon and highly sought-after model today. While the name may have changed (to the Q), the G37 will forever be known as the brand’s truly dynamic vehicle of choice. Replacing the celebrated G35 in 2008, the G37 took car fans by storm with its powerful V6 engine that pumped out 330 horsepower and an impressive all-wheel-drive system that proved to be very popular in the colder and snowier parts of the country. No matter where you live, though, you are bound to see countless Infiniti Gs on the road. With that being said, it can be hard to stand out from the rest but the automotive aftermarket can fix that.

Shop All Infiniti G37 Headlights Here

One of the most popular aesthetic mods owners do to their G37 is swap out the factory headlights. While the OEM setup has a nice shape and is appealing straight off the showroom floor, it could use a bit of ramping up. Whether you want to change the color of the housing to make it more aggressive, incorporate color-changing lights, or merely upgrade the luminosity of the stock bulbs, Vivid Racing carries what you need. We have put together a short list of the top four options for your G below to get you started. For additional assistance, feel free to reach out to our experts by phone at 1-480-966-3040 or via email at sales@vividracing.com. We can get you set up with an upgraded headlight package today!

1. Diode Dynamics H8 SL1 LED Headlights

The Diode Dynamics H8 SL1 LED headlights are a great choice for those looking to improve visibility on their G37 at night. While there are many options for LED upgrades on the aftermarket, most bulbs are too big, don’t work with the electrical system, or have no focus on the beam pattern. Even if they come close, they do not provide the same quality you would find with factory-installed lights. With the SL1 LED, Diode Dynamics set out to engineer a true OEM-grade LED light. Boasting a compact size, optically correct output, flow-simulated cooling, and boost-mode electrical circuit, the patented design of the SL1 LED is a properly engineered solution that finally provides a truly reliable upgrade in performance that has been thoroughly tested and meets/exceeds the standards.

Rather than the simple buck regulator other bulbs have, the Diode Dynamics SL1 uses a unique boost-mode circuit, which prevents thermal imbalance in the LEDs over time­ – ­just like you would find in OEM LEDs. Also, don’t be fooled by the high lumen numbers, the SL1 LED bulb was made with advanced optical design software, which simulates each ray of light in a process known as ray tracing. This allows the LED to focus light just like the Infiniti G37’s original bulb, preserving the focus and hotspot, with no added glare. This is a safe, functional output, in compliance with photometric standards. When it comes to cooling performance, these LEDs have the proper engineering needed to effectively remove heat from the bulbs.

Features

Fog light bulb replacement

Correct optical focus for increased output with no added glare

Perfect H8 fitment, no modification needed

Designed and validated to OEM lighting standards

Engineered and Assembled in the USA

2. Oracle ColorSHIFT Halo Headlight Kit

The Oracle ColorSHIFT halo lighting kit for the Infiniti G37 will transform your car’s appearance with new exciting and aggressive “eyes”. Expertly crafted with unique styling, brilliant colors, high-quality LEDs, and unique features, this headlight package is the perfect upgrade for any car enthusiast. And the new BC1 ColorSHIFT controller is a robust Bluetooth option that is easy to install and comes at a low price. It features four outputs with waterproof connections for easy wiring to your ColorSHIFT lighting products. Through the smartphone app, you can turn your lights on and off, select from endless color variations, patterns, brightness, strobe function, and even control the lights with music.

The ColorSHIFT Halo Kit can produce any color from 3000K-15000K with just the push of a button. This lets users dial-in the exact color rings that they desire with the ability to switch them at any moment. These 3-Chip 5050 SMD rings are super bright, maybe too bright for some, which is why (for the first time) users gain full control over the ring brightness. Oracle SMD (“Surface Mount Diode”) halos utilize an advanced type of LED chip that can produce brilliant light output while only consuming a small amount of power. The SMD chips are installed onto a CAD-designed six-layer PCB (Printed Circuit Board) which is very sturdy and will not break under pressure. What’s more, the PCB can easily be mounted to your G37 headlight housing using the pre-installed 3M adhesive tape backing.

Features: 

Bright output with less power consumption

LED lights are brighter than the factory setup

Adds unique and colorful styling to your ride

Flagship halos with multi-shade ColorSHIFT lights

Combines classic simplicity with modern LED technology

Allows you to make your headlights whatever color you want

Pre-installed 3M tape and vehicle-specific wiring for easy installation

3. Alpharex Red NOVA-Series LED Projector Headlights

The Alphrarex Red NOVA-Series LED Projector Lights were inspired by the Nissan GTR R35 headlights. Alpharex applied streamlined LED tubes on this setup to fit the Infiniti G37/Q60 headlights as a DRL light. At the top, there are four horizontal LED tubes, similar to Alphrarex’s claw signature, as the turn signal. At the bottom, there are three “Red Nova” full LED 3D projectors with the outer two functioning as low beam lights and the inner one working as a high beam. The “Red Nova” projectors are painted in red to give your G37 a more aggressive touch and feature a light activation which is a running light when you unlock your car. 

This set of NOVA-Series headlights includes a jet black housing that boasts a glossy look mixed with black paint to give your G37 a sporty and luxurious look. Alpharex also applied the Osram Oslon black flat LED chip for these projectors and the projection cut-off line is perfect for American LHD regulation. The headlights are made with a polycarbonate plastic lens with a layer of anti-fog agent applied to them. Not only will you experience better light output in extreme weather, but you will also enjoy a lustrous headlight setup for years and years to come. That’s because Alpharex applies another coating to the lenses to protect against unwanted yellowing and oxidation. On top of all these impressive features, these Infiniti G37 headlights are SAE and DOT compliant as well as ISO-9000, ISO-9001, and ISO-9002 certified.

Features:

Red 3D projector lens, DRLs, turn signal light, and the signature activation light feature (which is a sequential light show when you unlock your car)

Housing Color: Jet Black

Lens Color: Clear lens

Light Feature: Activation Light and DRL (Light Tube) and Blinking Signal (Top)

Feature Color: Activation Light and DRL (White) and Signal (Amber)

4. Alpharex Chrome NOVA-Series LED Headlights

For those who want a more subtle or classic vibe, the Alpharex Chrome NOVA-Series LED Headlights are a top choice. Alpharex’s NOVA-Series patented ice cube 3D projector is the core of the brand’s revolutionary technology. Each projector is equipped with an Osram Oslon black flat LED chip to provide maximum light output, both in illumination and projection. These Infiniti G37 headlights are compliant with SAE and DOT FMVSS108 regulations and are certified to ISO-9000, ISO-9001, and ISO-9002 standards. More importantly, Alpharex takes pride in inspecting every detail of the lights to ensure customers are fully satisfied. The chrome housing featured here will give your Infiniti a more luxurious look that matches well with the car’s other chrome accents.

Inspiration for the NOVA-Series G37 headlights was drawn from the design of Nissan’s R35 GTR headlights. Alpharex used streamlined LED tubes, similar to the GTR, on this setup as a DRL light. At the top, there are four horizontal LED tubes that function as the turn signal. At the bottom, you will find three full LED ice-cube 3D projectors, with the outer two projectors functioning as low beam and the inner projector functioning as high beam. They are made with a highly durable polycarbonate lens with an anti-fog and anti-yellowing agent applied on them so they maintain their luster and visibility for years and years to come. 

Features:

DRL and turn signal light with crystal clear ice-cube 3D projector lens

Housing Color: Chrome

Lens Color: Clear lens

Light Feature: DRL (Light Tube) and Blinking Signal (Top)

Feature Color: DRL (White) and Signal (Amber)

[khalilhumam]

Saudi-Israeli relations: The curious case of a NEOM meeting denied

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/saudi-israeli-relations-the-curious-case-of-a-neom-meeting-denied/

Saudi-Israeli relations: The curious case of a NEOM meeting denied

By Tamara Cofman Wittes, Natan Sachs According to Israeli officials, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in NEOM, the futuristic techno-city in northwest Saudi Arabia that symbolizes the crown prince’s plans to remake the kingdom’s economy. Saudi Arabia denies that the meeting took place, with Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan saying flatly: “No such meeting occurred.” Air-traffic watchers saw that a plane previously used by Netanyahu flew from Israel to the area near NEOM, spent several hours on the ground, and returned, seemingly confirming the leaks in Israel. The reports set off a frenzy of speculation about a formal opening of ties between the two countries, which have had covert contacts going back to the 1960s. The ambiguity over the facts is the first puzzling aspect of these reports: Did a meeting actually take place? Did something go awry? Or did a meeting take place, but each side took the public stance that best met its political needs? Certainly, such a meeting is yet another boon to Netanyahu, domestically, following the treaties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, and the initiation of normalization with Sudan. Netanyahu is eyeing another round of national elections — the fourth in two years. For MBS, on the other hand, there is a delicate dance to play between his own apparent desire for closer ties with Israel and the constraints both of public opinion in Saudi Arabia and of the other views within the ruling family, including his father, the king. A second puzzle is timing. Why would the Saudi and Israeli leaders take such a significant public step now (if indeed they did)? The prospect of the new Joe Biden administration looms large for both parties. One might have thought that both Riyadh and Jerusalem would opt to minimize their intimate relationship with the lame-duck Trump and Pompeo, and instead present their warming relationship as a welcome opportunity for the incoming Biden and secretary of state nominee Antony Blinken. Give it some time and distance from the Trump era, one might think, and Saudi Arabia and Israel could offer Biden a big Middle Eastern success to eclipse the normalization pacts of 2020, in return for any number of policy rewards. Indeed, both countries may feel they need something to “give” the Biden team, which promises to end the blank check of the Trump years. For the Saudis in particular, the attitude from Washington may change dramatically on January 20th. Biden will likely end the blanket protection Trump gave them from a Congress concerned over human rights abuses and keen to halt arms sales that enabled the Saudi war in Yemen. As a candidate, Biden called Saudi Arabia a pariah state, and said he would “end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen.” The Saudis have undoubtedly also noted the centrality of democracy and values in Biden’s foreign policy statements, and his criticism of Trump for coddling dictators. This suggests that Saudi Arabia has strong incentive for a dramatic move that will change the way the kingdom is perceived in Washington. There is no question that diplomatic recognition of Israel would be such a move. A Saudi-Israeli opening, if and when it comes, would indeed be historic. While the openings to Israel by the UAE and Bahrain (and nominally, Sudan) were meaningful and dramatic, Saudi Arabia has been the big prize in recent Arab-Israeli rapprochement. The Saudi monarchy’s role as “Guardian of the Two Holy Mosques” in Mecca and Medina make the kingdom an undisputed heavyweight in the Muslim world. In today’s beleaguered Middle East, Saudi Arabia is perhaps the most politically and economically influential Arab state. Thus, open Saudi-Israeli ties could unlock relations for Israel with many other Arab or Muslim-majority states and would put to rest forever the idea that such ties could only come about through a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And yet, the meeting took place (again, assuming it did) before a Biden administration could take any credit for it, or add any sweeteners. Why the rush? There are at least three possible explanations. First, there is the simple fact that Trump and Pompeo remain in office and fully empowered for another 50-odd days. Biden-proofing U.S. policy toward Iran is high on the agenda for all three parties, whether by skillfully working redundancies into a host of new sanctions on Iran, tying them to non-nuclear Iranian activity that would be hard to undo in the context of nuclear negotiations, or by designating the Houthis in Yemen as a terrorist organization. There might be other items left on the Saudi and/or Israeli agenda with Trump to make them solicitous of the outgoing administration. A second possibility is that their meeting was itself a message to the incoming Biden administration, a way of saying: Keep us close, coordinate with us, or you may find that we don’t need you as much as you think; we have each other, and we can even work together irrespective of your preferences if necessary. There is a final, less likely but more dramatic possibility: that Pompeo’s trip was not just about legitimating Israeli settlements and tightening sanctions on Iran, but about coordinating a major American policy step that would precede the inauguration. This would have to be significant enough to demand a face-to-face consultation between the leaders. Such a step could perhaps even be a limited military strike targeting Iranian interests, such as the Natanz nuclear facility, where Iran has now reportedly enriched 12 times the amount of fissile material permitted under the Iran nuclear deal. Moreover, going public with its relationship with Israel may not be the boon for Saudi Arabia in Biden’s Washington that it might seem. A Saudi opening to Israel could provide a short-term boost for the kingdom on Capitol Hill and in the media, but it wouldn’t address the underlying issues that have led both Democrats and Republicans to rethink the bilateral relationship. The rethink was triggered first by the Saudi intervention in Yemen and the horrific humanitarian consequences of the war there. But layered on top of that issue are brazen Saudi breaches of international and diplomatic norms, egregious abuses of human rights, and manifest disrespect for its longstanding partnership with the United States. In just the last five years, the Saudi government has: kidnapped and forced the resignation of the Lebanese prime minister, blockaded a neighbor who is also a U.S. partner, planted spies in a major American company, sent Saudis to the United States to intimidate and possibly kidnap Saudi dissidents living here, murdered a Saudi legally residing in the United States and contributing to an American newspaper, and used Saudi diplomatic privileges to help Saudi citizens accused of ordinary crimes in the U.S. escape the reach of American courts. This series of actions, and the brashness of their conduct, has led many in Washington to question the judgment and reliability of Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. American officials know very well that they cannot choose who leads Saudi Arabia, but they can assess whether that Saudi leader can be a trusted partner for the United States and merits American investment. Biden has already promised such as assessment, and many in Congress — on both sides of the aisle — are likely to approve. Saudi Arabia can alter that perception — there is still good logic in a functional U.S.-Saudi partnership for both sides — but the first step is recognizing the gravity of the problem and the need for work to repair it. The Saudi government has its own concerns and grievances to raise with Washington, like legislation (passed over President Barack Obama’s veto) that allows families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks to pursue tort claims in American courts. No doubt they are upset by the inconsistent support Trump provided Saudi Arabia when it faced Iranian-backed attacks on its territory. No doubt they still smart from President Obama’s withdrawal of support for Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Most relevant today: They are deeply concerned over a return of a Biden administration to negotiations with Iran and an end to the “maximum pressure” campaign of the Trump years. But the way to have such concerns taken seriously is to have a frank, and mostly discreet, conversation accompanied by a willingness for bold corrective action.

Saudi-Israeli normalization would certainly be welcomed in Washington, but the welcome would not change the fundamental equation between the U.S. and Riyadh.

If Saudi national interest dictates an opening to Israel, that would be a tremendous advance for regional peace and stability. Saudi-Israeli normalization would certainly be welcomed in Washington, but the welcome would not change the fundamental equation between the U.S. and Riyadh. There is no avoiding the real issues at stake. If Saudi Arabia wants to repair relations with Washington, it should instead take steps to demonstrate its understanding of Washington’s concerns and build its reputation as a partner in good faith. Working assiduously to end the Yemen war, while keeping in mind Saudi Arabia’s legitimate security concerns there, would be the most obvious such step. Riyadh could address specific concerns by dismissing the charges and ending the endless criminal trial against women’s rights activists, as well as firmly and finally ejecting from any royal or government role Saud al-Qahtani, the reported mastermind of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and the architect of MBS’s campaign against exiled dissidents. Such moves could set the stage for a better conversation between the incoming American president and the crown prince. Israel too will find that the new administration is keen on avoiding the battles of the Obama-Netanyahu years, but not so keen as to jettison its own policy preferences for the sake of smooth sailing. On Iran, on Israeli settlement policy, on the viability of a two-state solution, there are real differences that cannot be papered over by public ceremonies. The most fruitful way forward, then, would be to build on the intimate relationship between Washington and Jerusalem for a close, honest, and coordinated path for managing these policy differences. An open Saudi-Israeli-American summit, signaling close ties and shared visions for the future, would indeed be an excellent development. It would be even better if the photo op marked a fresh start all the way around the table.

[dartharts]

Tarael Information (Open Species)

[Pictured: Example of female Tarael]

Species Information / Species Art Resources

Trait Information (Tumblr)

Species Name: Tarael (Tah-rah-eel)

Basic Appearance:

The Tarael are digitigrade humanoids with slender, tall forms ranging from 5’ ½ to nearly 7’. They all have between four and six eyes, with the first two along the midline of the face, and the second usually either right above or right below them, and any more are typically mutations that are counted as secondary eyes.

On either side of the head, they have four to six frond-like antenna, which capture vibrations and aid in their ability to hear low tones (the primary way that the species communicates with eachother, often sounding like a very low purr). Though they outwardly function similarly to the long ears of some earthly creatures, Tarael fronds are highly-specialized organs that are extremely sensitive and also act as an aid for their sense of balance.

Their skin is covered with a layer of fur, which can range greatly, from straight to curly and short to long. This fur can be a variety of colors, typically ranging from lighter colors such as grey, gold, or brown in males, and brown, dark gold, and black in females. However, there are rarer colors such as red and white, which are due to a mutant gene for the fur color. It's not rare or uncommon to see Tarael of all gender with manes and other decorations of grooming done to their fur, though it often depends on their political status and wealth in society.

After birth, a Tarael's fur is also marked in a distinct pattern, which can cover their body either partially or fully in a tone a shade lighter or darker than their general coloring. This design can vary in complexity and is often connected and similar to the designs of others in the family, much like a fingerprint--each set of markings is identifiable to a family line. The marks are visible at birth, and often fade away to the general color of their fur by the time a Tarael has reached adulthood. They have the ability to have the design fully or partially dyed or tattooed to their bodies (often depending on the thickness, color, and texture of their fur). Regardless of the amount, this is a somewhat common activity to see done for many Tarael whom are maturing into their adulthood. They have thick, powerful legs and tails that give them an incredible jumping ability and sense balance--this was largely useful when they were treetop predators, using their legs to jump from branch to branch and their semi-prehensile tails to cling to the trees and balance themselves.

The most mysterious, dangerous, and perhaps least noticed feature of the Tarael are their incredible jaws filled with razor-sharp teeth. These jaws and mouths, which are normally hidden away as per a current cultural stigma, were once thought to be the most important part of their anatomy when they were still hunters and lacked technological knowledge. The size of their teeth actually render it very difficult to move their jaws repetitively as one would with most other spoken languages, so they've adapted their language to be spoken with a closed jaw.

Also to be noted that they produce a venom that is considered toxic to many other races across multiple words. To their own species, the symptoms of this venom are mild. To those of other species however, it can be incredibly painful and extremely deadly. There are multiple subspecies within the Tarael, and they're usually based upon one of the 16 districts their family originates from.

Homeworld Name: Ev’ren (Ever-ehn)

Homeworld Description:

Ev’ren is a rather large planet, just a little bigger than earth. It’s within a solar system of four other planets, the others occupied with various other intelligent races that the Tarael have contact, trading relationship, and a close alliance with.

It’s a rather temperate planet, covered with vast, lush forests and plains. Little water covers it surface, so it has no oceans and only very large lakes (thus leading to an almost hilarious lack of swimming ability from most species living on the planet--including the Tarael). Due to the thick atmosphere during most the year, the surface is under almost constant twilight.

This has rendered a number of species with special adaptations to living in this sort of environment, such as the Tarael with their wonderful eyesight, and extreme sensitivity to vibrations.

With the advancement of the Tarael, much of its land has been cultivated and built upon, with some protected areas and preserves still in their natural, luscious state of forests and plant life.

The Districts: There are a total of 16 districts on Ev'ren. These districts go far back into the Tarael's culture when they were little more than primitive tribes, with a matriarchy political system based purely on bloodlines. The capitol of the planet, Credea (which means 'Creation'), is home to the most powerful district family, which itself is lead by the Tarake, the equivalent of the planet's Queen. Though there isn't any modern difference to these districts besides what their main item of trade and production is, they used to have very stark differences in the appearances of the Tarael that were born and lived in each, with subspecies different enough to know what district their family was from simply from appearance alone. It's also said that each district will birth new generations of Tarael that have specific mental and physical abilities, though it is mostly lore and myth in the modern era.

Biology - General:

The Tarael have three distinct sexes, two of which correspond to the male and female equivalent in humans. However, the Tarael species also has a large percentage of beings who are neither distinctly male sexed or female sexed, as they instead have some combination of both biological female and male genitalia. This third sex makes up about a quarter to a third of the total population, but as it is ingrained in various religious, evolutionary and sociocultural reasons, they are most often found in the high-standing families of power (both political and wealth). This does not relate to gender, however, as the Tarael as a population recognize a vast variety of genders and gender expressions, and have very few strict roles that are influenced by physical sex.

Biology - Female:

Sex: The main internal female sex organ of the Tarael is the thick-muscled uterus, set within the abdominal cavity just behind and above the sheath housing the outer genitals. Normally it is about the size of an apple or fist, but can expand many times its original size when carrying a single or clutch of eggs. The walls of the uterus are thick and muscled, both to aid with the birthing process and add protection to the eggs within if pregnant. The lining of the organ is normally dormant, but can be stimulated into producing a hormone that assists to attach the eggs from a male to the walls of the uterus, where the female’s sperm-like gametes would fertilize them.

General: Females tend to have thinner, longer tails than their male counterparts. Their fronds are typically larger in size, and they have a better sensitivity (hearing) than males due to the difference. Unless effected by a mutant gene that controls fur color, they are more often darker in shade, such as deep browns, golds, dark greys and black.

Biology - Male:

Sex: Without proper stimulation the male genetilia is nearly invisible, pulled into the sheath between the legs. When stimulated and unsheathed, it shares a similar phallic apperance to human male genetilia, though it’s generally slightly longer and tapered near the tip. This is to allow a higher chance of conception when depositing eggs into a receptive partner. The internal organs consist of the small, egg-producing sack that lies near the base of the tail. Over the course of a heat cycle, this small organ produces anywhere between one to two dozen eggs. These are mixed with a nutrient-rich liquid, and assists with the acceptance of the eggs into the mate’s body for fertilization.

General: Males often have shorter, thicker tails and smaller fronds. Their coats are typically lighter in color, usually light brown, gold, beige, and grey shades.

Biology - Intersex:

Sex: With little to add besides the fact that those of the third sex simply carry both sets of genitalia, it is key to mention that these features can indeed be lopsided in any direction--in other words, they can bolster more prominent female genitalia and lesser male genitalia, and vice versa. This does not hinder on the function, but in some cases can influence certain reproductive habits (certain family lines that have less prominent female sex organs are only able to have a single egg in one breeding cycle, for example).

General: There is little to note for the difference in general appearance with those of the third sex, mostly because they do indeed play a genetic middle ground--they only genetic oddity is that those of the third sex have a far higher chance of inheriting, expression, and passing down mutant genes; this can include those such as genes for red or white fur, black or white eyes, etc.

Mating:

Mating has several purposes in the culture of the Tarael: pleasure, bonding, and reproducing. The first two can be enjoyed at any time, but reproduction is a slightly more planned occurrence.

Males go into heat several times a year, where their bodies’ actively produce up to half a dozen eggs (or more, depending on family genetics) to implant inside a uterus for them to further fertilize. Because of this, females do not need to go into heat themselves, as their bodies are constantly able to fertilize any eggs implanted within them.

However, they are affected by the heat of a male depending on the closeness, relationship and duration of an exposure to a male in heat. A female may indeed go into a state that is known as ‘heatlust’. There is little to no physiological change in a female’s body, though there is increased arousal and various hormones through the body to induce bonding.

Those of the third sex rarely (if ever) go into heat or are affected by the heat of a male. Instead, their body naturally produces eggs at a rate of approximately one to three per month, with varying degrees of fertility depending on the time of the month and season.

Spawning/Rearing Young:

The birth of young largely depends on the number conceived. Though it is mostly due to their modern knowledge and technology, the mothering Tarael has two options in which they can birth their young. This can either be done sooner in the pregnancy, giving birth while the young are still in their eggs, or far later in the pregnancy and giving live birth to them after the egg shell has been dissolved by specific enzymes that are released from the uterus. The former is normally induced around six or seven earth months into the pregnancy, and the latter around nine or ten.

There are few pros and cons to either option, and it largely depends on the situation of how many young are conceived. Without medical interference, a mothering Tarael’s body will opt for the former if there are more than two eggs, and the latter if there are two or less. This gives the young the best chance for growth and safety, as larger clutches of eggs are more common in larger, more dominant mating groups, and fewer in smaller and possibly more agile ones.

Up until a certain age, kits are mouthfed from their parents. This is due to a specialized pouch just beside and above the stomach, designed to hold food to be regurgitated and fed to the offspring. Mouthfeeding not only assists in partially digesting the food for the young, but it also stimulates their body to begin producing their own unique venom that they will continue to make for the rest of their lives. This venom is particularly crucial in the intake and digestion of most all foods, and is very much considered a disability if they lack this crucial part to their anatomy. Tarael of all biological sexes have this specialized feeding organ in their body, so any parent is capable of mouth-feeding their young. Without stimulation of mouthfeeding, a young Tarael is still more than able to begin producing their own venom--it simply takes a little longer and it may not be as potent. Venom, like fur markings, are very much tied with family lines and Tarael from each of the 16 districts have very similar venom to one another. A Tarael is considered a kit until they've reached at least 10-15 years of age, wherein they begin their adolescent cycle that will continue until they are almost 25. Most kits will begin producing venom by the time they are 5-10.

Diet/Eating Habits:

Early in their evolutionary line, the Tarael were hunters. They had a diet that mainly consisted of meat, which helped develop their strong jaws, long/sharp teeth, and their ability to produce venom.

Early in their evolution, the Tarael had little if any extrasensory abilities. These evolved over a large range of time, as the initial genes were a mutation and found at first only in small pockets of the population. Over time however, this gene proved overwhelmingly helpful in the near-constant darkness on their planet, soon rendering the need to vocalize almost null, as it lessened the chance that they could be caught by predators or sensed by prey (who had not developed such a unique sense at first). They began to rely more upon vibrations, scent, and extrasensory abilities than simple auditory stimulation, and soon enough the mouth only had use in the process of eating, bonding and mating, and fell into a social taboo where it was considered inappropriate for it to be publicly visible and open, which many labeling and associating it as a reclic of their 'savage past'. Because of this, it is a taboo for a Tarael to have their mouth visible then they are not mouthfeeding an infant or eating, though many still abstain and tend to do many of those functions in a more private setting if they do not have a mask. Masks of all sorts are commonplace in the species, often looked upon as a traditional adornment to be decorated in accordance to one's place in the social and political ladder. One with a high standing might have one made of precious metal or adorned with gemstones, while those far lower may only wear a strip of cloth or scarf of some sort.

Basic Social Structure:

The hierarchy of social life with the Tarael begins simply with politics. Their controlled portion of their planet is ruled by a single ruler, called the Tarake (Tah-Rah-Kay). They are the the most powerful leader in their culture, and is kept in balance with a council consisting of 16 heads of families, one from each of the 16 districts that make up their planet. The representing family heads and Tarake pass down the authority as head of the district/leader down to one of the next generation of their family--thus, no position of political power can be earned, and must be born or married into.

From there the hierarchy continues into the artisans (artists, musicians, chefs), the social workers (consisting mostly of those participating in the local and planet-wide military, police, law workers, scientists, ect ), and then into the lower-class population groups with lesser jobs or influence. However, these roles are not inherently set in stone, and particular influence or popularity instead relies on family lineage and the sort of contacts/friends one has. They are quite fluid, and to some degree aren’t even recognized as set ‘levels’ of power, as one has the ability to move up (as much as down).

The lowest in the hierarchy are servants. They are those who, for various reasons, are in debt to a family line or individual for anywhere between a single to multiple generations. This is also the same caste that many species outside those of the Tarael are initially peers to, and like their counterparts, servitude can indeed be bought or worked out of, often depending on the circumstances surrounding it. The Tarael are not very fond of those outside their own species, and have been considered one of the shyest or most introverted of species in their own solar system. While they do not completely disregard the benefits of having allies and trading partners, they're very much isolationists in their philosophies.  

Romantic Etiquette:

By far, there is no single label that can be given for the ‘correct’ number of lovers or romantic partners a Tarael might have, as they are neither monogamous or polygamous, and these numbers often depend on their power, influence, the season, and thensome.

While sexual relationships are by themselves casual and not unusual to be had with many pairs and groups at any time, romantic relationships take on a far deeper and intimate meaning in their culture. These are the relationships that often foster young between those included, and share several key distinctions from far more casual relationships that may include intercourse. These includes activities (beyond mating during heat) such as venom-sharing, scenting, and grooming (through grooming can be done between those of deep friendship--it often depends on the particular bond in question).

Scenting and grooming are by far the most common of activities that mates will partake in. Not only do these behaviors actively mark each as being taken by another, it also assists to cement the bond between them. Grooming keeps their fur, fronds, tails and hair clean. Scenting ensures that, even outside the heat and mating seasons, those who are spoken for are easily visible to others of the species as being such.

Venom-sharing is what could be considered the closest related to the human activity of kissing. While it does induce feelings of pleasure, closeness and happiness, it also has a very practical purpose of letting one another’s body adjust to the effects of the other’s venom. In sense, it builds an extremely strong tolerance so that they will not have a negative response in the future. This tolerance however lasts for an entire lifetime, and acts as the anatomical equivalent to a marriage between those involved--their venom will not act harmfully towards one another, wheres it can be mildly poisonous if this venom-exchange isn’t performed in certain bonding activities. Culturally, this was an act of extreme trust to one another--if your venom would never harm the other for the rest of their life, it would mean you held the deepest trust that they would never hurt you, especially since you would not be able to fight back with the toxicity of your own venom.

This above, along with mouthfeeding, plays the key reasons for the cultural taboo of having one’s mouth visible and in use. And while it may seem obvious, it is also the reason that kissing in the Tarael culture is seen as incredibly romantic and intimate, not usual at all for those who are not mated. It is in many senses, the equivalent of intercourse itself in terms of significance.

Family Life/Gender Related Social Norms:

Family life with the Tarael is a very varied thing, as the essence of a family unit has a great range of possibilities. Instead, it boils down into a few key positions that are filled in some way by those that make it up; these positions include the providers, the caretakers, the representatives, and the protectors. These are not strict rules that a family /must/ abide by, nor is it ever honestly kept track of--it is however, their equivalent of the 'Nuclear Family' model.

The providers are the ones who work and make money for the family unit, often times having to be away for stretches of time depending on the job.

The caretakers are those who care for the family members who are very young, very old, or sick. They do not often leave the household beyond simple errands, and are seen as part of the backbone of the family unit.

The representatives play a legal part in family matters, and they assist with keeping the family’s financial and political matters and reputation in positive extremes. These are usually extended family members who provide the same role for other family units of the same lineage, since the reputation and financial ability of the family is just as important to them as the individual.

Protectors are, simply put, expected defenders of the family in total. Often times this role is combined with the former or the role of the caretaker, but depending on the size of the family unit can be a category all its own, often depending on the active state of defense for the planet/district.

There are defined stereotypes, however, that do hinge on physical sex. Males are the only ones that go into any sort of heat, and are often regarded as impulsive and hormonal, especially when they are close to their cycling heat. Females are regarded less so, as they do not go into their own heat without the influence of a male, and instead are highly stereotyped as being better thinkers and more level-headed.

Those of the third sex, regardless of gender, are looked upon as the example of perfection in the Tarael culture. They carry both the ability to sire and carry young, without the common issue of enduring heat, and without the ability to be influenced by another’s heat. They are fertile through the entire season, and as such, became the backbone of the political system. The first district families were put in place many generations ago when hermaphroditism was far more common in the population (before diverging off into the other two separated sexes), and to this day make up a majority of the political system due to the ideal Tarael image of perfection, decision-making ability, strength and cunning.

In all, it is still true to be said that those of the third sex are regarded as royalty, as they have the strengths of both halves without the disadvantages that come with them.

Architecture/Technology:

There was indeed a time in the Tarael culture where shelter and buildings were little more than hobbled-together shakes of wood and leaves. Skip many millennia beyond that, and they have far surpassed the level of technology that they could ever have hoped to achieve: they have very advanced lives, with shelters consisting mostly of metal, alloys, and electrical components. Their cities are often surrounded by a dome of plasma that can influence the climate and weather within, powered by a various sort of high-production sources such as solar arrays that capture the most of their sun’s lack of light.

After becoming a space-traveling species, much of the architecture and technology afterwards has been quite influenced by that of other species, leading to even greater advancements such as teleportation short distances as transportation, increased ability in both the medical and entertainment fields.

In specific terms of architecture, much of it is based on curves. Many buildings are often in the shape of a circle, and walls are usually built without right angles. If anything, the style of building within the culture could easily be considered by the two words, ‘soft’ and ‘smooth’, as the harshness of straight lines and deep angles were seen to be unnatural, and they preferred styles that mimicked the look of their environment.

Art/Subculture:

Art in any form is something that’s highly prized with the Tarael. Looked upon as a deep expression of the inner spirit (and by extension, something to be applauded and created by all), it’s not something that’s lacking in their culture. Music, theater, animation, drawing, painting and thensome, they are all activities that are seen to be very important for every individual.

Beyond the subculture seemingly dedicated to turning older generations on their head (in the showcasing rather than hiding of the mouth), there are numerous ones dedicated to various other interests--the most prominent and growing one is (surprisingly) the one dealing with humans. It isn’t wrong to say that some of the population is absolutely crazy for the entirety of humanity and their complex cultures.

Clothing/Fashion:

Since the Tarael live mostly in climate-controlled cities and are surprisingly non-explicit in their sexual features outside heat or stimulation, the pressure to wear clothing isn’t nearly as heavy on them as it might be for another species. Fashion is less of a necessity to wear clothes, and instead a way to express one’s family line, prominence, wealth, and interests. Logic and reasonable meaning plays little in fashion, since by it’s very meaning it is to play more for aesthetic appeal than any sort of actual use.

The most basic clothing are skin-tight full-body suits, which can have various other technology incorporated, and allow for the monitor of body functions. It is the most practical of the common fashion in the species.

Religion/Spirituality:

Long ago, the Tarael were very religious in general as a species. They worshipped the god of life and creation, to which they connected with their rare but beautiful sun. Often times they would pray to this god and his created spirits (the beings that breathed life into them and the forest) for good luck, much food, and happiness.

As the Tarael advanced into the species they are today, they moved from being a highly religious species into being instead a highly spiritual one. They take great passion in self-exploration, kindness, bravery and peace. In fact, the greatest goal that can be achieved by one, at least in the traditional view for them, is to find a balance of love and knowledge for themselves as those around them.

This has contributed into the lack of wars over the course of their species history, and also into the reason that the original 16 district families and Tarake’s descendants are still respected and in power from when they first began.

[magzoso-tech]

New Post has been published on https://magzoso.com/tech/vivo-v17-pro-review/

Vivo V17 Pro Review

Vivo has been on a phone launching spree over the past few months in India. We’ve seen the Vivo Z1 Pro (Review), Vivo Z1x (Review), Vivo S1 (Review), and recently, the Vivo U10 (Review) and Vivo V17 Pro. We’ve already tested all these new offerings, and now it’s time to check out the Vivo V17 Pro. This is the successor to the Vivo V15 Pro (Review), which launched earlier this year. Just like the rest of Vivo’s V-series, the selfie camera is the main highlight. In fact, the Vivo V17 Pro features two pop-up selfie cameras and four at the back, for a total of six cameras.

The Vivo V17 Pro is priced close to Rs. 30,000, which makes it a direct competitor to the likes of the Oppo Reno 2Z (Review), Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro (Review), Asus 6Z (Review), and even the OnePlus 7 (Review), as long as it remains discounted. While the Vivo V17 Pro takes the lead when it comes to the number of camera sensors it packs in, is it competitive enough on other fronts? Let’s take a look.

Vivo V17 Pro design

The new Vivo V17 Pro features an all-too familiar design now, sporting a nearly all-screen front with no notch and relatively slim bezels all around, including the chin. The older Vivo V15 Pro (Review) was actually one of the first phones to sport this kind of design at this price point, before everyone else caught up.

The polycarbonate body feels sturdy, and the laminated back didn’t seem to pick up many scuffs during our review period. It does attract a lot of fingerprints and smudges though.

The Vivo V17 Pro is available in a Midnight Ocean trim, which we have, and also a lighter shade called Glacier Ice. The edges of the back are curved slightly, so it’s relatively comfortable to hold.

The Vivo V17 Pro is built well and looks good

On the front, we have a bright 6.44-inch Super AMOLED display with a full-HD+ resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 for protection. A screen guard also comes pre-applied, because Vivo thinks you can never be too careful. Colour saturation is very good, text looks sharp, and the brightness is sufficient for use outdoors under sunlight. There’s an in-display fingerprint sensor which works well, and you can customise the on-screen fingerprint icon and unlock animations.

The Vivo V17 Pro has face recognition too but this is only usable as a last resort, in case fingerprint authentication fails three times. The pop-up mechanism is a little slower than other implementations we’ve seen, which is probably why it’s not offered as one of the primary methods for unlocking.

The volume and power buttons on the right have good feedback and there’s an extra ‘smart button’ on the left, which can be configured to launch Google Assistant or Vivo’s Jovi image search, with a short press, long-press or double-press. On the bottom, we have a USB Type-C port, a tray for two Nano-SIM cards, and a speaker. There’s no microSD card slot. Vivo has also managed to make space for a headphone jack on the top, despite the wide cutout for the pop-up camera module.

The four cameras on the rear are aligned vertically in a module in the centre, which does not protrude much. The overall design of the Vivo V17 Pro is premium, and the phone feels well put-together. The 20:9 aspect ratio of the display means that this phone is fairly tall, and it’s on the heavier side too, tipping the scales at just over 200g.

In the retail box, you get a pair of in-ear headphones, an 18W fast charger, a USB Type-C cable, a plastic case, and a SIM eject tool.

These are the accessories that ship with the Vivo V17 Pro

Vivo V17 Pro specifications and features

Phones such as the Redmi K20 Pro and OnePlus 7 have made Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line processors very accessible, so for the V17 Pro, we were expecting Vivo to use something similar or at least close. Sadly, this phone uses the now slightly dated Snapdragon 675 SoC, which is incidentally the same chip used by the Vivo V15 Pro (Review). It’s a relatively capable octa-core chip, no doubt, but it’s quite underpowered for a phone at this price level.

There’s only one configuration with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Other specifications include dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5, USB-OTG, the usual suite of sensors, and support for three satellite navigation systems. The phone also supports Widevine L1 DRM certification so it can stream video at HD and higher resolutions from apps such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

For software, the Vivo V17 Pro uses Funtouch OS 9.1, which is based on Android 9 Pie. There’s no official word on when the Android 10 update will roll out. If you’ve never used a Vivo phone before then Funtouch OS will take some getting used to. We ourselves still find it a little confusing to navigate Vivo’s menus at times.

The single-layered interface has heavy customisations everywhere, including the icons, lock screen, and notifications shade. The quick settings are all on a pull-out menu called ‘Control Centre,’ and you have to swipe upwards from the bottom of the screen to pull it up. This is reminiscent of Apple’s implementation on older iPhones. Even the Settings app needs a lot of digging around before you can find what you’re looking for.

Funtouch OS on the Vivo V17 Pro takes some getting used to

You can customise the look and feel of Funtouch OS through the ‘iTheme’ app but most of the themes need to be purchased. Jovi is Vivo’s AI helper, which is used in the camera app to help frame your shots and identify subjects. It also has something called ‘Smart Scene’ which shows you various information cards for the weather, events, cricket scores, etc, in one place. It can be accessed via the Sony Walkman-like icon in the notification shade or by swiping to the left of the first homepage.

Other features include Ultra Game Mode which blocks notifications, etc when gaming; Motorbike Mode which automatically rejects calls when riding; one-handed mode; and scrolling screenshots. There are loads of preinstalled apps including Gaana, Amazon, and PhonePe, but you can uninstall all the third-party ones. Sadly, some redundant ones including Vivo’s game store can’t be removed.

We’ve covered all the features of Funtouch OS in our recent reviews of the Vivo Z1x (Review), Vivo S1 (Review), and Vivo Z1 Pro (Review), so be sure to check them out.

Vivo V17 Pro performance and battery life

Funtouch OS might not be our favourite Android skin, but it ran smoothly without any issues on the Vivo V17 Pro. It took a while to get used to the quick toggles being in a non-standard place. Also, when using an app in landscape mode, the toggles can only be accessed by swiping inwards from the right edge of the screen, instead of the bottom. The custom look of the UI might appeal to some, but we wish Vivo would give users a choice to switch back to stock Android too.

The RAM and SoC are more than capable of handling your everyday apps and games. In benchmarks, we got decent numbers, as one would expect from this SoC. AnTuTu gave us a score of 1,77,512 while the T-Rex test in GFXbench returned 40fps. These are not bad numbers, but not as good as those produced by other phones in this price range sporting the Snapdragon 855 or even the Snapdragon 730G, for that matter.

The Vivo V17 Pro has a bright and vivid display

The earpiece on the Vivo V17 Pro is in the pop-up selfie camera module, similar to the design of the Oppo Reno 2 (Review), and sound is channeled through a cutout in the phone’s front panel. However, unlike Oppo’s offering, audio through the earpiece on the Vivo V17 Pro sounds clear and not muffled.

Multitasking is handled well, and heavy games like PUBG Mobile ran smoothly at the ‘High’ preset. After about 20 minutes of gameplay, we noticed that the back of the phone got quite hot, which seems to be a trait of this SoC that we’ve encountered before with phones such as the Redmi Note 7 Pro (Review) and Samsung Galaxy M40 (Review).

Within games, you can access a slide-out carousel which lets you toggle blocking calls, notifications, and more. In games that support voice chat, you can use a real-time voice changer which is pretty cool. The single speaker at the bottom gets fairly loud, even without any enhancements. Audio quality is not too bad either.

The Vivo V17 Pro has a 4100mAh battery, which fared quite well in our HD video battery loop test, running for 16 hours and 47 minutes. With normal usage, we typically easily managed a day and half of runtime. With heavier apps, we still managed a full day’s worth of usage. Fast charging is supported and the Vivo V17 Pro can go from zero to 36 percent in half an hour and up to 74 percent in an hour. It took us a little more than two hours to fully top it up. It’s not the fastest, but it’s not too bad either.

Vivo V17 Pro cameras

The highlight of this phone is its front cameras, so let’s start there. You get a 32-megapixel primary camera with an f/2.0 aperture along with an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture. The primary selfie camera itself has a pretty wide field of view but the secondary one lets you get an even wider shot, though it adds a slight fish-eye effect. This is also one of the few phones, apart from the Google Pixel line, that lets you use Night Mode with the selfie camera (though only the primary one).

In daylight, the Vivo  V17 Pro captured striking selfies. Details were good, textures were sharp (a little too sharp at times), and colours really popped. The exposure wasn’t always perfect, and at times we noticed some blown-out highlights, but overall, we were quite pleased with the results. HDR was handled well too. The ultra wide-angle camera captured slightly softer images, but that’s expected.

Shot using the primary selfie camera on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap to see full-sized image)

Shot using wide-angle camera on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap to see full-sized image)

Shot using Night mode on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap to see full-sized image)

Strangely, it takes two taps to switch to the ultra-wide camera as the toggle is hidden in a menu. There’s also a Bokeh toggle, and portrait shots taken in this mode had good edge detection and background blur. These photos are oversampled, giving you 8-megapixel output instead of 32-megapixel shots, like you get when taking standard selfies.

The separate ‘Portrait’ shooting mode feels uncessary since it offers just one extra feature compared to the standard ‘Photo’ mode, which is beautification. The ‘Posture’ setting is interesting here as it suggests various poses for selfies (for one or more people) by showing you outlines of the pose for you to mimic. If you take your selfies seriously, then you’re in for a treat. 

Video quality with the primary front camera is also quite good but there’s no stabilisation. Low-light photos were quite grainy but the fill-light helps here. Night mode made a big difference in brightening up shots taken under dim lighting, getting rid of most of the noise and improving the exposure significantly.

Coming to the rear cameras, there’s a 48-megapixel primary sensor which captures oversampled 12-megapixel photos by default. It also has an f/1.8 aperture. Next up is a 13-megapixel 2x optical zoom camera; an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera which is also used for super-macro shots; and finally, a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

You can switch to the telephoto camera by hitting or dragging the Zoom button in the viewfinder, but it still takes two taps to switch to the wide-angle camera. You can zoom in all the way to 10x (digitally).

Shot using the primary camera on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap to see full-sized image)

Shot using the ultra wide-angle camera on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap to see full-sized image)

Shot using the telephoto camera on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap for full-sized image)

Shot using the Super Macro mode on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap for full-sized image)

Shot using Bokeh mode on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap to see full-sized image)

In daylight, the main sensor captured pleasing details and colours. Objects at a distance had good definition, although shadow areas at the sides of the frame tended to have a bit of noise. Close-ups had punchy colours, good natural bokeh, and good detail. HDR also worked well and dynamic range was good. With the ultra wide-angle camera, colours can look a little boosted but you do get a lot more in each frame.

The telephoto camera is nice to have but 2x zoom isn’t much, and in low light, the camera simply uses digital zoom through the main camera. The Super Macro mode worked well for us, and we were able to get some good-looking shots.

Low-light stills were usually above average in quality. There was mild grain in the shadows but details were good and colours were well represented. The ultra-wide-angle camera isn’t very useful in the dark, since details are bleak and you can’t use Night mode. However, with the primary camera, Night mode had a big impact, making scenes look more dramatic and preserving details.

Shot using Night mode on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap to see full-sized image)

Shot using the ultra wide-angle camera on the Vivo V17 Pro (tap to see full-sized image)

You can record videos at up to 4K resolution but without any stabilisation. Image quality was decent and colours weren’t exaggerated, which is good. Stabilisation does work well at 1080p. You can shoot 1080p videos with the wide-angle camera too, but without stabilisation. At this resolution, you can choose either 25/30 or 60fps. However, video quality was very poor in low light. Also, the framerate defaults to 25fps, making motion feel jerky. Another thing we didn’t quite like was the fact that we had to jump into the camera settings menu to change the resolution, instead of being able to do it from the viewfinder.

Other shooting modes include 48MP, which lets you shoot at the full sensor resolution; Panorama, Timelapse, Live photo, Pro, Doc, Jovi, and AR stickers. We found some of the AR stickers to be quite fun. There are also some interesting features to play around with in the camera settings, such as AR Portrait framing, which guides you into positioning the camera correctly for a portrait shot.

Verdict

As a camera phone, the Vivo V17 Pro packs in some good hardware, but the software still needs a bit of polish. Accessing certain basic functions can be a multi-step process, when it shouldn’t be. If you love taking selfies, the dual front cameras offer plenty of creative freedom, especially with features such as the posing guides. Low-light video is one area which needs a lot of work, as apart from the below-average image quality, the drop in framerate is quite jarring.

As an all-rounder, the phone delivers mostly good results. It has a vibrant screen, the build quality is solid, the interface is snappy, the extra programmable button is handy, and battery life is very good. However, at nearly Rs. 30,000, Vivo should have done a lot more in order to make this phone truly competitive. The Snapdragon 675 just doesn’t cut it at this price, as the competition is offering much more power. We’re also not big fans of Funtouch OS, which can feel unnecessarily complicated, especially for novice users.

If you live and breathe selfies, the Vivo V17 Pro might appeal to you. If not, you should look at phones such as the Redmi K20 Pro (Review) and Oppo Reno 2Z (Review) which sell for around the same price and offer better processors, especially for gaming, and equally competent cameras. If you can stretch your budget just a little bit, you could get the Asus 6Z (Review) or even the OnePus 7 (Review).

[designer-dad]

Peak Design Everyday Backpack - My history with EDC bags.

I have a problem.

I like bags. 

Like, a lot.

It’s more complicated than that though. I also hate bags.

A lot.

Ok, I’ll explain. As an Industrial Designer, I tend to pick apart products a lot. Especially ones that I purchase. Especially especially ones that I use A LOT. And even more so ones that I rely on for keeping part of my sanity. I define those items as ones that I use consistently and repetitively, in more or less the same way over and over. I am a creature of habit. Very strong, often unusual or quirky habit. Just ask my wife. And I need those specific items to fit/mold my habits in a way that is pleasing, smooth, and doesn’t mess with my mojo.

Enter my bag dilemma. 

I first remember having this issue around when I entered college and purchased my first car - a ‘92 fire-engine red Jeep Cherokee Limited. I needed a backpack at the time, and purchased some heavy duty Jeep branded backpack from their official site. It was my first considered bag purchase. The bag was a workhorse; strong, heavy duty, virtually un-breakable, waterproof, and pretty comfortable. And bright blue. It featured some basic front pocket organization, a slimmer front pocket for the little quick items, and otherwise was just a gaping hole of storage, with 2 equally massive side pockets. I loved this thing. Still do, but I also started to hate it, at least for my EDC bag. It was too big, could rarely fit under an airplane seat, and lacked main pocket organization (my biggest issue with bags in general; more on that later). I learned to appreciate it for what it was (a cavernous rugged backpack), and still use it for that purpose, but needed a new EDC bag.

Thanks to some Nissan test-drive promo, and the fact that they ran out of free watches, I got a random Kenneth Cole fabric messenger bag. I wasn’t super enthused at first, but this turned out to be a pretty great bag. And I found the general layout of a messenger bag to be preferable as an EDC, in that while the main opening can still be cavernous, the “landscape” orientation helped me dig through the crap to find what I wanted, and by nature opened up more so I could see inside. It also allowed me to swing it around and access said cavern without removing the bag. It also offered a simple but unique combination of organization pockets that just clicked with me.

But as college progressed, and technology with it, I needed to start carrying a laptop daily (and a behemoth one at that; stupid design school requirements), and this didn’t do the trick. So I did a stint with a Targus (yes, regrettable) giant 17″ widescreen messenger bag I found at Marshall’s that carried more like a briefcase, until my new in-laws bought me a fantastic upgrade: a Timbuk2 Outttawhack convertible bag. This thing was/is SO cool. Carries like a messenger, briefcase, or backpack with tuck-away backpack straps. Super unique, thought out, and still injects designer-endorphins into my brain when I use it. And it fit my beast of a laptop. 

But alas, as is the case with many 3-in-1 products, it’s a jack of all trades but master of none. It was neither comfortable as a backpack nor messenger. The backpack straps were on a kind of funky angle too. It lacked a water bottle pocket (apparently I found out how much I cared about this; I had to make a custom one). But the organization was pretty solid. Especially for a Timbuk2 bag (more on that next). But it did feature an issue I’ve found with Timbuk2 bags. They are designed for right-handed carry. I am a righty, but for some reason I do 2 things lefty; ride a skateboard and wear a messenger, the latter of which makes them annoying for me.

But I was kinda poor at the time, and still liked how cool this bag was, and it fit my massive laptop, so I trudged on for a couple years making do with this while part of my brain longed to go back to my trusty Kenneth Cole.

Graduation came, as did the start of my first design job, and I no longer needed to carry a laptop daily anymore, so back to the Kenneth Cole I went. And I was happy.

And on to my next design gig too. And the next one. The trusty Kenneth Cole went with me. And when the strap pad ripped, I bought a great Timbuk2 replacement pad. 

Enter another issue with my being a designer; boredom. Yes, this is often at odds with my being adverse to change and my strong habits. I know. It’s a problem. Add to that a desire to find a product a little better, and my eyes started to stray from trusty KC. 

Starting another design gig, I decided to “reward” myself with a new bag. I had a budget, around $100-$150, and at this point required something that could give my KC bag a run for its money, and conquer one issue I had never been able to resolve with my KC bag: travel.

While I loved my KC bag for EDC, it just did not cut it for travel. Messengers are uncomfortable to wear for long hauls of heavy loads (compared to backpacks), and it just didn’t have the gear space. Especially since I am always traveling with a basic staple of Orthodox Judaism: my Phylacteries and prayer shawl. These are used during morning prayers (which I often need to recite en route) and are pricey, so they stay in carry-on luggage. This parcel is about the size of an airplane pillow and blanket bundled together, and my travel bag needs to hold it in addition to regular travel basics (which always includes some degree of camera gear). 

I also simply hated the process of transferring everything from my EDC to travel bag and back again.

So I was now searching for a bag that could carry a bit more than what most people would need during travel, but would still not be too large as an EDC bag.

 After about a month of research, and ordering about 15 bags form Amazon to try (yay free returns), I landed on my Timbuk2 Command 2.0. This was a very good bag, and I used it mostly happily for close to 5 years for both EDC and most travel, but was never fully satisfied. It had a few very specific problems that got me eventually hunting for a new EDC bag during my next job transition (especially when I learned the new gig would require significant travel with a hefty laptop):

1) Organization. Timbuk2 generally uses the inside of the main compartment for pens and small organization. I hate this. I want this kept separate so pulling out a sweatshirt from the main pocket won’t send all my pens flying out on the floor of terminal B at O’Hare.

2) Made for a righty. The side access napoleon pocket, which I like in theory, is only easily accessible for right-handed carry style. Same with the water bottle pocket. It’s a small quirk, but awfully annoying when present numerous times every day for YEARS. 

3) Not quite the right size. This could handle some travel, but nothing major, nothing with a DSLR kit, and still hurt like any messenger with weight or time. And a big laptop was still not an option. The trusty Jeep bag was still my main travel buddy.

There was lots to like about this bag. Quality was solid, the color was bright red, TSA laptop pocket (for a medium laptop), extendable luggage handle pass-through, and some nice pockets, but overall fell short of what I needed.  

Add another layer of complexity to this tote conundrum: my DSLR.

I’ve mentioned this thing a few times already, and for good reason. It really messes with what kind of bag you can/want to carry. In most instances, it feels like you need to make a choice; camera first or carry first. Bags I’ve been through are either primarily camera focused, but can also carry ordinary stuff along with it, or it’s a regular bag, and you’re on your own for how to fit in camera gear.

Problem is, I like to bring my camera with me when I go places. But I’m also picky about my bag. These don’t marry well. My first route to address this was to bring a dedicated camera bag with me when I traveled. First mistake was this random bag I bought from Deviant Art when they phased out selling gear.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

It’s a shoebox with camera storage inserts and a sling strap. It’s not comfortable. It’s not practical. NEXT.

For the next purchase, I did some digging, and put some thought into it. I got this Lowerpro sling bag, and was really happy with my purchase at first. It was smaller, understated, didn’t scream “camera here!”, and could carry some basic daily essentials along with my basic camera kit. But the killer here was the whole lefty-thing again. The bag is made strictly for right-handed style carry, and I could not get used to it. Add to that the annoyance of having to travel with an extra bag just for camera gear, and I outgrew this bag after just 2 trips.

I ultimately settled on the Timbuk2 Snoop Camera Insert and would try to fit this in whatever bag I traveled with. Yeah, not any easier than it sounds. 

So begins my search for my ultimate bag. I started a new job, with roughly monthly domestic travel, plus 1-2 international trips a year between work and personal, and I now needed to carry a semi-hefty laptop on occasion for either working remotely or traveling with. So I was looking for a bag that would satisfy all of the below:

1) Masterful Organization, especially in the main “big” pocket. Handful of writing instruments, mini Moleskin, battery backup, charging cables, multi-tools, knives, spork, water bottle, giant headphones, lunch, some occasional documents, some quick access pockets, and adaptability to also hold my laptop, more charging cables, reading material, and more robust pack of sketch tools, camera gear, and maybe more. Most importantly, give me some control of how I put stuff in that big main compartment. 

2) DSLR/Camera carry. I often travel with my DSLR. Not always, but often. And it can make choosing a bag for a trip very complicated. Will I be able to access the camera quickly? Will it be secure and protected? It also adds a level of complexity to my travel bag being the daily carry upon my arrival. On that note...

3) Travel buddy/EDC buddy. I want this bad to make the ultimate transition. Be my daily companion, and my travel hauler. Comfortable for the commute or a hike. And storage that can work and transform smoothly for both. Eliminate the need for another bag, and remove the extra hassle of transferring from bag to bag when traveling.

4) Backpack carry. I’d be taking the train for this job, which involves a couple miles of walking a day. Add that to the monthly trips through airports and messengers were out of the question here. But give me options to tote this thing with side handles and such.

5) Water bottle carry. Not wimpy either. I want this on both sides, and I want a pocket big enough to water a large man.

6) Laptop carry. My work laptop is known as a “mobile workstation.” It’s a 15″, but not like a 15″ Macbook. It’s a beast. It’s thick. It’s heavy. And it needs to fit in this bag.

7) Svelte, but spacious. I need a bag that looks good, and can be somewhat compacted when I don’t need it to be massive. I’m a big dude, so my frame can work with a larger bag, but I also don’t wanna knock out people standing around me on the train. On the other hand, if I need to load this with my DSLR kit, prayer accouterments, laptop, and travel goodies, I need this to haul it all, and still work as my daily carry when I get to where I’m going. 

6) Be awesome. At this point in my career, I like my accessories to be generally awesome, and be long-term. Unique. Great stories. Fantastic products. This bag will need to bring the cool factor up. And continue making me happy for years, so that I don’t have to go through this process again for a while.

So I embarked on what ended up being a 6 month discovery process of bags. Which I enjoyed. But which also stressed me out. And ultimately led me to my Peak Design Everyday Backpack 30L in Charcoal. To be continued...

[tripovershadows]

Wordcount: 2,510

Set in Tyria after the restoration of Lion's Arch, this piece showcases a member of the Vigil reporting back to superiors about a mission that did not go smoothly or to plan and how the different modes of re-telling the same event can result in very different impressions depending on the motivations behind selecting one voice over another to convey information.

Content Warning: this piece contains fleeting and non-detailed references to cult practices, blood magic, self-flagellation, combat-based injury, demonic possession, and post-event mental trauma.

The sound of waves and shrieking gulls over Sanctum Harbor filtered into Sesyria's study, his bunched-up knuckles stroking back and forth across pursed lips as he considered the in-progress report upon his desk.

Summarising this particular event posed a challenge to the sylvari tactician. He often found himself paused on multiple occasions cradling his head in his hand, rubbing his thumb against his temple, and needing to ease a hard tension in his jaw.

Pushing himself up from his desk, Sesyria paced the length of his top-floor quarters. Agitated strides drew him to the window where he wasted some time watching a small fishing vessel offload a modest catch. It was better than their last haul, he observed. Forcing himself away from the marina scene, he instead moved to examine the bookcases and scowled at the thin layer of dust settled along the page edges and down the spines. He could tell from the scrape on the shelf the last time each book had been removed and his hand twitched with the desire to wipe everything down in a burst of furious procrastination.

Sesyria could identify the uncharacteristic air of nervous energy in him. In the face of the rest of the guild, he was the pillar, the leader they looked to with unshakable focus and discipline. No-one was more aware of that expectation than Sesyria himself. This was why his moments of ill-focused needed forcing into specific, private spaces, away from the keen eyes of most of his team. Sesyria had two versions of himself to manage: the Sesyria who was guild leader and the Sesyria who was a member of the Vigil.

On this day, his two selves were at odds. Some impulsive ill-choices on the part of one of his guild members put Sesyria in a position where he would need to produce an incident report for his Vigil superiors. Sesyria was beholden to the Vigil and responsible for his band of non-Pact mercenaries. No matter how uncomfortable this felt, he needed to fulfil his commitments.

The heavy wooden chair groaned as Sesyria drove his weight back in then secured himself into the desk by dragging himself closer, the feet of the chair growling against the floor like an unwilling dog on a leash

After allowing himself one final moment to press his forehead against the bridge formed with his long, silver-birch fingers, Sesyria drew in a long, deep breath through his nose, then picked up his papers to re-read what he had written thus far.

Phoenix 77 1328 AE

Assistance was requested in an subterranean temple space in Malchor's Leap, North East of Blighted Arch. The distress call was roused by Necromancer Ordaen after Whispers Agent Hakkyuu failed to meet the designated rendezvous point for a planned group exploration into the Grenthian temple.

The exploration was undertaken as an independent action and is not associated with, nor sanctioned by, the Order of Whispers, The Pact, or any other associated organisation.

Necromancer Ordaen's personal interest in the location derived from the discovery of a long-inactive sect of Orrian Grenth worshippers who were believed to have employed self-flagellation as both an act of devotion and a means of enhancing their proficiency for hemomancer. Necromancer Ordaen wished to procure remains of these clerics for investigative purposes and initially contacted Agent Hakkyuu for assistance.

The intent was to investigate the uncharted site as a collective group, however Agent Hakkyuu pre-maturely infiltrated the ruins as a solo unit, without any prior scouting, and neglected to alert other members of the investigative team of his intended course of action.

"That idiot," Sesyria muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowed behind his glasses as a creep of cold discomfort picked its way up his neck.

Really, there was absolutely nothing surprising about Hakkyuu's choice of action－Sesyria had known and worked with Hakkyuu for several years before the formation of the guild and he knew of Hakkyuu's sporadic tendencies intimately. Arguably, those very tendencies were the reason the two had met in the first place amidst a clash with bandits in Kessex Hills. The details of that meeting varied depending one which of the two of them was regaling the tale and how much wine had been consumed. In more recent years, the Tactician had come to partly accept that his careful strategising may always go array at any given moment whenever Hakkyuu was even remotely involved.

Honestly, Hakkyuu straying from the the plan was the only thing Sesyria could ever safely bet on when strategising.

Through a lack of sufficient pre-mission reconnaissance, Agent Hakkyuu inadvertently disturbed a Lich.

Upon our arrival on site, myself and Warmaster Kyinnlen discovered that the Lich had forcibly taken control of Agent Hakkyuu's body and proved to be hostile and dangerous.

After swift assessment of the situation and threat level, I concluded that:

- Engaging the Lich was unavoidable - The primary mission goal needed immediate alteration to include Agent Hakkyuu's extraction - No-one present in that moment possed the suitable skillset to appropriately incapacitate Agent Hakkyuu

Having drawn these conclusions, I instructed Warmaster Kyinnlen to retrieve Agent Hakkyuu's mentor－Secondborn Aurus－from base camp. I opted to stay and maintain visual contact on the Lich.

Sesyria shoved himself back heavily into his chair, one hand drawn up and sinking into his burgundy head-leaves as he closed his amber eyes.

The report, by design, was devoid of the stakes and emotions involved, but reading it over transported Sesyria back into that dank cavern with its brine-soaked Orrian architecture and death-tinged winds rushing through on the pull of the tide.

He remembered Kyinnlen and himself stepping into the poorly lit cave, spectral flames flickering in the corners of the abandoned temple that played tricks on the eyes and mind as shadow and light danced together on irregular angles and giggled together in hidden corners.

He remembered the two of them drawing closer, Kyinnlen brave and battle-ready in his armor, his youthful pale-green face resolute in its focus, but his soft eyes awash with fear and concern for the state of their reckless comrade.

In the central space, an impression of a ghostly form swept in old cloth hovered behind a very familiar figure.

For a human, Hakkyuu was already striking at best and disturbing at worst－silver-white hair, sharp purple eyes, and an intense presence that instantly filled any room, he didn’t cut the typical look of a man who haled from Ebonhawke. Despite that, Sesyria recalled how wrong his human comrade looked when he and Kyinnlen arrvied.

Hakkyuu stood shorter than most human men, but he tended to stand upright with his back straight and head held high, radiating a confidence that created the impression of height that he physically lacked. In that cave, however, Hakkyuu looked like he was sleeping upright, his head lolled to one side, shoulders slumped, lips slightly parted, and eyes open but drooping and glassy.

That was the first time Sesyria felt the cold creep up his spine, a sensation that had yet to fully leave him and would spider-walk its way up his back rapidly whenever his mind drew him back into that cave.

Without ever directly saying as much, Sesyria considered the silver-haired idiot more than a colleague. He and Hakkyuu spent regular evenings together, nursing their way through a bottle of wine (two on a good night, three on a bad one) where Hakkyuu would complain that the wine would be better if it were whiskey, yet continued to drink something with a taste he didn’t care for purely for the social aspect.

Sesyria knew Hakkyuu's humour and disposition well, knew what set off his strange moods, could spot the onset of his insufferable twitchy fingers that tended to spell that Hakkyuu was getting ready to do something irritating. He knew Hakkyuu's daily routines, where he liked to spend his time, who he especially liked to affectionately harass, where his insecurities lay, and what chilled him. Kyinnlen may be Sesyria's lover, but Hakkyuu was his best friend.

Perhaps Sesyria decision to remain and send Kyinnlen away to collect Aurus was a poor one.

The battle was gruelling, one that blurred the lines between Hakkyuu's inclination toward battlefield bloodlust with the interests of the spectral puppeteer. The overlap of the two entities in one body made Hakkyuu's otherwise terrifying accuracy more haphazard, his twin blades impacting harshly against Sesyria’s Arcane magic that he’d forged into shields and deflective waves.

While Hakkyuu’s precision was downgraded, there was no decrease in aggression or power. Hakkyuu's speed had always been his greatest gift and most honed ability. Sesyria still experienced mental flashes of Hakkyuu's pale limbs flinging sharp objects toward him in unpredictable, untrained directions, keeping Sesyria on the back foot in his attempts to avoid and counter the onslaught as he called forward defensive walls of wind, waves of earth, and pillars of ice to protect himself.

Sesyria knew he would never win against Hakkyuu in hand-to-hand combat. It was never about winning, it was about stalling just long enough for Kyinnlen to bring Aurus－the only person Sesyria knew had enough physical fortitude, mental stability, and personal experience with Hakkyuu to subdue him. Sesyria didn't need to win, just survive and make sure the Lich didn't take off.

Not winning also didn't mean unscathed.

Absently, in the future safety of his office, Sesyria rubbed a hand over his forearm, feeling a dull ache of where his botanical body was still steadily knitting itself back together after Hakkyuu's blade had found flesh several weeks ago. Golden sap had soaked into Sesyria's light armor, trickled down his arm, trailed between his fingers as he shakily gripped his staff and－

Breathe.

Refocus.

Return.

He was in Lion's Arch. In his office. At his desk. The injuries were healing. The battle was over. He was alive.

Sesyria leaned forward and resumed writing.

The ensuing conflict showed none of Agent Hakkyuu's customary cognitive or combative capabilities. This lends credibility to the theory that he was without control of his faculties for the full duration of this encounter. 

Agent Hakkyuu was ultimately subdued and given medical attention after the Lich was fully extracted.

Sesyria shook his head as he wrote the word 'subdued' as the reality was far less elegant.

In point of fact, Aurus virtually by-passed physical combat entirely and went for the most straight-forward route: simply knocking out his ex-mentee by clocking him hard at the back of his skull at the earliest possible opportunity. Sesyria watched in dumbstruck awe, almost embarrassed at how the Secondborn made that look disgustingly easy as Sesyria stood shaking and bleeding in the aftermath, all his stamina virtually spent.

Tall and foreboding, with an impassive stare that was locked on Hakkyuu the moment he entered the subterranean temple, Aurus remained one the largest sylvari Sesyria had ever met. If his insecurities were held closer to the surface, Sesyria may have felt inadequate in comparison and not up to the task of leading their band of misfits. Luckily, Sesyria had more self-assurance than that.

He had watched Aurus approach the situation with a kind of stony physical embodiment of Ventari's teachings－full of wisdom and strength and inner stability, a natural respect for all things regardless of their intent, and an obvious sense of conviction when undertaking a course of action.

After Aurus subdued Hakkyuu and gathered the human’s unconscious form into his arms, the rest of Sesyria's memories were in partial form at best. He vaguely recalled Aurus calling Ordaen forward to shatter the hold the Orrian spirit held on Hakkyuu's body. He remembered Kyinnlen beside and wrapping a support arm around the back of the tactician's shoulder, because that’s just the sort of thing Kyinnlen would do. And he knew, conceptually speaking, he must have felt a dull ache pulsating from various parts of his body from where Hakkyuu's blades had bitten into the ashen leafy outer layer of Sesyria's skin to draw out trickles of thick gold.

What he remembered without any doubt was the sensation of relief and exhaustion, like he'd just finished a several-mile sprint that left his limbs heavy, his energy drained, and his mind foggy. There were far worse outcomes for that scenario; Sesyria had mentally plotted out at least twenty-five.

I conclude that during this battle, Agent Hakkyuu was neither in a sound state of mind, nor in control of his physical functions. 

It is my unwavering opinion, corroborated by the expertise of Necromancer Ordaen, that Agent Hakkyuu was categorically under the possessive influence of an ancient Orrian spirit and therefore bears no responsibility for his actions outside of poor initial judgement.

It is also my belief that all parties involved either have or will experience full physical recovery.

While questions remain about Agent Hakkyuu's mental and emotional recovery, I am satisfied that he will be fit to return to field work in due course and am willing to attest as much to an Order of Whispers official if required.

That, as far as Sesyria was concerned, the most diplomatic way he could record how disinclined Hakkyuu was to talk about his state of mind post-possession. Par the course for Hakkyuu, any attempt to speak with the human about his brush with the invasive spirit had received a rather curt response of "I'm fine." That was Hakkyuu's way of telling everyone to drop the subject and back the hell off.

Weeks had passed since Sesyria and Kyinnlen stood on the damp precipice of the Orrian worship site, but sometimes Sesyria experienced a coil in his stomach when he caught a salty-sweet scent sweeping through Lion's Arch from the bay. Sometimes his throat would close up for a split-second when a flame bent the shadows in unexpected ways out the corner of his eye. Sometimes, he would look over to Hakkyuu in the safe, secure home that Sesyria had bought for them, and his chest would tighten with the realisation if they had arrived even a few moments later, if he hadn't been able to hold the Lich's attention long enough, or if he had misjudged the deployment of any one of his spells, that they may not have all returned home that day.

What disturbed Sesyria more than his own memories though was the fact Hakkyuu refused to speak about what he experienced under the Lich's influence－what he’d heard, what he’d seen. If Sesyria found himself routinely sat bolt upright in bed in the middle of the night with Kyinnlen's concerned hand on his arm, he couldn’t imagine what spindled visions crept through Hakkyuu's mind from the time he spent as the Orrian's temporary puppet.

Dragging the quill against the parchment to form its customary scratch of his name, Sesyria pushed back his chair abruptly, deciding he needed some fresh air and Kyinnlen's calming tones to soothe away the memories haunting his mind.

[ameliacrowley]

The forest was tremendous, foggy and blooming. Its canopy was reigned by rhododendron, magnolia, and redwood. Cascading lights counting between leaves allowed for a mosaic of herbs to claim the boulder covered grounds below. Bundles branches waves from many trees and a medley of flowers, which were found in the quietest places, added some bright touches to the otherwise brown view. Creepers dangle from most trees and a range of flowers, scattered sporadically, protruded from the otherwise monotonous bark. A clamor of noises, which were caused by critters, reverberated through the air; accompanied by the rustling of the leaves and branches of the treetops in the wind. Birds formed a chaotic orchestra with the sounds of fight over dominance between larger animals.

In the middle, a lush field of grass is contoured by numerous hedges and flower bushes. A lone ornamental piece stands dead center which evokes the image of an animal, a lion. The smaller flower bushes try to take all the attention in this garden and succeed to a large extent; their own unique, miniature world. The hedges reach nearly seven feet high, the same as the lion, but they will eventually grow at least twice as large if left to their own. A couple messages carved on stones are spread around the garden, names of people in passing and those soon to be forgotten within the mystic wonderland. Grass and plants seem to refuse to try and claim more land than they’ve been allocated, perhaps thanks to some intervention. The ornamental piece eternally beckons all visitors, drawing all attention towards it. The smaller flower bushes make sure they’re paid attention to as well, and the hedges and flower bushes are hard to miss, but there’s no way to win when the garden is designed with the focus on the lion.

And in the middle of it all, bewildered by the masterpiece stood a rather large man adorned in plate armor. A rounded helm with half a squared face guard with two squared openings for the eyes. His shoulders were pointy, long and quite large. They’re decorated with layered, spiky pieces of metal, ending in two sharp spikes facing outwards and downwards. His upper arms are protected by pointed, fully covered rerebraces which sit perfectly under the shoulder plates. The lower arms covered by vambraces which have a row of hook-like barbs attached to each outer side. His breastplate is made from various layers of rounded metal sheets, covering almost everything from the neck down and ending at the groin, though the sides are only covered near the bottom. His upper legs are covered by rounded, layered metal cuisses. The lower legs are protected by greaves which have a later of chainmail covering the outer sides.

A man of important, surely, lured to this very specific spot. A man that will come into play soon enough.

For you see, he was being stalked. Following the crude imprints, his heavy armor left behind in the wetted space of moss and rocks as he traveled. A small female wearing what was once a dress, now torn and dirt stained shadow of its former self, only barely able to hang from her shoulders like a discarded old towel. A big piece had been ripped from the right side, holes littering its entirety; leaving much exposed to the elements. She wore a fur scarf around her neck wrapped around her face to just below the eyes. Its odd and worn, but otherwise in a good condition. And as she spoke, her voice was no different. A worn down rasp of what was once a vibrant and beautiful voice to be sure, withered with time and loss into nothing more than a scar of what she once was.

“Are you there, my love?”

“I am…”

“Are you sad?”

“I am…”

“What does it feel like?”

“...The end…”

And as she pushed through the brush, the weeds and the undertow of the forest into that clearing, once more that man came into view. How he stood with a single hand planted so firmly against the lion that sat there in the middle. How his mere presence radiated sheer memory of a time and place once gone. A moment of silence broken by that rasp of hers which barely broke through the natural sounds of the forest.

“Have you forgotten us yet?”

Words that caused pause in his actions, his body numbing of everything that once was to instead turn cold as the very stone he adored. “You are still known, though I do try to forget.” Words much more confident, prominent than her own that easily broke through the bustle of the surrounding area. Only a moment more did he linger there against the stone before turning to face the woman, eyes meeting with her own in a momentary solence of sorrow and remembrance. “Why have you led me here, Lia? Why bring me to the place of our childhood, where we played, dressed in the same thing you wore then? Why do you hide away and only strike when no other soul is around to condemn you for your acts? Is this where you wish to die? Have you brought me here so I can finally put an end to you, you filthy monster? You were once beauty, and now you are nothing more than a monster. Evil and devious in all given ways.”

“...And now the curtain rises…”

With that same hooded gaze, she made careful steps towards the man. Each was equally as poised and elegant as the last, almost on par with the grace and beauty of a trained dancer. Each as quiet and soft as the foliage around here, without a single extra sound to disturb the tranquility of the garden. Steps that led her mere inches from the man, bodies so close that the heat from her own stained fog across the cold plating her wore. “You’ve awoken something deep inside me and for once, I feel inspired. A lust for a particular art that was caged away many years ago… And my dear brother, art requires certain cruelty.” As she spoke a single hand lingered upwards, the very tips of her fingers caressing along the plated cheek of his helm. “I am misunderstood, beauty can’t be evil and I never hurt anyone. It is nothing more than themselves that kill.” Her fingers traced downwards until the very ends of her digits wrapped along the edge of that helm, carefully pulling it from her head to simply discard off to the side. All the while, her free hand went to do the same, pulling that worn fur scarf from around her face to reveal a scared mess of a face. One worn and tattered nearly as much so as her dress. “Art is such a fickle thing; smiles and screams -- I bring both.” A single one of her hands then fled back upwards, callused skin that yet seemed still so pristine running along the blackened stubble peppers along his cut jawline. “You will be poetry, you will be beautiful… And I want to feel everything. I will make you famous… Now sing for me!”

Words that came harsher than the rest, words that pressed on and silenced near every other sound that echoed throughout that forest. A voice that cawed nearly as loud as the single gunshot that rang out. His eyes widened, trailing down to peer between the two towards crimson that started to trickle down the entry wound along his lower abdomen. Nevermind the splattered of that crimson paint now staining the statue behind him. Crimson that stained her very fingers as the gun fell to the ground and instead digits found their way into the wound; each cut and near sliced to the bone by the jagged fragments of torn metal and plate. “I have been planning your final performance for a very… long… time. When they find you, they will cry! I -live- for the applause… And you will die for it.”  As those fingers pressed deeper into that wound and the flesh of both parties ripped, the male started to shiver; trembles of adrenaline coursing through his veins, through every last inch of his body, giving him just enough fight through the pain to the knock the hand away from his face and instead wrap each of his meaty digits around her lithe throat.

“I have risen through the filth and muck!” She hissed as he lifted her from the very ground she stood on, fingers torn to the very tips as they were pulled from within that wound. “I -am- beauty. No poets words as your own could match my craft! This… Is my love!” Each word coming harsher than the last, training each breath she had only to struggle in pulling another back in. And yet from him, came nothing. Nothing more than the wheezing of pain that he fought from crippling him. The anguished groan of life, forcing him to cling one for the coming moments that would allow him to finish off and rid the world of this monster. The monster he had created. All the while she did what she could to fight against it, flailing. Screaming, kicking, like caged animal lost in the moments of fear before entrapment.

Moments of struggle that faded into her favor with every passing moment. Struggles that allowed her to claspe bloodied and torn fingers to either side of his shoulder, struggles that fight her way closer to him, pulling through every moment of her own excitement and pain until lips met with his already so cold throat. Simple moments in time that allowed her to sink her teeth into the flesh and fickle muscle and tare away the last thing keeping him from the intending darkness. The gruesome sounds of his windpipe being crushed and torn from where it rest, hinted with the gurgles of blood that filled his lungs instead. Moments that led to him finally falling limp against the very statue that kept him there, dropping her to the ground. The smell of crimson that gagged even her as she lay there on hands and knees, gasping to catch breaths wasted away.

As she pulled herself from the dirt, sitting before this masterpiece she had created of the purest of paints, she sighed; shoulders dropping as subtle ease took over. Her eyes wandered to her blood-soaked hands, following the flowing river as it cascaded down along the silver plate, ending at a blackened void of what was once a throat. “Life has no meaning… But your death shall… The end is important in all things.” Words that feel near lost amongst the sounds of the garden which soon enough returned to their deafening screams. “Everyone wears a mask, Rhett… I just chose to create my own… And behind every mask, is another mask. Only to the audience do I show my true face. But that raises the question, dear brother… Which is the lie -- the mask or my face? I have a thirst for melodrama and until they stop me, I will keep going.” She dug her lax fingers into the dirt and pulled herself along the ground, a rather wide and wicked grin forming as she rests against the statue as well; her back against the fine pointed line of the lions base with a single hand lifted, catching stray droplets of crimson that dripped from the fine points of that lifeless bodies fingers.

With cupped hands that pool of blood was brought upwards, better allowing her to see into it, to see the reflection of the last remaining of her line. To see his face forever caught in those final moments. “You wanted to kill me back then, didn’t you? You helped lock me away, you tried to stop my work. You will learn… We cannot be killed. We cannot be contained.” The thickening paint within her fingers slowed as droplets stopped defacing the rocks and grass below. “We were good… But I wonder what they think when they see me.”

“We cannot be good, we must be perfection. Every element must be in place. We are a slave to this passion. This art… Is a compulsion -- We cannot resist it. There is nothing for us, but this. We swear each performance is the last… But we lie every time. We can’t live without the euphoria of performance. That delightful moment before the curtain goes up. The ecstasy of opening night… Mmm the ecstasy of killing.”

“Beauty is pain. The moment before the shot is painful. Each bullet is a piece of our soul -- each shot if a piece of us. Bliss comes only in the moment before we fire… Is it only when the gun fires that I am alive. How wonderful.”

“...And now the curtain rises…”

[battybat-boss]

20,000 Satellites for 5G to be Launched Sending Focused Beams of Intense Microwave Radiation Over Entire Earth

by John P. Thomas Health Impact News

Public attention about 5G has been focused on the plans of telecom companies to install millions of small cell towers on electric utility poles, on public buildings and schools, on bus stop shelters, in public parks, and anywhere they want in national parks and on federally owned land.

In local urban communities there would be a cell tower approximately every 500 feet along every street.

As bad as these small cell towers might seem from the standpoint of constant exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation in close proximity to the source, perhaps an even more alarming prospect will be the beaming of millimeter length microwaves at the earth from thousands of new communication satellites.

The FCC gave approval to SpaceX on March 29, 2018, to launch 4,425 satellites into low orbit around the Earth. [1]

The total number of satellites that is expected to be put into low and high orbit by several companies will be 20,000 satellites. [1]

5G will use Phased Array Antennas to shoot Beams of Radiation at Cell Phones

These satellites will use the same type of phased array antennas as will be used by the ground-based 5G systems.

This means that they will send tightly focused beams of intense microwave radiation at each specific 5G device that is on the Earth and each device will send a beam of radiation back to the satellite. [2]

Previous generations of RF cellular communication used large antennas to send a blanket of radiation in all directions. The lower frequencies they used and the broad distribution of microwaves limited the numbers of cellular devices that could connect through an individual tall tower.

The much shorter length microwaves used for 5G will make it possible to use small phased array antennas to send and receive signals. 

Phased array antennas consist of clusters of hundreds of tiny antennas that work together to shoot a ray of energy at a target just like a bullet. A cluster of these tiny antennas can be arranged in a 4 inch by 4 inch matrix.

The rays of microwaves they produce will be strong enough to pass through walls and human bodies. If they were not strong enough to do this, then everyone with a 5G smartphone would have to stand outside when using the devices. [2]

Each 5G product will also have multiple phased array antennas which will be used to create a powerful beam of radiation back to the 5G devices mounted on electrical utility poles or toward a specific satellite in space.

These beams of radiation will also need to be strong enough to pass through walls and human flesh such as a hand or head to reach the intended destination. [2]

This means that if you are in a crowded location, such as an airport or on a train, there will be hundreds if not thousands of invisible beams of radiation flying through the environment at the speed of light.

As people move in that environment, their bodies will be penetrated by numerous beams of radiation as they walk or as other people walk around them with their 5G smartphones. [2] 

5G Phones will be much more Powerful than Previous Phones

The effective radiated power of the 5G phased array antennas in phones will be 10 times more powerful than 4G phones.

No one will be free from exposure.

In addition, 5G beams of microwave radiation will be received and transmitted from new computer equipment, household appliances, and automobiles.

Stationary equipment such as Wi-Fi hubs in homes and offices will be permitted to use microwave beams that are 15 times stronger (300 watts) than the signals from 5G phones or 150 times stronger than 4G phones. [2] 

Why is 5G so Much More Dangerous than Previous Microwave Communication Systems? 

Arthur Firstenberg, author, researcher, and advocate for limiting RF exposure from the environment, explains the analysis of 5G radiation that was published in Microwave News in 2002. He stated:

When an ordinary electromagnetic field enters the body, it causes charges to move and currents to flow.

But when extremely short electromagnetic pulses enter the body [5G], something else happens: the moving charges themselves become little antennas that re-radiate the electromagnetic field and send it deeper into the body.

These re-radiated waves are called Brillouin precursors.

They become significant when either the power or the phase of the waves changes rapidly enough.

5G will probably satisfy both requirements. This means that the reassurance we are being given-that these millimeter waves are too short to penetrate far into the body-is not true. [2]

5G Satellites Will Fill the Skies

These are the companies with the biggest plans to deploy satellites:

SpaceX: 12,000 satellites

OneWeb: 4,560 satellites 

Boeing: 2,956 satellites

Spire Global: 972 satellites

Arthur Firstenberg describes the plans of corporations who want to use 5G technology. He states: 

Honeywell has already signed a memorandum of understanding to become OneWeb's first large customer-it plans to provide high-speed Wi-Fi on business, commercial, and military aircraft throughout the world. 

SpaceX would like to provide the equivalent of 5G to every person on the planet. [3]

Ground-based 5G Implementation

Ground-based 5G systems are already being implemented in dozens of major cities right now. Plans are being approved by hundreds of other cities, which will allow implementation in 2019 and beyond.

As I explained in my previous articles, cities do not have the right to “say no” to 5G. FCC regulations prevent cities from objecting on the basis of health concerns – they only can speak to issues of esthetics and the practical matter of the placement of equipment.

They are required to “say yes,” and they better do it quickly, or telecom companies will threaten them with legal action for obstructing their plans.

Satellite Based 5G Implementation

The first two 5G test satellites were launched by SpaceX in February of 2018. Hundreds of other satellites are expected to be launched in 2019. The full set of 20,000 satellites could be put in orbit during the next two years.

To put this into perspective, as of September 2017 there were 1,738 operating satellites into orbit around the Earth. This means the number of satellites will be 11 times greater than the current number. [4]

Environmental Catastrophe from Rockets used to Launch Satellites

Rocket fuel is very destructive to the Earth's ozone layer which protects us from the harsh effects of radiation from the sun. In 2017, there were 90 rocket launch attempts worldwide. [5]

The rockets that use solid fuel produce massive ozone depletion. While rockets using liquid kerosene as fuel destroy less ozone, they release massive amounts of black carbon soot into the air, especially at high altitudes. 

If the number of annual rocket launches increases by 10 or more times, which is likely under the plans these corporations have made, computer models suggest that the combination of ozone depletion and release of black soot could produce a 3 degree warming effect over the Antarctic and reduce the ozone in the world's atmosphere by 4%. [3]

Even though it will be possible for a single rocket to put multiple satellites into orbit, we are still talking about a 10 or 20 fold increase in environmental damage over what is being produced today. [3]

The 5G satellites have a relatively short lifespan, perhaps only 5 years, which means there will be high numbers of rocket launches, not just in the next few years, but in every year for the foreseeable future. [3]

Mercury-based Rocket Fuel Could Spread Neurotoxins Over the Earth 

As bad as liquid and solid rocket fuels will be for the environment, Apollo Fusion is developing a mercury-based propulsion system for launching rockets.

These ion propulsion rocket engines use powerful magnets to push away small charged particles at high speeds, which generates thrust. NASA experimented with mercury ion propulsion in the 1960s, but abandoned the research.

Mercury is an extremely strong neurotoxin, which is harmful to all forms of life, especially humans.

The risks of an environmental catastrophe are monumental, because if there was a malfunction and one of these engines exploded, highly toxic mercury would be spread through the atmosphere and over the Earth. [6]

All the talk from telecom companies about 5G being a panacea for environmental protection and energy conservation is quite ridiculous when we think about the environmental damage that will be created by any of the rocket engines they choose to use for launching their satellites.  

Space Junk will Pollute the Earth

Each satellite will be the size of a small refrigerator and will weigh approximately 880 pounds. [4]

With a life expectancy of only 5-years [3], this means there will be a massive amount of space junk orbiting the Earth.

Eventually, all those satellites will fall down to Earth and will burn up as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.

All the hazardous materials in the satellites will be released into the air and will float down to the ground as dust or in droplets of rain.

Telecom Companies are Creating a Worldwide Disaster in the Name of Technological Progress 

5G is promoted as being the next great wonder in the plan to advance technology to create smart cities where everything and everyone is instantly connected in real time with no lags or lost signals.

Of course there will be a few costs. 

Everyone will be irradiated with millimeter-size, non-ionizing radiation 24 hours a day with completely unknown health effects.

Studies designed to investigate harm from 5G will be completed many years after the 5G systems on the ground and in space are fully implemented.

At that point it is very unlikely that telecom companies would dismantle their systems even if it is shown that their technology is causing cancer and other diseases. They would just deny the risks.

They will tell us that the science was settled decades ago. They will tell us that evidence linking 5G to cancer and other diseases is just a conspiracy theory that only a few crackpots believe.

Millions of people will suffer from radiation exposure with symptoms such as headaches, weakness, brain fog, impaired ability to learn and reason, chest pain, and numerous other symptoms that will baffle most conventional physicians.

There is Nowhere to Hide from 5G Radiation

Today, it is possible to live in a location that has reduced levels of microwave exposure. This is accomplished by choosing a living space that is far away from cell phone towers.

However, in the near future, it won't matter where we live, because 5G will irradiate us wherever we happen to live or work.

Cities Can't Say No to 5G Implementation

FCC regulations have been structured in such a way that local municipalities cannot stop telecom companies from installing 5G. They are specifically prohibited from trying to delay or stop 5G implementation on the basis of health concerns. Their only recourse is to try to make the ground-based 5G system somewhat more esthetically pleasant.

Based on what has been happening around the country, telecom companies are sweeping aside local resistance and gaining approval for their 5G systems in rapid succession.

Can 5G Implementation be Stopped?

As far as I can tell, at this point, the only way that 5G will be stopped will be by congressional action. If enough people raise a stink with their elected officials, then perhaps 5G could be put on hold while studies are done to examine the true health risks. 

Telecom investment in 5G has been massive. They are planning full implementation on the ground and in space in the next couple years. The time to object is now and not after hundreds of thousands of people become sick. [7]

If you would like to watch an in-depth presentation on the risks and hazards of 5G, then please view the following presentation.

Listen to Arthur Firstenberg discuss the history, science, and description of 5G, including 5G from satellites in space and its expected effects on all living things:

Cell Phone Task Force, Taos, New Mexico, August 2, 2018

You also may wish to review some of my previous articles about the risks of 5G and other forms of radio frequency exposure.

Public Waking up to Fact that 5G has not been Proven Safe for Human Health

5G Technology is Coming – Linked to Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Death

Cell Phone and Wi-Fi Exposure to the Eyes Causes Long-Term Damage

New 5G Cell Towers and Smart Meters to Increase Microwave Radiation – Invade Privacy

Smart Meters: Countdown to a National Crisis of Illness and Death

Will Driverless Cars Cause DNA Damage and Cancer?

How Big Technology Companies Control the Minds of the Masses through Smart Phone Addiction

About the Author

John P. Thomas is a health writer for Health Impact News. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.) from the School of Public Health, Department of Health Administration, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

References

[1] “Planetary Emergency,” Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force.

[2] “5G – from Blankets to Bullets,” Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force.

[3] “WiFi in the Sky,” Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force.

[4] “5G from Space,” Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force.

[5] “2017 Space Launch Statistics,” – Spaceflight101.

[6] “Space Startup Apollo Fusion Wants To Use Mercury as a Fuel,” Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 11/20/2018.

[7] Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force, Taos, New Mexico, 8/12/2018.

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20,000 Satellites for 5G to be Launched Sending Focused Beams of Intense Microwave Radiation Over Entire Earth

by John P. Thomas Health Impact News

Public attention about 5G has been focused on the plans of telecom companies to install millions of small cell towers on electric utility poles, on public buildings and schools, on bus stop shelters, in public parks, and anywhere they want in national parks and on federally owned land.

In local urban communities there would be a cell tower approximately every 500 feet along every street.

As bad as these small cell towers might seem from the standpoint of constant exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation in close proximity to the source, perhaps an even more alarming prospect will be the beaming of millimeter length microwaves at the earth from thousands of new communication satellites.

The FCC gave approval to SpaceX on March 29, 2018, to launch 4,425 satellites into low orbit around the Earth. [1]

The total number of satellites that is expected to be put into low and high orbit by several companies will be 20,000 satellites. [1]

5G will use Phased Array Antennas to shoot Beams of Radiation at Cell Phones

These satellites will use the same type of phased array antennas as will be used by the ground-based 5G systems.

This means that they will send tightly focused beams of intense microwave radiation at each specific 5G device that is on the Earth and each device will send a beam of radiation back to the satellite. [2]

Previous generations of RF cellular communication used large antennas to send a blanket of radiation in all directions. The lower frequencies they used and the broad distribution of microwaves limited the numbers of cellular devices that could connect through an individual tall tower.

The much shorter length microwaves used for 5G will make it possible to use small phased array antennas to send and receive signals. 

Phased array antennas consist of clusters of hundreds of tiny antennas that work together to shoot a ray of energy at a target just like a bullet. A cluster of these tiny antennas can be arranged in a 4 inch by 4 inch matrix.

The rays of microwaves they produce will be strong enough to pass through walls and human bodies. If they were not strong enough to do this, then everyone with a 5G smartphone would have to stand outside when using the devices. [2]

Each 5G product will also have multiple phased array antennas which will be used to create a powerful beam of radiation back to the 5G devices mounted on electrical utility poles or toward a specific satellite in space.

These beams of radiation will also need to be strong enough to pass through walls and human flesh such as a hand or head to reach the intended destination. [2]

This means that if you are in a crowded location, such as an airport or on a train, there will be hundreds if not thousands of invisible beams of radiation flying through the environment at the speed of light.

As people move in that environment, their bodies will be penetrated by numerous beams of radiation as they walk or as other people walk around them with their 5G smartphones. [2] 

5G Phones will be much more Powerful than Previous Phones

The effective radiated power of the 5G phased array antennas in phones will be 10 times more powerful than 4G phones.

No one will be free from exposure.

In addition, 5G beams of microwave radiation will be received and transmitted from new computer equipment, household appliances, and automobiles.

Stationary equipment such as Wi-Fi hubs in homes and offices will be permitted to use microwave beams that are 15 times stronger (300 watts) than the signals from 5G phones or 150 times stronger than 4G phones. [2] 

Why is 5G so Much More Dangerous than Previous Microwave Communication Systems? 

Arthur Firstenberg, author, researcher, and advocate for limiting RF exposure from the environment, explains the analysis of 5G radiation that was published in Microwave News in 2002. He stated:

When an ordinary electromagnetic field enters the body, it causes charges to move and currents to flow.

But when extremely short electromagnetic pulses enter the body [5G], something else happens: the moving charges themselves become little antennas that re-radiate the electromagnetic field and send it deeper into the body.

These re-radiated waves are called Brillouin precursors.

They become significant when either the power or the phase of the waves changes rapidly enough.

5G will probably satisfy both requirements. This means that the reassurance we are being given-that these millimeter waves are too short to penetrate far into the body-is not true. [2]

5G Satellites Will Fill the Skies

These are the companies with the biggest plans to deploy satellites:

SpaceX: 12,000 satellites

OneWeb: 4,560 satellites 

Boeing: 2,956 satellites

Spire Global: 972 satellites

Arthur Firstenberg describes the plans of corporations who want to use 5G technology. He states: 

Honeywell has already signed a memorandum of understanding to become OneWeb's first large customer-it plans to provide high-speed Wi-Fi on business, commercial, and military aircraft throughout the world. 

SpaceX would like to provide the equivalent of 5G to every person on the planet. [3]

Ground-based 5G Implementation

Ground-based 5G systems are already being implemented in dozens of major cities right now. Plans are being approved by hundreds of other cities, which will allow implementation in 2019 and beyond.

As I explained in my previous articles, cities do not have the right to “say no” to 5G. FCC regulations prevent cities from objecting on the basis of health concerns – they only can speak to issues of esthetics and the practical matter of the placement of equipment.

They are required to “say yes,” and they better do it quickly, or telecom companies will threaten them with legal action for obstructing their plans.

Satellite Based 5G Implementation

The first two 5G test satellites were launched by SpaceX in February of 2018. Hundreds of other satellites are expected to be launched in 2019. The full set of 20,000 satellites could be put in orbit during the next two years.

To put this into perspective, as of September 2017 there were 1,738 operating satellites into orbit around the Earth. This means the number of satellites will be 11 times greater than the current number. [4]

Environmental Catastrophe from Rockets used to Launch Satellites

Rocket fuel is very destructive to the Earth's ozone layer which protects us from the harsh effects of radiation from the sun. In 2017, there were 90 rocket launch attempts worldwide. [5]

The rockets that use solid fuel produce massive ozone depletion. While rockets using liquid kerosene as fuel destroy less ozone, they release massive amounts of black carbon soot into the air, especially at high altitudes. 

If the number of annual rocket launches increases by 10 or more times, which is likely under the plans these corporations have made, computer models suggest that the combination of ozone depletion and release of black soot could produce a 3 degree warming effect over the Antarctic and reduce the ozone in the world's atmosphere by 4%. [3]

Even though it will be possible for a single rocket to put multiple satellites into orbit, we are still talking about a 10 or 20 fold increase in environmental damage over what is being produced today. [3]

The 5G satellites have a relatively short lifespan, perhaps only 5 years, which means there will be high numbers of rocket launches, not just in the next few years, but in every year for the foreseeable future. [3]

Mercury-based Rocket Fuel Could Spread Neurotoxins Over the Earth 

As bad as liquid and solid rocket fuels will be for the environment, Apollo Fusion is developing a mercury-based propulsion system for launching rockets.

These ion propulsion rocket engines use powerful magnets to push away small charged particles at high speeds, which generates thrust. NASA experimented with mercury ion propulsion in the 1960s, but abandoned the research.

Mercury is an extremely strong neurotoxin, which is harmful to all forms of life, especially humans.

The risks of an environmental catastrophe are monumental, because if there was a malfunction and one of these engines exploded, highly toxic mercury would be spread through the atmosphere and over the Earth. [6]

All the talk from telecom companies about 5G being a panacea for environmental protection and energy conservation is quite ridiculous when we think about the environmental damage that will be created by any of the rocket engines they choose to use for launching their satellites.  

Space Junk will Pollute the Earth

Each satellite will be the size of a small refrigerator and will weigh approximately 880 pounds. [4]

With a life expectancy of only 5-years [3], this means there will be a massive amount of space junk orbiting the Earth.

Eventually, all those satellites will fall down to Earth and will burn up as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.

All the hazardous materials in the satellites will be released into the air and will float down to the ground as dust or in droplets of rain.

Telecom Companies are Creating a Worldwide Disaster in the Name of Technological Progress 

5G is promoted as being the next great wonder in the plan to advance technology to create smart cities where everything and everyone is instantly connected in real time with no lags or lost signals.

Of course there will be a few costs. 

Everyone will be irradiated with millimeter-size, non-ionizing radiation 24 hours a day with completely unknown health effects.

Studies designed to investigate harm from 5G will be completed many years after the 5G systems on the ground and in space are fully implemented.

At that point it is very unlikely that telecom companies would dismantle their systems even if it is shown that their technology is causing cancer and other diseases. They would just deny the risks.

They will tell us that the science was settled decades ago. They will tell us that evidence linking 5G to cancer and other diseases is just a conspiracy theory that only a few crackpots believe.

Millions of people will suffer from radiation exposure with symptoms such as headaches, weakness, brain fog, impaired ability to learn and reason, chest pain, and numerous other symptoms that will baffle most conventional physicians.

There is Nowhere to Hide from 5G Radiation

Today, it is possible to live in a location that has reduced levels of microwave exposure. This is accomplished by choosing a living space that is far away from cell phone towers.

However, in the near future, it won't matter where we live, because 5G will irradiate us wherever we happen to live or work.

Cities Can't Say No to 5G Implementation

FCC regulations have been structured in such a way that local municipalities cannot stop telecom companies from installing 5G. They are specifically prohibited from trying to delay or stop 5G implementation on the basis of health concerns. Their only recourse is to try to make the ground-based 5G system somewhat more esthetically pleasant.

Based on what has been happening around the country, telecom companies are sweeping aside local resistance and gaining approval for their 5G systems in rapid succession.

Can 5G Implementation be Stopped?

As far as I can tell, at this point, the only way that 5G will be stopped will be by congressional action. If enough people raise a stink with their elected officials, then perhaps 5G could be put on hold while studies are done to examine the true health risks. 

Telecom investment in 5G has been massive. They are planning full implementation on the ground and in space in the next couple years. The time to object is now and not after hundreds of thousands of people become sick. [7]

If you would like to watch an in-depth presentation on the risks and hazards of 5G, then please view the following presentation.

Listen to Arthur Firstenberg discuss the history, science, and description of 5G, including 5G from satellites in space and its expected effects on all living things:

Cell Phone Task Force, Taos, New Mexico, August 2, 2018

You also may wish to review some of my previous articles about the risks of 5G and other forms of radio frequency exposure.

Public Waking up to Fact that 5G has not been Proven Safe for Human Health

5G Technology is Coming – Linked to Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Death

Cell Phone and Wi-Fi Exposure to the Eyes Causes Long-Term Damage

New 5G Cell Towers and Smart Meters to Increase Microwave Radiation – Invade Privacy

Smart Meters: Countdown to a National Crisis of Illness and Death

Will Driverless Cars Cause DNA Damage and Cancer?

How Big Technology Companies Control the Minds of the Masses through Smart Phone Addiction

About the Author

John P. Thomas is a health writer for Health Impact News. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.) from the School of Public Health, Department of Health Administration, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

References

[1] “Planetary Emergency,” Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force.

[2] “5G – from Blankets to Bullets,” Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force.

[3] “WiFi in the Sky,” Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force.

[4] “5G from Space,” Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force.

[5] “2017 Space Launch Statistics,” – Spaceflight101.

[6] “Space Startup Apollo Fusion Wants To Use Mercury as a Fuel,” Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 11/20/2018.

[7] Arthur Firstenberg, Cellular Phone Task Force, Taos, New Mexico, 8/12/2018.

Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people's lives and how it can change yours!

Includes 85 recipes – Free shipping available!

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[cryptoquicknews-blog]

New Post has been published here https://is.gd/7XVZQE

2018: When Privacy and Decentralization Collided

This post was originally published here

Guy Zyskind is the CEO and co-founder of Enigma, a secure computation protocol that integrates with blockchains.

The following is an exclusive contribution to CoinDesk’s 2018 Year in Review.

In 2018, two major long-term trends finally collided in a very public fashion.

The first trend was the over-centralization of online platforms. For years, Facebook, Google and others accumulated power and influence by centralizing user behavior. Products given to users “for free” created closed systems and echo chambers designed to keep users inside siloed ecosystems. In turn, platforms repackaged these captured users into lucrative advertising products, creating an online oligopoly.

The second trend was the erosion of data privacy. A complete lack of transparency around how data was used, shared and protected by platforms and institutions led to some dramatic revelations. First, Cambridge Analytica whistleblowers exposed how Facebook data was misused to target individuals during political campaigns. The rest of the year was filled with news stories of massive data breaches, hacking coverups and yes, even more terrifying Facebook revelations.

So why did everything explode in 2018? The truth is that these trends have been converging for a very long time. Many of the most horrifying news items of 2018 concerned vulnerabilities that have existed for years. The only thing different about this year is that we finally started to notice. And maybe that’s the scariest thing of all.

No easy fix

It’s easy to see how centralization and data privacy are linked. Without the appropriate oversight, monopolistic platforms are not held accountable for their use of our data – or how it is protected. Also, keeping data in centralized databases under a single entity’s control creates a juicy target for opportunistic hackers who could leak, exploit, or ransom the data.

What’s not easy, however, is creating decentralized alternatives that adequately address the issue of data privacy. There were countless articles written over the past year extolling the virtues of blockchain and how it could disrupt Facebook’s business forever by enabling decentralized social platforms. Most of these articles, however, contained a fundamental misunderstanding of how blockchain worked or overlooked its existing limitations (like scalability and privacy). As a result, they did not foresee how challenging addressing this problem would actually be.

This is where the third major trend of 2018 comes in: the (over)correction of the blockchain hype cycle.

Enthusiastic speculation around the potential of blockchain exploded to unsustainable levels in 2017 and carried over into this year. Magazine covers and thought leaders promoted blockchain as a potential cure-all. Nearly any problem could be solved by “throwing a blockchain at it,” with WIRED famously categorizing 187 things the blockchain is supposed to fix. But as market prices for cryptoassets began to implode, this list narrowed dramatically over the course of 2018, culminating with more proclamations from thought leaders that “blockchain is useless.”

While there may be no end in sight for the first two trends – monopolistic platforms still lack oversight and transparency, and the worst breaches of data privacy are likely yet to come – there are signs the blockchain hype cycle has stabilized. Expectations are beginning to align with reality – and real solutions are being proposed.

Decentralized solutions for data privacy

We published an article on the Enigma blog back in March (around the time of the original Cambridge Analytica story) about how blockchain alone could not fix Facebook. As we wrote at the time:

“While blockchain is great for correctness and transparency, it fails in privacy. Today, as blockchain is applied to the financial system, we are able to see all transactions that have ever taken place. In a future where we have decentralized social networks, we will see all likes, posts, and connections. In other words, blockchains alone cannot give people control over their own data.”

This statement was our attempt to take a measured approach to the problems of over-centralization and data privacy. Rather than rejecting the utility of blockchain, we hoped that people would see blockchain for what it was good at being – a decentralized verification layer, not a complete platform. Fortunately, many builders and leaders in the space have embraced this healthy perspective, including Vitalik Buterin and the Web3 Foundation.

We expect 2019 to bring continued focus on the non-blockchain layers of the tech stack for the decentralized web. These include oracles, decentralized storage, state channels – but perhaps most importantly – privacy-preserving computation. This allows encrypted data to be computed by nodes in a decentralized network – all without revealing the data to the nodes themselves.

Secure computation has been a field of study since the 1980s, long before Satoshi proposed bitcoin. It is often considered the “holy grail” of computer science – and with recent advancements, we are finally beginning to realize some of the potentials of secure computation.

When combined with other decentralized technologies such as blockchain, we can create foundational platforms for unstoppable applications that preserve the privacy of their users. The dream of dapps has always been to put the needs and interests of users first – protecting their data and identities while preventing censorship. Decentralized privacy solutions are the missing piece for realizing this dream.

In 2019, we can expect to see more and more projects in the blockchain space embracing privacy solutions, including Ethereum itself.

There are many technologies to explore, such as zero-knowledge proofs and zk-snarks/starks, trusted execution environments, secure multi-party computation and fully homomorphic encryption. Understanding any one of them is challenging, and the development work supporting these technologies is still in its earliest stages. However, protocols based on these privacy technologies have as much potential to reshape the world as blockchain itself – if not substantially more so.

What now?

In 2018, the conversation around the potential of blockchains turned rapidly from “what can’t they do?” to “what can they do?” Pundits began to declare blockchains a solution in search of a problem. But this ignores the very real problems all around us, from government censorship to broken financial systems to the frequent violation of data privacy and security.

In 2019, we believe the conversation will turn again as people begin to realize the deep relationship between these problems and decentralized solutions. Specifically, we expect people to realize that the greatest risks to data privacy have always come from centralized platforms and architectures – and that this is by design, not by accident. We also expect people to understand the limitations of blockchain as a privacy solution – again by design. The trends have already coincided. It’s up to all of us to help draw the connections.

Our greatest priority in 2019, beyond building, must be education and advocacy. Importantly, this effort cannot just be limited to blockchain technology. We must also focus on other decentralized technologies and the problems they can help solve, such as censorship and data privacy. In that last area, there are already many incredible organizations doing great work on education and advocacy, including the Tor Project and EFF.

We want and need decentralized technologies to be globally implemented and have global relevance. To do this, we must all embrace purposes beyond speculation.

Our purpose is privacy. What’s yours?

Facebook image via Shutterstock

#crypto #cryptocurrency #btc #xrp #litecoin #altcoin #money #currency #finance #news #alts #hodl #coindesk #cointelegraph #dollar #bitcoin View the website

New Post has been published here https://is.gd/7XVZQE

[carwashservicesworld-blog]

Waterless Mobile Car Wash Services Portland

Mobile hand car wash and valeting service. Details of services, prices, booking, testimonials and area covered. Head on over to mobigleam.com for waterless mobile car wash services in Portland.

Do not use a sponge. Do not use anything that is abrasive like steel wool, sink, or dish scrubbers. They must be soft. They must be fluffy. A wash mitt is the best. It will trap dirt instead of scraping it along your cars finish. A sponge could scratch your car. For tall cars, vans, and trucks, you can use a pole mitt. Make sure you buy a pole with a head that is specifically designed to wash a car. Many will scratch your cars finish. Remember, the fluffier the better. A wash mitt designed for car washing will hold the most suds as well. Suds is what will clean your car.

Waterless mobile car wash;

You may get the contents at any automotive store but by combining all into a car-themed putting gift basket such basic tools for an emergency road kit (road flare, cones, cords, flashlights, reflective vests and fuses) would be well appreciated by the receiver.

Using a pressure wash once in a while removes the dirt from the parts that are difficult to reach. Holding out the pressure wash jet closely to the painted surface might peel the loose paint. Places like behind moldings, inside wheel arches, under the bumpers should be washed off. This is where the dirt and salt could be accumulated. The dirt in the wind shield must also be wiped and washed. Dirts accumulated in the windshield gets caught by the windshield wipers blades and scratches the windshield when the wipers are operating.

What is waterless mobile car wash? Ions are simply impurities that exist in any normal water supply and come in the form of dissolved minerals such as calcium and sodium, When the water evaporates the minerals that were once dissolved in the water are left behind to leave unsightly spots on your paintwork. The normal course of action is to dry your car with a soft cloth or paper towel so that the water doesn't have time to evaporate and leave behind the spots. This is sometimes impractical though, especially on a hot day when the sun will dry parts of your car before you get a chance to get to them.

We also had the waterless mobile car wash services chance to pit the RAZR i against the Droid RAZR M. Aside from the benchmark results outlined above, the Medfield entry offered a marginally faster response to most actions. Powering up both phones, the RAZR i landed at its home screen around 12 seconds ahead of the Snapdragon sibling. Loading into the Chrome browser was around the same speed on both, likewise the camera app - both launching and capture - was equally swift on both. It's interesting to note that the color balance appeared more natural on the screen of the Verizon version, which matches up with our results in the camera test.

Even though there are several lenders who offer car wash loans, you may have a hard time searching for one. Thus, when you are searching for them, you should know where to look as you may not find them listed in the yellow pages of a phone book. The best source to search for car wash loans lenders is the internet. In the space provided in the search engine, you just have to type the required words and within seconds you will be provided with a list of all the lending institutions that offer such funds.

Having enough pressure in your machine will allow you to clean at a deeper level and make fewer passes over a surface to get it clean. Too much pressure will take off the top layer of a surface or damage it beyond repair. When using PSI as the tool of cleaning, always approach a surface from a distance, then moving in slowly for more pressure, until you find the right distance for cleaning ability without harming the surface.

If you've ever bought parts for your car, you've probably got confused at times finding different auto parts outlets offering the same item at a wide range of prices. So you are left wondering whether quality has anything to do with this. In a broad sense, the answer is yes. The higher the price, the higher the quality. However, this is not always the case.

The main area and aim of car detailing is to fully enhance and restore the vehicles paintwork by eliminating light scratches and swirl marks that have been inflicted over time and that reflect the light in such a way that they give an unsightly cob webbing effect on the surface of the paint or clear coat. Before this is undertaken though, the exterior has to be thoroughly washed and cleaned in order to remove as much dirt and as many contaminants as possible. Valeting is something you can get from even a local fuel station - car detailing is more something which is more specialist and a service to hire by looking online. Some firms do have a specialist work facility however.

Babysitters job is not that easy as it may seem to you. A nanny is responsible for a child's meal, entertaining the child, engaging the child in learning activities and to follow the regular bedtime family routine. You cannot be lenient when you are around kids; you have to be always on your toes and keep them in your sight all the time. Kids are very stubborn and you have to be able to convince them to take their meals on time and go to bed on time.

Distressed debt and mezzanine investors packed into a cramped London courtroom to be told that IMO's senior lenders could take ownership of the company, despite objections of lower-ranked mezzanine lenders owed about 90 million pounds ($148.5 million).

One of the first things that you should look for should always be its track record. Do people (who have experienced their service) return? Are they satisfied with the service that they offer? As I mentioned earlier, you can never know what repairs were done to your car, unless you stay in the shop the whole day. The only way to find out how good the repairs were is to drive your car out.

Before you harp on me about the Cadillac Escalade EXT , I have to remind you that the Escalade EXT is based on the much-more-clever Chevy Avalanche, with a mid-gate that allowed the bed to be accessed from within the vehicle, among other goodies. They may look the same, but they don't work the same. Also, being featured in the Matrix movie sure didn't hurt the Escalade EXT's sales either.

The major motive of making use of vehicle protection cover is without any doubt to protect a vehicle against a number of harms which occur driving on the road. Even essentially the most seasoned and also watchful car owners are not guarded against insignificant accidents, therefore providing your own automobile an extra security is certainly a prudent choice.

Pay attention to the signs a potential mechanic gives to you. If he cannot give you eye contact, rushes his words, or avoids answering any questions you have for him, he may be trying to hide something. Perhaps he does not really know what he is doing or is lying about something else. If this is the case, go with another mechanic.

You should not choose a repair shop or a mechanic right away if you are rushed. If your car needs some repairs right away, find a friend or family member who can lend you their vehicle or give you rides until you find a reliable garage or dealership to repair your vehicle.

I'll admit that Lincoln Aviator, the up-scale cousin of Ford Explorer, would make sense. However, whose idea is to up-scale the F-150 Crewcab? Yet it was done, and that became the Lincoln Blackwood , which died after a few years. In fact, there was a Neiman Marcus Edition of Lincoln Blackwood! It then got resurrected as the Lincoln Mark LT after a few years, then died again, at least in the US. The Lincoln Mark LT is still available in Mexico.

Buy a pair of rabbit ears. This is a flexiable rubber seal connected to a metal clamp. This unit is help flush the engine. connect the unit on the lower part of the motor were the water is picked up. Connect a water hose to the back of the rabbit ears.

In recent years, however, the environment has started to shift. In part, that's due to investigative reporting, the prevalence of social media, whistle-blowers, and stronger judicial institutions, according to The Inter-American Dialogue's report. Over the past two decades, more nations have signed on to international corruption and transparency standards like the UN Convention Against Corruption or the Open Government Partnership, of which 14 Latin American countries are signatories and have submitted action plans. There has also been greater investment in judicial systems and national oversight laws.

Understand how the repair shop you are considering charges before signing any agreements. Some shops will charge a flat fee for labor, while others base it off of time. Some will opt for original parts, while others will use generics. Know what you have ahead of you before being accountable.

We just purchased a used car and the entire car was covered in an unknown substance leaving the paint with a rough texture so i needed a waterless mobile car wash. Dealership detailed it and couldn't get it off. Searched on Yelp for a mobile auto wash business and Jay's had 5 stars and great reviews. Called them up and they were able to come out the next day. They communicated with me on their exact arrival time and let me know they were on their way. When they got here three guys got right to work and said they can get the rough texture off the car no problem. Well they didn't disappoint. Whatever was on the car is completely gone and looks fantastic. Price was reasonable and the final product was outstanding. I highly recommend these guys.

[moddersinc]

[section_title title=Introduction and Specifications]

Cases with rotated motherboards are still a bit of a rarity, despite not really being a new design anymore.  Because of that, we were intrigued when darkFlash reached out to us about their V22 ATX mid tower case, their take on the rotated motherboard layout.  darkFlash has been developing a new design language for their cases, moving away from the glass and RGB formula of their earlier products to a more refined styling more in line with the likes of Fractal Design and NZXT.  The V22 is their first ATX case to feature this new styling, alongside the MATX DLM21 and DLM22.  darkFlash offers the V22 in white, black, mint green, and pink.  Offering two pastel colors is a bold move from darkFlash, and it sets their cases apart from the vast numbers of black cases on the market.  Is the combination of a new style and an uncommon layout a winner, or has darkFlash missed the mark?  Let’s dive in and find out.

  [sc name=”sponsor” sponsor=”darkFlash” product_link=”https://darkflashtech.com/collections/gaming-case/products/darkflash-case-v22-white&#8221; product_name=”darkFlash V22 Mid Tower ATX Case” ]

    Specifications

Material Steel, tempered glass Front Panel Steel with plastic venting Left Side Panel Steel Right Side Panel Hinged tempered glass, lightly tinted Top Panel Steel with plastic dust filter Front Ports 2x USB 3.0

2x Front Audio

Weight 15.67 lbs / 7.11 kg Dimensions 17.3″ (H) x 8.4″ x 17.5″ (D)

440 mm (H) x 215 mm x 443 mm (D)

  Compatibility

Motherboard Compatibility ATX, MATX, DTX, ITX CPU Cooler Clearance 6.5″ / 165 mm Maximum GPU length 12.5″ / 318 mm

11.5″ / 293 mm above drive cage

Power Supply Type ATX Maximum Power Supply Length 7.9″ / 200 mm Storage Drive Bays 2x 2.5″ behind motherboard tray

1x 3.5″ in drive cage

1x 2.5″ or 3.5″ on top of drive cage

Expansion Slots 7 Fans Supported Up to 5x 120 mm

Up to 2x 140 mm

Front Fans 3x 120 mm

or

2x 140 mm

Rear Fans 2x 120 mm Radiator Support 2x 120 mm (rear) Dust Filters Front, top, power supply

Included Accessories

Cleaning Microfiber cloth Dust Protection Front I/O dust covers

[section_title title=Unboxing and a First Look]

Unboxing

The V22 comes in a printed brown cardboard box, which is pretty typical of modern cases.  The front and rear of the box both feature a picture of the V22, along with some small images depicting various features of the case.  The front of the box also has a few lines of text which were likely translated for English speaking markets.

The side of the V22’s box has a basic specifications sheet printed on it.  Interestingly, the numbers on this sheet do not quite match up with the numbers listed on the case’s official Amazon page.  Unfortunately, it seems that darkFlash doesn’t really have their English language documentation fully sorted out yet since not only do their spec sheets not fully match up, their official product page for the case is still full of sample text months after the case launched.  This isn’t a particularly encouraging sign, but it isn’t the worst I’ve seen.  If you look in enough places you can find all of the relevant information.

Inside the box is where things really start to get exciting.  The V22 is protected by large blocks of soft closed cell foam, including a block that protects the glass side panel from damage and prevents it from opening in transit.  The case itself comes wrapped in a plastic bag, the glass panel is covered in plastic film on both sides, and the panel is taped shut to add an extra layer of protection.  darkFlash did an excellent job here.  Also in the box is a small, but well thought out manual that explains all of the case’s features at a good level of detail.

  A Closer Look at the darkFlash V22

Our review sample is the white version of the V22, a refreshing break from the monotony of all black cases.  Both the metal and plastic panels have a satin feel to them and don’t pick up fingerprints.  Color and texture matching between panels is excellent.  The front edges of the case have a thick black stripe that covers the front vents and a bit of the panel underneath them.  The feet of the case, the expansion slot covers, and the hinges are also black.

  On the right side of the case, we can see that the glass side panel does not extend all the way to the bottom of the case.  Instead, there’s a steel panel that covers the part of the case where the power supply and hard drives go.

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  The left side of the case is a simple one-piece steel side panel with captured thumb screws.

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  Because the V22 has a rotated motherboard, the back of the case is very different from the back panels of most ATX cases.  Much of the panel is taken up by the two 120 mm fan mounts.  The remaining panel houses a power supply cutout, a large cable grommet, and a pair of cable management loops for securing any cables that run down the back of the case.

  The top of the case contains all of the case’s I/O ports.  The front I/O is mounted at the leading edge of the case and consists of power and reset buttons, two USB 3.0 ports, and a pair of audio ports.  Behind the front I/O is a large plastic dust filter that covers the expansion slots and rear I/O panel.

#gallery-0-27 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-27 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-27 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-27 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

  The bottom of the case is largely featureless aside from a set of rubber soled plastic feet and a sturdy plastic dust filter for the power supply.

[section_title title=An Inside Look at the V22]

  An Inside Look at the V22

Opening up the V22 immediately presents you with all kinds of delightful features.  To start with, the right side panel is magnetic and opens with a simple fabric pull tab.  It’s a clever solution, and much more elegant than the fastening methods used on most cases with glass panels.  The magnets run down the entire left side of the panel and hold it firmly in place, preventing it from accidentally swinging open under most circumstances.  The other side of the panel is mounted on a pair of hinges that can be disassembled so the panel can be removed.  The glass is on the thinner side and quite light, so the risk of accidentally dropping it is low.

The motherboard area is spacious and has large access holes at both the top and bottom of the board, a promising sign for the case’s usability.  The bottom edge of the motherboard tray is several inches above the bottom of the case and there is no conventional power supply shroud, so access to the right edge of the board is completely unfettered.

  The V22’s hard drive cage is mounted directly to the bottom of the case with enough space on both sides for the front fans and the power supply to fit in uncontested.  There are holes to mount one drive inside the cage and one on top, and the top face of the cage is marked with a little arrow to show which way the connectors on the drives should face, since the cage can be removed to make installing drives easier.  Little touches like this go a long way towards a good user experience.

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  The left side panel of the case is a traditional steel panel held in place by two captured thumb screws.

  Taking off the panel, you’re greeted by two 2.5″ drive trays, a CPU socket cutout, and an abundance of cable management hard points.  The drive cages feature the same directional arrows as the drive cage and are elevated away from the back of the motherboard tray to give clearance for daisy-chained SATA power connectors which require extra space for their wires.  The large CPU socket cutout should give excellent access to the socket area of most motherboards, for those who want to install or swap coolers after their motherboard is mounted in the case.  Each cable routing hole in the motherboard has a corresponding cable management hard point, and there are four hard points below the two drive trays and one directly above the power supply.  The placement of these hard points seems well thought out and there are no areas that are significantly lacking in cable management options.

The front panel of the case is mounted with traditional plastic clips and is a little difficult to remove.  A more modern mounting system would have been better, since the panel has to be removed in order to clean the front dust filter, but it is functional enough.  Underneath the front panel, the dust filter is mounted to the case with a pair of tabs and two magnets.  To remove the filter, you simply swing the filter away from the body of the case and pull the tabs out of their slots.  This is yet another clever use of magnets on the V22, and one of the better dust filter mounting systems currently on the market.

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The top of the case houses the expansion slots and motherboard I/O in a chamber that is covered by a sturdy plastic dust filter.  While the filter feels sturdy and is relatively easy to remove and replace, it is held on with plastic clips instead of magnets which feels like a missed opportunity given how well the mounting system for the front dust filter works.  Under the dust filter you’ll find ample space for cables, along with a locking cable clamp to assist in routing cables out the back of the case.  The I/O chamber is not entirely closed, and includes a cutout that can be used to access the top corner screws on a rear mounted radiator if necessary.  This cutout is also useful for the handful of devices that require passing a cable from an expansion slot into the case.

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[section_title title=Building in the V22]

Building in the V22

To test the build experience of the V22 I used my standard ATX test bench, which consists of the following parts:

Motherboard MSI X370 Gaming M7 Processor AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Cooler Silverstone PF120 AIO Graphics Card 1 Nvidia GTX 1070 FE Graphics Card 2 EVGA GTX 980 K|NGP|N Storage 2x XPG SX950U Power Supply Corsair CX750M

Building in the V22 is about as simple as it gets.  The glass side panel comes off by simply lifting it off its hinges and the captured thumb screws on the other side panel reduce the number of loose screws you have to keep track of.  The motherboard tray is incredibly spacious considering the size of the case, so mounting the board and plugging in the front I/O cables are very easy.  The power supply can be mounted through either side of the case, thanks to the unusual skirt style shroud design. Many mid tower cases suffer from poor cable management around the top edge of the motherboard due to its close proximity to the top case fans.  The V22’s rotated layout basically nullifies that problem.  The large cutouts around the motherboard tray give ample room for power cables and accessory cables.  The 24 pin power cable simply tucks away at the bottom of the case.

  I did run into a minor issue when trying to mount my CPU cooler.  I had initially planned to use a 480 mm AIO, but the front of the case only has space for fans, and not a full radiator.  This is actually mentioned in the documentation for the case, so this issue was all on me.  Sometimes you just have to read the manual.  I decided to go with the PF120 120 mm AIO instead, which fit just fine in the back of the case.  I installed two 140 mm fans in the front for the case’s intake and a 120 mm fan below the AIO as an exhaust.

  Mounting graphics cards in the V22 is about as simple as it gets.  The rear I/O covers are far away from the edges of the case, which makes them very easy to remove.  My two cards fit in the case easily despite their large size and their cables tucked away neatly at the bottom of the case.

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  The raised drive sleds made mounting and plugging in the drives a breeze.  Because I also use the test bench as a VR system when I am not reviewing cases, I also added a USB card in the bottom expansion slot of the motherboard.  The routing holes around the motherboard are easily large enough to pass a SATA power cable through to power the card.

Tidying up cables in the V22 is surprisingly easy considering the lack of a fully enclosed power supply shroud.  The skirt panel at the bottom of the case does a good job of hiding the power supply and cables without getting in the way while building.  You can still see the cables if you look down into the case at an angle, but they don’t look particularly messy.  On the back of the case, the cable management hard points offer plenty of places to tie off loose cables.  I had no issues fitting the rear panel back on the case and securing it in place.  At the top of the case, there’s plenty of room for routing cables, though you may have some issues routing out the back of the case if you’re using a huge number of cables.  My full complement of VR headset and peripheral cables fit just fine, so for most people, this shouldn’t be an issue.  Cables as large as DVI can pass through the rear cable grommet.

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[section_title title=Final Thoughts and Conclusion]

Final Thoughts

It was clear right from the moment that I opened the box that darkFlash was doing things right.  The packing job was impeccable, the case looked clean and elegant, and all of the panels were properly matched in both color and texture.  While darkFlash still needs to work on their online documentation, but their design work is top notch.  I found myself frequently marveling at design touches like the hinge and magnets panel and dust filter mounting and wondering why they aren’t used in more cases.  The magnets eliminate the stiffness of plastic clips, while the hinges eliminate the common issue with magnetic filters sliding around.  It’s an elegant solution to a common problem.  And the thoughtful design details don’t stop there.  All throughout the case I found little details that showed that darkFlash’s designers had taken the time to think through and test every little piece of the case.  Even things that you normally wouldn’t think about, like external cable management, are carefully considered and implemented on the V22.  The case even comes with a cleaning cloth and I/O dust covers.  To come back to that text on the front of the box, darkFlash calls the V22 a “Luxury Middle Tower”.  After working with this case, it’s clear that the V22 is going for luxury the old fashioned way.  Not by packing in gimmicks, and not by trying to do everything at once.  The V22 is luxurious in that it is elegant, refined, and intuitive.  Sometimes, that’s the best kind of luxury.

Pros Cons Rotated layout makes building in the V22 easy Not designed for custom water cooling Clever tool-less side panel and front dust filter Online documentation needs improvement Excellent cable management Front panel is a little tricky to remove Split side panel hides cables and power supply without compromising ease of building No internal cable grommets Classy exterior design Top dust filter could have been magnetic External cable management Space for 80mm fan at top of case, but no mounting holes Metal and plastic elements have excellent color matching Drive cage and trays are designed with right angle SATA power connectors in mind Packaging is superb

So who is this case for?  If you are looking for a dedicated water cooling case, the V22 might not be what you need.  While the V22 can comfortably support up to a 240mm radiator and even a full pump/reservoir combo if you are creative, custom water cooling isn’t really its forte.  However, if you don’t plan to go all out on water cooling, the V22 is definitely worth taking a good look at.  darkFlash has done an excellent job designing this case, and I highly recommend considering it for your next build.  It’s an all around well designed case that offers an exceptional build experience and manages to be classy without being boring.  It looks like darkFlash is serious about competing with the best of the best, and I expect that we’ll be hearing a lot more about them in the near future.

[sc name=”editors_choice_award” ]

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