#for ethnic reference (if you want to assist)

[neoflorilegia]

are men not beefy anymore? i'm gathering pics for old school moodboards (this is my writing blog this is my party) and every single man on faceclaim directories is muscular but not beefy. this character EATS. this character LIFTS. he was raised on literal mountains and the first time the other main characters see him they're stunned by his vibes alone

he's also a cutie pie. he giggles.

[lamaery]

100 Portraits Training | Part 1 In autumn 2021 I started a series of practice portraits to get a better feel for different kinds of facial features. I wanted to get better at drawing people of colour of all kinds and variations and also at different variations of skin colours. My plan was to do a more fully rendered image from reference and then try to draw it a second time in a more simplified comic style to find the essences of what gave each face its own characteristics. The series didn't progress continuously (I hope to finally do 92 to 100 until the end of the year) and, as you will see, went very obviously through my reference folder for various Stormlight Archive characters :D This first page is still a vague starting point it features:

1) Brenda Myers-Powell from the documentary Dreamcatcher which follows her work of assisting sex-workers in Chicago

2) Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo in the role of Chrisjen Avasarala in The Expanse

3) East Asian female presenting model from a fashion photography on Behance…

4) The incredibly fashionable Billy Porter

5) A young woman that was interviewed for German documentary series in an episode about Uzbekistan. Sadly I could not find out retrospectively which ethnic group she is part of, since I could not find the episode online.

6) Chinese-American actress Ming-Na Wen as Melinda Quiaolian May from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

7) Kavinthida, a young woman from Thailand that appears in the series of portraits at the airport by Mustafa Çankaya, a photographer from Istanbul  (link to the series , Kavathinda is number 8) Also on the side I tried to collect links and articles that discuss representation of PoC in media in a broader scope. I might share some of these in case other people find them interesting, too. If you have any good sources, please add them in the comments, reblog or tags :D Hmm, let's start with this wonderful and extensive article about understanding how to light and paint darker skintones ------------------ Part 2 – Kaladin Part 3 & 4 – Adolin and Renarin Part 5 – Dalinar Part 6 & 7 – Shallan and Jasnah Part 8 & 9 - various people and skin tones Part 10 – a little bit for The Lopen Part 11 & 12 - Wit and Navani Part 13 - ofmd und Dev Patel :) Part 14 - more ofmd and Patel

[whimsylueur]

question- do you have a sp oc/self insert??

Up until I received this ask, no lol

But since I have been asked, I actually wanna make one. :)

I guess this counts as an ethnicity reveal too haha. Otherwise, he’s based (mostly) on my beloved bf.

Edit: this name felt right, I liked the word Tetany though so it remains incorporated.

Maruwehi = to inspire respect or dread, Te Tini = the many (taken from a saying “te tini me te mano” meaning the many and the thousands, referring obviously to his spiders), the pronunciation is identical to ‘tetany’ which is a condition similar to seizures that is the first condition of Maru’s spiders’ venom.

Maruwehi (pronounced ma [“mu” in mud] ru [“do” w/ rolled r] we [“whe” in where] hi [he as in he/him]) is a pretty cheeky guy with a big heart, he’s family oriented and would be homesick quite often while attending Corrival. Even so, he loves Ireland and took up good work as a gamekeeper, teaching mortals and sorcerers alike to hunt, soon after graduating.

He talks with plenty of slang and while he isn’t the most eloquent speaker he isn’t intimidated by (some) big words. Despite being a Child of the Spider, his appearance is charming and demeanour approachable. His name isn’t that frightening either. His father “Tūiri” is a different story, considered extremely dangerous by the NZ sanctuary and constantly maintains his gigantic spider form. Maru respects his father greatly and promises to take his discipline but isn’t keen to be apart of the temple.

He crosses paths with Arbiters Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant when some mages go missing in the hunting grounds Maru frequents, he assists in surveying the area and identifying some suspects after the mages turn up deceased. He can appreciate the detectives’ deadpan humour and simultaneous diligence when solving a case.

Abilities- Spider creation and control, they look similar to katipō (a species native to NZ) and have potent venom that is easily fatal. He doesn’t use them to hunt but he uses them to track and spy. He can’t quite achieve his entire spider form but he wants to before his surge takes place. His second favourite discipline is Elemental magic. Weaponry and combat, obviously being trained at Corrival made him a competent fighter, he has a great knowledge of guns too, preferring his reliable Henry rifle (modified for range) for work. Sigils have been incorporated into his puhoro (tattoo extending from his waist to his thighs) by his older brother, a Signum Linguist and tattoo artist, that simply allows Maru to be tracked by his family.

Hobbies- Muay Thai he enjoys above all martial arts taught back home and at Corrival, likes to compete when he’s got some time. Maru has played rugby since he could manage to run in a straight line and joined a club in Ireland, playing with his mortal and mage mates. Growing up, if he wasn’t at the temple he was in the bush hunting with his cousins and siblings on horseback, it’s no coincidence that it became his life’s work.

[literary-illuminati]

Book Review 63 – The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia

This was the last WFA finalist for best novella I was able to get at the library, so I will I suppose just have to accept that I am not going to have an informed opinion on the category. The book is, well – Jamnia’s only other work listed on Goodreads is “Positive Interactions with At-Risk Children: Enhancing Students' Wellbeing, Resilience, and Success”, and you can really kind of tell. Not a bad book – there really is a lot of good stuff here – but subtlety is just nonexistent. Though I suppose better a plot that telegraphs itself from a hundred miles away than one that feels like the author was coming up with it as they went.

The story takes place in a ‘free and democratic’ city state established after a successful war of independence from a struggling and unstable empire, and now a not-particularly-enthusiastic sanctuary to refugees from the rest of the empire. Firuz is one of those refugees, with the added issue of being a mostly-trained blood magic adept, the proximate reason why they and their family had to flee in the first place. Disguising the exact sort of magic they practice, they get work as an assistant healer to the one of (and soon the) only free clinics in the city, doing their bits to try and help the refugee populations through the plague ravaging the city. The meat of the plot is about their investigation of the source of a second strange disease that begins spreading among the refugee population a year after the first plague dies down – looks a lot like anemia, though the word’s never used – and how they try (and just totally fail) to balance their relationships and family against the good they do working in the clinic.

The book is just very earnest, and awkward, and trying to do altogether too many things at once for its length. Also the fantasy!Iranian refugees are called ‘Sassanians’. Which, like, come on. That’s literaly calling your fantasy!France ‘Gaul’.

The medical mystery was fun – strange diseases! Dissections and autopsies! Hiding the magic that’s the only hope you have of figuring out what’s happening! - but it was too strangled for space competing with family drama and a subplot of Firuz adapting and teaching another natural blood mage and just general ruminations to really shine. Which is to say there were exactly two named characters who could possibly be responsible, and it was almost instantly obvious which of them it was.

Which left the book needing to be carried on those interpersonal relationships and character dynamics. Which were like, fine? But every character basically had their key traits and the point of their arc announced on the page – the only character written with any real subtlety or layers was the eventually revealed villain.

The book’s very much queernorm – the protagonist is nonbinary and their kid brother is trans and spends about half the book lashing out as he struggles to cope with his dysphoria. Absolutely no one cares. The brother does get hatecrimed on account of being an ethnic minority and a refugee though, which I admit is a mindset about what bits of reality need to be softened I struggle to wrap my head around. More annoyingly (and, like, actually important at all) it is kind of disappointing that it cuts off any real worldbuilding about sexuality or gender; there are three major cultures in the book, and we go through the entire thing without learning anything much about any of their standards or expectations of femininity or masculinity. The brother’s dysphoria is portrayed as a purely physical ailment – you could replace it with some exotic variety of chronic pain and his role in the narrative would remain functionally unchanged.

Which just seems like a profoundly wasted opportunity to me – it’s fun that there’s one pronoun set that’s used exclusively to refer to the divine! But also I desperately want to know what the differences in cultural understanding between the usage of the two different neopronoun sets used to refer to random tertiary characters are, y’know? If you’re going to devote such a relatively big chunk of wordcount to this stuff then, like, dig into it.

Anyway yeah – as a debut effort, this is really very good. But I’m pretty surprised to see it on any best-of-year lists.

[vartouhix]

jjk verse profile

Name: Moon Jangmi Pronouns: She/her Age: 26 Ethnicity: Korean* Nationality: Japanese*

*Please see this headcanon post about it.

Occupation: Law school student, semi-grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer, teaching assistant at Jujutsu High Cursed Technique: Unrelenting Force. It's similar to telekinesis in that she can move objects through the air by exerting a pushing or pulling force. However, she can only push or pull in one direction at a time. In order to move objects in curved or diagonal paths, she must continuously perform her technique over and over, stopping and starting within a nanosecond, rather than a continuous stream of cursed energy. History: From elementary school to middle school, she was bullied heavily for being Zainichi Korean. As a result, she was quite timid when she first began as a student at Jujutsu High, in the same class as Nanami Kento and Haibara Yu. Upon graduating Jujutsu High, she enrolled at University of Tokyo, studying pre-law, as she wasn't sure whether she wanted to work in the sorcerer or non-sorcerer world. She still went on missions during this time, of course. After undergraduate studies, she went on to be accepted into Todai Law School, where she currently juggles her studies and work as a jujutsu sorcerer. She worked out a deal with Principal Yaga that would allow her to work as a teaching assistant at Jujutsu High in order to fulfill her law degree's volunteer hour requisite, the paperwork handled to make it look like she was volunteering with a private religious school. Appearance: Her faceclaim is Lee Sunmi, specifically when she had pink hair. You can check this artwork I commissioned to see an accurate representation of Jangmi dressed as she usually would be, and fighting with a cursed tool dagger. Clothing Style: Dark and light academia, as well as some cottagecore. You can check this post for more information. Voice: Hard to describe. Please check this post for more information and references. Languages: Japanese (native), Korean (near-native), English (fluent)

[brassandblue]

ALASTOR (the RADIO DEMON) // INTEREST TRACKER

MUSE STATUS: PRIMARY

(By liking this post, you are indicating interest in plotting with this character, and are OK with me sending memes/prompts to your inbox!)

NAME: Alastor

PSEUDONYM(S): The Radio Demon; Al

TITLE(S): Overlord

OCCUPATION: Sinner Demon/Demon Overlord/Radio Host/Whole Lotta Murder

SEX/GENDER/PRONOUNS: Male, he/him

SEXUALITY: Asexual

FACECLAIM: ---

AGE: Died in his 30s/40s

NATIONALITY/ETHNICITY: American/United States; mixed-race Creole

HEIGHT: 6'4"

BUILD/BODY TYPE: Tall, thin, wiry, broad shoulders

HAIR: Red (As a human: Black)

EYES: Red (As a human: Dark amber-gold)

PINTEREST BOARD

ALL ABOUT ALASTOR:

**Sources on Vodou, Louisiana Voodoo, Hoodoo and Conjure, can be found at the bottom of this post.**

-

**WARNING: Hazbin Hotel's canonical material contains blood, gore, cannibalism, murder, suggestive and potentially sexually explicit content. Alastor's wiki and comic are to be viewed with discretion.**

-

**NOTE #1:** (Written as of 01/26/2024) Most things I have pulled either from canonical instances or "word of God" (hah!) from Vivzie. Some things I have extrapolated, due to the (current) lack of content, and others I have inserted from my own bullshit. The rest is from research from a variety of cultural, religious, and heritage sources. I still try to stick to the core aspects of his character as seen in canon; and he is subject to change when more material becomes available on new episodes this coming January.

**NOTE #2:** To avoid misappropriating New Orleans Voodoo traditions, as well as hoodoo practices, I will be implementing a sound-based magic system to replace the use of veve. Essentially, the veve will NOT be used, and I will have him use musical notations instead. I cannot abide by cultural erasure, however, nor am I entitled to the use of symbols STILL used in religion and folk practices belonging to groups that have been enslaved, colonized, and oppressed. I want to acknowledge Alastor's Creole heritage without appropriating it and without perpetuating harmful depictions of the past.

-

ALASTOR'S BACKGROUND:

Alastor is an Overlord in the Pride Ring of Hell and a notorious deal-making demon-- a former serial killer radio host on Earth in 1930s Louisiana. Once he'd died and arrived in Hell, it is said he suddenly began to wreak havoc, toppling other Sinner Demons (humans who have died and gained power in Hell) with terrifying abilities of reality and shadow manipulation. He became feared by the denizens of the Pride Ring after his massacre and broadcast of the carnage across all of Hell.

In the pilot, Alastor shows up to offer assistance to Charlie Morningstar (Lucifer's daughter/Princess of Hell) with her hotel project to rehabilitate Sinners and hopefully send them to Heaven, thus dealing with the overcrowding of formerly human Sinners in the Pride Ring. Alastor has made it clear, however, that he has no faith in this project working and believes that his fellow Sinners had their chance up on Earth.

His stated reason for wanting to assist Charlie is boredom: Specifically, he gets great enjoyment out of watching Sinners climb and climb, only to end in failure. He claims he's been bored for decades, and in the first episode of the series proper, it's revealed he has been "absent" from Hell for seven years. What he was doing, why, and where he actually was, are all still a mystery.

-

PERSONALITY:

(From the Wiki, linked below. I'll write a proper bio soon enough.)

Alastor stands out from many of the more chaotic residents of hell for his well maintained amiable persona. He gives the first-impression of a good-natured and charming man, wearing a permanently wide grin on his face at all times. Alastor's behavior, mannerisms, and even his voice are similar to an old-fashioned radio announcer and speaks with a transatlantic accent, often using quaint anachronisms such as "the picture show" and refers to Charlie as a "charming demon belle". This playful dandyish exterior, however, obscures a much darker side to him - one with high levels of self-importance - and he will not hesitate to use physical violence when others don't act in line with his very particular values or expectations. Alastor is described as a man of duality. He values good manners, affability and intelligence very highly in others, and will actively look down on those who do not meet his standards, however he will often play fast and loose with these arbitrary rules in regards to himself and his own conduct. His smiling is also a show of power and dominance, and miserable people are seen by him as weak.[23] Alastor has an odd sense of morality, which is described as "not normal",[24] and has been noted to be quite sadistic, even cannibalistic, devouring lesser demons or those that have incurred his anger. Despite this, he keeps close friends with the other cannibals of Hell, including the denizens at the Cannibal Colony. He is noted to be narcissistic, not seeing many people quite up to his level. However, that does not make him reckless. Despite being extremely powerful, Alastor is aware that there are other demons and entities that rival him in terms of power, such as other Overlords. For this reason, he is wary around such demons, as they could potentially harm him if he is not careful.[25] Despite everything, Alastor does genuinely seem to want to help Charlie run the Happy Hotel, albeit for his own amusement and hopes for its failure over siding with her idealism. Alastor also dismisses the idea that redemption is possible as laughable, nevertheless, he fulfills his role as patron as promised, providing the hotel with staff, and protecting Charlie and her business from outside threats. He views the whole endeavor as a fun distraction from his decades of boredom.

POWERS/ABILITIES:

----

-

(WIKI HERE)

(COMIC HERE)

-

**Sources on Vodou, Louisiana Voodoo, Hoodoo and Conjure are below. This list is subject to change over time to be pruned/updated.**

-

WEBPAGES/DISCUSSIONS:

"Is voodoo a closed practice?" Answered by a Priest of West African Vodou (Quora)

"Is voodoo a closed practice? If so, who is it open to?" Answered by a Haitian Vodou Initiated Practitioner (Reddit)

"Is hoodoo/voodoo closed?" General discussion (Reddit)

"Who can/can't practise hoodoo/voodoo ?" General discussion (Reddit)

"A Visual Guide to Vèvè: Vodou Symbols and Cosmograms" (VisitHaiti.com)

DIGITAL MEDIA:

Yronwode, Catherine. Hoodoo in Theory and Practice, An Introduction to African-American Rootwork. 2019(?) / (Lucky Mojo Curio Co.)

[Incomplete/Potentially Outdated Bibliography for the Above] via Wayback Machine

Louisiana Voodoo (Wikipedia)

Hoodoo [Spirituality] (Wikipedia)

African Disaspora Religions (Wikipedia)

Kennon, Alexandra. A Conversation with a High Priest of Vodou. 2021 (Country Roads Magazine)

Crone, Moira. Lives of Voodoo in New Orleans. 2012 (Country Roads Magazine)

Lee, Nadia. The Appropriation of Magic: How White People Demonised Voodoo. 2020. (Brizo Magazine)

https://visithaiti.com/haiti-up-close/haitian-vodou-gods-goddesses/

https://visithaiti.com/haiti-up-close/haitian-vodou-revealed/

PRINTED MEDIA:

Seven books on Haitian Vodou (VisitHaiti.com)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0872865746/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0872865746&linkCode=as2&tag=mawozo03-20&linkId=5b0b9aae316802e47b757f6928c4c121

-

WARNINGS: RPing with this character may involve sensitive topics such as various world religions/religious beliefs, occultism, murder, s*rial murder, as well as topics on mental illness/depression/PTSD, sexuality/sexual themes, drug addiction/substance abuse, war/violence/gore/injuries, cannibalism.

By liking this post and indicating your interest to engage in RP with this character, you are accepting the above warnings and have read the rules posted here on this blog.

[sneakerdoodle]

September 25th

Protests against mobilization in Russian regions (parts of the federation removed from the capital; often largely populated by underprivileged ethnic minorities)

- a mass protest in Yakutsk (Yakutia); reports say the protesters were chanting "No war", "No genocide". in the first video, the words they're shouting are "Give back our elderly".

In the first days of mobilization, a disproportionate amount of conscripted have been men* from small villages and settlements in regions populated by ethnic minorities; a significant amount were past the official age at which they should have been excluded from the reserve.

the following videos show law enforcement dispersing the protest and detaining people. in the second video, the person filming is yelling "shame".

(local authorities are claiming the demonstration was a cultural ritual to "bless" the mobilized)

- Endirey, Dagestan

protesters are being forced to clear the blocked road; the police are using physical force, swinging rifles and shooting in the air

volume warning, gunshots

Additionally:

on September 22st in another Dagestan town, local people got into a loud public arguement with who I can only guess is a representative for authorities assisting with mobilization.

The representative (referring to WW2): "Your granddad fought so you could eat white bread in peace"

The people: "My granddad fought for his motherland"; "Back then, it was a war, now it's politics"

Please recognize the struggle of non-slavic population in Russia. The Soviet Union and the modern federation inherited their lands from imperial colonial expansion; now, their people are being exploited for Putin's imperialist ambitions and sent to war they recognize as unnecessary and unjust. The conscription is targeting lower-class people from remote settlements and ethnic minorities first and foremost.

UPDATE (25.09):

tw: police brutality

MASS protests are happening in Makhachkala, Dagestan, there is a lot of footage and it's still rolling in. the protestors are clashing with the police, and there is enough of them to fight back. however, people are being harshly detained, beaten and threatened with firearms.

you will hear chants that sound like "Net voyne" ("No (to) war") and "Pozor" ("Shame"). protesters are loudly arguing with law enforcement, saying "I want to live freely" and "Russia crossed another country's borders"

(warning for the last link: guns)

[mistypurplespark]

Chapter 49: Light Intellectual Conversation

Chapter 49.1: Light Intellectual Conversation

Translator(s): Zryuu

Editor(s): juurensha

“This little brother would like to ask all the brothers who are present here,” said Chen Xing with a smile, “who has a feud with the Tiele tribe? If anyone does, you may as well unsheathe your sword and come over. I’ll pay the debt with my life on my friend’s behalf.”

When everyone was asked like this, they couldn’t respond at all. The Tiele tribe that Xiang Shu belonged to had never slaughtered the Han. During the few times they entered the pass, all they did was assist Fu Jian in settling the internal disputes between the Hu people.

A scholar sneered. “The Hu have heads as small and sharp as a buck, and eyes as small and round as a rat. Also, vermin all work in concert with one another. It doesn’t matter if he is a Tiele, a Xiongnu, a Di, or a Xianbei. Those who have slaughtered our Han kin are all mortal enemies of our Great Jin, so what’s the difference? Isn’t a Tiele a Hu? Since he’s a Hu, what’s wrong with us taking revenge?”

Chen Xing thought, just now I clearly heard you guys praise Xiang Shu for being a gentleman as beautiful as jade, and now he’s a buck and a rat? Scholars truly are capricious. So he said sincerely, “According to what this worthy older brother had said, the Hu are people, and the Han are people too. If one wants to take revenge, then they could just kill them straight away. Why go through so much trouble like this?”

Once he spoke, some people who had remained in their seats couldn’t help laughing. That scholar was instantly enraged and refuted, “You’re being importunate! How are the two equal?”

“Of course it’s not equal.” Chen Xing thought about it, then answered, “According to me, since both the Hu and Han aren’t human, would

everyone still sit down to have a discussion?”

Xie Xuan couldn’t help saying, “What do you mean by that?”

“’Human’, is how the form is named,” Chen Xing said calmly. “’Hu’ and ‘Han’, are how the ethnicities are named. A ‘white horse’ is not a ‘horse’, and a ‘Hu human’ is not a ‘human’, it’s the same principle.”

Xiang Shu, “???”

The whole room roared with laughter. Xie An narrowed his eyes a little, understanding that Chen Xing was intending to follow their example and take the initiative in calling for a discussion. The meaning behind Chen Xing’s words was that ‘Hu’ and ‘Han’ were ethnicities, which were general terms referring to collective groups, so they could not concretely define the term ‘human’. This was the ability to use syntactic expletives, and the art of sophism, which evolved from the Warring State period’s Gongsun Long’s “A White Horse is not a Horse”. Jiangdong was a region that revered light, intellectual conversation, and everyone here had been familiar with this proposition long ago. Chen Xing’s move was no different from sending himself to their doorsteps to let them hang him up and hit him, so those who had gotten up to leave started sitting down one after another, intending to refute Chen Xing until he was dumbstruck and speechless.

“Hu people, are one type of Human,” another scholar said, “just like how Han people are a type of Human, like how streams are a subset of rivers, light  intellectual  conversation  isn’t  sophistry.  Little  brother,  this  is something we’ve all played with since a long time ago.”

But unexpectedly, Chen Xing diverted and asked, “Then I’d like to ask everyone, what is ‘human’? We should at least define what a ‘Human’ is before we can argue whether the Tiele people or Hu are humans or not, and whether they have feuds with everyone present.”

As soon as he said that, everyone fell silent. “Is a Hu human a human?” wasn’t a tough question to explain, but what defined ‘Human’ was an issue that very few people have seriously considered before.

At first, Xiang Shu guessed that the situation had no chance of being settled peacefully, so he was just waiting for someone to report him to the officials, and then he would rush out with Chen Xing. Although there were a lot of

people in the hall, they were all scholars and wouldn’t even be able to withstand one hit from him. In consideration for Xie An, he wouldn’t strike them down too hard. But who would have known that Chen Xing would be a gentleman who used his mouth and not his fists, and managed to stun everyone present with just a few sentences. From the looks of it, the situation didn’t seem too bad, but this Q&A session left Xiang Shu a little puzzled as well.

Wang Xizhi said with a smile, “Everyone present is human, is that a question that still needs to be asked?”

Chen Xing thought for a bit, then said, “From what I see, that’s not necessarily true. To know what you are, you must first specify what the definition of this ‘thing’ is, otherwise how can you use it to define yourself?”

“You’re right.” Xie Xuan was duped into the ditch by Chen Xing as well. Humans are the wisest of all creatures, this was a saying that had persisted since ancient times. But how can one give a clear and accurate definition of ‘human’? Even the former great sages would not be able to do so.

And thus, the hall remained quiet for a while before someone said, “Bodies seven chi long, hands and legs that differ from each other, hair on their heads, teeth in their mouths, able to stand and walk quickly -- that’s the definition of being ‘human’.”

That was an excerpt from “Liezi Huangdi”. Chen Xing retorted without even thinking, “Then what about those with bodies eight chi long? What about those with three chi bodies? Aren’t small people ‘human’?”

“Those born with two arms, two legs, and a head are human,” The scholar who had first clamoured about “reporting” Xiang Shu spoke.

“Then what about those who were born missing a limb?” Chen Xing said with a smile. “If anyone says that soldiers who have lost a limb on the battlefield aren’t human anymore, I’ll be the first to say ‘no’.”

Xie An said, “Those who are born with three yang and seven yin souls, no matter their form, are human.”

Xie An can be said to have pointed out the essence of being ‘human’ in metaphysics. Everyone seated were instantly enlightened and sighed in admiration. Yet Chen Xing said, “Then for a human, if their three yang and seven yin souls no longer exist, they won’t be ‘human’ anymore.”

Xiang Shu thought, isn’t that a given?

Xie An said, “They would just be a layer of skin then.” “We can take our revenge now,” someone said.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Chen Xing said. “Humans who have lost their three yang and seven yin souls, if I remember correctly, should be called ‘dead humans’, right? Then are dead humans, ‘human’?”

Everyone started scolding Chen Xing, but Chen Xing explained, “’Dead’, is a designated term. ‘Human’ is the name of the form. If ‘dead humans’ aren’t ‘human’, then ‘Hu humans’ shouldn’t be considered ‘human’ either.”

Everyone, “…………”

Xiang Shu: “…”

“How can the dead be the same as the Hu?” The Hans were quite dissatisfied with Chen Xing’s sophistry.

“Are you just trying to scold me in a roundabout manner?” Xiang Shu was quite dissatisfied with Chen Xing as well.

Chen Xing quickly said, “Then, let’s put it another way. Do cats and dogs have the three yang and seven yin souls?”

Xie An, “...”

Chen Xing said doubtfully, “If cats and dogs have souls, then can they be considered ‘human’? If they don’t, then who can prove that all creatures aside from humans don’t have souls?”

This time, Xie An had practically picked up a rock and smashed it onto his foot himself. Originally, if he had forcibly said that all creatures aside from

humans don’t have complete souls, it could sort of serve as a plausible explanation. But what about proving it? To prove that the only creature that possessed souls in this world were humans? To do so, one must first prove that no animal other than man had souls.

The theory of souls was still an unfounded one. If one tried to forcibly prove that there were none, not only would it not have the support of theories, but Chen Xing would also be able to suggest a ton of counter examples -- for example, the ‘Six Realms of Rebirth’, ‘Yin and Yang’, ‘Reincarnation’. After humans die in this life, they may reincarnate as animals in the next. That is to say, animals are the same as humans -- they have souls too.

Chen Xing added, “There are people who are born lacking a soul or two, but we can’t not treat them as humans, right? Let’s shelve that first. The legends say that there are fox yaos in the world who cultivate into humans and are no different from humans, except for a sliver of their beastly nature that they couldn’t be rid of. In that case, are yaos that turn into humans considered ‘human’? Why don’t people in the world regard yaos as humans then?”

Xie An decisively said, “That’s different. None of us have seen fox yaos after all, we can’t look into that.”

“In that case, no one has seen souls before either,” Chen Xing readily agreed. “So the talk about souls cannot be included in the discussion.”

“Yes, yes.” Everyone wiped their sweat away.

But after that, silence filled the hall again. After the topic made a detour back, they were even less able to answer Chen Xing’s question regarding the definition of ‘humans’.

“’Human’ is but a conventional reference,” Xie An pondered for a long time before saying. “How they are addressed depends on ourselves. There isn’t much meaning in bothering so much with a form of address.”

Chen Xing said, “But no one has ever told us how this form of address came about. Expressing one’s curiosity towards it, and for this little brother

here to want to discuss it properly and clearly with the Geges here is understandable.”

Xie An’s delaying tactics didn’t work. He scratched his back a few times and thought, what should I do now?

Xie Xuan said, “Then, Brother Tianchi, what do you think?” Chen Xing uttered in surprise, “It’s my turn again?”

Chen Xing dealt with the literati in the same way Xiang Shu dealt with martial artists, and he did so even more cleanly than Xiang Shu did. After all, Xiang Shu’s strength could rival a thousand troops, but he had to fight them off one by one. Chen Xing engaged in a duel of words with scholars and managed to get rid of a whole batch of them every time -- a classic group attack. Originally, Chen Xing had even prepared a bunch of “are immortal humans considered human?”, “if ‘immortals’ aren’t ‘human’, then why are they called ‘immortal humans’?” After resolving the problem regarding  ‘immortal  humans’,  there  were  still  ‘ancestors’,  ‘gods’, orangutans and monkeys who have their own sign language and can communicate through cries, parrots that can talk, and so on.

But unexpectedly, this group of people didn’t seem to be very strong, since they were ready to admit defeat so soon.

Chapter 49.2: Light Intellectual Conversation

Translator(s): Zryuu

Editor(s): juurensha

Xie An made a gesture, meaning to let Chen Xing speak. If Chen Xing wanted to prove his point of view, he needed to offer a strong argument to convince the masses.

“In my humble opinion.” After Chen Xing finished the last bit of tea in front of him, he said seriously, “Those who possess a Heart are human.”

All the scholars hissed in scorn, but after doing so, they suddenly fell silent again. No one was able to refute him.

Because the word “Heart” was a concept that was rather complicated to explain. Mencius once said,

“Fish is something I desire. Bear paw is also something I desire”, and cited the willingness to “sacrifice one’s life over principles” within as an example of Heart. However, according to what Chen Xing said, it was evident that the range this phrase encompassed was wider than what can be found in Confucianism.

“How would you explain the term ‘Heart’?” someone else said. “Are we going to start discussing that now? The wheel has come full circle, we’re just going around in circles, how...”

“No,” Chen Xing said. “The heart that distinguishes right from wrong, the resolution that remains unwavering in the face of outside pressure, a clear conscience not concealed behind selfish desires, an unfettered freedom, an innocent disposition that remains unswayed as it walks alone...”

After speaking up to this point, Chen Xing inadvertently glanced at Xiang Shu and realised that Xiang Shu had his attention focused on him from the start. When their gazes met for a brief moment, both of them looked away in awkwardness. Chen Xing almost forgot what he was about to say next.

“...En, so, it’s things like this that I can’t list out in detail right now. Everyone has read about it in books, so I won’t say more than what is necessary. It’s very difficult to outline clearly what ‘Heart’ means, but I believe everyone understands in your hearts, what ‘Heart’ is, that is, what is dictated by one’s Heart.”

“And thus, the problem arises,” Xie Xuan said. “So those who have lost their Heart can’t be considered human?”

“Of course.” Chen Xing smiled. From the corner of his eyes, he realised that Xiang Shu was still looking at him, so he could only pretend he hadn’t seen that. “When we castigate others for ‘being no different from animals’ or ‘you’re inhumane’, we shouldn’t have been saying that in jest, right?”

A young one from the Wang family spoke up, “So children who have not yet started schooling can’t be considered human? If that is so, I don’t agree.”

Chen Xing retorted with a question, “Who said children have no Heart? How would you explain the saying ‘simple and naive’? One’s Heart is like the bright lamp in one’s heart; what’s supposed to exist, will exist.”

“When  the  world  descends  into  chaos,”  someone  else  chimed  in, “oftentimes there will be parents who exchange their children for food, and there will be those who acknowledge bandits as their fathers, can you say they’re not human? From what I can see, it’s merely that there are some who are kind by nature, while there are others who are innately evil.”

Chen Xing continued, “Those who are born evil, I think, even if I didn’t mention it, everyone would’ve already not considered them human, right?”

“What if, after one loses their Heart, they give up on evil and return to being kind?” Another young Xie member asked.

Chen Xing, “If you guys can forgive this person, then of course, boundless is the sea of bitterness, yet a man who repents can still reach the shore nearby, so they can be considered human again. That’s the so-called

‘customary convention’, right? That’s the way of defining ‘human’ through ‘Heart’.”

“So, with a Heart as proof of being human, one would be able to recognise a human from a distance. My brother here, Shulü Kong, has always been able to clearly distinguish right from wrong and has upheld righteous principles. He has never killed innocent people, let alone bore any enmity towards the Han. Amongst the Hu, there are those who would wantonly kill the innocent in order to satisfy their cruel desires, but there are also those who are benevolent, who would save their country and people. Otherwise, why would he follow me all the way to Jiankang, just to suffer from your frigid irony and scorching satire?”

After making such a big round, at last Chen Xing returned to the main problem at hand. He smiled as he looked at Xiang Shu. At this moment, Xiang Shu finally stopped avoiding him, yet his expression now seemed a little complex.

Everyone’s hostility towards Xiang Shu had been washed away quite a bit. Plus, after being tugged here and there by Chen Xing, they all felt a little dizzy now and didn’t know what to say. After a long bout of awkwardness, it was the host, Xie An, who broke the silence with a cough.

“It is pretty late now,” Xie An said. “Why don’t we… continue this discussion another day?”

“Okay, okay.” Everyone wiped their sweat away. Seeing how calm and composed Chen Xing was while talking, if they gave him a table and a folding fan, they could probably continue talking until dawn of the next day, so they quickly dismounted their donkeys with the help of a slope and left one after another as the host thanked his guests.

Chen Xing quickly shot a glance at Xie An, signalling that he could wrap things up. Otherwise, after the guests left, they could snap out of their daze and come back in to continue their debate. He wouldn’t be able to ward them off then.

Xie An shot a glance back at Chen Xing, signalling for him to follow him to the study. Chen Xing glanced at Xiang Shu. Xiang Shu looked just like

usual. Chen Xing had expected him to praise him, but Xiang Shu just looked as indifferent as ever, so he asked with resentment, “How was it?”

“I’m sleepy from all your talking,” Xiang Shu answered. Chen Xing, “...”

In the study.

The words ‘thank goodness’ were evident on Xie An’s face. His gaze was fixed on Chen Xing, then he started loosening his robes and undressed. He took off his jade pendant and threw it aside. Dressed in only an unlined garment, he removed his shoes and socks before plopping down on the couch in the study, then picked up a pot and drank from it straight.

“Light intellectual conversation,” Xie An casually uttered. “The only thing they do all day is engage in light intellectual conversation, such a useless bunch!”

Chen Xing: “....”

“What are you in a daze for?” Xie An saw that Chen Xing and Xiang Shu were still standing in the study, so he said, “Sit ah! What do you want to eat for dinner? I’ll have them roast a pig and deliver it here?”

Chen Xing, “Uh...um...did I cause you trouble? Secretariat Xie?”

“Should be Secretariat Supervisor now.” Xie An cried bitterly, “Little Shidi, you’re really not easy to deal with. Never mind, let’s not mention that. How’s the situation? We have the time to properly talk about it now.”

Chen Xing held his forehead with one hand. “Lord Xie, uh, I thought about it really hard, but the two of us don’t seem to be fellow disciples.”

Xie An got up and said, “Last time I went to Mt. Hua and acknowledged Chivalrous Baili as my teacher, I made sufficient preparations after my return. Look, in all these years, I went around inquiring and was finally rewarded by the Heavens--”

Then Xie An turned around and pushed the shelf in the study to one side. With a "whoosh", shelves in a dark square appeared. The shelves were full of precious sabres and swords, bottles, jars, jade pendants, rings, and all 18 types of weapons could be found there. Chen Xing almost fainted at the sight.

Xiang Shu frowned. “What’s this?”

In all seriousness, Xie An replied, “After Baili Shifu exhorted me, these are the magical artifacts I exhausted all of my power in this lifetime to find for the Exorcists’ great undertaking.”

Chen Xing, “……………………”

Xie An motioned to Chen Xing. “Shidi, why don’t you come examine them?”

Chen Xing, “L...let me calm down for a bit.”

Xiang Shu walked over to the dark square shelves and picked up a halberd, scrutinising it.

Chen Xing said, “You should have mentioned this earlier! Why invite all those scholars over for tea and a ‘light intellectual discussion’? All it did was tire me out, couldn’t you have just brought us to the study for a proper talk?”

Xie An responded helplessly, “You don’t know this, but the descendents of the upper-class in Jiankang City now only play up to those in power. If I don’t hold a reception for you, who would know of your name? Now see, after all that has happened today, the Emperor will definitely summon you in a few days. Won;t your name then be spread far and wide by then on its own?”

“Lord Xie!” Someone outside informed, “Lord Wang is here.”

Xie An quickly threw his robes on, closed the cabinet, and after tidying up, looked like how he did before. “Come in.”

It was Wang Xizhi who had come, so Xie An smiled politely and nodded. “I’m having a nice chat with my little Shidi here.”

Wang Xizhi was holding a document in hand as he smiled. “Qingming festival will be held in a few days. I would like to invite little brother Tianchi and Brother Xie to Nanping Mountains for a spring hike. After writing this invitation, I thought that sending someone to deliver it would be too impolite, so I thought it would be better if I came down in person to express my sincerity.”

“Good, good,” Xie An said with a smile.

Chen Xing quickly saw Wang Xizhi off and closed the door to the study. Xie An removed his robes again and sat back down on the couch, asking, “Where were we?”

Xiang Shu, “To be so different in public and private, don’t you feel tired?”

“I am!” Xie An said in earnest. “But I can’t help it. The imperial court is filled with civil and martial officials who only know of effete language without substance and how to look pretty, so what else can I do?”

Chen Xing, “It shouldn’t be that bad?!”

Xie An pointed to the north. “Fu Jian’s about to cross Yangtze River. Everyone’s in danger now, what do you think?”

“That won’t happen so soon,” Chen Xing said. “He’s too busy with his own affairs… but Brother Xie, you...”

Chen Xing looked Xie An up and down before sitting down by the side as well. He explained, “So it’s like this...”

Chen Xing narrated the course of events in Chang’an and Chi Le Chuan. Xie An listened quietly, then nodded after he was done and sighed. “I actually didn’t get to witness such a scene!”

“You’re fortunate for not having had to witness it, okay?!” Chen Xing turned frantic. “If something like that happens in Jiankang, everything’s over!”

Xie An pondered over it, then seemed to make up his mind in the end. “Staying in Jiankang isn’t a good makeshift strategem. The day I received your letter, little Shidi, I was considering whether to just cut the hemp knot right away and be done with it. I’ll resign right now and follow you to...”

“Stop!” Chen Xing interrupted. “Don’t even think about it! Shixiong, you’re over forty! I don’t know what Shifu said to you. I’ll leave aside the problem of whether this body of yours can fight yaos, the key now is that silence has fallen on all magic, so it’s impossible to train as an exorcist!”

Xie An said sternly, “Can you let Shixiong see your Heart Lamp?”

Xiang Shu was speechless as he faced Xie An. Chen Xing could only light up his Heart Lamp. Xie An was instantly lost in a daze as he stared at Chen Xing’s hand and held his wrist.

“Lord Xie!” The housekeeper outside informed again, “Another guest has come who wants to visit...”

Chen Xing kept the Heart Lamp. Xie An immediately tidied himself up and opened the door. “Who is it?”

The housekeeper glanced at Chen Xing, then lowered his voice to whisper to Xie An.

Xie An amicably said, “I have no money, please ask him to go back.”

“Let me take another look?” After the housekeeper left, Xie An turned back to Chen Xing and asked in earnest.

Chen Xing, with no expression on his face, lit up the Heart Lamp again to let Xie An study it as he pleased.

“So this is magic,” Xie An exclaimed. “This is magic that can move mountains, fill seas, and switch out the day in secret!”

“I would also like to move mountains, fill seas, and switch out the day in secret,” Chen Xing said. “Why don’t you tell me, Shixiong, other than

finding water to drink in the middle of the night, what other use does this Heart Lamp have?”

“There must be,” Xie An said. “This is truly a miracle on earth!”

“Enough!” Chen Xing said, “Why don’t you come save the world from its demise and go eliminate Chiyou! I don’t even want to be an exorcist! Why do you want to be one so fervently...”

Xie An pulled Chen Xing over to see a shelf filled with his collection. “Slowly look over these first, see if what I found is of use. In the time to come, the two of us can study them slowly.”

Chen Xing faced the shelves full of books and ornaments. Most of them were useless antiques, but there were one or two that looked like magical artifacts, but it was just that Chen Xing couldn’t tell which era they came from.

Suddenly, he saw a bamboo slip. It was the slip missing from the Exorcism Department in Chang’an’s mirror world - even the way it was tied together was the same.

Chen Xing unfolded the slip, and saw the first column of words written on the left: Exorcise and kill yaos, Budong Rushan.

Translator's Comment:

Zryuu: SORRY FOR THE DELAY!! This chapter gave me nightmares-

[9threadz]

Buy Leather Jutti for Women online at Best Prices — 9threadz

Elevate your footwear collection with the timeless elegance of leather jutti. At 9threadz, we offer a curated selection of stylish leather jutti for women, crafted from premium materials and designed to provide both comfort and sophistication. Explore our collection online and discover the perfect pair of leather jutti to complement your wardrobe.

Understanding Leather Juttis

What Sets 9threadz Leather Juttis Apart?

9threadz leather jutti are meticulously crafted by skilled artisans, ensuring exceptional quality and attention to detail. Made from genuine leather and featuring exquisite embellishments, our juttis exude luxury and charm, making them a must-have addition to any ensemble.

Benefits of Choosing 9threadz Leather Juttis

Luxurious Comfort: With soft leather uppers and cushioned insoles, 9threadz leather juttis provide all-day comfort and support for your feet.

Versatile Style: From traditional designs to modern interpretations, our leather juttis offer versatility, allowing you to effortlessly transition from day to night with ease.

Durability: Constructed from durable materials and reinforced stitching, 9threadz leather juttis are built to withstand daily wear and tear, ensuring long-lasting enjoyment.

Types of Leather Juttis

Traditional Embroidered Jutti

Featuring intricate embroidery and embellishments, traditional leather jutti add a touch of elegance to ethnic attire, making them perfect for weddings, festivals, and special occasions.

Contemporary Printed Jutti

For a modern twist on a classic silhouette, opt for printed leather jutti with vibrant patterns and designs, ideal for adding a pop of color to your everyday ensemble.

Embellished Slip-On Juttis

Make a statement with embellished slip-on leather juttis adorned with beads, sequins, and metallic accents, perfect for adding a touch of glamour to any outfit.

Online Buying Guide

Tips for Purchasing Leather Jutti Online

Measure Your Feet: Refer to our size chart and measure your feet to ensure a proper fit.

Check Reviews: Read customer reviews to gauge the quality and comfort of our leather jutti.

Explore Options: Explore our diverse range of styles and designs to find the perfect pair that matches your personal style.

Shop Now at 9threadz Online Store

Browse our collection of leather jutti online and enjoy exclusive deals and discounts. With fast shipping and easy returns, finding the perfect pair of leather jutti has never been easier than with 9threadz.

Conclusion

Step out in style with the timeless elegance of leather jutti from 9threadz. Whether you’re attending a special event or simply want to add a touch of sophistication to your everyday look, our leather jutti are sure to turn heads wherever you go. Shop online today and experience the luxury of 9threadz leather jutti.

FAQs about Leather Juttis for Women

Are 9threadz leather jutti true to size?

Yes, our leather jutti are true to size, but we recommend referring to our size chart for the best fit.

How should I care for my leather juttis?

To maintain the beauty and longevity of your leather juttis, we recommend wiping them clean with a damp cloth and storing them in a cool, dry place when not in use.

Can I wear 9threadz leather juttis with ethnic and western attire?

Absolutely! Our leather juttis are versatile enough to be paired with both traditional Indian outfits and contemporary western wear for a stylish and sophisticated look.

Do 9threadz leather juttis come with a warranty?

Yes, all our products are backed by our quality guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase, contact us for assistance.

Where can I find 9threadz leather juttis online?

9threadz leather jutti are available for purchase exclusively on our official website. Visit us online to shop now and enjoy exclusive deals and promotions.

Leather Jutti For Women

9threadz

[nagchampaagarbatti]

Four Steps to Highlight Your Pooja Room

Pooja is essentially a devotion ritual for the creator. It includes varied rituals, offerings, and other necessities. One prominent part of all these essentials is incense products. It is said greeting God encompasses incense sticks, oil lanterns, sacred food offerings, and dhoop cones.

Likewise, a pooja room is the center of spirituality in every house. It is the location where you feel most at peace and filled with positivity. The energy radiating from your pooja rooms boosts concentration and enhances the body and soul. In addition, the pooja room hosts your deity idols, spiritual books, and other religious things you use to worship and connect with the Almighty God.

It may not be possible every time that you can donate a whole room for worshipping and meditating. You can also use a single corner as your pooja room, where you can pray and meditate by lighting up some fragrant incense sticks or dhoop cones. Irrespective of the size, it is essential to highlight the pooja room just like other spaces in your home.

Four easy ways with no effort to highlight your Pooja Room

While you may be wondering about additional expenses and time to highlight your spiritual corners, experts at Satya Incense went ahead and sorted some top DIY ways to highlight your pooja room.

Location of the pooja room

When it comes to deciding the location of the Pooja room (the direction), one can refer to basic Vastu Shastra suggestions. The sunlight comes from the North-East orientation of the building in the morning, making this time standard for praying and introspection. If someone’s home lacks a dedicated room specifically for the pooja, they can perpetually set up a mandap.

If you intend to dedicate a space to your pooja room, ensure it is in the center of the building, seen from each location. Avoid putting this room close to bathrooms or other damp corners.

Colour scheme of your pooja room

The colors you select for the dedicated room for praying to the almighty and meditating must be understated. You can opt for light colors as they assist in displaying a relaxed atmosphere, appropriate for everyday meditation. Colors commonly utilized for praying rooms can involve shades close to

People can try using ethnic or printed wallpaper to enhance the elegance of the praying area.

Make your pooja room more noticeable

Place oil lanterns in your praying space to brighten it up. One can opt for ornamental lamps you could turn on when executing the sunset ceremonies. It will help you to lend the room a fascinating glimpse. In addition to the hanging lanterns, try different stuff like reclining or ornamental praying bells. Moreover, you can also place wax candles in place of lanterns.

Fragrance

Although many people think it is a standard part of the pooja ritual and does not require any thought, they are wrong!! Similar to other spaces, pooja room fragrance will highly influence the entire feel of the place.

Using incense to establish the spiritual aura is essential. You can accomplish this by lighting the fragrant incense sticks. They enable you to develop the perfect ambiance but encourage you to relieve tension and improve focus.

Different Incense products to highlight your Pooja Room

There are numerous incense products present in the market to select . Agarbattis or incense sticks are available in different scents such as Chandan (Sandalwood), floral fragrances (Rose, Champa, and Jasmine), herbal fragrances like guggul, or sambrani.

Fragrance plays a vital role in praying to the Almighty God, meditation, and introspection. In addition, the aroma helps people connect to God by creating an ambiance of peace and beauty.

Final thoughts!

These tips will surely help you showcase your pooja room in your home. While most things do not require extensive research, selecting the right incense product for your home is crucial and requires some thought.

If you do not want to perform extensive research to get high-quality incense, always opt for reputed manufacturers like Satya Incense. Their products utilize organic elements and employ a handmaking process. Explore their extensive product range and elevate your pooja room ambiance today!

[greenfashion1]

"Traditional Splendor: Unveil the Beauty of Indian Ethnic Fashion in Fiji"

Indian dresses online in Fiji refer to the traditional and contemporary Indian clothing options that can be purchased through various online platforms in Fiji. Fiji has a significant Indian population, and Indian clothing is widely embraced and worn for cultural events, weddings, festivals, and everyday wear. 

Here are some popular Indian dresses available online in Fiji: 

Sarees: Saree is a traditional Indian attire worn by women. It consists of a long piece of fabric draped around the body, with one end pleated and tucked at the waist. Online platforms offer a variety of Buy Indian sarees in different fabrics, designs, and embellishments, including silk, cotton, georgette, chiffon, and more. These platforms cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Indian community in Fiji. 

Salwar Kameez: Salwar Kameez is a versatile outfit consisting of a long tunic top (kameez), loose pants (salwar), and a dupatta (scarf). It is popular among women in Fiji for various occasions. Online stores provide a wide range of salwar kameez options, including different styles like Anarkali suits, straight suits, churidar suits, and palazzo suits. These outfits are available in various colors, patterns, and fabrics to suit different tastes. If you want buy Salwar Kameez Online  

Lehenga Choli: Lehenga Choli is a traditional Indian attire, primarily worn by women during weddings and festive occasions. It comprises a long skirt (lehenga), a blouse (choli), and a dupatta. Online platforms offer a diverse selection of lehenga cholis, including bridal, party wear, and designer options. These outfits come in different fabrics such as silk, satin, velvet, and net, adorned with intricate embroidery, sequins, and stone work. This is pure Indian dresses for Women  

Kurtis: Kurtis are popular casual and semi-formal Indian attire for women. They are shorter tunic-style tops that can be paired with leggings, palazzos, or jeans. Online stores provide a wide variety of kurtis in different lengths, patterns, and fabrics, ranging from simple cotton kurtis to stylish and embellished ones. These platforms cater to the fashion needs of Indian women in Fiji. 

Sherwani: Sherwani is a traditional Indian outfit for men, typically worn during weddings and formal occasions. It is a long coat-like garment paired with a kurta, churidar pants, and a dupatta. Online platforms offer a range of sherwanis in various designs, colors, and fabrics, including richly embroidered options suitable for the Indian community in Fiji. 

When shopping for Indian dresses online in Fiji, customers can explore various online platforms that cater specifically to the Fijian market. These platforms provide options for different sizes, offer local shipping, and may even have customer support services to assist with inquiries and purchases. It is important to check the authenticity of the online platforms, read customer reviews, and consider factors like sizing, return policies, and delivery options before making a purchase. 

[kitchengarden4u]

5 great foods of Canada

5 great foods of Canada, which has a vast array of weather, language, religion, politics, and of course, food! The 10 provinces and three northern territories each have their own signature dishes and ethnic influences. Here are 5 good foods from Canada that you might want to try: 1. **Poutine** - Originated from Quebec, this dish is made up of French fries and cheese curds, covered in gravy

Poutine 2. **Saskatoon Berry Pie** - With a sweet and nutty/almond-like flavour, Saskatoon berries are also referred to as “prairie berries” 3. **Montreal Smoked Meat** - This kosher-style deli meat is a staple of Quebecoise cuisine.

Montreal smoked meat 4. **Salmon** - British Columbia is famous for its salmon.

Salmon dinner 5. **Nanaimo Bars** - Original Nanaimo bars can be identified by their pale yellow custard center surrounded by a coconut and nut wafer base and a layer of chocolate ganache on the top.

Nanaimo Bars   5 great foods of Canada, which has a vast array of weather, language, religion, politics, and of course, food! The 10 provinces and three northern territories each have their own signature dishes and ethnic influences.

KitchenGarden4U - Other features

Consider steaming your asparagus with your wild sockeye salmon in a single step using the original all-in-one kitchen appliance that makes accomplishing more possible. “Hands down, it’s the Thermomix TM6. It’s the best time-saver in the kitchen. Since it pretty much does the cooking for you and helps you plan ahead, I’m able to whip up something fresh and easy for me and my daughter, yet still get through my list of things to do. Life. Changer.” Thermomix® TM6™ as the “gadget that’s changed her life - Mel Alcantara From meal planning, to cooking, to clean up, the TM6® is the ultimate kitchen assistant that has your back! You can seamlessly create the perfect meal, every time with this all-in-one solidly built machine called Thermomix® TM6® . For more information on Thermomix TM6 check this page or you could consider starting your own ultimate side gig, healthy eating and making money with home based business based around food and eating healthy including an opportunity of getting your TM6 for free(by referring 4 others). Your choice! We will be reviewing products and be sure I’m to check our our Product Reviews coming in the near future. Please check out our SHOP, with links to products mentioned or used in the blog. What ever combo you choose, Enjoy! and come back to KitchenGarden4u often. Thanks for visiting. Read the full article

[bhupeshkalra1]

How to Choose the Best eCommerce Developer in Singapore

In the present computerized age, having a web-based presence is urgent for organizations to make due and flourish. Web-based business stages have become increasingly popular, with many organizations in Singapore trying to fabricate their internet-based stores. Nonetheless, making a web-based business site requires particular abilities, and recruiting the right developer can have a significant effect. In this article, we will talk about how to recruit the best online business developer in Singapore.

1. Characterize your venture prerequisites

Before you start your hunt, characterizing your task requirements is significant. What sort of site would you like to fabricate? What highlights do you really want? Having an unmistakable comprehension of your task necessities will assist you in tracking down the right developer for your requirements.

2. Search for experience and skill

When recruiting a web-based business developer, experience and mastery are pivotal. Search for developers who have experience dealing with comparative tasks and have areas of strength for web-based business stages and innovations. Ensure they know about famous internet business platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and others.

3. Check for references and surveys

It means quite a bit to check references and conduct surveys prior to recruiting an online business developer. Search for audits and tributes from past clients and request references that you can contact. This will assist you with finding out about the developer's work quality and incredible skill.

4. Correspondence and coordinated effort

Correspondence and coordinated effort are significant variables in any undertaking, and they're particularly significant when working with a developer. Search for developers who are responsive, open, and simple to work with. They ought to have the option of making sense of specialized ideas in plain language and working successfully with your group.

5. Think about estimating and financial plan

At last, consider valuing and planning your spending while recruiting a web-based business developer. Ensure you comprehend their pricing structure and have an unmistakable idea of how much the project will cost. Remember that employing the least expensive developer may not generally be the most ideal choice, as quality and aptitude are significant elements to consider.

All in all, recruiting the right ethnicity In the present advanced age, and having a web-based presence is urgent for organizations to get by and flourish. Web-based businesses have become increasingly popular, with many organizations in Singapore trying to construct their own web-based stores. Nonetheless, making an online business site requires particular abilities, and recruiting the right developer can have a significant effect. In this article, we will talk about how to recruit the best web-based business developer in Singapore.

For More Info:-

eCommerce developer in Singapore

eCommerce web design Singapore

[i-myeoni-blogs]

REMEMBERING WHO I AM: A glimpse of tribal community.

How many of us talk about our ancestors' ethnicity? There may be a few people who are still connected to their roots, but the majority of us in generation Z are influenced primarily by western culture and fashion. Though it’s not bad but somehow, we’re losing our own authenticity.

I am no exception; having been born and raised in a town, I shaped myself in accordance with the trends that emerged. When it comes to natives, I am a member of the "Santhal Tribe," an indigenous minority group. There are over 100 tribes in India, and each one has its own clothing, food, festival, language, and rituals. But, due to school and other obligations, we were unable to visit our hometown as frequently as we would have liked. And perhaps this is why I know so little about my own tribe.

It was my cousin's brother's wedding—the only boy in our entire family tree, with only one brother to seven sisters. I was overjoyed, but no Indian function is complete without a hiccup, and so my exams fell on the same day as my brother's wedding. I couldn't make it to the wedding, but I promised I wouldn't miss the authentic Santhali reception. Okay let’s not jump into the fact that I missed the ceremony. But visiting my hometown after almost a decade felt so relaxing.

Sagarbhanga is a small village located in the Jharkhand district of Sahebganj. Tribals can be found at every turn and are extremely friendly. I don't want to brag, but my family home is the largest in the entire district, and it is referred to as "Bada Ghar" by the locals. Because of the village people's regard for us, they came to assist with the preparations. Women were involved in making decorations out of the palm leaves. Oh, how beautiful their work was, and how natural everything was. Few men were painting on the walls, and they were tribal wall paintings with various creatures painted on them. It was absolutely lovely. The beauty of a tribe is that we live as one community and help each other unconditionally.

I should be familiar with the local tongue they use, santhali, but alas, I am not able to communicate in it. We even have our own traditional clothing, known as "Panchi Parhat" for women and lungi or dhoti for men. My sisters and I decided to dress in traditional attire for the ceremony. The dress was arranged, and a few locals assisted us in draping it. it was so pretty and easy to handle, light weight as it was made of cotton. My parents and other relatives were so happy to see us in our own traditional clothes.

In the ceremony all the village people gathered and presented gifts to the bride and the groom. My brother is so lucky he got a lot of gifts and blessings, I can’t wait to have a ceremony of my own.

It was time for food after the gift exchange. "The simpler, the better," is all I have to say. I'm sure the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word "marriage" is the food. Being Indian, we always want pulav, Manchurian, or paneer butter masala; it's just ingrained in our minds that it should be on the menu. And I thought the same thing, but the taste of authentic simple food on a 'pattal' surprised me. Off-white perfectly cooked rice, dal, meat, and veggies, and that's it, all served on dried leaf plates. And, no offence, but all the dishes I've ever tasted in restaurants and hotels paled in comparison. I know you're thinking it'll create a lot of trash, but pattals are biodegradable, so we dumped it in a large hole that was later covered by soil. "Khaane ke baad kuch meetha ho jaye," we say now that we've eaten. You won't be sorry, believe me. Aside from the usual sweets, there was one item that piqued my interest. Those yellow bead-like things called "Bundiya" just melted as soon as I took a spoonful of them. Mesmerizing, a perfect way to round out the dish, but what I really missed was the authentic 'Dumbu' sweet from the tribe. It's made of rice flour, and the sweet dough is formed into many small balls before being steamed.

While I was eating the sweets, I overheard people discussing being a patient. Who got hurt, I wondered, until my mother explained that it was a ritual. A fun ritual in which the new bride pretends to be a doctor while the groom's sisters and relatives pretend to be injured by covering their legs and hands with mud and straws. And the bride is expected to treat them well (wash their hands and feet). But the best part is yet to come: the bride tightly grips the patient's feet and demands fees (gifts), refusing to leave until you give her gift. That sounded like fun, so I tried it as well.

It was great to see the entire family enjoying themselves after such a long time apart.

What about the dance, though? The ground was cleared, chairs were moved, and music was played immediately after each ritual. I was expecting the barati dance, but it's an authentic wedding. A few men who could play mandar gathered in the centre, and women formed a circle around them. It was a santhali folk dance, and it was a lot of fun. We danced until after midnight, which resulted in sore leg muscles next day.

Those were two lovely days spent in my hometown. I learned a lot about my own culture that I was unaware of because I had spent my entire life in a city. I enjoyed every minute I was there and hope to return soon. Yes, there is one thing I still regret: not learning my native language.

There is a misconception that tribal in Jharkhand live in jungles, wear leaves, and eat raw food. Well, the answer is already given; it is simply a misconception. We as a tribe prefer to live close to nature, not in jungles, but in homes that only a few people know about, which is unfortunate. Remember that there is a distinction between being indigenous and being uncivilized.

And I've learned that it's important to know and respect your roots no matter where you live.

[pgcestuff]

Thursday 23 Feb 23: (AM) PoPA Alert!!

(+ New Brief)

UCLan meet/ Review - Deep dive into Popas!

Trainees must use college email, stuff that can must be uploaded/ complete.

Try not to copy and paste sections from spec, subject audit is about getting personal, identifying strengths and weaknesses (to work on/ discuss with mentor). LOOPED info all the time.

Per Ob stuff, adaptive learning activity (include reference to any SEND students you have in tour class), starter activities... PLEASE UPLOAD this morning.

All feedback must be reflected on. All mentor Obs/ conversations must be reflected on/ Mentor feedback reports???

Wider Perspectives (tissues and issues) Ideas for poster and report... Let's get cracking. Think broad, then sharpen focus (note: reflect on the issues you discard in your PoPA).

Potential topics include (as suggested by UCLan as a starting point), but are not limited to: 

Educational reforms (policies) and social context (e.g., the skills agenda, STEM agenda, English and Maths, employability etc.).

The policy process (from the top down, from Westminster to the Classroom Assistant), hierarchal flow of power, knowledge and issues of control - e.g. the Ideological/ Repressive State Apparatus (Louis Althusser).

Mental health and wellbeing (escalation, challenges for students and teachers).

SEND  (how this directly links into 'adaptive learning' or recent Ofsted scrutiny in terms of the levels of support/ too many learner support staff are detracting from whole class progression).

Levelling up and the role of FE (a cause for social good/ education to feed the (shortfalls in) the labour market/ economy).

Quality assurance and compliance  (reviews, data management, surveillance measures, observations)

Equality (Equality and Diversity Duty, celebrating the identities (ethnicity, religion, gender status) of our students to promote an anti-racist, anti-disciminatory culture/ learning environment).

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 

Funding  

Quality assurance  

Ofsted 

The history/context of the FE sector  

Safeguarding 

Education for sustainable development 

Decolonising the curriculum 

Public sector equality duty 

In terms of TEF above, it could simply be a matter of establishing/ reflecting on, where you are at?

... and where do you think we have or need to go (work towards) in relation to the issue?

What interests you/ what area of policy do you connect with or 'speaks to you' the most?

It MUST BE subject-specific.

How does it affect your PCK (strategies unique to you: why you do what you do...?)

What you know about subject content (I am a plumber) and how this links to then how your understanding of how you teach adapts or has changed (or recognising that perhaps it is always changing e.g. T&L as fluid, trial and error, grassroots, learner-orientated, link to lived experiences.

Light exercise (for your PoPA): Make a list of your unique PCK techniques across the timeframe you have taught... then you have snapshot of your own teacher Identity now (and can perhaps identify strategies you want to develop moving forwards).

POLICY 2) SUBJECT 3) PCK (Teacher Identity)

[gtssidata4]

Medical Annotation And Speech Recognition Dataset In 202 for Machine Learning Process

We've all had open-ended questions on Alexa (or another voice-based assistants). Is the closest pizza restaurant still open, Alexa? Alexa Which local restaurant offers delivery free to my home? Perhaps something similar to that. Wehumans, in general, utilize open-ended questions in order to communicate with our fellow humans, but asking the same question in a casual manner for a digital assistant does not seem to be an ideal idea. But, Alexa always provides the right answer. How? In this case the AI has to detect the location, recognize that the pizza shop is not a location (as in the sense of a city) and then give an exact answer.

Siri as well as Alexa are two common examples of trained voice or speech recognition software. There is an opportunity for improvement in these techniques. Businesses try to meet specific requirements because it is very unlikely that they will find a Text Dataset that contains all the training data. This is accomplished by using the collection of speech data from various sources.

In this blog post what it is about speech data and what it does to benefit the speech recognition program.

The market in AI in the healthcare industry was estimated at 1 billion dollars in 2016 and it is predicted to increase to over $28 billion in 2025. In 2022 the global AI market in healthcare Medical Imaging market is expected to reach $980 million. In addition, the market is predicted to increase by an 26.77 percent CAGR, reaching $3215 million in 2027.

What is Medical Image Annotation?

Healthcare companies are taking advantage of the promise of ML to enhance the quality of care for patients, enhance diagnostics, offer more accurate treatment predictions, and even discover new treatments. However, there are some areas of medical sciences in which AI can aid doctors in medical imaging.

What is Audio Annotation?

Audio annotation involves categorizing the audio component in machine-readable way. Audio annotation is different from transcription of audio that converts speech into written format. Additionally, important information about the file's audio, like phonetic, semantic, morphological and discourse data is also included in the audio annotation. Instead of describing the annotations individually the audio annotation could contain metadata for the entire audio file.

What is Remote Speech Data Collection?

The collection of remote speech is the process of collecting information from various sources, and later processing it to produce Speech Recognition Dataset to support Conversational AI. It's also referred to in the field of the collection of audio information. The data collected from a remote location is then compiled through a mobile app or web browser.

In general, for this procedure there is a predetermined amount of participants are selected online according to their spoken language and characteristics. They are then asked to record their speech samples for various narratives, situations and scenarios. So data sets are created and, if required the data sets are used in various scenarios.

How do you maintain quality while Crowdsourcing?

To ensure the accuracy of the information gathered To ensure the accuracy of data, it is crucial to use different crowdsourcing techniques. A few of these techniques are:

Crisp & Clear Guidelines: It is important to give clear guidelines for the people with whom you collect information. Only when they understand the procedure and how their contribution will be beneficial will they be able to give their best. It is possible to provide images, screenshots, as well as short videos to help them aware of the demands.

Recruitment of a Diverse Set of people: If you want to gather valuable data, hiring people with different origins is crucial step. Look up people in different segments of the market as well as ethnicities, age groups as well as economic backgrounds and many more. They can help you collect the right data.

Validate Data through Computers The validation methods where machine learning models analyze the information to create a report in a more detailed manner. They are able to verify the necessary elements of the ML Dataset required, like quality of the audio formats, etc.

Why GTS?

When choosing the service supplier, we believe that you stand a greater chance of success if you select an expert who is continuously maintaining high-quality standards.

Global Technology Solutions is the undisputed market leader in audio annotation services due to our highly dedicated team of annotators who are educated to meet our customer's requirements for quality.