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xb-squaredx · 5 years ago

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Astral Chain Review: Popo’s Bizarre Adventure

Life can be funny sometimes; I started out 2019 hoping that I could play a certain PlatinumGames-developed Switch exclusive, and while I did eventually get such a thing, it wasn’t Bayonetta 3, but instead Astral Chain. The last time Nintendo and PlatinumGames worked together on a brand new IP we got The Wonderful 101, one of my favorite games of all time, so I was pretty pumped about Astral Chain from moment one. A game where you control Stands like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, but you’re a hot anime cop! The kinda game you didn’t know you needed! Now that it’s finally here I can definitely say with confidence that I really love…like half of this game.

C.O.P.S: ANIME EDITION

The world of Astral Chain is in a bad way. Set in a future with Earth on the brink of collapse, most of the planet has been corrupted by the Astral Plain, an alternate dimension. With the remnants of humanity confined to a man-made island, an elite police force, Neuron, investigates the invisible cause of the world-ending corruption, Chimeras. Armed with enslaved Chimeras of their own, Legions, Neuron fights back against Chimera attacks, all the while searching for a way to save the world before its too late. Players take the role of a newcomer to Neuron, rising up the ranks alongside their twin sibling, mastering their Legion as various villainous factions seem intent on bringing about the end of the world.

I’ll be blunt here: Astral Chain’s story is passable, but didn’t do much for me. It’s not exactly bad, but predictable and doesn’t really take many risks. The game has an anime aesthetic, and in many cases seems more content with paying homage to various sci-fi anime than telling a unique story, so I’d say it’s quite by-the-numbers. That’s certainly fine, but what really shines in most Platinum titles are their larger-than-life characters, and I find them lacking here. Most of Neuron gets the shaft as time goes on, with only a scant few characters getting much development. Maybe I’m a tad spoiled by the likes of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but the fact that so little of the incidental dialogue is voiced also keeps most of the Neuron officers from sticking out to me. Some characters, like Hal, Marie and Kyle, DO stand out and are pretty great, but that’s about it.

Thankfully, everything else about the game’s presentation is stylish. From the UI to the enemy intro cutscenes, to the sound design and battle animations, Astral Chain is a delight for the eyes and ears. The futuristic setting allows from some sleek visuals, and the lighting and particle effects stand out among most Switch titles. I’d daresay that at times, Astral Chain is Platinum’s best looking game. This does come at the cost of performance though. The game is locked to mostly 30 FPS, though you’ll see some dips in some frantic moments, but not too often. Resolution can also dip in some instances too, the performance at its worst in bigger areas with tons of NPCs around, but most combat sections cut down on clutter and the performance remains solid when you need it, so it mostly works out. Music’s also pretty stellar, and completes the anime-aesthetics with legit opening and ending themes too. Looks can only do so much though, but Platinum is never one to get by purely on outward appearances.

CHAIN PAIN

Combat is where Platinum shines, and that’s definitely true for Astral Chain, though you do have to wait a lot longer than usual to get a good feel for what the game’s trying to do. The first few hours leave a pretty bad first-impression honestly, with lackluster combat options and clunky movement, but once the game shows it’s hand everything starts to really click. By the endgame you’re drowning in options, to the point where it would have been overwhelming if the game threw it all at you right at the start. Best to ease players into the game, but it’s risky to not start the game off on the right foot.

The defining feature of this game is controlling two characters at once, your officer and their Legion. At the start, your officer’s options are limited, and Legions mostly attack on their own, but over time you gain more Legions to swap between on-the-fly, as well as more manual actions you can perform alongside them. Sync Attacks, for one, require you to tap the Legion button at specific points after attacks, which will have the two of you team up for big damage. Your officer gains a shape shifting “X-Baton” weapon that can take a few different forms to vary up their own combat, but the five Legions you gain are your most important tools. Sword, Arrow, Arm, Beast and Axe; each Legion has their own uses in and out of combat and in many cases feel like extended nods to Platinum’s entire back-catalog. Sword can enter Raiden’s Blade Mode from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance to cut enemies on a specific axis, or sever connections between specific doors or objects. Arrow can take out enemies from afar, or be brought in for an over-the-shoulder shooting experience right out of Vanquish. Arm is like an extended nod to Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, pounding foes with a flurry of punches, as well as being able to pick up and throw objects. Beast is just Bladewolf from Revengeance, letting players ride atop it for mobility, and digging up items or following scents like a real dog. Lastly, Axe is a powerhouse that also grants players a powerful barrier that can protect them from various hazards. Certain enemies require specific Legions to take out, and with all five at the press of a button, things can get hectic, but in a good way and advanced players can do a lot with all of these tools.

Each Legion has their own skill tree that can grant them special moves or increase stats as well, and similar to the chip system from Nier: Automata, players can equip special passive skills onto each Legion, provided they have enough slots open for them. The chain connecting officer and Legion also comes into play too, being able to move the Legion freely and bind enemies up (bringing Wonderful 101’s Wonder Liner to mind), or send a charging enemy flying back with an Irish Whip straight out of wrestling. Legions can’t stay out forever though, their Sync Gauge slowly draining as they fight, huge chunks of it taken out if they get hit by attacks, but it recharges pretty quickly, especially if your officer stays aggressive. Compared to past Platinum titles, there’s a lot more emphasis on using items and having “builds” when going into fights too. Healing items alongside combat-oriented items like drones or shields are encouraged rather than penalized, as is the standard. There’s more I could go into, but this hopefully gives you an idea of how much is going on in this game’s combat. Comparing the first few hours to endgame is night and day, more so than almost any other Platinum title.

Generally, the combat is up to the Platinum standard, but unlike most games by the developer, there’s actually a LOT of gameplay that isn’t straight combat, making this Platinum’s most varied game yet…for better or for worse.

STYLISH BUSYWORK

Here’s where things get kinda tricky. On the one hand, it’s good for a game to have at least SOME variety, right? If a game is nonstop action, it risks becoming stale, so having some slower moments makes the bigger moments more impactful. It’s a question of pacing more than anything else, and unfortunately the pacing in Astral Chain leaves a LOT to be desired.

To say it as succinctly as I can, the levels in Astral Chain drag on far too long. A typical level in Platinum’s catalog is roughly 20 minutes, give or take a bit of backtracking or some story bits. In Astral Chain, a full level, or “File”, can take four to five hours by comparison, and when you lay it out like that, you realize there’s an awful lot of filler to sift through to get to the good stuff. You have investigation sequences that are laughably easy for one. Using discount Detective Vision from the Batman Arkham games, you “find” clues and then fill in the blanks to form a lead, but these sequences are impossible to fail. Solutions are highlighted and even if you come to the wrong conclusion, the game will just correct you and you’ll move on regardless. Then you have platforming sequences that are mostly fine, though hampered by being unable to use the camera most of the time (since the right stick can also manually control your Legion). At times, honest-to-God sidequests can be found that are usually not combat-focused, and we can throw in some awful motion-controlled minigames for good measure. On their own, these extra bits aren’t too bad, kinda boring in some respects but otherwise fine, however for someone who just wants to progress the story and get to the next fight, they become barriers you’re forced to contend with before you can get back to having fun.

Now, a lot of this stuff IS optional, but you’re heavily encouraged to do them all anyway. You get locked out of getting good end-of-File ranks if you avoid optional ranked missions, and you’re given rewards for all of this stuff anyway. They’re mostly cosmetic rewards, but the game still seems to expect you to engage with this “extra” content…to the point that it’s clearly not seen as extra but a part of the whole Astral Chain experience. If you stripped out the non-combat portions, that’s like 2/3s of the game gone and it feels kinda messed up to skip out on so much of it. Rather…maybe the game should have made a point of having this stuff be engaging to do in its own right.

MAKING THE GRADE

I want to stress that there’s a lot I liked about Astral Chain. There’s plenty of charm hidden throughout here, and the prospect of a Platinum game that strives to do MORE isn’t a bad one. I enjoyed having NPCs to talk to, larger areas to explore that weren’t just combat areas, and little touches like getting points for recycling or being unable to jaywalk were appreciated. One thing I never touched on was its ranking system, which seems more emblematic of the issues I had with the game. Rather than rewarding and ranking one’s own play, it awards high ranks more so for variety than anything else. It doesn’t matter how poorly you play (to a point), as long as you do a lot of different stuff it’ll all work out. Thus, the game threw a lot of stuff at the wall regardless of how hard it stuck, and as such there’s a number of great ideas mixed in with some really, really weird ones.

Astral Chain is in many ways an experimental game for Platinum. They seem to be trying to move away from niche action games and offer up more for the consumer, but in doing so I fear they might be diluting their games. I’ve been quite a bit more critical of this game than I expected to be, and in the end I’m more just bummed that I didn’t enjoy it more. This game is the directorial debut of Takahisa Taura, and I can practically feel the passion he had for this product; he likely loaded this game with a lot of things that he personally liked, and it’s clear everyone involved worked hard to deliver the best game they could. The results vary a bit, as we have crisp visuals and unique, deep combat mixed in with some plodding segments that seem thrown in for variety’s sake. Astral Chain is ambitious, but maybe this once Platinum bit off a bit more than they could chew. I’d also petition that this game is a victim of certain expectations of what I think a PlatinumGames title “should” be. It’s possible Taura felt pressured to put in aspects of Platinum’s past output and was afraid to go further and make this game truly something new. I’ll also wager that if Astral Chain is someone’s first Platinum game, they’ll be able to come in with a fresher perspective and might end up enjoying it more than a diehard fan like me. There’s a solid foundation here for any future titles though, and I think this game’s issues could be ironed out if given the chance. At its height, the combat really sells this game for me, and action fans will find a lot to love…but there’s a lot in here that might not scratch that particular itch. I wouldn’t quite call this game the weakest link in PlatinumGames’ chain at any rate, and I remain a fan of the company and their future output.

Shine on Platinum.

-B

#astralchain #Astral Chain #platinumgames #bayonetta #wonderful101 #nintendo switch #action girls #blue beetle #xb-squaredx

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kuriquinn · 7 years ago

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Penthesilea [3/?]

Cover & Disclaimer

Chapter Summary: For a week Sasuke wrestles with himself, knowing that they need a more advanced healer—knowing exactly who would be the most competent person to seek out. But certainly, she wouldn’t be so foolish as to heal the leader of the enemy forces. Sasuke doubts even Uzumaki could shrug off that as anything but treason, not to say what Senju Tsunade would think of it.

Chapter Beta: Sakura’s Unicorn

戦国時代

Sasuke is constantly exhausted and yet, sleep eludes him every night.

For months, he occupies himself with battle strategy in the bleak, restless hours before dawn. He runs numbers in his head and tries to outthink the plans of his rival. Uzumaki is a bit of an idiot, but Nara Shikamaru is at his side, and the shadow manipulator is known to be a genius. Itachi could keep up with his ploys with ease, but Sasuke struggles. He’s not an anticipatory thinker, preferring to react to problems as they present themselves. That kind of approach is fine when it’s only himself, but with so many lives dependant on him now, he can’t rely on such personal tactics.

As time goes on, however, Sasuke’s ruminations change in a bothersome way. Offensive strategies and possible promotions give way to imaginings of brilliant green eyes and a mouth curved into an impish smile. This, more than battle tactics, keeps him awake at night, and he hates himself for being so weak and fallible as to be distracted by a woman of all things.

There’s little point in spending hours staring at the canvas ceiling of his tent, and so most nights, he will get up and walk. It’s a simple thing to slip away from the constant din of the army camp and into the forest, far enough away that he can’t hear people. It is easier to pretend…something. He isn’t sure what.

Tonight, Sasuke sits at the base of a large oak, staring up into the sky at the giant moon hovering above the tree line. He wonders if there are people there and if they, too, are embroiled in an endless battle.

He begins to understand why Itachi always yearns for silence.

“Do you know the story of how this war got started?”

Sasuke’s muscles tense, fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword, but as he touches it, the voice registers and he pauses.

“There are few people who can sneak up on me,” he points out, refraining from turning to her. However, out of the corner of his eye, he can see her ensconced in the branches of the tree, eyes on the moon, legs swinging idly back and forth.

Sakura, he thinks, as if remembering it for the first time, even though her name has been burned into his brain since he learned it.

“My perfect chakra control has allowed me to mask my presence since I was twelve,” she states matter-of-factly. It’s not a boast or a challenge or even said to impress him—just an answer to an unspoken question.

“That would be a useful skill for a spy,” he remarks.

“Yes, it would.”

“Is that why we’ve never seen you before?”

“Among other things,” she replies, a bit of a teasing note in her voice. “So, do you know it?”

“Do I know what?”

“How all this started.”

She’s avoiding the question, but he allows it for now, if only to spend time getting a clearer picture of this woman. “I do.”

The stories were told to him in his cradle, passed down by grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles. No Uchiha is brought into this world without knowing the story of Indra and Asura—the two brothers who were the progenitors of the Uchiha and the Senju, and the stolen birthright which started everything.

“The Senju have been selfish opportunists from the beginning,” he goes on. “They take what does not belong to them—credit, power, control—and then blame others for their failures.”

“And the Uchiha have been perfect examples of restraint?” Sakura counters dryly. “Your people spent decades slaughtering each other and everyone else.”

He can’t exactly argue with that. Those dark days are literally written in stone.

“Senju Hashirama,” Sasuke offers quietly. “Your beloved leader’s grandfather is the reason for the conflict.”

“You would say that,” she sighs. “I suppose you never heard the story that he and Uchiha Madara were friends. A lot like you and Naruto.”

Sasuke splutters and glares up at her. “I am not friends with Uzumaki. In case you’ve failed to notice, we spend most days trying to kill each other.”

“And I’m having a conversation with the man who stabbed me,” she shrugs. “Humans tend to do things that make no sense.”

He has no idea what to say to that, but he suspects offering any argument will lead to more of her twisted logic.

“People say they tried to find peace,” she continues, as if she didn’t just make the most ridiculous accusation. “Hashirama and Madara tried to build a village together, to stop all the fighting. But it didn’t work.” She snorts. “Which version did you get growing up?”

“Version?” he echoes, looking up this time.

“You really think we all know the same story?” Sakura asks, amused, gazing down at him. The moonlight makes her hair look silver. “If that were the case, I doubt there would still be fighting.”

Sasuke doesn’t answer, wondering if she’s right and suspecting she’s not. He knows that as long as there are humans, there will always be needless battles and wars.

“My parents used to say it was because of the daimyō,” she goes on, as if they’re having a conversation about the weather. “They were worried about the shinobi becoming more powerful because they were united now. And so, they engineered a war to bring down their numbers. Only it backfired because the Senju and the Uchiha could not work together.”

Sasuke thinks on this.

He is familiar with the theory that the daimyō were worried about a centralised shinobi power arising. But the story his family always told was that Senju Hashirama betrayed Uchiha Madara in the worst way possible. No one knows exactly what the betrayal was—the specifics vary according to who tells the story. Sasuke’s father told him Hashirama tricked Madara out of the leadership of their utopian village. His mother said that it was all down to a woman they both loved, and who ultimately chose Hashirama. Sasuke always found Mother’s tale to be completely unlikely. He’s never had a use for such emotional drivel. No one woman could inspire such a change in ideals, to cause a war where countless lives have been lost and lands torn apart by deep-rooted hatred.

And even if one could…

His thoughts trail off as he stares up at Sakura as she gazes at the moon. A second later, Sasuke shakes his head.

Even if he survived long enough to meet such a woman, it would mean nothing. He will marry Hyūga Hinata to strengthen his bloodline and finally wipe out the Senju and Uzumaki threat. There will be no sentiment involved, no confusion. He won’t have to worry about his future wife making him question himself with irrational flights of fancy.

And yet, he can’t find it in himself to reach for his blade and attack, or to raise the alarm for the watchmen to come running. Trying to cover his own confusion, Sasuke turns his back on the tree and the woman in it.

“The next time I see you on our borders, I will kill you,” he hisses as he walks away. He refuses to look back to see if Sakura has left, or if she’s still perched in the branches like a tree spirit.

戦国時代

Within weeks, it becomes clear that Itachi’s preference for solitude has never been just about needing momentary solace.

Sasuke learns that his brother’s blindness is not the result of an enemy jutsu, but a symptom of the disease Itachi has hidden for years—a sickness that weakens him every day, sapping his strength and mobility. Before Sasuke’s eyes, his brother grows thinner and weaker, coughing up blood and fighting just to raise a hand.

“Put it out of your mind, little brother,” he says, smiling gently whenever Sasuke visits him at the end of the day. “There’s still more than enough time.”

But when he reaches to tap Sasuke’s forehead in affectionate reprimand, the gesture is as feeble as the graze of a butterfly’s wings.

This stark reality adds to Sasuke’s wakeful nights and keeps him preoccupied by day. He tells his clansmen and their vassals that Itachi has caught an aggressive pneumonia—the damp conditions in the trenches make this a believable lie.

In secret, he seeks out help.

Through the course of months, Sasuke quietly brings in every medic among their forces, every village healer and hedge witch, but no one has an answer or hope to give. Even Obito’s wife, Rin, a talented healer in her own right, is mystified.

For a week, Sasuke wrestles with himself, knowing that they need a more advanced healer—knowing exactly who would be the most competent person to seek out. But certainly, she wouldn’t be so foolish as to heal the leader of the enemy forces. Sasuke doubts even Uzumaki could shrug off that as anything but treason, not to say what Senju Tsunade would think of it.

He tries to ignore the naïve part of him that believes she would agree if he asked. For the most part, Sasuke succeeds in this until one night when Itachi’s condition worsens.

A coughing fit sends Itachi into a seizure, and when he emerges, he can barely speak. His usually keen eyes are dull with pain and confusion, and Sasuke decides right then that he will take whatever chance is necessary to help his brother.

He slips away from the camp by night, extracting from Hyūga a promise that he will keep Itachi safe before setting off to find the one woman who can help. It’s a mission that could get him killed if he gets caught—might get her killed, too—but it’s a price he’s willing to pay. Itachi has been the only constant in his life, a good and peaceful soul trapped in a war he never should’ve been part of. Sasuke will burn down the world if it means saving the man who practically raised him when their parents died.

The current border between Uchiha and Senju land falls along a barren, rocky seashore. Upon reaching it, he hesitates. The moment he steps over the boundary, he is risking not only his personal well-being, but is also handing the enemy a pivotal bargaining chip. More than that, he’ll be asking someone for help—something he hasn’t done since childhood.

It’s a distracting enough conundrum that he doesn’t notice, until it’s too late, that he’s not alone.

Three figures materialise around him, and before he can react, he feels a swift, burning pain lance through him. From the sudden difficulty Sasuke has breathing, he suspects one of his assailants has landed a blow beneath his floating rib.

Turning to face them, blood soaking down his front, Sasuke makes out two men and a woman wearing the mark of Oto—mercenaries with loyalty to the highest bidder. This insult more than anything else infuriates him, and he wastes no time in disposing of them.

Still, the damage is done, and he knows before examining the broad slit in his side that the wound is fatal. His attacker’s blade cut deep, nicking either a kidney or a vein, and his violent disposal of his attackers did not help.

As his knees buckle, it starts to rain.

He lies there in the damp sand, inches from lapping waves, gasping and alone, thinking how this was not how he was supposed to die.

戦国時代

Unconsciousness bring with it a rare peace.

Sasuke dreams of Sakura, imagining her voice and a soothing coolness against the raging pain in his side. He envisions being lifted from the damp ground and cradled against her chest—it must be her chest because he hears a heartbeat, and it’s racing too fast to be his own. For once, any embarrassment or self-repudiation he might feel is blissfully absent.

When he awakens, he’s no longer on the seashore, but in a damp, dimly-lit cave. In the distance, he hears the lap of water and steady rush of rain, suggesting he isn’t far from the shore where he fell.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees his sword propped against a rock, his bloodstained haori and hakama draped across another. A fire has been constructed nearby which casts shadows across the damp walls. It and the unfamiliar haori draped over him keeps him warm and dry.

And of course, it’s Sakura who kneels by his side, her face set in what he assumes is an uncharacteristic frown.

“You almost died,” she whispers.

He coughs. “You should’ve let me.”

Sakura shoots him an unamused look. Her eyes crackle with an anger he hasn’t seen before. “You damned idiot.”

And for some reason, he wants to laugh, but the first dry chuckle hurts too much, and Sakura pokes his shoulder in reprimand.

“Stop it—I healed all of your injuries, but you are still weak.”

Sasuke grimaces at those words. “I am not weak.”

“Poor word choice,” she acknowledges. “Your body will be compensating for the rapid cellular regeneration for a while, so please refrain from making any more stupid decisions.”

“No more moonlit walks through forbidden ground,” he agrees, and he thinks his blood must not be replenished yet because that comes out more as banter than sarcasm. Obviously, he’s still lightheaded.

Sakura reaches for his brow, ostensibly to check his temperature, and Sasuke shivers at the sensation of her palm on his skin. He suspects she’ll find it warmer than it should be, although he’s not entirely sure that’s due to his body fighting off infection.

“What were you even doing there?” she asks softly, and instantly, he remembers his mission.

Itachi.

Sasuke struggles to sit up, not wanting to have this conversation with her while lying on his back. It’s bad enough he’ll have to ask her for help, especially after she just saved his life. It’s incredibly fortuitous that she was close by.

Wait.

He frowns at her. “What were you doing there?”

Sakura’s cheeks flush with colour and she looks away.

“Sometimes, I go there to think. The water is calming and sometimes…sometimes, it’s so quiet along the shore that I can pretend all the rest is just a dream,” she confesses. There’s no need to elaborate on what all the rest means.

“And by some coincidence, you chose tonight to do this?” Sasuke asks, suspicious. “You just happened to arrive right after I was attacked, but not before. And you just happened to be there to help?”

She stares at him now, confused. “Do you think I set you up?”

“Did you?” he challenges. “Because healing the enemy is something no one in this war but you would conceive of. Not without some ulterior motive.”

“You’re…angry at me…because I helped you?”

“We are on opposite sides,” he snaps. “And you’re the only one who refuses to understand that.”

“This did not happen in battle!” Sakura shoots back, gesturing at the newly healed scar in his side. “This was someone—someone not on my side—trying to kill you!”

“No one knew I was there,” he reasons stubbornly. “I took particular care. The only people who would attempt to assassinate me is one of you damned Senju or Uzumaki. Or your hired mercenaries.”

“Those people I found beside you were not ours,” Sakura insists angrily. “Hired or otherwise.”

“You don’t know that—your side counts rabble among your allies,” he dismisses. “Men and women who do not even belong to a reputable shinobi clan.”

“Why does belonging to a clan matter?” Sakura demands, and he can see that he’s insulted her. “It made no difference to them. They almost killed you.”

“Almost.”

“Because I saved you, you ridiculous man!” she snaps. “Do you even hear yourself? Repeating some inane story over and over again until you think it holds truth! That’s insanity! You never answered me before, Sasuke-kun—do you even know why we continue to fight?”

There it is again. That maddening familiarity—as if she has the right to call him by his name.

Sasuke jerks away from her and struggles to his feet. She follows his movements, but it’s a little less impressive given that she’s half a head shorter than he.

“It’s simple—I am Uchiha. You are not my ally. And I should’ve known better than to come looking for you,” he says, turning toward the mouth of the cave. “A fool’s notion. I won’t make it again.”

She’s behind him, steadying him with a gentle, but firm, grasp.

“You were looking for me?” she asks, voice soft and sounding so hopeful that his stomach jumps.

Sasuke scowls and pulls away from her.

“Don’t touch me,” he growls, but there is an edge of panic in his voice. He swallows it down—She can’t notice it!—and adds in a more threatening tone, “My mercy has its limit, and you are testing it.”

Sakura takes a step back, although he’s chagrined to see it’s not in fear, but as if she’s simply acquiescing to his wishes—a medic humouring her patient. The insult rankles, and before he can think better of it, he lashes out at her.

He’s still weak, though, and she pins him with an ease that would embarrass if anyone else saw it. He’s pushed against the rough cave wall, her hands immobilizing his wrists. She stops him from sweeping her feet out from under her by pressing close to him, bracketing his leg between her thighs. Her hair is in his face and she smells like firewood, rain, and something floral. It makes it hard to concentrate on her words, which are angry and frustrated.

“What’s the matter with you?” she demands. “Why are you like this? Do you even know what gratitude is? If I wanted to kill you, I could have so many times already, but I didn’t!”

“Because you want something,” he bites out.

“I want nothing!” she snaps. “At least…not in the way you think. I have no interest in enemy secrets or battle plans or…or anything to do with this damned war! I just want to help the people who are hurting, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted!”

Sakura’s cheeks are flushed with colour and there are tears in her eyes, but he senses they’re angry instead of sad.

“If that were true, you would’ve left this land and found somewhere untouched by the war,” he tells her coolly. “Your idealism means nothing here—it doesn’t differ from a child’s.”

Her fingers tighten painfully around his wrists, and he tries to hold back any visible wince.

“Do you never dream of something more?” she asks, searching his face desperately. “Do you ever want more? Or do you just want to keep fighting like this? Keep distrusting everyone you meet for the rest of your life?” He remains silent. “Is there a single place in your heart, no matter how small, that doesn’t see an enemy when you look at me? Or has this war completely destroyed that?” When he continues to glare in silence, she sighs. “Never mind.”

Sakura loosens her grip on him and pulls away. Sasuke immediately turns the tables, grabbing her and shoving her back against the cave wall, one hand around her neck.

“I doubt your abilities can heal you if I break your neck,” he growls at her, leaning in until they are inches apart. He feels the hard ridge of her oesophagus against his palm, knows the exact amount of force it would take to crush it, and silently dares her to give him an excuse.

“Doesn’t…really matter, does it?” she rasps in reply, her polite speech evaporating in the face of impending death. “My…childish ideas mean nothing here…you said it yourself. You’d be…doing me a favour…right?”

Sasuke tightens his grip incrementally, staring into her eyes and watching the flash of alarm as her oxygen is cut off a little more. It would really only be the matter of adjusting his position slightly…

When he moves, it’s not the way either of them expect.

Instead of crushing her windpipe, his hand slides from her throat to the collar of her kosode, fastening onto the fabric there and hauling her toward him. Crushing his mouth against hers, he feels the startled, oxygen-deprived gasp against his lips, and senses the flail of her hands as they try to find purchase somewhere. One lands on his bare shoulder and it’s as if a current has been run through him—the hairs on the back of his neck rise and a shiver creeps down his spine.

Sense forces its way past impulse and Sasuke pulls back, shocked and appalled by his loss of control. Of all the ways he’s been trained to deal with an enemy, this is certainly not one of them.

In the flickering dimness of the cave, he catches sight of something dark and hungry in those damned green eyes of hers. Then she’s the one to shove forward and kiss him, just as furious and angry as he was moments ago. Her hands are in his hair, teeth tugging hard enough at his lower lip that he tastes blood.

This is not how it’s supposed to go—not an intelligent course of action in any way. But as she wraps one leg around his hip to draw him in closer, he finds he doesn’t care.

In fact, it’s worryingly easy to give in.

つづく

Reviews and constructive criticism are much appreciated! Also, if you are in a supportive mood, I have a ko-fi button at the top of the page, or you can find my tip jar here.

Thanks for your interest in my work!

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jlenney · 6 years ago

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How To Make Money Online With Clickbank

Clickbank is one of the most well known money making platforms on the internet. In this post, I will teach you how to make money online with Clickbank.

My favorite thing about Clickbank is that you can start earning through it even with no prior experience and without spending too much of your own money.

Since Clickbank follows the affiliate marketing model, the risks are negligible and the earning potential is sky high!

There are basically two ways to make money online using Clickbank:

Method 1: Affiliate Marketer.

This involves recommending somebody else’s product to people in exchange for a fat commission.

Method 2: Product Creator.

If you are deeply passionate or expert about a topic, you can create a digital product around it. If the product is any good; hundreds, possibly thousands of Clickbank affiliates will begin promoting it on every conceivable online platform.

This has the potential to generate a sizeable passive income and make you a respected authority figure in that particular niche.

Obviously, Method 2 is a lot harder than Method 1.

You need a lot more experience and skills to pull it off.

But on the upside, you have to do very little work (outside of the initial product creation) and you could keep getting paid for it for years to come.

Let me explain with an example:

Jack was obese and has successfully managed to lose a bunch of weight. In the process, he has learned a lot about nutrition, dieting, exercise etc.

He loves fitness so much that he’s become a certified trainer. Jack wants to share his experience with the world and creates a simple video course or eBook on losing weight quickly and safely.

It takes him about a month to create and publish his ebook/course. He decides to partner with Clickbank since it is the top marketplace for digital products.

Affiliates and buyers LOVE Jack’s simplicity and his course becomes a top seller.

Jack keeps earning money through sales of his product even five years down the line! (#BoomStillGotIt)

This is an extraordinary return on investment, especially considering that it took him only a little over four weeks to develop the course.

Now Jack can come up with an advanced course and it will make him more money faster as he is already well known in the fat loss niche!

Now you might argue a couple things:

It takes years of life experience to lose weight.

Jack probably had to invest hundreds of hours in research and other stuff.

Yes, that’s why Method 2 is a bit harder.

But, I have included an incredible hack at the end of this post that’ll allow you to tap into any almost any niche! But first, you have to get good at Method 1, which is affiliate marketing.

Clickbank covers almost every possible niche – from winemaking to mathematics; from dental health to dating.

(You can view the Clickbank Marketplace here)

Begin by making a list of topics that are at least a little bit interesting to you.

(If you’re completely lost, check out my post on profitable niches online)

Highly competitive niches like weight loss are more difficult to win but still, there’s a lot of money to be in these as the demand is constantly going up (people are getting more obese in general).

Some niches will be so narrow that they’re not marketable.

For example:

Someone might be fascinated by the art of reading books upside down, or underwater chicken ballet.

BUT – and this is a big but, chances are that not many people want to buy a product regarding these topics, so be smart. 🙂

But whoever you are, whatever you do and wherever you live in the world; surely there’s at least one thing that you do slightly better than others or have a lot of interest in.

Your niche does not have to be very popular, but it should have a target audience.

A quick google search can help you gauge the competition and profitability of your niche. You can set up an Adwords account and determine the number of times your niche (keyword) is searched in a specific time period.

(See my blog post on keyword research for a great tutorial!, or watch this video here)

youtube

Resources Mentioned in this Video:

Google Keyword Tool

Traffic Travis Free Download

Some people pick a niche and then scan the Clickbank marketplace for suitable products to market.

Others decide on the products first and then just go with a topic that the products are about. I want you to do both simultaneously.

Here’s what I do and recommend:

I suggest that you search Clickbank for products related to your niche WHILE deciding it – NOT before, NOT after.

Important: If your niche is so narrow that there are no marketable Clickbank products related to it, then you should drop it or at least not pursue it for commercial gains.

Come up with a niche and select at least 2 to 3 Clickbank products for promoting.

Of course, things such as total sales, competition, popularity (Gravity), marketability should be deciding factors but the most important criteria should be product quality.

Remember, you’ll be putting your reputation at stake. If the product sucks, people will never trust you again!

Create a memorable name for your business or website and perhaps even a simple logo.

Many people spend hundreds of dollars on fancy business names and logos.

But if you take a look around, the most successful companies like Nike, Mercedes, Apple etc. have very simple logos.

Once you’re all set, market the hell out of your blog, or Youtube Channel, or whatever you decide to do (More on that later).

Remember:

Marketing = Content

Good marketing = Great Content

Great Content = Emotional Content (Happiness, Sadness, Humor, Shock, Awe. Anger, Greed, Fear……and so on)

Create new content every day. Spend AT LEAST 1-2 hours per day on creating and posting unique content.

If you do this for 3 to 6 months, you’ll have an audience. Imagine doing it for a decade – You’ll have a KINGDOM!

Now I know, I know, you were hoping I would teach you how to sit around in your underwear, tossing chips into your mouth and making millions overnight.

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy, but everybody I know that stuck with it, and didn’t quit, made money online.

If you’re unable to create the content yourself, you’ll have to pay somebody to do it for you. In either case, if you hope to be successful, you have to be closely involved with the process.

You have to invest energy in making something grow, but I promise you – it’s worth the effort. 🙂

A little Motivation

Just the past YEAR and a half, I’ve taken my family to Hawaii…Twice, and taken them on a Caribbean Cruise.

(We took my wife’s parents all three times too)

Hawaii, October 2016

Hawaii, September 2017

Caribbean, April 2018

This coming September (2019), We’re going BACK to Hawaii again, and we’re taking MY mom along this time!

In June of 2018, I also took a ‘Business Trip’, First Class, to Dublin Ireland to attend (and speak at) An Affiliate Marketing Event.

Dublin, Ireland, June, 2018

Jameson & Guiness

I’ll save the rest of those photos for another time though.

This is ALL possible only because of what I do online, with Affiliate Marketing.

Now here’s the thing, I didn’t get this success overnight. I failed more times than I can count. When I first started in 2007, I was jumping around trying little bits of everything, but NOT sticking to one thing until I made it work.

And, back on topic!

Many people try to master too many online platforms at the same time.

However, this is total madness, and it’s just going to drive you crazy.

You’re far better off focusing on just one or two platforms.

So pick Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. A website, Pinterest, Google, Blog, Forums or whatever most suits your niche and skill level.

The objective of having a platform (a means to promote) is simple:

1) Reach as many people as possible 2) Collect data.

You can collect data in the form of Facebook or Insta followers, YouTube Subscribers or email addresses.

(Note: See My Post 10 Email Marketing Best Practices for Affiliate Marketers – I’m literally giving you all the tools, you just have to study them and take action)

Your database is like Aladdin’s lamp.

Send an email, or make a post (with your affiliate link) and watch the money roll in.

Depending upon niche and product price, an affiliate earns between 15 to 50 bucks per sale, and in a few instances up to $300 or even $500 per sale.

Needless to say, payments are much higher for premium products. So it’s not uncommon even for newbies and intermediates to make three figures per day from Clickbank.

Here’s how to Promote

Remember during the niche planning stage, I advised you to pick not just one but 2-3 top selling Clickbank products in your category?

Well that’s because you can market all three and potentially earn a lot more money than if would have stuck to just one.

I know, I know…this might be a little confusing, especially if you’re new to marketing.

But that’s the way things are. I mean, aren’t you supposed to recommend only the BEST?

Nope!

Actually, there’s no such thing. What might be the best for you might not be the best for others too.

Each product has a few pros and cons. You should do a comparison and give your opinion on the matter. However, people like to have choices and usually pick the product that most suits their budget, skill level and personality.

Have you ever heard of a car magazine recommending just one car?

Image: Quora.com

Even when they do a comparison test between the three German giants – they usually recommend Mercedes for ultimate comfort, BMW for performance and Audi for a mix of both plus understated luxury.

This is also the reason I drive an Audi 🙂

You have to follow the same route. That way, you’ll establish credibility in your niche and you can review many HOT products and earn commissions for them all.

I do the same on every niche site I build, many (for physical products) even have comparrison charts to make it even easier to compare.

Of course, if a certain product is just hands down better than others in its category, go ahead and say it.

Image Source: SlideOcean

Now there are many sceptics who doubt the credibility of Clickbank. Don’t listen to them – they’re the ones who lacked the dedication to make money through it!

Clickbank was founded 2 decades ago, in 1998. The internet has changed a LOT over the last twenty years. However, this company has stood the test of time and if anything, it has gotten much better over the years.

It now has a very strict quality control process for the products that it chooses to list on the platform. So there are very few returns and everybody is happy.

People only buy from sources that they trust. Hence, you have to develop some kind of relationship with them before closing the sale.

So even though technically, you’re just one viral post/video away from success, consistency is the name of the game. If you focus on content creation and do it diligently for a few months – you’re going to see results, but patience is the name of the game here.

Cheap Traffic Tip: Just a 20-50 dollar FB or Instagram campaign can help you reach out to thousands of people. So even if your marketing budget is very low, it should not stop you from making a killing online. (Learn Facebook Ads Here)

Once you begin to make a decent income through affiliate marketing, it’s time to up the ante.

Affiliate marketing success has a very interesting learning curve (I have tons of FREE info on it). You’ll learn how to hook (draw attention), build comfort, generate emotions, establish trust and close the sale. Even though niches change, these skills are universal.

With so many tools in your arsenal, you’re now equipped to take over any niche.

With some good networking, you can even partner up with an expert and create a product.

Here’s an example: Jill has a popular beauty and style vlog. So far, she’s been marketing other people’s products in exchange for affiliate commissions. She makes good money but wants to do something more meaningful and challenging.

Jill has noticed that a lot of her subscribers complain about acne. So, using her good networking skills, she is able to partner up with Sara – a respected, professional dermatologist with years of experience. Together they create a digital product for curing acne permanently. Jill signs up with Clickbank and hundreds of affiliates begin promoting the product like crazy! Sara and Jill now have other people working hard to earn them money 🙂

Jill can repeat this process endlessly. The best part, however, is that there’s no inventory so she can operate her business from any part of the world. Also, Clickbank does the heavy lifting by automating everything – she does not need to procure a degree in coding and e-commerce.

If you want to make money online without having to deal with the pressure of developing new products, handling customer complaints, shipping etc, there is no better option than Clickbank.

Want to learn how to do this for yourself? Check out Clickbank University, you won’t be disapointed!

It’s important to appreciate how much this program means to ClickBank.

They want their affiliate marketers knowing the most effective online methods so your time and efforts are handsomely rewarded.

I believe with the right training, income-wise the sky’s the limit.

I encourage you, especially if success has been elusive, to check out ClickBank University V2.0 before this offer is gone.

Affiliate marketing doesn’t have to be difficult.

It’s doesn’t have to be hit and miss.

Let their faculty, ClickBank affiliate marketers who have consistently made 7 and 8 figures themselves, show you the way.

Have YOU made any money yet on Clickbank? Let me know in the comments below, don’t be shy! 🙂

Jeff

How To Make Money Online With Clickbank, 2 Top Methods How To Make Money Online With Clickbank Clickbank is one of the most well known money making platforms on the internet.

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legalseat · 6 years ago

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AI in the Legal Sector

I first started researching the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal space in mid-2017, when my consulting firm was commissioned by a client to conduct a study of its usage by law firms. I began as we often do—with a news search that produced about 150,000 results. I dug into several articles and industry pieces in an attempt to understand the challenges and opportunities that this emerging technology was creating and then began conducting interviews with law firms. After interviewing 22 leading firms (more about the definition of “leading” and the results of that research later) on their use of AI, I completed my research and submitted the results to the client late last year.

My partners and I gleaned so much information on the application of AI in the legal sector that we decided to make it the subject of our June session at the Somerville Forum. This intimate, one-of-a-kind forum is an invitation-only gathering of leaders within the legal industry who are actively involved with accelerating innovation.

About the Somerville Forum on AI

The Somerville Forum was named after Mary Somerville, a leading writer, astronomer, and mathematician of the 19th century. Somerville was known for her clear and adventurous thinking and for her remarkable skill at translating the arcane science writing of her age. Like Mary, we try to look across borders and disciplines to find insights into the 21st century client-centric firm, but also find practical ways to apply those insights into our world.

The June session was structured to include talks on robotics and the use of technology in law firms along with a summary of my report on the prevalence of client-facing AI within a certain segment of law firms. To allow our members (most of whom are neither engineers nor data scientists) to engage in a meaningful discussion on AI, we had to level-set its definition. When Rick McFarland, Chief Data Officer for LexisNexis®, and former Chief Data Scientist for the Hearst organization and Director of Data Engineering for Amazon.com, kicked off the session, he had our full attention.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Mr. McFarland defines AI as the perception of intelligence that we humans project on computer programs or technology. “This perception of intelligence,” he said, “is actually created by our developers with nothing more than a computer program following a master script, accessing various databases and specialized subroutines, or ‘cognitive engines’.” To illustrate his point, Rick took us through the construction of a basic chatbot.

In practice, most chatbot processes start with the computer recognizing the language in which the user’s question is asked. Once it confirms the language matches that of the program and databases, it then converts the human question into a “bag of words”: basically it parses the question and dumps “useless words” that computers don’t need. It then passes this bag through a series of specialized subroutines, or “cognitive engines” (as he calls them), that extract key concepts and entities which it uses to determine how to best anwser the user’s question. If the program needs to tap into a database, it converts the bag into a database query, finds the answer, and presents this output to the user via the chatbot interface. McFarland explained that most AI processes depend on a sequence of requests to these cognitive engines, but that the overall chatbot experience is “only as smart as its weakest engine.” This can present a problem in a profession like the Law which demands the responses to the questions be error-free. “There’s a super high bar in Law and Medicine,” he said. “You can never be wrong when large stakes are involved. That’s what makes creating professional-grade AI difficult and why we don’t see a lot of chatbots in doctors and lawyers offices…yet.”

Clearly, the cognitive engines in the process are central to the functionality of the latest AI technologies like visual recognition, chatbots, and voicebots (e.g. Amazon Alexa). To construct the very best cognitive engines, Rick explained, you need a combination of two things: data and expertise. Access to a richly annotated corpus of training data is essential and often difficult to access in the case of highly specialized subjects. Equally as important is assembling a team with the required expertise to construct these engines from the data. For deeply specialized areas, the best teams include a combination of subject matter experts (e.g. lawyers, doctors, etc.) and AI developers known as data scientists who are expert in utilizing machine-learning methods like natural language processing, image recognition, computational linguistics, and deep learning.

Once we understood how AI programs work (and fail), Rick gave a demo with the Amazon Alexa device and we took turns asking “her” some questions. She responded correctly to our general knowledge questions like “Who is the head of the supreme court?” or “What is the Second Amendment?” However, as we started to get into specific legal questions that required domain-specific or “post-graduate”-level knowledge as Rick described it, she was unable to answer correctly, for example: “What is the statute of repose for product liability in the state of Illinois?” or “Who is the chief justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit?” Matters got even worse for her as we added in legalese or questions that mixed English and Latin words (e.g. “What is the definition of res judicata?”).

Somerville members felt that Rick’s talk and demo helped to demystify some of the concepts behind the construction of AI while broadening minds to the possible applications of such programs once the considerable challenges were overcome. Our members asked: If it were a matter of developing the right set of programs with the proper string of commands why weren’t we further along? The answer, besides the high-bar set by lawyers, ultmately boils down to the data. As with any discipline, if one wants to predict outcomes accurately, we need a significant precedent set and a large amount of error-free and unbiased data upon which the cognitive engines can be developed on.

Khang Pham, Product Manager for InterAction®, demonstrated how they have taken large sets of CRM data and trained InterAction to aid in duplicate management. The final “a-ha” moment for the group was the acknowledgement that the intelligence we use every day relies on programs that have been decades in the making.

Where Are We Today?

That’s not to say firms haven’t made progress. After Rick concluded his presentation, I took the group through the public portion of my AI research and findings. I interviewed the CIOs, Directors of IT, Directors of KM, and “Innovation Partners” at 22 law firms.[1] At many firms, I spoke with two representatives as the firms had divided responsibilities between Innovation Partners, IT, and KM.

In reality, even the most innovative firms are in the early stages of developing AI as we envision it. The elite firms we surveyed are, for the most part, engaging in efforts to understand the technology, creating pilots of various software and developing a philosophy about how and when such technology should be incorporated and deployed within their organizations.

The difference between AI philosophy and deployment by the elite firms vs. the other firms is not as significant as one might be led to believe by the marketing efforts of those firms and the articles and reports landing on our desk on a daily basis.[2] Complicating the landscape further is the fact that many technology vendors and law firms are defining the term “artificial intelligence” broadly enough to include technology that has been available and in use for many years.[3] According to some, such work would not be considered AI; according to others, these kinds of tools and programs fit squarely within their firm’s definition of AI. Putting aside the disagreements on definition, the trend towards experimenting with and employing these technologies on client-facing work is increasing at a decent rate.

Currently, law firm use of AI is mainly limited to tasks where it would be beneficial to review large volumes of information for similar or anomalous attributes. Some areas of practice and tasks lend themselves more readily to this automation (e-discovery, for example). Adoption by firms is higher and occurred further back than has been the case for other areas (such as due diligence or contract review in the M&A context).

While the use cases and success stories across these firms tend to center around efficiencies gained by the use of AI, the philosophies and the marketing of AI capabilities were markedly different among those firms that view themselves on the AI cutting-edge from those that see it primarily as an efficiency tool. Ironically, although the former group may indeed be slightly ahead, it is likely the firm attitude and commitment that will help them advance more quickly and gain real marketing advantage from their efforts.

This is not to say that all firms are falling neatly into predictable groups of behavior. Some firms surveyed were experimenting with the use of programs that drafted documents; some were teaming up with universities to develop programs and technologies; some were teaming up with clients on projects; some were looking at programs that performed tasks and provided explanation for the choices it made.

Some of these same firms spent considerable time thinking about and experimenting with different pricing models that took into account the change in the way that portion of the legal work was being executed and delivered. (If the thousands of hours for due diligence are gone for good, then what is the fair price for the use of the technology as a result?)

And some firms were doing very little.

As we discussed these findings, the in-house counsel, in particular, were interested in better understanding which programs were employed and where firms were finding their biggest successes. There were nuanced differences among each firm interviewed. But the universal truth was that firms relied on lawyer champions. Projects moved forward when lawyers pushed. Priorities were more often dependent upon the lawyers raising their hands and less so on firm strategy. Narrowly-scoped projects gained more traction and paid benefits sooner than larger, firm-wide projects. Some firms reported intense client pressure to develop technological solutions.

The biggest successes came when individual lawyers felt compelled—through their own burning desire or client pressure—to solve a specific problem, and firms provided the expertise (either through a computer scientist or engineer) to help develop the technology that provided the solution. As Rick McFarland noted earlier in the day, you don’t generally find a lawyer who is also a computer scientist.

The Mythical Unicorn

We were treated to a demonstration by one such lawyer: Van Lindberg, an intellectual property partner at Dykema Cox Smith, who describes himself as an engineer who went to law school. Van got his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and History at Brigham Young University (BYU), and his JD at BYU Law School. After law school, he was assigned to patent work with a lot of repetition. He wrote proprietary programs that helped eliminate the manual work and allowed him to focus on the portion of the work that required legal judgment. As a result of his passion and expertise, he developed a method of analyzing a company’s patent portfolio at a level of detail and sophistication that amazed every in-house counsel in the room.

And that’s when you know you’ve got something real. Each of them recognized something that would be helpful to them today.

While Van may be the anomaly today, Nextlaw Labs or Allen & Overy’s Fuse are developing the complementary competencies that will allow them to create combinations of professionals that add up to Van’s equivalent and allow for technological solutions and breakthroughs.

Conclusion

Many of the firms I first interviewed last year, as well as others we’ve learned about, have made significant investments, including financial support, technical staff, and lawyer hours in the hopes of advancing the programs available for use on client-facing work. The implications of those investments, coupled with pressure from clients to reduce costs and gain efficiencies, signals a shift in how legal services and advice will be delivered, including how the leverage model, and the recruitment and training of young talent will evolve over the next five years.

Unlike the multitude of reports that fill our inboxes daily, I am not predicting a tectonic shift, but rather a gradual, rising sea level. However, firms that do not begin experimenting and investing now may find themselves behind within a year or two, mainly because thought leadership will have evolved more quickly at those firms making the investment. Even in the time between the date of the forum in late June and the release of this article, we are learning of more firms engaging in new ventures and experiments in the use of AI in client-facing work. Law firms would do well to pay particular attention to how AI can be part of the solution to help them bond even more closely with current clients as well as attract new clients. After all, every firm is looking for advantages in business development. Why turn your back on a rising tide?

[1] All of the 22 firms were AmLaw 50 or Global 100 firms. By status, there were seven National firms, four Global firms, six New York firms, three Magic Circle firms, and two California firms. By economic rank, ten of the firms were top tier, seven were one tier lower, and five were in lower strata, each with first tier practices.

[2] As I began to prepare this article, I was curious how much the coverage had increased, so I repeated the search that originally yielded 150,000 news results in July 2017. Today, I was greeted by 296,000 results. More impressive than the sheer increase in coverage is the weightiness of its contents: In-depth reports released by PwC, Deloitte, ALM; announcements of new or expanded start-up legal techs; launches of legal automation financings and investments. In the last week alone, we have witnessed articles predicting:

1.) significant decreases in the number of lawyer positions within law firms; 2.) significant increases in jobs in the legal sector; 3.) significant decreases in support roles; 4.) significant automation of in-house functions; and 5.) significant investments by venture capitalists and other industries

– all as a result of legal AI and related technology.

[3] Rather than attempting to define AI, I allowed the participants to define it for themselves.

“For more than 20 years, Yolanda Cartusciello has served in senior administrative leadership roles in major law firms, including Debevoise & Plimpton and Cleary Gottlieb. At both firms, she led the marketing teams, designed their business development and media strategies and took charge of their implementation. She was the chief architect of profile enhancement strategies, perception studies, branding exercises, comprehensive client interview programs, and practice and lateral partner rollouts. She co-developed marketing technology solutions and created media relations and digital strategies. She has also developed business development and communications training and coaching programs for lawyers at all levels. In addition, Yolanda has long experience handling organizational and personnel issues. She has advised on the development of the legal assistant, knowledge and practice management, and legal marketing staff roles at various firms. She hired, trained, and supervised more than 150 administrative employees for work in high-achieving cultures. Yolanda has a B.A. from the University of Iowa and an M.F.A. from Brooklyn College. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn.”

AI in the Legal Sector published first on https://divorcelawyermumbai.tumblr.com/

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gladyspbarton · 6 years ago

Text

AI in the Legal Sector

About the Somerville Forum on AI

Pulling Back the Curtain

Where Are We Today?

And some firms were doing very little.

The Mythical Unicorn

And that’s when you know you’ve got something real. Each of them recognized something that would be helpful to them today.

Conclusion

– all as a result of legal AI and related technology.

[3] Rather than attempting to define AI, I allowed the participants to define it for themselves.

AI in the Legal Sector published first on http://businessoflawblog.com/feed/

0 notes

flauntpage · 7 years ago

Text

Blanks A Lot: Ten Takeaways from Kings 2, Flyers 0

If Wednesday night was the equivalent of an unexpected fun night at the bar when you have an impromptu meet-up with your friends and it turns out to be a great time with lots of laughs and lots of craft beers, then Thursday night was the equivalent of the next morning’s hangover.

On a work day.

With a meeting in the boss’ office first thing.

A quick reality check reminded the Flyers they weren’t going to win every game as they fell to the bigger, nastier, Los Angeles Kings, 2-0.

While all the good from Wednesday didn’t completely dissipate and all the bad from Wednesday didn’t suddenly magnify itself ten times over, there was enough of a shift in the hockey universe to turn the mood 180 degrees.

The silver lining is at least the Flyers aren’t the Pittsburgh Penguins (last night) – who lost to Chicago 10-1, giving up 10 goals in a game for the first time in 21 years. They’ve allowed 15 goals in 24 hours en route to an 0-2 start.

Imagine that start here. It would be apocalyptic.

Thankfully, for those of us documenting this team’s path, that isn’t the case. Instead, these are the 10 things everyone should be talking about at the water cooler this morning.

(Wait… does anyone really stop and talk at a water cooler anymore? Seriously. I haven’t worked in an office environment for almost two years now – and even then it was for only 18 months, so maybe my frame of reference is completely skewed, but we didn’t even have a water cooler. Coffee? Yes. Waiting for crap to print at the overworked printer? Yes. On the secret group chat that you think Big Brother doesn’t know about, but they actually are tapped into, getting all the dirt from the cube farm? Definitely! But water coolers? And chatting with co-workers at them? That might soon be too anachronistic for use in writing.)

Anyway, takeaways:

1. Travis Sanheim

As I suggested yesterday, I wasn’t surprised to see one of the rookies who were scratched in the opener get inserted into the lineup against Los Angeles.

I will admit that I certainly thought it would be Sam Morin, not Sanheim.

We’ll dive into Morin and this lineup decision by Hakstol all the way down at No. 9, but the drumbeat from the masses for Sanheim to not only make the team but also be in the lineup was both steady and loud.

And as far as debuts go, for Sanheim, it was quite inauspicious:

Scott Laughton tried to clear the puck, but it resulted in the Kings' first goal. Welcome to the NHL, Travis Sanheim. http://pic.twitter.com/M0OHzyzctA

— Chris Jastrzembski (@CFJastrzembski) October 6, 2017

Yes, the turnover at the blue line was Scott Laughton’s (a red X on an otherwise excellent performance by the Flyers’ fourth line center) and is the kind of mistake that has reared its ugly head repeatedly in these first two games.

But Sanheim broke Shooter’s cardinal rule:

Yep, Sanheim was watching the paint dry. He sees Travis Lewis coming, but he doesn’t get to the right spot to impede him, and then is only a witness to Nick Shore’s pass right on Lewis’ tape for a goal that would prove to be the game-winner.

If we want to look at this from a technical standpoint, Sanheim’s gap was off. He drifted too close to his own net. If he’s a stride further forward, Shore doesn’t have that passing lane to Lewis and has to make another decision with the puck.

Odds are, if he’s a step forward, this is just another play in a hockey game that no one is talking about this morning.

But he wasn’t. And we’re talking.

Sanheim’s night only got worse when he took a double-minor for high-sticking Lewis, opening a four-stitch gash on the bridge of Lewis’ nose at the end of the second period.

To his credit, Sanheim seemed to get better after that and had a mostly solid third period. That is until he got a little over-aggressive in the offensive end trying to keep a play alive as the Flyers were pressing for the tying goal and… well:

He’s not wrong trying to push the envelope offensively with his team down a goal, but there was still 2:30 to play. That’s a lot of time in a one-goal game. So much can happen. Hold your position rather than gamble on a 50/50 play (that’s probably less than 50/50 to be honest) and keep the team within striking distance.

Instead, the odd-man rush happens, Andrew MacDonald can’t stop the pass, and well, the game’s over before Dave Hakstol even had a chance to pull Michal Neuvirth for an extra attacker.

All told, Sanheim looked a little like a fish out of water. Still, it’s his first game, what do you expect:

BREAKING: rookie player makes rookie mistake in first NHL game filled with nerves, is human

— lex (@ronlextall) October 6, 2017

And, it should be worth pointing out, that last year in one of his first games (third? fourth?) Ivan Provorov was flat-out terrible against Chicago, but was the Flyers’ best defenseman by a mile over the course of the entire season.

It’s just that Hakstol doesn’t have as much patience with rookies once they are in his lineup. Mistakes have cost guys playing time before – including extended trips to the press box.

And after a game like last night:

travis sanheim is going to be scratched until 2020.

— collin mehalick (@collin) October 6, 2017

2. Groovy Neuvy

For the second straight game, the Flyers got a fine performance from their goalie. Neuvirth was a bit more flashy than Brian Elliott in the opener and really kept the Flyers in the game.

He had fewer saves than Elliott (25 as opposed to 32), but he was challenged a lot more by the Kings than Elliot was by the Sharks.

And he had one of those OhMyFreakinGod saves that are reserved for end of season highlight reels:

Hey yo. http://pic.twitter.com/INy52rbZsj

— Chris Jastrzembski (@CFJastrzembski) October 6, 2017

Neuvirth with a save of the year candidate, in game #2. http://pic.twitter.com/w2dvTkhNLH

— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) October 6, 2017

There were people who called the save “lucky” because, from the reverse angle, you can see that Neuvirth doesn’t get his eyes toward the puck until it’s already in his glove:

Goalies create their own luck with great technique and positioning. Neuvirth was able to stone Anze Kopitar because he was in a good position, had solid reflexes and played the pass with precision. That’s textbook goaltending, and it’s why the save was made.

The thing with Neuvirth that drives people crazy is he is so hot and cold. When he’s on – you get performances like last night. When he’s not, it’s pretty ugly.

If the Flyers can get good Neuvy more often than bad Neuvy, and Elliott can be steady-as-she-goes as he’s been for a long time now, their goaltending can actually be (I’m going to whisper this) a strength for this team. But there’s a sizable IF there. So, you know…

3. Only one O in PECO

That would be a zero. As in 0-for-5. Look, no one expects the Flyers to score three times on the power play in every game as they did in the opener, and there are going to be games when the power play doesn’t come through – this being one of them – but it’s funny how much difference a day makes.

Not 24 hours earlier, we were all singing the praises of the power play. They were striking quick, with great movement, good shots, a powerful net-front presence. That’s when they were 3-for-3 for the season.

Since then, the Flyers have failed on eight straight man advantage opportunities.

Now, just like the three goals in vs. San Joe was too small a sample size, so, too, is the 0-fer against L.A. So, no need to panic.

BUT…

There has definitely been a difference since Wayne Simmonds’ last power play goal Wednesday. Suddenly, the Flyers are falling back into some old habits. Holding on to the puck too long looking for scoring lanes instead of creating them. Giving up a shot to make a pass. Not getting the puck to the net to create chaos around the goaltender.

When you have the power play skill that the Flyers do, sometimes those things can be masked because the skill compensates for the routine, but falling into those patterns makes it easier to defend their power play and forces them to work harder, which can be taxing on the players.

This isn’t a five alarm fire yet, but let’s be willing to identify the smoke when we see it.

4. Magnifying 5-on-5

Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m concerned this is going to be a thing yet again this season.

The Flyers simply don’t get enough production in 5-on-5 play. Look at the advanced stats and you’ll see that they, for the most part, had strong puck possession numbers. Their Corsi For was 51.25% (percentage of shots attempted at even strength). Not a lot of teams come out on the positive side of Corsi against the Kings, who are the founding fathers of advanced stats in the NHL.

Now, advanced stats don’t always tell the whole story. There are factors in hockey that math just can’t measure. But, when you win the puck possession battle and you are getting a lot of shots to the net, you are going to win more often than not.

The Flyers, however, couldn’t score against the Kings. Take away Wayne Simmonds empty netter against San Jose and they only have one even strength goal in the first two games, and it was a gift on a turnover by Sharks goalie Martin Jones.

That’s not a good pace to be on.

Getting shots is one thing, finishing is another – and the Flyers aren’t finishing right now.

Couturier couldn't quite get a shot on net after receiving a feed from Voracek through the slot. http://pic.twitter.com/wkuM3NV1Ur

— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 6, 2017

Weal had an opportunity to shoot the puck, but decided to pass it to Voracek and didn't get a shot on net. http://pic.twitter.com/kJyNWiN4nm

— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 6, 2017

#Cantscurier#couturier http://pic.twitter.com/S4BEXCLfjr

— Philly Chimp (@realPhillyChimp) October 6, 2017

Couturier, Voracek trying new strategy of skating puck into the net instead of shooting it. It's not working.

— Ryan Bright (@philabright) October 6, 2017

Things aren’t going to get any easier here either. Anaheim will pound you physically the same as L.A. Nashville is a team that grinds you down.

The Flyers can’t be over-reliant on their power play to make a difference. They need to start finding ways to out-perform the opposition when there are the same number of skaters on the ice.

5. The G Effect

This can really be a continuation of No. 4 because I’m concerned that this experiment with Claude Giroux on left wing is having an adverse effect on the rest of the lineup at 5-on-5.

Last night, the second line was abused. Jordan Weal, Nolan Patrick and Wayne Simmonds spent most of their night chasing Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson around the ice.

The third line didn’t fare much better.

The fourth line had some bite – so kudos to Taylor Leier, Laughton and Michael Raffl. But to me, that’s the only line that should be sticking together.

But the fact is, the Flyers are struggling to generate much in even strength offense with the way their lines are currently situated.

I know they need to give Patrick time – and they want him out there in key situations so he can learn to use his talents at this level, but if it’s going to stay this way, then we better be prepared for a lot of growing pains.

The other issue is, the Flyers aren’t as strong on the left side as they need to be.

I know this will bring out the full-throat calls for Oskar Lindblom, and he might be right on the precipice of being called up, but for now, he’s not here.

What’s the solution? I’m not sure there is one with the roster as currently constructed. Maybe you give this another game or two and see how it pans out, but there’s reason for concern that this isn’t going to work.

And no, subbing Jori Lehtera for say, Dale Weise isn’t going to make that kind of impact. Frankly, Lindblom may not make the necessary impact right away either.

But, getting Giroux back to center and Sean Couturier onto another line can at least help stabilize the middle of six forwards at even strength.

We’ll see what Hakstol has up his sleeve.

6. A-Mac

Does Andrew MacDonald deserve fan criticism sometimes? Absolutely. Is the griping fueled oftentimes by the fact that he has one of the worst contracts in the league? Yep. You bet.

But, does it go too far?

It does.

Look, MacDonald is what he is. He’s an NHL defenseman. If he were being paid more reasonably, he’d be compared to a bottom pair defenseman on every roster in the NHL.

But he’s not, and he’s unfairly gets the ire of social media.

Last night, MacDonald was really good. He logged 18:27 and made several smart plays in his own end. He showed patience with the puck. He broke up a couple of L.A. chances. He and Provorov logged the most minutes while shorthanded – and the Flyers stopped all five Kings power plays.

Following along on Twitter, I was amused at how some fans grumbled as they reluctantly admitted he was playing well.

Then, the final goal happens, on a 2-on-1, where he slides to try to block the pass and misses, and he gets killed on social media again – albeit unjustly this time.

I understand the frustration. I get the ire. Especially when a young defensive prospect like Morin is sitting in the press box.

But recognize the guy isn’t a total disaster out there. He may never win your heart, and I don’t expect him to, but he’s certainly an NHL-caliber guy, even if there are more intriguing players who could be playing instead of him right now.

7. Kings Trump Sharks

The difference between the Kings and the Sharks is night and day. This team is heavy. They outweigh the Flyers by an average of nine pounds per guy. They pound you physically. They are strong on the puck. They make you work for every inch of ice out there – and that becomes even harder when they are rested and waiting for you and you come in to play them on the second night of a back-to-back.

The performance in goal is disparate too. Jonathan Quick, who missed almost all of last season with an injury, was incredibly sharp – a lot like the guy who led the Kings to two Stanley Cups in the last six seasons.

Their defense is sound – they don’t give you a lot of room. And they are very opportunistic and take advantage of your mistakes – look at their two goals as examples.

Teams like this are going to be a challenge for the Flyers. This style of play is a bit of kryptonite to the Flyers. They’ll see it again tomorrow in Anaheim. They’re going to have to get better against it, or find teams will try to emulate it when playing them, which can bring more frustration.

8. We got Legs

If you want a real positive that might get overlooked, consider the Flyers were very good in the third period. They didn’t score, but they out shot the Kings 17-5 in what was a one-goal game for almost the whole period.

And again, this is coming on the second night of a back-to-back against a fresh team.

Part of that is youth, but part of that can be credited to the more intense training camp employed by Hakstol this year. The Flyers skated more and harder than other camps that I can remember – and I go back a bit with this team.

If the end result of that is a team that is in great playing shape and has the stamina to finish games strong, that will eventually bode well for this team. They will steal some wins by being able to keep the pedal on the gas at times when most teams are trying to get away with a brake pump.

And if that’s the case, then Hakstol should get a lot of credit for his ramping up of camp.

9. Decisions, Decisions

I guess Sanheim won the camp battle ahead of Morin for the final defensive spot. Although, after last night, I’m thinking his grasp on it might be a bit tenuous.

But, I question why L.A. was the right choice for a test for Sanheim considering their playing style. Wouldn’t it have made more sense for Morin to play against a bigger, stronger team?

We just may see that tomorrow against Anaheim, but if so, what was the matchup that made you think Sanheim was a better option against L.A?

It’s not like Sanheim is small. He’s big and takes up space, but he’s not a physical player like Morin.

Morin has some holes he needs to work on as well. They’re both intriguing rookies who are going to impress at times and make mistakes at other times, but if we’re playing the matchup game, as Hakstol suggested he will, I don’t see a big enough difference between L.A. and Anaheim. Maybe the end result will be Sanheim stays in the lineup against Anaheim and Morin stays out. I still don’t think it’s the right move, but at least it will be consistent.

Additionally, touching on a point from earlier, how long can Hakstol stick with the lines as situated if 5-on-5 play continues to struggle?

Without a roster move to improve left wing, I’m not sure the answer is available in the current forward mix. But that should fall back on the G.M., and Ron Hextall might have to answer the question as to whether finances are dictating his roster decisions right now.

As for who should start in goal, I’d go back to Elliott even though Neuvirth had a strong game. He was the one player Hextall brought in this year, so give him every opportunity to be the man. Neuvirth will get plenty of starts, I’d just go back to Elliott against Anaheim on principle.

10. Loose Pucks

The Staples Center PA Announcer was far too glib and got into too much detail when setting up the moment of silence to honor the shooting in Las Vegas. It should have had a more solemn tone with less description. It was awkward and uncomfortable to hear.

Radko Gudas is walking a fine line again with his physicality. He had a big hit in the first period that if timed differently could have been a bad, lengthy penalty and potential suspension. He reined it in last year and has to keep it that way again this year. If he starts crossing the line again, the Flyers have the depth to make a change.

NBC Sports Philadelphia had Claude Giroux do one of the worst takes promoting Flyers games on their channel. If that was the best take, I’d hate to see what ended up on the cutting room floor. Find another option – that’s dreadful.

Bill Clement was a gem with some of his analysis last night. The funniest coming in the first period talking about Laughton: “Scott Laughton is so sneaky from behind – in a good way – he doesn’t let you know he’s coming.” Stay hot, Bill.

Blanks A Lot: Ten Takeaways from Kings 2, Flyers 0 published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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bijuhero · 8 years ago

Text

12 Methods to Combat Procrastination in Habits

I've just woken up and completed all tasks except writing. And I just can't do it. All the procrastination mechanisms in my head kick into high gear. I'm checking email, Facebook, and Reddit incessantly.

This is understandable - writing for me is tied up with all sorts of emotions and fears, and it's a task with many vague parts. This all reminds me of an article (now a book!) philosophy professor John Perry wrote long ago on procrastination. Procrastinators to him are rarely lazy. Rather, they have problems actually doing the task at the top of their list. His initial technique from the original article (I'm still reading his book) is incredibly unsatisfying: fool yourself into thinking that the top of the list is on the bottom, which works since procrastinators also have high self delusion skills. He then advocates a Lazy Susan approach - rotating tasks to satisfy that need for distraction.

This strategy doesn't work for me. The task at hand for me is like touching a hot plate, it's filled with an initial fear of pain, and nothing is going to delude me into knowing that the primary task is sitting their like a lump of hot lead.

Observing myself, I've come to some conclusions, however obvious. I get tense. It's an almost unconscious avoidance. It definitely has to do with the magnitude of the task, and it stacks with tasks further on down the line that I'm not even working on at the moment that make it feel like an unliftable weight.

With that here are some strategies I've come up with:

1) A smooth NLP-like transition that robs you of agency. The ideal is the oft repeated intro line to most of the yoga classes I took back in 2005.

"As you bring your attention to your breath it will naturally lengthen and smooth out."

NLP is a weird field, but one aspect I like about it is that it can function like an irrigation ditch for the pond of the mind. If I ask you to notice the tingling sensation at the back of your neck, it really doesn't matter if there is such a sensation there or not; you've probably already brought your attention to your neck.

2) Relaxation. The rising sensation of panic followed immediately by tension and avoidance encompasses the emotional range of failing to start a task. In the face of relaxation tension cannot exist. So perhaps a relaxation routine can help the starting of practice. This could be something as simple as starting my music playlist.

3) Pomodoros. I used this to great affect this NaNoWriMo, spurring myself to action in spurts. I used a smaller 20 minute increments rather than the standard 25 minutes. It's exactly like a TinyHabit, but for an one instance of a practice session.

4) Drop Sets. Drop sets in bodybuilding is a technique of continuing an exercise at a lower weight after muscle failure at a higher weight. I think that if I can't immediately start a session, there's nothing going to happen except more dithering. I recently worked through this this week by just dropping from 30 minute sets to 20 minute sets. I managed to actually do more work than I usually do despite an immense upwelling of procrastination at the beginning of the session.

5) The 3 second or 5 second rule, which I've talked about before. This works hand-in-hand with the previous point and the next one.

6) Jumping into the process with a timer. This has naturally been the best method for other tasks like meditation. If I don't just start my timer, I just start dithering, but if I start it I'm pulled along almost despite myself. The 3 or 5 second rule helps out with this as well, preventing paralysis by analysis. This works hand in hand with:

7) Proper micro formation of a habit. The implementation intention isn't just:

when [I take a shower] then [I meditate]

it is more efficient (and prevents procrastination if it's:

when [I put on my clothes after stepping out of the shower] then [I start my meditation clock and sit down]

6) Ritual. I've theorized before that a ritual can help lock in the idea of starting or easing starting an action. Athletes seem to use it to great affect, and it functions as a sort of kinesthetic form of anchoring.

7) Smaller transitions in advancement. Jumping from 5 minutes on a rower to 1 hour just doesn't work. 5 minutes acts because it's a small change - it's easier to just do it. Jumping from that to an hour makes it so that there's a huge wall in your mind. But at the same time you've developed a habit of doing that action. And there's the real problem. On one hand you have to do the task because your habit is solid. On the other hand you cannot accomplish the daily minimum. You're stuck, and because you’re stuck you can't skip the task and go on to the next task.

8) Avoiding lags. The one thing I notice is that once I'm working, if there's a lag, the same painful procrastinatory host of sensations comes up. It's talked a lot in the discussion of flow states, the conditions of which are incredibly informative when it comes to forming a practice session.

9) Shuffling tasks. The Lazy Susan approach could potentially work to prevent lags. A long time ago when I started shuffling reading multiple books in a session I found I actually read more. I never just have one writing/work task to do - I have a bunch, so it might work to have a list to shuffle through if I ever hit a lag.

10) Artificial Starts. Holly Lisle advocates just writing a nonsense throwaway sentence to get started, which could be incorporated into a ritual.

11) An incredibly clear protocol. In writing I'm now very good at spitting out first drafts. In editing, I get bogged down, and this creates lag, which then creates procrastination and no forward momentum. I've discussed about a possible protocol for rewrites courtesy of James Patterson's Master Class.

12) Block distractors like facebook, reddit, or gmail. I'm hesitant to use such surface level fixes because I don't believe that they actually address the deeper problems. But it could be something to try.

photocred: tapping pencil by Rennett Stowe, stencil by Kat..., weights by jerryonlife, stop watch by Big Swede Guy, pawn by Rey-Ann Panaligan,

#procrastination #john perry #drop sets #masterclass #james patterson #lazy susan #ritual #3 second rule #5 second rule #failure to start

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