#if only to link the donation site of the place its inspired by

[maritimedyke]

crazy to me that cool seaturtle beats to relax/study to will still get comments. that is a several year old khux chatfic of me infodumping about a job i had one time.

[linkles-art-blog]

Darling, I forgive you, after all Anything is better than to be alone And in the end I guess I had to fall; Always find my place among the ashes…

So, a short time back, I released a poll asking people if they wanted new angst art for Cherish, and the replies given were overwhelmingly positive, so here it is: the first work in a two-part set of angst art pieces.

There is a lot I would like to say in regards to this particular piece and the symbolism behind it, but I think that I will save that for under the cut, due to post length, zoomed in images, and talk of some much heavier subjects.

The idea behind creating these two art pieces was initially to participate in Domestic Violence Awareness Month (which is of course in October, which is also coincidentally Arthur’s birth month), if that gives you any idea of some of the subjects that will be below the cut (along with the usual stuff that I include in all of my art posts).

…And most importantly, if you can, please consider donating to some of the lovely organizations that help victims of various forms of abuse. I don’t want to recommend any particular ones in this post, as I don’t want to accidentally link to a place that may not be as on the level as some others out there, but if you have the time, please explore the Domestic Violence Awareness Month topic online, as I’m sure there are many lovely folks who can direct you to some great ones.

Also, if you think you or someone you know is being abused, or you just want to educate yourself on domestic violence and abuse, please visit thehotline.org and loveisrespect.org, which are two very very lovely sites dedicated to helping people in abusive situations that I myself have visited in the past.

I love you all so much.

Do not repost this artwork anywhere without my explicit permission or claim it as your own. See F.A.Q.s for details.

So, let me start off by saying that Arthur in this artwork was originally supposed to have a similar injury on his head to that which is described in Chapter 13 of my fic, but that was ultimately scrapped as I decided I did not want to be quite that heavy-handed and obvious with the imagery.

With that out of the way, let’s examine the finished piece a bit closer!

First, let’s talk about the (slightly crooked) painting in the background: this piece is actually not created by me at all, but rather, it is a painting from 1870 called Little Red Riding Hood at Her Grandmother’s Door, by Frederick Warne — with the subject, as the title implies, being Little Red Riding Hood arriving at her Grandmother’s cottage.

This sets a subtle nod for the main theme of this piece — with Arthur dressed in an outfit inspired by and matching the same coloring scheme of Little Red Riding Hood’s iconic garb. Paul, on the other hand, sports the gray, white, and black colors of the Wolf, with his shadow coming out behind him as an unsettling and somewhat uncanny wolf shape, grinning with its teeth bared.

The purpose of this symbolism is threefold: Firstly and most superficially, the music video for the song that the second piece was most inspired by also has a slight Little Red Riding Hood theme to it, so this can be seen as a subtle nod to it, but more importantly, it not only sets the precedent of Paul as the predator and Arthur as his prey, but also is meant to hold the same implications of sexual trauma — as well as the old physical violence and “wolf in sheep’s clothing” adage — that the fairytale is commonly viewed through the lens of and thought to represent in modern times.

Continuing forward from that idea, we can see Paul’s right hand reaching uncomfortably close toward Arthur’s inner thigh, whilst Arthur’s hands are in chains — lending not only to the sense that the teen is trapped in this relationship, but that his significantly older lover very simply does not care if he wants to be in it or not, and will do whatever necessary to keep him where he wants him — even if it means mental or some variety of physical harm.

Furthermore, if we examine Rimbaud’s hands, we can see that he is making a careful attempt at signaling his distress to the viewer of the photo — using both of his hands to try to show off the chains and also subtly form and display the two phases of the sign for help — at the same time trying to keep his pose seeming as natural as possible in front of his abuser by not facing them towards the camera, but rather letting them rest downward in his lap.

And to further drive home the point that Verlaine is keeping him trapped in their partnership, we can see the key to Arthur’s cuffs dangling from the chain of the stopwatch in the elder poet’s pocket that is fastened to his lapel.

If we then look to Arthur’s and Paul’s faces, we can further determine the mood of the two men by examining their eyes and expressions.

Whereas Paul is staring intently into his young affair partner’s eyes and grinning widely — with the slightest shimmer visible in his irises — unbothered and uncaring of the wedding ring he still has boldly worn upon his hand, Rimbaud will not look him in the eyes, instead glancing off to the side (almost in the direction of his lover’s ring) with lightless eyes (this is the first time I have drawn Arthur without any form of eye shine to emphasize this point), furrowed eyebrows, and only a half-smile on his face, as barely visible tears well up in the corners of his eyes.

…And yeah, that’s been my little deep-dive on the symbolism of this art piece! I really wanted to create something that at just a quick glance would mostly appear happy and cute, but which — like the painting which is only very slightly tilted) would get increasingly more unsettling the longer and closer you looked at it, and I really hope that I successfully captured that feeling in this work and that you enjoyed reading along with my notes on it!

See you in the next piece!

—

Songs I listened to while drawing this:

My Cherish Playlist (the public and currently only partial version of which you can listen to here.)

Lithium — Evanescence (also linked above in lyric excerpt)

Call Me When You’re Sober — Evanescence

Love the Way You Lie — Eminem ft. Rihanna

Love the Way You Lie (Part 2) — Anson Seabra

His Hands — Jennifer Nettles

Concrete Angel — Martina McBride

Alyssa Lies — Jason Michael Carroll

Do Me a Favor — Anson Seabra

Walked Through Hell — Anson Seabra

Haunted — Evanescence

Surrender — Evanescence

Narcissist — Lauren Spencer Smith

My Heart Can’t Tell You No — Sara Evans

My Heart Can’t Tell You No — Rod Stewart

It’s A Heartache — Rod Stewart

I Don’t Want to Talk About It (1989 Version) — Rod Stewart

The Last Song I’m Wasting On You — Evanescence

I Fell in Love With the Devil — Avril Lavigne

My Happy Ending — Avril Lavigne

Because of You — Kelly Clarkson

Please Don’t Leave Me — P!nk

Try — P!nk

Everybody’s Fool — Evanescence

Tainted Love — Chase Holfelder & Tom Evans

Animal — Chase Hofelder

Vampire — Olivia Rodrigo

Memories — Conan Gray

Summer Child — Conan Gray

How Could You — Jessie Murph

(And mostly unrelated to the vibe but I listened to these too)

The First Cut is the Deepest — Rod Stewart

Half a Man — Dean Lewis

Complicated — Avril Lavigne

Before He Cheats — Carrie Underwood

Raise Your Glass — P!nk

Don’t Speak — No Doubt

Whisper — Evanescence

Taking Over Me — Evanescence

Footnote — Conan Gray

Family Line — Conan Gray

[yuzusorbet]

Sendai Holiday 2019, Part 5: An Unexpected Journey

A fan told me about the special edition Yuzuru Hanyu subway card that came with 3 postcards and I quickly went to the Sendai subway station office to buy it.  The beautiful subway card was a one-day pass, unlimited rides.  Many fans used it to to get to International Centre Station where Yuzu’s Olympic Monuments are, and also to Izumi Chuo Station which is near Ice Rink Sendai, but I had already gone to these places before I knew about this special pass.  Well, I could always just keep it without using it but, somehow, I felt I had to make good use of this pass that has Yuzu’s SEIMEI silhouette on it.     

There is a 3.11 Memorial Community Centre located in Arai Station 荒井 at the end of the Tozai subway line 東西線.  The name popped up when I was searching online about Sendai travel.  I have never heard of this place before but since I could use my Yuzu subway pass and learn more about 3.11, I thought it was perfect.  Arai Station is just 6 stops away from Sendai Station.  (3.11 refers to the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, also known as the Tohoku earthquake, of 11 March 2011.)  

I arrived at Arai Station and there was a big sign pointing to the 3.11 centre.  It was within the station itself, at one end.

‘This post-earthquake restoration memorial facility opened in February 2016.   As a gateway to the eastern coastal area, which suffered tremendous damage from the tsunami, this memorial community center conveys the history of the region, the memory of the disaster, and wisdom and lessons derived from it to the world and to future generations.’ (credit)

On the first floor, there is a big 3D map that shows the extent of the coastal area ravaged by the tsunami.

On the 2nd floor, there are photos of the affected areas, in a timeline from the Showa period til present day, showing the devastation of March 2011 and restoration efforts.

The captions are all in Japanese but there are booklets that give the translation in English, Chinese, Korean and Thai.  You can hold the booklet and read the translated caption for each picture as you move along the wall.

There was one photo that struck me in particular.  People on the rooftop of Arahama Elementary School, with the black waters of the tsunami below.  They were students, staff and nearby residents who had fled there.  All were rescued by helicopter later.   Many thoughts ran through my mind.  How terrifying it must have been to watch the sea swallow up all that you live on.  And what about their family members who were not with them...... how many families could be reunited?  The young elementary school students, did they recover from the trauma?  How are they doing now.....

One of the staff told me that this school has been preserved as a museum and memorial of the disaster.  It has been open to public since April 2017.  He suggested that I take the short bus ride to the school and go into the building to have a look.  Oh my...... I was not prepared for that at all.  Do I really want to see the actual traces of devastation and tragedy??  It is too sad.....  After a bit of hesitation, I went outside the station and boarded the bus that goes to the school near the coast.  It was a regular bus that has a few stops along way and the ride cost 240 yen.   Part of the route was rather scenic with rice paddy fields. 

The last stop was at the school.  The building looked like a normal school from afar.   A banner along the 3rd floor says ありがとう 荒浜小学校  (Thank you, Arahama Elementary School).  It was put up by students in 2016. 

  There is some information in English on the board at the front.

The white sign at the 2nd floor shows the height of the tsunami that day.  The first level was totally submerged. (pic below)

On the 1st and 2nd floors, we can see the damage, and pictures show the aftermath, before the debris was cleared.  All sorts of things were pushed into the classrooms by the force of the tsunami.  A teacher’s car which was parked outside was found crushed with the debris in one of the rooms.

On the 4th floor is a room with a timeline of events on that day, from the earthquake to the tsunami and after.

The clock that was in the 1st floor gymnasium stopped at the time that the tsunami struck. 

There was also a video in the room, with the principal and other staff of the school commenting on that day, with English subtitles.....

“I grabbed the key for the rooftop and told everyone in all of the rooms to leave everything and go up to the rooftop right away.”

“It turned into a mountain, something like black mountain, it was sea water, it came and..... crash, it kept coming forward.”

“There was nothing left of the Arahama area.  It was a view of the bottom of the sea and all we could do was watch from the rooftop as the town was swept away.”

I cried as I watched the video.  My heart that was getting heavier and heavier could not hold it back anymore.

From the 4th floor, I went up to the rooftop.  So this was where the survivors were standing.  I could see the sea on one side....

and all around, rebuilding is going on.  New roads are being made, with bulldozers and excavators here and there.   It was too painful to think that this was actually a town filled with people and homes.

I remember the wind was very strong on the rooftop and the sky was overcast, so it was very cold even though it was in the warm month of May.  After taking some photos, I made my way back down.

The 3rd floor is closed but there is a very touching piece of writing by a teacher of the school, with English translation included.  Please read it from my photo below (4th pic).

The teacher’s reflections were full of sadness but also very uplifting.  “Kindness and gratitude in these hard times.”  So touching.  I hope to remember these words.

In front of the building is a ‘Closing of School’ monument, with the words of the school song on the transparent blue panel.  The school has been here a long time.  It was established in 1873 (Meiji year 6) and built on the current site in 1912 (Taisho year 1).

As I was leaving, groups of students came in large buses.  Each group had a guide talking to them outside first, then taking them around.  The school continues its purpose of educating and building up the nation. 

Goodbye and thank you, Arahama Elementary School.  I said a silent prayer as I left on the bus.  The serenity of the rice fields comforted my heart.    

For more info and photos of the school, here is a news article: The school that saved 320 people

Note: I spent about an hour here but one hour is not enough to finish looking at everything in the school.  Two hours would be good.  There are guide booklets in a few languages near the entrance of the school.  Check also the bus schedule.  It only runs once an hour. 

Much thanks to the staff at 3.11 Memorial Community Centre for their help.

Back home, I searched and read up more....

In addition to physical reconstruction, emotional and social support remain an important focus for rebuilding. “Up in Tohoku, a common term widely used to describe the emotional difficulty in what recovery really means after the disaster is kokoro no byōki (illness of the heart).  From continuing financial worries, divorces, depression, disconnected families to elderly survivors losing connection or meaning, there are ongoing situations of survivors falling through the cracks. [....]  Volunteers provide an invaluable message of encouragement, crucial to the long-term emotional recovery of survivors. [...]  Their return and interest in the community reinforces the message that others believe the rebuilding is worthwhile — and that they are worthwhile.”  (credit: Japan Times, link below)

I immediately thought of Yuzu.  Besides donating all his Olympic prize money for rebuilding, he goes back again and again to visit communities in the affected areas and to do ice shows for them.  His visits tell the survivors that they are worthwhile, that they are not forgotten.  How many lives has he saved in this way!  God bless all volunteers for their kindness and generosity.       

Thanks to Yuzu’s subway pass..... It led me on an unexpected journey to learn more about something very close to his heart and I am inspired again to do more.  Below are some useful sites that I found: 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2019/03/10/issues/new-approach-volunteering-tohoku/#.XUVS5lCLmCR

https://www.japansociety.org/page/earthquake 

https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/news/campus_community/news20181128scrum.html

Even though I only took 2 rides with the subway pass (going to Arai Station and back), I think I have made very good use of it. 

(All photos are taken by me;  please do not use or re-post my photos without asking me first.  Thanks.)

[bountyofbeads]

Christchurch endures as extremist touchstone, as investigators probe suspected El Paso manifesto

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/08/06/christchurch-endures-extremist-touchstone-investigators-probe-suspected-el-paso-manifesto/

Christchurch endures as extremist touchstone, as investigators probe suspected El Paso manifesto

By Rick Noack | Published August 06 at 3:05 PM ET | Washington Post | Posted August 6, 2019 6:13 PM ET |

In the days after a gunman killed 51 people in March at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, analysts warned the attack could become a rallying point for extremists.

It was a high-casualty attack, intended to be imitated by others, live-streamed on social media, accompanied by the release of a white supremacist manifesto decrying immigration and immigrants.

On Saturday, a similar manifesto appeared online, with similar grievances. The author opened by expressing “support” for “the Christchurch shooter.” Within minutes, a gunman opened fire at a shopping center in El Paso, killing 20, seven of them Mexicans. Two more people died Monday after succumbing to their wounds.

Investigators believe the manifesto Saturday was written by El Paso shooting suspect Patrick Crusius. The author was the latest in a succession of extremists to refer to Christchurch as a touchstone event for more hate.

“That’s exactly the reason people post manifestos,” said Peter Neumann, a founding director of the London-based International Center for the Study of Radicalization. “They want to create the basis for something that will inspire others.” The message they aim to send targets both their sympathizers and their declared enemies.

After a gunman killed a woman and wounded three others in April at a synagogue in Poway, Calif., investigators found an online justification allegedly published by the attacker that echoed the Christchurch shooter’s words.

Christchurch became a line of inquiry in the Sri Lanka Easter bombings in April. Ruwan Wijewardene, Sri Lanka’s state minister of defense, told reporters that the attacks on churches and tourist gathering places were “motivated” by the attack in New Zealand. No such link has been established and analysts have raised doubts, but they cautioned that future retaliatory attacks remain possible.

Politicians have used Christchurch to advance their own agendas.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan played footage of the attacks at campaign rallies this spring.

“This isn’t an individual act, this is organized,” he said.

The New Zealand government warned Erdogan’s comments endangered its citizens; analysts rejected Erdogan’s portrayal of the Christchurch shootings as part of a broader organized attack on Muslims.

Michael Cooper, a Conservative member of Canada’s Parliament, faced a backlash this summer after he read excerpts from the Christchurch manifesto to a Muslim witness at a hearing. He later described it as “an ill-advised attempt to demonstrate that such acts are not linked to conservatism.” Conservative leader Andrew Scheer removed Cooper from the committee, and it decided to clear the excerpts from the parliamentary record.

After the El Paso shooting, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg told New Zealand television that such attacks were “connected, because they use each the other as inspiration and they refer to each other in the different manifestos."

The unifying thread, analysts say, is the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which maintains that global elites are intentionally replacing Europe’s white majorities with immigrants from North and sub-Saharan Africa.

“The Great Replacement theory has become the master narrative for a vast number of far-right attacks,” said Neumann, the terrorism researcher. “It’s the narrative that connects them all.”

Versions of the Great Replacement theory have existed for decades, but it was most recently popularized by Renaud Camus, the French writer who penned “Le Grand Remplacement” in 2012. Camus has denied any responsibility for the El Paso attack. But he maintains that immigration is still the real global menace.

Neumann compared the Great Replacement theory to the idea of the West being at war with Islam that has frequently been cited by Islamist militants to justify attacks — but has also become a rallying point for far-right retaliation. The Islamic State has expressed hope in its propaganda that its own attacks would trigger far-right responses such as the Christchurch shootings, which it said would help pit Muslims against nonbelievers.

Saturday’s attack could signal an escalation. As the death toll still rose, commentators on the anonymous message board 8chan — where the suspect and other shooters appear to have been active — were discussing the attack in a way that appeared to compare it to prior shootings, according to images captured by the online investigations site Bellingcat.

Neumann said such comments suggest that “a competition has started,” centered around trying to “kill more people than the Christchurch attacker fatally shot."

Researchers have cautioned that online communities such as 8chan radicalize individuals by providing them with a support network that cheers them on.

The London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue reported last month that more than half of the 240,000 tweets that came from an identifiable location and used the word “remigration” — a hallmark of the Great Replacement theory — came from France, where far-right politicians were among the first in Europe to subscribe to the conspiracy.

In 2018, far-right leader Marine Le Pen urged her supporters to read Jean Raspail’s 1973 novel “The Camp of the Saints,” which describes France as being destroyed by a migrant invasion and embroiled in a race war.

After the Christchurch attacks, right-wing parties in Europe largely reacted with silence — as they did again after El Paso.

But there have been no signs of them backing away from the Great Replacement theory. Only weeks after the Christchurch shooting, Austria’s then-Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said in an interview that fighting “population exchange” — or the idea of Muslims replacing Europe’s supposed Judeo-Christian identity — would remain a party goal.

The remarks did not go unnoticed.

In an interview with The Washington Post, the Identitarian Movement of Austria — under investigation because the Christchurch attacker donated to it — applauded the remarks. Leader Martin Sellner said Strache’s use of the term was a “political victory” for him and his group, and “a signal from the party to the base” that the vice chancellor’s messaging would not change. (The government coalition fell apart weeks later, after videos emerged of Strache promising government contracts in return for politically motivated investments or donations.)

Such messaging, their critics argue, has to some extent legitimized extremists, even though far-right officials have not explicitly advocated for the use of violence and in many cases publicly condemned it.

The impact could be long-lasting, as the endurance of Christchurch as a rallying point appears to prove.

“I know no one in New Zealand would want the terrorist act that occurred here to inspire anything other than a sense of unity against acts of hatred, violence and terrorism,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said over the weekend.

James McAuley contributed to this report.

[lovehaswonangelnumbers]

New Post has been published on https://lovehaswonangelnumbers.org/2121-summer-solstice/

21:21 Summer Solstice

21:21 Summer Solstice

By Tania Gabrielle

Happy Friday! And happy Summer Solstice in the Northern hemisphere – and first day of winter in the Southern hemisphere!

June 21 welcomes the Sun in Cancer.

Cancer is the Moon’s home sign.

Since we’ll be experiencing a TOTAL Solar Eclipse in Cancer on July 2, this year’s solstice carries extra significance.

June 21 kicks off an intensification of the Cancer/Capricorn axis just prior to eclipses begin in those two signs.

The Moon represents the night – our inner light, our emotional center… while the Sun governs daylight, vitality and “seeing the light”.

Today in the northern hemisphere Sun-light is at its peak.

Each Solstice marks the halfway point in our yearly cycle as we check in and make note of our progress since six months ago.

Your inner source of confidence and all the ways in which you SHINE are represented by the Sun.

Light illuminates, so we can SEE. Light allows us to be aware. Adjustments along the way can only be made when the truth is VISIBLE – brought into conscious awareness.

This moment in the middle of the year is always a wonderful time to take a look at your life as the Sun shines a spotlight on you.

Visualize your dreams forthe season aheadas you initiate strong intentions for the next 6 months.

Every sign the Sun moves through holds new treasures.

In Cancer we are immersing our hearts into the realms of the MOON (planetary ruler of Cancer) – igniting love, our feelings, home, family, our past, our heritage and parents.

Cancer nourishes and nests.

Cancer is a beautiful, fluid WATER sign – vulnerable and sweet.

Heart-to-heart connections are deepened now…

Blessing the Solstice this year is Neptune’s change of direction into retrograde.

Happening at 18° in June’s 18 Universal Month, you’re feeling the impact of a deeply healing 18:18 code amplifying rest and transitioning into other realms…

June 21 resonates to the double 21:21 code of truth and happiness that governs our 21st century.

These two double numerology codes add a spiritual joy into the solstice equation as you tune into your dreams and visions.

And Neptune’s stationing into retrograde the SAME day the Sun enters Cancer on the Solstice removes the veil of illusions, in particular regarding issues around our family and love.

Do you feel nurtured in your home environment?

If the answer is no, therapy and all high vibrational healing are favored during Neptune retrograde, especially with an 18:18 code that also governs rejuvenation, rest and healing.

These next months will be spectacular for self growth!

Focus your energy on stilling your mind and opening your heart so you can consciously engage with Source, with Love…

This is an incredibly CREATIVE time – engage as often and as passionately as you can with your imagination!

The truth is, what bring you pleasure, inspiration and fulfillment is what HEALS you instantly by creating a spiritual bridge to internal harmony and happiness.

Be in this serene, passionately engaged place.

Listen to the most exquisite music, wrap yourself in pleasurable scents, invest in a fresh bouquet of flowers to nurture the petals in your heart…

HAPPY SOLSTICE!

Love and Light,

Tania Gabrielle

P.S. Whenever you’re ready… here are 3 ways to help you manifest stunning success in the second half of 2019:

Watch this free masterclass

Get instant access to the FREE masterclass – “Discover Your Divine Blueprint: How to Read Your Stars and Numbers”! This workshop teaches you about your Life Purpose and Destiny and the magic in your personal birth code. — Click Here

Discover your Jupiter Wealth Code

At the moment you were born a star code map was created – a cosmic code of your life. Jupiter’s placement in your birth chart reveals how you are specifically designedto manifest abundance and actualize fortunate opportunities. — Click Here

Do you have a Fortunate current name?

Manifest a life of effortless flow by making sure your current name is fortunate. Don’t risk attracting more delays and difficulties with a challenging name. Discover whether your current name is positive (and get highly fortunate alternate spellings if it isn’t)! — Click Here

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[bunkershotgolf]

‘Tis the Season--Gifts for Golfers 2018

Perplexed what to buy for a golfer on your gift list? Here are a few suggestions of items we like and hope to find in our Christmas stocking. They cover a range of prices and each will be a welcomed expression of your feelings this season.

Callaway Pullover: Cool weather golf can be lots of fun and if your round requires wearing something warm the Men’s Dual Action 1/4 Zip Pullover from Callaway Apparel is the answer. The insulated thermal fabric with a weather repellant barrier, both 100% polyester, make it an effective lightweight protection to water and wind. The price is nice too at $75 and there’s a choice of five colors: Caviar, Medium Grey Heather, Peacoat Heather, Blue Coral Heather and Castlerock Heather.

Club Champion Fitting: It only makes sense to play with golf clubs suited to your game and the place to go for a fitting just like players on the PGA Tour receive is Club Champion. They are is the largest club fitting retailer in the U.S. and endorsed by Jordan Spieth, Hank Haney, David Leadbetter and Cameron McCormick. Full bag fittings completed through Jan. 31, 2019 are half price at $175 and there are savings for driver, putter and iron fittings as well. Purchase of clubs is not required and gift cards are available. Call 888-349-7820 or visit their web site.

ECCO Biom for Men: The latest updating in the BIOM line, ECCO BIOM Hybrid 3 GTX has an all new Tri-Fi-Grip outsole designed with three zones of performance for enhanced stability, durability and rotation through the swing. The GORE-TEX waterproof construction means should it rain your feet will stay dry and the ECCO Yak leather upper offers exceptional breathability. There are stylish color options, along with an option for BOA lacing. Priced starting at $180. Click on the link for more information.

Galvin Green Jacket: Golfers will love the new Lloyd Interface-1 Full Zip Jacket from Galvin Green with its bold style combined with their lightweight and protective Interface-1 shell layer fabric technology. Completely windproof, water repellant and extremely breathable, the Lloyd boasts a modern design plus tech factors to keep your golf game and you looking top-notch. The Lloyd jacket is part of the all-new Carbon color series, a line of premium garments featuring a carbon color-inspired tone-in-tone design for a subtle and prestigious look. The Lloyd jacket is $500.

GolfLogix Putt Breaks: This game-changing smartphone app provides golfers with intelligent green maps that auto-orient based the user’s position. Putt Breaks gives an accurate green read with one touch, showing every slope and undulation of the green’s topography and how putts will break. A bird’s-eye view of green contours also helps golfers easily plan their approach shots and chart out chip shots. GolfLogix has also created a light sensitivity mode that allows you to see green details under any light condition. Free 30-day trial visit their web site.

GOLFTEC Swing Analysis: Available through December 31, GOLFTEC is offering three holiday packages available at GolfTec.com. Gold ($395): 60-minute Swing Evaluation, three 30-minute lessons, three 30-minute practice sessions and one TECFIT club fitting session. Silver ($295): 60-minute Swing Evaluation, one 30-minute lesson, one 30-minute practice session and one TECFIT club fitting session plus 10% off all regular Lesson Packs and Game Plans and Free TECFIT club fitting with qualifying club purchase.

HL3 “To Go”: The Hot Launch 3 line of clubs from Tour Edge Golf has been a smashing success since introduction at the PGA Merchandise Show in January. The combination of super game-improvement design and golfer-friendly prices made the HL3 line “…some of the fastest movers this year in market share growth” according to company president David Glod. Now for men, seniors and ladies they have put together HL3 “To-Go” sets with driver, fairway woods, combo irons/hybrids/iron-woods, sand wedge, mallet putter and cart bag for the package price of $999.99.

New Balance Ladies Shoes: New Balance Golf has introduced a new line of women’s footwear for the 2019 season--Minimus WP, Minimus SL and 574 SL. The Women's Minimus SL is built on the NL-1 last with a breathable mesh upper with the ultralight synthetic overlays. The lightweight—it’s only 6.6 ounces—spikeless shoe has the REVlite® midsole for real comfort walking the course and Ortholite® insole for cool, dry comfort. Priced at $69.95, there are four color choices.

State Apparel Green Collar Shirt: A gift of style and for a good cause. Made from 79% recycled performance fabric, the Green Collar Shirt ($92) from State Apparel focuses attention on the workers who sustainably and responsibly nurture golf’s green spaces. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf. The shirt boasts a stylish contrast green collar and front pocket married with the soft, lightweight fabric provides maximum breathability and comfort designed for wearing from course to clubhouse.

TecTecTec Rangefinder: The ULT-X-X according to TECTECTEC is the next generation rangefinder with loads of features for only $249.99. This laser distance measuring device has Target Lock Technology to lock on flags at up to 450 yards and hazards to 1,000 yards with 6x magnification. Accurate and simple to use the ULT-X vibrates when locked on the target plus there’s a handy scan mode for distances one after another. Rainproof and lightweight it even has a slope mode that turns on or off with one touch. Visit web site for additional information.

Tifosi Enliven: Sunglasses are a must-wear on the course and the new Enliven line from Tifosi have a color enhancing lens that makes greens, blues and reds pop for a clear view. They are polarized of course and with a choice of colors and styles for any golfer. Priced at $49.95 per pair find out more at tifosioptics.com.

[donald-clemons]

How to Compete With Mega Brands

For small- to medium-sized ecommerce businesses, it takes more than a little moxie to compete with the likes of Amazon and other behemoth brands. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses find themselves more resource-strapped than ever before, while Amazon’s profits in particular have actually increased by 200% since the start of COVID-19. As the gap between “resource-rich” and “resource-strapped” yawns ever wider, is it even realistic for small businesses to think they can compete with mega brands at all?

Pound for pound, you might be outmatched by these multi-billion dollar empires, but that doesn’t mean small businesses can’t carve out a lucrative place for themselves in the competitive online landscape. The secret? Accepting what these brands bring to the table that your business cannot, and then understanding what you bring to the table that they cannot. Here’s how.

Embrace Being Small

The key differentiating factor between large brands and small brands is convenience. If you take a casual survey of people who shop with Amazon, for example, one thing you’ll notice right away is the number of people who feel “trapped” by the convenience of Amazon. Of course they’d like to shop somewhere else, but where else can they find everything they need on a single platform, complete with millions of reviews, free two-day shipping, and no-questions-asked returns?

Those value propositions are incredibly difficult to compete with; the only way Amazon can offer them is by having their merchants foot the cost. However, your key differentiating factor is hidden in that “casual survey response” too, because one thing Amazon doesn’t have in its corner is passionate customers. In fact, 40% of shoppers want to reduce the amount they spend at Amazon, and 30% feel guilty for shopping there. Within certain segments, that number is even higher.

Customers have an ambivalent relationship with Amazon at best. On the other hand, shopping with small businesses or local merchants gives customers a sense of fulfillment by helping the economy and giving something back to the community. This presents a perfect opportunity for you to embrace your role as a small business and use it to your advantage.

To get started, here are some simple ideas to help showcase your role as a small business:

Beef up your About Us page: Your About Us page is the perfect canvas to paint the picture of small business bliss. Detail the story of how your business got started, list your inspiration for opening your online store, and add pictures of you and your team to make a close, personal connection. As a bonus tip, if you can include your mission, you can really tug at the heartstrings (and purse strings) of customers who want to help a smaller operation.

Add icons to your site: Are you a member of the BBB or local Chamber of Commerce? Show it off by adding icons to your template, which lets customers know that you’re small and reputable. Or, you can add a callout within your template or checkout page that says something as simple as, “We support small businesses.” This approach will give online shoppers a last-minute reminder that they’re supporting a good cause before purchasing.

Be transparent with your products: Let customers know exactly where your products come from and what they’re made of. Whether they’re “Made in the USA” or are built with your own hands, showcasing the product creation process makes customers feel more connected to your products. After all, customers have no idea where Amazon sources their products from or if they were made under ideal conditions.

Showcase your start-up culture: The name of the game is to make a personal connection between your small business and your customers. What better way to do that than sharing images of you and your team? Dating back to olden times, people have always preferred to buy from people they trust. By highlighting your team behind the scenes, you’re establishing that all-important credibility.

Personalize the Experience to Establish Unwavering Brand Loyalty

The ambivalence shoppers feel about larger brands gives you an opportunity to establish yourself as a fan favorite—and in so doing, you’ll have a major advantage over big-time retailers. Personalized brand experiences are the best mechanism to establish this type of unwavering loyalty. If you can make customers feel like they’re your only priority, you’ve increased the chances of having them return to your site.

Here are some ways to personalize your customers’ experience and establish brand loyalty:

Work your loyalty program: Once you launch your customer loyalty program, follow up with your members by sending emails that have special coupons, discounts, and product announcements. These folks are typically your most loyal, repeat customers, so go the extra mile to make them feel like VIPs.

Pull out a pen: Handwritten notes go a long way, especially since we rarely see them anymore. Depending on your order volume, consider including a short thank-you note in each shipment. Or, if you don’t have time for that, write out an appreciative card each month to your most valuable customers.

Stop with the generic emails: No one feels special when they receive an email that says, “Dear Customer.” Instead, take the time to insert the first name of customers in your messages, particularly with transactional emails.

Make product recommendations: If you’re truly looking to upsell, suggest particular products to different customer segments based on their previous purchases. Your shopping cart software likely has some sort of functionality for this, and if not, you can always do some data mining on previous orders to draw conclusions of your own.

Despite large teams of customer service reps and mammoth marketing budget, nothing can replace a personal connection between buyer and seller. By taking the extra time to truly make your customers feel appreciated, you’ll establish a strong bond that grows into unwavering brand loyalty.

Focus on Product Specialization and Expertise

Imagine you find a beautiful piece of art that would look perfect in your living room. Before you buy, you have the opportunity to speak to the painter. She introduces you to the piece, details her inspiration and walks you through each brushstroke. Once her detailed explanation is over, you have the ability to ask questions and shake her hand. After it’s over, you have a much deeper appreciation for the product now hanging in your home.

You can provide this same type of product appreciation to your customer base by showcasing your expertise. Try the following:

Launch a blog: Beyond its SEO benefits, launching a blog that’s focused on your products and industry is a surefire way to boost your credibility. Write various posts that highlight the history, context, and benefits of your product. Or, if you make products yourself, build posts that detail the step-by-step process behind their creation. If neither of these ideas apply to you, create posts that demonstrate the lifestyle that your products and brand represents (this is particularly helpful with apparel and fashion). And while you’re in the early stages of blogging, leverage tactics to get people to actually read your blog content.

Create an FAQ section: To extend expertise to your website, create an FAQ page that details questions such as, “What is the history of this product?” “What is the cultural impact of this product?” “How does a specific ingredient of this product make a difference?” Also include customer benefits within these answers so you strike a balance between being a salesperson and subject matter expert.

Openly solicit customer questions: What better way to showcase your expertise than to answer questions? Invite customers to ask questions by prompting them to leave comments on your blog, or updating your Facebook status to accept inquiries from your fans. Once you respond, you’ll create a true sense of trust with certain individuals and the masses.

Produce product videos: Product videos serve as a proven sales tool to boost conversions. Additionally, they help customers better understand the process behind a product, as well as its benefits. Get started by incorporating videos into your product pages, and then transcend them onto your blog and social media channels.

It would be next to impossible for anyone to demonstrate true passion and expertise for a product line that ranges from art to janitorial supplies. Take advantage of this chip in the armor of large brands by beefing up your informational arsenal, and work to share your dedication with your customers and the world.

Support a Worthy Cause

Drive home the benefits of shopping with your business by supporting a cause you believe in. If you’re new to working with charitable causes, try the following:

Find a cause that relates to your brand: If you sell pet supplies, donating a portion of your profits or time to the ASPCA would be a good fit. Or, if you’re selling home décor, making a contribution to Habitat for Humanity is a wise choice. Whatever the case, find a cause that fits with your brand, and more importantly, is one that you and your customers believe in.

Showcase this cause on your site: Throughout your website, particularly on your checkout and order confirmation pages, remind customers that a portion of their purchase helps support your chosen cause. Include links to information about the organization you’re supporting, and include another “thank you” message in their order confirmation email, if appropriate.

Follow up by communicating your contributions: Once you make your donation or spend time volunteering with your non-profit organization, include these activities in your customer communications. For example, you can include a summary in your customer newsletter, write a blog post, or share a photo album on social channels.

Supporting a cause that’s dear to you and your customers reinforces the same advantage your small business has over mega brands: customers want to make purchases that make them feel better about themselves.

Don’t Compete on Price, But Do What You Can

Because of the huge popularity of major brands like Amazon and their seemingly limitless product offerings, they can afford to accept razor-thin (or even negative) profit margins to provide low prices. This means that if you’re hoping to compete against them on price, you’ll be facing a steep uphill battle. Despite this challenge, you can still find ways to help reduce prices to stay competitive.

Doing so comes down to cutting costs, and yes, doing some math:

Work with your suppliers: Establish a close relationship with your product suppliers to see if there are any discounts that you’re eligible for. Don’t be afraid to ask them if there are any savings by ordering products in bulk. Or, when talking to your shipping providers, ask if there are any cost efficiencies you can obtain by utilizing other services they might offer.

Make a list of wants and needs: Even the smallest business on the tightest budget has a little excess spending they can trim. Get started by creating a list of the bills you must absolutely pay to keep the lights on. Then, create a list of other expenses and think of creative ways to either remove or reduce those costs.

Look at individual profit margins: Some products provide much higher margins than others. If that’s the case, ask: “Can I accept smaller margins on some products to encourage my customers to purchase more products as a whole?” Taking a look at these numbers is helpful in increasing your average order value (AOV), which collectively gives a bigger boost to your bottom line.

The main idea here is to reduce your prices enough so they’re somewhat comparable to larger brands, while leveraging your overall added value to justify the extra cost your customers might encounter. Pick the right tools, and you too have a fighting chance.

Believe You Can Compete With Mega Brands

Believe in your inner entrepreneur. If you accept that “Large companies are too big; I can never do it,” you’ve already lost the war.

Instead, celebrate your victories, reflect on your losses, and always look for ways to improve your small online business. After all, you’ve worked hard to get where you are today, and you’re bound to reach new heights as you continue to climb the wall of success. Don’t give up, don’t give in, and don’t get down on yourself.

Final Thoughts

Competing with mega brands is no easy task—it requires diligence, hard work, and savvy marketing. But just because it isn’t easy doesn’t mean it’s impossible. All you have to do is take advantage of the bountiful benefits that come with being a small business.

How to Compete With Mega Brands published first on https://yousweetluxury.weebly.com/

[architectnews]

Beckford’s Tower Bath Renewal, Architecture

Beckford’s Tower Bath Conservation, BPT News, Building Renewal Architects, Stenning & Co

Beckford’s Tower Bath Renewal

12 July 2021

Location: Bath, in southwest England, UK

Beckford’s Tower building in the landscape: photo © Tom Burrows

Our Tower Bath News

Bath Preservation Trust appoints Design Team for Beckford’s Tower

Bath Preservation Trust (BPT) has announced that architects Thomas Ford & Partners and quantity surveyors Stenning & Co have been appointed to lead the design work for the £3.3 million Our Tower project.

The Our Tower plan, which is funded by Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will address urgent repair and conservation works required to the almost 200-year-old Grade I listed Beckford’s Tower, that stands above the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath and is the only museum dedicated to William Beckford in the world.

Born in 1760, William Beckford was a colourful and controversial character. At just 10-years old he inherited his father’s fortune, which included the Fonthill estate and several sugar plantations in Jamaica. His wealth gave him the freedom to pursue his interests in art, architecture, writing and music.

In 1782, Beckford undertook a Grand Tour, which inspired his travel writing and passion for collecting which continued throughout his life – especially when exiled to Europe for 10 years following the exposure of his relationship with William Courtenay (1784).

In 1826 William Beckford commissioned an extraordinary landscape back home in Bath – a Garden between his Lansdown Crescent home and the retreat now known as Beckford’s Tower, where he could escape from the city within the natural environment. The Tower was created to house his library, art collection and every day Beckford would ride up there from his home, accompanied by his pack of spaniels. This expanse became known as Beckford’s Ride, a mile of interlinked gardens.

Beckford’s grave in Bath: photo courtesy Bath Preservation Trust

Beckford’s Tower stands in an exposed location and, like many historic buildings, almost two centuries of exposure to weather, pollution, and the challenges of climate change, now threaten the fabric of the building. There is now an urgent need for repair and conservation, particularly to address water ingress at high level within the belvedere & lantern. Beckford’s Tower was added to the Historic England ‘Heritage at Risk’ Register in October 2019.

Our Tower will bring new parts of the tower into use, and upgrade services and visitor infrastructure. BPT will also use the project as an opportunity to develop the visitor experience, engage wider audiences and reconnect the Tower with its lost landscape, through new experiences, interpretation, and access. A development grant awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund is also enabling Bath Preservation Trust to re-examine the way in which they share the story of William Beckford’s links to the transatlantic slave trade.

Ornamental furniture in Mr Beckford’s Collection, Views of Lansdown Tower, Plate XIV, 1844: image : Beckford’s Tower & Museum – Bath Preservation Trust

The project is scheduled to complete in winter 2023.

London based conservation architects Thomas Ford & Partners are led by Clive England, who brings over 30 years’ experience to the project. Clive is Surveyor of the Fabric to Ely Cathedral, and Cathedral Architect to Sheffield Cathedral.

Stenning & Co – who are located in Bath – are led by Quantity Surveyor Adrian Stenning. Experts and specialists in building conservation work, Adrian has worked extensively with organisations including the Landmark Trust and the National Trust.

BPT Capital Works Director Simon Butler said “We are delighted to welcome Thomas Ford & Partners and Stenning & Co to the project. Both bring huge conservation experience to this nationally important building, and we look forward to securing an exciting new future for this Bath landmark.”

Clive England said: “We are delighted to be involved with BPT’s Our Tower project. Beckford’s Tower is a unique building, in a spectacular setting, with a fascinating history – exactly the type of project that every conservation architect dreams about!”

Adrian Stenning said “I am very pleased to continue my relationship with the Bath Preservation Trust and in particular Beckford’s Tower with which I have been involved for over 20 years.  I look forward to this opportunity to not just repair the Tower, but to also open up & show its’ story for a wider audience.”

Securing the Design team is just the start of this project, with urgent fundraising now needed to ensure vital conservation work to the building and landscape takes place, to ensure today’s visitors and future generations can continue to explore and enjoy this iconic Bath landmark.

Tower engraving, unknown 19th century: image © Beckford’s Tower and Museum, Bath Preservation Trust

Beckford’s Tower Bath Refurbishment Team

Bath Preservation Trust

Bath Preservation Trust was set up in 1934 to safeguard the historic city of Bath. Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the only complete city in the UK afforded World Heritage Status. The purposes of the Trust are: to encourage and support the conservation, evolution and enhancement of Bath and its environs within a framework appropriate both to its historic setting and its sustainable future, and to provide educational resources, including museums, which focus on the architectural and historic importance of the city.

The Trust receives no statutory funding and is supported by visitor income, grants, legacies, donations and around 1400 members who share a passion for the city and its environs. The Trust runs four accredited museums in Bath – No. 1 Royal Crescent, the Museum of Bath Architecture, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, and Beckford’s Tower. For more information visit www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk / Twitter @BathPresTrust / Facebook /@bathprestrust / Instagram @bath_preservation_trust

For more information about Beckford’s Tower, visit www.beckfordstower.org / Twitter @BeckfordsTower / Facebook @beckfordstower / Instagram @beckfordstower

Beckford’s Tower Bath cemetery: image courtesy Bath Preservation Trust

Thomas Ford & Partners

Thomas Ford & Partners is a leading conservation-based architectural practice. Originally established in 1926, the practice specialises in the repair, remodelling, reuse, and regeneration of historic buildings and heritage sites.

Projects cover wide range of building types and uses from museums and galleries to educational buildings, and from military and industrial buildings to cathedrals. The practice has been successfully involved with NLHF and HLF funded projects for over 20 years with completed projects at Brooklands Museum, Weybridge (shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Museum of the Year’ award and recently featured in the TV series ‘Secrets of the Transport Museum’); St John’s Church, Hackney; Fulham Palace; Sheffield Cathedral (winner of RIBA Regional and National Awards); Hall Place, Bexley; Wakefield Cathedral; Guildford Cathedral; Forty Hall, Enfield; Hadlow Tower, Kent; and many others. Currently working on the restoration of the spectacular Victorian Subway at Crystal Palace. 

Thomas Ford & Partners are appointed as architects for a wide range of buildings, including some 350 churches and 5 cathedrals. We have also worked on a long list of Lottery funded Parks for People projects including currently Hainault Forest Country Park; Cranford Park, Hillingdon; and completed projects at Beckenham Place Park; Holywells Park, Ipswich; Bishops Park, Fulham. Visit www.thomasford.co.uk / Instagram @thomasfordandpartners

Stenning & Co Ltd

Stenning & Co Ltd was formed in 2009 when Adrian Stenning left Quantity Surveyors Bare, Leaning & Bare to continue and ensure active involvement with historic building work.   Stenning & Co Ltd specialise extensively and almost exclusively in the repair and conservation of historic buildings. 

Projects have ranged from work upon classical architectural buildings, five Cathedrals and many Churches (well over 100 with services ranging from estimate advice to full Quantity Surveying Services) and through to vernacular timber framed barns as well as associated modern buildings.  He has extended his Quantity Surveying background and acts as Project Manager and/or Contract Administrator on a number of projects. 

Adrian Stenning’s surveying experience with Historic Buildings has been recognised by the RICS by his inclusion upon their Register of Certified Historic Building Professionals since its inception.  He became Chairman of the RICS Conservation Forum Board for a three-year fixed term having previously sat on the Board for several years and continues to be engaged in promoting good practice and philosophy across the spectrum of conservation. 

He has recently completed eight years as one of the national judges for the RICS Awards, being the specialist for the Building Conservation category.  Stenning & Co Ltd’s website is currently closed.

The Museum of Bath Architecture is housed in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, The Vineyards, Bath, BA1 5NA, England, UK: image © Bath Museum of ArchitectureBath Preservation Trust

Beckford’s Tower Bath Renewal images / information from Bath Preservation Trust (BPT)

Location: Bath, south western England, UK

Bath Buildings

Bath Buildings : key architecture southwest England

Bath Architecture – selection below:

Parallel (of Life and) Architecture – Bath Exhibition Bath Architecture Exhibition

Bath Abbey Building Design: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios image from architect Bath Abbey Building

Bath Riverside Design: Alison Brooks Architects image from Alison Brooks Architects Bath Riverside

The Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios photo © Craig Aukland / Fotohaus The Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care Bath

Bath Spa development Grimshaw Architects photograph : Edmund Sumner Thermae : Bath Spa

Holburne Museum of Art Eric Parry Architects Bath Arts building

The Royal High School Bath Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Royal High School Bath

Bristol Buildings

Bath Architectural Heritage Debate : Speakers incl. Eric Parry + Sir Richard MacCormac

English Architects

English Architecture

Comments / photos for the Beckford’s Tower Bath Renewal page welcome

Website: England

The post Beckford’s Tower Bath Renewal, Architecture appeared first on e-architect.

[thebaileynina]

Stock Photo Libraries for Link Building.

Link building is one of the most difficult areas of SEO, and link building on autopilot is nearly impossible if you’re not a big brand. So when an opportunity arises that allows you to do so, it is the opportunity you should never miss out.

This is the experience I had when we found linking with photo libraries.

It combined two of the biggest challenges we face; create links and find good photos for the blog content that we write. As an agency that focuses on working with small travel companies, we knew these were major issues that our clients and businesses similar to those were also facing. Not to mention bloggers.

The idea is simple. There are many photo sites out there, but trying to find niche specific images for free on these types of sites is very difficult. Do you want a random beach photo? There is no problem. Want a quality image for something? It is not so easy.

As experts in their field, our clients have a lot of images from their specialized sites, so it made sense that they could become the source of images for people who needed these types of images. All we ask in return is a link to the source of the image. The result: we help people find better images to use in their content, and in return we get links to our site on autopilot.

However, there is a little more than that, so here is the exact breakdown of the process we follow.

1. Do people need your images?

The first thing to check is if there is demand for stock images in your niche.

When traveling, we know people are looking for pictures, and you can usually switch countries or locations and find people who are still looking for pictures of those places. In other niches, however, it may not be as clear-cut, so it’s definitely worth doing some research to make sure this tactic is worth the time and effort. To do this, simply go to your favorite keyword tool and do some research on “THEME Photos”.

Ideally, you will find interesting research around that phrase and some variations of it. If “free TOPIC photos” are one of them, even better, because this is your ideal audience. Don’t worry too much if the volumes are low, the intention is so strong behind these phrases that you only need a small number of people to research it each month to pay the dividends during the months and years when your library is active.

2. Check the SERPs

Another good test is to look at the search results for those queries, click on the website’s ranking (which will usually be Pixabay, Shutterstock, etc.) and see how good your image is ranking. If you’re of a similar quality to the type of library you might be creating, this can be a warning sign that this tactic may not be worth the time and effort. However, in most cases, you would expect to find a much better selection than the usual stock sites. Through your experience in your own industry, you will know what kind of images you are looking for on a regular basis and be able to meet that need.

3. Source images

Once you’ve identified that this approach is worth pursuing, your next job is to make sure that you have images that you can use to build your photo library. Because our clients are from the travel industry and many are destination specialists, they have easy access and usually already have images. However, if you don’t have the images yet, it may be worth investing in a photographer or traveling for quality images. Long term ROI will likely continue to work for you, as not only will you get images to use in a link building tactic, but you will also get images for yourself that you would have to pay.

4. Create your library

Depending on how your website is built, this is one area that could stop this tactic in its tracks. If you have a custom website and you need the developers to spend a lot of time building something from scratch, the implementation might be too expensive. However, if you are on a platform like WordPress, there are plenty of easy plugin options to create a gallery page that has everything you need. The most important features of the page are:

People can download the high quality image on the spot. You can write a blurb on the page explaining that people should link back if they use any of your images. You can add a caption to the images.

5. Get the page ranking

This is crucial! This is the element that will make or break if you get links on autopilot. You need to make sure that your page ranks for the phrases you identified in step 1 above so that people will find your gallery alongside other storage sites. It can be scary to look at the domain rating of these sites and think it’s impossible to compete, but we’ve found that with a smaller niche site, a niche gallery on a well-optimized page can rank on page 1 without a high domain rating. The key here is to make sure that all of your elements on the page are set up perfectly, as well as having a good variety of quality images. If you do, you have a great chance of getting to page 1.

Once the dust settles, if you’re not on page 1, it may be worthwhile to actively link to your gallery to try and give yourself an extra boost to your rankings. Another alternative is to use PPC to bid on these phrases and gain visibility for your gallery. These will be cheap clicks, and if you track your ad spend closely, you can find out if it’s worth it for the cost per link rate.

Obtain the classification of images

Naturally, people will search for images on Google Images as well, so it’s important to make sure that they’re image-optimized as well.

To do this, make sure to:

URLs use keywords to describe the content of the image, not just the camera filename (for example, st-peters-basilica-dome.jpg and not IMG_0123.JPG). Includes alt text that describes in more detail what is in the image. Use illustrated site maps. You optimize the thumbnails.

Don’t forget the video!

All of the above references were to images, but there is naturally a lot of scope for applying this to video as well.

The same challenges apply to expensive archival videos. So if you can create and deliver good quality video clips, it will also increase your chances of getting more links with this approach.

Keep a register

In most cases, I like to think positively about human nature and have a strong belief that people will always do as they are asked and bond with you when they use your image. However, there may be times when users forget your request or “forget” to include the attribution. To make sure you get what you deserve by donating your images for free, you can track where your images appear online, and if you find any examples without attribution, you can contact those people and ask them to kindly add a link. You can do it manually one by one using Google reverse image search, or you can invest in software like this that allows you to do it in bulk.

In summary

Don’t expect a flood of links. However, over time, a photo library can help you develop a strong link profile and get sitelinks that would not be possible otherwise. And don’t limit yourself to just one gallery! If the tactic works for you, identify other research that people do when looking for stock images and use that to create lots of niche image directories that will help you evolve this approach. This isn’t a tactic that will work for everyone, so I highly recommend that you do a keyword research in your niche to see if there are people out there looking for images to use. If so, there may be a perfect void waiting for you to fill it, resulting in lots of juicy ties.

This article is shared by https://www.itechscripts.com/php/stockphoto-script | A leading resource of inspired clone scripts. It offers hundreds of popular scripts that are used by thousands of small and medium enterprises.

[lovehaswonangelnumbers]

New Post has been published on https://lovehaswonangelnumbers.org/galactic-upgrades-ushering-alignment/

Galactic Upgrades Ushering Alignment

Galactic Upgrades Ushering Alignment

By Think With Your Heart

February was such a HIGHLY activating month that I already can’t remember it.   More than any other month I am still in the process of integrating, deciphering and decoding the tremendous array of light codes that presented all month long, and I don’t see or feel this lessening in intensity any time soon.  The steadily increasing photonic/cosmic/plasmic energy levels are now invoking continual resets, reboots & recalibrations (seemingly all at once)…rapidly ushering each of us into alignment/right order for some major new life cycles beginning as I write this.  It’s as challenging as it is exhilarating.

Last month was a universal 5 month and so its overarching purpose was to initiate (agitate) major completions, breakthroughs and opportunities to make important, even long-overdue changes that will start to manifest more fully this month.  Life situations that have been putting extra pressure on us, pushing us to adopt a new outlook, to come unstuck, are now breaking thru at the physical level of life forcing a major dam to break in our personal affairs.

The full (Virgo) supermoon (on 2/19) was the linchpin, the tension breaker needed to thrust us out of our ruts so we are poised for the Heaven on Earth Era (via Uranus in Taurus (3/6).  This lunar cycle has since been ushering us into the scenarios needed to shift tracks…to get off the commuter rail which has way too many “stops”, and onto the rapid transit line which has a higher train frequency and runs on its own separate tracks. This fast track is the 12/3 energy of 2019 that we are all adjusting to and last month has been extremely powerful in assisting us to make the necessary modifications needed to open ourselves up to these Creation energies, to become ONE with the Force.

February also saw THE END of Chiron in Pisces and his long awaited ingress into Aries which is already liberating beyond belief. For 8 very turbulent years we have been sloshing around in our core wounding, tumbled & tossed about in the tides of feminine healing, where the accumulation of all our many lifetimes of suffering have been held.

The pioneers of the ascending collective…starseeds, blue rays, light workers, anchors, angelics, pioneers & volunteers…have literally been carrying/clearing the “weight of the world” via the water in our cells, working tirelessly to transmute the expired human condition thru each of our own bodies.  With Chiron in Aries to stay (until 2027) we can finally dry out our waterlogged souls which will significantly lighten our load to quicken the pace of life.

And now, moving into the third month of the year…packed with Trinity energies…we begin March with a very important Mercury retrograde cycle needed to prepare for the new era before us, to download the blueprint needed to create our Kingdoms “on earth as it is in heaven”.  According to my Sources, this will be a time of connecting dots like no other…major puzzle pieces falling into place, intuitively and otherwise…as it pertains to our highest purpose for this lifetime.

The energy to support that acquisition is already palpable, there are some exceptionally creative qualities bursting forth, begging to make our wildest dreams a reality….new inspirations, aspirations & motivations abound just waiting for the Aries sun to ignite the spark of our new life to begin again.  For the first three months of the year we are storing solar energy in our cells, steadily building up steam from the heat of our combustion chambers, readying to hit the ground running post-equinox and along side Uranus in Taurus.

In those areas that are already clicking into position we may be given a head start with a whole slew of sudden green lights which, in some cases can be both immensely productive but also demanding as we open the blocks in our bodies and lives to allow for more consistent streams of Creativity that are fueling our entrance into our Second Life.

March will be a very pivotal month in this regard, one that has a real sense of exiting much different than we enter.  With Mercury retrograde in Pisces, this won’t be forward moving in a typical sense…more like swimming the backstroke across the ocean with a sweeping celestial view of the night sky…BUT, it has the potential to be one of the most soul affirming months, maybe ever.

Get ready for the pre-spring cleaning of a lifetime!

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[orbemnews]

Twitter Bans MyPillow C.E.O. Mike Lindell: Live Business Updates Here’s what you need to know: Mike Lindell, the chief executive of MyPillow, helped fund a bus tour that promoted Donald T. Trump’s false election claims.Credit…Erin Scott/Reuters Twitter said it had permanently barred Mike Lindell, the chief executive officer of the bedding company MyPillow and a close ally of former President Donald J. Trump, from its service. The move on Monday night followed numerous tweets by Mr. Lindell promoting debunked conspiracy theories about election fraud. Mr. Lindell’s Twitter account, which had nearly 413,000 followers, was permanently suspended “due to repeated violations of our Civic Integrity Policy,” said Lauren Alexander, a Twitter spokeswoman, in an email. Corporate America has moved swiftly to try to turn down the volume on assertions by Mr. Lindell, a major Republican donor and one of the loudest voices perpetuating Mr. Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the Nov. 3 elections. Kohl’s and Bed Bath & Beyond removed MyPillow products from their stores last week. Mr. Lindell also faces legal action over his claims of voting fraud involving Dominion Voting Systems, the company at the center of one of the more outlandish conspiracy theories about voter fraud. His account’s suspension is the latest in a series of high-profile bans by Twitter since the company permanently blocked Mr. Trump from its service over concerns that he would use the platform to incite more violence like the storming of the Capitol this month. After the attack on the Capitol, Twitter said it had updated its rules to more aggressively police false or misleading information about the presidential election. As part of that move, Twitter has moved to suspend the accounts of more than 70,000 people who have promoted content related to QAnon, a fringe pro-Trump group that the F.B.I. has labeled a domestic terrorist threat. Ms. Yellen is the first woman to hold the top job at Treasury in its 232-year history.Credit…Leah Millis/Reuters The Senate confirmed Janet L. Yellen to be Treasury secretary on Monday, putting her at the forefront of navigating the fallout created by the pandemic as she advocates for President Biden’s economic agenda. Ms. Yellen, the former Federal Reserve chair, was confirmed by a vote of 84 to 15 with support from both Republicans and Democrats. She is the first woman to hold the top job at Treasury in its 232-year history. With the confirmation, she will now be thrust into the middle of negotiations over a potential $1.9 trillion economic aid package that is the chief plank of Mr. Biden’s effort to revive the economy. The size of the plan already met with doubts from some Democrats and Republicans. Ms. Yellen has been a clear champion of continued government support for workers and businesses, publicly warning that a lack of aid to state and local governments could slow the recovery, much as it did in the aftermath of the Great Recession. At her confirmation hearing and in written responses to lawmakers, Ms. Yellen echoed Mr. Biden’s view that Congress must “act big” to prevent the economy from faltering and defended using borrowed money to finance another aid package, saying not doing so would leave workers and families worse off. “The relief bill late last year was just a down payment to get us through the next few months,” Ms. Yellen said. “We have a long way to go before our economy fully recovers.” Shoppers wait outside of a GameStop on Black Friday. An online community of traders seem to be fueling a spike in the store’s share price.Credit…Go Nakamura for The New York Times In an epic contest between Wall Street traders who bet against stocks and legions of small-scale investors, the small guys are winning. On Monday, shares of the struggling video game retailer GameStop surged, adding to a recent rally that has lifted the stock by more than 300 percent in January alone and making it a glaring illustration of the growing power of small investors in certain segments of the financial markets. Shares of companies like GameStop are becoming detached from the kinds of factors that traditionally help benchmark a company’s valuation — like growth potential or profits. Analysts expect the company to report a loss from continuing operations of $465 million for 2020, on top of the $795 million it lost in 2019. What seems to be fueling this spike is an online community of traders, who congregate in places like Reddit’s “Wall Street Bets” forum and hype up individual trades. Lately, they’ve made buying short-dated call options on GameStop’s shares — an aggressive bet that the shares will rise — a favorite position. Market analysts and academics say a rush of new money in such short-dated call options can create a sort of feedback loop that drives the underlying share prices higher, as brokerage firms that sell the options have to themselves buy shares to hedge the contracts. In GameStop’s case, these small investors have found themselves going up against a different group of speculators. The company’s struggles have also made it a favorite target for short-sellers — who bet on a stock’s decline by selling shares they don’t actually own. Short sellers profit when a stock has plunged and they can buy those same shares back at a lower price. Of course, with GameStop’s shares surging, those investors are losing a lot of money. And their rush to get out of the trade by buying shares can cause a surge in prices, too, called a short squeeze. On Monday, the small traders on Wall Street Bets and the messaging site Discord were encouraging each other to hold on to their positions as the short-sellers ran for the exits. “Am I too late to get on the GME rocket?,” one commenter on Wall Street Bets wrote shortly after 10 a.m. “No buy the dip,” another responded. On Discord, the message was clear. “GME ONLY UP,” one commenter wrote. Budweiser’s Covid-19 awareness advertisement includes two health workers who were being vaccinated.Credit…Budweiser, via Associated Press Budweiser, the beer giant whose commercials featuring Clydesdale horses, croaking frogs and winsome puppies made it one of the most beloved Super Bowl advertisers, is opting out of the game-time broadcast this year for the first time in 37 years to focus on raising awareness for the Covid-19 vaccine. Budweiser, an Anheuser-Busch company, said Monday that it would donate portions of its advertising budget this year to the Ad Council, a nonprofit marketing group at the helm of a $50 million ad blitz to fight coronavirus vaccine skepticism. Instead of debuting a splashy big-game commercial, as Super Bowl advertisers often do in the weeks leading up to the Feb. 7 match, the beer company released its 90-second online vaccination ad, titled “Bigger Picture.” (Anheuser-Busch will still feature prominently during the game, with ads for several of its other beer brands.) Other Super Bowl stalwarts, including Coca-Cola, Hyundai and Pepsi, will also be missing onscreen. As the pandemic disrupted the sports industry, many companies hesitated to pay CBS roughly $5.5 million for a 30-second slot during a game that some worried could be delayed or even canceled. In the Budweiser Covid-19 vaccination ad, the actress Rashida Jones urges viewers to “turn our strength into hope” while the melody of “Lean on Me” plays as inspirational images from the pandemic are shown. Ms. Jones, who recorded her narration while isolated from other people in a Hollywood facility, said in an interview that “obviously people want to be entertained, they want to watch funny commercials,” but “what’s most important is that we prioritize this next phase.” The Super Bowl advertising season, which usually extends beyond the broadcast into weeks of teasers, celebrity reveals, YouTube debuts and celebratory live events, is more subdued as companies struggle to adopt an appropriate tone after a year full of marketing missteps. “You can’t pretend like everything’s OK,” Ms. Jones said. “People can sense when brands are exploiting a moment.” Source link Orbem News #Bans #Business #CEO #Lindell #Live #Mike #MyPillow #Twitter #Updates

[architectnews]

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Building

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Zaha Hadid Michigan Architecture, Architect Design Photos

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

New Michigan Building in East Lansing, USA design by Zaha Hadid Architects

May 1, 2021

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Co-Founder Dies

Eli Broad, Whose Generous Patronage Transformed the Cultural Landscape of Los Angeles and Brought the Arts to Many, Dies at the Age of 87

Eli Broad: photograph : Ryan Miller © Capture Imaging

Philanthropist and entrepreneur Eli Broad, who is the only person to found two Fortune 500 companies in different industries and who co-founded with his wife Edye the contemporary art museum, The Broad, died at the age of 87, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation announced April 30th, 2021.

In 1991, the Broads endowed The Eli Broad College of Business and The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University (MSU), where Broad graduated cum laude in 1954.

In June 2007, the Broads announced a $26 million gift to create the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at MSU, which was designed by acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid, and they gave another $2 million to the project in January 2010.

Nov 14, 2012

Broad Art Museum Building

Broad Art Museum at MSU Opens

Location: East Lansing, Michigan, USA

Design: Zaha Hadid Architects

Photographs © 2012, Eli Broad

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University Opens

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University opened this past Saturday at a dedication ceremony attended by 2,000 people, including Eli and Edythe Broad, MSU President Lou Anna Simon, Architect Zaha Hadid and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder.

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Hadid, the 46,000-square-foot Broad Art Museum at MSU features a striking façade of pleated stainless steel and glass, distinguishing the building from MSU’s traditional Collegiate Gothic north campus.

The museum will present contemporary art within a historical context through its study collection of more than 7,500 objects, ranging from the Greek and Roman periods to modern art. The building features galleries for special exhibitions, modern and contemporary art, new media, photography and works on paper.

The facility also includes an education wing, a works-on-paper study center, shop and café. Adjacent to the museum is an expansive outdoor sculpture garden and a large pedestrian plaza. Eli and Edythe Broad contributed the lead gift of $28 million toward the $40 million museum and donated 18 artworks.

A study released last week found that the museum is expected to pump nearly $6 million a year into the local economy.

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum images / information from Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

Jan 5, 2010

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Building News

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking took place on 16 Mar 2010 with Zaha Hadid and donors Edythe Broad and Eli Broad wielding shovels.

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum News

Work due to start on 16 Mar 2010 on the Broad Art Museum building, designed to contain the Michigan State University collection of modern art. This is the second building by Zaha Hadid in the USA (if you discount the Millennium Pavilion in Chicago) after the Cincinnati museum in Ohio. Feb 2010

New building in East Lansing images from Zaha Hadid Architects 050110

Previously:

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Architect – Competition Winner

Zaha Hadid Architects has been selected as the winner in the design competition for the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University. Zaha Hadid joined the Broads at two public events today where MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon announced the winner.

“I am absolutely delighted to be building the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University. Art Museums are centres for the exchange of ideas, showcasing the art that feeds the cultural life of the community. I believe we can create buildings that evoke original experiences, inspire people, and make them excited about new ideas. The sculptural folds of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum’s design and enigmatic qualities of its steel and glass surface follow a coherent formal logic, offering a sense of unlimited possibilities.”

Zaha Hadid

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum – Project Description

Introduction

The location of the art museum at the northern Edge of the Michigan State University Campus is influenced by a set of movements adjacent to and across it. The vital street life on the northern side of Grand River Avenue and the historic heart of the university campus at the south side generate a network of paths and visual connections.

This highly frequented interface between city and campus has an additional layer, the traffic along the Grand River Avenue in east-west-direction. The zebra crossings and the street life on the northern side of the street as well as the bus-stops introduce a traversal movement layer in this part of the Grand River Avenue, slowing down the traffic and creating a focus on the structures along this stretch.

Landscape Carpet Concept

The initial momentum for Zaha Hadid Architect’s Design is generated by developing a landscape carpet picking up these loose ends of the urban fabric and interweaving them with the different movement directions across and along the site. This landscape layout develops from an urban end at the western side of the plot.

From this Western end, where the plot of the museum is neighboured by the large Berkey Hall, the new square exposes the western edge of the site by allowing for a deep insight from west to east along Grand River Avenue.The second main transversal crossing over the plot is a modifi cation of the existing pedestrian connection between the corner of Bailey Street / Grand River Avenue and the East Circle Drive on the campus.

This path is used as an entry to the eastern end of the plot, the Landscape-Side, at the interface of Museum to sculpture garden. Between these two North-South Axis linking Campus and City, a pattern of linear movements picking up directions of the surrounding structures is woven forming the base for a landscape carpet, introducing different zones and surfaces to the plot and being the base for folding up the volume of this new East Lansing building.

The Building

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum building’s appearance embraces the idea of being folded out of the different movements intersecting on the site. The light structure of the outer envelope is a sharp and directed body, a composition of patches on directional pleats, reflecting the landscape carpet’s geometry. It underlines both the movements in and around the site as well as the development from the ‘urban’ western end to the landscape side of the plot facing east. Each patch of the facade picks up a different direction of the composition of the landscape carpet, depicting its origin both at the inside and at the outside of the building.

The elongated sculpture of the museum building leans against the west in a dramatic gesture, a direct counter movement towards the approaching traffic, forming a raised head with a 40 feet tall front face towards the urban plaza and the volume of the Berkley Hall.

Elevations:

From there the volume undertakes a linear and continuous shift in scale to the east side which faces the sculpture garden, where it blends into the landscape at 27 feet height, signifi cantly below the tree tops, mediating between the scales of the large structures and the garden in the east. The east is sculpted by a positive-negative play of building volume and landscape patches, forming a three-sided courtyard with an open inner facade, staging a floating space between galleries and landscape.

The outer skin of the new building, a structure of stainless steel with a gradual perforation and glass, picks up the play of different directions and orientations by giving each face of a pleat either an opaque or transparent character. It gives the building an ever changing appearance whilst moving past it, at the same time it is used to filter and direct the daylight depending on each gallery’s purpose and orientation.

Interior Materials & Ambience The stainless steel skin on the outside of the building is mirrored in a white ceiling, conveying the pleated profile of each facade patch to the inside of the galleries and providing them with guided and diffused daylight (primarily north-light) through the open faced of the pleats.

The choice of materials reflects the building’s clear-cut volume and form and creates a harmonious and clear background ensemble in plaster walls, concrete floor and wooden flooring on the first floor. The abstract white walls let the artwork speak for itself; the slightly changing light directions indicate subtle changes in atmosphere when moving from room to room to form a spatial background.

Plans:

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum – Building Information

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, East Lansing, Michigan, USA 2007 – tbc

PROGRAM: Museum space for Michigan State University campus CLIENT: Michigan State University ARCHITECT: Design: Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher Project Director: Nils Fischer Project Architects: Britta Knobel, Fulvio Wirz Project Team: Daniel Widrig, Melike Altinisik, Mariagrazia Lanza, Rojia Forouhar

CONSULTANTS: Structural: AKT Adams Kara Taylor, London – Hanif Kara Environmental/M&E: Max Fordham,London – Henry Luker Lighting: Isometrics Light Consultants, London / New York – Gerardo Olvera

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum images / information from Zaha Hadid Architects

Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum design : Zaha Hadid

Location: Michigan State University, USA

Architecture in Michigan

Michigan Buildings

Michigan Architecture Designs

Edward J. Minskoff Pavilion Design: LMN Architects photograph : Adam Hunter/LMN Architects Edward J. Minskoff Pavilion at Michigan University

Biological Sciences Building, University of Michigan Design: Ennead Architects / SmithGroup photograph : Bruce Damonte courtesy of Ennead Architects University of Michigan Biological Sciences Building

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Website: Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum in East Lansing, Michigan

American Architects

American Architecture

Eli Broad, 76, and MSU alumnus, made his name by running a real estate company (now known as KB Home) and the financial giant SunAmerica.

Comments / photos for the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Architecture design by Zaha Hadid Architects in East Lansing, Michigan, USA page welcome

The post Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Building appeared first on e-architect.

[nathanfryerwoods]

Lucky Stars - Blurb and Introduction - Nathan Fryer-Woods

Comically depressing… Lawrie is trapped in an undisclosed location in southeast Asia. It's undisclosed, as Lawrie is a real life boy, still stuck, still in danger. An illegal alien, through no fault of his own, and now a father for the first time. As a mysterious disease ravages the world outside, Lawrie is trapped on the edge of the jungle and civilization, in the most tribal part of the country with the feral in-laws he now calls family. While trying to teach and help his son to grow, he's constantly battling against the bad habits, tribal practices and the deeply embedded superstitions, passed down over the generations. No matter how futile his attempt would seem, all he can do is try… what could possibly go wrong??

www.gogetfunding.com/luckystars        www.paypal.me/whliteraryagent

Introduction.

I hope you like reading…

They say, it's all about the first line. So now that's over and done with, hi, my name's Nathan. Originally from the UK, but now (and I've always said this as a bit of a joke, but these days it has new meaning), happily trapped in south east Asia. My almost 9 month old Son is doing just great. My wife's family are certifiably crazy, which wasn't a problem till we started living with them. Unfortunately, it's rubbing off on me, and I'm stuck here between a rock, and a bit of a pickle. Not the place I intended to be, whilst raising my first and probably only child.

Thanks to the madness currently possessing the world, my options, just like most people's, are thin on the ground. But as a foreigner in this country, with no government bail out like I'd be getting back home, I expect I'm currently somewhere towards the top end of the world's poverty chart… I've chosen not to openly disclose where I am exactly, as publishers in this country need to exercise a very careful caution, and the laws here regarding slander and defamation of character, mixed up with my legal status, could end up making my situation much worse. I'm not trying to cast a negative light on this place, but it might sometimes seem that way, with how I write about it. I love this place, I just hate this situation and feel so helpless.

I realise I may also at times sound very unappreciative. That's because I am... my body doesn't appreciate white rice every meal of every day. And though I'm used to picking things out of my food, when bugs are a part of the recipe, it feels a bit rude. My lungs don't appreciate the smell of burning bottles every night, and I'm sick of moving the big piles of plastic that mount up outside the room where my son sleeps. I'm also not too keen on the kitchen knife under his pillow, this turned up there, not because of my wife's heavy hands waking him up in tears, but the bad dreams caused by the ghosts. And even though we all know the only way to scare a ghost away is with cutlery, I think I'd prefer a bad dream every once in a while, than one time having a kitchen knife lodged in my neck.

All this being said, I have chosen, for many reasons (and very few alternatives), to ride this out as long as possible for the sake of my Son. The book I am writing explains my situation, and by reading it you should be able to fill in the very odd, small gap. But if not, fire me a message and we'll have a chin-wag.

In a nutshell, I was robbed of the money for my renewal of a very important document by a tour operator. Due to my own naivety, and being busy working in a different city, it was almost 3 months before I realised there was a problem. At the time, my wife was pregnant, and the little money I had was to take care of the hospital bill. After taking some bad advice, I scraped together $500 and paid someone who's family are high up in government and the police, to sort the problem out (at the time, the standard practice was to lock people up waiting for someone back home to cough up). Now, I'm down an extra $500, and the document I need to pass through ports is nowhere to be seen. Which is a bit of a worry. I've been here long enough, seen it all before, and by now have learnt that there's nothing much I can do to sort this, without having the cash to pay the overstay. And going to my embassy wouldn't do any good either, they can't help me out of this, not if I don't have the funds.

The area we now live in is very rural, nothing but farmland for miles around. My skill set is absolutely useless out here. I've spent most of my time in this country working in tourism, mainly managing guesthouses, a skill I'm very thankful for being able to pick up. At the time the world began to fall apart, I was project managing the build of an eco-resort. I wasn't making much, but the potential was there. My manager made the right decision at the time, and cut his losses. A few months later my wife gave up and went back to her parents while I kept trying. But when she told me her and her family (that day there were 5 people not including children), were sharing 2 eggs between them, I decided to come back too. I know what these people are like, and can't let my son grow up like them.

When he was born, I was told it would be 6 weeks before we could get out and back to work. It had been 2 months when I was told the in-laws wanted us to go back to work, leaving my child here. Another month later and they finally got the message. There's no way I'm leaving my boy with a man who gives 3 year olds energy drinks at 8am, while the rest of the family spend their time beating and screaming at him as he's got too much energy, or is crashing from the sugar. This poor boy has all black stumps for teeth on the top row, no pants on all day as he rolls around in the dirt people have been pissing in, and takes worming tablets. This boy, does not need energy drinks. Grandma, loves giving the 22 month old, the dregs of her antihistamine medicine. It tastes nice, so it must be good. Ma can't read the back of packets, instructions or warnings. 

Now, the only real option I have is farm work on the family plot. I did this last time we were here when our son was born, usually earning somewhere between $3.75 & 7.50 every 2 days. This time of year, the farm is out of season. Once this years crop is ready, the total worth of the farm's produce will be around $5.00 every 2 days as the 1st month creeps by. This time around, as it looks like I'll be staying for the foreseeable future, I've got to come up with a real plan, I can't put up with this much longer. I used to be vegetarian, and though we're surrounded by farms, I haven't seen a vegetable in 10 days. Now I eat fish heads.. the cheeks, the brains, their faces. I give the eyes to my wife's brothers…I had to draw the line somewhere.

My only way of making a decent wage out here, is to work online. Ideally I'd like to teach English. But most of the day, we're in a black hole for data connection, and with the lack of a certain document, signing up as a teacher isn't possible anyway.

So what's the plan? Well, I guess I'll carry on clutching at straws, keep writing the book, prepare the land for this years harvest and raise the boy. Plenty to keep me busy, but I need way out of this, before my boy grows up like his feral cousins. I feel like I'm living in a George Orwell book, and I don't mean 1984, that's the outside world. We're still stuck on Animal Farm.

I always thought I'd be somewhere in my 50s/60s, when I finally thought about penning my first book. When I had something to write about, and my fingers couldn't handle playing music any longer... As it turns out, I have plenty to write about, and it's spilling out with ease. I've always written, but a novel seemed a little too daunting to even think about. I wouldn't like to guess just how many songs I've written since my first, 25 years ago (which was terrible, and I hate that I still remember it). But the 2 albums trapped in my head are pretty good, at least I recon so. Hopefully they will see the light of day, at some point in the future.

I started the novel on the night of the 21st December 2020, and as of today - 29th Dec, I'm over the 10,000 word marker (though I've been doing a daily, rough edit as I go, I've been advised to try and avoid this, but I wanted the intro to be somewhat polished for upload). I'm hoping to entice some of you in, with the first few chapters. If it's something you're into, super duper. I'm looking for 'donations', to help my family out of this situation, but all donors will receive a copy of the book when finished, and after it's final edit.

A little can go a long way out here, and anything would be much appreciated as I'm raising my little champ. The link to the funding site can be found below, or by clicking here.

If you're not able to spare anything, no worries, but do keep checking back to my blog as (and don't quote me on this), I'll probably be adding to and updating as I go, up to the point of a ghastly cliffhanger, obviously, nerr... Once I've finished writing and editing, anyone who's helped out will be sent a link to download an e-book copy, and if and when I'm lucky enough to have it published in printed form, each will receive a copy of that in time, a few things depending. All will get a mention in both copies on a dedication page as a huge thank you (unless requested otherwise). And I'd like to offer people the chance to leave an inspirational message/joke/clue to where buried treasure may be hidden, or of course, just absolute nonsense, for the outside world to read alongside their dedication. Heck, use it to promote your auntie's dog wash service, see if I care. Could be quite interesting, and sounds like fun to me.

At the rate that I'm writing, I expect to be in the final editing stage by about mid February.

The novel is written as a fiction, but at the same time, is almost completely autobiographical. Names and places have been changed to help protect our safety here, but the story, and its characters are real. I can promise that, as I'm living it.

And just before I get back to work, I must say… I know that sometimes my use of punctuation, Capitals, and commas, may be a little unorthodox,,, but just so you know, I do know most of what I'm doing wrong, I did fairly well in school (not so bad)… but, I knew better… and still think that I might. And besides, I've got some good friends back home with already published work, who are going to help with the final cut… I've not pestered them so much as of yet, and what's down currently, is me with very little coaching, but with a little help from my friends, in the end, it'll brush up alright. Any questions, comments or advice would be more than welcomed, you can find my email address below.

Oh, and no matter how important the first line of a story must be, I just couldn't help myself… A tongue-in-cheek nod to my future self, hopefully showing how far I've come. I'm sorry, you'll get over it.

Thank you for reading, you're welcome to carry on, and I hope you do.

Nathan Fryer-Woods

[The light that shines from within me, bows to the light that shines within you]

www.gogetfunding.com/luckystars

nathanfryerwoods@protonmail.com

NOTE TO POTENTIAL PUBLISHERS

I know for any publisher, having a plot outline is very important and often essential for most first time authors. Although I am a true 'pantser' in life in general and writing this whilst in the thick of it, day by day. I do have my main outline. The middle marathon (with all potential real life disasters averted), being based on one or more of the many fears I have for the future, and twists in the plot coming from actual past events which have happened to me whilst being here. But as I say, this is all providing nothing major happens as I'm writing, and with all that's happened here already, would be an unexpected, and highly unlikely surprise. I have also been writing daily outlines, more detailed and over a smaller time frame, for the following days work. I will happily provide the main plot outline, and an up-to-date manuscript upon request. Nice one.

N-F-W

[lovehaswonangelnumbers]

New Post has been published on https://lovehaswonangelnumbers.org/strawberry-fields-forever-horoscopes-february-25th-march-3rd-2019/

Strawberry Fields Forever ~ Horoscopes February 25th-March 3rd, 2019

Strawberry Fields Forever ~ Horoscopes February 25th-March 3rd, 2019

Via Aeolianheart

It is the second week of Pisces season, a perfect time to go within and make peace with the past. This is a time of deep reflection, for the Sun’s annual journey through the zodiac ends here.

As the Sun in Pisces submerges its light deeper and deeper into the waters of the abyss, memories bubble and emotions begin to flood.

Amidst the blissful enchantments of remembrance, the pain and sorrow of the past can emerge vividly.

Just breathe in. And let it go. 

Remember that in the oceans of Pisces, even your bitterest tears will find their way home: dissolving back into the waters from whence they were born.

In Pisces, the Sun’s light no longer illuminates your individual story, fueled by the drama of your personal pain. Instead, the Sun illuminates the vastness of the whole human story, the collective unconscious that merges all time and memory together. It is here where your sacrifice of pain becomes resurrected as much deeper compassion for the world.

There is deep wisdom to be gained during Pisces season, but it is not taught through words or elaborate theories. The wisdom of Pisces is transmitted through the most primal level of consciousness, the limitless realm of imagination.

In language, only songs and poetry can begin to capture the essence of this realm. Untainted by the cognitive and rational mind, songwriters and poets are cherished for bringing treasures of wisdom back from the most primal level of consciousness: the swirl of eternal images.

Songs and poetry are the golden threads of enchantment that weave waking and dream life together.

There are innumerable examples to draw inspiration from, such a vast ocean of beauty to behold. But for this week’s meditation on Pisces, feel into the ambiance created by listening to the Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever which was released in February of 1967.  

It is an exquisite song. If you knew nothing about its place in the history of psychedelic pop music, you would still fall under its spell as the lyrics begin with…

Let me take you down…

‘Cause I’m going to Strawberry Fields

Nothing is real

And nothing to get hung about

Strawberry Fields forever

…it begins like a song of innocence, an idyll from the ancestors of English poetry reaching across the centuries to uplift your heart and soul with the shared imagination of strawberry fields stretching on forever.

But the wisdom of the Sun in Pisces does not only express itself through eternal images of beauty. The Sun in Pisces is also felt when you are drawn to experience the dissolution of self…

Living is easy with eyes closed

Misunderstanding all you see

It’s getting hard to be someone

But it all works out

It doesn’t matter much to me

The Sun in Pisces asks you to remember that even the most heroic of heroes’ journeys must eventually dissolve back into the infinite, its torchlight merging into the glistening sparkle of the whole human story.

No one I think is in my tree

I mean it must be high or low

When interviewed about his songwriting process, John Lennon described Strawberry Fields Forever as being “psycho-analysis set to music”, a meditation upon his visionary sense of the world, that emerged in childhood.

“I always was so psychic or intuitive or poetic or whatever you want to call it, that I was always seeing things in a hallucinatory way.”

Reflecting further upon his journey of becoming a poet, John Lennon also shared:

“ Surrealism had a great effect on me, because then I realized that the imagery in my mind wasn’t insanity…Surrealism to me is reality….Even as a child. When I looked at myself in the mirror…I would find myself seeing hallucinatory images of my face changing and becoming cosmic and complete…”

  ..Strawberry Fields forever…

Monday/Tuesday: It’s Getting Hard

The week begins with a melancholy mood, as the Moon wanes through the last degrees of Scorpio. The last notes of Venus’ recent conjunction with Pluto still linger, giving you a sense of what will arise when she makes a conjunction with the South Node on Monday.

This alignment between Venus and the South Node in Capricorn will offer lessons about what aspects of the past can now be sacrificed. Whatever outworn beliefs that foster any lack of self-esteem can now be discarded.

Let dead leaves fall where they may to nourish the soil for the future.

Wednesday/Thursday: To Be Someone

On Wednesday, the Sun in Pisces sextiles Mars in Taurus giving you the spirit and the motivated energy to get a lot of important work done.

Mars brings extra sensuality to the Sun’s mystical daydream. The world is full of great art, great food, and great sex! With your senses fully awake and alive, you will be reminded of how to appreciate the beauty in your life.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: But it All Works Out

On Friday, the first day of March, Venus in Capricorn will square Uranus in Aries. This will create a sharp instinct to define what your true values and integrity are built upon. You may suddenly choke on the lies you’ve been believing, turning sharply away from things that are luring you into the traps of conformity. This square will renew your sense of integrity, derived from your own common sense and intuition.

Just as this square perfects, Venus moves into the sign of Aquarius. The many practical worldly concerns that weighed down so heavy during her transit through Capricorn will be lightened up.

In Aquarius, Venus seeks to appease her appetites for beauty upon the edge, sifting through the outpourings of discarded madness in search of the light of genius. It is Venus in Aquarius that recognizes the spark of the divine in what has become outcast, unorthodox and strange.

  Much Love,

Rachel

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PEAK 2020 John Lewis launches its Christmas ad; Tesco shoppers queue for Christmas delivery slots; plus the latest research on changing shopper behaviour

John Lewis and Waitrose launched their Christmas ad today (Image courtesy of John Lewis)

The John Lewis ad is out - so peak Christmas shopping must be underway, albeit under lockdown conditions until December 2. Today we start our customary rolling news approach to pre-Christmas trading, bringing together the key stories from the news and research about how ecommerce and multichannel retailers are faring during Peak 2020. This story will be updated regularly.

  John Lewis kickstarts the Christmas ad season

John Lewis today launched its Christmas ad on its website and across social channels. At the time of writing the Give a Little Love ad, which was launched today and aims to raise £4m for the FareShare and Home-Start charities which are helping families hit by the pandemic, had more than half a million views.

    Pippa Wicks, executive director of John Lewis, said: “We recently set out our ambition for our business to be a force for good - so we decided that this year was the year to break the mould and do something different. We have a long tradition of helping support the communities which we serve, so as we launch one of the best loved assets, our Christmas ad, it’s fitting to take this one step further by working hand in hand with two incredible charities supporting families in need.

  “We were humbled by the kindness shown by the British public during the pandemic. We want this campaign to be uplifting and to inspire everyone to give some kindness in their own way this Christmas, especially to those who need it most. The pandemic has proved that it’s our small acts of love and kindness, particularly in challenging times, that captures what it is to be human; and when one small act of kindness multiplies it can have a lasting impact."

  Peter Grigg, chief executive at Home-Start, said: “Families are running on empty. The pandemic has been hard for all families, but it’s been toughest on those already facing challenges around mental health, low incomes, and other challenges in their lives. I have been overwhelmed by the kindness shown in our communities during the pandemic, but I know there is so much more to do. That is why I am so proud that John Lewis and Waitrose are supporting Home-Start with this amazing campaign. With the help of John Lewis and Waitrose partners and customers we will be able to work with more families when they need us most.”

  John Lewis is an Elite retailer in RXUK Top500 research.

  Shoppers queue for Christmas Tesco online delivery slots

Tesco, which has also pledged to support FareShare – with donations worth £4m – had to open an online virtual waiting room today amidst complaints of long wait for its Christmas online delivery slots. The retailer has reportedly apologised for the wait, which came as shoppers aired their grievances on Twitter today.

    How retailers and shoppers are adapting peak trading to shoppers’ new habits: study

  Most retailers have adapted their strategies to the way that shoppers now want to buy in Peak 2020, and to their financial concerns, new research suggests. A study from digital and technology consultancy Capgemini found that 83% have introduced new delivery options this year, with 44% introducing free delivery and 37% click and collect or pick-up from the curbside. Nearly half (46%) are offering more discounts, while 42% have brought in single-day and timed discounts.

  The research questioned 851 retail managers in six markets including the UK, US, Germany and France, in companies with more than 250 employees. It also questioned 6,588 shoppers in the same markets.

  It found that 51% of shoppers say they will buy more online this peak shopping season, a sentiment to which 91% of retailers have responded with steps to improve their online offering, while 47% have improved their website or online site, 37% have increased their web traffic capacity and 20% have introduced new virtual shopping experiences.

  More than half (52%) say they will offer greater discounts online and in-store, while 31% plan to offer a wider range online.

  Despite an appetite to buy online this Christmas, only 11% expect to spend more than usual on Black Friday, and 34% say they will spend less - partly because of having less disposable income (44%). Even in markets where shops are set to be open on Black Friday, many shoppers expect to avoid them, with in-store shopping in the US set to fall by 15 percentage points. The study projects that 27% of holiday purchases will be made in shops online, and 33% will only go to shops when they know what they want to buy, and 32% planning to research in advance. The study found that shoppers would prioritise essentials, with impulse spending likely to be lower.

  Steve Hewett, VP global lead for retail customer engagement at Capgemini, said the forecast for this year’s holiday sales was particularly complicated in the UK.

  He said: “National lockdowns have resulted in a large number of people building up savings, but 3 in 5 UK consumers we surveyed had no intention on using this on increased holiday spending. While it remains unclear just how much people will spend, it’s the changes around how people will shop that appear more certain.

  “The second lockdown will inevitably lead to further reduction in impulse purchases and will reduce demand in categories closely linked to business, leisure and entertainment. And with 50% of UK consumers we surveyed planning to make more use of online in the run up to Black Friday and Christmas – even categories where demand will be strong will face a tough fight to capture the attention and spend of customers that have shifted online through choice or necessity. Retailers that have managed to improve their online operations, who have put in place new technology and processes to provide better experiences online and in-stores and who have quickly grown their digital marketing muscles will be best placed to capture sales this holiday season, but will have also set themselves onto a stronger footing for the inevitably digital led shopping future ahead.”