#never underestimate what an inflated sense of self-importance does to some people

[pinksdoodles1]

professors will say shit like "i never put top marks" and never realize that they're basically admitting to being proud about none of their students ever succeeding. how do your own farts taste, huh?

[neuxue]

Wheel of Time liveblogging: Towers of Midnight Prologue (part 2)

Questions of morality and how to handle traps, with your hosts Graendal and Galad.

Well hello there, Graendal, fancy seeing you alive.

The goblet had been crafted with drops of blood caught in a ring pattern within the crystal.

I have a need.

I mean, I’d be drinking tea or maybe even hot chocolate out of that goblet rather than wine but that does nothing to change the fact that I need it. Villains, man. You can always rely on them for the aesthetics.

“We should be doing something” Aran’gar said

I’m not sure precisely why this is so absurdly funny to me, but it’s some combination of a) the real world being in quarantine right now, b) villains lounging in a villainous lair like ‘should we be… fucking shit up or something? Or can we really just take a moment to be All About the Aesthetic?’ and c) an oddly self-aware statement from a fictional character who realises that something is amiss if they’re not contributing to the plot.

Oh we’re still in Natrin’s Barrow, so this is before the er. Utter collapse of Rand’s moral scruples and near-destruction of the Pattern and associated fireworks.

Also, Aran’gar, when you fled the rebels, what the fuck gave you the idea that coming to Graendal as a refugee – alliance or no alliance – was a good plan? She will eat you for breakfast, and whether that’s literal or euphemistic probably makes no difference to the fact that ultimately, you will suffer for it.

Life was about feeling. Touches on your skin, both passionate and icy. Anything other than the normal, the average, the lukewarm.

I like this for the way it is both opposite to and yet weirdly the same as Semirhage’s perspective. The difference is mostly whether it is directed outwards or inwards.

And I also like it for the way it plays on how Graendal deals with subtlety versus ostentation. The way she so completely performs that ostentation and lack of subtlety and plays to the extremes, and it’s not entirely performative but it also serves the purpose of masking her capacity for great subtlety and control.

Listen. There’s a lot to dislike about Graendal, yes, but at the end of the day she fascinates me. She’s just such an intricate villain, for all that on the surface she could be played as scenery-chewing and flat. Because there’s something beneath that, and it all serves a purpose. She makes ‘all about the aesthetic’ into a legitimate strategy, without actually detracting from the aesthetic, and it’s just very… disturbingly cool.

Aran’gar is still trying to have a conversation as if she thinks she and Graendal are on the same level. How adorable.

“Excitement is best viewed from a distance,” Graendal said.

And yet life is about feeling, but somehow those are not mutually exclusive, and have I mentioned Graendal is fascinating to me?

I think… I know, I’m just rambling my way into this, but I think one of the things I enjoy most about her is that, for all that she has these different layers and apparent opposites and allows herself to be viewed one way when in reality there’s far more to it, none of it feels like pretence. It’s not like she’s putting on a false front, pretending to be totally absorbed in aesthetics and pleasure, because I think that part of her is genuine. But so is the scheming, and the love of order, and the subtlety. None of it is her pretending, but together it’s a more complex picture than most manage to grasp, and so they just see the surface level of it, and she’s happy to let them. But it’s different to crafting a mask – she’s not really hiding her true motives or her true self; people just may not be able to piece together exactly what that is. Because she’s a rather complicated person, for all that she seems simplistic in her over-the-top presentation.

Is it terrible that I would quite like her to survive this scene?

Wait what she can use the True Power? She’s using the True Power? Just beware the lifestyle inflation that goes with a promotion, Graendal.

And there were some weaves that could only be crafted by the True Power.

So speaking of the True Power… here’s the thing. Rand’s use of it was spectacular, and played such a perfectly exquisite role in his descent last book, but it doesn’t feel like that’s the end of it. That’s not the sort of bomb you drop just once for effect; those are the sorts of plot elements that come back. So… I’m curious. I have theories. Which I’ve gone into elsewhere so I’ll leave that for now.

My other immediate thought here is that Compulsion woven from the True Power and wielded by Graendal is a terrifying concept and I sort of want to see it because I’m a terrible human.

But seriously, it’s like the Domination Band in the hands of Semirhage. Sometimes you just want to give a villain their perfect tool and set them loose to wreak beautiful havoc.

(What can I say? I appreciate competence in all its forms).

Whatever the Creator could build, the Dark One could destroy.

Except the whole idea is balance, so that goes…both ways somehow. Not quite sure where I’m going with this but it’s certainly somewhere.

Meanwhile Graendal’s just using the True Power to taunt Aran’gar by almost literally poking her and saying ‘neener neener neener’ and honestly, fair.

Aran’gar and Delana began to exchange affections on the chaise.

Why is this so fucking hilarious to me?

Like okay, sit on the sofa, and one… two… three… go!

I don’t even know, but every time I look at that sentence I start laughing. Maybe it’s just that it’s such an obvious… ‘this is painfully awkward and I can’t write anything more detailed but also it’s happening on-screen so I can’t just pan to the fireplace please send help immediately, yours sincerely, Brandon Sanderson’.

Like. ‘And then sex happened but let’s just avert our eyes, shall we?’

Aran’gar continued her pleasures

I’m DYING. The awkward of writing this just bleeds through the page and it’s. Just. Kind of perfect. And honestly I sympathise. Like this genuinely captures the mood I feel whenever sex scenes turn up in movies or TV or whatever. Not awkwardness, precisely, but just a sense of like ‘okay… we’re doing this now… and we’re still doing this… um… *starts looking around the room for anything interesting*… still exchanging affections I see… ah okay good and now the scene resumes’.

Is that TMI? I feel like it’s almost the opposite of TMI but whatever, moving on.

More importantly, an alarm is going off, and Graendal sees no reason to let that interrupt Aran’gar getting off, so she just leaves.

Ah. Ramshalan. So we are indeed doing this scene from the other side. This ought to be… fun. I did wonder what it would look like from Graendal’s side, especially with Rand desperately trying to do his how-do-you-defeat-someone-smarter-than-you thing. And I’m very curious as to the outcome. Because there would be a certain beautiful awfulness in all that power and destruction, that force of light, not even achieving its aim, in the futility of catastrophe.

Wow, Ramshalan really is… a complete idiot.

But Graendal is not.

Best to be careful. Best to flee. And yet…

She hesitated. He must know pain… he must know frustration… he must know anguish. Bring these to him. You will be rewarded.

Oh, he has known those. He has known precious little else in the last two years, honestly. Though Semirhage played a more recent and telling role in that.

And Graendal’s hesitation, because for all her capacity, she is controlled, as are the rest of the Chosen and Friends of the Dark, by a selfishness none of them can quite overcome.

“Does that Aes Sedai of yours know Compulsion?”

Aran’gar shrugged. “She’s been trained in it. She’s passably skilled.” “Fetch her.”

Wow, for half a second there I thought they were talking about Egwene and was like ‘okay wow there’s one I definitely did not see coming’ but obviously it’s Delana.

Which means that the Compulsion Rand had Nynaeve detect… the Compulsion he used like a canary in a coal mine, the Compulsion whose vanishing he took as evidence of Graendal’s death, was never Graendal’s to begin with.

What an elegant move. Simple and yet perfect.

Also she can apparently see through the eyes of a dove. That’s… a new one. And don’t think I missed you using a dove, symbol of peace, for this.

The world as she saw it and a shadowed version of what the bird saw.

And I see what you did there, too.

But she’s using a dove to serve as her eyes. Not a raven or a rat but a dove, the symbol of light and peace, being used as a servant of the Shadow. Just as Rand, standing on that ridge and wielding a great force of Light, Rand, the champion of the Light, serving the Shadow’s aims even as he never turns from the side of the Light. I love it.

And yeah, she’s using Delana to craft the Compulsion. Graendal may not know exactly what Rand is planning, but she knows he’s planning something, and so she takes precautions. Which Rand knew she would, but for all his care to not underestimate her…

Would he attack? No, he wouldn’t harm women. That particular failing was an important one.

Yet at the same time she’s underestimating him.

Or rather, neither is precisely underestimating the other; they’re both just… thinking along the lines of what they perceive the other to be, and those lines are close but not quite accurate. I love watching these kinds of games play out, where it’s about thinking several moves ahead, move and countermove, trying to know what the opponent will do and ultimately it comes down to a… layering, almost, and the victor is the one who just happens to have laid the last layer. Or annihilated the gameboard; whichever comes first.

Bring him agony. Graendal could do that.

I… yeah.

Because at this point, Rand believes (believed, but relative to the timeline of this scene it’s present tense and argh this is why messy timelines frustrate me; do you know how annoying the grammar gets?) he is beyond agony, beyond feeling of any kind. He has made himself into ice and steel and cuendillar (heartstone, heart of the stone, pray that the heart of stone remembers tears…) and so he believes himself unfettered, capable of any atrocity because he has walled away the agony that would hold him back.

But for all that, what he does at Natrin’s Barrow… for all that he doesn’t let himself feel any of it, on some level it does cause him agony, and drives him further on that path that leads eventually to Tam and Ebou Dar and Dragonmount.

So really, you could say that Moridin’s statement, that ‘he must know anguish, he must know pain of heart’ is true from the perspective of the Light as much as it is from the perspective of the Shadow.

Because it is that anguish that drives him to serve the Shadow even while acting in the name of the Light… but it is also that anguish that leads him, ultimately, to the epiphany that brings him back truly to the Light he serves.

And it is letting himself feel that anguish, along with everything else he tried to push away, that allows him to do that. He must know anguish, yes, because he must learn no longer to push it aside, to allow himself to feel again, and in doing so he can be the champion of the Light as he is meant to be.

It's just a fun double meaning. Or manifold meaning, even. And I sort of wonder if Moridin knew that. It’s the kind of irony he might appreciate, to the extent that he appreciates anything.

“Something convoluted. I want al’Thor and his Aes Sedai to find the touch of a man on the mind.” That would confuse them further.

In this case she’s actually overestimating Rand (&co), but in its own way that’s just as dangerous as underestimating, in this game of each trying to outthink and outmanoeuvre one another before making their moves.

This whole seeing through a dove’s eyes is lovely on a symbolic level but does sort of strain my understanding of how magic works in this world. Ah well, we can handwave it as ‘True Power shenanigans’.

I suppose it’s not really any weirder than balefire or wolf-telepathy or Compulsion or being able to wander through someone else’s dream. Weird, where we draw our suspension of disbelief lines, and how it varies from series to series or system to system. Like, seeing through an animal’s eyes isn’t exactly uncommon in the genre; I just didn’t quite expect it in WoT specifically. No idea why.

The dove flapped out of the window. The sun was lowering behind the mountains

A symbol of peace flying into a darkening sky, a fading of the Light! (Oh, you thought I would let up on the atmospheric imagery when Sanderson took over? How naïve).

There was light up ahead. It was faint, but the dove’s eyes could easily pick out light and shadow

I MEAN. I see what you did there and I appreciate it.

I still sort of can’t believe Graendal was actually watching that whole time. It feels almost like cheating. Then again Rand obliterating half the Pattern also could be considered cheating, depending on which game we’re playing so there’s that.

I think for me it doesn’t quite cross the line into unbelievability, but some foreshadowing would have been nice for the whole seeing-through-the-eyes-of-a-dove thing. And I suppose there is some, in that we know that ravens and rats are ‘spies for the Dark One’, so maybe it’s on me for not realising that was an actual tool that the Dark One’s other servants may be able to use. But it just didn’t really seem set up that way, so I’m a bit on the fence.

The part that does work about this is that it’s Graendal being very, very good at the games she plays, just as Rand was afraid of. He knew she was clever, knew she would very likely see through any plan or strategy he created, and in a way she kind of… has. Or rather, she’s made use of something he didn’t account for, for all that his plan was also clever.

Al’Thor’s tame Aiel

There’s an excellent sort of irony in that phrasing, from one who lived in a time when the Aiel truly were nonviolent servants of the Aes Sedai.

[Nynaeve] would have to die; al’Thor relied upon her; her death would bring him pain.

Don’t you dare. It’s fine, her defeat of Moghedien was a perfect warm-up.

And after her, al’Thor’s dark-haired lover.

You’re forgetting his red-haired lover… and his sun-haired lover… but sure, let’s take Rand’s love life one at a time. That’s…fair.

He acted the same now as he had during her Age; he liked to plan, to spend time building to a crescendo of an assault.

Well, I mean, in this case, you are not wrong.

He’d brought that with him? It was nearly as bad as balefire.

About that.

Ah. And now she sees what his plan was. Hey, when Graendal thinks you’re clever, you should definitely take it as a compliment.

But it also means Graendal’s off for an impromptu holiday – but not before leaving Aran’gar and Delana shielded so that Rand’s plan will appear to succeed. Clever and ruthless and listen, I love her. I know, I know. I don’t know why I’m like this either.

She struggled to dismiss the gateway, and caught one glimpse of the horrified Aran’gar before everything behind was consumed in beautiful, pure whiteness.

The gateway vanished, leaving Graendal in darkness.

I just love the way light and dark (and gateways, actually) are played with in both iterations of this scene. Rand leaving the warm light of the gateway behind, crossing that threshold into a darkening sky. The way he is shadowed, his face in shadow, his eyes in shadow, just before he becomes a blinding, searing, awful-in-its-beauty form of pure Light with the potential to destroy the world. An enemy of the Shadow, yet surrounded by it even as he becomes light.

And now we almost bookend that, with Graendal leaving behind that white light of destruction, crossing back over a threshold and away from that scene, but she is of the Shadow and so while Rand’s gateway led him away from a warm light, this one takes her into the protection of darkness.

Balescream? That’s… a word.

A moment when creation itself howled in pain.

At the actions of the Light’s champion. The Creator’s champion. He must know anguish, and he has. And the Dragon is one with the Land, and the Land is one with the Dragon, and so it is only fitting that the Land knows that anguish as well. The entirety of creation sharing in the pain of near-undoing, brought on by but also embodied by Rand, the Dragon, its Champion, even as he embodies that Light by becoming it in that scene where he appeared more light than man.

This was a disaster.

No, she thought. I live.

And so we come to the question: do the ends justify the means, if they fail to achieve them?

It’s something WoT has played with before: Perrin torturing the Shaido and ultimately not getting any information from them comes to mind. This is just… on an even larger scale. Is the annihilation of a fortress and everyone in it, and almost the world around it, justified if it allows him to kill one of the Forsaken? If so, is it justified even if that is merely the intent, regardless of whether it succeeds or fails? What determines that justification, or lack thereof? Or is it unwarranted no matter the outcome, because the cost is too high?

(I am reminded, suddenly, of Rand in TFoH thinking that Moiraine’s apparent death and Lan’s departure was ‘a high price to pay for Lanfear’).

I just love these questions of morality and of where lines are drawn or should be drawn, precisely because they are so open-ended. And Rand’s… well, in a way it’s not even complete failure; he does kill Aran’gar if not Graendal, but that almost plays into it as well because it’s an unintended consequence. It’s not what he set out to do.

So then we add ‘if he did this to kill a specific one of the Forsaken, and she escapes but he happens by accident to kill another, does that end justify those means?’ But his failure to kill Graendal leaves that question so much more ambiguous: as if the narrative itself hesitates to fully justify or fully condemn his actions. Instead, it lets you ask yourself that question. Whereas if he had succeeded in killing her… the question can certainly still be asked, and that would still be very much part of the point, but it helps weight the scales a bit if you can say ‘well, it worked’. Whereas this… it’s entirely up to you. Was it worth it?

*

From Graendal to Galad? That’s a pivot.

Oh, but I love this image of Galad, the purest of the white knights, untarnished and untouchable, literally mired in a swamp.

Bitemes buzzed in the muggy air. The stench of mud and stagnant water threatened to gag him with each breath

Sometimes, you use atmosphere to highlight aspects of a character. Rand stepping out of a gateway into shadow and darkness. Every word that’s ever been written about Dragonmount. And then sometimes you place a character in an environment that is their precise opposite, and in that juxtaposition highlight those defining traits but also…push against them, I suppose. It’s a great way of showing a conflict of some kind. Galad is now the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, who are themselves corrupted. And he is fighting that corruption because it is his antithesis, but it’s so present and oppressive around him, and it makes for such an excellent contrast.

Miserable though this as, this route was the best way.

Yeah, see, I know you mean that literally, Galad, but it sort of illustrates my point. His task – redeeming the Whitecloaks, unless I massively miss my guess – is not going to be an easy one. Leading them right now can’t be pleasant. But it’s the best way to see them through this, to do the right thing. And we all know that’s what Galad is all about.

Oh, he’s going to take on Asunawa? First Valda and then Asunawa and damn it I never wanted to like Galadedrid Damodred.

Here and there the sickly greys and greens were relieved by a bright burst of tiny pink or violet flowers clustering around trickling streams. Their sudden colour was unexpected, as if someone had sprinkled drops of paint on the ground.

It was strange to find beauty in this place.

Beauty, yes, but subtlety? Hell no. But – I know I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – I don’t care that this isn’t subtle. I love the way atmosphere and imagery can be used to this effect. Mired in a swamp with an unpleasant task to do and leading a corrupted force, but there are surprising moments of beauty and colour and promise.

His horse is called Stout and for some reason that amuses me.

This place, with its stench and biting insects, would try the best of men.

You don’t say.

And where Valda – the Lord Captain Commander before Galad – had turned out to be a murderer and a rapist.

So I mean, at least the bar is set pretty low for you there, Galad.

‘Damodred,’ Dain said softly, their boots squishing in mud, ‘perhaps we should turn back.’

NO BACK ONLY FORWARD.

CAN’T REMAKE THE PAST MUST CREATE A FUTURE.

Which Galad pretty much echoes only, you know, more eloquently.

‘But this swamp,’ Bornhald said, glancing to the side as a large serpent slid through the underbrush. ‘Our maps say we should have been out of it by now.’

‘Then surely we are near the edge.’

‘Perhaps,’ Dain said […] ‘Unless the map is in error.’

SYMBOLISM THICKER THAN THE SWAMP. I love this, I really do. I’m just laughing through this entire set of descriptions but this is just so perfectly ‘I Don’t Think You’re Only Talking About The Swamp There, Boys’ and neither of them quite realise it and it’s excellent.

Galad stepped off to the side, climbing a small hill.

While his half-brother is climbing an enormous mountain. Step it up, Galad.

Oh he’s giving an Inspiring Speech.

‘But it is on the deepest nights when light is most glorious.’

Unless it’s Choedan Kal balefire in which case… well okay, in fairness, that was also glorious, for a certain definition of the word.

‘We are hunted by those who should love us, and other pathways lead to our graves.’

Then maybe you should be worthy of their love. As for pathways leading to your graves, you know what they say about the paths of glory, right?

‘We will face this test with heads held high.’

That’s the core of it, really. It’s about choosing to fight, and knowing why you fight. It’s Rand’s epiphany in miniature. That this is going to fucking suck, but they’ll face it not because they have to but because they’re fighting for something, and because they choose to face this.

Byar wants to take a detour via the White Tower for a bit of petty destruction on their way to the Last Battle and Galad’s like nah we kind of need magic on our side. Credit where it’s due, I suppose.

‘but the Children of the Light will be leaders at the Last Battle.’

I mean, you might have to queue for that particular role, but I suppose it’s good to have ambitions.

Oh, he’s not planning to take on Asunawa, because sometimes retreat really is the better part of valour, especially when ‘retreat’ in this case is ‘turn towards a much larger battlefront for the future of the entire world’. Again, fair. And hey, look at that, Galad’s learning to prioritise.

A dead forest with sickly moss and a river full of corpses? Which battle was this? It sounds almost like the Blight, but they’re in approximately the entirely wrong place for that. Perrin’s attack on Malden, maybe? Or Tylee’s force being ambushed by Trollocs?

Galad set his jaw. ‘Can this be forded?’

‘It’s shallow, my Lord Captain Commander,’ Child Barlett said. ‘But we’ll have to watch for hidden depths.’

Not to mention hidden MEANINGS. *Finger guns*

I’m so sorry.

He hiked up his trousers as far as he could

How scandalous.

Likely a village upstream had been attacked for its food.

I think perhaps a village upstream was attacked for its Faile, but I could be wrong.

The ground is uneven! Footing is uncertain! A misstep could mean death! No additional meanings to be found here, none at all…

‘Burn those clouds. I can never tell what time it is.’

‘Four hours past midday,’ Galad said.

In which Galad has taken the Keen Mind feat. (And in which yes, I am a total fucking nerd).

Trom’s like are you sure Andor’s a good idea and Galad’s like it’s fine I have a summer home there.

Light send that Elayne held the Lion Throne. Light send that she had escaped the tangles of the Aes Sedai, though he feared the worst. There were many who would use her as a pawn, al’Thor not the least of them. She was headstrong, and that could make her easy to manipulate.

Galad, when this is all over, you and your sister need to have a talk. And you and Gawyn both need to stop underestimating her.

‘To abandon the Children now, after killing their leader, would be wrong.’

Trom smiled. ‘It’s as simple as that to you, isn’t it?’

‘It should be as simple as that to anyone.’

Galadedrid ‘what do you mean, morality is complicated’ Damodred, everyone. And this is why he continues to by turns bore and infuriate me, despite all his damn then he did dance and his fucking all his grace, turned in an instant to fluid death and fighting Valda in efforts to make me like him. I will NOT.

‘Even if we have to make alliances with the Dragon Reborn himself, we will fight.’

Yeah about that. Also I desperately want to see what happens when he learns about their, uh, relationship. Then again, having grown up in the mess that is the Damodred-Trakand family, maybe it wouldn’t even be a surprise. ‘Oh, another somewhat dysfunctional familial relationship? Yeah, sure, add it to the pile.’

Okay seriously what is with the trees here? We are way too far south for the Blight but the fact that they’re dead and fuzzed with something malignant has been brought up three times now and we all know the rule of threes in foreshadowing.

No, even his memorisation of maps will not endear me to Galad. Nor his ‘pain can be dealt with’. I refuse.

Oh look at that, it’s an ambush.

So about that whole not wanting to face Asunawa…

This march through the swamp had been suggested by his scouts. Galad could see it now; it had been a delaying tactic

And also, you know, symbolic. The traitorous scouts, loyal to the Whitecloaks under Asunawa – the corrupted Whitecloaks, those who ostensibly stand for the Light but whose deeds represent anything but – trying to drag Galad, the white knight and redeemer, through the swamp even as he tries to bring them to somewhere better, to what they should be.

Oh he’s going to try to talk to Asunawa. That’ll end well.

Asunawa was not smiling. He rarely did.

Sorry Asunawa, but Demandred’s pretty much got the market cornered on that one, and he carries it far better than you.

Oh hey, two leaders of rebel factions facing each other down? A parallel drawn between two entities – Whitecloaks and Aes Sedai – who believe themselves enemies.

‘Surely you would not ignore the rules of formal engagement?’ Galad said.

Because surely everyone is as lawful-good as you, Galad. There’s a belief that will cause you nothing but pain. But please, proceed.

And now Asunawa’s calling him Darkfriend, and this really is playing out as a parallel, of sorts, to Elaida against Egwene.

Asunawa hesitated. Naming seven thousand of the Children as Darkfriends would be ridiculous

First (semantic) blow to Galad.

‘I am no Darkfriend.’ Galad met Asunawa’s eyes.

‘Submit to my questioning and prove it.’

Oh.

That uh… is a… not entirely unappealing option, from my own perspective as a reader who enjoys far too much seeing characters put through hell, especially if they do so defiantly or as a sacrifice and anyway my point is I would not be opposed to this.

It's just that Galad, for all that he is Not My Type, is the type of character who could carry torture well. I’m just saying.

‘Tell me, do the Children of the Light surrender?’

Golever shook his head. ‘We do not. The Light will prove us victorious.’

I have to appreciate Galad’s approach here: taking the very principles of the Whitecloaks – as they are meant to be – and using them as weapons against Asunawa. Because it is, in a way, the very epitome of fighting fair. He doesn’t strike, doesn’t threaten, doesn’t even really argue. He lets Asunawa’s men, and the Whitecloaks’ own doctrine, make his arguments for him.

‘You see that I am in a predicament. To fight is to let you name us Darkfriends, but to surrender is to deny our oaths. By my honour as the Lord Captain Commander, I can accept neither option.’

In which Galad fucking Damodred catches everyone else in his moral dilemma of two things that are right, yet opposite. It is, for his character, almost annoyingly perfect.

‘Do you deny that you yourself watched me face Valda in fair combat, as prescribed by law?’

Okay okay okay you know what I love? I love that he’s fighting Asunawa, the leader of the Questioners, with questions.

Because Asunawa isn’t asking any. He’s making accusations and threats, and Galad is parrying them with questions. To Asunawa, to those who stand by him. He arms himself with questions and lets the answers make his point and that? Is brilliant.

‘But I would not call that fight fair. You drew on powers of the Shadow; I saw you standing in darkness despite the daylight, and I saw the Dragon’s Fang sprout on your forehead.’

I feel like there’s a missed opportunity in Galad’s entire character: what if he could channel? That would be so full of interesting potential. Both as an internal conflict, because how would he reconcile being a man who could channel with his utter certainty about doing what is right, but also for his entire role. The leader of the Children of the Light, who hate the ‘witches’ perhaps more than the Shadow itself…

Ah well.

‘Tell me. Is the Shadow stronger than the Light?’

Powers of the Shadow? No. Galad fights with powers of rhetoric.

But again, he’s just asking questions. Perfectly crafted questions to illustrate his point, but he’s still just asking questions of a Questioner and letting the Whitecloaks’ beliefs show him to be the one who truly holds to them. What a play.

‘You have no rights as a Darkfriend! I will parley no more with you, murderer.’ Asunawa waved a hand, and several of his Questioners drew swords.

Because they cannot face Galad’s questions. Galad asks, and they reply with swords. Because Asunawa cannot continue to hear them. He represents everything they should be, and they cannot face it, cannot let themselves recognise it, and so the draw swords and everything about this is excellent.

Asunawa would win a battle, but if Galad’s men stood their ground, it would be a costly victory. Both sides would lose thousands.

‘I will submit to you,’ Galad said. ‘On certain terms.’

You know who he reminds me of here? Loath as I am to admit it? Egwene. Facing an enemy who should be an ally, and fighting not for victory against them but for the entity they both should represent. Fighting for the cause, rather than fighting against the person. Willing even to submit, if it will bring unity and spare bloodshed. ‘I wish the Tower had a great Amyrlin in you’, Egwene said to Elaida. Neither fought for pride or for ego or for leadership – or at least, none of those things were the sole aim. Instead, they are fighting to make an organisation that should stand for the Light but has fallen into corruption and division into what it should be, what it always should have been.

And I do sort of wonder – I can’t even believe I’m saying this but HERE WE ARE – why Egwene ends up with Gawyn and not Galad after all.

‘You swear – before the Light and the Lords Captain here with you – that you will not harm, question, or otherwise condemn the men who followed me.’

There is one very glaring exception in that protection, Galad. I… assume this is intentional and I’m way more here for it than I should be. Carry on.

‘You cannot hinder the Hand of the Light in such a way! This would give them free rein to seek the Shadow!’

‘And is it only fear of Questioning that keeps us in the Light, Asunawa?’

QUESTIONING THE QUESTIONER. I’m still just not entirely over this as a rhetorical strategy – asking questions as a form of attack, sure, but it has that extra layer of being a tactic against the Questioners that just. Really hits me right in my appreciation for narrative symmetry.

‘The Dragon Reborn walks the land.’

‘Heresy!’ Asunawa said.

‘Yes,’ Galad said. ‘And truth as well.’

Oh man, that is a line. He will deny the accusations that he is a Darkfriend, but he does not deny this. Does not deny that it is heresy. But that does not make it a lie.

And Galad can accept that: can accept that even heresy must be faced, if it is the right thing to do. Heresy must be faced and accepted, if it is true. What cannot be changed must be endured, and Galad is… oddly, perhaps, not one for denial. He doesn’t try to turn from that truth, no matter what he may feel about it.

‘If we fight, we will kill good men, Child Bornhald,’ Galad said, without turning. ‘Each stroke of our swords will be a blow for the Dark One. The Children are the only true foundation that this world has left. We are needed. If my life is what is demanded to bring unity, then so be it.’

It is so very like Egwene. So very like what she said to the Aes Sedai who supported her and opposed her alike. They are not fighting for power; they are fighting because they see what is needed – and if their death rather than their ascendance can bring that, they will face that just as willingly as the responsibility of leadership.

I also had to smile a bit at the statement that the Children are the only true foundation – because that, too, echoes the Aes Sedai. If the White Tower dies, hope dies. Neither is strictly true because neither is the only force for the Light out there… but in a way that kind of conviction is needed. They just also need to maybe accept that they have some allies. Or should, at least.

WAIT WHAT ASUNAWA IS ACCEPTING THIS OFFER? OH. OKAY.

‘Take him,’ Asunawa snapped.

Yeah I’m here for it.

‘Inform them that I have taken the false Lord Captain Commander into custody, and will Question him to determine the extent of his crimes.’

Look, Galad’s far from a favourite character but there is something about him that suggests he would suffer rather beautifully and I am so sorry.

‘Return to our men; tell them what happened here, and do not let them fight or try to rescue me. That is an order.’

So very, very like Egwene here. Which almost irritates me because Egwene is one of my favourites and Galad is Not, but I have to give Galad some credit: he has made a truly valiant effort in the last few books.

Oh and just…straight to the torture. Cool. This is fine.

One forced Galad to the ground, a boot on his back, and Galad heard the metallic rasp of a knife being unsheathed.

Turns out there are two situations in which I like Galad Damodred. The first: then he did dance, all his grace turned in an instant to fluid death. The second: …this.

Also now he and Rand can have some quality fraternal bonding over their shared experiences with torture. It’ll be fun!

‘I am not a Darkfriend,’ Galad said, face pressed to the grassy earth. ‘I will never speak that lie. I walk in the Light.’

That earned him a kick to the side, then another, and another. He curled up, grunting. But the blows continued to fall.

Finally, the darkness took him.

How fitting, and awful, to follow his utter defiance here – the one thing he does deny, the one thing he does not turn into a question and the one thing he will not surrender: he is not a Darkfriend – with darkness taking him.

It’s also – again, my deepest but not entirely sincere apologies here – very much a good look on him.

Alright, I’ll see myself out.

Next (ToM prologue pt. 3) Previous (ToM prologue pt.1)

[saltysoba]

an analysis of bakugou in chapter 1

this was going to be a quick meta post about bakugou and self-confidence in general, but i ended up having too much to say just about his expression in this one panel from chapter one lol

this is his face the first time bakugou realises that he was wrong. that he underestimated midoriya, that he needed help, and that he's not strong enough to fight of a villain completely on his own. this also forces him to see the gap between him and all might, who just earlier in this chapter he boasted about rising above. bakugou's never ever had to question his own strength until this moment, something that can largely be blamed on the adults around him and how they treated him as he was raised. regardless, for the first time in his life, bakugou is made to feel weak. i think that’s the beginning of a central theme in his character arc.

when he chases midoriya, we see for the first time the difference between what bakugou says and what he feels. with the pro heroes praising bakugou, from what we know of his character already it would be expected for those words to further inflate his ego, but instead of boasting or accepting the praise he has this expression (see above), frustrated and uncomfortable. along with that, we can guess this is the first time in his life bakugou has been in such a helpless and scary situation, which further acts to give him a reality check of what his strength actually is when measured against other people.

when bakugou chases midoriya his first words are "i never asked for you to save me," while shaking and talking quickly (how someone might say something to convince themselves more than someone else). assuming the above, that he's saying it to convince himself, this is the first example of bakugou equating asking for help with weakness. it's his first real experience of feeling weak, and denial is a reasonable reaction -- but bakugou is so loud with his emotions and he's very much an action-oriented person, so the way his denial is expressed is very explosive. he’s not only pretending that it wasn’t the case that he was asking for or needed midoriya’s help, but he goes as out of his way as he can to physically remind himself that 'it's the opposite' -- that by helping him or thinking he was asking for help, midoriya is looking down on him. he's telling himself that midoriya didn't help him because bakugou wasn't asking for help; that midoriya wasn't 'stronger' than him because bakugou never showed weakness in the first place.

this is also the first time bakugou implies that midoriya is looking down on him. "how dare a quirkless failure like you pity me? trying to win me over? don't you dare mock me!" -- as bakugou understands it, midoriya tried to save bakugou because he thought bakugou wasn't able to do something that midoriya himself was. i think it's fair to assume that along with being deeply shaken by this experience, as well as midoriya's involvement in it, bakugou is also forced to face the fact of his and midoriya's history together; that his childhood friend who he's aggressively bullied for so long was the one to try and help him, the one who think he needed it.

something important to note is what is implied by bakugou's visceral knee jerk reaction to the events of the first chapter. ironically, we can assume by his violent denial of having needed or received that he is, on some level, acknowledging (even unwillingly or subconscious) that midoriya helped him. taking everything into account, already we can see the complicated cloud of emotions that surround their relationship with each other. from bakugou towards midoriya, there was a lot of disdain; he looked down on him, disregarded him, ignored him, not only didn't see him on the same playing ground but didn't recognise him as even playing the game at all. there's also a feeling that he knows midoriya very well, them having been childhood friends. but now we have a hinted inferiority complex, there will definitely be confusion for why midoriya acted, resentment that he thought he could do something bakugou couldn't, frustration that bakugou couldn't do it himself, and we can even speculate that there's guilt or regret regarding how bakugou has been treating him this whole time.

and alongside all of this is his knowledge of his own situation outside of midoriya -- of his helplessness, apparent weakness, and how he measures up against all might and a villain. his blind confidence from the beginning has been shaken.

at the very least, bakugou has been forced to see that he was wrong about something: his own strength, the strength of what he wants to fight, the strength of who he wants to overcome, and even the strength of the person he thought was so below him they didn't warrant acknowledging. for someone who's never been made to feel that way in his life, it makes sense that it freaks him out -- it’s the biggest reality check of his life so far. it makes sense that his reaction is extreme (and as we'll come to see, it's not something he lets go of or gets over quickly but rather it weighs on bakugou's mind for months to come).

from all of this, we already know a lot about his character. the environment he grew up on in inflated his pride to bursting. he deals with things he doesn't like by saying what he wants rather than what is -- that is, he fakes it until he makes it. and we also see the beginning the complex melting pot that is his relationship with midoriya. at this point, i also think it would be reasonable to start wondering: what is bakugou's motive in becoming a hero? with his incomplete understanding of those who need help and the helper, as well as an attitude that nobody would call 'heroic', i think it's fair to assume that the author intentionally wrote it so at this point in the story, the very beginning, we would start thinking about what it actually means to be a hero and what that kind of person would look like. and this is a theme that is explored in depth through bakugou's subplot throughout the entire manga.

another translation for the panel above is “so deku, the quirkless wonder, thinks he play hero, huh?” the very first panel in the manga starts with showing the differences between midoriya and bakugou. bakugou is our example of what it can mean to be considered a ‘hero’ in this society -- strong, born in a position to be strong. it defines the role of quirks and the innate inequality they create, and defines bakugou, who’s just as intrinsic to our understanding of this as midoriya is. as midoriya ‘suffered’ in this society, bakugou benefited from it. i think the author wants us to immediately question from the get go is whether strength is enough to be a ‘hero’ -- and if not, then what is? and that’s the question we try to find the answer to through the entire manga. what does it mean to be a hero? through bakugou’s character arc, established here in the first chapter, we find an answer that, when combined with midoriya’s, is nuanced and complex. they’re two sides of the same coin.

in conclusion; i wanted to zoom in on that one panel with bakugou’s incredibly troubled expression because it’s one we rarely see. he’s not aggressive -- he isn’t baring his teeth or making any noise or even looking at anyone. it’s entirely reflecting internal conflict rather than external, and it’s a perfect launchpad to start analyzing and getting to understand his character. this panel makes us wonder, ‘who is bakugou katsuki?' while simultaneously understand the answer to that is a lot more complicated than this first chapter makes us, on the surface, want to think.

[geoxis]

Corona Crisis Management-How Brands are Harnessing the Power of Digital Media

The pandemic COVID 19 has pulled the proverbial rug from under us. Each day we wake up to a new altered landscape as an indicator of things to come. For brands, businesses & entrepreneurs, the coronavirus has changed life forever. We observe a change of behaviors is among clients and customers, the way they communicate, shop & react is different now. In these unprecedented times of rapid change when one-third of the world’s population is under quarantine, businesses are confronted with two significant questions: how to respond during the pandemic, and, looking ahead, what changes in consumer behavior to expect because of a prolonged lockdown.  We all talk about the digital revolution and how businesses will function in the digital age during challenging times. Does this mean the is future here? Hasn’t a little virus scared us to do business differently! I don’t want to contribute to the negative literature on the topic - of which there is a lot. The facts are bleak, however, in the crisis's wake brands have been turning to digital media strongly. Has digital media turned out as a lifeline for businesses during coronavirus pandemic? Some businesses may be affected mildly, some may adapt and hunker down until things stabilize. And then there are the businesses that may benefit from the corona crisis—the law of nature, it’s a jungle out there and the strong will survive. Ah, the word, survive! In tough times people survive the most horrendous circumstances by adjusting, being adaptable, and focusing on the basics. The lifeboat here is digital media. For a business to survive in this critical, life-altering condition of the coronavirus disease, it is the time to switch to digital media—and in doing so, stay connected to clients, building strong customer relationships, and to learn innovative ways of communication. Actually, your potential audience has never been more captive than it is right now. Everyone is at home following social media feeds for updates and messages of hope. Harness power of digital media marketing For the business that can harness the power that is marketing on digital platforms, the opportunity is now and ripe for the picking. Secure your customers after the crisis by well-orchestrated strategies that enable brands to keep connected to their customers in the tough times. This can be achieved by providing credible, informative, relevant feeds, sincere information, and useful content, and potentially solving their problem. Digital communication will help to march forwards. Although it was always on the cards with many businesses. But those businesses now have the opportunity to grab the lifeline that the digital-age affords them in this difficult time in our economy who either ignored the signs or have made half-hearted attempts at joining the digital revolution. Traditional marketing takes a hit Since the government has already called for a nationwide lockdown and as we have seen the same in other countries. Advice to stay home and limit all unnecessary outings seems to lead to a decrease in out-of-home ad spend. Brands are focusing on online digital ads instead. People have to stay indoors so some TV executives are predicting huge increases in ad spend as consumers got to stay inside. Increase in online marketing We can predict that there will be a huge increase in the digital ad in the coming months as consumers will naturally spend more time online, especially choosing to shop online versus leaving the house. As people are working from home more, and avoiding traveling, we may expect to see an increase in mobile and social opportunities. People are free from the watchful eye of their workplace manager so they will check their phones more frequently. Also, 6 out of 10 of us are checking the news more frequently! Social media ad spend is set to increase Social platforms are likely to increase due to the inflated use of social media. It has now become a daily routine as people are on their phones, looking for engaging content to keep them busy. They are trying to tackle self-isolation, social media helps them to keep grounded, give them a sense of community, and regular updates on the global corona rises. It is playing a vital role in communicating with the world and also with your clients these days. Companies that invested in this practice in the last few years can now benefit from that network and expertise. Digital media tactics to follow during the corona crisis For marketers, there are two important questions, viz.. How to respond (if at all) during this crisis? And, looking to the aftermath, what changes in consumer behavior to expect because of a prolonged shutdown? Here are digital media tactics that could work perfectly right now. Following tactics may help you in achieving this strategy. 1. Small and personalized digital conference rooms Share with your customers an update on your business and how you are re-inventing yourself during these strange times. It will help you better understand how you can provide value during a crisis. Share your personal story, showing empathy for your clients, and share your positive and innovative mindset. You will create a positive impact on your brand. 2. Live stream your business The usage of social media is booming as millions of people are stuck in their homes. Live streaming can be an interesting opportunity. Thanks to the live stream of Instagram or LinkedIn, you can now set up your own TV channel or virtual market place. 3. You can inspire your customers Use social media platforms to inspire your customers and thus add value to your business. Do not aim for hard selling on social media right now. Try to know and understand the fears of your customers and their hopes. Find out ways to add value to this process. Try to build a stronger brand reputation. Let’s hope that one fine day, the gates of the world will open again. Value your customers even in crisis time. 4. Large virtual events There is an enormous potential to reach a larger audience with the help of virtual events. Now people have more time than before. They are no longer stuck in baffling traffic. Their workload may be lower. They are comfortable to attend a meeting in their cozy home environment. 5. Seize the opportunity to connect with customers Strategies your plans, when, where, and how to reach your target audience in new or sophisticated ways through digital channels. Continuing to engage with consumers in an online environment is in the best interest of brand marketers. Because as long as the internet is ad-supported and accessible, you can reach your consumers and expect technology to drive tangible outcomes to the bottom line. 6. One-on-one communication This is a good time to communicate with your customers and your community. One-on-one conversation is a great opportunity to connect with your customers. Reach out to them—for starters, ask if they are healthy—but you can also share some content that you created for your social channels with individual customers. 7. Keep paid digital media spends holding steady Keep paid digital media spends in place to confront coronavirus and its digital media impact successfully. Daily life has a way of marching on, and when consumers are looking to buy what they need and want, you can be there with the right message at the right time. The competitive playing field also becomes less crowded in strange times, which may benefit you. 8. Experiment With and Test Digital Advertising Strategies The gloomy time may turn rosy for brand marketers wanting an audience. People are locked in their homes and switching to entertainment to kill boredom. Perhaps, this is the right time to experiment and invest in connected TV search or other social strategies. Though, before you do, know your brand’s value proposition and your audience so your message will resonate well. If you thought LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook were something for people with too much time on their hands, you’ve probably come to regret that assumption. There is good news, though, even if you didn’t invest in digital marketing before COVID19, there are still many opportunities to use them now. Adapt to the ‘new’ customer For a brand, an online presence has never been as important as today. Try to keep it digital. Locate your target audience and how their lifestyle has changed and map out how you should target them. What is your potential audience’s emotional context? What do they want to hear? How should you be communicating with them? Do not underestimate how the coronavirus has changed your customers and how it has affected their demands. Conclusion The coronavirus has left its mark in history. The question is rather how many things will change and how will the world look when it’s all over. But don’t allow the coronavirus pandemic to determine the viability of your business’ future, do what a survivor does in times of trouble instead. Look for solutions and make them work for you. If you have concerns about where your marketing budget is going or want to discuss how coronavirus might affect your marketing strategy, then get in touch. We’d love to hear from you. Even during a time that feels like a downward spiral—there can be an opportunity to be seized.

Author Bio

Swati Mittal - working as a Digital Marketing Executive at HIcentrik. She works with digital marketing based clients to accelerate their business growth with the help of the latest marketing technology and trends. Read the full article

[gaparime]

Let's Talk About Gear!

While mental fortitude is ultimately what will make or break your success in completing a long distance hike, gear is equally as imperative. I began my thruhike of the Appalachian Trail by carrying 30 pounds (exactly 30.0 on the scale at Amicalola) and received a shakedown to 20, give or take a few pounds here and there depending on food and water supply, and my replacements/upgrades throughout the first quarter of the trail.

During your planning process for a thruhike or any kind of a long distance backpacking trip, it’s important to remember that there’s usually no right or wrong for good, necessary products. Albeit, you still want to use common sense (buy nice or buy twice, have a properly-fitted backpack, don’t wear cotton, don’t carry too much or too little, don’t buy cheap tents that can’t withstand all weather conditions, et cetera). Otherwise, your backpack and its contents are the oyster that is your world, and it’s your preference that matters the most. This sounds simple enough, but these are things I wish I knew before going into my thruhike.

You may like hammocks more than tents. You may prefer trail runners over boots. You may prefer a Kindle over a paper book, if that’s what you choose to bring as a luxury item. I just so happen to prefer tents, boots, and paper books. It’s okay to prefer hammocks, trail runners, and Kindles because your level comfort is going to be different from every gear list you come across online during your strenuous research. Whatever it may be, you have to test it out and know what works for you. Comfort and practicality are the major keys when it comes to gear for long distance hiking.

I made a lot of changes early on. That being said, I initially didn’t know what worked for me and had to figure it out the hard way. I took someone’s gear list and assumed if they were successful with those items, I’d enjoy them just as much. Wrong. Because of that, I now know exactly what does work after having tried just about everything else. This is why I can safely stress the importance of that, based on my own trials and errors. Replacing gear, especially if you’re getting it mailed to you 100 miles ahead of you, can be a pain in the butt. Trust me, I would know; I had to do this a few times. If there’s any advice you should take from my gear list or someone else’s when you’re preparing to live off of your back for six months, it’s that you really, really need to know what works for you, and then everything else will take care of itself.

For most of the trail, this is what helped me get from Springer to Katahdin. Before reading my list, line the entire inside of your pack with a garbage bag and know that ziploc bags are your friends. You can’t get more waterproof than that, and I happen to be neurotic about waterproofing so I had just about everything organized and protected in stuff sacks/ziplocs. Without further ado:

The essentials (shelter and sleep setup): - Osprey Aura 50 pack. I sent the detachable brain of the pack home because I didn’t need it. Brains only encourage carrying more crap. Should you decide to keep yours, some of the pros are: town purse/bag (since it is detachable), using it as a way of securing your tent/poles/etc, and storing easy-to-reach snacks. I kept my food at the bottom when fully resupplied, so it was easy to unzip and grab my food bag that way. As it got lighter, I’d move my food bag to the top of my pack for equally as easy access. The way you pack your backpack is a matter of preference for what will work best for you, and you’re the only person who can figure that out as you keep going. If something feels uncomfortable, stop and adjust it. Keep adjusting it until you find that perfect balance. All that matters is that the weight is distributed effectively, and that it’s not pulling you back or pushing you down. - Sierra Designs Lightning tent. I used Tyvek as a footprint, which fit just fine folded up in the sack for the tent. It’s cheaper, dries quickly, and works all the same. You’ll see a lot of people on the trail using Tyvek. Regardless of whether or not you choose to use Tyvek or the expensive footprint designed for your specific tent, you need some kind of protection between the bottom of your tent and the soil. This is to prevent rain and moisture from soaking through, and to preserve the condition of your tent. - REI AirRail inflatable sleeping pad. If you’re the type of person who values the quality of sleep, inflatable sleeping pads are worth the few extra ounces as opposed to foam pads. Of all times for mine to pop, it happened in the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine just days before I finished the trail. By this point, I was pretty careless with where my tent went and it was easy enough to tolerate for the remaining days. You’ll want to camp on the flattest surfaces you can find, free of rocks and roots. I found that I didn’t sleep well on a foam pad, and they’re bulkier. - Mountain Hardware Lamina Z Spark women’s sleeping bag in the dark raspberry color with orange interior. While this wasn’t as warm as I would’ve liked for it to have been, I liked how small it packed, so I made it work for me because that’s where my values were. Sleeping in cold weather was tolerable with all of my clothes on. Depending on the type of person you are, if you’re not like me when it comes to adapting and accepting, then you may not want to use this sleeping bag. There are certainly better options.

Stuff sacks of… well, stuff: *Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Stuff Sacks* - Food Stuff Sack: Self-explanatory. Amount of food carried = mile calculation to next resupply point. This is something you’ll figure out over time. Your mileage will change per region, thus, so will your food bag. The general rule of thumb is that you should never carry more than 4-5 days of food (with the exception of the 100 Mile Wilderness), and ideally, you want to be able to stroll into town as you’re eating your last snack from the food bag. I also kept my lightweight metal spork in my food bag, too. The longer the handle, the better; it’s easier to stir your food, especially for freeze dried meals. - Toiletry Stuff Sack: Compact tampons, travel sized toothbrush and paste, ibuprofen in a ziploc (note: ibuprofen is like candy for hikers- I used it for both inflammation and headaches, so I carried a lot of it at all times), small pack of baby wipes (“hiker showers”), small roll of medical tape (preventative blister care), and travel size Body Glide. - Clothing Stuff Sack: This changed with the seasons. I’ll just list everything I had. Before I list them, some important notes: If there was anything I did 100% right, it was preventative blister care and clothes. The key is minimalism. But don’t underestimate the beauty of dry socks and semi-clean undies; they weigh almost nothing and are worth carrying a couple extra of. You should generally have one pair of clothes for hiking and one for sleeping/town. All clothes were a dry fit material. I had a Marmot rain jacket and that stayed rolled up in the front mesh of my pack. I also had a Patagonia sportsbra, but that obviously stayed on me. *Winter/Spring (Georgia to Pearisburg, VA):* leggings, REI pants, Marmot tshirt, REI puffy jacket, long sleeve tshirt, three pairs of Exefficio undies, two pairs of Injinji toe socks, two pairs of Darn Tough socks, Outdoor Research glove liners (edit: I recommend Northface E-Tip gloves over the OR glove liners. Same glove style, but the Northface ones are warmer and a better material. For the most part, the OR liners were fine all on their own, except for one time when I was in the Smokies and it was 11 degrees and super windy), and a beanie. *Spring/summer (Pearisburg, VA to Hanover, NH):* Mountain Hardware shorts, Patagonia tshirt (eventually switched it out for a Northface shirt but that’s neither here nor there; point is, 1 tshirt at a time), a random tank top I found at Walmart in Pearisburg (usually wore the tank top for hiking and tshirt for sleeping/town), same three pairs of Exefficio undies, same Injinji and Darn Tough socks. I got the same things back in Hanover, NH that I used for Winter/beginning of Spring, and threw away the shorts/tank top. Ignore the rumors to send your winter gear home in Damascus. Seriously, don’t do that; everyone who did was really, really mad at themselves for it. It still gets cold on Mt Rogers (VA’s highest peak) and through Grayson Highlands. Somewhere in Vermont is usually a good time to get your winter gear back, but Hanover, NH (barely) worked for me. I had some issues with package timing, otherwise, I would’ve had them back in mid Vermont. - Electronic Stuff Sack: Anker battery bank, cord for phone, cord for battery bank, and an Apple USB adapter for my iPhone/Anker charger. I kept all of this inside of a ziploc inside of the stuff sack to ensure no water damage.

In between my stuff sacks: - Camp stove/pot/fuel. Kept stove and mini fuel canister inside of pot. All lightweight choices: MSR pocket rocket stove, GSI minimalist hallulite pot, and fuel canister brand varied depending on what was available at resupply points. Fuel is fuel, brand doesn’t matter. - Toilet paper in a ziploc. - Journal, pen, and stamps in a ziploc. - Paracord for hanging food bag. - My favorite luxury item: Sea to Summit inflatable pillow. It’s light, and you’ll thank yourself when you wake up well-rested every morning. You can get by just as well with using your clothing stuff sack as a pillow, but I am such a princess when it comes to sleep.

Side Mesh Pockets: - (2) 1L Smartwater bottles. Replaceable at any grocery or convenient stores, but if you’re gross like me, you’ll carry them for a long time before doing that. Carried a 3rd bottle through the Midatlantic because most water sources dry up. (PA, NJ, and NY). If you’re not carrying these from the beginning, at some point, you’ll notice most hikers around you are and then you’ll never look back at your Nalgenes or Platypus bottles. - Aquamira drops in a ziploc. Aquamira drops are in two 1-ounce bottles, part A and part B. The directions are directly on the bottles, and they’re easy to use/resupply with. - **This is super important. This is the lightest possible way to carry water and treatment. I tried a Sawyer Mini, and then a heavy Katadyn pump. I also had Platypus bottles, but they’re awkward to fill. I’ll never use anything other than Smartwater bottles and Aquamira for treatment.**

Front Mesh Pocket: - Aforementioned Marmot rain jacket rolled up. - Pack cover rolled up. - Headlamp. This is a 100% needed item, no matter which one you choose. Batteries can be resupplied; no need to carry extras unless you’re night hiking often. I night hiked often in the Midatlantic because of the brutal heat, so I definitely had backups then. - Bug net. Unless you enjoy prying about 15 dead bugs out of your eyeballs in the summer per day, you’ll appreciate having one. I should’ve had one much sooner than I did. - Trowel. Don’t be that person that leaves your poop close to the trail or a shelter. Bury it with a lightweight trowel. I stepped in someone’s poop once nearby a shelter, and I think that was understandably the angriest I was at any point during my hike. - Cheap sunglasses. Sunglasses aren’t necessary, but I like ‘em. I used them all the time through the open, rolling fields in VA-PA. - Travel size sunscreen. I eventually threw it away, but I needed it for a while. My Irish skin is quite fair. - Drink mix packets. These are also not necessary, but plain water does get boring after a while. Hawaiian Punch and Arizona Green Tea packets are delicious.

Side hip belt pockets: - Cell phone. - Earbud headphones. Be careful with headphones on the trail. I almost stepped on a huge rattlesnake curled up in the middle of the trail because I didn’t hear it while I was hauling ass and blasting music at full volume (I have a video to prove this story). They also make it difficult to hear if anyone is coming up behind you. - Lighter with a little bit of duct tape wrapped around it. - Needle and thread to repair tears on my pack. - Small knife. I am a huge fan of cheese, and that’s pretty much the only purpose I used it for. - Pepe the plastic dinosaur. My fiancé gave me this stupid little green dinosaur, and I just wanted to be able to say a dinosaur made it across the country. - ID, insurance card, debit and credit cards, and cash in a ziploc.

Hanging from the outside: - AT 2016 tag. - Crocs. - Bandana, off of one of the loops where the shoulder straps is. This is another must-have for me. I used it mostly to wipe sweat off, but it came in handy when I needed to give myself a “hiker shower” with just water in a stream, or the two times I got sick on the trail. I simultaneously hiked and blew infinite amounts of snot into it. (Yes, I washed it in towns before switching up its uses.)

Trekking poles: - Leki. Don’t ask me which ones because I don’t know, haha. They’re green and black. You can’t go wrong with any type of Leki poles.

Mode of transportation: Shoes - Superfeet insoles. Replaced them per every pair of shoes. - Keen boots (Georgia to Daleville, VA) - Salomon trail runners (Daleville, VA to Delaware Water Gap) - Oboz hiking shoes (Delaware Water Gap to Katahdin). These were my favorite. They were lightweight and like a combination of boots and trail runners (the best of both worlds). Very durable. Could’ve lasted longer than Katahdin, but they smelled like death so it was time to say goodbye.

Guidebooks: - Used both Awol and Guthook on my phone. Awol is available PDF and Guthook is an app. Both serve different purposes. Awol is good for knowing exactly what’s around the trail/in town/maps of towns/detailed descriptions of those places. Guthook is a GPS based trail guide that is perfect for the trail itself, and it’s pretty much idiot-proof (unless you’re me). It doesn’t require cell phone service, and you’ll know where you are at all times (although I somehow still managed to get horrendously lost twice; hence, the “unless you’re me” part). Another cool feature is that it allows you to comment on any listed waypoint, and the comments upload once you have service or Wifi. This comes especially in handy for planning ahead with water sources. If you’re the first person to notice a listed source is dry or almost dry, be a pal and leave a comment. Those behind you will love you.

[mrjohnhthompson]

The 10 Commandments Of Money

Recently Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said despite efforts by the government and private sector, young Malaysians were not financially literate, especially when it came to investing. He said for the young, the idea of a savings account, where only spare change was kept, was an inaccurate method as inflation and the cost of not investing would decrease the real value of savings, year on year. That being said, most people crave certainty. In the latest post on mr-stingy.com, Aaron Tang said that a lot of people come up to him and ask, “What’s the best way to invest?” This compelled him to share his 10 “commandments” on money that apply to everyone, everywhere.

1. You shall have no emotions before money

For most people, money is a very emotional thing. If you don’t believe me, try taking RM50 out of your colleague’s wallet, and see what happens. But being emotional about money is bad for you. When we get emotional about something, we normally make bad decisions. Like the saying goes: “We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” So here’s the first and hardest commandment: don’t be emotional about money. But if you are emotional, at least admit it first — then we can start dealing with those emotions.

2. You shall not worship money

Money isn’t a religion, but judging by how some people treat it — you’d think it’s their god. Some people devote all their thoughts and energy towards making more money. Okay, I’m not saying money isn’t important. It is. And because money can do great things for you (especially when you’re struggling), it’s very easy to feel that money should be the main focus of our lives. It’s also very easy to get caught in a destructive cycle where you’re constantly chasing for more, because it never seems enough. But look deeper — focusing all our thoughts on money isn’t going to solve all our problems. It’s definitely not going make us happier either. Our lives are a lot more than a balance sheet of how much money you have. What about the more important things like family, friends and fun? Money is just a tool to be used in our lives, not a god. We make it our slave; not become slaves to it.

3. You shall not underestimate human stupidity

You will never master money if you don’t understand human behaviour (and its associated stupidity). Thankfully, we live in an age where it’s so easy to study history and human psychology. We know that humans are irrational. We know that without conscious effort, people normally make bad decisions. Even the smartest ones among us are susceptible to biases, greed, and moments of madness. We respect that. So when we get overconfident and say, “I know I’m right! I know this investment is guaranteed to make money!” we check ourselves and say: Stop being crazy!

4. Remember to rest. Health is more valuable than money

Theoretically, money is unlimited. If you play your cards right, you could have more money than you know what to do with. But time is not; time is the real limiting factor in life. Would you kill yourself at work to earn just a few hundred dollars more? It would be really sad if all that extra money went to paying for hospital bills. Nobody lies on their death bed wishing they had spent more time trying to make more money.

5. Honour your father and mother. Use money to be nice to people

If it’s acceptable in your culture, give money to your parents. Use your money to help others, including the poor. Be nice to other people and build relationships with them. Not because you want to get their money or use them for favours someday. Just because you’re the kind of person that gives to people. This is the only time in this article where I’m going bring in something intangible. But if you’re kind to other people, especially those who are in difficult situations — whether you believe in God, karma or the circle of life — you will be rewarded.

6. You shall not only consume, but create value

We live in an age where it’s easy to just take, take and take. It’s the golden age of consumption. We can spend all our time on Lazada, buying new things to make us feel good. But living like this makes us forget that money is generated by producing, not consuming. Consumers don’t earn money; they pay money. And endless consumption numbs you. It kills your creative senses and your ability to make money. This is death. But when you create value; what you’re really doing is creating money. Because money is an effect of value. If you want to be rich, you have to give value to lots of people. Don’t just be the guy buying the latest iPhone. Be the guy creating the latest iPhone. Or at least the latest iPhone app.

7. You shall control your lust

All of us have lust. Some of us lust for beautiful cars or exotic vacations. But when it comes to money, you need to control your desires. Does that mean you should never buy another iPhone in your life? No, I said control, not remove. Control means you decide what is most important to you and focus your money on those things. Choose just the few important ones and forget everything else. Then set a budget for these things, and follow it. This is financial discipline. Eating avocado sandwiches won’t make you broke. But trying to have a combination of a BMW, international vacations every month, Starbucks coffees every day, and avocado sandwiches every lunch will.

8. You shall not steal

The way you make money needs to be honest. How honest? I know you don’t steal anything from your colleagues (except their lunchtime fries), and you don’t pay bribes to government officials (right?) — so well done. But I’m talking about deeper honesty issues. Like not stealing extra expenses when doing your travel claims. Not stealing ideas from your colleagues without giving them credit. And not stealing company working hours to run your side business; but instead doing your best for the job you’re entrusted with. I know, everyone else does it. But even if they do, you could be a role model for honest living. We complain about corruption all the time, so why not do something about it — personally. Honest living leads to self-respect. Healthy self-respect leads to success. Plus you’ll sleep well at night too.

9. You shall not betray trust

We’ve already talked about honesty, so now let’s talk about her delicate younger sister: trust. Because trust is the magic that makes human relationships work. Trust is the soft silk string that binds us all together. Break it and you break our ability to do business with each other. Some people think they can lie, cheat and swindle to get whatever money they want. This is a lie. And it only works once. Once trust is broken, relationships are never the same. Nobody wants to give money to a liar.

10. You shall not be jealous

I know how it looks. Everyone else’s life seems to be cooler than yours. They have a better job with a better-looking boss. They get to holiday all the time. They drive a nicer car and have a bigger house. But what we don’t see is the sacrifices they make to achieve those things. Everyone’s on a different journey in life: whether in work, relationships or money. Why should we worry about anyone else’s journey apart from our own? The only thing we need to check is if we’re 1% better today than we were yesterday. Let’s stop comparing with anyone else, because that only makes us unhappy and do stupid things with money. Jealousy is a useless emotion.

What happens if you break a commandment?

Don’t worry. There’s no money god who will punish us if we occasionally break the rules. So be easy on yourself if you fail — nobody’s perfect. Just don’t give up; pick yourself up and do better next time. But, more importantly, start now. The sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to pick yourself up and keep at your financial goals. [block] Aaron Tang is the founder of mr-stingy.com. He writes about optimising time, money, and relationships – to make the most out of life.[/block]

First published on mr-stingy.

The post The 10 Commandments Of Money appeared first on iMoney Malaysia.

[geoxis]

Corona Crisis Management - How Brands are Harnessing the Power of Digital Media

The pandemic COVID 19 has pulled the proverbial rug from under us. Each day we wake up to a new altered landscape as an indicator of things to come. For brands, businesses & entrepreneurs, the coronavirus has changed life forever. We observe a change of behaviors is among clients and customers, the way they communicate, shop & react is different now. In these unprecedented times of rapid change when one-third of the world’s population is under quarantine, businesses are confronted with two significant questions: how to respond during the pandemic, and, looking ahead, what changes in consumer behavior to expect because of a prolonged lockdown.  We all talk about the digital revolution and how businesses will function in the digital age during challenging times. Does this mean the is future here? Hasn’t a little virus scared us to do business differently! I don’t want to contribute to the negative literature on the topic - of which there is a lot. The facts are bleak, however, in the crisis's wake brands have been turning to digital media strongly. Has digital media turned out as a lifeline for businesses during coronavirus pandemic? Some businesses may be affected mildly, some may adapt and hunker down until things stabilize. And then there are the businesses that may benefit from the corona crisis—the law of nature, it’s a jungle out there and the strong will survive. Ah, the word, survive! In tough times people survive the most horrendous circumstances by adjusting, being adaptable, and focusing on the basics. The lifeboat here is digital media. For a business to survive in this critical, life-altering condition of the coronavirus disease, it is the time to switch to digital media—and in doing so, stay connected to clients, building strong customer relationships, and to learn innovative ways of communication. Actually, your potential audience has never been more captive than it is right now. Everyone is at home following social media feeds for updates and messages of hope. Harness power of digital media marketing For the business that can harness the power that is marketing on digital platforms, the opportunity is now and ripe for the picking. Secure your customers after the crisis by well-orchestrated strategies that enable brands to keep connected to their customers in the tough times. This can be achieved by providing credible, informative, relevant feeds, sincere information, and useful content, and potentially solving their problem. Digital communication will help to march forwards. Although it was always on the cards with many businesses. But those businesses now have the opportunity to grab the lifeline that the digital-age affords them in this difficult time in our economy who either ignored the signs or have made half-hearted attempts at joining the digital revolution. Traditional marketing takes a hit Since the government has already called for a nationwide lockdown and as we have seen the same in other countries. Advice to stay home and limit all unnecessary outings seems to lead to a decrease in out-of-home ad spend. Brands are focusing on online digital ads instead. People have to stay indoors so some TV executives are predicting huge increases in ad spend as consumers got to stay inside. Increase in online marketing We can predict that there will be a huge increase in the digital ad in the coming months as consumers will naturally spend more time online, especially choosing to shop online versus leaving the house. As people are working from home more, and avoiding traveling, we may expect to see an increase in mobile and social opportunities. People are free from the watchful eye of their workplace manager so they will check their phones more frequently. Also, 6 out of 10 of us are checking the news more frequently! Social media ad spend is set to increase Social platforms are likely to increase due to the inflated use of social media. Social media has now become a daily routine as people are on their phones, looking for engaging content to keep them busy. They are trying to tackle self-isolation, social media helps them to keep grounded, give them a sense of community, and regular updates on the global corona rises. It is playing a vital role in communicating with the world and also with your clients these days. Companies that invested in this practice in the last few years can now benefit from that network and expertise. Digital media tactics to follow during the corona crisis For marketers, there are two important questions, viz.. How to respond (if at all) during this crisis? And, looking to the aftermath, what changes in consumer behavior to expect because of a prolonged shutdown? Here are digital media tactics that could work perfectly right now. Following tactics may help you in achieving this strategy. 1. Small and personalized digital conference rooms Share with your customers an update on your business and how you are re-inventing yourself during these strange times. It will help you better understand how you can provide value during a crisis. Share your personal story, showing empathy for your clients, and share your positive and innovative mindset. You will create a positive impact on your brand. 2. Live stream your business The usage of social media is booming as millions of people are stuck in their homes. Live streaming can be an interesting opportunity. Thanks to the live stream of Instagram or LinkedIn, you can now set up your own TV channel or virtual market place. 3. You can inspire your customers Use social media platforms to inspire your customers and thus add value to your business. Do not aim for hard selling on social media right now. Try to know and understand the fears of your customers and their hopes. Find out ways to add value to this process. Try to build a stronger brand reputation. Let’s hope that one fine day, the gates of the world will open again. Value your customers even in crisis time. 4. Large virtual events There is an enormous potential to reach a larger audience with the help of virtual events. Now people have more time than before. They are no longer stuck in baffling traffic. Their workload may be lower. They are comfortable to attend a meeting in their cozy home environment. 5. Seize the opportunity to connect with customers Strategies your plans, when, where, and how to reach your target audience in new or sophisticated ways through digital channels. Continuing to engage with consumers in an online environment is in the best interest of brand marketers. Because as long as the internet is ad-supported and accessible, you can reach your consumers and expect technology to drive tangible outcomes to the bottom line. 6. One-on-one communication This is a good time to communicate with your customers and your community. One-on-one conversation is a great opportunity to connect with your customers. Reach out to them—for starters, ask if they are healthy—but you can also share some content that you created for your social channels with individual customers. 7. Keep paid digital media spends holding steady Keep paid digital media spends in place to confront coronavirus and its digital media impact successfully. Daily life has a way of marching on, and when consumers are looking to buy what they need and want, you can be there with the right message at the right time. The competitive playing field also becomes less crowded in strange times, which may benefit you. 8.       Experiment With and Test Digital Advertising Strategies The gloomy time may turn rosy for brand marketers wanting an audience. People are locked in their homes and switching to entertainment to kill boredom. Perhaps, this is the right time to experiment and invest in connected TV search or other social strategies. Though, before you do, know your brand’s value proposition and your audience so your message will resonate well. If you thought LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook were something for people with too much time on their hands, you’ve probably come to regret that assumption. There is good news, though, even if you didn’t invest in digital marketing before COVID19, there are still many opportunities to use them now. Adapt to the ‘new’ customer For a brand, an online presence has never been as important as today. Try to keep it digital. Locate your target audience and how their lifestyle has changed and map out how you should target them. What is your potential audience’s emotional context? What do they want to hear? How should you be communicating with them? Do not underestimate how the coronavirus has changed your customers and how it has affected their demands. Conclusion The coronavirus has left its mark in history. The question is rather how many things will change and how will the world look when it’s all over. But don’t allow the coronavirus pandemic to determine the viability of your business’ future, do what a survivor does in times of trouble instead. Look for solutions and make them work for you. If you have concerns about where your marketing budget is going or want to discuss how coronavirus might affect your marketing strategy, then get in touch. We’d love to hear from you. Even during a time that feels like a downward spiral—there can be an opportunity to be seized. Author BioSwati Mittal - working as a Digital Marketing Executive at HIcentrik. She works with digital marketing based clients to accelerate their business growth with the help of the latest marketing technology and trends. Read the full article