#new zealand brand identity

[agrarian-blog]

Overcoming Rural Sales Challenges in Australia: How Training and Communications Audits Drive Success

Rural sales in Australia come with unique challenges, from dispersed customer bases to communication barriers. Addressing these pain points requires strategic tools like specialized sales training and communications audits. This microblog explores how these solutions empower businesses to succeed in the rural market.

Why is Rural Sales Training Essential for Success in Australia?

Rural areas in Australia are characterized by distinct challenges:

Geographic Isolation: Sales teams often face long travel times, leading to increased costs and delays.

Limited Connectivity: Poor internet and network coverage hinder effective communication.

Customer Diversity: Rural customers have varying needs, requiring tailored approaches.

Rural sales training in Australia equips sales teams with skills to navigate these challenges. By focusing on building trust, effective communication, and understanding local markets, businesses can create meaningful connections with rural customers.

What Does a Rural Sales Training Program Include?

An effective rural sales training program typically covers:

Market Analysis: Understanding rural customer needs and preferences.

Communication Skills: Building rapport and adapting to local cultures.

Technology Utilization: Leveraging tools like CRM systems even in low-connectivity areas.

Sales Strategies: Learning how to maximize limited opportunities through effective planning.

These components help sales teams operate more efficiently and achieve better results.

How Can a Communications Audit Improve Rural Sales?

A communications audit evaluates how well a business communicates internally and externally. For rural sales, where communication gaps can be costly, such audits are invaluable.

Key Benefits of a Communications Audit:

Identifying Weaknesses: Pinpoint areas where communication breaks down, such as unclear messaging or delayed responses.

Streamlining Processes: Ensure information flows seamlessly between teams, even in remote areas.

Enhancing Customer Engagement: Align messaging to resonate with rural audiences, building trust and loyalty.

Regular communications audit empower businesses to address inefficiencies and optimize interactions.

What Pain Points Do Rural Sales Teams Face Without Training or Audits?

Sales teams operating without proper training or audits often encounter:

Missed Opportunities: Lack of local market knowledge leads to ineffective pitches.

Customer Dissatisfaction: Poor communication results in misunderstandings and unmet expectations.

High Operational Costs: Inefficient planning increases travel and resource expenses.

These issues not only hinder sales but also damage a company’s reputation in rural markets.

How Do Rural Sales Training and Communications Audits Complement Each Other?

Combining rural sales training with communications audits creates a powerful synergy:

Aligned Strategies: Training ensures teams know what to do, while audits confirm they’re communicating effectively.

Consistent Messaging: Teams learn to deliver clear, culturally relevant messages that resonate with rural customers.

Improved Collaboration: Stronger communication processes enhance teamwork, especially in dispersed sales units.

By addressing both skill development and communication clarity, businesses can build a more cohesive and effective rural sales strategy.

Why Choose Tailored Solutions for Rural Sales in Australia?

Generic solutions rarely address the specific needs of rural sales teams. Tailored programs and audits, such as those offered by experts like Agrarian Solutions, focus on:

Understanding regional challenges.

Offering flexible training schedules.

Providing actionable insights through in-depth audits.

FAQs on Rural Sales Training and Communications Audits

1. What are the primary goals of rural sales training in Australia? To equip sales teams with the tools to build trust, understand local markets, and communicate effectively despite logistical challenges.

2. How often should businesses conduct communications audits? At least annually or whenever there’s a significant change in operations, such as adopting new technology or expanding into new markets.

3. Can small businesses benefit from these services? Absolutely! Small businesses often rely on strong customer relationships, making effective communication and targeted sales strategies crucial.

4. Are there any government incentives for rural sales training in Australia? Certain Australian states offer grants and subsidies for businesses investing in workforce training, particularly in rural areas.

Conclusion

Rural sales in Australia demand more than traditional approaches. By investing in rural sales training and conducting regular communications audits, businesses can overcome operational pain points, improve customer relationships, and achieve long-term success. To learn more about tailored solutions, visit Agrarian Solutions.

Let’s tackle the unique challenges of rural sales together!

[systeminquiry]

Debunking: Plurality in Transgender Mental Health (2018)

Cross-posting this solid debunking of an oft-cited section about plurality. Most of the images speak for themselves, but I'll add in occasionally to explain further.

The first section defines being plural as "Having two or more people existing in one body or space" (Yarbrough, 2018). The highlighted sections on plurality have no source - these are unsubstantiated claims that contradict the scientific general consensus and research on how systems form, leaving the reader unable to determine whether the information came from a legitimate/reputable source or not. As it is now, the fact that the sections about plurality have no source seems to imply that the author couldn't find a legitimate source with their definition of plurality, instead fabricating explanations.

The majority of this page describes someone who has been repeatedly traumatized as an example for explaining plurality. In context, this actually makes the argument against their claim stronger - if this is the only case study provided, it implies the only sources the author found to support their claim here are trauma-related - inadvertently strengthening the claim that systems can't form without trauma.

The information about open and closed systems, fronting and blending, and headspaces does have a source, but upon investigation, the original source doesn't have a source; the only information we have about the author is the note that the page was "Written by E of NS," who is not listed anywhere on the site (E of N.S). Where is all this information coming from? Who is E of NS? It is possible that some of what's written is accurate, but the fact that so much of the original source makes claims without citing any sources, and that we know nothing about the author but their initials, this source cannot be called a credible one.

This entire section makes claims about plurality that directly contradicts the body of existing research (see Dorahy et al., 2014 and Dell & O'Neil, 2009, but there are more) with no sources to support what they're saying. I cannot call this reliable or legitimate information if large sections are fictitious.

As shown above, all of these references either pertain to dissociative disorders or are not legitimate sources as is evident in previous sections. Of note to me is that the author's specialties don't include DID, multiplicity, or trauma.

I hope that this breakdown helps explain why the section on plurality in Transgender Mental Health has a lot of illegitimacy and should thus not be cited as a reliable or accurate source.

Sources below the cut:

American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5 Task Force. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5™ (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Dell, P. & O'Neil, J. (2009). Dissociation and the Dissociative Disorders: DSM-V and Beyond. Routledge.

Dorahy M. J., Brand, B.L., Şar V., et al. (2014). Dissociative identity disorder: An empirical overview. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 48(5), 02-417. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867414527523

E of N.S. (n.d.). What Is Plurality?. Plurality Resource. https://pluralityresource.org/plurality-information/

Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery. Basic Books/Hachette Book Group.

Johnson, J. G., Cohen, P., Kasen, S., & Brook, J. S. (2006). Dissociative disorders among adults in the community, impaired functioning, and axis I and II comorbidity. Journal of psychiatric research, 40(2), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2005.03.003

Yarbrough, E. (2018). Transgender Mental Health. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.

[runwayrunway]

No. 28 - A Further Explanation of the Star Alliance Test

This is a main-series post, despite not being a review of a specific airline. I just think it's something that belongs in the series, that should be read. Don't worry. Today's airline is going to come later. This is a necessary preamble to get out of the way first, and it's also me making things right with an airline I've covered already.

Stick around and I promise it'll make sense. I had to rewrite this entire post from scratch, so if I could have changed this fact I would have, but fundamentally before I talk about today's true subject I need to talk about the Star Alliance Test (SAT for the remainder of this post). 

So let's begin with a question. You don't have to get this right. Just take a brief look at these pictures, don't try to examine them closely or anything, just a look-over, and tell me which one of these planes - we'll call them 1, 2, and 3, left from right - flies for an airline we’ve touched on briefly before, Avianca.

Got your answer locked in? Hit the readmore and let me tell you why I asked you this!

That's right! The answer was No. 1. You can tell because it says Avianca on it, if you look closer. But...why? Why would we want to be put in a situation where 'which of these three airlines with completely different liveries, identities, and brands does this plane fly for' is a question that could feasibly come up? 

I don't know. I didn't make that choice and I was probably on some other wall during that meeting. Oh, and to the best of my knowledge I also hadn't been born yet. But it's a thing airline alliances do. And Star Alliance is the subject of the Star Alliance Test - one of my metrics for determining if an airline deserves a grade of F. 

The Star Alliance test has been used precisely once - in my SAS post, regarding the 1998-2019 livery (henceforth referred to as red engine SAS or RESAS).

This monstrosity, for those blessed enough to not remember.

Here are the rules of the test. 

The Star Alliance Test has exactly one question. Would I prefer that all this airline’s planes were forcibly repainted into Star Alliance liveries instead of allowed to remain in their current state?

If the answer is 'yes', the airline automatically gets a grade of F. 

Why Star Alliance? After all, it could be better but I don't think it's that bad. Well, I choose it because the Star Alliance test isn't really about being aesthetically pleasing - at least, not exclusively. Let me explain. 

Star Alliance is the largest airline alliance in the world. Flightradar24 estimates there are 106 planes flying in a Star Alliance livery. It has 26 member airlines, shown above. Note the variance in color scheme, in logo, in origin. 26 is so many airlines. These carriers span every continent except Antarctica and basically only share three features: being international, being full-service, and being members of Star Alliance. I think it's safe to say that in any other context, nobody would ever associate THAI and Avianca, or Shenzhen Airlines and TAP Air Portugal, or Aegean Airlines and EVA Air. 

Each of these airlines has a livery of their own, except for Copa. I've covered Lufthansa and SAS already. Croatia Airlines and Air New Zealand are on my request list. Another several are on my own private 'short' list. (It is 50 airlines long. You don't want to know how long my longlist is.) 26 airlines comes out to at minimum 26 reviews, but actually more because you saw me squeeze four out of SAS. I will say up front, Star Alliance runs the gamut of liveries. There are a couple I like, a couple I think are very bad, and most I think are middling. But each of them, except Copa, is its own. Some of their designs are minimal, disappointing, ugly, but they are all designs made in an attempt to reflect the airline's identity and distinguish it from the rest of the tarmac, even if they create something ugly or boring or cowardly or all three.

A livery can be very, very bad indeed. But in my own mind an F, an outright failure, is the inverse of an A+ in a sort of cosmically symmetric ontology, and these are not the inverse of an A+ livery. They do not embody a transcendent bad to balance the scales against transcendent good. To reach this point you must be not only ugly but a gnawing void eating away at your own self. A livery worthy of the grade F do not fail to execute a good concept, or even fail to execute a bad concept. They have no concept and they fail to justify their existence.

One of the worst liveries I've covered vs one of the best.

The SAT is a litmus test for this astronomical, pernicious state of utter failure. It takes more to fail the SAT than to just be uglier than the default Star Alliance livery. Plenty of liveries are uglier than Star Alliance's and they pass by light-years. To fail the SAT requires more than bad design, blandness, or anything else of that nature. It is monumentally difficult to fail the SAT. It’s like stalling an Airbus. You can do it. We know this. People have managed to do it, when the perfect storm arises and the world enters that uncanny state where luck and circumstance conspire to make the absurd a reality. But it’s really not something you can do, broadly speaking. Just pulling the nose up too far or forgetting to keep track of your airspeed isn’t going to do the trick. Icing on the wings won’t either. Even forgetting to extend your flaps on takeoff probably won’t be enough. It’s rare enough that it straddles the border of being an urban legend. It seems so easy to do thoughtlessly but it’s only happened a couple of times. Even doing it intentionally is harder than just designing a good livery. I'm not even sure it's possible to do it intentionally.  

To fail the SAT, you must fail so comprehensively that you should no longer be allowed to design your own livery. You should, in a paternalistic manner, have your entire fleet forcibly repainted into the Star Alliance colors. 

A livery is meant to distinguish and represent an airline. Even a bad design is still a design. The reason that RESAS fails the SAT, in my mind, is that it doesn't feel like a design. It's not coherent. It's not intentional. It doesn't feel like improperly integrated parts, or even multiple liveries stapled together. It feels like it was designed by random number generator. It utterly fails to represent the airline, utterly fails to look good, and utterly fails to even seem like thought was put into it.

To fail the SAT is to get to the point where I genuinely think it is so shameful to paint this on your planes, so inept on every level, that it would be better to just not have a livery. It would be an act of mercy to become indistinguishable from other airlines instead of staying as it is, a thing you could only ever pity and never truly love. Never respect. The most wretched sort of creature. If your shirt is stained too badly, you just can't keep going on like that. People will point and laugh at you, and that's never fun. They'll say 'that guy's shirt is covered in mysterious substances', and you have to just put on a jacket and cover it up until you get home and fumigate it with kerosene. From 1998 to 2019, SAS would have been better off just not having a livery than they were flying that...thing.

It doesn't have to be Star Alliance in particular. Just something which renders the airplane mostly generic. They can keep a little logo on there but they don't get their own design. It could just as easily be, say, forcible repainting into the default manufacturer liveries Airbus and Boeing use for prototype aircraft.

Not the end of the world, right? These are surely not unbearable liveries. I don't think it's any worse giving up your identity to say you're part of Star Alliance than it is to subdue it in favor of the model of plane. If you're SAS pre-2019, this may be a decent option for you. If you're literally anyone else, the mere concept should be philosophically repugnant.

I am actually being kind, though. If I were to be even harsher, I could have easily made this the SmartLynx Test.

I asked you all about SmartLynx. To begin with, not a single person believed they could recall seeing one of their planes, or that they had flown with them. I didn't think they'd be able to. That's not a question I can really answer about myself either, at least not with any confidence. But what is SmartLynx?

The vast majority of responses just expressed bewilderment. I got 50 total replies to the questionnaire itself. Keep in mind that some people declined to answer, and I didn't include them, and even still the number of people who actively expressed that they did not know is nearly half of all responses. Few of the answers were especially confident, either. I'm fairly sure the ones about transporting animals were all jokes, and nearly everyone expressed that their answer was a guess. Someone just said 'bad', which I thought was pretty funny. I liked that answer.

I got two people who said that SmartLynx are airplane lessors. Actually, one said 'private airplane sharing company', but I've interpreted that as meaning lessor. Anyway, they're right. The people who said charter also aren't wrong.

SmartLynx are a Latvian airline which specializes in wet leases. For those unaware, a wet lease (very bad term) in aviation is a lease of an airplane that comes with a crew to operate it. Generally everything else, like fuel and various operating fees, is on the airline leasing the plane, and they're also the ones who market and sell the tickets. Basically, you could get on a flight, your ticket says, for example, Oceanic Airlines Flight 1, you bought it from the Oceanic Airlines website using your Oceanic Airlines miles, and be none the wiser that SmartLynx owns the airplane and pays the pilots flying it. These vary a little, but generally a wet lease provides ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance), and if you ever see the term 'damp' or 'moist' lease that means the cabin crew is provided by the lessee rather than the lessor, but apparently neither sees much use. Which is a shame, because I think this is one of the few situations where more categories actually might make this easier to parse.

If all of that is sort of confusing and a lot of information upfront, you are not alone in feeling like this! I'm still pretty shaky in my own understanding of it. I'm a history person, not a business person. You can think of it as codesharing but never mentioning that's what you're doing, if that's any easier. It's also similar to regional brands of larger carriers, like Delta Connection flights being flown by Endeavor Air or SkyWest, though these carriers aren't going as far as to lease and are still on the hook for their own operating costs.

Every time I explain this to someone for the first time they think it's pretty deranged, and I don't completely disagree, but it's very normal. There are plenty of reasons airlines might wet lease, generally involving them not having the capacity to fulfill demand. All sorts of airlines provide wet leases, and all sorts of airlines hire them. It can create weird legal loopholes regarding who is allowed to fly in whose airspace, but typically it's just one airline not having enough planes for the holiday peak. They usually last for a few weeks or months, rather than the many years of a 'dry' lease which includes a plane only.

SmartLynx fly basically everything you can think of - passenger, cargo, holiday charter. Some airlines they've leased for are EasyJet, DHL, Finnair, and victim of the blog condor. Because they never operate flights under their own name, there is absolutely no reason for them to have their own livery. Indeed, it makes more sense not to, since it would be easier to leave their planes blank in case they want to repaint them into another airline's livery for a longer-term lease.

If you fail the Star Alliance Test, I think you would be better off painting your entire plane white.

SmartLynx has no identity because their entire point is to assume that of others. They basically do the airline equivalent of paying somebody to take an exam for you. This is a SmartLynx plane with Saudia logos on airasia color-blocking. It's a bit weird-looking, sure, but it betrays nothing about SmartLynx because their entire job is to not have a brand. Nobody has ever seen a SmartLynx plane because they exist literally but not philosophically - the job of a SmartLynx plane is to fly for a different airline. They are the stagehands of aviation, scurrying around in all black to stand out as little as possible.

But SAS isn't SmartLynx. SAS is a big airline, a flag carrier, and to say that they fail the SAT means that I would prefer their planes all be wiped from existence in an apocalyptic flood of liquid paper. I do not think the 1998-2019 SAS livery deserves to exist. I keep repeating myself because I need to stress how profoundly difficult it is to get me to this point. I would rather a livery be clumsy, bare-bones, poorly executed, cowardly, genuinely ugly, absolutely dismal, than it be non-existent. It takes something absolutely tremendous to bring me to the point RESAS has, where there is nothing, no vision, no meaning, no direction, no design, that justifies its existence.

...so what about condor?

condor was the first airline to get a grade of F. The second was the aforementioned red engined SAS livery, now mercifully retired and thus reduced to a footnote in a post about how far SAS has come. The reason I brought up the SAT in SAS's post and didn't in condor's is that condor emphatically passes the SAT. 

I began with the assumption that the SAT was a good measure of if a livery deserves an F, and maybe it still is, but it's definitely not all there is to it. condor is different from Copa and RESAS, it just is. And I think the best evidence of this is that, of all the reviews I've posted, condor is the only one where a significant portion of people who reblogged it disagreed with me. I do understand that at the end of the day everything I say is subjective, and I don't mind when people have opposing views on something, but combined with my own thoughts on the livery, and the process of researching and writing my BWIA post, it pushed me to an epiphany about what makes a truly great and truly terrible livery. And, partly out of curiosity and partly to follow this new path of personal evolution, I asked survey-takers what they think of the condor livery. Maybe I should have left it as a free-response question, but I wanted figures, numbers. So here's what I got. (Free responses have been merged into whichever category they match closest for the sake of simplicity.)

These results are fascinating. First, you may notice that this is missing two options. Not a single person said that this livery was boring, or that they felt neutrally towards it. Even people who are still making up their minds are a dramatic minority.

Second, people who had a clear-cut opinion of the livery, positive or negative, made up just over a fifth of respondents. Most people were at least to some extent conflicted, although which specific variant of conflict varied. There are people who appreciate the idea but do not like the appearance of the livery, and then there are people who find some charm in it. Around 2/3 of these people cannot force themselves to fully insult what they see as a sort of goofy creature, while the other third cannot allow their emotions to sway their rating. If my post on the matter didn't fully convey it, this is probably the closest to my own opinion.

If I was condor, and I saw these results from a focus group (replicated on a scale far larger than my survey, of course) I would probably say to go ahead with this livery. All press is good press, as they say. You're going to end up with a livery that sticks with people, and they're going to respect that even if they think it's hideous. At the very least, they're going to notice you.

Condor's livery is ugly. I will not change my stance; it does not look good. It is unpleasing to my eyes. But it is not the opposite of an A+ livery. In fact, it has a lot in common with them. The reason I love PSA, BWIA, and Amakusa Airlines so much isn't just that they make good use of the plane's shape, have pleasing colors, and generally look nice, but because they are built on the bedrock of a concept which goes beyond designing an airplane. In BWIA's review in particular I discussed the fact that it takes the approach of building a livery around an idea rather than an idea around the concept of what a livery should be; this is what distinguishes an A+ from an A, and the gulf is far larger than the gulf between any two other grades. The difference between 'it's on the better side of okay' and 'I somewhat tepidly like it' can be rather small compared to the difference between 'it's very good' and 'it's genius'. 

In the 2022 film "Nope", protagonist OJ asks if there is such a thing as a 'bad miracle'. To me, condor is something similar: bad genius. condor takes a once-in-a-decade great concept and executes it incomprehensibly poorly, and now they're the infamous ugly stripe planes. It has failed spectacularly but it has failed in perfect harmony with itself. It is unlikely that someone attempting to make an ugly livery as a joke or a parody could come up with something quite this sad. I've struggled for a little bit to think of a way to convey what it means to me, and I think I might have finally found it.

The town of Borja, Spain has a population of under 5,000. Although it was largely unremarkable as far as this sort of work goes, they were quite fond of a fresco painted on their church wall around 1930 by the artist Elías García Martínez. All art begins to deteriorate over time, and frescoes are notoriously difficult to conserve. In 2012, an octogenarian with no relevant training had a vision of a gorgeous restored painting. She definitely should have thought before acting. Just because you see something in your mind's eye doesn't mean you can make it real. And if you rush into it you might make...well, you see the picture on the right.

This picture is hideous. And it has brought in crowds of tourists hundreds of times the size of the town's actual population. Their money has funded pensions and built infrastructure. It has become a cultural icon. Nearly everyone with an internet connection has seen it. It's by far the most memorable thing about this tiny town. It is a work of bad genius.

Say what you will about condor's planes - and I myself have said many mean things about them. They are ugly and they are iconic. They are condor's grand statement, and no matter how ugly I think they are the world would be losing something if they were assimilated into identical Star Alliance liveries.

This striped livery is terrible, and it is great. It is worse than many liveries are good. And it does not fail as a livery. It is fundamentally condor's, and there is nothing like it. Distinctive, coherent, unique...and also ugly.

I've realized that condor belongs as a fundamental landmark in my understanding of liveries, just like Lufthansa or BWIA or PSA. Now that I've said all of what I've said in this post, I think giving condor an F just doesn't work. It doesn't belong in the same category as liveries which fail the Star Alliance Test. It doesn't deserve a better grade though. Something so bombastically, almost elegantly hideous requires a rethinking of the scale I've been using.

condor gets Runway Runway's first ever Z rating.

It does a tremendously poor job at being good, but a fantastic job of being a livery. In order for the Star Alliance Test to retain its meaning and the F tier to retain its coherence, condor needs to be reclassified. It is awful, hideous, sloppy, a waste of potential, but it is potential, and 'awful' originally referred to something which inspired awe.

[faithfromanewperspective]

It seems like no coincidence that you sent me an ask right after I had a brooding session that led to me wanting to send you an ask. Here we are 🤭

Mine's unrelated to music and chronic illness though: I wanted to get your view on what being Australian is to you. Who are we? What are we? I've been having this identity crisis all my life because my ancestors are immigrants from everywhere, with different cultures, and I feel like I don't belong here despite how the land has also shaped me into who I am.

Sometimes I think at the core of the culture of Australia is loneliness/isolation and I also wanted to know your take on that too.

Hope you're well, lovely 💛💛💛

ooh. wow. hmm. i'm... not doing great as you can probably tell by the time at which i'm posting this. but i surprisingly have a lot of thoughts about this.

for me, it's a connection to one of the oldest lands there is--i've studied a lot of geology, i've had to for my degree, and because of the lack of volcanic activity for so long our land, everything about it, is real old, and that's something i have a lot of respect and reverence for. i've also been drawn to Indigenous culture and Indigenous land stewardship for the longest time: the community, the spirituality, the sense of survival and justice, the shared resources, the storytelling, the art, the connection to the land. i'm not the least bit indigenous to anywhere really so i don't really know why, but you've made me realise something writing this, i should start to go seek that out a bit more and find community and stuff in it, it might be part of what i'm longing for.

diversity and a loss and reconstruction of identity is i also think part of it too. we are so diverse, aussies are from everywhere, from those who were born to a long line of stewards of this great land, to all those who came to it from everywhere: all parts of europe, asia, new zealand--everyone's family has a story of how they came here and why, of a brand new start for one generation, and everyone after having to go through putting together the fragments and figuring out who they are, reinventing it as they face new things compared to what any of their ancestors ever have. in a way it's about deciding again and again to rediscover your home culture/s and figure out how to fit them into a context of diversity, find your people or bring a new tradition to your people, but also take tradition lightly in terms of it has to fit around survival in harsh conditions, it always does, practical comes first which I'll get into but i'd say part of it is navigating the patchwork of cultures and realising yours is never going to be everyone but also no one can take it away from you, realising that because they try, but ultimately no one who does that will ever succeed. not even the colonisers who generations down have made us forget a lot of our Indigenous culture and feel empty as a result; if you're here on this land you've got some responsibility to care for it and every generation longs for something we don't quite have: this is where it's so useful to have other cultures around, because we need to learn from each other. we do so much better when we do. (alternatively, say you grew up in sydney without saying you grew up in sydney. it's a whole world there if you haven't experienced it).

but I would say that not only loneliness and isolation but also loss of identity are core to being Australian. questioning it and finding it again, being nothing like you ever imagined. there's a lot of generational trauma written into this land that's going to take quite a while to recover. we've all left it behind in the past, we've more often than not experienced some degree of violence in doing that be it from colonisation and the way the cities we have now (aussies are drawn to cities, the stats show us as one of the most urbanised places in the world, no matter what the stereotypes are) being Not Born Of Indigenous Input to violence of poverty and being driven to crime then shipped halfway across the world away from loved ones, to violence of displacement from other lands from poverty or war or overpopulation. we're all kind of unmoored even though many don't ever show it, we're all coming from a place of having lost that deep connection to self and either trying to find it or not bothering and I think it does really show in the way we connect to each other, the way we connect to the land, the misunderstanding and exploitation and often trying to be something we're not.

but i'd also say our strength is in our survival. we're good at coming together in natural disasters, we're often really creative when it comes to getting by, we're hard working, we know we're entitled to nothing. it comes when you've lived in conditions like ours: poor soil, harsh weather--be it drought or too much rain, we've been there, we've seen it, every year and every season is like we jump to a different climate zone, our agriculture isn't suited to our climate or our soil and our cities aren't planned but we get by anyway. we're hardworking and humble and when you put an aussie in another country and another setting you really see that. and we do it like it's nothing and still think it's nothing and don't understand compliments on it, we're self-deprecating like that. survival happens if we all do well enough to get by, independence leads to interdependence, and as a result we don't like people who take too much and we want those who are struggling to succeed. we aren't all like that, sure, but you see someone trying to get ahead and getting up themselves because of it? they won't last long as an aussie. community can and will ostracise them and no one's gonna feel bad. we hate our politicians but we have them anyway. we don't let them get too big-headed, we know they will, we have artists specifically employed to make fun of them. we're not perfect at this but they're older white men (problem) we don't feel bad about bullying them even if it'd be more productive to have a diverse group of people--but then we might actually feel bad about bullying them so that won't do. politics are for show anyway to get along with other countries. aussies don't care about anything we can't see with our own eyes and touch with our own hands, preferably holding a shovel or too-big set of tongs. 'she'll be right, mate' we say but really we just don't want to deal with it. why would we when getting by for ourselves is hard enough? don't talk about abstract concepts. but behind the survival if you break into that part of our minds that longs to be seen and cared for, you might have gotten our attention even though we will never admit that kind of vulnerability (it's why so many of us find western models of therapy etc so confusing. we're hardened folk)

there's a lot of negative but we kind of live with it i guess? we don't pretend it isn't the case. and sometimes we do something good. aussies invented permaculture, for example. i'm sure there are other things right there but i can't call them to mind right now. do you know what permaculture is? go have a look into it. it's one of my favourite things. in a more academic sense we invented water sensitive urban design and biodiversity sensitive urban design as well. and we needed to from a place of survival. it's the beauty of it, it's authentic and when it's there on the ground we can touch it so it's real and other countries can then see what we do and implement it themselves. with these things having popped up in recent years i think we're in a stage of transition as a nation, we're still a patchwork of confused cultural threads trying and failing at being european with our education and agriculture models--we haven't grown into ourselves yet. we haven't realised the potential of all the cultures we have to inspire something better. we still get a bit scared of each other. we still haven't figured out who we are--and personally, looking back at my family, generations of immigrants whose children become immigrants to somewhere else, i feel like there is a lot to discover that i have no idea how to find. how to internalise. my ancestors come from all over the world, and no one has had to pull together such a diverse range of ancestral and found cultural influences until me (i should give myself credit for that. and also not just talk about it but actually do it). and then when it comes to things like religion we're skeptical but also just long to be loved. and we'll take what gives that if we don't have to talk about it, but we won't take what limits us, and i feel like we're still figuring out how to lose tradition and hierarchy while keeping the heart of all the faith traditions we have here. another thing i should investigate. because we're still trying to be someone else i think, and it's not working. so to sum it up i think we're a whole lot of unfounded potential and messy sort-of functionality. no one does it like we do. not even us.

but this is coming from someone who is strangely really connected to everyone, like it's a bit of a weird talent and a little bit hippie (but aussies are hippies too, even though the hardened country folk would never admit it and the city folk don't have time for it and that leaves the label to tasmanians and northern rivers/byron coast folk who the rest of us associate it with). like i can connect with anyone for better or worse, and i do, i can't stop myself, but it's also tiring. who needs the autonomy and freedom of the bush and the novelty and connection and opportunity of our biggest cities. i'm well suited to my career i guess, but not so much self care! and yet. the reason i know how to survive is that it's handed down from ancestors from literally everywhere. we've all brought that and faced this harsh land in the last century, and now it's up to me to do that in a modern setting with modern problems like overpopulation and biodiversity loss.

and i'll also admit a lot of my conceptulisation comes from i am australian by the seekers. i generally sing/play the song without the third verse (or whichever one is about the war) because i find that in this moment in time it's not actually the biggest thing in aussie history that shaped us--it's more a global thing we were dragged into and we do better to leave it and instead think about ancient history, about the people who came with colonisation who weren't all bad individually though they were forced into a bad situation and became many of our ancestors, about the land as a living thing with a spirit, and about the things we create.

otherwise if you're looking for something that more captures what i think you might relate to being australian and some of the generational trauma you see around you that's so woven into our country if not your immigrant family who are trying to fit in but haven't yet specifically there's bloodline by luke hemmings. you know, because at the moment i can't shut up about him or his music.

anyway, do yourself a favour (heck, do me a favour) and get out of that country town of a suburb you live in. it's very insular, possibly one of the most insular places i've seen in this land and i've been to a lot of country towns and urban precincts. we love walkable cities but we yearn for more, more enrichment in the enclosure, and so literally, get on a train and go somewhere, anywhere, and notice things. notice how they do things there. and let me know if it feels good to do that. I will mail you a go card with money on it if that's what you need. go find yourself

[bangtanhoneys]

Grace Era

When it had first been discussed about taking a break, Grace had been completely all for it. The period from 2017 to 2021, felt to Grace, as one of the busiest periods. Even if they were resting, they were still working and not much actual time off had taken place, at least not for her. The month break before filming Bon Voyage: New Zealand had been filled with more work than she realised so this actual break had been a blessing. 

But then came the talks of military service, solo projects taking precedence over group projects and then living apart. They had all bought their own places a while back, using the dorm for work which meant they were still living together more than they were apart. The pandemic saw them quarantine together before they were allowed to separate, but even then they were still together. 

Grace, who had finally felt comfortable in her identity as the only female member of BTS and being the only female at Big Hit, suddenly felt lost. Without the boys, who was she? Without BTS by her side, who could she claim to be?

So she went into seclusion at her own apartment, appearing for schedules and work then going straight back home. 

The military service was something they all had to do, apart from Grace, and they had all been prepped for it. Seokjin had even wanted to go before Butter came along, but then the pandemic hit and before their Busan concert, he wanted to go but they told him to prolong it for ARMY and then go after the concert. Grace had felt guilty as she knew how much Jin wanted to go and just get it done so he could come back, all the boys had felt like that. 

But they also had felt excited about finally doing their own solo things. Grace didn’t. 

Bang called her into the office one day, alone and sat her down to have a good talk. To ask her how she was, what was going on in her head and how she was feeling about everything. And finally, she could be honest: she was going to be alone, she was going to be the only member of BTS left and when the boys came back, would they even want to be part of BTS again?

A fear of being alone, to be the only one standing on stage and proclaiming to be part of one of the biggest groups on earth. It scared her. 

So Bang put together a team: Sejin was recalled back to be her personal manager, she got her own make up team and stylist, then a team of bodyguards. Big HIt was going to start treating her like the female soloist that she could have been from the beginning. 

All of them began to plan Grace’s future career around the boy's solo career, allowing her to attend their schedules undercover while also working on her own. A massive contract with Alexander McQueen was signed with her to be the face of their fashion show in London, another contract was signed with Hyundai for Grace specifically and she signed another contract with Samsung. 

Another contract was signed with Louboutin for their famous red bottom heels, allowing her to be the new face of the company but they also signed up to do her heels for future performances. 

She managed to secure a deal with Balmain, meeting the creative director Olivier Rousteing in Paris, for designing future performance costumes alongside Big Hits styling team. 

Brands and companies were vying for Grace’s attention but she only selected a few, not wanting to interfere with other idols who had previously worked with certain brands or had current contracts with them. She felt like no one should overshadow the other and no fandom should play off the other. 

With all boys signed up for the military, Grace was now clear to announce her own projects. BTS's twitter page was updated with black images, no details, other than the words: Here She Comes. A week later, a schedule was updated with the dates but nothing to suggest what those dates meant. Everything and everyone was tight-lipped, no one knew any ideas.

Finally, the big reveal came on Grace’s birthday when she went on V-LIVE to announce a new album was coming as well as a tour, having taken a leaf from Yoongi’s book. Ticket dates and the schedule would be announced soon but a music video would be coming in two weeks. 

Once the announcement was made, Big Hit changed their social media layouts to feature Grace. ARMY began their own countdowns, even celebrities were going on their own social media to show off their excitement. Teasers were posted through the coming days, and finally, on the big day, the video music of 7 Rings was posted. The video exploded over the internet, the reference to BTS in the video wasn’t missed and the seven dancers were also a key point. YouTubers reacted to the video with glowing reviews and by the time they had released their reaction videos, BigHit posted the tour dates and locations.

She would start in Seoul, then onto Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York then into Paris, two nights in London, and two nights in Manchester. She would then go on to do a few more dates in Europe before flying out to Asia, starting in China, the Philippines, then Japan then back to Seoul for the two final dates.

The tour sold out within minutes, with one more date added to Los Angeles and New York as well as Japan. Then the news came that there would be a BTS tribute concert, for a live audience and live streaming with the boys being able to watch in their military barracks. It happened to land smack in the middle of Grace’s tour, with BigHit refusing to say whether she would be in attendance or even performing though the likes of TXT, Seventeen, GOT7, and Stray Kids had already confirmed they were performing. 

When the night came and the concert opened to TXT performing a medley of BTS’ older hits, the opening chords to FIRE played and Grace rose from the middle of the stage. Not only did she perform FIRE, she did DOPE, BAEPSAE, BLACK SWAN, FAKE LOVE, BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS then ended the night with DIONYSUS, MIC DROP & IDOL. Her performance was the highlight of the evening and reviews came flooding in about how she managed to do eight parts perfectly, including rapping, and dance everyone’s parts with seven male dancers and still put on a performance. 

It became clear to everyone that whether she was performing solo or a BTS track, there would always be seven male or female dancers (sometimes both) and there would always be a hint of purple somewhere to signify her connection to ARMY. Grace had once again proved, despite her worries, that she was BTS through and through.

Her tour would conclude with the date of BTS' anniversary when all the boys would be finally released from their military enlistment and BTS would be complete again.

 

[like-the-cut-of-your-jib]

New Zealand SailGP team announced new brand name “Black Foils” ahead of Christchurch event.

[ts1989fanatic]

Taylor Swift: Australia to host academic conference on pop icon

Taylor Swift onstage during the Eras Tour

Australia is set to hold a world-first international academic symposium on the impact of Taylor Swift.

The "Swiftposium" will explore the megastar's influence on everything from the music industry to culture and the economy.

Organisers of the three-day event hope it will draw researchers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

It will be held in February - the same week Swift brings her record-breaking Eras Tour to Australia.

Swift - who shot to stardom as a teenager - has found herself at the centre of huge cultural moments and debates throughout her career.

The 33-year-old has become one of the highest-earning and most-decorated artists of all time, all while igniting conversations about everything from streaming royalties and music ownership to misogyny and cancel culture.

Such is the effect of Swift's current Eras Tour that she has crashed ticketing sites, experts have coined a new "Swiftonomics" trend, and places like Victoria in Australia have rushed through scalping law reform.

"She's quite a phenomenon," Swiftposium organiser Jennifer Beckett from the University of Melbourne told the BBC.

And so, while the idea for the event started with a half-serious tweet earlier this year, it quickly won the backing of seven universities across Australia and New Zealand.

"Taylor Swift really does have a very concrete impact globally, across things that affect all of us," Dr Beckett said, pointing to things like the role of women in industry, entertainment law, and even GDP.

"World leaders are begging for her to bring the Eras Tour to their country because of the economic benefits that it brings," she added.

While Swift has been the subject of university courses in the US, this is the first time a global symposium is being held to discuss her influence.

Organisers hope the conference will explore themes like the fandom phenomenon, Swift's team's "marketing masterclass", and the singer-songwriter's impact on discussions of gender, identity, race, and intersectionality. Critical analysis of her brand and influence is also welcome, they say.

The speakers will be finalised over the coming months, and plans for a ticketed event for fans to take part in is in the works.

But they have saved a Blank Space in the line-up for the superstar herself, if she wants to drop in.

"If Taylor Swift wants to come… I think all of us would have to spend some time picking our jaws up from the ground, but that invitation is definitely there," Dr Beckett said.

"TayTay if you want to come, we'd love to have you."

[tiptopcopy]

Everything You Need to Know About Finding a Freelance Copywriter NZ

A freelance copywriter is a person who writes copy for other people. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of hiring a freelance copywriter in New Zealand.

Tips for Working with Freelance Copywriters

Utilizing freelance copywriters can be an excellent way to gain quality content for your business. However, this process can also prove stressful if you are not knowledgeable in what you're doing. To optimize your experience and ensure optimal results don't go overlooked - here are some essential tips to keep in mind! Firstly, determine the type of writer that meets your requirements; do you require a seasoned professional with a proven track record? Or would it be beneficial to hire an inexperienced novice who is willing on learning as they develop their craft alongside yours? Knowing these answers will help guide any search for the most suitable freelancer and guarantee the successful completion of any project. Then establish an allotted budget and timeline so that workers know exactly how much money has been allocated towards this venture - after all it's imperative that professionals provide accurate estimates related to remunerations along with realistic timeframes! Lastly, provide clear instructions about expectations; clearly defining parameters of expectations allows workers to understand the scope of work thus allowing them to deliverables accordingly without becoming overwhelmed by complexity- providing clarity from start will aid in the success

Freelance Copywriter Is Affordable And Flexible

Are you searching for a cost-effective and accommodating Freelance Copywriter in NZ? Don't hesitate - to seek out my services! As a freelancer, I offer high-quality copywriting services that can meet your needs. At any point in time, if there's anything that requires assistance from me - be it something special or routine - I'm here to provide you with an engaging and interesting piece of content. My goal is to craft unique pieces of paper which effectively communicate the mission/message; this ensures accessibility as well as being informative so that expectations are met. Whether it's just one project or an ongoing commitment, let me assist by providing quality work! If we get along well enough during the discussion regarding your assignment(s), then consider giving me another opportunity to work on them further; after all... why would anyone choose someone they don't enjoy working with?

There Are Many Benefits To Hiring A Freelance Copywriter

Investing in marketing is a worthwhile venture, and when it comes to maximizing your budget's return on investment, hiring a freelance copywriter can be an advantageous option. Multiple types of services are available from these professionals - including website content writing and blog posts as well as press releases. Not only does having access to experienced individuals provide you with quality content rapidly; but also help develop your own distinct voice and tone for brand identity. Additionally, by utilizing this service you have control over deadlines which allows dedicated writers within the field who understand how best to craft engaging material for maximum impact! Furthermore; working with professionals offers cost-effective solutions that don't require additional overhead such as office space or benefits – enabling greater fiscal flexibility along the way! Ultimately; assigning veteran contributors within specific fields means absolute assurance that all final products will be upstanding pieces worthy of recognition & praise!

[thevisibilityarchives]

The Bone People (1984), Keri Hulme

LGBTQIA+

Summary: On New Zealand’s South Island, three isolated souls find solace in one another, bonded by their identities as mixed-race, their damaged familial relationships, and the journeys they must undertake to learn how to love. Keri Hulme unveils the deep heart of love, the complexities of abuse, and the poisonous fruits of intergenerational violence in her controversial and monumental work, The Bone People. 

Full review: High atop a tower, amidst the choppy seas, there once dwelled a large and menacing creature, unlike anything the locals had seen…

It is a fitting Brothers Grimm-esque description of the tone set by the opening of Keri Hulme’s The Bone People, which quickly shifts from tragedy on the Pacific to the self-imposed peace of Kerewin’s domicile: an eccentric and imposing structure befitting an equally eccentric and imposing woman. 

In Te Waipounamu, Kerewin has carved out a life for herself that is every introvert’s fantasy. Having won the lottery young and invested the money to win it back tenfold, she lives a labor-free life, spending her days spearfishing, playing the guitar, and drinking without a care in the world. 

The home she raises would plague a suburban Home Owners Association: a multi-story tower with dolphin-adorned banisters, toadstools peeking from corners, and an overgrown weed-strewn garden. It is a home created with a sole purpose: Kerewin. It is not a place for visitors or dinner parties, for hosting family or friends or visitors of any nature. 

By her own definition, Kerewin is very much the “spinster” single and childfree women of a certain age are branded when they are not involved in monogamous heterosexual relationships by a certain age. Written in 1985, off the bat it is refreshing to read a book wherein the dominant narrative does not revolve around Kerewin’s inherent need to “resolve” this status, and it is clear from the beginning that there is an intentional choice in it. 

Kerewin is childfree, not childess, a distinction that is growing but still merits broader discussion. Childfree individuals make an active choice, at some point in their lives, to forgo having children. In doing so they often bear society’s judgement, pressure, and even hostility for going against what many deem to be the “default choice” we should all fulfill with our bodies–to reproduce. Childfree people may choose this decision at a young age or may choose it during their 20s and 30s, after actively giving thought to having their own children and deciding against it. They may love children, dislike them, may fill their lives with the children of their friends, pets, or simply be happy without assuming any type of caregiver role.

Childless people, alternately, can be defined as those who may genuinely want biological children, but be unable to have them. They may experience significant emotional pain over their inability to have children, judgment and stigma directed towards their so-called failings, and may not find adoption, surrogacy, or IVF suitable or financially available options. 

Kerewin makes clear her feelings about children early on: she doesn’t like them. Frankly, she doesn’t like much of anyone: that’s why she lives alone, thrives alone, and chooses isolation, which makes it fitting that when a child appears in her window, injured and alone during a whirling storm Kerewin’s immediate reactions of both pity and irritation are so enthralling. She’s immediately drawn to the boy, a sopping wet thing projecting an aura of mystique and the maturity that precedes and child who knows more about the world than they should.

“Mature for their age” is a compliment granted to children and young women alike, who are today learning that it is often an unconscious recognition of the ways abuse leaves its mark. The effects can be mental, showing up as behaviors that appear to make one older than they are, or physical, such as early onset puberty, thinning in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and reduced cortical thickness according to the Americal Psychological Association (Colich, Williams, et. al 2020). 

As he is unable to speak, Kerewin discovers that she must take time to interpret what the boy, Simon is saying. He in turn discovers that she has patience he is unused to, and from there the two develop a bond that draws them together, transcending his rampant behavioral issues and naturally bringing forth the involvement of his adopted father Joe, who develops an attraction to Kerewin. 

The trio becomes close over their shared experiences having multiracial heritages of Pākehā (European) and Māori descent, and as Kerewin comes to care for Simon and Joe she also notes the symptoms of abuse Simon displays, both physical and emotional. As she tries to get to the root of who is responsible, Simon finds in her the first semblance of a mother he has had since Joe’s wife died, while Joe questions the nature of Kerewin’s asexuality. 

There are several times throughout the book when the direct question of Kerewin’s sexual orientation comes up. As she is directly based on the author, Keri Hulme herself, there could be no better source of writing on this front regarding representation in asexuality than the simple expression of “it’s who I am.”

Asexuality can be a confusing concept to wrap one's mind around, in part because it does not take a monolithic form, as well as because representation is so lacking for those of us who do not belong to the community. Asexual identities encompass nine labels people may gravitate towards, and the spectrum itself, like any, is prone to fluidity. 

Throughout the book, Kerewin is asked whether her asexuality is the result of sexual trauma, whether she is actually a lesbian or bisexual, and consistently whether she and Joe are sexually and romantically involved due to their gradual co-parenting of Simon.

In a brief but poignant speech, Kerewin details that she has never experienced any degree of sexual passion, interest, or feeling. She has attempted to learn about the reason for people’s interest in sex, reading books like the Kama Sutra, and picking apart whether there is something “wrong” with her, only to determine she simply is who she is, a fact Joe must accept. 

Despite being pegged as aromantic, Kerewin is a creature capable of love. While our society harps upon the importance of romantic love (to the deficit of all others), it is a testament to her own love for Simon and Joe the increasing feeling of protectiveness she begins to display over Simon, as well as her reaction upon the discovery that Joe is the responsible party for Simon’s physical abuse. 

The book has generated significant controversy for Hulme’s relentless depiction of this topic, as well as the portrayal of Kerewin, Joe, and Simon as ultimately three-dimensional characterization on this front. 

Simon is a boy who both hates and loves his father, Joe is a man who is both spiteful and pitiable, and Kerewin is both a perpetrator and a savior. It’s complex, and the reaction itself speaks volumes about the way different cultures speak about abuse, view the roles of abusers, and the idea of the psychology of victims, the cycle of abuse, punishments, and so on. 

All of this is draped within a mixture of Māori and Pākehā culture, with the book continuously streaming in and out of Māori dialogue, incorporating the atmosphere of Te Waipounamu in each and every meal, blade of grass, and breath the characters take, and bringing forth the mythology of one of the few cultures who have faced colonialism, yet are permitted the stamp of appreciation under the modern gaze due to New Zealand’s appeal to white culture. 

You can find The Bone People at your local library, on ThriftBooks, or at Barnes & Noble. 

Citations:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5151801806

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/18/childless-childfree-child

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/childless-women-discrimination_n_58b6f352e4b0780bac2f3413

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/11/29/trauma-forces-some-children-mature-here-their-stories/6358716001/

Natalie Colich, Eileen S. Williams, Maya Rosen and Katie McLaughlin. Biological Aging in Childhood and Adolescence Following Experiences of Threat and Deprivation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 2020 DOI: 10.1037/bul0000270

https://www.asexuals.net/asexual-spectrum/

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-bone-people_keri-hulme/265444/?resultid=3817f3f4-addc-4b5f-a780-c9685dac3d8d#edition=14605880&idiq=46581207

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bone-people-keri-hulme/1100258806

[venusstadt]

Black Women And Black LGBTQ+ Lives Matter, Too.

(DISCLAIMER: This article was originally published 6/12/20 on Medium.com, prior to the creation of venustadt.com. As such, my opinions may or may not have altered since the text below was originally written. This article has been re-published here to track my growth as a writer.)

George Floyd was murdered May 25 in Minneapolis. His murderers were Tou Thao, who jeered at concerned bystanders; Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Keung, who helped restrain him, though he was already in handcuffs; and Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, despite Floyd’s pleas for breath.

Since then, unprecedented protests have emerged in all 50 states and even places as far as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and France. Protestors of all races, religions, and ages experiencing police brutality firsthand, being exposed to teargas and losing eyes to rubber bullets. Online, people are signing petitions, circulating and donating to bail funds, and calling on brands and influencers to use their platform to speak up about black lives. And, though it may be too early to tell, we may be on the verge of revolutionary change: statues and other symbols of white supremacy and oppression are being destroyed all over the world, and with calls to defund the police, the concept of police abolition is entering the public sphere. Minneapolis City Council announced their plan to vote on disbanding their police force June 9. 

While some less astute observers may think that George Floyd’s death was the sole catalyst for these fervent protests, it was, in reality, the final straw. Just weeks prior, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery by Gregory and Travis McMichael drew national attention when the video of Arbery’s death went viral, drawing comparisons to Trayvon Martin’s 2012 death. Floyd himself joins a long list of black men and boys murdered by law enforcement, such as Philando Castile, Mike Brown and Eric Garner, who also died of asphyxiation in 2014. These names, and many more, have been rightfully plastered on posters and chanted at protests. 

Other names, however, aren’t drawing enough attention. Officers killed Breonna Taylor as she slept in her home on March 13. Though her death has led to Louisville’s banning of no-knock warrants, no arrests have been made, leading many to feel as if her case has taken a backseat to other police brutality victims. Likewise, the name of Tony McDade, a black trans man killed by police just two days after George Floyd, has so far been left out of wider media coverage. 

Though black women and girls are statistically killed less by law enforcement than black men--2.4 to 5.4 in 100,000 versus 1 in 1,000 for the latter, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences--it is still important for those killed by police to receive justice. Consider the deaths of Sandra Bland and Aiyana Jones, or the gender- and race-based sexual violence perpetrated against the 13 victims of former officer Daniel Holtzclaw, who, according to Buzzfeed News, “deliberately chose women he thought were unlikely to be believed -- black women with criminal records from an impoverished neighborhood.” 

Unfortunately, there seem to be no specific statistics addressing interactions between black LGBTQ persons and law enforcement. However, it is worth noting that the 1969 Stonewall riots, often dubbed the first Pride, came about due to months of police violence against the LGBTQ community, culminating in the police raid of Stonewall Inn. A year later, similar protests broke out in LA after the death of black trans sex worker Laverne Turner. With the intersecting identities of blackness and queerness, it’s not a stretch to believe that black LGBTQ persons face unique challenges when it comes to police violence and navigating the judicial system. 

It’s intersecting identities like these -- blackness and girlhood/womanhood, blackness and queerness, sometimes all three -- that explain why violence against black women and black LGBTQ persons is often overlooked. These two groups are a minority within a minority, and the black community, like any community, has a long way to go in terms of misogyny and homophobia/transphobia (see the reactions to Gayle King’s Lisa Leslie interview or Zaya Wade coming out as trans). 

Recently, amid the George Floyd protests, black trans woman Iyanna Dior was verbally and physically assaulted by around 30 cis black men (and some cis black women) in a Minnesota convenience store. Around the same time, black women on Twitter held honest discussions about rape and childhood sexual assault, only to be met with backlash and crude jokes. One user even accused the women of trying to divide black people during a critical time. 

There lies another tissue. Black LGBTQ persons and black women are often forced to choose between their identities, even though these identities often combine to create a unique experience of oppression. Look no further than the recent insistence that black gay people are “black before they are gay,” or, as stated previously, the accusation that black women discussing their assault divides the race.

I’m not arguing that we shouldn’t focus on the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and other black men who have been made victims of police brutality. In a world where many more victims are silenced due to the lack of video evidence, we must amplify Floyd and Arbery’s stories so that they may receive justice. But as we fight for black men and boys, we must also remember the Breonna Taylors, the Tony McDades and victims of intracommunity violence like Iyanna Dior to reach the ultimate goal of black liberation. 

All lives don’t matter until black lives matter. Likewise, black lives won’t matter until all black lives -- black women’s lives, black trans lives, black gay lives -- matter as well.

[agrarian-blog]

How Do Rural Sales Training in Australia and Communications Audits in New Zealand Improve Business Performance?

In the dynamic business landscape of rural markets, training and strategic planning play crucial roles in driving growth. For businesses in Australia and New Zealand, understanding how to navigate rural sales and enhance communication strategies is key to success. Here, we explore the importance of rural sales training in Australia and how a communications audit in New Zealand can significantly impact business performance.

What Is Rural Sales Training, and Why Is It Important in Australia?

Rural sales training focuses on equipping sales teams with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in rural and regional markets. Unlike urban areas, rural markets come with unique challenges such as geographic dispersion, varied customer needs, and different economic conditions. In Australia, these factors make specialized training essential for sales professionals.

Key benefits of rural sales training include:

Tailored sales techniques: Training programs address the distinct needs of rural customers, enabling sales teams to connect better with clients and understand their pain points.

Enhanced adaptability: Sales personnel become more adept at adjusting strategies to suit diverse customer profiles, improving their ability to convert leads into loyal customers.

Increased local market knowledge: Understanding local cultures, preferences, and economic conditions allows sales teams to make more informed decisions.

Implementing targeted rural sales training in Australia ensures that sales teams can effectively address the challenges posed by these unique markets. Businesses that invest in such training often see an increase in sales performance and customer satisfaction.

How Can a Communications Audit Benefit Companies in New Zealand?

A communications audit is a comprehensive evaluation of a company's internal and external communication processes. In New Zealand, where businesses frequently serve both local and international markets, ensuring effective communication strategies is essential for maintaining competitiveness.

Key benefits of a communications audit include:

Identifying communication gaps: The audit helps pinpoint inconsistencies in messaging, whether across different channels or between internal teams.

Improving stakeholder engagement: Clear, consistent communication is critical for building and maintaining relationships with customers, employees, and partners.

Optimizing marketing strategies: An audit provides insights into which communication methods work best for specific audiences, enabling companies to refine their marketing approach.

Conducting a communications audit in New Zealand equips businesses with the information needed to enhance their communication strategies, thereby improving customer interactions and overall business performance.

How Do Rural Sales Training and Communications Audits Complement Each Other?

Combining rural sales training in Australia with a communications audit in New Zealand can lead to a comprehensive strategy for business growth. Here’s how they complement each other:

Streamlined Messaging Across Sales Channels: Sales training equips teams with the right techniques to engage rural customers, while a communications audit ensures that messaging remains consistent across different platforms, enhancing the customer experience.

Increased Sales Efficiency Through Better Communication: When sales professionals are trained to address specific rural needs and the company’s communication strategy is refined, the overall sales process becomes more efficient. Teams can better align their pitches with what resonates with their target audience.

Adaptation to Market Changes: Rural markets in Australia and business landscapes in New Zealand are constantly evolving. Sales training helps teams adapt to market changes, while a communications audit ensures that any shifts in messaging align with new market realities.

What Are the Challenges of Implementing Rural Sales Training and Conducting a Communications Audit?

Despite the advantages, businesses may face several challenges:

Limited Resources for Rural Sales Training: In Australia, companies may find it challenging to access specialized trainers who understand the rural market. Investing in e-learning or blended learning options can be a practical solution.

Complexity in Conducting Communications Audits: A comprehensive audit requires evaluating multiple communication channels, which can be time-consuming. Companies may need to enlist the help of external experts to conduct the audit effectively.

How Can Businesses Overcome These Challenges?

To maximize the benefits of rural sales training in Australia and communications audits in New Zealand, companies should consider the following strategies:

Leverage Digital Training Tools: Utilizing online platforms for sales training can provide flexibility and reduce costs. These tools can offer simulations and real-world scenarios specific to rural sales challenges.

Hire External Consultants for Audits: Bringing in experts to conduct communications audits can save time and provide an objective perspective. Experienced consultants can identify gaps and recommend improvements that might not be immediately apparent to internal teams.

Integrate Feedback Mechanisms: Whether during training or post-audit, gathering feedback from employees and customers helps fine-tune strategies and ensures that improvements are effective.

How Do You Know If Your Rural Sales Training or Communications Audit Was Successful?

Success metrics can vary depending on the goals of the training or audit. Here are some indicators:

Improved Sales Performance: If your rural sales training leads to increased sales, better customer retention, or higher conversion rates, it’s a clear sign that the training is effective.

Enhanced Communication Efficiency: After a communications audit, you might notice quicker response times, fewer communication errors, and more consistent messaging.

Employee and Customer Feedback: Positive feedback from staff on training programs or from customers about improved communication is an indication of success.

What Should You Look for in a Rural Sales Training Provider or Communications Audit Consultant?

When selecting a training provider or audit consultant, consider the following:

Experience with rural markets or New Zealand’s business landscape: Providers should have a track record of working in these specific contexts.

Flexible and tailored solutions: Look for companies that offer customized training programs and audits that fit your business needs.

Proven results: Seek testimonials or case studies demonstrating how their services have benefited other businesses.

For businesses in Australia and New Zealand, combining rural sales training with a communications audit can deliver significant benefits. The dual approach ensures that sales strategies are fine-tuned for rural markets while communication remains effective and consistent.

To learn more about rural sales training and communication strategies, visit Agrarian.

[pynkhues]

Wondering if you had any thoughts on hillsong church ? Just watched a documentary on them and didn’t realize that they started in New Zealand and Australia and how much they actually shaped churches that I grew up in and American non denominational Christianity in general. You always have such thoughtful responses and as I’m trying to work through some religious trauma I just wondered if you’d have any words of wisdom 🖤

Oh, gosh, that’s a pretty massive question, anon, haha. But yes, Hillsong did originate in Australia, and it had a pretty big foothold on the Gold Coast, which was somewhere I spent a significant amount of time during my childhood, so I brushed up against it a bit. My mum’s family was Catholic (my mum actually went to a Sisters of Mercy Convent-run boarding school in the 70s) and my dad’s family is mostly non-religious, although they’d probably say they were Anglican (my mum’s father actually temporarily disowned my mother over the fact that my dad was on-paper Anglican), so neither of them had particularly warm feelings towards Hillsong at large.

Hillsong to me feels Australian in the way Mormonism feels American – both are steeped in, I think, parts of national identity that create a sort of targeted approach to faith by personalising it. They utilise familiar language and landscapes to make religion more palatable to the demographics they’re trying to appeal to (or target), and Hillsong, at least in my opinion, has long courted the Byron Bay aesthetic which embraces a sort of new age, alternative medicine, hippy vibe, which appeals to celebrities and younger people – something they deliberately capitalise on. They aren’t a regular church, they’re a cool church, y’know? Or at least, that’s what they’re trying to sell, but the reality is they’ve always functioned with the same sort of anti-choice, anti-woman, creationist rhetoric, and predatory cult-like approach as most Pentecostal / Evangelical denominations, right down to the child sexual abuse.

What’s worse is that Hillsong positions itself as a brand first, meaning it in many ways follows in the footsteps of Scientology by cultivating celebrity clientele and pop culture relevance to insinuate itself in mainstream media and broaden its reach with the goal of not only increasing its congregation, but it’s political influence. It did both successfully through our last Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, which has certainly only further soured me on it all. Its an insidious behaviour for any church, but in many ways it’s not dissimilar to what the Church of England was doing 500 years ago. Churches as institutions have always liked power, and in the 21st Century, celebrity unfortunately leads to both social and political power.

I could talk more about that, but I guess all of this is to say that at the end of the day, I don’t really agree with the concept of organised religion generally. I personally would say that I’m irreligious, but lean into the agnostic as opposed to the frankly atheist, and while I feel communal sharing of faith and spirituality is sometimes appropriate (i.e. for funerary rites or for the purpose of some [not all] charity), on the whole, I believe spirituality is personal, and it needs to be personal. So much of faith and spirituality is about determining our worth and navigating the reeds of what it means to have a soul, which is in itself a journey of extreme vulnerability, and to place that journey in the hands of a human-run structure opens door after door for abuse and exploitation.

Which happens with tragic frequency, as we all know, and I’m sorry you’re navigating some religious trauma at the moment, anon. Religion is a complicated thing, and the process of understanding our relationship with it can leave us feeling especially exposed, both with and without the long arm of the faith-based institutions and the people within them. I wish you only good things in moving forwards <3

[sensescollective]

Empowering Sensuality: Buying Sex Toys for Women in New Zealand

Exploring one’s sensuality is an essential aspect of self-care, empowerment, and personal well-being. For women in New Zealand, the modern approach to sexual health and pleasure has become more open, inclusive, and celebratory. Purchasing sex toys is no longer a taboo topic but a meaningful way to connect with one’s desires and enhance intimacy, whether individually or with a partner.

Sex toys are designed to bring joy, discovery, and fulfillment, offering a wide range of options tailored to different needs and preferences. For women, these products can enhance experiences, build confidence, and contribute to a deeper understanding of their bodies. From vibrators and wands to more discreet options, there’s something to suit every level of experience and comfort.

In New Zealand, the availability of high-quality Buy Sex Toys for Women in New Zealand has grown significantly, with retailers offering products that prioritize safety, functionality, and design. Shopping for these items is now easier than ever, with a variety of online stores catering specifically to women. These platforms provide a welcoming and private environment where individuals can browse and choose products that align with their personal preferences.

A key factor when purchasing sex toys is quality. For items designed to interact with sensitive areas of the body, safety is paramount. High-quality toys are made from body-safe materials, such as medical-grade silicone or hypoallergenic metals, ensuring a comfortable and worry-free experience. Reputable sellers in New Zealand prioritize customer safety and satisfaction by offering products from trusted brands and adhering to strict manufacturing standards.

One of the most appealing aspects of shopping for sex toys in New Zealand is the emphasis on privacy and discretion. Online stores provide detailed descriptions, customer reviews, and even guides to help buyers make informed decisions. Many retailers also offer discreet packaging and billing, ensuring that customers can explore their options with complete peace of mind.

For women new to sex toys, the variety of choices may feel overwhelming. It’s helpful to start with a basic product, such as a compact vibrator or a gentle massager, to discover what feels most comfortable and enjoyable. For those with more experience, exploring advanced features like app-controlled toys, dual stimulators, or customizable settings can open up exciting new possibilities.

Sex toys are not just about physical pleasure they can also play a significant role in mental and emotional well-being. For many women, these tools offer a way to relax, reduce stress, and cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness. They can also support sexual health by enhancing blood flow, improving muscle tone, and promoting a positive relationship with one’s body.

For couples, introducing Premium Sex Toys in New Zealand into the relationship can enhance intimacy and communication. Many toys are designed to be used together, encouraging partners to explore each other’s desires and expand their shared experiences. Open conversations about preferences and boundaries can strengthen trust and deepen the emotional connection between partners.

The cultural landscape in New Zealand has shifted significantly in recent years, with growing acceptance and celebration of sexual wellness. This progressive attitude has empowered more women to embrace their desires without shame or hesitation. The rise of women-focused retailers and educational resources has further contributed to this positive change, creating a supportive space for exploration and self-expression.

Inclusivity is another important aspect of the modern sex toy market in New Zealand. Products are available for women of all orientations, lifestyles, and preferences. Whether someone is seeking solo pleasure, exploring their sexual identity, or enhancing a partnership, there are options designed to meet their unique needs.

Educational resources also play a crucial role in helping women make informed decisions about purchasing and using sex toys. Many retailers in New Zealand provide guides, articles, and expert advice to empower customers with the knowledge they need to choose products confidently. Topics such as cleaning and maintenance, choosing the right materials, and using toys safely are often covered, ensuring a positive and fulfilling experience.

Ultimately, buying sex toys is about celebrating individuality and reclaiming pleasure as a vital part of life. For women in New Zealand, this journey is made more accessible by the growing availability of trusted retailers and the normalization of conversations about sexual wellness. Whether you’re taking your first step into the world of sex toys or expanding your collection, the process is an opportunity to connect with yourself and experience joy on your terms.

In the vibrant and progressive culture of New Zealand, the celebration of sensuality has become an empowering part of self-care. Exploring the world of sex toys allows women to embrace their desires, build confidence, and nurture their overall well-being in a way that feels authentic and liberating.

[preciouslabel123]

How Clothing Labels Build Brand Recognition and Customer Loyalty

In the competitive world of fashion and apparel, every small detail counts, especially when it comes to building brand recognition and customer loyalty. Custom clothing labels are a subtle yet powerful tool for businesses, particularly in New Zealand, where quality and craftsmanship are highly valued. For brands looking to make an impression, investing in unique, high-quality clothing labels is essential. Here’s how they can drive brand loyalty and recognition, with a focus on Clothing Labels NZ.

1. Brand Identity and Consistency

Clothing labels offer a chance to express your brand’s identity in a unique and personal way. A well-designed label, using consistent brand colors, logo, and message, reinforces your brand identity each time a customer interacts with the garment. This visual consistency builds a memorable brand that stands out in the market, especially if you’re in a competitive environment like New Zealand’s fashion scene.

2. Attention to Quality and Detail

Consumers often associate custom labels with quality and professionalism. Clothing Labels NZ can help brands create labels that reflect high standards and attention to detail. When customers see a sturdy, well-made label, they’re more likely to trust the brand and view it as a premium choice. This trust increases the chances of repeat purchases and recommendations, fostering long-term loyalty.

3. Enhancing Customer Experience

Clothing labels are not only about the brand—they can also provide essential care information, size details, or even personal messages to customers. Adding helpful or personalized touches, such as "Made with Care in New Zealand," can make customers feel valued. This thoughtful interaction enhances the customer experience, creating a positive emotional connection with the brand.

4. A Lasting Impression

Labels often remain even when clothing is passed on or sold second-hand, extending your brand’s reach. With high-quality Clothing Labels NZ, your brand continues to be visible, reinforcing recognition with new potential customers every time the label is seen.

By investing in quality clothing labels, brands can effectively establish a lasting presence, improve customer loyalty, and solidify their position in the marketplace.

[saturation2hue]

Elevate Your Business with Custom Designs – Saturation2hue.com

In today’s competitive world, the power of impactful branding is undeniable. At Saturation2hue, we specialize in transforming your vision into high-quality designs that captivate and connect with your audience. From small businesses to large corporations, we are here to provide top-notch design services that give your brand the attention it deserves.

Our diverse range of services includes banners, sign boards, business cards, brochures, event tickets, door hangers, calendars, bookmarks, cards, menus, CD and DVD covers, and company advertisements. Whether you’re hosting an event, promoting a new product, or simply looking to upgrade your brand image, our custom designs ensure that your business stands out.

Why Choose Saturation2hue?

We are a global company, delivering excellence to clients across the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, India, and beyond. Whether you’re in Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, or Brazil, we bring creativity and precision to your doorstep. Our talented team ensures every project reflects the unique identity of your brand while maintaining a professional edge.

Our designs don’t just look great — they make an impact. With years of experience in the industry, we understand the power of quality visuals in driving your business forward. We ensure that every design we create is aligned with your brand’s message and goals, no matter where you are in the world.

Contact us today at +91 91238 76145 or visit our website at Saturation2hue.com to discuss how we can help you make your brand shine.

[nexus456]

Custom Embroidery Service in New York: A Stitch Above the Rest

New York City is a hub for creativity, where fashion meets innovation, and businesses are always looking for unique ways to stand out. One way they do this is through Nexus Messaging App, a timeless craft that transforms fabrics into branded masterpieces. Whether you’re a fashion designer, business owner, or event planner, custom embroidery provides an elegant and durable way to showcase your brand.

The Charm of Custom Embroidery

Custom embroidery is not just about stitching logos onto hats or shirts; it's about creating a lasting impression. In New York, where competition is fierce, the quality and detail of embroidery can make all the difference. It allows businesses to represent their identity in a way that is both artistic and professional. From uniforms to promotional products, custom embroidery adds a personal touch that screen printing or other methods may not offer.

Why Choose a Custom Embroidery Service in New York?

There are many reasons why companies and individuals opt for custom embroidery in New York:

Durability: Embroidered designs last longer than prints. They don’t fade or peel over time.

Customization: From fonts to colors, you have complete control over the design.

Professional Appeal: Embroidery gives a polished look to apparel, making your brand appear more established and high-quality.

New York is filled with local artisans and companies that specialize in custom embroidery, ensuring that your project is in expert hands.

Key Services to Complement Custom Embroidery

If you're looking to expand your business beyond embroidery, there are essential services that can boost your visibility and efficiency. For instance, Nexus Text Messaging Solutions can help businesses engage directly with customers, offering personalized marketing through SMS. It’s a tool that works exceptionally well for companies looking to promote their custom embroidered products, ensuring your message reaches the right audience.

Another service that pairs well with custom embroidery is Web Design Services NZ. Having a professional, sleek website is vital in today’s digital landscape. For embroidery businesses in New York, or any business looking to showcase their products, an optimized, aesthetically pleasing website designed by professionals in New Zealand can elevate your online presence and attract customers globally. Combining these digital tools with physical products like custom embroidery can create a cohesive brand strategy.

Custom Embroidery for Businesses and Events

Whether you are outfitting your team or organizing a special event, custom embroidery is a popular choice. For businesses, embroidered uniforms or branded merchandise can enhance team spirit and brand visibility. For special events like corporate gatherings, weddings, or festivals, custom embroidered products such as caps, jackets, or bags make memorable gifts or giveaways.