#understood it one way - but there's an important detail which you can logically locate based on what we've shown you which will

[siena-sevenwits]

Lockwood thoughts - feel free to move on.

[local-triggerhead]

[Theory/Analysis] The Motives of Each Eugenicist

Wow, look at me rising from the graves and dusting off this account after 800 years like it's nothing. Your Trigger hype beast is back baby, if any of you still remember me.

This post contains spoilers for both Gridman and Dynazenon.

Ahem. I want to make this post to gather my thoughts and better understand the antagonists of the show, as they aren't heavily featured and explored like Akane. It's just my own analysis based on what I can observe in the show, so some parts would be more vague and generate different interpretations. This analysis may seem obvious to some and not so much to others, but I hope it'll offer some clarity regardless. Tl;dr at the bottom.

The General Motive

It's pretty much given in the show. The Kaiju Eugenicists wanted to destroy humanity and create a world where themselves and kaiju can live and be accepted. They believe that the world is a better place as you're no longer being tied down by human bonds, granting you unrestricted freedom beyond even the laws of physics. This is their shared goal. However, each of them have separated purposes and things they want to achieve along with this.

Onija

Let's start with the 2 more obvious cases. Onija clearly stated what he wanted to do - kill all humans. How many times did he yell this out? It's kind of shoved-in-your-face. No other Eugenicists expressed this desire as strongly as he did. At the base level, he simply wanted to live. He was brutally killed once and was determined to not let it happen again no matter what. This is why "I thought I was dead" was a constant running joke. It's also why Onija had a deep personal grudge towards Gauma and humans, who were the cause of his death 5000 years ago.

Juuga

Juuga had a deep admiration for Gauma and looked up to him. Unlike Onija, he didn't wish to oppose Gauma, but to make an alliance instead. When the Eugenicists first appeared, Juuga said:

It's clear from this line that he wanted things to be the way it was 5000 years ago, where they were a group of friends working towards the same goal. He missed and yearned for that carefree time. The original Eugenicist group was the most important thing to him. You can see that he never fought with any other Eugenicists, but remained calm and passive towards them at all times. This attitude only extended towards the Eugenicists, as he had no qualms about killing anyone else for his goal, including the Dynazenon crew.

Even when Mujina stole Dyna Striker, the first thing that came to his mind was using it to negotiate with Gauma and get him back.

Mujina

These last 2 Eugenicists are slightly more complicated to pick apart, as they process things more internally.

At first, Mujina was very indecisive and didn't buy much into this kaiju thing. All she wanted was to finish it quickly so she could leave. She was lost in life and just followed the other Eugenicists around because she had no directions of her own. Then Mujina found Koyomi, someone who also didn't have anything going for himself and just plainly a loser in his life. He was someone she could feel related to. Mujina's attitude supposedly changed after she was tackled by Koyomi, but I believe this just pissed her off and only played a part in her personality shift. The other cause, I think, was Sizumu's encouragement, where she "realized that kaiju is all [she has] got" and that she had to take responsibility for her actions.

Koyomi came to play a major role in episode 11, when Mujina witnessed him starting to look for a job. The only person who she could feel related to was unaffected by the aftermath of the kaiju and moving forward with ease. Meanwhile, Mujina, who had just found her purpose in life, lost it once again and was now completely stuck, as the future where the Eugenicists could live and be accepted was destroyed. When facing such a crisis, one would seek to put the blame on something for all of their problems, and Koyomi just happened to be the perfect target.

Sizumu

Toughest one to crack here, but I'll shoot my best shot. In the beginning, he opposed the Dynazenon crew the least among the Eugenicists. He suggested against killing them, had the most interaction with Yomogi and Yume, and suggested Mujina to return Dyna Striker for seemingly no reasons at all. His main reason for not killing Team Dynazenon was to see more kaiju, and getting close to Yomogi and Yume was for his kaiju to absorb their emotions. However, I believe there was another underlying reason that tied his actions together. He was looking for an alliance.

Contrary to Juuga, the alliance he was looking for didn't only include Gauma, but Team Dynazenon as a whole. To understand why he searched for this, we must first look at what he was. He had an ability that allowed him to hear kaiju voices, which gave him a much deeper understanding of kaiju compared to the other Eugenicists. Due to this, while the others more or less thought of kaiju as a mean to create a world where they can live and be accepted, Sizumu would consider kaiju as his own kind, so much so that he had a severe disconnection with humans. He distanced himself away from even the Eugenicists, almost as if he only tagged along because they shared the same basic goal.

He didn't seek to understand humans, but instead for humans to understand kaiju. His goal was to create a world where not only the Eugenicists were accepted, but kaiju themselves were accepted. He believed that the world was better off like this, because, from his perspective, kaiju could liberate people from human bonds and offer them unlimited freedom. To me, this is rather hypocritical as he never understood why people tied themselves to these bonds in the first place, so he wasn't in a position to say what was better and what wasn't.

Sizumu was the only Eugenicist to mention this kaiju power and express his distaste towards human bonds. He explained this very early on to Yomogi and Yume, and why did he do this, you may ask? Why, to help them understand his views and create an opening for a potential alliance, of course. If his only purpose was to absorb their emotions, then that's quite a lot of unnecessary effort to make himself look friendly and approachable to an uncanny degree, especially when being "friendly and approachable" wasn't his forte. No, he was testing the water to see if he could get them on his side.

Then came an unexpected opportunity for him to determine once and for all if Team Dynazenon can understand and accept kaiju. He let a failed kaiju run free and distracted the Eugenicists away from it (with a tactic he learned from Chise) to see what the Dynazenon crew would do. Some people said that it's to test if any of them were kaiju user, and while that's possible, I think it's a little unlikely. Sizumu only observed them at 2 instances, first was when they started the search for the kaiju, the second was when their beam destroyed the kaiju. Unless the kaiju voices could tell him, there would be no way for Sizumu to know if any of them used Instance Domination, until the very end when Yomogi used it on him. The likelier hypothesis would be: he saw them searching for the kaiju > he saw the kaiju being killed > he surmised that kaiju couldn't exist peacefully with Team Dynazenon, and didn't seem to be particularly happy about it.

From then on, Sizumu decided that they couldn't be his allies thus no longer approached Yomogi or Yume. It seems that he arrived to this final conclusion:

And this is where the series itself left off. Kaiju simply can't co-exist with humans. They are irregulars to the human society. Furthermore, the freedom that they offer can't be allowed to exist as running away from society and real human connections is wrong, even if reality is ugly and difficult to face. This is what make the series similar to Gridman. However, unlike Akane, the antagonists of Dynazenon failed to realized this and didn't get their happy ending.

(A detail that I'd like to mention is that Sizumu was silent during the entire final battle in contrast to the other Eugenicists who were pumping themselves up. It was like he was saying, "Didn't want to do this but I guess you left me with no choice". Though silence can mean anything so it's not a concrete evidence.)

TL;DR and Final Words

This is so much longer than I thought and I really apologize for it. I just don't want to make anyone do logical leaps when reading this post.

Tl;dr:

- Onija wanted to live and had a grudge towards Gauma and humans for causing his death.

- Juuga wanted Gauma to join them again and for things to be back the way it was 5000 years ago. He cared for nothing outside of the Eugenicists group.

- Munija wanted a purpose, found one, then lost it again. She envied Koyomi for regaining his sense of purpose and moving forward with his life.

- Sizumu wanted humans to understand kaiju and a world where kaiju can set humans free from their bonds. Initially considered an alliance with Team Dynazenon, but concluded that them (and people in general) couldn't understand kaiju after all.

- Final message of the show: Go touch some grass and talk to humans you fucking weebs.

Misc

When using Instance Domination, the palms of the Eugenicists always face towards the kaiju. The only exception is the last battle where Sizumu's palm faced towards himself, indicating that the kaiju was inside him. I believe that it was located at the center of his chest, where he shot out that weird magical light beam. Just a small thing I find interesting.

If we want to take it a step further, I believe the seed inside him had already grown into a kaiju, but it was still relatively small until he used Instance Domination on it. Eerie, huh?

And this is more of the theory territory and leaving the analysis, but this could possibly be why he was able to hear kaiju voices. Chise was able to understand Goldburn and translated for him at the end, so maybe having a kaiju inside of you would allow you to understand other kaiju somehow? If this is the case, he would probably have had the kaiju inside of him since 5000 years ago.

There's also this big brain moment from a 4chan user. The resemblance between Yume and Juuga is kinda uncanny considering they're both obsessed with the past.

That's it boys. I'm gonna crawl back into my hole until next century, or until Trigger drops Edgerunners. 8/10 show, VERY underrated gem. Trigger won't stop saving anime.

This post but on Reddit:

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Gavin’s Dangerous Night Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 危夜之约, which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

Do note that this date features S2 Gavin, but doesn’t contain S2 spoilers.

Timeline: The STF Filming Plan -> Dangerous Night Date -> Saving the Young Troublemaker Project

[ This date was released in CN on 28 Sep 2020 ]

Female Anchorwoman: Next, our focus is on breaking news.

On the television, the two words “Breaking News” are displayed on Loveland Night News. The female anchorwoman looks into the camera and starts presenting the news. 

Female Anchorwoman: Around 10pm today, a building in the suburbs of Loveland City collapsed for reasons still unknown. According to sources provided by eye-witnesses, the building was part of a certain estate development project, and has not been put to use. Typically, no one goes in or out. But this does not eliminate the possibility of people being trapped within. The municipal administration has expressed that this incident could have been caused by Evol. The STF has been engaged to carry out a rescue mission. Loveland Night News once again calls citizens...

Squadmate: Captain Gavin, we’ve contacted the base. The search and rescue dogs will be here soon.

Gavin sits on a chair, his legs crossed as he pulls the strings on his leather boots tightly.

Gavin: Got it. We’ll set out once the search and rescue dogs are here. 

Squadmate: Yes.

Gavin stands up, adjusts his equipment to a comfortable level, then picks up his phone on the table. 

The phone displays the time: 22:59. It’d take an hour to reach the collapsed building. 

Gavin taps on a message he received three days ago. The sender is MC.

Message from MC: Gavin, when I was out for location scouting, I discovered a slightly strange building in the suburbs of the city. There seems to be special Evol fluctuations inside. 

Message from MC: Does the STF want to make some time to investigate?

Message from MC: Just to be clear - I’m really not joking this time. 

His response was: I’ll take a look next week.

There’s a cute emoticon in the white message bubble opposite. 

And the conversation ended there.

The response section still retains the draft he didn’t send at the time: Don’t go there alone.

By the time images of the collapsed building appeared in the news, the surrounding area had already been cordoned off.

Gavin makes a call... “du”, “du”, “du”, again and again.

When the female automated voice resounds, Gavin hangs up.

---”the number you have dialed is currently unavailable.”

-

It’s dark.

I open my eyes, attempting to stand up in the dark. 

MC: ...I’m not dead. 

I rub the dull ache at the back of my head, panting while my heart flutters with fear. 

The collapse of the building happened so suddenly. I instinctively ran to a corner to hide. From the looks of it, that decision saved my life. 

I reach out to feel around my surroundings--

There’s a wall in front of me. It’s slanted, so it must have fallen. It just so happened to shield me from broken stones that fell.

But precisely because of this, I’m stuck in a narrow space and can’t really stand up.

MC: Cough, cough cough...

My mouth is filled with the taste of dust, and I don't know how long I've lost consciousness. 

The building was swaying very violently when it collapsed. I couldn’t stand steadily at all, and my entire body collided with a wall. 

I return to my senses, using both hands to feel the ground.

My phone... I remember gripping my phone the entire time.

No one knows that I'm here. This unfinished building has been left empty for several years, so no one might come to my rescue. 

I need to hurry and find a way to call for help.

Air is still flowing here, so there’s no danger of oxygen deprivation. But I can only survive for 3 to 4 days without a water source. 

Before the building collapsed, I was in the basement level. Logically speaking, it’s near the surface, but I can’t tell if the upper floors are crushing on it...

The wall above me doesn’t seem to be able to hold much more weight. If it gets weighed down slightly, there’s a risk of a collapse.

I frantically feel around the mess on the ground - it’s all pieces of rock, broken steel bars, glass shards...

Suddenly, I see a single, cold ray of light--

The phone touchpad recognises my fingerprint, lighting up the screen. I hurriedly pick up the phone, and on it displays: “2 Missed Calls”.

MC: Gavin. 

Upon seeing this name, the tautness in my heart suddenly relaxes. 

I immediately give him a call. The “du”, “du” of the dial tone resounds in the empty and quiet darkness, amplified infinitely. 

Countless thoughts fly across my mind--

Maybe Gavin is resting. Maybe he’s on an important mission. Maybe he isn’t in Loveland City now...

“du”, “du”, “du”...

When the fifth beep sounds, I’ve already set down the phone, preparing to hang up.

Gavin: Where are you?

MC: Gavin!

I suddenly hear Gavin’s voice. I stare at the screen and am stunned for a moment.

And react immediately!

MC: Gavin! The unfinished building in the suburbs I told you about just collapsed. I’m trapped in it, in the basement--

Gavin: Got it.

His voice is overly calm, which I find odd.

MC: You already know about the collapsed building? 

Gavin’s calm voice drifts from the phone, mixed with the clamour of his surroundings. 

Gavin: I’m in charge of tonight’s search and rescue mission.

MC: ...

MC: ...haha! That’s great.

Gavin: What’s wrong?

MC: Nothing much, I just feel the happiness of a disaster survivor.

Gavin: I haven’t even rescued you out yet. 

MC: With you around, there won’t be a problem. 

Gavin breathes composedly, as though not knowing what to say.

Gavin: If you were afraid of death, you shouldn’t have gone running around in the middle of the night. 

Gavin: ...I can’t leave out a single reminder.

Gavin raises his volume. 

Gavin: Where were you before the collapse? 

MC: The carpark in the underground basement.

Gavin: I’m looking for you now. Take care of your own safety.

MC: Hold on. Gavin, there’s no hurry to look for me. I was only here for a short while and there won’t be any danger. But I saw some vagabonds staying here at night. There are definitely other people in this building. Save them first!

Gavin is silent for a few seconds.

Gavin: The STF will not decide who it will save first or later. I’ll save everyone.

-

I don’t want to wait here alone, so I don’t hang up even after a long time. 

Neither does Gavin.

Sometimes, the sound of Gavin and other members of the STF would drift from the phone. 

Gavin: Do you have the plane figure of the building?

Squadmate: Got it. Captain Gavin, we’ve asked around the vicinity, and there are a few vagabonds living in this building. Most of them are on the third or fourth floor. 

Gavin: There’s been a rainstorm these two days. This building doesn’t have covered windows. Locations near the windows will be drenched from the rain. They should be in the middle parts of the floor. Two people per group - bring the search and rescue dogs and begin the operation.

Squadmate: Understood!

I hug the phone in contemplation.

Before sending Gavin the message, I had already visited this building a few times to investigate. 

I familiarised myself with all the entrances and exits to have the confidence to deal with any surprise situations. But I completely didn’t expect that this would happen.

Gavin: [with a gentle voice capable of making flowers bloom] Are you all right? 

After a moment, I realise that Gavin is talking to me. 

MC: Huh? I’m fine.

I look at the time displayed on the phone - It’s already 1am.

Gavin: Are you sleepy? 

MC: ...I’m not that brave. How could I be drowsy under such circumstances?

Gavin: The scope of the basement level is too large. I need a more detailed lead.

MC: Are you holding the plane figure of the building?

Gavin: Yes. Relate your route to me.

MC: I came in using the east entrance, and planned to take the stairs up from the fire exit. So I should have been heading west.

The sound of a finger gliding across the paper can be heard. 

Gavin: During the collapse, did you see the fire exit?

MC: I didn’t. It was probably around a hundred metres away. I’m currently trapped in a corner. The structure here is pretty stable, so it could be a load-bearing wall.

Gavin: I know your approximate location. Wait for me.

MC: Mm.

Hearing my soft sigh, Gavin laughs. 

Gavin: Are you afraid? 

MC: Maybe a little. It’s a new experience in life, so of course it’d scare someone.

Gavin: Knowing what it means to be afraid is a good thing. If I didn’t come, how did you plan to rescue yourself?

MC: There’s no such “if”. The moment I felt something was amiss, I gripped my phone and wanted to give you a call.

I hold onto the phone, staring at the light on the screen, and staring at the word “Gavin” on it.

Just this name alone harbours the ability to make one feel at ease. 

Gavin: You’re so certain that I’d come rescue you?

MC: Mm! Captain Gavin is someone who will never leave a single Loveland City citizen in the lurch.

Gavin ignores me. 

MC: ...

MC: Have you found the other people who are trapped? 

Gavin: We’ve found two. They’re being rescued now. 

MC: That’s fast...

Gavin: STF’s search and rescue dogs have undergone professional training. They can accurately locate people who are trapped. 

MC: Search and rescue dogs? 

??: Bark!

A bark suddenly drifts from the other end of the line. 

Gavin: Little Grey should have found you.

MC: Little Grey? What a careless name... Were you the one who named it?

Gavin: What’s wrong with the name?

...I don’t give him a response.

In the darkness, I seem to hear sounds from above. 

Tiny rocks are pelting from above. The steel bars seem to be weighed down by something, releasing a whimpering sound.

Gravel and dust rustle as they fall...

MC: Gavin!

MC: Leave quickly. Bring your men and leave immediately, it’s dangerous! There’s going to be a second collapse--

Gavin breathes, as though he’s about to speak, but doesn’t. He quickly issues out orders. 

Gavin: Everyone, take note. Evacuate immediately. I repeat - Evacuate immediately! 

I hug the phone, not sure what I should say to Gavin.

Gavin: [with the gentlest of voices] MC, you’ll be okay.

His voice carries with it his usual confidence.

Gavin: I guarantee. 

I press the phone to my ear, capturing every breath in his voice. After adjusting my breathing, I raise my volume.

MC: You have to leave quickly, don’t stay here! I’m very safe where I am. Shouldering another collapse is no problem!

The creaking of the steel bars grows closer. I’m not sure if it’s just my misperception, but the wall above me seems to have caved downwards slightly.

Already set to the lowest brightness, my screen becomes even dimmer.

A few large rocks pelt down in front of me, channelling large gusts of dust. 

MC: Just bring Little Grey to look for me later, I...

Rumble!

-

The building collapses once again, causing dust clouds to billow.

The STF team members have rescued two elderly folk who are in their fifties, who collect scraps for a living. 

Gavin stares at the ruins in front of him wordlessly.

His eyes are mixed with imperceptible, repressed emotions. It’s as though underneath the tranquil ocean hides turbulence and fierceness. 

The searchlights illuminate the location he was standing at just now, and the search and rescue dogs had already sent a signal to him -- it meant that his target could have been under his feet.

Maybe only five metres away. Maybe three metres.

Gavin: Everyone--

He squats down, rubbing the nape of the rescue dog, pulling on its leash again.

Seeming to sense something out of the ordinary, they wag their tails at Gavin, as though comforting him without words.

With a heavy gaze, he looks towards the two rescue dogs, as though he’s handing over all his trust. 

Gavin: Recommence the search and rescue operation. Be sure to rescue everyone who has been trapped.

-

The phone has already exhausted its battery, and has shut off automatically.

I’m huddled in a corner, trying to reduce the amount of energy expended.

I know that the slanted wall has already collapsed, and is hanging above. Maybe the steel bar didn’t snap, which is why only half of it has weighed downwards.

There’s a wall behind me, and a gigantic fallen rock in front. I don’t have any space to move.

But it’s far too dark. I can’t check the condition of the wall behind me, and I don’t know how much longer it can hold. 

MC: Gavin. 

There’s nothing I can do. I lean on the wall and wait patiently. 

I know he’ll come.

MC: ...

A few hours pass, and I hear some sounds from above, but they disappear into the darkness quickly. 

Perhaps knowing that Gavin will definitely appear, the fear and anxiety in my heart dissipates with the passage of time. 

The most distinct feeling is tiredness. 

Maintaining my posture of sticking close to the wall, my back is hunched, and I’ve been sitting until my bottoms hurt.

Time passes so slowly here. Every second is elongated. 

The physical fatigue I’m experiencing tells me that an entire night has gone by.

In the middle of sleeping and waking, a bright light suddenly appears before my eyes...

I immediately turn my back towards it -- as expected, in the next instant, a strong wind suddenly lifts the tiles and bricks in my surroundings.

I lift my head to see Gavin standing above the ruins. 

The sun is faintly discernible behind him and the layers of clouds, illuminating a faint glow in the blue horizon. Wind brushes his fringe, revealing that pair of resolute amber eyes. 

Gavin: Are you okay?

His voice is very light, and exudes a rare fatigue. It seems he has been busy the entire night. But a faint smile still hangs at the corners of his lips. 

...as compared to the wry smile I’m wearing now, Gavin seems more like the disaster survivor.

Gavin: Give me your hand!

He takes a step forward, reaching out to me. I hurriedly hold onto it, but I don’t want my entire self to be towed away by him.

My vision is turned upside down. Gavin suddenly hoists me onto his shoulders.

MC: ...Gavin?!

I see that under his protective gear, his shirt is drenched with sweat, sticking to his broad back.

Reason tells me to put up a bit of a struggle. But after hanging by a thread between life and death for an entire night, I seem to be unable to triumph over the tiny greed in my heart.

The doctor from the ambulance comes over to help, but Gavin waves a hand at him, signalling that there’s no such need.

He walks forward by around ten metres, leaving the site of the ruins. He sees me down on the hood of a STF car. 

His brows are furrowed, looking as though he’s suppressing his emotions. My gut feeling tells me that he’s angry.

MC: ...I was wrong! I was wrong because I shouldn’t have gone running around in the middle of the night, and troubling the STF to rescue me. As for using the community’s resources, I’ll be sure to do a serious self-reflection.

MC: I guarantee that this is the only time. There won’t be a next time! 

Gavin was probably about to say those things to me, and didn’t expect that I’d acknowledge everything. So he remains silent for a period of time.

Although are elements of a joke in my words, I shoot him a resolute, apologetic and sincere expression.

I know that he’s worked hard for an entire night, and has been worried for an entire night. 

After a moment of silence, he releases a faint sigh. 

Gavin: You said it yourself - there won’t be a next time.

While he speaks, he reaches out to place a hand on my head--

MC: Ah it hurts...

The back of my head suddenly hurts, and I exclaim softly. When I reach out to touch it, I discover that there’s a big lump on the back of my head.

Gavin: You’ll only learn your lesson after experiencing some pain. I’ll send you to the hospital for a check up later.

MC: No need, I...

Information must have been sent through his earpiece. Gavin lifts his hand to signal that I should be quiet. He leans his head to the side, listening seriously.

Thinking that the search and rescue operation has yet to be completed, and that he definitely has other things he’s busy with, I hop down from the hood of the car, making a “I’m off” hand gesture towards him.

The world around me suddenly darkens a few times--

My legs grow weak, and my vision dims. Dimmer and dimmer...

Just before I lose consciousness, I seem to feel Gavin’s hand on my cheek, the rough fabric of the military gloves, his calloused finger pads...

I feel it all.

-

Doctor: The nuclear magnetic resonance shows that it’s just a mild shock of the brain. It’s nothing serious. The loss of consciousness is only temporary. It could also be due to low blood sugar levels and insufficient rest.

Doctor: If you’re worried, she can remain in the hospital for observation for two days. Are you a family member of the patient? I’ll bring the documents over in a while.

Gavin: All right.

With a sound of acknowledgement, the doctor leaves the ward.

The girl lying on the bed hasn’t regained consciousness. The IV on the back of her hand is strung to glucose.

Gavin walks over, reaching out to brush aside her fringe, which is damp with sweat. His brows furrow slightly, as though he’s angry. As though he doesn’t know who he should be angry with.

Gavin: ...why are you so bold - daring to go anywhere on your own.

He sits on a chair in front of the bed, leaning against the back of the chair in fatigue.

His deep gaze sweeps past her pale cheeks and haggard shoulders, stirring up great waves within his eyes which differ from usual.

After a while, deep breathing fills the quiet room.

Sunlight pours in through the curtains, chasing away all the darkness and unease of the night before.

-

Phone call: here

-

🦮 MOMENTS 🦮

Gavin’s Post: The team received a box of canned dog food.

MC: I don't know the address of the base for search and rescue dogs, so I could only send them to you.

Gavin: Got it. I’ll send it to the base.

-

Gavin’s Post: The team received a box of canned dog food.

MC: I sent it - it’s for Little Grey.

Gavin: They don’t eat outside snacks, but I’ll convey your kind regards to them.

-

Gavin’s Post: The team received a box of canned dog food.

MC: Only cans of dog food? Captain Gavin, check the box again...

Gavin: A silk banner for Little Grey? All right, I’ll accept it on its behalf.

[streamacademe]

Bonus post: Thesis writing.

This post will be a combination of tips and tricks I have received from numerous sources, with the majority coming from Shinton Consulting and STREAM IDC staff. 

The big T

If you’re anything like me, just the word ‘thesis’ can instill a sense of dread in me. However, the best way to deal with a phobia is to face it head on, so let’s do just that, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. 

What a thesis is and what to expect...

Writing a thesis could take anywhere between four weeks to a whole year, and sometimes even longer! The worst thing you can do is compare your progress to that of others; setting a benchmark is one thing, but beating yourself into a panicked pulp because you haven’t written as many chapters as a fellow PhD/EngD won’t do you any good. The best thing you can do is have regular discussions with your supervisors on how long your thesis will take and plan accordingly. 🕖

Your thesis has to be fit for purpose (that is to pass), which means that it has to:

Satisfy the expectations of your institution and industry sponsor (if applicable).

How did you solve the problem that was proposed to you?

Contain material which presents a unified body of work that could reasonably be achieved on the basis of three years’ postgraduate study and research.

Show you have done the work and impress your examiners.

Allow your examiners to confirm that the thesis is an original work, which makes a significant contribution to the field, including material worthy of publication.

Research your examiners and quote them where possible, especially if they’re relevant to your field.

Show adequate knowledge of the field of study and relevant literature. 

Make sure you read all of the key papers in your field. 

What were the gaps in knowledge?

The ‘references’ section is very important as this sets the scene and examiners will read this. BUT, don’t have too many references. 

Demonstrate critical judgement with regard to both the candidate’s work and that of other scholars in the same general field.

Compare approaches and conclusions of others.

Note potential conflicts of interest.

Why did you use this method/approach?

Is your interpretation the only possible explanation?

Be presented in a clear, consistent, concise, and accessible format. 

Make your examiners lives easier. 

Make your viva as pleasant as can be!

Basically, you need to know why your project was important, be able to explain the key work that has already been done in the area and how it relates to your research aim. You should then be able to explain what you have done during your research and how this contributes to your field. 

Note: Keep checking university regulations! Each university should have their own code of practice for supervisors and research students, which will look something like this. 

Picture: A short summary of the above. Source: Tumblr.

Planning and writing

I’m not going to lie to you, it is not going to be easy. I have only just embarked on the journey myself and am already overwhelmed. However, with the right preparation, coping mechanisms in place, and a tremendous amount of self-discipline, we will get through. ☕

Getting started

You need to practice writing. That’s as simple as advice gets. 

You need to practice reading other PhD/EngD theses, mainly to understand what to expect, and to experience what being the audience for a thesis is like. 

Create a thesis plan... 

To start the mammoth task that is thesis writing, it needs to be fully understood and broken down into manageable chunks.

Make a plan (perhaps based on the table of contents of another thesis) of all the sections and chapters in the thesis.

Then break these into sections and keep breaking it down until you are almost at the paragraph level.

Now you can start writing!

Where to start the actual writing?

Start with the most comfortable chapter, such as a previously published paper, a set of results that are straightforward and can be easily explained, methodology/methods, etc. 

Create a storyboard for your thesis and write as if you are telling that story.

If you’re not sure what comes next, refer to previous theses and back to your plan and storyboard. 

Be ready to amend the plan for future chapters as each is completed and you become more aware of what the thesis must contain.

Remember: THINKING IS HARD, WRITING IS EASIER. 💭

Organisation

Develop and maintain a logical filing system.

Improve your back up technique; if it’s not saved in 3+ locations, it is not safely backed up.

Back up every day.

Never overwrite previous documents, just make many versions. It’s not worth the risk of losing a valuable piece of work from a copy and paste error.

Copy any key parts from your lab/note/field books as these can get lost/damaged.

Keep a file/folder of thoughts, references, etc. that you are not including in your thesis; these may be useful to refer back to for ideas and information.

Effective writing

Establish a routine, don’t be distracted, take breaks.

Set clear and realistic goals for each week/day. 

A GANTT chart is very good for this; use it to keep on track and measure progress.

You just gotta start. The hardest part is the beginning.

Don’t stall on details, walk away for a short break to clear your mind.

Get formatting correct from the start (check your code of practice/regulations).

Be consistent with references.

Seek help from the experts - supervisors, postdocs, online sources/training programmes etc.

Create SMART objectives for your writing process:

Specific - e.g. “I will complete chapter 3/collate all diagrams” rather than “I will make good progress”.

Measurable - e.g. “I will write 4 pages today” not “I will try to write as much as I can”.

Achievable - e.g. “I will complete the first draft for my supervisor” not “I will get it perfect before he/she sees it”.

Realistic - e.g. “I will complete the introduction today” not “I will complete a chapter a week”.

Time - it can be useful to set yourself deadlines e.g. tell your supervisor you will hand in a draft on a certain day - that way you are sure to have it done.

Finally, find a balance between being tough with yourself whilst protecting your well-being the best you can. I wrote a post a little while ago that covers managing your mental health during a PhD. Read it here. 

GIF: Anna Kendrick dishing out some top advice. Source: Tumblr.

A few more tips

Supervisor management

Establish what you want to cover in each meeting.

Keep a record of the outcomes and actions from those meetings.

Make your supervisors lives easy; they’re very busy humans.

They are unlikely to judge work unless it is presented completely (i.e. fully written with tables, figures, etc.).

Give them a neat, complete version of a chapter at a time (proof-read thoroughly and spell-checked).

It is in your supervisors interest for you to complete in good time; they are experts and will offer a lot of support.

To summarise, a good thesis:

Has an appreciation of what came before.

Focuses on the interesting and important.

Is well reasoned.

Will change the way people think.

Will teach your supervisors something. 

Has publishable results.

Is logical in presentation, analysis, and arguments.

Is well illustrated with tables, figures, graphs, summary flow charts etc.

It is worth spending a lot of time on these. 

Is written without grammatical and spelling errors.

Has an appreciation of what comes next.

I hope that the above was helpful! There are many resources out there, so get exploring if you need more advice!

I’ll soon be writing a post on how to survive your viva! So, watch this space. ✨

Photo: Make this your phone/desktop/laptop/everything background when you’re writing, I know I will! Source: Tumblr.

[brandtreein]

8 EFFECTIVE MARKETING TIPS TO SKYROCKET SALES IN 2021

How do you think marketing works? Well, my perspective on digital marketing in simple layman’s terms is the use of the internet to reach consumers. It is believed that business has only two functions – MARKETING AND INNOVATION.

Marketing Advertising Commercial Strategy Concept

1. Right Strategies, Implementation, & Success.

Planning out business goals and how to achieve them is very important for any brand, don't you think so? I believe it is important to figure out where the brand stands right now and its goal in the forthcoming years. And to achieve the above-said goals, it is necessary to have a well-planned set of strategies in a cost-effective yet impactful manner so that no stone is left unturned. To mention a few strategies:

Creative Web Design/Development: Using UI/UX interface designs and catchy graphic designs and standardized software along with developing the website further helps in generating leads.

Personalized Content: Content is king. Make sure to give out content that grabs the attention of the readers by making it more relatable and personalized to adhere to their requirements.

Discounts/Sale: Providing discounts, cashback, and season sales is something that catches the eye of every given consumer. This will ensure website traffic and to reach a wide range of consumers.

Social Media Marketing: Social media has become a rage amongst people. Marketing a certain business on social media is one of the most effective ways to reach a wider audience and helps to constantly engage with your followers/consumers in different ways.

Omnichannel Marketing: This is the practice of marketing a business across many channels including online and offline modes. It helps to provide an enhanced and customized user experience across numerous channels through any method that the customer prefers.

Once we have a plan, it's now time to implement them! Reach out to various platforms and make sure that your brand visibility is improving with every passing day. It is important to use all the technologies at hand and put your best foot forward in getting your brand on the radar. With this outline, every process can go on organically and effectively which will eventually lead you to success.

2.Content Still Matters

It is said that great content is the best sales tool in the world. Content marketing is an effective approach to marketing that involves the creation and sharing of online material such as videos, blogs, website content, social media posts, etc and eventually not only promotes the brand but also intends to stimulate interest in the services it has to offer. HubSpot research suggests that businesses that blog are 13 times more likely to witness ROI than those that don't. Now, how will content help, improve brand marketing? Here are a few content marketing tips that will answer the above question:

Perfect Keyword Research: It is of utmost importance to make a list of relevant keywords that people are searching for and to make sure to use them in your content. This helps improve brand visibility and eventually to reach out to numerous customers.

Constant Content Optimization: Great headlines catch the attention of the readers and force them to read the blog. It is important to keep optimizing your content with time to make sure that your brand is hand-in-hand with the current trend.

Visual Appeal: Videos/pictures are what adds more understanding to any given concept that you are trying to explain. Add relevant yet innovative photos and videos to grab the attention of readers.

Promotion: Once we have an initial set of audience, it only makes sense to keep expanding it. Promote your blogs/website on various platforms like social media, another fellow brand, and others make sure your brand attains success in every possible way.

3.Social Media is a Game-Changer.

How many of us don't use social media? I'm sure not many of us can say "ME" to that. As of 2020, over 3.6 billion use one or the other social media platforms. With that huge number, isn't it only logical to make use of social media in the field of digital marketing as well? SMM (Social Media Marketing) is a process where the marketer uses social media networks as a tool for promoting their website thus increasing traffic. This is done because, when a website is connected to a social media network its position in the search results increases drastically. Here are a few tips:

Device a full-fledged social sharing strategy.

Use the maximum number of social media platforms possible.

Discuss the current trends and make sure to use them, thus attracting an audience on a larger scale.

Constant engagement with your followers. Run contests/games to stay connected.

Regular social media creation and optimization.

Put across simple and fundamental concepts that can be understood by anybody who reads it. Try not to complicate the content.

Analyze and improve.

4.Make Your Customer the Hero of Your Story.

What determines the success of a brand ultimately? Its customers. Every brand’s ultimate goal is to reach the maximum number of customers and doing this is not an easy task at all and involves a series of best marketing strategies that could be:

Market Research: Make sure to do a quick market survey and collect data as it is very important to understand the needs of your customers and the current trend.

Email Marketing: Emails happen to be one of the easiest means of customer communication since time immemorial. Sending out personalized emails to a set of customers makes it easy for them to stay updated about any new launches/services thereby, increases customer engagement with the brand and increase the potential number of customers from time to time.

SMM: 83% of people who use the internet, use social media as well. This is yet another platform to reach out to a wide range of customers. This has been explained above in detail under the heading, “Social media is a game-changer”.

Content Marketing and web design: It is important to have a website that can be easily accessed on all devices be it smartphones, tablets, or laptops, and also to make it visually attractive. Content is king. The more entertaining and relatable the content is; the more will be the readers who will eventually become loyal consumers. Ain't that so simple?

Ask Customer Reviews: Ask the customers how satisfied they are with the service you are providing. Asking for feedback is one of the ways where the brand understands what it needs to improve whilst making the customer feel important and that their opinion/feedback matters.

5. Page Speed Matters

According to a study, 40% of customers discard websites that take more than 3 seconds to load. So yes, I still stand by what I said, “Page speed matters”. With good page speed, comes, better conversion rates, better search engine rankings, and user experience. Let us see as to how page speed can be improved:

Google Page Speed Insights: This is a free tool, made available by Google which runs performance tests on your website and also gives insights on how to improve the same. It works for desktop and mobile versions.

Image optimization: Images hog the maximum bandwidth of a website. Thus, we can use images in jpeg, jpg, or png formats and compress them, so that they occupy less space which will eventually increase the speed of the page.

Use a CDN strategy: A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a network spread across various locations in the world. A website with a single server is bound to have an increased loading time. Hence, by incorporating the CDN, user requirements are put across to the closest server(in accordance with their location) and as a result, website speed is increased and keeps the customer engaged.

HTTP Compression: It is mainly used for text-based data like HTML, Java, CSS, and others. These days everybody makes sure that their webs server is GZIP enabled. SO, compressing content will lead to faster loading of web pages.

Transfer the database: Moving the entire data to a separate, optimized server is one of the most effective to improve page speed.

Performance budget calculator: The importance of catchy content has been repeatedly made very clear. This tool helps you to improve your existing content on the website and to constantly optimize it.

Effective tools: There are a bunch of tools that help you to test websites and understand the flaws. To name a few: Pingdom, YSlow, and others.

6. Data Privacy

While the internet is a vast ocean of technology, it also comes with its own risks. This is when cybersecurity/data privacy comes into the picture. During consumer and company interactions, there will be a need to share some personal contact and bank information which need to be protected no matter what. Now, how can that be done? Read along.

Ask for permission: California consumer privacy act (CCPA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) act in such a way that, it gives the consumers all the control over the data/information they wish to pass on according to their own will.

Know and agree: Create a page enlisting all the security tools and policies and go further only if the customer agrees to it upon reading the security you have to offer.

Focusing the right data: Data is most important for any kind of marketing. So, it is important to collect the required data and make sure none of it goes unused. Thus, making it comfortable for the customer while fulfilling the data the website needs as well.

7. Constantly Optimize User Experience

Developing a website and getting customers is one thing, while constantly being able to optimize the user experience is another key aspect. Better user experience leads to better conversion rates and increased revenue. With rapidly increasing trends, don't you think, it is necessary to make sure that your website is not looking old? Well, here are a few tips that can help you improve your website experience:

Google is definitely the most popular and used search engine in the world. Google search rankings play a very important role for any website from any sector. Google algorithms are a set of complex systems that determines the rankings of websites in SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). Google makes updates/changes thousands of times, and given the importance of it for our website, it only becomes necessary to keep ourselves updated.

Improved page speed.

Use attractive images and videos to keep the website engaging.

Keep the web pages consistent with catchy and well-designed headlines.

Based on the data fed by the user, provide personalized and reliable suggestions/services to the users.

Conduct behavioral UX data analysis and with the final results, work on improving the user/website experience

8. Always Analyze The Results.

There is always an increasing drive to provide the customers with the best experience under any given circumstances. Constant analysis of the results or outcome of the website is the only way to improve any business. Here is how it can be achieved:

Collect data on the works of the website or brand in the past week/month.

Make a statistic analysis by making a graph for better understanding.

Understand why certain aspects might have gone wrong and in the meantime also make sure to keep up with the existing highlights of the website and keep optimizing it and making it better.

Make sure to make all the necessary changes/updates required on a weekly/monthly basis and be at the top of the game and hand-in-hand with the ongoing trend.

A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer – it is what consumers tell each other it is. – Scott Cook

For more visit Brand Tree

[kitchencupboardunderground]

Ayurvedic Herbalism

Today’s post features guest blogger Katrina Svoboda Johnson, AHP/CAP, LMP, SOMA, herbalist, and teacher of the Ayurvedic Health Center & Wellness Shop. The goal is to present you with her wellness and personal care perspective and knowledge as a practitioner. To learn more about Katrina’s Ayurvedic practice, you can check out her links below. If you are interested in being considered as a guest blogger and your content fits with the wellness and personal care framework, please reach out to us (botanicaltherapy.com/collaborations).

As anyone who has studied even a brief history of herbalism in the United States knows, herbalism was a primary form of medicine with a strong history and tradition of use. This changed when the allopathic model rose to prominence. Thankfully, herbalism has recently been staging a come-back, although it is still working to regain the trust and confidence of the public.

Ayurveda went through a similar cultural suppression as British colonists worked to wipe out indigenous forms of wisdom, including natural medicine. Fortunately, the Brits weren’t completely successful; much of the ancient knowledge has survived, and Ayurveda is enjoying a resurgence of popularity in India and has even expanded outward into the United States and Europe where it is increasingly becoming mainstream.

The efficacy of Western herbalism is well documented. We are fortunate in the United States to have so much biodiversity available to us—along with fairly easy access to herbs from all of the many varying climates of North America. We have a large natural pharmacopeia.

India, too, is a geographically diverse land with a dizzying array of plant diversity. Because of Ayurveda’s long and continuous history (5,000+ years), the use of herbs in Ayurveda is a detailed and sophisticated science. It has a depth of understanding that offers much to the practice of herbalism in the West. Ayurveda’s comprehensive approach to herbalism can greatly add to any Western herbalist’s practice.

I have been lucky to study herbalism from many aspects and from many teachers. Those who commune deeply with our plant allies are able to create wonderful healing magic. Each herbalist’s approach is a unique expression of who they are, and, of course, no one approach is inherently better than any other.

I collected books on herbs for years before I ever knew what to do with the herbs themselves. I would page through them and make notes of interesting tidbits of information, but I never felt like I had a framework for understanding how to make the magic come alive.

When I began my formal studies of Ayurveda, that framework presented itself in the three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) and the qualities that are used to describe and understand them. It was a big moment for me; what had previously seemed beyond my grasp now made complete and total sense. In fact, there was an obviousness to working with herbs that I never would have guessed at previously.

Through the wisdom of Ayurveda I have found myself enjoying a deeper relationship with plant allies. Applying the principles of Ayurveda to herbs has demystified the world of plant medicine. Maybe this information will be helpful for you, too.

Ayurvedic Herbalism

Ayurvedic herbalism is careful to take many considerations into account when designing an herbal formula:

the client’s constitution & current state

the qualities of the herbs, including:

temperature

effect on bodily tissues

the form in which to take the herbs

the correct delivery mechanism for the herbs

synergy of herbs

the appropriate timing for taking the herbs

proper dosing of the herbs

Finding Balance

There are two fundamental rules in Ayurveda:

Like Increases Like

Opposites Reduce Each Other

These two rules work hand-in-hand and mean that:

more of any dosha or its quality (ie: heat) increases that dosha or quality;

the application of an opposing dosha or quality (ie: cold) decreases that dosha or quality.

A practical example will make this clear: If you have a sunburn, your skin becomes hot, red, and inflamed. These qualities (heat, redness, inflammation) represent excessive Pitta dosha (fire element) at that particular location. You would never apply more heat to the sunburn as a way to treat it (this would be “Like Increases Like”). Rather, you would oppose the quality of heat with the quality of cold to restore balance and bring healing (ie: “Opposites Reduce Each Other”). You would, for instance, apply ice or aloe vera gel. Both of these are cooling and bring relief to the burned skin.

In designing Ayurvedic herbal formulas we use this line of reasoning when choosing which herbs to include (or not). For example, we choose particular herbs for a pitta-predominant individual who has a sunburn, and we choose different herbs for a vata- or kapha-predominant individual who also has a sunburn. The pitta-predominant person constitutionally carries a lot of heat while the vata and kapha types do not. A pitta-predominant person would need a stronger cooling agent to address the sunburn than would someone who is predominantly vata or kapha.

Constitution & Current State

As with your genetic DNA, your Ayurvedic constitution is unique and distinct to you. It takes into account your physical body as well as your mental–emotional body. This is a body–mind type that is comprised of the three doshas: vata (air element), pitta (fire element), and kapha (water and earth elements). All of us have all three doshas present within us; we vary in the proportion of the three doshas relative to each other—and in how they express or manifest.

Ayurvedic herbalists are intentional about which herbs are used based on the individual’s Ayurvedic constitution— as well as any current imbalances—and their combined qualities. Using the reference point of the constitution plus the “You are Here” of the imbalances, it is possible to chart a course back to the place of ideal balance with herbs. The benefit of using this approach is that an issue can be addressed without inadvertently causing further aggravation in another aspect (ie: tissue, organ, system) of the individual.

Qualities of the Herbs

Herbs carry specific energetics that we keep in mind when creating a formula; for example:

heating or cooling;

tonifying (building up of bodily tissues) or reducing (depleting to bodily tissues);

moistening or drying

Temperature Herbs are understood to have an inherent temperature, and an Ayurvedic herbalist chooses herbs for their desired heating or cooling effect. Some examples of herbs that impart a cooling action are: peppermint, dill, nettle, neem, and cilantro. Some herbs that are heating include: powdered ginger, cayenne, black pepper, basil, and cinnamon. In our example of the person who has a sunburn, we would intentionally choose cooling herbs rather than herbs that have a heating effect. It may seem to be a minor consideration, but if you’ve ever been overheated, you know how overbearing more heat is on a hot summer’s day. Another example of how important a consideration temperature is can be found with echinacea. This herb is a favored Western herb for working with colds. It is antiviral, antiseptic, alternative, and analgesic, making it a good choice for this purpose. Echinacea has a very cold quality to it, so in clients who constitutionally tend to run cold, echinacea works best if combined with a herb that has heating qualities (such as ginger). Used on its own, echinacea could drive the cold deeper into the system. In a client who constitutionally tends to run hot, however, the echinacea might pose no issues since its cold quality could nicely balance out a fever state.

Effect on Body Tissues Herbs can influence how the body maintains its tissues. Herbs such as neem, turmeric, gentian, and nettle encourage the body to shed what no longer serves it. These reducing (catabolic) herbs are bitter and/or astringent and help the body to reduce weight and/or swelling (ie: metabolic wastes and edema). Other herbs build tissues up: oatstraw, licorice, shatavari, ashwagandha, slippery elm, and comfrey are examples of tonifying (anabolic) herbs. These herbs are anabolic; they help the body to increase tissue mass and/or increase the body’s capacity to maintain a higher level of wateriness. In clients who are in a state of depletion, tissue-building herbs would be a better choice. Conversely, in clients who tend to carrying excess weight, reducing herbs might be a better option. By a similar logic, we can choose demulcent herbs for clients whose tissues are dry and papery, and we can use astringent herbs to reduce swelling.

Form in which to Take the Herbs

Ayurveda considers what form of an herb would be best used for each person/circumstance. Whenever possible, the choice is made based on what is in the best interest of restoring balance to the individual rather than based on what a practitioner has easy access to. Fresh herbs (or freshly prepared formulations) are often preferred for their high amount of life-giving prana. In some cases, the qualities or properties of herbs change when they are dried.

Options include: fresh herbs (whole or chopped up) or dried herbs (powdered or whole). Herbs can be taken cooked into foods, in capsules, as an infusion (hot or cold), or as a decoction.

Delivery Mechanism

Ayurvedic herbalists carefully choose the delivery mechanism for the herbs based on what bodily tissue, system, or organ those herbs are targeted for. This helps to make the best use of the herbs and their actions.

Here’s the analogy: We want the herbs to get on the correct bus that will take them to their destination. The herbs are of no use if they can’t get to the correct location to do their work. So, Ayurveda makes use of specific vehicles that do just that. These vehicles each have an affinity for a specific tissue/system/organ and are easily able to deliver the herbs to their proper destination. Ayurveda calls these vehicles “anupana.” Anupanas include water, milk, ghee, vegetable oils, alcohol, honey, etc.

Each anupana has its own qualities: heating/cooling, tonifying/reducing, moistening/drying, etc. The practitioner designing an herbal formula keeps those in mind so that the anupana will be harmonious with the herbs that it is transporting. For example, an alcohol-based tincture combines the energetics and properties of the herb along with the energetics of the alcohol. Alcohol itself is primarily very heating and secondarily drying. This might be beneficial to the individual; it might not. For people with an addiction to alcohol, alcohol-based tinctures should be strictly avoided. Likewise, people with an excessive amount of heat in them (Pitta dosha) (ie: any inflammatory condition) should also avoid alcohol-based tinctures since they would experience an increase in heat—even if the herbs themselves have a cooling effect.

Synergy of Herbs

Ayurvedic herbalism will often use a combination of herbs to support a desired action. For example, Ashwagandha and

Bala are well known to enhance each other’s efficacy. These two herbs have similar influences of the doshas, balance each other’s inherent temperatures to deliver a neutral effect, specialize in targeting similar bodily tissues, share many of the same actions and indications, and work well with the same delivery mechanism. Ashwagandha and Bala work strongly in combination with each other, and we see their combined benefit working well for clients of all constitutions and states of imbalance where their use is indicated.

When to Take Herbs

Ayurveda considers the appropriate time to take an herbal formula. For example, if the intention of an herbal formula is to (positively) effect digestion, then you would take the herbs with the meal. The herbs might even be taken at a specific time during a meal (beginning, middle, end) to influence a particular aspect of digestion. If the intention of an herbal formula is to work with the mind (such as for boosting memory or relieving anxiety), the herbs would be taken as far away from meals as possible. Herbs may also be taken to address a specific dosha. If this is the case, herbs might be taken during the part of the day when that dosha is most predominant.

Whenever possible, Ayurveda prefers taking herbs as a proactive, preventative means (before deeper imbalances and symptoms arise—as with springtime allergies) vs. taking herbs during an acute, symptom-laden moment.

Dosing

The dosing of herbal formulas within the Ayurveda model is very intentional and is based in part on the body weight of the individual that will be taking the formula (higher dosing for those that weigh more; lower dosing for those that weigh less).

Ayurveda recognizes that herbs, being plants, have a threshold below which they deliver little therapeutic benefit. Compared to Western herbalism, Ayurvedic herbal formulas are generally taken in higher doses that are recognized to be therapeutic. This is especially true for herbs such as ashwagandha and shatavari, which, being starchy roots, can be safely taken more generously than other herbs can.

With Ayurveda’s focus on a person’s constitution, we find that people have optimal doses that are unique to them. We sometimes have to spend a small amount of time finding “your” dose—the amount of herbal formula taken to produce the desired result. While this may seem annoying to our Western culture that is habituated to taking a onesize-fits-all pill in a bottle, Ayurveda recognizes that we differ in the rate at which we metabolize what we take into our bodies. Sometimes we are far enough out of balance that it takes a stronger dose of an herbal formula to get the job done. Allowing a short period of time to attune to how the body and herbs work together is good medicine in and of itself and begins a dialog where the body’s receptivity to the herbs is awakened and we can notice the effect that the herbs have on us.

For More Info

Ayurveda (ayurvedichealthcenter.com/what-is-ayurveda/)

About the doshas (ayurvedichealthcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/AHCWS-Doshas-in-a-Nutshell.pdf)

Free eBook about the principles of Ayurveda (ayurvedichealthcenter.com/resources/ebook-a-beginning-exploration-into-ayurveda/)

Determine your Ayurvedic constitution (ayurvedichealthcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AHCWS-Dosha-Self-Quiz-pg1.pdf)

About the author

Katrina Svoboda Johnson, AHP/CAP, LMP, SOMA, HERBALIST

Katrina Svoboda Johnson transforms complex situations into simple solutions. She has a knack for perceiving the underlying dynamic that is at play—and getting to its core. Through the alchemical sciences of Ayurveda, herbalism, subtle energy systems, yoga, and Structural Integration, Katrina artfully creates a tailor-made protocol that will move you from imbalance to balance, from stress to ease, and from confusion to clarity. Regardless of where you are now, this process will deeply support you in improving your health and wellness by weaving timeless traditions with contemporary practices to craft something as unique as you are.

About Katrina Svoboda Johnson (ayurvedichealthcenter.com/practitioners/)

Schedule an appointment with Katrina Svoboda Johnson (ScheduleWithAHC.as.me/?appointmentType=category:Appointments+with+Katrina)

2015 Interview with Katrina Svoboda Johnson (botanicaltherapy.com/underground/2015/12/30/cam-practitioner-interview-katrina-johnson)

Kitchen Cupboard Underground is a weekly blog on home remedies and natural wellness. Find natural wellness and personal care products Made for You and delivered to your door at BotanicalTherapy.com.

[greengargouille]

((Until the end I hesitated on which fic to publish for Mimura’s birthday, and well, that certainly didn’t help being on time. On the other hand, it does raise probabilities for Valentine’s Day.

I did mention once I wanted to write about how group 2 interacts within the KoroQuest verse, but now I’m noticing that I ended up not using a lot of ideas I had as far as bug headcanons, so I guess I will need another one-shot))

Rating: General audiences Characters: Group 2, Mimura’s pov. Mentions of other students from Class E. Relationship: None

From the simple, basic monster nest in a cave to the maze-like caste full of traps, dungeons came in all shapes and sizes, and young students aspiring to be heroes would, during their education, be confronted to various structures.

Still, despite no dungeon being quite like the other (except the northern caves that all looked the same), the one Group 2 was exploring that day was quite unusual for them. It could be summarized, as Chiba had called it as one point, as an “architectural mess”.

Apparently, some decades ago, an alchemist had installed his research tower on top of a abandoned mine, and with the apprentices and family members over the years, multiple additions were made to the building, without consideration for what had already been constructed. Rooms without doors to their own floors that could only be acceded by ascending and descending two different floors, windows opening on another walls and doors opening on emptiness ; and, like any den from a rich alchemist a bit too paranoid about their work, the path to the research rooms was filled traps only the master the of place could deactivate.

This obviously turned out to be a mistake when it turned out the mines used as a base were filled with monsters. When the Big Bad then in place had been defeated, those creatures went dormant, but after ten years and a new monster king, they finally woke up and invaded the building, which became a dungeon ever since. What at its peak might have been a mismatch of different ambiance and decoration styles was slowly eaten by decay and dust and turned into an eerie place.

Though the different floors have been fascinating each in their own way to the group (though extremely frustrating in their attempts to draw a map as part of their exploration homework), nothing was quite as jarring as what they were currently seeing. Giant stairs of black stone, cut meticulously despite their size, illuminated by lamps of colored glass still working after all those years; on one side, not so much a wall than a reminder they were currently descending toward the underground floors, earth and mineral as far as the eye could see, not even properly cut; on the other, no guardrail, nothing to stop what would be a fatal fall. This would probably be scarier if a lone step of the stairs wasn’t large enough for the seven of them to sit at ease without touching, but it did make one wonder what have been the directives during the construction.

The lack of obstacle did make it easier for them to observe the lower floor from a distance, though.

“That’s,” Hayami commented, “a lot of monsters.”

An obvious assessment, but by now the group was used to voice those for the sake of Chiba ; it was best to let the boy rest his eyes when his bug was not needed.

“If we go downstairs, we should probably expect at least multiple battles in a row,” estimated Nakamura. “We’re already low on healing items, that will be tedious.” “Most of them are earth-aligned, through.” Fuwa looked at the monsters through binoculars, trying to deduce their skills from their appearance. “Most of them will be too slow to attack us every turn, and we already have the equipment against elemental spells. It’s doable. -Hmm. What do you say about that, leader?” Nakamura grinned as she said the last word towards Mimura.

Light teasing, he knew, yet he couldn’t help but feel bothered.

 It had started weeks ago, when observing the class representatives doing a report after the whole 3-E had finished exploring a dungeon. ‘It would be nice if we had a leader in our group’, Mimura had said without thinking. He didn’t have an exact definition of what he even meant with ‘leader’. Someone to take care of the documents each group had to fill for the main building, sure, someone to direct them into battle, but there was something more to it, a concept he couldn’t really put into words, nor had he expected to.

But this mere sentence had sparked a discussion among the group. What did it meant, exactly, to be a leader, and would they really be better off with one? Group 3 had Terasaka at its head, and he left all strategy and paperwork to Hazama and Takebayashi, respectively. As for Group 4... The closest thing to a leader they had would probably be Karma, though Mimura would be hard-pressed to explain why his choice would be him out of the six. Was it a question of strength? Of attitude? Charisma? Being able to intimidate people into obeying? Was there some inherent quality to leadership that eluded him? Nobody was really sure, though they could at least say the leader’s job was something to do with ‘giving orders’ and ‘uniting everyone’.

Nakamura had joked she wouldn’t mind having her ‘own group of slaves’ to do her work, before adding quickly it would probably be really tiring and would rather leave the responsibility to someone else. Chiba and Hayami both had seemed unwilling to push all the work on only one person, and though they hadn’t voiced it, unwilling even more for that person to be one of them. (Sugaya had whispered to Mimura it would indeed be a bad idea, given their prior experience to working in groups the precedent years, though he hadn’t told him any detail on this). Okajima might have been enthusiastic at the idea of being a leader, but he barely spoke three words before the girls glared at him, hands on their weapons. This was the moment Fuwa had chosen to blurt out a ‘You know, Mimura was 4th in the Leadership ranking of Volume 16’. He didn’t remember participating in any such ranking, but Fuwa’s most cryptic sentences weren’t to be taken literally most of the time, something to do with a 4th wall and spin-off that only her understood. It was best to leave the details to her and listen to her advice, as she was often spot on.

Which is how, over the weeks, Mimura somehow felt into the position of ‘leader’ for Group 2.

“Let’s go back and try it later.” He finally said after pondering. “For now, we need to find an healing fountain and level up some more.”

The truth was, being a leader changed absolutely nothing, and pretty much everything.

Mimura didn’t make plans for battle ahead, instead deferring this responsibility to Nakamura and Fuwa, who were much better strategists. He already tried to stop fights within the group even before being at its head, used to be the middleman in such situations -and, he had to admit, because if the girls reduced Okajima’s HP any lower after another skirt lifting incident, Mimura would be the only one left on the frontline in fights, which he would much prefer avoid if possible. And maybe, maybe, he felt the others tended to leave the final decision to him, now, but that might just be a bias of observation from his part. He noticed it because he expected it now, but it might not be any different from how it was before, and there must be important decisions in which he had no say that he didn’t notice because nobody asked him about it. Nothing that Mimura did had changed.

And yet, in his mind, it did change. The pressure. It was probably all a joke they all took only half-seriously except for him (and maybe Hayami and Chiba, it was hard to tell with how professional those two acted sometimes), but he couldn’t help but think they were all his responsibility. He had to make sure they were safe, and he avoided uncertain battles he would have previously attempted, or asked of his classmates to take an healing item when he might have felt before it could wait after one more fight or two. And he was getting worried, too, about how they leveled up slower than the other groups, and it took all their efforts for the gap not to grow any more than this. He had always been wary of his own skills ; he was average in most stats, not that suited for swordsmanship and only filling the role because most of the team was made of mages. But it had ceased to be about him as an individual, and had started to be about all of them, what they would all bring to the class against their teacher and the main building. His role was the same but his priorities clearly had switched.

“Ah, now that I think about it. There was that closed hall we met on the way, right? Okajima, you said we might find an emergency switch at proximity, what about the range? Do you think it could be down there? -That might actually be likely. Those kinds of doors are supposed to be opened and closed only from the inside, so the switch can’t be in a convenient place or people would be tempted to use it.”

While overall architecture was Chiba’s speciality, Okajima had an interest in traps and locks. It started from the idea of a giant trap for Korosensei, with dirty magazines as a bait, but recently he also used his knowledge in more varied ways -which might or might have to do with how the girls had started to lock the door behind them whenever they changed into PE clothes- and Mimura had started to rely on him in dungeons.

“And for how the switch might look like? Do you have an idea? -It’s might be more like a lever, actually. If it was a switch a monster would have stepped on it after all this time, and the emergency system for those is pretty basic, you can open but not close. Most of the treasure this deep into the dungeon were still there, so I don’t think another group could have come and closed the doors once again recently. -Right, this seems logical. Then... Chiba, is there enough light for you to see if you can locate a lever down there? If it’s accessible, I would like you or Hayami to try shooting on it, we might be able to activate it from a distance. -It’s a bit dark, but that much isn’t a problem.” The archer replied while getting closer to the edge of the stairs, observing the area below for a moment before declaring: “Ah, there. Behind the Iron Tortoise. -Big enough to hit with an arrow? -Yeah, but I won’t be able to get a good angle from here if the goal is to move it in the opposite direction. Hayami, you might be able to do it, though, if you use the wall next to it, with your bug it would bounce back to the target, right?” Chiba asked, turning his head to the left. “That shouldn’t be a problem,” Hayami replied to his right, taking a moment for locating said lever with binoculars.

Her shooting range wasn’t so high originally that she could have hit such a target, bug or not, but since Chiba didn’t need to buff his bugged skill, any item raising that specific stat was given to her. Given the pair only switched their original weapons to bows recently, one could say they truly were talented.

...It might be a bit inappropriate, but Mimura was envious of them. He wished he could switch to something else, too, a job at the back of the group, without having to get so close to the monsters or shielding his comrades. Maybe guys like Terasaka and his gang could endure a lot of damage, but he didn’t have their HP nor their tolerance to pain. Hell, if he at least had their strength, he might feel a bit more confident going in front, but no, he didn’t have that, didn’t have Maehara’s reflexes sharpened by training against Okano, didn’t have Isogai or Kataoka’s skills in support magic, and he was far, far away from becoming a magic swordsman like Karma. And, needless to say, he wasn’t competent with a bow or firearms either.

...So much for going into heroics.

“Did it work? -Yes, I’m pretty sure I heard something moving.” Nakamura replied. “Well, if we’re not going downstairs anyways it’s no point wondering, let’s go back. -Urg, I’m not looking forward for the climb.” Fuwa sighed before starting her ascension.

Her feeling was shared among the group, but while they all complained about dungeon exploration at some point or another, they were all used to going in circles by now. Mimura was ready to follow, last of the group as he had been head of the line during their descent, but immediately stopped when seeing that one of their member had yet to move. Sugaya looked at him, like he wanted to add something, but was unsure whether this was the right moment.

“...Sorry, you guys,” Mimura asked toward the others, “could you climb without me and Sugaya? We will catch up to you in a moment. -Sure,” Hayami nodded, “we didn’t met any monster on the stairs yet, so it probably won’t be a problem if we divide the group. -Well, don’t take too long,” Nakamura added, “or I will tell Korosensei you two are skipping homework to play lovebirds together, I’m sure he would love the story.”

Mimura only replied with an unimpressed glance, which made her smile before turning her head back to the next step. Trying to refute her attempts at trolling would only make her insist on it.

“So, is everything alright?” He finally asked the mage once he was sure they could speak unbothered.

“Ah, yes, sorry, I’m fine, you didn’t need to tell everyone to leave, it’s just... Well, I guess I could get your opinion on this.” Sugaya opened the item bag hanging out on his side, filled with items. As he was usually the first to get out of MP, he would often be the one to grab potions or antidotal herbs for the others, so naturally he ended up being the one to carry them for everyone. “I asked Okuda if she could create magic ink for me to experiment with boost-giving tattoos, and I did came up with something, but the effect only last a few hours, so I was wondering if it’s best to leave it for before the dungeon boss or if I should draw it while we’re not in a rush. -Good question. When you say ‘a few hours’, did you time it? -Not really. In fact, I’m not sure if it isn’t affected by the number of fights we get into. -True, some items work like that. Well, it’s still impressive if it manages to last that long, though.”

Mimura said that honestly. The idea was great: he had heard already about the strength-boosting ‘Tough guy tattoo’, but this was an adhesive item, which he knew was different from the tattoos Sugaya liked to draw on his arms sometimes. An hour-long boost that didn’t take place in their inventory would be a major advantage, if they could time it properly. Making sure they wouldn’t use it completely before the boss’ room while not wasting it by only putting it on the last moment would take some practice. Maybe they should ask Sugino for tips, with his bug he should have some experience in trying to time his own magic.

“I would be tempted to use it right now, we’re kind of in a tight spot if we don’t find a place to heal. I would feel more secure if we get a bit of help into battles. What stats is it supposed to raise, anyways, it’s not Coolness is it?” It wouldn’t be very helpful for fighting, given the mage had yet to learn any Charm spell. “Are you implying my tattoos aren’t cool by default?” Sugaya pretended to be offended, but when he raised his eyes away from his bag a small ink bottle in hand, he had a smile on his face. “But nah, it gives a 10% bonus to strength. -Strength? That... doesn’t seems very useful for a mage? -What? No, it’s for you.”

Mimura blinked.

“Ah. Thank you? But, shouldn’t you have tried for something more helpful for you first? -Eh, I’m fine like that.” Sugaya shrugged, before correcting himself. “I mean, sure, I wouldn’t mind a boost, but that’s no big deal, and lately you’ve been so... unhappy with yourself? You’ve been complaining more about how you should get stronger or stuff like that. -Was I?” Mimura had enough self-awareness to know he could be quite vocal when he wasn’t satisfied with his situation, but to that extent? “Sorry, I didn’t know I was getting annoying. -That’s not- Look, I just wanted to do something nice for you, there’s no hidden motive or anything.” 

Sugaya unbottled the ink in his hand while talking. A long, thin stalk was stuck to the cap, with hair on the other side. Mimura had not yet see the artist make tattoos with a brush, but he supposed it was more convenient to transport.

“Can I have your arm, please? -My- Oh, right. Wow, Can’t believe I’m getting a tattoo. What would my parents say if they knew. -If they don’t want you to get a tattoo then they should get you money to get more items. -Ha, I wish. It would be easier.”

Mimura expected a joking reply, a comment on how Sugaya’s own parents had restricted his pocket money when they figured out he was spending it all in art supplies instead of equipment, but the boy stayed silent as he painted strange arabesques on Mimura’s skin. The artist wasn’t usually against small talk when working, but maybe the task was demanding more focus than expected. Mimura went quiet. He didn’t want to disturb his friend, and it was interesting to see him work from such an angle.

“...You know, I like the way we do thing as it is.” Sugaya finally said. “Drawing boosts instead of getting them by items? -That too. But. You know. How the whole team acts.” As Mimura looked at him confused, Sugaya added. “Dismantling traps, using our bugs to progress instead of fighting. Maybe we’re getting behind the other groups, and we get into trouble because we don’t have an healer or a tank, but... we’re still finding a way to make it work, even if it’s not very conventional. I like it.” He stopped talking an instant as he finished drawing a rune. “And I like you being our leader, instead of someone like Isogai or Kataoka. I think you fit us better.”

Mimura wasn’t sure how to reply to that. He could understand it was a compliment, but he never have been that good on handling them. As for the group, it was hard to understand liking it. This messy team, where the girls always got in fights with their only proper swordsman, where they constantly had to go back on their tracks because the monsters were too powerful, where they had to count each gold piece they got because another potion could mean life or death for them...

“...Yeah, I think I like it too, leading this group.”

They might all be a team of barely organised brats, but as much as Mimura complained, they were all good friends, and if he was given the chance to change groups he didn’t think he would take it.

“Glad to hear that.” Sugaya sealed his ink bottle and put it away in his bag. “So, how does it feel? -Hmm, I do feel stronger.” A message appeared in Mimura’s mind, informing him of his stat raise. “Guess I only need to try it now. Come on, let’s join back the others, before Nakamura starts inventing another dramatic story. -As you wish, leader.” Sugaya grinned at him, before suddenly remembering something. “Ah, right, by the way, the effects only last a few hours, but the ink itself stay a whole week, so don’t use that as a reference point. -A whole- And you couldn’t have told me that before tattooing me?!”

Maybe Mimura was wrong, after all, he really should consider changing groups.

[umangsehgal93]

Building products that track Women?

           Suppose you wake up one morning to find yourself barricaded in a hotel room in the Bangkok airport to avoid being returned to your family. That is when you had slipped away from your family during a holiday in Kuwait and boarded a plane for Thailand, but were stopped in the airport because your “male guardian” received a text message on his phone about your escape notified by the app Absher. Such was the case of Rahaf Alqunun who amongst many other women had the app impede her attempt to flee from an abusive home environment.

             What alarms human rights activists, is how male guardians can use the app to specify when and where women may travel, for how long and which airports they're allowed to go to. Alerts get triggered if a woman leaves a certain area and Absher notifies male guardians while fleeing women is arrested. It is this access to private data and location which can have women face death at the hands of their family.

             Within this controversy against the tech giants hosting this app on their respective app-stores, there’s also a famous opposition form the critics. A lot of women who want to run away have been able to use it to run away by sneaking the phone away from their guardians, and accessing the grant permissions in the app. While this is a temporary solution, one can’t ignore the Saudi monarchy’s restriction and repression on women and diverge from the kind of data being produced, what can be done with that data and where can this data be used to harm lives of abused (or innocent) women.

           While we argue that one’s privacy is a matter of context and that privacy is lost when information flows in ways that violate understood or context-based norms. The app defines privacy on a continuum, defining how it helps Saudi women understand and navigate their social lives. This difference in context-based privacy is vastly different across different countries that smudges the boundary between guardianship and gender apartheid. Despite the app not violating any rules of the respective app-stores, what becomes difficult is these definitions of government enabled apps in promoting abuse through access to data and mobility enforcement through it.

             So, what? We know that the culture there promotes Saudi men to take control of their women even without the existence of the app. Campaigns defending Saudis have detailed that the app is inextricably bound up with other features of the app like checking mail, registering vehicles, and applying for visas. It is important to realize that these power structures that are pre-built and the data being shared by the app takes it for granted that controlling women mobility is for intrinsic good.

  As the technologies integrate and interrelate, search data and social network analysis could make it even further impossible for women to be able to escape such brutality. The current perspectives from which the app is allowed to be hosted assumes that most of those people can only control mobility when a passport is scanned at the borders, which is an oversimplification of how this technology adoption can open avenue to a multitude of ways to track women both directly and indirectly.

 Rahaf Alqunun represented a very common approach to the gaming the app and planning an escape. Her escape and the adoption of this app by the two tech giants open so many avenues to challenge the state of personal privacy and challenge the surveillance model created by the government. So far, the world has debated privacy cases where people do stuff that generates data and it usually means that those who come to possess that data should be able to do whatever they want with it, but with Absher, the data is neither being generated at will and nor is it being shared at will.

 It isn’t just about regulating the information available to the “male guardians” but it’s also about how this data is made actionable at places like Airports. It’s also about how the government and authorities react or respond to certain kind of information and which brings us to the fact that privacy isn’t solely a matter of individual responsibility or preference. Rightly said, privacy is a set of conditions enacted in practice, propped up by any combination of history, laws, social norms, physical or digital structures, context, individual behavior, and happenstance. Limiting data privacy to just one of these forces (like the airport border scan) risks misunderstanding it entirely.

 When we evaluate this with reference to human rights and a desire to minimize intervention into people’s lives, another question that naturally crops up is how do we move away from just such individual-based concerns and foreground social and structural impacts that are at the root of gender apartheid in Saudi Arabia. The question extends, how do we achieve a state where we think and create more careful conditions to tackle ethical problems being empowered through these data-intensive applications?

 Finally, what is it that we as everyday programmers can learn and pay attention to from this? How do we ensure that there are algorithms in place to check for ethicality of an action before it is reported and becomes a popular media issue. In many ways, this trap is unavoidable. We as programmers are particularly skilled at one thing: optimization. But optimization alone can't tell us anything about the morality of what we are optimizing for. As the data about these women grows, the more difficult would it be to rule out cases that identify misuse of data and powers attached to it.

 Though extreme, this example proves a key point: locational tracking data alone doesn't contain the potential needed to assess the fairness or justness of a given system. In order for the tech companies to understand the misuse of this data would be by not limiting their thinking about fairness and justice to internal logic of a given system, without reference to broader social or political realities.

 According to Kranzberg’s fourth law, “Technologically ‘sweet’ solutions do not always triumph over political and social forces.” While empowering citizens with quick access to services, the app will be upholding the society’s weakness of keeping women in check.  Finally, software that is so inherently directed at the suppression of fundamental rights, such as the right to travel, must have the organizations treat it as a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While tech is neither good nor bad, its non-neutrality indicates that the problems with data originate from political dogmas.

[carlanews]

26/07/2021

Ex oriente lux (2018), en pofundidad, en el número de agosto 2021 de Monthy Photography, revista surcoreana mensual de fotografía y arte publicando desde agosto de 1966.

Ex oriente lux (2018), in depth, at the August 2021 issue of Monthy Photography, South Korean Photography Art monthly magazine publishing from August of 1966.

Entrevista en inglés / Interview in English:

You started <Ex Oriente Lux> when you were investigating the theoretical legacy of some French Occultists. Could you explain ‘the theoretical legacy of some French Occultists’?

I am deeply interested in everything that has to do with the unknown, understood as that which cannot be reached through the cognitive capacities, nor can it be domesticated, controlled or dominated. The French philosopher Simone Weil understands the supernatural as the love for the natural. Based on this, I suppose that this fascination I have for the supernatural, or what goes beyond the ordinary reality, stems from a deep love for nature and for reality itself, as it is. Likewise, through my work, I try to question the ‘mandatory reality’ or what belongs to the consensus reality, what is imposed, pre-established and assumed. As a result, I have always been interested in alternative narratives that defy rational logic.

France, and specifically Paris, is an authentic Masonic labyrinth that hides, behind its architecture and urban organization, a lot of knowledge linked to the occult and esoteric sciences. This is to say, all that unofficial knowledge that has accompanied Western history, although had remain in the shadows. France has been the place of confluence of many thinkers who have been located outside mainstream thinking. Thus, instigated by these motivations, I applied for an artist’s residency at the Cité des Arts de Paris, not only to visit libraries or museums, where I could inform myself about these subjects that interest me greatly but also to walk its streets to be impregned of this hidden wisdom that conceives the existence of issues that challenge the Western hegemonic logic.

Particurlarly, I was interested in studying the controversial figure of the French occultist Alexandre Saint-Yves d'Alveydre (1842 - 1909) and his theories about "Agartha", a secret underground kingdom established at the beginning of the Kali Yuga (Iron Age), according to the Vedic tradition in the 3200 B.C, approximately. This place is more advanced technologically and spiritually than our world and the system of government is what he calls the “Synarchy”. According to him, when our world will adopt the Synarchy system, Agartha will be revealed to us. Saint-Yves also mastered the art of releasing his astral body, and like this, he could visit Agartha by himself.

There are several previous versions of Agartha, or about a similar place, like Pauwels and Bergier version, Ernest Renan or the French freethinker, Louis Jacolliot (1837 - 1890) who created the Agartha myth. There is also an obvious resemblance to the novel by Bulwer Lytton “The Coming Race” (1871) or to “Ghostland, or Researches into the Mysteries of Occultism” (1876) published under the auspices of Emma Hardinge Britten, medium and founding member of the Theosophical Society. As well, the concept of a secret kingdom where wise people live and work existed since the eighteenth century within the Freemasonry of the Strict Observance, with what they call "Unknown Superiors".

These theories about the existence of Agartha supported by Saint-Yves d'Alveydre are related with the ideas affirming the existence of a hole at the North Pole and the hollow Earth hypothesis, fervently defended, among others, by John Cleves Symmes (1780-1829). They are also linked with topics from popular cultures, such as lost races, conspiracy theories, the Holy Grail, UFOs, the Apocalypse and others. As Ekkehard Hieronimus advised: "What is happening in the lower layers of society is certainly much more powerful and effective than what happens in intellectual circles".

I referred to your previous interview to know about <Ex Oriente Lux> It would be great if you explain more details and easier about <Ex Oriente Lux>

As you already know, this project started during an artist residency in Paris. I went there to study in-depth about some authors related to Esoteric and Hermetic Sciences, but also to be closer to the French Occultism tradition that reverberates everywhere in this city. Once there, nevertheless, I found myself totally overwhelmed by the complexity of this matter and, as its name already advises, by its hermeticism and secrecy. But as with every project I do, my first purposes end up always being modified as the reality itself brings new events that I need to adapt to.

For all mentioned above, “Ex oriente lux” is still open, it conforms the first part of an unfinished project. The title refers to the Latin phrase “Ex oriente lux, ex occidente dux” (light comes from the East, power from the West) alluding to the meaning of travelling to the East as a symbolic ascension to the light and wisdom source. The East as a symbol of the occult and otherworldly.

Thus, this first approach to this endless subject is through the most basic and well-known principle of the hermetic sciences -"as above, so below"- collected in the Emerald Tablet by Hermes Trismegistus. This means that as it is “outside” (for instance, the Cosmos) it is “inside” (the Earth). Therefore, there is a correspondence between what we see, and what we can’t see; what is far away and what is close; and so on. As a result of these ideas, the first part of this work is an installation composed by pictures of different types of stones and marbles taken at the Louvre Museum in Paris (a venue with powerful masonic symbolism and full of hidden codes). It depicts a sort of mirror of the cosmos in order to highlight the historic connection between freemasonry and stoneworkers - guardians of secret legacies transmitted through encrypted messages carved in the stones -. So, this photo-installation is formed by pieces of hypothetical planets and landscapes resulting from a sort of Big-Bang explosion, recalling the similarity these stones have with incredible otherworldly imaginary landscapes. These images are printed on transparent plexiglass and cut in different geometrical shapes. Moreover, the installation is completed with smoke, small mirrors and lights that form beams of light in the space.

The second part of “Ex oriente lux” is also based on the Law of Analogy but this time I focused on the ideas related to that what happens in the stars is directly connected with what happens on the planet and our lives. Starts rule the plane of formation of the material world, called the “astral plane”. This plane - another dimension - works as the motor and it connects the abstract - the world of the ideas - with the matter itself and the physical world. So, according to the occult sciences, it is the necessary intermediary for all transformations or movements to happen, this is, the engine of life. In this way, the moon and the sun, which in alchemy have a remarkable meaning as well as being the maximum symbol of divinity in theosophical esotericism, are aligned and reflected on Earth. They are basic elements of our everyday life and they depict the realm of reality. Specially, in the world of outwards appearances we live, not only for being more and more virtual, but even before Internet or AI, it was already a pre-establishedsociety living in a kind of organised scenery.

If I understood about <Ex Oriente Lux>, do you hope to show your interest and language that the important relationship between moon and sun in Occult science?

Both, the sun and the moon, as well as the rest of the stars in the universe, are crucial elements for all forms of esoterism, mysticism or alternative narratives that, for instance, don’t derive from Christianity. The most ancient cultures, the pagan traditions, considered them as objects of worship since they were a source of answers of all that we cannot control or understand.

Could you let me know the process to photograph suns and moons?

I photographed them with 35mm and 8mm film. Only the analogue film can organically catch those lights, since the burnt in analogue film is not necessarily a loss of information as it is in digital photography. Those inherent elements of film that are often treated as mistakes: overexposure, bleaching of the frame, lens flare or ending fading, I deem them to be something precious because these ‘errors’ are, in fact, faithful to reality. Film, as the sun and the moon, has its own life and it’s an alchemy process and it’s precisely this what I find interesting.

Besides, having been born facing the Atlantic Ocean, I have always had the opportunity to enjoy the whole daily journey of the sun, which is always very present in my hometown since it transforms the colours and lights of all that is around. This spontaneous attraction led me to photograph the sun in all its different ways, also because, it is never the same thing. I always felt that being able to enjoy it, it’s one of the biggest privileges I could have… Despite it is sometimes considered as a cliché of beauty, or its features tend to be exaggerated. For me, it a simply quotidian event embodying spectacular radical alterity.

Each photo work’s color (or sky and sun’s color) is different. (black & white, purple, red and so on). Is there special reason?

Regarding the alchemical character of film, I am interested in the transformation it implicates, which is uncontrollable and whose nature is unshowable. When you work with film it exists this relationship with alchemy and magic. Film evokes what it is beyond the rational self, as well as the immanent transcendence that the medium itself already holds. It triggers a kind of mystical experience or poetics. It is a journey to an unknown place, far removed from the actual world, to which analogue photography transports us and it cannot be replaced or reproduced by any other means. I allow myself to be free in the use of colours as a sort of celebration of the miracle of the photochemical and its uniqueness. This is to recreate the illusory and alchemical character of film as well as the blindness and mystery of the medium. There is not an unfailing desire to master the medium, but to appreciate its particular beauty, leaving room for the surprise of what is not preestablished or premeditated. Beauty is in that which is out of control, unfathomable, side-lined, that which is considered useless or unimportant. Beauty is in everyday life.

As you focus on the mysticism / Occult, What did you pay attention for <Ex Oriente Lux>?

When I started this project, I had a lot of curiosity about the occult sciences as was already mentioned. During my research, I learned about concepts such as the "astral plane" or the "law of analogy" but also, I approached an unknown universe for me. All those experiences were translated visually, in a reality-language related to the intimate, the spiritual and the most basic and direct experience of the world itself.

Do you have any message to people or What do you want the audience to feel?

More than messages, I would like my work to be received just as an aesthetic experience that brings new languages and approaches to reality. It’s rather about transmitting openness, to underscore the fact that things are never in just one way, but they can be in infinitely different ways; and about the enjoyment derived from experiencing them, instead of closing ourselves to the otherness. It’s about going beyond the compartmentalised and watertight thinking through which we often see reality. In my work, there is a desire to know what it’s beyond the specific, pragmatic and utilitarian world in which we normally are immersed. It speaks about breaking barriers and borders, about the necessity of being in contact with different types of cosmovision, what links it directly to travel, but it speaks also about other kinds of journeys, more intimates. This is, to softly touch what is very meaningful for us but never ends up taking a specific form, nevertheless. In my work, there is always something that remains unfinished and unclosed; something that can’t be grasped nor categorised. Therefore, my work is located in this liminal and bewildering area which is related to our internal labyrinth in which I decide to get lost and even surrender to that emotional experience; in order to reach a collective unconscious. It is an emotional mechanism that is profoundly human. My work is a permanent search that never ends up dwelling a definitive shape. An endless seek whose purpose never finds an answer. It’s about got steeped by the world and delving into our inner labyrinths. In this sense, it has an oceanic feeling. This is to say, there is a strong inclination to adventure besides the necessity of isolation. These are contradictory concepts, but it is precisely this confusion and indeterminacy that governs my work; a strong necessity to connect to the world but also of seclusion. My work is also about aspirations that never are accomplished. It has to do with temporality and imperfection; a sort of work-in-progress.

It’s funny that sometime after finishing this project about “suns” and “moons”, I discovered that in my astral map, the sun is located in the 12th house which is related to all the ideas mentioned above. Knowing this all this made some more sense to me. The 12th house has to do with the idea of labyrinth, it is the house of the incessant seeks that steadily sails through the uncertainty (…)

You made stone works with photo works. What does the stone work mean in <Ex Oriente Lux>? I just wonder why you work in stone as well?

Actually, it is plexiglass imitating stones. But they are transparent and light stones, like if they were trying to escape from the gravity that stone implicates. This approach to the factual character materials bring is always present in my practice because I consider my photography work not only as a succession of images. Rather, they conclude or find their ultimate meaning on a determined space and position, as well as time. Size, place and material are important issues I bear in mind when creating my projects. These aspects provide new meanings but also create a kind of “aura” due to the total experience we have when experiencing the work…

what was the most difficulties when you work for <Ex Oriente Lux>? Or Do you have any unforgettable story during work?

It was quite a challenging project. First, it was hard to decode all those so cryptic texts written by Alexandre Saint Yves. They are really dense and complex. They’re full of references related, for example, to Kabbalah, even more hermetic to me, or other subjects linked to occult sciences. Secondly, another difficulty was how to visually materialise all those ideas, languages and mental images I was immersed in. This is, what to photograph now?

Also, I decided to become a member of the Rosicrucian Order, but it was not that easy and it required a lot of dedication and continuity so, after a conversation with someone related to freemasonry, I had the feeling that if try to enter in that world, this is to really try to “understand” Kabbalah, etc, my life would probably change forever. New beliefs and information would completely take my life in a different direction. I am an extremely sensitive person, for the good and the bad, so I realised that I was not, at all, prepared for all that, at least in that specific moment of my life. Maybe one day in the future. In any case, this project opened my eyes to new realities and, somehow, it has already changed my view of the world.

It would be great if you explain 2~4 photo works that you hope to mention to subscribers.

This photo was taken during a Solar Eclipse in my hometown, Nigrán (Spain). It was probably the most incredible eclipse I’ve ever seen. I went to a place I love on a mountain called Monteferro with my friend Cristina, where there is an amazing view. It’s not rare that when we both meet; special things happen around. Just a few seconds before the sun started to be covered by the moon, a cloak of clouds coming from the horizon covered the sea very quickly. Suddenly, we could only see a dense layer of clouds as if we were in a high peak but actually, we were not that far from the sea. The light changed becoming slightly darker but not only that, but the whole atmosphere changed in a few minutes. It was breathtaking, we were in a totally different landscape. I had never seen the clouds moving so fast as if they were spirits coming towards us. After some minutes of the total eclipse, the clouds started to move away and everything becomes the same it was; a sunny, bright and clear summer day. I took the picture when the clouds were going back to the horizon, because before I was so amazed that I could not even react.

These two pictures usually are shown in two lightboxes that work as a diptych. They were taken very early in the morning, when the sun was rising, near the Mont Blanc Mountain (France), with a Super 8 camera using the one-frame shoot mood. This moment was after a strong snowstorm. The atmosphere was full of fog which worked as a sort of a diffuser for the sunlight. It was really amazing.

[throwingideasatthewall]

Clone Wars      Episode 2

         Rising Malevolence

 Starting off I really like the title which implies things are going to get a little heated

  Title scene sequence still the same

   Nice

   Ok this time’s quote is a little bullshit

  Belief is not the matter of choice          But conviction

   Conviction is literally how much energy      you put into a choice 

   Little worried considering last episode’s good quote     left with an okay episode

   Okay, whoa, whoa, got a lot of things, at once

   Firstly, Ahsoka  

   Her face looks lumpy?

   The narrator...sounds kinda - bored

    Lot of things happening at once

                         Not really tied together

                       It’s-

                    Someone’s really                            abusing                       the jump cut

                   It literally gave me nausea looking at it

                      Not cool                           dude

   Then again    I guess they’re going for        Fast thrown together war footage

   But seriously       chill dude      On the jump      cuts

  And     nothing   seems    to     match   up

 If      I   can   actually    remember   what     happened       from   this   jump   cutted   mess     I   would   make     a   joke   about   the     off     piece            /    paced      sync        Up     But     for       the     sake       of     me       I        can’t    (And     I’m      Not      Back       rewatching)

(I     Tried...)

 Oh   here’s    one;    Growing     Fear          The   enablers      Just   Standing   around    Mate,         I   don’t   give      a   shit   about   them    (And   those     words   don’t   match)

The       Pictures

Still    recovering...    from    seasickness

So   excuse   my   scrawl     not   being    on   point

            I’m sorry, I was sea sick           Something about menace  

              Not happening again  

           Fear  

            Of the thing they enabled 

         I have, no idea, what is going on.          And I’m too afraid, of the editors, to go back

     Whatever, things are - moving -forward

     ‘parently

     Red sun like planet

      Ships heading towards it

      Little stabilized

     Person

    Plo Koon           Standing         In Front

    Oh good         We get to       see what the other enablers are up to

    That’s nice

    Would be thrilled

    If the jump cut abuse         Hadn’t left me           In a state of not being willing       to handle the enablers-

   We’re not jumping straight into that     Right?            Like,        this            is          a       quick         photo       shot?

   Okay never mind we are

   Fuck me up episode

Someone-  

 Realizes-    

Tracking-       That’s not so bad

 Hahaha

 Okay, giant ship in front of the Sun, Why!!?

 I am no longer hung over

 I’m good

What the frick?

 It looks like a shark

 It looks deadly       what the heck    is going on?

   Why is the boss music playing?

   I mean it’s thematically appropriate and more than we got in the last episode

    Just wasn’t expecting music

         Or Obvious Villain

        Before I think about it too much

        Detail

       “Oh my Red!”

        That is a lotta Red.

       I don’t think you could get much Red

   “We are tracking republic cruisers”

    Okay wait, We were on Plo’s     ship

     Now we’re on Dooku’s

 “Ships in the area...

  I’m assuming they’re going to      intersect

  And is Dooku -       Is Grievous  Dooku’s apprentice?          I guess that would make sense         Given           That last episode             We learned                  Of Yoda’s and Dooku’s              Connection            Learning            more about the villain isn’t such a          bad idea

       No more jump cuts please though

       “-Do”

      “Jam their transmissions,”

       Alright, straight to the evil      no hesitation           Possibly ending in murder?               What? It says ‘Rising Malevolence’!?               Murder would do that!

       The Fleet is holding it’s position sir

      Why?

     “I think it’s wise to report our position before we attack,”

      Good plan

      ‘Skywalker’s fleet is nearby’

      A teenager, you’re trusting this to a teenager?

       I mean they have to obey orders          You’re trusting a teenager that Obi-Wan order programmed?         A less developed version of Obi wan?          I know Yoda has a seat at the head of the garbage fire council

       But Obi-Wan has a seat there for a reason

       - note I’m pretty sure this is true for all continuities             so I’m not calling out movie Obi-Wan specifically  

           All of his continuities                 Garbage fire

            Which doesn’t have to be a bad thing...

             Logic sin

            “Perhaps he can reinforce us,”

             Teenagers can’t reinforce shit

             But they can pick you up

              Like a taxi service

            “ From what I hear Skywalker’s always looking for a fight,”                      Great, Obi wan ordered him to give only aggressive answers and self destructive orders                                    /answers

               Kid’s going to get killed                    If any adult sets their mind to it

               * Which seeing as you set him to ‘attack attack attack’

  Well, someone to be preparing his gravestone

              Good job, Obi wan                  Dumpster fire

              I do not regret it

             “So I’ve heard,”

               And enabled!

               Trash Fire Council, everyone

               “~~~~, Master Ploon,”

              “~~~~, Ahsoka,”

              Oh they share a language 

               Interesting

            “how’s the hunt for the mystery weapon going?”

              They actually tell him things?                    Instead of just yelling orders at him?

              Also, so that’s what they were doing

I     was   spinning

            “We’ve tracked it to the outer Greknow (excuse spelling) system,”

               “I need reinforcements”

               Wait, need?

               Earlier, it was a “ it would be nice,”

               Now you need the teenager to hold your hand while you confront the other adult in your stupid war?

               “ I have to ask the council Mr. plo I was given strict orders,”

                 Translation; I need to ask Obi-Wan                                  Also; this, this is how you write teenagers

              A little bit too much energy

              But this is how one would react

               If confronted with an order and ordered to give that response

               Good job, writers, you used your experience ( and knowledge) as a human being, to create a realistic human being

                Get a cookie for that

                Carry on

              Breaking up

              Signal jammed

          Oh yeah clearly shows that Ahsoka is asking “what’s wrong?”                Immediately move out the general area     also is someone not monitoring interference?          Shouldn’t alarms be going off?

   “ what’s wrong with the transmission,”

     A) you’re the leader you should figure that out

    B) asking a in superior isn’t going to help

       - if it’s their chosen thing then just let them do it without          leaning on them

   Nothing ever got better from micromanage

  “There’s too much interference, sir”

  Run

  We’ve lost them

  “You heard Master Ploon, he needs her support, we need to go help him,”

       Good job writers, that is how a teenager would react, you even got the stunted - robotlike speech down - and energy level

       Another cookie for you

      “We’ve got to go help him,”

       A bit of energy there but still good

     “We have to see what the Council says first,”

      Anakin, Perfect, 10/10, you know how to write children,            Perfect monotone

Fantastic     Job   writers

  *And          Actors

            The logic was pretty sound to

              “This is an important meeting, Ahsoka”

              Perfect

 I’ll   stop   gushing   about     that

         “Speak only when spoken to,”

          Perfect

        “Don’t I always”

         Okay,            little noticeable breach               there

         Little             too            much            energy                       Children               Don’t               Have            Person               alities-                Still           Developing-

        Nor          Attitude

       This       mystery        weapon            has            Strucken                a         dozen        systems             And     disappeared       without           a         trace,”

      That           Sounds         Really             Severe

      Only             Wish            I’d             Know             What              It            Does

      We       cannot       afford            to        lose        any       more       ships       my     phone

   “Oh,”

   How -         One           Of       you         had          to      order       him

    The          Chancellor         must       not       of     been     there

 “The    Enemy       ship       is   closing”

 Well      it      makes   sense    that    they   aren’t       running

  As   contacting    others     with     their   location     and   getting   reinforcements      was   something        that        they     were     supposed       to      do     and    ‘would      be         nice’      respectively

  And         they     did     both

    * Technically

   “General Greivous,”           Oh so now we get to learn of the relationship         Or what Dooku claims it to be

    “This will be            a suitable test              for        our new weapon,”

          Oh, or that

         They             have              the           weapon

       Interesting

       Also             a             great           excuse            to          show             Plo          Koon        suddenly         getting            his           shit         recked

   “Yes        My         lord,”

   [Oh       wait       now         I    remember        he’s       Ventress’s       master

   General            Term             Is            Lord]

      Does             he        have           a        button?

     “A       large        energy      reading       from        the      target,         sir,”

  Run!

 “Open       Fire,”

  Then       Get       Out          Of       Range

  “Fire!”

 “Brace       For      Impact!”

  Wait         You had Three whole ships   and you decide to clump them all together            Approaching from the same direction               Towards a giant space hole?                  You...               You got what you deserved

      “We’re losing all our power,”

      No duh         Space wave          * Shock wave

  Energy field , defenseless

      No duh

   “ Their shields are down         Full cannons,”                “they’re tearing us apart, one by one”

     Uh, Space                         pods?

         “[Ship explodes]

           Well I hope they got to the escape pod

           Quickly, into the pods!

         [ Plo being Captain Obvious]

        Well one fricker hit debris and exploded

       Really stable pods

      Well shit               It was just a ship        At least everyone      who wasn’t an idiot       is alive

   “ that was a successful test wouldn’t you say, Count?,”

   That’s        surprisingly normal given the side is supposed to be the  overinvolved                                                                                                    negative

      I’m surprise he isn’t abusing his in superiors by now

      Then again his ‘abuse’ style, based on name, is tech   

       Which isn’t an abuse style  

       Or negative thing

       “Maul”

        Is either a weapon or to chew something         savagely

     Sidious           Is        just        this     version’s     Absolute      evil   (Human,   Sentient   version)

Dooku      .....     I         have    no   idea

He’s   clearly   meant      to      be   conflict       in   general       But       The      Name       ....       I   have     no   idea

Sorry   went      on     a   name   rant

    “ I       want           all           of      those        life       pods        destroyed,”

   Brutal

   What       was           the        deal        with         the       sound     Greivous        was      making?            And         why           is        that       droid      laughing?

     We’ve         had         no       further       contact         with       General           Plo                Koon 

     And        nobody         is     panicking

    Then    everyone         else         is      enablers         so         I’m        not     surprised

    They       knew       what         they            were   getting      into     with     this    stupid    war

 “The   absence     of   distress   beacons        indicates      that      his     fleet     was,”

 Destroyed       killed

   Also     there’s       no      beacon         or      way         to      signal      for       help      in     those   light     pods   

The         Galaxy’s    huge

“-was”  A   bit   too   much   hesitation     there

           I’ll                accept              a            slight              bit             that             Anakin                was          ordered              not               to                talk            about                   death               in             front                   of              Ahsoka

         But              a             bit             too           much          emotion

         & personality

       And it isn’t overrided by one of his elders,            Obi wan specifically

       Or Understood by          the others

      We’re about to     launch a    rescue     mission

  Hasn’t clone intelligence reported this weapon     never leaves any survivors?

   But not that they had a giant stab wound through the   chest?

 Enablers, man

 Again, children don’t care about them

   They haven’t even developed a personality

   Nevermind the ability to form and remember      healthy preferred relationships

     With individuals

     Of their own age group

     When they’re Adults

      This ‘everyone’s afraid to say ‘die’ in front of Ahsoka Is bullshit

      Even      the              expression           doesn’t             feel             natural

       They are tidy they don’t want any witnesses

         See, that’s even acknowledging that they know some foul play is about

     ‘They’ is not the weapon

     It’s a person 

    “ these losses are tragic,”

      Not enough to stop the stupid war and             stop enabling

        What great friends      Plo Koon has      

      “ prevent more, we must,”

        You aren’t doing   shit

       Capsule

The Music      just      give       me       the     feeling       that      they’re      sitting      around     playing      cards

  “The power grid is burned out”

   Okay and that took out this whole life pod   functionality?

    Like are these not for emergencies?

   Shouldn’t have multiple backup power sources?

    Or some rudimentary fuel  

     Also, the force,

      Like with it you can exactly   have any moments of tension

       Like   normal humans

        Like            if you want to get out of the situation     there’s like 10 options

   Humans are space orcs

   Like just use the force to       paddle to safety

   Or power the ships

    This is   definitely   not as bad as a situation   as they’re going to make it out to be

 “Life support recharge.”

  Well good thing none of you is dying

   Oh did they mean     oxygen recycling?

   My bad

 So we’ll just sit here

   And hold our breath

  Snarking doesn’t really help it

  “someone will come looking for us, right?”

  Generally speaking, yes

  You clearly sent out    communications

  And abided by all the   rules        But you signed up with the enabler’s United Toxic Foundation, while everyone did sign up for a basic war - Palpatine’s things that one kid in the E for for everyone Minecraft let’s play role-play that insists everyone be allowed to swear

Like yeah everyone agreed not to do that       But you still don’t kick him

And the second you avoid accountability   things were on rocky basis

  You can kick him to a higher level of accountability

     (Or lower)

   But not accountability

   I don’t think that’s coming back from levels this   tox

 And     Everyone knew      it

   Including      this      guy

  “ let’s get the power restored     , so we’re here to be found”

    REASSURING

    Also if you could do them   why were you wasting time?

I know the address they’re assholes who don’t care about their own        life

But still dude

 Logic sin

  [not storytelling]

 Holding a bit too long on his face   for a jump cut

Ships

“ All our battle convoys will be sent to guard our   supply lines,”

 Meanwhile them selling them out

 Including yours   Skywalker

  Nice friends      you have there,       Plo Koon

 “i’m sorry we can’t risk any more ships with the rescue mission”

 Any more

   Meaning you sent some

   “wait just because there hasn’t been any survivors...”

    Dude

   Bit too animated

   Like holding on the thin string of     orders

  And      still it should be                                stunted

Even     under the order of                                         ‘feel sad’       their eyes would still be moving around like they don’t know what                                        they’re doing

“ doesn’t mean they won’t be any this time,”

  Animation...a little choppy

 Like beforehand the stiff moment really worked with the fact that they were children

        That I thought it was   intentional

  This little awkward bit of moment   doesn’t

 Maybe it’s the     overall movement of an of Ashoka as a   character

   It doesn’t work

  “ boldly spoken for one so young,”

    And almost unrealistically     so

    If not for the string of   orders

  I could possibly be reasoned by   Plo    issuing an overriding effect

 Assuming he was her first     and longest caretaker

  His order    if I’m in danger do this      Might still be   in system

But    it   wouldn’t   cause     an   outburst     like     that

  Not     that     loud

  Or   emotional        at    least

 Just     monotonously      Repeat         ing          the      line

 Which   would    still    get    the   same   reaction

Working          better       with          the       military        child      soldier      theme

  “ Yes she is learning from Anakin,”

      They’re child soldiers

          They’re both still operating under your    orders

 Anakin likely taking her up under   your orders

[If Common sense is      to be       believed]

   If anything ‘she sounds like   Plo Koon,’ would be a better   option and highlight the   his-tory, they have   together as well as makes sense why   she would be   sent 

 “ Excuse my Padawan,”

  Excuse that     bullshit

    [I have a thing against        un child like          behavior]

   “ I will deploy as   instructed     master,”

  Ahsoka      [turns her back and     leaves]

   I swear     if this leads   into a fight

And     one     with     them          not    talking             like         robots

Are   emoting

I’m    calling     bullshit

  If they’re not just repeating orders at each other

“Ahsoka,”

    How long do you think Anakin heard that tone of   voice?

    [Because he’s not doing it on his own]

  Little more     disappointed computer    needed   Too much   vitriol         But     Still     valid

  “if   anyone   could   survive,”

Stunted     tone     good

  Few    jumps     in   logic

And   conclusions      that     don’t     think     they   could’ve    ordered

 But   overall   serviceable

 “I don’t   understand,”

 “what you don’t   understand,”

Well there are remarkedly   a few bumps here and   there,     This does play out     The way two   assumed authority   kids     would    play out

 Good job writers,   actors   and   animators,     you     did     a   good   job

  “....Jedi protocol,”

   Know your place       My Padawan

   “Know your place,”

    Too          much         Energy

   “Admiral,”

     Anakin  

      Has too           much energy  

      And perso          -nality

      Never    mind             it’s fine

        “ isn’t that              risky?”

           No, approaching/confronting an enemy from only one Direction when you know they have an unpredictable weapon, is risky

                And stupid

                This is a patrol                and as such                   it’s a relatively good move

           “ The mystery weapon out there,”

            No, Plo Koon       wouldn’t have found himself             in that situation         had he done this

     Also are you mouthing off       to      a superior

   Fair       enough          you’re             older            and            have          nothing             to            fear            from               a             child

          But       you              agreed             to              serve                  under              said                child

           Stop            breaking           immersion

     I       like       the      fact      that      they   immediately      show      that    Anakin‘s   superiors       are   abusive        to        him

 While    it’s     true   Anakin     broke     code       by   addressing   someone       of      lower        rank

  This    dude      is     lower    than     him   

(And       older)    And   still   gives   back   toxicity

(No ne    Reflect   ed)     Too

 “It might be,”

 “But I know you     won’t argue my orders,”

Wow,        Not a really good picture of    Obi-Wan    we’re painting

 He possibly   (very often)    compared   Skywalker     to his       in superiors    Derogatorily            Or   at least gave him     an order     to do   so

 Yikes!

 Come     on       Snips      

   Come on          [Pet name]

    Bit       too      much   personality

    But     Still     managed      a     lot

“The      air         in      here            is   getting          a         bit          stale,”

    Then        stop         using           it             up

       And           focus              on             fixing

       “Don’t           look             at             me                it’s             Boost               sir,”

             Tox

*also       no one keeps a plant      on them?

    “He only takes a bath when    he’s        on      leave,”

   Dude seriously not cool   throwing someone under the bus     like that

      “ save it work on fixing the   pod,”

   Yeah you’re running out of air    and this seems to be the only dude that doesn’t wanna die

   “ Not your jokes,”

  They’re toxic anyway

So the air quality isn’t getting much   better

“ Do you think we’ve got a chance,            General?”

You have several   chances  

You have a   Jedi     on board

You could      doggy       paddle      to     the   nearest   station

“I know if we walk together we will stay alive,”

 No, you’ll run out oyour oxygen, and die

Also the rest of you are doing       nothing

Lay down      And save some oxygen

If you’re not going to be   helpful

Someone will find us

  Yeah, God

Or, in this case, hell

   If you believe in      that sort of thing

         And                Not          secure       nothingness

“ With      all      due respect,”

Strategically        it   doesn’t     make     sense       for   someone          to      come       look        for        us

  Yeah     you’re       all     enablers       no        one      has        more   inherent     worth      than      the     other

   If I was in command I’d be hunting that weapon down

 Humans are more important than weapons

    Our decisions decide       whether our time together          Will be pleasant          Or        non-       pleasant

 I value your life 

   Involved in this war that will likely take it

   “-more than finding that weapon”

As   noted   that’s       a   valid   thing

But   doesn’t    have    much      value       in       an    enabling         war       and         a         poisoned    generation

   “Sir,      there’s        another       pod           out        there,”

    No      duh

   You    launched      from      the     same     place

  The            only        people     dead       are       the      ones         that       ran       into       that      debris

   And   exploded         On    contact

 There     was         a       gulf      of     flame

 Likely     from      the     impact       of      the      ship

  But     no   indication     that   anyone      else          died

 (Not       like      he   could’ve     just   willed      them     out      of     the     way     with     the   force        Or     not   splurged      on        the   exploding   escape    pods)

 “If only if we had power we could contact them,”

  Again you should be working on that

 Also what would that do?

 You’re both

 ‘helpless’

   In the    pods    how   about      we just wave   Hello   when the viewfinder   comes back around?

Because that implies it will   rotate

 *Waves hand*          See?

  Completely      preventable

   Can     get out of this situation     at any time

   How?

  Like that glass is supposed to be   surprisingly strong

  Like plastic

I’m calling   bullshit

“They’re dead,”

One-hand    that extremely sucks        (The loss of life is a     terrible       thing)     Then again     completely     preventable

“ Someone         busted their pod       wide open,”

    Oh,         that’s clever         writers

      But      that looks shattered        from the impact

     That glass       is some           weird            stuff

       Really           I’m           just        sinning            the           fact               that           they         would          have         glass       anywhere           on            this      supposed           to          be         very       durable        space        pod

     Like        that        shit’s             a      safety         risk    regardless       of   where         it      is

 Time ��    to ravage their ship for any supplies  

  What, they’re dead?

They       won’t      be     using       it

  And         this         is   supposed       to       be        a      ‘life        or         death     simulation,’!

  “ We’re        not         alone        out            here!”

   Really?!

   Also       this        is      why         it’s         a      good       idea       to      get       down,    fix        the           ship       And     Get     Out

  (Why      you    even      have      a     window      when   cameras    would   suffice         ...)

 “ Set those coordinates,           R2,”

    Cool

  “ I should tell you why       I spoke up    before,”

    That     would      be     nice

But     if it’s Overinvolvement of Plo Koon       in your          upbringing

    A few things should be         more   obvious

    “You don’t have to explain,”

      Anakin        was taught not to question                                         things

       Including dedication to            previous scouts

    Oh, the deadpan

Ahsoka             is having a bit too much   reaction

But ot’s justified    in      confusing          orders

   Good start

 Oooh 

 That’s      a lot of Ships

   Nice music

   Very uppity

   With a sense of     authority

    Our ships    are in defensive formation          sir

 “Oh Obi-wan,”

 “Alright commander     I’ll check on Anakin’s progress,”

  ASSUMED  A U T    HORITY!

 “Admiral,”

 You’re not     supposed to be here

 “How       goes        escort,”

He looks    terrified      of him

  Convoys     Are     preceding on schedule general

The   fact    he’s   used    to     answering     to   him    says   something

“No          sign of enemy                           activity,”

Liar

 “and      where’s        Skywalker,”

    Susp.ic

     “The         general felt the redeployment of this fleet would increase our defensive perimeter,”

        Dude’s            really on his case on respecting the            Council’s orders

       “I see        thank you            Admiral       that will be all,”

    Nice       chat

  Problem         Sir

“Anakin     has       just   redeployed    himself,”

  How        is     that     sus?

  Didn’t          You       Give           Him        Orders?

   Someone had to have given him some orders       that got missconstrued

    Again

   Then    someone       else      gave      him    orders?!

Weird

Rt,     set up the     scanner

Mystery Weapons    

No Rt,   tune the scanner     for life forms     Highest sensitivity

Interesting    Anakin was given more   orders      To value human   life          over objects/      The   Mission

Interesting enough   this could’ve been     what they referred to   as any more ships

As an      Anakin   and     Ahsoka    had   already    been   assigned

And   given   specific   orders   by someone   who spends more time with Anakin therefore has more authority   to ignore the other orders

My   moneys     on   the     chancellor

He’s    supposed   to be   grooming   Anakin

And     it makes sense     he could get away     with     a    “no other Jedi” order       without including       himself

Not to mention     get more time       with Anakin   to justify     the authority   override

I would   also   make     sense

Given   Obi-Wan’s    -bluff-?      (Whether      you   believe       he      did       or      did      not         know     about      the       order)           That        he          was     surprised         that       Anakin         wasn’t       responding          to           his         seniority*

 *Face   Value

“ Why   would     we      Scan     for   lifeforms      to     find      an   enemy   weapon?”

 Too     much        energy

Droids

“The Abogado system”

Too     much    amazement

   More    ‘statement’       needed

   Smirk

     Do you know normally I would        criticize this        but it has the perfect          half           assed         energy

      So           good job everyone involved         that took  skill

    “ so it’s fine when you don’t follow what the council      says,”

  Ooh       that’s a          miss

Doing   what    the   Jedi   Council   says   that’s   one  thing

 How     we     go   about      it,      that’s   another     thing

 That could possibly count for double   answers

  And does count for   misconstrued orders

Considering a lot of orders can be fit into a          lifetime

Some do contradict and mix   to form up     interesting   combinations

And results

“that’s what I’m trying to teach you   my young Padawan,”

Good   answer

“So   you   always   meant      to    come    out   here    for   survivors,”

Better      Read

“Live are in danger of     Ahsoka,”

“We just     can’t turn   our backs   on them,”

“That’s       what        I,”          No        good       try      that’s       too      much     emotion

   Tip         toeing        into   emotion   adult

  Watch it

   “ I know              But        the        way        you         said         it          was       wrong,”

     Now Anakin’s following

     Got to watch that        realistic tone

     It’s hard      not to write   emotional characters

   But it makes   the moments when they are   all the more sweeter

I’m really looking for that   ‘I realized my life was a lie’ moment

“We haven’t got much     time-”

  How?

“No           that’s not it-”

   Time for the   idiots!

     Well honestly the time with our Villains - enablers               - are just as       entertaining

it’s slow burn            But decently so

“We       don’t   want      to       make     things         worse,”

  “How      can       we        make     things     worse?”

 Death isn’t fun

“ When        you      ask       for      trouble,        you      should        not           be   surprised      when        it      finds        you,”

    OK      Boomer

    Who        has        never         helped          at         any          point             in          this        procedure              (And             is              the             big                g               est               enabler              of           anyone              here)                *Tox

“ I think trouble already found us, sir”

   Good job!

What if we connect these two     wires right here

It’s an     electrical   puzzle game

 I thought   something   was   actually   broken

“ I’m     getting        something,”

 Great

There are 14 minutes left

What goes wrong?

Despite     maybe a   fight

 Oof

 They managed to figure   it   out   quicker

Now we get to listen to someone dying

In       extreme      detail 

  “That signal is weak, it must be close by,”

    Uh, what?

     I think          he might’ve        misspoke

       What?!

      That’s            a         giant         Crane!

       I        don’t        know          what         to        expect

   But      that      was      not         it!

   Go          Get         ‘Um          Boys

    They’re        Normal         Droids

   “Pod—”

   “The       Droids          Are      Cutting      Behind        Us,”

Cutting.   through

   They      just      sat       by and watched as their friends die

  And we know    

Plo Koon can move   the   ship

Brutal

“ Things got a lot worse,”

 And you watched    it happen

 Soco       -paths

 “The Scanners are practically useless “

   How?!

   The Ship left

Shouldn’t the jamming signal   be gone too?

“ Got anything    on the emergency channel    R2?”

How   do you not?

Also   

please save those guys

Like they’re enablers

But I’m a fan of   accountability

Not       death

You   can’t   hold   dead     people      accountable

“ We   might    find   something    you   don’t   want    to   find,”

“ he’s     one      of     my   oldest   friends,”

 That      is     the   perfect    tone   good    job

-everyone

“It was Master Plo   Koon Who found me   and brought me to the temple   where I belonged,”

Oh yeah   that doesn’t   smell of indoctrination!

HaHaHa

(help!)

“ I think someone noticed     We’re gone,”

Too much Emotion!

“Anakin,      where      are     you,”

Conflicting     orders

 “ we are making a quick stop      in the Avogadro system,”

  On point

   “A rescue mission I suppose,”

   “You had other       orders, you know,”

    I don’t like that someone else is      ordering you around       And has   higher   authority       Then      Me

“ it   was    my   idea   Master   Obi-Wan,”     

Too    Much     Argh-

“ oh I’m sure,”

You’re both child soldiers    

but I’m going to blame the   oldest

Despite   all orders

“ Well, have you found any survivors?”

 “No,”

 That is an “order to be sad’    Eye flicker

Good job

“ all the more reason for you to join the defensive   escorts,”

Adding   pressure to break   authority

“You’re      Going       to     Miss   the       rendezvous      With       The      Fleet         If      You     Don’t     Hurry,”

    I     want   you     to      be      my    back      up      escape     not         Plo’s

“We’re      on     our       way,��

   So   whoever    gave    him    this   order   didn’t   give      him     an   order    that   would   contradict   joining      the   fleet   afterwards?

“ i’m sorry         Ahsoka,”

  Wait,     what?

  He’s   getting   over   written?

  By    that?

*Squeaking*

  “R2-ooie        Thinks              He’s          Got        Something              On             The           Emer           gency,”

      Please-          Stop          calling          him              R2-ooie

      “Can he trace it?”

        Hopefully

      “Let’s get going,”

        Too-

“ I think they see us,”

Wait,       what  “Uh       -oh,”

   There’s     another        pod         over        there

    The      droids        got            a         lot        less        cute

  “Dadada,”

  Ominous

     Also         the         droids         are            so           cute          for

    Genocidal            Manics

    “It        is        time        to         go,”

   “Go?”

  Yeah your boss has essentially been letting you die this entire time

   “Outside, to destroy the enemy,”

    Again, could’ve done that anytime

   “ I can withstand the pressure for a   brief time,”

      Oh, that’s the     excuse

      To be fair I don’t think humans can be   either

      Not without seriously draining...

      I will give him that   notion

    Not, however,  not moving the     ship

    To safety

In fact all of this is just       badassery Like he could’ve easily rescued those guys and stop the, from the safety of the inside of his pod and without wasting the probably be limited oxygen       By going outside

   But         enablers

    “ Put         your            helmets          on,”

       I’m        about               to suck               all the oxygen             out of this                 damn                     thing

                “If                       you                        say                       so                       sir,”

                  ‘I’m                    willing                        to                         die                         for                         this,”

                   That                       one                       sane                       guy’s                        like

                    “ This                           is                           a                             difficult                      situation,”

                       Y’all                             making                             it

“ There remains a possibility we will   survive,”

 Great!

That’s good enough for     me

Everyone besides that one dude is     down     for   death

Love   how   that   one   dude’s    just   staring    at   them

“Kick    their    ass,”

Also you waited till they were right on top of you

‘Wolf   keep   the   communication   signal   alive’

I mean is the oxygen on, is the   electricity?

Like you could do more than just     fight?

“It’s   our     only   chance   someone   will   find   us,”

Bull

“ Let’s just hope someone’s looking for us,”

This is enabling   hell

“ Are    we still   picking up   that   signal,”

“ but    why    aren’t     we     finding   anybody,”

 Are   you   following   the   signal?

“ I don’t know,”

I don’t know either

“ what’s           a       Jedi        doing       out     here?”

 Real question     what’s a random person   doing out here?

Like   are    these    droids   Plo Koon        fanboys?

*Shoves*

Weak

If is anyone out there,        This is Ahsoka Tano,”

Seriously, you weren’t trying the transmissions   before?

 Oh so those guys had blasters?

And can stick to the roof

But     those   other   two   just   got   blown   out

Didn’t   want     to   fight

Accepted     Death

“I can’t get a clear shot,”

How?

“ Time to put the squeeze on them,”

   What?

“ is there anyone out there?”

Dude not paying attention

 You had                    One Job

“ It’s Ahsoka,” Just press buttons

He can’t hear you   he’s outside in space

“ keep the signal   alive   commander,”

What-

He has   a point

Dude’s    been   slacking

 “Boost       the     reception”

“Argh,”  - - -

“We’re        Losing       The     Signal,”

He   just     threw      a   fricker

Seriously

 That’s all        it   took?

Death   seekers

“Uh-Oh”

 Karma

“ Sir,       we have lost contact with the     Pod hunter,”

 Only    one?

Also yeah, after multiple people died     Plo Koon     finally decide to do something

“ Perhaps some survivors are putting up a fight,”

Big leap 

 More likely your   robots      fell off    something

“ that is something we   cannot   allow,”

Cut        To the   Senate

Okay...

We must find a way to destroy     this mystery weapon

Don’t fly right into it

‘end this war,”

Not gonna   happen

“Dooku     always   seems,”

“Tell     me,!”

Oof

Looks    proper    creepy

“Master Plo       koon     Or         his    fleet,”

“No,   we must fear     the worse,”

After we did nothing to stop it

Go, enablers!

Survivors

On whose   authority?

“His own   I’m afraid”

Bullshit

Someone     gave him an      order

 ‘His own’     only means you don’t know      Or are lying

But I’m going with     face value   for   Obi-Wan

With       His   flight     out   of   position

You trusted a teenager with a fleet

This is your own fault

Oh never mind   his fleet is fine

So Windu     was complaining out of his ass

And his Padawan

so whoever gave the order is fine with him having his Padawan

Oh yeah that does leave   Yoda sus

Twice the trouble     they have become

You gave them the order!     Abusive     old man

A reckless decision,        skywalker          has         made

   Teenagers             can’t              make            decisions

         “ Let                   us               hope                it                is                 not                   a                 costly               one

   “Well general another fine mess we’ve got ourselves into”

   The tox level is getting pretty   high

“ your sense       of humor       is improving,”

   No his ability to be a dick     is

   Well technically it was always there

    He’s just really utilizing it

Right now

  Toxic bastard

“ I don’t mean to say I told you so,”

Dude even a slight bit of accountability is acceptable   around now

Also wouldn’t the com’s guy be more accurate?

Pretty sure     he was the one     trying to guide everyone   away from death

“ I never believed anyone would come looking for us,”

Enablers

“ Anakin, the council was furious”

I decided we couldn’t just give up on Master Plo Koon

Bullshit

“But     the council    feels,”

Please     listen to me     Anakin

Return       at   once

Okay here I’m a little conflicted

It could be literally anyone

“ Yes, Excellency,”

Nevermind

It is him

Good job   writers

“ we have         to        stay,”

Note I’m assuming the vision is a metaphor an action   order

         Because Visions     just no

         Too much emotion

          “Ahsoka,”

He   allows   her   to     do   this

“ sergeant why are you so certain no one is coming,”

Because they’re enablers

And he’s     particularly     negative

He’s       a     person   that’s     his   choice

(That       you’re     enabling)

He     still     toxic

“ We’re just clones,sir,”

That’s          a     good       excuse

 The past trauma doesn’t justify     creating present trauma

You’ll be     held       accountable         the       same

“ we’re meant to be expendable,”

Yeah,   doesn’t justify this bullshit

“ Not to me,”

Bullshit

You       were       

instrumental

In what occurred to     them

You enabled them

* This        Situation

 This      is       like      a       boomer     comforting         a     millennial     abuse       victim!

You       were       instrumental       in     what     happened       to     them

Point       being;          If       you    actually     cared     what       was       happening       you       would’ve       stopped     it       before     it       began!

Now       everyone’s     an       enabler

‘Light’,         assumed to be heroic     turns           into         actual       light

Okay, good

Was worried there. for         a second

Ready tow         cable

 Why wouldn’t -

Okay,       they’re moving him     towards the     door

Good        They        were          running        out       of       oxygen.                  Sometime                            There                       were                      no                       real                      stakes      

           “ Come on                     hurry!”

What’s the rush?

They’re fine

“ are you ok,     master Plo,”

All this work and build up      and he’s dead

“ there’s         someone          in           the        pod,”

That       poor           guy

Pretty       sure        he       was           the       one ��     who       least         wanted       to      die

“argh,       argh,”

Oh       now       there’s       health       problems

Now     that       they’ve         been       rescued

Was     talking      fine       just           a        few           minutes       ago

Sudden        medical     droid

When     both         Anakin         and           Ahsoka           should            know           how         to          do           first          aid

   Will          they          be          alright?

      Not               at                that                pace               they             won’t

And     with        that         acting 

 “The         pressure       suits       provide          some     protection”

   Some?            They              were       completely         fine           up           to            this        point

  “ but           they         require           a     medical       frigate,”

  Why....

 Did they bother...?

Bringing you?

   “I         will     stabilize      them        sir,”

  How?

             Pics                      or                         it                       didn’t                 happen

            “Your                     men                      are                      safe                    now,”

                Dude                        he’s                   sleeping

“were      there       any       survivors,”

IDK, Mister      I′m gonna.   sit-around       while-     people-      Die!

       Probably          would’ve                 killed               them                 himself

 This        was         his     favorite        unit

 Hahaha

*Fake         Guilt*

 After        he       caused           and           let           all           of          it       happen

‘Hunters’

    You          let           it     happen

    And          them

But      mostly         you

    Authority        -claimer

“ I’m           sorry,”

   Not        her         fault

   That.                This         Dude       Is                 An          Asshole

  So          Heading        to           the       big          battle

  Not.             A             word

*Plo’s      voice  

   *No             Plo*

Behind both of them??

Telling this story, why??

To a teenager??

Also       see        he’s fine

“ an ion cannon,”

Standing in front of it     surprisingly didn’t help

“An ion canon,”

 Some thing neither Plo                                                 nor                                                    the Jedi Academy apparently covered

“ neutralizing all power to our ships”

                  ‘Wow, if you knew all about it then why didn’t you make some.                           defenses to prevent from knocking you out’

                     ‘Shh, I’m sacrificing my men!’

                      “ Defenseless,”

                         ‘ yeah we obviously shouldn’t                                     alert the council            right now,’

“ massive vessel approaching,”

Run!

“ shut down the power systems,”

Okay,      Boomer

It’s not like we could contact the council

    While running!

“The droid”

R2-D2

Nearly         gets       everyone       killed

“Sorry       Little     guy,”

Don’t       get         down         or         anything

“ That’s           one            big          cruiser            crusher,”

     Yes            and          this              idiot             went           right            into            it!

*Intense       noises *

   Dude, they’re not going to see them

Yeah       it’s             big

“there’s still no signal from the pod- hunter,”

  That’s - repetitive

  Did you think it         would be 

   Like it’d           suddenly                come back online??

     This stupid quest for            someone else                  would end?

“Reactivate your scanners,”

   Turn it back off and       on           again

    “ We will find who is responsible,”

     Who could be no one

     Or left the system

“ hey what’s         with the lights,”

    “Power’s gone out,”

 Five minutes in         and already complaining

        Also shouldn’t you guys     be asleep

      After the cold vacuum of       space?!

 What did the robot         put you on??

“ Maybe the         ship has returned,”

   Now He’s          panting??

     Like dude,            didn’t even fight!

      We didn’t even            hear or see him get hurt                   at all

       (Only                squeezed!)

           What                 The-

Faker!

*Getting         Caught*.                 “You          are          too       weak,”

Suddenly           and       only       now

 Would           make           more             sense             for            one           of           the         soldier-

              For                      Him-

The             Injur-

Also         doctor,               Maybe                  help              him   To              The           Location,           Summon                   Some               One               Or         Bring          him              to                 Bed

“ Let             me           go           see       what       is     wrong,”

Close

  Uncomfortable                  close                  up                on           face

     Two           soldier            guys        Jump       Ing            Up             -            But            Like           -

 The...         Roles    should               Be                 Reversed

   You.      Should          Be        Him

    You.               Received                More          Damage...

  Anyway!

*Mischief          Music*

  Still             Looking                at         the              ship

While          their             Ship                Hurdles             (Dangerously)          Close               To             a            Star      “We’re            Picking            up            a                    faint               signal         from          a         droid,”

Seriously,        That            was            Five         minutes            ago

 That                  Long?

 Catches                 a                signal?

 Also,           yeah,          so         what?

“One             of             ours,             they’re             right             behind        us,”

 So?

“Move.                        Us                   Into             Attack         Position,”

 Dude,

  1 to 10

   Real              Quickly

  Like he doesn’t even know     anyone’s on there

The ship he’s about to shoot   resembles          A       Wreck

      And              Could         Very         Well               Be                  One

    With         Only         a        droid          On           It

      Like                 Dude            is          Just        Down           To          Blow              Stuff             Up !

     They’re         Coming             Back

      “Are            All           Systems...”

    AHHHHH!

  I paused      At the

  Exactly...

      Wrong

       Time

Five Nights       at Freddy’s         Bullshit

  Anyway,                     After        That        Bull-     terror-        Fuel

 Yeah       Shit’s       fuck     ed

“Is there       A Pro       Blem -s      -ir?”

  “You       for-”

  Seriously,

   That       Dude         Had         One       Use,        Not         Even         Why?

  Power       Back        On

  Which       You    should’ve        done      from       the   beginning!

You’re    smaller         And     faster  

 RUN!

 “Can               I          Be          of      Assistance?”

 NIGHTMARE              FUEL!

*Who-        ever         Tho     ught       This         Thing          Would          Be            Com         Fort            ing?!            !

    That             Is            My         Programming         Sir

    Ah!

“General           I         Don’t        Want       Any       Wit     ness        es,”

 How?

Your   ship      Is   so   big   And     Difficult       To    Maneuver

How?!

 Any     scout      ship   could     out     maneuver!

“En    -er       -gize,”

Still       It         Only       Points         One        Dire       -ction        And        Moves          Like             A           Barrel             Ing            Ox!

   “Program           the          Navi        computer,”

  You- “You             We turned        Off!”                    Forgot                    Him

                        Appreciated but                                Still too                                   Much                                       Sass

    Aww, nice

   He was        gentle

    “ ~~~         Droid,”

   I’m going           to assume       “You nearly               Fucked               Every          Thing             Up,”             Is           What               That            Means

       “ Target             range            almost              locked,               sir,”

         SWIRVE

         They’re                   Not               Gonna                Make                     It               If              They              Don’t            Move             Slightly                To                The              Left!

    “Program             a      Hyper-drive,”                   What?!!

     “Any where!”

       ???

     “Enemy          ship          target            ed          Gen             er              al,”

   Going         to            the       Prometheus       School            of       running         away          from           things

      (You           Can           Literally             See              The            Ed              ges)...

      Master...

       This              Was             Your              Plan

  Good job     *Turns)

  We’re        Clear

  Plo       Koon         Not      Sitting      Down

   “Errr”

  Possessive

    Like        How        Does             He             Know??

    Now         the       republic         will        learn         of        our        ion       cannon

             ???

            Then don’t-

      Like        a scout-

                     I just                              Don’t                         Think                         They                          Cared

                      Dooku                           Quiet

                      ‘Sidious                                Is                            going                                 To                              Beat                             Our                              Ass

                     “Your                           Failure                           is                           most                      unfortunate,”

   Correction;         *Yours

       “ I will              have              to            discuss               this               with              my                master,”

     “Rawr!”

     Get Back             To            Work’

        There’s                 That           Abuse                 Of              in superiors,              I was                    Looking              For

     ‘Roger,          Roger’

  *Grievous            Head       Pressed           To        That           Board,”

     Ship             Brig            ade

      Impress            Ive

        Dock            ed          Sur            Prised

      “Thanks               for               getting             us              out            of          there            in            one           piece,”

      ‘It’s           More          Than           Master           Koon             Would             ‘ve           done!”

        Even                if              you           have              no         choice          since         you’re          just              a        compilation             of          orders !

      Too             Much        Personality           Also         Didn’t         Happen

“General Plo said someone would come for us,” nobody said in the most enabling way and seemed to imply enablers

   Also, again, child soldier

Skywalker it’s time to give our report to the council

    “Right-”

    That            Just       Doesn’t-           Hit            Right

      Too          Much           Person-          Ality

  “C’mon      Ahsoka,”

  “You       Want        Me      There,”

  He needs you   there

    The       Council           Pret       -ty            Much          Ordered         Him            To            Take          Care                  Of             You           (If we’re          follow-ing           non-stupid              logic?)

     “ I figure           because            of                before,”

      He HAS TOO

      “Ahsoka,”

       ‘I was ordered to            by a bunch of Deranged sociopaths             who think child soldiers             was a good idea,”

        “You did              A              Great job,”

         [Sigh]

        Line work,            Wasn’t so            Good, near              the end

     “ but if I’m getting in trouble              for this,              You           share            the       blame         too,”

        I             feel           like          there        was          a        tortured         attempt            to       connect            it          back          to       Dooku          and     grievous        but         that         only      works   because        they’re       adults         capable          of        Malician,”

  “ Right       besides          you       Sky Guy,”

                           Alright

                        First off; 

                   Misleading title

                   Nothing really                  escalates

             (Nothing really rises                Except for               the Introductory                sec                            Which                    will                   make                  you                    feel                       like                  you’re                    in                high tides

               Before                    Red                     Please                       For                    the                    Love                       of                      You,                      Skip                        to                          the                         Red)

             As we            don’t really           have a scale

       Enablers do things

       It’s not really a scale of an            intensity

       Nothing basic yet

     The plot I feel was on the     weaker side

     Finding a weapon from     out of nowhere

     ‘ oh wait we know everything it does,’

      Didn’t really come to a conclusion

    But assuming they might follow it   up

    As for now I feel that    they really could’ve gone for a       Fight ending

  Really hyping   up this weapon

  In Master Koon’s       Return

 Only for     us     to see nothing

  In      terms of    an equal battle

  But, hey, maybe that comes in to play later

         The one thing I can say really improved

   Or was just better/ Good to see

                  Was the better writing                          Of the                      Child                           Characters

             Although

          There were     a few       minor           Slip          Ups         Here        And       There         Especially         Near          The             End

         Where there was a line

          “ You did a great                                         job!”

          That sounded...

         Well it sounded like something from one of those cheap         TV shows

        Or commercials

     * hopefully not too harsh

I don’t    hold    Any    grud      ges

        It was just an awfully recorded line

        Any way next is; Shadows of Maleviolence

[techniciansquad]

ELECTRICIAN NEAR ME- What is an Electrician?

An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, transmission lines, stationary machines, and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also specialize in wiring ships, airplanes, and other mobile platforms, as well as data and cable lines.

When we refer to, “electricians,” we’re talking about tradespeople that install and repair wiring found in buildings and the various electrical systems found within them, including HVAC, security, lighting and computer network systems.

Today’s electricians can be divided into four main categories:

Residential Electricians – These electricians work in home dwellings that can range from single-family houses to large apartment complexes.

Commercial Electricians – Work sites can include office buildings, retail outlets, schools, hospitals, and industrial facilities that do not involve high-voltage. These electricians install and repair electrical systems found in existing commercial buildings, new construction, and renovation projects.

Industrial Electricians – These electricians perform maintenance and installation of electrical components and machinery found in industrial settings. This may include working with high-voltage electricity at industrial manufacturing locations.

Low Voltage Electricians – As their name implies, these electricians are involved with low-voltage systems that primarily include voice, data, and video (VDV) networks and systems. Inside the industry you may hear these professionals referred to as VDV electricians or Voice-Data-Video electricians. Their work typically focuses on phone lines and fiber optic cable repair and installation in any setting where these materials are used.

You will find that some states combine some of these classifications. For example, some states may combine residential and low voltage into one category. Others may combine commercial and industrial electricians into one category.

In addition to classifying electricians by role, they can be further subdivided into three additional categories based on experience and training:

Apprentice – These electricians-in-training work under the supervision of an experienced professional for a number of years before they reach the journeyman level

Journeyman – This status is awarded once an electrician completes their apprenticeship and is judged by a state-approved authority as being competent in their trade

Master – Master electricians are defined as those with years of experience as journeymen who have demonstrated high-level competence through a state-approved exam

As you might have guessed, each state’s electrician licensing regulatory agency defines the parameters and scope of duties for each of these levels.

A Historical Perspective on Electricians

Even though man didn’t master electricity until the 1880s – the time that saw the first central power stations – we’ve certainly understood its brute force since prehistoric times. In fact, many of the most important gods of mythology were those with the power to wield electricity in the form of lightning. While there may have been some close calls along the road to discovering how to make electricity work for humankind, it wasn’t until around 1600 that significant steps towards understanding electromagnetism were made. It was then that the English astronomer William Gilbert made the first recorded in-depth study of static electricity. At that time he found the best way of creating static electricity was by rubbing a cloth against amber, introducing the word “electro” to the English language, which is Greek for amber.

Finally, during a thunderstorm in 1752, Benjamin Franklin did his key-on-the-kite experiment that we all learned about in grade school, and with several other important figures of the day, major inroads were made towards mastering electricity. By 1875, the first electricians installed the first municipal street lighting system in Los Angeles, followed by Paris three years later. Even then those electricians still had somewhat of a divine nature.

Also of interest to note, up until about 1884 there was vigorous competition between the widespread adoption of alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). Had it not been for the invention of the first transformer that year perhaps all of our houses today would be powered by direct current?

Fast-forward to the present and you find that most people take electricity for granted. However that doesn’t diminish the importance of electrician’s one iota.

ABOUT TECHNICIAN SQUAD

TECHNICIAN SQUAD - A best group in providing home services. - Someone who is good at everything. Literally EVERYTHING. Twenty year ago, my father start working as a plumber. Today, we are not just providing you the plumbing services but also we provide you Home services, Appliances repairs, Utility services, Lifestyle services, Beauty services, Medical services, Repair & Maintenance, and local service experts, local bill payments, and a local marketplace for shopping, right to your home or where you want us to. With a large service provider base, on-time services, flexible pricing, and service guarantee, TECHNICIAN SQUAD ensures timely service, best price, and best service. We provide option to pay by COD, from your E-wallets, or by online payments like Internet banking, Credit cards or Debit cards You can also do local shopping on the TECHNICIAN SQUAD app. We have a wide variety of cakes, flowers, home-made pickles and squashes, clothing, and leather accessories from your favorite vendors in your city Our services include,

Home Maintenance: Electrician, Plumber, Handyman, Carpenter, Painter, AC Mechanic, Gardener, Pest Control Cleaning Services: House Cleaning, Laundry, Ironing, Dry cleaning, Car wash, Car Detailing, Carpet wash, Sofa wash, Curtain wash Home Appliance Repairs: Computer, Laptop, Tablets, Mobile Phones, Air Conditioner, Refrigerator, Television, Microwave Oven, Gas Stove, Chimney, Washing Machine, Water cooler, CCTV, and other electronic appliances Health and Beauty Services: Beautician, Beauty Salon, Hair Care, Medical Services, Parental care, Physiotherapy, Home Nursing, Lab testing Lifestyle Services: Cake delivery, Surprise gifts, Flower delivery, Pickup and delivery, Tuitions, Packers and Movers, Event Management, Decorations, Photo Shoots Business Services: Accounting Services, Background Verification, Private Investigation, Mobile App Development, Website Development, Tax Services, Document Collection We constantly update our services, and expand our service network, so that we can provide you with more and best services Currently our services are available at the following locations, India: Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Rohtak We are coming soon to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, and other major cities in India and other locations across the globe. Our mobile app may request you for access to the following, Phone and network information: TECHNICIAN SQUAD works with network data, and it also uses the mobile network for calling our customer care or service providers directly from the app, if in case you want to do that Read or write text messages: just in case the app needs to read a PIN sent by us Access to storage and media files: used only while adding a picture to your profile and some cache to make the app faster Location: Our services are location based, so switching on your location makes it easier for you and us However, please be assured that we cannot access any of your personal information or media in your phone. All the above accesses are only for the purpose of logical functioning of our services. We make sure not to share any of your personal information with any outsider. Your privacy is as important to us as ours! Uncomplicated life! Customer Care Number: +91 9911498949, +91 9911898949 Email: help@techniciansquad.com

[stretchjournalemerson]

Flaunt the Font

By Isabel Lieser

It is impossible to go out into the world and not be impressionable. Everything you see, whether it be a street sign or a storefront, has some charged meaning that was made to make you feel something. Sometimes this charged meaning is hidden in the font, also known as typeface, that these messages use. Why do you feel fancy when a name tag is written in cursive? Why do you feel that a piece of writing is feminine when it is written with frills and spirals embedded into it? Why do you feel a personal almost nostalgic connection when something is written to seem like it is handwritten? You may not even know these things are happening, but behind all of these pieces of text, is someone who is trained to make you feel something, trying to get you to place personal attachment onto obscure lines and curves. Through the lens of psychology, marketing, and art, this paper will explore why these fonts exist, and why they evoke meaning to each and every one of us.

To best understand the complexity of these fonts, we must first understand their classifications and origins. The information that follows regarding classification and history is provided by Cameron Chapman of UI Designs. Typeface began in the 1400s with what was called “blackletter”. This form of writing was similar to what we now know as calligraphy. From this single documented way of writing, thousands upon thousands of new fonts were born. Today as we understand it, the main five types of fonts are serif, sans serif, script, monospaced, and display. (Cameron) Containing thousands of fonts within each category, these five basic fonts provide a guideline to better classify them. The first grouping of fonts to materialize from this early blackletter is known as serif.

Serif became popular sometime between the late 15th century and the 18th century and is made up of many subgenres, including old style, transitional, modern, slab serif, and glyphic. The literal translation of Serif means “a slight projection finishing off stroke of a letter in certain typefaces.” (Cameron) This is evident in every subgenre of the Serif family such as Courier which is a Slab Serif, as well as Bodoni, which is a Neoclassical Serif. Or even Times New Roman, a transitional serif, in which the majority of this paper is being written. Serif is most often used for the body of a piece of writing, but is also used as the header, i.e. Logos and Headlines. Although this is the way that Serif fonts are mostly used, it is all situational, certain brands or writers may prefer a different font which is completely acceptable. There is no rule when it comes to these things, although based on size and readability, there are general guidelines to follow. While all these types of serifs have different qualities, what binds them together is this detail at the tip of each letter. (Cameron) While this was the first font, it quickly gave way to another similar font. Sans Serif.

Sans Serif became popular in the early 1800s, and is quite simply “without serif”, with sans meaning without in french. This is clearly seen through the evenly distributed width throughout each letter. The subcategories of Sans Serif are Grotesque, Neo-Grotesque, Humanistic, and Geometric. The early Sans Serif types, (Grotesque, and Neo-Grotesque) were named as such “due to their rejection of the more “elegant” serif design elements.” (Chapman) An example of a Grotesque font is Gothic A1, the more popular Neo- Grotesque is famous for the widespread use of Helvetica Neue. The majority of Sans Serif’s motivation is to be more eligible than the stylistic and complicated Serif. In hopes to be as easy to read as possible, Humanistic fonts were created to mimic something that was handwritten. One example of a Humanistic font includes Gill Sans. Which, while not looking very handwritten at all, does give off more of a personal, quirky vibe. Geometric typeface, also in an attempt to be as eligible as can be, made a motion to be true to the geometry of shapes, having o’s be perfect circles, and curves following this same logic. A popular example of Geometric typeface is Avenir.

Script and Display fonts are less clearly defined in where they originated, and when they were created, individually and as genres. But generally, Script is known for its fluidity and versatility, as it can be used for casual and formal endeavors. A casual, handwritten-esque example being Pacifico, a more formal example being Pinyon Script. Display fonts cover a wide array of fonts that all are quite different. Their similarities are in their purpose, as they are commonly used for headlines and titles. An example of a popular display font is Big Shoulders Display. While all these fonts differ in their common practices, they all have the same purpose, to further sell whatever statement they are. Whether that be a menu item written in Script to further persuade customers to buy a lobster at the ever risky “market price”. Or a children's vitamin supplement written in a handwritten font to make a nervous parent feel like this sugar pill will help their baby's development. Depending on the circumstance the choice of font that is used in any and every piece of writing is there for a reason, and without even knowing it, you are reacting to it. To better understand this, we need to first understand how the human brain works.

The human brain is made up of many systems that work together to make your body and mind function. Systems that make you balance, stay away from danger, and fill you with an evolutionary desire to procreate. While every aspect of the brain, in one way or another, plays a part in everything you do, it is understood by Steven Stosny, as well as other psychologists alike, that the main center for “analysis, sensitivity to the perspectives of others, evidence-based judgment, decision-making, and regulation of impulses, emotions, and behavior” (Stonsy) is the prefrontal cortex located towards the front of your brain in the frontal lobe. The prefrontal cortex is therefore in charge of making choices such as, how we feel about certain things, what we find important and meaningful, and what we dislike.

Once we have found our own preferences of what we do and do not like, it is human nature to then assign value. People assign value for many reasons, but mainly to “feel more vital, engaged, interested, appreciative - in short, more alive; life means more at the instant we create value, just as it means less when we’re not creating value.” (Stonsy) Basically, humans strive to create meaning, because if they don’t there is no point in living. Obviously there are things in this world that hold more value than others. The emotional connection you have to holding your baby for the first time is stronger than the first time you see Cambria Serif. But the important thing is, you will assign both your newborn child and a 2004 Dutch Typeface some form of value. Your assigned value to Cambria Serif may be that you're fine with it, it is a basic font, you used to write papers in it in college, and that you can't tell the difference between Cambria and Times New Roman, and would rather be spending your time holding your child than thinking about this font any longer. But just by that dismissive answer, you have already shown that you have assigned a tremendous amount of value to something you don't even think about. By calling it a “basic” font, you are declaring what you consider the average design of a font. For someone else an “average font” maybe Helvetica Neue, therefore saying that sans serif is the baseline for what is considered average. Someone else may consider Caveat a basic font declaring lunacy as their baseline. By saying that you used to write papers in it in college, you are relating it to an academic context, showing that you see this font as something used for formal, scholarly work.

Humans are programmed to find meaning in everything, and the smarter among us know how to capitalize off of this. Understanding and then evidently taking advantage of the humane necessity to create value in every single thing is an important aspect in the world of marketing. How products and services are presented to possible consumers plays a big part in how a product is received. No matter what the product is for, the advertising of it, how it is marketed will make or break an item's shelf life. To better understand how fonts play a part in marketing, let’s first understand how marketing and emotional persuasion go hand in hand.

As mentioned earlier, humans are desperate to project emotion onto otherwise objective and emotionless things. Let’s apply this concept to Logos. There are many things that play into a successful logo, the shapes used, the colors used, and of course the font. Think of a popular logo that is universally known, for example, the McDonald’s Logo. The Golden arches, that when gazed upon along the highway after a long road trip with your family, in a way seem like the Promise Land. Pulling off and getting a heavenly big mac is all you need to get through the next five hours of this suffocating road trip with your mother and father who only seem to want to talk about what your plans for the future are and what Billy Crystal movie was the best. Sure this version of McDonald’s may be romanticized, but compared to that of Taco Bell and Burger King, people tend to focus on a more positive, almost nostalgic version of McDonald’s. The logo itself tells a story that you apply to the product, as said by the author Shanelle Mullin, every aspect of a logo “must be combined with all of the other elements to create a cohesive emotional story.” (Mullin) We attach meaning and emotions to fonts all in an attempt to better assess what value we attribute to different things. This cohesive story that Mullin talks about is molded by the marketing team of any said product and regularly changes to stay up to date with the current buyer's climate. A good example of this is Pampers Diaper Brand.

Without looking at any official statement from the Pampers team just looking at the evolution of their Logo makes their thought process quite clear. The Pampers Brand was founded in 1956 as a subsidiary of the Proctor and Gamble Corporation. Hoping to revolutionize the diaper industry they joined the game and in 1961 introduced their official slogan with a sleek Red and Black “Instead of a diaper… Pampers.” Slogan. (Pampers US) “Instead of a” In a thin playful cursive, “DIAPER” in all caps, a handwritten font that was still playful, followed by “Pampers” In a thick serif losing all playfulness of the preceding text. It was professional, responsible, and made clear that Pampers was not here to mess around.  It looked at the diaper business as a utilitarian need. All babies need diapers, buy the best: Pampers.. In 1985 they toned down the red intensity and switched it out for a nice blue, with a white outline. This was a rounder serif that mimics that of Copse, or Coustard. As mentioned earlier, while Red is known to represent boldness and excitement, Blue represents trust and dependability. Marketing their diapers as nice, good for your baby, reliant. This began their shift to the more emotional side of buying diapers, subliminally focussing on what's actually important, your baby.

In 2001 they rebranded again. Needing to compete with a fast-growing market that was focusing more and more on the wellbeing of a child, they shifted towards a light turquoise handwritten font with a yellow sunrise/heart drawing above. They mixed the previous dependable blue, with a green that represents Health and Growth, just what someone would want for their baby. The yellow heart promotes optimism and warmth, while also looking a little like a sunrise. Everyone loves a good sunrise, everyone loves Pampers. (Rogoza) The biggest shift of this was going from a bubbly serif to a handwritten font. This change made it personal. Removing all corporate identity and replacing it with a comforting personal font, Pampers solidified the cohesive emotional story of a life that is best for your baby, all obtainable with Pampers. This is just one example of what brands are doing every day. The world is constantly changing, how we as a society perceive things is constantly changing, so the market needs to change too.

Although everyone has their own value system that eventually gets applied to the world of typeface, there has been one universal truth in the typeface world. Everyone. Hates. Comic Sans. Officially known as Comic Sans MS the MS standing for MicroSoft. Comic Sans was created in 1994 by Vincent Connare, a typographic engineer. While “clicking his way through an unreleased trial copy of Microsoft Bob, a software package designed to be particularly user-friendly.” (Garfield, 136) Connare was confused as to why this helpful website tool was speaking in the cold professional voice of Times New Roman. In a hope to make this program more welcoming to computer newbies, he created Comic Sans MS. What is confusing about the universal hatred of this font was that Comic Sans MS, wasn't new, not in practice. It was merely a take on the font Comic Book. Which was used primarily in, you guessed it, comic books. The actual inspiration for Comic Sans MS was a copy of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. (Garfield) After Connare finished writing up the font of Comic Sans MS, he found out that the program Microsoft Bob’s programming had already been written up and was suited for lettering the size of Times New Roman, and since Comic Sans was bigger, the change was not made. “Microsoft Bob duly appeared in its formal state and was not a success. No one officially blamed the unsuitable typeface.” (Garfield) But as later projects came along, Comic Sans MS was publicly used as part of the Microsoft Brand. There is no real reason for people to hate Comic Sans. The common reasoning is that it's ugly, but frankly by that understanding, so is Special Elite, and Great Vibes. The truth is that Comic Sans just like any other font evokes emotion. Whether it is positive or negative, it is doing its job by just making you think about it.

Fonts are a confusing and sometimes seemingly pointless aspect of the larger picture of a product or paper. People read essays for the points made within the paper, unless it's this one, in which you actually came for the fonts. People buy Pampers diapers to help alleviate their babies. People go to Mcdonalds to raise their cholesterol just to spite their doctors. But no matter what your main intention, you can’t help but let fonts persuade your decision even in the slightest bit. You buy Pampers in particular because they make you feel like a better, smarter parent. You order a Big Mac Supreme because your stupid doctor with their stupid Ph.D. from a stupid ivy league college written in stupid cursive on their stupid wall shouldn’t be telling you how to live your own life. It is impossible to go out into the world and not be impressionable. But as we have learned, there is no point to life if you aren’t impressionable, all meaning in this world comes from the meaning that we make, and the value we assign. If you choose to value Comic Sans as the stupidest, ugliest, worst font to ever exist, go ahead. That’s all up to you.

Works Cited

Chapman, Cameron. “Understanding the Nuances of Typeface Classification.” Toptal Design Blog,

Toptal, 11 Oct. 2018, www.toptal.com/designers/typography/typeface-classification.

“Diapers, Baby Care, and Parenting Information at Pampers.com.” PampersUS, Pampers, www.pampers.com/en-us.

Garfield, Simon. Just My Type: a Book about Fonts. Gotham Books, 2012.

Koch, Beth E. “Human Emotion Response to Typographic Design.” Academia.edu - Share

Research, www.academia.edu/12890551/Human_emotion_response_to_typographic_design.

Mullin, Shanelle, et al. “The Advanced Guide to Emotional Persuasion.” CXL, 10 Dec. 2019,

cxl.com/blog/emotional-persuasion-guide/.

Osterer, Heidrun, and Philipp Stamm. Adrian Frutiger - Schriften : The Complete Works, edited

by Stiftung Schrift und Typographie Staff Schweizerische, Walter de Gruyter GmbH,

2014. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/emerson/detail.action?docID=1480475.

Rogoza, Roman. “Pampers Logo: From Red to Blue.” Logaster Blog, 30 Mar. 2020, www.logaster.com/blog/pampers-logo/.

Stosny, Steven. “The Power to Create Value and Meaning.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 15 Oct. 2014, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anger-in-the-age-entitlement/201410/the-power-create-value-and-meaning.

[technologyinfosec]

Arjun Kapoor, Kriti Sanon go back in time in Panipat

Like other period films that suffered the same fate, the Arjun Kapoor-Kriti Sanon starrer Panipat has come under fire even before its release. A descendant of Peshwa Bajirao who objected to a certain dialogue of Kriti's, served notices to the film's producers and its director Ashutosh Gowariker. Also, the trailer of Panipat has drawn inevitable comparisons to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani, with some saying that the film looked too much like its predecessor. However there's no denying that anticipation surrounding the release of Panipat is high, with the trailer having had over 41 million views so far and the film's stars going on a promotional blitz, undaunted by comparisons or controversies. In a recent phone conversation with City Times, both Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon admitted that they didn't know much about the historical events upon which Panipat is based, before they took on the roles of Sadashiv Rao Bhau (leader of the Maratha army at the third battle of Panipat) and Parvatibai (Sadashiv's wife) respectively, but said they came away from the cinematic experience a whole lot richer. We chatted with the stars about their approach to their characters, what they wanted the audience to take away from Panipat, releasing this weekend in the UAE, and what role women played in this seemingly male-dominated battlefield. The third battle of Panipat dates back to the 18th century and was fought between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali's Afghan army. How much did you know about this period in history before you took on your roles in Panipat? Arjun: Like any child who is inquisitive about history, we are all aware of the fact that there were three battles of Panipat; I was aware of the location of the third one and the fact that it was a huge battle that led to an unprecedented loss of life but not many other details. I think Ashutosh himself is an encylopedia and his narration wasn't just for the film - it was for me to understand the time, emotions, politics, personalities, the upheavals, the tasks, every single thing. It was a big learning. I understood that this battle is not just an anecdote in a history book but something that changed the course of our country's history forever. Kriti: I'm someone who used to give the history exam and then forget what I've done! So, my history wasn't that great - I knew about Parvatibai but not all the details. I also feel that when you search online there's not many details you can possibly get, as much as you can when you're watching a film like this. I feel the visual medium makes you feel a lot more for every character. We've always known the beginning and the end of this battle, but the journey, the obstacles they went through and what betrayals those involved have had - that is something that many of us don't know. What can you tell us about your characters? Arjun: I play Sadashiv Rao Bhau, who was the leader of the Maratha army at that point in time. He was loved by his armed forces, but he was also very stern and stubborn. He was someone who heard everyone out but did what he wanted to do. He was also very vulnerable - with his family, with his friends, and always cared about his people. He had a layer that you could not see when he was in front of the army. He was someone who was very sure about what he was doing. He never doubted that the intent had to be right, and then the result would come. That goes for any soldier or any warrior I guess. He  always believed he's meant for only one thing - being a warrior. But at the same time there's a side to him that makes you see that he could have been a fantastic leader of the Maratha empire also. Because his decision making was very stark, very solid and came from a very organic and logical place. Kriti: I'm very proud of how the Marathas had fought this war, and I also love how Ashutosh has given so much strength to Parvatibai's character, because I feel like he's someone who cannot see his female characters weak. He always makes them very strong figures, and very independent. I feel like his characters are very contemporary. Parvatibai is shown to be a vaidya (physician). At that time I don't know how many women actually worked. Ashutosh said, 'Parvatibai is a vaidya, she's someone who knows sword-fighting and she's someone who can defend her people if the need arises.' There's a point in the film where she steps up and helps the Marathas in a very important way, during the journey of the war. At the same time she is someone who is very vocal about her love for Sadashiv, which is not something we expect from women of that time. We always expect them to be coy and keep their feelings inside. And when required she's a very strong personality who can emotionally and physically be like a pillar. When I heard all of that I just felt like this is a character I'd had no idea about, and this is a character that I'd love to show the world. The battle scenes are very gripping. What was it like filming those - did you have to learn any particular skills, like sword fighting? Arjun: I learned horse riding, sword fighting, javelin throwing, all three skill sets were imperative. But horse riding was the biggest challenge because I had to wake up at 6am to go to the racecourse; it was too much but felt worth it eventually when I was on set and could shoot an entire sequence with the horse. I connected with the animal, so for me it was a new experience. To shoot the battle itself was very difficult because we shot it in May (why we did that, don't ask!) Also, the armour weighed about 18 kilos, and we needed four people to put it on! A lot of the action movements were changed when the armour came on because of mobility getting restricted. The war takes up quite a bit of the film, so shooting a lot of it every single day you feel a bit confused, as to where are you going with this (you're not the director, so you don't know the end product, you just know the shots that are taken). So it's sometimes mentally draining because you're not sure how it's going to pan out with the VFX and the way it will look. You're going with the conviction of one man, and eventually when you see it you realise it looks special. The film also stars veteran actresses like Padmini Kolhapure and Zeenat Aman. What role do the women play in this seemingly male-dominated tale of battle? Arjun: They figure very heavily, you have to see the film to realise this. Unfortunately I would not say it was on an equal footing because women could not take certain decisions that men could take on their behalf. But the decision to go with the men for the battle was the decision the women took. That's something that I don't think has ever been seen on the big screen - where you have women coming along for the journey in a war. It creates a very interesting dynamic because the men took their families along and therefore in moments of vulnerability they had somebody to hold on to. So there are very strong female characters and they all have their moments in the film; each character has a say in the way the plot unfolds. What was it like working with each other for the first time? Kriti: I had bumped into Arjun a couple of times at parties; we also interacted through messages. Many times we were on the verge of signing a film together but something used to happen - my dates were an issue or his dates were an issue and we ended up doing those films with other people, or the film got shelved. So when Panipat happened I remember he messaged me that 'oh, finally, we're working together, after so long'. He's a very chilled out co-star who has a great sense of humour. Through this film I've spent a lot of time with him and we've spoken about things other than work. I realise that he is a great friend to have. I was very glad that this (the film) happened. Kriti goes from Punjabi to Marathi for Panipat Kriti says, "A lot of research has been done to put my traditional look in Panipat together, whether it's the saris, the colours, or the fabrics. We tied the nauvari sari in the most authentic way possible. Also, the jewellery, the khopa (hairstyle), the nath (nose ring) - all of this makes the Marathi peshwai look. Before that I couldn't really imagine myself looking like a Marathi, because I'm a Punjabi from Delhi! When I saw myself for the first time in that look, it just made me feel like I was from that time. Even with jewellery, I feel like Neeta Lulla has paid so much attention to the the details! She gave me a lot of hair pins made of gold which had birds on them, there were birds on earrings, there were some peacock tails - that was her touch, that was what she felt about my character (Parvatibai). The way people would dress was very elaborate, and grand and when you get to wear all that and look at yourself, you love it. That's definitely one of the perks of being in a period film! Sanjay Dutt is amazing, says Arjun Kapoor On what it was like starring alongside Sanjay Dutt (he plays Ahmad Shah Abdali) for the first time, Arjun says, "He's an amazing person to interact with because he completely disarms you with his normalcy. He has the demeanor of a man who's lived a life that deserves a biopic. He's the epitome of a 'manchild' because he's a man who has been through hell and back but when you sit with him you realise he's just like a child and when he's talking about stuff you forget he's Sanjay Dutt. I really enjoyed working with him, he's somebody who never let it become a big deal that he's such a big star and personality - it never came to the forefront with the way we conducted ourselves on camera." Read the full article

[mathiasjanke-blog]

Stop procrastinating and start making use of technology, that often is free or very low cost, to save you time and money and make your business more efficient and productive.

There are many apps and online tools designed for personal and small business use that will improve productivity through time savings, improved customer experience, better team collaboration and project communications.  Adopting these tools is something that people often procrastinate on because it seems easier in the moment to keep doing things the way you’ve always done them rather than pausing and taking the time to explore and learn a new method, app or software tool.

To get you started on your next stage of digital adoption we explain below our favourite seven digital tools that we rely on to connect with our team, customers and suppliers wherever they are and to improve processes in our business.

1. Safe Password Management

How many logins and passwords do you have?  How much time do you spend each week resetting passwords because you can’t recall them?  If you write your passwords down in a little book or a piece of paper, stop doing that now!  You are making it too easy for this vital information to be lost or stolen.

There are legal firms now offering secure storage of documents with all of your important account, insurance, passport, logons, password details, so that should something happen to you, your accounts can be accessed and all of this other “life admin” information is easy to retrieve.  But you don’t need to pay a solicitor to do this for you and these details change periodically so you have to be able to easily update them.

There are app-based tools, with heavy security encryption in them, where you can store all of these details.  Our favourite is 1Password.  When I started using 1Password on my phone and laptop (where I now have over 200 logins and other valuable records), I calculated I’m saving at least 30 minutes per week in password retrieval and resetting and my passwords are much stronger.

2. File Storage and Back-ups

We use Dropbox as our primary data storage platform and to ensure we use it efficiently we’ve implemented an organised, logical folder structure, some folders are shared with the team, some are just for the directors.  We synchronise most folders to our computers and some folders, e.g. those holding large video files, we don’t synchronise so as not to cause all that data to be downloading to every team member’s computers unnecessarily.

With all of these files in Dropbox, it’s very easy to share files with clients and saves large email attachments. Because Dropbox is on the cloud and we’re synchronising to our computers we can always access documents offline and online and negating the need for daily back-ups.

We operate separate single user accounts, typically with 1 Terabyte of data for each member of the team (costs around $120 (AUD) per annum per person) to store all of our documents and other data files.

Of course, it is advisable to separately backup very sensitive and valuable data that your business relies on and you might choose to back this up to an external hard drive that you keep with you or store away from your office in a safe location.

 3. Team Communication and Reducing Emails

Are you getting flooded with emails and is managing emails is taking up too much of your time? Are you sending emails back and forth between team members?  There is a better way to manage intra-team communications about all sorts of topics and specific projects.  We use the app Slack.

Slack acts as a messaging system and knowledge base.  We have created many “channels” in our team Slack account so we can always find prior conversations related to particular topics and projects, as opposed to trawling through emails or trying to remember if you texted someone about something.

It is our primary means of intra-team communications and allows for direct messaging, team discussions, links and attachments, notifications, all accessible on a computer as well as our phones.  Having adopted Slack we are saving hundreds of emails per week…thank goodness!

 4. Document Collaboration

In our ongoing effort to reduce emails and wasted data storage, wherever possible we use Google docs, sheets and slides for creating documents where more than one person is involved in their development and review.

We have taught many of our clients how to use Google docs and once they’ve understood how dynamic it is, allowing more than one person to be working in the document at the same time and how it reduces emails with attachments, they are a convert!

We use Google docs when working on digital marketing strategies with clients, so the client can watch the strategy development, ask questions via comments in the document, be requested to action items, all in real time.

Once again a smart folder structure, setting up folders in Google Drive, is a good approach to ensure you are using this tool well and easily able to find the document assets you have created in the past. Another great Google document tool not many people know about is Google forms.  Create a form to collect info from your customers, take orders etc in no time at all.  You’ll feel like a web developer, but it’s very easy.

5. Graphic Design for Everyone

To quickly create quality graphics and social media posts check out Canva.  This is our weapon of choice for our team to create smart images for Facebook cover images, social media posts, images for email marketing, even print jobs.

The templates provided make it very easy and the design possibilities for an amateur are endless.  You can upload your own branding including logos and your own photos, or you can use free elements and graphics available on Canva or purchase stock graphics at $1.00 each.

They also offer the Canva photo editor, which is super easy to use and great for re-sizing images.

6. Automating Tasks and Integrating Data

We reduce risk in our business by avoiding manual data entry wherever possible and by passing data automatically between applications, we are saving time as well as avoiding unnecessary human error.  Ultimately you are improving your customer experience by reducing process steps for them as well.

The tool we use to automate tasks and data entry is Zapier.  You create “zaps” between applications to automate what would otherwise be a manual process or a step for your customer to do.  A good example is when someone signs up for one of our online training programs, when they complete the online form on our website, this automatically triggers a series of registrations in Zoom, our webinar platform and they will then be registered in that system and receive confirmations as if they’d registered themselves; and secondly, it adds them and the details of the course they’ve signed up for in our customer relationship management system, Insightly. If we were to do this manually we would need one full-time admin person. Can you imagine the time and cost savings Zapier offers us?

We use Zaps in all of our projects where appropriate to reduce the effort for our customers and our staff and to reduce the risk of data entry error, allowing our team to focus on the more interesting work they do.

All businesses can find tasks to automate and a simple example combining the digital tools mentioned above that we’ve helped clients to implement is when a customer completes a Google form for an order, that order information is automatically passed via a Zap to a Google sheet for internal actioning and directly into their accounts system to generate an invoice…presto!  Half the work is done

 7. Measuring Your Marketing Success with Google Analytics

We spend a great deal of time helping businesses to improve their online presence and their marketing and most business owners are very keen to do that.  Where the majority of small businesses are missing an important opportunity is in measuring the effectiveness of their marketing and using this intelligence to improve their online presence.

Google Analytics is a must-have tool and skill set in every business today if you want to invest in your marketing.   Without it and without Google Analytics being set up properly you don’t know whether your website is performing for you and you know have the insights to know what to change in your marketing. You can learn quite quickly the basis of Google Analytics and over time build your knowledge and confidence to do more advanced reporting and analysis. Visit our Google Learning Hub or contact help@tourismtribe.com for specialised support and training in Google Analytics.

There are many more smart digital tools in the marketplace and alternatives to those discussed in this article. We’ve shared with you what we rate highly and a little about how we’re using them.  Explore what will work for you and bring great efficiency, time and cost savings to your business and let us if you would like assistance with reviewing your marketing and processes and we can develop a digital plan for your business.

Tourism Tribe is an award-winning leader in business improvements in the tourism industry with a vision to help those in tourism have a sustainable business and make a profit doing what they love, no matter where they are located. Would you like a 90-minute consult to identify digital opportunities for your business?  Contact help@tourismtribe.com or call +61 7 3103 7994.

Go to the article: Seven super digital tools to save you time and money in your business

[rajucla-blog]

Understanding the basics of photography

It took me a while to wrap my head around some of the fundamental principles of how to take pictures from a DSLR (fancy acronym for most digital cameras today). Truth be told I was a little embarrassed that someone close to me had gifted me gear worth a small fortune for my engagement (a Nikon D7200, an 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, and an even nicer 35mm f/1.8G lens, all for a grand total of close to $2000), and I hadn’t even touched it for at least two years following. After feeling guilty, lazy, and downright sloth-like (and getting skeptical looks from friends and family who had put up with claims that I want to be a filmmaker for the last 10 years), I finally realized that understanding photography would be good for my goals. And so, I recently dusted off my equipment and have engaged in a self-taught crash course on photography. This article summarizes my findings thus far so that I don’t forget (and in case anyone else finds it useful). 

It was anything but easy at first, but now I’m getting the hang of it. Part of it was being able to boil it down to some of the key elements that I needed to understand after a lot of digging and reading a famous photography book, Understanding Exposure. 

The most fundamental element of photography worth understanding the exposure triangle, made up of three key elements - shutter speed (usually measured in seconds), aperture (measured in f-stop values), and ISO (an international standard for photo sensitivity, typically between a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 25600). Most modern advanced cameras will have settings that allow you to control all three, and varying these three will give you the levers you need to create stunning photographs based on the subject matter and the look you’re trying to achieve. 

There’s a bunch of good articles on Google that will describe these three elements and their relationship with each other (a few decent ones here, here and here). But truth be told I didn’t really understand what the hell it was all about until I read the seminal Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson, which finally illuminated what aperture was (probably the most important of the three elements, in my opinion), and crystalized the relationship between the three elements and how you can manipulate them, as follows:

The aperture is a “hole” located inside the lens. Also known as the diaphragm , this hole is formed by a series of six overlapping metal blades. Depending on your camera, you either make aperture adjustments on the lens, or you push buttons or turn dials on your camera. As you do this, the size of the hole in the lens either decreases or increases . This, in turn, allows more light or less light to pass through the lens and onto the digital media (or film). For all lenses , the smallest aperture number — either 1.4 , 2 , 2.8 , or 4 , depending on the lens — reflects the widest opening and will always admit the greatest amount of light . Whenever you set a lens at its smallest numbered aperture (or f - stop) , you are shooting “wide open.” When you shift from a small aperture number to a larger one, you are reducing the size of the opening and “ stopping the lens down.” The largest aperture numbers are usually 16 , 22, or 32 (or 8 or 11 with a fixed - lens digital camera). Why would you want to be able to change the size of the lens opening? Well, for years, the common school of thought has been that since light levels vary from bright to dark, you will want to control the flow of light reaching the sensor. And, of course, the way to do this is simply by making the hole (the aperture) smaller or larger. This logic suggests that when you’re shooting on a sunny day on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean, you should stop the lens down, making the hole very small. Back in the days of film, doing so would ensure that the brightness of the sand didn’t “burn a hole” in your film, and while you would never burn a hole in your digital sensor today , stopping down prevents too much light from getting into the scene. This same logic also implies that when you’re in a dimly lit fourteenth - century cathedral, you should set the aperture wide open so that as much light as possible can pass through the lens and onto the digital media / film.

Peterson, Bryan. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition (p. 42). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

What is an f-stop value?

For the technical minded out there, an f-stop is a fraction that indicates the diameter of the aperture. The f stands for the focal length of the lens, the slash (/) means divided by ,and the number represents the stop in use. For example , if you were shooting with a 50mm lens set at an aperture of f / 1.4 , the diameter of the actual lens opening would be 35.7mm. Here, 50 (lens focal length) divided by 1.4 (stop) equals 35.7 (diameter of lens opening). Whew! It makes my head spin just thinking about all that. Thank goodness this has very little, if anything, to do with achieving a correct exposure .

Peterson, Bryan. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition (p. 19). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

Basically, messing around with the f-stop value lets you change aperture, which lets you mess with the depth of vision in a picture - which is also known as the “bokeh” effect, which is the mysterious special effect tht gives you a blurry background to make a picture feel more “cinematic” (a lot of film scenes are shot with low f-stop values which provide shallow depth of field, and its a feature the new iPhones digitally recreate in portrait mode). 

Having understood this, here’s where it gets really good, and what I believe is perhaps the single most important theory in taking good pictures:

Most picture - taking situations have at least six possible combinations of f - stops and shutters speeds that will all result in a correct exposure. Yet normally, just one of these combinations of f - stops and shutter speeds is the creatively correct exposure. As we’ve already learned, every correct exposure is nothing more than the quantitative value of an aperture and shutter speed working together within the confines of a predetermined ISO. But a creatively correct exposure always relies on the one f - stop or the one shutter speed that will produce the desired exposure. Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re at the beach taking pictures of the powerful surf crashing against the rocks. You’re using an ISO of 100 and an aperture of f / 4. After adjusting your shutter speed , you get a correct exposure (indicated in the viewfinder ) of 1 / 500 sec. This is just one of your exposure options! There are other combinations of apertures (f - stops) and shutter speeds you can use and still record a correct exposure. If you cut the lens opening in half with an aperture of f / 5.6 ( f / 4 to f / 5.6 ), you’ll need to increase the shutter speed a full stop ( to 1 / 250 sec.) to record a correct exposure . If you use an aperture of f / 8 , again cutting the lens opening in half , you’ll need to increase the shutter speed again by a full stop ( to 1 / 125 sec . ) . Continuing in this manner would also produce the following pairings of apertures and shutter speeds to achieve a correct exposure : f / 11 at 1 / 60 sec . , f / 16 at 1 / 30 sec . , and finally f / 22 at 1 / 15 sec . That’s six possible correct exposures for the scene — six possible combinations of aperture and shutter speed that will all result in exactly the same exposure . And I want to stress that the word same here means the same in terms of quantitative value only ! Clearly , a picture of crashing surf taken using f / 4 at 1 / 500 sec . would capture action - stopping detail of the surf as it hits the rocks ; a correct exposure of that surf using f / 22 at 1 / 15 sec . , on the other hand , would capture less action - stopping detail and show the surf as a far more fluid and wispy , somewhat angelic element . This creative approach toward exposure will reap countless rewards if you get in the habit of looking at a scene and determining what combination of aperture and shutter speed will render the most dynamic and creative exposure for that subject. The choice in exposure is always yours, so why not make it the most creative exposure possible? As we just saw, you can make many different exposures of a given scene , but only one or maybe two are the creative exposures. You can break down the three components of exposure — ISO , shutter speed , and aperture — to get seven different types of exposures , and since , of these components, it’s either the aperture or the shutter speed that’s most often behind the success of a creative exposure, I’ll start there : Small apertures ( f / 16 , f / 22 , and f / 32 ) are the creative force behind what I call storytelling exposures (this is exposure option 1) — images that show great depth of field (see this page for a thorough discussion of depth of field) . Large apertures ( f / 2.8 , f / 4 , and f / 5.6 ) are the creative force behind what I call singular - theme or isolation exposures (option 2) — images that show shallow depth of field . The middle - of - the - road apertures ( f / 8 and f / 11 ) are what I call “ Who cares ? ” exposures ( option 3 ) — those in which depth of field is of no concern . Aperture is also the element in close - up or macro photography that showcases specular highlights , those out - of - focus circular or hexagonal shapes ( option 4 ) . Fast shutter speeds ( 1 / 250 sec . , 1 / 500 sec . , and 1 / 1000 sec . ) are the creative force behind exposures that freeze action ( option 5 ), while slow shutter speeds ( 1 / 60 sec . , 1 / 30 sec . , and 1 / 15 sec . ) are the creative force behind panning ( option 6 ) . The superslow shutter speeds ( 1 / 4 sec . , 1 / 2 sec . , and 1 second ) are the creative force behind exposures that imply motion ( option 7 ) . These factors make up a total of seven creative exposure tools to call upon when reaching for your goal of achieving the one most creative exposure. 

Peterson, Bryan. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition (p. 38). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

Understanding that might take a bit of time, but it’s worth it since if you know the 7 modes, you’ll know what settings to manipulate in theory, and then it’s just practice from there. The other thing that was difficult to come by was the same image that were shown taken at different settings to understand some of the differences, visually in action. In the book there are several, which made it easier to understand, and there are also a couple of websites (examples here and here) that have some photos as well.  

The other interesting thing that I’m going to try to understand next is color balance (see blurb below on cool vs warm colors) and white balance, which is apparently a very important setting. 

Not so, with the temperature of light. Color temperature is measured by what is called the Kelvin scale, which is nothing more than an extension of the Celsius scale. On any given day, the color temperature of the light that falls on our world is measured in degrees Kelvin ( K ), from roughly 2,000 K to 11,000 K. A color temperature of between 7,000 and 11,000 K is considered “ cool ” (bluer shades would fall in this range ) , a color temperature of between 2,000 and 4,000 K is considered “ warm ” ( reds would fall in this range ), and a color temperature of between 4,000 and 7,000 K is considered “ daylight ” (or the combination of red , green , and blue ). Cool light is found on cloudy , rainy , foggy , or snowy days or in areas of open shade on sunny days ( the north side of your house , for example ). Warm light is found on sunny days, beginning a bit before dawn and lasting for about two hours tops and then beginning again about two hours before sunset and lasting for another twenty or thirty minutes after the sun has set. During my last six years of using film , I made 90 percent of my images with Kodak’s E100VS , a highly saturated color slide film . One of the problems I had with digital photography in the beginning was its inability to produce in the raw file these same highly saturated colors — until I stumbled upon the Cloudy white balance setting, that is .

Peterson, Bryan. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition (p. 26). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

Last but not least, the rule of thirds has been pretty handy in terms of understanding where to frame the subject in an image to make it more visually impactful. 

[rhysoca]

Exercise: Point of sale display

What, Why, When, How, Where and Who?

What are you being asked to do?

I’m being asked to create a highly visible point of sale display for a local green grocer, consisting of two A1 landscape panels - one relating to fruit and one to vegetables. The display will be located above the fruit and vegetables. (what and where)

The panels can use photography or illustrations or a combination of the two and can use a section of a piece of fruit or vegetable, a piece of fruit or vegetable or a group of different pieces of fruit or vegetables (how)

The panels must be visible from a distance to shoppers and passers by outside the shop and so must be visible through the shop window. The objective is to attract their attention and encourage them to enter the shop to buy groceries. (where)

The shop is located in a precinct that includes a baker, a newsagent, an independent shoe shop and is close to a well-respected primary school (where). This means that those passing buy might be (who):

the general public (who are likely to be open to messages about healthy eating and the dangers of smoking, drinking, excessive sugar, obesity and lack of fitness)

school children on their way to school (who might have pocket money to spend on snacks, who will have been subjected to educational messages about health from the teachers at their well-respected secondary school)

parents taking their children to school (who will have the same concerns about health and the general public, but felt more acutely because they have small children and will have been party to some of the same educational messages about healthy eating presented to their children)

teachers and school staff (The same concerns about health as the other groups)

people who’ve been to the baker’s (and are looking for a sandwich filling or a healthy accompaniment to baked goods)

people visiting the newsagent for a paper who might be looking for a snack.

How will the client judge a successful outcome to the brief?

The client wants the signs to attract more shoppers and boost trade (why), so if the signs help to  achieve this, they will be deemed successful.

What are the keywords?

fruit, vegetables, point of sale, display, visible, attract, boost, trade, passers-by, school, baker, newsagent, independent shoe shop

Additional questions

who currently uses your shop?

are there any audiences who currently use the shop less than others, that you would particularly like to attract?

does the signage need to include anything other than the images and the message? (ie a logo?)

what kinds of fruit and vegetables do you sell?

how much do you charge for your fruit and vegetables?

Initial thoughts

My first thought is that the imagery and text on the two panels shouldn’t be subtle or nuanced - especially in terms of its imagery - and that the text should be large and easily understandable, because the words need to read easily from a distance away.  This limits the number of words and, by extension, the nature of the message, since detailed and complex messages need more words. A greater number of words would need to be smaller to fit on the panels and so wouldn’t be visible from outside the shop. So, the brief requires simple, bold lettering and a simple bold message that can be read and understood from afar. 

In terms of the nature of the message, there are some pointers towards the kinds of messages that might appeal to be found in the list of potential users:

For example, if there are school children and their parents around, one might target a message to this particular audience by using fun, perhaps cartoonish, visuals that might appeal to children and their families. This might be fruit and vegetables presented as friendly characters, conveying a sense of fun and vibrancy. A sample message might be spoken by a piece of broccoli wearing sunglasses, saying the words, “cool kids eat their greens!” or a surfing banana shouting, “go bananas - eat fruit!”

Affluent younger parents, the kind that might take their children to a well-regarded school, and perhaps those who use an independent shoe shop, might be interested in fruit and vegetables as ingredients for smoothies.

Another approach might be to focus in on a  particular piece of fruit or veg and say something specific about the benefits inherent in that particular type of food; perhaps an updated version of ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’

Example from image research:

The immediate problem I can see with this approach is that there’s too much information here to fit on an A1 panel which will be seen from a distance.

Another potential approach might be to isolate a particular kind of food that’s popular with most people - perhaps curry - and then create a message relating to the use of fruit and vegetables to improve that kind of dish:

Curry Night - Why not make your own?

However, this kind of message - or any targeted specifically at a particular audience group - runs the risk of not being attractive to other groups of potential customers. For example, a 65 year old retiree who has visited the newsagent to buy a newspaper and a tin of tobacco, is unlikely to be compelled into the green grocer’s because of a sign depicting a group of cartoon fruit and vegetables. Similarly, if an advert is entirely given over to one kind of fruit or vegetable, then this is likely to alienate anyone who doesn’t like to eat that particular item.

It seems to me that, in terms of the kind of message,  a common factor should be found that represents the concerns of all age groups and is relevant to as wide a variety of backgrounds and interests as possible. By logical extension, this means that that the signage should present a general view of lots of different fruits (on one panel) and vegetables (on the other).

Example from image research:

In the C21st century, the benefits of healthy eating and authenticity in food production are drummed into everyone through government campaigns, NHS messaging, cookery programmes, celebrity lifestyle blogs and social media platforms such as instagram. The younger generations are increasingly concerned with health and vitality, and this is also likely to appeal to those who are older and are likely to be more at risk of diseases associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.

Examples from visual research:

Examples of simple health focused messages might be:

Fruit + Veg x Exercise = Health

Eat a rainbow everyday!

Taste living colour!

Nature’s Multi-Vitamins

Stay Healthy - Eat this! (downward pointing arrow)

Treat your body!

In order to convey the health giving vitality of fresh fruit and vegetables, appropriate imagery needs to be used: imagery that can convey bright colours, accurate detail, light and shade to people who aren’t in the shop. For this reason, the obvious form to use is photography, since photographs are more likely to convey these details well than illustrations. The message needs to be clear and legible , so, in my opinion, artistic images or graphic renderings of fruit and vegetables  aren’t as appropriate for this task as photographs..

During my research using Pinterest, I’ve found lots of images of delicious looking, expertly photographed collections of fruit and veg, many of these from providers of licensable images. Stock photographs that can be licensed from providers such as Shutterstock and Adobe may well be the best kinds of image to use for his task, in which - in terms of the pictorial elements - quality and clarity of image is of paramount importance.

One of the questions suggested by the brief for the designer to consider is “Does this look edible? Would I like to eat it?” 

I’ve carried out some further research using Pinterest and added some illustrations of fruit to my collection of photographs. Regardless of the level of skill employed in creating the illustrations, the photographs appear more vibrant, more immediate and more inviting.

I would rather eat this:

...than this...

...or this...

I’ve mocked up some ideas based on this thinking - but also playing around with some ideas using some stock photos i’ve found - and my example messages:

Fruit + Veg x Exercise = Health

Eat a rainbow everyday!

Taste living colour!

Nature’s Multi-Vitamins

Stay Healthy - Eat this! (downward pointing arrow)

Treat your body!

Although I initially thought that the posters should show multiple fruits and vegetables to have as broad an appeal as possible, when I started playing around with some of the stock imagery that I found, I found that a different, minimalist aesthetic might have a high impact, visually. So I came up with a few different ideas based on this thinking.

I did also want to try out my initial idea which is to show multiple fruits and vegetables, in a kind of cornucopia arrangement, with a clear centralised message. This does require some kind of white inlay because without this, the text wouldn’t be visible  enough.

I tried altering the font style to see what effect this has on legibility. 

Contrary to my expectation, the relatively refined serif is actually clearer than the block font in the lower examples.

While I don’t mind the ‘cornucopia’ mockups, they don’ immediately grab the attention, partly because the fruit and vegetables are used as a background - and some fade into the background . They also look similar to displays that I’ve seen in supermarkets and greengrocers and so lack originality.

I’m more and more drawn to the clean minimalist aesthetic of the signs that show one or two fruits or vegetables in close up and link this with some kind of humorous tagline:

Finished designs

pdf file

pdf file