#also included quarter in image for size reference

[roseatedramon]

Size comparison between Aster and the eevee cause when I said she was smaller I really meant she is smaller

[novelemporiumindia]

Hidden Gems of Numismatic World Beyond the British India Coins

British India coins were the currency used in India during the period of British colonial rule from 1858 to 1947. They were issued in various denominations, including the anna, which was a quarter of a rupee, and the rupee, which was the main currency unit. These coins reflected the evolving political and economic landscape of the time. The anna was further divided into pice or pies, while the rupee was subdivided into annas and pice. The designs of these coins varied over the years, showcasing symbols and figures associated with British rule. British India coins are now collectible items and serve as a reminder of India's colonial past.

Kings / Queens of British India: During British India (1858-1947), the British monarchs, including Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George-V, King Edward VIII, and King George VI, held ultimate authority as the Kings or Queens of the United Kingdom and Emperors or Empresses of India. The day-to-day administration was carried out by the appointed Governor-General or Viceroy.

Coinage of British India: Victoria's Portrait Series: Queen Victoria's portrait series coins are highly sought after by collectors. These coins bear a young effigy of Queen Victoria and were minted in both copper and silver denominations. They represent the early days of British India's numismatic journey. King George V's Coins: King George V's reign marked a significant transition in British India's coinage. His coins displayed intricate designs, often featuring the iconic image of a lion. Some coins were minted in honor of notable events, like the Delhi Durbar, making them even more collectible. Commemorative Coins: Throughout its history, British India also issued commemorative coins, celebrating important events and personalities. These coins are treasured for their artistic designs and historical significance. Edward VII Coins: After Queen Victoria's death, her son Edward VII became the monarch. Coins featuring his portrait were issued during his reign. Rupee Coins: The Rupee was the primary unit of currency during British India. Rupee coins were made of various metals, including silver and copper. They featured the portrait of the reigning British monarch at that time, such as Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, or King George VI. Anna Coins: The Anna was a subunit of the Rupee. It was equivalent to 1/16th of a Rupee. Anna coins were typically made of copper and also featured the portrait of the British monarch. Quarter Anna Coins: Quarter Anna coins were worth 1/4th of an Anna. They were commonly made of copper and had varying designs. Pice Coins: The Pice was an even smaller subunit of the Rupee, equivalent to 1/64th of a Rupee. Pice coins were usually made of copper and had different designs based on the period of issuance. Half Rupee Coins: Half Rupee coins were worth 50 Pice or 8 Annas. They were larger in size and made of silver. Coins of East India Company: The East India Company, a significant figure in the creation of British control in India, is where our adventure starts. It is common to refer to the East India Company's own coins as "Company Coins." These antique coins, which were produced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, have elaborate designs and inscriptions that combine British and Indian influences.

Rare Discoveries and Priceless Variants: Collectors are passionate about a number of rare and expensive discoveries found among British Indian coins. One such illustration is the 1835 William IV One and Two Mohurs, a gold coin that is thought to be exceptionally rare due to its infrequent minting. It is highly prized by numismatists because of its historical importance and rarity. The 1947 "Independence" coin is yet another interesting coin. For Indians, the one-rupee coin has great sentimental meaning. This coin commemorates a crucial period in history—the change from British colonial control to independent India. Collectors are emotionally moved by its meaning, which also serves as a moving reminder of the nation's fight for freedom.

[scarletbellatrix]

@quiiscnt sent: meta: living quarters

LIVING QUARTERS

Erza currently lives in Fairy Hills, assigned as a head girl by the late matron, Hilda. The cost of the rent is 100,000 jewels, but since she wants multiple rooms for her closet, weaponry armors, and other stuff, she's renting for 500,000 jewels. Later on, it reaches a million, as her collection grows. The cost has never been an issue. She takes s-class jobs to be able to earn a lot to sustain her rent. Her room is huge, and it eventually expands as her amor and weapon collection grows.

It's divided into the following:

Armor Storage - This is where she stores all the armor that she couldn't place in her spatial storage. There are limited edition armors and customized armors that she had bought from Heart Kreuz on display.

Weapon Storage - This is where she stores all the weapons that she couldn't place in her spatial storage. She also has a collection of decorative weapons that could be considered rare. There are all sorts of weapons — swords, guns, bows, knives, everything. Since the items here are dangerous, she added some security measures to be able to get them. There are enchantments needed to be able to access her arsenal.

Library and Study - This is where she stores all her books (including the er*tic novels that she hid well). She does all paperworks here. Sometimes, she daydreams and attempts to write her own novels, but she never gets far. She doesn't have the same motivation as Lucy when it comes to writing.

Walk-in Closet and Vanity - This is where she stores all her clothes and shoes. It is surrounded by mirrors, and there's a huge full-body one in the center, letting her see how she looks. There are drawers for her shoes and her clothes, with different sections for casual, day out, night out, pajamas, formal, etc. Everything is color-coded, but neutrals like white, grey and black dominate her palette. There is also a small part dedicated for jewelries and accessories.

Bedroom and Bathroom - This is where she relaxes, meditates and sleeps. She has an unnecessarily huge King-sized bed that she likes to roll over in. It's a mid-century modern design. There's a huge window floor-to-ceiling windows that allows the natural light in. (Image reference)

Pantry - The newest addition. There is a mini fridge for her desserts and refreshments. There are different sections for the chocolates, candies, and biscuits. There is a wine cabinet that she rarely ever touches because she's not a drinker. She also has a collection of limited edition chocolates that she preserves but never plans to eat.

She is very organized. One can consider her a clean freak. She never wants any of her things and furniture to be moved. If you take something from her collection, you must return it to its previous position. She rarely ever invites anyone inside, because she hates when her place becomes messy or things get moved around.

based on this prompt

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning!  I hope you slept well and feel rested?  Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day. 

Welcome to Too Much Information Tuesday.

Russia’s second most popular flavour of crisps is crab.

About a third of British adults still sleep with a cuddly toy.

In 2006, a robot taste-taster confirmed humans taste like bacon.

In 1992, there was a bank robbery every 45 minutes in Los Angeles.

Studies have found that being a ‘bad boy’ is no longer perceived as ‘cool’.

The nickname for Crystal Palace and QPR footballer Fitz Hall was ‘One Size’.

Three-quarters of the murders in Chicago are caused by arguments gone too far.

There is a plan to heat 1600 Dutch homes with the heat emanating from sewers.

“Science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”  (Isaac Asimov)

MTV's show ‘16 And Pregnant’ caused a 4.3% reduction in teen births in the US.

There is a library in San Diego, California where you can borrow taxidermied animals.

J. R. R. Tolkien started writing ‘The Hobbit’ on a student’s exam paper he was marking.

The area of the Pacific where great white sharks hang out is known as the White Shark Cafe.

A city council candidate in Washington lost his election by one vote.  He didn’t vote for himself.

There are 93 penises on The Bayeux Tapestry.  Five of those belong to men and the other 88 to horses.

People think about you more than you think they do but they also like you more than you think they do.

New research shows that placebos are effective in reducing feelings of guilt, but they work less well on shame.

Some corrupt Mexican police are now using card terminals to make collecting bribes at traffic stops more convenient.

The Pogues were originally called ‘Pogue Mahone’, which was from the Gaelic phrase ‘póg mo thóin’ meaning ‘kiss my arse’.

Scientists in Singapore have developed a tiny flexible battery, powered by the salt in human tears, designed for smart contact lenses.

The British royal family has an estimated net worth of $88 billion.  Saudi Arabia's royal family has an estimated net worth of $1.4 trillion.

In 1991, Swedish firm locum sent out Christmas cards to customers but substituted the ‘o’ in their name with a heart symbol.  (Think about it.)

Earlier this month in Halifax, Canada, a 220-tonne house built in 1826 was moved over 9 metres from its site using a steel frame and 700 bars of soap.

In 1921, Wisconsin became the first state in the USA to officially give women equal rights with men, including the right ‘to wear trousers and chew tobacco’.

Apple have been granted a new patent for a smart ring that can be worn on a user's "wrist, arm, leg, ankle, neck, head, and/or other body parts."

The Great Male Renunciation is the term historians use to refer to the period at the end of the 18th century when men stopped wearing bright colours.

In the latest Ridley Scott film, Napoleon is played by Joaquin Phoenix who is a vegan.  Because of that, all the Napoleon’s hats shown in the film are plant-based, made from tree bark.

The record for the most Big Macs consumed in a lifetime is held by Donald A. Gorske, who ate his 27,000th Big Mac in 2019.  He has been documenting his Big Mac consumption since 1972.

There’s a village in Montenegro that holds both the World Championships Of Laziness (lying on a mattress for the longest time) and a slow bicycle race where the winner is the last to finish.

In the 1980s, the transit agency in the San Francisco Bay Area awarded a contract to repair vandalised seats to one company.  That company then started paying people to vandalise more seats.

40% of people shown a photoshopped image of themselves riding in a Viking ship as a child claimed to remember the (fictional) incident.  This replicates a similar experiment from 2002 involving a fictional balloon ride.

In a 1960 Danish football game, the ref was about to blow the whistle when his teeth fell out.  While looking for them, the trailing team equalised.  Once he found his teeth, he cancelled the goal and blew for full time.

When Lawrence Sperry crashed his plane in 1916, he was found naked by duck hunters alongside an also nude Mrs. Polk.  They claimed that the force of the crash had stripped them of their clothes.  (Really, mate?)

The UK government recently changed the law to ban company names containing computer code, after Michael Tandy of Hatfield registered a company called “; DROP TABLE “COMPANIES”; — LTD,” which could theoretically erase the Companies House database.

Okay, that’s enough information for one day.  Have a tremendous and tumultuous Tuesday!  I love you all.

[ibblescribbles-archive]

Hi! You work a lot with prints and that stuff so i wanted to ask you if there are important things i have to take into consideration when printing? I recently test printed a 2000x2000 piece (i think that's around 6 inches) and at 300 dpi but for some reason the colors look off? It also looks like when a picture has a lot of noise, like the colors don't look very smooth, maybe it was because of the printer but i don't really know

Hi! I’m not an expert when it comes to print making by any means but I’ll try to let you know what I know!! gonna put it under the cut since it got quite long!

I’m not sure about the noise, if your piece was at 300dpi and looks smooth digitally then it should translate over to print just fine! That’s only if your drawing was //drawn// at 300 dpi and not converted later. If that’s the case, then it might be an issue with your printer! If you’re using a local place like Staples or OfficeDepot, or using a bad quality printer at home then you’re likely to get a low quality print that will have some grain to it! It is possible to make nice prints with a printer at home, but you have to consider the paper and print settings. Settings for printing a black and white document on printer paper are gonna be completely different from printing a full color image on glossy photo paper!! dfkljfsd that might be a little obvious, but I wanted to mention it jic since I don’t know where you printed your test! Also, if your canvas was originally around 6x6 inches and you’re trying to print it bigger, you’ll run into the same loss of quality. I always reccomend drawing bigger than you plan to print (or at least at the same size for bigger cavnases) since sizing down is better than sizing up! As for the colors, what you’re probably noticing is the difference between RGB and CMYK! RGB refers to the colors we see on monitors and screens, while CMYK refers to actual print colors. When you try to print RGB colors, especially bright neon-y ones (or sometimes specific hues like purple), they often come out looking more desaturated or in a different tone than the original art piece as the printer ink cant make the exact colors. CMYK basically just refers to the ink cartridges in your printer! A lot of artists use programs like Photoshop (and maybe Clip Studio?? idk) to convert their pieces to CMYK as they work in order to see how the colors will transfer over irl. Some prefer to simply work just in CMYK as it makes it easier and there are no nasty surprises after printing. Personally? I kinda just ignore it sdksdfjkl, the printer I work with for my prints converts my artwork from RGB to CMYK better than when I try to do it myself with a program, and I’m satisfied with that. Printers tend to convert things to CMYK automaticallys, and personally I find my art comes out brighter than if I convert it to CMYK beforehand. So its really a matter of preference, but once you adjust to the initial shock of having your colors changed, its not a huge deal imo (my very first print ever had a neon pink background and you better believe i was so disappointed when it came out looking grey af sdfkjlldfks) I know some home printers are pretty good at replicating RGB colors. My friend had like a 5ink cartridge printer and she used it to print stickers and they turned out a lot brighter. So, that’s a possible advantage to making prints at home if you’re willing to invest in a nice quality printer. Lastly, bleed is very important. Full bleed refers to when the artwork on a print goes to the very edge. Without full bleed your art will have a border around it. Its important to make sure your art doesnt have important text or graphic elements too close to the border as they could potentially get cut off when cropping the print. Every printer will have their own specifications, but most will recommend that you work with a canvas that is slightly bigger than the size you are printing in order to account for bleed. Ex: If you want to make an 8.5″x11″ print with full bleed, you’d wanna draw on a canvas that is a quarter inch bigger all the way around (or whatever the specification that you printer requires). So you’d draw on an 8.75″x11.25″ canvas instead, making sure that important details dont touch a 1/2 inch safety border around the whole print. (The safety border includes the quarter inch that gets cut off and then another quarter inch inner border just in case.) I know all of this might sound confusing and overwhelming but its really about trial and error. Take advantage of ordering sample prints/soft copies before you order a bunch in order to ensure that your print turns out nice! Once you get the hang of it its really not that much work to format! The company I use is called CatPrint, and while they have their ups and downs, I’m familiar with working with them and their quality is usually pretty good. If you order from them, please use my referral link as it helps me out and will get you $10 off your first order!

[scotianostra]

On October 15th 1586 the trial began of Mary Queen of Scots at Fotheringhay Castle.

Settle down, this is a wee bit longer than my normal posts,  some state it started on 14th, but it concluded on the 15th, so here we are.

You might remember my post a month ago when Mary arrived at her last "prison", the place where she would ultimately spend her last days and meet her end.

If the history books are to be believed. Mary Stuart first sighted the ancient castle towers from a path called since the "days of the Domesday Book", Perryho Lane, on hearing the name Perryho,  she is said to have made a melancholy little play on the name exclaiming aloud, ‘Perio! I perish.’ and indeed she did.

Mary was always a threat to the English Queen Elizabeth’s rule. Seen by Catholics as the true catholic ruler of England, there was many a plot to bump off Elizabeth and put Mary on the throne.

For almost 20 years Mary was dragged around England and locked up in its various castles. Having said that she was allowed certain freedoms including rides in the countryside and hunting trips, Fotheringhay was different.

Despite the size of the castle  Mary found herself incarcerated in comparatively mean apartments: this brought back all her phobia of a secret killing, the sort of barbarous death that stained the history of English medieval castles. The most notorious being one Edward II son of Longshanks, "Hammer of the Scots" who some say was murdered at Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire by being held down and having a red-hot poker inserted inside his anus, and his screams could be heard miles away. although most historians do question whether it is true or not, the fact is he was murdered.

When Mary's servants reported that many of the state rooms had been left empty, Mary drew the correct conclusion that she was about to be tried, and the rooms were awaiting the arrival of dignitaries from London. Just after two weeks later on, October 1st she was informed by her keeper, Sir Amias Paulet that her misdeeds were now to be punished by the interrogation of certain lords, and advised her in her own interests to beg pardon and confess her faults.

Mary's reply was that Paulet  was behaving like a grownup with a small child, asking her to own up to what she had done. Then she went on more seriously: ‘As a sinner, I am truly conscious of having often offended my Creator, and I beg Him to forgive me, but as Queen and Sovereign, I am aware of no fault or offence for which I have to render account to anyone here below. …’ And she concluded loftily: ‘As therefore I could not offend, I do not wish for pardon; I do not seek, nor would I accept it from anyone living.’ For those who know anything about the Stewart monarchs this relates again to the Divine Right to rule, and they would only answer to God.

The charges against Mary were to do with a conspiracy to kill Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, her fellow conspirators included among others, John Ballard, a Jesuit priest, Weshman Thomas Morgan, a close confident of Mary's, and Anthony Babington, a Catholic noble who is said was the ring leader, the plot has gone down in history bearing his name The Babington Plot.

Whilst locked away, Mary advised the plotters, both in terms of strategy and how to ensure she’d win the English throne. And naturally as the ‘rightful’ ruler of England Mary would be the one to sign off on the plot starting. he plot took shape during the summer in 1586.

Babington informed Mary that he represented a group who planned to kill Elizabeth and install Mary as the new Queen of England. Babington asked for her support of their plan. Mary responded, asking for more details.

Unfortunately for Mary, the plot had been infiltrated and Elizabeth I’s own spy master, Sir Francis Walsingham had been using the letters to entrap Mary and get her to call for Elizabeth’s murder. 

Mary agreed with the plans, but did not authorized the assassination. That did not matter however, because Walsingham's spies intercepted the letter. The letter was deciphered and copied but this time a postscript was added. According to the new letter, Mary authorized the assassination. Walsingham had his proof, and so with this false evidence Mary was indicted.

Before the trial even started Ballard, the Catholic priest, was arrested and tortured. It is said that by the time he arrived at his execution site, John Ballards limbs were barely in their sockets, as a result of the torture he’d undergone, of course during his torture he gave up the names of others involved, the main man being Babington, in September the men were executed one after the other and forced to watch as they, in turn were hung drawn and quartered, the same age old punishment for treason. 

After the gruesome bloodbath attention turned to Mary.

Now I'm not saying Elizabeth was faultless in all this but she wasn't keen on trying her Mary, not just because they were cousins, it would set a precedent trying and ultimately executing someone still seen as most of Europe as the rightful Queen of Scotland. Her hand was being forced by her advisors like Walsingham, indeed they had their eye on disposing of the troublesome Mary for some time forcing through an act of Parliament the year before called The Act of Association: this provided means whereby a commission of twenty-four peers and privy councillors might be appointed to investigate any conspiracy or attempt to hurt Elizabeth ‘by any person or with the privity of any person that shall or may pretend to the title to the Crown of this realm’. 

The punishments for anyone found guilty under this act were to be two-fold: firstly they were to be deprived of their title to the English crown forever, and secondly they could be lawfully put to death under the provisions of the Act. It had been quite clear at the time that this Act had been especially framed in order get rid of our Queen, it was tailor made for her. 

The records of Mary's trial were compiled by the notes of those present, who included two persons designated as writers. It would have been nearly impossible to write by hand every word uttered in the courtroom. Some say Mary spoke very broken English due to her time spent in France., I myself find this hard to believe, yes she had been educated in France, but the Four Mary's would have made sure the young Queen could speak the Scot's tongue, at very least.

Mary's defence was set out mainly that, she wasn’t an English subject and therefore couldn’t be held as an English traitor. She’d been denied legal counsel or the right to view evidence being bought against her. Oh and the age old she was a Queen. Anointed by God. It would literally be a sin to kill her.

Therefore, how accurately were the writers able to record her statements? Whose spoken words were left undocumented? Which statements in particular? Did the two journalists favour Mary or Elizabeth, and if so, did they allow this to influence their notes of the trial? A completely accurate record of the trial is unattainable due to the faultiness of its records, some historians just filled in the blanks to suit themselves, depending on their own leanings.

When the trial concluded, Parliament gave speeches and had open discussion about Mary's sentencing. They also held audiences with Elizabeth. During the audiences held between Parliament and Elizabeth, Elizabeth gave two speeches. In her first speech, she declared that if it were not for "the safe and welfare of my whole people, I would (I protest unfeignedly) most willingly pardon her."   Elizabeth asserted that Mary was bound to the English laws but reaffirmed that the late act "was no ways prejudice to her." Rather, Elizabeth explained that the law was in place to warn her, but since Mary still acted against the Queen and the law "was in force," there was no reason not to "proceed against her according to the same.' But, if the laws almost explicitly name Mary, then why did Elizabeth feel the need to restate that they were not prejudiced against her? Now I know I deflected some of the blame away from Elizabeth earlier but It seems that this was just another way for Elizabeth to maintain her image of innocence. 

Furthermore, Elizabeth explained that because of "this last Act of Parliament" she must "order for her [Mary's] death" The Councillors' plan to somehow remove Mary as a threat had worked. Elizabeth felt her hands were tied in the matter due to the Acts of Parliament, which the Councillors had drafted with specific language aimed toward Mary. 

Eventually, Mary's sentence was issued and proclaimed in the English countryside and towns. Immediately following the proclamation, Walsingham drafted the warrant for Mary's execution. The speed at which these documents were drafted  show that Elizabeth's Councillors were adamant about having Mary executed.

In late December of 1586, Elizabeth had the papers for the execution drawn up. On February 1st, 1587, she signed Mary's death warrant. 

I wont go into the execution as I normally post all the details on the anniversary of her death, February 8th 1587, I will however add a few more lines regarding King James VI and letters between Elizabeth and him.

Around the same time Elizabeth signed the warrant, she sent a letter to James, who had earlier requested that his mother be sent into the neutral custody of a foreign prince. 

In her response, Elizabeth asked if James thought her "so mad to trust my own life in another's hand and send it out of my own?

She also refers to the "absurdity of such an offer. In this letter, Elizabeth placed the focus on James's offer rather than on the circumstances surrounding Mary at the present time, basically awaiting her fate. She did not say she was unwilling to give Mary to a neutral prince because she was either considering signing the execution warrant or had already done so. 

Elizabeth withheld from James any more of a response than was necessary. It seemed that she intentional1y focused this letter's content on James's request to divert attention from her intention to sign Mary's death warrant. 

After Mary's execution, Elizabeth wrote another letter to James. Elizabeth referred to Mary's execution as a "miserable accident which (far contrary to my meaning) hath befallen"  

Elizabeth claimed innocence in calling for Mary's execution, but what she wrote next left a sense of doubt as to her innocence in the matter. She told James that she had "now sent this kinsman of mine ... to instruct you truly of that which is too irksome for my pen to tell you.'d While one may infer that Elizabeth sent a kinsman to explain the actual happenings of Mary's execution you  have to wonder if that was truly the case. Could Elizabeth have sent this "kinsman" to explain what she would not want left documented on paper? Elizabeth would have known to not leave a self-incriminating paper trail regarding her true role in Mary's execution. Thus, she sent a "kinsman" to explain the actual circumstances relating to Mary's execution. 

The truth behind what this kinsman actually told to James will forever stay a mystery because these words were just spoken in a private audience and not documented in a letter, just like Elizabeth wanted. The final question remains: was it the work of the Councillors that called for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, or did Elizabeth I play  more active role than she wished to admit? 

I myself believe the Councillors did not need to have their arms twisted to call for Mary's execution. They perceived Mary as a threat and made it their top priority to remove her Queen Elizabeth's full part in the murky affair will always be up for debate. 

As ever I have used a lot of different sources when compiling this, if you want more on the trial check the article below out, remember though every source is different so not all that is written here will relate entirely to my post, it is however a more in depth analysis of the trial. 

https://erenow.net/biographies/maryqueenofscotsantoniafraser/27.php Pics are a depiction of the trial and part of the Babington letters held by the English National Archives, more on that here https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/spies/ciphers/mary/ma2.htm

[infolangdilokullari]

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[sleepymarmot]

The Zoom Gaze by Autumm Caines

It is critical to understand the Zoom gaze now, before it becomes so familiar that it seems immutable — just the way things are. [...]

Zoom, like most video-conferencing systems, defaults to presenting you with an image of yourself staring back at yourself (assuming you grant it access to your device’s camera). This immediately confronts you with your own visibility: That is, you are forced to see yourself being seen. In a sense, the screen becomes a mirror, invoking earlier encounters with mirrors that (according to Lacanian theory) lay the foundation for you to subjectively recognize yourself as an object for others. In a Zoom call, however, this effect is magnified, because other people are not theoretical but right there, seeing the objectified you as well. This reflected self persists, accompanying us through our interactions unless we deliberately dismiss it. You watch yourself as you speak, as you move … oops, that piece of hair is out of place. You are self-aware and self-correcting in real time. “Does my face look funny when I say “core competency”?

This foregrounded sense of our visibility can make us acutely conscious of matters of self-presentation, opening a gap between how we wish to be perceived and how we know ourselves to actually be. It can posit the idea of an “authentic” or “real” self that is showing a strategic or artificial self to others. This is one aspect of the Zoom gaze: By defaulting to and normalizing a kind of self-surveillance, the platform routinizes this kind of alienation.

But the objectification of the self doesn’t stop with the live image of you the camera captures. Being on camera turns the space you inhabit into a personal stage and everything that appears in it (including who you share space with) into props. The background you choose or the environment you are in inevitably communicates something about your identity; on Zoom these will likely be interpreted as deliberate choices. Even if you turn your camera off, your little square might become a profile picture — another choice.

At every turn, Zoom presumes that we wish to be persistent objects of perception and invites the idea that everything about our appearance can be customized and personally controlled. Its defaults create the impression that we are free to choose how we appear. We can even choose virtual backgrounds that widely expand what we might want to signal about our identity. But this technology is far from perfect. At times, virtual backgrounds in Zoom were erasing Black skin altogether. It is hard to be in control of how you’re perceived when the software renders your head invisible. But even when the tech works as expected, it can’t correct for how others see you. It can only expose you to endless interpretation. [...]

Zoom already allows hosts to control whose faces get blown up to full-size or show up in the top left corner of everyone’s grid. In May 2020 the company removed the “unmute all” setting for hosts due to privacy concerns but now has brought it back as a nuanced “unmute with consent,” which allows a host to unmute an individual participant’s microphone at any time in any of the host’s meetings once given permission. But this framing of consent is problematic to say the least. Can you refuse if the host is your boss? What if they not only have authority over you but abusive intent? An upcoming feature promises to allow hosts to unilaterally establish an “immersive scene” for all participants — essentially, a shared cartoon environment. There seems to be no mention of consent or any ability to opt out, but its example use cases include classrooms and courtrooms, spaces where power dynamics are especially in play. All of this undercuts the control of the camera, microphone, and background you might otherwise believe you have.

The Zoom gaze institutionalizes such dynamics in ways that may be newly obscure or impactful. Think about the positioning around a conference table with the management always at the head: This power dynamic could be re-enacted and reinforced in an immersive scene, aided by a host selectively muting individual microphones and spotlighting cameras to enforce adherence to the agenda. Such features may obscure who is focused on the meeting and who can conceal their drifting attention. Reports accessible to hosts after meetings include “attention tracking,” which measures whether attendees clicked away from main Zoom window for more than 30 seconds. (Hope you didn’t need to reference that email with last quarters’ numbers!) Add layers of artificial intelligence that could track eye movements and speaking times to create engagement scores, and it becomes clear how disciplinary the Zoom gaze can become.

Also, there is no way to know who is having a side chat in another program (with someone in the meeting, or even someone inside or outside the organization) or who could be recording the meeting with additional software or an external camera. Unlike with face-to-face encounters, there can be meetings within meetings within meetings. So much is unknown and so much personal control taken away, it is easy for meetings to feel uneasy and anxious. The Zoom gaze instantiates an intensified paranoia about how conversations are administered, who is paying attention, and who will control the documentation of discussions that can no longer be off the record. [...]

This plays out not only in who has permission to do what but in how the software normalizes particular postures of looking. Because we are typically looking at eyes on the screen instead of the camera, eye contact can be askew, which may send an unintentional message that we are inattentive, bored, and not engaging. Apple now offers a feature that autocorrects this physical reality of your gaze with augmented reality, imposing a norm of (simulated) eye contact. In a twisted bit of doublespeak, the language describing this setting in the interface claims it will “establish natural eye contact while on FaceTime,” even though this eye contact is not natural at all. [...]

The various permutations of settings across different video platforms are virtually innumerable. When you enter a meeting will your camera and microphone automatically be on without notice? What if you mostly just want to listen and are in your PJs? Will you be able to text-chat during the meeting? Will it be recorded? It’s impossible to know in advance, and there are no established cultural norms that push meeting hosts to communicate such nuances beforehand. Instead, the Zoom gaze currently institutionalizes uncertainty as the norm.

[jet-teeth]

Ramble time!

OK so, something that’s always bothered me with the TF universe is how weirdly the scale/mass of their altmode vs robot modes is handled.

(And sure, before this goes too far off the deep end, I’m well aware this is about silly cartoon space robot stuff that came from a toy series, but I think about this a lot!)

So, quite often, you’ve got mechs with quite a variety of alt modes, that all seem to be more close in scale when in robot mode (cars/trucks, armored vehicles, fighter jets, what-have-you.) I mean, TFP Starscream is freakin’ tiny for a jet, if you think about it! He stands about as tall as Knockout, who turns into a car...and the F-16 is a much bigger machine! (Or whatever Screamer is in that series, but the 16 looks close.)

The thing with planes, is that while they are huge, they are actually very lightweight structures. (So I personally correlate that with the actual mechs' build – aerial Tfs are big but very light, and are very nimble due to not having to slug around a lot of mass, but it also makes them much more fragile in close-quarters combat, and far more vulnerable to any kinetic weaponry.)

And on the other end of the spectrum, you have the super-dense alts, like a tank. So it would not be easy to transition between the two without undergoing a massive change in volume (looking at triple-changers like Blitzwing, as well as any TF series where they can scan any alt essentially and make it their own, VS IDW where it seems like they generally have an altmode class they’re locked into.) I know “mass shifting” is an excuse used in TF but it's something I never liked, because it feels like such a cop-out.

Anywyas, my point is that a tank TF is waaaay smaller in appearance than a jet-mode would be, but hilariously the tank fellow would be many times heavier!!

To illustrate (see image) – F-22 vs Abrams, vs a Jeep Wrangler which is a more familiar vehicle reference (at least here in the US.)

Jeep Wrangler 4-door is about 1.8t. Length: 15.5ft (4.7m)

F-22 can take off with a max load of something like 38 tonnes (probably based on fully fueled for ferrying.) Combat load is 25t. The jet is 62 ft long. (18.8m)

Abrams: Including the gun, it's about half the length at 32 ft (9.7m) (and somewhere between half to a third of the jet’s volume.)  But the bugger weighs 70 tonnes!!!

(Disclaimer - I roughly eyeballed the scales in the image there, but it’s all in the general ballpark)

(For reference - main battle tanks these days run anywhere between 50-ish to 70 tonnes tops, you might have something in a similar scale that maybe “only” weights 20-35t, like a CV90 series tank/IFV. Even so - you wouldn’t want to be run over by an armored machine.)

I just. Imagine a seeker trying to kick a tank like Warpath or someone, and instead only ends up stubbing their toe REAL BAD while the tank dude just...stands there laughing.

Seekers and other aircraft-mode TFs would actually be pretty fragile in a sense, although “space magic and fancy Cybertronian materials” I guess.

Those with aerial modes could probably compact down quite a bit for robot mode, as there is a lot of hollow space in a plane (light structure, also they don’t have to use the same kind of volume for fuel since they’re Energon-powered) and it’s entirely possible that the armored mechs really aren’t nearly as heavy as their Earth-based counterparts, because they can get an equivalent or better level of armor without having to have the same mass, since they’re made of some other fancy materials, so that might bring the average mass distribution closer right there.

Anyways, it'd mean all these characters would in fact have to have radically different sized frames between each other if the densities of their altmodes would more closely match their robot modes, and that's generally not practical for comics/animation/film, if you want to be able to frame a group of characters together.

I kinda just have to close an eye towards the whole thing, heck, haha!

[spaceexp]

Space Station Science Highlights: Week of July 6, 2020

ISS - Expedition 63 Mission patch. July 10, 2020 Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations during the week of July 6 that included research on the perception of movement in space, durable coatings for spacecraft, and the behavior of water droplets. Now in its 20th year of continuous human presence, the space station provides a platform for long-duration research in microgravity and for learning to live and work in space. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, once again launching astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil, increases the crew time available for science on the orbiting lab.

Image above: NASA astronaut Bob Behnken inside the Bigelow Expandable Aerospace Module (BEAM) during cargo activities in the inflatable space. Image Credit: NASA. Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place: Getting down moves in microgravity To control the movement and position of our bodies and evaluate distances between us and other things, humans combine what we see, feel, and hear with information about movement from the inner ear or vestibular system. The Effect of Long Duration Hypogravity on the Perception of Self-Motion (VECTION), an investigation by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), determines how microgravity may change this ability, which could significantly affect mission activities. The investigation also could help drivers, pilots, and robotic manipulators control vehicles in low-gravity environments. Researchers collect data during multiple time points during and after flight in order to examine how astronauts adapt to and recover from these effects. During the week, crew members set up hardware, performed sessions, and transferred data to investigators on the ground. Standing up to the space environment

Image above: A set of strips for the Space Test Program - H5 - Innovative Coatings Experiment (STP-H5-ICE) are visible attached to the space station’s ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station) Logistics Carriers. STP-H5-ICE exposes different paints and coatings to the space environment for approximately two years. Image Credit: NASA. Radiation and extreme temperatures in space can corrode the paint and coatings that protect spacecraft exteriors, potentially leading to damage of a spacecraft’s hull. Optical coatings provide specialized markings that enable robotic and human navigators to capture and repair spacecraft. Ground-based testing of coatings may not accurately represent the harsh environment of low-Earth orbit. The Space Test Program-H5-Innovative Coatings Experiment (STP-H5 ICE) exposes eight new and two reference coatings to the space environment for two years in order to determine stability and durability. Photographs taken once per quarter document the current state of the materials, and this week crew members took photos from the cupola and the JEM window. Better showers using less water

Image above: Comet Neowise is visible in the lower center of this image taken from the International Space Station as it orbited above the Mediterranean Sea in between Tunisia and Italy. Image Credit: NASA. Droplet Formation Studies in Microgravity (Droplet Formation Study) evaluates the size and speed of water droplets from Delta Faucet’s H2Okinetic shower head. Reduced-flow shower devices conserve water, but lower flow rates also reduce their effectiveness and can cause consumers to take longer showers, undermining the goal of using less water. Gravity’s full effects on formation of water droplet size are unknown, and research in microgravity could help improve the technology to create improved devices and conserve water and energy. During the week, crew members installed the investigation in the Microgravity Sciences Glovebox (MSG) in preparation for its future run. Other investigations on which the crew performed work: - Capillary forces, the interaction of a liquid with the solid sides of a narrow tube that acts to draw the fluid up the tube, act even in the absence of gravity. Capillary Driven Microfluidics examines capillary flow in small devices to improve understanding of how it works in microgravity. Microfluidic devices could be used to develop more portable, robust, and affordable medical diagnostic tools to protect the health of astronauts on future long-term missions. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7377 - When producing glass, metal alloys, or other materials on Earth, chemical reactions between raw materials and the container used to melt them can cause imperfections and contaminations. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) uses static electricity to cause the materials to float, eliminating the container so that behavior of the materials can be better understood. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1738 - Structure and Response of Spherical Diffusion Flames (s-Flame) studies the structure and dynamics of soot-free and sooty flames. Findings could contribute to development of engines with improved efficiency and reduced emissions on Earth. S-Flame is part of the Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) project, a series of independent studies of gaseous flames performed in the station’s Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR). https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2063 https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1651 https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=317 - The Integrated Impact of Diet on Human Immune Response, the Gut Microbiota, and Nutritional Status During Adaptation to Spaceflight (Food Physiology) investigation documents the effects of dietary improvements on immune function and the gut microbiome and the ability of those improvements to support adaptation to spaceflight. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7870

Space to Ground: Dragon's Den: 07/10/2020

Related links: Expedition 63: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition63/index.html Commercial Crew Program: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew/index.html VECTION: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7484 STP-H5 ICE: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1749 Droplet Formation Study: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7541 Microgravity Sciences Glovebox (MSG): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=341 ISS National Lab: https://www.issnationallab.org/ Spot the Station: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ Space Station Research and Technology: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/overview.html International Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html Images (mentioned), Video (NASA), Text, Credits: NASA/Jack Griffin/John Love, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 63. Best regards, Orbiter.ch Full article

[fletcheralchemy-posts]

.Second Class...

"let's plan our books"

First Artist:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.First Class…

"It will be all about portals and how we find them."

First Artist:

The first artist is called Fiona Banner, we will shortly explore how she used full stops as matter to create Art. She interpreted the full stops as more than just simple round marks, giving them life and meaning by viewing it from different perspectives and dimensions.

Starting Points

Can you open a text document on your computer (could be Word, Pages, TextEdit or InDesign)

Type in a full stop .

.

Using the font selector choose a font for the full stop.

Make a note of the name of the font beside the full stop

. Copyshop

Change the size of the full stop to 100pt or as large as you can!

Try changing the font. Each typeface has a different shape full stop.

. Copy Shop

.

Make a quick sketch of the shape of your full stop.

Now try to sketch it as a 3 dimensional object.

After you have finished drawing find out some more about the font that you have chosen.

Is it a serif or san-serf typeface? Who designed it? When and what for?

Artist Research: Fiona Banner Full Stops

Artist Book http://www.fionabanner.com/vanitypress/periodbook2019/index.htm

Inflatable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgbf8a1XaLU

Scultpure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0mt_0xPeoE

Activism https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/artist-fiona-banner-why-i-delivered-a-1-25-

tonne-boulder-sculpture-to-the-government/

Reference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-3yqy-IYnU

My first attempt:

ps: It is interesting to see how full stops can have many shapes depending of its fonts.

SECOND ARTIST:

Daniel Spoerri (born1930) is a Swiss artist and writer born in Romania. Spoerri is best known for his “snare-pictures,” a type of assemblage or object art, in which he captures a group of objects, such as the remains of meals eaten by individuals, including the plates, silverware and glasses, all of which are fixed to the table or board, which is then dis-played on a wall. He also is widely acclaimed for his book, Topographie Anécdotée* du Hasard (An Anecdoted Topography of Chance), a literary analog to his snare-pic- tures, in which he mapped all the objects located on his table at a particular moment, describing each with his personal recollections evoked by the object.

In 1961 artist Daniel Spoerri wrote an artists book called ‘An Anecdoted Topography of Chance.’ He mapped the objets lying at random on the table of his room, adding a rigorously scientific description of each.

He wrote it when he was living at the Hotel Carcassone in Paris, in room number 13 on the fifth floor. To the right of the entrance door was a table which his wife Vera had paint- ed blue. Spoerri drew on a ‘map” the overlapping outlines of all the 80 objects that were lying on the table on 17 October 1961 at exactly 3:47 p.m. Each object was assigned a number and Spoerri wrote a brief description of each object and the memories or associ- ations it evoked. The descriptions cross referenced other objects on the table which were related. The Topographie Anécdotée* du Hasard was printed as a small pamphlet of 53 pages plus a fold out map and index and was distributed as an advertisement for the exhibition.

Spoerri is also closely associated with the Fluxus art movement, a movement formed in the early 1960s, “characterized by a strongly Dadaist attitude, [whose] participants were a divergent group of individualists whose most common theme was their delight in spontaneity and humor.”

We will use Spoerri’s book as a starting point to reimagine the study applied to our studio desks. This is an exercise in object documentation, storytelling and desktop publishing.

PORTAL THE PLAN

Choose 3 items from a portal in your room (a bag, a pocket, a draw, the fridge, a cupboard, etc) and place them on the table in front of you. Draw a map or birds eye view of the objects on an A4 or A3 piece of paper. Number the objects and make a list with the numbers and names of the objects.

Fold the paper into quarters and turn it over. Start exercise 1 in quarter 1

Exercise 1. Written description . Select object 1. Study it closely. Write a detailed description of the object, You could write about what it looks like, its function, its history or its relationship to you. Ask a question about it. Write small and fill up a quarter of the page.

Exercise 2: Drawing

Select object 2. Draw a still life of the object and title the drawing - but not with the name as the object.

Exercise 3 Instruction

Select object 3. In under 140 characters write an instruction that someone could do do with this object.

Exercise 4. Photograph the portal

Select object 4. Photograph the portal where the objects came from. Can you use this image as a starting point to design a cover for the publication?

You now have a page plan for your poster/leaflets publication

DESIGN

Create a new version of your sheet of paper using a desk top publishing programme; Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator or if you prefer to work without a computer redraw or make a collage.Work with the different elements to create a visually interesting poster, folded sheet or small booklet.

Result:

"I Tried to recreate it on my sketchbook, in a way that I could keep it tidy and interesting."

[aniamajewska]

Creative Industries

19 January 2021

HISTORICAL

The term Creative Industries was introduced some 20 years ago, in the mid-1990s, to the British economy to describe some activities that were created long ago, and some only with the advent of digital technology. Many of these activities have a cultural background, and the term 'Cultural Industries' has already been used to describe the visual arts, theatre, dance, film, music and heritage sectors. The newly elected government of the Labor Party in Great Britain in 1997 decided to define and evaluate the Creative Industry and their direct impact on the British economy. Based on research and advice from a group of leading creative entrepreneurs, the government's new Department of Culture, Media and Sports published the first Creative Industries - Mapping Document 1998.

The creative industries sector is made up of 16 distinct industries:

- advertising - architecture - visual art - crafts - fashion and textiles - design - performing arts - music - photography - film and video - computer games - radio and TV - writing and publishing - heritage - software/electronic publishing - cultural education

All of the above have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and have a potential for wealth creation through the generation of intellectual property. The concept of intellectual property, that is, the value of an idea that can be protected by copyright, patents, trademarks or other legal and regulatory mechanisms to prevent it from being copied or transformed into a commercial advantage without the consent of the originator, has been and is seen as crucial to a full understanding of the creative industries.

PHOTOGRAPHER ROLES IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES:

Advertising - working in this department requires very high quality images for promotional purposes, that are also interesting and eye catching for the viewer in order to sell the product. Photographer tells stories via images and uses colours to create moods and evoke emotions with images. Photographer can create also short advertising videos. 

Wedding Photography - working as wedding photographer is very demanding job. Photographer should have very high skills in many fields, from photography techniques and post production to good communicating and thinking flexibly. Many of wedding photographers provide also video services to preserve special memories also in a moving picture. There is no mistake here. Photographer should be ready to capture the moment and tell the most beautiful story of the day. Wedding photographers collaborate with the best photography printing services to offer their clients highest quality prints and albums.

Family Photography - it is well developed photography branch. Often wedding photographers offer also portrait session for families, but there are many photographers who deal only with family photography. Usually they work in small studios equipped in variety of backgrounds and props they use to create beautiful family portraits, maternity and newborn photography. They usually offer high quality digital images and fine art prints. 

Retoucher - working as a retoucher is usually under a photographer or a client. Retoucher uses computer software to perform editing or retouching tasks on photographs or art. Their duties include making correction of things like the tone, colour, size, or composition of images. They should have good knowledge of using advanced editing softwares like Photoshop, Capture One or Lightroom. 

Photojournalist - this work connects two creative industries, photography and writing publications. Photographer takes images in order to publish them along with writing articles. This job requires good camera technique, writing skills and rich vocabulary as well as communicating and feeling, social intelligence skills to tell true and interesting stories.

Press - photographer can take photographs of different events like sport, music and art performances, various fairs or news in order to use them in magazines, newspapers or other print and web publications. Photographer often uses high end equipment, fast cameras and telephoto lenses. Such a photographer must have good reflexes and be vigilant.

Editorial Photographer - this job is to take a photograph that will show what the text is about. That kind of photography should be corresponding to the text, reflect it and affect emotions. Photographer need to create an interesting story with the image, that will draw the viewer attention and arouse curiosity to read the article. 

Fashion Photography - is a genre of photography that present clothing and other fashion items. Fashion photography has own aesthetic in which the clothes and fashions are enhanced by the presence of exotic locations or accessories. Fashion photographer is focused on the display of fashion clothing and items. Photographs are used most common on advertising boards and in fashion magazines and they are high end quality. Photographer should have good communicating and leading skills to execute his work in collaboration with other people including for eg. assistant, make up artist and models that usually feature wearing the display items.

Graphic Designer - photographer can work as graphic designer to create visual projects like posters, logos, brochures, websites and other visual kind of art that require knowledge of using Adobe Creative softwares and being creative to meet the client expectations. 

ECONOMY

Creative Industries establish an association between creativity, culture, economics and technology, as expressed in the ability to create and circulate intellectual capital, has the potential to generate income, jobs and exports while at the same time promoting social inclusion, cultural diversity and human development.

Creative Industries in Scotland comprise over 15,000 businesses employing more 70,000 people and a large number of freelancers and students studying creative courses. They make together an important contribution to national wealth and international reputation. Scottish government works in partnership with other organisations to support Creative Industries and ensure that they continue to enrich and grow our economy by:

- funding incentives and resources for the screen industry to encourage more film and TV production in Scotland

- funding Creative Scotland, the national public body for the arts, screen and creative industries, to develop and promote creative talent in Scotland (£33,632,000 from 2015 to 2016)

- working with Creative Scotland to deliver its Creative Industries Strategy 2016-2017 for informing and supporting the work of creative businesses in Scotland

- working with Skills Development Scotland to implement their Creative Industries Skills Investment Plan for addressing skills gaps

- chairing the Creative Industries Advisory Group, which aims to advise Scottish Ministers on how best to support and grow the sector.

Scotland’s creative industries contribute more than £5 billion to the Scottish economy every year. 

The Creative Industries contributed £111.7bn to the UK economy in 2018, an increase of 43.2% in real terms since 2010.

The latest statistics shows that Creative industries contributed more than £111bn to the UK economy in 2018. Advertising and marketing were two of the key drivers of growth in the Creative Industries. New government figures show the country’s successful creative industries contributed £111.7 billion to the UK in 2018, equivalent to £306 million every day. This is up 7.4 per cent on the previous year, meaning growth in the sector is more than five times larger than growth across the UK economy as a whole, which increased by 1.4 per cent. The sector was supported by large contributions from tech services and the film and television industries, which contributed £45.4 billion and £20.8 billion to the economy respectively. Another boost was delivered by the advertising and marketing industries, which account for a quarter of the total growth of the creative industries since 2017.

The UK's creative industries contributed £115.9billion to the economy in 2019, according to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. This is a 43.6% increase since 2010 and means the sector makes up just under 6% of the economy as a whole.

META - SKILLS

Meta-skills, i.e. abilities that allow you to function effectively in a rapidly changing reality. This is masterful skill that enhances and activates other skills. A meta-skill is a high-order skill that allows you to engage more effectively with functional knowledge in rapidly changing reality. 

Skills for the future ‘meta-skills’, and define them as timeless, higher order skills that create adaptive learners and promote success in whatever context the future brings. These are the skills that enable individuals to perform highly today; in a changed world of work they will be required by all of us.

The skills have been classified under three headings:

- Self management: Manage the now

- Social intelligence: Connect with the world

- Innovation: Create our own change.

Habits of mind

References: 

1. https://creativeconomy.britishcouncil.org/guide/what-creative-economy/

2. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-creative-industries-contributes-almost-13-million-to-the-uk-economy-every-hour

3. https://www.gov.scot/policies/creative-industries/

[parf-fan]

Hello, I am alive, PARF-fan content is not necessarily resuming at this point because capitalism exists and abelism exists and I don’t get enough sleep these days even without spending time actively updating this blog.

BUT!

As anyone who subscribes to Mount Hope’s newsletter or follows them on the magical Book of Faces undoubtedly already knows, the Faire is a go for September and October, albeit under very strict perimeters.  There will be no streetwork, and thus no Blackfryars, and but a skeleton crew of Bacchanalians.  Out-of-house acts are likewise reduced.  I’m frankly too tired to rephrase everything right about now, so I’m going to just drop the image from the Faire’s facebook page here.  I’ve pasted the text from the email below it, if that’s more your speed. (I think the contents are the same, but I haven’t done a side-by-side comparison.)

Greetings!

I am excited beyond words that we are soon able open to celebrate the 40th season of the glorious Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.  It certainly isn't how we had hoped to commemorate this momentous milestone, but, in a way, this year's Faire experience will harken back to "the olden days" when crowds were smaller and intimacy was the order of the day.

We will operate this Fall significantly different than what we have become accustomed to as we adapt to the new landscape created by COVID-19.

Our maximum daily attendance will be set at 25% of capacity as we swing wide the castle gates. Smaller audiences will ensure safe and socially distanced seating at stages and eating areas as well as shorter queuing lines at Faire gates, kitchens and merchant booths.

Advance, date specific tickets will be required in keeping with the strict attendance limitations as directed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

In addition to the reduction of audience size, we will be taking extraordinary efforts to ensure a safe and comfortable Faire day, including CDC approved sanitizer stations at every food booth, merchant booth, and stage area, as well as requirements of face coverings for staff, performers (not performing), vendors and guests throughout their stay, and reminders of social distancing throughout the Faire grounds.

As we are only open weekends, increased sanitation and cleaning using CDC approved cleaning equipment and sanitizers will take place after each Faire day as well as during the week. Every member of our staff will be screened before they begin each Faire day and we will encourage guests to self-monitor their health before joining us at the Faire.

All health and safety information will be published to our website and updated as new policies or procedures are mandated. We will follow the lead of our other great PA amusement and theme parks (including HersheyPark, Dorney Park, Sesame Place and many others) as we carefully monitor Dept of Health policies to assure a safe experience.     As we continue working towards welcoming Her Majesty, our overriding concern is providing a safe Shire for all staff, performers and patrons to put aside life's everyday concerns, even if for but a few short hours.

Since the beginning of this crisis, our choices have been rooted in the health, safety and well-being of hundreds of actors, performers, merchants and staff, as well as the many thousands of patrons who visit to experience the fantasy of the Faire.

With new policies and precautions in place and, with the cooperation of all, we can look forward to sharing a very special 40th Anniversary season together.

Until our paths shall cross again, stay thee safe and fare most well!

Scott Bowser, Proprietor

As far as I understand it, the Faire is taking just about every single precaution short of actually not running this year.  It’ll come down to whether or not they actually enforce the whole hey-patrons-wear-a-mask-and-wear-it-right thing.

But my chief purpose here is to share what, as is their wont, the Faire hath not posted upon their Facebook: the cast list!

At this point, characters have not been announced anywhere; and though a visit to the Faire’s website will yield costumed headshots, those are definitely not going to be the characters – at least not all of them, not unless the plot involves all of time having collapsed even more than usual.

-----------------------------------------------

Bacchanalian Cast 2020

Leigh Ann Hamelin

Jonathan Handley

Mary Huff

Dana Micciché

Joe Penn

Jules Schrader

Adam Shepley

Katelyn Shreiner

Alex Stompoly

Jeff Wolfthal

-----------------------------------------------

My observations:

A small enough cast that the living quarters might actually be spread out enough to be safe for them, THANK GOD.

Looking like there’s likely no in-house combat (only two actors have been on the combat track that I know of), which makes sense.  Also probably no in-house music groups (only two have been on music track that I know of), which also makes sense.  So pretty much improv only, then.  Wise decision, all things considered.

My Lady Dana Micciché hath been robbed of her accent mark on the Faire’s site, but is a Bacchanalian this year?  Hell yes?

I was about to say that the only casting I feel remotely confident will be the same is Mary Huff as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, but then it occurred to me that with so small a cast, the story might well call for not having a royal progress happening this time.  That’s what I would do if I were writing it in this situation.  Then it also occurred to me that having Mary Huff as Queen Elizabeth again would enable the writers to bring back a couple of insanely popular characters that likely would not logistically be able to return otherwise. (I’m referring, of course, to Jonathan Handley and Alex Stompoly as Sirs William Pickering and Henry Carey, respectively, because I stg some patrons of last year only recognize or acknowledge or care about those two.) So now I’m sure of nothing.

I had words I wanted to make about how I would arrange things in this situation, because I am theoretically a writer and like to play what-if sometimes, but no matter how I phrased things, it sounded like I was either trying to predict things or (worse) trying to unsubtlely drop hints directed at the writers and directors about what they should totally do.  Which, nope.

[infolangdilokullari]

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[melmac78]

Virgil’s story for FABFiveFeb

This is based off a Whumptober story I wrote, “A different perspective of ‘I Can’t Walk’,” but this one from Virgil’s point of view regarding Gordon’s surprise prank on Virgil. You don’t have to read it though to enjoy this story. The names of the locations are current.

Virgil prompts: “I’m trying,” shimmer, duck, hard.

***********************

Virgil smiled as he finished the last few strokes of his charcoal sketch. It had been hard to get that detail of the AutoZone Park’s Christmas tree in proportion, but he had to admit it was nice to sketch one in front of the Minor League baseball stadium in Tennessee.

Hard for him to believe it had been just four and a half hours earlier he had finished his 10K race with his brother Alan.

Scott had completed the full marathon and was likely still finishing up his deep tissue massage in The Peabody’s Spa.

The artist himself had taken a nice long hot shower and was now in his robe and boxers, drawing.

Gordon and John and finished the half marathon about two hours ago, and were doing their own recovering.

Virgil chortled at the last part: Gordon had bet John about whether or not he could complete the half marathon - and lost.

The look on Gordon’s face losing still made him smile, especially with John finishing it with an injured ankle falling into a pothole…

“Speaking of which,” he muttered, and got the mediscan out. John was napping in his room in the suite.

The astronaut said his ankle wasn’t bothering him anymore, but if there was one thing Virgil learned from his brothers, it was adrenaline was going to come into play. He was already going to feel the pains from lactic acid walking 13.1 miles, but if his ankle was hurt worse…

Virgil shook his head at the image of John grumbling as he was being carried, and quietly walked into the room.

John was still resting on top of the bed, pretty much dead to the world as he slept from the long walk. The medic was proud of his middle brother, especially all the training he’d done to win the bet.

But at the same time, he winced at the fact John was still in his astronaut themed sweats, which could be a sign his ankle hurt.

Virgil then gently turned on the scanner, letting the blue light scan over the younger man’s right ankle.

“Virg… you’ve got to stop doing that,” muttered a voice.

The older man looked up and saw that John was wide awake, glaring at him. “That’s the fourth time you’ve scanned my ankle since the race was over,” the ginger headed man said, annoyed.

“I just want to be sure there’s nothing torn in your ankle,” said Virgil, who finished the scan and looked at it. “It was a pretty hard fall you took.”

John sighed and stood up. “Yes, I know, but I feel better,” he said, gently leading his brother out.

Virgil frowned. “You’re limping,” he pointed out, unconsciously starting to do a sing-song voice.

“And I said I’m fine,” responded John as he pushed the man out, complete with a swift, and hard kick in the backside with his injured ankle.

Virgil turned around shocked by the fact his normally quiet, calm brother just put his size 12 grey and silver running shoes to a different use.

“See, perfectly fine,” said John cheekily as he walked a bit like a penguin across the room. “Look, I’m going to go look around the hotel lobby. EOS wanted me to show her the gingerbread village. You can come if you’d like, just don’t bring the scanner. Don’t want to send you home the hard way...”

Virgil waved the man off saying he’d join them later.

He watched as John left, and when the door closed, rubbed his backside…. “I’ll show the Astronaut the way home to Five the hard way,” he muttered.

A lighter snort filtered through his ears, making the man groan. “Gordon… if you say one word…”

The aquanaut choked back a laugh. “I won’t - it would be fun to see you try it, would keep me from having to pay up that bet,” said Gordon. He sobered up. “But John is OK, right? I’d hate he hurt himself worse over a wager.”

The medic looked at the scan and then smiled. “Yeah, he is. Just a twisted ankle, so I don’t need to do any more scans,” he said.

“Good thing - I think John is to the point he’d use the Vulcan Nerve Pinch to keep you from scanning his ankle,” said Gordon, smirking.

Virgil glared at the man. “No thank you… he’d probably succeed in knocking me out,” he said, walking back over to his sketch.

Gordon looked at what was being drawn, then smiled. “Looks nice. Going to keep working on your sketch?” he asked.

“Yes, why?”

“No reason. I’m going to go down to the lobby and chat with John,” said Gordon.

“You mean try to get him to let you welch out of your bet?” said Virgil with a smirk.

The aquanaut shrugged. “Maybe… but even then, I want to tell him how proud I am of him,” he said with a smile. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

“Yeah, see you in a little while. We’re still eating at Huey’s right?” said the older man as he started to sketch the skyline around the stadium. He loved the restaurant’s burgers and onion straws.

“Oh yes… don’t forget to dress up,” said Gordon, who then laughed.

Virgil rolled his eyes, but nodded and watched his brother head out. The door closed, leaving Virgil surrounded in the soothing pale Tiffany blue shaded walls and duck themed decorations.

He sketched for a while, finessing the details in his drawing, which now included his brothers. Each of them had worn unique outfits for their race… well except Scott, who preferred the event’s race tank and then fairly short running shorts. “At least he has the kind with the running bloomers,” Virgil thought with a chuckle.

The artist was so engrossed in his work he at first didn’t hear the knock at the door. When a louder one finally drew his attention, Virgil put aside his drawing and then opened the door.

Outside was a Peabody bellhop with a package. “Mr. Virgil Tracy,” he asked kindly, and Virgil nodded before he was handed the bundle. “You have been selected to be an honorary Duckmaster this evening. You need to wear this and come down about a quarter before 6 p.m.”

Virgil quirked an eyebrow, but then chortled. “OK, I’m honored. Thank you,” he said, and after giving the bellhop a generous tip, he brought the box to his room.

He then laughed. “Honorary Duckmaster? I don’t believe it,” repeated the artist as he looked at the card. Sure enough, someone had bought him the honor, something he admitted he wanted to do when he was younger.

Earlier on the trip in Memphis, the brothers had gone to the top floor to look at the Duck Hotel, as well as view the skyline. Virgil alone had several photos of the city as well as the hotel he was going to use for future artworks.

Duckmaster was something different however. had always pictured himself in the sharp red jacket, complete with epaulets, cords and black trousers, leading the ducks around with his Duckmaster cane and taking them up and down the elevator every single day.

Probably explained why he wished Gordon would refer to Thunderbird Two as a duck and not a frog.

Today, he thought as he opened up the package, he was going to get to wear that outfit, and…

His mouth dropped open when he saw what was inside.

“GORDON!”

8888888

Well, it was either do this or go down in his boxers and robe. Gordon had taken every piece of clothing he could from Virgil’s suitcases, but at least let him have the pair of underwear he brought into the bathroom.

He admitted he considered the alternative, but really, Virgil wasn’t going to do that.

Grandma Tracy loved coming to the historic hotel and eating their Banana Oreo Cheesecake, and he enjoyed his cup of coffee sweetened with just a bit of Tennessee honey he only found there.

It was a pair of treats for both and he wasn’t going to risk them getting banned due to a prank.

So, “swallow my pride, step out of the elevator and meet up with the Duckmaster” became his mantra as he entered the main lobby.

The Duckmaster, a kind man with dark hair and brown eyes, looked at Virgil a bit in surprise, then mellowed into a smile. “I see you’re very much the duck enthusiast,” he said kindly, but with a soft chuckle at the sight.

Virgil snorted, which made some of the ducks on his Hawaiian shirt shimmer as the metallic threads hit the light. “Oh yes, my brother knew I had dreamed of being a Duckmaster… I just didn’t expect my outfit to be a kilt and Hawaiian shirt,” he said. “Especially with the ducks having their own shimmering shirts…”

“The slippers are a nice touch,” said the older man with a twinkle in his eyes. He wouldn’t admit it to the slightly embarrassed man, but in his 20 years as the Duckmaster, he had seen a few unusual outfits.

Virgil’s duck overloaded outfit surprisingly was a bit tame to several. If anything the top, if longer sleeved, would fit in the Lansky Bros. Store, one of the hotel’s shops.

“I’m trying to figure out how Gordon managed to find character bedroom slippers in my size,” said Virgil as he took a step, watching the fabric mallard heads bob up and down.

“Not here… though I bet the gift store would like to know,” quipped the Duckmaster, who then smiled. “You look great though, and we’ll make the ceremony even more fun. So ready?”

Virgil saw the sincerity in the man’s eyes, and smiled. “Yes, ready,” he said, as they walked to the fountain. Nearby, Virgil caught the tri-colored blue, yellow and orange shirt that belonged to their favorite human fish - Gordon. Predictably, the aquanaut was already laughing, though Virgil admitted he couldn’t tell if it was from the sight or the Long Island Tea the aquanaut was drinking.

“Seriously… he knows better than to drink even a beer after a half marathon,” Virgil muttered, but seeing the man had also purchased what appeared to be a sandwich from the Peabody Deli, sighed in some relief Gordon was being a bit more cautious.

Next to him was John, who had snuck back to change out of the sweatpants but still wore the NASA patch shirt. The astronaut had a shy smile, enjoying the prank Gordon set up but still sympathetic. He did however roll his right ankle to show yes, it was doing well.

Looking up, Scott and Alan were found in the gallery above, having an excellent view of the scene. Alan was cackling at the sight, and while Scott cuffed his younger brother gently over the head, his eyes sparkled in merriment.

He had to admit, the silly outfit was worth wearing for his brothers’ reactions.

“Yeah, I’m ready… let’s show them how Duckmasters do this,” said Virgil with a chuckle.

The elder man clapped a hand on his shoulder with his own laugh, and started the presentation.

Weird outfit and all however - especially the shimmery top, being an honorary Duckmaster was worth every cent for Virgil as it was for Gordon to prank him.

8888888

About a half an hour later, Virgil sat in the lobby with his brothers, enjoying a cup of hot Earl Grey tea before he dug into his Equinox dessert. He relished the taste of hazelnuts, chocolate cake, and ganache.

He first looked at the Duckmaster cane and special rubber duck he received as part of the package, then looked at Gordon.

“Why a duck kilt Gordo?” he said. Of the three items, he was most embarrassed about the kilt. The shirt at least got him a phone number of one girl who found it hot on him, and the slippers were actually quite comfortable. He just wished they didn’t have the knitted cuffs at the ankles.

The aquanaut shrugged as he took a bite of his chocolate Peabody Duck. “You needed to match: I have a squid kilt, Alan a rocket kilt…”

“But Gordon, Scott and I don’t have one,” said John, who hiccupped slightly. “You know better than to not get me one…”

Scott rolled his eyes. “And you know better than to have more than one Old Dominick,” said the eldest, gesturing at the glass of bourbon. He was enjoying a cup of coffee and a chocolate dome, having to refrain from alcohol. It was nice of John to make Gordon pay for a plated dessert for all of them as part of the bet forfeit, but he still had to fly them home tomorrow.

“I only had two,” said John, who hiccupped again. “Though yes, maybe one would’ve been enough.”

Virgil chuckled. “Thankfully, we’re going to still go to Huey’s, so you can get a burger and soak it up,” he said gently. John nodded, admittedly confused they’d eat dessert first, but thankful they were wise enough to still eat something more substantial.

Gordon laughed. “Rate he’s going he’ll forget the ice cream tomorrow,” he said. “I can welch a bit…”

Scott shook his head. “No Gordo… you promised, and I’ll make sure of it,” he said.

“Even if he eats it on the airplane?”

“Oh no, that isn’t happening…” said Scott, who seeing Gordon nearly cheer in victory continued. “Not until all five of us eat a cone. I want to try that Equinox ice cream.”

“That's what I’m getting,” said John with a slightly brighter laugh, which the others joined in.

Scott, seeing the slight shimmer in John’s eyes, smiled. Poor guy was OK but he didn’t want to risk the twisted ankle become a sprain walking the one block over.

“I do think right now we go back to the suite and rest. Huey’s should be a bit less busy in an hour,” the eldest said. “And I for one want to eat their famous onion straws.”

The others nodded, and after paying their tab, went to the elevators.

Alan, Gordon and John took the first elevator, while Virgil and Scott took the next one.

The eldest looked at Virgil. “You do realize - phone number or not - you look ridiculous,” he said, chuckling. “Gordon got you good.”

Virgil gave a half smile and nodded. “Yeah, he did. But you know they say revenge is a dish best served cold right?”

Scott nodded, and frowned. “Virgil, you know he’s not embarrassed to wear anything weird,” he said, then tilted his head. “Or about not wearing anything at all…”

The second eldest smiled. “No, I won’t do that to him. I love Grandma too much to get us banned from The Peabody. Plus I like that honey in my coffee here,” he said. “I’ve got something better. An invasion.”

The eldest quirked an eyebrow, but then seeing Virgil pull out one of the two items he received as Duckmaster, smiled. “Oh no… you didn’t…”

“Oh yeah, tomorrow he’s about to go ‘quackers’,” said Virgil, who laughed when he saw his older brother do a facepalm at the bad joke.

“I’m going to need earplugs…” was all scott muttered.

8888888

That next morning, the sound of quacks filled the suite the Tracy’s were using..

Well, quacks made more of squeakers.

Gordon woke up to find his bed was nearly covered in rubber ducks, all from The Peabody.

They were also on the floor, bathtub, and toilet.

There was even a silver dollar sized duck someone managed to sneak into his reusable water bottle.

Some had shimmery tops on their body.

One was the Duckmaster duck - staring right at him when he awoke.

“Well played Virg,” said Gordon, with a smile.

He conceded defeat this time.

Now, there were only two things Gordon could do:

First, donate all but one or two of the ducks to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, now working to end even more diseases as they had most childhood cancers.

Second, find a way to pay back Virgil for the prank.

8888888

Reference of the Duckmaster ceremony (by me a few years ago). This is an honorary Duckmaster ceremony, and any age can do this:

[gyldenglor]

Humans are Space Orcs - Puppy Love

Entry #2,658,357

Author - Vy'Keen

Race - Kral

Captain

Subject: Puppy Behavior

FOREWORD

Please note that this is purely anecdotal - no scientific data will be divulged in this entry. Any and all data generated aboard my ship will be sold for a premium, with the exception of data considered pertinent to the continued coexistence of our races.

BEGIN REPORT

Over the past few months, the puppy Annie has, thankfully, ceased increasing in size. However, it is still very clearly maturing.

It has finally begun to void its waste exclusively in the designated litter. It has also started to abide by the ships schedule, rather than its own.

It has also ceased the destruction of property that had been plaguing the ship - it will only chew on the things provided to it.

But one habit that it does not seem able, or willing, to outgrow, is the constant need for affection.

There are times when it will lay, quietly, on its own. Or play with one of its myriad of toys (many of my crew have tripped over them recently, it has become such a hazard that the humans have taken to training the canine how to put away its toys.)

Nevertheless, it always seems to revert to a state in which it NEEDS attention and affection. It will jump, paw at the air, or scratch at a leg until it receives it.

It then reciprocates - nuzzling and licking and mimicking petting motions, as if attempting to pet the object of its affections. The canine will behave this way with both humans and non-humans alike, and even with inanimate objects. Thankfully, canine saliva is far less harmful than human saliva - however, as a precaution, the humans have taken steps to ensure that Annie will only lick humans.

(Annie is the moniker assigned to the canine by the humans.)

As such, it would appear as if both humans and canines exhibit pack bonding tendencies. However, in juvenile canines, this tendency is apparently referred to as "puppy love".

Lastly, a caution - it would seem as if "puppy love" is far more contagious in nature than human pack bonding. Many of my crew have taken to actively seeking out the animal to pet it at the end of their shifts.

Even the Kral among them, and even (to a lesser extent) myself, forego the logic of avoiding a predator with such large teeth, in favor of experiencing this "puppy love".

While it is shocking to experience lapses in logical judgement, and it can definitely be dangerous at times due to the nature of the canines "play" behaviors - which include nibbling, scratching, and sometimes even full-on biting - I would conclude that the presence of a canine aboard my ship is, in whole, beneficial for the mental states of all my crew.

Even Xlaxis, my medical officer, has enjoyed their time with Annie - especially when observing training exercises. They have compiled a significant amount of data, which will be consolidated, sold, and hopefully published within a year.

As a final note, I would recommend that if a human on your ship requests the presence of a puppy aboard, that you acquire one for them. Just make sure that when full grown, its size will be manageable. Also, ensure that the supplies and practices outlined in my medical officers' report are purchased and followed - so far, it has resulted in the puppy being mostly docile.

ADDENDUM

On a somewhat related note, the humans have begun to pack bond with the ship itself. They now refer to it as "her", and will affectionately pat on the older components and claim that it "gives her character".

In fact, when we used the income from our jobs and the data generated from the humans to upgrade the terminals in the crews quarters, some of the humans refused the upgrades. They claimed that the glass terminals had more of that supposed "character".

Also, Peter, a human engineer aboard my ship, has claimed that he has "modifications" on his terminal that he does not want to lose. I have yet to ascertain the nature of these modifications, but it greatly worries me.

Lastly, a new development in the human pack bonding behavior is that they have named the ship. They now refer to it as the "S.S. Anne". While this is apparently derivative of the name they gave the puppy, it is also some sort of "reference" - a topic for another time.

END REPORT

Across the galaxy, Vy'Keen had become near legendary for her reports, and for the quality of data generated from her researchers.

In fact, many humans hailed her as one of the most accurate in describing human behavior.

As such, ships of all kinds, from merchants to mercenaries, started to allow puppies on board - given that they followed the rules provisioned by Xlaxis.

It was soon discovered that puppies tended to be just as varied as humans in size and temperament, and so a new guide was started - the Puppy Guide. Given the fact that humans had already reliably domesticated the animals, they were, in fact, allowed to contribute.

Many of the contributions from humans ended up being images of a ships puppy, accompanied by blurbs of adoration. Contributions such as this had to be partitioned into its own section, to allow for easier access to important knowledge.

However, as with all things human, it became a lucrative obsession. Interstellar puppy mills were rampant.

Humans and aliens alike banded together to eliminate the practice. It turns out most of the mills operated in such a manner due to ignorance, so education was enough to stop most of the practices.

And, of course, animal abuse occurred on some ships. Thankfully, the humans had already established a robust protection agency for the animals throughout the galaxy, most of which were extensions of existing organizations - so most cases of animal abuse were quickly remediated.

And, at long last, after identifying ships by complex strings of letters and numbers jumbled in a frequency, many members of the Galactic Alliance finally started to name their ships - and almost all of them named them after their first puppy.