#amira this is so unique and creative :>

[vespersposts]

That's funny

Interview Your Faves!!

Have you ever wondered what your fave thinks of you? Well, look no further because I’m here to find out for you!!

Slots Taken: 6/10 (4 slots left)

Send me an ask with:

3 things you love about yourself

3 fun facts about your selfship

what version of him you want me to interview i.e. husband, fiancé, boyfriend, fwb, crush (in other words will I be interviewing him when you’re in the crushing phase or when you’re in your married-for-ten-years phase or anything in between)

And I’ll respond with a mini interview where I ask him what he really feels about you (spoiler alert: it’s all good things 🤭)

RULES:

❤︎ You can send an ask either on or off anon but only if you’re 18 + yrs of age. MINORS DNI

❤︎ Pls only send one ask ◡̈ Moots are allowed up to two asks ◡̈

❤︎ Game is open to all anime fandoms + hoyoverse characters!!

❤︎ If any of this was confusing, just send me an ask with what you’re unsure about and I’ll clarify

DISCLAIMER: If the interview implicates/says anything about your ship that you disagree with, I apologize in advance. Your ship is how you want it to be. I will try my best to fit the vibes of your selfship based on what you send in but at the end of the day, it is your ship, not mine.

So your word >>> my word ◡̈

[suguwu]

hi bee!!!!!!!!! i’m here for your ask game :33 i’d love to hear your answers on 🪐🦋🎨 !!!!!! i hope you’re having a good day, i love you!!!!!!

quinn hi hi hi!!! my day has been good and i hope yours has been too, ily!! thank you so much for asking!!

let's see...

🪐 ⇢ name three good things going on in your life right now

this community, which is so fun and supportive even if it's not perfect; i'm bettering relationships with my family rn; and my creativity feels very locked on right now!

🦋 ⇢ share something that has been on your heart and mind lately 

i've been thinking a lot about the marks that other people leave behind on us and how those marks can shape our lives! good and bad. there's something very unique in the way that other people touch us. how we have their fingerprints for the rest of our lives, even if other fingerprints cover them up eventually.

🎨 ⇢ link your favourite piece of fanart and explain why you like it

this is so self-indulgent but amira's kita art is still haunting me over a month later. it's stunning on so many levels and would be a favorite even if it wasn't connected to something i wrote!! it's so beautiful and the textures are amazing, plus kita's eyes...i could stare forever.

writer's ask game

[instacrystalusa]

The Art of Subsurface Laser Engraving: A Revolutionary Technology in Award Design

Subsurface laser engraving has become a game-changer in the world of personalized awards and trophies. This cutting-edge technique allows for intricate and precise designs that are captured deep within the crystal's surface, creating visually stunning 3D engravings. The combination of technology and artistry elevates awards to a level of sophistication that is unmatched in the industry.

What is Subsurface Laser Engraving?

Subsurface laser engraving is a method where a laser beam is directed inside a crystal, etching a design, logo, or text at various depths. Unlike traditional engraving methods that only etch the surface, subsurface laser engraving allows for 3D designs that appear to be floating within the crystal. This creates a striking visual effect and is particularly effective for creating lifelike representations of logos, landmarks, and custom imagery.

The technology behind subsurface laser engraving uses precise lasers that can carve fine details into the crystal with stunning accuracy. The process is completely safe and permanent, ensuring that the design will remain vibrant for years to come.

Why Choose Subsurface Laser Engraving for Custom Awards?

For businesses, organizations, and individuals seeking truly unique and memorable awards, subsurface laser engraving offers an unrivaled advantage. One such example is the Amira Tower Award, a stunning piece that showcases the full potential of this engraving technique.

The Amira Tower Award is an exceptional example of how subsurface laser engraving can transform a simple crystal trophy into a work of art. This award, available through InstaCrystal, features a sleek and modern tower shape, with a 3D image etched into the center, visible from all angles. The combination of high-quality crystal and precise laser engraving results in a sophisticated and elegant award that makes a statement.

Subsurface laser engraving gives you the ability to personalize each award to reflect your company’s brand, the recipient’s achievements, or a special event. Whether it’s for a corporate award ceremony, a sports competition, or a recognition event, these trophies offer a memorable keepsake for any occasion.

Endless Possibilities with Subsurface Laser Engraving

The beauty of subsurface laser engraving lies in its versatility. From logos to intricate images, this technique can be used to engrave just about anything, no matter how complex. Whether you are looking for an award to commemorate a special achievement or a personalized gift to show appreciation, the possibilities are endless.

The Amira Tower Award, for example, can be customized with various designs, from intricate 3D logos to personal messages, making it the perfect choice for any event or ceremony. The subsurface laser engraving will capture your design in crystal form, ensuring a stunning visual impact that will last for years.

The Future of Custom Awards and Trophies

As technology continues to evolve, so do the ways in which we create and personalize awards. Subsurface laser engraving is not only a revolutionary technology in the world of trophies but also a creative medium that allows for infinite customization. When combined with crystal, this technique results in awards that are both visually captivating and meaningful to their recipients.

For those looking to invest in high-quality, unique awards, the Amira Tower Award and subsurface laser engraving offer a sophisticated option that blends innovation with elegance. Choose subsurface laser engraving for your next award, and ensure it is as memorable and impressive as the achievements it represents.

[naturecoaster]

What is art if not varied? What makes art? How do you make a living at art? These questions and more will be part of the 2025 Walk of Arts Festival in Inverness, Florida, on February 22. Walk of Arts is an all-inclusive art and music festival in downtown Inverness. This event includes a Looney Tunes®-themed sidewalk chalk competition, fun food trucks, and art-based vendors, a full day of live music entertainment, education about careers in the music business, free dance lessons, and paint-and-take mini canvases for attendees. Additionally, over $5,000 in prizes are to be awarded to the first, second, and third-place artists in the Looney Tunes® Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest! Enter here now (ages 5-18) The energy and creativity this event brings to the Nature Coast region makes it a must-do experience. How Did the Walk of Arts Come to Be? “Twistid Ink works with many Citrus County school programs and has the trust of the local youth. In our work with school arts programs, we have a lot of open, direct communication with students and parents. Frequently, we have heard that our community is looking for more things for children to do that are not sports-related. These are the conversations that prompted the creation of the Walk of Arts Festival,” says Elisha Belden, Walk of Arts Co-Founder and co-owner of Twistid Ink, an award-winning tattoo studio. Celebrating children and youth creativity is what the Walk of Arts and Twistid Arts Initiative is all about. Image courtesy of Walk of Arts. Why Is Celebrating Art Important? "Since my now 6-year-old daughter, Amira won, she has been working around with her sketch pads everywhere, drawing images of the things she finds beautiful or unique. You will see her on our property drawing the beautiful annual purple spring flowers we get here in Florida. Thank you for taking the time to put this event together, allowing the kids to express themselves through their art, and seeing every child's artistic uniqueness. We are excited to be a part of it yet again this year and cant' wait to enjoy the day out with fellow artists. Amira is putting together a line of art pieces to sell at a local market this spring. Excited to see her continue to blossom in her own style." --Nivea & Amira Judging the art at the 2023 Walk of Arts in Floral Park. Celebrity and local judges combine to provide a fair outcome for the participants. Image courtesy of Walk of Arts. Walk of Arts 2025 features Howie Day and Looney Toons® Feb. 22 in Inverness, Florida The Walk of Arts 2025 will take place on February 22, 2025, in Liberty Park, Inverness, Florida. This year's lineup is so exciting and features an incredible mix of talented regional and national bands, along with exciting art competitions for youth and a music education component. The 2025 Walk of Arts will feature four musical acts: - Kyle Ingram Trio, including local Crystal River Middle School teacher Scotty Chmura - SwipeRight featuring Dakota Gagliano as seen on Don't Forget the Lyrics - Mixed Signal featuring Melissa McGhee as seen on American Idol, and the headliner, - Multi-platinum Singer/Songwriter, Howie Day!  Enter the Looney Tunes® Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest In addition to the amazing music, the Walk of Arts 2025 will feature a sidewalk chalk competition for 200 young artists with over $5,000 in prizes sponsored by XFINITY! ​Artists, ages 5-18, will have the chance to use their imaginations to bring the famous Looney Tunes® characters to life right in Liberty Park and meet one of the Looney Tunes® licensed artists! Youthful artists from 5-18 can enter the Looney Tunes® Sidewalk Art Competition to win their share of $5,000 in prizes! Enter here for free. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are a few spots left, and artists can be from anywhere, so click here to register. Winners in each age group will win a prize pack chock full of high-end art supplies and gifts! The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity has generously donated these HOW TO DRAW tutorials of some of their most popular characters for our young artists to practice before the competition! Each age group will have a first-, second-, and third-place winner. The contests will be judged by a combination of celebrity TV artists (from Paramount’s Ink Master), licensed Warner Bros artists, and local award-winning artists. Entrants can be from anywhere but they must register before the competition. Multi-platinum Singer/Songwriter, Howie Day is the headlining music act for the 2025 Walk of Arts. Image courtesy of the Howie Day Facebook page. The Walk of Arts 2025 Education Series 2025 brings arts education to the Walk of Arts Festival. While many local youth may want to “be a rock, country, or rap star,” there are many more opportunities open for careers in the music industry. Sound Tracks: Careers in the Music Industry Panel will be presented from noon to 12:30 p.m. on the stage. Attendees can join an open panel discussion led by The Kyle Ingram Trio on the Walk of Arts 2025 stage. This engaging session will dive into the diverse career paths available in the music industry, including life as a professional musician, military band opportunities, music education, booking agents, and more. The panel will include an open question and answer session, making it an invaluable opportunity for students and aspiring professionals to ask questions, gain insights, and connect with industry experts. This presentation is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Don’t miss this chance to tune into the rhythm of a music career! Learn to Dance at the Walk of Arts 2025 And what could be better than free dance lessons in the park? This engaging segment of the Walk of Arts Educational Series offers quick and fun dance lessons for participants of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned dancer, these mini-sessions will have you stepping, swaying, and spinning in no time. Join the Art in Motion dance team to learn foundational moves, explore different dance styles, and embrace the rhythm of the moment—all in a welcoming and energetic atmosphere. Perfect for anyone looking to add a little motion to their day! Paint your own Mini-Canvas will be at the NatureCoaster.com booth, thanks to our partner, Traveling Art Parties. Image courtesy of Traveling Art Parties. Paint Your Own Mini-Canvas Masterpiece for All Ages Traveling Art Parties and NatureCoaster.com are teaming up to offer free mini-canvas painting experiences. With several options on display at the NatureCoaster.com tent and plenty of paint, attendees are welcome to mimic one of the examples under Autum Proctor’s expert guidance, or create their own mini-masterpieces from the provided supplies. Both the dance lessons and the painting will be held throughout the festival. Walk of Arts 2025 Promises to be Better than Ever "We're thrilled to bring the Walk of Arts back for another year," said event organizer Elisha Belden. "This event is a celebration of art, music, and community, and we can't wait to share it with everyone. We have an amazing lineup of bands and competitions that will make for an unforgettable event -- and we are just so excited about the educational component for this year’s festival."The Walk of Arts is being hosted by the Twistid Arts Initiative, a non-profit in Central Florida, and Twistid Ink, a regionally recognized award-winning tattoo art studio, in partnership with Citrus County Parks and Recreation. NatureCoaster.com is proud to help sponsor this event for the third year in a row. Sidewalk chalk artists at the 2022 Walk of Arts. Image courtesy of Walk of Arts. The Twistid Arts Initiative was born from the desire to raise awareness and access to all forms of visual and performing arts in the community through innovative programming, hands-on education, and immersive events in Citrus County. General admission to the event is free. To avoid missing out on what promises to be a fantastic event, be sure to visit our website and sign up for the email list. For more information, please visit the Twistid Art Initiative's website: www.twistidartsinitiative.org. ​Mark your calendar for February 22, 2025, and get ready to create, dance, connect, and create lasting memories! 2025 Walk of Arts At a Glance: - Location: Liberty Park, 268 N Apopka Ave., Inverness, FL 34450 - Date & Time: Feb. 22, 2025 from noon to 8:30 pm - Entrance: Free - Looney Tunes Sidewalk Competition drawing starts at 2 pm - Check-in by 1 pm. - Live Music throughout the event, including Kyle Ingram Trio, SwipeRight, Mixed Signal with Melissa McGhee and Howie Day. - Music Education Series: Careers in the Music Business Panel: noon-12:30 pm - Dance Lessons by Art in Motion Dance Studio - Mini-Canvas Painting by Traveling Art Parties and NatureCoaster.com - Food Trucks and Art-related & other Vendors Read the full article

[bokitta9]

The Versatility and Beauty of Head Scarf Styles for Women

More than just a fashion accessory, head scarves represent cultural identification, personal flair, and occasionally religious expression. There are countless ways to achieve elegance and creativity in the world of headscarf designs and the range of headscarves available for ladies. The several ways to wear headscarves and their importance for ladies all around are investigated in this article.

The Cultural Significance of Head Scarves

For millennia, several societies have included headscarves in their customs. Many customs regard them as a sign of respect and humility. In other settings, they are utilized just for their visual attractiveness, giving an ensemble some grace and sophistication. Head scarf styles adaptability lets women acknowledge their cultural background and also exhibit their uniqueness.

Popular Head Scarf Styles

Women have many head scarf styles from which to pick, each with a different feel and appearance. For instance, the traditional turban design is not only fashionable but also useful since it keeps hair orderly and tucked away. Commonly worn by Muslim women, the hijab comes in several forms, including the Al-Amira, Shayla, and Khimar, each providing different degrees of comfort and coverage. Often found in bohemian and festival fashion, the bandana style is a more laid-back look choice.

Choosing the Right Head Scarf for You

Choosing head scarves for women requires weighing elements, including fabric, size, and occasion. While heavier materials like wool and cashmere are better suited for colder regions, lightweight materials like cotton and silk are perfect for milder temperatures. The size of the scarf can also affect the style since larger scarves provide more flexibility in draping and wrapping methods. The context also matters much; a basic, elegant scarf would be ideal for a formal function, but a vividly coloured, patterned scarf would be more appropriate for a laid-back gathering.

Styling Tips for Head Scarves

Though it takes some work, learning head scarf styles will help you to create a range of amazing appearances. Wrap-around is a common method whereby the scarf is elegantly wrapped around the head and fastened at the nape of the neck. Conversely, the turban style presents a strong and trendy look by having the scarf wrapped over the head and fastened at the top. Drape the scarf freely over the head and shoulders so it may flow naturally in a more laid-back style.

The Growing Trend of Head Scarves in Fashion

In the fashion business, head scarves for women have lately become rather popular. Designers are including them in their lines to highlight the elegance and adaptability of this classic tool. Head scarves are making a statement from daily street style to high-end fashion presentations. They are a trendy item that accentuates any ensemble in addition to a sign of cultural identity.

Caring for Your Head Scarves

Appropriate maintenance of head scarves for women guarantees their longevity and great condition. Varied materials call for varied care methods; for example, cotton scarves can normally be machine-washed; silk scarves should be hand-washed with mild detergent and air-dried to minimize damage. Properly storing scarves—that is, hanging them or folding them neatly—also helps them to retain their shape and look.

Conclusion

The realm of head scarf designs and headscarves for ladies presents countless chances for elegance and creativity. Headscarves are flexible items that can accentuate any wardrobe, whether used for fashion, religious, or cultural needs. Visit bokitta.com to discover the ideal headscarves for your needs and investigate more designs by means of a large range of premium headscarves.

[vandorens-archive]

ooo some of my favorite blogs are @euphoriecs, @melwrotethat, @skeletongrrl, @suswriting and @popovs!!

oooh, nonnie, this is a great list! thanks for sending these in!

@euphoriecs — amira's works are so, so creative and have the most amazing characters ever, and can we talk about how beautiful and aesthetically pleasing her blog is? because gosh, i could scroll through it for hours! amira is also overall just really nice, so i'd definitely recommend checking out her blog if you haven't already!

@melwrotethat — mel! oh, mel is the best. her works have that natural, relatable feel to it while also managing to awe me at the same time, and her edits are so gorgeous, and she's super sweet and friendly. i adore her and her blog so much.

@skeletongrrl — with the most unique, insanely creative works i've ever seen, kay's blog always, always manages to blow my mind because wow, it is incredible!

@suswriting — from what i have seen from her blog, sus' works are really interesting, complete with dynamic characters, amazing writing, and lest not forget, those stunning gifsets! i also love reading her commentary, so check her out!

@popovs — eva was one of the first (if not the first) writers i ever followed, and to this day they manage to blow my mind with their works every single time. their works explore the most fascinating concepts, their characters and the way they interact is the best, and their poetry is some of the most beautiful poetry i've ever read. they're also just really supportive and encouraging, and have a beautiful blog. i love them!

LOVE LETTERS ONLY: anonymously (or not) send me your favorite blogs and i will compliment them!

[stillinaincrad]

Digging through Hulu (since Crunchyroll decided to suck and not stop sucking with the awful streaming and constant crashing), and came across something I’d not heard of before, Rage of Bahamut: Genesis (Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis). Being a big Final Fantasy junkie, I gave it a go. 

From the first scene of the first episode, I immediately thought ‘oh look, it’s Captain Jack Sparrow and Norrington’, and figured this was another cliché, lame anime that I probably wouldn’t watch past the first episode. But then the characters start to take shape, and they grow on you. And then Amira comes into it, and it’s absolutely impossible to not love her. More plot twists, more unique characters, more more more with nothing feeling labored or overdone or even done before, even though it all has. And before long, you have all these all-too-familiar ingredients of backstories and heaven vs hell and angels and demons and one person being the key to derailing the destruction of mankind and blah blah blah it’s all absolutely been done before in anime... but not like this. It all feels very original and imaginative beyond belief. The characters all feel very organic and there is evolution. There is nonstop action, creativity galore, but the thing I noticed most was every time I rolled my eyes and said “this is what’s going to happen next”, I was rarely right. Rage: Genesis is a really cool story that is well done. And no spoilers here, but the way it ends is so much better than you think. 

This was one of those rare gems that you just stumble across. I don’t remember it being a thing, but 2014 had some monsters out that year - including Fate/Stay Night UBW, which is still one of my favorites. So, is possible people have talked about this one and I just wasn’t paying attention, but I still was taken by surprise by how very, very good Bahamut: Genesis is because I had never heard of it before. 

This is a crazy good anime that yes, you totally should watch. 

[justanotherskamstan]

My thoughts and ranking of on SKAM remakes so far

The special thing about the series SKAM as a whole was that it was authentic and a real reflection on teenage lives of Norwegians. The show creates extremely special moments with valuable lessons for everyone through a diverse, age-appropriate cast and shows that its creator, Julie Andem, did understand what the market was missing in terms of teen-drama shows. The show had a huge impact on the lives of its young actors and many viewers, creating a worldwide phenomenon, especially during its 3rd season run featuring the character Isak. The storytelling process of each season changes, because there is a different main character in each one, and the season tells their story and the stories of others through the main character’s perspective. Quite a unique thing to do, because most of the time teen shows feel like how the adult writers think teenagers would like/do, however, SKAM was very honest about the reality of teenagers and how it is not this perfect, pinky, beautiful world where everyone ends up happily ever after. The acting talent of the cast at such a young age was extraordinary, so kudos to Ms.Andem for creating this great melting pot of talented actors, amazing writers and a creative director to form this almost-perfect show. The show is not perfect, and with many pointing out the “problematic” aspects of certain characters, however, I feel like that adds to the realness of everything, since there are no perfect people in this world, especially at the age of making mistake and learning from them. The success of the show has spawned 7 international remakes so far, and I am going to rank them from my favorite to least favorite (most likely to rewatch willingly) with an accompanying analysis of the pros and cons of each. The order in which I watched them was SKAM Austin, OG SKAM, SKAM Italia, Druck, SKAM France, and then I live watched SKAM NL, SKAM Espana, WTFock and the current season of Druck along of SKAM Italia season 2. These are my thoughts and opinions, so please if you agree or disagree, don’t hate!

Druck (1 completed season, and 1 currently airing, future unsure)

Season 1 of Druck focuses on Hannah Jung (Eva) and her relationships with her boyfriend Jonas (Jonas) and her new group of friends, while season 2’s main character is Mia (Noora). There were many that ranks this remake as one of their least favorite, I think because it started airing during the same time frame as SKAM Italia (the most popular remake domestically and internationally) and SKAM Austin, so many did not give it a proper chance. The chemistry between Hannah and Jonas have got to be the best in all the remakes, particularly during the final episode of the season, when they eventually part ways to truly find out what they want before they could consider rekindling. The ways Jonas cried during that scene and the way they touched their noses together, weirdly enough made it very intimate without needing anything too risqué. The dynamic of Hannah’s girl squad was very well executed, as their respective personalities complimented each other’s well. Hannah’s father is probably the funniest SKAM parent character of all the remakes, since he is just slightly awkward enough and old-person enough to be funny without cringing. Druck is one of the remakes that stick pretty close to the original, but changes the characters, plot points, etc. just enough to make it their own without compromising on the SKAM framework. Besides Hannah, the standouts to me where Mia and girl Sam. Mia is an extremely beautiful, caring, but strong-minded character, but differs from the OG Noora in the fact that Mia is bisexual and her character’s actions in season 2 would not be something that Noora would be caught doing, even if it is in the name of protecting her friend. Girl Sam is completely different from OG Chris, as she is very sex-positive, funny, outgoing, and a character unique enough that I haven’t encountered anyone similar in all of the remakes. Mia and Sam are some of the best versions of their characters. Alex (William) is probably everyone’s least favorite William remake because he is so cold during the first season (and “looks like he’s married with kids”), which led to many complaints from viewers about how unrealistic it would be for Mia to fall for Alex in the second season, since she never really responded well to his advances in the first. However, so far into the second season their dynamic seems to have improved and the way the writers go about getting these two together have been very different from the OG. Let’s just wait and see where it takes us. But so far there have been noticeable improvements in the releasing of clips and the characters’ social media activity. During season 1, one of the weakest link of Druck was the real-time social media aspect, as there were irregular posts and the characters did not interact with one another very much. I think that the writers have listened to their audience and upped their social media game, and a noticeable example of this was a text between the girl squad about their respective careers after school which perfectly showcased the race, class dynamics of Germany. The first season was also extremely short compared to the other versions, and so far for season 2, every clip released has been a decent length, so good on them for improving on that. Also, the soundtrack of Druck is my favorite of all the remakes, as their spotify playlist have become my place to find new music. Also, the diversity of their casting is great, Amira, Sam, and Toilet-Sam are all POC, and Amira especially shows authentically how a hijab-wearing teenage girl in Germany is because she is one. 

The biggest issue I have with Druck has got to be the character of Kiki (Vilde). She has expressed ideas of Islamophobia, racism, and has a general aggressiveness to her. In the OG, after Vilde learns her lesson near the end of the first season, her attitude improves for the better, but Kiki has gotten worse in season 2, even though she got what she wanted, which was to get together with Alex. In the first episode her remark about how both Sams are black and named Sam was micro-aggression at its finest, but in season 2 she shows her temper when she exploded on Mia for being concerned about her diet/workout/drug-use. Even though she later apologized to Mia with an expensive gift, I think it would be hard for her to truly redeem herself in the eyes of the audience. The actress’s performance is not bad, but I question the reasoning behind the writer’s decision to make this character act this way, which maybe answered later in the season. Another concern I have about Druck is how its future going to be like. As the girl squad is in their final year of high school, and when they graduate in spring there would probably go off into different universities/jobs. Season 2 ends in March of 2019, so the odds of fitting in a Matteo (Isak) and a Amira (Sana) season before they all graduate seem impossible. The long hiatus between season 1 and 2 contributed to that especially, since they had to fail Alex’s character for German class so he could stay behind for a year to complete Mia story arc. Another minor complaint I’ve heard from many German-speaking viewers is that the language they speak seem very weird to native speakers, this is not really an issue for me as I rely solely on English subtitles to comprehend their conversations, but it has been noted. I’m very excited to see where this takes us, but hopefully they can make it work and renew for other seasons since season 2 has brought in a huge spike in viewership. 

2. WTFock (1 completed season, and renewed for a second)

The newest baby of the SKAM remakes family, and a surprising favorite of mine. Season 1 focuses on Jana (Eva) and her boyfriend Jens (Jonas), and follow the storyline of OG season 1 pretty closely. Also another underdog remake in my personal opinion, airing at the same time as SKAM Italia season 2 and the OG SKAM’s bloopers. The most special thing about WTFock is that even though it sticks pretty closely to the OG, its original scenes that is added changes the storyline ever so slightly so that it avoids the errors of previous remakes, which I think is very smart. An example of this is in the OG and several remakes, the character of William apologizes to Vilde in exchange for a date with Noora, however, in WTFock, Zoe (Noora) prompts Senne (William) to apologize to Amber (Vilde) on his own by sort of teasing/mocking his intelligence in an original scene. Many viewers called the OG version “blackmailing” and “manipulation”, so by changing that ever so slightly it gives it a different feel. Another positive change made to the storyline of Robbe’s (Isak) character is that in the OG, he tells Eva that the reason behind his decision to ruin her relationship with his best-friend is that he has feelings for her. However, in WTFock, Robbe confesses to Jana that he feels left out and jealous of the amount of time Jens spends with her, which is much more truthful than Isak’s reasoning. Jana’s mom is my favorite mom character in SKAM, since she is very sweet and caring, even though her job may make her physically and sometimes emotionally distant from her only child. Their mother and daughter bond was strengthened, for me at least, in the scene where it was revealed that Jana’s dad is dead, with the scene itself being very quiet but emotionally captivating at the same time. The best character to come out of WTFock is Zoe in my opinion. Her version of Noora is much more sarcastic, has very quick wit, strong-minded but also very soft towards those that she cares about. The dynamics of this girl squad is great, despite the fact that certain crucial scenes like the party scene was missing Yasmina (Sana), their bond blossomed very nicely. Especially the close friendship between Yasmina and Zoe has its groundwork laid out well, which would help make Zoe’s season more understandable. Also, Zoe’s connection with Senne in this remake is one of the most obvious one early on, as the inclusion of some original scenes in the last two episodes make it abundantly clear, as oppose to other remakes which usually wait till season 2 to build on their relationship further. Out of all the remakes, I can see that this one is the most wholesome, and easiest to like due to changes to make it “less problematic”. Also, their social media posts, especially Zoe’s is very aesthetically pleasing, and they are very interactive with one another on there. 

I think the casting of WTFock in general is great, everyone looks age-appropriate, even Senne, who’s actor is actually 22 according to wikipedia. I loved that Jana has braces, and even though they are usually considered ugly, she is still very confident and beautiful with them on. However, there is only 2 POC in the entire cast, not necessary the most diverse cast out of the remakes. I also don’t really like the idea of the only black character, Keisha (original character), befriending Jana and inviting her to a party, only to offer her drugs. I know it is a scene used to help us see Jana’s aversion to drug-use, which affects her relationship with Jens greatly, but did they really have to have the only black character be that type of character. I personally don’t feel like reinforcing bad stereotypes about black people is the greatest thing to do in this inclusive teen series. Maybe her character would have more screen time in season 2 with better character development. Also, the Mexican-themed party where Jana and Luka (P-Chris) kiss is really cultural appropriation at its finest. The beautiful scene where these two characters, whom I greatly ship together, is kind of destroyed by the huge sombrero hanging off of Luka’s neck. Maybe next season the writers can think of better themes for parties that don’t really include taking another culture and not really giving it the respect it deserves. Another problem I have is with the character of Jens himself, and how popular of a character he is compared to the other characters on social media, even though some of the things he says to Jana are very troubling. In the scene where Jana and Jens are talking on a bench by a lake/ocean, Jens mentions Jana’s drinking and comparing it to his choice to smoke weed. For his character to use his girlfriend’s choice to drink alcohol against her, and use it as leverage to justify his decision to skip out on the planned dinner with her mom to smoke weed and lying to her about who he was with seems much more questionable than the OG’s excuse. It was surprising to me how his character has the most Instagram followers out of everyone in the cast, most possibly because he is very good-looking, but still it is quite odd to see a character say very troubling things to be the most followed. Also, the decision for them to have a breakup sex scene I feel like was unnecessary for this remake, as unlike some other Eva and Jonas versions, their relationship seems less physical so it was kind of awkward for them to do that since they haven’t been doing that as much throughout the season. Another minor complaint is with the music choices. I have greatly enjoyed many songs from the WTFock spotify playlist, but the sheer number of them are so many that sometimes it detracts from the scenes that it is included with. Out of all the remakes, I think WTFock have used the most number of songs in just the first season, so maybe they can scale back on that a bit, quality over quantity. Despite not being the international fandom’s favorite remake, WTFock has achieved major success domestically, reaching 3 million views just from being an online series and got a spot to air on TV. The show runners have created the very good framework to expand into the next season, and with a few fixes here and there, I think this remake could get even better. I hope some of the casts’ interests could be incorporated into their characters next season, for example the actor who plays Luka does parkour, maybe we could get a scene where he showcases his skills to impress Jana. WTFock is the remake that has the very high chance of being renewed further. Also, this remake has got to be the show that says its name within the show the most out of any I’ve watch, maybe not say WTFock every episode, cause I’m pretty sure anytime I watch a movie or show where a character says the name of the film/show, my mind goes “Roll credits”, but that’s a personal thing. 

3. Tie- SKAM NL (1 completed season, and renewed for a second) and SKAM Italia (2 completed season, and completed filming for a third)

For me personally both SKAM NL and SKAM Italia have some great qualities to it, however, these remakes have some major issues that is harder for me to get passed. Had they been slightly different, these remakes would probably be at the top of my ranking. 

SKAM NL:

SKAM NL is one of the newer remakes to come out this year, and it did not disappoint. Season 1 is focused on Isa (Eva) and her storyline similar to that of the OG. The best thing going for SKAM NL is the casting choices. This cast is the most diverse out of all the remakes, Kes (Jonas), Imaan (Sana), Liv (Noora) etc. are all POC. This is the first remake to have a biracial Noorhelm, with the first biracial couple being Emma and Yann from SKAM France. There are so many great characters in SKAM NL, many which differ from the OG’s personalities. Even the pilot episode, which most remakes have copied exactly like the OG, was made very different in NL with Gijs (P-Chris) coming to introduce himself to Isa instead of her trying to find someone with a similar name, and for Isa to be entranced by Liv’s singing before they talk about Olivia (Ingrid) calling Isa a slut. The actress who plays Isa interpreted her role very different from any other version of Eva, which I think makes her the standout for NL. She’s fiercely herself in a way that the other Evas weren’t, and her confrontation scene with Olivia is one of the best, because instead of them both breaking down to tears, Isa makes the remark of something similar to “He (Kes) got both of us here, and look at us now.” which hit me as I came to greatly appreciate her version of the character. Another character which surprised me was Engel (Vilde). Her soft, sweet, and all thing pink personality was somewhat in line with the OG, but in the scene where the girls fought Gijs’ girlfriend, it was Engel who was one of the most proactive participants of the fight. She is one of the most naive Vildes, sometimes a little too naive, but her conversation with Isa on the street where she says something along the lines of “I admire you for who you are, but then you were not who I thought you were.” gave her character more depth than some other Vildes had. In general, all of the performances were great, and the soundtrack is excellent. The song accompanying Noah’s (William) first entrance was iconic and was stuck in my head for a few days. 

Because SKAM NL airs on TV as well as is released online, the amount of time for each episode have been an issue for me. Especially during the necessarily longer clips like the one where Isa confronts Kes after the news leaked about her kiss with Gijs, the scene was too short and didn’t give the audience enough time to process what the two were saying to each other and the emotional impact it has on their relationship before Kes stormed off with his skateboard and Isa was left alone. If the show had been online series only, I think the show itself could afford to be a bit longer and would have more success since its air time on TV was making it compete directly with one of the most popular shows in the Netherlands. In general, SKAM NL has been a very good series for me up until the season 1 finale, which had some moments where I really questioned the decisions made by the writers. First, the Isa and Kes breakup scene, where all they did was have sex. I know that their relationship is quite physical, so the scene did not feel weird, but afterwards they did not speak to each other much about their relationship and the impact their choices had to its ultimate doom. The breakup conversation to me is more important than the sex scene because it shows the character’s maturity in that they realize both of them have done wrong and should fix themselves before they can reunite. The cinematography for all of the series are great, but like SKAM NL I need Kes and Isa to talk more about their relationship ending. I think this directly links with the whole TV time slot problem that I mentioned before. It was very disappointing for me to see that the character of Imaan was not very prevalent in the show, not showing up to the final party. I know what it was mentioned the actress had personal issues that made her unavailable for filming, but I hope that come next season her character is more incorporated in the show, since her entrance scene is one of the best Sana introduction in all of the remakes. Another character whom I questioned the choices his character made in the finale was Noah. His character is wildly different from OG William, he’s the cool, artsy, weed-smooking type, which I really liked since it is so unique. However, in the final party when he apologized to Engel about insulting her, he also slipped Liv a note (which we did not get to see what was in it) in front of her friends. I know that most of the William characters only apologized to get Noora to agree on a date, making them have an ulterior motive, but Noah’s apology seem the most sincere out of all of them. I’m not quite sure how the writers are going to take on this characters and his relationship with Liv next season, but I hope they somehow justify his poor apology somewhat. Because I like their relationship’s dynamics, especially after that banter about “If you can count, don’t count on it” and the book head tap thing, but now I’m questioning myself for liking his character a bit. I appreciate that after a text was released where Janna (Chris) made a rape joke, the show-runners saw that the viewers didn’t like it and pulled it from the show, as they are displaying that they listen to their audience. Despite not being a complete success domestically, I feel like many international viewers loved SKAM NL’s changes to the OG, making it their favorite remake, for good reasons. I hope they improve on some of the issues from the first season and I can’t wait to see where Liv and Noah take us. 

SKAM Italia:

The golden standard of remakes, also the most popular domestically and internationally, set the bar high for remakes after it. The beautiful cinematography from season 1, along with the best acting performances from all of the remakes from Eva (Eva) and Martino (Isak). SKAM Italia has no many things going for it, the dynamics of the relationships, the girl squad and performances make it the “best remake” in many viewers’ opinions, also its IMBD score is also the highest out of all of the remakes, just a bit lower than OG SKAM. I would say that this remake is the most mature/risqué remake of them all. The inclusion of nudity in Eva and Gio (Jonas) sex scene make it much more passionate and stands out from others. Their relationship as a whole is quite a bit different from others, in the fact that Gio is like Eva’ best friend and boyfriend, as he understands her very well, even knowing where she will be without her telling him. In general, the couples of SKAM Italia have very good chemistry with one another, even Eleonora (Noora) and Eduardo (William), who have only shared a few scenes together, yet have palpable chemistry on screen. As season  3 have been confirmed as Eleonora’s, it would be very interesting to see their dynamics for full episodes instead of a few clips. Season 1 of SKAM Italia many consider even better than OG, I really don’t like saying anything is better than the original, but I will say that certain aspects of it is better, but not as a whole season. Season 2 has garnered critical acclaim, as the performances of Martino and Nico (Even) are very good. They hit many of the same points the OG did, like the underwater pool kiss, Nico having his mental breakdown leading to him running naked around the city, Martino’s home problems. However, I loved that in this remake, Martino and his mom somewhat made up, despite the fact that she can be a somewhat absentee parent, she ultimately loves her son and accepts him for who he is.  This season also creates this great bond between the boys of the boy squad, especially Gio and Martino, with Gio being the supportive friend Martino needed during some of his lowest points.

The biggest issue I have, and I think many would agree, is that SKAM Italia’s casting is very strange to say the least. A smaller aspect of it is that most of the cast is in their 20s, with Edoardo’s actor being 27, and most of them look their age, it is quite strange to see the actors looking like older college students playing high school roles. But since most of them are more experienced actors, I don’t think that the age makes a huge difference in the overall series. However, the casting choice for Sana (Sana) on the other hand is my biggest gripe. The actress who plays this character is not a Muslim person, nor is she a POC. The SKAM Italia cast is like all white people, which some may say “no one wants a POC character thrown in for no reason” but since SKAM is a reflection of teenagers in a diverse environment, especially set in Rome, one of the most popular cities in Europe, there is no excuse for not casting POC. The reason why OG Sana was authentic is because she playings parts of herself in the role, as a young Muslim hijab-wearing women in Oslo, and her experiences with discrimination/racism. As a white person who is not Muslim, I don’t really know how that Italian Sana is going to accurately portray the experiences of a young Muslim hijab-wearing women in Rome without having experienced it firsthand. I read somewhere that the actress is learning Arabic and reading the Quran to prepare for her season (don’t know if this is factual), but I hope that if (when) her season comes she can do the role some justice. It’s just kind of hard to get excited for the season where you know that its not going to be truly authentic. My biggest annoyance with season 2 is the cinematography. Compared to season 1, season 2 happens a lot at night, so many things happen in the dark or very dim lighting, making really hard to see what the hell is going on in certain scenes. I had to turn my screen brightness to the highest point to decipher what was happening sometimes. I know it is a metaphor for Martino’s turbulent situation and what not, but if I can’t even see that well what is happening in each scene, then Martino’s great performance has gone to waste. There were quite a few scandals over the run of season 2, like Nico saying the n-word during a scene. I agree that the viewers where justified in being mad at that, but for the director and the actors to try and justify their decision to include this scene was really troubling. The director of SKAM Italia is a very problematic person, in that he doesn’t admit that he’s wrong for casting Sana or the n-word scene, trying to justify his mistakes is just something I don’t want to see from someone who has the creative control of such a good series. Even some of the texts shared between the boy squad is really uncomfortable, as they sort of fat shame Federica (Chris), even though she invited them to her birthday party. The soundtrack is pretty good, but not my favorite, as I don’t really know much about some of the songs they have chosen. Overall, I can’t wait for season 3 to air, as I know it would be good. But for season 4, I’m not sure what to expect. There are some major issues for me with SKAM Italia, but I will continue to watch it until either I can’t stand the director’s decisions anymore or the dark scenes officially get too dark for me to see what’s going on. 

4. SKAM Espana (1 completed season, and renewed for a second)

The remake with the most changes to its name, SKAM Espana is surprising us viewers left and right with its twists and turns. My thing with this remake is that some of the changes I loved and some were did not agree with me. I was shocked that this remake was renewed for another season even before the first episode aired, as the first clip introducing Alejandro (William) garnered many international viewers’ interest.The main for season 1 is Eva (Eva), who is quite a unique Eva in her own right. She is the one Eva who cries the most often, and is more vulnerable compared to the OG. She doesn’t raise her opinion on things because she doesn’t want to lose her boyfriend, who she suspects has been lying to her. Her boyfriend Jorge (Jonas) is similar to other Jonas but instead of doing drugs behind her back, he was making her a really bad fake ID so that they can drink/club together. I don’t necessarily feel as much chemistry between them as compared to Druck’s or SKAM Italia’s version, so I am very grateful that they spared us the breakup sex scene and instead just had these two talk it out with one another. The scene was beautiful, starting with the barrier in between them and shooting at an angle where they look/feel separated, as opposed to the beginning of the season where they were stuck to the hip. Nora (Noora) and Eva’s friendship is very precious, as Nora stuck by Eva’s side when no one else would. She was the most supportive friend in the group and her interactions with Alejandro have been quite entertaining, with the last clip of them talking on a bench, her showing her jealousy really cute. The most beautiful change this version made was for Lucas (Isak) to come out to Eva that he is gay, instead of being exposed by his internet history by the Evas and Nooras of other remakes. The scene was touching, and the actors stepped up to the plate with his performance of a teen coming out of the closet. I loved that the finale scene was Eva spending her birthday with her girlfriends enjoying themselves, being the happy teenager that she deserves to be. 

Many people have an issue with SKAM Espana’s casting, and I kind of agree but for a different aspect of it. A lot of people say that the cast look really young, but since Nora’s actress is 16 and Alejandro’s actor is 18, I don’t really see a huge problem as long as their acting skills are good. However, the cast is really white, not as bad as SKAM Italia, but besides Amira (Sana), there are no other POC. Spain is a very diverse country, so to be so not diverse in casting is very disappointing. Also, the character of Cris (Chris) in this version is a very pretty, popular, skinny bisexual girl, very unlike the OG. My favorite remakes of this character have brought their own unique twists to the character, along with the funny aspects of the OG, like Druck’s Sam or SKAM Austin’s Jo, so for SKAM Espana’s Chris to be a regular pretty girl who kisses both boys and girls and is not interested in a relationship, I expected more out of her character, and hopefully I will see more in season 2. I kind of liked the twist of Lara (original character) being Chris’s girlfriend instead of some random girl Eva didn’t know. But the way the show handle the news being leaked by Viri (Vilde) and how the girl squad, besides Nora, kind of abandoned Eva afterwards is not what I wanted out of the situation and kind of ruined their group dynamics for me. Especially the way Amira, who was suspicious of something between Eva and Ines (Ingrid), tried goading Eva into telling her the story in a game of truth and dare. Also, how she treated Eva when the news hit and left her after saying “I asked you and you didn’t tell me”, even though Amira herself should know best how horrible it is to be ostracized by your peers. The cyberbullying instagram account spread across the school is a very different approach, but to suddenly one day after weeks of harassment, just by Viri posting a photo of Christian kissing another girl, everyone in school started to feel bad for Eva. I don’t really believe that is how it would have happened in real life, and also, Viri never truly redeemed herself after the leakage for me, as she was judging and seeing Eva in pain and still did nothing until things got way out of hand. After that happened everyone’s friends again, like if I was Eva I wouldn’t be so quick to accept these people back into my life after what they have done. Also, Eva accusing Lucas of being the leak and liking Jorge, especially after he came out to only her was a very low blow. Her apology wasn’t really adequate, but hey, if Lucas is okay with it then I guess we’re good. The ending didn’t feel right as it left a few questions unanswered and probably won’t answer it ever, like who was behind that instagram account that posted photos of Eva accusing her of being a prostitute and nasty stuff. The two more minor things that I really don’t get is the herpes/STDs and the cats. Alejandro giving Viri herpes is an important lesson for girls about protection and safe sex, but every time I see Alejandro on screen I see him with this blob of herpes thing on his lip, so does Viri. I know the actor who plays Alejandro is a model in real life, and he’s very handsome, but once you see someone with herpes, you really can’t unsee the herpes. Also, the crown for most confusing/weirdest SKAM scene I’ve ever seen is for SKAM Espana’s cat scene with Eva and Jorge. I was sat there thinking what the hell is this, what does any of this mean, like what am I watching. The soundtrack is ok, not great but not bad, I somewhat appreciate sentiment of including of a slower Spanish song during the fight scene, but it kind of killed the vibe of the scene for me. I am going to watch season 2, as there is potential for this remake to be better, but I’m not sure how they are going to go about it, since they have not announced who is going to be the main character for season 2 yet. The performances so far have been good for such young/inexperienced actors. 

5. SKAM France (2 completed seasons, completed filming for the third and fourth seasons)

Everyone says this remake is like the copy and paste version of OG SKAM, and I have to largely agree. Season 1 and 2 have been very cut and dry, not interesting to say the least. The main thing going for this remake is its potential for improvement for the next seasons. As there is a new director for seasons 3 and 4, and I have read somewhere that since France was the first remake, they were forced to follow the OG very closely so they could get the rights to it (cannot confirm if this is factual). What I appreciate most about SKAM France is the chemistry between Manon (Noora) and Charles (William), as they are a couple in real life, their performances show much passion and love for one another. The breakout star to me is Daphne (Vilde), as she is the classiest Vilde, the perfect combination of sweet, kind and also naivety. She is the one character out of the OG 4 that I hope gets her own season to explore her story further. Also, Emma’s (Eva) performance did improve between seasons 1 and 2, which is kind of ironic cause she’s funnier to me in the season that she’s not the main character. Also, the casting for SKAM France I think had diversity in mind, since Yann (Jonas), Imane (Sana) and Alex (P-Chris) are all POC. Besides the fact that the actors for Charles and Alex are really hot, I’m running out of positive things to say about SKAM France. 

The thing I think is the thing going against it the most is the filming schedule of this remake. Seasons 1 and 2 were filmed within about a month, and so did seasons 3 and 4. I think that is not enough time to film all of the necessary scenes and make them good. It is hard to take in audience feedback after you have already wrapped up filming months ago. Also, since the show is aired on TV, it runs into the same issue for me as SKAM NL, which is that due to the strict TV time slots, it cuts out important moments from the OG that builds the feel of authenticity and cuts things very short, especially the scene where in the OG Noora played the guitar and sang for William, which I wished the French version did, because the actress who plays Manon can sing. For me, in season 1, when Yann threw his skateboard to the floor I sort of bursted out laughing, which now thinking about it, it really wasn’t funny, but to me at the time the scene made no sense. Why are you throwing your skateboard on the ground, there are more ways to show anger/frustration, physical violence is not really necessary. Also, I am slightly concerned about season 3, as the actor who plays Lucas (Isak) hasn’t really done much of anything throughout the series. I hope that he is capable of taking on such an emotionally damaged character who has gone through and is going to be put through a lot in his season. I will watch SKAM France, but not likely to rewatch it in full. I like certain scenes, but those I can catch the clips of without having to watch an entire episode. I think this remake has a great potential to be renewed for more seasons outside of the OG 4, so here’s to hopping they put all of their creative juices together and make something original for Daphne’s journey. 

6. SKAM Austin (1 completed season, and renewed for a second)

The first SKAM series I watched and did not hold up over a second rewatch. It is not a bad show by any means, compared to other US teen shows this is probably one of the most realistic ones (compared to stuff like Riverdale), but as someone who lived in Austin and went through a Texas high school this show falls very short of reality. The thing I liked most about the show was the confrontation scene where Grace (Noora) says “Move!” to Daniel (William), that was iconic and I rewatched that scene several times. The best thing to come out of SKAM Austin is Jo (Chris), she’s a funny, unique, charismatic Latina and I honestly have met people just like her, so I loved seeing a character that resembles real people. A YouTuber that I watched said something along the lines of SKAM Austin guys aren’t that hot, and compared to their European counterparts, they aren’t really. But as someone who’s been through high school here, let’s just say the pickings are slim, and you got the best ones out of it. Also, Shay (Isak) is a very interesting character and I hope to see where her season goes, if they get renewed. Don’t know too much about her, but I liked how Grace discovered that she was already out as a lesbian to Tyler (original character), it is more believable than checking the person’s browser history. Another nice touch was Jo (P-Chris) and Megan having hooked up before, giving it more of a backstory, but that really wasn’t explained further than their discussion on the bowling date, which pretty much went no where. 

I’m glad that Julie is getting her SKAM on, but to be honest with you, I would have rather had a different person at the creative control for this show. Because there are a lot of plot holes/things that don’t make sense, which shows that whoever wrote it doesn’t really know much about Texas high schools or American teenagers in general. Football season ends in December-ish, depending on whether your team makes it to the playoffs and advances further to state or not. So football practice in May is not believable, cause summer camp for football players start during the summer holidays. I know we all kind of enjoy the cliche of Americans playing football, but honestly, if you do it, please do it right. The dance team, which also makes no sense to me. The girls’ parents make monthly payments to pay for trips to competitions, uniforms, training camps, etc. Once you quit, your parents would know pretty soon that you’re not on the team, so I’m quite surprised that Megan’s (Eva) parents kept paying hundreds of dollars for something she wasn’t doing anymore. And creating a new dance team takes more than just 5 students, there is the coach, the assistant coach, all of the costume, performance training, etc. And so for Zoya (Sana) to want to join a dance team, aka the girls who perform at football games, is very odd to me because their uniforms are not conservative. The premise them getting together with football guys so they get to perform at the games and be more popular is ludicrous, because the people putting football game performances together are the band director, cheer director and the dance team director, not the football players themselves. Maybe if you wanted to be more popular, then yes, getting with football guys will get you there, but they can’t really help your dance team recruit people. In my high school with over 2 thousand students, there was only 1 hijab-wearing girl, and we had a few classes together. Let’s just say I went to high school in a more conservative part of Texas and I have never seen the girl been treated badly or been ostracized for her religion, and Austin is a much more liberal and diverse city. Since in the school here you go from elementary to high school with pretty much the same people, most of these kids have known each other for years if they hadn’t moved from the school district, so it is hard for me to believe that these girls (beside Grace) have never met each other before. I wish that had picked something else to kind of get the girls together, since anyone who’s been through high school knows this is unrealistic. I also wish they had done something else to show Zoya being discriminated against, cause I am really tired of the dumb blond cliche. I also never got the idea for a regional/city SKAM, cause usually the remakes are SKAM (country name), and so had it been SKAM USA, I won’t have griped on so much, but since it has Austin in the name, I am disappointed it did not capture the authentic feel of a Texas public high school. Some of the actors are not from Texas, so you can kind of pick up their West/East Coast accents, not the biggest problem, but noticeable if you are from here. The use of slang words were kind of all over the place, just because teens say “Lit” a lot doesn’t mean you should incorporate it into every scene, this feels like how an adult would use teen slang, very awkward placement. Also, I am not sure why there weren’t many more trendy things if they were going for the authenticity. No whip and nae nae, no the floor is lava, no flipping a half full water bottle to make it stand straight, and no dabbing. I mean, the best American high school has to offer is not incorporated. Since the show is on Facebook, I know they have to use Facebook products, but seriously, no teen uses Facebook to connect with friends, they do it for the older family members to message them, and maybe see a few racist/homophobic posts made by them. The actors are young and inexperienced, so I can kind of get not having their performances be the best of the best, but Megan is not good at all. I’m sorry, but her performance was the weak link in this whole thing, and her and Marlon are the most annoying couple of all SKAM, and that’s including Vilde and Magnus from the OG, who were sucking faces 24/7. Their relationship was pretty shitty and I was not rooting for either of them, especially after I found out that Marlon was a drug dealer and Megan still stayed with him. All they did was smush and argue, with not good chemistry or emotions from Megan. Marlon is pretty delusional in that he thinks his music is 1) good, 2) something he can live off of. Also, the car wash breakup sex scene is so overdone at this point. Has anyone ever been to a car wash, it doesn’t last that long, so all that passionate smushing probably lasted for a maximum of 3 minutes in real life. The bowling date was weird in that there was no one else there besides them, so did 4 teenagers rent out an entire bowling alley for a double date? The actors are teenagers from Texas for the most part, so I am kind of shocked that they didn’t tell Julie and the writers about how they would act in school to add to the realism. I am very thankful that watching this series led me to discovering SKAM universe, but I am sort of not the most excited for season 2, since having watched how great all of the remakes are, it’s very hard to compete. I don’t know how the show is going to go on after season 2, since Daniel is graduating in May/June, so after that is Grace going to London with him? Because of the long hiatus, the show has 2 more seasons after season 2 to do if they want to do it the OG way, and there’s like one year left on the clock to do so, but like the show only produces one season a year, so I’m not sure how it’s going to work out. Wishing them the best, hope they get renewed so they can improve. When season 2 comes, I may watch it just to see if anything’s improved.

Notes and observations about the way different remakes handle the actors social media: 

It was really interesting to see SKAM NL and SKAM Espana come out at the same time, yet have such different approach to the actors’ social media usage. SKAM Espana actors all have their social media on private and they don’t really post anything, according to what I’ve heard. But SKAM NL cast have public social media, and they comment and like stuff if they are tagged on it. SKAM Austin, SKAM Italia, and SKAM France cast also have public social media. Some of the SKAM Italia cast will also answer questions about the show if you DM them, which is pretty cool. On the flip side, Druck and WTFock’s cast is have private Instagrams. But weirdly enough I have seen some of the WTFock cast like stuff on Twitter, along with their director, which is cool since they know what their audience is responding to. The actor who plays Alex on Druck, Chris Veres, posts Instagram lives where he answered questions about the show, but for the rest of the cast they are pretty irregular with social media usage. 

Please let me know if you agree or disagree with me, and what things you thought I overlooked in my evaluation of each remake. I’m open to hear your thoughts as well, but please don’t diss one remake/version for another. We all love different things. Sorry for the long essay length, I got so into it and spent 5 hours typing my thoughts it, it may not be very cohesive, but it pretty summarizes my thoughts on each remake and the reasoning behind it. 

[asosggc]

 Here are some basics about me. My major is in CMAP or film and I want to concentrate in design and productions. I am a sophomore at GGC! My name is Amira and I was born in San Jose, California. I moved to Georgia when I was six-years-old, so I have been living in Georgia for about 15 years. My ethnic background is Cambodia that is where my family is from. I really enjoy doing creative things that deal with modeling, styling, drawing, and photography. I like modeling in front of the camera. I also love doing nails. I love drawing little artwork on nails. You guys can follow my nail page on instagram to check out more of my work if you’d like @babymiranails! My passion is for the art side of the world. I am a goofy individual and I find myself very unique. My favorite colors are black, pink, blue, and green and my favorite type of food is pasta and cheesecake.

[ireviewuread]

5 Ways to Penpal on a Budget + Common Penpal FAQs

As the journal community grow, I see an increase to the snail mailing community as well. However, there’s a misconception that you need expensive stationery to start sending letters. Thus, I created this post to clear up the misconception and teach you how to penpal while being on a low budget.

This video is a collaboration video with Amira Kang. Over Amira’s channel, she touches on 5 easy penpal ideas.

5 Ways to Penpal on a Budget

Contrary to popular beliefs, you don’t need much stationeries to start pen paling. Those stationeries are the cherry on the top. Pen palling is about telling your story and bonding with another person. With that, here are five ways you can pen pal on a budget.

1. Calligraphy

You can start your letter with brush lettering. I use a Tombow brush pen for my regular calligraphy and a mildliner for the more colourful ones. I use the Pilot’s Choose gel pen to add details to my calligraphy. I learned how to calligraph using Aly’s Brushing lettering and Simple Floral guidebook. It comes with the Tom Bow brush pen and Pigma Micron 01. I’m not sure how much is the set for it was a gift from my friend. These days with so many resources out there, you can easily learn brush lettering online.

Aside from starting letters with calligraphy, you can also create cards and other decorative as well.

2. Story of your life

Going into the body of the letter. Many people often ask about what to write in your letters. From your daily life to your favourite song, you can write about anything. Write about your fondest memory. What happened in your school or work. Write about that time you had a horror date or that time your child did something so ridiculous that it is funny. Remember everyone have a story to tell, including yourself.

Here are some supporting questions for you to write about or even for you to ask your pen pals:

What makes you happy today? It doesn’t have to be the big happiness, small happiness like finding a new song that you like counts too.

What’s your favourite local cuisine? Describe the dish and why you like it.

What do you collect? I collect postcards so that I can fill my entire wall with it. That’s my ultimate collection goal.

What’s your favourite TV show? You can fan gir/ fan boy over it here.

What do you normally do at home? Let’s be frank, I normally roll  on my bed and watch youtube at home or I just lie on the sofa and watch whatever is on TV. Even though we may not do much at home, it’s nice to share and hear from another party that they don’t do much too. 

3. Pamphlets

While telling my pen pals the stories of my life, I like to back it up with pamphlets. These pamphlets can be from the museums you went to or a take out menu from your favourite place. What may seemed like trash to you is a wonder to someone else for these ephemeras are unique to each location and country. You can add post it notes to these pamphlets so that your pen pal can understand your experiences when you go to these locations better. If you have too much ephermeras, you can create an envelope out of these pamphlets to contain them. Such a wonderful way to reuse and recycle.

Games to play - Mad Libs

You can play games with your pen pals as well. Mad libs is where one person prompts the other person for a list of words. These list of words are used for you to fill in the blanks in the story. You’re not supposed to read the story before filling in the blanks. That makes the game different and funny for all.

Origami

Sometimes origami can be too bulky for your letter and your postal services would want to charge you extra. In those times, just send the origami paper and the instructions to create the origami with the letter to prevent a bulky letter. After all, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

4. Drawings

If you can’t print it, draw it. Be it drawing of your favourite cartoon or a character you just made, all you need is a paper and a pencil to start drawing. If drawing is not your forte, you can start by tracing. Use your phone as a light box to trace the outline and you can fill in the details after that. The more your practice, the better you will be.

Aside from cartoon or made up characters, you can draw a map. Here, my penpal sent me a map on the places that she have traveled to. It help give life to the words on paper.

5. Digital Penpal | Email Pen Pal

Lastly, if traditional pen palling is not for you, go digital. Electronic pen palling is great for the pocket plus the internet is your stationery. You can simply type your letter in the body of an email or be a little extra like me. I use photoshop to create my letters. There I add photos, fancy fonts and digital washi tape to brighten up my letter. Amira go into more details about digital penpaling here, so do check that out.

Common Pen pal/ penpal FAQs

Where do you find pen pals? 

I find pen pal from Facebook groups such as Snail Mail Pen Pals Ladies Only. This group was recommended to me by an acquaintance who found her penpal there. You can also find penpal in journal facebook groups or even on instagram if you follow the tag, #Lookingforpenpals. Most people who have journal themed accounts would be penpalling or are looking for penpals.

How do you pick pen pals?

As Amira and I both agreed, we would be more incline to go towards people who are looking for pen pals to give a short introduction of themselves instead of just dropping a message that says “Penpals?”. It allows us to get to know more about you and trust you enough to want to be your penpal.

How do you deal with people who are just in it for the gifts?

Recently, there’s an increasing amount of people getting into penpalling for the wrong reasons. Be it to gain free stationery or to get a collection of letters from the other side of the world. Or just here for a short while because of a trend.

For me, I deal with this people by checking out their profiles and do a little FBI stalking before considering. Then, I would ask them to send me a first letter too while I am also working on their first letter. The first letter is always like a trail letter for me so I send the basic information about me with no stationery to test the waters. Once I get their first letter, I’ll reciprocate appropriately. If they send me some stationery, I’ll send them back the same amount of stationery in the next letter. So it differs for every penpal. 

For Amira, she would take people who send her an introduction more seriously than those who don’t. After some conversations, then they will proceed. You can hear more about this topic in our Instagram live Part 1. In part 2, we touched on Penpal essentials and show you some of our stationery.

However, don’t jump to the conclusion so quickly for sometimes your mail can just be lost in transit so do contact your penpal first if you don’t get a mail after a few months.

Things you should not sent to your penpals.

Plants, Seeds, Dried Flowers - Countries limitations (example, Singapore)

Food Items - Expiry dates and certain countries limitations (example, Australia and New Zealand)

Items associated withe ending friendships or relationships - Knives (Switzerland, Germany, South America) ; Handerkerchiefs (Middle East) ; Handkerchiefs, Umbrellas, Scissors, Knives, Shoes (China) 

Sometimes tea can’t pass the border of certain countries too soo be sure too ask your pen pals about the countries restrictions first.

Final things to note about penpalling.

Pen palling requires patience. Be it waiting for the mail or waiting for your penpal to reply. Do understand that sometimes life get in the way and your pen pals are not able to penpal anymore so do understand that. Pen palling is about creating a friendship and all the gifts are just a bonus. Be creative, have an open mind and treat others how you want to be treated.

[smokeybrandreviews]

Grand Fantasy

I’ve been a fan of Granblue Fantasy for sometime and didn’t even know it. I was one of the few who enjoyed the Shingeki No Bahamut anime a few years ago. The world building, characterization, and animation, in particular, were high quality. There was a bevy of creativity there and I couldn’t wait to revisit that world. I wouldn’t have to wait long because it god a second season focused on a different character. I even enjoyed that series, though, admittedly, it wasn’t as great as the first. While i found Nina’s misadventures adorably endearing, I was absolutely smitten with Amira and her plight. Virgin Soul had an uphill battle to steal away my affection for Genesis and while it came close, it didn’t make the cut. That said, both shows are excellent.

Having found a franchise i rather enjoyed, I went to work trying to learn everything about it. That little glimpse was definitely just the tip of a massive and sprawling world. Imagine my surprise when it was connected directly to that mobile game, Grand Blue Fantasy. Sure enough, all of these characters I loved and this world that had caught my attention, were just sin-off titles from this elaborate ass card game lore. I dove face first into this thing, studying everything about it. I wanted to know as much as i could about that universe. If side tales could be so compelling, what was the main narrative about? How dope are the principal characters. Why the f*ck didn’t this story have an adaption. To my surprise, it was actually getting one. The Gran Blue Fantasy animation dropped and i was just as captured by it, as I was watching Genesis for the first time. Probably more so. As much as I adored the characters in Genesis, Grand Blue’s protagonists were much more accessible, much more endearing. I found myself rooting for these misfits almost instantly. And that Tiamat battle? Bro.

Three anime adaptions in, and I was hooked. I loved this world. I loved the way it was built, the laws that govern it’s narrative, and the function of magic driving the story. I loved that there were gods, angels, demons, primals, and other ancient creature that fed into the countless adventures at hand. When Manaria Friends was announced, I was on board, one hundred percent. That said, while i enjoyed the world building and some of the characters, the slice of life aspects were kind of mundane. It’s easily my least favorites of the Granblue franchise but i still enjoyed most of it. It added to the overall lore of Grandblue and Grea is absolutely adorable. I found myself completely smitten with the franchise but at a loss. You can’t play Granblue stateside. The only version available here is Shadowverse. I haven’t looked into any of that because I’m perturbed about being shafted the main game but we did get Granblue Fantasy Versus. Let me tell you, man, this game is the one!

Versus is a fighting game entered around a lot of the more popular characters in the franchise. It’s gorgeous graphics are true to the beautiful animation style of the animes but it’s that chaotically unique battle system that Arc System Works is known for, which is the real draw. Granblue meets Guilty Gear and it’s f*cking amazing! The launch roster was absolutely great, headlined by Gran, himself, and other hitters like Katalina, Zeta, Charlotta, and Lancelot. I was good with that but then the First Season Pass characters were announced and I lost my sh*t. Narmaya is out and a goddamn beast by my interests lies in Zooey. She’s the most powerful Primal in lore. What crazy sh*t is Arc System Works going to do with her? I can’t wait to see! And neither can the fighting game community as this thing has become insanely popular among them. Hopefully, there’s some crossover success with more casual gamers because this thing is great exposure to the franchise. I love Grandblue, man, and I want more people to love it as well. I want it to reach Fate levels of popularity. It’s a dope as franchise with great characters, storytelling, and world building. Granblue deserves to be spoken about like one of the best modern multi-media franchises out.

[smokeybrand]

Grand Fantasy

I’ve been a fan of Granblue Fantasy for sometime and didn’t even know it. I was one of the few who enjoyed the Shingeki No Bahamut anime a few years ago. The world building, characterization, and animation, in particular, were high quality. There was a bevy of creativity there and I couldn’t wait to revisit that world. I wouldn’t have to wait long because it god a second season focused on a different character. I even enjoyed that series, though, admittedly, it wasn’t as great as the first. While i found Nina’s misadventures adorably endearing, I was absolutely smitten with Amira and her plight. Virgin Soul had an uphill battle to steal away my affection for Genesis and while it came close, it didn’t make the cut. That said, both shows are excellent.

Having found a franchise i rather enjoyed, I went to work trying to learn everything about it. That little glimpse was definitely just the tip of a massive and sprawling world. Imagine my surprise when it was connected directly to that mobile game, Grand Blue Fantasy. Sure enough, all of these characters I loved and this world that had caught my attention, were just sin-off titles from this elaborate ass card game lore. I dove face first into this thing, studying everything about it. I wanted to know as much as i could about that universe. If side tales could be so compelling, what was the main narrative about? How dope are the principal characters. Why the f*ck didn’t this story have an adaption. To my surprise, it was actually getting one. The Gran Blue Fantasy animation dropped and i was just as captured by it, as I was watching Genesis for the first time. Probably more so. As much as I adored the characters in Genesis, Grand Blue’s protagonists were much more accessible, much more endearing. I found myself rooting for these misfits almost instantly. And that Tiamat battle? Bro.

Three anime adaptions in, and I was hooked. I loved this world. I loved the way it was built, the laws that govern it’s narrative, and the function of magic driving the story. I loved that there were gods, angels, demons, primals, and other ancient creature that fed into the countless adventures at hand. When Manaria Friends was announced, I was on board, one hundred percent. That said, while i enjoyed the world building and some of the characters, the slice of life aspects were kind of mundane. It’s easily my least favorites of the Granblue franchise but i still enjoyed most of it. It added to the overall lore of Grandblue and Grea is absolutely adorable. I found myself completely smitten with the franchise but at a loss. You can’t play Granblue stateside. The only version available here is Shadowverse. I haven’t looked into any of that because I’m perturbed about being shafted the main game but we did get Granblue Fantasy Versus. Let me tell you, man, this game is the one!

Versus is a fighting game entered around a lot of the more popular characters in the franchise. It’s gorgeous graphics are true to the beautiful animation style of the animes but it’s that chaotically unique battle system that Arc System Works is known for, which is the real draw. Granblue meets Guilty Gear and it’s f*cking amazing! The launch roster was absolutely great, headlined by Gran, himself, and other hitters like Katalina, Zeta, Charlotta, and Lancelot. I was good with that but then the First Season Pass characters were announced and I lost my sh*t. Narmaya is out and a goddamn beast by my interests lies in Zooey. She’s the most powerful Primal in lore. What crazy sh*t is Arc System Works going to do with her? I can’t wait to see! And neither can the fighting game community as this thing has become insanely popular among them. Hopefully, there’s some crossover success with more casual gamers because this thing is great exposure to the franchise. I love Grandblue, man, and I want more people to love it as well. I want it to reach Fate levels of popularity. It’s a dope as franchise with great characters, storytelling, and world building. Granblue deserves to be spoken about like one of the best modern multi-media franchises out.

[wildlilaccdciris]

Friday, September 22nd

Today, I sent out one of our runs of “Bunnies Love Piggies” by email. So far, we’ve worked on 3 different plays, one for each week. Our first two used books for our inspiration. We had read “Pinkalicious”, and last year Amira and I went with others to see Pinkalicious the Musical by the Portland Children’s Theater. Saoirse’s “Commotion in the Ocean” was inspired by a book of the same title that featured rhyming poems about sea creatures.

Rowan’s play is unique in that it uses a story he wrote! Dramatizing children’s story is an extremely useful tool in developing early literacy. A few people have been interested in the process of putting on a play with preschoolers, so I’d like to share the steps that I use:

Part 1 - Dictation Rowan sat with Shelby on a day that she substituted and dictated a story to her. Being able to watch his words as they were written out and to hold on to a hard copy gives Rowan’s story the respect it deserves and gives him confidence in his creativity. We frequently record dictation from the children regarding they’re artwork and their puppet stories. All of these can be used as inspiration for a play.

Part 2- Making Everything I read through Rowan’s story with the class at lunch and asked people what they thought we were going to need. Being the director, Rowan had the final say in what we made/how we made it. The class decided we needed a T.V. (playing Batman), lobsters for the characters to eat, pig noses and bunny ears. Over the next few days, we painted everything and glued it all together. I suggested that we build our lobsters out of large Legos but Rowan decided we should make red paintings and cut them out.

Part 3 - Characters Because theater is all about teamwork (and good leadership) we needed to find a way to adjust Rowan’s story so that it included everyone. On Thursday, Rowan, Carmen and Owen all came to school in Batman gear, so during our informal practice in the gym (after we set the stage with a table and chairs), Rowan added “bad guys” who came out of the T.V. and fought with the bunnies. We made three groups of characters: piggies, bunnies, and bad guys. I set up three distinct places for the groups to gather, which helps organize the start of the show. Piggies started sitting around the table, bunnies gather by the blue crate so they could hop on, and bad guys sat on the purple mat.

Part 4 - the Teacher/Parent The best part about doing theater with a mixed-age group is that the older students can really take charge, and the adult can step back and lend an unobtrusive helping hand. When people started to argue, Tilly would frequently remind them, “Rowan gets to choose because my brothers the director.” And Saoirse reminded the group setting the stage, "don't move them, Rowan wants the plates in a certain order." I mostly asked questions. Like, “there’s a table in your story, how do think we can make a table?”, “what parts of a bunny or a pig are the most important to show?” and “Saoirse wants to make a couch. Can we put it over there?” Offering a limited amount of choice in materials is helpful. And if you are making costumes, that can require more adult involvement. For our ears and noses, the kids painted thick paper and I cut them out. I offered hot glue guns and pipe cleaner for the kids to attach to the pig noses and I glued the ears on ribbons. I also made a couple extra of each at home just in case. Most of them fell apart but they were fun to make! For our T.V. I gave Rowan a large canvas and asked him what color a T.V. was and then everyone grabbed a brush and painted it black. (Our first one was blue but I accidentally left it out in the rain and had to apologize to Rowan.) Also, I was the reader. Because I was narrating the story, I could encourage children to act out the different cues and really physically embody the show, which makes it fun and easy to participate at any age!

I’m encouraged by how many times the children want to do the play. We ran through “Bunnies Love Piggies” five times! Until my throat hurt from the projecting and I asked to stop, otherwise we might have kept going. It was most exciting when parents came and were able to watch.

For our next play, I will send out an invitation in case parents would like to be part of the audience! Now that we are really getting the hang of it, I hope to help write more of the children’s own plays.

-Madison

[jodybouchard9]

The Year’s 6 Biggest Living Room Design Trends Put Your Style on Display

imaginima/iStock; Wikipedia CC; realtor.com

Too many people think that home design trends should be picked up and dropped with the seasons, slavishly following whatever designers say without referring to what they actually like. But that’s not the way it should be. Sure, design experts can offer valuable perspective on creating an atmosphere, and often have new ideas on how to do so. But your passions and preferences should always be part of the mix—and this year, the key living room design trends are all about putting your style on display.

From gallery-worthy pedestal side tables to TVs that double as artwork, these fashionable flourishes are another way to share your personality with your guests. Don’t hold back—go big on over-the-top maximalist touches like velvet and mohair fabrics on a curved sofa or chair. All this will help create a space that’s way better for starting conversations than any cookie-cutter living room.

Here’s a look at the year’s six top design trends for your living room.

1. Televisions disguised as artwork

Photo by Marla Schrank Interiors  It’s great to have a big-screen TV when you’re watching a game or an Oscar-nominated film, but when you have folks over to mingle, it’s just an unsightly black patch in your living room, sucking up atmosphere. Over the years, various solutions have popped up—Put it in a cabinet! Draw a curtain in front of it!—but now we think this thing has been solved.

“TVs should look like art when not in use, which is why hidden televisions are one of the new and top living room trends of 2019,” says interior designer Amira Johnson.

Whether you prefer Picasso’s cubist figures or Japanese woodblock prints, Samsung’s Frame television (starting at $1,199) will display it with the click of a remote.

2. Pedestal displays

Photo by Sun & Moon Home LLC

Of course, not all art comes in a frame. Another hot trend this year makes use of museum-style pedestal displays in the living room, says Annabel Joy, interior designer at Trim Design Co.

“Decorating one’s home has always been a method for self-expression and visual storytelling, but this is becoming more mainstream,” she says. “In what I’m terming the ‘home curator’ trend, homeowners are more interested than ever in creating one-of-a-kind spaces filled with an eclectic and tightly curated mix of vintage unique pieces.”

These don’t have to be actual artworks, just interesting things you like—say, your cactus collection, or some neat souvenirs you picked up on vacation. Be sure to display at least three to get the effect right.

3. Patterns on patterns

Photo by Jessica Buckley Interiors  For the past couple of years, design-focused homeowners have been trading in their solid accent walls for something with a little more oomph. Patterns and textures quickly became de rigueur, from rustic shiplap to bold and edgy wallpaper.

But now we’re taking things one step further: We’re not just choosing one look to highlight—we’re choosing them all.

While it might sound like scary overload, just try layering patterns like animal prints, florals, stripes, and geometrics within the same color scheme, recommends Danielle Walish, creative director at furniture company The Inside. That way, your living room will still look pulled together even as you go wild with patterns.

For example, you can pair this coral, zebra-print chair with striped wallpaper, as long as you stick to the black-and-white background scheme.

4. Curved furniture—with a twist

Photo by New Perspective Design, Inc.  Speaking of patterns, you can also find them on another of the year’s top living room trends: curved furniture. Curved sofas, chairs, tables, and accessories are (ahem) rounding out living room looks now, explains Leslie Saul of Leslie Saul Architecture and Interiors.

“Not only is the furniture curvy,” she says, “but it is also colorful and patterned, which is exciting for those of us who aren’t minimalists.”

They’re a true conversation piece, too, notes Caroline Grant of Dekar Design.

“We’re noticing more and more living rooms with nontraditional sofa shapes that are designed for conversation and hosting, rather than focused around a TV,” she says.

5. Throwback lighting

Photo by Litecraft  A stylish lamp can really make your living room stand out. This year, Joy says she’s seeing a nod to the past, with semiconical lampshades (which have an A-line shape) replacing the more common drum shades (which are cylindrical).

Another throwback trend Joy recommends is a pleated lampshade. Once considered an antique style, pleats are making a comeback and can look stylish when incorporated into a modern living room, since patterns and textures are again put on display.

6. Maximalist fabrics

Photo by accoutergroup  Maximalism is alive and well when it comes to home decor this year (sorry, Marie Kondo fans). That means over-the-top fabrics like velvet and mohair are appearing in living rooms everywhere, notes Susan Minard, an interior designer with San Francisco Design.

“These materials help create a warm and inviting living space,” she says.

Luckily, you don’t have to be rich to feature rich fabrics, adds Justin M. Riordan, founder and designer at Spade and Archer Design Agency.

“You may be thinking only hoity-toity rich folks can have velvet in their home. Not true! With technology these days, there are plenty of velvetlike fabrics that are affordable and easy to clean,” he says.

Look out for velvet and mohair side chairs, benches, and throw pillows.

“These are all great ways to incorporate these fabrics into your home design,” Riordan says.

The post The Year’s 6 Biggest Living Room Design Trends Put Your Style on Display appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

[hub-pub-bub]

Many of us can picture our kindergarten classrooms with nostalgia. And there’s a reason for that—early learning classrooms are unique. They are fun, vibrant and engaging spaces where young learners explore the world around them, create relationships and grow.

So when the tech community talks about introducing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in early education settings, it’s no wonder the concept stirs up fears of a dystopian future. We imagine a scary world where educators are replaced by machines and children are disconnected from one another, where joyful activities become robotic and isolating.

After all, these classrooms are rooted in the power of social-emotional experiences and relationships—won’t we lose a critical human connection if we introduce bots and voice-recognition AI? Not if we do it the right way.

AI has the potential to improve classroom engagement and empower educators so they can deepen their focus on building critical relationships with their students and differentiate instruction.

Facing Our Challenges

The cornerstone of early learning is building literacy skills, yet despite this focus, data shows that many children are falling behind. According to an assessment byThe Nation’s Report Card, only 35 percent of public school students were at or above “proficient” in fourth grade reading. Research also reveals that students who are not reading proficiently by third grade will continue to struggle throughout their school years, and they are four times less likely to graduate from high school than their peers.

We have some fundamental and nuanced challenges to tackle, and we shouldn’t be afraid of taking nontraditional, creative approaches. For educators, who are often stretched for time given the myriad pressures of their roles, the literacy challenge is twofold—they must accelerate reading skills among diverse learners and dedicate significant time to assess and measure students on proficiency and oral fluency.

According to research, teachers spend an average of 16 hours doing a single round of observational assessment for each class. At times, the tedious reporting can yield inconsistent results. The difficulty of following complex scoring rules in real time leads to 40 percent measurement error and enormous variability across teachers. While educators are burdened with rote tasks associated with these assessments, students may miss out on opportunities for the one-on-one, personalized guidance that will help them reach their potential.

Empowering Teachers

In addition to deep subject matter expertise, the empathy, humanity and intuition that teachers bring to the classroom can never be replaced, but they need more support so they can focus on their students.

When used effectively, AI in service of early literacy does just this—it gives teachers precious time back for reading instruction, providing additional opportunity to focus on nurturing their students and offer one-on-one lessons for the students who may be lagging behind. New technology can also improve the teacher’s accuracy of oral fluency testing.

For instance, an AI-based solution can evaluate word usage, oral reading, naming the letters of the alphabet and more by measuring on an automated scale. The teacher can then use those results to develop customized exercises for each student. AI-based solutions empower the educator to focus on helping students gain confidence in their literary skills and establish a solid foundation to be successful moving forward.

Looking Forward

The dystopian future we should fear most is one in which more students are left behind and educators face burnout at an alarming rate; one in which disparities continue to widen for our young people. Sadly, we already see these symptoms today in many districts. If we embrace AI for the right reasons and in the right ways, we’ll begin to chart a new path for our teachers and students, and we’ll dispel our imagined nightmares of an automated classroom.

More time given back to teachers means more opportunity to focus on each individual student and how they learn. What are their strengths and weaknesses, interests and skills? How do they absorb and retain information? AI in the classroom amplifies a teacher’s instruction and places focus on a diverse array of learning needs, which not only benefits the student, but also educates the teacher on the best ways to personalize instruction and build trust with students.

Imagine a world in which we can ensure that all learners are reading on grade-level by the end of third grade and raise the threshold for our students, opening the door to new possibilities and broadening growth opportunities because we are now focused less on catching up and more on moving forward.

All children deserve to see a path for future success, and if we embrace innovative support in all its forms—whether it is AI technology lending a hand to give educators more flexibility, or larger systemic changes—we’ll step that much closer into the future in which all our learners can reach their potential.

Matthew Mugo Fields in EVP and General Manager of Supplemental and Intervention Solutions at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. HMH and Amira, an edtech startup, have recently launched a partnership to empower educators with AI. Contact Matthew through LinkedIn.

[wkyi-blog]

3 Reasons Why I’m Long LA Tech ☀️

Goodbye summer, and hello still sunny weather! After graduating from HBS this past May, I decided to spend this summer being a tourist in my hometown and reconnecting with friends, places, and experiences in LA. I ended up learning about their passions, their industries, and their thoughts on the LAtest trends. I especially enjoyed wandering around their chill-tech office, which revealed a lot about their culture. After learning from 20 of the fastest growing tech companies across major industries, I’m long on LA tech because of the following key reasons:

Recent home run exits and influx of institutional and industry-specific capital to seed and grow the next tech generation

Uniquely diverse industries going through a creative renaissance (creative capital of the world as Mayor Garcetti officially established)

Universities producing large tech talent pools while favorable climate attracting and retaining talent

1. Recent home run exits and influx of institutional and industry-specific capital to seed and grow the next tech generation

If SF Bay Area is in its mid 50’s like a seasoned CEO, then LA is in its early energetic 30’s as a newly minted Director. SF Bay Area has seen massive exits, dating back to the 1960s when Intel was founded, 1970s for Apple and Oracle, then 1990’s for eBay, Yahoo, PayPal, and Google, then followed by the 2000’s Facebook, Twitter, Uber, and Tesla. On the other hand, LA has recently seen a few home runs from Snap, Dollar Shave Club, Beats by Dre, and Oculus VR. After employees vest at Snap and Google Venice, they’ll spin off to either found startups or become angel investors for other founders looking to build. This won’t happen overnight, but it is inevitable as families establish roots in the community.

There has been an influx of institutional capital from long-time VC’s and new industry-specific VC’s. Upfront Venture and Greycroft continue to raise massive $400M and $250M funds respectively, while newer funds like Fifth Wall Ventures (real estate tech), Bonfire Ventures (SoCal B2B), Embark Ventures (deep tech), and CAA Ventures (entertainment) provide more industry expertise. As both tech talent continues to increase and venture capital continues to follow in lockstep, there will be healthy incubation and support for startups in the growth stage in the coming decade.

2. LA is uniquely diverse in its industries going through an innovation renaissance

Some of the major industries in LA are media, entertainment, transportation and logistics, aerospace, e-commerce, real estate, and health & wellness.

As the original entertainment capital of the world, LA is the home of major offices of Disney, Netflix, and Creative Artist Agency (CAA). Media has no boundaries when it comes to expanding to other countries. With the massive population in China, there are a lot of opportunities to create content in LA and then scale internationally. And the reverse is true, as Chinese media giant ByteDance ($75B) and Spotify have just opened offices in West Hollywood and downtown LA, as they look to connecting with content creators and hiring talented engineers and business development teams. Also, Intel recently built a 10K square feet dome studio for volumetric VR/AR video productions, taking advantage of the creative content, talent, and real estate in LA.

Gaming is well positioned in LA, as top gaming developers Blizzard Activision and Riot Games (League of Legends, Tencent acquisition) are born and raised here. Gaming is growing massively and globally because of its scalable and democratic nature, in which anyone in the world can play or create new games with just an internet connection. With the rise of eSports, LA leads much of the innovation as the top developers have already experimented the past few years. They have taken a page out of NFL and NBA sports leagues to create their own like Overwatch League and building physical stadiums for live events drawing in 11M viewers. As a result, they are creating new job opportunities and pulling in talent from traditional sports leagues to enhance their business development.

Transportation gets a bad rap in LA, but that just shouts opportunity especially in such a large metro area with the second largest population in the U.S. Recently, Santa Monica approved some of the biggest players: Bird is based out of Venice Beach, and LimeBike is aggressively putting its stake in the ground, while Uber (via Jump) and Lyft are inevitably establishing themselves. Driving has been the main mode of transportation for most people, except in West LA most recently. After living in Venice Beach for a summer, I noticed the medium distance last mile could easily be solved with ridesharing, and the short distance last mile can be solved by scooters. Cars are not going away anytime soon, but we do see a major platform shift into multi-modal transportation that can involve public transportation, ride sharing, scooters, and then our feet. (Perhaps they’ll be running shoe-sharing on the streets...). The new modes of transport will lead to more frequent social interactions; this density will lead to more and faster information sharing, which is often cited as an interactive ecosystem for creativity and innovation.

Frontier mobility tech has quite literally launched few moonshot ideas in LA. During World War II and the advent of Cold War, LA became the nation’s hub for weapons research and aerospace, and it has had a residual effect on today’s massive bets in mobility. Now, it is the home of SpaceX, Richard Branson’s Hyperloop, and a fellow USC Trojan’s startup Relativity Space, building and launching 3D printed rockets in days. Also, Uber Elevate is partnering with NASA to launch their first pilot city in LA, because its highways can greatly benefit from air taxis. Every year, LA experiences forest fires, so drone startups like DroneBase and AirMap have been hatched out of necessity, capturing data from hundreds of feet above ground while optimizing for safety and cost. Many of these decades-long infrastructure bets require industry-specific talent and a vast amount of land to test products, both of which are ideal in LA.

Fashion, e-commerce, and CPG companies are able to competitively differentiate in LA thanks Hollywood and media. Some of the biggest consumer brands are right in LA, because fashion and beauty is a big part of its culture. For example, Jessica Alba founded The Honest Company and Gwyneth Paltrow founded Goop, both CPG companies have capitalized on their founder’s star power. From the investor side, Ashton Kutcher and Kobe Bryant both have their VC’s investing in consumer startups like Bird and BodyArmor (Gatorade competitor), respectively.

Health & Wellness has always been a big part LA culture due to the entertainment sector and “sun’s out guns out” weather. In fitness, SoulCycle, Rumble Boxing, and CorePower yoga studios have opened up locations from West Hollywood to downtown LA. In meditation, Headspace has been growing rapidly driven by a trend towards mindfulness. From a tech perspective, my section mate from HBS Amira is founding Struct Club, a technology platform for fitness instructors, transforming the way they design and teach classes because of the health and fitness industry and culture in LA.

Real estate is multi-faceted in LA ranging from beach-side resorts in Malibu to Beverly Hills and to large suburban inland neighborhoods. In fact, one of the largest real estate brokerage companies CBRE $16B along with others is headquartered in downtown LA. This sounds like a traditional industry and not tech-enabled, because it really hasn’t experienced much innovation until recently. For example, storage is a very antiquated industry dominated by Public Storage ($37B) but starting to be disrupted by LA-based Clutter, an on-demand storage startup capitalizing on the underutilized storage spaces due to LA sprawling nature. Though it will not change overnight due to the inertia of the industry, it has already started to shift and will accelerate when incumbents play catch-up.

3. Universities producing large tech talent pools while favorable climate attracting and retaining talent

LA Metro has 10M people making it the second largest city in the U.S., but it hasn’t really claimed itself as the second hottest tech scene. Sure, it has Silicon Beach, but I personally cringe when I try to boast about it. Part of the reason for lagging is timing. As we segment the total population we find that LA has great technical universities such as USC, UCLA, CalTech, UC Irvine, and Harvey Mudd producing almost 10% of the nation’s engineering graduates. But many of them end up being brain drained to SF and NY. My friends and I are prime examples of this. Lastly, we find that professional training is critical in producing experienced talent. Think of this as the Google, Facebook, Amazon, tech powerhouses that produce talent that learn from the best and end up leaving and starting their own companies. Now, LA has Snap, Google, and other tech-enabled industries training next generation of entrepreneurs not only in the internet space.

Weather is not just small talk when people talk about LA. There is a good reason why people live here. Spoiler alert - it’s because there are beaches, it’s always sunny, and the sun usually makes people happier. New York, Chicago, Boston can be freezing, while San Francisco frequently fools you because it looks sunny until the fog rolls over. Good weather matters.

There are LA specific challenges, but I remain optimistic

However, the future will be a bumpy ride up, because there is a reason for how long it’s taken for LA to establish itself as a contender for the tech throne. LA is notorious for its traffic, and I’ve personally experienced 3 hour round trip drives from east to west LA visiting companies. There are metros being built and mobility startups, but it’ll take years or decades to truly solve the commute problem. Homelessness continues to be a major issue with almost 60K homeless, only second to NYC, as I’ve witnessed many tents set up near tech companies in Venice Beach and downtown LA. This may continue to happen if affordable housing doesn’t meet demand while many homeless from colder states are moving to LA for a better weather. The city has been experimenting with creative ideas like subsidizing homeowners to build backhouses to provide more supply and lower cost of living. Whether this will solve the problem is less important in the short term, while LA’s private and public sector’s innovative attitude is more promising in the long term.

Despite all the challenges, as an LA native, I remain optimistic about what the future of LA tech community looks like. Having lived in NY, SF, Boston, I’ve noticed there are similar energy and innovation that have allowed tech to thrive in those areas, while differentiating LA with its massively diverse industries and, of course, its unparalleled weather.

What city are you long or short tech? Feel free to share your thoughts and if you’re working on an interesting startup let me know if I can help! kyimail@gmail.com, LinkedIn, FB Messenger, Instagram.

Wilson

P.S. Many thanks to all the old and new friends for indulging me and my musings at their workplace!