#its about breaking down tasks into the right language structure and rules

[gikairan]

In a modern fantasy setting, magic users would be the most desirable computer programmers and you can't convince me otherwise

[arvian1]

Are Ecommerce Listing Services Really That Important for Growth?

In the dynamic world of online shopping, where thousands of products compete for attention every second, it's more than a goal to stand out - it's a necessity. Whether you are an established online store or a growing brand entering the e-commerce area, one thing is clear: The product's visibility can make or break your success. This is where Ecommerce Listing Services come into play.

In the heart of this essential service is Arvian, a brand known for its smart, reliable and results -driven approach to Ecommerce Product Listing Services. If you’ve ever wondered whether investing in listing services is truly worth it, this detailed guide will walk you through the ‘why’, ‘how’, and ‘what next’—all in simple, no-jargon language.

What Are Ecommerce Listing Services?

Let's break it down simply. E -commerce list services are the backbone of your presence online. These services involve organizing, optimizing and managing your products on various online platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Shopify and your own e-commerce website.

It's not just about putting a product online. It's about saying it properly, so search engines and buyers can find it easy.

Key tasks include:

Writing clear and SEO-friendly product titles and descriptions

Uploading high-quality product images

Assigning the right categories, tags, and attributes

Managing inventory and price updates

Keeping listings consistent across platforms

Sounds simple? Not really. With thousands of products and platforms, doing it right—and consistently—requires experience and expertise. That’s exactly what Arvian offers with its specialized Ecommerce Listing Services.

Why Does Product Listing Matter So Much?

Think of ecommerce product listing as your store’s window display. If your window isn’t attractive, informative, or clear—customers walk away. The same logic applies online.

Here’s what effective Ecommerce Product Listing Services can do for your business:

1. Boost Product Visibility

With the right keywords, structure, and metadata, your products appear in relevant searches. Arvian ensures your listings are not only visible but stand out to shoppers who are ready to buy.

2. Drive Higher Click-Through Rates

A well-crafted title and description can be the difference between someone scrolling past or clicking in. Arvian’s team uses simple, compelling language that gets clicks and builds trust.

3. Improve Search Rankings

Whether it’s on Google or on platforms like Amazon, search algorithms love well-optimized content. That means Arvian’s approach not only pleases customers—it pleases platforms too.

4. Enhance User Experience

From clear specs to organized details, a well-done listing reduces customer confusion, improves conversions, and reduces returns. Arvian focuses on every detail that matters.

Meet Arvian: Your Ecommerce Listing Partner

So, who exactly is Arvian, and why do they matter?

Arvian is a trusted name in the world of Ecommerce Listing Services. With years of experience and a skilled team of content writers, data handlers, and SEO specialists, Arvian provides complete solutions for businesses looking to scale their online presence.

Whether you're selling electronics, fashion, groceries, or handmade crafts—Arvian adapts to your product and your platform.

What Makes Arvian Stand Out?

Customized Approach: One-size-fits-all doesn’t work in ecommerce. Arvian tailors its services for each business type and target audience.

SEO Expertise: Every listing is optimized using the best SEO practices—without keyword stuffing or awkward phrasing.

Platform Expertise: From Amazon to your own Shopify site, Arvian understands the rules and requirements of each platform.

Ongoing Support: Ecommerce is fast-moving. Arvian stays with you to update, improve, and grow your listings over time.

What’s Included in Arvian’s Ecommerce Product Listing Services?

When you work with Arvian, you’re not just getting someone to upload product info. You’re getting a partner who helps manage your ecommerce presence in a way that delivers real business impact.

Here’s a look at what’s included:

1. Product Title & Description Writing

Every product needs a voice. Arvian creates compelling, clear, and keyword-rich titles and descriptions that not only inform but also persuade.

2. Bullet Point Features & Technical Specifications

From features to sizing, materials, and tech specs—Arvian presents information clearly so customers can make quick, confident decisions.

3. High-Quality Image Upload & Optimization

Images matter—a lot. Arvian ensures all visuals are high-resolution, well-labeled, and properly formatted for fast loading.

4. Category and Attribute Mapping

Products should always appear in the right categories with correct tags and filters. Arvian handles this seamlessly.

5. Inventory & Price Updates

Managing stock across multiple platforms can be overwhelming. Arvian takes care of regular updates to ensure listings are accurate and current.

6. SEO Keyword Integration

Using researched, relevant keywords, Arvian naturally integrates SEO best practices without making content look robotic.

7. Marketplace Compliance Checks

Each platform has its own dos and don’ts. Arvian ensures that all your listings follow guidelines to avoid penalties or listing takedowns.

Ecommerce Listing Services for Every Business Size

You might be a solo entrepreneur or a large-scale retailer. Either way, Ecommerce Product Listing Services from Arvian scale with you.

If you're just starting out:

Arvian helps you build your product listings from scratch with the right foundation—ensuring your launch is smooth and professional.

If you're growing:

Arvian takes over the listing workload, allowing you to focus on operations, marketing, or product development without worrying about backend management.

If you're established:

Arvian audits your current listings, identifies weak spots, and revamps them to align with changing algorithms, customer behavior, and new SEO trends.

Real Results: What Happens After You Optimize?

Good listings aren’t just about looking better—they perform better. Here’s what sellers typically experience after using Arvian’s Ecommerce Listing Services:

Increased traffic from search engines and platform searches

Higher conversion rates from product pages

Reduced return rates due to accurate and detailed product info

Fewer customer complaints thanks to clear expectations

Improved rankings on marketplaces like Amazon or Flipkart

In short, better listings = better sales. And Arvian makes sure your listings work for you.

How to Get Started with Arvian

Partnering with Arvian is easy. Whether you have 10 products or 10,000, the process is designed to be smooth, collaborative, and results-driven.

Step 1: Free Consultation

Discuss your business goals, products, and platforms. Arvian offers guidance on how their services can be tailored to you.

Step 2: Sample Work

Want to see before you commit? Arvian offers sample listings so you know exactly what to expect.

Step 3: Onboarding

Once you’re ready, Arvian sets up everything—from templates to SEO research to scheduling updates.

Step 4: Ongoing Optimization

Ecommerce is never “set it and forget it.” Arvian monitors performance and updates your listings regularly based on trends and data.

Why Ecommerce Listing Services Are Not Optional Anymore

The competition is violent. Shoppers are impatient. And platforms are constantly updating algorithms. In this world, it is not a strategy to guess through product entries.

E -commerce listing services - especially from a reliable name like Arvian - take the guesses out and replace it with clarity, performance and security.

By investing in the correct e -commerce product listing services, you do not upload products - you launch them in the spotlight they deserve.

Final Thoughts

In a world of online sales, where one click can mean a sale - or a lost opportunity - is not - trading list services no longer a luxury. They are a necessity. Whether you are new to e -commerce or an experienced seller, it may be the smartest feature of your brand to have a professional team like the Arvian handle. Their mix of SEO knowledge, e-commerce expertise and content presition makes them a powerful ally in the digital space.

[christianbale121]

AI Agent Development: A Complete Guide to Building Intelligent Autonomous Systems in 2025

In 2025, the world of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just about static algorithms or rule-based automation. The era of intelligent autonomous systems—AI agents that can perceive, reason, and act independently—is here. From virtual assistants that manage projects to AI agents that automate customer support, sales, and even coding, the possibilities are expanding at lightning speed.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about AI agent development in 2025—what it is, why it matters, how it works, and how to build intelligent, goal-driven agents that can drive real-world results for your business or project.

What Is an AI Agent?

An AI agent is a software entity capable of autonomous decision-making and action based on input from its environment. These agents can:

Perceive surroundings (input)

Analyze context using data and memory

Make decisions based on goals or rules

Execute tasks or respond intelligently

The key feature that sets AI agents apart from traditional automation is their autonomy—they don’t just follow a script; they reason, adapt, and even collaborate with humans or other agents.

Why AI Agents Matter in 2025

The rise of AI agents is being driven by major technological and business trends:

LLMs (Large Language Models) like GPT-4 and Claude now provide reasoning, summarization, and planning skills.

Multi-agent systems allow task delegation across specialized agents.

RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) enhances agents with real-time, context-aware responses.

No-code/low-code tools make building agents more accessible.

Enterprise use cases are exploding in sectors like healthcare, finance, HR, logistics, and more.

📊 According to Gartner, by 2025, 80% of businesses will use AI agents in some form to enhance decision-making and productivity.

Core Components of an Intelligent AI Agent

To build a powerful AI agent, you need to architect it with the following components:

1. Perception (Input Layer)

This is how the agent collects data—text, voice, API input, or sensor data.

2. Memory and Context

Agents need persistent memory to reference prior interactions, goals, and environment state. Vector databases, Redis, and LangChain memory modules are popular choices.

3. Reasoning Engine

This is where LLMs come in—models like GPT-4, Claude, or Gemini help agents analyze data, make decisions, and solve problems.

4. Planning and Execution

Agents break down complex tasks into sub-tasks using tools like:

LangGraph for workflows

Auto-GPT / BabyAGI for autonomous loops

Function calling / Tool use for real-world interaction

5. Tools and Integrations

Agents often rely on external tools to act:

CRM systems (HubSpot, Salesforce)

Code execution (Python interpreters)

Browsers, email clients, APIs, and more

6. Feedback and Learning

Advanced agents use reinforcement learning or human feedback (RLHF) to improve their performance over time.

Tools and Frameworks to Build AI Agents

As of 2025, these tools and frameworks are leading the way:

LangChain: For chaining LLM operations and memory integration.

AutoGen by Microsoft: Supports collaborative multi-agent systems.

CrewAI: Focuses on structured agent collaboration.

OpenAgents: Open-source ecosystem for agent simulation.

Haystack, LlamaIndex, Weaviate: RAG and semantic search capabilities.

You can combine these with platforms like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or Mistral models based on your performance and budget requirements.

Step-by-Step Guide to AI Agent Development in 2025

Let’s break down the process of building a functional AI agent:

Step 1: Define the Agent’s Goal

What should the agent accomplish? Be specific. For example:

“Book meetings from customer emails”

“Generate product descriptions from images”

Step 2: Choose the Right LLM

Select a model based on needs:

GPT-4 or Claude for general intelligence

Gemini for multi-modal input

Local models (like Mistral or LLaMA 3) for privacy-sensitive use

Step 3: Add Tools and APIs

Enable the agent to act using:

Function calling / tool use

Plugin integrations

Web search, databases, messaging tools, etc.

Step 4: Build Reasoning + Memory Pipeline

Use LangChain, LangGraph, or AutoGen to:

Store memory

Chain reasoning steps

Handle retries, summarizations, etc.

Step 5: Test in a Controlled Sandbox

Run simulations before live deployment. Analyze how the agent handles edge cases, errors, and decision-making.

Step 6: Deploy and Monitor

Use tools like LangSmith or Weights & Biases for agent observability. Continuously improve the agent based on user feedback.

Key Challenges in AI Agent Development

While AI agents offer massive potential, they also come with risks:

Hallucinations: LLMs may generate false outputs.

Security: Tool use can be exploited if not sandboxed.

Autonomy Control: Balancing autonomy vs. user control is tricky.

Cost and Latency: LLM queries and tool usage may get expensive.

Mitigation strategies include:

Grounding responses using RAG

Setting execution boundaries

Rate-limiting and cost monitoring

AI Agent Use Cases Across Industries

Here’s how businesses are using AI agents in 2025:

🏥 Healthcare

Symptom triage agents

Medical document summarizers

Virtual health assistants

💼 HR & Recruitment

Resume shortlisting agents

Onboarding automation

Employee Q&A bots

📊 Finance

Financial report analysis

Portfolio recommendation agents

Compliance document review

🛒 E-commerce

Personalized shopping assistants

Dynamic pricing agents

Product categorization bots

📧 Customer Support

AI service desk agents

Multi-lingual chat assistants

Voice agents for call centers

What’s Next for AI Agents in 2025 and Beyond?

Expect rapid evolution in these areas:

Agentic operating systems (Autonomous workplace copilots)

Multi-modal agents (Image, voice, video + text)

Agent marketplaces (Buy and sell pre-trained agents)

On-device agents (Running LLMs locally for privacy)

We’re moving toward a future where every individual and organization may have their own personalized AI team—a set of agents working behind the scenes to get things done.

Final Thoughts

AI agent development in 2025 is not just a trend—it’s a paradigm shift. Whether you’re building for productivity, innovation, or scale, AI agents are unlocking a new level of intelligence and autonomy.

With the right tools, frameworks, and understanding, you can start creating your own intelligent systems today and stay ahead in the AI-driven future.

[hakimnassif]

Studying a master's degree in Artificial Intelligence: A comprehensive guide

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising industries by teaching machines to solve problems that once required human thinking. If you’re considering pursuing a master’s degree in artificial intelligence, this guide will break down everything you need to know—from course structure and duration to the benefits and challenges of this exciting field. Introduction to Studying Artificial Intelligence

At its core, AI involves creating and training systems using techniques like machine learning, deep learning, and rule-based algorithms. When you enrol in a master's program of artificial intelligence, you’ll study topics such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and AI ethics. A great deal of importance will be given to math and logic because they form the backbone of these technologies. You will also receive plenty of hands-on projects to see how it all works in real life. 

Most master’s programs in AI run for about 1 to 2 years. There are different kinds of degree programs, for example, Master of Science (MSc), Master of Technology (MTech), and Master of Engineering (MEng) in AI. You can select one that fits your interests. There’s also a high demand for experts who not only understand AI technology but can bridge the gap between technology and business. That’s why some universities offer integrated programs like the Master of Artificial Intelligence in Business, which almost corresponds to a postgraduate degree in management. Many global institutions, including Australian business schools, now provide similar interdisciplinary programs. Understanding the benefits

Artificial intelligence isn’t just the future—it’s shaping the world right now. From powering smart assistants to revolutionising healthcare and finance, AI is everywhere, and the demand for skilled professionals is always on the rise. If you’re considering getting a degree in AI, here are six key benefits of studying AI.

AI Skills Are in Demand: Companies everywhere are looking for AI experts, meaning you’ll have plenty of job options in different industries.

Great Earning Potential: Since AI is a specialised field, students often land high-paying roles with excellent career growth opportunities.

Solve Real-World Problems: AI is not always about coding. It’s about finding smarter, faster, and more efficient ways to overcome everyday challenges.

A Mix of Tech and Business: AI blends programming, data, and business strategy, making you a well-rounded professional who can work in multiple fields.

A Future-Proof Career: Technology is always evolving, and AI is at the centre of it. Learning AI will help you stay ahead in an ever-changing job market.

Create Meaningful Change: Whether it’s improving healthcare, automating repetitive tasks, or making smarter decisions, AI has the power to transform industries and impact reality positively.

A career in AI calls for a solid foundation in mathematics, algorithms, statistics, and programming. Leading tech companies are on the lookout for AI specialists to build advanced systems. From self-driving cars to intelligent digital assistants, AI professionals are breaking the boundaries of human thinking. Earning a master’s degree in artificial intelligence can open many doors to different roles like AI researcher, machine learning engineer, or robotics expert. As the field evolves, it also opens up limitless possibilities to transform industries and redefine the future. If you enjoy solving complex problems and pushing technological boundaries, AI offers a thrilling and impactful career path.

[likhonfixx]

Understanding the Basics of Programming - A Beginner's Guide

The world of programming is a vast and diverse one. There are many different languages and techniques, but all adhere to certain core programming concepts. If you’re new to coding, it's important to understand these fundamentals before you start.

The most basic concept is that a computer cannot act on its own without being instructed. Programmers communicate these instructions to computers by writing sets of code known as programs. Each program contains a series of steps that the computer must follow in order to complete the task. Programmers must write these steps in a language that is understood by the computer.

Each programming language has its own syntax, or the set of rules that define how a program is written. Syntax is similar to the grammar of a language, and it's vital for understanding how to read or write code. If you write a piece of code in the wrong order, it will not be understood by the computer and will fail to execute its task.

A second core concept is that each programming language has its own data structures. Data techogle.co structures are ways to store and manage data values within a program. This is important because the data values that are being processed by the computer are changing constantly. A program must be able to quickly and efficiently process these changes in data values in order to function properly.

There are also several types of control structures that a programmer can use to guide the flow of a program. These include sequential, selection, and iteration. Control structures are commands that allow a program to make decisions at each step of its execution. Often, the decision-making process can be complex, and these command structures can help programmers to break down larger problems into smaller components.

While it's tempting to jump right in and begin coding, it is important to figure out why you want to learn to program. If you don't have a specific goal, it can be difficult to stay motivated to keep learning. It’s also a good idea to find a community and mentor to support your journey. You can do this by joining a coding meetup or enrolling in a coding boot camp.

Once you've learned the basics, it's time to get started with actual projects. It is much easier to learn coding by working on real-life projects rather than just following a tutorial. A coding project will require you to think about the problem differently than a tutorial, so it will force you to apply what you've learned and come up with your own solutions.

If you’re not sure which technology website coding language to choose, try starting with the easiest one, such as Hypertext Markup Language, or HTML. This is the language used to set up web pages, and it’s the foundation of most introductory coding courses. It will give you an opportunity to experience coding in real-life and see if it is something that you’re interested in.

[upgradeinfotech]

Breaking Language Barriers: German Learning Made Easy Online

In our interconnected world, the ability to communicate in different languages is more important than ever. Among the myriad of languages spoken across the globe, German holds a special place. It's not just the native language of over 90 million people in Germany, but it's also widely spoken in Austria, Switzerland, and other European countries. Learning German can open doors to cultural enrichment, travel opportunities, and career advancements. And now, with the power of online learning provided by Upgrade Infotech, breaking down the language barriers and mastering German has become easier and more convenient than ever.

The Challenge of Learning German:

 German is known for its complex grammar, long compound words, and unique sentence structures. For English speakers or speakers of languages with Latin roots, learning German might seem like a daunting task. However, with the right approach, resources, and guidance, anyone can overcome these challenges and achieve proficiency in this rich and vibrant language.

The Power of Online Learning:

Online learning has revolutionized the way we acquire new skills and knowledge. Whether it's coding, cooking, or learning a new language, the internet has made it possible to access high-quality education from the comfort of our homes. When it comes to learning German, online platforms like Upgrade Infotech provide a comprehensive and effective way to grasp the intricacies of the language.

Flexibility and Convenience:

One of the major advantages of online German courses is the flexibility they offer. Traditional classroom settings might not fit into everyone's busy schedules. With online courses, learners can decide when and where to study. This convenience allows for a personalized learning experience, catering to individual preferences and learning styles.

Interactive Learning Experience:

Learning a language is not just about memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules; it's about immersion and practice. Online German courses often incorporate interactive elements that mimic real-life situations. Through virtual conversations, quizzes, and exercises, learners can practice their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a dynamic and engaging manner.

Personalized Progress Tracking:

Upgrade Infotech's online German courses usually come with advanced learning management systems that enable learners to track their progress. This personalized tracking helps learners identify their strengths and areas that need improvement. With this data-driven approach, learners can focus on the aspects of the language that require more attention, ensuring a more efficient learning journey.

Expert Guidance:

Learning a language is always better when you have an expert guiding you. Online German courses often provide access to qualified instructors who can provide insights, correct mistakes, and answer questions. This personalized guidance enhances the learning experience and ensures that learners receive accurate information.

Cultural Context:

Language and culture are intertwined. When you learn a new language, you also gain insights into the culture, traditions, and history of the people who speak it. Online German courses provided by Upgrade Infotech don't just focus on grammar and vocabulary; they also delve into the cultural nuances that make the language unique. This holistic approach not only improves language proficiency but also fosters cultural understanding.

Community and Networking:

Learning with others who share the same goal can be motivating and enjoyable. Online language courses often provide opportunities to interact with fellow learners from around the world. This sense of community creates a supportive environment where learners can practice with each other, exchange experiences, and celebrate their progress together.

Breaking the Fear Barrier:

Many people are hesitant to learn a new language because they fear making mistakes or sounding awkward. Online learning can help break down this fear barrier. In the comfort of your own space, you can practice speaking without the fear of judgment. As you build confidence, you'll find that your communication skills in German naturally improve.

Real-Life Applications:

The ultimate goal of learning a language is to be able to use it in real-life situations. Upgrade Infotech's online German courses often emphasize practical language skills that can be immediately applied. Whether you're traveling, working, or simply engaging with German-speaking friends, you'll find yourself equipped to navigate conversations and interactions with ease.

Conclusion:

Breaking language barriers and learning German has never been as accessible and convenient as it is today. With the power of online learning provided by Upgrade Infotech, individuals of all ages and backgrounds can embark on a journey of linguistic and cultural enrichment. The flexible nature of online courses, combined with interactive elements, expert guidance, and a focus on real-life applications, ensures that learners can master German effectively. So why wait? Start your German learning journey with Upgrade Infotech and unlock a world of opportunities, connections, and personal growth.

Original Sources: https://upgradeinfotech.blogspot.com/2023/09/breaking-language-barriers-german.html

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Space Orcs, “Eating Everything.”

I am working my way through the list of suggestions that you guys left me, so this is the first installment from a Anon ask. I don’t know if this is what you wanted to read or where expecting to read, but this is what I came up with.

Intergalactic Journal of Biology and Medicine

Humans have one of the most resilient digestive tracts in the known universe. As an Omnivorous predatory species, humans are capable of digesting muscle , fat, carbohydrates (simple and complex), proteins and fibers taking many nutrients and extreme energy from them. Their use of carbs gives us an explanation as to why humans are so powerful because they require a lot of energy to use their bodies. Additionally, the stomach acid of a human is capable of digesting, non-food items though no nutrients can be pulled from it.

Generally speaking, the rule is that if you can eat it, a human can eat it, though, whether it is to their taste or not is questionable.

Furthermore, the human body reactivly ejects toxic substances once detected, so within reason, humans are capable of trying many foods without the negative consequences many of us would associate with sticking foreign substances in our mouth.

There GA intergalactic summit was held, on what was Earth time, November 5th, 4022. All members of the GA council were expected to attend, or at least a representative for every species in the known universe. At this time that would include the Rundi, Gibb, Tesraki, Bran, Vrul, Drev, etc. but worst of all, the humans. 

The Rundi steward, a class of government official who was specifically tasked with dealing with the drudgery of bureaucracy, was not pleased in the slightest. It was primarily his job to put everything together, and depending on how well he did, it could either make or break him in social hierarchy of his species. The Rundi were a primarily governmental planet, everything they did was based upon a structure of hierarchy and rule. Government was the greatest form of service, and Anarchy wasn’t even an afterthought in philosophical debate. The rundi were not capable of anarchy.

It was a planet of politicians in some form or another, every interaction had political underleanings, and their speech was always heavily guarded. For this reason, the Rundi had been the first in suggesting an intergalactic system of government. The terasaki had agreed only upon realizing they would be tasked with overseeing economics, but had benefited from the Rundi system of government seeing as they tended a bit towards social anarchy, a thought that the Rundi had seen as horribly barbaric, especially since their system was based primarily on the equal distribution of goods to support government structure. 

The Vrul had only agreed to join based on their own personal interest in survival. Generally they wanted nothing to do with intergalactic politics and would have been happy to maintain their own peaceful homeworld, but the introduction of other species into the galaxy had offered a great threat to them, and they had decided, out of necessity, to join the GA as being friends with the other species was in their own self interest. In turn that had meant sending their very, very skilled workers to help the rest of the galaxy, and that included their scientists and their doctors, and their mechanics.

And then of course there was the issue of the Drev and the humans, both scarily similar in social hierarchy and temperament. The Drev were warlike and honor bound, but once choosing a leader, they had been surprisingly willing to join in as long as they were given the opportunity to participate in any and all armed conflict that happened to take place across the galaxy. 

The humans….. The humans were another story. There was no one characteristic that helped to identify their motivations. The humans themselves were well versed in war, politics, economics, and science, but they did everything to the extreme. Where the Drev practiced war for honor,when humans waged war, they did it to kill, while the Rundi maintained government and played games within their own circles, the humans played against each other often mixing war and government into one. Their economic practices varied widely, but their current system played for keeps and focused on the greatest accumulation of wealth possible far beyond what the Tesraki did. Then when it came to science, they never considered WHETHER they should do something, but only if they COULD do something. 

And now here the steward was forced into the position of setting up this summit for all the different types of species. The catering alone had been a complete nightmare, and he had been forced to ship different sorts of food for thousands of miles in order to feed everyone in the proper manner. There were some species he did not have to worry about, like the Vrul, who were more plant based and so did not eat, but there were others, and that included the rundi and the Tesraki, who had every strict diet consisting of only very specific foods to eat. He found that he could tack the Drev onto some other species, seeing as their bodies were capable of metabolizing almost any plant as long as it retained a similar structure to human plants and fruit.

However, the humans themselves were the hardest part, because the range of food was so wide, he could hardly determine what was going to work and what was going to be a massive disaster. He honestly didn’t know, different sources said different things, and he couldn't bare to think about putting MEAT on the table…. That was just against his constitutions.

In fact, he was scrambling right up until the council had convened for the evening, and the mass tide of bodies came pouring into the room filling the vaulted ceiling with rockus chatter in dozens of different languages.

He could hear the humans coming a mile off.

The humans and the Rundi had a similar register when it came to hearing, and humans were known to be able to mimic Rundi vocalizations to some degree simply because they generally tended to communicate in deep grunts, hums and guttural vocalizations. The humans, wlel their language was just as varied as their culture clicking, hissing, snapping, humming and grunting filling the air with discordant and somehow, rhythmic quality..

Their presence turned heads.

They walked with the Drev delegation, which was no surprise to anyone. The humans had been unable to send their usual representative due to a social disagreement between earth and its neighboring sister, Mars. So who had they gone and sent….

Them….

The rundi Steward knew all about them….. Crewmembers of the UNSC Harbinger, the widest ranging vessel in the entire galaxy, and home to a crew that was indisputably certifiable. They were the most reckless, most dangerous, and most terrifying amalgamation of creatures in the galaxy somehow including one Drev, and a rather out of place Vrul whose behavior suggested he had caught whatever brain malady had overcome the humans, and was just as insane as they were.

He cringed horrifically at the sight of them.. Humans were a destructive force, and were known to cause chaos and mayhem wherever they went, even at the best of times, so this was bound to get interesting.

The delegates were seated, and the Steward welcomed them with gracious words of introduction he had spent months preparing. It was a very political thing for him to do, and included subtle compliments to all delegations involved, laid down some ground rules but made sure not to undermine the authority of the people he was speaking too..

However, to the humans, the attempt was obviously heavy handed brown nosing, though none of the other delegations seemed to notice.

He invited them in for refreshments and encouraged discussion between the parties.

Of course, the humans weren’t exactly ones to pass up the idea of food and were some of the first to the table examining the contents with great interest even the food that was not theirs. They seemed very amused watching the other delegations pick up their specific food and then move away to sit.

“What is this.” one of the humans commented holding up a rather stringy green tube that wriggled and squirmed in his hand, “Are these worms?”

One of the Tesraki looked over, “No, it’s a Cavestalk, a kind of plant. Probably not to your taste, they are known to be poisonous to other species. In other words, not human food.”

The human raised an eyebrow, “Buddy, humans are the sharks….. Or wait…. Maybe that's the goats of the universe, we can eat anything within reason, and even a couple of things outside of reason if given enough time.”

The Tesraki made a sort of shrug and wave with its large ears and then walked away. The steward watched the humans with a worried expression. It wouldn’t due to allow the humans to make themselves sick on his watch, but it seemed as if that idea was only becoming more and more likely as the humans poked and prodded at the leftovers of other species hardly bothering with the food that had been laid out for them…. Mostly strange fibrous plant materials.

And that is when it came, “I dare you to eat it.” 

The two humans locked eyes, one still holding the wriggling Cavestalk, “What.”

“I said, I dare you to eat it.” The human stuck out his chin at the other human in a primitive position of posturing, “How much do I get if I do.”

There was a moment of thought before, “Twenty credits. I’ll give you twenty credits to eat it.”

“What happens if it poisons me?”

There was a hand wave, “We have a doctor on board, he can just pump your stomach…. Chicken.”

A moment of silence passed between them, and the Rundi steward began moving towards them to stop something horrible he felt was about to happen. He wasn’t fast enough, and before he knew it, the human had thrown back his head and dropped the wriggly green thing into his mouth swallowing it whole like an alligator or a snake. 

People around looked on in somewhat fascinated disgust as the predator’s throat bobbed and he smacked his lips making a face, “Eh, I can still feel it moving…. Eh.” He paused, “Though, taste wise it isn’t so bad kind of like a wiggly asparagus.” After a moment his eyes narrowed, and he smacked his lips again, “Spicy asparagus, uh, that’s really really weird.” 

He reached the table just as the Vrul came running up shoulders squared in a very un-vrul way, “HE LITERALLY JUST SAID IT WAS POISONOUS TO OTHER SPECIES, AND NOW YOU’RE EATING IT! AND YOU OVER THERE.” A human looked up at him from where it had been prodding the Drev coiltree berries, “GET THOSE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!”

They had attracted the attention of some of the closer tables now who were looking on in entertained confusion and worry.

A human waved a hand, “It’s alright Doc, we have you don’t we”

“I AM NOT THE MAGIC CURE FOR NEUROTOXIN.”

Another shrug, “Well it’s a good thing that I’ll throw up before anything really bad happens.” 

The rundi steward tried to intervene as the humans began prodding through the other food, “Drev can eat human fruit, so I bet these things are like fruit.” one of them pointed out popping the berries into his mouth and chewing with a contemplative look on his face, “Not bad.”

“Please, please, if you would remain within your own food groups.” The Rundi begged. HE was now realizing he should have written up some legal documents to avoid litigation if the humans were to be damaged on their property, but now was too late.

A human waved him off, “Don’t worry, everyone else is done eating, besides.” He Pointed towards the human food, “That's literally a pile of lettuce, I am a man, not a horse.”

“Horses don’t eat lettuce, also that’s not lettuce,it’s spinach.” Another human piped up prodding at a strange squishy red ball sloshing with a strange pink nectar, “This looks like candy.”

“Please don’t put that in your mouth.”

The humans swarmed away from the two dissenting voices. One of them picked up the strange pink orb and licked it. It’s eyes lit up and it bit into the piece wiping pink juice from it’s face as it did, “Ok, this, this is good 10/10 would try again.” And that only caused all the other humans to move over to try one.

“I SAID GET THAT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!” The vrul demanded. 

The Rundi steward looked on in horror and worry. Vrul didn’t behave that way, everything here was just wrong. 

A Drev joined the party just then pointing to the pink orb, “I love those, but you should definitely try these too.” 

“No, no they should not.”

He was ignored, and the humans scooted over to look. It was a strange spiral plant in a light yellow color that made  a distinctive crunching sound as the humans bit down. They shrugged, “Sort of just like space celery if you ask me.”

Did these creatures have no sense of self preservation!

A group had gathered around the table strangely amused at the humans, who just ate…. Everything.

The Rundi steward almost keeled over watching his future go down the drain as other species began offering humans food. Whatever it was, they seemed unable to resist putting it in their mouths. A human made a face spitting something back out into his hand, “Ax bleh, tastes like Satan’s feet.” “Quick question. When was the last time you licked Satan’s feet.” “The last time I was at your mom’s house.” 

The humans made strange noises at each other as the Rundi stepped in and began grabbing things from the humans only to find the Vrul to be doing the same, “Stop it! Stop it all of you!.”

The human’s paused, as did the other delegates in surprise.

“STOP PUTTING THINGS IN YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.”  The intervening silence was broken as one of the humans loudly crunched on one of the pink orbs. Everyone turned to look at her and she just glanced around the group.

“What?” She wondered past a mouth full of food.

A human waved a hand at him, “Keep your shorts on, we promise you won't get in trouble if one of us dies.” 

The Rundi stared on incredulous.

They were going to kill themselves, they were really going to kill themselves.

Maybe it was best if he resigned before being fired, at least he would be able to keep his dignity

[definitely-not-a-wasp]

Wasp Talks: Language Invention— Basics

When making a fantasy location and fantasy culture, language tends to be something you want to avoid. It’s complicated. It’s not like you’re writing extensive paragraphs in it. It’s so much easier to simply throw a bunch of letters together whenever you need a spare word, location, or name. Right?

Entirely valid. However, if you happen to be in a situation where you feel your world would profit from a consistent language (or three), it can be a surprisingly simple (if time consuming) task. You don’t need to know every word of the language and every rule/exception to it. You don’t need an entirely different alphabet if you’re not up to it. Really, all you need is a basic sentence structure, some knowledge of tenses, and a place to keep track of everything.

So let’s break this down, shall we?

(Note: I am NOT a linguist. I’m a creative writer and a history major. These are not guidelines for studying languages.)

Step 1: Phonemes

Okay, I definitely understand keyboard smashing to achieve words. That’s valid. However, if you want a language to sound consistent, my best advice would be looking up a few different languages’ phonemes and go through them, considering which ones you want to involve in your language, as well as how those sounds translate to the alphabet you’re writing in. This establishes what you want your language to sound like, whether it be melodic, guttural, slow, quick, etc. This also establishes character accents if they speak multiple languages

Example: My current Language-in-Progress has 38 phonemes based on English, Arabic, Spanish, and Xhosa in order to create a language that sounds crackly from an outsider’s perspective. Further, certain dialects only have 36 phonemes, giving them regional differences to show where they’re from.

Step 2: Affixes

Affixes are defined as an additional element added to the beginning, end, or middle of a word to modify its meaning. These consist of prefixes, suffixes, and infixes. This also helps with consistency within word creation. Do you want to know your fantasy language’s word for dawn? Well, now you have the option to either create a different combination of phonemes from your language, or you can use your established affixes to create a word that boils down to “pre-morning”. You have choices! Your words now have meaning and patterns! This also really, really helps with naming locations. Do you have a town that’s built near an estuary? Great. Translate River-End or Post-River into your fantasy language

Step 3: Base Morphemes

A base Morpheme is the smallest part of a word that can be taken and used independently. For example, the base morpheme of the word unperishable is perish. Honestly speaking, I tend to create these as-needed while I write. For example, if I need a character to say unperishable, I use the affixes for “not” and “able”, create the base that translates to “perish”, and then, congrats, I know the verb “to perish”, which I can then establish means both “to spoil (literal)” and “to spoil (metaphorical)”, but does not translate into “to die” as “perish” can do in English.

Example: In my current Language-in-Progress, the word for day is “Rohteu” (pronounced ɹoʊ-tu:). A common infix is “Zakxi” (pronounced zæ-ǁɪ), used to express pleasure or happiness. Therefore, a common greeting is “Rohzakxiteu” (pronounced ɹoʊ-zæ-ǁɪ-tu:), meaning happy day.

Step 4: Subject-Verb-Object placement

In the most simple of sentences, there’s a subject, a verb, and an object, such as “cats like sleep”. Different languages arrange these parts in different orders. In english, this order is SVO (example: cats like sleep); In Japanese, the order is SOV (example: cats sleep like); in multiple indigenous languages of the Amazon Basin, the order is OSV (sleep cats like). 

Knowing how Subject, Verbs, and Objects are placed allows you to make barebones sentences in your language with relative ease, and gives you the basis for grammar.

-

There we go. Four steps, a bit of research about phonemes and affixes, and you have a functioning language that you can use to create place names, character names, individual words, and simple sentences. Really, this might be as far as you need to go, since you won’t be writing entire epics in this language.

Unless if you are. In which case, I will be continuing to talk about this subject, so stay tuned.

Check out my Ko-Fi!

[unik0rnu]

Page 5, Regain

(re-written)

Gage pushed the door open, the bright and warm sun hanging above Nuka Town welcomed them as well as grumpy faces of the local raiders and curious ones of the traders, passing along the way, while they were heading to the Fizztop.

- Didn’t change much since last time, maybe just the audience is a bit more..unpleasant, for now. Lucy walked beside Gage looking straight forward and avoiding the judging eyes and whispers surrounding them. - Also it got a bit warmer too. She brushed her forehead sweeping away some sweat.

- So you have been here before, Boss? When? I don’t remember you when we raided this place. Gage looked at her, curiously.

- Oh...way before traders or whatever happened to this town after...She paused, realizing that what she will say might sound very strange to Porter ears.

- After what? Upon passing Parlor he noticed she doesn’t act like being in a new place indeed. She was observing and smiling softly almost like glad to revisit.

- Let’s save that talk for later, once i will be sure you still won’t gut me at the end of that walk. Also why do you call me Boss all the time? She looked up at him squinting her eye.

- Rules, Boss. Without them we would be the same fucking Commonwealth mess. Well..that one was my own rule, might as well not break it right away. He pushed the button, elevator slowly sliding down at the Fizztop.

- And you don’t break rules eh? Even your own? She smirked at him and whistled softly at the fact that raiders would think of an elevator and even build one, functional.  

- Oh i do break rules Boss, but only on special...occasions. He smirked back at her and pointed to the elevator as it arrived. As they were going up he looked at her face, blushed in the sunlight, revealing a scar and tattoos.

- Got yourself a nice souvenir from kind people of Commonwealth? She leaned on the barrier and pulled her knife out.

- Yes..the most kind type. But he left me this as a recompense. She spun it in her fingers and pointed towards him before putting it back.

- Disciple styled...so the fucker managed to escape after all, hah. Gage mumbled under his nose recognizing the blade structure that was well known in Nuka Town among the crooked ladies of Nisha’s gang.  

----

- Finally. Lucy released the sound of relief from her lungs at the elevator arrived to the patio. As she spotted the bed she started heading towards it right away, taking the parts of her armor on the way, ignoring Gage presence.

- Uhm..you need a sec Boss? We still need to talk about the plan. He turned to the side and sat at the bar that was just across the bed, wodden-made wall hiding her as she dropped on the mattress.

- Just talk while i rest for a moment. I can hear you just perfect. Lucy used the fact she was hidden and send the short report to the Institute from the pipboy, allowing her to continue her side-tasks and not be disturbed nor tracked while she figures out her current position.

- Okay, Boss. So there are three gangs in this town. Disciples, Operators and the Pack. And as u noticed raiders aren’t the sharing type much so Colter and i had idea to get the rest of the Nuka World to start expanding ourselves and let’s say...loosen the tension a bit. Gage started explaining but as he would rather have that talk face to face he started taking slow steps towards the bed.

- And Colter didn’t do it eh? Looking how he ended up. Lucy leaned on her arms and looked around, bringing back the memories of this place when it was a full functional restaurant.

- He got a bit...lazy and i’m a fucking patient man but at one point all of us had enough, of his comfy ass, sitting all days here, drinking beer after beer and fucking around. He approached her close enough just to see her head from above the wall.

- And..you want me to finish the job. She interrupted and looked at him, slowly standing up and siting at the edge of bed, ignoring the fact being dressed just in underwear and a top. - Can i ask you something, Gage? He nodded and looked away.

- Why didn’t you step up as the Overboss? You know this place and you seem smarter than you look about all this shit. I mean..look at me, im not a leader. She snatched a box of whatever food was nearby tearing the opening apart.

- Because i fucked up too much before, they hate me for it and i would rather keep my head where it is. You on the other hand have a clear....card. She looked at him uncertain, holding her head on the palm and chewing.

- Fuck, look i will help you, guide you around, throw some advices. I will come with you too if you don’t mind company. We just need to get the job done. Gage stepped up to her as she walked down to the bar.

- And what do i get out of it, and you? She leaned over the counter, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the shelf below.

- You get whatever the hell you want as long as it goes along with our..what they called them..principles and the plan of getting the rest of this place for us. Her face brightened a bit the sound of it. - And i get to keep my head where it is and get my share out of it. So...deal, Boss? He stretched the hand towards her.

- Get whatever i want...and do what i want with no consequences, hmm fine, deal, for now. She barely could get her hand around his to squeeze it in a manner of agreement as it almost disappeared in raider’s big palm. - I will still sleep with a knife under my pillow Gage, i don’t trust you just yet. All of it just sounds too good and easy.

- What if it actually is that good and easy, Boss? He grinned and turned around, slowly walking away towards the hallway. - Also when you rest you need to meet with the leaders, i left you directions on the desk.

- You want me to go alone out there, and meet the leaders? Me? Alone? She laughed but stopped shortly realizing he is not joking.

- Well, you have to get respect one way or another, Boss. That might prove them just fine that you ain’t just scared little pretty gal eh? He looked her up and down  and disappeared behind the door.

- Well...shit. She looked in the glass she poured herself whiskey and drank it all in one go. - Alright...i got this. Might also need some new clothes for this bloody warm place.

----

Its been a while since Lucy was stepping into the wolf’s caves with the mind sharp and confident but with each step she realized that even if 200 years passed for her it was much shorter, almost like stepping through a magical door just to find yourself on the other side of the nuclear land. Spinning the knife in its grip she decided to be done with her biggest worry first - disciples. Reading a face can say a lot about person’s intentions but in Nisha case that was impossible. Lucy had to remain calm and stoic against the leader disgust and lack of faith into her person as well as Gage choice of promoting her but nothing that a few promises wouldn’t shake away along with trashing Colter. She left, still facing them until she stepped out of their base. Savoy sharp look shining from behind his mask was sending a shiver down her spine that she shook away as she arrived near the market.

Next was the Pack. They were speaking simple but understandable language, their base looking like a colorful zoo more than the pre-war theatre. Mason outfit and overall look was blending quite well with the all the decorations placed behind his throne. - King of the fucking jungle himself. She whispered under her nose, approaching him and passing the dogs curiously watching her and sniffing behind.

- So you are the Overboss..hmpf..was expecting something..well better. Mason scanned her from his chair and slowly stood up.

- Or bigger...well i didn’t come here to make an impression. Just tell me what you want. She threw her hands to the side and stepped aside as Mason walked down, facing her.

- Straight to the point, Boss? Well, listen then because i don’t like to repeat myself like i did to Colter. We need more fucking space and action, anything to get this pack running again. If we cook up here any longer even i will lose my fuckin patience and piss on the rules and Porter himself. The more he was looking at her, down and her posture, the wider his smile was getting, that this woman is their so called leader from now on.

- Alright Mason. I know about Colter’s plan and i intend to actually get it moving. But tell me, why the fuck you guys didn’t kill him on a spot if he was so bad? And why one of you didn’t take charge if you all know what ya want? She looked up at him, questionable.

- First, it was all Porter’s plan, along with making Colter the Overboss and we just agreed to it. Look, Colter wasn’t bad at the start, a bit dumb if you ask me but tough as fuck. And now well, you came by, just as he lost our respect and Porter decided to “accidently” kill him in a fair fight. Mason leaned down towards her, his breath almost hitting her face. - But if you manage to fuck it up the same way i might actually take charge since you came up with the idea. Would be a shame tho....

- And if you don’t back off i will strangle you along with your dogs to that fucking chair. He grinned at her and straightened himself back up.

- Hah, you have some balls even for a small little sweet bird like you, tell ya what. I’m gonna be nice that first and one time, Boss and you will give us what we wanted all that time. He stepped up to his chair and pulled something from behind and threw it her way. A colorful rifle landed in her hands and surprise showed on her face. - Just try not to fuck it up or i will beat you myself to death with it. She nodded at him and left the theatre as Mason shooed her away with his massive arm. The last was Parlor and the twins.

- At last, something pleasant that isn’t splattered with blood all over or stinks. Operator at the door pointed her inside. - Mags and William were waiting for you, Boss. Don’t make them wait any longer.

The place was clean and barely changed except the aging furniture and dried flowers placed in a cracked vases. She liked it and realized that despite Mags being slightly proud and stiff they spoke the same language when it came to what the want in the end. Caps and more caps. They said before the war that money could not buy happiness but what if for both of them money itself became reason to be happy. She shook hands with Mags but William as well in a sign of respect for them both and showing some manners.

- It was my pleasure too to meet you, Boss. William took a few more seconds on a hand shake but Mags elbow suggested him to stop dreaming around.

- Also...who is she? Lucy asked seeing an operator woman passing and holding a bunch of grenades and other devices.

- That is Lizzie, our conspirator and...well lab-mad woman but we were friends since back then so she joined us too. She has a talent for explosives and other things. Mags sighted and allowed her to visit her in the lab, her face remaining stoic and emotionless as always.

Lucy knocked on the door frame before disturbing her. - So you are Lizzie,what are you doing there?

- Well, hello Boss. Just testing new type of grenades, you never know when you might need them with people like us. Especially that Colter only worsened the whole situation. Lizzie pulled her goggles on the forehead and turned towards her - At least we got that problem away. Hope you ain’t planning following in his steps and finally get us some caps.

- I like myself above the ground so ye.. Listen...i know this place  and i know they kept some...clothes around Parlor. Do you know where i might find them? Lizzie pointed towards the door in her lab, leading downstairs to a room filled with dusty boxed and racks covered in plastic foils.

- Mags didn’t throw them out yet and i kept what i found for myself here. For...science purpose, of course. Why, you need new clothes? Lizzie pulled a rope dangling above, lightening the bubble hanging in the center of the room.

- Something like that, yes. And i think you can help me make it a bit more than just clothes. She smiled at her and Lizzie couldn’t deny she liked her approach and idea. They agreed on helping each other as long as Lucy would also accept taking on few tests with her new weaponry inventions.

----

-Welcome back, Boss. Whoa, shit.....you look different. Gage was expecting her to come back in one piece with no issues but not in new gear as well as she stepped from the elevator inside his room, wearing a mix of something elegant and skimpier than before, almost hidden behind junks of metal armor.

- Take care of it, its from Mason. She threw him a rifle carrying all the rainbow shades, leaving the raider face half opened, almost dropping a cigareyte that was placed in his mouth.

- Mason gave you his rifle? Un-fuckin believable. He gave it a few spins and placed it on the table next to other guns.

- They all must be pretty desperate, letting us do all the job after all and even offering some gear, just like that. She dropped on the chair, throwing her legs on the table and snatching the pamphlet lying nearby.

- Us? So you already decided you want me to tag along, Boss? He couldn’t hide his smile on a thought that she actually agreed to take on a task and hell even include him in the action.

- It’s a job for two people and since we shook hands i guess we are partners from now on, eh? She looked at him and winked from behind the park map. - So, what do you say we do?

He stretched his neck and threw the finished cigarette to the side. - I say we prepare and go kill some shiet, Boss.

[jamiesmcstuff]

Web Authoring Blog

10/01/21

The past week I have been working on my assignment through Wordpress. The assignment is to install and build our own wordpress site on the college server. This was a basic enough assignment but I did encounter some problems along the way. Firstly, I had a problem connecting to the college server, which meant I was required to get a new password from IT, and that took up some time.Once I could connect to the server I successfully connected to the server, and uploaded wordpress to filezilla. 

I also encountered a problem trying to activate a child theme on my wordpress site. I didn’t realise that my .css file in my wordpress folder had an extra full stop where it shouldn’t have been, and it was breaking my up the code when I tried to activate my child theme on the wordpress site. Once I figured this out (which took some time) I found that I had a lot of fun with this assignment. 

It was great to play around with all the various features of wordpress. Somethings I did find a little strange and a bit unintuitive (such as accessing certain editing functions from the front end site) but I I got used to the workflow the more time I spent on it. I do feel like I ran out of time and had to eventually settle with what I had for the assignment but I am keen to continue working on the site I had created in order to improve my skills using Wordpress, and having something good to add to my portfolio. 

22/12/20

Last week we covered CMS systems and. It seems like it should be straight forward, however if I have learned anything so far its that sometimes coding can seem straightforward, but due to lack of experience simple problems can be difficult to figure. Wordpress, however, looks great a a system to use.

As soon as we started learning it I could think of difficult examples of blogs and websites that have used Wordpress as a platform to great effect, and I am excited to start using the platform properly. It seems that once you start using Wordpress, and get used to the workflow, you can create really great looking websites with minimal effort. 

There are so many different customizations meaning you can be very creative with Wordpress. I am excited to start using some other CMS systems in order to see how they compare against Wordpress anf figure out whether Wordpress is the best option for me as a system to use going forward.  

16/12/20

This was our first week covering Wordpress and CMS systems. I had heard from multiple sources regarding the unintuitiveness of WordPress but that definitely was not my initial thought. It potentially could have been outdated by other CMS that came after it, but as a platform it seems very powerful if you know how to use it correctly.

My mind automatically started thinking ahead in terms of how platforms like wordpress could be used by web designers, and myself hopefully when the time comes, to build comprehensive and sophisticated web pages for clients. 

We had a reading week so had no class on the 12th of December, but on the 11th we also had to submit assignment 2, which was our personal profile web page. It was a tough task, but I believe I got a good result for my first attempt at creating a web page. One problem I encountered, that I was very satisfied to find a solution for, was aligning an image of the Griffith college logo to the right of the footer. After numerous attempts at finding a solution ( and tearing out a lot of hair) I eventually entered a <p> into the footer and cleared the floats within the style sheet which aligned the image up correctly. 

2/12/20

Last week’s lecture covered Flex boxes. I think it may have been the first time we were exposed to any kind of framework that can simplify the building of web pages to some degree. From what I understand, tasks pertaining to the layout of elements on a page can be strenuous in terms of writing the html and css code; but flex boxes are effective in streamlining this process through their own unique set of rules. 

I found Flex boxes easy to understand because, to the best of my knowledge, flexbox follows similar cascading and hierarchical principles as are the  fundamentals in other parts of coding we have learned. For example, the container is a parent and everything contained within (items) are children; akin to how a <section> element is a parent to a child <p> element contained within that section. I am starting to see how coding language is very complicated, but is designed to try and be as user friendly as is possible; there is a consistent way to think structurally about code that will benefit me and help me to troubleshoot problems I may have down the line. 

25/11/20

Last week's lecture we covered color, links, layouts and floats. There was pats that seemed to be as straightforward as our previous lecture, and I found myself easily able to keep up in terms of what we were learning. For example with color, it was easy for me to understand how color can be applied to different elements. Also, I like how there are different ways that things can be applied through CSS, for example there being a choice to apply colour by percentage, or by hex values.  

However, there I had two main takeaways from this class. The first, which I was already aware of but hadn’t yet been covered in class, is that CSS isn't just about visuals, parts of the page can be laid out in various ways by applying different rules. Floats do seem complicated, but once I get some experience using them I know it’ll be a massive part of building web pages, so it's something I am eager to get practice in. 

The second take away, which I hadn’t pre-empted as a possibility with CSS, is the 5 styles that are applied to links on a web page. This was very interesting, and I was surprised, because I had thought that Javascript was the coding language for integrating interactivity on a web page. However, pertaining to our upcoming assignments, it is somewhat of a relief to know that more basic functions such as the 5 styles for links can be applied through CSS, without having to yet know javascript.  

18/11/20

Last Saturday we had our first lecture that introduced CSS. A few things we covered were rules, IDs, classes and the cascading specificity of CSS. From the first introduction it seems to be straight forward enough, however once applied into a practical context I am sure there will be a lot of barriers to overcome in order to get competent with CSS. Seeing the difference between how a basic html page looks, without CSS, and then the possibilities once CSS has been applied was exciting. 

I have found html relatively easy thus far, and it is very satisfying once the code does what you intended. However, it doesn't make things look beautiful, so seeing the difference between a page with and without CSS, and what the possibilities can be, was very exciting. Gemma used the example of the Griffith website, with and without the CSS, and the reality of what's possible once I get to using CSS became a reality. 

SImilar to writing html, and the application of good practice and bad practice in terms of writing code ; we learned in last week's lecture the difference between inline CSS and stylesheets, and how the latter is the preferred method of applying CSS. Even though it would seem easier to write CSS within the same file as html, I am very conscious now of ensuring that I do not fall into bad habits in terms of I write any coding language as I hope to day be hired based on the quality of the work that I provide, so will avoid developing bad habits at any cost.

10/11/20

Last Saturday 7th November lecture covered semantic html and the structure of web pages. The previous lecture on links, images and tables had demonstrated and actualized for me the building blocks that web developers use across the board for different features of websites. Our most recent lecture built upon that knowledge and made me understand how semantic html is used to break up the different parts/sections of a website so that browsers can digest it and for SEO. 

When practicing at home writing the code for articles and sections, which as I understand act as mini web pages within a web page,the muscle memory of writing code is improving physically writing code while also ingraining in me the concept of nesting code, and how hierarchy within that nested code is structured. The analogy of the Russian dolls has been mentioned numerous times and this week it became more applicable than before as a way to look at how you wrap up your code into structured pieces. 

The easiest way for me to visualise semantic html in action was looking at online newspapers. Through looking at a few examples I could see how the home pages in particular are structured because they have so much content and articles etc that are irrelevant to each other. It's necessary to use semantic html to give meaning to each bit of content in order to direct internet users to relevant parts of the web page. One thing I never preempted, again in my own naivety/ignorance, was how integrated SEO is with the information contained within html. As a side project I think I will go and read up some more about digital marketing. 

We were also required to do some practical exercise on forms this week. One thing of note, I had seen in previous lectures how values can indicate what happens when a user clicks on a link (opening in a new tab etc). Relative to values such as input/emails it’s interesting to see how these values can indicate how a specific entry of information into a data field, such as an email address, is handled. Also, the content we covered briefly touched on empty elements which I was not expecting as they don't follow the same rule set we had previously learned. I had expected there to be some as there are exceptions to rules in any language and html is no different evidently. 

03/11/20

Our most recent lecture covered the topics of tables, links, images. As I mentioned in my previous post I was initially happy to be able to keep up with the material and didn't feel too far out of my depth. This week I am happy to say that I am still feeling positive about the decision to move into this new world and potential change of career.

With just two weeks under my belt I  could already feel a change in how I will view websites going forward. As a user I had always thought, naively, of websites as eclectic; their features and functions presented as specific to the brand or organisation that they represent. However, during this lab, and particularly regarding the topic of tables, I began to visualize how they are all the same components put together by developers in different ways that serve the same functions. 

Telecommunication companies websites and how they present their pricing online was one such feature that came to mind. Previously I would have thought that their pricing was just an image integrated within the web page but now I obviously understand that it is built through a specific <table> element that is adjustable by a front end developer. 

I had a thought on the topic of images and their applicability in different parts of a web page also. Having worked as an outbound salesman for the last couple of years I looked at a lot of websites to find clients. Obviously, a company's budget has to be considered when considering the quality of a website but from what I observed there are some elements of websites that are perhaps ignored or rushed by developers, are not budget dependent, and can give a website a cheaper or less professional look.

I think the two screenshots below corroborate my point above; B2Bs logo on the home page of their site is slightly pix-elated while Hunt Office’s (one of the biggest office supplies companies in Ireland) logo looks smooth and gives it a cleaner look, which as the first thing a user sees when clicking onto a home page immediately portrays a better level of professionalism than that of B2B. 

I am trying not to think too far ahead in terms of the end goal of being in this course, and this module, because I have a long way to go and an extremely vast discipline to cover before any of that will happen. Thinking too far ahead would be daunting for me so its better to sit back and enjoy the process of learning each part as it comes.

27/10/20

This web authoring module is the reason I decided to do this interactive digital media course. I have come from working in sales the last couple of years and wanted to make a complete career change. For that reason it was very important I acquired proper tangible skills that allowed me to make that change and I felt coding was up there with the best of options. 

Our first lecture last Saturday was about HTML. From what I understand, we are learning HTML at the best time up to date as its been consolidated into one format that everyone in the western world abides by and is uniform so a lot of complications can be avoided across the board for developers and users alike. 

The lecture primarily focused on elements and I was happy, and relieved, that I could keep up with the material and didn’t get too lost as this is all totally new territory for me. I enjoyed the lecture thoroughly as HTML seems logical and if you follow the right steps it does what you want it to do. I am looking forward to starting practice, getting the muscle memory working and moving toward that career change I need. 

[eyalnachum07-blog]

Eyal Nachum

Eyal Nachum is a fintech guru and a director at Bruc Bond. Eyal is the architect of the software that SMEs use to do cross-border payments.

Eyal Nachum

Younger startups often have excellent suggestions that they battle to put into exercise, suffering from too many hurdles along the way. All too often, these stumbling blocks rest on the path in order to a solid banking as well as payments infrastructure. Three worldwide executives at Bruc Relationship give their advice.

TOP DOG of Bruc Bond Singapore Krishna Subramanyan, Country Office manager for Poland Krzysztof “Kris” Matuszewski, and Board Associate Eyal Nachum in the talk with Konstantin Bodragin, Brüc & Bond Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief. KILOBYTES: Hi guys, many thanks for the time. In order to start, what guidance may you give a younger fintech startup?

Eyal Nachum: Concentrate on time-to-market. Forget regarding everything else. You need to obtain a product out generally there. 85% of a operating product is much better than totally of nothing. When you perform have something working, speak with the people using this. Talk to your clients. They will understand which you’re only starting and will certainly be more forgiving in the beginning. They will give a person the feedback you need. A person can build the some other twenty percent using that information. In Bruc Bond, all of us are nevertheless always speaking to our consumers. This allows us to usually enhance in the methods our clients require.

Krishna Subramanyan: I would provide a fintech startup the exact same suggestions as for any kind of start-up. It might be incorrect to be able to focus on your personal item or idea, even though it is actually tempting for you to do so. First, determine a customer population to help be offered, and function to understand their own discomfort points. Product comes after the actual pain points driven through the decision to serve in order to this particular client population.

Krzysztof Matuszewski: You need to be able to be methodical. First, discover your niche. This may be your own market chance. Then, researching the market. Check away the competitors to find out whether or not somebody’s already performing what you need to do. Discover technical spouses to assist you avoid hasty decision-making and to meet your current time-to-market goals. Do client advancement well. Always examine your presumptions and become ready to pivot, to improve the course of your own personal website to fulfil the particular customers’ needs. Then acquire suggestions again. With every era, new update, each and every modify, you must receive feedback. Maintain the development/marketing stability healthy. In the beginning, you ought to keep your product simply good enough, but without having advertising you will overlook your marketplace fit. Oh yea, and find traders. An individual will need funds for you to broaden.

KB: Getting typically the infrastructure correct can create or break task management. Exactly what should young fintechs believe about when it arrives to their banking/payments facilities?

EN: Approach that within three stages. Very first, often the infrastructure doesn’t issue to help customers, just get the item out. Second, do fundamental infrastructure, so you can easily have a evidence of idea. The third stage may be the hardest from an structure viewpoint. You have in order to achieve scale. Exactly how? Anyone need a clear consumer channel. Even if the idea feels like it might slow you down, with regard to scale you need to do it. You actually also have to possess a great grasp associated with the rules and also stay to them. If an individual do crypto and would like an account regarding salaries, your bank might perform nice at phase 1, but not stage 3. Don’t step on virtually any feet. Set up national infrastructure in a way that will does not break anybody’s guidelines.

KILOMETRES: Use credible functional techniques and comply along with regulations firmly. If anyone don’t, you could shed your infrastructure. Be inflexible with security, and make the most of integrations when you could. Open financial and the actual PSD2 in European countries opened up up a whole globe of opportunities with API connections -- explore the item.

KS: Facilities must end up being flexible to adjust to modifications in understanding and atmosphere. Real-time abilities for upcoming innovation are key. It really is becoming harder to maintain buyers. What is useful is the capability to show to customers that we all tend to be listening all the particular time. Therefore, there has to be some thing new, exciting on provide in which sets the speed within the first few several weeks, months, sectors on typically the back of client opinions. New architectures must take advantage of APIs and micro-services to aid this pace.

KB: Krishna, are there specific problems with regards to Singapore and Asian countries in particular?

KS: Fintechs right here need to do a lot together with very little quickly. The actual teams are very able but limited in sources. Firms that can flourish within a mutually supportive surroundings are those who win. So, work together to have the pace along with the eyesight. For instance, while open bank will be not set in legislation, the actual biggest banking gamers want to reach out to be able to the smallest fintechs to interact and collaborate.

KB: Kris, how about the EUROPEAN UNION?

KILOMETERS: There is really strong competition inside the EUROPEAN, both among repayments fintechs themselves and with banking institutions. The market is nicely governed, but there are usually a lot of rules to follow along with. In the WESTERN EUROPEAN, you must get information rights into account. You have to meet the requirements regarding the GDPR, the laws designed to safeguard people and legal choices through new risks which is part of often the data economy. These is hard to follow. On the actual other hand, Brexit provides a chance to attract shoppers leaving behind the UK, therefore there are possibilities almost everywhere.

KB: B2B [business-to-business] and B2C [business-to-consumer] are generally 2 very different modes involving business. What sort connected with unique payments/banking challenges carry out startups during these spheres encounter that the other people will not? How can they conquer them?

KM: Fintech businesses fall into either any business-to-consumer product sales model or even business-to-business product. Each design has its own difficulties, although the B2C revenue period tends to always be much shorter compared to BUSINESS-ON-BUSINESS sales cycle, because companies are slower to follow new-technology. For B2B presently there are a few main challenges. One is this banks offer a arranged of comparable payment items and already have a comprehensive customer base. The 2nd is that organizations frequently have very complicated in addition to extensive product needs, thus payment fintech must offer you good service and detailed excellence to compete within the corporate market. Therefore, firms from the SME field turn out to be frequent clients associated with transaction fintechs. With B2C, additional challenges rise for you to the top. First regarding all, there is money washing. The importance of corporate compliance in this is over all else. There is certainly competitors from small business bank cards, cryptocurrencies and digital money, and from money move and remittances as some sort of building niche.

EN: The particular BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS world wastes concerning seven weeks a yr on audits and sales. That’s las vegas dui attorney see plenty of ideas with regards to decreasing the headache. Along with B2C you can’t wait such a long time. There’s always movement as well as change. There isn’t a legitimate challenge to stability from the B2C sphere due to help the amount of players, and also prices are quite set due to competition. The greatest challenges right now usually are social. There are dialect barriers among banker along with customer. What we should need tend to be solutions intended for specific niche categories: the unbankable or asile, immigrants, consumer banking in overseas languages, student-specific services, and so on.

KS: Choice of global business banking partnerships continues to be the crucial. Depending on the regulating environment, banking challenges can certainly vary considerably. Banks respond to this weather in addition to cost of retaining company in different ways. Fintechs should spend considerable period to understand each and every partner’s direction. Ability to match up target growth segments involving banking partners to their particular very own must be a good ongoing, daily action.

KILOBYTES: Thank you for using the time as well as for your personal advice.

[eyalnachum08-blog]

Eyal Nachum

Eyal Nachum is a fintech guru and a director at Bruc Bond. Eyal is the architect of the software that SMEs use to do cross-border payments.

Eyal Nachum

Youthful startups often have fantastic concepts that they challenge to put into training, experiencing too many obstructions along the way. Too much, these stumbling blocks lay on the path in order to a solid banking as well as payments infrastructure. Three international executives at Bruc Connection give their advice.

BOSS of Bruc Bond Singapore Krishna Subramanyan, Country Supervisor for Poland Krzysztof “Kris” Matuszewski, and Board Fellow member Eyal Nachum in a new talk to Konstantin Bodragin, Brüc and up. Bond Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief. KILOBYTES: Hi guys, thank you for which makes the time. To be able to start, what tips may you give a youthful fintech startup?

Eyal Nachum: Give attention to time-to-market. Forget in relation to everything else. You must find a product out right now there. 3 quarters of a functioning product is a lot better than fully of nothing. As soon as you accomplish have something working, speak to the people using this. Talk to your clients. They will understand which you’re only starting out and can be more forgiving at the start. They will give you actually the feedback you must have. A person can build the various other even just the teens using that understanding. From Bruc Bond, many of us are continue to always discussing to our consumers. That allows us to constantly increase in the techniques our clients will need.

Krishna Subramanyan: I would offer a fintech startup the very same assistance as for just about any start-up. It will be incorrect to be able to focus on your individual product or service or idea, despite the fact that it is usually tempting for you to do so. First, recognize a customer population to help be dished up, and perform to understand their very own soreness points. Product employs the particular pain points driven from the decision to serve in order to this specific client population.

Krzysztof Matuszewski: You need to be able to be methodical. First, locate your niche. This will probably be your own market possibility. Then, survey. Check out there the competitors to uncover regardless of whether somebody’s already carrying out what you would like to do. Locate technical companions to aid you avoid hasty decision-making and to meet your current time-to-market goals. Do buyer improvement well. Always check out your presumptions and possibly be ready to pivot, to alter the course of your own personal tool to fulfil typically the customers’ needs. Then obtain comments again. With each and every new product launch, new update, every single alter, you must acquire feedback. Keep your development/marketing equilibrium healthy. At first, you must keep your product merely good enough, but with no marketing and advertising you will skip your industry fit. Also, and find buyers. An individual will need funds for you to increase.

KB: Getting often the infrastructure proper can help to make or break task management. Just what should young fintechs consider about when it will come to their banking/payments commercial infrastructure?

EN: Approach that inside three stages. 1st, the actual infrastructure doesn’t make a difference to help customers, just get the product or service out. Second, do simple infrastructure, so you can easily have a proof principle. The third stage will be the hardest from an facilities point of view. You have in order to achieve scale. Just how? Anyone need a clear purchaser direct. Even if the idea feels like it would certainly slow you down, to get scale you must do it. You actually also have to have got a very good grasp connected with the rules and also adhere to them. If a person do crypto and desire an account with regard to salaries, your bank can enjoy nice at period one particular, but not stage about three. Don’t step on almost any paws. Set up structure in a way that will does not necessarily break anybody’s principles.

KILOMETER: Use credible functioning working devices and comply using regulations totally. If an individual don’t, you could drop your infrastructure. Be firm with security, and benefit from integrations when you could. Open financial and the particular PSD2 in The european countries exposed up a whole planet of options with API connections : explore the item.

KS: Structure must become flexible to conform to adjustments in understanding and natural environment. Real-time abilities for long term innovation are key. It truly is becoming harder to preserve buyers. What is beneficial is the capacity to illustrate to customers that most of us are usually listening all typically the time. Therefore, there needs to be anything new, exciting on present in which sets the rate inside first few days, months, groups on often the back of client responses. New architectures must influence APIs and micro-services to back up this pace.

KB: Krishna, are there specific concerns in terms of Singapore and Parts of asia most importantly?

KS: Fintechs in this article wish to accomplish a lot having very little quickly. Typically the teams are very ready but limited in assets. Firms that can prosper inside a mutually supportive setting are those who win. So, work with others to experience the pace along with the perspective. For illustration, while open bank is definitely not set in regulation, the particular biggest banking participants are trying to reach out to be able to the smallest fintechs to have interaction and collaborate.

KB: Kris, how about the EUROPEAN UNION?

KILOMETRE: There is extremely strong competition within the EUROPEAN, both among obligations fintechs themselves and with financial institutions. The market is properly controlled, but there are generally a lot of restrictions to adhere to. In the WESTERN EUROPEAN, you must consider info rights into account. You should meet the requirements associated with the GDPR, the legal guidelines designed to guard men and women and legal agencies coming from new risks which is part of the actual data economy. These can be quite difficult to follow. On the particular other hand, Brexit provides chance to attract shoppers departing the UK, and so there are options just about everywhere.

KB: B2B [business-to-business] and B2C [business-to-consumer] usually are a couple of very different modes regarding business. What sort involving unique payments/banking challenges complete startups during these spheres deal with that the other folks would not? How can they get over them?

KM: Fintech corporations fall into either the business-to-consumer income model or perhaps business-to-business type. Each unit has its own problems, although the B2C gross sales routine tends to end up being much shorter compared to the BUSINESS-ON-BUSINESS sales cycle, since organizations are slower to embrace new-technology. For B2B at this time there are a handful of significant challenges. One is this banks offer a established of related payment goods and already have a substantial customer base. The next is that businesses usually have very complicated in addition to extensive product needs, consequently payment fintech must give good service and in business excellence to compete around the corporate market. Therefore, organizations from the SME industry come to be frequent clients connected with repayment fintechs. With B2C, different challenges rise for you to the top. First associated with all, there are money washing. The importance of corporate regulatory solutions in this is previously mentioned all else. There exists levels of competition from small business charge cards, cryptocurrencies and digital funds, and from money exchange and remittances as any establishing niche.

EN: Often the BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS world wastes regarding several weeks a 12 months on audits and construction. That’s the reason you see a lot of ideas concerning lowering the headache. Together with B2C you can’t wait too long. There’s always movement as well as change. There isn’t a real challenge to stability inside the B2C sphere due to help the quantity of players, and also prices are fairly repaired due to competition. The largest challenges right now tend to be ethnical. There are vocabulary barriers in between banker along with customer. Everything we need are usually solutions regarding specific markets: the unbankable or bauge, immigrants, consumer banking in international languages, student-specific services, and so forth.

KS: Collection of global business banking partnerships stays the important. Depending on the corporate state, banking challenges can certainly vary substantially. Banks behave to this crissis in addition to cost of retaining enterprise in different ways. Fintechs need to spend considerable moment to understand almost every partner’s direction. Ability to fit target growth segments regarding banking partners to all their unique must be a great ongoing, daily exercise.

KILOBYTES: Thank you for getting the time and then for your personal advice.

[dpillustrations]

Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 5: A Discourse on Communication and Storytelling (Part 1)

“The poet must stir souls, not nurture idolaters." - Andrei Tarkovsky

I feel compelled to talk about the latest episode of Game of Thrones. The reason I feel drawn to speak is twofold, because I am an artist and I love Art. It is my passion and my life’s work, and I am most particularly passionate about the Art of Cinema, which includes series and television shows. Entertainment, for the lack of a better word, although it is so much deeper than that word implies. It is my desire to see Art thrive in our culture, and more importantly I want to see our culture thrive because of its Art.  

For this reason I would like to draw a valuable and crucial lesson from what has happened with HBO’s Game of Thrones and Weiss and Benioff’s series. I will not be addressing the story through technical criticism. I believe there are people more qualified than I to address those issues as I am not a storyteller (in the traditional sense) or screenwriter, so I will not be addressing story structure and development. What I will be focusing on is communication and storytelling themselves as well as the fundamental worldview that has poisoned this series and why the finale was false in every sense of the word and did not ring true in most of our hearts.

I will begin by asking you, my readers,  

How do we tell stories?

Again, this is not about story structure and mechanics, but I’m talking about the very act of telling stories, which is, at its essence, communication. So in other words, I am asking, how do we communicate? There are multiple ways in which we communicate, but I want us to consider the very essence of communication and the how and why it is done. I am communicating to you right now through this blog post by arranging commonly understood words (English language) in a specific manner (grammar and syntax) through which I am communicating ideas. I am communicating for the purpose of transferring information that exists in my mind to your mind, desiring that there would be understanding between us. I would not start speaking to you, an English speaker, in another language not known between us and neither would I suddenly abandon sentence structure – the jumped white over rabbit box the – that is nonsense, is it not? It would be pointless and worthless to communicate with you in any other way than by commonly understood rules and structures of communication that exist between us. So, communication’s goal is understanding, we communicate to be heard. Communication is a forward moving action. We don’t want to stagnate or regress, but to progress in deeper knowledge and establish a connection between us. Now considering we are talking about a television series, let us lay out the commonly understood structures of communication through that medium:

- Language, through firstly the written, then secondly, spoken (by actors) word.

- Visuals which include: Composition (i.e. how a shot is framed) - What is actually in the frame (what is shown to us as the audience vs what is NOT shown to us), and Scene transitions (i.e. editing).

- Music  

- Sound 

With these fundamental elements is a story told through the moving pictures. Now if you will notice, storytelling through the Cinematic Arts is significantly more complex than communication done simply through words alone or images alone. There are layers and layers and layers of text and subtext through word, actor performance, sound, music, imagery, etc. It is mindbogglingly complex, yet at its core it is still working towards that very simple (though not easy) goal as any other form of communication, which is understanding.

Why do we want to be understood?  We desire understanding because we hold a conviction that whatever it is we are communicating will be beneficial and/or necessary for the one hearing in order that something may be accomplished. Whether we are communicating something evil, “I hate you.” or something good, “I love you.”, whether positively or negatively, we are trying to give to our fellow person something that person can then take, process, and react to. We communicate at work to accomplish tasks. We communicate with our loved ones to develop deeper connections. We communicate from our emotional needs. We communicate in order to learn. There is an endless amount of reasons why we are communicating, but they all are done for that one goal - understanding which produces a desired reaction and achieves a purpose.

Storytelling, then, as a means of communication, is being told for a reason. It is communicating information and ideas that it might be understood by its audience and then provoke a reaction from said audience. We do not communicate from the vacuum or into the vacuum. We do not tell stories from the vacuum or into the vacuum. Therefore, story has meaning. 

Bond of Union by M.C. Escher.

With this understanding, then, we now see that the fundamental elements of storytelling that I laid out above all have meaning. In every nuance of an actor’s performance, in the arrangement of words, in the notes of the music, in every aspect of a framed image, all these variables contain layers and layers of meaning. You cannot escape it. You are bombarded by it by every moving moment. The storyteller is speaking, and we the audience are listening. 

Then we react.  

Now, I am not going to go into the psychological and philosophical complexities of actually communicating successfully in any given situation, because we know that our perceptions play a key role in it. How you perceive the world is different than how I perceive the world, and so there are, unfortunately, so many ways in which communication can break down between us because of subjective experience. And if there is a communication medium that is very much made up of subjective experience, it is that of Art and Story. So, I am not going to go into the nuances because I want to focus on analyzing the literal communication structure of the Game of Thrones Season 8 episode 5 and lay out a case for its utter failure at communication which follows in its failure of story which then follows to its failure of being meaningful Art in any way at all.  

Daenerys Stormborn

For the sake of time, yours and mine, I am only going to focus on Daenerys’ character and how she was treated in this episode because she is probably the most crucial point, being one of the main characters after all. In the episode we see her fully succumb to her Targaryen blood, going full “Mad King”, as she takes out all her rage and sense of betrayal in not being loved by the people of Westeros on the inhabitants of King’s Landing, laying waste to all the innocent people through fire and blood.  

Now, Weiss and Benioff, as well as many Game of Thrones fans, say that this was inevitable, that Daenerys was always going down this route from the beginning, but the argument I am making is that that is just not true. At the very least this fact was not communicated to us successfully through the 7 seasons we have been watching, and I shall make my case as follows by using two scenes (for the sake of brevity) which outright contradicts this character conclusion.  

Season 1 finale Episode 10 Fire and Blood

You know the moment I am going to bring up very well, that powerful and moving climax when Daenerys steps into her husband’s pyre and comes out with three newborn dragons. She is Daenerys the Unburnt, Mother of Dragons.  

Why was this scene communicated to us as part of the story?

Remember as I just laid out above about the fundamental elements of storytelling, i.e. word, imagery, sound, music, etc  - each element is strung and woven together for a purpose. What is this scene’s purpose?  

I am going to rewind time back to this moment, we yet do not know what is going to come next in this story, but we are solely focusing on how this finale made us feel. How we reacted to what it was communicating. Of course, it makes sense, does it not, to study this finale within the context of what had come before within the first season? We can’t understand the end of the sentence unless we know the beginning. We must listen to the beginning, middle, and end of said communication because if we stop in the middle of our listening, we will be missing crucial information and communication will break down. There would be no understanding, no meaning, and therefore nothing gained.

We have now just established, then, how we understand. 

Through context.

Context is how all elements are arranged in conjunction and relation with each other so as to convey meaning. You cannot just focus on one element, pick out one word in a sentence, pick out one scene, you need all the elements in order to effectively communicate and achieved your desire goal of understanding.

Okay, so what is this scene’s context?

We were introduced to Daernerys and her brother as the last surviving members of House Targaryen (or so we thought at this time). They have been exiled because of Robert’s Rebellion which overthrew the Mad King from the Iron Throne. So essentially, our protagonist starts out in a very low station. She is the “underdog”, and it is extremely low, as her brother is vicious and cruel towards her and she is treated no better than cattle to be sold off. Viserys makes a deal with Khal Drogo as means of gaining an army to take back the throne, and Daenerys is given to him marriage. Being Khal Drogo’s wife certainly doesn’t make our heroine’s life any better as she is forced in a traumatic sexual encounter with her new husband and she is miserable through the strain of travel, and there really isn’t any sign that Khal Drogo even cares about Daenerys and her brother’s purpose of regaining what they had lost. Yet as the story progresses we see Daenerys begin to work her way up. She learns to communicate with her husband and they even end up falling love, she gets pregnant (which culturally speaking is one of the highest and noblest functions for women), and she becomes empowered, able to stand up to Viserys and his cruelty. Our heroine finds her voice. She even successfully eats a horse’s heart, which for the Dothraki is an honorable feat and promises great things for her unborn child. Even at some point Drogo gets rid of her brother, so she is freed from his life long abuse. Things are looking up as Daenerys finds herself in an honorable and secure station in life. However, it isn’t long before calamity strikes again when Drogo becomes sick from an infected wound. Daenerys puts her trust in a slave woman captured by the Dothraki to try and help her husband, but things go from the frying pan into the fire when the woman betrays Daenerys using blood magic and is responsible for both the death of Drogo and their child.

Now rewinding back again, we were also introduced to Daenery’s dragon eggs which were given to her as a wedding gift at the beginning of her story. Dragons no longer exist, if they even did exist, so they are more ceremonial than real. However, Daenerys is drawn to these eggs, which seem to be inert stones, because of her Targaryen blood. She sees something within these eggs that encourages her to press on, to remember who she is. They represent hope for our heroine. And this story element has stayed with us through the entire season. It is only now, at the finale, though, that we see their true significance when in her despair, Daenerys takes her dragon eggs and sets fire to her dead husband, and then steps into the fire herself.

The next morning she is Mother of Dragons.  

The reason I took the time to outline the events of the plot was to show you how the elements built on one another. How did they make you feel? How did you react to them? What did this story as laid out through words, Emilia Clarke’s acting, imagery, composition, sound, and music communicate to you? What did it mean? Did we not feel triumphant? Did we not feel wonder and hope? Did not all those elements strung together express suffering, perseverance, and transcendence? Did we not empathize deeply with Daenerys and her struggles? Did we not weep with her? Did we not cheer with her? I mean just look at our pop culture surrounding Game of Thrones – the endless amount of merchandise with “The Mother of Dragons” on it and what “Khaleesi” meant to us as fans. (We even named our children “Khaleesi” and “Daenerys”!) Why? What did her story fundamentally move within us that we reacted in such an ardent way? If we were supposed to understand from the beginning that she was only a psychotic murderer, then why did she inspire such affection within us? Did we not instead fall in love with a strong and deep feeling woman who held onto a dream and persevered through some of the worst possible atrocities in order to realize that dream in a more profound way than she could have possibly imagined?  

If Daenerys was always destined to be the series’ tragic villain, then why did we fall in love with her as the series’ savior?

My own art piece Take What is Mine! Weiss and Benioff want us to believe that she was always meant to “take what was hers” through “fire and blood” very literally, but look at the title of the 10th episode of Season 1: Fire and Blood. How was the concept of fire and blood actually used in this scene? Through loss and sacrifice, yes, but then, - new life. She lost her husband and her child, but she gained a miracle, this supernatural event, three dragons. The impossible made possible. Life. Not death.

Season 5 Episode 8 Hardhome

For a non-book scene, this was such an excellently written and performed scene. I loved watching it so much. It was the meeting we were all waiting to have happen. However, we must once again consider the context. At this point of the story we have shifted to Tyrion’s point of view, but I use this scene as an example of what Daenerys means to Tyrion’s personal narrative.   

“So here we sit, two terrible children, of two terrible fathers.”  Tyrion’s place in the story is not unlike what Daenerys’ was at the beginning of season 1. He is in a very low place. He too has been exiled, a runaway who was accused and sentenced with murdering King Joffery, but an actual killer of his own father. Having been an outcast in society and within his own family, is now literally an outcast and he comes to Daenerys seeking a reason to live. He comes to Daenerys for hope.

We know of the mistakes Daenerys has made at this point, but we also know the wisdom she has exhibited from the advice of others. We have seen her passion for justice and setting slaves free, but we have also seen her mercilessness and her heavy hand of power. In this scene Tyrion points out both of these aspects of Daenerys, but he tells her that he came to see if she was the “right kind of terrible”, someone who could still maintain order and give stability to a kingdom. In the context of this scene, as we look at Daenerys through Tyrion’s eyes, we are in no way meant to see her as mad or cruel, but a deeply flawed, volatile, passionate, and noble woman. She is human, as all the characters of this show have been, neither wholly pure nor wholly evil. Yet it is her dream that sets her apart from the rest of the candidates for the throne, a dream that speaks to Tyrion in his lowest moment and inspires him.

Daenerys: Lannister, Targaryen, Baratheon, Stark, Tyrell they're all just spokes on a wheel. This ones on top, then that ones on top and on and on it spins crushing those on the ground.

Tyrion: It's a beautiful dream, stopping the wheel. You're not the first person who's ever dreamt it.

Daenerys: I'm not going to stop the wheel, I'm going to break the wheel.

A bold, powerful, and inspiring proclamation! Daenerys wants to stop “the game of thrones”, the petty squabbling of houses and vying for power. She wants to unite the kingdom under one ruler and bring about a better world for it. We believe her. Why? Because Tyrion believes her. Tyrion is also a dreamer just as much as Daenerys, he also values a better world. Are we to believe then that instead of this moment being a turning point for Tyrion, as it was clearly shown to be within its context, of him finally finding a promise and a hope of achieving something better than what has been, that it was actually all just a lie? Tyrion going from a terrible state to an even worse state: Delusion?

Where in this scene or in the rest of their scenes together was it indicated that Tyrion was delusional? In the elements - dialogue, acting, scene composition, the things shown to us in the frame, etc. In all those parts where was this feeling and concept conveyed to us to make a “delusional Tyrion” make sense? 

It simply wasn’t, because he isn’t.

Do you see my argument? If Weiss and Benioff meant to communicate that Daenerys was “Mad King Targaryen” then why doesn’t her character conlusion make cohesive sense with these scenes? Taken in all of its elements, in its entire context, why isn’t this communicated perfectly and without question? Daenerys is one of the most crucial players in the Game of Thrones, her and Jon sharing prominence in the stories unfolding, shouldn’t we all, then, be in agreement on the meaning of the conclusion of her story? 

Yet instead what Season 8 Episode 5 communicates is in direct conflict with the rest of the show and what it was communicating from the first. However, this episode isn’t the only place of conflict, there has been other moments in the show which showed this kind of disingenuous storytelling (Stannis and his burning his daughter Shireen is a good example this problem happening early on). Even the first half of Season 8 is in direct thematic conflict with the last half of season 8. Somewhere communication broke down terribly, and it simply isn’t enough for someone to point out this moment or that moment as proving Daenerys was always meant to end this way. ALL aspects of the show are communicating something to us, and so ALL aspects of the show must be taken into account and expected to be coherently saying the same thing as revealed by its whole. When we lay out Game of Thrones in all its seasons and its many elements it should be communicating “Daenerys Mad Queen”, but I have just proved that it wasn’t.

If you, my reader, truly believe this was Daenerys’ fate all along, then I ask you in earnest (in the spirit of communication and the desire for understanding) how do these scenes and the seasons they were contained in that I have just outlined above fit within that context of that narrative? 

I have now come to the end of first half of my argument. The final question I would like to leave with you before closing is: what exactly is the end of Season 8 communicating? I hope that you and I can thoughtfully study this further. Thank you so much for reading and listening. 

[robinallender]

Albums of 2019/the decade

(‘Martin Brennan’ appearing on This Time with Alan Partridge, my favourite TV programme of 2019.)

It’s impossible to make an album of the year list because I haven’t listened to every album that was released this year. And to make an album of the decade list…? Well, that’s even impossibler.

I suppose I could try to do what James Acaster did in his book Perfect Sound Whatever, but instead of listening to every album from 2016 I could attempt to listen to every album from the entire decade. A Sisyphean task – and by the time I’d listened to all of those albums, it would probably be around 2030. And by that point, providing the world is still functioning by then, I’d have another decade of albums to catch up on. I could draw a comparison to Tristram Shandy here but I won’t. 

(Plume is my favourite novel of the year.)

(‘DNA.’ is the most thrilling three minutes of music this decade.)

The excellent thing about Acaster’s book is that it glories in the fact that beneath all the hype and buzz of big releases, and away from algorithmic playlists and ubiquitous albums of the year, there is a universe of incredibly diverse and exciting music being made all the time. Acaster rightly celebrates bandcamp, which has become something like the anti-Spotify over the last ten years. Thanks to bandcamp, it feels like there has never been a better time to listen to experimental music. Obscurity no longer exists – there is no longer any music which is difficult to hear. 

I’ve become enamoured with Jim O’Rourke’s Steamroom page, where he regularly releases albums of ambient/noise music. if you’re expecting the Bacharach-esque chamber-pop of his Drag City albums then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. There’s a fantastic interview with him here where he describes his creative process (I’m a particular fan of Number 44).

It feels like the prevalence and dominance of the internet has brought with it a certain kind of musical freedom. There’s a kind of the-music-industry-has-collapsed-so-does-anything-really-matter-anymore attitude which I love! Dean Blunt’s Black Metal (2014) feels like an album that couldn’t have been made at any other time. An ‘anything goes’ album of hip-hop/indie/experimental/weirdness that breaks so many production rules (samples of badly compressed MP3s, levels clipping all over the place) but sounds all the better for it.

Of course the problem with everything being available at the click of a button is that you get overwhelmed with choice. I think this decade I got something like cultural fatigue. I'm pretty sure Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington’s endlessly meta online show On Cinema should be my favourite thing ever, but I can’t be bothered to watch all one hundred hours of it. And you can’t dip into it because the joke is that it only really works if you watch all one hundred hours of it. Being told to stick with things because they’ll get better in the fifth series…? Can I not just watch Masterchef and have a lie down? 

(I played the Olympia in Paris with Yann Tiersen in 2014!)

The other problem with making ‘best of’ lists is: do you choose albums because you love them or because of their cultural importance? Clearly the best album of the decade culturally was Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly – an actual soundtrack to a civil rights movement, an album of astonishing power and viscerality. It’s a dense, difficult album full of brilliant songs. But you’re not always going to be in the mood to listen to it. You’re not always going to be in the mood to be challenged, or to be saddened that an album like that needed to be made! 

Or should your album of the decade be the album you listened to the most? This would probably make sense since Spotify has taken over our listening habits and now insists on sending us our most played songs of the year, a cruel reflection of our exposed ids (for a Velvet Underground fan, I really listen to a lot of Bastille). Well, if we went by what Spotify suggested, one of the most successful artists of the decade would be ‘ambient rain noise’.

I believe that the truth is between. Some albums on my list I have listened to almost constantly, others I have only listened to once or twice, but they blew my head clean off when I did (Yeezus for example).

(My most played album of the decade was Benoît Pioulard’s Stanza I-III, released in three parts throughout 2015-6, probably because I listen to it most evenings to help me fall asleep. Beautiful melodic ambient drones, drenched in reverb and tape hiss. Er… just a bit!)

(I got to the finals of So You Think You’re Funny in 2017!)

While putting together this list, I thought I’d go back to the albums of the 00s list I wrote in 2009. Deerhoof aside, I kind of got snow blindness from reading it! Significantly, I didn’t even notice at the time that my list was made up almost entirely of white artists. Well, I do listen to a lot of morose indie, a genre not famed for its diversity. But this decade I feel that I have expanded my listening habits, and this should be reflected in my list. I hope it doesn’t look like when Rolling Stone do their best albums of all time and put What’s Going On in the top ten as a kind of afterthought (not even Marvin Gaye’s best album).

Who gives a hoot what I think, this is just a blogpost, it’s not like I’m writing for a major newspaper (although I do need a job if anyone’s reading this), but I think that, even on this platform, this is a really important albeit difficult thing to consider. If this decade is to be remembered for anything it’s that we all have a responsibility to promote diversity in our every action; the 2010s were a decade when the personal became political. It was the decade when it became prudent and necessary to notice things like the fact that I posted a list of my favourite albums and they were all made by white artists, even if it’s on a blogpost that no one reads.

It’s not just racist language and behaviour that must be challenged, we must also challenge the social subliminality and structuralism of racism. So yes, a best of the decade list with only white artists, that is part of the problem! Yes, maybe those were my favourite albums of the 00s, but to use a term that has become increasingly prominent this decade, we need to think of the optics. 

Aren’t you overthinking this? Tying yourself in knots to sound woke? Well, voice in my head, you sound like a bit of a twat, as does anyone who uses the word ‘woke’ pejoratively. 

Can’t you just list your favourite albums? Yes. But my point is: no conversation about culture takes place in a vacuum. Take Mark Kozelek, who topped my list last decade. Would I feel comfortable having him in my list this decade because of his appalling treatment of the excellent journalist Laura Snapes? Not that this would be an issue this decade because of the startling decline in Kozelek’s music. Who could have predicted that Kozelek would go from singing about love and grief with such incredible poignancy to mumble-rapping about buying furniture? (I have written at length about Mark Kozelek before.)

Anyway, I think the terrible state of the world has really affected my listening habits. Basically, life is horrible so I got into ambient music. Turning off the news and drifting off into a hypnogogic daze. What a luxury! 

(From the opening sequence of Midsommar, my favourite film of the year. The murals were created by conceptual designer Ragnar Persson and art director Nille Svensson.)

This is the decade when I no longer collected music – as I switched from downloading from iTunes and buying CDs to streaming it felt like I went from active to passive. It was a decade where music became part of the background – Spotify playlists were engineered to be as bland and un-skippable as possible. So it’s been refreshing to see artists challenge this monotony: Michael Kiwanuka’s dense, conceptual KIWANUKA from this year, and Beyonce’s thrilling video albums. 

(Do you ever listen to something like Otis Redding singing ‘Try a Little Tenderness’ and almost find it hard to believe that that really happened? That it was ever possible for someone so talented and charismatic to ever walk the earth? I got a similar feeling when I watched Homecoming. How lucky we are to have an artist like Beyoncé!)

(I played Green Man Festival in 2012 with Yann and, because Van Morrison wanted to go on first so he could get away early in his helicopter, we played after him on the main stage. So I can sort of say that Van Morrison supported me.)

(How dreadful to lose Mark Hollis and Scott Walker – and Neil Innes – this year. Whenever I have ten minutes to spare, if I’m waiting for a bus or something, I like to listen to ‘After the Flood’. Ten minutes of transcendence!)

(My favourite tweet of the decade.)

(A personal highlight of the decade for me was filling in at a gig at the 9.30 Club in Washington DC by playing ‘Lady in Red’ when Yann broke a violin string.)

Some specific musical highlights of the decade:

‘Sscending’, an extremely blissed out track by Acronym w/Korridor.  

How good was ‘Video Games’? I mean really.

The production on this Nicki Minaj song is utterly fantastic.

I love the lyrically virtuosic Villagers song ‘Earthly Pleasure’.

‘Work’.

Anyway, I’m going to end this by quoting from one of my favourite songs of the decade, and like some dreadful character from a 00s pre-mumblecore indie romcom, it’s by The Shins. 

Love’s such a delicate thing that we do  With nothing to prove Which I never knew 

Albums of 2019 

Orange – Caroline Shaw/Attacca Quartet The Sacrificial Code – Kali Malone Xièxie – Celer Homecoming: The Live Album – Beyoncé Occam Ocean II – Éliane Radigue Requiem for Recycled Earth – James Ferraro Nonlin – Steve Hauschildt Tracing Back the Radiance – Jefre Cantu-Ledesma Cuz I Love You – Lizzo Chastity Belt – Chastity Belt House of Sugar – Alex G (Sandy) Tip of the Sphere – Cass McCombs Designer – Aldous Harding Psychodrama – Dave Titanic Rising – Weyes Blood Compliments Please – Self Esteem KIWANUKA – Michael Kiwanuka When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish Nothing Great About Britain – slowthai New Miami Sound EP – Twain MAGDELENE – FKA twigs Normal Fucking Rockwell! – Lana Del Rey STONECHILD – Jesca Hoop This Is How You Smile – Helado Negro I Was Real – 75 Dollar Bill PROTO – Holly Herndon uknowhatimsayin¿ – Danny Brown Fear Inoculum – Tool The Reeling – Brìghde Chaimbeul U.F.O.F. – Big Thief

(U.F.O.F. is my album of the year. It sounds like alchemy, music where trauma has been channelled into something beautiful.)

(I supported John Robins at the Apollo in October this year. Cool!)

Albums of the decade (which I might keep amending Life of Pablo style)

Sleep Like It’s Winter, Steamroom 44 & Simple Songs – Jim O’Rourke  Love is the Plan, the Plan is Death – James Blackshaw Magma – Gojira (superb metal album) The Dream My Bones Dream – Eiko Ishibashi The Suburbs – Arcade Fire EARS – Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith Spark of Life – Marcin Wasilewski Trio & Joakim Milder Toumani & Sidiki – Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté (please listen to ‘Lampedusa’) Closing – Victoria Hume (got me through a very difficult time) For Those Of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have) – Huerco S. The Uncle Sold – Ed Dowie Witness – Katy Perry (really underrated!) Blonde – Frank Ocean Smoke Ring For My Halo – Kurt Vile Transparent Water – Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita The Curious Hand – Seamus Fogarty Reflection – Brian Eno Looping State of Mind – The Field Tomorrow’s Harvest – Boards of Canada Be the Cowboy – Mitski  Volumes 1-4 – Kosmische Läufer Stateless – Dirty Beaches Bridge Music – Eerie Gaits Veteran – JPEGMAFIA V2.0 – GoGo Penguin Lemonade – Beyoncé Oh Holy Molar – Felix Get Your Hopes Down – Landslide Purist (I played on this album but I don’t care, it’s really good!) Beach Music – Alex G (Sandy) Phantom Brickworks – Bibio Chaleaur Humaine – Christine and the Queens Only Myocardial Infarction Can Break Your Heart – Matt Elliott Dust Lane – Yann Tiersen Black Metal – Dean Blunt The Harrow & The Harvest – Gillian Welch Yeezus – Kanye West Ruins – Grouper Kill All Children – Prison UK (sad music from the future) Age Of – Oneohtrix Point Never (more sad music from the future) Nothing Important – Richard Dawson Hidden & Field of Reeds – These New Puritans To Pimp a Butterfly & DAMN. – Kendrick Lamar  Devil is Fine – Zeal & Ardor    Divers – Joanna Newsom Stanza I-III & Hymnal – Benoît Pioulard alterum – Julie Fowlis Unfold – The Necks DAYTONA – Pusha T Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves Olivia Chaney EP – Olivia Chaney Wit’s End, Big Wheel and Others & Mangy Love – Cass McCombs

(My favourite album of the decade is, unsurprisingly if you know me, Wit’s End by Cass McCombs, released in 2011. A perfect album of eight perfect songs. I still listen to it at least once a week and I don’t think it will ever lose its magic.)

[beekeeperofeden]

Fic: Prophylaxis

Wordcount: 1405 Summary: Space Opera AU. Vierna wonders sometimes if the flaws of the old jumpships have fallen wholly out of human memory; Jarlaxle would know, perhaps, but she daren't turn his mind to the question if it isn't already there. Takes place between But Only So An Hour and Underbelly. [Warnings for canon-typical drow sexism.]

It is a warning known to every every cosmonaut—when you sail the stars and go through a wormhole, you are forever changed.

Forever lasts until the next wormhole.

Before long, humans had developed better travel, faster travel, that didn't require them to send their sailors through rips in the fabric of reality. But the old wormhole-jumpers had never been mothballed, and there were still a few ships out there with the capability, with old engines that can't run along the stars but can skip right through them.

But the old ships grew rarer and rarer as human captains became skittish about their fatal flaw:

When you go through a wormhole, reality reverses itself. You reverse yourself. You come through backwards, down the molecular structure. Your DNA goes widdershins in your blood, and your proteins flip symmetry. You went in right-handed, and you come out right-handed still—but you return to a universe of lefties.

When the body digests malformed proteins—prions—it fails to understand them, then tries to incorporate this failure into its entire being. Men have died with seafoam on their lips and whalesongs in their head trying to bring the universe into a body not ready for it.

After you go through a wormhole, the entire universe becomes incomprehensible, a file your body can't read. All food becomes poison, unless it's gone through the wormhole with you, been translated into protein that is compatible with your new hardware.

And then you go through another wormhole, and the sinister universe rights itself.

To compensate, most pre-faster-than-light fleets had rules about never stopping after an odd wormhole. Battle maps and trade routes went by the rules of two by two by two. Sailors followed this guide for centuries, for so long that, even today, many space captains with faster-than-light engines still take a short break during their journey, long enough to pause the ship, to study a nebula, to wait—what they're waiting for, they don't know.

Some of the older fleets, of course, still use wormhole technology. The universe does not throw away a tool that works. Evolution does not invent so much as it recycles—vestigial traits linger, are given new purpose, until they become necessary again.

The drow fleets, for example, depend on wormhole jumping. They could switch over to faster-than-light—even galactic sanctions are not so powerful as to keep them limited to obsolete spaceflight—but the matriarchs find it a useful tether on their ship-captains. Two by two by two, they say. Two by two by two is eight, and our lady abhors odd numbers. Oddity is for heretics.

Heresy is punishable by death, and death conveniently applies itself to any captains (and their crews) who may have ventured off the carefully cultivated map. The drow matriarchs, every one trained in genetics and bioenegineering, must surely know the real cause of the Death of the Heretic, but they find it more convenient to hide that fact.

They have built control into their sons' blood, carved obedience into their bones. But power held loosely is apt to slip out of grasp, and tools, however crude, should not be simply abandoned. Not when they work.

In a shielded bubble, hidden in the shadow of a crater on the scarred surface of Lloth's eighth moon, Vierna the houseless, formerly of House Do'Urden, frowned at a microscope and studied her brother's blood.

"This is the only sample?" she asked. She didn't look at Jarlaxle. If she looked at him, she would be able to tell that he was lying. If she caught him lying, she would have to do something about it.

Better not to know. If she were of House Baenre or Del'Armgo or even Mizzrym, she could send soldiers or spies to search his base and confiscate any material. But it's just her. She has no soldiers, no spies. His base is also her base, her laboratory and home.

By not asking, she may have made it easier for him to commit blasphemy, but she couldn't solve that right now.

Later, she promised herself. When she's redeemed herself and her name to the great houses, she will have the power to undo whatever damage she has allowed Jarlaxle to do.

"Of course." He perched on a counter, boot heels kicking against the cupboard doors. He could have been a coddled child sitting on a kitchen counter, not in a bioengineering laboratory with rigid expectations for safety and protocol.

Vierna reminded herself that she couldn't just kick him out or tell him to get his ass off the counters. It was, technically speaking, Jarlaxle's lab.

Why was he still here? Vierna squinted at the blood, barely seeing it.

He wouldn't ask what she had found, surely. That would be too bold, even for him. So, she told herself—he was lingering in hopes that she might let some information slip. He would be looking for the same thing she was, no doubt—the key to her brother's survival away from Menzoberranzan's atmosphere—but all of his researchers were male. Even if they had the training to know what they were looking at, they wouldn't be as good. He needed a real bioengineer to tell him what there was—he needed Vierna.

She smirked.

"Get off the counter."

He swung his boots up onto the opposing counter instead, ignoring how it made the glassware clink. Vierna felt her smirk fade.

"Dinin told me you haven't allowed anyone into the lab for months. I thought that surely you would appreciate the company."

"Dinin may appreciate your company." Far too much, by Vierna's reckoning, but she had long ago accepted her brother's limitations. "I appreciate your absence more."

"You wound me." He sounded pleased, though, and Vierna knew that he enjoyed her company as little as she did his.

"What else did you find?" She was aware that Jarlaxle had raided several human labs before acquiring this sample, and still had the stolen computers. Trying to pry answers out of simple machines was a mundane task, suitable for the male researchers. Their minds were too shallow to grasp the fractal complexities of biology, but the binary simplicity of humanity's machines seemed to suit them well.

"Nothing yet."

He was lying again. She decided to allow it. After all, the truly important knowledge, the real answers, were in right front of her, in a language only she could read.

Finally he took the hint and left, abandoning her to blessed silence. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the darkness calm her mind, before going back to examining the blood sample.

She had expected some kind of cludge. A sturdy virus that would keep his immune system too busy to destroy vital organs. Or a hatchet job, cutting out the entire immune system—which would leave him vulnerable to many other diseases, but would stop him from dying immediately. Instead she found a work of art. She studied the sequence that had been grafted onto the end of the strand.

She was humming, she realized, tracing holy geometry on the countertop with her fingers.

The new genetic sequence was a work of art, modulating the subject's immune response rather than distracting it or cutting it out entirely. Whoever had done the work had built in a response to the signals that organ failure would send to the rest of the body, telling the immune system to reduce activity if the liver or kidneys or lungs started to die. Vierna felt her breath catch in the way that sudden understanding always granted—the solution was elegant. Beautiful, in its own heretical way.

She started planning viruses to counter it—and it would have to be viruses, because the kind of intensive gene re-writing to undo it would require custody of her brother, which she did not have. Perhaps if she keyed it to attack the organs first, it could make the immune system surrender without a fight...

She started growing a copy of the blood for testing purposes, then kept studying it. It was the work of an hour to prepare a cludge-virus that would accomplish the task.

She frowned, considering how brute-force that approach seemed. It seemed wrong, to use such a blunt instrument to destroy such delicate work. She felt like a virus was the right approach, but perhaps she could make it neater. Something a little more elegant, to show respect for her anonymous counterpart.

She tossed the first version in an incinerator and began again.

[luciferstit]

Old Norse: An Introduction to Case

One of the biggest obstacles some have about learning Germanic and Slavic languages is the prevalence of cases and declensions in pronouns, nouns, and adjectives. It can all seem like a right mess to those of us who are only used to verb conjugations and the like, but as with any great task, breaking down the steps into manageable bits can make the process of understanding cased languages much simpler. As such, let’s begin with a basic introduction of cases. 

Cases have the purpose of designating the rule of a word or a series of words in a sentence. In languages like English, we no longer use cases on account of the fact that we have a set sentence structure, and the position of a word in that structure clarifies it’s purpose (i.e. you would expect the subject to be at the front of the verb and the d.o. to immediately follow the verb). By languages using cases, they lessen the need for a set sentence structure, as the declension of the word clarifies its purpose instead, and they can therefore occur in any part of the sentence and in any order without affecting the meaning.

The four cases are nominative, accusative, genitive, and dative. Let’s try to parse these terms into layman's speech:

The Nominative Case:

Abbreviated as Nom, the nominative case is the grammatical form of a noun or other part of speech that marks it as being the subject of the verb, or as being a predicate noun or adjective.

Generally, the nominative form will be used when the word is in the subject position. It is widely considered “the word that’s doing something” in a sentence.

In the English sentence “Mark ate my homework”, if English were cased, then Mark would be in the nominative.

The Accusative Case:

Abbreviated as Acc, the accusative case is, in short, the grammatical case that marks the object. Specifically, the direct object of a verb or a preposition. It is the grammatical marker of a word that is being acted upon by another word, either as the receiver of the action of a verb or as the object of a preposition.

“Mark ate the candy at school.”

If English were cased, both words in bold above would be in the accusative case.

The Genitive Case:

Abbreviated as Gen, the genitive case is the grammatical marker of a noun that modifies another noun. This may seem a tougher than the others, as it is a bit more abstract, but let’s break it down further.

A very common way to see the genitive case is with possessives. A possessive noun is a noun that modifies another noun by means of ownership. A word that possesses another word will use the genitive case.

“The farmer’s pig is very fat.”

In this case, “farmer” would be in the genitive case, and would be possessive without needing the (‘s) to tell us so.

Another way you can find the genitive case is in abstract possession, which is a method of defining a noun by another noun when direct ownership isn’t feasible, such as “Japan’s climate” and “the doorhandle’s temperature”. In this method, the words in bold above would be in the genitive.

The Dative Case

Abbreviated as Dat, the dative case is... complicated. At its most simple, it is used to mark the indirect object of a verb (i.e. who the action that acts upon the d.o. is directed at).

In “I gave a kiss to Janine”, Janine would be declined in the dative case, as she is accepting the action.

In other cases, the dative changes some based on the language. In some languages, though it might seem to conflict with the accusative, the object at the other end of the preposition “to” is declined in the dative, even in a locative sense. It is used with “to” specifically though, and other prepositions with D.O’s would take the accusative.

In “I went to Japan”, Japan might be declined in the dative. This “dative to” rule is especially true in the case of Old Norse. The ON preposition “til” is similar to “to” and will ALWAYS take the dative case.

TL;DR

The four cases are nominative, accusative, genitive, and dative.

Nominative (nom): the subject of a verb

Accusative (acc): the direct object of a verb or a preposition.

Genitive (gen): a noun that modifies another noun.

Dative (dat): the indirect object

Any questions? Head over to my ask box and I would be happy to answer them. Happy studying!