#excellent attendee experience

[mogai-sunflowers]

I hate it when I can't use a term that fits me very well because my brain (which processes everything with images) has an image of that term that doesn't look like me.

Like when I think of "transmasc" and all that pops into my head are skinny, white, American boys with very basic styles (which isn't a bad thing, it's just "too basic" for me personally), and of course, who look like cis boys and hate their bodies or prefer other body.

Meanwhile, I'm a POC, fat, Latine person, with questionable style (/joke), who CERTAINLY doesn't look like a cis boy and who really loves their body.

How could I use a term when my brain tells me that term doesn't fit people like me? I hate that. It's just me?

hey anon. i so wish I could reach through this screen and tell you that who you are is perfect and that you have every right to terminology that feels right, but as a fat trans person myself I know it takes more than kind words to deal with a pain like this, and one that’s even more intersectional than mine with your race and culture in the picture.

but that image you have in your head of what transmasc means, that is not the reality. that is what a small part of the community, of the world, WANTS you to think because they would rather throw other members of their community under the bus to gain faux acceptance for themselves, which is NOT your fault, but it’s also not everyone, there are so many people in this community who look like you or who truly stand with you. Transmasculine history is and never has been white or thin or any of that.

I’m going to link a few things you may want to look into if you’re wanting to start accepting your identity a little more, or just to see that you really ARENT alone. trans men/transmascs of color have been part of our history since the beginning. some of these things im sharing may be somewhat nsfw and have the word 'tranny' in them, just as a warning if that stuff bothers you.

newspaper clipping showing three trans men of color at a festival for a film they were part of, the first ever sexual/porn film by and for trans men of color

some pictures showing some fat trans men and trans men of color at marches are here

Bobby Cheung, the Asian and Pacific Islander trans man who won the Mr. Transgender San Francisco Pageant in 2004

trans men of color discuss intersectionality in a film they directed called "Trappings Of Transhood"

a photo showing the attendees of an FTM conference- you can see many non-white people in attendance

a photo of a group of Latino trans men who attended Tranny Fest in 1999

basic info on victor j mukasa, a Black transmasc lesbian active in East African LGBTQ rights scene

an older fat trans gentleman's photo and experience

a post on pauli murray (please look them up. his experience is much more nuanced than this post gives them credit for, and she was a wonderful intersectional activist)

various trans men (many fat and of color) who have contributed to our history

a conference of Indian trans men

the story of a trans man named Ben

one of my personal favorite transmasc historical figures, Amelio Robles Ávila

Zander Keig, the fat Latino trans man who won social worker of the year in 2020

a wonderful read on the intersectionality of transmasculinity and race

a digital archive of trans and queer Latino history

the Instagram page of a popular Black drag king

an article with interviews with various drag kings, including several of color

Florence Hines, the Black drag king once called the most excellent male impersonator in America

more drag kings many of color!

Drag Kings: An Archaeology of Spectacular Masculinities in Latino America

anon, it is so easy to feel like you are alone when your own history has been unfairly erased from you. but when I say “you are not alone”, I am not offering empty words of comfort- YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Transmasc and similar identity has truly NEVER actually been just for white people or thin people. You are WONDERFUL, and you are ABSOLUTELY a part of trans masculinity and transmasculine history is YOUR history and community as much as it is mine and others. You belong.

[cjbee]

Can you tell us everything what's it's like to antique the roadshow??? 🤩🤩🤩

It’s a super cool experience! My roommate and I were producer runners so we got to follow a producer around while he chose what went on tv. It was a long day- like a 14 hour day- but it was really fun!

The vibes were excellent and the appraisers and attendees seemed to be so happy to be there :)

If anyone ever gets a chance to volunteer I 100% recommend it!

[elvenbeard]

Q&A with Mikolaj Szwed and Björn Schalla at Phantom Liberty Tour Cologne

(Björn (male V's German VA) left, and Mikolaj (CDPR localization director) right)

I cannot believe my luck still about having been able to attend the Phantom Liberty Tour in Cologne yesterday (Aug 25th 2023)! I'll make a separate post just about the event as such once I've emotionally recovered xD But I wanted to make a separate post for this topic for reasons!

Around two months ago I made this post. I'm currently on my second playthrough of Cyberpunk 2077, playing with the German dub and English subtitles. That's because I'm streaming the game for some international friends via Discord as I go, for fic-writing purposes, and finally just out of general interest for the difference between dubs and translations and such. In short, it has been a super interesting experience noting all the differences in tone, word choice, and more, between the English and German translation. It stood out to me for example that in English Goro adresses Wakako as "Okada-san", but in German as "Okada-sama".

Now, imagine my face yesterday (something like this probably: 🤩) when it was announced there would be a Q&A with Mikolaj Szwed, Localization Director of Cyberpunk 2077, and Björn Schalla, who voiced male V in the German dub.

I took some notes on the whole Q&A, since this is a super special interest of mine, and I think it might definitely be interesting to some of you too! Therefore though this is gonna be long, so I'll put some more tidbits and details they spoke about below the cut (such as what it's like playing a game with a character that has your own voice, and how CDPR views and uses AI voices - excellent questions asked by some of the other attendees).

But, the thing that confirmed to me what I had been wondering about in my above post, is this:

The VAs of the various different localizations were somewhat free in what they said and how they said it, therefore 100% bringing something of themselves into the characters they played. Mikolaj told them precisely "this is what your character is doing/feeling right now, they're facing this or that guy, so-and-so is with them" along with their translated lines, but there was always wiggle room. The translations are not blindly following a "canon" script, for lack of a better word (as CDPR games are written in Polish first, then translated to English, even though English is the primary dub everything's recorded in "first"). Also, unlike in dubbing movies/TV shows, the VAs are not bound to characters' lip movements (the talking animations are made to fit the respective dub, which is so, so neat). They only have to fit a similar timespan as the "original" line and scene. Therefore, each dub is unique to its language to a degree, and not a mere translation of some original source text (resulting in me sometimes laughing about some chars being a lot more crude or making a completely different joke in one or another scene). An example I remember at the top of my head: in the English dub, when talking to Dennis at Afterlife, V will call his lack of details on the "very simple, easy money" Big in Japan Gig "duty-free and detail-free". This just doesn't work as a funny alliteration and play on words in German. They settled on something else there that also kept Vs comment humorous, and that's common in "regular" TV show/movie dubs too. The other way around, during the interrogation of Hellman, English Johnny will say something like "well, fuck me sideways, (...)" on one of Hellman's comments, while in German he's like "well, fuck me and call me animal names" in a slightly more crass way expressing how pissed off he is at the corpo just admitting he's kind of useless to V. No direct translation, but same vibes fitting the mood, and making each dub and each interpretation of every single character unique to their respective VA and language in a way. And I love that so much!!

Back to my post above. While I didn't get to ask Mikolaj directly myself, cause there just was not enough time really to answer all burning questions, I think with what they spoke about it seems realistic to me that Takemura's German VA definitely added that "-sama" to Wakako's last name as a bit of flavour he deemed fitting for his character in that scene. Which, in my eyes, is making German!Takemura just a tad more sly than other incarnations of him I know of. Björn also said he was able to use his own sadness or not feeling well on some days to really sell V's sadness or pissed-off-ness at his shitshow of a life, and put something of himself into the performance. He definitely shed a tear here or there, and it really really shows that he gave 110% doing this character and his story justice. I'm totally not biased here because my V is male and I love the German dub so much, obviously xD. But no, for real, not just him, I think every single person working on this game put their blood sweat and tears into it, it's a huge labour of love and filled to the brim with creative passion on all ends, on every level.

But yes, so much to VAs influencing their characters, confirmed! More of what they talked about in the Q&A under the cut while my memory's still fresh! Thanks for reading this far, like with my above post, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences as well, especially if you played the game with different dubs yourself!

For this part I'm gonna vaguely paraphrase the questions that were asked by other attendees as I remember them, followed by what Mikolaj and/or Björn replied, respectively!

Q: How did the casting process for the German dub go?

Mikolaj was presented with 8 different VAs that could fit the part of V originally (for both masc and fem V respectively iirc, but could also be it was 8 altogether). Four of them were invited to an in-person casting, respectively. Björn recalled having to say some lines and only understanding half of what he was saying really, not really knowing the context much yet xD But he had voiced characters in games before and had had a lot of fun with that, so when he was presented with this opportunity he happily jumped at it. A little while after the casting he then received a call going "Glückwunsch, du bist V!" ("Congrats, you're V!") to which his initial, surprised response was "Ja, wie?!" ("Wait, what?", more literally "Yes? What?" Note: "wie" is basically pronounced like "V" xD).

Also, Mikolaj has people for all languages the game is dubbed in on his team and the process is the same for each dub, more or less.

Q: At Björn: did you have someone to "act with" or off of in the recording booth?

V was actually one of the first, if not the first to be recorded so other VAs had lines to use as base to respond to with their acting. Björn was solely in there with Mikolaj who directed him and responded with dialogue where conversations happened, if need be. That kinda ties into what I said above the cut, that Vs VA really could shape the tone (together with Mikolaj) based on but not copied off of the English script.

I don't recall how long the overall recording of all the dialogue took, but it was 8+ hour long sessions, not every day, but over the course of weeks.

Q: At Björn: Is it weird to play a game as a character that has your own voice?

He mentioned he is only now having the time to play Cyberpunk himself for the first time and already incredibly addicted (what a mood). He doesn't find it weird hearing himself constantly, because through his job alone he is used to hearing his own voice (even though he could just play femV, too, he prefers playing male, "his" V xD). Also, he's usually so immersed in the world anyway that he doesn't think about it much, can distance himself and his voice from the character. He did note being a little self-critical about his work though (also such a mood xD), especially about lines that ended up with a slightly off intonation that he'd fumbled. That simply happens though, in dubbing in general, and in video games moreso because you're usually just using your imagination for picturing a scene instead of talking over an already filmed sequence. BUT actually, when they went back into the studio to record for PL, they re-recorded some of those messed up lines with mispronounced names or off intonation, which is making me look forward to my 3rd playthrough even more now! Gonna come with patch 2.0 I assume :D

Q: At Björn: What kind of character is your V?

A very nice and friendly one! He likes playing a goodie two-shoes. He also noted he's not far into the story yet, just finished Automatic Love, and it may have awoken something in him xDD He said when he had to pick a doll at the start of the quest he got distracted by his cat pissing on the carpet. So he didn't pay attention, just picked any, and ended up in Angel's booth, whom he didnt mind but also wouldn't have chosen otherwise. But then he wound up weirdly enticed by the scene and quite enjoyed it xD And honestly who wouldn't be, Angel is lovely 💜

Q: How do you both feel about the rise of AIs and AIs potentially replacing VAs in the future?

Björn said this is a concern to a degree, but will likely not affect him much anymore in his career (he's been in this line of work for 40 years, started as a kid, and is not doing only voice acting). It is a thing though that is discussed and unions and such are looking into means and ways to protect VAs rights to their own voices through contracts, for example, if VAs wish so. He also briefly touched upon the fact that some iconic German VAs are simply getting old and dying without enough new people following and able to take over their iconic roles for example, or even finding VAs that fit certain parts AND get them accepted by audiences (there was a huge shitshow around the German The Simpsons dub a couple of years back when Homer's German VA died of old age and his predecessors were not well-liked by a very entitled audience).

Mikolaj said he is generally not opposed to AIs as tools that should be used, in fact, they should be used but not abused for more than what they're good for. An AI can never convey the human range of emotion necessary to really "sell" a line, that is something you just need VAs made of flesh and blood for that are capable of understanding complex emotion (which AIs, who are not intelligent in the way humans are, cannot). Then again, in certain, highly specific cases, there could be exceptions made. He said that Viktor Vektor's Polish VA died after being sick for a long time. Before his death he'd heard about what AIs could do though and gave his okay to have his voice "live on" in a way after he is gone. CDPR also discussed this with his family before doing anything, but to have him remain a part of Cyberpunk they cloned his voice and artificially created some voice lines for him based of the material they already had. To Mikolaj, the decision on whether or not to use AIs and in which context always needs to be an ethical one done on a case by case basis.

Q: Some Hollywood stars like Johnny Depp never watch movies they acted in - how do Mikolaj and Björn feel about this sentiment?

Both of them agreed that they actually really like looking back at their old works. Mikolaj started at CDPR with the localization for The Witcher 2, and sometimes he cringes at some of the decisions he made there when going back. But it also shows him how he's grown as he realises "I'd do that differently now".

Björn is similar (he is not just a VA, writes screenplays as well and does voice directing iirc). He likes looking back at older stuff and, as mentioned in an answer above, both he and Mikolaj are a bit self-critical sometimes and see things they could improve when revisiting old ideas. It's a good thing to do to live through the awkwardness of looking at your old art xD

Q: What were your favourite lines/scenes to record?

Since Phantom Liberty is fresh in their minds (and Björn noted how nice it was to be back in the studio with everyone again), they kinda had to omit answering this for spoiler reasons xD There is supposedly an extremely emotional scene to come though that had everyone go absolutely quiet and sad in the booth, when usually there was always joking and laughing to a degree. You could've heard a pin drop (what are we gonna bet it's the new ending? 👀).

On that note, Mikolaj also mentioned how he loved seeing everyone come back to reprise their characters with new confidence, knowing them and how they wanted to play them now already, and they had a blast during the recording of the Phantom Liberty dub.

Out of the main game Mikolaj said though, the lines that hit him the hardest, that make him super emotional still, are the voice messages left to V in the suicide ending epilogue. He especially mentioned Judy and Panam (his faves 💜), who gave their all and poured all the despair and sadness into those, it was and still is hard for him to watch.

And on that super happy note the Q&A ended xDD I definitely didnt include everything that was said, I think I missed a smaller question or two as well, I'm just really going off of my memory mostly and a handful of notes I took during the talk xD

But yeah, I think this was definitely one of, if not the highlight of the night for me, at least looking at the schedule and what the local team had prepared for the Cologne stop of the Phantom Liberty tour :D

I still feel super privileged to have been there, given how new I'm to the game and fandom still, but yeah. I'm still so pumped and hhhhhhhh about everything, hope I can share some of my joy and excitement through this post with you all as well!!

\o/

[ineffableclassics]

A Most Warm Welcome To Our Library, Dear Readers

Here, we curate a collection of the most delightful Good Omens fanfiction from a wide range of excellent authors, tropes, and premises. We call our rather large library of remarkable recommendations the Ineffable Classics. These works have distinguished themselves to the proprietors of the library by their excellence, boldness, and ability to pluck at our heartstrings even after the unfortunate canonical events of the final 15.

These works all excel and are prime examples of great fanwork, thus their inclusion in our collection. However, we would like to inform readers of the library that the Curator is biased in their own taste and acknowledges so. They warmly welcome suggestions from attendees, or to hear your thoughts and opinions on the items in the collection.

The works will all be tagged by rating, with the more explicit works under the tag #adult omens, borrowed from one of our great inspirations, @aziraphales-library . We hope this will make browsing most efficient.

We would also like to add that the start rating system we have implemented does not reflect the subjective quality of any work, and is purely based on the personal experience of the Curator. What They may enjoy may not be your cup of tea, and that is perfectly good. Also, a one star ⭐️ rating does not mean a work is bad. All the works selected are, again, fantastic specimens. The Curator states that a 1 star ⭐️ indicates a “fun read” that was “touching, innovative, and clever” while a two star ⭐️ ⭐️indicates that this work is a “Fic I would re-read”, while the elusive 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️are for “ stories that ripped out my heart, made me cry and realise something about the nature of life, spit in my face, put my heart back, and laughed”

The Curator has read all these stories, but is currently rereading them to adequately judge them. We are sorry not all the works are currently up to date with our ranking system and hope you may forgive us.

With all this said, dear readers, welcome to our library🪶📚

- The Curator and Co

[benjhawkins]

At 1:30 Eastern Standard Time! Free and via Zoom, you can click on the link to register:

Black African Excellence: Reclaiming Afro Atlantic Dialogues

“This interdisciplinary conversation will highlight Black Excellence at sea and will include historical and contemporary Black maritime narratives. Through the voices of contemporary scholars and community members, the conversation will present a broad narrative of Black maritime experiences and perspectives and will help reshape the conversation about New England’s maritime histories. The educational and community-oriented conversation will encourage attendees to confront our shared history and adjust the conversation moving forward. The event will be moderated by Akeia de Barros Gomes, PhD, the Senior Curator of Maritime Social Histories at Mystic Seaport Museum, Director of the Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime Studies and Visiting Scholar at Brown University’s Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice. Five phenomenal Maritime Scholars will share fascinating history and their remarkable work to reclaim and highlight Black Excellence.”

Come check it out!

[theofficersacademy]

Fans flutter, jewels sparkle as they catch the light, and the air buzzes with students’ conversation, nervous and hopeful all at once. The Ethereal Ball has at last come to... not the monastery this year, that’s for sure. Garreg Mach’s guests from Morfis, welcome or not, have cast an ever greater spell over the area and now your friends in the Golden Deer house aren’t the only ones mouse-sized. You, too, are suddenly no taller than a thumb, but that horror is supplanted with a greater one when you’re swept up by the elements and dropped into a dazzling ballroom unlike any you have ever seen before, the ceiling open to the stars above and the vague faces of the five Morfisians who peer down at you. They intend to watch you for entertainment.

The “gift” they have given you is beautiful though: a massive room draped in garlands of white and pastel pink flowers that never wilt, the scent of perfume heavy in the air, with a polished floor sparkling as if made of starlight itself. Were it not for the mice with which you now stand eye-to-eye, it might have been easy to forget your new curse. The mice, you realize, have been blessed (or perhaps cursed as well) with human consciousness, and they scurry about with serving trays and towels.

While your clothes have shrunk with you, there is a little boutique a short way down one of the halls that branch off from the ballroom. For a kernel of corn, a pair of sparrows will grant you gowns and robes of ethereal silk, shimmering silver, flowers, and fairy dust. You may never have this experience again, so why not live it up and make this a night to remember? The Morfisian elementals want you to entertain them, after all.

You’ve been formally invited to the Ethereal Ball?

A once in a lifetime experience for students of the Officers Academy, this time an even more magical night full of excellent food and drink, endless dancing, and the highlight of the year for would-be couples and longtime lovers alike.

You might be tiny, but your hosts have spared nothing to treat you to a ball that would empty the coffers of even the wealthiest nobles in Fódlan.

What’s on My Hand?

Each attendee of the ball finds themselves with two things:

A long chain of vines that seems to contain some magical power, worn around the neck

A strange mark on the palm of the right hand, in one of 5 shapes. See this list to find which one your muse has. Note: all muses in TOA have been assigned a mark for ease of randomizing them, but this does not obligate a muse to participate. BOLD your muse’s name on the list if they are participating.

The five elementals - Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Lightning - have claimed each of you for themselves and imbued you each with some of their power. When power is traded between two characters via a handshake or some other action that puts their marks in contact, a flower corresponding to the element will bloom on each character’s vine necklace.

How to Play

The goal is to gather one flower per each of the 5 elements represented at the ball, presumably after you’ve had a favorable conversation with the attendee and earned their approval and / or friendship (note: IC interactions do not actually have to be favorable to count toward the goal).

YES: A approaches B with the express intention of making a good impression and trading power with a handshake

NO: A and B decide to ditch the party and make out in the surrounding forest

YES: A and B decide to ditch the party and make out in a beautiful clearing in the woods, and decide they might as well hold hands to share their respective patron’s power while they’re at it

YES: A asks B for a handshake, but B hates A and a fight ensues.

NO: B starts a fight with A for the hell of it, and neither of them mention the marks or the flowers.

Please tag your posts with #toaball2023

A Note on Interactions

This year, do not reblog any of the inbox memes or prompts.

Bold your muse’s name on the elemental designations list to signal to the rest of the group that they are open to ball-related interactions. 

A bolded name means that you are welcome to send any of the memes or prompts without asking beforehand.

You may unbold your muse’s name at any time. This will not affect whether or not they can claim their prizes at the end.

Schedule

WEEK 1 : Getting acquainted (12th - 19th) 12th - New prompts 13th - Matchmaking signups 16th - Matched pairs will be announced

WEEK 2 : Preparing for the (new) White Heron Cup (19th - 26th) 19th - New prompts & White Heron cup signups

WEEK 3 : White Heron Cup & Event Wrap-up (26th - 31st) 26th - New prompts 26-29th - White Heron Cup competition 30th - White Heron Cup winners announced June 1st - Event epilogue

Prizes

Once your garland has bloomed with all 5 colors, you will be eligible to pick one prize from the Spring tab of our prize list!

You will also be eligible for exclusive access to the Dancer class! It will be treated as a Unique class with its own mastery ability. Mastering the class will also grant the character Refresh.

All characters who reach the required colored flowers will receive the prizes.

Prizes can only be claimed after the event’s conclusion.

Please track your flowers somewhere, with the name of the other character and a link to the interaction. Whether you do it on your blog or somewhere private is up to you, but you will be submitting this to claim the prize at the conclusion of the event

And that’s it! If you have any questions or concerns, please let the mods know!

The Ethereal Ball? will run until May 31st at 11:59PM EST! And in addition to the interactions and the White Heron Cup, we will be staggering three different lists of prompts designed specifically for this setting throughout the event. We hope you have fun, and that your characters make a lot of new friends!

- The House Leaders

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Rupa Subramanya and Ari Blaff

Published: Aug 3, 2023

Kike Ojo-Thompson, a diversity trainer in Toronto, was explaining to her class of 200 or so public school administrators that Canada is a much more racist country than the United States. 

“Canada is a bastion of white supremacy and colonialism,” Thompson said to a sea of nodding heads squeezed into Zoom. “The racism we experience is far worse here than there.” 

It was April 26, 2021, and Thompson was leading attendees through a session on systemic inequity. 

Thompson acknowledged that this might be hard for Canadians to accept, explaining that Americans “have a fighting posture against, at least, the monarchy. Here we celebrate the monarchy, the very heart and soul and origins of the colonial structure.” 

It was at that point that Richard Bilkszto, the principal of Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute and Adult Learning Centre, put his hand up. (Burnhamthorpe is a high school that caters mostly to students in their twenties who previously dropped out.) Bilkszto had trained in the United States, he was a devout progressive, and he was mystified by Thompson’s comments.

“I just wanted to make a comment about the Canada–U.S. thing, a little bit of a challenge to it,” Bilkszto offered. 

Citing Canada’s public schools, tax regime, and socialized healthcare system, and no doubt drawing on his own experience teaching in a predominantly black high school in Buffalo, New York, he said: “We’re a far more just society.”

There was a momentary silence. None of the other attendees waded in. 

Then Thompson, who is black, laced into Bilkszto, who is white.

“What I’m finding interesting is that, in the middle of this Covid disaster, where the inequities in this fair and equal healthcare system have been properly shown to all of us. . . you and your whiteness think that you can tell me what’s really going on with black people—like, is that what you’re doing, ’cause I think that’s what you’re doing, but I’m not sure, so I’m going to leave you space to tell me what you’re doing right now,” she said.

Bilkszto shut up.

That seemed like the end of that. 

In fact, it was just the beginning of Bilkszto’s harrowing, two-year descent into an ordeal of public shaming and isolation that ended only when he took his life last month.

“He was distraught,” Michael Teper, a Toronto accountant and friend of Bilkszto, told The Free Press.

“It was not only his job that was taken away from him, but his reputation, because those very people were assassinating his character. They claimed he was a white supremacist, that he was a racist. They knew nothing about him. They knew nothing about what he stood for or what he believed. All they know about is what they believe.”

As the lawsuit that Richard Bilkszto filed against the Toronto District School Board, or TDSB, later noted, he was a 24-year veteran of Toronto public schools. He had been a teacher, a vice principal, and a principal. He was respected by his colleagues.

“Richard Bilkszto is an experienced, effective, and highly accomplished educational leader,” the Toronto District School Board’s supervisory officer, Karen Falconer, said in a 2015 appraisal of his work. 

When Bilkszto announced his retirement in January 2019, Falconer said: “You have proven your excellence in equity, instruction, entrepreneurship, student engagement.” She called Bilkszto a “leader amongst leaders.”

Curtis Ennis, who was then a regional manager in the Ministry of Education, praised Bilkszto’s “brilliant service.”

Robert McManus, 60, a retired teacher who had been friends with Bilkszto since they’d met at Boy Scouts camp at age 11, said of Bilkszto: “He really listened. He really cared. If you had a problem, he was going to do his very best to help you. Obviously, these qualities went on to make him an amazing educator.”

After retiring, Bilkszto stayed on as a substitute principal, but he was eager to start thinking about the next phase of his life. He wanted to travel. 

Then, in late August 2020, Superintendent Leila Girdhar-Hill reached out to Bilkszto. The district desperately needed a principal to run Burnhamthorpe.

Bilkszto said he’d love to do it, but he was tied up until late September. 

“Later that evening,” according to the lawsuit, “Girdhar-Hill called Bilkszto to inform him that she had spoken with Executive Superintendent Uton Robinson. . . and they had both agreed Bilkszto was the right candidate for this position, given his unique qualifications [and] extensive experience in the Adult Education field.”

On September 21, Bilkszto started at Burnhamthorpe.

For the first several months everything went well, despite the pandemic and the lockdowns. 

On April 25, 2021, Falconer, now interim Director of Education, said to Bilkszto, “How long are you saving us at Burnhamthorpe? It is such a relief to know you are there.”

Two days later, on April 27, 2021, Leila Girdhar-Hill, the superintendent, informed Bilkszto that Dan MacLean, the TDSB trustee for Burnhamthorpe, was “very impressed” with Bilkzsto, according to the lawsuit, and asked if he could return for the next school year.

Bilkszto agreed.

[ Richard with his mother, Alice, who is still alive at 94. When she heard about her son’s death, “it looked like someone had ripped her heart out,” a relative told The Free Press. (Photo courtesy of Jason Bilkszto) ]

As it turned out, on April 26, 2021, the day before Dan MacLean offered to extend Bilkszto’s contract by a year, Bilkszto had his confrontation on Zoom with Kike Ojo-Thompson, the founder and CEO of the KOJO Institute.

The Toronto District School Board had hired the KOJO Institute to provide four two-hour diversity, equity, and inclusion training sessions to its administrators—for nearly $61,000.

Thompson launched the KOJO Institute, a Toronto-based diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting shop, in 1998, and her clients include H&M, United Way, the Centers for Disease Control, and the University of Toronto, according to the firm’s website. 

KOJO is part of a rapidly ballooning, global DEI marketplace—with companies big and small increasingly worried they’ll be accused of systemic racism, and a slew of diversity consultants eager to charge handsome fees to teach these companies’ employees how to avoid being racist. In 2020, companies spent $7.5 billion on DEI-related efforts. By 2026, that figure is expected to rise to $15.4 billion—despite growing concerns about the efficacy of such efforts. 

KOJO’s first session with the TDSB took place April 19, 2021. Bilkszto attended that meeting, which was uneventful. (It’s unclear what attendees discussed at the first session.)

It was at the second session the following Monday, April 26, 2021, that Bilkszto suggested that maybe Canada was not “the bastion of white supremacy” Thompson had made it out to be—noting, for example, that public schools serving Canada’s poorest students are generally better funded than their equivalents in the United States.

“As white people, there’s a whole bunch going on that isn’t your personal experience,” Thompson said at the second session. “It will never be. You will never know it to be so. You will never know it to be so. So your job in this work, as white people, is to believe.”

No one in the Zoom meeting challenged any assumptions or thought to ask questions like: Who counts as white? Or black? Who should be believed? Who shouldn’t be? What about the many white and black people who don’t fit snugly into Thompson’s ideological compartments?

As she wrapped up the discussion, Thompson said: “I just want to thank everybody for a proper, thorough session today. We got into the weeds and got the weed whacker out apparently. It was hot today. It was good. It was really good.”

That day, Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini, the executive superintendent of education—who is black—took to Twitter to show her support for Thompson. “When faced with resistance to addressing Anti-Black racism, we can’t remain silent as it reinforces harm to Black students and families,” Petrazzini wrote. “Thank you @KOJOInstitute for modeling the discomfort administrators may need to experience in order to disrupt ABR,” or anti-black racism. (She has since deleted the tweet.) 

The Petrazzini tweet “had a horrible effect on Richard,” according to Robert McManus, his longtime friend. It sent a message to the entire community of teachers and administrators, McManus said, that the school board approved of Bilkszto’s treatment—that he was guilty. (Petrazzini has since been promoted to director of education at another school district.)

It was at the third session on May 3, 2021—one week after Thompson’s public tongue-lashing of Bilkszto—that she decided to turn his “resistance” into a “teachable moment.”

“One of the ways that white supremacy is upheld, protected, reproduced, upkept, defended is through resistance,” Thompson explained—before laughing and going on to say: “I’m so lucky that we got perfect evidence, a wonderful example of resistance that you all got to bear witness to, so we’re going to talk about it, because, I mean, it doesn’t get better than this.” (Bilkszto’s attorney, Lisa Bildy, permitted The Free Press to listen to segments of the audio recordings of the training sessions.) 

Other attendees joined the pile on.

One woman, who Thompson calls “Lisa” on the recording, talked about white “discomfort” with open-ended discussions about race. 

Another woman, whose name is hard to make out on the recording, defended Thompson to the class while referring to Bilkszto as “the whiteness.” 

She said to Thompson: “I believe I heard you say—I’m a black woman, I’m telling you this—yet the whiteness said, ‘No, this is what I’m telling you,’ and that’s often the posture.’ They don’t want to hear what you’re saying. . . ”

No one came to Bilkszto’s defense.

“I think there was some back-channel texting while it was going on, where they acknowledged this was wrong,” Anthony Furey told me, alluding to other people in the DEI training session. Furey met Bilkszto while Furey ran in the recent Toronto mayoral race. “But the problem is nobody had the balls or leadership to stand up and say this is wrong.”

On May 4, 2021, the day after the third session, Bilkszto filed for sick leave. He missed the fourth and final session, the next Monday, and filed a complaint with school officials saying that he’d been harassed.

Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board looked into the matter. In August 2021, the board released its findings, stating that Thompson’s behavior was “abusive” and amounted to “workplace harassment.” Bilkszto was awarded seven weeks of lost pay.

But by then, Bilkszto was tainted goods.

Mike Ramsay, a friend of Bilkszto, told us: “His contracts were freezing up—and not a word from his former supervisors and colleagues. While he said some people were nice to him, for many others, he was not politically popular to be seen or be around.”

Richard Bilkszto was, above all, an educator, his friends and colleagues said. He didn’t have a partner or children. But he cared deeply about his students, and he was worried about the impact of the new identity-focused politics on the classroom, even though he was gay and, in an interview with The Free Press a few months before his death, voiced concern about transgender students being bullied.

“To me, being gay is a part of me,” Bilkszto said in the interview. “It’s not my identity. It’s not something I choose to put out there all the time. As a matter of fact, if people were having a conversation about, you know, ‘I don’t think there should be gay marriage,’ I’m not even offended by that if people are making rational arguments—as long as they’re not being homophobic.”

He added: “It’s about the whole cancelling and not allowing for free speech, free debate, and all those types of things. I’m a big free speech proponent.” Bilkszto said he thought Chris Rufo, the conservative activist who built his online following by spotlighting the excesses of wokeness, was spot on.

In his interview with The Free Press, Bilkszto sounded exasperated with the Toronto District School Board, saying that if he had kids he wouldn’t send them to the public schools. “It’s nothing about competence anymore,” he said. “It’s about your allegiance to the ideology.”

In April, Bilkszto sued the Toronto District School Board, citing Thompson’s “defamatory statements” and the unwillingness of administrators and other higher-ups at the TDSB to stand up for him—even though they had previously showered him with praise.

“Bilkszto has suffered and will continue to suffer damage to his character and reputation both personally and professionally,” the lawsuit states. “As well, Bilkszto has been subjected to embarrassment, scandal, ridicule, contempt, and severe emotional distress.” 

The lawsuit offered the hope of redemption. But it apparently wasn’t enough.

On July 13, Bilkszto jumped from his 16th-floor apartment in Toronto, ending his life. He apparently left a note, but loved ones did not want to share its contents. He was 60. 

[ Richard with his nephews Jason and Cody and niece Kate when they were children. “I miss my uncle. I don’t have him to ask for advice or guidance anymore. I feel like that’s been stolen from me,” Jason told The Free Press. (Photo courtesy of Jason Bilkszto) ]

“How can you not be allowed to slightly disagree with something without them tearing you apart for it?” Jason Bilkszto, Richard’s nephew, said in an interview with The Free Press. He was having trouble holding back his tears. 

“I miss my uncle. I don’t have him to ask for advice or guidance anymore. I wasn’t done getting advice from him. I feel like that’s been stolen from me.”

The last time Jason saw his uncle was June 19. It was Richard’s birthday and Father’s Day weekend, and the whole family gathered at Richard’s 94-year-old mother’s house. Richard made lasagna and salad.

“He seemed okay,” Jason, a chef who runs his own catering business, said. “He didn’t seem too stressed out or anxious. I can’t really say we noticed anything in particular that raised any alarms or anything.”

Robert McManus last spoke to Bilkszto July 12—the day before he committed suicide. “It was absolutely clear he was not sleeping well as a result of all the stress,” McManus said. “He was a very optimistic person, so the vast majority of the time, when people would be speaking to him, he would be seen as doing well, but his friends knew that he struggled—he struggled with what had happened to him.”

McManus added: “Our last conversation ended with me inviting him over to my place for a dinner party on Saturday, and he said, ‘See you Saturday.’ ”

Jason Bilkszto recalled that, when his grandmother—Richard’s mother—heard about her son’s death, “it looked like someone had ripped her heart out.”

Jason said he thinks his uncle was worried about the stain on the family name. “Our last name is very unique and not common at all,” he said, “and everyone’s on social media these days. I do think that maybe he was worried about our name and it affecting the rest of the family, because it is so uncommon. That was probably weighing on him.”

The Free Press reached out to Kike Ojo-Thompson and several of her colleagues at the KOJO Institute. No one agreed to talk. When we visited the KOJO Institute’s office—in a sleek, two-story brick building—no one appeared to be there.

On July 27, Thompson released a statement on the KOJO Institute’s site saying: “This incident is being weaponized to discredit and suppress the work of everyone committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.” She added that “[W]e will not be deterred from our work in building a better society for everyone.”

In the wake of Bilkszto’s death, Ari Goldkind, a Toronto attorney, said the DEI consultants—and all the businesses, nonprofits, and school districts that hire them—are now “on notice” that these training sessions “can have horrendous, real-world consequences.”

“There’s a real possibility here that, moving forward, the DEI training session becomes much more litigious, with attendees who feel put upon or hurt or maligned, dangerously maligned—meaning they’re ostracized or rendered unemployable—striking back in court,” Goldkind said. “That’s the lesson of this tragedy, that people are sick and tired of being isolated and cast out from polite society because they have the gall to ask a question or challenge the orthodoxy.”

It’s been two weeks since Bilkszto’s death, and his friends can’t believe he’s gone. Once upon a time, Robert McManus said, Bilkszto was the centrifugal force around which everyone in their circle revolved. He was the energetic one, the one who was always the most enthusiastic about whatever anyone else was up to.

And then he seemed lost, Michael Teper said. He’d gone to Mexico earlier this year to get away from the madness, but when he came back, Teper said, the madness was waiting for him.

McManus said: “It’s hard to imagine my life without him. I’m saddened that, in his moment of need, no one defended Richard.” Had it been someone else, McManus added, “he would never have sat silently by.”

==

Like any authoritarian regime, wokeness has a body count.

"There’s a real possibility here that, moving forward, the DEI training session becomes much more litigious"

Good. These fundamentalist cultists have been given undeserved, unearned, self-appointed free reign over society for far too long. If the DIE organizations themselves can't be sued into oblivion, then hopefully businesses can be financially discouraged from engaging these hate preachers in the first place, to subject their employees to this harassment, bullying, ideological domination and thought control.

In China, this exact kind of intimidation and coercion was a form of Mao-era torture called a struggle session.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struggle_session

Struggle sessions or denunciation rallies were violent public spectacles in Maoist China where people accused of being "class enemies" were publicly humiliated, accused, beaten and tortured by people with whom they were close. Usually conducted at the workplace, classrooms and auditoriums, "students were pitted against their teachers, friends and spouses were pressured to betray one another, [and] children were manipulated into exposing their parents". Staging, scripts and agitators were prearranged by the Maoists to incite crowd support. The aim was to instill a crusading spirit among the crowd to promote the Maoist thought reform. These rallies were most popular in the mass campaigns immediately before and after the establishment of the People's Republic of China and during the Cultural Revolution. The denunciation of prominent class enemies was often conducted in public squares and marked by large crowds of people who surrounded the kneeling victim, raised their fists, and shouted accusations of misdeeds.

The fantasists and fanatics can never be satisfied.

[krovscastlerpg]

Let’s get ready to rumble! Krovs Fight Club is coming back!

All fighters are considered voluntary. Masters, staff members, slaves (claimed, purchased, and unclaimed) and villagers are all allowed to participate at their own discretion OR, in the case of claimed and purchased slaves, thrown into the ring by their owners. Anyone is welcome to join in the fun, regardless of age, species, and/or combat experience.

The tournament this year takes place in the stadium in Krovs Town and will be televised live for everyone in the castle and town to watch from home or their favorite bar or restaurant. For every fight, the castle's magical staff members produce a protective barrier to keep the contestants in the arena and protect the attendees from any projectile attacks. Villagers with dining businesses are invited to cater the event for extra cash flow and marketing. Other business owners can use this as a means to sell merchandise like posters, t-shirts, tote bags, etc., promoting each fighter for attendees to support their favorites. Councilmen will be given premiere box seats located above general seating where they can enjoy the company of a slave (or two) with an excellent view of the battles. Taxi services will be provided to and from Krovs Castle for residents wanting to attend the event in person.

CASH PRIZE! The victor of the tournament will receive a cash prize of $100,000 along with bragging rights for the year. If an unclaimed slave wins the tournament, the prize money will be used by the castle to refurbish the Undercroft with improved accommodations and brand new necessities for all the unclaimed slaves. For a claimed slave winner, that money goes directly towards their purchase (if their master chooses).

All slaves and staff members will be given full access to all their abilities during their fights, though their collars will still be in place. These collars are capable of being turned on at any point by any witch member of staff on standby if they fear a fight is getting too out of hand. Attempts at using their powers to escape or rebel against the vampires will result in serious punishment. Collars will be equipped to deliver powerful electric shocks to incapacitate any non-vampire fighter with clear intent of trying to kill their opponent in the ring.

The first round will start on Monday, August 14th at 12PM EST. Get your names in while you can!

SIGN UPS

Players can now send in a list of their characters participating to the main. The deadline for sign ups closes at 11:59pm EST on Saturday, August 12th. The final roster will be prepared on Sunday for the event. Please sign up as soon as possible. Any characters sent in past the deadline will not be able to participate.

Players with multiple characters are allowed to submit some or all of their characters to participate in the event. There will be no waitlisting this year. If we have an uneven amount of character participants, we will volunteer some players to write a self-para fight with their character winning against an NPC of their own creation in the first round (this will be mandatory for event participation).

FIGHT THREADS

Since this is a fast-paced event, players have the option to thread the actual fights on Discord. The admins will set up channels in our Discord OOC for these threads so that way other players can view them and have their characters "watch" the fights happening "live." From an OOC perspective, we feel having the fight threads happen on Discord will be easier to actually finish these threads in a timely manner than on Tumblr.

DISCORD TO TUMBLR TRANSFER. Whoever starts each fight thread in Discord must also copy and paste their starter onto Tumblr. Players will be expected to copy and paste these fighting threads onto Tumblr, reblogging them like normal, for reference as these channels will be archived in the OOC once the event is over. Players can do this while the thread is in progress on Discord or after the thread has been completed so long as it's entirely transferred into a Tumblr thread at some point.

PLOT REQUESTS. All rounds will have fighters paired randomly. If two players have a specific plot in mind for their characters to fight each other, please reach out to an admin in advanced and we will do our best to set those two characters up against each other early in the tournament so it can happen.

NON-FIGHTING PARTICIPATION

While the main spectacle of this event will be the fights, players with characters not running into the ring will have other options of participation in this event, if they would like. These can include, but are not limited to: running or participating in betting games on fighters, working the event as staff (catering, security, servers, medical staff for injured fighters), or as attendees watching the shows. Unclaimed slaves not fighting will be asked to assist the staff with serving the councilmen and other masters watching the show. Players are welcome to get creative with this and can check with an admin if they're unsure about something. Non-fighting threads as part of this event MUST take place on Tumblr ONLY.

BETTING. Anyone not involved in the actual fights can place and run bets. These bets can be on each individual round, a certain character getting far, or they can predict the whole tournament. Characters can place multiple bets and change their minds as the event goes on. The character with the most accurate bet at the end of the tournament will win the pool money. We will have a channel set up for characters to place their bets in the Discord OOC. This aspect can also be played out in threads on Tumblr, but the formal bets MUST be posted in the Discord channel for admins to see.

More information will be posted at the start of the event. Players, please LIKE this post so that we know it has been read.

[suryatourandtravels]

Discover Unmatched Adventures with Surya Tour & Travels Agency in Bhopal

In the vibrant city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, lies a travel agency committed to turning your wanderlust dreams into reality. Surya Tour & Travels Agency stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of transportation services, offering rental taxis and cars that redefine travel experiences. As the premier tour and travel agency in Bhopal, we pride ourselves on providing the best tours and packages at highly competitive prices, tailored to suit the diverse needs of our customers across Madhya Pradesh.

At Surya Tour & Travels, we understand that every journey is unique, and that's why we offer a wide range of vehicles to cater to your specific requirements. Whether you're planning a solo adventure, a family vacation, or a corporate retreat, we have the perfect mode of transportation for you. From luxurious SUVs to spacious buses and well-maintained tempo travelers, our fleet is designed to ensure your comfort, safety, and enjoyment throughout your travels in Madhya Pradesh.

One of our recent endeavors includes organizing taxi services for the Narmada Pushkaram event, also known as Pushkaralu. This historic event, celebrated once every twelve years, attracts pilgrims and travelers from far and wide to the banks of the sacred Narmada River. As part of our commitment to providing exceptional service, we are proud to offer dedicated taxi services to facilitate seamless transportation for attendees of this auspicious occasion.

At Surya Tour & Travels Agency, we specialize in understanding and catering to the unique travel needs of tourists. Whether you're seeking spiritual solace at ancient temples, exploring the rich cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh, or marveling at the natural beauty of its landscapes, our team is here to curate the perfect itinerary for you. Our tour packages are meticulously crafted to offer you the best of what Madhya Pradesh has to offer, ensuring an unforgettable travel experience.

What sets us apart from other travel agencies in Bhopal is our unwavering commitment to excellence. Our fleet of vehicles, including taxis, cars, tempo travelers, and luxury buses, is fully maintained to the highest standards to ensure your safety and comfort. Additionally, our team of professional and experienced drivers is dedicated to providing you with a smooth and enjoyable journey every step of the way.

Whether you're a local resident in search of a weekend getaway or a traveler from afar exploring the wonders of Madhya Pradesh for the first time, Surya Tour & Travels Agency is your trusted partner in adventure. Our reputation as the leading tour and travel agency in Bhopal is built on a foundation of unparalleled service, competitive prices, and unforgettable travel experiences.

So why wait? Contact Surya Tour & Travels Agency today to embark on your next great adventure in Madhya Pradesh. Let us be your guide as you explore the diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture of this magnificent region. Your journey begins here with Surya Tour & Travels Agency, where every trip is an experience to remember.

[anenvs3000f23]

final blog post

My interest in nature interpretation stems from the same ethics that sparked my interest in studying the environment in the first place. I hold a strong belief that the current global focus should be on the preservation and conservation of the environment. It is with this belief that I found enjoyment in studying sociology, hence declaring it as my minor. As I continued my studies in biology and sociology, I found the two subjects to be more entwined than expected. Without going into much detail, a clear link can be drawn from the profit over people status quo to the blatant unwillingness of governments to take serious action against the climate crisis. With this, I believe that education can be one of the most important tools in popularizing a vested interest environmental conservation. I think nature interpretation, in its many forms, makes for an excellent substrate to do so. A staple of good nature interpretation is finding a way to make deeper connections with your audience rather than bombard them with facts. Doing so makes space for people to feel inspired by the knowledge they receive. As such, nature interpretation has the ability to inspire people to become stewards of their environment; whether that be localized to a pollinator garden in your front lawn or expanded to organizing whole communities as a united front against climate change. While I have strong beliefs on this front, I believe it is important to remain as neutral as possible while interpreting. All people, regardless of personal or political beliefs deserve quality nature interpretation. However, an important distinction should be made between catering to diverse audiences and skewing the truth for the sake of comfort of convenience.  

            Subsequently, the role of nature interpreter comes with some inherent responsibilities. I believe interpreters have a responsibility to ensure interpretive material is truthful. As educators, interpreters hold some level of power over their audiences in that their word is often taken as fact. As such, interpretation can become a powerful tool in the spread of misinformation. Hence, interpreters hold a responsibility to educate with evidence-backed information. Consequentially, I believe it is important to acknowledge when you, as an interpreter, are unsure of an answer. I believe a good interpreter will use a gap in their knowledge as an opportunity for learning. If there is information available, the interpreter could spend time finding the answer with their audience, encouraging good methods of research. Alternatively, if there is no way to immediately find an answer, a speculative answer can be deduced by using overarching concepts. In my experience as a nature interpreter, the ladder option is most well received by guests. It brings overarching biological concepts to the forefront of the conversation allowing them to be applied to other examples. Beyond this, a nature interpreter is also responsible for the safety of their audience. People from all different walks of life attend interpretive events. In the case of outdoor interpretation, this can elevate the amount of risk involved. Even a seemingly easy hike may become dangerous for some if they attend in improper footwear, for example. Taking this into account is the responsibility of the nature interpreter. Precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of all attendees. For the example given, reminders could be sent out about attire, backup footwear could be provided, or an interpretive program could be altered to suit the needs of the current audience.

            When I initially enrolled in this course I had already worked as a nature interpreter for about six months. As such, I was convinced I would already be knowledgeable in the concepts we have covered in this course. I was undoubtedly incorrect in that thought as I have learned a plethora of methods to improve my interpretation. As of current, I interpret at a butterfly conservatory that focuses on tropical species of butterflies as well as other tropical plants and animals. Here I can apply many of the concepts from this course, I have become more aware of the diverse audiences I interpret to an adjusted my material accordingly. I have dabbled in incorporating art into my interpretive materials, usually with illustrations or pictures pertaining to nature. However, this is not my ideal position as a nature interpreter; I have a deep, profound love for the native flora and fauna of Canada. As such, I wish to spark the same connection with nature in others. Furthermore, I enjoy being outside and in nature, even in our Canadian winters. I believe I would be best suited to an outdoor approach to nature interpretation where there is easy access to hands-on learning. I believe being able to see, touch, listen, or even taste the nature you are being interpreted to about will leave a longer lasting impression that may blossom into a lifelong passion.

            My experience in this course has taught me the importance of quality nature interpretation. The ability to spark interest in a subject that might otherwise be overlooked is a valuable skill and should be recognized as such. Nature interpretation reveals to people what was always there but went unnoticed. This could be something as large or as old as geological formations in bedrock, or as fleeting as an amalgamation of slime mould on a food source. As such nature interpretation provides a valuable public service that any interpreter should be proud to take part in.

[explore-engage]

NINE International's Educational Extravaganza: A Fusion of Opportunities

In a bid to redefine the landscape of educational opportunities, NINE International, a leading Visa Consultancy Company from Anand, Gujarat, recently spearheaded an enlightening Education Expo in collaboration with Radio Mirchi. This innovative event unfolded as a fusion of knowledge, cultural exchange, and global opportunities, leaving attendees inspired and informed.

A Melting Pot of Academic Insights:

The Education Expo, held at Vadodara in association with Radio Mirchi, served as a melting pot of academic insights, bringing together aspiring students, parents, and educational institutions under one roof. NINE International's commitment to empowering students to achieve their academic dreams took center stage as it curated a diverse range of educational institutions from around the globe.

Global Opportunities Unveiled:

The expo featured representatives from esteemed universities and colleges, offering a firsthand opportunity for attendees to interact with academic authorities. From renowned institutions in the UK and Canada to universities nestled in the cultural fabric of Australia and Europe, the expo showcased a panorama of global academic opportunities.

Insightful Counseling and Interaction:

A highlight of the event was the series of insightful Counseling conducted by industry experts and seasoned counselors from NINE International. These sessions covered a spectrum of topics, ranging from visa application processes and scholarship opportunities to insights on choosing the right course and university. The expo floor featured interactions where attendees could engage with representatives from various universities, clearing doubts and gaining valuable insights.

Radio Mirchi's Vibrant Contribution:

In association with Radio Mirchi, the Education Expo was not only intellectually stimulating but also culturally vibrant. Radio Mirchi brought a unique flavor to the event, with live broadcasts, on-the-spot activities, and engaging quizzes that kept the audience enthralled. The synergy between NINE International's expertise and Radio Mirchi's dynamic approach created an immersive experience for all attendees.

The NINE International Commitment:

NINE International's dedication to providing genuine counseling and personalized guidance was evident throughout the expo. Their team of experienced counselors was on hand to address queries, offer personalized advice, and guide students on the path to academic success.

Looking Ahead:

The success of the Education Expo reflects NINE International's dedication to transforming dreams into reality. With Radio Mirchi's rhythmic association, the event achieved a harmonious balance, leaving an indelible mark on everyone who attended. As NINE International continues to evolve and innovate, it remains a beacon for students, illuminating the path to academic excellence and global opportunities.

In the aftermath of this collaborative triumph, NINE International stands poised to continue its journey, guiding students toward a future enriched by global education and cultural diversity. The Education Expo was not just an event; it was a celebration of knowledge, opportunities, and the boundless potential of every student's academic voyage.

[sap23center]

Salesforce Training in Amravati | SAPALOGY NAGPUR

Salesforce training in Amaravati offers a dynamic learning experience for individuals and businesses aiming to master the Salesforce platform. Tailored courses cover essential aspects such as Salesforce administration, development, and customization. Participants receive hands-on training from seasoned instructors, ensuring practical skill acquisition. Whether you're a novice or seeking advanced knowledge, these programs accommodate diverse skill levels. The training empowers attendees to navigate Salesforce seamlessly, create tailored solutions, and streamline business operations. With a focus on real-world application, participants gain valuable insights, enhancing their professional capabilities. Enrolling in Salesforce training in Amaravati opens avenues for career growth and positions individuals to excel in leveraging Salesforce for organizational success.

To know more-

[greenfieldpartyvenues]

Corporate Event Venue

Maximizing Impact: How Professional Venues Can Enhance Your Corporate Event!

When planning a corporate event, one of the most crucial decisions you'll make is choosing the right venue. The Corporate event venue sets the stage for your event and can significantly impact its success. 

While you might be tempted to cut costs and host your event in-house or at a basic location, opting for a professional venue can elevate your event to new heights. 

In this blog, we'll explore how profession

Impressive First Impressions

al venues can enhance your corporate event, making it a memorable and impactful experience for your guests.

The saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression," holds true for corporate events. When your guests arrive at a professional venue, they are immediately greeted by an atmosphere of sophistication and professionalism. 

Grand entrances, well-designed reception areas, and courteous staff set the tone for the event, making your guests feel special and valued. This positive first impression can significantly influence their perception of your company and the event.

State-of-the-Art Technology

Professional venues are equipped with the latest technology and audio-visual equipment. Whether you need to deliver a compelling presentation, showcase a product, or host interactive workshops, these venues are well-prepared. 

High-quality sound systems, projectors, screens, and lighting ensure that your message is delivered effectively, leaving a lasting impact on your audience.

Flexible Spaces for Every Occasion

One of the key advantages of professional venues is their flexibility. These spaces are designed to accommodate various events, from small meetings to large conferences, workshops, product launches, and gala dinners. 

Their versatile layouts and well-thought-out floor plans can be customized to suit your specific needs, ensuring that your event is perfectly tailored to your objectives.

Expert Event Planning and Management

Professional venues often come with a team of experienced event planners and managers who are well-versed in orchestrating successful corporate events. 

They can assist you in every aspect of event planning, from designing the layout to coordinating catering and logistics. 

With their expertise, you can rest assured that your event will run smoothly, allowing you to focus on engaging with your attendees.

Custom Catering Options

The culinary experience at your corporate event can significantly impact your guests. Professional venues often have in-house catering services or established partnerships with renowned caterers. 

It ensures that you have access to a wide range of culinary options, from fine dining to casual fare, and can accommodate various dietary preferences. A well-prepared and beautifully presented meal can leave a lasting impression and add a touch of luxury to your event.

Endnote:

Selecting a professional venue for your corporate event is a strategic decision that can significantly enhance its impact. If you are looking for corporate party venues near me in Melbourne, Greenfields Albert Park is an excellent choice. 

With its stunning ambiance, top-notch facilities, and a team of experienced professionals, we can help you create an unforgettable corporate event. 

Our commitment to excellence and attention to detail will ensure that your event stands out and leaves a lasting impression on your guests.

Visit our website to check out our venue photos and get in touch with our team to start planning your next exceptional corporate event. Your success is our priority, and we look forward to making your event truly remarkable!

[iafindia]

Business Leadership Virtual Awards in India

Business Leadership Virtual Awards in India to reward and recognize achievers who demonstrate excellence in respective fields of expertise.

We strive to promote exemplary achievements, by fellow Indians across the globe, which eventually inspire others to contribute in the socio-economic welfare and growth of the nation.

The Real Estate Awards in India is an exclusive property recognition program, which helps to identify, promote and acknowledge the best builders and developers’ contributions towards creating better residential spaces. We are dedicated to promoting the most innovative developments in Indian real estate – bringing together the world’s most influential people from across various industries, including real estate elite and investors, to vote on their favourite buildings or projects that best represent their true scale of excellence. small business awards 2022 india || international achievers award 2022

The Awards and Recognition Forum for companies in India is a dedicated platform that aims to honor and acknowledge achievers in various industries. It serves as an exclusive gathering where exceptional individuals and organizations are recognized for their outstanding contributions and accomplishments. This forum provides a unique opportunity to meet, network, and engage with like-minded personalities who have achieved excellence in their respective fields. Attending this prestigious forum allows participants to connect with a diverse community of accomplished professionals, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts. It creates an environment conducive to sharing ideas, experiences, and best practices, fostering a culture of collaboration and learning. By interacting with fellow achievers, attendees can gain valuable insights, broaden their perspectives, and explore innovative approaches to business challenges.

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[squeemcsquee]

TFCon Chicago 2022: Saturday

Saturday started with @shbumi​ and I off to the Exhibition Hall and @lechevaliermalfet​ off to get an autograph from Peter Cullen. Now, despite not being a huge Transformers fan, I won’t lie – the dealers there have some super impressive stuff. Like, I completely understand why people drop a lot of money on some of the Transformer stuff on display. And the artists there are just as talented as at any other con.

But because I’m not the target audience, I probably burn out in there faster than in the dealer/artist space at anime cons or general pop culture cons. That’s not to say I didn’t find stuff – I did, over our multiple visits to the room. With my first purchase being energy drinks. I think I was feeling caffeine-deprived at the time and when you add it subtle pressure to buy from a polite but persistent pair of vendors…yeah. They actually taste pretty good though, so I might grab some again if I see them at another con. We’ll see.

I did find some other stuff, of course - my favorite purchase of the weekend was a page from one of the MLP/Transformers crossover comics.

After that first trawl through the available merchandise, we went to a panel on G1 Transformers with Sue Blu, Paul Eiding, and Ron Friedman. 

I missed a chunk of what was being said thanks to the guys sitting behind us who were having a very active discussion on photography. And no, they didn’t bother shutting up when I politely let them know they were being too loud. *sigh* I get that not every moment of every panel is going to be fascinating to all attendees – but in that case, if you must talk to kill time, whisper. Or just message each other on your phones in silent mode, if there aren’t rules against phones in the panel. Better still, walk out. Let someone else have your seats.

Yes, I was very grumpy over this.

I did walk out of that panel with a greater love for the character of Arcee though, so there’s that.

We took a food break after the panel. @shbumi​ headed to the autograph area after her lunch, since she also purchased a ticket for Peter Cullen. Compared to the reasonably well-organized experience @lechevaliermalfet​ had in the morning, @shbumi​ reported clusters of people, line confusion, and delays during the afternoon session.

@lechevaliermalfet​ and I opted to check out the costume contest that afternoon. It started a little late but otherwise was just fine. Just like with their panels, TF Con had video monitors up and filmed contestants as they entered, so that as many people as possible would get a good view, no matter where they sat in the room. We were actually seated right on the edge of a row, which was an excellent view – even if I also occasionally got a wonderful view of other people’s phones and cameras while trying to take my own photos.

The energy for the cosplay contest was pretty good – a very appreciative crowd. And the MC also kept things going at a decent pace. As is usual with costume contests that have age categories, the kids went first. The highlight for everyone was the youngster whose costume allowed him to actually transform between robot and car mode.

Among the adult contestants were a Starscream and Megatron who stole the crowd’s affection easily. You had your small handful of folks cosplaying the human characters, but let’s face it – folks are there for the ‘bots. The last contestant, cosplaying Ratchet, was nearly forgotten – and wisely noted that you’re screwed if you forget your medic!

A note on the emcee for the event, though – I was entertained by what I took to be over-the-top sarcasm and lighthearted jabs at characters. However, there are also those who viewed the commentary as being too mean and also leaving contestants awkwardly trying to determine how to respond. I can’t say which side is right – since I’m far more casual within the fandom, it’s possible I missed some subtext in what was said.

There was a small amount of downtime in the dealer hall after the cosplay contest and then it was time for Peter Cullen’s panel. Or rather, it was time to get in line for Peter Cullen’s panel.

TFCon does do a tiered badging system, which meant there were concerns that many regular attendees like us would be left out in the cold and unable to access Peter Cullen’s panel. After all, hotel ballrooms can only hold so many people, and we figured with such a high-profile guest, most of the seats would be taken by the VIP and Premium badge holders. So we were in line roughly 50 minutes before the listed start time of the panel.

The line got shuffled around and moved between three and five times before anyone ever got into the panel. There were issues with the sheer number of people in line causing blockages for the dealer’s hall. And allegedly the line stretched through the hotel and toward the doors out to the parking lot.

We were lucky enough to make it into the panel and get relatively good seats. And all I can say is, Peter Cullen is a treasure. He seems genuinely touched at the love the fans show him and eager to return it. He’s an excellent storyteller and made us all laugh several times during the panel. Especially during his reenactment of the moment he discovered Optimus Prime dies in the 80s movie, during the script read.

TFCon has the entire panel on their YouTube page and I highly recommend it.

After Peter Cullen’s panel, we were done with official TFCon events for the day. But @shbumi​ managed to drag us to a room party that night. Which is greatly outside the norm for us, but it was a fun experience. There were a few games, including a Madlibs-style bad fanfiction. 

The hostess had set her bathroom up as a mini-bar and was mixing drinks up – I tried a couple. Neither were exactly what I would order for myself normally but I’m glad I tried them.

 They were strong! Our hostess was mixing drinks for free, though tips were happily accepted and we all made sure we tipped for the night. All in all, I spoke with some cool people, had some laughs, and it was a good couple of hours.

 Oh, and @shbumi​ got a 3D-printed tiny robot dick.

All TFCon Chicago 2022 Coverage

Friday

Saturday (current post)

Sunday 

[essentialcatering]

10 Ways to Create Instagram-Worthy Catered Events

In the age of social media, hosting an event that's Instagram-worthy is not just a desire but a necessity. Whether you're planning a wedding, corporate gathering, birthday bash, or any other special occasion, making sure your catering Melbourne event is Instagram-ready can elevate your event to the next level. People love to share their experiences on social media, and you can harness this trend to create buzz and leave a lasting impression. Here are 10 ways to create Instagram-worthy catered events:

Choose a Stunning Venue

Selecting the right venue is paramount. Consider the ambiance, scenery, and architectural elements. Natural lighting is often a plus, as it enhances the quality of photos. Beautiful venues provide a strong foundation for Instagram-worthy moments.

Creative Decor and Tablescapes

Work with event designers and decorators to create a cohesive visual theme. This includes unique centrepieces, table linens, chair covers, and other decor elements. Elements like flower walls, hanging installations, or themed props can make your event visually stunning.

Trendy Food and Beverage Stations

Think beyond traditional buffet lines. Offer interactive food stations like make-your-own tacos, sushi, or ice cream sundaes. These stations engage guests and provide opportunities for captivating photos.

Food Presentation Matters

Collaborate closely with your caterer to ensure dishes are plated artistically. Experiment with different textures, colours, and presentation styles. Consider serving dishes in unique and eye-catching serveware.

Signature Cocktails and Drinks

Create visually appealing signature drinks that match your event theme or colours. Garnish them with colourful fruits, edible flowers, or unique drink accessories. Specially designed glassware can also add an element of elegance.

Lighting is Key

Lighting can completely transform the atmosphere of your event. Consider soft, warm lighting for an intimate gathering or vibrant, colourful lighting for a lively party. Professional lighting can enhance the overall mood and make for excellent photos.

Photo Booths and Backdrops

Set up a dedicated area for photos. Provide backdrops that fit your theme and add props like hats, masks, or funny signs. Encourage guests to use the photo booth and share their pictures with your event hashtag.

Engage with Social Media

Leverage social media platforms to build anticipation and engagement. Create countdown posts, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and share stories leading up to the event. During the event, use live coverage to showcase key moments.

Live Entertainment

A live band, DJ, or performance can serve as a captivating focal point. Ensure the stage or performance area is well-lit and visually appealing. Capture the energy and excitement of the entertainment to share on social media.

Unique Favours and Swag

Provide guests with memorable takeaways that they'll want to photograph and share. These can include customised event merchandise, gourmet treats, or personalised gifts that align with your event's theme.

Incorporating these elements into your catered event not only makes it Instagram-worthy but also creates a more immersive and enjoyable experience for your guests. Remember that consistency in theme, decor, and branding throughout the event contributes to a cohesive and visually pleasing atmosphere that's more likely to be shared on social media. So, get creative, pay attention to the details, and encourage your attendees to share their unforgettable moments with the world.