#i do think certain designs get really close to 'timelessness' ... while also being a reflection of their times...

[brilliantfantasticgeronimo]

Whatever you do on Doctor Who, whatever technology or futurism you're putting on on screen, it's always going to look like it was made now. And it should, you know. Science fiction in the sixties looks like it was made in the sixties - seventies, eighties. The worst and most stupid thing you can do is got into a meeting and say "Let's make it timeless!".

For a start, why? I think these programs are a record of the era in which they were made. And they should be. You should show that off. Plus, you can't fight it. That will creep it in aywhere. There's not such thing as a timeless design, ever.

I think we have to celebrate that.

RTD - DW Confidential - s03e07

[mediaevalmusereads]

Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology. By Adrienne Mayor. Princeton University Press, 2018.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Genre: classics, mythology

Series: N/A

Summary: The fascinating untold story of how the ancients imagined robots and other forms of artificial life—and even invented real automated machines The first robot to walk the earth was a bronze giant called Talos. This wondrous machine was created not by MIT Robotics Lab, but by Hephaestus, the Greek god of invention. More than 2,500 years ago, long before medieval automata, and centuries before technology made self-moving devices possible, Greek mythology was exploring ideas about creating artificial life—and grappling with still-unresolved ethical concerns about biotechne, “life through craft.” In this compelling, richly illustrated book, Adrienne Mayor tells the fascinating story of how ancient Greek, Roman, Indian, and Chinese myths envisioned artificial life, automata, self-moving devices, and human enhancements—and how these visions relate to and reflect the ancient invention of real animated machines.As early as Homer, Greeks were imagining robotic servants, animated statues, and even ancient versions of Artificial Intelligence, while in Indian legend, Buddha’s precious relics were defended by robot warriors copied from Greco-Roman designs for real automata. Mythic automata appear in tales about Jason and the Argonauts, Medea, Daedalus, Prometheus, and Pandora, and many of these machines are described as being built with the same materials and methods that human artisans used to make tools and statues. And, indeed, many sophisticated animated devices were actually built in antiquity, reaching a climax with the creation of a host of automata in the ancient city of learning, Alexandria, the original Silicon Valley.A groundbreaking account of the earliest expressions of the timeless impulse to create artificial life, Gods and Robots reveals how some of today’s most advanced innovations in robotics and AI were foreshadowed in ancient myth—and how science has always been driven by imagination. This is mythology for the age of AI.

***Full review below.***

CONTENT WARNINGS: descriptions of myths that include violence and bestiality, mention of slavery

I first heard of this book when Adrienne Mayor was a guest on the Mindscape podcast. I found her ideas and arguments to be interesting, so I figured her book would expand on the concepts she explored on the podcast.

Overall, I think this book is an accessible intro for readers interested in classical studies and the history of science. Mayor writes clearly and without a lot of specialized terminology, so even if you're new to classics, you won't find this book difficult. I think the chapter about Talos was the most convincing and the most well-done, bringing together textual analysis and art history in a way I found intellectually pleasing.

As a scholar, however, I think this book could have gone a bit further, especially with its analysis of myths and texts. Mayor summarizes most of the myths she discusses, which is all well and good for situating the reader in the texts. But what I really wanted was more specific evidence and close reading: were there any interesting language choices used to describe this automaton? Did the Greeks have a certain vocabulary for artificial beings? As it stands, it felt like Mayor's textual analysis relied on general ideas, and while fine as a starting point, I really think it could have been pushed.

I also think there's some room to apply critical frameworks such as posthumanism and transhumanism theory. Applying such theories would enhance the meanings Mayor is trying to get at, but in all fairness, this may he beyond the scope of the book. Mayor seems to be relaying a history of ideas rather than trying to get at their interpretation, so maybe her book will function well as a springboard for other scholars and students to do this work.

Lastly, I do think this book could have been framed a little better to help me as a reader see some of the through-lines. There were moments when I wasn't sure how each of Mayor's examples fit in with the overall theme of "robots" or "artificial life," so maybe a better framing device would be the theme of biotechne rather than the sci fi approach that the book currently uses. Similarly, some further delineation between what constitutes "technology" versus magic (and even just "art") would have been helpful for seeing how each individual chapter builds upon the previous.

TL;DR: Gods and Robots is a good overview of the history of artifical life and technology in the ancient Greek world. This book is perhaps most useful as a springboard for further analysis, and historians, art historians, and literary scholars will find plenty to build on.

[danbevanwriting]

The Ranking of Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy IV

Final Fantasy IV was the second officially English translated FF game to come to the West, renamed to Final Fantasy II so as 'not to confuse the market', leading to years of confusion ever since! The version that the Americans got was also heavily dumbed down to the point where abilities are stripped from certain characters to better suit the Western audience, who were considered to be a lot less capable of handling a more complex game by the Japanese developers. This has since been rectified in the remakes since then, with the version I played, the Nintendo DS remake (which I played on PC through Steam... which is a port of the mobile version... which is a port of the DS version...) being harder than any other version released. Honestly, I didn't have a great time with this version of the game. The 3D models look a bit tacky when blown up to 1080p, the battles run at 15fps which makes the bad menus unresponsive too, I wasn't a fan of the voiced cutscenes, and during gameplay the camera is zoomed way too far in meaning that most of the time in dungeons you spend having the map overlay on your screen. I would advise playing basically any other version: the PSP remake is incredible with beautiful sprite work, or failing that get a hold of the GBA version or if you have the means a translation patch of the SNES Japanese edition. Avoid the US Final Fantasy II release on SNES! With that all out of the way, let's review the actual game!

Gameplay in FFIV is so good, they used this battle system in Final Fantasy games for the next 5 in the series! The ATB battle system was revolutionary: it took the slow and static turn-based combat from the first 3 games and made it instantly more exciting by making time a key factor. Each character has a timer before their turn to take an action, which means faster characters can attack more often as their ATB gauge fills up faster. This makes even random encounters exciting as the goal is to get as many attacks in as you can while also navigating the menus as fast as you can to get spells out. The rushing aspect can be lessened somewhat by setting the game to wait while choosing a spell, but before you start choosing a spell the timers are still ticking, and the enemies won't hesitate if you don't choose anything. In some ways you can use this to your advantage, such as not choosing an action for the healer, switching to your other characters to do attacks, and only using the healer to quickly patch up your party. Spells are learned through levels now too rather than bought or found in the world like before, so as your characters grow stronger so too does their arsenal of spells and abilities. This has a lot to do with a new concept of character based progression in the series.

The job system from Final Fantasy III is gone here and instead each character has their own built in 'job' or role within the party. This ties in to the other major change with this game: each character is actually a character this time. The story is a lot more character focused, with each character having their own stake in the events that unfold. It's a shame then that the story falls so flat about a quarter to halfway in. The first quarter of this story is fantastic. Cecil, a dark knight in Baron's Red Wings military unit, starts questioning his leaders and his place in the world when he's sent on a mission to basically slaughter a defenceless village for their crystal. What unfolds is a tale of redemption for Cecil, culminating in him climbing Mount Ordeals to shed himself of the darkness and become a paladin of light! But this crescendo occurs a quarter of the way through the game, and now Cecil's character has no growth left. It's a real shame. The story in general gets really stupid after the halfway mark too, with characters heroically sacrificing themselves only for them to not actually die, even when they really should have. Cid exploding in to a ball of flame to stop people chasing you comes to mind, it's a great moment ruined by a cowardly reversal of the consequences. Or stupid sacrifices are made, like Yang staying in an exploding control room to... let the others escape? It doesn't really make sense. But even then Yang survives and comes back in to the story by the end. The story also has all sorts of people double crossing you, Kain most of all, with it all being down to mind control. Contrived doesn't cut it. Speaking of which, the ending is similar to Final Fantasy III in that the main villain, who was totally behind everything, is revealed close to the end of the game. It's not as bad as the Cloud of Darkness reveal, but the evil alien on the moon being behind everything was a bit dumb (although not a terrible concept if the story was better overall). I won't knock the story too much though, I'd argue that at least this time I actually have a story to criticise here which was certainly not the case in the previous games, and this was still more of a story than most games of the time were accomplishing.

Characterisations are certainly where FFIV separates itself form its predecessors. Cecil, Rosa, and Rydia are my favourites as they have good strong personalities; Cecil is a reflective person which ties in to his sub-plot, Rosa is caring which ties in to her being a white mage, and Rydia's empathy allows her to be a master summoner. These aren't amazingly fleshed out characters but, again, at least there's something to talk about here when previously there was almost none of this. I will say I absolutely hate Edge though, he has an extremely irritating personality which means he brags in an annoying manner (as he's a prince) but also falls instantly in love with Rydia, which would be fine if it wasn't done in such an annoying fashion. Luckily Rydia doesn't really respond and it's mostly played for laughs, but I just found it irritating to be honest...

The music in this is legendary at least, the game kicks off with one of its best tracks (The Red Wings) and stays consistently good for the whole game. The overworld theme (Main These of Final Fantasy IV) is truly iconic, as is the battle and boss themes. Even the prelude, a series staple at this point, got a beautiful new melody which makes the track even better. With the power of Spotify you can now even listen to these tracks to hear for yourself, other highlights I would recommend listening to include 'Theme of Love', 'Into The Darkness', 'Battle with the Four Fiends', and 'The Final Battle'. All the tracks fit the context or the environment very well and is a memorable OST in general.

The gameplay which is supported by the music is equally excellent. Dungeon design is great, with most dead end diversions resulting in a decent reward, a concept that is used to great effect in the final dungeon. The final dungeon is surprisingly short, but with all the diversions which lead to optional bosses guarding the most powerful equipment it's worth exploring every nook and cranny. The new battle system also leads to more interesting boss fights too as some have their own unique mechanics. The ATB system means that bosses can go in to retaliation phases that you can wait out by not doing actions, or other bosses like Bahamut turning the fight in to a damage race to defeat him before he casts Mega Flare. It's all very fun and is a positive change from the turn based system.

I touched on the graphics briefly above, but I figure it's worth reiterating how gosh-darn ugly the 3D models are in the remake of the game. The sprites from the SNES or PSP version are practically timeless which ooze personality despite their relative simplicity. Bosses look great in the SNES version where they look a bit dorky in 3D, the final boss being a good example of this. The environments in the 3D version are nice though, but like I said before the camera is so zoomed in it's hard at times to appreciate that. The SNES version takes full advantage of the hardware leap from the original NES to make the graphics far and away better looking than what came before, truly demonstrating the capabilities of the SNES and cementing Square as the top dog in RPG graphics (and this will only get better in time during this console generation).

So, in conclusion, this game is regarded as a true classic, and I think that's with a good reason. The story is engaging despite how stupid it gets and how it falls short in places. The gameplay is great even today, with history demonstrating just how good the ATB battle system is due to it being in a further five Final Fantasy titles, and the fact that so much of this battle system was done so right the first time around really demonstrates how successful Final Fantasy IV is. I would definitely advise people to play this game if they can, even if it's just for curiosity's sake to see where the series has come from. I would be much quicker to recommend this game over the older titles too as it certainly has aged better than any of the NES titles.

Current Rankings:

Final Fantasy IV

Final Fantasy III

Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy II

[tonkiteach]

Oswan bracelet

palm beach is palm beach because it was built to keep the right people in and the wrong people out.’ i’m so glad angus (her first husband) bought the house when we were first married. Look, things happen everywhere but I don’t have to deal with certain things here.” I didn’t want to have a pre-arranged life. “Look, it’s more remote,” he acknowledged. The kids have a great time but there’s so much more to Aspen” “I hear the public school has a ski lift to the mountain.” Aspen isn’t what people think-there is a real community here and local, full-time residents.” “After we moved here, most of my friends told me I’d be back in two months,” he said. The second plane literally flew over my car on the drive into the second tower and I lost a lot of very close friends,” he said in sad, reflective moment. It was traumatic-definitely a motivating factor. “Did 9/11 prompt you to move here?” I asked. When we moved to Aspen, it was really a different experience for us.” I always dreamt of not having a repeat performance of my childhood. “How’s life in Aspen these days?” I asked. He looked tanned and relaxed in Loro Piana. “It’s so good to see you,” I fist-bumped Aspen Trader as we made our way from the Little Nell to the bustling Ajax Tavern, where we sat in the glorious sunshine-it could have been a 60-degree spring day. (I always say I am not a skier but an après skier.) While my son is doing black diamond runs with his instructor, I have lunch with a very good college friend who had decamped to the ski hamlet with his family years before. It just so happened that I was going to be in Aspen for a father-son ski trip, though I am useless on the mountain for anything other than picking up the tab. “Plus, Eagle Airport always gets snowed in and who wants to drive all the way from Denver?” I nodded. And the bad guys will get altitude sickness.” Any place else?” I asked, admiring the timeless palm-leaf wallpaper and enjoying the scrumptious vegetarian spring rolls with dipping sauce. And you can’t run down the street with heavy gold bars in your bag. “Someone will always barter a Picasso for a bag of pretzels,” he said. When choosing this item, we recommend you to review our necklaces collection as we have a perfect match for this design. If you like mixing and matching your jewelry, then we suggest you to check out other pieces from our collection and choose one more item that will match your bracelet.“Do you think anyone would be buying art in that scenario?” This minimalist bracelet comes to your address in elegant Fit Selection jewelry box, being ready to become a gift or a nice way to store this jewelry piece while not wearing. In Greek tradition, this bird was often pictured singing to a lyre. In Roman Mythology Swan was sacred to Venus, the goddess of love. It is associated with love, music, and poetry. Swan symbolizes grace and beauty on many levels. Whether there is a birthday occasion or anniversary, this will be a great way to show your affection to someone special or just a nice treat for yourself. This Swan bracelet besides being trendy as minimalist jewelry, is also a great choice if you are interested in animal inspired jewelry. In light of our new designs we are presenting you the Swan bracelet. Our new minimalist jewelry collection is made to diversify the choice that Fit Selection gives to the customers.

[museicaliteacup]

The Correlation Between Expressions of Love and Program Depiction for Minor Characters in Yuri on Ice

A year on from Yuri!!! on Ice, I want to discuss something that I’ve seen floating around various fandom circles through the months. It’s a general dissatisfaction that the show chose to highlight characters like Georgi and Michele by way of showing both their skating programs, and spent less time focusing on other minor but more easily accessible or representative characters: Guanghong, Leo, Emil and Seung-gil.

This inequality of screen time—but moreover, skating time and character development time—is an issue that doesn’t have an easy solution. The anime follows standard broadcasting time limitations, and as such, there are only so many skating programs you can show when considering the ones you have to show (Yuuri and the other eventual GPS finalists), and also all the off-ice time and story progression. Making the decision to show five programs per episode in the qualifying events makes sense, logistically. But how do you select which characters’ stories you are going to develop that little bit further, and which ones you need to condense?

My proposal is that the content of the programs, in a way, reflects the two focal points of Yuri!!! on Ice: how characters embrace, develop and view life and love. When you look closely, there’s actually a very clear distinction in the programs we are shown with regards to love in particular: some skaters emanate love in a way that is love beyond themselves, love for other people; and others either emanate love that isn’t related to people, or don’t express love at all. And that distinction is the line that is drawn between the characters that get more skating time, and the characters that get less.

However, just because characters don’t get skating time, it doesn’t mean they don’t get further development. Many of the characters get a lot of off-ice time and development, and all of the six characters I am going to analyse draw either draw parallels with or become foils for Yuuri. I think this last point is particularly poignant: Yuuri is the main character for a reason, and the ways each of these six characters skate are designed to highlight certain points of Yuuri’s own skating, storyline, and relationship.

Cup of China

Georgi: what happens when romantic love goes wrong

Georgi is our two-program non-finalist in this event, and his entire program is themed around his breakup. His programs are more than overtly about love: they juxtapose two extremes with regards to feelings, with him turning from an evil witch who wants to curse True Love because it doesn’t exist to a Disney Prince™ whose main objective is proving the Power Of True Love etc. And while people think this is boring or unnecessary to watch, it kind of makes sense. Breakups are complicated. They can be really messy, and especially if the other person was the one who initiated the break. When you still harbour very strong affections for someone, it really hurts when they leave you, and those two extremes that Georgi portrays are very much the two extremes you can end up feeling for that person.

Georgi’s performances also serve another purpose: echoing Yuuri and Victor’s relationship. His second program in particular serves as a poignant aftermath to Yuuri and Victor’s messy and difficult conversation in the carpark. Their relationship is strong enough that they are able to go from Yuuri crying and Victor saying all the wrong things to him to walking into the rink with Victor’s hand on Yuuri’s shoulder. A friend commented, upon watching the episode: “That’s not a level of physical closeness you can achieve after a fight like theirs unless you’re really close” (paraphrased). “I’ll always be, be there for you, I promised…” That’s one of those timeless statements that says I love you and this is how I will show it. Having Georgi skate this program about love overcoming obstacles and being a strong force beyond anything that might test it is a natural parallel to where Yuuri and Victor are in the story, and where they’re about to go.

Yes, Georgi seems like a bit of a comical, overly dramatic character and yes, he’s very hung up over his breakup, but he was the one who got dumped, and he has good reason to still be conflicted about it. Yuuri is constantly shown to process his thoughts and come to important realisations while skating; it’s no big stretch to imagine that other skaters might try and do the same. And, after all, Georgi’s emotions didn’t go to waste: he got bronze in the Trophée Eric Bompard, so there you go.

Leo and Guanghong: parallels to some of Yuuri’s subtler skating traits

The interesting thing about Leo and Guanghong is we actually see a lot of them off the ice. Although we get a glimpse of Georgi on the street, it’s Guanghong getting jianbing and Leo on a mission from Phichit to find Guanghong to come and translate for drunken Victor that we first focus on in China*. Guanghong is shown commentating on both Leo and Christophe’s programs alongside Yuuri and Phichit; and the two of them are shown to be trying to stream the GPF together in episodes 11 and 12, which is like, #friendshipgoals.

*(A note here regarding subs: although all the translations lean towards Leo saying that Phichit asked Leo to go to the restaurant and translate, apparently—according to a post from way back when—what Leo says has a much looser interpretation, and can actually be constructed as Phichit asking for Guanghong to go and translate; and since Guanghong hasn’t been answering his phone to Leo, we can presume Phichit tried Guanghong, got no response, then texted Leo to go out and find Guanghong for him. A different kettle of fish, but a useful clarification—after all, it makes a lot more sense that Phichit would be seeking out native speaker Guanghong to translate for him.)

But on the ice, despite their clear friendship off it, their programs either aren’t really connected to other people or aren't connected to love.

Leo’s short program, Still Alive, harnesses his prowess as a choreographer and his connection with and love of music. It’s a program that is very much about him, and what he wants to give to the world. It’s not selfish, but it is self-directed and self-focused, and the focus of the commentary is on Leo’s coolness and ability to switch up choreography to suit the competition from his friends, and about the way music influences Leo and his drive to continue and his courage from Leo himself. It’s about a thing Leo loves and is good at, but not about a person. Leo’s interpretation and self-expression are highlighted, a small parallel with Yuuri being historically noted for having higher PCS than TES; it’s not a large parallel, but it is something you see Yuuri focusing on, and all the skaters focused on here do have things that tie them to Yuuri.

Guanghong’s free skate, Shanghai Blade, is a delve into Guanghong’s thoughts about how to construct a framework for your skate that you can believably sell both to an audience and to yourself, and a look at his own hunger to improve himself and prove his worth in the world of skating. Again, it’s a very self-focused program, and features a brilliant montage of Guanghong’s internal fantasies: himself as an assassin, and then Leo as his ally who Guanghong takes a bullet for. (Also, Georgi as the bad guy. I don’t know why, but it makes me laugh.) It is interesting to note how much admiration Guanghong holds for Leo: he openly comments how cool he thinks Leo is and then fancasts him as his fantasy ally and takes a bullet for him. Even though the program is not about Leo, it is a nice piece of friendship development.

But again: the program is focused on Guanghong’s own imagination, limitations and aspirations, and in terms of the skating, not on anyone else. Now, I said all these six skaters had parallels/foils with Yuuri. Guanghong’s is that little trait of Yuuri’s mentioned in episode 2 and exemplified in episodes 5 and 12: he really, really hates losing. I don’t think in Guanghong’s case it’s hugely significant to Yuuri’s journey, but it is a reminder halfway along the line that losing is frustrating, and eventually that question is posed to Yuuri when Yuri wins the GPF: what do you do when you lose?

(Agree to stay in skating for one more year and compete against your coach/fiance until you win gold at five world championships, that’s what hahahaha.)

Rostelecom Cup

Michele: the foil to Yuuri and his relationship with Victor

I think the most animosity I’ve seen in this series is actually towards Michele, and I can understand why: he’s brash and rude to almost everyone, he’s attached to Sara almost to the point of obsessiveness, and he spends most of his time in a grump. People wonder why the series had such a key focus on him as opposed to, say, Emil or Seung-gil, the other eventual non-GPS finalists at the Rostelecom Cup. And I think there are a number of reasons at play here.

The first is that Michele is basically on par with Yuuri, and could almost be seen as Yuuri’s equal going through this competition. Recall that Michele was also at the GPF the previous year, and came in fifth (so, only just above Yuuri), with a score of about 253, which isn’t really all that high. He doesn’t have many quads, and yet he’s regarded as one of the really good skaters. He’s also the closest in age to Yuuri: 22 to Yuuri’s 23. Michele and Yuuri will have been competing against one another their whole competitive lives. He’s someone who is most likely in Yuuri’s competitive vision.

And recall also that Michele and Yuuri are, on points termed, tied for qualifying for the GPF by the end of the Rostelecom Cup. Yuuri only makes it to the final by virtue of gaining one second placing over Michele’s two third placings, and Yuuri recognises this; he recognises that he was on a knife-edge with regards to placing at this competition because everyone at this competition was on a knife-edge with placing. Michele was the one pre-determined by the creators to gain bronze, and thus there’s just cause for a focus on him.

But also, Michele’s programs are about love. It’s a different kind of love to the romance and Yuuri-and-Victor-something-beyond-coach-student-beyond-mere-lovers that we’ve seen previously. This is familial love, and moreover, it’s sibling love. It’s protective love; and it’s love which is Michele learning about letting go. I think it’s also a foil to where Yuuri and Victor are at this point: where they’ve only been mutually knowing one another and living together for eight months, and realise after a short separation that they basically cannot be apart, that’s how much they love each other and need each other and make each other better, Michele and Sara have spent their entire lives together because… well, because they’re twins and compete in different divisions of the same sport. And after 22 years, Sara knows that she doesn’t need her brother to protect her from bullies anymore, that she has her own desires and goals that are separate to his, and that it’s healthier by far for them to exist independently.

Michele processes this, as so many of the skaters do, through his free skate. He takes the time to process Sara’s message to him, and to process what it says about him and how he needs to act from there. And it’s while he’s going through this mental process and making himself let her go—and thus, actively changing the way he views his love for her and the way he needs to perceive their relationship—that his skating becomes mellower, and he begins to emanate a strong and affecting love that brings Sara to tears as he skates for her for the last time.

Michele is a foil to Yuuri, in short. He has to go on the opposite journey to Yuuri—letting go, as opposed to letting in—and in doing so while being Yuuri’s most constant competitor, falls naturally into the spotlight. Personality-wise, maybe he isn’t widely regarded as a favourite or even particularly likeable in Western fandom. But character-wise and in the way his and Sara’s relationship foils Yuuri and Victor’s, he is important, and definitely important enough to warrant displaying both his skating programs. It's healthy love via independence versus healthy love via interdependence: both options are valid, but which one is the healthier option changes between for different people and different kinds of relationships, and this is so well illustrated here.

Emil and Seung-gil: reflections on some of Yuuri’s indisputable skating strengths and weaknesses

Can I just say, Emil’s theme and music are both AMAZING. (Delving into my own bias but Anastasis is my favourite piece of music from the entire show.) Emil’s competitive but positively competitive: his aim seems to be to make friends with his rivals, and he’s basically focused on running in the Make the Program all about Quads race. He pulls off four quads, including a quad loop for the first time in competition (which, incidentally, is one of the events I think may have thrown off Seung-gil in his free skate).

Although Emil is shown off the ice to goofily and readily attach himself to Mickey and to be someone who loves hugs and generally embodies a light, friendly, open sort of love, his program doesn’t actually reflect this at all: it’s all about bigger and more and ceasing to be human, and the question is whether he can actually pull off his four quads and successfully complete his program. He gets to the end, but falls on two jumps and misses a planned combination, all in the second half; which, incidentally, is Yuuri’s forte, and where Yuuri plans all his big jumps for maximum points value.

Seung-gil performs a program that is based entirely around its objective audience appeal score, and he spends the entire program calculating his base scores in his head. He’s not trying to do a mambo because it has any personal connection or emotional meaning to him; he’s doing it entirely because it will look good and if he can physically interpret it well, up his score goes. He’s the most detached of any of the skaters to the emotive side of skating, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing; after all, strong emotions can get in the way of the technical elements, as we saw when Georgi’s distress caused him to fall landing a jump halfway through his free skate.

But Seung-gil still has emotions under his calculations; he’s shown to be visibly apprehensive and nervous before his free skate, and after it’s over, he starts crying over how badly it went. To come back to my main point, Seung-gil’s focus isn’t even on himself: it’s on his numbers and technical elements, and yet we do get to see a very human, relatable side to him. And with regards to parallels and foils to Yuuri: although Seung-gil’s focus on calculating his element scores aids him in success, it’s this detachment from musical interpretation and focus on points that hinders Yuuri in episode 11 when his short program gets a lower score than usual. Additionally, remember that Yuuri knows very well the pain of losing, the pain of not being able to do your best, and there’s a reason Yuuri’s the one that looks up and focuses on Seung-gil’s upset after his free skate.

I have one further point to make, and this pertains chiefly to Leo, Seung-gil, JJ, and, as it happens, Yuuri. It’s to do with the point I just left off on, and explains in some part why certain programs weren’t featured: what happens when a skater messes up their program really, really badly?

Leo, Seung-gil, Yuuri and JJ: loss through failure and why it isn’t shown onscreen

We know from interviews with Sayokan and Kubo-sensei that Leo messed up a lot of his jumps in his free skate, which eventually put him in eighth place. We see that Seung-gil falls on a quad loop, his signature jump, and gets up with a tight jaw and a look of desperation in his eye before his final, very low score is revealed. And we all know that Yuuri came in sixth at the GPF the previous year; that he was grieving for his dog and that he messed up his jumps; consider that the only shots we get of Yuuri’s GPF free skate are those of his falls. This is also likely in part because Yuuri is a horrifically unreliable narrator and wouldn’t want to show us the things he did well; whether he even remembers the things he did well is a mystery.

But apart from that, I recall something Kubo-sensei once said: she didn’t want to portray injuries on the show, because she didn’t want an angsty show (or something to that effect). And in a similar vein, imagine what it would be like if we saw characters fall from multiple jumps and grow visibly more distressed throughout their programs. It would be uncomfortable to watch and it would hurt to watch—we’d be in the same distress we might be in if we saw characters get injured. Yes, there are programs where Yuuri has a lot of flubbed jumps, but he usually has a broader focus, a more secure mental outlook, or Victor does most of the narration there; Yuuri flubbing his jumps isn’t intended to make us or him angst, but to help push his character development. The one time we see a program really go wrong is JJ’s GPF short program, where he unintentionally downgrades all his jumps and basically has a panic attack on the ice. And it’s really powerful to watch, because this is the first time we’ve actually witnessed someone messing up to this extent.

I think Kubo-sensei and Sayokan are trying, in part, to preserve the characters’ dignity when they fail. You don’t always need to see what happened to understand what probably happened and to feel for the pain it caused. And by showing glimpses of what can happen when you mess up, but only glimpses, they then set a really good scene for giving us JJ messing up and what the repercussions of that are. And, as ever, it leads back to Yuuri and his journey: he recognises that this is in a way similar to how he messed up the previous year, but also recognises that JJ isn’t giving up or letting himself become defeated on the ice the way Yuuri did. The other failures tie in less closely (or not at all) with Yuuri’s storyline; therefore, there isn’t a reason to show them.

In conclusion...

The most significant parts of Yuri!!! on Ice are Yuuri’s journey through improving his skating, and the development of Yuuri and Victor’s relationship; thus, the other skating programs that take the focus in the limited amount of screentime available become the ones which bear the greatest significance to where Yuuri and Victor’s relationship is currently at in the storyline. Georgi and Michele, in their respective journeys in love, provide the clearest parallel and foil respectively to Yuuri and Victor’s relationship at the competitions; and accordingly, their skating programs get more screentime than those of the other non-GPS finalist characters.

[taivasmatkapaivakirja]

Ajatuksia Max Lucadon kirjasta Max On Life

God is timeless, unbound by clocks or calendars. And for a time he entered time.

When we accept salvation from Jesus Christ, we all accept the same deal - eternal life with the Savior of our soul. So if someone accepts Christ at ten years old or at the age of eighty-five, lying on his deathbed... what’s the difference? God has the right to give the full amount of salvation to whomever he wants. The time of forgiveness does not matter. Anytime is the best time to receive Christ and the reward of a lifetime.

You cannot be anything you want to be. But you can be everything God wants you to be. God never prefabs or mass-produces people. “I make all things new”, he declares. He didn’t hand you your granddad’s bag or your aunt’s life; he personally and deliberately packed you. Live out of the bag God gave you. 

Jesus is a doorman. He opens and shuts doors all the time, and no one can close what he has opened, and no one can open what he has closed. He stands at doors and knocks. If they are locked, he has a key. If he doesn’t want to use the key, he walks through the walls. But better than being just a doorman, Jesus is the door. So what is Jesus trying to say with all this talk about doors? He controls all gateways and passages from one place to another. Nothing gets past him without his knowing it. Right now Jesus is sorting through that vast key ring, looking for the right door for you. He may have to lock and unlock a few other doors first, but one is sure to open soon. 

We speak of a short life, but comapred to eternity, who has a long one? A person’s days on earth may appear as a drop in the ocean. James was not speaking just to the young when he said: “Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.” In God’s plan every life is long enough and every death is timely. And though you and I might wish for a longer life, God knows better. And - this is important - though you and I may wish a longer life for our loved ones, they don’t. Ironically, the first to accept God’s decision of death is the one who dies. While we are shaking heads in disbelief, they are lifting hands in worship. While we are mourning at a grave, they are marveling at heaven. While we are questioning God, they are praising God.

Why does grief linger? Because you are dealing with more than memories; you are dealing with unlived tomorrows. You’re not just battling sorrow; you’re battling disappointment. You’re also battling anger. Anger lives in sorrow’s house. Anger at self. Anger at life. But most of all, anger at God. Anger that takes the form of the three-letter question - why? Only God knows the reason behind his actions. Keep giving yourself time. Grieve at your own pace. Am I the only oen who senses that we hurry our hurts? Grief takes time. Give yourself some. 

When we are asleep, our bodies transition into a different state, just like death. Still, motionless, the body lies there, yet the brain keeps working in an altered state of consciousness. In death, consciousness also shifts as the spirit leaves the body behind. The body waits for its own moment at the resurrection when it will be stirred awake by the alarm clock call of the final trumpet and rise anew from its tomb to be reunited with its still-conscious spirit and the Person who conquered death before us all.

God has the last word on death. And, if you listen, he will tell you the truth about your loved ones. They’ve been dismissed from the hospital called Earth. You and I still roam the halls, smell the medicines and eat green beans and Jell-O off plastic trays. They, meanwhile, enjoy picnics, inhale springtime, and run through knee-high flowers. You miss them like crazy, but can you deny the truth? They have no pain, doubt, or struggle. They really are happier in heaven.And won’t you see them soon? Life rushes by at mach speed. “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” When you drop off your kids at schoo, do you weep as though you’ll never see them again? No. When you say, “I’ll see yo soon”, you mean it. When you stand in the cemetery and stare down at the soft, freshly turned earth and promise, “I’ll see you soon”, you speak truth. Reunion is a splinter of an eternal moment away.

On this side of the grave, death is so final and so difficult. A time is coming, though, when death will be tossed into the garbage. Revelation says death and the grave will be things of the past and thrown into the incinerator. Yesterday’s news. We won’t think about the concept of death any longer. Do you think about the trash you threw out last week? That’s the way death will be. 

Death does not shorten our lives. It transports us to the next.

When we die and Jesus resurrects our bodies, we will get a bodily trade-in. “He will take these dying bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own”. This is a promise not of a different make but of a new model. Brand-new. Clean. Stain free. No loose parts. No wear and tear. It will be designed for eternity and run at its optimal capacity. Plus, it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

For all we don’t know about the next life, this much is certain. The day Christ comes will be a day of reward. Those who went unknown on earth will be known in Heaven. Those who never heard the cheers of people will hear the cheers of angels. Look at this promise from the pen of Paul: “God will praise each one of them.”

Didn’t we wonder, ‘Why couldn’t he snap out of this slump, shrug off this case of the blues, buck up and move forward?’ Of course, had the struggle been a physical one, we wouldn’t have asked those questions. Of cancer patients we don’t ask, ‘Why didn’t they get rid of that melanoma?’ We understand the power of cancer. We may not understand the mystery of mental illness. I certainly don’t. But this much I have observed. Depression causes good people to make the wrong choice. Let’s be clear: suicide is the wrong choice. The date of our death is God’s to choose, not ours. He gives life, and he takes it. When people orchestrate their own death, they make the wrong choice. But is the mistake a spiritually fatal one? Do we despair of any hope of their eternal salvation? By no means. For while suicide is the wrong choice, have not we all made wrong choices? And did Christ not come for people like us? God does not measure a person by one decision, nor should we.

Jesus said: “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” Those words would seem like a reason for panic. Who of us would like to have our secret thoughts made public? You’re right; no one would. Romans 2:16 is a key verse on this question. Let outa sigh of relief as you underline these three words: “This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secretsthrough Jesus Christ.” Did you see it? Jesus is the screen through which God looks when he judges our sins. When God looks at those who have believed, he doesn’t see them; he sees the One who surrounds them. That means that failure is not a concern for you. Your victory is secure.

The idea that we all have a second chance, as we sit in the waiting room of spirits, to figure out our lives, to see where we’ve gone wrong, and to work out our problems gives some hope to the grieving. Unfortunately, we find no support for that place in the Bible. Jesus never mentioned purgatory. He talked about only two places in the afterlife - heaven and hell. Nothing in between. On that cross Jesus turned to his newest follower, the thief, and said: “Today you will be with me in paradise”, not, “Today I will see you in purgatory where ou can suffer some more.” The word ‘paradise’ indicates no suffering. Jesus also said: “It is finished”, as he slipped away to death. Was there more to his statement? Did he mean to say: “It is finished... until you go to purgatory and finish the work that I have started”, but got cut off? “It is finished” means it is finished! No more needs to be done. 

While praise and worship dominate the itinerary in heaven, does that mean we sing of God’s love forever? Praise and worship do not always mean singing. In fact, we can praise and worship God by picking fruit and naming animals. That’s what Adam and Eve did. As soon as they rolled off the assembly line, God gave them garden duty. So if God put us on earth to work, is heaven our retirement plan? An eternal cruise basking in the light of the Lord while angels serve us drinks? God made people to serve, and that service does not end when we die. When we arise from the graves, in the new heaven and new earth, it will be our privilege to serve the Lord and others, using our God-given talents, while we explore our passions in heaven, on earth, and, who knows, maybe throughout the universe. Maybe your job in heaven will reflect your job on earth. Maybe you’ll finally discover that long-dormant, hidden passion you were unable to explore on earth so that you get to enjoy it in heaven. God gas expansion plans in the future. Eternity is filled with increase - unexplored regions, expanding horizons, infinite colors, unending playlists. Maybe God keeps creating and we keep enjoying. We were made to work, and we were made to worship. Put them together, and you have your eternal itinerary in heaven.

In heaven we will all be changed, in a twinkling of an eye. In that moment our bodies, upgraded for eternity, will reunite with our spirits. In that spirit we find our heart, soul, and mind, the essence of what makes us who we are. Will we be exactly the same as we were on earth? I hope not. We will be better. Gone from our personality will be the evil and filth. Gone will be all the hurt that shaped our outlook on life, all the disease that kept us from hope. You will be at your best, forever! And you’ll enjoy all the other people in their prime!

‘To be honest, heaven does not excite me - this idea of clouds and harps and endless singing. What am I missing?’ You are missing a big point about heaven. Forget the cherubs and disembodied spirits. Heaven will be this world at its best. God has not forgotten Eden. All of nature looks toward delivery. Safe within her womb is the soon-to-be-born cosmos. Why would God abandon his planet? He never renounced his work. Quite the opposite. He pledged to restore it. Why would God give you such love for this earth if he only intends to destroy it? The woodland glade. The breath-stealing oak. The stars that dance like dew-drops in the sky. Why does he give us a love for his creation? He dagles a Yosemite waterfall or Caribbean coast in our direction and says: “This is just a sample of what awaits you. The best of this world is a postcard of the next.” Let the glory of this life whet your appetite for the next. The universe is a pregnant creation. But she will give birth... and when se does, God will be one proud Father. 

[drink-n-watch]

Genre : Drama, Action, Science Fiction, Symbolism

Episodes: 12

Studio: Orange

  Kids are just the worst aren’t they? It’s always the youngest one’s that get in trouble and drag everyone else down with them. No matter how hard you try to keep them safe, they always end up getting hurt. And once you’ve manage to make them better, they go out and get hurt all over again. It’s like they never learn. And they’re always impatient, wanting to do things and try things, when you tell them it’s not wise. Then they give up way too easily. No matter how much you try to protect them, some bad things are always beyond your control and it’s the little ones that suffer. Then all you can do is try to comfort them. It’s always like that. You give everything you have and they end up questioning you. But what else can you do, you love them after all.

I did it again. I created one of those symbolic synopsis of the show that somehow manages to be misleading while giving pretty much no information. I’m sorry about that. I can do better.

In a distant future, on a world populated by sentient gem structures, young Phosphophylite wants to help her brethren in the fight against the Lunarians who harvest them for their beauty. Unfortunately, Phos is fragile and unsuited for combat so they must find another place in the world. Will this search for belonging reveal more than they ever wanted to know?

shadows of birds over Phos is a recurring visual

Gosh, where should I start with this one. I guess we should get the easy stuff out of the way. If you haven’t seen Land of the Lustrous, you still may have heard that it is one of the best examples of CG in anime. I’m not entirely sure about that. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very good but I prefer Ufotable with it’s more judicious and blended use of CG or Oranges later offering Beastars, that was absolutely breathtaking.

The CG in Land of the Lustrous is good but does fall into the uncanny valley at times and movement is occasionally jagged. The said, you could argue that the odd rigidity of the character models is a choice and a smart one at that since they are in fact made out of mineral and a certain stiffness should be visible. But as it’s not completely consistent, it does break the illusion a bit.

The acting is similarly a little too deliberate for me. This time, I have zero doubt that it was a choice and I understand it. In fact, I will just say that this is personal preference. Objectively the acting was great and fit the tone of the story well.

And that is those are and only not great things I have to say about the production. The rest is stellar. The designs are fantastic. The music is amazing and the animation is impressive.

showing animation in stills is tough

There is this great emptiness to the settings. Wide open fields, huge mostly empty skies, an unending almost barren ocean and a single spartan building. Normally I would clock this as a cost cutting measure but in Land of the Lustrous it was a symbolic visual element that had a visceral effect difficult to explain. That emptiness, those huge open spaces that reflected a sense of timeless and unchanging eternity. It was both pretty and lonely. A little frightening and yet ultimately devoid of purpose.  Haunting and sad and yet comfortable and attractive. It’s been a while since I got so much meaning out of the backgrounds of a series. The only ones that compare to me would be the Garden of Sinners movies and they didn’t do it as successfully or Shin Sekai Yori but those were more difficult to appreciate.

The character design can only truly be appreciated once they break. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean. Even after watching 12 episodes in the span of 3 days, I wasn’t numbed to the impact of seeing a person shatter. And those flashes of bright shining iridescent colour on stark white just hold your eyes and refuse to let your attention wander.

this will haunt me

And then there’s the music. This may be my favourite score ever. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like a soundtrack full of bangers that you should listen to in the gym or something. It’s atmospheric mood setting music but it’s both odd and classical at the same time. It fills you with this sense of something huge and wistful happening at all times. And it’s just so pretty. Kudos to Yoshiaki Fujisawa, I think this is his best work to date.

Oh my…and that was the easy part. Even I’m a little weary of what’s to come.

surely everything will turn out great

I’m not sure I’m able to review the story of Land of the Lustrous because you see, I don’t know what it’s about. I know what it was about to me but that’s almost meaningless. Fitting I would say since the search for meaning in what is an ultimately meaningless existence and the necessity of creating it for yourself is one of the themes that I associated with the series. But it’s not the only one and honestly, you could easily have the opposite reading. That existence itself is inherently imbued with a meaning that comes from something beyond oneself and one can only appreciate it through faith…

The fact that both of these readings sound true to me is what makes the series special. It’s strength is in it’s ambiguity and it’s capability of adapting itself to the viewer without loosing its identity. Because although the message may be completely up for interpretation, the series itself has a wistful yet loud and proud voice that is unmistakable.

Let me try something. I put off watching Land of the Lustrous for a long time because when it aired, it inspired all these beautiful essay like posts from more talented bloggers than me. I admired those posts a lot. And somewhere along the line, I got the impression that Land of the Lustrous would make me sad. I don’t particularly like being sad. I don’t have patient for drama for drama’s sake. I find that too often narratives will default to cheap tricks or manipulation to get an emotional response from the audience and those end up just annoying me.

wait, hear me out

Still the unique premise and striking imagery compelled me to at least give this show a chance. It did make me sad. It also made me laugh and had me biting my nails in suspense. It made me scratch my head and desperately want to find out what was going on. It made me care for characters that were supposedly only bacteria and rocks and made me worry for people that cannot be killed. And it made me sad, in a way that made me feel human, and vulnerable and grateful. If dramas were all this nuanced, I would love them.

I find it difficult to think of someone who would not like this series. If the high concept open ended story isn’t your thing, then surely you’ll enjoy the cute characters and pretty colours. If the CG annoys you then the sound design might redeem it. There are moments of genuine silly glee that made me giggle out loud, moments of actual tension where I was scared for what would happen next and moments that were just devastating.

And best of all we get to see it through the eyes of a character that has one of the most intense growth spurs ever. So the vision of the world and the story presented to us grows and matures along with the protagonist giving us a narrative evolution that is hard to come by in 12 episodes. I’m saying I liked the show. I hope you like(d) it too.

there really are a lot of impressive images

Favorite character: Rutile with Antarticite as a close second

What this anime taught me: Bort is the name for industrial grade diamonds. Cool.

“When I read about the evils of drinking I gave up reading.”

Suggested drink: Jewel

Every time Phos breaks – take a breath

Every time Phos gets called  by their full name – take a sip

Every time Bort gets mad – cower

Every time Rutile enjoys their work too much – take a sip

Every time Lunarians appear – take a sip

Every time Cinnabar gets tsundere – smirk with a sip

Every time anyone mentions inclusions – take a sip

Every time Seiki gets creeped out – sympathize

Every time Sensei looses his temper – cower more

Every time Rutile gets called a quack – raise your glass

Every time a new gem is introduced – take a sip

Every time you worry terribly – calm your nerves whichever way you think is best

Every time Sensei falls asleep – take a sip

I’m going to try to give you an idea of the visuals but it’s a you gotta see it kind of show

Land of the Lustrous – Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend Genre : Drama, Action, Science Fiction, Symbolism Episodes: 12 Studio: Orange Kids are just the worst aren't they?

[kaliiwashere]

Hollywood Siren of the Day - Dorothy Dandridge and Her Fashion Style

Can how we dress affect your quality of life? Some experts say it may. Of course dressing inappropriately to the season can lessen your body's body's defence mechanism, but that is only some of the way your wardrobe may potentially affect your wellbeing. Nor will be the physical element of health the only concern. You have the same constitute as almost every other person. Your body responds for the same stimuli. If you neglect certain parts of the items allows you to your identiity, you open yourself around many negative things. Whether put it into practice consciously or not, how we dress tells an account in regards to you. It lets people know how you really feel mentally in addition to physically. If you really feel good about yourself coming from a physical stance, you will have a tendency to wear clothing that showcases confidence along with a have a look at me aura., thereby, assisting to keep the body's defence mechanism healthy. However, should you not be ok with your physical state, regardless of what you put on it is going to show feeling of using clothes to cover up in plain sight of everyone; and that can suppress your immune system.

Designer clothes are authentic and original garments manufactured by the designers under their label and therefore are bought from exclusive stores and online. The customer will get expert advice from your creator as to what type of apparel is best suited for structure. The best way to discover is always to give them a go on and earn necessary alterations to give that perfect fit. Luxurious clothes are expensive due to immaculate stitching and finished. The client can proudly exhibit their finished garment and be the centre of attention.

Tradition is a valuable part of your life. You are mostly across the chronilogical age of 40. Your jewelry box includes a few timeless classic pieces just like a strand of pearls or even a vintage brooch. You avoid prints and prefer solids like black, red and white. You wear your timeless classic style and never the other way round. You know every time a drop of pearl earrings or perhaps a diamond bracelet is sufficient to reflect your personality. You prefer expensive products in your jewelry box which will go far and throw them away till they're worn out. You are always positive that you are going to look really good whatever the occasion even though you are going to not be the midst of everyone else, something that you always avoid. That is the reason you prefer playing it safe with one of these timeless classic fashion jewelry pieces. So if you need to put forth a normal persona, it could make sure your clothes satisfy your insides or at least match how you wish to feel. If your outfits cause website visitors to return looks and stares of negativity, you are the one that bares the brunt of the looks plus they really have an effect giving you. The more you are bombarded with that, the more it wears away at the all-around health. Another way to improve your all-around health with your dress is to step it a notch and cause onlookers to offer you the attention you want by wearing clothing and accessories that place you with a higher-level than your peers. Rather than just wear something common in casual or dress, why don't you push the barriers just a little and add some flair to what your don. Instead of just wearing a shirt, give a light scarf or ascot tie tied around your neck. Rather than picking out the normal tucked in shirt with dress coat and slacks, wear a thing that has an extended cuff and let your shirt tail hang out beneath your jacket more than a pair of designer jeans. It's sure to get some good eyeballs on you associated with smiles of admiration. That can only boost your immune system.

Locating the Right Materials

We are very mindful that choosing the right materials is quite tough, however, if you work hard you'll be able to surely do so. A large number of shops sell amazing fabrics that can be used for preparing costumes for role play. You need to buy high quality items set up price is too high. Get in touch with a trendy art and craft store that deals such items. Go for economical yet dependable options. You should never rule out Halloween stores. They can be quite economical also. Choosing the right colored fabric is most important. Another think about attempting to look good is your hair style. Natural Hair Extensions - What and the way? Don't wear ankle boots with the mistaken pair of pants. Having totally different types and colours of Ugg boots makes it potential to match your temper and Apparel Group Brands your clothes. People from the entire world go in fashion exhibits for having the knowledge of dressing sense. Discover a new method of having an intergalactic empire make selections. There may be a technique that is destined to achieve success in attracting others consideration. Never enable bad habits get in the best way of making your soccer video sport all it can be. Don't get me incorrect, sporting older fashion jewelry exhibits fashion too, which is an entire completely different conversation. Get a outstanding picture, not just very good, make it outstanding. This text will include both styles, however will make it a point to call out when something is more recent or dated so that you wont be out of the loop. It should not be the first thing you put on your face, since concealer is simply too heavy for an all-over coat that evens out your pores and skin tone. If you would like to buy a brand new cologne or cologne, try out a sample by the store very first.

People wish to look nice, and reading glasses are a terrific accessory for that since others look you in the eyes first. A properly made wig - even the quality artificial varieties - can look completely lifelike. You can look extraordinarily trendy while carrying designer leather bags and you can create a fashion assertion. And with the coming of a new school 12 months come the fall trends in fashion. At the tail end of last 12 months and the start of this 12 months there the place a large variety of in style kinds being sported by celebs that actually stood out. For a few years within the 90s baggy denims had been considered to be the biggest fashion statement, however slowly they ran out on followers. Barthelemy Thimonnier invented a sewing machine in 1830 and within ten years owned an 80 machine garment manufacturing unit that produced uniforms for the French army. As an alternative, many years later, at this time skinny jeans are ruling the runway and streets alike.

It's not that tough to be taught just what these attributes are either! Because the nineteenth twentieth, and twenty first centuries have shown, fashion developments are becoming historical past all the time, since traits are at all times evolving. Numerous modern ideas about fashion can be discovered online. Nonetheless, there was a notable enchancment in fashion manufacturing through the period of industrial revolution of the late 18th century. From a novel women’s dimension small to plus measurement clothes to the waist coaching corsets to the plus dimension corsets, there are options for everybody. Take the time to buy around before you purchase so that you're positive you are getting the best deal on one of the best products. So it is best to choose the ring that you really like and most closely fits your character. Deciding what to wear in family pictures could be simply as difficult as discovering the proper photographer. My advice is to go for what you like, no matter what the media tell you to wear. Thats why customers hesitate to decide on merchandise they need in front of varied kinds.

Tons of individuals like to hold across the mall and explore new products. Doing Famous internet options , you'll have space for extra fantastic discovers, and one other particular person is profiting from your unneeded items. Indian fashions, Indian artists and Indian models take part within the different events and performance happening abroad. In case you are FULL-BODIED AND SHAPELY, WOULD YOU CARE TO BE A PLUS Measurement Model? The good news is that these designer handbags are not only for the wealthy and famous. Males's ties are a perfect example. And, to be honest, these adjustments are value adopting, particularly if you are a fashion-loving lady. It’s simple, fast, and our fruits and vegetables are all the time contemporary so that you don’t have to fret about unintentionally touching a moldy peach. The police and press at the time characterized all Mexican American youth as petty criminals, and White sailors and Marines, who have been offended by the very thought of zoot suits, have been solely too completely satisfied to have their stereotypes confirmed. The patterns should be traced and the seam allowances added in. It is only not your issue.

In truth, this can be a trending model in terms of marriage ceremony garments. As any self-respecting fashionista knows, the change of season can imply only one factor: a fantastic excuse to go shopping! Getting help from an expert skilled that has labored with commerce current booths in numerous venues will probably be invaluable by enhancing return on funding. And on this last one, simply remember we report on the trends. And they no have to search for different sources to know about the information. Thanks Yusra, I am blissful to know that it helped you. This has created much affect in pop circles. You will be stunned at how a lot money you save. No matter what age group the woman belongs, she would at all times carry a bag alongside with her. You may must get pleasure from group actions and acknowledge you're only part of a bigger picture that pulls from the input of many gamers. Hancocks and JoAnnes. Especially in case you just need a stable to reinforce one thing.

[sinceileftyoublog]

Jess Williamson Interview: Woman and her Symbols

Photo by Chantal Anderson

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Jess Williamson is able to look back with wisdom and gratefulness at the period of her life that inspired her new album Cosmic Wink. Moving from Texas to LA, not knowing whether the person you love is going with you, and an aging dog might not seem like traditional fodder for a record. Yet, Williamson was able to channel all of these anxieties into something truly spiritual.

It’s easy to get lost in the timelessness of the music--somewhere between high and lonesome country and expansive indie rock--but here’s the the record's  chronological context: Williamson was already planning to move to LA but was falling in love with her bandmate Shane Renfro (who also records as RF Shannon). She moved, he visited, and then he moved to LA. “We pretty quickly merged our lives,” Williamson told me in late June over the phone. The two (Renfro co-produced and co-wrote Cosmic Wink) made the record back in Texas. A month before that, Williamson’s beloved dog Frankie passed away. “I think she knew my life was about to change in some pretty drastic ways that meant I would be touring and traveling a lot more. I think she knew she wasn’t down with that,” Williamson said. “She picked the perfect time to leave. Before we made the record...she was able to be with her vet that knew her forever. She had a lovely service surrounded by the people she loved.”

Talking to Williamson, you get the sense she has these innate connections with both living things and herself. She’s at once intellectual and sort of mystic, referring to psychological theories in the same sentence as astrology. That interplay certainly finds its way into the songs on Cosmic Wink. Opener “I See The White” is a song about love and consciousness, while “Wild Rain”’s exemplary of her self-reflection. “You say there's two women / Living inside of me / And one's doubt and desire / And she's our enemy / Yet it's her wellness / That draws you in close,” she sings, exuding both a sense of grounded self-awareness and otherworldly warmth. It’s also worth noting that Williamson’s wish to establish connection even finds its way into interviews--she’s the first person to ever ask me in return what’s my favorite song on her new album.

Williamson is eager to return to Chicago after a successful show opening for Loma at Schubas back in May, which she called “the best show of the whole tour.” Tonight at Empty Bottle, she and her band will play all the songs from Cosmic Wink. Below, read the rest of our conversation, edited for length and clarity, in which she breaks down the album’s aesthetic, title, cover art, and more.

Since I Left You: Cosmic Wink is based on some pretty publicized distinct events--happy and sad. Was there anything specific you wanted to communicate about yourself through the record, or did you more make it to process what was going on in your life?

Jess Williamson: I was ready for a shift. My previous records are a lot more somber and sparse and more haunting and sad. I was ready to change that, to make music in a different way. My personality is not very somber and sad. That’s just where the music was coming from for a long time. I was ready to make a record that felt more me, to be able to relax and do it. I started touring a lot more, and I was touring solo, and playing all these sad songs--which of course, I love. Most of my favorite music is sad songs. But you’re asking a lot of your audience to be quiet and listen to the lyrics. I was opening up for bigger bands who were having a lot of fun playing loud, upbeat music. I realized I really wanted to do that. That’s a big reason the record sounds the way it does. Giving myself permission to have a little more fun.

SILY: Is that where the “cosmic” part of the album title comes from?

JW: A few months before I started writing the record, I read this book called Man And His Symbols. The first section is by Carl Jung, and the next is by other authors. But he edited it, and they’re all people he worked closely with. Essentially, the book is all about working with your unconscious and working with dreams. There’s this Jungian concept called synchronicity--looking for meaningful coincidences you really can’t explain. If you start to notice these things in your life, you realize they’re pointing to something larger you need to pay attention to or a path you needed to go down. I just kind of started learning about this stuff and getting super interested in this Jungian way of living. 

I'm also really into astrology. It was my birthday, and it was a new moon in Sagittarius, and I’m a Sagittarius, so I was like, “This is really special.” I was reading about it, and one of the readings I came across said to look for synchronicities during this new moon because they are cosmic winks from the universe letting you know you’re not alone. Right after that, I came out to LA, started this new romantic relationship, and was looking for signs all the time. My whole life turned upside-down, so I needed something to hold onto. Whether I was looking for answers or not, I found them. In a way, the record was a cosmic wink itself. I took some pretty big leaps of faith, and my life is for the better, because I’m able to make music the way I want to, having signed with Mexican Summer. I made the album before they were in the picture. It all is kind of looking up.

SILY: Did you get any new pets after your dog died?

JW: No, I’m not ready, because I’m still heartbroken over Frankie. I would feel like I was betraying her [laughs]. But we also have so much touring coming up. It wouldn’t be fair to a new puppy. Hopefully one day.

SILY: What’s the story behind the cover art for the album?

JW: The front cover is a photo of me in Malibu that Shane took. We were on a hike and going to my friend’s engagement party. We literally changed clothes in the car, and I put makeup on, but as we were driving we saw this insane sunset. I said, “Shane, we have to turn around. That’s amazing.” He just snapped this photo of me, and it turned out to be the perfect cover choice. I knew I wanted a photo overlooking the ocean at sunset. It made sense for this album. 

The back is this great design that Bailey Elder did--she’s one of the graphic design team members at Mexican Summer. I love it because different aspects of the art represent different aspects of the lyrics. I actually sent her a picture of Frankie, and she drew Frankie for the back of it. There’s a little slice of the sunset on the back, too, joining the front and back cover as if it’s a little portal. I can’t speak too much on it, because it’s really Bailey’s art, but that’s my take on it.

SILY: This might be a hard question, but do you have a favorite song on the record?

JW: That’s such a hard question. It changes. It used to be “Wild Rain”. I don’t know. I really don’t have a favorite. At one point it was “I See The White”.

SILY: Your stated influences on the record are a lot of canonical rock ‘n’ roll from the 60′s or even the 90′s. Did you want to make this record a bit more accessible?

JW: Absolutely. I wanted to make a record that felt classic and universal. To be honest, when I hear a song from Heart Song in certain contexts, I’m embarrassed. It’s a really intense, deeply personal, vulnerable record. That can be uncomfortable, even for me at times. But now, I’m like, “Yeah, let’s listen to Cosmic Wink!” It was an exercise in making an album that’s universal. Of course it’s about me, but it can be about anyone. The lyrics are more universal and open-ended on purpose.

SILY: What else is next for you?

JW: Today, I’m finishing some cover songs for Aquarium Drunkard. The rest of my year is touring, and in between tours, trying to write.

SILY: What songs are you covering?

JW: I’m doing “Unravel” by Bjork and “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere” by Dwight Yoakam.

SILY: Anything you’ve been listening to, watching, or reading that’s caught your attention?

JW: I’ve been listening to the new RF Shannon album called Trickster Blues. It’s amazing. I’ve been reading How To Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan. It just came out. The subtitle is What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. I’m about halfway through. I just watched Won’t You Be My Neighbor. I cried. What was really interesting for me was that I’m also reading a Ram Dass book called Polishing The Mirror. It came out about 4 years ago--it’s a really succinct book about how to live your life well. The way Fred Rogers lived his life is essentially the exact same way Dass talks about how to live a good life. It's all the same. All the great teachings about how to live and be a good person on this earth. It doesn’t matter what religion or spiritual context you’re coming from. Fred Rogers was a minister. He was a Christian. And what better example of how to live in a Christ-like way. I’m not a Christian, but I do think that Jesus Christ is an enlightened being that was on this earth that was an example for how to live.