#is that a covetous reference yOU BET IT IS

[missusruin]

[weepingfoxfury]

The man on the radio is not the usual man on the radio. The usual man on the radio is sleeping off last night's partying as the station celebrated 25 years on air. The stand-in man on the radio seems to be having difficulty finding the required buttons and alternates between sounding as though he is in the room with you, or has wandered off and is absent-mindedly continuing the show from one of the studio's bathrooms. The traffic lady's reports are erratic as all timekeeping bets are off this morning.

The shiny metropolis calls once more and, as ever, I am in need of Ireland's only umbrella. Yes, I am most assuredly referring to the much coveted 'the umbrella'. It is fabled amongst the folk of the soggy Emerald Isle. Many are prepared to swear they have had regular sightings of 'the umbrella' and some are even prepared to swear upon their morning cup of 'tay' that they have been within touching distance of it.

I myself know a man who knows another man who swears that the friend of a friend of a friend might just be able to lay his hands on the pen used to sign the 'the umbrella' booking sheet ... but I must keep this information close to my chest.

In the meantime, I shall alternately dream of 'the umbrella' and sunnier days where I shan't need 'the umbrella' ... or I could just do the sensible thing and get a raincoat.

Perhaps the man on the radio who is not the usual man on the radio will finally find the 'weather report' and I'll be a little wiser as to what level of wetness lies in store for the rest of today ... (blinks ... waits ... sighs) ... nope ... looks like he's found the traffic lady button again instead ................ she will be surprised ...

[ourimpavidheroine]

so maybe you could give some examples of easter eggs in your fics for those of us who did not get them the first time we read?

You know what? I should have known this Ask was coming. :D

Sure, I can list a few that are on the top of my head. Safe bet it's not all of them (although feel free to add any into the comments if any of you remember any others) and I am not going to include links to the various fics (because I'd be writing this all day if I did). I'll put them under a link but spoilers, obviously!

The offended neighbor with the poodlemonkey the day baby Naoki sets the jumprope on fire and Natsiq bends up the turtleducks is the same woman who owned the monstrosity of the house that Mako buys for Meili and Tupilek.

Sayuri's husband Zu is the son of the two people that Nuo matchmakes when talking to Su the first time Nuo visits Zaofu - the Chongzhi daughter and the useless Ligao nephew. Zu's grandfather is the brother of Lady Chun and Lord Yun Ligao. When Zu talks about losing his virginity and having to run away with his pants down to escape his great-auntie discovering him, he's talking about Chun.

Zhi's husband Ping II is named for his grandfather. Ping I is the Ping that the Desert Lord books that Wu reads in Lord Moonpeaches' house refers to. (Ping's grandfather had to leave Ba Sing Se in a very big hurry - why he needed to is one of those family lore things that differs on each retelling but I imagine it had to do with gambling debts and possibly interfering with other people's wives. Eventually he makes his way to the Si Wong Desert and meets Ping's grandmother, who is a sandbender and settles down. Sort of.) Some years after making his way to the desert Ping I is doing business of sorts at the Misty Palms Oasis and meets up with the writer of the Desert Lord books who is there for research, and absolutely bullshits the woman up and down about his life as a Desert Lord. Which she then writes a very famous series of books about. The Avatarverse equivalent of the Bridgerton books.

In his diaries, before he is outed as being a published author, Wu refers to people reading "his" books and he is absolutely meaning one of the books he's written, not one that's been borrowed from his personal library.

The glassmaker Huan apprentices under is the same one who made the crystal fire goblets that Wu covets when visiting the Fire Nation Palace, and the one who provides the glassware for Wu and Qi's wedding.

The Sir Takeo the night guard that bows and winks at little Lozan at the Fire Nation palace is the same young combustionbender that Naoki takes under her wing at her bending school. (He will be the head of Firelord Lozan's personal guard, and Lozan will trust him with his life and the life of his son, Crown Prince Mako.)

It's a young Tupilek who escorts Amak from the harbor to the Bending Academy in Wolf Cove. They will recognize each other when they meet years later through Meili and San.

Yes, Miwa the majordomo at the Ember Island house marries the gardener she acknowledges is safe for her to have a relationship with (as opposed to Qi, who is NOT).

Bo Beifong, the next Avatar, is the son of Caiyin, who is the daughter of Bojing, who is the son of Amak and San.

Orchid's second husband, Prince Aryan, is a direct descendant of King Bumi, and their children are considered royalty.

In case it wasn't clear, Gun absolutely knows who Madame Zong is. And has, in fact, been in contact all those years, since she left the palace in Ba Sing Se. He also respects her wish not to be outed to Wu. (There's actually a very good reason for that, but I haven't written it yet.)

Ikki's Blueberry Spicehead is the same air bison calf she had the tea party with when she was a child, the one she said thought had a deep connection to her father.

As I said, there's probably more, but that's all that is coming into my head at the moment! More later if I remember them. Or, as I said, feel free to comment with ones I missed.

[mariacallous]

A new gold rush is underway in Latin America—only this time around, the bounty is white. With its sprawling salt flats, the region is rich with a new ore—lithium—and everyone from Germany to China is clambering to get in on the race.

White gold, or lithium, is a coveted critical mineral that is key to making the batteries that drive the energy transition. Some 60 percent of the world’s lithium reserves can be found in the so-called lithium triangle, a region that encompasses Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. It’s not just lithium either: Peru and Chile are the world’s two largest copper producers, while Brazil is home to 17 percent of all nickel reserves.

“Latin America is front and center in the race for minerals,” said Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “It’s just about every single mineral you need to power the modern infrastructure, the green infrastructure that we’re going to need.”

That has sparked a global scramble to tap the region’s wealth—one in which Chinese companies have an edge. For decades, Beijing has rapidly ramped up its trade and investment in the region, entrenching its economic ties and influence there while the United States’ attention wandered. A growing number of Chinese projects in Latin America now center around the clean energy sector, part of what experts say is emblematic of a broader shift, as Beijing scales back its big-bore lending and zeroes in on what it sees as the prize.

“We’ve all known that renewable energy would eventually get the momentum necessary to pick up speed and really dominate the investment horizon,” said Rebecca Ray, an international development finance expert at Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center. “And we’re beginning to see that pivot in the [China-Latin America] relationship, where it goes from potential to reality.”’

Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century found loads of silver in Potosi, Bolivia. Chinese investors think they’ve found their own mother lode of a different kind. Chinese firms won a bid to develop two lithium plants in Bolivia last month, beating out offers from American and Russian companies. Led by Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology, the consortium is betting big on Bolivia’s enormous potential mineral wealth—estimated to be home to the world’s biggest lithium resources—although extraction challenges and political hurdles have long stymied the Bolivian industry’s development. Bolivia’s lithium just isn’t as easy or cost effective to pluck as it is in neighboring countries.

“Many countries and many companies have gone in there, tried to exploit the resource—for lack of a better phrase—and just run into challenges either with the government or with purifying that brine,” said Chris Berry, president of House Mountain Partners, an independent metals analyst, referring to the process of drying brine in salt flats to extract lithium ore. “That’s always been the problem with Bolivia.”

Beijing has found more success in Argentina, with Chinese battery powerhouse Ganfeng Lithium paying $962 million to buy Lithea Inc. and snap up the firm’s rights to two salt lakes. A year ago, another Chinese company, Zijin Mining, funneled $380 million into Argentina to build a lithium carbonate plant.

Beyond lithium, Beijing has also struck deals for solar, wind, and hydroelectric projects across the region, pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into solar parks in Argentina and Brazil as well as signing contracts for hydroelectric projects in Bolivia and Argentina. In Brazil, Chinese firms have also made inroads in the country’s electric vehicle industry. Ray, the Boston University expert, said as Western firms withdrew from the region during the pandemic and resulting economic slowdown, Chinese companies moved in and began building up their portfolios. “And so now, Western companies may be playing a bit of catch-up,” she said.

Part of the allure of partnering with Beijing, experts say, is the very nature of Chinese deals. China has boasted about its no-strings-attached financing, with fewer economic and political conditions than Western lenders. Many Latin American governments see China as the only option, and criticism that Beijing’s lending practices have overburdened borrowers with debt have failed to resonate in the region, Berg said. Last September, debt-ridden Ecuador and China inked a deal to restructure $4.4 billion in debt.

“[Governments] know that they’re not going to get the same level of quality by partnering with Chinese companies, but they also will get fewer headaches, fewer regulations, fewer lessons on the environment, fewer complaints from [nongovernmental organizations],” Berg said.

In the past, Chinese-funded projects have come under fire for creating lasting environmental harm, including deforestation, pesticide toxication, and the mismanagement of delicate ecosystems. In Ecuador, for example, a copper mining project operated by the subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned company led to the displacement of local populations, land seizures, and environmental damage, according to the U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee. Still, China’s silver has currency.

“Even though China has this image as insensitive to environmental protection, it is the principal player in this region in this very dynamic green energy sector,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Wilson Center’s Latin American Program. “That’s to the disadvantage of U.S. companies and influence in the Western Hemisphere.”

Western countries, which have marketed themselves as more environmentally and socially conscious investors, have been rushing to compete. Last month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz traveled to Argentina and Chile to secure new lithium deals while the European Union updated its trade ties with Chile just a few months ago. Canada has issued regulations that forced three Chinese companies to divest from Canadian lithium mining firms.

The Biden administration’s answer, the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, promises multi-sector, region-wide cooperation and involves 11 countries that account for some 90 percent of GDP in the Western Hemisphere. Although the details of the partnership haven’t been hashed out yet, Washington has pledged to use it to expand supply chains and boost economic growth—all while deepening U.S. trade ties with the region.

All of these competing interests have put Latin American leaders in a tricky position. They can get easy money, with headaches. They can get good money, with strings attached. But it’s all part of the new great game.

“They’re all really trying to triangulate both Western and Chinese financing,” said Stephen Kaplan, a professor at George Washington University. “In a lot of ways, the region is looking to circumvent some of the geopolitical tensions.”

But increased interest could also come with its own benefits. As foreign investors scramble to make attractive offers for clean energy deals, Latin American governments are also in a unique position to pick the highest bidder—and maximize their own economic interests.

“It serves Latin America to have competition,” Ray said. “If they get to have competitive bidding processes with many different competitors—be it European, Chinese, American, Japanese, Korean—they may get better outcomes than if they’re just working with one.”

[tokiro07]

I also realized that with the revelation that Anonymity is a results-focused antagonist who is undoubtedly going to become an ally in the coming chapters, Nisio Isin has once again created the Jump Trifecta

Just like Medaka Box had Medaka (Friendship, being isolated from others because of her disproportionate talent for skill acquisition that led to her coveting human affection at the cost of her own self-worth and autonomy), Hitoyoshi (Effort, conceptualizing himself as ‘just a normal guy’ and needing to work abnormally hard just to prove that it was acceptable for him to be by Medaka’s side) and Kumagawa (Victory, believing himself to be such a loser that even when it was clear that he’d dominated an enemy he always found some kind of excuse to deny himself the claim to victory), Cipher Academy has Iroha, Anonymity and Toshusai

Iroha’s pretty self explanatory as representing Effort; he never takes shortcuts, as doing so would deny him either a valuable learning experience or would keep him from having fun. The only times he’s really willing to “cheat” is when something of value is actually on the line, and even then it’s not really cheating, it’s using the resources he has available to him, which is what’s expected of him in most scenarios anyway. He would never face any repercussions for using his Glasses Weapon, the only thing stopping him from using them is himself and his own moral code, because he is the one who would feel cheated if he relied on them and not his own abilities

Anonymity most likely represents Victory; her philosophy seems to be “the ends justify the means,” as she not only blatantly cheated in the murder mystery game, she also was genuinely surprised that no one else did. She’ll do whatever it takes to win, and only what is necessary to win; anything that doesn’t contribute to her victory is wasted effort, such as completing a puzzle to join a group of arbitrarily assigned opponents (if the enemies are out of her control anyway and she’s not going to be disqualified for not solving the puzzle, there’s no benefit to solving the puzzle in the first place)

She undoubtedly has a Glasses Weapon of her own, and has probably been using it to solve every puzzle and assignment up to this point, regardless of whether she was capable of doing it on her own or not, and why shouldn’t she? It’s a tool that she has access to, and the point of being a cipher soldier is to break codes. Would you tell a sniper not to use a scope? Or infantry not to use a gun? These are the tools of the trade, and the enemy is going to be using them; if you don’t match them, you’re going to lose, and your “moral high ground” won’t mean a thing when you’re buried under it

It was only once I realized that Iroha and Anonymity represent Effort and Victory that I realized it, but surprisingly, Toshusai makes a really strong case for representing Friendship. She’s clearly capable of putting in the effort necessary to achieve victory, but she doesn’t seem to have any strong feelings on methodology or goal-orientation; what she does seem to have strong feelings on are bonds

Toshusai is not only clearly close with her faction, referring to Yugata as Tayu-tan and Omomuro as “my Yukako,” she also expresses joy at being called Iroha’s friend. Even though it was a childhood bet, Toshusai still honors the punishment game she received from Nohime and incorporates “butt” words into her catchphrases. Most importantly, though, she feels betrayed by Kogoe’s actions; Kogoe made Toshusai feel special and seems to have used that to manipulate her, but eventually turned around and used similar words to rope others into her schemes. It’s her past relationship with Kogoe that now motivates Toshusai to behave how she does, and her relationships with Iroha and Yugata in particularly will likely define her character going forward

Perhaps this is a little premature since we’ve only just met Anonymity, and we’re not even out of the first arc, but Nisio Isin has shown previously that he’s a big fan of Jump’s value system, and these three characters happen to line up so well with these ideas that I have to figure it’s going to be in line with his previous work and patterns

Now what would really surprise me is if Yosaimura ends up introducing Nisio Isin’s secret fourth fanmade Jump value. Please let Yosaimura represent “the secret fourth thing”

[locke-writes]

Warning: Here there be spoilers!!!

Okay so once again I have no idea how to go about this so I guess?? I’m gonna word vomit??

I feel comfortable asserting that this was very intentional, at least to come degree, on the part of the authors for Wildseed and Amari, given that they are both black authors. For Skandar, though . . . Let’s put a pin in that because that one is actually quite interesting to me.

In the case of Amari, the messages are very heavy-handed: There’s constant references to how intimidating-looking people can get attacked for no reason besides how they look; Amari is bullied at her former school for being poor and also very likely for being black; in the Bureau, attention is drawn to the fact that she cannot afford her own pair of specialized shoes for an activity and she is one of the few children there who have to use worn out pairs provided by the organization; and so on. However, I need to clarify that I don’t think this or any of the other books invented the idea of magic/otherworldliness being equal to socioeconomic opportunity presented to the less fortunate – this is an old trope, and it’s frequently used in all kinds of fiction regardless of the age.

But I’m willing to bet that it’s become such a commonly used frame that it goes rather unnoticed if you’re not careful. After all, how familiar does this sound:

A world seemingly so out of reach that suddenly becomes available to the protagonist; they’re excited because it’s something they never thought they would be able to achieve, yet here they are – only “here” turns out to be less than ideal. Because “here” might have friends, but it has so many more enemies: People who look down on you for things you can’t control; people who don’t think you belong here because of things you do or don’t have; a game you have to play in order to rise up, but it’s intentionally rigged to where you will always have trouble keeping up. Maybe it’s because it’s built funny; maybe it’s because they handicap you.

Either way, it’s a game that don’t want you to play.

In the case of Amari, she is handicapped for things she cannot control, ie. her ability. In the Bureau, every applicant has a special skill that can range from being great at inventing to being able to fall yet have your stack of papers fall into a perfect pile. Amari’s skill is magic: She is a magician, specializing in illusionary magic. And considering the Bureau specializes in things like alien encounters, sasquatch sightings, and all sorts of supernatural and fairy-type stuff, you’d think she’d fit in, right? Wrong! Because the Bureau only uses a certain kind of magic; Amari’s type is regarded as all wrong due to a centuries-old stigma that magicians are dangerous. This is due to a pack of magicians having used their abilities for malevolence – once again, this was centuries ago.

Consequently, magicians haven’t been allowed to join the Bureau and anyone discovered to have any such abilities have had to remain quiet about it or risk potential imprisonment. It requires vouching from Bureau personnel who specialize in reading intentions just to convince the director to let Amari stay. And the entire time she’s there, Amari has to deal with bullying from peers – and even distaste from select members of staff -- who expect her to be a hazard and clearly do not want her there.

(Now I will throw out that in the universe established, kids can apply for multiple positions in their first year of training to stay within the Bureau. Amari, however, only applied to one – and of course it was the most coveted position with a very limited amount of slots. She did it because it was the position her brother, Quentin, had been in before his disappearance, but it was still made abundantly clear to her that if she failed to acquire it, then she wouldn’t be able to come back. It’s never really stated exactly what might happen to her if she failed, given that she would still possibly be able to do magic even if on accident. However, I’m willing to bet that they’d probably just imprison her.

But I point this out to keep it fair that she did sort of put herself in an even riskier position than she arguably needed to.)

Otherwise, Amari has to learn how to use her magic in secret through means that would raise red flags if anyone knew about it. And this is without going into how she fails her first go at a written exam because it’s filled with information she couldn’t possibly have known about due to it being on info about a world she had only just learned existed! All the while, her peers manage to get by far easier not only because they’ve been raised in this world, but also because their families could afford tutors to assure they would get top scores.

People call it unfair when she uses her gift in a very minor case for a part of the exam that literally everybody else got to use their gifts for. Furthermore, for the final part of the exams, everyone gets to showcase their skills – everyone but Amari. She has to basically force her way into her final by showing her benevolence and using her magic to do something completely innocuous as well as explaining to her peers who she is and where she comes from and why she is the way she is. And even then, the head of the organization tries to fail her.

Once again: It is a game nobody wants her to play, even when she has every right to play it.

But she plays it regardless, and does manage to scrape into the agent position she longed for.

Remember way back when I compared Amari’s opportunity of the Bureau as being akin to something of an outreach program? This is nailed in at the very end.

Throughout the book, we occasionally see a boy around Amari’s age whom she used to be sort of friends with. He’s a good kid and all, but his home life isn’t exactly great. So what did he do? He turned to gangs to fulfill that missing familial link he couldn’t get at home. Before he went off to work for the Bureau, Amari’s brother, Quentin, had been working with the kid to get him out of trouble. And even though the boy looked up to Quentin, without him there, he fell back into the gang. When Amari sees him, he insists he's trying to leave. But it’s very evident that he isn’t sure how to, or if he even can because if he doesn’t have the gang then what does he have?

At the end of the book, Amari invites him to join the Bureau the same way her brother had. She offers him a way out of the mess his life has become and grants him an opportunity that he otherwise would've likely never gotten if not for someone taking a chance on him.

This just immediately got added to the list of books I need to either purchase or pick up from the library because there's a lot going on that now you're making me what to dissect and and analyze as well

Absolutely feels like it's relying on classic tropes to emphasize a new message and I will agree that it does feel very intentional on the part of the author for Amari as it very much comes across as, yes this is the classic case of someone finding out about otherworldly things but I would say, with the added ideas of poverty influencing not just social standing but basically entire futures in terms of what you'd be able to do/what path you'd be able to take

I also am interested in the connection between the history of magic users as it may (intentionally or unintentionally) reflect a concept of being judged based on the prejudices applied to those of your ancestors. Because as you pointed out, there are many things that she is unable to change and the specific magic is one of them, not to mention having to work harder just to overcome an existing stigma in the terms of her type of magic (but I suppose many stigmas if you want to consider her being raised outside a world of magic as a stigma for the sake of this argument rather than something drastically outside any level of her control)

[vault-girls]

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[juszar2]

I consider how odd it is that they made my existence, my life a subject matter a means to try and get some... What the rot calls "shine" and it's interesting how the band refers to the same. They desperately seek this "shine" and will do seemingly anything to get some. While... I myself have always remained private, declined any type of public or even intimate publicity or attention. I covet dignity and privacy and so for life.... I refrain. It is unendingly and enormously unusual that I'd even pen this... But since the sickness is severe, there is the need. I now have this sick band literally stalking me like a familiar movie and stating to be utilizing a toilet paper to harm me, and get shine from any of the residual shine that would come. Relevance. A connection to one that has been given even unwanted attention. To hitch to my life while I consider you vile and would not want you near my life, the rot gets "shine." I don't even have to be the one to mention and yet it goes on without my direct involvement because this band of sick and lowly has sought to attack me and harm me using a toilet paper... They just needed a toilet paper. They know how to ingratiate and exploit a tp. It never worked on me. You could smile and I still know what you are... Your deeds are plenty. But a tp, unfortunately unwise to a dangerous detrimental degree. I have had folks kiss my rear and still.... I can see you. Kindness, but you cannot get me to show up, get involved with you, even through friendships, I decline. Try to be as cool as you want, but you could never pocket me. Not for money, or other. You can't even threaten me to make me share your company. If this homosexual had the lifelong opportunities for shine that I've had and refrained from, it would not be able to contain itself. So all it has, it's best bet is this sick freak show that they have embarked on using this tp. I would have loved to make it through my life Never seeing, encountering or even hearing of this sick band, any of them. But they cannot let you get by.... They've watched me, my life and sadistic does not love beauty and effort to be light. I see them. That's all it takes, God gave me vision where others are blind and real easy. Sadistics and treachery I can see. Motives too. Users and lowly. Very telling that some lowly can embark on an attack in just the essence of a person... This whole freak show has been unbelievable. Even my involvement, not more than the parroting of a weak person for updates and statuses is void. And yet I have seen and see it all... Documented. Shocking daily... I always knew that the rot... Sick freaks now revealed to be homosexual, I always knew that there was the potential for them to latch on, watch me and my life and try some sort of harm... Because that is what they are and do and they know what I have become as I was when an adolescent even... It's me truly. The homosexual will feign to be me... But I really am me. I just was careful not to let any lowly in my life At All, only pity and compassion would have me compromise rarely and be in the company of any, even then I understood that you cannot get close to them because they are indeed what they are and it is not that which I am... But behold, there might have been the worst kind all along. How right I was in life! And how absolutely wrong at the same time. AND you cannot erase it.

Daunting... Shocking, repulsive and revolting

[stephansenproctor48]

Hermès Birkin Vs Kelly

Hermès mini Evelyne bag in etoupe Taurillon Clemence leather with contrasting blue strap and gold tone hardware. Brand new in field with authentic mud cover and ... Hermès Kelly retourne 32cm in black togo leather and gold tone hardware. The Birkin, launched in 1984, is amongst the most sought after bags from Hermès. It is the joyful result of an opportunity meeting on a aircraft between Jane Birkin and Jean Louis Dumas, the then head of Hermès. The well-known English singer and actress was a young mom on the time and complained during the flight in regards to the lack of room and inside pockets in her purse. She needed a giant bag that was additionally handsome and sensible. Please name Customer Service if you need to e-book another time slot. A born creator with a eager eye, he instantly sketched a supple and spacious rectangular holdall with a burnished flap and saddle stitching. The distinguished H clasp in this limited-edition mannequin is crafted from metal and enamel. The artwork of marbling began in Japan in the twelfth century. The technique of suminagashi, or floating ink, began on paper before transferring to silk. The expertise required to create a marbled silk scarf by Hermès is thought only by one household and has been handed down through the generations. Each carré is exclusive, and for a really restricted iteration, the silk was used to create a Constance bag. Orange has been the hallmark color of Hermès for the rationale that Second World War, when the company’s packaging supplier ran out of the standard brown and beige paper it used for packing containers. One key piece of recommendation that is usually not discussed is when do avoid going to Hermes in Paris to purchase your Birkin bag. The most notable time to keep away from a Hermes store is during fashion week. The purpose is that many celebrities are going to Hermes buying the latest luggage for style events. It may be very unlikely that you’ll be capable of buy one during this time due to the inventory being very low and being reserved for celebrities. Fashion week is 2 times a 12 months in Paris, once typically at the finish of September and the other being on the finish of Feb / early March. Hermes bolide felt blue clutch with silk inside. Brand new with dust cowl. How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag The iconic Birkin bag is way coveted — and sometimes copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing pretend. https://replicabags.to/replicas-hermes-bags.html Named after Evelyne Bertrand, the former head of Hermès’s equestrian department, this bag was originally conceived in 1978 to hold horse-grooming equipment. It quickly turned a basic cross-body favorite with Hermès collectors. This cute mini version, with the recognisable H-shape set in a horse oval, is offered in Christie’s upcoming on-line auction with a low estimate of £1,000. I get requested time and time again, why is it so tough to get a Hermes Birkin bag in Paris. Many people turn out to be annoyed as a end result of they don’t perceive why they cannot purchase a bag if there's one at that retail location. There are a few explanation why it’s so troublesome to be supplied the chance to purchase a Hermes Birkin bag in Paris. Often referred to as the holy grail of handbags, the white Himalaya Birkin bag options 18-karat white gold hardware and more than 200 diamonds. The 35-centimeter mannequin specifically may be very uncommon and has offered at document prices 12 months after year. Most just lately in 2019, it sold for over half 1,000,000 dollars. Professional sports betting consultant David Oancea, also identified as Vegas Dave, made the record-breaking purchase. wikipedia handbags This Birkin is in Craie togo leather-based with gold hardware and has tonal stitching, entrance flap, two straps with heart toggle closure, clochette with lock and two keys, and double rolled handles. The interior is lined with Craie chevre and has one zip pocket... This Sellier Birkin is in Craie epsom leather-based with gold hardware and has tonal stitching, front flap, two straps with heart toggle closure, clochette with lock and two keys, and double rolled handles. This Birkin is in Etain and Craie epsom leather with gold hardware and has tonal stitching, entrance flap, two straps with heart toggle closure, clochette with lock and two keys, and double rolled handles. The interior is lined with Etain chevre and has one zip... The interior is lined with Jaune Ambre chevre... It is prepared for every thing – it even has a space for a cup. There aren't any excuses for not happening an adventure with this first off-road bag. If you're at an workplace or shared community, you can ask the community administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected gadgets. A link is allowed in comments as lengthy as they add value in the type of info, pictures, humor, and so forth. .

[mingzisdrgongxuo]

Attention People of the Urzulie.

Let me see your bar tab voodoo child.

How many favors do you owe?

Pretty sure you are married and have two kids already. Why are you coveting me or my things or trying beta my ass to hold me down to stroke your pack animal ego bullshit?

Go covet your husband or wife cunt. Stop bothering me.

Your third-wheel fetish is your Goddamn sin, not mine.

Stop putting me in the crossfire of your marital fuckups and stop punishing me for refusing to be a goddamn himewrecker, ignorant nigger.

How much did you pay for that wish or fantasy?

To cling to a box of old porno magazines from before the turn of the millenia . I ditched them for a number of reasons.

First let's start with who the klingon piece of shit is still bothering me about it, from 30 years ago.

Three band members and former friends.

This was in the 90s, before the whole internet porn and bathroom-stall piss fetish existed.

Which one do you want to bet is the Porno Creep playing Klingon and being a fucking griefer.

The drummer? The bass player? Or the singer?

Or do you think it's the drummer's father or mother?

Who else has keys to the clubhouse at the band's rehearsal space, ignoramus .

The period is broken. Needs me to D leat and go back and correct your fuckups on my things.

D leat, or d eat? And this period thing.

Is that supposed to be a redwings reference? Cunnil8ngus while the girl is on the rag?

I'm not haunting you about your past, you seek shit out with me, then you don't like what I have to say about it when I reject you or have nothing to apologize for.

I will never let you touch or go anywhere near my production studio, nigger. How much other perfection was made that your shit-finger prince tainted with your contribution, nigger.

You smell like some dick trying to elevate and glorify yourself at my expense as usual. Was that supposed to culminate to some glorious climax for you, because it sure as fuck wasn't for me.

I can alrasy hear the lyrics about how "you were the one all along who was making things fit".

Thanks for reopening old wounds to not solve one fycking case.

Fit this up you and your mother's ass.⚕️🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕⚕️

[ailtrahq]

The rapid adoption of digital assets resonates with every industry with each passing day, and the trend will continue to go up incessantly. Today’s two most popular forms of digital assets include cryptocurrencies and NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), which are increasingly used by a maximum number of users. While these two digital assets share blockchain technology mutually, certain differences markedly set them apart. This article aims to bring those differences into light by expounding various reasons that markedly stand them apart. Simply put, we will discuss their unique features, technologies, and utilities to ensure how they have leveraged the world of digital assets. This will help you know best what makes cryptocurrencies and NFTs differ mutually. NFTs Explained NFTs or Non-Fungible Tokens refer to unique digital assets that do not allow replication or modification, whose authenticity is proven, and whose purchase and sale traceability is included in a smart contract.  It also has various unique features: Uniqueness: Irrespective of a NFT type, its value is unique from its counterpart and other items, which make it unique on the whole.  Indivisibility: NFTs by nature are not divisible. This means you cannot divide them into smaller units. This unique property again stands them apart from cryptocurrencies. Unalterable: Thanks to blockchain technology and smart contracts that collectively prevent information destruction, replication, or change.  NFTs are recognized as one of the most coveted and popular items in wide-ranging domains, for example: Digital Art: Artists can digitize their digital artwork as NFTs and validate the ownership of their creations and even sell them.  Collectibles: NFTs allow users to showcase the portfolio of their virtual collectibles in video games or digital card games. Music and Entertainment: NFTs provide users, dealing in music and entertainment, with the opportunity to sell their exclusive music tracks and movie clips or offer access to their content. Cryptocurrencies & its Utilities Explained Cryptocurrencies refer to digital assets, such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, etc., that rely solely on blockchain technology regarding functionality. The innovative technology offers seamless security to users while making transactions on a computer network. Cryptocurrencies fundamentally rely on blockchain, a state-of-the-art technology that resonates with users due to its one-of-a-kind decentralization feature. Here are some of the popular utilities of cryptocurrencies: Crypto Mining: Cryptocurrencies are extensively used in crypto mining, a crucial process that involves the creation of various crypto coins, for example, Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.  Crypto Investments:  Cryptocurrencies have grabbed the attention of investors to invest in them, as they offer the opportunity to get potentially enhanced ROI in due course.  Gambling & Betting: Cryptocurrencies have gained immense prominence in the online casino gambling and sports betting industry for their fast speed, seamless security, and heightened anonymity. Cryptocurrency sports betting, especially, has resonated with maximum users recently, as users get the opportunity to bet on their favorite betting events using notable cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. How are Cryptos Different from NFTs? Cryptocurrencies and Non-Fungible Tokens are classified as digital assets but they markedly vary in terms of purpose and functionalities. Simply put, cryptocurrencies are fungible assets, which imply that they are interchangeable and are fundamentally used for processing transactions and making investments. NFTs, on the other hand, are non-fungible in type and refer to varied tangible collectibles and artworks with unmatched uniqueness. While both digital assets are at the height of popularity and demand, the key factor ‘fungibility’ stands them apart. In the following table, we mention a few key differences between cryptocurrencies and NFTs.  Cryptocurrencies

NFTs Digital currencies Digital collectibles Generally fungible Non-fungible Medium of exchange Unique digital assets Uniform, interchangeable Unique, ownership tied to specific item Conclusion Cryptocurrencies and NFTs vary from each other regarding their functionalities and characteristics. Simply put, cryptocurrencies are fundamentally considered for making transactions and investments. In contrast, NFTs, being unique goods or content that remain in the digital environment, are used by users to represent their exclusive tangible assets and collectibles as well as their ownership. In any case, both cryptocurrencies and NFTs ride high on success in the fast-thriving world of digital assets due to their unique features and functionalities that extensively resonate with users. Therefore, anyone who designs to enter the realm of digital assets must be familiar with the basic differences between the two in advance to streamline their journey effectively.

[warningsine]

And the winner is...

The 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival has come to a close, with this year’s Competition jury, led by American filmmaker Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Babylon), awarding the coveted Best Film Golden Lion to Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things.

The film succeeds last year’s documentary All The Beauty And The Bloodshed by Laura Poitras (a member of this year’s jury), and was a firm favourite this year on the Lido.

Scroll down for the full list of winners. 

We predicted that it was a two-way race between Poor Things and Agneiszka Holland’s Green Border for the top prize, and both got awarded major awards, with Holland’s stunning film taking home the Special Jury Prize.

Poor Things was the highest rated feature of the Competition with an average of 4,24 / 5, followed closely by Evil Does Not Exist (3,80 / 5) and Agnieszka Holland’s Green Border (3,76 / 5).

Lanthimos, considered the leading Greek Weird Wave exponent, directs an adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s 1992 cult novel, a “diabolical fuckfest of a puzzle” (as one character says referring to the adventure that slips from his grasp) which uses the language of Gothic conventions – with clear parallels to 'Frankenstein' and 'Alice in Wonderland' – to talk about the role of men and women in society. The director’s usual mastery of tone is a joy to behold, as is Tony McNamara’s mordantly funny screenplay. Thematically layered, raunchy, stylistically executed and above all fun, it’s got it all and feels like a well deserved win for Lanthimos. Read our full review.

The director’s previous Venice premiere, The Favourite, managed to accomplish the rare task of getting two separate awards in 2018: the Grand Jury Prize and the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for Olivia Coleman. The film went on to receive nine Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director, and coming home with the Best Actress Oscar for Coleman.

Considering the oldest international film festival has a proven track record for premiering future Oscar contenders, you can expect Poor Things to be an early frontrunner for next year’s Oscars - alongside Oppenheimer, Barbie, and Killers of the Flower Moon – which premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival. You can also bet that lead actress Emma Stone, who has never been better than in her turn as the hilarious and evolving “pretty little retard”, will hoover up the performance awards in the coming months.

The runner-up prize went to Aku Wa Sonzai Shinai (Evil Does Not Exist) by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi.

After this masterful 2021 double-tap of Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and the Oscar-winning Drive My Car, the Japanese filmmaker surprised everyone with the announcement of his new film, Evil Does Not Exist. It came out of nowhere and went straight into Venice’s competition selection. No complaints here.

The film follows a father and daughter who live in a small village close to Tokyo. One day, the village inhabitants become aware of a plan to build a glamping site, a project that will have a negative impact on the local water supply and endanger the ecological balance.

It sounds straightforward but it’s anything but. Enigmatic and allusive, Hamaguchi's parable offers up no easy answers and is a much tougher sell than his previous films. However, Evil Does Not Exist is a gently haunting revenge film of sorts that demands to be rewatched - and deserves to be celebrated.

The Special Jury Prize went to Zielona Granica (Green Border) by Agnieszka Holland.

Many saw the film winning the top prize; still, the Special Jury Prize is an important recognition for a vital viewing experience. 

“It was a struggle but it was a duty,” said Holland when accepting the prize, referring to the challenges of filming this unique work.

Green Border was one of the most talked about films of the festival. It tackles the migration crisis at the Poland-Belarus border over the past two years, and is an incisive indictment of a continuing EU crisis, as well as a reminder that many are still dying on Europe’s borders.

The migrants from the Middle East and Africa are caught up as pawns in a geopolitical standoff, and the film looks critically at the way Poland's security services pushed back migrants who were lured to the border by Belarus, an ally of Russia.

It also asks vital questions about collective responsibility and inaction in a geopolitical landscape Europe – as a collective – finds itself in.

“We are dedicating this prize to the activists,” concluded Holland on stage during the awards ceremony, in a moving speech.

Written by Holland, Gabriela Łazarkiewicz-Sieczko and Maciej Pisuk, Green Border is based on meticulous research, including interviews with refugees, border guards and activists – an urgent and compassionate work, which has already drawn the ire of Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who labelled Green Border as “Third Reich propaganda.”

“In the Third Reich, the Germans produced propaganda films showing Poles as bandits and murderers. Today, they have Agnieszka Holland for that," wrote Ziobro on X (formerly Twitter).

Holland noted that Ziobro, who serves as prosecutor general as well as justice minster, commented on her film without having seen it and that she believed his words amounted to defamation, calling them “despicable.” She has demanded an apology from Ziobro and stated she plans to bring defamation charges against against him. She also demanded that he make a charitable donation of 50,000 Polish zlotys (approx. €10,800) to an association that helps Holocaust survivors.

Holland said the comparison to Nazi propaganda was offensive because of what Poland suffered under Nazi occupation during World War II and given her own background. She noted that she was both the daughter of a liaison in the Warsaw Uprising, the city's 1944 revolt against the occupying Nazi German forces, and the granddaughter of Holocaust victims.

“In our country, which experienced death, cruelty and the suffering of millions during World War II, a comparison to the perpetrators of these events is extremely painful and requires an appropriate response,” Holland said.

Its topicality and governmental slamming aside, Holland’s film cannot be reduced to its subject matter, as it is a brilliantly directed and acted black-and-white gut punch, and one of the Polish filmmaker’s very best in an already impressive filmography (Angry Harvest, Europa Europa, Spoor). 

The Best Director Prize went, rather surprisingly considering many expected either Bradley Cooper (Maestro) or Bertrand Bonello (La Bête) to win, to Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone for his film Io Capitano. The film tells the story of the journey of Seydou and Moussa, two young men who leave Dakar to make their way to Europe. It is a contemporary odyssey through the dangers of the desert, the horrors of the detention centres in Libya and the perils of the sea.

Like Green Border, it tackles the topic of immigration and the pursuit of the Europe dream – its promise and sombre reality. Garrone’s film offers a reverse shot compared to the images we’re used to seeing from a western perspective, and like Holland’s film, gives a voice to the ordinarily voiceless.

The film proved to be a favourite amongst both Italian and international press, with an overall average of 3,62 / 5, ranking it the fourth best reviewed film of the Competition.

The film also saw its main star Seydou Sarr win the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Talent.

On the acting front, Peter Sarsgaard won the Volpi Cup for his note-perfect performance in Michel Franco’s Memory. He plays Saul, a man suffering from dementia, and his performance is the furthest thing from caricatural. Sarsgaard delivers a deeply moving portrayal of a gentle man subjected to a disease that he has no control over. 

The American actor referred to the “shared communal experience that is a sacred sacrament of society” in relation to cinema and namechecked the ongoing Hollywood strikes. In particular, he referred to the threat of AI, stating that “an actor is a person, a writer is a person” – and that we risk of experience of the “sacred sacrament” being handed over to the “eight millionaires who own (AI)”.

Both Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard are excellent in Memory, which is stomach-knotting stuff - at times gut-wrenching, but also surprisingly tender. The way the film deals the topics of sexual abuse, dementia, denial, and Festen -level family dynamics is well judged and makes for an incredibly memorable addition to this year’s Competition.

Cailee Spaeny won Best Actress for Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, which was the furthest thing from the toothless, estate-approved biopic it could have feasibly been. Instead, it was a sensitive and absorbing adaptation of Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir 'Elvis and Me', central to which is 25-year-old Spaeny’s uncaricatured turn as the leading lady.

We thought she would win the Marcello Mastroianni Award for best newcomer, but the jury decided to give her the top prize. You may have glimpsed Spaeny in Bad Times at the El Royale, as the young Lynne Cheney in Vice, or in series like Devs or Mare of Easttown. However, this is without a doubt her big break, showing that she’s capable of shouldering a big production and acing the assignment.

Full list of winners:

Golden Lion - Best Film: Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos)

Grand Jury Prize: Aku Wa Sonzai Shinai (Evil Does Not Exist) (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi)

Special Jury Prize: Green Border (Agnieszka Holland)

Silver Lion - Best Director: Matteo Garrone (Io Capitano)

Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla)

Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Peter Sarsgaard (Memory)

Best Screenplay: Guillermo Calderon and Pablo Larrain (El Conde)

Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Talent: Seydou Sarr (Io Capitano)

[isaacpoker22]

Revealing the Best Hands in Online Poker: A Winning Guide

In the vast world of online poker, understanding hand rankings and knowing which hands hold the greatest potential is crucial for success. Whether you’re a beginner looking to improve your game or an experienced player aiming for consistent wins, having a firm grasp of the best hands is essential. In this blog, we will unveil the hierarchy of hands in online poker and explore the top contenders that every aspiring poker player should strive for.

Royal Flush:

The undisputed king of all poker hands is the Royal Flush. This is the crème de la crème, a five-card combination of the highest-ranking cards in a single suit, namely Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten. The Royal Flush is incredibly rare and difficult to achieve, making it the most coveted hand in the game. Whenever you hold a Royal Flush, you can confidently bet big, knowing that the odds are heavily in your favor.

Straight Flush:

Next in line is the Straight Flush, another formidable hand that commands respect at any poker table. A Straight Flush consists of five cards in sequential order, all belonging to the same suit. For instance, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of hearts. Although not as rare as the Royal Flush, the Straight Flush remains a powerful hand that can lead to substantial wins.

Four of a Kind:

When you possess four cards of the same rank, you hold a Four of a Kind, also known as quads. Imagine having four Aces in your hand — undoubtedly, this is a hand to be reckoned with. With only one card ranking higher than four of a kind, it’s a strong bet that your opponents will struggle to beat you unless they hold the elusive Royal Flush.

Full House:

A Full House is a hand that combines a Three of a Kind with a Pair. For example, three Kings and two Jacks. This hand showcases both strength and versatility. The Three of a Kind guarantees a solid foundation, while the Pair acts as a backup kicker. While not as powerful as the top three hands, a Full House can still win you a significant pot.

Flush:

A Flush is formed when you hold any five cards of the same suit, irrespective of their numerical order. This hand relies on the strength of the suit rather than the card values. If you hold a Flush, be cautious of opponents who may have a higher-ranking Flush, as the highest card in your hand will determine the winner in such cases.

Straight:

A Straight consists of five cards in consecutive numerical order, regardless of their suits. An example of a Straight would be 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. While not as strong as the hands mentioned earlier, a Straight can still secure a win if played wisely. Keep an eye out for potential Flush or Full House combinations that could surpass your Straight.

Three of a Kind:

Three of a Kind refers to having three cards of the same rank, such as three Queens. This hand provides a good chance of winning, especially if the other two cards in your hand can be used as kickers. However, be cautious when facing opponents with higher-ranked hands.

Conclusion:

Mastering the art of online poker requires a deep understanding of hand rankings and the ability to capitalize on the strongest combinations. From the Royal Flush to Three of a Kind, each hand has its own unique strengths and potential for victory. Knowing when to bet aggressively, cautiously, or fold altogether is key to maximizing your chances of success.

Remember, while these hands are considered the best in online poker, skill, strategy, and adaptability are equally important factors in achieving consistent wins. Study the game, practice diligently, and learn from your experiences to evolve into a formidable poker player capable of outmaneuvering opponents at every turn. Good luck, and may the best hands lead you to victory!

[reglux456]

One Of The Best And Worst Locations To Purchase Cigars Online 2023

Available in four sizes—Toro, Belicoso, Robusto, and a Petit Corona—these well-aged cigars present a muscular smoke, belying the color of their bands. And in case you were wondering about Arsen’s distinctive brand, it is taken from first letter of the Armenian alphabet, which interprets to the letter “A” for Arsen. Up until the late Sixties, you hardly ever saw a Villiger cigar exterior Switzerland and Germany.

Short filler cigars are simple to establish when smoked since they often burn hotter and the smoker shall be spitting out bits and items from the smoking end. Long filled cigars of high quality should burn evenly and constantly. Also available is a filler referred to as "Sandwich" (sometimes "Cuban Sandwich") which is a technique of rolling a cigar using each long and quick filler and using long outer leaf to sandwich the short in between. A unique a part of the premium cigar industry is that almost all fashionable cigar makers are both members of long-standing cigar families -- or purport themselves to be of 1. Families dominate the cigar business because the art and ability of hand making premium cigars has been handed down to each era by way of family strains.

As our name implies, we provide a suite of expert guides on a variety of topics, including trend, meals, drink, travel, and grooming. We don’t boss you round; we’re simply right here to convey authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as males every day. Many girls have made history by shaking up the standing quo, inventing and discovering new issues and fighting for their rights (or the rights of others). If you presumably can name more badass males in historical past than ladies, it's time to do some more research.

I previously co-founded and revealed TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I handle the enhancing of our written content material, the majority of the technical elements of the location and work with the remainder of our workers on content management, business growth and more. I’ve lived in most corners of the nation and now getting into my second stint in Dallas, Texas. I get pleasure from boxing, headphones, the Le Mans 24-hour, wearing sweatshirts year-round and gyros.

Trinidad—(Dominican Republic) It needed to happen; a non-Cuban model of the Cuban cigar. But this in itself was wrought with intrigue and a story of the unique household fleeing Cuba and holding onto the name and much intense negotiation. What is important is the reality that Altadis was in a place to negotiate the usage of this much-coveted brand for its own line of non-Cuban premium cigars for nations (including the US) where the Cuban version couldn't be smoked.

Cigars are sometimes presented as stereotypical rich man's accessory. Cigars are sometimes smoked to celebrate success, like the start of a kid, a commencement, a giant business accomplishment, and so on. Some buy and maintain a cigar 'for luck' with regard to a bet, with the intention of smoking it after successful the wager. The expression "Close however no cigar", has its origins in cigars being given out as prizes in games of probability at fairgrounds.

When World War I rolled round, the patriotic members of the Travis Club opened their doorways to the army officers who were stationed in San Antonio. Soon the Texas-based American doughboys were extolling the virtues of Travis Club cigars, and the demand for these homegrown smokes soon modified the Travis Club cigar from a private brand right into a public one. Housed in a commemorative cedar box with its own humidifier, this particular cigar is similar to Finck’s turn-of-the-century Senator; only famous cigar brands its 67/8x45 dimension offers a fuller taste. These all-tobacco cigars are made of Connecticut shade wrapper, Connecticut broadleaf binder, and a blend of Dominican, Piloto, Olor, and Brazil lengthy leaf filler. Today, the Travis Club and the Elks Club building that housed it on the top floor are each lengthy gone, however their picture is preserved in the artfully nostalgic label of a cigar that is too good to die.

Today the medium-full-flavored Trinidad stays Havana’s top-of-the-line, though their scarcity virtually make them a “ghost” cigar. In 2007, he opened a second in the Gulf Coast Town Center, and in September, 2016, his third, devoted premium cigars to his mother, in Cape Coral. Winston Churchill– served because the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom through the Forties and 50s.

In the early 1900s Grand Rapids was a center for cigar production, when there were 37 cigar manufacturers within the city, together with the G.J. Johnson Co., producer of some of the famous cigar brands, Dutch Masters, and the lesser-known, El Portana. No assortment would ever be full with out the spectacular Partagas Maduro No. 1. The wrapper on this cigar is something that you need to witness for your self.

Felipe Gregorio—(Honduras) A puro cigar, named after its creator, Phillip Gregory Wynne. Available in various sizes and in some very imaginative figurado shapes. Cohiba—(Cuba) Yes, that is the cigar, the one that was originally reserved just for invited dignitaries to Cuba, and divvied out with nice partagas aplomb at choose governmental capabilities. Never was it allowed exterior of the Cuban borders, nor was it ever seen at something aside from sanctioned state affairs.

[iummy16]

What Are Baroque Pearls?

Say the word pearl and what comes to mind? We bet you’re thinking of a milky white, lustrous perfect sphere. These are traditional pearls and the type that has been highly coveted by pearl lovers the world over. Perfection has always been key when it comes to pearls.

Enter baroque pearls.

These are imperfect pearls of irregular shapes and sizes, with dented and uneven surfaces. They often exhibit beautiful luster and colors.

Interestingly, the imperfections aren’t seen as flaws when it comes to baroque pearls. Rather, they are celebrated for their uniqueness. No two baroque pearls will be exactly alike and every piece of jewelry that utilizes baroque pearls showcases something different.

Have a look at this beautiful pair of classical pearl studs. Gorgeous as they are, they don’t stand out as being particularly unique and would be chosen for their perfection.

Now compare that with these earrings featuring baroque pearls. Unlike traditional pearls, these pearls all look a little different in shape, size and luster.

This is probably why baroque pearls have been rising in popularity lately. They allow you to showcase your personality and stand out as unique from the crowd. They are non-conformist and a modern alternative to the classic pearl.

What Type of Pearls are Baroque?

Baroque refers to all pearls that aren’t perfect spheres. In other words, if it isn’t perfectly round, it is considered a baroque pearl.

The most common type of baroque pearls are freshwater pearls, with over 90% of these coming in various shapes. In other words, there are more baroque pearls than there are perfectly round pearls.

However, you can find baroque shapes in all varieties of pearls, such as South Sea, Tahitian and even Akoya pearls which are known for being perfectly round.

Types of Baroque Pearls

Baroque pearls come in a variety of shapes from tiny to large. In fact, there are over 12 main types of baroque pearls to choose from, including Keshi, twin, potato, coin, baroque and rice pearls. Not all of these are equally sought after in jewelry, with some being more valued for their pearlescence, shape and luster.

Baroque Pearls

While baroque pearls refer to all non-spherical pearls, the term also refers specifically to pearls that are round and long, with interesting dips and dents around the surface.

Keshi Pearls

Keshi pearls are the rarest variety of baroque pearls and are long and lustrous in appearance, as featured in this bracelet. Keshi pearls occur when the nucleus is rejected by the mollusk, but the pearl continues to grow without a nucleus, resulting in the elongated shape.

Coin Pearl

As the name implies, coin pearls are flat and round, making for intriguing jewelry. They are lustrous and have an intriguing texture.

Potato Pearls

The name might not sound glamorous, but potato pearls are beautiful, lumpy and large pearls that generally have good luster and body tone.

Teardrop Pearls

Teardrop pearls are shaped like, you guessed it, teardrops. They’re perfect for necklaces or earrings as they hang down daintily.

BIWA pearls

BIWA, also known as stick pearls, are dramatic in that they’re very thin and long pearls, unlike any other pearl variety. They make for eye-catching earrings and statement pendants.

Rice Pearls

Resembling tiny grains of rice, this type of pearl is small and elongated, with an uneven surface. They’re perfect in clusters or worn in layers.

When choosing your jewelry with misshapen pearls, examine the piece carefully to see if the shape and style of the pearls are what you are seeking. If purchasing online, it is important to buy from a site that shows you high quality images of the piece.

If you are interested in baroque pearl jewelry, you can get a good price from JewelryKg.

wholesale jewelry sold by the kilogram, it is better to find out through Jewelrykg.

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