#virtual exhibition stand

[digitalageexpo]

Think Your Keynote Speaker London Is Safe Ensuring the safety of keynote speakers London involves several key considerations and best practices:

Venue Safety and Security:

Ensure the venue is secure and has adequate safety measures in place. This includes having well-trained security personnel, emergency exits, and accessible first aid stations.

Check the venue’s safety certifications and compliance with local regulations. Regular inspections and maintenance of the venue are crucial to prevent accidents​.

Speaker Preparation:

Prepare the keynote speaker with a thorough briefing on the event’s layout, emergency procedures, and contact points in case of any issues.

Provide a detailed schedule and ensure the speaker is familiar with the event's timing, including any security protocols they need to follow.

Health and Safety Protocols:

In the post-pandemic context, it's important to maintain health protocols such as sanitation stations, mask availability, and perhaps even COVID-19 testing if deemed necessary.

Ensure that the venue follows stringent cleaning protocols, especially in high-traffic areas like stages and backstage zones​.

Personal Security:

For high-profile speakers, consider hiring personal security. This is especially relevant if the speaker’s profile or the event's nature might attract unwanted attention.

Develop a clear protocol for handling disruptions during the event, including the presence of plainclothes security officers in the audience.

Technical Safety:

Ensure all technical equipment (lighting, sound, AV) is professionally managed and checked for safety. Faulty equipment can pose serious risks.

Conduct a rehearsal to test all equipment and ensure the speaker is comfortable with the setup. This also helps identify any potential hazards beforehand​

By integrating these safety measures, event organizers can create a secure environment for keynote speakers London and attendees alike, ensuring the event runs smoothly and safely. Visit more information for your website

[akerstudio]

DOWNLOAD 3D VIRTUAL SET DESIGNS For News studios, Talkshows, Stage events and more.... Available: https://www.akerdesign.com/shop

#3d #TV #Studio #News #Broadcast #Stage #Television #interiorDesign #Production #Virtual #Set #CNN #BBC #NBC #FOX #Sports #furniture #exhibition #stand #design #advertising #demonstration #display #scene #podium #game #light #fashion

[realcube]

mornings with tsukishima are always interesting.

he gets weekends off, but you still have to work on saturday. meaning that on sunday mornings, he is able to get up early and rises with the sun, meanwhile you want nothing more than a nice, long sleep in.

although he would never admit it, tsukishima loves spending his day with you and gets a bit lonely and bored having to spend sunday mornings without you. he has no issue with you wanting to sleep in, in fact you deserve it more than anyone, but now it's 11AM. that is just ludicrousness! if you sleep any longer, the whole day together will be virtually gone.

that's what he tells himself as he makes his way to your shared bedroom and draws the curtains wide open, so the harsh sunlight pierces your eyes, causing you groan. instinctually you flip yourself over so you are facing away from the window.

he smirks at this and tugs at your shoulder, "rise and shine, buttercup." normally that would be sweet thing to hear as you wake up, but tsukishima says it in the most mocking tone possible.

frowning, you jerk away from his touch, "no.."

he chuckles at your complaint and prods your cheek, "yes. it's almost 12PM." he lies, looking at the clock on your bedside table that clearly says 11.13AM, "most functioning members of society have already woke up, got dressed, had breakfast and gone to work. and you're still in bed."

"i was a functioning member of society yesterday. let me be a potato today." you whimper, dearly clutching the bedsheets and using them to sheild your eyes from the bright rays of sunlight. so cute, he thinks to himself. it pained him to disturb you like this; a part of him wanted to let you stay in bed all snug and cozy, and sleep to your heart's content.

but the bigger part of him missed you greatly, and also loved to tease and annoy you. "no. get up." he yanked the blanket off you, to which you gasped as the cold air washed over your exposed figure. you pout, without the energy to try and wrestle the dvuet back, you instead curl up in an attempt to preserve body heat. "fuck off, kei!" you yell.

"to where? you're in my house." techincally 'our' house, but he called it his own for dramatic effect.

"to the cosmetics clinic for a facelift." you spat, body trembling under the nippy air, but eyelids still heavy as you try to drift back off to sleep.

"yeah. maybe while i'm there i can ask about getting you an attitude transplant." he rolls his eyes, throwing the covers back over you, to which you sigh from relief. he couldn't stand seeing you so vulnerable and shivering, even if you were just playing it up.

angry and defeated, he rushes over to the door while saying, "this is what i get for wanting to spend the morning with you."

"kei.." you whine, outstretching your arm from underneath the covers, doing a grabbing motion at him, "come here."

he exhaled out his nose and walked up to your side of the bed, crossing his arms as he stood next to you, gazing down at your sleepy face. he tried to exhibit his best scowl but seeing your half-lidded eyes and cheeks flushed with morning warmth forced a small smile to creep over his lips. "what?"

you pat the space beside you on the bed, and whisper, "cuddle."

your heavy eyes slowly fell closed, as your cheek was pressed against the silk pillowcase and strands of your hair fell into your face. he didn't move or say a word, until he gently tucked the stray stands behind your ear, subtly caressing your cheek with his thumb as he did so.

how'd he get so lucky, he wonders, getting to sleep beside the prettiest person on earth every single night. perhaps that is something he takes for granted, sometimes.

but not today. he walks over to the other side of the bed and climbs on, shuffling over so he right behind you, then he slips an arm around your waist.

with his face pressed against the back of your hair, you feel him smile against your skin when you move your hand to interlock fingers with his.

you'd apologise for telling him to fuck off, and he would say he's sorry for trying to wake you up, but neither of you really had to. with the he holds you close in his firm hold, and the way you melt into his touch, it's needless to say you love each other.

[fluentmoviequoter]

People Like Us

Requested Here!

Pairing: Tim Bradford x fem!SWAT!sniper!reader

Summary: Mid-Wilshire officers need assistance, so your SWAT team joins them to diffuse a hostage situation. As a result, Lucy learns that Tim has a girlfriend.

Warnings: hostage situation, this is early seasons but I added Nyla bc I love her, fluff, crossover, some grumpy!Tim

Word Count: 2.8k+ words

Masterlist Directory | Tim Bradford Masterlist | Request Info

“Can you see me now?”

“Street,” you sigh into your radio. “Why are you whispering? You’re 46 yards away, it’s not like I’m going to locate you by sonar.”

“So, you’re saying you couldn’t shoot me from here?”

“Considering your big head is square in my sights, no, that’s not what I’m saying.”

“My head is not big!”

“Are you two done?” Hondo asks tiredly.

“Depends,” you answer with a smile. “Why are you asking?”

“20 Squad,” Hicks calls over the radio. “Mid-Wilshire division just requested tactical support. There’s a hostage situation at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, corner of Wilshire and Fairfax.”

“Let’s roll!” Hondo commands.

You stand from your position and ignore Street’s static murmur of “That’s where you were” as you return your long-range precision sniper to its case.

“I need my AR-10,” you request as you approach the SWAT parking lot.

“Loaded in Black Betty,” Luca yells from the driver’s seat.

“You’re the best, Luca!”

“I know.”

“Officer Lopez?” Hondo inquires as you exit Black Betty at the corner of Ogden Street and Wilshire Boulevard.

“Thanks for coming,” she answers. “We’ve got an active shooter and at least fifteen known hostages. Our shooter, Wayne Ritter, entered the building, toured the exhibits, then disarmed a security guard and started making demands.”

“How long ago?” Deacon asks.

“About an hour. We’ve had a hostage negotiator on the phone with him several times but he’s not making any progress.”

“Has he fired any shots?”

“At least three. We’re not sure if anyone is injured.”

“You’ve got officers on the east side of the building by the urban light display,” you point out. “You think he’s going to use that exit?”

“Just trying to cover our bases,” another woman answers. “I’m Officer Harper, I work with UCs, just assisting the detectives on this one. Ritter’s a prime suspect in a carjacking turned homicide a few miles from here.”

“There are three sets of doors on the north side of the building. Open into a fenced area that backs up to Fairfax,” Tan says, looking at a virtual map.

“Can he get to the underground parking from there?” Luca asks.

“If he hops the fence, yeah.”

“We’ve got officers blocking off the parking area,” Angela explains. “And three groups waiting on Fairfax, including my rookie. If he leaves, we’ve got him.”

“We’re just more worried about what he’ll do to get out,” Nyla adds.

You look around the immediate area as Deacon gets more information about the employees, security guard, and the operating cameras inside the museum. When Hondo notices your furrowed brows, he steps toward you.

“What are you thinkin’?”

“Three doors at the back into a fenced area is a terrible choice. A few doors and an emergency exit to the east trap you with a bunch of cops. The building’s probably locked down, so he can’t get to parking from inside,” you list off. “If he hasn’t tried to leave, it means he’s looked. There’s only a few windows in the building.”

“You want to find him.”

You nod and point toward the intersection of Wilshire and Fairfax. “There’s windows on this side, facing south. If I can locate him, I can take him down.”

“We can’t get you close enough,” Harper interjects. “We’ve got deadly force authorization, but we can’t risk putting you anywhere near his eyeline."

You smile at her concerns, and Street steps back.

“Can he see 433 feet above street level?” you challenge.

“145 yards?” Luca asks incredulously.

“The AR-10 shoots up to 600.”

“It’s not about the gun,” Deacon adds.

You turn toward Hondo, hoping he has more faith in you than the rest of your team.

“She can do it,” Street argues.

Lopez watches you and Hondo, and Nyla raises her phone to her ear.

“5900 Wilshire Boulevard,” she says. “31-stories?... Yes, sir…” She ends the call and tells Hondo, “SBE officials are allowing us to use the building as we need.”

Hondo sighs and shakes his head. “You’re lucky I trust you.” He smiles as he adds, “That we all trust you. Get up there and find this guy.”

You nod and then pull your AR-10 onto your back and run down Wilshire Boulevard to enter the skyscraper.

“Hopefully he actually has a big head,” Street calls after you.

A shot rings from the museum, and Angela raises her radio to ask, “Bradford? Where’d that shot come from?”

Tim and Lucy duck behind a concrete art installment east of the museum as a shot echoes off the smooth surfaces surrounding them.

“Bradford? Where’s that shot come from?” Angela asks.

“Northeast corner,” he answers. “Chen and I are south of the gate.”

“SWAT team’s here and we’ve got a sniper getting in position. Any sign of our hostages?”

Tim moves to the end of the abstract wave he’s using as cover but can’t see anything through the dark windows of the door closest to him.

“Nope. Nolan’s in the garage. Interior access can’t be far from where that shot came from.”

“Nolan?” Harper calls. “What’s your status?”

“All clear down here. The doors haven’t opened. We’re holding a few civilians on the far east wall. The shot was above us,” Nolan explains. “Probably not far from the south entrances.”

“Can somebody get a thermal reading?” Nyla asks loudly.

“Walls are too thick from this direction,” an officer answers. “Airship One is two minutes out, going to try to get a shot from the roof.”

“Send us in,” Hondo suggests. “We’ve got thermal scanners, if we can get to a window or door, we can find this guy.”

“Harper, Lopez!” someone calls from the mobile control center. “Grey’s on the phone with Ritter!”

Hondo follows Angela and Nyla into the trailer, where Sergeant Grey has a call on speaker.

“I understand, Wayne. We’re working on getting that for you. But I need to know that everyone inside is okay. We heard a shot, and you aren’t trusting me enough to tell me what happened.”

“‘Cause nothing happened!” Wayne snaps.

“Okay,” Grey concedes, turning to look at Angela. “Then can you tell me how many people are with you? We’ll need to help them, too.”

“They don’t matter!”

Someone screams in the background, a sound laced with fear. Wade shakes his head and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Twenty minutes,” Wayne demands. “Or there will be one less person for you to help.”

“Mr. Ritter!”

The line beeps, and Wade slams the button to silence the ended call. “He is progressing and if we don’t get some eyes in there quickly, we’re going to be cleaning up a slaughter instead of recovering hostages.”

Hondo raises his hand to his ear, and the Mid-Wilshire officers watch as he smiles.

“I might be able to help with that,” he says.

When you finally reach the thirty-first floor, your adrenaline is pumping, but your breathing is slow and even. You had to stop three well-dressed businessmen from getting on the elevator with you. One even had the nerve to flirt with you until he saw the gun at your back. So, when you finally step out onto the roof, you sigh in relief. At the northwest corner, you lower to one knee and raise your handheld scope, which shows distance, wind direction, wind speed, and crosswinds.

“Perfect,” you murmur.

After you raise your gun to your shoulder, you lean toward your dominant side and use the ultra-clear scope to look into the southern windows. You move your steadying hand to your radio, propping the gun against the concrete pillar before you, and switch your radio on.

“Hondo, I’m in position,” you alert. “Got eyes in the back windows.”

“10-4,” he replies. “I’m with Mid-Wilshire’s watch commander. If you get a shot, take it.”

“Can I get a physical description of our guy?” you request. “I’d rather not pull an accidental Jack Traven and shoot a hostage.”

“Right here,” Grey offers as he pulls up Wayne Ritter’s record on a laptop. “Security cameras are showing him in dark blue jeans, a white or yellow button-down shirt, and a new mustache.”

Hondo raises his phone and takes a picture of the screen, then speaks to you as he types. “I’m sending you a picture. 5’10”, dark hair, wearing dark blue jeans, a light button-down, and he’s got a mustache now.”

“New look for a new crime?” you joke.

“New attempt, at least,” Hondo agrees. “Deacon and Street are moving to the east side to assist, and Luca and Tan are taking Black Betty to 6th and Fairfax in case he tries to run.”

“Hondo, is anyone covering the west side of the building? If he finds a way to bail that direction, he can get to Orange and disappear.”

“You have someone on the west side?” Hondo asks the people in the trailer with him.

“All units,” Wade radios. “Who’s covering the west side?”

“Bradford and Chen,” Lucy answers. “There’s only one egress route, but it’s locked.”

“Don’t try to open doors, Chen!”

“I didn’t! I can see the lock.”

Wade shakes his hand and gestures to the radio in a there’s your answer motion. Hondo smiles knowingly and relays the information to you.

“Is there exterior roof access?” you ask.

“Not that we know of.”

“Hondo, I’ve got movement,” you alert, shifting your weight as you prepare to shoot.

“Movement at the northside doors, too,” Street calls.

“Eyes on several subjects on north side,” a Mid-Wilshire officer notifies.

“He’s planning a roach light,” you and Tim Bradford radio simultaneously.

“Roach-light?” Nyla asks.

“When you turn on a light, roaches run in different directions and you can’t pick out any particular one,” Hondo explains. “I thought our girl was the only one that used that nasty analogy, but I guess she’s infecting your people with it, too.”

“That’s not the only thing she’s teaching him,” Angela points out. “He’s learning some manners, too.”

“Who?” Nyla asks.

“Focus,” Wade encourages.

Hondo switches his radio from his earpiece to the small speaker attached to his vest as officers continue alerting Grey, Lopez, and Bishop of movement in the museum. He shakes his head and prepares to call out for you just before you radio.

“Eyes on Ritter. I’ve got a shot.”

Wade nods, and Hondo commands, “Take it.”

You exhale as you squeeze the trigger. After your shoulder jerks back slightly, you reposition yourself to watch the impact. The bullet hisses through the air for only a second, and then the glass of the center window shatters before Wayne Ritter hits the ground.

“Suspect down,” you radio. “Code 4 here.”

“All units, Ritter is down,” Wade alerts. “Repeat, Ritter is down. Move in for hostage recovery.”

“Street, Deacon, move in on southern windows,” Hondo says as he exits the police trailer.

While you watch through your scope, he meets your team and, with Street, covers Deacon while he climbs through the broken window and kneels to secure Mr. Ritter.

“Nice shot,” Deacon applauds, looking up toward the roof you’re waiting on.

“Thanks, Deac,” you answer. “Hey, Street, that’s how you get someone down while making sure they can still pay for their crimes on this side of the grave.”

“Say that to my face,” he retorts.

“I am. You just can’t see me.”

“Hondo,” Street begins.

“I’m not getting in the middle of this. Get this guy to transport so we can help with recovery. Deac, on me.”

As Street pulls the injured shooter toward a waiting police cruiser, you lift your rifle and return to the roof access door. The trip down is faster than it was going up, and you walk toward a group of officers gathering the hostages outside of the museum.

“Who’s that?” Lucy asks as you walk to Nolan’s side.

“How can I help?” you offer before she gets an answer. “My team is clearing the upper levels.”

Nyla calls your name, jogging toward you. “Ritter didn’t have the gun on him, and he’s saying that he had his own plus the one he lifted from the guard.”

“I’ll find them,” you reply. “I’ll let my team know so they can keep an eye out too.”

“I’ll help,” Tim offers.

You nod and step away with him as Nolan joins you. Lucy watches you go, completely enamored by you and your skills.

“Who is that?” she repeats.

“The SWAT sniper?” Angela clarifies. “That’s Bradford’s girlfriend.”

Lucy’s jaw drops as her eyes widen. “She is Bradford’s what?”

“Your TO didn’t share that? Shocking.”

“Is there really a sniper here?” Jackson asks excitedly. “The one time I agree to go somewhere without my TO, I miss a sniper.”

“Not just a sniper,” Lucy explains. “Bradford’s sniper girlfriend.”

“Well, duh, she’s the best sniper in LA county.”

Lucy throws her arms up and asks, “Did everyone know except me?”

“Bishop knows too,” Jackson adds to mess with Lucy.

“As much as I’m not enjoying all this TO-rookie talk, I’ve more cases to work,” Nyla interrupts. “It was kind of nice to meet you all.”

“See you around!” Angela calls.

“You sound sure of that.”

“Call it a hunch, partner.”

Nyla waves off Angela’s teasing tone and turns toward an unmarked car. As Lucy continues asking questions about how someone like you ended up with someone like Tim, you search the museum for the weapons Ritter left behind in his attempt to flee.

“I’m surprised you didn’t just storm in and save the day,” you tell Tim as you circle an art display.

“Last time I did that, you threatened to shoot me,” he points out.

“Because you need to stop putting your life in danger when there are better options.”

“You mean like calling you?”

You smile at Tim over the top of the ceramic statue and shake your head. He raises his brows and prepares to speak before Nolan clears his throat.

“I found a gun,” he states when you look over. “I’m sure it can wait, though.”

“Where, boot?” Tim snaps.

You look at him to communicate a silent warning to be nice.

“Behind the plaster self-portrait over here. Looks like a standard issue private security piece,” Nolan answers.

You follow Tim to the wall and nod as you look at the weapon. While you tell Hondo, Tim tells Grey. In less than five minutes, you locate the other gun and regroup with your team outside the museum. Several officers thank you for your assistance or applaud your clean shot, and you ignore Street’s dramatic and sarcastic fawning over you.

“Oh, you shot that unarmed man so well! Will you please sign my face?” he asks, clasping his hands together as he raises his voice.

“Uh, excuse me?” someone asks, looking between you and Street. “Is it true that you’re dating Officer Bradford?”

“You must be Lucy,” you realize, offering your name and hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I swear none of it is true.”

You lean toward her and whisper, “Tim’s not as hard on you when you’re not around, just so you know.”

“Why are you dating him?” she blurts out. “You’re so different, so nice, and he’s so… Tim.”

“People like us tend to find each other on accident,” you explain. “I got lucky with Tim.”

“What Officer Chen is trying to ask is why you’re dating a cop that is nowhere near as talented or cool as you,” Hondo offers, smiling at something over your shoulder.

“Is she asking that?” Tim muses behind you. “That’s interesting.”

“Honestly, it’s a fair question,” Lucy admits, shrugging.

“Why do you seem so surprised?” you wonder aloud.

“I’m shocked! I thought he was single, for one, but you’re amazing! You can do anything!”

“Or date anyone,” Street adds. “Hondo has been trying to make her see that for years.”

Hondo shakes his head, looking at Tim as he promises, “I have not.”

“Now that we’ve established she’s too good and talented for me, Chen, maybe we should get back to work,” Tim announces.

“Why bother?” you tease. “I already did all the heavy lifting.”

Hondo’s phone chimes, and he sighs before he says, “We gotta roll.”

“I’ll see you tonight?” you ask Tim.

He nods and doesn’t complain when you step toward him and kiss his cheek.

“Don’t be too hard on Chen,” you whisper.

“She’ll be busy spearheading your fan club,” he grumbles. “Or starting a petition for you to dump me.”

“People like us work, Tim. That’s why we’re so great together.” You step back and smile as you call, “Nice to meet you, Lucy.”

“You, too!”

After you get into Black Betty and close the door, Lucy and Tim stand side-by-side and watch until the lights disappear between buildings.

Lucy sighs. “I want to be her when I grow up.”

“I wasn’t aware you’d planned that far ahead.”

“Maybe I will start that petition now.”

[elvis1970s]

Denis Sanders, director of the cinema documentary Elvis That's The Way It Is (MGM 1970), set out to capture the Elvis Las Vegas experience from a number of different perspectives, one of which was a selection of fan interviews.

Virtually none of the contributors were identified, other than by little snippets of information they let slip during their interview sessions.

Sue Wiegert (pictured in the bottom right image with Tinkerbell the cat and Cricket Coulter), was the president of the Blue Hawaiians for Elvis Fan Club, and was interviewed together with Cricket, a friend of Elvis for 11 years, and who had actually worked for him for a while, although this genuine connection was not mentioned in the film. Tinkerbell (the cat) was described as a fan of Elvis' Vegas album, because 'it has a lot of action in it'.

One of the nicer interviews was with the mother and daughter (centre right) who were sharing the Elvis Las Vegas experience, demonstrating that Elvis' unique fan base transcended generations. "Mother doesn't like it when he stands too still, she likes a lot of action and I must admit I do too," the daughter explained. "He sends my phi beta kappa key jangling!"

The contributor in the blue cardigan is interesting. We never find out who he is, or anything about him. He's well spoken, and makes an articulate and useful contribution, yet the Village Voice, in their review of the movie, described him as 'possibly the creepiest young man ever to appear on screen'.

One of Colonel Parker's objections to the rough cut of the film, which he communicated directly to the MGM corporate head James (the Smiling Cobra) Aubrey, bypassing the director and producer, was that the fan interviews tended to distract from the excitement of the performance segments.

One segment that never made it to the final edit was an interview with some members of the cast of Hair, who apparently offered their responses by means of a slightly weird session of improvised acting...

It's interesting to compare the way Sanders treated the fan interviews in comparison to Bob Abel and Pierre Adidge for Elvis on Tour, two years later. In Elvis on Tour, there seemed to be a spirit of togetherness, in that the filmmakers put themselves, and the camera, right in the midst of the fans and on the same level; equally caught up in the excitement at the hotels, the airports, and the arenas. Denis Sanders, on the other hand, seemed to be examining them like museum exhibits, and perhaps quietly saying, Can you believe these people?

Colonel Parker was very complimentary about Denis Sanders' professionalism and commitment, despite their creative differences. Elvis biographer Peter Guralnick suggested that Denis Sanders might have had 'an implicit contempt for his subject'. A bit harsh maybe....

[lowtaperfeyd]

Heyo! Love your writing so much! Would you be able to take a request for Gurney? Was thinking like maybe the reader being Paul's older cousin and admitting their feelings to him after admiring him for years? Cheers <3

Gossip Like That

Gurney Halleck x Atreides!Reader

author's note: I'm literally over the moon at the fact you enjoy my writing!!!! like my heart grew 3 sizes like the grinch. This is pre-dune bc I want them to be happy 🤧

warnings: large age gap, not illegal tho, pretty much all fluff

wc: 1092

“He’s cute, isn’t he?” (Y/N) whispered to Paul as they sat next to each other in the imperial dining room, “Not exactly handsome, but distinguished…”

Paul turned to look at his older cousin, perplexed,

“The Earl’s son?” He inquired.

Oh right… they thought, the son.

(Y/N)’s eyes looked at Earl MacArthur’s son, Mikhail, who was sitting at the other end of the table with the Duke, Lady Jessica, and the War Master. Sure, he was handsome. But his eyes were dull and the only time he exhibited any sort of excitement was when he talked about inheriting his father’s rice empire. In other words, he was boring beyond belief. But he wasn’t the man who attracted their eyes. It was the man sitting diagonal to him. The War Master, Gurney Halleck.

His strong arms and calloused fingers made fire spread all over their skin. When he brushed his hand gently against their shoulder, when directing them into the proper stance for sparing, left goosebumps. Unknowingly, he was the subject of several stares from them. With them starting when (Y/N) came to Caladan to study interplanetary politics with their uncle, the Duke. (Y/N) thought they were safe to gaze at him a little longer, but sooner rather than later,

“Gurney!” Paul whisper-yelled, while accidentally slamming his fork down onto the table and making it clatter.

“Shut up!” They expressed that at the same time, the room went silent.

“Is everything alright?” the Duke asked with concern written on his face. Heat began to creep onto (Y/N) and Paul’s faces at the intrusion.

“Oh yes, everything-” (Y/N) announced before Paul cut in too quickly,

“It’s all fine here!”

“Alright,” Duke Leto replied, unconvinced, “continue.”

Just as fast as it started, everyone in the room began to fall into the rhythm they were in before. The room was filled with idle chatter and laughing once more. (Y/N) had their head down, looking at their plate, for the rest of the dinner only to bring it up while replying to a remark made by one of the guests at the table. And while it was down, they wouldn’t notice Gurney Halleck peeking over to ensure they were okay.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was just after dinner and Paul and (Y/N) were strolling blankly through the halls.

“I just don’t get what you see in him.” Paul began, “He’s not handsome or distinguished and contrary to popular belief, he’s not that great of a singer.”

“I thought you liked the man?” (Y/N) retorted.

“Yeah, as a teacher. Not as a suitor for you.” Paul stated like a lady of old that (Y/N) had studied years ago.

“But he’s just so-”

“(Y/N), he’s virtually bald.” Paul interrupted, “If you liked the person I said, I could condone that because he still has a full head of hair.”

“Oh please,” they scoffed, “we all know it’s thinning.”

“We all know whose hair is thinning?” Said that familiar gruff voice behind them, with a hint of a smile.

(Y/N) and Paul turned around to see Gurney Halleck standing with his feet shoulders width apart and hands behind his back. They were dumbfounded. They didn’t know how long he had been following them or how much he had heard. In some odd way, they had been caught.

Both of them lost their bearings and began to start mumbling out things that didn’t even make sense in this context.

“Oh look at the time!” Paul said while looking at his wrist that lacked a watch.

“I must be going!” He affirmed before all but running down the hall.

(Y/N) folded their lips together and started to pick at the skin around their thumb as Gurney began to walk closer to them; until he was arms length apart.

“I didn’t mean to intrude on your conversion, but it got interesting closer to the end.” He divulged. His lips were slightly quirked at the side of his mouth and his eyes had a newfound twinkle that wasn’t there before. Maybe it was the moonlight shining through a nearby open window, but (Y/N) thought that he was more beautiful than before.

“Mikhail,” they breathed out, “He’s the one whose hair is thinning…” They shifted their weight from heel to heel and picked their head up to look at him.

“That's who me and Paul were talking about.” They said quietly.

“And the other man?” He brought up teasingly. “Who’s he?”

“The man who is ‘bald’, an awful singer, and one of Paul’s teachers.” He toyed, “Who is he? Do I know him?”

“Gurney Halleck, how dare you assume I would partake in gossip like that!” (Y/N) fibbed to try and cover themself.

They turned around and began to walk away from the situation. But, the War Master only followed. He let them walk for a little bit before taking long strides to catch up to them. When he caught up, he grasped their wrist gently but firmly and spun them around to face him. (Y/N)’s hands fell onto his expansive shoulders. They could feel the old scars beneath the perfectly pressed uniform he wore for such an occasion. Their eyes were in a constant fight between looking at his lips and his eyes. His arm was wrapped around their waist and the other rested on the side of their arm.

“Come on, you can tell me.” He pleaded. His voice was lighter and his eyes were clear.

“Gurney Halleck.” they answered. “How dare you assume I partake in gossip like that.”

Their lips met in a frenzy. Gurney’s arm tightened around (Y/N)’s torso and pulled them in closer; his hand traveled from their arm to neck and his thumb made small circles. Their hands moved from his shoulders to his face as they continued to passionately kiss in the middle of the hall. They were chest to chest and oblivious to the world around them. It was like they became one person. It could have been minutes or hours before, breathlessly, they pulled apart, panting like dogs in the sun. The silence enveloped them like a shield protecting them from the blade of the world.

“Is it correct to assume that this man is in the room with us?” Gurney proposed to wind them up.

“No, that's incorrect. He’s the man in front of me.” (Y/N) came out with before kissing him again with even more passion.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So you and Gurney spoke last night”

“Shut up, Paul.”

[goodluckclove]

Hey. Hey you, young person. Is there an art museum near you? Do you have access to going there?

Go there. Go look at some art.

Most museums offer a youth or student discount that also covers college students. Depending on your city there might even be a free contemporary museum or a smaller local gallery. Or you might be able to get free tickets to a bigger museum through your library card.

I know living somewhere with accessible museums is a luxury and I think that's a tragedy. I also know that there are younger people here whose parents won't allow them to take public transit to the local museum or gallery. I was severely neglected as a child and because of that I'm learning I had some strange privileges other people of that age don't usually get. But my point stands - if you live near an art museum, and you are able to, visit it. Preferably alone. At least check the website and see what exhibits are on view at the moment.

It's extremely valuable to see the scope of art in modern and classic ages. You don't have to be an artist to get use from this. Virtually everyone should have as much access as possible to be in the same physical space as a painting, sculpture, or photo that moves them.

There's also an opportunity to hear from voices you might miss otherwise. I checked the museum I went to growing up at least like once a month (youth tickets were six dollars) to see what was there right now and saw this exhibit. And like. I'm jealous. That sounds so cool. And then I looked up what was coming up to the San Jose ICA, and now I'm annoyed. I spent so many days taking myself to see art in person alone and then thinking about it.

Most modern art museums change exhibits more often compared to other museums. Some of them are artists from eras you might be familiar with, as they're pieces from the museum's individual collection. I saw an Edward Hopper painting in person and I stood so close to it that I practically touched my nose to the glass. But they also have new artists, underrepresented artists, and exhibits covering themes relevant to the world today.

See art if you can. Tell me about the art you see. Take a picture maybe - but ask permission first.

[imponderabillia]

David Sylvian - Perspectives (Polaroids 82-84)

”In the early part of 1982 I had, for numerous reasons, decided to take a rest from songwriting. This was to be the first break I had had since I’d started as a child at the age of 12. It was therefore not surprising that to relieve the subsequent frustration caused by this action, I turned to the only other creative outlet I’d known, and which had been my main preoccupation until my discovery of music, drawing.

The freshness brought on by this change, the naive pleasure of working and learning in a virtually unexplored area for me opened many doors.

Not least of which being my new found appreciation of the world of the arts. Drawings, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, a universe of creativity which had always been hidden from me, suddenly came to life. I had of course been aware of works by various famous artists before, but although I was able to appreciate a lot of what I had inadvertently seen, I had never felt anything emotionally from the work in the way that I could quite naturally feel from music.

Now all was changed. I first realised this whilst visiting a major exhibition by a painter living and working here in England, Frank Auerbach. The depth and intensity of emotion I experienced surpassed anything I had felt in music for a very long time, if at all. I explain this because through these and various other similar experiences my outlook on life and work changed (or maybe matured would be more appropriate) at quite a dramatic pace. In the midst of these changes came my first attempts at Polaroid montage.

It was during a visit to Hong Kong, one of the stops towards the end of a rather lengthy tour, that I first started working with Polaroid film. As was my routine throughout the tour, I would return to my hotel after the day’s performance and there I would stay for the remainder of the evening, reading and drawing sketches. On our arrival in Hong Kong we found ourselves with a day free. However, having been there fairly recently, and not having particularly enjoyed the place, I decided to spend the day at the hotel, and among other things write some letters and complete some rawings. By evening, having filled all the paper space available with notes and sketches and wishing to continue working on ideas formed while drawing, I turned to the only materials available to me at that time, the Polaroids. This is how it started and so it has continued since, constantly developing, trying to find different uses for the same materials, and when a new technique shows itself using it to the advantage of creating interesting photographs/pictures. I feel I must point out that although looking back I know there were other artists working with Polaroids in the same, or similar areas as myself (most notable of these being D. Hockney), at this time (the remaining months of ’82) I was working totally by means of self-discovery as I had no other possible guides. I gradually became more aware of the work of others towards the middle of ’83. Sometimes consciously (and I hope with humour) I place references in my work to that of others.

Prior to my work with the SX-70, my interest in photography was to be found in areas of concept and design. I never intended or expected to become personally involved in photography, indeed even now my knowledge of the practical side of the art is extremely limited. For this reason and also because of the nature of the work I do, I would not begin to think of myself as a photographer. I have far too much respect for the people who spend a large part of their lives working with the camera (Brassai, Kertesz, Riboud, Benton, McBean and Ray) and who give true meaning to the word.

I do not see the work in this book as an end in itself. Essentially I believe that there are only a handful of pictures I have produced which transcend the techniques used and show a possibility of standing up to time. The remainder are either very personal pictures and ‘or show and explore germs of ideas which may be followed up in the future by work in other mediums.

My experimenting with Polaroids is about at an end. Although I’m still working with the techniques I’ve developed in an attempt to produce pictures of a more lasting quality. I’ll soon be turning my interests to new areas, using, along with new ideas, the more valuable I have learnt from working with Polaroids."

[science-lover33]

Mirror neurons

Mirror neurons, a captivating aspect of neuroscience, are specialized cells with multifaceted functions that significantly influence our social interactions, learning processes, and empathetic responses. These neurons operate on a fascinating physiological basis, contributing to our ability to understand, imitate, and connect with others on a profound level.

At the core of their functionality, mirror neurons exhibit a unique mirroring mechanism, firing not only when we perform a specific action but also when we observe someone else carrying out the same action. This dual activation is pivotal for the process of imitation, enabling us to learn new skills by visually absorbing and replicating behaviors demonstrated by others. Through this mechanism, mirror neurons facilitate a rapid and efficient way for individuals to acquire new knowledge and abilities from their social environment.

Empathy, a fundamental component of human interaction, is another realm where mirror neurons play a crucial role. When we witness the emotions and experiences of others, mirror neurons fire, allowing us to share in their emotional states. This shared emotional experience forms the foundation of empathy, fostering a deeper understanding of the feelings and perspectives of those around us. Consequently, mirror neurons enhance our capacity for compassion and connection, strengthening social bonds and cooperation.

Moreover, mirror neurons contribute significantly to understanding the intentions of others. By simulating observed actions in our own neural circuits, these neurons help decipher the purpose behind behaviors, ultimately enhancing our ability to interpret and respond appropriately in social situations. This nuanced understanding of intentions fosters effective communication and collaboration within social groups.

Physiologically, the activation of mirror neurons occurs in the brain's motor areas, specifically the premotor cortex and the inferior parietal cortex. This neural activity creates a virtual simulation of the observed action, effectively imprinting the experience in our neural networks. This physiological mechanism not only aids in learning and imitation but also forms the neural basis for the development of complex behaviors and skills through observational learning.

In essence, mirror neurons stand as neural architects of social cognition, influencing our capacity for learning, empathy, and interpersonal understanding. By unraveling the intricacies of these remarkable cells, we gain profound insights into the neural underpinnings of human social behavior and the interconnected nature of our minds.

[fablesrose]

Ch 3 - The Second David Job

Masterlist 

Pairing: Eliot Spencer x Ford!Reader

Description: Part two, the season finale. Y/n finally learns what Nate does for work and aids in the payback this time.

Words: 3049

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was odd, I hadn’t heard from Nate almost the whole time I was staying in LA. I had tried to call him a couple of times, but when he did pick up, the phone calls were brief, he wouldn’t tell me where he was, and just seemed secretive and dodgy. More than usual at least. 

Maggie was busy helping at the museum, and with the Blackpoole exhibit being set up, she was working overtime. I mostly stayed at her apartment, working on my laptop that I brought with me. Luckily this project that I was working on was coming to a close which should leave me free for the opening of the exhibit and then flying back to Boston. As nice as it was here in LA, I missed home. Realistically there was nothing keeping me here, I did love art, growing up with both Nate and Maggie as guardians, but I didn’t need to stay for the exhibit. I guess I kept expecting Nate to call me. I wanted to help him. I guess this client is here too though.

I got a call one afternoon from Maggie. 

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Hey y/n, can you take a break from your work today?”

I looked at the clock, I had been working for a while, “Yeah, I can do that. What’s going on?”

“I just got a call from Professor Sinclair asking to catch up, and I don’t really want to go alone, I feel like there might be something going on.”

“You want me to either crash or stalk you two on your date?” I couldn’t hide the displeasure from my voice.

“It’s not a date. Besides, he was much more into you when we met him last.” She had a slight tease in her voice that I scoffed at.

“I call bull. He didn’t call me to ask to catch up.” I felt my stomach twist a bit. Figures he would ask my hot divorced aunt out.

“I don’t think he has your number, y/n.”

“Touche.”

“Please? Just sit a few tables away and if you get uncomfortable there’s a couple of shops right around the corner that I know you’ll love. You can bail at any time.”

I sighed, “Fine, but you owe me. You treat me more like a cousin, or a sister than a niece, you know that?”

“You love me, see you there.”

“No comment.”

I walked in a little after Maggie, choosing a spot a couple tables away, behind Adam so I could see Maggie’s face. I was close enough that I could hear them if I wanted to, but far enough that I could tune out as well. I ordered water since I didn’t think I would be there long. Maggie was right though, the surrounding stores did look appealing. 

I watched Maggie look Adam over, then make eye contact and wink at me when he wasn’t looking. Weird. I had no idea what that meant. I tuned into their conversation to see what was going on. 

“We’re not going to talk about art all afternoon are we?” Maggie asked Adam.

All afternoon? I was definitely not staying that long. 

Adam answered no.

“Good, that’s all my ex husband wanted to talk about. That was so tedious.” She said it with a smile.

I frowned. I knew they had their problems, that’s why they got divorced, but she never spoke about Nate like that. Especially to a virtual stranger. What is going on?

“Listen,” Maggie placed her hand over Adam’s on the table and I could see him stiffen, “I want to thank you. I haven’t dated much since my marriage broke up.”

I groaned. Of course she conned me, it was obviously a date. I couldn’t stand this much longer and started to gather my things. When I looked up she had forceful eye contact with me that told me to stay put.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Adam replied.

“No, don’t be. He was obsessive, perfectionist, controlling.”

“He must have had some good qualities.”

Maggie scoffed, “No, not even in bed.”

I sputtered in my water. Gross, I did not want to hear this. I begged Maggie for mercy across the room. 

“But worst of all, he completely forgot that I gave him that same button camera for Christmas three years ago.” She smiled and waved me over.

I was so confused, but got up and joined them. Adam turned around and saw me, his face defeated.

“Hey y/n.”

I nodded, “Adam.” 

Maggie marched over to a van in the parking lot and I followed quickly after. She opened it to reveal the airport receptionist, the Italian woman, the second David seller, and Nate, all sitting together.

“I can explain.”

The drive to the random mansion was dead silent, but once we arrived, Maggie and Nate started arguing. I figured I would get my chance to rip him apart afterwards, so I didn’t join in yet. I stood in the doorway glancing between them arguing and the others grouped at the stairs. 

“I feel used.” The guy who I thought was named Adam said.

I turned a bit towards them, “Same.”

Maggie stormed outside with Nate close behind, “It’s going great,” he said as he walked out the door. 

The former Italian woman, now British, replied, “we can tell!”

The house was eerily quiet once the yelling was gone.

“So,” I looked at the four people in front of me, “are you this team Nate mentioned for his consulting thing he was doing? If that is what was going on? Or whatever?”

The young man who posed as the second David seller spoke up first, “yeah, that’s us. He didn’t lie to you about that, just the means of which we do it. I’m Hardison, resident computer guy. Thanks for the help with the supplement lawsuit thing I had to do.”

That made me smile, “Glad to hear I was of any help at all.”

The British woman approached me next, her hand outstretched, “Sophie, actor, art thief, grifter, take your pick.” She smiled with a confidence I could never hope to achieve when I shook her hand. 

Hardison introduced Parker as a thief before the last member stood from the stairs and stepped up to me. 

“And I’m Eliot, official title is retrieval specialist, these guys call me a hitter.” When he wasn’t acting as Adam, his voice was a bit gruffer, a little deeper. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, his long hair down. I noticed without his glasses just how blue his eyes were.

“Well, it seems you might have some other talents too. Those soup recipes were a lifesaver.”

His lips quirked up toward a smile and I thought I saw some color in his cheeks before he ducked his head in a nod and went to sit down again. 

Nate and Maggie came back and she came up to me, tears still in her eyes, “did… did you know about Sam’s treatment?”

I looked between her, Nate, and the rest of the team, “I had an inkling. They wouldn’t pay for it right?” I looked at Nate to see the slight nod, “Who do you think helped Nate do the research on it?” My lip quivered thinking back. How happy we were that we might have found something that would help, but it didn’t make a difference. I was in the middle of a project, across the country when they called. Sam died.

Nate came and placed a hand on my shoulder before pulling me into a hug, Maggie joining shortly after. 

It was decided to regroup the next day to go over the plan. 

“And that, that’s the plan.” Nate placed a final push pin with string attached to the board with all the designs.

“You actually expect this to work?” Maggie was clearly skeptical.

“No no, you’re supposed to say ‘wow, that’s just crazy enough to work.’” Hardison replied. 

“Incredibly, chance does seem to bend itself to his bizarre machinations” Sophie commented with a relaxed air. 

Parker leaned next to Maggie’s ear, “that’s his super power.” She sniffed her shoulder as she pulled away.

Maggie looked over to me and I just shrugged. 

“Okay, now, do you have what we need?” Nate asked Maggie. 

“I have to check museum inventory.”

“Oh, easy.” 

Hardison typed his way on his laptop before turning it toward Maggie. 

“This is confidential, you’re not reading my emails are you?”

Hardison quickly responded, “no, no,” before nodding at Nate that he did. 

I piped up, “I was right, you do a lot more exciting things on your computer than I do.”

Hardison smiled at me before Maggie confirmed.

“This is the only thing big enough for what you need.” She turned the laptop toward Nate. 

“Great. Okay, now how soon can you get that in the restoration room?”

“Now that’s not my department. You have to convince the museum director Darien Lloyd to pull it from the display.”

“Okay.”

“Nate?”

“Hmm?”

“You can’t just make somebody do what you want them to do.”

There was a pause before Eliot said, “Whoa!”

“That’s what we do, I mean…” Hardison laughed.

“You’re adorable,” Parker said while stroking Maggie’s hair.

I had to admit, “That’s a bit naive, even for you Maggie. Our society is built on persuasive techniques and making people do things, for various reasons.”

Everyone just looked at me and nodded as I shrugged. 

We quickly got going to set up the con. Maggie, Sophie, and Parker were at the museum while Nate, Harison, Eliot, and I were at the mansion watching and listening through cameras and comms. We watched and listened as there was a handoff between Parker and Maggie which led to Maggie subtly pushing the director towards the Egyptian room, all while laying clues for the con on him. 

Sophie then dropped hints about the curse surrounding the sarcophagus while posing as a museum director from Cairo.

Eliot leaned over to me, “Good call about the curse by the way.”

Hardison concurred, “yeah, look, he’s already scared, he’s looking up all the places the sarcophagus was before there, lots of dead people. D-E-D dead people.”

Nate and Eliot both spelled dead correctly.

“I was throwing a little style up, just a little bit. A little style. I know how to spell dead, damn it. I can steal a bank, I can spell dead.”

I laughed, “Thanks, but I think it really comes down to Sophie and Maggie’s setup here, along with your expert hacking skills with those articles, Hardison.”

“You are a flatterer, woman. Are you sure this guy raised you?”

I shouldered Nate next to me, “unfortunately.”

I could feel his glare, but I just watched as Maggie hit the point home talking about the supposed fungus that surrounded Egyptian artifacts that were claimed to be cursed. 

The boys left shortly after to move the sarcophagus, leaving me at the mansion. I looked over the plans a couple of more times while they were gone. Maggie stayed at the museum while everyone else came back. They got to working on something when Nate came into the planning area where I was. 

“So what do you think?”

“I don’t know yet, I guess we’ll just have to see how this plays out.”

“No,” Nate stepped up next to me, “I mean, about all of this, the whole thing.”

I looked up at him, “I wish you would have told me. Why didn’t you? Did you think I wasn’t going to approve or something?”

“I just didn’t want you wrapped up in it.”

I hummed at him. “Well I think you are doing some pretty cool things, I’d be happy to be a part of it. Not that I could help much.”

“Maybe.”

There was some commotion behind us with the rest of the group arguing a bit before it fell quiet. I started walking towards the entry where they were, “It seems like you have a good team here though. I’m glad you have them, that you have each other.”

“They are the best.”

“That’s good…” I stared at the portrait they had hung on the mantle, “what is that?”

Nate looked at the picture of himself, just much older, “Don’t ask.”

“Okay.”

The next day was when the exhibit opened. Everyone had their roles and places for the day. Now, just to put it in motion. 

Nate and I entered the museum arm in arm when Blackpoole and Sterling approached. 

“Well well well, what the hell are you doing here?” 

Nate held up two tickets, “Well I bought some tickets for me and my niece. It’s open to the public.”

“I don’t think…” Sterling started to say, glancing between the two of us.

“Of course, enjoy yourselves.” Blackpoole let us pass.

After looking at the art for a while, there was loads of commotion and chaos, just as planned. I let Nate go to the roof while I rendezvoused  with the others. We watched as he dropped down from the skylight. The security system activated, locking us in. 

“Let’s go to work.”

I helped them complete the task before they slipped me back outside in the crowd where I found Maggie.

“Maggie, what’s going on? I got separated from Nate in the confusion, have you seen him?”

Sterling was right next to us along with Blackpoole and the museum director. Sterling stared at me accusingly, but didn’t say anything. 

I followed them inside the building, once we reached the closed exhibit doors Sterling said, “This is your last chance Maggie. Come clean.” He looked over to me, “you too y/n.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The doors finally opened to reveal Nate standing in a spotlight in front of the two Davids, in their case.

“The two Davids,” Blackpoole giggled, “Thank God.”

“Got you Nate,” Sterling said. 

“Yes, that was the whole point,” Nate replied. 

“What do you mean?”

“You know all that chasing me around? ‘Don’t let Nate Ford near the two Davids, how’s Nate Ford going to get the two Davids?’ I wasn’t the mastermind on this one, Sterling… I’m the bait.”

He counted down from three for the lights to come on and reveal the walls, empty from all the art that previously decorated it. 

Blackpoole broke down in disbelief and horror. There was over $150 million worth of art that was missing. And he was responsible for all of it. It was insured by IYS which would cause a major hit to his career and company. 

“Well done,” Sterling had to admit. 

Blackpoole grabbed a gun off of a guard’s belt and pointed it at Nate’s head, “where are they?! Where are they?!”

“Nate!” I yelled, I took a step forward, but Maggie grabbed my hand. 

“Clear the room!” Sterling demanded. A guard pulled the two of us away, both of us scared for him. 

We both had comms, which helped us hear the conversation better. Nate told Sterling the terms of getting the art back for destroying Blackpoole. Sterling agreed, almost too eagerly. 

Blackpoole pointed the gun at him “No. Sterling, you work for me,” He swung back towards Nate, “IYS is my company!”

Nate responded immediately, “Can’t let personal feelings affect policy. You have a responsibility to shareholders. No exceptions.” He threw Blackpoole’s own words back at him. Nate took the gun out of his hands, “I have lost my only son. Do you really think you scare me? Huh?”

Maggie squeezed my hand and I squeezed back. 

Blackpoole came rushing towards us, “Maggie, well, you understand.”

She let go of my hand, stepped up to him, and gave him a wicked right hook to the face. I stepped up and kicked him once while he was down.

Maggie smiled at me with a thoughtful look, “screw therapy, that felt really good.”

She walked off, and after exchanging a few words with Sterling, Nate came up, hooked arms with me and we both walked out the front door.

Later, that day the three of us were sitting in the empty exhibit room, waiting for the call. 

“Are you going to stop now?” Maggie asked Nate. 

“I don’t know.”

“Interesting.”

Nate hummed in a question.

“You admitting you don’t know something.”

Nate’s phone rang, and he answered it, listened then hung up. “It’s done. Blackpoole’s out.”

“Time to return the artwork?” I asked.

“I think so,” he replied. 

He lifted the seat cover we were sitting on to reveal an opening down to the restoration room. We all climbed down. 

When I got close to the bottom, Eliot grabbed my hand with one hand on my waist to guide me, “Careful sweetheart.” 

I grabbed his hand a little tighter and felt myself blush at the nickname. 

We admired the art surrounding us before leaving the room from behind the sarcophagus.

Nate and Sophie explained how they would seal and replace the floor tiles and then move the art to the loading dock to make it look like they came from the outside. 

Maggie approached Nate, “You are not the man I married.”

I quickly decided I didn’t want to be in the middle of that conversation and dashed off behind the others. 

After we had finished the work of moving the artwork, Parker and I helped oversee the sealing of the floor. We gathered at the back of the museum, clearly about to part ways.

I looked at each of them, “Are you guys gonna keep doing this? Am I ever gonna see you all again?”

They looked at each other for a moment before Eliot stepped up to me, “uh, we don’t know. Hope so.” He touched my elbow gently before pulling away.

I smiled at him before looking at the others, “Good enough for me… I guess this is bye.”

Hardison and Eliot nodded.

“I guess so,” Parker said. 

I nodded once more before stepping into Maggie’s car and driving back to her apartment. 

The next two weeks were mundane after that. I finished the LA project and flew back home to Boston. It was reaching into that third week afterwards that I got a phone call from Nate.

“Hey, I’m lookin’ for a place… Got anything in mind?”

Tags: @isoldeahlstrom

[digitalageexpo]

Unlock The Power: 6 Secret Techniques for Mastering Virtual Conference London

Mastering the world of virtual conferences in London can be a game-changer for businesses and individuals alike. By implementing some secret techniques, you can take your virtual conference experience to the next level. Let's dive in and discover six expert strategies that will help you improve Virtual Conference London.

1. Optimize Your Tech Setup

Ensuring a seamless virtual conference experience starts with your tech setup. Make sure your internet connection is stable, your audio and video quality is clear, and your devices are up-to-date. Investing in high-quality equipment can make a significant difference in how you present yourself during the conference.

2. Engage with Interactive Features

Virtual conferences offer a range of interactive features to engage participants. Take advantage of features like live polls, Q&A sessions, and breakout rooms to keep attendees actively involved. By leveraging these interactive elements, you can create a dynamic and engaging conference environment.

3. Craft Compelling Content

Content is king, even in the virtual conference realm. Tailor your presentations to be informative, engaging, and visually appealing. Use a mix of multimedia elements, such as videos, slides, and infographics, to convey your message effectively. Remember, compelling content is more likely to resonate with your audience.

4. Foster Networking Opportunities

One of the key aspects of a successful virtual conference London is networking. Encourage attendees to connect with each other through virtual networking sessions or social media groups. By fostering networking opportunities, you can create a sense of community and collaboration among participants.

5. Embrace Innovation

To stand out in the world of virtual conferences, embrace innovation and creativity. Experiment with new formats, technologies, and presentation styles to keep your audience engaged. Think outside the box and don't be afraid to try new approaches to make your conference memorable.

6. Evaluate and Improve

After the virtual conference is over, take the time to evaluate its success. Gather feedback from participants, analyze metrics, and identify areas for improvement. Use this information to refine your approach and make future conferences even better.

In conclusion, mastering Virtual Conference London is within reach by applying these six secret techniques. By optimizing your tech setup, engaging with interactive features, crafting compelling content, fostering networking opportunities, embracing innovation, and evaluating your performance, you can elevate your virtual conference experience to new heights. So go ahead, unlock the power of these techniques and watch your virtual conference thrive. Visit more information for your website

[pccyouthleader]

Hedgehog Hodgepodge: A Story of Espionage, Confusion, and an Evil Plan Gone Haywire

Chapter 11: A Surprise for Everyone

In the early evening, Aurora walked into the house completely worn out from the day. Wanting nothing more than to see her beau and go to bed early, she was surprised to find her parents anxiously awaiting her arrival in the living room. 

“Hello, Sweetiepie!” said Amy, opening her arms to greet her daughter. “How was your day?”

Aurora dropped her bag next to the door and stepped into her mother’s soothing embrace. “It was good… and interesting,” she replied tiredly. “How are you feeling?”

“Better than I’ve felt in awhile. I almost feel like myself again!” Amy took a moment to flash a knowing smile at Sonic, who winked back at her. She turned back to Aurora. “One of my colleagues at the museum was kind enough to bring us dinner, so we’ve invited Shadow to join us.”

Aurora brightened. Maybe her parents were getting used to the idea of her dating Shadow after all. They had already given their blessing, but she knew her dad still had mixed emotions about the relationship.

There was a flash of green light outside the window, followed by a knock on the door. Aurora rushed over to open it. She had to remind herself to exhibit control and not to leap into Shadow’s arms when she saw him standing there.

“Hello, Light,” he growled softly, a playful grin on his face. Aurora bit her lip as an electrifying sensation tingled up her spine. The amorous look he gave her and the deep tone of his voice were nothing short of… seductive. She thought of the near-incident on the road earlier, and his mouth covering hers with a passionate kiss. Suddenly her cheeks went red.

“Tiny, you can invite him in if you’d like,” Sonic teased. “Or not…” he finished quietly. Amy elbowed him in the ribs. 

“What?!” he whispered, feigning innocence.

“Be nice!” Amy hissed. But she couldn’t help stifling a giggle.

The spell was momentarily broken and Aurora moved to open the door wider. Shadow walked in, giving her a soft brush on the cheek. He was carrying a paper shopping bag. Reaching inside, he pulled something out and offered it to Amy. 

“For the hostess,” he said.

Amy looked at the vintage bottle of wine and managed a warm smile. “Thank you, Shadow,” she said. Placing it on the sideboard, she hoped he wouldn’t suggest they open it that evening. Sonic crossed his arms in annoyance. All hail Mr. Magnanimous, he thought, rolling his eyes.

“Why don’t we go ahead and have dinner,” Amy suggested. Shadow moved to hold a chair out for Aurora. 

“Thank you,” she said softly with a look that made Shadow’s heart leap. He waited until Amy was seated before taking the chair next to Aurora. Amy had set a beautiful table despite the fact that she hadn’t been feeling well. 

When they were all seated, Shadow turned to Aurora. “I have something for you, too,” he said, producing a small gift box. 

“For what?” Aurora laughed, gently taking the package and looking at the card. She began to read out loud. “‘To Light - I’m sorry for breaking your communicator this morning, although I’m not sorry for shoving my tongue…’” Aurora’s voice trailed off. She hadn’t noticed Shadow making small movements telling her to stop. She didn’t dare look up at her parents. Clearing her throat, she skipped down to the bottom of the card. “‘I hope this little gift will be a good replacement.’”

Hastily stuffing the card back in the envelope, she opened the top of the box to see her brand new bright green communicator. 

“Shadow!” she exclaimed. “I love it!” Aurora pulled it out and admired its sleek design, smiling as she noticed Tails’ trademark stamped onto the back. She opened the two side pieces to reveal a virtual screen with the words “Hello, Aurora!” scrawled in script.

“Thank you, Shadow,” she said, jumping up to give him a hug. She noticed Sonic and Amy looking at each other apprehensively. “Are you alright?” she asked them. Surely it was okay for Shadow to give her a gift this nice.

“Of course!” Amy said. “It’s just that your father and I have a gift for you too.”

“Wow!” Aurora laughed, sitting down again. “What’s the occasion?”

Instead of answering, Sonic walked to the kitchen and returned with a gift bag. Setting it on the table, he walked back to Amy and put his arm around her. Aurora dug into the bag filled with tissue paper and pulled out a shirt. “Oh! Very nice!” she exclaimed.

“Read it,” Amy said, nervously reaching over to grasp Sonic’s hand.

Aurora unfolded the shirt and smoothed the front so she could see all the letters.

“‘I’m the Big Sister.’” She looked up at Sonic and Amy in confusion. “What does that mean? Usually kids wear these shirts when their parents are having-” Aurora stopped and stared wide-eyed at her beaming parents. “You mean…”

“Yes, Tiny,” said Sonic, looking somewhere between excited and terrified. “You’ll have a new little brother or sister before too long.”

Aurora sat in stunned silence. She never would have expected this in a million years. Her emotions were in a tangle!

Amy broke the silence. “Believe me, your dad and I were just as surprised as you are! That’s the reason I’ve been so sick lately.”

Shadow sat blinking, just as surprised as Aurora. Then he shuddered to himself. The thought of Sonic and Amy going at it weirded him out. But he knew it was necessary to support Aurora and her family right now. 

Shadow swallowed the bile that was threatening to leave his stomach and offered his hand to Sonic. “Congratulations, Sonic. I hope the little one will be, ah, good.” What was he saying? He didn’t know anything about babies. And the fact that Aurora would have a brother or sister 20 years her junior was just odd. 

“Thanks,” Sonic said, shaking Shadow’s hand and giving him a strange look.

“This is definitely going to take some getting used to,” Aurora said, dazed.

Always the comic, Sonic attempted to insert some humor into the situation. “Well, at least we’ll always have a ready and willing babysitter, right, Tiny?”

[vikingsvices]

PDA in the digital age

With the whole world as a potential audience, oversharing details about your relationship online can lead to unintended consequences and become a source of discomfort. An overemphasis on social media public displays of affection can create pressure to perform happiness, potentially overlooking the authenticity of a relationship. It can also invite external scrutiny and feedback, which may not always be positive.

On the other hand, the public affirmations of romantic satisfaction on platforms such as Facebook have been linked to higher relationship satisfaction among couples, according to researchers at Albright College. It’s imperative that couples assess the impact of their virtual PDA, not just on personal privacy but also on the health and perception of their romantic relationships.

Cultural perspectives on public displays of affection

Couple displays affection through a kiss while standing on a bus.cs

Cultural factors significantly influence how individuals and societies navigate PDA on social media. In liberal societies, sharing kisses, holding hands or other forms of physical affection might be widely prevalent and accepted on digital platforms. Meanwhile, in more traditional or conservative cultures, such public exhibitions might be frowned upon or even lead to social or legal consequences, affecting the nature of content shared online.

Practical tips for PDA on social media

Navigating the complexities of online PDA requires a strategic approach. Here are several practical tips for individuals and couples attempting to maintain respectful levels of PDA on social media:

1. Communicate with your partner about comfort levels regarding online PDA to try and ensure both parties are on the same page.

2. Consider the potential implications and long-term permanence of the content you share—once online, your displays of affection can be difficult to entirely remove.

3. Cultivate an awareness of your audience; remember your social media friends or followers include colleagues, family and even future employers.

4. Employ privacy settings to control who can view the personal moments that you choose to share.

5. Reflect on why you are sharing—if it’s for validation or to invite commentary on your relationship, it may be wise to reconsider.

In a data-driven world where personal information is invaluable, following these tips can help  couples express their affection thoughtfully without compromising personal boundaries or privacy.

The impact of public displays of affection on relationships

Lovers, man taking a picture with his woman on valentines day for social media

PDA on social media can reveal significant insights into the dynamics of a romantic relationship, with research from Albright College illuminating how relationship satisfaction correlates with online behavior. The study discovered individuals more content with their partnerships tend to actively share affectionate posts, including couple photos and loving comments on their partner’s social media timeline. This suggests that for many, the visibility of their relationship’s happiness plays out through their interactions on social networks.

However, this same practice of engaging in PDA online can also be indicative of underlying relational insecurities. The same Albright College survey found individuals with relationship contingent self-esteem (RCSE)—a measure of self-worth based on the status of one’s relationship—are more liable to post details and pictures demonstrating their romantic connections. These findings imply social media can serve as a platform for affirming relationship validity to oneself and others but potentially at the cost of personal or relational well-being.

How couples can navigate discomfort related to oversharing on social platforms

Striking a balance between sharing and privacy remains a tightrope walk for couples engaging in PDA on social platforms. While a moderate level of online affection can be seen as a healthy acknowledgment of a partner, when such actions stem from compulsion rather than choice, they may lead to negative consequences. A study published in the Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking highlights the increased likelihood of relationship conflicts related to frequent Facebook use, with these conflicts relating to adverse outcomes such as infidelity and breakups.

For couples navigating the discomfort of oversharing, experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a balance. While online displays of affection aren’t inherently negative, they should not become substitutes for actual expressions of love and should be accompanied by efforts to bolster self-esteem independent of the relationship’s online representation.

Conclusion

As couples grapple with the complexities of online PDA, it’s imperative to set boundaries and approach digital affection thoughtfully. In a world where the line between public and private is increasingly blurred, managing the visibility of relationships on social media is not only a matter of social decorum but also an expression of respect for personal boundaries and privacy. Digital platforms like Peoplelooker.com could help you take control of how you portray your love in the digital age.

Disclaimer: The above is solely intended for informational purposes and in no way constitutes legal advice or specific recommendations.

[zalmoxis-the-great]

Hurt

‘My lord, pardon my boldness, but I highly recommend leaving the testing of the artifact to someone disposable.’ Said Sannet, the chief curator of Solemnace.

‘Your suggestion was noted and promptly dismissed.’ Said Trazyn, the Overlord and master of Solemnace. ‘I intended to test this artifact myself.’

‘Once more, I beg you to excuse my hesitant nature, but could we at least let the Master Engramancer have a look at it first?’ The hard-light sculptor proposed as he looked over the Adscititious Generating artifact.

‘I am disappointed by the lack of your adventurous spirit, Sannet’, Trazyn said as he activated the sides of the cuboid artifact. ‘We are safe in here.' He gestured at the chamber that his subjects dubbed the testing rooms of the Galleries.

The device was one of the few Trazyn had actually acquired with its former owner’s consent.

A fringe planet hosting a necron vanguard, under siege by a Tau fleet, was more than happy to crack open a few of their vaults and give him whatever was inside them for his help.

That was a fruitful endeavor, and the archivist found himself incentivized to acquire both some new members for his Kor'vattra exhibitions, as well as some new necron artifacts, and better standing with another dynasty.

A rare occurrence.

He was now sorting through his loot, with the help of his curator, comparing the objects to the list that the chief cryptek of that planet gave them.

‘Besides, you saw the listing. This is considered a low-value item.’ Trazyn said as he finished activating and connecting to the device. He started accepting the queries that popped up in his vision, about allowing the item to scan his engramatic banks.

‘My lord, I understand, but still be cautious. This is an item that is supposed to generate a virtual reality based on your greatest desires, allowing it to scan your engrams might be a rushed mo-‘

Sannet’s voice was lost as Trazyn disconnected his consciousness from reality, and his sensory arrays got connected to the Adscititious Generating cube.

The setting changed in front of him, as the artifact was generating his new environment.

Trazyn looked, mostly intrigued, as the item struggled to remake the docking port where he usually entered Solemnace.

The cuboid was clearly a work of love, probably of a cryptek psychomancer’s passion project.

It wasn’t optimized, that was sure.  He thought as he saw Sannet reappear in front of him.

‘My lord Trazyn, Solemnace rejoice at your return.’ He said bowing, as behind him rows and rows of lychguards kenneled down, the canoptek constructs lowering their heads, and representants of each cryptek conclave hosted on the planet prostrated themselves in front of him.

Solemnace was, indeed, rejoicing at his return.

‘It does, I see.’ Trazyn answered, letting elated glyphs into the interstitial space.

‘Chief archivist, I am happy to announce that the Imperial Throne exhibition is finally ready!’ Sannet raised his ocular to meet his lord's.

Trazyn could feel his engrams crackling with energy from the sudden rush of flux.

‘Throne room?’ He started thinking that this device might not be too bad. ‘Bring me to it, I need to see it done!’

‘As you wish, sir’, He said, standing up as he sent a coordinates pack to his Overlord.

Trazyn didn’t waste a moment, and as soon as he received them, he translocated to it.

Before he fully materialized inside the exhibition room he was afraid, for a moment, that the code would work in the real space too, but that thought was soon abandoned.

In front of him, the centerpiece of the exhibitions was one other than The Emperor of Mankind himself.

Trazyn was sure he dropped his jaw on the floor.

‘Is it to your liking, sir?’ Sannet asked behind him.

He waited for over 2 hours, but Trazyn seemed still mesmerized by the chamber.

It was over twenty Khet long. Completely gilded, with a replica of the Golden Throne, except for the top part, which has been removed from the original piece. On top of it lay the God-Emperor of Mankind, the Carrion Lord. A ghoulish carcass that was still incredibly psychically active and completely conscious of its imprisonment inside a tesseract labyrinth. Custodes, or lookalikes until Overlord Trazyn could acquire more, placed diligently every fifth of a Keht, all the way to the pyramid top of the golden machinery.

‘Sir?’ Sannet tried again. ‘Is it to your liking?’

Trazyn seemed to finally have heard him, nodding slowly, still in awe at the exhibit.

He seemed to have read the report, as he slowly turned his head to his chief curator.

‘Sannet, write down to get more custodes.’ Glyphs of stupefaction colored his words.

‘Certainly, sir.’

‘Aren’t you going to write that down?’

‘There is no need for that.’ Sannet looked at him with pride in his interstitial space. ‘ The Master Engramancer managed to fix my memetic issues.’

‘Sannet!’ Trazyn exclaimed, a smile blooming on his deathmask. ’This is absolutely wonderful to hear!’

‘Thank you, sir!’ The hard-light sculptor exclaimed with excitement.

‘Show me more of the recent exhibitions! Anything that is marked with a high priority status!’

‘Absolutely!’ The curator replied, animated by his master’s enthusiasm.

More coordinates came, and Trazyn enjoyed himself greatly, seeing the beautifully arranged carnage in the WAAAGH! exhibition, where Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka himself stood in the middle, accompanied by his grot banner-waver.

He got exceptionally excited to admire a vivarium where a whole Drukhari pirate crew was trapped in a piece of space, the mind-shackling scarabs inside them ensuring they thought they were looking for prey, not realizing their never-ending search.

After that, he asked to just walk to other exhibitions, as the items he saw on the way were all, almost as delightful as the big shows.

Trazyn was almost skipping with joy as he passed the necrontyr galleries. Noting that his armor collections were complete, one from each dynasty. It was beautifully combined with parts of his library, where copies of each item’s history were exposed next to them, offering information about the time period, and the nature of the conflict they were part of.

He never felt so at home in this part of his galleries, that was when he noticed the pottery exposition.

To his shock, all of them were perfectly assembled, as if they were never smashed.

‘Excellent work repairing those!’ He continued his ecstatic journaling of how he wanted his galleries to look like, when his oculars fell on a particular object.

It was the Astrarium Mysterios, but it lacked the sidenote that said it was a duplicate.

He let out a whistle.

‘Looks like Orikan didn’t get his claws on this one over here.’

‘He did, sir. As per your agreement, he studied it and then brought it back.’

‘What agreement?’ Trazyn asked, confused. ‘What did the old fool do this time? ‘ He was prepared for bad news, they always accompanied the astromancer.

‘I am not completely sure of what it entails. You and he discussed it privately. But I can ask him to come and explain it himself.’

Trazyn was speechless.

He realized Sannet was sending a message, right as the summons were released into the Tomb Complex’s network.

‘Orikan is here? What is he doing here?’

Sannet blinked at him, seemingly shocked by this question.

‘You and him went on an expedition together, and after you returned, he decided to join our dynasty.’ He stated.

Trazyn didn’t even have time to process the information, as right then the familiar light of a translocation brighten the room.

‘You better have a good reason to interrupt my studies, Oh-Overlord-Of-Solemnace!’ Orikan barely finished materializing into the room as he started aggressively hissing in the archivist’s direction.

‘Show the proper respect to your Overlord!’ Sannet rebutted, spirited by the presence of his master in front of him.

Trazyn didn’t register the words.

He didn’t even acknowledge the tone.

He was completely fixated on the cartouche sitting in the middle of Orikan’s chest.

It was his symbol.

The ankh the he himself wore.

The only difference between the two was that Orikan's was a rank lower

Orikan was part of his entourage.

The diviner was in a foul mood.

He found himself to be in such moods pretty often when working on the time clot that was Solemnace.

Trazyn was just standing there, looking at him with his oculars so bright, they seemed like two suns.

Since he wasn’t up to their usual bickering, Orikan decided to vent his complaint again, in hopes that this time it would actually be listened to.

‘Fine then, Master Trazyn, have you finally had time to approve the materials for my observatory on the artificial satellite of the planet?’ He demanded.

This was why he disliked working under other Lords, they focused only on themselves.

Trazyn was still staring at him.

Orikan noted that this was not his usual unreadable expression. Glyphs of shock seem to pour off Trazyn and into the interstitial space.

Then, as fast as a swooping bird, Trazyn lunged forward, catching the diviner in a crushing hug.

He let out an undignified static yelp, as he felt the Overlord’s. His Overlord’s cartouche pressed against his.

‘I pray to the stars that this isn’t your way of hiding another moronic mistake you’ve gotten yourself into!’ He screamed as he struggled to free his arms from the awkward angle they were caught in. ‘I am not going to bail you out of this!’

He was still being hugged.

‘Trazyn!’ He seemed exasperated, the archivist always showed his eccentricities, some more tolerable than others. The diviner sighed, rolling his ocular in its socket, as he looked at Sannet, who just shrugged.

‘Fine. I will help you, but I reserve the right to call you out on your foolishness.’

Still no answer.

‘Trazyn. What happened?’ He asked his friend.

Again, nothing.

‘You can tell me.’ He wrapped his arms behind the Overlord’s cape.

Orikan let out a sigh.

‘We can approve the observatory after. You are being very melodramatic, just so you know.’

A few moments passed.

‘Trazyn?’ He tightened his arms around the shaking archivist. ‘Is this about the Tyrannid fleet? We can redirect it. I know you have some deep space lures.’

He moved his hand behind the Overlord’s head, absurdly rubbing his cranium, in what he considered to be a soothing motion.

‘It is going to be fine, whatever got you like this, we can fix it.’ He tried again. ‘Trazyn, we can talk about this, please stop crying.’

He hugged the necron tighter, trying to stop the other’s trembling.

‘Trazyn please calm down.’ Orikan was truly concerned right now. ‘I am here, it is fine.’

This only made it worse.

‘I am with you.’ He repeated himself, completely overwhelmed by the situation.

He closed his ocular, hugging the Overlord as tightly as he could, feeling the living metal bend under the pressure.

‘It will be fine, I love y-‘

Orikan’s works dissolved as his sensory array got forcefully disconnected from the artifact.

‘Is he fine?’ Sannet asked the other cryptek in the testing rooms.

‘I disconnected him, superficial scrys did not reveal any malfunctions.’ Said Solemnace’s Master Engramancer. ‘I am doing a deeper search.’

Trazyn looked at them, expression unreadable, engrams not letting any emotion or glyphs surface.

‘Sorry sir, I called the engramancer to disconnect you as soon as you started crying.’

Trazyn lifted his hand, touching his deathmask.

It was indeed wet.

He noted some oily tears still dripping between his ribs.

The archivist pressed the cube into Sannet’s hand, then pushed the engramancer away.

‘I am fine. Sannet, please move this to the archives. As far and deep as you can.’

The hard-light sculptor's hand was writing the instructions without even looking.

‘Sir, what happened, was it nonfunctional?’ He asked as he took the cube.

‘No, it works as intended. I need a break, prepare the crew for an expedition.’ He said as he turned to leave the rooms. ‘Send me a list with whatever acquisitions we need next.’

‘Absolutely, sir.’ Said Sannet, as he looked at the leaving Overlord.

--------------------------------

New Short Stories Across the Galaxy chapter just dropped !

I am experimenting with what I call a lazy narrative style, where I don't describe a character and let you, the reader, do all the work for me!

[shamandrummer]

World Wilderness Congress Focuses on Indigenous Knowledge

"Humanity stands at a crossroads and must come together to realize dramatically different and supportive relationships with one another, the Earth, and all life on the planet, if we are to surmount cascading ecological and social crises now underway."

That was the message of Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota peoples, who on Sunday welcomed hundreds of attendees to the 12th World Wilderness Congress convening this week in the Black Hills, or He Sapa in the Lakota language. Though these gatherings, dedicated to assessing and often resetting global conservation work, date back to the 1970s, this is the first such congress being convened by a tribal authority. The agenda is dedicated heavily to centering Indigenous perspectives in the global struggle to protect wild lands and waters.

Indigenous peoples articulate alternative environmental perspectives and relationships to the natural world. Indigenous mythologies and oral traditions express a non-anthropocentric environmental ethic. Indigenous groups offer ancient tried-and-tested knowledge and wisdom based on their own locally developed practices of resource use. And, as Native peoples themselves have insisted for centuries, they often understand and exhibit a holistic, interconnected and interdependent relationship to particular landscapes and all of the life forms found there. Despite making up a tiny fraction of the world's population, Indigenous peoples hold ancestral rights to some 65 percent of the planet. This poignant fact conveys the enormous role that Native peoples play not only as environmental stewards, but as political actors on the global stage.

All over the world, Native peoples are engaged in battles with hostile corporations and governments that claim the right to set aside small reserves for Native people, and then to seize the rest of their traditional territory. They are confronting the destructive practices of industry and leading the charge against climate change while defending the rivers, forests and food systems that we all depend on. At the same time, they are blocking governments from eroding basic rights and freedoms and turning to the courts of the world to remedy 500 years of historical wrongs. Native peoples are putting their lives on the line and fighting back for political autonomy and land rights. And all the while, they are breathing new life into the biocultural heritage that has the potential to sustain the entire human race.

Looking Horse, the 19th Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and Bundle, is as revered among the original people of this land as the Dalai Lama is by the people of Tibet or the Pope for Catholics around the world.

"We warned that some day you would not be able to control what you had created. And that day is here. Mother Earth is sick and has a fever," Looking Horse told the group assembled from nations, tribes, and communities across the world.

The chills of that "fever"--the accelerating shocks of climate destabilization caused by centuries of colonial extraction, fossil fuel combustion, and ecological destruction--rocked communities around the world in 2023, with 2024 continuing to break heat records. A "State of the Climate" report that drew on the work of nearly 600 scientists pointed to unprecedented levels of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere as the cause of Earth's overheating. Records were similarly broken for ocean heat, sea-ice loss, and sea-level rise. In all, industrially-driven global warming exposed nearly 80 percent of the people on the planet to at least 31 days of extreme heat, another study found. This level of heat was virtually impossible if not for the burning of fossil fuels and development-driven deforestation, Climate Central researchers have reminded us.

But organizers and attendees at WILD12 aren't there to haggle over carbon credits or debate the benefits and risks of carbon capture technologies and blue hydrogen, the substance of so many climate gatherings and debates. Instead, The WILD Foundation, through decades of international gatherings, aims to interrupt one driver of climate crisis that gets far less air time than carbon emissions: the global loss of the planet's wild spaces, which for millions of years have served as the planet's lungs and carbon sinks.

Yet even conservation spaces and agendas have offered a shallow understanding of problems and solutions, overlooking the deeper cultural--and thus colonial--roots of ecological collapse. What makes this year's congress so significant is its aim to reformulate the global conservation agenda not only by placing Indigenous leadership at the forefront of conservation action, but more foundationally, by centering Indigenous knowledge and worldviews in understandings of what Western cultures call wilderness.

In other words, the cultural roots of the collapse of our shared biosphere lies not in the make, model, or brand of the tools we use to clearcut forests or fuel plastics production. Rather, it lies in a fundamental misunderstanding that goes all the way to the bottom of Western thought: the hierarchical dualism that imagines the "human" as both separate from and superior to "nature".

Perhaps the most important aspect of Indigenous cosmology is the conception of creation as a living process resulting in a living universe in which a kinship exists between all things. Thus the Mother Earth is a living being, as are the Sun, Stars and the Moon. Hence the Creators are our family, our Grandparents or Parents, and all of their creations are children who are also our relations.

What needs to be understood and challenged, then, is the very basic conceptual groundings of Western culture itself, which gave birth to capitalism as a global economic system for extracting profit both from the bodies of people racialized and gendered as "others" and from land, treated as a dead thing or "resource" to extract from. For it is these philosophical and economic assumptions that--especially from an Indigenous perspective--facilitated colonization and enabled the genocides, slavery, and racial capitalism that followed.

The industrialized West is largely unaware of how Indigenous societies have functioned and the strengths they possess that industrial cultures have lacked. Our notions of progress are based on the idea that high tech means better, and that industrial cultures are somehow more advanced socially. The current state of our threatened environment demands that communication channels be opened for dialogue and engagement with Native environmental ethics. Native people are not only trying to protect water sources, clean up uranium tailings and mount opposition to fossil fuel extraction, they are also continuing their spiritual ways of seeking to celebrate and support all life by means of ceremonies and prayers.

[nuri148]

My Trip to Japan! ⛩️ Part 2

15.12.

🍃🍂Ghibli Park!!!🍂🍃

AKA the trigger for all this madness. It was when they announced that Ghibli was going to open a theme park that going to Japan went from dream to plan.

Getting tickets was an adventure on its own. I had to sit in front of the computer on the day and time they went on sale (a Sunday at 7 am, Spain time) and get in the virtual queue like it was a freaking Taylor Swift concert, to secure my spot. They had this perverse system where you have to get a ticket for each of the 3 areas of the park, and each has its allocated entry time. To complicate matters further, not all entry slots are available from abroad, only two for each area, which required significant research between blogs, reviews, and videos to figure out the most convenient order to see everything.

We headed to Aichi; at the end of the subway line (this one had elevators), we changed to the Linimo, Japan's only maglev (magnetic levitation train). It was built for Expo 2005, and Ghibli Park is now located on its premises. We arrived very early, bought lunch at the konbini for later, and went to the first gift shop. Consumerism is rewarded here: each shop within the park offered slightly different things, so we had to go through them all. I swear I did not actually buy in all of them.

We started in the Hill of Youth area. Around the Whisper of the Heart roundabout, you'll find the antique shop/house from the movie, the cat office from The Cat Returns, and the bus stop from My Neighbor Totoro. There's also a real mailbox, and letters dropped there carry a postmark from the park. I knew this already, so I sent myself a postcard.

The cat's office is beautiful, built to scale and all detail outside and in, with figures of the Baron and Muta chatting in the living room.

But the antique shop... That house is something else. Everything is recreated in the smallest detail, from the luthier workshop below, with woodchips scattered on the floor, worn-out tools, violins in different stages of construction, to the living area upstairs, featuring vintage furniture from the sixties, incredible. The drawers and cabinets are full of things, not recreations (except the food in the fridge lol), real things from bygone times, normal things you find in houses. And you can open them and peek. Matches, kitchen towels, a bag of cat food. Mismatched crockery and cutlery as it’s normal in houses where actual people live. Cleaning stuff. Old postcards and magazines.

The painstaking  work they must have undertaken of searching through antique shops and flea markets all over Japan to achieve such level of detail is absolutely mind-blowing. And the shop itself, omg... You have the Baron statuette, of course, with its mesmerizing eyes; the carrousel horse, the chimney... And the clock. Which we waited for because it activates every half hour. Yes, that clock, with the elves mining gemstones and the prince contemplating his princess before the day transforms her back into a sheep; all that is right there, live, for real. I’m not crying, you are crying.

From there, we went to the Grand Warehouse, the biggest area of the park. It is, as it says, a big warehouse with different exhibits and a clearly Gaudí-inspired main square (the Japanese love Gaudí). We took (read: Husband took of me) lots of photos in the different recreated props from the studio’s movies. We only missed two, consciously: No-Face from Spirited Away and the robot from Laputa: Castle in the Sky. In both cases, the line was so long that we wouldn't have made it to the next area on time. And in the case of the robot, we had the one at the museum. It was also my fault for not wanting to stand in line as soon as we arrived (in my defence, I didn’t know what was inside – it's not visible from outside the entrance), leaving that exhibit for the end, and by then the queue had become much longer. No-face is the first stop in the main exhibit, which features props from various movies where you can take photos. The main problem, IMHO, is that people take hundreds of photos, check if they liked them, repeat... I'm sorry, but if you have a hundred people behind you, take two or three, and whatever comes out is fine. The staff should speed up the people more, or even take the photos themselves.

In addition to this permanent exhibition, there was another temporary one about food in the different Ghibli movies. I was thrilled to see they’d included paintings from my beloved Heidi, produced by Isao Takahata before founding Ghibli with Miyazaki.

The warehouse, like the Museum, also has a cinema, done in an exquisitely art deco style. The short film we watched, however, (Hoshi wo Katta Hi) escaped us, as it had much more dialogue than our basic Japanese could process. Next to the cinema, there’s a warehouse with different props not currently used  in any of the exhibits.

Other highlights include Arriety’s house, the philosophy club closet from Up from Poppy Hill (also recreated in painstaking detail)  and a few non-gift shops. There is also a children’s area with a catbus to play in and a café on the backyard, which we didn’t go to as we hadn’t enough time.  

After a quick visit to the gift shop, crowded with people, we left for the last area, Dondoko Forest, where Satsuki and Mei's house from My Neighbor Totoro stands. Another masterpiece of recreation. Kitchen stuff, toys, clothes, everything you can find in a house. In the kitchen drawers, there were even antique mosquito coils (the movie takes place in the '50s). Sorry (not sorry) for repeating myself, but the fieldwork they must have done to obtain all those objects is colossal.

Unlike the Whisper of the Heart shop, here they did allow photos inside, so I would have stayed forever if it weren't for Husband eventually looking at me with his best are-we-leaving-yet face, plus daylight beginning to fade. The visit was completed with a climb to a hill where there's a giant Totoro for photos, and we got down with a kind of funicular (technically an inclined elevator), which looks like a toy it’s so smol and kawaii.

Before leaving, we passed by Mononoke Village. This area, included in the Grand Warehouse ticket but without an entry slot, hasjust opened. There was only has a couple of monsters for the photo and a pavilion were they do workshops that was already closed, so we only saw the outside of it. There is a new area in construction, the Valley of Witches, scheduled to open in March, which will feature scenery from Howl’s mving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

The park is fucking amazing, and a total must for any self-respecting Ghibli fan. I want to go back right away. The one downside, for me, is the fixed schedule ticket system they have (which they say they will eliminate soon), because we didn't have enough time to see all of the Grand Warehouse, but if we’d stayed, we would have missed the Dondoko Forest, and with Totor being my favourite Ghibli film, that would have been unforgivable.

We came back exhausted, and it was an adventure to find a place to have dinner. The word of the day was "kanseki": "full." Finally, we found an izakaya where we had a great meal and better service.