#'para' as 'beyond that which is regular'

[rallamajoop]

Resident Evil 5, and why ‘Man who punched a boulder that one time’ is not a personality

Since I’ve already talked about Resis 2, 3, and 4, it’s probably about time to tackle RE5, which may be relevant to the greater state of the franchise for two reasons. For one, after the success of the RE4 remake, RE5 may well be next up in that queue. And considering the franchise’s recent trajectory, with all that RE8, too, owes to the original RE4, it’s worth asking whether something much like RE5 (for better or worse) may well be what we have to look forward to in RE9.

RE5 certainly sold well – to this day, it remains one of the best-selling titles in the franchise. Cynically though, I can’t help but wonder how much of that was simply the franchise coasting off the reputation of RE4 – a game is still cited as one of those titles-that-redefined-the-genre, whereas RE5 doesn’t have much legacy beyond being ‘the racist one’, or That Time Chris Redfield Punched a Boulder.

To give credit where it’s due, by reputation RE5 was a lot of fun to play with a partner (as it was intended), though it may be more notorious for how frustrating it was to play without one, depending on the infamously-awful partner AI as a stand in. Running away from your own AI partner as they try to waste the good healing items on you when you've only got a scratch is apparently a regular part of the single-player experience. I’m stuck saying ‘by reputation’ here because I haven’t actually played RE5 myself, and thus everything below should probably be taken with a pretty big grain of salt.

What I can tell you is that, experienced purely via let’s-plays and cutscene compilations, this is easily the most boring numbered entry in the whole RE franchise.

The biggest single problem here is its protagonist, Chris Redfield, who’s be reimagined for the new console generation as a huge, muscular slab of a man, and with all the personality of a sheet of cardboard, not-much-enhanced by such exciting dialogue as, "There's one thing I do know. I have a job to do, and I'm going to see it through."

This is not a problem unique to Chris: Jill, in her few actual scenes, fares no better. ‘Dedicated para-military professional’, ‘designated good guy’ and ‘wants to save the world from bioweapons’ are perfectly good character traits. They should not be someone’s entire personality. This is a game that does that classic Winter Soldier trope where Jill comes back from the dead brainwashed by the villains, and somehow manages to make it boring. That shouldn’t be possible, but with Chris and Jill, RE5 has pulled it off.

Not all the heroes are as bland as Chris: Sheva gets to be friendly and upbeat and a dedicated para-military professional. But despite being the designated local, she’s entirely here to support Chris, with no real plot of her own or personal investment in his mission. I mean, she does have some history with this other local squad leader guy called Josh, and there’s a bit where he might be dead or something and you have to go find him, but then he’s fine, NBD. Josh himself is about as interesting as Chris, and I can’t help but suspect he’s in this game mostly as a response to criticism that the only other notable black character (Sheva) was a light-skinned woman with a British accent, after which no-one had the guts to actually do anything with Josh for fear of accidentally being offensive. He's just there.

As usual for RE, the villains are far more memorable than the heroes: Wesker is here to leave no scenery unchewed in his usual ridiculous anime-villain way, and Excella… well, you can’t say she doesn’t have personality. But their plan is the usual uninspired dreck: do wildly unethical experiments to bring about the apocalypse and/or next stage in human evolution, get revenge on Umbrella by doing the exact same shit Umbrella always did, blah blah blah. You’ve seen it all a hundred times before.

Like so many RE titles, RE5 opens with a clear thesis statement: appropriately for a co-op shooter, this is a story about partnership. Chris’ reaction to meeting his new ‘partner’ Sheva is heavy with regret over the loss of his old partner, Jill. So, this is one of those Learning To Love Again kind of stories, where Chris has to learn to trust someone new, right? Or maybe Chris will have to make hard decisions between going after his brainwashed old partner, Jill, or backing up his new partner, Sheva? Nope! Maybe this theme comes through for some in the gameplay, but it sure doesn’t go anywhere in the narrative. Chris discovers Jill is alive and brainwashed all of one boss battle before Jill is rescued, immediately un-brainwashed, and promptly left behind again (because, like, she’s injured now and Chris has to trust his new partner, or something). So like so many RE titles, the opening thesis statement goes nowhere.

The other big problem with this game is the complete lack of atmosphere. You can (and RE frequently does) get away with bland heroes just fine if the setting has enough personality to carry the title, but RE5 doesn’t have that going either. There are probably writers out there who could tell a gripping horror story about a hardened para-military team hunting monsters in open spaces in bright sunlight, but they sure weren’t writing for RE5. The RE series at large is never more laughably absurd to me than when it’s trying to go full military shooter, and RE5 is doing that as hard as it can.

I haven’t yet touched on the big controversies this game arrived with, because lord knows I’ve got no special insight into how to respectfully portray African people and an African location. But I think it's safe to say that mindless waves of zombie-uncontacted-tribesmen waving primitive shields and clubs probably isn't a great way to represent Africa's native population. It's not like you're going to meet any un-zombie native tribesmen. Zombie is apparently just their default state.

Still, even from my limited, white-Australian perspective, what stood out most was just how irrelevant the African setting is to the greater plot. RE’s 2 and 3 were set in a (named) American city, with an American pharmaceutical company as its villains. RE4 was set in a Spanish village, with a pseudo-medieval cult as its villains. RE5 may be set ‘somewhere in Africa’, but both its hero and its villain are white Americans. There may be some vague faff about Wesker researching a particular local virus, but for all plot purposes, Africa is little more than an unfortunate bystander, an indifferent battlefield for foreign white people. The only African people worth talking to have guns, and are already working for Chris’ organisation. Jill of RE3 had to watch her home city and her own friends and colleagues fall to the zombie plague, but no-one pays more than the briefest lip-service to the broken communities or human casualties in RE5 – after all, there are bigger things at stake than a few African villagers, Chris has a missing white friend to find! Besides, there’s always, like, wars and famines and shit breaking out in Africa, it’s just a scary, violent place in general. The zombies probably didn’t even make it any worse, amirite?

Yeah, fuck that nonsense. The entire African continent exists to this game as an exotic location where lots of people can die without the player having the feel too bad about it.

Nothing in this game adds up to even the sum of its parts. The reveal of Jill’s face doesn’t produce a ‘omg, it’s Jill!’ reaction from the audience, it gets a ‘wait, who’s this generic blonde lady?’ The mind-control device Wesker uses on Jill is unrelated to any of the biological research he’s been using to turn other people into zombie slaves, it’s just a glowing mechanical thing that can be easily removed. There’s a document you can pick up which spells out a backstory for Sheva that is honestly more interesting than anything going on in the plot, but which fails to provide any insight into how an African-born native who was apparently educated in America has been walking around the whole game with a distinct British accent. The progenitor virus – the nominal excuse for the whole setting – is apparently nothing that Umbrella's researchers haven't already known about for decades.

Is there anything to recommend this game for? Well, Sheva is so much my cup of tea that she’s been turning my head ever since I first ran into a picture of her in some random gaming magazine sometime back around 2008, and I cannot even properly resent this game’s love of showing me close-ups on her ass (it’s a very nice ass, okay?) But after being saddled with such terrible gaming AI, she’s stuck being one of the more widely hated characters in this franchise, and she has so little story of her own that enjoying Sheva doesn’t get me very far.

Oh, and there's Chris' "Heavy Metal" alternate costume. That's certainly something.

RE5 is obviously reflective of the direction the franchise was already taking towards action and away from horror, but probably owes much more to Capcom chasing popular trends. Military co-op shooters set in sunny, arid locations populated by disposable brown people were in at the time, never mind whether that fit the Resident Evil brand. And though the game was a big sales success, it also led directly into the disaster that was RE6, which just about killed the franchise (though being forced to go back to the drawing board for RE7 inarguably did the series a world of good in the long run).

As successful as the remakes of 2, 3 and 4 have been, it’s hard to see the case for remaking RE5. Since 2009, the era of co-op mechanics being shoehorned into everything has come and (thankfully) gone – what was a controversial new direction for RE then isn’t likely to go down much better now. Though it’s now 14 years old, RE5 still looks like a modern game in a way that even the original RE4 doesn’t, and it can’t boast any of the first four games’ reputations as genre-defining classics. Is it possible to reimagine a title like RE5 enough to bring it more in-line with the other recent remakes without alienating those who remember the original fondly, campy co-op nonsense and all? Is it worth courting another round of ugly, racist controversy just to regurgitate a remake of a game so widely considered the franchise’s shark-jumping moment, and which was more of a sequel to the (so far un­-remade) Code Veronica than any of the previous remakes? That’s ultimately up to Capcom to decide, but my money’s on a ‘no’.

Since the semi-reboot of RE7 and 8, Capcom has already returned to much purer survival horror, and then again transitioned into a more action-focused experience a la RE4, effectively speed-running their way through early franchise history again in just two games. Is a continued shift back towards action in some RE5-style follow-up inevitable?

There are good reasons to wonder if that’s already the plan: Chris’ section at the end of RE8 was heavy on the military-shooter-isms, and there’s plenty more in the endgame and on the internet rumour mill to suggest he’s set to be the lead again for RE9. But speaking personally, ye gods do I hope not. Three more games since RE5 have not made Chris any more interesting to me as a character – not unless they’re willing to commit to the increasing hints he’s on the edge of going completely off the deep end into irredeemable villainy, and I doubt Capcom have the guts for that. The last thing this series needs is a new case of military-shooter-itis.

RE5 may not be the worst game in this franchise, but for my money, it’s easily the blandest. I can't speak for the whole fandom ‒ I can't even speak as someone who's actually played the original ‒ but I for one would prefer to see it left firmly in the past.

#Resident Evil 5 #Chris Redfield #Sheva Alomar #Jill Valentine #Resident Evil #RE reviews

[mahayanapilgrim]

WHATEVER SITUATION ARISES IS A STEPPING-STONE

In the sutras, there's a story about an old illiterate monk who was the target of some younger monks' ridicule. In order to humiliate him in public, they instituted a new rule that all the monks would have to take turns giving the regular sermon to the sponsors.

But this old monk didn't know anything, and one day it was his turn to teach. The story goes that the distressed monk was talking to himself up at the front of the hall, saying over and over again wringing his hands, "I don't know anything about the dharma, and this not knowing is suffering."

Now, hearing the old monk's words turned out to be an epiphany for one old lady who instantly knew that it was true that not knowing is the cause that really does create suffering as a result. She heard his speech as the truth, because she had the merit to understand even the anxious words of the worried monk as a beneficial teaching. In this way, merit can expand and increase our understanding of dharma.

To a certain extent, we can say that one's merit is simply a reflection of cause, condition and effect; but at the same time, merit also goes beyond cause, condition and effect.

For example, once a yogi was making tea and a hot ember landed on his hand. And thanks to his store of merit, the pain at that moment sparked in him an experience of awakening from the illusion of duality. And that marked a major turning point in his life.

Once on a pilgrimage, Nyoshul Lungtok and his attendant were confronted by bandits. But even though they surrendered all their worldly goods, one bandit started to beat up Nyoshul Lungtok for no reason. This enraged his Khampa attendant who started to fight the bandit and was winning the fight. The lama was very displeased by his attendant's outburst of violence, and he jumped on the disciple's back saying "You have to stop!" But the disciple in a blind rage kept fighting, even mistaking his lama for the bandit in the heat of the moment. Needless to say, the bandits were quite bewildered by this turn of events.

After that, for three days the disciple's anger never cooled down. But thanks to his merit, his extreme anger became the catalyst for a breakthrough experience. The extreme emotion of anger somehow short-circuited most of his usual samsaric confusion, and his life underwent a major change. What used to be such a big deal was no longer such a big deal. What used to be so precious no longer was so precious. This again I think was largely due to his great store of merit.

Merit is an essential element to make the leap from purely intellectual to more instinctual understanding of the dharma. Such merit can be accomplished by practising shamatha vipashyana, and especially by taking refuge in the Triple Gem of Buddha, dharma and sangha, and by arousing the bodhichitta wish to liberate all beings; and, of course, by practising the four partings from attachment. And devotion is, of course, the most efficient and most powerful way of accumulating merit.

If we learn to gradually accept and integrate these activities into our lives, even if only in brief sessions but repeatedly every day, we will really be freed from all manner of confusion and obsession. There will be a noticeable change in our conduct and outlook. Be patient and appreciate the signs of your modest and steady progress on the path.

I can speak from experience. I haven't practised that much but I have practised some, and even in my limited experience which is far from enlightened, many of my minor quirks and tics quiet down after a month or two of practise, which feels like progress one can take pride in. But my practise is erratic and inconstant. In between periods of steady practise, my quirky nervous habits return. But when I practise regularly, many of my small obsessions loosen up.

For instance, I don't have to lock and unlock the washroom door two or three times to check and double or triple check that the door is actually locked. So my paranoia is greatly reduced as long as I follow a daily practise routine, and I am more relaxed in general. I'm proud to say that now sometimes I don't even have to lock the door at all.

All of which is to say that, if we lay the groundwork of the right causes and conditions, we are bound to see progress, and those positive effects encourage us to trust the path and to proceed; and, all of this is inextricably bound to the influence of merit.

Trakpa Gyaltsen's closing words tell us that ultimate truth is a state of reality that words cannot express; and that, in order to attain the view of ultimate and inexpressible reality, one's mind must first be speechless and undistracted.

And finally, Trakpa Gyaltsen simply dedicates the merit of propagating the dharma through his commentary on Sachen Kunga Nyingpo's text, By this merit of expounding the Lojong Shenpa Shidrel, or the Mind-training of Parting from the Four Attachments, may all sentient beings attain enlightenment.

Parting from the Four Attachments

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo's Lojong Shenpa

Shidrel

The Mind-training of Parting from the Four Attachments

#buddha #buddhism #buddhist #dharma #sangha #mahayana #zen #milarepa #tibetan buddhism #thich nhat hanh

[2d-dreams]

Hi, and happy STS! (As usual, I am @writeblr-of-my-own, this is my main and apparently I can't switch them).

Everyone of us has recieved the influence of someone or something when we first started writing. That is either because we like someone's techniques and we imitate them to better our own, or we were unintentionally influenced by a piece of media or literature we consumed, even as kids. So, for today's question let's talk inspiration!

What is a piece of media or literature, an author, a concept that inspired you? Do you have a role model that you try to imitate a bit in your works? For example in the way they do descriptions, or in how they create settings!

FORGOT TO ANSWR IM SO SORRY

Well, when it comes to my Flatland writing, obviously I'm inspired by Flatland, but just in terms of idea.

My writing of flatfiction is inspired by Flat Dreams but not in a very orthodox way. Flat Dreams is good, yes. But not as a flatland fanfic. I very dislike seeing Flatland fanfics of the style of just shapes with limbs. Well, not dislike. They are wonderfuly written, but they aren't Flatland to me at all and I cannot experience them properly.

A Flatfic loses its essence of Flatland there. When an apostle is brought to 3d they recognize a 3d house as a 2d house. They have 3dimensionality and so the flatland is lost. It no longer makes sense that bumping into someone is so dangerous, the foundation of flatland in expecting perfect angle regularity resides in the fact that in the 2d world, you cant waste your time checking each angle of the person [you cant see the entire shape immediately], so assuming configuration by one angle brings forth the hate towards irregulars, an attempt to justify it beyond just "not perfect". The flavor of the arts of Sight Recognition, Feeling and Hearing and how the lower classes are practically blind, is lost.

I audibly sighed when I realized Flat Dreams was of this style. I liked the fic, but if you imagine "human" instead of "triangle", it is the same.

Flat Dreams inspired me, by the immense disappointment, to write in 2d. I still am not perfect, but i try. Yes, such a fic may not be the most interesting, 2d life is boring, plain.. well, more like.. PLANE. [this is a pun] but it is 2d.

I am also greatly inspired by xenofiction authors! i liked The Wild Road [my name Cy is from the book] and Watership Down and have many more xenofiction books to read. I am purely a xenofic writer. I find comfort in the nonhuman. I cannot bring myself to relate to or care for human or humanoid characters, i dont know why. I love the strangest xenofiction, like The Bees book that i have yet to find to read. Hence why I write the strangest xenofiction too, that of bidimensional shapes [The Arts of Being], insects [Insecta series], plants [They Whisper at Dawn], even of human body cells [yep. A story called Autophagia] though most are currently unfinish. My love of xenofiction literature specifically might have started before warrior cats, when i read of a childrens book called Alphabet Soup, where characters were letters with personalities based on their letter.

Human-book related, i did enjoy some human books. Childrens books. Two which are mexican and to translate their titles is waste of time. These were The Little Prince, Mamá es Alérgica and Una Noche para Bruno. These were what i can only describe as mundane fiction within my mind. Una noche para Bruno specifically. I love the details of the third one on just life. A childs view of the world. Actually, just realized what these 3 books have in common.. the way a child sees the world. Have i not been brought to a place near adjacent to xenofiction again?

#sorry bad wording critical spoons #asks

[let-our-bones-lay-together]

Today’s bird is the Crested Caracara (sometimes referred to as the Mexican eagle)! Caracaras are what is known as a para falcon. This means that even though they are in the family Falconidae, they are classified differently from other falcons, or the true falcons, which are in Falconinae, while they fall into the subfamily Polyborinae or Caracarainae, or simply Caracara. With being classified in Falconidae, Caracaras (and all other falcons) are from a separate genetic line than other birds of prey, belonging to Australaves, which is a clade that also includes parrots and songbirds, meaning that falcons are more closely related to parrots than to other birds of prey. 

Beyond the genetic lines and classifications, the caracara is all the more confusing with its behavior. Behaviorally, they are far more similar to vultures than falcons: they’re gregarious (social), they’re extremely intelligent (there’s a link between social birds and intelligence), they’re fairly terrestrial (on the ground most of the time, only flying when necessary), and they will scavenge. This also adds to competition that vultures face for carrion, caracaras will follow turkey vultures, as will bald eagles and black vultures, to try and find carrion as the turkey vulture has a far superior sense of smell to all the birds mentioned. Caracaras will also eat eggs, and they’re fairly strong generalist hunters alike the barred owl, as mentioned yesterday. They’ll hunt amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. 

In my opinion one of the coolest things about the crested caracara is that their cere (fleshy upper beak) acts essentially like a mood ring, changing almost instantaneously from a red-orange color to a shade of yellow if excited. These birds are just so amazing to watch, and I’m lucky to be able to interact with one on a regular basis (she likes me!!)

(oh, and they have the most stunning eyelashes in the bird world only rivaled by the secretarybird)

#birds #birds of prey #crested caracara #falcons #mexican eagle

[pinerpitch]

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[officewebmaster315]

PreICFES: Forging Academic Success in Colombia's Students

In the journey towards educational achievement, the PreICFES assessment stands as a crucial stepping stone for Colombian students. The PreICFES, also known as the Saber 11 test, plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic trajectory of students, determining their readiness for the ICFES (Instituto Colombiano para la Evaluación de la Educación) exam. This article delves into the significance of PreICFES preparation, its impact on students' future prospects, and strategies to excel in this critical assessment.

Understanding PreICFES

The PreICFES exam is designed to evaluate students' academic skills and knowledge across various subjects, including mathematics, language arts, social studies, and natural sciences. It serves as a preliminary indicator of a student's readiness for the ICFES test, which holds substantial weight in college admissions. PreICFES scores provide valuable insights into students' strengths and weaknesses, guiding them towards targeted areas of improvement before the official ICFES exam.

Shaping Academic Trajectory

PreICFES scores have a profound influence on a student's academic trajectory. High scores open doors to prestigious universities and sought-after programs, while low scores might necessitate alternative paths or additional preparation. The results are not only a reflection of academic prowess but also a testament to the dedication and effort a student invests in their education.

Preparation Strategies

Effective preparation for the PreICFES exam involves a combination of disciplined study routines, comprehensive content review, and strategic test-taking skills. Time management is critical, as is the identification of weaker subjects for focused attention. Utilizing study guides, practice tests, and mock exams can help familiarize students with the exam format and improve their confidence.

Additionally, seeking guidance from teachers, tutors, or educational platforms can provide valuable insights and personalized strategies. Group study sessions can foster collaborative learning and enable students to share diverse perspectives and study techniques.

Beyond Academics

While rigorous academic preparation is vital, holistic development should not be overlooked. Physical well-being, mental resilience, and emotional balance contribute significantly to optimal performance. Engaging in regular physical activity, practicing mindfulness, and managing stress can enhance a student's overall preparedness for the exam.

The Growth Mindset

Approaching the PreICFES with a growth mindset can make a substantial difference. Embracing challenges, persisting through setbacks, and viewing effort as a path to mastery can empower students to navigate the exam's complexities with confidence. A growth mindset fosters resilience and a willingness to learn from mistakes, ultimately leading to improved performance.

The PreICFES assessment is a pivotal moment for Colombian students, shaping their educational journey and influencing future opportunities. Effective preparation involves a holistic approach that encompasses academic excellence, strategic study methods, and personal well-being. As students embark on the path to success, they should remember that PreICFES preparation is not just about achieving high scores; it's about cultivating a mindset of growth, adaptability, and continuous improvement that will serve them well in all their future endeavors.

#PreICFES

[hinduismuni]

Experience the Benefits of Vedic Rituals | HUA

Many people today may find Hindu vedic rituals to be tedious and meaningless. However, these rituals can provide a means for calming the mind and fostering a healthy relationship with the world. Rituals serve as a space where the mind can be purified, stillness can be cultivated, and one can prepare for higher knowledge or Para Vidya. In this course, students will learn how to perform simple rituals with the proper understanding and attitude and integrate the values of these rituals into their daily lives. 

Course Content: 

Sanatana Dharma, or Hinduism, is a way of life that requires spiritual practice or Sadhana/Abhyasa. Rituals play an essential role in Sadhana/Abhyasa. To understand the power of ritual, one must approach it with an open mind, setting aside doubts and bringing emotional involvement or Bhavana to the practice. Full immersion in the ritual space requires going beyond the mechanical aspects of the ritual, which can only be achieved through regular practice that purifies and transforms the mind. Intellectual and moral knowledge are also essential components of daily life, but they must be more than just that. Daily rituals (Nitya Karma) are crucial to reaching this goal. This course teaches the most important Sandhya Vandana for both men and women, as well as Vedic mantras, stotras, Ashtottaras, basic puja, and a simple way to perform Homa. The faculty encourages students to participate in the practice and use measurable metrics to assess their spiritual growth. Students will come to recognize the importance of Dharma in their own lives. 

Course Learning Objectives: 

The course aims to equip students to: 

a) Integrate rituals into their daily lives; 

b) Perform daily Sandhyavandana; 

c) Perform daily puja to their Ishta Devata; 

d) Sing hymns from the Vedas, stotras, and Ashtottaras; 

e) Perform a simple havan at home; 

f) Know how to use different tools used in religious ceremonies. 

Class Structure: 

Each week, students will have at least one hour of faculty-led instruction. The class structure includes self-study and reflection, which will lead to discussion and debate. Though each class will focus on the same topic for 60 minutes, the discussion time is open-ended and can continue for up to 30 more minutes. During the course, students will submit either a short essay (1000-1500 words) or a video of themselves practicing. The submissions need not be professional but should demonstrate what the student has learned and understood so far. 

CONTACT — 407–205–2118

Overview >> Hindu University Of America

EMAIL- [email protected]

Address- 5200 Vineland Rd 125 Orlando, FL 32811

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#vedic religion #vedic rituals #ishta devata #vedic mantra

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS Para-Selene Vol.11 Tsukinami Carla [TRACK 5]

Original title: 再び奇跡を

Source: Diabolik Lovers Para-Selene Vol. 11 Tsukinami Carla [CD not owned by me]

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Toshiyuki Morikawa

Translator’s note:  Even though Carla is easily my least favorite Diaboy, this CD was actually pretty nice. Out of all Paraselene CDs I’ve translated so far, I have to give him credit for handling the situation the best. He realizes pretty early on that there is no point in frightening or pushing the MC and even though he didn’t realize that talking about his backstory would be the trigger to restoring her memories, he is generally sweet throughout the whole CD. I did have to spoil myself a little on his backstory but I guess that’s the price to pay when you translate CDs of characters you haven’t played the route of. xD

Track 1 ll Track 2 ll Track 3 ll Track 4 ll Track 5

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI

TRACK 5: A SECOND MIRACLE 

*Rustle rustle*

*Flip*

“Haah…Just as I feared, there is nothing written inside this book either.”

You frown.

“Why are you making that face? Are you perhaps feeling shame towards how you used to spend your free time?”

You nod. 

“In that case, I suppose you will have to dedicate yourself to reading once we make it back to the normal world.” 

*Thud*

“I suppose my Mother’s diary is the only piece of literature you have previously read. I am fairly sure I alluded to this before, but my Mother contracted Endzeit and passed away during her imprisonment in the dungeon of Banmaden. It appears that she stopped writing in her diary once her symptoms worsened.”

You continue to ask about his Mother. 

“Why are you so interested in her diary? You never even met my Mother in person. As I mentioned before, I cannot imagine that information will help you regain your memories in one way or another.”

You ask once more. 

“Even while seriously ill, my Mother continued to worry about the future of us Founders. That is exactly why she ordered me to do such a thingーー”

You listen carefully. 

“Without my Mother, the race of Founders would have probably gone extinct back then. That is how I feel at present.”

You nod.  

“My Mother entrusted me with her final wish being to kill Giessbach, the almighty King of Founders and my very own Father.”

Your eyes widen in shock. 

“My Father was a respectable ruler. However, at some point, he lost his sanity and was no longer able to make the right decisions as a King. He refused to take action, despite knowing very well about the rapid spread of Endzeit amongst the Founders which would surely lead to the race’s demise. While I hesitated, I eventually decided to grant my Mother’s wish. However, in the process, I too ended up contracting Endzeit.”

You panic.

“Heh. No need to panic. I was miraculously able to overcome this incurable disease known as Endzeit. Thanks to no other but you and your blood.”

You seem surprised. 

“I did not think your blood would have such an effect on me either. For one, I only ever started sucking your blood because in order to use it as a vessel, it had to be cleansed after being tainted by those Vampires. To ensure the continuation of our bloodline, we had to urgently find a woman who was fit to provide Founder offspring. Back then, Shin and I were already the only Founders left and I had also been infected by the disease. 

Your heart is that of a Demon. Furthermore, not just any regular Demon either. It belonged to a woman who inherited the DNA of both the Demon Lord and the Founders. You were the last woman left who could ever meet those conditions. That is exactly why I attempted to make you mine. All to ensure the future of our race. That was the only thing both Shin and I cared for. 

ーー Or at least, that was the plan. However, at some point, you became meaningful to me, far beyond my original intentions. I believe that your special blood might not be the only reason why it succeeded at healing my Endzeit. Despite knowing that I was ill, you never once gave up. No matter how many times I would push you away, you would always choose to return to my side. I assume it was those feelings of yours which brought forth a miracle. They say that love can make a person stronger. That is something I learned from you.”

You look up at him.

“What is the matter?”

You ask Carla to suck your blood again.

“You want me to suck your blood once more…? Why?”

You explain. 

“You want to create…a second miracle? However, we already tested it earlier, did we not? Back then, it did not seem to trigger much of anything. You should still be running somewhat low on blood as well. Do you want to try it out regardless?”

You nod. 

“How many times do I have to repeat to you that you are the one infected by a disease now, and not me? Yet you want to save me? …You truly are a strange woman. …Heh. However, I also believe it does sound like something you would say. ーー Come here.”

*Rustle*

“As you wish, let us put it to the test.”

*Rustle*

“I will start here.”

Carla bites you.

*Sluuuuurp* 

*Gulp gulp*

“Nn…Hah…What is the matter? If the pain is too much for youーー”

You shake your head. 

“Hooh? So you will endure it? In that case, I shall continue. Mmh…”

*Sluuuuurp* 

“Hah…This side is up next.”

*Rustle* 

*Gulp gulp* 

“Hahn…”

*Gulp gulp*

“What do you think? Are you starting to remember anything?”

You want to keep going a little longer. 

“Haah…Heh. Oh well. I suppose that stubbornness is something which defines you as well. I decided I would test out your plan, so I will suck your blood until you are satisfied. Hah..;”

*Sluuuuuurp*

*BZZZZZT*

“What is happening…? I just felt dizzy again…Ugh…Arghー! Kuh…”

You wince in pain as well. 

“You too…!? …Oiーー Move…closer…! Uu…Kuh…Stay close to me…at all costs…”

Carla loses consciousness.

*Thud*

*WOOSH*

*Rustle*

He wakes up again.

*Rustle rustle*

“Hm…Where am I? …My room? Oi, you. Get a griーー... She just sighed in her sleep…Hm. Her complexion is not too bad either. In which case, I shall let her rest until she wakes up by herself.”

*Rustle*

“Nn…Ah. Anyway, I assume the fact we keep on being moved from one place to another is another feature of this illusionary world. Although it might be more logical to assume that it is not us who are physically moving, but the scenery around us which can change instantly based on her memories. …Hm?”

*Rustle*

“This book…It’s from back then. Did I not put it back in place earlier?”

Carla picks up the book.

*Flip*

“...! The pages are not blank!”

*Flip*

“In which case…Could this actually beー!?”

He walks over to the window. 

“The moon is back to normal as well. Does this mean that everything is back to normal?”

You wake up.

*Rustle rustle*

“...! You’ve awakened? How do you feel?”

You tell him that you feel fine.

“Take a look at this. The blank-paged book from earlier has returned to its original state.”

*Rustle*

“I see. So you remembered everything? It seems like the two of us were able to make it out of the illusionary world. Through a second miracle, you have been cured from the disease.” 

He embraces you.

*Rustle*

“Hm…”

You complain that he is hugging you too tight.

“Shut up. Even if it is suffocating, please bear with it for a bit. Right now, I do not intend to let go of you under any circumstances. I was finally able to regain the everyday life I must protect. Mmh…”

*Smooch*

*TIMESKIP*

*Flip*

Carla enters the storage room.

*Thud*

“...Haah. You’re here again? I’ve been looking all around for you.”

You apologize and put the book away.

“As of late, you have been taking your daily reading quite seriously.”

You explain.

“I see. I suppose you are reflecting upon your pastimes after contracting the illness?”

You nod.

“Hmph. Why do you look so uneasy? I am not criticizing you. It is never bad to read a book or two after all. However, I forbid you from remaining cooped up in this storage room for longer than necessary.”

You frown.

“If you wish to read, you can take one of the books with you and read it in my room instead. There is no reason for you to confine yourself to this space, is there?”

You nod. 

“If you understand, then come with me. If notーー”

*Rustle* 

“I will arrest you like this. I simply cannot relax whenever you are not around. You should be within my sight at all times. Understood?”

You nod and smile.

“Heh. Well then, let us get going.”

ーー THE END ーー

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #carla tsukinami #diabolik lovers paraselene #diabolik lovers translation #diabolik lovers drama cd #drama cd

[magnae-deum-matris]

Bhairava (Mahakala Bhairava) (Sanskrit: भैरव, lit. frightful) is a Hindu Tantrik deity worshiped by Hindus. In Shaivism, he is a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation.[1][2][3][4] In Trika system Bhairava represents Supreme Reality, synonymous to Para Brahman.[5][6] In Hinduism Bhairava is also called Dandapani (as he holds a rod or Danda to punish sinners) and Swaswa meaning "whose horse is a dog".[7] In Vajrayana Buddhism, he is considered a fierce emanation of Mañjuśrī and also called Heruka, Vajrabhairava and Yamantaka. Mantra Om Shri Kaal Bhairavaya Namaha Weapon Trishula, Khaṭvāṅga Number 33 This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text. The historical origins of Bhairava are obscure; according to Ronald M. Davidson, he was probably a "local ferocious divinity" associated by tribal peoples with cremation grounds (smasana), ghouls and ghosts (vetala, pisaca).[10] He is worshiped throughout India, Sri Lanka and Nepal as well as in Tibetan Buddhism.

In Hinduism

Bhairava with his consort, Bhairavi

Aakash Bhairab in Kathmandu. Bhairava originates from the word bhīru, which means "fearful". Bhairava means "terribly fearful form". It is also known as one who destroys fear or one who is beyond fear. The right interpretation is that he protects his devotees from dreadful enemies, greed, lust and anger. Bhairava protects his devotees from these enemies. These enemies are dangerous as they never allow humans to seek God within. There is also another interpretation: Bha means creation, ra means sustenance and va means destruction. Therefore, Bhairava is the one who creates, sustains and dissolves the three stages of life. Therefore, he becomes the ultimate or the supreme.

The origin of Bhairava can be traced to a conversation between Brahma and Vishnu which is recounted in the Shiva Mahapuranam. In it, Vishnu inquired of Brahma, "Who is the supreme creator of the Universe?" Arrogantly, Brahma told Vishnu to worship him as Supreme Creator. One day, Brahma thought "I have five heads. Shiva also has five heads. I can do everything that Shiva does and therefore I am Shiva." Brahma became a little egotistical as a result of this. Additionally, he began to forge the work of Shiva and also started interfering in what Shiva was supposed to be doing. Consequently, Mahadeva (Shiva) threw a small nail from his finger which assumed the form of Kala Bhairava and casually went to cut off one of Brahma's heads. The skull (Kapala) of Brahma is held in the hands of Kala Bhairava, Brahma’s ego was destroyed and he became enlightened. From then on, he became useful to himself and to the world, and deeply grateful to Shiva. In the form of the Kala Bhairava, Shiva is said to be guarding each of these Shaktipeeth (Shakti temples). Each Shaktipeeth is accompanied by a temple dedicated to Bhairava.

There is another school of thought which says that Shiva himself created Bhairava. There was one demon by name Dahurāsuraṇ who got a boon that he could be killed only by a woman. Kali was invoked by Parvati to kill him. The wrath of Kali killed the demon. After killing the demon, her wrath metamorphosed as a child. Kali fed the child with her milk. Shiva made both Kali and the child to merge with him. From this merged form of Shiva, Bhairava appeared in his eight forms (Aṣṭāṅga Bhairavas). Since Bhairava was thus created by Shiva, he is said to be one of the sons of Shiva.

Puranas too give different versions of Bhairava. In this version there was a war between gods and demons. To eradicate the demons, Shiva created Kala Bhairava from whom Aṣṭāṅga Bhairavas were created. These Ashta Bhairavas got married to Ashta Matrikas. These Ashta Bhairavas and Ashta Matrikas have dreadful forms. From these Ashta Bhairavas and Ashta Matrikas, 64 Bhairavas and 64 Yoginis were created.

Normally in Shiva temples, idols of Bhairava are situated in the north facing, southern facing direction. He is also called Kṣhetrapāla. He appears in a standing position with four hands. His weapons are drum, pāśa (noose), trident and skull. In some forms of Bhairava, there are more than four hands. He appears without dress and with a dog. His weapons, the dog, protruding teeth, terrifying looks, a garland with red flowers all give him a frightening appearance.

In all Shiva temples, regular puja rituals begin with Surya and end with Bhairava. Bhairava likes ghee bath (abhiṣeka), red flowers, ghee lamp, unbroken coconut, honey, boiled food, fibrous fruits etc. If a Bhairava idol is facing west, it is good; facing south is moderate; facing east is not good. The right time to pray to Bhairavi is midnight. During midnight it is said that Bhairava and his consort Bhairavi will give darśana (appearance) to their devotees. The most appropriate time is a Friday midnight. There are eight types of flowers and leaves used in archana (अर्चन) to Bhairava.

Bhairava is the ultimate form of manifestation or pure "I" consciousness. This form is called Svarṇākarṣṇa Bhairava. He has red or blue complexion and is clothed in golden dress. He has the moon over his head. He has four hands, one of which he holds a golden vessel. He gives wealth and prosperity. Performing pūja on Tuesdays gives quick results. In some of the ancient texts he is said to have thirty two hands, the shape of a bird, golden complexion, terrible teeth, and a human form above the hip. Worshiping him destroys enemies.

Some forms of Bhairava are guardians of the eight cardinal points. There are 64 Bhairavas. These 64 Bhairavas are grouped under 8 categories and each category is headed by one major Bhairava. The major eight Bhairavas are called Aṣṭāṅga Bhairavas. The Ashta Bhairavas control the 8 directions of this universe. Each Bhairava has seven sub Bhairavas under him, totaling 64 Bhairavas. All of the Bhairavas are ruled and controlled by Maha Swarna Kala Bhairava otherwise known as Kala Bhairava, who is the supreme ruler of time of this universe as per some Śaiva tantric scriptures (āgamas). Bhairavi is the consort of Kala Bhairava.[24] The eight Bhairavas are said to represent five elements viz. ākāś, air, fire, water and earth and the other three being sun, moon and ātman. Each of the eight Bhairavas are different in appearance, have different weapons, different vāhanas (vehicles) and they bless their devotees with eight types of wealth representing Ashta Lakshmis. Continuous worship of Bhairava leads the worshiper to a true Guru. There are separate mantras to all the eight Bhairavas.

Bhairava is also called upon as protector, as he guards the eight directions of the universe. In Shiva temples, when the temple is closed, the keys are placed before Bhairava. Bhairava is also described as the protector of women. He is described as the protector of the timid and in general women who are timid in nature.

It is generally believed that worshiping Bhairava gives prosperity, success and good progeny, prevents premature death and solution to debts and liabilities. Different forms of Bhairava evolve only from Śiva, who is called the Mahā Bhairava.

Trika System

Trika and Kashmiri Shaivism names the Absolute Reality(Para Brahman) as Bhairava. The Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra is a key Tantra text of the Trika System. Cast as a discourse between the god Bhairava and his consort Bhairavi it briefly presents 112 Tantric meditation methods or centering techniques (Dharana). The text is a chapter from the Rudrayamala Tantra,a Bhairava Agama. Bhairavi, the goddess, asks Bhairava to reveal the essence of the way to realization of the highest reality. In his answer Bhairava describes 112 ways to enter into the universal and transcendental state of consciousness. References to it appear throughout the literature of Trika, Kashmir Shaivism, indicating that it was considered to be an important text in the schools of Kashmir Shaiva philosophy and Trika.

In Buddhism

Thangka Depicting Vajrabhairava, ca. 1740s. Buddhism also adopted Bhairava (Tibetan: 'Jigs byed; Chinese: Buwei) as a deity and a dharmapala or dharma protector. The various buddhist forms of Bhairava (variously called Herukas, Vajrabhairava, Mahākāla and Yamantaka) are considered fierce deities and yidams (tantric meditational deity) in Tibetan Buddhism. They also have their own set of buddhist tantras, the Vajrabhairava tantras.[34] According to Tibetan tradition, these tantras were revealed to Lalitavajra in Oddiyana in the 10th century. These texts play a particularly important role in the Sarma (new translation) traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, especially among the Gelug school where Vajrabhairava is one of the three central highest yoga tantra practices of the lineage. Because of this, it is also popular in Mongolia as a protector deity and was also popular among the Manchus. The deity is also central to Newar Buddhism. The tantric practices associated with Bhairava focus on the transformation of anger and hatred into understanding.

Worship

See also: Bhairava Ashtami

Kala Bhairava attended by devotees at Kathmandu Durbar Square Temples or shrines to Bhairava are present within or near most Jyotirlinga temples. There are also the sacred twelve shrines dedicated to Shiva which can be found all across India including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi and the Kal Bhairav temple, Ujjain. The Patal Bhairav and Vikrant Bhairav shrines are located in Ujjain as well.

One of the ancient temples of Kaal Bhairava is situated in Dhuri city (District Sangrur), Punjab. The idol of Kaal Bhairava in the temple was found hundreds of years ago. The temple has been managed by "Baba Shri Pritam Muni Ji" for many years. It is believed that Kaal Bhairava Ji resides here.

Gorat Kashmiris are known to worship Bhairava during Shivratri. The renowned Hindu reformer, Adi Sankara composed a hymn on Kala Bhairava called "Sri Kalabhairava Ashtakam" in the city of Kashi.

Observances

Bhairava Ashtami commemorating the day Kala Bhairava appeared on earth, is celebrated on Krishna paksha Ashtami of the Margashirsha month of the Hindu calendar. It is a day filled with special prayers and rituals.

Iconography

Rakta Bhairava Bhairava is depicted as being ornamented with a range of twisted serpents, which serve as earrings, bracelets, anklets, and sacred thread (yajnopavita). He wears a tiger skin and a ritual apron composed of human bones.[44] Bhairava has a dog (Shvan) as his divine vahana (vehicle). Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Devi who is virtually indistinguishable from Kali, with the exception of her particular identification as the consort of Bhairava.

Bhairava himself has eight manifestations i.e. Ashta Bhairava:

Asithaanga Bhairava Ruru Bhairava Chanda Bhairava Krodha Bhairava Unmattha Bhairava Kapaala Bhairava Bheeshana Bhairava Samhaara Bhairava Kala Bhairava is conceptualized as the Guru of the planetary deity, Shani (Saturn). Bhairava is known as Bhairavar or Vairavar in Tamil, where he is often presented as a Grama devata or village guardian who safeguards the devotee in eight directions (ettu tikku). Known in Sinhalese as Bahirawa, he is said to protect treasures. Lord Bhairava is the main deity worshiped by the Aghora sect.

List of Bhairava temples

Reflection of blue sky on mask of Shwet Bhairav at Basantapur, Kathmandu, Nepal Bhairava is an important deity of the Newars. All the traditional settlements of Newars have at least one temple of Bhairava. Most of the temples of Bhairava in Nepal are maintained by Newar priests. There are several Bhairava temples in the Kathmandu valley. In south Karnataka, Lord Sri Kalabhairaveshwara is present as Kshetra Palaka in Sri Adichunchanagiri Hills.

Haatha: Shwet Bhairav Kala Bhairava temples can also be found around Shaktipeeths. It is said that Shiva allocated the job of guarding each of the 52 Shaktipeeths to one Bhairava. There are said to be 52 forms of Bhairava, which are considered a manifestation of Shiva himself. Traditionally, Kala Bhairava is the Grama devata in the rural villages of Maharashtra, where he is referred to as "Bhairava/Bhairavnath" and "Bairavar". In Karnataka, Lord Bhairava is the supreme God for the community commonly referred to as Vokkaligas (Gowdas). Especially in the Jogi Vokkaliga, he is considered the caretaker and punisher.[49] Shri Kala Bhairava Nath Swami Temple of Madhya Pradesh is also popular.

[the-goth-catte]

LFRP: Y'NAALIE VHENNA

BASICS

name: Y’naalie Vhenna gender: Female age: 25 orientation: Pan, Poly alignment: Chaotic Neutral occupation: Club proprietress residence: Ul’dah

HOOKS

¤ Former well known professional gladiator in the Ul'dah fighting circuit, banished because of behind-the-scenes politics. Were you a friend outraged by her dismissal? A bitter rival glad to see her go? A fan wondering where your favorite fighter has gone? Or a gambler curious why the 'sure thing' isn't there any more? ¤ Naalie is a frequenter of the various dance clubs of Eorzea. Perhaps you have seen her on one of the darkened dance floors, losing herself to the pulsing rhythm of the music and likely riding the high of whatever illicit substance she happened to get her hands on that night. Did her eyes catch yours from across the floor, sharing a strangely intimate glance for seconds that seemed to last longer than they should? Perhaps you shared witty banter at the bar, little nothings that stuck with you well beyond the rising of the next day's sun. ¤ Naalie is no stranger to the seedier elements of Ul'dah, from back alley drug deals to private gambling parlors to basement fighting rings. Perhaps you saw the scappy young Miqo'te brawling in some rusted fighting cage... or were the opponent against which she fought. Or maybe you were at the table as the gods decreed her hand of cards were decidedly on fire that night, raking in big winnings and an even bigger ego. It's even more likely that you have run across Naalie in or around the city, mind addled with the altering effects of some imbibed chemical. ¤ The Calamity ravaged Naalie's tribe, sending the remnants away from their home at the Burning Wall to eke out an existence in the unforgiving confines of Ul'dah. Many struggled to adapt to the new ways of urban survival, but not Naalie; faith in Azeyma destroyed, Naalie turned to a life of self-indulgence and vice to compensate for the loss of everything she knew. But quietly, buried beneath the coating of drugs and hookups, a longing for a life she once knew festers.

SEEKING

¤ Romantic Involvement: I would like to find a long-term, ethically non-monogamous romance partner for Naalie. I am interested in finding story development and character growth as partners as opposed to purely physical interactions.

¤ Slice of Life ¤ Action & Adventure ¤ Seedy & Questionable Life Choices ¤ In-Game & Discord RP ¤ Availability: I am available most days of the week in the evening and late nights, though planning RP in advance is always appreciated and approved of! I would like to find a partner who is available and willing to play on a regular basis; I don't require attention every day, but after past partners vanishing for months on end I would like to establish a regular play pattern with a partner. ¤ RP Length: I am typically a para/multi-para role player and would ideally like to find somebody who can match length. I like to tell a story when I get into RP, and can get a little wordy when I do. However! I am adaptable and can change my length to accommodate my partner's comfort level.

CONTACT

In-Game Name: Y’naalie Vhenna World: Balmung Data Center: Crystal Discord: once bitn#4286 Carrd: https://naalie.carrd.co/

@crystal-rp-ffxiv​  

@crystalxivrp​

#ffxivrpoc #balmung lfrp #crystal rp

[ahmedalithepoet]

Beyond Boundaries- Our Response to Covid 19 @Hexaware

COVID-19 hit us out of nowhere! It is hard to imagine how we have survived that. One thing that was hard hit too was the corporate culture. No one going into the pandemic could have thought that what we thought was a weak thing will create a huge shift in the future of the work cultures across the world. Frankly, this is just the beginning. Companies that have survived and adapted have come out better. 

Not just this, it took a massive pandemic to make everyone realize that we have each got to do our part to make it through this together. A lot of companies have stepped forward and have done above and beyond the boundaries of a standard company. Taking the example of Hexaware. A well-established company, also an award-winning 'Great Place to Work' firm made sure to take care of its employees whether through its initiatives, programs, or policies. Let's look at some of them.

 1. Hexaware Healthy Habits 

They extensively did their part in promoting good hygiene and healthy habits, which was the need of the hour. With a new habit being introduced to the employees every week -  regular stretching, drinking 2-3 liters of water a day, 30 mins of daily exercise, building stronger immunity with deep breathing, getting more sunlight, practicing gratitude, thinking positive, eating a balanced meal, sleeping well, etc. - Hexaware tried to ensure the company takes a step towards a healthier and happier future together. 

 2. Hexaware Leadership Lantern Series

Providing a lamp in the darkness to its employees, the experts of their respective fields on the company regularly took sessions where they shared valuable lessons, tips, and insights that helped the employees stay motivated, dispel anxiety and fear and stay aware and updated with all that is happening. Some of the topics discussed were Coping with anxiety and panic during Covid-19, the myths and beliefs of the Covid vaccination, the precautions/measures to counter the 2nd wave of Covid, understanding Covid better, the role of nutrition in health & Immunity, pranayama & yoga for your added protection against Covid 19. There was also an exclusive session to address employee queries on Covid 19, as well as a special session on Supporting our Hexaware kids during the pandemic- during Covid and beyond.

 3. Covid Support Group

Working as a family together, Hexaware created a 24/7 service - via phone helpline and an email Id to help with all matters related to Covid. From getting hospital beds, ventilators, oxygen concentrators, medicines, ambulances, food services, etc. everyone stood together united to help each other in the time of crisis. 4. Mental Health Support: Hexaware also offers exclusive one-on-one free counselling for those employees and their families who were impacted directly or indirectly by Covid. Also, there is an option of a 24/7 toll-free helpline number that anyone can call if they feel like speaking to a mental health Counsellor.

5. Other great initiatives include:

- Covid Special Support on Mental Health

- Hospital Tie-Ups

- Providing Financial Support

- Covid Doctor on Call 

- Covid Employee Fund 

- Providing Family Support 

- Providing Oxygen Concentrators

- Vaccination Drive

 To put it in perspective or numbers, Hexaware:

- Provided nearly 30,000 PPE kits to the Govt Hospitals in Chennai, Mumbai, Pune & Haryana.

- Provided cooked food to 65,000 personnel who didn't have amenities to cook and 1-month dry rations to nearly 1650 families who were affected by the prevalent situation in Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi & Nagpur.

- Providing 20,000 police personnel, a safety kit in Chennai, Mumbai & Pune.

- Provided 3 Max Proton Plus ventilators to NESCO ICU Beds Project. 

- Provided 73 laptops to the bright girl students from the Economically Weaker Sections, particularly those of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University

- Provided 8 HFNC machines to Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai (COVID Care Centre)

- Provided 65 units of 10 LPM Oxygen Concentrators to various hospitals in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Ahmedabad in partnering with NASSCOM

- Provided 25 Multi Para Monitors and 10 ETCo2 additionally to District Civil Hospital, Raigad.

 Hexaware has proven to the world that each one of us can do a lot for the other. The company believes that ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ and with these wishes and thoughts, is working to help whoever they can and do their part. 

[famedexclusivearchive]

[ARTICLE] GOLD STAR MEDIA TO HOST HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR SECOND TIME

Following the media success of Gold Star Media’s Halloween party in 2018, fans and press alike waited for news of a followup in 2019, only for Gold Star to pass up hosting the event for a second year in a row.

Gold Star Media has now announced they will once again be hosting a Halloween party this year with attendees from their own company as well as BC Entertainment and Dimensions Entertainment and several other hot figures in the entertainment industry. According to industry insiders, an invite to the party was a hot ticket after Gold Star’s inaugural event saw such praise for attendees’ exciting Halloween looks.

This year, Gold Star has announced the party will have a theme beyond Halloween; it will be a masquerade ball with a “Modern Fairy Tale” theme. Media insiders suggest an even larger amount of attention will be showered on the event’s red carpet by media and fans this year.

The party will happen on Halloween night at an undisclosed venue.

ADMIN NOTES:

It’s time for a Halloween event! Gold Star Media has decided to follow up their successful 2018 Halloween party with another one two years later, this time themed as a masquerade ball. In addition to being a masquerade ball, the event is “Modern Fairy Tale” themed. All idols are expected to attend unless there are major extenuating circumstances such as illness or injury (which should be cleared with the admin, please!).

All attendees to the party are expected to adhere to a roughly creative black tie dress code and are required to bring a masquerade-style mask to accompany their outfit. They are also asked to keep in mind the fairy tale theme of the event, though they may interpret this as they wish; they may choose to dress up in a way that recalls a familiar fairy tale character or simply embody an elegant fairy tale-esque look, and they may choose to modernize it as little or as much as they want. A regular Halloween costume look isn’t expected or likely possible due to the dress code.

Idols will work with company stylists to choose their outfit. They’ll have more say in their look and more freedom than they normally do, but their outfit must still remain public-friendly and appropriate to their group or canon soloist image, i.e. a WISH or Lucid member won’t show up in a daring V-neck cutout dress.

Idol attendees will not be permitted a plus one and couple outfits must be avoided. Idols who serve as ambassadors of brands lending themselves to black tie attire at the time of the event may be encouraged or required within their deal to wear that brand in some way.

There will be a red carpet before entering the event for pictures that will be released as publicity. Group members will arrive at the event with their managers in vans and the rest of their group and photos on the red carpet will be taken in groups and then individually. Appointments at their regular salon will be made available for idols to schedule in advance if necessary. The red carpet will begin at 6pm, while the main event inside the venue will begin at 7pm.

The party will take place at a large modern ballroom-style event venue outside of Seoul proper, which will be decorated with modern, elegant decorations matching a typical modern masquerade ball look with a gold, white, and black color scheme.

Managers and other company employees, including CEO Bang Sunyoung herself for a period of time, will be present at this party, though press will not be allowed inside the venue beyond the red carpet.

Having a masquerade mask will be mandatory, and wearing it inside the venue is encouraged in the spirit of the event. 

Activities & Locations Overview:

The entrance lobby is where all attendees will congregate after exiting the red carpet to have their invitations and identities checked before being allowed into the event.

The main room of the event is a large ballroom set up with elegant decor in shades of gold, white, and black (decor examples: 1, 2, 3). Attendees are free to seat themselves as they wish at the tables places along the exterior of the ballroom, though they are reminded that staff is in attendance at the event and they must be on good behavior. Waiters and waitresses will still be present with trays of hors d'oeuvres such a gourmet cheeses, caviar, spiced walnuts, and crab and avocado toast and flutes of champagne, as well as sparkling mineral water for those who do not drink. A live string quartet has been hired for the evening and they will play a mix of classical favorites, songs from fairy tale media, and spooky classics such as horror movie themes. From 9pm onward, the string quartet will leave and be replaced by a DJ to end the night on a more high-energy note. At this point, the central dance floor of the ballroom is expected to become a central part of the event.

Escape room, a section of rooms of the venue have been set aside and taken over by a top escape room company, who has set up a personalized escape room situation within the venue created just for the event. They’ll allow in groups of six to eight people in at a time to solve the fairy tale-themed escape room. The escape room has a time limit of forty minutes with a predicted 60% success rate.

A lawn outside the back of the ballroom. At 10:30PM, there will be a viewing on the lawn of a scary movie on a large screen. Blankets will be laid out on the ground to keep attendees’ expensive outfits from getting dirtied and a smaller selection of small tables around the outskirts of the lawn will also be available.

A garden also outside the back of the ballroom. This features a walking path through a professionally-designed flower garden. Past the flower garden is a small hedge maze lit by lanterns to keep in the spirit of the event. 

Photo booths are set up throughout the venue which are free to use. The photo booths include a variety of Halloween- and fairy tale-themed props and offer the option to have the photos sent to your phone or printed off in a traditional photo booth manner.

A scavenger hunt will take place during the full duration of the event. A sign in the entrance lobby before entering the ballroom informs guests that there are six small white jack-o-lanterns hidden throughout the venue with numbers attached and guests that find all six numbers for a special code will win be entered into a lottery to win prizes such as tickets to Everland, a free stay at a resort on Jeju Island, etc. (The jack-o-lanterns can be found as follows: one in the ballroom on a table, one in the ballroom next to the stage with the string quartet, one in the entrance lobby on a white chair, one in the garden against the edge of a flower bed, one down an incorrect path in the maze, and one in a photo booth.) Winners of the lottery will be announced at the end of the event.

Timeline:

6pm-7pm: Red carpet for press photos.

7pm~12am: Masquerade ball main event.

7pm-9:25: String quartet as musical guest in ballroom.

9:25-9:30: Short speech by CEO Bang Sunyoung as a host representative before she leaves the event. The presence of staff members grows steadily more scarce after this point as they begin to leave for the night.

9:30pm~12am: DJ as musical guest in ballroom.

10:30pm~12am: Scary movie screening on back lawn (optional, guests may come and go).

Overall:

In game, this event takes place on the night of Saturday, October 31 from 6pm KST to shortly after midnight, but threads and other posts for this event may be started from Sunday, October 4 at 12am EDT / Sunday, October 4 at 1pm KST (the time this post goes up), to Saturday, October 31 at 11:59pm EDT / Sunday, November 1 at 12:59pm KST.

Threads may be continued past the end date, but must be started before then. Non-event related interactions may be conducted during this time as well.

NOTE: All posts related to the event should be tagged #fmdhalloween2020. Remember to use #fmdcall if you want to post a plot or starter call for the event, which I encourage everyone to do!

POINTS AVAILABLE:

As with all events, there are special points up for grabs.

INTERACTIONS: Having an event thread with a starter and at least three replies (starter ▻ partner reply  ▻ op reply  ▻ partner reply) by the end of the event is worth 2 points. This is valid for up to ten threads per muse this time and the threads can take place during any part of the event.

INTERACTIONS: Having an event thread going with someone your muse has never had a thread with before is worth 1 additional point for each thread.

INTERACTIONS: Posting an open starter for the event is worth 2 points. This counts for up to one open thread starter (not a text/sms post) per character.

CHALLENGES & PROMPTS: Completing at least three of the six event writing challenges and prompts found here is worth five points. **Solos you may choose to do for this do count toward your monthly total. (This is an experimental addition to events to inspire threads and may or may not be used in future events.)

MISCELLANEOUS: Posting an aesthetic or headcanon of your muse’s outfit and mask for the event is worth 2 points and does not count toward your monthly total.

You can also earn the normal amount of points through writing self-paras, etc. related to the event!

If anything in this post is unclear or you have any questions, please feel free to contact the admin. Please like this post to let me know you read it.

#fmdevent #fmdhalloween2020 #queued post

[musicallisto]

songs that make your heart beat (tag game)

I was tagged by @lxncelot - thank you so much for tagging me! this tag was made for me. (also, lie to me and iris are GOOD. not to spoil anything, but iris is one of my song prompts for my 1k writing challenge, so stay tuned for that maybe.)

“Hiiii so I thought of this game where you put 5 songs that just make you feel out of this world with a short explanation- It could be your comfort songs, your favorite ones, anything that makes you feel things! and then tag your friends :))” @/spideyanakin

These are some of my favorite songs of all time - and I'll try to explain as best as I can but sometimes you just... feel the vibe and can't think you know.

1. 5 seconds of summer - wrapped around your finger

while Olive hated 5sos with a burning passion in junior high, I was utterly and feverishly obsessed with them. if you knew me in 2014-2018 during my 5sos phase no you didn't. but wrapped around your finger still SLAPS as hard as it did back in the day and I have nothing but love for that song. it's so angsty!! but good!!! and like, poignant!!! and gut-wrenching!!!! and it has that ~nocturnal elegy~ feel to it. i love it. excellent vibes. (strong STRONG contender i hesitated with too: outer space/carry on by 5sos for the same reasons, tho I'd argue outer space is objectively better than wayf but I have poured too much of my soul in wayf)

2. bruno mars - young girls

why? you ask. why a bruno mars song? idk i literally DON'T KNOW these are pure vibes. vibes and only vibes!!!! when i was a kid and really into pop music (before i went through my emo phase and despised everything that was on the radio), i was really into bruno mars and lady gaga (locked out of heaven still has me shook). but i discovered this song much later and it was love at first listen. it has a very particular feel, nostalgic and melancholic, that you don't find often in pop music, and especially not in bruno mars' discography? of course he's written beautiful ballads and poignant songs (grenade SLAPS), but this one is different. in the best way. it destroys me every time.

3. hollywood undead - lion

in my voice ask when i talked about how i came to learn english, i briefly mentioned hollywood undead and how obsessed with them i was in seventh grade (which prompted my emo phase, as i said). they were super edgy and their lyrics super fucking raw. looking back now, they were sometimes too edgy, but not lion. lion still hits as hard as it did on the first day. i've never quite managed to totally grasp what it deals with (addiction, maybe?), which is a common occurrence in my favorite songs. but i'm always left breathless by the end of the song, and i don't think i'll ever outgrow that love.

4. ana belén - peces de ciudad (lit. city fish)

this is the nostalgia speaking here... but my mom used to listen to this song all the time when i was young, and it's been etched in my brain ever since. it helps that the lyrics are absolutely magnificent (courtesy of joaquín sabina, spanish songwriter and poet). there are many versions of this song, but ana belén's remains my favorite because of the memories i associate with it, and also how clear and soft her voice is. besides, it features my favorite twitches to the original lyrics (en Macondo comprendí & cuando en vuelo regular surqué el cielo de Madrid). the second verse is so ethereally beautiful, like! it's out of this world, i don't know how to explain it. it truly sends me to another dimension. if you look closely, this song is everywhere on my blog, most notably as my title (pez de ciudad), and at some point it was in my bio (as ¿y como huir cuando no quedan islas para naufragar?).

5. michel sardou - les lacs du connemara (lit. the lakes of connemara)

WAIT the tag never said that these all had to be serious and angsty and introspective and stuff!!!! it's literally called 'songs that make your heart beat', and boy if my heart doesn't beat during that song then i must be very dead. a little bit of context: it is a tacit truth among the french nation that this song must be played at every single house party, and most specifically as the last song. it's an implicit agreemennt to let everyone know that it's time to clean up and go home; so it's kind of a little bit of a meme, right? like, everyone is piss drunk when they hear it, so i bet no one remembers having ever heard the song in full. but somehow everyone knows the lyrics, and it gives way for the most beautiful moments in humanity. picture this: a crowd of fifteen or twenty people hoisting you up by the shoulders and jumping around to this epic irish beat? you've never spoken to any of these people and you'll never speak to them again but for the six minutes of this song, you're bound by the unspeakable friendship of five a.m. i love it, i love the moment so much.

but THEN! the thing IS! as i've said, this song is kind of this drunken meme in france, right? but i like it; unironically, i truly do. and i may very well be the only person on the face of earth to genuinely love it - except for the beaufs, but that's a whole another deal that i can't get into rn -, but it's as much of a banger as any other song on this list. clearly this is beyond a good time with friends. this song is a religion and i feel it carnally.

also that sardou dude plays enjolras in the original les mis adaptation and i have not been the same ever since i learned that. enjolras belting les lacs is glorious it brings me too much joy

this was such a fun tag - thank you for thinking of me! i'm tagging anyone who wants to do it! ♥

#tag game #music #abt c

[dbseamz]

If you wanna watch Indigo League in the intended chronological order:

If you’ve been watching the first season of the Pokémon anime, you might have noticed a few continuity errors: Ash’s Charizard has been a Charizard for several episodes until you reach “Snow Way Out!” and then bam, it’s a Charmander again. Not until “Princess vs Princess” does Jessie catch the Lickitung she complained about nearly losing back in E49 “So Near, yet So Farfetch’d!” These aren’t exactly mistakes--just evidence that the episodes are out of order.

Through copious use of Bulbapedia and some counting, I figured out the order in which the episodes were supposed to air, had external issues not interfered. A bit of probably rather poorly summarized history below the cut, but first the actual reason I made this post.

To watch Indigo League in chronological order (the order the makers of the show intended, and thus the order in which the plot will make the most sense): 

Follow the regular ordering until you finish “Ditto’s Mysterious Mansion!” (The dub will skip over E18 “Beauty and the Beach” and E35 “The Legend of Dratini”--these are hard but not impossible to find elsewhere, although the latter is only available in Japanese.)

This would be followed by E38, which you should skip if you’re at any risk of strobe-induced health issues. (It’s also really hard to find the footage and was never dubbed, so there’s that too). 

Look for “Holiday Hi-Jynx” (may be a bit hard to find--it was dubbed, but concerns over Jynx’s original black face, especially given the Jynx species’s portrayal in the episode as Santa’s helpers, meant it got removed from television. The Bulbapedia page for the episode lists where it is and isn’t available.) 

 “Snow Way Out”. In my DVD set, it was in the third (blue) case of discs, but I don’t remember which disc it was on. 

Follow the regular ordering from “Pikachu’s Goodbye” thru “Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon”. 

Following the planned once-a-week release schedule, the next Japanese episode release would have fallen directly on March 3--Girls’ Day. So skip to “Princess vs Princess”.

Watch the next four episodes--”A Chansey Operation” thru “Who Gets to Keep Togepi?” in order. 

“The Purr-Fect Hero” would come next.  Bulbapedia says it was planned for release on Children’s Day itself, which if they were releasing one ep per week would have come two days early. Not sure whether they would have aired an episode on a different day of the week or what, but it doesn’t matter because a) the schedule got screwed up, making the question moot, and b) there weren’t any date-specific episodes planned beyond that.

Watch “Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden” next, then keep going in order, skipping over any episode you’ve already encountered on this list.

If using Bulbapedia’s episode numbering system, chronological order goes like this:

1-38, [holiday special], 39-46, 52, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 51, 54-80.

There’s a reason for all of these crazy mixed-up dates. After the infamous incident in December 1997 where a red-and-cyan strobe effect in E38 (title translates roughly to “A.I. Warrior Porygon”) caused seziures in a lot of viewers, the anime was (understandably) yanked off the air for several months. Because of this, three upcoming episodes directly linked to specific real-world dates, namely the Christmas special “Holiday Hi-Jynx”, which is not on the DVDs due to concern over the original Jynx design, and the episodes “Princess vs Princess” and “The Purr-fect Hero”, which were intended to air on the Japanese holidays of Girls’ Day (March 3) and Childrens’ Day (May 5), respectively, were not aired on or even near to the dates intended. The latter two were released together in July 1998, while the Christmas special (along with its companion “Snow Way Out!”) was bumped to October of the same year. Episodes 39 and 40 aired together in April 1998 to celebrate the show’s return.

(Screenshot taken from the Bulbapedia page on E40 “The Battling Eevee Brothers”)

Those were the dates of the original Japanese releases. The English dub, which for the most part lagged behind the original by a bit more than a year, caught up a bit because of the hiatus--in October 1998 they skipped straight to E40 “The Battling Eevee Brothers” and kept going until E43 “The March of the Exeggutor Squad”, when they stopped for some unrelated reason--something to do with syndication and switching networks, I don’t know all the details. The English dub did release E39 “Pikachu’s Goodbye” in November of 1998, but besides that there were no new English-dub episodes until February 1999 when E44 “The Problem with Paras” aired on Kids’ WB, the first to do so. (”Princess vs Princess” and “The Purr-fect Hero” were pushed until September 1999--for some reason these were the first English-dub episodes to air since E57 “The Breeding Center Secret” early in May--while ”Holiday Hi-Jynx” and “Snow Way Out” weren’t released in English until December of the same year.)

#pokeani #indigo league #continuity #plot holes #dbspeaks

[arcticdementor]

Washington, DC has been continuously militarized beginning the week leading up to Joe Biden’s inauguration, when 20,000 National Guard troops were deployed onto the streets of the nation’s capital. The original justification was that this show of massive force was necessary to secure the inauguration in light of the January 6 riot at the Capitol.

But with the inauguration over and done, those troops remain and are not going anywhere any time soon. Working with federal law enforcement agencies, the National Guard Bureau announced on Monday that between 5,000 and 7,000 troops will remain in Washington until at least mid-March.

The rationale for this extraordinary, sustained domestic military presence has shifted several times, typically from anonymous U.S. law enforcement officials. The original justification — the need to secure the inaugural festivities — is obviously no longer operative.

So the new claim became that the impeachment trial of former President Trump that will take place in the Senate in February necessitated military reinforcements. On Sunday, Politico quoted “four people familiar with the matter” to claim that “Trump’s upcoming Senate impeachment trial poses a security concern that federal law enforcement officials told lawmakers last week requires as many as 5,000 National Guard troops to remain in Washington through mid-March.”

…

It is hard to overstate what an extreme state of affairs it is to have a sustained military presence in American streets. Prior deployments have been rare, and usually were approved for a limited period and/or in order to quell a very specific, ongoing uprising — to ensure the peaceful segregation of public schools in the South, to respond to the unrest in Detroit and Chicago in the 1960s, or to quell the 1991 Los Angeles riots that erupted after the Rodney King trial.

Deploying National Guard or military troops for domestic law enforcement purposes is so dangerous that laws in place from the country’s founding strictly limit its use. It is meant only as a last resort, when concrete, specific threats are so overwhelming that they cannot be quelled by regular law enforcement absent military reinforcements. Deploying active military troops is an even graver step than putting National Guard soldiers on the streets, but they both present dangers. As Trump’s Defense Secretary said in response to calls from some over the summer to deploy troops in response to the Black Lives Matter and Antifa protests: “The option to use active duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations."

Are we even remotely at such an extreme state where ordinary law enforcement is insufficient? The January 6 riot at the Capitol would have been easily repelled with just a couple hundred more police officers. The U.S. is the most militarized country in the world, and has the most para-militarized police force on the planet. Earlier today, the Acting Chief of the Capitol Police acknowledged that they had advanced knowledge of what was planned but failed to take necessary steps to police it.

…

This threat seems wildly overblown by the combination of media outlets looking for ratings, law enforcement agencies searching for power, and Democratic Party operatives eager to exploit the climate of fear for a new War on Terror.

But now is not a moment when there is much space for questioning anything, especially not measures ostensibly undertaken in the name of combatting white-supremacist right-wing extremism — just as no questioning of supposed security measures was tolerated in the wake of the 9/11 attack. And so the scenes of soldiers on the streets of the nation’s capital, there in the thousands and for an indefinite period of time, is provoking little to no concern.

What makes this all the more remarkable is that a mere seven months ago, a major controversy erupted when The New York Times published an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) which, at its core, advocated the deployment of military troops to quell the social unrest, protests and riots that erupted over the summer after the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd. To justify the deployment of National Guard and active duty military forces, Cotton emphasized how many people, including police officers, had been seriously maimed or even killed as part of that unrest

…

The backlash to the publication of this op-ed was immediate, intense, and, at least in my memory, unprecedented. Very few people were interested in engaging the merits of Cotton’s call for a deployment of troops in order to prove the argument was misguided.

Their view was not that Cotton’s plea for soldiers in the streets was misguided, but that advocacy for it was so obscene, so extremist, so dangerous and repugnant, that the mere publication of the op-ed by The Paper of Record was an act of grave immorality.

…

Two editors — including the paper’s Editorial Page editor James Benett and a young assistant editor Adam Rubenstein — were forced out of their jobs, in the middle of a pandemic, for the crime not of endorsing Cotton’s argument but merely airing it. Media reports attributed their departure to a “staff revolt.” The paper itself appended a major editor’s note: “We have concluded that the essay fell short of our standards and should not have been published.” In addition to alleged flaws in the editorial process, the paper also said “the tone of the essay in places is needlessly harsh and falls short of the thoughtful approach that advances useful debate.”

There is a meaningful difference between deploying National Guard troops and active duty soldiers on American streets. But both measures are extraordinary, create a climate of militarization, have a history of resulting in excessive force against citizens engaged in peaceful protest and constitutionally protected dissent, and present threats and dangers to civil liberties far beyond ordinary use of law enforcement.

Why was the idea of troops in American streets so grotesque and offensive in June, 2020 but so normalized now? Why were these troops likely to indiscriminately arrest and murder black reporters and other journalists over the summer but are now trusted to protect them? And what does it say about the current climate, and the serious dangers it poses, that the public is being trained so easily to acquiesce to extreme measures in the name of domestic security?

#glenn greenwald #substack

[officewebmaster315]

Your Road to Academic Excellence with PreICFES

The PreICFES, short for Pre-ICFES, is a critical milestone in the educational journey of Colombian students. This standardized test serves as a precursor to the ICFES (Instituto Colombiano para la Evaluación de la Educación) examination, which ultimately determines students' eligibility for higher education. Preparing for the PreICFES can be a daunting task, but with the right approach and dedication, students can excel in this crucial assessment and pave the way for a successful academic future. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the importance of PreICFES, effective preparation strategies, and tips to perform at your best on the day of the examination.

Understanding the Significance of PreICFES

The PreICFES examination is designed to evaluate students' academic knowledge in key subjects, such as Mathematics, Language, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. This assessment helps students gauge their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to focus their efforts on areas that require improvement. Additionally, PreICFES serves as a preview of the ICFES test, giving students an idea of what to expect and how to manage their time effectively during the actual examination.

Setting a Study Schedule

To succeed in the PreICFES examination, it's essential to create a well-structured study schedule. Allocate sufficient time for each subject, focusing on topics with higher weightage in the test. Breaking down the syllabus into manageable chunks will make the preparation process more manageable and less overwhelming.

Utilizing Official Study Materials

Make use of official PreICFES study materials provided by the ICFES. These materials are specifically designed to align with the examination's content and format, ensuring that you cover all the essential topics. Familiarizing yourself with the type of questions asked in previous PreICFES exams can help you get a sense of the exam's difficulty level and format.

Practice Makes Perfect

Regular practice is the key to success in any examination. Take advantage of mock tests and practice papers available online or from reputed publishers. Timed practice sessions will help you improve your speed and accuracy, simulating real exam conditions and preparing you for time management during the actual test.

Seek Support from Teachers and Peers

Do not be reluctant to ask your lecturers or fellow students for assistance if you run into problems while studying. Forming study groups can also be beneficial as it encourages collaborative learning and provides an opportunity to discuss complex topics, clear doubts, and exchange valuable insights.

Stay Calm and Confident

Nervousness and anxiety can negatively impact your performance. To keep your nerves under control, use relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. On the day of the test, maintaining a good outlook and having confidence in your talents can greatly increase your confidence.

Prioritize Sleep and Health

Ensure that you get adequate sleep during your preparation period and especially the night before the PreICFES exam. A well-rested mind performs better, making it easier to recall information and think critically during the test. Eat a balanced diet and get enough water to keep both your mind and your body in good condition.

The PreICFES examination serves as a vital stepping stone for Colombian students aspiring to pursue higher education. With careful planning, dedication, and a strategic approach to preparation, you can confidently tackle the PreICFES and set the stage for success in the ICFES examination. Remember that consistent effort and a positive mindset are crucial in achieving your academic goals. Best of luck on your PreICFES journey and beyond!

#preICFES