Sem hot rod black paint
NO Garage or Trailer Queens!
2012.08.22 23:11 Yupitsnuge NO Garage or Trailer Queens!
Street rod: a very popular branch of hot rodding. Contrary to the implications of the term hot rod, street rods are a mix of hot rods, custom cars, and modern Detroit cars. Emphasis is on high-quality custom paint jobs, comfortable interiors, and modern engines and running gear. As specified by the NSRA (National Street Rod Association), a street rod must have been manufactured prior to 1949. and most importantly, you must DRIVE your vehicle!
2013.12.18 05:30 Jake- Sloppy Mechanics
"Pretty does not equal fast" -the denmah
2017.06.01 03:57 rrab Electromagnetic Shielding
Share shielding projects, including material choices and information useful for reproduction. Discuss how to use available and cost-effective reflective and absorbent materials to protect against outside interference, ultrasonic/RF/microwave harassment, and other capabilities enabled by the electromagnetic spectrum.
2023.06.10 13:12 Aussie_Endeavour Sins
1
A man presses his hand against his daughter’s forehead. Hot. Too hot. She needs food, meat to be precise. Her mother works to keep the fire ablaze, the smoke painting the cave roof black with soot. The man’s brother found this cave before he… keep back the tears. No tears. Not here.
This cave is the only refuge for days, unless you wish to brave the snow. His family will not, his daughter won’t make it. But she has to make it. If she fails, he will too. And so he pulls the beast skin taught around him, the woolly barrier all that lies between him and the ice.
Spear in hand, he swears his return to his lover. He promises that their daughter will eat today. One step out of the cave, and the winds already confront him. They laugh at him, taunt him with their wicked cackling. He ignores them. They will not save his daughter, and so they are of no concern to him.
The man tries to hunt, but it’s hard to do when neither prey nor predator are about. They would be crazy to be out in the snow at this time, but the man has no choice. The memories begin to trickle back to him. His brother, laughing. He promised the meat for his niece. He promised his return. Promises broken by the cold.
A call sounds from beyond a hill. The man halts, for he knows that cry. Slowly emerging over the hill, he sees it. He sees the deadly tusks. He sees the powerful trunk and feet. He sees the delicious meat. He will not break his promise.
A roar answers a call. David answers Goliath. The rage against the snow, the grief for his brother, the hope for his daughter. All these things, the man channels into his spear. He releases his grip and the weapon begins its own hunt. He knows his aim is true.
___________
2
A quick swing of his scythe, and the stalk tumbles. Golden grasses spread out as far as the eye can see, the barn just barely visible in the distance. The farmer can hear his farmhands nearby, their own tools harvesting the hard-earned wheat. He will of course keep some for his family, and the farmhands will receive their share, but the rest he will sell. To whom? He does not care.
The wagon carrying the grown gold makes its way past the now empty fields, and playing children wave to the man at the helm, all the while giving the horses a wide berth. The driver does some quick calculations in his head and smiles, the price he paid for the wheat will be more than paid off by the Lord. Another great profit this year, as long as they can prepare in time.
All through the night, and the next day, and the next again, his family works, even the young one joining in. The kids cheer and holler as the final batch begins to bake, and the man’s wife gives him a proud kiss on the cheek. They’ll make their deadline after all.
Another wagon, this time with guards. The man didn’t even bother watching them depart, he knew that they wouldn't let anything happen to the edible treasure. Slowly making their way up the winding street towards the castle ground, the guards make sure to form a path through the commoners.
Arriving at the grand gate, the wagon halts as its merchandise is investigated. None shall dare steal from the Lord. Except maybe the young soldier, sneaking a single loaf while his superior is distracted. He will feast well tonight.
A feast indeed, though not for him. The dozens chefs work as one, everything must be perfect for tonight, not a single undercooked potato, not even a slightly charred fish. The bread is sliced and split and soaked. It is the foundation upon which the feast (and the chefs’ careers) depend.
The Lord smiles in his seat, his children to his left, advisers to the right, honoured guests at the far end. They all stand, awaiting his blessing, stealing glances at the buffet which their Lord so graciously ordered. He smiles and proclaims the beginning, and the wheat finds its purpose.
___________
3
Her majesty will not be disappointed, not with the captain, and not with her crew. They had been sailing for months now, and supplies were beginning to run low. Oh well, the captain thought, suck it up! Her majesty heard tales of this land, and they shall find it for her.
Tempers running high, and shouts ringing out in the night, all screech to a halt, when laughter comes from the crow’s nest. A cry of joy and of celebration. The captain didn’t believe it, she pushed aside her first mate, and raised the spyglass out into the sea. There, on the edge of the horizon, the greeny brown tips of land were visible.
An anchor dropped, and the crew practically tumbled out of their rowboats onto the sand. Landfall at last, her majesty will be so pleased. Most of the crew was ordered to search for edible plants to refill their reserves, while those that remained began boiling salt water. The first mate brought the flag, and they began walking towards a distant hill, the perfect place to claim for their queen.
Along the walk the botanist grew increasingly annoying. How could someone be so obsessed with stupid plants? He insisted on stopping every few minutes so that he could sketch the new findings. The ninth time this happened, the captain drew her cutlass and freed the plant from its stem. The botanist stayed quiet for the rest of the hike.
Finally, the trio crested the hill, and the land splayed out before them. A new land, all for their queen. She will be pleased with them at last. The pole stabbed into the untouched earth, and the flag was raised. The wind was perfect, blowing in from the sea, the flag waved in all its glory, reaching out over the plains.
While watching their feat, the captain felt the pestering botanist tap her shoulder. She reprimanded him, but he seemed distracted from the scolding. He pointed somewhere to the North, and following his finger, the captain saw a few small structures near the trees.
Huts? No it couldn't be. Raising her spyglass again, they came into view. And standing beside them, staring up at her majesty’s flag, where a few figures, confusion abundantly clear on their faces. Oh well. It looks like the captain has some work to do.
___________
4
Tears fall down her eyes and the nurses run around, trying to stabilise her. Even if she wasn't, she didn't care in that moment. How could she, while the newborn in her arms wailed? She looked up to find the boy’s father shedding his own tears. She was glad knowing that he would protect their son, no matter what.
The boy never took off his mother’s favourite pendant, the one she was wearing that fateful day all those years ago. Even when his younger siblings asked about it, or his new mother, he never let them touch it, not in all of these years. He loved them, he really did, but they could never understand. He wasn’t sure if he could either.
The pendant glistened in the sun, and for the first time in two decades, a hand that wasn’t his own held it. He trusted her like none before. He could fall into her eyes forever, and she could sink into his arms for eternity. Why would anyone give this up, for someone they are yet to know?
More crying, salty tears staining the floor. Finally, the cries of a woman came to an end, and they were replaced by those of a baby. The woman began laughing, for joy filled her heart so fully. As the man looked into his daughter's wondrous eyes, he finally understood.
The girl laughed and played with her friends, half of whom were her cousins. The boring adults sat inside, talking about ‘Will’, whoever that was. She didn’t care, because she wanted to show all her friends and cousins the birthday present she got from her father. The pendant gleamed, dangling from her fist as she held it as high as she could. She would treasure it forever and ever. She swore that no one could ever have it but her.
But time cares not for such things. The boy sat on the stairs outside the venue, rain pattering down beside him as the gas lamps pierced through the darkness. His grandmother told him to hold the pendant close to his heart, it’s silver dulled by the years but nonetheless beautiful. He stilled his nerves and turned to walk back inside. It was his third cousin’s wedding after all, the least he can do is be happy for them.
___________
5
The man may be annoying, but he is strategic. He stands at the place he knows has the most foot traffic at this time of day, that charming smile plastered on his face. He proclaimed his wisdom to all those who would listen, and many who would not. Horses were a thing of the past, electricity was the new craze.
Turning gears and rumbling motors, oh how wonderful they sounded to him. He would work until he dropped, for his message had to travel far and wide. Was he harassed? Of course he was! That was business! Stupid people who wanted to stick with the beasts and needed some sense knocked into them, and he was more than happy to take charge.
A failed engine or two, that's the price of progress! What, you think the first house didn’t crumble under its own weight? You think the first lightbulb didn’t burn out in mere moments? Innovation demands the tortoise, my friend, not the hare.
After all the hard work of him and his compatriots, the beeping sounds of car horns filled the cobbled street below. Success sounded from the road to his ears, and money into his pockets. A knock on his door spoiled his fun, but he knew it was for the best. His friends were here with more news from far away, broadcast to their home with that one doohickey, what was it called? A radio?
What next was there that they could do? What could they teach their children to do? Perhaps a portable radio? What could be more convenient than that? Ideas were the lifeblood of society after all, one of his many catchphrases. The world was changing, life was getting easier, and the salesman could not be happier.
___________
6
A dream adrift across a sea of consciousness, not one nor two nor three. A dream shared by many, deep within their hearts. A little girl tucked into bed, singing a song of twinkling stars. An old man looking out his window, and finding the moon staring back. An ambitious teenager wishing to one day visit the sands of Mars.
A dream that began in the distant past, when the ancients gave names to the stars, and wove stories of the planets. A dream that persists to the modern day, as humanity desperately claws at the void, begging for even a single foothold. A dream that will come true in the future.
Humanity knows it will come true, because it simply must. There is no alternative. They look up to the stars and imagine so many wondrous things. They imagine that they are not alone, that there are others out there, waiting for them. These other societies, surely they have been up there far longer than we have.
Surely they have solved all of their feeble problems by now… so why haven’t we? Why do we suffer on the Earth, while they revel in the heavens? Why are our feet on solid ground, while their wings span the stars? It isn’t fair, humanity thinks.
A ship ascends to the edge of space, close enough to reach for the vacuum. Another lands on the moon, but must retreat mere hours later. Years go by. The Earth spins, and the Solar system continues its celestial dance. Rovers landing on other worlds, only to be battered and broken by the elements. Craft flung out into the depths of space, only to be lost to the endless void.
Why is this so hard? Where is everybody? Are they ignoring us? Why are they ignoring us? Why can’t we do this? Why… why… why? It isn’t fair. IT ISN'T FAIR. We deserve this. We need this.
___________
7
Finally, after yet another monotonous day, I collapse onto my couch. Home sweet home at last. The train was late again, so it almost made me miss the bus, something that happens far more often then I would like. Bags abandoned thoughtlessly near the door, arms sprawled out beside me as I listen to the clock slowly ticking away on the wall, taunting me. Hm... maybe I have enough time tonight. A bottle of water and a bowl of chips beside me, the satisfying sound of a mouse and keyboard connecting fills my headphones. I open up a document already filled with tens of thousands of words, and prepare to add more yet. Fingers dancing across the keys, a new story unravelling onto the digital page in front of me.
First, a story of protection and rage. A father doing whatever it takes to save his daughter, and who will fell behemoths to make sure she is safe. Fueled by fury for a lost brother, his spear conquers the ice and snow. A story of humans unafraid to show our wrath, to bare our teeth and wield our strength.
Second, a story of joy and feasting. A farmer harvesting his well-earned yield, of wheat carried far afield to be kneaded by hard working hands all to be delivered to a grand castle, and placed on the table of a noble's feast. A story of humans embracing their gluttony, and thinking themselves so smart in their creations.
Third, a story of searching and tragedy. An explorer sailing the waters of a sturdy vessel, arriving to new lands with new people to meet, (not that she cares) and staking the banner of her majesty's power in the soil. Spreading and conquering, never satisfied. A story of humans feeding their greed, of claiming what they want, and believing it to have been theirs all along.
Fourth, a story of purpose and love. A mother, holding her first born in her arms. When he grows, his siblings follow suit, and he loves them with all his heart. His mother’s pendant in hand, the cycle continues. Parent to child, child to parent, again and again, as the family grows. A story of humans showing their lust as each generation expands faster and faster.
Fifth, a story of trial and innovation. A salesman displaying the latest device to appear on the market, a newfangled machine that gets you from point A to B. What's next? Something to warm your food for you, to cook for you, to drive for you, to work for you? A story of humans giving into sloth, as their intelligence makes it all so much easier.
Sixth, a story of longing and wonder. A civilization looking up to the stars above, and their minds wander. What could be up there? Who could be up there? Why are they up there, but we are not? We want it. It is our birthright. A story of humans succumbing to envy of those they can’t even prove the existence of… not that that will deter them.
Six ideas for a story, and none that I particularly felt happy with. I did a small draft from each, nothing major, but none of them grasped me. I lean back in my chair, contemplating. I need something... more human. Something that people can relate to, perhaps something they can enjoy reading... wait, that's it! I know just what to do.
My seventh idea is not a single written piece, for the story it tells is too broad, and all too common to be contained within this single page. It is a story of humanity, and triumph.
It is a science fiction work, fantastical, and post-apocalyptic. It is romantic, tragic, comedic, erotic, mysterious and meta. It is all of these, and none of them.
It is a story about humanity’s capacity to conquer fear and tame fury, of embracing joy and delighting in sorrow. It is all of these, and none of them.
Delving into worlds not our own, or perhaps those lurking in glistening shadows. Countless lands, countless critters, countless magics. A world of delving into dungeons, and a world of defying the will of dragons. A world painted across the silver screen, and a world engraved in pitch black ink.
You may be thinking, ‘what on Earth am I talking about?’, and oftentimes the answer lies beyond the planet. This story is told in the clouds of Venus, and the dunes of Mars. Racing through the Sun’s corona, fleeing across Pluto’s heart. A story of discovering friends and foes among the stars, and a story of being forever alone.
When we initiate first contact, they will finally see what comes out of cruel space. We show those who are out there why humans avoid war, and we will show them the nature of predators.
A story where humans control the galaxy.
A story where humans are long gone.
A story where humans dance with death.
These stories, you’ve read them before, haven’t you?
What could be more human, then indulging in our sense of supremacy? Creating propaganda so blatant that we revel in that fact. Delusions of grandeur that we clap and cheer for. Stories where we are simply better.
One which you are reading right now.
But you won’t stop, will you?
Don’t deny it.
I am no better.
I’m the one writing this, afterall.
Indulging in my addiction of creating worlds where we are better.
Where you feel powerful.
Where I feel in control.
Thank you for reading, my dearest sinner.
Oh, and don’t forget the most human sin of all.
One which neither you nor I wish to escape.
Pride
submitted by Aussie_Endeavour to HFY [link] [comments]
A man presses his hand against his daughter’s forehead. Hot. Too hot. She needs food, meat to be precise. Her mother works to keep the fire ablaze, the smoke painting the cave roof black with soot. The man’s brother found this cave before he… keep back the tears. No tears. Not here.
This cave is the only refuge for days, unless you wish to brave the snow. His family will not, his daughter won’t make it. But she has to make it. If she fails, he will too. And so he pulls the beast skin taught around him, the woolly barrier all that lies between him and the ice.
Spear in hand, he swears his return to his lover. He promises that their daughter will eat today. One step out of the cave, and the winds already confront him. They laugh at him, taunt him with their wicked cackling. He ignores them. They will not save his daughter, and so they are of no concern to him.
The man tries to hunt, but it’s hard to do when neither prey nor predator are about. They would be crazy to be out in the snow at this time, but the man has no choice. The memories begin to trickle back to him. His brother, laughing. He promised the meat for his niece. He promised his return. Promises broken by the cold.
A call sounds from beyond a hill. The man halts, for he knows that cry. Slowly emerging over the hill, he sees it. He sees the deadly tusks. He sees the powerful trunk and feet. He sees the delicious meat. He will not break his promise.
A roar answers a call. David answers Goliath. The rage against the snow, the grief for his brother, the hope for his daughter. All these things, the man channels into his spear. He releases his grip and the weapon begins its own hunt. He knows his aim is true.
___________
2
A quick swing of his scythe, and the stalk tumbles. Golden grasses spread out as far as the eye can see, the barn just barely visible in the distance. The farmer can hear his farmhands nearby, their own tools harvesting the hard-earned wheat. He will of course keep some for his family, and the farmhands will receive their share, but the rest he will sell. To whom? He does not care.
The wagon carrying the grown gold makes its way past the now empty fields, and playing children wave to the man at the helm, all the while giving the horses a wide berth. The driver does some quick calculations in his head and smiles, the price he paid for the wheat will be more than paid off by the Lord. Another great profit this year, as long as they can prepare in time.
All through the night, and the next day, and the next again, his family works, even the young one joining in. The kids cheer and holler as the final batch begins to bake, and the man’s wife gives him a proud kiss on the cheek. They’ll make their deadline after all.
Another wagon, this time with guards. The man didn’t even bother watching them depart, he knew that they wouldn't let anything happen to the edible treasure. Slowly making their way up the winding street towards the castle ground, the guards make sure to form a path through the commoners.
Arriving at the grand gate, the wagon halts as its merchandise is investigated. None shall dare steal from the Lord. Except maybe the young soldier, sneaking a single loaf while his superior is distracted. He will feast well tonight.
A feast indeed, though not for him. The dozens chefs work as one, everything must be perfect for tonight, not a single undercooked potato, not even a slightly charred fish. The bread is sliced and split and soaked. It is the foundation upon which the feast (and the chefs’ careers) depend.
The Lord smiles in his seat, his children to his left, advisers to the right, honoured guests at the far end. They all stand, awaiting his blessing, stealing glances at the buffet which their Lord so graciously ordered. He smiles and proclaims the beginning, and the wheat finds its purpose.
___________
3
Her majesty will not be disappointed, not with the captain, and not with her crew. They had been sailing for months now, and supplies were beginning to run low. Oh well, the captain thought, suck it up! Her majesty heard tales of this land, and they shall find it for her.
Tempers running high, and shouts ringing out in the night, all screech to a halt, when laughter comes from the crow’s nest. A cry of joy and of celebration. The captain didn’t believe it, she pushed aside her first mate, and raised the spyglass out into the sea. There, on the edge of the horizon, the greeny brown tips of land were visible.
An anchor dropped, and the crew practically tumbled out of their rowboats onto the sand. Landfall at last, her majesty will be so pleased. Most of the crew was ordered to search for edible plants to refill their reserves, while those that remained began boiling salt water. The first mate brought the flag, and they began walking towards a distant hill, the perfect place to claim for their queen.
Along the walk the botanist grew increasingly annoying. How could someone be so obsessed with stupid plants? He insisted on stopping every few minutes so that he could sketch the new findings. The ninth time this happened, the captain drew her cutlass and freed the plant from its stem. The botanist stayed quiet for the rest of the hike.
Finally, the trio crested the hill, and the land splayed out before them. A new land, all for their queen. She will be pleased with them at last. The pole stabbed into the untouched earth, and the flag was raised. The wind was perfect, blowing in from the sea, the flag waved in all its glory, reaching out over the plains.
While watching their feat, the captain felt the pestering botanist tap her shoulder. She reprimanded him, but he seemed distracted from the scolding. He pointed somewhere to the North, and following his finger, the captain saw a few small structures near the trees.
Huts? No it couldn't be. Raising her spyglass again, they came into view. And standing beside them, staring up at her majesty’s flag, where a few figures, confusion abundantly clear on their faces. Oh well. It looks like the captain has some work to do.
___________
4
Tears fall down her eyes and the nurses run around, trying to stabilise her. Even if she wasn't, she didn't care in that moment. How could she, while the newborn in her arms wailed? She looked up to find the boy’s father shedding his own tears. She was glad knowing that he would protect their son, no matter what.
The boy never took off his mother’s favourite pendant, the one she was wearing that fateful day all those years ago. Even when his younger siblings asked about it, or his new mother, he never let them touch it, not in all of these years. He loved them, he really did, but they could never understand. He wasn’t sure if he could either.
The pendant glistened in the sun, and for the first time in two decades, a hand that wasn’t his own held it. He trusted her like none before. He could fall into her eyes forever, and she could sink into his arms for eternity. Why would anyone give this up, for someone they are yet to know?
More crying, salty tears staining the floor. Finally, the cries of a woman came to an end, and they were replaced by those of a baby. The woman began laughing, for joy filled her heart so fully. As the man looked into his daughter's wondrous eyes, he finally understood.
The girl laughed and played with her friends, half of whom were her cousins. The boring adults sat inside, talking about ‘Will’, whoever that was. She didn’t care, because she wanted to show all her friends and cousins the birthday present she got from her father. The pendant gleamed, dangling from her fist as she held it as high as she could. She would treasure it forever and ever. She swore that no one could ever have it but her.
But time cares not for such things. The boy sat on the stairs outside the venue, rain pattering down beside him as the gas lamps pierced through the darkness. His grandmother told him to hold the pendant close to his heart, it’s silver dulled by the years but nonetheless beautiful. He stilled his nerves and turned to walk back inside. It was his third cousin’s wedding after all, the least he can do is be happy for them.
___________
5
The man may be annoying, but he is strategic. He stands at the place he knows has the most foot traffic at this time of day, that charming smile plastered on his face. He proclaimed his wisdom to all those who would listen, and many who would not. Horses were a thing of the past, electricity was the new craze.
Turning gears and rumbling motors, oh how wonderful they sounded to him. He would work until he dropped, for his message had to travel far and wide. Was he harassed? Of course he was! That was business! Stupid people who wanted to stick with the beasts and needed some sense knocked into them, and he was more than happy to take charge.
A failed engine or two, that's the price of progress! What, you think the first house didn’t crumble under its own weight? You think the first lightbulb didn’t burn out in mere moments? Innovation demands the tortoise, my friend, not the hare.
After all the hard work of him and his compatriots, the beeping sounds of car horns filled the cobbled street below. Success sounded from the road to his ears, and money into his pockets. A knock on his door spoiled his fun, but he knew it was for the best. His friends were here with more news from far away, broadcast to their home with that one doohickey, what was it called? A radio?
What next was there that they could do? What could they teach their children to do? Perhaps a portable radio? What could be more convenient than that? Ideas were the lifeblood of society after all, one of his many catchphrases. The world was changing, life was getting easier, and the salesman could not be happier.
___________
6
A dream adrift across a sea of consciousness, not one nor two nor three. A dream shared by many, deep within their hearts. A little girl tucked into bed, singing a song of twinkling stars. An old man looking out his window, and finding the moon staring back. An ambitious teenager wishing to one day visit the sands of Mars.
A dream that began in the distant past, when the ancients gave names to the stars, and wove stories of the planets. A dream that persists to the modern day, as humanity desperately claws at the void, begging for even a single foothold. A dream that will come true in the future.
Humanity knows it will come true, because it simply must. There is no alternative. They look up to the stars and imagine so many wondrous things. They imagine that they are not alone, that there are others out there, waiting for them. These other societies, surely they have been up there far longer than we have.
Surely they have solved all of their feeble problems by now… so why haven’t we? Why do we suffer on the Earth, while they revel in the heavens? Why are our feet on solid ground, while their wings span the stars? It isn’t fair, humanity thinks.
A ship ascends to the edge of space, close enough to reach for the vacuum. Another lands on the moon, but must retreat mere hours later. Years go by. The Earth spins, and the Solar system continues its celestial dance. Rovers landing on other worlds, only to be battered and broken by the elements. Craft flung out into the depths of space, only to be lost to the endless void.
Why is this so hard? Where is everybody? Are they ignoring us? Why are they ignoring us? Why can’t we do this? Why… why… why? It isn’t fair. IT ISN'T FAIR. We deserve this. We need this.
___________
7
Finally, after yet another monotonous day, I collapse onto my couch. Home sweet home at last. The train was late again, so it almost made me miss the bus, something that happens far more often then I would like. Bags abandoned thoughtlessly near the door, arms sprawled out beside me as I listen to the clock slowly ticking away on the wall, taunting me. Hm... maybe I have enough time tonight. A bottle of water and a bowl of chips beside me, the satisfying sound of a mouse and keyboard connecting fills my headphones. I open up a document already filled with tens of thousands of words, and prepare to add more yet. Fingers dancing across the keys, a new story unravelling onto the digital page in front of me.
First, a story of protection and rage. A father doing whatever it takes to save his daughter, and who will fell behemoths to make sure she is safe. Fueled by fury for a lost brother, his spear conquers the ice and snow. A story of humans unafraid to show our wrath, to bare our teeth and wield our strength.
Second, a story of joy and feasting. A farmer harvesting his well-earned yield, of wheat carried far afield to be kneaded by hard working hands all to be delivered to a grand castle, and placed on the table of a noble's feast. A story of humans embracing their gluttony, and thinking themselves so smart in their creations.
Third, a story of searching and tragedy. An explorer sailing the waters of a sturdy vessel, arriving to new lands with new people to meet, (not that she cares) and staking the banner of her majesty's power in the soil. Spreading and conquering, never satisfied. A story of humans feeding their greed, of claiming what they want, and believing it to have been theirs all along.
Fourth, a story of purpose and love. A mother, holding her first born in her arms. When he grows, his siblings follow suit, and he loves them with all his heart. His mother’s pendant in hand, the cycle continues. Parent to child, child to parent, again and again, as the family grows. A story of humans showing their lust as each generation expands faster and faster.
Fifth, a story of trial and innovation. A salesman displaying the latest device to appear on the market, a newfangled machine that gets you from point A to B. What's next? Something to warm your food for you, to cook for you, to drive for you, to work for you? A story of humans giving into sloth, as their intelligence makes it all so much easier.
Sixth, a story of longing and wonder. A civilization looking up to the stars above, and their minds wander. What could be up there? Who could be up there? Why are they up there, but we are not? We want it. It is our birthright. A story of humans succumbing to envy of those they can’t even prove the existence of… not that that will deter them.
Six ideas for a story, and none that I particularly felt happy with. I did a small draft from each, nothing major, but none of them grasped me. I lean back in my chair, contemplating. I need something... more human. Something that people can relate to, perhaps something they can enjoy reading... wait, that's it! I know just what to do.
My seventh idea is not a single written piece, for the story it tells is too broad, and all too common to be contained within this single page. It is a story of humanity, and triumph.
It is a science fiction work, fantastical, and post-apocalyptic. It is romantic, tragic, comedic, erotic, mysterious and meta. It is all of these, and none of them.
It is a story about humanity’s capacity to conquer fear and tame fury, of embracing joy and delighting in sorrow. It is all of these, and none of them.
Delving into worlds not our own, or perhaps those lurking in glistening shadows. Countless lands, countless critters, countless magics. A world of delving into dungeons, and a world of defying the will of dragons. A world painted across the silver screen, and a world engraved in pitch black ink.
You may be thinking, ‘what on Earth am I talking about?’, and oftentimes the answer lies beyond the planet. This story is told in the clouds of Venus, and the dunes of Mars. Racing through the Sun’s corona, fleeing across Pluto’s heart. A story of discovering friends and foes among the stars, and a story of being forever alone.
When we initiate first contact, they will finally see what comes out of cruel space. We show those who are out there why humans avoid war, and we will show them the nature of predators.
A story where humans control the galaxy.
A story where humans are long gone.
A story where humans dance with death.
These stories, you’ve read them before, haven’t you?
What could be more human, then indulging in our sense of supremacy? Creating propaganda so blatant that we revel in that fact. Delusions of grandeur that we clap and cheer for. Stories where we are simply better.
One which you are reading right now.
But you won’t stop, will you?
Don’t deny it.
I am no better.
I’m the one writing this, afterall.
Indulging in my addiction of creating worlds where we are better.
Where you feel powerful.
Where I feel in control.
Thank you for reading, my dearest sinner.
Oh, and don’t forget the most human sin of all.
One which neither you nor I wish to escape.
Pride
2023.06.10 13:01 BAL87 Thinking of like washing the brick an antiqued white and painting rails/trim/door black, with natural wood shutters. What am I not considering? If I do an off white limewash, can I leave the the (kinda yellow beige) gutters/soffits alone?
 | submitted by BAL87 to Renovations [link] [comments] |
2023.06.10 12:51 ladyskullz Was the head-butt really an accident?
 | Johnny Depp always maintained that he never laid a finger on Amber Heard. submitted by ladyskullz to DeppVHeardNeutral [link] [comments] That was until The Suns lawyer played an audio recording of him telling Amber "I head-butted you in the fu#king forehead, that doesn't break a nose". Depp then back-peddled, and admitted he had headbutted Amber, but said it was an accident. In the VA trial, Depp gave a detailed explanation of how he had bumped heads with Amber as he restrained her. He claimed that the fight ended after the head-butt, when Amber immediately grabbed her nose and ran to the bathroom. Amber maintains that Depp assaulted her on the night of Dec 15th 2015. She claimed he dragged her by her hair, headbutted her and punched her repeatedly in the head while yelling that he wanted to kill her until she lost consciousness. Amber paints a picture of a terrifying assult, but is it true? Let's look at the evidence. After the fight Amber sends texts to her friends and her agent. She admits to Rocky and Melanie that Depp assaulted her and tells her agent she had an 'accident' After the fight, Johnny left the Penthouse and got his security guard to take photos of his face. There is a slight scratch on one if his cheeks, but otherwise he is uninjured. Amber allegedly puts ice on her nose to help with the swelling. In the morning, she takes photos of her injuries. The photos show bruises around her nose, several bruises on her head, a missing clump of hair, a swollen split lip and the beginning of two black eyes. She continues to take photos throughout the day and the next night. All the photos show the exact same injuries. Melanie Inglessis, Amber's make-up artist testified she saw Amber on the day if Dec 16th. She gave a detailed description of Amber's injuries and how she covered them. She also said she had seen Amber the previous day, uninjured. She said that when she arrived at the Penthouse, Samantha McMillen was hugging Amber as she cried. Samantha McMillen signed a written witnesses statement saying she saw Amber on Dec 16th with no visible injuries. It's unknown if Samantha wrote this statement herself or just signed it. Unfortunately, she was never cross-examined to explain why she saw something different to Melanie. That night Amber appears on the James Corden show. At first glance she seems uninjured, but in stills you can see her bottom lip is swollen. After the show, Amber takes another photo of her injuries, they still look that same as the ones taken earlier. The following day Amber visits Dr Anderson. Dr Anderson testified that she saw multiple bruises on Amber's face. Later that day Amber texts her nurse. She wants to see Dr Kipper because she still has a headache. She visits Nurse Monroe because Kipper is away. Link to texts https://time.graphics/period/1894357 Dr Kipper provided a dodgy doctors report for the visit claiming Amber never spoke to Nurse Monroe and it listed her as a 'well nourished male'. Nurse Monroe never testified, so there is no way to verify this is true. Another of Dr Kipper's employees, Nurse Lisa Bean, testified that Dr Kipper had told her and Nurse Monroe, that Johnny Depp had violently assaulted his wife. After visiting Nurse Monroe, Nurse Erin brings over Amber's prescription. In her nurses report she noted that Amber's lip was bleeding and she was weepy and sad. A week after the fight, Johnny sends a text to Amber's dad apologising for taking things too far in their fight. This is a strange thing to do if the head-butt was an accident. My take: From the evidence, it's clear that the fight occurred and it was bad enough that Depp had his security guard take photos. I assume he did this because he was worried Amber might report the assult to the police. It is clear that Amber was injured in the fight as she had multiple witnesses and photos of her injuries. I don't believe Johnny was actually trying to kill Amber during the altercation. I believe he was trying to assert his dominance over her. It's clear he wasn't using his full force to beat her. If he had, her bruising would have been worse. I don't believe that Johnny accidentally headbutted Amber whilst restraing her. If this was the case, she would have head-butted him. He also wouldn't have apologised to her father and he would have said in the audio " I accidentally headbutted you". I believe that Depp's lawyer Adam Waldman wrote Samantha's witness statement and then pressured her into signing it. Laura Divenere testified Waldman did the same thing to her, and the statement has very similar wording specifically " I saw no visible injuries on Amber Heard". |
2023.06.10 12:47 Plug_380v H: handmade W: demon mask
 | submitted by Plug_380v to Market76 [link] [comments] |
2023.06.10 12:46 SupremeFootlicker What year is this car? (Hit and Run)
 | This car appears to be a Dodge Challenger, but I don’t know what year. I’ve went back and forth on the color and I’m convinced it’s black because of the paint on my car and the color behind the front headlights. submitted by SupremeFootlicker to whatisthiscar [link] [comments] |
2023.06.10 12:40 Ok_Pick1812 “Are you not hot in that?”
I am dreading that it’s summer this year because of this comment and I wish people would stop asking.
Yes I am hot in this.
Yes I would love to be wearing shorts and a tshirt right now.
Yes I did have to force myself to even come out of the house because I am deeply uncomfortable.
I just hate this question because it reinforces the fact I am so self conscious of my body that I have to wear all black and cover up on a hot summers day. I really wish people would stop asking whether I am hot in what I’m wearing because the answer is obviously yes. Does anyone else feel this way?
submitted by Ok_Pick1812 to loseit [link] [comments]
Yes I am hot in this.
Yes I would love to be wearing shorts and a tshirt right now.
Yes I did have to force myself to even come out of the house because I am deeply uncomfortable.
I just hate this question because it reinforces the fact I am so self conscious of my body that I have to wear all black and cover up on a hot summers day. I really wish people would stop asking whether I am hot in what I’m wearing because the answer is obviously yes. Does anyone else feel this way?
2023.06.10 12:38 wongl888 Joined the MY Club today from HK
Took delivery of MY RWD grey with black seats and standard 19” Gemini wheels.
Car was ordered 6/May, VIN issued about a week later, and born in Shanghai on 15/May/2023. Therefore HW3 but with matrix headlights and LFP batteries.
Surprisingly it had USS front and back, so I am happy that I didn’t get HW4 minus USS. It came without mud guards nor side PPF (which I have on order thru the Chinese version of eBay called Taobao).
Arrived early at Tesla to perform Pre-Delivery inspection this morning. Tesla HK only allow one hour for my slot, but the delivery centre folks were super nice and allowed me inspect my car upon arrival ahead of my time slot.
Ended up spending two hours going thru a very comprehensive checklist I downloaded, plus a few more checks I found on a YouTube video by a detailing specialist (additional checks on the headlight mounts, wheel arch fastenings, trunk struts etc). Guess what I found? Completely nothing! Not even a tiny scratch, nor a swirl on the paint work, and most definitely no panel gaps issues!!! I have to commend Tesla Shanghai and the Tesla Hong Kong delivery team for such an excellent presentation and pre-delivery preparation. Well done and a big Thank You.
Spent the afternoon installing a screen protector, door pocket silicon liners and most importantly a fridge designed to fit flush into the MY trunk.
Next in my list is the glass roof liners as it was super hot driving the car home.
Oh, forgot to mention that the car had 29km on it which I felt was a tad on the high side for a brand new car! 😂
submitted by wongl888 to TeslaModelY [link] [comments]
Car was ordered 6/May, VIN issued about a week later, and born in Shanghai on 15/May/2023. Therefore HW3 but with matrix headlights and LFP batteries.
Surprisingly it had USS front and back, so I am happy that I didn’t get HW4 minus USS. It came without mud guards nor side PPF (which I have on order thru the Chinese version of eBay called Taobao).
Arrived early at Tesla to perform Pre-Delivery inspection this morning. Tesla HK only allow one hour for my slot, but the delivery centre folks were super nice and allowed me inspect my car upon arrival ahead of my time slot.
Ended up spending two hours going thru a very comprehensive checklist I downloaded, plus a few more checks I found on a YouTube video by a detailing specialist (additional checks on the headlight mounts, wheel arch fastenings, trunk struts etc). Guess what I found? Completely nothing! Not even a tiny scratch, nor a swirl on the paint work, and most definitely no panel gaps issues!!! I have to commend Tesla Shanghai and the Tesla Hong Kong delivery team for such an excellent presentation and pre-delivery preparation. Well done and a big Thank You.
Spent the afternoon installing a screen protector, door pocket silicon liners and most importantly a fridge designed to fit flush into the MY trunk.
Next in my list is the glass roof liners as it was super hot driving the car home.
Oh, forgot to mention that the car had 29km on it which I felt was a tad on the high side for a brand new car! 😂
2023.06.10 12:35 CosmosAviaTory What if we paint an aircraft to the darkest black paint ever made, the Vanablack? Especially a stealth plane like F-117?
 | submitted by CosmosAviaTory to Shittyaskflying [link] [comments] |
2023.06.10 12:34 Gj6908 Hot black hoe enjoy riding a cock during the pandemic
 | submitted by Gj6908 to Fjoh [link] [comments] |
2023.06.10 12:28 TinyFlan4013 "Sustainable clothing brand Patagonia manufactures in the same factories as fast-fashion; textile workers are being exploited"
The Dutch independent investigative journalism platform 'Follow the Money' wrote a article about Patagonia.
"Sustainable clothing brand Patagonia manufactures in the same factories as fast-fashion; textile workers are being exploited"
Clothing brand Patagonia seems to be doing everything right: for its employees, for the people who make the clothes and for the environment. The company’s image – they say they’re in business to save our home planet – is very different from fast-fashion brands like asos, Primark and Nike. But Patagonia’s clothes are manufactured in exactly the same factories and under the same deplorable conditions.
When Yvon Chouinard started creating climbing equipment in his parents’ backyard in Burbank, California, he used steel. Soon he earned a reputation for making the ‘best’ climbing equipment in America. But every time a climber slammed one of those steel pegs into a rock, the gap got a little bigger and eventually unusable. Chouinard realised he was making money by destroying the rocks and therefore also the sport. And so he switched to aluminium blocks, which did not damagethe rocks.
The change was expensive and risky for the young company, but the moral dilemma was reason enough for Chouinard to implement the change. And to be very outspoken about it. It was a success: within a year, 40 per cent of the US climbing community stopped using steel.
Chouinard applied this experience when he started the outdoor brand Patagonia in 1973. He wanted to make only high-quality clothing that would last. And limit the impact on the environment as much as possible. In 1996, the brand switched to 100 per cent organic cotton, only to increasingly replace it with recycled materials. But the responsibility that Chouinard attributed to the company extended further.
In 2002 he decided to give one per cent of sales to environmental organisations every year. In 2011, Patagonia placed a full-page ad in the New York Times calling on consumers to ‘not buy this jacket’ in order to draw attention to the problematic nature of overconsumption in the clothing industry.
In addition, the clothing had to be manufactured fairly: in 2012, the top of the company made paying living wages to everyone who makes Patagonia products a ‘priority’. In 2020, Patagonia launched a campaign encouraging consumers to demand more from clothing brands: ‘Demand recycled. Demand organic. Demand Fair Trade,’ Patagonia urged its viewers.
In 2022, the then 84-year-old Chouinard caused worldwide astonishment, when he gave away 98 per cent of his shares to a newly formed NGO, the Holdfast Collective, which is ‘committed in its fight against the environmental crisis and protecting nature.’ Henceforth, the company’s profits would no longer flow to himself or his children but to the climate. ‘Earth is now our only shareholder,’ Chouinard said. Billionaire gives company away to climate, newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian reported*.*
This construction saved the NGO an estimated 700 million dollars that Chouinard would have had to pay in tax if he had sold the company and donated the proceeds to the same NGO. But according to Chouinard, this option allowed him to do something else: protect Patagonia’s values. Because he did not give the voting shares to Holdfast Collective but to a family trust. This allows his family to continue determining the company’s direction.
The company’s turnover – its European headquarters are in Amsterdam − grew by more than 50 per cent that year to about 1.5 billion dollars.
The actions earned Patagonia an image as being the ultimate sustainable frontrunner. In April, Time Magazine named Chouinard one of the world’s 100 most influential people. ‘Patagonia is a company people look up to in awe,’ the magazine wrote.
The complete opposite of Patagonia is a company like Primark. The Irish retail chain is known for selling on-trend low-quality clothes at low prices. Its revenue model is based on mass: high volumes with low margins.
Primark continuously creates new garment collections designed to be worn only a few times, after which they fall apart. The company uses advertising, clearance sales and influencers to urge consumers to keep buying as much as possible.
Media regularly report on the subsequent consequences. One, in particular, is that the people who make the clothes suffer from high production pressure at low cost. ‘Primark supplier accused of locking up factory workers in Myanmar protests,’ The Guardian headline read in 2021. That same year, The Clean Clothes Campaign NGO wrote: ‘Primark uses pandemic to put further pressure on factory workers in manufacturing countries.’
Patagonia and Primark seem like two extremes on the slow versus fast-fashion spectrum. Yet the brands have something in common. Some of their clothing is manufactured in the exact same factory.
PATAGONIA IN AMSTERDAM In 2014, Patagonia moved its European headquarters from Annecy town in the French Alps to Amsterdam. Reflecting on this, current CEO Ryan Gellert told the city marketing website I Amsterdam: ‘We established headquarters here in 2014 because we wanted a place where we could attract and retain pan-European and global talent, [...] and where there was an active community working on sustainability issues. As we searched potential locations across Europe, Amsterdam remained high on our list.’
According to Tax Law Professor Jan van de Streek, tax benefits may also have played a role in the choice of the Netherlands. This is because Patagonia did not register in the Netherlands as a BV but as a cooperative with two US members: Patagonia International Inc and Patagonia Global LLC. ‘Why choose something as strange as a cooperative structure?’ Van de Streek remarks to Follow the Money. ‘Because it is exempt from dividend tax. I think it’s naive to think there’s any other reason for that.’
Responding to questions about this, Patagonia said: ‘Since its inception, Patagonia Europe Coöperatief has paid regular corporate income taxes in all European countries where we do business, including the Netherlands, and has never used the tax efficiencies of a cooperative.’
‘At the suggestion of our advisors', Patagonia chose a cooperative structure ‘because it's the most flexible type of entity that suited our business purpose. However, Patagonia has chosen not to pursue any of the tax advantages available under the cooperative entity type. Patagonia Europe has not paid dividends to its parent company.'
In the factory hall, there are long tables with pieces of white fabric on them. An employee walks past with sea-green paint and a stencil forming the letters ‘asics’. Further along, a machine prints a grey logo on a purple tank top for Decathlon.
‘So far, we don’t really notice any difference between working with Patagonia and working with Primark or Decathlon,’ says Kevin Fernando. Fernando is the manager at the factory, which dyes, prints or embroiders logos and prints on fabrics. Regal Image was recently approved as a supplier to Patagonia, a process that took nine months. Fernando shows the designs for the 2024 summer collection. Light blue fabric features ‘Patagonia’ in pink letters, and a rainbow is printed on orange fabric.
‘Like most clothing companies, we do not make our products, nor do we own any of the factories that do,’ Patagonia writes on its website about the decision to outsource the manufacturing process. ‘We design, test, market and sell Patagonia gear. These are our areas of strength. We pay other companies [...] to produce fabrics and do the actual cutting and sewing.’
At least two-thirds of the factories that manufacture Patagonia clothing also work for clothing brands that, according to the consumer website Good on You, have little or no sustainability policies in place (Patagonia itself is touted by Good on You as sustainable). This is evident from an analysis by Follow the Money based on data from Open Supply Hub, which aims to make supply chains in the clothing industry more transparent.
One day people make clothing for Patagonia, and the next day, they make items for brands such as GAP, Levi Strauss, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Amer Sports, Asics, US department store chain Target, e-commerce platform Amazon, supermarket Aldi and fast-fashion icons ASOS, Boohoo, H&M and Zara.
‘How is this possible?’ visual culture professor Anneke Smelik responds. Smelik researches sustainable fashion at Radboud University. ‘I know Patagonia as the most sustainable brand out there. I expected them to manufacture in small factories close to home. This means they have absolutely no control over working conditions.’
PATAGONIA IN SRI LANKA Patagonia works with 14 factories in Sri Lanka that are part of (or partner with) two companies: MAS Holdings and the Hirdaramani Group.
MAS Holdings was founded in 1987 by three brothers: Mahesh, Ajay and Sharad Amalean. The company began manufacturing lingerie and later expanded to sportswear, swimwear and T-shirts. With factories in 17 countries and roughly 2.4 billion dollars in turnover by 2022, MAS is Sri Lanka’s largest clothing manufacturer. The Amalean brothers are among the wealthiest men in the country.
The company emphatically presents itself as a sustainable clothing manufacturer. For instance, the company promises to emit 25 per cent less CO2 by 2025 than in 2019, and CEO Suren Fernando expects the group to earn half its revenue from sustainable products by then.
In May 2023, MAS received a Presidential Environment Award from President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the company’s commitment to the environment. The company describes the welfare of its employees as ‘its top priority’. On the subject of paying a living wage, the company makes no promises.
In the early 1900s, Parmanand Hirdaramani, then 16 years old, started a clothing shop in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Today, his great-grandson Aroon Hirdaramani runs the Hirdaramani Group, which has grown into an international clothing conglomerate with factories in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam and a turnover of around 900 million US dollars.
Hirdaramani also presents itself as a sustainable producer. The company’s website states: ‘At Hirdaramani, we do the right thing. We have always done that. It’s about making good decisions today that benefit everyone in the long run.’
Since 2019, all Hirdaramani factories in Sri Lanka have been producing climate neutrally. For 2025, the company has set several targets on material use, water use, waste and leadership. Paying a living or higher wage is not a target.
In 2016, Aroon Hirdaramani and his wife Mona surfaced in the Pandora Papers. It emerged that Hirdaramani owned two investment companies in the British Virgin Islands. The reason for this is unclear. The fact is that companies based there do not have to pay tax on income, profits, dividends and interest, among other things.
Patagonia checks whether a factory complies with these standards through independent auditor visits at least once a year, says the brand after being questioned by Follow the Money. Checks are also carried out by the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and FairTrade: two NGOs that provide Patagonia’s manufacturing process and clothing with a sustainability label.
A part of those audits is public. Since 2016, the FLA has publishedassessments of seven Patagonia factories, including three in Vietnam, three in Sri Lanka and one in China. During those inspections, auditors found dozens of violations, varying greatly in severity.
For instance, almost 2000 employees at a factory in Vietnam were paid less for their overtime than what they should have received and employees’ ages were not recorded (thus child labour cannot be ruled out). Another check found out that applicants had to provide their menstrual date. Employees told the interviewers they were not allowed to become pregnant in the first six months of their employment. Less serious violations dealt with issues such as working without protective equipment, blocked emergency exits, or a lack of policies on harassment or discrimination.
One problem crops up in every report. Textile workers in factories manufacturing clothes for Patagonia work far longer hours than legally permitted: up to 17 hours a day and more than 80 hours a week, well beyond what is permissible according to Patagonia’s code of conduct.
‘Long working hours with insufficient breaks often lead to health problems,’ the Clean Clothes Campaign recently wrote about this issue. ‘Managers pressure employees to work 10- to 12-hour and sometimes even 16- to 18-hour days. The number of hours increases as the deadline approaches. Those who protest are simply fired. Moreover, workers depend on overtime to supplement their low wages.’
At the Regal Image factory in Sri Lanka, manager Fernando assures that his employees work a maximum of five days a week and 10 hours a day. But during the tour, a line manager starts talking about the duration of his shift: from eight in the morning to a quarter to 10 in the evening – almost 14 hours. ‘It’s busy,’ says Fernando, casually.
‘This is what the fast-fashion model does,’ says Smelik. ‘Brands want their products to be in store within a few weeks. So when a factory receives an order from such a brand, the production targets and overtime skyrocket.’
Now, almost 20 years later, she knows Sri Lankan labour law like the back of her hand. Her office is a hexagon with five windows, all open. Textile workers from nearby factories approach her via these windows to greet her or ask for help.
When a transman walks past, she says, ‘He applied to MAS Shadowline [one of Patagonia’s suppliers, ed] a month ago. They said they didn’t want him because he is transgender. He can’t get work anywhere. And he cannot go back to his village because he is Muslim. His family will shoot him.’
When about six women wearing yellow MAS polos come and ask for a food parcel, Dandeniya shakes her head. ‘We don’t have enough. Since the country’s economic crisis, some families barely eat two meals a day. How am I supposed to choose who can eat and who can’t?’
That evening, she introduces Priya (31). Priya has been working for MAS Shadowline for almost two years, sewing the side seams on leggings or T-shirts. She makes many clothes for yoga brand Lululemon and for Lacoste (famous through the crocodile logo), but sometimes also for Patagonia.
‘The worst part is the scolding,’ she says in her home a few streets away: a room of about 12 square metres. It contains a double bed, a small kitchenette and a wardrobe. Despite the fan on the wall, it is sweltering hot inside. She shares a toilet and a shower with others.
‘My supervisor’s manager is a terrible man. He touches everyone in a bad way, and if you say you don’t want that, you have a problem. He yells at me if I have to go to the bank or the doctor. “Then who will do the work? Who will meet the target?” And he’s not the only one. They talk to us like we are animals.’
When asked about her production targets, she breathes a deep sigh. ‘The other day, Lululemon placed a huge order, and now everyone is stressed. On the first day, we had to make seventy items per hour, but on the second day, it was suddenly a hundred. Otherwise, we won’t make the delivery date.’ During the working day, she does not drink water so that she does not waste time going to the toilet. Despite this, she seldom meets the target. And that means: no bonus.
Without that bonus, Priya earns 32,000 rupees a month (97 euros). Her room costs 7,000 rupees (21 euros), and a meal 300 rupees (1 euro). She has no money left for other things.
‘Since the crisis, we are increasingly hearing stories from our members of textile workers using drugs,’ says Dandeniya. ‘Also in MAS factories that Patagonia works with. They use it to work faster. Sometimes also against the hunger.’
Chamila Thushari, union leader of Dabindu Collective, confirms the story. ‘They use Ice (Crystal Meth) or Babul.’ She points to her collar and to the sole of her shoe. ‘This is how they smuggle it in. The management knows this happens but allows it. All they care about is production targets are being met.’
An employee of a third union, GTZ-GSEU, confirms that drug use among textile workers in the Free Trade Zone is a problem.
Patagonia says these claims are ‘new’ to them and ‘serious’, but says, without evidence, it cannot comment.
Patagonia wants all people who make clothes to earn a decent wage. In 2015, the company promised that within 10 years, all employees in its supply chain would be earning a living wage that would be enough to live on. That is, enough for food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transport and other essential needs.
With 18 months to go, only 40 per cent of its factories pay a living wage, according to Patagonia. They would not reveal the factories concerned. Suppliers reportedly ‘have the right to maintain their factories’ wage data confidential’.
Patagonia wants all people who make clothes to earn a decent wage. In 2015, the company promised that within 10 years, all employees in its supply chain would be earning a living wage that would be enough to live on. That is, enough for food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transport and other essential needs.
With 18 months to go, only 40 per cent of its factories pay a living wage, according to Patagonia. They would not reveal the factories concerned. Suppliers reportedly ‘have the right to maintain their factories’ wage data confidential’.
To determine a living wage, Patagonia uses the Anker Research Institute’s calculation method. According to that method, you can live decently in urban Sri Lanka if you earn a minimum of 83,231 Sri Lankan rupees (263 euro) a month. Priya’s salary does not even cover half that. And at the recently approved Regal Image print factory, the basic wage is even lower: 21,000 rupees (66 euro), says Fernando.
Thulsi Narayanasamy is frustrated by Patagonia’s approach to sustainability. She is director of advocacy at the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent non-profit organization that monitors and investigates labor conditions in the global apparel and textile industry. ‘Patagonia spends millions on green initiatives. Why can’t they pay the people who make their clothes properly?’
Patagonia says it ‘has no authority over how much textile workers get paid, as they are in no way, shape or form the employer of these workers.’ Narayanasamy, however, is convinced Patagonia can pay a living wage, if the brand would want to. ‘They could bring production in-house or pay more to suppliers that’s ringfenced for wages high enough to achieve a living income. It’s so well established that brand’s pricing practices directly impact wage levels, it’s a fallacy to deny this.’
‘I think we should ask ourselves: why don't clothing brands have their own factories?’ She asks the question, then answers it. 'Brands don't want to be responsible for the people who produce their clothes. All brands benefit from that, including Patagonia.
RESPONSE FROM PATAGONIA When asked why it does not pay its suppliers more for decent wages for workers, Patagonia replied: ‘Relying on one brand to simply cover the gap is a band-aid solution and does not serve the factory in the long run. If the one brand that pays the gap were to leave the factory, then those wages for workers would go away, leaving the factory with a shortfall they would not be able to cover. Additionally, if the brand just writes a check to the factory, then there is no guarantee that the money would go towards workers’ wages. The brand has no authority over how much workers get paid as they are in no way, shape or form the employer of those workers.’
About the long working hours, Patagonia says: ‘Excessive overtime is pervasive globally, which is why it is audited regularly. If we find a problem that can be resolved, we work with our factory partners to implement sustainable solutions. This can take many years, but we find this is the best outcome for the workers and the factory.’
In response to the allegations about drug use among textile workers, Patagonia says: ‘These are serious and new allegations, however without evidence, we are not able to comment on them. We are continuing to conduct our ongoing monitoring program and we remain committed to addressing systemic issues to ensure workers’ wellbeing across our supply chain.’
Link to the article: https://www.ftm.eu/articles/sustainable-clothing-brand-patagonia-uses-same-suppliers-fast-fashion-brands-do-workers-exploited?share=p8cq84oSmbUiJtEQUObUZSPZh8ZNReEKHj0wGJnBMQUMqLcwK9PC1kpMJCev5Mo%3D%26utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebuttonnietleden&utm_source=linkbutton
submitted by TinyFlan4013 to PatagoniaClothing [link] [comments]
"Sustainable clothing brand Patagonia manufactures in the same factories as fast-fashion; textile workers are being exploited"
Clothing brand Patagonia seems to be doing everything right: for its employees, for the people who make the clothes and for the environment. The company’s image – they say they’re in business to save our home planet – is very different from fast-fashion brands like asos, Primark and Nike. But Patagonia’s clothes are manufactured in exactly the same factories and under the same deplorable conditions.
When Yvon Chouinard started creating climbing equipment in his parents’ backyard in Burbank, California, he used steel. Soon he earned a reputation for making the ‘best’ climbing equipment in America. But every time a climber slammed one of those steel pegs into a rock, the gap got a little bigger and eventually unusable. Chouinard realised he was making money by destroying the rocks and therefore also the sport. And so he switched to aluminium blocks, which did not damagethe rocks.
The change was expensive and risky for the young company, but the moral dilemma was reason enough for Chouinard to implement the change. And to be very outspoken about it. It was a success: within a year, 40 per cent of the US climbing community stopped using steel.
Chouinard applied this experience when he started the outdoor brand Patagonia in 1973. He wanted to make only high-quality clothing that would last. And limit the impact on the environment as much as possible. In 1996, the brand switched to 100 per cent organic cotton, only to increasingly replace it with recycled materials. But the responsibility that Chouinard attributed to the company extended further.
In 2002 he decided to give one per cent of sales to environmental organisations every year. In 2011, Patagonia placed a full-page ad in the New York Times calling on consumers to ‘not buy this jacket’ in order to draw attention to the problematic nature of overconsumption in the clothing industry.
In addition, the clothing had to be manufactured fairly: in 2012, the top of the company made paying living wages to everyone who makes Patagonia products a ‘priority’. In 2020, Patagonia launched a campaign encouraging consumers to demand more from clothing brands: ‘Demand recycled. Demand organic. Demand Fair Trade,’ Patagonia urged its viewers.
In 2022, the then 84-year-old Chouinard caused worldwide astonishment, when he gave away 98 per cent of his shares to a newly formed NGO, the Holdfast Collective, which is ‘committed in its fight against the environmental crisis and protecting nature.’ Henceforth, the company’s profits would no longer flow to himself or his children but to the climate. ‘Earth is now our only shareholder,’ Chouinard said. Billionaire gives company away to climate, newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian reported*.*
This construction saved the NGO an estimated 700 million dollars that Chouinard would have had to pay in tax if he had sold the company and donated the proceeds to the same NGO. But according to Chouinard, this option allowed him to do something else: protect Patagonia’s values. Because he did not give the voting shares to Holdfast Collective but to a family trust. This allows his family to continue determining the company’s direction.
The company’s turnover – its European headquarters are in Amsterdam − grew by more than 50 per cent that year to about 1.5 billion dollars.
The actions earned Patagonia an image as being the ultimate sustainable frontrunner. In April, Time Magazine named Chouinard one of the world’s 100 most influential people. ‘Patagonia is a company people look up to in awe,’ the magazine wrote.
The complete opposite of Patagonia is a company like Primark. The Irish retail chain is known for selling on-trend low-quality clothes at low prices. Its revenue model is based on mass: high volumes with low margins.
Primark continuously creates new garment collections designed to be worn only a few times, after which they fall apart. The company uses advertising, clearance sales and influencers to urge consumers to keep buying as much as possible.
Media regularly report on the subsequent consequences. One, in particular, is that the people who make the clothes suffer from high production pressure at low cost. ‘Primark supplier accused of locking up factory workers in Myanmar protests,’ The Guardian headline read in 2021. That same year, The Clean Clothes Campaign NGO wrote: ‘Primark uses pandemic to put further pressure on factory workers in manufacturing countries.’
Patagonia and Primark seem like two extremes on the slow versus fast-fashion spectrum. Yet the brands have something in common. Some of their clothing is manufactured in the exact same factory.
PATAGONIA IN AMSTERDAM In 2014, Patagonia moved its European headquarters from Annecy town in the French Alps to Amsterdam. Reflecting on this, current CEO Ryan Gellert told the city marketing website I Amsterdam: ‘We established headquarters here in 2014 because we wanted a place where we could attract and retain pan-European and global talent, [...] and where there was an active community working on sustainability issues. As we searched potential locations across Europe, Amsterdam remained high on our list.’
According to Tax Law Professor Jan van de Streek, tax benefits may also have played a role in the choice of the Netherlands. This is because Patagonia did not register in the Netherlands as a BV but as a cooperative with two US members: Patagonia International Inc and Patagonia Global LLC. ‘Why choose something as strange as a cooperative structure?’ Van de Streek remarks to Follow the Money. ‘Because it is exempt from dividend tax. I think it’s naive to think there’s any other reason for that.’
Responding to questions about this, Patagonia said: ‘Since its inception, Patagonia Europe Coöperatief has paid regular corporate income taxes in all European countries where we do business, including the Netherlands, and has never used the tax efficiencies of a cooperative.’
‘At the suggestion of our advisors', Patagonia chose a cooperative structure ‘because it's the most flexible type of entity that suited our business purpose. However, Patagonia has chosen not to pursue any of the tax advantages available under the cooperative entity type. Patagonia Europe has not paid dividends to its parent company.'
‘No difference’
That factory is called Regal Image and is located in Sri Lanka. To be precise, in the Free Trade Zone of Katunayake, less than two kilometres from the international airport. The industrial estate is guarded 24/7 by Sri Lankan police. Access is only possible with a special pass.In the factory hall, there are long tables with pieces of white fabric on them. An employee walks past with sea-green paint and a stencil forming the letters ‘asics’. Further along, a machine prints a grey logo on a purple tank top for Decathlon.
‘So far, we don’t really notice any difference between working with Patagonia and working with Primark or Decathlon,’ says Kevin Fernando. Fernando is the manager at the factory, which dyes, prints or embroiders logos and prints on fabrics. Regal Image was recently approved as a supplier to Patagonia, a process that took nine months. Fernando shows the designs for the 2024 summer collection. Light blue fabric features ‘Patagonia’ in pink letters, and a rainbow is printed on orange fabric.
‘Like most clothing companies, we do not make our products, nor do we own any of the factories that do,’ Patagonia writes on its website about the decision to outsource the manufacturing process. ‘We design, test, market and sell Patagonia gear. These are our areas of strength. We pay other companies [...] to produce fabrics and do the actual cutting and sewing.’
‘No control over working conditions’
Patagonia promises to only partner with factories that are ‘like-minded’ and who share their ‘philosophy.’ Patagonia has found sixty-one suitable factories: two in the US, one in Portugal and the remainder in 12 different low-wage countries. The bulk of the products are made in Vietnam and Sri Lanka.At least two-thirds of the factories that manufacture Patagonia clothing also work for clothing brands that, according to the consumer website Good on You, have little or no sustainability policies in place (Patagonia itself is touted by Good on You as sustainable). This is evident from an analysis by Follow the Money based on data from Open Supply Hub, which aims to make supply chains in the clothing industry more transparent.
One day people make clothing for Patagonia, and the next day, they make items for brands such as GAP, Levi Strauss, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Amer Sports, Asics, US department store chain Target, e-commerce platform Amazon, supermarket Aldi and fast-fashion icons ASOS, Boohoo, H&M and Zara.
‘How is this possible?’ visual culture professor Anneke Smelik responds. Smelik researches sustainable fashion at Radboud University. ‘I know Patagonia as the most sustainable brand out there. I expected them to manufacture in small factories close to home. This means they have absolutely no control over working conditions.’
PATAGONIA IN SRI LANKA Patagonia works with 14 factories in Sri Lanka that are part of (or partner with) two companies: MAS Holdings and the Hirdaramani Group.
MAS Holdings was founded in 1987 by three brothers: Mahesh, Ajay and Sharad Amalean. The company began manufacturing lingerie and later expanded to sportswear, swimwear and T-shirts. With factories in 17 countries and roughly 2.4 billion dollars in turnover by 2022, MAS is Sri Lanka’s largest clothing manufacturer. The Amalean brothers are among the wealthiest men in the country.
The company emphatically presents itself as a sustainable clothing manufacturer. For instance, the company promises to emit 25 per cent less CO2 by 2025 than in 2019, and CEO Suren Fernando expects the group to earn half its revenue from sustainable products by then.
In May 2023, MAS received a Presidential Environment Award from President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the company’s commitment to the environment. The company describes the welfare of its employees as ‘its top priority’. On the subject of paying a living wage, the company makes no promises.
In the early 1900s, Parmanand Hirdaramani, then 16 years old, started a clothing shop in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Today, his great-grandson Aroon Hirdaramani runs the Hirdaramani Group, which has grown into an international clothing conglomerate with factories in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam and a turnover of around 900 million US dollars.
Hirdaramani also presents itself as a sustainable producer. The company’s website states: ‘At Hirdaramani, we do the right thing. We have always done that. It’s about making good decisions today that benefit everyone in the long run.’
Since 2019, all Hirdaramani factories in Sri Lanka have been producing climate neutrally. For 2025, the company has set several targets on material use, water use, waste and leadership. Paying a living or higher wage is not a target.
In 2016, Aroon Hirdaramani and his wife Mona surfaced in the Pandora Papers. It emerged that Hirdaramani owned two investment companies in the British Virgin Islands. The reason for this is unclear. The fact is that companies based there do not have to pay tax on income, profits, dividends and interest, among other things.
Sixteen-hour workdays
Eligibility to manufacture Patagonia products requires a supplier to meet a list of sustainability criteria. Those criteria are set out in a code of conduct for suppliers. For example, child labour, forced labour, or physical, sexual or verbal harassment are not allowed. All national laws must be respected. Suppliers must respect workers’ right to freedom of association, may not force workers to work overtime and must ensure healthy working conditions. Working weeks of more than 60 hours or more than six days in a row is not acceptable to Patagonia.Patagonia checks whether a factory complies with these standards through independent auditor visits at least once a year, says the brand after being questioned by Follow the Money. Checks are also carried out by the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and FairTrade: two NGOs that provide Patagonia’s manufacturing process and clothing with a sustainability label.
A part of those audits is public. Since 2016, the FLA has publishedassessments of seven Patagonia factories, including three in Vietnam, three in Sri Lanka and one in China. During those inspections, auditors found dozens of violations, varying greatly in severity.
For instance, almost 2000 employees at a factory in Vietnam were paid less for their overtime than what they should have received and employees’ ages were not recorded (thus child labour cannot be ruled out). Another check found out that applicants had to provide their menstrual date. Employees told the interviewers they were not allowed to become pregnant in the first six months of their employment. Less serious violations dealt with issues such as working without protective equipment, blocked emergency exits, or a lack of policies on harassment or discrimination.
One problem crops up in every report. Textile workers in factories manufacturing clothes for Patagonia work far longer hours than legally permitted: up to 17 hours a day and more than 80 hours a week, well beyond what is permissible according to Patagonia’s code of conduct.
‘Long working hours with insufficient breaks often lead to health problems,’ the Clean Clothes Campaign recently wrote about this issue. ‘Managers pressure employees to work 10- to 12-hour and sometimes even 16- to 18-hour days. The number of hours increases as the deadline approaches. Those who protest are simply fired. Moreover, workers depend on overtime to supplement their low wages.’
At the Regal Image factory in Sri Lanka, manager Fernando assures that his employees work a maximum of five days a week and 10 hours a day. But during the tour, a line manager starts talking about the duration of his shift: from eight in the morning to a quarter to 10 in the evening – almost 14 hours. ‘It’s busy,’ says Fernando, casually.
‘This is what the fast-fashion model does,’ says Smelik. ‘Brands want their products to be in store within a few weeks. So when a factory receives an order from such a brand, the production targets and overtime skyrocket.’
‘They talk to us like we are animals’
The office of Stand Up Lanka, a union led by Ashila Niroshine Dandeniya, is located just outside the Free-Trade Zone. She started working in a MAS factory, part of MAS Holdings that is a supplier to Patagonia, in 2003. Her colleagues elected her to represent them as a member of the factory’s employees council. But when she addressed the matter of wages, she was fired. She challenged her dismissal, got compensation, and discovered that there were laws in place to protect people like her.Now, almost 20 years later, she knows Sri Lankan labour law like the back of her hand. Her office is a hexagon with five windows, all open. Textile workers from nearby factories approach her via these windows to greet her or ask for help.
When a transman walks past, she says, ‘He applied to MAS Shadowline [one of Patagonia’s suppliers, ed] a month ago. They said they didn’t want him because he is transgender. He can’t get work anywhere. And he cannot go back to his village because he is Muslim. His family will shoot him.’
When about six women wearing yellow MAS polos come and ask for a food parcel, Dandeniya shakes her head. ‘We don’t have enough. Since the country’s economic crisis, some families barely eat two meals a day. How am I supposed to choose who can eat and who can’t?’
That evening, she introduces Priya (31). Priya has been working for MAS Shadowline for almost two years, sewing the side seams on leggings or T-shirts. She makes many clothes for yoga brand Lululemon and for Lacoste (famous through the crocodile logo), but sometimes also for Patagonia.
‘The worst part is the scolding,’ she says in her home a few streets away: a room of about 12 square metres. It contains a double bed, a small kitchenette and a wardrobe. Despite the fan on the wall, it is sweltering hot inside. She shares a toilet and a shower with others.
‘My supervisor’s manager is a terrible man. He touches everyone in a bad way, and if you say you don’t want that, you have a problem. He yells at me if I have to go to the bank or the doctor. “Then who will do the work? Who will meet the target?” And he’s not the only one. They talk to us like we are animals.’
When asked about her production targets, she breathes a deep sigh. ‘The other day, Lululemon placed a huge order, and now everyone is stressed. On the first day, we had to make seventy items per hour, but on the second day, it was suddenly a hundred. Otherwise, we won’t make the delivery date.’ During the working day, she does not drink water so that she does not waste time going to the toilet. Despite this, she seldom meets the target. And that means: no bonus.
Without that bonus, Priya earns 32,000 rupees a month (97 euros). Her room costs 7,000 rupees (21 euros), and a meal 300 rupees (1 euro). She has no money left for other things.
‘Since the crisis, we are increasingly hearing stories from our members of textile workers using drugs,’ says Dandeniya. ‘Also in MAS factories that Patagonia works with. They use it to work faster. Sometimes also against the hunger.’
Chamila Thushari, union leader of Dabindu Collective, confirms the story. ‘They use Ice (Crystal Meth) or Babul.’ She points to her collar and to the sole of her shoe. ‘This is how they smuggle it in. The management knows this happens but allows it. All they care about is production targets are being met.’
An employee of a third union, GTZ-GSEU, confirms that drug use among textile workers in the Free Trade Zone is a problem.
Patagonia says these claims are ‘new’ to them and ‘serious’, but says, without evidence, it cannot comment.
A living wage
That Patagonia, known for being sustainable, has its clothes manufactured in the same factories as other much less sustainable brands is seen as an advantage by the company. ‘Patagonia has a powerful brand voice, but we are a quite small player in the apparel sector. Therefore, we are always looking for ways to scale our impact and to elevate the industry standards across the board, bringing other apparel retailers along on the journey with us. So, continuing to engage in shared production facilities is crucial to this work.’Patagonia wants all people who make clothes to earn a decent wage. In 2015, the company promised that within 10 years, all employees in its supply chain would be earning a living wage that would be enough to live on. That is, enough for food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transport and other essential needs.
With 18 months to go, only 40 per cent of its factories pay a living wage, according to Patagonia. They would not reveal the factories concerned. Suppliers reportedly ‘have the right to maintain their factories’ wage data confidential’.
Patagonia wants all people who make clothes to earn a decent wage. In 2015, the company promised that within 10 years, all employees in its supply chain would be earning a living wage that would be enough to live on. That is, enough for food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transport and other essential needs.
With 18 months to go, only 40 per cent of its factories pay a living wage, according to Patagonia. They would not reveal the factories concerned. Suppliers reportedly ‘have the right to maintain their factories’ wage data confidential’.
To determine a living wage, Patagonia uses the Anker Research Institute’s calculation method. According to that method, you can live decently in urban Sri Lanka if you earn a minimum of 83,231 Sri Lankan rupees (263 euro) a month. Priya’s salary does not even cover half that. And at the recently approved Regal Image print factory, the basic wage is even lower: 21,000 rupees (66 euro), says Fernando.
Thulsi Narayanasamy is frustrated by Patagonia’s approach to sustainability. She is director of advocacy at the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent non-profit organization that monitors and investigates labor conditions in the global apparel and textile industry. ‘Patagonia spends millions on green initiatives. Why can’t they pay the people who make their clothes properly?’
Patagonia says it ‘has no authority over how much textile workers get paid, as they are in no way, shape or form the employer of these workers.’ Narayanasamy, however, is convinced Patagonia can pay a living wage, if the brand would want to. ‘They could bring production in-house or pay more to suppliers that’s ringfenced for wages high enough to achieve a living income. It’s so well established that brand’s pricing practices directly impact wage levels, it’s a fallacy to deny this.’
‘I think we should ask ourselves: why don't clothing brands have their own factories?’ She asks the question, then answers it. 'Brands don't want to be responsible for the people who produce their clothes. All brands benefit from that, including Patagonia.
RESPONSE FROM PATAGONIA When asked why it does not pay its suppliers more for decent wages for workers, Patagonia replied: ‘Relying on one brand to simply cover the gap is a band-aid solution and does not serve the factory in the long run. If the one brand that pays the gap were to leave the factory, then those wages for workers would go away, leaving the factory with a shortfall they would not be able to cover. Additionally, if the brand just writes a check to the factory, then there is no guarantee that the money would go towards workers’ wages. The brand has no authority over how much workers get paid as they are in no way, shape or form the employer of those workers.’
About the long working hours, Patagonia says: ‘Excessive overtime is pervasive globally, which is why it is audited regularly. If we find a problem that can be resolved, we work with our factory partners to implement sustainable solutions. This can take many years, but we find this is the best outcome for the workers and the factory.’
In response to the allegations about drug use among textile workers, Patagonia says: ‘These are serious and new allegations, however without evidence, we are not able to comment on them. We are continuing to conduct our ongoing monitoring program and we remain committed to addressing systemic issues to ensure workers’ wellbeing across our supply chain.’
Link to the article: https://www.ftm.eu/articles/sustainable-clothing-brand-patagonia-uses-same-suppliers-fast-fashion-brands-do-workers-exploited?share=p8cq84oSmbUiJtEQUObUZSPZh8ZNReEKHj0wGJnBMQUMqLcwK9PC1kpMJCev5Mo%3D%26utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebuttonnietleden&utm_source=linkbutton
2023.06.10 12:21 MasterofKami [LFA] For my Fallen Aasimar Samurai Fighter / Gloomstalker Ranger Esra! See more details in the comments.
![[LFA] For my Fallen Aasimar Samurai Fighter / Gloomstalker Ranger Esra! See more details in the comments.](https://preview.redd.it/ifyl0ugo265b1.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=d6cf99c5019ca3d1b21455878907d36491199170 "[LFA] For my Fallen Aasimar Samurai Fighter / Gloomstalker Ranger Esra! See more details in the comments.") | submitted by MasterofKami to characterdrawing [link] [comments] |
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2023.06.10 12:16 Salty-Fix-5716 GW sells metal minis again!
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2023.06.10 12:09 Survivor-117 Advice on covering wall murals
 | I’m trying to decorate the spare room at my new place and I notice there are thick lines in the paint on the walls. Some aggressive sanding had revealed it used to be a child’s bedroom and there are murals all over the walls, outlined in thick black paint (here’s a wall with Pinocchio’s face on). What is the best option for dealing with this as I don’t want these lines on my walls? A Basecoat and lots of layers of paint? Skim coat the whole thing so there’s a flat surface? submitted by Survivor-117 to DIYUK [link] [comments] |
2023.06.10 11:59 Ssauze Anyway to make stalker anomaly more fun and not annoying?
Bit of a hot take but ive tried anomaly so many times and i just cant really get into it, i find myself just running around cordon doing pointless tasks and getting frustrated. I prefer the original games a lot more than anomaly as i have a proper goal and i feel like im actually a part of the loner stalkers. In anomaly it feels kinda dead. I also like the simplicity of the original games like not having a body health system, here in anomaly u get hit once by a psy dog and ur screen just starts turning black.
Is there any modpacks or mod thats immersive but still close to the original stalker experience ive tried efp and gamma but i wasnt a huge fan, they also didnt run great for some reason. maybe i could turn off body health in gamma and that would be more fun. any suggestions?
submitted by Ssauze to stalker [link] [comments]
Is there any modpacks or mod thats immersive but still close to the original stalker experience ive tried efp and gamma but i wasnt a huge fan, they also didnt run great for some reason. maybe i could turn off body health in gamma and that would be more fun. any suggestions?
2023.06.10 11:57 marlsbrutal Help with determining if this is a defect or if it’s acceptable.
 | So I bought this Jimmy Choo X Sailor Moon collaboration piece in March this year. I was told it’s the last piece in the region so I didn’t mind the wait and the price I was paying. Upon receiving it receiving it at the boutique store, the first thing I noticed was the black stain on the dust bag, followed by the bad printing and the unevenness of the front where the magnet clipper was. As for the staunch I was told it was a transfer from the paper wrappers ink to the dust bag, and they couldn’t do anything abt it. But you know I just let all these pass since it’s a once in a life time collab and it was the last piece in the region and was a handbag with the most iconic scene in my favourite manga/anime!. submitted by marlsbrutal to handbags [link] [comments] I was excited despite the disappointment, I took it home assuming everything was ok. Took it out a few times to admire it and showed family members but did not intend to wear it out yet. At this point of time I haven’t spotted further defects until…..! One day, I had an dinner event to attend and decided it was an opportunity for me to finally carry the bag, took it out from my closet, and styled with it and when i start putting things into the bag I saw the defects, it was 2 holes at the bottom side and I closely examined again and saw a lacquer stain. This is when I texted my SA and show him what I spotted, he asked me to bring it back which I did. So to cut it short, he gave me 2 options - a refund or to send it to Italy for repair, and I chose the later. About more than a month later, just last week, I got the bag back. The holes are now covered in white paint…I really don’t know how to feel about this, I’m shocked, I didn’t expect this at all ….i feel bad that the SA had gone through some much to try to help me fix the issues. I loved this bag and I’ve been losing sleep over it. I’ve attached some photos here. I told them I needed some time to process it and will give them an answer soon. It’s either a refund or I take it. |
2023.06.10 11:46 _Triple_ [STORE] 900+ KNIVES/GLOVES/SKINS, 50.000$+ INVENTORY. M9 Fade, M4 Poseidon, BFK Freehand, Crimson Kimono, Nomad Fade, Skeleton, Kara Lore, Bayo Autotronic, AWP Fade, Kara Damas, BFK Ultra, Kara Freehand, Kara Bright, M9 Damas, Omega, Tiger Strike, Flip MF, Bayo Tiger, Deagle Blaze, Talon & More
Everything in my inventory is up for trade. The most valuable items are listed here, the rest you can find in My Inventory
Feel free to Add Me or even better send a Trade Offer. Open for any suggestions: upgrades, downgrades / knives, gloves, skins / stickers, patterns, floats.
All Buyouts are listed in cash value.
KNIVES
★ Butterfly Knife Freehand FN #1, B/O: $2500
★ Butterfly Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $822
★ Butterfly Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $616
⎯★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW #1, B/O: $1300
★ Bayonet Autotronic FN, B/O: $1050
★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW, B/O: $629
★ Bayonet Bright Water FT, B/O: $326
★ Bayonet Safari Mesh BS, B/O: $233
⎯★ Karambit Lore FT, B/O: $1110
★ Karambit Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $840
★ Karambit Freehand MW, B/O: $784
★ Karambit Bright Water MW, B/O: $759
⎯★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1801
★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1801
★ M9 Bayonet Damascus Steel FN, B/O: $751
⎯★ Nomad Knife Fade FN, B/O: $1156
★ Nomad Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $544
★ Nomad Knife Blue Steel WW, B/O: $318
⎯★ Flip Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $646
★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $574
★ Flip Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) MW, B/O: $552
★ Flip Knife Case Hardened FT, B/O: $257
★ Flip Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $255
★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $287
⎯★ Huntsman Knife Lore FN, B/O: $461
★ Huntsman Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $436
★ Huntsman Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $353
★ Huntsman Knife Autotronic FT, B/O: $212
★ Huntsman Knife Bright Water FT, B/O: $129
★ Huntsman Knife Forest DDPAT MW, B/O: $129
★ Huntsman Knife Forest DDPAT BS, B/O: $123
★ StatTrak™ Huntsman Knife Rust Coat BS, B/O: $127
⎯★ Bowie Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $375
★ Bowie Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $363
★ Bowie Knife Tiger Tooth FN, B/O: $269
★ Bowie Knife Crimson Web WW, B/O: $192
★ Bowie Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $159
★ Bowie Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $126
⎯★ Stiletto Knife Slaughter FN, B/O: $616
★ Stiletto Knife Crimson Web FT, B/O: $412
★ StatTrak™ Stiletto Knife Night Stripe FT, B/O: $227
⎯★ Falchion Knife Lore FT, B/O: $214
★ Falchion Knife Autotronic FT, B/O: $192
★ Falchion Knife Scorched WW, B/O: $105
⎯★ Survival Knife Crimson Web BS, B/O: $216
★ Survival Knife Case Hardened FT, B/O: $198
★ Survival Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $111
⎯★ Shadow Daggers Fade FN, B/O: $368
★ Shadow Daggers Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $228
★ Shadow Daggers, B/O: $201
★ Shadow Daggers Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $108
★ Shadow Daggers Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $105
★ Shadow Daggers Black Laminate FT, B/O: $99
★ Shadow Daggers Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $85
⎯★ Gut Knife Doppler (Sapphire) MW #1, B/O: $1700
★ Gut Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $223
★ Gut Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $203
★ Gut Knife Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $191
★ Gut Knife Case Hardened BS, B/O: $127
⎯★ Navaja Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $199
★ Navaja Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $199
★ Navaja Knife, B/O: $138
★ Navaja Knife Damascus Steel FN, B/O: $111
⎯★ Classic Knife Urban Masked FT, B/O: $146
★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Stained BS, B/O: $168
⎯★ Ursus Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $476
★ Ursus Knife, B/O: $375
⎯★ Skeleton Knife, B/O: $1137
★ Talon Knife, B/O: $608
★ Paracord Knife, B/O: $305
★ Survival Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97
GLOVES
★ Moto Gloves Transport MW, B/O: $204
★ Moto Gloves Polygon BS, B/O: $142
★ Moto Gloves Blood Pressure BS, B/O: $84
★ Moto Gloves Blood Pressure BS, B/O: $84
★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $63
★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $63
⎯★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono WW, B/O: $1215
★ Specialist Gloves Tiger Strike FT, B/O: $672
★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander FT, B/O: $305
★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander BS, B/O: $140
★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Web BS, B/O: $137
★ Specialist Gloves Buckshot FT, B/O: $75
⎯★ Driver Gloves Crimson Weave FT, B/O: $359
★ Driver Gloves Imperial Plaid BS, B/O: $229
★ Driver Gloves Overtake BS, B/O: $77
★ Driver Gloves Racing Green FT, B/O: $48
⎯★ Sport Gloves Omega FT, B/O: $739
★ Sport Gloves Amphibious BS #2, B/O: $733
★ Sport Gloves Arid BS, B/O: $292
⎯★ Hand Wraps Giraffe MW, B/O: $212
★ Hand Wraps Leather FT, B/O: $160
★ Hand Wraps Desert Shamagh MW, B/O: $101
⎯★ Broken Fang Gloves Yellow-banded MW, B/O: $185
★ Broken Fang Gloves Needle Point FT, B/O: $67
★ Broken Fang Gloves Needle Point WW, B/O: $59
⎯★ Hydra Gloves Case Hardened BS, B/O: $65
★ Hydra Gloves Emerald FT, B/O: $65
★ Hydra Gloves Emerald BS, B/O: $62
WEAPONS
AK-47 Case Hardened BS, B/O: $130
AK-47 Bloodsport MW, B/O: $79
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Bloodsport FT, B/O: $70
AK-47 Neon Rider MW, B/O: $60
StatTrak™ AK-47 Aquamarine Revenge FT, B/O: $72
⎯AWP Fade FN, B/O: $1039
AWP Asiimov FT, B/O: $139
AWP Asiimov FT, B/O: $139
AWP Wildfire MW, B/O: $95
AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $93
AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $93
AWP Duality FN, B/O: $81
AWP Asiimov BS, B/O: $79
AWP Asiimov BS, B/O: $79
AWP Chromatic Aberration FN, B/O: $60
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $68
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $68
StatTrak™ AWP Electric Hive FT, B/O: $55
⎯Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $623
Desert Eagle Emerald Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $241
Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $81
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Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $81
Desert Eagle Printstream FT, B/O: $54
⎯M4A1-S Blue Phosphor FN, B/O: $434
StatTrak™ M4A1-S Bright Water MW, B/O: $55
⎯M4A4 Poseidon FN, B/O: $1465
M4A4 Asiimov BS, B/O: $55
M4A4 Hellfire MW, B/O: $50
⎯USP-S Kill Confirmed MW, B/O: $72
USP-S Printstream FT, B/O: $69
StatTrak™ USP-S Kill Confirmed FT, B/O: $139
⎯AUG Flame Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $234
P90 Run and Hide FT, B/O: $147
Five-SeveN Candy Apple FN, B/O: $61
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2023.06.10 11:37 MYPRESSUREVESSEL Steam heating reaction pot, heat transfer oil heating, use heat to the heating reaction of the reaction pot kettle Wuxi Mingyan Petrochemical 008615720699140.
Steam heating reaction pot, heat transfer oil heating, use heat to the heating reaction of the reaction pot kettle Wuxi Mingyan Petrochemical 008615720699140.
Steam heating reaction pot, heat transfer oil heating, use heat to the heating reaction of the reaction pot kettle Wuxi Mingyan Petrochemical 008615720699140.
Steam heating reaction pot or heat transfer oil circulating heating reaction
The outer wall of the pot is a jacket, and the heat transfer oil or steam warms the outer wall of the reactor in the jacket, conducts heat through the inner wall, and warms the materials in the reactor.
The jacket reacts with steam heating
The kettle and jacketed heat transfer oil are heated in the body in the stainless steel reaction pot, far-infrared heating reaction pot, and the electric heating rod heating heat transfer oil heating reaction stick.
The meaning of the reaction pot is made of silk such as lid, jacket, agitator, shaft encapsulation and support, and the gas should be evenly made of copper and iron to make iron and iron at the contact point of the inside of the pot.
Reactor use: This equipment is suitable for the reaction concentration reduction of medicine, food, light industry, chemical and other liquid materials. Structure and characteristics: according to the nature of the material, reaction. inside of the pot can be made of carbon steel or rust steel. There are four kinds of heat, such as electric heating rod for biological heat conduction, steaming and far-infrared heating, etc., but should be combined into the pot by the pot
The body lid, agitator, transmission shaft, and shaft are placed in the dragon movement suit, and placed in the preparation of the complementary body. This predicate is also true. If there is no reason for the material empty pot in the pot, the hot power supply and heating oil jacket cannot be turned on for testing. It also happens that the heat conduction of the jade ring is so large that the steam heating method cannot be used.
submitted by MYPRESSUREVESSEL to u/MYPRESSUREVESSEL [link] [comments]
Steam heating reaction pot, heat transfer oil heating, use heat to the heating reaction of the reaction pot kettle Wuxi Mingyan Petrochemical 008615720699140.
Steam heating reaction pot or heat transfer oil circulating heating reaction
The outer wall of the pot is a jacket, and the heat transfer oil or steam warms the outer wall of the reactor in the jacket, conducts heat through the inner wall, and warms the materials in the reactor.
The jacket reacts with steam heating
The kettle and jacketed heat transfer oil are heated in the body in the stainless steel reaction pot, far-infrared heating reaction pot, and the electric heating rod heating heat transfer oil heating reaction stick.
The meaning of the reaction pot is made of silk such as lid, jacket, agitator, shaft encapsulation and support, and the gas should be evenly made of copper and iron to make iron and iron at the contact point of the inside of the pot.
Reactor use: This equipment is suitable for the reaction concentration reduction of medicine, food, light industry, chemical and other liquid materials. Structure and characteristics: according to the nature of the material, reaction. inside of the pot can be made of carbon steel or rust steel. There are four kinds of heat, such as electric heating rod for biological heat conduction, steaming and far-infrared heating, etc., but should be combined into the pot by the pot
The body lid, agitator, transmission shaft, and shaft are placed in the dragon movement suit, and placed in the preparation of the complementary body. This predicate is also true. If there is no reason for the material empty pot in the pot, the hot power supply and heating oil jacket cannot be turned on for testing. It also happens that the heat conduction of the jade ring is so large that the steam heating method cannot be used.
2023.06.10 11:34 linglingviolist [S] [USA-MD] CLA'd Canon New F-1 w/ 50mm 1.4 AND Canon AE-1P w/ 24mm 2.8 - $700 Shipped
Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/LVUlE6n New F-1 CLA Receipt: https://imgur.com/a/RbQljyX
Two Canon FD bodies with two nFD lenses: $700 shipped OBO Open to selling just the AE-1P body for $130 shipped.
I have Steve Swearingen CLA records from the original owner in 2022 for the New F-1 (check below timestamp). Comes with the AE finder (aperture priority), the battery contacts has a common problem where the spring isn't springy anymore, easily fixed with a small foil jacket on the battery. Heavy brassing which really lends itself to the look with black paint, everything works flawlessly. Peak Design anchor from photos not included.
I overhauled the AE-1P in my uni's engineering workshop to clean the electromagnet and lube the gears - never had any squeal problems since. Mirror box was cleaned, I replaced the focusing screen with a NOS one because the original had been scratched by a previous owner. New battery installed.
Lenses: 50mm 1.4 nFD, 24mm 2.8 nFD. Excellent condition lenses with little to no wear, no haze or fungus to speak of and I usually keep a UV filter on the front of both. 24mm will come with a filter, 50mm will come with the filter ring which protects it from bumps.
Bonus: Canon FD-compatible speedlight. Works in tandem with the light meters for both cameras, used this a lot with the 24mm indoors.
New batteries in both, light meters are accurate and I've put several rolls through both without issue. I'll also throw in an extra 2 batteries so they're set for the foreseeable future.
Looking to sell/trade this host of Canon FD kit. I'm open to trades for either a Contax G kit (w/ lens and flash) or a Nikon F2/3 kit, although other trade propositions (35mm/medium format) are welcome.
submitted by linglingviolist to photomarket [link] [comments]
Two Canon FD bodies with two nFD lenses: $700 shipped OBO Open to selling just the AE-1P body for $130 shipped.
I have Steve Swearingen CLA records from the original owner in 2022 for the New F-1 (check below timestamp). Comes with the AE finder (aperture priority), the battery contacts has a common problem where the spring isn't springy anymore, easily fixed with a small foil jacket on the battery. Heavy brassing which really lends itself to the look with black paint, everything works flawlessly. Peak Design anchor from photos not included.
I overhauled the AE-1P in my uni's engineering workshop to clean the electromagnet and lube the gears - never had any squeal problems since. Mirror box was cleaned, I replaced the focusing screen with a NOS one because the original had been scratched by a previous owner. New battery installed.
Lenses: 50mm 1.4 nFD, 24mm 2.8 nFD. Excellent condition lenses with little to no wear, no haze or fungus to speak of and I usually keep a UV filter on the front of both. 24mm will come with a filter, 50mm will come with the filter ring which protects it from bumps.
Bonus: Canon FD-compatible speedlight. Works in tandem with the light meters for both cameras, used this a lot with the 24mm indoors.
New batteries in both, light meters are accurate and I've put several rolls through both without issue. I'll also throw in an extra 2 batteries so they're set for the foreseeable future.
Looking to sell/trade this host of Canon FD kit. I'm open to trades for either a Contax G kit (w/ lens and flash) or a Nikon F2/3 kit, although other trade propositions (35mm/medium format) are welcome.
2023.06.10 11:32 Chad_Unni Why does Vijay have such a humongous fan following in Kerala?
 | Okayyy, before we realize how Vijay has such a huge fan base in Kerala, you need to know about a trend that took place post 1990s. submitted by Chad_Unni to MalayalamMovies [link] [comments] Until the 1990s, Malayalees rarely watched Tamil movies and rarely Tamil movies got released in Kerala. Tamil Cinema prior to mid-1980s had a different movie culture. A very large percentage of its movies were based on Dravidian Nationalism. Whilst Dravidian Nationalism and Kerala’s Renaissance were similar in nature as both were deep-rooted in socialist values of egalitarianism, rejection of orthodoxy, etc.. Tamil Dravidian stories as such were irrelevant in Kerala because it was deeply rooted with Tamil myths as opposed to Kerala's milieu. You can asses it, watching some of the MGR's flicks. It shouldn't come as a surprise when Five CMs from Dravidian parties were actively involved in cinema either as actors or writers. Sivaji Ganesan's 1952 Film \"Parasakthi\" was a 175 day theatrical run BO hit that made radical comments against caste system and glorified Dravidian Movement. However, late 1980s saw several newcomers in the Tamil industry, particularly the rise of trio directors- Balu Mahendra, Bharathiraja and K.Bhagyaraj. They changed the narrative styles of Tamil cinema by the late 1980s. Instead of many traditional rural and Dravidian themes, newer concepts like college based love stories, urban-themed subjects and subjects relevant to middle-class society started coming up. And some of them like Balu Mahendra was a popular filmmaker in Malayalam too. Thus he knew Malayalee sensibilities well. This was the beginning of the amalgamation of Tamil movies into the Kerala society. Movies like "Moondram Pirai" was welcomed grandly in Kerala because of it's universal theme but Malayalam industry wasn't affected as much because late 1980s and early 1990s was a golden age of Malayalam cinema. We were met with revolutionary directors, actors, stories, film techniques etc. However, it didn't last long when Malayalam industry started facing stagnation period which would dominate it from late 90s until the mid 2000s. That's why Appuppan and The Boys have perpetual content. Anyway at the same time, Tamil cinema got a second major boost, post 1992 there was a rise of superhero-centric movies or city-centric movies. In this period more directors like K.S Ravi Kumar, Mani Ratnam, Shankar etc came up and double boosted the Tamil cinema with their extra-ordinary movies. Movies like Roja, Bombay, Baasha, Padayappa had pan Indian appeal and was accepted well in Kerala. Mani Ratnam's 1995 film \"Bombay\" tells an urban inter-religious human relationship against the backdrop of religious tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities. Now, Why does this matter? Because Vijay, Surya, Allu or any non-malayalee actor for that matter, gaining clout in Kerala soil had it's bridge being setup much before their birth and is neither a result of their own nor something that happened out of the blue. Before dwelling on the specifics of Vijay/Allu stardom, there are a couple of reasons that pulled Malayalees to Tamil movies. Lets analyse them
That is when our Magnus Opus A.R Rahman attracted youngsters with songs like Chikku bukku Rayile, Telephone Manipol, Mukkala Mukkabla, Gemini Gemini, etc from Tamil Industry. Our dhaaridhrayam for songs were so bad that we celebrated songs of absolute nonsensical movies. Jassie Gift was our only bragging right back then. Nillu Nillu Ente Neelakuyile, Themma Themmadi kaate being some of them. Other medium, where youngsters took solace in their teenage years were in Malayalam Album songs. Even today, we lack good fast paced songs that is simple for every tongue to sing because our lyrics are too complex. For example, Thallumaala featured many songs that's tough on a foreign tongue, Kayamkulam Kochunni has an item dance sensation Norah Fatehi, and you all know how it sounds. However songs that are simple in lyrics and good music attract outsiders. The best example is Jimmiki Kammal, ollulleru from Ajagajantharam, kudukku from LAD, etc became a sensation outside Kerala. Kaduva's Pala Palli Thiruppalli is a peppy banger and belongs to repetitive song or refrain song genre. A quick internet search gives you the special factor about this genre. Why songs are so relevant? Because songs brought people to the theatres. Up until pre-Jio revolution, it was the most successful way of marketing a movie. Now we've digital posters, teasers, trailers, interviews, PR shows, reviews, trailer's teaser and what not. Heck! Even today, you cannot discard the potency of video songs for theatre occupation. Arabic kuthu (Beast), Ponni Nadhi (PS-1) are some recent examples.
Rajni's 1995 film \"Muthu\" was dubbed in Japanese titled \"Muthu Odoru Maharaja\" gaining him a cult-like status in Japan. Although a remake of 'Thenmavin Kombath', the screenplay was largely re-written to bring in machismo by adding new plot details and characters. We also tried copying the genre and had both ups and downs. Shaji Kailas and Joshiy came at the top mastering this genre but when their films started saturating with similar themes, couple of the subsequent ones bombed at the Box office. Mohanlal, Dileep tried a bit of Rajinikanth in 2000s, only to end up losing BO and finally came back to their common man image. And its again this deficiency which helped Tamil movies. Youngsters wanted action hero movies which are still low in Malayalam, and Tamil movies filled that gap. Whereas such movies aren’t much patronized by Malayalee families. So there is no scope for making such movies in Malayalam. If at all if Malayalee audiences preferred these genres, it had to be rooted with Kerala culture. So you get Feudal stories like Aaram Thampuran, Devasuram which saw protagonists as larger than life. This helped both the sides of the weighing machine. Kerala culture and familiarity for the families and machoism for the youngsters.
An old news report briefly mentions the releasing disparity Meanwhile, Tamil movies enjoyed wider release in Kerala irrespective of A or B or C class theatres. So, many B Class theatres played Tamil movies much longer until they get a new Malayalam release. So people in smaller towns, village areas patronized a lot of Tamil movies. This helped many to be familiar with such movies and enjoy it, which further fuelled more interest leading to the rise of Tamil movie stars fan clubs etc. It was only recently Malayalam industry broke this stupid ritual and embraced the wide releasing culture.
From Tamil, we jumped to Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, we crossed continents to watch movies. It became a socio-cultural zeitgeist for malayalee cinema-praanthanmaar. We weren't defensive about exposing ourselves to different languages and culture that is alien to us. There could be multiple reasons for it. My speculation says it's 'the diversity within our geography, the literacy rate, the limited media culture promoting Hindi through Dooradharshan channels and AIR. Speaking of this, I remember now a globally held filmmaker or someone highly regarded, mention a small place in India called Kerala has the most refined cinema audience. I'm unable to recall his/her name. Anyway....
\"Thalapathi\" a 1991 Indian Tamil-language gangster drama film focused on a universal theme of \"Friendship\" with an ensemble performers from Malayalam industry
A beautiful article where the author recollects her days of watching a movie in a small town. Well, this was how it was perceived by a large segment of audience in the initial inception of cinema but towards the 80s and 90s, the potency started wearing off because "familiarity bred contempt". In order to keep this suspension of disbelief that cinema once offered, Production houses started scaling up their projects with big budget. This led to an extraordinary scale of production values that was unthinkable in Malayalam. Shankar's Jeans (1998) became a talk of the town because of the song that was shot in seven wonders of the world as well as the massive use of VFX that was unheard of that time. Shankar's \"Jeans\" filmed in & around the Pyramids of Giza - Egypt. I'm not sure how much the younglings of this sub can relate to it. We are over exposed to new cultures and worldly experiences through other people's eyes/content in social media, that it has worn out the novelty factor associated to it. But for our predecessors vallapolum ulla big budget cinema was the only source, for this experience. In order to familiarize this cultural gap, I recall this scene from Vettam where Mani's character is in awe over an Elevator that today's world take it for granted and is too mainstream. Something so silly but can provide valuable insights for an anthropologist. Even today, many Tamil movies are patronized for watching something astonishing that we normally can’t see in Malayalam. Forget Tamil cinema, cinephiles everywhere adores commercial cinema with huge set pieces, explosions, destruction, exotic locations, VFX etc.
Combining all these relevant small and big factors, and them actors being at the right place, at the right time led to this humongous fandom. So, it was never completely about Malayalee audience ingratiating the star worship or it being a predicament of unemployment. Nevertheless, it must be a part of a bigger picture but never painted the whole canvas is my point. Now let us try analysing few of the factors that put Vijay on a separate pedestal in Kerala's fan culture. Firstly, Vijay's genetics. He may not be a Greek-God like figure but what he has is a next door boyish charm looks which is the actual selling point, alluding an impression that he's one of us. He has a "rags to riches" synonymous story (not exactly per se but in the initial stages he was dismissed on few differences) which helped even one of our PM for populism, even though the narrative is diluted. Secondly, his over achieving skill sets. His graceful dancing skills hasn't faced a competition in so many decades, songs he has sung has been chartbusters, has great flexibility and athleticism for action performances etc. Next is his Off screen persona and the most important factor here. Before I speak of this, I want you to understand a fact which brings a large audience for an in and out mass masala films (which is a personal umbrella term for me, for every commercial media across the world, from Hollywood's Superhero films to East Asia's Anime) and that is the "Main character syndrome." These mass films cater to this rudimentary feeling in each one of us. As we engage in such a film, the protagonist's real life identity cease to exist and we perceive ourselves on the screen going through all those challenges. Well, this is universal to every actors but in Vijay's case, this event is extended beyond his reel life. He speaks very little in public spaces offering people to make their own assumptions of him (and when he does speak, it ends up as a sensational news). So he is what you think, which is again an extension of you. His humble and down to earth low public profile boosts his brand. Actors who realizes that mass superhero roles are a meagre gateway for a viewer's main character syndrome, will preserve their title for decades. This is why actors like Yash and Prabhas has maintained a low profile despite being at the helm for overexposure after their blockbusters. And the reason why social media stars are quickly forgotten. There's a name for this social adage that I can't recall at the moment. And did I mention about production houses playing their active role in promoting their movies for larger audience in order to recoup their investment? They partner with leading distribution houses in Kerala and make huge promotions. So, even if an actor like Vijay refrained from growing his stardom, the big power houses would do it on his behalf owing to market sentiments. Lastly, Vijay has decent acting chops and had a good career choices ranging from rom-com, action, drama, thriller. His 'Thulladha manavum thullum' and 'Kushi' still holds a special sentimental value among oldies and newbies. His teary eyed roles and humour timing hasn't been awkward as such. Otherwise malayalee audience wouldn't patronize an entertainment only packaged joker. It was post "Ghilli" that he stuck to a single dimensional superhero for cinebiz which after a decade of decent to good script is now showing signs of slowing down from repetitive theme. 23 years of Vijay and Jyothika's \"Kushi\" So, these are the ones that I've observed and if you believe there's another major contributing factor, please pitch in. However, tribalist mentality among clubs and fans aren't the fundamental factor that established their presence in our pop culture but was merely a cherry on the top that cemented their position further deep because tribalist mentality is never about a person or an ideology but about one's own ego. The ego that my opinion can't be wrong. In the coming years, if stars like DQ gain a total control over pan-Indian market, one mustn't hastily conclude it's all owed to his PR or his looks. It could be a contributing factor but the nuances leading to that status is far more oblivious to an average cinephile because it involves a lot of socio-political factors too. The same goes for an institution, a political party, a religion.....the nuances are huge and breaking it down to a single simple factor is a simpleton's way of thinking. This post's information is catalogued from various discussions across the internet, from boomer cinema Facebook groups to RMM. I've tried to archive it at one place. Thank you. |
2023.06.10 11:17 CueBasicBalladeer Hot rod mods, worth it?
I've got an 15yo old cheap epiphone SG, i think it was about $300 AU when bought new, so a real beginner range model. A long time ago, i think something went wrong with it, not exactly sure what, and I thought I'd change the pick ups and things for fun, but had no real idea what I was doing, and gave up at some point.
Without being able to find to much info online - if I wanted to supe this shell up for fun, overall do you think it could be a similar quality guitar than one bought off the rack for $1-2k?
How much do you think it would cost if i WAS able to do it myself (i.e. parts) for a full gutting, and replacement with really good quality but reliable and not exorbitant guts?
Given I still have no idea what I'm doing how much do you think it would cost to have someone supe it up for me?
🎸
submitted by CueBasicBalladeer to guitarmod [link] [comments]
Without being able to find to much info online - if I wanted to supe this shell up for fun, overall do you think it could be a similar quality guitar than one bought off the rack for $1-2k?
How much do you think it would cost if i WAS able to do it myself (i.e. parts) for a full gutting, and replacement with really good quality but reliable and not exorbitant guts?
Given I still have no idea what I'm doing how much do you think it would cost to have someone supe it up for me?
🎸
2023.06.10 11:15 madixienourmous Selling quad og account message me for more info
 | submitted by madixienourmous to FortniteAccountsSale [link] [comments] |