Tumgik
#contains inconsistent capitalization
harpyface · 1 month
Text
My thoughts on the volta do mar
In-game, the Volta do Mar method was created to travel through the pale, being first used in the first successful voyage into the pale. Apparently it took years to develop the method, a "strict psychological regimen imitating the creation process of poetry."
In real life, the volta do mar is a Portuguese (volta do mar is Portuguese for 'Return from the Sea') sailing practice of, in simple words, sailing further out into the sea to avoid sailing directly against the wind and then catching winds that then move in the correct direction (useful since portugal is slightly north of the equator, blah blah wind directions)
While watching a playthrough, Joyce's description of Lely's tattoos reminded me of this 'return from the sea' business. Lely's tattoos are a history of his service, but originally the tattoo was a custom of sailors "mark[ing] their bodies to map their travels." "The sailor's soul would use it to fly back home if they should die abroad. This is a sort of… contraption. To be reeled back in by." If a sailor died, their soul would 'return from the sea'(😮).
The pale is likened to the ocean many times in Disco Elysium, so these tattoos and the volta mantras are very similar. They are linked even more when we see that the tattoo custom was begun "right after the discovery of Insulinde," so the creation of voltas and the creation of this tradition kind of bookend the eighth expedition. Likening the irl volta do mar practice and this in game example got me thinking about how exactly in-game voltas are used and created.
(Interesting note, Joyce describes these tattoos as "the silver cord" linking the soul and home, whereas irl, the concept of the silver cord is supposed to link the soul and the body.)
Personally, the concept that is pale was hard enough for me to grasp (even with it being an established fictional concept with, like, words to describe it.) It's "the opposite of reality," it's a property that suspends other properties, and it can damage human minds. According to Joyce, dialectical materialists argue that "pale somehow *consists* of past information, that's degrading. That it's rarefied past, not rarefied matter."
"They call it the *blend-over of the self*. The pale does not only suspend the laws of physics, but also the laws of psychology, maybe History, even… The human mind becomes over-radiated by past."
We can assume that this 'blend-over of the self' is true because of the Paledriver, who is observably pale-radiated and lost in worlds in lives that her body hasn't lived.
Operating on this theory, the pale is made of information, and I would also like to argue that pale is made of not only past information, but also future information, and information about alternate timelines.
In the moralist vision quest, we hear entroponetic crosstalk of Kim from the future *and* arguably an alternate timeline if he ends up in the hospital and doesn't end up at the islet. So pale is basically all information and possibilities.
The only explicit example of a Volta do Mar is from the Insulindian Miracle thought, and it's song lyrics from What If by Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld. This thought establishes that voltas are 1) Taught in schools and 2) Repeated like mantras while travelling. The voltas aren't mentioned in Sacred and Terrible Air, by name at least. Zigi does sing Helvetti, by Kauko Röyhkä & Riku Mattila, in pale, but that's explicitly a song and not a poem, and obviously he doesn't need to resist the effects of the pale (and if fact doesn't want to drive away the pale, based on his reaction to Nilsen's 'Communism is white' speech when it started to ward off the surrounding pale.)
When Joyce says that the method is a "strict psychological regimen imitating the creation process of poetry," my thinking was that it can't be as simple as reciting poetry while travelling through the pale. It might be, but wouldn't the process *be* the process of creating poetry and not 'imitating' it? Of course, it could just be referencing the research it took for the explorers to be able to safely traverse the pale, but I wasn't satisfied with that.
(I'll admit, when I first began building this theory, I didn't know that we had an explicit example of a volta, and it stumped me for a bit, but I think it works still.)
I've seen interpretations in which the poetic nonsense of voltas force the person to focus on reality/on their own mind, to focus on the next word in the sequence. But using the real world volta do mar technique as a base, I started building my own theory by considering that the voltas mirror the technique of the irl volta do mar. Voltas would be  performed by a person going deeper into the pale (whether mentally or physically) in order to somehow escape the effects more easily.
Having already established that the pale is information, it makes sense that the way to manoeuvre it would be via words and concepts. Prior to remembering The Insulindian Miracle thought, my theory was that, instead of pilots being *taught* previously written mantras, they were taught to create poetry while immersed in the pale. The pilot's mind would then grasp the floating information that is pale to string the words together into a distinct phrase/poem, intentionally going deeper into the pale to get enough material to work with. With the resulting phrase, it would be grounding enough to bring the pilot back to reality.
However, all of that is irrelevant when you consider the volta that Harry was taught.
Or is it?
The Insulindian Miracle solution says that "you were taught it at school. It is one of the Volta do Mar mantras repeated on the voyage that lead to the discovery of the Insulindian isola." I could interpret it as saying that voltas are written in advance, or that *historical* voltas are taught in grade school, just like we're taught historical documents or literature. Maybe children of Revachol are taught about the voltas that the discoverers of their isola used simply for academic knowledge. 
And as Joyce says, the Volta do Mar is also used by "other troubled souls even to this day." Ordinary people may not have access to the bank of information that is the pale, but they do have their own troubling thoughts that they can pick words and concepts from to still go through the same process that I've described in order to calm themselves or relieve stress.
I do want to analyse Kim's Volta do Mar skill at a later time using all of this, but right now this is what I have to offer :)
(An excellent post that I was inspired by is about the connection between water and memories by @/57sfinest, which I would like to briefly reference at the end of all this analysis. Imagine it as a triangle, one point is the ocean that the sailor's souls would have to return from (or the irl ocean that the volta do mar was used for, if you like), the second point is the past and memories, and the third point is the pale, the "rarefied past." It's all connected.)
111 notes · View notes
moltengoldveins · 2 months
Text
ok but I have Thoughts about the way Minecraft usernames translate to actual names, both irl and in fanfic. They’re definitely ‘obsessed with structure and grumpy at inconsistency flavor autism’ thoughts but still. I find it weird how we cut and paste the media we’re given to fit what we view as functional worldbuilding, and how that gets screwy when translating online names.
like, you’re working with several categories here. The person’s actual real name, their irl nickname, their gamer tag, a name possibly contained by or possibly the entirety of that gamer tag, and any extra pieces or symbols in the gamer tag. And you have the weird situation where those categories might not easily translate to a ‘First Name Last Name’ structure. For an example, we’ve got Phil Watson, who’s gamer tag is ‘Ph1LzA,’ and is called Philza Minecraft or Philza. The ‘Minecraft last name’ is a…. Bit? A joke? A reference to a bit of lore? It’s unclear. The ‘Za’ bit was put there for flair and is now an integral part of his name. Sometimes it’s his last name. Sometimes his real last name is chucked in there. the 1 in his actual username is literally never referenced in nicknames or fic it’s like it’s not even there. But that’s a simple one. What about Tubbo_? because we call him Tubbo Underscore. Like. We say the ‘_’ aloud. Why do we do that. What has possessed us to make that decision? What about FitMC? I’ve usually heard it said ‘Fit Emsee.’ Why say that, and not say ‘Minecraft? That’s not even really a last name, it’s just like…. His full first name. Fit is used more like a shortened nickname. BadBoyHalo. Like. ‘Bad boy’ is a slang term, not a name. It would make the most sense to call him Halo, that’s the distinct noun in the name, the term the ‘bad boy’ bit is referring to. Like ‘GoodTimesWithScar’ but noooo. Bad. Halo is usually a last name, if it’s there at all. Skeppy on the other hand is… just his name. No last name ever. Technoblade is also weird. Technoblade is his full name. We call him that. We ALSO call him ‘Techno,’ and use Blade as a last name. We also use Blade as a title. What the heck. GeminiTay. We call her Gem. We use Tay as a last name sometimes. Her name is a Zodiac constellation. Literally nowhere I’m have I seen that affect her naming conventions. IJevin. We just… remove the I. For everything. This wouldn’t bother me except we don’t do it with everyone and I’m starting to get annoyed by the inconsistency. GoodTimesWithScar. Ok. This one also bugs me. Like, most fics call him Scar Goodtimes when they need a name. I’m not gonna dig into it but that’s…. Why? Why that? Grian never gets a last name. Ranboo sometimes gets chopped into Ran and Boo but usually he’s an Underscore or he’s last nameless. Wilbur Soot functions wonderfully (until the get involved shhhh) but it’s too close to his real name it gets very confusing.
anyway, all of this sucks, I hate it all, we’re a terrible fandom /hj
all that nonsense aside, yknow who has a functional Firstname Lastname username? It’s even got a space, and proper capitals: Mumbo Jumbo. That’s who. Look at that. It’s perfect. Everyone should be more like Mumbo Jumbo. Thank you and good night.
.
Edit: I know about Ranboo Beloved and Grian Dreamslayer and the various other characters whose names I didn’t mention perfectly in this post. This was no piece of journalism, this was an old man shouts at cloud meme personified. I was very overstimulated and this was what happened to catch my autistic ire. I’m not upset, just figured I’d clarify, a lot of people seem distressed at my not mentioning Beloved. Hope y’all are having a lovely day 💜
1K notes · View notes
polwigle · 3 months
Text
hello and welcome to another episode of Shi Has Strong Opinions on Niche Canon with Citable Sources, this time focusing on something that technically isn't canon one way or the other — my preferred fan-transliterated name for Raven's hometown in Tales of Vesperia, which is never referred to by name in any officially translated material.
anyway it's spelled Pharihyde and in this essay I will die on this hill
Context
In case you clicked the read-more with no stake in this game just because you want to see me being pedantic, let me recap the relevant facts of the argument:
Raven's backstory is never fully explained in the base game, but it was elaborated on in official side materials. The same story, titled 虚空の仮面 (Kokuu no Kamen, commonly translated as Empty Mask), was released in multiple formats: light novel[1], manga[2], and drama CD[3]. None of these have ever been officially translated, but fans have made their own attempts at each over the years.
The town in question here does not appear in the original game, due to having been obliterated during the prequel events. It's also never mentioned by name in the drama CD, leaving only two sources for a name: the light novel and the manga.
Officially, it is named ファリハイド (Farihaido).
Tumblr media
The first translation the English-speaking fandom ever saw of any Kokuu no Kamen material was when one fan (whose identity was regrettably lost to time) took a stab at summarizing the light novels, not long after they were first published back in 2010. This fan transliterated the town's name as Pharihyde.
Tumblr user dokidokimaster was commissioned to finally translate the manga in 2015. In this translation, the town was spelled Farryheid.
By the time the manga was being translated, the web page that hosted the light novel summary had tragically gone down. Luckily, I was active enough in the fandom at the time to have had the link to the light novel bookmarked, so I was able to find an archive via the blessed Wayback Machine, but I can't fault dokidokimaster for the inconsistencies.
tl;dr of section: OG town name is ファリハイド; LN calls it Pharihyde; manga calls it Farryheid. Rest of essay is about why me preferring the name that came first isn't just me being a cranky fandom elder I swear
It's About The World It's In
In the world of Terca Lumireis, on the continent of Ilyccia, somewhere far from the capital city, Zaphias, there was once a town called... Farryheid? No, Pharihyde. The latter fits better with the precedents set by the official names around it, and I will literally break it down letter by differing letter to prove it!
'Ph' vs 'F'
Among officially transliterated locations and other "made-up" names in Tales of Vesperia, there are 3 that include 'ph' to represent an 'f' sound (Zaphias, Zopheir, Phaeroh). Only a single name uses an actual 'f' for that sound (Ghasfarost), and it also still has an 'h' as the second letter in the word.
Single vs. Double 'R'
After a ctrl+F pass through the entire list of location names in this game[4], not a single one contains the substring 'rr'. Only one R at a time in Terca Lumireis!
Vowel Choice and Lexical Stress
So, English has this neat little feature where some syllables in a word get more emphasis than others! And that plays heavily into this section, because 'i' and 'y' can sound identical when using 'y' as a vowel, but the existing place names stress them differently.
Now, as the Drama CD doesn't give us a spoken example of ファリハイド to work from (and Japanese doesn't do stress the way English does anyway), where the stress goes in either "Pharihyde" or "Farryheid" is technically unconfirmed... But my default reading is with primary stress on the first syllable, and secondary stress on the last (FAR-ee-hide).
In the precedent-setting place names, based on the English dub of the 360 version*, a lone 'i' is seen unstressed in at least 16 distinct names, including the ones I referenced in my intro scene-setting sentence (ZA-phi-as, TER-ca LU-mi-reis). To my knowledge, lone 'i' is never pronounced with stress in dialogue (and potentially appears only once, in the plot-irrelevant Niffel Lake).
In contrast, whenever 'y' is used as any kind of vowel, it always gets at least secondary stress, as in Hypionia (high-pee-O-nee-ah) and Rhybgaro (RIB-ga-ro). Thus, "Pharihyde" using an 'i' for the middle vowel and a 'y' for the last one lines up with established precedent.
Also, the double vowel 'ei' is consistently and exclusively used to represent an 'ay' sound, as in "day", not as in "hide"! Deidon Hold, Keiv Moc, and again Zopheir and Terca Lumireis — none of these 'ei's sound the way "Farryheid" wants you to pronounce it!
Silent 'e'
I did say I'd break down every different letter between "Pharihyde" and "Farryheid", but this last one's not for flavour, it's just to get the 'y' to act as the right kind of vowel sound. Just a normal feature of English pronunciation rules here (though not entirely without precedent: Halure, Relewiese, Laulyse). Sorry to go out with a whimper ^^;;
Conclusion
The base content of Tales of Vesperia sets up some implied rules about how its made-up-for-the-game words function. "Farryheid" may be a perfectly reasonable transliteration of ファリハイド in a vacuum, but "Pharihyde" follows the rules of the setting, literally to the letter!
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk
Tumblr media
*Footnote about the pronunciation thing: the new voice lines added in the Definitive Edition of the game pronounce some place names inconsistently. I can only assume that by the time they recorded the new lines, a decade after the original ones, they forgot how some pronunciations worked and didn't check their old work... :/
References
(bc it's not an essay without citations!)
[1] Light novel summary (archived): https://web.archive.org/web/20110806003312/http://www.fancomic.com:80/vesperia/resources/raven/emptymask.htm [2] Manga translation: https://dokidokimaster.tumblr.com/tagged/kokuu+no+kamen/chrono [3] Drama CD translation, for completion's sake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHEDJ_D4tyI [4] List of in-game place names: https://hyouta.com/vesperia/?version=pc&locale=eng&compare=2&section=locations
28 notes · View notes
amethystfairy1 · 4 months
Note
Question about the Traveling Thieves au:
Do you have a map in mind or is it just like “they’re in a town and they’re going [direction]”? Your worldbuilding is very solid so I’m just a little curious!
Hello hello!
Yay! My first Traveling Thieves question!!!
I do have a map in mind! I've actually drawn one! And I can't draw! So it's HORRIBLE! But if you all promise not to laugh at me I will share it.
Tumblr media
Keep in mind this is just me scribbling, and I also didn't set this properly in my head straight away, so there might be some minor inconsistencies in the first couple fics of the series, here's hoping I've managed to keep everything straight, though!
A few things of note that I think are neat:
The two Elven territories aren't separate kingdoms because elves are expected to lead mostly solitary lives. It's mainly just a huge forest area where a bunch of them live, but not within each other's direct vicinity. There are a few centers you might be able to pass off as cities or capitals where they gather once in a while for specific necessary rituals/events. But they're very different from how the humans run their patchwork of kingdoms.
Fun Fact: Gem is from the southern Elven territory, and Scar is from the Northern one!
The Avian Colonies are completely self-contained, and they don't interact with each other. They're a lot of difficult-to-reach mountain tops that most humans can't even get to without an avian guide.
There exists both an adventurer guild and a mercenary guild in this AU! Though I dunno how much anyone wants to hear me ramble about the differences between the two of them, so I'll just leave it at that for now and maybe make another post about it later.
Hope you enjoyed my janky lil map! 😆
35 notes · View notes
anakinskywalkerog · 2 years
Text
My Very Soul (Chapter 15)
Tumblr media
Anakin Skywalker x Jedi!Reader
Link to Chapter 14
Warnings: canon inconsistencies (idk guys I haven't read those books about Dooku), a sweet bit o Ani fluff and LOTS of angst unfortunately but it will pay off!
Summary: You and Anakin search Serenno for information about the attacks on the Senate; a planned confession goes amiss
Word Count: 4.3k
Serenno was one of those planets with a confusing and complicated political history. Your ship had landed on the outskirts of Carannia, the capital city, and though you tried to keep your tired eyes on the history overview on the holopad during the relatively short journey from Coruscant, you struggled to take it all in. Houses? Counts? The political structure of this place was as confusing as the political structure of Mandalore. You had been immediately distracted from your reading when the ship came out of hyperspace and began to enter Serenno's atmosphere. For all its confusing history, Serenno was...beautiful. There was no other word for it. You saw the lush forests and mountain ranges, the green of the tree canopies, and, beyond the capital, a vast ocean, shining in the sun like the light of the stars. You were enraptured.
       Master Yuma and Master Obi-Wan had decided to land near the outskirts so as to not announce your presence to the capital at large.
       "But if the ruler of Serenno was once a Jedi," you asked, "why the secrecy? Why not consult him on this matter?"
       "We plan to pay Count Dooku a visit," Master Yuma responded, "but only after we have gathered information from the lower, less reputable parts of Carannian society."
       "You'll find," Master Obi-Wan said with a chuckle, "that the best place to sniff out a rat is the sewer."
       Thus, Master Yuma and Master Obi-Wan had taken off through the jungle to visit the slums of Carannia, heavily disguised in dark cloaks that did not give away their true identity. You and Anakin had donned similar clothing, and with instructions to head the other direction, looping across the forest and toward the marketplace in the center of town, you had set off. The cloak you wore was warm and comfortable, and you pushed away your tiredness as you walked through the forest, pushing aside vines and ferns as you passed them. It was common for Jedi to go from assignment to assignment, and sleep was a luxury stolen when possible, not a right. However, quite a lot had happened since you'd last been able to rest—you breathed slowly, in and out of your mouth, using your momentum to keep you going.
       "You look awful, flea," Anakin said cheerfully, walking next to you and jumping ahead to pull a branch out of your path.
       "Ha, ha," you responded dryly, too tired to come up with a good comeback.
       "You know, you're no use to the Order dead on your feet," Anakin responded, just as merrily. It seemed his good mood from your earlier conversation about Henry still permeated his thoughts. You glanced at his face, and stifled a laugh. His Force presence might as well be whistling.
       "Well, when duty calls..." you responded, yawning. You waved your hand dismissively to finish your sentence.
       "Yawn in the face of danger," Anakin finished for you, grinning with his tongue poking through his teeth. You rolled your eyes.
       The two of you broke through the edge of the tree line, facing the outskirts of the large city. You quickly crossed the grassy gap and drew your hoods, darting across streets and between the smaller dwellings on the edge of the capital. The buildings here were cylindrical, which created an odd contrast to the natural forests and mountains surrounding the city. The architecture was harsh, geometric, and contained—the nature was expansive, complex.
       "The market should be just ahead," Anakin said quietly, pointing ahead of him to a gap in the side streets. You felt, rather than heard, the hum of people moving around, speaking in different tongues, bartering over goods. You and Anakin were meant to observe quietly, to overhear, to glean information without being present, to hide in plain sight. The market would be a perfect place to do so, but, you realized, wearing hoods and oversized dark robes would clash highly with the atmosphere of the market, in which many people wore plain clothing, in lighter fabrics, the sun shining down on them.
       "Wait—" you said quickly, putting your hand across Anakin's chest to stop him from stepping out of the alleyway and entering the brightly lit market.
       "What?" Anakin asked quietly, looking around.
       "Think about it. Take in your surroundings," you said patiently. You knew that blending in was not Anakin's strong suit, knew that he would prefer to enter the market with his lightsaber held high, demanding answers from the passerby. "If we go out there like this, we'll stick out like sore thumbs."
       Anakin watched the people walking by for a moment, looking down at your disguises and putting two and two together.
       "Fine," Anakin said amicably, grabbing onto the shoulders of your robe and pulling it off you before shrugging out of his own. You tugged your tunic out of your Jedi belt, which would surely give you away, stashing your saber in your boot. Anakin did the same. Using the Force, you pulled, carefully, a large brick out of the wall of the alleyway. You stashed your robes and your belts in the hole left, pushing them far back into the wall so that they would not be seen.
       "We look casual enough," Anakin said, looking you up and down with a smile. "But you've forgotten something."
       "What?" you asked, looking up into Anakin's tanned face, his blue eyes sparkling against his skin. Anakin reached forward and smiled, tugging lightly on your Padawan braid. Oh. You couldn't walk into the market with your braids swinging obviously, a conspicuous mark of the Jedi Order. Anakin peered out from the alleyway in which you stood, pointing to a cart near you, a cart selling colorful headscarves. You watched the shoppers in the market, saw that many of them had colorful head coverings.
       "Good thinking," you told Anakin, using the Force to quickly summon two of the scarves away from the cart. You wrapped Anakin's around his head, trying to ignore the immense smugness coming from his presence, then worked your own scarf around your hair. Now fully disguised, you and Anakin stepped out into the market, you dropping a few credits swiftly onto the cart as you passed. Anakin grabbed your hand and intertwined his fingers with yours.
       "Anakin..." you said, trying to pull your hand away.
       "It'll look much more natural this way," Anakin responded, grinning, his grip on your hand firm. "We're a couple out on a stroll through the market. No one will look twice at us."
       "Fine," you said, turning away to hide your blush. Anakin's hand was big and warm as it enclosed yours, but the feel of it made your insides squirm. You looked straight ahead as you walked out into the market with him, your joined hands swinging slightly. The more you half-heartedly pushed Anakin away, the less he seemed to believe your rebuffs. You worried, almost, that Anakin might be able to read your true feelings, the way you were able to read his. You blushed further at the thought. You were beginning to feel lightheaded.
       Anakin glanced at you, then pulled you in the direction of a fruit stand. He waved a few credits at the man, dropping them on the counter, and then picked up a couple meiloorun fruits. He held one out to you, his face downturned, his eyes looking into yours with an intensity that made you hold your breath.
       "We're not here to eat fruit," you whispered quietly.
       "You look like you need a pick-me-up," Anakin whispered back, stepping closer to you and putting the fruit in your hand. "Plus, it's a very natural thing to do at a market." You took the fruit, nodding, feeling your legs quiver as you made eye contact with him. Anakin's eyes really were so blue.
       You leaned against the wall and peeled the fruit, slowly, juice sliding down your hands. You took a bite and groaned. The fruit was so sweet.
       "Good?" Anakin laughed, watching you devour the fruit, juice sliding down your face.
       "Excellent," you responded, wiping your mouth with the sleeve of your tunic. The sugar from the fruit gave you a bit of energy, allowed you to open your eyes a bit wider, tired as you were.
       "I told you, I'm not interested," a boy in the alleyway near you said, seeming like his voice was coming out louder than he intended in his anger.
       "We need the credits, Jarin," another boy responded, his voice pleading.
       "If you two are done arguing," a girl said, sounding impatient, "he's waiting for us."
       You continued leaning against the wall, throwing the carcass of your fruit to the ground. You didn't turn, but you reached out for Anakin's hand as he stood near you, squeezing it. He squeezed back, affirming that he too was listening to the conversation happening in the alleyway.
       "I'm not doing it," Jarin said again, and you felt out for his Force presence, sensing in him a great amount of fear. You crinkled your eyebrows.
       "You talk as if you have a choice," the girl said, her voice sounding threatening, as she let out a shrill laugh. "You act as if you have anywhere else to go."
       "If we do this job," the second boy responded, "we could leave Serenno. Make a life somewhere else." You felt a hopeful despair behind this boy's words, in his Force presence.
       Leave Serenno? As far as you knew, this was a fairly wealthy system, with a surplus of resources. Why would these young people be so desperate to leave? And what job was Jarin so afraid of taking?
       "Hey, love birds," you heard the girl yell in your direction, and you saw Anakin step in front of you, looking over your shoulder into the alley. "I know you're listening."
       You turned and faced the group, seeing that the boys were about Anakin's age. The girl, or young woman, it seemed, looked to be a few years older than you.
       "Don't be afraid," the girl said, her voice menacing. "Are you looking for work? Come closer."
       You felt a swell of protectiveness in Anakin, and you gripped his arm, squeezing in warning. He mustn't let his temper get in the way in this interaction. These might be the 'rats' Obi-Wan had been talking about—and you knew the purpose of this mission was to gather information.
       You and Anakin walked slowly toward the group. In the shade of the alley, you saw the two boys cowering before this young woman, who stood straight, looking you and Anakin over.
       "Oh, but you aren't afraid," the girl said, appraising the two of you. "It seems I misjudged you. You," the girl turned to Anakin, "you look strong. I've got a job you might be interested in. Lots of credits on the line." The girl turned away from Anakin and looked you in the eye. You saw that her irises were purple, her face set in a permanent glare. "Oh," the young woman said, leaning in to meet your gaze, "but you have more to offer, don't you, pipsqueak? I can see everything." The girl began to walk around you, and you turned, so as not to allow her your back. "You're the one they have to watch out for, aren't you?" The girl's voice was mocking, but there was something almost like Force command in it. This confused you. Was this young woman—or whatever she was—Force sensitive? If she was, why was she not identified as a youngling?
       "Step away from her," Anakin said quietly, darkly, pulling you closer to his side. "We come as a pair. What is this job you mentioned?"
       "A simple...extraction," the girl responded, turning back to Anakin, her voice casual. You felt in her Force presence that she was lying. You felt behind her words an intent to kill.
       "I see," Anakin said, his voice just as casual. "And why all the secrecy? Who are we working for, here?" The girl laughed.
       "That's need to know," the girl said, smiling wickedly at Anakin.
       "Right, and I need to know who I'm working for, if I'm going to be...extracting, or, whatever it is you'll have me doing," Anakin said. You felt in his voice a strong Force command, but it didn't seem to be working on this young woman, who certainly was not weak-minded.
       "Watch yourself, pretty boy," the girl said, stepping forward to look Anakin straight in the face. You saw that she was as tall as he was. "If you want the credits, you do as I say. You don't want to cross me." You felt the Force building between the two of them, felt Anakin's intention before he enacted it, and knew that the girl with the violet eyes was ready to strike. The boys behind her looked afraid.
       "Don't I?" Anakin asked, smiling serenely, and in a quick flash, you saw the girl draw a blaster adeptly. But you were quicker. Your hand was in your boot, drawing your lightsaber faster than the girl could pull the trigger. You blocked the blasts she aimed at Anakin's heart swiftly, and Anakin stood tall, not even reaching for his saber. He'd known that you would block her blasts.
       "Jedi scum!" the young woman said, looking enraged, backing away, firing blasts at the both you, blasts that you blocked easily. "Run!" she yelled to the boys as she turned and sprinted down the alleyway.
       "Wait just a moment," you said, hopping into the air in a flip, landing on the other side of the two boys. You and Anakin, who had pulled his own lightsaber out of his boot, had them cornered.
       "Don't hurt us!" Jarin said, putting his hands out on his sides to try to block the other boy from the two of you. Jarin and the boy backed against the wall. You turned off your lightsaber.
       "We won't hurt you," you responded, calmly. "But we need you to tell us everything you know about the job you just turned down."
       "We can't!" Jarin said miserably. "He'll have us killed!"
       "We can arrange safe passage for you off Serenno," you said kindly, but firmly, keeping your gaze on the two boys, "if you wish. But you need to tell us what you know."
       Anakin stepped forward, his lightsaber still raised. You put out a hand, making sure he kept back from the two teenage boys, the one cowering behind the other. You felt their fear. You felt their intentions to be pure. There was no need to threaten them.
       "Is that your brother?" you asked softly, reading Jarin through the Force. Jarin looked back at his companion, and then to you again, looking frightened. "I can tell you two have been on your own for quite some time," you said, using your calm to try to put Jarin more at ease. "We can help you. But you have to help us."
       "There's a man called Tyrannus," the younger boy behind Jarin spoke up, his voice shaking. Jarin looked back at him, startled. "The job wasn't an extraction. It was an assassination."
       "Tyrannus?" Anakin asked, finally turning off his lightsaber.
       "An assassination? Of whom?" you asked the younger boy urgently.
       "A senator," Jarin answered, looking between you and Anakin.
Tumblr media
Anakin opened the ramp of the ship, stepping on while you followed. You both had instructed Jarin and his brother to meet you at the space port the following day, and to stay hidden until then. After retrieving your hidden cloaks and belts, Anakin and you had made your way back through the forest to the ship.
       "We'll need to signal to Master Yuma and Obi-Wan," Anakin said, walking forward to the cockpit. He pressed the button to call your masters.
       "Mhmm," you said, following him, wobbling a little on your feet. Anakin turned quickly, reaching a hand out to steady you.
       "Y/N," Anakin said, feeling your pulse in your arm as he held you. "You need to sleep. It's becoming a hazard." Anakin's voice conveyed nothing but playful sarcasm, but inside he felt many things, starting and ending with a deep affection. He smiled as he watched you, your eyes half open.
       "I suppose you're right," you said feebly, wandering over to the flight couch. Anakin pressed the comm button in the cockpit again, but got no response.
       "You must be tired," Anakin said, laughing, "that's the first time I've ever heard you say those words." Anakin followed you out of the cockpit.
       "And it'll be the last," you mumbled, sitting down and putting your head back.
       "That I believe," Anakin said, sitting next to you, pulling out his comm and signaling to your Masters with beeps. "I told them we're back at the ship, that we have information, and to reconvene when they can," Anakin informed you. When you didn't respond, Anakin looked around, and stifled a laugh. You were asleep, that much was clear, leaning back in a seated position, your mouth hanging open, with small snoring sounds exiting your nose as you breathed in.
       "Little flea," Anakin sighed, watching you. He wondered, briefly, if this was an intrusion—watching you while you had no ability to object—but, he reasoned, you had also watched him in his sleep, had even entered his nightmares with him, through the Force. At times, Anakin wished he had your abilities. Now, for instance, he wished he could read your emotions, could read what you were dreaming about, thinking about. He desperately wanted to know about your feelings, even if he didn't like the answers to his questions. Anakin was struggling to keep his thoughts inside of him, and knowing, either way, felt like it would release something in him that desperately needed to be released.
       He couldn't help himself. He loved you so much. He had since he was a boy, and though his feelings had changed, of course, there was still a part of him that was nine years old, watching you walk up to him in the Jedi temple. The admiration he had felt that day had never left him; it had simply grown, and other feelings had entered his presence, feelings he himself was still struggling to understand. All he knew was that he needed to be near you, always, needed to make sure you were safe, needed to hear your laugh, needed to listen to your teasing. He needed to feel your presence, needed to watch as your hair blew wildly in every direction, needed to see your smile, needed to watch as your cheeks reddened when you were angry or embarrassed. As much as he needed to be near you, Anakin felt, he was also suffering in your presence. That he was not able to have all of you was agonizing to him; that he was not able to reach out now, for instance, and touch your cheek in your sleep. That he was not able to hold you close to him, to feel your heart beat against his. That he was not able to kiss your entire face, your entire self. As much as he desperately wanted to do these things, what he wanted most was for you to want him the way he wanted you. He wanted to make you happy with his love. He wanted you to love him, so that he could give to you all of what was inside him.
       You snored a bit more loudly, grunting in your sleep, and your head fell to the side, resting on Anakin's shoulder. Anakin's insides jumped with joy. He kept very still, your sleeping head leaning against him. He felt the heat of your cheek against his shoulder, through his tunic. There were times when it seemed certain to Anakin that you returned his feelings. That you had turned down Henry's advances surely meant something, did it not? And the way you interacted with him—it was like if he smiled, you smiled. If he was sad and upset, you were sad and upset. The two of you were in sync in a way that could only be explained by love. Right?
       But what if that love you felt for him was nothing more than friendly admiration? It was clear to Anakin that you cared for him, but what if you regarded him as nothing more than a good friend, or even a brotherly figure, the way you had said you regarded Henry? What if the admiration you felt for him was more akin to the admiration you felt for Master Yuma, or Obi-Wan, other members of the Jedi Order you'd grown close to as your family?
       If you didn't return Anakin's feelings—if you didn't want the kind of relationship Anakin desperately wanted—would Anakin be able to suffer, silently, in your presence, for the rest of both of your lives? What would be the alternative? Leaving your side—not being with you at all?
       Anakin's insides churned uncomfortably. These unanswered questions haunted him, but he sensed in himself that you and him were coming to a crossroads. He sensed your relationship couldn't remain in this state of waiting forever. Something had to change soon. Something would break. But what would come next?
       Anakin struggled to breathe as he thought over this uncertain future. He looked down at your head, as it rested on his shoulder. He couldn't lose you. He wouldn't. But how to earn your love? How to prove to you that he was worthy? What more could he do? Anakin didn't know. But he did know that he wanted to declare himself, as Henry had done, but better, with better words, with more love. You needed to know. It was time. He had to tell you how he felt. He couldn't keep it in any longer.
Tumblr media
Waking up, you still felt tired. There was a stiffness in your back and neck, and you yawned, opening your eyes, realizing that you had been sleeping on someone's shoulder. Anakin's shoulder.
       You blushed, sitting up straight, trying to stretch out your upper back.
       "Mornin'," Anakin said, his charming smile right next to your face as you turned to look at him, bleary-eyed.
       "How long was I out?" you asked, rubbing your eyes, sighing.
       "A good few hours," Anakin replied, his Force presence betraying a hint of nervousness. This confused you.
       "Did Master Obi-Wan and Master Yuma—"
       "Not yet," Anakin responded, pointing to the comm he'd put on the flight table. You nodded, slowly coming to your senses. Anakin stood up, heading to the small flight kitchen on the other side of the hull. After a moment, you smelled caf brewing. It was a comforting sound, listening to the caf maker bubble.
       "Thanks," you said gratefully when Anakin came back over to you, handing you a cup of the hot beverage. You drank it quickly, wanting it to give you alertness, even though it gave you the slightest burn in your throat. You and Anakin sat quietly for a moment, both of you lost in your own thoughts.
       "Listen, Y/N," Anakin said quietly, taking the hand on your lap in his and leaning forward. "There's—there's something I need to tell you." You looked up into Anakin's eyes, felt his intention in his Force presence, his nerves, his resolve, amidst other things, things you didn't feel ready to acknowledge. You breathed in quickly, taking your hand from his, already shaking your head.
       "No, Y/N, please," Anakin pleaded, watching your face, "please just listen."
       "No," you choked out, your eyes wide in fear, unable to breathe properly. "Anakin, don't do this."
       "Do what?" Anakin asked, his eyes becoming wet, watching you. "I can't keep pretending like this, Y/N. Please, just let me—"
       "No," you said firmly, standing up, your limbs shaking. You placed the cup of caf on the flight table, spilling a little, unable to keep yourself still. "No, you're just—" you wrung your hands, feeling the fight or flight impulse, wishing there was somewhere for you to run away to, somewhere far enough, while simultaneously not wanting to ever leave Anakin's side. "You're just—you're trying to distract me. You're trying make me lose focus. You want to take the trials first, I know you do." What you did know was that this was completely ridiculous, and completely untrue. Anakin hadn't been competitive with you like that since you were both much younger. But you would have said anything at that moment to sidetrack Anakin, to stop him from saying the words you felt on the tip of his presence. Once he said those words aloud, everything would change. Everything would break. You couldn't let that happen. You couldn't leave the Jedi Order, but you most certainly couldn't lose Anakin.
       "What?" Anakin asked in disbelief, his tears spilling from his eyes, causing you to turn away in pain. You felt in his Force presence that it had worked. You felt the hurt moving through him, and turned back, seeing that an agonized expression had made its home in his features. "You...you think I'm trying to...beat you? You think this is about winning?"
       "I know it is," you said coolly, the words coming out of you as if they sliced through you like a knife. You felt all of Anakin's pain combining with your own, but you knew you couldn't let him say what he was trying to say. You needed to keep your life held together, even if it was held together by the last few strands of a broken rope. You could not let everything fall apart.
       Anakin watched you with incredulity, his pain your pain, your hands shaking. Anakin's Force presence turned sour. An anger entered his heart, and while you felt it to be anger at you, you knew it was also anger directed inward, toward himself. You nearly crumpled.
       "I yield, then," Anakin said, his voice shaking. "You win." He got up off the flight couch and jammed his hand against the button to open the ship's ramp. Anakin stalked off into the Forest, and as he did, you felt his presence collapse into a deep agony, a scream you almost felt you heard, though it was inaudible. You fell to your knees, sobbing.
************************************************************************
eeeeek sorry about that but i love me some angst :)THE NEW CHAPTER IS OUT NOW CLICK HERE
in the meantime, here's a laughing comfort Obi:
Tumblr media
divider credit to @racingairplanes
taglist: @iyoogi @cluelessgurl @layazul @annadastra @graciexmarvel @galaxiasy @organasith @indigoblues1207 @outoftheregular @katsukiswrld @prettyboyrryy @jellydodger @wildflower57 @padmeamidalaslover @em-asian @heavenseraph @iloveinej @leapofblank @sahverah @elsyyie @usuallyunlikelyfox @jadeonce @papadragun @dopejellyfishfury @stxrrielle @lilianashomaresparza @prettylittlecarstairs @deadunicorn159 @atoelicker @arelisskywalker @maythefloorbewithyouanakin @your-local-crzy-lady @dontmindme262 @xenochuguardian @cassiopeiashift @allihavenegativethoughts @hamiltonwc @1-800-nostalgiaaa @heyitsaloy @haydenchristensenluvbot @muthafuckingstargirl @window-to-nothing @shadowhuntyi @jedi-archives @inmourningforanakin @vivsmcdo @betrund @ahqkas @aquaamethyst96 @escapepoet @randomstuff2040 @kenjikishimotosupremecy
(if you're on this list, make sure you have tags enabled!)
339 notes · View notes
talabib · 11 months
Text
Uncover Secret Strategies To Build Wealth On a Tight budget.
Key Point:
Growing rich on modest means is a journey that requires patience, discipline, and knowledge. By cutting your spending, investing early and wisely, and avoiding common investing pitfalls, you can navigate your way to financial prosperity.
Growing rich isn't exclusively a privilege of those with high incomes. Accumulating wealth, in fact, has less to do with the amount you earn and more to do with how you manage your finances. Through judicious planning and prudent financial decisions, even those with modest means can grow their wealth. This post presents a roadmap for growing rich on modest means, outlining strategies that are as effective as they are practical.
Cut Your Spending If You Want to Grow Rich
In the quest for wealth accumulation, frugality is your most steadfast ally. Indeed, the cornerstone of financial independence is not earning more, but spending less. The key lies in distinguishing between "needs" and "wants", a bifurcation that may seem rudimentary, yet holds profound implications.
Every dollar saved is a dollar earned, as the old adage goes. By adopting a minimalist lifestyle, one can convert the superfluous expenditure into a potential avenue for savings. This doesn't entail living a life of austerity. It simply means making judicious decisions – like choosing cost-effective alternatives, embracing DIY culture, and resisting impulse purchases. This approach invariably fortifies your financial health, paving the way for wealth accumulation.
To Capitalize on Compound Interest, Start Investing As Soon As You Can
Compound interest, often dubbed the "eighth wonder of the world", is a powerful mechanism that can turn even the tiniest sums into substantial wealth. It operates on the principle of earning interest on your interest, creating a snowball effect that exponentially grows your wealth over time.
The secret ingredient in this recipe for wealth is time. The earlier you invest, the more time your money has to grow. Even modest contributions, when invested wisely and given sufficient time, can generate a significant return. So, don't wait for a windfall. Start with whatever you have, and let the magic of compounding work its wonders.
Avoid Actively Managed Funds and Opt for Index Funds Instead
In the investing world, you're often faced with a choice between actively managed funds and index funds. While the former promises higher returns through expert portfolio management, the allure often doesn't translate into reality. The high fees and inconsistent performance of actively managed funds often dampen the overall returns.
Index funds, on the other hand, offer a more cost-effective and reliable investment avenue. They simply replicate the performance of a specific index, like the S&P 500, and thus require less hands-on management. This results in lower fees and, over the long term, can lead to better net returns. In the cacophony of financial noise, index funds serve as a harmonious melody of simplicity and consistency.
Invest in Bonds to Make Your Portfolio More Stable
Bonds, often viewed as the less glamorous cousin of stocks, play an instrumental role in creating a balanced and stable portfolio. They provide a steady stream of income and act as a cushion against the volatility of the stock market.
While they may not offer the high returns of stocks, they bring predictability and stability to the table. A balanced portfolio, containing both stocks and bonds, helps mitigate risk and smoothens the investment journey. Thus, don't overlook bonds in your pursuit of wealth. Their stability and consistency can be a safe harbor in the stormy seas of market volatility.
Fight the Temptation to "Time the Market"
One of the most perilous pitfalls in the investing world is the temptation to time the market. It's an alluring notion, the idea that you can buy low and sell high consistently. However, in practice, it's akin to catching a falling knife.
The market's movements are influenced by a multitude of factors, many of which are unpredictable. Attempting to time the market often results in missed opportunities and undue stress. Instead, adopt a long-term, buy-and-hold strategy. Investing consistently over time, regardless of market conditions, has proven to be a more effective and less risky approach to wealth accumulation.
If You Can’t Resist Buying Specific Stocks, Be Sure to Select Them Very Carefully
For some, the allure of individual stocks is irresistible. If you're inclined towards this more hands-on approach to investing, tread carefully. While the rewards can be high, so too are the risks.
Performing due diligence is non-negotiable when investing in individual stocks. This includes thoroughly researching the company's financial health, understanding its business model, and staying abreast of industry trends. Additionally, diversification is crucial. Investing in a diverse array of stocks can help spread risk and potentially increase your chances of achieving a decent return.
Growing rich on modest means is a journey that requires patience, discipline, and knowledge. By cutting your spending, investing early and wisely, and avoiding common investing pitfalls, you can navigate your way to financial prosperity. Remember, the road to wealth isn't always paved with gold; sometimes, it's paved with smart decisions and prudent habits.
Action Plan : Buy second-hand cars.
Nothing loses its value as quickly as a car fresh from the dealership. So, if you’re trying to cut down on your expenses and want to get serious about saving money, never buy brand new cars. Instead, shop around and buy something that’s already been around the block a few times. A well-maintained second-hand vehicle should be more than enough for your needs.
2 notes · View notes
Text
Americanas sought to renegotiate debt before accounting scandal
Tumblr media
Scandal-hit retail giant Americanas reportedly hired investment bank BTG Pactual to renegotiate two debenture issues well before it reported the BRL 20 billion (USD 3.8 billion) “accounting inconsistencies” that led the company to file for bankruptcy protection last month. 
According to news site Capital Reset, which reported this attempted renegotiation, the debt in question was the 14th and 15th debenture issues, launched in 2020 and maturing in May and June 2023, totaling a debt of BRL 1 billion. 
The two issues contained covenant clauses according to which the company could not exceed a debt ratio (net debt vs. Ebitda) of 3.5. If its financial leverage crossed this threshold, the debt would mature early and have to be paid.
Continue reading.
2 notes · View notes
Note
Hi Morri!! Happy STS!
Can you tell us a bit about the Kingdom in Call of Shadows? What's its main economy? What about architecure? Is there a thing (or more) that is famous for? What can you say it stays in terms of safety? Are people happy living there?
Have a good day/night, darling!!
(@/ink-fireplace-coffee)
Oh, Carmen, you've hit me at my weak spot. For all my extensive worldbuilding for ATQH (and my good start on worldbuilding for the unnamed WIP), I know very little about the kingdom where CoS takes place. But I'll try and answer these questions anyways!!
What is the economy like?
The economy is pretty varied, to be honest. It's a very large kingdom, and as such there's a lot of different industries scattered across it. For example, in the north there's larger forests, so lumber is more prioritized above farming, which is more done in the south, due to warmer climate and more consistent rain.
There's also a large coastline, so fishing is decently big, and there's a fair bit of trade with other kingdoms across the sea, as well as trade with the kingdom to the south. So, if they don't have easy access to a certain resource, they'll just buy it or trade for it.
Because the climate and terrain is pretty diverse, the kingdom is largely able to provide for themselves, and doesn't need to outsource a ton of things.
What about the architecture?
The architecture varies depending on where you are. In the large cities, there are a lot more large, fancy buildings, but in rural areas, not so much.
In general, the wealthy parts of the cities consist of large manors or townhouses where the nobles and merchants live. The poorer parts of cities have a lot more wooden construction, and are much more thrown-together looking compared to the wealthier areas. Buildings are renovated as needed or when bought and sold, so there can be some inconsistencies between buildings, even those right next to each other.
In rural areas, the houses are largely small, single-family houses, built out of wood. They're nothing fancy, but they do the job of keeping their residents safe. Freestanding mansions and manors belonging to the nobles are also present, and they are much larger and more elaborate than those of the commoners.
There is also the Summer Palace, which is the royal family's summer retreat. It's arguably the most beautifully built building in the entire kingdom, built to amaze and impress, as well as entertain. It's a huge, sprawling estate with massive grounds that contain gardens, stables, and even a lake and part of a forest.
The castle in the capital is regal and stately, built almost entirely of stone, so as to make it more defensible.
continuing this under the cut!
What can you say in terms of safety? Are the people happy living there?
In general, yes. The kingdom has plentiful resources, and most people are able to make a decent living. That's not to say there is no poverty at all, or that no one is ever unhappy, but for the most part, people are able to support themselves at least with the minimum requirements.
Also, I mentioned this before, but Dorian's parents had put a lot of effort into increasing the quality of life for people in the kingdom. They improved literacy and education, and attempted to make it easier for the citizens to get their concerns directly to the monarch, as well as setting up stores in case of famine, among other things. While Lenora has let the idea of commoners petitioning the monarch slide, she hasn't touched any of the other improvements her sister made.
2 notes · View notes
unogeeks234 · 4 days
Text
SAP HR Master Data
Tumblr media
Understanding SAP HR Master Data: The Backbone of Your HR Operations
Human Resources (HR) is a critical department in any organization, managing everything related to a company’s most important asset – its people. In the complex world of HR, streamlined data management is essential. This is where SAP HR Master Data comes into play.
What is SAP HR Master Data?
Simply put, SAP HR Master Data is a central repository of all employee-related information within the SAP Human Capital Management (HCM) system. It encompasses critical data about:
Personal Information: Name, address, date of birth, marital status, etc.
Organizational Assignment: Job title, department, cost center, reporting structure
Compensation and Benefits: Salary, payroll data, benefits plans, deductions
Time Management: Work schedules, absences, attendance records
Talent Data: Skills, qualifications, performance history
Infotypes: The Building Blocks of SAP HR Master Data
SAP HR Master Data is neatly organized using structures called info types. Each info type houses a specific category of employee information. Some common examples include:
Infotype 0000 (Actions): Records HR actions like hiring, promotion, and termination.
Infotype 0001 (Organizational Assignment): Holds employee’s position, department, etc.
Infotype 0002 (Personal Data): Store name, address, and social security number.
Infotype 0006 (Addresses): Contains multiple address types (home, work).
Infotype 0008 (Basic Pay): Holds salary and payroll-related data.
Why is SAP HR Master Data So Important?
Centralized Data Source: This provides a single, trusted reference point for all employee data, leading to better decision-making and eliminating inconsistencies.
Process Efficiency: Streamlines HR processes like payroll, benefits administration, and reporting by feeding reliable data into relevant operations.
Compliance: Supports data privacy regulations and labor laws adherence by ensuring accurate and secure record-keeping.
Employee Self-Service: When integrated with portals, employees can view and update their information, reducing administrative burden on HR.
Data-Driven Analytics: This provides a foundation for workforce analytics, enabling insights into trends, retention, and talent development.
Best Practices for Managing SAP HR Master Data
Data Governance: Establish clear policies and procedures regarding data entry, updates, security, and quality.
Regular Audits: Conduct periodic checks to identify inconsistencies or inaccurate data.
Role-based Access: Implement security controls to limit access to sensitive information based on user roles and responsibilities.
Change Management: Have a well-defined process for managing changes to master data, including approvals and updates to downstream systems.
Training: Ensure HR personnel and relevant stakeholders are trained in SAP HR Master Data usage and how to maintain data quality.
Conclusion
Mastering SAP HR Master Data is pivotal for any organization utilizing SAP’s HCM suite. Organizations can optimize HR processes, empower employees, and make informed, data-driven HR decisions by ensuring employee data accuracy, consistency, and security.
youtube
You can find more information about  SAP HR in this  SAP HR Link
 
Conclusion:
Unogeeks is the No.1 IT Training Institute for SAP HR Training. Anyone Disagree? Please drop in a comment
You can check out our other latest blogs on  SAP  HR here – SAP HR Blogs
You can check out our Best In Class SAP HR Details here – SAP HR Training
———————————-
For Training inquiries:
Call/Whatsapp: +91 73960 33555
Mail us at: [email protected]
Our Website ➜ https://unogeeks.com
Follow us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unogeeks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnogeeksSoftwareTrainingInstitute
Twitter: https://twitter.com/unogeeks
0 notes
iwebscrapingblogs · 1 month
Text
What are the challenges and benefits of Website data scraping?
Tumblr media
In the digital landscape, data reigns supreme. Every click, view, and interaction leaves a digital footprint waiting to be analyzed and utilized. Businesses, researchers, and developers seek to harness this wealth of information for various purposes, ranging from market analysis to improving user experiences. Website data scraping emerges as a powerful tool in this endeavor, offering both challenges and benefits to those who dare to delve into its realm.
Unraveling the Challenges
Legal and Ethical Concerns: One of the primary challenges surrounding website data scraping revolves around legal and ethical considerations. While data scraping itself is not illegal, its legality hinges on factors such as the website's terms of service, copyright laws, and privacy regulations. Scraping data without proper authorization or violating a website's terms of service can lead to legal repercussions and tarnish a company's reputation.
Dynamic Website Structures: Websites are not static entities; they evolve over time, often employing dynamic elements such as JavaScript frameworks and AJAX calls. These dynamic structures pose a significant challenge to traditional scraping techniques, requiring sophisticated solutions to navigate and extract desired data accurately.
Anti-Scraping Measures: In response to increasing scraping activities, many websites deploy anti-scraping measures to deter automated bots. These measures include CAPTCHAs, IP blocking, honeypot traps, and rate-limiting mechanisms. Overcoming these obstacles demands innovative strategies and robust infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted data extraction.
Data Quality and Integrity: Extracting data from websites does not guarantee its accuracy or integrity. Scraped data may contain inconsistencies, errors, or outdated information, compromising its reliability for analytical purposes. Maintaining data quality requires meticulous validation processes and constant monitoring to rectify discrepancies promptly.
Resource Intensiveness: Scraping large volumes of data from multiple websites can strain computational resources and incur substantial costs, especially when dealing with bandwidth-intensive operations. Balancing the demand for data with available resources necessitates efficient resource management and optimization strategies.
Embracing the Benefits
Access to Rich Data Sources: Website data scraping unlocks access to a vast array of publicly available data sources across the internet. From e-commerce product listings to social media sentiments, the breadth and depth of data available for scraping empower businesses to glean valuable insights into market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscapes.
Competitive Advantage: Leveraging scraped data provides businesses with a competitive edge by enabling them to make data-driven decisions and stay ahead of market trends. By monitoring competitor pricing strategies, product offerings, and customer reviews, companies can fine-tune their own strategies and offerings to better meet consumer needs and preferences.
Automated Data Collection: Website scraping automates the process of collecting and aggregating data from multiple sources, eliminating the need for manual data entry and saving time and resources. Automation streamlines workflows, enhances efficiency, and allows businesses to focus their human capital on value-added tasks such as analysis and interpretation.
Customized Solutions: With website scraping, businesses can tailor data extraction parameters to their specific requirements, extracting only the information relevant to their objectives. This customization empowers organizations to derive actionable insights tailored to their unique needs, whether it be personalized marketing campaigns, competitive analysis, or predictive modeling.
Innovation and Insights: The wealth of data obtained through scraping fuels innovation and drives insightful discoveries across various domains. From predicting market trends to understanding customer sentiments, scraped data serves as a catalyst for innovation, fostering informed decision-making and driving business growth.
Conclusion
Website data scraping presents a double-edged sword, offering immense benefits while posing significant challenges to those who seek to harness its power. Navigating the complex terrain of scraping requires a nuanced understanding of legal, technical, and ethical considerations, coupled with innovative solutions and robust infrastructure. By overcoming these challenges and embracing the opportunities afforded by data scraping, businesses can unlock a treasure trove of insights and gain a competitive edge in today's data-driven landscape.
0 notes
flicksandthoughts · 2 months
Text
Tumblr media
STASH HOUSE (2012): A RETRO-STYLE ACTION FLICK WITH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT - Movie Review
Spoiler Alert: This review contains spoilers for the movie “Stash House” (2012).
“Stash House,” directed by an unknown director and featuring Sean Faris in the lead role, takes us back to the 80s with its throwback B movie style. While the overall acting is decent, the film suffers from a number of perplexing inconsistencies, particularly in its portrayal of pain and injuries. However, despite its flaws, “Stash House” manages to deliver some entertainment value.
One of the most noticeable issues in the film revolves around Sean Faris’ character. After sustaining a bullet wound to the gut, he miraculously displays little to no pain or discomfort. Furthermore, the film presents a puzzling situation where his previously broken fingers seem to have remarkably healed, allowing him to pat a girl’s head without any evidence of prior injuries. These inexplicable recoveries not only disrupt the story’s coherence but also undermine the realism of the film.
Despite these flaws, “Stash House” still offers a certain level of entertainment. The retro-style action scenes pay homage to the B movie genre and may resonate with fans of that era. Sean Faris delivers a competent performance, fitting the tone of the film and adding a touch of nostalgia to the overall experience. The movie fully embraces its B movie status, capitalizing on exaggerated action sequences and cheesy dialogue, which can be enjoyable for those seeking a throwback experience.
Nevertheless, “Stash House” struggles to provide a consistent and engaging narrative. The inconsistent portrayal of pain and the questionable handling of Sean Faris’ character’s injuries create a disjointed viewing experience. While the film’s nostalgic charm and Faris’ solid performance can be appreciated, these elements ultimately can’t compensate for the movie’s shortcomings.
Taking all factors into account, “Stash House” receives a rating of 3 out of 10 stars. It is a film that may please fans of throwback B movies but falls short in delivering a coherent storyline and maintaining believability amidst its inconsistencies.
By Esa Myllylä.
youtube
1 note · View note
esaberattarpodcast · 2 months
Text
Tumblr media
STASH HOUSE (2012): A RETRO-STYLE ACTION FLICK WITH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT - Movie Review
Spoiler Alert: This review contains spoilers for the movie “Stash House” (2012).
“Stash House,” directed by an unknown director and featuring Sean Faris in the lead role, takes us back to the 80s with its throwback B movie style. While the overall acting is decent, the film suffers from a number of perplexing inconsistencies, particularly in its portrayal of pain and injuries. However, despite its flaws, “Stash House” manages to deliver some entertainment value.
One of the most noticeable issues in the film revolves around Sean Faris’ character. After sustaining a bullet wound to the gut, he miraculously displays little to no pain or discomfort. Furthermore, the film presents a puzzling situation where his previously broken fingers seem to have remarkably healed, allowing him to pat a girl’s head without any evidence of prior injuries. These inexplicable recoveries not only disrupt the story’s coherence but also undermine the realism of the film.
Despite these flaws, “Stash House” still offers a certain level of entertainment. The retro-style action scenes pay homage to the B movie genre and may resonate with fans of that era. Sean Faris delivers a competent performance, fitting the tone of the film and adding a touch of nostalgia to the overall experience. The movie fully embraces its B movie status, capitalizing on exaggerated action sequences and cheesy dialogue, which can be enjoyable for those seeking a throwback experience.
Nevertheless, “Stash House” struggles to provide a consistent and engaging narrative. The inconsistent portrayal of pain and the questionable handling of Sean Faris’ character’s injuries create a disjointed viewing experience. While the film’s nostalgic charm and Faris’ solid performance can be appreciated, these elements ultimately can’t compensate for the movie’s shortcomings.
Taking all factors into account, “Stash House” receives a rating of 3 out of 10 stars. It is a film that may please fans of throwback B movies but falls short in delivering a coherent storyline and maintaining believability amidst its inconsistencies.
By Esa Myllylä
youtube
0 notes
englishhighbrowss · 3 months
Text
Common Pet Peeves in the English Language: An Exploration
by Mikaelah Perez
Introduction:
The English language is a complex and versatile means of communication that is spoken by millions of people around the world. However, despite its widespread use, there are common pet peeves that many individuals encounter when it comes to the English language. In this article, we will delve into some of these common pet peeves and shed light on why they can be sources of frustration for language enthusiasts and native speakers alike.
Incorrect Word Usage:
Using words incorrectly or interchangeably can be a source of annoyance for many language enthusiasts. For example, confusing "affect" and "effect," "compliment" and "complement," or "accept" and "except" can lead to confusion and miscommunication. It is important to understand the nuances of word meanings and use them appropriately to ensure clarity in communication.
Lack of Punctuation:
The absence or inconsistent use of punctuation marks is another pet peeve that can hinder effective communication. Neglecting to use commas, periods, or question marks in the appropriate places can make sentences difficult to understand and disrupt the flow of reading. Proper punctuation helps convey meaning and structure within written language.
Incorrect Pronunciation of Proper Nouns:
Mispronouncing commonly known proper nouns, such as names of places, people, or brands, can be a pet peeve for both native speakers and those familiar with the correct pronunciation. Examples include mispronouncing "Nike" as "nyke" instead of "nai-kee" or "Sherlock Holmes" as "sher-lock holms" instead of "sher-lock hohmz." Taking the time to learn and use the correct pronunciation of proper nouns can contribute to effective communication.
Improper Use of Prepositions:
Using prepositions incorrectly or inconsistently is another pet peeve that can impact the clarity of a sentence. For instance, saying "I am waiting on the bus" instead of "I am waiting for the bus" or "I am meeting with my friends" instead of "I am meeting my friends" can be incorrect usage. Paying attention to the appropriate preposition usage helps convey intended meaning accurately.
Lack of Proofreading:
Many individuals find it frustrating when written content contains grammatical errors, typos, or misspellings due to a lack of proofreading. Neglecting to review and correct mistakes can undermine the credibility of the writer and make the content difficult to comprehend. Taking the time to proofread written material helps ensure accuracy and professionalism.
Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement:
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar, and its incorrect usage is a common pet peeve for many language enthusiasts. Ensuring that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural) is crucial for grammatical correctness. For instance, saying "The cats is sleeping" instead of "The cats are sleeping" demonstrates a lack of subject-verb agreement. To avoid this pet peeve, it is essential to check the agreement between subjects and verbs when constructing sentences.
Inconsistent Capitalization:
Inconsistent capitalization is another pet peeve that can cause annoyance among language enthusiasts. English follows specific rules for capitalizing proper nouns and the beginnings of sentences, but sometimes individuals capitalize words arbitrarily or without proper justification. For instance, writing "I went to the Store to buy Milk" instead of "I went to the store to buy milk" can be jarring to readers. Consistency in capitalization helps maintain clarity and professionalism in writing.
Conclusion:
These common pet peeves in the English language highlight the importance of precision, clarity, and adherence to grammatical rules. By being mindful of these pet peeves and striving for accuracy in our spoken and written communication, we can enhance our language skills and avoid unnecessary frustrations.
References: 1. The Objectively Objectionable Grammatical Pet Peeve 2. Pronunciation 3. Prepositions: Definition and Examples 4. Commas: Quick Rules
1 note · View note
raducotarcea · 5 months
Link
0 notes
j-graysonlibrary · 8 months
Text
Silverfalls Court Chapter 9
Title: Silverfalls Court
Author: Jay Grayson
Word Count: 50K
Genres: drama, suspense, who-done-it, LGBT+
Available on: Kobo and my website
Synopsis: A young girl, lost in the bliss of her first relationship, will do anything in the pursuit of what she believes is true love—even sneaking out of her house in the dead of night. Unfortunately, she is met by someone she didn’t quite expect. Her fight or flight instincts kick in but she in no match for the killer in the woods.
And her death won’t be the only one.
The once peaceful and quaint neighborhood of Silverfalls Court is thrown into chaos and upheaval when bodies keep showing up in the woods. When it becomes apparent that the murderer must be one of them, suspicions grow thick and trust is shattered.
Some, like Lisa-Marie Castel, want to play detective and solve the case on their own while others, like Dominique Pulmer, want to keep their heads down and wait for things to return to normal. Some might even wish to capitalize on the bizarre nature of the story while those who have been personally affected are left to pick up the broken pieces of their lives amidst the chaos.
Full chapter 9 under the cut:
9. Dirt and Pansies
It was surprisingly bright for a mid-January day and Serena even considered running back to her house to grab a pair of sunglasses. She used her hand as a visor to look up and around at the cul-de-sac. She was already sitting on the ground after checking in with Mrs. Winter and was now just waiting on Jumin and Victoria.
She knew what was taking Victoria but she had no idea why Jumin was so late. Usually he was earlier than she was. It must have been a family issue, she figured.
Things had been tense between all three of their families because of what happened with Peter. Serena had it the hardest, obviously, but there were days where she honestly just wanted to forget about it and pretend like none of it was real.
She only got a pass at school for a couple of weeks but now everyone looked at her the same and expected just as much out of her as they had before. No one at school even talked about Peter anymore but the second she was back home, it was as if his ghost was physically haunting everyone.
The Jungs couldn’t look at her or her family and the Burns just started to avoid them. Serena’s mother spent almost all of her time inside, in her room, only coming out when she had to buy food or to work. The atmosphere inside of that house was suffocating.
It was one of the reasons why Serena preferred school. While they might have gotten over Peter too quickly, they at least acknowledged that life still continued. The sun still rose and set every day. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life wallowing in pain over it.
Even if she felt like she could some days.
All of the emotions that came with Peter’s passing were more complicated and much more inconsistent than any of the movies or TV shows about death would suggest. There were no stages of grief. Serena felt like she was experiencing all of them (sometimes multiple at once) in random orders. Then, sometimes, she would feel nothing—emptiness.
Victoria and Jumin didn’t understand it and she hoped they wouldn’t ever have to. She certainly couldn’t explain it. Other than to say she was constantly at war with her own brain, she had no other comparison.
From around the corner, Serena spotted Jumin holding two containers under each arm. He kept a speedy pace until he was by her side. He dropped the goods on the ground before joining them in a less than graceful manner. “Hey, sorry I’m late. I legitimately thought we were doing this at noon—not eleven.”
“It’s no big deal.” She shrugged and started to flip through his things. He’d brought the trowels, gloves, some clippers, and kneeling pads. Along with her watering can and bag of dirt and fertilizer, they were just missing the flowers themselves.
Jumin looked around and then to the front door of Mrs. Winter’s house. “You did ask her permission, right?”
“Duh.” Serena half-rolled her eyes.
They were tasked with volunteer work for a community program that was partnering with the school. Some kids were doing highway cleanups or hosting something like a bake sale. Thankfully, they were allowed to pick their partners for the project.
It wasn’t a huge contribution or anything—planting flowers around an old lady’s house—but with everything that had been happening in the neighborhood, the three of them felt it should count. After all, could anyone truly argue that brightening an old woman’s life wasn’t somehow enriching the community?
That would just sound cruel and rude.
So, despite the sideways looks that the teachers gave them, they were given permission for their project. They were just warned that they needed to plant a lot of flowers and they needed to get the resident’s permission.
“I still don’t know how she lives here by herself,” Jumin commented and continued to stare at the door. “She was born before the twenties, I think.”
“Shit.” Serena’s brow rose. She actually had no idea how old Mrs. Winter was. She just looked ancient but, for all she knew, she could have been sixty.
“Yep. She’s seen all the wars.”
She laughed and nodded. “I bet she can take Karowitz to school when he starts going on about all the wars he’s been in.”
“God, I hope he doesn’t come out here.” Jumin grumbled. The man hated him and his family just because of their nationality. He understood that he was in the Korean War and everything but it was also over fifty years ago. It was time to move on—though he wouldn’t dare say it to his face.
“Does he think you’re Vietnamese or something?” Serena cocked her head to the side. She knew the man had been in the Vietnam War so maybe he was confused.
“No? I mean…maybe that too. I thought he was in the Korean War though.”
They stared at each other for a long moment, both unsure of their information. Serena wound up laughing first. “Maybe it’s both?”
Jumin’s eyes narrowed. “…Do you think he was in World War 2? Maybe he thinks we’re Japanese…”
Serena cracked up. “I don’t think he’s that old? But it is kind of funny that you guys are totally screwed no matter which war he fought in.”
“It’s bullshit is what it is,” he responded despite laughing as well. “At least we’re not the only ones he hates. Pretty sure he’s got it out for Miss Diana as well since she’s Middle Eastern.”
For a moment Serena stared at him before saying, “She’s not Middle Eastern. She’s Indian.”
“What?” Jumin shook his head. “Her last name is Hajeed. That’s totally a Muslim name.”
“…Muslim isn’t a nationality.”
He huffed. “You know what I mean.”
Serena let a few more chuckles out while she waved her hands around. She had an idea of what he was getting at but whether it was true or not was another story. She certainly didn’t know if it had anything to do with Miss Diana at all.
Though she suspected Karowitz probably had a similar train of thought as Jumin on the matter. Only with more maliciousness attached.
Their joking was cut short by the Burns’ truck pulling into the cul-de-sac. It stopped a few feet away on the curb, close by Mr. Carson’s lawn.
Victoria hopped out of the truck and hurried to the back. “You guys wanna help me take these flowers out?” she shouted.
Serena and Jumin glanced at each other before they both stood up, brushing off their pants on the way over.
The truck bed was filled with different colored flowers but they all looked like the same type of flower to Serena. Pansies, she believed.
She looked to Victoria. “They didn’t have a bigger…selection?”
“It’s the middle of winter,” she responded and grabbed a couple of planter trays. “Not a lot grows when it’s this cold out.”
“What are these?” Jumin asked as he shook a packet of seeds.
“The lady at the nursery told me they’re primroses. They’ll bloom soon but she said it was okay to plant them in January so I figured it might be nice to have some variety even with just seeds.” Victoria frowned as she went straight to work.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Serena offered to try and cheer her up. She and Jumin cleared out the rest of the truck and returned to their spot on Mrs. Winter’s yard.
Victoria set down where she intended to plant everything and slipped on some gloves. Her eyes drifted back to the truck as a slight scowl remained on her lips. “I hope Carson doesn’t mind the truck…”
“Who cares what he thinks,” Jumin countered, “It’s not blocking the driveway or anything.”
“What’s your problem with him?” Serena asked, noticing the slightly hostile tone in his voice.
“It’s not a problem exactly, he just creeps me out,” he said and when he received blank and slightly perturbed looks from them, he carried on, “You two don’t know? He’s a hooker. Like…for real. You ever wonder how he can afford his house and car?”
“He’s not a prostitute.” Serena rolled her eyes. She started to dig into the soil around Mrs. Winter’s house to distract herself from where she feared this conversation was going.
“I’m not just saying it because he’s gay either,” Jumin quickly added before Victoria could smack him. He noticed the look on her face and raised his hands up in a surrender. “My dad said he saw him on the side of the road and then get into some guy’s car.”
“So he was being picked up for a date,” Victoria stated as if it was an indisputable fact. “Your dad should mind his own business.”
Jumin paused but then loosely shrugged. His dad could be a bit nosy so maybe she had a point. He slipped on his gloves as well and started to open the bags of dirt. There was no telling what the girls needed help with so he was putting himself on standby duty.
“Moving on from this…” Serena mumbled but still got both of their attention, “I talked to Mrs. Winter before Jumin got here. Not only did she say she was cool with us planting these but she also mentioned something interesting…”
Victoria handed her a pansy and gave her a curious look. “What?”
“Well she started asking me about what I knew regarding the last murder—after offering her condolences for Peter—and I told her that I knew Lamar was suspected but that no one seems to know anything. But she said she saw someone at the Vicks’ place the day before Susan was found dead.”
“Wasn’t that Thanksgiving?” Jumin asked with a scrunched brow.
“It was.”
“So, couldn’t it have been a family member visiting?” he suggested.
“Susan’s parents visited, yeah, but Mrs. Winter said she saw what looked like one man. Alone. Outside their house. And he wasn’t going to the front door or anything. In her words, he seemed to be looking in the windows as if to observe them.” Serena licked her lips and watched her friends’ reactions.
“If that were true then Lamar might be off the hook,” Victoria said and glanced over her shoulder at the Vicks’ house. No one had seen Mr. Vick since the day Susan’s dead body was found and most everyone believed he’d hitched a ride out of town. That, of course, made him look more suspicious. But if there was another factor, the police would have to reconsider what they knew.
“Oh man, I bet Lisa-Marie would cream her panties over this news,” Jumin responded with a crooked smile.
Serena promptly hurled a dirt clot at him. “Jumin, that’s disgusting!”
Victoria, however, chuckled. “He’s not wrong though. She’d be all over this.”
“…Should we tell her?” Serena asked after a moment of silence passed between them. “I mean…obviously I want the right killer to be caught for my brother’s sake. I just don’t know what to believe and I…” She sighed. “Hoping feels worse somehow.”
Jumin nodded even if he didn’t fully understand. “Her dad is the police chief. And I think she knows that officer that’s been around the neighborhood so maybe we can get something done. Otherwise, we’ll have to figure it out ourselves.”
“It’ll probably come down to that.” Victoria’s hands curled into fists around the loose dirt. Her eyes hardened as she thought of how little trust she had in the adults around them to get anything done properly. It seemed they were much more interested in the murders as some sort of spectacle.
None of them even brought up Leigh anymore.
“Mom won’t like it but we can go over what we know in secret,” Serena agreed. She recalled the last time they gathered to discuss possible murderers. It was the night before Peter died so there were definitely some bitter feelings attached to the idea.
But if no one else would do anything, what choice did they have?
“Our parents don’t need to know,” Jumin stated, “This’ll be for everyone that’s died. Not just Leigh and Peter but Susan too.”
At the drop of Leigh’s name, both Jumin and Serena looked to Victoria. Serena reached out to touch her friend’s arm but thought better of it when she saw the amount of dirt caked on her glove. “I know it’s still hard for you, Vicky…”
Victoria shook her head. “It’s way worse with you. Peter was your brother. Leigh was my…” She gulped and shook her head harder. “My friend.”
Jumin bowed his head but he couldn’t resist bringing up the one strange facet of her death that still bugged him. “I still don’t understand what she was doing so close to our neighborhood. I don’t totally buy the police’s explanation that she was dropped off there.”
“With the other kills now, yeah, I agree.” Serena frowned.
“I don’t know,” Victoria answered. “I don’t know why any of this has happened.”
She could hear Jumin and Serena continuing to throw ideas back and forth but their voices faded out and became so distorted that Victoria couldn’t separate one word from the other. Her vision would go next but she knew when she woke up from her current state, her friends would still be there with her.
These blackouts just happened sometimes. Usually, they were because of stress and she’d never done anything much during them. At most, she’d walked to and from her classes at school without having any memory of doing so.
“Victoria?” She heard her name as if it was being shouted at her from underwater.
She sat up straighter and noticed that she was in a different spot on the grass. She’d planted more flowers and had a few discarded seed packets scattered around her.
“You okay?” Jumin asked.
Victoria blinked a few times but then nodded.
“I thought she was being awfully quiet,” Serena mentioned with a smile. She then met Victoria’s eyes. “Everything good now?”
“…Yeah. I think so… Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Jumin reassured her.
Victoria did her best to smile but it was always a somewhat frightening experience to come out of her episodes. She felt half possessed and half dead. But, she supposed, if she had to go out of it, it was best that it happened around her friends—people she trusted.
1 note · View note
Text
I Asked AI About The Sydney Swans & Their Season
Tumblr media
The Sydney Swans AFL team made the finals in 2023. This was an achievement, as for much of the season injuries and form conspired to make this look unlikely. In a hope that AI might have some answers, I asked AI about the Sydney Swans and their season. So, John Longmire, if you get the chance to read this, may there be something of use in what Chat GPT had to say on the matter. Personally, I was a bit impressed, as the copy was not mere waffle on the topic but had a few pertinent points to make. Of course, my question contained the necessary qualifications to hone a reasonable answer.
Tumblr media
Questioning Chat GPT Regarding The Sydney Swans
“The Sydney Swans' journey through the 2023 AFL season has been characterized by a mix of achievements and challenges on the statistical front. To position themselves for a shot at the premiership, the team needs to strategically address key areas for improvement while capitalizing on their existing strengths. One notable strength of the Sydney Swans has been their defensive prowess. Throughout the season, their backline has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to intercept opposition plays, showcasing exceptional reading of the game and accurate disposal. This defensive foundation provides them with a solid platform to build upon. To maximize this advantage, the team should focus on maintaining defensive discipline, minimizing turnovers, and efficiently transitioning the ball from the backline to the midfield. However, a closer look at their statistics reveals potential vulnerabilities. One area that requires attention is their midfield performance. While the Swans' midfielders have shown flashes of brilliance, their consistency in winning contested possessions and clearances has been lacking. This hampers their ability to gain control of the game's tempo and dictate play. Strengthening the midfield will be crucial for gaining an edge in close matches, as it allows for better supply to the forward line and restricts opponents' scoring opportunities. Additionally, the forward line has been somewhat inconsistent in converting opportunities into goals. The team must address this by refining their forward structures, improving accuracy in front of goal, and enhancing synergy between the midfielders and forwards. Developing a deeper pool of scoring options will make them less predictable and increase their overall offensive potency.” - (Chat GPT, 26th August 2023)
Tumblr media
I asked AI about the Sydney Swans
Swans Lose To Melbourne at SCG Round 24
Picking this post up following the Swan’s defeat in round 24 at the hands of Melbourne. Once again, Sydney could only stand up for 3 quarters. In those quarters they were mighty in many regards. Luke Parker was giving it his all. Errol Gulden was fantastic with 2 goals and 42 disposals. Chad Warner was at it all day. Callum Mills played one of his best games in 2023. James Rowbottom was mighty. However, the forward line let the team down in front of goals with a lack of composure. Isaac Heeney tried hard but was under enormous pressure all day. It was the old story, if you don’t take your chances and score maximum points it makes winning tough games unlikely.
Tumblr media
More AI Advice For Team Sydney Swans “To enhance their premiership prospects, the Swans need to invest in player development and tactical flexibility. Building depth across all lines ensures they can weather injuries and fatigue that inevitably occur over the course of a demanding season. Moreover, having players who can seamlessly adapt to different positions and roles adds a layer of unpredictability to their gameplay, making them harder to strategize against. Team cohesion and leadership are intangible yet pivotal aspects of a successful campaign. The Swans should continue nurturing a positive team culture, fostering camaraderie among players, and empowering emerging leaders to take charge both on and off the field. Strong leadership bolsters morale during tough times and galvanizes the team towards a common goal. Lastly, the coaching staff's ability to adapt to varying match situations is paramount. Swift tactical adjustments during games can be the difference-maker, particularly against strong opposition. Analyzing opponents' strengths and weaknesses, as well as analyzing game data to identify patterns, will enable the coaching staff to formulate effective strategies that exploit opponents' vulnerabilities. In summary, the Sydney Swans have the foundation to contend for the premiership in the 2023 AFL season, but they need to address their midfield consistency, forward line accuracy, and cultivate tactical flexibility. Strengthening these aspects, coupled with a resilient team culture, adaptable leadership, and astute coaching, can propel them to the pinnacle of success. It's the holistic approach that integrates statistical analysis with strategic planning and intangible factors that will ultimately position the Swans as formidable premiership contenders.” Chat GPT - (Chat GPT, 26th August 2023)
Tumblr media
Swans Vs Melbourne: Useful Takeaways From The Match It was better a performance at centre bounces by the Swans in terms of winning the ball by the midfield. Well, for 3 quarters it was anyway. Bigger bodies in Petracca and Viney won out in the end in that last quarter all over the ground. How did Bailey Frisch kick 5 goals and who was on him in that last quarter? It was a poor defensive performance by the Swans in this key regard. Tom McCartin and Dane Rampey gave their all and tried hard all day. Unfortunately, Harry Cunningham made a few poor disposal errors during the game, but he never gave up. Robbie Fox was good and gave his 110%. The Swans lack size and muscle in defence and around the ball. There were questionably umpiring decisions which went against the Swans in front of goals for Melbourne. The inconsistency around dropping the ball when the ball is knocked out in the tackle is galling. Razor Ray made several decisions against the Swans and did not penalise Melbourne players for exactly the same thing. It spoils the game, in my opinion. Are the Swans fit enough? Is this the issue in their going missing in last quarters? Is it physical fitness issues or mental concentration and application problems over the journey? Melbourne hounded them out of the game in the final quarter and Adelaide thrashed them in the last quarter the week before. There have been around half a dozen or more examples of losing last quarters where Swans players go missing in the contest.RSH Too many lightweight players unable to make their physical presence count when it really matters. Jake Lloyd has been a great player for a longtime and yet lacks size and power in key defensive contests. Dylan Stephens is an outside wingman but must put his head over the ball more.
Tumblr media
Chat GPT Recommendations For Sydney Swans AFL Team To Win CB Ball “To enhance the Sydney Swans' midfield performance and win more ball from center bounces, several strategic and tactical adjustments can be considered: Positioning and Timing: Proper positioning is crucial for winning center bounce contests. Midfielders should focus on getting to the right spots at the right time. This involves reading the ruckman's taps and anticipating where the ball will land. Quick reactions and a strong sense of timing are essential. Ruckman-Midfielder Connection: Developing a strong understanding between the ruckman and midfielders is vital. Ruckmen should communicate their intentions to midfielders, indicating where they plan to tap the ball. Midfielders can then position themselves accordingly to take advantage of these taps. Variation in Ruck Taps: Ruckmen should vary their tap directions and techniques to keep opposition midfielders guessing. A mix of short, long, and taps to advantage can disrupt the opposition's setup and create opportunities for the Swans' midfielders to exploit. Contested Ball Focus: Winning center bounces often comes down to contested ball situations. Midfielders should be prepared for physical contests and focus on their body positioning to gain an advantage over their opponents. Good use of the body and positioning can help them gain first possession. Teamwork and Communication: Effective communication among midfielders is essential. They should signal their intentions to each other, such as calling for the ball or directing teammates to certain areas. This teamwork ensures they're supporting each other and spreading the opposition's focus. Quick Ball Movement: Once the ball is won, swift and clean ball movement is key. Midfielders should look to move the ball into space before the opposition's defense can set up. Quick ball movement can catch opponents off guard and create scoring opportunities. Second Efforts: Center bounces are often chaotic, and the ball can spill to ground quickly. Midfielders who follow up their initial contest with second efforts can win crucial ground balls and maintain possession for their team.Chat GPT Skill Development: Improving skills like clean pickups, effective handballs, and accurate disposal under pressure is fundamental. Midfielders should train to perform these skills consistently, allowing them to make the most of their possessions. Adaptability: Different opponents and conditions require adaptability in tactics. The midfielders should be prepared to adjust their strategies based on the opposition's setup and how the game is unfolding. Analyzing Opponents: Prior to matches, thorough analysis of opponents' center bounce setups and tactics can provide insights into potential weaknesses to exploit. The midfielders can work on countering these setups effectively. Fitness and Endurance: Center bounces are physically demanding, requiring high levels of fitness and endurance. The midfielders should be well-conditioned to maintain their performance throughout the match, especially during crucial moments like center bounces. Simulated Practice: Simulating center bounce scenarios during training sessions can help midfielders refine their techniques, practice contested situations, and develop their decision-making under pressure. By implementing these strategies and emphasizing skill development, communication, and teamwork, the Sydney Swans' midfielders can significantly enhance their ability to win more ball from center bounces. This increased midfield dominance will contribute to better overall team performance and set them on a path towards success in the AFL season.”
Tumblr media
Who will be the next Buddy? Yes, some of the above is pretty bloody obvious stuff but the Swans do need to consistently win more ball from centre bounces and stoppages. Second efforts demand greater fitness, flexibility, and strength. I think that the side could focus more on second efforts at stoppages. Goal kicking is a reflection of mental strength. Confidence breeds composure under pressure. In my observations I see a lack of belief in oneself contributing to misses in front of goal. My advice, fake it until you make it – Isaac Heeney.  Heeney is a beautiful kick of the footy but mental scar tissue from misses make him vulnerable to the pressure. Make your intention more powerful than anything else. Take a leaf out of Toby Greene’s book. All the Swan’s forward line must bite the bullet and make their intention unbreakable. Winning games of footy depends upon kicking straight. Winning the ball is one thing but kicking straight is the crowning achievement and one without the other is a waste of time. Go Swans! Robert Sudha Hamilton has been following the Swans since the bad old days when Gary Buckenara and, then, Barassi coached the team.
A Letter To Members From Sydney Swans Coach John Longmire
"Dear members and fans, Hasn’t 2023 been one hell of a ride. After a slow start and some personnel issues in the first half of the year we like to think we have played a bit better in the second half of the year. This year we have seen the retirement of one of the best ever in Lance Franklin and the evolution of some of our young guns. But now, it’s all about our finals journey. Our defeat to Melbourne has us finishing the season in eighth position, it’s a terrific achievement in such a tight competition to be playing finals once again. Our 18th finals series in 21 years. We have earnt the right to have another crack in September, and we all want you, the members and fans to get on board, when we take on Carlton in our first final. We hope you can join us in full voice at the MCG. Elimination Final Carlon V Sydney Swans Friday, September 8. 7:50pm MCG It’s time for the Swans to GO AGAIN … embrace the challenge of another finals campaign and crack in. Swans footy is tough and unrelenting, and that’s the way we’ll approach our first final. To you, our passionate members and fans, who were this year part of our all-time membership record of 62,000 members, you have once again ridden the wave with us this year and for that we thank you. Go Swans. John Longmire Senior Coach, Sydney Swans" - (https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/1418821/a-letter-from-john-longmire) ©WordsForWeb Read the full article
0 notes