![]() Seasonal manipulation is an exciting and novel mechanic that’s implemented impressively throughout the game.ĭuring her adventure, Ary will come face to face with whimsical beasts that wish to stop her in her tracks. This can open up new pathways, reveal secrets, and even freeze some enemies, turning them into ice blocks you can use to your advantage. Seasonal Spheres change the weather around Ary, creating a temporary seasonal dome that alters the immediate environment to its seasonal counterpart. Thankfully, Ary can manipulate the beautifully detailed environments with Seasonal Spheres in order to progress and uncover those secrets. The player is set loose in an open world brimming with side quests, dungeon-like Ruins, and lots of hidden secrets. It’s up to a girl named Ary to restore balance at the behest of a mysterious society, the Guardians of Seasons.Īry and the Secret of Seasons is an action adventure in the tradition of the Zelda franchise. The seasons are in disarray, meaning that fierce winter winds bellow in place of gentle summer breezes. ![]() You can’t spam these either, they use an energy resource that slowly replenishes over time. You also get access to an upgrade tree of sorts that lets you add abilities like deflecting bullets, increasing your dash or filling your energy meter faster.Something is amiss in the world of Valdi. ![]() I won’t spoil them all, but you get access to a shock-wave blast and even an arc-attack that can be efficient ways to take out multiple enemies or a last-second attack that can save your ass from death. As you get higher up in the tower, drones begin appearing that can rain attacks down from above, but you’re able to pounce upon them and ride them into a group of enemies below.įortunately, as the enemies get tougher as the game progresses, the Ghostrunner’s arsenal of weapons and skills grows too. Robotic Metal Gear inspired enemies begin appearing half-way through the game and become death machines you need to disperse of quickly or fear their room-scale attacks. A brute enemy will launch itself across the room to land on top of you, a katana-wielding enemy needs to be countered before you can kill it and shields are added to basic goons. You only have to deal with basic goons that fire bullets you can dodge with relative ease as the game begins, but as you progress further there are increasingly more difficult enemies and obstacles added as you progress further up the tower. ![]() So you must make your way up the tower, fighting enemies big and small as you attempt to reach your target. This whisper in your ear explains they’ll be able to help you on your journey and it is up to you to stop The Keymaster and save Dharma Tower and its people. As the game begins you’ve just awoken and a voice is in your ear telling you to run with enemies hot on your tail. The building is under the rule of a tyrant named The Keymaster and the tower’s people are in a divide of poverty and civil war. You land somewhere in the slums of Dharma Tower, the last remaining place of human activity following an apocalyptic event. You are a Ghostrunner a cyborg-ninja of sorts, recently repaired but suffering from amnesia. Ghostrunner is a hard-as-nails game, but it’s also ultra-satisfying to play in a way that most games only ever strive to achieve. Because Ghostrunner isn’t just a game about fast-paced wall-running, katana-wielding combat, it’s also a tricky platformer. The game’s one-hit kill system not only led me to die from gunfire, laser beams, samurai swords and other weapons, but I also died numerous times from falling. I died well over a thousand times before I finished Ghostrunner and I loved every second of it.
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![]() These models favor either in situ cultural development or population replacement and expansion. Scholars posit contrasting models of the ethnic identity and language / population movements of prehistoric peoples in the southwestern Great Basin and far southern Sierra Nevada. The tiny faunal assemblage, relatively small ceramic assemblage, and few projectile points suggest that the site might not have been a year round habitation, but rather a seasonal occupation where farming, plant processing, and food storage took place." The formal habitation structures, including wickiups and an adobe house, suggest that this was a permanent occupation. The presence of formal storage architecture (storage blocks) indicates that the occupants invested time and energy into creating a place where food items could be stored reliably, possibly for a long period of time. The small amount of maize in the macrobotanical samples may be a product of the high temperatures at which the fires burned, as evidenced by the amount of ash collected from the hearths. Maize was present in macrobotanical samples from both room blocks, but only a single maize pollen grain from each block was noted. Analysis of flotation and pollen samples collected from the site indicated that fuel woods were likely obtained from locally available plant material, which consisted primarily of willow, pine, and sagebrush/rabbitbrush. The available data indicate that there was at least one, and possibly two, periods of occupation ranging from cal A.D. ![]() The third sample came from the hearth of the Room Block 1 wickiup (Feature 1.1), and produced a two-sigma calibrated date range of A.D. One sample came from the hearth in the lower floor in the Room Block 2 adobe house (Feature 13.1), and produced a two-sigma calibrated date range of A.D. ![]() 1050‒1260, with a high probability of the “true date” falling between A.D. One sample came from the hearth in the Room Block 2 wickiup (Feature 5.1), and produced a two-sigma calibrated date range of A.D. Three samples from the Ant Bite site were submitted for radiocarbon dating. ![]() The artifact assemblage included 1,075 ceramic sherds, 40 flaked stone artifacts including five Rosegate Parowan Basal-notched projectile points and a turtleback scraper, 287 pieces of flaked stone debitage, and 13 ground stone artifacts. Excavations at 42WS1147, informally named “The Ant Bite Site” by HRA archaeologists during this project, revealed two room blocks including two wickiups, two slab and clay floor remnants, an adobe house, a pit, an activity surface, an exterior hearth, and a midden. for data recovery at this site to mitigate the adverse effects of the proposed land disposal to the extent possible, through the recovery of data that will increase the scientific understanding of prehistoric cultures in the St. Disposal from federal ownership, and the potential future development of the land tract for commercial or residential purposes, would comprise an adverse effect to this site, as defined by federal regulations that implement the National Historic Preservation Act. Site 42WS1147 has been evaluated as being eligible for inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places, primarily due to its potential to yield information important in the understanding of regional prehistory. George and are, therefore, difficult to manage. The public lands upon which this site is located are proposed for disposal from federal ownership, through sale or exchange, as they are surrounded by private lands within the City of St. "Between May 8 and June 2, 2013, HRA’s archaeologists completed data recovery at 42WS1147, a Formative period site located on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s St. ![]() We recommend following the recipe for best results, but the difference between these two types of sugar won’t make or break your cake.Ĭan I use Muscovado sugar instead of light brown sugar? ![]() Dark brown sugar gives a much deeper flavour of molasses than light brown sugar and may also give a darker caramel colour to your baking. ![]() They won’t achieve the same flavour or colour, however. Light brown sugar and dark brown sugar can be used in the same quantities as the levels of sweetness are similar. White sugar tends to have slightly bigger sugar crystals, with brown sugar grains typically resembling caster sugar in size.Ĭan I substitute dark brown sugar for light brown sugar? The molasses in brown sugar gives it a richer caramel flavour and colour and a slightly higher water content than white sugar. What’s the difference between brown sugar and white sugar?īrown sugar contains molasses, whereas white sugar has been processed and refined. It’s best to follow the recipe when baking, as it’s a delicate science where ingredients and textures are involved.Īt The Hummingbird Bakery, we always use caster sugar to make our tasty treats. Your cakes will still hold up if you use granulated sugar as both the flavour and water content are the same.Ĭaster sugar, however, is much finer and dissolves much easier than granulated sugar which is coarser in texture. Last but not least, when the cake begins to bake in the oven the sugar will begin to caramelise the outside of the cake so that it forms a golden crust.Ĭan I substitute granulated sugar for caster sugar? As it is a dry ingredient it also absorbs some of the moisture from the wet ingredients prior to baking. It also interacts with protein to create the structure that will hold the sponge up and acts as a stabiliser. Sugar forms a main ingredient of many cake recipes so when added to the mixing bowl it will combine with the flour, egg and other wet ingredients to create the crumb – the basis of a good sponge. We all know that sugar makes cakes taste sweet and delicious, but aside from flavour it has several roles to play in terms of structure and texture. Brown sugar is less refined with higher levels of molasses and a higher water content. White sugar is made by the process of refining raw sugar to filter out molasses and impurities. Sugar is made from sugarcane and sugar beets. Stirred into cake mixtures or dusted over the final baked creations, sugar gives cakes their sweet flavour and golden colour. Sugar is a staple for any baker looking to rustle up some sweet goodies. Caster, granulated, white, brown, dark or icing - sugar makes life that little bit sweeter! ![]() Also, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. is the parent company of Amigo Energy, Green Star Energy, Hudson Energy, Just Energy Solar, Tara Energy and terrapass. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates. With offices located across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany, Just Energy serves approximately two million residential and commercial customers providing homes and businesses with a broad range of energy solutions that deliver comfort, convenience and control. Thermostat Operation You can save as much as 10 a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7-10F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. The company was one of the first major energy retailers to offer green energy products, and continues to lead with innovative energy management solutions that deliver comfort, convenience and control as a trusted Energy Advisor for its customers.Įstablished in 1997, Just Energy ( JE) ( JE) is a leading retail energy provider specializing in electricity and natural gas commodities, energy efficiency solutions, and renewable energy options. Just Energy entered the market with a new way for consumers to enjoy energy price security. in 2004, the United Kingdom in 2012, and Germany in 2017. Just Energy began operations in Ontario, Canada, in 1997 as deregulation opened natural gas and electricity markets. We are clearing a path as a trusted advisor providing energy efficiency and water conservation solutions for anyone that uses energy, which is everyone!" From smart thermostats, to personalized home consumption insight reports, LED bulbs, furnace filters, and smart-home irrigation controllers, we are empowering consumers with the tools and information they need to have the comfort, control and convenience they want. This means bringing value-added products to the market that address the changing ways that people use energy. Everything we do, we do in the context of the customer experience. "Today, there is no other independent retailer in the world with the stability, product depth, sales channel diversity and geographic scope of Just Energy. "The retail energy industry has evolved well beyond simply providing commodity supply," says Rebecca MacDonald, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Just Energy. Department of Energys Office of Scientific and Technical Information. With newly launched operations in Germany, and plans to enter additional markets, we look forward to growing our footprint and serving new customers with a range of energy management tools and sustainable solutions to meet the needs of today's connected, smart homes and businesses, across the globe." The Isuzu Pup and the Nissan Lil Hustler. ![]() "What started as a single commodity, single market provider of energy supply in 1997, has, over these years, weathered a number of market changes and challenges to become the third largest North American residential retailer and the ninth largest commercial retailer. "It's an extraordinary milestone for us, and an exciting time to be in the industry," says Deb Merril, Just Energy's Co-Chief Executive Officer. ![]() More than happy to just drag-and-drop sideload. I use Calibre too much for conversion to want the library on a device - I do ebook conversions for other people, and combine short stories into single epubs, so my Calibre listing includes swarms of things I have no interest in reading. However, since Inkbook does not integrate Play Store, getting CC on there is not straightforward. It provides good mimicking of your main Calibre library organisation. ![]() Since you use Calibre, an advantage of an Android reader may be the availability (for a small fee - but free demo version available) of the Calibre Companion (CC) app on Google Play Store. If either Boox or InkBook reads with "an app" instead of ebooks being the main, default function, that's a strong mark against it. I'll be sideloading ebooks rather than downloading them, because I'm not dealing with DRM, and Smashwords doesn't have an app (eep is that really the last non-DRM ebook store that's not tied to a specific publisher?). (Almost understandable inside the books ridiculous in the library, where I often have to keep clicking past the first several pages to find the next one in the series.)ĭon't want a Kindle because my entire library is epubs, and while Calibre can convert them, that's a whole lot of effort. It annoys me to no end that it doesn't have "jump to page" options, neither in the library listings nor inside books there's a slider bar and it's impossible to go to a specific page. I've been tolerating it because it was the only 5" reader I could find when I bought it. I don't want a new Kobo the navigation system is horrible. (With my Kobo mini, I had to turn on the wifi and create an account to authorize it at first I did that, turned off the wifi, and haven't used the sync function since I acquired it a few years ago.)Īrgh, lower battery life for Android? Why? Does that change if you only read books only it, never use apps or wifi? I don't intend to add apps or connect to any stores, and I'm really not up to rooting, so OS is fairly unimportant for me. I hadn't even realized they were all Android based. I expected to miss the 5" screen more than I miss the resolution I keep considering getting a Jetbook instead but I'm not quite willing to give up e-ink. Might be nice to keep the 300 dpi I'm now used to, but I'm not sure it's worth $70. Screen resolution isn't a priority - I was content with 200 dpi when I had a 6" reader. Given the features I care about, is there any reason not to go with the least expensive available?Īnyone know which has a better navigation system? Touch screen (prefer not, but I don't think I can get away from that anymore)ĭo the Boox ereaders offer anything that justifies the higher prices? Looks like an extra $30 gets the Onyx Boox Vasco de Gama which includes a light (might be nice), touchscreen, and wifi (both meh).Storage capacity (I want at least 2gb, so any modern reader has me covered).Glow/light/etc screen (never had one - might be nice to try, but not looking for it).Long battery life (nothing required to run in the background that eats more battery than standard e-ink usage).5" screen (yeah, not gonna happen-but definitely do not want larger than 6" screen). ![]() ![]()
![]() This time when you’re picked up jump across to the tunnel on the right side. Quickly head over to the cart and get in. Look at the control panel once more and click on the red button. Take a look at them and then rewire them by clicking on each of the frayed wires. This time some wires will begin to fray and arc. You wan’t to configure the top wires so that they go in this order: black, red, black red.Ĭlose the panel and drop back down to the floor. Look at the control panel on the right side and click on the red button. Use the key to open the panel on the left and take a look at the wires. As you’re lifted up swing over to the ledge on the left. Quickly contract your neck back to regular size so that you can walk faster, walk over to the cart and hop inside. Once that’s done press the red button on the right of the panel. You want it to be set up so that the first button is at the bottom, the second is up the top and the third button is down the bottom. This controls the actions of the claw that descends to pick up the fruit. Pick up the key hanging next to the right door and then walk over to the control panel.Įxtend your neck and look at the control panel. This will open a control panel on the right side. Once the cut-scene ends click on the little red button on the front of the circular structure. This time a cart will roll down and push you through the door.Ī fat robot will come out and eat all of the fruit from within the cart. Stand on the wheels and push the hook once more. Once the cart has fallen over grab the wheels and place them on the track. This will cause the railing to lift up and pull the lever, making a cart roll down. Walk back down the steps and push the lower hook of the railing. Climb up the steps, pick up the hook and attach it to the highest part of the railing. Use the yellow wedge on the side of the train track that is closest to the foreground. You’ll drop back down to the ground below. Shimmy across to the right and grab the yellow wedge. You’ll need to switch it to 2 and A.Ĭlimb up the steps, extend your neck and jump up to the pole. ![]() They determine which hole in the wall the telescoping pole connects to. Contract your neck and click on the controls under they tank. Pull the handle once more to alert the guard and this time he’ll let you across.Īs you walk across you’ll slip on the oil and fall to the ground below. Extend your neck and then take the light bulb from the lamp post.ĭrop down, wear the light-blue witch’s hat and then place the light bulb on the top of your head. Do this once more and then climb as high as you can. When you reach the top pull out a pin underneath you and place it above you. ![]() Use the blue paint on the tin of paint to make light-blue paint and then use the witch’s hat on the light-blue paint to make a guards hat.Ĭlimb up the light pole. Grab a witch’s hat and keep clicking on the other witch’s hats until you can pick up the blue paint underneath. You’ll need to find a disguise to fool the guard. Watch what the guard does and then pull the handle to alert the guard in the watch tower. A guard robot follows you along the path. Use the hook on the pole and Josev will fish out his other arm from the pit of oil and then he’ll swing across.Īfter the short cut-scene you arrive out the front of the mechanical town. ![]() Open your inventory and combine the string with the magnet to make a hook. Walk over to the pole and click on it to bend it over. Pick up the magnet just to your left and then pick up the string. Give the doll to the little creature and he’ll give you your other leg. Click on the little creature to the right to find out what it wants. You can extend or contract the neck of your robot, Josev, by clicking on the up or down arrow when hovering over it’s body. Click on the head to attach it to the body. To begin click twice on the upturned bathtub and then click twice on the upturned body. You begin looking at a trash heap outside of a large mechanical city. Even though it is obviously comparable to the Worms series, it lacks the personality and humor that can keep it interesting for sustained periods. There are a few things that hold ShellShock Live back from perfection. I would recommend running through a bit of the campaign first to get a few levels and upgrades under your belt before diving right in, lest you be overwhelmed by the superior firepower of your opponents. Even if you do not know anyone who plays, jumping into a multiplayer game is not terribly intimidating. Overall, the community seems pretty welcoming. And if you dive in with a group of friends (as anyone who has played a game of Worms: Armageddon can attest to), the trash talk and the salt are both very real. ![]() Some people may focus on mobility, some on armor, and some on powerful critical hits. Some people may spread their weapon progression out so that several different options have slightly more powerful versions. Some people may focus on just one weapon, trying to upgrade an already powerful shot to an even more ridiculous one. There are over seventy of these single player scenarios, and reaching certain milestones unlocks even more weapons, levels, and upgrades. This huge amount of upgrading, customization, and unlocking means that after just a short amount of progression, you will see a huge variety of builds among different tanks. There are also single player missions that force you into specific scenarios and challenge you to fight your way out. You can skirmish against bots to test new weapons (although this won’t earn you any experience). ShellShock Live is not simply a multiplayer game. The amount of stuff in this game is outrageous. Cosmetic tank upgrades await those who collect gears, which are randomly dropped and can be wagered in different game modes. Some call in an army of frogs to hop on your opponent before exploding. In addition to the staggering level of weapons, every time a player levels up, they can upgrade their tank in one of four categories, either improve stats or eventually add unique modifications to their tanks. Some leave a marker on the ground before calling in an attack helicopter to fire away. Each of those weapons behaves differently. That means, when all is said and done, there are currently 339 weapons in ShellShock Live. There are over 120 base weapons in the game right now, and each of those can be individually upgraded (meaning you earn experience only from using it) at least once, and sometimes up to four times. The simplicity of the gameplay is completely at odds with how much depth is present in ShellShock Live. Everyone flings their chosen method of destruction, terrain blows up, tanks take damage and occasionally explode, repeat. Everyone chooses a weapon from a gigantic list, and each has varying damage outputs and behaviors, you choose an angle and speed to fire them at, and then hit fire. The ground is completely destructible, and various floating obstacles (such as orange and blue portals, reflective surfaces, and damage multipliers) litter the sky. The basic premise of ShellShock Live is this: teams of tanks square off on a 2D terrain. Players will also be able to take part in global events, where they can compete against other players from around the world.Please tell me I’m not the only one who remembers this game. The game also features a variety of online multiplayer modes, allowing players to team up with friends and compete against each other. ![]() As players progress through the game, they will gain access to powerful abilities, which can be used to unlock new areas and progress further in the game. Players will also be able to build and upgrade their own base, which can be used to craft items and store resources. ![]() Players will also be able to customize their character with a variety of weapons, armor, and skills. Along the way, they will encounter a variety of puzzles, enemies, and environmental hazards. Players will explore the world, uncover its secrets, and discover the truth behind the mysterious Pureya. Gameplay is focused on exploration and discovery. Players take on the role of a young explorer who is tasked with uncovering the secrets of the world and uncovering the truth behind the mysterious Pureya. Pureya is an open-world, exploration-based game set in a vibrant and mysterious world. PC Windows Mac OS Android IOS iPhone Linux Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2021, 907: A12. Thermal convection over fractal surfaces. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2019, 869: R4. Nu∼Ra 1/2 scaling enabled by multiscale wall roughness in Rayleigh-Bénard turbulence. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2018, 121: 872–883. Heat transport enhancement and scaling law transition in two-dimensional Rayleigh-Bénard convection with rectangular-type roughness. Roughness-facilitated local 1/2 scaling does not imply the onset of the ultimate regime of thermal convection. Roughness as a route to the ultimate regime of thermal convection. ![]() Turbulent thermal convection over rough plates with varying roughness geometries. Observation of the 1/2 power law in Rayleigh-Bénard convection. Random roughness of boundary increases the turbulent convection scaling exponent. Turbulent thermal convection in a cell with ordered rough boundaries. Enhanced heat transport in turbulent convection over a rough surface. Turbulent convection over rough surfaces. Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Letters, 2013, 3(5): 052001. Current trends and future directions in turbulent thermal convection. The European Physical Journal E, 2012, 35(7): 58. New perspectives in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 2010, 42: 335–364.Ĭhilla F., Schumacher J. ![]() Small-scale properties of turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection. Heat transfer and large scale dynamics in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection. The influences of the ratchet orientation on the heat transfer and the flow structure are discussed and analyzed.Īhlers G., Grossmann S., Lohse D. ![]() In the presence of the roughness, a sharp jump of the Nu values is identified as the Ra value is slightly increased, accompanied with the dramatic changes of the large-scale flow structure and the plume dynamics. We find that the roughness can have a significant influence on the organization of the secondary corner rolls, and the corner rolls are evidently suppressed by the roughness for intermediate values of Ra. The influences of the roughness on the heat transfer and the flow structure are found to be strongly dependent on both Ra and the roughness geometry. We consider two aspect ratios of roughness γ = 1, 2 and the range of the Rayleigh number 1.0 × 10 6 ≤ Ra ≤ 2.0 × 10 10 with the Prandtl number Pr = 4. This paper presents a numerical study of the Rayleigh-Bénard convection (RBC) in two-dimensional cells with asymmetric (ratchet) roughness distributed on the top and bottom surfaces. ![]() ![]() At present, availability of input data varies across asset classes and markets. There is not a universally agreed upon set of inputs for the calculation. There is not a universally accepted way to calculate an ITR. Importantly, an ITR metric may vary meaningfully across data providers for a variety of reasons due to methodological choices (e.g., differences in time horizons, the scope(s) of emissions included and portfolio aggregation calculations). Also, there are limitations with the data inputs to the model. ![]() This forward-looking metric is calculated based on a model, which is dependent upon multiple assumptions. What are the key assumptions and limitations of the ITR metric? The bands help to underscore the underlying uncertainty in the calculations and the variability of the metric. As a result, BlackRock publishes MSCI’s ITR metric for its funds in temperature range bands. A summary explanation of MSCI’s methodology and assumptions for its ITR metric can be found here.īecause the ITR metric is calculated in part by considering the potential for a company within the fund’s portfolio to reduce its emissions over time, it is forward-looking and prone to limitations. Note, only corporate issuers are covered within the calculation. If emissions in the global economy followed the same trend as the emissions of companies within the fund's portfolio, global temperatures would ultimately rise within this band. The ITR metric is calculated by looking at the current emissions intensity of companies within the fund's portfolio as well as the potential for those companies to reduce its emissions over time. A net zero emissions economy is one that balances emissions and removals. Scientific consensus suggests that reducing emissions until they reach net zero around mid-century (2050-2070) is how this goal could be met. The ITR metric is used to provide an indication of alignment to the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement for a company or a portfolio. The temperature goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to well below 2☌ above pre-industrial levels, and ideally 1.5 ☌, which will help us avoid the most severe impacts of climate change. To address climate change, many of the world's major countries have signed the Paris Agreement. What is the Implied Temperature Rise (ITR) metric? Learn what the metric means, how it is calculated, and about the assumptions and limitations for this forward-looking climate-related metric.Ĭlimate change is one of the greatest challenges in human history and will have profound implications for investors. Review the MSCI methodologies behind Sustainability Characteristics using the links below. For more information regarding the fund's investment strategy, please see the fund's prospectus. The metrics do not change the fund’s investment objective or constrain the fund’s investable universe, and there is no indication that a sustainable, impact or ESG investment strategy will be adopted by the fund. This fund does not seek to follow a sustainable, impact or ESG investment strategy. Sustainability Characteristics should not be considered solely or in isolation, but instead are one type of information that investors may wish to consider when assessing a fund. They are provided for transparency and for information purposes only. Sustainability Characteristics do not provide an indication of current or future performance nor do they represent the potential risk and reward profile of a fund. Alongside other metrics and information, these enable investors to evaluate funds on certain environmental, social and governance characteristics. Indication Investments Ltd, operates a Representative Office in Germany, registered with BaFin (BaFin ID: 10161686 / Bak No.: 161686).Sustainability Characteristics provide investors with specific non-traditional metrics. LIBERTEX is a trading platform used by Indication Investments Ltd., a Cyprus Investment Firm, which is regulated and supervised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with CIF Licence number 164/12 and provides investment services to the European Economic Area and Switzerland. The affiliate programme is not permitted in Spain for the commercialisation of investment services and client acquisitions by unauthorised third parties. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The value of an investment in stocks and shares can fall as well as rise, so you may get back less than you invested. Please click here to read our full Risk Warning. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. 85.9% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. But even as a kid, I don’t think I was defined by what I read. Kids experience a more passionate connection to fiction. I remain myself and the book remains itself, but it’s a true pleasure to sit down and listen to the book tell me something interesting. More and more, I feel that the best I can hope for is a book that’ll become my friend. I’ve spent my adult life waiting for the book that’ll truly transport me, and I’ve found them to be very rare. More than that, fiction (but not just fiction, I’m talking about all art) is a shadow-play. And even when it comes to ideas, most peoples’ ideas, including mine, are largely the same as what their peers believe. People are more influenced by what they ate for dinner or by the fit of their shoes than they are by books. ![]() ![]() I remain convinced that narrative fiction is, like gravity, the weakest of the many forces that act upon a life. See, I’m doing it again–writing about my process!īecause at the other end of the thing, at the consumption stage of my relationship to media, I’ve been wondering more and more what it’s about. There are some images that make the heart beat faster and that make your skin tingle, and those are the ones you’ve got to write. You put your pen over the paper or your keys over the keyboard, and you listen to your own heart. This year I started to learn the secret: you just listen. For years all I knew was that I wanted to find it, but I had no idea how to go about it. For me it’s a perpetual struggle to get closer and closer to the heart of longing. Some years I post little about this, but for some reason I intellectualized a lot of it this year. Looking back on my year, I posted largely about my writing process. But about these things too I posted nothing. I even, finally, after bouncing off it for many years, got into Skyrim! I watched plenty of The Good Place and You’re The Worst, I fell in love with Riverdale, I saw Sorry To Bother You and Eighth Grade and Roma and Blackkklansman and A Star Is Born (and plenty of much worse movies) in theaters. I beat Borderlands 2 and the Pre-Sequel, I beat Fallout New Vegas (after 100 hours) and put another fifty hours into Fallout IV. This year I must’ve put at least 200 hours into Diablo 3. I also watched way more TV and played more video games than in years past. I read Gawain and the Green Knight, a truly bizarre medieval Arthurian tale with the crazy, strange morality that medieval tales are known for. I spent two months reading Clarissa and posted hardly anything about that. Like I just read a ton of Michael Crichton novels, including some pretty bizarre ones, and I didn’t write much about him. ![]() I’ve read just as much, and I’ve gone through some pretty interesting phases in my reading. This year I’ve posted less often about books. ![]() Instead I can just write about the shit that comes to mind. I never thought of the blog as a marketing tool, but now I can ignore the pressure to turn it into a marketing tool. And this is despite me writing way, way less often than in the past. Last year I had twenty thousand unique visitors and like forty thousand page views, this year it was thirty thousand unique visitors and sixty thousand page views. One post I swore I’d never write when I started this blog (more than ten years ago!!!!!!) was the one where you apologize for not writing more often, and so far I have successfully avoided falling into this trap, even as the gaps between posts have increased!īlog readership is substantially up from last year, for some insane reason. |