We're still putting some stuff together, but I'd like to open the floor to see what people would like out of this subverse. Ideally, I think things should be very discussion oriented, so if you post a link to a video or an article, prompt other subscribers of this subverse to talk about something game design related in that content.
What would everyone else like to see here?
I've been tossing around the idea of hosting design challenges or competitions on this subverse. I'm not sure how people would feel about it, but it's a good way for us designers to keep our design brains sharp.
At the moment, I don't think there will be any real rewards, however Voat comes through with it's partner program, we can award the ad revenue to the winners of the challenge.
1.) How frequently would people like these challenges to run? I think monthly would work best for most of us busy people.
2.) As far as competition goes, if we want it to be competitive, how do we feel about using a voting system based on Voat's comment ranking?
3.) As far as constraints go, I think we could start off by designing a game around a theme or a mechanic, or the combination of the two. I think it would be totally fine for submissions to be in any form, whether it's a game design doc or an actual game.
4.) Is this something people would legitimately like? I'd personally love to see this become a regular thing, but it only works if people want to participate.
Ultimately, I think it could lead to some very cool collaborations and conversations involving game design, which will hopefully make us all better designers every challenge.
This is something I've been thinking about a lot since I've started a playthrough of Stasis. I feel that horror games are usually done in the first person perspective, likely to make the player feel more immersed in the setting, but Stasis is a overhead point and click and does a great job at building the horror atmosphere.
What do you all think? I think it really comes down to setting a good scene with sound effects and well planned art.
I'm not sure I sway much in either direction of that argument, especially since I know there's a lot of terrible indie games out there. I think AAA just gets a bit cookie cutter, while indie has greater potential since they're more "experimental".
I think the indie games that get well known are the ones that exhibit the best design. They're the ones that didn't sink in all the crap out there (and AAA have enough money to float above the crap by advertizing the hell out of their games).
Voat banned the domain, so you'll have to duckduckgo the source yourself. It is on some sort of jergames blogspot, from 2006.
What kind of game design challenges or competitions out there have you guys participated in? The biggest that comes to mind for me is the Game Career Guide's Game Design Challenge - http://gamecareerguide.com/features/1467/game_design_challenge_keep_it_.php - Which has been mostly positive in the challenges I've participated in.
I'm the co-host of a series on YouTube where we build levels in Mario Maker to try to help teach certain level design concepts - with the goal of helping people build better levels.
I don't mean this in a negative way either, but what do you think it is that set this game apart from the rest? It is the style? The themes? The plot and writing?
I think it's likely a combination of multiple elements, but I think one of the most important things are the secrets. A lot of modern developers (especially AAA) avoid creating too much content that players might miss, for fear of spending their money on things that might not even get seen by players. Undertale took the opposite approach, and fill the game with so many secrets that there's even a Reddit group dedicated to data mining the code to find more secrets.
I recently played a game called Ultraworld and it got me thinking. The mechanics of the game are pretty sub-par in my opinion as it's basically an explore the environment and find all the things kind of game - there wasn't much to offer in terms of gameplay. It did, however have exceptional style in its graphics and audio, and the writing did it's job of getting me to think about things in an interesting way.
So that begs the question in my mind - Do art house games need to have enjoyable game mechanics? Or should the philosophy or artistic direction take precedence?
I've played plenty of other art house games with equally simple mechanics, but since they tend to be much shorter games they generally were never long enough to lose interest. So maybe art direction and philosophy in these games should be top priority, however the gameplay quality should be equal to the duration of the game. Though I think there's still a threshold of quality that the gameplay needs to reach, even for the shortest games.
Hello. I assume this is a relevant subverse?
I have a problem i have encountered in all languages (mostly based on the SDL libraries) where i implement a side-scrolling game (or vertical scrolling game) where unwanted motion blur is present, even at fairly slow speeds. I have never been able to get around this problem, and i always spend hours playing classic games like sonic the hedgehog series to see if i can figure out how they stopped on screen blur. There's plenty of fast side scrollers in all kinds of places which seem to get around the visual motion blur. In the projects i try to create, it's a case of disorientating blur that the human eye registers (screenshotting the game doesn't result in any blur).
I did a bit of research in the past about monitor refresh rates and the like, and came to the conclusion that the human eye is the actual problem, specifically revolving around contrast between colours. I then put together a small platformer several times with the same colours and similar textures within the classic sonic games, and even when i made the character move slower than sonic, motion blur is still present.
Is there a trick anyone is aware of to stop unwanted motion blur in a side scrolling game? I've been wondering this for the past year or two, and i am getting stuck at any project i've started because of this feat. If anyone knows or has some examples with the methods used to combat motion blur, that would be very helpful thanks.


FontLab VI. The ultra bold font editor for Mac & Windows.
FontLab VI is an integrated font editor for macOS and Windows that helps you create fonts from start to finish, from a simple design to a really "ultra bold" complex project, and brings a spark of magic into type design. FontLab VI is available as a 30-day free fully functional trial.
Whether you're an expert or a beginner, you can create, open, modify, draw, space, kern, hint and export desktop, web, color and variable fonts. Your design process will be faster and more efficient with FontLab's groundbreaking drawing tools and responsive contour operations.
Apply the Power Brush to a "skeleton" contour for live, adjustable calligraphic strokes. Control the angle and thickness of the brush, and tweak it even after you've drawn. Save Power Brush presets and apply them to other contours across your font.
Our Pencil is a radical new sketching tool. Trim, tweak, modify, smooth, adjust. Nothing gets in the way of creative successive approximation — especially not the usual constraints of wrangling Bézier curves.
Our Rapid tool is a Pen on turbo. Click for a line, double-click for a curve, that's it. FontLab knows which nodes should be extremes, and automatically makes smooth curves with your chosen node positions.
Move the Rapid handles to change the curve segment Tension, or double-click to apply the current font-wide default. Rapid is great for quick drawing of consistent shapes, or for intelligent manual tracing of a scan or background image.
If you like drawing with an industry-standard Bézier pen, FontLab VI has a great Pen tool for you. We've combined the best of Fontographer, FontLab Studio, and some other approaches.
And if you find a traditional Bézier pen hard, you'll love the rest of our drawing tools.
"There are a host of drawing tools in FontLab VI that all offer different ways to get an outline started. Once a basic outline is in, editing it is intuitive. Power Nudge cleverly adjusts locally related nodes in harmony to the one you're editing.
With our Tunni Lines, you can finally move both handles on a curve in sync, Balance their proportions and tune the curve Tension.
If you like your shapes but not where the nodes are, just Shift+Alt+Slide them to a better position along the curve, or even beyond it, without altering the existing shape.
Some nodes define a stem position, but some are Servants that just follow along when you move others.
With just one move of a node, Ctrl+Alt+Nudge handles or intelligently Power Nudge other nodes. Select and move nodes and handles across contours and multiple glyphs. Link points to Power Guides with Magnet to orchestrate major shape changes quickly and consistently.
Curve tension is a measure of how much a curve deviates from a straight line between two points, from zero to 100%. So for example, Helvetica has more tense curves than Frutiger or Myriad. A smooth outline will have constant tension, or a steady decrease or increase from curve to curve. FontLab VI not only lets you visualize curve tension, but also lets you see it numerically, edit it visually, and even use the Rapid tool to draw curves with tension set to your specifications. So if you want to make a font with more squarish curves like Helvetica or Eurostile, FontLab VI can help you draw it that way from the start.
FontLab VI can dynamically Suggest snap locations for nodes, angles and stem distances as you draw, so you'll get equal distances — even without using our new Guides that snap and measure like no other.
See stem and whitespace thicknesses, handle lengths and angles automatically measured as you draw. Scale, rotate and slant losslessly thanks to FontLab's fractional drawing precision and live integer rounding, apply the rounding to bake in the integers.
Harmonize your curves to make them really fluid, or "G2 curvature continuous" in math-speak. Make your node a Genius, which stays fluid even if you move the handles — view the Curvature to prove it.
Curves even stay smooth and true to their form when you Simplify a contour or remove some nodes with Eraser. No software does it better, say the mathematicians.
Our corner nodes can be clever, too. Create and adjust live rounded corners and ink traps with Smart Corners.
Use Scissors on intersections, and we will recreate overlapping contours, so you can move them independently.
Easily spot odd points and suspicious curves with the revamped FontAudit, our live outline custodian. Its intuitive problem highlighting (a nod to Tal Leming's Glyph Nanny) and improved fixing algorithms will help you turn your outlines into pro outlines.
Draw open or closed lines and contours. In the areas created by their intersections, use the Fill tool and click to fill and Alt+click to unfill. We'll do the pathfinding — manually setting path direction is so 1980s.
In FontLab VI, everything is color-enabled. Draw multi-color contours, bring in color outlines, SVGs and bitmap images, overlay layered fonts and create emoji or chromatic fonts for all Color OpenType-enabled platforms: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CC 2018, macOS, Windows 8+, iOS, Android and modern web browsers.
You've made your drawings somewhere else? No problem. Copy-paste glyph outlines or color vector graphics from Adobe Illustrator, FontLab Studio, or other vector drawing or font apps, import SVG drawings and bitmap images.
Arrange them on the Sketchboard, optionally turn bitmaps into smooth vector graphics using autotrace, then automatically assign the letterforms to glyphs to create a fully working font in a few minutes. No need for a separate ScanFont app!
Our Sketchboard is a a virtual desk or canvas that allows you to draw and experiment outside of any glyph. It's great for collecting sketches, separating artwork into glyph images, or just drawing logos and symbols using all of FontLab's juicy Bézier magic.
You can also arrange text frames showing different fonts you're working on, and export the contents into a PDF or SVG for proofing.
Drag-drop or copy-paste pixel images in most formats, with mono, grayscale, full color and transparency support. Split and autotrace or place the images into the img layer for reference to draw over them. Rotate and scale imported graphics, crop, blur, remove noise and background.
A font family consists of fonts that have different locations on one or more design space Axes, such as width, weight, slant or optical size. To create interpolated instances or a variable OpenType font from one or more Font masters, use Font Info to add the axes and assign axis locations for all font masters within your FontLab font.
Use the Variations panel to preview and control the interpolation and extrapolation results. Switch between the glyph layers that represent font masters and glyph-specific correction masters using the Layers & Masters panel. Enable Edit Across Layers to add or remove nodes and use other contour editing tools on all masters at once.
Easily plan your Instances for an extensive font family or a variable font. With axis instances, define per-axis interpolation locations and style phrases, and FontLab will automatically build a matrix of all instances for all axes, with correct Style names and Style groups.
Change the axis order to influence auto-style naming, set your main master's Slope to Italic for automatic italic style linking. Tweak the instances names or weight/width class, and export all or just the enabled instances in one go!
Thanks to our Variations engine based on MutatorMath, your Masters no longer need to stand in the MM corners, but can be placed freely within the design space. Unlimited axes, intermediate font masters, glyph masters that affect only certain glyphs give you complete freedom in designing interpolable font families and variable OpenType fonts.
FontLab VI can open MM VFB fonts made in FontLab Studio, can open and export both TrueType-based OpenType Variations fonts and UFO-based designSpace families.
FontLab VI also uses intelligent interpolation in many other areas, including the rewind feature, power nudge, and servant points.
To create intermediate designs via interpolation, you need all your glyph masters to have the same number and geometric structure of contours and nodes. FontLab can help you automatically match your masters by sorting contours, relocating start points and correcting path direction.
This can happen on the fly, or permanently — with the Match Masters command, which can even blend between two really incompatible masters, intelligently adding nodes where needed. If your masters are already point-perfect, you can disable the automation in Font Info or the Variations panel.
Whether you have two, four, seven or a dozen masters, the Matchmaker tool helps you make their point structure compatible for interpolation. Matchmaker works on Sections, which are sequences of line or curve segments.
Select the start nodes of a section across all masters, then select the end nodes of the section and click — FontLab will add, remove or relocate intermediate nodes along the section in each master to create matching structures. Wait for the green light, then enjoy a smooth ride along your axes.
Perform metrics and kerning editing in a multi-line Metrics Window, with an adjustable, distraction-free UI and intuitive keyboard shortcuts. Step through your phrases with the Pairs & Phrases panel, or dive into details using slanted sidebearings and the enhanced Measurement line.
Apply OpenType Layout features, even for complex and RTL scripts. Easily switch between glyph input, drawing and spacing without changing your workspace.
Want the O sidebearing to always be 60% of H? Link metrics and set up complex spacing relationships with our live math expressions engine. Bind the sidebearings and they will remain constant—even when you change the outline.
Class kerning is now compatible with UFO and OpenType, without key glyphs, and conflict-free. Preview the Kerning Classes clouds as you kern and compare your decisions with live autokerning suggestions.
Use the Pairs & Phrases panel to see your kerning plan, or the Kerning panel to see what's actually in the font. Export KLTF-optimized OpenType kerning that never breaks or overflows. The main master's kerning classes are used for all instances and the variable font.
Position Anchors manually or link their positions to other anchors or guides with math expressions. FontLab will display all matching diacritical marks in the Anchor Cloud, and will use your anchors to generate composite glyphs and the mark/mkmk OpenType features.
"I switched to FontLab VI in early 2017. It took me a month or less to feel that I definitely prefer working in it. It looks new and fresh, the interface is nice and precise. You use one window for everything — from glyph editing to testing the font in a long text — just by zooming and switching modes.
Use Components to build accented letters or ligatures from other glyphs — the composite glyphs you create will inherit outlines, guides and anchors from the component sources. Or turn on Auto layer, and the metrics and component positions in the composite glyph layer will always stay up-to-date.
Use Element References and the Gallery panel to re-use smaller pieces of the design across glyphs or even within the same glyph. You don't need to create separate glyphs for each design fragment, and you can edit a referenced Element anywhere it appears or unlink a reference to make local changes only.
When you export to TTF or UFO, FontLab will keep your Components and will convert Element References to Components whenever needed.
Sort glyphs by the Color Flags (marks), and organize your glyphs with Tags: assign multiple labels to your glyphs, then assign the same tags to font guidelines, stems and zones, and they'll only appear in the tagged glyphs.
Virtual tags for lowercase or overshoot glyphs are assigned automatically. All tags form classes and can be viewed with the new Classes panel.
Just type. We can find glyphs by glyph name, Unicode character name, script, codepage, encoding, range — you name it. FontLab also has friendly alternatives to standard glyph names built in. Use friendly names for development but export industry-standard fonts, with no added effort.
Test your OpenType features with the built-in HarfBuzz OpenType Layout engine with complete complex-script support. Search for glyphs based on Unicode character names and Unicode scripts.
FontLab VI stays up-to-date with the latest Unicode and OpenType standards.
We've completely revamped FontLab's beloved visual TrueType Hinting (TTH) engine, and added TTFAutohint as an alternative engine.
FontLab VI includes a true Microsoft ClearType preview (even on the Mac version), has a streamlined user interface, allows you to attach visual TTH commands to PostScript outlines and overlapping paths, and has built-in functionality to copy TTH commands from one font to another, or from one glyph in a font to a similar one.
We apologize for taking away your coffee break.
FontLab VI is very fast, being written in C++ and optimized for speed. Most operations are instantaneous. In some places we reduced the lag from minutes to milliseconds. Combined with a more efficient user interface, and more powerful and intuitive tools, the new FontLab will help you work faster than ever. Maybe you won't even miss the coffee break.
Trying to duplicate a bunch of preference settings to output a specific font could be painful. With FontLab VI we have introduced Profiles for font generation.
Each profile is a group of settings for generating output fonts in a particular format. FontLab VI has a set of default profiles for all our standard output formats, and you can easily create new profiles to meet your particular needs.
Type designers use various tools and workflows. FontLab VI does not lock you into a proprietary file format. Got fonts in another format? FontLab opens it: OpenType (TT, PS, Variable TT, SVG, sbix, CBDT, COLR, TTC), Web (WOFF2, WOFF, EOT), FontLab VFB, Fontographer, Glyphs, UFO, designSpace, PostScript Type 1, TrueType, Ikarus, even old Mac fonts on Windows (in a Zip container)!
Instead of reinventing the wheel, FontLab VI uses the industry's best solutions: Adobe FDK for OpenType, Microsoft ClearType, TTFAutohint, MutatorMath, fontTools with varLib, HarfBuzz, ICU, Python (APIs compatible with FontLab Studio and RoboFab), the KLTF kerning optimizer and a SpeedPunk-style curvature view.
Build glyphs from Components that point to other glyphs, or from Element References that cross-reference each other and can be edited anywhere they appear. Decompose a component and unlink a reference to make local changes only. Use Auto layers to build predefined glyphs and keep them automatically updated.
FontLab VI for Mac is a 64-bit app that runs on Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite or newer, including macOS 10.14 Mojave.
FontLab VI for Windows x64 is a 64-bit app that runs on 64-bit versions Windows 7 and newer, including Windows 10.
Each FontLab VI license is valid for both macOS and Windows.
We've restarted the trial period on October 24, 2018, so if your trial expired before — you may try again!
The "for Windows" version will work on any modern Windows system (32- or 64-bit).
The "for Windows x64" version will only work on 64-bit modern Windows systems.
Images courtesy of: Łukasz Dziedzic, Underware, Typofonderie + ZeCraft, Jeremy Tankard, Canada Type, Marianna Paszkowska.
Hero video: CC-BY © 2011 James Paul Escalante, 2013 Nutmegger Workshop, 2014 Hand Type, 2014 Motion Landscapes, 2015 Modular, 2017 NM type.


A new video on YouTube was added to Katamari Damacy REROLL.
The perfect Game for Positives In between, Who like me missed Katamari, because the Game was sold very rerly in Shops, it can finally catch up here. The Control is pleasantly simple after a little Familiarization Time, even if a Controller is Mandatory. Graphical, apart from light Rucklers, very pretty and beautiful Colorful. Apart from one Song, the Soundtrack is very good, though not very big. Snacks are worth seeing, so you'd rather not skip it, otherwise you can play the Level again to see them. The German translation is quite good Apart from Grammatical Errors here and there and Texts are almost always either funny or nice to read. Negative The Difficulty rises unnaturally in the last Levels, a Mode with more Time or Road Help would be useful for Newcomers, but I have managed each Level after 2-3 Restarts. But this is just the Cherry on the Mountain of Problems. The King, or God to appease with his Catamari, is incredibly arrogant and his Text after a lost Level is almost always annoying, as you have not managed to reach the Goal due to Trifles. The Camera perspective makes it almost impossible to slow down from a certain catamari size before colliding with a Wall or Object. You lose Objects again and again and when you get stuck between things you like To lose around 20 Items before you get out and can roll again. The Placement of Objects is also very scattered, which means that you usually wander Aimlessly from a certain Point to roll up the last Things before the Catamari is big enough to roll up the remaining things in the Area. It is therefore advisable to find new Areas rather than to roll up remaining Items. Verdict Despite a few Problems a super Game for in between and to let off Steam. The Soundtrack is guaranteed to make for an Earworm, which is due to the ingenious Theme song. When you have a Controller, nothing stands in the Way of Fun. Graphically very pleasant and satisfying. Only the Price of 20 Euros is a bit high, but understandable in a Remake. If You have doubts, it is best to wait for a Sale and try it out for yourself, it is worth it!


scam recently reported to the FBI, the scammer took intimate conversations and posted them on a website, along with pictures and phone numbers, claiming that the person was a cheater. Sure, you feel sorry for that person but it's hardly a fun way to begin a relationship. A better answer is below, though. Use your gut instincts when listening to them over the phoneyour level of comfort is an important indicator. Tell the person you're uncomfortable giving away any such information to something you've yet to meet. Question If someone chats with me on Messenger and then asks me to move to a different platform, are they scamming me? She and I were soul me unequivocally that they would. Question Is someone who is sending me free stuff but is not asking for money a scammer? What concerns them is what happens when they get there. Just proceed with caution and look for other signs. This may end up being money laundering, which is illegal.
Dating Dos and Donts. Would a British woman call her mother 'my Mom' instead of 'my Mum'?
The account is on the plenty of fish dating site. Many scammers looking for victims on dating sites are from countries where English is not the dominant language. In addition to sending money directly, the scammer might ask you to cash checks for them or forward them a package. And if they're outside the US, where are they serving? They might also be trying to earn your trust before asking you for something.


text:
Climate Engineering Conference 2017
October 9 -12, 2017
About CEC
What is Climate Engineering?
Conference Concept
Info for Participants
Where & When?
Climate Engineering Conferences Video Series
CEC17 Resources
SRM Governance Initiative
Andy has worked on solar radiation management geoengineering (SRM) for over a decade, first as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Royal Society, then as a Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and the IASS Potsdam. He is the Director and main architect of the SRM Governance Initiative (SRMGI), was a member of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's expert working group on geoengineering, and is currently an honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bristol.
The Climate Engineering Conference series is hosted by:
The IASS is funded by:

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The New Year's Key Workplace Challenges
What HR and management professionals must consider going into 2017
The world is not all that predictable right now. Politically speaking there is an elephant in the room, which means that making predictions is challenging especially in business. People once scoffed at the idea of a Trump win, and now that it has happened no one is quite sure what will happen next. However, a few noted members of the iHR Australia team have drawn on their years of experience and expertise to place their thoughts for 2017 'fairly and squarely' on the table. So, what will be the key challenges and areas to consider for HR professionals and management in 2017 and beyond?
Our Managing Director, Stephen Bell is first and foremost an entrepreneur. He founded iHR Australia and World Learning Hub and has worked extensively in Australia and Asia. Stephen is also regarded as a leading thinker around workplace culture, conduct and behaviour. His Custodians of Culture programs continue to be a source of inspiration and a values compass to organisational leaders at all levels across Australia and Asia.
Tougher economic conditions will impact HR and L&D professionals
Australia is facing a productivity crisis in an uncertain economic environment not because we are vastly unproductive but because the boom is now over and people must be more productive. Put simply, organisations want just as much or even more for less. 2017 will bring with it a greater pressure on workers to perform.
Relatively high and inflexible salary and wage rates across many professional and semi-professional industries are problematic for a country that is losing opportunities because in so many fields it is just not competitive. As people are being expected to work harder and longer and to change their job functions, HR departments will be dealing with higher incidents of challenging behaviour that result from growing levels of anxiety, frustration and dissatisfaction. Expect increases in absenteeism, complaints about poor behaviour and work-related mental health claims.
The answer is to do your due diligence and get those policies, reporting procedures and compliance training programs sharpened. It won't hurt to be clear about culture and behavioural expectations and to build the resilience of your leaders.
HR and L&D professionals will also be presented with the challenge of producing more with less. These are not the ideal circumstances for achieving best practice, but it should be looked at as a great opportunity to implement simple, back to basics strategies that can be seen to make a difference.
As for government, the so called 'attack' on workers' pay and conditions, in particular the reform to penalty rates, may well gain greater momentum should there be continuing major industry 'shut downs'. The values of jobs in some industries are growing daily.
A one-dimensional approach to learning will be problematic
Small, medium and large organisations that are really committed to the skill and knowledge development of their people will need to provide a range of learning solutions. One key reason for this is that the large differences in the ages of professionals in the workforce means that there is a wider range of learning preferences than ever before. While budgets and efficiency are typical reasons organisations are turning to eLearning as a prime learning methodology, there is a growing thought that some people learn better through an eLearning experience than in face-to-face training-especially if the eLearning experience is based upon cognitive loading principles. But the truth is, this isn't the case for everyone.
There is still a degree of scepticism among Australian learning professionals that eLearning can be a 'be all and end all' learning methodology which may be healthy. 2017 will see an increasing use of eLearning as a methodology, but wading through the good and the garbage will be a prime role of L&D people. At the end of the day, it's much better to have access to five quality-learning experiences than 200 that have no learning principles behind them at all.
In 2017, try diversifying the learning experiences available to your people. Don't be constrained by their personal biases and do some simple analysis by age-group and function to determine what does and doesn't work.
Political correctness versus the maverick workplace leader
The election of Donald Trump was without a doubt a shot in the arm for the 'free-stylist' leader. This is the type of leader who calls his or her subjects to action on the basis of claims with little substance. It is the type of leader who appears to speak their mind without significant consideration for the impact it will have on others. Some would say Trump is just ignorant while others believe he is simply commencing work on his own political and social agenda. While I believe there is a question mark over whether or not Trump will even see out term one of his presidency, his election has signalled a growing resentment toward the 'politically correct set' and among people being forced to speak and behave in away far removed from their true feelings. This resentment also exists in Australia. (See the results of the 2016 election.)
Trump is first and foremost a businessman and his election may well give the nod to business leaders (and boards) across the western world to be a little less considerate or even backward in relation to what they say and whom they offend. If this extends to Australian workplaces, some senior HR people may find themselves walking the tight rope between supporting their chief and dealing with disenfranchised management teams and workers who have often been protected from 'hard talk' by a system that has demanded leaders think deeply before making public statements. For senior HR people, 2017 may well be the year of being the 'meat in the sandwich'.
Dr Leigh Hodder is a consulting psychologist with 20 years' experience in corporate psychology and private practice. Leigh is one of iHR's Senior Workplace Relations Advisors. She conducts independent workplace investigations and inquiries, team dynamics diagnostics and interventions, mediations and other consulting activities. Leigh is also our Lead Facilitator for the Mental Ill Health in the Workplace workshops and Workplace Mediation Skills workshop.
Employee engagement: Is the ladder against the wrong wall?
In 2017, HR practitioners will, again, measure employee engagement and attempt to improve it, with mixed success. Could the time and money spent on these activities have a greater ROI if focused directly on productivity? Think about the following:
Employee engagement may contribute to productivity, but it is not productivity.
An employee may be fully engaged but without the proper organisational support and ability to manage their energy, it is unlikely their output will improve.
Emotional states, such as engagement, are hard to understand and measure, while behaviours and productivity are not.
A more holistic diagnostic approach, looking at all the factors that increase productivity, is needed.
Mental health in the workplace: a joint effort
We have three years to go until depression replaces cancer as the second leading cause of time lost to the global economy. In Australia, 48% of us will experience a mental health condition at some stage during our lives. When this is added to the increasing legal and practical complexities inherent in managing mental health in the workplace, HR practitioners are, understandably, concerned and challenged.
Buy-in from all layers of the business to implementing a genuine culture of well-being is needed, in addition to upskilling all members of your organisational community in how to effectively and compassionately manage their mental health concerns and those of others.
Managing negativity: one bad apple can spoil the barrel
Nothing affects employee morale more insidiously than the persistent negativity of a fellow team member. It saps the energy of your organisation and impacts on performance. Negativity is an increasing problem in the workplace – without doubt, this includes 2017. "He/she is just so negative" is one of the top comments I hear when conducting team dynamics diagnostics.
Negativity is a highly infectious mind-set. Whatever the cause of the workplace negativity, you must address the issues. Or like a seemingly dormant volcano, they will boil beneath the surface, and periodically erupt to cause fresh damage.
Dr. Verena Marshall has a PhD in Organisational Behaviour, MBA, Juris Doctor of Law, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and is an admitted Solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales. As well as a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law, Verena holds Certificates III and IV in Investigations, and is a Licensed Investigator in Western Australia and Nationally Accredited Mediator. Verena undertakes workplace investigations, mediations and training on behalf of iHR Australia.
Casual discrimination and causal harm
I was recently on holiday in New Zealand, and in the first week of January 2017 read media articles about a controversy over Sir Peter Leitch (distinguished retailer in the butchery industry) describing Waiheke Island to Ms Lara Wharepapa-Bridger as a "white man's island". Ms Wharepapa-Bridger,resident of the island and of Maori descent, was offended when she heard Sir Peter say that to her as she considered the comment to be racist. Sir Peter's spokesperson, Ms Michelle Boag, added to the incident by dismissing Sir Peter's comment as racist, because Ms Wharepapa-Bridger was "… barely coffee-coloured."
Dame Susan Devoy, New Zealand's Race Relations Commissioner, entered into the debate. While referring to SirPeter as a "…very good person at heart, that [comment] was offensive to Ms [Wharepapa]-Bridger…and it needs to be fixed up." Further, in response to Ms Boag's follow-up, Dame Susan said the 'coffee-coloured' comment was out of line: "This is quite an ignorant thing to say, someone's skin colour has nothing to do with anyone else except that person. Your colour doesn't define your ethnicity or your culture."
As is often the case with such incidents, there are many sides to the same story reflecting perceptions and stated intentions of those involved, as well as interpretations of those who witness or comment on them. At the heart of such incidents may be what Dame Susan refers to as 'casual racism'; that is, people say or do things to others without realising that what they are saying and doing is offensive. While Dame Susan's focus in this incident is on racism, I contend that such 'casualness' can be seen in all forms of discrimination and areas of life, including the workplace, causing potential or actual harm to others.
Discrimination legislation in New Zealand and Australia seeks to protect individuals' personal attributes in the workplace; nonetheless, there still remain 'casual' or 'quiet' discriminatory encounters that never feel casual or quiet to those on the receiving end of them. Even if these encounters are not intended to be discriminatory, it is not the intention that matters. In the words of Dame Susan, "The important thing is being able to recognise when we have offended someone, to work with them to resolve it…and to make sure we never do it again." It is equally important to nurture a culture (in and out of the workplace) where the voices of those who face intolerance are heard, because:
"We suspect many of us don't realise when something we say is unfair or biased, but we would if someone pointed it out to us" (Dame Susan Devoy).
It was later reported in the media that Sir Peter 'unreservedly apologised' to Ms Wharepapa-Bridger, and Ms Boag said that she "…has learned a thing or two in the last couple of days about casual racism". I believe there is always room to learn 'a thing or two' about casual racism, and any other form of discriminatory communication and behaviour.
This may well be one of the key challenges for HR and management professionals in 2017 given the current political and social climate.
John Boardman is Director of Workplace Relations at iHR Australia. He has an extensive background in human resource management and industrial relations. His expertise includes high-order analytical skills, strategic options assessment, negotiation, advocacy, and presentations. He has over 30 years' experience in human resource management, many spent at senior executive level.
John is a 'hands-on' technician and has researched, prepared and conducted complex cases before both state and federal tribunals. These include full-bench appeals, arbitrated wrongful dismissal cases, award variation, the making of enterprise agreements and Australian Workplace Agreements, and construction site allowances. John has also provided advice to employers involved in major industrial relations disputes.
John has considerable experience in conducting independent workplace investigations into allegations of bullying and harassment, and has conducted major investigations in most industries including the health, manufacturing, energy, mining, education and transport industries. He co-facilitates iHR Australia's Workplace Investigation Officer Training for Human Resource practitioners around Australia.
Flexible working and challenges of the changing workforce environment
I was listening to a radio segment the other day and the commentator said that retirement was going the way of the fax machine. It is not many years ago that men could qualify for the old age pension at 65 and their female partners at 60. It is common for one partner to be 3-5 years older than the other partner in any relationship. The current retirement age has been increased to 67 years which means a couple in many cases may have to work until the oldest partner is in their seventies before they both qualify for a couple's aged pension. Superannuation rules have also changed and are changing further affecting transition to retirement arrangements and the age at which you can access preserved funds.
From 1 January 2017 changes in the qualification tests for the aged pension means that many older people will now consider re-entering the workforce or changing their already flagged retirement date.
This also presents a challenge for employers, not in the distant future but in 2017. While employers are aware of the Fair Work Act 2019 provisions allowing for flexible working for parents with carer responsibilities they are less aware that the same provisions exist for employees over the age of 55. The flexibility provisions include working arrangements such as changes in hours of work, changes in patterns of work and changes in location of work.
Job design and career succession plans are just two areas that will need reassessing and not only in terms of the older employees but in terms of their impact on younger employees. We will need to consider how to avoid burnout in young executives who might now have to extend their time at the top of the corporate ladder for up to another 10 years or who might be readjusting their career ambitions in the knowledge that their boss is now going to work for another 10 years.
Opportunities now exist for employers to utilise older workers in mentor and coaching roles with younger staff. Government should review employment policies and legislation to further support transition to the extended retirement age. Awards have long recognised that junior employees should be paid less than their adult colleagues in recognition of their inexperience and lack of skill and judgement. Older experienced workers may not have the physical capacity to work as hard as younger employees and may be happy to take a reduced wage for less physically demanding and/or stressful tasks. Extending the period of time a person works is complex and needs to be underpinned with sound policies and legislation if everyone is expected to remain in the workforce for more than 50 years.
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Sexual assault will not be solved by public relations
By Sofie Karasek and Meghan Warner
Tweet Comment7
So after sexual assault survivors filed federal Title IX and Clery Act complaints against UC Berkeley for sweeping cases under the rug to the U.S. Department of Education, spearheaded state and federal legislation and created a national dialogue about campus sexual assault, how does UC Berkeley respond? By hiring a few people, making a website and creating posters. That should solve the pesky rape problem, right?
If you've hit the RSF, had an appointment at the Tang Center or happened to stop by Calapalooza back in September, you've probably seen the colorful, eye-catching "Stop Sexual Violence" signs. While they might seem like an encouraging symbol of change, the posters were created after students left for the summer, and neither public survivor activists nor student government representatives were consulted about the campaign.
More importantly, the posters do not educate students about consent, bystander intervention or available resources for survivors. Although it may seem easy to dismiss, education is critical to shattering the myth that only a violent attack perpetrated by a stranger counts as a sexual assault. Beyond education, UC Berkeley must hire additional staff to ensure all reported cases are fairly and thoroughly investigated. Instead of taking action, UC Berkeley used valuable resources to solely appear to care about sexual violence, effectively avoiding having to seriously address it.
It's not only students who think this facade is problematic. Several weeks ago, four state legislators came to campus to interrogate administrators on how they're responding to a recent state audit critical of UC Berkeley's responses to sexual violence cases. More than three times, Assemblymember Das Williams asked variations of the question, "Why doesn't UC Berkeley educate its students on the sanctions for perpetrating sexual assault?" He was met with silence. While administrators couldn't answer the question, the answer comes all too easily to survivors: because serious punishments for rape and sexual assault do not exist at UC Berkeley. Disciplinary probation, semester-long suspensions or "reflective writing assignments" are not appropriate responses to sexual violence.
You might be tempted to think, "But the university cares about sexual violence because they said so in an email!" Sure, it's easy to make a few public changes and act like it's revolutionary. But when it comes down to the important, private meetings where investigators meet with students, nothing is changing. At the roundtable, survivors spoke of mistreatment from the university as recently as this summer. On multiple occasions, administrators failed to give timely case updates, refused to allow survivors to appeal inadequate disciplinary sanctions and did not enforce the existing affirmative consent policy. On a more basic level, administrators could not even be bothered to treat survivors with compassion and respect.
It's particularly interesting that throughout the Title IX complaint, nearly all of the survivors who went through the reporting process cited issues with the university's lead sexual assault investigator, Denise Oldham, of the office for the prevention of harassment and discrimination. Students have voiced concerns about her conduct for over a year. Although Oldham has denied saying this, survivors wrote in a Title IX complaint that they recall her saying, "We see over 500 cases every year but are only able to seek formal disciplinary resolutions in two cases the previous year." That statistic was referenced multiple times in the complaint; yet despite this discrepancy, she is still employed here.
Like the administration, the Greek system is also being scrutinized. While sexual assault is not limited to fraternities and sororities, it's important to be critical of how CalGreeks, specifically the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, are addressing this pervasive problem. The common refrain "it happens everywhere" is not a valid excuse — it only deflects the responsibility to end it.
Out of 64 members of the Greeks Against Sexual Assault coalition, only 10 are from fraternities. IFC members, including those in leadership positions, frequently deflect responsibility by claiming that only their guests and not their brothers commit sexual assault. Although non-Greek affiliated people have sexually assaulted others at fraternity parties, we personally know of assailants from at least 12 different Berkeley fraternities.
Fraternity men are 300 percent more likely to be perpetrators than nonfraternity men, and sorority women are 74 percent more likely to experience sexual assault than nonsorority women. The trend is clear: The Greek system has a serious sexual assault issue, and some banners and the support of a few IFC allies will not change this. If it's hard to picture that a brother could be an assailant, chances are that he probably doesn't recognize it either. Research from David Lisak, a prominent scholar of criminology and campus rape, has shown that most perpetrators normalize predatory behavior and do not identify as assailants. If we are to eradicate campus sexual violence, we have to stop normalizing the attitudes that allow it to persist. And that starts by taking tangible steps, not just hanging up a seemingly supportive sign.
Surprisingly, sororities are also contributing to this issue. This week, a sorority woman publicly expressed her anger about a sexual harassment incident that happened in her house. But instead of responding with concern for her wellbeing, her chapter's president — and several other sisters — immediately reprimanded her for jeopardizing the house's reputation. Why does a house's reputation take precedence over stopping sexual harassment?
This was not an isolated incident. The few survivors who speak out about sexual assault and harassment in the Greek system are often silenced by other members. Some sorority leaders warn survivors that the chapter will be punished for it, through severed social ties with the perpetrator's fraternity, reputational damage or a fear of sanctions from the school. Meanwhile, two-thirds of these assailants who are often viewed as "nice guys" will continue to prey on others.
The administration, CalGreeks, Berkeley Student Cooperative, other student organizations and the entire campus community must take responsibility and adequately prevent and respond to sexual violence. We all need to support survivors, educate each other about consent, change inappropriate behaviors and hold perpetrators accountable.
Sofie Karasek is the co-founder of End Rape on Campus and Meghan Warner is the director of the ASUC Sexual Assault Commission. Other signatories include:
Nicoletta Commins, Title IX complainant
Caitlin Quinn, External affairs vice president
Haley Broder, ASUC senator
Melissa Hsu, ASUC senator
Austin Prizkat, ASUC senator
Sarah Leverenz, PHC vice president of risk management
Mila Meldosian, Office of the president sexual assault policy deputy
Allyn Benintendi, Office of the president sexual assault policy deputy
Contact the opinion desk at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter: @dailycalopinion.
Correction(s):
A previous version of this op-ed mischaracterized statements made by Denise Oldham to a Los Angeles Times reporter. In fact, Oldham told the reporter information on the record that conflicts with an account given by several UC Berkeley students in a Title IX complaint.
Berkeley Student Cooperative, CalGreeks, Clery Act, Das Williams, David Lisak, Denise Oldham, U.S. Department of Education, UC Berkeley
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heh. And typically me.. you'll hardly ever hear me saying that to the person who upsets me. Maybe because I'm upset at myself most of all.. Rather than not having the person upset me, I would much rather not be upset in the first place.
I have no idea why, but I find it easier to blame myself than other people.
I have a theory.. that my mind had the idea of "independence" pretty much messed up.
I keep on wishing that I hadn't wanted half the things that I want.
I wish it hadn't bothered me, but it does.
I wish I didn't care, but it's too late.. 'cause I do.
More time.. I wish for more time.
mmph. I'm fine really.. I just need to grow up.
I'm fine.. I'll be fine.. until then, I'll just pretend that I'm fine. It isn't hard, not at all. I'm fine.
As mundane as every other day..
Stupid video clip, still make me cry..
Talk dirrty to me, Ana.


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Enlist your cute kid (or your neighbor's) to learn about economics with a lemonade or coffee stand. A hot or cold drink for a few cents can help lure people to stop and shop while they sip.
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q-Hahn Polynomials
The q-Hahn polynomials are defined as
\[ \begin{align} Q_n(q^{-x};a,b,N|q) &= \sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{(q^{-n};q)_k (abq^{n+1};q)_k (q^{-x};q)_k}{(aq;q)_k (q^{-N};q)_k (q;q)_k} q^k\\ &= {}_{3}\phi_{2}\!\left(\left. {q^{-n}, abq^{n+1}, q^{-x} \atop aq, q^{-N}} \; \right| q ; q \right) \end{align} \]
q-Difference Equation
\(a\) \(0 < a < q^{-1}\)
\(b\) \(0 < b < q^{-1}\)
\(N\) \(N > 0\)
q-hypergeometric term in \(n\) and q-hypergeometric term in \(q^{-x}\) required


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Welcome to this Wisecrack Edition on Watchmen VS One Punch Man!
Written & Directed by: Michael Luxemburg
Edited by: Andrew Nishimura
Motion Graphics by: Beto Ruiz
Produced by: Emily Dunbar
What's up Wisecrack? Jared eternally trapped in your computer here. Self-aware humor is all around us: Deadpool, Cabin in the Woods and even Galaxy Quest are all well-loved and It's easy to see why: they make fun of the very genres they inhabit, and they're all part of a growing trend of media that makes fun of, well, itself. "Okay, let's pro/con this superhero thing, pro – They pull down a gaggle of ass, local dry cleaning discounts, lucrative film deals both origin stories and larger ensemble team movies, con – they're lame-ass teacher's pets!"
And since this trend isn't going away any time soon, we thought we'd give you a little primer on the complex nature of self criticism. So in order to gain elevated insight on how we shit on the world around us, let's explore the ever-so important distinction between satire and parody. Both satire and parody exist to criticize the world, And hey, that's like my #1 favorite thing to do. But like all things, there's lots of bad satire and bad parody. Today we're going to figure out the heart of what each is with two Wisecrack favs: Watchmen and One Punch Man. So join us as we dive deep into the nuances of their respective genres so that we can appreciate these amazing properties even more.
Welcome to this Wisecrack Edition on Parody and Satire with Watchmen and One Punch Man, and as always: spoilers ahead. And we'll be using images from the Watchmen movie and the graphic novel, so please don't freak out. Let's start with a refresher course, in alphabetical order. One Punch Man follows Saitama; a hero capable of defeating any enemy in a single punch. On the flipside we've got Watchmen, a story that asks the question what if superheroes were just people like us, which is to say… assholes. Before we get into categorizing, let's talk about what these stories have in common. Most clear is their willingness to take the archetypes of their respective genres and twist them around. One Punch Man takes an anime trope like magical girls, a la sailor moon, and distorts it with a swole ex convict.
There's also the familiar hard working everyman hero, but he's just, a debuffed version of Toku hero Kamen Rider. And of course we have a Goku-esque world savior, but he looks like a low rent halloween costume attached to an egg. On the Watchmen side we've got an army of superhero knock-offs. Both Rorschach and Ozymandias are distillations of certain elements of Batman. Ozymandias is the charismatic, rich, and hyper-intelligent Bruce Wayne; the face of good that the world needs, clean cut and above the fray. Rorschach on the other hand is the detective batman, fighting crime, and searching for Truth with a capital T. Much like The World's Greatest Detective, Rorschach's quest for Truth and Justice veers dangerously close to a horrifying obsession. He's like the ugly version of Frank Miller's take on the Caped Crusader.
And for good measure, there's Nite Owl, a recreation of the nerdy, inventor version of Batman, a la Adam West and his shark repellant. Both stories use these twisted up versions of recognizable characters to make observations about what we take for granted in superhero stories: the types of hero we see, what we expect them to do, and what we think motivates them. "You're a fast one, who are you?" "Just a guy who's a hero for fun."
By changing up what we're used to, the departure from the original trope sticks out like sore a thumb. In both stories, this contrast explores what we'll call a more realistic version of superhero power. What is having god-like power really like? To find out let's turn to a pair of hairless wonders, Saitama and Dr. Manhattan. While a pair of galactically powerful heroes isn't exactly the kind of thing you'd see in real life, their reaction to power very much is. Both Saitama and Dr. Manhattan confront the boredom afforded by omnipotence. Saitama spends his time mourning his lack of a true challenge, "Not Again! All it took was one punch!" while Dr. Manhattan mostly has weird sex, hangs out on mars, and contemplates the nature of time.
Despite their vast power, neither is a traditional protagonist like Batman or Goku because neither one struggles in a traditional way. While Goku has to train with King Kai and sprint along passages between worlds, Saitama just does some push ups. Batman puts together clues to solve mysteries, Dr. Manhattan literally knows everything. "The comedian is dead. Rorschach wants me to look into my future and see if the killer is ever publically identified." We're used to stories about good guys overcoming the odds, but for Saitama and Dr. Manhattan physical confrontations are over before they start.
Dr. Manhattan won the Vietnam war by himself, and Saitama beat up an alien that searched entire galaxies for a worthy fuckin' adversary without ever even giving it his full effort. "You lie. You were holding back weren't you? I never stood a chance." So what is the one critical difference between the method of One Punch Man and Watchmen??? Watchmen is a satire, and One Punch Man is a parody. while one is ultimately an adoration of the genre it lovingly pokes fun at, while the other is a "burn it all" approach to the heroes who used to cover our jammies. "According to Satire: A Critical Reintroduction by Dustin Griffin, "A work of satire is designed to attack vice or folly… it seeks to persuade an audience that something or someone is reprehensible or rediculous… When it takes over another literary structure, it tends not just to borrow it… but to subvert it or… direct it's energies towards alien ends."
Watchmen, as satire, doesn't just attack the vices and follies of society and the superhero genre, it specifically assaults the idea of anyone possessing powers that even approach that of a nuclear weapon. It's largely about nuclear fear, only this time it's not directed just at a bomb, but a blue-skinned super being. Jon Osterman becomes Dr. Manhattan in a nuclear accident. He's then recruited and used as a weapon to win the Vietnam war. Even his name is a far from subtle reference to the Manhattan Project. He's fascinated by both time and clocks, and throughout Watchmen we often see clocks counting down toward… undesirable outcomes. In the graphic novel this is even clearer. Nuclear security is referenced all the time, and fear of nukes drives many kinds of conflict.
The Vietnam war was a response to fear of nuke-wielding Russians. Riots and violence on the home front, in opposition to superheroes, all return to the fear of a nuclear threat, symbolized by blue skinned space wizard Dr. Manhattan. The USSR and USA need a fabricated attack on the earth to even set aside their differences, exposing the extreme lengths taken, and casualties sustained, just to de-esclate the nuclear stand-off. Watchmen shows the dangers of power, but also its indifference. Dr. Manhattan gets bored of everything, and in his boredom becomes increasingly conflicted about the nature of his own existence. "I prefer the stillness here. I'm tired of Earth and these people. I'm tired of being caught in their tangled lives."
It's ultimately a grim joke about Superman. If he were really an all powerful being, why would he worry about humanity? "You gunned her down." "That's right, and you know what? You watched me. You could have turned the gun into steam, the bullets into mercury, the bottle into god damned snowflakes, but you didn't did ya? You really don't give a damn about human beings." It's even clear in his sartorial choices. Superman rocks his costume to evoke the American values of truth, justice, and the American way. Dr. Manhattan strips himself of ideology, and gets naked. Watchmen makes a more explicit point about the corrupting influence of power with The Comedian. Superhero stories ask us to believe that the "good guys" with power are the ones who deserve it, but Watchmen is more than willing to point out that they are not.
The comedian is a hero in the mold of Captain America or Wolverine, an extra strong, intelligent, hyper capable, super soldier, but he's also a sadist and a psychopath. Watchmen isn't just making these observations to satisfy your brain's thinky-parts. It uses the form of the superhero genre, like Batman clones and all-powerful beings, and the content of the story to try and persuade an audience, just like Griffin says satire should inhabit the genre to attack its vices and follies. But, persuade them of what? Well, there's certainly the problems of nukes. , But Griffin also says that satire wants to prove "that something or someone is reprehensible or rediculous" – and in this case that something is the very idea of superheroes. Watchmen is dedicated to making the case that the very existence of superheroes is a dangerous fantasy. You can compare it a classic work of satire, Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal: where the author suggests solving famine by eating children.
Of course Swift wasn't actually pro kid eating, he was just trying to show the failure of society in his time, and did so by inhabiting the form of a political essay that overtly exhibits the indifference to suffering that Swift coyly suggested characterized those in power. Just as Swift used the form of a political essay to make the people who write political essays look like heartless monsters, Watchmen uses the form of a superhero narrative to make superheros look dangerous and shitty. It posits that superheroes create an asymmetry of power that defies regulation. Superheroes can violate the rules and commit acts of violence at their own discretion Even if they have everyone's best interests at heart, that degree of power inevitably becomes dangerous as different ethical frames, a la Rorschach and Ozymandias, come into conflict. Whether it be super powers or nuclear powers, that degree of power will inevitably lead to some fucked up shit. Watchmen can make these arguments so effectively because it uses the structures of superhero stories to make its argument.
Like Griffin says, "When it takes over another literary structure, it tends not just to borrow it… but to subvert it or… direct it's energies towards alien ends". Every inch of Watchmen is dedicating to turning the traits we love about superheroes against themselves. At the end of the day Watchmen is a condemnation of superhero fiction as a genre because it promotes a dangerous fantasy. But Saitama might want a word about that. There's no doubt that One Punch Man is poking fun at superheroes of both manga and western comics, as well as the genres themselves. The villains in One Punch Man give intentionally over the top versions of classic villain monologues. "King of the deep, lord of the sea. That's me. All life on earth comes from the sea, as if sea were our mother. In other words as ruler of the sea I am the peak of a pyramid that includes every living organism in this world."
Every character has a dramatic backstory, "He destroyed everything in sight: parks, schools, buildings, my house. He even took the lives of everyon in my family," and a fighting spirit. It uses anime and manga tropes like ocean creatures, Kaiju style monsters, and more. It's always in conversation with other works in the same genre, but without the judgement we see in Watchmen. Why? Because One Punch Man isn't a satire. It's a parody. Now let's investigate the difference, and I promise it's more than just semantics. We've already seen how satire has a specific persuasive function, usually in opposition to something, but parody isn't quite like that. Parody exaggerates certain elements of its target, but it ultimately affirms the literary form it inhabits. To be more specific we're turning to Robert Phiddian and his essay, "Are Parody and Deconstruction The Same Thing?" Parody accepts the logic and rules of its genre and takes them seriously as tools of its criticism, as Phiddian says "It operates from inside of the texts and ideas it criticizes."
Think of how Genos mirrors a classic anime protagonist. He suffered a trauma and is trying to become strong enough to get revenge for the people he loves, but at every turn he's rendered a joke by Saitama's immense power. That doesn't diminish Genos' appeal. We can still relate to his desires and they aren't treated as stupid. They're just irrelevant because Saitama has thrown all the rules out of whack. All of the things we mentioned before: the tropes, the references, even the structures of character arcs and stories are all classic manga. There's no doubt that One Punch Man's creators truly love the genre, but don't think it's above ridicule. One Punch Man makes this argument by exaggerating the overpowered hero archetype. In many manga, animes, and even western comics, no matter how powerful the villain gets, the hero gets stronger to match.
Take Goku for instance: enemies get stronger and stronger but Goku is always able to save the day, usually through some intense training regimen. Dragonball Z celebrates this, but One Punch Man asks why there even are other characters. Genos and Mumen Rider, much like Krillin or Yamcha, train hard to match their stronger friend, but they never can, and honestly don't need to. The real hero will always be there to save the day. By turning anime and manga on their heads to make these points, One Punch Man is critiquing superhero stories by "showing…precisely where they double and collapse." For a great example of where the lessons of superhero stories collapse, Let's get back to Mumen Rider. He has a classic backstory and a hero's motivation. "It's not about winning or losing. It's about me taking you on, right here and right now."
He just wants to help people and be like the heroes he looks up to, "I'm ready. I'll go rescue them right now." not unlike Midoriya from My Hero Academia. And much like Midoriya before he gets his powers, Mumen Rider constantly gets his ass kicked. It's a message about real life. Some people just don't have what it takes to be a superhero, and telling everyone they can might get them seriously hurt. We can see this same intrusion of reality in Saitama. Most superhero stories end with the hero happy to be saving the world, and waiting for the next challenge. Saitama has a more relatable reaction, boredom. There's nothing to overcome, and that leaves you without a reason to get out of the bathtub.
This may sound like the satire rules so far, but instead of trying to show something as "reprehensible or rediculous," "The crucial point for parody is that the body of words is always preloved and redirected." Parody is used to awaken us to the flaws in the things we love, but not to demolish a flawed genre, like Watchmen aspires to do with superheros. One Punch Man makes clear that it's mocking anime to help expand the possibilities of what it can do.
It's a complicated relationship, mocking the things you love. It can be hard to tell how to approach a parodic text, but, according to Phiddian, "if we read parody "straight" as sincere expression without relating it to a structure of criticism, we misunderstand it." That's the key. Parody is a tool for criticism but that criticism operates on the assumption that the genre it's criticizing is worth improving. One Punch Man calls on us to get away from the bigger monster, bigger gun and find other stories to tell.
Stories about chefs, ice skaters, and even mahjong players. Opening up the possibilities of anime storytelling is a noble goal, and one that is sorely needed. The ending of the show amounts to a criticism of the Dragon Ball Z model of storytelling. Much like Goku, Boros is constantly seeking the strongest opponents in the universe, but unlike our Saiyan hero, he's willing to destroy innocents to find the ones he wants. At the same time Saitama, the actual strongest being is bored of all the power. One Punch Man is displaying both ways this infinite power model can fail. Now it's important to remember that One Punch Man may criticize a certain kind of superhero narrative, but it doesn't disavow the value of heroes.
The show wants us to recognize and emulate the bravery we see from Genos and Mumen rider, but also recognize the silliness of the story we find those lessons in. That's the critical difference between One Punch Man and Watchmen. Both use their overpowered characters to make points about the genre they inhabit, but Watchmen makes condemnations of all sorts of social systems beyond the context of superheroes, and even condemns the superhero genre itself. One Punch Man feels different. There's a general agreement that the stories we've told forever need a little refresh, but that doesn't mean abandoning them completely. With that in mind, we can throw things like Team America, Dr. Strangelove, and Heathers as satire with Watchmen, and Deadpool, Galaxy Quest, and Blazing Saddles as parody with One Punch Man. And The Big Bang theory is none of these things. Fuck that show. Thanks for watching.


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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Brings His Friends on Ride to NBA Stardom
SportsBasketballGolf
In his spare time, Gilgeous-Alexander would hoop with Montoya and Castillanes at their Filipino basketball league — the beginning of a basketball odyssey. Gilgeous-Alexander spent his sophomore 12 months at Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School on Hamilton's west side before he transferred again, this time to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn., as he sought higher competition.
Gilgeous-Alexander eventually landed on the University of Kentucky, where John Calipari, the team's coach, knew he needed to be tough on him. Otherwise, Calipari was going to listen to about it — from Gilgeous-Alexander's mother, Charmaine Gilgeous, a former Olympic runner for Antigua and Barbuda.
"When he played well, she would call me and say, 'Don't you let up on him,'" Calipari said.
Gilgeous-Alexander had arrived at Kentucky with a hitch in his jump shot — Calipari compared it to Charles Barkley's herky-jerky golf swing — and spent the early weeks of the season mostly coming off the bench. By the center of January, he was blossoming as a starter. By June, he was the eleventh overall pick within the 2018 N.B.A. draft, headed to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Gilgeous-Alexander played so well as a rookie that the Thunder put him on their wish list. That summer, when the All-Star Paul George desired to be traded to the Clippers from Oklahoma City, the Thunder insisted that Gilgeous-Alexander be included within the deal.
Now in his fourth season with the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander is the face of a franchise that ought to come equipped with training wheels. Although Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick within the 2022 draft, is out for the season with a foot injury, the Thunder have a core that features Josh Giddey, 20, and Luguentz Dort, 23. Even amid his emergence, Gilgeous-Alexander has never sought to separate himself from his teammates.
"I might need sworn at Lu before," Gilgeous-Alexander said, "but me and Lu lived together, and we're like brothers so it doesn't count."
GilgeousAlexander
Gregory Allen Howard, Screenwriter of 'Remember the Titans,' Dies at 70


Business development and achieving the regional sales team target as per sales plans fixed at the beginning of the year.
Customer relationship management resulting into highest level of client retention and business growth.
Drive the development of regional sales & marketing strategies.
Work closely with marketing and sales team to develop, establish, direct and implement strategies expanding the company's customer base.
Achieve potential clients and build a robust pipeline.
Showcase company's products and services to present and potential clients.
Monitor customer service activities for effective and efficient product line management.
Prepare periodic progress reports and submit it to the Management.
Identify the areas of improvement for achieving the targets.
Suggest sales incentive programs to the top management for increasing the sales.
Ensure the regional data accuracy with the company's sales management system.
Develop and mentor the regional sales team.
Interact with front line team to achieve goals.
Active participation in brand establishment.
Participation in periodic management review meetings.
Graduate in Business Administration and Management / Marketing from a reputed university.
Techno commercial profile will be an added advantage.
Prior experience in selling Pharmaceutical machinery is preferred but not mandatory.
Knowledge of having worked extensively in SEA and the Chinese Market is a must.
Ability and capability to understand technicality of the product.
Keep abreast with the latest trends.
Good communication skills and be a TEAM PLAYER.
Should be organised, motivated, self-driven and quick learner.
Excellent interpersonal skills with customers and partners.
Ability to travel across the sales region.
Hands-on experience in selling technical products.
Effectively and efficiently managed the team of at least 3-4 members.
Achieved the sales targets YoY consistently with highest customer satisfaction level.
Minimum 1 to 2 years of experience in a management position.
Candidates having good contacts in the pharmaceutical industry has a huge advantage.
Candidates having selling experience in automation industry may be considered.
JEKSON VISION is a global provider of vision inspection and track & trace solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. By innovating machine-vision for industrial automatic inspections and traceability, we offer our customers new solutions from our 20+ years experience.
Our key focus is on research, design, software development and engineering, providing high quality, reliable yet affordable solutions. We operate worldwide with offices in Germany, UK, Italy, Malta, Russia, India and USA. Our next generation automated vision detection systems and traceability solutions are designed in compliance with all international quality standards.
With 7000 plus pharmaceutical installations at 500 plus client locations in 50 plus countries the company is growing at a very rapid pace.
Jekson Vision is the proud recipient of the prestigious Gujarat Best Employer Brand Awards 2018.
To support its ambitious growth plans the company is looking for ambitious and talented professionals looking for challenging opportunities and fast track growth.


A Jasmine and Cedar Calming Detergent for Heart + Soul. Keeping your space fresh and clean is a form of practical magic. Each ingredient is sourced from nature, vegan and cruelty-free. Definitely worth considering for friends and family moving into new apartments and homes, or to clear negative energy from your sacred space.
Suggested Use: Drop one moon pod into washing machine before adding clothes for regular wash, two pods for deep cleaning.
Ingredients: Organic hemp and rose castile soap, sodium carbonate (super washing soda), hydrogen peroxide, plant-based surfactant, sodium borate, jasmine and cedar wood essential oils, essences of rose quartz and lepidolite.
Meet the Maker: Located in Salem, MA, the LightHaus workshop combines the principles of earth magic, meditation, herbalism, and interior design to cleanse everyday space.


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Deadline looming to register buildings and landmarks for free Norfolk Heritage Open Days festival
Sophie Wyllie
Published: 6:58 PM May 28, 2017 Updated: 11:09 AM October 10, 2020
Herbert Woods' restored boat Spark of Light. Picture: ANTONY KELLY - Credit: Archant
Interesting stories behind a variety of buildings and landmarks across Norfolk will be revealed at the popular Heritage Open Days festival this autumn.
The four-day event, part of a nationwide heritage weekend, is taking place from September 7 until September 10 when people and organisations behind a variety of buildings and landmarks open their doors to the public for free.
And co-ordinators of this year's Norfolk event, from The Forum, are calling for individuals and organisations to sign up before the deadline - midnight on Sunday, June 4.
Cathy Eden, Norfolk co-ordinator for Heritage Open Days, said: 'The event provides the chance for people to find out a bit more about where they live. Places that are not normally open, open their doors for free. It is a nice opportunity to meet your neighbours.
'It is about stories and sharing what you love. Heritage and culture are really important.'
Last year, 247 events were held for Norfolk's Heritage Open Days festival.
They were visited by 67,500 people.
Ms Eden added: 'There are economic benefits from the Heritage Open Days as it brings people into Norwich and the county. There is something for everyone and is a good day out.'
Free sites this year include a tour around the newly-restored Spark of Light boat in Potter Heigham.
Built in 1926, the Spark of Light formed part of the light cruiser fleet until the 1950s and inspired future Broads boats.
Visitors will be able to learn about the secrets of the 150-year-old Drill House on York Road, Great Yarmouth, now a circus and street arts centre.
The Forum in Norwich will be holding an interactive exhibition celebrating Norfolk's brewing heritage.
Wymondham Vintage Day is also taking place for the second year as part of the heritage festival.
Heritage Open Days were established nationally in 1994 as England's contribution to European Heritage Days in which 50 countries now participate.
They have been happening in Norfolk for more than a decade.
For further information about taking part in this year's festival please email hods@theforumnorwich.co.uk or call 01603 727989.
Visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk


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By the Shores of Silver Lake
By Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Pub. price: $8.99
ISBN10: 0064400050 ISBN13: 9780064400053 Contributors: Williams, Garth (Illustrator) Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books Published: Mar 1 1973 Pages: 290 Weight: 0.45lbs. Height: 7.75" Width: 5.25" Depth: 0.75" Language: English
New: $8.54
Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, By the Shores of Silver Lake is the fifth book in the award-winning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams.
The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they move from their little house on the banks of Plum Creek to the wilderness of the unsettled Dakota Territory. Here Pa works on the new railroad until he finds a homestead claim that is perfect for their new little house. Laura takes her first train ride as she, her sisters, and their mother come out to live with Pa on the shores of Silver Lake. After a lonely winter in the surveyors' house, Pa puts up the first building in what will soon be a brand-new town on the beautiful shores of Silver Lake. The Ingallses' covered-wagon travels are finally over.
The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura's real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.
Family - General
Historical - United States - 19th Century
Lifestyles - Country Life
Family life; South Dakota; Fiction.
Frontier and pioneer life; South Dakota; Fiction.


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Case Study – Gender Equal Media Scotland
Working towards a Gender Equal Media in Scotland
Gender Equal Media Scotland (GEMS) was established in 2018 as an outcome of a series of RSE-funded workshops on tackling inequalities in Scottish news. It is a coalition of academics, journalists and media organisations working for women's equality in Scottish media. We bring together existing expertise, highlight and develop new research, organise events and develop educational materials and other resources to support gender equal media. In relation to body image in particular, we have worked with colleagues at Healthy Social Media to produce free educational materials to support critical engagement with the media.
The media has long been identified as a key area of women's inequality, and tackling gender inequality in the media is a strategic objective in the Beijing Platform for Action. This means both tackling gender inequality in the media industries (focusing on employment issues) and tackling women's under-representation and over-sexualisation in media representations.
Women in Scotland are currently poorly served by our media; sexualised imagery and damaging reporting of violence against women, near-invisibility of women's sport, and assumptions around which topics are of interest to women and men, mean that women's concerns and voices are not given equal weight.
All of these issues are compounded for women who are facing multiple discriminations such as women of colour, disabled women, and lesbian, bisexual and trans women, who are less likely to see themselves represented in the media, or employed within the sector.
There is very little Scottish-specific research around women in the media and this is a clear data-gap which needs to be filled. To support the media to change, we need research into what currently exists, what methods have been successful in improving the media, and how best to engage with the media. These are the aims of Gender Equal Media Scotland.
From 2018-2020 Gender Equal Media Scotland has run with minimal funding, from the RSE, University of Strathclyde and other GEMS partners. The First Minister's National Advisory Council on Women and Girls recommended the creation of a resourced women's media body in Scotland and Gender Equal Media Scotland has a one year (2020-21) funded Development Worker post, based at Engender, to take this work forward.
The first step in thinking about the relationship between media and body image is to know which bodies are represented. According to the Global Media Monitoring Project only 24% of those who feature in the news globally are women. Scottish data suggests that our news media has lagged behind societal change when it comes to women's representation: particularly in politics. And it's not just news. Among the most striking findings are those relating to the continuing marginalisation of women in sports media: in 2019 in Scotland, women's sport made up only 8% of newspaper and 16% of television coverage. We also know that survivors of sexual assault are poorly served: a recent study of young Scottish survivors found that 83.2% said their experiences were not well represented in the media, and 72.7% said the media had a negative impact on their wellbeing.
All of these issues are compounded for women who are facing multiple discriminations: although there is little Scotland-specific data on this, Pass the Mic have funding from Joseph Rowntree Trust 2020-21 to develop an evidence base on women of colour in the Scottish media. We already have some evidence about the invisibility of disabled women in Scottish news media.
It is not just that women in Scotland don't see ourselves represented in our national media, but that when we do the picture is a distorting one. In this respect, the Scottish picture aligns with international studies. For instance, the media have long celebrated thinness as the most acceptable body shape for women and girls. Such messages are considered a risk factor for developing poor body image, which may trigger varied mental and physical health challenges over one's lifetime. Social media is an integral part of this landscape for women of all ages. Research has shown that spending more time on visually oriented social media may influence negatively women's appearance beliefs. In Scotland, the Healthy Social Media project is working to improve these experiences.
Please follow the work of Gender Equal Media Scotland, come along to our events, learn more about gender representation in the media, and share your own related research via or blog and resources pages. Healthy Social Media offers additional resources specific to body image and social media, and also welcomes blog contributions. Women of colour, please consider adding yourself to the Pass the Mic expert list, and look out for soon-to-be-announced commissioning opportunities by following our social media @EqualMediaScot.
Gender Equal Media Scotland (GEMS)
Website: https://www.genderequalmedia.scot/
Twitter: @EqualMediaScot Healthy Social Media
Website: http://www.healthysocialmedia.org/
Instagram: _healthysocialmedia


Easter is just around the corner and Bake Sale has pretty desserts to help you celebrate. Personalized bunny cookies make great place cards. If you're looking for something special to dazzle the kids, check out our chocolate bunny cake or our character cake pops; chicks, lambs and bunnies. Bird's nest cupcakes with jelly beans in the mini's and chocolate eggs in the large are always a huge hit with every age.
For an elegant centerpiece, try one of our coconut cakes with either faux flowers or a nest with candy eggs. We've also got Easter egg shaped shortbread, sugar cookies and all of the usual favorites; squares, cake pops, tarts, macarons and our usual ten flavours of large and mini cupcakes. Happy Easter!


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HomeAcademicsBelmont Celebrates Faculty and Student Achievement at Annual Scholarship and Awards Day
AcademicsAdministrationCollege of BusinessCollege of EducationCollege of Health Sciences & NursingCollege of LawCollege of Liberal Arts and Social SciencesCollege of PharmacyCollege of Sciences and MathematicsCollege of Theology and Christian MinistryInterdisciplinary Studies and Global EducationO'More College of Architecture and DesignUniversity CollegeWatkins College of ArtArts & CultureCollege of Entertainment and Music BusinessCollege of Music and Performing ArtsPeopleFaculty & StaffStudentsFeaturedSpecial Events
Belmont Celebrates Faculty and Student Achievement at Annual Scholarship and Awards Day
By Julia Couch
Faculty, staff and students gathered on Wednesday, April 20 to honor Belmont's distinguished faculty and students for their achievements in scholarship and service. After being held virtually for two years, the long-awaited 2022 Scholarship and Awards Day program was celebrated in person. "It's a joy to gather together to recognize scholarship, service and the ways in which we work together as a teaching and learning community across this University," said President Dr. Greg Jones.
The faculty procession at formal university ceremonies is now led with a basin and towel, which replaced the original symbolic mace. President Jones explained the new symbols as "a reminder that we're called to be servants and have a servant's heart in all that we do, cultivating a love of learning in that spirit."
Belmont celebrates Scholarship and Awards Day to "reaffirm our commitment to learning and discovery by honoring those who have exhibited extraordinary dedication to scholarly achievement and service," explained Provost Dr. Thomas Burns.
Each year, the presentation of the John Williams Heat of Belmont Award is greatly anticipated. The award honors one third or fourth year student who embodies Belmont's values, including innovation, persistence, advocacy for change, community development and service.
This year's recipient, senior Jace Wilder, is a political science and public health double major who will matriculate into Vanderbilt University in the fall to pursue a master's degree in public health. He is active in state and national politics, especially in advocacy and education for LGBTQ+ legislation.
"This award is an incredible and surprising honor that I feel really starts with those professors, students, and faculty that assured me that kids like me indeed don't just go to Belmont, they thrive at Belmont," reflected Wilder. "That's why this award matters to me, because it is an expression of love and gratitude to all those who helped me achieve the luxury of passion and perseverance."
University Awards
The Williams-Murray First Year Writing Award: Virgil Jovanovich & Isaiah Walker
The Alfred Leland Crabb Award: Addison Pozzi (first place); Sean Cleaver, Lauren Dansbury, Dawson Flint, Keita Suzuki, Mark Wardlaw (second place)
The Stacy Awalt Writing Award: Thom Gray
The Annette Sisson First Year Seminar Award: Amanda Finke
Lumos Travel Award: Alyssa Stephens & Rachel Vernon
The Dr. Fannie Hewlett Award
Undergraduate Student: Sondos El-Hulu
Graduate Student: Amber Payne
Hale Leadership Award
First Year: Dane Swenson
Second Year: Savannah Campbell
Third Year: Linnea Lyons
Fourth Year: Liz Bleyer
The John Williams Heart of Belmont Award: Jace Wilder, community partnership: Youth Villages of Middle Tennessee
The Belmont Graduate-Student Leadership Award: Kelsey Wolfe
The Belmont Graduate-Student Scholarship Award: Katarina Bielinski
Faculty Achievement Awards
In addition to student award winners, a number of awards were given to faculty members. The Christian Scholarship Award honors faculty scholarship that engages the Christian intellectual tradition and advances the scholarly conversation between Christian faith and learning. This year's recipients were Dr. Jeremy Fyke, assistant professor of communication studies and Dr. Scott Hawley, professor of physics.
The Leadership in Christian Service Award honors a faculty member who provides leadership to a new initiative or an established Christian organization that serves those in need. This year's recipients were Dr. John Gonas, associate professor of finance and Dr. Sabrina Sullenberger, professor of social work.
The Faculty Award for Scholarship recognizes a faculty member for outstanding intellectual and creative contributions of discovery, integration, application or teaching. This year's winners were David Hudson, Jr., assistant professor of law; and Dr. Gary McDowell, associate professor of English; with Dr. Eduardo Lopez, assistant professor of management as a finalist.
Dr. Douglas Crews, assistant professor of social work, was named the Chaney Distinguished Professor. The Chaney Distinguished Professor Award, determined on the basis of superior teaching, is presented each year to a faculty member who best represents the vision of the university to be a "premier teaching institution." Award finalists also included Dr. Robert Gregg, director of orchestras in the School of Music; Dr. Timothy Schoenfeld, assistant professor of psychology; and Dr. Christian Williams, assistant professor and public health and director of Public Health Program.
Kathryn Paradise, assistant director of graduate studies in the School of Music, received the Presidential Faculty Achievement Award. This award is presented each year to a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to student life outside the classroom. Other finalists included Dr. Chris Born assistant professor of Asian studies and Japanese language; Dr. Carole Scherling, assistant professor of neuroscience; and Dr. Sabrina Sullenberger, professor of social work.
See more photos from 2022 Scholarship and Awards Day here.


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Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
Watch Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) full movie online free in hd HD720px, 1080p. World wide streaming available for Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) movie in hd. Watch and download Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) full movie without registration.
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After their father is called into work, two young boys, Walter and Danny, are left in the care of their teenage sister, Lisa, and told they must stay inside. Walter and Danny, who anticipate a boring day, are shocked when they begin playing Zathura, a space-themed board game, which they realize has mystical powers when their house is shot into space. With the help of an astronaut, the boys attempt to return home.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans (2010)
Dr. Raichi is one of the only survivors of the Tuffles, a race that once lived on Planet Plant before the coming of the Saiyans. The Saiyans not only massacred…
Genre: Action, Animation, Fantasy, Short
Terminal Island, New York: 2020. Overcrowding in the US penal system has reached a breaking point. Prisons have been turned over to a monolithic Weyland Corporation, which sees jails full…
Country: USA, Germany, UK
Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One (2021)
Following a brutal series of murders taking place on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, Gotham City's young vigilante known as the Batman sets out to pursue the mysterious serial killer alongside…
Genre: Action, Animation, Crime, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
The Hunger Games (2012)
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete…
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Jack Harper is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat…
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future…
Country: United States, Canada
Jaded ex-CIA operative John Creasy reluctantly accepts a job as the bodyguard for a 10-year-old girl in Mexico City. They clash at first, but eventually bond, and when she's kidnapped…
Country: USA, UK, Mexico, Switzerland
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
For Peter Parker, life is busy. Between taking out the bad guys as Spider-Man and spending time with the person he loves, Gwen Stacy, high school graduation cannot come quickly…
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Backtrace (2018)
The lone surviving thief of a violent armored car robbery is sprung from a high security facility and administered an experimental drug.
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Undisputed III: Redemption (2010)
Russian inmate Boyka, now severely hobbled by the knee injury suffered at the end of Undisputed 2. No longer the feared prison fighter he was, he has declined so far…
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
The Pool (2018)
Left alone to clean up a 6-meter-deep deserted pool, Day falls asleep on an inflatable raft. When he wakes, the water level has sunk so low that he can't climb…
Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Naruto Shippuden the Movie (2007)
Demons that once almost destroyed the world, are revived by someone. To prevent the world from being destroyed, the demon has to be sealed and the only one who can…
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
Trailer: Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)


My name is Kelsey and I'm from Kinnelon, New Jersey. It's a really small town with a population of about 10,000 people.
What do you do at Omni?
I work as a project manager where I spend my time on initiatives that fall under our Growth and Product team. Most recently I've been focusing on ways we can expand to new markets. As much as I'd love to talk about what we're doing, I can't share much… yet.
What were you doing before Omni?
I was in school studying finance and entrepreneurship at Boston College. I worked at a few companies including Campus Insights, Rent The Runway, and Shine which helped a lot in honing what I wanted to do. In the end I learned that the most important thing to me is working on a really exciting consumer product - which led me to Omni.
What's your enneagram personality test result?
What's something you've rented recently?
I'm actually renting a GoPro for a trip to Costa Rica with my family. That's probably what I'm looking the most forward to. In the past I've rented a power washer to clean my deck, some paint brushes, and even a Santa Con costume.
How have you used Omni?
"I recently rented a pressure washer to make my outdoor deck sparkling clean so I could drink morning coffee out there," says our project manager @kelseyCbishop.
As soon as you get to the office you do what?
I'm an early riser so I'll usually head in at around 8 a.m. before everyone else arrives. I make coffee with our fancy latte machine and usually pair it with some avocado toast.
So you're telling me that there's avocado toast?
Yeah. A stocked kitchen is definitely huge but my favorite perk is our fitness stipend. Usually around lunchtime I'll visit the gym with friends and get an exercise in.
I love spending time with my friends. I recently went on a trip to Lake Tahoe where we did a bit of hiking. Also going out to eat and hanging out in the Mission neighborhood are a plus. I highly suggest the $12 martinis at Blondies' Bar.
Interested in working with Kelsey and team? Learn about our open roles here.